Hong Kong: Carnival showcases SIE Fund's work

The achievements of the Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) over the ten years of its existence to date are being showcased this weekend at the Social Innovation Carnival.

Organised by the Innovation, Technology & Industry Bureaus Efficiency Office under the theme of Innovate to Create Impact for Poverty Alleviation, the carnival puts a spotlight on various innovative projects and services subsidised by the fund, demonstrating how it responds to a range of social needs.

Officiating at an anniversary celebration ceremony today, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki said the fund supports social entrepreneurs in implementing innovative solutions which have a social impact, thereby contributing towards poverty alleviation in Hong Kong.

Mr Chan highlighted that the fund has supported more than 500 projects in addressing the needs of various grassroots groups, adding that its achievements are well recognised.

He stressed that the Chief Executives most recent Policy Address, delivered last month, contained a host of measures to strengthen support for people living in subdivided units, single-parent households, and elderly households.

The Chief Secretary added that he has every confidence in the funds ability to continue delivering on its roles as a promoter and facilitator of social innovation, thereby helping to build a caring and supportive Hong Kong.

The carnival is the highlight of a series of promotional activities marking the fund's 10th anniversary. It started on Friday and will continue tomorrow at Central Market and features booths and workshops. A roving exhibition is being held on the markets second floor until November 30.

The SIE Fund was inaugurated in 2013 and is overseen by the SIE Fund Task Force under the Commission on Poverty. The task force secretariat is part of the abovementioned Efficiency Office.

By unleashing social innovation and social entrepreneurship, the fund aims to alleviate poverty and social exclusion, promote social integration, and enhance the well-being and cohesion of society.

This story has been published on: 2023-11-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chinese premier meets with French FM in Beijing

Xinhua) 10:08, November 25, 2023

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met on Friday with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Beijing.

Li said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the relationship between China and France has enjoyed stable development.

China stands ready to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China next year to build more stable and vibrant China-France relations, Li said.

Li pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and France have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, which is a precious asset in bilateral relations.

Li called on the two sides to uphold mutual respect and mutual trust, work together for mutual benefit and win-win results, continue to strengthen high-level exchanges, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and continue to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership.

China will continue to promote high-level opening-up and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, said the premier, adding that China hopes that France will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory market environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in France, and actively promote the EU side to adhere to the spirit of market openness and the free trade.

In the face of increasing global challenges, Li said China is ready to work closely with France to jointly address such pressing issues as climate change and biodiversity conservation, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Colonna said France and China are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and shoulder the common responsibility of safeguarding world peace and development.

France is willing to take the opportunity of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with China to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen political mutual trust, further deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, culture and other fields, said Colonna.

She said that France will keep the market open, and jointly deal with global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity protection with China to play a major role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
Coastal Prep celebrates Thanksgiving: Teachers and staff at Coastal Preparatory High School in Cape May Court House showed how thankful they were for their students hard work and dedication so far this year by preparing a holiday feast and providing gifts courtesy of the Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge #1896 and the Greg DiAntonio Memorial Fund.

Coastal Prep staff and teachers cooked a full holiday spread, from turkey to stuffing to everything in between.

We wanted to do something really special for them this year to remind them that we will support them as they grow and so will the people in our community, said Anna Canella, Coastal Prep transition coordinator. We really thrive off fostering this sense of connectedness. It helps our students stand strong and get better at living healthier lives, while they become more empathetic members of the community.

Elks Lodge #1896 helped provide meal baskets that had full Thanksgiving dinners to bring home to their families. The DiAntonio fund provided the means to give ShopRite gift cards to students and money to go toward their holiday feast Tuesday. Named in honor of their son, Kreni and Pat DiAntonio raise funds to help support youth struggling with substance misuse.

Coastal Prep is one of three recovery high schools in the state. A partnership between the Middle Township School District and Cape Assist, the school ensures students recovering from substance misuse can stay on track academically. For more information, visit coastalprephighschool.com.

Arts Center pottery and mosaic exhibit: The Annual Ocean City Arts Center Pottery and Mosaic Student and Teacher exhibit, showcasing the creative works of more than 30 students and teachers from the Arts Center, will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 16.

Hundreds of pottery and mosaic pieces will be displayed for possible sale, starting at $5. The Arts Center will host a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1.

Participating teachers are Joe DiMatteo, Collette Smith and Jill Snyder. Students are Mary Beth Alvare, Paula Boileau, Brenda Bradford, Donna Buzby, Anne Cancelmo, Christine Davies, Jane Diamond, Veronica Dull, Allison Eiselen, Dana Eiselen, Lucy Eiselen, Jeri Hansen, Linda Higbee, Cherlyn Houha, Susan Kane, Michele Magara, Gloria Scarella Mahoney, Susan Palmer, Gail Pfeifer, Joanne Price, Donna Prince, Rich Prince, Carol Rainey, Marla Ryan, Brianne Shaner, MaryBeth Spiegel, Susan Thomas, Vicki Thurlow-Lewis and Charlene Twiggs.

The Arts Center is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays on the second floor of the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave. For more information, call 609-399-7628.

Cape Assist Trees of Hope: For the ninth year, ICONA Windrift and the Avalon Lions Club have offered financial support for multiple Cape Assist events.

This year, they are helping support the Trees of Hope lighting that will be held from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday. The display provides a glowing visual representation of hope to anyone battling addiction. It also includes ornaments dedicated to loved ones.

Knowing we can depend on these organizations year after year is a weight lifted off our shoulders here at Cape Assist, said Cape Assist Director of Communications Tusa Magalogo-Fitisemanu. We put these events together to bring our communities together. Its the effort that everyone else puts in without even being asked that truly surprises us.

The trees will be showcased at Cape Assist throughout December. Ornaments can be collected starting in the new year. To dedicate an ornament or tree, visit capeassist.org/events.

Christmas lights competition: The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May wants to light up the holiday season by awarding prizes for the best decorated homes and businesses in the city.

Light Up Cape May will award prizes for Best Residence, Best Business, Best Window, Best Olde Fashioned Theme, Judges Choice and Peoples Choice in Cape May and West Cape May.

The deadline for entries is Dec. 6, and prizes will be awarded Dec. 12 at the Chamber of Commerce Holiday Social at Carneys, 411 Beach Ave.

To register, visit lightupcapemaynj.com.

Christmas Cabaret at East Lynne: New York City piano player Lennie McKenzie will perform his Christmas Cabaret at the East Lynne Theater Company Dec. 7 through 9.

Accompanying McKenzie on piano will be Alex Bechtel, a New York-based composer, actor and writer.

Attendees can expect to hear Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Wonderful! Wonderful! and Do You Hear What I Hear, as well as a few surprises. There also will be a singalong during the performance.

Tickets are $25; students and military are $20. Showtime is 7 p.m. East Lynne is in residence at Cape May Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., Cape May. During the Dec. 9 performance, a drawing will take place for East Lynnes yearlong raffle. The winner does not have to be present. For more information and tickets, visit eastlynnetheater.org.

Book signing: The Somers Point Historical Society will host a signing by Nick Regine of his latest book, Between Drinks, at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Gregorys Restaurant & Bar, 900 Shore Road. Between Drinks is a memoir of growing up in Somers Point with a tip of the hat to the history of some of the bars, saloons, tap rooms and bartenders of Regines young adulthood. A complimentary buffet will be offered. Books are $20 each. For more information, call 609-204-6523.
The recent Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Mega Job Fair held at Symbiosis Bhawan, in collaboration with Division Pune and Symbiosis Skill and Professional University Pune, saw the participation of over 20 entrepreneurs from the district's industrial sectors. They collectively offered 3,066 job vacancies, drawing the interest of more than a thousand unemployed youths. Following interviews conducted during the job fair, 262 candidates were successfully selected by present entrepreneurs.

The inauguration of the event was carried out by Dr. SB Mujumdar, the Chancellor, and Founder President of Symbiosis University, who expressed optimism about the potential for numerous youths finding employment through this platform. Sachin Jadhav, the Assistant Commissioner of Skill Development, Employment, and Entrepreneurship, provided insights into the gathering during the introduction.

The primary goal of the employment fair was emphasized by Jadhav, highlighting its role as a platform providing optimal employment opportunities for candidates. The event aimed to connect job seekers with renowned entrepreneurs, fostering a conducive environment for skill development and innovation. With various academic representatives present, the gathering served as a significant hub for candidates to explore diverse opportunities and qualify for esteemed positions in the industry.
In a critical development, Pune is bracing itself for an imminent water crisis, necessitating urgent and comprehensive planning to address both drinking water and irrigation needs. The exacerbation of the situation is attributed to the continuous influx of new constructions in the city, prompting Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency MP Supriya Sule to advocate for a temporary halt in construction activities, citing concerns over pollution.

Sule took a decisive stance on this matter during a recent review meeting at the Municipal Corporation, focusing on issues relevant to the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency. The subsequent press conference included notable figures such as NCP city president Prashant Jagtap, former standing committee chairman Vishal Tambe, former corporator Sachin Dodke, and Kaka Chavan. The meeting primarily addressed challenges related to solid waste management, water, and road infrastructure.

Expressing deep concern about the escalating drinking water scarcity in Pune, Sule highlighted the need for meticulous planning to address both drinking water and irrigation needs, especially with the approaching summer and depleting water resources. While acknowledging the necessity of responsible development, she emphasized the imperative of temporarily halting construction activities. Sule pointed out the rise in pollution and the significant water resources required for new constructions, raising the crucial question of how to manage these demands sustainably.

Emphasizing the importance of proactive water planning by the state government, Sule issued a warning about potential agitation within the municipal building if prompt measures are not taken. Despite existing initiatives like the Equal Water Supply Scheme aimed at providing equitable water distribution, citizens reportedly continue to face challenges. Sule expressed concerns about the absence of municipal elections for one and a half years, asserting that the management of the municipal corporation by officials is insufficient to effectively address citizens issues.

The call for a construction halt comes as a critical step towards mitigating the water crisis and ensuring sustainable urban development in Pune.
First Lutheran Church is celebrating their 173rd anniversary on Sunday, December 3 from 10 a.m.Noon, at 1230-5th Ave., Moline. WELCA will be hosting a Fika reception with Swedish rice pudding and other delectable treats.

There will be for sale plated assortments of baked goods including spritz and pepparkakor cookies plus breads and fudge. A variety of one of a kind handmade holiday craft items will also be available for purchase.

Santa Lucia will be greeting visitors along with guided tours of the sanctuary decorated for the Advent season.

Everyone is welcome.
DECEMBER 1 & 2RiverBend Bronze presenting Annual Christmas Concerts in Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids.

The RiverBend Bronze is presenting three concerts for the Christmas season. The first two are 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Saint Johns United Methodist Church, 109 E. 14th St., Davenport. The final concert is at Saint Pauls United Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m.

These concerts are free, and the public is invited to attend. A free-will offering will be accepted.

Music Director John Klopp is leading a fun mix of both spirited and thoughtful Christmas carols from around the globe, as well as treasured holiday favorites.

Presenting with over 300 bells and chimes, the RiverBend Bronze is a volunteer ensemble of 20-handbell ringers drawn from the greater Western Illinois/ Eastern Iowa community.

Many RiverBend Bronze members are bell directors in their respective churches or are active in national handbell organizations. RiverBend Bronze is online at www.riverbendbronze.org or follow the ensemble on Facebook at facebook.com/riverbendbronze/.

DECEMBER 5St. Johns to hold a Special Candlelight Remembrance Service. The holidays can be a difficult time for many, especially those struggling with the loss of a loved one, or other forms of grief. On Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7 pm, St. Johns Lutheran Church, 1450  30th Avenue, East Moline, will host a Candlelight Remembrance Service.

Community members who are mourning the death of a loved one (recent or long ago), mourning over other kinds of loss or simply feeling in distress, are invited to attend this special service. An opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of those mourned will be available. Light refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. The service is open to all members of the community.
Ashley Joe Iteska hiked through the cold, dry prairie, his boots crunching crisp grass and twigs. He looked out over the looming limestone buttes for any sign of the boy, stopping occasionally to listen. He tried to imagine what the 3-year-old had endured the night before. The cold fall winds on the grassland could be unforgiving and there were mountain lions and coyotes lurking in the backcountry. Iteska tried not to think the worst.

His nephew, Karson Pourier, had wandered off the afternoon before while playing outside his home on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Nearly 14 hours had passed since anyone had seen the autistic boy, and more than 200 people had joined the search the night before. Some of them used drones and dogs. The searchers walked along the beds of White Clay Creek north of Red Cloud Indian School in an area largely inaccessible by vehicle or even ATV. A horse could make it, but going on foot was easiest.

They called out for Karson all night long as temperatures dipped below freezing. Karson had walked away wearing no winter clothing. Iteska searched late into the night, but eventually decided to pack it in and head home. As he lay in bed, he thought about Karson and wondered what it might be like if one of his own children disappeared.

The next morning, Nov. 18, he sat on his porch smoking a cigarette, waiting for the sun to rise. He began thinking about Karson. He didnt know his nephew very well, but with an autistic son himself, Iteska thought Karson must have been overwhelmed by all the noise and lights from the search.

He was probably scared of all that, he said.

Several months before, Iteska had started on a spiritual journey. The 41-year-old had worked to reconnect to his Lakota traditions and heal from intergenerational trauma. He had recently returned home from Rapid City to his Calico community. He and his partner had hoped to buy a house, start a life together. He wanted to build a greenhouse and start a food sovereignty business. Pine Ridge is a place known as much today for its history and renowned leaders  Red Cloud and Black Elk  as for its crushing poverty and despair. Iteska hoped to help change that by improving the health of his people.

As he sat on his porch that morning, his medicine man pulled into his driveway. Iteska walked up to the man and handed him tobacco, a traditional offering. He asked him for guidance on where to search. He knew it would be difficult to find the boy on his own, and he believed in the power of prayer.

The holy man told him to walk north, deep into the back hills. Iteska knew the area well. It was his late grandfathers land, and hed helped his grandfather round up cattle there as a boy. The walk is a moderate hike up steep, winding buttes that continue uninterrupted for miles. It was a visually stunning part of the sprawling 3.1 million-acre Pine Ridge Reservation. Iteska had brought his own kids up there, but it was no place for toddlers to wander alone.

The walk was silent, through brush and evergreen trees. Iteska let his body and mind guide him. He heard a twig snap and followed the sound, but it was only a deer. Heading back up the ravine and onto the bluff, he thought he might follow the old fire trail, but for some reason, he didnt. Something told him to go left.

Somewhere in the distance, he heard cooing, almost like a mourning dove. He stopped for a minute and listened. He heard it again, a soft cooing. He knew mourning doves are territorial and make noises to keep other doves away. He yelled Karsons name.

Then I heard him cry and I ran to him, Iteska said.

There sitting on a dead tree was little Karson, a mile away from home, no shoes or socks, his bare feet muddy. His Disney hoodie was turned backward and his arms were tucked inside. Somehow, after 14 hours in the bitter cold and without food or water, the little boy had survived.

My belief is that he was protected, I think by my grandpas spirit. I know he was protected because I mean there were animal tracks all along that area and it got cold, Iteska said.

In a mixture of disbelief and elation, Iteska took a picture of Karson and sent it to Kara Big Crow, his partner, who also was searching for Karson. Found him, he said. His phone said 7:54 a.m.

He wrapped the little boy in his jacket, grabbed him and began running. His adrenaline was pumping as he carried him up a steep ridge. Iteska had had heart surgery 17 years before and with how fast hed been moving and how hard his heart was beating, he feared hed collapse before he could make it back. He told Big Crow to get emergency services, to head north and look for his blue truck.

Youll be alright, youll be alright. We can get you home, uncles got you, he told the little boy.

Running up the steep ravines, he nearly passed out but fought to continue on. Worried he might have a heart attack and not make it back, Iteska sent Big Crow a video. I found him  I carried him from down there, just got over that ridge and everything, he said to Big Crow in the video, struggling to catch his breath. In the background, Karson is crying.

Iteska picked the boy back up and began walking back down the buttes toward his truck. He was almost there when he spotted emergency services. Worried theyd miss him, he stood on top of a hill and whistled as loud as he could. They turned and saw him and the boy.

They were safe.

Karson was taken to Rapid City for medical treatment. Besides dehydration, he was perfectly fine. The next day when asked where hed found the toddler, Iteska said he couldnt remember. He told them he didnt know where he was going, that he was guided. He began to panic, where had he gone?

There was a reason I was outside when they (the medicine man) pulled up. I could say it was luck, but I just dont know, Iteska said.

Eventually, he remembered, using the video hed sent to Big Crow. Thinking back on everything, it was all surreal, he said.

That first day I dont know, I had a lot of mixed feelings because the adrenaline didnt really go away. There was a part of me that was really grateful and a part of me that was really happy and then all these other things in my head that are hard to explain, he said.
Although specific records are difficult to come by, historians estimate that between 1865 and 1885, Black cowboys constituted 30% of all wranglers in the old West.

The earliest evidence of African Americans as cattle herders (aka, cowboys) in North America can be traced back to colonial South Carolina. Stock grazers from what is now Senegal in West Africa were brought over specifically to that colony because of their unique skills. In fact, the little island of Goree off the coast of Senegal was, at one time, the largest slave trading center in west Africa.

Over the ensuing decades, the cattle industry and enslaved Africans migrated across the South and reached Texas by the 1850s. With one third of Texas' population comprising slaves, African Americans were the majority of cowboys. Enslaved cowboys were assigned the task of catching and tending wild cattle in the Gulf Coast brush country (from San Antonio to the Rio Grande). Working with vaqueros who had migrated north from Mexico, these herders often drove long trains of cattle, frequently led by oxen.

Texas Civil War governor Francis Lubbock relied on five Black bondsmen (indentured servants) to tend 2,000 cattle on his ranch near Houston. A slave, named Willis, was allowed by Lubbock to acquire cattle and horses, so that he could purchase freedom for himself and his family. James White, the first Texas cattle baron, used African American drovers for the thousands of cattle he owned in Liberty County, Texas (about 40 miles northeast of Houston).

Notable post-Civil War Black cowboys included Pete Staples, a former Texas slave who joined the first cattle drives to Kansas, and Bose Ikard, who worked the Goodnight-Loving Trail (named for Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving) from Texas to Denver. Jim Perry was one of the Black cowboys on the 3 million-acre XIT Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. Daniel Wallace, who invented the cattle brand 80 John (that became his middle name), was Texas most successful Black rancher.

After the Civil War, the range cattle industry expanded out of Texas with Black cowboys moving across the West along with it. They would eventually work in every state and territory in the region with the largest numbers being in Arizona and New Mexico Territories, California, and Nevada. In Arizona Territory, African Americans John Swain and John Batavia worked for former Texas Ranger John Slaughter on his ranch near Tombstone. Ex-Texan Henry Harris became foreman on the Elko County ranch of Nevada Gov. John Sparks. Even future President Theodore Roosevelt employed a Black cowboy on his Dakota Territory ranch.

Four African American cowboys in New Mexico Territory were involved in the infamous Lincoln County range war of 1878 that produced William Bonney (Billy the Kid). Three Black cowboys, George Washington, George Robinson and Zebrien Bates, rode with Billy the Kid and his Regulators, while African American John Clark worked for businessman-rancher Lawrence Murphy.

Over the decades, African Americans became a smaller percentage of cowboys, as more whites moved into the industry. By 1890, African Americans cowboys were about 2% of the total in the West. This was primarily due to the fact these men sought better paying employment in other industries.

Interestingly, white cowboys were originally called cowhands, and African Americans were pejoratively referred to as cowboys. Black men being called boy, regardless of their age, stemmed from the plantation era of the old South.
Sapphire Lutheran Homes will host its annual Christmas Craft Fair with 21 crafters and homemade joy on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Dominic Farrenkopf, Director of Community Life at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, said the craft fair has multiple levels of positivity.

First, it gives residents of Sapphire Lutheran Homes an opportunity to go to a craft fair without having to get in their car and drive across town. Residents from across our campus come to the craft fair to get some of their Christmas shopping done, he said. Secondly, it gives local craft vendors a great opportunity to sell their wares. Third, it gives the public an opportunity to visit the comfortable setting of Sapphire Lutheran Homes and learn a little bit more about our organization.

The suggested admission to the SLH Christmas Craft Fair of $1 or one non-perishable food item is a fundraiser for the Darby Bread Box Food Pantry.

Craft vendors will offer knitted items, ornaments, wooden crafts, freeze-dried candy, 3D printed toys, fabric items, gnomes, yule logs, cut wine bottles and more. There will also be a $5 chili lunch, Santa Claus will be at the show from noon to 2 p.m. and there will be a raffle for a vintage Christmas carol music box.

Putting on the craft fair is a great undertaking, but it is always worth it, Farrenkopf said. I look forward to the craft fair each year, as it really kicks off the holiday season.

The SLH Christmas Craft Fair is open to the public and will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 N. 10th St. in Hamilton. For more information call 406-363-2800.
Enjoy the 25th Chocolate Tasting and Silent Auction at the Victor Heritage Museum from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4.

The Bitterroot Valley community businesses have donated many items to this annual event that draws people for tasty treats, carriage rides, fabulous items for bidding on and plenty of community visiting.

We just keep opening it earlier, said board member Joann White Hosko. I know I like to come while the sun is still up. We moved it up from 5 p.m. since it is so dark and cold that time of the year, so people can come in the daylight. We get a lot of people right on the button of 3 p.m.

Admission costs $5 per person for all you can eat onsite, guests can ride on the horse drawn trolley from Out West Wagons from 47 p.m. and bid on silent auction items until 7:30 p.m.

In 1989 community members established the Victor Heritage Museum in the old Victor Train Depot relocated on the corner of Main and Blake Streets. The museum is operated by volunteers and dedicated to preserving the history of Victor.

The Chocolate Tasting event helps support the museum and Farmers State Bank sponsors the event.

They give us enough money that this event should be all profit, Hosko said. They have been donating to this over the years. Our expenses and the trolley will be paid for by them. We really havent mentioned it enough and we appreciate their support.

The primary purpose of the Victor Heritage Museum is to collect, preserve, protect, and interpret the history of the Victor area for the education, recreation, and cultural enrichment of visitors and residents of the community, and to rehabilitate, operate, and maintain the Northern Pacific Railroad's 1928 Victor Depot as a public museum for this purpose.

It is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Memorial Day through Labor Day. The last Sunday in August is the annual Ice Cream Social that celebrates community. The Chocolate Tasting Party and Silent Auction are always the first Monday in December. Memorials and donations help the Museum to remain financially sound. Donating cultural or historical items is encouraged. Volunteers are always welcome and help maintain open hours, catalog the collection, work with computer information, assist with events, work in partnership with community, assist with summer theme presentation, indoor and outdoor upkeep, and help with seasonal opening and closing.

This past summer, the museum set up a new display of Native American items to celebrate Chief Victor Days. Museum displays include logging, agriculture, school happenings, mining, Victor events and local artists.

The Victor Heritage Museum Chocolate Tasting Party and Silent Auction will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, at 125 Blake St., in Victor.

For more information contact the Victor Heritage Museum at 406-642-3997, or online victorheritagemuseum.org, or email victormuseum@cybernet1.com, or P.O. Box 610, Victor, MT 59875.
In the quiet corners of rural Montana, credit unions and community banks offer a unique ability to focus on bringing value to Main Street rather than Wall Street. These institutions have a vested interest in the success of their communities and often serve as economic anchors, supporting local businesses, farms, and ranches.

Local banks offer a unique ability to build personal relationships and offer services dedicated to fit the specific needs of a rural community. However, their ability to do just that would be at risk if federal legislation is passed that would restrict their ability to continue community-focused services.

New regulations on interchange fees and routing mandates on credit card transactions coming in the form of the 2023 Credit Card Competition Act would have significant implications for our rural banks.

Weve seen this before. A similar set of regulations, known as the Durbin amendment, were imposed in 2010 related to debit card transactions. That legislation resulted in small banks having to raise fees on customers and cut back on services offered, for instance free checking.

Lawmakers in 2010 were convinced that lower transaction fees for retailers would mean lower costs for consumers, but that turned out not to be true. A Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond study in 2014 showed that 98.8% of retailers either raised prices or kept them the same after passage of the Durbin amendment.

Another analysis, from the Mercatus Center, found that nearly 75% of local financial institutions saw reduced earnings after the Durbin Amendment. Credit unions lost $1.1 billion in 2016 alone, according to the Credit Union National Association. The massive loss in interchange fee revenue cut down on the funds credit unions and community banks use to cover operational costs, expand services, and keep fees low.

In the aftermath of the Durbin amendment, over one million Americans, primarily in marginalized communities like rural towns, lost their bank accounts.

In 2011, there were approximately 14,000 banks and credit unions with assets under $10 billion; in 2022, about 9,000 are left. This decline was widely a result of mergers and consolidations as credit unions and banks sought to improve operations and expand their footprint, in part to adjust for the reduced revenue tied to overreaching federal regulation.

While its true that the sponsors of the Credit Card Competition Act included an exemption for small banks and credit unions, we know this exemption is meaningless. The same type of exemption was included in the Durbin amendment.

Policies like the Durbin Amendment and the Credit Card Competition Act fail to consider the dire consequences for credit unions and community banks operating in rural areas. Reducing their interchange fee revenue deprives these institutions of a crucial source of income, leading to decreased services and increased fees for members. Moreover, it would undermine the financial stability of rural banks, potentially forcing some to close their doors and leaving our rural Montana communities in financial distress. We have seen this happen for the past decade, and it will only get worse if the Credit Card Competition Act passes.

In the Montana legislature we see legislation related to credit card fees nearly every session. This is because Washington has not done enough to address these issues at the federal level. The Credit Card Competition Act would be a step backward, causing even more problems for states with rural banks.

Policymakers should focus on supporting and strengthening Montanas credit unions and community banks. These institutions provide financial stability and growth for often neglected areas. By doing so, we can ensure a brighter economic future for Montana.
The family of a Virginia man who was shot and killed by Chesterfield County police on July 8 while under a court-issued temporary detention order for mental health treatment has filed a $35 million lawsuit against the city of Richmond and Chippenham Hospitals parent company, according to court documents.

The complaint, filed Wednesday by an attorney for Margaret and Michael Byers, alleges that the city and hospital staff violated the civil rights of Charles Byers, who was shot and killed by officers responding to reports of a suspicious man who had broken into a garage and attempted to enter multiple homes on the 1200 block of Wycliffe Court in Chesterfield.

Byers, who was 34 at the time, was holding a hatchet when officers arrived and refused to drop it when ordered to do so, according to police. Police also said attempts to de-escalate the situation and use a stun gun both failed, forcing them to open fire.

But in the complaint, Margaret and Michael Byers argue that their son never should have been in that situation in the first place, and that institutional breakdowns, insufficient training, reckless indifference and gross negligence led to his inappropriate release from a mental health treatment facility, ultimately causing his death.

In the complaint, the Byerses say they had taken their son to Chippenham, part of the HCA Healthcare network, after his schizoaffective disorder triggered a mental health crisis on July 5.

While at Chippenham, Charles Byers was placed under a TDO, which mandated 72 hours of involuntary mental health treatment at the facility.

The order, obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, was based on an evaluation performed by the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, which concluded that Charles Byers was a risk to himself and others and was unable or unwilling to take care of himself.

Charles Byers was assigned to a bed in the Tucker Pavilion at Chippenham, but, unbeknownst to his parents, he would end up leaving the hospital soon after.

Court records indicate that Charles Byers was arrested by Richmond police at the hospital on July 6, shortly after he was placed under the TDO. According to the complaint, he was taken into custody after resisting attempts on the part of hospital staff to transfer him to another room.

The complaint says Charles Byers was afraid to get on an elevator while relocating and that hospital staff summoned a Richmond police officer to bully him into compliance.

Charles Byers behavior exhibited signs of paranoia and delusion that was symptomatic of his severe mental illness, the complaint states, but a lack of adequate training and awareness of TDO law on the part of Richmond police ultimately led to Byers being threatened with a taser and then detained.

The complaint also accuses a Richmond police officer and a nurse of conspiring to fabricate (an) assault charge as cover for what it called an unlawful arrest.

Charlie had committed no crime, and there was no reasonable suspicion that he was about to commit a crime, the complaint says. But hospital staff wanted him removed, and so a nurse claimed Charles Byers had kicked her and an officer placed him in handcuffs in violation of his civil and patients rights, the complaint alleges.

Charles Byers was discharged consequent to his arrest, the complaint says, but that discharge violated state law, which requires that a patient subject to a TDO undergo psychological evaluation to determine whether the TDO is still necessary and receive discharge clearance from either a district court judge or special justice or from a facility director.

But no such evaluation or approval was documented, the complaint claims.

Charles Byers was ultimately released into the public on his own recognizance later that night, in spite of the fact that he remained under the TDO: a decision the complaint says demonstrated reckless indifference and gross and wanton negligence on the part of the magistrate who authorized it.

Charlie was mentally ill and in need of treatment to which he had a right to receive, the complaint asserts. What he received instead was abuse, harassment, bullying, threats of force, handcuffs, arrest and the denial of treatment to which he was entitled by law.

Now, Charles Byers is dead, and his parents and others are left questioning the efficacy of Virginias mental health care system.

In comments to WTVR CBS6, Margaret Byers characterized the circumstances leading up to her sons death as failure upon failure.

Chesterfield Police Chief Jeffrey S. Katz similarly described the incident.

Representatives for the city of Richmond, Richmond police and Chippenham Hospital did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

From the Archives: The James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River
Richmond Public Schools will engage in a settlement conference early next year with a former employee who is suing the School Board over allegations that she tried to blow the whistle on the school division over what she termed its intent to misuse federal funds.

The case was filed in federal court in February under the False Claims Acts anti-retaliation provision, which provides relief to whistleblowers who are retaliated against because they undertook efforts to stop an entity from engaging in practices that defraud the U.S. government.

Attorneys for the plaintiff, Kara Williams, and the School Board will meet for a pretrial settlement conference around March 2. If the parties do not reach a settlement, the case will go to a three-day jury trial that is scheduled to begin May 13, according to court filings.

RPS employed Williams as its manager of Head Start  a federally funded program that provides services to young children in low-income families. The suit alleges that RPS fired Williams in January 2021 after she had repeatedly objected to violations of Head Start law and regulations.

Williams began her job with RPS in 2014 after she had worked for various Head Start programs for 19 years. Her job was to ensure compliance with Head Start policies and regulations as well as to prepare an annual budget.

Things went downhill in October 2019, the suit says, when the school division hired Kristi DSouza as its director of early childhood education and school readiness, a direct supervisory position to Williams role.

The suit alleges that from the time she was hired, DSouza violated several Head Start laws and policies, and Williams continuously opposed those violations and attempts.

DSouza in October 2019 proposed a merger of Head Start with the Virginia Preschool Initiative, which Williams believed to be a violation of Head Starts grant funding terms.

The suit also alleges that DSouza requested that an administrative office assistant for the Head Start program provide administrative services to duties outside of allowable uses for federally provided Head Start funds.

Among other allegations, Williams claimed that DSouza stated that RPS could simply manipulate the funding codes for Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative until RPS reported its financial statements and budgets to the Department of Education for funding, according to the suit.

Williams said she adamantly objected to this proposition because Head Start standards required the RPS Policy Council to consult and approve all applications for funding and amendments to the budget.

After Williams repeated opposition to several other directives that allegedly violated laws and regulations, DSouza began her effort to remove Williams in 2020, the suit says.

DSouza reprimanded Williams for refusing to make a purchase with Head Start funds for students who did not qualify for Head Start, a blatant violation of mandated standards, according to Williams.

After several more similar incidents, Williams received a letter of dismissal in early January 2021.

The school district fired Williams, the suit alleges, at the insistence of DSouza in retaliation for her continued, good faith reports that the RPS Early Childhood Education and Head Start Programs were not in compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

In the lawsuit, Williams requests her job back, and double the amount of back pay owed with interest.

She is being represented by Ashley Passero and Barbara Queen, employment attorneys at LawrenceQueen, who could not be reached for comment on Friday. RPS does not comment on pending litigation.

Top five weekend events: Dominion Energy Christmas Parade, RVA Illuminates & Tacky Lights Dominion Energy Christmas Parade RVA Illuminates Tacky Lights Maymont Merry Market 'Elf' in Concert
While Richmond-area residents were preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday, workers at The Salvation Army were busy putting the finishing touches on their newly approved year-round homeless shelter.

The nonprofit organization began working overtime to ensure the inclement weather shelter will be operating by a Dec. 1 deadline.

In order to get the shelter in the 1900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue ready, the organization needed to make improvements to the building, order additional beds and supplies, and hire and train 20 additional employees. The Salvation Army Central Virginia bought the building, which had been a church, in 2020.

Weve done a good job covering all the bases as much as we can in the short amount of time we have, said Charlene Nieman, development director with the Salvation Army.

The Richmond City Council unanimously voted Nov. 14 to approve $663,856 for the Salvation Armys shelter and $542,056 to establish a 50-bed inclement weather shelter in the former Richmond Hostel at 7 N. Second St.

The decision came after pleas for adequate shelter after a homeless woman known as Miss Linda died blocks away from a recently shuttered shelter.

While access to shelters is important, the need for beds is most dire and needed during both the winter and summer when extreme temperatures can be deadly.

Homeless deaths from hypothermia average 700 annually, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. People experiencing homelessness are about 200 times more likely to die from heat-related issues compared to those with shelter.

With December designated as the start of inclement weather in the city, the Salvation Army had just over two weeks to ensure the shelter was operational.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Maj. Christine Kim, the groups area commander, said officials expect to meet their deadline, with cots en route, supplies at the ready and hiring paperwork nearly complete.

It is very important to me to keep them in a safe place. Some of the homeless people may work or some people may be in the street, but our job is to continue to be generous to them and make sure everybody has a roof over their head, Kim said. Its our mission to care for those in need.

The plan is to welcome people between 5 a.m. and 1 p.m. Breakfast and dinner will be offered to anyone looking for a meal. The shelter will have 100 beds for men and 50 beds for women  each separated from the other.

Several City Council members and community leaders have championed the decision, calling the shelter a much-needed addition.

Those with concerns include the Chamberlayne Industrial Center Association, a group of business owners neighboring the property.

Were not against the homeless; what we are against is density. So please lets have an intellectually honest discussion, association President David Kohler said during the November council meeting.

Mia Alston, a leasing consultant with Park Northside, a housing complex a few blocks east of the shelter, said the complex has had to ask homeless people to leave its common areas and benches designated for residents. There have also been concerns about car theft and fear of break-ins, Alston said.

Were not happy about it. Im all for helping the homeless, but it just comes with a lot of other things, Alston said. Im big on you can teach someone to fish and will always have food. The city cant just give them a place to stay and then just leave them there.

Bruce Hill owns Grilled Meats & Treats, a restaurant at 200 E. Main St. adjacent to the Second Street shelter. He told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that hes concerned as well.

I do have a lot of homeless people coming into the restaurant asking for food, and sitting on my tables and benches outside, so this shelter is a concern of mine, Hill said. Im all for them getting the help they need, but the city needs to make sure that its operating the right way.

The Second Street shelter will be operated by HomeAgain, a Richmond-based organization that provides homeless assistance programs.

A special-use permit for the project submitted in late September outlines that the shelter will primarily serve families experiencing homelessness and will not be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community.

Plans call for 24-hour staffing, security and monitoring.

For the Salvation Army space, a city-run resource center will be added to the building. There, city staff will provide case-by-case management to help address specific needs of homeless people, Kim said. Additionally, Richmond police will provide added security.

It has been made abundantly clear to me that this is a priority for the city of Richmond and, therefore, it is a priority for the Richmond Police Department, said Chief Rick Edwards. It is incumbent on us to, on a weekly basis, focus on this area to see where we see crime pop up and address it as it comes forward.

The shelter is blocks away from the departments 4th Precinct headquarters.

Lauren Marshall, the communications director for the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, said the shelter beds are badly needed. Her organization runs the Richmond Habitat ReStore near the Chamberlayne Avenue site. It serves as a donation center and provides home improvement goods.

Its important for people to keep in mind the basic need the shelter is meeting, Marshall said.

We are grateful that the city can expand shelter capacity near our Northside Habitat ReStore, and we hope it provides helpful resources to members of our community.

From the Archives: Scenes from Grace Street in the RTD archives Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street
Del.-elect Adele McClure, D-Arlington, recently posted on X, formerly Twitter, a photo of the 34-member freshman class that will join the House of Delegates in January.

Introducing the Virginia House of Delegates Freshman Class of 2024! pic.twitter.com/ZyHlCDhwTo  Adele McClure (she/her) (@AdeleMcClure_) November 17, 2023

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, the incoming Senate majority leader, responded: You dont see change like this in Virginia politics except about once every century.

The state Supreme Court imposed new legislative boundaries in December 2021 that lumped dozens of lawmakers into districts with fellow incumbents. In the upheaval that followed, 16 delegates retired, eight lost primaries or general elections, nine were elected to the state Senate and one  Del.-elect Nadarius Clark  stepped down from one House district in order to run in another, in which he was elected Nov. 7.

Democrats will take over the House in January, holding a slight 51-49 edge. Del. Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, will make history as Virginias first African American speaker of the House in its more than 400-year history.

Here is a brief introduction to Virginias 34 newly elected delegates:

***

Del.-elect Bonita G. Anthony

Party: Democrat

District 92: Parts of Norfolk and Chesapeake

Profession: Executive director of retention and persistence, Virginia State University; longtime technical and engineering educator, including at Old Dominion University; previously an engineer at the Federal Aviation Administration, Comptek Federal Systems and Newport News Shipbuilding

***

Del.-elect Alex Askew

Party: Democrat

District 95: Parts of Virginia Beach and Norfolk

Profession: Business and policy consultant; former chief of staff, Virginia House of Delegates; state delegate 2020-2022

***

Del.-elect Destiny Levere Bolling

Party: Democrat

District 80: Part of Henrico County

Profession: Communications director of the Virginia AFL-CIO; small-business owner; former compliance officer and teacher, Washington School for Girls

***

Del.-elect Katrina Callsen

Party: Democrat

District 54: Charlottesville, part of Albemarle County

Profession: Deputy city attorney for Charlottesville, former teacher, former member of the Albemarle School Board

***

Del.-elect Nadarius Clark

Party: Democrat

District 84: Parts of Suffolk, Isle of Wight County and Chesapeake; all of the city of Franklin

Profession: Mental health counselor, delegate from 2022 to March 2023

***

Del.-elect Laura Jane Cohen

Party: Democrat

District 15: Part of Fairfax County

Profession: Fairfax County School Board member; former owner of Belle Jar Design, a vintage home decor and furniture refinishing shop; former teacher

***

Del-elect Joshua Cole

Party: Democrat

District 65: Parts of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties; all of Fredericksburg

Profession: Pastor; executive assistant to the CEO of GCubed Enterprises, an IT and cybersecurity business; state delegate from 2020 to 2022

***

Del.-elect Rae Cousins

Party: Democrat

District 79: Part of Richmond

Profession: Lawyer

***

Del.-elect Will Davis

Party: Republican

District 39: Franklin County, parts of Roanoke and Bedford counties

Profession: Lawyer

***

Del.-elect Mark Earley Jr.

Party: Republican

District 73: Part of Chesterfield County

Profession: Lawyer

***

Del.-elect Baxter Ennis

Party: Republican

District 89: Parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk

Profession: Retired lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army; former official at Regent University, including as director of public and university relations; author; currently publisher of a monthly newspaper

***

Del.-elect Michael Feggans

Party: Democrat

District 97: Part of Virginia Beach

Profession: Tech entrepreneur; retired master sergeant, U.S. Air Force

***

Del.-elect Debra Gardner

Party: Democrat

District 76: Part of Chesterfield County

Profession: Social worker and counselor

***

Del.-elect Tom Garrett

Party: Republican

District 56: Parts of Fluvanna and Goochland counties; all of Appomattox, Buckingham and Cumberland counties; parts of Prince Edward and Louisa counties

Profession: Defense attorney and consultant; former 5th District congressman, state senator, Louisa County commonwealths attorney, assistant state attorney general and U.S. Army captain

***

Del.-elect Chad Green

Party: Republican

District 69: Parts of York, James City and Gloucester counties and Newport News

Profession: Lawyer, commercial waterman, author, member of the York County Board of Supervisors

***

Del.-elect Tim Griffin

Party: Republican

District 53: Parts of Bedford and Nelson counties, all of Amherst County

Profession: Lawyer, former Amherst and Bedford prosecutor

***

Del.-elect Rozia Henson Jr.

Party: Democrat

District 19: Parts of Prince William and Fairfax counties

Profession: Federal contractor and program manager for the Department of Homeland Security; consultant

***

Del.-elect Phil Hernandez

Party: Democrat

District 94: Part of Norfolk

Profession: Civil rights lawyer; senior vice president for policy and advocacy, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

***

Del.-elect Geary Higgins

Party: Republican

District 30: Parts of Loudoun and Fauquier counties

Profession: Retired vice president of labor relations for the National Electrical Contractors Association, former member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Loudoun School Board

***

Del.-elect Michael Jones

Party: Democrat

District 77: Parts of Richmond and Chesterfield County

Profession: Pastor, member of the Richmond City Council

***

Del.-elect Hillary Pugh Kent

Party: Republican

District 67: All of King George, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster and Richmond counties; part of Caroline County

Profession: Vice president at her familys beverage distribution company, Al Pugh Distributing

***

Del.-elect Karen Keys-Gamarra

Party: Democrat

District 7: Part of Fairfax County

Profession: Lawyer, Fairfax County School Board member

***

Del.-elect Amy Laufer

Party: Democrat

District 55: Parts of Albemarle, Louisa and Nelson counties

Profession: Founder and board member of Virginias List, a political action committee that backs Democratic women running for state office; former teacher; former member of the Charlottesville School Board

***

Del.-elect Ian Lovejoy

Party: Republican

District 22: Part of Prince William County

Profession: Founder of Reliant Hiring Solutions, a national recruitment firm; former director of operations, Home Instead Senior Care; former member of the Manassas City Council

***

Del.-elect Marty Martinez

Party: Democrat

District 29: Part of Loudoun County

Profession: Former system engineer with SAIC, CSSI and Northrop Grumman; former member of the Leesburg Town Council

***

Del.-elect Adele McClure

Party: Democrat

District 2: Part of Arlington County

Profession: Executive director, Virginia Legislative Black Caucus; former project manager, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development; former policy director for then-Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax

***

Del.-elect Paul Milde

Party: Republican

District 64: Part of Stafford County

Profession: Founder and president of CIP Finishes, a construction firm that installs interior hardware in multifamily residential, and commercial projects; former member of the Stafford Board of Supervisors

***

Del.-elect Delores Oates

Party: Republican

District 31: parts of Warren and Frederick counties, all of Clarke County

Profession: Longtime job recruiter for technical positions; currently vice president for Foxhound Federal, which finds candidates for federal agencies and consulting organizations; member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors

***

Del.-elect Chris Obenshain

Party: Republican

District 41: parts of Montgomery and Roanoke counties

Profession: Montgomery County prosecutor; major in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps; former aide to Sen. George Allen, R-Va.; former assistant state attorney general, former assistant county attorney for Roanoke County

***

Del.-elect David Owen

Party: Republican

District 57: parts of Henrico and Goochland counties

Profession: Former general contractor who spent 20 years as president of Boone Homes

***

Del.-elect Atoosa Reaser

Party: Democrat

District 27: part of Loudoun County

Profession: Lawyer, member of the Loudoun School Board, former deputy town attorney for Herndon in Fairfax County

***

Del.-elect Kannan Srinivasan

Party: Democrat

District 26: Part of Loudoun County

Profession: Accountant; head of finance for chef Jose Andres restaurant group; former executive at Asurion, an IT services and consulting company

***

Del.-elect Josh Thomas

Party: Democrat

District 21: Part of Prince William County

Profession: Lawyer, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

***

Del.-elect Eric Zehr

Party: Republican

District 51: Parts of Campbell, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties

Profession: Farmer, small businessman, former member of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors
Agepro donating 160 hectares for new Cancun prison

Cancun, Q.R.  Land being considered for a new Cancun prison is being donated by the Strategic Projects Agency of Quintana Roo (Agepro). According to Jose Albert Alonso Ovando, Agepro Director, the land for the new Social Reintegration Center (Cereso) is located in the agricultural area of Leona Vicario.

He says the land is 160 hectares, and if given the green light, will be charged by both the Secretariat of Finance and Planning (Sefiplan) and the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC).

The current Cancun Cereso (prison) was built in 1989 for 982 inmates but has a population of 1,825 people, Ovando pointed out. For this reason, prisoner transfers are constant in an attempt to decongest the Cancun prison.

If the new prison project goes ahead, it will be built on state-owned land outside the urban center, but not so far out that it poses a challenge for family to visit inmates.

He said geophysics and soil mechanic studies are currently being done along with topographic surveys to help refine the project. Ovando did not provide details regarding the new facilities such as its building size or how many inmates it might accommodate.
CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers.
Former President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen was disqualified from the polls because he was serving an 11-year jail term for corruption (Mohamed Afrah)

Maldives ex-president Abdulla Yameen will form a new political party, his lawyer said, splitting from his successor's ruling party and posing the new president a major setback ahead of parliamentary polls.

Primarily known as one of the most expensive holiday destinations in South Asia, with pristine white beaches and secluded resorts, the strategic Indian Ocean island nation has also become a geopolitical hotspot.

Global east-west shipping lanes pass the nation's chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands, stretching around 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator.

President Mohamed Muizzu, 45, was sworn in last week after being elected in September as a proxy for his pro-China predecessor Yameen, who was disqualified from the polls because he was serving an 11-year jail term for corruption.

On Friday, Yameen loyalists accused Muizzu of seeking to hijack the leadership of their Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and the former president will now form his own party.

Yameen "chose to resign from the PPM and President Muizzu's coalition", the 64-year-old ex-leader's lawyer Mohamed Jameel told AFP late on Friday.

"Yameen is now forming a new political party and a significant portion of the party is rallying behind him."

Muizzu needs to win a majority in parliamentary elections slated for next year to implement his legislative program.

One of the new president's key election pledges was to evict a small contingent of Indian troops.

Yameen, 64, who was released from jail to serve his sentence from home soon after Muizzu's victory, has felt sidelined, Jameel said.

The new president had not taken calls from Yameen, the lawyer added.

Muizzu's office did not offer any immediate comment.

Yameen leaned heavily on China for both financial and diplomatic support when in power from 2013-2018.

After his election, Muizzu insisted that he was only "pro-Maldives" and was willing to work with all, including China and regional power India.

aj/pjm/aha
WALL LAKE, Iowa -- Sarah Schultz described her husband David as an extremely hard worker who is passionate about livestock and his family. The couple have 10-year-old twin boys.

"He works and he comes home, and that's it," Schultz said by phone Friday afternoon of the 53-year-old Wall Lake man, who went missing earlier this week under mysterious circumstances. "This is suspicious. Something's wrong. This is not something David would do. He would never leave. His family is his life."

David Schultz was last heard from in the early morning hours of Tuesday, according to the Lake View Police Department. The department and the Sac County Sheriff's Office began an investigation into Schultz's whereabouts Tuesday afternoon. Several law enforcement agencies, local fire departments and volunteers conducted a search for Schultz on Wednesday, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Sarah Schultz last saw her husband at about 7:30 p.m. Monday. She said David, who hauls livestock for a living, had been working all day and asked her to grab him a change of clothes.

"He had to do another Seaboard load from Eagle Grove to Sac City," she said. "He just washed up and changed and gave me a kiss and ran out the door. He's always in a hurry."

Schultz said David was eager to get his work done and come back home, since her daughter and grandson were visiting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, on Tuesday morning, Schultz found the man whom David hauls livestock for on her doorstep. David was supposed to transport a load of baby pigs from Eagle Grove to Sac City, but they never arrived.

"He said, 'Have you spoken to Dave?'" Schultz recalled. "I said, 'No.' He said, 'No one can get ahold of him and the pigs haven't been dropped off yet.'"

Schultz repeatedly called her husband's cell phone every few minutes, but those calls went to his voicemail. She said her husband is an owner-operator, meaning he owns his truck and rents the trailer.

"His family is his life. Hauling livestock is his life," she said.

Tuesday afternoon, David's truck was found northeast of Sac City, parked on northbound Highway 71, about five miles north of the old Highway 20 intersection. Schultz said the vehicle was turned off, but it wasn't pulled over to the side of the road. The trailer was still loaded with baby pigs.

"My husband would never do that," she said. "It had been parked there, I'm guessing, for about 12 hours from 3:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. People drove around it all day -- a big red truck -- and didn't turn it in."

She said David's cell phone and wallet, which contained money, were found in the truck. The truck was pointing the wrong direction from where David was headed -- north, rather than south, according to Schultz. There was no sign of David, but his coat was located in a ditch on the opposite side of the road.

"My husband is a truck driver. If he would've come across that, he would have called. No, he would have been mad -- 'Why would someone park like that? It's dangerous,'" Schultz said. "He has such a work ethic and pride in what he does. He would never park like that. So it has me wondering, was he even driving the truck?"

Schultz said law enforcement have searched the area where the truck was found. But, as of Friday afternoon, she said they were just beginning their investigation in Eagle Grove, where her husband loaded the pigs and was last seen.

"The people he loaded the hogs for, the owner, didn't now anything about it until today. The neighboring farm didn't know anything about it until today. People in that area have done nothing to look for him," she said. "The Lake View police have told me they were going to go today, which they just got there this afternoon to talk to people in that area."

Schultz said the United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit organization that organizes search and rescue teams during natural disasters, has offered their services. She said she has been in contact with Jake Rowley, the organization's Midwest team leader, who is organizing a search of the route her husband's truck may have traveled.

"He's getting flyers made and starting a search," she said of Rowley. "They're not going to give up. I feel like this is above the local police, at this point. I feel like someone else should jump in and take charge. I think (the police) are doing what they can -- it's just not enough."

According to a statement from the Sac County Sheriff's Office, Northeast Sac County property owners are being asked to check their properties and outbuildings for "anything out of the ordinary."

"If anything out of the ordinary is observed, please do not disturb the immediate vicinity and let items remain in place before contacting the Sac County Communications Center at 712-662-7127," the statement said.

The Lake View Police Department has asked anyone who has seen or heard from David to contact them at 712-657-2513.

"Thank you for those who have reached out and are sending prayers and concern, helping financially and bringing goods. I would have never expected this. It's overwhelming," Schultz said. "If you can help search, please do. If you know something, call the Lake View Police Department."
SIOUX CITY -- Three Woodbury County supervisors are calling on fellow Republican Jeremy Taylor to resign from the board in the wake of his wife's conviction this week for voter fraud.

The Woodbury County Democratic Party urged the all-GOP board to "move on from Jeremey Taylors serial dramas."

On Tuesday, a federal jury convicted Taylor's wife, Kim, of 52 counts of voter fraud that government prosecutors say was part of a scheme to stuff the ballot box for her husband, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for a U.S. House seat in the 2020 primary before winning election to the board of supervisors that fall.

Jeremy Taylor released a brief statement following the verdict and after he presided over the county board as vice chairman on Tuesday night.

"While this was certainly not the outcome we were hoping for, we respect our court system that allowed the jury to hear my wifes side of the story. We are thankful for our friends, family, and community who know us best and have stood by our side," Taylor said. "While in (Tuesday's) meeting I tried to make the best decisions I could for our countys families, my first priority right now is to deal with todays results in order to be there for my own family, my wife and our children."

So far, the five-member board as a whole has not released a public statement, but three of the four members --Matthew Ung, Mark Nelson, and Dan Bittinger -- contacted by the Journal called on him to voluntarily step aside.

The fifth member, Keith Radig, declined to comment.

Ung, the board chairman, said while the board could vote to remove Taylor from his role as vice chair, there are only approximately five meetings until the board votes for new leadership in 2024.

"I hate this situation, I hate the situation that I'm put in, that the board's put in, but this is what putting principles over politics looks like, it's asking someone that you've served with, done good things with for nine years to resign when things just get truly out of hand," Ung said.

"[The thing] that has everyone in the community confused and upset is who is taking the fall here. My heart goes out to Kim, my heart goes out to their kids ... For instance, there was never a time in my campaigns where I did not know what my wife was doing to help my campaign, it's just simply not something you lose track of."

Bittinger said elected officials have a duty to the citizens to uphold the law and the Constitution while holding each other accountable.

"In my opinion, any elected official of either political party that would be found in this specific situation should resign due to this compromising position," Bittinger said.

Nelson also said those in public offices are expected to have a high level of integrity and responsibility.

"At a time when so many are questioning the validity of their vote this type of conduct only deepens the very real concerns amongst our countrymen," he said. "While I am deeply disturbed at the actions that have been perpetrated right here in Woodbury County the future of Mr. Taylor's public service rests squarely with the voters of Woodbury County."

The Woodbury County Democrats Executive Committee also called for Taylor to step down.

"The Taylors' actions were a cynical bid to manipulate a vulnerable population in ways that benefitted themselves," the county party said in a statement. "For the good of his family and for the good of the County, we call on Mr. Taylor to resign. We urge the Supervisors to move on from Jeremey Taylors serial dramas."

Woodbury County Republican Party Chair Bob Henderson said they would not comment on the situation, as it goes beyond the scope of the organization. Henderson said the organization is intended to seek candidates for elected offices and support candidates in the election. He said beyond that, they have no place in commenting or determining what an elected official does.

"For us to [comment], that would be inappropriate," Henderson, who is also a state legislator from Sioux City.

In Iowa, a county elected official can only be removed by a petition filed by the county attorney. Taylor's term runs through 2024.

Kim Taylor was convicted Tuesday of 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, 23 counts of fraudulent voting and three counts of fraudulent registration.

Throughout the six-day trial, prosecutors said that, in 2020, Taylor, who was born in Vietnam, made contact with a number of Vietnamese voters with limited English language comprehension and filled out and signed voting forms and ballots for them and their English-speaking children in an attempt to stuff the ballot box for her husband.

Prosecutors identified Jeremy Taylor as an unindicted co-conspirator in his wife's trial, but he has not been charged himself. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons, who was one of three prosecutors to present the federal government's case against Kim Taylor, declined to comment on any potential future indictments. The case is still under investigation.

Taylor, the county supervisor from District 5, previously represented District 2, winning two, four-year terms. But he was forced to give up that seat in January 2020 after a local voter challenged his residency in the district. After weighing testimony and evidence in the case, Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill revoked Taylor's voter registration, ruling his primary residence was a home outside the district on Christy Road, rather than a home on Grandview Boulevard where Taylor claimed he lived.

After Taylor lost his bid in 2020 for the Republican nomination for the Iowa 4th Congressional District in June primary voting, he was selected in August by a special Republican County panel to be the county party's nominee for District 3 supervisor. The Republican unseated Democratic incumbent Marty Pottebaum by around 1,800 votes in the November general election.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the number of votes in which Taylor defeated Pottebaum in the 2020 election.
This time of year is a time of both reflection and creating resolutions going forward. I believe there are examples of things for which we should be grateful and things about which should cause concern.

Our area had the good fortune to have many individuals seek local elected office this fall. In Sioux City, there were city council and school board races with multiple candidates. In addition to the number of candidates, the ballot reflected the diversity of the community philosophically, politically, racially, ethnically, and religiously.

Those seeking office appeared to have solid motivations. They sought to improve the community and ensure accountability.

The positions they sought require more time than most citizens are aware of and provide little or no pay. The offices are challenging, often involving emotionally charged issues. We were fortunate to have many choices of quality people. I appreciate all those who put themselves out for public review.

Our local candidates ran on issues they believed impacted the community. They had disagreements on those issues. Some had endorsements from local organizations while others did not. Despite significant differences, the candidates conducted their campaigns on issues or the unique attributes they offered to the community. This was not the case everywhere in Iowa, where local elections were nationalized and often very expensive.

I saw this spirit of public service at a reception for members of Sioux City's boards and commissions (I was recently appointed to the Gjilan Sister City Committee). It was encouraging to see so many people who volunteer in different ways to make the community a better place to live. I was glad to see city leaders take the time to recognize the collective time these citizens contribute.

These commissions are ways for any person to make a difference. There are many openings on these boards for those who wish to participate.

This spirit of positive public-spiritedness was in marked contrast to events at the national level. Around the same time as the events above, witnesses observed one congressman elbow another in the back. At a committee meeting, a senator started to get out of his seat to challenge a witness to a fistfight.

For years, weve seen national politicians verbally attack each other. It should not surprise us that verbal altercations would lead to acts of violence. It is especially disappointing, though, as these elected officials get paid, considerably more compared to local officials. Their salaries are supported by all, including those who vote against them. They govern on behalf of all, even those who vote against them.

The contempt and violence will only increase until leaders reign themselves in or the people demand an end to it. Political rhetoric has gone from considering opponents as being misguided to being treasonous or even vermin.

Describing opponents in dehumanizing terms has historically been a pathway to violence and conflict. I remember how the city of Sarajevo went from hosting the Winter Olympics to being besieged in eight years. We are not at that point, nor is it inevitable. We can choose to tone down the rancor or choose to feed it.

A former Israeli paratrooper made a relevant comment at a recent presentation in Sioux City. He was asked why Hamas launched their barbaric, indiscriminate attack when they did. One contributing factor he cited was the polarization in Israeli society that made it appear it was too fractured to respond.

The citizens who sought local office set a powerful example of issue-based campaigns designed with the intent to govern. It would be beneficial for federal candidates and officeholders to follow their examples.

A Sioux City resident, Steve Warnstadt is government affairs coordinator for Western Iowa Tech Community College. He is a former Democratic state senator and retired Army National Guard brigadier general. He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of one son and one daughter.
When I was in college there was a song that played on the radio called "Stuck In The Middle." The lyrics went "Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you." I thought it was an anti-drug use song, but now I'm not so sure.

(In the Journal's opinion page on Nov. 18), Bruce Lear wrote a column of chaos on the job and moves on to address the political chaos in this country. He starts with the acknowledgement that we have clowns and jokers, then veers into discussing only the jokers on the right.

In fairness let's discuss the clowns on the left. Bill Maher describes the anti-semitism in the Democratic Party as equivalent to the racism of the Ku Klux Klan. These anti-semites are unapologetic. The Labor Party in the United Kingdom has become so anti-semitic that the only elections that it can win are those in Muslim voting districts.

Apparently, now the chaos has gotten into the races for school boards. Apparently, some of those running for school boards are concerned that their children/ grandchildren can and are being exposed to pornagraphy that is considered meaningful and educational by those on the left, and pandering and disgusting to those on the right.

To make matters worse, our students are taught that the "Father of our country" and "composer of the Declaration of Independence" who lived 250 years ago, were bigoted racists. I would like to ask, "Do we just sit back and wait to see if our school boards make the decision that our children "need" to be taught that there is no Santa Claus or even that there is no God?"

The answer is no. Vote your conscience and for your beliefs. Then maybe someday those of us who are "Stuck in the Middle" will again be the ones running this country and the school boards. -- Donald C. Parsons, Sioux City
Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope thanks were given, politics were argued (or conundrums solved), and bellies were overstuffed. Now what are you gonna do with those leftovers?

Youre not going to make some kind of fancy leftover recipe like turkey and leek risotto or turkey samosas. As Jill Hunter Pellettieri wrote in Slate in 2007, these recipes are sad attempts to snazz up leftovers that are better enjoyed on their own. After all, Thanksgiving food, despite what some Philistines might claim, is delicious and does not need to be transformed into a pot pie or tetrazzini.

But eating leftovers the way you ate Thanksgiving dinnerlittle piles of food, eaten one at a timeis a drag! There are a million Tupperwares to deal with, all requiring different heating times in the microwave. Plus, while some foods gain flavor and force from a day in the fridge, Thanksgiving foods do not. Fixing yourself a plate of slightly dry mashed potatoes, soggy stuffing, and lukewarm turkey is never ideal, but its a lot less appetizing when the memory of last nights perfectly-prepared, picturesque meal is still fresh in your mind.

What you want is a way to eat leftovers that gives you all the flavor of Thanksgiving with a minimum of muss and fuss. Reader, I have the solution: the Thanksgiving leftovurrito.

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Step 1: Place modest spoonfuls of your five favorite Thanksgiving leftover items on a plate. I like dark meat, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots. Scoop some of that nasty congealed gravy out of the boat and plop it on top. Cover in plastic wrap, and microwave until the whole shebang is hot and steamy.

Step 2: Heat up a soft tortilla on your range or in the microwave.

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Step 3: Scrape that amazing Thanksgiving mess onto the tortilla. Top with a dollop of cold cranberry sauce for bite. Wrap it up.

Step 4: Enjoy.

Voila! The sloppy aesthetics of the leftover plate dont matter when all the food is neatly wrapped in a soft tortilla. All the flavors of Thanksgiving are married, delivering festive flavor combinations in every bite. The rich caramel of roasted sweet potatoes melds with the slight gaminess of turkey. Stuffing, once soggy and lame, revivifies with a tang of cranberry. Its the essence of the holiday in burrito form. Not unlike Prousts madeleine, the overstuffed leftovurrito delivers gravy-flavored memories of holiday seasons gone by.
Over the past few years, many communities have provided small business grants to small businesses that were negatively affected by the pandemic. But businesses that launched during this period were often left out of these programs. Now, Illinois is working on a new program to support businesses that started during 2020 and 2021. Read about this program and more in the list below.

Illinois B2B New Business Grant Program

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is partnering with Lendistry to run a small business grant program aimed at businesses that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Back to Business New Business Grant Program will provide reimbursement funds between $5,000 and $30,000 to eligible small businesses. The program specifically aims to support businesses in industries that were most negatively affected by the pandemic and did not qualify for state grants or federal emergency support due to their startup status. To qualify, businesses must have a date of incorporation between January 2020 and December 2021. Lendistry and the state will take many factors into account when determining grant amounts, including the date of incorporation and whether the business has a brick-and-mortar or home-based location.

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Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Program

New York state is offering grants of up to $100,000 to help small businesses in Niagara Falls make various improvements. The program includes a total of $5 million in funding, which is allocated for businesses along Pine Avenue, Main Street, and Portage Road. The Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Program will provide grants to cover up to half of the total costs of each project, up to $100,000 per property. Eligible expenses include facade restoration and other mixed-use building upgrades.

York County 2023 BLOOM Grant Program

York County, Pennsylvania is supporting local women-owned small businesses through its 2023 BLOOM Grant Program. The BLOOM Business Empowerment Center, a program of the York County Economic Alliance, is facilitating the program. Eligible businesses owned and operated by women can apply for grants of up to $1,500. The organization will consider each businesss need and the potential impact of their project when determining grant amounts. December 1 is the deadline to apply for the program.

San Marcos Minority Business Stabilization Fund

San Marcos, Texas is offering grants to minority entrepreneurs and small business owners who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The city council allocated about $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Minority Business Stabilization Fund. To qualify, applicants must be in continual operation within San Marcos for at least 12 months before the application date. Grant amounts can range from $1,000 for self-employed entrepreneurs to $10,000 for businesses with up to 25 full-time employees.

Adirondack Rail Trail Small Business Grant

The Franklin County Economic Development Corporation is partnering with the towns of Tupper Lake and Harrietstown, New York to apply for grant funding to improve the Adirondack Railroad and Adirondack Rail Trail. While the towns would receive funding from the grant, the availability of funds could lead to infrastructure and service improvements that also benefit local businesses. And the application must show sufficient need and interest from local businesses. So businesses can fill out an online interest and eligibility form to submit project proposals. The deadline for local businesses to submit proposals is December 11.

Small Business Deals

SCORE Foundation Educational Programming Grants

The SCORE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of business mentorship organization SCORE, recently announced the receipt of financial support for various educational and training programs to benefit small business owners. Specifically, the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation is providing financial support for the workshop Simple Steps for Finding the Right Funding. And The LPL Financial Foundation is supporting a three-part series of national webinars on business planning. Both organizations have supported SCOREs programming in past years as well.
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An American agent, a traitor, and an agent of foreign powers. These are just some of the epithets that MP Lubos Blaha has used to describe President Zuzana Caputova. But as court rulings have shown, in doing so the MP infringed on the personality rights of the president.

IP: 10 largest law firms HAVEL & PARTNERS BRICHTA & PARTNERS MATHISON legal Bukovinsky & Chlipala Allen & Overy PRK Partners IKRENYI & REHAK act MPH advocates TaylorWessing e/n/w/c G. Lehnert Ranking created based on the following criteria (values for 2022): number of IP deals with regard to reward law firm received for them (70% weight); sales revenues (10% weight); points for number of lawyers (20% weight). The ranking reflects also the proportion of each firms hours spent on this category.

The dispute was interesting from both a political and legal point of view. It fell under intellectual property law and, to a certain extent, it could also have influenced the pre-election fight in Slovakia. However, it was just one of a number of interesting legal cases involving some of the largest law firms in Slovakia in the intellectual property category.

Winner once again

In the ranking of the Largest Law Firms in the category of IP law, compiled by the Sme daily and The Slovak Spectator, last years winner, Havel & Partners, came top again.

Ten of the largest law firms in this category provided details for publication of one inspiring deal. Among those published, the most prominent was the already mentioned dispute between the president and Blaha. He persistently verbally attacked the head of state with defamatory and untrue statements.

The dispute went to court, where the president was represented by the law firm TaylorWessing e/n/w/c lawyers. In the end, the MP lost the dispute. The court ordered Blaha, through preliminary injunction, to refrain from publishing and spreading false or misleading statements.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/prime-ministers-of-spain-belgium-reject-israels-criticism-over-stance-on-gaza-1115197552.html

Prime Ministers of Spain, Belgium Reject Israels Criticism Over Stance on Gaza

Prime Ministers of Spain, Belgium Reject Israels Criticism Over Stance on Gaza

Spanish FM Jose Manuel Albares and Belgian PM Alexander De Croo on Friday rejected Israel's accusations of supporting terrorism after their remarks on the situation in the Gaza Strip.

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belgium

spain

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hamas

palestine-israel conflict

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Earlier in the day, Sanchez and De Croo visited Egypt, where the Spanish prime minister called for a lasting ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, and the recognition of an independent Palestinian state. He also slammed the "completely unacceptable" indiscriminate killings of Gaza civilians by Israel. De Croo also called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law.After the press conference the Israeli foreign ministry condemned "the false claims of the Prime Ministers of Spain and Belgium which support terrorism," and summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium. De Croo, for his part, insisted on his "balanced" stance, saying that Belgium condemned terrorism and opposed the killing of civilians by both sides of the conflict. During their Middle East trip, Sanchez and De Croo also visited Israel and the West Bank. The escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas started on October 7. On Friday morning, the sides launched a four-day truce to exchange some of the prisoners and hostages. The deal also committed Israel to allowing daily supply of humanitarian aid and fuel to the Gaza Strip.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/eu-mulls-creating-mechanism-to-prevail-over-us-in-arms-sales---report-1115203278.html

EU Mulls Creating Mechanism to Prevail Over US in Arms Sales - Report

EU Mulls Creating Mechanism to Prevail Over US in Arms Sales - Report

Earlier this month, the CEOs of the largest European defense companies  Saab and Airbus  called on the governments of EU members to cut dependence on the US-made weapons.

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us

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saab

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The European Commission is considering creating a new mechanism to simplify the process of selling arms. The move seeks to overtake the Pentagon in this regard, according to a consultation paper seen by Politico.The US media outlet recalled that while EU governments significantly increased military spending amid the Ukraine conflict, the hefty arms deals have often gone to US defense contractors at the expense of European companies.In light of this, the European Commission is seeking to copy the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) scheme, which allows the governments to buy directly from Washington without going through defense companies. Under the scheme, the governments can accelerate deliveries of equipment by drawing on US Department of Defense stocks.This comes after Breton told a French newspaper earlier that he was "fighting for [European countries] to buy European."In a separate development this week, the chief executives of the largest European defense companies Airbus and Saab  Guillaume Faury and Micael Johansson, respectively  urged EU governments to be less reliant on US weapons.Earlier in November, the Pentagon approved the sale of M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks to Romania in a deal worth a whopping $2.5 billion. The sale followed the Biden administration announcing plans to sell over $1.5 billion worth of missiles to European countries through the FMS scheme.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231113/france-halting-free-arm-transfers-to-ukraine-is-sign-of-europes-exhaustion-1114929350.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231122/eu-drafting-security-plan-for-ukraine-amid-bloc-bickering-over-further-aid-1115125427.html

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brussels' new mechanism to simplify the process of selling arms, the us foreign military sales (fms) scheme, chief executives of the largest european defense companies airbus and saab
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/gazproms-power-of-siberia-gas-pipeline-hits-historic-record-1115204510.html

Gazprom's Power of Siberia Gas Pipeline Hits Historic Record

Gazprom's Power of Siberia Gas Pipeline Hits Historic Record

Power of Siberia is an ambitious bilateral project that is part of the eastern gas route from Siberia to China. In the three years since its launch, it has already surpassed early supply assessments, climbing up to a new record in November.

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russia

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russia

siberia

china national petroleum corporation (cnpc)

gazprom

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On November 23, the Chinese side submitted an application for Russian gas via the Power of Siberia pipeline, which exceeded our daily contractual obligations once again. Gazprom has exported the requested volumes in their entirety and has set a new all-time record of daily gas deliveries to China, the company announced in its social media.The supplies are being carried out as part of a bilateral long-term gas purchase-sale agreement between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). 2023 alone has already seen Gazprom overperforming its contractual liabilities several times.Power of Siberia is the main gas pipeline from Russia to China, covering about 3,000 km. The initial pipeline gas supply was launched from the Chayanda field (Yakutiya, Russia) in late 2019. Three years later, the Kovykta field (Irkutsk Oblast, Russia) began to supply to the pipeline also.Last year, Gazprom exported 15.4 billion cubic meters through Power of Siberia. In 2023 the company expects to reach 22 billion. By 2025, the investment project aims to increase the supply volume up to 38 billion cubic meters on an annual basis.Now, the construction of the 'Power of Siberia 2' (also known as Altai gas pipeline) is in development. The proposed pipeline will export Russian natural gas from the Altai region (Western Siberia) to North-Eastern China through Mongolia. Its designed capacity will stand at 50 billion cubic meters per year.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/if-trump-wins-these-three-states-the-primary-is-over-1115198057.html

If Trump Wins These Three States, The Primary is Over

If Trump Wins These Three States, The Primary is Over

If any of Trump's primary opponents hope to clinch the nomination from under his feet, they must make a move before these three states hold their primaries.

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americas

donald trump

nikki haley

vivek ramaswamy

new hampshire

iowa

south carolina

gop

republican

us

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis remains in the race and is nationally Trumps closest competition. However, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has overtaken DeSantis in critical primary states, including two of the first three contests.Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has also said he is sticking around despite polling under 3% nationally. Political outsider Vivek Ramaswamy is polling around 5% nationally and says he still has a path to victory. Meanwhile, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson are both still running despite polling under 1% nationally.But that doesnt mean Trump has the nomination wrapped up. He still needs to win the primaries and the first three states in particular are known for upending primary campaigns and flipping the political landscape.The Republican primary will kick off on January 15 with the Iowa Caucus, then on January 23, New Hampshire will hold its primary, followed by Nevada on February 8.No Republican has won the partys nomination without winning at least one of those states since the party started holding primaries or caucuses in every state and Washington DC in 1976 and no candidate who won all three has lost.The states have a history of knocking down presumptive nominees as well, as happened in 2004 when Democratic frontrunner Howard Dean (VT) unexpectedly lost Iowa and then gave his infamous Dean Scream campaign speech that received mass ridicule. Deans campaign would never recover and then-Senator John Kerry (MA) became the nominee, eventually losing to President George W. Bush.IowaWith a large lead, Trump is expected to win Iowa, despite his loss to Ted Cruz there in 2016. But if another candidate performs better than expected, it could provide momentum going into New Hampshire and change the race there, breaking Trumps aura of invincibility.While DeSantis remains in second place, Haley has been climbing rapidly, seemingly peeling voters primarily from Trump; in October Haley was polling around 10% while Trump commanded 49%.Despite polling under 5% Vivek Ramaswamys campaign has expressed optimism about his chances in the state, saying that they believe he can win the state.The state looks to be most critical to DeSantis because he is polling very poorly in New Hampshire. Hell need to prove that he is the most viable challenger to Trump if he wants a shot at changing the landscape in New Hampshire and beyond.New HampshireNew Hampshire is notoriously difficult to predict, especially for the Republican nomination. The state has a unique makeup of voters, including a relatively large percentage of libertarian-leaning Republicans. That has resulted in the state becoming critical for dark horse candidates to build momentum, with its voters often bucking the trend of the party.New Hampshires 22 delegates are also distributed proportionately to candidates receiving more than 10% of the vote, allowing strong contenders to make headway in the primary without winning the state.Things went from bad to worse for DeSantis in New Hampshire over the past two weeks. He had already lost his grip on the number two position as far back as August, but starting on November 13, the day after South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott dropped out of the race, he saw an additional drop of 3 points while his opponents seemingly picked up Scotts voters. He now sits below Christie and only 1 point above Ramaswamy.It has been quite the fall from this April, when DeSantis was the clear runner-up in the state, polling more than 20% for most of the month.If Haley performs well and receives enough campaign delegates to portray her performance in the state as essentially a tie, then she would enter her home state of South Carolina with significant momentum.South CarolinaHaving served in the state, Haley is the strongest contender to Trump in the field, though whichever candidate performed best against Trump in Iowa and New Hampshire will likely have the best chance.This was the state where Joe Biden won his first primary on his way to the White House, which led US Media to call it the biggest, fastest and most unexpected comeback in modern political history.Hyperbole aside, it was a historic comeback and that is what Haley and the other contenders will be trying to emulate in South Carolina.Typically, the first states largely set the stage for Super Tuesday on March 5, when more than a dozen states will hold their primary contests. The first three states (along with Michigan, Idaho, Missouri, District of Columbia and North Dakota which also vote before Super Tuesday) are usually when the weaker candidates drop out and Super Tuesday and beyond serve as the battleground for the real contenders.But with Trumps massive lead, that likely wont be the case this year. If anyone is going to beat Trump, history shows they need to win one of the first three states, and then coalesce behind that candidate before Trumps momentum feels inevitable and donors start drying up.Otherwise, and with the Democratic party seemingly refusing to run a primary this election cycle, America will get the election rematch seemingly no one wants.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231109/knives-out-in-third-gop-primary-debate-as-candidates-attack-each-other-defend-israel-1114831741.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/outside-of-partisans-few-americans-want-to-vote-for-biden-or-trump---poll-1113871452.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/israeli-military-intelligence-knew-of-hamas-plans-year-before-escalation---reports-1115203891.html

Israeli Military Intelligence Knew of Hamas Plans Year Before Escalation - Reports

Israeli Military Intelligence Knew of Hamas Plans Year Before Escalation - Reports

Israel's military intelligence knew of Hamas' plans to attack Israel a year before the conflict escalated and reported the information to the Israeli Security Agency, but decision-makers did not take the threat seriously, Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported, citing defense ministry officials.

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world

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Israel's political leaders knew at least some of the intelligence data, but it appears they did not believe Hamas could proceed with the attack plan and breach the border, the officials were cited as saying by the newspaper. On Friday, the Financial Times newspaper reported that a high-ranking Israeli military intelligence officer had called a detailed warning predicting a Hamas attack on October 7 an "imaginary scenario." On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and invaded Israeli communities near the border, killing and abducting hundreds. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a large-scale ground incursion into the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas and rescuing hostages. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 people in Israel and over 14,800 in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231120/female-idf-soldiers-decry-sexism-as-early-warning-of-hamas-activity-was-ignored-1115067774.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/israelis-praise-hostage-release-but-still-determined-to-uproot-hamas--mideast-experts-1115206140.html

Israelis Praise Hostage Release But Still Determined to Uproot Hamas  Mideast Experts

Israelis Praise Hostage Release But Still Determined to Uproot Hamas  Mideast Experts

Hamas released thirteen Israeli hostages on Friday and 14 more are due to be freed on Saturday as part of a deal with Tel Aviv. What do Israelis think of the agreement?

2023-11-25T16:48+0000

2023-11-25T16:48+0000

2023-11-25T17:24+0000

middle east

world

itamar ben-gvir

palestinians

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The four-day truce in the Gaza Strip kicked off on Friday at 8:00 am (GMT+2). As part of the agreement, Hamas will have to return 50 hostages taken during the October 7 attack in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli prisons.On Friday, Hamas freed over two dozen hostages, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thai farm workers and a Filipino. Israel, for its part, freed 39 Palestinians while over 130 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip.Per Melamed, "we are looking at a long, agonizing process" given that Hamas is on the ropes due to the Israeli ground operation. According to him, Hamas is trying to "exhaust as much as possible discount of the hostages, because this is one of the few command cards Hamas has in its position to try to save its role in the Gaza Strip.""Basically, what Hamas likes to do is to prolong as much as possible the whole process, like hoping that it will conflict with almost an endless chain of like short ceasefires," the strategic analyst explained. "In each one of them it will really release a couple of hostages and hope that through that never-ending process of constant ceasefire to these two days, four days, five days a week, it will actually dissolve or evaporate, if you wish, the Israeli military campaign. And so this is roughly speaking, Hamas' tactics."'Battle of Nerves' Between Israel and HamasOn October 7, Hamas and a number of other Palestinian Islamist groups launched a surprise attack from the Gaza Strip by shooting thousands of rockets against Israel and penetrating the nation's settlements, killing many civilians and soldiers and taking hostages.On November 13, the Washington Post released information of the apparent plans of the attackers, claiming that Hamas considered a longer and deeper attack inside Israeli territory in the expectation that it would provoke an overwhelming response from Tel Aviv. According to the newspaper, Hamas was ready for sacrifices among the civilian population to trigger a giant wave of Palestinian resistance in the region, involving the West Bank, and thus bringing attention to the Palestinian cause and ending the ongoing Israel-Arab normalization."Israel on its end will use its cards, namely the military pressure, to push Hamas more and more to the wall and actually to shorten the process of chain of ceasefire that Hamas would like to do. It's a battle of nerves. And in that regard, Hamas has an advantage because of the fact that the Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip simply don't care about the people of Gaza. In their calculations, the agony or the misery or the software of the Gaza people is not something that has any relevance in their calculation. So in that way, Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip have an advantage, quote unquote, in conclusion to Israeli governments that at the end of the day, obviously put the well-being of the civilians and the citizens on top of priorities. So this is just another significant point that we have to be aware of with all the ramifications that comes along with that", continued the expert.A 'Truce' or Just a Pause in Fighting?The unfolding pause in fighting is not actually a "truce", per retired Brig. Gen. Dr. Meir Elran, a senior research fellow and head of three security programs at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.Per The Israel Defense Force (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military will remain at their positions for the next few days, preparing to resume fighting when the truce ends."There is a concern about what's happening," the retired brigadier general said. "People are totally mistrustful of Hamas because of their conduct. And people are concerned and worried that it will not be carried out properly and we will not be able to see our hostages back."Do All Israeli Political Parties Support the Truce?Commenting on Tel Aviv's Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's opposition to what he called a "disaster" hostage deal, the Israeli experts highlighted that only a small group of right-wing hardliners is against the development, while the majority of Israeli policy-makers hailed the agreement."The very notion of a release of our hostages is being accepted overwhelmingly by Israeli citizens all over the political spectrum," he added.Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir has threatened to resign from the Netanyahu cabinet if the Israeli ground operation against Hamas does not resume after the end of the four-day humanitarian pause.Melamed pointed out that the Israeli government agrees on the necessity to eradicate Hamas  designated as a terrorist organization by Tel Aviv  in the Gaza Strip. Since the IDF withdrawal from the strip in 2005, Hamas and Israel have repeatedly waged military actions against each other.In contrast to the Palestinian Authority (PA) that governs the West Bank and acknowledges Israel's right to exist, backing the two-state solution, Hamas sticks to its updated Chart (2017) which stands for non-recognition of Israel; liberating Palestine  the geographical area covering the state of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip  from "Zionists"; and justification of the "resistance against Zionist occupation" by all means possible.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231122/stolen-glory-qatar-not-biden-did-leg-work-to-secure-gaza-truce-1115143166.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/live-updates-idf-hamas-ceasefire-to-enter-force-as-israeli-defense-minister-vows-further-fight-1115179137.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/first-group-of-hostages-released-from-gaza-enter-israel-1115194508.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210516/israeli-publicist-how-could-jewish-state-strike-deal-with-those-who-dont-want-it-to-exist--1082910198.html

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israel, hamas, israel-hamas war, israel-palestine conflict, gaza, gaza strip, israel-hamas hostage deal, hamas released hostages, israeli hostages, idf, idf prepares to resume fight, israel-hamas truce, israel-hamas humanitarian pause
UN Says Record Number of Humanitarian Aid Trucks Arrived in Gaza November 25

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the largest number of humanitarian aid trucks had arrived in the Gaza Strip on November 25 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict escalated on October 7.

"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirms that 61 trucks of aid were delivered to northern Gaza today, the largest number since October 7," the UN said in a statement on its website.

It said they included food, water and emergency medical supplies, adding that eleven ambulances, 3 coaches and a flatbed were delivered to Al Shifa hospital to assist with evacuations.

"Another 200 trucks were dispatched from Nitzana. Of them 187 entered Gaza by 7:00 pm local time. In addition, 129,000 liters of fuel crossed into Gaza. None of these deliveries would have been possible without the Palestinian and Egyptian Red Crescent Societies. The longer the pause lasts, the more aid humanitarian agencies will be able to send in and across Gaza," the UN said.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/putin-posthumously-awards-reporter-killed-in-ukraine-with-order-of-courage--kremlin-1115200658.html

Putin Posthumously Awards Reporter Killed in Ukraine With Order of Courage  Kremlin

Putin Posthumously Awards Reporter Killed in Ukraine With Order of Courage  Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on posthumously awarding the Order of Courage to Boris Maksudov, a correspondent for the Rossiya 24 TV channel, who died from wounds he received in the Ukrainian shelling, according to a document released on Saturday.

2023-11-25T08:08+0000

2023-11-25T08:08+0000

2023-11-25T08:08+0000

russia

vladimir putin

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"For the courage and bravery shown while performing professional duty, to award the Order of Courage to Boris Bakhtiyarovich Maksudov, a correspondent of the information channel Rossiya 24  (posthumously)," the decree read. On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian armed forces had hit a group of Russian reporters, who were covering Ukrainian attacks targeting settlements, with drones filled with fragmentation shells in the Zaporizhzhia Region, adding that Maksudov had been injured. The next day, Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov said that Maksudov had died of the received injuries. Boris Maksudov worked for the Rossiya 24 TV channel for the last several years, covering events from hot spots. He was reporting from the Zaporizhzhia Region for the last month. On November 18, Maksudov celebrated his 38th birthday.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231123/russian-reporter-injured-in-ukrainian-attack-on-wednesday-dies-1115157573.html

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russian president vladimir putin has signed a decree on posthumously awarding the order of courage to boris maksudov, a correspondent for the rossiya 24 tv channel, who died from wounds he received in the ukrainian shelling, according to a document released on saturday.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/thousands-rally-in-berlin-against-conflicts-in-ukraine-and-gaza-1115206563.html

Thousands Rally in Berlin Against Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza

Thousands Rally in Berlin Against Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza

Some 10,000 people are reported to have taken part in the demonstration.

2023-11-25T16:33+0000

2023-11-25T16:33+0000

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Thousands of protesters have flooded the center of Berlin to oppose the governmental military support to the Kiev regime, as well as demonstrate their solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing violence in Gaza. According to media reports, 10,000 participants have been registered to voice their discontent regarding the Ukraine and Palestine crises. "No to wars  stop the madness of armaments  for a peaceful and just future", banners read. Among other demands, participants called for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and an immediate cease of further arms supplies to Kiev.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/thousands-strong-rally-takes-place-in-berlin-for-negotiations-on-gaza-ukraine-1115209203.html

Thousands-Strong Rally Takes Place in Berlin for Negotiations on Gaza, Ukraine

Thousands-Strong Rally Takes Place in Berlin for Negotiations on Gaza, Ukraine

A rally took place in Berlin with thousands of participants going against the supply of weapons to Ukraine and for a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

2023-11-25T21:35+0000

2023-11-25T21:35+0000

2023-11-25T21:35+0000

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In an opening speech, Wagenknecht accused the German government of applying double standards in its assessment of the Ukrainian conflict and the "merciless bombing" in the Gaza Strip, the correspondent reported. The politician criticized the government's spending on the German military production at a time when the nation faces several internal problems, such as a shortage of teachers, hospital closures and aging infrastructure. She also criticized the government's decision to stop holding down energy and electricity prices. In leaflets distributed to demonstrators, protest organizers called for peace talks in all the world's conflict zones, the report read. After the speech, rally participants marched past the Bundestag and back to the original meeting point, carrying placards calling for peace and an end to Russophobia, the Sputnik correspondent reported. On October 23, Wagenknecht, who had criticized Germany's military aid to Kiev and sanctions against Russia, said she had left the Left Party and intended to found a new political party with several close associates that would stand for "reason and justice." About 14% of Germans were ready to support the new party, polls showed.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/ukraines-western-weapons-will-stop-firing-in-cold-weather---expert--1115199617.html

Ukraines Western Weapons Will 'Stop Firing in Cold Weather - Expert

Ukraines Western Weapons Will 'Stop Firing in Cold Weather - Expert

When at the frontline, Ukrainian soldiers have to grapple with a whole array of problems pertaining to military equipment, logistics and everyday life, Russian military expert and retired colonel Anatoliy Matviychuk told Sputnik.

2023-11-25T09:58+0000

2023-11-25T09:58+0000

2023-11-25T09:58+0000

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The Ukrainian Army enters the second winter of its armed conflict with Russian forces trying to tackle the biting cold, mud and an invasion of mice in the trenches and dugouts. Ukraine has already lost its Soviet- and Russian-made equipment, which is fully designed to operate in northern areas with low temperatures, Anatoliy Matviychuk, a military expert and retired colonel, told Sputnik. According to him, such equipment was fitted with special heaters for the cold snap.Nonetheless, Western military equipment is not designed for such scenarios, he explained.He suggested that as with last year, the 2023-24 winter could see Ukrainian soldiers face the same problems pertaining to their military equipment being affected by severe weather conditions.When asked what other factors are of importance to soldiers at the frontline, he mentioned the supply of medicine and food, as well as the replenishment of personnel and sanitary and the epidemiological situation.Matviychuk also touched upon the problem of mice invading Ukrainian trenches, recalling that these animals spread a spate of infectious diseases, including tularemia.His remarks come after the Ukrainian Armys ommander-in-hief General Valery Zaluzhny admitted in an exclusive interview with the UK's Economist magazine earlier this month that Kiev needs to take a massive technological leap to break the current stalemate in its counteroffensive against Russian troops.There will most likely be no deep and beautiful breakthrough, he said, adding that NATOs textbooks and the math that Kiev did to plan the counteroffensive had failed to prevent Russian forces from effectively tackling Ukrainian troops.Shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, the US and its allies stepped up their military supplies to Kiev. Moscow has repeatedly warned that NATO countries are "playing with fire" by supplying arms to the Kiev regime, which the Kremlin said adds to prolonging the conflict. For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has emphasized that any shipment of weapons to Kiev is to be considered a legitimate target for Russian forces.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231123/bone-chilling-cold-vermin-and-drones-ukrainian-troops-detail-21st-century-trench-warfare-1115161263.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/no-ammo-no-hope-how-ukraines-shell-shortage-and-manpower-deficit-may-change-conflict-1115190773.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/us-german-peace-talks-plot-shows-west-on-brink-of-losing-ukraine--professor--1115207552.html

US-German 'Peace Talks Plot' Shows West on Brink of Losing Ukraine

US-German 'Peace Talks Plot' Shows West on Brink of Losing Ukraine

The two Western powers are reportedly trying to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into entering into talks with Russia, per German newspaper Bild. What's behind the report and its timing?

2023-11-25T17:28+0000

2023-11-25T17:28+0000

2023-11-28T20:09+0000

us

analysis

volodymyr zelensky

opinion

ukraine

russia

kiev

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nato

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Washington and Berlin have reportedly kicked off a plot to push Ukraine for negotiations with Russia by slashing military supplies to Kiev and leaving Volodymyr Zelensky with little if any options, according to the German publication. According to Bild, there is also a plan B envisaging a frozen conflict that would solidify a new quasi-border between Ukraine and Russia along the contact line.The second aspect is an interview given by the leader of the Servant of the People faction, Davyd Arakhamia, which is "clearly synchronized with the West." According to Evstafiev, it is "even more indicative against the backdrop of problems at the front."Speaking to Ukrainian journalists, Arakhamia noted that Russia's main condition during the March 2022 peace talks with Kiev was Ukraine's neutrality and guarantees that the Eastern European country wouldn't join NATO. (It was Arakhamia who headed the Ukrainian delegation during the negotiations with Russians in Belarus and Turkiye in 2022.) In addition, he debunked the Western media narrative that Russia does not want to negotiate peace with Ukraine by saying that Moscow is open to talks and it may start them when Kiev is ready."Assistance from the European Union will be largely aimed at maintaining the functionality of the public administration system and some kind of social support, but not so much for military support. Therefore, the first point is that support for Kiev has become toxic in terms of politics. "The second point, which is absolutely clearly visible from the statements of Western sources, is that Kiev now faces the last moment when it can lay claim to more or less acceptable terms of a truce with Moscow. () The third point  which Westerners do not conceal  is that Russia will agree to any starting conditions for these negotiations. Arakhamia speaks about this directly, openly and without hesitation."West Gives Nothing Short of Ultimatum to ZelenskyPer the German newspaper, the US and Germany are going to supply Ukraine with limited amounts of weapons that would be enough to hold the line but not enough to launch a new offensive. This, the publication claims, would force Zelensky to consider a peace deal.Still, Evstafiev believes that the West wouldn't waste time on convincing Zelensky to start talks. It's more likely that they would give him an ultimatum: either he joins Russia at the negotiating table or his successor will. Zelensky is by no means indispensable in the eyes of the West, according to the professor.The West "needs a person who is willing to buy time in exchange for territory," said Evstafiev. Someone would stabilize the state system in Ukraine, carry out some reforms, ease the pressure on Ukrainians, "because the Zelensky regime has tightened the screws in terms of political and religious freedoms much deeper than is acceptable for the Americans and Germans," per the expert.When it comes to Zelensky, it would be very hard for him to reverse his months-long position on peace talks with Russia, according to Evstafiev. One should keep in mind that previously, the Ukrainian president issued a decree making bargaining with Moscow illegitimate. "This is absolutely unacceptable for Zelensky and his entourage," the professor remarked.(During a major armed conflict between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (1954-1962) then-French President Charles de Gaulle came to the conclusion that continuing to hold on to Algeria, then a French colony, would exhaust France's resources and weaken its position in Europe. On July 5, 1962, Algeria won independence.)Why Has West Started Pushing Ukrainian Peace Talks Narrative?While some Western policy-makers apparently view Commander-in-Chief Gen. Valery Zaluzhny as Ukraine's de Gaulle, the problem is that he is unlikely to give up ambitions of taking back the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, according to Evstafiev. Both regions voted in local referendums to join Russia and officially became Russia's new territories starting from September 2022.Given that hardliners within the Ukrainian civil and military leadership are still strong, the West has a limited number of options. Hence plan B  a "frozen conflict"  cited by the German newspaper."All these negotiations are just an attempt to gain time to stabilize the internal situation in the territory now controlled by the Kiev regime. In my opinion, this needs to be paid attention to," Evstafiev pointed out.What's behind the West's attempts to stabilize the situation at all costs? The answer is clear, per the academic:

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/no-ammo-no-hope-how-ukraines-shell-shortage-and-manpower-deficit-may-change-conflict-1115190773.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/prof-zelensky-is-doomed-western-leaders-came-to-ukraine-to-test-kiev-regime-viability-1115103463.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231122/maidan-3-zelensky-has-good-reason-to-be-scared-of-regime-change---us-vet-1115140735.html

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On Friday, Nov. 24, Freehold Raceway hosted the "Turkey Trot race, sponsored by Peter and Mary Grandich, to benefit The Blessing Bag Brigade of New Jersey, a humanitarianism organization that helps homeless people in need.

Austin Siegelman had the pleasure of winning this race quite easily from post one with 1-9 favourite B Nicking for Scott DiDomenico, a 4-1/2 length winner in 1:57.2.

Together, Siegelman, Tyler Miller and Vinny Ginsburg won all but one of the 11 races that took place at the New Jersey half-mile oval on Friday.

Vinny Ginsburg opened the card with a win after a gutsy trip with the John-Urbanski-trained Girl Almighty. After settling in fourth for the first three-quarters, Ginsburg steered his 2-1 mount three-wide around the leaders in the final turn and the bold move paid off as they paced to victory in 1:57.3.

Tyler Miller contributed the most wins with four victories. His first win took place in race two where he led the way around the track from post one with 4-5 shot Two Friskie To Pet for trainer Izzy Estrada, winning in 1:57.1.

Siegelman entered the mix in race three where he patiently sat the rail with 1-9 Bluebird Crush from post three for Jeff Smith. He let two challengers overtake him but ultimately got the best of them and went right around them in the stretch to earn his first win of the day in 1:59.4.

In race four, Miller sat the pocket with 1-9 fave Dont Trip from post four and pulled at the three-quarter pole and went on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:57.3 for trainer Maria Reid. He returned in race five with Sheeznotkidncowboy, where he left from post seven and was able to capture the lead and maintain it until the finish. The filly picked up her first pari-mutuel win for trainer Alexz Goldin, with the mile timed in 2:00.4.

Race six resulted in another victory for Siegelman. He patiently sat the rail from post four with LA Magic for Edwin Quevedo and waited until the three-quarter pole to erupt three-wide around his challengers and take over the lead for the remainder of the race. He hit the wire in 1:58.2

Steve Smith was the only other driver to visit the winners circle for the day as he steered Smooth Debate N  a horse he co-owns  to a 1:56.1 victory in race seven for Karen Garland.

Race nine was an exciting battle between Siegelman and Miller, who were both looking to score for their fourth time of the day. Miller captured the early lead from the rail with Lazin On The Beach and fended off some pressure from outside to maintain his prime position. Siegelman settled in sixth with Eden Paige N for the first half. However, in the third turn he steered his mount three-wide around his competitors and easily claimed the first-over position and the head-to-head duel began with Miller for the final quarter. Miller was able to hold onto the lead and claimed the grand-slam honours with the Edwin Quevedo trainee, giving Quevedo a training double, winning in 1:58.

Vinny Ginsburg took care of the last two races. He piloted 8-5 choice Crazy About Pat from fourth on the rail to first-over to battle the 3-5 Siegelman-steered favourite after the half. The two dueled the rest of the way but Ginsburg and the Paul Fusco trainee ended up on top at the wire in 2:00 He rounded out the card with a 1:58.1 win aboard 3-1 shot Cutting Humor for trainer Kenny Anderson after a perfect pocket trip

Live racing returns Saturday, Nov. 25 at Freehold with 11 more races beginning at 12:30 p.m.

(Freehold)
Starlight Dancer and catch-driver Travis Cullen pulled off a 12-1 upset as they spoiled the chances of a series sweep for a pair of rivals in the $48,100 final of the Harvest Series for Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night, Nov. 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Starlight Dancer left from post three to secure the early lead through a :28 opening quarter before Honey Love then 8-5 favourite Godiva Shadow Girl -- both perfect through the preliminary legs of the series and drawing outside posts for the final -- traded turns on the lead.

James MacDonald, who stuck with Godiva Shadow Girl for the series finale, guided the favourite to the top through a :56.4 half over Honey Love, with Bob McClure catch-driving, but Cullen launched Starlight Dancer first-up to confront the leader as they raced to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Starlight Dancer drew clear into the stretch and held off Premier Delight, closing off her cover for Jody Jamieson, to win by a half-length in 1:54.2. Honey Love got up for third leaving a wall of five horses to fight it out for the minor spoils in a blanket finish.

Top five in the opening leg of the series and a runner-up in round two, Starlight Dancer was sent postward at odds of 12-1 and returned $26.80 for the upset win.

"At times she's pretty keen and they told me to give her a good shot, get her up close," said Cullen in a post-race interview. "I took a shot as hard as I could around the last turn because they said the last 100 yards she gets a little weak, but she fought right to the wire today."

Cullen added that the filly looks to have a bright future ahead.

"She's very high speed, but she's just really hot -- I think she needs to mature a little bit."

Cullen catch-drove the Artspeak-Thorne Seelster filly for trainer Melissa Lamoureux and owner/breeder 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Ottawa, Ont. -- the same connections that upset the Harvest Series final for two-year-old pacing fillies on Nov. 6 with Tamara Hanover.

Starlight Dancer matched her lifetime mark taken in her career debut in June 2022. The filly, who counts an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division among her two wins as a freshman, improved her lifetime record to 4-5-4 from 24 starts and boosted her bankroll to nearly $150,000.

The series was for non-winners of $30,000 in 2023 as of Sept. 30.

Stepping up in class to the $32,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace, Stonebridge Farm's Annabelle Hanover defeated favourite Dabarndawgswatchin to remain perfect in two Canadian starts since joining the Gregg McNair stable this month.

Picking up the catch-drive, Sylvain Filion left with 3-1 second choice Annabelle Hanover from post six before getting shuffled to third as Tells On A Roll rolled on by at the :27.2 quarter pole for Travis Cullen with the parked out Dabarndawgswatchin and Louis-Philippe Roy hot on their heels.

The 4-5 bettors' choice cleared to command down the straightaway and hit the half in :56 then raced to three-quarters in 1:23.3.

As Dabarndawgswatchin started to open up three lengths on top turning for home, Filion tipped Annabelle Hanover out in pursuit and they swept by down the stretch with :27.1 final-quarter speed to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.2. Goudawon closed for third in rein to Trevor Henry.

Annabelle Hanover has now earned seven wins from 29 starts this year. A 25-time career winner, the six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Always On A Roll mare has banked $576,593 lifetime in purses.

She returned $8.50 to win.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park
Trainer Rick Bertrand sent out three winners on last weeks opening-night card at Cal Expo, but youll excuse him if he wasnt here to get his picture taken.

He was on his way driving a trailer to Tioga Downs in New York with donations to support the horsemen who lost 31 horses and their equipment in a horrific fire.

In response to the tragedy, Rick agreed to drive his eight-horse trailer, while Dave Dobbelmann and Jose Castillo donated their horse Candall.

On Nov. 11, California horsemen loaded their donations along with Candall and wished Rick a safe trip along with his friend Mike Frenak.

Rick arrived at The Meadows last Friday night at about the same time the horses were stepping onto the track for opening night at Cal Expo and from across the country Bertrand watched three of his proteges get the job done.

The next evening, the trailer packed with donations and Candall arrived at Tioga Downs.

We made six stops in five states, Rick related. We picked up donations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

I knew two of the horsemen who lost everything in the fire, Sparky and Sheri Clarke, and I was more than happy to do anything I could to help.

Open Trot, Pick 4 carryover at Cal Expo

Mandeville and Body Armor, who gave owner/trainer Gerry Longo a 1-2 finish in last weeks Open Trot, head the cast for Sunday nights $8,800 main event at Cal Expo.

There will be nine races conducted under the Watch and Wager LLC banner with first post set for 4:55 p.m.

There is a Pick 4 carryover of $13,500 with a guaranteed gross pool of $40,000 and the sequence begins on the sixth race. The Pick 4 is a 20-cent wager featuring a reduced 16 percent takeout.

While Mandeville prevailed in last weeks clash at the head of the trotting class, it was Body Armor who caught the eye with his runner-up finish as the odds-on favourite.

With Longo in the sulky he made a break at the start and found himself 13 lengths behind the leader at the first call. Body Armor put in a huge mile but had to settle for the exacta completion behind Mandeville.

Body Armor comes into this assignment with 15 wins from his 57 starts and a 1:52.4 mark that was set at The Meadows last year.

Mandeville will leave from the outside post in the field of nine with Luke Plano back at the controls. He sat the pocket in last weeks foray and came away nice at the end for the score.

He is looking for his 59th victory from 242 trips to post with a $503,972 career bankroll.

Rounding out the field are Louis, Pridecrest, Dylan The Great, Serene Hall, Peters Royalty, Major Al Mar and Teachmehowtotory.

(Cal Expo)
The Iredell County Health Department announced the upcoming Empower Minds, Break Chains summit, a crucial event addressing the intersection of mental health and substance misuse. In partnership with McLeod Centers for Wellbeing, Integrated Care of Greater Hickory, non-profits Recovery NC, and Day One Recovery Homes, this summit aims to foster a community understanding of these complex issues. Scheduled for Dec. 15 at the Statesville Civic Center, the summit will bring together professionals, advocates, and community members to learn more about mental health and substance misuse struggles. Keynote speakers Melissa Cruse, NCCPSS, CADC-R, ICGH program coordinator and Wayne McMeans, NCCPSS, CADC-R, ICGH lead peer support specialist, will share education through stories designed to enhance understanding and collaboration in the realm of mental health and substance misuse.

Were teaming up, sharing stories that hit close to home, making sure everyone knows theyre not alone in their mental health and substance misuse journey, said Dinikia Savage, health promotion coordinator at the Iredell County Health Department. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with local resources and organizations dedicated to supporting those affected by mental health and substance misuse issues.

The collaborative effort between the Iredell County Health Department, McLeod Centers for Wellbeing, Integrated Care of Greater Hickory, nonprofit Recovery NC, and Day One Recovery Homes underscores a commitment to a holistic, community-centered approach. By joining forces, these organizations aim to break down barriers, destigmatize mental health, and create a path towards lasting recovery and well-being for all.

The summit will be hosted at the Statesville Civic Center, located at 300 S. Center St. Statesville from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Space for this no-cost event is limited. To sign-up, visit: https://EmpowerMindsBreakChains.eventbrite.com
Virginia teens are being encouraged to jingle their way to a safe holiday by creating a safe driving song or tune for a statewide competition and a chance to win cash prizes of up to $500.

The Jingle Your Way to a Safe Holiday: Buckle Up and Celebrate Responsibly Contest is happening now across the Commonwealth with a goal to keep teen drivers and passengers safe during the Christmas and New Years holidays. The contest, sponsored by Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO), the Virginia State Police (VSP), State Farm, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), is an effort to reduce teen fatalities during what has become a high-risk period for young drivers.

Over the past three years during the month of December, 17 teens aged 15 to 19 have died in motor vehicle crashes in the Commonwealth and 1,235 were injured, according to statistics from DMV. During the same time period, young drivers aged 15-19 accounted for 4,245 crashes and 14 fatal crashes in the Commonwealth during the month of December. Many of the fatalities occurred when teens were on break for the Christmas holiday.

This fun and educational initiative is designed to encourage teens to buckle up and celebrate and drive safely throughout the holidays. The jingle competition is open to Virginia youth ages 11-19 and involves developing a safe driving jingle (short song or tune) that promotes traffic safety and the holiday campaign theme. Teens are encouraged to enter the contest individually and/or as part of a school club or youth group. Jingle entries must be in video format and no more than 30 seconds in length. Submissions are due to YOVASO by December 7, 2023 at 11:59pm. The top six jingles in the middle and high school division, as selected by YOVASO staff, will be shared on the Holiday Campaign landing page for public voting December 11-14, 2023. The winning jingle in both divisions will be announced on December 15, 2023, and will be shared on social media throughout the Christmas holiday to remind students to buckle up and drive safely.

The winning jingle in the high school division will receive a $500 cash prize; second place will receive $200 and third will receive $100. The winning middle school jingle will receive $200 with second place being awarded $100 and third place $50. All prizes are made possible by a grant from State Farm. For the official jingle guidelines, winner selection process, and prize information, visit the YOVASO website or Holiday Campaign Page.

The jingle competition is a fun and creative way for teens to remind each other to buckle up and drive safely during this high-risk period, said Mary King, YOVASO Program Manager. We know all youth and teens love music and these safe driving jingles are a great way to reach youth statewide. We encourage all teens and youth groups to get creative and have fun while creating a catchy and memorable jingle for the holidays.

For more information on how your teen, school, or youth group can get involved, contact Casey Taylor, Program Development Coordinator at 540-739-4392 or email casey.taylor@vsp.virginia.gov.

YOVASO is Virginias peer-to-peer education and leadership program for young driver and passenger safety. Through YOVASO, teens work to advocate for safer driving among their peers and to develop positive prevention strategies for their schools and communities. YOVASO is administered by VSP and funded through grants from the Virginia DMV. Membership in YOVASO is free and open to all Virginia high schools, middle schools, and youth groups.
Pacific Tech Construction, a general contractor founded by Kelso High School graduates Joe Lane and Cal Miller, recently won a contract to build a NASA facility in New Orleans for more than $100 million.

Pacific Techs bid was for the NASA Michoud Assembly Building project, which will repair damages caused to multiple NASA facilities in the city from Hurricane Ida in 2021. The deal is valued just shy of $108.3 million, according to a press release from Pacific Tech.

The contract is to repair the roof of a manufactory known as Building 103. Designed to construct large parts, the facility covers 21 acres and is central to building NASAs Space Launch System, critical to deep-space operations, according to the release.

In the announcement, the organization also said it is honored to contribute to a project of national importance. The project is set to be completed in December 2027.

Read more about Kelso:
Kelsos 77-year-old downtown drug store is closing next week after being purchased by Rite Aid  the national drugstore chain going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Furness Drug & Gift at 114 S. Pacific Ave. is set to close Wednesday, said manager Jenny Fjermestad, who has been employed at the pharmacy for last four decades and whose father Larry Schmidt previously owned the business.

Fjermestad said the pharmacy is closing because profits were waning, despite filling roughly 350 prescriptions a week.

She said customers have been directed to Rite Aid to fill future prescriptions, and at the end of the month, the Furness Drug phone number will be automatically rerouted to Rite Aids number.

Furness was last owned by Hi-School Pharmacy, originally formed in Vancouver and now with a dozen regional locations, some of which, like Furness, run under independent names.

Neither a Rite Aid nor Hi-School Pharmacy representative could be reached for comment prior to deadline.

However, Fjermestad said Rite Aid is set to officially take over Dec. 1. The plan is to close the 2,500-square-foot downtown Kelso store and transfer inventory to a nearby location.

She said as of Nov. 22, none of the three Furness employees were offered jobs at Rite Aid.

In the wake of its bankruptcy filing, Rite Aid is set to close almost 100 stores nationwide.

Eleven stores in Washington state are slated to close, according to an October court filing reported by the Associated Press, but neither the Kelso Rite Aid near Wilco nor the Longview location in the Triangle Shopping Center are included on the list.

Evolving downtown

Furness Drug originally opened in 1946 by brothers Orion and Clifford Furness, according to The Daily News archives. The pair also briefly owned Miller Longview Drug on Commerce Avenue and Cross Roads drug store on 30th Avenue in Longview.

Pharmacist Schmidt took over full ownership of Furness in 1988 after being partners with Cliff Furness for 15 years, according to a TDN article. Orion Furness died almost a decade prior to the sale.

Fjermestad said her father renamed the store LJs Furness Drug, and sold the business to Hi-School Pharmacy in 2019 when he was ready to retire.

County records show Schmidt still owns the property, built in 1923 and assessed at $223,540 in 2022. Fjermestad said her father would like to lease or sell the space to another business.

She said downtown used to be a thriving location, with a nearby grocery store and more banks, unlike today. But she also admitted its been hard to compete with chain pharmacies open more days and later hours than Furness.

Cowlitz County Economic Development Council Vice President Lindsey Cope said that area of Kelso used to be a booming little community, but the section is slowly becoming what it once was.

Cope recently re-established a Kelso business organization  the Kelso Business & Community Association  applying to be part of a national program that aims to revitalize downtowns. The program is a subsect of America in Bloom, the organization credited for drawing new businesses to downtown Castle Rock.

Since 1966, Jonathan Rodebacks family has owned First Avenues Castle Rock Pharmacy. Rodeback said people continue to choose his independent pharmacy over chains because of the tailored customer service and ability to quickly fill prescriptions compared to overrun big box stores.

Fjermestad said Furness intimate customer service also drew patrons from nearby chain pharmacies, because Furness is a place where people know your name.

Some customers have been with the drugstore since it opened, Fjermestad added, and some have cried learning of the closure.

Im sad for our customers because theyve been loyal to us through thick and thin, she said. Thats probably the hardest part.

Senior association meeting As part of the bankruptcy, Rite Aid is selling its pharmacy benefit company Elixir to MedImpact Healthcare Systems, according to Rite Aid. The Kelso Senior Center Association is holding a Medicare Q&A at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at 106 Eighth Ave., Kelso, to discuss how the change could affect those who have Elixir.

Read more:
Angel Trees

Salvation Army Angel Trees in Longview and Kelso will have tags listing suggested gifts available until Dec. 15. Drop off the new, unwrapped gift at the location the tag was picked up at or at the Salvation Army office at 1639 10th Ave., Longview.

Families with children aged 0-12 years may be eligible for the Angel Tree program. To apply, visit saangeltree.org.

Angel Tree Locations Walmart, 540 Seventh Ave. and 3715 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview.

Fred Meyer, 3184 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview.

Sweet Spot Yogurt, 1015 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview.

Starbucks, 808 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview.

Cowlitz County PUD, 961 12th Ave., Longview.

Hall of Justice, 312 First Ave., Kelso.

Hilander Dental, 510 Allen St., Kelso.

Riverwoods Chiropractic & Massage, 820 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview.

Bill Ammons collections

Bill Ammons of Castle Rock collects year round donations such as clothes, school supplies, furniture, holiday gifts and more. Call Ammons, who previously owned Pacific Barber Shop in Kelso, at 360-274-7811 to arrange to drop off donations or have them picked up.

Community House on Broadway

The nonprofit Community House on Broadway is looking for new or old wrapping paper for holiday gifts. People are asked to drop off donations at the front desk at 1105 Broadway St., Longview.

Coopers Giving Tree

The Toutle Volunteer Firefighter Association is accepting nominations for Coopers Giving Tree until Dec. 1. Email public.ed@cowlitz3fire.org to nominate a family or child. All nominations are confidential.

Tags with suggested gifts will be available on the tree outside the fire station at 5055 Spirit Lake Hwy., Toutle. Gift drop-off is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all gifts are due by Dec. 9.

For the Love of Coop

For the Love of Coop is accepting nominations of families in need for their Christmas assistance program until Dec. 1. The drive started in 2020 as a way for the family to give back after the death of their 2-year-old. To nominate a family, email fortheloveofcoop@outlook.com with their contact information, the number of children and why you are nominating them.

Volunteer to adopt a family for Christmas by emailing fortheloveofcoop@outlook.com. Donate funds through Venmo @fortheloveofcoop or donate items such as diapers, underwear, socks, shoes, coats and personal hygiene items at Kelle Hall, 1140 11th Ave., Longview. Donations are accepted 4-7 p.m., Dec. 8.

Gilmore/Knowles Childrens Community Center

The centers grand opening is 11 a.m., Dec. 4 at the YMCA of Southwest Washington, 766 15th Ave., Longview. Trees with tags listing suggested gifts will be available in 22 local businesses. The tags have the age, 0-18, and gender of a child in need. After gifts are purchased they are returned, unwrapped, to the business or the YMCA. Beginning Dec. 5, volunteers will take applications from families wanting assistance from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. People interested in volunteering can call 360-577-6060 until Dec. 4. The center is also looking for donations of new or gently used coats in all sizes. Those interested can drop the coats off at the YMCA, Orchid Cleaners or call the center starting in December.

Childrens Community Christmas Center locations Sweetspot Frozen Yogurt Calvary Community Church Bob's Sporting Goods Bud Clary Chevrolet YMCA Les Schwab Tire Center, Industrial Way location Hannah's Hair Salon

Giving Tree

Giving Tree locations across Longview, Kelso and Rainier will be available until Dec. 4. The trees have tags listing the age and gender of the child receiving the gift, the requested item, the size of the item and drop-off instructions.

Drop off gifts at Fresh Attitude Dance Studio at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso. Gifts can be wrapped or unwrapped, and The Giving Tree is also accepting donations of wrapping supplies and gift bags.

Longview-Kelso Giving Trees Fresh Attitude Dance Studio, Three Rivers Mall, Kelso. Father's House Church, 1128 Washington Way, Longview. Longview Pentecostal Church, 4333 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview. Halo Salon and Boutique, 1215 Commerce Ave., Longview. Sportsman's Warehouse, Three Rivers Mall, Kelso. Stuffy's II, 804 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview. Grocery Outlet, 920 Ocean Beach Hwy., Longview. JoJo + CoCo Boutique, 1267 Commerce Ave., Longview. Matt's Custom Meats, 1255 Alabama St., Longview. The Family Room, Three Rivers Mall, Kelso.

Rainier Giving Trees Alston Corner Assembly of God, 25272 Alston Rd. Rainier Community Church of God, 321 W. C St. Hometown Pizza, 109 E. A St. Cornerstone Cafe, 102 E. A St. Luigi's Pizza, 119 E. First St. Deli Store and More, 75724 Rock Crest St. Rainier Senior Center, 48 W. Seventh St. Chevron, 312 W. B St. Grocery Outlet, 215 W. B St. Dollar General, 211 W. B St.

Janus Youth Programs of Cowlitz County

Janus Youth Programs, which runs a local street youth service program, is looking for donations of $25 gift cards to locations such as grocery stores, coffee shops, Ulta, fast food restaurants or gas stations to give as Christmas gifts to youth in the program. Gift cards can be dropped off at Forest, Stone & Sea in The Merk at 1339 Commerce Ave., Longview or at Janus House at 202 Washington St., Longview.

Call 360-353-5545 for more information or to sponsor a gift request.

Rick Huckaby Memorial Toy and Food Drive

KUKN radio station and the ARRR Pirates are holding the fourth annual Rick Huckaby Memorial Toy and Food Drive 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Tam OShanter Park in Kelso to benefit the Gilmore/Knowles Childrens Community Christmas Center and VFW Local 1045. Visitors can take photos with Santa.

Donations can be dropped off ahead of time at T&T Tire at 816 Grade St., Kelso; Scooters Bar and Grill at 1107 N. Pacific Ave., Kelso; and Pets, Pawns, and Imports at 1438 Commerce Ave., Longview.

Rocket Boost Literacy

Vaults Books & Brews owner Jennifer Engkraf is always collecting donated books to give to third graders at Castle Rock Elementary School twice a year. Right now, there is a tree at her Castle Rock book store in which people can grab ornaments indicating the need for a book. Engkraf said her shop sells about 10 different suggested titles to choose from as well. The nonprofit Rocket Boost Literacy donates books to the students every May and November.

Toys for Joy

The South Kelso Neighborhood Association is working to provide gifts and holiday dinners for Kelso families. They are looking for sponsors for families and children, and donations of new clothes and toys, wrapping supplies, nonperishable food, locations for donation boxes, raffle prizes, cash and checks. Call 360-747-7240 or email kelsoneighborhood@gmail.com for more information.

To apply, visit the Kelso Resource Center at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso and bring picture ID for all adults in the household, verification of any children and verification of address such as a recent utility bill.

Toy N Joy

The Columbia River Fire and Rescue Volunteer Association based in St. Helens, Oregon, is accepting monetary donations for their Toy N Joy drive. Applications to receive gifts and food through the drive are open until Dec. 6.

Apply or donate at crfr.com/toynjoy. For more information, call Ashley or Eric Murray at 503-395-8266 or email crfrvolunteerassoc@gmail.com.

Winter Coat Drive

Donate gently used coats, gloves, scarves, boots, hats and warm clothing to the Ethnic Support Council of Cowlitz County at 1213 14th Ave., Longview. Donations are due by Jan. 31. All sizes are accepted.

Contact Outreach Coordinator Sally Hembree at 360-430-1851 or sally@ethnicsupportcouncil.org with questions.
A Longview man was arrested last week after he allegedly punched a Longview WinCo Foods employee and stole a box of tampons in a botched daytime robbery.

Alexander Logan Robb, 22, of Longview, is facing one count of first-degree robbery, violating the Controlled Substance Act, and one count of a dangerous weapons violation. According to court documents, Robb has been granted bail of $2,000, and his arraignment hearing is set for Thursday.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs reports in 2022, robbery arrests made by Longview police increased roughly 90% compared to the year prior. A robbery indicates items were stolen by threat or use of force.

On Nov. 12, the Longview police also reported officers responded to more than 550 reported shoplifts in 2023.

As reported in Robb's probable cause statement, on Nov. 15, officers from the Longview Police Department were dispatched at about 1:58 p.m. to the WinCo Foods supermarket, located at the Triangle Shopping Center, after receiving a call regarding a shoplifter who was detained by the supermarkets loss prevention staff.

Once they arrived, loss prevention informed police that Robb approached both the self-service checkout station and the customer service desk before making a break for it with a box of tampons and another item.

An employee told police they confronted Robb outside the WinCo Foods store. He allegedly responded by taking a swing at the employee and running away. The store manager tried to restrain Robb, but he pushed them away with both hands, as described in the police report.

The store manager and the employee were able to corral Robb and place him in handcuffs as they waited for police to arrive.

The report mentions that police reviewed security camera footage that depicted Robb throwing a punch and striking the employee on the left side of their face. The momentary assault caused Robb to drop the stolen items.

Robb told the arresting officers that he had gone shopping with his grandmother, but he lost sight of her while they were inside the WinCo Foods supermarket. He said he only went outside to look for her because she was supposed to pay for the items he took. Police asked Robb why he punched the stores employee, and he explained he did so because he was scared and only reacting.

During a search, police found golden brass knuckles in his jacket pocket along with a small baggie, in his pants pocket, that contained a white substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Read more about Longview's WinCo:
Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington will hold its monthly regular board meeting 4 p.m. Monday. The meeting is open to the public and available to attend via Zoom or in person at 820 11th Ave. in Longview. Previously known as the Longview Housing Authority, Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington is a nonprofit organization that operates in Lewis, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Pacific counties to offer affordable housing. To join the meeting by Zoom, dial 1-253-215-8782 and use meeting ID 709 116 0943. To join via computer, click the Nov. 27 meeting link at hoswwa.org/board-meeting-schedule.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The Longshot, an air-launched unmanned aircraft that General Atomics is developing with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency for use in tandem with piloted Air Force jets, is displayed at the Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Oxon Hill, Md. Pentagon planners envision using such drones in "human-machine teaming" to overwhelm an adversary. But to be fielded, developers will need to prove the AI tech is reliable and trustworthy enough. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Artificial intelligence employed by the U.S. military has piloted pint-sized surveillance drones in special operations forces' missions and helped Ukraine in its war against Russia. It tracks soldiers' fitness, predicts when Air Force planes need maintenance and helps keep tabs on rivals in space.

Now, the Pentagon is intent on fielding multiple thousands of relatively inexpensive, expendable AI-enabled autonomous vehicles by 2026 to keep pace with China. The ambitious initiativedubbed Replicatorseeks to "galvanize progress in the too-slow shift of U.S. military innovation to leverage platforms that are small, smart, cheap, and many," Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said in August.

While its funding is uncertain and details vague, Replicator is expected to accelerate hard decisions on what AI tech is mature and trustworthy enough to deployincluding on weaponized systems.

There is little dispute among scientists, industry experts and Pentagon officials that the U.S. will within the next few years have fully autonomous lethal weapons. And though officials insist humans will always be in control, experts say advances in data-processing speed and machine-to-machine communications will inevitably relegate people to supervisory roles.

That's especially true if, as expected, lethal weapons are deployed en masse in drone swarms. Many countries are working on themand neither China, Russia, Iran, India or Pakistan have signed a U.S.-initiated pledge to use military AI responsibly.

It's unclear if the Pentagon is currently formally assessing any fully autonomous lethal weapons system for deployment, as required by a 2012 directive. A Pentagon spokeswoman would not say.

Paradigm shifts

Replicator highlights immense technological and personnel challenges for Pentagon procurement and development as the AI revolution promises to transform how wars are fought.

"The Department of Defense is struggling to adopt the AI developments from the last machine-learning breakthrough," said Gregory Allen, a former top Pentagon AI official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

The Pentagon's portfolio boasts more than 800 AI-related unclassified projects, much still in testing. Typically, machine-learning and neural networks are helping humans gain insights and create efficiencies.

"The AI that we've got in the Department of Defense right now is heavily leveraged and augments people," said Missy Cummings, director of George Mason University's robotics center and a former Navy fighter pilot." "There's no AI running around on its own. People are using it to try to understand the fog of war better."

A Blackhawk helicopter circles Peterson Air Force Base before a visit by then Vice President Mike Pence, on April 18, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colo. AI's predictive capabilities are helping the Air Force keep its fleet aloft, anticipating when key aircraft need maintenance. Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File

Space, war's new frontier

One domain where AI-assisted tools are tracking potential threats is space, the latest frontier in military competition.

China envisions using AI, including on satellites, to "make decisions on who is and isn't an adversary," U.S. Space Force chief technology and innovation officer Lisa Costa, told an online conference this month.

The U.S. aims to keep pace.

An operational prototype called Machina used by Space Force keeps tabs autonomously on more than 40,000 objects in space, orchestrating thousands of data collections nightly with a global telescope network.

Machina's algorithms marshal telescope sensors. Computer vision and large language models tell them what objects to track. And AI choreographs drawing instantly on astrodynamics and physics datasets, Col. Wallace 'Rhet' Turnbull of Space Systems Command told a conference in August.

Another AI project at Space Force analyzes radar data to detect imminent adversary missile launches, he said.

Maintaining planes and soldiers

Elsewhere, AI's predictive powers help the Air Force keep its fleet aloft, anticipating the maintenance needs of more than 2,600 aircraft including B-1 bombers and Blackhawk helicopters.

Machine-learning models identify possible failures dozens of hours before they happen, said Tom Siebel, CEO of Silicon Valley-based C3 AI, which has the contract. C3's tech also models the trajectories of missiles for the the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and identifies insider threats in the federal workforce for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.

Among health-related efforts is a pilot project tracking the fitness of the Army's entire Third Infantry Divisionmore than 13,000 soldiers. Predictive modeling and AI help reduce injuries and increase performance, said Maj. Matt Visser.

Brandon Tseng, president and co-founder of Shield AI, is shown Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at the Air, Space, Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Maryland. Shield AI and competitor Anduril are each backed by hundreds of millions in venture capital funding. Both have a software-first approach in their military autonomy product development and have obtained uncrewed drones in acquisitions or partnered with aircraft makers. Credit: AP Photo/Frank Bajak

Aiding Ukraine

In Ukraine, AI provided by the Pentagon and its NATO allies helps thwart Russian aggression.

NATO allies share intelligence from data gathered by satellites, drones and humans, some aggregated with software from U.S. contractor Palantir. Some data comes from Maven, the Pentagon's pathfinding AI project now mostly managed by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, say officials including retired Air Force Gen. Jack Shanahan, the inaugural Pentagon AI director,

Maven began in 2017 as an effort to process video from drones in the Middle Eastspurred by U.S. Special Operations forces fighting ISIS and al-Qaedaand now aggregates and analyzes a wide array of sensor- and human-derived data.

AI has also helped the U.S.-created Security Assistance Group-Ukraine help organize logistics for military assistance from a coalition of 40 countries, Pentagon officials say.

All-Domain Command and Control

To survive on the battlefield these days, military units must be small, mostly invisible and move quickly because exponentially growing networks of sensors let anyone "see anywhere on the globe at any moment," then-Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley observed in a June speech. "And what you can see, you can shoot."

To more quickly connect combatants, the Pentagon has prioritized the development of intertwined battle networkscalled Joint All-Domain Command and Controlto automate the processing of optical, infrared, radar and other data across the armed services. But the challenge is huge and fraught with bureaucracy.

Christian Brose, a former Senate Armed Services Committee staff director now at the defense tech firm Anduril, is among military reform advocates who nevertheless believe they "may be winning here to a certain extent."

"The argument may be less about whether this is the right thing to do, and increasingly more about how do we actually do itand on the rapid timelines required," he said. Brose's 2020 book, "The Kill Chain," argues for urgent retooling to match China in the race to develop smarter and cheaper networked weapons systems.

To that end, the U.S. military is hard at work on "human-machine teaming." Dozens of uncrewed air and sea vehicles currently keep tabs on Iranian activity. U.S. Marines and Special Forces also use Anduril's autonomous Ghost mini-copter, sensor towers and counter-drone tech to protect American forces.

Industry advances in computer vision have been essential. Shield AI lets drones operate without GPS, communications or even remote pilots. It's the key to its Nova, a quadcopter, which U.S. special operations units have used in conflict areas to scout buildings.

On the horizon: The Air Force's "loyal wingman" program intends to pair piloted aircraft with autonomous ones. An F-16 pilot might, for instance, send out drones to scout, draw enemy fire or attack targets. Air Force leaders are aiming for a debut later this decade.

Troops wait for President Barack Obama to arrive at the Third Infantry Division Headquarters, on April 27, 2012, at Fort Stewart, Ga. Among health-related efforts is a pilot project involving the entire Third Infantry Division  more than 13,000 soldiers. Tracking soldiers' physical fitness, predictive modeling and AI are used to reduce injuries and increase performance Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File

The race to full autonomy

The "loyal wingman" timeline doesn't quite mesh with Replicator's, which many consider overly ambitious. The Pentagon's vagueness on Replicator, meantime, may partly intend to keep rivals guessing, though planners may also still be feeling their way on feature and mission goals, said Paul Scharre, a military AI expert and author of "Four Battlegrounds."

Anduril and Shield AI, each backed by hundreds of millions in venture capital funding, are among companies vying for contracts.

Nathan Michael, chief technology officer at Shield AI, estimates they will have an autonomous swarm of at least three uncrewed aircraft ready in a year using its V-BAT aerial drone. The U.S. military currently uses the V-BATwithout an AI mindon Navy ships, on counter-drug missions and in support of Marine Expeditionary Units, the company says.

It will take some time before larger swarms can be reliably fielded, Michael said. "Everything is crawl, walk, rununless you're setting yourself up for failure."

The only weapons systems that Shanahan, the inaugural Pentagon AI chief, currently trusts to operate autonomously are wholly defensive, like Phalanx anti-missile systems on ships. He worries less about autonomous weapons making decisions on their own than about systems that don't work as advertised or kill noncombatants or friendly forces.

The department's current chief digital and AI officer Craig Martell is determined not to let that happen.

"Regardless of the autonomy of the system, there will always be a responsible agent that understands the limitations of the system, has trained well with the system, has justified confidence of when and where it's deployableand will always take the responsibility," said Martell, who previously headed machine-learning at LinkedIn and Lyft. "That will never not be the case."

As to when AI will be reliable enough for lethal autonomy, Martell said it makes no sense to generalize. For example, Martell trusts his car's adaptive cruise control but not the tech that's supposed to keep it from changing lanes. "As the responsible agent, I would not deploy that except in very constrained situations," he said. "Now extrapolate that to the military."

Martell's office is evaluating potential generative AI use casesit has a special task force for thatbut focuses more on testing and evaluating AI in development.

One urgent challenge, says Jane Pinelis, chief AI engineer at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Lab and former chief of AI assurance in Martell's office, is recruiting and retaining the talent needed to test AI tech. The Pentagon can't compete on salaries. Computer science Ph.D.s with AI-related skills can earn more than the military's top-ranking generals and admirals.

Testing and evaluation standards are also immature, a recent National Academy of Sciences report on Air Force AI highlighted.

Might that mean the U.S. one day fielding under duress autonomous weapons that don't fully pass muster?

"We are still operating under the assumption that we have time to do this as rigorously and as diligently as possible," said Pinelis. "I think if we're less than ready and it's time to take action, somebody is going to be forced to make a decision."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Inside a Core Scientific data center. Core Scientific/via Associated Press

Amid the loud fans and a towering wall of supercomputers, a digital gold rush is taking place in Texas.

The Lone Star State has emerged as the bitcoin mining capital of the United States because of access to cheap energy, open land and support from state leaders such as Gov. Greg Abbott. But its also faced criticism from Texans about energy consumption, the industrys deals with ERCOT, environmental effects and more.

Without the knowledge of how bitcoin mining works, the anger and confusion from citizens is understandable, Lee Bratcher, president and founder of the Texas Blockchain Council, said.

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If I didnt work in this industry and hadnt been knee-deep in this ERCOT stuff for the last four years, I would also hear the headlines and think, Man, is bitcoin mining a good thing to have in Texas?   he said. But having this background knowledge, Im like, Absolutely, its a good thing. In fact, we want more of it because it can help stabilize the grid, it can increase renewable generation, its got incredible economic development potential and (its) creating a lot of jobs.

Getting peoples attention for long enough to show them how bitcoin mining works is the biggest challenge bitcoin miners are facing in Texas, Bratcher said.

Fort Worth-based 360 Mining, an oil and gas company that also mines bitcoin, and Austin-based cryptocurrency tech giant CoreScientific gave The Dallas Morning News tours of their North Texas facilities on Nov. 15 as part of the 2023 Texas Blockchain Council Summit.

ERCOT deals

Riot Platforms, another bitcoin mining company, faced criticism from Texans in October over its deals with ERCOT, which helped the company snag $13 million over the summer. But the Castle Rock, Colo.-based company isnt the only one benefitting from those deals.

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CoreScientific also works with ERCOT in a similar capacity using ancillary services, said Steve Gitlin, senior vice president of investor relations at CoreScientific.

Big power users, like bitcoin miners, are able to provide ERCOT with ancillary services to increase or decrease the electricity supply.

We have deals with ERCOT that allow us to purchase power and use that power to drive our operations, Gitlin said. The interesting thing about these kinds of facilities is because theyre so large when the grid needs electricity back, they [ERCOT] can come to us and ask us to power down and return some of that power to the grid. Think of our site as a really big battery that can provide energy to the grid.

ERCOT did not respond to an interview request.

However, 360 Minings Fort Worth facility is off the grid, meaning it has to work with ERCOT in a different way, CEO Chris Alfano said.

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Instead of pushing megawatts of electricity back through transmission lines, well shut down the generators and push natural gas back into the pipeline, he said. So our way of curtailing would be shutting down our bitcoin mine and freeing up all of that natural gas to go to power plants, so they can generate more electricity.

If the state is working with bitcoin miners to help with power capacity, its because it was the states cheapest option, Bratcher said.

ERCOT paid about a billion dollars for ancillary services, he said. It would have been higher had there been no bitcoin miners here because those traditional loads would have been able to bid more and still extract that value from the ratepayers if that makes sense.

Employees service a computer last September at Helios, a 125,000-square-foot Argo Blockchain facility in Dickens County. Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune / Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune

About bitcoin mining

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360 Mining and CoreScientific arent physically digging for gold or coal underground to get bitcoin.

Bratcher said miners are instead using advanced computers to solve complex mathematical problems in order to get bitcoin: The mining aspect is the process of securing the bitcoin network through computing power.

The computers equations are trying to find a number, called a hash, that will help validate and send the bitcoin off to the blockchain, a decentralized and public ledger that tracks every bitcoin transaction. However, getting the answer to the problem can be difficult mathematically speaking, Bratcher said.

Imagine you had one dice with a thousand sides to it instead of six, and youre trying to roll a number under three, he said. Youre going be rolling that dice for a while, and thats really what these miners are doing.

CoreScientifics 30-acre complex in Denton is among the biggest in North Texas, meaning it has to scale its dice up, Bratcher said.

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Once the computer solves the problem, miners in the network are able to add the bitcoin to a transaction.

However, these computers require a lot of power, Gitlin said.

They do generate a lot of audio energy, and thats mostly because of the fans operating, he said. Theyre transforming energy into high-value commodities, and by doing so, theyre generating heat, and the fans help those machines stay cool in the process.

Unlike CoreScientific, 360 Mining uses a much smaller facility to mine bitcoin in Fort Worth.

The company credits House Bill 591, which aims to provide support and incentives for miners and allows former gas sites to be turned into data centers, for its ability to integrate its oil business with its bitcoin business, Alfano said. The companys mining facility sits on an old oil and gas mining site.

The opportunity here is massive to take these older, distressed, marginally economic, or stranded gas wells and turn them into bitcoin mining sites, Alfano said. Were taking one commodity, natural gas, and were turning it into another commodity, bitcoin, thats a lot more valuable on the open market than natural gas.

The future

Whether its giant facilities like CoreScientifics or off-the-grid miners like 360 Mining, bitcoin mining isnt leaving the state any time soon.

Even traditional oil and gas miners may turn to bitcoin mining for an additional profit, Alfano said. The company is making 10 times as much as it would by selling gas, he said.

We think bitcoin mining is going to become ingrained in the traditional toolkit that oil and gas operators have, he said. If youre an oil and gas operator thats distressed, not making a lot of money on your gas, or if its stranded, this [bitcoin] is something you can deploy. So its very sustainable, very economic and it creates a lot of tax revenue for the state of Texas.

Texas is crucial to CoreScientifics growth plans as it aims to bring 370 megawatts of capacity online within four years, Gitlin said.
Edgestream Partners L.P. reduced its stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 87.9% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 8,456 shares of the banks stock after selling 61,226 shares during the quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P.s holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Nemes Rush Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 97.1% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 609 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. 81.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts:

Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance

BK stock opened at $47.36 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $36.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.71. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 52-week low of $39.65 and a 52-week high of $52.26. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.75.

Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The bank reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.15 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.32 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.84% and a net margin of 11.81%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.21 EPS. Research analysts expect that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 27th were issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 26th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is presently 39.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Bank of New York Mellon from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Bank of America reduced their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bank of New York Mellon in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $45.00 to $44.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of New York Mellon has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $52.40.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bank of New York Mellon

Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report).

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Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Napoleon." Associated Press

There's a line in Ridley Scott's epic biography "Napoleon," opening Nov. 22 throughout Houston and then later landing on Apple TV+, that aptly sums up this movie version of the man in the bicorne who ruled the battlefield and then France before dying in exile on a rock in the middle of the South Atlantic.

"Destiny has brought me this lamb chop," bellows Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor Napoleon Bonaporte, embodying both his sense of preordained greatness as well as his voracious appetites for food, sex and laying low enemy soldiers in the theater of war. It all makes for a fascinating character, one both childish and courageous, that can be compelling to watch as portrayed by Phoenix in all of his petulant, campy glory. But it's a performance that is more compelling than the film it inhabits, a gorgeously shot collection of Napoleon's greatest hits that doesn't really come together as a whole.

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A scene from "Napoleon." Kevin Baker/Associated Press Vanessa Kirby, foreground left, and Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Napoleon." Aidan Monaghan/Associated Press

Of course, it's hard to sum up a life, especially one as eventful as Napoleon's, in one film, even one that sprawls over 158 minutes. But from the lopping off of Marie Antoinette's head through the bloody rise and fall of Maximilien Robespierre, wars with seemingly every country in Europe and the tempestuous relationship Napoleon had with his wife, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), and a downfall so disastrous that "Waterloo" became English shorthand for a final defeat, "Napoleon" often feels hurried, as if Scott, working from a script by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World"), couldn't wait to get to the next event.

Then there's the fact that much of what Scott purports to be true simply isn't, according to some historians. After the first trailer dropped, the chorus of naysayers grew so loud that the director told The New Yorker that his detractors needed to "get a life."

Of course, it's usually a mistake to demand fealty to history from Hollywood productions. Events and characters are often conflated, changed or omitted, depending on whim, budget, running time and many other factors. And it probably shouldn't be expected at all from the man who gave us the execrable "Exodus: Gods and Kings."

Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Napoleon." Kevin Baker/Associated Press

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And, at heart, "Napoleon" is a love story, between Napoleon and Josephine and Napoleon and himself. Still, for North American viewers, it's a little strange that France's considerable interests in the Western Hemisphere at the time, with which Napoleon seemed to be losing interest, are not explored. After all, Napoleon sold France's massive Louisiana Territory to the U.S. in 1803, partly to fund his European campaigns. Of course, being a Brit, Scott perhaps had little interest in that.

Aside from Phoenix and Kirby, the rest of the cast, unfortunately, gets lost in the shuffle. This is especially true of Tahar Rahim (as French politician Paul Barras) who had such powerful, unforgettable lead roles in "A Prophet" and "The Mauritanian."

But that doesn't mean that "Napoleon," which, according to Variety, cost somewhere "under" $200 million, is without its pleasures, many of them visual and visceral. Scott, whose resume includes big hits (Gladiator," "Black Hawk Down," "The Martian") and big misses (The Counselor"), knows how to stage and frame a scene. And, thanks to Scott's longtime cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, they really come alive.

Vanessa Kirby, left, and Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Napoleon." Aidan Monaghan/Associated Press

The war sequences, especially one on a frozen expanse with soldiers dying agonizing deaths as they fall through the ice in the Battle of Austerlitz, are often spectacular. Earlier in the film, at the Battle of Toulon, Napoleon is felled from his horse after the animal is struck by a cannonball, a particularly gruesome end that must have happened many times in the warfare of the era but is not something often seen on screen.

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Ultimately, "Napoleon" doesn't live up to its potential and is less lamb chop and more history as hamburger. But, for those hungry for a wide-screen epic this season, that may be more than enough.
General Assembly Democrats have filed the first bills of the 2024 session, including proposals to ban assault weapons and to speed up a boost in the minimum wage.

They also seek to launch the multiyear process of amending the state constitution to ensure access to abortion and to automatically restore rights once individuals have completed their sentences for felonies.

Traditionally, bills No. 1 and 2 and the first joint resolutions  such as the proposed constitutional amendments  signal the priorities of a new sessions majority.

The amendments and bills on gun violence and minimum wage signal a session that will move Virginia forward, said Speaker of the House designee Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth.

Scott said he is especially glad to see the measure seeking automatic restoration of rights.

With this, we are sending a message that there is no room for the spirit of Jim Crow that has plagued our commonwealth for far too long, he said.

The resolutions for rights restoration and access to abortion  if they pass the legislature  would mark the first steps toward amending the constitution. In order to be added to the state constitution, a proposed amendment must pass the legislature in two different years with a vote for the House of Delegates in between, then go to voters for approval in a state referendum. The next election for the House is in 2025, which means a state referendum on a proposed amendment could not occur until 2026.

A governor cannot veto a proposed constitutional amendment.

Throughout the campaign cycle, we told Virginians that a Democratic majority meant that abortion access would be protected, said Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, who will be House majority leader and is sponsoring the House resolution for the abortion access amendment.

It has become all too clear that without constitutional protection, access to reproductive health care is at risk, she said.

Under House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, the $15-an-hour minimum wage that was the eventual goal of a phased-in process passed in 2020, when Democrats had majorities in the House and Senate, would take effect in 2026. The minimum wage would rise from $12 an hour now to $13.50 in 2025.

General Assembly Democrats agreed on the slower phase-in in 2020 to address concerns by pro-business senators who are not returning to the legislature, including then-Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax.

House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2 would make buying, selling or transferring an assault firearm a Class 1 misdemeanor, subject to up to 12 months in jail.

It would also prohibit a person who has been convicted of such a violation from possessing or purchasing a firearm for three years after that conviction.

It would also bar the sale of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

The Democratic majority in the Senate passed a similar bill in 2023, but it died in what was then a Republican-led House.

The voters spoke loud and clear about what they didnt want to see regarding legislation from their elected officials in November, said state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who is sponsoring the rights restoration measure, an issue that she has pushed for several years.

Virginias constitution now says only the governor can restore voting and other rights after a person has been convicted of a felony. While Virginia Govs. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, and Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam moved to make rights restoration a more automatic process, Gov. Glenn Youngkin has returned to case-by-case determinations, which means far fewer are having their rights restored.

Youngkin and GOP legislative candidates have said they wanted to bar most abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of a mother, instead of Virginias current law that allows abortions through 26 weeks and afterward only if three physicians attest that carrying a fetus to term will put the mothers life or mental health at serious risk.

With bills No. 3 in the House and Senate, Republicans set their first marker.

House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 3 would repeal a requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. It would also bar the state from requiring any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine to be certified as compliant with Californias model year standards.

Youngkin and other Republicans had complained during the past two sessions that by adopting California standards, Democrats has surrendered Virginia sovereignty. Republicans also asserted that the electric vehicles the law promoted would be difficult to keep charged in rural Virginia, where the number of charging stations is limited.
An unspecified government entity in Afghanistan was targeted by a previously undocumented web shell called HrServ in what's suspected to be an advanced persistent threat (APT) attack.

The web shell, a dynamic-link library (DLL) named "hrserv.dll," exhibits "sophisticated features such as custom encoding methods for client communication and in-memory execution," Kaspersky security researcher Mert Degirmenci said in an analysis published this week.

The Russian cybersecurity firm said it identified variants of the malware dating all the way back to early 2021 based on the compilation timestamps of these artifacts.

Web shells are typically malicious tools that provide remote control over a compromised server. Once uploaded, it allows threat actors to carry out a range of post-exploitation activities, including data theft, server monitoring, and lateral advancement within the network.

The attack chain involves the PAExec remote administration tool, an alternative to PsExec that's used as a launchpad to create a scheduled task that masquerades as a Microsoft update ("MicrosoftsUpdate"), which subsequently is configured to execute a Windows batch script ("JKNLA.bat").

The batch script accepts as an argument the absolute path to a DLL file ("hrserv.dll") that's then executed as a service to initiate an HTTP server that's capable of parsing incoming HTTP requests for follow-on actions.

"Based on the type and information within an HTTP request, specific functions are activated," Degirmenci said, adding "the GET parameters used in the hrserv.dll file, which is used to mimic Google services, include 'hl.'"

This is likely an attempt by the threat actor to blend these rogue requests in network traffic and make it a lot more challenging to distinguish malicious activity from benign events.

Embedded within those HTTP GET and POST requests is a parameter called cp, whose value  ranging from 0 to 7  determines the next course of action. This includes spawning new threads, creating files with arbitrary data written to them, reading files, and accessing Outlook Web App HTML data.

If the value of cp in the POST request equals "6," it triggers code execution by parsing the encoded data and copying it into the memory, following which a new thread is created and the process enters a sleep state.

The web shell is also capable of activating the execution of a stealthy "multifunctional implant" in memory that's responsible for erasing the forensic trail by deleting the "MicrosoftsUpdate" job as well as the initial DLL and batch files.

The threat actor behind the web shell is currently not known, but the presence of several typos in the source code indicates that the malware author is not a native English speaker.

"Notably, the web shell and memory implant use different strings for specific conditions," Degirmenci concluded. "In addition, the memory implant features a meticulously crafted help message."

"Considering these factors, the malware's characteristics are more consistent with financially motivated malicious activity. However, its operational methodology exhibits similarities with APT behavior."
On Friday afternoon, Grand Islands Perkins Restaurant and Bakery was closed following a Thursday night fire.

A sign on the front door read, Closed for maintenance until further notice.

Four engine companies and an ambulance were called to the fire, which started at 9:15 or 9:20 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

The restaurant was open when the fire began, said Grand Island Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Kuehl. Customers and staff members had been evacuated when firefighters arrived.

No one was injured in the blaze. Kuehl estimated the damage at $25,000.

On Friday afternoon, the only visible sign of the fire was debris outside the the back door.

On Thursday night, firefighters were alerted to the sight of fire coming out of the roof.

When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke and they found an area on the north side of the building that had ignited the wall from the outside of the building, and then it started the inside of the wall on fire, Kuehl said.

The fire burned in the void space, the area within the wall, all the way up to the roof, he said.

Crews had the fire out within an hour and they were on the scene for about an hour and 45 minutes, Kuehl said.

As they fought the fire, crews turned off the gas and electrical service to the building.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. But firefighters are leaning toward the idea that it was caused by improperly discarded smoking material, Kuehl said.

That could include cigarettes, matches or a lighter.
The union representing Hall County corrections workers, pointing to the demands of working extra hours and compensation paid by other local employers, is asking for a pay increase of $5 an hour.

Five members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 78 sent a letter via email to Hall County Commissioners on Tuesday talking about the problems in working at an understaffed facility and asking for the pay increase. The union represents employees at the Hall County Department of Corrections. The first name listed among the signers is Justin Richardson, president of FOP Lodge 78.

The letter discusses the difficulties we are facing at the Hall County Department of Corrections.

When fully staffed, the number of corrections officers and corporals is 72. Currently, that number is 59, three of whom are in training.

One officer has put in her two-week notice, and another is on extended sick leave. The letter also notes the department has 16 officers who are currently on probationary status.

A fully staffed shift contains 12 officers and we are short at the moment 13 but in reality that number will likely climb in the near future, the letter says. This leads to a plethora of safety issues as well as morale problems with staff being required to work longer hours and additional shifts.

The current starting wage at the jail is $23.02 per hour. According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, the average entry wage in Hall County is $20.61, so the jails starting rate is $2.41 higher. But the letter points out that Hall County has an unemployment rate of 2.2%.

To recruit and hire new employees, the department has to compete with current employers wages.

The overall average wage in Hall County currently is $28.91 and the average wage for experienced employees is $33.06.

This places us $5.89 to $10.04 behind what potential employees are currently being paid, the letter says. This provides for a very strong headwind to overcome. For this reason we are asking that you provide us with a pay increase of $5 per hour to each pay step as this will put us more in line with what other employers in the area are paying their employees. We understand that this is not an inconsequential amount of money that we are asking for and we would not be asking for help if the situation was not dire.

The letter shares the number of employees whove left the Hall County Department of Corrections since March 2020 (the beginning of the COVID pandemic).

What I found was truly alarming, the letter continues. Over those 43 months, a total of 106 employees, 94 of them officers, left their employment. This averages out to more than two employees per month. We have become a revolving door of new officers. Four out of our most recent seven hires have quit within the first 60 days of employment. This translates into a very inexperienced staff dealing with very experienced inmates, particularly given the amount of federal inmates we are housing. I fear it is not if, but when, we will experience another major crisis event. This dynamic creates an even more unsafe environment for work which also feeds into the unsustainable turnover rate.

Hall County Department of Corrections Director Todd Bahensky said the jail and the union are in the third year of a four-year contract. The contract will expire on June 30, 2025.

Hall County Commission President Ron Peterson said he will meet with Bahensky next week to discuss what our options are. Peterson is a member of the commissions union negotiations team.

Hall County Commissioner Pam Lancaster says that in hiring, the corrections facility is in competition with Grand Island employers whove raised their wages since COVID-19. The major local employers have always been fair with their workers, but I will also say that it costs more today to keep someone employed, Lancaster said.

Recently, two people were ready to start work to the jail. But their current employers not only matched but increased their wage per hour over what we were willing to pay, in order to keep their employee, Lancaster said.

That says a lot about the employees involved. But it also says a great deal about the job market right now, Lancaster said. A number of employers are competing for the really good, hard workers in this community. And its getting difficult to compete at the wages that Hall County is paying.

Lancaster, who is the jails contact person on the commission, has discussed the issue with Bahensky.

Lancaster said shes proud of union members for coming forward and saying they want to be part of the solution.

Im very proud of them for that and I support them immensely, Lancaster said. However, Im really not prepared to say right now whether this is something that needs to go through the negotiations committee.

A lot of things go into just giving someone an increase per hour, Lancaster said. The wage scale includes not only hourly wages but also the workers experience, she said.

Theres just a number of things that go into that. Thats why we negotiate contracts. So weve got a lot to talks about, Lancaster said.

Lancaster hopes the County Commission can find both a short-term and long-term solution. She feels the commissioners are the kind of people who will appreciate this and will want to give this proposal time and energy to consider what the impact will be to Hall County over the long haul.

Bahensky said when the corrections facility is short-staffed, it puts a real strain on employees. Its hard when staff members are required to work overtime or on their days off, particularly going into the holidays, he said.

In all jobs, people want to have a life outside of work. Having to work on your days off makes that balance very difficult and that takes a toll on people, Bahensky said.

The corrections officers have been hanging in there. Theyve been through this before, Bahensky said. There was a time last year when we got real short-staffed and we were able to bounce back. But this ones going to be a little harder to bounce back from.

Bahensky wasnt referring to anything COVID-related, but the mindset of recent applicants.

The job market is just different than it ever has been in the past, Bahensky said.

The jail has had a number of people that just stopping coming to work, or quit at the drop of a hat, Bahensky said. Theyve given it a try, they come to work for a while and then they just figure out its not for them.

Many people in the workforce are just not interested in these types of jobs, Bahensky said.

Bahensky expects the issue to be discussed at the next Hall County Commission meeting.

The letter from the union points to the financial costs incurred by the county from corrections turnover. A newly hired officer is in training for two months, during which time they are not counted as an officer on a shift, the letter says.

At the current beginning wage of $23.02, a new officer will cost $7,366.40 in wages and $868.35 in uniforms and equipment through the training period, the letter says. This does not factor in the additional costs of time spent by staff testing and training them.

The money spent in replacing the 94 officers training and uniforms totals at least $774,066.50, the letter says. This does also not factor in overtime hours worked by staff to cover the shortages that these conditions create, the letter says.

We are sensitive to the fact that this is not an ideal time to make this request but we ask that you consider this as the situation we are facing is very dire and will likely get much worse in the very near future without intervention, the letter concludes.

The other signatories to the letter are FOP Lodge 78 vice president Jeremy Palacz, treasurer Nathan Karr, secretary Sean Bramble and trustee Andrew Jones.
CHICAGO  In the 40 years Kate Schumacher has worked as a real estate agent, homebuyers have rarely compensated her directly. Instead, the seller has picked up the tab.

Yet, this year, the Baird & Warner agent based in Algonquin said she has already had two deals close where the seller did not cover all of her compensation: 2.5% of the selling price of the house. Both of her clients had to make up a .5% difference. One got the $1,315 covered by the seller in the closing costs, and the other paid Schumacher $3,575 in cash.

We have more and more sellers that are not contributing as much toward the buyers agent compensation, Schumacher said.

Schumacher has long had buyers enter into buyer agency agreements, the contract between the buyer and their agent that states how the buyers agent will be paid, guaranteeing a certain amount if the seller only partially compensates the buyers agent or doesnt pay them at all.

Now, Baird & Warner and other local and national real estate firms are encouraging agents to use these contracts more frequently, saying its no longer assumed sellers will foot the bill for both the listing agent and the buyers agent as litigation surrounding the issue winds its way through court.

Last month, a Missouri federal jury issued a landmark $1.8 billion verdict finding the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors and several large real estate brokerages conspired to artificially inflate commissions on home sales. The association has said it is appealing the verdict, while similar cases are ongoing in Illinois and Missouri.

The litigation has the potential to significantly shake up the real estate industry. In Illinois, changes to home buying and selling were already underway before the jurys verdict.

Jennifer Ames, an owner of real estate company Engel & Volkers Chicago, which is not involved in the litigation, said her company is in the process of revising its contracts to include how much a buyer will pay their agent.

In the past, the commission was baked into the price of the home, Ames said. Now, it could be included as a credit in a buyers closing costs or the buyer might have to come up with additional cash on top of their down payment, she said.

Going forward, it is going to be a little bit of a wild west, Ames said.

Local real estate experts like Ames said they also foresee the potential for longer-term changes if more sellers stop paying buyers agents. Some prospective homebuyers could forgo hiring an agent altogether and risk getting a bad deal, they said. But, experts caution it is too soon to tell what the long-term effects will be.

The Missouri jurys Oct. 31 verdict comes as a federal court in Illinois gears up for a similar, yet potentially more costly, trial next year and as more lawsuits have been filed following the Missouri verdict. Real estate firms RE/MAX and Anywhere Real Estate (formerly known as Realogy Holdings Corp.) already agreed to settle both the recent Missouri and ongoing Illinois cases. Anywhere agreed to pay $83.5 million, and RE/MAX agreed to pay $55 million, though a court must still approve the settlement..

As in the Missouri case, the Illinois suit alleges NAR artificially inflates broker fees by requiring seller agents to make a blanket offer of compensation for buyer agents when listing properties on local multiple listing services and by only giving access to the MLS to agents who agree to adhere to its rules.

The compensation, set in advance, must be offered to every buyer agent regardless of their experience or the service they provide the buyer, the complaint alleges. The plaintiffs, a group of sellers, allege the system creates pressure on sellers to offer high commissions so buyers agents dont steer buyers away from their properties, according to the suit.

While NAR argued in court filings that its rules allow the rates to be negotiated, Judge Andrea Wood said in her 2020 ruling rejecting the associations bid to dismiss the case that the rules make negotiation a practical impossibility.

The suit, filed in 2019, was certified as a class action in March, representing sellers from 20 regions across the U.S. Plaintiffs attorneys estimate the amount of damages could reach $40 billion.

The U.S. Department of Justice expressed interest in the case, which could go to trial as early as next year.

Meanwhile, Midwest Real Estate Data, which runs the multiple listing service, or MLS, for northern Illinois, has amended its commission policy. The organization now allows users of the database to enter $0 or 0% into the commission field for agents for all listings, according to a September 2023 fact sheet. Previously, Midwest Real Estate Data required at least $1 to be entered into the commission field.

Though the change was made in response to the litigation against NAR and large brokerage firms, it had already been in the works by the time the Missouri jury rendered its verdict, which came down the same day the MLS change went into effect.

Mantill Williams, the National Association of Realtors vice president of communications, told the Tribune in a statement that its rules prioritize consumers, support market-driven pricing and promote business competition, with the outcome of the Missouri trial not close to being final. NARs appeal will likely tie up the case for a couple more years.

The jury verdict follows reported allegations of sexual harassment at NAR, which led to the resignation of former NAR President Kenny Parcell. NAR CEO Bob Goldberg announced his earlier than expected retirement shortly after the jury verdict.

NAR declined to make its president, Tracy Kasper, available for an interview, citing the ongoing nature of the lawsuits.

In a video following the verdict, Kasper encouraged NAR members to continue using agreements between sellers, buyers and their agents to explain what services they are providing and to dictate compensation.

Real estate agents are typically compensated 5% to 6% of the purchase price of a house by the seller, an amount that usually gets split in half between the buyers agent and the sellers agent. Local real estate agents maintain the commission percentage has always been negotiable. And, as Ames noted, while the seller is paying the upfront costs, the payment is coming from the money the buyer is paying the seller for the house.

For the month of October, in the Chicago metro area, the typical home was worth $306,750, according to Zillow. For a $306,750 home, a 6% commission would be $18,405, or about $9,202 if split between the buyers and sellers agent.

Alley Ballard, a real estate broker with @properties Christies International Real Estate  one of the nations largest residential real estate firms and not one that was involved in the lawsuit  said she has not seen commission rates drop from sellers yet on single-family homes or condos.

Ballard said wealthier buyers will be able to afford to pay an agent, while poorer ones may go without one if the seller doesnt shoulder the cost.

Therefore, they are left to tweeze apart value; they are left to negotiate on their end; they are basically left to their own defenses purchasing what is usually the most expensive thing that you can purchase in your life, the most important thing, Ballard said.

Ballard, who has worked in Chicagos real estate industry for about 24 years, also thinks the properties of sellers who opt not to pay the buyers agent  some who may be doing so because they are less financially stable  will be overlooked.

This is a lose-lose proposition, Ballard said. It cannot effectively help buyers or sellers.

In a policy update fact sheet sent out to agents, @properties said it would make policy changes in light of the verdict and would have new training available to help agents discuss commissions and representation. That includes buyer agency agreements.

The recent verdict and ongoing litigation involving broker commissions will not alter the central mission of our brokerage, which is to serve our clients with the utmost fairness, integrity, fidelity and transparency, Thad Wong, co-CEO of @properties, said in a statement.

@properties declined the Tribunes request to interview its CEOs.

Real estate professionals such as Ballard say prospective homebuyers  especially first-time buyers and low- to moderate-income buyers  could be further hampered in an already challenging and unaffordable housing market by having to come up with more cash, in addition to a down payment.

Heres my real worry: people that dont have a lot of money, said Laura Ellis, chief strategy officer and president of residential sales at Baird & Warner, which is not involved in the litigation. The economically disadvantaged will be further disadvantaged  because they will have no one to help them, and they wont have the cash out of their pocket to pay an agent.

One group of buyers that could face acute disadvantages if more sellers stop paying buyer brokers are veterans. Per the policy for VA-backed mortgages, veterans buying homes are not allowed to pay for an agents compensation.

In a statement to the Tribune, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said, VA has been closely monitoring litigation related to these sorts of charges and is working with internal and external stakeholders to evaluate the potential effects the litigation may have on Veterans and on VAs policies and procedures.

Ames of Engel & Volkers said moving into the new year, sellers need to understand what their options are, and it is the job of real estate professionals to explain that.

None of us can predict what will be the new norm, but the bottom line is in a couple of years, well settle into the new norm and continue with business as usual, Ames said.

Jim Speta, a professor at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law who specializes in antitrust law, said there is still a long way to go to see how this all plays out, given appeals in antitrust cases take awhile since antitrust cases are notoriously complex.

As for the trial that could take place in Illinois next year, Speta said while the recent verdict cannot set legal precedent for the future case, he thinks it will still affect the outcome.

There is now this data point out there  which is the jury was willing to find in favor of plaintiffs after the parties had litigated the case  and that data point will encourage plaintiffs to push hard and should affect, at least preliminarily, the defendants assessment of their odds of defeating the Chicago case, Speta said.

Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center
My introduction to hunting came later in life, somewhere in my mid to early 40s.

That wasnt necessarily by choice, its just that my dad worked jobs that made it impossible for him to spend any time afield. Except for occasional squirrel and rabbit hunting forays, my first real exposure to hunting came as the outdoors writer for The Southern.

Being unconcerned with harvesting an animal allowed me to focus on the technical and social aspects of hunting. It allowed me to focus on the little things hunters did behind the scenes to maximize the probability of success.

And, for several years I was content with carrying the camera. But, eventually curiosity gnawed away at me. I took the plunge, purchasing my first shotgun.

I couldnt believe how being an actual part of the hunt changed my perspective.

While I could be studious behind the camera, I was also detached from the process. The camera made me focus on the things the hunters were doing. Replacing a Canon (camera) with a shotgun, forced me to be more aware of the nuances of nature, looking and listening for subtle changes in the environment.

Over time, I particularly learned to enjoy duck hunting. While the cold and damp could be a nuisance, duck hunting was always an adventure. There was always something to do, something to see.

Eventually, accompanying Rick Eskew of Waltonville on opening day became a tradition. Through the years we had great hunts and unsuccessful hunts that were no less memorable, but we always had fun.

One year Rick elected not to go through the draw at Rend Lake, opting to hunt in a public area instead. Shortly after midnight, we put the boat on the lake and Rick navigated to a point where he thought the wind would be favorable.

After beaching the boat, we piled on our insulated gear and retired to the bottom of the boat for several hours of fitful sleep in the 35-degree cold. Of course, it rained the next morning, sometimes sideways. We didnt kill any ducks, but the experience was one of the most memorable of my life.

The opening day tradition came to a halt years later when the state adopted Thanksgiving as the South Zone opening. Since my family lives 100 miles away, it was impossible to hunt and travel to the family gathering.

Yet, for several years, Rick kept me a part of that opening day tradition. Each year, while Id be driving to Clinton County, Rick would call from the boat and give me a progress report. Frequently, youd hear him throw down the phone and start yammering on the duck call and then fire a broadside.

Those memories never fail to bring a smile to my face.

Then, there was the year Rick didnt call.

Initially, I thought perhaps the tradition had gotten old. However, eventually I began to worry. The concern grew when I couldnt get Rick on the phone for several days.

Finally, about a week later I got a call.

Why didnt you call on Thanksgiving? I asked.

My phone was at the bottom of Rend Lake, he replied.

The obvious reply was, What was it doing there?

To which Rick said, Keeping me company.

To make a long strong short, Rick had been tossed overboard. He got back to the boat without incident, but his cellphone didnt survive.

Not all our hunts were that exciting. But, many opening day moments were replayed in my memory Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving!
After 10 years as the site superintendent at Giant City State Park, Calvin Beckmann is taking a step up the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ladder. This week he assumed his new role of the IDNRs Chief of Parks.

Beckmann assumed the leadership at Giant City when the IDNR was still negotiating its way out of the financial crisis that rocked state budgets earlier in the century. The unassuming Beckmann downplayed his role in steering the park through tough times.

Its just about trying to keep things going and moving in an efficient manner, he said. We just kept the wheels on the bus.

At the same time, Beckmann acknowledged hell miss Giant City.

Absolutely, he said. Giant City is just one of those unique places. Its one of the premier sites in the state. It has a lot of history. In 2027 were going to celebrate our 100th anniversary. Im a little disappointed I wont be there for that.

It was a blast. It was a great job. It was always something different. When I started, Bill Reynolds (former site superintendent of Ferne Clyffe State Park), told me the park will dictate what will happen. Every day was a little different. That was one of the biggest challenges, trying to figure out what youre going to do today while planning ahead.

And, in typical fashion, Beckmann planned well into the future.

I made a list of ongoing projects, he said. I stopped at 49. I stopped there because I didnt want to go over 50. There are so many things going on. Giant City is just such high intensity. You have to be flexible and have 3-4 projects going at once and be able to jump back and forth.

There are two things I wanted to get done, an arena at the stables, and some things at the lodge Id love to do. The water tower  I wish we could have gotten that done. Thats the meat and potatoes of what we do. Its nothing flashy. Its what we need. Theres just never enough money and never time to get them done.

Beckmanns successor has not been selected. For the time being, park management will be handed over to his assistants Chris Fleming and Jill Fox. His advice to them is simple.

The big thing is, ask for help, he said. Let the volunteers and staff help you. Dont try to do it alone. If youre going to think youre going to come in and dictate how things are going to be done, as Bill Reynolds said, the park is going to dictate it. Dont get bogged down in the day to day.

As for himself, Beckmann will spend the next few months traveling the length and breadth of the state, familiarizing himself with the state facilities now under his control while gaining an understanding of how each site fits into IDNRs bigger picture.

The advantage is Ill be able to bring site level knowledge to Springfield, Beckmann said.
Gus Garcia, center left, returns to San Antonio in January 1954 after successfully arguing a landmark anti-discrimination case before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. A reader requests help from the public in identifying the other men pictured. Courtesy George Cisneros

Your recent article on Restorante Casa Blanca (Sept. 9) was wonderful. I have attached two images to enhance your excellent research. Both are stamped Photo by J. Jimenez on the reverse. They were given to me by the late West Side printer and City Councilman Felix Trevino just prior to his death in 2013.



The first is the moment when lawyer Gus Garcia arrives at the San Antonio airport from Washington, D.C., after successfully arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Hernandez v. Texas case. I could use the publics help in identifying all of the men in the photo with Gus and (future) Judge (Carlos) Cadena.



The second is the gathering at Casa Blanca later that evening when friends celebrated Gus (seated in the upper left corner), still attired in the same clothes he had on when he arrived a few hours before.

Always dignified, always dapper, always a charmer, he even charmed Chief Justice Earl Warren into giving him an extra 16 minutes for his presentation.

 George Cisneros

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MORE ON CASA BLANCA: San Antonios Casa Blanca restaurant had proud political history

Seated at upper left at the head of a long table in the Casa Blanca restaurant, lawyer Gus Garcia is honored for his part in the Hernandez v. Texas decision that established constitutional protection for Mexican Americans under the 14th Amendments. Courtesy George Cisneros

I wish I were writing about attorney Gus Garcia in a parallel universe where he would have lived to a great age, having served in the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and been appointed to a federal judgeship, maybe even to the U.S. Supreme Court.

But the Gus Garcia in your photographs is the one born in 1915 in Laredo who died in 1964 in San Antonio. In his 48 years, he was idolized and derided. He won a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court and lost his law license for writing hot checks.

From the beginning, Garcia built a strong resume for a career in public service.

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He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1932, earning the highest place among boys for his high school grades. His yearbook superlative was Most Intellectual Boy, and he earned a Texas Association of Colleges scholarship, which he took to the University of Texas at Austin.

At UT, Garcia was on an undefeated debate team with future Gov. John Connally; after graduation in 1936, he went to the universitys law school, where he was the only Latino in his class.

After completing his law degree in 1938, Garcia returned to San Antonio, where he served as counsel for the League of Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, then as a public defender, assistant district attorney and first assistant city attorney. During World War II, Garcia served as an infantry officer, then with the Judge Advocate Generals Corps, or JAG, in Japan.

Back in San Antonio, Garcia made the rounds required of young politicos. He was a VFW post officer and acted as master of ceremonies at community events such as the Black and White Ball (covered here Sept. 16). He worked the political barbecue circuit, and candidates for local offices vied for his endorsements.

MORE ON BLACK AND WHITE BALL: Black and White Ball promoted friendship between U.S., Mexico

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In 1948, he was elected to the board of the San Antonio Independent School District, where he served until 1952, advocating for accepting federal aid for school lunches among other health and safety issues.

Garcia went on to make his reputation as a civil rights attorney with cases related to school desegregation for Mexican American students in Bastrop and Del Rio. His most famous court victory was his 1954 appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking for the court to review the case of Pete Hernandez of Edna, convicted of a 1950 murder by an all-white jury.

LEFT: Attorney Gus Garcia removes his glasses for this undated photo. Known for his rakish glamour as well as his legal eloquence, the famed civil rights attorney spent most of his legal career in San Antonio. RIGHT: Future appellate court Judge Carlos Cadena, shown here in 1956 as San Antonio city attorney, teamed in 1954 with Garcia as the first Mexican American attorneys to argue before the Supreme Court. Cadena wrote the brief for Hernandez v. Texas and made the first oral argument, followed by a closing argument by Garcia. UTSA Special Collections TOP: Attorney Gus Garcia removes his glasses for this undated photo. Known for his rakish glamour as well as his legal eloquence, the famed civil rights attorney spent most of his legal career in San Antonio. ABOVE: Future appellate court Judge Carlos Cadena, shown here in 1956 as San Antonio city attorney, teamed in 1954 with Garcia as the first Mexican American attorneys to argue before the Supreme Court. Cadena wrote the brief for Hernandez v. Texas and made the first oral argument, followed by a closing argument by Garcia. UTSA Special Collections

Garcia and co-counsel Carlos Cadena, the first Mexican American attorneys to argue before the Supreme Court, were successful in persuading the court to throw out the Hernandez conviction. Although their client was convicted again in a retrial, the Supreme Court decision in his favor guaranteed protection to all Mexican Americans against discrimination under the 14th Amendment.

The resulting fame and adulation should have led to an even brighter future. Yet from 1955 on, Garcia seems to have foundered, moving back and forth between San Antonio and Kingsville and McAllen, doing what amounted to legal piecework for other attorneys.

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After Kennedy was elected in 1960, Garcia met with Larry OBrien, Kennedys national campaign manager and head of recruitment for the new administration, but was not offered a job.

In 1961, Garcia was caught passing about $500 worth of bad checks; as a consequence, he surrendered his law license for two years, which included a lengthy stay in the Waco Veterans Affairs hospital. As before, he returned to San Antonio, where he remained part of the citys legal and political networks.

Death came unexpectedly for Garcia.

On June 2, 1964, he asked Raul Acevedo, manager of the Old Farmers Market (now El Mercado), if he could sleep on the bench in Acevedos office that night. The next morning, Garcia met Felix Trevino, then a candidate for county commissioner, and political operative Henry Rosales for breakfast at a Commerce Street restaurant.

When Acevedo returned to his office around 2 p.m. June 3, 1964, he found the attorney asleep on the bench. Garcia then awakened, lapsed into some sort of seizure and fell dead on the floor, says the San Antonio Express, June 4, 1964.

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He was taken to Robert B. Green Hospital, where Express reporter Mike Cantu identified Garcia and was the informant for the death certificate. Garcias home address was given as 218 Commerce St., then the Palms Hotel; cause of death was liver failure.

Garcia was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In 1971, Gus Garcia Middle School in Edgewood Independent School District was named after him.

The image of Garcia and others with the airplane is probably a wire photo provided by a news service, as indicated by the horizontal line pattern, said Tom Shelton, photo curator at UTSA Special Collections. Shelton didnt find a J. Jimenez listed as a photographer in San Antonio city directories of the mid-1950s and suggested Jimenez might have done photography as a sideline.
DENMARK -- Denmark Technical College celebrated the 11 nursing graduates entering the workforce in August.

The pinning ceremony, symbolizing the transition from student to professional nurse, has roots dating back to the 1860s, when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition for her service during the Crimean War.

"The 2023 Denmark Tech nursing class deserves to be commended for their exemplary achievements. They have shown tremendous dedication to their studies and to the nursing field while facing personal challenges and taking on clinicals during a global pandemic," said Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr., DTC president and CEO. "Through their rigorous courseload and grueling clinical schedules, they have shown that they not only have what it takes to survive, but to thrive as healthcare professionals."

"These nursing students have come to us from all walks of life and entrusted us to provide them with the skills they need to make it in the nursing profession. They have put in countless hours of studying and supported each other like a family. I'm so proud of all they have accomplished and am honored to be a part of their journey," added Karen Myers, dean of nursing at Denmark Tech.

Three students were recognized with special awards during the ceremony. Zandra Cross was honored with the Academic Excellence Award, Quotasia Mingo Rowe received the Outstanding Clinical Performance Award and Natalie Wright Mixon was named Best All-Around Student.

The centerpiece of the evening was the presentation of pins and ceremonious capping, followed by the lighting of the Nightingale Lamps and the Florence Nightingale Pledge. The pledge is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath where the newly pinned nurses commit themselves to ethical and principled work throughout their careers.

This year's nursing class includes Rachel Craven, Zandra Cross, Betsy Jennings, Natalie Wright Mixon, Patience Pace, Quotasia Mingo Rowe, Dessie Savage, Alexis Smith, Roberta Smoak, Dimani Tatum and Zakiyah Folks Washington.

"I can't wait to see what the future holds for our newest Panther Nursing Alumni. I have no doubt that they are going to do amazing things," said Todd. "Our School of Nursing is growing by leaps and bounds and I encourage anyone looking for a phenomenal college with a family environment to come check out Denmark Tech."
Orangeburgs BlueBird Theater will celebrate the holiday season by hosting South Carolina Ballets performances of two holiday classics.

The three shows on Saturday, Dec. 2 will feature the ballet companys full performance of Frosty the Snowman from its current touring season, as well as excerpts from The Nutcracker.

We decided to further enhance the performances and provide a special treat to our Orangeburg audiences by combining some excerpts from Nutcracker, for a true holiday experience, South Carolina Ballet Chief Development Officer Jamie White said.

South Carolina Ballet, based in Columbia, has been looking for an opportunity to perform at the BlueBird for the past two years, White said.

BlueBird The South Carolina Ballet is coming to the BlueBird Theater on Russell Street in downtown Orangeburg.

The process began when Bobby Padgett, an engineer at Allied Air Enterprises in Orangeburg, encouraged Allied to donate HVAC systems to the BlueBird, Etters said. Allied has been a longtime supporter of SC Ballet, White said.

Padgett and White brought the ballet companys CEO and artistic director, William Starrett, to tour the theater.

We were so impressed with the space and its versatility that we immediately knew it would be mutually beneficial for us to bring a production to the BlueBird, White said.

BlueBird Building Manager Randy Etters hopes the performances will draw other performers from outside of Orangeburg to the BlueBird.

Really, the reason that we like the fact that its coming is it shows the diversity in the type of performances that we can do in the BlueBird, he said.

Etters said the communitys support of the Orangeburg Civic Ballet shows the areas affinity for ballet and the arts.

So it just seemed like a good fit for us and when they offered, we certainly jumped at the chance, he said.

The performances will hopefully encourage people to check out the BlueBirds other programming, White said.

SC Ballet is no stranger to performing in Orangeburg, he said.

We have presented our Mixed Repertoire Series for many years at Claflin University and performed regularly at Stevenson Auditorium in years gone by, White said. We also have a long history of partnering with other organizations such as the BlueBird to enrich the cultural vibrancy of communities. We are very excited to return to Orangeburg and proud to be sponsored by McDaniels Auto Group.

He gave a special thanks to Etters and the BlueBird Theater as well as to Bobby Padgett at Allied Air Enterprises.

We hope as many citizens of Orangeburg as possible will make it a point to attend one of our three performances and experience both South Carolina Ballet and the BlueBird Theater, he said.

The performances on Dec. 2 will be held at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. General admission tickets can be purchased online for $30. Discounted tickets for seniors, military and children 12 and under are available for $25.

Tickets can be purchased at the South Carolina Ballet's website at southcarolinaballet.com/calendar-tickets.
THE current financial imbalance, which has the potential to deplete the National Insurance Boards assets by 2035, is not rooted in investment issues but rather stems from the challenges posed by this countrys ageing population, the acting chief operating officer, Business Services at NIBTT, Andy Edwards has said.
A nursing manager waiting for two years to get an echocardiogram (ECG) appointment for an urgent heart condition is the reality and experience of patients in the public healthcare system.

Members of the public ventilated several negative experiences they have had at health centres and hospitals to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) town hall meeting on Social Services and Public Administration on Wednesday at the Parliament Complex, Cabildo Building, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain.
Plaintiff William Sherlach, left, hugs attorney Josh Koskoff while plaintiff Nicole Hockley hugs attorney Chris Mattei following the jury verdict and reading of monetary damages in the Alex Jones defamation trial at Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones takes the witness stand to testify at the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Jones was found liable last year by default for damages to plaintiffs without a trial, as punishment for what the judge called his repeated failures to turn over documents to their lawyers. The six-member jury is now deciding how much Jones and Free Speech Systems, Infowars parent company, should pay the families for defaming them and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Tyler Sizemore/Associated Press Infowars founder Alex Jones, left, is questioned by plaintiff's attorney Chris Mattei beside Judge Barbara Bellis, right, during testimony at the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Alex Jones speaks to the media outside the 459th Civil District Court on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 in Austin, Texas. ? ? Sergio Flores/For Hearst Connect Media

Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims families proposed that conspiracy theorist Alex Jones wind up his bankruptcy by paying creditors at least $85 million over 10 years or undergo an orderly liquidation.

The Sandy Hook families, along with an official committee of Jones creditors, argued in court papers this week that the 11-month-long bankruptcy case for the right-wing radio host should be brought to a close by February. The creditors laid out a dual-option proposal in light of what they say is Jones failure to advance a viable way out of Chapter 11 while continuing to enjoy an extravagant lifestyle costing up to $90,000 a month.

The plan, as described to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, would allow Jones to undergo an orderly liquidation of his assets or adhere to a 10-year fixed-payment plan with distributions of at least $8.5 million a year. Under the fixed-payment plan, the creditors would agree to release their roughly $1.5 billion in state court judgment awards stemming from Jones repeated lies that the 2012 massacre of elementary school students and teachers was a hoax.

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Both options contemplate preserving causes of actions against third parties affiliated with Jones and his Austin-based Infowars program.

The time has come for Jones to choose whether he is willing to pay his creditors a reasonable portion of what they are owed or would prefer to remain embroiled in costly and time-consuming litigation for years to come, the group said. Whatever alternative Jones chooses, the Creditors Plan provides a clear path out of the quagmire of these cases.

In a Nov. 21 court filing, Jones attorneys said they were made aware of a forthcoming creditor plan proposal and asked to schedule a status conference on Monday to discuss a path forward. Jones legal team says its time to bring the case to a conclusion and is working on filing its own draft plan by mid-December, the filing said.

An attorney for Jones didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

After 26 people were killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Conn., in 2012, Jones made a false conspiracy theory a centerpiece of his programing on his flagship Infowars show.

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Last year, Sandy Hook families won nearly the $1.5 billion in judgments against Jones in lawsuits over repeated promotion of a false theory that the school shooting never happened.

The Sandy Hook families gained significant leverage in the bankruptcy case last month when Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled that about $1.1 billion in defamation awards were not dischargeable because they stemmed from intentional and malicious conduct.

Jones bankruptcy in December 2022 came five months after the parent company to his Infowars show, Free Speech Systems LLC, filed for Chapter 11 relief.
Ultimately, the fate of the Report of the Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into the Paria Diving Tragedy is as important as the report itself.

From all indications, the Commissions report contains a cauldron of hard truths. We can easily extrapolate from comments by CoE chairman Jerome Lynch, KC, that those truths will rock many a boat. But we too agree that the public interest demands immediate public view of its contents.
Restaurant reopenings

Here's what's happening with two other iconic Tucson restaurants that have been closed due to fire.

TERESA'S MOSAIC CAFE

Teresa's Mosaic Cafe, 2456 N. Silver Mosaic Drive, is expected to reopen by year's end after being closed more than a year following the Oct. 12, 2022, electrical fire that destroyed the restaurant's dining room and did extensive damage to the roof.

Isaac Matias said his family is waiting for the city to sign off on the certificate of occupancy before they can reopen. But he said he's confident it will be sometime before the year is out.

Teresa and Alfonso Matias opened Teresa's Mosaic Cafe in 1984. It has been at the North Silver Mosaic Drive location, off West Grant and North Silverbell roads, since 1999.

For updates, visit teresasmosaic.com.

CROSSROADS RESTAURANT

The owner of the historic Crossroads Restaurant in South Tucson said they are submitting construction plans this week to the City of South Tucson to rebuild the popular 77-year-old Mexican restaurant that has been closed since fire did extensive damage to the roof and main dining room in August.

No arrests have been made but South Tucson police determined the cause of the early-morning blaze on Aug. 13 was arson.

Owner Aracely Gonzalez said the fire destroyed the main dining room and roof of her family's restaurant at 2602 S. Fourth Ave. The back dining room, buffet area and kitchen suffered only smoke damage.

"If everything with the city looks fine and we don't have to make any changes with the new floor plans, if everything goes smoothly, fingers crossed, we get the OK to begin construction in December," she said.

Aracely and her husband Roberto are the second generation of her family to own Crossroads, which opened in 1936. The Gonzalez family took over in 1979.
Yvonne Siquieros says shes a homemaker and mother of three who has never been involved in a political battle before.

But shes among the residents of Imuris, Sonora who are protesting the Mexican governments secretive plan to run a freight-train line through their community, about 40 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, and through a fragile conservation area, before conducting an environmental review.

I never imagined being in this fight for my heritage, Siquieros told the Arizona Daily Star, in text messages written in Spanish. We do not have the opportunity to stop it. But we do have the opportunity to make the government see that there are alternative ways to carry out the project, where the environmental impact is a little less and it does not divide the municipality.

A leaked map of the trains route shows it passes through Imuris before following the lush terrain along the Cocospera River northeast to the Comaquito Dam, then later linking up with existing railway. Imuris residents have submitted an alternate route for the train project, even though it is already under construction, Siquieros said.

The controversial railway, which is an extension of an existing train route between Guaymas and Nogales, would cut through El Aribabi Conservation Ranch, where jaguars, ocelots and black bears have been spotted, said Russ McSpadden, southwest conservation advocate with the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity.

It would also risk destroying a rare firefly sanctuary along the river, he said.

The Cocospera River is a really lush and biodiverse ribbon of green, with willows and cottonwoods and sycamores, McSpadden told the Star. Its a spectacular place. Parts of the river feel like jungle. Its an oasis that snakes through the desert and runs between some important mountain ranges.

The route would divide the important migration corridor between the Sierra Azul and El Pinito mountain ranges and diminish hopes of boosting the populations of ocelot and jaguar, which are endangered species in both the U.S. and Mexico, he said.

Any jaguars we see here in Arizona, they are part of the same population as those jaguars in and around the Rio Cocospera, the river the new railway would follow, he said. The northern-most breeding population of ocelots in the region is in this important wildlife corridor. Its a very small and fragile population, but it is a breeding population. Its critical to any efforts to recover the species north of the border, as well.

Lack of transparency

The train has been planned in secrecy, leaving affected residents in Imuris fighting for any official information. After a local radio station first reported on the project, military officials visited Imuris in February to discuss it with residents but the meeting left them with more questions than answers, Siquieros said.

Conservationists in Sonora have also been struggling to find details on the train project.

Mirna Manteca, a biologist with Wildlands Network, told The Associated Press that she began researching the project after concerned locals contacted her in March.

The town of Imuris first told residents that it was a state project, while the Sonoran government insisted it is a federal project. But every federal department Manteca contacted said it had no information it could share about a train project in Imuris, the AP reported on Nov. 18.

Theyve kind of been ping ponging responsibilities back and forth, but we havent been able to get any real information, Manteca told the AP. Its so strange. Its like fighting a ghost.

A spokesman for Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazos office told the Star the project is being executed by the federal Secretary of National Defense, known as SEDENA, and thus the state office could not provide official documentation about the project.

The change in route complements the states development plan, supported by the federal government, which includes the $245 million modernization of the port in Guaymas, allowing it to receive large container ships from Asia, Durazo said in a Tuesday news conference.

Part of the plan also aims to relocate the international railroad crossing from the middle of downtown Nogales, Sonora to less populated areas to the east.

These changes are necessary to facilitate commercial exchange between Mexico and the U.S., Durazo said in the news conference. Without moving the railway out of downtown Nogales, the city would be paralyzed by the increased rail traffic, he said.

The modernization of the Guaymas port wouldnt make sense without the relocation of the railroad tracks in Nogales, he said.

Residents in Imuris say that explanation isnt adequate. There arent yet concrete plans to move the railroad crossing at the Arizona border, and there are less environmentally and socially destructive routes that could achieve that eastward shift of the train tracks, Siquieros said.

There is no logic in dividing and destroying Imuris, being that there are more viable alternative routes without so much impact, she said.

A spokesman for Durazos office declined to respond to that point on Friday, citing the federal governments dominion over the project.

One possible explanation, reported by the AP, is that the proposed route will bring rail lines closer to mines owned by Grupo Mexico, parent company of rail operator FerroMex. The new route runs within 10 miles of Santa Cruz, where Grupo Mexico plans to open a open-pit copper mine in 2025, according to the AP.

Impact in Arizona

The anticipated boom in freight traffic between Guaymas and Nogales, Arizona, has raised concerns north of the border, too.

The additional cargo is expected to increase the volume of freight trains passing through Nogales, Arizona, from four to six per day, to as many as 20 trains per day, said Jorge Maldonado, mayor of the Arizona city.

I want to get the rail out of Nogales, Maldonado told the Star. The rail is presenting some danger already. They come right through the middle of the city now.

Emergency services, fire response and access to the citys hospital  all on the west side of the tracks  could all be impeded by the additional rail traffic, he said.

In October 2022, the citys previous mayor, Juan Francisco Gim Nogales, signed an agreement with the mayor of Nogales, Sonora to begin discussions about shifting the international railroad crossing further east, away from the urban center of both Nogaleses, Maldonado said.

But any kind of construction is a long way off, he said.

Union Pacific, which operates the rail line in Nogales, isnt yet on board with the idea, Maldonado said. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company told the AP it has no plans to move the track in Nogales.

Militarization in Mexico

For critics, the train project is another example of the growing militarization of Mexicos public works and law enforcement under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The Army has been allowed to bypass normal permitting and environmental standards, as in the case of the Maya Train tourist rail line on the Yucatan peninsula, the AP reported.

Facing court challenges and criticism, Lopez Obrador in 2021 passed a law stating that projects of importance to national security would not have to submit impact statements until up to a year after they start construction, according to the AP.

The state of Sonoraa only active role in the project is to help the Army secure the rights-of-way, Durazo said.

State officials have offered residents as little as 1.80 pesos, about 10 cents, per meter for their properties, Siquieros told the Star. Her family was offered a similarly sized home in another location, and a financial settlement, which they refused, she said.

I would recover my property after they destroyed everything. We did not accept, she said. Its a mockery for all of us.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Rosalynn Carter recently died. After her husband lost the 1980 presidential election, they started the Carter Center to help further causes like democracy, human rights and peace. The Center has established five principles for trusted elections: honest processes, civil campaigns, secure voting, fair oversight and trusted outcomes. An offshoot of the Center in our state, the Arizona Democracy Resilience Network (ADRN), publicizes and promotes these principles.

One day after Mrs. Carter passed, the ADRN held an interfaith prayer service at St. Philips in the Hills Church. One of the ADRNs leaders, former Congressman Ron Barber, was a featured speaker, as were leaders from many faith communities around our region. Each one of them addressed the crucial need for all Americans to commit to these five principles to protect and preserve our electoral processes. This is especially vital in a time when some politicians, in order to further their own selfish ends, promote falsehoods about the accuracy, fairness and security of our elections.

Prior to my election as a supervisor, I served as a teacher and administrator in our public schools for almost 30 years. Getting back into our schools and talking with students about Pima County government and the roles it plays in their lives gives me great joy. Not too long ago, I visited a K12 public charter school and met with students from their elementary, middle and high school grade levels.

A third-grade boy posed a question near the end of my presentation that informed and saddened me. At his young age, he knew that political candidates run for the offices they seek. He therefore referred to us as runners. His poignant and telling question was:

Why do all the runners hate each other?

His question demonstrated that he was already acutely aware of the divisive and toxic nature of politics in his time. The nods and murmurs of assent from his schoolmates of various ages showed their painful understanding as well. I tried to offer a response equal to the seriousness of the question but could do no better than stale platitudes about how adults needed to be better examples for him and his peers.

During the town hall meetings I have conducted with my constituents since that school visit, I have shared this story. It always evokes a knowing response from the adults in the room. After telling the story, I talk about the two commitments I have made to show that student that I understood what he was telling me.

The first commitment is to keep in mind what I tried to remember as both a parent and as an educator: our children are always watching us. They also pay more attention to what we do than what we say. Our actions as their role models must exemplify the honorable behavior we hope for from them in the future.

The second commitment is to do what I can as both an elected leader and a candidate not to contribute to the ugliness and negativity he could sadly attest to at a very young age. The Center calls on candidates to conduct civil campaigns as one of their five principles. Those of us entrusted with public office must also do the peoples work in a civil manner that sets the right example for all of our constituents, especially the youngest ones.

With next year being one in which we will elect people to serve in local, state and federal offices, all of us planning to be runners in those elections need to be mindful of the fact that all the people we seek to serve will be watching how we conduct ourselves. We have a duty to each of them to be true to the values and beliefs that undergird our electoral systems and processes. We need to be ever mindful that those who represent our posterity will watch us most closely.
Post and Courier. November 19, 2023.

Editorial: SC has bigger problems than controversial school library books

Critics believe S.C. Education Superintendent Ellen Weavers proposal to let the State Board of Education decide which books are prohibited in school libraries is a thinly disguised plan to override local officials and get rid of any controversial books that upset snowflake parents. And they might be right.

What theyre not right about is the idea that the state shouldnt have the power to overrule decisions of local school boards. One of the biggest problems with education in South Carolina is that the state never has been sufficiently willing to overrule local school boards, which unlike cities or even counties are instruments created by the Legislature to do a job our state constitution assigns to the Legislature: educating children.

Critics also arent right about the idea that rejecting a librarians decision about what books a school makes available to students constitutes banning books. First, its not possible for any school officials to ban any book; all they can do is prohibit its distribution in schools. And regardless of what you call it, the decision to reject a librarians decision simply constitutes overriding an employees decision  something that happens routinely in the public and private sectors; the idea that librarians should be exempt from this routine process is nonsensical.

Would state officials always make an appropriate decision about which books to remove from schools? Likely not  just as local school boards dont always make the right decisions. Although theyre not elected like local officials, members of the state board are appointed by politicians, and tend to hold political views similar to the legislators who appointed them. And the idea of transferring the final say about library books to the state board came from an official who has spent her career as a political operative.

Frankly, its ridiculous that a lot of the library books under fire are under fire. While it might be inappropriate to require students to read books that tell them, for instance, that our nation was founded for the purpose of enslaving black people, or that all white people are racists, theres nothing wrong with allowing children to select such books from the library. Indeed, it makes sense for students to be exposed to a variety of ideas  even ideas that we find disagreeable. It makes even more sense to provide books they find interesting, in order to improve their reading skills.

Likewise, though, some of the books under fire clearly do not belong anywhere in our schools. Most notable are books that are essentially how-to manuals for having sex  gay or straight should make no difference  unless theyre part of a sex-ed class, and in many cases not even then. Nor should we allow books that critics couldnt describe on the evening news and we wouldnt allow to be described on our pages. Prohibiting material in our schools that meets most peoples definition of obscene or pornographic is no more censorship than prohibiting Hustler magazine.

We are not so much concerned about what the proposal says, although theres room to tighten the language to make sure it doesnt prohibit, say, Shakespeare, or the Bible, and to make sure the reporting requirements dont create an undue burden for the schools. We are more concerned about whos saying it: the education superintendent instead of the Legislature.

Ms. Weaver seems to be trying to do by regulation at least part of what her allies in the Legislature have been unable to do by legislation. That might seem like an empty concern since regulations are subject to legislative approval, but theres a crucial difference: The Legislature has to pass bills, but regulations take effect unless the Legislature passes a resolution rejecting them. And passing anything  including a rejection  takes a lot more work than preventing it from passing. Think of it as reversing the burden of proof.

It makes some sense to have the same library standards statewide  although thats far from the most important area where we need the state to play a more active role. Intervening when local school boards cant or wont provide a decent education to their students  that is, ensuring that kids can read those books  is exponentially more important than guaranteeing that students cant sneak off to the library to read a book that other students parents dont consider appropriate.

Wed prefer that our elected leaders spend more time on that and less on ... well, on just about everything else. But if theyre going to make those library decisions at the state level, their focus needs to be on increasing the odds that neither extremists on the left nor extremists on the right are able to control the decisions. What we dont need is to reject all the books that acknowledge that slavery hurt black people or allow any books that teach children how to arouse their partners or offer them tips on sex apps and random sex in public places.

Times and Democrat. November 18, 2023.

Editorial: 2 SC tribes need federal recognition

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Christmas holiday season is in full swing. To be remembered this time of year is another observance: Native American Heritage Month.

South Carolina officially recognizes locally the Santee Indian Organization and the Beaver Creek Indians, as well as the Pine Hill Indian Community Development Initiative. In addition to the Catawbas and the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe of South Carolina, the others are:

The Catawbas are the largest tribe in South Carolina and the only federally recognized tribe. For now.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolinas 1st District wants two other tribes to have federal recognition.

In November 2021, Mace introduced a bill to extend federal recognition to the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe. The proposed legislation has not made it past the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States but efforts to move it forward continue.

The Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe was recorded as living in the Lowcountry as early as the 1500s. South Carolina granted the tribe recognition first in 1987.

Concentrated mostly in Dorchester and Colleton, members of the tribe still live in the Creel Town, St. Bartholomews Parish and Four Holes communities.

When he became chief of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe, comprised of nearly 400 Native Americans in Dorchester and Colleton counties, the Rev. John G. Creel, M.D., said he would focus on gaining federal recognition.

Creel told Charlestons WCBD-TV that recognition would help mitigate potential impacts of development, which could cut into tribal land:

Ridgeville is ground zero for development in the Lowcountry area and a part of our community tribal grounds is right in the center of what is taking place. We do not want to be left out; therefore, we are working with some land developers and landowners as well as local county council members to improve our communities in a mutualistic way.

In August 2023, Mace introduced legislation to extend federal recognition also to the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians.

The bill has the backing of a host of Lowcountry mayors. They have written letters urging lawmakers to grant the tribes petition for federal status.

Wassamasaw Chief Lisa Collins told The Berkeley Observer that gaining federal status will make it easier for the tribe to shape its future and preserve its ancestral lands and sacred traditions.

With recognition comes access to vital resources, vitalizing our communities with healthcare, education, and economic prospects, she said. Preserving our cultural heritage is paramount, and recognition affirms our contributions to the nations history, nurturing our traditions for generations to come.

Collaboration becomes a driving force, uniting native communities and amplifying our collective voice. This recognition ignites economic development, fostering opportunities for growth, prosperity, and shared progress within our territories and beyond, she continued.

Educational horizons broaden, strengthening cultural education and knowledge sharing. Federal recognition is more than an acknowledgment; it is a catalyst for change, healing historical wounds, and building bridges towards a brighter, self-determined future for our people.

The Wassamasaw Tribe is a community is located near present-day Carnes Crossroads between the major towns of Summerville, Moncks Corner and Goose Creek. The tribe descends from the original Etiwan, Edisto, Catawba, Cherokee, and other settlement Indians.

The tribe currently consists of approximately 1,500 members.

Federal recognition is important for tribes living in a rapidly changing area. And it is important beyond just the government benefits.

Dianna Little Badger Chavis of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe makes the case that recognition of Native Americans is about more than a designation.

Over the years, more of Native American history has been taken out of the history books. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY!!!! Children and adults need to know that we, American Indians, are still here. We want our presence to be known. We want to have a voice. We are just as important as any other ethnic group.

END
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Campaigns and elections: While U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin hawked Anytime. Anyplace T-shirts, Oklahoma Democrats also sought to capitalize on the directions to fist city that Mullin gave Teamsters President Sean OBrien earlier this month.

In a fundraising appeal, state party Chairwoman Alicia Andrews chastises Mullin for unprofessional and disrespectful behavior in challenging OBrien to fisticuffs during a Senate hearing, and encourages donors to stand with us today in our FIGHT for civility and the dignity of our state.

By fight the Democrats presumably mean something different than Mullins Anyplace. Anytime.

Financials: General revenue receipts for October continued recent trends  above expectations, below the same month a year ago.

Deposits to the states main operating fund were $708.1 million, which is 7.6% above projections and slightly less than last year.

For the first four months of fiscal year 2024, general revenue is 6% above projections and 6.6% below the same period in FY 2023.

Term-limited Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R-Atoka, seems to have clearly signaled his choice to succeed him in House District 22.

McCall and other members of his family have contributed nearly $20,000 to the campaign of Atoka manufacturer Ryan Eaves.

Troy Golden, also a Republican, is the only other person to have registered a campaign committee with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

Formal filing for office is in April.

Scholarships: Applications are open for the Creek County Democratic Partys annual scholarship program, which offers up to two $1,500 scholarships for graduating high school seniors who are residents of Creek County and either registered Democrats or have at least one parent or guardian who is a registered Democrat in Creek County.

Details on the Creek County Democrats Facebook page, or by emailing CreekCountyDemocratScholarship@gmailcom.

Application deadline is March 1.

Bottom lines: Broken Arrows October sales and use tax receipts topped $7.1 million, a solid increase over the previous year.  Three Oklahoma legislators said they visited the U.S.-Mexico border at the invitation of a Texas sheriff.

 Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World

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BRUSSELS -- Almost 400,000 deaths in Europe in 2021 were related to three main air pollutants and some could have been avoided if pollutants had been reduced to World Health Organization-recommended levels, an EU report said on Friday.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) said that within the European Union, pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which affects people with heart diseases in particular, led to 253,000 deaths in 2021. Pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO2), most harmful to people with diabetes, resulted in 52,000 deaths and short-term ozone (O3) exposure led to 22,000 deaths.

Including a larger set of European countries outside the EU, there were 389,000 pollutant-related deaths in Europe, the EEA said in its report for 2021, released on Friday.

"Air pollutant concentrations in 2021 remained well above the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its air quality guidelines," the EEA said in the report.

"Reducing air pollution to these guideline levels would prevent a significant number of attributable deaths in EU member states."

The highest number of deaths from PM2.5 in 2021 occurred in Poland, Italy and Germany, while countries in northern Europe such as Iceland, Scandinavia and Estonia saw the lowest impact.

NO2 and short-term O3 exposure had the biggest impact on deaths in Turkey, Italy and Germany, according to the report.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam will attend the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and pay an official visit to Turkey from November 29 to December 3, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During his trip to the UAE at the invitation of the UAE government, Prime Minister Chinh will engage in multiple bilateral activities.

This will be his first Turkey visit, which is set to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Turkey.

Two-way trade totaled US$1.65 billion in 2022.

At a ceremony to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations in October, the leaders of Vietnam and Turkey affirmed that the two nations were working closely to raise bilateral trade to $4 billion in the coming time.

As of May, Turkey had got involved in 34 projects in Vietnam, with a total pledged capital of $974.3 million, especially the Hayat Kimya factory project in Binh Duong Province, ranking the former 26th among 143 countries investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

PM Chinh had previously sat in on the COP26 in the United Kingdom in 2021.

During the COP26 climate summit, the Vietnamese government leader spread a message of efforts in response to climate change to some 120 leaders of other countries.

The prime minister underscored that though Vietnam is just a developing nation, its potential for renewable energy is huge.

Vietnam is stepping up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and cooperating with many partners to beef up technology transfer to achieve its commitment of net zero emissions by 2050.

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Vietnam on Wednesday was elected member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-27 tenure, getting 121 out of the 171 valid votes, the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced on the same day.

The election was held as part of the 24th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) in Paris.

By gaining the said amount of votes, Vietnam ranked third among the nine elected states from five regions.

The other eight members elected to the World Heritage Committee during this session are Ukraine, South Korea, Kenya, Senegal, Lebanon, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye.

According to the Department of Cultural Heritage, the World Heritage Committee is one of the important executive bodies of UNESCO. The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from states parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Hence, candidates have to strongly compete with each other to be elected one of the 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, who also serves as chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, hailed the outcomes that Vietnam achieved in this election, as this is the second time that the country has been elected to the most important executive body for culture of UNESCO.

In 2013, Vietnam was first elected to the World Heritage Committee for the 2013-17 tenure, during which the Southeast Asian nation made positive contributions to the Committee.

Securing the high number of votes also reflected Vietnams prestige in the international arena, the international communitys trust in and support for its contribution and chairmanship capacity at global multilateral institutions, the recognition of the countrys practical contributions to UNESCO and to the preservation and promotion of heritage values in Vietnam and the world,

This election marks the first time that Vietnam has joined five major mechanisms of the UNESCO simultaneously. Hence, the country will have a chance to make more active contributions to major programs and orientations of UNESCO, said Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, permanent representative of Vietnam to UNESCO.

By taking on the roles at five key UNESCO mechanisms, Vietnam serves as member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2021-25 tenure; vice-president of the 42nd session of the UNESCOs General Conference; vice-chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions for the 2021-25 tenure; member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-26 tenure; and member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-27 tenure.

As a member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-27 tenure, Vietnam will have favorable conditions to contribute more to the perfection and implementation of the goals and priorities of the World Heritage Convention, and share experience to help world heritage preservation and development harmonize with each other, Van added.

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As new vaccines roll out ahead of the expected winter surge of COVID, some health officials are treading carefully to avoid blowback from the public and policymakers. So far, vaccine uptake is low, with less than 5% of Americans receiving an updated shot, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Melissa Phillip/AP Frank Garret gets vaccinated at a Metro Health vaccination pop-up clinic in 2022. A rule added to Texas budget that went into effect Sept. 1 forbids health departments and other organizations funded by the state government to advertise, recommend or even list COVID vaccines alone. Josie Norris, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

Katherine Wells wants to urge her Lubbock community to get vaccinated against COVID-19. That could really save people from severe illness, said Wells, the citys public health director.

But she cant.

A rule added to Texas budget that went into effect Sept. 1 forbids health departments and other organizations funded by the state government to advertise, recommend or even list COVID vaccines alone. Clinics may inform patients that COVID-19 vaccinations are available, the rule allows, if it is not being singled out from other vaccines.

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Texas isnt the only state curtailing the public conversation about COVID vaccines. Tennessees health department homepage, for example, features the flu, vaping and cancer screening but leaves out COVID and COVID vaccines. Florida is an extreme case, where the health department has issued guidance against COVID vaccines that runs counter to scientific studies and advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Notably, the shift in health information trails rhetoric from primarily Republican politicians who have reversed their positions on COVID vaccines.

Fierce opposition to measures like masking and business closures early in the pandemic fueled a mistrust of the CDC and other scientific institutions and often falls along party lines: Last month, a KFF poll found that 84% of Democrats said they were confident in the safety of COVID vaccines, compared with 36% of Republicans. Its a dramatic drop from 2021, when two-thirds of Republicans were vaccinated.

As new vaccines roll out ahead of the expected winter surge of COVID, some health officials are treading carefully to avoid blowback from the public and policymakers. So far, vaccine uptake is low, with less than 5% of Americans receiving an updated shot, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Wells fears the consequences will be dire: We will see a huge disparity in health outcomes because of changes in language.

A study published in July found that Republicans and Democrats in Ohio and Florida died at roughly similar rates before COVID vaccines emerged, but a disparity between parties grew once the first vaccines were widely available in 2021 and uptake diverged. By years end, Republicans had a 43% higher rate of excess deaths than Democrats.

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Public health initiatives have long been divisive  water fluoridation, needle exchanges and universal health care, to name a few. But the pandemic turned up the volume to painful levels, public health officials say. More than 500 left their jobs under duress in 2020 and 2021, and legislators in at least 26 states passed laws to prevent public officials from setting health policies. Republican Arkansas state Sen. Trent Garner told KFF Health News in 2021, Its time to take the power away from the so-called experts.

At first, vaccine mandates were contentious, but the shots themselves were not. Scott Rivkees, Floridas former surgeon general, now at Brown University, traces the shift to the months after Joe Biden was elected president. Though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis initially promoted COVID vaccination, his stance changed as resistance to COVID measures became central to his presidential campaign. In late 2021, he appointed Joseph Ladapo surgeon general. By then, Ladapo had penned Wall Street Journal op-eds skeptical of mainstream medical advice, such as one asking, Are Covid Vaccines Riskier Than Advertised?

As bivalent boosters rolled out last year, the Florida health departments homepage removed information on COVID vaccines. In its place were rules against mandates and details on how to obtain vaccine exemptions. Then, early this year, the department advised against vaccinating children and teens.

The states advice changed once more when the CDC recommended updated COVID vaccines in September. DeSantis incorrectly said the vaccines had not been proven to be safe or effective. And the health department amended its guidance to say men under age 40 should not be vaccinated because the department had conducted research and deemed the risk of heart complications like myocarditis unacceptable. It refers to a short, authorless document posted online rather than in a scientific journal where it would have been vetted for accuracy. The report uses an unusual method to analyze health records of vaccinated Floridians. Citing serious flaws, most other researchers call it misinformation.

Scientifically vetted studies, and the CDCs own review, contradict Floridas conclusion against vaccination. Cases of myocarditis following mRNA vaccines have occurred but are much less frequent than cases triggered by COVID. The risk is sevenfold higher from the disease than from mRNA vaccines, according to an analysis published in a medical journal based on a review of 22 other studies.

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Since leaving his post, Rivkees has been stunned to see the state health department subsumed by political meddling.

About 28,700 children and adults from birth to age 39 have died of COVID in the United States. Floridas anti-vaccine messaging affects people of all ages, Rivkees added, not just those who are younger.

He points out that Florida performed well compared with other states in 2020 and 2021, ranking 38th in COVID deaths per capita despite a large population of older adults. Now it has the sixth-highest rate of COVID deaths in the country.

There is no question that the rise of misinformation and the politicization of the response has taken a toll on public health, he said.

As in Florida, the Texas health department initially promoted COVID vaccines, warning that Texans who werent vaccinated were about 20 times as likely to suffer a COVID-associated death. Such sentiments faded last year, as state leaders passed policies to block vaccine mandates and other public health measures. The latest is a prohibition against the use of government funds to promote COVID vaccines. Uptake in Texas is already low, with fewer than 4% of residents getting the bivalent booster that rolled out last year.

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At Lubbocks health department, Wells managed to put out a news release saying the city offers COVID vaccines but stopped short of recommending them. We arent able to do as big a push as other states, she said.

Some health officials are altering their recommendations, given the current climate.

Janet Hamilton, executive director at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, said clear-cut advice to get vaccinated against COVID works when people trust the scientific establishment, but it risks driving others away from all vaccines. Its important for public health to meet people where they are, Hamilton said.

Missouris health department took this tack on X, formerly known as Twitter: COVID vaccines will be available in Missouri soon, if youre in to that sort of thing. If not, just keep scrolling!
The Vietnam  Cuba Dong Hoi Friendship Hospital in Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam recently performed successful surgery to address a fistula connecting the nasal cavity to the intracranial cavity in a patient, who had two halves of chopsticks embedded deep into the skull for five months.

The hospital on Friday announced that P.V.T., a 35-year-old resident of Bo Trach District in Quang Binh, was brought in by family members, presenting complaints of headaches, loss of vision, and significant discharge from the nose and throat.

Prior to seeking medical attention, T. experienced discomfort in his nasal cavity earlier this month, prompting him to use tweezers to extract two halves of chopsticks, each about 10 centimeters long, from his nasal cavity.

As per the patients account, the two halves of chopsticks pierced his nose five months ago during an altercation while he was out drinking.

At that time, T.s family rushed him to the Vietnam  Cuba Dong Hoi Friendship Hospital for emergency treatment, where doctors identified two long foreign objects penetrating from the nasal cavity into his skull.

An image shows a patient's skull with chopsticks lodged in the nasal cavity for five months. Photo: Nguyen Van Man / Tuoi Tre

Despite the initial findings, T.s family requested a transfer to another medical facility.

Doctors at the second facility were unable to detect the foreign objects and subsequently discharged T. after a 10-day observation period.

During T.s second visit to the Vietnam  Cuba Dong Hoi Friendship Hospital, a CT scan revealed intracranial pneumothorax.

The fistula is situated in the middle of the skull base, an area with numerous blood vessels and nerves, Doctor Nguyen Van Man, head of the neurosurgery department at the hospital, explained.

Due to the difficulty and potential danger of open surgery, we opted for endoscopic surgery combined with closed microsurgery to address the cranial fistula, ensuring no lasting effects for the patient.

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The General Department of Preventive Medicine, under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, on Thursday emailed the WHO Representative and the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Vietnam for detailed information about an upsurge in respiratory illnesses in China.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced late Wednesday it had made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children in the country.

Given a surge in respiratory illnesses in China, the General Department of Preventive Medicine, a National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point of Vietnam, reached its Chinese counterpart and the WHO Representative in Vietnam to request further information on the issue.

According to the WHO, the IHR provide an overarching legal framework that defines countries rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders. The IHR are an instrument of international law that is legally-binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States. Vietnam has been an WHO member state since May 1950.

The General Department of Preventive Medicine said it will continue closely working with the WHO, the U.S. CDC and international organizations to update information regarding the respiratory disease developments in China, as well as will propose appropriate epidemic preventive measures.

Local people should take precautionary measures against diseases and follow the national healthcare watchdogs advice to prevent the risk of respiratory illnesses, the department added.

Earlier, Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission held a press briefing on November 13 to report an increase in incidence of respiratory disease, according to Reuters.

The WHO said that Chinese authorities attributed this increase to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection which typically affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

Chinese authorities stressed the need for enhanced disease surveillance in healthcare facilities and community settings, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health system to manage patients.

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Resolution Foundation has warned that the richest stand to benefit the most from autumn statement. Above, UK's chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt at the Airbus Broughton plant in Broughton, north Wales, on Thursday. Photo: Oli Scarff/AP (Oli Scarff, Associated Press)

UK households are set to be 1,900 poorer at the at the end of this parliament compared to the beginning, according to the Resolution Foundation.

The think tank, which focuses on improving living standards for those on low to middle incomes, also warned that the UK is facing a grim new record on living standards.

The Resolution Foundation said that this parliament is on track to be the first in which real household disposable incomes have fallen (by 3.1% from December 2019 to January 2025) and households will on average be 1,900 poorer at the end of this parliament than at its start.

Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: This parliament is set to achieve a truly grim new record: the first in which household incomes will be lower at its end than its beginning.

Read more: What the autumn statement means for your finances

The top fifth will gain 1,000 on average, five times the gains seen by the bottom 20%, who will be only 200 better off from measures that include a 2% cut in national insurance, according to the Resolution Foundations analysis.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), another think tank, had a similar analysis. For every 100 Jeremy Hunt spent on personal tax cuts, 46 will benefit the richest fifth of households. Only 3 of every 100 of tax cuts will go to the worst-off families.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) calculated that any gains from cutting national insurance would be wiped out by frozen tax thresholds.

The 2% cut to national insurance means 449 less tax paid by an average full-time employee, but this is almost entirely offset by frozen thresholds and other changes since 2021, it said.

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The think tank also said that pensioners are paying more income tax than 13 years ago.

Read more: Autumn statement key highlights

A pensioner earning 25,000 a year is now paying about 400 more in income tax than they did in 2010.

Paul Johnson, director of the IFS, said: Back in 2010 around half of pensioners paid any income tax. Now more than two thirds do.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the government's independent economic forecaster, said that the amount of tax households pay would go up in general.

Richard Hughes, the chair of the OBR, said the tax burden was going up "to its highest level in the post-war era". He warned that Hunts spending plans suggest there will have to be sharp cuts to some public services in the years ahead.

Read more: What the autumn statement it means for your pensions

IFS director Johnson said: The chancellor has pencilled in numbers that suggest he really wants to try to wrestle the size of the state back down towards where it was in 2019. Given the demands of servicing our debt, and presumably paying for more healthcare and pensions, achieving that will require sharp cuts in many areas of public spending.

Government departments will face a cut in spending power of about 20bn, according to the OBR chair.

Meanwhile, the chancellor has defended his budget and the controversial claim that it delivers the biggest tax cut in 35 years.

Hunt denied that it is fundamentally dishonest of the Tories to claim it is the largest tax cut ever for workers when the tax take is rising.

Asked, the chancellor told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I fundamentally disagree with that.

He said of course taxes were going up so we can pay down our COVID debt. Hunt added: But yesterday I did make a start in bringing down the tax burden. Ive never said that we were going to get there all in one go.

Watch: Chancellor denies tax cuts were 'pre-election giveaway'

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China, France vow to unleash greater vitality, achieve more results in people-to-people exchanges

Xinhua) 10:26, November 25, 2023

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna co-chair the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges as coordinators of each side in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna co-chaired the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges as coordinators of each side in Beijing on Friday.

The two sides agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism as an opportunity to promote people-to-people exchanges to unleash greater vitality and produce more results.

Wang said that the high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges has laid a solid foundation of public opinion for the development of China-France relations and accumulated useful experience for countries with different civilizations and systems to coexist harmoniously.

China and France should comprehensively deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people, and play a positive role as a model for the exchanges between China and Europe and exchanges among global civilizations, he said.

Wang called on the two sides to ensure the success of major activities, increase personnel exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation on innovation.

For her part, Colonna said that the two sides have actively implemented the consensus reached by the two heads of state, comprehensively resumed France-China cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and pushed forward bilateral cooperation in various fields to achieve tangible achievements.

She thanked the Chinese side for facilitating the visit of French people to China, and said France will continue to prioritize cultural and people-to-people exchanges and promote mutually beneficial exchanges with China.

After the meeting, the two foreign ministers jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on education, scientific research, culture and tourism, and health, and the release of the list of high-quality cultural exchange activities between China and France in 2024. They also unveiled the logo of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

The two foreign ministers also held talks on Friday. The two sides agreed to keep closer high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, and enhance third-party market cooperation, to open up broader space for China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two sides also agreed to implement the results of the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges, and provide greater convenience for personnel exchanges, to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries to unleash greater vitality and produce more results.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
A massive landslide struck the Zimovia Highway near Wrangell, Alaska, on Monday night, resulting in the loss of three lives and leaving three others missing.

Alaskan authorities announced a shift in the search strategy from an active to a reactive phase, reflecting the challenges faced in the aftermath of the disaster, as per to CNN.

Southern Alaska Landslide

Rescuers have located the remains of three individuals who perished in the landslide that hit around 9 p.m. Monday. Despite exhaustive search efforts, including aerial searches with drones, helicopters, and planes, ground teams with K9 scent detection dogs, and water-based investigations with K9 teams and sonar, three people, one adult and two juveniles, remain missing.

The landslide, estimated to be 450 feet wide, tore down a wide swath of evergreen trees, burying the highway and impacting the island community of Wrangell, situated approximately 155 miles south of Juneau. The sheer force of the slide destroyed three homes and created a challenging scenario for search and rescue teams.

The response to this tragedy involved meticulous efforts, combining aerial and ground searches using advanced technology and trained professionals. Following the three active search efforts, authorities are transitioning to a reactive search approach.

Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, clarified that during active searches, teams are actively in the field, meticulously looking for missing persons, while reactive searches respond to new information by actively searching specific areas supported by the latest news.

The impact of the landslide extends beyond the loss of lives. Around 54 homes have been cut off from the town due to the landslide, leaving roughly 35 to 45 people in an isolated area. Boats are being employed to provide essential supplies to residents, including food, fuel, water, and prescription medications.

Given the geographic challenges of the island, with the town at the northern point and houses along a 13-mile stretch of paved road, the ocean currently serves as the only access to those residences, according to Fox 59 News.

Read Also: Al Shifa Hospital Director, Several Gazan Doctors Arrested by Israeli Troops: Report

Wrangell Considers Vigil Amid Landslide Tragedy

Traditionally celebrating Thanksgiving with tree lighting and downtown shopping events, Wrangell is considering replacing festivities with a vigil, providing an opportunity for the community to come together physically and recognize both the tragedy and the resilience of a small town facing adversity.

The state transportation department has outlined that clearing the highway will commence once search and rescue efforts are complete, although an immediate timeline for reopening the affected portion remains uncertain.

The unstable nature of the area prompted authorities to bring in a geologist from the state transportation department for a preliminary assessment, clearing some areas of the slide for ground searches while warning of the threat of additional landslides.

The meteorological context reveals that the landslide occurred during a rain and windstorm. The region experienced about 2 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 60 mph, contributing to saturated soil conditions. The storm system that moved through southeast Alaska brought heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions to the state capital, Juneau.

As the community of Wrangell grapples with the aftermath, historical influences come to the forefront. Founded in 1811 when Russians began trading with Tlingits, Wrangell is one of the oldest non-Alaska Native settlements in the state, reflecting a rich tapestry of Indigenous, Russian, British, and American influences.

In the ongoing search efforts, K-9 teams plan to search along the waterline by small boat, joining ground teams in the slide area at multiple areas of interest. The challenges posed by the unstable environment highlight the resilience and unity of a community facing an unprecedented tragedy, CBC reported.

Related Article: North Carolina: Resto Bouncer Shouts Transphobic Slurs to Transgender Woman, Punches Her in Face, Leaving Horrific Black Eye





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HA NOI  The data centre and cloud computing services market in Viet Nam has large potential as the country is promoting digital economy development, according to the Viet Nam Cloud Computing and Data Centre Club (VNCDC), a member of the Viet Nam Internet Association (VIA).

According to VNCDC Viet Nam is considered one of the fastest growing markets in ASEAN in terms of cloud computing and data centre market, and has seen the participation of more than 50 providers, both domestic and foreign.

Cloud computing and data centres play an important role in shaping digital infrastructure in Viet Nam together with broadband telecommunications infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure.

The Prime Minister has approved the National Digital Transformation Programme until 2025 with a vision to 2030 with three pillars: digital government, digital economy and digital society, in which the strategy of moving to the cloud is considered important to help enterprises develop in a digital economy.

This provides great opportunities for Viet Nams data centre and cloud computing to accelerate and create a breakthrough, VNCDC said.

Vietnamese cloud computing and data centre companies have mastered technology, have good growth rates and are capable of competing with foreign rivals in meeting enterprises demand to move to the cloud, making Viet Nam an important digital centre of ASEAN, VNCDCs Deputy Head ang Tung Son said.

A report by VNCDC published within the framework of Internet Day 2023 held by VIA on Wednesday in Ha Noi showes that the demand for cloud computing in Viet Nam doubled in 2022 to reach VN9.7 trillion.

This dramatic growth was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic which urged enterprises to speed up digital transformation.

However, the growth is slowing down in 2023 largely due to the impact of economic recession forcing firms to cut costs. Still, the cloud computing market expanded at 24.2 per cent this year.

The cloud computing market draws the participation of big domestic tech companies such as Viettel, VNPT, CMC and FPT which saw revenue increase from VN900 billion in 2021 to VN2.3 trillion in 2022 with an average growth rate of 37.4 per cent.

However, domestic providers hold a modest market share of 20 per cent while the rest is in the hands of foreign rivals.

The report predicts that the cloud computing market will grow at a compound rate of 20-23 per cent in 2023-25 period to reach $768 million in 2025.

Regarding data centres, a report by Research and Markets shows that the data centre market will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 10.68 per cent in the 2022-28 period to increase from $561 million in 2022 to $1.037 billion in 2028.

This market is attracting huge investment from both foreign and domestic providers. Domestic names include big tech companies like VNPT, Viettel, CMC and FPT which are focusing on developing modern data centres of international standard.

Still, domestic players accounted for a modest market share of 17 per cent.

The Governments Decree 53/2022/N-CP detailing the implementation of the Law on Cybersecurity has tightened data management, which would push up demand for data centre services.

Domestic data centre services providers said that the data centre market would develop rapidly in the next two years, thus, they all have plans for expanding the infrastructure system.

In the digital infrastructure strategy to 2025 with a vision to 2030, the Ministry of Information and Communications set the target to expand the cloud computing market shares of domestic services providers to 70 per cent by 2025, which is challenging, VNCDC said.

At the same time, Viet Nam set the goal that the digital economy would account for 20 per cent of GDP by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030. Accordingly, the ICT industry must contribute 6-6.5 per cent, in which cloud computing enterprises would contribute 1 per cent of GDP.

VNCDCs survey revealed that more than half of service providers found existing legal frameworks were supporting their development at normal level.

Its necessary to improve the legal framework for data centres and cloud computing in Viet Nam to be able to compete with foreign big tech companies and create breakthroughs, VNCDC said.  VNS
HCM CITY  Currently, the remaining vaccines in the Expanded Vaccination Programme in HCM City and many localities are only sufficient for the next few days and will soon be depleted.

In the southern HCM City alone, this is the third time it has faced this situation this year.

The supply of vaccines for expanded vaccination has been disrupted since the beginning of 2023 due to changes in the vaccine procurement mechanism. This has directly impacted the health of young children approaching the vaccination period.

HCM City has to wait for vaccine supplies

For several months now, various types of vaccines in the Expanded Vaccination Programme in HCMC and many localities have been gradually running out, not being supplied on time.

Many parents are concerned, visiting health stations to inquire about vaccinating their children. However, station staff can only respond that the particular vaccine is currently lacking, and they must advise waiting or using private vaccination services.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper, Nguyen Trung Hoa, Director of the District Health Centre of Go Vap (HCMC), stated that health stations in the district have run out of vaccines in the Expanded Vaccination Programme.

At the health station in Binh Hung Hoa Ward (Binh Tan District), the station representative reported that the shortage of vaccines in the Expanded Vaccination Programme has been occurring for several months, and now only the Japanese encephalitis vaccine remains.

Many parents bring their children to the station, only to be turned away. Quite a few parents patiently wait for their children to receive free vaccines due to tight economic conditions, unable to afford vaccination services.

Similarly, the head of a health station in a ward of Binh Thanh District stated that the station only has the Japanese encephalitis vaccine left. With this situation, in a few more days, the station will likely run out of even this vaccine.

Ha Noi is also running out of many vaccines

In Ha Noi, many health stations have also announced the lack of some vaccines, forcing children to wait or choose paid vaccination services.

A representative of the Ha Noi Department of Health also provided information on some disrupted vaccine types. Specifically, the DPT vaccine ran out in April 2023, the single measles vaccine ran out in September 2023, and the hepatitis B vaccine ran out in October 2023. As for the 5-in-1 vaccine, there is enough for vaccines to last until December.

Surplus of private vaccination services

According to the HCM City's Department of Health, as of November 21, there were no more vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), polio (IPV), hepatitis B, SII (DPT-VGB-Hib) in HCMC. Other remaining vaccines are very limited, enough for only a few days. These include measles, oral polio, tuberculosis, measles-rubella (MR), tetanus and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.

Ironically, at the Pasteur Institute in HCMC and many private vaccination centres in the area on the same afternoon, there were almost complete stocks of various preventive vaccines for children.

The HCMC Department of Health stated that, in response to the shortage of vaccines in the Expanded Vaccination Programme, the HCMC Department of Health had advised the People's Committee of HCMC to submit a report and request the Ministry of Health to urgently allocate vaccines to meet the vaccination needs of the people.

Earlier, on October 27, 2023, the Ministry of Health responded to the proposal of the People's Committee of HCMC. This document stated: "In the past time, the Ministry of Health has focused on solving difficulties and obstacles and is currently in the process of vaccine procurement. After obtaining the procurement results, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will allocate to HCMC and localities as soon as possible."

The Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also stated that domestically produced vaccines under the Expanded Vaccination Programme are expected to be back in supply by the end of November 2023, while imported vaccines must wait until the end of December 2023.

Ministry of Health bears responsibility if there is a shortage of expanded vaccination vaccines

The Government Office has issued Announcement 183/TB-VPCP, which informed about Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha's remarks on the bidding for drug procurement at the Ministry of Health and localities, including vaccines in the expanded vaccination programme.

The Ministry of Health needs to review and compile the demand of the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities, balance with aid sources to bid at the national level, or place orders in accordance with the guidance in Announcement 26/TB-VPCP. The Ministry of Health is responsible before the Government and the Prime Minister in the event of a shortage of these drugs and vaccines.

Why the continuous vaccine shortages?

Addressing the media regarding the reasons behind this situation, Minister of Health ao Hong Lan explained that according to regulations, when the Targeted Health Population Programme ended and its tasks became routine tasks of local budgets, the responsibility of localities began from 2023.

Based on this, the Government and relevant ministries provided guidance to localities. In 2022, the funding previously allocated to the Ministry of Health was expected to be allocated to various sectors and localities. However, due to procedural complications, these funds had not been utilised.

To address the urgent situation, the Ministry of Health proposed that the Government allow the continued use of the central budget to purchase vaccines in the programme. On July 10, the Government approved the Ministry of Health's proposal to continue using the central budget to buy vaccines for expanded vaccination.

However, to date, more than four months after the central budget allocation approval, vaccine supply continues to be disrupted. Localities repeatedly announce the depletion of vaccines in the Expanded Vaccination Programme, leading to many children missing their vaccinations. Even the hepatitis B vaccine administered within 24 hours of birth for infants is no longer available.

A representative from the National Expanded Immunisation Programme Office also acknowledged that domestically produced vaccines are facing shortages in some localities.

"The supply of vaccines in 2023 is being closely directed by the Ministry of Health to relevant units. The Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is securing supply according to current regulations," they affirmed.  VNS
SOC TRANG  Soc Trang Province is increasingly developing green, clean and effective farming models to improve farmers incomes.

They include growing lotus in rice fields, water lily in ponds and environment-friendly rice farming.

Nguyen Van My in My Tu Districts My Thuan Commune has switched from rice to lotus in his three-hectare field and now earns VN3-5 million (US$120-205) a day from selling the flowers.

My also breeds fish in the lotus field and earns dozens of millions of ong a year from it.

Lotus provided higher profits than rice, he said.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province has favourable conditions in terms of soil, water and human resources for diversifying agriculture and farming on a large scale.

It has more than 280,000ha of farmland, or 84.7 per cent of its total area.

More and more farmers there are using advanced techniques to improve quality, yield and value.

Nguyen Huu Cong in Long Phu Districts Song Phung Commune has created a new sweet passion fruit variety and applied advanced farming techniques to grow the fruit.

He uses an automatic irrigation system, and since he meets Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards, his fruit fetches high prices and has steady demand in Soc Trang and elsewhere.

He has registered a brand name for the fruit, Sau Cong-Soc Trang sweet passion fruit.

He hires around 65 workers to make various products from the fruit and earn a profit of VN2.7 billion ($112,000) a year.

He was recognised as one of 100 outstanding farmers by the Viet Nam Farmers Association this year.

The province Farmers Association has organised many programmes and events to encourage farmers to work together to mitigate poverty.

The number of farming households with an income of more than VN450 million ($19,000) a year has increased by 2.5 times from five years ago, according to the association.

The province has identified seafood and rice as key products and fruits as potential items for exporting, its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

It produced more than two million tonnes of paddy in the first nine months of the year, including 1.9 million tonnes of high-quality and specialty varieties.

Huynh Ngoc Nha, director of the department, said farmers were instructed to use advanced techniques for growing rice to reduce costs, improve quality and yield, and increase profits.

The department assisted them in getting production codes for key crops to meet export requirements, he said.

The province has nearly 29,000ha of fruits, including 13,439ha grown using organic methods.

The key fruits are banana, mango, milk apple, longan, and various citrus varieties.

The province has 94 fruit growing areas with more than 582ha that have been granted production codes.

The department helped co-operatives sign farm contracts with companies to guarantee outlets for 870 tonnes of fruits in the first nine months of this year, including 291 tonnes for exports, Nha said.

During the period the province farmed aquatic species on 67,231ha of ponds and harvested 232,000 tonnes, up nearly 9 per cent year-on-year, he said.

The department planned to help co-operatives and co-operative groups breed aquatic species to quality standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, Global Aquaculture Stewardship Council, and Best Aquaculture Practices.

It would link up farmers and companies.

It would advocate effective aquatic breeding models such as two-stage shrimp farming.

The two-stage shrimp farming model uses multiple ponds for breeding shrimp and treating wastewater. Breeding ponds are installed with oxygenation equipment, anti-sunlight nets and plastic sheets on their beds.

The provinces seafood exports, mostly of shrimp, topped $1 billion last year.  VNS
GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP)  Hurricane Sally wiped out a 200-foot (61-meter) section of the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier on the Alabama coast in September 2020 just as it was about to reopen after a $2.4 million rebuild that was prompted by an earlier storm.

Now, the pier in Baldwin County has closed for construction again to repair the damage from Sally and should reopen by the end of next summer, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said.

The 1,500-foot-long (457-meter-long) pier had been the second-longest on the Gulf of Mexico before Hurricane Sally collapsed a portion of it near the fishing area at the south end, al.com reported.

The $13.6 million repair was awarded to MD Thomas Construction, which did the earlier renovation.

The pier closed to the public on Nov. 12 and will remain unavailable throughout the project, which should be completed in 2024. Its expected to take about eight months, with a target date of August for reopening.

Rebuilding the pier will require removing the concrete pilings that collapsed and are underwater. Some of the standing pilings will have to be repaired by divers.

Lighting equipment for the entire pier will have to be replaced.

The removal of debris is expected to take a couple of months, depending on the weather.

When the work is complete, the pier should be better than ever, said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

A trip to the Gulf is not complete without experiencing the sights from the pier, he said. When the work is completed, anglers and other park visitors will have full access to one of the premier fishing and sightseeing destinations on the Gulf Coast.

While the pier is closed, park visitors can still get to the beach at Cotton Bayou, Alabama Point, Shell Beach and the Beach Pavilion, and Romar Beach access will open soon with improvements, the department said.
Monthly street maintenance fees may become the rule in Waco, but not in January as originally planned.

The city has withdrawn a letter that contained faulty information about the levy and its role in reducing long-term infrastructure debt, and City Manager Bradley Ford said in an email he has pushed back implementing the fees until spring, after the Waco City Council gets another look.

But some receiving the letter already have acted. The local real estate office of Coldwell Banker Commercial informed clients it became aware of the fees and has immediately been seeking clarification on your behalf.

The fee implementation was delayed because the City Managers Office became concerned about the billing methodology for non-residential customers, Ford said by email. The concerns originated after I received a copy of a letter that was sent out by our Public Works Department to the proposed Top 175 payers of the street fee. Several inconsistencies and issues were present, which caused me to re-group. Unfortunately, the letter had already gone out to large businesses and property owners.

Billing was scheduled to begin in January, but I anticipate the delay will be until at least the Summer of 2024, Ford said. The Waco City Council will receive an update at its Dec. 5 meeting.

At issue is the condition of Waco streets and the citys mechanisms for funding their maintenance and repair. The fees would free up more of the citys tax-funded general budget for use on other things, including construction of new streets or capacity additions to existing streets.

The fee was meant to bring additional resources so that we could expand our Better Streets Waco campaign, which as you know is responsible for more street work than Waco has ever seen, Ford wrote. Even with the street work, our Pavement Condition Index is still in the low 50s, significantly below the Better Streets Waco stated goal of 70.

Wacos pavement condition index score, a means of assessing roadways, increased from 50 in 2015 to 53 as of this spring.

According to surveys conducted by the company Fugro, in which a van drives each street, takes photos and collects measurements on roughness and ride, the percentage of streets rated poor decreased from 41% to 32% between a 2015 survey and this spring. Streets rated as good increased from 18% to 39%. The system classifies streets as poor, fair or good.

City officials in recent years have increased general fund spending on street maintenance, saying the needs had gone underfunded for decades and left a backlog of work.

To combat the low PCI (pavement condition index) and address the backlog of $2 billion in street maintenance/street replacement needs, the City Council has prioritized funding for streets, increasing from $3 million a few years ago to more than $25 million most recently, Ford said. At our current level of funding, it would take more than 100 years to address the street maintenance needs in Waco. That is why we pursued the street fee method, something other cities in Texas have also adopted.

He said Corpus Christi, College Station and Killeen are among the cities that have implemented street maintenance fees.

Ford said in his email the fee would be applied to existing land uses, not developing properties. The delayed proposal would have implemented a $10 per month fee for existing single-family residences. Non-residential properties would pay a fee based on the traffic generated at a particular location.

The street fee was preferred over a property tax increase because its methodology would equitably distribute the funding burden across the heavier traffic generators in the City, Ford said. The approach presumes that a property with high trip generation rates leads to higher wear and tear on streets. The street fee would be a pay-for-use approach similar to how the city charges for water treatment/distribution and drainage maintenance.

Local custom homebuilder Scott Bland said the Heart of Texas Builders Association has taken part in discussions with the city of Waco, and generally views the proposed street fee as something it could support.

I think they are on the right track, Bland said. Its been done by other cities around the state, and may be an effective way to maintain older areas instead of all that burden being put on new development in the form of impact fees. Wacos just getting big, and its infrastructure is not going to maintain this type growth. We need to act before it becomes a crisis.

Waco in 2020 approved a plan to start assessing impact fees on new development, with some exceptions.

The impact fees are added to the cost of building permits, Bland said.

My last permit was double what I was paying for a permit a couple of years ago, Bland said. Its not an insignificant amount, probably $3,000 to $4,000. Permit fees are impacting those buying a new house.

Coldwell Banker Commercial, in its letter to clients, mentioned the city had decided on an indefinite pause in enacting the street maintenance fees.

Through our conversations with City Leaders we do believe that Waco is a pro-business city, and we at Coldwell Banker Commercial will continue to monitor this situation with your best interest in mind, the letter says.

Gregg Glime and Bland Cromwell, both members of Coldwell Banker Commercial, released a statement to the Tribune-Herald saying, Ultimately the issue at hand is the premature sending of letters regarding fees in our growing city.  It is important to note that these letters were not reviewed or analyzed by city leadership, and therefore it would be unfair to comment on the specifics of the fees mentioned.

We have engaged in multiple conversations with various levels of city leadership and continue to support the talented leaders who serve our city. It is crucial that we engage in meaningful conversations about this subject as our city continues to grow. We must address the challenges that come with growth and work together to find fair and effective solutions.

A retraction letter dated Nov. 14, signed by Assistant City Manager Paul Cain, says a letter dated Nov. 8 regarding the street maintenance fee contained errors in our methodology that resulted in incorrect calculations of your monthly street maintenance fee. The amounts shown in this letter are not accurate.

Cain issued an apology for this error and the frustration and distress it has caused. It does not reflect our standard of professionalism and commitment to a high-performing government for the City of Waco.
CEDAR FALLS  Developer Mark Kittrell is still interested in partnering with the city to build a multi-use parking structure in downtown.

But he wont wait forever for officials to decide whether they want to jump on a previously proposed project in a central location to address the struggles people have finding a parking spot at certain days and times.

Kittrell said in a recent interview he plans to move on a project by early next year on the half-acre lot at 123 E. Third St. his company Eagle View Partners owns east of Lincoln Savings Bank and offers for parking of about 30 vehicles.

If not a parking ramp, his company  responsible for developing the Second and State streets corridor with mixed use buildings and the amphitheater known as River Place  would look to design and construct another building at the southwest corner of Third and State streets.

That could be a three- to four-floor mixed use building with retail on the first floor and two to three upper stories of residential dwellings.

Weve waited three years, said Kittrell. Thats long enough. The train is pulling out of the station.

Holding onto real estate comes with carrying costs, he pointed out. The site in 2020 city documents was named as the possible location of the State Street Parking Center. Preliminary design included a ramp with 90-100 spots and 6,000-square-feet of retail for an estimated $5.6 million.

The past proposal is still a viable model. Commercial tenants would have some parking spots reserved in the structure that would be shared with the public outside business hours.

Talks in 2020, which involved tax rebates on the increased property valuation, never progressed because of a lack of clarity and support from the city on what they wanted to do, Kittrell said. Uncertainties surrounding downtown zoning, the 2021 city election and the COVID-19 pandemic also stalled progress.

I feel like this is like the whitewater course, said Kittrell. There was a lot of community support. But it needs the legs to get done because of it being such a big project.

Kittrell also said hes open to a land swap if the city is interested in his company constructing one elsewhere.

According to city, Community Main Street and business officials, the downtown public lots have been discussed for a project, specifically those on Washington Street behind the Main Street businesses in between Second and Fifth streets.

Little vacant land is present in the downtown, but opportunities exist to get creative based on what and who is involved.

Anything is possible depending on how much you want to pay, said City Administrator Ron Gaines, who wouldnt put a number on how many sites the city would be considering if the political support is there to move forward.

Meanwhile, the debate about whether a parking ramp is needed is years old.

The November city election didnt result in new members of the City Council who are pushing for the structure. Along with the millions of dollars in cost, it would likely lead to the implementation of a paid parking system downtown. One of the councilmembers-elect as recently as Tuesday emphasized thoughts that a parking ramp wasnt needed.

The current councilmembers are split, voting 4-3 in October to enter into an agreement for $39,343 with Fishbeck  a construction, engineering and architecture firm with offices in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan  to study the need for a parking ramp.

Findings are expected in March. The council previously removed dedicated funds for a parking ramp in the citys capital improvements program. Its now an unmet need and represents a project estimated to cost more than $20 million.

More could be discussed as soon as at one of the citys four goal setting sessions scheduled 4-7 p.m. Monday and Thursday as well as Dec. 7 and 11 at the Community Center, 528 Main St.
WATERLOO -- The Northeast Iowa Food Bank distributes thousands of holiday dinners every November to those experiencing hunger in the Cedar Valley.

Staff and more than 400 volunteers, including from businesses like John Deere, ConAgra, RE/MAX Concepts, University of Northern Iowa, Lincoln Savings Bank, MidAmerican Energy, provided 3,600 households with a warm and nutritious meal this November. A year ago, the total was north of 3,850 households.

The food bank remains committed to its mission of providing nutritious food and supporting its community members. Anyone can take part in the mission by advocating and volunteering. To get started, visit: neifb.org/get-involved.
Why is 56k the fastest dialup modem speed?

by Alex Freeman

If you've ever had dialup internet service, or still do, or just know someone that does, you have probably heard terms like "56k modem". "56k" has become almost synonymous with dialup Internet access. But it's such an arbitrary number. It's not divisible by ten, it's not a power of two... so why was it chosen as the fastest dialup speed? For the answer, we will have to travel back in time quite a while.

Our visitors from Google should be warned that this is not a "stripped down" explanation; it is intended for relatively technical readers. But if you really want to know where this magic number comes from, you need to understand some of the technical background. As we shall see, "56k" was not just pulled out of a hat.

Setting the baseline

First, let's be specific about what we mean. A "56k" (sometimes the 'k' is capitalized and sometimes not; the reasons are not really relevant here) dialup modem can download data at up to 56 kilobits per second. That is a theoretical maximum of the hardware; for various reasons (and yes, we'll get there) this speed can never actually be achieved. Upload speeds are considerably slower.

This was all codified in 1998 in the ITU V.90 recommendation, which merged two competing standards (X2 from 3COM and K56flex from Rockwell Semiconductor). V.92 came slightly later, and introduced various tweaks; mostly, it increased the maximum upload speed. Any modern dialup modem will conform to one of these standards.

Got all that?

Long, long ago

Bur story starts much earlier. Long ago, when the phone networks were still completely analog, when the first real phone networks were being built, the engineers that were designing them faced a decision. They needed to determine how much bandwidth their networks had to have in order to ensure adequate voice quality. Too little bandwidth, and users wouldn't be able to recognize the voice of the person on the other end. But the more bandwidth the system was specified for, the more difficult (and expensive) the network was to build.

Ultimately, they settled on approximately 3.2 kHz. The implementation for this is pretty simple: the phone lines in individual houses run to boxes owned by the phone company, which pass all voice traffic through a lowpass filter. This filter has a passband of 3.2 kHz, and a stopband starting at 4 kHz. The entire signal at 3.2 kHz and below is preserved, everything above 4 kHz is attenuated heavily, and as for the frequencies in between, well, we just don't worry about those. Problem solved.

Digitization

Fast-forward to 1962. Ma Bell begins using T-1s to connect its switching centers. T-1s are a digital communications link, not analog. The entire phone network goes digital. In a modern phone network, the only analog communication is between an individual house's phone line and the phone company's box.

T-1s are a particular form of DS-1 (Digital Signal 1). They implement the DS-1 protocol, with an AMI line code (alternate mark inversion; a "0" is 0 volts, "1"s alternate between logic high and logic low), over twisted pair cable, for a distance of up to 6000 feet (very roughly 1 mile). Now that we've gotten all precise, I'm going to play a bit loose with terminology and call this "a DS-1" because it makes what follows easier to understand. And it's very nearly correct.

A DS-1 is made by multiplexing 24 DS-0 streams. Each DS-0 corresponds to a single phone line; that is, a typical house gets one DS-0. Why 24 of them in each DS-1? No idea. Most likely that was that was the maximum possible without overstressing the equipment that was available at the time. The most comparable European standard, E-1, multiplexes 32 channels together (1 is used for internal signaling purposes).

In order to get your voice data onto this digital network, it must first be digitized. So now instead of just going through a lowpass filter, it goes through a lowpass filter, then is sampled, and then is run into an analog-to-digital converter that assigns a numerical value to the amplitude of the signal at the instant it is sampled. Simple, right?

As we've said, the lowpass filter cuts off all frequencies above 4 kHz. This means that the filtered signal can be sampled at 8 kHz (which is to say, it is sampled 8000 times per second) with no fidelity loss. This is the Nyquist Rate; any signal sampled at a rate equal to twice its highest frequency component can be completely reconstructed. So now we have turned our analog signal into a discrete-time signal running along at 8000 samples/second.

Next we want to quantize our signal so that we have a purely digital signal. For this, an 8-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is used. Here there is some fidelity loss, but not enough to be detectable to human ears. Fidelity could be improved by using, say, a 16-bit ADC. But that would cost more to manufacture (at the time, a lot more) , and would mean that all the other hardware has to be built to transmit twice as much data. So 8-bit it is.

For those of you keeping score at home, that means we now have a signal that transmits data 8000 times each second, and transmits 8 bits of data for each of those samples. 8 bits/sample * 8000 samples/second yields 64 kbit/s (64 kilobits per second). So why can't dialup modems go up to 64 kbit/s? The short answer would be "historical reasons".

We're with the band

The more complete answer is "control data". Most communications networks need to transmit two kinds of information. The first is data; for phone networks, this is voice data. The second is signaling information, the control data that lets the network communicate status information with itself. There are two ways to send control data: "in band" (where it is packed in with the data) and "out of band" (where it gets its own separate channel, possibly in an entirely different physical medium).

After we've created the 64 kbit/s data stream that fills up our DS-0, it needs to be multiplexed into a DS-1 for longer-distance transmission to the phone company's switching station. And the DS-1 has control data to carry. The Bell engineers decided to send that information in band.

But how do we go about packing this data in? One way is to "steal" some data bits and replace them with control data. And that is exactly what the Bell engineers did.

Petty theft

A DS-1 transmits data in frames. Each frame contains one complete sample from each DS-0, plus a framing bit. Since there are 24 DS-0s multiplexed to make each DS-1, and a single sample from a DS-0 is 8 bits of data. 24 * 8 makes 192 bits. Toss in the framing bit and you have 193 bits.

So we have our 193-bit frame, and we want to pack some control data into it. How? Every 6 frames, the least significant bit of each voice channel is "stolen". The data bit is thrown out, and control data is sent instead. Because it is the least significant bit that is lost, this very slight alteration to the voice signal is not detectable by human ears. Everybody's happy.

Enter the modem

That system worked fine until people wanted to transmit more than just voice on these networks. If you're sending voice, losing the least significant bit of every sixth byte is no big deal. If you are sending data, it is a very big deal. Neither modem has any way to know which bytes will be affected. Maybe this sample, maybe the next one. This is a problem.

The solution is simple enough: assume you are always going to lose that least significant bit. Assume that you can only reliably send or receive 7 bits with each sample. When the receiver gets its data, it simply throws away the least significant bit of every byte. That yields a maximum data rate of 7 bit/sample * 8000 samples/s, or 56 kbit/s.

And that is where the term "56k" comes from.

So why can't I actually connect at 56 kbit/s?

Anyone that has ever used a dialup modem knows full well that they don't actually get to connect at that speed, though. And that their connection speed varies each time they dial in. There are two factors at work here.

The first is the FCC. If you are in the United States, the FCC places a restriction on the power output of devices connected to the phone network. The result is that you will never be able to connect at a speed faster than 53.3 kbit/s.

The second is the overall complexity of the phone network. 56 kbit/s (or 53.3 kbit/s) requires very good operating conditions, as it is really operating beyond the paramaters of what the phone network is required to be capable of. Operating at these speeds requires that there only be one ADC between the user and their ISP (which is not guaranteed to be true, but typically is), and that the copper wiring in the user's "local loop" have very good electrical properties. Part of the dialup process that is used to initiate a connection is an evaluation of the overall quality of the connection; if it is determined to be lacking, the modem will automatically drop down to a lower data rate.
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The Black Sabbath rocker wants to put 'a big target' on his roof to see if the enemy could really hit his house and he could survive the blast if war happens.

Nov 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - Ozzy Osbourne believes there's a chance he could survive a World War Three nuclear blast on his mansion. The rock survivor - whose years of debauchery infamously included snorting a line of ants - is turning 75 on December 3, and he says if another global conflict erupted he'd invite his enemy to target his house just to see if he was tough enough to endure a blast.

"If World War Three ever happens, and they start using the big (bombs), I'm going to put a big target on my roof! I wanna be right under the thing! I'll just say 'I bet you can't hit our house.' Even if they've got a 50-megaton bomb! Imagine if I crawled from the debris with half a body, shouting, 'I'M STILL HERE!' " he told Rolling Stone magazine.

Ozzy chatted to the magazine to mark being given the Icon Award at the first Rolling Stone UK Awards on Thursday, November 23. The Black Sabbath veteran admitted about being given the trophy, "I wish I felt like a icon! I've had a long career, and I've raised a few eyebrows along the way. I've met some amazing people. I've done some good gigs, and I've done some bad gigs."

Ozzy is set to retire as he continues to battle a rare, but mild, form of Parkinson's. But he says it is his surgeries following a fall in 2019 that have resulted in his biggest health battles.

An accident dislodged metal rods which had been inserted into his back after a quad bike accident at his home in Buckinghamshire, south-east England, in 2003 and earlier this year, the rocker underwent spinal surgery for a fourth time in a bid to repair another operation - where a tumour was also discovered.

He has since been seen using a cane to help him get around and he's admitted his balance has gone.

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Former South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole and is set to be freed from prison ten years after being convicted for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The convict was previously released for a period of house arrest back in 2015 while one of the appeals in his case was heard. After his conviction of murder, he was sentenced to 13 years and five months of jail time.

Oscar Pistorius Paroled

In South Africa, serious offenders must serve at least half their sentence to be eligible for parole, which Pistorius has already done. The convict was at the height of his fame and was one of the world's most admired athletes when he killed Steenkamp.

The former Olympian was found to have shot his girlfriend multiple times in the bathroom of his villa in the capital, Pretoria, in the predawn hours using his licensed 9mm pistol. The parole hearing on Friday was Pistorius' second in eight months, as per ESPN.

He was mistakenly ruled ineligible for early release during his first hearing, which was conducted in March. That particular incident was caused by an error made by an appeals court over when the sentence officially began.

The South African was initially convicted of culpable homicide, which is a charge that is comparable to manslaughter, for the killing of his girlfriend. It was later overturned and he was instead convicted of murder after prosecutors appealed. They also appealed against an initial sentence of six years and the defendant was ultimately given his final sentence of 13 years and five months.

Pistorius previously testified at his murder trial that he killed Steenkamp accidentally, thinking that she was a dangerous intruder who was hiding in the bathroom in the middle of the night. However, prosecutors argued that the 29-year-old victim, who was a model and reality TV star, had fled to the toilet cubicle during a late-night argument. They added that the former Olympian killed her because he was in a rage.

Read Also: Couple Killed in Rainbow Bridge Crash Identified

Killing of Reeva Steenkamp

After he is released, the authorities monitor the convict until his sentence officially expires "just like all other parolees." According to BBC, if he wishes to move houses or get a job during that time, he would have to notify his parole officer.

Steenkamp's family spokesman said that Pistorius is also required to attend therapy sessions after being freed from prison. The victim's mother said in a letter that she did not oppose the release but wondered whether Pistorius' "huge anger issues" were truly dealt with in prison.

She added that she was concerned for the safety of any woman who would come into contact with her daughter's killer. June Steenkamp decided not to attend Pistorius' parole hearing at Atteridgeville prison because she could not muster the energy to face him again at this point.

The victim's father, Barry Steenkamp, was not able to live to see the day that his daughter's killer would be freed, as he died earlier this year. After being freed from prison, Pistorius will live at his uncle's mansion in a wealthy Pretoria suburb, said the Associated Press.

Related Article: Hannah Katzir, 77 - Presumed Dead by Hamas-Affiliated Group - Alive, Well, and Free

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The Kylie Cosmetics founder shares on her Instagram account a video of the Victoria's Secrets model cutting an onion as they celebrate the holiday together.

Nov 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kylie Jenner had fun teasing sister Kendall Jenner over her infamous knife skills on Thanksgiving. On Thursday, November 24, the Khy founder shared with fans a video of the supermodel cutting an onion as they celebrated the holiday together.

The said clip, which Kylie posted on Instagram Stories, featured Kendall cutting up an onion easily. Once Kendall noticed that her sister recorded her, she jokingly yelled, "Kylie! F**k you!" The "Life of Kylie" star later replied, "You're doing a good job!"

Kendall was previously trolled with her unusual way of cutting a cucumber in a season 1 episode of "The Kardashians". Instead of being bothered, the Victoria's Secrets model poked fun at the matter by dressing up as a cucumber for Halloween in 2022.

The girlfriend of Bad Bunny also addressed it in an interview for WSJ. Magazine's Summer Digital issue in June. "Let me just say I successfully cut 'The Cucumber,' " she told WSJ. "So if anyone says I cannot cut cucumber, I physically cut the cucumber and I did it tastefully. I didn't hurt anybody. So I can cut cucumbers."

Meanwhile, Kylie wasn't the only Kardashian-Jenner who mocked Kylie over her knife skills. Kim Kardashian took it to another level as she appeared to hilariously shade the model in a particular scene on "American Horror Story: Delicate".

In the Friday, October 6 episode of the FX horror series, Kim's character Siobhan could be seen visiting Emma Roberts' movie star character Anna at her hideaway house. The Hollywood publicist tried to comfort the star as the former had been dealing with fertility struggles and a terrifying stalker situation by cooking Anna some "real food."

Siobhan showcased her amazing knife skills while chopping up a cucumber on a cutting board. Anna quipped, "It's orgasmic," to which Siobhan replied, "It's the green goddess dressing that went viral on TikTok."

Fans quickly speculated that the scene was a playful dig at Kendall. "IM SCREAMING," one said, while another fan commented, "I couldn't believe they threw that in there." Someone else added, "Kim K really said 'I can do EVERYTHING better than my sisters' with this scene."



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In his upcoming book 'Endgame', writer Omid Scobie details the private letters that the Duchess of Sussex wrote to King Charles III about a royal who was concerned about her son's skin color.

Nov 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle is said to have accused two people of raising "concerns" about her son Archie's skin color. The former 'Suits' actress and her husband Prince Harry caused a storm in 2021 during their sit-down with Oprah Winfrey in which they alleged one member of the Royal Family, who they refused to name, enquired about "how dark" their boy's "skin might be when he's born."

Writer Omid Scobie, 42, who has been dubbed "Meghan's cheerleader", has now reportedly included in his upcoming book "Endgame" a claim that the Duchess wrote private letters to King Charles in which she named two members of the royal household she claims took part in "conversations" about Archie's skin tone.

The Sun has also reported the identity of the alleged pair has not been disclosed in the tome, which is due out on Tuesday, November 28, but which has been leaked to the newspaper. It added Omid claims in the book he knows the names of the two people, but says, "Laws in the United Kingdom prevent me from reporting who they were."

The Sun added it is not known if the second accused person is a member of the Royal Family or someone who works for 'The Firm', but stated they are a member of the Royal Household. Both names are said to appear in letters shared between the Duchess and the then-Prince Charles in the spring of 2021, in the wake of her and Harry's chat with Oprah.

The Duchess of Sussex told the chat show icon comments about Archie's skin colour were made during "several conversations." She refused to name any names, saying, "I think that would be very damaging to them."

While promoting his memoir "Spare", which came out in January, Harry denied the couple had made any accusations of "racism" against the Royal Family, instead saying it had been a case of "unconscious bias."

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Sony Pictures Movie

The 46-year-old actor dubs the upcoming 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' sequel 'the last dance' as he expresses his gratitude to be back filming the movie following the end of SAG-AFTRA strike.

Nov 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - Tom Hardy may be ending his vigilante days after "Venom 3". As he announced that production on the upcoming film resumed, the actor has hinted that the "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" sequel will be his swan song as Eddie Brock.

In a post shared on his social media page on Friday, November 24, the 46-year-old expressed his gratitude to be back filming the movie. In the post featuring a behind-the-scenes picture with the crew, including writer/director Kelly Marcel and his stunt double Jacob Tomuri, he dubbed the third installment "the last dance."

"V3N0M 3 The Last dance," Hardy began the caption of the black-and-white snap. "thankfully we are back to shooting; and I want to take a moment just to thank all the teams thus far on the ride from V1 to here all our fantastic Cast and crew- good friends and family."

"we've come a long way," the British actor went on sharing, "it's been and continues to be a lot of fun this journey there's always hard turns to burn when we work but doesn't feel as hard when you love what you do and when you know you have great material and the support at all sides, of a great team. surrounded by talented and passionate departments and when surrounded by people you love and care about it doesn't get any better."

He continued gushing about "Venom 3" director Marcel, who also wrote the second movie, "I want to mention very briefly how proud of my Director, writing partner and dear friend Kelly Marcel I am. watching you taking the helm on this one fills me with pride, it is an honour."

"Trust, your gut, your instincts are always spot on. First class - I back you. [one hundred] %. As always. And I absolutely love working with you and watching you take on bigger challenges everytime," the "Mad Max: Fury Road" star added, before pivoting to honor Tomuri as penning, "And to my great friend, face plant chief operator and brother @jaketomuri Jacob you still look f all like me bro. Here's to a great ride!!! #Venom3 #team."

Principal photography on the untitled third "Venom" movie began in late June, but it was halted in mid-July due to the actors' strike. On the same day the strike ended, Sony Pictures announced that the movie was pushed back from July 12, 2024 to November 8, 2024.

Joining Hardy in the cast, Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor have been cast in undisclosed roles, with Tempe's role being described as a lead character. Michelle Williams, who starred in first and second movies, is not expected to return for "Venom 3".

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The supermodel takes to Instagram to condemn the Jewish state in a series of posts, one of which notes 'Israel authorities detain an average of 500 - 700 Palestinian children every year.'

Nov 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - Gigi Hadid continues to make use of her huge platform to voice her support for Palestine amid the Palestine-Israel conflict. On Friday, November 24, the supermodel took to her Instagram account to condemn Israel in a series of posts.

The 28-year-old star, whose dad Mohamed Hadid is a Palestinian, put Israel on blast when commenting on the hostage exchange deal that was reached between Hamas and Israel. The Victoria's Secrets model talked about young Palestinian Ahmed Manasra, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression. Ahmed was arrested in 2015 for stabbing and injuring two Israeli citizens in Pisgat Zeev.

"Israel is the only country in the world that keeps CHILDREN AS PRISONERS OF WAR. ABDUCTION. RAPE. HUMILIATION. TORTURE. MURDER OF PALESTINIANS. YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. BEFORE Oct 7 2023," Gigi wrote in a now-deleted post.

Gigi also reshared a post claiming that "Israel authorities detain an average of 500 - 700 Palestinian children every year." The post added that the children were "beaten," "strip searched," "arrested at night" and "isolated in solitary confinement."

In the next slide, Gigi pointed out that "Israel is the ONLY country in the world that systematically prosecutes minors in military courts and accepts confessions obtained by coercion."

Not stopping there, the sister of Bella Hadid told her almost 80 million followers, "Israel sees any Palestinian as a 'terrorist,' any person supporting Palestinian rights as 'antisemite,' and any Jew that is opposed to the government's actions as 'self-hating' - even telling them to denounce their Judaism. So everyone is lying and wrong, except Israel?! If it isn't evil and disturbing, it would be comedic."

Gigi Hadid condemned Israel on Instagram Stories.

Both Gigi and Bella are vocal supporters for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle Eastern countries. Bella even said that her family got death threats for supporting Palestine, writing on Instagram, "I've been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger. But I cannot be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave - they are."

In her statement, Bella added, "We need to keep pressure on our leaders, wherever we are, not to forget the urgent needs of the people of Gaza, and to ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of this war." She concluded, "I stand with humanity, knowing that peace and safety belong to us all."

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The 58-year-old, who is serving a 28-year prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter, speaks up about the matter when asked about Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs' alleged involvement in Tupac's murder back in 1996 in Las Vegas.

Nov 25, 2023

AceShowbiz - Suge Knight is suspicious of Snoop Dogg. The co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records suggested on his "Collect Call" podcast that the "Drop It Like It's Hot" hitmaker might have been involved in Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder.

The 58-year-old, who is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter, spoke up about the matter when asked about Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' alleged involvement in the murder. In response, he said, "As far as the Puffy situation, I really, really, really gotta have a real conversation with Snoop."

"I knew that 'Pac did everything right by him by putting him on All Eyez On Me, speaking about him and being real with him," Suge added. "And if it's true what they say, face-to-face it's gonna be a lot of explaining to do."

Suge went on to note that his suspicion stems from Warren G's story during a podcast appearance in August. Warren said at the time that he had persuaded Snoop to come to his house in Los Angeles instead of going to Las Vegas with Tupac and Suge, where the murder eventually took place.

"I don't know what kind of Nextel he had, but whatever it was, it was hitting him all the way from what was going on in Vegas," Warren recalled. "We could hear the s**t, and then he started getting calls and they was telling him that 2Pac got shot. So I kicked everybody out and [Snoop] took off. That's when he went to Vegas to go see what was going on and go to the hospital."

In response, Suge said, "The only way you (Snoop) would have a [Nextel] radio, is if you was at the fight with us and he had a security detail." He further elaborated, "By him not having a security detail, what are you doing with a radio ... Why would you have a play-by-play on the radio?"

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Celebrity

The former adult movie star will be released to a 'private residence' and District Attorney apologizes for failing to get 'complete justice' for victims of his alleged sexual assault.

Nov 26, 2023

AceShowbiz - Ron Jeremy is expected to be released from jail to a "private residence" because of his deteriorating health. The 70-year-old former porn star has stayed in prison since he was arrested in 2020 but earlier this year, he was ruled unfit to stand trial on over 30 counts of rape and sexual assault due to dementia and now a judge has granted a request for him to be moved to receive "round-the-clock medical care" after it was determined that "no medical facility will take him."

The Los Angeles Times newspaper obtained an email from the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, Paul Thompson, to the alleged victims in the case and it noted the adult film actor's "medical condition has deteriorated to the point that he is essentially bedridden."

He wrote, "I feel very badly that this is where we are, but it is beyond our control. His mental and physical condition deteriorated rapidly, and we are left with no other options. I'm sorry that we couldn't get complete justice for you in court."

The district attorney's office said while it had been claimed the actor would be physically incapable of leaving the residence, prosecutors had "expressed concern that even if that is true, he could assault caregivers, which he has allegedly attempted to do at other facilities."

The "Terror Firma" actor's lawyer said he didn't know what type of "private residence" his client would be released to or what security measures would be in place there, if any.

Jeremy's criminal defense attorney, Stu Goldfarb - who had previously told the judge his client no longer recognised him - insisted the ruling was the most humane outcome for a person who hasn't been convicted and faces an irreversible decline in his health, but maintained his client's innocence.

He said, "He's not competent to go [on] trial and he's not been proven guilty, but he's charged with a serious felony. What do you do with him? Most importantly, how do you protect the public, and equally as important, how do you protect his civil rights? He ends up in a facility that's secure, so the public is not at risk and he doesn't have to be housed in prison."

Jeremy had pleaded not guilty to a dozen counts of forcible rape, seven counts of forcible oral copulation, six counts of sexual battery by restraint, four counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious or asleep person.

The actor also faced one count of committing a lewd act on a minor, stemming from an accusation he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at a party in Santa Clarita, California, in June 2004.

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15 selected films will vie for the prestigious Golden Peacock Award at the ongoing 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India being held in Goa. The stellar line-up of exceptional films consist of 12 International and 3 Indian films.

Recognising excellence in filmmaking, the Golden Peacock award is among the esteemed film honours in the world. The jury for this year comprise of veterans in the cinema industry such as Spanish Cinematographer Jose Luis Alcaine, French film producers Jerome Paillard and Catherine Dussart, Australian film producer Helen Leake, along with acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapoor, who is also the Chairperson of the Jury.

The anticipation builds as the competition this year promises to showcase the best, with films such as:

Woman Of (Original title - Kobieta Z)

Woman Of is a 2023 Polish-Swedish drama film written and directed by Magorzata Szumowska and Micha Englert. The drama is set against the landscape of the Polish transformation from communism to capitalism.

The Other Widow (Original Title - Pilegesh)

Israeli director Ma'ayan Rypps debut feature is a dark, comedic coming-of-age story about a modern single woman, Ella. Ella is 34 years old theatre dresser and mistress, experiences the sudden death of her lover. She begins to frequent his Shivah (Jewish mourning rituals) and observes the life that was forbidden to her. A need to grieve attacks her in the least expected moments. Eventually she demands her legitimate right to mourn.

The Party of Fools (Original Title - Captives)

Arnaud Des Pallieres directed Party Of Fools is a story of female solidarity, a portrait of women who dream of a destiny other than the one mapped out for them. Fanni, unlike the other women who are interned to Party of Fools unjustly against their will, she is here voluntarily. Her only goal is to find her mother and escape together. This French feature is produced by Philippe Rousselet and Jonathan Blumental.

Measures Of Men (Original Title - Der Vermessene Mensch)

The German director Lars KRAUME has made a haunting film about the genocide of the Herero and the Nama tribes in 19th-century Berlin. German ethnologist, Alexander Hoffmann, travels to the former colony "German Southwest Africa (Now Namibia)" to gather art and skulls for the Berlin Ethnological Museum and slowly begins to lose his moral compass for career gain, failing to oppose white supremacy as Germany's history darkens.

LUBO

Lubo is a 2023 Italian-Swiss drama film directed by Giorgio Diritti. Lubo is a nomad, a busker who in 1939 is called up to the Swiss army to defend the countrys borders against the risk of a German invasion. Shortly afterward he finds out that his wife has died in the attempt to stop the gendarmes from taking away their three small children. Lubo knows that he will never have peace until he gets his children back and gets justice for his story and that of all outsiders like himself.

Hoffmans Fairy Tales (Original Title - Skazki Gofmana)

The film is directed by Tina Barkalaya, Russian director of Georgian origin. It is set in the early 2000s, as the Soviet era fades into a Westernised parody, the film follows Nadezhda, a timid woman trapped in a marriage with Vitaly, exploiting her for an apartment. She emerges as a sought-after hand model, reshaping her life dramatically.

Endless Borders (Original Title - Marzhaye bi Payan)

Directed by Abbas Amini, Endless Borders is a gripping drama in which danger lurks literally everywhere. The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan has reignited the fire of ethnic and tribal wars. Ahmad, an exiled Iranian teacher, gets acquainted with a Hazara family from Afghanistan, and sees the real face of prejudice and dogmatism in the region. A forbidden love makes him act and discover the lack of love and bravery in his own life.

Die Before Death (Original Title - Umri Prije Smrti)

The Movie is directed by Ahmed Imamovic (Bosnia And Herzegovina). Gorgeous gynecologist Zlatan falls seriously ill and has little time left. Convinced that it is punishment for the abortions he performed, he embarks on a journey to seek answers to his conflicts. The final moments turn into victory of life over death as a child is born since Zlatan spares one unborn life.

Bosnian Pot (Original Title - Bosanski Lonac)

Croatian Director Pavo Marinkovic is back to IFFI with his masterpiece creation. It is a story of a Bosnian writer living in Austria who is suddenly left without a residence permit due to stricter immigration rules and his own negligence. In order to not be deported, Faruk must prove to the authorities that he's made a cultural contribution to Austrian society. The ensuing adventure brought on by Faruks reluctant return to the theater could transform his life and force him to realise what is truly important.

Blagas Lessons (Original Title - Urotcite na Blaga)

With many award-winning feature and documentary films to his credit, Bulgarian Director Stephan Komandarev is coming to IFFI with BLAGAS LESSONS. Blaga is a seventy-year-old recently widowed former teacher and a woman of firm morals. When telephone scammers con her out of the money that she had saved for her husbands grave, her moral compass slowly begins to lose its bearings as she transforms into a scammer herself.

Asog

Sean Devlin is a first generation Filipino-Chinese-Irish Canadian filmmaker and comedian. Asog is a unique narrative incorporating documentary elements follows Rey, a 40-year-old non-binary teacher and typhoon survivor, on a road trip to fame. With surreal comedy and social portrait realism, filmmaker Sean Devlin explores climate change, LGBTQ+ issues.

Andragogy (Original Title - Budi Pekerti)

Andragogy is a 2023 drama film written and directed by Wregas Bhanuteja. The film stars Sha Ine Febriyanti as a school teacher whose reputation and career prospects get jeopardized after a video of her confronting a line-cutter goes viral.

Kantara (2022)

Rishab Shetty is an actor and filmmaker in the Kannada film industry. His critically acclaimed blockbuster, Kantara, is set in the fictional village of Dakshina Kannada. The film explores the ideological conflict between humans and nature. The co-existence of a tribe living with the forest will be hampered by a forest officer who feels certain practices and rituals followed by the tribe pose a threat to mother nature. Will the main character, Shiva, be able to reinstate peace and harmony in the village perceiving his existence forms the crux of the film.

Sanaa (2023)

Sudhanshu Saria is a national award winning filmmaker. He made his feature film debut with a queer road-trip romance titled Love which was widely acclaimed at film festivals. In this movie, Sanaa, a 28-year-old financial advisor working in Mumbai finds out she is pregnant. Absolutely clear on her decision to terminate the pregnancy, the actual process of getting the abortion forces Sanaa to re-evaluate her life and delve deep if the choices she has been making have been really her own.

15. Mirbeen (2023)

Mirbeen, the Karbi feature film directed by Mridul Gupta and produced by Dhaniram Tisso, has been selected in the feature film category, the only film from Assam to find place in the prestigious forum.

Mirbeen is the central character of this story. In her childhood, her grandmother instills in her the dream of doing something with the fairy tales of Serdihun (God of textile in Karbi tribal beliefs), which sprouts the desire to make life meaningful in her mind. But fratricidal clashes and ethnic conflicts make the entire Karbi land bloody in 2005 and her life is also jeopardized.

This carefully curated selection of outstanding films represents a diverse array of genres, styles and cultural practices, reflecting the depth of global film landscape.
Akasa Air, Indias fastest growing airline, strengthens its connectivity by adding Port Blair, to its expanding network. The airline will operate daily through flights between Bengaluru and Port Blair via Chennai (with no change of aircraft required at Chennai) enhancing connectivity between the tourist hub and two major metros. Bookings for flights are now open on Akasa Airs website  www.akasaair.com, Android and iOS app or through multiple leading OTAs.

The tropical island of Port Blair is a popular tourist destination and Akasa Airs foray into the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is testament to the airlines commitment to strengthen its operations across the country, allowing travellers more options to connect between cities and fly to an increasing number of destinations.

Commenting on the announcement, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, At Akasa Air, we strive to make air travel accessible. The start of operations in the Andamans is yet another step towards our continuous efforts in network expansion. Port Blair offers breathtaking natural beauty and is an attractive tourist destination with strong air travel demand. The inclusion of Port Blair also aligns with Akasa Air's commitment to providing seamless travel options and world-class service to our passengers. We are certain that our warm and efficient customer experience, reliable service and affordable fares will enable more consumers to visit and explore the island.

Akasa Air has introduced multiple best-in-class products and services to ensure an inclusive, warm, comfortable, and efficient flying experience. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft seats provide ample legroom and come with USB ports in a majority of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their gadgets and devices on the go. Cafe Akasa, the airlines onboard meal service offers an assortment of healthy and delectable meals, including festive menus and industry first options such as Kombucha, to offer customers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies. Pets on Akasa allows customers to travel with their pets in the cabin or carry them in cargo based on their size. In addition, in an endeavour to make travel inclusive, Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and on-board menu card in Braille for persons with visual impairment.

Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has served over 5.9 million passengers and connects with 16 cities across India, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.

Bookings for flights on Akasa Air are available on its website  www.akasaair.com, Android & IOS app as well as through travel agents and several OTAs across the country.

Flight schedule:
Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, announced the launch of SPLASH, an annual Pan-India competition on Art, Craft, and Literature for children in the age group of 7-14 years. This year, Splash will focus on the theme Kindness to instil the thought of kindness and foster a sense of goodwill amongst the new generation. The participants can register and submit their entries on www.axisbanksplash.in, till 31st December 2023. Through this initiative, the Bank aims to reach out to over 6 lakh participants by conducting the competition phygitally (both physically and digitally), ensuring that every child has an opportunity to showcase their talent.

The competition will be divided into two age groups: 7-10 years and 11-14 years. The participants will need to express their thoughts and ideas through two themes 'Helping One Another' and 'Making the World a Kinder Place'. They can unleash their creativity through drawing, craft, or essay writing. The participants will be evaluated by an esteemed jury panel comprising Vikrant Shitole, a revered artist from Art Society of India; Disha Katharani, Co-Founder of Imagimake; Savio Mascarenhas, Group Art Director at Amar Chitra Katha; and Rajiv Chilaka, CEO of Green Gold Animation.

Speaking on the initiative, Anoop Manohar, Chief Marketing Officer, Axis Bank, said, ''We are delighted to announce the 11th edition of Splash. This years theme of Kindness stems from our brand philosophy Open- which aims to engage with communities beyond banking and business. Through Splash, we are providing a vibrant canvas for these young minds to explore, express and embrace the value of kindness in order to create a better tomorrow."

Scaling new heights, this year Axis Bank will reach out to over 2000+ schools, 50% more than the previous year. In addition to the competition, the Bank will organise engaging sessions and other fun-filled activities. It has roped in childrens beloved character Chota Bheem to impart valuable life lessons on earning, saving, investing, and giving through the art of storytelling.

The winners will be conferred scholarships of Rs. 1 lakh, exciting hampers, and electronic gadgets from partners such as Hamleys, Faber Castle and BoAt. They will also be given an opportunity to visit the National Institute of Design (NID) and participate in exciting workshops conducted by the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP). The runners-up will be awarded Rs.50 thousand each.
Gaurav Jain has been appointed as the Chief Business Officer at ShareChat, after serving as the Head of Emerging Business at Moj and ShareChat. In his new role, Jain aims to support marketers in leveraging the platform's strengths, contributing to the growth of the advertising business, and fostering strong ties with digital agencies.

ShareChat boasts a substantial user base, with over 325 million Monthly Active Users (MAUs), exceeding 280 billion video views per month, and an average daily app usage of more than 34 minutes. Additionally, the platform sees more than 165 million pieces of content uploaded monthly.

A key revenue driver for ShareChat is advertising. Jain emphasizes that both ShareChat and Moj are committed to catering to various business verticals by addressing their specific needs rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution. Notably, in addition to ad revenues from various sources, including WhatsApp Branded Shares, ShareChat is exploring revenue opportunities arising from virtual gifting on its platform.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips officially announced that he would not seek re-election to Congress as he would focus on challenging President Joe Biden for his party's nomination in the 2024 race.

The lawmaker said it is time to pass the torch after working for three terms. He echoed the argument for generational change he called for in his primary bid against the president.

Dean Phillips Will Not Run for Re-Election in Congress

Last month, Phillips officially launched his campaign for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire. He said he was compelled to challenge Biden over his concerns that the president would lose a general election rematch against former United States President Donald Trump. He argued that this would be because of the sitting president's age and low approval ratings.

However, he has faced significant intraparty opposition to his candidacy as lawmakers seek to unify around Biden. They also want to fend off spoiler independent candidates and lay out the administration's accomplishments to American voters, as per CNN.

Phillips instead started to take shots at the president over policy and criticized his administration's handling of the Hamas hostages situation. He noted that it was unacceptable that American citizens remain held by the militant group and have not yet been set free through diplomacy or special forces extraction.

The Minnesota Democrat is an heir to a distilling business and is the former chairman of Talenti Gelato. He has vowed to invest as much of his multi-million-dollar fortune as possible to win the Democratic nomination.

The lawmaker also supports a new super PAC, Pass the Torch, which airs ads in New Hampshire and Washington, D.C. It highlights polls that show Biden lagging behind Trump in key swing states.

Phillips successfully flipped Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District in 2018. The district encompasses many suburbs in the western half of the Twin Cities metro area. He was also the first Democrat to win there since 1958 and continued to win re-election twice, according to the Washington Post.

Read Also: House Speaker Mike Johnson Visits Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago After Endorsement

Running Against Joe Biden

Congressional candidates in the state have until June 4 to file paperwork to appear on the ballot. But Phillips said he intends to run for president well beyond that. The lawmaker said that he believes that one of the country's problems right now is the unwillingness of people in positions of power to pass the torch.

Phillips told his colleagues in Congress that it was an honor to serve with them, particularly during some of the darkest days in the history of the country. Before his announcement, there were early signs that the Minnesota representative was planning to run for Congress.

However, he stepped down from his role as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Caucus at the start of October. He said that his opinions of the 2024 race were "incongruent with the majority of [his] caucus."

Phillips has been on the record criticizing the older members of Congress and calling for term limits. This was after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze during a news conference last summer. Additionally, the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein was being hospitalized after she fell in her home, according to Yahoo News.

Related Article: Michigan Senate Candidate Hill Harper Offered $20 Million To Run Against Rep. Rashida Tlaib

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Louis Philippe, Indias leading premium menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., proudly unveils 'The Royal Wedding' Collection, a manifestation of grandeur and opulence. This exclusive range is meticulously designed to transform every groom into true royalty on his special day, symbolizing timeless elegance and modern sophistication. Louis Philippe introduces this range with a captivating brand campaign, 'Royal Weddings.

Catering to every significant moment of a wedding journey, from pre-wedding photoshoots to reception ceremonies, Louis Philippe 'The Royal Wedding' range features stunning three-piece suits, mesmerizing bundis, and exquisite bandhgalas. Crafted with the finest raw materials, the assemblage boasts a rich color palette, including jewel tones of blue, maroon, wine, and teal, as well as subtle shades of cream and quartz pink, adding a regal charm to any occasion.

Farida Kaliyadan, COO, Louis Philippe said, As the wedding season is slated to begin, we are delighted to launch our Royal Wedding collection, that will make grooms feel like true kings on their special day. Each piece has been precisely created to guarantee that every wearer feels royal. Louis Philippe reinforces its position as the brand of choice for wedding purchases with this range, which offers unrivalled quality and design."

To celebrate the launch of the Royal Wedding Collection, we have also launched a captivating mass media campaign to highlight the essence of the assortment's elegance and allure. The campaign is a mix of television, digital, and airport across the country and with this we intend to strengthen our position as the preferred choice for wedding purchases among young clients and their families, added Ms. Kaliyadan.

What sets Louis Philippe 'The Royal Wedding' range apart is the use of super-premium fabrics, ranging from luxurious silk blends and velvets to rich woolen textiles. The meticulous craftsmanship is visible in the delicate details which include jacquards, hand embroidered with glittering decorations, the artistry of 'zari' work, and meticulously interwoven pearls. Each outfit, be it for the groom, his family, or groomsmen, exudes unmatched elegance and grace, establishing Louis Philippe as the ultimate destination for wedding shopping.Talking about the campaign, Senthil Kumar, Wunderman Thompson said, "In unveiling the Louis Philippe Royal Wedding Collection, we sought to encapsulate the essence of formal elegance and the pinnacle of fashion through an iconic narrative. Centered around the timeless Royal Weddings, immortalized by royal couples worldwidewe aimed to weave a tale of unity amidst Two Warring Kingdoms.

The multimedia campaign showcases impeccably styled royals set against the backdrop of an ornate Royal Palace, resonating with the authenticity of an iconic Royal Wedding. The collection aims to evoke a regal sentiment, encouraging every groom to embrace the classic fashion depicted in iconic wedding portraits. added Senthil.

Louis Philippe Royal Weddings Campaign is reinforced by a comprehensive 360-degree multimedia promotion strategy that includes airport, digital channels and more.
Metaverse marketing: A rollercoaster ride of interest and revival story

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the metaverse emerged as a promising frontier, offering boundless possibilities for immersive and interactive brand experiences.

Metaverse marketing: Creating immersive experiences beyond boundaries

As the metaverse continues to evolve, what strategies or trends should marketers consider to effectively leverage this dynamic platform and stay ahead of the curve in engaging with audiences?

IT minister sets 7-day ultimatum for social media on deepfakes compliance

Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced on Friday that the government is ready to help citizens in filing FIRs against social media platforms for violating IT rules if they are aggrieved by objectionable content, such as deepfakes. The IT ministry issued letters to social media platforms, reminding them of their responsibility to combat misinformation and deepfakes as per Indian law.

Govt readying 4-pillared structure to tackle deepfake menace

Deepfake has emerged as a serious threat to democracy and social institutions across the world. Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, interacted with representatives from academia, industry bodies and social media companies on the need to ensure effective response to deepfake. MeitY will commence an exercise for assessing and drafting necessary regulations to curb the menace of deepfake.

Sam Altman making a comeback as CEO of OpenAI

In a series of fast developments, Sam Altman is making a comeback as the CEO of OpenAI, marking the end of a surprising power struggle that unfolded last week. The San Francisco-based company, known for creating ChatGPT, announced the agreement for Altmans return, along with the formation of a new initial board.

OpenAI turmoil: Decoding the boardroom drama amid Microsofts play for AI supremacy

Silicon Valley is no stranger to seismic shifts, but the recent mayhem at OpenAI has sent shockwaves through the tech Mecca, tossing the industry into an unruly sea of uncertainty. The abrupt firing of Sam Altman, CEO and Co-founder of OpenAI, has not only triggered a storm of speculation about the reasons behind this abrupt decision, but also cast a shadow over the future trajectory of ChatGPT and artificial general intelligence (AGI).

How homegrown beauty brands crafted a bumper festive season this year

The beauty and personal care industry in India has been witnessing significant growth over the years, aided by changing lifestyles and preference as well as growing awareness.

70-hour work week and productivity: Dilemma of the post-pandemic workplace

Infosys Founder Narayana Murthys recent statement urging young professionals to work 70 hours a week sparked an impassioned debate across the industry. Murthys suggestion has ignited conversations across social media and offline discussions, with varying opinions and perspectives coming to the forefront.

AG Talk: Chaitanya Bhamidipaty on brewing Roasteas success story

In conversation with Adgully for the regular AG Talk column, Chaitanya Bhamidipaty, Co-Founder, Roastea, speaks about his vision for growing Roasteas business, the factors that set apart the brand from other bigger players operating in this space, leveraging social media platforms, expansion plans and more.

GenAI has unlocked a new challenge for communications firms: Aniruddha Atul Bhagwat

In PR conversation this week, Aniruddha Atul Bhagwat, Co-Founder & CEO, Ideosphere, speaks at length about the challenges and opportunities that the PR industry is facing with the integration of AI, the advent of GenAI, how Ideosphere is maintaining a client-centric approach, how he envisions the future of Ideosphere, and more.

Rishi Mathur on how Canara HSBC Life has been leveraging inspirational narratives

In conversation with Adgully, Rishi Mathur, Chief Distribution Officer  Alternate Channels & Chief Strategy Officer and Marketing Head at Canara HSBC Life Insurance, speaks about the underlying objectives that have been driving the Depend on Insurance series, insights into the social impact of these stories, key elements in the marketing equation for the insurance industry, and more.

GOZOOP HAWKs Premkumar Iyer on the importance of ORM for brands

In this insightful interview with Adgully, Premkumar Iyer, President, HAWK, a GOZOOP Group Company, delves into the realm of Online Reputation Management (ORM), its evolution and significance in the digital landscape.

Marketers must select the best media partners on iOS: AppsFlyers Paul Wright

In this exclusive interview with Adgully, Paul Wright, General Manager - Western Europe and MENAT, AppsFlyer, delves into the intricacies of mobile advertising in the face of Google and Metas dominance in Android non-gaming and remarketing. Wright advocates for diversifying ad campaigns.

Ad exodus: Elon Musk's antisemitic remarks shake X

Concerns over the proliferation of antisemitic content and discussions on the social media platform X have intensified, reaching a critical point with advertisers like Apple Inc. pulling out their ads. Musk, who actively interacts with antisemitic users on X, endorsed a post asserting that Jewish people have a "dialectical hatred" of white individuals, to which he responded, "You have said the actual truth."

W-Suite: Shreedha Singh, CEO & Co-Founder, T.A.C - The Ayurveda Company

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Shreedha Singh, CEO & Co-Founder, T.A.C - The Ayurveda Company, talks about her journey as an entrepreneur, growing diversity in leadership positions, how organisations can effectively encourage and groom women leaders, and more.

Trailblazing entrepreneurship: Assiduus voyage of vision and victory

In this exclusive interview, Dr Somdutta Singh, CEO, Assiduus Global, shares her defining moments, the motivation behind becoming an angel investor, and the strategic manoeuvres that led to a multi-million dollar exit at the age of 26.

Start-up Stars: Madhavi Shankar, CEO & Co-founder, SpaceBasic

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Madhavi Shankar, CEO & Co-founder of SpaceBasic, speaks about her start-ups journey so far, digitising the non-curriculum life of students in universities, schools and student housing communities, growth plans, and more.

Innocean begins expansion to grow business worldwide

INNOCEAN Worldwide is getting on the top gear to grow its business worldwide. Among many strategies being put into execution, collaboration with meaningful partners is gaining momentum.

Brand value growth falls to 5.7% this year from 16% in 2022: Interbrand

Interbrand has launched its Best Global Brands 2023 ranking, revealing many of the worlds top 100 brands are in a state of stagnation. The rate of growth in the overall brand value of the table slowed sharply after last year's significant increase - rising 5.7% this year compared to last years 16% increase, taking the total brand value to $3.3 trillion ($3.1 trillion in 2022).
General Secretariat FDHA

Kyiv, 25.11.2023 - President Alain Berset travelled to Kyiv to attend the International Summit on Food Security on Saturday, 25 November, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In addition to the impact of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security, the talks focused on bilateral relations and Switzerland's long-term solidarity with Ukraine as well as the Ukrainian peace formula. Summit participants also commemorated the millions of victims in Ukraine who starved to death during the Holodomor caused by the Soviet leadership 90 years ago.

The main topic of the summit, which was attended by other heads of state and government, and an important topic of discussion at the meeting with President Zelenskyy, was concern about global food security. As a result of Russia's war of aggression, agricultural production in Ukraine has fallen by 45 per cent; around 11 million people in the country are dependent on food aid. President Berset announced in Kyiv that Switzerland would contribute towards helping those affected by transferring three million francs to the World Food Programme.

However, the effects are also global in nature. Russia's suspension of the Black Sea Initiative and attacks on transport and port facilities are hampering the export of Ukrainian staple foods. Switzerland welcomes the UN's ongoing efforts to facilitate the unhindered export of food and fertilisers to world markets via the Black Sea. Rapid and substantial results are essential to improve the situation of those threatened by hunger in Ukraine and worldwide, explained Mr Berset.

The summit coincided with Ukraine's commemoration of the Holodomor, during which an estimated four to seven million people died in 1932/33 as a result of the brutal policies of the Soviet leadership under Joseph Stalin. President Berset laid flowers at the memorial in Kyiv in memory of the victims. Before the summit, he also visited the town of Bucha, where atrocities were committed during the initial phase of Russia's war of aggression.

In talks with President Zelenskyy, President Berset stressed that Switzerland stands in solidarity with Ukraine for the long haul, even in times of multiple concurrent crises. At the end of September, the Federal Council approved funds totalling CHF 100 million for humanitarian demining. Among other things, these funds will be used to demine agricultural areas in Ukraine. Switzerland is also participating in the register of damage launched by the Council of Europe and is among the core group of states seeking to establish a special tribunal to address the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

These steps are an expression of solidarity and support the reconstruction process in Ukraine, which Switzerland initiated on a broad scale together with the Ukrainian government at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano in 2022. The Ukrainian peace formula was also discussed. Mr Berset emphasised that Switzerland is committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Switzerland to send further shipment of ambulances and fire engines

The Ukrainian healthcare system is under enormous strain. There is an urgent need for ambulances and fire engines as many have been destroyed in the fighting and there are further casualties every day. Switzerland will therefore continue its support by supplying ten more ambulances financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) valued at CHF 650,000, six fire engines and firefighting equipment from the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) worth around CHF 2.3 million, and a used fire engine from the District of Affoltern in the canton of Zurich by December. Swiss experts will also be on site to run training courses on site for the Ukrainian fire service. Several shipments of vehicles have already taken place. With this new shipment, Switzerland will have sent a total of 25 ambulances and 13 fire engines to Ukraine since the start of Russia's military aggression on 24 February 2022, worth around CHF 3.9 million.

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On Saturday, the Congress appealed to voters in Rajasthan to exercise their franchise and elect its government of guarantees and one that works for the benefit of the people.

Polling began Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan, where the BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress, which hopes to beat the states anti-incumbency tradition.

In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, Savings, relief, growth, and dreams flying high, people benefiting from welfare schemes will choose only Rajasthan! The aware people of Rajasthan know that their valuable vote is the guarantee of their happiness, he said.

The people of Rajasthan, the land of great heroes and a symbol of social unity, are requested to exercise their franchise, he said.

Make sure that there are no obstacles in your improving life. It is an appeal to young friends and first-time voters to cast their vote. Choose social security, choose economic empowerment, and choose only the guarantee of prosperity and development, Kharge said.

In a post on X, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, Rajasthan will choose free treatment. Rajasthan will choose a cheaper gas cylinder. Rajasthan will choose an interest-free agricultural loan. Rajasthan will choose English education. Rajasthan will choose OPS. Rajasthan will choose the caste census. Today, go out in large numbers and exercise your franchise. Elect a Congress government of guarantees and one that is beneficial to the people, he said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also urged the people of Rajasthan to cast their ballot.

Your every vote, for a beautiful future, for rights, for Congress guarantee, she said.

Priyanka Gandhi also listed the promises of the Congress, such as free treatment of up to Rs 50 lakh, Rs 10 thousand annually to the female head of family, a gas cylinder for Rs 400, a legal guarantee of an old pension, 10 lakh new jobs, the right to housing, buying cow dung at Rs 2 per kg, MSP to farmers, loans of Rs 2 lakh without interest, laptops for college students, free education even in private schools and caste census.

Congress general secretary organization K C Venugopal appealed to the voters of Rajasthan to come out in record numbers and vote for a progressive, prosperous, and inclusive Rajasthan.

You have seen 5 years of exemplary governance, with welfare programmes that have changed the face of Rajasthan and given a safe and secure environment for everyone. The Chiranjeevi Scheme, mobile phones for women, Indira Rasoi, and many such pro-poor schemes have made a meaningful impact, he said in a post on X.

You also remember a dark period of the BJPs misrule and corruption, where day-to-day life was tough and their leaders were busy pitting one community against the other and looting the states coffers, he said.

When we return to power, we will fulfil the 7 Guarantees made during the campaign. We did it in Karnataka, we will do it in Rajasthan as well! Venugopal said.

The time has now come to break this cycle of interrupting a people-centric government with that of the BJP -and vote for 5 more years of Congress, he added.

While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, opposition BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.
Schools at the north and south ends of Alabama are seeing an increase in public school enrollment.

As Alabama faces a serious teacher shortage in many disciplines, that can mean larger classroom sizes in growing schools. As students age and shift from elementary to middle to high school, that can mean teachers need to shift, too.

Alabamas fastest-growing counties are Baldwin, Limestone, Madison and Lee counties. Similarly, the Wiregrass is seeing a population increase, which appears to be contributing to more students in county school systems, though not in small city systems.

Central Alabama, with few exceptions, is holding steady or losing students. Only two of Jefferson Countys 12 school districts added students this year: Tarrant and Homewood, which added 3% and 2% to their population, respectively.

Rural districts in the Black Belt area continue to see fewer students, which also tracks with the overall population decline in that area. As enrollment in those schools drops and federal pandemic relief money dries up, school officials are having to face the real possibility of closing small schools.

Since the start of the current school year, two rural schools - Dunbar-Ramer School in Montgomery and Kinterbish K-8 School in Sumter County - have announced theyll close before the end of the year. Half a dozen other small rural schools have closed in recent years, too.

Statewide, enrollment numbers are about where they were last year, dropping by just under a thousand students. Current student enrollment is 726,700 students statewide.

The chart below shows the current student population in Alabamas 10 largest school districts and whether that number is higher or lower than last year. Click here if you are unable to see the chart.

Charter school enrollment continues to climb

Enrollment continued to climb in Alabamas 10 existing startup charter schools, and a new charter school - Covenant Academy in Mobile - enrolled 262 students. That brings the total enrollment in the states 11 charter schools to 5,176 students.

Charter schools are allowed more flexibility in exchange for more accountability and can be closed if students dont meet the achievement goals set by school officials. That flexibility can be attractive to teachers and students, with most charter schools operating with a waitlist.

The three conversion charter schools in Montgomery enrolled 1,558 students this year - one student more than last years enrollment. The districts overall enrollment has declined year over year for the past decade, falling to 25,760 students this year.

District gains and losses - last year and this year

Eighty-three of Alabamas 139 traditional school districts lost students from last year to this year. For most, the loss was 2% or fewer of the total student population.

But in 28 school districts, that loss was more than 2%, with Perry County having the highest percentage decline. Enrollment in the district is down 7%, meaning there are 66 fewer students than last year, bringing the total to 828 students.

And Perry County is only the fifth-smallest district in Alabama. The other four are:

Coosa County - 781 students

Barbour County - 641 students

Elba City - 602 students, and

Linden City - 396 students.

Those numbers are all lower than last year.

On the other side of the scale are the districts that grew the largest, as a percentage of the student population.

Eufaula City, home to the 4,578-student Alabama Virtual Academy, grew at the largest rate, adding 657 students to the district overall, an 11% increase.

The map below shows districts that grew from last school year until the current school year in shades of blue, while shades of brown indicate areas of declining enrollment. Click here if you are unable to see the map.

The table below depicts the current school year enrollment for Alabama school districts and charter schools compared with the two previous school years. Click here if you are unable to see the table.

Statewide and standalone district virtual schools enroll more students

Virtual school continues to attract students, with the three statewide virtual schools - in Chickasaw City, Eufaula City and Limestone County - enrolling the majority of students and seeing the largest rise.

Together the three schools enroll 13,367 of the 16,926 virtual students statewide. Thats up by 808 students from last years enrollment of 12,559 collectively in the three statewide virtual schools.

Enrollment in the 11 district-level standalone virtual schools differs among districts, but is up by 301 students, rising to 3,279 from 2,978 last year.

Enrollment by school

As with the districts, enrollment ups and downs were uneven across the state, with county schools losing 2,621 students statewide and city schools gaining 391 since last year.

High schools continue to be the largest schools in the state, with Hoover High School topping the list at 2,884 students this year.

Rounding out the top six (fifth place is a tie) largest high schools:

Mobile Countys Baker High School - 2,421 students

Auburn Citys Auburn High School - 2,163 students

Alabaster Citys Thompson High School - 2,132 students

Enterprise Citys Enterprise High School - 2,121 students and

Madison Citys James Clemens High School - 2,121 students.

On the other end of the spectrum, Alabamas smallest traditional public schools - as opposed to specialized programmatic schools like alternative programs - are scattered across Alabama and include:

Montgomery Countys Dunbar-Ramer School - 45 students,

Monroe Countys Monroe Intermediate School - 55 students,

Mobile Countys Dauphin Island Elementary School - 57 students,

Sumter Countys Kinterbish Junior High School - 65 students, and

Dallas Countys J.E. Terry Elementary School - 72 students.

Of the smallest schools, Dunbar-Ramer and Kinterbish Junior High are set to close by the end of 2023.

The table below shows school-level enrollment for this year and last year. Use the search box to narrow the list. It is best viewed on a larger screen. Click here if you are unable to see the table.
A Tennessee man was killed in a Friday evening crash after attempting to elude an Alabama state trooper, authorities said.

Christian W. Hatchett, 49, of Loretto, Tenn., was killed at approximately 6:32 p.m. on Friday when his car left the roadway and overturned, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The single-vehicle crash occurred on Lauderdale 33, about eight miles north of Killen, in Lauderdale County.

ALEA said Hatchett was attempting to elude a trooper with the state highway patrol division before the crash occurred. Hatchett was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

The agency has not said why it was attempting to pull Hatchett over Friday evening. The incident remains under investigation.
US officials have compiled a working list of 10 hostages poised for release from Gaza on the first day of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

However, uncertainties loom over the fate of three American hostages, including 3-year-old Abigail Edan, as per CNN.

Ceasefire Deal Reveals Gaza Hostage Release Details

The compiled list, proposed by Hamas during earlier negotiations, includes crucial details such as gender, nationality, and age of the individuals marked for release, though their identities remain undisclosed.

The intricate deal stipulates a daily release of hostages handed over to the Red Cross, with the first 50 expected to exit through Egypt.

The initial two days of the hostage release are designated as a "testing period" to ensure the smooth execution of the agreed-upon mechanisms. By day three, intense discussions are anticipated regarding the potential second phase of the hostage release beyond the initial group of 50.

"The first swap is the most crucial to see that the mechanism is working as was agreed," emphasized a source familiar with the situation.

Earlier expectations suggested that the first swap would occur on Thursday. However, the Israeli National Security Council later announced a delay, pushing the release to Friday.

Talks to release the hostages are ongoing, with the process expected to commence according to the original agreement between the involved parties.

A senior US official stated that the delay was necessary to iron out details related to the locations and routes of the hostages, along with logistical considerations. The decision to wait an extra day aimed to minimize potential issues and was made collaboratively with Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, with US consultation and agreement.

Over the four-day pause, 50 Israeli hostages, including those with dual nationalities, are slated for release, with a minimum of 10 hostages to be released each day. Simultaneously, 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are set to be released in four stages over the same period, according to The Medialine.

Read Also: Qatar Says Truce to Begin 07:00 on Nov. 24 - At Least 3 Americans Included in Prisoner Swap

Biden Administration's Hope for American Hostages

The Israeli Cabinet Secretariat outlined that every evening before the next day's release, Israel and Hamas will provide the Red Cross with a list of hostage and prisoner names slated for release.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledged the deal as a "ray of hope," cautioning against taking Hamas's statements at face value. Three Americans are among the 53 women and children eligible for release.

The Biden Administration expressed hope that Americans would be among those released, offering a glimmer of hope in the ongoing conflict. The agreement involves the staged release of 53 women and children in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, with the first releases delayed from Thursday to Friday.

Among those eligible for release are three Americans, including 4-year-old Avigail Idan of Kfar Aza, who experienced a harrowing ordeal during the Hamas attack on the kibbutz.

Kirby, a retired US Navy Admiral, outlined plans to increase aid to Gaza, acknowledging the significance of the release of the initial 50 hostages. Given Hamas's history, he stressed the need for vigilant monitoring and highlighted efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, including food, water, medicine, and fuel critical for essential facilities.

Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, resulting in numerous casualties and abductions, set the backdrop for the ceasefire and hostage deal. Kirby emphasized the importance of continued US military assistance to Israel to counter the existential threat posed by Hamas.

As hopes for the release of hostages were dashed on Thursday, a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants remains in place until Friday.

The delicate negotiations between the parties indicate a complex path toward achieving a lasting resolution. Further announcements are anticipated in the coming hours as mediators seek a formal start time for the truce and the release of hostages, South China Morning Post reported.

Related Article: Canada: Antisemitism Incidents Increase in Toronto, Records 78 Hate Crimes Since Start of Israel-Hamas Conflict

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.










English News CIIE to bring new development, opportunities, exchanges

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 25 Novembre 2023



The CIIE is where goods and services are traded, and it is also a platform promoting cultural exchange and ideas. Schulze, who has been working and living in Shanghai for over five years, calls Shanghai his second hometown. Saying he's proud as a service provider for "Jinbo" trains, he said that the CIIE serves as a platform connecting businesses and people from different countries, and will bring new development, opportunities, and exchanges.

By Han Shuo, Liu Zhonghua, Fang Min, People's Daily The second "Jinbo" China-Europe freight train carrying exhibits to the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) arrived in Shanghai, China from the German port city of Duisburg on Oct. 29. The first "Jinbo" train of this year arrived in Shanghai on Oct. 11.



"Jinbo" is short for CIIE in Chinese. Since the first "Jinbo" China-Europe freight train was launched in 2021, a new channel has been opened for European enterprises participating in the CIIE. This year, three "Jinbo" trains were planned, which were expected to carry 210 twenty-foot equivalent units of exhibits with total worth of over 350 million yuan ($47.92 million).



As a signature project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Europe freight service reaches 217 cities in 25 European countries and regions. It had made a total of 78,000 train trips as of the end of September. The close collaboration between the service and the CIIE further enlarges the "CIIE effect" and makes global trade more unimpeded. It is a witness to China's efforts to share opportunities and strive for common development with the rest of the world.



In recent years, thanks to the deepening cooperation between China and Europe, the number of China-Europe freight trains has steadily increased. European chemical products, machinery equipment, powdered milk, cosmetics, and other goods are transported to various destinations along the China-Europe rail routes from Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany and Malaszewicze in Poland. In Duisburg alone, there are over 100 Chinese logistics and e-commerce companies.



On Sept. 21, the first "Jinbo" train for the sixth CIIE departed from Duisburg, carrying exhibits with a value exceeding 16 million euros ($17.16 million). Among these exhibits were nearly 270 types of products from French cosmetics giant L'Oreal.



"The 'Jinbo' train is very convenient. Previously, our goods had to be transferred before they were shipped to Shanghai. Now, the goods can go directly to Shanghai, and the customs clearance is also very fast," said Fabrice Megarbane, president of L'Oreal North Asia Zone and CEO of L'Oreal China.



As a six-time exhibitor at the CIIE, L'Oreal has made a new record in the number of products showcased this year.



"The goods transported through the 'Jinbo' train are not only exhibition items but also products that will soon be sold," said Megarbane, adding that L'Oreal needs to be well-prepared for the approaching "Double 11" online shopping festival in China.



He emphasized that the seamless connection between the China-Europe freight service and the CIIE ensures fast transportation and good sales. L'Oreal hopes that more goods would be transported to China through China-Europe freight trains, and looks forward to bringing more debut products and cutting-edge technologies to the Chinese market.



Portuguese household cleaning brand Mootaa attended the CIIE with most of its exhibits shipped from Madrid, Spain via the China-Europe freight train.



"The advantage in time efficiency was our primary consideration for choosing the China-Europe freight train. Compared to maritime transport, the China-Europe freight service cuts the transportation time by half, which can help us quickly build the supply chain, improve inventory turnover efficiency and save operating costs," said Zhou Jun, president of Mootaa Greater China.



The "Jinbo" trains have covered a distance of over 11,000 kilometers, passing through countries such as Poland, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan, with approximately 60 drivers from multiple countries participating in the service.



"Since 2021, we have been collaborating with Chinese companies to provide dedicated train services for the 'Jinbo' train," said Frank Schulze, managing director of DB Cargo Transasia. He further added that railway transportation is highly environmentally friendly, reducing 95 percent of carbon dioxide emissions compared to air transport and 80 percent compared to trucks."



On Oct. 6th, the first "Jinbo" train of this year entered China via Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and went through customs procedures upon arrival at the Alashankou port. The customs, railway, and other departments at the port opened a 24-hour green channel for the train.



After the train arrived in Shanghai, the Shanghai Railway Station and other relevant authorities set up dedicated windows for customs declaration, providing companies with advice on classification and taxation, and implementing paperless customs clearance to ensure the swift inspection and release of goods.



"Benefiting from the optimized customs supervision service and the tailor-made intermodal solution of the 'Jinbo' train, exhibits can be showcased at the CIIE in a faster and more environmentally friendly manner," said Megarbane.



From intelligent vacuumjetting flushing combination systems and motor parts to European specialty foods like wine and olive oil, and consumer goods like cosmetics and glassware, the "quality imports" brought by China-Europe freight trains are increasingly diverse. Numerous high-quality Chinese goods are also sold to the world through return trains.



"The China-Europe freight trains have achieved remarkable results. We have more and more train routes, and the goods transported are also becoming increasingly diverse, such as automobiles, auto parts, electronic products, etc. This is of great significance for promoting China-Germany trade exchanges and strengthening industrial cooperation," said Schulze.



The CIIE is where goods and services are traded, and it is also a platform promoting cultural exchange and ideas. Schulze, who has been working and living in Shanghai for over five years, calls Shanghai his second hometown. Saying he's proud as a service provider for "Jinbo" trains, he said that the CIIE serves as a platform connecting businesses and people from different countries, and will bring new development, opportunities, and exchanges.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China voices to lead global AI governance A glimpse into express packaging box's carbon reduction journey in China Strengthening partnership the right choice for future of China-U.S. relations Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Flying Tigers spirit represents trust, friendship: Flying Tigers veteran

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 21 Novembre 2023



Xi said in his reply that in growing China-U.S. relations, the hope lies in the people, the foundation lies among the people, and the future lies with the youth. McMullen said he totally agrees with Xi, hoping that the younger generations from the two countries could pass on the Flying Tigers spirit so that the friendly ties can be passed down from generation to generation.

By Liu Lingling, People's Daily The Flying Tigers spirit is a symbol of U.S.-China cooperation, said Mel McMullen, a Flying Tigers veteran, adding that he hopes more young people from the two countries could get to know this period of history and pass on the spirit from generation to generation.



McMullen, 98, made the remarks during an interview with People's Daily after visiting the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. He was in China to attend an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the U.S. 14th Air Force's participation in China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression in Beijing.



The suits, helmets and photos of the Flying Tigers exhibited at the museum brought the Flying Tigers veteran back to the old days when he fought side by side with the Chinese people.



During China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression, a large number of young American pilots, led by U.S. general Claire Lee Chennault, formed the American Volunteer Group (AVG), also known as the Flying Tigers. They fearlessly fought alongside the Chinese people against the Japanese fascists. McMullen was one of them.



In 1944, McMullen was assigned to the 308th bombardment group of the 425th Bombardment Squadron of the 14th Air Force, serving as a B-24 "Liberator" bomber's gunner and assistant flight mechanic. His bombardment group was initially stationed at the Chenggong Airport near Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, and later moved to Chengdu in Sichuan province after a few months.



McMullen told People's Daily that he was only 18 back then, and he felt that people of all countries shared the same aspiration that they and their families could enjoy peace.



He told the story of how Chinese people saved the lives of endangered American pilots. During that time, many American pilots were protected during the day and escorted to safe zones at night by the Chinese people.



He said the Flying Tigers respect and admire the Chinese people, and he would never forget that during the war, local residents went all out to rescue American pilots, despite the brutal retaliation from the Japanese army, and this saved the lives of many American pilots.



Lately, Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and McMullen jointly wrote a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which they introduced the efforts of the foundation and Flying Tigers veterans in helping promote China-U.S. friendly exchanges, and expressed their willingness to inherit and carry forward the precious spirit of China-U.S. cooperation.



On Sept. 12, Xi replied to the letter. Recalling the moment he received Xi's reply, McMullen couldn't hide his excitement, saying such care is truly precious.



The Flying Tigers spirit represents trust and friendship, McMullen said. During the war, the Flying Tigers trusted the Chinese people and believed that what they were doing would have a positive impact and be something to be proud of.



He said the Flying Tigers believed that if their planes encountered mechanical failures or were hit by the enemy and they had to parachute, the Chinese people would surely find and rescue them. The Flying Tigers and the Chinese people fought side by side in wartime, and in peacetime, they should also be eternal partners, he noted.



Xi said in his reply that in growing China-U.S. relations, the hope lies in the people, the foundation lies among the people, and the future lies with the youth. McMullen said he totally agrees with Xi, hoping that the younger generations from the two countries could pass on the Flying Tigers spirit so that the friendly ties can be passed down from generation to generation.



In 2015, McMullen visited China and participated in commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.



According to him, he and his wife have visited China multiple times, and they sincerely admire the tremendous development China has achieved. This time, he came to China accompanied by his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and other relatives. He hopes to promote a better understanding of the Flying Tigers' story among more young people, and to continue promoting the spirit of the Flying Tigers and fostering the friendship between the American and Chinese people.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China voices to lead global AI governance A glimpse into express packaging box's carbon reduction journey in China Strengthening partnership the right choice for future of China-U.S. relations Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News To make greater contributions to Asia-Pacific's stability, prosperity

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 25 Novembre 2023



The world is once again at the crossroads of history. Under the new situation, Asia-Pacific economies need to learn from past experiences and lessons, respond to the challenges of the times and steadfastly advance Asia-Pacific regional economic integration, so as to jointly break new ground in development and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. They will contribute wisdom and strength to world peace and development with the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

By Yu Yichun, Cao Shiyun, People's Daily This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting. Over the past 30 years, China's deepening reforms and expanding opening up have gone hand in hand with the continuous expansion of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.



Since 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping has attended or chaired APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings and delivered important speeches.



From "building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future" to "creating and fulfilling an Asia-Pacific dream," and from "forging an Asia-Pacific partnership" to "building a high-quality Asia-Pacific connectivity network," Chinese ideas and proposals have sparked strong resonance in the Asia-Pacific region, making significant contributions to the stability and prosperity of the region.



China's opening up and development are closely related to the Asia-Pacific region. China has always been a staunch supporter and active promoter of Asia-Pacific regional economic cooperation, integrating its own development with regional development and driving the opening up of the whole region through its own opening up.



In 2022, China's trade volume with Asia-Pacific economies reached $3.1 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 19.2 percent, accounting for 36.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.



During the same period, China's high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) resulted in a total of 12.95 trillion yuan ($1.78 trillion) in imports and exports to other RCEP members, growing 7.5 percent from a year ago.



According to the Asian Economic Integration Report 2023 by the Asian Development Bank, Asia's economic recovery is driven particularly by China, which accounted for 64.2 percent of total growth.



China has been making continuous and concrete efforts to deepen trade and investment cooperation with regional economies, contributing its part to building an open economy in the Asia-Pacific.



It pushed for the launch of the process to build a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing, and actively worked to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. Furthermore, China has been actively promoting the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 with ASEAN members.



The 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, with the theme of "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All," conveys the significance of green development and innovation for the Asia-Pacific region.



Under the active promotion by the Chinese government and the vigorous participation of Chinese enterprises, cooperation platforms such as the APEC Sustainable Energy Center and the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center have gradually been established. Green development projects, including the Dzilam State Reserve located in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, have commenced, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to building a clean and beautiful Asia-Pacific region.



APEC Secretariat Executive Director Rebecca Sta Maria noted that China has demonstrated its determination to achieve sustainable development through practical actions and has fulfilled its international commitments in the field of sustainable development.



Leveraging the digital twin technology, Chinese scientists are providing more solutions for the protection of marine biodiversity in Latin American countries. By introducing technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, Chinese companies are helping Thai hospitals achieve comprehensive intelligent transformation in their services. With the assistance of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor, the level of cross-border trade and economic services between China and ASEAN countries continues to improve.



China not only leads the world in technological innovation and digital economic development, but also actively promotes digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world at large.



Working with its partners to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China is improving the connectivity level in the Asia-Pacific region. It proposed to establish the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, aiming to provide financial support for regional infrastructure development.



China has hosted a series of international exhibitions such as the China Import and Export Fair, China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo at high standards, collaborating with various parties to write stories of open cooperation and mutual benefit.



The just-concluded sixth China International Import Expo achieved fruitful results, with tentative deals reaching a new high of $78.41 billion, a 6.7 percent increase from the previous year.

China is committed to advancing high-level opening up, continuously providing new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world through its new development, and contributing Chinese strength to the construction of an open world economy.



Major countries should shoulder great responsibility. The United States is the host of the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. China and the United States are the world's top two economies, accounting for over 1/3 of the global economic output, nearly 1/4 of the world's population, and approximately 1/5 of global bilateral trade. They play a unique and important role in driving economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and promoting regional cooperation.



The wide globe is fully capable for the two countries to develop themselves and prosper together. Stabilizing and improving China-U.S. relations not only serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples, but also contributes to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world.



The world is once again at the crossroads of history. Under the new situation, Asia-Pacific economies need to learn from past experiences and lessons, respond to the challenges of the times and steadfastly advance Asia-Pacific regional economic integration, so as to jointly break new ground in development and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. They will contribute wisdom and strength to world peace and development with the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China voices to lead global AI governance A glimpse into express packaging box's carbon reduction journey in China Strengthening partnership the right choice for future of China-U.S. relations Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
A close look at how the New York Times (NYT) has been reporting on Israels current conflict with Hamas reveals a troubling pattern of omissions, missing balance and context, and an emphasis that inevitably enhances reader sympathy for Gazan misery, underreports Israeli suffering, and implies that Israel, rather than Hamas, is to blame.

Below are some striking examples.

On Nov. 11, 2023, the NYT published a 37-minute story (on its podcast "The Daily") that featured three Gazan doctors talking about how overwhelmed they are by all of the injuries and death and inadequate supplies of this war. The segment includes very dramatic and emotive testimony, including from a physician reporting about a child dying in the course of the interview. One of the doctors urgently calls for a ceasefire, but no interviewee is seriously challenged about the role that Hamas has played in producing the humanitarian crisis at hand. When the reporter briefly inquires about Hamas's responsibility, the doctors either deny any knowledge or criticize the question, and there is zero follow up after that. After the interviews, the reporter also fails to provide any of the crucial context about Hamas role in causing the calamity described by the Gazan doctors. Nor does the journalist mention that doctors in Gaza (like everyone else there) are controlled by and/or terrified of Hamas and therefore are not a reliable source.

There was no similar, emotive NYT coverage showing the perspective of Israeli doctors overwhelmed by the mass casualty events of October 7. As the Jerusalem Post reported on October 8: "Dr. Tal Bergman hasnt slept much since the tragedy yesterday that unfolded on the border of Gaza. With the need to care for hundreds of casualties from the Hamas terror attack, the hospital staff at the Barzilai Medical Center has been working around the clock." On October 10, the Times of Israel reported that "medical, nursing and health profession students who have not been called up for IDF reserve duty may be called to serve in the medical system for a limited time" because of the expected surge in demand.

A second example of anti-Israel bias appears on 11-10-23, when the NYT reported:

The precarity of the hospitals was made clear early on Friday when projectiles struck inside the Al Shifa complex, Gazas largest hospital...The chief of Al Shifa Hospital said it was struck four times on Friday, killing seven people, with several others wounded. The sources of the strikes and the extent of the damage were not immediately known.

But the NYT assertion misleadingly omits information that crucially would place the blame on Hamas for those strikes. Avichay Adraee, an IDF spokesman, stated in an Arabic post to his X account that the rocket that hit Al Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip was caused by "a failed launch by the terrorist organizations that tried to fire at Israel...According to IDF systems, rocket-propelled grenades hit the hospital," he wrote. Such details are critical to a fair moral judgment of the events in question and were reported by various media outlets, including the Jerusalem Post and the Economic Times. Why is the NYT  through such omissions  trying to avoid blaming Hamas for rockets hitting Gazan hospitals?

Worse still, in the same article, the NYT doubled down on its flawed coverage of October 17 that seemed to blame Israel for the hospital blast that day (effectively retracting its October 23rd mea culpa for that negligent reporting):

In one of the deadliest incidents of the war, a projectile exploded between buildings at the Ahli Arab Hospital on Oct. 17, possibly killing hundreds of people sheltering there. Hamas blamed Israel, while the Israelis and Western governments said it was a malfunctioning rocket fired by Palestinians at Israel. A video analysis by The New York Times found that evidence cited by Israel was misinterpreted, leaving it unclear what caused the blast.

The NYT video analysis, published on October 24, uses the term "militants" to refer to Hamas combatants (the word "terrorist" appears nowhere in the article) and still concedes that its analysis

"does not answer what actually did cause the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital blast, or who is responsible. The contention by Israeli and American intelligence agencies that a failed Palestinian rocket launch is to blame remains plausible. But the Times analysis does cast doubt on one of the most publicized pieces of evidence that Israeli officials have used to make their case and complicates the straightforward narrative they have put forth."

So this "new" analysis, which contradicts findings by U.S. and Western intelligence agencies, seems intended to muddy the waters about blame for the Ahli Arab Hospital attack, on the basis of only the NYTs new interpretation of the same video. More importantly, by trying to relitigate such minutiae, the NYT obscures a far more fundamental point: Israel has actually shown unprecedented restraint resulting in barely 1.4 people killed per strike, using the figures cited in the same article (which notes that "Israel has fired more than 8,000 munitions into Gaza" and mentions the deaths of "5,700 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry"). An analysis by Daniel Pomerantz, an expert in international law, forcefully explains just how restrained Israel's military response has been.

The papers coverage has also minimized the number of Gazan deaths caused by errant terrorist rockets, a cause that the same new analysis eventually acknowledges (halfway into the body of the article): "Palestinian rockets have malfunctioned in the past and one estimate says 15 percent of rockets launched by Gazan militant groups fail."

Anti-Israel bias at the paper of record also takes the form of simply pretending that information key to Israels defense and Hamas culpability doesnt exist or isnt worthy of coverage. For example, on 11-8-23, the Times of Israel reported on two morally critical details: Hamas using ambulances to carry out its operations and preventing Gazan civilians from following the IDFs recommendations to evacuate zones that the IDF intends to target. The article notes how a Hamas commander, Ahmed Siam, was hiding in the Ranteesi Specialist Hospital in Gaza City, and preventing 1,000 displaced people and patients there from evacuating so he could use them as human shields.

But the NYT summary of the Gaza-related news events from 11-8-23 omits all of this information. Why does the NYT consistently avoid details that would effectively exonerate the IDF of war crimes by exposing Hamas' breach of moral and humanitarian norms as the true cause of preventable civilian suffering in Gaza?

Selective coverage by the NYT also apparently places more value on medical facilities damaged in Gaza than in Israel. When Ashkelon's hospital was hit by a Hamas rocket on October 8th, as reported in the Times of Israel, there was zero coverage from the NYT on that day.

The NYT downplayed the level of support for Israel at the November 14 DC rally, reporting that there were just "tens of thousands" present and that many were there to oppose antisemitism rather than to support Israel. By contrast, the Times of Israel reported that there were about 300,000 who attended what Ynet dubbed the "Largest Jewish gathering in Jewish history". Estimating the crowd at 200,000, Haaretz called it "America's Biggest pro-Israel Rally Ever."

The NYT's anti-Israel bias stands out even more when reviewing the paper's coverage of October 7. Searching that date with the word "Gaza" or "Israel" yields about 30 articles. Not a single news headline captures the sheer scale of the atrocity or the unthinkable pain that the October 7 massacre caused to Israelis. Yet incredibly, on a day when the blood hadn't yet dried from over 1,000 murders committed in the single bloodiest day for Jews since the Holocaust, the NYT thought it was appropriate to run an article titled "Gaza Has Suffered Under 16-Year Blockade" and another one titled "Gaza's Hospitals and Morgues Are Crowded."

That kind of slant all but ensures that NYT readers will inadequately empathize with the horrors endured by Israel on October 7, and will soon forget them when rushing to judge Israel for civilian suffering that seems to have been caused by Israel but is in fact the result of Hamas' evil and cynical battlefield tactics.

Noah Beck is the author of The Last Israelis, an apocalyptic submarine thriller about Iranian nukes, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

Image: Ajay Suresh, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0
In 2013, when asked when he might step down as attorney general, Eric Holder said: "Im still enjoying what Im doing, theres still work to be done. Im still the Presidents wingman, so Im there with my boy. So well see."

What could he have meant? It didnt take long after President Obama took office to find out. Holder stayed in to commit more legal mischief. And that established the roots of the legal shambles we see today, with Attorney General Merrick Garland violating President Trump's -- and our -- civil rights.

The pattern of lawlessness started with Holder.

In May 2009, the DOJ dropped prosecution of several New Black Panther members for violating the Voting Rights Act on election day in 2008. When testifying before Congress to explain this decision, Holder claimed his hands were clean and that the decision was made by career Justice Department prosecutors. But that wasnt true. According to J. Christian Adams, a real career DOJ attorney, the decision not to prosecute was made by Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli, an Obama political appointee, who overruled a unanimous recommendation for prosecution by Adams and his associates.

Backed by a videotape of the New Black Panthers intimidating voters, there couldnt have been a more clear cut case of a Voting Rights Act violation. So why drop the case? An attorney familiar with the Obama Justice Departments Civil Rights Division observed that Department staff openly and proudly advocate for a different standard depending on the race of the alleged civil rights violator.

Another Obama priority was gun control. To that end, the Fast and Furious scheme was hatched in October 2009 by the ATF, a Justice Department agency. The ATF, however, somehow lost track of almost 2,000 Fast and Furious gun sales, one of which was linked to the murder of Brian Terry, a Border Patrol Agent. Fast and Furious turned out to be an embarrassment for Obama and of questionable legality. So Holder led an effort to stymy investigation of the scheme by ignoring Congressional subpoenas for emails and other documents, which ultimately earned him a contempt of Congress citation. Holder then advanced the cover-up by claiming executive privilege as the reason for withholding additional documents. It was only years later, when documents were produced by court order, that the true purpose of Fast and Furious was revealed: to gin up a crisis requiring a crackdown on guns in America.

Then there came a time when the press was making life difficult for Obama. And Holder was determined not to let the First Amendment get in the way. So, in 2009 the DOJ ignored Fox News reporter James Rosens constitutional rights when it suspected him of being the source of classified leaks about North Korea. The New York Times editorial board wrote: "With the decision to label a Fox News television reporter a possible 'co-conspirator' in a criminal investigation of a news leak, the Obama administration has moved beyond protecting government secrets to threatening fundamental freedoms of the press to gather news.

Similarly, in May 2012 the DOJ secretly obtained phone records of Associated Press reporters and editors after the AP published a story about a foiled terror plot: "Obtaining a broad range of telephone records in order to ferret out a government leaker is an unacceptable abuse of power," said Ben Wizner, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. "Freedom of the press is a pillar of our democracy, and that freedom often depends on confidential communications between reporters and their sources.

Holder proved to be an accomplished wingman, and it remained to be seen if Merrick Garland would follow suit. On his first day on the job, Garland offered a ray of hope when he said: All of us are united by our commitment to the rule of law, and to seek an equal justice under law.

But Garlands pledge didnt last long. On Sept. 29, 2021, the National School Board Association sent a letter to President Biden warning of threats of violence made by parents to school officials. Within days the White House passed the letter to the DOJ, whereupon Garland galvanized into action and released a memo directing the FBI to address threats made by parents to school boards. All this fit neatly in Bidens worldview that the greatest threat the country faced was from white MAGA supremacists. But upon reflection, and in response to the outrage voiced by parents, the National School Board Association disavowed its letter. Garland, however, stubbornly refused to retract his memo.

Garland also wasnt shy about using the long arm of the FBI when it aided Bidens agenda. On August 8, 2022 he approved a raid on former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago home by some 30 FBI agents. No former president had ever been subjected to a similar SWAT-like raid. As for the national security documents which supposedly prompted the raid, National Archive officials testified that every administration had mishandled such documents.

So why the jackboot tactics? The raid was the prelude to the filing of 40 federal counts against Trump related to classified documents. Plus the timing of the raid ensured that charges would be filed during the 2024 election cycle and, if things worked out, Trump would be defending himself in federal court before the 2024 election. Such was Garlands commitment to equal justice.

Although facing Trump in an election rematch may have concerned Biden, the investigation of his wayward son was more of a concern. Although there was an inherent conflict of interest with the Biden DOJ investigating his own son, Garland wasnt going to let the appearance of a conflict get in the way. Garland assured the nation that there was no need to question the integrity of the investigation, and that Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss had full authority to run it. In addition, Garland assured us that he wouldnt interfere with the investigation. Yet, IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley testified that Weiss confessed that he was not the deciding person on whether charges are filed.

When the Hunter Biden imbroglio blew up after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika shot down the sweetheart deal proffered by Weiss, Garland had an epiphany and declared that a special counsel was needed after all. And the perfect person to be special counsel was none other than U.S. Attorney Weiss, the same U.S. attorney who had already determined that Hunter didnt need to serve any time for his transgressions. Garland explained his special counsel decision with this persuasive argument: his [Weiss's] investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel.

Turning to Trump, we dont know if he expected Jeff Sessions to be a wingman. He probably thought he was getting a loyal and experienced attorney general. After all, Sessions had served as assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, and then as U.S. attorney for the same district. Sessions subsequently was elected attorney general of Alabama and then won a U.S. Senate seat. Plus, with the debt Trump owed Sessions for being the first sitting senator to endorse him for president, naming Sessions as U.S. attorney general was a no brainer. However, it may go down as one of the worst cabinet appointments ever made.

In fairness, Sessions faced a major challenge when he assumed office. The Russia collusion hoax had already reached a tipping point which threatened the Trump presidency. Moreover, the disgraced ex-FBI director, James Comey, was enthusiastically directing the investigation, and was stringing Trump along with the lie that he wasnt being investigated.

Trump would have relied on his attorney general to protect him. To his disappointment, Sessions recused himself from the Russia collusion investigation based on the thin evidence of a few innocent meetings with Russia Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 campaign. These meetings consisted only of "a discussion among a small group of ambassadors during the Republican National Convention and another brief encounter with a group of ambassadors after a public event." But it was enough for Sessions to decide that he should recuse himself. In hindsight, if Sessions had made even a cursory effort to evaluate the evidence against Trump, he would have learned that the Russia collusion allegations were baseless. But he ignored all pleas not to recuse himself and followed the advice of relevant senior career department officials.

So it came to pass that after a frustrated and betrayed President Trump fired FBI Director Comey on May 9, 2017, it was Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, not the recused Jeff Sessions, who decided that a special counsel was needed to oversee the Russia collusion investigation. Moreover, it was Rosenstein who chose Robert Mueller as special counsel. Rosenstein thus ensured that the country would continue to be fixated on Russia collusion for the next two years. As it turned out, Mueller couldnt provide the impeachment ammunition the Democrats sought because he couldnt find proof of Russia collusion.

Yet Sessions didnt see that his recusal was an error. Years later, after he conceded losing a Senate primary to Tommy Tuberville, Sessions declared that his recusal saved the presidents bacon. Huh? Two impeachments later and he thought he did the right thing! Certainly not the stuff of a wingman.

Then there was Lois Lerner, who was the former director of the Exempt Organizations Unit of the IRS. Lerner took to heart Obamas criticism of the Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling, and systematically denied tax-exempt status to conservative organizations. In May 2013, she confessed to the targeting of conservative groups, and later, appearing before Congress, she declared her innocence and then invoked the Fifth Amendment to refuse to answer any questions.

On April 9, 2014, the House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to the DOJ referring Lerner for criminal prosecution. The letter stated: In particular, the Committee found that Ms. Lerner used her position to improperly influence IRS action against conservative organizations, denying these groups due process and protection rights under the law. The Committee also found she impeded official investigations by providing misleading statements in response to questions from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Finally, Lerner risked exposing, and may have actually disclosed, confidential taxpayer information, in apparent violation of Internal Revenue Code section 6103 by using her personal email to conduct official business.

To no ones surprise, the Obama DOJ didnt file criminal charges against Lerner. But all hope wasnt lost. A couple of years later Sessions had another chance to charge her. And he had the benefit of the roadmap provided by the Ways and Means Committee. So what did Jeff do? He declined to charge her, writing that it would not be appropriate to reopen an investigation of Lerner.

The Lerner affair was another instance of where it appears Sessions deferred to entrenched DOJ staff, likely holdover Obama hires. If Sessions had the vision and courage to charge Lerner, however, the DOJ would have fired a shot across the bow of bureaucrats who abuse their positions to further partisan views. Yet another lost opportunity.

The contrast between Holder and Garland and Sessions is stark. Holder and Garland used their positions to protect their presidents and advance partisan agendas. In contrast, Sessions behaved as if he were president of a high school civics club. So the question is whether or not the next Republican president will name a wingman as attorney general? And if Republicans do, will the country suffer by the further politicizing of the attorney generals office? But if Republicans dont, will the DOJ continue to be weaponized?

On the other hand, whos to say Republicans cant name an attorney general whos a wartime consigliere?

Eddie Willers is the pen name of a technical writer living in northern New Jersey.

Image: U.S. Department of Agriculture, via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0
A new front has opened up in the Gaza conflict. The new front is not Lebanon or the West Bank. It is a new front whereby all the traditional forms of war have ended. From the Medieval period onwards, wars were essentially conflicts between noble families, and, since the average European travelled in a maximum radius of 50 kilometres throughout his life, war was something 'out there,', not 'imminent.' Conflicts didn't draw in disparate neighbours or nation states on the other side of the known world. This began post formation of nation states with the Treaty of Westphalia. The eighteenth-century War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War both featured global aspects, setting the pattern for future wars. Another factor was the contradistinction between maritime ascendancy (the British Empire) and land-based 'grossraums' ( i.e., Germany in the twentieth century). The U.S. inherited the mantle of the maritime ascendancy but is now losing it.

Last Sunday, Houthi rebels managed to kidnap the crew of an Israeli-chartered ship in the Red Sea shipping lane. The import of this is not the disappearance of the poor crew of 25 non-Israelis but the nature of modern conflict. For Israel, another front. For the globalised world, another example of the dysfunctional nature of modern geopolitics. The Houthi descent from helicopter to capture the ship illustrates the fluidity, the fall of any semblance of 'morality' from international affairs, the ending of borders, the end of diplomacy. The 'West' likewise has no moral imperative in their fight against terror, however appalling the terror attacks. The Lockerbie bombing, for so long attributed to Libya, is now pretty well known as an Iranian atrocity. However, the 'zeitgeist' of the time meant it was more useful to target Gaddafi and give twenty years prison time to an innocent man.

No longer is diplomacy a chin wag between Napoleon and Alexander on a raft in the middle of the River Niemen with fine wines and French cheeses. The 'forms' of war have changed; solutions are technical and violent. The approach is to find a 'technical' means of waging war. The first move is to send nuclear-armed ships to the Mediterranean. The age of diplomacy has shifted to the realm of computer games. We are now in danger of technifying reality, we can become distant from its consequences, immune to the suffering.

The new front means two things. For the world it means globalised war and concerns. For Israel it means being embedded in a diaspora of terror in a wider Islamic world. It was Thomas Hobbe's Leviathan that introduced the total absolute boundaries of the nation state. Yet this was balanced by the idea of the 'justis hostis' (just enemy) and 'magni homines' (magnificent men). Wars between kings tended to have an aspect of dynasty and were thus personal in nature. On the other hand, the twentieth century brought what Ernst Junger termed 'a mine that detonates silently'; in that he meant war for modernity was afar, total, against an 'enemy', against the 'rogue' state, the 'terrorist.' The opposition becomes dehumanised, for this is the narrative of black and white, good and evil. Aligned with this movement to technicity and rationality, there was the abandonment of previous notions of 'natural law' allegiances prior to the nation state. That is, allegiances to other things besides economics, resources, or 'borders'.

Modern technical warfare has relegated diplomacy and conceptions of 'natural law' to the dustbins of history. Nation states today regard with contempt the instruments of international justice: the United Nations, or International Court of Justice. Such arbitration only works on an equal playing field; not on one of 'show trials'. Nation states have dubious origins. The Holy Roman Empire had the Pope or Emperor as the arbitrator of the status quo based on natural or customary law. Modern contestation more resembles the realms of pirates; rootless states with a fundamentally commercial orientation. This leaves the world open to the death of diplomacy, a fight for resources, with no underlying 'logos' or law. Thus, modern liberal nation states abolished the 'justis hostis' for the ability to strike the enemy for merely territorial reasons. Kant in his 'On Perpetual Peace' believed that economic cooperation would lead to perpetual peace. Hence there would be a 'universal law' based on a European concept of liberal democratic norms. This idea gained currency until the twentieth century advent of modern 'total' war.

There is no avenue for diplomacy between modern conflicting nation states and their constant assertion of geopolitical and resource war. International laws are redundant for the institutions are impartial and cannot appeal to the new pluralistic world, as globalisation hits the buffers. The 'new front' of the post-liberal world is universal war, not universal peace.

Brian Patrick Bolger LSE, University of Liverpool. He has taught political philosophy and applied linguistics in Universities across Europe. His articles have appeared in the US, the UK, Italy, Canada and Germany in magazines such as The American Spectator, Asian Affairs, Deliberatio, L'Indro Quotidiano Indipendente di Geopolitica, The National Interest, GeoPolitical Monitor, Merion West, Voegelin View, The Montreal Review, The European Conservative, Visegrad Insight, The Hungarian Review, The Salisbury Review , The Village, New English Review, The Burkean, The Daily Globe, American Thinker, The Internationalist, Philosophy News. His new book, Nowhere Fast: Democracy and Identity in the Twenty First Century will be published soon by Ethics International Press.

Image: Wafa (Q2915969)
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said that if the nations voters give former President Donald Trump another term in the White House, he will destroy democracy in America. There are many Democrats and Republicans who share this opinion. Be that as it may, the pertinent question is whether this democracy, under the leadership of a demented man and marred by incompetence and corruption, is worth preserving.

Over the last few decades, our institutionsmarriage, religion, the free-market economy, the judicial system, and the reliance on individual libertyhave been emasculated as outmoded, unfair, and discriminatory. These changes have destabilized the pillars of our constitutional system.

American political parties have undergone ideological restructuring, as well. In the past, despite ideological differences over a broad range of issues, including the role of government and various social concerns, the members of the two parties still shared the same ideals and aspirations: self-reliance, belief in a free-market economy, and dedication to the democratic process. Therefore, they could work out their disagreements and get important legislation passed. President Nixon summarized it in reference to John F. Kennedy, We agreed on our goals, but we disagreed on the means.

That is no longer the postulate of what once was a distinct form of democracy. In recent decades, the Democrat party adopted Marxism, meaning the Democrats no longer offer a different philosophy for achieving the same objectives. For years, they have had a different philosophy and have pursued objectives contrary to Americas historical values and the core tenets of American idealism.

Picture made using an image by Navyatha. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Conservatism, the professed ideology of the Republican Party, which advocates limited government, fiscal restraint, self-reliance, and individual liberty, has not been practiced since Ronald Reagans presidency. Ironically, its most consistent rejection since than has been from within the Republican Party. Consequently, elections have boiled down to rival lists of promises that neither party takes seriously.

A pivotal role in reshaping the countrys legacy belongs to former President Barack Obama. Even after his tenure, his vision of a fundamental transformation of America continued unabated. The country embarked on rewriting and reinterpreting the nations history and revising the values once held dear. The Constitution, originally crafted to safeguard and empower we the people, has been repurposed into a tool for governmental oppression.

The founders of this nation have been condemned, and their monuments have been demolished or defaced. To that end, we have opened old wounds and undermined the foundation of our unity by dismantling memorials honoring the heroes of the Confederacy, which were erected as symbols of reconciliation after the bloody Civil War.

A poignant illustration of the epochal shift in our democracy is the order removing revered Founding Father Alexander Hamilton from the Capitol Rotunda. Meanwhile, Newark, New Jersey, installed a golden statue honoring a habitual criminal, George Floyd.

Our government is weaponizing law enforcement to prosecute political opponents, suppressing free speech, wiping away the countrys sovereignty by having open borders, and offering suffrage to illegal aliens. American cities look like garbage dumps plagued by the presence of drugs and escalating crime rates. Deeply in debt and entrenched in a perpetual state of war for the last three decades, this nation is unraveling from within.

Our covenants are broken, and our cherished values and historical heritage are under assault and crumbling. Americas polarization is at levels not seen since the Civil War. The cornerstone of our democracyfree and fair electionshas been brutally tarnished and is an illusion to millions of citizens. The beacon of liberty is dimming.

Indeed, is there anything left of our democracy that needs to be jealously guarded and courageously defended? Therefore, the issue is not whether Trump may destroy democracy in America; the tragedy is that he is trying to save the country that no longer exists.

Alexander G. Markovsky is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, a think tank that examines national security, energy, risk analysis, and other public policy issues. He is the author of Anatomy of a Bolshevik and Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It. Mr. Markovsky is the owner and CEO of Litwin Management Services, LLC. He can be reached at alexander.g.markovsky@gmai.com
Over in The Netherlands, we see another election and the experts are calling it "shocking" and "unexpected." I cannot speak about the unexpected but there is nothing shocking about people reacting to chaos. Let's look at the Dutch story:

Voter research showed that migration and asylum were important issues for voters and Wilders party has largely benefited from that, according to NOS. Wilders has vowed that the Netherlands will be returned to the Dutch and the asylum tsunami and migration will be curbed.

Wonder if Mr. Wilders and Mayor Eric Adams had a conversation about this topic. The New York City mayor is having his own "asylum tsunami" and is warning citizens that people will be sleeping on the streets. The big difference is that Mayor Adams can't put the issue to a referendum and can't change his state legislature.

What we are seeing in Europe is that people want order and don't care to see their history crushed by new arrivals. This is why these parties are winning. I don't subscribe to the usual stuff that these Dutch voters are racist or xenophobic or whatever other "ism" they're accused of.

So don't be surprised if you see more future elections labeled as shocking or unexpected. Maybe the people writing these headlines should walk away from the computer and walk the streets.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Peter van der Sluijs
World War II historian Andrew Roberts has a powerful essay making an important point: Hamas is worse than the Nazis because the Nazis still had a sufficient moral compass to be embarrassed by their genocidal crimes, while Hamas and its supporters are loud and proud. And when I say supporters, I dont just mean the Gazastanians, a huge majority of whom support both Hamas and the massacre of Israelis. I mean their collaborators in the West, too, with the execrable Greta Thunberg as Exhibit A.

Roberts writes that, while still lacking the wherewithal to kill six million Jews, Hamas and the whole panoply of antisemitic Jihadists are qualitatively worse than the Nazis in their belief systems, impulses, and instincts. The reason?

In October 1943 Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, delivered a notorious speech to 50 of his senior lieutenants in Posen. I want to speak frankly to you about an extremely grave matter, he said. We can talk about it among ourselves, yet we will never speak of it in public.  I am referring to the evacuation of the Jews, the extermination of the Jewish people.  It is a page of glory in our history that has never been written and is never to be written. By total contrast, the Hamas killers 80 years later attached GoPro cameras to their helmets so they could livestream their atrocities over social media. Although the Nazis burnt Jews alive in barns on their retreat in 1945, they did not film themselves doing it. There are plenty of photographs of Nazis standing around death-pits full of Jewish corpses, but these were taken for private delectation rather than public consumption.

When the Soviets approached Auschwitz, the Nazis did everything they could to hide their crimes, whether it was to empty the camps by taking prisoners on death marches or simply destroying the crematoria, which were the infrastructure of mass murder. Moreover, the reason for the gas chambers was that the ordinary German soldier was sickened by slaughtering civilians en masse, even the Jews hed been taught to believe were subhuman.

Hamass fighters, on the other hand, recorded, broadcast, and celebrated their raping women to death, slaughtering babies, and torturing children before killing them. They are ecstatic with blood lust, as is the civilian population in Gaza. Look at these happy citizens filming two men who were lynched and later dismembered for allegedly collaborating with Israel. I can assure you there was no due process, not even the faux-formality of a kangaroo court.

Hundreds of Palestinian CIVILIANS lined the streets tonight to cheer and whistle as 2 Palestinian men were executed and hung upside down on a metal pole.



One of the executed men then had his legs cut off with his body discarded and thrown into a pile of rubbish.



Hamas claimed pic.twitter.com/cHJgbSyaWi  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 24, 2023

Hamas also has a rape culture worse than anything the Nazis did. Historically, conquering militaries have always raped. However, the Nazis had as their official policy avoiding rape because of their obsession with racial purity. Yes, the prohibition was widely ignored, but nothing the Nazis did compares to Hamas:

But that is different from the Hamas leadership giving their men orders to rape as many Jewish women as they could find and film themselves doing it, and in all too many cases taking them hostage afterwards or killing them.

A British and Danish reporter tells about some of the horrors he saw in the IDF video. He says he saw women who were raped and murdered. The Hamas ISIS terrorists passed them from one to the other and then the last terrorist shot her while he raped her and continued to rape her. pic.twitter.com/g514VWsSZD  Yarin Hay Itzhak (@YarinHay8) November 20, 2023

Meanwhile, Israeli troops do not rape because they are moral. Yes, there will be exceptions, but Hamas and the Gazastanians dont even try to pretend that their women are at risk.

Hamas and its jihadist ilk are death cultists who are out, loud, and proud. And that means their followers around the world are, too. When they chant Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud, they are calling for the massacre of all Jews:

"From the river to the sea palestine will be arab" is genocide. "Khaybar ya yahud" refers to the khaybar genocide. "Itbach al yahud" means "slaughter the jews". "Gas the jews" means exactly that. And all this started October 7th, before a single shot was fired. pic.twitter.com/QH2pvt730z  D3SL (@D3Shabat) November 18, 2023

And its not just Muslims. Its also their fellow travelers on the left, with no one more perfectly exemplifying this than the anorexic Greta Thunberg, an uneducated neurotic teen who became the leader of the climate change movement. Of course, whats hiding behind the movement is the dream of human extermination to retain the purity of a mindless planet for the benefit of a select few (Thunberg among them, of course).

Key Club of Rome member, Dennis Meadows, hopes the "necessary" depopulation of the planet, down to one billionan 87.5% reduction from todays populationcan "occur in a civil way".



"The planet can support something like a billion people, maybe two billion, depending on how much pic.twitter.com/oe8kV8OYsp  Wide Awake Media (@wideawake_media) November 23, 2023

While Greta cant admit that she seeks humankinds extermination, she openly calls for Jewish genocide:

Climate activist Greta Thunberg chants "Krossa Sionismen" (Crush Zionism) with the crowd at a pro-Palestinian rally in Stockholm on Nov. 23. pic.twitter.com/ky7qT6R4fA  The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) November 24, 2023

And yes, Jewish genocide is the goal behind crushing Zionism. Hamas and the surrounding Muslim nations arent shy about their goal of deleting, with blood and finality, the stain of a Jewish presence on their land.

Clarity is a good thing, and were finally seeing the evil face behind the anodyne slogans. These are unabashedly murderous people. Whether theyre starting point is Islam or leftism, Jews are first in line for extermination, but the rest of us are on the chopping block, too.

Left: Nazi executing a Jewish woman with her child in Ivanhorod, 1942.



Right: Hamas executing a Jewish woman in Kibbutz Alumim, 2023.



Never Again is now. pic.twitter.com/GxFTXsOx7B  Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) November 20, 2023

Image: X screen grab.
By now, you all know that Derek Chauvin, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing George Floyd, sustained life-threatening injuries when he was attacked in an Arizona prison yesterday. I cant help but think that this was the goal all along.

To state my position clearly, Ive long believed that Derek Chauvin was innocent of the crime alleged, and thats true whether or not he is a nice person or was a good cop. The undisputed facts show that the knee-on-the-shoulder technique Chauvin used on George Floydwhich came straight for his training handbookdoes not kill. Second, we just learned with certainty that the coroner found no evidence of asphyxiation and changed his initial, accurate report to placate the mob. In fact, what likely killed Floyd was a combination of serious heart disease and massive amounts of illicit drugs.

Image: Derek Chauvin (edited). YouTube screen grab.

What makes all of this so awful is that the jurors knew all this. After the trial, when the jurors were interviewed, they admitted that they knew Chauvin hadnt done anything to kill Floyd. Instead, they convicted him for failing to take action to save him from the consequences of his drug use. Of course, if you watch the video taken the night George Floyd killed himself, you see that the mob made it impossible for the police to do anything. Theres so much more, and I plan to watch The Fall of Minneapolis, which exposes yet another fraud committed against the American people. For a short version, heres Matt Walsh:

New Revelations Prove Yet Again That Derek Chauvin Was An Innocent Man Railroaded In The Name Of 'Racial Justice' pic.twitter.com/Es9WtKcrJt  The Matt Walsh Show (@MattWalshShow) October 23, 2023

In addition to sparking the lefts attempting burning of America and being another brick in the wall foreclosing Trumps reelection, all these lies led to Derek Chauvin getting convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison. Think about that: He followed standard police procedure on a long-time criminal who had effectively committed suicide through an unhealthy lifestyle and drug abuse, only to find himself locked away for 22 years. Since Chauvin is 47 now, that means his life is over.

Indeed, speaking of his life being over, at the time Chauvin was sentenced, I thought, His being sent to prison will be a death sentence. Cops dont fare well in prison, and Derek Chauvin, of all cops, has the biggest target in the world painted on his back. I assumed hed be dead in the first week.

Somehow, though, Chauvin managed to stay alive. However, last August, he was moved out of the Minnesota state system to a federal prison in Arizona, ostensibly for his own safety. But was it really?

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that a man was attacked around 12:30 pm on Friday, inside the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson - a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages.

So, you take the guy with the worlds biggest target on his back and place him in a prison plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. Does that make sense to you? It doesnt to me. Instead, it seems like the kind of thing you do to an embarrassing prisonersay, a guy like Jeffrey Epsteinwhom youd really like out of the way.

As it happened, Chauvin almost did find himself out of the way. News broke yesterday afternoon that another prisoner stabbed Chauvin while he was in this federal facility rife with security problems. Chauvin required life-saving measures to survive the stabbing.

All of this makes it utterly shameful that the United States Supreme Court recently denied without comment Derek Chauvins appeal. As we saw fully exposed in 2020 and early 2021, seven of the nine Supreme Court justices are either leftists or cowards. Having seen Chauvins corrupt prosecution in a corrupt courtroom, they are content to let sleeping dogs lie.

Judging by Chauvins transfer to what predictably almost proved to be a death trap, it looks as if the powers that be would like to go one step further and have this dog put down. After all, the truth behind the lynching of Derek Chauvin is an embarrassment at both the state and federal level and, once hes gone, it can be consigned to the memory hole that is leftist historical revisionism.
Over 1,000 Amazon workers in the UK have initiated a walkout today, coinciding with Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year for the retail giant.

The industrial action, organized by the GMB union, stems from a prolonged dispute over pay and working conditions, marking what union officials predict to be the largest day of strikes in Amazon's history, as per to Sky News.

Amazon Workers Spark Global Uprising for Fair Pay

The focal point of the protest is Amazon's warehouse in Coventry, where employees are expected to participate in the walkout. Simultaneously, a demonstration is scheduled outside Amazon UK's head office in London, amplifying the call for improved pay and working conditions.

The GMB union demands a minimum hourly wage of 15 and better overall conditions, citing the ongoing struggles of staff amid a pervasive cost-of-living crisis.

Amazon, a company renowned for its efficiency and scale, has reassured customers that the strike will not impact service. However, the GMB argues that this action will be a turning point in Amazon's history, with workers worldwide inspired to demand their fair share of the company's wealth.

Amanda Gearing, an official from GMB, stated, "Today will go down as a turning point in Amazon's history. Working people who make Amazon's business model possible stand up to demand their share of the company's enormous wealth."

She emphasized that despite Amazon's attempt to downplay the impact on Black Friday, this strike represents the largest day of industrial disruption in the company's history.

The crux of the dispute lies in the recent announcement by Amazon regarding an increase in the minimum starting pay, reaching up to 13 an hour depending on location, effective from April next year.

While Amazon considers this a significant step, the GMB insists on a 15 per hour rate and better working conditions. This misalignment in expectations has fueled the ongoing conflict between the company and its workforce, according to The Guardian.

Read Also: Michigan Senate Candidate Hill Harper Offered $20 Million To Run Against Rep. Rashida Tlaib

German Amazon Workers Renaming Black Friday

Parallel strikes and demonstrations are scheduled across Europe and the United States, with unions asserting that this marks a global movement among Amazon workers.

The solidarity extends to Germany, where Verdi, a trade union, has called for strikes at five Amazon distribution centers on Black Friday. The German union cites a dispute dating back to 2013, focusing on Amazon's refusal to recognize industry-wide pay agreements.

Silke Zimmer, the member for retail on Verdi's governing board, remarked, "Amazon employees have decided to rename Black Friday 'Make Amazon Pay Day'." The call for strikes in Germany indicates a broader international movement, emphasizing the need for fair pay and working conditions at Amazon.

Responding to the strikes in Germany, an Amazon spokesperson downplayed the impact, stating that the majority of colleagues were working as usual and that customer orders would be delivered punctually.

The affected German centers are located in Koblenz, Leipzig, Rheinberg, Dortmund, and Bad Hersfeld.

While Amazon maintains that its pay, benefits, and career opportunities are excellent, the increasing frequency of strikes across multiple countries underscores the growing dissatisfaction among its workforce.

The Black Friday strikes could mark a turning point in the ongoing battle between Amazon and its employees, prompting the company to reevaluate its labor practices on a global scale, Rauters reported.

Related Article: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Accused of Sexually Assaulting Colleague 30 Years Ago

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The GOP nominee for president will be Donald J. Trump. Not Nikki Haley, not Ron DeSantis. Who else is running? Yeah, none of them, either.

Nikki Haley has staked out the establishment wing of the UniParty and has been gaining steam, but unless every Democrat operative in the early primary states changes his registration, she will not garner near enough support to unseat the incumbent (Donald Trump).

Ron DeSantis has been in a tailspin for the past couple months and has tried to stake out a couple of different tacks, as his handlers try to message him to victory. This has harmed his authenticity with the Republican base and has further alienated him from the MAGA base of the Party.

Nikki Haley, it seems to me, will go scorched earth (a la Chris Christie) when things dont go her way in the early primary states. She will join the dozen or so other NeverTrumps strewn across political the landscape in opposing her partys presumptive candidate.

Ron DeSantis is in a quandary. If he joins Haley in going full NeverTrump, any future consideration he might have in running for president will be tarnished among the MAGA base of the Party. If Donald Trump loses, DeSantis will in part be blamed for the loss. If Donald Trump wins (praise be to God), Ron DeSantis will be seen as yet another turncoat who abandoned principle for cocktail party popularity.

Ron DeSantis can save face upon his exit and full-throatedly endorse Donald Trump for president. While his (UniParty) handlers wont offer him this advice, I will.

Be a man. Put America first and your political aspirations second.

Throwing your full support behind Donald Trump will help him with some in the GOPe and will also help you, if you decide to run for president four years hence.

If you want to get behind the president in a big way, offer to work with him on securing votes in battleground states as you have in Florida.

A win for Donald Trump is a win for the American people. Those who work with him in achieving this objective will be seen favorably by the American public. A loss will be dire for America and wont get you any closer to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Do the right thing. Not what your (ahem) advisers advise you to do.

Image: Ron DeSantis. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Many people wonder why Pope Francis focuses so much on climate change. Indeed, two papal documents concentrate exclusively on the matter. The latest apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, bitterly complains about how the People of God have not heeded earlier warnings. The popes trip to Dubais COP28 eco-conference only highlights this dire gospel of impending climatic doom.

Part of the mystery behind the intense focus is solved by looking at an October poll of Americans of Faith and their attitudes toward climate change. Pope Francis has especially targeted American Catholics as failing to understand the crisis.

The survey found that most religious Americans, including an overwhelming majority of Catholics, do not see the climate as a crisis. In some categories, the number of climate alarmism believers is even decreasing. Given Americas importance in world affairs, these numbers enormously impact others.

Indeed, it seems that most religious-minded Americans have no faith in the climate projections of catastrophe. They are not convinced by the data and its interpretations and the intense, almost religious fervor with which it is imposed upon the population. When the media blame the most absurd things on climate change, the result is no one believes in it under any circumstances.

Americans find it much easier to believe in the mysteries of Faith, like the Holy Trinity, than the dominant climate alarmist dogma.

The survey titled Our Home One Future was conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). It questioned 5,192 adults from 50 states in early June. It divided the groups by religion and race.

PRRI officials expressed surprise and concern over the results. By any metric, the climate change crisis is a losing proposition. Most Americans dont believe in it by a large margin. The climate change creed is a minority faith, with only 27 percent of all Americans believing it, up a mere three points from 2014.

Most of the other survey results also show little change over the years. American Jews are the most likely to profess acceptance of climate change, with 32 percent believing. Other groups include white Catholics at 20 percent, black Protestants at 19 percent, and 16 percent of Hispanic Protestants. The least likely to see the climate as a crisis are white Evangelicals, who stand at 8 percent.

The only group registering over one-third of its members is the non-religious group. However, not even a simple majority of the religiously unaffiliated Americans, known as nones, see the Earth in crisis, with 43% believing, up from 33% in 2014.

With statistics like these, it is no wonder the climate change people are in crisis. Their first reaction is to deny that there can be climate change denial. As Pope Francis declares (with no proof) in Laudate Deum, Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident.

The signs are not that evident. Despite the overwhelming media barrage imposing the climate change paradigm upon the public, most people have yet to enlist under its banner.

Practical-minded Americans are especially unconvinced and demand that the other side be heard by listening to an increasing number of scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, who have valid questions about data and conclusions. Believing in climate change should not be an act of blind faith.

Simply denying these concerns will not make them disappear but only guarantee the same survey results. Offending those who dare to disagree will also not win people over. The climate-change lobby has a messaging problem that turns people off.

However, if all else fails, activists can always claim that the real reason for climate change denial is... climate change.

Image: RawPixel.com
The United States was founded on individual liberty, and individual rights.

When we adhered to that ethos, we were united. E pluribus unum. In fact, we were united in our belief in that very ethos.

Today, so-called progressives demand that everything be about the group. This group. That group. The oppressors. The oppressed. Black. White. Asians. The LGBTQ community. Etc., etc. Intersectionality rules the day and is considered sacrosanct. And, as such, our unity is gone and our nation torn asunder.

Conversely, American classicist and commentator Victor Davis Hanson recently wrote that, historically, unity, equality, and fairness have been better aspirations than diversity, equity, and inclusion. That is objectively inarguable.

Tolerance is another purported virtue that progressives love to extol. Yet, the more todays liberals tout tolerance, the less tolerant they are of anybody with whom they disagree. In reality, tolerance has been used as a cudgel to attack the concept of merit and batter the idea of standards. If this goes much further, chaos will replace competenceto everyones detriment.

Analogously, the more progs speak out against hate, the more they seem to show hate to others. Trump and his supporters, for instance, a large portion of the countrys citizens. And the more they espouse support for Hamas and terrorist atrocities. And the more babies are killed in their mother's wombs, under the pretense of womens health care.

Ironic? Not really. Just idiotic, hypocritical, and evil.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
A racial inquisition is underway against white people, who are falsely accused of oppressing everyone else. Whites are being demonized, marginalized, stereotyped, denigrated, and suppressed at every turn. The left, says author Ben Shapiro, wants to portray America as an incurable mass of bigoted whites. President Biden bought in to this lie when he declared that white supremacy is the number-one threat to the nation.

The war on whites is being waged by government, private industry, the media, and academia. The City of Seattle, for example, requires all white employees to undo their whiteness. The Coca-Cola Company has demanded that its white employees should be less white. Instead of regarding these actions as racist, the culture has made them acceptable.

A popular book entitled White Fragility alleges that all white people are racist and benefit from unearned privileges. Another book called How to Be an Antiracist advocates discrimination against whites. Not to be outdone, a new race-baiter by the name of Janice Gassam Asare wants us to decenter whiteness. Her latest book, Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace: A Guide for Equity and Inclusion, describes white-centering as a racist system that promotes white people over everyone else.

In an article published by Forbes, 3 Ways to Decenter Whiteness in Your Workplace, Asare talks about how to remove whiteness to better cater to people of color. White-centering, she says, is a system that prioritizes white dominant culture to the detriment of non-white groups and cultures.

Because White-centering is often left unexamined and unchecked, Asare adds, equity and justice have continued to evade organizations.

Decenter whiteness makes about as much sense as undo your whiteness and be less white. All three are racist concepts designed to coerce white people into apologizing for their skin color. Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy referred to Asares position as just pure racism.

Ohio senator J.D. Vance was appalled when he read the Forbes article. Im just done with this s---. Its racist and its gross, Vance wrote. Forbes should be ashamed of themselves for publishing it.

So sick of this anti-American hate and racism from corporate media and corporate America, The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway wrote after reading Asares comments. People who push such racism are bad people destroying the country.

Journalist David Harsanyi said the concept of decentering whiteness could be achieved only if a workplace fired its white employees. The only way to Decenter Whiteness is by firing White people, Harsanyi wrote, because being White is not a belief system or a faith or a way of living, it is an immutable characteristic.

Lawyer Harmeet Dhillon offered to help sue companies who follow the advice in the Forbes article. But seriously, people, if your employer is decentering any race, religion, gender, veteran status, or other protected characteristic in YOUR workplace and it affects you, @dhillonlaw takes those issues on nationally, Dhillon wrote.

An account on X (Twitter) wrote: Imagine if Forbes published a headline saying 3 Ways to Decenter Blackness in your Workplace? Or what if Forbes said 3 Ways to Decenter Jewness in your Workplace? Its racism pure and simple and Forbes should be ashamed.

What is it like to undo your whiteness or to be less white or to decenter your whiteness? It is the language of cult programming, said Christopher F. Rufo, an editor for City Journal, persuading members that they are defective in some predetermined manner. Rufo calls it a racial justice shakedown.

Its about hate, humiliation, and power, said Tucker Carlson. Attacking people on the basis of their race is a sin. They can try to disguise it with Orwellian terms like anti-racism, but this is the purest kind of race hate. It will destroy America faster than anything else.

Ed Brodow is a conservative political commentator and author of ten books including No. 1 Amazon Best Seller, THE WAR ON WHITES: How Hating White People Became the New National Sport. His website is www.edbrodowpolitics.com.

Image: JoslynLM via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
The U.N. recently adopted eight resolutions condemning Israel for various alleged human rights violations, yet made no condemnation of other nations or groups, including Hamas.

This, after Hamas slaughtered nearly 1,500 innocent Israelis during a surprise attack on October 7.

And at a time of inexplicably rising anti-Semitism. This tells you all you need to know about the world body. It is nothing more than a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, said via press release: "The U.N.s assault on Israel with a torrent of one-sided resolutions, just one month after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and on the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, is surreal.

And morally repugnant.

Neuer added, The only purpose of these eight lopsided condemnations is to demonize the Jewish state. The world should not be deceived that these annual resolutions advance the cause of peace or human rights in any way.

The U.N.s Second Committee, which focuses on Economic and Financial issues, announced the passage of three such resolutions, including one demanding that Israel cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment in the Golan Heights region of Syria. Huh?

Unsurprisingly, Bashar al-Assads Syria drafted and co-sponsored the resolution, which passed with a vote of 151 in favor to six against. Only Israel, Canada, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and the United States opposed the measure. Eleven members abstained from voting.

Neuer called the Syrian-backed resolution "obscene," and stated that it is "astonishing" that the U.N. would support a call for "more people to be handed over" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime, which has killed "half a million of its own people."

Neuer noted that Assads forces have killed "more than 3,000 Palestinians" in their conflicts, prompting him to add of the resolution, "The text is morally galling and logically absurd.

Morally galling and logically absurd.

That would be the perfect motto for the U.N.

Image: PxHere // CC0 public domain
For Israel, it had to be good news to learn that Geert Wilders, the supposedly wild and crazy Dutch version of Donald Trump, came in with a huge parliamentary victory in the Netherlands and now may become the country's next prime minister.

That's because Wilders is a ferocious advocate and ally for Israel.

Look at those details:

Watch: historic speech by Geert Wilders: "Israel is a Beacon of Light in the Middle of Islamic Darkness".



He claims that the conflict in the Middle East is not about a land dispute, but about the war of Radical Islam against the Western values that Israel represents.



Link to pic.twitter.com/0KRF51wcGR  Liza Rosen (@LizaRosen0000) November 22, 2023

Geert Wilders, the leader of the far right nationalist populist party PVV which just won the Dutch general election, is a frequent visitor to Israel.



In 1981, a 17 year old Geert Wilders actually spent six months on a moshav in the West Bank. pic.twitter.com/FAGuKhcxwv  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) November 22, 2023

It matches the result from another Trump-like leader who just got elected -- that of Javier Milei, now president of Argentina ... and another very vocal ally for Israel. At one of this last campaign rallies, he was videoed waving the Israeli flag, vowing to make Argentina Israel's best friend.

Argentinian Presidential Candidate Javier Milei waves the flag of Israel for all to see that he STANDS WITH ISRAEL.  pic.twitter.com/36hFAvSuMZ  Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) November 17, 2023

Amid all the garbage going on at the United Nations, what with its bizarre Israel condemnations, as noted by AT contributor Eric Utter in his post here, it's going to be nice for Israel to finally be having some friends and defenders. That's not the only benefit for Israel; as there are likely to be many as Israel seeks to defend itself against the largely Islamist forces of hate and barbarism. Arms sales, intelligence, base support, sanctions, banking disruptions, it's bad stuff coming ahead for the terrorists now that Israel's friends are multiplying with this Trumpean movement worldwide.

And they are multiplying, actually. We know that President Trump leads in the polls -- the gutsiest, most pro-Israel U.S. president in history -- the one who forged the Abraham accords to bring peace with Israel and the Arab states, who lined up one by one to join it. He also moved the U.S. embassy to Israel's capital of Jerusalem, which led to another string of nations following. If Trump wins, Israel is going to win, too.

How about the other nations that sport supposed mini-Trumps who could also win their elections in coming months and years -- what are their views?

Let's look at the much reviled Marine Le Pen of France, who is supposedly an anti-Semite because her father seemed to be, who is also running on Trumpian values, what is her stance on Israel?

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen raises a storm over her plan to march against antisemitism -NBC News Why Marine Le Pen ran to Israel's defence, unlike her father -Financial Times

Voila ... pro-Israel, just like Wilders, Milei, and Trump. Not exactly the Nazi they claimed she was.

How about the Canadian version of Trump who's doing well in Canada's polls -- Pierre Poilievre?

Hamas determined to maximize Israeli and Palestinian deaths, Poilievre says -- CBC

He certainly sounds like the others, pro-Israel and able to read the situation correctly, quite unlike his country's milksop current prime minister, Justin Trudeau.

How about a couple who are in power, recently or not, such as the much-revile Viktor Orban of Hungary and Giorgia Meloni of Italy, both of whom have been compared to Trump and reviled as fascists?

Meloni: Hamas wants to oust Jews from the Middle East -- Jerusalem Post

Yup, same picture, pro-Israel allies, reading the situation correctly. Those are some 'fascists' they've got over there in Italy.

And Orban, the one they paint as a Nazi, Putinite, Trumpite, and dictator?

THE ROOTS OF ORBANS STRONG BOND WITH ISRAEL AND ITS PM -Balkan Insight

and as a lagniappe, this:

He doesn't even want to look at them. Maybe that's a bit autocratic but they have those powers to govern that way as the voters chose. It probably helps keep terrorists out of his country, which I know he would insist on.

And Brazil's recent president, Jair Bolsonaro, whom many hope will be its future president, too?

Bolsonaro has turned Brazil into Israel's new best friend -- Middle East Monitor

What We Can Learn From Netanyahu's 'Wonderful Friendship' With Bolsonaro - Haaretz Today

Again, as pro-Israel as they come.

We can now start to see a significant pattern here.

All of the proto-Trump leaders now emerging in the world today are indeed nationalists, America-firsters, or fill-in-the native country first, make one's country its best, in spirit. They also are pro-capitalism, pro-rule of law, and pro-civilization. They abhor barbarism and cronyism and favoritism, grievance politics, and special interest politics. They are individualists and extremely brave in the face of the onslaughts of opposition from entrenched swamp establishments, who respond with insane instances of resistance. Trump is foremost here in this regards but the others face the same monsters.

How is it every nationalist out there emerging in public life can all be so pro-Israel. The answer to that is best explained by writer George Gilder in his 2009 book The Israel Test. I found a book blurb on my favorite book site, Thriftbooks, which sheds insight into how these supposed Nazis and fascists and Trumpites can all be so militantly pro-Israel and it has much to do with all their other ideas. According to the blurb (emphasis mine):

In this book, George Gilder asserts that widespread antagonism toward the current state of Israel springs from, like anti-Semitism everywhere, envy of superior accomplishment. Israel's sudden rise as a world capitalist and technological power, he argues, stems in part from the Jewish culture of mind and in part from Judaism itself, which, "perhaps more than any other religion, favors capitalist activity and provides a rigorous moral framework for it." Critics of Israel--in the U.S., in the surrounding countries of the Middle East and in Western European nations that are facing socialist decline--have failed the "Israel Test" because they seek to tear down this country's success rather than emulate it. America's ability and desire to defend Israel will define our future survival as a nation: "If Israel is destroyed," he says, "capitalist Europe will likely die as well, and America, as the epitome of productive and creative capitalism spurred by Jews, will be in jeopardy."

Trump and his coevals often talk about fighting for survival. Obviously, there's a link between our democracy and Israel's Judaic values, which are also present in America's Judeo-Christian founding values. Without those values, there is no individualism, no initiative, no rule of law, no capitalism anyone would want to live in, no progress, no prosperity and no moral framework of fairness and humility to God.

That's why so many of these Trumps of various countries respond so strongly to defending Israel, against all expectations that since they are nationalists, they don't think of any place but their own nation. The very values Israel embodies are the values of Trumpism. That explains why the support is so intense.

If this is right and I think it is, it tells us a lot about the importance of always supporting and defending Israel against the onslaught of barbarism. Israel is at the tip of the spear. When the Trump-like leaders of the world stand up for Israel, they are standing up for Western Civilization.

That is powerful and worthy of living for and dying for. For Israel, that can only be helpful as it expands.

Image: Twitter screen shot
The newly released J6 footage is a revelation because it shows that the insurrection was not by, of, and for the people, it was by, of, and for the government. When it comes to events inside the Capitol, theres growing evidence that the violence came not from the people peacefully and reverentially wandering around but from law enforcement. Certainly, the most recent footage appears to bear that out.

There are two narratives about January 6. The dominant one is the Democrat narrative. Practically within minutes of events on January 6, every Democrat politician and media outlet was claiming an insurrection. Endlessly repeated footage and still photos showed a huge crowd outside the Capitol, black-clad masked figures breaking into the Capitol, Trump supporters streaming into the Capitol, and the QAnon Shaman (escorted by a guard) surveying the Senate chamber. Police officers had been beaten to death. America was over.

The media endlessly reinforced that narrative. The FBI engaged in the biggest manhunt in American history. Almost three years later, many of those arrested are still languishing in prison, uncharged and untried. The House, under Nancy Pelosis control, and with help from a couple of NeverTrump Vichy Republicans, engaged in the farcical January 6 Committee investigation and hearings, complete with weeping cops.

Image: Trump supporters in the Rotunda. YouTube screen grab. (By the way, this is a blurry screengrab. Youve probably noticed fabulously clear Getty and AP photos from inside the Capitol. Ive long wondered how they got them.)

However, behind this propaganda, another narrative was emerging, one bolstered by actual data and video footage. Here are just a few examples:

But still, this was always just a small part of the narrative. The Democrats and Kevin McCarthy refused to release the full 41,000 hours of video generated by the Capitols own security cameras. Mike Johnson finally stopped the censorship, and crowd-sourcing is revealing the full story of a day that the Democrats have used to persecute, prosecute, imprison, and silence their political opponents.

The latest revelation comes from Julie Kelly, who introduces footage showing that the police ambushed Trump supporters who were peacefully and reverentially wandering through the Rotunda on January 6 (most of whom, almost certainly, had no idea theyd been trespassing given that signage had been removed and police were welcoming them in). Kelly has the details, but heres the overview:

At 3 p.m., footage shows people peacefully wandering through the Rotunda. No one appears to be committing acts of violence against persons or property. Two minutes later, Capitol police storm in from the Rotundas south side and begin shoving and grabbing protesters. (Keep in mind that many of these protesters were elderly.) The masked police also seemingly used chemical gas.

Three minutes after that, D.C. officers stormed the room, again physically assaulting people who, minutes before, had simply been standing there or wandering peacefully around. The police didnt seem interested in arresting anyone or guiding them to leave the building. They were just pushing them around and corralling them in a corner of the rotunda.

Kelly notes that these law enforcement actions violated D.C.s use of force laws. These require police to de-escalate situations and use all means other than physical force to deal with them. In this case, though, the police came in loaded for bear.

I urge you to read Kellys entire post and to view the footage. If you had doubts about the Democrat narrative, this information will reinforce your concerns. Something is rotten, very, very rotten, in the City of D.C.
A recently published article on BBCs website mentions a certain palm tree that has allegedly developed a rather unique ability unbecoming of a plant the ability to walk. The palm in question is Socratea exorrhiza, also nicknamed the Walking Palm. The bizarre idea stems from the fact that scientists are unable to explain the trees strange stilt-like roots. Found in tropical rainforests of Central and South America, the Socratea exorrhiza develops long and sturdy roots that grow outwards from the base of the tree, several feet off the ground, and take root in the soil around, giving it the appearance of multiple legs. It wasnt long before people started to believe that these roots actually act like legs enabling the palm tree to literally walk in the forest.

Photo credit: www.palmpedia.net

The amazing story of the walking palm tree has been told by rainforest guides to tourists for years, and appears in many sources both in print and on the web. It is said that the tree walks from shade to sunlight by growing roots in the direction it wants to travel, and then allowing the old roots to slowly lift into the air and die. This allows the tree to slowly move towards the side where the new roots are growing. The process is said to take a couple of years, while one palaeobiologist suggesting the tree moves two or three centimeters per day.

Its such a fascinating story that many tend to believe it, like our palaeobiologist friend from the Earth Science Institute in Bratislava. Unfortunately, the walking tree is a myth.

The idea of the walking tree was first suggested by John H. Bodley in 1980 who thought that such an ability allows the palm to walk away from the point of germination if another tree falls on the seedling and knocks it over. This way, the tree can move away from obstacles that are major hazards for immature palms.

Biologist Gerardo Avalos, director of the Center for Sustainable Development Studies in Atenas, Costa Rica, and according to LiveScience.com one of the world's top experts on the Socratea exorrhiza, published a detailed study of the palm and its root in 2005 where he observed that the walking tree can't walk because its roots don't move. A few roots on one side or another may die off, but the trunk itself remains rooted to the spot.

Some people want to see the Socratea exorrhiza walking. Alas, no such time lapse movie exist.

"My paper proves that the belief of the walking palm is just a myth," Avalos told Life's Little Mysteries."Thinking that a palm tree could actually track canopy light changes by moving slowly over the forest floor  is a myth that tourist guides find amusing to tell visitors to the rainforest."

The myth was also debunked in the December 2009 issue of Skeptical Inquirer. As interesting as it would be to think that when no one is around trees walk the rainforest floor, it is a mere myth, it read. The article also cited two detailed studies that came to this conclusion.

Researchers are still unsure what role these unique stilt roots play. Some suggest that the multiple roots allow the tree to be more stable in swampy areas, or when there is too much debris in the ground as they can avoid it by moving their roots. It has been suggested that stilt roots allow the palm to grow taller to reach light without having to increase the diameter of the stem, thus investing in less biomass in underground roots than other palms. Of course, none of these theories have ever been confirmed. More importantly, nobody has seen these palm trees walk.

Photo credit: Sandor Weisz/Flickr

Photo credit: Ryan Somma/Flickr

Photo credit: Katja Schulz/Flickr

Photo credit: www.palmpedia.net
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blames what he called "MAGA influence" for sinking support for Ukraine within his nation's government.

During a press conference with visiting European leaders, Trudeau connected a gambit by his Conservative rivals in Ottawa to hard-right rhetoric in the United States and Europe. He said that they are "starting to parrot Russian disinformation and misinformation and propaganda."

Canada's Support for Ukraine

The country is home to roughly 1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians and has the second-largest Ukrainian diaspora after Russia. Until now, Canadian politicians of all stripes have been united behind support for Kyiv.

But earlier this week, conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and his party turned heads in Parliament by voting as a bloc against legislation updating the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. Despite the opposition, the bill passed with the support of Bloc Quebecois and NDP MPs for study at the committee level.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the new deal when he met with Trudeau in Ottawa this fall. As per Politico, Kyiv had asked Canada to fast-track the modernized legislation to help attract investments to rebuild the war-torn nation.

But the surprising conservative vote against the legislation included claims that the new trade deal with Ukraine would impose Canada's controversial carbon tax, which Poilievre has vowed to kill.

However, no such provision exists in the legislation, and Eastern European countries have had their carbon mechanism since 2011. Officials from Ukraine were taken aback by the sudden opposition to the legislation, which former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper championed.

Trudeau has called the Conservatives' opposition to the deal "frankly absurd." He called out what he said was a bigger trend behind the twist in support, using the moment to his political foes to Trumpian influences.

During a news conference, the prime minister said that seeing the Conservative Party not supporting Ukraine is ridiculous. He said that the real story is the rise of a right-wing, American MAGA influence, according to Reuters.

Read Also: China Grants Temporary Visa Exemption to Citizens of Multiple EU Nations, Malaysia

MAGA Influence on the Right-Wing Party

The remarks come as Trump seeks re-election in the 2024 presidential race in the US and is currently the leading candidate for the GOP's nomination. He has expressed sharp criticism of American support for Kyiv and said he could end the war in 24 hours if re-elected.

There is a relatively small but vocal group of Republicans who have criticized Ukraine's assistance for several months. They have accused Kyiv of failing to fight corruption, which Ukrainian and US officials deny sufficiently.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian embassy in Ottawa said that the agreement "does not include any specific instruments on decreasing carbon footprint, including specific taxation instruments."

The federal government's chief trade negotiator testified before a House of Commons committee earlier this month. He said the provisions were not binding and were meant to promote discussion and cooperation.

Ukraine's carbon tax is part of its efforts to gain membership in the EU and the country's government is developing a form of carbon pricing to bring its policies in line with EU trade requirements, said CBC.

Related Article: US Expresses Eagerness To Work on Release of American Citizens Captured by Hamas During Israel-Palestine Conflict

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Microsofts Offensive Research and Security Engineering (MORSE) asked Blackwing Intelligence to evaluate if theres any bypass for Windows Hello fingerprint authentication. To our surprise, the evaluation yielded a 100% reliable bypass for Windows fingerprint authentication system.

The team used three laptops from different OEMs for the evaluation process  the Dell Inspiron 15, Lenovo ThinkPad T14, and the Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover with Fingerprint ID.

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Blackwings research uncovered multiple vulnerabilities in all three fingerprint sensors. It allowed the team to successfully bypass Windows Hello authentication on the tested laptops. However, the objective of the evaluation was to assess the security of the fingerprint sensors embedded by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for Windows Hello.

All the fingerprint sensors they targeted were of the match on chip (MoC) type. That means they had a microprocessor and storage built into the chip. It enables secure fingerprint matching within the sensor. However, despite the benefits of MoC sensors, Blackwing found loopholes that allowed them to exploit the communication between the sensor and the host.

Two out of the three devices didnt even use the secure protocol that Microsoft has created for Windows Hello authentication

Microsoft implemented the Secure Device Connection Protocol (SDCP) to secure the connection between the host and fingerprint sensor. However, the researchers found that two out of the three OEMs didnt even enable SDCP. Unfortunately device manufacturers seem to misunderstand some of the objectives. says researchers at Blackwing (via SamMobile) .

Additionally, SDCP only covers a very narrow scope of a typical devices operation, while most devices have a sizable attack surface exposed that is not covered by SDCP at all.

The findings underscore the importance of rigorous security measures in biometric authentication solutions. Blackwing recommends vendors manufacturing biometric authentication solutions to enable SDCP. They emphasized its crucial role in providing a secure channel between the host and biometric devices.

The compromised fingerprint authentication raises questions about the broader security landscape. Nonetheless, it needs sincere attention to prevent potential threats.

The full extent of the impact on user security and the OEMs response to these findings remains to be seen as cybersecurity experts and manufacturers grapple with enhancing the security of fingerprint authentication methods.
Google will let you switch back to what theyve dubbed the Classic Assistant over Assistant with Bard when the AI assistant rolls out. The company announced the new assistant during the Google Pixel 8 launch that recently took place back in early October. But new findings show that despite the exciting possibilities an AI-powered assistant may present, Google understands some people might want to opt out of the experience.

Assistant with Bard will surpass Google Assistant

Mobile assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Bixby have been steadily improving over the years. Despite this, all of them have still left a lot to be desired. The sudden advancement of generative AI was reason for enthusiasts to be excited for mobile assistants once more. Google promises that Bards generative reasoning capabilities will revolutionize how people use Google Assistant.

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Assistant with Bard, as Google calls it, will be able to understand users a lot better than classic assistant. It will also be able to execute a lot more complex commands that classic assistant would have failed at. This is in part thanks to better speech-to-text capabilities of Large Language Models. Assistant with Bard will also be able to integrate with existing Google services like Gmail and Google Drive.

Why people might use Classic Assistant

Assistant with Bard sounds like a dream come true for most people. It might be the J.A.R.V.I.S users have wanted for so long. However, Google believes that some people would still prefer to use Classic Assistant over Bard. There are two main reasons why this might be.

For starters, Google has already announced that Assistant with Bard will not have all the capabilities of Classic Assistant during its initial rollout. This is most likely the primary reason people would want to switch between the two. According to AssembleDebug on X, who broke this news (via Android Police), users will reportedly be able to switch between both assistants from the Google app. Naturally, the need for this constant switching is likely to be phased out with future updates as Bard is improved.

The second reason people might want to use Classic Assistant instead is force of habit. As with all advancements in the tech sphere, some people might find the upgrade too jarring. These users will want to stick with what they know works. Google might eventually phase both assistant experiences together in the future to appeal to both classes of users.

Assistant with Bard is expected to roll out in the coming few months. For enthusiasts, this is going to be a fascinating change. And even the average consumer is going to notice just how much better their assistant has suddenly become. Google has made the first move, and other companies are sure to follow suit with their own AI assistants in the coming months.
The state of Maryland in the U.S. has distributed over 133,000 Chromebooks for free recently. Governor Wes Moore announced the distribution. This initiative, to distribute Chromebooks, is part of a $27.2 million investment. He mentioned that these devices are a gateway for Marylanders to be able to apply for jobs, complete schoolwork, and connect with vital community resources.

The state of Maryland just distributed more than 133,000 Chromebooks for free

The Chromebook laptops were given out through 27 local governments, which worked with community groups to find and contact eligible families. The laptops were given out in phases, and HP and Daly Computers were partners in the effort. The specific models or specs of the laptops remain under wraps. But its almost a certainty that they wont be high-end models.

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How to get a free Chromebook from the State of Maryland

To get a free Chromebook from the State of Maryland through the Montgomery Connects program, you need to meet a few requirements. First, you must live in Maryland, be at least 7 years old, and have not received a computer from Montgomery County before. Second, you must be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) internet discount program. Lastly, you need to bring proof of your identity, address, and ACP eligibility when you pick up your Chromebook. You must also schedule an appointment online to receive your device.

Marylanders can also receive free one-on-one tech support from the University of Marylands TechExtension through their digital navigator program.

Chromebooks still make the right choice, especially among the first buyers. Powered by Chrome OS, they offer a cloud-centric design that enables them to work efficiently even on modest hardware specs. Moreover, the recent distribution led by the state will also help bridge the digital divide among the masses. This makes them well-suited for basic tasks and internet access. For example, for those seeking an affordable and user-friendly device.
The RedMagic 9 Pro now has a global launch date, and its just around the corner. Really, its coming sooner than you might think. If youve never heard of RedMagic before thats understandable. Its a gaming smartphone brand. And in the grand scheme of things, gaming smartphones dont have a lot of notoriety with the population at large compared to behemoth brands like Samsung or Apple. Even well-known brands like ASUS who have consistently put out the top-performing gaming smartphone for years now have little recognition beyond mobile gamers.

And honestly thats ok. But if youre in that group of people who value having a smartphone made with specific gaming features, take notice of the RedMagic 9 Pro. Because it promises powerful specs at likely hundreds less than what ASUS will probably charge for its next gaming phone whenever that arrives.

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This includes things like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 512GB of storage. There will also be a 256GB model. RedMagic still hasnt announced official US pricing yet. But its phones typically fall well under $800.

The RedMagic 9 Pro gets a global release on December 18

If youre now curious about what the RedMagic 9 Pro has to offer, youll get to learn more about it next month. RedMagic has teased (spotted by Android Central) a global launch event for the middle of next month, specifically on December 18.

The global launch event will begin at 7am EST so it starts pretty early for folks over here on the West coast. But these wont necessarily be flying off the shelves. So if you happen to be on the West coast and one of these things, you arent likely to have any trouble getting one. In addition to the launch date and time, RedMagic highlights some of the devices other key specs. Such as the 6500mAh battery, and its Ice 13.0 cooling system for increased airflow. This system includes a larger vapor chamber than past devices and is designed to help keep your phone cranking out optimal performance no matter how hard you game.
(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 25 - Filippo Turetta, the 22-year-old Padua university biomedical engineering student under investigation for murdering his ex girlfriend Giulia Cecchettin on November 11 in a case that has shocked the nation, was extradited to Italy on Saturday.

Turetta was arrested near Leipzig in Germany last Sunday after more than a week on the run.

He was handed over to Italian police and flown to Venice from Frankfurt.

Carabinieri were set to take him to Verona jail.

He will have his own cell and be under 24 hour surveillance for his own protection and to prevent self-harm, judicial sources have said.

Turetta is currently being probed for kidnapping and voluntary homicide, but this could change to premeditated murder.

Investigative sources have said that a few days before the murder the suspect bought adhesive tape online that could be compatible with the piece of adhesive tape found in the industrial area of Fosso near Venice where Cecchettin suffered the second stage of the fatal attack.

Investigators are also reportedly considering charging him with the crime of concealing the corpse.

Cecchettin's body was found a week ago in a gorge between Lake Barcis and Piancavallo in the Friuli province of Pordenone.

It has emerged that Cecchettin wanted to cut all contact with Turetta but was afraid to do so because she believed he might do himself harm.

"I feel I am in a situation where I would like him to disappear, I would like to have no more contact with him, but I don't know how to do it because I feel guilty, I'm too afraid that he might hurt himself somehow," said Cecchettin in a voice recording broadcast on TG1 on Wednesday night.

"He comes to tell me things like that he is super-depressed, that he has stopped eating, that he spends his days staring at the ceiling, that he thinks only about killing himself, that he would like to die," she added.

Turetta admitted to the investigators who stopped him on a highway outside the spa town of Bad Durrenberg that he had "killed my girlfriend".

The case has shocked Italy, in part because of the age of the victim and the alleged murderer and because of the brutality of the killing. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 25 - Hundreds of thousands of people took part in protests across Italy on Saturday for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, amid widespread public anger and dismay over the murder of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin by her ex boyfriend Filippo Turetta on November 11, the latest of a long string of femicides and other acts of gender-based violence in the country.

Marches took place all over the country to demand an end to the violence and abuse, with the demos in Milan, Rome, Messina and Naples attracting especially big crowds.

"We want to be alive. No more patriarchy" chanted the protesters, many wearing purple scarves, at the demo at Rome's Circus Maximus, which organizers said at least half a million people took part in.

"Dramatic news stories have shaken the country's conscience," said President Mattarella in his message for the day.

"A human society that aspires to be civilized cannot accept, cannot endure, this string of attacks on women and murders.

"The incurable grief and pain of the wounded families and communities is the heartbreak of all of us.

"When we are faced with a murdered woman, the broken life of a young person, a person humiliated verbally or in everyday gestures in the family, in the workplace, at school, we (should) feel that behind this violence lies the failure of a society, which fails to promote real equal relations between women and men".

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola referred to Cecchettin's case and that of other femicide victims in a video message on Saturday. "Giulia, Ashling, Bernice, Paulina and tens of thousands other women in Europe and beyond," Metsola "Femicide victims. Daughters, sisters, mothers.

"We can and must act to protect women. With determination, training, awareness campaigns, and ambitious laws.

"There are no excuses, it is already too late, we must defend women".

On Friday Premier Giorgia Meloni renewed her pledge to continue to fight violence against women, describing it as an "intolerable phenomenon that must be fought at 360 degrees.

"I am proud of the law that was voted by all the political forces (in parliament)," continued Meloni, referring to the new anti-violence and anti-stalking norms approved definitively by the Senate on Wednesday.

"There are areas where sharing can make a difference," she added.

The government also had the number of the 1522 helpline projected onto the facade of the premier's office at Palazzo Chigi in Rome.

Pope Francis called for action to prevent gender-based violence too.

"Violence against women is a poisonous weed that plagues our society and must be pulled up from its roots," the pontiff said in a post on X.

"These roots grow in the soil of prejudice and of injustice; they must be countered with educational action that places the person, with his or her dignity, at the centre".

Labour Minister Marina Elvira Calderone said that women who have been put on a special programme of 'protection' after being the victims of gender-based violence will be able to access a new 'inclusion' benefit from the start of next year.

In a video for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Calderone said the support will last for 18 months and will be renewable. The victims of the violence will also be able to get help paying rent, she said. Calderone said there will be tax breaks for employers who hire women on this programme too.

Turetta was taken to Verona's Montorio prison on Saturday after being extradited from Germany.

The man, who was arrested near Leipzig in Germany last Sunday after more than a week on the run, was escorted to the jail by Carabinieri police being handed over by the German authorities in Frankfurt and flown to Venice.

He will have his own cell in Verona and be under 24 hour surveillance for his own protection and to prevent self-harm, judicial sources have said.

Turetta is currently being probed for kidnapping and voluntary homicide, but this could change to premeditated murder.

Investigative sources have said that a few days before the murder, the suspect bought adhesive tape online that could be compatible with the piece of adhesive tape found in the industrial area of Fosso near Venice where Cecchettin suffered the second stage of the fatal attack.

Investigators are also reportedly considering charging him with the crime of concealing the corpse. Cecchettin's body was found a week ago in a gorge between Lake Barcis and Piancavallo in the Friuli province of Pordenone. (ANSA).


An ex-aide of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has filed a civil lawsuit against the Democratic lawmaker for allegedly groping her in late 2020.

The complainant, Brittany Commisso, is suing Cuomo under the state's Adult Survivors Act for an incident that she described as "pervasive abusive conduct." The filing showed that she was accusing the lawmaker of "continuous sexual harassment" and retaliating against her after she refused his advances and reported his misconduct.

Andrew Cuomo Faces New Civil Lawsuit

Commisso's allegations against Cuomo are nothing new and the former New York governor has long denied all of the accusations. She initially filed a formal criminal complaint against the lawmakers in 2021 with the Albany County sheriff's office.

The office investigated and filed charges against Cuomo but prosecutors decided not to prosecute. They said that while they were "deeply troubled" about the incident and that Commisso was "cooperative and credible," they concluded that they could not meet their burden of proof at trial, as per the New York Times.

The court papers that Commisso filed on Tuesday were used to initiate a lawsuit and are expected to be followed by a complaint. The legal challenge comes a few days before the expiration of the state's Adult Survivors Act on Friday.

It gave people who said that they were sexually abused in New York a one-year window to sue their alleged attackers. This comes even if the statute of limitations had already expired beforehand.

A lawyer for Cuomo, Rita Glavin, released a statement on Friday saying that Commisso's claims are "provably false." She said that this was why the Albany district attorney dismissed the case two years ago following a thorough investigation.

Despite denying the allegations, Cuomo resigned in August 2021 following an inquiry by New York Attorney General Letitia James found that he had sexually harassed 11 women. Another former aide of Cuomo, Charlotte Bennett, sued the ex-governor for sexual harassment in September 2022, according to Yahoo News.

Read Also: FBI Says Ohio Walmart Suspect Partially Motivated by Racial Extremism in Shooting of 4 People

Alleged Sexual Harassment

In a statement, Commisso said that it disgusts her how Cuomo is considering running for public office in the wake of New York City Mayor Eric Adam's alleged sexual harassment. She argued that the former governor has not taken responsibility or acknowledged what he did to her years ago.

Commisso is a divorced mother of one who initially joined Cuomo's team in 2017. On Mar. 8, 2021, former Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul demoted her and reassigned her to the "demeaning task of answering telephones in the Lieutenant Governor's office until moved to other offices."

The complainant said that she lost out on overtime pay, was given little to no work, and was even ostracized by her co-workers. The documents filed in court also allege that her career opportunities suffered.

The court papers also name the state and Cuomo's special counsel Judith Mogul for allegedly aiding and abetting Commisso's mistreatment and demotion. The situation comes as the suit that Bennett filed against the former New York governor is still pending. It accuses him of asking invasive questions about her sex life, said the New York Post.

Related Article: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Accused of Sexually Assaulting Colleague 30 Years Ago

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 25 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Saturday hailed the revamp of Italy's post-Covid National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) that her government agreed with the European Commission on Friday and defended the executive's 2024 budget bill.

The NRRP is a huge programme that seeks to make the Italian economy Greener and more modern with projects funded with the help of almost 200 billion euros in EU grants and low-interest loans.

The changes agreed on Friday were the latest in a series of modifications that seek to adapt the plan to the different circumstances since it was drafted and prevent some of the funding not being spent because the related projects risk not being completed by the final deadline of 2026.

"Yesterday the European Commission approved the changes to the NRRP presented by the government after a lot of hard work," Giorgia Meloni said via video link to the International Tourism Forum at Lake Maggiore.

"It is a job that I am extremely proud of, a very complex job that involved all the (public) institutions and (economic) sectors".

The premier dismissed criticism that the government had failed to allocate funding for business in its 2024 budget package, saying investments for enterprises were coming via the NRRP.

"There is 12.4 billion euros for businesses in the new NRRP," she said.

"When we approved the budget, some objected that resources for businesses were missing from it.

"But we were simply concentrating them in our proposal to revise the NRRP". (ANSA).


Bobby Brazier has dedicated his Strictly Come Dancing routine to his mother Jade Goody.

The 20-year-old EastEnders actor performed a couples choice dance to This Womans Work by Maxwell with professional Dianne Buswell on Strictly Come Dancing.

His mother died in 2009 aged 27 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

In a video clip before he performed, Brazier said: It changed my life completely, Id love to spend a day with her just to see where I get my smile from.

He is also the son of TV presenter Jeff Brazier, who spoke about the familys grief.

Jade Goody who died in 2009 (Ian West/PA)

Jeff said loss makes you grow closer before adding: Im the lucky one, Im the one who gets to bring the boys up, Im the one who gets to watch them on Strictly, it brings to my joy to my life.

Following the couples choice, Brazier appeared emotional as his family including Jeff watched in the audience and judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse gave him standing ovations.

Ballas said she was emotional as she praised the dance saying it had the most beautiful true movements through the body as you danced it through your heart.

Mabuse said: (The) steps and the dancing and technical aspects are important, but with such a beautiful dance, I think this is a dance that transcends that.

This carries the message and the message that you both put on the floor was absolutely beautiful.

I think you captured the song amazingly.

When he was waiting for his score, Brazier said he said he was blessed and the dance was something Ill never forget.

Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell (Guy Levy/BBC)

Meanwhile, former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola received the highest score of the night from the judges with 37 points.

Mabuse said that it was about intimacy and there was a real story for their brilliant Argentine Tango to Bills, Bills, Bills by Destinys Child.

Annabel Croft was also praised by Ballas for doing some of the best footwork she has seen for a paso doble.

Wearing co-ordinated black and yellow Latin-inspired outfits, she performed alongside professional Johannes Radebe to Espana Cani and scored a total of 36 points for the routine.

Nigel Harman said he was told he would be doomed doing a rumba, and was delighted by positive comments from the judges for the routine to Its All Coming Back To Me Now by Celine Dion.

Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe during the dress rehearsal for their appearance on the live show on Saturday for BBC1s Strictly Come Dancing (Guy Levy/BBC)

Anton Du Beke called the performance super duper and said Harman tried to dance with Katya Jones, instead of letting her perform around him.

The judges scored Casualty star and former EastEnders actor Harman and Jones a total of 33 points.

Bad Education actor and West End star Layton Williams and Nikita Williams were criticised for their American smooth to Its Oh So Quiet by Bjork, which scored the routine a total of 34 points.

Ballas said the routine was gestural and fun and not smooth enough, which attracted boos from the live audience.

TV presenter Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu also performed a cha cha to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor and were awarded 31 points.

Meanwhile David Tennant, whose return as the Time Lord in Doctor Who was seen in a new episode on Saturday, also appeared in a video message on Strictly.

He explained the BBC shows voting procedure as he appeared remotely.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Sunday.
Catherine Tate and David Tennant have both entered the time travelling Tardis machine again as the pair returned to star in Doctor Who.

Tate played Donna Noble, who had to stop being the Doctors companion after the final episode of the rebooted fourth series due absorbing the power of the Time Lords.

Tennant as the 10th Doctor, who he played between 2005 and 2010, had to wipe her mind to save her life during the 2008 episode.

Yasmin Finney stars as Donna Nobles daughter Rose (Ian West/PA)

Tennant regenerated as the 14th Doctor during the first female Time Lord Jodie Whittakers last episode in 2022, signalling his return for three 60th anniversary episodes.

During a new episode on Saturday, Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney stars as Donnas daughter, Rose, and she meets Tennant as the Doctor along with her mother.

Donna does not recognise the Doctor and fails to pay attention when a UFO is seen in the sky.

The Doctor then gets a lift from Donnas husband Karl Collins, with actor Shaun Temple reprising the role, who explains she gave away her lottery winnings.

Jacqueline King also comes back as Sylvia Noble, who has concerns about Donnas state of mind.

Rose meets a fluffy alien called the Meep, voiced by Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes, and when Donna is upset by the discovery, the Doctor returns to see her at home.

The Doctor wants to know about Wilfred Wilf Mott, previously played by the late actor Bernard Cribbins  who died last year aged 93, and she says hes not with us anymore.

The Doctor replies: I loved that man, Im so sorry for your loss before they explain that Wilfred is in sheltered accommodation.

Donna, the Doctor and her family are then captured and put in the back of a van.

Donna and the Doctor escape and she follows him into the Tardis where she says she does not mind dying to save her daughter.

The Doctor then returns her memories in an emotional moment before it is revealed that the Time Lord being genderfluid means Donna and Rose can share the knowledge she has and will not be in danger.

A new larger Tardis is then revealed, which has a coffee machine, before it catches fire and the Doctor teases that might now end up anywhere in time and space.

Saturdays The Star Beast is the first of three special episodes, marking the 60th anniversary.

THEY'RE HERE #DoctorWho: The Star Beast is now streaming on @BBCiPlayer in the UK and @DisneyPlus in the rest of the world  pic.twitter.com/2BU4JH7DtV  Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) November 25, 2023

It will be followed by Wild Blue Yonder on December 2 and The Giggle on December 9.

Both Tennant and Tate previously returned to the series.

Tate also appeared when a two-part special was broadcast over 2009s Christmas and 2010s New Years Day.

During the 50th anniversary special, Tennant made a comeback during Matt Smiths tenure for The Day Of The Doctor in 2013.

Also returning for the new swathe of episodes is showrunner Russell T Davies.

Sex Education and Barbie star Ncuti Gatwa will then take over in the role of the Doctor over the festive period as he becomes the 15th Doctor.
King Charless estate has announced it is transferring more than 100m, including funds collected from dead people under the archaic system of bona vacantia, into ethical investment funds after an investigation by the Guardian.

The surprise announcement came amid growing pressure on the king over the Duchy of Lancasters use of funds collected from people who die in the north-west of England with no will or next of kin.

On Thursday, the Guardian revealed some of the funds were secretly being used to renovate properties that are owned by the king and rented out for profit by his estate. The duchy conceded that some bona vacantia revenues are financing the restoration of what it calls public and historic properties.

However, the kings estate has also been battling separate questions over its management of another portion of bona vacantia funds that are given to its charities.

Two of those charities have used bona vacantia to build major endowment funds worth more than 40m. Their accounts state that there are no specific constraints on the investment portfolio in terms of ethical, social or environmental (ESG) matters, although investment managers are advised to take such matters into consideration.

Contacted by the Guardian this week, the Duchy of Lancaster initially declined to say whether its charities had invested in any oil or gas, tobacco, weapons or mining companies. However late on Friday, a spokesperson for the estate announced a change in policy.

In line with the kings longstanding support of ethical investing, the Duchy of Lancaster has begun the process of transferring its investment portfolio into ESG funds. This process is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year, the spokesperson said.

There been no suggestion from the kings estate that it plans to cease collecting bona vacantia or change how it is spent.

However, the shift in investment policy will bring the Duchy of Lancasters approach into line with that of the Duchy of Cornwall, another royal estate that receives bona vacantia funds, which has an ethical investment policy. The king previously owned and closely managed the Duchy of Cornwall, which raises profits for the heir to the throne. When Charles became king, it was inherited by his son Prince William.

At the same time Charles inherited from his mother the Duchy of Lancaster, which exists to raise private income for the monarch. Both the duchy itself, and its charities, have investment portfolios. The duchys own portfolio, according to its accounts, include equities, bonds and other financial investments worth 74m. That too is now being transferred to ethical funds.

The charities the duchy gives bona vacantia revenues to, the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund and Duchy of Lancaster Jubilee Trust, have also built large endowment funds, worth 18m and 26m respectively.

Both charities accounts state they aim for an annual return of 500,000 from their investments, and benchmark the success of the bulk of their stock investments against the FTSE All-Share Index, an index that includes companies such as Shell, BP and British American Tobacco.

Ben Faulkner, of the ethical investment company EQ Investors, said benchmarking against an index could mean replicating investments in the companies involved: Using an index as a base for a replication strategy is very common, known widely as index tracking. When doing so you will typically have more invested in the biggest companies within the index you are tracking  Shell is the largest listed company within the FTSE All-Share Index.

In the last five years, the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund has made nearly 2m in income from its investment portfolio, while the Jubilee Trust has made 2.5m.

The Duchy of Cornwall, which collects bona vacantia from Cornish residents, has a clear ethical policy in relation to investments by the Duke of Cornwall Benevolent Fund, which has built a 5m endowment. Its accounts state: The fund is entirely invested in the Newton SRI Fund for Charities, a global and diversified portfolio of equities and fixed interest securities with particular emphasis on environmental, social and governance considerations, screened against negative socially responsible investment criteria.

The Duchy of Lancasters announcement of a similar policy comes amid growing questions for the royal estate which has long claimed that bona vacantia proceeds go to charity after costs are deducted. In a shift in language, it now concedes funds are additionally spent on restoration and repair of qualifying buildings on the estate.

Leaked documents reveal properties deemed eligible for the funds include a suite of properties rented out to raise profit for the king, including holiday lets, farmhouses, a barn on a shooting range and a petrol station.

The duchy collects bona vacantia assets from residents of the ancient county palatinate of Lancashire  a territory that includes Lancashire and parts of Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria.

Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said: Like so many other local people I was surprised to learn the anomaly that means those dying without a will or heir in the county palatine see their assets passed to the king rather than the state. Its an unjust and archaic hangover from the medieval times and Ill be seeking advice on how to bring my constituents rights out of the feudal era.

Her comments come after criticisms from two mayors from the north-west of England. This appears to be a bizarre remnant of feudal Britain, said the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham. At the very least, people in the north-west are owed transparency and accountability. They should also have a say on how these proceeds are used. I would call on the government and the Duchy of Lancaster to initiate a public consultation on this issue to work towards a set of arrangements that could command greater public consent.

Steve Rotheram, the mayor of the Liverpool city region, also expressed concern. Worthy causes have been bypassed and instead it appears that funding has been spent renovating royal properties. I hope the situation will be clarified urgently and, if money has been misused, it is put back where it should be: with those charities it was promised to.
A Palestinian doctor in the UK said Israel must allow more aid and water into Gaza following the four-day ceasefire with Hamas.

The pause in the conflict began on Friday morning, with Hamas releasing 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel, while Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Dr Hazem Alaaraj, 46, of Cheshire, said water was becoming scarce for his mother Ayesha Alaaraj, 70, and father Dr Ibrahim Alaaraj, 77, who live in a compound with more than 60 other close family members in the southern city of Rafah.

Mother Ayesha Alaaraj and Dr Ibrahim Alaaraj live in the southern Gaza city of Rafah (Hazem Alaaraj/PA)

Mr Alaaraj, who was raised in Gaza and left in 1995, told the PA news agency: As you can imagine the situation is not good at all in the recent couple of weeks things have gotten quite worse, at the moment people are coping.

There is a scarcity of water now, theres less and less tap water so they have to buy a (water) tanker, and over the past month, they need a tanker every two days.

Over the past two weeks or so it has become very difficult to get hold of some water, my brother had to queue for hours for drinking water.

Since the start of the conflict, Mr Alaaraj said some of his family have died and had their homes either damaged or destroyed by missiles.

He added lack of food has again become a problem as there are no supplies coming in.

There are a few trucks coming in here and there and the number of trucks that are carrying food supplies is very small, he said.

I understood Gaza used to take in about five to 700 trucks a day, normally for supplies, but during this period (ceasefire) theyll (Israel) only be allowing very small numbers, 20 or 30 per day.

We are talking about a four-day ceasefire. You might have water these four days, but then again it depends if Israel allows more resources after, if it doesnt I think the problem will continue.

He said he constantly worries about his familys safety as Israel heavily bombed the south  the same region where Palestinians in the north of Gaza were told to flee for safety.

He said: You get yourself in this cycle of watching the news over and over, and I ring them every day, sometimes twice a day.

I had occasions where theyre sick of you ringing so I look at their Facebook status to see if its green, then I know they are okay, if not I just message them I hope youre okay, to make sure someone is replying to me.

Mr Alaaraj said he hopes that the UK Government will create an asylum-seeking programme similar to the Homes for Ukraine scheme so he can reunite with his family.
Police have appealed for the publics help to find a wanted man who killed a young motorcycle display team instructor in a crash near the Olympic Park in 2016.

Former bus driver Gerald Cotter had taken cocaine and was doing almost double the speed limit when he caused the collision that killed 23-year-old Kieron Fevrier in Leyton, east London, in November 2016.

The 56-year-old had been travelling in his Vauxhall Meriva at more than 50mph in the 30mph zone, forcing other motorists to swerve and brake suddenly as he overtook on the opposite side of the road.

He was sentenced in March 2017 to seven years in jail  six years for causing death by dangerous driving plus a year to run concurrently for having no insurance at the time of the crash.

The judge also jailed him for a further year for handling stolen goods and a blade, to run consecutively to the driving offences, and disqualified him from driving for eight and a half years.

Cotter, who has links with the Hackney area, has been recalled to prison for breaching conditions of his release, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force warned that anyone spotting Cotter should not approach him but call 999 immediately.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via X  formerly Twitter  @MetCC, quoting CAD 3190/22 Nov, or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Sir Keir Starmer would not oppose any loan deal that would involve the Elgin Marbles being returned to Athens, according to reports.

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir when he travels to London early next week, the Financial Times reported, with the issue expected to raised in both meetings.

Athens has long demanded the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed from Greece by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

Sections of the Parthenon Marbles in Londons British Museum (Matthew Fearn/PA)

British Museum chairman George Osborne, the former chancellor, has previously said he is exploring ways for the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece.

There has been speculation this could involve some form of loan arrangement.

The Financial Times has reported that Sir Keir, who represents the Holborn & St Pancras constituency  home to the British Museum, will tell Mr Mitsotakis that Labour will not change the law regarding the marbles.

The 1963 British Museum Act prevents the institution giving away objects from its collection except in very limited circumstances.

Were sticking with the existing law, but if a loan deal that is mutually acceptable to the British Museum and the Greek government can be agreed, we wont stand in the way, one person close to Sir Keir told the paper.

The Prime Minister, speaking in March, said that there were no plans to change a law over the sculptures.
Miray Cruises failed to buy the ship intended for the three-year expedition. It planned to name the ship MV Lara. Life at Sea Cruises

Life at Sea Cruises reportedly canceled its three-year voyage just two weeks before departure.

Parent company Miray Cruises could not afford to buy the desired vessel, according to CNN.

Business Insider spoke with a customer who sold her house and gave away her cat ahead of the trip.

Life at Sea Cruises has failed to live up to its name. Its first-ever three-year-long cruise with a 140-city itinerary has been canceled, according to CNN.

Customers were informed on November 17, barely two weeks before its November 30 departure date from Istanbul, Turkey, the outlet reported. Parent company Miray Cruises failed to acquire its desired vessel, the 43,000-ton AIDAaura, which it planned to rename MV Lara, for the voyage, it admitted in a memo to customers.

"Miray is not such a big company to afford to pay 40-50 million for a ship," said Miray Cruises CEO Vedat Ugurlu in the memo.

Life at Sea Cruises has been "facing challenges" because of investors backing out, according to a memo previously obtained by Business Insider. Ugurlu attributed the withdrawals to "unrest in the Middle East" in the letter announcing the cancelation.

Life at Sea Cruises did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The cabin registration form on the company's website was still open as of 3:45 p.m. ET on November 24.

Three-year packages cost just over $115,500 per person. (The eye-popping price tag is less alarming when considering the average American household spent $72,967 last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

Miray Cruises planned to have successive three-year cruises and to allow passengers to pay extra to stay on board  potentially indefinitely.

The company has promised to refund all customers and reimburse hotel expenses until December 1 as well as flights home for passengers who have already arrived in Istanbul, the memo said.

But many customers have sold their homes in preparation for the trek, including Keri Witman, a marketing executive in Cincinnati. She told Business Insider that the cruise was an opportunity for her to see the world without taking many time-consuming flights. Using the vessel's Starlink connectivity, she could have run her firm Clever Lucy from anywhere.



"It's just hard to switch your brain from thinking you have your next three years planned to having to figure it all out," she said.



She acknowledged many other would-be passengers are worse off. Witman still has her job, can stay in her temporary apartment, and get her cat, Elmer, back from her friends. The passengers are keeping touch on WhatsApp, and a few have already left Istanbul for Rome to hop on another cruise, she said.



Witman is determined to find another way to be a digital nomad in 2024 but hasn't figured it out. She could book a bundle of cruises, but few have Starlink so she wouldn't be able to work.



"I am hopeful that one of the companies is going to get it right at some point next year and there will be some sort of residential long-term cruise," she said.

Life at Sea Cruises isn't the only residential cruise company navigating choppy waters. The startup Storylines, founded seven years ago, has yet to find a ship either. There is only one residential cruise ship in operation, The World, where condos sell for up to $15 million.

November 24, 2023, 8:18 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with a comment from Life at Sea Cruises customer Keri Witman.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Biden said he believes Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel was inspired by progressing diplomacy in the region, especially with Saudi Arabia, spurred on by his administration.

In a press conference Friday falling on the beginning of a four-day truce in the conflict to release 50 hostages held by Hamas, Biden remarked on one of his theories for why Hamas began the conflict.

I cannot prove what Im about to say, Biden said. But I believe one of the reasons why Hamas struck when they did was they knew that I was working very closely with the Saudis and others in the region to bring peace to the region by having recognition of Israel and Israels right to exist.

The Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7 after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in border communities, sparking weeks of deadly airstrikes and an Israeli ground campaign in Gaza that have killed thousands of Palestinians.

Diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and Israel has significantly warmed in recent years, with the U.S. working toward normalizing relations between the two countries. Biden suggested that the Saudis were about to officially recognize the statehood of Israel, a major breakthrough in regional diplomacy, just before the attack.

He previously made the connection at a campaign fundraiser last month.

On Friday, Biden specifically pointed to his administrations work at this years Group of 20 Summit planning a massive rail project connecting India to Europe via the Middle East. The project included Israel, the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia among other partners.

The whole idea theres overwhelming interest, and I think most Arab nations know that and are coordinating with one another to change the dynamic in their region for longer term peace, Biden said. And that is what Im going to continue to work on.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two brothers who admitted planning to travel to Afghanistan to join a branch of so-called Islamic State have been handed extended sentences of imprisonment due to their deep-rooted extremist views.

Muhammad Abdul Haleem Heyder Khan, 21, and 18-year-old Muhammad Hamzah Heyder Khan pleaded guilty in July to preparing for acts of terrorism.

The siblings, who admitted their guilt by changing their pleas during a Birmingham Crown Court trial, were sentenced by Judge Melbourne Inman KC on Friday.

Haleem Heyder Khan was jailed for 10 years while his younger brother was given an eight-year custodial sentence. Both were sentenced to an extended period on licence of four years.

Younger brother Muhammad Hamzah Heyder Khan planned to travel to Afghanistan (West Midlands Police/PA)

Their trial was told they had become increasingly radicalised over the course of 2022, bought clothes and equipment ahead of a planned trip to Afghanistan to join the terrorist organisation known as Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP), and completed application forms to join Islamic State (IS).

IS was proscribed by the Home Secretary in 2014 and ISKP is recognised as one of its regional branches, the court heard.

The two men were arrested at their home in Ward End, Birmingham, on November 2 last year.

Explaining the sentences to the brothers, Judge Inman said: It is clear that by last year each of you had become deeply radicalised and were intent on furthering your extreme beliefs through terrorist action.

Muhammad Abdul Haleem Heyder Khan, 21, has been jailed (West Midlands Police/PA)

Up until trial it is a very relevant fact that you were both advancing a completely dishonest account that you did not hold any extreme views.

There clearly remains a significant risk that you will cause serious harm by the commission of a further specified offence or offences and I must ensure that the public are properly protected against that risk.

I consider it necessary to impose an extended sentence of imprisonment in each of your cases which means that there will be an extended licence period in each case of four years.
New York's sexual assault lawsuits are drastically increasing because of the Adult Survivors Act's deadline, which happened on Friday, Nov. 24.

Statistics showed that over 2,500 lawsuits were filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act before its deadline. However, since the legislation already reached its deadline, it is unclear what will happen to these legal actions.

If you are living in New York, here's what you need to know about the ongoing issue with the temporary legislation.

NY: Sexual Assault Lawsuits Increase Due to Adult Survivors Act Deadline

According to BBC News, the Adult Survivors Act was signed in 2022 by New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She approved this to temporarily remove the statute of limitations for sexual assault complaints.

Specifically, it allows sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits against offenders even if the crimes happened before the 20-year legal statute of limitations.

Thanks to the Adult Survivors Act, victims can sue their offenders even if the sexual assaults happened more than 20 years ago. New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault Executive Director Joanne Zannoni explained why this temporary legislation is important.

"This can be an important part of survivors' healing," she explained.

However, this legislation was only given a 1-year time frame. Because of this, rape and other sexual abuse victims have been filing their complaints in New York.

If you read the news, you will notice that even NYC Mayor Eric Adams is facing civil lawsuits due to sexual assault allegations. The legal actions he faces claim that the American official sexually abused two women in 1993.

Aside from him, Jamie Foxx and Axl Rose were also sued. However, both of them denied the sexual abuse allegations against them. These are just some of the lawsuits in New York.

However, many experts are worried that some of these lawsuits may not be true and that people are just taking advantage of the Adult Survivors Act before it is removed to generate money.

Read Also: US Trans Deaths On Rise, as Revealed by New NCTE Report; Experts Blame Increase in Anti-Transgender Laws

Sexual Assault Advocates Call for Extension

CNN reported that sexual assault advocates are now calling for an extension of the Adult Survivors Act. But, they said that it would be better if NY officials could provide a permanent way to seek accountability for sex offenders.

They argued that the statutes of limitations for sexual assault lawsuits are restrictive and don't account for the experience of victims.

"What we have learned is that trauma takes time - that when you've experienced a sexual assault, especially by somebody who was in a position of power, you may not be able to take action right away," said Safe Horizon CEO Liz Roberts.

"You need time to process what's happened to you, and you need time to get support around you if you are going to pursue some kind of legal action," she added.

Related Article: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Former Colleague 30 Years Ago; Plaintiff Files Civil Lawsuit

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As Serhiy Ostapenko hunkered down in his pickup truck, hiding under trees for cover in the dead of night, the crashing booms of Russian bombardment rumbled around him.

The enemy is shelling us 24 hours a day. I dont remember the last time there was silence for more than an hour, said the 32-year-old Ukrainian drone pilot, speaking from the right bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine  one of the new frontlines in a grinding war thats now entering its second winter.

Ostapenko is a member of the Sons of Thunder drone unit, part of Ukraines operation to cross the Dnipro, pushing back Russian forces and establishing a sustained presence on the left bank. Earlier this month, Ukraine said it had gained a foothold on the bank, a potentially significant advance in what has so far been a lackluster counteroffensive.

But during CNNs exclusive access with Ostapenko, his night mission had just been aborted because the Russians had identified his units position on the right bank  forcing them to take shelter.

Thats another one  I think it was a rocket, he told CNN as another boom rang out, his face lit only by a dim red light. Every time I enter this zone  I say goodbye to my life every time, because I realize that my life can be ended at any moment, because either a rocket or a shell will strike. You get used to it, but it is unpleasant.

Advancing on the Dnipro

The 2,200 kilometer (1,400 mile) long Dnipro is Europes fourth longest river, flowing from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea.

It winds through the marshlands of Russian-occupied Kherson region  with Russian troops forced to retreat across the river last November after being pushed out from Kherson city by Ukrainian fighters.

The liberation of the city, after eight months of brutal occupation, was a euphoric victory and a key moment in Ukraines war effort. But the year since has brought little relief, with Kherson city and its surrounding region still under relentless bombardment by Russian forces across the river.

The Dnipro, which at some points stretches a mile wide, serves as a natural defensive barrier for Russian troops  which is partly why it has become a major target for Kyiv. Ukrainian forces have previously staged cross-river raids, but establishing a firm bridgehead across the river and pushing back the Russians could help better protect Kherson city by putting more distance between civilians and enemy artillery.

Drone footage of the Dnipro River obtained by CNN. - Obtained by CNN

A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard next to the Dnipro River, in an undisclosed location in the Kherson region, on November 6, 2023. - Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty Images

And  at least theoretically  an advance on the left bank could give Kyiv a launching place to push further south toward occupied Crimea, the peninsula Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Ukrainian armed forces say theyve pushed back Russian troops 3 to 8 kilometers (2 to 5 miles) back from the river.

Now our (troops) are advancing on the other side of the Dnipro. It is very difficult, we are making a lot of effort to make it possible and to build up our strength on the other side of the Dnipro, said Ostapenko.

He added that certain connections had been established across the river, allowing Ukrainian troops to transport weapons, ammunition, food, fuel to their partners on the other side.

His aerial reconnaissance unit, meanwhile, works to provide cover for soldiers crossing the river, to surveil Russian troops and movements, and to help mask the locations of Ukrainian troops and equipment.

Its dangerous work; Ostapenko described facing a daily barrage of kamikaze drones, I think its Shaheds, rockets, most likely Grad rocket launcher, mortars, and tanks.

But, he added, the bombardment could be seen as a good sign: The enemy is trying to resist as much as possible, which indicates that we are doing everything right. We are causing them many problems, and (they are) trying to fight it.

We have to survive

All the while, in Kherson city, the jubilation of last years liberation has faded for some residents as they focus on just getting through each day.

When it is quiet, it is even scarier than when there is shelling, said 54-year-old Inna Balyoha. Youre waiting, youre constantly listening, turning the radio down. So that you can hear the sounds outside the window, so that you can react in time to the shelling.

Kherson resident Inna Balyoha stayed in the city through Russian occupation and liberation. - CNN

Shes one of roughly 73,000 residents still in Kherson  less than a quarter of its original population of 300,000. Between having to care for her 4-year-old grandson and frail 87-year-old mother, the decision not to leave was made a long time ago, she said.

But living in the midst of war has taken its toll. One of her grandsons first words was alarm, she said. He knows how to react if there is an air raid siren. He knows where to go. If explosions are heard outside the window, he has a little hiding place in the hallway.

The shelling has gotten so bad that theyve stopped going outside for short walks, mostly staying at home now. Right now, Im doing everything that depends on me to keep the child safe, she said. Our main task is to survive. That was the main task during the occupation. And it is now. We have to survive.

Destroyed buildings are seen on an island in the middle of the Dnipro River in Kherson, Ukraine, on November 5, 2023. - Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Anadolu/Getty Images

Attacks on Kherson have intensified in the past month, at one point reaching 700 incoming rounds in one day, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of Kherson regions military administration.

Russian troops are hitting residential areas more often because our defenders are advancing, and they are trying to intimidate ordinary citizens in places close to the Dnipro River, said Prokudin. This is revenge, and now it is felt more, because our soldiers are already on the left bank of the Kherson region. The civilians of the Kherson region feel this revenge more.

But, he added, each Kherson resident was an example of courage. As tough as conditions are, Kherson is still free from Russian occupation  meaning people can communicate freely, walk freely on our land, he said. Home gives people strength. They are holding on because they are at home.

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Air Force Reserve major and Florida businessman David J. Stuckenberg is entering a crowded race to become the next Republican presidential nominee  less than two months ahead of the Iowa Caucuses.

Stuckenberg, 42, has been in Iowa after announcing his candidacy Nov. 9 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he told attendees the country could sink further into decline and be scooped up by a tyrannical power or voters could choose a leader who can offer unity, stability and new ideas to fight for the countrys future.

Here's what to know about presidential newcomer Stuckenberg.

What is David Stuckenberg's election platform?

Stuckenberg, who believes the American economy has been "decimated by taxes," told the Des Moines Register he wants to cut taxes by 33% across the board to "reinvigorate" the economy.

He also wants to eliminate inheritance tax, a state tax paid when a person receives money or property from the estate of a deceased person, according to his campaign website. Six states impose an inheritance tax, according to the Tax Foundation. Iowa will phase out its inheritance tax by 2025.

Stuckenberg says he wants to shut down the northern and southern borders by his third day in office using National Guard troops and then implement a registration system for undocumented immigrants to understand who is in the U.S. and their "situation." The information will be used to determine "who stays and who returns home," he told the Register.

Dad David Stuckenberg talks with his eleven year old son Ethan after his speech. David Stuckenberg of Florida declares his candidacy for President in Plymouth with his family and minister by his side on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Those who are dangerous to the U.S. or have criminal backgrounds, for example, would be sent home, he said. Those whose lives are at risk should be granted the ability to stay.

National security is also a priority for Stuckenberg, who sees the U.S.'s heavy reliance on outsourcing its manufacturing as a large issue.

"I think as we shift our national security enterprise, we have to first look towards bringing back our manufacturing and industrial base to the United States," he said. "That means reinvigorating small towns and communities across states like Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma and other areas that were once the defense industrial centers."

Who is David J. Stuckenberg?

Stuckenberg was born in California, grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri and lives in Tampa. During his time in the Air Force, Stuckenberg flew more than 150 combat missions, according to a news release.

He is the founder and chairman of the American Leadership and Policy Foundation, a nonprofit think tank based in Kansas City. Stuckenberg and his wife, Shannon, co-founded the startup Genesis Systems, which created a device called WaterCube that purports to generate between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons of water a day from the air.

Stuckenberg describes himself as a humanitarian, which derives from his Christian faith. He and his wife have five children ages 6 to 18.

He holds a doctoral degree in international security from Kings College in London, a master's degree in politics from George Washington University and a bachelor's in technology from the University of Central Missouri.

David Stuckenberg of Florida declares his candidacy for President in Plymouth with his family and minister by his side on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Why is David Stuckenberg running for president  and why did he wait until November to announce his candidacy?

Asked what led him to decide to run for president, Stuckenberg says voters are looking for a "dark horse, a white knight" who can "do the right things" and represent the "right ideas."

Stuckenberg says despite announcing his candidacy late in the year, the "race is wide open."

"I would tell you that it is never too late to do the right thing. And I think when we look at the polling right now that looked at the front runner, 60%  and some polls 75%, those voters are willing to change their mind if they had a different choice, if they had a different candidate," he told the Register, citing a survey conducted by Harvard CAPS-Harris which noted more than 60% of Trump primary voters said there's "at least some chance" they'd support a different candidate.

According to an October Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, nearly two-thirds of those who name former President Donald Trump as their first choice say their mind is made up (63%), while over one-third (37%) say they could still be persuaded to switch their choice.

More: See how all 9 GOP presidential candidates perform with likely caucusgoers in new Iowa Poll

Stuckenberg, who says his presidency would be about unity and transparency for the American people, adds that his extensive military experience and international security strategy background set him apart from his opponents.

"And so I was in a Bob Evans restaurant last night, here in Florida, and I was speaking to a group of folks off of a charter bus, and the experience is always the same. It's one of elation and just being thrilled that there's somebody who is grounded and who is stable, willing to step out," he said. "I've never held a political office. I'm one of us. And I think that's what the founders intended."

What is David Stuckenberg's Iowa strategy?

Stuckenberg, who has not participated in any of the televised debates, enters a crowded field with eight candidates  and a clear favorite.

Trump holds a 27 percentage-point lead in the latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are locked in a battle for second place, both at 16%.

Stuckenberg says his campaign is looking to run an insurgent strategy, in part by finding opportunities to make inroads with voters where his opponents are running into obstacles.

Candidate David Stuckenberg surrounded by his family takes a few questions. David Stuckenberg of Florida declares his candidacy for President in Plymouth with his family and minister by his side on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Stuckenberg says his goal is to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties to meet "face to face" with people and hear their concerns. So far, he says he's visited 32 counties.

Stuckenberg says many of the candidates have fallen out because they've been the "wrong person for our time," and believes that his message of reviving the nation will resonate with voters.

"And so that's that's the flavor of this," he said of his campaign. "It's not hateful. It's not divisive. It's one that says we have an extraordinary thing. We live in one of the greatest nations in the world. And we have to have the right kind of character to bring us back together on our common ground."

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Who is Republican presidential candidate David J . Stuckenberg?
The sight of dogs ravaging war-torn streets has become an all too familiar sight. Sandra Tabets debut feature film Rabies (Rage)  a development project at the Atlas Workshops  returns to early 1990s in Beirut, in the aftermath of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), when rabies began to spread rapidly amongst ravenous dogs, leading to some parts of the city being overrun.

Combining horror genre codes with a real-world setting, Rabies follows 60-year-old history teacher Julia, who tries to find a cure for her 30-year-old son Ghassan, who after being bitten by a rabid dog slowly transforms into a violent monster.

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Having studied in Beirut and London, Tabet left Beirut in 2021 and moved to France.

With Rabies she aims to further her exploration of the horror genre, following her acclaimed shorts, The Howl (2017), and Hell (2021).

The project is a co-production between DB Studios (Lebanon) and Haut les Mains Productions (France). The partners attached are DFI, Red Sea Film Festival and Region Nouvelle Aquitaine.

Tabet talked with Variety about the project.

What is the core inspiration for this project?

Even though Ive been living in France for two and half years, Beirut remains constantly in my thoughts. When I began writing Rabies I didnt know I was writing a horror film. I was simply trying to explore my feeling of being trapped inside the city I love.

What attracts you to the horror genre?

I like exploring horror genre codes, since they enable a playful relationship with the audience, because sometimes they know things that the characters dont know, but can also be taken by surprise. In my shorts Ive done this more in the sound and offscreen. I find it offers a great format to explore the relationship between the space that the characters inhabit and that inhabits them.

Whats the importance of stray dogs for the story?

Above all they incarnate this forgotten past that they bring back with them. They also represent how nature can invade human spaces, especially in the aftermath of war. The Lebanese civil war ended in 1990 with a general amnesty, but the dogs didnt know that it had ended and so they started attacking people on the streets. We created these beasts and then we had to kill, bury and forget them.

How does rabies enter the story?

It enters the story through the return of these war-time dogs that start spreading the disease, awakening the repressed memories. You know rabies spreads super fast in canine populations. In the years between 1990 and 1994 in Beirut there was also a major problem of trash not being picked up which made this even worse. Now you have this happening again in reality in Lebanon, with the big garbage crisis that began in 2015. Theres also a lot of poverty now because of the countrys financial crisis which has led many people to abandon their pets, so weve got a lot of stray dogs now. Im not saying that its happening again but its part of history that has been forgotten about. Even the people who were responsible for the war are still governing the country.

Its quite possible there will be more flashes of these events, and if people try to protest the media will tell people to stay at home, and armed forces may even take over the streets.

Does the horror genre offer interesting angles to explore these issues?

A horror film is kind of a safe space to talk about such things. I was discussing this with my producer and he told me Yes, you can do it in a film and no one will die.

I was working on a documentary in Lebanon a few years ago linked to these issues, but in a documentary format and it was completely banned. Sometimes they censor a few scenes. But for this film they said theres no way you can show it. But its got to a point now in Lebanon where Im not even sure whether we can avoid censorship even for a horror film. I think we have reached an extreme situation in Lebanon with the financial collapse of the country and then after the explosion in the Port of Beirut in 2020. Its like you are in a place that resembles fiction, sometimes with apocalyptic settings.

Is the search for a cure for the son a metaphor for healing the city?

Well, you know there is no known cure for rabies. The film is layered. So, you have this growing social unrest and violence in Beirut, but we are focusing on his illness until he finally explodes. So, the city and Gassan are mirroring each other.

How do you build the tension?

It all starts with sound, with rumors whispered in the street. But the situation becomes much darker following his infection until theres a turning point in the film where Gassan is in complete delirium and he breaks a wall of a wartime building that hes renovating and finds pieces of flesh and rotten guts. It suddenly becomes very visual. We start seeing the dogs and the attacks which were kept silent for so long. The characters are forced to look at the things that they didnt want to look at. Its about acceptance and catharsis. It really is a nightmare and horrible, but after confronting it, the city is kind of cleansed in my eyes.

What haunting personal memories do you have in relation to Beirut?

Beirut is always in construction and reconstruction so every time I come back there is a very strange feeling that I dont know it anymore. I love it but I feel something is off. A few years ago, I was working on another directors documentary and we entered places that had been abandoned after the war. There was an oppressive atmosphere. Im not talking about ghosts. But there was really a feeling that was so unbearable and we all sensed it. Its as if we are living on buried bones. It just hit me that this is what Im talking about  a mixture of sadness, horror, anger and rage.

Do you see any parallels between your project and the current situation in the Gaza Strip?

They are living another level of nightmare for sure, and I dont want to compare them. But I think our stories are linked, at least in my mind. In my heart there is really no frontier. You know there didnt use to be a frontier between us and Palestine. These kind of situations  that involve anger and incapacity to do anything  are happening everywhere, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria or Iraq.

Do you have any references in terms of horror films?

My favorite horror film of all time is Dont Look Now by Nicolas Roeg. I think a lot about this film because I really love its elegance and how he plays with time in a very eerie way.

The way the main character has a vision of his own funeral and the way that the city is filmed at night. Im also a big fan of Hitchcock, Lynch and Tarkovsky.

What are you looking for from the Atlas Workshops?

I have a finished script, but I want to write another draft with input from the experts. I really want to to find the balance between the macro and the micro elements of the film. Its great because we get a one-on-one script consultation and then well get another one remotely after the workshop and then you get to meet all these people and see what they think. Its a wonderful opportunity.

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When Jon Montgomery needed a kidney and a liver transplant, his sons offered to be his donors  now they're grateful to be able to spend the holiday together

Courtesy of Jon Montgomery Jon Montgomery and sons Christopher and Jonathan

Jon Montgomery was on a waiting list to receive both a liver and a kidney transplant when his two sons learned they could become living donors. Together, they saved their father's life.

I'm always thanking them, Jon Montgomery, 55, of East Liverpool, Ohio, tells PEOPLE. It's just an unbelievable blessing.

This Thanksgiving, the family is grateful to be able to spend the holiday together  and they're sharing their story in the hopes of encouraging others to become organ donors.



Related: It's a Special Father's Day for Dad Who Gave Son a Kidney to 'Provide Him a Life': 'A No-Brainer' (Exclusive)

The family learned Montgomery's liver and kidney were failing two years ago when without trying, he lost 75 lbs.

We panicked, says the dad, who owns a dental laboratory. How do you survive two organs failing? It was just a terrible time."



Courtesy of Jon Montgomery Jon Montgomery with wife Amy and their children

Montgomery was placed on the deceased donor transplant list as his health continued to fail.

While he was hospitalized, his family learned about the possibility of a living donor transplant. Immediately, his son Jonathan volunteered to donate a portion of his liver, while his other son Christopher volunteered to give his dad a kidney.

My Extraordinary Family is PEOPLE's new series that explores fascinating families in all their forms. If you have a sweet story the world needs to know, send the details to love@people.com.

Both brothers emphasize that their dad did not ask them for anything  becoming a donor was something they wanted to do.

"There was no question," Christopher, a 24-year-old dental student at the University of Pittsburgh. "I want to keep him around as long as I can...I want him to know my children. I couldn't imagine life without him."



Both brothers are thankful that they matched their dad.

My dad's one of my best friends,"adds Jonathan, 25, who is earning a PhD in biochemistry at Ohio State. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure he's okay, because I know he would do the same for us."



Related: Tx. Man's COVID Dream Led to Finding Brother He Never Knew He Had: 'Spitting Image of My Dad' (Exclusive)

On August 1, a life-saving double transplant was performed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

They're a very remarkable family, says Dr. Abhinav Humar, Chief of Transplantation at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A very close-knit family where the sons are obviously willing to do anything for their father.



Courtesy of Jon Montgomery Jon Montgomery and sons

After the transplant, Montgomery didn't even have words to thank his sons. All I could do was just hug them, he says.

My two boys, they sacrificed so much to do this for me, but two weeks later, three weeks later, they're living their lives again," he adds, going on to praise their "amazing gift."



Courtesy of Jon Montgomery Jon Montgomery and family

His sons hope others will sign up to be living donors too.

You took a couple weeks out of your life to change somebody else's? It's worth it every time, Jonathan says. Before we knew that we were able to donate, things were very bleak. We were scared, we didn't know what was going to happen."

"Since the surgery, when I look at my dad and I can see the smile on his face, it's so genuine. You can tell that he is just so happy now," the 25-year-old adds. "He's back."

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Helmut Newton, the German post-war fashion photographer who notoriously posed a model on a bed in a Paris hotel with a saddle on her back, is the focus of a new retrospective in the port city of A Coruna in Galicia, Spain. Counter intuitively, it is a sophisticated showcase of female empowerment as much as erotic suggestion. Stockings, suspenders, jodhpurs and leathers are all worn without apology.

Staged at the citys Marta Ortega Perez (MOP) Foundation, Helmut Newton  Fact & Fiction explores a career spent shooting for magazines such as Vogue, Playboy and Harpers Bazaar from the 1950s through to the early 2000s, as well as a mercurial character that fused together playfulness and angst.

Newton captured this image of David Bowie in Monte Carlo in 1982. - Helmut Newton Foundation

A Newton picture can be many things at once: provocative, titillating even, but also amusing and confusing. His iconic Big Nudes prints from 1980 are larger-than-life-size and full frontal. Yet, his nudes exude armor. His celebrity portraits framed actresses  from Raquel Welch to Charlotte Rampling  in challenging stances. And in the 1970s, photographing with carte blanche for Vogue France, he invented a bold monochrome visual language  black lingerie, insouciant countenance, power plays and decadent interiors  that has been widely imitated in the years since.

The heavy contrasts in his work were echoed in the reversal of fortunes in his life story. He was born Helmut Neustadter in 1920 in Berlin into a family of Jewish industrialists. Fleeing the Nazis in the late 1930s, he was exiled first to Singapore and then Australia. One of his early models, the Australian actress June Browne, became his wife in 1948. Browne was the template for his later models  striking and intelligent  and, working under the name Alice Springs, had a successful photographic career of her own. They were married for more than half a century.

Newtons work in the 1960s emphasized his early inspirations, such as the noir-like images of Hungarian photographer Brassai and the shockers of Alfred Hitchcock (a Newton shoot for Christian Dior echoes Vertigo). He soon began celebrating the sculptural qualities of womens bodies and portraying men as silly, servile, or dead.

His erotic images earned him the nickname "King of Kink." - Helmut Newton Foundation

In the mid-1970s, Newton met Philippe Garner, then a young photographs specialist at Sothebys, who has now curated the Spanish show with Matthias Harder, director of the Helmut Newton Foundation, and the British art dealer Tim Jefferies. In Newton, Garner recalled a friend who created a parallel universe but rooted in everything you know and recognize.

It is curious that Newtons take on sexuality hasnt come into the crosshairs of cancel culture. The work has such layers, such contradictions, such ambiguities, this weird hovering between fact and fiction, said Garner. That makes it very hard to confront and condemn full on. And, he adds, Helmut was perfectly happy for people to loathe his pictures.

Newton often contrasted intimate evening outfits against the harsh light of day, as demonstrated here with "Elsa Peretti as a Bunny," where the philanthropist and jewellery designer wears a Halston bunny costume on a roof terrace in New York, 1975. - Helmut Newton Foundation

But could a photographer today frame a woman as a horse to be ridden? Every photographer starting out now should have the courage of their perspective, said Garner. What Helmuts pictures have is a kind of integrity.

In 1976, Newton snapped his infamous equestrian model at Hotel Lancaster on the Champs Elysees. The shoot was for Hermes but, as with much of Newtons work, the product feels secondary to the composition. As Garner notes, he took pictures that stopped you in your tracks. Its fashion photography but the clothes are bit-part players.

Paris wasnt Newtons only metropolis. He had an eye for glamorous cities  taking commissions in Monte Carlo, Berlin, and Vienna  working in color in the bright light of California and the south of France. A friend joked that only mad dogs and Helmut Newton go out in the midday sun. Newton wintered in Los Angeles, where he died of a heart attack in 2004 at the wheel of his Cadillac.

He photographed a number of famous starlets, including Monica Bellucci in this 2001 image "Monte Carlo." - Helmut Newton Foundation

The photographers fetishistic interests and natty style are illustrated at the exhibition by the inclusion of some his possessions  bondage Barbie dolls, cigarette holders, falsetto-heeled shoes, a travel-battered monogrammed Louis Vuitton camera case. And there are surprises among the works: a portrait of a subtly nervous Margaret Thatcher glimpses a crack in the iron, while a series of brooding landscapes provide a window on Newtons more pensive side.

The MOP Foundation is based in a complex of former warehouses and silos on the citys port. The galleries play to their industrial heritage  all bunker-chic and salted metalwork  and are neatly configured around the geometric Atlantic harbor. Its an appropriately dramatic stage to present Newton and, cleverly, the curators show his smallest works  exquisite test-shot Polaroids  in one of the vast silos. Visitors peer voyeuristically into palm-size soft-hued images of semi-dressed models sprawled on Parisian sofas, New York balconies and the decks of Mediterranean yachts.

Newton, shown here in a self-portrait taken in 1993, is the subject of a new retrospective exhibition in Spain. - Helmut Newton Foundation

Marta Ortega Perez, whose foundation hosts the show, is the chairwoman of Inditex, the Spanish multinational clothing company founded by her father. She said her foundation focuses on three things: Fashion, photography and her hometown. We want to push our city to the world and bring the world to our city, she said, and added that it is a really nice challenge to have.

A strong woman reframing the narrative? She could be the subject of a Helmut Newton photograph.

Helmut Newton  Fact & Fiction until 1 May 2024. Marta Ortega Perez (MOP) Foundation, A Coruna, Spain.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Honda is recalling select 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V vehicles due to a missing piece in the front seat belt pretensioners, which could increase injury risks during a crash.

According to notices published by Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration earlier this week, the pretensioners  which tighten seat belts in place upon impact  may be missing the rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate. This means that passengers may not be properly restrained in a crash, regulators said.

The NHTSA credited the issue to an error made during assembly. More than 300,000 Accords and HR-Vs are potentially affected.

As of Nov. 16, Honda had received seven warranty claims, but no reports of injuries or deaths related to the faulty pretensioners, according to documents published by the NHTSA.

For consumers impacted by this recall, dealers will inspect all cars and potentially replace the seat belt pretensioner assembly at no cost. Those who have already paid for these repairs at their own expense may also be eligible for reimbursement.

Honda estimates that less than 1% of the potentially affected vehicles will require a replacement. The vast majority are expected to be satisfied by an inspection alone, a Honda spokesperson told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Notification letters will be sent via mail to registered owners of the affected vehicles starting Jan. 8, 2024. Replacement parts should be available to dealers by the end of the month, the spokesperson said, but consumers can go to an authorized Honda dealer for the inspection now.

For more information about the recall, consumers can visit the NHTSA website and Honda's and online recall pages.

___

This story corrects references to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A focus of season six, episode two of The Crown is Princess Diana's August 1997 visit to Bosnia, where she goes to meet with survivors of landminesa part of the princess's work advocating against landmines. In these scenes, the Netflix royal drama recreates Diana's famous walk through an active minfield.

However, this walk did not take place in Bosnia. In fact, it took place in Angola, in January 1997. The show likely combined her trip to Angola into the Bosnia trip for ease of storytelling, and to highlight the bravery of Diana's walkwhich was very real.

Tim Graham/Getty Images; Netflix

On January 5, 1997, Princess Dianawearing protective body armor and a clear visorwalked through a landmine field in Huambo, Angola being cleared by the HALO Trust, a nonprofit that focuses on clearing landmines.

"Dianas visit is something that people in Huambo still talk about today," Ralph Legg, a manager at HALO Trust, told Time Magazine. "For the people that were here at that time, which was obviously still a time of conflict, it led to a feeling of acknowledgement, and that their plight was recognized around the world. The people I've spoken to who met Diana on that trip have all said how kind, considerate and how genuinely interested she seemed in them."

HALO's executive director, Chris Whatley, recalled to People, "As soon as Princess Diana made her walk, it became a front of mind issue. It took the convening power of Princess Diana to do that, to put it on the world stage to create that public momentum that, that allows for the political support, the rallying that continues to this day."

Years later, in 2019, Prince Harry would recreate this famous walk. "The attention my mother brought to this issue wasnt universally popular; some believed she had stepped over the line into the arena of political campaigningbut for her this wasn't about politics; it was about people," Prince Harry said.

Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images

So while The Crown didn't capture exactly correctly where Princess Diana's walk through a landmine field today, they absolutely captured the spirit of her advocacy.

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David Cameron says his six years as prime minister "was a good apprenticeship" for being foreign secretary

Lord Cameron has defended his pro-China policy as prime minister, insisting that it is still right to "engage" with Beijing.

In his first full interview since becoming foreign secretary, Lord Cameron said China is key to solving big issues like climate change.

The comments risk angering Tory MPs, some of whom China has sanctioned.

But he told the BBC he supported the government's current "realistic, hard-headed policy" towards China.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Lord Cameron also denied he had become foreign secretary because he was bored.

"Being prime minister for six years was a good apprenticeship for being foreign secretary," he said.

Lord Cameron has been criticised for his close involvement with Chinese investment in recent years.

He has given speeches praising a port development in Sri Lanka owned ultimately by a Chinese state company.

He tried to set up a 1bn China-Investment fund. And he met senior Chinese figures on visits to Beijing.

This has raised fears among some MPs that Lord Cameron could seek to soften the government's attitude towards China.

'Wolf warrior diplomacy'

But he told the BBC the world had changed since he was prime minister.

"China has become much more aggressive, much more assertive, over the Uighurs, over Hong Kong, the 'wolf warrior' diplomacy," he said.

"And so that's why security and protection is such an important part of our policy.

"We also need to align more carefully with our allies to make sure we can counter any malign threats coming from China. So, it is a realistic hard headed policy."

But he defended his previous policy in Downing Street that sought a new "golden era" in Sino-UK relations.

He said: "When I became prime minister, the greatest need was for Britain to grow again, trade again, with exports to help our businesses around the world.

"I loaded up planes, I took them to India, I took them to China, I took them to Africa to get the economy moving again."

And the government, he said, should still deal with Beijing today.

"Engaging China is one part of the approach we need to take," he said.

"Not least, because China is a fifth of humanity. We're not going to solve challenges like climate change, unless we engage.

"And hopefully I can be a part of that."

David Cameron took Chinese President Xi Jinping to a pub near Chequers as part of his push for a 2golden era" of Chinese relations.

Lord Cameron also risked angering pro-Brexit Tory MPs by saying Britain should engage more closely with the European Union on foreign, defence and security policy.

He said Britain had decided not to be a member of the EU but had to be "a friend, a neighbour and the best possible partner" and the UK had to make that work.

"When you look at the engagement in Ukraine, that probably is the best example of how it's worked," he said.

"There's no doubt that Britain is the leading European power in helping Ukraine.

"I heard that over and over again from the president downwards. But we're doing that in partnership with our European colleagues.

"So, I think we can make friend, neighbour and partner work. And I'm determined to do so."

Supporting Sunak

Even in his first few days back in office, Lord Cameron has been a strong advocate for boosting Britain's international development policy.

But he suggested he would not push for a return to the target of spending 0.7% of national income on foreign aid.

"I took this job accepting collective Cabinet responsibility," he said.

Lord Cameron gave his "100% support" to the government's Rwanda migration policy, saying "we have to do what it takes to break the model of the people smugglers".

He said: "What I'm absolutely ready to do is to support the government's policy and 100% because we have got to stop the boats.

"And I don't say this glibly. I know that there's nothing more destructive to a country's immigration system and immigration policy than large scale, very visible illegal migration.

"And that is what we have. That's what we got to stop.

"Now the number of small boat crossings is down by a third. But we have to do whatever it takes to break the model of the people's workers."

Asked if he was willing to countenance pulling Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights, he ignored the question and said: "I'm very happy to say I 100% support the government policy and whatever it takes."
David Cameron has defended his pursuit of close ties with China as prime minister, as he insisted that engaging with Beijing today is necessary.

The former PM, who was appointed Foreign Secretary this month in a shock return to frontline politics, said that the Asian power had become much more aggressive, much more assertive since he left office in 2016.

As prime minister, Lord Cameron presided over the so-called golden era of relations between Britain and China, hosting a state visit for Chinese President Xi Jinping and welcoming investment from Beijing into the UK.

The years since have seen relations between the West and China deteriorate dramatically.

Former Prime Minister @David_Cameron becomes the new Secretary of State for @FCDOgovuk "It will be an honour to serve our country alongside our dedicated FCDO staff and provide the continued leadership and support that they deserve. pic.twitter.com/JoMVh7MaF2  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 14, 2023

In his first foreign policy speech as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak declared the golden era over and described the pursuit of closer economic ties over the previous decade as naive.

Some Tory MPs have pushed Mr Sunak to go further and brand China a threat, amid concerns about recent attempts  including a visit by ex-foreign secretary James Cleverly to Beijing  to reduce tensions.

Speaking to the BBC, Lord Cameron acknowledged that times had changed while defending the foreign policy of his period in office.

China has become much more aggressive, much more assertive, over the Uighurs, over Hong Kong, the wolf warrior diplomacy, he said.

And so thats why security and protection is such an important part of our policy.

We also need to align more carefully with our allies to make sure we can counter any malign threats coming from China. So, it is a realistic hard-headed policy.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron (Frank Augstein/PA)

He said: When I became prime minister, the greatest need was for Britain to grow again, trade again, with exports to help our businesses around the world.

I loaded up planes, I took them to India, I took them to China, I took them to Africa to get the economy moving again.

He said that engaging China is one part of the approach we need to take.

Not least, because China is a fifth of humanity. Were not going to solve challenges like climate change, unless we engage.

And hopefully I can be a part of that.

Lord Cameron, who resigned as prime minister after losing the 2016 Brexit referendum, said that the UK had to be a friend, a neighbour and the best possible partner for the EU.

When you look at the engagement in Ukraine, that probably is the best example of how its worked, he said.

Theres no doubt that Britain is the leading European power in helping Ukraine.

The former prime minister also indicated that he would not push for an increase in the overseas aid budget to 0.7% of national income.

It was cut to 0.5% by Mr Sunak as chancellor in 2021.

I took this job accepting collective Cabinet responsibility, he said.
David Tennant fans have received a rare glimpse of his family, ahead of his much-anticipated return to Doctor Who.

The actor will return to the BBC family sci-fi show in scenes airing on Saturday (25 November), after exiting the series in 2010.

During his three-season tenure as The Doctor, the Scottish star met his future wife Georgia Tennant, who played the doctors artificially-generated daughter Jenny in a 2008 episode.

David and Georgia married in 2011, and share five children, including Georgias eldest son Ty from a previous relationship.

On Friday (24 November), in celebration of Doctor Whos 60th anniversary, Georgia shared some photos with David and their family, along with some words about what the programme has meant to her throughout the years.

One of the images shows Georgia and David smiling while surrounded by four of their children, all with blue heart emojis covering their faces for privacy.

David Tennant, Georgia Tennant and their family (Instagram  Georgia Tennant)

Ugh gosh where do I start?! the actor wrote. Doctor Who has always been there, embedded deep in the fabric of my existence and it seems it always will be.

Georgias father, Peter Davison, played the Fifth Doctor in the 1980s, connecting her to the franchise from a young age.

During childhood it entertained me with weekends spent in convention halls with my dad, she continued.

As I grew up it gave me a career and then in an unlikely timey wimey series of events gave me a family and now my children will tell a similar (but even less likely) story. Its a joy to be part of the Who family in every sense of that.

Thank you for it all. Happy Birthday old boy x.

One of the images included in Georgias post includes a promotional image with David, showing them smiling at one another.

Ty, 21, is the only family member not visible in the photo carousel, and left the joking comment: Where am I?

Others chimed in with appreciation for Georgias post, with one fan claiming that it is not up for debate that the best thing that happened in the Whoniverse is that you two met.

Another Doctor Who fan added: The Whovians love you, David, your Mum and Dad and your beautiful family Georgia. Happy 60th birthday Doctor Who.

Doctor Who airs on Saturday 25 November at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The white-lined sphinx moth is a diurnal moth that feeds like a hummingbird. Photo Credit: Kathy Adams Clark. Restricted use. Kathy Adams Clark/KAC Productions The Houston Outdoor Nature Club, which conducted the first area Christmas Bird Count, is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. Kathy Adams Clark/KAC Productions Celebration of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Houston Outdoor Nature Club will be held at the Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary on December 2nd. Photo Credit: Kathy Adams Clark Restricted Use. Kathy Adams Clark/Kathy Adams Clark/KAC Productions Male ruby-crowned kinglets raise their crest when they get agitated. Look for them backyards and parks this winter. Photo Credit: Kathy Adams Clark. Restricted use. Kathy Adams Clark/Kathy Adams Clark/KAC Productions A northern flicker, of the red-shafted form, perches on a post before flying to the ground to hunt for food. Photo Credit: Kathy Adams Clark. Restricted use. Kathy Adams Clark/KAC Productions

The Houston Outdoor Nature Club invites nature lovers to celebrate its 100th anniversary at the Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary, north of Cleveland.

In April 1923, Dr. R.A. Sell, Mrs. Robert Kerr, Miss Mabel Cassell and Joseph Heiser Jr. began organizing the club. Their goal was to engage people in studying and preserving the Houston region's incomparable natural heritage of plants and wildlife.



The budding club would cooperate with other national conservation organizations; it joined the then-named National Association of Audubon Societies in 1924. Outdoor Nature Club members conducted the Houston area's first Bird Census on Dec. 21, 1924, during National Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count.

Historical records of the 1924 Houston count from Audubon archives show four people participated, although their names aren't listed. The pioneering Houston birders tallied birds within a count circle 15 miles in diameter, as prescribed by National Audubon, with the center of the circle in present-day Baytown. The circle has remained near the original Baytown location during Christmas Bird Counts every year since.

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Those four Outdoor Nature Club members recorded more than 40 bird species on that first count, including such winter residents as northern flickers, brown creepers and ruby-crowned kinglets. Think about that small group of people conducting the count without modern-day bird identification field guides, 21st-century binoculars or digital cameras with telephoto lenses. Instead, they used clunky binoculars and recorded bird observations with detailed written field notes.

But the ONC was not just a bird club. Its members were an eclectic group of nature enthusiasts studying native plants, trees, butterflies, moths and seashells.

They also advocated for nature preservation, leading them to write letters endorsing legislation establishing Florida's Everglades National Park. Meanwhile, they worked with the National Audubon Society to set aside Texas Vingt-et-un Islands in Trinity Bay as a bird sanctuary for roseate spoonbills, which at the time were endangered. The birds had suffered a steep population decline due to being slaughtered by the "feather trade" for women's hats during the 1800s.

The ONC chose the spoonbill for its symbol, which led to an ornithological monthly publication named The Spoonbill.

During the 1950s, the ONC began creating nature study groups such as the Ornithology Group, the Botany/Entomology Group, the Conchology Group, and the Photography Group. The only group remaining today is the Ornithology Group.

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Threats and assaults toward Jewish, Muslim, pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian students on college campuses have been on the rise since the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel and the counterattacks in Gaza that have followed.

But at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, students from those same groups told NBC News they still feel safe and credit, in large part, the colleges novel approach to the issue: talking about it.

Sophomore Ramsey Alsheikh, a Muslim and son of a Palestinian refugee, remembers on Oct. 10 walking into his class on the 1967 war between Israel and Arab states. The class included Jewish, Muslim and Christian students and they had been discussing Arab and Israeli relations all fall; now those issues were playing out once again, in real time.

israeli hamas palestinian conflict (NBC News)

There was a sort of silence. Like a sense of, almost like tragedy, Alsheikh recalls. Then we talked about it. We unpacked it.  The raw weight of the event was still in all of our minds. We were just kind of processing it together, I guess. It was something.

His professor, Susannah Heschel, a Jewish Studies professor, then took the same concept to the rest of the college. Days later she convened a forum led by Jewish and Middle Eastern studies professors and rented a room for 70 people. But hundreds showed up and approximately 600 joined by livestream.

We wanted to explain to the students  that we cant be reductionist, we have to think in complexity, that this is not a single narrative, Heschel said. She said many students have ties to Israel and Gaza and may be feeling deeply emotional. Dartmouth has 24/7 counseling, she said, but her job was to present the complex history of the region from an academic perspective.

Susannah Heschel, a professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College, helped moderate two panels in early October about the Israel-Hamas war with professors from the Jewish Studies and Middle Eastern Studies programs. (Courtesy Dr. Susannah Heschel)

You can condemn, but you also have to understand, Heschel said.

Dartmouth President Sian Beilock encouraged students to attend the first event, which was so successful that a second forum was quickly organized. The second time more than 1,300 joined over livestream and in person, at a school with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates.

One of the panelists, Ezzedine Fishere, a Muslim professor of Middle Eastern Studies and a former Egyptian diplomat to Israel, said he dreaded the first forum when he saw how many people showed up.

I was kind of going, This is going to be emotional, the risk of things going out of control is pretty high, said Fishere. But ultimately, although there were strong emotions among the participants, I think both forums went very well in the sense that we were capable of having this dialogue, of talking about the attacks and explaining, but also making clear that there is a difference between explaining and justifying.

Owen Seiner, a Jewish senior majoring in Jewish studies, attended the forums. He said he feels safe being Jewish at Dartmouth and wears his Star of David necklace without fear he might be harassed by someone with anti-Israel or antisemitic views.

I think the focus on academics and the presence of professors in the discussions has helped to sort of reduce the intensity of a lot of students feelings on the issues, and sort of channeled them towards more productive approaches, whatever they might be, Seiner said.

Dartmouth has not gone entirely without friction since Oct. 7. Two students, Roan Wade and Kevin Engel, were arrested in late October after setting up a tent outside the schools administration building, pushing the school to divest from Israeli apartheid and threatening to take physical action.

israeli hamas conflict (NBC News)

Wade said there is still a lot of fear to speak out among members of the Palestinian Student Coalition, of which both she and Engel are members.

Weve had a lot of people say that, you know, theyre too scared (to talk to the media) in terms of whether or not theyd be doxed or physically threatened, Wade said, referring to doxing, the practice by which someones information might be published online in retaliation for their opinion. Some recent doxing at other colleges and universities has called for alumni of colleges not to hire pro-Palestinian students.

Heschel said other colleges and universities have reached out to her to ask how they can spark similar discussions on their campuses.

Fishere said what Dartmouth is doing is not really extraordinary.

Its flattering that there is all this positive reaction. But what we did is our job. And our job is to teach, our job is not to advocate, Fishere said.

He added that students will always protest and advocate for various causes, but the primary mission for campuses, for universities, for faculty, is to teach and learn.
BANGKOK (AP)  Hamas freed 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino alongside Israeli hostages who were part of the first swap under a new cease-fire deal  including four Thais who had not been officially listed as abducted, Thailand's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday morning.

Thais were the single biggest group of foreigners taken hostage when Hamas took some 240 people during its Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel. Thais working in Israel are mostly employed as semi-skilled farm laborers, at wages considerably higher than those at they can earn at home.

The ministry said the group of 10 Thais in all  nine men and one woman  were undergoing health checks at a medical center in Israel. They would stay there for at least 48 hours before flying home to Thailand. It released photos of the freed hostages in the Israeli hospital where they were taken Friday after their release.

There was confusion overnight about the number of Thais freed, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 12 had been freed.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry said that figure came from the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv. However, it revised the number downward after the spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry, Majed al-Ansari, posted on X that the number was 10. Qatar played a key role in making arrangements for the hostage releases.

The release of four Thais previously not known to be held by Hamas militants leaves 20 currently listed as being held captive.

On Friday night, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara wrote online that he was overjoyed at news of the release. He had traveled more than three weeks ago to Egypt and Qatar to seek their help in obtaining the hostages freedom.

Thailand thanked Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

It is our deep hope that all remaining hostages will be taken care of, and will be safely released at the earliest opportunity, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

The Thai foreign ministry said the released workers crossed into Israel, where they were taken to Hatzerim Airbase for processing, after which they went to the Shamir Medical Center, where embassy officials met with them.

A spokesperson for the hospital said staff were informed around 4 p.m. local time Friday that they would be receiving the Thai hostages  approximately the same time Thailand's prime minister and Egyptian officials made the news public.

The missing workers were among about 30,000 Thais employed mostly in Israels agricultural sector. According to Thailands foreign ministry, 39 were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. More than 8,600 workers have been voluntarily repatriated since the attacks, the Labor Ministry said.

One other Asian with the group of released Thais was a Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco, a 33-year-old Philippine national. He had been caring for an elderly man who lived in Nir Oz, one of more than 20 towns and villages in southern Israel that was ambushed in the sweeping assault by Hamas launched from the embattled Gaza Strip.

The village said Friday that it welcomed Pacheco's return, calling him "the devoted carer of the late Amitai Ben-Zvi, who was murdered during the terrorist attack.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila said Pacheco was also undergoing medical evaluation at Shamir Medical Center, and that the Israeli government is committed and will do whatever is needed to bring the rest of the more then 200 hostages home.

On Saturday, Pachecos wife, Clarice Joy Ponce Pacheco, posted on Facebook a picture of her freed husband meeting with the family of his employer.

Thank you so much Lord, she wrote. Such a blessing and big miracle for having a second life Gelienor Leano Pacheco.

Some 30,000 Filipinos live and work in Israel, many as caregivers, according to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs. At least two Filipinos were killed in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, including a caregiver who was shot with her employer inside their house, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said.

I salute the work of the Philippine Foreign Service in securing his release, and once again thank the State of Qatar for their invaluable assistance in making Jimmys release possible, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wrote Saturday on X, adding that the government remains concerned about the whereabouts of Philippine national Noralyn Babadilla, who is reportedly one of the foreigners held hostage by Hamas.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the 11th freed hostage, Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco, is Filipino, not Thai.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis political orbit is grappling with new uncertainty just seven weeks before the Iowa caucuses offer the first voter test of the Republican presidential field.

Chris Jankowski, the chief executive of the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, abruptly resigned on Wednesday amid deep strategic disagreements and infighting within the group.

Never Back Downs main goal and sole focus has been to elect Governor Ron DeSantis as President, Jankowski said in a statement. Given the current environment it has become untenable for me to deliver on the shared goal and that goes well beyond a difference of strategic opinion.

While campaigns and super PACs are legally prohibited from coordinating, the shake-up at Never Back Down casts a shadow over the strategy and stability of a group that has played an outsized role in DeSantis national political efforts since he launched his presidential campaign.

Some Republicans said that the upheaval at Never Back Down was indicative of a larger problem within the governors political orbit. Despite entering the 2024 race six months ago as the Republican candidate best positioned to compete with Donald Trump for the GOP nomination, DeSantis has only fallen further behind the former president.

These kinds of shake-ups are symptoms of problems. Theyre not causes of problems, Keith Naughton, a veteran Republican strategist, said. Clearly DeSantis has plateaued a little bit. The question is how does he reset, or can he reset? I think this is just a sign of them trying to patch things up.

The ties between DeSantis political operation and the super PAC have been apparent for months.

The governors former state-level political committee transferred $82.5 million to Never Back Down in May  a move that was widely seen as DeSantis giving his blessing to the super PAC, which was formed early this year by former Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli, just three months before DeSantis launched his presidential campaign.

Over the past several months, the super PAC has organized a slew of events featuring DeSantis in key early-voting states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, as part of a series of Never Back Down bus tours. It has trained and paid an army of workers to do voter outreach in key states.

The group has also helped reduce the financial pressure on DeSantis operation at times  it went on the airwaves with ads much earlier than the governors formal campaign and helped pay for DeSantis travel to super PAC-hosted events.

And when DeSantis campaign underwent a shake-up over the summer  laying off dozens of staffers and replacing his campaign manager  DeSantis brought David Polyansky, a longtime Republican operative who had been advising Never Back Down, onto his team as deputy campaign manager.

Some concerns

But some DeSantis allies have expressed concerns for months that the campaign had ceded too much control over message and strategy to the super PAC, noting that Never Back Downs involvement went far beyond the typical role of a super PAC.

Those concerns have caught the attention of some of the governors critics, as well.

I think theres a realization that what the super PAC has done hasnt really made a dent, said Rick Wilson, a former Republican consultant and a co-founder of the anti-Trump group, the Lincoln Project. They dont know how to effectively fight against Trump and the path for DeSantis isnt there. Its not a fun place to be at this point. Its not a happy place to be.

Tensions flared up last week at a strategy meeting held by Never Back Down, according to NBC News, which first reported the infighting.

Jeff Roe, the groups top strategist, and Scott Wagner, a board member with close ties to DeSantis, were wrangling about financial and operational strategy. The two nearly came to blows, NBC reported.

After the dispute, three close DeSantis allies launched a second super PAC, Fight Right Inc. The group registered with the Federal Election Commission on Nov. 16 and has reserved at least $919,000 in ads in Iowa since Monday, according to the media-tracking firm AdImpact.

A spokesperson for Never Back Down did not respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment. Andrew Romeo, the communications director for DeSantis campaign, welcomed the creation of Fight Right, saying that it adds to the work of groups like Never Back Down and widens DeSantis network of support.

We are excited to see even more backers stepping up to support Ron DeSantis candidacy, Romeo said. Weve already seen tremendous value in the support of groups like Never Back Down, and adding new allies to the mix to independently help spread the governors message will only strengthen our advantage in the important weeks and months ahead.

Kristin Davison, a longtime political strategist who has been working for Never Back Down, was tapped to replace Jankowski as the groups CEO, The New York Times reported.

In 2017, Davison served as the campaign manager for the gubernatorial campaign of Adam Putnam, who at the time was DeSantis chief rival. She has also worked with Sen. Marco Rubio and Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt.

While DeSantis remains in second place in Iowa ahead of the Jan. 15 caucuses, some recent polls out of other early states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina show him slipping into third  even fourth  place, behind former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. A Washington Post/Monmouth University poll out of New Hampshire last week showed DeSantis running in fifth place there.
Wisconsin police officers helped a man propose to his girlfriend by staging a traffic stop.

Footage from the city of Eau Claire shows officers appearing to conduct a routine traffic stop before the surprise unfolds in front of Troy Goldschmidt's shocked girlfriend Moriah Prichard.

Mr Goldschmidt asked Eau Claire Police Department to help organise his proposal, authorities told local media.

The department posted footage on Facebook to the delight of Mr Goldschmidt, who said: "Thank you so much, ECPD. I'm glad you had the video because I barely remember what I said. Neither Moriah and I have been able to stop smiling."
Paul Adams - The Israel Gaza Briefings

Israel's military campaign in Gaza City is probably in its final stages.

The truce, brokered to allow for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, will delay the IDF by anywhere from four to nine days, depending on how many hostages Hamas decides to release.

When that ends, Israeli experts expect the battle for control of Gaza City to resume and last another week to 10 days.

But what happens when the Israeli military turns its attention to the southern Gaza Strip, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly indicated?

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas wherever it exists. It assumes that the group's most important leaders, Yayha Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, are somewhere in the south, along with thousands of fighters and, probably, a significant number of Israeli hostages.

If Israel decides to do to the south what it's already done to the north, will Western - especially American - goodwill start to run out?

Early winter rains have caused flooding

With the bulk of the Gaza Strip's estimated 2.2 million people now crammed into the southern two thirds of the Strip, many of them homeless and traumatised, is a larger humanitarian disaster looming?

One of the last straws might be the sight of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, huddled in tents, amid the sandy fields of a place called al-Mawasi.

According to the UN relief agency for Palestinians (Unrwa), almost 1.7 million people have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since 7 October. Most of them are in the south, living in overcrowded shelters.

UN officials speak of already desperate conditions, with tens of thousands of people sheltering in schools, hospitals and, in some cases, tents.

Tent camp in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip

Early winter rains have already caused flooding, adding to the misery.

For several weeks, Israeli officials have been talking about a solution - a so-called "safe area" at al-Mawasi, a thin strip of mainly agricultural land along the Mediterranean coast, close to the Egyptian border.

Last week, leaflets dropped over the nearby city of Khan Yunis warned of impending airstrikes and told people to move west, towards the sea.

In a post on social media on Thursday, Avichay Adraee, the IDF's spokesman for the Arabic media, told Gazans al-Mawasi would provide "the appropriate conditions to protect your loved ones."

But how realistic is it to expect more than two million people to shelter there while the war rages nearby? And just how "appropriate" are conditions at al-Mawasi?

Map showing the approximate area of the Al-Mawasi 'humanitarian zone'

The map shows a patchwork of fields, greenhouses and scattered houses. Although it's hard to be certain, the area defined by Israel is about 2.5km wide, at its widest, and just over 4km long.

Dr Michael Milshtein, a former adviser on Palestinian affairs to Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), calls it "a beautiful and fruitful place, but quite small".

Aid agencies take a less generous view.

"It's a tiny piece of land," Juliette Touma, director of communications for Unrwa, says. "There's nothing there. It's just sand dunes and palm trees."

Any attempt to accommodate hundreds of thousands of displaced people, in an area seemingly lacking in essential infrastructure - there are no hospitals - will present the UN with a mammoth humanitarian challenge, including the setting up of emergency shelter, most likely tents.

It's also a moral challenge with deep historical resonance - much of Gaza's population is descended from refugees who lived in tents after their expulsion from Israel in 1948.

The Gaza Strip is already home to eight refugee camps, which have evolved over the decades into bustling, overcrowded towns. The UN doesn't want to be responsible for setting up yet another camp.

Israeli officials say it will be up to aid agencies to make sure help reaches al-Mawasi from the Rafah crossing, more than 10km away. They haven't said how this will work in practice.

US officials are said to be trying to negotiate with Israel over additional safe areas, possibly including one at Dahaniya, at the far southern tip of the Gaza Strip.

Under the terms of the hostage release agreement, which came into effect on Friday, Israel should also allow 200 trucks of aid into Gaza each day, much more than in recent weeks.

But on 16 November, a statement by the heads of 18 UN agencies and NGOs involved in providing assistance to Palestinian civilians appeared to reject Israel's plans outright.

"We will not participate in the establishment of any 'safe zone' in Gaza that is set up without the agreement of all the parties," it said.

UN officials say the parties include Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank.

Without mentioning al-Mawasi by name, the 16 November statement warned that Israel's unilateral proposals could put many lives at risk.

One of the signatories, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation, called the plans "a recipe for disaster".

Destroyed buildings in Gaza City

"Attempting to cram so many people into such a small area with such little infrastructure or services," he said, "will significantly increase risks to health for people who are already on the brink."

Israeli officials say Hamas is to blame and seem unfazed by the dangers. Al-Mawasi, they say, is the one area Israeli forces have undertaken not to attack.

"It's going to be dire. But they'll live," says Lt Col Richard Hecht, an IDF spokesman.

For Israel, it's a matter of military necessity. Just as Hamas was embedded in Gaza City, it says, so the group's fighters and infrastructure exist in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Removing the civilian population ahead of an assault, Israelis argue, is the humane way to approach the job of defeating Hamas.

"People in Israel don't like the situation where people in Gaza are somewhere in al-Mawasi, under the rain of winter, which is coming," says retired Maj Gen Yaacov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser. "But what is the alternative? If someone has an idea how to destroy Hamas without it, please tell us."

The prospect of further months of suffering, compounded by extreme overcrowding and harsh winter conditions, is bound to add to mounting international disquiet over the conduct of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

"Conducting a new major ground operation in that area risks casualties and displacement of civilians on a scale which will threaten to undermine international sympathy for Israel," a western official told me, speaking on strict condition of anonymity.

'It's a question of how long western patience will last."

The Netanyahu government knows that it can count on unprecedentedly deep reserves of Western goodwill, following the unspeakable horrors perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October.

But Israeli officials also know those reserves are not endless and that international calls for restraint are likely to become louder when the hostage truce comes to an end and Israel resumes its military campaign.

"My hope is that international pressure after the truce is ended will not prevent that," says Dr Eyal Hulata, who led Israel's National Security Council from 2021 to 2023.

"My hope is that the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu will not cave to pressure with this. This is what the citizens of Israel expect of their leaders."

With winter looming, Israel gearing up for the decisive next phase of its campaign, and no agreement on how to deal with the civilian population, Gaza's long agony looks set to continue. Perhaps even to get worse.

More on Israel-Gaza war
Russia on Saturday launched its largest drone attack against Ukraines capital of Kyiv since the start of its invasion, according to local officials.

A total of nearly 75 Shahed drones were launched from two directions  Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Kursk region, Russia. The primary target was the city of Kyiv, said Ukraines Air Force in a Telegram post, describing the attack as a record number of drones.

It said air defenses intercepted 71 of the Iranian-made drones across six regions of Ukraine  but the vast majority of the drones were intercepted in the Kyiv region.

Anti-aircraft missile troops, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units were involved in repelling the air attack, said the air force. It added that a Kh-59 guided missile was also destroyed in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Mykhailo Shamanov, a spokesman for the Kyiv city military administration, described several waves of drones coming from different directions toward the capital.

A CNN producer in Kyiv heard loud explosions and repeated bangs as drones buzzed overhead. The citys military administration warned residents to take cover, saying: A large number of enemy UAVs are entering Kyiv from different directions! We urge you to stay in shelters until the alarm goes off!

It was the fourth drone attack on Kyiv this month, according to Shamanov.

At least two people were injured in Kyivs Solomianskyi district, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko.

Several locations in Solomianskyi district caught fire, including a residential building and other non-residential premises, Klitschko said.

He added that the second floor of a five-story residential building in Solomianskyi district was damaged, and that the wreckage of downed drones fell on two residential buildings  one in the Dniprovskyi district, the other in the Holosiivskyi district.

In a separate statement, Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, said a fire had broken out on the premises of a kindergarten after a drone was downed in the Solomianskyi district.

The countrys energy ministry said this recent attack on Kyiv cut off power to an overhead line, leaving 77 residential buildings and 120 establishments without power in the city center.

Ukrainian energy company DTEK announced later on Saturday that power had been restored to all Kyiv residents.

Last winter, Russia carried out a sustained campaign of missile and drone attacks to cripple Ukraines energy infrastructure.

Khmelnytskyi, in western Ukraine, has become a regular target of attacks, with the shockwaves from explosions damaging infrastructure in the region, including its nuclear power plant.

Powerful explosions shook the area near the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, with shockwaves shattering windows and temporarily cutting off power to some off-site radiation monitoring stations. IAEA experts at the plant were also told that two drones were shot down in close proximity to the site.

The IAEA said that the incident once again highlighted the dangers to nuclear safety and security during the ongoing military conflict.

While concerns remain about the countrys energy this winter, DTEK has spent the last seven months restoring infrastructure, trying to boost output and bolster defenses at its facilities.

We restored what could be restored, bought back-up equipment and installed defenses around power plants, DTEK chief executive Maxim Timchenko told CNN earlier this month.

According to deputy chief of Ukraines Defense Intelligence, Vadym Skibitsky, attacks to the countrys energy grid will be harder for Russia to pull off this time around.

Citizens have also been preparing for the possibility of a downed power grid. One company that installs energy storage systems nationally, has seen a significant rise in demand as people seek off-the-grid solutions, while businesses and companies buy generators and secondary batteries.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Somalia's economy has been devastated by many years of war

Somalia has joined the East African Community (EAC) in a move intended to boost economic growth in the country following three decades of war.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said joining the regional trade bloc was a "beacon of hope" for Somalia.

He said it offered "hope for a future of opportunities and prosperity".

Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991 and many parts of the country are controlled by jihadist group al-Shabab.

Some of its neighbours have sent troops to help fight the Islamist group, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda.

The decision to admit Somalia was made after a meeting of heads of member states in Arusha, Tanzania.

Somalia's integration into the EAC is a huge step for the Horn of Africa nation, but it did not come easy.

Months of lobbying to join the regional bloc were met by serious questions and hesitation by some member states.

EAC citizens can move freely within member states, so some fear that it could be easier for al-Shabab fighters to move around the region.

To be admitted into the EAC, new countries are supposed to show that they adhere to the principles of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and social justice.

Last year, Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International.

So some argued that Somalia was not ready to join the bloc.

Negotiations between the EAC and Somalia began in August hosted by the Kenyan government.

President Hassan assured the EAC that his country was working tirelessly to address the issues, with the support of member states.

He went on a charm offensive, pointing to his country's 3,000km coastline which would link the region to the Arabian Peninsula, a vibrant economic zone and Somalia's marine economy like fishing.

This offer seems to have been too good for the EAC countries to turn down.

Friday's announcement has prompted mixed reactions.

Those in support said on X, formerly Twitter, that the admission was long overdue adding that the region will benefit significantly.

Others said more time should have been taken, arguing that the EAC might inherit some of Somalia's challenges.

The bloc is aiming to expand its market size as it hopes to integrate all countries in the Horn of Africa.

Earlier this year, EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki hinted that Djibouti and Ethiopia would also join the bloc.

The Democratic Republic of Congo joined in March last year.

Somalia becomes the eighth member of the EAC after Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.

More BBC stories from Somalia:
SAN DIEGO (AP)  Star skipper Jimmy Spithill said he plans to start a new Italian team following his departure from the United States SailGP team in tech titan Larry Ellison's global league.

Spithill said he couldn't disclose any specifics about the U.S. team other than a new group is bringing in its own CEO and driver, the roles Spithill held since taking over Team USA in SailGP's second season.

It's been known in sailing circles since late July that a private American group is looking to buy Team USA, which has been owned by the league. An announcement is expected within the next few days.

I leave it in as good a shape as I could, Spithill told The Associated Press from Sardinia, where he is preparing for his second straight Americas Cup as co-helmsman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team. "If I look at when I started it, what I built and how Im leaving it, its basically qualified for the final right now, having just won the last event, giving them a team with a winning culture and thats competitive and with some value. Thats important to me and now I get the option to build with Italy.

The United States SailGP Team is third in the 10-team fleet after five of 13 regattas in Season 4. It won the most recent regatta, in Spain in mid-October, three weeks after crewman Hans Henken was seriously injured in a mishap in a regatta in Taranto, Italy. The next regatta is Dec. 9-10 in Dubai. United Arab Emirates.

Spithill's Italian team would debut in Season 5, expected to begin shortly after the 37th Americas Cup concludes in mid-October in Barcelona.

Spithill, an Australian, is best known for twice winning the Americas Cup with Ellisons Oracle Team USA, including leading an epic comeback in 2013 when the American-based crew was down 8-1 at match point before winning eight straight races against Emirates Team New Zealand.

Ellison and five-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts of New Zealand co-founded SailGP after Spithill and Oracle lost the America's Cup in 2017 to Team New Zealand, which chose to switch from foiling catamarans to foiling monohulls. SailGP uses a souped-up version of the 50-foot, wing-sailed catamarans introduced in the 2017 America's Cup.

Many sailors compete in both the America's Cup and SailGP. Spithill helped lead Luna Rossa into the 2021 America's Cup match, where it lost 7-3 to Team New Zealand.

When Spithill took over the United States SailGP Team for the pandemic-delayed second season, it was coming off a last-place finish and had no sponsors. He got the team into the $1 million, winner-take-all grand final, won by Australia's Tom Slingsby, and signed multiple sponsors.

Spithills history with Italian sailing goes back to 2007, when he helmed Luna Rossa into the challenger finals before losing to New Zealand. Italian fans and broadcasters smitten with his aggressive tactics nicknamed him Jesse James Spithill  after the legendary American gunslinger  and James Pitbull. He's also known for cutting one-liners aimed at his opponent's psyche.

Spithill said Italian fans are passionate and that there's plenty of emerging sailing talent.

"It's an exciting opportunity. Looking at the talent thats out there, Ill be really fighting for a spot on the boat," he said.

___

Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson
November 27, 2023 at 3:27 AM

Taylor Swift's songs for night three in Sao Paulo, Brazil included "Say Don't Go" from "1989 (Taylor's Version)" on the guitar and "it's time to go" from "Evermore" on the piano.

Swift added shes going to open up all of the songs for 2024, "I feel like for one year we've really gotten through a lot of songs so I'm just going to make all of the songs fair game."

The night two surprise songs included "Safe & Sound" from "Red (Taylor's Version)" on the guitar and "Untouchable" from "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" on the piano.

"It's been ages since I've played both of these songs," she said before performing the Hunger Games ballad.

The surprise songs for the first night in the city were "Now That We Don't Talk" from "1989 (Taylor's Version) [From The Vault]" on the guitar and "Innocent" from "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" on the piano.

At the top of the concert, Swift praised the sold-out crowd inside the Allianz Parque stadium.

Keep reading to see the entire list of surprise songs by city.

What songs are left that Swift has not performed on the Eras Tour?

Swift has less than 40 songs that she's never performed from her ten albums:

Self-Titled: The Outside, Mary's Song (Oh My My My), A Perfectly Good Heart

Fearless: The Way I Loved You, Change, Come In With The Rain, Superstar, We Were Happy, That's When, Don't You, Bye Bye Baby

Speak Now: Superman, Electric Touch, Foolish One

Red: Girl At Home, Ronan, Babe, Forever Winter, Run, Eyes Open

1989: Sweeter Than Fiction

Reputation: I Did Something Bad

Lover: London Boy, Soon You'll Get Better, It's Nice To Have A Friend

Folklore: epiphany, peace, hoax

Evermore: happiness, long story short, closure

Midnights: Paris, Glitch, Dear Reader, You're Losing Me

More: The Eras Tour returns: See the new surprise songs Taylor Swift played in Argentina

Which surprise songs has Taylor Swift performed on Eras tour?

From Arizona to Brazil, here are all of the surprise songs that Swift has performed so far:

Glendale, Arizona (March 17) - "mirrorball" and "Tim McGraw"

Glendale, Arizona (March 18) - "State of Grace" and "this is me trying"

Las Vegas (March 24) - "Our Song" and "Snow on the Beach"

Las Vegas (March 25) - "cowboy like me" (with Marcus Mumford) and "White Horse"

Arlington, Texas (March 31) - "Sad Beautiful Tragic" and "Ours"

Arlington, Texas (April 1) - "Death By a Thousand Cuts" and "Clean"

Arlington, Texas (April 2) - "Jump Then Fall" and "The Lucky One"

Tampa, Florida (April 13) - "Speak Now" and "Treacherous"

Tampa, Florida (April 14) - "The Great War" (with Aaron Dessner) and "You're On Your Own Kid"

Tampa, Florida (April 15) - "mad woman" (with Aaron Dessner) and "Mean"

Houston (April 21)  "Wonderland" and "You're Not Sorry"

Houston (April 22)  "A Place In This World" and "Today Was A Fairytale"

Houston (April 23)  "Begin Again" and "Cold as You"

Atlanta (April 28)  "The Other Side of the Door" and "Coney Island"

Atlanta (April 29)  "High Infidelity" and "Gorgeous"

Atlanta (April 30)  "I Bet You Think About Me" and "How You Get The Girl"

Nashville, Tennessee (May 5)  "Sparks Fly" and "Teardrops On My Guitar"

Nashville, Tennessee (May 6)  "Out of the Woods" and "Fifteen"

Nashville, Tennessee (May 7)  "Would've Could've Should've" (with Aaron Dessner) and "Mine"

Philadelphia (May 12) - "gold rush" and "Come Back... Be Here"

Philadelphia (May 13) - "Forever & Always" and "This Love"

Philadelphia (May 14) - "Hey Stephen" and "The Best Day"

Foxborough, Massachusetts (May 19) - "Should've Said No" and "Better Man"

Foxborough, Massachusetts (May 20) - "Question...?" and "Invisible"

Foxborough, Massachusetts (May 21) - "I Think He Knows" and "Red"

East Rutherford, New Jersey (May 26) - "Getaway Car" (with Jack Antonoff) and "Maroon"

East Rutherford, New Jersey (May 27) - "Holy Ground" and "False God"

East Rutherford, New Jersey (May 28) - "Welcome To New York" and "Clean"

Chicago (June 2)  "I Wish You Would" and "the lakes"

Chicago (June 3)  "You All Over Me" (with Maren Morris) and "I Don't Wanna Live Forever"

Chicago (June 4)  "Hits Different" and "The Moment I Knew"

Detroit (June 9)  "Haunted" and "I Almost Do"

Detroit (June 10)  "All You Had To Do Was Stay" and "Breathe"

Pittsburgh (June 16)  "Mr. Perfectly Fine" and "The Last Time"

Pittsburgh (June 17)  "seven" (with Aaron Dessner) and "The Story of Us"

Minneapolis (June 23)  "Paper Rings" and "If This Was A Movie"

Minneapolis (June 24)  "Dear John" and "Daylight"

Cincinnati (June 30)  "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" and "evermore"

Cincinnati (July 1)  "ivy" (with Aaron Dessner), "I miss you, Im sorry" (with Gracie Abrams) and "Call It What You Want"

Kansas City, Missouri (July 7)  "Never Grow Up" and "When Emma Falls in Love"

Kansas City, Missouri (July 8)  "Last Kiss" and "dorothea"

Denver (July 14) - "Picture To Burn" and "Timeless"

Denver (July 15) - "Starlight" and "Back To December"

Seattle (July 22) - "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" and "Everything Has Changed"

Seattle (July 23) - "Message In A Bottle" and "Tied Together With A Smile"

Santa Clara, California (July 28) - 'right where you left me' (with Aaron Dessner) and 'Castles Crumbling'

Santa Clara, California (July 29) - 'Stay Stay Stay' and 'All of the Girls You've Loved Before'

Los Angeles (Aug. 3)  "I Can See You" and "Maroon"

Los Angeles (Aug. 4)  "Our Song" and "You Are In Love"

Los Angeles (Aug. 5)  "Death By A Thousand Cuts" and "You're On Your Own, Kid"

Los Angeles (Aug. 7)  "Dress" and "exile"

Los Angeles (Aug. 8)  "I Know Places" and "King of My Heart"

Los Angeles (Aug. 9)  "New Romantics" and "New Year's Day"

Mexico City (Aug. 24) - "I Forgot That You Existed" and "Sweet Nothing"

Mexico City (Aug. 25) - "Tell Me Why" and "Snow on the Beach"

Mexico City (Aug. 26) - "Cornelia Street" and "You're On Your Own, Kid"

Mexico City (Aug. 27) - "Afterglow" and "Maroon"

Buenos Aires (Nov. 9) - "The Very First Night" and "Labyrinth"

Buenos Aires (Nov. 11) - "Is It Over Now?"/"Out of the Woods" mash-up and "End Game"

Buenos Aires (Nov. 12) - "Better Than Revenge" and "Slut!"

Rio de Janeiro (Nov. 17) - "Stay Beautiful" and "Suburban Legends"

Rio de Janeiro (Nov. 19) - "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" and "Bigger Than the Whole Sky"

Rio de Janeiro (Nov. 20) - "ME!" and "So It Goes"

Sao Paulo (Nov. 24) - "Now That We Don't Talk" and "Innocent"

Sao Paulo (Nov. 25) - "Safe & Sound" and "Untouchable"

Sao Paulo (Nov. 26) - "Say Don't Go" and "it's time to go"

Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift surprise songs in Sao Paulo Eras tour concert
By Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Vetoon Phoome's family feared the Thai farm worker had been killed by Hamas in last month's attack on Israel, until they found out on Saturday he had been freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza.

"He told me not to cry, to tell mother I'm coming back," Vetoon's sister, Roongarun Wichagern, told Reuters after an emotional reunion with him via video call.

Vetoon, 33, who has been living in Israel for five years, was one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of a seven-week-old war that started with the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.

"He said, 'I'm not dead, I'm not dead'," Roongarun said, calling his survival a "miracle".

The 10 Thais were among 24 hostages freed on Friday in a deal negotiated in parallel with the truce and an exchange of 39 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Thailand's government said 20 of its nationals are still captive.

Thailand's foreign minister and army chief will travel to Israel to bring the freed hostages back, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters, adding that his government was still trying to secure the release of the remaining captives.

"We will not stop. We will bring them back," he said.

Iran's Embassy in Bangkok said on social media that Tehran had facilitated the release by providing a list of names to Hamas following a request from Thailand's Foreign Ministry and a parliamentary speaker.

A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson said Thailand had "provided lists since the beginning to everyone," including Qatar, Egypt, Israel and Iran.

"Different actors would have different influence on Hamas," the spokesperson said.

MIGRANT WORKERS

About 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, forming one of its largest groups of migrant workers, many in agriculture.

Vetoon told family members he had shouted "Thailand, Thailand!" when the militants approached, before capturing him and holding him in tunnels, Roongarun said.

He was not wounded or tortured, was given food and water and did not appear to have lost weight, Roongarun added.

His friends believed he had died, but the family followed the news "without sleeping", hoping he had been taken hostage, she said.

"I saw the news hostages would be released, and then someone sent a photo," Roongarun said. "It was clearly my little brother."

The released captives also included the only Thai woman known to be held by Hamas, a factory worker and mother from a poor rural area where many people leave to seek job opportunities abroad.

Photographs from the Thai Foreign Ministry showed them meeting doctors at a medical centre in Israel. They will return home after 48 hours in hospital, the ministry said, thanking Egypt, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross for "immense efforts" on the deal to free them.

A source briefed on the negotiations said the release was unrelated to the truce deal with Israel and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

A group of Thai Muslim politicians had travelled to Tehran and met senior Hamas officials in October.

Thongkoon Onkaew told Reuters authorities had said her son, Natthaporn Onkaew, a 26-year-old farm worker, was not among the first group released, but she added that she was "waiting for good news."

(Reporting by Chayut SetboonsarngAdditional reporting by Napat Wesshasartar and Panarat ThepgumpanatWriting by Poppy McPhersonEditing by William Mallard and Helen Popper)
Veterinarians in some parts of the country are urging pet owners to keep away from dog parks as a mysterious canine illness sweeps several states. Courtesy of Hermann Park Conservancy

Houston area veterinarians and shelter officials are on the lookout for a mysterious illness that is believed to have caused some dogs to become seriously ill and even died across the country in recent months.

Although no cases have emerged locally, officials at the Houston Humane Society Animal Wellness Clinic said they've experienced an increase in pet owners visiting the facility for vaccinations for their pets.

Researchers describe it as a respiratory illness that does not respond to antibiotics.

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"Looks like it's [a] virus, said Dr. Kiko Bracker, a veterinarian at MSPCA Angell Medical Center in Jamaica Plain, Mass., in an interview with CBS News Boston. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and antivirals won't be effective until we know what that virus is.

According to the Cornell Animal Health Diagnostics Center, cases of the illness surfaced in California, Oregon, Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association first reported cases back in August with more than 200 cases following the initial report of the disease now.

The San Diego Humane Society has halted the intake of animals, except in rare circumstances, after the fast-spreading disease killed four dogs in its care.

As of now, theres no official case count nationwide.

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Whether the illness has reached Texas is unclear.

Dr. Lori Teller, a Texas A&M professor, told KHOU-TV said it is not known how many cases have popped up in Texas since canine respiratory cases aren't reportable.

While officials search for the cause of the illness, they say its symptoms mirrors that of canine influenza or kennel cough.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that canine influenza, also known as dog flu, attacks the dogs respiratory system caused by specific Type A influenza viruses. There are two different kinds of Type A influenza viruses, H3N8 virus and H3N2 virus. Respiratory diseases can spread through direct contact or through water droplets from sneezing and coughing.

Common signs of canine respiratory illness

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Coughing

Sneezing

Labored breathing

Nose or eye discharge

Lethargy or decreased appetite.

In some of the reported cases, dogs suffered from pneumonia.

In an effort to protect against the illness, officials encourage owners to avoid high-risk situations such as placing dogs in boarding kennels, visiting dog parks or placing them in doggy daycare. Additionally, they advise against dogs sharing dog bowls, toys or chews among other dogs.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top diplomats of the United States, South Korea and Japan held a call on Friday to discuss North Korea's recent launch of a spy satellite which they strongly condemned, the U.S. State Department said on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, South Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japan Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko "strongly condemned the (Nov. 21) launch for its destabilizing effect on the region," the State Department said in a statement.

North Korea said on Tuesday it had placed its first spy satellite in orbit, drawing international condemnation for violating U.N. resolutions that bar its use of technology applicable to ballistic missile programs. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the launch was an exercise of the right to self-defence.

This week's satellite launch was North Korea's third attempt this year after two failures and followed Kim's rare trip to Russia in September, during which President Vladimir Putin vowed to help Pyongyang build satellites.

South Korean officials said the latest launch most likely involved Russian technical assistance under a growing partnership that has seen Pyongyang supply Russia with millions of artillery shells.

Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation.

In their call on Friday, the top diplomats of Tokyo, Washington and Seoul said the international community needed to "come together to prevent (North Korea's) procurement activities and stem the flow of revenue supporting its unlawful WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programs," according to the State Department.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria came under attack four separate times on Thanksgiving Day, according to a US official.

On Thursday morning, multiple one-way attack drones were launched against troops at Al-Asad Airbase, and one one-way attack drone targeted Erbil Airbase in Iraq. A multi-rocket attack was also launched against forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates in Syria. On Thursday afternoon, another one-way attack drone was launched against forces at Mission Support Site Green Village in Syria.

All four followed an attack on Wednesday afternoon, when a one-way attack drone was launched against Erbil Airbase, the official said.

There were no casualties or infrastructure damage reported in any of the attacks, according to the official.

The latest attacks mark at least 73 against US and coalition forces since October 17. They also follow a US air strike on Tuesday evening  Wednesday morning local time  on two facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group in Iraq.

US Central Command said that the airstrikes were in direct response to the attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups, including the one in Iraq on November 21, which involved use of close-range ballistic missiles.

A defense official added that the facilities  an operations center and command and control node near Al Anbar and Jurf al Saqr, Iraq, south of Baghdad  were used by Kataib Hezbollah to support recent attacks on US and coalition bases in Iraq and Syria.

At least eight Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah fighters were killed and four other wounded following the US strikes, the group said in a statement.

While the strikes were the first in Iraq since attacks on US and coalition forces began, they were the fourth US strike against targets associated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since the attacks started on October 17.

The first strike occurred on October 26 when an F-15 fighter and two F-16 fighter jets targeted two weapons and ammunition storage facilities in Abu Kamal, Syria. Then on November 8, two F-15s carried out an airstrike on a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria. On November 12, the US carried out more airstrikes on a training facility and a safe house affiliated with the IRGC.

The attacks on US and coalition forces started after Hamas attack on Israel, and the Pentagon has maintained that the US has been successful in deterring any escalatory actions that would expand the conflict outside of Israel and Gaza despite the continued attacks on US forces.

Is deterrence working? We feel that it is, Singh told reporters last week. We have not seen this war spread into a wider regional conflict. We have  conducted three different strikes. We responded most recently this weekend. And again, we will always reserve the right to respond at a time and place of our choosing in the future.

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Two people died after a vehicle exploded at a US-Canadaborder crossing at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, on Wednesday 22 November.

The car was attempting to enter Canada from the United States when it sped toward a checkpoint, crashed into a fence and erupted into a fireball just before midday, according to witnesses.

Video footage and photos showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from the checkpoint, and a security booth that had been charred by flames.

The blast killed two, reportedly injured one Border Patrol officer and led to the closure of four border crossings between the US and Canada in New York state.

Within hours, investigators had ruled out that the car had been carrying explosives or was connected to terrorism.

The fatal explosion briefly threw Thanksgiving travel plans into chaos, as borders were closed and travel routes suspended.

Smoke billows from Niagara Falls border crossing at Rainbow Bridge (Reuters)

What happened?

At 11.50am ET, the Rainbow Bridge was closed due to a traffic event, according to an incident alert from the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition.

Witness Mike Guenther told NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV that he had been walking on the bridge when he saw a speeding car approach the border checkpoint, hit a fence and go airborne before exploding.

Another witness told reporters that he had seen the vehicle catch fire, before seeing black smoke and flames.

Ambulances arrived soon afterward to find the vehicle completely burned out. Two individuals travelling in the car died, officials said.

Thanksgiving travel impacted

The incident came at a time of heightened fears of a possible terror attack. Ms Hochul issued a warning days earlier that officials had detected increased chatter of a possible terror attack in the state due to unrest in the Middle East.

The White House said in a statement that President Biden was closely following developments. US Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the unfolding situation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to the scene.

Mr Trudeau said officials in Canada were taking this extraordinary seriously.

This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls, Mr Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

The FBIs Buffalo field office said in a statement it was leading the local, state and federal response until it determined there were no threats of terrorism. It then handed the investigation to the Niagara Falls Police Department.

Debris is scattered about inside the customs plaza at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing (AP)

Officials closed four US-Canada border crossings in New York: the Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.

Amtrak also temporarily suspended cross-border services between New York and Canada.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo said it would close until after Thanksgiving out of an abundance of caution.

International departures and arrivals were paused at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It was reopened several hours later.

Travellers arriving at the airport were warned to expect additional screenings, while vehicles would undergo extra security checks.

The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are fully operational. We advise travelers to give themselves time for these extra precautions in addition to holiday travel, the agency said on X.

Three of the four bridge crossings were reopened on Wednesday afternoon, with only the Rainbow Bridge still closed. It reopened on Thursday afternoon.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said security would be stepped up across the area.

Who were the two people killed in the blast?

Law enforcement sources told CNN on Wednesday night that the Rainbow Bridge crash is believed to have involved a local New York individual and a passenger who had planned to attend a KISS concert in Toronto, Canada.

The concert was cancelled earlier in the day due to frontman, Paul Stanley, falling ill with the flu.

Police identified the couple on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, both 53; they lived in Grand Island, New York. They are survived by two children, according to an obiturary for the husbands father.

The Villanis own Guis Lumber, a business with eight locations across western New York.

In a statement to CBC, the business wrote: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing.

All bridges between New York state and Canada were closed after the explosion. Three were reopened hours later (Getty Images)

Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, owned and operated by The Seneca Nation, did not confirm if the car that crashed was present at their location but said they were cooperating with law enforcement, in a statement provided to The Independent.

We have reviewed and provided information related to a vehicle that stopped at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino only for a matter of minutes shortly before the crash occurred, the Seneca Nation said.

Reportedly, the couples car was speeding in a Bentley when the car rammed into the crossing.

Devastated friends, neighbours and loved ones in the upstate New York community of Grand Island have spoken out paying tribute to the Villannis.

The couples friend Chuck Meyer told WGRZ of his shock when he learned that the tragedy broadcast on national news involved those close to him.

I got home yesterday (Wednesday). I didnt know anything other than hearing things on the news about the border, and then saw that their driveway was filled up with all these cars, he told the local outlet on Thursday.

I thought, Oh, theyre having Christmas or Thanksgiving early, and like, thats really nice. And then about an hour later, heard the news and Im like, oh my God.

What caused the crash?

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge blast remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the American arm of Bentley Motors told the paper that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

Whatever the cause, getting to the bottom of what happened could take time as the car was effectively incinerated in the fireball blast.

Niagara Falls Police Chief John Faso, said 3D scanners were also being used to help create a digital crash scene to help discover the cause of the incident.

They take it to the scene, it scans the scene and reproduces a 3D image for them to work on of the entire scene, Mr Faso told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

Incident at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls (via REUTERS)

On Thursday, the Niagara Falls Police Department  which is now leading the investigation after the FBI found no signs of terrorism  carried out an accident reconstruction, including retracing the last known movements of the couple.

In a press conference on Wednesday evening, Ms Hochul said she would not go so far as to declare the blast an accident just yet as the probe continues but that the two people killed were local residents with no ties to terrorism. No other potential motive had been discovered.

I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers, at this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack, Ms Hochul said.

She added: Based on what is happening in the world, everyone is on edge. This is an international border. I wont call it an accident yet. All we know is there was a horrific incident, a crash, a loss of life  but at this time: no known terrorism activity.

The FBIs Buffalo division also released a statement saying that no explosives had been found at the scene and that no terrorism nexus was identified.

The bureau said it had turned the investigation over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation.

Ariana Baio, Rachel Sharp and Kelly Rissman contributed to this report.


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In the last Assembly elections in 2018, the state had recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent

Villagers show their ink-marked fingers after casting votes for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, in Ajmer, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi/Jaipur: After a high-pitched campaign, hard-hitting and acrimonious debates, and a mega-propaganda blitz, Rajasthan went to the polls on Saturday. Voting was held in 199 of the 200 Assembly seats in the state. Till 5 pm, 68.24 per cent voter turnout was recorded. The Election Commission is expecting the final voting percentage to cross the 75 per cent mark after the final count. In the last Assembly elections in 2018, the state had recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent.

While the ruling Congress, led by chief minister Ashok Gehlot, is eyeing a return to power, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is trying to unseat the incumbent.

All parties contesting the polls fielded their "star campaigners". Besides the Prime Minister, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, party president J.P. Nadda, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, among others, campaigned for the BJP.

For the Congress, its national president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra, chief minister Ashok Gehlot and others participated in the high-pitched campaign.

While the Congress has been banking on its promise of implementing the old pension scheme, the caste census and other promises in the manifesto, the main Opposition BJP is relying on campaigning against the misrule of the Gehlot government and the promise of its leaders to turn the state from number one in corruption and crime to a developed state.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3, along with the counting of the other four states -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana.

On the day Rajasthan went to polls, the BJP accused Mr Gandhi and Ms Vadra of violating poll guidelines with their posts on X. The BJP urged the Election Commission to seek suspension of the Congress leader's social media account and initiate other actions against them.

In their posts, both the Congress leaders urged people to vote for their party.

The BJP wrote to the Election Commission, saying their posts violate the 48-hour silence period in the run-up to the polls, a period during which most forms of campaigning are barred.

The party accused the former Congress president and his sister, a general secretary of the party, of violating the Representation of the People Act and the model code of conduct and sought the EC's action.

Polling began at more than 51,000 polling booths at 7 am and continued till 6 pm. The Tijara Assembly seat recorded the highest polling till 5 pm at 80.85 per cent and the number is expected to go even higher after the final count.

In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, two persons, including a policeman, were injured in stone-pelting.

"Police fired 12 rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. Voting was disrupted for a few minutes due to the incident," Deeg superintendent of police Brijesh Upadhyay said.

In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and a jawan was injured in the violence.

"Stone pelting occurred outside a polling booth. One jawan was injured in the stone-pelting. No civilian was injured. Around 5-7 persons have been detained," Fatehpur DSP Ram Pratap said.

An altercation occurred between a polling agent and a person outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat.

"Two vehicles were damaged in the ensuing violence. Polling was stopped for some time and resumed later," Dholpur collector Anil Kumar Agarwal said.

In Uniara, Tonk district, 4050 people tried to enter a polling booth. However, the situation was brought under control, SP Rajarshi Raj said.

Two people -- a polling agent of a candidate and an elderly voter -- died of cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts.

At Charvali village in the Pindwada Abu constituency in Sirohi district, people boycotted voting.

There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats, out of a total of 200 in the state. Polling in one constituency was postponed due to the death of a candidate. The voters will decide the fate of 1,862 candidates.

The Election Commission made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling. More than 1.70 lakh security personnel were deployed across the state.

The election in the desert state is a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP. The Congress is aiming to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while the BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

The AIMIM and the AAP are also contesting the assembly polls in the state.

Many voters, youngsters as well as the elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am. Ms Rajes grandson, a first-time voter, also cast his vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar.

Mr Gehlot, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, Mr Raje and Mr Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes. Mr Gehlot and Mr Shekhawat cast their votes in Jodhpur, Mr Chaudhary in Balotra, Ms Raje in Jhalawar and Mr Pilot in Jaipur.

Rajasthan BJP president C.P. Joshi exercised his franchise in Chittorgarh and party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore voted in Jaipur. Ms Kumari and Mr Rathore are among the seven BJP MPs who are contesting the Assembly elections.

In their interactions with the media, the leaders expressed confidence that their respective parties will get the mandate of the people.

There is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again, Mr Gehlot said in Jodhpur.

"There seems to be an undercurrent. It looks like the (Congress) government will be repeated," he said.

Talking to reporters in Jhalawar, Mr Gehlot's predecessor, Ms Raje, agreed with him but said it would benefit the BJP.

"I agree with him. There is indeed an undercurrent, but in favour of the BJP. The lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom on December 3," she said.

In Jodhpur, Mr Shekhawat said, "The BJP is coming to power with a huge majority. This time people will vote keeping in mind crimes committed against women, paper leak incidents and corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress."

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister, Mr Kharge and several other leaders appealed to the people of Rajasthan to vote in large numbers.

The Election Commission has set a target of at least 75 per cent turnout in each constituency this time.

Selfie points were put up at polling booths and people, particularly young voters, took selfies after casting their votes.

In the 2018 Assembly polls, the Congress wrested power from the BJP and formed the government with Mr Gehlot as chief minister for the third time. The Congress had won 100 seats and the BJP 73 then.

In the 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP formed the government, with Ms Raje becoming the chief minister for a second time. In 2013, the BJP had won 163 seats and the Congress 21.
Israeli Embassy lodged a protest with MEA and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the objection raised by the Israeli embassy to his now-deleted post nearly after a month suggests that the action was taken by the mission at the behest of someone. (File Image: ANI)

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday clarified that he had no intention of hurting Israel and that he had criticised the Gaza hospital attack in the same way as Hamass attack against Israel. Referring to the reports regarding the Gaza hospital, Mr. Raut had posted on his X handle, Now we can understand why did Hitler hate Jew community so much. Though he deleted his post later, the Israeli Embassy has lodged a protest with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing his disappointment over Mr. Rauts comments justifying the Holocaust.

It has been a long time since that tweet. I removed it. There was a reference to Hitler in that, but I had no intention to hurt Israel. The way Hamas attacked Israel, I criticised that attack. In the same way, when Gazas hospitals were attacked, newborns and children were killed in large numbers, I criticised it, Mr. Raut said.

The Rajya Sabha MP said that the objection raised by the Israeli embassy to his now-deleted post nearly after a month suggests that the action was taken by the mission at the behest of someone.

Clarifying his intention in the post regarding Gaza hospital, Mr. Raut said, I said it was inhumanity and because you are not showing humanity, a leader (Hitler) must have opposed you during that time After one month, Israels High Commission has written a letter on that. Someone must have told them to oppose me.

On November 14, Mr. Raut had reshared a report about the challenging situation in Gazas Al-Shifa Hospital. Commenting on the report in Hindi, he had said, Why did Hitler hate Jews so much? (Do you) understand now?
Modi was scheduled to visit Telangana to campaign for the Assembly polls in the State

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to a sortie in Tejas aircraft from HAL airport in Bengaluru City on Saturday. (Image: DC)

Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday went on a a sortie on indigenously built Tejas aircraft built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru City and the sortie of the Prime Minister lasted for a few minutes which took from HAL Airport in Bengaluru City. On Saturday morning, Narendra Modi flew to Bengaluru City to visit HAL and reviewed the ongoing works there.

The indigenously built Tejas aircraft came in for praise from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and after his sortie, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his X account posted Successfully completed sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our countrys indigenous capabilities and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Indian Air Force, Defense Research and Development Organisation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

A light combat aircraft was named Tejas (meaning radiance) in 2003 and it is an all weather and multi-role fighter aircraft. The design of Tejas is to undertake Ground Maritime Operations and to take up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack roles with ease.

It is dimensionally the smallest and lightest in its class. Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas is capable of firing a variety of weapons like Long Range missiles, bombs among others with required precision and accuracy. Tejas is Electronically Scanned Array RADAR with low probability of interception.

From Bengaluru, Modi was scheduled to visit Telangana to campaign for the Assembly polls in the State.
Unquestionable authoritarianism at the helm may give the illusion of strong leadership, but it is definitively undesirable.

In the excitement of the five Assembly elections, and the build-up to the parliamentary elections next year, it seems that democracy in India is robust and thriving. It is, but in all the campaigning and wooing of voters, we seem to have happily accepted an unacceptable paradox  India must be one of the few democracies where the voter has free choice, but members of political parties have almost none. The lack of inner-party democracy has become a universal feature of our polity. There is a ubiquitous high command whose writ is final, and any views to the contrary are neither welcome nor go unpunished. In the legislature there is a whip, in the party a fiat. The simultaneous presence of democracy and the absence of it is a glaring feature of the worlds largest democracy.

This was not always the case. During the freedom movement, and after, open dialogue and dissent was the norm within the Congress. Mahatma Gandhis views may have mostly prevailed, but it was not through diktat, but the moral pressure he legitimately exercised. Even after Independence, although Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister, there was scope for an uninhibited exchange of differences of opinion between him and Sardar Patel, and between other senior leaders, both in party forums and the Cabinet.

Alas, all of this ended with the ascendance of Indira Gandhi. That inaugurated a new era of absolute leadership, absolute adulation, and absolute conformity. Her undoubted leadership qualities were marred by a propensity for unqualified obeisance. If in the past, Congress leaders would have been annoyed, embarrassed or indifferent to a slogan like India is Indira, Indira is India, Mrs Gandhi welcomed it. In 1959, when Nehru was asked by the media if he is grooming Indira to succeed him, he said that he was mentally opposed to the idea of political dynasties in a democracy. Nevertheless, Indira, after the short interregnum of Lal Bahadur Shastri, became Prime Minister (PM), and after her untimely killing, her son, Rajiv Gandhi  a good man but complete outsider to politics  succeeded her. After Rajivs tragic assassination, his wife, Sonia Gandhi, remained the longest serving president of the Congress Party. Her son, Rahul, is now the de facto head of the party.

The example of the Congress has many emulators. Today, across India, an ugly rash of undemocratic political dynasties has proliferated. True, there is nothing wrong in the progeny of a political leader following in the footsteps of parents. What is undemocratic is that the child of the dynastic patriarch is automatically ordained to be the heir to the party throne.

Mature democracies, like the the US or the UK, have open and vigorous inner party elections. In America, both the Republican and Democratic parties have internal primaries, in which candidates for the leadership test their democratic support, and participate in public debates on what they stand for, giving voters a choice of whom they want to see as the leader of their party. In the UK, when an incumbent PM steps down  as happened most recently in the case of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss of the Conservative Party  transparent elections were held in which MPs could freely choose who the next incumbent should be. Rishi Sunak became PM through precisely such an election. Other real democracies have similar processes.

In India, however, intra-party elections are mostly a farce. The electing forums have already been handpicked to support only one candidate, legislators fear to stand against the ordained leader or his or her choice, the successor is already chosen, and the party endorsement just a tokenistic formality. The Congress party recently had an election to choose its party president. Mallikarjun Kharge  an able man but an unabashed acolyte of the family  was known to be the dynastys choice. Shashi Tharoor chose to stand for the elections in accordance with the partys constitution. Although his loss was a foregone conclusion, he managed to get over a thousand votes, which was no mean achievement. But his temerity to stand against the chosen one had its consequences. He was, it appeared, ostracised for his audacity, and those who supported him were reportedly victimised. Only recently some balm has been applied to his bruised soul by making him a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

Such a state of affairs seems to be true even for the BJP today, whereas earlier it was not only non-dynastic, but had a healthy collegium at the top  Atal Behari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and many others  to take decisions. Now an all-powerful high command is the unquestioned and final arbiter of chief ministers of the party, and democratic discussion and debate has transformed into a frozen peace in favour of only the leader.

Unquestionable authoritarianism at the helm may give the illusion of strong leadership, but it is definitively undesirable. Firstly, it affects policy making. When decisions that affect the lives of millions are taken without discussion and debate, they can often be arbitrary, whimsical and ill-informed; but the party supremo is hostile to dissenting views that could add the necessary balance and corrective. Secondly, it seriously devalues the development of a genuine meritocracy. The leader wants yes men, not necessarily those with talent and a mind of their own. Most importantly, the leaders abilities are beyond interrogation. He may not even have passed school, or repeatedly shown political ineptitude, but there can be no challenge.

Thirdly, it leads to the empowerment of an unhealthy coterie, that even without merit, exercises disproportionate power and influence solely because of its obsequious proximity to the leader. This prevents the emergence of alternative rungs of leadership and future leaders, who are, in fact, considered a threat to the supremo. And, fourthly, it leads to a despicable and pervasive atmosphere of sycophancy. Praise of the party chief has to be emphatically effusive, his name should be endlessly invoked, and all credit must always be given to him. This is the test of loyalty, the passport to upward mobility, and there is no dearth of courtiers vying to outdo competitors.

For a dialogic civilisation, this undemocratic state of affairs among those supposed to protect democracy is a matter of deep concern.
Kashgar to facilitate trade with key areas

China Daily) 11:02, November 25, 2023

A truck leaves the Kashgar Area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone. [Photo/Xinhua]

Kashgar prefecture, in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, expects to facilitate China's further opening-up to Asia and Europe through a newly established free trade zone.

Kashgar, located in southwestern Xinjiang, has three ports and is located near two ports in neighboring Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, linking countries including Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. It also acts as a gateway to Russia and European nations.

Its total trade value surged 89.7 percent year-on-year to reach 61.04 billion yuan ($8.42 billion) from January to September, data from the local government showed.

The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established on Nov 1. It covers 179.66 square kilometers and comprises areas in Kashgar prefecture, Urumqi and Horgos. The development has boosted the confidence and expectation of business owners conducting cross-border trade.

At the unveiling ceremony of the Kashgar Area of the zone in mid-November, a first group of 35 companies received business licenses with project funds worth more than 17.6 billion yuan, covering sectors such as trade and logistics, electronics, new materials and automotive parts.

Zhi Fu Holding Group from Guangdong province has invested 2 billion yuan to build a hotel and a gold, diamond and jade trade center in Kashgar.

A Zhejiang-based trading company plans to invest 1 billion yuan to build an industrial park to manufacture daily necessities, textiles, apparel and accessories.

"With good policy support, we are confident of prospering in the international market," Yang Caiping, chairman of the company, told Xinjiang Daily.

Leveraging the advantages of international trade and logistics channels, the area will expand and strengthen its foreign-oriented economy, with a focus on developing industries such as processed agricultural products, textile and garments, and assembled electronic products, according to the overall plan for the zone.

The 28.48-sq-km Kashgar Area will also develop modern service industries such as international logistics and cross-border e-commerce, and create a commodity processing and distribution base connecting markets in Central Asia and South Asia.

"The area will follow high-standard international economic and trade rules, and deepen cooperation with neighboring countries in industries, resources, talent, technology and finance, in order to build a demonstration model for China's westward opening-up," said Nie Zhuang, Party secretary of Kashgar prefecture.

He added that efforts in reform and innovation will be intensified to build the Kashgar Area into "a highstandard, high-quality free trade zone with a favorable business environment, convenient investment and trade, advantageous industry clusters, shared resources and efficient management".

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
This map shows expected high temperatures across Southeast Texas on Saturday. Temperatures in the mid-60s will be slightly cooler than normal for this time of year. Pivotal

After a wet Thanksgiving holiday, the first half of the weekend will be great with partly sunny and dry weather with seasonal temperatures. You can take advantage of this weather by doing some holiday shopping with Small Business Saturday. It would be an amazing opportunity to stroll around Houston for the latest in holiday gifts from local vendors.

However, do make sure to finish your errands on Saturday because rain is expected on Sunday. Low-level moisture will increase overnight because of a developing coastal low and a weak disturbance moving overhead.

We will wake up Saturday morning in the 40s, but it will get warmer in the afternoon and reach the mid-60s. This is only three or four degrees below our late November normal high of 70 degrees.

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Well expect overcast skies and light showers developing after midnight and lasting through midday on Sunday. The chance of rain will be between 40% to 60% with rain totals ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch for most of the region.

Projections of cumulative rainfall in Southeast Texas from Saturday night through midday on Sunday show amounts of less than an inch in Houston and Beaumont. Pivotal

We will have a steady number of showers and drizzle through most of the morning, but it wont be a complete washout. The rain chances will end abruptly as the coastal low pressure system moves towards the central Gulf of Mexico, and a cold front sweeps into the region late on Sunday. Temperatures on Sunday will remain consistent until after the front passes through, with lows in the upper 50s and low 60s and highs topping out in the mid-60s.

High atmospheric pressure will move in over Texas next week, bringing plenty of sunshine and cooler temperatures. On Monday and Tuesday morning, temperatures will dip into the low 30s outside of the city, which could be the coldest temperatures so far this season. The National Weather Service is warning that some rural areas of Southeast Texas might even get close to freezing. This would be a little earlier than expected since the first freeze in the region doesnt normally occur until early December.

This forecast map shows when the 30-year average first freeze occurs across the United States. In Texas, the first freeze normally occurs as early as October in the Panhandle and in late November in South Texas. Midwest Regional Climate Center

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Its interesting to note that the coldest temperature in Houston this season was 37 degrees on Nov. 2. Although the forecast for Monday morning is 42 degrees, it is still eight degrees colder than the average low of 50 degrees.

One thing is for sure, youll want to grab a jacket on Monday as the wind will be blustery behind the front, with north winds of up to 15 mph and gusts reaching more than 20 mph. Even if we dont officially dip into the 30s, it will certainly feel like it.

Sunshine will return on Monday with lighter north winds in the afternoon and highs in the mid-50s. The last few days of November will be dry and sunny with a gradual warming trend. Each day we will climb a few degrees and eventually reach the mid-60s by Thursday.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Despite a high court ruling that Dalit Christians must be able to participate in religious festivals together with non-Dalits, this years procession for the festival of St Francis Xavier will not pass by their homes. Dalit Christians have fought to obtain their rights within the Church, said Fr Bosco, SJ, speaking to AsiaNews. Christians cannot accept castes. In fact, "If he wants, the bishop can cancel festivals until people agree to get together to celebrate them.

Trichy (AsiaNews)  A group of Dalit[*] Christians in the Purathakudi-Magizhambadi panchayat, Trichy district (Tamil Nadu), have complained about caste discrimination by non-Dalit co-religionists at the St Francis Xavier parish church, this despite a 2015 high court order allowing them to participate in church activities, including the annual festival.

The local parish comes under the Diocese of Kumbakonam and serves about 3,000 households, half of them Dalits and half non-Dalits. Dalit Christians complain that they have been excluded from the church's annual festival.

During the celebration, no flag, torchlight, or car processions are carried out in our streets. The dominant Christians do not allow us to touch cars or adorn them with garlands, some local Dalits said.

"We are completely ignored in all religious and cultural activities of our church. Even after the peace committee met 14 times, there was no consensus to let Dalits participate in the processions," they explained.

The local festival falls on 3 December. After the court's ruling in 2016, it was celebrated by Dalit and non-Dalits only in 2017.

The Madurai bench of the High Court this year again ordered the authorities, the bishop of Kumbakonam and the parish priest to take the most appropriate steps to involve Dalits in the annual festival.

The top clergy has taken a stand in favour of the dominant Christians, Dalits lament, a charge non-Dalit Christians reject, saying that logistical factors explain why the procession avoided some areas.

Father R Arockiadoss, vicar forane in the Lalgudi area, said the diocese is ready to implement the high court's decision. Our bishop did his best to bring both groups together to organise the car procession."

"Although the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court ordered to take the car procession in Dalit streets, this has not been done yet, said Fr Raj, former national secretary of the Office for Schedule Castes & Backward Classes (SC/BC) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).

The excuse is that Dalit streets are too narrow to take the car procession, he noted, but everyone ought to come together with Christian faith and charity and resolve the issue."

Fr A.X.J. Bosco, SJ, has been active for many years in raising awareness within the Indian Church about this issue.

Dalit Christians have fought to obtain their rights within the Church, he said. Purathakudi is an example of this. Christians cannot accept castes. Dalits are equal to others.

Although the Christian faith has always asserted that we are all children of God, many Christians in fact have always treated Dalits as untouchable and therefore unequal, with the silent support of bishops and priests, perpetuating the caste mindset.

"If he wants," Fr Bosco explained, the bishop can cancel festivals until people agree to get together to celebrate them. The official policy of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) states that caste is a sin and caste discrimination is against Jesus and his principles.

As long as the hierarchy and the priests continue to sin without even realising that they are sinning, Dalit Christians and Jesus, who ate and drank with sinners, Samaritans, outcasts and publicans have no place in the Indian Church.

[*] Formerly known as pariahs or untouchables under Indias caste system.
People and goods have not moved between the two countries for five days. One of the reasons for the blockade is Pakistan's US$ 830 exit fee for Afghans who intend to return home.

Quetta-Chaman (AsiaNews)  Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan across the Chaman border crossing was blocked today for the fifth consecutive day, as demonstrators continue a sit-in blocking the highway leading to Kandahar in protest against Pakistans new visa regime.

Thousands of traders and workers from different political parties and members of civil society groups joined the protest on the Quetta-Chaman highway a month after the government's decision to regularise the crossing between the two countries through a one-document regime.

The Apex National Committee took the decision, and Pakistan has been enforcing the new border crossing policy since 1 November. Border authorities refuse access to anyone without a passport and a valid visa from both sides.

The traders' alliance has called on Pakistans federal government to drop the single document regime and allow at least residents in Chaman and the Afghan district of Spin-Boldak to continue crossing the border using their countrys identity cards.

Attempts by the authorities, including the Chaman administration, have failed to achieve any progress and the highway continues to be blocked.

One of the reasons for Pakistan's tightening of border controls is its decision to charge undocumented Afghans a US$ 830 exit fee.

In October, Pakistan announced that it would deport 1.7 million undocumented foreigners if they did not leave the country on their own by 1 November. Most are Afghans, including hundreds of thousands of people who fled Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power in 2021.

According to Amnesty International, many Afghans who arrived in Pakistan when Kabul fell to the Taliban have faced delays in obtaining refugee status documentation.

Pakistan has not ratified the Refugee Convention and is under no obligation to recognise any of the Afghans living within its borders as refugees.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that it was trying to "resolve the issue",

In fact, The Government and people of Pakistan have a commendable, decades-long history of providing asylum and protection to Afghan refugees, this needs to continue, the UN agency said.

In expressing Pakistans response, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Pakistani laws, like the immigration laws in other countries including the United Kingdom, have fines and punishments for individuals who overstay their visas or are in violation of immigration laws.
by Stefano Caprio

Remembered with great passion in Ukraine and deep resentment in Russia, the Revolution of Dignity has brought into play not only the geopolitical and economic interests of the Ukrainian people and of the various parts of the "Russian world", but above all their deepest moral and spiritual interests that transcend the ideological.

This week Ukrainians marked with passion the 10th anniversary of the freedom rally that began on 21 November 2013 in Kyivs Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), a date much resented in Russia.

On that day students, activists and journalists gathered to protest the decision of the government of then President Viktor Yanukovych not to sign the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement.

For this reason, the rally was also called Euromaidan, hinting not only at the aspirations of Ukrainians towards the West, but above all the call to Europe to fully express its identity.

Remembering those tense days brings us to review all the moments that have led to the start of the new age of "world war", from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel, connecting events and circumstances that seemed distant in time and space, and which now overlap and intersect more and more, opening to the common fear about a "new world order" that will arise out of it, amid opposing and increasingly contradictory visions and polarisations.

Those days can, above all, shed further light on the future of the European continent, where elections next year will not only reshuffle more or less traditional alliances, but will force everyone to rethink the role of their people, nation or region, their conscience as citizens and social groups, even as militants or anti-militants of a global war.

Maidan has also been called the Revolution of Dignity (Revoliutsiia hidnosti), bringing into play not only geopolitical, economic, and ideological interests, but above all the deepest moral and spiritual interests of the Ukrainian people and the various parts of the Russian world.

Over the three months in which the Maidan,[*] the square was occupied, 104 protesters and 17 security forces died. President Yanukovych fled to Russia and early elections were held that rewarded the proponents of European integration.

A few weeks later, in early March 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and began the conflict in the Donbass, the hybrid conflict that later became an all-out war.

For Vladimir Putin and his supporters, Maidan has become the main bogeyman of the world's ills, a feeling that had already spread among the increasingly exasperated Russians since the "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine in 2004, when for the first time "little Russia" broke away from Moscow and sought closer ties with Europe.

From that moment on, Russia began to feel threatened, and aggressive slogans calling for the establishment of a "multipolar world" began to be heard, while explicit repression against internal opposition intensified.

It was the end of Putin's first term, during which he had adopted a seemingly conciliatory tone, open to collaboration with everyone, but the signs of change that led to the current situation were already there.

In 2004 the political confrontation ended with a compromise between pro-Russian and pro-European factions, respectively led by Yanukovych and Viktor Yushchenko. The latter became president, but brought his rival into his administration.

The schism between Ukraines eastern and southern regions vs its western and northern regions remained in the background, the former leaning towards Moscow and the latter towards the West.

The propaganda machine, on both sides, made tensions worse until 2010, when Yanukovych won the election thanks to the "Donbass clan", the group of pro-Moscow oligarchs and businessmen who occupied the halls of government, plunging the Ukrainian economy into a vortex of corruption and abuses.

In addition to forcing people to take sides, this election sparked strong populist tensions in Ukrainian society, of opposition to all institutions deemed unworthy and corrupt, ultimately symbolised by the anti-caste actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who eventually became a wartime leader of total resistance, forced to switch roles but still engaged in the fight against domestic corruption.

Corruption limits civil liberties, as was the case during Yanukovychs three years in power, and the push towards Europe was not so much generated by an ideological choice, but by the need to reclaim an acceptable model of social coexistence.

This factor today is stifled by apocalyptic proclamations and metaphysical abstractions about "traditional values", yet it remains the real problem facing todays globalised world, from the United States to Russia, from Africa to China, as evinced by the surprising populist waves of recent years.

From Donald Trump to Jair Bolsonaro, to the recent election of Javier Milei in Argentina and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, the leaders "of the people" embody the anger and frustration caused by an economic system that increasingly impoverishes the masses to enrich the ruling castes, and in the end the real war is the same in all latitudes  it is a war for social justice, however you want to define it.

Putin was right to call the Maidan a "coup d'etat" since the legitimacy of Yanukovych's ouster and regime change remain an open question, centring the debate on its geopolitical aspects and ignoring the true aspirations of citizens.

In a sense, it could be said that even the radical positions of Hamas terrorists and the very right-wing government of Bibi Netanyahu muddy the reality of life in Israel and Gaza, reducing everything to an epic ethnic clash, supported by religious ghosts just like Putin's wars.

Thus, national and international agreements and conventions are bypassed, justifying all forms of violence and dictatorship.

Maidan is a very Ukrainian moment, just as the Gaza war is linked to the eternal conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, but their standardisation allows all the world's centres of political, military, and informational power to use local events to impose global schemes.

The changes that these conflicts are already causing in Ukraine  and it is not known how they will change life in the countries of the Middle East  must instead raise awareness about reality rather than the motivations behind propaganda.

We need a transparent and sustainable economy, a balanced and non-politicised justice system, global communication linking markets and peoples without stifling monopolies, a role for religious communities that is not unnecessarily emphasised and political movements that are not artificially polarised; in short, we need a new model of society, which everyone must learn and regulate according to their own home, nation, and continent.

We need to start again from the Maidan in every country, and not let the tragedies of recent years leave only rubble and piles of corpses. Most of all, we need a real "Euromaidan", not centripetal, but increasingly "outgoing".

Europe does not get stronger only by aggregating and absorbing other states and other territories, since its nature is mainly historical, cultural and religious, not really geographical (what are Europes real borders, its real Ukraines, i.e. borderlands?).

Reflecting on the most recent events is only the starting point to rediscover the deepest aspect of conscience, the "who we are" and where we come from rather than "we have to get out of here" as soon as possible.

The rift between Russians and Ukrainians is not a new or a sudden problem, nor is the conflict between Jews and their neighbours, with all the deportations, flights and diasporas that went along with extermination and destruction.

Only by trying to prevent further bloodshed and devastation will peace negotiations settle the reasons for these conflicts.

A "state of war" plays into the hands of those who do not want to allow individuals and peoples to be in charge of their own life in their own society and in the whole world, and negotiations or concessions are not enough to find true peace.

What is needed is for everyone to take responsibility for what they do, women and men of all parties to the conflict, a "synodality" that is not confined to ecclesiastical spheres, but is open to the contribution of anyone who wants to commit themselves to rebuilding their home and nation, building a new world.

[*] A term that entered Ukrainian via Turkish indicating a public gathering place.
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Cars travel over Castle Creek Bridge in Aspen on Friday. Outbound traffic can expect detours from the bridge in the middle of the day between Tuesday and Friday as inspectors assess the condition of the bridge.
Not long ago, impending doom surrounded the classic sector of American muscle cars. Today, the segment shines a little brighter  though not necessarily across the real world.

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EV

SUV

First, Stellantis ordained Dodge to renounce its-powered practice of the Charger and Challenger nameplates. They showcased the Charger Daytona SRT concept as a harbinger of thelifestyle to come with nine levels of Banshee EV prowess. Meanwhile, the 2023 Charger and Challenger had seven 'Last Call' special editions to celebrate passing the baton, including the bonkers 1,025-hp (on E85) Challenger SRT Demon 170.However, in the wake of the slowing EV sales, the rumor mill has caught wind that Stellantis decided to nuance its decision, and only the Hemi V8 engines will be gone from the next generation Charger. Instead, the question remains whether the Challenger will survive, not if the Charger gets the new 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six SSTs with 420 hp and 540 hp (H/O).Anyway, Chevrolet soon followed suit in a much lower-key fashion with the Collector's Edition and Grage 56 ZL1 special variants for the Camaro  also revealing they intend to cease production in January 2024 for the sixth generation. Unfortunately, GM hasn't anointed an heir to the throne and only said (in a whispering, soft voice) that this is not the end of the road for the legendary Camaro nameplate. Corroborated with previous rumors that spoke of GM's intention to transform the iconic pony car into something else, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators keeps circling back to an interesting idea  what if the Camaro comes back as a sporty crossoverThe good folks from the Next-Gen Car and TheAutoReport channels on YouTube have even imagined the potential return of the Camaro nameplate as an SUV, so you don't need to sleep on it, hoping that it will arrive in your dreams. Their idea is quite similar  only the resident pixel masters changed a few things here and there with help from AI software, apparently.As such, the main gist from both the Next-Gen Car and TheAutoReport channels is that Chevrolet could quickly bring back the Camaro moniker for a crossover-coupe SUV with two doors and the allure of a bodybuilder. Well, it's anyone's guess if that will ever happen, but the hosts also talk about the possibility of placing the Camaro SUV under the rumored Corvette SUV both in terms of MSRPs and performance, even if both models would feature electrified powertrains.So, what do we think  should we hope and pray for GM's corner office head honchos to approve the plan of morphing the once-beloved Camaro pony/muscle car from a traditional two-door coupe into a two-door SUV, or are we too afraid this decision will transform the potential crossover into a veritable mall crawler?
American Honda Motor Co. has issued a recall affecting no fewer than 303,770 vehicles produced for the 2023 and 2024 model years. The front seat belt pretensioners may be missing the rivets that secure the wire plates and quick connectors. In other words, the pretensioners won't restrain the front occupants properly in the event of a crash.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Photo: Honda of Americas

NHTSA

The 2023 to 2024 Honda Accord opens the list, with build dates ranging from October 4, 2022 to October 14, 2023. Next up, the 2023 to 2024 Honda HR-V is listed in the attached report from April 26, 2022 to October 14, 2023. No fewer than three part numbers are provided for the left and right front pretensioner assemblies, which are manufactured in Mexico by the folks at Joyson Safety Systems.If that name rings a bell, that's because the Auburn Hills-based supplier adopted this moniker after Key Safety Systems acquired Takata . You know, the Japanese corporation that went under in 2017 due to deadly airbag inflators. Coincidentally, said airbag inflators were manufactured in Mexico by Takata subsidiary TK Holdings Inc.Honda became aware that something was off about the pretensioner assemblies in the Accord and HR-V on May 23. The subsequent investigation determined that a defect to motor vehicle safety does exist, and what's more, the recall condition is a noncompliance in the eyes of the federal watchdog. More specifically, pretensioners without rivets designed to secure the wire plates to the quick connectors do not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard 208 (for occupant crash protection) and safety standard 209 (for seat belt assemblies).At the time Honda filed this recall with the, the Japanese automaker was aware of 7 warranty claims in the United States of America. Receipt dates range from April 26, 2022 to November 16, 2023.How did Joyson Safety Systems correct this concern in production? As expected, the supplier has improved pre-shipment inspection processes. Accord and HR-V owners will be notified of this recall by American Honda Motor Co. via first-class mail no later than January 8, 2024. Dealers have already been instructed to inspect the front seat belt pretensioner assemblies. If the oh-so-important rivet mentioned earlier is missing, the service technician will replace the whole pretensioner assembly.Honda estimates that 1 percent of the recall population requires replacement front seat belt pretensioners. In the meantime, owners can verify whether their vehicles are indeed recalled or not by running the VIN on the's website.Redesigned for the 2023 model year, the Accord comes with either 1.5-liter turbo I4 muscle or a hybrid-assisted 2.0 of the naturally-aspirated variety. The 1.5er is connected to a continuously variable transmission, whereas the Atkinson-cycle 2.0 engine is joined by an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Prices for said engine options kick off at $27,895 and $32,545, respectively.Available in LX, Sport, and EX-L flavors, the HR-V for North America packs a free-breathing I4 with 158 ponies on deck. All three grades can be optioned with all-wheel drive for an extra $1,500 over the $24,100, $25,650, and $27,650 base prices for MY24.
Mercedes-Benz is working on the facelift of the G-Class and will bring an electric variant to the lineup. The Mercedes CEO himself took a zero-emission EQG prototype for a spin. Literally. Because that is exactly what he did: spin on the spot. And some extreme off-roading that not many vehicles are capable of.

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Photo: Mercedes-Benz | YouTube

ICE

AMG

Ever since the carmaker announced it would roll out an electric G-Class , it has been trying to convince everyone out there that the electric powertrain will by no means compromise the rugged nature of the vehicle or its off-road capabilities.On the market since the 1970s, the iconic G-Class has always been known as a super capable off-roader. Not much has changed about the design of the off-roader over the years. Later on, with new tech, creature comforts, and becoming much easier to drive, it turned out to be a lifestyle must-haveamong celebrities. The rugged appearance, the boxy shape, those looks halfway between fugly and gorgeous, its capabilities on and off the road, plus the iconic reputation are what have kept it alive for this long.Now, Mercedes is working on a facelift, which will also spring an electric variant. The carmaker wants to make sure everyone knows that the electric powertrain will not reduce the aura or the abilities of the legendary G.That is exactly why the companys CEO, Ola Kalenius, took the vehicle off-roading up the Schockl mountain near Gaz, Austria. Every model, before it goes into production, has to run up and down the mountain 336 times to be Schockl-proved. "It is a pretty hardcore off-road track there," Ola Kallenius warns.Once it leaves the garage, the electric G prototype does what it does best: tackles rough terrain, climbs up every rock that comes its way, goes down without breaking a sweat.The electric variant will keep the three lock differentials that the-powered G sports, but will be powered by four motors, each mounted on a wheel. This setup allows the G-Class to do the impressive tank turn, spinning on the spot, with the simple push of a button, and with the help of one of the shift paddles, depending on which direction you want to go. Ola Kallenius explains that the move might help people out when they get stuck while off-roading.The only cars currently in production that are able to do the tank turn are the Zeekr 001 and the YangWang U8, both coming all the way from China. Rivian eventually decided to ditch the tank turn mode, which never made it to a production model, because the function was "so easily abused and so hard to make sure that we dont tear up trails," Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe explained.To keep it a "real G," Mercedes kept the typical features: it will keep the angular straight-lines-only design as well as the round-shaped headlights, and the turn lights will still be up there, on the hood. The doors will maintain the visible hinges. and the so-familiar 'click-clack' sound when closing, and the spare wheel case will be at the rear, but this time, sporting a square shape instead of the usual round one.The updated Mercedes-Benz G-Class is slated to make its debut in 2024 as a 2025 model year. That is when the EQG should arrive as well. Anvariant is also part of the plan.
A Utah telescope intercepted an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray event, only second to the 1991 "Oh-My-God" particle.

The rare phenomenon was detected by the Telescope Array Collaboration in 2021 and dubbed as Amaterasu, a sun goddess that helped create Japan.

The energy of this single particle is roughly 244 extra-electron volts, or 40 Joules, equivalent to "dropping a brick on your toe from waist height." The "Oh-My-God" particle has 320 exa-electron volts.

There are no obvious sources where the ray came from aside from that it came from an empty area of space bordering the Milky Way.

The Telescope Array has observed more than 30 ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in the past three decades but this was the first time a cosmic energy came close to the "Oh-My-God" particle.

NASA describes cosmic rays as high energy particles traveling at the speed of light with the ability to surpass the energy of supernova remnants. However, these particles rarely hit Earth.

Scientists plan to upgrade the Telescope Array in Utah in hopes of intercepting more cosmic rays in the future.

Also Read: Euclid Telescope Images Reveal Detailed Look into Far Galaxies

The Telescope Array Collaboration

Led by the University of Utah and the University of Tokyo, the telescope covers 700 km2 of land outside Delta, Utah in the state's West Desert.

The telescope itself is made of 507 surface detector stations arranged in a square grid position.

South Korea, Russia, and Belgium also contributed to the project aimed to monitor "air showers" of cosmic rays that hit Earth.

Data from the surface detectors are analyzed using GPS timing and simulations to determine the energy, mass, and arrival direction of cosmic rays.

Related Article: NASA James Webb Space Telescope Unveils 3D Visualization of 5,000 Galaxies

Purpose of the Study on Cosmic Rays

John Belz, one of the leading scientists in the project, said there are many questions about cosmic rays that still have no "conventional explanation."

Scientists at Utah hope that "Amaterasu" will provide some insight into the mysteries of the galaxy.

The Telescope Array team intends to compare the data from both "Amaterasu" and "Oh-My-God" to compare the particle distribution in the North and South Hemisphere.
4WD

Toyota sounded the death knell for the FJ Cruiser altogether in late 2022, with the last one being sold in the Middle East. In its home market, it gave up on it in early 2018, celebrating it with the aptly-named Final Edition swansong. In the US, it was the 2,500-copy Trail Teams Ultimate Edition that sent it off, featuring a few special things over the normal ones, including a Heritage Blue finish.All versions of the Toyota FJ Cruiser came with a single powertrain, which was a 4.0-liter V6 unit offered in different states of tune depending on the market. Customers were able to choose between a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, with the latter being limited to four-wheel drive models. Base versions had to make do with rear-wheel drive, and needless to say, they were inferior to themodels off the beaten path.Based on the same platform as the old Land Cruiser Prado, which automatically tied it to the era's Lexus GX, too, and the 4Runner, the FJ Cruiser was reportedly built in just over 238,000 examples for North America between 2007 and 2014. It is unknown how many of them still survive. Those that do change hands for less than $10,000 when it comes to the older ones with many miles under their belts. The priciest tend to be valued at around $50,000 or a bit more.There have been several unofficial talks about a possible revival of the FJ Cruiser , and now that there is a new Land Cruiser out, they are being repeated. After all, a hypothetical new generation would share the same underpinnings as the 2024 Land Cruiser. Several rendering artists have already imagined it with a good dose of trust-us-bro when it came to the styling. Q Cars' unofficial proposal stays true to the original and features a boxier look, and between us, we're fans of the design.If they were to bring it back from the dead, then it would automatically take a swing at the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. Given the popularity of these models, stealing some sales from them would be tricky, but Toyota would ultimately rely on the original FJs to secure a spot on the podium. Realistically speaking, there is nothing to indicate a brand-new FJ Cruiser, so chances are this model is wishful thinking. But would you really buy one if the car manufacturer from the Land of the Rising Sun relaunched it?
Since its introduction in 2017, it has received a mid-cycle refresh that has expanded the lineup to two versions, the S and Performante, and a plug-in hybrid derivative is in the works as we speak. Moreover, the Lamborghini Urus' success has also forced other exotic car manufacturers to come up with similar proposals, like the Ferrari Purosangue.Even though it has nothing in common with the LM002, as it uses the same nuts and bolts as the VW Group's large SUVs, the Urus can at least trace its roots back to the iconic off-roader, which also came to life at the Sant'Agata Bolognese factory, in Italy. The truck's name stood for Lamborghini Militaria (LM), and the 002 came as a continuation of the 001 prototype unveiled at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show five years before the assembly of the LM002 kicked off.As a result, a hypothetical pickup version of the Urus would be named the LM003 to honor its legendary predecessor . The super crossover has already been imagined with an open bed behind the cockpit multiple times, with the latest coming from Digimods Design on Instagram. The rendering artist has managed to keep the Urus' spirit alive while improving its hauling, and we think it looks great, especially with the elevated ground clearance, chunkier black cladding, and additional bits and bobs.In theory, Lamborghini has the right tools and knowledge to launch a pickup version of the Urus. In practice, such a model would need some positive feedback from its fanbase and, ultimately, the Volkswagen Group's blessing. However, we all know that premium workhorses don't tend to sell well, and after the catastrophic failure of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, which was based on the same platform as the thid-gen Nissan Navara, not many automakers are willing to risk huge chunks of money to come up with one.As a result, as much as some enthusiasts would want an open-bed Urus , chances are the Italian exotic car maker will never give it the green light for production. This is what we believe anyway, and there's nothing to suggest otherwise at the time of writing. On the other hand, a pickup version of the super crossover would be a great way to send it off in a few years before the model leaves the assembly line for good. But if money was no issue, would you really pick one up if it was available despite not having a body-on-frame construction?
Two years later, General Motors gave the go-ahead to an ambitious project that eventually put Chevrolet back on the automotive map in the United States. Impala debuted in 1958 as the top Bel Air version, gaining series status a year later and slowly but surely becoming the best-selling model in GM's home market.eBay seller stomp632 has recently posted something on the auction site that you can hardly find these days. They have not one but two 1958 Impalas , both in great shape and with working engines.The two cars started their comeback as projects but have already received urgent repairs. The red Impala received a processional repaint, so it looks fantastic today. It's been sitting for several years, but thanks to the fixes it received recently, it now features a newer tri-tone interior, good glass, and decent stainless and chrome.The engine in charge of putting the wheels in motion is a 283 paired with an automatic transmission. It runs and drives, so all signs suggest an easy restoration, though it's unclear if everything on this Impala remains original.The second Impala is likely the one that'll receive more love from netizens worldwide. Sporting a blue paint with a silver top, the Impala comes with a new trunk pan, but the seller says the car received a factory replacement unit. The lower left quarter has also been replaced, but only some goodies are original.The interior requires a full overhaul, but this is unsurprising, as this Impala looks like it has also been sitting for some time. What makes it even more intriguing is the engine under the hood.The car comes with a 348 Tri-Power unit, and the owner says the engine has already been rebuilt and only requires minor touches before being fitted back in the engine bay. Bringing this Impala back to factory specifications will be challenging, so the better option is to go the restomod or hotrod route to save the car.You can imagine that such a duo can't sell cheap, though the seller has extremely ambitious expectations from the two Impalas. The auction starts at $15,000, but they also configured a reserve, and looking at the Buy It Now price, I believe the bidding must go significantly higher to allow the car to receive a second chance. If you want to trigger the BIN option and get the car without a fight, you must pay no more, no less than $72,000, which is quite a lot for two otherwise solid Impala projects.The best option is to go check out the cars in person. They are parked in Goodrich, Michigan, waiting for the end of the digital battle on eBay.
U.S. President Joe Biden

Washington D.C. (United States)







Terming the release of the initial batch of hostages as a part of a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, the "start of a process," President Joe Biden said the United States expects "dozens of hostages" will be returned to their families over the next few days.

"Today's release is the start of a process. We expect more hostages to be released tomorrow and more of the day after and more the day after that. Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families. We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well," Biden said in his remarks on Friday.

Biden further said that everyone should be appreciative of the families who have been "reunited with loved ones."

"Two American women and one four-year-old child Abigail, who remain among those missing. We will not stop until we get these hostages brought home and an answer to their whereabouts. I remain in personal contact with the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Israel to make sure this stays on track and every aspect to the deal is implemented," Biden said.

The U.S. President further said that the hostages who were released on day one of the ceasefire from Gaza have a long journey of healing ahead of them.

He said, "All these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them...Today has been a product of a lot of hard work and weeks of personal engagement. From the moment Hamas kidnapped these people, I, along with my team, have worked around the clock to secure the release we saw...I've consistently pressed for a pause in the fighting for two reasons to accelerate and expand humanitarian assistance going into Gaza and to facilitate the lease of hostages."

"Over the past several weeks, I've spoken repeatedly with the Emir of Qatar, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, to help secure this deal and I want to thank all three leaders for their personal partnership to get this done," Biden said.

Biden, also said that Hamas carried out the assault because "they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace."

"As we look to the future, we have to end this cycle of violence in the Middle East. We need to renew our resolve to pursue this two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can one day live side by side in a two-state solution with an equal measure of freedom and dignity," Biden said.

As part of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, the first group of Israeli hostages has been handed over to the staff of the International Committee for Red Cross, The Times of Israel reported.

The truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 7 a.m. (local time) on Friday.

The release of 13 hostages, who are mothers and children, is the first of four expected stages. Notably, Hamas has agreed to release some 50 hostages, which include women and children over the four days of the truce with Israel.

In addition to the 13 Israeli hostages, Egypt's government media office said that it has successfully negotiated the separate release of 12 Thai hostages who were abducted during Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, the report said. Thailand said it believes 26 of its citizens were taken hostage on October 7.

Hamas might eventually free more hostages, in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire by an extra day for each 10 Israeli hostages, according to The Times of Israel report. The released hostages are only a small group out of some 240 people held hostage by Hamas terrorists since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel.
25 November 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Continuing to strengthen relations at the international level, Azerbaijan has become a significant partner for the European Union in supplying energy resources to EU countries. Despite provocative actions and statements by some EU officials about imposing sanctions, Azerbaijan continues to build a road to peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus. After the successful completion of anti-terrorist measures to liberate its territories from the separatist regime, its neighbour Armenia has a chance to balance its relations in the region with both its neighbours and Azerbaijan.

The country is doing a lot of work to reunite Azerbaijani IDPs with their native lands. Along with the development of other important sectors, Azerbaijan is trying to develop relations between Turkic countries and develop the culture of Turkic countries in cooperation with each other. In order to achieve cooperation at the international level, it is important to solve regional problems, which is Armenia, in whose interests and dreams it is to join and establish itself in the European Union.

As we know, many organisations and powers are involved in the reformatting of the world, wishing to promote their agenda while affecting the whole system. While contemplating the decision to join the EU, Armenia forgets about the more significant and weighty issues on which its coexistence in the South Caucasus region depends. There are still unresolved issues with Azerbaijan and complicated relations with Russia. As long as Yerevan remains silent, the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan may remain on the table, and this decision will play a difficult joke for Armenia but will play into the hands of the hibernated Garabagh clans financed by the Western forces.

With its fingers crossed waiting to achieve something good, Yerevan continues its propaganda activities in inciting hatred against Azerbaijan on the world stage, misinforming the public about the alleged "ethnic cleansing of Armenians", "victims and hostages" held as prisoners in Baku, and the destruction of the cultural heritage of Armenians in Garabagh.

Western European countries continue to maintain a "silence" towards Azerbaijanis who were displaced by the barbaric attacks of the Dashnaks and the separatist clan on the territory of Azerbaijan. Has anyone helped to find 4 thousand missing Azerbaijanis after the first Garabagh war in three decades? Did someone help to clear the lands from mines?

A so-called organisaton named "Centre for Truth and Justice" has recently made a report on Azerbaijan, demanding the release of all Armenian prisoners, including those who were accomplice in the mass murders in Khojali and other genocides committed by the separatist clan. However, the mentioned center pretends to be ignorant of history, fooling itself.

The report presents the prisoners by name, including those who held leading positions in "Nagorno-Karabakh": Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Babayan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Ruben Vardanyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan. To understand who they demand to be released, one should look at the reports and photographs of the First Garabagh War to realise that they are in their places.

The report allegedly mentions that "Azerbaijan carried out ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their ancestral land by attacking Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 September. Within 10 days, more than 100,000 Armenians were forcibly expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh and took refuge in Armenia. During the wars against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and 2023, Azerbaijani authorities captured about 200 Armenian civilians and soldiers."

To these "forcibly expelled" Armenians, Azerbaijan offered to reintegrate as citizens of the country and live in peace in Garabagh. It is not profitable for Armenia to leave its people on the territory of the country with which they are at enmity, while it was offered to reintegrate them into Azerbaijan. In addition, Armenia insists on returning separatists who were once murderers and are serving prison time in Baku. This is Yerevan's clear justification of the crime.

The increasing Western pressure on Azerbaijan also continues its activities in the information field. Attributing great geographical importance to Yerevan, it is important for the Western countries to get Azerbaijan's gas and other lines of passage as economic and strategic in their struggle with Russia and China.

Answering the questions of Armenian media, Lars Patrick Berg, a pro-Armenian member of the European Parliament from Germany, stated that "the President of France supported Armenia's position, as well as French deputies, mayors, in the U.S. Congress they also expressed solidarity with Armenia's position, and even in the EU there are many friends of Artsakh.

But the point is to regulate votes and put pressure on Azerbaijan. I have been in favour of imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan in Brussels and Strasbourg, but it is very difficult to do so. And I don't see a chance for the EU to impose sanctions in the near future, it's sad and all this is a tragedy," the pro-Armenian German MP said.

Head of the German Foreign Intelligence Service Bruno Kahl after arricing in Yerevan reported that Berlin would provide Yerevan with 84.6 million euros in grants and loans. The Western structure will continue its actions in support of its clans in Armenia, and the EU's perceived threats to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan remain behind them.

Speaking at a press conference on 24 November, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a decree granting citizenship to Armenians who "voluntarily" emigrated from Garabagh. He noted that people who have already applied for civil service jobs have been instructed to promptly resolve the issues of granting Armenian citizenship.

With this decision, Pashinyan began granting Armenian citizenship to Armenians who illegally settled in Garabagh during the 30-year occupation.

One of the lies that Pashinyan exposed in his numerous interviews with foreign media was the myth of an "existential threat" to the Armenian population of Garabagh. His decision means exposing the fake number of "Armenian refugees" from Garabagh, Pashinyan's myth of an "existential threat".

Baku will continue to chase up Yerevan until making it to sign a peace treaty in accordance with its own principles. Because Yerevan's need for opening borders with Turkiye, on the other hand, the growing economic influence of Azerbaijan, and the entire Turkic world around the region leave no chance for PM Nikol Pashinyan to circumvent coming to the negotiation table.

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Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33

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25 November 2023 11:39 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljko Komsic, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. Chairman,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and your entire people on the occasion of the national holiday of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Relations of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have good traditions. I believe that our joint efforts to strengthen our bilateral relations and expand our cooperation in all areas will further contribute to the prosperity of our peoples.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, happiness, and success in your activities, and the friendly people of Bosnia and Herzegovina ever-lasting peace and prosperity," the letter said.

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25 November 2023 13:25 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The discussions revolved around the issues on the current agenda of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the GCC, as well as prospects for the development of relations.

The two emphasized the importance of Azerbaijans participation and close involvement in the processes in a number of GCC regional formats, especially in cooperation mechanisms with the Central Asian countries.

In this regard, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the important role of the Summit of the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) held in Baku, as well as the reached agreements in terms of boosting cooperation in the region.

Noting that relations between Azerbaijan and the GCC member states are based on historical friendship, mutual respect, support, and solidarity, FM Bayramov emphasized that these relations give impetus to mutually beneficial cooperation within the GCC.

The sides discussed the current situation of and prospects for joint projects with the GCC countries in economic, energy, transport, tourism, education and other fields.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov provided insight into the situation in the region and peace prospects in the post-conflict period.

During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest.

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25 November 2023 14:30 (UTC+04:00)

As part of activities to enlighten military personnel, socio-political training classes are being held in field conditions with the Azerbaijan Armys servicemen, citing the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry.

The classes provide detailed information about the historical significance of the diplomatic activity of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, as well as about the courage and bravery shown by our heroic servicemen in military operations.

Enlightenment talks and exchange of views are held during educational work and political informatization hours, as well as in servicemen's leisure time. Questions of servicemen are answered and necessary recommendations on military service are given.

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25 November 2023 14:59 (UTC+04:00)

On November 24, 2023, while responding to questions from the public, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan once again attempted to undermine our right of return. The Armenian PM assessed the demands of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia to return to their home as a preparation for war. The prime minister of Armenia, a country that occupied the territories of Azerbaijan under the pretext of protecting the rights of Armenians in Garabagh, sees everything through the prism of his own beliefs, the Western Azerbaijan Community said in a statement.

Unlike Armenia, which pursues a mono-ethnic policy, the Azerbaijani state and society consider ethnic diversity a supreme value. The government of Armenia must put an end to its racist policy of ethnic exclusivity, respect the values of coexistence and ethnic diversity, and provide conditions for the safe and dignified return of the expelled Azerbaijanis to Armenia," the Community added.

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25 November 2023 17:21 (UTC+04:00)

During their visit to Georgia, representatives of ADA University met with teachers, students and young people in Dmanisi district, located on the border with Armenia, where Azerbaijanis live compactly, Azernews reports.

The delegation informed them about the meetings held at the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Tbilisi State and Tbilisi Technical Universities, as well as in other regions where Azerbaijanis live.

Samira Aghayeva, the project manager of the Kazakh Teachers' Seminary of ADA University, and Mahnur Abbasova, the representative of the university's student admission department, informed the students and young people about the faculties of ADA University, student admission rules, educational programs, and the conditions created for Georgian Azerbaijanis. It was reported that a scholarship program is also being implemented to solve personnel problems that may arise in Azerbaijani-speaking schools in Georgia. Within this program, teachers can receive master's education at ADA University.

Ramel Latifov, the responsible employee of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia, who participated in the meetings, said that, as in other regions, teachers, students and high school students of the Dmanisi district also showed great interest in ADA University.

"First of all, they appreciate the attention and care of the state of Azerbaijan and the conditions created by ADA University for our compatriots. Teachers and students expressed their desire to get a master's degree at ADA. Senior school students also want to get a bachelor's degree at ADA University."

According to him, several Georgian Azerbaijanis have already applied to the embassy after the meetings held by ADA employees. The embassy will summarize all proposals and submit them to the university.

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It was a chaotic five days for OpenAI as it experienced an internal struggle among its executives. The board decided to fire its CEO, Sam Altman but was eventually reinstated after backlash. It is now revealed that this may have been due to concerns over an AI breakthrough.

OpenAI Researchers Became Wary

The Microsoft-backed company has been at the forefront of AI technology advancements, and it appears that there has been a breakthrough that's more advanced than anyone has seen before. The secret breakthrough was said to be called Q*.

Even the most advanced AI models available to the public still can't perform with such mathematical proficiency, but OpenAI's secret AI is rumored to have extensive computing resources and can tackle specific mathematical problems.

OpenAI researchers saw the potential risks of the technology, even saying that it could "threaten humanity." The concerns were then brought to the board, which might be why they believed that Sam Altman could not be trusted anymore.

The letter that was sent by the OpenAI researchers is yet to be acquired by any news outlets, but it is likely about the safeguards that should be added to the model, as well as the commercialization of such advanced technology.

As pointed out by Interesting Engineering, Q* could be what Altman was referring to when he said that he has "gotten to be in the room when we push the veil of ignorance back and the frontier of discovery forward." This was said the day before he was ousted as OpenAI's CEO.

Even though the OpenAI researchers raised such concerns, it's evident that OpenAI employees are still loyal to the reinstated chief executive. After all, more than 700 employees threatened to follow suit if the company did not rehire Altman as the CEO.

Read Also: OpenAI Forms Team Focused on Catastrophic Risks of AI

The Events That Led to Altman's Reinstatement

It was on Friday when the news of Sam Altman being ousted as the CEO broke which surprised the entire tech industry. OpenAI board member and co-founder Ilya Sutskever said that Altman was not worried enough about the risks of AI.

As a result of these concerns, four out of six board members including Sutskever voted to fire Altman. Greg Brockman, the company's president, also followed suit in protest. This led to OpenAI hiring a new CEO, Twitch executive Emmett Shear.

This didn't last very long as he was immediately replaced by OpenAI executive, Mira Murati. All while this is happening, Microsoft revealed that they would hire Altman and Brockman as part of Microsoft's new AI research team, although this was never an official offer.

As per The New York Times, this was the moment when hundreds of employees threatened to quit as well, especially now that they can follow both AI experts to Microsoft. Altman eventually got what he wanted and returned to the company with those who voted him out, gone.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even approved of the changes, saying that it was the "first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance." With three board members gone, two will be taking their places, namely Bret Taylor and Lawrence Summers.

Related: OpenAI's Sam Altman: Achievements, Contributions, and Net Worth
25 November 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Australian Hollywood actor Travis Fimmel, famous for his role as King Ragnar in "Vikings," met with Turkiye's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu during a tourist visit to Istanbul, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The actor visited Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and Historical Museum with Mumcu.

Fimmel informed about the history and architecture of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, then experienced the atmosphere of the Hagia Sophia Historical Museum, which digitally showcases its rich history to visitors.

Mumcu, accompanying the famous actor on the tour, announced a record increase in tourist numbers in 2023.

Fimmel highlighted the role of the Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in promoting Turkiye globally. He emphasized efforts to attract the international film industry, expressing satisfaction with the country's growing appeal to renowned stars.

TGA continues its promotional efforts, drawing the attention of global travelers, including Hollywood's famous actors, directors, and producers, to Turkiye's rich cultural heritage.

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25 November 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00)

North Korea claimed Saturday its leader Kim Jong-un observed photos taken by the country's recently launched military spy satellite of "major target regions" in South Korea, where U.S. Army bases are located, and parts of Hawaii, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap News Agency.

Kim visited the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on Friday to "learn about the operational preparation of the reconnaissance satellite" and looked at the aerospace photos, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

He examined the photos of major target regions, including Mokpo, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, Osan, Seoul, and other areas in the South and the North, as the satellite passed over the Korean Peninsula from 10:15-10:27 a.m. on Friday, according to the KCNA.

Pyeongtaek is home to Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas U.S. military installation in the world. Other U.S. military bases are also located in Gunsan and Osan.

North Korea did not release photos taken by its spy satellite, but if confirmed, the satellite imagery could verify that the satellites are working properly in orbit.

NATA also reported to Kim on the "fine-tuning process" that took place for 62 hours after the reconnaissance satellite was put into its orbit and its plan for photographing the region of the South Korean "puppets," as well as an additional fine-tuning process that will take place Saturday morning, the KCNA said.

In a separate report released hours later, the KCNA said Kim visited NATA once again Saturday morning to inspect satellite imagery of major target areas, including Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu and Gangneung, taken between 9:59:40 and 10:02:10 a.m.

The North claimed it also captured photos of the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, currently docked at a naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 10:01 a.m.

Kim then examined photos of the naval base in Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Base in Honolulu as the spy satellite passed over Hawaii at 5:13 a.m. (Pyongyang time), according to the KCNA.

The North's state media again did not release photos taken by the satellite.

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25 November 2023 23:50 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye attracted nearly 5 million foreign visitors in October, a hike of 3.8% from a year earlier, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The figure overtook its pre-pandemic level of 4.3 million foreign tourists in October 2019.

The famed resort city of Antalya on the Turkish Riviera recorded the greatest number of visitors with 1.8 million last month, the Culture and Tourism Ministry figures showed.

Istanbul, Turkiye's largest city by population, saw 1.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in October.

The Aegean province of Mugla and the northwestern province of Edirne, which borders both Bulgaria and Greece, followed with 386,811 and 372,341 foreign visitors, respectively.

Germany took the first place by its share of 17.3%  some 860,635 Germans  with regards to nationalities of foreign visitors over the same period, followed by Russia (13.5%) and the UK (8.9%).

Foreign tourist arrivals see 11.6% annual rise in 10 months

In January-October, foreign tourist arrivals in Turkiye soared 11.6% year-on-year to 44.2 million.

Russia made up the largest chunk of foreign visitors in the ten-month period with 5.8 million arrivals.

They were followed by Germans with 5.7 million visitors and Britons with 3.6 million.

Istanbul welcomed 33.4% of all foreign visitors, or 14.8 million from January to October. Antalya claimed the second place with 32% or 14.1 million tourists. Edirne followed it with a 9.1% share or 4 million visitors.
25 November 2023 20:40 (UTC+04:00)

At the forty-seventh plenary session of the Senate, the laws on the ratification of agreements between Uzbekistan and Italy on extradition, transfer of prisoners, and mutual legal assistance in criminal cases were considered, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

In the law On the ratification of the agreement between Uzbekistan and Italy on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (Rome, June 8, 2023) considered by the senators, the grounds and conditions for providing legal assistance in connection with the investigation of criminal cases and the implementation of other procedural actions  conditions are assumed. The form and content of requests, the grounds for refusing or delaying assistance, the execution of requests, safeguards, security guarantees, as well as the transfer of criminal cases for further prosecution, are being defined.

The ratification of the treaty between Uzbekistan and Italy on the transfer of prisoners (Rome, June 8, 2023) will create a legal basis and opportunity for the citizens of Uzbekistan and Italy to serve the sentence imposed by the court in their country. According to the document, the transfer of convicts is carried out on the basis of the appeals of the contracting parties in accordance with the procedures established by law.

In the extradition agreement between Uzbekistan and Italy (Rome, June 8, 2023), the grounds for each party to extradite persons identified in its territory and wanted by the other party at the request of the other party for the purpose of bringing them to criminal responsibility or executing the sentence issued against such persons and conditions are specified. The ratification of the agreement serves to increase the efficiency of the trial and ensure the principle of inevitability of punishment for the persons who committed the crime.

As a result of the discussion, senators supported the laws on the ratification of the treaties.

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25 November 2023 22:45 (UTC+04:00)

Russias Emergencies Ministry has delivered another batch of humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip residents, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

"A special flight of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has delivered 15 tons of humanitarian aid for Gaza residents. In Egypt, the humanitarian cargo will be transferred to representatives from the Egyptian Red Crescent Society. There it will be redirected to the residents in the Gaza Strip," the ministry said.

Humanitarian aid includes food and formula, personal care products, bed linen, blankets and sleeping bags.

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25 November 2023 22:15 (UTC+04:00)

Director of the National Center for Marketing Nikolai Borisevich has held a meeting with Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Charge d'Affaires of Qatar in Belarus, Azernews report, citing BelTA.

The charge d'affaires was presented with the detailed information on the functionality and capabilities of the national center for marketing to develop bilateral trade and economic cooperation. An agreement was reached to cooperate in expanding the network of business contacts of the center with Qatari structures supporting foreign economic activity.

The parties discussed promising sectors of Belarusian-Qatari cooperation in foreign trade, as well as the possibility of organizing business events.

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The Indian government reportedly warned social media giants Facebook and YouTube to enforce reminders that local laws prohibit the posting of deepfakes and misinformation, as per Reuters.

Read Also: Meta Allows Amazon Shoppers to Buy on Facebook, Instagram Ads Without Closing the Apps

India Asks for Updated Usage Terms

During a closed-door meeting, Deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar detailed that many big tech companies still need to update their usage terms. In 2022, it has been prohibited to post content that is considered "harmful" to children, obscene, and deepfakes.

According to Chandrasekhar, companies must take the initiative to increase awareness of the dangers and consequences of posting such things online. He then suggested that the rules should be flashed to users every time they log in to their accounts.

If the companies do not make the first move, Chandrasekhar stated that he will issue directions that will force them to follow. According to the sources, the minister called it a "non-negotiable" demand by the government.

Big Tech's Responsibility on AI Industry

As the AI industry continues to boom, the dangers of deepfakes become more apparent. The Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have raised concerns about the rampant usage of deepfakes.

During the recent virtual summit of G20 nations, Modi asked the global leaders to work closely on regulating AI, emphasizing the potential impact of the rise of deepfakes in society. Meanwhile, other countries have already started to work on regulating AI.

Although Facebook has yet to respond to the challenge, Google, who owned YouTube, stated that the platform remains committed to the responsible use of AI. Moreover, it also has tight policies and systems that are capable of identifying and removing harmful content.

Related Article: Meta Whistleblower Claims Platform Cannot be Trusted With Children
Considering the deep morass of complete incompetence at the Federal level, in the executive branch of our self-governed People, unarguably the worst in modern times; if certain changes could be made by Impeachment of those most qualified: Who would be your best choice because of abject Corruption, incompetence, or both?

40.82% Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas12.24% Attorney General Merrick Garland20.41% President Joseph R. Biden2.04% Are you a MAGA Extremist, and do not know any better? These are our best of days, not our worst.24.49% FBI Director Christopher Wray
The ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu, in his renowned work, The Art of War, wisely stated:

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Rabbi Michael Barclay, writing at PJ Media, explains what Israel faces:

Thirteen Israeli hostages are now under Israeli supervision and on their way home, and 39 criminals are returning to Gaza. Israel made this exchange because of the Jewish value of treasuring each individual life. But given that Hamas repeatedly demonstrates that they have no respect for life, even for their own civilians whom they use as human shields, why is Hamas actually making this exchange?

There is the obvious reason that it gives Hamas days to recover and regroup, but there is another, more insidious and dangerous reason for Hamas to make this exchange. A reason that has nothing to do with the military war against Israel that they cannot win. This is regarding the war that they can, God forbid, win: the war to hurt the worlds opinion of Israel.

Hamas has been winning that war of public opinion since the moment Israel started going into Gaza after the depravities of October 7. Quickly, the world forgot and ignored the horrors they perpetrated in favor of focusing on the innocent victims in Gaza who were being killed in the crossfire with Israel. The images of beheaded babies and raped women were replaced by images of Gazan children crying; all of which prompted demonstrations and protests against Israel around the world. These demonstrations put pressure on governments like the United States to apply pressure on Israel to have a ceasefire. The more innocent victims in Gaza, the more worldwide pressure has been put on Israel to only defeat, and not totally destroy Hamas. And anything less than a total destruction of Hamas allows Hamas, God forbid, to fulfill their promise of repeating the horrors of October 7 again and again.

That is their goal: to win the war of public relations and manipulate the world to force Israel to back down from their stated and necessary goal of destroying Hamas. Remembering that truth in combination with looking at the actions that are taking place right now in Gaza allows us to see why Hamas wanted this ceasefire time and how this hostage exchange is part of a larger plan. It also shows us the truth about Gazas innocents.

From the moment the ceasefire started, hours before the hostages were exchanged, Hamas revealed its real goal of this ceasefire time if we only look at their actions. It is a setup to increase demonstrations for Gazan civilians after Israel recommences the war.

Thousands of Gazan civilians are moving from the safety of the south back to the battlefield of the north, including women and children. On Thursday night, Hamas urged that all civilians who support them go back to the north. Why would they do this? Why would any family consciously put themselves back in harms way when they could stay safely in the south?

It is because they are not innocent civilians at all. They are simply Hamas terrorists and supporters without physical weapons. These civilians are not forced human shields being abused by Hamas, they are willing and active cogs in the Hamas war effort, willing to die for their cause of destroying Israel and repeating the horrors of October 7, which they celebrated in the streets of Gaza at that time. They are unarmed soldiers whose only goal is to protect Hamas against Israel when the war is restarted in a few days. These innocents are anything but innocent, and are returning to the north with the intent of stopping Israel from destroying Hamas bases, tunnels, and weapons.

These thousands of unarmed soldiers are not being forced to be human shields. They are returning to the north so that they can become martyrs. They hope to die for their cause, and in so doing, create more images of innocents dying to negatively affect world opinion of Israel. They are hoping that their presence as civilians will protect Hamas bases from Israeli attacks; that it will lead to more IDF deaths, God forbid, and that if they die, they will have sacrificed themselves as brave soldiers for Hamas in the effort to get the world to allow Hamas to survive this war.

As depraved as Hamas acts on October 7 were, the acts of these unarmed soldiers betray an equally sick and twisted psychology.

Thousands of Gazans are consciously putting their own children in harms way with one intent: to protect Hamas with their childrens lives. These are not innocent civilians; they are the very worst and most dangerous type of soldiers: soldiers with a death wish. Not just for themselves, but for their children.

Golda Meir was right when she said that we would only have peace when they love their children more than they hate us.

We must remember in the coming days when the war recommences that these civilians are not innocent, but are Hamas soldiers. They are not innocents that Hamas is using as human shields; they are soldiers that are consciously choosing to sacrifice themselves for Hamas goals. They are not parents most concerned with their childrens welfare and safety; they are committed fanatics who will willingly let their children die if it will further the cause of Hamas.

They truly hate us more than they love their own children.

So when the images come out in the next weeks of crying Gazan families who died while Israel returned to destroying Hamas bases and tunnels, remember that these are not victims, but fanatical soldiers who have chosen to sacrifice themselves as part of supporting Hamas. We must never forget that these families are leaving the safety of the south in order to actively help Hamas and its war effort. They are not victims, they are unarmed soldiers who have not only volunteered for the Hamas army, but have volunteered their children.

This is why Hamas is making an exchange: to create victims that will manipulate world opinion against Israel and it is truly an insidious goal.

They have chosen to make their children soldiers and sacrifices. It is sick, twisted, and horrific, and their evil in doing this must always be remembered.

May the day not be distant when Arab parents do love their children more than they hate Jews, and may we see the results of parental love in a world of peace.
Lion Star Nacogdoches (Texas) Hospital, the group that operates Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Northern District of Texas, according to The Daily Sentinel.

The filing outlines that the hospital owes as much as $50 million to creditors, according to the report. At least 200 creditors have claims against Lion Star, and the largest 20 credit claims total more than $8 million.

In the last three months, two other Texas hospitals have filed for bankruptcy: Trinity Regional Hospital Sachse and the Hospital at Westlake Medical Center in Westlake Hills.

Despite the filing, the hospital is showing signs of profitability and its assets outweigh its liabilities, CEO Sean Fowler told the publication. "We have some entities that we deal with and this is an opportunity to protect our operation. Im going to leave it at that," he said.

Mr. Fowler said that the bankruptcy process will allow time for the hospital to renegotiate contracts with its landlord, the Nacogdoches County Hospital District.

As part of a 10-year deal, Lion Star took over management and operation of the hospital in July 2021, according to The Daily Sentinel. Lion Star paid the hospital district $3 million for assets including accounts receivable, licenses and inventory, but the hospital district retained ownership of the buildings.

Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital is the only Level III trauma center in Deep East Texas, according to its website. The hospital's breast care center's mammography facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology and its rehabilitation Center is an internationally accredited Center of Excellence.

The hospital district will meet Nov. 27 to discuss next steps.

The hospital did not respond to Becker's request for comment.
The actress on the fun she had as Princess Margaret in The Crown and how that role helped her explore the pain inside Josephine during the empresss tempestuous love affair with Napoleon

In the Anglo-Saxon world, Napoleon Bonaparte tends to be depicted as a chippy Mediterranean upstart who terrorised Europe for 20 years before getting his comeuppance at Waterloo. In France, hes a divisive but historically omnipresent figure, and even his biggest critics there will readily admit his genius for organisation and statecraft. No Napoleon, no modern France as we know it, and for many of his countrymen, the little corporal encapsulates their nations strengths and weaknesses.

In Britain, he is merely a despot, a bloodthirsty tyrant, this gross historical distortion guaranteed to raise Gallic hackles.

One thing everyone can agree on, however, is that Napoleon was mad about Josephine.

Their tempestuous love affair has inspired many a dodgy comedy sketch, and was cruelly lampooned in the yellow press of the time. Forged in the fire of the French Revolution, their marriage was battered by infidelities (on both sides), and ended by annulment after Josephine failed to produce an heir. But even then, their relationship continued, in a series of stolen visits and intimate letters sent by courier from battlefields.

In popular culture, Britains especially, Josephine de Beauharnais is usually reduced to a punchline, but her importance in Napoleons life is made central to Ridley Scotts epic new film about the great mans life. Vanessa Kirby is excellent as a rather haunted Josephine, an aristocratic beauty who meets Napoleon (Joaquin Phoenix) after narrowly avoiding the guillotine. Her sang-froid and breeding help smooth his political path, but living with a man of destiny is no piece of cake.

Scotts film is a bombastic and hugely entertaining epic, packed with spectacular battle sequences and tense political stand-offs. But its most revealing scenes happen behind closed doors, at Fontainebleau and the emperors other grand residences, as he kicks off the thigh boots to relax in the company of the woman he loved  loved too much, one might say.

Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine in Napoleon. Photo by: Aidan Monaghan

With all the myth and misinformation that surrounds her, was she a hard woman to get at, I wonder? She was really hard to get at, actually, Kirby tells me, and I really didnt expect that. I played a real person once before, in The Crown, and so I thought it would be a similar experience, in that you would read a lot of source material, absorb everything you can about who they really were, and then distil it into something you hope will be the essence of somebody.

With Margaret in The Crown, even though the accounts were varying, her essential nature was not in doubt. And of course you had footage, and for instance I had these great Desert Island Discs recordings for Margaret, which were so useful for me. But with Josephine, you didnt have any of that, and instead you had all these different accounts. And I thought that the more I read, the more it would hone down into one centre, but instead, every historical account about her, every book  and there are so many  were completely contradictory.

It was really fascinating to read Napoleons letters... heres this general rushing back to his camp to write these gushing, adolescent letters of infatuation

And what I took from that is that she must have had such a mercurial energy that was able to adapt depending on what situation she was in, whether she was in prison having to think of ways to survive, or having to sleep with men, or marrying an ambitious soldier whos about to become an emperor. That all indicated that she was a survivor, and that the reason she stayed the course was because she had this kind of quiet power that was able to navigate the most intense of circumstances. Because I would have been out of there on day three really, but she stayed the course which is quite impressive.

Josephines letters were a resource for Vanessa, but not as much as youd expect. There were way fewer of hers that survived, she says, and many, many more from him, and it was really fascinating to read his letters and how florid they were, how declamatory and romantic, you know heres this general rushing back to his camp to write these gushing, adolescent letters of infatuation. At the beginning of their relationship he wrote many of them daily, but she hardly ever replied.

This self-containment, this air of mystery is woven into Kirbys portrayal of Josephine, who at times seems to draw back from Joaquin Phoenixs furiously intensive Napoleon as though hes too much to bear.

I did think that living with him must have been exhausting, you know this powerhouse of a man who was doing things on that colossal scale. I think her ability to survive was through repression, and coping strategies, otherwise I dont think she would have lasted as long as she did in that world.

One of the questions I asked right from the beginning with her was, why her? Why her above everybody else, because she was not a likely candidate from his point of view; he was warned against it, but he ignored that and wanted to marry her even though she was a widow and had two children already and she was way older. She was 32, which is roughly the age I was when we filmed it, and in those days, that was way too old for an eligible wife.

So I wondered what was it about her that he wanted to have, right through until the end? I mean his last word before he died was Josephine.

And Ive come to believe that the unknowability, the idea of not being able to possess something you have entirely, would probably make you keep trying, trying to grasp something. And that was very challenging to play as an actor, because its so hard to play enigmatic, I mean what does that really mean? So I thought she must have such a deep internal life that she has to contain all of this feeling within herself, and not let it bubble over.

Its so hard to play enigmatic... what does that really mean?: Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine in Napoleon

Meanwhile, there were Bonapartes appetites to deal with, and if Scotts film is to be believed, his sexual technique was rather agricultural, so much so that the intimate scenes in Napoleon have an absurdist, humorous tone.

Yeah, I think we wanted them to be funny. Joaquin and I were saying right from the beginning, look this will be unconventional, its a very unusual, strange relationship, and so we didnt want it to be your typical period drama, or anything reflective of the historical period because it wasnt, it didnt feel like that. So even in the sex scenes, I remember, every time we did it, we played it a different way, and a lot of the time Joaquin and I would have to laugh in between takes.

We all know how Napoleon felt about Josephine, but did Kirby come to any conclusion as to whether or not she loved him?

I remember continually changing my mind on that as we were filming. But now I feel like she didnt at the beginning, it was very much a strategic move and she was interested also by this outsider because she was one herself. Both of them were from islands, they didnt come from families of note, they came into this very, very different system from the one theyd grown up in, and they saw something in each other whereby they felt seen, and understood, and that was what kept them together through it all.

But I think that over time, the love grew, and I got the sense through filming that she might have been thinking, why are you doing this, why dont you stop? I think towards the end of her life, she just wanted to be with him in Malmaison and just live quietly. And he couldnt, he couldnt do it.

Vanessa, who has emerged in recent times as one of the most talented British actors of her generation, made her name in Peter Morgans Netflix hit The Crown. The last season of that show streamed this week: is she feeling emotional about it all, I wonder?

One of the questions I asked was, why her? Napoleon wanted to marry her even though she was a widow and had two children already and she was way older

I think we all are. The producer Suzanne Mackie is texting me and Im texting Peter, and Elizabeth Debicki [who plays Princess Diana], whos a great friend of mine, and I know shell be immense in this season. I think we all felt like a family, this company of actors whod come together to tell the story of the royal family. So it feels like family, it feels like the end of an era, and my God, Peter wrote every word, and its been part of him for so long  and its been like that for all of us.

Margaret, she says, was a lot of fun to play. I find exploring the pain inside characters interesting, and Josephine was similar in a way because, they live in this very privileged world in the material sense, empress and princess, its pretty extreme, and yet I remember Peter saying in the very first weeks of The Crown, I want you to remember that you have grit in your shoe, you have a really sharp stone in your shoe, none of its easy, even though it seems like it might be, its not.

Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret in the first season of The Crown

That really helped with Margaret. And with Josephine, I started to feel the more we filmed, and as she got older, imagine being part of that empire and at the centre of it, and yet your job as a woman is to provide an heir to continue the legacy, but your body wont do it. And the pressure from your husband, but also from the entire empire, I mean imagine the pain and grief around that, and how that would ultimately break you. And it did, there are such tragic accounts of the last years of her life when she was just a broken shell.

I felt that feminine experience so extremely, and similarly with Margaret, having this great love when she was so young, and that it was her sister who decided that she couldnt have it. What an extreme circumstance, and all because of the empire, as well.

Of the two characters, though, one gets the sense that Josephine was the harder to play.

I found Margaret so much easier because she was so distinctive. I mean, you read about her putting her cigarette out in her dinner because she didnt like the food! With her you could be more external, whereas with Josephine you felt she had this huge internal life that she had to hide. I loved doing Margaret because she couldnt hide how she felt: Josephine, to survive, she had to. And that was the most fascinating thing about her.

Napoleon is in cinemas now, and will be streamed on Apple TV+ soon
Tessa Evans (centre, middle row) was one of eight Matilda super-fans. Pic: Late Late Show/Twitter

Eight Matilda super-fans were introduced to the audience, including Tessa Evans, from Maghera. Pic: Late Late Show/RTE

A Matilda super-fan from Co Londonderry got a huge surprise when she was joined on RTEs Late Late Toy Show by the movies Irish star.

Tessa Evans from Maghera featured on Friday nights festive episode, where she was part of a group greeted on stage by Alisha Weir after performing one of the songs.

Tessa (10) was born without a nose due to a rare condition called Bosma Arhinia Microphthalmia (BAM) syndrome.

She was left speechless after Alishas surprise appearance.

Tessa Evans (centre, middle row) was one of eight Matilda super-fans. Pic: Late Late Show/Twitter

The Toy Show is one of Irelands most-watched TVprogrammes, with children invited into the studio to test the years hottest toys.

This years show was the first to be hosted by Patrick Kielty.

The Co Down presenter had opened the programme with a reference to events in Dublin, where a stabbing incident involving three children sparked a night of serious rioting.

Kielty said: "Given the events of the last 24 hours, it is important to remember what this time of year is all about, and that is holding your kids tight this Christmas. We are thinking of every family who needs an extra hug tonight."

Kielty had arrived on stage dressed as an elf, in keeping with this year's elf theme.

The show saw over 170 young performers and toy testers taking part, featuring children from across the island of Ireland.

At one point, eight Matilda super-fans were introduced to the audience, including Tessa.

Revealing her love of the movie, Tessa said: Ive seen it once in the cinema and then about 18 times at home.

Kielty replied: Eighteen times at home - what!?

The group performed A Little Bit Naughty from the show, and were then joined on stage by Alisha, who made her first TV appearance on The Late Late Toy Show.

She the girls were amazing and had "smashed it.

Patrick Kielty says hosting Christmas Late Late Toy Show is a massive honour

Later, Kielty appeared in an Irish rugby kit and, when one of the children, Stevie, sung Ireland's Call, he was joined by Irish rugby stars Bundee Aki and Peter OMahony, who presented him with a signed Irish jersey.

There were laughs from the studio audience, many suitably dressed in festive jumpers and Santa hats, when seven-year-old Sheamie from Co Clare told Kielty that they shared something in common. "It's both our first Toy Show, Patrick," said Sheamie.

Kielty replied: You're having a better one than me.

At the end, Kielty closed by saying it had been a special night.

"I have survived my first Toy Show. Thank you to everyone here tonight who helped a small boy from Dundrum, he said.

Thanks to all the kids who created the magic in our studio. Thanks for going easy on me.

"And to you at home, who are no doubt holding each other that little bit tighter tonight, thank you for letting me be your buddy this evening."
Hundreds of Amazon workers took to the streets across the US and Europe this Black Friday to call for better work conditions and higher wages amid the busiest shopping days of the year.

The UNI Global Union, the coordinator for the "Make Amazon Pay" campaign, said strikes are happening in more than 30 countries and are expected to last until Cyber Monday.

Many are calling for a 15 ($18.90) per hour rate.

Members of GMB Union in the UK said more than 1,000 staff joined the call on Friday with 800 on the picket lines.

The union said this year's Black Friday protest is the biggest Amazon strike to date.

Amazon assured its customers that the strike will not affect its Black Friday operations and that the online retailer regularly reviews its pay to "ensure we offer competitive wages and benefits".

Also Read: Amazon Conducts Another Round of Layoffs Affecting Alexa Employees

What is the 'Make Amazon Pay' Campaign

The Black Friday 2023 strike marks the fourth consecutive year Amazon employees protested for the "Make Amazon Pay" campaign since it was launched during the pandemic.

Aimed to make Amazon improve its working conditions, the global movement calls for increased pay, longer breaks, more benefits, and additional sick leave.

Several environmental and civil groups have also joined the protest to urge the e-commerce giant to lessen its carbon emissions and pay more in taxes.

Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, said Amazon staff worldwide are "all united in the fight for higher wages, an end to unreasonable quotas, and a voice on the job."

The UNI Global Union boasts 20 million members across service centers in 150 counties.

Related Article: Amazon's Speed and Surveillance Ambitions Lead to Higher Injuries, Study Says

Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday

The Thanksgiving shopping event is one of Amazon's busiest working days with customers from all over the world ordering for discounted prices.

Last year's Black Friday sales recorded 88 million Americans shopping online, 9% up in the average order value.

This year, 130.7 million people planned to participate in the Black Friday event, and many are expected to do their shopping online.
Jason Hawthorne and Paddy Baird are the behind the new unlikely pairing

Bread and Records is the latest addition to Beersbridge Road in east Belfast

A new east Belfast business is following in the footsteps of Van Morrisons parents bringing vinyl sales - with a twist - to the Beersbridge Road for the first time in years.

Set up by long-term friends Paddy Baird and Jason Hawthorne, Bread and Records brings together two unlikely businesses under one roof.

Heading up Assemble Bakery, Mr Baird brings freshly baked treats and coffee to the shop, while Mr Hawthorne sells a carefully curated selection of new and vintage records through First Press Vinyl.

The new bakery and record shop is based on the ground floor of a former two storey office building, on the Beersbridge Road.

Jason Hawthorne and Paddy Baird are the behind the new unlikely pairing

That same road was once home to Caledonia Records, a record shop set up by Van Morrisons parents Violet and George after they returned to Belfast from California.

The new store is also a stones throw from Van Morrisons old family home in Hyndford Street, off the Beersbridge Road.

Speaking about the location, Mr Baird said: Its quite a nice bit of history, which we didnt realise until a couple of days ago, its brilliant.

Were still waiting for Van the man himself to come in.

The return of record sales to the east Belfast street is proving to be a success and Mr Hawthorne is reporting already seeing repeat customers.

He said: Theres lots of people coming in here, young and old. Some are very young like 10-year-olds and then we also get some pensioners also coming in to buy records. Its amazing to see such an array of people.

Jason Hawthorne heads up First Press Vinyl

Mr Hawthorne has carefully assembled a collection of new and vintage sounds, with each record labelled with information on the style and sound that consumers can expect.

He said: I think thats what people are really enjoying, because they get a vast array of genres, and theyre maybe coming across things they wouldnt have heard of before.

The combination of bread and records was a happy accident, a combination of the duos long standing passions.

Mr Baird said: We used to live together in London and after moving back we wanted to start our own businesses and it just so happened that this opportunity came up. The space was big enough to be able to sort of do both in one space.

He added: Jason's always been really into records, he's collected them and built up a big collection and always had this dream of having a record shop of his own.

And on the other side of that I was doing a bit of baking in London, but always sort of wanted to move back and try running a bakery over here.

Paddy Baird heads up Assemble Bakery

While the pair admit that it is an unlikely combination, the success of the businesses which opened only three weeks ago speaks for itself.

During opening week they were overwhelmed with queues, and Mr Baird said: We're actually finding that it's really working, you know, having those two elements together.

People are coming in to shop for records, but then they're buying a coffee or they're bringing their kids and they're getting them hot chocolates while they browse the record collection.
Staff at Belfasts SSE Arena to refuse to work at Wolfe Tones gig

Brian Warfield has defended the song and its lyrics, insisting those who are offended by it are misguided about its meaning,

The Wolfe Tones. Photo: Kevin Scott

Steven Moore Sat 25 Nov 2023 at 13:40

Some workers at Belfasts SSE Arena have told the Sunday World newspaper that they wont be working the night the Wolfe Tones sing Ooh, aah, up the Ra next October.
Thin Lizzys Brian Downey on the bands long road to success, his childhood memories of Phil Lynott and how trying heroin just once put him off for life. By John Meagher

Brian Downey was one of the lucky ones. Heroin never got its claws into him. Like many members of internationally successful rock bands in the 1970s, he tried the drug. But once was enough  he hated the stuff.

I tried it in America, the Thin Lizzy drummer says. The band had were on tour at the time. I was really curious to see what the big deal was, because Phil [Lynott] and Scott [Gorham] were taking it on a sort of semi-permanent basis.

When I took it, I got as ill as you can get. I was as sick as a dog, vomiting really badly. I lay down on the bed and woke up half an hour later as high as a kite. There was a party going on in the next room and I just joined in.

But the next day, I experienced the worst hangover of my life. I was too frightened to try it again. Wed a gig to do that night and I dont know how I managed it.

My muscles had seized up and I barely got through it. I said to Phil, Look man, I cant play the drum solo and he understood. He actually started laughing.

Lynott knew the side effects of heroin all too well, but he had become accustomed to the drug. Its effects would eventually take its toll, however, and his heroin dependency is at least part of the reason why he died at just 36 in 1986.

Gorham eventually managed to get clean. When Scott went into rehab, Downey says, Phil should have gone with him. He had promised Scott that he was going to go in with him.

Our manager at the time said, Hes working on his new solo album. Theres no time to go into the clinic. He wants to get this off his chest first. In the end, he never went, unfortunately.

Downey is doing promotional rounds to mark the release of a 50th anniversary edition of Thin Lizzys third album, Vagabonds of the Western World, but is content to talk about everything and anything. Hes an engaging raconteur and he has plenty of stories to tell.

Eric Bell, Phil Lynott and Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy in November 1973. Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images

The Dubliner formed Thin Lizzy with Lynott, Eric Bell and Eric Wrixon in 1969. Wrixon, who was a founding member of Van Morrisons first band, Them, left after a few months, but Lizzy hit the ground running.

And, yet, despite exciting critics and audiences, big-time success came slowly.

The first pair of albums were critically acclaimed but only moderately successful. Vagabonds marked a development in the bands artistic prowess but the breakthrough was still a number of years away.

Prior to the release of Vagabonds, the band enjoyed a hit with their supercharged and gleefully reimagined Whiskey in the Jar.

Downey recalls that the original plan was to release Black Boys on the Corner as the single, but the record company pushed hard for their cover of the trad song instead.

It was a smart move, Downey says. Black Boys is a good song, one Ive always enjoyed playing, but Whiskey in the Jar made a lot of sense.

Vagabonds, Downey says, is significant for several reasons. It was the last album that [original guitarist] Eric Bell made with Thin Lizzy and it was the first to feature the artwork of Jim Fitzpatrick.

Read more Ozzy Osbourne and Lewis Capaldi among winners at Rolling Stone UK Awards 2023

Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson would bring their guitars to subsequent albums, starting with 1974s Nightlife, and Fitzpatrick  who was already celebrated for his Che Guevara poster and Celtic mythology imagery  would be responsible for Lizzys distinct visual identity from then on.

Although they had been a hit back home in Ireland from the off  and toured the country extensively  overseas success arrived with the release of the Jailbreak album in 1976. Downey says he had a feeling that things were about to change during the sessions for that album. Its centrepiece, The Boys are Back in Town, felt like a song that was going to connect with a large audience. And so it did.

By the time Jailbreak was released, the band had become a formidable live outfit. We had been recognised as a really good live band in the early days when Eric was with us and that continued when Robbo [Brian Robertson] and Scott joined us, Downey says.

With the success of Jailbreak, there might have been a perception from some that we were an overnight success, but wed put in five or six years of work beforehand. Wed become very finely honed.

Read more The Pogues star Shane MacGowan discharged from hospital ahead of Christmas

There are few towns in Ireland they didnt play at least once. (I was delighted some years ago to hear that, as they played the showband venue circuit, they had graced the stage of the hall my parents used to dance in, the Las Vegas in Templemore, Co Tipperary.)

Eventually, they had bigger fish to fry, especially when the giant US market came calling.

He says: We had been touring in America with [Canadian band] Bachman-Turner Overdrive  who were terrible live  and we could blow them off the stage. We were aware back then that we really had to put on a good live show to impress.

Lizzys extraordinary on-stage prowess is captured on Live and Dangerous, which was released in 1978. It is still cited as one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, although controversy surrounds it. How much of it was live and how much were overdubs applied by producer Tony Visconti in the studio?

Downey doesnt deny that Viscontis alchemy played a part in its sound but he insists his own drumming wasnt tampered with.

Tony went on record to say that 50% of the album were overdubs, but I think it was about 25% and the rest was live. I remember him saying to me, Do you want to do anything on the drums overdub-wise? and I said, It doesnt really need anything. So every single thing you hear on Live and Dangerous, drum-wise, is what you would have heard in those concerts, Downey adds.

Many drummers of Downeys generation suffered severe pain later in life. Phil Collins has frequently spoken about how his playing in Genesis has wreaked havoc on his body. Larry Mullen, who is a decade younger than Downey, has had to sit out U2s Las Vegas residency due to severe physical discomfort.

Thin Lizzy's Vagabonds of the Western World was released 50 years ago

Downey says he is one of the lucky ones and, at 72, he continues to pound the skins. Its easy to overexert yourself when youre drumming, especially when youre playing big concerts, but I was always conscious of not doing that, he says.

It helped that his father was also a drummer, having played percussion for years in the Harolds Cross Pipe Band.

Few days go by when Downey doesnt think of Lynott. Both grew up in Crumlin and attended the same school, although Lynott was two years older. They didnt really know each other then.

He wasnt just the only black guy in the school, but the only black guy in the whole of Crumlin.

He chuckles at a memory. I remember Phil coming around with the Black Babies Box [as the charity collection boxes were then called]. Youd come in with your penny or hapenny. If you didnt put it in, hed elbow you in the shoulder and say, Next time I come around, make sure your mum gives you something to put in for the black babies because youll be the only one in the class who hasnt put something in.

Years later, I asked him what the story with that was and he said that the head brother had told him to go collecting in each class and anyone who didnt put any money in was to be given a box!

It was only when Lynott joined his first band, the Black Eagles, that Downey got to know him. He had an unbelievable stage presence but when I got to meet him, he became a good friend very quickly.

Downey joined the band but he and Lynott were soon hatching plans to form their own group. Phil wasnt the leader of that band  it was Frankie Smith, who was son of the manager Joe Smith  but he [Lynott] had the charisma of a frontman, so it was inevitable [that he would front a different band].

That band would forever alter Brian Downeys life and write its legend into Irish rock lore.

The 50th Anniversary edition of Vagabonds of the Western World is out now
Catherine Tate and David Tennant have both entered the time travelling Tardis machine again as the pair returned to star in Doctor Who.

Tate played Donna Noble, who had to stop being the Doctors companion after the final episode of the rebooted fourth series due absorbing the power of the Time Lords.

Tennant as the 10th Doctor, who he played between 2005 and 2010, had to wipe her mind to save her life during the 2008 episode.

Yasmin Finney stars as Donna Nobles daughter Rose (Ian West/PA)

Tennant regenerated as the 14th Doctor during the first female Time Lord Jodie Whittakers last episode in 2022, signalling his return for three 60th anniversary episodes.

During a new episode on Saturday, Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney stars as Donnas daughter, Rose, and she meets Tennant as the Doctor along with her mother.

Donna does not recognise the Doctor and fails to pay attention when a UFO is seen in the sky.

The Doctor then gets a lift from Donnas husband Karl Collins, with actor Shaun Temple reprising the role, who explains she gave away her lottery winnings.

Jacqueline King also comes back as Sylvia Noble, who has concerns about Donnas state of mind.

Rose meets a fluffy alien called the Meep, voiced by Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes, and when Donna is upset by the discovery, the Doctor returns to see her at home.

The Doctor wants to know about Wilfred Wilf Mott, previously played by the late actor Bernard Cribbins  who died last year aged 93, and she says hes not with us anymore.

The Doctor replies: I loved that man, Im so sorry for your loss before they explain that Wilfred is in sheltered accommodation.

Donna, the Doctor and her family are then captured and put in the back of a van.

Donna and the Doctor escape and she follows him into the Tardis where she says she does not mind dying to save her daughter.

The Doctor then returns her memories in an emotional moment before it is revealed that the Time Lord being genderfluid means Donna and Rose can share the knowledge she has and will not be in danger.

A new larger Tardis is then revealed, which has a coffee machine, before it catches fire and the Doctor teases that might now end up anywhere in time and space.

Saturdays The Star Beast is the first of three special episodes, marking the 60th anniversary.

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It will be followed by Wild Blue Yonder on December 2 and The Giggle on December 9.

Both Tennant and Tate previously returned to the series.

Tate also appeared when a two-part special was broadcast over 2009s Christmas and 2010s New Years Day.

During the 50th anniversary special, Tennant made a comeback during Matt Smiths tenure for The Day Of The Doctor in 2013.

Also returning for the new swathe of episodes is showrunner Russell T Davies.

Sex Education and Barbie star Ncuti Gatwa will then take over in the role of the Doctor over the festive period as he becomes the 15th Doctor.
Its that time of year again, when audiences prepare for panto season! Aine Toner has rounded up some of the festive shows taking place this winter

1| Grand Opera House, Belfast

Northern Irelands biggest panto is set to entertain tens of thousands of attendees with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, running December 2-January 14.

There is nothing like a dame and in the last 30 years, theres nothing like a Belfast panto without pantomime dame, May McFettridge, as May of the Mirror celebrates her record-breaking 33rd Grand Opera House panto season.

Joining May on stage is the hilarious Phil Walker, who recently toured with Jason Manford, as Muddles, and Paddy Jenkins who featured in the Oscar and BAFTA award-winning short film An Irish Goodbye, as The Wicked Queens Henchman.

Britains Got Talent finalists Flawless take on the role of The Queens Guards, and returning to the GOH stage following their appearances in the Theatres sell-out run of Cinderella in 2022 is Belfasts Jolene OHara who plays the Wicked Queen, and Lurgans Conor Headley as the Prince.

Aisling Sharkey joins the cast in the title role of Snow White and Scott English leads the Magnificent Seven on their quest to save Snow White from the Wicked Queen.

This years GOH pantomime is staged by Olivier award-winning producer Michael Harrison on behalf of Crossroads Pantomimes, the biggest pantomime producer in the world.

Tel: 028 9024 1919; goh.co.uk

Five minutes with John Linehan

May McFettridge plays May of the Mirror in the Grand Opera House's panto

Johns alter ego May McFettridge will take to the GOH stage once again and, speaking to Weekend ahead of the beginning of rehearsals, said the show allows for the meeting of new people and making great friends for life.

I love it. I remember getting the first one, 32, 33 years ago, I couldnt believe it. It was the first professional panto I was at; the first one I saw, I was in it. Then there was three on a Saturday  that was hard but I loved the whole lot of it, he says.

Each year, its been great. All the sets get better, more professional. Im sure from the first line of seats and the Grand Circle, itll be just spectacular to watch, especially at the end of the first act where something flies out, whether its a magic carpet or a helicopter, a motorbike or a car. The way they light that scene is unbelievable.

The kids must be amazed as theyre watching the car and the das, especially if theyre mechanics, theyre looking at how this is happening, looking everywhere except the car. The kids just think its magic.

If Im not involved in the last scene of the first act where this happens, I stay at the side of the stage and look out. The kids, their jaws are dropping and theyre saying, Mummy, Mummy, look. Its tremendous.

After a few years of upheaval thanks to the pandemic, this year audience participation is to be welcomed, says John.

For the first time in years, we are able to get kids up on the stage; the last with Covid you couldnt bring them up. Theyve to do a wee rhyme  One smart fellow, he felt smart. We did it about six, seven years ago and the kids were coming up, One fart smellow! and laughing. The place erupted, so looking forward to that.

May will be May of the Mirror  Ive to tell Jolene that shes the most beautiful of them all says John.

She was in it last year and is a great girl. And Paddy Jenkins, of course, part of a film that got an Oscar, a Bafta and an IFTA. Paddy is my right arm; hes just brilliant.

They give me the script and leave it up to me but therell be ad-libbing, no doubt. It wouldnt be me if there wasnt ad-libbing.

And what about hecklers?

I love hecklers because theres about 10 people who hear them and Im miked up. Theres 1,000 people listening to me, 10 listening to them. Ive been doing this act for 35, 36 years, believe me, I know every one liner there is.

2| The MAC, Belfast

Here comes a new family favourite as The Night Before Christmas heads to the MAC, November 29-January 7. Audiences will meet Noelle, a storyteller who loses her words, forgetting some of her favourite fables. Fortunately, she meets some well-known literary characters who help her piece together her memories (with the help of a little magic, naturally!) and recount their stories in time to deliver the gift of a special book to the Queen.

The show is co-written by Stephen Beggs and Simon Magill, and produced by the MAC, with a commitment to ensure performances are accessible and inclusive to all. While all ages are welcome, it is suggested that children aged five and over will get the most fun out of it.

There are also a number of relaxed performances scheduled, which are designed specifically for younger audiences and those with additional needs so that their visit to the theatre is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Tel: 028 9023 5053; themaclive.com

curtain

3| The Waterfront Hall, Belfast

Running until January 6, be dazzled by what GBL Productions Rapunzel has to offer audiences.

This Christmas treat wants you to let your hair down, telling the tale of the lonely princess with the golden hair trapped in a tower, longing for a life of adventure. With the help of some friends and Prince Ryder, will they be able to help Rapunzel escape the tower she has been locked in since birth by the evil witch and be reunited with her family?

Johanna Johnston will perform as Rapunzel, while Orla Mullen is the Evil Witch, Warren McCook is Jack and Eleanor Shannen is the royal equerry.

Tel: 028 9033 4455; waterfront.co.uk

Five minutes with Johanna Johnston

Johanna Johnston

Rehearsals, says Johanna, have been a joy from the start.

I honestly havent stopped smiling and laughing since we started. I actually get sad at the end of the day when I have to leave the cast and production team, so if that isnt pure happiness then I dont know what is!

I love all things Christmas  so much so that the moment Halloween is over I get the decorations up from November and have previously been known to keep them up until February. I just love how heart-warming and uplifting this season can be  I truly am a child at heart and proud.

I adore panto and have done it for many years now professionally. Christmas is my favourite time of year so to be involved in a production which is filled with so much heart and laughter and fun from start to end at this time of year and even more so on home turf in a venue like The Waterfront Hall is an honour and I am extremely grateful to GBL Productions for giving me this opportunity.

Like all good pantomimes, audiences can expect the unexpected. In Rapunzels case, says Johanna, this is down to scriptwriter Ciaran Haggerty whos taken elements of the Disney Tangled story but also many twists and turns from other much-loved panto stories.

My version of Rapunzel is very much a princess for modern times  she has the sweetness of a typical princess but is tougher than most princesses ever get to be, explains Johanna.

I adore the fact that she gets to be the hero of her own story in this script and doesnt need to be saved by a prince. I love the wacky side to Rapunzel in Disneys Tangled so I took inspiration from her to incorporate into my character to make her as fun as possible.

Rapunzel as a pantomime is very rarely, if ever, done so this is something totally different for families to enjoy this Christmas season and our show really does have something for all ages to enjoy, from adult to child. On top of the stellar script and cast, the costumes and set for this show are sublime and help to make this show as aesthetically beautiful as it is magically entertaining.

4| Lyric Theatre, Belfast

Catriona McFeely, Odhran McNulty, Conor Quinn in Hansel and Gretel

Based on the original tale from the Brothers Grimm, get ready for Hansel & Gretel, which is on now until January 6. Audiences will meet the funniest (and wickedest) witch you could imagine and, of course, a cottage created from the most delicious of delicacies. Its an entertaining take on a classic story thanks to Tara-Lynne ONeills new telling and direction by Patrick J OReilly. Join Hansel (Odhran McNulty), sister Gretel (Catriona McFeely) and a wee mouse called Monty (Conor Quinn), as they make their way through an enchanted forest of technicolour. Together with a host of woodland creatures (Mark Dugdale and Christina Nelson), they will take you on a magical journey to defeat the witch (Orla Gormley) in her sweetie house. This original musical will be packed full of dancing and songs courtesy of Katie Richardson. Prepare for this to be one of those magic Christmas memories.

Tel: 028 9038 1081; lyrictheatre.co.uk

5| Millennium Forum, Derry

Jack and the Beanstalk will be performed at the Courtyard Theatre

Over 20,000 tickets have been booked to see Jack & The Beanstalk, November 30-December 21. Conal Gallen will play Dame Trot at the panto alongside a cast of Northern Irish talent.

We have a fantastic show lined up that I know everyone (young and old) will enjoy. With our incredibly talented cast, fantastic song and dance routines, great comedy, amazing special effects, Caroline The Cow, Makaton song and lots more, Jack & The Beanstalk is set to be our biggest panto yet, says David McLaughlin, chief executive of the Millennium Forum.

Tel: 028 7126 4455 (option 1); millenniumforum.co.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk will be performed at the Millennium Forum

6| Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey

Join the actors on stage for magic in the land above the clouds for a production of Jack and the Beanstalk (above). December 2-17. Will Jack save the princess and thwart the giant in the process? This Mr Hullabaloo Production will offer a colourful cast of fairytale characters, puppetry, impressive sets and song after song to sing along. On December 3, 10 and 17 there will be relaxed performances with lowered sound levels, no pyrotechnics and additional lighting.

Tel: 028 9038 1081; lyrictheatre.co.uk

7| Belvoir Studio Theatre, Belfast

Madame Fifi (played by Robert McGregor) in the Belvoir Players

Beauty and the Beast: The Pantomime by Alan P Frayn will take place December 20-January 6. Wicked enchantress Belladonna wishes to win the hand of Prince Danton, as much as village heartthrob Gustave wants to woo Belle. When Belladonna is spurned by Danton, she casts a spell to turn him into a beast. Only true love can break the spell Be prepared for plenty of hilarious characters, singing and dancing. Its a tale as old as pantomime.

Tel: 028 9049 1210; belvoirplayers.org

8| Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey

Playwright Michael Cameron

Written by Michael Cameron, O Holly Knight! runs from November 29 to December 30. Following from the success of his The Shop at the Top of the Town in 2022, this time its 1965 and Holly Knight is the woman that women want to be and men want to marry. Journalist, agony aunt, homemaker extraordinaire, theres nothing she cant do, right? When shes offered a newspaper column and the chance to interview a Hollywood star, what could possibly go wrong? O Holly Knight! stars Rosie Barry, Ruby Campbell, Rea Campbell-Hill, Richard Croxford, Jo Donnelly and Darren Franklin.

Theatreatthemill.com

O Holly Knight! is Michael Cameron's latest festive show

Five minutes with Michael Cameron

The writing of O Holly Knight! was so much fun to write, says Michael, that he ended up with 100 pages and a two-hour show.

I think its the fact that there are six or seven characters represented and they all have a story to tell is what makes it such a dream to write.

There is a lot of humour in it for sure and the characters all get a chance to display a real range of emotion throughout.

As someone who is fascinated by nostalgia, Michael is always searching eBay for old vinyl or vintage memorabilia.

As I get older, I am endlessly replaying old family memories over and over in my head so I love to include as much reference to the bygone days as possible and as I write Im wondering what it must have been like to have lived in these various eras, he explains.

I think its also important for a Christmas audience to discover references which then take them down their own memory lane. Its one of the most adorable aspects of writing a Christmas show as thats when we all tend to think of friends and families and people no longer with us.

The festive fan  he has to be at home at 3pm each December 24 to listen to Carols from Kings on the radio whilst perhaps enjoying a glass of something warming  also appreciates the black and white films shown during the holiday season and reading ghost stories by candlelight during the last remnants of the day.

When it comes to penning a festive play, the pressure is on to ensure the audience has the best night possible.

Its all about them as far as Im concerned and for the six months or so that we are developing the show, that is our guiding light. The stories themselves are a joy because we can sprinkle endless amount of theatre festive magic throughout the show which is great fun for us as creatives.

9| Web Theatre, Newtownards

Aladdin will be performed at Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Prepare to be whisked on a magic carpet ride with Aladdin and all the crew, with performances December 7-9 and 14-16. Who is Ali Baddy and why does he want Aladdins help? And where exactly is the cave of jewels?

Webtheatre.biz

Read more NI artist to bring a little animal magic to latest exhibition

10| The Devenish, Belfast

Philippa O'Hara will be Cinderella at The Devenish

Tony Devlin will direct Cinderella alongside the Brassneck Theatre Company will take to the Devenish stage, December 5-21. Neil Keery  the pantomimes writer  will play Fairy Up-Liquid while Philippa OHara (right) will play the heroine, Cinderella. Connor Cupples, Simon Sweeney, Orla Graham and Vicky Allen also star. Expect a twist on the original tale.

Tel: 028 9030 1154; devenishcomplex.com

11| Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena

The Wizard of Oz descends to Ballymena, November 30-December 2 and you can expect an exceedingly twisty tale of Dorothy, Toto and Aunt Em. Of course, it wouldnt be an homage to Oz without the Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow  but can they defeat the Wicked Witch of the West and make it to the Emerald City?

If youre looking for more, from December 16-23, youll be able to watch Robin Hood and the Peaceful People Posse.

Robin and Co strive to sink the Sheriff and beat all the bandits in an attempt to save Ballymena.

Tel: 028 2563 5077; thebraid.com

12| The Market Place Theatre

& Arts Centre, Armagh

From December 2-24, youll be able to view an absolute genie-us of a pantomime. With plenty of twists and turns, cheers and boos and a tale of love against the odds, Aladdin hopes that his dreams wont be destroyed by the evil Abanazar. Will the genie of the lamp grant three wishes and save the day? And will Widow Twanky secure a new love? Expect stunning costumes, sets and a lot of fun. And when youre ready to pack up your carpet, you get meet some of the panto cast post-show for a festive photo.

Tel: 03300 561 025; visitarmagh.com

13| Riverside Theatre,

Coleraine

Sleeping Beauty will be performed at Riverside Theatre, Coleraine

This is a family-friendly show of Sleeping Beauty with original script, music and lyrics created by the Mr Hullabaloo team, Ian Kells and Noleen Esler. On stage December 2-17. This family-friendly show features a wonderful all-singing, all-dancing cast alongside spectacular sets and dazzling costumes. All ages can join in the excitement as this timeless fairytale unfolds.

Tel: 028 7012 3123; riversidetheatre.org.uk

14| Strule Arts Centre, Omagh

Little Miss Muffets Christmas Caper, running December 18-20, sees the titular character is great distress. Every Christmas Day, Miss Muffets tuffet makes a dream come true, but Ditzi Devilola the Dim Witch wants it. What can Miss Muffet do? Well, call on some friends, including Jack and Jill, a handsome prince and a very surprising ally The show also takes place in The Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, December 12-15.

Tel: 028 8224 7831; struleartscentre.co.uk and 028 6632 5440; ardhowen.com
Belfast-born author Gerry Finnegan spent more than 20 years with the ILO, and developed a keen interest in the lives of two fellow Irish citizens: Waterford-born Edward Phelan and Carrickfergus-born, Sean Lester. This is an extract from his latest book

At a time of unprecedented political and economic upheaval set in motion by the First World War and its aftermath, Edward Joseph Phelan and Sean Ernest Lester became leading figures in the two major international organizations born out of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919  for Phelan, the International Labour Organization (ILO); for Lester, the League of Nations. They grappled with the consequences of war, the failures of peace-making, the disintegration of empires, and the rise of nation states. They encountered the ascent of communism, fascism and nazism, and the outbreak of a second devastating global conflict .

Nothing in their backgrounds marked them out for leadership roles in the two prime international organizations of the day. In 1929, their official duties brought them together in Geneva, the centre of international diplomacy, what Lester referred to as a university for the study of world affairs  Phelan at the ILO; Lester as Irelands representative to the League. They formed a formidable and enduring friendship that was to last for more than twenty years.

The early years and personal experiences of Edward Phelan and Sean Lester were significantly different. Phelan, the university graduate, linguist and traveller, dreamer of places foreign and distant, had experienced voyages to Liverpool and Hamburg, Constantinople and Constanta. Lester was a home-bird. He left school at fourteen, was thwarted from a career in the railways by his colour-blindness and cycled his home counties in the north of Ireland as a journalist with little interest in straying further afield.

Phelans was a lengthy voyage from the remote maritime village of Cheekpoint to the diplomatic mecca of Geneva, Switzerland. Lester experienced a long and meandering journey from Woodburn village on the outskirts of Carrickfergus, culminating in his time in Geneva, city of intrigue and espionage.

The wartime years from 1914 to 1918 touched Phelan and Lester in contrasting ways. As an Irish-born British civil servant, Phelan had been eager to volunteer for military service as part of the Allied war effort, only to be denied due to his employment status in government.

When in 1916 his fathers ship was torpedoed and he was taken prisoner, Phelans enthusiasm to enlist was reinvigorated. He was commissioned for a special intelligence-gathering assignment in the new Communist nation of Russia, the Soviet Union. Apart from that brief interlude, he saw none of the military action of the First World War. During those war years, Phelan witnessed the painful birth of the new Irish state from across the Irish Sea as it emerged from centuries of British rule.

Diplomat and last secretary-general of the League of Nations, Sean Lester

Lester remained in Ireland throughout the war. Having joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1909, he was stood down by his commanding officer on the eve of the planned Easter Rising against British rule in April 1916. From that point onwards, he did not engage in military action, although he witnessed and reported on Irelands continuing struggle for freedom. The country erupted in a war within a war as Irish republicans sought to take advantage of Britains military preoccupation with Germany. He brought his journalistic skills to the service of the new Irish nation when he was recruited to the Communications Section of the Department of External Affairs.

Through his involvement in the British delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, Phelan became associated with the ILO from its earliest days in 1919. In 1920 he was chosen by the ILOs first Director, Albert Thomas, to join his management team as Head of the Diplomatic Division at its new headquarters in Geneva. In 1929, Lester was transferred from Dublin to become Irelands Permanent Representative (akin to ambassador) to the League of Nations. By dint of fate  one might say by accident  Lester and Phelan ended up meeting and working alongside each other in Geneva .

Phelan and Lester held international positions that enabled them to contribute meaningfully to the new Irish nation, helping it formulate its foreign policies and play a valuable role in international diplomacy. Meanwhile, the prospects for another war were intensifying. Ireland was but a small, insignificant pawn in the emerging global conflict. The destinies of Phelan and Lester changed dramatically over the following years. They were dedicated to internationalism and to promoting global peace, social justice and international development.

In 1888, the Ireland into which Edward Phelan and Sean Lester had been born was governed as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Their story is also a story about a newly emerging Ireland in the first decades following partition in 1920 and the Irish Free States independence in 1922, with special emphasis on its entry onto the global stage when it joined both the League of Nations and the ILO in 1923.

Sean Lester's blue plaque

With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Ireland maintained its neutrality  a controversial decision both at home and abroad. The pressures of the conflict made it increasingly difficult for citizens of belligerent countries to retain top positions in the two major international and ostensibly neutral organizations. In theory at least, the ILO and the League were expected to be independent. While Secretaries-General or Directors were appointees of the Great Powers, at the outbreak of hostilities the deputy leaders of the League and the ILO were citizens of Ireland  a small neutral country with relatively friendly relations with many of the major powers. When their principals departed  the Frenchman, Joseph Avenol, from the League; the American, John Gilbert Winant, from the ILO  their deputies were thrust into leadership positions. Lester and Phelan, were conveniently endorsed in their Acting Director roles.

Contrasting backgrounds

They were born in 1888 at opposite ends of the island of Ireland: Phelan into a Catholic family steeped in sea-faring tradition in County Waterford in the south-east of Ireland, Lester into a Protestant-Methodist and unionist family business background in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, in the north-east. The Phelan family transferred to the major port of Liverpool where Edward completed his university education. In early 1914, he joined the British Civil Service in the Ministry of Labour. Historically, there are strong links between the city of Liverpool and the ILO. In addition to Phelan, two of the three British Directors-General have been Liverpudlians: Clarence Wilfred Jenks (1970-1973) and Guy Ryder (2012 to 2022). Liverpool had, and continues to have, a strong trade union tradition, and this was undoubtedly a contributory factor with three of its residents engaging pre-eminently with the ILO.

Starting life as John Lester, as a young boy he moved to Belfast with his family, left school and embarked on a career as a journalist. He joined the Gaelic League, adopted the Irish-language version of his name, Sean, and became a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) all in the same year, 1909.

Edward Phelan joined the British civil service while Sean Lester joined its Irish counterpart. Born with British nationality, they both became citizens of the fledgling Irish state which was struggling to consolidate its place in the new post-war world of nation-states. Their backgrounds reflected the political and cultural divisions that culminated in the partition of Ireland. Sean, a Protestant from the north, Edward a Catholic from the south. Yet they forged a unique personal and official relationship in fraught political times. Their lives and careers provide a fascinating window on Irish and international history over the course of the first half of the 20th century. Simultaneously they endeavoured to advance the agendas of their respective organizations, the League and the ILO .

The Irish Influence: Building the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization by Gerry Finnegan

The Irish Influence: Building the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization by Gerry Finnegal (Beyond the Pale Books, 28) is available now
Experts say its vital childrens vaccination status is up to date

Outbreaks of measles have been recorded in parts of Wales and southern England

Northern Ireland has been told to prepare for a possible outbreak of measles after a resurgence of the disease in areas of England and Wales.

For the first time in decades, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has issued national guidance on the treatment of measles.

UK-wide vaccination against the potentially fatal disease is at a 10-year low and the RCPCH said that outbreaks have already been seen in London, Wales and Leicester.

The RCPCH have advised doctors to think measles when treating children due to the resurgence in the disease.

Dr Alan Stout, Chair of the NI General Practitioners Committee (NIGPC), has said outbreaks in southern regions of England tend to affect Northern Ireland a few weeks later.

A number of years ago, the UK as a whole was designated by the WHO as being measles-free, which meant there wasnt a single case originating within the UK, he told the Belfast Telegraph. Weve lost that status now, and London in particular is predicting they may well get thousands and thousands of cases from an infectious disease we really havent seen for years.

With people travelling for Christmas and so on, we may lag two or three weeks behind what we see particularly in the south of England.

When we see alarm bells there, we then worry here that we are going to follow a similar trend. If infectious diseases are circulating, that absolutely carries a risk.

The increase in measles comes as vaccinations rates in the UK for children under the age of five have fallen to their lowest level in a decade.

NIGPC Chair Dr Alan Stout

Dr Stout said the fall was partly as a result of scare stories amplified by social media.

A number of years ago we had the MMR scare-story that got disproved and discredited, he added. We had a bit of a dip back then but it seemed to have recovered. Now weve definitely got another dip and every practice notices a downturn.

Social media is a big culprit, there are a lot of stories on the back of Covid, and a lot of conspiracy and anxiety there.

Then there is also just a fatigue. Weve been through an awful lot over the past number of years and people are just tired and fatigued with health and prevention and promotion stories.

There is a little bit to do in terms of re-invigorating that messaging and you hope to goodness it isnt a scare that has to do that.

Though vaccination rates in Northern Ireland have traditionally been high, the Public Health Agency (PHA) said there had been a slight decrease in recent years.

It is crucial vaccine uptake remains high in Northern Ireland to help prevent many of these serious diseases returning from parts of the world where they still occur, said a spokesperson.

Thanks to the high proportion of people here making the decision to get the MMR vaccine over the past three decades, cases of these illnesses remain low. However, these diseases have not gone away so we cannot afford to become complacent. Ensuring children have had two doses of MMR vaccine will give them the best protection.
Masked men have daubed the BBCs headquarters in Belfast with paint in the colours of the Palestinian flag.

It happened at Broadcasting House on Ormeau Road on Friday evening.

Police said two suspects, wearing black clothing and with masks and hoods pulled up, were seen painting the flag before fleeing the scene.

They are treating the incident as criminal damage.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We regret any damage caused to BBC buildings or property.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have previously demonstrated at the BBC, including in Belfast and London, after criticising how the broadcaster has covered the conflict in the Middle East.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police are investigating and appealing for witnesses following a report of criminal damage within the Ormeau Avenue area of south Belfast.

A report was received shortly after 11.25pm on Friday evening that graffiti had been painted onto the wall of a building.

Two suspects, who were wearing black clothing, with masks and hoods pulled up, painted a flag onto the building and left the scene on foot just minutes later.

Several pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations have been held in Belfast and other UK cities since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists, and reprisal Israeli raids.

On Saturday tens of thousands of people will gather in London to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Around 1,500 police officers will be deployed for the protests, which come amid a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the release of 24 hostages by Hamas.

Around 100,000 people are expected to march later from Park Lane to Whitehall, with officers set to hand out leaflets to provide "absolute clarity" on what will be deemed an offence.

The Metropolitan Police will be on high alert in the capital, after a previous rally on Armistice Day saw scenes of violent disorder after counter-protesters clashed with officers.

The force had come under severe pressure from politicians over the decision to allow that march to go ahead, with former home secretary Suella Braverman accusing the force of showing bias in favour of left-wing protesters.

Deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said that the leaflets set out "that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation".

"We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism - such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people - or who spreads hate speech."

Organisers Stop the War Coalition said that such a measure was "intrusive", but asked anyone attending to avoid "any actions that might leave you or others around you open to arrest".

On Saturday Egyptian officials confirmed that Hamas will later free another 14 hostages in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The X owner said Mr Varadkar hates the Irish people.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was out and about yesterday

Twitter owner Elon Musk has hit out at Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and suggested former UFC fighter Conor McGregor should run for office in future.

There was a heavy police presence  including dogs, mounted officers and water cannons  in Dublin on Saturday evening following serious rioting in the Irish capital on Thursday.

The disorder broke out after crowds gathered following an attack on young children and their creche worker in the Parnell Square area of the city.

In response to a post on X outlining Mr Varadkars intention to pass new laws in the coming weeks to help An Garda Siochana make better use of CCTV to catch those engaged in disorder, Mr Musk said: Ironically, the Irish PM hates the Irish people.

"This is their last term in office, added the billionaire.

Mr Musk also appeared to suggest that former UFC fighter Conor McGregor should run for political office.

Responding to a post from one users reply to McGregor saying he should run for office to kick these losers out, the Tesla owner said: Not a bad idea.

"The current Irish government clearly cares more about praise from woke media than their own people, said Musk in a further post.

X owner Elon Musk

It comes after Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she has been briefed by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on the policing plan and ongoing operations to maintain order in Dublin.

She said her thoughts remain with the young children and their creche worker who were attacked by a man armed with a knife outside a school on Thursday afternoon.

"I have provided additional overtime in the capital, and I am determined to maintain the momentum we are now building in Garda recruitment to increase the number of Garda members on the ground.

"I want to again be clear that the thuggery we saw on Thursday will not be tolerated and, as Minister for Justice, An Garda Siochana, including Commissioner Harris, have my full support to maintain order. Those responsible will be brought to justice.

On Friday, the PSNI dispatched two water cannon following a request from their Dublin counterparts, with the Garda confirming its use was an available tactic for them.

"Training has taken place to refresh previously trained operators and water cannons are now an available tactic to public order operational commanders for An Garda Siochana, said a spokesperson.

"Commissioner Harris thanks the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and all PSNI personnel involved for their offer of assistance and rapid response to his request."

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening - which involved far-right elements - with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after the knife attack in the north inner city.

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capital's main thoroughfare O'Connell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

It was quieter on Friday night with gardai regaining control and a small number of people were arrested for public order offences.

The five-year-old girl injured in the knife attack outside a school remains in a critical condition in hospital on Friday while the female care assistant, in her 30s, is in a serious condition.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, suffered less serious injuries.

The six-year-old remained in hospital on Friday but the boy was discharged.

Gardai said a man who sustained serious injuries at the scene is a person of interest in their investigation.

More than half a million euros (434,469) has been raised for the victims of the stabbing attack, and those who intervened.

A number of GoFundMe pages have been set up, with the highest total for an effort to assist Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio who intervened in the attack to stop the man armed with a knife.
Three friends have smashed a rowing world record by working together as a well-oiled machine as a means of symbolically highlighting the importance of getting support from others if you are struggling with your mental health.

British adventurer and endurance athlete Isaac Kenyon, PhD student Graham Moore and IT engineer Alex Pierrot completed the 30-hour row at 1pm on Saturday, in one-hour rotations, using a single indoor rowing machine.

They beat the previous record for the longest continual lightweight, indoor rowing world record for a small male-only team aged 20-29, which stood at 26 hours.

The three shared how they have overcome mental health struggles including depression, which compelled them to take on the row to highlight that even though were kind of trapped for 30 hours doing this really mentally taxing task, they have each other to get through it.

This is a message they hoped would show the importance of seeking support if you are struggling with your mental health.

The group documenting their progress (Isaac Kenyon/PA)

Speaking to the PA news agency after the challenge, Mr Kenyon, 29, who is based in Devon and was the first rower, said: It was incredible to be able to create such momentum around the story of mental health and the rowing was amazing, but it was more about the meaning behind it.

It was also special to do the row with my two friends, who havent really done a continuous row like this before, but I was really pleased to see them just absolutely smash it out of the park.

Mr Pierrot added he felt a massive sense of accomplishment after reaching the finish line.

The group said it was special to be able to do the row together (Isaac Kenyon/PA)

So many people came to support us physically in the gym  a lot of coworkers, family, friends, all three of our partners stayed with us all the way through the night, they were really our rocks, the 28-year-old from London told PA.

A lot of people supported us online too and I really enjoyed how many conversations we had throughout the 30 hours and beforehand, from people opening up about their mental health issues and asking us for advice.

He said the group smashed the fundraising target for Movember around halfway through, so had to double it.

Mr Moore said the challenge helped the team to learn a lot about each other.I think we pulled together as a well-oiled machine and we supported each other through this and other people have supported us too, and were so grateful for all the help and to be able to have done this together, the 26-year-old who is based in London told PA.

Isaac Kenyon, Graham Moore and Alex Pierrot tackled the challenge together (Isaac Kenyon/PA)

Mr Kenyon added: It was so much more that just three guys doing a row, it was about unifying around a message that is so transferrable  that through difficult times, if you have a great support network, you can get through them.

He said one of the trickiest things to contend with was rowing during the night, when your bodys telling you, why are you on this rowing machine at 2am? You should be asleep.

Mr Pierrot said he tried various techniques  including listening to a book and closing his eyes  to keep his focus on the record.

Mr Moore got to row for hour 15  the halfway mark  and said from there the only way was up and at one stage he found the energy to do some star jumps.

Despite the challenge coming to an end, the group hope conversations about mental health continue.

The team raised money for Movember which raises awareness of mens health issues (Isaac Kenyon/PA)

I want to inspire people to see that even if you have mental health issues  thats not the end, Mr Pierrot said.

Weve all had them on the team and look at what weve just achieved as a group.

Mr Kenyon added: Weve always tried to share our stories about our mental health when we have been going through the difficult times, as that is when it is most important to seek help.

I worry about the quiet ones  the ones who (we) may not know have issues  and we would really love it if those people could find the courage to open up like we did as things will get better.

The challenge took place at Rowbots City fitness studio, in east London.

The fundraising link can be accessed here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wr-indoor-row-for-mens-mental-health-in-movember
The world really is starting to look more like a dystopian future as technology progresses in the modern age. Concerns about an advanced AI that might destroy humanity have been louder than ever, so much so that a church dedicated to spreading the belief in an ethical AI.

Way of the Future

The church started back in 2015 but didn't really see much success, perhaps due to the lack of urgency. Now that artificial intelligence is posing more of a threat than ever, people are starting to believe that ethical AI is something that we need.

The "church" was started by a former Google engineer, Anthony Levandowski, who worked on autonomous vehicle technology. However, he was then accused of stealing secrets and selling them to his next employer. Resulting in an 18-month sentence.

He only managed to do six months of time in prison before he was pardoned by Donald Trump, who was the US president then, as per Interesting Engineering. This allowed the engineer to eventually become a free man and continue championing his church.

With the AI boom, it was the opportune time for Levandowski to build a bigger congregation. He even claims that there are already "a couple thousand people," all of whom have the same belief that ethical artificial intelligence can co-exist with society.

His statements are even stranger to those who are non-believers in either religion or the personification of AI, expressing that for the first time, "things are changing and we're going to have inorganic life forms."

While we are yet to determine what these "inorganic life forms" will be, he believes that we will fuse it "with all these magical powers, and we want it to give us things." Furthermore, he believes that AI can bring heaven to Earth.

To summarize it all, the Way of the Future back in 2017 focused on "the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence developed through computer hardware and software."

Read Also: US, China Presidents are Expected to Ban AI Use with Autonomous Weapons

An Odd Belief or a Future Norm?

Levandowski is not far off in artificial intelligence being a very important part of society in the future, but probably not in the sense that people would start worshipping it. At least right now, people still have a clear concept of belief and technology.

The dichotomy could blur as time goes by but for now, the idea that AI can be revered as a "god" is still pretty much ridiculous. As for the aspect that AI must be ethical, it is something that many really do believe now.

The idea of artificial intelligence potentially harming humanity is the foundation of many regulatory ideas that are being floated now. This issue may even be what prompted the OpenAI board to oust the reinstated CEO, Sam Altman.

The prominent AI executive was rumored to have had a breakthrough in AI called Q*. It is said to be more advanced than any of the AI models that are publicly available today, which spooked some of the OpenAI researchers working on it.

Related: Concerns Over New Advanced AI Were Raised Before OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was Fired
People participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, near the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday (Leo Correa/AP)

Hamas has said it has handed over 20 hostages to the International Committee for the Red Cross.

Red Cross vehicles were later seen crossing into Egypt.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators earlier said Hamas had agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven foreign nationals on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The announcement came after Hamas delayed the releases for several hours, saying Israel had violated the terms of a truce deal that had set the stage for such swaps.

Saturday is the second day of what was meant to be a four-day truce.

Until Saturday afternoon, it still appeared everything was going according to plan. Aid trucks were entering Gaza, Hamas handed a list of more than a dozen hostages slated for release to mediators Qatar and Egypt, and Israels Prison Service prepared a list of dozens of Palestinian prisoners for release.

People participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel (Leo Correa/AP)

But by nightfall, as the hostages should have emerged from Gaza, Hamas announced that it was delaying the release over what it said were Israeli truce violations.

The group alleged the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised, and that not enough of the aid was reaching northern Gaza  the focus of Israels ground offensive and the main combat zone.

Hamas also said not enough veteran prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday.

This is putting the deal in danger and we have spoken to mediators about that, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said earlier in Beirut.

But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said obstacles had been overcome, and Hamas issued a statement listing six women and 33 boys and teenagers it said were expected to be released by the Israelis.

Two women, Maysoun Jabali and Israa Jaabis, were imprisoned in 2015 after being convicted of carrying out attacks on Israelis. Jaabis suffered severe burns during the incident.

In Tel Aviv, several thousand people packed a central square called the square of the hostages, awaiting news of the second release.

Dont forget the others because its getting harder, harder and harder. Its heartbreaking, said Neri Gershon, a Tel Aviv resident. Some families have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government of not doing enough to bring hostages home.

In the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank, the family of 16-year-old Wael Mesheh was getting the house ready for his homecoming as part of the second swap.

We are going to hug him so tight, his mother, Hanadi Mesheh, said by phone.

The first group of freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nine and under. They were taken to Israeli hospitals for observation and were declared to be in good condition.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. The teenagers had been jailed for minor offences including throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers.

Its a happiness tainted with sorrow because our release from prison came at the cost of the lives of martyrs and the innocence of children, said one released prisoner, Aseel Munir al-Titi.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, Israel is holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.

On Saturday, at least two Palestinians were injured at a tense West Bank checkpoint where Israel was to free prisoners. Israeli security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians gathered at Beitunia checkpoint. It was not clear how the two were injured.
A number of buildings were damaged in the Russian drone attack on Kyiv (Felipe Dana/AP)

Russia has launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting the Ukrainian capital, military officials said.

Kyiv was the main target, wrote Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk on his Telegram channel.

In total, Russia launched around 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against Ukraine, of which 74 were destroyed by air defences, Ukraines armed forces said.

Firefighters pass a crater left by drone fragments following a Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The attack was the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration.

Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat confirmed later that the air defences shot down 66 air targets over the capital and surrounding region throughout Saturday morning.

At least five civilians were wounded in the drone assault on Kyiv, which saw several buildings damaged, including a school. The wounded included an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

In the citys Solomiansky district, debris left a crater in the courtyard of a residential area, and the windows of a nearby building were blown out.

Residents, most of them elderly, received medical attention at the scene. Others took shelter in a nearby subway station. As people were clearing up debris and broken glass in the neighbourhood, the hum of a fresh wave of drones could be heard nearby.

Volodymyr Zelensky said soldiers shot down most of the drones (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The assault on Kyiv began at 4am local time, continuing in waves for more than six hours, and caused power outages in 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, according to Mr Popko.

Ukraines Energy Ministry said 17,000 people were without power in the Kyiv region as a result of the attack, noting that four power lines were damaged. Power was restored in the early afternoon.

Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

But we continue to work to strengthen our air defence and shoot down more, he said.

Speaking at the Grain from Ukraine summit on Saturday, which saw leaders and parliamentary representatives from Belgium, Ireland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland and Estonia meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss global food security, the Ukrainian President warned that if (Russian President Vladimir) Putin could arrange another Holodomor for Ukraine, he would do it.

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The attack was carried out on the morning of Holodomor Memorial Day which commemorates the man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine that killed millions of Ukrainians from 1932 to 1933, and is marked on the fourth Saturday in November.

In addition to Kyiv, the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions were also targeted.

Meanwhile, shelling killed on person and wounded three in the southern region of Kherson, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Saturday.

According to Mr Prokudin, the region had been shelled 100 times over the previous 24 hours.
A Co Down woman who confessed to a 2,000 extortion plot has been warned she will receive a jail sentence for the concerning crime.

Standing in the dock of Downpatrick Crown Court on Friday, 35-year-old Clare Carruthers pleaded guilty to blackmailing her male victim between June 24 and November 8 last year.

Following the admission, the prosecution asked for two similar charges to be left on the books and that was granted by Judge Geoffrey Miller KC.

While the charge outlined a demand for 4,000, the court was told Carruthers intends to make full restitution to the victim and pay back 2,000 which the victim had lost.

Adjourning sentence until January next year, the judge said blackmail offences are very serious and warned Carruthers the custody threshold is clearly crossed.

He told Carruthers, from the Moss Road in Ballygowan, the question whether that is immediate or suspended will depend on the information before him and the contents of the pre-sentence probation report.
Ten Thai hostages wearing olive green and yellow jackets at Shamir Medical Center in Israel after being released by Hamas, Nov. 25, 2023.

UPDATED at 8:26 a.m. ET on 2023-11-25

Ten Thai hostages kidnapped during Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel have been released under a four-day ceasefire agreement, the Thai foreign ministry said Saturday.

Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages  including 13 Israelis and one Philippine national  who had been held for weeks in the Gaza Strip as part of a deal that also involved the exchange of 150 Palestinians from Israeli prisons and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The 10 Thais crossed into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing on Friday evening before being transported to Hatzerim air base for processing and on to the Shamir Medical Center in Israel.

Royal Thai Embassy officials are with the group and have notified their relatives, Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

This group will stay in the hospital for at least 48 hours, while the [embassy] will make all the necessary arrangements for their travel back to Thailand and their families as soon as possible.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had earlier said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that 12 Thai nationals had been freed.

The foreign ministry confirmed Saturday the number stood at 10, with 20 still being held by Hamas. A photo released by the ministry showed one woman was among those freed.

Thailand thanked the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran and Malaysia for their help in negotiating the release of the 10 hostages. On Nov. 21, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs had revised the number of Thais hostages in Hamas captivity to 26, but that information at the time did not account for four of the Thai hostages who were released on Friday, officials said.

We sincerely hope that the remaining hostages will be treated humanely and released safely as soon as possible, the ministry said.

The Thais were abducted from agricultural areas in southern Israel after Hamas broke through a fence sealing off Gaza from the Jewish state, before killing 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and taking more than 230 hostages.

Following the Oct. 7 attack, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara visited Qatar and Egypt and met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to press for the release of the Thai nationals, who were the single largest group of foreigners abducted by Palestinian militant groups.

About 30,000 Thais worked in Israel before the war began, predominantly as farmhands. About a third have returned home since fighting began but the rest have chosen to remain in Israel, according to the foreign ministry. At least 32 Thai nationals have died and 19 have been injured.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also confirmed on Saturday the release of Filipino national Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco.

Pacheco, 33, was now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

We remain concerned over the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages, Marcos said in a statement.

The four-day truce between Israel and Hamas is the first pause since fighting began and a chance to provide critical humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of Gazas 2.3 million people, who have been displaced by Israels heavy bombardment of the enclave.

More than 13,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its offensive against Hamas, the Associated Press reported, citing the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Both sides have said hostilities will resume after the ceasefire ends. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to wipe out Hamas and end its 16 year-rule of the strip.

This report has been updated to include revised information given by the foreign ministry on Nov. 21 for the number of Thai hostages.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 37F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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BENNINGTON  A developer and architect is eyeing the Autumn Inn motel property with plans to create multiple small rental units with added kitchens.

Talor Stewart, of Shaftsbury, said Friday that project design options are still being considered for conversion and use of the two-story building at 924 Main St.

Ive done properties like this many times, he said of the proposal, and it is always a bit of a massage process to fit the plan with the rental market and other factors.

Details, he said, include what does the community need, what do the finances look like for Option A and Option B ... So I keep doors and possibilities open, and I try to just navigate to the best results for everyone concerned, including investors, residents, banks and the community.

He added that there are a number of options, and I dont want to paint myself into a corner at this point.

But we are going forward strong, Stewart said.

His initial description in October, when seeking a determination on whether an Act 250 permit was required, referred to creation of 32 studio or one-bedroom units of 300 to 500 square feet in size.

The description notes the intent was not for family-size rental units but to convert the motel space from temporary transient lodging to full-time occupancy housing.

One target renter group, Stewart wrote, was those seeking missing middle workforce housing.

He said he didnt plan to include dedicated affordable housing units that would require a specific rate structure.

An existing eight-unit apartment house on the motel site would remain as is.

"Any plan to convert inadequate temporary housing into affordable permanent housing is worth considering," Town Manager Stuart Hurd said Friday of the proposal.

The property, owned by Nayan Patel and Patel Investments, was constructed in 1969 on 2.3 acres.

Kitchens, etc.

The renovation work was expected to include installation of kitchens in each unit and interior cosmetic improvements or renovations, such as new carpeting, paint and furniture.

No subdivision of the property, curb cuts, or demolition work would be required.

The proposal would not require a review under Act 250, the district coordinator, Kim Lutchko, confirmed in an opinion posted on the Act 250 Commission website Nov. 9.

Stewart said he does projects around the country and is working in this proposal with Conscious Home Design, a national firm, and he has a studio in Shaftsbury and operates Vermont Home Design.

Best selling author

Stewart is also the author of the book, Conscious Home Design, which was a top seller on Amazon.com.

Of the motel property, he said, I dont think the property is at its potential, and Id like to see it better meet the needs of the community. Thats my goal.

Stewart said the Autumn Inn currently is an active motel with guests and apartments, which serves some homeless people through the states emergency housing program, and others staying for extended periods, such as traveling nurses.

Stewart is a Vermonter who went to high school in Vermont and whose family lives in the area.
(Photo : Photo by Daria Pimkina on Unsplash )

The pandemic had a profound impact on the work culture around the world. Although some were shocked by the shift at the time, most people now agree with our direction. Workers are in search of greater flexibility in the workplace. Experts may depart their current companies in search of better opportunities primarily due to a lack of flexibility.

Remote Statistics

Between 2019 and 2021, the number of people primarily working from home tripled from 5.7% (roughly 9 million people) to 17.9% (27.6 million people), according to the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

That's a high adoption rate for any work style, but it's particularly note-worthy for ones that mix up work and personal life. Despite its importance during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, remote work presented difficulties for employers and employees. Today, opinions on remote work, its benefits and drawbacks, and whether it should continue to exist are divided.

Remote Work Trends 2023

The year 2023 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of remote work. Several significant developments are influencing how we operate, collaborate, and manage teams as businesses adjust to the shifting demands of the contemporary industrial setting.

1. Hybrid Work Models Take Center Stage

The idea of hybrid work, which combines in-office and remote work, is becoming increasingly popular. Organizations are redesigning their work environments to provide flexibility and require a physical location for group projects. We look at how businesses handle this change and how it affects worker productivity and engagement.

2. Advancements in Virtual Collaboration Tools

The increasing use of digital collaboration tools has led to ongoing innovation in this field. We explore the cutting-edge technologies that improve virtual collaboration and communication, from AI-driven project management to immersive virtual environments.

READ ALSO: Top 10 Productivity Apps and Tools That Can Help You Manage Projects and Tasks

3. Global Talent Pool

Organizations are reaching out to a global talent pool, erasing traditional geographic barriers to talent acquisition. We look at the methods businesses are using to create distributed, diverse teams that promote creativity and cultural diversity.

4. Balancing Connectivity and Digital Well-Being

The necessity of keeping a healthy digital balance has become more apparent with the rise in remote work. We examine companies' steps to address remote fatigue issues and prioritize their workforce's mental health and well-being.

5. The Evolution of Remote Leadership

The virtual world is changing how leaders lead. We look at leaders' strategies to help remote teams feel connected, trustworthy, and accountable and the abilities needed to teach in a dispersed workplace.

6. Focus on Results: Shifting from Hours to Outcomes

An emphasis on results is replacing the conventional 9-5 mindset. We talk about how businesses prioritize results over hours worked, giving staff members more freedom to manage their time and make valuable contributions efficiently.

7. Cultivating a Remote-Friendly Company Culture

We look at creative ways businesses are helping remote teams feel engaged like they belong, and have shared values.

8. Flexibility as a Retention Strategy

Flexible work arrangements are now an essential retention tactic rather than just a benefit. We look at how flexible work environments are helping businesses draw and keep top talent and how they affect worker satisfaction.

9. Remote Learning and Skill Development

Professional development and remote learning are becoming increasingly important. We look at businesses' programs to retrain and upskill their remote workers.

10. Navigating the Challenges of Team Dynamics:

Although working remotely has many benefits, team dynamics can be affected. We discuss the typical problems companies run into and practical ways to help remote teams work together, communicate, and stay cohesive.

As we maneuver through the ever-changing ground of remote work in 2023, these developments signal a revolutionary period in which flexibility, technological integration, and an emphasis on worker welfare are critical. The work landscape is changing in front of our eyes, and companies that adapt to these changes will be well-positioned to prosper in the rapidly developing field of remote collaboration.

RELATED ARTICLE: How Technology Is Transforming The Way We Work

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming security camera footage from Jan. 6, 2021, shows a federal agent disguised as a supporter of then-President Donald Trump during the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine contains a DNA sequence called Simian Virus 40 that can cause health problems, including cancer.
PITTSFIELD  Its been a year and a half since the lights went out at the landmark eatery on North Street, The Lantern. When The Lantern lights up again on Jan. 1, itll be with a new name, new owner and a menu that will set diners tastebuds afire.

The new year will see the soft opening of BBs Hot Spot at The Lantern  the sit-down extension of what has proven to be a successful homestyle Caribbean food truck and catering company based in Pittsfield. The iconic neon sign will stay, but The Lantern will get a facelift and a new menu.

Ronny Brizan, BBs Hot Spots owner and chef, said the restaurant hes creating will be an experience that draws people in.

Follow your nose, Brizan says with a chuckle from inside the restaurant at 455 North St. earlier this week. His wife, Candie Smith-Brizan, adds diners will feel like theyve been to the Caribbean without ever having to leave Pittsfield.

Thats because Brizan and his staff are cooking up recipes from his childhood in Grenada, a West Indies island about three times the size of Pittsfield. The menu has something for just about everyone, with vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Fans of BBs food truck, catering service or seasonal takeout spot at the Hancock Shaker Village will be familiar with much of the fare. Tender curried goat, slow-braised oxtail, jerk chicken and barbecue jerk pork ribs will all be on the menu  complemented by sides of coconut rice and red beans, sauteed cabbage and collard greens.

The traditional Grenadian macaroni pie carries a slightly different name on the menu: baked mac and cheese. The name may give Brizans American customers an idea of what theyre starting with, but Smith-Brizan promises the dish is much more than just baked cheese and pasta  its seasoned with a kick as is only befitting of its origins on the island of spice.

Brizan plans to use the new venue to fill out the menu as well. While the final schedule is still in flux, Brizan said that he plans to have the restaurant open five or six days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. What sticks will be up to customers.

Were just going to take our time and feel it out and see how it goes before we can say were going to go all the way, Brizan said.

The extended hours would give the restaurateur an opportunity to build out a new breakfast section to his existing menu and put a twist on some of his existing offerings.

During an interview this week, there was talk of fried bakes and saltfish  discs of fried dough served up with salted cod  as the potential star of the breakfast menu.

The house-made ginger beer and sorrel  a gingery, cinnamon, hibiscus drink  will be transformed into a mule and rum drink respectively as part of a full bar menu if BBs Hot Spot secures its alcohol license at the December meeting of the Pittsfield Licensing Board.

The move to The Lantern is just one step of Brizans larger dream for BBs Hot Spot. He hopes to add a canteen truck that would bring ready made lunches to locations around the Berkshires and grow out the catering business that is now being run out of the to-go BBs location on 302 Columbus Ave.

Its a dream that Berkshire organizations are already investing in. The Berkshire Black Economic Council received $111,000 from MassDevelopment to pass on to businesses moving to North Street in part of a downtown revitalization effort. BBs Hot Spot was part of the inaugural group of Vibe North Street grant recipients. The seed money from the BBEC allowed Brizan to move BBs to The Lantern and is covering the cost of new awnings and signage that will be added to the front of the building.

This moment, full of potential and hope, is exactly what Brizan has been working hard for over the last three years. After moving from Grenada to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2010, Brizan made his way to the Berkshires and into a job as a server at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. He worked at the Red Lion for a decade until he lost his job as part of pandemic-related layoffs in 2020.

Weeks after his layoff, Brizan had purchased a food truck and was running the first iteration of BBs Hot Spot. Less than a year later, he moved the prep and cleanup portion of the operation into the space on Columbus Avenue. That space turned into a to-go and catering operation thats been a favorite of Pittsfields Third Thursday events, Williams College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Miss Halls School.

Brizans culinary skills and work ethic come from his family and his hard-earned professional experience in Grenada, Smith-Brizan said. Brizan graduated from the culinary arts program at T.A. Marryshow Community College in St. George, Grenadas capital city. He worked at several luxury hotels in Grenada before joining the Tropicana Inn in St. George owned by his uncle.

The secret to success, here in the Berkshires, and in Grenada is the same.

Working hard, Brizan said. Its working hard, keeping proper records  and mostly taking pride in doing what you do and enjoying what you do.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
PITTSFIELD  A neighborhood meeting is scheduled for next month to let residents know about plans to remove a crumbling 19th century dam that threatens to release dangerous floodwaters and pollution into the city.

The meeting and presentation about the Bel Air Dam will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the Polish Falcon Club on Bel Air Avenue behind Harrys Supermarket.

It is organized by Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, as well as the state Department of Conservation and Recreations Office of Dam Safety, whose engineers will give a presentation about the removal and how it will affect residents.

The $19 million project to remove the dam  built in 1832 to power a mill  is slated to begin summer of 2025 or spring of 2026. Its been fast-tracked by the state given that it is on the brink of failure.

For well over a decade, the state monitored the abandoned dam on the West Branch of the Housatonic River off Wahconah Street. Engineers declared it unsafe in 2019, and the state announced in September that it would remove it.

Doing so will be disruptive and involve heavy trucks and the possible shutdown of one lane of Wahconah Street.

Thats because contractors have to dig up 355 tons of heavily polluted sediment that includes chromium, arsenic and lead. It then has to be shipped out of state to a licensed facility.

Before that polluted sediment is hauled off, it has to be stockpiled. Contractors will either cover it or keep it wet to prevent polluted dust from blowing around, according to the engineers, who gave a presentation by Zoom to community leaders in September.

The work will stop on weekends to relieve the neighborhood of noise, truck fumes, dust and activity, they said.

After a destructive break of an abandoned dam in Hinsdale in October 2022, The Eagle investigated the safety of all the countys high-hazard dams and published a database of their conditions and most recent inspections.

The city has long been highly concerned about the Bel Air Dam, given that it is rated by the state as a high hazard dam  meaning its failure could unleash floodwaters that threaten life and property.

In this case, its floodpath cuts through a low-income neighborhood with small businesses, as well as Berkshire Medical Center.

The owner of the dam had given up on fixing it, despite pressure and a lawsuit in 2010 by the state. He has since died.
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(Photo : Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash )

While businesses continue to struggle with layoffs, an unstable economy, and the pros and cons of return-to-office initiatives, they are also confronting an additional, potentially more significant challenge: integrating and supervising Gen Z hires.

According to the World Economic Forum, Gen Z will comprise one-third of the workforce by 2025. Yet, Tara Salinas, an associate professor of business ethics at the University of San Diego, says recruiting, supervising, and keeping these younger employees will require a different strategy. Although this generation is highly skilled in technology, she stated that companies will need to make up for a distinct lack of other essential competencies for success.

In an article, "Gen Z are digital natives and they've always communicated online, so their interpersonal skills, or soft skills, have suffered," said Salinas. "They took an even bigger hit because of Covid-19, and it has shifted the way that we need to interact with them in the workplace."

According to Salinas, businesses need to rethink how they interact with Generation Z, and social media sites like TikTok and tech tools like ChatGPT could be helpful in this regard. Organizational culture and mentoring initiatives will also be crucial.

Adapting to Gen Z's Digital Workplace Expectations

Although Salinas noted that Gen Z may be the first generation to enter the workforce with native digital skills, it comes at the expense of interpersonal dynamics and in-person communication, which are difficult for them. Companies must meet these workers where they are to manage them effectively and position them for success. In exchange, Gen Z can offer businesses critical expertise in social media and cutting-edge AI tools like ChatGPT.

"From a business standpoint, it's overwhelming that advancements will keep coming," "To Gen Z, it's normal, so capitalizing on that skill set is simply a smart business decision," she further added.

This encompasses making organizational adjustments to meet Generation Z's technological and digital preferences, fostering an environment where they can leverage their digital skills and contribute effectively to the modern workplace.

READ ALSO: Leveraging Modern Technology to Propel Your Career Forward

Crafting an Environment that Resonates with Gen Z Values

Although Gen Z has much to offer a business, they also have high expectations. If the company's values conflict with their own, it's one of the main reasons they'll quit. This entails modifying workplace procedures and culture to reflect Generation Z's unique beliefs and standards.

"A lot of companies see culture as a secondary thing," Salinas said, but with Gen Z, it is front and center. If a company's "culture doesn't align with what Gen Z employees expect, they're going to leave."

Establishing Connections with Gen Z by Mentorship

While remote work and flexibility are still highly valued benefits, employers must recognize that younger employees take mentorship and career development into account when determining whether to join or leave a company. This entails fostering deep connections between seasoned and Gen Z workers to promote growth, learning, and a feeling of community.

According to Salinas, it all comes down to company culture. Businesses must make mentorship and professional development for Gen Z employees a core part of their corporate culture. Give them the chance to acquire the skills they lacked before joining your organization.

When adapting to Gen Z's digital workplace expectations, here are key aspects to consider:

Technology Integration:

Digital Collaboration Tools: Generation Z is used to smooth online communication. Collaboration and communication are aided by the use of tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other project management platforms.

Cloud-Based Systems: Gen Z workers can work from any location thanks to the flexibility and accessibility offered by cloud-based system adoption.

Remote Work Opportunities:

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexibility and work-life balance are important to Gen Z. Providing flexible work arrangements or remote work opportunities can improve employee productivity and job satisfaction.

Virtual Onboarding: Virtual onboarding procedures that make use of technology can facilitate new Gen Z hires' seamless integration into the workplace culture as remote work grows in popularity.

Digital Learning and Development:

Online Training Platforms: Gen Z is committed to lifelong learning. By giving them access to online training materials and platforms, you can help them stay current and upskill in the quickly changing digital landscape.

Microlearning: On-demand, bite-sized learning modules complement Gen Z's preference for brief, targeted information intake.

Social Media Presence:

Employer Branding on Social Media: Gen Z frequently uses social media to assess the values and culture of a business. Attracting top talent can be facilitated by keeping an active and positive presence on social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Employee Advocacy Programs: Motivate staff members, particularly Generation Z, to post about their experiences on social media to enhance the employer brand.

Inclusive and Diverse Culture:

Digital Inclusion: Establishing an inclusive culture requires making sure that digital tools and resources are available to everyone, regardless of individual differences.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: Diversity is important to Gen Z. Putting diversity and inclusion initiatives into practice and supporting them can help create a happy work environment.

Purpose-Driven Work:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Gen Z is frequently socially aware. Businesses that emphasize corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and demonstrate their dedication to environmental and social causes are more likely to win over this generation.

Clear Mission and Values: Gen Z looks for meaning in their jobs. Aligning a company's mission and values can be achieved by clearly stating them.

RELATED ARTICLE: Simple Ways to Streamline Business Operations in 2021

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
IILs Human Biologicals Institute celebrates 25 years

Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has launched Mabella (Measles and Rubella) vaccine for children, developed in partnership with Polyvac Institute, Vietnam. Through rigorous human clinical trials, Mabella has demonstrated both safety and effectiveness.

This launch took place along with Human Biologicals Institute (HBI), a branch of IIL, marking its 25th anniversary since its establishment in 1998. Founded in an era emphasising the need for indigenous vaccines, HBI has significantly contributed to India's self-reliance, aligning with the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat."

HBI's legacy of innovation began in 1998 with the indigenous development of India's first safe Vero-cell rabies vaccine  Abhayrab, replacing the painful nerve tissue vaccine. Abhayrab is now the world's largest-selling Anti-Rabies vaccine, saving millions of lives globally. HBI subsequently introduced various childhood vaccines, including DPT, Pentavalent Vaccine, TT, Hepatitis-B, MR, and Td vaccines.

Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director of Indian Immunologicals, highlighted IIL's substantial contributions to disease control and vaccine accessibility over its 25-year journey. Emphasising IIL's role in disease elimination, he discussed the launch of Mabella, addressing the global threat of Measles and Rubella, which claims around 1,00,000 children's lives annually.
The highly anticipated White Star Miss Soweto 2023 pageant is set to captivate audiences on 25 November at the esteemed Soweto Theatre in Jabulani, Soweto. This years pageant is elevated to the next level by the generous support of our sponsors and talent who are contributing to make this event a truly memorable experience for all involved.

Bucy Radebe

We are privileged to unveil the esteemed sponsors of the Miss Soweto 2023 pageant:

White Star Super Maize Meal: headline sponsor



Revlon South Africa: makeup partner



Kicks Sportswear: footwear sponsor



Eli Ball: evening gown sponsor



K Mile Models: pageant experience partner



Sugar Apple Designs: visual design partner

The 2023 finalists have undergone a series of enriching workshops aimed at fostering confidence and enhancing their personal and professional skills. These initiatives are thoughtfully designed to prepare the finalists for the Miss Soweto pageant and equip them for successful careers beyond participating in the pageant.

Kamo Mphela

The pageant is honoured to welcome a line-up of distinguished South African talent to grace the stage and judges table:

Thabiso Makhubela and Lerato Kganyago as co-hosts



Nthabiseng Kgase as the red carpet host



Esteemed judges, including Bridget Masinga, Grace Mantjiu, Emmanuel Tjiya, and Sammy Mhaule



Mesmerising performances by Kamo Mphela and Bucy Radebe

The entire community is invited to participate in the pageant by casting their votes for the Peoples Choice Award. Voting commenced in October 2023 and will conclude on the day of the pageant on 25 November 2023 at 4pm. Individuals can vote for their favourite contestant by texting "Hi" to the WhatsApp number 073 065 1066 or by accessing the White Star online voting platform at https://wa.me/27730651066?text=Hi and selecting the number associated with their choice.

Lerato Kganyago

For those seeking more information about the event and the remarkable #MissSoweto2023 finalists, please visit https://whitestar.africa/.

The White Star Miss Soweto 2023 pageant promises to be a celebration of beauty, resilience, and community spirit, continuing its legacy as a springboard for the aspirations of young Sowetan women. Join us in heralding the start of a new chapter for our winners and in commemorating this enduring tribute to the spirit of Soweto.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lungile Nyembe | lungile@onpointpr.co.za
Jailed South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was granted parole on Friday, 24 November, after serving nine years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, and will be released on 5 January 2024, authorities said.

File photo: Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius leaves court after appearing for the 2013 killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, 14 June 2016. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko/Files

Known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs, Pistorius went from a public hero as a Paralympic champion to a convicted killer in hearings that caught the world's attention.

Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013.

He was initially jailed for five years in 2014 for culpable homicide by a high court. But the Supreme Court of Appeal in late 2015 found him guilty of the more serious charge of murder after an appeal by prosecutors.

His total sentence was lengthened to six years in 2016, less than half the 15-year minimum term sought by prosecutors.

In 2017, the Supreme Court more than doubled his total sentence to 13 years and five months, saying the six-year jail term was "shockingly lenient".

"Mr Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires," the Department of Correctional Services said on Friday.

Ahead of the hearing, Rob Matthews, spokesperson for Steenkamp's mother June, read out a statement from her detailing the impact the murder had had on the family.

"I'm not convinced that Oscar has been rehabilitated. Rehabilitation requires someone to engage honestly with the full truth of his crime and the consequences thereof," June Steenkamp said in the remarks read out by Matthews.

After the parole was announced, the Steenkamp family's lawyer Tania Koen told Reuters the decision had not come as a surprise.

June Steenkamp was satisfied that the parole board had considered her statement, Koen said.

"They imposed certain conditions on Oscars parole, which is that he must continue with anger management therapy, Koen added.

Pistorius's lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for a comment.

Several factors are typically taken into account by a parole board, including the nature of the crime, the possibility of reoffending, conduct in prison, physical and mental wellbeing and potential threats a prisoner may face if released.

Pistorius was denied parole in March after it was ruled that he had not completed the minimum detention period required to be considered for parole.

However, the Constitutional Court said in October that Pistorius had served half of his sentence by March 21, which meant he was eligible, after his sentence was backdated to July 2016 instead of November 2017.
The Franschhoek Pass, which connects Franschhoek and the towns of Grabouw and Villiersdorp, will be closed between 8am and 5pm on weekdays for construction purposes. The closures will take effect on Tuesday, 28 November 2023, and will be in place till Friday, 15 December 2023. The pass will then be open (with the proceed-when-safe arrangement and weight restriction) unyil 7 January 2024 and closed again from 8 January 2024 until the end of February 2024.

The pass was reopened to selected categories of light motor vehicles after it was closed following a severe weather system that hit the Western Cape during the Heritage Day long weekend. The teams started working on temporary repairs as soon as the engineering team was satisfied that the landslips had stabilised sufficiently to start work.

The works have reached a point where the pass must be closed daily to initiate the soil-nailing process, of phase 1. Soil nailing is a technique used to stabilise existing slopes. This soil reinforcement process uses metal tendons which are drilled and grouted into the soil to create something that represents a gravity wall. For this to be done, the pass needs to be closed due to the size of the equipment that is used and the size of the working area required.

Light motor vehicles will be able to traverse the pass outside of the closure times. The use of the pass, even during times when the pass is open, by vehicles with a mass of more than 5 tons remains strictly prohibited.

Road users are advised to continue using alternative routes

Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers says that he is concerned over the non-compliance of road users. "The blatant disregard of road signs and restrictions, by some road users is a serious concern. We have received numerous reports of interlinked heavy motor vehicles accessing the pass despite clear signage prohibiting such acts. This reckless behaviour compromises the repair works and negatively impacts the entire repair process.

"What is a further concern is that should these trucks disregard the signage and get to the closure points during the closure periods, they will be stuck there until the road reopens because there isnt any space to turn around," Minister Simmers continues.

The Minister adds: "I am aware of the inconvenience the closure has had on the local community and visitors and the impact the weight limitation has. However, the safety of all road users remains our primary concern."

Simmers says the department foresees that it will still be a considerable period before the pass will allow two-way traffic.
Laurent Mareschal shows his love for 'geomungo'

By Pyo Kyung-min

Sitting in the heart of the western French city of Nantes, Stereolux is a vibrant cultural hub that attracts approximately 160,000 visitors annually. To live up to Stereolux's reputation, Laurent Mareschal, its president, has been traveling the world in search of innovative art forms to introduce in his hometown.

This time, he has set his sights on traditional Korean music, searching for artists who can join the renowned Les Nefs Nantes festival next year. The event will be held in collaboration with the Korean culture festival Printemps Coreen (Korean Spring), and is scheduled to take place at Les Machines de l'Ile, Nantes. The Printemps Coreen will be led by E Joung-ju, a player of the geomungo, a Korean traditional six-string zither.

The president is looking for artists with the ability to create Korean traditional music with a modern twist. In this way, he believes he can get closer to attaining his goals of fostering the creative endeavors of artists, showcasing the results to the public and presenting Nantes with a spectrum of art as varied as possible.

"Our event features many concerts introducing world music," Mareschal stressed during an interview with The Korea Times at the newspaper's headquarters in central Seoul, Nov. 9. "I am eager to bring in music from a non-European region and I am on the lookout for artists who create music that is a traditional yet modern reinterpretation of Korean traditional music."

Mareschal has a reason for prioritizing Korean traditional music over K-pop, a globally popular genre represented by prominent stars like BTS and BLACKPINK.

"I appreciate traditional music and instruments because they offer a unique vitality," he explained. "Whether it's traditional or entirely modern, computer-generated music, I lean towards sounds that I'm not accustomed to."

He is particularly interested in the geomungo, which dates back to the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668).

"I initially thought it was a stringed instrument, but it also has percussive qualities," he said. "It's intriguing how the instrument can convey a sense of rhythm and beat while expressing melody at the same time."

The president also underscored that a single genre should not define a country's music.

"K-pop is gaining immense popularity worldwide, whether in the U.S. or Europe, and I want to convey to people that Korean music extends beyond K-pop, encompassing a rich variety," he noted.

Opened in 2011, Stereolux houses two performance halls and a single exhibition space. It is committed to nurturing emerging talent, and among the young artists it supports, about one in three is a Nantes local.

Asked about the value of art, Mareschal underlined that its role is more than just providing new vitality.

"It's not just about infusing freshness or vitality into my daily life," the president emphasized. "I believe life itself is incomplete without art, adding an intriguing dimension to our existence."

Mareschal also talked about the profound connection between human beings and art. "Wherever we go, whether in Korea or France, we may observe people striving to enhance the beauty of even the most essential aspects of their lives. The inseparability of humans and art dates back to prehistoric times," he said.

"I think people can dream through art, whether it's K-pop, traditional music or even a painting. Through art, individuals can anticipate the future, fostering hope and the ability to dream about something."
Viewers of The Late Late Toy Show have raised over 3 million for charity so far.

At the end of the programme last night, the figure stood at just over 3.1 million.

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It was Patrick Kielty's first Toy Show at the helm, with one sharp seven-year-old reminding him during the programme.

The Toy Show Appeal raises money for various children's charities and community groups across Ireland every year.

As usual, there were surprises in store as one family returned from Australia while seven-year-old Sheamie was the star of the show with his mullet and his dig at host Kielty.

Also, a kid who sang Ireland's Call in an Irish rugby jersey got a big surprise when Peter O'Mahony and Bundee Aki from the Irish rugby team gave him a jersey.

People can still donate to the cause through the website down below.
A Montenegro court approved the extradition of cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon, Friday, leaving the justice minister to decide whether he will be handed over to Korea or the United States, who both want him.

The Terraform founder, whose real name is Kwon Do-hyung, had been on the run for months after fleeing first Korea and then Singapore ahead of the company's crash in May last year, before being arrested in the Adriatic country of Montenegro for using a fake passport.

Both Seoul and Washington are seeking Kwon's extradition for his suspected role in fraud linked to his company's dramatic collapse last year, which wiped out about $40 billion of investors' money and shook global crypto markets.

"All legal prerequisites for extradition of K.D.H are met," the Higher Court in Podgorica said in a statement.

However, since he is wanted by multiple countries, the court said that  according to the law  the minister of justice will have to decide which country holds a priority in this particular extradition case.

Justice Minister Andrej Milovic refused to reveal to which country Kwon would be deported, but described the extradition as "political."

"The USA is our main foreign policy partner. We want to sign a bilateral extradition agreement as soon as possible to create a legal framework for future extraditions," Milovic told local TV Vijesti.

Since his arrest in Montenegro, Kwon has been a source of intrigue in the country's divisive political scene.

During the run-up to parliamentary elections in June, controversy swirled after former interim Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic and his allies accused Milojko Spajic, the current prime minister, of fostering links with Kwon. (AFP)
Hamas is preparing to release more than a dozen hostages for several dozen Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, part of an exchange on the second day of a ceasefire that has allowed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.

While uncertainty remained around the details of the exchange, there was optimism, too, amid the scenes of joyous families reuniting on both sides.

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On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its October 7th attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Those freed in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.

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On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and it has been passed to Israel, according to an Egyptian official. A second Egyptian official confirmed the details.

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The head of Egypts government press office and the state-run Qahera news outlet said 13 hostages would be exchanged for 39 prisoners.

Under the truce agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed. Israels Prison Service said earlier on Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release.

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It was not immediately clear how many non-Israeli captives may also be released.

During the four days of the ceasefire, Hamas is due to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

A helicopter carrying hostages released by Hamas lands at Schneider Childrens Medical Centre in Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

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Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed  something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass.

Separately, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to co-ordinate with parties on the ground and ensure the deal continues to move smoothly, according to a diplomat briefed on the visit.

The start of the truce on Friday morning brought the first moment of quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas.

Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

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For Emad Abu Hajer, a resident of the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza City area, the pause meant he could again search through the rubble of his home, which was flattened in an Israeli attack last week.

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He found the bodies of a cousin and nephew, bringing the death toll in the attack to 19. With his sister and two other relatives still missing, he resumed his digging on Saturday.

Marah Bakir, right, a former Palestinian prisoner who was released by the Israeli authorities, is welcomed at her family home (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

We want to find them and bury them in dignity, he said.

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of humanitarian aid convoys on October 21st.

It was also able to deliver 34,078 gallons of fuel  just over 10 per cent of the daily pre-war volume  as well as cooking gas.

In the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, a long line of people with fuel cans and other containers waited outside a filling station hoping to get some of the newly delivered fuel.

For the first time in more than a month, aid reached northern Gaza, the focus of Israels ground offensive. A UN convoy delivered flour to two facilities sheltering people displaced by fighting.

The UN said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City, where much of the fighting has taken place, to a hospital in Khan Younis.

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Palestinians walk through Gaza City as the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

The relief brought by the ceasefire has been tempered, however, for both sides  among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the brevity of the pause. The short truce leaves Gaza mired in a humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

Israel has vowed to resume its massive offensive once the truce ends. That has clouded hopes that the deal could eventually help wind down the conflict, which has fuelled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank.

After nightfall on Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. The freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nine and under.

The released hostages were taken to three Israeli hospitals for observation. The Schneider Childrens Medical Centre said it was treating eight Israelis  four children and four women  and that all appeared to be in good physical condition.

It said they were also receiving psychological treatment, adding that these are sensitive moments for the families.

An Israeli prison transport vehicle carries Palestinian prisoners released by the Israeli authorities from Ofer military prison (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

At a plaza dubbed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, a crowd of Israelis celebrated at the news.

Yael Adar spotted her mother, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, in a TV broadcast of the release and was cheered to see her walking.

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That was a huge concern, what would happen to her health during these almost two months, she told Israels Channel 12.

But Yaels 38-year-old son, Tamir Adar, remains in captivity. Both were kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Everyone needs to come back. Its happiness locked up in grief, she said.

The hostages included multiple generations. Nine-year-old Ohad Munder-Zichri was freed along with his mother, Keren Munder, and grandmother, Ruti Munder.

The boy was abducted during a holiday visit to his grandparents at the kibbutz where about 80 people  nearly a quarter of all residents of the small community  are believed to have been taken from.

A convoy of Israeli army vehicles near Israels border after leaving Gaza on Friday (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

The plight of the hostages has raised anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. In the West Bank town of Beitunia, hundreds of Palestinians poured out of their homes to celebrate, honking horns and setting off fireworks that lit up the night sky.

The teenagers had been jailed for minor offences such as throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers, and others who had been arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

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Its a happiness tainted with sorrow because our release from prison came at the cost of the lives of martyrs and the innocence of children, said one released Palestinian prisoner, Aseel Munir al-Titi.

The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, said the hope is that momentum from the deal will lead to an end to the violence. Qatar served as a mediator along with the US and Egypt.

Palestinians flee to northern Gaza (Mohammed Dahman/AP)

But hours before it came into effect, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told troops that their respite would be short and that the war would resume with intensity for at least two more months.

Mr Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamass military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.

Women and children have consistently made up around two thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.

The ministry says some 6,000 people have been reported missing, feared buried under rubble. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its death tolls.

Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence for its count.
Updated 09:02

Nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand has finally been reunited with her dad, Thomas.

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The second hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas went ahead late last night after an agonising delay for the families of those now freed.

Israel allowed 39 Palestinians to leave two prisons as part of the truce deal, while 17 hostages from the Gaza Strip were freed by Hamas.

It is day three of the four-day truce agreement, however there have been reports of a shooting by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank overnight.

The Taoiseach, Tanaiste and President of Ireland Michael D Higgins have all welcomed the news of Emily's release overnight.

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Her father was overcome with emotion as he finally got to embrace his little girl.

Emily Hand is understood to be have been held hostage by militants in Gaza after being captured in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Beeri on October 7th.

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Her father Thomas, originally from Dun Laoghaire in Co Dublin, last week made an emotional appeal for her release, saying the family was living through a nightmare, and getting Emily back was his reason for living.

Emily turned nine last month while in captivity.

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Her family in Ireland held a birthday party for her at St Stephens Green in Dublin.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the news was an enormous joy and relief. "An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief," he said on X.

This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 25, 2023 Advertisement

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was delighted that Emily, a bright and beautiful young girl, has been released and will be reunited with her family.

In a statement on Saturday evening, he said: After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family.

The people of Ireland have been touched by Emilys story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father Tom.

TV images on Saturday night showed Red Cross vehicles at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Emily's release came after a brief delay and obstacle to the hostage release, which was overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides. Some 39 Palestinian civilians are set to be released in exchange.

US president Joe Biden spoke to Qatar emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the hold-up over the hostage deal, a White House official said.

About three hours after their call, the White House learned from the Qataris that the agreement was back on and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was moving to collect the hostages.  Additional reporting: Reuters
Hamas has said it has handed over 20 hostages to the International Committee for the Red Cross.

Red Cross vehicles were later seen crossing into Egypt.

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Qatari and Egyptian mediators earlier said Hamas had agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven foreign nationals on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The announcement came after Hamas delayed the releases for several hours, saying Israel had violated the terms of a truce deal that had set the stage for such swaps.

Saturday is the second day of what was meant to be a four-day truce.

Until Saturday afternoon, it still appeared everything was going according to plan. Aid trucks were entering Gaza, Hamas handed a list of more than a dozen hostages slated for release to mediators Qatar and Egypt, and Israels Prison Service prepared a list of dozens of Palestinian prisoners for release.

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People participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel (Leo Correa/AP)

But by nightfall, as the hostages should have emerged from Gaza, Hamas announced that it was delaying the release over what it said were Israeli truce violations.

The group alleged the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised, and that not enough of the aid was reaching northern Gaza  the focus of Israels ground offensive and the main combat zone.

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Hamas also said not enough veteran prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday.

This is putting the deal in danger and we have spoken to mediators about that, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said earlier in Beirut.

But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said obstacles had been overcome, and Hamas issued a statement listing six women and 33 boys and teenagers it said were expected to be released by the Israelis.

Two women, Maysoun Jabali and Israa Jaabis, were imprisoned in 2015 after being convicted of carrying out attacks on Israelis. Jaabis suffered severe burns during the incident.

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In Tel Aviv, several thousand people packed a central square called the square of the hostages, awaiting news of the second release.

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Dont forget the others because its getting harder, harder and harder. Its heartbreaking, said Neri Gershon, a Tel Aviv resident. Some families have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government of not doing enough to bring hostages home.

In the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank, the family of 16-year-old Wael Mesheh was getting the house ready for his homecoming as part of the second swap.

We are going to hug him so tight, his mother, Hanadi Mesheh, said by phone.

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The first group of freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nine and under. They were taken to Israeli hospitals for observation and were declared to be in good condition.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. The teenagers had been jailed for minor offences including throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers.

Its a happiness tainted with sorrow because our release from prison came at the cost of the lives of martyrs and the innocence of children, said one released prisoner, Aseel Munir al-Titi.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, Israel is holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.

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On Saturday, at least two Palestinians were injured at a tense West Bank checkpoint where Israel was to free prisoners. Israeli security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians gathered at Beitunia checkpoint. It was not clear how the two were injured.
Listed Queensland property fund and developer GARDA Property Group has withdrawn from Melbournes troubled office market, selling 8-10 Cato Street in East Hawthorn this week to an owner-occupier.

The deal proved a high point of GARDAs Melbourne adventure. The office-warehouse, which is one-third leased to solar panel manufacturer RayGen Resources, fetched $24.1 million, a slight discount to its $25 million book value but a nice bump on its $20.1 million purchase price in 2020.

8-10 Cato Street, in East Hawthorn, sold for $24.1 million.

The off-market deal, negotiated by JLL agents Tim Carr and Josh Rutman, is due to settle before Christmas. If fully let, it would reflect a 5.75 per cent yield.

The buyer, Minsmere, which trades as agribusiness Chartwell Farms, will occupy part of the 3654 square metre building. It is on a 3371 sq m land parcel with room for 105 car parks which could have provided plenty of space for development  a key attraction for GARDA.
While it was lovely to be taken care of, we all tend to regress when were living with our parents. Its impossible not to feel infantilised, and theres a real tipping point where you start to lean into learnt helplessness. I stayed for four months before I moved out to house-sit a friends place. Then I launched myself into dating to try to find a man to have a family with. After the roller-coaster of dating, I decided to start fertility treatment on my own, and by the time it began, Id found a stable job and was renting an apartment. When I got pregnant, I was elated but also terrified about how I would raise a kid on my own, financially and emotionally. Luckily, after I gave birth, my parents invited me to live with them, so I moved back for the first three months of my sons life. While it was wonderful to have the emotional and practical support, after three months I felt that If I didnt get out there to live as an independent person, I would quickly lose any sense of what I was capable of. But Im incredibly grateful for the time I had living with my parents; I know its a huge privilege to have them as a safety net. I ended up writing a memoir, Inconceivable, about my journey to become a solo mum  and the complexities of being a woman in your late 30s who has to start over and move back in with your parents. I think while were all embracing this contemporary feminist movement where women can create families of their own making, were also realising that we need help, that parenthood cant happen alone.

We sold our home to go travelling and now we cant get back into the market Yearning for a tree change, Tess Moone, a 31-year-old travel writer, sold her Perth home only to discover that a suitable rental was almost impossible to find. Our initial quick stay with Danes parents has stretched out month after month. My husband Dane and I became home owners at the age of 21. We thought we were doing all the right things; we bought a house 10 minutes from Perths CBD, where I was working. But after the pandemic we began questioning our lifestyle choices. Did we really want to kill ourselves to pay a million-dollar mortgage in the city when we were leaning towards a tree change in Margaret River? So we sold our home in February and spent six months travelling around Europe and Japan. Our plan, once we returned to Perth, was to stay at Danes parents house while we looked for a rental in Margaret River. We figured wed be with my in-laws for three to four weeks, but we didnt realise how bad the rental crisis in the region is. Weve been offering more than the asking price and/or offering more rent upfront to secure a place, but as theres a preference to rent to families or those whove rented before, we keep getting knocked back. Our initial quick stay with Danes parents has stretched out month after month. Were living in one of their spare rooms and have our boxes stored in another.

I love my parents-in-law, so there have certainly been upsides. Were spending a lot of quality time together and theyre really lovely about trying to give us as much space as possible, often booking weekends away so that Dane and I get the house to ourselves for a couple of days. Weve also worked out our perfect system for sharing the load; theyll cook dinner for half the week, for example, and well cook the other half, so the division of labour has been a positive experience. Loading The most challenging aspects? Theyre retired, so theyre home a lot. And I work from home, so its a little tougher for me than it is for Dane, who works in an office. I get lots of invitations from my mother-in-law to join her and her friends for lunch or coffee when Im supposed to be working, which is probably not the worst thing to complain about. Despite our love for his parents, the anxiety Dane and I have been feeling has increased as times gone by. So much so that weve just agreed to move into a friends holiday home, sight unseen, even though well have to move back in with Danes parents during the times the friend wants to use it, such as at Christmas. It isnt ideal, but its one step back towards independence. If wed known then what we know now, wed never have sold our home. Its a shame we dont value multi-generational living more than we do

Job insecurity and financial practicality encouraged Rachel Claire, a 32-year-old photographer, to move back in with her parents in 2019. The great thing about living with your parents when youre an adult yourself is that you dont take any of it for granted. My parents and I have always been close. When I first moved out of home at the age of 22, my parents would always find reasons to pop by, whether it was just a quick visit after work or to fix things or mow my lawn. I could say they struggled with becoming empty-nesters, but I think its more accurate to say weve just always enjoyed each others company. With my career as a photographer, I was in and out of the country a lot, spending money on rent when I wasnt often at home  crazy when youre in an industry where theres very little job security. Eventually, my parents said that maybe it was a good idea to move back home for a while so I could come and go with minimal financial impact while I was establishing myself. I wasnt so sure initially; I loved my freedom and struggled with the idea of falling back into traditional parent/child roles in my late 20s. But when I started thinking about the benefits  particularly my parents home security systems, which are very handy when youve got expensive gear  I accepted and moved back in.
The federal government has quietly changed the financial payout requirements it owes to top bureaucrats who are sacked for breaching their duties, ahead of the findings of an investigation into stood-aside Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo.

The Remuneration Tribunal, the body that determines the pay and entitlements of public office holders, published a determination on Friday that revokes the lucrative compensation obligations owed to department secretaries if they have been found to be part of an exclusion event.

The government has updated the severance obligations owed to public service secretaries ahead of a conduct report into Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Pezzullo has continued to collect a salary package worth more than $900,000 since standing aside in September, when Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil directed the Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer to investigate whether he breached the code of conduct over his dealings with Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs. The inquiry was led by former commissioner Lynelle Briggs, who is not related to Scott Briggs.

Pezzullos term is otherwise due to end in October next year. It is unclear what impact these changes may have on any severance obligations owed to Pezzullo if he is sacked from his position. He has been contacted for comment.
Eilat, Israel: All but one of the 13 Israeli hostages released on the first day of the Israel-Hamas truce were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a village close to the Gaza Strip border from which Hamas militants took more than 70 people on October 7.

Family members said they were thankful that 12 hostages taken from the kibbutz had been returned home to Israel, but that was only a drop in the bucket, according to Larry Butler, 73, a Nir Oz resident who survived the attack. Of the estimated 215 hostages who remain in Gaza, roughly 30 per cent are from Nir Oz.

Undated photos of some of the released hostages, from left: Daniel Aloni and her daughter Emilia; sisters Aviv, right, and Raz Katz Asher; Keren Munder and her son Ohad.

Per capita, Nir Oz is the Israeli village most affected by the devastating attack. That day, roughly 100 Nir Oz residents were killed or abducted  a quarter of the villages population.

On Saturday (AEDT), the survivors felt some sense of salvation as 12 of their neighbours and relatives  ranging from Yaffa Adar, 85; to Aviv Asher, 2  were driven to safety by the Red Cross through Egypt to Israel.
Beitunia, West Bank: More than three dozen Palestinian prisoners have returned home to a heros welcome in the occupied West Bank, following their release from Israeli prisons as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The procession of the first freed prisoners, some accused of minor offences and others convicted in attacks, at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem stoked massive crowds of Palestinians into a chanting, clapping, hand-waving, screaming frenzy.

Fifteen dazed young men, all in stained grey prison sweatsuits and looking gaunt, glided through the streets on the shoulders of their teary-eyed fathers as fireworks turned the night sky to blazing colour and patriotic Palestinian pop music blared.

Palestinians released from Israeli prisons as part of the Israel-Hamas truce celebrate in Beitunia, West Bank. Credit: AP

Some of those released were draped in Palestinian flags, others in the green flags of Hamas. They flashed victory signs as they crowd-surfed.
Chinese envoy urges Japan to comply with int'l supervision over Fukushima water discharge

Xinhua) 13:30, November 25, 2023

This photo taken on May 15, 2023 shows the logo of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. (Xinhua/Liu Xinyu)

Japan's discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but a major nuclear safety issue affecting the global marine environment, public health and international public interest, a Chinese envoy said.

VIENNA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday reiterated China's firm opposition to Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, urging Japan to fully comply with strict international supervision.

"Ignoring the doubts of the international community and the strong opposition from relevant countries, Japan has obstinately launched and continuously pushed forward the Fukushima wastewater discharge plan," Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a meeting of the IAEA board of governors.

Japan's discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but a major nuclear safety issue affecting the global marine environment, public health and international public interest, Li said, adding that China is firmly opposed to Japan's plan and urges Japan to stop the wastewater discharge.

People attend a rally against Japan's ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 31, 2023. (Photo by Yang Chang/Xinhua)

The Chinese envoy pointed out that the Fukushima wastewater discharge is an unprecedented artificial release of contaminated water from nuclear accidents into the ocean, and there are a lot of uncertainties about the cumulative effect caused by the release of large quantities of radionuclides into the sea.

"China has always firmly advocated and actively promoted the strengthening of international supervision over Japan's wastewater discharge plan to continually improve the long-term international supervision arrangements for the plan," Li said.

He urged the IAEA Secretariat to uphold an objective, impartial and scientific attitude, boost communication with member states and continually strengthen the international monitoring arrangements for Japan's plan.

He called on the IAEA member states and the agency's board of governors to contribute to improving the international supervision arrangements and conduct regular reviews of such arrangements as well as Japan's discharge plan.

People gather to protest the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) decision on releasing nuclear-contaminated wastewater in front of the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

Li stressed that Japan should hold comprehensive consultations with relevant countries, take seriously the concerns and opinions from all relevant parties, and actively support the continual improvement and strengthening of international supervision arrangements.

China urges Japan to continue its discussions with the IAEA Secretariat and member states in a responsible and constructive manner and fully comply with strict international supervision, Li said.

To prevent Japan's wastewater discharge from causing long-term harm to the marine environment and public health, he said China is willing to work with all relevant parties to support the IAEA in playing a leading role over the Fukushima issue and actively join in efforts to strengthen independent, long-term and effective international supervision arrangements.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
North Korea claimed Saturday its leader Kim Jong-un observed photos taken by the country's recently launched military spy satellite of "major target regions" in South Korea, where U.S. Army bases are located, and parts of Hawaii.

Kim visited the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on Friday to "learn about the operational preparation of the reconnaissance satellite" and looked at the aerospace photos, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

He examined the photos of major target regions, including Mokpo, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, Osan, Seoul, and other areas in the South and the North, as the satellite passed over the Korean Peninsula from 10:15-10:27 a.m. on Friday, according to the KCNA.

Pyeongtaek is home to Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas U.S. military installation in the world. Other U.S. military bases are also located in Gunsan and Osan.

North Korea did not release photos taken by its spy satellite, but if confirmed, the satellite imagery could verify that the satellites are working properly in orbit.

NATA also reported to Kim on the "fine-tuning process" that took place for 62 hours after the reconnaissance satellite was put into its orbit and its plan for photographing the region of the South Korean "puppets," as well as an additional fine-tuning process that will take place Saturday morning, the KCNA said.

In a separate report released hours later, the KCNA said Kim visited NATA once again Saturday morning to inspect satellite imagery of major target areas, including Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu and Gangneung, taken between 9:59:40 and 10:02:10 a.m.

The North claimed it also captured photos of the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, currently docked at a naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 10:01 a.m.

Kim then examined photos of the naval base in Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Base in Honolulu as the spy satellite passed over Hawaii at 5:13 a.m. (Pyongyang time), according to the KCNA.

The North's state media again did not release photos taken by the satellite. (Yonhap)
Geert Wilders (Photo: Peter van der Sluijs/wikimedia commons/CC-BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0))

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam populist Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands, often likened to former U.S. President Donald Trump due to his distinctive blonde hair and similar style, led his party to victory in the parliamentary elections on November 22. This win positions the PVV advantageously in forming the next Dutch coalition government.

To successfully form a government, Wilders needs to secure 76 out of the 150 seats in parliament, necessitating alliances with other parties. The PVV currently holds 37 seats, significantly outperforming the left-wing coalition led by former European Union Commissioner Frans Timmermans and other parties.

It remains unclear whether Wilders will garner enough support to form a coalition government. However, his victory has given hope to populists across Europe, with right-wing nationalists from various regions congratulating Wilders, indicating a gradual mainstreaming of European populism and far-right parties.

Wilders' Party for Freedom advocates for the de-Islamization of the Netherlands, an exit from the European Union, and a halt to immigration. In this election, Wilders adopted a more moderate stance towards Islam, expressing his belief in being a prime minister for all Dutch people, regardless of religion, gender, or skin color.

The left-wing coalition led by Timmermans, securing 25 seats and ranking second in the election, has clearly stated its unwillingness to associate with Wilders' Party for Freedom. Timmermans has committed to defending Dutch democracy and the rule of law, emphasizing equality for all in the Netherlands.

Dilan Yesilgoz's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, which ranked third, has left the response to the election results to its entire membership. Prior to the election, Yesilgoz had insisted she would not serve in a cabinet led by Wilders, but did not rule out the possibility of cooperation if Wilders emerged victorious.

Pieter Omtzigt's New Social Covenant Party, which came in fourth, initially stated it would not work with Wilders. However, the party has since shifted its stance, suggesting it could translate the trust of its voters into action.

Both Yesilgoz and Omtzigt have congratulated Wilders on his victory.

Wilders' win has raised concerns among the Muslim community in the Netherlands. He has consistently labeled Islam as a "backward culture" and "fascist ideology," advocating for the prohibition of mosques, Islamic schools, and the Quran in the Netherlands, as well as the banning of Islamic headscarves in government buildings. Interestingly, Wilders' ancestry traces back to Indonesian immigrants, a country with the world's largest Muslim population. He has even emphasized his white, blond-haired, blue-eyed genetic traits.

Muhsin Koktas, head of the Dutch government's advisory body, expressed shock among the Muslim community at the election results, viewing the PVV's stance as a violation of the nation's fundamental principles of rule of law.

If Wilders succeeds in forming a government, he is expected to take a hardline stance on immigration and asylum policies. His campaign slogan, "Return the Netherlands to the Dutch," echoes Trump's "Make America Great Again" and Italian Prime Minister Meloni's "Italy and Italians First."

Last year, the number of refugees entering the Netherlands more than doubled, exceeding 220,000. The Dutch government's efforts to provide as much housing as possible for these groups have exacerbated the country's housing shortage. Jeroen Doomernik, a political science associate professor at the University of Amsterdam, noted that the influx of people is competing with local residents for limited resources in a country already facing a shortage of affordable housing, particularly in major cities.

Wilders has been urgent in addressing the immigration crisis, proposing the reinstatement of border controls, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants, and the introduction of work permits for workers within the EU.

Since 2004, Wilders has received death threats for his anti-immigration stance and has been under 24-hour police protection. In 2016, he was convicted of discrimination for referring to Moroccans as "scum" at a campaign rally.

On international issues, Wilders has taken a clear stance. He opposes Ukraine's entry into the EU and has repeatedly stated that the Netherlands should stop supplying weapons to Ukraine. He is also a staunch supporter of Israel, advocating for the relocation of the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem and the closure of the diplomatic mission in Ramallah, Palestine.

The right-wing camp in Europe is gaining momentum. Last month, Poland's ruling right-wing Law and Justice Party came first in the parliamentary elections but failed to secure a majority in the lower house, missing the opportunity to form a government. The third and fourth-ranking parties also declined to support the Law and Justice Party, opting instead to form a coalition government with the second-largest party, the Civic Platform. This initially dampened the spirits of Europe's far-right camp.

However, Wilders' victory in the Netherlands has reignited hope among Europe's right-wing parties. Overall, far-right parties in Europe are gaining strength in elections and social activities. In Finland, Italy, Germany, and Belgium, support for far-right parties has steadily increased. The leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Weidel, believes that all of Europe is hoping for a political turnaround, as evidenced by the party's surging support in a recent poll, ranking second nationally with about 20% support, double its rate during the 2021 federal election. Slovakia has also turned towards populism, with Robert Fico's Direction - Social Democracy party winning the parliamentary election on September 30 and forming a coalition government with extreme nationalist parties.

Analysts note that each far-right party in Europe has its unique characteristics, backed by varying cultures and political systems. However, the factors driving their continued expansion are largely similar. Long-standing opposition to liberal immigration policies, Islam, and the European Union have been primary reasons for their support. Recently, sensitive issues such as cultural conflicts, minority rights, and the climate crisis have further strengthened these parties.

The European Parliament is set to hold elections in June next year, with center-right and right-wing political forces expected to play a more significant role. Hans Kundnani, a European politics analyst at Chatham House, observes that the past decade has seen a merging of center-right and far-right in Europe, a shift that could have profound implications for the EU.
The logo of Binance is seen on their exhibition stand at the Delta Summit, Malta's official Blockchain and Digital Innovation event promoting cryptocurrency, October 3, 2019.

(Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters/File Photo)

Zhao Changpeng, the founder and CEO of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has stepped down from his role following criminal charges of money laundering brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. The announcement on November 21 marks a significant shift for Zhao, who began his career as a dedicated programmer, often working over ten hours a day on online trading systems for the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Bloomberg.

Under Zhao's leadership, Binance achieved the capability to process 100,000 transactions per second with less than a 5-millisecond delay, surpassing the daily trading volume of five Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. However, this week, his journey with Binance came to an abrupt halt.

Binance admitted to violating U.S. anti-money laundering regulations, unlicensed remittance, and sanction violations. The company agreed to a $4.3 billion fine, including $2.5 billion in forfeitures and $1.8 billion in penalties, setting a record for official fines in the cryptocurrency sector.

As part of the plea agreement, Zhao is barred from participating in Binance's operations for three years but is allowed to retain his majority stake in the exchange, remaining its largest shareholder. In a company-wide email, Zhao humorously bid farewell to his team, asking them not to complain about his absence while they continue to work hard.

Binance faced multiple enforcement actions from various U.S. agencies earlier this year. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil lawsuit in March, accusing Binance and Zhao of offering unregulated derivatives trading to U.S. citizens. In June, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused them of mishandling customer funds. These accusations drew parallels to FTX, Binance's former main competitor, which went bankrupt due to illegal misappropriation of customer funds, resulting in an $8 billion loss in user deposits.

In its official statement, Binance acknowledged its guilt in compliance violations while distinguishing itself from FTX, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining a 1:1 storage guarantee for user assets. The U.S. regulators did not accuse Binance of misappropriating user funds or market manipulation.

Since its inception in September 2017, Binance quickly became the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange in less than seven months. By January 2018, it had over 5 million registered users and a daily trading volume exceeding $10 billion. Zhao, the only Chinese person among the top ten in Forbes' first list of cryptocurrency billionaires, appeared on the magazine's cover.

Binance supports about 120 cryptocurrencies, over 100 wallets, and 240 trading pairs. Zhao proudly spoke of Binance's strict screening standards, accepting only credible, high-liquidity cryptocurrency projects. The platform has received over 5,000 coin listing applications, with a selection rate of 3%, lower than Harvard University's acceptance rate.

Following its rapid expansion, Binance faced years of scrutiny from regulatory bodies. After China banned cryptocurrency trading, Binance moved its headquarters from China to Japan and later to Malta, Singapore, and Bermuda, seeking countries with more relaxed cryptocurrency regulations. Eventually, Binance became a company "without a headquarters."

U.S. authorities began collecting evidence of Binance's alleged violations of anti-money laundering laws and other compliance regulations. The turning point was the establishment of Binance.US, which claimed to operate independently but was reportedly fully supported by Zhao, who controlled the company. Binance.US provided a technical backdoor allowing U.S. users to bypass compliance restrictions, a point Binance admitted in its plea agreement.

Following years of investigation and multiple charges by U.S. departments this year, major U.S. banks cut off access to Binance.US, forcing the company to freeze most of its trading activities. As part of the plea agreement, Binance will "completely exit" the U.S. and appoint a five-year monitor to oversee its sanctions compliance program. Binance US, operating independently, will not be affected and will continue its operations.

Zhao, a Canadian citizen born in Jiangsu, China, often mistaken for a Chinese national, has become a mysterious figure in the physical world, frequently traveling to Singapore, Dubai, Paris, and beyond. As an active opinion leader in virtual spaces, Zhao tweeted over 627 times in 2020, with a following that has now exceeded 8.75 million. According to Binance insiders, about 15% of his tweets were requests from various levels of employees, and 5% were unfiltered personal expressions.

In a 2021 interview with the Chinese financial media LatePost, Zhao likened the "decentralization" of cryptocurrencies to a gray area, navigating between freedom and compliance. His "15 Personal Principles" reflect his understanding of the industry's rapid changes and the need for flexible goals.

After years of rapid growth in a regulatory gray area, Binance has admitted to insufficient compliance management to match its business growth. Zhao revealed that after leaving Binance, he would not start another business but would invest in blockchain, Web3, DeFi, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. He also expressed a willingness to mentor a few entrepreneurs privately, advising them on what not to do.

Richard Teng, Binance's global regional market head, has succeeded Zhao as the new CEO. Teng's appointment, with his extensive compliance background, including roles as CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market, Chief Regulatory Officer at the Singapore Exchange, and Director of Corporate Finance at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, signals Binance's shift towards compliance.

According to Coindesk, Binance executives unanimously believe that Teng is the only leader who can continue building the company according to Zhao's vision while bridging the gap between the industry and regulatory bodies. Teng stated in his appointment announcement that he aims to reassure Binance users about their finances, security, and protections. The company will focus on cooperating with regulators and the cryptocurrency industry to address challenges in compliance, security, law enforcement cooperation, and user transparency, aiming to become stronger than ever.
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's venture capital firm Catamaran plans to expand its portfolio by investing in precision manufacturing startups, which can export and make components in deep tech, and automobiles, a senior company official has said.

While speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the Digital Acceleration and Transformation Expo (DATE), Catamaran Chairman MD Ranganath on Friday said the valuation expectation in startups have come down in India compared to 2022, but good ideas with good business models will continue to attract investments.

"Our current focus, in addition to services, is on precision manufacturing. Now, India is attracting a lot of manufacturing investments. We are trying to invest in those companies which can export and make components in deep tech, and automobiles," Ranganath said.

Catamaran has invested in companies like SpaceX, deep-tech energy startup Log 9, B2B e-commerce firm udaan, edtech firm udemy, and fintech firm Acko, among others.

"Overall, in a market compared to 2022, the valuation expectations are down, but finally, what we are betting is on the business model, the relevance of the company for the market. We are very confident that whatever investments we have made are right bets," Ranganath said.
Rajasthan state Assembly elections 2023: 199 seats of the 200-seat Assembly went to polls today. Booths were open from 7 am to 6 pm. Following the death of Congress candidate and incumbent MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar, the election for the Karanpur seat in Sriganganagar has been put on hold. The counting of votes will take place for all five poll-bound states on December 3. : 199 seats of the 200-seat Assembly went to polls today. Booths were open from 7 am to 6 pm. Following the death of Congress candidate and incumbent MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar, the election for the Karanpur seat in Sriganganagar has been put on hold. The counting of votes will take place for all five poll-bound states on December 3.

Elections are being contested by 1,862 candidates. Out of these, 183 are female, and 1,692 are male candidates. 52.5 million registered voters are registered in the state. 17.1 million voters are between the ages of 18 and 30, and 2.26 million are new voters from the 18-19 age group.





Incumbent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is contesting from the Sardarpura seat, in Jodhpur district for the sixth consecutive time. He has held the seat since 1998. BJP has contested Mahendra Singh Rathore, chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority and a professor at the Jai Narayan Vyas University, against the chief minister.

Congress leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot will be contesting the Tonk seat against BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta.

The 2018 Rajasthan state Assembly elections recorded a 72.6 per cent voter turnout and the Congress party formed the government with support of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and independents. The Bharatiya Janata Party fielded seven of its MPs including Rajyavardhan Rathore, Diya Kumari, and Kirodi Lal Meena, Former chief minister Vasundhara Rje is also contesting from Jhalawar constituency.

The Election Commission of India recorded 55.63 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm. Tijara has recorded the highest voter turnout of 69.37 per cent till 3 pm. In comparison, Tonk reported 56.83 per cent, Jaipur witnessed 55.75 per cent, Jaisalmer recorded 63.48 per cent, Jhalawar at 60.47 per cent, Hanumangarh at 61.64 per cent, and 52.23 per cent of electorate cast votes at Jalore till 3 pm today.While there were some minor clashes in the state, the overall election process remained relatively peaceful.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has initiated an investigation against TMC MP Mahua Moitra to look into 'quid pro quo' allegations of raising questions in Parliament, sources said on Saturday.

In this regard, a senior CBI official said that no Preliminary Enquiry (PE) has been registered however an investigation has been initiated as the matter was referred by the anti-corruption body Lokpal.

"We are enquiring into the matter that was sent to us by Lokpal. We have yet to gather more details into the matter," the CBI official told ANI.

Mahua Moitra is facing the heat of the "cash-for-query" allegations against her. The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has recently recommended her expulsion from the Lower House.

Lok Sabha Ethics Committee which investigated the cash-for-query allegations and adopted the report against Moitra with a 6:4 majority recommending the expulsion of the TMC member.

Moitra had appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on November 2 over the cash-for-query allegations against her. Along with opposition members of the panel, she "walked out" of the meeting on Thursday. Opposition members raised questions over the line of questioning and alleged that "personal questions" were posed to the Trinamool Congress MP.

BSP MP Danish Ali, Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav, and Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy were among those who "walked out" of the meeting. Moitra alleged that she was subjected to humiliating personal questions from the panel.

In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Moitra stated that "unethical, sordid, prejudiced behaviour was meted out" to her during the meeting.

Earlier Nishikant Dubey had earlier approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Moitra, accusing her of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.

The Ethics Committee had sought details reports from Information Technology (IT) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding IP address and location.

The committee had also sought MHA's input on the dangers of sharing login credentials, emphasizing the legal consequences under Section IT ACT 2000.

The draft report is learnt to have suggested that "serious misdemeanours on the part of Mahua Moitra calls for severe punishment".

The report of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is now with speaker Om Birla who will take a final decision on the fate of the Trinamool MP.
Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, BN Reddy, announced ambitious plans for India-Malaysia bilateral trade, aiming to reach USD 25 billion in the next three years. Currently standing at USD 20 billion, the trade relationship is poised for growth, with a focus on economic sustainability.

In an interaction with ANI, the Indian envoy emphasised the significance of economic ties, saying, "In any relationship, the real sustenance comes from economic and trade relations." He highlighted India's import of various commodities from Malaysia, including palm oil, crude oil, and LNG.

"The bilateral trade between India and Malaysia, currently at 20 billion dollars, will increase to 25 billion dollars in the next three years," Reddy said, adding, "But we do import quite a lot of commodities from Malaysia, including palm oil, crude oil, and LNG."

Reflecting on the 65 years of diplomatic relations, Reddy mentioned the ongoing efforts to realise the enhanced strategic partnership established during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 visit to Malaysia. He stressed the comprehensive nature of the relationship, covering the entire spectrum.

"We are in the process of now realising the enhanced strategic partnership that was established during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, where it was decided that our engagement with Malaysia would be taken to newer heights, wherein covering the entire spectrum of the relationship," Reddy added.

With Malaysia hosting the second-largest Indian-origin community, the Indian envoy noted the diverse linguistic and cultural ties that provide a natural bridge for deeper engagement.

"Put it in a nutshell, Malaysia has the second largest population of Indian-origin community. I would say there is a mini-India here even though Tamil speakers are the largest, but you also have the Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Odiya speaking populations, which provides a natural bridge for us to engage with Malaysia more deeply," he also said.

Recent high-level meetings, including the Joint Commission meeting and Defence Secretary-level talks, have facilitated a comprehensive review of the relationship.

"We had the joint commission meeting held in Delhi earlier this month led by External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, with the Malaysian Foreign Minister in Delhi. Prior to that, we had the Defence secretary-level talks in Delhi to review the entire defence corporation and we had the visit of Raksha Mantri. Ever since the new Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim took office in November last year we've already had eight ministers and deputy ministers from Malaysia visit India. And we had two of our ministers come here. Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh coming into Malaysia end of this week," he further said.

Reddy highlighted key areas for potential collaboration, such as renewable energy and the semiconductor sector. Malaysian company Petron has already invested billions of dollars in the renewable energy sector in India. Plans for a Malaysia-India Digital Council and an Annual Energy Dialogue further underscore the commitment to expanding collaboration.

"In the last six months, Malaysian company Petron has announced close to four and a half billion US dollars in the renewable energy sector in India," Reddy said, adding, "We're going to start another thing called Annual Energy Dialogue. Given the significant emphasis of both countries and having already close to USD 4 billion bilateral trade in fossil fuels, particularly oil and gas, we want to expand it to renewable energy."

The Indian High Commissioner expressed optimism about the growing relationship, emphasising political understanding between the two governments. He concluded, "Our effort is to truly realise this potential, ensuring a balanced relationship that benefits both countries.
A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday.

The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weeks long war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess Iran was behind the attack.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the vessel's crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when travelling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessel's Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping, the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. The vessel's AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack.

The Symi is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific Shipping in Singapore rang unanswered Saturday, while no one responded to a request for comment sent by email. The Israeli military referred questions to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which did not immediately respond.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with Eastern Pacific, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

In the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants' October 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the war, though Iran itself has yet to be linked directly to an attack.
Bangladesh politics became the focus of a war of words between the US and Russia on Saturday as Washington accused Moscow of making "deliberate mischaracterisation" of its foreign policy relating to the upcoming elections in the South Asian nation.

Bangladesh is going to the polls on January 7 next year.

During a regular weekly briefing in Moscow on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed that US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas and a high-ranking representative of the local opposition discussed plans to organise mass anti-government protests in the country during the meeting.

Reacting to her statement, a US State Department spokesperson in Washington said, We are aware of Zakharova's deliberate mischaracterisation of US foreign policy and Ambassador Haas's meetings.

Washington's response, issued by the US embassy, came hours after the Russian embassy in Dhaka updated its website detailing Zakharova's November 22 comments in Moscow.

The US official said America wants to see a free and fair election conducted in a peaceful manner in line with the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.

To support that shared goal of free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner, US Embassy personnel engage and will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people, he said.

The United States does not support any political party in Bangladesh. Nor does the United States favour one political party over another, the spokesperson said.

In her weekly briefing, Zakharova also claimed that the US ambassador promised his interlocutor to provide information support in the event that the authorities used force against participants in peaceful demonstrations.

The Russian foreign ministry official said these assurances were purportedly made on behalf of the embassies of the US, Britain, Australia and several other countries.

The Russian spokesperson said the action of the US ambassador to Bangladesh can be seen as nothing less than gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state on the part of Washington and its satellites.

(But) on our (Russia's) part, we have no doubts regarding the ability of the Bangladeshi authorities to hold the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 7, 2024, in full compliance with national legislation, independently, without the help of overseas well-wishers, she said.

Zakharova asserted that Moscow has been voicing its concerns repeatedly about the attempts by the US and its allies to influence internal political processes in Bangladesh, ostensibly under the banner of ensuring transparency and inclusiveness in the upcoming parliamentary elections there.

She also recalled the 2013 second Maidan protest against the then Russian-backed regime in Ukraine saying, We witnessed a similar scenario ten years ago, in a slanted reference to the US role at that time.

The Maidan Protest Movement was a political upheaval that took place in Ukraine from November 2013 to February 2014. It was sparked by the government's decision to suspend an association agreement with the European Union and instead strengthen ties with Russia.

The exchange of barbs between America and Russia came two months after the US State Department criticised Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comments during his Dhaka visit that Moscow would prevent any attempt to establish dictates and interference by Washington in the region, including in Bangladesh.

Lavrov, on a visit to Dhaka in late September, had said, We can clearly see that the US and its allies are truly trying to promote their interests in the region by using the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy.

Their (US) goal is clearly both to counter China and to isolate Russia in this region," he said



The Russian foreign minister's comments drew sharp criticism from Washington at that time.

"A country that has invaded two of its neighbours, is prosecuting an aggressive war where it bombs schools and hospitals and apartment buildings on a daily basis, should not be talking about any other country imposing dictates, a US spokesman had said then.

Bangladesh is building its first of two nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom at a cost of USD 12.65 billion. Ninety per cent of the amount is being financed by Moscow through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war-related sanctions delayed the construction of the plant and in December last year, Bangladesh denied entry to a Russian ship that was carrying equipment for the nuclear power plant as the vessel fell under the purview of US sanctions.
SENVELGO (velagliflozin oral solution) is the first liquid once-daily, orally administered prescription medication to improve glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus

SENVELGO makes treating feline diabetes simple and convenient for both cats and cat owners

Up to one in three cats are euthanized within the first year of diagnosis due to previous complex treatments

Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in animal health, has received marketing authorization from the European Commission for SENVELGO (active ingredient: velagliflozin), marking a significant step for the treatment of feline diabetes in Europe. Globally, SENVELGO is the first once-daily liquid oral solution for the reduction of hyperglycemia in cats with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This breakthrough innovation will make it easier for cat owners to fit the treatment of feline diabetes into their daily lives.

Pet owners can give the once daily oral liquid solution with a small amount of food or directly into the cats mouth. As soon as one week after beginning treatment, SENVELGO improves the clinical signs of diabetes that cats experience by reducing elevated blood glucose levels and minimizing the risk of clinical hypoglycemic events. The novel drug comes in liquid form, the formulation that cats and cat owners prefer, according to studies.

Dr. Stijn Niessen, President of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM), says, "SENVELGO will revolutionize the management of feline diabetes in Europe in a way that improves the well-being of both cats and their owners. It eases the complexity and burden of feline diabetes treatment because of the apparent lack of danger for clinical hypoglycemia and removes the need for ongoing serial glucose monitoring. In this way, SENVELGO will help the majority of owners to efficiently control their cats condition, significantly improving quality of life.

Feline diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder which occurs when a cat has insufficient levels of, or an abnormal response to insulin. It is one of the most common endocrine disorders in cats, and this is expected to increase due to an increasing and growing cat population. Unfortunately, nearly one out of three cats who are diagnosed with diabetes are euthanized within the first year of diagnosis, with the complexity required to treat diabetic cats often being a contributing factor.

Eric Haaksma, Head of Animal Health Global Innovation at Boehringer Ingelheim says At Boehringer Ingelheim, our dedication lies in translating scientific progress into cutting-edge innovations for animals and their owners. The launch of SENVELGO underlines this ambition, offering a product that significantly enhances diabetic cat care and simplifies the lives of both cat owners and their feline companions.

Following the marketing authorization in the European Union, SENVELGO will be rolled out across EU countries. SENVELGO is already approved in Switzerland, Great Britain, and the US. The company also plans to launch SENVELGO in countries around the world, pending regulatory approvals.

Please click on this link for Notes to Editors and References.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231122681664/en/
Global technology service provider FPT Software and one of Germany's leading energy companies, RWE, recently celebrated 10 years of strategic partnership. Building upon this foundation, FPT Software aims to further support RWEs goals with expanded offerings to other RWEs business units and diversified offshore delivery locations from Vietnam.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231124795869/en/

FPT Software and RWEs 10-year partnership anniversary ceremony was hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam with presence of both sides senior executives. (Photo: Business Wire)

The partnership includes services delivery from FPT Softwares strategic offerings, namely Cloud and Data, Cybersecurity, Sharepoint Migration and Support, Application Managed Services, and most notably, SAP. In 2022, both companies started implementing Managed Services in SAP  an adaptive and scalable model that allows FPT Software to be the single preferred partner that provides continuous support services to RWEs operations.

The collaboration also allows RWE to leverage FPT Softwares diversified Best-Shore delivery models, using both nearshore and offshore workforce to boost efficiency while optimizing cost and human resources. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, RWE will expand its powerful, green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030. RWE is investing more than 50 billion gross for this purpose in this decade. FPT Software is a reliable strategic partner that can contribute to the expansion of the workforce and digital transformation.

The 10-year partnership anniversary celebration was hosted during RWE executive visit to FPTs headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam. Speaking at the event, FPT Software Chairwoman Chu Thi Thanh Ha said: "We are delighted to celebrate 10 years of an excellent partnership with RWE. The world is undergoing remarkable changes to push for a more sustainable future, and FPT Software is committed to doing our best to accompany RWE as a global leader in energy transformation, by reinforcing our talent workforce, diversifying delivery models, and integrating the latest in technology in our services and solutions.

FPT Software is an important partner that has already contributed to great results in key areas such as cloudification, SAP, data platforms, and cyber security. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership, said Edgar Aschenbrenner, Chief Information Officer of RWE AG.

About FPT Software

FPT Software, a subsidiary of FPT Corporation, is a global technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, with $803 million in revenue (2022) and over 27,000 employees in 28 countries. The company champions complex business opportunities and challenges with its world-class services in Advanced Analytics, AI, Digital Platforms, Cloud, Hyperautomation, IoT, Low-code, and so on. It has partnered with over 1,000+ clients worldwide, 89 of which are Fortune Global 500 companies in Aviation, Automotive, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, Healthcare, Logistics, Manufacturing, Utilities, and more. For more information, please visit https://fptsoftware.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231124795869/en/
By Kim Hyun-bin

Elias Rosa, the Brazilian vice minister of development, industrindustry, commerce and services (MDIC), initiated a series of institutional visits in Seoul starting Thursday.

His first meeting was with Kang Do-hyun, the deputy minister of science and ICT, to delve into Korea's novel digital strategy driving economic development. The strategy focuses on advancing cutting-edge technologies like big data, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). Brazil expressed its interest and gained insights into Korea's experiences in semiconductors, the digital economy and AI. The potential for collaboration in AI within the agro-industry and health sectors was also explored.

On the same day, Rosa engaged in three bilateral meetings with Korean businesses. The initial meeting took place with Hyundai Motor, a presence in Brazil since 2012, having manufactured 2 million vehicles there to date.

This was followed by a meeting with Hana Micron, a leading chip and semiconductor company operating in Brazil. The day concluded with a meeting with representatives of POSCO, Korea's largest steel producer, where insights were shared on the company's zero-carbon steelmaking strategy.

On Friday, the signing of the Brazil-Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Framework took place with Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun.

Vice Minister Rosa, along with Minister Ahn, co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Council. The discussions centered on instruments to enhance collaboration between the governments and private sectors of both countries, focusing on areas such as the green economy, digital technology, biopharmaceuticals, business and investment facilitation, hydrogen economy and quality infrastructure.

Later in the day, Rosa conducted an informative session with Korean business leaders at the Korea International Trade Assocaition (KITA), with participation from Doosan Mobility, H2KOREA, Hyosung, CJ, Hyundai InfraCore and SK Ecoplant.

The agenda concluded with a meeting with executives from Samsung Electronics and Samsung Engineering, solidifying the commitment to advancing technological collaboration between Brazil and Korea.
The Indian School of Business (ISB) bestowed Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman of Axilor Ventures, with the ISB Research Catalyst Award for his pioneering role in the growth of the research ecosystem in India at the inaugural edition of ISB Insights Forum at the Mohali campus of ISB.Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Member, ISB Executive Board and Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB presented the award to Kris Gopalakrishnan. The ISB Research Catalyst Award has been instituted to honour philanthropists involved in advancing research in all fields in India and across the world.Before the award was conferred, a fireside chat featuring Kris Gopalakrishnan and Rakesh Bharti Mittal was moderated by John Reed, South Asia Editor of Financial Times.During the conversation, Kris Gopalakrishnan called on the need to use technology to improve the quality of life of Indians. He said, The need for research and development is being increasingly felt, and forums like these are now discussing that. I am optimistic that once we decide to do something, we will do it.Rakesh Bharti Mittal said, I believe that if the research ecosystem can be programmed, then there can be a large amount of money which will come into it. We will get cutting-edge and efficient research, which India can deliver. Look at space. We have demonstrated that at a very frugal cost, we can send a rocket to the moon. We can go to Mars. There is no dearth of talent in India.ISB organised the inaugural edition of ISB Insights Forum 2023 at its campus in Mohali on November 24, 2023. This was a first-of-its-kind conclave that brought together industry, policymakers, academicians, and a diverse group of people to articulate their vision of India in 2047.
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National Constitution Day is a day of honour for every Indian because it commemorates the adoption of our constitution. After India gained independence from British rule in August 1947, there was a strong desire to develop and integrate our own constitution. Everything seemed haywire back then, and there was a desperate need to make it all methodical. The Constituent Assembly of India established a creating Committee, which was tasked with creating the country's constitution. The drafting committee was chaired by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

They built India's constitution after analysing the country's socioeconomic status and other factors. The Indian constitution went into effect on January 26, 1950, despite the fact that it was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

The Indian Constitution is one of the world's largest constitutions because its drafter drew inspiration from the American, British, and Japanese constitutions. It is possible to say that the Indian Constitution is a synthesis of the best constitutions from around the world. The Indian Constitution provides and guarantees a few fundamental rights to citizens, which the state and federal governments must apply in practise and in spirit. Any injury to the nation's democratic and secular fabric should be criticised, because harm to India's democracy harms the country's constitution.

The various government departments observed the inaugural National Constitution Day. The Department of Education and Literacy requires that all students in all schools study the preamble to the constitution. Through lectures in each school, children were also informed about the key features of the Indian Constitution. In addition, quiz and essay competitions on India's constitution were held both online and offline. The Department of Higher Education directed that mock parliamentary discussions be held in colleges at several universities.

The decision to designate a day to our country's constitution is an attempt to emphasise its significance and the need of adhering to it. The constitution was written to ensure a methodical approach to running the country. It provided leaders with guidance and enforced fair play. Some of the clauses of the constitution have been changed since then to keep it current. The mechanism for amending the constitution is outlined in the Indian constitution.
The Ministry of Education kick-started the 3rd phase of Yuva Sangam with a delegation of 50 students belonging to diverse parts of Madhya Pradesh travelling to West Bengal for a cultural cum education tour.

Yuva Sangam under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative endeavours to promote experiential learning and introduce youth to the rich diversity of our country. It also aims to provide an immersive experience into the unique facets of life, development landmarks, architectural and engineering marvels, industrial progress and recent achievements in the host state with the focus being on people to people connect.

As part of the ongoing phase of Yuva Sangam, exposure tours will be conducted throughout November and December 2023 wherein youth comprising mainly of students studying in Higher Educational institutions (HEIs) as also off-campus youngsters in the age group 18-30 years from across the nation will be travelling to their paired states. During their visits, delegates will receive multi-dimensional exposure to five broad areas: Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogik (Technology) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect) in the host states.

Yuva Sangam Phase-III will have participation from 22 States and UTs with the following Higher Education Institutions paired for the purpose of conducting the exposure tours: Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh-IIT Delhi; IIT Dharwad-IIT Ropar; SPPU Pune-IIT Guwahati; IIT Hyderabad-BHU Varanasi; IIM Trichy-IIIT Kota; IIM Sambalpur-NIT Calicut; IIITDM Jabalpur-IIT Kharagpur; IIIT Ranchi-NIT Kurukshetra; NIT Goa-IIT Bhilai; and IIM Bodhgaya-IIIT Surat.

Given the overwhelming response received in the first two phases of Yuva Sangam, which saw more than 2000 youth participating, Phase 3 is also expected to witness immense vigour and enthusiasm. This phase will take forth the idea behind this unique initiative under the aegis of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by the Government of India which intends to not just expand the intellectual horizons of young agents of change but to also sensitise them to diversity across India so as to channelize their knowledge for a more connected, empathetic and technologically robust India of the future.
By Nam Hyun-woo

PARIS  President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the solidarity of humanity during a Korea National Day reception for representatives from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Friday (local time), as his final effort during his three-day stay in Paris to promote the city of Busans bid to host the World Expo 2030.

During the event, Yoon told 500 delegates from the BIE, diplomats and Korean nationals in France that Korea will spearhead the solidarity of humanity through a Busan World Expo 2030.

Regional conflicts and divisions across the world are threatening international peace, while climate and energy crises are throwing challenges to the sustainable growth of humanity, Yoon said.

We all have to prepare for the future against those challenges, safeguard peace and protect the vulnerable. As a global pivotal state, Korea will spearhead humanitys solidarity through the Busan World Expo 2030.

The reception day was Yoons last public event in Paris, where he has been staying since Thursday to sell the idea that Busan is the optimal host, just four days before the BIE holds its general assembly and votes for the city to hold the expo.

By hosting the World Expo 2030 in the port city of Busan, which is the gateway between the Eurasian Continent and the Pacific, Korea seeks to return the assistance it received from the international community, Yoon said.

Narrowing the gap between countries, and facilitating the platform for humanitys sustainable prosperity is the spirit and vision of the Busan World Expo 2030.

According to the presidential office, Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee canvassed each international delegate during the event, alongside business gurus from Korean conglomerates SK, Samsung, Hyundai Motor, and Lotte among others.

During the event, Korean officials explained that Busan is a key logistics hub in Northeast Asia and a driving force behind Koreas economic growth. They promoted Busans distinctive strengths and the charms of Korea such as its food, music and traditional culture.

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon also said that a country seeking to host a world Expo should engage with other countries to find the common problems of humanity, not to buy votes.

Korea is a country which can be an optimal partner to address almost every challenge that humanity is facing, Park said.

This was Yoons second visit to Paris to promote Busans Expo bid this year. In June, he delivered a presentation in front of BIE representatives there, stressing that Busan seeks to host the event to serve as a platform for solutions to crises facing humanity.

The presidential office said it was a rare case for a head of the state to visit the same country within five months, and it was a strategic choice to exploit a critical timeframe for BIE members who are set to vote at the upcoming general assembly, and many countries that have yet to decide which city they will cast their ballots for.

The government plans to leverage this momentum and make every effort to succeed in attracting the World Expo 2030, until the voting takes place, an official at the presidential office said.
A man on St. Elmo Avenue told police he had been scammed. He said he was attempting to contact Enterprise car rentals via phone to place a deposit and rent a car. He called a phone number he saw online for Enterprise. He said a lady answered the phone who identified herself as "Laura" and explained the process of renting a car from Enterprise, which included placing a down payment for the car. "Laura" told him he needed to go and buy prepaid debit cards in order to place the deposit. "Laura" then requested he provide the card information to her, and he did."Laura" said she would send a confirmation email and all he would need to do is go to Enterprise to pick up the car. He said he never received the email and "Laura" had stopped answering his phone calls. While speaking with him, he said the Enterprise he was trying to reach was on W. 20th Street. He provided "Laura's" phone number to police, but the number did not match that of the business. Police called Enterprise on W. 20th Street and spoke with an employee, who said they are familiar with the man and that he attempted to place a deposit with them in person, but they never took a deposit from him over the phone. The employee also said they do not take deposits from prepaid cards and are aware of a scam regarding a fake phone number for the business. Police notified the man of this information and suggested he no longer provide card information to unknown people over the phone. There is no suspect information.* * *A suspicious person was reported by a business at 307 Manufacturers Road. While en route to the call, police learned a woman was on the sidewalk refusing to leave. Police observed the woman sleeping on the sidewalk. She told police she was cold. She was taken to the Community Kitchen so they could help assist her with her needs.* * *Police spoke with a Cash America employee who said that a woman brought in a firearm to pawn. The firearm was a Taurus GX-4 9mm. It came back stolen out of Kentucky. Police contacted a detective there, who said to turn the gun into CPD Property and he would follow up.* * *An employee at Scenic Suds Car Wash Express, 5390 Hixson Pike, told police that a man came through the line and was being demanding and rude. The employee said they wanted the man to be trespassed and not return. Police spoke to the man, who said he simply asked the employee to remove the membership sticker from his windshield. The man said he would not return to the business, and he did not want to after the bad service.* * *An employee at Bowe & Associates, 6120 Shallowford Road, told police a former client was at the office and refused to leave. The employee said she felt threatened by the former client due to the way she behaved in court. The former client said she was just there to get the documents that belonged to her. The employee gave her the documents she needed without incident. The woman was trespassed from the property.* * *A woman on N. Concord Road showed police bank statements of multiple transactions that totaled up to a little over $10,000 that was taken from her account. She said she believes it is her ex-boyfriend, due to some of the ATM transactions that are coming from South Pittsburg and Kimball, which is the area where he lives. She said she never gave him permission to use her account. She said she has used her pin in front of him before and he could have remembered it. Follow up will be made with an investigator to see what else can be done.* * *Police responded to 18360 I-24 EB for a vehicle fire. Police found the vehicle was fully engulfed and awaiting the fire department. Police spoke with the owner and driver, who said she was going down the interstate when she saw some smoke coming from the front of her Kia Optima. After a short time, she then saw flames and immediately stopped the vehicle and exited. After several moments, the vehicle was fully engulfed. While police were on scene, the woman contacted her parents. A woman passerby stopped to see if the woman needed any assistance and offered for her to wait at her house for her parents, who were coming from Fayetteville. Don Yates towed the vehicle to their E. 23rd Street location.* * *A woman on Hamill Road told police the dead bolt on her door was broken in. Police observed the door to be broken. The woman said she believes it to be a woman she identified to police, as they have been having issues with each other lately. Police are waiting for security camera footage of the incident from the woman.* * *An employee at the Family Dollar, 5000 Brainerd Road, told police a black male and a black female had come into the store and appeared to shoplift various laundry soaps and scent boosters. The employee was able to provide security footage of the two as they left the store. These images will be sent out to CPD Sworn for possible identification.* * *A man on Overlook Avenue called police for a disorder prevention. The man just wanted police to stand by while he gathered his belongings. This happened quickly and without issue.* * *A woman on Arlena Circle told police she heard noises outside of her window. She said her dog began to bark and become anxious. She did not see any movement outside, but called police. Police checked the area for any suspicious persons, but did not locate anyone on scene. Police placed the woman's address on the Watch List for two weeks.* * *While on patrol, police noticed an SUV parked on Windsor Street that is normally not there. While approaching the vehicle, police noticed the license plate was uneven so they ran the tag and it came back to a white Ford. The vehicle the tag was displayed on was a brown Infiniti IFX. The registered owner was a woman, but police were unable to confirm if the vehicle still belonged to her.* * *A man told police that at 7:20 p.m. he went to work at Jacks Restaurant and last saw his wallet inside his vehicle. He said he received a notification from his bank at 7:47 p.m. saying that there was a transaction at the Walmart at 3550 Cummings Hwy. for $544.70 and another transaction in the same location for $251.26 (total $795.96). He said he went to his vehicle after receiving that notification and noticed that his wallet had been stolen. He said his wallet contained three credit cards and $130 in cash. He said his vehicle may have been unlocked during the time of the theft. He informed his bank that his cards were stolen and that the charges at Walmart were not made by him. He told police that he would get in touch with his employer to attempt to get video footage of his vehicle being broken into.* * *A woman on Gateway Avenue told police her car had been vandalized. She said the rear driver's side window had been broken and the steering column had been damaged. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. The damage is estimated at $900. She said management is in the process of getting possible footage of the parking lot where the car was parked. No suspect information is known.* * *A man on Farmhouse Trail called for help. EMS 7 and Fire had to break down the back door for a forced entry. The man could not get up after being drunk and falling and hurting his back. The back door was broken and unable to close or lock all the way. The door to the actual house was able to lock and would successfully lock prior to all units leaving.
President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up a six-day trip to Europe on Saturday after opening a new chapter in South Korea-Britain relations with the signing of an accord on the elevation of security and economic ties, and gathering diplomats in France to deliver a final push to bring the World Expo 2030 to Busan.

Yoon's four-day state visit to Britain came on the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations and kicked off with a ceremonial welcome featuring a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace and a state banquet hosted by King Charles III.

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee were Britain's first state guests since the King's coronation in May, which showed the special importance Britain placed on its relationship with South Korea, according to the presidential office.

In an English speech before the British parliament, Yoon presented a vision for future cooperation in security, trade and digital technologies.

Following a summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he signed a new agreement  dubbed the "Downing Street Accord"  outlining 45 tasks the two countries will undertake to elevate their security and economic ties to the highest level.

The accord called for upgrading the bilateral relationship to a "global strategic partnership" from a "broad and creative partnership," which was established in 2013.

As part of the deal, the two countries agreed to establish a "two plus two" foreign and defense ministerial meeting to better address regional and global challenges, work to sign a memorandum of understanding on developing a comprehensive institutional framework for deeper defense cooperation, and increase interoperability between their armed forces through further bilateral exercises.

The accord also called for conducting joint patrols to enforce international sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and establishing a Strategic Cyber Partnership to better counter and deter cyber threats.

The threat of North Korea's nuclear program loomed large over the state visit as Pyongyang launched what it claimed was a military spy satellite into space.

The launch forced Yoon to adjust his schedule to lead a National Security Council meeting from London, which was followed by the South Korean government's announcement of the resumption of reconnaissance and surveillance activities around the inter-Korean border, and the partial suspension of a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction accord.

South Korea and Britain also agreed to deepen collaboration on the military's responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, and to launch negotiations to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement that took effect in 2021.

The presidential office said the benefits of AI and digital cooperation will be felt in the security sector as well.

"If AI and digital technology are converted into quantum-based military technology, it will be possible to thwart the enemy's missile launches, cause malfunctions in the propulsion and separation process of missile warheads, or affect their trajectory, neutralizing the strike at the target point," Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo told reporters in London.

From London, Yoon headed to Paris to make a final pitch for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern city of Busan.

Yoon met with the diplomatic corps in Paris and delegates from member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the body in charge of overseeing the World Expo, over dinner, lunch and an evening reception, to make a last-minute appeal for support ahead of next Tuesday's vote.

Busan is competing against Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Rome, Italy, and the winner will be decided by a vote among 182 BIE member states during a general assembly in Paris.

This was Yoon's second trip to Paris since taking office.

In June, he traveled to the French capital to attend a BIE general assembly and deliver a presentation on how South Korea plans to make the World Expo a platform for solutions to humanity's challenges, such as war and conflict, the digital divide, and climate change. (Yonhap)
Hubert C. Gray, Jr., 85, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on November 21, 2023.

He was born in Chattanooga in 1938 to the late Hubert C. Gray Sr. and Thelma Ann (Johnson) Gray.

A 1956 graduate of Hixson High School, Hubert served a tour of duty as part of the 9th Cavalry in the U.S. Army in Germany. After his tour of duty, he returned to Chattanooga and worked at Mueller Company and Dupont while starting a family. He then moved to 3M and started a career in management. While working for 3M in Chattanooga he started a pottery store (Walnut Grove) that dealt with hand-made pottery and related items. He loved working with the artists and his customers. He stayed with 3M and eventually was transferred to South Carolina and later Minnesota. From there he worked in similar capacities for several ceramic firms in San Diego, Ca., before retiring and returning to Chattanooga.

Huberts interest and activities covered a large spectrum. He loved to travel and had been across the world and traveled the United States extensively. He especially loved the desert Southwest and the Native American culture. In his younger years he was an active runner, hiker, scuba diver, and canoeist. He was active with the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Alhambra Shriners and a Drum Major with the Alahambra Shriners Highlander Pipes and Drums.

History was his passion, especially military history and the study of the Civil War. He was an avid reader and writer and was very knowledgeable of our local history in the Tennessee Valley. He loved classical music and the arts. After retirement he was the narrator for several years on the Southern Belle Riverboat in Chattanooga telling visitors the history of Chattanooga including the local Native Americans, the first settlers, the Civil War, and other facts about the area. He was always ready to learn more and was always willing to share what he knew with anyone willing to listen.

He is survived by two sons: David (Jean) Gray of Hixson and grandchildren Adam, Jennifer, and Leah Gray and Chris (Beth) Gray of Bat Cave, N.C. and grandchildren Crissy Gray, Jake Dillon, and Danielle Edwards all of Chattanooga. He is also survived by one sister Joy Ann Radford of Oklahoma City and several cousins, all of whom he loved to spend time with as well as niece Lydia Welch of Norman, OK and nephew Jeff Thompson of Manchester, TN.

A private service will be held at an upcoming date for friends and family to celebrate a life well lived.

Memorial contributions can be made in his honor to the Boy Scouts of America, Cherokee Area Council.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lane Funeral Home on Ashland Terrace, www.LaneFH.com, 423 877-3524.
Prince William explained he 'wants to go beyond' what the royal family's been doing when he someday becomes king.

Prince William may have gone too far for King Charles IIIs liking after discussing what he wants to do upon taking the throne. While in Singapore, the Prince of Wales opened up about wanting to go a step further. However, Williams comments now risk the possibility of stirring the green-eyed monster of jealousy in his father.

William wants to go a step further with what the royal family does as king

On Nov. 8, 2023, his last day in Singapore, William talked about his plans for the future. Namely, when he becomes king and how hes preparing.

Calling social leadership the element that ties it all together for him, William explained hes trying to find his way in, via Mirror. I care about so many things, and previously the family have been very much spotlighting brilliantly and going round and highlighting lots.

When Williams leading the royal family, however, he wants to go beyond that. I want to go a step further, he explained. I want to actually bring change, and I want to bring people to the table who can do the change if I cant do it.

Citing his work in the homelessness sector, William went on to say just being patron doesnt cut it for him. I want to do more, I want to actually build the homes, he said. I want to provide them with the mental support  all the employment and the education they might need.

Its kind of going deeper and longer than it is the case of just having loads of causes that you sort of turn up and keep an eye on, he added. Its more about, How do I show my intent more? How do we do more for you? And give you a better, better future.

But you have to remain focused, William noted. If you spread yourself too thin, you just cant manage it, and you wont deliver the impact or the change that you really want to happen.

William has to understand King Charles is the star of the royal family

A royal friend who knows King Charles and Queen Camilla feels Williams has to tread carefully. William is entitled to make these comments, which, frankly, are pretty unremarkable, said (via Daily Beast).

But part of the reason the marriage with Camilla has worked so well is that she understands that Charles is the star, they continued. William has to be careful not to wake the green-eyed monster.

Meanwhile, a friend of Williams told the outlet theyre not concerned about the 41-year-olds comments making King Charles jealous.

William is in no hurry to be king, they said. This is not him parking his tanks on his dads lawn. William and Catherine have three children, the eldest of them is 10, and thats very much their priority.

William and Kate Middletons kids include Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. Echoing the claim, the Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be prioritizing parenting above all else, including royal duties.

They are totally focused on maximizing impact and always have been, Williams friend added. He was just saying that having 500 patronages isnt how he is going to do things, which I think is fair enough. Any idea that he is attacking his dad is just rubbish.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have a deal with King Charles to prevent stealing his limelight

Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla | Chris Jackson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

William and Kate may not be king and queen yet, but they get a lot of attention. So much so that they reportedly have worked out a system with King Charles to prevent taking the spotlight from him too much.

According to royal author Clive Irving, William and Kate get an allotted percentage of the limelight, he estimates to be 40 percent. That way, events like Kate overshadowing the king when they have appearances around the same time, as Prince Harry noted in Spare, dont run the risk of happening.
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Its got to be really uncomfortable for people who receive more from a relatives inheritance than other relatives, especially when their family has a history of drama.

One woman recently found out that her grandparents left her with a large chunk of their inheritance and left her dad and brother nothing because of a major family secret.

Shes 27-years-old and has a 30-year-old brother and a 56-year-old dad. She and her brother never got the chance to meet their granddad because their dad had a falling out with him before she was born.

After my dad and my mom met, they started dating at [their] university, and they had my brother, she explained.

My parents then got married, which made my granddad stop talking to my dad. A couple of years later, [they] had me, and weve been living happily ever after. After my granddad died, my dad began to spend more time with his mom.

Growing up with her grandma around was a great experience, as she was a sweet lady who truly cared for her and always hosted fun and memorable Christmases at her house.

Unfortunately, her grandma passed away last year, and she was surprisingly contacted by a lawyer along with her dads two sisters to meet up and discuss her grandparents wills and inheritance.

She found out that her grandmas house was worth around $625,200 and over $250,000 worth of valuables.

When we went through the inheritance, the lawyer explained that she divided it into three equal parts, she recalled.

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Home World Hamas releases 13 Israelis on second day of ceasefire after delaying exchange over demands

Updated at 4 p.m. EST on Nov. 26, 2023: Hamas released 13 Israelis  eight children and five women ages 3 to 67  late Saturday night on the second day of the ceasefire. Four Thai nationals were also freed. It remains unknown when the American hostages will be released.

Original report:

Hamas has delayed the release of a second group of Israelis, saying Israel must first allow aid trucks into northern Gaza before it will free the hostages as part of an exchange deal involving 50 Israeli hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Egypt, playing a crucial mediating role, hinted at the possibility of extending the four-day truce by one or two days.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas terrorist group, announced a postponement in the second phase of hostage releases Saturday, RTE reported, saying the decision hinges on Israels commitment to allowing aid trucks into northern Gaza.

The group specified that the release of hostages would be contingent on their demands. Key issues include the entry of humanitarian aid into northern Gaza and the criteria for selecting prisoners to be freed, as stated in their announcement.

An Israeli official confirmed Saturday that the hostages had not been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza as of yet, according to AFP.

The Rafah border crossing, controlled by Egypt, has otherwise resumed the passage of vital aid into the Gaza Strip under the truce accord. As part of the temporary ceasefire, Hamas also demanded that the IDF cease all drone surveillance in the area.

Before the announcement of the delay in the release of the hostages, Egypt had reported receiving positive signals from all involved parties regarding the extension of this deal, according to Reuters.

Israel has taken a firm stance against Hamas following deadly attacks, which resulted in 1,200 deaths, including 31 Americans, and the taking of about 240 hostages on Oct. 7. In response, Israel has launched extensive bombing campaigns in Gaza. The Hamas-run Healthy Ministry claims that more than 10,000 civilians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. The number of fatalities and injuries is due in part to Hamas not allowing civilians to flee areas where Israel plans to strike Hamas targets despite repeated warnings by the IDF for people to evacuate.

The four-day ceasefire has provided a much-needed respite for the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip. However, military experts also warn that the pause gives Hamas time to regroup.

Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypts State Information Service, stated that Cairo was engaged in extensive talks to facilitate the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

On Friday, Hamas released 13 Israeli hostages, including four children, mothers and grandmothers, ranging in age from 2 to 85. All received medical assessments in Egypt before returning to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Israels commitment to the return of all hostages.

The Israel Prison Service said it was preparing for the release of 42 Palestinian prisoners. This is part of the agreement for a lull in fighting, in which Hamas stipulated the release of three prisoners for every Israeli hostage. The Qatar deal outlines the release of 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian detainees over four days.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday expressed skepticism about Hamas and uncertainty regarding the release of American citizens taken hostage last month. In a 12-minute press conference during his vacation in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Biden highlighted the lack of detailed information about the American hostages, including their conditions.

Biden criticized Hamas for the harm caused to Palestinian civilians and supported Netanyahus objective of eliminating Hamas. He also reiterated his support for a two-state solution, which some have said is especially untenable after the Oct. 7 attacks.

The truce, which began Friday, has seen the release of only 13 Israeli hostages in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners. Ten Thai hostages and one Filipino were released in a separate deal negotiated with Iran.
Home World Pope Francis hosts trans-identifying men at Vatican luncheon

Pope Francis invited a group of trans-identified men to dine with him during a recent luncheon at the Vatican.

The pontiff included the group of trans-identifying men to join him and about 1,000 other poor and homeless people for a lunch last Sunday in the papal audience hall to commemorate the Catholic Churchs World Day of the Poor, according to The Associated Press.

NEW - Pope Francis hosts transgender group for Vatican luncheon.pic.twitter.com/bQ5UdJgSae  Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 22, 2023

Many of the trans-identifying men are Latin American migrants and prostitutes who live in Torvaianica near Rome, according to the AP, which noted that they and Pope Francis have grown close after he helped them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After they showed up to the church of the Rev. Andrea Conocchia, who encouraged them to reach out Pope Francis, the pontiff reportedly reached out to meet them as they struggled with lack of income since many were not legally allowed in Italy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican bussed the women to a clinic to get the shot even ahead of other Italians, according to the AP.

They continue to be given prominent seats during his general audience they attend each month, the AP reported. They also reportedly receive medicine, money and shampoo any day they need it.

Before, the church was closed to us. They didnt see us as normal people, they saw us as the devil, said Andrea Paola Torres Lopez, a trans-identifying man from Colombia. Then Pope Francis arrived and the doors of the church opened for us."

Carla Segovia, a prostitute from Argentina, told Reuters, "We transgenders here in Italy feel a bit more human because the fact that Pope Francis brings us closer to the Church is a beautiful thing."

"Because we need some love," Segovia added.

The luncheon came weeks after the Vatican's doctrinal office issued a document earlier this month explaining that trans-identified individuals can be baptized and serve as godparents in some circumstances.

The guidance, which was signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez and approved by Pope Francis on Oct. 31, stipulated that people who have undergone trans surgical procedures or taken cross-sex hormones can be baptized provided "there are no situations in which there is a risk of generating public scandal or disorientation among the faithful."

Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the document notes that when baptism "is received without repentance for grave sins, the subject does not receive sanctifying grace, although they do receive the sacramental character," according to a translation of the document by the Vatican News.

Pope Francis has been publicly critical of transgender ideology, describing it to La Nacion in March as "one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations."

Francis emphasized the difference between endorsing LGBT ideology and being compassionate toward people who struggle with sexuality or gender.

"I always distinguish between what pastoral care is for people who have a different sexual orientation and what gender ideology is," he said. "They are two different things. Gender ideology, at this time, is one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations."
Home World Barbados dance troupe considers legal action over disqualification for challenging trans ideology

A dance and theatrical group in Barbados is considering legal action after being disqualified from a competition for a performance affirming biblical teachings on gender.

A lawyer for the group told The Christian Post that the disqualification amounts to religious discrimination.

Praise Academy of Dance Barbados has secured the legal help of the U.K.-based Christian Legal Centre (CLC) after the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) disqualified the group in October for allegedly breaching "the bounds of good taste" and making "defamatory claims," according to Christian Today.

A registered Premiere Arts School with affiliated schools in Jamaica and Trinidad, the Praise Academy of Dance has won more than 55 NIFCA medals, and produced dances and theatrical productions for the past 20 years that touch on key cultural issues.

The performance, titled "Speak Life," which can be viewed on YouTube, is about a 15-year-old girl struggling with gender identity who learns to embrace her biological sex because of the Bible.

Dialogue from the performance includes affirmation that sex is biologically fixed, according to one's chromosomes, and that "it's not a choice, you don't get to pick, that's the science, period!"

The show also displayed banners echoing Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

A panel of NIFCA judges determined that Praise Academy of Dance's performance violated the rules of the competition, which prompted the group to appeal in vain against the ruling, according to local Barbados Today.

Sen. Gregory Nicholls, a member of the Barbados Labour Party who acted as arbiter in the dispute, upheld the decision, telling the local outlet on Nov. 17 that "there is no basis to interfere with the prior decision of the judges of the entry Speak Life which was disqualified under rule 9B of the NIFCA rules."

"The NIFCA judges are experienced practitioners in their respective fields and are carefully chosen by NCF to judge in its competitions," said Nicholls. "The judges determined that the entry was in breach of the rules, more specifically, in that it exceeded the bounds of good taste. The entry was adjudged to have denounced various gender identities of the LGBTQ community via raging characterizations and expressions. This was a determination that the experienced panel of judges were entitled to make."

Davida Maynard-Holligan, an attorney who is representing Praise Academy of Dance Barbados, said in a statement provided to CP that the group has been "excluded in the name of inclusivity," and that the disqualification "amounts to a ban of the expression of the Christian faith."

"The show was performed on a government-owned, tax-funded stage, and marks one of the first known instances of the Christian faith being oppressed in Barbados in public," she said, and insisted that the issue should have been referred to the Supreme Court of Barbados.

The decision to disqualify and the ruling issued discriminates against Christian beliefs on these issues and if left unchallenged, has serious ramifications for freedom of religion and expression in Barbados and across the Caribbean, she said.

This matter should have been left to the Supreme Court to rule on, but instead the public and the media have been misled by a statement that the arbiter 'has not found any basis to overturn the decision of the judges.'"

It is a shameful day for the National Cultural Foundation, and the Praise Academy faces no alternative but to consider its legal options, Maynard-Holligan added.

Artistic Director Marcia Weekes worries that the NCF's ruling may impact, if left unchecked, how we in Barbados and the Caribbean express our faith on issues of gender and sexuality in the future," according to Barbados Today.

The Christian Post reached out to both Nicholls and NCF for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
Home World UN raises concerns Ukraine is failing to protect rights of churches with Russian ties

The United Nations has raised concerns over Ukraines handling of religious rights, particularly for churches linked to Russia, detailing restrictions and threats to the safety of religious communities in the country, not only in Ukraine but also in Russia-occupied territories.

Tensions between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine are growing, noted Ilze Brands Kehris, assistant secretary-general for human rights at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at a U.N. Security Council meeting last week, according to a U.N. statement.

Since last February, OHCHR documented 10 cases of physical violence and six of threatened violence between different Orthodox communities, Kehris said, criticizing Ukrainian law enforcement for inadequate responses and failure to protect the Ukrainian Orthodox Church members.

Kehris also pointed to Ukraine Parliaments draft amendments that could dissolve religious organizations with ties to countries in armed conflict with Ukraine. She urged lawmakers to ensure these measures are necessary, proportionate and in line with international human rights law.

In occupied territories, the Russian Federation is reportedly applying its own laws, leading to restrictions on religious minorities and alleged torture of clergy. Kehris called for all parties to respect international human rights law and ensure freedom of religion.

Vakhtang Kipshidze, vice-chairman of the Synodal Department for Churchs Relations with Society and Mass Media, Moscow Patriarchate, accused Ukrainian authorities of aiming to annihilate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He claimed that believers refusing to convert to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine face rights violations.

During a Security Council debate, the Russian representative alleged that Ukraines draft legislation would ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He accused Western Council members of ignoring violence and threats against Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.

The United States delegate countered, accusing the Russian Federation of using the Council to spread disinformation and justifying its invasion as a holy war. He emphasized the need to focus on religious oppression in territories under Russian occupation.

Maltas representative also criticized Russia for diverting attention from its aggression against Ukraine. Frances delegate agreed, urging Moscow to comply with international law, including Council resolution 2347 (2017), which states that attacking a religious site is a war crime.

Ukraines representative accused the Russian Orthodox Church of supporting Moscows aggression and participating in the occupation and annexation of Ukrainian territories. She defended Ukraines draft law as a measure to counter the use of religious organizations for aggression.

The U.N. also noted there have been nearly 10,000 civilian deaths and over 18,000 injuries in Ukraine since Russias invasion in February 2022, warning that the humanitarian crisis is expected to worsen with the approaching winter.

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Bob Amsterdam, representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, criticized the Ukrainian governments treatment of the denomination, suggesting a widespread suppression of truth. Amsterdam described the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a historic Christian branch in Ukraine, existing for over a millennium. He said five years ago, the Ukrainian government established an independent church, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), intending to replace the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the spiritual home for Ukrainians.

Amsterdam condemned the OCUs actions, accusing it of property theft, intimidation and unjust imprisonment of clerics and forcing conscription on believers. He dismissed claims of the churchs ties to Russian intelligence, suggesting a lack of evidence and indicating greater Russian infiltration in other Ukrainian institutions.

Amsterdam also suggested political motives behind these actions, implicating Ukrainian politicians, possibly including President Volodymyr Zelensky, in leveraging the OCU for populist support. He expressed dismay at the severe impact on the Ukrainian Orthodox Churchs leadership, including lengthy prison sentences for elderly clerics.

In March, Ukrainian officials told the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to vacate the 980-year-old Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex in the embattled nations capital, according to Reuters.
By Kim Hyun-bin

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon vowed to address the acute labor shortage in the shipbuilding sector by easing visa restrictions for foreign workers, during his visit to the Ulsan headquarters of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on Friday.

"It is regrettable that shipyards cannot build ships now due to a lack of workforce," Minister Han said.

"I will do my best to supply more skilled laborers with E-7-4 visas for the development of Korea. However, in selecting foreign workers who get along well with our citizens, we will prioritize the evaluation of Korean language proficiency."

The E-7-4 visa, reserved for skilled professionals, enables workers to stay for longer periods and bring their family members here.

Han stressed the importance of offering benefits to foreigners possessing outstanding science and technology expertise, expressing his intention to seek recommendations from local governments and businesses for long-term resident qualifications for these people.

In addition, Han raised the need to establish a proper "control tower" exclusively handling issues related to foreign nationals, saying the governing of such issues has been scattered across ministries, reducing the efficiency of the process.

"The ministry is preparing to submit a relevent bill in cooperation with lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party. I hope the National Assembly will share the need for that establishment," Han said.

"I hope for Korea to become a leading country in the world, guiding the voluntary contributions of foreign workers while effectively addressing the concerns of domestic residents caused by the influx of foreigners over the next 10 years."

Later in the day, Han engaged in private discussions at Hyundai Heavy Industries headquarters with company representatives, foreign workers, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-kyum and local lawmakers. He gathered diverse opinions on the development of the shipbuilding industry.
Home Opinion How Psalm 100 teaches us how to practice true thanksgiving

We have been working through Psalm 100 and considering five principles that are critical for believers of Jesus Christ to understand as we reflect on the Lords call to give Him thanks.

The first principle was the Proclamation of Thanksgiving. The second is the Practice of Thanksgiving.

Notice verse 2. Serve the LORD with gladness. Then verse 4 toward the end: Give thanks to Him. These two statements, although perhaps not as evident in our translation, have official religious service ideas behind them. Thats why the NIV translates verse 2, Worship the LORD with gladness, recognizing the official worship behind the idea of service. Giving thanks, likewise has the idea of an official proclamation of thanksgiving, and together, these words point to a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The idea is the religious observance that someone who is truly thankful practices in their worship of the victorious King.

As we think about this, New Covenant believers, of course, no longer offer sacrifices because Jesus is the once-for-all, final, perfect sacrifice. To offer any other blood sacrifices, or to go back to the sacrifices commanded in the Mosaic Law, would be an insult to the blood of Christ. But the New Testament has many things to say about our acts of service that reflect thanksgiving. For example, in Hebrews 13:15-16, we find this: Through Him (Jesus), then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. Now, the letter to the Hebrews has been a long polemic against the Mosaic Law now that Christ has come with a better covenant, a better priesthood, a better everything! So, the writer immediately clarifies what he means when he says a sacrifice of praise to God: That is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Here we see the New Covenant believers sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. It happens in community, because we cant do good without someone else, a brother or sister, who benefits from our good work and sharing. The sacrifice of thanksgiving for the new covenant believer is not a ram or a bull or a goat or a grain offering, but it is lips that thank God out loud in the covenant community and a life that shows gratitude through generosity. Thats the practice of thanksgiving: gratitude reflected in word and deed.

The third principle contained in Psalm 100 is the Place of Thanksgiving.

Now this is fascinating. Notice verse 2 again. Come before Him with joyful singing. And the parallel is in verse 4: Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. This is a powerful truth. The place of thanksgiving, to put it simply, is before the face of God  in His presence.

When the Psalmist says in verse 2, Come before Him with joyful singing, he undoubtedly has the Temple in mind. Thats why in the parallel, he references the gates of God and the courts of God, which are clear references to Temple worship in Israel. This is significant for at least two reasons. First, remember the call-in verse 1 is to all the earth. God has called all nations to come into His temple to worship Him, thank Him, and give Him praise, honor, and glory.



Again, we have one of those mysteries in the Old Testament that could not be fully understood until Christ came. How are the Gentiles going to be able to come into the gates and courts of the Temple of Adonai Yawheh and worship Him? Arent they unclean and outsiders? Here, though, we see God calling all the earth to come into His temple, into His very presence, into the place where only holy people are allowed to come, to praise and thank Him.

Second, this is significant because it reminds us that when we give God thanks, we do so in His very presence. God is not far away, off in some other world, distant, watching us from afar as we give Him thanks. Not at all! Rather, when we come together for worship and to give Him thanks, and when we set aside time to show our gratitude to God, we are in His very presence, before His very face. The Lord is near. He hears us, and He is with us. Giving God thanks is a holy, personal communion with the living God. It is a joyful, song-filled, praise-filled, thanksgiving-filled time in presence of God.

The question this raises pertains to the temple. How do we, unclean sinners, get into the presence of God as acceptable to Him? How do we, especially we who are Gentiles, enter Gods courts and His gates? When John wrote his Gospel, the Jerusalem temple was gone, and based on some things John wrote it seems that worship without the temple was a question on many peoples minds, both within and without the church. It comes up in Jesus discussion with the woman from Samaria in John 4, where Jesus declares that a day would come when worship would not take place either in Samaria or in Jerusalem, but it would happen in Spirit and truth, almost as if Spirit and truth were geographic locations.

Earlier, in John 2, Jesus told the Jews that if they destroyed the temple, He would raise it up in three days. They were incredulous since it took 46 years to build the temple, but John notes in John 2:21, But He was speaking of the temple of His body. The disciples took a while to understand the significance of this. So, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. They didnt get it until after the resurrection. Jesus essentially said, You try to come into the presence of God by going into a building. The true path to the presence of God is Me. If you want to enter into the gates of God, if you want to enter His courts, if you want to come before Him, I am the only way.

The place of thanksgiving, then, is in the presence of God not through being in a geographic location but by being in Christ. Thats why Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:18, For through Him we both (Jews and Gentiles alike) have our access in one Spirit to the Father.



If we are in Christ, we give thanks to God, not at a distance, but in His very presence, before His face. What a glorious truth that we have access through Jesus to the very presence of God, to the holiest place, and not only that, but God in this Psalm has called us to enter there to give Him thanks.
Christian theologian takes college to court over sacking

A Christian theologian is launching legal action against Cliff College, a Methodist institution in Derbyshire, alleging that he was sacked and threatened with a referral to the government's anti-terrorism programme because of his tweets on human sexuality.

Cliff College has continued to deny that it threatened Dr Aaron Edwards with a referral to Prevent over his tweets, which were posted after the Church of England's February vote in support of same-sex blessings.

In his posts, Dr Edwards, 37, said, "Homosexuality is invading the Church. Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this [because] they're busy apologising for their apparently barbaric homophobia, whether or not it's true. This is a Gospel issue, by the way. If sin is no longer sin, we no longer need a Saviour."

Dr Edwards was suspended while an investigation was undertaken by the college. He alleges that during a subsequent hearing on 27 February he was told that the college was considering referring him to Prevent and asked what he would do if a same-sex attracted student asked him to pray for them about their sexuality.

He was sacked in March after refusing to take the tweets down. At the time, the college said that the posts breached its social media policy and that the language used by Dr Edwards "is inappropriate and unacceptable and does not represent either the views or the ethos of Cliff College". However, college principal, Rev Ashley Cooper, denied threatening to refer him to Prevent.

Dr Edwards is taking legal action claiming that the decision to dismiss him was disproportionate and failed to balance his freedom to express his Christian beliefs. He will also argue that the disciplinary procedure that led to his dismissal lacked "requisite fairness" and had "astonishing" levels of imbalance, exaggeration, and misrepresentation.

Commenting on his decision to launch legal action, Dr Edwards said that his dismissal had affected his health and caused him "severe physical stress".

"The tweet was not defamatory; it was not an attack on any colleague or individual; it was not abusive; and it was not an extremist religious view," he said.

"It was addressed to evangelicals as a point of doctrine, and it has been misunderstood by many who wish to cause personal and institutional trouble for those who express that view.

"The impact on me and my family has been very significant. I have lost many friends as a result, and been slandered by people who do not know all of the details but who now see me as an unkind or hateful person."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting his case, said: "A Christian theologian working for a Christian Bible college tweeting about the biblical Christian teaching on human sexuality, has been sacked and labelled as a potential 'terrorist.'

"This is an intelligent, learned, respected, father of five children who has been kicked out of a Bible college for expressing views and beliefs shared by millions of Christians across the globe.

"It is saddening and very concerning to see the Methodist Church, and a once renowned Bible college, lose its way by no longer upholding marriage as God defines it, or supporting those who express it."

In a statement responding to the launch of legal action, Cliff College said, "Given the ongoing litigation issued by Dr Edwards, the College does not believe that it is appropriate to comment on the allegations that he or his representatives have raised."

It added, "The College has not at any point 'labelled' Dr Edwards 'as a potential "terrorist"'."
Concerns over bill seeking conversion therapy ban

Concerns have been raised over a bill introduced to the House of Lords that seeks to ban so-called conversion therapy.

The Private Members' Bill from Lib Dem peer Baroness Burt of Solihull wants "to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity conversion therapy".

It had its first reading in the House of Lords on Monday. While private members' bills rarely become law, they can draw attention to their causes.

The bill proposes unlimited fines for those who offer "any practice" that assumes "any sexual orientation or gender identity is inherently preferable to another", and intends to "change" or "suppress" these.

Announcing her bill, Baroness Burt, who is the Lib Dem Lords spokesperson for equality, said: "It is very disappointing that the Conservatives have failed to deliver on their promise to ban conversion therapy for five years now. But we Liberal Democrats are more than willing to help them out by introducing the bill ourselves.

"There is cross-party consensus for dealing with this awful practice and I look forward to working with colleagues across Parliament to deliver the change we all desperately want to see - finally banning conversion therapy."

The Conservative government first promised to ban so-called conversion therapy in July 2018, under former Prime Minister Theresa May, causing Christians to fear the criminalisation of ordinary Christian practices like prayer and pastoral counselling, as well as parenting in line with their religious beliefs.

The Christian Institute has repeatedly called on the government to ditch the plans, describing them as "ideological and restrictive".

It sought a legal opinion from Jason Coppel KC, who concluded that the proposals are likely to violate human rights conventions.

Commenting on the introduction of Baroness Burt's bill, The Christian Institute's Simon Calvert said there was no need for any new laws.

He warned of serious implications for a variety of freedoms.

"All the abusive practices you would expect to be banned are banned. What activists want is not a law against abuse, it is a law against disagreeing with Stonewall orthodoxy in your conversations with gay or trans people," he said.

"As Jason Coppel KC has made clear, any legislation going further than the existing law would seriously impact free speech, religious freedom, freedom of association, and the rights of parents."

It is expected that the House of Lords will debate the proposals in the new year.
Religious hatred motivated murder of 20-year-old Christian, says father

The father of a 20-year-old Christian who was gunned down in Pakistan this month said the confessed killer was driven by a strong hatred for Christians and Jews.

Farhan Ul Qamar was shot to death in his house in Talwandi Inayat Khan village, Pasrur tehsil of Sialkot District, Punjab Province, in the presence of other family members on Nov. 9. The slain Christian's father, Noor Ul Qamar, said the killer, Muhammad Zubair, showed hatred for Christians and Jews, mistakenly referring to the family as Jews as he ranted at them.

Ul Qamar said he was unsure why Zubair targeted his son in particular, though the killer and Farhan Ul Qamar had had a minor argument the previous day. Attacking at 3 a.m. on Nov. 9, Zubair held the family hostage at gunpoint for nearly 40 minutes, refusing to let them go near their fatally injured son, Ul Qamar said.

"My son was struggling for his life, bleeding profusely from the bullet wounds, but his murderer, Muhammad Zubair, did not allow us to even give him some water, let alone comfort him," Ul Qamar told Morning Star News. "He repeatedly called us 'Jews' as he cursed and waved his weapon at us. We all watched helplessly, pleading with him to leave, but he wouldn't go."

Eventually Zubair told him to go to the roof and stay there until he was gone, Ul Qamar said.

"As I was going, Zubair pointed the gun towards my wife and ordered her to unlock the main gate," he said. "He sat on his motorcycle that was parked outside, fired three shots in the air with his pistol, and shouted, 'Allahu Akbar [God is greater]' two-three times before speeding away."

The grieving father said that as soon as Zubair left, the family gathered around his blood-soaked son and started screaming for help.

"None of our neighbors intervened even after they heard the first three shots fired on Farhan by Zubair," Ul Qamar said. "No one came outside of their homes when he was leaving ... everyone feared him."

He said that his son breathed his last en route to the hospital.

"Doctors said they could have made an effort to save his life if we had brought him there in time," Ul Qamar told Morning Star News.

Zubair had never hidden his hatred for Christians, but his behavior worsened after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted into war in Gaza last month, Ul Qamar said. Several Christian families fled the village after Muslims beat two Christian brothers, Aqib Javed and Asher Javed, for reportedly expressing support for Israel.

"Some five-six Christian boys, including Aqib and Asher, have left the village because they are fearful of being targeted again by extremist elements," Ul Qamar said, adding that their whereabouts were unknown.

He said the family had decided not to disclose these details earlier because they feared backlash from local Muslims.

"We have been keeping quiet because we did not want the religious leaders to think that we are giving our son's murder a 'religious color,' but this is the truth," Ul Qamar said.

His other son, Shahan Ul Qamar, previously told Morning Star News that his brother had had a minor altercation with Zubair on Nov. 8.

The deceased's father said that after killing Farhan Ul Qamar, Zubair went home, where police found him sleeping peacefully in his bed.

"An officer told me that during interrogation, Zubair said that he had mistakenly come to our house and killed Farhan thinking that he was killing Aqib or Asher Javed," Ul Qamar said. "But this is a lie, because Zubair called Farhan by his name before opening fire on him. He also kept saying his name when he was trying to break the door of our room. It was premeditated murder."

The victim's father said the investigators had not formally shared their findings with the family.

"The police formally registered Zubair's arrest, and a court granted them his four-day physical remand, which ended on Thursday," he said. "I have no other information at this point."

Morning Star News made repeated attempts to contact the investigating officer of the case, but he could not be reached.

Asked to confirm reports of threats and pressure on the family regarding the case, Ul Qamar said no one had directly threatened them yet, but that village sources had warned him to beware of the suspect's family and accomplices.

"I think they are sending us indirect messages to scare us, but we are determined to find justice for our beloved son," he said. His voice breaking with grief, he added, "Farhan was a handsome boy and loved education. He was enrolled in a four-year medical technician program and was very excited to join the health sector after graduation, but all our dreams have been shattered by Zubair in front of our eyes."

Farhan Ul Qamar was the youngest of four children.

The family has no resources to engage a reputable lawyer and appealed for help from legal aid groups and Christian organizations.

"We want to see Farhan's killer punished in accordance with the law," Ul Qamar said. "If we are unable to find good legal representation, I fear the murderer will be let off, and then no Christian will be safe in this village. Please help us."

Living among 20-25 other Christian families in the village, Ul Qamar's family has resided in the area for generations, often facing religious bias and discrimination.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, up from eighth the previous year.

 2023 Morning Star News
Three times this week, Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke mistruths and failed to acknowledge them. Is this the man that Canadians really want as their prime minister?
The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan "strongly" condemned North Korea's recent space rocket launch for its "destabilizing" effect in a trilateral call, according to the State Department, Friday.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa held the conversation over Tuesday's launch, which the North claimed put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit.

The three countries see the North's launch as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning any test using ballistic missile technology.

"The secretary and the foreign ministers strongly condemned the launch for its destabilizing effect on the region," Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, said in a release.

"The secretary and the foreign ministers affirmed they will continue close trilateral consultation, in the spirit of the Camp David summit, in response to the DPRK's irresponsible and unlawful actions," he added, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended a Camp David summit in August, where they reached a set of landmark agreements, including the "commitment to consult" each other in case of a common threat.

In the trilateral call, Park, Blinken and Kamikawa stressed the need for the international community, including all members of the U.N. Security Council, to come together to prevent the North's procurement activities and stem the flow of revenue supporting its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, according to Miller.

Blinken also reaffirmed America's "ironclad" defense commitments to South Korea and Japan, Miller said. (Yonhap)
Israel has received a list of hostages to be freed from Gaza on Saturday by Palestinian militant group Hamas, officials said, following the release of 24 hostages the previous day, the first of a planned four-day ceasefire.

Israeli security officials were reviewing the list, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, after his government's vow to work for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas in the attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The pause in the fighting was the first such break, with both sides saying hostilities would resume as soon as the truce ends. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed hope that the pause could be extended, however.

The released hostages, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers, were transferred from Gaza and handed to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, along with eight staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross in a four-car convoy, the organisation said.

They were then taken to Israel for medical checks and reunions with relatives.

Qatar, which acted as mediator for the truce deal, said 13 Israelis had been released, some with dual nationality, as well as 10 Thais and a Philippine national - farm workers employed in southern Israel when they were seized.

Thirty-nine Palestinian women and children detainees were released from Israeli jails. The freed Israeli hostages included four children accompanied by four family members, and five elderly women.

Biden said there was a real chance of extending the truce, adding that the pause was a critical opportunity to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He declined to speculate how long the Israel-Hamas war would last. Asked at a press conference what his expectations were, he said Israel's goal of eliminating Hamas was legitimate but difficult.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said 196 trucks of humanitarian aid carried food, water and medical supplies through the Rafah crossing on Friday, the biggest such convoy into Gaza since Hamas' assault on Israel and Israel's subsequent bombardment of the territory.

About 1,759 trucks have entered the narrow enclave since Oct. 21, it added.

Mixed emotions in Israel

The families of the hostages expressed mixed emotions, fearing for those left behind.

"I'm excited for the families who today are going to hug their loved ones," Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of Omer Shem Tov, 21, said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12, although he was not among those released on Friday.

"I am jealous. And I am sad. Mostly sad that Omer is still not coming home."

Israeli tallies show Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in the October attack and took about 240 hostages. Since then, Israel has rained bombs on the Hamas-ruled enclave, killing about 14,000 Gazans, roughly 40 percent of them children, Palestinian health authorities say.

Hundreds of thousands of Gaza's 2.3 million people have fled their homes, including most of those in its northern half.

After initial medical checks, the released hostages were taken to be reunited with their families. Medical authorities said they appeared to be in good physical condition and were facing more evaluations.

Roni Haviv, a relative of Ohad Munder, said she was looking forward to giving the nine-year-old his favourite toy.

"I'm waiting to see Ohad and can't wait to give him his Rubik's Cube, which I know he really loved and he probably missed it so much, and that's the first thing he takes everywhere he goes," she said.

Those released on Friday were exchanged for 24 jailed Palestinian women and 15 teenagers. In at least three cases, before the prisoners were released, Israeli police raided their families' homes in Jerusalem, witnesses said.

Police declined to comment.

"There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait," said Sawsan Bkeer, the mother of 24-year-old Palestinian prisoner Marah Bkeer, jailed for eight years on knife and assault charges in 2015.

Israeli police were seen raiding her Jerusalem home before her daughter was released.

"We are still afraid to feel happy and at the same time, we do not have it in us to be happy due to what is happening in Gaza," she added.

A source briefed on the talks said the release of the Thai workers was unrelated to the truce talks and followed a separate track mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Thailand's government said 20 of its nationals remain captive. (Reuters)
A drone is seen during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Oct. 4, 2023.

A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday.

The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely," the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess Iran was behind the attack, though authorities suspect Tehran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard carried out the assault.

The same drones have been used by Russia in its war on Ukraine, as recently as in a barrage launched Saturday that Kyiv described as Moscow's biggest drone attack since the war began.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, referred questions to the Symi's owner, Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping. That company is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

A statement issued on behalf of Eastern Pacific acknowledged the company is "aware of claims that a container ship under the company's management was targeted in a possible security incident overnight on Friday."

"The vessel in question is currently sailing as planned," the statement said. "All crew are safe and well."

The company through representatives declined to answer any questions. The Israeli military referred questions to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which did not respond.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with Eastern Pacific, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

In recent days, the Symi's crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

"The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessel's Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping," the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. "The vessel's AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack."

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

In the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants' Oct. 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen.

On Saturday, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Mideast, said "an entity declaring itself to be the Yemeni authorities" had ordered at least one ship away from a location off Hodeida, Yemen, in the Red Sea.

"Vessels in the vicinity are advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity," it warned.

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the war. However, Iran itself has yet to be linked directly to an attack.

"Iran has been wary of intervening in the ongoing Middle East crisis and is likely to avoid any action that might escalate the conflict," the Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk firm, said in an analysis. "Small-scale attacks on U.S. forces and Israel by Iran's allies throughout the region suggest Tehran is willing to turn up the heat in a limited fashion, but unless the attacks cause U.S. casualties or significant damage, a major U.S. response is unlikely."
A view of high-rise buildings is seen along the Suzhou Creek in Shanghai, China on July 5, 2023.

China will temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world's second-largest economy in a bid to give a boost to post-pandemic tourism.

From Dec. 1 to Nov. 30 next year, citizens of those countries entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days, will not need a visa, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoring international flight routes - to revive its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures that largely shut its borders to the outside world.

The government is also looking to re-establish its image around the world after clashing with many Western countries on various issues including COVID, human rights, Taiwan and trade.

A recent Pew Research Center survey in 24 countries revealed that views of China were broadly negative, with 67% of adults expressing unfavorable views.

More than half of the respondents said China interfered in the affairs of other countries and did not take into account the interests of others.

"This decision will facilitate travel to China for many German citizens to an unprecedented extent," Germany's ambassador to China, Patricia Flor, said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"We hope that the Chinese government will implement the measures announced today for all EU member states," she said.

Visa-free travel to Germany for Chinese nationals would only be possible if all members of the European Schengen Agreement approved, she said.

The head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) hailed the announcement of a temporary visa exemption as "an important signal that can boost both tourism and economic exchange".

"Above all, the regulation facilitates the maintenance of German machines, the assurance of quality 'Made in Germany', entrepreneurial exchange and the cultivation of interpersonal contacts," Volker Treier said in an interview with Reuters.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who is in Beijing, wrote on X: "An excellent new announcement on the occasion of my visit from my counterpart Wang Yi!"

This month, China expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries to include citizens of Norway.

In August, China scrapped all COVID test requirements for inbound travelers. It resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei in July.

International flights in and out the country, while recovering more slowly than services on the domestic network, have been picking up.

China's aviation authority said in October that 16,680 weekly flights were expected from November through March, with passenger flights expected to reach 71% of the total four years ago.

The European Chamber of Commerce in China also said the move would help boost business confidence. "It is a positive that the authorities are taking steps to facilitate people-to-people exchanges," it added.
An aerial view shows Ukraine's Motherland monument, with its new Ukrainian coat of arms shield, after fresh snowfall on Nov. 22, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Ukraine's capital suffered what officials said was Russia's largest drone attack of the war on Saturday, leaving five people wounded as the rumble of air defences and explosions woke residents at sunrise after a week of intensifying attacks.

Saturday's six-hour air raid, on the day Ukraine commemorates the 1932-33 Holodomor famine that killed several million people, began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours, with more waves coming as the sun rose.

Oleksiy Kuleba, the Ukrainian president's deputy chief of staff, said that over the course of the week, Russia had carried out 911 attacks across the country, killing 19 Ukrainians and wounding 84.

"The enemy is intensifying its attacks, trying to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians," he said in a post on the Telegram messaging app. It was doing so deliberately, "just like 90 years ago, when Russia killed millions of our ancestors," he said.

Ukraine's air force initially said 71 of the 75 drones had been shot down, but subsequently revised the number of downed craft to 74. Its spokesperson said on television that 66 of those had been downed over Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Air force chief Mykola Oleschuk praised the effectiveness of 'mobile fire' units  usually fast pickup trucks with a machine gun or flak cannon mounted on their flatbed. According to him, these downed nearly 40% of the drones.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on the Telegram app, said the attack had injured five people, including an 11-year-old girl, and damaged buildings in districts all across the city.

Fragments from a downed drone had started a fire in a children's nursery, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also pointed out that the attack had come in the early hours of commemorations of the famine, which is recognized by Ukraine and over 30 other countries as a genocide by the Soviet Union, which ruled Ukraine at the time and sought to crush its desire for independence.

"Wilful terror .... The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill," he wrote on Telegram.

Moscow denies the famine deaths were caused by a deliberate genocidal policy and says that Russians and other ethnic groups also suffered.

The target of Saturday's attack was not immediately clear, but Ukraine has warned in recent weeks that Russia will once again wage an aerial campaign to destroy Ukraine's energy system, as it sought to do last winter.

Ukraine's energy ministry said nearly 200 buildings in the capital, including 77 residential ones, had been left without power as a result of the attack.

"It looks like tonight we heard the overture. The prelude to the winter season," Serhiy Fursa, a prominent Ukrainian economist, wrote on Facebook.
International Red Cross vehicles, carrying Israeli prisoners released from Gaza, are on their way to Rafah crossing under the 4 day deal in Gaza on November 24, 2023.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Saturday it had concluded the release of 17 hostages held in Gaza.

"Our teams have transported these 17 people from within Gaza to the Rafah border, where they were handed over to Israeli authorities," an ICRC spokesperson said in an email to Reuters. The ICRC team consisted of eight staff members, including a doctor, traveling in four vehicles, he said.

The neutral, Swiss-based organization already facilitated the release and transfer of Gaza-held hostages and Palestinian detainees on Friday under the terms of a four-day truce.

The Gaza hostage deal was back on track after a temporary delay over a dispute about aid supplies to the north of the besieged enclave.

"13 Israelis and 4 foreigners were received by ICRC and on their way to Rafah," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

TV images showed Red Cross vehicles at Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

A Palestinian official familiar with the diplomacy said Hamas would continue with the four-day truce agreed with Israel, the first break in fighting in seven weeks of war.

Al Ansari earlier said a brief delay and obstacle to the hostage release were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, adding that 39 Palestinian civilians were going to be released in exchange.

Among the Israeli hostages, eight were expected to be children and five others women, Al Ansari said, while the Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons would consist of 33 children and six women.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the hold-up over the hostage deal, Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said. About 3-1/2 hours after their call, the White House learned from the Qataris that the agreement was back on and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was moving to collect the hostages, Watson added.

The armed wing of Hamas had earlier said it was delaying Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel met all truce conditions, including committing to let aid trucks into northern Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan said only 65 of 340 aid trucks that had entered Gaza since Friday had reached northern Gaza, which was "less than half of what Israel agreed on."

Al-Qassam Brigades also said Israel had failed to respect the terms of the Palestinian prisoner releases. Qadura Fares, the Palestinian commissioner for prisoners, said Israel had not released detainees by seniority, as was expected.

Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security cabinet, told Channel 13 News that Israel was "abiding by the deal" with Hamas that Qatar had mediated.
Bitcoin rallied to start the week, touched a new 2023 high to end it and suffered a brief drop in between, weighed down by the trouble at Binance. Bitcoin ended the week higher by about 4% after touching a new 2023 high on Friday above $38,000. Meanwhile, ether advanced 8%. Coin Metrics measures a week in crypto, which trades 24 hours a day, from 4:00 p.m. ET on a given Friday to the same time the following Friday. There was an array of events driving the price this week  from the election in Argentina , the minutes of the latest Fed meeting and updates to bitcoin ETF applications, to the Binance settlement and the leadership coup at OpenAI . These things not only highlighted the nuance in bitcoin's purpose and identity, it also put the crypto industry's long-standing regulatory woes back in focus for investors. "The thing I'd be focused on over the short term is what kind of news we have on the regulatory front versus what is already discounted by traders," Zach Pandl, managing director of research at Grayscale Investments, told CNBC. "Are we going to see news that's positive enough that gives us new price highs given the way people are already positioned?" BTC.CM= 1Y mountain Bitcoin, 1 year For the year, bitcoin is up about 130% even after remaining stuck in a tight range for most of it. Optimism about the likely approval of a spot bitcoin ETF has been building for the past couple months, serving as the biggest catalyst for the cryptocurrency. Pandl (whose company is a key player in the push to get an ETF off the ground with its popular GBTC product) said he thinks the market will continue to get good news on the ETF front. Moreover, as the industry recovers from the black eye FTX dealt it this time last year, regulators are learning how to separate different market participants. "Regulators are very clearly segregating a variety of issues  on one hand, bad actors and parts of the business [of crypto] that we don't want to see continue, versus the asset management community [and] ETF community, which is just providing a product to the public," he said. The challenge is that active crypto trader positioning appears long, he added, based on activity in crypto futures, options, open interest and funding rates. "While we may hear more positive news about the prospect of an ETF approval, some of that is priced in so things need to happen sooner or more smoothly for them to incrementally move a price," he said. Meanwhile, Michael Rinko, a research analyst at Delphi Digital, said this week's Binance settlement is one piece of evidence of a new narrative forming in crypto regulation, one in which the Biden administration could be starting to view crypto through a similar lens to which they see technology fields like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. It may be a long while before crypto reaches the level of priority as AI, he added, but the latest Binance development is part of an emerging narrative. "Increasingly, the view in from the U.S. government's perspective is that they're viewing more and more technology through the lens of national security," he said. Rinko highlighted examples such as semiconductors and the CHIPS act and increasing engagement with AI leading to restrictions on some of Nvidia's higher-end chips, and said a similar path could be coming for crypto. Already underway is a sort of regulatory attack on the crypto players the U.S. deems unacceptable, he said, adding it will likely fracture the crypto world into two spheres. "There will be the Western sphere of influence where there's Coinbase , Kraken and exchanges that have relationships and ties to the so-called West, and then there will be Eastern exchanges that operate outside the influence and control of the U.S. and its allies and are persona non grata from a U.S. perspective," he said.
Jayne Burns, Bob Rohloff and Melba Mebane are part of a fast-growing share of the workforce: Americans working past 75.

More Americans are now working past 75 than ever. It's a shift that comes as the oldest baby boomers near their 80s, and better health care enables many older adults to extend their working lives. This group might be a fraction of the workforce, but it's the fastest-growing slice. In 2002, about 5% of people over age 75 were working in the U.S.  by 2022, that share had jumped to 8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2032, the Labor Department expects that 1 in 10 people over 75 will continue to work, even as the share of younger workers remains flat or decreases slightly over the same period. Many Americans are working into their 70s and 80s  or longer  because of longer life spans, changing attitudes about retirement and insufficient savings. Others simply say they enjoy what they do, and never contemplated giving it up. CNBC Make It recently asked three people who have continued to work into their 90s to share their best advice for building a long, happy career. Here's what they said:

Turn your hobby into a career

Jayne Burns at her 100th birthday party last summer Photo: Elizabeth HusVar

Jayne Burns, who turned 101 in July, has had the same part-time job as a fabric cutter at Joann Fabric and Crafts store in Mason, Ohio for 26 years. The centenarian tried retiring several times from her career as a bookkeeper throughout her 70s and 80s, then would "unretire" just a few months later, taking part-time jobs at veterinarian offices and accounting firms. "I like the routine, I like to keep moving," she says. Burns, who has sewn for most of her life, started as a customer at Joann. She quickly built a rapport with the store's employees and enjoyed recommending different fabrics to other shoppers. In 1997, just a few months after her husband Dick died, a fabric cutter position opened at the store. Her daughter, Donna Burns, was working at the store part-time and recommended her for the role, thinking it might be a welcome distraction from the grief. Donna was right. Burns feels that her job is less of a chore and more of an opportunity to learn more about a hobby she loves and meet "interesting, kind" people. "I enjoy what I do, so I want to keep doing it," she says. "I'll work for as long as I can or as long as they'll have me." Plus, she adds, "Staying busy keeps you from focusing on your aches and pains. It makes it easier to keep going."

Don't be afraid to ask for what you want at work

Melba Mebane, 91, recently retired from the job she held at Dillard's department store in Tyler, Texas for 74 years. Photo: Terry Mebane



Melba Mebane, 91, retired from her job as a sales associate at the Dillard's department store in Tyler, Texas in July, leaving behind a career that spanned more than seven decades. Mebane began working as an "elevator girl" at the Mayer & Schmidt department store in 1949 when she was just 17 years old, through a work-study program at Tyler High School. The store was acquired by Dillard's in 1956. She moved to the men's clothing department then later the cosmetics counter, where she stayed until she retired. To be happier at work, "it's important to invest in your relationships," Mebane says, so you can tailor your job to your interests and craft a more fulfilling career. Mebane leveraged her close relationship with the chain's founder, William T. Dillard, to tailor her job to her changing needs and desires throughout her career. When she turned 65, she considered retirement, but Mr. Dillard convinced her to stick around  only after Mebane got him to adjust her schedule, so she didn't have to work after 5 p.m. or on Sundays. A few years ago, she also convinced her manager to replace the hard linoleum on the floors behind the cosmetics counter with soft carpeting, as standing most of the day was getting less comfortable. During her tenure at Dillard's, Mebane had several opportunities to become a manager, but she always turned the offers down. "Nobody likes management, because they have to make the tough decisions," she says. "I liked my friends at work, and I wanted to keep them, so I just focused on being the best salesperson I could be." Those friendships, Mebane says, made working at Dillard's "the best job I ever had."

Work with people you love

Bob Rohloff, 91, cuts his wife Marian's hair at his new barbershop. Photo: Mark Karweick
US President Joe Biden on Friday said that the release of a first group of hostages taken by Hamas was just a start and that there were real chances to extend a temporary truce in Gaza. Speaking to reporters from Nantucket, Massachusetts, Biden said he was encouraged by the release of some of the hostages and hopes for more.

#UPDATE US President Joe Biden said Friday's release of a first group of hostages taken by Hamas was just a "start" and that there were "real" chances to extend a temporary truce in Gaza https://t.co/UcJimFNF1M  AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 24, 2023

"We expect more hostages to be released tomorrow, and more the day after, and more the day after that, he said.

The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar, which was instrumental in brokering the deal to stop fighting. In return, Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Biden said that conditioning military aid to Israel was a worthwhile thought, but I dont think if I started off with that we would have ever gotten where we are today.

He didnt give any examples of possible conditions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  It was a warm and jam-packed homecoming for Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Marquez Dee as she returned to the country.

Fans and supporters flocked to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 to welcome the Miss Universe top 10 finalist who arrived home Saturday night on a flight from Los Angeles, California, USA.

Dee competed in the prestigious pageant in El Salvador that culminated on Nov. 19 with the coronation of Nicaragua's Sherynnis Palacios as Miss Universe 2023.

Speaking to the media upon her return, Dee said she was grateful for making new friends with fellow candidates and hinted at a possible project with Miss Thailand's Anntonia Porsild, who was Palacio's first runner-up.

"Anntonia naman, both of us have created such good friendships," she said. "Of course, may mga things na nakalatag doon."

"May news kaming natanggap nu'ng pauwi na kaming dalawa kaya abangan niyo nalang," added Dee, whose mother is Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez.

[Translation: Anntonia and I, both of us have created such good friendshipsOf course, there are things laid out there. We both received news when we were on our way home so just watch out for it.]

In a post on X, Dee shared a moment between her and Porsild before her flight back home.

"Lahat ng nangyayari may dahilan. Alam ko marami pa tayong puwede ipakita sa buong mundo. Pinakita talaga natin kung gaano kalakas ang bayanihan spirit ng Pilipinas," said the actress-model, who brought home four special awards including Best National Costume.

[Translation: Everything happens for a reason. I know there is more we can show the world. We showed the strength of the Filipino bayanihan spirit.]

It appears that Dee has a lot on her plate as she also talked about an upcoming television project.

"May tine-tease ako na I will be returning on television very, very soon [] Sobrang nakaka-excite 'yung project. Very, very relatable po sa akin," she said.

Earlier, Dee also posted about a very "special role" in an upcoming show with the clue "ala-Freya."

She recently played Freya Salazar in the recent GMA action-drama "Mga Lihim ni Urduja."

Related: Michelle Dee returns to acting after Miss U stint
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  The Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) adopted 10 resolutions which aim to strengthen cooperation among countries within the region, including the Philippines.

The Philippines hosted the 31st APPF this year attended by 300 parliament members from 28 countries in the region.

Member states originally proposed 37 resolutions, but the APPF drafting committee consolidated the measures down to 10. These are resolutions on:

1. Combating Transnational Crimes

2. Women's Participation and Leadership

3. Gender and the Sustainable Development Goals

4. Rethinking Critical Infrastructure

5. Regional Cooperation on Universal Health Care

6. Regional Cooperation on Education and Culture

7. Enhancing Regional Cooperation on Climate Action Biodiversity Conservation, and Disaster Risk Reduction

8. Korean Peninsula

9. Strengthening the Capacity of Parliaments to Promote Peace and Stability

10. Human Capital Development and Inclusive Growth

"All 10 draft resolutions of the Philippines were adopted in totality with all other member-countries," Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said at the forum's closing on Saturday.

"Biro mo pati sa regional security and peace naisama po natin, yung freedom of navigationpati na yung respect of the rule of law and the United Nations Laws of the Seas," he added.

[Translation: Can you believe we even included regional security, peace, freedom of navigationeven respect of the rule of law?]

The Philippines also got support from 16 APPF member states in the country's bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations National Security Council (UNSC).

"Malaking bagay po na ma-secure natin na makakuha ng seat sa UN Security Council lalo na't may mga kinakaharap tayong problema sa West Philippine Sea," Zubiri said.

"Ang pag upo natin dyan ay pag apila sa mga kasamahan natin sa security council na kung pwede wag na mag escalate ng tensions, wag sana mang harass, wag sana manggulo o mam-bully. We'll have a stronger voice in the UN," he continued.

[Translation: It's a big thing to secure a seat in the UNSC, especially as we are facing problems in the West Philippine Sea. Our seat is an appeal to the security council to possibly end the escalation of tensions, no more harassment, disruption, and bullying.]

China's aggression and harassment towards Manila's vessels within its exclusive economic zone escalated since 2021. Beijing's vessels have used military-grade lasers, water cannons, and even dangerous maneuvers resulting in collisions, all putting Filipino lives at risk.

China is also a permanent member of the UNSC.

Meanwhile, Zubiri said that APPF member states were impressed with the Philippines' hosting of the forum.

"Sabi ng mga ibang bansa tinaas po natin yung expectations ng mga member-countries na baka mahirapan yung next country na magho-host," the lawmaker said.

"Nakita po nilang lahat kung gaano kaasenso, kaprogresibo, kung gaano kabait ang ating bansa at mga kababayan natin sa kanila," he added.

[Translation: The other countries said we raised their expectations, other member-countries might have a hard time hosting next year. They saw how advanced, progressive, and kind we were to them.]

CNN Philippines' correspondent EJ Gomez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  A fishers group on Saturday urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to speed up its cumulative impact assessment of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said the DENR's evaluation  which could be completed in a year  is "taking too long."

"There is an urgent need to totally stop every single reclamation project in Manila Bay and immediately carry out a complete rehabilitation and restoration of its degraded ecosystems," the group stressed.

"Why is the DENR taking too long to conduct its cumulative impact assessment on reclamation when there are already available studies and evidence of its irreversible damages?" it added.

In a House panel briefing, the DENR said it can provide an initial report on its cumulative impact assessment in the next six months.

The department earlier said "roughly 22" reclamation projects in Manila Bay are under review and suspended indefinitely.

"Sa kabila ng kautusang pansamantalang isuspinde ang reklamasyon, marami pa rin naman ang nagpapatuloy na proyekto lalo sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, Bataan, at ilang bayan sa National Capital Region," PAMALAKAYA said.

[Translation: Despite the suspension order, there are still many reclamation projects ongoing especially in Bulacan, Bataan, and some areas in the National Capital Region.]

"Dapat din tingnan ng DENR ang mga kumpanyang hindi nagsuspinde ng operasyon habang isinasagawa ang cumulative assessment, at papanagutin ang mga mapapatunayang lumabag," it added.

[Translation: The DENR should also investigate companies that did not suspend their operations while the cumulative assessment is ongoing, and hold them accountable.]

The DENR said the assessment of the activities in Manila Bay is two-pronged  a performance review on compliance with environmental laws, and a cumulative impact assessment.
He was deserted by wife Melinda over his rumoured philandering and embarrassed by revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The past few years haven't been kind to Bill Gates' image.

But no matter how ugly the headlines have been for the nerdy Microsoft co-founder, formerly the world's richest man, we've been able to reassure ourselves that  personal foibles aside  he's one of the good guys.

For didn't he and his former wife Melinda pledge to give away 95 per cent of their vast fortune and lean on other billionaires to be similarly generous?

And didn't the most influential power couple on the planet set up the world's largest private charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that has already spent billions on alleviating poverty, malnutrition and disease and whose current $67 billion endowment is more than most countries' GDP? Surely all that counts for more than a wandering eye at the office and an ill-chosen friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a paedophile conman courting the rich and powerful?

Not according to a trenchant new book on 68-year-old Gates and his philanthropy.

In The Bill Gates Problem: Reckoning With The Myth Of The Good Billionaires, author Tim Schwab argues that the billionaire's supposed transformation from a rapacious and arrogant technology mogul into a benign do-gooder doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Bill Gates, right, and his wife Melinda attend to a child as they meet with members of the Mushar community at Jamsot Village near Patna, India, in March 2011

Penned by bestselling journalist Tim Schwab, the book argues that Gates's supposed transformation from a rapacious and arrogant technology mogul into a benign do-gooder doesn't stand up to scrutiny

In fact, says Schwab, a Washington DC journalist whose articles on Gates have been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he's the same man who once ruthlessly elbowed out business rivals and colleagues alike while driving Microsoft to tech-world dominance.

Only this time Gates' power trip is focused on bending the world of international aid and development to his will and to his often deeply misguided thinking.

It is costing us, the taxpayer, money as Gates is using his enormous leverage to persuade governments to invest alongside him in what he sees fit. And it is all done in what Schwab calls a 'totally unaccountable, undemocratic, and non-transparent manner'.

While Gates has been feted and fawned over by governments  he received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth and the Presidential Medal Of Freedom from Barack Obama  he's really trying to save his tarnished reputation, says Schwab.

As for giving away all his money, Gates is actually now worth $117 billion  astonishingly, twice as much as when he set up his foundation in 2000, discloses the book. Much of that, says Schwab, is down to the enormously generous tax breaks that are attached to philanthropic donations in the U.S.

A man whose fortune is, in large part, based on Microsoft's ingenious methods of legally avoiding tax around the world would be better serving the planet if he gave that money to governments to spend on aid and development rather than playing God himself, Schwab argues.

Nobody who's followed Gates's life needs telling he's dripping in hubris.

He reportedly once boasted that he 'went to Harvard to learn from people smarter than him... and left disappointed'.

Of his philanthropy, Gates has said: 'I have no use for money, this is God's work,' and no matter how ludicrous that sounds from a man with a clutch of huge multi-million-pound homes, a fleet of private jets, and jaw-dropping art and car collections, many people have taken him at his word.

Melinda and Bill Gates attend The Robin Hood Foundation's 2018 benefit at Jacob Javitz Center on May 14, 2018 in New York

Music industry giants such as Bono  who has intoned that Gates 'gets s**t done'  and the rapper Jay-Z have fawned over him, while other celebrities line up to be photographed with him.

For years, Gates was regularly voted the world's most admired person in polls. Children held up his portrait to celebrate his 60th birthday at a mass Bill love-in in India. Behind them was a giant picture of the man, smiling compassionately in his trademark V-neck jumper and geeky glasses above the slogan 'Grow Rich, Help Others'.

The Gates Foundation is now responsible for more than 88 per cent of the total funds donated by philanthropic foundations to the World Health Organisation, giving billions of dollars each year to health, education and farming initiatives. In 2015, it distributed more aid for global health than any government and 14 times as much as the UK's contribution. So when Bill Gates speaks, politicians and charity bosses have to sit up and listen.

According to Schwab, all this plays perfectly into Gates's lust for power and international influence.

Schwab doesn't deny the possibility that Gates and his ex-wife may genuinely want to save the world but, fatally, he says they  and particularly Bill  are convinced that only they know how to do it. '[The Foundation is] a tool Bill Gates uses to advance his world view,' he says. 'He's not donating money as much as he's buying influence.'

And it's no coincidence, he writes, that a few months before Gates launched the foundation, his reputation had been severely battered when Microsoft was ruled to be an 'abusive monopoly' in a case brought by the U.S. government.

So what of the secretive Gates Foundation's central claim  that it saves millions of lives, particularly of children, primarily through a mass vaccination programme?

The foundation's achievements are often exaggerated or simply invented, says Schwab, and that certainly includes the astonishing figure of 122 million children's lives the foundation is often reported to have saved.

On closer analysis, says Schwab, this figure is simply the number of children under the age of five who would have died if mortality rates had remained the same since 1990.

Why on earth, asks Schwab, should Gates be taking credit for lives that were probably actually saved by rising living standards? The truth, the author asserts, is that nobody really knows how many lives the foundation has saved.

It may be doing good in some areas, Schwab concedes, but it's also in some cases making things worse by concentrating attention and resources on priorities chosen by the Gateses at the expense of far more pressing needs. For example, Gates is making it his personal crusade to entirely wipe out polio. This might seem a noble aim, but by taking the focus off more lethal diseases such as measles and diphtheria, it can cost rather than save lives.

Diseases such as polio, say experts, are usually not worth trying to destroy completely as the last lingering cases require considerable expense and effort to address.

But, of course, making a public pledge as Gates has done looks great on the CV.

Bill and Melina pictured with their daughter Phoebe in 2017 at New York City's Lincoln Center

'Bill Gates hasn't been a champion for the poor as much as of himself,' writes Schwab damningly.

In Pakistan, for example, 25 million people need intervention against other tropical diseases and 28 million are undernourished. However, Gates strong-armed the Pakistani government into making polio its top priority at the expense of these other diseases, says the new book.

In some poor countries, an unintended consequence was that medical clinic fridges were so fully stocked with unneeded polio vaccines that there was no space for measles doses that could have saved lives.

Gates's faith in vaccines, meanwhile, has enriched the pharmaceutical companies that produce them but left no money for far more cost-effective health measures against diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, although Gates cannot be held entirely responsible for that.

Sometimes his fixation with vaccines can also go terribly wrong. Schwab highlights a 2009 case in which seven school-age girls died in India during a Gates-funded trial of a vaccine against HPV (Human papillomavirus), which can cause cervical cancer.

The government shut down the trial and, after discovering the researchers had failed to obtain the consent of the children's parents or adequately prepared for potential harmful side-effects, public health experts accused the foundation of using Indians as 'guinea pigs'.

The Indian government stated that the girls' deaths were not related to the vaccine but, says Schwab, 'questions continued to surface when it was reported that no autopsies were conducted'.

The 'alleged ethical missteps in the Gates-funded study unleashed a major backlash' and prompted an Indian parliamentary study that condemned the vaccine trial as a 'blatant violation of all regulatory and ethical norms'.

The Gates Foundation called the allegations of wrongdoing 'misinformation' while the organisation that conducted the trial with Gates money called the charge of ethical misconduct 'inaccurate in many details'.

Gates has also been repeatedly accused of surreptitiously taking the side of big business over poor people, for example supporting patent protection  just as he once fiercely protected Microsoft's software monopoly  held by multinationals including Pfizer and Merck, so keeping the price of drugs and vaccines too high for many of the world's poorest.

But woe betide anyone who dares point out Gates's folly. There's a popular phrase in the international development world  'Bill Chill'  to describe the displeasure felt by charities which suddenly find themselves frozen out by the Gates Foundation and its precious funding if they do anything to antagonise its over-mighty co-founder.

As for Gates's tax benefits from philanthropy, Schwab estimates that he and billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who by 2022 had together donated $75billion to the foundation, have between them saved some $37billion in taxes  clawing back about 50 per cent of their donations in tax rebates.

Why don't we know more about the debatable side of Gates philanthropy? Schwab believes that Gates attracts little scrutiny in large part because his foundation has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to myriad media outfits  including The Guardian, BBC and FT  to write about subjects related to the foundation's work.

Schwab says this poses potential problems for their impartiality. 'The target of your investigation, generally speaking, cannot also be your funder,' he writes.

Responding to the new book, a spokesman for Bill Gates told the Mail: 'The claims in the book are based on flawed and misguided interpretations of Bill's work. Bill is committed to solving the world's toughest challenges.

'Through his foundation, Bill has committed to donating the majority of his wealth to society and devotes his resources to projects that have the greatest potential to improve and save lives.'

Schwab doesn't ignore Gates's controversial private life  including his alleged philandering (which Gates denies), an 'inappropriate' relationship with a female Microsoft employee that sparked an internal investigation at the same time as he stepped down from the company's board in 2019, and his curious friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after the latter was jailed for underage sex offences in 2008.

Gates has said he was duped by Epstein and only met him to discuss a major philanthropic fund-raising effort.

A sceptical Schwab asks why one of the richest men in the world would need Epstein's help to raise money. Gates, he adds, has an army of people working to protect his reputation and they would surely have warned him off the paedophile financier.

'Gates has never been forced to really respond to the many contradictions that surround his relationship with Epstein,' he writes, adding: 'The real irony is that the Gates Foundation has become one of the world's leading philanthropic funders of gender equity and women's empowerment.'

Some will argue that, whatever Gates's weaknesses, it's still better that he gives billions away rather than keeps hold of it.

Schwab, whose knee-jerk objection to capitalism solving the world's problems has drawn accusations of a Left-wing bias, insists not. Gates, he says, behaves like an autocratic monarch and is actually making the vast problem of global inequality significantly worse.

Bill and Melinda Gates were always hailed as a perfect couple before the reality turned out to be different.

Is their reputation as the world's perfect philanthropists about to be similarly destroyed?
How unfair it is on Chipping Norton, that handsome, decent town, to be burdened by a link with David Cameron, the second worst Prime Minister of the modern age. Last week, Mr Slippery, the man who sacrificed the country to save the Tory Party, became Lord Slippery of Chipping Norton.

The appointment was surely the final kiss of death for the Tories in the coming Election. My guess is that he has re-entered the Government for one main purpose  because Rishi Sunak is lonely at the top. I suspect our teenage leader needs someone to talk to about the cares of office, but who also does not want his job.

For some premiers, the monarch has performed this role. But I am not sure that King Charles, who is becoming enjoyably grouchy, can really help. It is all too easy to imagine him tetchily looking at his watch, and yearning to be off back to Highgrove, as Mr Sunak seeks understanding and sympathy.

Mr Sunak surely cannot want Mr Cameron's expertise on foreign policy. His major achievement in that field was to destroy Libya, replacing the despot Gaddafi with wild, burning chaos. This one action triggered the giant explosion in human trafficking across the Mediterranean which has utterly transformed Europe and European politics for the worse. He also supported the failed attempt to overthrow the nasty Syrian dictator, Bashar Assad, supposedly in the name of democracy and freedom.

The introduction of Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton at the House of Lords on November 20

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visits Kibbutz Beeri in Israel, November 23, 2023

The problem was that the West allied itself with various tyrannies in the Gulf, and with a local branch of Al Qaeda, to achieve this. What could possibly go wrong? The great piles of corpses, the vast mounds of rubble and the millions of refugees, bear witness to the total failure of that policy, still barely understood by most in this country.

So with a bit of luck, Baron Cameron (Lord Slippery of Tripoli would have been a better title) will be spending a lot more time letting Rishi sob on his manly shoulder, than on directing our national foreign policy.

As the sky darkens and the Government enters the evening of its days, there will be much to talk about. Both men will be able to complain to each other, over endless cups of peppermint tea, about how Tory voters just don't understand them.

But perhaps it is the other way round. I sense we are coming to the end of the long, strange era when the conservative, patriotic people of this country put their trust in a party which despises them.

Tory parties can fail. In 1993, one of the most successful and confident political parties in the world was almost completely wiped out in a General Election. Canada's Tories went from 154 seats in Ottawa's 295-member parliament to a mere two. An outfit called the Reform Party took a lot of Tory votes.

The Conservative leader, the luckless Kim Campbell, lost her own seat as well as the premiership she had held for less than six months. She remarked, as she vanished back into private life: 'Gee, I'm glad I didn't sell my car.'

Meanwhile, great seismic rumbles are coming from deep down in Europe's politics. Why should Britain be immune from this earthquake? It seems to be very profound. Even Geert Wilders, who has been slogging away on the fringes of Dutch politics for ever, did not expect his extraordinary showing in last week's elections.

PETER HITCHENS: Sahra Wagenkneckt has set herself up as an apostle of an entirely new politics (right, during a demonstration against war and armament in Berlin, November 25)

In Germany, the fascinating Sahra Wagenknecht, an Iranian-German former Communist raised and educated in Marxist East Germany, has set herself up as an apostle of an entirely new politics  Left-wing on social policy, but opposed to mass immigration.

Unlike many of her concrete-headed Left-wing comrades, who have for years told their working-class supporters to like mass migration or lump it, Ms Wagenknecht has grasped these sudden vast increases in population make perfectly reasonable people genuinely unhappy.

Until now, the uncomfortably Right-wing Alliance For Germany (AFD) party has been picking up their votes. Ms Wagenknecht thinks this should stop and has sensibly argued: 'Germans don't vote for the AFD because they're Right-wing. They vote for them because they're angry.' Imagine a smart and combative female combination of Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, and you might get close.

In many continental countries in various different forms, in Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Italy and especially France, something similar is happening. The French elite cannot work out how to stop the National Rally of Marine le Pen at the 2027 presidential elections, as Emmanuel Macron cannot stand again.

Madame le Pen has cunningly sacked her gruesome, fascistic old father from her party, and generally got rid of its collaborationist baggage from the 1940s, reinventing it as a friend to the poor.

Most of the 'centrist' conservative parties of the world are in trouble. Because the word 'centrist' is a big and dangerous lie. What it means in practice is accepting almost all the policies and desires of the Left-wing elite which now governs so much of society, the Civil Service, the BBC, the schools and universities, and the legal profession.

That is what David Cameron meant when he boasted that he was the 'heir to Blair'. The ideas of these people, remote, snobbish and scornful, have had a very long run and they have failed.

What a pity it is that we shall all be punished by having to live under Sir Keir Starmer, while they go off to the well-paid world of the played-out politician.

The macho talk that does Israel no favours

How strange it is to recall the late 1960s, when Israel was a positively popular country in most of the West, especially in Europe. One odd aspect of this was the huge success of an Israeli singing duo, Esther and Abi Ofarim, who at one stage were seldom absent from British TV with a fairly awful song called Cinderella Rockefeller.

There was no doubt that Israels smashing victory in the 1967 war, which most accepted had been provoked by Egypt, played a part in this. In the same era, many non-Jews went off to Israel to work on kibbutzes, seeing the young state as an idealistic small country besieged by spiteful enemies.

It wouldnt happen now. And it is Israels accelerating loss of popularity in the West which worries me so much about the recent weeks of bombardment of Gaza. Whatever the end of the current episode is, such a country depends a lot on international goodwill. Lose that goodwill and it will be forced, by the USA, into a dangerous and unsustainable peace deal. Tanks and bombs dont protect countries from such things. Nor does the sort of macho talk I currently hear from a lot of fairweather friends of Israel.
In his venomous new Royal biography, Omid Scobie  widely regarded as the unofficial mouthpiece for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  claims the Princess of Wales spent more time 'talking about' her sister-in-law Meghan than she ever actually spent talking to her.

Hmm. I wonder where he got that idea from? And in any case, arguably the same could be said about Meghan. She passed just a few years in the Royal fold (even less time as a working Royal) before turning on those exquisite ankles of hers, declaring the whole lot a bunch of racist, outdated bullies and, along with her husband Harry, flogging her tales of woe to the highest bidder.

In other words, she stayed just long enough to bag the frocks, jewels, titles and the cachet  but not long enough to really get to know any of the family.

Scobie's new book, whose title, Endgame, sounds like some Hollywood blockbuster starring Tom Cruise (and who knows, it may yet be one), isn't on the bookshelves yet and already the salient details are making headlines.

In no particular order: Meghan told King Charles there are two 'Royal racists' who spoke about her son Archie's skin colour; Meghan decided against attending the Coronation as she didn't want to 'dive back into the soap opera of the court' (how magnanimous of her); the Duke and Duchess sent Christmas presents to the Wales children, but didn't receive a text by way of thank you; and Charles told other members of the Royal Family not to trust Harry following the publication of his memoir, Spare. Beef, beef and a side order of beef, with loads of lolly for afters.

In his venomous new Royal biography, Omid Scobie  widely regarded as the unofficial mouthpiece for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  claims the Princess of Wales spent more time 'talking about' her sister-in-law Meghan than she ever actually spent talking to her

Scobie's new book, whose title, Endgame, sounds like some Hollywood blockbuster starring Tom Cruise (and who knows, it may yet be one), isn't on the bookshelves yet and already the salient details are making headlines. Pictured: Omid Scobie

And that's the point, isn't it? The lolly. Because however much people such as Scobie  and, maybe, the Sussexes themselves  might want to frame this book and others like it as noble exercises in truth-telling, the truth is that they are just milking our most famous institution for axe-grinding money.

From Crawfie (aka Marion Crawford, the late Queen's governess, whose book The Little Princesses was the first written by a former employee to lift the lid on life in the Palace) to Netflix's The Crown via Andrew Morton, Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell, Scobie et al, the amount of money  not to mention careers and reputations  that has been made by insiders from revealing details of the British Royal Family's most intimate moments is astonishing. And it is, not to put too fine a point on it, deeply unedifying.

That's not to say that the public don't have a right to know what the Royal Family gets up to  after all, they are public servants. But there's a big difference between biographies and documentaries  such as those curated by the Mail's estimable Robert Hardman  that detail their public roles, and those others that seek only to create drama and gossip.

The Royal Family are not mere celebrities, they are part of a longstanding and revered institution which, for many people, still stands for the increasingly rare values of dignity, duty and discretion.

It's extremely tiresome to see them endlessly traduced like this for the sake of profit.

Of course, in some cases the Royals bring it on themselves by spilling the beans: Princess Diana collaborated with Morton on Diana: Her True Story, and gave that interview to Martin Bashir, although it turned out to have been obtained by false pretences. But in many ways Diana can be forgiven. She was so young and naive when she married Prince Charles and had very little support or preparation for the role. Her indiscretions were cries for help, not attempts to wound.

Prince Harry is different. He has sadly turned out to be the ultimate self-destructive Royal. That Oprah interview, the Netflix documentary, his autobiography, which was one big basket of dirty Royal laundry sold to the highest bidder.

It might be different if Harry was at least honest about this. But no. He wants it both ways: to be a Royal but also rake in the royalties.

Whereas the likes of Omid Scobie are annoying leeches, Harry is much worse. The people he is using to line his pockets are his own flesh and blood. That is why his betrayal was a dagger in the heart of the late Queen. It is also why he continues to be a great source of agony for his father, the King. And it is why his brother, the Prince of Wales, is rightly furious with him.

Harry has inflicted upon them all the very tortures he accuses others of inflicting on him. Yet still he has the gall to cast himself as victim.

New figures show a sharp rise in migration, creating a headache for the Conservatives. This is also a problem for Labour, which, while keen to attack 'Tory failures', also doesn't want to upset its own voters, many of whom want more open borders. What's certain is that the effects of uncontrolled migration are behind the worrying rise of the far Right in countries such as the Netherlands. In politics, as in life, you must work with the facts, not the fantasy. And the truth is that when migrants are perceived as a problem, extremists win  and we all lose out.

The BBC is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who. His most famous adversaries are, of course, the Daleks. But most terrifying are the weeping angels, creeping up on victims in a demonic version of Grandmother's Footsteps. Iconic.

Restauranteur Russell Norman, who's died aged just 57, will be remembered for reviving possibly the most lethal cocktail of all time, the Negroni. He was also behind the popularity of the Aperol Spritz, which when I was growing up in Italy was seen as naff, the Italian equivalent of Babycham. Now it's the tipple of hipsters everywhere and Gen Zers such as my daughter, who practically live on the stuff. RIP Russell. I hope you're enjoying a cold one in Heaven.

Restauranteur Russell Norman, who's died aged just 57, will be remembered for reviving possibly the most lethal cocktail of all time, the Negroni

I'd send the extremists into exile

Another weekend, another 'peaceful' pro-Palestine protest and an assemblage of anti-Semitic slurs. Particularly chilling was a banner saying 'Muslim armies! Rescue the people of Palestine', signed Hizb ut-Tahrir, Britain. The aim of this Islamic fundamentalist organisation is the destruction of all liberal democracy. The leader of its UK wing, who the MoS revealed was a GP in Harrow, Greater London, has described Hamas's October 7 attacks as a 'very welcome punch on the nose' to Israel. Make no mistake, there's nothing 'peaceful' about this outfit. Not only should it be banned but its members ought to be exiled to countries that have Sharia law  take your pick from Afghanistan, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and several others  where presumably they'll be delighted to live unencumbered by the freedoms we all enjoy.

Why Jungle Jamie gets my vote

Most eyes on the Celeb jungle have been on Nigel Farage (and his bottom). But I'm enjoying watching Britney Spears's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears. Not only because she's taken a bit of a shine to campmate Sam Thompson but for her sunny can-do attitude and Southern manners. Anyone who's read Britney's recent autobiography would have thought Jamie Lynn would be the biggest brat in the jungle. That dubious accolade, of course, goes to influencer Nella Rose.

Most eyes on the Celeb jungle have been on Nigel Farage (and his bottom). But I'm enjoying watching Britney Spears's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears

In today's YOU, Tom Parker Bowles tackles an essential topic for the time of year: perfect roast potatoes. He notes that the King, his stepfather, likes his done in beef dripping. My grandma dusted them in flour, as per Mrs Beeton. For me, it's vital to parboil them and then let all the steam evaporate to make them super-crisp.

A newborn baby cannot self-identify, so why do staff at a London hospital record them according to their 'gender identity'? I can offer two explanations: illiteracy or they've succumbed to idiotic woke-ism. In either case, the staff should be sacked.

Eleanor Tomlinson, aka Demelza of Poldark fame, says she's reluctant to film nude scenes for fear of them ending up 'online for ever'. Thankfully, her co-star Aidan Turner has no such reservations.
It's important to know the signs before sending it for a second opinion

Authenticators explain exactly how to figure out if your secondhand bag is legit

It's more difficult than ever to know whether a designer bag is real or fake  which is the point if you're hoping to buy a knockoff handbag that looks uncannily like the legitimate thing, but an issue if you're hoping your secondhand buy is authentic.

Unfortunately, getting a luxury bag authenticated doesn't always mean it's real, as counterfeits get even more convincing with super fakes on the rise.

Many times, authenticators can incorrectly identify a bag if they aren't experts on the designer and the handbag's deep history.

To find out how to guarantee your expensive designer bag isn't a dupe, FEMAIL talked to authenticators on how to get it right - and why some get it wrong.

More bags are fake than ever, with authenticators sometimes getting it wrong - here's how tell if you've got the real thing

Texas-based Zekrayat Husein runs Zekos Authentication, which is famous for always correctly identifying authentic Chanel bags

Why should you authenticate your luxury bag?

How to secure the bag! Follow Zekrayat's guidelines when online shopping Focus on the product, not the seller because even well-known sellers can offer counterfeit items, while new sellers might have genuine bags

Request authentication images from the seller

If the seller is uncooperative, consider this a warning sign

Inspect photos to ensure consistency, as authentic sellers often use a uniform background

Look for flaws or unique features in every image to confirm it's the same bag

Authenticators need to know everything from the types of threads to stitching techniques Advertisement

It can be extremely difficult to figure out if a bag is real or not with the rise of super fakes.

One handbag lover detailed a 'nightmare situation' on Reddit: 'I purchased a vintage Fendi bag on Friday for $700. When it was delivered, I immediately noticed some red flags (wonky stitches, chipped leather) which were not disclosed in the original listing.'

After having the bag authenticated by three different third-party services, two came back as authentic and one determined it to be counterfeit.

One person on Reddit broke down the authentication process, explaining: 'Some will authenticate most major brands, others might specialize. Pricing ranges $25-$50 per bag, maybe more depending on the service.'

'Authenticators will require very clear, up close photos. I had to use a macro lens attachment for my phone to get close ups of the details and texture,' they continued.

'There are some you can pay more and ship the bag for in person inspection,' and people can also bring the bag into the original design house, although that's not always the best technique.

Another Reddit user wrote: 'I get a lot of my bags from places that authenticate but I always authenticate myself and then get a second opinion just to be safe. If I'm spending hundreds or thousands on a bag I need to be sure it's legit.'

For those who want to start learning how to begin authenticating on your own, there are a few easy tips.

Make sure the certificate of authenticity is legitimate, unlike this dupe, which is an obvious fake

The Texas-based authenticator called this a 'decent fake' as it's made with real leather and has a genuine zipper

What should you look for when purchasing a pre-owned handbag?

San Antonio, Texas-based Zekrayat Husein, 42, runs Zekos Authentication, which has rave reviews, making her a true expert on what to look for.

'Due to the prevalence of high-quality counterfeit handbags, it's essential to authenticate before purchasing,' Zekrayat warned.

'When evaluating casually, confirm that the bag's color, leather type, size, and hardware are consistent with the era of its production.'

Zekrayat advised initially checking if the serial number matches the production date and assessing the bags structure to make sure it looks 'perfect when stuffed and upright.'

'Don't be overly concerned about minor flaws, as these can actually indicate authenticity, as genuine bags are often hand-assembled rather than machine-made, which can lead to small imperfections,' Zekrayat advises.

Instead, 'pay close attention to heat stamps, as they can reveal much about a bag's authenticity,' citing the classic Chanel flap as an example, as it's exclusively made in France.

Zekrayat called this a super fake and warned it's 'very deceptive' due to its authentic leather, adding 'skilled authenticators might catch this subtlety, but many services could be fooled'

How do you choose where to buy your bag?

New York City-based Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Entrupy, which authenticates bags using advanced AI, said it's important to see if companies used verification services when buying luxury goods.

'The significance lies in ensuring that websites utilize a third-party authenticator for verification,' Vidyuth explained, adding that Entrupy operates independently, which means 'the emphasis is on providing an accurate result for our customers and consumers.'

Vidyuth suggested consumers ask about the verification process during the purchase or seek post-purchase verification for added assurance.

Should you bring your bag into the brand's boutique?

Emily says: 'Just like with doctor's opinions, it's always good to get a second opinion'

Washington, DC-based Emily Erkel - co-founder and CMO of luxury pre-owned wholesaler LePrix - advised 'not always relying on bringing items into the brand boutique.'

'While many sales associates are very knowledgeable in the newest season, they may not be well versed or have been exposed to a vintage piece from 20 years ago,' Emily explained.

Instead, Emily said 'it's better to rely on the authentication experts in the pre-owned industry.'

Expert authenticators know everything from the types of threads to stitching techniques used.

Just make sure to check the authenticator's reviews ahead of time to make sure they always get it right.

What handbags should you avoid buying?

'In the world of secondhand, if a bag is a best seller, it most likely has a dupe,' Emily claims.

'Even if it's not a best-seller, the counterfeit industry still could fake one,' she adds, listing Dior Book Totes ($3,350), the Louis Vuitton Neverfull ($2,100) and Gucci Marmont ($2,550) as oft-replicated items.

Vidyuth cited Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Goyard, Dior, and Saint Laurent as brands that are more frequently replicated.

Can you guess which one is fake? The Chanel dupes are so good you have to be a true expert on stitching and the history to figure out which one is real

Zekrayat says 'it's important to remember that the bestselling bags are often the ones most precisely faked,' naming the most sought-after and duplicated high-quality counterfeits in order as the Classic Flaps ($10,000), Boys ($6,100), Coco Handles ($6,900), and the 19s ($6,400).

After Chanel increased bag prices again in March, most of the brand's Classic Flap ones retail for more than $10,000, which has led to a rise in fakes

'When buying online, opting for seasonal bags may be wiser, as counterfeiters typically dont prioritize them, given their lower demand,' Zekrayat advises.

'Counterfeiters frequently use authentic flaps to produce high-quality fakes, yet they tend to overlook the subtle, season-specific details.

'To this day, I have yet to see an exact, mirrored or identical twin replica of any bag; there are close copies, but they are merely fraternal twins, not exact duplicates.'
Princess Martha Louise of Norway partied the night away this weekend after winning an award for her clothing brand. The only daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, 52, picked up the 'Business of the Year' award for her clothing brand Hest, which was made in honour of her late best friend. It was a family affair for Martha, as her influencer daughter Leah Behn, 18, also picked up a prize for 'creator of the year'. Looking gorgeous in a white and gold dress, the royal shared clips of herself dancing the night away with her business partners after picking up the prize.The royal also joked she was 'resting her legs' before dinner and posted snaps sitting in a bed with Norwegian TV presenters Harlem Alexander and Jan Thomas, all dressed to the nines.
A frustrated Londoner has listed the seven irritating things people who come to the city do.

Kimberley is seemingly fed-up with tourists and commuters who fail to adopt the city's customs.

The presenter took it upon herself to share a step-by-step training guide, ticking off everything you should absolutely avoid doing in the capital.

She said: 'The reason why people are acting so lawless, pushing and squeezing is because the people are not from London. They don't actually know the laws of the land.'

The content creator added that if you want to come to London then you 'must' follow her advice.

Kimberley (pictured) is not happy with non-native Londoners who keep making blunders she perceives as inconvenient

1. Walk quickly

In response to a comment which read: 'We need to start screening people before we allow them to move to London,' to which she replied:

'This comment made me die and I have now made a list of the training people who are moving into the central city need.'

First up on her detailed training guide was walking with 'conviction and pace'.

Kimberley said: 'Walk as if you have somewhere to go. Walk with speed okay.

'You're in London, You are not in Jamaica on an island breeze. Walk with power as if you have somewhere to be.'

2. Stand on the correct side

People standing on the incorrect side of the escalator is another faux-pas that the native-Londoner is irritated by.

She quipped: 'Stand on the right of the escalator. If you're walking you go up the left.'

The content creator was also annoyed by other members of the public taking up the escalator with their luggage, adding: 'And that goes for your silly little suitcase as well.

'Put your silly little suitcase in front [of you].'

Inspired by a comment suggesting those incoming to the capital are 'screened', the presenter created the seven step training guide for those moving to the city

3. Don't walk in a group of three

Kimberley's third gripe was people taking up all the pavement space by walking in groups of three.

'Stop it right now - the pavement of the sidewalk is not big enough for us all,' she urged.

She also took the opportunity to air her frustrations regarding loved-up couples who refuse to unlink their hands when walking.

'Walk down the street hold hands be in love but unlink your hands when people are coming.

'What the hell is going on. Unlink your hands and be in love at home. I don't understand.'

4. Let people off busy trains

A particularly passionate pet-peeve held by Kimberley is when people refuse to get off a packed train to let others off.

She instructed: 'When the train is busy and people need to get off - get off and step to the side...because you can get back on.'

'It doesn't cost you anything to get off. You're not going to be charged double.'

5. Oyster cards at the ready

Not being prepared at the ticket barriers is among the long list of annoying habits non-Londoners have, according to Kimberley.

In the video with over 350,000 views, she advised people to be ready with payment at the ticket barriers.

She continued: 'Why are you at the barrier looking for your phone or whatever it is.'

The content creator questioned further: 'Why don't you have it with you? Furthermore, why isn't it just on your phone?'

Among her long list of gripes included people not being ready to pay at ticket barriers, people walking in three's on the pavement and commuters hogging the pole

6. Step to the side

Kimberley isn't all too keen on people stopping in the middle of the pavement either.

'When you are walking down the street busy road, busy road don't stop in the middle of the street, don't stop to look at your maps. don't stop top reply to your text.

'Go to the side like a civilised pedestrian and do whatever you are doing.'

She ranted about the inconvenient habit people getting in the way of others when they stop in the middle of the street. stating : 'You're causing people traffic. You're causing commotion and disruption okay. Think about that deeply.'

7. Hogging the pole

The final etiquette rule the Londoner pressed was using the poles found on public transport sparingly.

Kimberley expressed how she finds it strange when people press the entirety of their body onto the structure.

She questioned: 'Why is your whole body pressed up on it? So now when I want to hold the pole I'm squeezing [and] digging into your back.'

Motioning with her hands, the content creator continued: 'This is not Paris where everyone's hands are doing this on the pole. Get off the pole.'

Fellow Londoners flooded the comments, hailing Kimberley for the announcement, with one quipping: 'You need to be the mayor of London for real'

Fellow Londoners flocked to the comments hailing Kimberley. Some even suggested she run for city mayor

Another chimed in: 'Send this to our man Sadiq. Send this to TFL to make a city wide campaign. I beg.'

'This needs to be a public service announcement.' wrote a third.

'Living in the city has taught me that 99% of people dont know how to be efficient and considerate in a crowdy environment,' added one user.

A Londoner shared how when they moved to Birmingham they 'screamed', quipping: 'They dont stick to one side of the stairs or escalators.'
In the noughties, calling a young woman a 'bimbo' was one of the worst insults you could possibly pick out.

Although it acknowledged their attractiveness, the put-down insinuated that the person in question is unintelligent, vapid and naive.

But thanks to the recent release of the Barbie movie and Taylor Swift's Eras tour, Generation Z are now reclaiming the once derogatory term for themselves.

On TikTok, the '#Bimbo' has amassed over three billion views - while 'bimbo aesthetic' boasts a further 14.9m as users demonstrate how to recreate hot pink noughties-inspired outfits.

And with the Mean Girls remake hitting screens in January, the 'Bimbo-core' trend shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

TikTok user Molly (pictured) - who describes herself as a 'Barbie stan' - posted a video of herself showing off some of her 'bimbo-inspired outfits'

Here FEMAIL takes a look at the rise of 'bimbo feminism' - and why Regina George and Paris Hilton have become Gen Z's unlikely role models.

When the Barbie movie debuted in cinemas in July, it caused Mattel's sales to sky-rocket by 16 per cent.

However, it also had an effect on fashion and beauty trends the worldover - with Pantone naming Viva Magenta the colour of 2023.

TikToker Isabella Demarko followed on from Molly's video with a clip showing her putting together a 'bimbo' outfit for when it's 'cold out' - which is inspired by Gretchen Wieners' outfit in Mean Girls

Like To Know It, an affiliate marketing platform, said that they have seen a 194 per cent increase in 'purchases from Barbie-related posts' when stills from the movie first emerged.

According to Good Morning America, searches for hot-pink items on Etsy went up 35 per cent from 2021 to 2022.

'With many nostalgic for simpler, sunnier, and more carefree times, it only makes sense that this '80s-inspired, unapologetically pink aesthetic is taking center stage as the "it" style of the summer,' Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johsnon said.

'A much-welcomed mood-booster after the last few years, Barbiecore is all about embracing vibrant hues - particularly the doll's signature hot pink - in everyday life.'

Although previous generations were quick to dismiss Barbie as a bimbo, Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody noted how she is now being celebrated for exactly this.

TikToker Linnea Bendiksen posted a video of her makeup look - complete with light pink lip gloss and heavy foundation - after transforming into a 'bimbo'

Pictured: Margot Robbie in the 2023 movie Barbie, which led to Mattel's sales of the doll to increase by 16 per cent

L-R: Lacey Chabert, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried pose for a promotional image for Mean Girls in 2004

Speaking to GQ in July, he said: 'If you look up Barbie on TikTok youll find this wonderful subculture that celebrates the feminine, but in 2014, taking this skinny blonde white doll and making her into a heroine was a tall order.'

According to Rolling Stone, the modern-day bimbo are 'all-inclusive, gender-neutral leftist icons' who are 'pro-sex work, pro-LGBTQ, pro-BLM and anti-straight white male'.

Last summer, TikTok user Molly - who describes herself as a 'Barbie stan' - posted a video of herself showing off some of her 'bimbo-inspired outfits'.

In the nine-second clip, the social media star showed her 30,000 followers some ensembles inspired by the noughties.

The first consisted of a white satin pleated skirt paired with a hot pink butterfly. Next, the fashionista happily showed off her pink floral hoodie which she wore with a matching drawstring miniskirt.

Pictured: Paris Hilton - who has become a style icon for Gen Z - seen promoting her book Confessions of a Heiress in 2004

Pictures: Renee Rapp has been cast as Regina George in the Mean Girls remake, which hits screens next year

TikTok star Sydney also filmed herself adapting her 'bimbo' pink jacket for various excursions - including a trip to the bank or going clubbing

A few months later, TikToker Isabella Demarko followed on from this video with a clip showing her putting together a 'bimbo' outfit for when it's 'cold out'.

The ensemble consists of a plunging pink V-neck cardigan and pleated mini skirt - which has been heavily inspired by Plastics member Gretchen Wieners in the movie Mean Girls.

Meanwhile, TikToker Linnea Bendiksen posted a video of her makeup look - complete with light pink lip gloss and heavy foundation - after transforming into a 'bimbo'.

What's more, TikTok star Sydney also filmed herself adapting her 'bimbo' pink jacket for various excursions - including a trip to the bank or going clubbing.

Explaining how the term 'bimbo' has been reclaimed in a TikTok video, New York-based influencer Vivian said: 'Bimbofication is no longer just getting lip fillers and hair extensions, wearing gogo boots.

'I think to me it represents presenting yourself in a feminine way while living in a patriarchal society.

Gen Z social media users are reclaiming the term 'bimbo' by using it to describe a female who proudly embraces her attractiveness and stereotypically feminine traits. Pictured, US influencer Chrissy Chlapecka

'Especially in the male-dominated field I work in, I feel if I present myself in a very feminine way, if I express myself through the way I dress, my hair, my make-up, then people have misconceptions about who I am.

'They might think I am less intelligent or I don't speak as eloquently, personal things about me they can assume based on seeing me for a second. So in turn, me calling myself a bimbo is kind of reclaiming that identity and not letting men tell me who I am.

'So, I know I'm smart and capable and it's almost letting them play into that idea so I can prove them wrong.

'I find presenting myself in a way where I'm wearing little mini skirts of cute heels is enjoyable. Being a bimbo to me represents doing what you enjoy, presenting yourself in any physical way you would like.'

Leaders of 'BimboTok' include influencer Chrissy Chlapecka, who boasts more than four million followers on the platform and is known for her hyper-feminine aesthetic and videos including 'how to be a bimbo 101'.

Speaking to Glamour magazine about her self-appointed bimbo status, she said the term means someone who wants to 'celebrate and appreciate their own hyper-femininity which they express in their own, special way'.
China to continue deepening opening up in service industry, construction of demonstration zone in Beijing

Xinhua) 13:42, November 25, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to open up the service industry, and push ahead with a national demonstration zone focused on the sector in Beijing, according to the Ministry of Commerce Friday.

The renewed commitment comes alongside the publication Thursday of a work plan, which proposes over 170 pilot tasks to support Beijing in deepening the construction of the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector, the ministry said.

From September 2020 to September this year, the demonstration zone attracted a total of 45.75 billion U.S. dollars of foreign investment in the service sector, accounting for 11.2 percent of all foreign investment into the service sector across China, Ling Ji, vice commerce minister told a press conference.

Looking ahead, the country will align high-standard international economic and trade rules, and deepen the whole-chain reform and opening up in the service industry alongside the development of the demonstration zone, he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
China will soon allow visa-free entry for citizens of six countries, in a move widely seen as an attempt to spur the faltering domestic economy.

On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the measure applies to ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia.

They will be able to stay for up to 15 days for purposes such as business, tourism and visiting family. The measure will run for one year starting December 1.

Analysts say the move is likely aimed at attracting investment amid growing uncertainty about China's economy.

Mao described the plan as part of the country's "high-standard opening up."

China suspended short-term visa exemptions for Japanese citizens three years ago in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Leaders in Tokyo have been calling on Beijing to reinstate the measure.
oolgar is also starring on the stage in a new farce called Mates In Chelsea

Call The Midwife favourites are often given either a lingering death or a slow-burning romance that ends with them skipping off into the sunset. Not so for Fenella Woolgars Sister Hilda, who simply vanished.

One minute she was there doling out gentle advice and providing some light relief, the next she was gone, mysteriously dispatched to... Chichester.

I was sad not to get a dramatic goodbye but it does mean theres an opening to go back if I want to, laughs Fenella, whos every bit as jolly as the nun she played for four years. And while I really miss the cast members and crew, I think we actors like to do lots of different things.

Shes since had fun getting her teeth into meatier roles, including a scene-stealing portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Reckoning, the recent BBC drama about Jimmy Savile. Shed had some experience playing the Iron Lady before, having starred in West End show Handbagged a decade ago.

It was interesting to play a different side of her in The Reckoning, where you see her off-duty with someone she thinks of as a friend, says Fenella, 54, of the scenes between Mrs T and Savile. The work Id done on her before all came in handy. Her accent came back almost straight away.

Fenella played Sister Hilda in Call The Midwife for four years

Fans can see another side to Fenella in new Apple TV+ costume drama The Buccaneers, an adaptation of the unfinished Edith Wharton novel.

She plays stony-faced Lady Brightlingsea, who is less than impressed when a bunch of rich, louche American girls come over here in 1870 to marry our lords.

Its a joy of a show, apart from the corset, she says. This era was the worst for pulling in the waist to a silly degree, and my corset was very tight. You can only eat tiny amounts and you cant lie down during a break. It makes you realise that women in those days were dressed to never be able to run away.

Shes also currently starring on the stage in a new farce called Mates In Chelsea at Londons Royal Court Theatre, in which she plays another upper-class harridan whos struggling to keep her son in line.

Its a farce but theres this undercurrent of social comedy too, she says. Theres an element that investigates where power lies in this country. But more than anything else its just really funny.

Not bad for an actress who was once told she needed to get a nose job if she wanted to succeed. Shed finished at Durham University and was pondering a life on the stage, having fallen in love with acting at school.

I was told by a director before hed even seen me act, You will never get any work unless you have a nose job, she reveals.

It was a shocking thing to say to a young woman, but I was determined it wouldnt stop me. I was lucky I wasnt fresh out of school so I was a bit more mature.

I do sometimes wonder whether its affected my casting  it can be frustrating. The profession is so strange, it puts a particular type of look front and centre.

Woolgar played Margaret Thatcher in The Reckoning (above). Shed had some experience playing the Iron Lady before, having starred in West End show Handbagged a decade ago

'We dont tend to have a great variety of face shapes, and the end result is terrible fascism. The idea that we must all look exactly the same. In real life people with a variety of faces fall in love, so I dont know why only a certain look is allowed on screen.

She adds that there is a benefit to being a character actress though, because she gets to play all sorts of roles, from Midsomer Murders and Dalgliesh to the 2003 film Bright Young Things.

A mother of three teenagers with her doctor husband, she also has a successful second career as an artist and won Celebrity Portrait Artist of the Year in 2019.

Shell never play badminton for Britain though. I had to learn to play for Mates In Chelsea and Im still not very good, she admits. But how I love the challenge of doing something new.
A former Jehovah's Witness has lifted the lid on the brutal isolation he faced as a child after being cut off from the world.

Owen Morgan, originally from Connecticut, appeared on a recent episode of the Cults To Consciousness podcast.

He described his experience as 'oppressive' and 'destructive' as part of a religion that 'ruined people's lives.'

Owen even went one step further in his expose as he claimed kids within the religion were regularly shunned by their own families and thrown out of their homes if they 'stop believing.'

Owen Morgan, originally from Connecticut, appeared on a recent episode of the Cults To Consciousness podcast

Owen, who was born into the religion, told host Shelise Ann Sola: 'Jehovah's Witnesses very much attempt to separate their members from everybody else because of one Bible verse that says you should live in the world but not be a part of it.

'So, of course, they take that opportunity to interpret that in the most extreme way imaginable and try to separate their members any way they can.'

He described his experience as 'oppressive' and 'destructive'

He continued: 'When you're little you don't fully realize how negatively this is affecting you.

'You don't really realize it until after you exit and you see the world for what it is, you see what other people are doing and realize that you're missing out on a lot - not just missing out on fun but missing out on a piece of culture that you live in.'

Owen revealed that he was not allowed to celebrate holidays in the same way as everyone else, adding: 'I didn't get to celebrate my first Christmas until I was 18 years old when I finally ended up leaving the religion.

'I'm not a member anymore. I have no love for the religion I think it's absolutely terrible in every way. It's done irreparable harm to countless people - including myself.'

The content creator, who now has more than 386,000 subscribers on his own YouTube channel, explained how he had moved from Connecticut to West Virginia aged eight.

He said that it was there that he began getting home-schooled: 'I was completely socially isolated at that point.

Owen, who was born into the religion, told host Shelise Ann Sola: 'Jehovah's Witnesses very much attempt to separate their members from everybody else because of one Bible verse that says you should live in the world but not be a part of it'

'I was completely separated from the rest of society for four years and because of Jehovah's Witnesses I wasn't allowed to associate with other people.

'For a while, I was riding my bike to a neighbor's house and hanging out with them until my parents discovered that I was doing that and then took my bike away. I wasn't allowed to do that.

'I was only allowed to hang out with Jehovah's Witnesses and there weren't any around my age or wanted to hang out.'

Going into further detail about his upbringing, Owen said: 'Unfortunately for children, there's actually specific guidance for Jehovah's Witnesses on how they're supposed to treat children if they exited the religion.'

What is a Jehovah's Witness? Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination with about 8.5million followers worldwide, who believes the destruction of the world is imminent. They impose a strict moral code on members, including that homosexuality is a sin, and punishes those who deviate from their beliefs by 'disfellowshipping' them, ostracising them from the community. Advertisement

He said that the methods were implemented on kids as young as eight, which was the earliest members usually got baptized in the religion, all the way up until 18.

'The guidance is absolutely psychotic, unsurprisingly...,' he said.

'Most Jehovah's Witness kids probably get baptized between the ages of 10 and 14. It's effectively a contract you're signing with this organization - a serious lifelong contract and the penalties for breaking it are dire.'

Owen adds that if a baptized child decides 'that it's not true, it's nonsense, he doesn't want anything to do with this or he wants to celebrate birthday parties at school and refuses not to - there are number of different mundane things that could get him disfellowshipped - his parents are expected to not eat dinner with him first of all.'

'There's a list of things you shouldn't be doing. You're not supposed to sit at the kitchen table with the kid, he should be eating the food in his room,' he said.

'They're not supposed to talk to them about any "spiritual matters" which means anything to do with Jehovah's Witnesses is absolutely off limits except for the father.

'The father - as the spiritual head - can try to continue to shove this stuff down the kid's throat.'

He said that if a teenage child began questioning the teachings, parents were 'supposed to do everything they can culturally - not officially - but culturally to get the kid out of the house.

'If there's a family member they can go to who's not Jehovah's Witness or whatever just get them out of the house at any cost...

'That's how it goes for Jehovah's Witness kids if they stop believing. It's over, it's absolutely ugly and disgusting, it's an evil practice.'

Owen said that he did not leave the religion under his own free will but was instead kicked out.

'I was doing stuff that you're not supposed to do - going to other people's houses who were worldly and I was drinking and just experimenting with stuff.

'I smoked a cigarette just learning how this stuff works and they called me in for a judicial committee because one of the other people in the congregation knew what I was up to.'

He said he 'admitted everything' but 'they said "okay that's it, you're out" and they kicked me out even though I was repentant.'

Owen was then also kicked out of his family home and ended up staying with a friend while working a part-time job at Burger King.

He said: 'I believed I was in the wrong. I believed my parents were correct in shunning me at the time.'

But he eventually found his feet and moved to New York with a child of his own, adding that he 'finally realized how nonsensical this stuff was.'

Owen concluded: 'Jehovah's Witnesses spent my entire life teaching me how wrong every other religion was and when I realized how wrong that religion was it was a short leap to walking away from all of it.'
Lt Col Tom White, 36, was the late Queen's equerry until her death in late 2022

The Princess of Wales is 'likely' planning to hire the late Queen's former equerry as her new private secretary, it has been claimed.

Kate Middleton, 41, reportedly asked Lt Col Tom White to join her at a public engagement so he can understand what the job involves before deciding whether to take it on.

The father, 36, is a war hero who served in Afghanistan and helped prevent a school bombing in Helmand, before serving as Queen Elizabeth II's equerry until her death.

A source told The Telegraph that Lt Col White has not yet been formally appointed as the mother-of-three's private secretary, but he is 'likely' to be offered the job.

Kate has been without a private secretary for more than a year, after her previous employee Hannah Cockburn-Logie departed the role for 'personal reasons' in 2022.

Kate Middleton, 41, reportedly asked Lt Col Tom White to join her at a public engagement so he can understand what the job involves before deciding whether to take it on

The father, 36, is a war hero who served in Afghanistan and helped prevent a school bombing in Helmand, before serving as Queen Elizabeth II's equerry until her death

Typically, Kensington Palace employs private office staff from the Civil Service, government departments or promotes from within its own households.

Lt Col White's appointment would be unusual for a number of reasons, including that he would be the first man to take the highly coveted position.

It had previously been widely reported that 'straight-talking' brand management expert Alison Corfield was lined-up to take the role.

Instead, it appears Kensington Palace has taken a different approach, perhaps hinting at a return to tradition for the royal household.

This could also be the Wales' cementing closer ties with the military - and Prince William's late grandmother.

Lt Col White joined Buckingham Palace in 2020 as the late Queen's equerry - a role which required him to remain at the monarch's side through her final years.

He joined the Royal Marines in 2007 and has extensive experience with the elite commando force, with one source previously describing him as one of the best Royal Marines officers they had ever met.

A source told The Telegraph that Lt Col White has not yet been formally appointed as the mother-of-three's private secretary, but he is 'likely' to be offered the job

Kate has been without a private secretary for more than a year, after her previous employee Hannah Cockburn-Logie departed the role for 'personal reasons' in 2022

Lt Col White joined Buckingham Palace in 2020 as the late Queen's equerry - a role which required him to remain at the monarch's side through her final years

The father previously served as the military assistant to Major General Matt Holmes, commandant general of the Royal Marines and has also completed a posting at Navy Command in Portsmouth.

He also helped avert tragedy in Helmand in 2009 as a member of 42 Commando, after the Taliban rigged up an explosive booby trap in a school.

Wires for the device, which was set to be triggered by a pressure plate that would go off when the padlocked school room door was broken down, were spotted by the elite force in the nick of time.

Then aged 22, Lieutenant White, who was 7 Troop's commander, said: 'It turns your stomach to think what could have happened if we hadn't found the bombs. These people knew they could have blown a lot of kids sky high  and they didn't care.

The Princess of Wales's last private secretary took on the role in May 2020, and held the position for two years before stepping back for 'personal reasons' in 2022

'I have quite a low opinion of someone who would bomb a school. They don't value young life at all.'

Lt Col White was seen attending the Princess of Wales's early years symposium at the Design Museum in London last week.

The Princess of Wales's last private secretary took on the role in May 2020, and held the position for two years before stepping back for 'personal reasons' in 2022.

A Kensington Palace source said: 'Hannah is a fantastic, dynamic leader. Loyal and a skilled diplomat.'

Kate has been without a private secretary since, but has been accompanied by her assistant private secretary Natalie Barrows on a number of engagements and tours.
Prince Andrew took his usual weekend drive through Windsor this morning, shielding his eyes from the low winter sun as he travelled out of the royal estate.

The Duke of York, 63, looked solemn as he travelled through the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire on Saturday, accompanied by one other.

He wore a navy blue fleece for his outing in an attempt to stave off the plummeting temperature as the UK heads into the cold winter months.

Andrew's outing comes as he backed a bid by his ex-wife the Duchess of York to land a lucrative on-screen role after her appearance as a co-presenter on ITV's This Morning.

A source told the Mirror that Andrew was 'the catalyst' for her accepting her role alongside presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.

The Duke of York, 63, looked solemn as he travelled through the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire on Saturday, accompanied by one other

Another source told the newspaper that the Duke has been stalling over a deal with the Crown Estate to prove he has the money to meet a 2million repair bill on Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he has lived since 2004.

Andrew's finances have been under renewed focus ever since he was forced to step back from a public royal life after the 12million settlement with his former sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre.

The disgraced royal has reportedly 'not been forthcoming' with financial details despite allegedly being given permission by his brother King Charles to stay indefinitely at the home.

The Duchess of York guest edited and co-presented This Morning on Monday.

During the love and relationships segment, the Duchess, 64, acted as an agony aunt, offering advice to two couples struggling with intimacy issues in their marriages.

This included her thoughts on how they could re-ignite their sex lives.

Although some on social media said parts of her performance were 'chaotic', show bosses were said to have been delighted.

He wore a navy blue fleece for his outing in an attempt to stave off the plummeting temperature as the UK heads into the cold winter months

Prince Andrew has backed a bid by his ex-wife the Duchess of York to become a reality TV star amid his reported stalling on proving he can afford huge repair bills on his Windsor home. Above: The pair at Royal Ascot in 2019

She also interviewed music legend Sir Cliff Richard alongside Hammond and O'Leary.

A source close to her and Andrew said: 'Andrew think's it's all great fun and is fully behind Sarah. She had fun and people like her. Andrew thinks she's a natural.'

The Duchess is also hoping to land a TV role in America. US producer Amy Rosenbaum said last month that she met the royal in New York to discuss potential projects.

Andrew is said to have been 'the catalyst' for her accepting her role alongside presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary on Monday

The Duke has reportedly been stalling over a deal with the Crown Estate to prove he has the money to meet a 2million repair bill on Royal Lodge in Windsor

It had previously been suggested that Andrew would be forced to leave his home.

He is said to have reached a 'stalemate' with the Crown Estate - which runs the royal residences - over the repair bill.

The Duke was already said to have paid out 200,000 for roof repairs on Royal Lodge over the summer. But a lot of further work is needed.

It is believed Andrew was given a 250,000 a year allowance by the late Queen, but this was then cut by Charles.
Having a glass or pint of your favourite tipple may make you less steady on your feet than it did a decade ago.

For the alcohol content of beer, wine and cocktails has surged in recent years.

It prompted a senior doctor this week to urge Brits not to get behind the wheel after just one alcoholic drink because they have become so strong.

Larger glass sizes, powerful New World wines and craft beers, are all to blame for booze becoming stronger, experts say.

But the demise of low-strength mild beer and the creeping size of a shot are also factors, they suggest.

The current drink-drive in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Malta is the only other European country to have a limit this high, with Scotland and much of Europe setting a level of 50milligrams. Some nations set the bar even lower

The British Medical Association (BMA)'s president said the idea of 'getting away' with two pints 'has always been dangerous'. However, he cautioned that a 125ml glass of 9 per cent wine  more common when current drink-driving laws were devised in the 1960s  is now 'virtually unheard of'

Sir Ian Gilmore, head of the British Medical Association (BMA), warned that it's now nearly impossible to work out how many units of alcohol a person has consumed.

He called for laws effectively banning motorists from consuming any alcohol before driving.

As a basic guide, men are advised not to drink more than three units, while women should stick to two at a maximum, before getting behind the wheel, according to the Department of Transport.

A glass of 125ml wine  which used to be the standard  has 1.6 units of wine.

But Sir Ian warned that these are now 'virtually unheard of'.

What are the drink-driving rules in Britain? The current level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Malta is the only other European country to have a limit this high, with Scotland and much of Europe setting a level of 50milligrams. Some nations set the bar even lower. The RAC website warns there is 'no hard and fast rule' for how many units of alcohol a person can safely drink without exceeding the 80milligrams limit as it depends on the individual's gender, age, weight, metabolism, stress levels and food intake. However, it says this is likely to be no more than two to three units of alcohol for men and no more than one to two units for women. This is equivalent to one pint of beer (2.3 units) or one small glass of wine (1.6 units). Advertisement

Instead, a 250ml glass has become the standard measure offered in many pubs, bars and restaurants, Drinkaware argues. This contains a whopping 3.5 units of alcohol.

Studies have suggested that the introduction of the larger 250ml wine glass in the 90s encourages drinkers to consume more  effectively making a glass of wine stronger than it was a decade or so ago.

But wine itself has also become stronger. Studies indicate the average bottle of wine has become two per cent stronger due to the trend for bolder wines.

The popularity of stronger European lagers among Brits has also seen alcohol by volume (ABV) levels rise, Sir Ian said this week.

He told The Mirror: 'Now it's much more trendy to be drinking a Spanish lager or a Greek lager than one from the UK and there's been a shift away from traditional British bitter.

'People are just not aware. To talk about how many units you can have is not helpful.'

Meanwhile, the once popular low-strength mild ale has fallen out of fashion.

The light beer, which was around 3 per cent ABV, has been shunned in favour of craft options, which boast an ABV of around 6 per cent, according to Drinkaware.

But craft options have an ABV of up to 15 per cent.

The rise in microbreweries is another factor.

Latest figures from the Society of Independent Brewers Association show the total number of breweries in the UK has risen in 2023.

New opening figures highlight demand for craft beer and brewery taprooms or microbreweries, it suggested.

An increase in gin, vodka and whisky measures also means Brits are now consuming more alcohol per drink than they previously did.

Traditionally, pubs and bars have served spirits in 25ml measure glasses, equivalent to one unit of alcohol.

Many, however, have now switched to 35ml or 50ml measures, Drinkaware warns.

This means often people may be consuming far more alcohol than they realise.

The current drink-drive in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80 milligrams (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

Malta is the only other European country to have a limit this high, with Scotland and much of Europe setting a level of 50mg. Some nations set the bar even lower.

The current drink-drive in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Malta is the only other European country to have a limit this high, with Scotland and much of Europe setting a level of 50 milligrams. Some nations set the bar even lower. The RAC website warns there is 'no hard and fast rule' for how many units of alcohol a person can safely drink without exceeding the 80milligrams limit as it depends on the individual's gender, age, weight, metabolism, stress levels and food intake

A father-of-three has suffered life changing brain damage after being hit by a drink-driver outside a pub. Gary Burvill, 32, also sustained leg fractures and ruptured ligaments in the hit-and-run when a car mounted the pavement and crashed into him in Southend, Essex, in February 2022

The RAC website warns there is 'no hard and fast rule' for how many units of alcohol a person can safely drink without exceeding the 80mg limit as it depends on the individual's gender, age, weight, metabolism, stress levels and food intake.

A safer interpretation is equivalent to one pint of beer (2.3 units) or one small glass of wine (1.6 units).

Alcohol charities and the BMA want the level slashed by more than a third over fears that it is fuelling hundreds of avoidable road deaths each year.

It would mean many motorists are effectively banned from consuming any alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Representatives at the BMA's annual conference back in July backed a motion committing the union to campaign to 'reduce the legal blood alcohol limit to the average of European Nations'.

Father-of-three, 32, suffers life-changing injuries after being hit by drink-driver outside pub A father-of-three has suffered life changing brain damage after being hit by a drink-driver outside a pub. Gary Burvill, 32, also sustained leg fractures and ruptured ligaments in the hit-and-run when a car mounted the pavement and crashed into him in Southend, Essex, in February 2022. The former sous chef was in hospital for more than a year and underwent two craniectomies and a cranioplasty. He was in a minimally conscious state for eight months after the crash and has since required extensive care and rehabilitation support to learn how to walk again. The driver was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and jailed for four years in September. He as also banned from driving for five years. Speaking for first time of their ordeal, Gary's mum Jackie told how the crash had 'ruined his life' and how he know struggles to do basic tasks. Jackie, 61, said: 'Before the crash, Gary was doing well in his job and loved nothing more than spending time with his children. 'What happened to him that night changed everything. 'It's been heart-breaking to see him struggle to do the things we all take for granted and be reliant on others for so many aspects of his life. 'We just hope that by sharing our story, we can make others aware of what can happen when you break the law. 'The driver that night was driving dangerously, and because of him Gary's life was ruined in a split second.' Advertisement

At the time, Sir Ian said: 'The level to which we reduce it is I think up for debate.

'My preference is to go down to 20milligrams. It allows for almost zero-tolerance but takes account of a pretty strong aftershave that morning.'

Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive, Institute of Alcohol Studies, told MailOnline: 'We know that many alcoholic products have increased in strength over the years.

'But people's understanding of the limit and the number of units in a drink is often quite low, with many thinking that it's ok to have two drinks before driving. The safest approach is also the simplest: don't drink alcohol before driving.'

She added: 'We support the BMA's sensible call for the UK  excluding Scotland  to reduce its drink driving limit to match most countries in Europe.

'Drivers within the current legal limit are six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, compared to those who haven't consumed alcohol.

'After years of progress on road safety it is concerning that drink driving deaths increased by 21 per cent between 2020 to 2022, so now is the time for action.

'With more than three quarters of people supporting reducing the drink driving limit, the government cannot ignore the evidence and ignore what every other country is doing.

'Reducing the limit will not only save lives, but also save people from the unimaginable grief of losing a friend or family member in such an unnecessary way.'

Meanwhile, Lucy Straker, campaign manager at road safety charity, Brake, said: 'We know that when alcohol is involved, people are more likely to speed. On average, 188 people are killed and more than 1250 people seriously injured every year in drink-drive related crashes in England and Wales.

'England and Wales have the highest drink-drive limits in Europe. These are unacceptable facts.

'The current drink-driving limit gives a false impression that it is safe to drink and drive, up to that limit. It isn't. Clarity in law is needed to drive a change in behaviour.'

Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, also told MailOnline: 'With millions of us beginning to enjoy workplace and festive gatherings, this is a timely reminder that it's always best to be safe and not drink when driving.

'We're encouraging employers to take simple steps to make sure that their workplace parties are inclusive, such as offering a range of no and low-alcohol options to support their staff have a safe and enjoyable time together.

'We support the BMA's recommendations, which are a reminder that the drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is significantly higher than many other countries.'

Leading experts have also rowed about the harms of moderate drinking for decades.

Scientists across the board, however, agree that excessive alcohol consumption can permanently damage the liver and cause an array of cancers and drive up blood pressure.

The WHO estimate it kills three million people around the world each year.

The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 'units' of alcohol  around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer  per week.

This itself has been watered down over the past few decades in light of studies illustrating the health dangers of alcohol.

Meanwhile, the US says women should drink no more than seven standard drinks a week and men can have 14.

These measures include a medium-sized glass of wine and 340ml of beer, close to a regular bottle size.
Influencers should be banned from promoting formula milk on social media, the World Health Organisation has said.

Experts said manufacturers were increasingly using exploitative marketing online to encourage parents to switch to formula or to buy more expensive products than necessary.

It said the latest update to its marketing guidance, published this month, was essential to help keep regulation in line with fast-moving developments in the digital world.

Digital environments are fast becoming the predominant source of exposure to promotion of breast-milk substitutes globally, digital marketing amplifies the reach and power of advertising and exposure to digital marketing increases the purchase and use of breast-milk substitutes, the WHO said.

The new guidelines propose a ban on influencers directly promoting formula products but also says they should not be paid by formula companies to promote branded content, such as online baby clubs or parent advice lines, on social media.

Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon, and her son Rex, have previously featured in videos on social media promoting formula manufacturer Cow & Gate's Baby Club

Love Island contestant Olivia Bowen has also featured in videos promoting the brand, alongside her husband and fellow Love Island star Alex

In the UK, formula manufacturer Cow & Gate has previously featured celebrities like Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon and Love Island contestant Olivia Bowen in videos promoting its C&G Baby Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Both celebrity mothers have also independently posted about their experiences of breastfeeding.

And numerous smaller lifestyle and parenting influencers have been paid to directly plug follow-on formula products (designed for babies older than 6 months) by brands like Aptamil and Kendamil to their thousands of social media followers.

Amy Brown, professor of child public health at Swansea University, welcomed the proposed crackdown on influencer marketing.

Although there may be exceptions, influencers do not tend to be experts in infant feeding and public health, she said.

They are sharing their opinions [which] are not necessarily based on evidence or good information for others, and they could unintentionally do more harm than good.

These guidelines will help prevent that.

She added: So much of the information we get now is through social media and digital marketing - the [formula] industry has taken advantage of that to find loopholes in regulation to reach parents.

Parents deserve information and support that should be evidence-based and accurate.

Speaking at the Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative Conference in Harrogate this week, Shereen Fisher director of the Baby Friendly Initiative, said: This is about protecting families from aggressive marketing techniques.

Restricting marketing does not mean that the products cannot be sold, or that factual scientific information about them cannot be made available.

Nor does it restrict parents choice.

It simply aims to make sure that their choices are made based on full and impartial information rather than misleading, inaccurate or biased marketing claims.

Publishing new guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes, the WHO said regulation was needed to prohibit the use of digital marketing tools including advertising on social media platforms and influencer marketing', adding that healthcare professionals should be banned from being paid to promote formula online.

It also called for an end to formula companies creating social media baby clubs - like the C&G Baby Club - or offering parenting advice, and a ban on companies using digital marketing to establish relationships with parents.

Manufacturers should also be prevented from 'encouraging or enabling consumers to share, react or comment on marketing content, it added.

Although an international WHO Code on marketing already prohibited brands from directly targeting new parents, it does not expressly include all forms of digital marketing.

Experts say manufacturers are increasingly using exploitative marketing to encourage parents to switch to formula or to buy more expensive products than necessary

The guidance is not legally binding but individual countries which are WHO member states - including the UK - are expected to ultimately update their laws to align with WHO recommendations.

But the update comes as it was revealed only half of infant and follow-on formula products sold in Britain currently comply with UK laws on labelling.

Researchers, led by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, analysed 57 product labels and found just 50 per cent fully adhered to UK law.

The study, presented at the conference, found labels carried claims idealising formula milk, or nutrition and health claims - which are not permitted.

Researchers said they also contained promotional content, like telephone advice lines for new parents, which were an example of firms seeking to build relationship[s] with mothers/carers.

They said the labels violated many of the laws and regulations designed to protect parents from exploitative marketing, and showed how manufacturers use product labels as marketing tools to increase sales.

The UK law should be better enforced and strengthened in line with the [WHO] Code to protect breastfeeding and safe and appropriate formula feeding, the authors added.

A spokesperson for Danone, which manufactures Aptamil and Cow & Gate, said: How to feed your child is an important decision for any parent.

While breastmilk offers babies the best nutritional start in life, some parents cannot breastfeed.

Many also make the choice to partially or fully feed their children with baby formula.

Formula is a quality, legitimate option that should be respected and parents should not be made to feel judged for formula feeding their little one.

When it comes to feeding, parents turn to healthcare professionals, family and friends, as well as online sources.

Seeking to prohibit access to information about baby formula hinders parents in making an informed choice and stigmatises a legitimate feeding option.

Infant formula is the only recognised alternative to breastmilk and is highly regulated to ensure appropriate communication, labelling and marketing of products; we adhere strictly to these UK regulations.
At first, back in 2019, just a trickle of British patients came through the doors of our dental hospital in Turkey.

Most were desperate and in agony. Years of neglect had left them with dire tooth problems, from multiple cavities and infections to gum disease. But the most surprising thing was that almost each one had made the difficult  and, some might say, extreme  decision to fly 2,000 miles for treatment because they were struggling to be seen by an NHS dentist.

The cost of private care in the UK was too steep for them, so, put simply, they felt they had no other option.

But today, this dire situation has worsened considerably. That trickle has become a tidal wave. In my 15 years of being a dental surgeon in my native Turkey, Ive never seen anything like it.

That initial group of 15 health tourists who I saw at my Istanbul dental hospital in 2019 grew to more than 2,200 last year. This year those numbers will reach 5,500  with patients from the UK now making up to 60 per cent of our clientele. And it shows no sign of slowing down.

Dr Gulay Akay says she is seeing thousands of British patients at the Dentakay clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, who are unable to afford dental treatment on the NHS

Laura Joita, 36, from London, went to Turkey for dental treatment after being in pain for six months with infections and cavities

At Dentakay we treat people from across Europe and beyond, but Im afraid to say that Brits dental health is by far the worst.

Sold a dream and delivered a nightmare: The Turkish dentists we should be worried about Katie Price shows her shaved teeth beneath veneers British patients have long been warned against flying abroad for cut-price cosmetic dental work known as Turkey teeth. The procedure involves shaving natural teeth down into pegs and applying a new set of gleaming white crowns on top for the perfect smile. It has been popularised by celebrities such as Katie Price, pictured right, and the stars of ITVs Love Island, who have documented their treatment on social media with tales of holiday packages including five-star hotels and VIP transfers. But horror stories have emerged of patients returning home in agonising pain and suffering with jaw problems, inflammation and infections after botched procedures. Teeth can be shaved down too far, exposing nerves or killing the tooth completely. To cut costs, some clinics also give patients strips of crowns, rather than individual pieces, which may not fit properly and lead to painful infections. Amanda Turner, 35, from Belfast, ended up on a drip in hospital after multiple infections in her teeth spread elsewhere in her body following treatment in Turkey last year. The agony was so bad that she couldnt sleep and suffered broken teeth and bleeding gums after being fitted with strips of crowns. The repair bill she now faces totals 14,000. You are sold the dream and you are delivered a nightmare, she said. Advertisement

At least 80 per cent of those we see have an underlying medical issue caused by poor dental care  from complex jaw problems to badly damaged teeth and gums.

The reason is clear: your NHS dentistry system is failing.

Were seeing people who are in so much pain theyve resorted to pulling out their own teeth with shoelaces or fixing their crowns with glue, such is the struggle to get an appointment with a dentist.

Some have spent 15 years unable to get the right care, while others cant eat properly or have been unable to access NHS treatment after they lost teeth in car crashes or following chemotherapy.

It has been genuinely shocking to witness.

Its not just me  colleagues across all seven of our dental hospitals in Turkey have reported the same stories.

Dr Cansin Celebi, a dental surgeon based in another Istanbul hospital, tells me the majority of her British patients have had problems finding a dentist.

Some of them have been waiting years, she explains. One dental problem can quickly lead to another, so we see people in a very bad way. One young woman had been treated for breast cancer, and the chemotherapy had badly damaged several of her teeth.

But even after ringing every NHS dentist for miles around, she could not get seen.

Despite the surge in the number of Britons travelling abroad for treatment, we know that some still have concerns about the safety of health tourism. Problems have largely emerged from the social media-driven trend for something so popular its even been dubbed Turkey teeth  a cosmetic procedure offered by some uncertified clinics which involves shaving teeth down into pegs and applying a strip of gleaming-white crowns on top for the perfect smile.

British dentists  particularly private ones who charge exorbitant rates for the same work  have taken to the media to tell horrifying tales of patients returning home in pain and with terrible infections after botched procedures.

I dont doubt this happens. There are good and bad clinics, and I have huge sympathy for anyone who ends up in a terrible state.

The Turkish Dental Association says that as many as 250,000 foreign people travel to Turkey for this cosmetic work every year  and not all procedures will succeed. The average complication rate is about three to five per cent, though much lower in Dentakays hospitals.

To be perfectly frank, however, the disturbing cases we have seen in our hospitals shows that British dentists are in no position to criticise the standards of our dentistry.

We are picking up the pieces for patients who have had terrible care in the UK, and when you look at the latest statistics on the state of NHS dentistry its hardly surprising.

The number of NHS dentists in England is at its lowest in a decade, sitting at about 23,500  down 1,100 since before Covid. Experts say this is primarily driven by the fact the NHS contract doesnt properly compensate dentists for work carried out, so many simply switch to private practices for more money.

Katie Price's tooth fell out during a live TikTok stream as thousands of her followers watched

Some patients have spent 15 years unable to get the right care, while others cant eat properly or have been unable to access NHS treatment after losing teeth in car crashes or chemotherapy

A recent survey by the British Dental Association found that half the dentists polled had cut back on NHS work since the pandemic and 43 per cent said they planned to go fully private in the near future.

Do your research and find A REPUTABLE EXPERT  Research the Turkish clinic carefully and read its customer reviews.  Ask to see dentists CVs, which should tell you where they qualified and how long they have practised.  Make sure someone speaks good English.  Make sure the clinic has a dental tourism certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Health, which is granted only after they have been evaluated and have practised for five years. Clinics without one are operating illegally.  Always book directly with the clinic.  Ask about aftercare and warranties so youre protected if something goes wrong. Advertisement

The effect is that about nine in ten NHS practices arent accepting new adult NHS patients, creating so-called dental deserts that leave one in five without a dentist.

In July, a report from the parliamentary Health Select Committee concluded the state of NHS dentistry was totally unacceptable in the 21st Century and had resulted in a decline in oral health. If what we are seeing in Turkey is anything to go by, that is absolutely true.

One young mother in our clinic had been trying to register with an NHS dentist for 12 years, despite being prepared to travel hundreds of miles. She had widespread tooth decay and the pain was worsening to the extent it was affecting her mental health and quality of life.

It sounds Dickensian, but she became so desperate she had to pull two teeth out using string  literally yanking them herself.

By the time we saw her she had several missing teeth which needed implants and crowns and we had to perform six root canals.

When you treat someone like that, you arent just giving them back their smile and their confidence, you are transforming their whole life.

She isnt the only patient weve seen who has resorted to these DIY methods of tooth extraction.

Grant Lakey, who came to us last year, used his own shoelaces to pull out five teeth which had become dislodged by a work accident. He had tried and failed to get treatment on the NHS for a decade.

The 59-year-old construction worker from Bromley, Kent, says: I lost my first tooth when I stood on a scaffolding plank and it hit me in the face.

Other teeth became loose, which made it difficult to eat, but I couldnt get NHS treatment for love nor money.

Emergency dental clinics would not remove the teeth because they werent rotten, he adds.

I was getting repeated infections, and was in a lot of pain and discomfort, but no one would take me on.

Eventually, although it sounds medieval, I pulled them out myself. But with all the gaps I looked like a drug addict. It was awful and I was so embarrassed.

Mr Lakey was in an awful situation, but weve been able to give him the implants and treatment he needs for a fraction of what it would have cost in the UK.

Another British patient, Laura Joita, came to see us at our Antalya hospital after she was left in agony for six months with tooth infections and two cavities  one of which needed root canal surgery. The 36-year-old, who works as a maitre d in London, couldnt get an appointment because of pandemic restrictions and was told to use clove oil  a natural anaesthetic  to numb her pain. It had little effect.

It was excruciating. One side of my face was swollen and it was affecting my daily life and my ability to work, Laura recalls.

I was taking painkillers every day but they werent helping. There was a long waiting list for the root canal work I needed.

Laura got the treatment she desperately required, as well as whitening, for about 500. She says: Even with flights its more affordable than in the UK. And they seem to actually care.

Its also common for British people to resort to using alcohol to cope with the pain. Ive lost count of the number of people relying on vodka or whisky to feel more comfortable. That might numb the pain, but it also makes things worse by damaging the teeth and gums, not to mention the rest of the body. Its very upsetting.

Some patients are in such despair they end up using glue or even putty to keep broken crowns or teeth in place. One case that particularly sticks in my mind was an elderly man who had several loose crowns that he had tried to fix in place with super glue. As you might expect, his mouth was a mess.

And I was horrified to see one young man who, despite losing a lot of his teeth in a bad crash, hadnt been able to get any treatment in the UK. Expensive private clinics had quoted him figures of more than 40,000 for the work  we ended up treating him completely for a third of that price.

These savings are driving a lot of patients to Turkey. A porcelain crown that might cost up to 1,800 in the UK costs just 250 here. Laminate veneers are 275 each, and 1,600 at home.

This does mean, of course, that there are less reputable operators offering similarly cut-price dentistry. Some patients coming for Turkey teeth will end up with a set of crowns which are all joined together in a strip because its even cheaper.

They might look perfect, but you cant floss them, and food can also get trapped as they dont always fit properly, causing bad breath and infections.

And there have been some cases where dentists not operating to our standards have shaved the natural tooth back so far that they destroy the root, essentially killing the tooth.

What many tourists dont realise, too, is that some of these strips of crowns offered by less responsible clinics are designed to last only ten years. Once theyre done, thats that  youll never get your own teeth back, and the whole thing will need to be done again every decade at your expense.

What do we do that makes us so different from the cowboys?

We dont offer strips of crowns, for a start. And we take our time, only performing work that is absolutely necessary.

Patients cases are discussed in detail by a team of seven dentists before they even fly over to sort out what they need.

Weve already seen their dental X-rays carried out by our partners in the UK. Our initial consultations last at least an hour. And we dont send patients home until were satisfied the treatment has been successful. If a patient needs to stay longer than anticipated for any reason, flights are changed and accommodation organised.

We also offer a warranty, in the rare case that corrective treatment might be necessary, and have an office in London for patients to contact which can arrange aftercare.

We have just been assessed by independent consultants as meeting the exacting standards required by the UKs Care Quality Commission.

Of course, some people arent interested in such care  they just want a specific Instagram look as quickly as possible. Theyll go to a clinic which will do what they want faster and at a lower cost.

I cant stop that happening. But it is sad that so much of this is down to the crisis in NHS dentistry. Of course, there are many excellent NHS dentists doing their best. But the system clearly isnt working.

Its not for me to tell the UK how to solve this problem, although I will say that if you want a system where charges to patients are minimised, you have to invest in it. Dentists should be paid properly by the NHS for the work they carry out.

And the high prices charged by some private clinics in the UK simply arent justifiable.

We are proud of our track record. Its just such a shame that the UK  with its highly respected NHS  cannot say the same.
Tens of thousands of men struggling with urinary incontinence could be helped by a change in the law being demanded by a group of MPs.

They have called on the Government to ensure that all male public toilets  as well as those in shops and restaurants  have sanitary bins installed for the hygienic disposal of incontinence pads.

Current legislation requires these containers are provided for female staff in the workplace, to dispose of used tampons and pads. Most womens public loos feature them, too. But there is no such provision for men, even though one in three over 65s suffer some degree of leaks  often as a result of surgery for prostate cancer.

The Mail on Sundays GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon last week wrote about the hidden misery of male incontinence and questioned why it was such a difficult topic for people to discuss. In response, she received dozens of letters from male readers detailing their daily struggles, as some end up using more than a dozen incontinence pads a day, each costing between 50p and 1.

Some describe how they often have no choice but to carry wet pads around in public until they find somewhere suitable to dispose of them, while others are reduced to asking wives or girlfriends to dump them in womens toilets. Many claim the lack of bins is ruining their social lives.

Jonathan Hall, 62, of Petersfield, Hampshire, has suffered leaks since undergoing surgery in 2020 for prostate cancer. Its unbelievable that there are so few facilities, he says. I recently went into a big-chain coffee shop and there was not even a single bin of any kind'

One in three men over the age of 65 suffer some degree of leaks  often as a result of surgery for prostate cancer

One prostate-cancer survivor says: If I cannot find a discreet waste bin I end up putting them in my pocket until later.

Another distressed reader adds: I feel anxious leaving home and I have to plan ahead. I always take a couple of nappy bags with me to put the used pads in, but often end up carrying them around until I get home.

Some upmarket hotels do have sanitary bins in the male toilets, one reader says, but they are in the minority: This is a problem if you are out with friends, as I need a new pad every three hours.

Urinary incontinence and bladder control in women, commonly caused by childbirth, has a relatively high public profile, with even TV adverts for products. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations Act 1992 states employers have a duty to ensure all womens cubicles have a sanitary bin, or if one is not available they must clearly signpost the closest.

The receptacles tend to have pedal-operated lids and some have antibacterial liners to protect against germ and odour build-up.

Earlier this year the charity Prostate Cancer UK launched a campaign called Boys Need Bins. It says one in eight men get prostate cancer  rising to one in four among black men  and a significant number experience bladder problems. This is because prostate surgery may damage the nerves that control urinary function as the cancerous tissue is removed.

Prostate Cancer UK claims more than a third of men with incontinence will leave home less often due to leaks and problems with pad disposal, increasing their risk of social isolation. Its research shows a similar number also keep wet pads on, rather than try to find somewhere to get rid of them.

But there is headway being made. Earlier this year, Jersey passed a law demanding sanitary bins in all mens public toilets on the island, and Winchester Council in Hampshire has voluntarily installed them in male toilets. Meanwhile, hygiene specialist PHS Group has fitted them in all 60 or so motorway service stations run by the Moto group.

However, now a group of five MPs, along with former Age Concern worker Baroness Barker, have called on the Government to do more to help men with incontinence.

The group, which includes Tories Marco Longhi, Andrew Selous, James Morris and Justin Tomlinson and the SNPs Kirsten Oswald, last week wrote to Health Ministers demanding sanitary bin installation be made legally mandatory in public toilets.

Baroness Barker told The Mail on Sunday: Incontinence is a difficult subject for anyone to talk about, but we need to acknowledge the problem and help people maintain a dignified life.

Jonathan Hall, 62, from Petersfield in Hampshire, has suffered leaks since undergoing surgery in 2020 for prostate cancer.

Its unbelievable that there are so few facilities, says the father-of-two. I recently went into a big-chain coffee shop and there was not even a single bin of any kind.

I had to change my pad and put it in the bin in the middle of the coffee shop where everyone was also placing their sandwich wrappers or napkins. I felt dreadful but had no other option. Its not fair on the staff, the customers or me.

One man I met said he had not left the house for two years because he didnt want to go anywhere unless he could be certain he could change his pad and dispose of it in a proper bin.

Jonathan adds: The Government has to hear about our experiences and take action. Male incontinence bins should be mandatory.

The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment but did not respond.
NAGOYA, Nov 26 ( News On Japan ) - Panicked passengers on a Shinkansen bullet train were evacuated at a central Japan station on Friday night, after a plastic bag containing suspicious liquid was found onboard.

The incident occurred just before 9 PM at Toyohashi Station, where firefighters in full protective gear prepared to examine a white plastic bag lying near the exit of Hikari 657, bound for Shin-Osaka from Tokyo.

After evacuating passengers and inspecting the contents, the bag was deemed safe and determined to be trash from a lunchbox.

The emergency situation caused a temporary suspension of services on the Tokyo to Osaka-bound line.
100% recycled toilet paper

28 for 24 rolls, uk.whogivesacrap.org

Whats the story?

Who Gives a Crap (WGAC) was founded in Australia in 2012 by friends Simon Griffiths, Danny Alexander and Jehan Ratnatunga to help raise funds to build toilets and improve sanitation around the world. Griffiths launched the company with a crowdfunding campaign, for which he sat on a warehouse loo for 50 hours, until the first 26,000 had been raised.

Why should I buy?

Every day, 27,000 trees are cut down to become regular loo roll, but WGAC uses recycled paper. It donates 50 per cent of its profits to charities that build toilets and improve sanitation for those in the developing world, 2.4 billion of whom are currently without access.

Why shouldnt I buy?

Although WGAC is exploring manufacturers in the UK, rolls are currently manufactured in China and exported.

The extra mile

WGAC has donated more than 5 million to sanitation charities including WaterAid, Sanergy and Shining Hope for Communities.

Made in

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Made from

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Journey

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Our rating


Karen Erskine is a busy woman and her workload is mounting by the day. Families are coming to us thick and fast, and we predict more will be referred in the coming months, she says.

I feel incredibly touched that the women are sharing their stories with me

As a service manager for Glasgow North and North Lanarkshires Home-Start, a community support project that works with Save the Children, Erskine  along with a team of staff and volunteers  helps pregnant women and families with young children who are struggling with challenges such as mental health, poverty and isolation.

This past week alone, she has supported 120 local families with an array of services, both practical and emotional, from volunteer home visits to community-based groups and counselling referrals.

Jacket and trousers, Joseph. Jumper, Day Birger et Mikkelsen at Fenwick

Isla with husband Sacha Baron Cohen

Its a crisp autumn day when I meet her in an airy church hall in North Lanarkshire where Home-Start holds many of its group sessions. As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, Erskine predicts lots more families will be coming through the churchs doors seeking help. Many mums say theyre dreading winter, she says. Salaries are having to stretch further than ever before. Being a parent is challenging at the best of times, so we have to make sure were there for them when they need us most.

Erskine is matter-of-fact about the work she does, but I cant help feeling Im talking to one of the everyday, unsung heroes of the community in Glasgow.

Isla with her dad in 1983

This visit is highly personal for me as Scotland is where my ancestral roots are. In many ways, these are my people. As a young girl, I lived just 20 minutes away from this very building. Both my parents are Scottish and relatives are still dotted around the area.

Sacha bought me a ring so i could hold dad close. it reminds me of home

Returning here brings hazy memories back into focus: wearing a kilt on my second birthday; scratchy woollen tights encasing my stocky toddler legs; the invigorating hikes in the Highlands, running and clambering to keep pace with my brothers as cold winds whipped at our cheeks. I remember the LPs of Highland pipe music my parents played to remind them of their youth. Even my name  Isla  comes from Islay, the small Hebridean island off the west coast of Scotland famous for the peaty single-malt whiskies my late father used to love.

Here in the church hall, boxes full of toys from the noisy mother-and-toddler playgroup I joined earlier are stashed under tables. Amid the chaos of children scampering around and tumbling over themselves, I saw how these groups can be a lifeline for people feeling trapped by the pressures of parenthood.

Isla's dad with Princess Anne in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia

Faiza joined us with her beautiful three-year-old boy, Zakariya, who flashes me a cheeky grin from under his shock of black curls. A local mother to six rowdy boys, Faiza has been coming to the group for nearly five years, and she says the effect on her mental health and self-worth has been transformative.

I didnt leave the house with the children before, Faiza says. I found it too overwhelming and got myself into a negative mindset. But the toddler sessions have helped me grow in confidence. They make you forget the struggles you might be facing. When you are down, the sessions make you feel like lifes not so hard.

Many here are living at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis. I hear of parents earning double incomes and still unable to cover the basics; mothers skipping meals so their children can eat; how the crisis is tipping many here into food poverty.

With Faiza and her son Zakariya at the home-start group

In the UK, nearly four million children live in families that are food insecure, meaning they struggle consistently to afford healthy meals. In Glasgow, its estimated that nearly one in three children is living in poverty and new Save the Children research shows the same rate applies across Scotland for families with a baby under one  much higher than the national average of one in four. Sometimes what families need is an emergency injection of money. Save the Children works with Home-Start to provide just that  an immediate grant of up to 340 for families with children under six who are facing hardship, so they can get food on the table, pay their heating bill or buy the essentials they need to survive.

I feel incredibly touched that the women are sharing their stories with me. Motherhood can be isolating at best. Throw in financial difficulties, soaring food prices, mental-health struggles and I know Im talking to some real fighters.

Isla and her Dad in Perth in 1987

This is the first time Ive been to Scotland since Dad passed away in January, aged 84. Over the past months, Ive learnt to cope with the sudden and searing waves of grief that were once overwhelming. Now, being here in Scotland makes me feel closer to him. I hear his voice in the accents of the people I meet. I see his stoic determination in theirs.

Brian Fisher was born into a working-class household in Bathgate the year the Second World War erupted. A modest, brilliant man, he was best known for his sense of humour. Jokes were a currency in our family and you were rewarded for getting the loudest laugh. Plus, nothing was off limits, something that has no doubt inspired my comedic acting over the years  and possibly my choice of husband [the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen] too. But it was Dads career that, when I was six, took us to Australia, where he went on to become chief executive officer of Western Australias Save the Children Fund. And so we come full circle.

Isla in 1979 in Cambridge

He was always proud of his work supporting disadvantaged children both in Australia and around the world  as was I. He described meeting Princess Anne  who took over from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the charitys patron in 2017 after serving as its president since 1970  as the pinnacle of his career.

Inspired by his work and my interest in early-years development, I became an ambassador for Save the Children in 2012. My first involvement with the charity was for a breastfeeding campaign, when I visited the slums of Sao Paulo and met mothers who pumped their breastmilk so it could be donated to neonatal wards, giving babies who were ill or born premature the best start in life. Eleven years on, I still remember how inspired I was by this simple, selfless act. And its that feeling of sisterhood and solidarity that Im reminded of while in Scotland. Here I can feel, once again, the power of human connection, of community. Sometimes its the small gestures that make everything OK.

Erskine agrees. Having a cup of tea with families can be so, so powerful, she says. We hear from parents that sometimes were the only people they see that week. Theyre really isolated. And thats what were all about  empowering families to grow in confidence and build strong relationships within themselves and the community.

Perhaps thats what I miss most about my dad since he left us: wherever I was in my life, he was there for me and we felt so connected. Its no exaggeration to say that I spoke with him every day and those wide-ranging, at times very silly, conversations are what got me through the Covid pandemic in Los Angeles  when the world was in lockdown and human connection was in short supply.

After he died, Sacha bought me a ring so I could hold his memory close every day. Its a simple gold band with a delicate Scottish heather. It reminds me of home.

To support children suffering food poverty in the UK and around the world, visit savethechildren.org.uk/donate-today

Picture director: Ester Malloy.

Stylist: Nicola Rose.

Stylists assistant: Hope Palmer.

Hair: Ben Cooke at Frank Agency using Bondi Boost.

Make-up: Sarah Reygate at Carol Hayes using Giorgio Armani.
Maverick rule-breaker EGLANTYNE JEBB was an unlikely founder of Save the Children but is one of historys greatest heroes, says writer Charlotte Bogard Macleod

Save the Children founder Eglantyne Jebb

All wars are wars against the child, said Eglantyne Jebb in 1924. While you may not know her name, you will know her legacy  Jebb founded Save the Children. Her declaration of childrens rights  now called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child  is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Jebb achieved all this despite not wanting any children of her own  or even really liking them.

In 2019, I was asked if Id write a short play about Jebb to mark Save the Childrens centenary. I was trying to finish a drama for the BBC and, while I didnt have time for a new project, I also knew I had to write it. Jebb had all the qualities I look for in a heroine: she was a maverick, navigating the narrow confines of her society, grappling with a messy love life, and battling to make the world a better place. I had no idea why she wasnt a household name.

Born in 1876, Jebb grew up with her five siblings in Shropshire where she rode horses at a gallop, raced cars and, at 18, went to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford to study English. Presented with the colleges rules informing her she had to be chaperoned to lectures, an outraged Jebb wondered whether she should leave or stay long enough to break all the rules and be sent down. She stayed, but not quietly. It was at Oxford she learned how the poorer half of society lived and began her lifelong humanitarian work.

In 1907, she fell in love with Margaret Keynes, who shared her passion for social justice. The two women swapped promises and love tokens, but Keynes broke it off to marry and start a family. Heartbroken, Jebb vowed to find lifes purpose through her work.

The only international language is a childs cry

Much as she championed childrens right to a fair start in life, she failed at teaching, admitting, I dont care for teaching I dont care for children. They fall on me with shrieks and howls and inarticulate sounds like pigs when they see food coming.

Instead she channelled her energies into activism, experiencing the horrors of war in 1914 in the Balkans while distributing aid to starving children. In 1919, in the First World Wars aftermath, she protested against Britains economic blockade of Europe, which was being used to force Germany into accepting punitive peace terms. Jebb was determined to help the millions of German and Austrian children who had survived the war only to starve in peacetime. Surely its impossible for us as human beings to watch children starve to death without making an effort to save them, she said.

Jebb was arrested in Trafalgar Square that year for handing out protest leaflets that hadnt been cleared by government censors. Vilified by the press  she was called the spinster in the brown cardigan  she had few supporters. Despite facing a heavy fine and prison, she insisted on conducting her own defence, hoping to use her trial to call the government to account.

Princess Anne, the charitys then president, on a Save the Children trip to Kenya, 1971

Although the judge found Jebb guilty, he was so won over by her arguments he not only imposed the minimum fine of 5 but produced a banknote to cover the cost. Jebb insisted on paying her own way but took his 5, saying shed donate it to a new fund to help starving children in Europe. And in that moment, the idea of Save the Children was born.

Today, the charity is the largest independent international childrens development agency. Last year, it helped 48.8 million children around the globe, responding to 107 emergencies in 66 countries. Its UK work includes supporting disadvantaged families with emergency cash grants, funding projects such as food pantries and baby banks, and securing government reform on child benefits, the expansion of free school meals and the childcare system.

In 2017 Princess Anne took over from the Queen as Save the Childrens patron, after being president since 1970. Anne attended a fundraising performance of my play about Jebb in London in May 2019, which starred Joely Richardson, Helena Bonham Carter, Sue Perkins and children from the Chickenshed Theatre. Speaking to the princess afterwards, I found we had a mutual admiration for this unconventional heroine.

Im currently turning Clare Mulleys biography The Woman Who Saved the Children into a screenplay and Hollywood is interested  excited by this unsung activist and the startling immediacy of her story.

Jebb once said, The only international language is a childs cry. Her words resonate now more than ever before.
Mash has its moments and chips have their charm, but it is the roastie, the pinnacle of potato perfection, that stands aloft as the titan of the British dinner table.

Sitting beside the Sunday joint like a gloriously gilded hero, its the crisp-crust Prince Hal to a meaty Henry IV  and beloved of kings and commoners alike. Edward VII, a man known for his love of haute cuisine, demanded that roast beef and potatoes be served, without fail, every Sunday night at Buckingham Palace.

Quite right, too. But its also the most democratic of mouthfuls, needing little more than spud, fat and heat. The devil, as ever, is in the detail. Get it right and youll crack open that crunchy, burnished shell to reveal a cumulus-like mass of snowy bliss. One wrong move and edible heaven will be transformed into noxious hell: a wan, soggy disgrace with all the charm of full-blown gout.

Every Christmas (and for much of the rest of the time, too) debates rumble and arguments rage as to exactly how you get this humble spud just right. Welcome to the roast potato wars  for the creation of proper roast potatoes is as much science as it is art. And every cook, from Michelin master to cack-handed amateur, has their own failsafe method that they swear is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but.

There are as many recipes as there are grains of salt in a shaker: the variety of potato and type of cooking fat; the simmering time, oven temperature and shaking/scoring/chilling the surface of the spud to ensure maximum crispness. Even the fiddling about as they roast.

Artwork: Lisa Sheeran

There are, though, a few things most can agree upon. That a floury (rather than waxy) potato is a must. And that the fat has to be hot when you drop in the boiled potatoes.

the fat must be heated until its spitting and seething, really bloody angry

After that, things get personal. Nigella goes for goose fat. As does John Williams, executive chef at The Ritz, and Jamie Oliver, who argues that a gentle press with a potato masher while roasting lets the lovely starchy inside just puff out. Tom Kerridge favours plain vegetable oil.

The King, like Delia, goes for beef dripping (on a visit to the Bradford HQ of Morrisons last year, His Majesty informed journalists that using the fat that comes off the meat is essential). Sir Michael Caine, a noted expert, even soaks his parboiled potatoes in extra virgin olive oil.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall uses a fork to rough the edges, but Delia likes to give them a shake. (Pity the great architect Edward Lutyens, whose father liked to dunk them in his tea.) All believe their way, albeit without dogma, is the only way.

While our love for the roast potato is as fervent as it is profound, the tuber is a relatively recent New World arrival, reaching these shores, via Spain, sometime in the 1550s. There is, as ever, a glut of picaresque tales as to how it got here.

Potatoes were, some say, introduced by Sir Walter Raleigh, who planted them on his Irish estate. Others argue that it was all down to Sir Francis Drake, who picked up some seed potatoes in Colombia. Or that they were plundered from the gold-laden Armada fleet. Or none of the above. What is certain, though, is that first impressions were hardly rosy.

Many people thought potatoes a dangerous foodstuff, or at least a coarse one and at best suitable for pigs, noted Alexandre Dumas in his Grand Dictionnaire de Cuisine, published in 1873. Seen as underground carbuncles, as toxic as they were tasteless, potatoes copped the blame for everything from inflaming the passions to causing wind. In fact, they were banned in 1748 for a while by the French parliament, who believed they carried leprosy.

There were also whispers that they brought syphilis from the New World, where they were cultivated from around 5000BC, in what are now the Peruvian Andes. And because they were never mentioned in the Bible, some particularly devout Protestants saw them as more heresy than hearty lunch.

Still, they eventually found favour, first among the cottagers of Ireland, before slowly spreading to Wales, Scotland and the North of England. But it was not until the 18th century that the potato found mass appeal, on the way to becoming the ubiquitous staple it remains today.

One of the first roast-potato recipes can be found in The Housekeepers Guide of 1834. Simply parboil, place under the roast and turn once. Another, of 1884, is more spartan still: peel, cut in half and cook with the meat.

These may be potatoes roasted with meat. But they are most definitely not Roast Potatoes. Because as the food writer Lindsey Bareham argues in her mighty tome, In Praise of the Potato, Roast potatoes should never be taken for granted. It is no good just to peel and bung any old potatoes round the roast and expect them to turn deliciously crispy without any attention. Amen to that.

I recently tried doing it this way, and ended up with dull duds that were both sadly soggy and slightly burnt.

Lets start at the beginning  with the potato. A floury variety, such as Maris Piper, Desiree or King Edward, is ideal, as the flesh has just the right amount of dry matter and fluffs up when cooked. This also creates lots of fissures, where the oil can penetrate, get trapped and transform into joyous crunch. Hence the importance of roughing up the surfaces once boiled.

Storage is equally important. As Simon Martin, potato guru and the man behind suppliers The Food Heroes, explains, The correct temperature is about 8-10 degrees.

If you store them in the fridge, the sugar levels will rise and you wont get the golden look, rather dark brown, and caramelised. Rather bitter, too.

I peel my potatoes then cut them into irregular shapes of a similar sort of size. This creates lots of lovely sharp edges for extra crunch. I then put them into a large pan filled with cold water, bring to the boil, salt generously and simmer for as long as you dare, in the words of chef Rowley Leigh, about 10-15 minutes.

They should still keep their shape (well, most of them, anyway), and be on the verge of falling apart rather than disintegrating into a mushy soup. I then drain them in a colander, giving it a good shake, and put them in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool and form a thin exterior crust.

Whack your oven up to a Hades-like heat, about 230 degrees, and choose your fat, be it goose, duck or dripping. All three give the most wonderful flavour, although dripping has a truly beefy depth. The fat must be heated until its spitting and seething, really bloody angry. This will take at least ten minutes.

Then give the colander one last hearty shake and tip the cooked potatoes (now cold) into the oil. Using a pair of spoons, turn each one until every surface gleams like a Spartan warrior. Make sure there is ample space in the roasting tray, advises John Williams. He prefers a heavy-bottomed roasting tin, as it retains the heat that will also help the potatoes to crisp up.

Now, turn the temperature down to 220 degrees, put the potatoes in the oven and leave for 15 minutes. Have faith. Then turn every 10 minutes, adding more fat if needed. Be vigilant  this is not the time to walk the dog. Also, make sure they dont burn, and shuffle around the pan as you see fit. You should have lots of crisp bits at the bottom. Chefs perk. Obviously.

Around an hour, and your roast potatoes should be done. Remove from the oven, drain on lots of kitchen paper and lavish with good salt. Feel free to sample and grin with pure greedy delight. Each burnished crust should be firm, but needs only a gentle nudge of the fork to reveal that softly billowing, snowy white inside. Serve immediately. Because hot roast potatoes, like time and tide, wait for no man.

How the pros put spuds in the spotlight

Nigella Lawson

Type? Yukon Gold or King Edward.

Boil? Put them in a pan of cold salted water, then bring to the boil for four minutes.

Fat? Goose, frighteningly hot (try around 25 minutes at 230C).

Cook for? 50-60 min at 230C.

Secret Ingredient? Sprinkling with semolina after parboiling will make them perfectly crispy.

Jamie Oliver

Type? Maris Piper.

Boil? In salted water for 15 minutes, for really fluffy insides.

Fat? Goose or unsalted butter  only four tablespoons.

Cook for? 1 hour 25 min at 180C.

Secret Ingredient? Sage leaves tossed with a little olive oil, added to the roasting tin for the last 25 minutes.

Delia Smith

Type? Desiree.

Boil? No. Put in a steamer over a pan of boiling water, turn heat to low and leave for 10 minutes.

Fat? Dripping or lard  fry your parboiled potatoes in it for a few minutes.

Cook for? 50-60 min at 200C.

Secret Ingredient? None  simply garnish with crushed salt.

Nigel Slater

Type? Maris Piper (but by the looks of Slaters recipes hes not a purist).

Boil? Yes, for 10 minutes.

Fat? Duck or goose dripping  around six tablespoons.

Cook for? 60 min at 180C.

Secret Ingredient? Fresh rosemary needles, if serving with chicken.

Additional reporting: Scarlett Dargan.
Miriam Margolyes wants me to know shes just sold out the London Palladium. And the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. And got standing ovations at every single theatre on her nationwide book tour to promote Oh Miriam!, a second volume of scandalous, scatological autobiography detailing her life as an actress  a self-described short, fat, flatulent Jewish lesbian, a woman who will say anything to anyone, usually in words of four letters.

Now 82, Margolyes has been a familiar face and voice for decades, show-stealing in the Harry Potter movies and Blackadder, voicing Cadburys Caramel bunny, winning a Bafta for her role in Martin Scorseses The Age of Innocence. But the 2016 reality show The Real Marigold Hotel, in which a group of elderly celebrities toured India, showed us the true Miriam  out, proud, loud and unfiltered.

It led to a new kind of fame as a TV documentarian with the gift of empathy, and becoming a reliably outrageous fixture on This Morning and The Graham Norton Show, bound to talk about sex or other bodily functions.

Her reputation was cemented when she swore about Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (f*ck you, you bastard) on Radio 4s Today programme. Margolyes would prefer to be known primarily as a serious actress and a theatrical interpreter of Charles Dickens  I wish I was regarded with awe rather than affection  but is clearly enjoying her late-onset celebrity. Her recent British Vogue cover hangs on the wall between us. Im an egotist, she says happily.

When publishers courted her to pen her first autobiography, This Much is True, she readily agreed  although writing it was agony, like an obituary you write yourself. Why did she do it, then? Money, she says bluntly. The advance was 250,000 and when the book sold well she was offered the same for a follow-up. Given we meet in the basement flat of her grand house near Londons Clapham Common, and that she also owns properties in Italy and Australia, what will she do with the extra cash?

Well, Ill pay a lot of tax, which I do willingly as my father instructed me to, she says, and Ill save the rest for carers, which Ill need. Margolyes has spinal stenosis, has had a knee replaced and a heart valve transplant.

She admits she is lazy and greedy which makes her poor health worse, and says, I havent quite processed being 82. Her partner of 54 years Heather Sutherland, an academic based in Amsterdam, also has health problems. And although Margolyes exudes a child-like glee and curiosity, she is pessimistic about her future and the worlds.

The only child of beloved Jewish parents, a Glaswegian doctor and a Liverpudlian landlady with roots in Poland and Belarus, she is a child of a war, conceived in an air raid, as my mother told me. And I really do think we could be on the brink of a war now that could engulf everything. I feel old, frightened, occasionally in despair. She beams suddenly, But the minute I step on the stage, I feel immensely powerful.

In the book she rails against right-wing governments here and abroad. She describes Suella Braverman, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson as evil (partly, in Johnsons case, because Brexit has prevented her and Sutherland living in their Italian house for more than 90 days of the year). I dont think the Tory party was always corrupt and incompetent. But it is now, she tells me. And its very sad for people who are lifelong Tories. I dont hate those people. I feel pity for them, actually. Where do they go? What do they do with their misplaced enthusiasms?

Of US Republicans she says, How can any grown-up human being, who can read and write, honestly think that Trump won the last election? Margolyes took out Australian citizenship in 2013 but calls Australia the most racist country in the world, its recent decision to deny Aboriginals a voice in parliament a stinker that was engineered by wicked people.

I feel old, frightened in despair. But the minute I step on the stage I feel powerful

The only subject she steers clear of is the current conflict in Gaza although, as a secular Jew, she has been a vocal critic of Israel in general and Benjamin Netanyahu in particular in the past. Ive learnt that its best to be quiet about it, she says. To show my pain and my sadness for all the horrible deaths and betrayals, but otherwise say nothing.

Margolyes fell out with her friend Maureen Lipman, who is pro-Israel, even before the current conflict. To lose a friend is sad. Losing a child, losing a family member, losing a human being, a life, thats very much more important. So, Im not going to fan the flames.

The book and its 2021 predecessor also take unusually honest pot shots at colleagues she regards as unpleasant: Steve Martin was horrid making Little Shop of Horrors, several future members of the Pythons and the Goodies were rude and patronising to her when they were in Cambridge Footlights together.

Steve Buscemi and Martin Scorsese, meanwhile, are praised for their courtesy and kindness  though she wont go to see Scorseses latest film Killers of the Flower Moon because I cant go four hours without going to the loo. She is still friends with contemporaries from her bluestocking education at Oxford High School for girls and has 11,000 contacts in her phone.

If there is one lesson she wants us to take from the book, its that friendliness, openness and kindness are the cardinal virtues. She wishes people were kinder to J K Rowling, whos been pilloried for her views on gender, but also kinder to the trans community.

Some of us have vaginas and some of us have penises and some be on the way there, and some be on the way back. Just enjoy it all and find what you want, she says. I cant forget the woman I met in Australia, Francine, who was 79 and had just had the chop and she was crying with happiness at having become who she wanted to be. How can you not glory in that?

She also thinks public reaction to Phillip Schofields affair with a younger colleague was too quick, too venomous, too damaging. I think cancel culture is rubbish. People will probably want to cancel me, but they havent so far. What could she say that would get her cancelled? F*ck off! she says. Or the fat thing. In a world of body positivity, Margolyes insists on referring to herself and anyone similarly sized as fat.

She thinks gay men still face prejudice in showbusiness but regards her own lesbianism as a sort of superpower that enabled her creativity and stopped her being mired in children and stuff.

I love being gay, she says, though I dont do it much now. She came out in her late 20s, but in both books writes about performing oral sex with a lot of men beforehand. That was just part of my developing sexuality, she beams, and I was really good at it! And when you know youre really good at something you tend to flaunt it. At least, you do if you are Jewish.

She and Sutherland, who avoids publicity, met in the late 60s and have been together ever since, bar one separation caused by an infidelity of which Margolyes is ashamed. In old age they may finally live together though not, as theyd hoped, in Italy. Two lesbians together for 54 years is not to be sniffed at, she says. I found the perfect person. She is better than I am in every way  as a human being, as a lesbian, as a writer, as a thinker.

Margolyes is prouder of Sutherlands latest historical tome, about trade in Southeast Asia, 1600-1906, than of her own two books. But she is already planning a third. Id like to write a childrens book. Even though, she adds confidingly, I dont really like children. I want to call it Queen of Farts

Oh Miriam! Stories from an Extraordinary Life is published by John Murray Press, 25. To order a copy for 21.25 until 10 December, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 25.
Master arrowsmith HECTOR COLEs museum-quality pieces are prized across the globe. He tells Maddy Fletcher how his boyhood passion was forged at the local village blacksmiths

Hector Cole working at his forge.

When Hector Cole was nine years old he made his first horseshoe. He was a schoolboy in a small village in Lincolnshire and spent a lot of time with the local blacksmith. I used to stand on a box to reach the bellows handle, he says. Id pump the fire to make the bellows go, so he didnt have to do it. He was quids in, really. It helped that the blacksmiths forge was directly across the street from Coles primary school. When it came to playtime, Id run straight from class to his shop. Theyd have to drag me out.

Today, Cole makes arrowheads and is one of only two arrowsmiths in the country. The second, Will Sherman, is in his 30s and was trained by Cole. As for Coles own age, he is coy: I dont tell anyone that. Im as old as my tongue and a bit older than my teeth!

Accuracy is vital. If you put a hammer blow wrong, the arrowhead will fail

In 2015, he was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his service to heritage crafts. The royal family are fans of his: Cole forged the iron gates for King Charless residence, Highgrove House. And he is also the only person recognised by The British Long-bow Society and The Craft Guild of Bowyers & Fletchers as a master arrowsmith.

When Cole mentions the Fletchers Guild, I tell him, rather proudly, that my surname is Fletcher and that my ancestors would have been arrowsmiths, too. He explains that fletchers didnt make arrowheads. You would have been making the shafts and putting the feathers on and making the slot at the end for the string. And then you would have been putting my heads on. In 1250, the Kings quarreler  someone who made entire arrows, not just heads or shafts  was paid 10 pennies per 100 quarrels. Of that 10, 7  was for the head. It sounds, frankly, like a raw deal for my antecedents.

Before he became an arrowsmith, Cole taught metalwork and was a professional blacksmith with his own forge in Wiltshire. He has three daughters and when they were growing up they used to say: We thought everybodys dad had a forge in the back of the garage. One of them, Rebecca Cole, is now a blacksmith artist.

Cole was also a keen archer  he shoots the longbow  and interested in medieval history. At college, he wrote his dissertation on the development of the sword in Western Europe: Quite a lengthy thing to do. In the 1970s Cole began experimenting with making his own arrowheads.

He made arrowheads for The Lord of the Rings films

There were no instructions for how to make them but Cole has what he calls that germ of working things out. By the 80s, he was taking it seriously. He studied drawings, visited museums and examined medieval arrowheads in detail before re-creating them. It was an immersive experience. To make a good arrowhead, you have to think like a medieval.

Now, Cole makes medieval arrows, Roman arrows, Viking arrows and sometimes Japanese arrows. The standard is so high, and the likeness to the historical versions so strong, that museums have his arrows on display.

At one time in his career, Cole was selling more than 100 arrowheads a month. The buyers fall into various categories. There are museums, such as the Museum of London, which want re-created arrows for handling exhibits. These have to be made as authentically as possible with the correct materials and techniques. Then there are historical reenactors, who dont actually shoot their arrows but still want the heads to look traditional. And then there are the set departments for films, which need arrowheads for battle scenes. I ask Cole if he has made any for films I might know of. He considers the question for a while and then says, almost absent-mindedly, Have you seen The Lord of the Rings? I do Lord of the Rings heads.

Collectors from all around the world buy Coles arrowheads like others would a piece of art. I have the dubious reputation of being the only English arrowsmith forging Japanese arrowheads to send to Argentina. Why? There are people in Argentina who are enthusiasts of Japanese archery and they want the arrowheads, he says. A few months ago Cole met a gentleman all the way from Taiwan who had travelled to the UK to buy a set of his English arrowheads. He was a longbow man.

King Charles commissioned Cole to create new gates for Highgrove in 1986

Arrowheads are made using iron. For important pieces, Cole uses traditional material from the period. He has metal detectorist friends who give him scraps of Roman iron theyve found while hunting for goods. (On the whole metal detectorists arent interested in iron. I dont pay anything for it, but to me its precious.) And recently he was given the original iron from the windows of a medieval church.

For everything else, he uses standard iron. The metal is placed on burning coals in the forge, which Cole has heated up using hand-operated bellows. As the metal gets hotter, the iron turns from dark red to orange, then yellow and white. To see this colour change clearly, the lighting of a forge must be fairly dark and Coles current workshop, in Chippenham, has only two small windows. During the process, the arrowhead is removed from the coals, bashed into shape with a small hammer, then reinserted into the fire. Accuracy is vital, says Cole. If you put a hammer blow wrong, the arrowhead will ultimately fail. Focus is also important. If you lose your concentration for two seconds, the arrowhead is gone.

The time it takes to make an arrowhead depends on how intricate the design is. Some take 20 minutes, some more, some less. Coles creations are all priced differently, according to the metal, but his cheapest version is 6.50. Its not much, but its an improvement on the wages of the poor old medieval Fletchers.

When Cole began tutoring Sherman on how to make arrows, the young student took away a lot of his trade. I dont mind that, he says. Ive reached an age where thats irrelevant to me. Now Im doing them for pleasure.

What is it that Cole likes about making arrows? Its very difficult to define. But theres something about it that, if its in your soul, you will do it. A few weeks ago, Cole was demonstrating arrowsmithing at his village show. There was one little lad, I reckon he was around nine or ten, who was there when we started and he spent all day watching and watching. He really didnt do anything else. I said to him, Go and ask your mum if its alright if you pump the bellows. No, he didnt want to do that. Then his mum came over and I said to her, Be warned. If hes spent all day here with us, hes got that in his soul. He will do it somewhere along the line.

For more details, visit hectorcoleironwork.com

Richard Cannon, getty images, rex/shutterstock
The day of the Russian invasion on 22 February 2022, I went to Ukraine on assignment from Novaya Gazeta, the independent Russian newspaper where I had been working for 17 years. Over four weeks, thanks to the support of countless Ukrainians, I was able to file stories from the border, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson. Next I was aiming to report from Mariupol.

The only passable road lay through Zaporizhzhia. On 28 March 2022, I entered. Waiting at a checkpoint, I started getting messages from friends: Assholes. Hang in there. Let me know if I can help. Thats how I found out that Novaya Gazeta had shut down.

I decided to go to Mariupol anyway. Id publish my piece wherever I could. I found someone willing to take me in their car and we arranged to leave.

The day before our trip, a colleague from Novaya called me and asked if I was going to Mariupol. I was puzzled  only two people from the paper knew I was going there: the editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, and my editor Olga Bobrova. I said: Yes, Im going tomorrow. She said: My sources have got in touch with me. They know youre going to Mariupol. They say that the Kadyrovites [a Chechen subdivision of the Russian National Guard] have orders to find you. Theyre not planning to hold you  they are going to kill you. Its been approved.

Elena Kostyuchenko in hospital in December last year, two months after she fell ill

It was like running into a wall. I went deaf; everything went white. I said: I dont believe you. She replied: Thats what I told them, too, that I didnt believe them. Then they played me a recording of you talking to someone about Mariupol, planning your trip. I recognised your voice.

Forty minutes later, my source from Ukrainian military reconnaissance called.

He said: We have information that the assassination of a female journalist from Novaya Gazeta is being organised in Ukraine. Your description has been sent to every Russian checkpoint. An hour later, Muratov called me. He said: You have to leave Ukraine this minute.

I left [for the Ukraine-Poland border] in a very bad state. I had lice, mumps and PTSD [after the gunfire and shelling]. My friends took me in; they passed me from hand to hand. My girlfriend Iana came from Russia and took care of me, made sure I was eating and sleeping. My plan was to get better, finish the book I was writing and go back to Russia. All of my work, my entire life, my mother and sister  they are all there. The worse the news from home got, the more I felt I needed to be there.

On the evening of 28 April, Muratov called me. He spoke in a very gentle voice. He said: I know that you want to come home. But you cannot go back to Russia. They will kill you.

I hung up the phone and started screaming. I stood in the street and screamed.

I found an apartment in Berlin and moved there. On 29 September, I began working for the website Meduza. We decided that my first reporting trip would be to Iran. Id been there before. After Iran, I would go to Ukraine. Meduza asked me to submit the paperwork for a Ukrainian visa before I left.

I got someone to agree to see me in the Ukrainian consulate in Munich for my visa and corresponded about my trip to Munich over Facebook Messenger. Its not secure and I knew that. But I wasnt in Russia, I was in Germany. I didnt think about the basic tenets of security, the protocols Id been following for years.

On the evening of 17 October, I travelled to Munich on an overnight train. I took off my shoes, lay down on the seat and slept. People walked past me, theyd knock into my feet. I kept sleeping.

On the morning of 18 October I arrived. I went to meet my friend, tried to get some sleep, then went to the embassy. The staff questioned me, asking what I was planning to do in Ukraine. They took my documents, but I still wasnt able to apply for a visa  their internal system was glitching. They told me I should come again another day.

My friend picked me up at the embassy and we went to get lunch outside at a restaurant. While we were sitting there, two different groups of her acquaintances happened to run into us. They came up to our table  there was a man, and then two women. I thought: What a small town Munich is. It really seems like everyone knows each other. I went to the bathroom, still thinking about my visa.

Then my friend took me to the train station to go back to Berlin. As we approached it, she said: Listen, I have to tell you: you smell bad. Let me find you some deodorant. I remember I was shocked by what she said  shes a very tactful person and she would have never said anything if I hadnt actually smelled terrible. When I got on the train, I found my seat and immediately went to the bathroom. I wet some paper towels and started wiping myself off with them. I was covered in sweat. The sweat smelled strong and strange, like rotten fruit.

I sat down and started reading the manuscript of my book. After a while, I realised that I was just reading the same paragraph over and over. My head ached. Id had Covid three weeks earlier. I thought: Do I really have it again? I called Iana. I said: I feel unwell. I hope its not Covid  how will I go to Iran if it is? I tried to get back to the book, but I was feeling worse.

My headache got so bad that I couldnt look at things any more. I kept sweating. I went back to the bathroom and wiped myself off again.

The walk home to my Berlin apartment from the subway is five minutes. It took much longer. Every few steps, I had to put my bag down  it seemed unbearably heavy  and rest. On the stairs I got short of breath. I thought to myself: Covid has really messed me up. As soon as I got home, I went to sleep.

I was woken up by a pain in my stomach. It was strange  very strong but not sharp, it came and went as though it was being turned on and off. I tried to sit up, but I had to lie back down. I felt so dizzy  it was like the room was spinning. With every rotation, I grew more nauseous. I got to the bathroom, where I threw up.

The pain in my stomach kept getting worse. It was painful to even touch the skin. I barely slept those first few nights  as soon as I drifted off, I would be woken up by the pain. My head kept spinning whenever I sat down or got up. It became clear I wasnt going [to Iran].

The doctors [at the regular clinic in my Berlin neighbourhood] both immediately said that I had long Covid: It can go on for up to six months. If you dont feel better six months from now, come back. But they did an ultrasound: all clear. They tapped on my stomach. I got them to do some blood tests. I came out of the clinic feeling comforted  it was nothing, Id get better soon.

The blood tests came back bad. The levels of ALT and AST (alanine and aspartate aminotransferase) enzymes in my liver were five times above normal. They tested my urine. There was blood in it. The doctors stopped joking around. I was referred to a specialist. She said it was most likely viral hepatitis. Well figure out which one it is and then treat it, she said. The hepatitis tests came back negative.

My symptoms kept changing. My stomach hurt less and I got less dizzy. But I was totally weak. My face started swelling, and then my fingers. I barely managed to take my rings off and could not get them back on again. My fingers looked like sausages. Then my feet started swelling. The swelling kept getting worse  I lost sight of my chin. My face was no longer my face  when I looked in the mirror, it took me a moment to recognise myself. Sometimes my heart would start racing. Sometimes my palms and the bottoms of my feet would start to burn, turning red and shiny.

Everything was exhausting. It was hard to go down the stairs. Sometimes Iana and I would go out for 15 minutes, half an hour, and I would get so tired that Id have to go home. I stopped being able to sleep, but it was not about the pain. It was as though my brain had forgotten how to fall asleep. Id lie there for hours trying not to wake Iana, looking up at the ceiling and wondering what was wrong with me.

On 12 December, we sat in my doctors office. She said nothing, going through her papers. Then she said: Elena, there are two theories left. The first one is that the antidepressants youre on may have suddenly started working aberrantly. But you recently changed medications, and your symptoms and test results havent changed. Thats why we have a second theory. Please try to stay calm. You may have been poisoned.

I laughed. The doctor stayed silent. I said: Thats impossible. She said: Weve ruled out all other options. Im sorry. You need to go to the toxicology department at Charite [the university hospital].

To get blood tests done for poisoning, you have to go to the police. So I did. From the police station, they sent me straight to the hospital. The police officers turned up at the hospital to talk to me and the doctors.

My first session was with the Berlin criminal police and lasted nine hours. They wanted to know everything: what I was working on, and planning to work on, who I had been in contact with in Ukraine, which colleagues I was in contact with now. I had to reconstruct my two days in Munich minute by minute.

My clothes and apartment were checked for radiation. My body, too. They took the clothes in which Id travelled to Munich. The police did a safety check of my apartment. An officer asked: Why are your blinds open? You could easily be shot from the balcony across the way. The police told me I needed to follow new safety protocols. Like what? Move house. Take different routes home. Dont get cabs directly to your destination; get out a block away. Wear sunglasses.

Thats it?

Well, it will all help your chances. The police officers were angry at me. We cant understand why it took you this long to come to us. You should have called the police right away, as soon as you felt sick on the train. We would have met you at the station.

But I didnt think Id been poisoned. Im still not sure.

Why didnt you think so?

It seemed crazy to me. And Im in Europe.

So what?

I felt like I was safe.

That is what drives us crazy, the detective said. You come here and act like youre on holiday. Like this is some paradise. It doesnt even occur to you to keep yourself safe. We have political killings here. The Russian special services are active in Germany. Your carelessness  yours and your colleagues  knows no bounds.

On 2 April, at a journalism conference, I was approached by Roman Dobrokhotov, editor-in-chief of the Insider, an independent Russia-focused news website. He took me aside. Lena, I have a personal question. But first I need to tell you something. Christo Grozev from Bellingcat and I have been investigating a series of poisonings in Europe. All the known targets are female Russian journalists. I want to ask you: you havent written anything for a long time  is it because youve been sick? And I told him what I am telling you now.

On 2 May, I got a letter from the Berlin prosecutor generals office telling me that the investigation into my attempted assassination had been closed. The police hadnt found any indication that there had been an attempt to kill me. Blood test results do not conclusively indicate poisoning, it said.

The doctors speaking to the Insider and Bellingcat said that the most likely explanation for what had happened to me was that Id been poisoned with a chloroorganic compound. I passed this information on to the police. On 21 July, the prosecutors office reopened the case.

How am I now a year later? The pain, nausea and swelling have gone. I still have no energy. Right now I can work three hours a day. This keeps increasing, but slowly. There are days when I cant do anything. I lie there and try not to hate myself.

I had lied to the police when I told them the idea of being poisoned seemed crazy to me  it didnt. During my time at Novaya Gazeta, four of my colleagues were killed. I organised the funeral of journalist Mikhail Beketov, a friend. I knew that journalists got murdered. But I didnt want to believe they could kill me. I was protected from this thought by revulsion, shame and exhaustion. It disgusted me to think that there were people who wanted me dead. I was ashamed to talk about it even with loved ones, let alone the police. And I knew how exhausted I was, how little strength I had left, and that I wouldnt be able to go on the run again.

My book came out last month. It is about how Russia descended into fascism. The police believe its publication might become a trigger  that the people who tried to kill me in Ukraine, and possibly in Germany, will try again.

I also want my colleagues and friends, activists and political refugees currently living abroad to be careful. More careful than Ive been. We are not safe and will not be until there is regime change in Russia. Although the work we do helps to bring it down, the regime is still defending itself.

If you are suddenly ill, please do not discount the possibility that you may have been poisoned. Tell your doctors. Fight for yourself. And if its already happened to you, please contact the investigative team at Insider or Bellingcat. They are looking for the people trying to kill us.

I want to live.

Thats why Im writing this.

I Love Russia: Reporting from a Lost Country by Elena Kostyuchenko is published by Vintage, 22. To order a copy for 18.70 until 10 December, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 25.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Mrs S.W. writes: In 2019, Scottish Power installed a smart meter. We did not take much notice of bills as the screen never worked.

We later switched to Eon and could not understand why bills were so high, but Eon was unable to see the smart meter readings. We then moved to British Gas but had the same problems so in 2021 we returned to Scottish Power.

We went on holiday, leaving only the fridge and freezer on, but came back to a big bill, so my husband bought a check meter and found the smart meter was recording three or four times the true figures.

Tony Hetherington replies: Scottish Power had told you that smart meters do not go wrong, and wanted to charge you 270 to carry out a check, so your husband did exactly the right thing.

Misleading: Readings were much higher than the energy used

You then complained to Scottish Power but got nowhere, so you went to Ombudsman Services. Despite the official-sounding title, this is actually a business based in Warrington in Cheshire, now renamed the Energy Ombudsman, which is paid by various firms including car park operators to issue verdicts when customers complain.

Ombudsman Services told you: 'Scottish Power has not provided any comments in response to your complaint.'

It ruled that Scottish Power should replace the faulty meter, recalculate your bills back to 2019, issue an apology, and credit your account with 150 for all the upset and inconvenience.

So far, so good. But that verdict from Ombudsman Services was issued a year ago. Yet when you contacted me, you had still not been given a recalculated bill. You told me: 'If the Ombudsman cannot get Scottish Power to sort this out, one year on from a decision, then what hope has anyone got?'

It is a fair question, so I put it to Scottish Power, which replied straight away, saying: 'We are very sorry we have overcharged Mr and Mrs W due to a faulty meter, and for the time it took for us to resolve this issue.' Scottish Power said it was 'working with' the Ombudsman to resolve things, and had adjusted its bills along with adding a gesture of goodwill.

There was nothing to explain the year-long delay, and even the adjusted bills were incorrect as they still included 60 wrongly charged for check meter work. I went back to Scottish Power which revised its arithmetic once more, producing a statement saying it was your final bill, and showing you to be more than 800 in credit.

But then another statement arrived. It was also described as your final bill. And it demanded 136. You called Scottish Power and were assured nothing was due, so you paid nothing. Then came a text message, telling you to pay up immediately or arrange a payment plan.

You went online to look at your account, and you sent me a print-out showing a balance of zero, making it impossible for you to pay anything. Next came a threat of legal proceedings and damage to your credit record, with the ominous news that: 'Your account has been passed to our Escalated Recoveries Team for attention.' Pay up or face court proceedings, the seizure of goods, or a raid on your bank account, Scottish Power said.

This was harassment, and pretty close to being mugged by a major company. Spokespeople kept telling me they were sorry, and that your account stood at zero, yet the demands and threats kept coming. The left hand had no idea what the right hand was doing, and the right hand did not care.

After weeks of this, the demands have now stopped. Scottish Power has apologised yet again. And you have switched to a different supplier. But why do scandals like this keep happening, not just in one company but day after day, week after week, in utility companies all over the country? And why did Ombudsman Services not see that its decision last year was enforced, or is it as weak as it appears? The sector faces many complaints and questions, but produces few answers.

Flight of fancy to get help from BA

P.G. writes: I booked four British Airways return tickets from London to Aberdeen, costing 917.

Two days later I had to change the return flight from 2.30pm to 8.30pm. BA charged 200 for this.

When I made the change, the BA app said the price for the evening return flight was 640, but when BA debited my bank account they took 200 plus the original 917.

Low flying: Getting an explanation from BA was like extracting teeth from an unwilling animal

Tony Hetherington replies: After changing the time of your return booking, you expected to pay 640. Instead, you were charged 917 for the original afternoon flights, with an extra 200 for switching to the evening flight, making a total of 1,117.

I suspected that the explanation would lie in the small print covering your original booking, so I emailed BA's press office and received an immediate acknowledgement saying the airline would look into this and get back to me.

Two weeks later, nothing had happened. More than three weeks later, still silence from the UK's foreign-owned flag carrier. I even had a long but utterly pointless online chat, asking for the phone number for the press office and being offered numbers for lost baggage, new bookings and so on.

Eventually, the BA customer adviser told me: 'I am sorry, but there is no contact number for the press office.' I should send an email, I was told, but I had already done that twice without getting any answers.

I emailed BA again, and said we would be publishing your complaint. This time it worked. And as I suspected, the answer was simply that your original booking was for non-refundable tickets costing 917, not flexible tickets that could be changed.

If BA had later applied the 640 price of the evening flights, this would have meant giving you a refund even though you had made a non-refundable booking. An easy explanation in the end, but getting it from BA was like extracting teeth from an unwilling animal.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Pork is the most popular meat in the world and a firm favourite with UK consumers too.

But our pig herds have shrunk by 12 per cent in the past 18 months, and more than half the pork we consume comes from overseas.

Yorkshire-based food group Cranswick prefers to source from home and has taken concrete steps to make that happen. Ten years ago, the firm had no livestock.

Now, chief executive Adam Couch has 30,000 pigs and intends to expand his herd further. Cranswick has a flock of ten million chickens, too, and is building up its feed business to ensure standards are maintained across poultry and pig herds.

Fired up: Midas first recommended Cranswick in 2007, when the shares were 8.45 and they have risen more than fourfold to 39.00 and should continue to gain ground

Quality is paramount to Cranswick, which supplies supermarkets with premium produce, ranging from joints and air-dried bacon to marinated drumsticks, kebabs and curry.

The company expects to deliver 60 million pigs in blankets this Christmas alone, and there is a thriving delicatessen business, too, selling houmous, olives, dips and other delicacies under brands including Cypressa and Ramona.

Keeping abreast of trends, focusing on quality and investing in the business are all key factors in Cranswick's success.

The company has invested 600million over the past seven years building new factories and automating processes. Pigs in blankets are next in line, so staff will no longer need to spend hours preparing them by hand.

Couch is a firm believer in looking after his 14,000 employees. A farmer's son from Huddersfield, Couch joined Cranswick straight from university in 1991 and took the top job in 2012.

Years of experience  on the farm and across the Cranswick group  mean that Couch is ideally placed to drive the business forward. He has also forged long-term relationships with customers, from major supermarkets to caterers to pub chains.

The group's figures speak for themselves. Six-month results to September 30, 2023, released last week, showed double-digit growth in sales, profits and dividends.

Brokers expect more of the same for the full year, with profits forecast to rise 15 per cent to 161million and an 8.5 per cent increase in the dividend to 82.4p, putting Cranswick on course for 34 years of dividend growth.

Midas verdict: Midas first recommended Cranswick in 2007, when the shares were 8.45. They have risen more than fourfold to 39.00 and should continue to gain ground.

Cost-of-living pressures persist, but Couch and his team sense that the mood is becoming brighter as economic conditions slowly improve. Existing shareholders should stick with this robust British business, while new investors could also find this stock rewarding.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: CWK Contact: cranswick.plc.uk or 01482 275000
Khama Press, November 22, 2023

By Fidel Rahmati

Sources from Herat confirm that the Taliban administration has prohibited womens tailoring in the central region of this province. Simultaneously, some media outlets have reported establishing a specialized womens market in Balkh.

The source, who preferred not to be named in the report, informed Khama Press that Taliban forces entered the city Wednesday morning to inspect commercial markets. Several markets, including all womens clothing tailoring centres, have been closed as part of this inspection.

The source added that over the past week, whispers about the Taliban administration blocking womens tailoring were heard, but no one believed that these warnings could become a reality.

The exact number of tailoring shops that have been closed is not specified. It is worth noting that earlier this year, the Taliban had also banned womens tailoring in Balkh province.

The Taliban has not provided any statement regarding this action so far. This contrasts with reports from some media outlets that indicate establishing a specialized womens market in Balkh. It is noteworthy that at the beginning of November, the Taliban had imposed a ban on womens tailoring in Balkh as well.

According to its sources in Mazar-e-Sharif, the daily newspaper Ettelaat-e-Roz reported that a womens commercial market called Khadija Kubra has been closed due to tax liabilities.

This commercial market consists of around 200 shops for women, all managed by women. One of the women shopkeepers stated, This market has been in debt for a long time; why should we suffer? The government should hold accountable those who have had outstanding debts.
Firing up the engines: Rolls-Royce boss Tufan Erginbilgic

The boss of Rolls-Royce is this week expected to urge the Government to throw its full weight behind ground-breaking British nuclear technology developed by the country's flagship engineering giant.

Chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic is pushing through a whirlwind transformation of the company. He will on Tuesday unveil his blueprint for restoring Rolls to its former glory.

The firm, which is synonymous with Britain's manufacturing prowess, went through years in the doldrums under previous bosses and came close to bankruptcy during the pandemic.

'Turbo-Tufan' will be highlighting his company's mini nuclear power plants  known as SMRs, standing for small modular reactors.

Erginbilgic is a big believer in the SMR project, which is based on technology honed for use in submarines over the last three decades.

The mini-reactors are greener, cheaper and quicker to construct than conventional power plants and can be sited in a much wider range of locations.

Rolls-Royce, which has so far benefited from about 200 million of Government backing for its work, is ahead of other companies in the UK and abroad. But Erginbilgic is understood to be concerned that competitors will catch up if the Government does not give its full-throated support.

There are also fears that potential overseas buyers of the technology are hesitant because of the British Government's apparently lukewarm attitude towards Rolls-Royce's technology.

Instead of backing Rolls outright, the Government launched a competition to select an SMR provider, pitting the company against foreign rivals.

Six firms were selected for the next phase of the competition last month, including EDF of France and a joint venture between the US's GE and Hitachi of Japan.

Erginbilgic is likely to argue that the process should be speeded up. Sir John Rose, a former boss of Rolls, spoke out in The Mail on Sunday in the summer, warning that Ministers were risking a valuable stream of export income and the chance to create thousands of highly skilled jobs.

Rolls has said in the past that if it won the contract to supply SMRs to the UK, it could create 40,000 jobs by 2050 and boost the economy by 50 billion, as well as helping in the drive to net zero emissions.

Shares in Rolls-Royce have been among the best performers on the stock market this year, rising by 145 per cent so far as the City has been impressed with Erginbilgic's verve. However, they are still 18 per cent lower than they were five years ago.

At the capital markets day on Tuesday, when he meets top City analysts, Erginbilgic will set out medium-term financial ambitions and also talk about his long-term strategy.

As well as having overarching plans to transform the business, he is keen to make efficiency cost savings. Additionally, he is expected to outline his hopes for Rolls to go back into the narrow-bodied jet market and to gear up the company's defence arm.

He is also likely to highlight the new UltraFan aero engine, which is being developed by Rolls. It is 10 per cent more efficient than its largest aero-engine, the Trent XWB, paving the way for its first net-zero flight by 2050.
Genius or destroyer?: OpenAI founder Sam Altman

Amid the carnage on London's stock markets, two companies stand out for bucking the trend. Why? The short answer is artificial intelligence (AI).

Online data pioneer and publisher Relx has quietly climbed into the FTSE top ten and is now valued at a stonking 54billion following a 33 per cent jump in its shares this year.

And Gateshead-based small business software outfit Sage is up 52 per cent and worth 12billion as it surges up the FTSE 100.

Both companies are early adopters of artificial intelligence, a technology first nurtured in Britain at DeepMind and swallowed by Google owner Alphabet, where it is a growth engine.

Generative AI, developed by OpenAI's founding genius, the now famous 38-year-old Sam Altman, is technology which can create high-quality images, text and code which matches human endeavour.

OpenAI staff had sent a letter to their company's board, warning of the discovery of a potentially dangerous, powerful new algorithm. This contributed to Altman's rancorous departure, now reversed.

Generative AI, which includes ChatGPT created by OpenAI, is far from infallible. This is why the UK's Relx tested it to death before applying it to its legal, scientific and medical data repositories.

In the United States, the world's most litigious society, the minor accidents of everyday life can yield big money. Last May, airline passenger Robert Mata called his lawyers after being hit by a serving trolley aboard an Avianca flight from Colombia to New York.

Avianca asked a Manhattan judge to throw out the lawsuit. Mata's legal advisers then cited half a dozen cases  involving airlines including Delta and China Southern  where damages were said to have been paid. But Avianca's counsel nor the judge could verify any of them.

When challenged, the claimant's lawyer, Steven A Schwartz, admitted that he was in a hurry and instead of using the legal bible Lexus, run by UK data powerhouse Relx, he had turned to ChatGPT, developed by Altman and his colleagues. The generative AI app hallucinated and spewed out invented cases with no legal merit. The case was thrown out. Reliability is still some way off.

The row, which saw Altman ousted from his job and re-employed first by major investor Microsoft and then reinstated by OpenAI after a rebellion by almost all of its workforce, has been depicted as a failure of governance. But it is more complex than that.

Much of the dispute which provoked a revolt by 743 of OpenAI's 750 techies and coders, was about whether a non-profit organisation was allowing commercialisation to become the driving force. The reality is that the pass had already been sold when Seattle interloper Microsoft, an outsider amid the San Jose elite, ploughed 800billion into the enterprise. Small change to 2.2trillion Microsoft, but a downpayment on the next big thing.

AI uses advanced microchips, developed by Nvidia and others, to mine data at amazing speeds, process information and turn it into intelligible text. It is the breakthrough technology of our time.

A fight has been sparked among the Silicon Valley giants and older established behemoth Microsoft for AI hegemony, with billions if not trillions of dollars at stake.

As was the case when search engine Google first crashed the commercial scene two decades ago, it raises profound issues about intellectual property and copyright. The legal status of generative AI creations are being fought out in courtrooms across the world. Top music artists and production companies are having hysterics about song rights after generative AI mined the internet to mimic CDs, vinyl and videos indistinguishable from the originals.

AI's outsize brainpower and intelligence and an ability to search private and security sensitive information  such as health records and nuclear designs  makes it a potent safety threat. That's before one even considers the possibility that it will out-think humankind and take charge of us as some of Altman's colleagues feared.

Governments around the world are struggling to corral its potential capacity to control our lives. The Americans, in thrall to the commercial success of big tech and its ability to generate political donations and win election campaigns, are inclined to trust the likes of Facebook (now Meta) founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to police the industry.

These are elephantine corporations which hate regulation. They are monopolists using their market power to gobble up any technology which threatens their dominance. And they don't like paying taxes.

The United States government's subservience in the face of big tech's efforts to police AI has outraged a community which believes that the internet is for everyone, not just Silicon Valley.

Emad Mostaque, CEO of British AI unicorn Stability AI, told The Mail on Sunday: 'There needs to be more checks and balances, particularly given how opaque some of these companies are.

'Open technology is transparent and more robust, so it's much safer. We saw what happened with social media and the lack of accountability. Humanity should not put its trust in an unelected group to lead the development of AI tech without proper scrutiny.'

The EU is striving to introduce labyrinthine rules requiring enablers and users to conduct extensive risk assessments and make all of the data available.

Rishi Sunak's attempt to establish global safety monitoring principles may already have been overtaken by the speed of events.

The Altman affair has inserted an old-fashioned human drama and power struggle into the goings-on in a secretive corner of commerce. The idea of a non-profit model and open AI  good for all humankind  is away with the fairies.

At its core is a battle for bigger bucks and domination. Stopping arrogant tech giants from taking control will be a nightmare.
A celebrity clinic whose previous clients have included Kate Moss, Robbie Williams and Paul Gascoigne, is 'burning cash' and facing an 'unaffordable' rent bill, according to a US investment research firm.

Priory Group operates a network of hospitals and treatment centres across the UK specialising in treatments for mental health, addiction and eating disorders.

The clinic also provides services to the NHS, including accommodation for patients who are sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Overall, the firm provides around 10 per cent of NHS mental healthcare beds and reported that it made over 90 per cent of its revenue from public organisations last year.

But the health service's reliance on Priory has come starkly into focus after a report published last month by analysts at US risk management group Hedgeye argued the business was 'burning cash' and was locked in onerous rent agreements with an American medical property group.

Rehab for the stars: The Priory Clinic in London and, right, Kate Moss

A source close to Priory Group, however, dismissed the claims.

The source said that the firm's accounts confirmed it was solvent and were signed off by auditors without any concern about its ability to continue operating.

In accounts filed with Companies House this summer, Priory reported a loss of 28million for 2022 following losses of 37million the previous year.

According to Hedgeye, the accounts also suggested Priory Group is not generating enough cash to pay its rent.

The business faced lease payments of 61million, but only generated 38million in cash that year after shelling out on upkeep costs on buildings and equipment.

The firm's reserves  funds set aside for a rainy day  have fallen from nearly 55million at the start of 2021 to just 10.5million at the end of last year. It is nursing debts of nearly 1.1billion.

Hedgeye analyst Rob Simone said: 'The financial picture for Priory is troubling, to say the least. The company is paying nearly 61million in rent every year but is only generating around 38million in cash, meaning it needs to rely on external funding to prop up its balance sheet.'

'This clearly isn't sustainable, and if Priory can't obtain financing from other parties, it will be in serious trouble.

'The rent is simply unaffordable.'

Concerns about Priory's rental costs were initially raised in an article in the Financial Times in 2021 after it was acquired by Dutch private equity firm Waterland for nearly 1.1billion.

The takeover was almost entirely financed by a sale and leaseback agreement of around 40 of Priory's hospitals to US property fund Medical Properties Trust (MPT).

In July, Priory signed yet another sale and leaseback deal with MPT, this time for five sites, raising nearly 44million.

When contacted by The Mail on Sunday, Dr Andre Schmidt, head of German healthcare outfit Median Group, which owns Priory, said the firm was 'very well financed and has comfortable levels of rent cover to meet its lease payments, having been in partnership with its property owners for over ten years'.

He added: 'We are in a robust financial position, and remain focused on ensuring our services provide the highest quality of care.'
Taxpayers could have to fork out 4billion to power station owner Drax under new clean energy funding plans even though campaigners dispute its green credentials.

The FTSE 250 firm, which previously ran the UK's largest coal-fired power plant, now produces electricity by burning wood pellets, known as biomass, and receives a controversial Government subsidy that runs until 2027.

Drax is now lobbying for an extension that could lead to households footing a total bill of 4.1billion by the end of 2035  according to analysis shared with The Mail on Sunday by energy think tank Ember.

It estimates taxpayers could pay at least 425 million to the firm annually, equivalent to 15.28 a year slapped on home energy bills.

The Government has been giving companies, including Drax, money through its biomass strategy as the UK aims to turn from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. Drax received 617 million in Government support last year alone for its biomass units.

Environmentally friendly?: Drax now produces electricity by burning wood pellets, known as biomass, and receives a controversial Government subsidy

But campaigners have long questioned its claim that burning wood creates 'renewable' energy.

The Government considers the practice to be green despite carbon dioxide absorbed by trees being released back into the atmosphere during the burning process.

Also, most of the pellets burned by Drax at its flagship power station in Yorkshire are imported from forests in the US and Canada.

'We've already given Drax billions in subsidies, and it's made bills more expensive while probably not helping to stop climate change,' said Phil MacDonald, managing director at Ember.

'Following the enormous increase in gas prices over the last few years, British people simply can't take higher energy bills  we should be investing in clean energy which brings down bills, like wind and solar.'

Matt Williams at the Natural Resources Defence Council said: 'The Government's already wasted billions of bill-payers' cash handing out low-carbon subsidies to British companies that claim to be green for them to burn North America's forests in power stations.'

A Drax spokesman complained of 'factual inaccuracies' and 'misguided assumptions' in the report, saying: 'We operate under the same mechanisms that almost all other UK electricity generators do.'

Ember stood by its analysis, highlighting the fact that it based the projections for Government subsidies on Drax annual reports.

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: 'We do not recognise these theoretical and highly speculative figures.

'Sustainable biomass plays a key role in delivering more secure, clean energy in Britain, generating 11 per cent of the country's total electricity supply last year, supporting our Net Zero target.'
Hargreaves Lansdown is set to be kicked out of the FTSE 100 for the first time in 12 years.

The UK's largest retail investing platform, founded by billionaires Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown, has seen its value tumble by almost a third to 3.3billion this year. This makes it the lowest-value company in the FTSE 100.

It is now in line to be relegated to the FTSE 250 in the upcoming quarterly reshuffle of the indexes.

It is likely to be replaced by private equity firm Intermediate Capital Group, which is worth almost 4.6billion.

The final decision will be calculated by using Hargreaves Lansdown's share price when the stock market closes on Tuesday afternoon.

Taking a tumble: Hargreaves Lansdown has seen its value tumble by almost a third to 3.3billion this year

The Bristol-based company was founded in 1981 and first floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2007.

The news comes months after chair Deanna Oppenheimer announced she would step down after five years in the role following criticism from co-founder Hargreaves.
An Arab-Israeli Bedouin mini-bus driver courageously drove into the line of fire during the Hamas massacre on October 7, saving two dozen Jewish Israeli lives.

Youssef Ziadna, a 47-year-old Bedouin Israeli from Rahat, had dropped off a customer at the Supernova music festival in Southern Israel not long after midnight.

Just a few hours later, he received a frantic call from the same customer, begging Ziadna to come back urgently and save him when Hamas began their attack.

Ziadna didn't think twice. He drove straight into the line of fire - filling his small white van with more than double it's 14-seater's capacity - as he veered off the road to avoid rocket fire and gun shots.

He crammed 30 Jewish Israelis on board - saving them all from what could have been their dreadful fate.

Youssef Ziadna, a 47-year-old Bedouin Israeli from Rahat, courageously drove into the line of fire during the Hamas massacre on October 7 - saving the lives of 30 Jewish Israelis

Terrified festival-goers flee Hamas killers at the Supernova music festival, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in Israel on October 7

A grab from a video posted on Telegram shows a Hamas terrorist taking a hostage during the attack on the music festival

Ziadna lost a cousin during the attack and has four family members missing. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he is now receiving threats from Hamas, who are vowing retaliation for helping Jews during their massacre.

'He told me, "You saved 30 Jews' lives. I'm from Gaza but don't worry, we'll get to you,"' Ziadna recounted.

Since experiencing the horror, Ziadna now seeks therapy daily and constantly replays the trauma he endured, which has sent him to the emergency room with chest pains.

'I would never wish on anyone to see what I saw,' Ziadna told the JTA. 'This is trauma for my whole life. When I sit alone and recollect, I can't help the tears.'

Ziadna recalled the horrors he witnessed that day on the Israeli TV station KAN 11: 'Do you know what 3,000 young people running for their lives looks like,' he said. 'They don't know which way to go.'

'I picked up 30 of them. I left my house, knowing that there were gunshots but I still went,' he added. 'I continued to that direction without looking back, and on the way I told myself, I must save the lives of Israeli citizens. And thank God that I am alive. And they are alive.'

Ziadna was driving an Israeli named Hadar and eight of his friends from the town of Omer to the rave at Kibbutz Re'im at 1am and had planned to pick them up the following day at 3pm.

But at 6am, he received a call for help from Hadar. He initially believed the call was due to a code red from incoming rockets, without knowing the full extent of the massacre.

Ziadna raced to pick up his customer. 'I didn't wash my face, I didn't even get dressed,' Ziadna told JTA. 'This is standard over here in the south.'

But as he was driving, a man who has escaped the party ran toward him in a panic - frantically signaling to Ziadna to turn around.

Ziadna, misunderstanding the situation, exited the vehicle and within seconds they were caught in gunfire.

Now realizing the magnitude of the situation, Ziadna and the others hid in a ditch.

'Bullets were flying everywhere,' Ziadna said. 'I raised my head and the guy told me, 'Why are you doing that? You'll get a bullet in your brain!'

But that did not stop Ziadna - he continued on to the site of the party.

Discarded belongings and rubbish was left lying around the Nova festival area

Tents and festival equipment were abandoned during the attack

Several cars were burnt out and left to rust by Hamas fighters

The site was abandoned by festivalgoers on Saturday morning as Hamas fighters stormed the area

The land around the festival site appears to have been torched by Hamas terrorists

'I stared death in the face,' he said. 'But I knew I couldn't give up on my missions. I will go and rescue them.'

Navigating through gun fire, Ziadna was eventually able to reach his customers at the scene of the party, which was now covered in piles of dead bodies and blood.

'I told them to bring as many as possible,' he said.

Twenty-four people in addition to his original customers crammed their way into the 14-seater vehicle, and on the way, Ziadna stopped for another two - one of whom had been shot in the leg.

Ziadna recalled the sight of a Hamas paraglider hovering above, spraying bullets with a machine gun at onlookers.

Under a barrage of bullets. Ziadna sped away to safety - leading the way for other drivers to follow.

With his knowledge of the area, he was able to cut through dirt roads to avoid the terrorists waiting on the side of the road for escapees.

'I had an option to go back. A weaker man may have done a U-turn at that junction,' Ziadna said to JTA. 'But I said no way, I will throw myself at death if it means I can save lives.'

The injured passengers cried out in terror and anguish, he recalled, as they cried and called their families.

The van eventually arrived at a roadblock where police said they would not make it to the hospital as the streets were overrun with terrorists.

Instead, the officer directed them to a nearby kibbutz where they were cared for until the end of the day.

'They gave us everything we needed, food, chargers and even cigarettes,' he said, referring to the kibbutz where at least 400 took refuge.

Ziadna finally arrived back in Rahat, his home, where the majority do not have access to bomb shelters.

'When I think about it, I ask how did we get out of there,' Ziadna told the JTA 10 days after the massacre. 'I guess it's fate that we're meant to live longer in this world.'

A Bedouin farm worker weeps after he was attacked while driving to work by Hamas terrorists. His wife and baby were in the car with him. His wife was killed in the attack, but their baby survived

Some 75,000 Bedouins live in Rahat which has only 10 public bomb shelters. Its mayor, Ata Abu-Madighem, has highlighted this for years and has filed a request for 60 mobile shelters since the attack.

Seven people from Rahat were wounded, including a second-grader who was shot in the chest and five are reported missing, including four from Ziadna's family, the mayor said.

At least 21 members of the Bedouin community were killed in the Hamas slaughtering on October 7, and six have been kidnapped, according to the Times of Israel.

The Bedouins are a small community of nomads, who live in Israel's Negev Desert, and are part of Israel's Arab Palestinian minority.

Ziadna met with Israel's President, Isaac Herzog after his story got out.

He told the President how his family's strong ties to the many Kibbutzim in the Negev.

Herzog said, 'I was excited to meet in Rahat an Israeli hero, Yussuf Al-Ziadana, who with unusual courage and determination saved the lives of least thirty young people that black Saturday from the festival in Re'im, including those who were wounded.'

Ziadna replied, 'I am an Israeli citizen and I knew that I had to go and save them'.

He said the government should look after Bedouins 'because we're also part of this nation,' according to the New York Times.

'We are one people  we are Israelis. We live here together and we need to go hand in hand,' he added.

Bedouins have long suffered at the hands of Hamas - with many killed by rocket fire prior to the attack, as their communities lack bomb shelters that are present in other Israeli neighborhoods.

'We don't have an international voice representing us when it comes to our hostages,' Rahat Mayor Ata Abu Madighem told The Times of Israel. 'Our voice is the State of Israel.'

Rahat psychologist and social activist Jamal Alkirnawi told The Times of Israel that the silence is partly due to cultural features, in particular the 'suspicion of outsiders' and 'privacy in matters of personal sorrow and mourning.'

'We are a traumatized community. We have lost so many good people. Many from Rahat were working in the kibbutzim along the Gaza Strip. The Western Negev is a small region.'

'We are all brothers here, Jews, Arabs, and Christians. We are all human beings. And we have all been struck by this evil. It killed the humanity in all of us,' Alkirnawi continued.

Ziadna hopes his heroic story will lead to further support and appreciation for the Bedouin community.

'After this, the government needs to do a better job of looking after us because we're also part of this nation,' he said to JTA. 'We are one people  we are Israelis. We live here together and we need to go hand in hand.

One woman he saved, credited his bravery on social media.

Ziadna is 'a larger-than-life man to whom we will forever be indebted,' Amit Hadar wrote. 'When, with God's help, we reach better days, save the number for the next time you need a ride  if anyone deserves it, this person does.

His story showcases one of the courageous feats of rescue from selfless heroes emerging since the brutal massacre which thousands of Israelis were killed, wounded or taken captive.

Another Muslim hero of Israel who was recently celebrated on social media is Ashraf, a Bedouin IDF commander who fought against Hamas terrorists who tried to capture his base - saving their lives.
Mormon families who tried to expose cases of sexual abuse within their communities have alleged they were 'silenced' and threatened with disciplinary action by church leaders, DailyMail.com can reveal.

In one instance, two Idaho members claim they were warned they could be punished after the pair alerted others in their congregation to the fact that their former bishop faced child sex abuse charges dating back 10 years.

In another case in Minnesota, a church member and social worker claims he was stripped of his positions within the church after he spoke out about a registered sex offender who had been placed in a leadership position.

On both occasions, the dissidents felt compelled to raise the alarm after church leaders allegedly kept the abuse under wraps.

It comes after DailyMail.com revealed that victims have accused Mormon leaders of hiding an 'epidemic' of sexual abuse that rivals scandals within the Catholic church.

Kolby Reddish, 35, (right, with wife Cami) has slammed the Mormon church after it allegedly failed to inform his congregation that their bishop had confessed to child sex abuse

Social worker Michael Benjamin, 48, claims he was stripped of his positions within the church after he spoke out about a registered sex offender who had been handed a senior role

Around a dozen victims have taken the brave decision to tell their stories of abuse within the church, exposing decades of alleged cover-ups.

Meanwhile, the Utah-based religion faces a bombshell lawsuit in which it is alleged to 'maintain a pattern and practice' of 'concealing' sexual abuse from the police in a bid to avoid costly legal action and protect its reputation.

Today, DailyMail.com can reveal police records suggest church leaders failed to report a bishop who had confessed to sexually abusing a minor.

The church allegedly allowed him to remain an 'active member of the church' months after they had been made aware of the allegations against him, the records show.

Members of the congregation - known as a ward - in Nampa, Idaho, who tried to speak out about the case claim they were threatened with disciplinary action.

Kolby Reddish, 35, told DailyMail.com that the church's silence was motivated by its desire to protect its reputation 'at all costs'.

The bishop in question, Dylan Whiting, served the ward from December 2019 until January 2021, when he was removed from his post without explanation.

A Nampa Police Department report, obtained by DailyMail.com, dated February 1, 2021, suggests the church was made aware of the allegations when Whiting 'confessed' to his stake president - who oversees multiple wards - on January 10, 2021, four days before police were informed by the victims' grandfather on January 14.

The document adds that the church did not report the matter to the police.

Whiting was charged with two counts of lewd conduct with a child and two counts of child sexual abuse on April 12, 2021.

But a second police report details a call on April 19 from a member of the community concerned that Whiting was still 'an active member of the church' and 'is still around children'.

The report said the caller 'feels the church leaders are not taking this seriously and 'sweeping it under the rug', so the RP [reporting person] fears for all the children at the church'.

It is unclear what contact the church had with the police during this time.

Dylan Whiting was removed from his position as a Mormon bishop in Nampa, Idaho, after he confessed child sex abuse to senior leaders. But records suggest the church did not report the matter to police

READ MORE: Mormon leaders accused of 'covering up' an 'epidemic' of sexual abuse that rivals scandals in Catholic church Katie Medley, 35, has blasted the Mormon church for failing to take action against a doctor and ecclesiastical leader who allegedly sexually abused her and around 200 other women Advertisement

Whiting was sentenced in January 2022 to three years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of child sexual abuse of a minor.

The other three counts that Whiting was charged with were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.

Yet Reddish claims it took church leaders until April 2022 to properly address Whiting's offenses in an email to members that shared details of his conviction but only 'with permission from the Whiting family'.

When he and friend Brian Tooley tried to alert fellow ward members of the charges against Whiting via email in August 2021, both were shocked to be threatened with disciplinary action by local leaders for using the church's contact database to send the emails.

Reddish, who is an attorney, said he found out about the charges shortly after they had been filed when a friend alerted him to them.

Shocked that he and other members of the ward had not been informed, Reddish sought out stake president - who is charge of multiple wards - to grill him on the church's inaction.

Reddish claims the stake president told him he had been informed by church lawyers that he could not tell police or other church members due to the confidential nature of the confession.

Reddish, a father-of-four, countered that there was nothing confidential about the charges against Whiting.

There is also nothing in Idaho state law that prevents clergy from reporting child sexual abuse to the police.

Idaho and more than 20 other states require clergy to report child sex abuse and neglect, but there is an exemption for information gleaned during spiritual confessions.

But even then, clergy can choose to report the abuse should they wish to.

This echoes a similar case in Arizona, in which a Mormon bishop said he did not report a member of his ward who had confessed to abusing his daughter because church lawyers had told him the state's laws prevented him from doing so.

The abuse continued for seven more years until the abuser was caught.

'The church always says that they care most about the victims,' Reddish said. 'But the truth is, it doesn't. That's disgusting to me.

'They [the church] say they are the gold standard for youth protection. It's just a lie. But members believe it, they trust it and they make decisions based on that.

'That's the big problem.'

Church leaders said in an April 2022 email to Idaho stake members addressing the Whiting case that 'the church condemns abuse in all its forms' and 'those who commit abuse are subject to church discipline and should be held accountable before the law'.

It added: 'The church endeavors to provide support and love to victims.'

The Mormon church has been embroiled in several high-profile cases in which it has been accused of covering up sexual abuse over the years

READ MORE: Could Mormon Church be worth $1TRILLION in 20 years? The Mormon Church has amassed a vast reserve of ready cash that it can call upon in the event of a period of upheaval or economic instability Advertisement

Meanwhile, lifelong church member Michael Benjamin claims he was 'silenced' when he spoke out about a registered sex offender who had been placed in a leadership position.

The social worker, 48, said he was stripped of his positions within the church and barred from accessing his membership account after he questioned why a man who had a history of sexually assaulting children had been appointed to a senior role.

The pedophile, Michael Adam Davis, was a registered sex offender in Utah, but was later appointed to a senior role in a church in Minnesota.

He went on to reoffend while in that role and was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy whose family were members of the church.

Benjamin was dumbfounded that the church either failed to perform or ignored background checks on Davis.

The Mormon church has a policy of annotating a person's membership record when they are convicted of a crime, but background checks are not mandatory.

Benjamin said this means church leaders in Utah either failed to annotate Davis' record, or those in Minnesota failed to check, or ignored the mark.

'It breaks my heart that one simple check would have saved this kid from abuse that has probably affected him for the rest of his life,' he told DailyMail.com.

'I started speaking out because there is a systemic problem within the church,' he added. 'It is not doing background checks on its leaders, and so these offenders are not getting caught. Then leaders are covering it up once it comes out.'

Benjamin filed a civil complaint last year claiming the church suspended his membership account for allegedly violating the 'terms of use' when he sent an email to other members of his congregation about the case.

The social worker told DailyMail.com that he believed the suspension was in part motivated by the church's desire to stop him spreading dissent.

But his complaint was filed on the grounds that his membership account was his intellectual property.

In response, the church said Benjamin's account had been suspended by Salt Lake City headquarters because he had been spreading 'inaccurate or incomplete information'.

An agreement was reached in which the account was restored and the case dismissed.

Davis, 38, was convicted of two counts of attempted forcible sexual abuse in Davis County, Utah, in 2006.

He was listed as a registered sex offender in Utah as a result.

Despite this, he was later appointed as Elders Quorum President - a respected position in local congregations - in Kasson, Minnesota.

Other members of the church community were completely unaware of his past.

Michael Adam Davis was given a senior position within a Mormon church in Minnesota, despite being a register sex offender in Utah. He would later be sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of abusing a boy whom he knew from the Minnesota church

In May 2022, Davis was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of one count of criminal sexual conduct - a first-degree felony - and two counts of second-degree felony criminal sexual conduct, and one count of indecent exposure.

His actions only came to light after a sheriff stopped Davis in his car because a boy in the passenger seat was not wearing a seatbelt.

The deputy ran his license and found he was a lifetime registered sex offender in Utah.

The boy would later admit Davis repeatedly sexually assaulted him and tried to rape him, with court documents stating the pair knew each other from church.

Charges filed against Davis accused him of abusing his 'position of authority'.

The Mormon church has not responded to a request for comment on the claims it 'silenced' and threatened members who spoke out about abuse.

But its 2010 handbook for church leaders says 'the first responsibility of the church in abuse cases is to help those who have been abused and protect those who may be vulnerable to future abuse'.

It adds: 'Abuse cannot be tolerated in any form.'
A widow whose husband killed himself after cars crashed into their home twice is living in fear after the council refused to install safety bollards.

Anyssa Neumann, 39, lies awake at night inside her Grade II-listed home in Bromley, south east London, terrified she will be killed by another car smashing through her wall.

The 500,000 property has been the scene of two serious crashes - in January 2019 and December 2021.

The pianist's husband, Alastair Putt, took his own life aged 39, just nine months after the second collision.

Ms Neumann said the stress of the crashes and costly damage contributed to Alastair's fragile mental state.

Bromley Council has so far refused to install any bollards, saying they would do nothing to prevent a crash.

Anyssa Neumann, 39, outside her Grade II-listed home in Bromley, south east London, where cars have crashed into the house on two occasions

Anyssa with her late husband Alastair Putt who took his own life aged 39 - nine months after the second crash. The widow believes it played a part in triggering his mental health problems

The house was crashed into twice in the space of three years and now Ms Neumann lies awake at night thinking she will be killed by another car

Instead the authority wants to improve the layout of the junction outside her home in High Street Penge.

The first crash left the couple unable to live in the 1840s property for two months.

But the second - which was more serious - left them homeless for 17 months and forced to stay with family and rent another property.

The second crash was the result of a crazed driver in a stolen car, who has never been tracked down by police.

The impact caused serious structural damage - totally collapsing a wall.

Ms Neumann wrote to the council straight after the first collision, urging them to install bollards outside the home.

She told MailOnline: 'I warned them after the first crash that this would happen again and it did.

'I fear for my life living here. It is only a matter of time before another crashes into the house and it could kill me or pedestrians.

'All I have asked for is bollards to be installed outside the house to keep me safe. The house has been here a very, very long time - longer than the roads and everything around it. It wasn't built for 21st century traffic, which thousands of cars to be driving around it.

'But Bromley Borough Council have fobbed me off from start to finish. I am living in fear of my life here. I'm terrified and extremely vulnerable.

The second crash was so serious part of the 1840s house had to be demolished and the couple were left homeless 17 months

The severity and disruption of the second crash played a major part in triggering a rapid deterioration in Mr Putt's mental health

The impact of the crash caused serious structural damage to the 500,000 home

Scaffolding surrounds the home as repair works are carried out following one of the crashes

Ms Neumann says she can't wash the dishes at night or go into her kitchen for long because she fears another crash will take place

'Nothing is being done. It's a complete disgrace. It feels like a total waste of time engaging with them.'

The severity and disruption of the second crash played a major part in triggering a rapid deterioration in Mr Putt's mental health.

A successful and respected composer, Mr Putt's compositions had been played at the BBC Proms.

But after he tragically passed away, Ms Neumann discovered he had invested and lost 80,000 for their mortgage.

A sum that has thankfully been restored by online donations from loved ones.

Ms Neumann believes the trauma of the crashes and the couple's financial stress played a role in his death.

She said: 'It has caused an immense amount of stress, worry and anxiety.

'I firmly believe it contributed to Alastair's state of mind.

'I still lay awake at night fearful of another crash. I can't wash the dishes at night or go into my kitchen for long because I fear another crash will happen.

'The speeding cars at night is even worse. It's out of control.

'I have no peace of mind. All I am asking for is bollards outside for protection.

'I have been told it is the responsibility of various departments and offices and have got nowhere.

The carnage in the kitchen of the home which was left almost completely destroyed. The second crash was the result of a driver in a stolen car, who has never been tracked down

Bromley Council has refused to install any bollards outside the home saying it would not prevent another crash

Ms Neumann stands at the junction outside her home in High Street Penge which the council is looking to improve the layout of

'It will happen again and I fear next time I will not be alive afterwards to say I warned them. But I did.'

The house has seen other serious and fatal crashes nearby.

In 2016, a 10-year-old boy was killed when a police officer in pursuit of another car mounted the curb and hit him.

In 2019, an eight-month-old boy and his mother died after being struck by a car near the junction.

Ms Neumann added: 'I am running out of patience.

'Despite everything, I love the house, it is beautiful.

'I do not want to leave - I just want some bollards for protection.

'The value of the house is not what it should be because of refusal to do everything.

'The junction also needs action. It is extremely serious.'

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: 'We were very sorry to hear of Mr Neumann's tragic death. We have had a site meeting with local councillors to discuss what we might do.

'Unfortunately, bollards would not prevent a similar incident.

We have provisional funding TfL to improve the layout at junction of Maple Road and Penge High Street and we hope to start work in the near future'.

For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
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Smokers are paying a pound per cigarette in the country's priciest off licences - and that's before the Government's new levy comes into play.

It means that it is now nearly 100 cheaper to fly to Slovakia and back just so you can pick up a pack of 200 in Duty Free.

Jeremy Hunt's autumn budget will see the tobacco duty rocket by an additional 10 per cent - with shopkeepers warning this will bring the price of several brands above an eye-watering 20.

While the charges have applied since 6pm on November 22, shopkeepers are not expecting the cost to be passed on to customers until the end of the month.

At Portlands, a 24 hour newsagents on the plush Kensington High Street, London, the store is already selling packs of Dunhill Red for more than 20.

At Portlands, a 24 hour newsagents on the plush Kensington High Street, London, the store is already selling packs of Dunhill Red for more than 20

In nearby food and wine emporium Crispins, a pack of Vogue Blue will cost smokers 19.99

But Tebe Tabasse - who is behind the counter - says that this time next week they will be selling them for a stunning 21.49

The store, which is close to Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall, is charging 20.19 for a pack of cigarettes.

In nearby food and wine emporium Crispins, a pack of Vogue Blue will cost smokers 19.99.

But Tebe Tabasse - who is behind the counter - says that this time next week they will be selling them for a stunning 21.49.

A pack of Marlboro Gold - which was previously 18.40 - will now rise to 19.49.

This means each cigarette in the pack of 20 will be worth 1.07.

The 35-year-old said: 'It's going to be hard. It's too much. They don't want people to smoke but other people they will suffer.

'Because tobacco is expensive - people are not going to stop. They're just going to use another, different thing.'

It means that you can save 100 if you fly abroad and back just so you can pick up cigarettes.

You can save 100 if you fly abroad to Slovakia and back just so you can pick up cigarettes

You can carry as many as 200 fags back into the UK without paying duty or tax - a number that would cost you 201.90 on Kensington High Street

You can carry as many as 200 fags back into the UK without paying duty or tax - a number that would cost you 201.90 on Kensington High Street.

But at London Luton Airport punters can pick up a pack of 200 Marlboro Gold for 61.

This means that you could you could get a flight to Poprad, in Slovakia, and back in one day for 40 and have made a saving of 100.90.

Matthew Crawford quit smoking two years ago for medical reasons - saying: 'It nearly killed me'. He has now resorted to using a vape instead.

But the 56-year-old says new taxes will hit people who are less well off worst - because they will continue to buy them no matter the price.

He said: 'If you buy cigarettes, like me, I did for 20-odd, 30 years, doesn't matter how much they are.

'I smoked just over a packet a day - if it was 20 it was 20. If it was 30 I'd still buy it.

'It's not going to stop people. Price has nothing to do with it. It nearly killed me.

Matthew Crawford (pictured)quit smoking two years ago for medical reasons - saying: 'It nearly killed me'. But the 56-year-old says new taxes will hit people who are less well off worst - because they will continue to buy them no matter the price

Builder David Madden, 36, (pictured) says the new price point won't stop him, even though it has gone up by 18 a pack since he started smoking

'People around here couldn't care less if it's 20, 30, 50 - south of the river and then maybe.'

Another pedestrian, Brian Holmes, 28, said family bring him cigarettes across from Ireland.

He said: 'I'm lucky - I have family visiting from Dublin every couple of weeks so I just get them to get them in the airport Duty Free.

'I've paid up to 23 for 20 cigarettes - I don't understand how they'd be so expensive.'

Builder David Madden, 36, says the new price point won't stop him, even though it has gone up by 18 a pack since he started smoking.

He said: 'It makes me want to quit but do I quit? No!

'Unless you get them from abroad it is what it is. I wouldn't get a flight to get a pack of cigarettes - that sounds like a right ball-ache.

'It's not going to stop me - it was 1.98 a pack when I started.'

But shop worker Zack Nasro slammed the rising costs as 'ridiculous' - saying he and his friends bring as many cigarettes as possible back with them when they go home to Italy and Morocco.

Shop worker Zack Nasro (whose hand is pictured) slammed the rising costs as 'ridiculous' - saying he and his friends bring as many cigarettes as possible back with them when they go home to Italy and Morocco

The 27-year-old said: 'That's crazy. Compared to every other country it's ridiculous.

'Everyone smokes in this country, considering the weather, the stress, the work, busy lives.

'But for me bringing it to that level of cost just doesn't make sense when you can get it from Italy and Spain for 3.50, 4 a packet.

'Every two months - I am from Italy so I go back to Italy or Morocco - so I just get two sleeves with me.

'I am with my partner or my friends so we just get two boxes each and I smoke them. When I finish I go back and I take again.

'Because It's just expensive here. You can't afford it. If I spent 20 every day that's going to be 600, 700 a month which is just ridiculous. I can't spend that much money.

Mahmoud Saleeh, 41, now gets his friends to bring cigarettes when they visit him from abroad - something he has only started to do since prices sky-rocketed.

He said: 'I have friends who are coming from abroad all the time so they bring me cheaper cigarettes.

'The prices are crazy - a pack of 20 in Egypt cost about 70p. Dubai is the same. Jordan is the same. Everywhere else in the world - but in the UK it's really high.

'I'm trying to switch to heated tobacco. It's cheaper - this is 5 per pack which is like 25p per cigarette.'

But the 41-year-old says he has sympathy with the Government's plan to hike prices.

He continued: 'It is ridiculous but at the same time I have children, and I want the price of the cigarette to be really high so they can't afford it to smoke when they become adults.

'20 years ago it was really cheap and anyone could afford to buy a cigarette so everyone was smoking.

'Now they are really addicted to it. I tried to quit several times but I couldn't.'
Reeva Steenkamp's father asked Oscar Pistorius to swear on his family's life that he did not deliberately murder his daughter but he was unable to answer, MailOnline has learnt.

Pistorius, 37, who was granted his freedom yesterday after serving more than half of his 13-year sentence, was confronted by Mr Steenkamp who begged him to come clean during a private meeting that took place in June last year.

The heartbroken father of the slain South African model died in his sleep in September this year. Mr Steenkamp had been in poor health ever since suffering a stroke shortly after Reevas murder. He had never forgiven his daughter's killer.

Full details of his conversation with Pistorius have remained private at Mr Steenkamp's request until now.

The professional sprinter had agreed to meet the Steenkamps in prison, as part of South Africa's victim-offender dialogue programme. The killer had to convince Mr Steenkamp he acknowledged the harm he had caused.

Pistorius was flown from Pretoria to a detention centre close to their Port Elizabeth home. Reeva's mother decided she did not feel able to meet him due to the mental torture she felt he had inflicted on her and the anger she still carried. But her husband wanted to finally get to the truth.

Reeva Steenkamp's father Barry (pictured) went to his grave convinced that Oscar Pistorius was guilty of shooting his daughter dead on purpose

Pistorius, 37, (pictured in 2014) who was granted his freedom yesterday after serving more than half of his 13-year sentence, was confronted by Mr Steenkamp who begged him to come clean

Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, is consoled by his wife June Steenkamp during the sentencing hearing of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on October 15, 2014

Mr Steenkamp who longed for ten years to hear Pistorius at last reveal he had murder on his mind when he opened fire on Reeva (pictured), said his silence at that pivotal moment spoke volumes about his guilt

Since the murder of Reeva, Pistorius had been strongly backed by his tight-knit family, particularly his brother Carl and London-based sister Aimee, who have all supported his claims that he shot Reeva by accident in the belief that an intruder had entered his home while the couple slept.

Mr Steenkamp, who was 80, strongly believed the shooting was calculated because his daughter wanted to end the relationship, but he listened intently to Pistorius's pleas of innocence as the Blade Runner broke down and wept.

But Mr Steenkamp revealed: 'I spoke to him and I told him he was lying.

'I looked directly at him, but he could not look me in the eye.

'I said 'you have got a brother and a sister. On their lifeare you telling me the truth'?

Pistorious was unable to answer, Mr Steenkamp said: 'He just put his head down ...and I left.'

Mr Steenkamp who longed for ten years to hear Pistorius at last reveal he had murder on his mind when he opened fire on Reeva, said his silence at that pivotal moment spoke volumes about his guilt.

'If he had admitted it, he would have felt different as well. That part of her would have gone. He will have to live with his evil secret.'

He said he never once felt like punching the man who took the life of his only daughter.

'It would not have been worth it. I would have rather got into the ring with Tyson FuryI would have felt better.'

Mr Steenkamp, who was in poor health and had suffered a stroke, told Mail Online that the moment of the shooting as described by Pistorius was 'utter rubbish.'

He said: 'I believe that there was something prior to that. There must have been one hell of an argument.

Pistorius (right) will have served nearly 11 years for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp (left). Then couple pictured at an awards ceremony in 2012

Oscar Pistorius (pictured 2016) will swap his tiny cell for the luxury of a multi-million pound three-storey mansion in Pretoria's plushest suburb where he is set to study to become a preacher

'Her clothes were thrown out of the window and found outside. She was trying to leave, but she couldn't jump out of the window.'

READ MORE - Why did Oscar Pistorius lose his legs? A look at the birth defect that changed former Paralympian's life as he is granted parole 10 years after shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Advertisement

He and Mrs Steenkamp said the height of the balcony to the ground at Pistorius' Pretoria home prevented Reeva from escaping and 'she would have been left in a wheelchair.'

Mrs Steenkamp added: 'Reeva must have thought 'can I do that?', but at least if she had, she would have been alive.'

Mrs Steenkamp said despite being a free man, Pistorius would be haunted by Reeva for the rest of his life.

She added: 'He will see her face whenever he closes his eyes. Apparently, he hardly sleeps without medication because he obviously sees her face and that is going to be there forever.'

Mrs Steenkamp said one of her daughter's two cell phones was still missing and both were with her on the night of her slaughter. Her handbag had also still not been recovered.

'There is a whole lot more to the story' she added.

In her impact statement to Pistorius' parole hearing, she said she believed the athlete had taken not only the life of her daughter, but her husband as well.

'I have no doubt that Barry died of a broken heart. No parent should have to bury a child and most certainly not in the circumstances that prevailed in the demise of Reeva.

Mrs Steenkamp (pictured) said despite being a free man, Pistorius would be haunted by Reeva for the rest of his life

She added: 'He will see her face whenever he closes his eyes. Apparently, he hardly sleeps without medication because he obviously sees her face and that is going to be there forever'

Parents of the late Reeva Steenkamp, June, left, and Barry right, Steenkamp, right attend court on the third day of mitigation of sentencing for Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2014

'Following Reeva's death, Barry and I, both devastated, tried with whatever emotional reserves that remained to take care and support one another.

'My dear Barry left this world utterly devastated by the thought that he had failed to protect his daughter and therefore in his role as father, as he perceived it.

'The pain caused by the dastardly murder of Reeva, did not only include emotional trauma. It also included trauma that manifested physically as became evident in the accelerated deterioration in health for both Barry and myself.'

A United Nations backed campaign against gender based violence, backed by Mrs Steenkamp, begins today and the Pistorius murder of Reeva is expected to be heavily used to back the 16 day project in South Africa by protesters.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign which begins today to mark The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and it will continue until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
UFC star Conor McGregor has been condemned over inflammatory posts on social media criticising immigration and warning of 'grave danger in Ireland' after serious riots broke out in Dublin in the early hours of Friday morning.

Hundreds of thugs attacked police, set vehicles on fire and looted shops amid outrage over a knife attack which left a young girl and her caretaker fighting for their lives in hospital. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the rioters have 'brought shame' on Ireland.

Today the country's prime minister condemned 'shameful and disgraceful' rioters in the wake of overnight violence sparked by the attack in which three children and a woman were stabbed.

Police said the unrest was fuelled by a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology', after rumours about the attacker's nationality spread online. It has since been reported by the Irish Times that the attacker had lived in Ireland for some 20 years.

But Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor waded into the row, blasting the response from the police and the authorities on X (formerly Twitter) and saying Ireland is 'at war'.

But Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor waded into the row, criticising the response from the police and the authorities on X (formerly Twitter)

Gardai made a number of arrests in the city centre on Friday night as part of a large police operation

Dublin was on a knife-edge today as the country's prime minister condemned 'shameful and disgraceful' rioters in the wake of overnight violence sparked by an attack in which three children and a woman were attacked by a knifeman

In a flurry of posts before the riots (pictured), the 35-year-old attacked 'people who should not even be in Ireland in the first place' and criticised the response by the police and authorities

In a flurry of posts, the 35-year-old attacked 'people who should not even be in Ireland in the first place' and criticised the response by the police and authorities.

'There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact.

'Everything - from our lax border with gravy train benefits, to our pitiful mental health services, to our country in flames - is ON YOUR WATCH!' he wrote.

He continued: 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Make change or make way.'

Horrified fans rushed to condemn the sportsman's comments, describing them as 'bizarre' and 'anti-immigrant bulls**t'.

After the riots, McGregor posted again on Friday night and described the scenes as 'despicable' and those responsible as 'wasters'.

But he added: 'When it passes, the spotlight shines again firmly on the many (all) failed policies of this Irish government. We are awaiting action. The families of those grieving are waiting. We will not forget.'

Dublin was on a knife-edge on Friday as shops closed amid staff's safety fears as police turned out in force to deter another night of rioting.

On Friday a visible and heavy police presence was seen in the city centre amidst fears a second night of rioting could follow.

Gardai made a number of arrests on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre as it was announced that legislation allowing Garda officers to use body-cams would be fast-tracked.

Police are mounting a significant security operation in the area and a number of people were taken away in police vans following sporadic altercations.

In a post on X, the Garda said: 'Dublin City Centre is open for normal business. We have an enhanced policing plan in place this evening and look forward to seeing shoppers, match goers and all those that will be socialising in the city over the weekend ahead.'

Signs on nearby shops and restaurants declared they would remain shut due to concerns for staff's safety.

Ministers met on Friday evening to discuss the response to violence which flared in Dublin city centre on Thursday evening.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee told the meeting that Garda are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests are certain.

She also briefed that the Recordings Devices Bill will be fast-tracked and enacted in the near future, allowing body-worn cameras to come into use for gardai.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told ministers he had spoken with the principal of the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire school, outside which three children and a woman were stabbed on Thursday, as well the manager of the Children's Place Nursery and Montessori and representatives of the Dublin business community.

But Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor waded into the row, blasting the response from the police and the authorities on X (formerly Twitter).

In a flurry of posts, the 35-year-old attacked 'people who should not even be in Ireland in the first place' and criticised the response by the police and authorities.

'Everything - from our lax border with gravy train benefits, to our pitiful mental health services, to our country in flames - is ON YOUR WATCH!' he wrote.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said she has 'no confidence' in Irish justice minister Helen McEntee and the commissioner of Ireland's police service.

Ms McDonald said there had been 'an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing' and that a problem leading to the riots had been 'building for months'.

Ireland has been facing a chronic housing crisis, with the government estimating that there is a deficit of hundreds of thousands of homes for the general population.

Widespread dissatisfaction has fed into a backlash against asylum seekers and refugees, and far-right figures have promoted anti-immigration sentiment at rallies and on social media with claims that 'Ireland is full'.

Around 500 thugs fought running battles with riot cops, looted shops and torched a double-decker bus in anger over Thursday's attack.

A poster on a cafe in Kildare Street, Dublin, telling customers it would be remaining closed out of fears of violence

Justice Minister Helen McEntee told a meeting that Garda are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests are certain

Police officers patrol the city for a second night to counter violence and unrest sparked by the school stabbings

Officers took away a number of people in police vans after sporadic clashes

Hundreds of garda have been deployed in Dublin overnight on Friday

Members of the Garda Public Order Unit detain a man on Friday night

Police said the unrest was fuelled by a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology', after rumours about the attackers nationality spread online. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (pictured today in Dublin) said the rioters have 'brought shame' on Ireland.

In an update this morning, police said 34 people had been arrested over their suspected involvement in the violence which, officials said, was driven by a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology'.

Around 60 Gardai were assaulted in the chaotic riots, while three officers suffered serious injuries, officials said. Ireland's Justice Minister said anyone found guilty of attacking officers faces up to 12 years in prison under 'very strong legislation'.

Meanwhile, a man described only as being in his fifties is suspected over the initial attack, which was carried out at 1.30pm outside a school on Dublin's Parnell Square East, in the north-centre of the city. He was hospitalised.

One of the children - a five-year-old girl, and the woman - said to be a teacher or care assistant, are both in a critical condition, Varadkar said.

He slammed those involved in the riots, saying they 'brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves'.

'To all those cowardly champions of Ireland who took to the streets of Dublin last night, let me say one thing - ask your sisters, ask your friends, ask everyone you know what they fear most on our streets,' he said in an emotional speech.

'They're afraid of you, afraid of your anger and your rage, afraid of your violence, your hate and how you blame others for your problems. As a government, we will be relentless in protecting our citizens and defending our people.

'The Gardai will be on the streets in large numbers and will do whatever it takes to fight back waves of ignorance and criminality.'

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told reporters this morning that no arrest has been made over the knife attack but a suspect has been identified. He added it was 'disgraceful' that Garda inquiries were disrupted by the riots in Dublin.

A clean-up operation was underway this morning after battles broke out between rioters and police in Dublin last night following an knife attack on young children

Workers clean up debris of a burnt train and vehicles. A double-decker bus was also set alight

Workers inspect a vandalised Luas tram with smashed windows on O'Connell Street in Dublin

The riots came last night after three children were injured in a knife attack outside a school

Around 100 masked thugs fought running battles with riot cops, looted shops and set fire to vehicles in anger over the attack where a woman in her 30s was also injured

People were told to work from home today as clean up continues in the city cenre

Mr Varadkar said his government would take immediate steps to tighten anti-hate legislation he said was unfit for the social media age.

'As a country we need to reclaim Ireland. We need to take it away from the cowerers who hide behind masks and try to terrify us with their violence,' He said.

'We need to reclaim Ireland from the unscrupulous who prey on the fears of those easily led into darkness. And we need to reclaim Ireland from the criminals who seek any excuse to unleash horror on our streets,' he said in an emotional statement.

Police chief Drew Harris blamed the riots on a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-Right ideology' and warned against the spread of 'misinformation'.

This morning, he defended the police's response, saying 'Garda responded to this entirely in an extraordinary fashion' during a press conference.

'Public order units from all over Ireland responded here to Dublin. More and more resources were arriving throughout the evening,' he said.

'But we could not have anticipated that in response to a terrible crime, the stabbing of school children and their teacher, that this would be the response.

'In effect, those filled with hate  and the hate directed to the members of Garda Siochana  that they would attempt to storm through our cordon and disrupt a crime scene, and then engage in violence, looting and disorder, including very significant criminal damage.

'Nobody could have anticipated that, when these events started at 1.30am  these awful events  and obviously we were concentrated on the investigation. We couldn't have anticipated that this would be the reaction,' he added.

Meanwhile, pictures from Dublin this morning showed the city's best-known thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, dominated by the charred remains of burnt-out vehicles.

These were removed, as well as debris on the streets and shattered glass, following attacks on some shops and looting.

The chaos in Ireland's capital began at around 1.30pm on Thursday, when a man attacked a group of young children outside the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire which sits on Parnell Square.

Witnesses said three children 'fell to the ground' one after the other and that a woman, believed to be a teacher or care assistant, was also attacked.

A five-year-old girl, one of three that were attacked, was left seriously injured. Irish police said the girl was receiving emergency medical treatment in a Dublin hospital.

This update from the police prompted at least 100 people to take to the streets, some armed with metal bars and their faces covered.

Others carried signs reading 'Irish Lives Matter' and waved Irish flags through a neighbourhood home to a large immigrant community.

One protester told AFP that 'Irish people are being attacked by these scum'.

Police said over 400 officers including many in riot gear, were deployed in Dublin city centre to contain the unrest.

A police cordon was also set up around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, and officers from the Mounted Support Unit were in nearby Grafton Street.

A number of police vehicles and a tram were also damaged during the disorder.

Shop windows were routinely smashed and a Foot Locker store was looted. All public transport in the city - trams and buses - was suspended and many firms have urged their staff to work from home on Friday.

By late evening, Police Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin said calm had been restored and no serious injuries were reported. 'It was gratuitous thuggery,' he said.

People walk past the damaged entrance to a Foot Locker shop after it was looted last night

A worker gestures as people stand in front of a Holiday Inn Express that was damaged

Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio stopped the knife attacker by hitting him with his helmet

A bus and car on fire are seen on O'Connell Street after violent scenes unfolded following the attack on Parnell Square East where five people were injured

Protesters sort through looted goods from Foot Locker as the mass on the streets last night

Thugs with masks and their hoods pulled up vandalise a police vehicle before setting it on fire

A bus is seen burning in central Dublin last night amid the riots

A man records a destroyed car and a burning bus in Dublin last night amid the riots

Gardai carrying shields and batons clash with hooded rioters on the streets of Dublin

Police officers stand guard to protect the scene of the stabbing outside a school

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the scenes in the city centre, including attacks on police, 'cannot and will not be tolerated' and promised to take action.

'A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc,' she said, calling for calm.

Thursday's incident, which police initially said was not thought to be terror-related, involved a man armed with a knife stabbing victims outside the school, according to media and witnesses.

Those at the scene described how a man had been disarmed, and Prime Minister Mr Varadkar said a suspect had been arrested.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty later told media that 'a young girl aged five years has sustained serious injuries' and was receiving emergency medical treatment.

A five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl sustained less serious wounds and the boy had since been discharged, he added.

The woman in her 30s - reported by some news outlets to be a creche worker - was being treated for serious injuries in hospital. Reports said she put herself between the knifeman and his innocent targets.

Police said a man in his 50s, who also was seriously injured, is a 'person of interest' in their investigation. No other details about his identity were revealed.

At a press briefing in the evening, Mr Harris was asked about a potential terrorist link, and he didn't rule it out.

'I have never ruled out any possible motive for this attack... all lines of inquiry are open to determine the motive for this attack,' he said.

That appeared to be a slight change in stance from earlier, when Superintendent Liam Geraghty said police were keeping an open mind in terms of the investigation but were 'satisfied there is no terrorist link'.

He said that police believe that it was 'a standalone incident, not necessarily connected to any wider issues that are ongoing in the country or in the city, and we need to identify the exact reasons for that happening'.

Mr Geraghty confirmed earlier witness reports that a knife was used in the attack, but he couldn't provide more details on the nature of the injuries. He also confirmed that witnesses sought to disarm the man as soon as they saw what was going on.

'My understanding is members of the public did intervene at a very, very early stage and we would applaud those members of the public for getting involved in such a traumatic and potentially dangerous situation for themselves,' he said.

Last night, a Deliveroo driver told how he saw the knifeman stabbing innocent children - and so battered him to the ground with his helmet.

Riot police walks next to a burning police vehicle, near the scene of a suspected stabbing that left few children injured in Dublin, Ireland, November 23

Brazil-born Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending the bloodbath.

Last night father-of-two Mr Benicio told of his role in the incident.

In a voice message he sent to his friends, he said: 'I saw the guy pulling the teacher, picking up the child. I stopped to see what was happening, I thought it was a normal fight.'

But then, the attacker pulled a knife.

'Man, I threw the bike on the ground and went after the guy... I didn't even think about it,' he said. 'I took off my helmet and hit the helmet on his head, which knocked the guy down.'

Speaking to The Journal, he added: 'I didn't even make a decision, it was pure instinct, and it was all over in seconds. He fell to the ground, I didn't see where knife went, and other people stepped in.'

He said his thoughts are with the five-year-old girl. 'I am praying,' he said, 'It's all I am thinking of. I saw her in the ambulance, she looked so vulnerable. I had to go with Gardai then. I am waiting for news about her. I am hoping.'

Siobhan Kearney, who witnessed the attack, said the scene was 'absolutely bedlam' as she initially watched events unfold from the other side of the street.

'Without thinking, I just took across the road to help out,' she told Irish national broadcaster RTE.

'We got another young man, disarmed [the attacker] with the knife. Another man took the knife and put it away for the [police] to find it.'

Ms Kearney added a group of people restrained the suspect on the ground as some of those injured were taken back inside the school.

Mr Varadkar said he was shocked by the incident.

'The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that,' he said in a statement.

'Gardai [Ireland's national police] have detained a suspect and are following a definite line of inquiry.'

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was 'shocked' by the 'brutal attack'.

Three children and a woman, as well as the suspected attacker, were all injured in the incident

Police vehicles park near the scene of the stabbing outside a school in Parnell Square East

Local lawmaker Aodhan O Riordain of the Irish Labour Party said the incident was 'disturbing'.

'Hope injuries are not serious but it will [be] extremely traumatising regardless for all involved,' he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Mary Lou McDonald, leader of the Sinn Fein opposition party, said she was 'horrified' by what had happened.

'I want to send my solidarity to the families of those attacked. As a parent, I can only imagine what they are going through right now,' she said.
American model Gigi Hadid posted a photo on Instagram falsely portraying Palestinian terrorist Ahmed Manasra as a 'child prisoner of war,' to her nearly 80 million followers.

On the same day Hamas released 13 hostages, Hadid claimed that Ahmed was 'abducted' and bizarrely accused Israel of 'raping and murdering' innocent people.

In the since-removed post, Hadid shared a photo of Ahmed, who was imprisoned for going on a stabbing rampage in Jerusalem in 2015, where he proudly claimed, 'I came here with my cousin to stab Jews.'

Disturbing footage released by police at the time, shows the then-13-year-old knife-wielding Ahmed and his cousin, Hassan Manasra, 15, chasing after Israelis on the street as the innocent civilians run away.

They critically stabbed a 13-year-old boy on a bicycle, who was leaving a candy shop.

American model Gigi Hadid posted a photo on Instagram falsely portraying Palestinian terrorist Ahmed Manasra as a 'child prisoner of war,' to her nearly 80 million followers on Instagram

In the since-removed post, Hadid shared a photo of Ahmed, who was imprisoned for going on a stabbing rampage in Jerusalem back in 2015, where he proudly claimed, 'I came here with my cousin to stab Jews'

Disturbing footage released by police at the time shows the then-13-year-old knife-wielding Ahmed and his cousin, Hassan Manasra, 15, chasing after Israelis on the street as the innocent civilians run away

Hadid, known for her controversial anti-Israel activism, also falsely claimed that Israel is the only country keeping children as prisoners of war.

She captioned the photo with 'Israel is the only country in the world that keeps CHILDREN AS PRISONERS OF WAR.' She goes on to bizarrely write the words, 'ABDCUTION, RAPE, HUMILIATION, TORTURE, MURDER, OF PALESTINIANS YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS BEFORE Oct 7 2023.'

Security prisoners in Israel have many rights, including family visits, Red Cross visits, access to books and letters. They also have TV, classes and a canteen to buy products, according to the Israeli Knesset Research and Information Center.

Hadid claimed the Ahmed was 'abducted' by the 'Israeli occupation' at 12. Ahmed was 13 at the time, and was not abducted but prosecuted for his crimes of attempted murder.

Ahmad was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. While in prison, he attempted to harm himself and others multiple times.

Hadid's post received immediate backlash and has since been taken down.

The post received criticism for spreading false information and increasing antisemitism. Users condemned her, with one calling her a 'social media terrorist' and another suggesting that the Hadid family move to Gaza.

One wrote: 'She's a social media terrorist and should be punished for spreading false information that increases antisemitism.'

Another commented, 'The entire Hadid family have blood on their hands.'

'Why doesn't the Hadid family move to Gaza? Yalla,' a third user wrote.

Hadid, known for her controversial anti-Israel activism, also falsely claimed that Israel is the only country keeping children as prisoners of war

Ahmad was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. While in prison, he attempted to harm himself and others multiple times - he's pictured here running with Hassan

In stills from the footage from Ahmed and Hassan's rampage the boys can be see running

The post received criticism for spreading false information and increasing antisemitism

Hadid's post comes as the first group of hostages were released from Gaza after 48 days of captivity as part of a truce deal between Israel and Hamas that went into effect this morning - with children and a grandmother thought to have died in captivity among them.

Thirteen Israeli women and children and 11 Thai and Filipino hostages, who were kidnapped and taken into the territory by the terror group in its October 7 attack on Israel, were finally freed today after an agonizing wait.

Israel  wrenched by the abduction of nearly 240 people in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war  cheered as 13 Israeli women and children emerged free from Gaza.

Most were in their 70s or 80s, and the youngest was a 2-year-old. Also released were 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines.

In return, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners - 24 women and 15 teenagers - who have were in prison for various violent crimes.

They have been released by Israel as part of the deal that paused the fighting in the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks which was sparked by Hamas's attack, Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed.

Israeli media reported the hostages had been transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross, then on to the Egyptians, before crossing into Egypt. Live footage showed the hostages leaving Red Cross vans and entering a trauma center at the Rafah Crossing to undergo medical examinations.

Qatar's foreign ministry said tonight that ten Thai prisoners, and one Filipino citizen have been released, alongside the 13 Israeli prisoners, who are now back in Israel and will soon be reunited with their families, the IDF confirmed.

Going the other way were 39 Palestinian prisoners - 24 women and 15 teenagers - who have been released by Israel as part of the deal that paused the fighting in the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks which was sparked by Hamas's attack, Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed.

Israeli prison transport vans have been seen leaving the Ofer military prison near Jerusalem, with Palestinian prisoners believed to be onboard.

The lists of all civilians that would be released from Gaza has been agreed, but was not released publicly ahead of time. Some 30 children are currently believed to be among the 240 captives who were taken into Gaza by Hamas.

The full list was later revealed as Margalit Moses (72), Adina Moshe (72), Danielle Aloni (45) and her daughter Emilia (six), Doron Asher (34) and her daughters Raz (four) and Aviv (two), Hanna Katzir (77), Keren Munder (54) and her son Ohad Munder-Zichri (nine), Ruti/Ruthi Munder (78), Yafa/Yaffa Adar (85), and Hannah Perry/Chana Peri (79).

This is not the first time Hadid was blasted for her anti-Israel posts.

The post on Hadid's Instagram that caught the attention of the Israeli government. It comes after a week of Hadid sharing pro-Palestinian statements that blur the lines of where blame for the Hamas terror attack should be placed

The official State of Israel Instagram page flamed the model for her lukewarm statement about extremist Palestinian terrorism and implied blame being placed on Israel for the attack

Hadid was slammed by the Israeli government after she posted in support of the Palestinian people on her Instagram story in October, only weeks after the October 7 slaughtering.

Hadid, whose famous real-estate developer father Mohamed Hadid, is Palestinian, posted a graphic about the war that read: 'There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians.'

'Condemning the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas.'

Israel's government quickly skewered Hadid's position, posting on their Instagram story a response that read: 'There is nothing valiant about Hamas' massacre of Israelis. Condemning Hamas for what it is (ISIS) is not anti-Palestine and supporting Israelis in their fight against barbaric terrorists is the right thing to do.'

The account of the State of Israel then directed comments at Hadid specifically, tagging her account and writing: 'Have you been sleeping the past week?'

'Or you just fine turning a blind eye to Jewish babies being butchered in their homes? Your silence has been very clear about where you stand. We see you.'
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell said that a paedophile teacher who allegedly preyed upon classmates at his school in Scotland is 'up there with Savile'

Iain Wares, 83, has been accused of abusing dozens of boys in schools in Edinburgh in the 1960s and 1970s. His identity was revealed earlier this year following a legal challenge led by Associated Newspapers, the publishers of MailOnline, and the BBC.

Campbell claims to have witnessed the teacher, originally from South Africa, carrying out abuse against his classmates while he studied at Edinburgh Academy, a fee-paying school, as a young boy in the 1960s and 70s.

He says he saw Wares pulling down a fellow pupil's underwear and touching him inappropriately; he says the episode left him a 'physical island' who feared touch and compared Wares to the predatory Top of the Pops presenter.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry heard earlier this year that both Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College, where Wares went on to teach, were warned that he was allegedly a sexual predator - but did not escalate the matter with police.

TV and radio presenter Nicky Campbell claims to have witnessed teacher Iain Wares abusing other boys at Edinburgh Academy

Iain Wares taught at two schools in Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s before returning to South Africa amid allegations of sexual abuse

Edinburgh Academy, where Campbell was a day pupil for more than a decade and where he says he was abused by another teacher

Long Lost Family presenter Campbell, 62, claims that Wares was as prolific a paedophile as Jimmy Savile (pictured)

Instead, after Wares was sacked from Fettes - Sir Tony Blair's former school - he reportedly left with glowing references and returned to his native South Africa, where he continued teaching for decades.

He now faces a charge of historical indecent assault in Africa - and is fighting an extradition battle that could see him return to the UK on more than 80 historical abuse charges involving more than 40 alleged victims, some as young as nine.

Speaking to The Times, Long Lost Family presenter Campbell, 62, said it was 'outrageous' that Wares had been able to continue teaching for so long.

The teacher will be the focus of an hour-look BBC Panorama special on November 30 featuring Campbell and other victims.

Ahead of the broadcast, Campbell said of Wares: 'His name is slime and now people will see it. People will see the outrage. It is a kind of justice.'

He has compared the teacher to prolific paedophile Jimmy Savile, who is believed to have abused hundreds of people, mostly children and mostly female, over decades.

Campbell added: 'Iain Wares is up there with Savile. We've done the maths. We've calculated it: his modus operandi, the number of people in the class, how frequently he did it.'

Wares originally travelled to Edinburgh from South Africa to seek psychological help for his sexual attraction to children, spending five years at Campbell's school of Edinburgh Academy.

But complaints led to him leaving in 1973 with a positive reference, and he was then hired by Fettes College.

Fettes College has paid out over 1million in damages to three former pupils over allegations of Wares' sexual abuse.

The school told The Times in September: 'We have co-operated fully with all relevant authorities in any case of alleged non-recent abuse, and we offer a full and unreserved apology to those who suffered abuse while at Fettes College.'

As well as witnessing Wares' alleged changing room abuse, Campbell himself says he was also a victim of physical mistreatment at the hands of Hamish Dawson, another teacher at the academy who died in 2009.

He said Dawson called him to the front of the class and drew doodles on his inner thigh with felt-tip pens before escalating into more serious abuse.

He wrote about the experience in his memoir Blue-Eyed Son, and later approached the police about Wares' alleged changing room assault on his fellow pupil - but the victim did not want to take it further.

Nicky Campbell as a boy in his Edinburgh Academy school uniform. He claims he was abused by teacher Hamish Morrison as well as witnessing Iain Wares abusing others

Fettes College in Edinburgh, which has paid out over 1million in damages to former pupils alleged to have been abused while at the school

Nicky Campbell is known for presenting Long Lost Family on ITV, as well as BBC Radio 5 Live's breakfast show

However, a programme made by journalist Alex Renton on abuse at Edinburgh Academy reignited his hunger for justice - and after the legal challenge unmasked Wares Campbell took to the airwaves to speak candidly about his experiences.

It prompted other alleged abuse survivors to come forward.

Campbell then gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry earlier this year, and alleged that Wares was 'one of the worst paedophiles' and one of the 'most prolific in British history'.

He told the inquiry how Wares leant over his classmate and began touching him, recalling: 'I remember Wares saying, ''It's a game, it's a game'', and my friend moving away.'

Other former pupils also gave evidence to the inquiry, alleging that Wares had sexually abused them.

Edinburgh Academy has previously said it has no plans to contest any of the claims of abuse made by former pupils.

In a statement issued in August, the school said: 'Schools should be safe places for everyone and, at various points in our history, this was not the case for too many of our pupils.

'They were wronged by specific individuals whose roles were to educate, protect and nurture them. For this, the Edinburgh Academy unreservedly apologises.'

In March this year, lawyers acting for Wares said he would be unlikely to ever return to the UK to face trial.

His lawyer Ben Mathewson said his client had been advised the accusations against him in Britain were 'not extraditable'.

'He can never be prosecuted or ordered back to Britain,' insisted Mr Mathewson.

'One of the alleged incidences happened on a campus where he had never set foot.

'The alleged allegations against him happened when he was in his twenties. The UK has waited until he is in his eighties. It is difficult for one to recall what happened 60 years ago.'
Scotlands police chief was embroiled in a growing row last night over her misuse of a patrol car to get a lift home to England.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell was also accused of putting an officers safety at risk during her taxpayer-funded taxi ride from Edinburgh on a Friday night last month.

The Mail revealed yesterday that Ms Farrell commandeered a police vehicle driven by an on-duty traffic officer for a 120-mile trip to the Northumberland area after stormy weather forced the cancellation of her train.

She was accompanied by a senior officer from Durham Constabulary  where Ms Farrell was Chief Constable  who was said to be assisting her with the governance of Police Scotland in the midst of a cash crisis.

Taxi row: Police chief Jo Farrell apologised

It is understood Ms Farrell was dropped at her home in Northumberland while the colleague is believed to have been taken to Gateshead in the unmarked car.

The Police Scotland traffic officer then had to make his way back to Edinburgh, meaning he was off regular duties for six hours.

Last night Ms Farrell, 55, who has apologised for her error of judgment, faced further criticism over the decision to use an officer as her driver for the trip on Friday, October 20, during Storm Babet.

According to the Met Office, the storm packed very strong winds, gusting at over 58mph across North-East England and much of Scotland, making driving conditions tricky.

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the civilian oversight body for Police Scotland, has said it considers the matter closed after Ms Farrell apologised.

But last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said frontline officers deserve a full explanation.

He said: There are many unknown details and unanswered questions, including what, if any, consideration was given to the safety of the officer who was ordered to complete this 240-mile round trip in dangerous weather conditions.

The SPA said Ms Farrell was accompanied by a former colleague who was providing general advice, on best practice, governance and reducing bureaucracy, as sharing best practice is common across UK policing, and he was not paid for his work.

The Mail has been told there were only two traffic officers on duty in J division  covering the former Lothian and Borders Police area  and one was enlisted for the cross-Border driving job.

Last night former Police Scotland superintendent Brian Cook said: While her driver would have been highly trained, this would have been putting him at increased risk, needlessly.

Graeme Pearson, who led the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said the trip showed a surprising lack of sensitivity.

Ms Farrell, who took over as the 248,724-a-year Chief Constable of cash-strapped Police Scotland on October 9, has a family home in Northumberland.

It is understood she is living in Edinburgh while she looks for a base in Scotland.

She said on Thursday: I was unable to complete the journey by train as services had been cancelled and my own police vehicle was unavailable.

I have apologised for this error of judgment.

A senior Police Scotland insider said: A lot of ordinary cops will think she has shown some cheek given the scale of cuts police are facing  this isnt the time for the chief to be taking a taxpayer-funded taxi ride.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it was a matter for the SPA.
Kamala Harris has been mocked online for posting a Thanksgiving photo of her kitchen, featuring a gas stove.

The head of the nation's top consumer watchdog, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, said last year that his agency might take some regulatory action.

It came in the face of growing research that links gas stoves to pollutants that harm both human health and the environment.

Republicans seized on the idea claiming that the Biden administration wanted to ban gas stoves which the White House was forced to deny after the memo surfaced.

'Good morning to everyone except the never ending hypocrisy of the Commie Left - nice gas stove Kamala,' tweeted 'Catturd' - a popular conservative commentator, with 2.1 million followers.

Mike Collins, a member of the House representing Georgia, wrote on X: 'Is that a gas stove?'

Scott Walker, the Republican former governor of Wisconsin, asked the same.

And actor Kevin Sorbo, star of the 1990s TV series Hercules, tweeted: 'I thought gas stoves were bad for the environment.'

Berny Jacques, a state politician for Florida, used the post to urge people to move to his state.

'Meanwhile they want you to give up your gas stoves, while they live it up with theirs,' he said.

'Friendly Reminder: not only will gas stoves remain legal in Florida, we also made them tax free!'

Joe Biden said that he does not support banning gas stoves, and White House spokesman Michael Kikukawa said: 'The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, is not banning gas stoves.'

The saga began in October 2022, when Richard Trumka Jr, the Biden-appointed head of the consumer watchdog, wrote a memo to another commissioner saying there was enough evidence for the CPSC to start the rule-making process to ban new gas stoves.

'The need for gas stove regulation has reached a boiling point,' Trumka said.

'CPSC has the responsibility to ban consumer products that emit hazardous substances, particularly, when those emissions harm children, under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

'Emerging evidence is sufficient to conclude that gas stoves in homes emit toxic gasses that cause illness and that lower-cost, safer alternatives are available.'

In January this year, Trumka told Bloomberg that the watchdog was considering recommending a ban on the sale of new gas stoves.

The White House insisted they did not back a ban on stoves.

But in February, the Department of Energy issued recommendations 'for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer conventional cooking products'.

Joe Biden said that he does not support banning gas stoves, and White House spokesman Michael Kikukawa said: 'The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, is not banning gas stoves'

The department is required to review consumer products, and assess their cost and impact.

They do not issue bans on consumer goods, but rather say what the standards should be going forward.

'As required by Congress, the Department of Energy is proposing efficiency standards for gas and electric cooktops  we are not proposing bans on either,' said an Energy Department spokesperson.

'The proposed standards would not go into effect until 2027 and cumulatively save the nation up to $1.7 billion.

'Every major manufacturer has products that meet or exceed the requirements proposed today.'
A California family whose award-winning golden retriever was on the brink of death after contracting a mystery disease says a miracle antibiotic saved his life.

John and Becky Oliver had given up hope when their pooch, Ike, contracted a respiratory disease in September, leaving vets stumped.

Ike was immediately quarantined behind glass with pictures of the harrowing experience showing the highly-acclaimed show dog lying down with tubes inserted into his snout and a cone around his head.

Ike underwent tests which revealed he had contracted a canine respiratory illness known as the canine infectious respiratory disease complex.

To combat the vicious disease, which has been plaguing dogs across the U.S., the couple chose to use chloramphenicol - a drug typically used for superficial eye conditions in humans.

While it is approved for use on dogs and horses its typical use is for gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and urinary bacterial infections.

Ike, an award-winning golden retriever, was quarantined behind glass with pictures showing him lying down with tubes inserted into his snout and a cone around his head

Ike fell ill while competing in the Golden Retriever Club of America's top twenty shows, where he achieved a ranking among the top five Goldens in the U.S

To the couple's surprise, the antibiotic worked significantly improving Ike's breathing and he was discharged from the hospital just days later.

Ike fell ill while competing in the Golden Retriever Club of America's top twenty shows, where he achieved a ranking among the top five Goldens in the U.S.

The show was held on September 14, in Albany, Oregon, where cases of the mysterious respiratory disease first began to surface.

At the time, veterinarians were unable to identify the disease, leading them to quarantine Ike from both other dogs and human beings.

'They had given up, and Ike was starting to give up,' Becky told ABC.

John added: 'When he got to Murrieta at the vet there, they isolated him in a quarantine, behind glass.

'He couldn't go in the room with them, no other dogs were in there with him, so that's how contagious this is.'

John and Becky Oliver had given up hope when their pooch, Ike, contracted a respiratory disease in September leaving vets stumped

Subsequent test results revealed Ike had contracted a canine respiratory illness known as the canine infectious respiratory disease complex

To the couple's surprise, the antibiotic worked significantly improving Ike's breathing and he was discharged from the hospital just days later

In their time of need, the couple said it was the suggestion from a stranger that brought their pooch back from the brink.

'The Vet hospital called to say Ike was off of oxygen support and was ready to come home! Hearing he could come home was like a dream,' Becky wrote on Facebook after Ike returned home.

'Ike has been doing pretty good since he has been home. He is however very very thin and weak.

'His appetite is very good and he has been doing his normal things with lots of rest in between.

'He still continues his nebulizer treatments and his med schedule is quite involved.

Chloramphenicol is ' a very, very strong last-resort antibiotic, but it's what saved him. Otherwise he would not be here.'

Although Chloramphenicol is FDA-approved for use in dogs, it should be avoided in breeding dogs, pregnant females, or nursing females.

The antibiotic could cause bone marrow suppression, a serious blood disorder, therefore, should be used with extreme caution in dogs with anemia, according to Veterinary Centers of America.

'The Vet hospital called to say Ike was off of oxygen support and was ready to come home! Hearing he could come home was like a dream,' Becky wrote on Facebook after Ike returned home

Cases of the potentially fatal illness first emerged in Oregon, but quickly spread to Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Idaho, California, Nevada and throughout the Northeast.

So far, more than 200 dogs in Oregon have tested positive since mid-August.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture names coughing, sneezing, nasal and/or eye discharge and lethargy as common symptoms of this disease.

Health officials have urged pet owners to make sure their dogs are up to date on all vaccines and have suggested reduced contact with unvaccinated and unfamiliar canines as the disease surges.

Veterinarians' advice is to steer clear of large meetings of unknown dogs, particularly if the dogs seem sick. This includes daycares, parks, groomers and boarding kennels.

'Just in one clinic that I was at last week, we had three separate cases of young dogs getting very sick, progressively worse and they ended up having to be euthanized, unfortunately,' Veterinarian Dr. Ross Bernstein told ABC.

What Ike had suffered was an infectious respiratory disease that has killed several dogs across the country recently

So far, more than 200 dogs in Oregon have tested positive since mid-August , and experts say likely across the US

'Avoid places where there's lots of dogs that you don't know if they're vaccinated or not, whether they're healthy or not,' Bernstein said.

'So places like dog parks, boarding facilities, groomers, just places where you don't know the other dogs that your dog is going to be interacting with.'

Officials have also recommended not traveling with dogs during the holiday season, particularly on flights, to reduce exposure.

Veterinarians also suggest avoiding communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs and having their pet tested with a PCR test if they suspect their dogs have been infected.
It may be time to dig out your winter woollies, with Arctic winds bringing the first frost this weekend - with Britain braced for snow in a matter of days.

It will finally start to feel like winter with temperatures down to -5C (23F) in rural parts of southern England at night, with further cold spells forecast next week.

Daytime temperatures are expected to stay in single digits across the country this weekend but overnight will feel icy cold.

Friday night is poised to be the chilliest evening of the year nationwide.

For much of the autumn the jet stream has been moving across the Atlantic, but this week it will blow from the north, directing a flow of air from the Arctic.

It will feel particularly chilly in eastern and northern parts exposed to the strongest of those winds.

COUNTY DURHAM: Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour on Friday

LONDON: Mounted police ride in the autumn sunshine in St James's Park

OXFORDSHIRE: Spectacular skies at dawn over the countryside in Dunsden

A Met Office spokesman said travel was not expected to be disrupted and the temperatures were 'typical early winter conditions'.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said next week is expected to be cold and with just a scattering of rain and showers.

But he warned: 'There is a chance that a more active weather system arrives from the South West, which would bring more widespread rain, stronger winds and the potential for more significant snowfall should the air over the UK become sufficiently cold ahead of it.

LONDON: It may be time to dig out your winter woollies, with Arctic winds bringing the first frost this weekend - with Britain braced for snow in a matter of days

BERKSHIRE: Autumnal colours warmed by the bright afternoon sunshine in Sonning on Thames - but a cold snap may be on the way

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said next week is expected to be cold and with just a scattering of rain and showers

LONDON: A Met Office spokesman said travel was not expected to be disrupted and the temperatures were 'typical early winter conditions'

TYNEMOUTH: Waves crash over Tynemouth pier on the North East coast of England on Friday

'A continuation of colder than average conditions seems most likely.'

As to whether we are likely to see a white Christmas, the jury is still out.

Helen Caughey, a Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: 'Whilst it is too early to give any indications for Christmas, some colder weather is likely.'
Rachel Reeves was under pressure to apologise for 'scaremongering' last night after wrongly claiming the economy is on course to shrink.

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden called on Labour's Shadow Chancellor to 'correct the record' after she claimed that the economy was expected to be 40billion smaller in 2027 than was forecast in March.

Mr Holden said figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility this week showed that the economy was expected to be 0.6 per cent bigger in 2027 than had been predicted earlier this year  equal to an improvement of around 15billion.

Labour's Rachel Reeves Shadow Chancellor (Pictured) was under pressure to apologise for 'scaremongering' last night after wrongly claiming the economy is on course to shrink.

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden (Pictured) called on Labour's Shadow Chancellor to 'correct the record' and apologise for 'scaremongering' claims

In a letter to the Shadow Chancellor last night, Mr Holden said there appeared to be 'a 55billion gap between what you say and reality'.

He said Ms Reeves appeared to have failed 'either deliberately or recklessly' to take account of a major upward revision to the UK's past growth rates by the Office for National Statistics, which showed the UK had recovered from the pandemic quicker than either France or Germany.

Mr Holden wrote: 'At every opportunity the Labour Party resorts to scaremongering and defeatism  instead of celebrating the resilience of our economy and the strength of British businesses up and down the country.'

Labour has been approached for comment.
President Joe Biden and his family took over downtown Nantucket Friday for a meal and shopping as the U.S. waits for its hostages to be released from Gaza.

The president's traditional Black Friday jaunt was delayed due to the first release of hostages from Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' brutal October 7 terror attack on Israel.

Biden used Nantucket's waterfront White Elephant Hotel to deliver remarks on the hostage situation after the White House confirmed that no U.S. citizens were included in the first group of 24.

The Bidens then had a very late lunch at the historic whaling bar Brotherhood of Thieves and then popped into Nantucket Bookworks, stops that are part of their family Thanksgiving trip tradition.

The president acknowledged he was doing some Christmas shopping.

President Joe Biden (left) bought a copy of Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson at Nantucket Bookworks as he shopped with his family Friday, including granddaughter Finnegan (right), as the U.S. waits for its hostages to be freed from Gaza

First lady Jill Biden (left) waves to onlookers as she shops in Nantucket with daughter Ashley Biding (right) on Friday

Hunter Biden (left) holds hands with his wife Melissa Cohen (left) and holds a hoodie from Brotherhood of Thieves, the Nantucket restaurant where the Biden family likes to have their Black Friday lunch

'Yes. Can't come without going to the bookstore. We've got a tradition,' he said.

Biden walked out of the bookstore carrying the tome Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson.

'We're having a great time, thank you,' Dr. Biden told reporters after stepping out of the bookstore.

The president then popped into Craftmasters of Nantucket, a store Hunter was spotted in Wednesday, where the first son purchased a pair of slippers - potentially a gift for the president as the family was celebrating his 81st birthday that day.

Hunter was out Friday with his wife Melissa Cohen.

They held hands while the first son carried a Brotherhood of Thieves hoodie with him as they walked down the Nantucket streets.

Hunter's daughters from his first marriage, Maisy, Finnegan and Naomi, were also on hand, as was Naomi's husband of one year, Peter Neal.

First lady Jill Biden (right) steps out of a Nantucket storefront with granddaughter Finnegan Biden (left) after the family had a late lunch and shopping day ahead of the Christmas tree lighting

First lady Jill Biden walks through downtown Nantucket on Friday. She stepped out earlier than the president to do a little shopping before joining up with him and the rest of the Biden clan

Secret Service and White House staff hang out in downtown Nantucket as onlookers try to take pictures of President Joe Biden and his family members as they dined and shopped Friday afternoon

First daughter Ashley Biden, sporting a festive kelly green coat, walked side by side with her mother.

She was joined at the Christmas tree lighting by her husband Howard Krein and sported a festive holly and reindeer eared headband.

The children of the late Beau Biden, Hunter and Natalie, also joined the family on their outing.

Onlookers shouted 'Happy Birthday' at the president, who in turn wished them a 'Happy Thanksgiving!'

The president walked into the Jewelers Gallery as Hunter, Melissa and their son baby Beau waited for the commander-in-chief outside.

President Joe Biden walks out of his SUV as he spent Friday in downtown Nantucket, first addressing the hostages being released in Gaza and then stepping out for lunch, shopping and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony

President Joe Biden and first daughter Ashley Biden are seen through the window Friday afternoon at Craftmasters of Nantucket,a store that Hunter Biden was spotted in on Wednesday

President Joe Biden departs his late lunch at the classic Nantucket whaling bar, Brotherhood of Thieves Friday afternoon

The Biden clan reacts to the Christmas tree lighting Friday evening on Nantucket. (From left) Hunter, Melissa Cohen, the president, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, little Hunter, Finnegan, baby Beau, Maisy and Dr. Jill Biden

Several children had tried sticking their hands out of a window next door, but Secret Service agents warned them to close it.

But their move was rewarded once they came downstairs, as the president posed with them for a photo, asking Hunter to snap the pic.

After the shopping excursion the family ended up at Nantucket's annual Christmas tree lighting.

This year, with heightened tensions over the Israel-Hamas war, a group of protesters unfurled banners and started shouting at the president after the tree's lights were turned on.

'Biden, Biden you can't hide. We charge you with genocide,' they chanted.
Ministers would never be forgiven if they let the Daily Telegraph be sold to a foreign power, a veteran former editor of the paper warned last night.

Charles Moore said it was a 'great British institution' that must not be 'nationalised'  especially by a state that does not cherish Press freedoms.

He said there would 'to put it mildly, be a stink' if any newspaper was nationalised by a British government.

The former editor, who was made a peer in 2020, spoke out as the venerable 168-year-old Telegraph faces being bought by a group part-funded by the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates.

Lord Moore, who joined the Telegraph as a political reporter in 1979, has edited the daily edition, the Sunday Telegraph and their magazine stablemate the Spectator  and is still on the staff.

Charles Moore said the Daily Telegraph was a 'great British institution' that must not be 'nationalised'  especially by a state that does not cherish Press freedoms (File Photo)

Lord Moore, who joined the Telegraph as a political reporter in 1979, has edited the daily edition, the Sunday Telegraph and their magazine stablemate the Spectator  and is still on the staff

Writing for the Telegraph last night, he warned Rishi Sunak: 'It is little more than a statement of fact to say that the Telegraph and the Spectator are great British institutions. They should not be controlled by a foreign power.

'After more than 40 years' friendly acquaintance with the readers of all our titles, I feel quite confident in predicting that they would not forgive any government which let them go.'

The Government is mulling over whether to intervene in the sale of the Telegraph titles to RedBird IMI, a joint venture partly funded by Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of the UAE and owner of Manchester City FC.

Lord Moore, who was Lady Thatcher's authorised biographer, wrote: 'Imagine that the Telegraph (or any other British national newspaper, Left, Right or centre) were nationalised by the British government. There would, to put it mildly, be a stink. It would be seen as an unprecedented power grab by the state against the freedom of the Press.

'Luckily  though the freedom of the Press is never completely secure even here in Britain  newspaper nationalisation is seen as beyond the pale.

'Yet now, perhaps the week after next, the nationalisation of a British national newspaper seems possible. It would be nationalisation by a country which does not have Press freedom.'

He said the UAE, like 'all states, particularly authoritarian ones, will sacrifice the interests of others if it thinks its own interests are threatened'.

He cited the Gulf nation's increasing closeness to China, and warned: 'There is a reason why they do not go big on Press freedom: they fear freedom in all its forms and close it down if it causes trouble. They could do that to a newspaper.'

Writing for the Telegraph last night, Lord Moore warned Rishi Sunak : 'It is little more than a statement of fact to say that the Telegraph and the Spectator are great British institutions. They should not be controlled by a foreign power (File Photo)

RedBird IMI has pledged to maintain the newspapers' editorial freedoms and be a 'passive investor'. But Lord Moore said such promises often made 'little difference to the structure of real power'.

Last night there were warnings of a Whitehall battle breaking out between departments over the issue because of the absence through illness of the cabinet secretary Simon Case.

Senior figures at the Foreign Office have already sought to 'take the edge off' a letter sent by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer to RedBird IMI over fears about offending the United Arab Emirates, which includes Abu Dhabi.

The tensions between the culture department and the more powerful Foreign Office risk becoming 'increasingly messy' over competing priorities, with ensuring a free Press being set against a drive to increase foreign investment, The Guardian has reported. Yesterday No 10 tried to calm matters by suggesting it was 'standard procedure' for the Foreign Office to have intervened.

There are also a number of other groups bidding to buy the Telegraph, including DMGT which owns the Mail.

RedBird IMI's chief executive Jeff Zucker, a former president of CNN, told the Financial Times yesterday: 'There should be no question about the editorial independence of the Telegraph or Spectator.

'I've spent 35 years running or supervising news organisations, and there's nothing I understand more than editorial independence. I have staked my reputation and legacy on not allowing editorial interference.'

He accused rival media organisations of 'slinging mud and throwing darts ... because they want to own these assets'.
Rishi Sunak yesterday hailed Nissan's decision to invest more than 1billion to build electric cars in Sunderland as a 'massive vote of confidence' in Britain.

The Japanese carmaker confirmed it will make its latest electric Qashqai and Juke models at its factory in the North East alongside the next generation of the electric Leaf, which is already produced there.

Nissan said a battery 'gigafactory' will also be built, taking the total planned investment to 2 billion.

The investment secures the jobs of 7,000 workers, as well as supporting a further 30,000 roles in the supply chain.

Mr Sunak said: 'Nissan's investment is a massive vote of confidence in the UK's automotive industry, which already contributes a massive 71 billion a year to our economy.'

Rishi Sunak, right, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt attach a Nissan badge to a car as they visit the car manufacturer's plant in Sunderland

Rishi Sunak yesterday hailed Nissan's decision to invest more than 1billion to build electric cars in Sunderland as a 'massive vote of confidence' in Britain

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt hears from Nissan workers as he tours the car manufacturing plant in Sunderland

The Government has confirmed Nissan will produce two new electric vehicle models at its Sunderland plant, supporting thousands of jobs in the UK

The Prime Minister added: 'This venture will no doubt secure Sunderland's future as the UK's Silicon Valley for electric vehicle innovation and manufacturing.' Makoto Uchida, Nissan's chief executive, said the investment puts 'our Sunderland plant, Britain's biggest ever car factory, at the heart of our future vision'.

The group plans to sell only electric cars in Europe from 2030.

The investment also confounds Brexit naysayers who warned that Britain's car industry would be hit hard and never recover after the UK left the European Union

After the 2016 vote to leave the EU, many Remainers flagged concerns about the future of Britain as a major car producer. However, Nissan has continued to invest in vehicle manufacturing in Britain.

Dr Andy Palmer, a former chief of Nissan and Aston Martin, said the move from Nissan was 'only good news for the UK'.

Mike Hawes, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, called the Nissan investment 'tremendous news' that 'underlines Britain's position as a competitive location for electric vehicle production'.

The gigafactory is being set up in with Nissan's battery supplier AESC  owned by Envision  at an estimated total cost of 1billion. The local supply of batteries will help Nissan avoid costly post-Brexit 'rule of origin' trade tariffs that are pending. These could push up the cost of exporting electric vehicles to the EU.

Under the regulations, tariffs of 10 per cent would be imposed on exports of electric cars between the UK and EU if at least 45 per cent of their value does not originate domestically
Two boys aged seven and nine were left locked in a windowless and feces covered bedroom by their mom and her boyfriend, according to a police report.

Katie Koch, 34, and her boyfriend, Joel Manke, 38, were both arrested after the boys smashed a window on their home on July 13 and escaped naked and bedraggled.

Officers described the inside of the Milwaukee home as 'the worst they've ever seen', according to a police report seen by The Messenger.

The 72-page police report said officers entered the home to find a terrible odor, stacks of garbage, and insects crawling around.

Officers also noted how the bedroom that the boys had been held inside had feces on the floor and 'all over the walls' and boarded up windows.

According to a new report the bedroom inside the home, seen here, that the boys had been held inside had feces on the floor and 'all over the walls' and boarded up windows

Katie Koch, left, and her boyfriend, Joel Manke, right, were both arrested after the boys smashed a window on their home on July 13

The report also detailed how police believe the two spent much of their time in their bedroom which had boarded up windows and a latch attached outside the door.

'There was what appeared to feces on the floor and all over the walls. I entered the living room and observed a terrible hoarding situation - it was hard to see the floor,' officers said.

'The smell of urine and feces stained the air within the residence', the officer added.

According to the report, officers noted seeing a 'mound of trash and garbage' next to their bedroom door.

'The door was opened halfway, and a greater amount of the stench of urine and feces seemed to get worse as I approached the children's room,' the officer recalled,' the officer recalled.

While the majority of the home was left in a state of decay and squalor, officers said a basement that was used as a man cave by Manke was better maintained.

'[It was] treated in a higher amount of respect and cleanliness compared to the children's living conditions in their bedroom,' one officer wrote.

The police report also included a summary of a jailhouse call Manke made to his parents, where his mother reportedly told him that she was 'in shock' after walking into the house that night.

Images taken of the property after their arrest show the children's boarded up windows could still be seen draped with feces-clad curtains featuring the popular children's animation Paw Patrol.

The boarded up window's of the children's bedroom had paw patrol curtains covered in mold and feces

Koch claimed she boarded up her children's windows so they wouldn't bother their 'nosey neighbor'

One witness said the little boys acted like 'cavemen who had never seen the sun' as they roamed the street.

Investigators said the boys appeared to have been living in squalor for years as they were not toilet trained and had not had a haircut or seen a doctor since 2019.

During a police interview, Manke said he knew the living conditions were not good for the children, but he had to 'pick his battles' with Koch to avoid arguments.

Koch was filmed looking upset in a subsequent court hearing as a prosecutor outlined the abuse and neglect she is accused of inflicting on her children.

Police who responded to a 911 call from nearby residents in the lakeside east Wisconsin city said the house was so crammed with belongings that the floor was not visible, describing it as a 'terrible hoarding situation'.

Neighbors first spotted her children - whose hair was matted by feces - peering through a shattered window on July 13.

They said the boys climbed through the window onto an air conditioning unit before jumping into the yard and walking down the street stark naked.

A resident on the street, Christine Eder, said the children looked like 'they had never been outside.'

'They were just walking different. Their hair looked like it had never been brushed, never been cut. They didn't know the outside existed,' Eder said.

Katie Koch, 34, and her boyfriend, Joel Manke, 38, are seen in a photo posted to Instagram. Koch frequently shared images depicting a happy family life, while in reality her sons were imprisoned and lived in squalor

The family in 2020 is shown playing in the snow

Neighbor Christine Eder said the children looked like 'they had never been outside' following their escape

Earlier this year the pair appeared in court with Koch having cash bail set at $30,000, which officials have said she is not able to pay. Manke's cash bail was set at $6,500 and it is unclear if he has paid it.

If convicted of all the charges, they each face prison terms of up to 43 years, and fines of up to $120,000.

Koch could be sentenced to an additional $20,000 in fines and 18 months in prison for the two misdemeanor counts.

Manke and Koch are scheduled for a court appearance at the end of November and have pled not guilty.
An armed policeman who crashed while racing to the scene of the Streatham terrorist attack at 80mph may still face the sack despite being cleared of dangerous driving.

PC Paul Fisher, 46, made a 'split-second error' when he lost control of his unmarked BMW X5 and ran in to the back of a taxi driver's Toyota before hitting a Ford Fiesta and a wall.

Met chief Sir Mark Rowley slammed the prosecution of the former Royal Marine, who reached speeds of more than 80mph and admitted he had 'let people down' - but denied dangerous driving.

He was today cleared by a jury of the charge at Southwark Crown Court but may still face a hearing for gross incompetence, a spokesperson for the police watchdog, the IOPC, told the Guardian.

The police car PC Fisher was driving did not have its blue lights on at the time because they had accidentally been switched off by one of the occupants, his trial at Southwark Crown Court heard.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark branded the prosecution of Mr Fisher 'appalling'.

PC Paul Fisher's police car was wrecked after it hit a Toyota Prius, a Ford Fiesta and a wall

Terrorist Sudesh Amman was shot dead after he stabbed two people in February 2020

Forensic officers at the scene of the Streatham terror attack in February 2020

After the verdict was reached, IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: 'There is no doubt that PC Fisher was responding to a life-threatening incident in February 2020. A jury, having considered all of the evidence, has acquitted him of dangerous driving and we respect that decision.'

The CPS decided to take no further action against the driver of a second police vehicle, which was not involved in the crash but was in close proximity.

The IOPC added it 'will now consider the evidence from the trial and will be liaising with the force on the next steps.'

A spokesperson added to the Guardian: 'Following our investigation, we agreed with the Metropolitan police that PC Fisher should face a gross incompetence meeting.

'We determined that the officer driving the police vehicle following PC Fisher should also face a gross incompetence meeting. Following today's verdict, we'll be liaising with the force and reviewing this decision.'

The maximum penalty for gross incompetence is immediate dismissal.

The police vehicle, which did have its siren on, had been switched to 'arrival mode' and only had flashing rear red lights displayed, the court was told.

PC Fisher was with two other armed officers in the car, responding after terrorist Sudesh Amman stabbed two people in February 2020.

The 20-year-old grabbed a large kitchen knife from a hardware store on Streatham High Road in south London and stabbed his two victims at random.

A little over a minute later, he was shot dead after turning to charge at two undercover police officers.

PC Fisher was on a surveillance operation at the time of the crash, monitoring Amman after his release from jail ten days earlier.

Speaking outside the court following the verdict, Sir Mark said the case 'undermines the confidence of all officers using their powers to keep the public safe'.

He added: 'Thank God for the common sense of British juries.

'Paul Fisher is a firearms officer who was under the most unimaginable pressure, driving his vehicle at speed to the scene of a live terrorist attack nearly four years ago.

'He clearly made some mistakes on that drive, the right answer would have been some warnings within the organisation, some re-training, some re-testing to getting back to protecting the public.

'And yet here we are, four years later, when him and his family have faced unimaginable pressure having been pursued for that period of time by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and forced into a one-week crown court trial.

'The jury have rightly acquitted him today.'

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who branded the prosecution of PC Paul Fisher, 46, 'appalling'

Defending PC Fisher, Kevin Baumber said: 'The last thing [he] intended was any kind of harm at all. Not all collisions are crimes.'

The drivers of the two vehicles that PC Fisher's car collided with  a man and a woman  were left with minor injuries.

The female officer travelling in the back of the police car suffered a cut head and Fisher was left bleeding from an ear after the crash.

The officer described the moment he found out the terrorist had begun stabbing people as 'pandemonium'.

In a statement given to police, PC Fisher, who joined the force in 2010, said he believed Amman might be wearing a suicide vest and wanted to get to the scene quickly.

He continued: 'The radio operator said, "He's stabbing people".

'I had to use my driving skills to the maximum of my ability to literally save lives. I believed he would continue to stab people. Seconds can make a difference.'

PC Fisher raced to the scene from Gipsy Hill Police Station, reaching speeds of more than 80mph, before his vehicle crashed on a bend, the court heard.

He said: 'I remember braking for the bend, but the vehicle seemed to drift.

'I started emergency braking and steering to the right in an attempt to avoid the vehicle.

'The next thing I remember there was dust everywhere which had come from the airbags. The vehicle was still moving and there was a second impact.

'I was, and still am, annoyed with myself. I failed due to split-second error.'

Giving evidence, he added: 'At no point did my colleagues turn around and say, "Paul, you're driving too fast".

'If my colleagues had said, "You're driving too fast", I would have stopped.

'It was my mistake. I failed that day. I let people down and I can only apologise for that.'

Asked by prosecutor Ben Lloyd if he wanted to get to the scene of the stabbing at 'whatever cost', PC Fisher replied: 'I do not accept that.'

He added: 'The whole way through the drive I had images of someone attacking people on Streatham High Road.'

IOPC acting director general Tom Whiting hit back at Sir Mark's claim that police officers were being treated unfairly.

He said: 'Rigorous independent scrutiny is not a threat to policing, it is a protection and helps the police do their job by making sure they are getting things right and supporting them to fix it when things go wrong.

'We know that accountability and scrutiny can feel deeply uncomfortable for the individuals and organisations involved, but if they are weakened, there is a real risk to public trust.'

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: 'The CPS does not decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence - we make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the court to consider.

'In this case, we decided it was appropriate for a court to consider one charge of dangerous driving. The jury found the defendant not guilty and we respect its verdict.'
David Cameron has defended his pro-China policy as prime minister and said Britain should 'engage' with Beijing.

In his first full interview since becoming Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron said he had been right to try to pursue a new 'golden era' in relations with the superpower.

His comments are likely to enrage many Tory MPs, some of them sanctioned by China and who fear he could seek to soften the Government's stance toward the communist regime.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Britain in 2015. The visit was widely seen as the high-point of David Cameron's 'golden era' of ties with Beijing

David Cameron visited Beijing in 2018, while he was out-of-office. While there he congratulated the Chinese Communist Party for the 'success' of its National Congress and President Xi's flagship Belt and Road Initiative

Elsewhere in his BBC interview, he risked angering pro-Brexit Tory MPs by saying Britain should engage more closely with the EU on foreign, defence and security policies.

Lord Cameron, who is in the Middle East, said: 'When I became prime minister, the greatest need was for Britain to grow again, trade again, with exports to help our businesses around the world. I loaded up planes, I took them to India, I took them to China, I took them to Africa to get the economy moving again.'

He said that China had become 'much more aggressive, much more assertive' since he left office and 'security and protection' were now much more important.

But he added: 'Engaging China is one part of the approach we need to take. Not least, because China is a fifth of humanity.

'We're not going to solve challenges like climate change, unless we engage. And hopefully I can be a part of that.'

He has met both Israeli and Palestinian leaders on his tour.
Elon Musk's endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory could cost his social media company X up to $75 million, according to internal documents obtained by The New York Times.

In the days following Musk's ill-advised November 15 tweet, companies including Apple, IBM, Paramount and Disney announced they were no longer advertising on his platform.

But the new documents show that even more companies are fleeing, with a significant hit to X's struggling finances.

The documents list more than 200 ad units of companies including Airbnb, Amazon, Coca-Cola and Microsoft, which have halted or are considering pausing their ads on the social network.

More than 100 brands are shown as having 'fully paused' their ads, while dozens of others are listed as 'at risk,' the paper reported.

Elon Musk, seen on November 2, is facing plummeting ad revenues on X following his approval of an antisemitic conspiracy theory

The $75 million figure was the total ad revenue that X employees fear the company could lose through the end of the year if advertisers do not return.

Airbnb has stopped more than $1 million of advertising, while Uber cut back on ads worth more than $800,000.

Netflix's halted ads were worth nearly $3 million, according to X's estimates, while Microsoft's subsidiaries stopped spending $4 million.

Amazon's units for books and music, and one subsidiary of Google, have also stopped their advertising, according to the paper.

The effect on X's revenues will be dramatic.

In the last quarter of 2022 - the last year the company reported fourth-quarter earnings before Musk took over - the company recorded $1.57 billion in revenue, of which nearly 90 percent came from advertising.

Musk bought the company in October 2022 for $44 billion.

He cut around 80 percent of staff, and ended many of the content moderation policies that advertisers appreciated.

In June, he bought in veteran advertising executive Linda Yaccarino as CEO, in a bid to quell fears.

Linda Yaccarino was brought in as CEO in June, and insists that the company is being attacked by Media Matters for America

Musk has seen the value of his company plummet in its first year: last month, its value was put at $19 billion.

On Friday, X said in a statement that the $75 million figure cited by the paper was either out of date, or an internal exercise to estimate total risk.

The company said the figure was closer to $11 million, but the exact figure fluctuated as some advertisers returned to the platform and others increased spending.

Yaccarino on Wednesday wrote to employees and blamed the unrest on Media Matters for America, which highlighted antisemitic content on X and scared away advertisers, she said. Musk is now suing the watchdog.

'Kowtowing to external criticism or pressures is simply not how X will ever operate,' wrote Yaccarino.

'The people at X are free speech defenders. We stand in solidarity with those who believe in this fundamental right and the critical checks and balances of a thriving democracy.'

Musk himself has attempted to limit the fallout from the November 15 tweet, saying on November 19: 'This past week, there were hundreds of bogus media stories claiming that I am antisemitic.

He added: 'Nothing could be further from the truth.

'I wish only the best for humanity and a prosperous and exciting future for all.'

Musk has previously faced antisemitism accusations after he compared the Jewish financier George Soros to X-Men supervillain Magneto - a character who manipulates the world and thinks mutants should be in charge, rather than humans.

He made the comments on Twitter in May, following the announcement that Soros' investment fund had dumped all of their Tesla stock.

Elon Musk was interviewed on CNBC and was asked about his remarks about George Soros, giving a bizarre rambling reply

George Soros, a Hungarian-born Billionaire, heads the Open Society Foundation and is a Holocaust survivor. His foundation backs progressive politicians

Musk responded to Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, saying that the South African-born billionaire was not anti-Semitic, but his remarks were dangerous.

'He's arguably the most influential person on the planet controlling what's essentially our public square. When he repeats conspiracy theories, that feeds the extremists,' said Greenblatt.

Musk replied: 'In fairness, I must concede that Joel has a good point and I will endeavor to be more thoughtful in the future.'

He later corrected to tweet to say 'Jonathan'.

Musk continued: 'Comic book analogies are obviously imperfect, to say the least.

'Just because George Soros can bend metal using his mind doesn't mean he's Magneto!!

'Anyway, my actual concern with Soros is that he has funded so many politicians & DAs who are soft even on violent crime, which has caused great damage to many cities imo.

'Also, while I am very much in favor of expanding legal immigration, we must have some vetting of who comes in, so that we do not allow dangerous felons to prey upon innocent Americans.'

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Musk's tweet had resulted in a flood of conspiracy theories and the hashtag 'The Jews' to trend on the platform.

Researchers at Beam found in June that the volume of English-language antisemitic tweets has more than doubled since the company's takeover by Musk in October 2022.

He has threatened to sue anti-hate organization the Anti-Defamation League for defamation after it criticized him for allowing anti-Semitic content online, but insists he is 'against antisemitism of any kind'.

In September, Musk swerved the topic of antisemitism when asked during an interview with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

Musk would not address the subject, other than saying he is 'obviously against' it, and spoke more generally about 'hate speech' instead.

Netanyahu previously came to Musk's defense when he was accused of repeating discriminatory tropes about Jewish financier George Soros, and he introduced the subject by reiterating his belief that the Tesla boss does not have anti-Jewish views.

Elon Musk declined to address anti-Semitism on X when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broached the subject during their live-streamed discussion

A huge crowd of protesters gathered in San Francisco's Union Square close to where Musk and Netanyahu were meeting to demonstrate their opposition to his reforms - and to Musk giving him a platform

'I know of your opposition to anti-Semitism,' the 73-year-old Israeli leader told Musk during their X discussion.

'All I can say is I hope you can find within the confines of the First Amendment the ability to stop not only antisemitism or roll it back as best you can, but any collective hatred of a people that anti-Semitism represents.'

'Obviously I'm against anti-Semitism,' Musk replied. 'I'm anti really anything that promotes hate and conflict, and I'm in favor that which helps society and takes us to a better future for humanity collectively.'

But the SpaceX boss didn't elaborate or defend his controversial statements about Soros, including comparing him to X-Men supervillain Magneto - a character who manipulates the world and thinks mutants should be in charge rather than humans.

Speaking about hate speech generally on X, he said: 'It's important to bear in mind that there are 550 million monthly users, now maybe going to 600 million monthly users.

'On any given day there's on the order of 100 to 200 million posts to the system. This is a lot of material. Some of those are going to be bad.

'You can't police it in advance, but you can say after the fact 'oh it's getting reported as hate speech'.

'We're not going to promote speech because that's probably not what people want to hear.'
The driver of a Bentley that exploded on Rainbow Bridge earlier this week was 'alert and not impaired' as he desperately slammed on the brakes, according to an expert.

Vincent A. Ettari, a civil engineer, told The New York Times that he believes Kurt Villani was frantically slamming the brakes of his 2022 Flying Spur as it exploded on Wednesday.

Villani and his wife Monica, both 53, had been on their way to a KISS concert when the horror crash took place on Wednesday.

Ettari, who serves as an expert witness on road design in court cases, said that a dark vapor behind the car seen in surveillance footage suggests Villani was not impaired at the time and was aware of what was going on.

He told the outlet that: 'At 100 miles per hour, everything is on the table', with officials yet to identify exactly what went wrong with the vehicle.

In this image taken from security video, a light colored vehicle, top center, flies over a fence into the Rainbow Bridge customs plaza, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, N.Y

Vincent A. Ettari, a civil engineer, pictured here, said that he believes Villani was frantically touching the brakes of his car as it exploded on Wednesday

Kurt Villani, 53, was killed with his wife on Wednesday when their Bentley lost control and crashed on Rainbow Bridge. He is shown in 2014

The couple had been in their $300,000 Bentley at the time and had told friends there was a problem with the accelerator in the weeks before the accident. Bentley is yet to comment on the tragedy.

Niagara Falls Police Chief John Faso told local media on Friday that the investigation into what caused the car to race through an intersection, hit a low median and become airborne would continue.

According to Faso, investigators are looking at whether medical or mechanical issues may have contributed to the incident.

The car slammed into a row of security booths at the Rainbow Bridge and burst into flames.

The wreck prompted widespread concern on both sides of the border, as video and images of what appeared to be the aftermath of an explosion began to circulate online and officials closed the bridge and three other nearby crossings.

Authorities investigated for several hours before the FBI's Buffalo office said it found no signs of a terror attack and turned the case over to local police as a traffic investigation.

Online business records and the company website indicate the victims' family owns Gui's Lumber and seven Ace Hardware locations in New York, his family operating the business since the mid-1980s.

The families and the lumber company said in a joint statement released by the Erie County Sheriff's Office on Friday: 'We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that extended prayers, condolences and well wishes.

'At this point, we are requesting privacy so we may begin the process of healing.'

Law enforcement personnel block off the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls

The couple were driving a 2022 Flying Spur, similar to the vehicle shown in the above picture

The Niagara Falls Police Department has said the crash investigation will take time given the complexity.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has described it as 'surreal' and said the vehicle was 'basically incinerated' with nothing left but the engine and a scattering of charred debris.

'You actually had to look at it and say, was this generated by AI?' Hochul, a Democrat, said at a news conference Wednesday. 'Because it was so surreal to see. How high in the air this vehicle went, and then the crash, and the explosion, and the fire.'

On Thursday, members of the community on Grand Island paid tribute to the pair as a generous and thoughtful couple.

'You know, just plowing everybody's driveway for the love of it, you know what I mean? Just always willing to help and lend a hand. Always. always, always. They were just so very, kind wonderful people,' said resident Mary Meyer.

The enormous explosion happened when the car crashed at an immigration checkpoint

Workers block the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the U.S. and Canada, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, Ontario

Chuck Meyer added: 'Without ever being asked, they would just be giving and gifting, and that's the type of people we lost.'

Since the incident, it has been revealed that Bentley recalled some car models in 2021 because accelerators were becoming stuck, sparking safety fears.

The car maker issued the recall in the summer of 2021 for Continental GT and Flying Spur models built between 2018 and 2021.

The recall notice cited a manufacturing flaw that caused accelerators to get stuck while engaged.

'Due to inconsistent fitment of the fuse box and the electrical harness the A-post lower trim can protrude into the cabin reducing clearance to the accelerator pedal.

'If the accelerator pedal is fully pressed whilst driving and is unable to return to its resting position, the vehicle will continue to accelerate, even when the driver's foot is removed from the accelerator pedal,' the notice read.

Wednesday's incident is not the first time a horrific crash has claimed the life of a member of the Villani family.

In July 1978, Villani's grandmother, Lorraine, was killed when she was flung from a boat that was traveling along the Niagara River at 3am.

Kurt M. and his wife, Gail Villani, were also on board at the time but were unharmed.

The boat struck a bridge while Lorraine Villani was at the helm. The family later successfully sued the company that built the bridge, after it was found to not have been properly illuminated, for $120,000 in 1984.

Online records show that the Villani family owns a range of properties in the Grand Island-area.
Australians on either side of the country are being urged to brace for extreme weather conditions as forecasts warn of a turbulent weekend ahead.

A heatwave warning has been issued for south-west Western Australia while isolated flash flooding threatens residents across inland areas of the east coast throughout the weekend.

Following a week of bushfires just north of Perth on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasts suggest continued hot conditions and strong wind gusts will continue throughout the weekend.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said there was a low to severe heatwave threat for metropolitan Perth, with temperatures hitting highs of 39 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.

'We are looking at widespread showers and thunderstorms through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria,' Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said

Following a week of bushfires just north of Perth on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasts suggest continued hot conditions and strong wind gusts will continue throughout the weekend

'Very hot weekend there [Perth] with back-to-back 39 degrees,' Mr Narramore said.

He said there was some good news ahead with a predicted 'cool change' expected to roll in at the start of next week.

Temperatures in the WA city are forecast to drop into the low thirties on Monday and down into the mid-twenties on Tuesday.

On the other side of the country, residents along the east coast have been warned of flash flooding events and thunderstorms throughout most of next week.

'We are looking at widespread showers and thunderstorms through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria,' Mr Narramore said.

A broad lower pressure system will sweeping along the eastern seaboard over the weekend and winds coming off the Tasman and Coral Seas will bring moisture laden air, creating widespread showers and thunderstorms.

On the other side of the country, residents along the east coast have been warned of flash flooding events and thunderstorms throughout most of next week

A broad lower pressure system will sweep along the eastern seaboard over the weekend and winds coming off the Tasman and Coral Seas will bring moisture laden air, creating widespread showers and thunderstorms

Mr Narramore said inland residents should prepare for a 'very active and wet week' ahead, and urged anyone travelling in high rainfall areas to track radar and forecasts.

'With these heavy falls, particularly with severe thunderstorms, we could have isolated areas of flash flooding,' he warned.

'Particularly with those heavy thunderstorms over the weekend, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week.'

Thunderstorms are also expected to form over parts of South Australia on Sunday.

The heaviest rain forecast will likely hit Brisbane and the Gold Coast on Tuesday before more thunderstorms escalate on Friday over NSW and Victoria.
READ MORE: Lisa Lanes extradited to Brisbane to face charges

Dr Lisa Lines returned from Pacific Island after allegedly trying to kill her ex

Second woman charged with attempted murder of Jonathan Hawtin

A second woman has been charged with the attempted murder of a man at a health centre in Adelaide, a day after the victim's ex-partner was extradited from a Pacific Island.

A 34-year-old woman was arrested at her home in Everard Park in Adelaide's southwest on Friday.

She was charged with attempting to murder Jonathan Hawtin at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre.

The woman was remanded in custody and will face court on Monday.

A second woman has been charged over the attempted murder of Jonathon Hawtin after his ex-partner Lisa Lines (pictured in Brisbane on Friday) was extradited from Adelaide following her discovery on the remote Pacific Island of Palau

It's alleged Dr Lines' former secret lover, Zacharia Josef Bruckner, attacked her ex-husband, Jonathon Hawtin (pictured in 2019) with an axe in 2017

It came a day after Mr Hawtin's ex-partner, former academic Lisa Lines, 43, was extradited from the Pacific archipelago of Palau.

READ MORE: How Lisa Lanes landed in prison An Australian academic arrested in the Pacific Islands over an alleged love triangle murder plot is 'crying a lot', refusing to leave her cell to exercise, and consoling herself by reading the Bible. Advertisement

The historian - a respected expert on the Spanish Civil War - was taken into custody in Palau earlier this month and arrested on her arrival in Brisbane on Thursday.

The arrest relates to a convoluted series of events that began with a violent incident in the Adelaide Hills in October 2017.

Mr Hawtin was rendered tetraplegic - paralysed from the neck down - after allegedly being struck repeatedly in the neck with a hatchet by Lines' then-partner Zacharia Bruckner, who was shot in the abdomen.

Mr Hawtin, 36, was charged with attempted murder for shooting Bruckner, 30, with police assuming the younger man was acting in self-defence.

However, a jury of six men and six women unanimously acquitted Mr Hawtin in 2019 after three hours of deliberation.

Lines had in June 2017 told Mr Hawtin, with whom she had two children, that she wanted to separate, the jury was told.

She began a romantic relationship with Bruckner in August that year.

The second arrest came came one day after Mr Hawtin's ex-partner, former academic Lisa Lines, 43, was extradited from Palau, a Pacific archipelago

Dr Lines was a respected historian and was taken into custody in the island nation of Palau earlier this month and arrested on her arrival in Brisbane on Thursday (pictured Friday)

In 2020, major crime detectives in South Australia reopened the investigation, resulting in a warrant being issued for Lines' arrest.

Bruckner was arrested in Brisbane earlier in November on conspiracy to murder offences and extradited to SA.

The pair are accused of attempting to murder Mr Hawtin in the October 2017 incident, as well as co-conspiring to murder Mr Hawtin and his mother Rhonda Hawtin between December 2021 and August last year.

Lines is also charged with attempting to murder Mr Hawtin on New Year's Day 2018.
Do YOU know the heroic creche worker?

A father has revealed how a heroic nursery worker suffered serious injuries in Dublin after she 'stepped in front' of a crazed knifeman to protect his son and a group of terrified children.

Garrett FitzGerald said his son, six, was one of the youngsters heading to an after-school event in Parnell Square East when a knifeman started stabbing people on Thursday.

The bloody rampage left three children hurt and the school worker injured  and triggered a wave of violent riots in Dublin on Friday evening.

Garrett said the heroic woman's intervention helped save the children's lives, allowing the youngsters crucial time to escape the carnage.

A five-year-old girl and woman in her 30s were last night still in a critical condition at hospital following the stabbing spree. Two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were less seriously wounded.

The suspect, is a man in his 50s, is also being treated in hospital and is in a serious condition.

Posting on X  formerly Twitter, he wrote: 'My son's care worker stepped in front of a knife for him and the other kids. She wrestled the guy long enough to allow the other kids to run away and for help to arrive. Words fail me.

Do YOU know the heroic creche worker? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk

Garrett FitzGerald Father of boy, 6 has told of the 'absolute hero' creche worker who saved children's lives from knife attack during the Dublin riot

Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the attack in Dublin

The stabbing spree triggered a wave of rioting in Dublin, with people torching vehicles

'She's an absolute hero. A friend has started a GoFundMe for herself and the school. If anyone wanted to throw a few lids here it would much appreciated.'

The fundraising campaign has drummed up more than 160,000 so far.

Started by Paul McIntyre, it states that it is looking to raise funds to 'support the children and the carer in Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire who were victims of a horrific attack at their school... by a stranger with a knife as the children were leaving school to be collected by their parents'.

It adds: 'This is a small Gaelscoil (all Irish school) in the heart of Dublin City Centre and is almost like a small family and this attack has shocked parents, students and the whole school staff to their core and your help and support would be greatly appreciated at this time.

'This should be the most special time of year for all children and at the school they are currently practicing for their Christmas school play and your help and donations will assist the school in making this year as special as possible for the children and staff that have been impacted by this terrible event.

'I would also like to raise funds to support the carer who bravely put herself in front of so many children so they could run to safety while putting her own life at risk.'

Paul added: 'Having known this lady for many years and having two children attend this school, I can say this lady is nothing short of a superhero tonight and we will be forever grateful for her and wish her a speedy recovery from her injuries.

'Unfortunately due to her significant injuries she will now be out of work for the foreseeable future and we would love to be able to support her in her time of need like she did for the children so bravely.'

Garrett added: 'She was one of many heroes yesterday including passers-by who intervened, first responders and the children themselves.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with those still in hospital and anyone who has been affected by this awful tragedy.'

Police are pictured at the scene following the carnage on Thursday afternoon

A police cordon is in place after the stabbing attack which left a child and woman seriously hurt

A thread of tweets from Garrett recounting the woman's heroic efforts

Dublin's 'night of shame' was condemned by Ireland's Prime Minister this morning as a clean-up operation got underway following battles between rioters and police.

Around 500 thugs fought running battles with riot cops, looted shops and torched a double-decker bus in anger over an attack in which three children and two adults - a woman in her 30s and the suspected knifeman - were injured on Thursday.

Pictures from the Irish capital this morning showed council workers removing the wrecks of burned-out buses and cars, which were torched by the thugs as they rampaged through the streets and looted shops.

The smell of burning plastic and rubber still hung thick in the air on Dublin's O'Connell Street, where a tram was also set on fire by the rioters, reports said.

In an update this morning, police said 34 people had been arrested over their suspected involvement in the violence which, officials said, was driven by a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology'.

One Garda officer received a serious injury, with 'numerous other members injured' as missiles were thrown at them. Ireland's Justice Minister said anyone found guilty of attacking officers faces up to 12 years in prison under 'very strong legislation'.

Meanwhile, a man described only as being in his fifties is suspected over the initial attack, which was carried out at 1.30pm outside a school on Dublin's Parnell Square East, in the north-centre of the city.

One of the children - a five-year-old girl, and the woman - said to be a teacher or care assistant, are both in a critical condition, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.

A clean-up operation was underway this morning after battles broke out between rioters and police in Dublin last night following an knife attack on young children

Workers clean up debris of a burnt train and vehicles. A double-decker bus was also set alight

Workers inspect a vandalised Luas tram with smashed windows on O'Connell Street in Dublin

The riots came last night after three children were injured in a knife attack outside a school

Around 100 masked thugs fought running battles with riot cops, looted shops and set fire to vehicles in anger over the attack where a woman in her 30s was also injuried

Police said over 400 officers were deployed to contain the unrest on Thursday night

People were told to work from home today as clean up continues in the city cenre

He said those involved in the riots 'brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves'.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told reporters this morning that no arrest has been made over the knife attack but a suspect has been identified. He added it was 'disgraceful' that Garda inquiries were disrupted by the riots in Dublin.

The violence was fuelled by rumours about the attacker's nationality. Some of the mob blamed 'migrants' for the stabbing incident on the square.

Mr Varadkar said his government would take immediate steps to tighten anti-hate legislation he said was unfit for the social media age.

'As a country we need to reclaim Ireland. We need to take it away from the cowerers who hide behind masks and try to terrify us with their violence,' He said.

'We need to reclaim Ireland from the unscrupulous who prey on the fears of those easily led into darkness. And we need to reclaim Ireland from the criminals who seek any excuse to unleash horror on our streets,' he said in an emotional statement.

Police chief Drew Harris blamed the riots on a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-Right ideology' and warned against the spread 'misinformation'.

This morning, he defended the police's response, saying 'Garda responded to this entirely in an extraordinary fashion' during a press conference.

'Public order units from all over Ireland responded here to Dublin. More and more resources were arriving throughout the evening,' he said.

'But we could not have anticipated that in response to a terrible crime, the stabbing of school children and their teacher, that this would be the response.

'In effect, those filled with hate  and the hate directed to the members of Garda Siochana  that they would attempt to storm through our cordon and disrupt a crime scene, and then engage in violence, looting and disorder, including very significant criminal damage.

'Nobody could have anticipated that, when these events started at 1.30am  these awful events  and obviously we were concentrated on the investigation. We couldn't have anticipated that this would be the reaction,' he added.

Meanwhile, pictures from Dublin today showed the city's best-known thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, dominated by the charred remains of burnt-out vehicles.

These are being removed, as well as debris on the streets and shattered glass, following attacks on some shops and looting.

The chaos in Ireland's capital began at around 1.30pm on Thursday, when a man attacked a group of young children outside the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire which sits on Parnell Square.

Witnesses said three children 'fell to the ground' one after the other and that a woman, believed to be a teacher or care assistant, was also attacked.

A five-year-old girl, one of three that were attacked, was left seriously injured. Irish police said the girl was receiving emergency medical treatment in a Dublin hospital.

This update from the police prompted at least 100 people to take to the streets, some armed with metal bars and their faces covered.

Others carried signs reading 'Irish Lives Matter' and waved Irish flags through a neighbourhood home to a large immigrant community.

One protester told AFP that 'Irish people are being attacked by these scum'.

Police said over 400 officers including many in riot gear, were deployed in Dublin city centre to contain the unrest.

A police cordon was also set up around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, and officers from the Mounted Support Unit were in nearby Grafton Street.

A number of police vehicles and a tram were also damaged during the disorder.

Shop windows were routinely smashed and a Foot Locker store was looted. All public transport in the city - trams and buses - was suspended and many firms have urged their staff to work from home on Friday.

By late evening, Police Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin said calm had been restored and no serious injuries were reported. 'It was gratuitous thuggery,' he said.

Ireland has been facing a chronic housing crisis, with the government estimating that there is a deficit of hundreds of thousands of homes for the general population.

Widespread dissatisfaction has fed into a backlash against asylum seekers and refugees, and far-right figures have promoted anti-immigration sentiment at rallies and on social media with claims that 'Ireland is full'.

People walk past the damaged entrance to a Foot Locker shop after it was looted last night

A worker gestures as people stand in front of a Holiday Inn Express that was damaged

Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio stopped the knife attacker by hitting him with his helmet

A bus and car on fire are seen on O'Connell Street after violent scenes unfolded following the attack on Parnell Square East where five people were injured

Protesters sort through looted goods from Foot Locker as the mass on the streets last night

Thugs with masks and their hoods pulled up vandalise a police vehicle before setting it on fire

A bus is seen burning in central Dublin last night amid the riots

A man records a destroyed car and a burning bus in Dublin last night amid the riots

Gardai carrying shields and batons clash with hooded rioters on the streets of Dublin

Police officers stand guard to protect the scene of the stabbing outside a school

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the scenes in the city centre, including attacks on police, 'cannot and will not be tolerated' and promised to take action.

'A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc,' she said, calling for calm.

Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor waded into the row, criticising the response from the police and the authorities on X (formerly Twitter).

He added: 'God bless those attacked today, we pray.'

Thursday's incident, which police initially said was not thought to be terror-related, involved a man armed with a knife stabbing victims outside the school, according to media and witnesses.

Those at the scene described how a man had been disarmed, and Prime Minister Mr Varadkar said a suspect had been arrested.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty later told media that 'a young girl aged five years has sustained serious injuries' and was receiving emergency medical treatment.

A five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl sustained less serious wounds and the boy had since been discharged, he added.

The woman in her 30s - reported by some news outlets to be a creche worker - was being treated for serious injuries in hospital. Reports said she put herself between the knifeman and his innocent targets.

Police said a man in his 50s, who also was seriously injured, is a 'person of interest' in their investigation. No other details about his identity were revealed.

At a press briefing in the evening, Mr Harris was asked about a potential terrorist link, and he didn't rule it out.

'I have never ruled out any possible motive for this attack... all lines of inquiry are open to determine the motive for this attack,' he said.

That appeared to be a slight change in stance from earlier, when Superintendent Liam Geraghty said police were keeping an open mind in terms of the investigation but were 'satisfied there is no terrorist link'.

He said that police believe that it was 'a standalone incident, not necessarily connected to any wider issues that are ongoing in the country or in the city, and we need to identify the exact reasons for that happening'.

Mr Geraghty confirmed earlier witness reports that a knife was used in the attack, but he couldn't provide more details on the nature of the injuries. He also confirmed that witnesses sought to disarm the man as soon as they saw what was going on.

'My understanding is members of the public did intervene at a very, very early stage and we would applaud those members of the public for getting involved in such a traumatic and potentially dangerous situation for themselves,' he said.

Last night, a Deliveroo driver told how he saw the knifeman stabbing innocent children - and so battered him to the ground with his helmet.

Riot police stand next to a burning police vehicle. Over 400 officers were deployed to the riot

Brazil-born Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending the bloodbath.

Last night father-of-two Mr Benicio told of his role in the incident.

In a voice message he sent to his friends, he said: 'I saw the guy pulling the teacher, picking up the child. I stopped to see what was happening, I thought it was a normal fight.'

But then, the attacker pulled a knife.

'Man, I threw the bike on the ground and went after the guy... I didn't even think about it,' he said. 'I took off my helmet and hit the helmet on his head, which knocked the guy down.'

Speaking to The Journal, he added: 'I didn't even make a decision, it was pure instinct, and it was all over in seconds. He fell to the ground, I didn't see where knife went, and other people stepped in.'

He said his thoughts are with the five-year-old girl. 'I am praying,' he said, 'It's all I am thinking of. I saw her in the ambulance, she looked so vulnerable. I had to go with Gardai then. I am waiting for news about her. I am hoping.'

Siobhan Kearney, who witnessed the attack, said the scene was 'absolutely bedlam' as she initially watched events unfold from the other side of the street.

'Without thinking, I just took across the road to help out,' she told Irish national broadcaster RTE.

'We got another young man, disarmed [the attacker] with the knife. Another man took the knife and put it away for the [police] to find it.'

Ms Kearney added a group of people restrained the suspect on the ground as some of those injured were taken back inside the school.

Mr Varadkar said he was shocked by the incident.

'The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that,' he said in a statement.

'Gardai [Ireland's national police] have detained a suspect and are following a definite line of inquiry.'

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was 'shocked' by the 'brutal attack'.

Three children and a woman, as well as the suspected attacker, were all injured in the incident

Police vehicles park near the scene of the stabbing outside a school in Parnell Square East

Local lawmaker Aodhan O Riordain of the Irish Labour Party said the incident was 'disturbing'.

'Hope injuries are not serious but it will [be] extremely traumatising regardless for all involved,' he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Mary Lou McDonald, leader of the Sinn Fein opposition party, said she was 'horrified' by what had happened.

'I want to send my solidarity to the families of those attacked. As a parent, I can only imagine what they are going through right now,' she said.
Protesters dressed in replica hazmat suits were evicted from the NSW Liberal Conference on Saturday after heckling Opposition Leader Peter Dutton about his stance on nuclear energy.

Liberal Party members and supporters watched on as a group of men entered the conference lobby in Sydney, claiming to be Mr Dutton.

A video uploaded to the South Coast Labour Council Facebook page showed two men dressed in white full-body suits with radiation hazard symbols and signs reading 'Dutton MP for Fukushima' and 'Nukes 'R' Us'.

'We have a special announcement from the leader of the opposition, Member for Fukushima, Peter Dutton,' one protester said about the disruption.

Protesters were escorted from NSW Liberal Party conference at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Saturday after showing up in hazmat suits and claiming to be Peter Dutton

The pair were quickly booted from the event chanting 'Nukes 'R' Us, Nukes 'R' Us' after declaring their support for nuclear energy and opposition to a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict

READ MORE: Climate protestor rushed to hospital A former high-level Australian diplomat has been taken to hospital two weeks after embarking on a hunger strike outside parliament. Advertisement

Disgruntled members off camera could be heard yelling 'p*** off' to the group of men as they continued their performance.

'I'm sorry we haven't supported Save the Whales before, but we are going to save the whales from those pesky wind farms downstairs,' a protester pretending to be Mr Dutton said.

The men spent minutes declaring their support for nuclear energy and opposition to a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict before they were escorted out of the conference chanting 'Nukes 'R' Us, Nukes 'R' Us.'

Following the protest, Mr Dutton took to the podium to outline his plan to 'start a conversation' about nuclear energy in Australia.

He said most Australians didn't understand the basics of nuclear energy, which he argued could greatly benefit Australia if implemented correctly.

'Most people were influenced by the incidence of Chernobyl and elsewhere, some people in the research were influenced by The Simpsons,' the Opposition Leader said.

'If you've watched The Simpsons, some of the research work demonstrated that people didn't want a Springfield going up in their backyard.'

Mr Dutton was critical of the government's recent energy schemes, saying the Australian taxpayer will be 'on the hook for years' as a result of mismanagement.

Following the protest Mr Dutton took to the podium to outline his plan to 'start a conversation' about nuclear energy in Australia

Some members of the audience of 600 booed NSW Liberal state executive member Michelle Bishop earlier when she tried to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land

Earlier in the conference tensions appeared to linger from the recent Voice referendum when NSW Liberal state executive member Michelle Bishop was booed while acknowledging the traditional owners of the land.

Ms Bishop addressed the crowd of 600 at the Fullerton Hotel where she acknowledged 'that we are on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and acknowledge our traditional owners'.

Members of the audience began jeering Ms Bishop as she nervously stammered through her short speech.

One member said that it was just a small clump of the crowd that was behind the booing and that not everyone joined in.
Protesters in kayaks, dinghies and sailboats have blockaded the world's largest coal port, calling on the federal government to stop new fossil fuel projects.

The flotilla successfully prevented ships from leaving or entering Newcastle Port on Saturday, with the protest planned to continue for 30 hours ending on Sunday.

Greens leader Adam Bandt joined protesters as part of the Rising Tide movement's action.

Mr Bandt led calls for the government to end new coal and gas projects, adopt a 75 per cent emissions reduction target and stop coal exports from Newcastle.

'In the middle of the climate crisis Labor is making the problem worse by opening more coal and gas mines,' he said.

Protesters in kayaks, dinghies and sailboats have blockaded the world's largest coal port, calling on the federal government to stop new fossil fuel projects

The flotilla successfully prevented ships from leaving or entering Newcastle Port on Saturday, with the protest planned to continue for 30 hours ending on Sunday

READ MORE: Baffling sick note kids are using to get off school A mock sick note that has been made available to students so they can wag school and protest for climate action has sparked outrage among teachers. Advertisement

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen decried the Greens' action and pointed to his government's new investments in batteries for wind and solar farms.

'While the Greens are protesting, we are progressing jobs growth and emissions reductions by developing offshore wind,' he told AAP on Friday.

NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee denounced the protesters as 'extremists'.

Newcastle Port contributes to roughly two per cent of the world's global coal supply and its exports generate billions in royalties for the state government.

A spokesperson for the Port said due to safety concerns, shipping had been halted.

'At present, due to the number of people currently in the shipping channel, all shipping movements have ceased due to safety concerns, irrespective of the cargo they are carrying or intend to load,' they said.

Incredible turnout in Newcastle at the @RisingTideAus #PeoplesBlockade which is shutting down the worlds biggest coal port!



We want #NoNewFossilFuels a just transition & new green jobs in Australia. Enough of being the worlds 3rd largest fossil fuel exporter! @GreenpeaceAP pic.twitter.com/65JTwob1Wr  Sophie McNeill (@Sophiemcneill) November 25, 2023

Mr Galilee said the disruption would not change global coal demand or supply but would have a major impact on the NSW economy.

Mr Bandt said governments and corporations cared more about money than the safety of Australian communities.

'People are fed up because Labor is not listening and now people are making their voices heard,' he said.

Newcastle Port contributes to roughly two per cent of the world's global coal supply and its exports generate billions in royalties for the state government

The Rising Tide protest has involved activists taking to the water in kayaks and sailboats

During the 2022 election, Labor positioned itself as the more environmentally friendly of the two major parties, committing to net-zero emissions by 2050.

To achieve this, the nation needs to reduce its greenhouse gas output by 43 per cent within the next decade.

But since entering office, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has approved four new coal projects that would produce an estimated 147 million tonnes of emissions across their lifetimes, according to the Australia Institute.

Another 25 coal mines are also waiting on federal government approval, which would bring the total potential emissions up to 12.8 billion tonnes.

Retired public health professor Peter Sainsbury said immediate action was needed to save the world.

'Climate change far exceeds any public health threat that I have seen in my 40 years as a public health doctor,' he said.

The blockade is the latest in a string of climate protests ahead of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which opens in Dubai on Thursday.

Mr Bowen and assistant minister Jenny McAllister will attend the conference.
A fired meteorologist has spoke of his mental and financial struggles after footage of him masturbating on camera in front of strangers online leaked last year.

Erick Adame was sacked in September 2022 from Spectrum NY1 after an adult webcam site user took screenshots of him performing explicitly and leaked them.

His last live camming session was on December 28, 2021 - when someone posted a link publicly naming Adame.

The Emmy-nominated meteorologist told his followers on Friday about his personal struggles since the leak.

He said the toll was too hard to explain and said he would be taking a break from social media.

Emmy-nominated Erick Adame was sacked last year from Spectrum NY1 after an adult webcam site user took screenshots of him performing explicitly and leaked them

In a new post to his social media, Adame thanked those closest to him as he described mental and financial troubles

'In December 2021, I was captured nude on a public adult webcam sit. It's something I had done before but wasn't caught in this way until then,' he wrote in a post.

'Months later someone would send these images to my mom, my bf and my work. I was fired in September 2022 and haven't been able to find similar work, on or off camera.

'The toll this has taken on me mentally and financially is hard to even begin to describe.

'I'm still pushing forward and trying my hardest to stay positive but I need to take a break from social media.

'Weather with Erick will continue for now. I'm hoping my time away will leave space to focus on mental health and hopefully get working again.

'Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive during this very difficult time.'

Adame also shared a direct message someone on Instagram had sent him.

'I saw your video, I'm sorry what happened to you, but you are so hot,' the message said.

Adame asked the user: 'Where did you see it so I can remove it', to which the person responded: 'Come on, you did it because you like it, don't be a hypocrite.'

Sharing the brief exchange, Adame captured the post: 'My life for the last two years has been conversations like this. This is happening today.'

Adame was nominated for two Emmys throughout his nearly 15-year career, about five of which he spent as a meteorologist at NY1 before he was fired

Alongside the post, Adame also shared an exchange with a Instagram user, that he said happened every day

In response to sharing the post to X, which has since been deleted, Adame was inundated with comments wishing him well.

One person said: 'I'm sorry you are going through this. Do what is best for you. That never should have affected your career for a multitude of reasons.

'You have a great pleasant & professional demeanor when you did weather on NY1. The next hire will only benefit by bringing you on their team.'

Another posted: 'Stay strong and stay positive. Better days are ahead for sure.'

The weatherman had previously opened up about how the online sex acts made him 'feel better about myself' in his twenties.

He admitted that even on cam, he would reveal he was an employee of NY1 - and it was revealed he told up to 700 users his full name and address.

Breaking his silence, Adame told the Death, Sex & Money podcast: 'It makes me feel better about myself.

Adame revealed his camming days started on Skype - where he would video call people he knew from college

Adame is seen on a beach in an Instagram post from 2018 before the scandal

'For years, dating all the way back to my teenage years, I had low self-esteem and was ashamed of who I am because Im gay.

'And showing off, and getting that type of praise and being called sexy, I wanna see more  hearing that from someone on the other end made you feel so good.'

He said he debated about showing his face on camera while performing the sex acts, and he eventually ended up doing so.

Adame added: 'It just wasnt the same. It wasnt as fun. I thought my face was handsome if Im looking for praise, this is one of my best attributes. You know how you have like the devil on your shoulder and the angel on your shoulder?'

He said his camming days started on Skype - where he would video call people he knew from college. But as he got older, he was performing for strangers and became more 'risky' when he moved to New York in 2017.

Looking back at the leaked footage, he previously admitted: 'Theyre graphic. Some of them are so humiliating now.'

Leaked audio of one performance that was obtained first by The Desk revealed how he goaded bosses into watching him.

'I think it'd be hot if my boss saw me. I'd love if my boss f****ed me on camera,' he said in one performance.

He said he was desperate for sex, and invited men over to his home to sleep with him.

As he got older, he was performing for strangers and became more 'risky' when he moved to New York in 2017.

He complained on social media about how he'd been exposed, and later filed legal paperwork to compel the website into telling him who filmed him

Elsewhere in the performance, he asked viewers if they could 'imagine' their 'weatherman' behaving as he was.

In September, Adame wrote in a lengthy confessional post: 'Despite being a public figure and being on television in the biggest market in the country in front of millions of people five days a week for more than a decade and a half, I secretly appeared on an adult webcam website.

'On this site, I acted out my compulsive behaviors, while at home, by performing on camera for other men,' he wrote.

'It was 100% consensual on both of our parts. I wasn't paid for this, and it was absurd of me to think I could keep this private. Nonetheless, my employer found out and I was suspended and then terminated.'

Adame was nominated for two Emmys throughout his nearly 15-year career, about five of which he spent as a meteorologist at NY1 before he was fired.
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Music lovers have dusted off their party gear and descended on Canberra for Spilt Milk, but it could be a wet start to the summer festival season with storms expected to dampen festivities into the evening.

The one-day festival runs from 11am to 11pm on Saturday with over 40 artists, including Post Malone, Lime Cordiale and Peach PRC, performing across five stages.

Other artist highlights include Dom Dolla, Cub Sport, Lastlings, Aitch, Pacific Avenue and Ocean Alley.

Thousands of attendees were all smiles as they entered the highly anticipated annual festival at Canberra's Exhibition Park.

However, some might regret choosing fashion over functionality with severe thunderstorms forecast to hit the city after 5.45pm.

Thousands of Aussies headed to Canberra on Saturday for the 2023 Spilt Milk music festival

Attendees were all smiles as they entered Canberra's Exhibition Park for 12 hours of music and fun

Thousands of music lovers were seen entering the park for the festival, which runs from 11.30am to 11.30pm

The festival features more than 40 artists, including Post Malone, Lime Cordiale and Peach PRC, across five stages

Some festivalgoers might regret choosing fashion over functionality with severe thunderstorms forecast to hit the city by 5.45pm

The Bureau of Meteorology warned large hailstones, damaging winds, flash flooding and lightning are set to hit Canberra by 5.45pm

The Bureau of Meteorology warned large hailstones, damaging winds, flash flooding and lightning could put a damper on the event.

'Stay indoors away from windows,' the ACT State Emergency Service warned,

'Never drive, walk or ride through floodwater.'

Festivalgoers will have access to free pill testing for the first time this decade.

The service, run by Pill Testing Australia, allows attendees to test against lethal ingredients in drugs before taking them.

Spilt Milk attendees will have access to free pill testing for the first time in Australia this decade

Dom Dolla, Cub Sport, Lastlings, Aitch, Pacific Avenue and Ocean Alley all performed at Spilt Milk on Saturday

Pill Testing Australia and the ACT government pill testing site at the City Community Health Centre, CANtest, are available to check for lethal ingredients in pills

Thunderstorms are set to cause flash flooding and large hail over the music festival on Saturday

Canberra is the first of the four Spilt Milk festivals across Australia with events in the Gold Coast, Ballarat and Perth to follow

Pill testing was last available at Groovin the Moo in 2019.

That year seven instances of lethal ingredients were detected and all participants discarded the dangerous pills.

The ACT government pill testing site at the City Community Health Centre, CANtest, has also extended its weekend hours.

It was open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday and 10am to 1pm Saturday.

Pill Testing Australia announced the free testing at Spilt Milk online on Friday.

Canberra is the first of the Spilt Milk festivals with events in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia lined up over the next two weekends

Canberra was the first Spilt Milk festival this year, tickets for the Gold Coast and Ballarat events have sold out

Spilt Milk festivalgoers were warned by the Bureau of Meteorology on Saturday that severe storms are set to move over the city

Spilt Milk will offer free pill testing - the last festival to offer the service in Australia was Groovin the Moo in 2019

Post Malone, Lime Cordiale, Peach PRC, Dom Dolla, Cub Sport, Lastlings, Aitch, Pacific Avenue and Ocean Alley are just a few of the artists at Spilt Milk

'We're heading to Spilt Milk Canberra to provide free pill testing services for patrons,' it said.

'We are the only organisation to have provided pill testing services at Australian festivals and are able to do so thanks to our incredibly committed team of qualified health, medical and analytical volunteers.

'To provide this free service we rely on the public's generous donations.'

Canberra is the first of the Spilt Milk festivals with events in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia lined up over the next two weekends.

Spilt Milk will head to the Gold Coast on Sunday with festivals set to take over the city's sport precinct from 10.30am to 10.30pm.

Thousands of Aussies attended Spilt Milk in Canberra on Saturday ahead of three more Spilt Milk events

Festivalgoers at Spilt Milk will have access to free pill testing for the first time this decade

Spilt Milk will head to the Gold Coast on Sunday with festivals set to take over the city's sport precinct from 10.30am to 10.30pm following the Canberra event

Organisers will have just five days of rest before heads to Victoria Park in Ballarat, about 115km northwest of Melbourne, on Saturday, December 2.

The last of the festivals will wrap up in Perth on Sunday, December 3.

Tickets for the Gold Coast and Ballarat events have sold out.
Danielle Echeverria is a reporter for The Chronicles Engagement and Breaking News team. She recently completed her Master's degree in journalism at Stanford University, where she won the Nicholas Roosevelt Environmental Journalism Award for her reporting and covered agriculture, climate change and worker safety. She previously interned The Chronicle on the Business desk, as well as at Big Local News, focusing on data journalism. She is originally from Bakersfield, California.

She can be reached at danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com.
A Navy frigate and maritime suveillance aircraft will be sent

Australia will join the Philippines to patrol the South China Sea

Australia and the Philippines have commenced regular joint navy and airforce patrols in the South China Sea, as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China.

The frigate HMAS Toowoomba - which was involved in an incident earlier this month that saw several Australian navy divers injured when a Chinese warship set off sonar pulses - will be sent along with a P8-A maritime surveillance aircraft.

On the day of the naval incident Anthony Albanese was posing for pictures with iconic Aussie TV character Bluey but later said he 'knew' China carried out the attack.

China denied the allegation but Mr Albanese slapped down that statement when asked if he believed China had carried out the attack.

'I know they did,' Mr Albanese said.

'The Australian Defence Force and the Navy, we don't put out a statement like that without checking it all.

'It was a dangerous thing to happen and it shouldn't have.'

Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba, involved in an incident this month with China that saw several Navy divers injured, will be sent to patrol the South China Sea with the Philippines

Anthony Albanese was posing for pictures with TV character Bluey on the day of the Navy run-in with China, which already earned him backlash as being 'tone deaf' amid the situation in the Middle East

The prime minister, who met with Chinese president Xi Jinping at the APEC summit this month has been eager to improve Australia's relationship with China.

'They always push back. We've said we'll disagree where we must, and we have a disagreement here,' he said.

The divers suffered minor injuries to their ears, despite the Australian ship having warned others they were in the area.

The new three-day exercises with the Philippines follow discussions earlier this year on joint patrols to underscore what the countries say is their commitment to closer cooperation and a rules-based order in the region.

It also comes days after Manila took similar steps with the United States, concluding patrols that started in waters near Taiwan.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the inaugural patrols represent the practical implementation of the strategic partnership signed between the two nations in September.

'Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to a peaceful, secure and prosperous region, where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected,' he said in a joint statement with the Philippines' National Defence Secretary Gilberto C Teodoro Jr on Saturday.

'The first maritime cooperative activity between the Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines demonstrates this important commitment.'

The Philippines department of defence spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the patrols will be carried out in the West Philippine Sea, Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine military said two of its navy vessels and five surveillance aircraft would participate.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr hailed the exercises as maintaining a rules-based international order.

'This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that may follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries,' he said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the inaugural patrols represent the practical implementation of the strategic partnership signed between the two nations in September

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis.

The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's 'aggressive activities' in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and US tensions around naval operations.

China has accused the Philippines of enlisting 'foreign forces' to patrol the South China Sea. Manila insists the maritime activities are within its rights.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to take Australia's relationship with the Philippines to the next level, after the two nations signed closer defence and security ties.
Met says it will arrest those inciting terror or hate ahead of pro-Palestine march

The Met Police has issued a hate speech warning ahead of today's Pro-Palestine march as the force will out leaflets to provide 'absolute clarity' on the language that will land you in jail.

This comes after anti-Semitic signs and slogans were seen and heard during the march on Armistice Day, and now officers have been briefed on which chants 'cross the line of the law' and trained spotters will be deployed to identify racist placards.

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to gather in London for the latest demonstration calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The Met's deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'This sets out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation.

'We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promote acts of terrorism - such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people - or who spreads hate speech.'

Two men pictured wearing Hamas-style headbands at the Armistice Day pro-Palestine protest

The Met Police has issued a hate speech warning ahead of today's Pro-Palestine march as the force will out leaflets to provide 'absolute clarity' on the language that will land you in jail (pictured: sign at pro-Palestine protest which reads: 'Netanyahu - Hitler would be proud')

Officers have been briefed on which chants 'cross the line of the law' and trained spotters will be deployed to identify racist placards (left

The Met Police plans to fight illegal chants and images at pro-Palestinian marches by handing out leaflets asking protesters not to break the law. Pictured: The Met's Hate Crime Protest Leaflet

Organisers Stop the War coalition said that such a measure was 'intrusive', but asked anyone attending to avoid 'any actions that might leave you or others around you open to arrest'.

'We ask that all attending our marches respect these clear anti-racist principles, including in any signs or placards they choose to bring to the march,' the group said in a statement.

The force's 'Hate Crime Protest Leaflet' is supposed to provide 'absolute clarity' on what will be deemed an offence.

It doesn't threaten those who break the law with arrest or any other sanction but asks protesters to 'keep on the right side of the law'.

On the leaflet, the Met wrote: 'The law protects the right to lawful protests, and the Met Police supports your right to legally make your voice heard.

'However, the law also protects people from racist abuse and from terrorism being promoted.

'Whilst the majority of people are complying with these rules, a minority have crossed the line.'

Around 1,500 officers will be deployed for the protests, which comes amid a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the release of 24 hostages by Hamas, with the Met promising 'robust intervention' against criminal activity.

The Metropolitan Police will be on high alert in the capital, after a previous rally on Armistice Day saw scenes of violent disorder after counter-protesters clashed with officers.

A sign at the Armistice Day protest featured cartoons appearing to depict depict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman

This comes after anti-Semitic signs and slogans were seen and heard during the march on Armistice Day (sign which reads: Netanyahu reminds me of Hitler which was held up on Armistice Day)

A poster depicting US President Joe Biden as the devil wearing US flag shirt and Israeli flag tie caption: 'The puppet master: The mastermind. Evil of all evils'

Protesters gather for a pro-Palestinian protest in London, on November 11

The force said of their policing approach: 'There will be trained spotters at specific points of the march looking out for criminal activity, including hate placards and clothing, and identifying those responsible.

'We also have officers who have been briefed on chants, including those which cross the line of the law.

'Across the weekend, we will also be using technology to identify and track offenders within large groups of people and deploying intervention teams where we need to extract suspects.

'We have been clear that policing a protest is complex and our work doesn't simply stop when the event finishes. Our specialist teams continue to gather and review evidence to identify criminal behaviour and to locate those responsible.

'In recent weeks the public have helped us to identify many of those suspected of committing crimes. A woman was recently identified with help from the public and interviewed under caution for a placard with the Star of David and a swastika.

'We've also seen people identify themselves after the strength of our social media appeals. Two women who were videoed chanting antisemitic chants identified themselves after one of our appeals had 5.4 million views.

'Officers are also looking for opportunities to use retrospective facial recognition which enables us to compare an image caught on CCTV, or other footage, against a vast database of custody images.

'It can be used after an event or incident as part of a criminal investigation and speeds up the identification, and elimination, of suspects.'

The force had come under severe pressure from politicians over the decision to allow that march to go ahead, with former home secretary Suella Braverman accusing the force of showing bias in favour of left-wing protesters.

New Home Secretary James Cleverly (pictured) said that he expected the Met to address the concerns from the Jewish community

Around 100,000 people are expected to march on Saturday from Park Lane to Whitehall, as organisers rejected the label of 'hate march' deployed by Mrs Braverman before she was sacked by Rishi Sunak.

The afternoon will also see a protest by Hizb-ut-Tahrir outside the Egyptian Embassy. It is the first by the group since October 21, after a video emerged showing a man chanting 'jihad'.

The Met said no offences were identified from the clip, but it prompted an outcry from politicians.

Ahead of Saturday, Mr Adelekan said chants using the word 'jihad' were causing upset and concern in the Jewish community but were 'always contextual'.

A 90-minute march organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism is also due to take place on Sunday, with around 40,000-50,000 people expected to attend.

New Home Secretary James Cleverly said that he expected the Met to address the concerns from the Jewish community.

'When a minority in the UK are screaming at us that they are scared beyond belief by what is happening it is incumbent upon UK policing and politicians to listen and respond,' he told the Times.

'What we saw over the last few weeks is the Jewish community in the UK telling us over and over and over again they felt vulnerable.

'The police have to respond to that. In the conversations I have had with senior police officers in the Met and more broadly and in the conversation I had with the mayor of London I've made clear it is my expectation that they address those concerns.'

The Metropolitan Police said anyone taking part in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration today must not deviate from the route specified in this map

The Met Police also said those involved in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration must not enter the area around the Israeli Embassy, which has been specified in this map

Those involved in the Hizb-ut-Tahrir demonstration outside the Egyptian Embassy in South Street in London's Mayfair must remain in the area shaded in red in this map, the Met said

Among those released by Hamas on Friday were 13 Israelis who had been held in the Gaza Strip since the militant group staged a raid on Israel nearly seven weeks ago.

They are the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began on Friday.

The freed Israeli hostages included eight women - six in their 70s and 80s - and three children.

Israel also confirmed that it had released 39 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron used a two-day trip to the region to warn Benjamin Netanyahu's government that Israel's long-term security depends on the Palestinians also being able to live in 'peace and stability and security'.

He told the BBC: 'Ultimately, there won't be long-term safety and security and stability for Israel unless there is long-term safety, security and stability for the Palestinian people.

'And you have to start thinking about the future... You've got to paint a picture of actually the Palestinians living in peace, stability and security.'
James Cleverly, the new Home Secretary, has said he is 'frustrated' with the focus on the Rwanda plan to tackle illegal immigration and said it shouldn't be the 'be all and end all'.

He added that the plan is only part of a broader strategy to 'stop the boats' and the proposed workaround of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would undermine attempts to stop illegal migration.

But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out leaving the ECHR and is considering emergency legislation to force the Rwanda plan through.

Mr Cleverly warned this would jeopardise 'key co-operation' with other countries which has helped with tackling illegal migration - like France, Albania and Bulgaria.

James Cleverly , the new Home Secretary, has said he is 'frustrated' with the focus on the Rwanda plan to tackle illegal immigration and it shouldn't be the 'be all and end all'

But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out leaving the ECHR and is considering emergency legislation to force the Rwanda plan through

Mr Cleverly warned this would jeopardise 'key co-operation' with other countries which has helped with tackling illegal migration - like France, Albania and Bulgaria

The new Home Secretary has faced an eventful two weeks at his new post, with the Supreme Court ruling that the Rwanda plan is unlawful on Day Two.

READ MORE - Rishi Sunak is considering suspending part of the Human Rights Act to get Rwanda flights off the ground, reports say Advertisement

On Thursday, official data revealed that legal migration has risen to record levels, after shock revised figures showed a net increase of almost three-quarters of a million people in 2022.

Then when Mr Cleverly supposedly called the town of Stockton a 'sh**hole' in the House of Commons - which he denies - he faced massive backlash.

Brushing it off, he called this his 'third baptism of fire' - referencing the events of his past jobs in the government.

He says he won't 'allow myself to be fazed' - as he is used to dealing with events very quickly after starting a new job.

During his nine weeks as Education Secretary, there was uproar over exam marking and then the Queen tragically passed away two days in to his time as Foreign Secretary.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Cleverly was careful not to echo his predecessor's strong views of calling illegal migration an 'invasion'.

He said: 'I'm not focused quite as much on describing it, I'm going to spend time dealing with it.

'Don't talk tough, be tough. I am a player on the pitch. It's not my job to try and think about creative ways of describing a situation. It is my job to deal with a situation.'

Mrs Braverman tours a building site during her visit to Rwanda in March

The Office for National Statistics drastically revised its figure for the year to December up from 606,000 to 745,000, an increase of 139,000, almost the same as the population of Cambridge

After the Supreme Court dashed the Government's hope by ruling the plan to immediately send illegal migrants to Rwanda was illegal, the Prime Minister is looking for ways to push through the plan in other ways.

READ MORE - Rishi Sunak announces 'emergency legislation' to deem Rwanda a safe country Advertisement

In the coming weeks, a new treaty with Rwanda is expected to be ratified by Parliament.

The Government's second approach is more controversial - plans to introduce emergency legislation which could 'opt out' of the ECHR on illegal mitigation cases.

When ruling on the Rwanda plan, the Supreme Court raised significant concerns about the country's migration system as it appeared to be 'prejudiced' against Afghan, Yemeni and Syrian refugees - rejecting 100 per cent of their applications.

It also noted that while a route of appeal to the Rwanda High Court existed it technically has never been used.

But Mr Cleverly insists the Supreme Court's concerns will be addressed by the new treaty with Rwanda. He also said the treaty will stop any asylum seekers sent to Rwanda from being sent on to somewhere else, as this was the biggest concern raised.

He told The Times: 'We have spent a lot of time, a lot of civil service horsepower, addressing the issues which the Supreme Court and Appeal Court identified.

'The Rwandans are very keen to work with us because we are helping them improve their institution. They know us, they like us, they trust us.'

After the Supreme Court ruled the plan to immediately send illegal migrants to Rwanda was illegal, the PM is looking for other ways to push the plan through

While Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, wants the government to negate the effect of the ECHR, Mr Cleverly said he prefers to 'modernise, update and reform'

Suella Braverman's time as Home Secretary came to an end after she wrote an article in The Times accusing Scotland Yard of bias when dealing with pro-Palestine protests

What is the European Convention on Human Rights? After the darkest days of the Second World War, political leaders including Winston Churchill advocated for a Council of Europe (CoE) to oversee a charter of human rights. This led to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) being signed in 1950. Its drafting was led by Conservative MP Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe and the UK was among the first to ratify the international treaty. Today the legal commitment signs up all 46 CoE members to abide by rules on rights to life, liberty and expression, and protection from torture, degrading treatment and slavery. It is not linked to the European Union, so Brexit did not affect the UK's obligations. The European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg, makes binding judgements on the Convention. Advertisement

While Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, wants the government to negate the effect of the ECHR, Mr Cleverly said he prefers to 'modernise, update and reform'.

He added: 'Nothing is cost free. Everything needs to be considered, the advantages and disadvantages.'

Mr Cleverly said the Rwanda scheme is drawing a lot of attention but it is part of a wider plan, which includes a treaty with Albania that had led to a 90 per cent decline in arrivals from that country - along with work in the UK to tackle migrant gangs and immigration enforcement.

He said 'there are multiple methods' to tackle illegal immigration and the government shouldn't 'fixate on the methods, focus on the mission'.

His predecessor's time as Home Secretary came to an end after she wrote an article in The Times accusing Scotland Yard of bias when dealing with pro-Palestine protests.

Mr Cleverly didn't echo Mrs Braverman's words but did say the police are failing to do enough.

He said the Jewish Community is screaming at the Government that they are vulnerable, and he has 'made clear' he expects the police to address their concerns.

Mr Cleverly added that he hasn't ruled out giving police more powers but only if they 'genuinely need more' and they need to first use all the powers they currently hold more effectively.
Dramatic photos have emerged showing Kyiv under fire in the biggest drone attack of the conflict so far, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said to expect another winter bombardment.

There was a total of nearly 75 drones which were launched from two directions which were the Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Kursk regions in Russia, according to Ukraine's Air Force in a Telegram post.

It was described as a 'record number' of drones. However, Ukraine claims to have intercepted around 71 of the drones in the attack.

At least five people were injured in the attack including an 11-year-old girl.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that apartment blocks and a nursery were hit.

An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike

There was a total of nearly 75 drones which were launched from two directions

Smoke rises following a drone strike. It was described as a 'record number' of drones by the Ukrainian Air Force

A damaged kindergarten following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv. It came as Russia launched its most intense drone strike on Ukraine since the beginning of the war

A man looks into a car heavily damaged by a drone remnants in Solomianskyi district on November 25, 2023

A building of a preschool in Solomianskyi district stands heavily damaged by a drone fragment

He said: 'In the Solomyan district, a fire broke out in the premises of a kindergarten as a result of the fall of UAV debris.

'There are also open fires in this area. Fire and rescue services are on site.'

Explosions were heard as aircraft intercepted, with buildings damaged by the Iranian-made kamikaze Shahed drones.

Photographs show searchlights scouring the night sky in looking for enemy aircraft, like scenes from the London Blitz in the Second World War.

Throughout the night, the Ukrainian Air Force reported sightings of Shahed drones in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Sumy and Kyiv.

A municipal service worker sweeps up debris on a playground of a drone-damaged preschool in Solomianskyi district

An employee of a drone-damaged preschool in Solomianskyi district takes the salvaged items out of the room

An employee of a drone-damaged preschool in Solomianskyi district takes the salvaged items out of the room

Employees remove debris inside a building of a kindergarten damaged during Russian drone strikes

An inhabitant collects broken glass after the explosion of a downed Russian drone in a yard among residential buildings

Rescuers working to extinguish a fire at the site of a drone attack. Ukraine said it had downed most of the 75 Russian attack drones

A firefighter examines damage in an apartment building following the drone strike

Ukrainian police and military experts collect fragments of downed Russian drone around a crater in a yard around residential buildings

Paramedics give psychological aid to residents of a damaged apartment building

Around 71 of the 75 drones were intercepted by Ukrainian forces, it has been claimed

Ukrainian servicemen use a searchlight as they search for drones in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike

The Air Force added: 'Anti-aircraft missile troops, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units were involved in repelling the air attack.'

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said: 'As a result of the shooting down of enemy drones in the Solomianskyi district, damage to windows in apartments was recorded.'

The attack came ahead of Ukraine's annual memorial day for victims of the 1932 Holodomor famine.

A drone flies in the sky over Kyiv during the Russian drone strike

President Zelenskyy described the strikes as an act of 'wilful terror'

A police officer inspects a compound of a kindergarten damaged during Russian drone strikes

Local residents walk in front of their apartment building damaged during Russian drone strikes

The attack came ahead of Ukraine's annual memorial day for victims of the 1932 Holodomor famine

Swiss President Alain Berset, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte place candles to a monument to Holodomor victims during a commemoration ceremony of the famine of 1932-33

Millions died during the famine in Ukraine. The drone strike took place amid the anniversary of the Holodomor

A woman carries a candle at the Holodomor Genocide complex of the National Museum in Kyiv

People light candles on a hill at a monument for the victims of the 1932-33 Great Famine in Kyiv

Church bells tolled, candles flickered and national flags, adorned with black ribbons, flew in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv Saturday, amid the second year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

President Zelenskyy described the strikes as an act of 'wilful terror' and said more than 70 drones were involved in the attack, but most were shot down.

The president added: 'The closer we are to winter, the more Russians will try to make the strikes more powerful.'

This marks the fourth drone attack on the capital this month.

The country's Energy Ministry said the attack cut off power to an overhead line, leaving 77 residential buildings and 120 establishments without power in the city centre.

The attack bears similarities to attacks a year ago when Russia began targeting Ukraine's energy, military and transport infrastructure six months after withdrawing troops from around the Ukrainian capital.

It left millions without energy and heating during the bitter winter.
'Bally [balaclava] up, tool up... and any f***ing foreigner, kill them,' he said

Thug who called himself 'Kill all immigrants' incited Dublin riots in voice note

The sinister Telegram voice note that incited the Dublin riots just hours after a horrifying knife attack on three schoolchildren has been revealed.

'Bally [balaclava] up, tool up... and any f***ing foreigner, kill them', was the disturbing call to arms that 'Kill all immigrants' sent to a private group of self-proclaimed Irish 'patriots' called 'Enough is Enough' at 5.22pm on Thursday.

The riots were fuelled by unsubstantiated online rumours that the person behind the knife attack  which saw three children and a woman injured  was a foreign national.

As many as 500 thugs gathered close to some of the city's most iconic locations, some waving flags and brandishing signs reading 'Irish Lives Matter'. Shocking scenes saw police officers attacked, with around 50 sustaining injuries  one of whom faces having a toe amputated  while buses and a tram were torched, with one driver punched and dragged from his cab.

'Kill all immigrants' began his one-minute tirade by attacking the Garda, the Irish Police force. 'If there is any guards in this group you can go f*** yourself as well. You have blood on your hands you f***ing accommodated...' he said.

''Bally [balaclava] up, tool up... and any f***ing foreigner, kill them': The sinister Telegram voice note that incited the Dublin riots just hours after a horrifying knife attack on three schoolchildren has been revealed

A bus and car on fire on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes unfolded following an attack on Parnell Square East where five people were injured, including three young children on Thursday

An Garda Siochana after violence for hundreds of thugs in Dublin city centre on Thursday

He added: 'If they start acting the b***ix, we just make a load of little small groups, have one, say at O'Connell Street. Have one up at Grafton Street, have one at Smithfield. They can't control us all.

'Let's have little groups splintering off, doing what we got to do. Seven o'clock, be in town,' the mob leader demanded.

'Everyone bally up, tool up. And any f***ing g**o, foreigner, anyone, just kill them. Just f***ing kill them.

'Let's get this on the news, let's show the f***ing media that we're not a pushover. That no more foreigners are allowed into this poxy country.

'No f***ing more. Enough is enough. As the title says, this is it, this is the straw that broke the camel's back. You touch our f***ing kids and this is the repercussions. And no Garda, no politician is going to stop us.'

As this audio was sent to the far-right group, less that four hours after the attack which left a five-year-old girl seriously injured, tensions were already spreading across Dublin city centre.

The audio was met with an immediate and unhinged demands for violence against immigrants that 'blood needs to be spilt'.

One man named Robert Rodriguez replied to the voice note: 'GOING AND NOT ON MY OWN AND NOT WITH HANDS EMPTY!

'REMEMBRE [sic] OUR HISTORY! THEM GARDA ARE SCUM, THEY KNOW IT! BUT THEM FOREIGN B*****DS, BLOOD NEEDS TO BE SPILT TONIGHT IN THE NAME OF THAT CHILD!!!'

Police said the unrest was fuelled by a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology', after rumours about the attacker's nationality spread online.

It has since been reported by the Irish Times that the attacker had lived in Ireland for some 20 years.

Damage to public infrastructure in Dublin from the disorder could cost tens of millions of euros to repair, Irish premier Leo Varadkar said.

The Taoiseach added that the knife attack and the violence which followed had brought 'shame on Ireland'.

On Friday a visible and heavy police presence was seen in the city centre amidst fears a second night of rioting could follow.

Gardai made a number of arrests on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre as it was announced that legislation allowing Garda officers to use body-cams would be fast-tracked.

Ireland was left reeling after as many as 500 thugs responded to a horrifying knife attack on schoolchildren in Dublin on Thursday by launching an anti-migrant rampage

Fuelled by online rumours that the person behind the attack was a foreign national, the mobs gathered close to some of the city's most iconic locations

The riots came after three children were injured in a knife attack outside a school on Thursday

Fire burns following of a suspected stabbing that left few children injured in Dublin

A bus in flames after it was set on fire by thugs in Dublin on Thursday night

Rioters sort through looted goods in Dublin on November 23 as riots happened on the streets

Police take measures after violence protests erupted following the stabbing in Dublin

Police yesterday said they were mounting a significant security operation in the area and a number of people were taken away in police vans following sporadic altercations.

Police in Ireland are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage as a major investigation into riots in Dublin city centre continues.

The violence in the Irish capital on Thursday - which involved far-right elements and saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged - flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

There were a small number of arrests on Friday evening as gardai mounted a significant security operation around the O'Connell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Amid criticism of the Garda response to the riots, Government ministers met and heard that legislation to facilitate the use of body-worn cameras by police officers will be fast-tracked.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee also told colleagues that officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made.

She also insisted that the police force has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend, including securing the use of two water cannons from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Ms McEntee also rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to resign.

She said: 'If Sinn Fein wish to debate law and order, if Sinn Fein wish to debate how we can support the gardai, I have no problem in standing over Fine Gael's record of law and order, Fine Gael's record of supporting members of An Garda Siochana.

'I do not believe Sinn Fein can stand over their record.'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the knife attack and the violence which followed had brought 'shame on Ireland'

A clean-up operation was underway yesterday morning after battles broke out between rioters and police in Dublin last night following an knife attack on young children

Workers clean up debris of a burnt train and vehicles. A double-decker bus was also set alight

Mrs McDonald said there had been a 'an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing' and that a problem leading to Thursday's riot had been 'building for months'.

A five-year-old girl injured in the knife attack outside a school remained in a critical condition in hospital on Friday while the female care assistant, in her 30s, was in a serious condition.

The two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, suffered less serious injuries. That girl remained in hospital on Friday but the boy has been discharged.

Gardai said a man who sustained serious injuries at the scene is a person of interest in their investigation.

Politicians and police have hailed as heroes members of the public who intervened to halt the attacker at the scene on Parnell Square East, including a Brazilian Deliveroo driver.
Princess Anne persuaded her brother King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage, Omid Scobie is said to claim in his new book.

The couple were given the five-bedroom, Grade II-listed property on the Windsor estate as a wedding present by the late Queen before being kicked out in January - 24 hours after the publication of Harry's book, Spare.

The Sussexes had paid 2.4million to renovate Frogmore and were determined to hold onto it as a UK base, but were told to move out in what their cheerleader Scobie described at the time as a 'cruel punishment'.

French magazine Paris Match reports that the author will claim it was Harry's aunt, Anne, who encouraged Charles to initiate 'Frogxit' as part of a 'strict' approach towards the wayward couple.

This is said to have prompted the prince to plead, 'Don't you want to see your grandchildren any more?'

Princess Anne is said to have persuaded her brother King Charles (right, at the Highland Games last year) to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had paid 2.4million to renovate Frogmore and were determined to hold onto it as a UK base

Meghan and Harry were given notice to leave Frogmore (pictured) days after Harry's memoir, Spare, was published in January

Members of the Royal Family were reportedly told not to trust Harry after his memoir, Spare, was published earlier this year

Scobie says that only Harry's uncle, Prince Edward, was concerned about the prince's mental health.

He even accuses the King of being more worried about the pressure on Prince Andrew in the wake of the Epstein scandal.

The magazine says: 'Meanwhile, the King could not bring himself to hurt his brother. [He] was in tears because he was afraid for Andrew's mental health.

'Charles leads with his head and his heart. William is colder. He wants the job done and he had no problem with casualties along the way.'

In extracts of Endgame shared with Paris Match, Scobie also claims...

Meghan told King Charles there are two 'royal racists' who spoke about her son Archie's skin colour;

Meghan decided against attending the coronation because she did not want to 'dive back into the soap opera of the court';

Despite this, she and Harry still keep him 'up to date' by 'sending him photos of their children';

Harry told his father 'don't you want to see your grandchildren anymore?' after Charles evicted him from Frogmore Cottage;

Charles told members of the Royal Family not to trust Harry following the publication of Spare;

Kate and Meghan have not spoken together since 2019.

Endgame is published on Tuesday and follows Scobie's earlier book, Finding Freedom, which gave a rabidly pro-Sussex account of Harry and Meghan's romance, wedding and decision to acrimoniously quit as working royals.

According to The Sun, the new book is set to claim that Meghan accused two people in the Royal Household of airing 'concerns' about her son Archie's skin colour - as opposed to just one as previously suggested.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have written to King Charles to outline her concerns about the comments.

Meanwhile, in coverage of Endgame in French magazine Paris Match, Scobie claims Meghan has not spoken with the Princess of Wales since 2019.

The author also waspishly claims that Kate spent more time 'talking about' her sister-in-law Meghan than she ever actually spent with her.

He claims that Harry and Meghan sent the Waleses' three children gifts last Christmas, but that William and Kate did not respond with so much as a text.

The author  dubbed 'Meghan's mouthpiece'  repeats previous claims that the Duchess of Sussex 'never wants to set foot in England again', 'never felt at home' in the UK and 'never wants to be involved in the British monarchy again'.

Anne, seen with Charles at his coronation, is said to have advocated a strict approach towards the wayward Sussexes

Omid Scobie also claims in Endgame that the Sussexes sent Christmas gifts to the Prince and Princess of Wales for their children but never received a thank you text in return

Kate and Meghan chatting together at Wimbledon in 2019

The Sussexes were allowed to live in Frogmore Cottage as a wedding present by the late Queen

But he says Harry has said he is 'ready to forget' the recent troubles with his family and has given up on getting the 'apology or explanation' he has previously demanded, quoting the prince as saying: 'At this point, who cares, right?'

The claims emerged yesterday in Paris Match magazine to publicise Scobie's second royal tome, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival.

The article in Paris Match, ahead of the book's publication on Tuesday, is a tangled mass of quotes from it, combined with Scobie's own opinions on the state of the Royal Family and seemingly the interpretation of the magazine's journalist.

Several new claims are made but none is obviously explosive  so far  although Scobie has conducted several pre-publication interviews to be aired over the next few days, and there is no doubt that the Palace views his public vendetta with the Royal Family as unhelpful.

Many insiders point out that it is no surprise Kate and Meghan have not been in 'direct communication' for four years, as Scobie describes it, because the Sussexes left for Canada with baby Archie in the autumn of 2019 and the duchess has returned to the UK, briefly, only four times since.

Paris Match adds that Kate 'immediately detected a rival to her' in Meghan, writing: 'She spent more time talking about Meghan than with Meghan,' according to 'a close friend of the couple'.

Harry, while promoting his tell-all memoir earlier this year, said it quickly became 'Meghan versus Kate' after he started dating the US TV actress in 2016.

Harry also repeated claims that Kate made Meghan cry during a row about bridesmaids' dresses ahead of the Sussexes' 2018 wedding.

William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were at one time dubbed the Royal Family's 'Fab Four' after they initially appeared to form a close bond. But when they were reunited for a car journey the day after the Queen's death in September 2022, there was a 'palpable' silence as they travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk, the book claims.

Scobie  dubbed 'Meghan's mouthpiece'  repeats previous claims that the Duchess of Sussex 'never wants to set foot in England again'

Scobie has denied his new book Endgame is 'Harry and Meghan's' and instead claimed it will tell the 'current state of the British Royal Family'

The book threatens to re-open old wounds between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the Royal Family

The magazine goes on to say the book describes the complete breakdown of relations between the brothers, saying: 'Not even a text message at Christmas, although, according to Scobie, Meghan and Harry had sent gifts to Kate and William's children.'

While neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace wants to comment on the claims, the book's publication is unlikely to do anything to bolster hopes that Harry may one day be reconciled with his family.

Last week it was suggested there was a thawing of relations after sources close to the prince leaked to chosen media that he had a warm conversation with his father when he rang to wish him a happy 75th birthday.

Scobie insists he is not friends with the Sussexes, nor was he in direct contact with them over the book, and the Sussexes have denied they are 'affiliated' with it.

But there is a certain level of detail that, if true, could only have come from sources who are extremely close to the couple.

This includes claims that Harry twice texted his estranged brother around the death of the Queen, and heard nothing back, and that his father, King Charles, called him from an 'unknown number'.

Scobie also has details of an alleged conversation between Charles and his younger son, when Harry apparently called to talk to him about his vitriolic memoir, Spare.

He says the King was 'cautious', further claiming that a message was circulated among family members not to trust Harry with anything and to ignore both the book's claims and what he was saying to promote it.

Paris Match also reports that Scobie will say it was Harry's aunt, Princess Anne, who persuaded Charles to withdraw the use of Frogmore Cottage from the Sussexes, prompting the prince to plead: 'Don't you want to see your grandchildren any more?'

And Scobie says that only Harry's uncle, Prince Edward, was concerned about the prince's mental health.

Princess Anne looking over at her brother Charles during the Queen's funeral last year

He even accuses the King of being more worried about the pressure on Prince Andrew in the wake of the Epstein scandal.

The magazine says: 'Meanwhile, the King could not bring himself to hurt his brother. [He] was in tears because he was afraid for Andrew's mental health. Charles leads with his head and his heart. William is colder. He wants the job done and he had no problem with casualties along the way.'

READ MORE - Harry and Meghan would NOT be welcomed with open arms to Royals' Sandringham Christmas, insiders say Advertisement

There are clear howlers in the extracts from the book that have been released, including the suggestion the Prince of Wales 'is eager to ascend the throne'.

Friends of William have made clear that he wants to ring-fence his three young children for as long as possible and has no desire to hasten his progress towards becoming king.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex eventually left Frogmore Cottage in June - a whole six months after Charles gave them their marching orders.

The last of their possessions has been shipped to California and the keys returned on June 29, cutting it fine before the next day's deadline.

The pair are now without a UK base and may have to stay with friends or book hotels next time they return to the country, The Sun reports.

But it seems likely the couple will be footing any bills themselves, with a renewed focus on tightening royal spending.

The Grade II-listed cottage, which boasts five bedrooms and is noted for its homely charms, is due to be rented out.
A nursery worker, a Deliveroo driver, an autistic child and now a teenager have been hailed as the 'heroes' of Dublin after a knifeman assaulted three schoolchildren and their carer on Thursday, with more than 400,000 raised in their honour.

French police commissioner Matthieu Valet is calling for a 17-year-old boy to get Legion d'honneur after he bravely disarmed the attacker in Ireland.

Alan Loren-Guille, a French high school student, had been working at his internship in a Dublin restaurant when the shocking incident unfolded just after 1.30pm.

As the knifeman - suspected to be a man in his 50s - attacked the children in Dublin's Parnell Square, Alan, from Ardennes, bravely intervened to disarm him.

He is one of four courageous civilians who jumped into action, ending the assault on three schoolchildren and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city, which left a five-year-old girl in critical condition.

Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio, 43, also helped halt the attack, using his helmet to hit the man - saying 'I didn't have time to be afraid, I just acted'.

Heroic father Warren Donohoe rushed to tackle the man and tried to pull the knife from him as his daughter rushed to the nearby Rotunda to get help.

Garrett FitzGerald said his son, six, was also present at the square but he was saved by his brave care worker who 'stepped in front' of children at a school outing to protect them during the bloody rampage.

A five-year-old girl and woman in her 30s were last night still in critical condition at hospital following the stabbing spree. Two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were less seriously wounded.

The suspect, is a man in his 50s, is also being treated in hospital and is in serious condition.

Alan Loren-Guille, a French high school student, had been working at his internship in a Dublin restaurant when the shocking incident unfolded just after 1.30pm

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland's capital had endured two attacks - one on innocent children and the other on 'our society and the rule of law'

The French police commissioner commended the actions of 17-year-old Alan on X yesterday.

He said on X: 'Alan Loren-Guille, [the] hero who disarmed the knife attacker yesterday afternoon in Ireland.

'Bravo to this 17-year-old who only listened to his courage to stop a criminal who had just stabbed a woman, a man and three children including a five-year-old girl.

'This French high school student from the Ardennes has been doing an internship in a restaurant in Dublin since October.

'I hope that he will be awarded the Legion of Honor by the President, M. Macron, because he is an example for the nation.'

The trainee chef, who works as a stagiaire at popular Dublin 8 restaurant Spitalfields, was not injured in the chaos, and a GoFundMe was set up yesterday to 'Buy Alan Loren-Guille a pint (hero)'.

The fundraiser has 3,824 in donations so far.

A similar fundraiser was set up for Brazilian Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio, with a whopping 280,253 raised in a day.

The fundraiser reads: 'The man's a hero and the least we can do is buy him a pint, so I'm asking you to donate the price of a pint of Guinness in your local so that he knows the people of Dublin appreciate him.'

Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio stopped the knife attacker by hitting him with a helmet

Father-of-two Mr Benicio also said on RTE's Liveline that the Brazilian Embassy has been in contact with him to offer him a medal for his actions.

He told the Irish Independent that he wasn't scared when he acted on Thursday.

'I didn't have time to be afraid. I have two kids myself and I didn't have time to be afraid, I just acted,' he said.

Mr Benicio said he originally thought that it was a fight involving a man and a woman.

'I was working like a normal day. And I was passing by in Parnell Square. For me, at first, it looked like a fight, a normal fight. I slowed down my motorcycle and it was a man and a woman,' he said.

He then noted how he saw a woman fighting to save a young girl.

'She was very, very brave. She was fighting for a girl, you know, a little girl. I was like, 'what's happening here' and then I saw him with a knife and he grabbed a little girl,' Mr Benicio added.

He then witnessed the man stab the little girl.

'I stopped my bike and I don't know, I acted by instinct... I took off my helmet and hit him with the helmet on the head,' he said.

'I think that made him stop,' he added.

A police cordon is in place after the stabbing attack which took place on Thursday

Mr Benicio said the man fell to the ground. He then hit him a couple of times and others helped to keep him there. Mr Benicio then went to see the girl.

Another brave father, Warren Donohoe, also intervened to try and save the children while his daughter - who has autism - rushed to a nearby hospital for help.

A fundraiser set up for Mr Donohoe has raised 1,044 so far.

His wife posted on social media to say how her husband and Mr Benicio worked together to disarm the man.

Stacey Power said on X: 'My Abigail went missing for what felt like hours.

'She ran when she seen what was happening, the whole way around the block to the Rotunda warning everyone on her way to turn around and get inside to be safe.

'She screamed the Rotunda down 'get the nurses,' begging them to run and 'help the kids they're being stabbed.''

The worried mum shared a picture of her husband's grey jumper, which was completely ripped open with what appears to be the attackers knife, but the father-of-four didn't suffer any injuries.

Mrs Power added that the 11-year-old girl woke up 'still in shock' this morning after the attack which occurred on her birthday.

The fourth 'hero of Dublin' - a courageous nursery worker - has not yet been publicly named.

Garrett FitzGerald has told of the 'absolute hero' worker who saved a group of children

A thread of tweets from Garrett recounting the woman's heroic efforts on Thursday

Garrett FitzGerald said the worker 'stepped in front' of the crazed knifeman to protect his six-year-old son and a group of terrified children.

Posting on X, he wrote: 'My son's care worker stepped in front of a knife for him and the other kids. She wrestled the guy long enough to allow the other kids to run away and for help to arrive. Words fail me.

'She's an absolute hero. A friend has started a GoFundMe for herself and the school. If anyone wanted to throw a few lids here it would much appreciated.'

The fundraising campaign has drummed up more than 160,000 so far.

Started by Paul McIntyre, it states that it is looking to raise funds to 'support the children and the carer in Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire who were victims of a horrific attack at their school... by a stranger with a knife as the children were leaving school to be collected by their parents'.

It adds: 'This is a small Gaelscoil (all Irish school) in the heart of Dublin City Centre and is almost like a small family and this attack has shocked parents, students and the whole school staff to their core and your help and support would be greatly appreciated at this time.

'This should be the most special time of year for all children and at the school they are currently practising for their Christmas school play and your help and donations will assist the school in making this year as special as possible for the children and staff that have been impacted by this terrible event.

'I would also like to raise funds to support the carer who bravely put herself in front of so many children so they could run to safety while putting her own life at risk.'

A clean-up operation was underway after battles broke out between rioters and police

The stabbing spree triggered a wave of rioting in Dublin

Fires burned in Dublin on Thursday night after riots broke out in the city centre after the attack

Mr McIntyre added: 'Having known this lady for many years and having two children attend this school, I can say this lady is nothing short of a superhero tonight and we will be forever grateful for her and wish her a speedy recovery from her injuries.

'Unfortunately due to her significant injuries she will now be out of work for the foreseeable future and we would love to be able to support her in her time of need like she did for the children so bravely.'

Mr FitzGerald added: 'She was one of many heroes yesterday including passers-by who intervened, first responders and the children themselves.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with those still in hospital and anyone who has been affected by this awful tragedy.'

Dublin's 'night of shame' was condemned by Ireland's Prime Minister this morning as a clean-up operation got underway following battles between rioters and police.

Around 500 thugs fought running battles with riot cops, looted shops and torched a double-decker bus in anger over an attack in which three children and two adults - a woman in her 30s and the suspected knifeman - were injured on Thursday.

Pictures from the Irish capital this morning showed council workers removing the wrecks of burned-out buses and cars, which were torched by the thugs as they rampaged through the streets and looted shops.

Police officers work at the scene of a suspected stabbing that left children injured in Dublin

The smell of burning plastic and rubber still hung thick in the air on Dublin's O'Connell Street, where a tram was also set on fire by the rioters, reports said.

In an update this morning, police said 34 people had been arrested over their suspected involvement in the violence which, officials said, was driven by a 'complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology'.

One Garda officer received a serious injury, with 'numerous other members injured' as missiles were thrown at them. Ireland's Justice Minister said anyone found guilty of attacking officers faces up to 12 years in prison under 'very strong legislation'.

Meanwhile, a man described only as being in his fifties is suspected over the initial attack, which was carried out at 1.30pm outside a school on Dublin's Parnell Square East, in the north-centre of the city.

One of the children - a five-year-old girl, and the woman - said to be a teacher or care assistant, are both in a critical condition, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.

He said those involved in the riots 'brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves'.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told reporters this morning that no arrest has been made over the knife attack but a suspect has been identified. He added it was 'disgraceful' that Garda inquiries were disrupted by the riots in Dublin.

The violence was fuelled by rumours about the attacker's nationality. Some of the mob blamed 'migrants' for the stabbing incident on the square.

Mr Varadkar said his government would take immediate steps to tighten anti-hate legislation he said was unfit for the social media age.

'As a country we need to reclaim Ireland. We need to take it away from the cowerers who hide behind masks and try to terrify us with their violence,' He said.

'We need to reclaim Ireland from the unscrupulous who prey on the fears of those easily led into darkness. And we need to reclaim Ireland from the criminals who seek any excuse to unleash horror on our streets,' he said in an emotional statement.

Meanwhile, pictures from Dublin today showed the city's best-known thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, dominated by the charred remains of burnt-out vehicles.

These are being removed, as well as debris on the streets and shattered glass, following attacks on some shops and looting.
This is the moment shameless shoplifters were caught red-handed on CCTV walking out of a supermarket with hundreds of pounds of Lego stuffed into carrier bags.

Shakita Maximilian and Yasmin Leech were spotted stealing 300 worth of Lego from an Asda store in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Leech, 34, of Springwell Lane, Balby, and Maximilian, 25, of Chesterfield Road, Sheffield, were captured on CCTV entering the supermarket, heading straight to the toy section and grabbing several boxes of Lego.

Then they went to the self-service checkout, put all the Lego boxes into carrier bags and walked past a security guard and out of the store without paying for any of the items.

The brazen thieves can be seen stuffing the Lego into carrier bags and walking out of the store without paying

Leech, 34, of Springwell Lane, Balby, walked into the Asda store and stole hundreds of pounds worth of Lego

Maximilian, 25, of Chesterfield Road, Sheffield, was convicted of four thefts in total

Leech and Maximilian were jailed for 10 weeks and 16 weeks respectively. Leech was convicted of one theft and sentenced on November 16, while Maximilian was convicted of four thefts in total after also taking 60 worth of boxsets from HMV, 151 worth of chocolate and chilled goods from One Stop and two t-shirts from JD Sports.

Meanwhile, other well-known shoplifters including Emma Fraser and Shaun Fitzgerald were also sent down.

Fraser, 32, of Goodison Boulevard, Cantley, was jailed for 16 weeks on November 16.

She was convicted of 12 thefts after stealing over 500 worth of items from Co-Op, One Stop and a pharmacy.

Fitzgerald, 55, of Broom Hill Drive, Doncaster, appeared before Doncaster Magistrates' Court last Saturday, November 18, and was jailed for eight weeks.

Leech and Maximilian can be seen in the toy section of the supermarket grabbing boxes of expensive Lego

The shoplifters walked to the toy section of the supermarket and grabbed boxes of Lego

The shoplifting duo even walked past a security guard with the stolen toys

He stole 70 worth of meat and chocolate from a Tesco store by hiding the items under his coat.

All four of the shoplifters were jailed for a combined total of 50 weeks after being caught stealing over 1,400 worth of products from shops in Doncaster.

Sergeant Steve Roberts, from Doncaster Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: 'We will not tolerate thieves stealing from stores in Doncaster and I'm pleased to see that these four prolific offenders have been given custodial sentences. We want Doncaster to be a safe and welcoming place for people to live, work, shop and visit, and we are determined to tackle retail crime to make sure that happens.

'Shop workers and managers should not have to apprehend thieves at work and we want shoplifters to know that we are building intelligence on them and we know how they operate. We are watching you, and if you are caught, there is a very real prospect of you being sent to prison.'

It comes as it is estimated Britain's shoplifting crime spree could be costing the retail sector 1billion.

Now there is demand for security guards as retail chains crackdown on thieves and abusive thugs.

Phil Bentley, boss of outsourcer Mitie, said he saw revenues jump due to the need for security guards.

He said the problem was placing 'unprecedented pressures' on retailers, which were seeking new technology to catch and prosecute offenders.

FTSE-listed Mitie company employs 7,000 people in retail and helped set up Project Pegasus, which will see chains including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Next share CCTV footage of serial thieves.

The demand for store security helped Mitie raise its revenues by 11 per cent in the past six months.

Fraser, 32, of Goodison Boulevard, Cantley, was jailed for 16 weeks on November 16

Fitzgerald, 55, of Broom Hill Drive, Doncaster, appeared before Doncaster Magistrates' Court last Saturday, November 18, and was jailed for eight weeks

Last week figures from the Co-op revealed almost 300,000 incidents, often involving abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour, at its stores this year.

And the retail giant complained that officers failed to attend to four in five of these incidents, despite promises from forces and ministers to treat shop thefts more seriously.

The shoplifting epidemic often involves organised criminal gangs stealing high-value electricals, alcohol and cigarettes.

The crime has now extended to everyday items from meat, cheese and laundry liquid to nappies and baby formula amid rising living costs.

Co-op's latest data shows that of the near-3,000 occasions this year where specialist security teams detained serious offenders, police failed to show up 76 per cent of the time, leading to a dangerous 'pressure cooker' environment that puts store workers and communities at risk.

The figures were released at the start of Respect for Shopworkers' Week, run by the union USDAW, and come against the background of the launch of a new Government Retail Crime Action Plan.

This includes a commitment that police forces will attend incidents where the offender is detained.

Rishi Sunak last month pledged to crack down on the scourge  but in a contradictory move this week, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk revealed he will change the law to limit short prison terms. This is likely to lead to thousands of shoplifters and thieves dodging jail.

Graham Wynn of the British Retail Consortium said: 'Retail crime has been getting increasingly worse, with thieves becoming bolder and more aggressive. These incidents are very often the trigger to violent and abusive incidents against workers.

'It also costs retailers 953million a year  money that would be better spent on reducing prices. We need the police to give retail crime greater prioritisation.'
During a news conference on Oct. 17, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced her ballot measure that would, among other things, allow the police department to bypass Board of Supervisors approval to use surveillance technology like cameras and drones. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

In recent weeks, a relatively obscure piece of San Franciscos administrative code appears to have provoked Mayor London Breeds ire.

There has been too much focus on  putting up barriers to new technologies that can improve policing in San Francisco, Breed said in a statement last month, when she unveiled a March 2024 ballot measure that would, among other things, allow the police department to bypass Board of Supervisors approval to use surveillance technology like cameras and drones.

Breed also recently introduced legislation that she said was necessary to allow the police department to use 400 automated license plate readers, which the city received through a state grant to mitigate organized retail theft. Although supervisors have already authorized police to use license plate readers, Breed said that additional legislative approval was required to deploy readers from a different vendor that uses a different type of video format.

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In both cases, Breed was taking aim at an ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors in 2019, which banned the city from using facial recognition surveillance technology and also required city departments to seek board approval to use certain surveillance technologies that collect or store personal data.

Breeds ballot measure, dubbed Safer San Francisco, would permit the police department to deploy new technologies under one-year pilot projects instead of seeking Board of Supervisors approval.

Currently, city departments must develop policies outlining how they plan to use a specific piece of surveillance technology. The report then heads to the Committee on Information Technology  a city department that develops tech governance policy and approves expensive tech purchases  where its reviewed by a subcommittee and the full committee. Its then sent to a Board of Supervisors committee, where it waits 30 days to be heard  a public comment period typical of most ordinances before the board, which can be waived by the president. Finally, its sent to the full board for a vote.

All in all, the process usually takes between six and nine months, according to Breeds office.

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On the surface, this sounds like yet another case of San Francisco red tape standing in the way of change. But is this law actually hindering the citys public safety response?

Its complicated.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who sponsored the law, told me its achieved its intended effect of making departments think seriously about the impact of the surveillance technologies theyre using.

There hasnt been any drumbeat coming from the literally dozens of departments that are complying with this, he insisted.

The San Francisco Police Department did not respond to my request for a comment about the laws impact, but it previously estimated that compliance would require two to four full-time employees.

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However, Peskin added: That isnt to say that there cant be any tweaks made.

Case in point: When I browsed the Committee on Information Technologys website to see which technologies city departments needed approval to use, the list included the online survey platform SurveyMonkey and the social media management tools TweetDeck, Hootsuite and Meltwater.

This is  as Tracy Rosenberg, executive director of the Media Alliance and co-coordinator of Oakland Privacy, put it to me  absolutely crazy.

A few days after I asked the committee why city departments needed approval to use such basic tools, the committee updated its website to remove email and marketing analytic technologies.

That isnt the first time something like this has happened. Shortly after the law passed, the city realized that it had outlawed iPhones equipped with Face ID for its employees and was forced to add an amendment exempting them.

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Brian Hofer, chair of the Oakland Privacy Advisory Committee who co-wrote San Franciscos law and similar ones in six other California jurisdictions, called Breeds claims bulls but acknowledged the law could benefit from more precision. He told me that a coalition of stakeholders is working with Peskin to negotiate a package of amendments  likely to be introduced shortly  to clarify language and reduce paperwork requirements.

We dont need to put this on the ballot, Peskin told me. We should just have a mature conversation about how to make it better.

Breeds ideal reforms, however, are likely more sweeping than what Peskin has in mind.

I dont see how (the surveillance law) would be sufficiently streamlined to not take months for public safety tools, mayoral spokesperson Jeff Cretan told me.

Significant confusion over whether the law permits San Francisco police to use the state-funded automated license plate readers highlights how complex and murky the process can be.

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Because supervisors already approved the police departments policy for automated license plate readers, Hofer told me, Breeds legislation to let it use the state-funded ones is unnecessary. He pointed out that already-approved technology doesnt need to go through additional review unless its being used in a new purpose, manner or location  conditions that Hofer said dont apply in this case, since the main changes are to the vendor and file format.

But not everyone sees the law as being so clear-cut.

We would be happy to not be going through a convoluted process to get approval to use an already approved technology, Cretan said. But under the guidance of the City Attorneys Office, we have to comply with the letter of the law, including to avoid potential litigation.

A Committee on Information Technology spokesperson echoed Cretans concerns, telling me that the law has gray spaces that raise thorny questions: If we operate in this gray space, will it cause harm? Will the city be liable? Is it a safe thing to do?

Its difficult to blame the city for erring on the side of caution: In 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union, the laws co-sponsor, sued the San Francisco Police Department for allegedly violating it.
Heritage trains such as Flying Scotsman at risk of being wiped off UK main line

The operator of the Hogwarts Express and the UK's rail regulator are in court battle over safety regulations due to its slam doors.

West Coast Railway (WCR) has been granted a judicial review in a bid to keep the traditional slam doors on their 1950s carriages.

The Office for Rail and Road (ORR) said train doors should have a modern central locking system in line with regulations that were put into action 20 years ago.

If they are forced to modernise their doors for safety reasons then it will cost 7million and the operator argued that it will wipe out their profit for a decade.

The WCR has been operating with an exemption to this regulation since 2005, but it expired in June.

As it owns 60 per cent of Britain's heritage trains, the WCR fear that this rule could wipe them out and force them off the UK main line.

This includes another Harry Potter classic, the Jacobite steam train and the Flying Scotsman, which is a century old and the first train to reach 100mph speeds.

The Hogwarts Express service was temporarily suspended over summer after a safety examination raised concerns about secondary door locks

The Office for Rail and Road (ORR) said train doors should have a modern central locking system in line with regulations that were put into action 20 years ago (stock image)

King Charles travelled to north Yorkshire in June in a royal train which was pulled by the Flying Scotsman to celebrate its hundredth anniversary

Trains like the Flying Scotsman (pictured) is at risk of being taken off the UK main line

King Charles travelled to north Yorkshire in June in a royal train which was pulled by the Flying Scotsman to celebrate its hundredth anniversary.

This comes after a clampdown on older carriages, amid fears that younger passengers are unfamiliar with them.

There have also been cases where train doors have been unlocked when the locomotive was in motion.

The Severn Valley Railway's health and safety manager, Richard Morris, said 'There have been some events where the Great Western carriage doors have been found to be open on arrival at stations or mid-section (while train is moving).

'Lack of awareness from a younger demographic of visitor and ever increasing pressure from the rail regulator means the railway has to be proactive.'

Some heritage trains still use old-fashioned bolt systems above each door in the carriage.

The Hogwarts Express service was temporarily suspended over summer after a safety examination raised concerns about secondary door locks.

Passengers were 'at risk' of falling from their carriages or being hit whilst leaning out of their windows, according to the ORR.

An ORR spokesperson said: 'As the rail regulator our role is to ensure that Britain's railways are run safely.

'There has been a regulation in place since 2005 which prohibits the operation on the main line of carriages with hinged doors for use by passengers.

'The majority of charter heritage operators have either complied with the regulation by installing central door locking or have a plan in place to do so. Services can operate with compliant carriages.'

The WCR have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

A decision is expected next year.
Omid Scobie's new book on the Royal Family promises to release another barrage of 'truth bombs' against the Royal Family when it is released on Tuesday.

Endgame will see the Sussexes' 'cheerleader in chief' renew his public vendetta with the Royal Family, with a series of revelations and claims about everyone from the Prince and Princess of Wales to King Charles.

Extracts have been published in People Magazine and Paris Match, touching on issues including the relationship between Harry and William, Meghan Markle's supposed dislike of the 'royal soap opera' and claims two royals aired 'concerns' about Archie's skin colour.

While Scobie has regularly been dubbed 'Meghan's mouthpiece', the 42-year-old insists he is not friends with the Sussexes, nor was he in direct contact with them over the book, and the Sussexes have denied they are 'affiliated' with it.

Buckingham Palace has so far denied to comment on any of the allegations in Endgame.

Below are the key claims that have emerged from the book so far -

King Charles 'told his family not to trust Harry'

French magazine Paris Match claims Endgame reveals a message that was circulated in the Royal Family telling them not to trust Harry after his memoir Spare was released.

The journal reports that a source close to the King even allegedly said 'Charles was cautious' after Prince Harry called his father to pass on his best wishes three weeks after the book was published.

'He wanted to limit their discussion to a harmless exchange. Concerning Harry, the message that circulated in the family was not to trust him...everyone took it very seriously,' the source alleges.

Despite the strained relationship between Charles and the Sussexes, she and Harry still keep him 'up to date' by 'sending him photos of their children'.

'Charles was cautious' after Prince Harry called his father to pass on his best wishes three weeks after the book was published, it is claimed

Harry used Spare to make a series of personal attacks on his family, including the claim they helped 'trash' his and Meghan's reputations, forcing them to move to California, and have 'shown no willingness to reconcile'.

He also accused his elder brother of physically attacking him at Nottingham Cottage in 2019 and 'lunging' at him after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in 2021.

The prince also detailed the conversation he reportedly had with his father the King on the day of the Queen's death, in which the Duchess of Sussex reportedly was banned from joining the immediate family in Balmoral.

Meghan 'told King Charles there are TWO ''royal racists'''

Meghan accused two people in the Royal Household of airing 'concerns' about her son Archie's skin colour, Endgame will claim.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have written to King Charles to outline her concerns about the comments.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have written to King Charles to outline her concerns about allegedly made by members of the Royal Family about Archie's skin colour

Scobie's claims threaten to reignite the 'royal racist' row that came about after Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

Meghan had alleged in the TV special that an unnamed member of the Royal Family spoke about 'how dark his (Archie's) skin might be when he's born'.

The Sun reports, however, that a second member of the extended Royal Household - who may not be a member of the Royal Family itself - also made similar comments.

The two people are not named in Endgame, which is subtitled Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival.

Scobie reportedly claims to know who they are, but cannot name them for fear of legal reprisals in the UK.

Harry 'ready to forget' and 'doesn't care' if he doesn't get an apology

The book suggests Harry could be ready for reconciliation with his family, with the prince reported to have said: 'I'm ready to forget. Get an apology or explanation? At this point, who cares, right?'

The claim emerged yesterday in Paris Match.

Last week it was suggested there was a thawing of relations after sources close to the prince leaked to chosen media that he had a warm conversation with his father when he rang to wish him a happy 75th birthday.

Harry (pictured, centre with his wife Meghan at the Queen's funeral) is said to be prepared to 'forget' his feud with his family

However, the publication of Endgame is unlikely to do anything to bolster hopes that Harry may one day be reconciled with his family.

This is doubly the case given the Sussexes' cheerleader Scobie will make a series of new personal attacks on senior royals including King Charles, Prince William and the Princess of Wales.

Scobie insists he is not friends with the Sussexes, nor was he in direct contact with them over the book, and the Sussexes have denied they are 'affiliated' with it.

But there is a certain level of detail that, if true, could only have come from sources who are extremely close to the couple.

Meghan 'does not want to return to England' and the 'royal soap opera'

Scobie repeats previous claims that the Duchess of Sussex 'never wants to set foot in England again', 'never felt at home' in the UK and 'never wants to be involved in the British monarchy again'.

The author suggests that her son Archie's fourth birthday - which coincided with the coronation - was simply an excuse for her to avoid the ceremony.

Meghan Markle, with Prince Harry on Nov 20, is said to never want to set foot in England again

At the time, Harry announced he would be travelling to the UK without his wife, who was remaining in California to look after their children.

The Prince was reported to have voiced concerns over security and the reputation his family could receive from the public. Other reports suggested Meghan had been left upset after a letter from Charles did not address claims she had made about her poor mental health.

At the time, Mr Scobie said Archie's birthday 'played a factor in the decision' and he expected it would be a 'fairly quick trip to the UK' for Harry.

But he's now claimed Endgame that Meghan didn't attend because she refused to 'dive back into the soap opera of the court'.

Anne 'persuaded Charles to evict Sussexes from Frogmore'

Harry and Meghan were given Frogmore Cottage as a wedding present by the late Queen before being kicked out in January - 24 hours after the publication of Spare.

The Sussexes had paid 2.4million to renovate the property and were determined to hold onto it as a UK base, but were told to move out in what their cheerleader Scobie described at the time as a 'cruel punishment'.

Princess Anne is said to have persuaded her brother King Charles (right, at the Highland Games last year) to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage

French magazine Paris Match reports that the author will claim it was Harry's aunt, Anne, who encouraged Charles to initiate 'Frogxit' as part of a 'strict' approach towards the wayward couple.

This is said to have prompted the prince to plead, 'Don't you want to see your grandchildren any more?'

Scobie says that only Harry's uncle, Prince Edward, was concerned about the prince's mental health.

He even accuses the King of being more worried about the pressure on Prince Andrew in the wake of the Epstein scandal.

Meghan and Harry were given notice to leave Frogmore (pictured) days after Harry's memoir, Spare, was published in January

The magazine says: 'Meanwhile, the King could not bring himself to hurt his brother. [He] was in tears because he was afraid for Andrew's mental health.

'Charles leads with his head and his heart. William is colder.

'He wants the job done and he had no problem with casualties along the way.'

Kate and Meghan 'haven't spoken in four years'

The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex have not spoken since 2019, Scobie suggests.

In the Paris Match piece, the author also waspishly claims that Kate spent more time 'talking about' her sister-in-law Meghan than she ever actually spent with her.

He claims that Harry and Meghan sent the Waleses' three children gifts last Christmas, but that William and Kate did not respond with so much as a text.

Scobie claims there was 'palpable silence' as the royal couples travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk for a royal walkabout in 2022 (pictured)

Paris Match adds that Kate 'immediately detected a rival to her' in Meghan, writing: 'She spent more time talking about Meghan than with Meghan,' according to 'a close friend of the couple'.

Harry, while promoting his tell-all memoir earlier this year, said it quickly became 'Meghan versus Kate' after he started dating the US TV actress in 2016.

Harry also repeated claims that Kate made Meghan cry during a row about bridesmaids' dresses ahead of the Sussexes' 2018 wedding.

William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were at one time dubbed the Royal Family's 'Fab Four' after they initially appeared to form a close bond.

The Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle's drive to the Windsor estate for a walkabout was 'silent', Scobie's Endgame claims

But when they were reunited for a car journey the day after the Queen's death in September 2022, there was a 'palpable' silence as they travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk, the book claims.

The magazine goes on to say the book describes the complete breakdown of relations between the brothers, saying: 'Not even a text message at Christmas, although, according to Scobie, Meghan and Harry had sent gifts to Kate and William's children.'

Harry 'kept in dark' about Queen's death and William 'ignored texts about transport to Balmoral'

The Duke of Sussex was 'kept in the dark' about the Queen's health in the hours before she died, Scobie claims.

In Endgame, the author recounts how the Sussexes had visited the UK for a series of engagements in September 2022 when the palace announced that Queen Elizabeth had been advised by her doctors to rest.

He writes: 'By the next morning, the Sussexes had no idea that Buckingham Palace was already planning for the Queen's final hours and the first days of the monarchy's new era  until the duke's phone started ringing. An unknown number. He usually ignored those.'

William allegedly ignored texts from Harry asking him about transport to Balmoral after the Queen's death, according to Scobie

Meghan told her husband to pick up the phone and he accepted the call 'just before it stopped', the author says.

He continues: 'Harry hadn't spoken to his father much that year, but this was not the time for any father-and-son tension. Charles told him he and Camilla were about to leave Dumfries House for Balmoral, where Princess Anne was already by the Queen's side. He told Harry to make his way to Scotland immediately.'

Harry sent a text message to his brother William asking how he and Kate planned to get to Scotland and whether they could travel together but got no response, Mr Scobie claims.

He was later told Harry had managed to secure a flight with his uncles Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

'It was upsetting to witness,' Mr Scobie claims he was told by a source close to the Sussexes. '[Harry] was completely by himself on this.'

An emotional Harry travels in an official car to Balmoral after the Queen's death was announced to the nation

Scobie alleges that Palace 'sources' briefed certain newspapers that Charles had personally shared the news of the Queen's illness with his son. He quotes a friend of the duke who said this left Harry 'crushed'.

The author adds that Charles asked Harry to come to Balmoral without Meghan.

'They just didn't want Meghan there,' according to a former palace aide quoted in the book.

'Absolutely no going back' for William and Harry

In Endgame, Scobie suggests William and Harry's relationship is beyond repair because the Prince of Wales sees his brother as a 'defector'.

In an extract shared with People, he claims 'there is no going back' for the brothers and 'absolutely nothing has changed' since the Duke of Sussex released Spare earlier this year.

Scobie suggests William and Harry's relationship is beyond repair because the Prince of Wales sees his brother as a 'defector'

Scobie even alleges that William 'doesn't want to know' his younger brother, who he feels has been 'brainwashed an army of therapists'.

He writes: 'I was talking to a source quite early on in the process, and they called Harry a 'defector' and said that was William's view.

'These were two men who once upon a time were firmly aligned in their outlook. One of them had to move on to also protect the crown.'

Harry wrote about him and William's relationship in Spare, going so far as to call his brother his 'arch-nemesis'.

William 'power hungry' and Charles 'unpopular'

Promotional material for Endgame suggests it will be just as damning in its criticism of the Royal Family as Finding Freedom, with William branded 'power hungry' and King Charles 'unpopular'.

Scobie revealed the cover of his latest book Endgame with a breathless description on Amazon calling it 'a penetrating investigation into the current state of the British monarchy  an unpopular king, a power-hungry heir to the throne, a queen willing to go to dangerous lengths to preserve her image and a prince forced to start a new life after being betrayed by his own family'.

Promotional material for Endgame suggests it will be just as damning in its criticism of the Royal Family as Finding Freedom

The book, subtitled 'Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival', is billed as an 'explosive' look into events surrounding the Queen's death.

The Amazon sales pitch states: 'Queen Elizabeth II's death ruptured the already-fractured foundations of the House of Windsor  and dismantled the protect.'

Scobie claims William is encouraged by his positive approval ratings and is 'sometimes more concerned about his own image than that of the institution'.

There are clear howlers in the extracts from the book that have been released, including the suggestion the Prince of Wales 'is eager to ascend the throne'.

Friends of William have made clear that he wants to ring-fence his three young children for as long as possible and has no desire to hasten his progress towards becoming king.

William 'kept Scobie away from royal engagements' because he believed he was Harry's 'emissary'

In his Paris Match interview, Scobie claims that after the publication of Finding Freedom he noticed 'everything was put to the test' - citing changes to his relationships and contacts within the royal family.

He says: 'William even kept me away from his engagements for several months, thinking I was Harry's emissary.

Scobie has denied his new book Endgame is 'Harry and Meghan's' and instead claimed it will tell the 'current state of the British Royal Family'

'He had to hire a new head of communications, who met with me and told me that he wanted to make a clean sweep of the past.

'But there were times when I was unable to fully practice my profession because of the repercussions of this book.'

It's unclear how much Scobie has made since he began writing about Harry and Meghan, with some estimates putting it at around $800,000 (just over 660,000).

The US has become a home from home for the author, where he has regularly appeared on Good Morning America, been a contributor to ABC News and where his latest royal potboiler is being serialised in People magazine.

Photographs on his social media accounts depict him embracing the life of an LA prince, visiting the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills and Nobu in Malibu, two of the area's most expensive restaurants.

Both are celebrity hangouts and less than two hours' drive from Harry and Meghan's Montecito mansion.


Animal charities have said hundreds of XL Bully dogs will be put down if they're not re-homed by the the end of the year.

At least 246 XL Bully dogs will be euthanized when the ban comes into force on December 31.

Dogs who live in rescue centres run by the RSPCA, Blue Cross, and Battersea Dogs and Cats, and other charities can't be re-homed once the ban is implemented, and will have to be put down instead.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the ban after a spate of violent attacks which left many people injured or dead.

Father-of-two Ian Price from Staffordshire was killed by a suspected XL Bully within a week of an 11-year-old girl being mauled by a similar dog in Birmingham.

Now, owners are in a panic and abandoning their pets, or begging vets to change official records to say 'Staffies' because they're worried their dogs will be put down.

Despite rescuers being able to apply for exemptions to keep the breed, the dog would be forced to live its life out in a kennel, which charities say they would never choose for welfare reasons.

Last week, dozens of XL Bully owners held a mass meet up with 62 of their dogs in protest against the governments decision to outlaw the breed

Mohammed Sami Raza was left yelling for help as an XL Bully dog clamped its jaws around his forearm. Pictured with his father, Gohar Siddique

Ian Price, from Stonnall in Staffordshire, was pronounced dead by medics despite efforts to treat him in an air ambulance after he was attacked by a suspected XL Bully

Sky News reported that 246 dogs of this breed are to be put down next year - but the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes said this is only half the number of XL Bullies in rescue centres.

The RSPCA said there were 'already anecdotal reports of dogs being surrendered or abandoned across the rescue sector'.

According to Blue Cross, the total cost to charities to destroy their XL Bullies could exceed 90,000.

As the breed is so large, cremation costs are higher and more drugs are needed to euthanize them - costing between 350 to 400 per dog.

The government is offering XL Bully owners 200 towards the cost of putting their dog to sleep should they choose to, but Blue Cross told Sky News the compensation 'will not replace the love and affection of a much-loved family pet'.

Owners of XL Bullies are also required to neuter them by February - something which is putting a lot of strain on rescue charities.

Blue Cross has more than 1,000 XL Bullies that it will neuter for their owners.

Its spokeswoman Becky Thwaites told Sky News: 'If the timeframe for neutering is not extended we will be placed in a position where other preventative work such as vaccinations and routine neutering will have to be stopped.'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the ban after a spate of violent attacks

Sky News reported that 246 dogs of this breed are to be put down next year

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I own an XL Bully - what do I have to do now? The UK Government has published advice for owners of XL Bully dogs on what to do next if they want to keep their animals, rehome them, or have them euthanised. I want to keep my XL Bully Owners of XL Bully dogs will need to register for a Certificate of Exemption by January 31 2024 - details of how to do this will be made available soon. It will cost 92.40 and will require owners to buy third-party liability insurance for their animals and microchip their animals; Dogs Trust membership comes with cover for up to 1,000,000. Dogs less than a year old on January 31 2024 must be neutered by the end of 2024, while older dogs must be neutered by June 30 2024. The law will require XL Bully dogs to be muzzled and on a leash at all times when in public; Defra suggests starting to train your pet now if it isn't already comfortable with both. Owners who don't register their dogs will face a criminal record, an unlimited fine and the risk of having their dog seized. I don't want to keep my XL Bully Under the new legislation, it will be illegal to rehome, sell or transfer XL Bully dogs from December 31 2023. Rehoming centres will be required to apply for Certificates of Exemption if they wish to keep dogs to rehome them after this date. If an owner or animal rescue centre wishes to euthanise an XL Bully dogs they will be able to claim back some of the costs from the government - 200 for private owners, and 100 for rehoming centres. I breed XL Bully dogs It will be illegal to rehome, sell, buy, gift and breed XL Bully dogs from December 31 2023 - including allowing an XL Bully to be bred from any other combination of dogs. It will not be an offence to allow a litter of puppies already conceived to be born - but it will be an offence to sell or rehome them if they are born after that date. Defra recommends stopping all breeding activity now. Advertisement

The requirements of the ban mean pounds that pick up stray XL Bullies will also have to put them down.

Last week, dozens of XL Bully owners held a mass meet up with 62 of their dogs in protest against the governments decision to outlaw the breed.

The event, organised by the Bully Linkups Fundraiser, took place in Calludon Castle on Sunday with owners strictly prohibited from bringing 'aggressive dogs' or 'dogs in season.'

In a video shared from the meet, the enormous dogs can be seen lining up with their owners.

None of the dogs - which have been responsible for over 10 deaths in the UK since 2021 - are shown wearing muzzles.

It will be illegal to own an American bully XL in England and Wales from February 1 2024, with the ban being introduced in response to several attacks involving the breed.

Owners can apply to have their pets exempt from the crackdown - which means they would have to pay 92.40 for a certificate and the dog would need to be microchipped and neutered, among other rules.

The second option would be to have their dogs put down, with the Government offering 200 in compensation to these owners.

Experts had previously warned that the new XL bully ban won't work because of the vague definitions outlined in the law will make it hard for to root out banned animals.

Under rules drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and published today, it will be illegal to 'breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL Bully dogs to stray' in England and Wales from December 31.

Dog behaviour expert Stan Rawlinson told MailOnline the definition as laid out by Defra was deliberately general to encompass a wide range of dogs, given the XL Bully's loose definition.

The dog is not a recognised Kennel Club breed, but is borne out of the bloodline of the American Pit Bull Terrier, purebreds of which are banned in the UK.

He also said the definition makes it 'totally impossible to enforce because all someone has to do is get papers to say that a dog matching that description is not an XL Bully, and nobody is going to police this'.

'This will encompass a lot of dogs - it's going to be totally impossible to enforce because all someone has to do is get papers to say that a dog matching that description is not an XL Bully, and nobody is going to police this.'
Firefighters worked for an hour to bring the 'major' fire under control

Blaze at under construction apartment complex began at 10pm Friday night

A huge blaze has broken out at a California at under construction apartment complex with locals ordered to evacuate the area.

The 'major' fire began on Friday at around 10pm at the site in Visalia.

Dramatic video shows the luxury complex engulfed in flames and a thick plume of smoke rising from the buildings.

It is not yet known if anyone is injured or how the fire began.

Firefighters tackled the blaze for around an hour before bringing the situation under control at 11pm, Visalia Times Delta reports.

A massive fire broke out at an apartment complex in Visalia, California on Friday night

The blaze began at around 10pm with firefighters struggling to contain the flames

Residents in the area were evacuated and locals have been urged to avoid the area

The blaze at the the complex on Akers Street and Riggin Avenue was so big it could be seen across town

They used aerial water canons to put out the flames, which engulfed multiple apartment buildings.

Road closures were in place for hours in order to protect the public, who were urged to stay away.

Visalia Fire Department said in a statement on Friday night: 'All Visalia Fire units in the City are on scene of a major fire at Akers Street and Riggin Avenue.

'Please avoid the area, there will be numerous fire engines and fire hose on the ground in order to put the fire out.'

The fire began in the area at the site of the complex at Akers Street and Riggin Avenue.

The site of the fire was a development of apartments that were under construction

The blaze was so massive that firefighters from Tulare County were drafted in the assist and to cover the rest of Visalia, while its fire department had all hands on deck.

Meanwhile the glow of the flames was so great it could reportedly be seen from across town.

Only three or four of the sixteen buildings at the development were damaged or lost as of last night, according to the Visalia Watchdog.

Fire crews remained at the scene for several hours to monitor for any hotspots, the outlet added.

The luxury development was across the road from a middle school and is managed Fresno-based real estate Manco Abbott.

It offered high-end one, two and three bedroom apartments.
Raz, four, said to her father Yoni Asher that she dreamt about coming home

Doron Katz Asher and her daughters Raz and Aviv, two, were released by Hamas

This is the emotional moment a father reunited with his wife and two young daughters after they spent 49 days being held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Mother Doron Katz Asher, 34, and her daughters Raz, four, and Aviv, two, were among 13 Israelis to have been released by Hamas yesterday.

The heart-warming clip showed father Yoni Asher hugging his wife and daughters as he said: 'My dearest girl, my beautiful girl. Did you miss me? Were you thinking about daddy?'

To which Raz said to her father: 'I dreamed we were going home'.

He then said to her: 'Did you dream that you were going home? Now the dream came true, we're home, that's it.'

The two girls clung onto toys as they were held tightly in their parents' arms on the hospital bed, after being checked over by doctors.

This is the emotional moment a father reunited with his wife and two young daughters after they spent 49 days being held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza

When asked by her father Yoni if she missed him, Raz, four, (left) said she dreamt about coming home

Aviv Asher, two, her sister Raz, four and mother Doron, step off an Israeli military helicopter

The two girls were holding toys as they held tightly in their parent's arms on the hospital bed, after being checked over by doctors

A pair of female IDF soldiers comfort Raz, four, and Aviv, two, following their release

An Israeli soldier sits with Raz as she sits down to eat shortly after the youngster was freed

Most of the Israeli hostages who were released by Hamas yesterday are said to be in 'good health', Schneider's Children's Medical Centre, the receiving them in Israel, announced.

This comes as Hamas is set to release 14 more hostages today in exchange for Palestinian prisoners after 24 captives including 13 Israeli women and children were released yesterday.

However, the handover has been delayed until Israel commits to sending a relief convoy with aid supplies into northern Gaza.

While father Yoni was happy to have his family back he was still concerned about those who are still being held in Gaza.

'I am happy I received my family back. But I am not celebrating, I will not celebrate until the last of the hostages returns home,' he said.

Other freed hostages are then also seen being reunited with and embracing family members.

A heartbreaking video captured the moment a nine-year-old Israeli boy ran into his father arms after being reunited with his family.

Ohad Munder, walked through the children's hospital when an official points out his father several feet away.

The young boy then waved to his father, before sprinting down the corridor to into his open arms, before he is picked up and hugged, marking the end of his horrific ordeal being held hostage.

Gilat Livni, the centre's Director of Paediatrics said some hostages had spoken about their ordeal.

Toddler Aviv (left) and Raz (right) were held by Hamas for 49 days in Gaza

Mother Doron Katz Asher was held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 49 days with her two daughters

'They shared experiences, we were up with them until late at might and it was interesting, upsetting and moving,' said Livni.

Doctors have conducted preliminary examinations on the patients and are all in a good physical condition, a statement said.

Israeli prison authorities said they were preparing to release an additional 42 Palestinian detainees today, in line with the terms of the Qatari brokered accord agreed last week.

Under the truce - the first break in the seven-week war - 50 women and children held by Hamas are to be released in stages over four days in return for 150 Palestinian women and children who are among thousands of detainees in Israeli jails.

Hamas freed a total of 24 hostages on Friday - 13 Israelis, 10 Thai farm workers and a Filipino - and Israel later released 39 Palestinian women and teenagers from detention.

'It's only a start, but so far it's gone well,' US President Joe Biden told reporters in Massachusetts, where he was spending the Thanksgiving holiday.

'I think the chances are real' for extending the truce, he said.

This comes as a Qatari delegation visited Israel today to discuss a possible extension of a four-day truce between Hamas and Israel that started on Friday, an official briefed on the visit said.

The Qatari operations team also coordinated with Israeli officials to ensure the truce and hostage releases continue smoothly, the official said.

The armed wing of the Hamas said today that it had decided to delay the second round of hostage releases until Israel is committed to letting aid trucks enter northern Gaza, according to Reuters.

Biden also urged a broader effort to emerge from the crisis with a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel.

About 215 hostages remain in Gaza, Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman said.

'We're unaware, many of these cases, if they are dead or alive. We're trying to collect intelligence,' he said.

Ohad Munder and his mother Keren (left) travel in an Israeli military helicopter en route to the Schneider Children's Medical Center

Nine-year-old Ohad Monder meets his father, his brother and family members at the Schneider Children's Medical Center, in Israel today

Ohad and his older brother warmly hug after being reunited following his release on Friday

A member of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades helps a hostage out of a car before handing her over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza

Released Palestinian prisoners, arrive to Beitunia, west of Ramallah, West Bank with Red Cross vehicles under the agreement on the four-day humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas

Released Palestinian prisoner Qusai Taqatqa hugs his mother near his house

Asil al-Titi, a 23-year-old woman from the occupied West Bank Balata refugee camp, is greeted by friends and family members, shortly after she was released from an Israeli jail

'This is the picture we waited 49 days for': Yafa embraces a family member in hospital

Margalit Mozes is embraced by an Israeli soldier after being released on late Friday afternoon

Released hostage Margalit Moszes, smiles as she holds onto the arm of an Israeli soldier

Hamas fighters snatched the captives when they broke through Gaza's militarised border with Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures.

In response to the deadliest attack in its history, Israel launched an air, artillery and naval offensive to destroy Hamas, killing about 15,000 people, according to the Hamas government in Gaza.

Hamas is expected to free 50 hostages during the ceasefire in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, part of an agreement struck after talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Rawda Abu Ajamieh (L) hugs a relative after her release from an Israeli prison as part of a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas

In Tel Aviv, the smiling faces of freed hostages were projected onto the walls of the art museum, with the words: 'I'm home'.

Near a hospital in the Tel Aviv suburb of Petah Tikva, people applauded and held up Israeli flags as helicopters flew in freed captives.

On the other side, Palestinians cheered the return of prisoners from Israeli jails.

Of the 39 prisoners freed by Israel on Friday, 28 were released in the occupied West Bank, an AFP correspondent reported, while the other 11 were brought to annexed east Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club.

Crowds of Palestinians in the West Bank set off firecrackers, waved flags and whistled as two white coaches ferried prisoners out of the Ofer military camp, according to AFP journalists at the scene.

The national march, organised by the PSC, alongside Stop the War, the Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa and others, resumes today, with organisers saying they will continue until there is a complete ceasefire

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters have flooded the streets of Central London shouting the controversial 'from the river to the sea' chant' with children as young as five joining in (protesters in central London today)

Tens of thousands of protester attended the march from Park Lane to Whitehall today in support of Palestine

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday attended by MailOnline, Mr Adelekan said: 'We will put all the protection that we put around any march around that antisemitism march, and we are working very closely with the Jewish community

Protestors march in solidarity with Palestine, demanding a ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict

Protesters take part in a 'National March For Palestine' in central London

'I spent the end of my childhood and my adolescence in prison, far from my parents and their hugs,' freed prisoner Marah Bakir, 24, said after returning to her home in east Jerusalem.

'That's how it is with a state that oppresses us.'

Palestinian detainees have told of their surprise as they celebrated being released by Israel.

Marah Bakeer, who was arrested aged 16 for a knife attack on a border police officer, said she had 'no idea' of anything that was going on outside of her prison cell.

She was sentenced to more than eight years in prison and told journalists the news of a release deal was a complete 'surprise', saying she had been in solitary confinement and had 'no idea what was happening outside, no idea about the situation in Gaza'.

Ms Bakeer added: 'This deal comes following the death of many people and this makes us unhappy and uncomfortable.'

This comes as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters flooded the streets of Central London shouting the controversial 'from the river to the sea' chant' with children as young as five joining in.

'From the river to the sea' is a considered to be highly inflammatory and some claim to be a call for Israel to not exist, and signs are at the protest with the same phrase.

One placard displayed a picture of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer under the word 'Genocide', while another had a picture of leaders of the G7 above the phrase 'War criminals on the run'. Another sign said 'no truce'.

More than 150,000 activists are expected to carry out three separate demonstrations as London prepares for another weekend of mass protests.

Around 1,500 police officers are on duty including 500 from outside London as both pro-Palestinian marches and protests against antisemitism are held.

There is also a demonstration from Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir outside the Egyptian Embassy.

The Met insisted that it will be safe for Jewish people to come into London this weekend and have been handing out leaflets at the protest to 'provide clarity' on offences and behaviour which won't be tolerated.

The force is also positioning Arabic-speaking officers on the march, backed up in its central control room with lawyers to advise on whether specific phrases break the law. Around 1,500 officers have been deployed to protect the march.
The government will introduce new laws to revoke the Australian citizenship of dual citizens convicted of committing terrorism offences.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil will put forward the new legislation next week that will enable the High Court to strip dual nationals of their citizenship on terror-related grounds.

It comes after the top court struck down Coalition-era laws, introduced under then home affairs minister Peter Dutton, that gave broad power to ministers to deprive a person's citizenship after they were convicted of a terror offence.

The ruling triggered the imminent release of convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika after he successfully argued that Mr Dutton's laws were unconstitutional.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil will put forward the new legislation next week that will enable the High Court to strip dual nationals of their citizenship on terror-related grounds

The high court ruled in Abdul Nacer Benbrika's favour in early November and found that section 36D of the Citizenship Act is invalid.

Mr Benbrika was arrested and convicted over plots to attack Melbourne landmarks in 2008. He is due to be released under strict conditions after 24 December.

Ms O'Neil said Labor sought to fix the 'broken' laws which allowed ministerial discretion to cancel citizenship and replace them with laws that were 'tough and constitutionally sound'.

'The way to keep our country safe is not to hyperventilate, overreach and use inflammatory language. It is to do the work, calmly manage the issues and fix the problems one by one,' she said.

According to a Home Affairs spokesperson the new 'watertight' laws were formed with the input of constitutional legal experts.

The high court ruled in Abdul Nacer Benbrika's favour in early November and found that section 36D of the Citizenship Act is invalid

It's expected the legislation, to be tabled on Monday, will pass through parliament with the Coalition's support.

The new laws will come as the Albanese government goes into damage control following a High Court ruling on November 8 that determined indefinite detention was unlawful.

More than 90 asylum seekers were freed as a result with a paedophile and murderers among the freed detainees.

They will support themselves with at least $550 a fortnight from the government's Status Resolution Support Service as well as being provided with free Medicare.
Trafalgar Square's Christmas tree has been felled in Norway as part of a tradition stretching back 76 years.

The tree, standing at 62ft, grew in Nordmarka, the forests just north of Oslo, and will be shipped to London ahead of the lighting ceremony on December 7.

A tree has been gifted from Norway every year since 1947, in recognition of the UK's support during World War Two.

When Norway was invaded in 1940, the King of Norway sought refuge in the UK and established the Norwegian government-in-exile.

Oslo mayor Anne Lindboe, Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councilor Patricia McAllister and the British ambassador to Norway, Jan Thompson fell of this year's Christmas tree

The tradition of sending a Christmas tree to London stretches back to 1947 and was originally a thank you for the help and support Norway received during the Second World War

This year's Christmas tree for London is pictured as its cut in Soerkedalen, Norway, on November 24

This year marks 76 years since the first spruce tree was sent from Norway and placed in the landmark Trafalgar Square.

However, last year's tree was mocked by Londoners as they accused it of being threadbare appearance.

One person joked: 'Judging by the photos of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree being felled last week in Norway and arriving today, it's been transported as hand luggage on Ryanair.'

Another person on social media said: 'Ok, own up, who switched out the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree for one from Wish mid-journey?'

A specialist rigging team will erect this year's tree in Trafalgar Square using a crane.

The tree will be decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion with verticle strings and lights.

Patricia McAllister, Lord Mayor of Westminster, joined British Ambassador Jan Thompson for the official tree felling ceremony in Norway.

It was hosted by Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe who was seen helping saw down the firn.

It comes as a 40ft Christmas tree was put up at the Houses of Parliament to mark the beginning of the Christmas season.

The Sitka spruce was selected from the Kielder Forest, Northumberland, and will stand at the foot of Big Ben.

Workers put the tree into position using a cran before it was decorated with lights.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: The arrival of the Christmas tree from Forestry England brings great joy and excitement to our parliamentary community  and lighting it offers us the opportunity to come together to celebrate the start of the festive season and share best wishes for a peaceful year ahead.

King Haakon VII of Norway made popular broadcasts to his country via the BBC while in exile during the Second World War.

Last year's Trafalgar Square's Christmas tree (pictured) was mocked on Twitter for its threadbare appearance

King Haakon VII made popular broadcasts to his country via the BBC during the war. Pictured: last year's Christmas tree

UK Parliament of of workers positioning the Parliament Christmas tree outside the Houses of Parliament

The Sitka spruce was selected from the Kielder Forest, Northumberland, and will stand at the foot of Big Ben

Workers put the Westminster tree into position using a cran before it was decorated with lights

Aware that he was likely to be found and apprehended by the Nazis after the invasion of neutral Norway in April 1940, he slept in his uniform, fearful they would be able to publish humiliating photographs of him in pyjamas.

For more than 150 years, Norway had been at peace. None of her army officers had ever known combat and Hitler was convinced King Haakon would agree to his demands that he should dismiss his ministers and appoint a government led by the contemptible Vidkun Quisling, leader of the Norwegian Nazi Party.

Denmark surrendered just six hours after Hitler's troops crossed its border. To do otherwise would be to risk further bloodshed and almost certain defeat. But Haakon and his government were determined Norway would not collaborate with the Nazis.

His broadcasts from Britain reminded Norwegians to keep their values and his moral fortitude cheered them, just as he was cheered by the defiance of the greater part of the Norwegian people.

Rather than saying 'when we win the war', he spoke of the day he would 'come home'. Loyalty to their constitutional monarch provided the focus for the Norwegian resistance.
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Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters flooded the streets of Central London today, shouting a 'from the river to the sea' chant with children as young as five joining in.

Anti-Semitic banners and placards were on display as the Met Police officers made arrests - after issuing a hate speech warning which saw Arabic-speaking officers deployed to watch for offensive chants and images in the crowd.

'From the river to the sea' is considered to be highly inflammatory and some claim it's a call for Israel to not exist with signs at the protest displaying the same phrase.

The Met Police have made at least seven arrests - including a man wearing a green headband with Arabic writing, a woman with a sign comparing Israel's strikes to the Holocaust and four people who were distributing literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David at a stall.

Police distributed leaflets at the protest to warn attendees about what language and behaviour will not be tolerated - but one protester said 'the leaflet from the police is a waste of time. I don't know anybody who has read it or took the slightest bit of notice'.

More than 150,000 activists are expected to carry out three separate demonstrations as London prepares for another weekend of mass protests.

Around 1,500 police officers are on duty including 500 from outside London as both pro-Palestinian marches and protests against antisemitism are held. There is also a demonstration from Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir outside the Egyptian Embassy.

More than 150,000 activists are expected to carry out three separate demonstrations as London prepares for another weekend of mass protests

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters have flooded the streets of Central London shouting the controversial 'from the river to the sea' chant' with children as young as five joining in (protesters in central London today)

A sign accusing the UK government of backing genocide, which includes photos of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman, PM Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer photoshopped to make it look as if they have blood on their hands

Pro-Palestine demonstrators unfurl a giant Palestinian flag as they pass The Cenotaph decorated with poppies, in Whitehall

Tens of thousands of protesters attended the march from Park Lane to Whitehall today in support of Palestine

The national march, organised by the PSC, alongside Stop the War, the Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa and others, resumes today, with organisers saying they will continue until there is a complete ceasefire

Flares are let off by protesters as others hold flags and placards during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Trafalgar Square

Police closed off Whitehall near Trafalgar Square as Pro-Palestine protesters gather after an earlier march ended

A short pause in fighting has been agreed to allow a hostage exchange with Hamas agreeing to release 50 Israeli hostages in return for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel

Police officers lined up to stop pro-Palestinian protesters as they neared Whitehall today

The Met Police posted on X, saying they've already made one arrest at the rally. Credit: Met Police

A young woman was reportedly holding a hand-drawn placard which read 'stop doing what Hitler did to you' - making a comparison between Israel's strikes on Gaza and the Holocaust perpetuated by the Nazis.

The police also arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred by carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it.

Another man has been arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation after he was filmed wearing a green headband with Arabic writing, imitating the ones that Hamas wear.

Police posted on X to say that when he was stopped by officers, 'multiple headbands' were found on him and he was arrested.

The Met also confirmed they arrested two women for a racially aggravated public order offence after they were spotted on CCTV holding 'offensive placards'.

A further four people were allegedly distributing literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David at a stall in Whitehall - with the police saying they were arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

One placard at the protest displayed a picture of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer under the word 'Genocide', while another had a picture of leaders of the G7 above the phrase 'War criminals on the run'.

A sign was held which accused the UK government of backing genocide which included photos of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman, PM Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer photoshopped to make it look as if they have blood on their hands.

A giant Palestinian flag was also unfurled and carried alongside The Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall, which itself was decorated with poppies two weeks on from Armistice Day.

The Met insisted that it will be safe for Jewish people to come into London this weekend and have been handing out leaflets at the protest to 'provide clarity' on offences and behaviour which won't be tolerated.

Police officers detain a woman for holding an effigy of a dead child made from sheets

Met Police officers waded into the crowd to extract a suspect who had earlier been spotted wearing a green headband with Arabic writing on it but later removed it. Credit: Met Police

The Met Police have made at least seven arrests - including a man wearing a green headband with Arabic writing, a woman with a sign comparing Israel's strikes to the Holocaust and four people who were distributing literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David at a stall. Credit: Met Police

The force is also positioning Arabic-speaking officers on the march, backed up in its central control room with lawyers to advise on whether specific phrases break the law. Around 1,500 officers have been deployed to protect the march.

One man was seen carrying a sign which compared Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to the devil in a commonly seen anti-Semitic trope.

A group of demonstrators have also now been questioned by police over allegations of criminal damage.

At one point, one protester hit out at a female police officer at the scene.

Footage shows officers searching some demonstrators when a man hits the officer on her arm.

The national march, organised by the PSC, alongside Stop the War, the Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa and others, resumes today, with organisers saying they will continue until there is a complete ceasefire.

The protest began at 12:30 on Park Lane and will end outside the Houses of Parliament.

At the rally, crowds of people are calling for a ceasefire and holding signs. On footage of the rally, a woman can be heard shouting 'what do we want?' to which those in the crowd reply 'ceasefire, now'.

This is despite a temporary four-day ceasefire exchange deal taking effect.

The fragile truce begun at 7am local time (5am GMT) yesterday, with guns laid down across the region for the first time in almost seven weeks.

This weekend also comes in the middle of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals being offered on the high street, meaning shopping areas are likely to be packed.

The Met Police confirmed arrests at the protests on X. Credit: Met Police

A large banner at the protest critical of the Israeli PM which reads: 'Arrest Netanyahu - War Criminal'

More than 150,000 activists are expected to carry out three separate demonstrations as London prepares for another weekend of mass protests

After anti-Semitic signs and slogans were seen and heard during the march on Armistice Day, officers have been briefed on which chants 'cross the line of the law' and trained spotters will be deployed to identify racist placards

The force is also positioning Arabic-speaking officers on the march, backed up in its central control room with lawyers to advise on whether specific phrases break the law

Metropolitan Police officers have gathered in central London as protesters take part in a 'National March for Palestine', with Arabic-speaking officers deployed to watch for hate speech and images in the crowd

The protest began at 12:30 on Park Lane and will end outside the Houses of Parliament

A heavy police presence at Park Lane as the march in support of Palestine takes place across central London today

A pro-Palestinian protester at the march played down the long-term significance of the temporary ceasefire, claiming 'Israel reneges on its promises'.

Shaun, 33, from north London,said: 'I don't know what's going to come from it, I don't know if it's positive, but I know full well that once this truce and temporary ceasefire are done they (Israel) are going to continue bombing and we're going to be right back where we were, so I'm not holding my breath.

'We've seen this before - Israel reneges on its promises in the past, they renege on their promises now.'

Daniel Ponting, 44, travelled to the protest from Swanley, Kent.

He joined in the controversial River from the Sea chant and said he did not think the ceasefire would be a success.

He said: 'Israel is a terrorist state. I will not stop chanting River from the Sea Palestine will be free. Palestine should never surrender. There will not be a ceasefire.'

Another said: 'I don't believe anything Israel says. There should be no negotiations.'

When asked if that meant he wanted to see conflict continue, he declined to comment.

After anti-Semitic signs and slogans were seen and heard during the march on Armistice Day, officers have been briefed on which chants 'cross the line of the law' and trained spotters will be deployed to identify racist placards.

The force's 'Hate Crime Protest Leaflet' is supposed to provide 'absolute clarity' on what will be deemed an offence.

It doesn't threaten those who break the law with arrest or any other sanction but asks protesters to 'keep on the right side of the law'.

On the leaflet, the Met wrote: 'The law protects the right to lawful protests, and the Met Police supports your right to legally make your voice heard.

'However, the law also protects people from racist abuse and from terrorism being promoted.

'Whilst the majority of people are complying with these rules, a minority have crossed the line.'

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, the Gold Commander in London this weekend, said in a briefing that 40,000 to 50,000 people are expected to attend the protest.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday attended by MailOnline, Mr Adelekan said: 'We will put all the protection that we put around any march around that antisemitism march, and we are working very closely with the Jewish community.

'I've personally met the organisers, the Campaign Against Antisemitism, I've had a number of conversations with them on how we're going to keep them safe.'

He added that officers would enter large crowds decisively and quickly to arrest those using the chant to incite violence, terrorism or antisemitism.

A demonstrator holds a placard 'Children of Gaza: We hear you, we see you and we will be your voice until you're all free'

A protester holds a placard reading: 'The average age of Gazans killed is five years old'

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday attended by MailOnline, Mr Adelekan said: 'We will put all the protection that we put around any march around that antisemitism march, and we are working very closely with the Jewish community

Protesters take part in a 'National March For Palestine' in central London

Protestors march in solidarity with Palestine, demanding a ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict

The Metropolitan Police said anyone taking part in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration today must not deviate from the route specified in this map

The Met Police also said those involved in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration must not enter the area around the Israeli Embassy, which has been specified in this map

Asked about reports that Tommy Robinson, founder and former leader of the far-right English Defence League, could attend the protest, Mr Adelekan said he was 'not welcome' at the march and would be engaged by officers.

Mr Adelekan said the force's use of retrospective facial recognition to identify criminals at the protests was 'improving all the time'.

Leaflets will also be handed out to protesters by officers along the march to provide 'absolute clarity' on what will be deemed an offence, he added.

The police are handing out leaflets warning against using words or images 'likely to land you in jail'.

It is the first time the Met has tried to give clarity on what language is unacceptable.

The leaflets warn protesters not to use words or images:

that are racist or incite hatred against any faith

that support Hamas or any other banned organisation, it is illegal under UK law to support such terrorist organisations

that celebrate or promote acts of terrorism - such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people

The force had come under severe pressure from politicians over the decision to allow that march to go ahead, with former home secretary Suella Braverman accusing the force of showing bias in favour of left-wing protesters.

A 90-minute march organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism is also due to take place on Sunday, with around 40,000-50,000 people expected to attend.

An officer hands out leaflets reminding demonstrators to 'stay on the right side of the law'

New Home Secretary James Cleverly said that he expected the Met to address the concerns from the Jewish community

Leaflets will also be handed out to protesters by officers along the march to provide 'absolute clarity' on what will be deemed an offence

People take part in the National March for Palestine, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Jeremy Corbyn spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally on Waverley Bridge in Scotland

New Home Secretary James Cleverly said that he expected the Met to address the concerns from the Jewish community.

'When a minority in the UK are screaming at us that they are scared beyond belief by what is happening it is incumbent upon UK policing and politicians to listen and respond,' he told the Times.

'What we saw over the last few weeks is the Jewish community in the UK telling us over and over and over again they felt vulnerable.

'The police have to respond to that. In the conversations I have had with senior police officers in the Met and more broadly and in the conversation I had with the mayor of London I've made clear it is my expectation that they address those concerns.'

Among those released by Hamas on Friday were 13 Israelis who had been held in the Gaza Strip since the militant group staged a raid on Israel nearly seven weeks ago.

They are the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began on Friday.

The freed Israeli hostages included eight women - six in their 70s and 80s - and three children.

Israel also confirmed that it had released 39 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.
Daymond Gascon/Chronicle photo illustration

Last month, I published a piece in The Chronicle that investigated claims of American Indian identity by the late actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather. After speaking to her biological sisters and reviewing her family tree back to the 1850s, I found that Littlefeather was not of Apache heritage, as she presented herself the night she became internationally known for taking the Oscar stage in March 1973 in lieu of Marlon Brando. She was of white and Mexican descent  and had no legitimate claims to a tribal identity.

I knew the piece would be controversial; taking down an icon, especially in the wake of her death, was bound to raise anger from those who found her work meaningful. But I will concede that I wasnt fully prepared for the debate that followed  one that posited Littlefeathers identity, and all Native American identity, as an existential question too complicated to verify or fact-check. This line of argumentation largely conceded that Littlefeather was dishonest in her self-presentation, but nonetheless suggested that her claims to American Indian heritage, however threadbare, were open to a wider and more fluid interpretation.

A New York Times story on my piece headlined, Sacheen Littlefeather and the Question of Native Identity, quoted Littlefeathers longtime friend and Shoshone/Ojibwe poet, nila northsun (she lowercases her name), as saying Native identity is what you feel in your heart, and what your belief system is.

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The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, meanwhile, which recently held an internationally publicized event to apologize to Littlefeather for how she was treated at the telecast of the Oscars, told the Times it would not reconsider how it characterized Littlefeathers identity in response to the findings of my article; The museum recognizes self-identification.

Perhaps most egregiously, a headline in the Washington Post  on the first day of Native American Heritage Month, no less  asked, Sacheen Littlefeather may have lied about her identity. Does that matter?

Yes. Yes, it does.

Muddying the waters of American Indian identity enables non-Native opportunists to play Indian for clout or money. And you dont have to look very hard to find the evidence of the harm these Pretendians cause.

In 2019, the Los Angeles Times found that a fake Cherokee tribe, the Northern Cherokee Nation, had wrongfully collected nearly $300 million in government contracts intended for actual Native Americans.

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Just days before my story was published, UC Berkeley Professor Elizabeth Hoover, after questions had been raised regarding her claims to a Mohawk identity, released a statement saying that she and her family had conducted genealogical research and found no records of tribal citizenship for any of my family members in the tribal databases that were accessed.

In other words, she was a fraud.

In response, a group letter by some of Hoovers former students demanded her resignation, an apology to the Mohawk of Kahnawake and for Hoover to stop performing Native American identity. They went on to insist that UC Berkeley administrators work with other departments on campus to understand how the campus can adopt a better hiring and screening process to protect Indigenous communities.

All of that seems unlikely to happen, as a campus spokesperson said in a statement that Hoovers ethnic identity is a deeply personal matter, and Hoover seems intent on continuing her work in the field of Native American food sovereignty.

A failure by academia, the media and others to appropriately specify what it means to be American Indian is the origin of this Pretendian grift  and enables its prevalence. Refusing to define what it means to be Native gives con artists free rein to exploit American Indian heritage, with no accountability. After all, how is verification possible if anyone can claim authenticity without any proof?

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There is clearly a need for a definition that employers and allies can use to weed out false claimants. The U.S. governments legal definition of American Indian is any member of one of 574 federally recognized tribes. While there may be occasional outliers to this definition  people who qualify for citizenship, for instance, but for whatever reason are not enrolled  tribal citizenship is indeed an excellent place to start.

Tribal enrollment in the United States is predicated upon a relation to immediate family members who have experience as nationals of a Native nation that pre-existed European colonialism and whose homelands are in the lower 48 states of the United States. This makes Native American identity in the United States political  not racial. American laws surrounding tribal membership do not apply in Mexico or Canada, nor to other indigenous nations of Hawaii or in territories like Puerto Rico. Only American Indian tribes navigate a nation-to-nation relationship with the most powerful country on Earth. Only citizens of these tribal nations are subject to the political and legal consequences of this particular relationship. Only we who are citizens have the standing to address the resulting issues and trauma born of this relationship. It is therefore perfectly reasonable that anyone seeking to advance their career through a claim to Native identity, who isnt a citizen of a tribal nation, should be subject to scrutiny.

Many of Littlefeathers defenders continue to trumpet her fathers Mexican ancestry as a way of propping up her claim to American Indian identity. This argument is based on a couple of assumptions: If you go far enough back, many Mexican people are part indigenous, and tribes routinely crossed borders, so being indigenous to Mexico should be no barrier to calling oneself American Indian or Native American and claiming the trauma of these tribes as their own.

In a Variety opinion piece addressing my investigation into Littlefeather, Laura Clark, a Mvskoke citizen who works for Yahoo News, raised the specter of blood quantum as a reason to tread lightly with suspected fraudulent claims to American Indian identity. Some Natives are reconnecting with their tribes, Clark wrote. Some Natives dont have enough Indian blood to register because of blood quantum minimums. And some Natives have had their tribes nearly erased to the point that organized citizenship records simply dont exist.

I would never deny the right of Littlefeather or anyone else to respectfully reconnect with their Native ancestry so much as it exists. But Clarks argument lacks an accurate definition of Pretendianism, something similarly missing from the broader coverage of Littlefeather. A Pretendian is not someone who is privately and genuinely trying to find their Native relatives. A Pretendian is someone falsely claiming Native identity who uses this fraudulent claim for clout and in monetization schemes. They write books and speak for American Indians on the national and international stage, before Congress, the United Nations, or, as in Littlefeathers case, the Oscars. The moral weight of their voice is born not from any singular ability, but from the power of a collective trauma that is not theirs to wield.

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Prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, the Arizona Supreme Court found that because American Indians were legally wards of the federal government, they had the same status as insane people, and could not vote. Only American Indians, citizens of Native nations, were subject to these policies.

For my mothers people, the Navajo or Dine people, as we call ourselves, the trauma inflicted on us by the United States included being rounded up and sent on the Long Walk to Hweeldi or Bosque Redondo, a concentration camp. Thousands died there. For my fathers people, it led to Wounded Knee, where the U.S. Army massacred Lakota people. My Dakota grandmothers uncle, the Rev. Charles Cook, a young Dakota Episcopal minister at Pine Ridge, worked with Dr. Charles Eastman, the Dakota author, and medical doctor, to save the survivors. The two young Dakota men rode out for days during a blizzard, looking for anyone left alive. The church, decorated for Christmas, was turned into a makeshift hospital, with wounded women, children and elders lying beneath a banner that read Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men. My great-great-uncle lost his faith that day. My grandmother claimed he died of a broken heart a few years later.

Experiences like these are directly tied to being American Indian.

Littlefeathers relatives were legally white. They were allowed to vote six decades before the passage of the Voting Rights Act. They were never subject to the federal or state policies and laws American Indians were subject to when they lived in Arizona and California. The harm caused by U.S. policies directed at American Indians never happened to them. Ever.

For many Americans, the notion of the secret Indian in the family hiding out several generations ago is a compelling one. However, even if true (and it often is not), this is not enough to confer a national identity  any more than being an American of minuscule French descent gives one the same status as a French national. To argue otherwise doesnt just put tribal sovereignty under threat, it undermines genealogy, the methodology used to verify tribal claims.

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Some schools of thought in academia suggest that tribal documentation is inherently colonial, thus, using it to prove fraud is not decolonial. But according to David Cornsilk, a renowned Cherokee genealogist, this thinking is ahistorical.

The genealogies upon which (Native people) rely are not a byproduct of colonial constructs, he told me. Genealogies are often sacred to specific populations including kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiians) and Cherokees. Most indigenous populations place a high degree of reverence for ancestors and the interrelationships between past and present our genealogies represent. When genealogy is attacked to defend false claims of tribal heritage, the attacker is actually besmirching the ancestors that genealogy represents.

For Cherokees, the most appropriated ethnicity by race shifters, what we call the Great Spider Web of Families, representing every Cherokee family and their connections to each other by blood, marriage, clan and community, is torn apart when a Pretendian attempts to force themselves into that web.

This has particular relevance to two U.S. Supreme Court cases heard in the past month, one regarding affirmative action and the other on the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which demands that Native children placed for adoption first go to immediate relatives, then to other tribal members and then to other Native American households.

Conservative justices, including Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett, have questioned whether American Indians constitute a race or a political affiliation based on tribe. If they decide we are a race based on some notion of distant DNA, it will almost certainly destroy the current political status of tribes and completely undermine tribal sovereignty to the extent it exists today.

Tribal enrollment requirements are currently set by tribal nations and can only be changed by the tribes citizens. Tribal citizenship, based on the right of blood (jus sanguinis) rather than the U.S. standard of the right of soil (jus soli), is an expression of the nations sovereignty to determine its citizenship requirements. Kim TallBear, a professor at the University of Alberta and citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton tribe in South Dakota, is the author of Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science, which investigates how Native American claims to land, resources and sovereignty that have taken generations to ratify may be seriously  and permanently  undermined by those using fractional DNA test results to support a claim to Native identity.

Genetic ancestry tests are useless for tribal enrollment or even making a definitive statement about ones descent from a particular tribe, she said in an interview. False claimants to Native identity may take a genetic ancestry test. But it does not verify descent from a named individual ancestor. Rather, such a test links one probably to distant genetic ancestors that cannot be definitively affiliated with a contemporary tribe.

While a move toward a preferred Native identity  a real-life cosplay experience  may be liberating for the individual, it dangerously erases the political reality and history of oppression experienced by tribal nations and their citizens. The confusion about Native American/American Indian identity created by those who seek to eclipse our political nature for personal gain is only providing ammunition to conservative Supreme Court justices to complete the genocide of our nations.

On Oct. 31, at a Supreme Court hearing on the affirmative action case, Justice Alito asked the attorney defending affirmative action policies at the University of North Carolina what is preventing students from falsely claiming to be Native American  a practice colloquially called box checking.

When asked by Alito if family lore of Native ancestry would be enough to be considered American Indian, North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park responded by saying, no.

Alito rephrased the question: I identify as an American Indian because Ive always been told that some ancestor back in the old days was an American Indian.

Once again, Park agreed that the student was unlikely to be telling the truth.

This exchange was interpreted by news outlets as Alito referring to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, who has been excoriated by the right-wing press for marking herself as American Indian on her Texas bar registration card. She was also identified by Harvard as a minority faculty member. In the 1990s, the university used her as an example of a diversity hire when it was challenged for the lack of people of color on the law school faculty.

Warren is far from the only person non-Native in academia to benefit from such an arrangement. And she isn't close to the most pernicious example, as demonstrated by Hoover. I have been told by any number of professors who are tribal citizens that even questioning a colleagues vague claims of Native identity can lead to accusations by college and university administrators of racism.

Hiring white people who self-identify as Cherokee or some other tribe but with no lived experience as a Native person does nothing to redress centuries of systematic exclusion of Native people from educational opportunities, TallBear said. In fact, it constitutes another hand-out of resources to white people stolen yet again from Native people.

Pretendianism, therefore, is not just about replacing authentic Native voices with mummers in red face. It constitutes a cynical stealing of gains made by people of color in this country. It is a disturbing financial theft from some of the poorest people in America. The cost of Pretendianism is more than just the misleading play-acting of a role for an unsuspecting American audience. It causes harm to Native nations, communities and individuals who have already endured enough.

Fact-checking claims of Native identity may appear unseemly to some, but it is a small imposition to reduce the continued trauma of Native Americans and the theft of our culture.
Jurors found the hospital guilty of false imprisonment and battery of Maya as well as fraudulent billing of her father Jack and inflicting emotional distress on her mother Beata, who took her own life

John Hopkins All Children's Hospital has filed for a retrial in the case brought by Netflix's Maya Kowalski just two weeks after she was awarded $261 million in damages.

The hospital, which was found to have falsely imprisoned and battered Kowalski, have now accused the trial's jury foreman of violating strict conduct rules during proceedings.

Attorneys for the hospital claimed in a motion filed in Sarasota County that during the trial, juror Paul Lengyel shared information about the case with his wife, who then posted it on social media.

Maya, 17, was just 10, when she was removed by the state after doctors accused her parents of faking symptoms for her rare condition - complex regional pain syndrome.

The jury found the emotional distress caused to her mother Beata Kowalski - who was forbidden from seeing her daughter for three months - led to her suicide in 2017.

Netflix 's Maya Kowalski was awarded $261 million in damages just two weeks ago

Maya, 17, was just 10, when she was removed by the state after doctors accused her parents of faking symptoms for her rare condition - complex regional pain syndrome

Lawyers representing the hospital in the case brought by the Kowalski family argue that jury foreman Paul Lengyel's wife, Yolanda, attended at least one day of the trial in Venice, meaning she could have heard attorney discussions with the judge that were made outside of the jury's presence.

Court documents state that Yolanda Lengyel posted on live YouTube feeds of the trial and in a Facebook chat group largely supportive of the Kowalski family.

She is also accused of meeting with a social media influencer known as Jules, who, the motion states, is connected to the Kowalski family.

It cites as evidence a video Jules posted on her TikTok page stating that she gave Maya Kowalski her rosary beads before Maya's live testimony on October 9.

Yolanda Lengyel also allegedly discussed on social media questions her husband intended to ask of witnesses and about a juror note sent while the jury was deliberating, the motion states.

'The evidence reveals a shocking level of involvement in the case and palpable bias in favor of plaintiffs on the part of Juror #1s wife, Mrs. Lengyel, as well as social media posts sharing 'inside' information Mrs. Lengyel could only have obtained from her husband,' the motion reads.

At the conclusion of the trial Maya, her father Jack and brother Kyle broke down in tears as the jury's findings were read out at the court in St. Petersburg.

Jurors found the children's hospital liable for false imprisonment of Maya, battery of Maya, fraudulent billing of her father Jack; inflicting emotional distress on Beata; wrongful death claim for the estate of Beata; and intentionally inflicting emotional distress on Maya.

The extent of the damages owed to the family were still being resolved in court at the time of writing but jurors have awarded the Kowalski's at least $211million.

John Hopkins All Children's Hospital has filed for a retrial in the case brought by Netflix 's Maya Kowalski

The family argued that the grief-stricken mom fell into a depression and ultimately hanged herself in the family garage, but Johns Hopkins had vehemently denied that it caused her death or abused Maya.

In a statement after the ruling was handed down, Howard Hunter, attorney from Hill Ward Henderson who represented Johns Hopkins in the case, told DailyMail.com that the hospital intends to appeal the decision.

Hunter said: 'The facts and the law remain on our side, and we will continue to defend the lifesaving and compassionate care provided to Maya Kowalski by the physicians, nurses and staff of Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital and the responsibility of all mandatory reporters in Florida to speak up if they suspect child abuse.'

Jennifer Anderson, who represents part of the legal counsel for the Kowalski family said: 'We are obviously grateful for the time and effort of the jury and Court and the family is completely grateful to be vindicated and truly prays this makes a change for other families in the future.'

John Hopkins All Children's Hospital and representatives for the Kowalski family did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Why was Maya Kowalski in Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital?

Maya was taken to JHACH in October 2016, when she experienced a flare up of her CRPS, a disease which was diagnosed by a doctor that was not affiliated with the Florida institute.

Maya took the stand telling jurors that her condition left her in excruciating pain often screaming and unable to walk at times.

She said she received ketamine to treat the pain and even underwent a ketamine coma in Mexico after the diagnosis and prior to her arrival at JHACH.

At the time, she claimed the ketamine treatment worked and that she had seen a dramatic improvement until the 2016 flare up of the rare condition.

Maya was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome when she was nine-years-old and prescribed ketamine to help dull her pain.

Multiple witnesses, including health care professionals at JHACH, maintained during the trial that Beata was exhibiting signs of Munchausen by proxy and that Maya's perceived CRPS symptoms were being driven by her mother.

The now 17-year-old was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) aged 9, but was taken to hospital with severe pain Oct 2016, aged 10

Munchausen by proxy is a psychological disorder in which an abusive parent or caretaker makes up or causes an illness for a person under their care, often the parent's own child, who is not actually ill.

Through the trial the defense accused Beata of giving her daughter unsafe dosages of ketamine and shared emails that Beata wrote to herself from Maya's perspective in 2015 in an effort to prove their argument.

'I have a very high tolerance for drugs, if I was a horse I would be comatosed (sic) or dead already,' Beata wrote in one email from Maya's perspective that was presented before the court.

'But things are totally different when it comes to a girl with RSD, my metabolism is super fast.

'My mommy says I am not a cheap date and my daddy's response was that he feels deeply sorry for the "lucky man" that will marry me one day :).'

Beata crafted the emails in November 2015, when she and her husband, Jack Kowalski, traveled to Mexico with Maya to treat her pain with a ketamine-induced coma.

Both parents claimed that the treatment worked, until Maya experienced a flare-up in 2016, at which point they admitted her to JHACH.

In another email detailing Maya's debilitating pain waking from a coma, Beata wrote: 'I literally wanted to die again, I felt awful. I really didn't think I was going to make it through this day.'

Beata documented Maya's ketamine comas in her emails which the defense argued discredits the plaintiffs' arguments that the treatments were safe and effective.

Maya's mom, Beata, (right) took her own life after she was diagnosed with a depressive mood and adjustment disorder upon being separated from Maya for almost three months

Maya's father, Jack, addressed Beata's emails in court last week saying he believes they were an attempt by Beata to journal Maya's experience.

'After seeing the emails, I realized this is probably why she was doing it,' he said.

'I'm from a family of eight children my mom made a baby book for all of us, and in the baby books, it starts out, 'I got my first haircut' or 'I crawled on such-and-such date.' When Beata and I got married, she had seen my baby book and she thought that was an awesome idea.'

In his testimony Jack explained that Beata had created baby books with similar first-person narratives for Maya and their son Kyle.

It's his belief the that the emails were a similar attempt at documenting memories in the first person for Maya to look back on as she journeyed to better health.

'She's talking for the child and that's how my mom did it as well,' Jack explained.

Why did hospital staff raise concerns of child abuse?

The hospital's defense argued the trial represents the responsibility hospital staff have to report suspected child abuse to authorities.

Maya was removed from her parents' care after hospital staff became suspicious of the dosage of ketamine her mother insisted on treating her with for the excruciating chronic pain.

Florida's Department of Children and Families and a state judge supported hospital staff's suspicions of 'child medical abuse' and placed Maya under Florida's Department of Children and Families' custody and she was housed at the center.

The hospital's defense centered on staff as mandatory reporters who are required by state law to call the abuse hotline if they have 'reasonable cause.'

Ethen Shapiro, attorney for the hospital, previously stated that the decision to remove Maya was made by the child welfare system rather than the medical facility.

The hospital released a statement to DailyMail.com which read: 'Our priority at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital is always the safety and privacy of our patients and their families.

'Therefore, we follow strict federal privacy laws that limit the amount of information we can release regarding any particular case.

'Our first responsibility is always to the child brought to us for care. Our staff are required by law to notify Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) if they suspect abuse or neglect.

'It is DCF and a judge  not Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital  that investigates the situation and makes the ultimate decision about what course of action is in the best interest of the child.

'We are determined to prevent any chilling effect on the obligation to report suspected child abuse in order to protect the most vulnerable among us.'

What were the closing statements from the close to two-month trial?

The Kowalski family alleged that the power of the large hospital system combined with the power of the state made them helpless.

They further claim that being separated caused severe emotional distress for both Maya and her mother, who hanged herself in their garage in January 2017 after going months without seeing her daughter.

The lawsuit also details the Kowalskis' claim that the hospital billed their insurance company thousands of dollars for CRPS treatments despite the staff's claims that Maya did not have suffer from it.

In closing statements on Tuesday Greg Anderson, who represents the family, made a fiery end rebuttal blasting the hospital as 'dysfunctional.'

'This is Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, this is who they really are,' Anderson said to the court.

'It's a place that retaliates against its own employees for bringing things out that are negative and retaliates against anyone, any parent, who decides they want to do something different.

Greg Anderson, the family's attorney, made a fiery rebuttal accusing JHACH of being 'dysfunctional' claiming there was no oversight over Maya's treatment while in their care

Ethen Shapiro, an attorney for the hospital, tore to shreds the seven allegations against the medical facility pleading to the jury to listen to facts and not to hand down a verdict based on sympathy

'This case is about an organization that is so screwed up that it actually thinks it's a good idea to force parents to accept their way of doing things and if the parents don't they have to find different ways to punish them.

Anderson claimed that there needs to be a 'captain of the ship, and there never was.'

'It was totally dysfunctional the way this hospital operated,' he said.

'No one was checking, no one was making sure to see how this child was being taken care of, no one was looking to see how their own employees were behaving and it wasn't just one.'

Ethen Shapiro, an attorney for the hospital, tore to shreds the seven allegations against the medical facility, pleading to the jury to listen to facts and not to hand down a verdict based on sympathy.

'The most unfortunate parts of this case is the caption, Kowalskis versus All Children's. We were never against the Kowalski family,' Shapiro said.

'The reason why All Children's did what it did, the reason why All Children's tried to comfort Maya, the reason why All Children's tried to get her on a safe medical path is because the loving and caring providers and my client's hospital believed in a better future for her.

'If they could get her off the unnecessary drugs given at dangerous levels. Period. End of story.

Maya failed to attend a hearing during her bombshell trial with lawyers saying she was too ill. Lawyers introduced photos into evidence that showed her partying on Halloween (pictured)

Maya, seen sitting in the back of a limo, also attended her homecoming. Defense lawyers said it was proof that she was able to live a normal teenager's life

Those photos were again brought up during defense counsel's closing statements

Shapiro stressed to jurors that if there was any cause for punitive damages to be paid to the Kowalski family to do so, but vehemently denied the allegations against his client.

'There's nothing outrageous that the hospital ever did, there's no reason to be considering punitive damages, your work can end with your deliberations.

'What we need in this courtroom is closure for everybody.'

According to the complaint from Pinellas County Beata died by suicide because of the turmoil that the hospital created.

'Defendants imprisoned Maya at [Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg] with no legal justification,' the lawsuit states.

Throughout the trial the hospital vehemently denied the allegations and reiterated this defense in closing statements.

'The evidence that we've been able to put on through our defense case has shown that Maya came to us in a horrible condition on a number of dangerous and unnecessary drugs,' Shapiro, attorney for the hospital said during the trial.

'We were able to wean her off those drugs and get her to a place where she can be like you see her today, walking in and out of court, going to homecoming and living a more normal teenage life.'

Anderson rebuffed the defense's narrative that Maya is doing much better after they showed pictures of her in court enjoying similar luxuries as a 'normal teen' including going out on Halloween and her homecoming dance.

'There's a base level of pain, but when you're in that much pain at different times it becomes, it's not as noticeable as a normal person, really,' Anderson said.

'You develop a high tolerance for it. CRPS patients always have a little bit of pain, but it does come and go, and this is one of the elusive and frankly frustrating things about the disease.'

Anderson argued that out of the five depositions made by Maya the defense had been picking snippets to portray Maya's life after hospitalization as 'normal.'

He pointed out that Maya 'almost died after one relapse' and she was sent to Arnold Palmer's Children's Hospital in Orlando where she was given a feeding tube because of the significant weight loss she experienced.

'The fact that they stood up for their rights to treat their own child with the best knowledge they could, with every bit of information they could, and they made the right choices,' Anderson said.

'So, the things that happened to them at Johns Hopkins are beyond belief, absolutely beyond belief, but we've proved them over and over again.'
A family-of-five who got stuck on a Colorado hiking trail amid icy conditions and bitter winds have been saved following a grueling seven hour mission.

The three adults and two children were rescued from the Greenhorn Mountains after becoming stranded on Wednesday evening.

The group, from Chicago, were nearing the summit when they were overcome by the effects of the altitude, unexpected snow and their experience level, Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said.

With dusk approaching, the family realized they were running low on food and ill equipped for the freezing temperatures and 10mph winds.

Luckily the sheriff's units, Rye Fire and Flight for Life were able to reach them before they succumbed to the bitter conditions amid the encroaching nightfall.

A family-of-five were rescued from the Greenhorn Mountains after becoming fatigued near the summit during a hike on Wednesday

The three adults and two children from Chicago were retrieved following a multi-agency rescue mission lasting almost seven hours

Members of the SAR team were airlifted by Flight for Life to the top of North Peak, where the used GPS to locate the cold and hungry family and gave them food, water and warmth.

As darkness fell on them, the SAR team members hiked with the family about a mile over the peak where they were met by fire personnel who had hiked from the Bartlett Trailhead.

The entire group then hiked the rest of the way to the top of Ophir Creek where emergency vehicles were waiting for them.

They arrived down the mountain safely and were reunited with concerned family members who sat out the hike.

'While this rescue took extensive time and coordination by all involved, we commend this family for the things they did that led to their successful rescue,' Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said.

'The family had several of the items recommended in an outdoor survival kit and they told family members of their hiking plans prior to departure.

'They also had the awareness to call for help before it became a life-threatening emergency, before it got dark, and before their cell phone died.

'They also followed 9-1-1 operator instructions and remained in one location until rescuers could arrive and locate them.'

The family became stranded as dusk was nearing and realized they were ill equipped for the plunging temperatures and bitter winds

Members of the SAR team were airlifted by Flight for Life to the top of North Peak, where the used GPS to locate the cold and hungry family and gave them food, water and warmth

The Greenhorn Trail is 7.8 miles long beginning elevation at 7,460 feet and ending up at 11,340 feet high

The police urged hikers to be prepared and aware of conditions and abilities before going out, especially this time of year when conditions can change rapidly, and the sun sets earlier.

'We commend all the responders for a successful and safe operation,' the statement added.

The impressive operation earned the teams praise from social media users.

'We are so blessed to have the men and women willing to go to the rescue no matter when or where. Thank you,' Carol Lombard wrote.

Mary Kay Deveritch said: 'Glad it was a rescue and not a recovery. I saw the helicopter coming from Pueblo and flying around with search lights on an hour later.'

Debbie Cordova added: 'Awesome job! Glad everyone is safe. Could have gone a lot differently. Glad they had cell service.'

The Greenhorn Trail is 7.8 miles long beginning elevation at 7,460 feet and ending up at 11,340 feet, a gain of 3,880 feet.

The trek is described as moderately difficult for hiking by the US Forest Service.
Coles workers are fuming over their company Christmas gift with one Union describing it as a 'slap in the face'.

The supermarket's staff received an email this week saying they will be gifted a Coles brand water bottle and five 'mythanks' points as recognition for their work.

One worker shared a picture of the email and water bottle online declaring it an 'absolute joke'.

'The executives at Coles decided that the frontline staff who work their asses off and cop abuse on the daily are only worthy of a Coles branded water bottle and 5 'points' (equivalent to $5) for Christmas this year,' the post read.

The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), which led the worker strikes last month demanding better pay and work conditions for staff quickly slammed the gift.

Coles staff received this email letting them know they will receive a Coles branded water bottle as a gift

'Coles workers cannot afford the food they sell. They are subjected to vile threats, abuse, assaults and intimidation daily,' RAFFWU secretary Josh Cullinan told Yahoo News Australia.

'This rotten response, a second-rate drink bottle, is a slap in the face for our pandemic essential heroes.'

'They can keep their drink bottles and instead give us living wages, safer workplaces and secure jobs.'

The supermarket said the water bottles were in addition to other bonuses and discounts

But Coles have since said the 'small additional gifts' are offered to them alongside in-store and online discounts available to them during December and January.

'We offer also our team increased discounts on exclusive liquor brands and increased Flybuys points as we head into the holiday season.'

'Each of our stores also have a Christmas gathering, which includes a shared meal to celebrate as a team,' a Coles spokesperson said, saying all the above demonstrate their 'appreciation' for their staff.
Despite video evidence and a confession - the Judge dropped charges against Mosley

A former Virginia cop and self-proclaimed 'amateur boxer' punched a mentally-ill patient in the face - but the Judge dropped charges against the attacker.

Shocking video shows the moment Jemarr Mosley, 25, punched the Virginia Beach General Hospital resident three times in the face as the victim fell to the floor.

Mosley - along with several other officers - were watching a group of patients in a dayroom at the facility on February 9.

One patient was a 'known spitter' is understood have approached Mosley and another officer before spitting at them.

Mosley - who testified that he was once an amateur boxer in Philadelphia - threw a hard right cross punch at the man.

Appalling video shows the moment Jemarr Mosley, 25, punched a mentally ill resident at Virginia Beach General Hospital three times in the face as the victim fell to the floor

Mosley - along with several other officers - were watching patients in a dayroom at the facility on February 9

Mosley - who testified that he was once an amateur boxer in Philadelphia - threw a hard right cross punch at the man

The video revealed the disturbing aftermath of the abuse - three other cops had to lift Mosley away from the patient who had been punched all the way to the ground.

Another patient had been caught up in the attack and one officer immediately went to their rescue - dragging them away from the violence and escorting the distressed bystander out of the room.

The victim was left lying limply on the ground as an officer crouched down to check on him.

The former cop from Virginia Beach didn't deny his attack, admitting in bodycam footage after the attack: 'He aint really hit me in my face, but the fact that he spit, I reacted on that.

'I punched him in the face with my right hand, dropped his ass.

'Then I continued to hit him down. I dont know how many hits I threw on him. Thats his blood on the ground.'

The former cop from Virginia Beach didn't deny his attack, admitting in bodycam footage after the attack: 'He aint really hit me in my face, but the fact that he spit, I reacted on that

Mosley chose a bench trial and Judge James Lewis said he was very disturbed by the video and does not condone what happened - but didn't follow through with the charge

Bodycam footage caught Mosley yelling obscenities and defending his behavior after he launched his attack. 'I knock m*therf*ckers the f*ck out, he said. 'I put him to sleep. To SLEEP'

Bodycam footage caught Mosley yelling obscenities and defending his behavior after he launched his attack.

'I knock m*therf*ckers the f*ck out, he said.

'I put him to sleep to SLEEP.'

Despite video evidence of the aggressive outbreak and a confession from Mosley himself - the Judge overseeing the case dropped charges against him.

Mosley chose a bench trial and Judge James Lewis said he was very disturbed by the video and does not condone what happened - but didn't follow through with the charge.

'This is not what Class One misdemeanors are made of,' Lewis said.
King Charles was 'cautious' when talking to Prince Harry after the publication of Spare and family members were told not to trust him, Omid Scobie claims in his new book.

The Sussexes' cheerleader describes an alleged conversation between Charles and his son Harry, who had apparently called to talk to him about his vitriolic memoir following its release in January.

He says the King was 'cautious', further claiming that a message was circulated among family members not to trust Harry with anything and to ignore both the book's claims and what he was saying to promote it.

French magazine Paris Match yesterday released extracts from Endgame alongside an interview with Scobie.

King Charles - right - was said to be 'cautious' after speaking to Prince Harry after the publication of Spare. They are pictured at Westminster Abbey in 2019

He says the King was 'cautious', further claiming that a message was circulated among family members not to trust Harry with anything. The royals are pictured on November 11

Spare became the fastest selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began in 1998, and sold 3.2million copies worldwide in the first week of publication

The journal reports that a source close saying of Charles' approach to the conversation: 'He wanted to limit their discussion to a harmless exchange.

'Concerning Harry, the message that circulated in the family was not to trust him... everyone took it very seriously.'

Harry used Spare to make a series of personal attacks on his family, including the claim they helped 'trash' his and Meghan's reputations, forcing them to move to California, and have 'shown no willingness to reconcile'.

He also accused his elder brother of physically attacking him at Nottingham Cottage in 2019 and 'lunging' at him after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in 2021.

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In Endgame, Scobie says that despite the strained relationship between Charles and the Sussexes, she and Harry still keep him 'up to date' by 'sending him photos of their children'.

But he claims that after Harry and Meghan sent the Waleses' three children gifts last Christmas, William and Kate did not respond with so much as a text.

The author  dubbed 'Meghan's mouthpiece'  repeats previous claims that the Duchess of Sussex 'never wants to set foot in England again', 'never felt at home' in the UK and 'never wants to be involved in the British monarchy again'.

Yet he says Harry has said he is 'ready to forget' the recent troubles with his family and has given up on getting the 'apology or explanation' he has previously demanded, quoting the prince as saying: 'At this point, who cares, right?'

The claims emerged yesterday in Paris Match magazine to publicise Scobie's second royal tome, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival.

His first was Finding Freedom, the rabidly pro-Sussex account of Harry and Meghan's romance, wedding and decision to acrimoniously quit as working royals.

The article in Paris Match, ahead of the book's publication on Tuesday, is a tangled mass of quotes from it, combined with Scobie's own opinions on the state of the Royal Family and seemingly the interpretation of the magazine's journalist.

In Endgame, Scobie says that despite the strained relationship between Charles and the Sussexes, she and Harry still send him photos of their children. Pic: Charles on Nov 21

Scobie claims there was 'palpable silence' as the former 'Fab Four' travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk for a royal walkabout in 2022 (pictured)

Several new claims are made but none is obviously explosive  so far  although Scobie has conducted several pre-publication interviews to be aired over the next few days, and there is no doubt that the Palace views his public vendetta with the Royal Family as unhelpful.

Many insiders point out that it is no surprise Kate and Meghan have not been in 'direct communication' for four years, as Scobie describes it, because the Sussexes left for Canada with baby Archie in the autumn of 2019 and the duchess has returned to the UK, briefly, only four times since.

Paris Match adds that Kate 'immediately detected a rival to her' in Meghan, writing: 'She spent more time talking about Meghan than with Meghan,' according to 'a close friend of the couple'.

Harry, while promoting his tell-all memoir earlier this year, said it quickly became 'Meghan versus Kate' after he started dating the US TV actress in 2016.

Harry also repeated claims that Kate made Meghan cry during a row about bridesmaids' dresses ahead of the Sussexes' 2018 wedding.

William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were at one time dubbed the Royal Family's 'Fab Four' after they initially appeared to form a close bond. But when they were reunited for a car journey the day after the Queen's death in September 2022, there was a 'palpable' silence as they travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk, the book claims.

The magazine goes on to say the book describes the complete breakdown of relations between the brothers, saying: 'Not even a text message at Christmas, although, according to Scobie, Meghan and Harry had sent gifts to Kate and William's children.'

While neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace wants to comment on the claims, the book's publication is unlikely to do anything to bolster hopes that Harry may one day be reconciled with his family.

In Endgame, Scobie suggests William and Harry's relationship is beyond repair because the Prince of Wales sees his brother as a 'defector'

Last week it was suggested there was a thawing of relations after sources close to the prince leaked to chosen media that he had a warm conversation with his father when he rang to wish him a happy 75th birthday.

Scobie insists he is not friends with the Sussexes, nor was he in direct contact with them over the book, and the Sussexes have denied they are 'affiliated' with it.

But there is a certain level of detail that, if true, could only have come from sources who are extremely close to the couple.

This includes claims that Harry twice texted his estranged brother around the death of the Queen, and heard nothing back, and that his father, King Charles, called him from an 'unknown number'.

Paris Match also reports that Scobie will say it was Harry's aunt, Princess Anne, who persuaded Charles to withdraw the use of Frogmore Cottage from the Sussexes, prompting the prince to plead: 'Don't you want to see your grandchildren any more?'

And Scobie says that only Harry's uncle, Prince Edward, was concerned about the prince's mental health.

He even accuses the King of being more worried about the pressure on Prince Andrew in the wake of the Epstein scandal.

The magazine says: 'Meanwhile, the King could not bring himself to hurt his brother. [He] was in tears because he was afraid for Andrew's mental health. Charles leads with his head and his heart. William is colder. He wants the job done and he had no problem with casualties along the way.'

There are clear howlers in the extracts from the book that have been released, including the suggestion the Prince of Wales 'is eager to ascend the throne'.

Friends of William have made clear that he wants to ring-fence his three young children for as long as possible and has no desire to hasten his progress towards becoming king.
A woman has issued a warning to other dog owners about the symptoms of Alabama rot after losing her pet.

Hannah Povey, from Farringdon, Hampshire, had her beloved cocker spaniel Betsy put down by vets last Sunday.

It was confirmed that Betsy died because of complications of Alabama Rot, an incurable disease which leads to kidney failure.

Ms Povey thinks that her pup caught the disease whilst on a walk in Chawton Park Wood, within the South Downs National Park.

She said she took her dog to the vets but the blood tests did not come back with anything. She then took Betsy home with antibiotics and painkillers, however she still wasn't eating.

Ms Povey said she took her dog to the vets but the blood tests did not come back with anything

Hannah Povey, from Farringdon, Hampshire, had her beloved cocker spaniel Betsy put down by vets last Sunday

Ms Povey took Betsy home with antibiotics and painkillers, however she still wasn't eating

'We took her back to the vets but on Sunday we were told there was nothing more they could do and we were called in to say goodbye to her,' Ms Povey told the BBC.

'I had heard of it but I had no idea what it could do and how quickly it could happen - that's the scary thing.'

She now wants to share her story to warn other owners of the risks and symptoms of Alabama rot.

According to the RSPCA, the cause of the disease is unknown, but research into it is ongoing.

They said many reports come from pet owners who walk their dogs in the countryside, adding that winter and spring seem is when most cases are flagged.

The symptoms of Alabama rot include skin sores, visible swelling, red patch or skin defects not caused by a known injury and changes in appetite.

The charity recommends washing off all mud following wet and muddy walks, especially through woodland in order to minimise the risk.

Betsy's body will now be used for research by Anderson Moores Vets.
A mother-of-one was left fighting for her life after undergoing a botched 'mummy makeover' in Turkey when her breasts started oozing with pus.

Danielle Hunt paid 6,795 to have breast implant replacements, a tummy tuck and liposuction at an Istanbul-based clinic in October last year.

The 35-year-old, from Middleton, Manchester, contacted a Turkish surgeon on WhatsApp after being shown his Instagram page by a friend.

She claims a receptionist asked her for photos which she promptly sent over and they agreed to carry out the procedures.

After she arrived at the clinic, she claims they got her blood test results mixed up with another woman called Danielle and they also told her she needed extra surgeries to the ones she had requested.

Once the procedures had been completed, she was left 'crying' in pain and her partner had to pick her up from the airport in a wheelchair.

Ms Hunt said it took eight weeks to recover to the point where she could walk again but her 'wounds would not heal' and constantly became 'infected with oozing green pus'.

Eventually she found a private surgeon who would operate on her but had to fork out another 6,500 for the procedure.

Danielle Hunt paid 6,795 to have breast implant replacements, a tummy tuck and liposuction at an Istanbul-based clinic in October last year

The 35-year-old, from Middleton, Manchester, contacted a Turkish surgeon on WhatsApp after being shown his Instagram page by a friend

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Once the procedures had been completed, she was left 'crying' in pain and her partner had to pick her up from the airport in a wheelchair

'They asked me to let them know when I'd booked my flights,' the aesthetics practitioner told the Manchester Evening News.

'There was no consultation. They didn't ask me if I took any medication, had any health problems or drank.'

The mother-of-one flew out to the Turkish city and waited for a driver to pick her up from the airport as promised. After multiple phone calls, the driver finally arrived an hour later after accidentally going to the wrong airport.

Once she arrived at her hotel, Ms Hunt was then taken to the clinic for a pre-consultation appointment. There, she claims staff did not use gloves to take her blood and got her results mixed up with another woman called Danielle who had booked the same procedures.

The following day, it was time for Ms Hunt to undergo her three surgeries. Despite only wanting breast implant replacements, she claims the surgeons told her she needed to have a breast uplift surgery to re-shape her breasts into a higher position.

Before going under the knife, Ms Hunt claims she was presented with four 10-page long consultation forms that she needed to sign within five minutes or she would lose her surgery slot.

She said: 'I signed them without reading them. I panicked.'

The mother asked the medics to let her know when they were about to put her to sleep, which she claims they failed to do.

The next thing she remembers is waking up in extreme agony. 'I was asking for pain relief before it was due because I was in that much pain,' she said.

'They discharged me the next day and I got back to the hotel with only paracetamol as pain relief. I rang the clinic and told them I was in dire pain. I was crying asking them if I could go back, I didn't mind having to pay.'

Despite a nurse visiting Ms Hunt at her hotel several times to administer pain relief, she was in so much agony she couldn't even walk three steps in her room.

She said: 'It took me 30 minutes to walk to the shower. I wasn't getting any sleep or resting at all.'

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Before going under the knife, Ms Hunt claims she was presented with four 10-page long consultation forms that she needed to sign within five minutes or she would lose her surgery slot. 'I signed them without reading them,' she added

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Ms Hunt said it took eight weeks to recover to the point where she could walk again but her 'wounds would not heal' and constantly became infected

Ms Hunt paid to fly back to Manchester a day early where she was met by her partner at the airport who had to put her into a wheelchair.

It took eight long weeks for the mum to be able to walk properly following her tummy tuck and liposuction - but her breast wounds were still causing her severe pain.

In a bid to ease her suffering, she visited Royal Bolton Hospital where she claims a surgeon told her said her bruising was the worst he had seen in his entire career.

Despite visiting a breast clinic three times a week, her wounds would not heal and constantly became infected with oozing green pus.

In a terrifying turn of events, she developed deadly sepsis on New Year's Eve and had to be rushed for emergency surgery to have her breast implants removed.

'I contacted three different clinics and all three refused point blank to treat me because of how the original surgery had been done,' she said.

She was in so much pain she was out of work for three months and struggled to care for her non-verbal autistic daughter.

Ms Hunt added: 'I've got a severely autistic child, she's seven and non-verbal. I couldn't be a mum for a few months.

'That had an effect on her because she likes routine. I found it really hard because of the pain I was in. She's quite strong, so if she pushed me, it would have been another hospital visit because I was in that much of a weak state. I felt like I was failing as a mother.

'I was having nightmares and waking up dripping in sweat. I was constantly checking my breasts every two hours to make sure there was no leakage under the dressings.

Liposuction that offers to remove up to 15 litres of fat, Brazilian butt lifts, eye colour-changing laser treatments and hymenoplasties are offered in clinics across Turkey

British surgeons have raised the alarm about the rising cost of fixing botched cosmetic ops performed overseas, with one case costing the NHS an estimated 100,000

'I couldn't go swimming because I was constantly anxious thinking people were looking at me. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror.'

The ordeal took such an emotional toll on Ms Hunt that she was diagnosed with PTSD three months after her procedures.

She said: 'You hear of the odd person dying from gastric sleeve surgery but it's just getting worse. My surgeon said he's seen more cases to correct. They're all botched.'

Ms Hunt eventually found a medic who agreed to perform reconstruction surgery privately - forcing her to fork out a further 6,500 for the procedure.

Now rebuilding her life, the mother has issued a stark warning to others considering getting surgery abroad. 'Going over to Turkey for surgery is not worth risking your own life,' she said.

'My little girl was nearly left without a mum. Turkey surgery is cheap but you cannot put a price on your life.'

Tens of thousands of Brits, particularly women in their 20s and 30s, flock to Europe for breast procedures, bum lifts and lip enhancements every year.

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations, fuelled by celebrities and influencers who've made the four-hour trip in pursuit of revamping their bodies.

Clinics also offer luxurious 'all-inclusive' packages at five-star hotels, complete with meals and VIP transport. Such deals, on sale for in the region of 2,500, include the treatments themselves.

But despite seeming safe on the surface, Turkey is called the 'capital of butchery' by campaigners.

Dozens of ordinary patients have shared their horror stories at the hands of 'cowboy' surgeons, including some who needed life-saving treatment as soon as they landed back on UK soil. Correcting such botched ops costs taxpayers millions every year.

At least 24 Brits have also died going under the knife in Turkey since 2019, where standards are notoriously laxer than in the NHS. Surgical aftercare can be non-existent, too, argue victims of the procedures.
Mayor London Breed, in Union Square Plaza on Tuesday, announces the kickoff for the 2023 Safe Shopping Initiative in and around the Union Square area for the upcoming holiday season. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Mayor London Breed and San Francisco public safety officials pledged to make Union Square the safest place in urban America while introducing a safe shopping campaign Tuesday.

Standing in front of the Macys Holiday Tree, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and other community leaders touted intensifying public safety measures around Union Square ahead of the upcoming holiday season.

And to the would-be retail thieves angling to bask in the riches of Union Square, leaders had a strongly worded message: When you walk into a store and try to steal, you may have an SFPD officer there in plainclothes, waiting for you, said Scott. So, dont take the chance.

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As part of their new citywide program to tackle organized retail theft, Scott said police conducted at least 40 retail theft operations over the past year, and arrested at least 230 people for suspected retail theft.

San Francisco Police Department officers are seen patrolling in Union Square on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

We have turned the corner on the culture with respect to retail theft, said Jenkins. No longer can we view retail theft as a low-level crime.

City leaders plea for shoppers to return, and make it rain on Union Square comes less than a year after Breed and other law enforcement officials stood in the front of the same tree, and vowed to reinvigorate Union Square after thieves went on a looting spree at luxury businesses, including Louis Vuitton.

Are we where we want to be? Not completely, said Breed. But are we going to get there? I believe we are.

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Waves of retail store closures, including the shutterings of Nordstrom at the Westfield mall , Banana Republic and many others, have seriously impacted downtown San Francisco over the past year. But on Tuesday, city officials made desperate efforts to underscore the areas coming rebirth.

At least 27 new stores have opened in Union Square over the last 15 months, according to Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance.

City officials said they plan to announce more details regarding the closures of certain streets during the holiday season that they said will make it easier for people to shop and enjoy Union Square  but harder to steal.

Referencing the triumphant rebirth of San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake and fire, Supervisor Aaron Peskin  whose district includes Union Square  said he and other leaders were celebrating the recovery of the city, yet again.

This is an opportunity for San Francisco to feel good about itself and everything that is right in San Francisco, he said.
A newly-opened boutique store in Seattle has suffered two 'crash-and-grab' burglaries within four days as the worrying trend spreads across the state.

Rush Hour, which specializes in buying, selling, and trading sneakers, streetwear, and vintage items, was smashed into just before 5am on November 17 using a stolen Chevrolet Silverado.

The thieves then ran inside to steal their merchandise but the owners of the store were optimistic this would not deter them and hoped to recoup some their losses on Black Friday.

But they were again targeted by thieves on November 20 who used a stolen Kia Sedona to crash through the store front and take high-priced items which were left behind in the first raid.

Seattle police have said they are seeing more criminals using stolen cars to ram into stores as a tactic to steal expensive goods.

A newly-opened boutique store in Seattle has suffered two 'crash-and-grab' burglaries within four days as the worrying trend spreads across the country

Rush Hour, which specializes in buying, selling, and trading sneakers, streetwear, and vintage items, was smashed into just before 5am on November 17 using a stolen Chevrolet Silverado

It was targeted again by thieves on November 20 who used a stolen Kia Sedona to crash through the store front and take high-priced items which were left behind in the first raid

The owners of Rush Hour shared a video on Instagram following the first burglary to say they were not 'down' about the situation.

'We're never going anywhere,' Sean said. 'We're open, the store is still open. Show some support.'

However, a second car smashed into their store and more items were looted from their business.

'Id hate to say they didnt take much because they took something,' co-owner Key told Kiro7.

'Theyre putting a dent in what business needs to be done, what we need to have the shop flowing.

'Everything is valuable to me in the shop. This is something we built from the ground up.'

'Someone stole a Kia, ran into the shop, typical. Its been happening a lot lately, unfortunately, happened to our business which we just started a couple of months ago.'

The store has now been boarded up and a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to help with repairs. So far $3,200 has been donated out of a $25,000 goal.

'We are writing to you with a heavy heart and in urgent need of your support. Rush Hour has unfortunately been the target of two consecutive smash and grab incidents, which have significantly impacted us,' a statement from Rush Hour read.

The store has now been boarded up and a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to help with repairs. So far $3,200 has been donated out of a $25,000 goal

'We had high hopes of recovering some of our losses during the upcoming Black Friday sales. However, the extent of the damage now makes it impossible for us to operate from our current location.

'The financial strain from the loss of products and the cost of repairs is overwhelming.'

The owners are now looking to relocate and open again on December 2. It is not clear if anyone has been arrested over the thefts. DailyMail.com has contacted the Seattle Police Department for comment.

The types of burglaries where vehicles are smashed into stores around the country are increasing and referred to as 'crash and grabs'.

'SPD has been seeing this type of tactic of utilizing a vehicle to ram a business' entry in order to steal merchandise from within occurring in multiple incidents,' a spokesman for the Seattle Police Department said.

'It is unknown if these incidents are related.'

A group of teens at Osage County Guns crashed through steel front doors in September 2022 and caused more than $200,000 worth of damage before stealing 30 guns worth $28,000

A man in a stolen Jeep smashed into a Chicago clothing store in late October before four others rushed inside to steal the items.

The owner spoke about the incident in an Instagram video and promised to give the first customer after the break-in free Nike trainers.

A group of teens at Osage County Guns crashed through steel front doors in September 2022 and caused more than $200,000 worth of damage before stealing 30 guns worth $28,000.

'It was a total nightmare,' general manager John Dawson told Fox News Digital. 'Our retail store was closed for five weeks and surprisingly, the biggest hurdle was getting new doors.'

Retail theft is a growing problem for many stores across the US and the National Retail Federation reported that the issue cost the industry $94.5 billion in 2021.
Five people have died following a devastating avalanche on a 13,000 ft mountain in Iran.

The incident on the Oshtoran Kuh mountain occurred after climbers were warned by local authorities of extreme weather conditions, also left four injured.

Heavy rain and snow has hit the San Boran peak, the highest point in the area, in the last few weeks.

Survivors who were discovered on Friday who had started climbing the mountain in Lorestan, 180 miles south west of the capital Tehran, the previous day were taken to hospital.

Five bodies were left missing by the landslide, two of which were found on Friday and three on Saturday afternoon, the Sun reported.

An avalanche at a mountain in Iran has claimed five lives and left four climbers injured

A map showing the Oshtorankuh mountain in Iran, 180 miles south west of the capital Tehran, where climbers were warned by local authorities of severe weather conditions

Footage posted by Iranian Red Crescent showed rescuers working to locate bodies and free any survivors from the snow

Bodies of five mountaineers have so far been found following the deadly avalanche

Footage posted by Iranian Red Crescent showed rescuers working to locate bodies and free any survivors from the snow.

Despite being a relatively uncommon occurrence in Iran, an avalanche north of Tehran previously claimed twelve lives in 2020.

The fatal incident comes just months after a similar event on the Armancette glacier on Mont Blanc in the French Alps, which saw six victims killed after being caught in a 1,600m high snowslide.

Another deadly avalanche in India killed seven people after a bus full of tourists crashed into a gorge during a landslide which hit five or six vehicles.
Prosecutors investigating the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case have hit a major stumbling block after they revealed the main witnesses is facing a possible perjury charge.

Convicted rapist Christian Brueckner, 45, was sensationally named as the main responsible for the kidnap and murder of Madeleine, who went missing in 2007 from a Portuguese holiday apartment.

German investigators have built their case around a witness called Helge Busching whose evidence helped jail Bruckner for rape in 2019 but now questions have arisen around his testimony in the trial.

He claimed he and another man called Manfred Seyferth had found a video camera in Brueckner's house showing him raping and sexually assaulting two women and this was used to jail him for seven years.

Busching also told investigators in Brunswick, Germany, the year after Madeleine disappeared, that he had a conversation with Brueckner in which he said it was 'odd that she didn't scream' when they discussed her disappearance.

Convicted rapist Christian Brueckner, 45, was sensationally named as the main responsible for the kidnap and murder of Madeleine, who went missing in 2007 from a Portuguese holiday apartment

Brueckner is currently languishing in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal just 18 months before Madeleine was abducted from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz

Two months ago, it was claimed Busching was 'wobbling' and threatening to withdraw his evidence but now another spanner has been thrown into the investigation with the revelation he is being probed for false testimony.

It centres around the camera that Busching and Seyferth claimed to have found and that they had hidden in a house they shared but which later went missing and has never been found.

According to Brueckner's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher, this testimony he gave is different to his statement that says they hid them in a camper van  which he says makes him an unreliable witness.

Busching gave Brueckner's name to British police in 2017, around the 10th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance.

Busching claims that Brueckner told him at a Spanish kite festival in 2008 that he was involved in Madeleine's abduction from Praia da Luz a year earlier.

When asked in 2020 what he thought of Brueckner, Busching said: 'One word. Guilty.'

Brunswick prosecutor's office have said that are investigating Busching for 'false testimony after their received a complaint from his lawyer Freidrich Fulscher last week but details have only just emerged.

German investigators have built their case around a witness called Helge Busching whose evidence helped jail Bruckner for rape in 2019 but now questions have arisen around his testimony in the trial

Mr Fulscher would only say, 'as a witness, this man is completely unbelievable', but confirmed he had filed the complaint and asked for a retrial in the rape case which saw Brueckner jailed for seven years.

A source close to the investigation said that when the contradictions were pointed out to him by German police Busching refused to discuss his evidence and refused to cooperate further after speaking with his lawyer.

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing in May 2007 just a few days short of her fourth birthday while on holiday with her siblings and parents Kate and Gerry and nothing has been seen or heard of her since.

Brueckner is currently languishing in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal just 18 months before Madeleine was abducted from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

His trial heard he planned the sex attack having broken into the victim's house with a rope to tie her up. She was blindfolded and gagged before being raped and robbed.

Brueckner, a convicted paedophile, is also being probed over a series of sex attacks and a rape on the Algarve from the early 2000s until 2017.

He has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
No Americans are expected to be among the hostages released by Hamas in today's delayed release, a government official has confirmed.

The White House says it remains 'hopeful' that American citizens will be included in the hostage releases over the coming days, but that they were not listed on the second round meant to take part on Saturday.

Hamas's armed wing implemented a delay to the second round of Israeli hostage releases on Saturday due to a dispute over aid trucks entering northern Gaza.

Qatar later said the planned hostage release would go ahead after the obstacles were overcome'.

'After a delay in implementing the release of prisoners from both sides, the obstacles were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian communications with both sides' Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

President Joe Biden on Friday credited 'extensive U.S. diplomacy' for getting hostages released from Hamas but said it's 'only a start' as no U.S. citizens have yet to be released

Aviv Asher, 2.5 years old, her sister Raz Asher, 4.5 years old, and mother Doron, react as they step off an Israeli military helicopter, shortly after their arrival in Israel on November 24

A White House official said on Saturday 'the President secured the release of two American citizens as the pilot to this larger release of hostages.'

'We are early in the process that will see at least 50 women and children released during the first phase of the agreement.

'We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens. This will unfold over the coming days. We will not comment on individual cases as the process is underway' they added.

Biden told reporters on Friday afternoon that the US did not know when the American citizens being held hostage would be released but said it was his 'hope and expectation it'll be soon.'

Biden credited 'extensive U.S. diplomacy' for getting hostages released from Hamas but said it's 'only a start' as no U.S. citizens have yet to be released.

Abigail Mor Edan lost both of her parents in Hamas' bloody October 7 attack on Israel and is believed to be the youngest U.S. citizen in the terror group's hands. She turns four-years-old today

He told reporters that he wasn't sure when the first U.S. citizens would leave Gaza, as two U.S. women and four-year-old Abigail Mor Edan are thought to be among the hostages who were kidnapped during Hamas' brutal October 7 terror attack on Israel.

Earlier Friday Biden was briefed multiple times by his national security team on the latest developments regarding the hostage release from Gaza, the White House said.

'This morning I've been engaged with my team as we begin the first difficult days of implementing this deal,' Biden said.

'It's only a start but so far it's gone well.'

So far, 25 people have been freed since hundreds were kidnapped and taken into the territory by the terror group.

The president noted how that group of hostages included 'an elderly woman, a grandmother and mothers with their young children, some under the age of six years old.'

Bunyarin Srijan, the mother of a Thai hostage released as part of a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, holds her phone showing an image of her daughter, Natthawaree Mulkan, during an interview at her home in Khon Kaen, Thailand November 25

Released Israeli child hostages are held by Israeli soldiers shortly after their arrival in Israel on November 24

The entry of humanitarian aid to the north of the Gaza Strip and the selection criteria for the liberation of prisoners were the issues in question, the Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades said in a statement.

An Israeli official confirmed to AFP the hostages had not yet been handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades said the hostage releases would be delayed if Israel did not adhere to the agreed terms for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

There was no immediate Israeli response to the statement. Earlier an Israeli military spokesperson had told France's BFM television station that, barring last minute changes, 13 Israeli hostages were expected to be freed.

He said 39 Palestinian prisoners would be released in return.

Under the truce deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, a total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners, some of them convicted on weapon charges and violent offences, over four days.

In the first exchange on Friday, 13 Israeli women and children - out of around 240 hostages captured by Hamas fighters on a killing spree in southern Israel on Oct. 7 - were released. Twenty-four jailed Palestinian women and 15 teenagers were released from Israeli jails.

Saturday's setback came just hours after Egypt, which controls the Rafah border crossing into southern Gaza through which vital aid supplies have resumed, said it had received 'positive signals' from all parties over a possible extension of that deal.
She called animal poison control and took her dog - Jack - to the vet where he recovered without even a mild hangover

Mary from New Jersey returned home to two empty bottles of liquor and a very drunk dog

A naughty rescue dog got so hammered on his owner's alcohol stash that he could barely walk

A mischievous dog from New Jersey polished off a whole bottle of vodka and half a bottle of Bailey's before his owner came home to find him a little worse for wear.

Mary, from south New Jersey, returned home last week to find her dog - who had been home alone - stumbling around her house and incapable of walking.

She found an empty bottle of Bailey's on the ground and a tipped-over handle of vanilla Smirnoff vodka on the counter.

According to Mary - the Bailey's bottle had been half-way empty and the vodka was still full before her naughty puppy broke into the alcohol stash.

The New Jersey native's dog, Jack, is a five-year-old rescue pup that appears to be a husky mix.

A naughty rescue dog got so hammered on his owner's alcohol stash that he could barely walk

Mary from south New Jersey returned home last week to find her dog - who had been home alone - stumbling around her house and incapable of walking

She found an empty bottle of Bailey's on the ground and a tipped-over handle of vanilla Smirnoff vodka on the counter

Mary, who hasn't shared her last name, posted a video of the drunken dog on TikTok and it went viral immediately - racking up 35 million views and almost six million likes

Mary, who hasn't shared her last name, posted a video of the drunken dog on TikTok and it went viral immediately - racking up 35 million views and almost six million likes.

In the video - Mark is heard saying: 'It's not funny but my dog is drunk and I don't know what to do.'

Viewers thought the viral video was hilarious - but some people expressed concern about the health and safety of the dog.

Mary posted a TikTok later on - explaining how she handled the situation after the initial shock discovery.

'As far as how it happened - I have a window seat that is up against my kitchen counter, and the alcohol was on the kitchen counter, she said.

'So he jumped up onto the window seat and then onto the counter and chewed the lid off the bailey's bottle - which you can see in the video, the lid is chewed off. I found the lid actually on the floor when I got home.

'I did take him to the vet. I called animal poison control first. They recommended me bringing him in - just because they didn't know how much he consumed.

'So I took him to the vet, they kept him overnight. They gave him fluids, observed him and called me in the morning at 7 am and said "he's fine - he's prancing around like he's not even hungover".'

She also clarified that she 'absolutely did not' let her dog consume the alcohol on purpose.

Mary said: 'I don't have kids - Jack is my child.'

In the video - Mark is heard saying: 'It's not funny but my dog is drunk and I don't know what to do'

'As far as how it happened - I have a window seat that is up against my kitchen counter, and the alcohol was on the kitchen counter. 'So he jumped up onto the window seat and then onto the counter and chewed the lid off the bailey's bottle - which you can see in the video, the lid is chewed off. I found the lid actually on the floor when I got home'

Mary said: 'I don't have kids - Jack is my child' and assured viewers that she called animal poison control and took Jack to the vet

While Jack's drunken state was an accident and Mary took care of the situation well - previous drunken dog situations haven't been as light-hearted.

In 2012 - a man was arrested for getting his dog so drunk that the pooch kept falling over while trying to stand up.

Todd Harold Schrier went to court for an animal cruelty charge after police in East Helena, Montana discovered that the Pomeranian dog was more than four times the legal drinking limit for humans driving vehicles.

The 20-pound dog, named Arly II, was not able to walk a straight line when police found the animal at Smith's Bar.

The dog was taken to Alpine Animal Clinic where a blood test revealed that its blood-alcohol level was 0.348 per cent. The legal limit for drivers is 0.08 per cent.

Michelle Richardson, the clinic's veterinarian, told the Helena Independent Record that an alcohol level that high could be fatal.

In another comical case of a drunk dog from 2017 - a sneaky dog was left battling a miserable hangover after she ate 12 bottles of chocolate liquor that got her drunk  and then incredibly sick.

As part of Ellie Mae Dwyer's punishment, the pooch's owner had her pose for a photo next to the remaining bottles of chocolate liquor that she had broken into and a sign detailing her antics.

'Today I ate 12 chocolate liquor bottles. Got so drunk I couldn't stand up. And then projectile vomited across the living room. And now I am hungover!' reads the sign.
The Northern Lights are set to shine across parts of the UK tonight as freezing cold temperatures continue over the weekend.

The Met Office said that aurora may become visible this evening and overnight across parts of northern Scotland and similar latitudes.

Scientists have predicted that this winter is likely to be a strong one for viewing the natural phenomenon without travelling overseas, and luminous skies have already been witnessed in parts of England, Scotland and Wales at various points over the past year.

The sun is predicted to reach the peak of its approximately 11-year activity cycle, known as 'solar maximum', between January and October of next year, lending to dazzling aurora displays both in lower polar regions and further south in Europe.

As the sun nears its peak, an increase in solar storms has created more aurora, visible further south than usual.

The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, appears over Bamburgh Lighthouse, in Northumberland on November 5, 2023

The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, appears over Bamburgh Lighthouse, in Northumberland on November 5, 2023

Generally, the best places to view the Northern Lights are northern Norway, the northern parts of Finland and Sweden, Iceland, Canada, the northern US, and the southern part of Greenland.

However, during the solar maximum, the auroral oval enlarges, meaning that it will be visible in other parts of Europe.

Auroras are caused by the interaction of energetic particles (electrons and protons) of the solar wind with atoms of the upper atmosphere.

This type of interaction is mostly confined to high latitudes in oval-shaped zones that surround Earths magnetic poles and maintain a more or less fixed orientation with respect to the sun.

During periods of low solar activity, the auroral zones shift poleward.

During periods of intense solar activity, auroras occasionally extend to the middle latitudes. For example, the aurora borealis has been seen as far south as 40 latitude in the US.

The Northern Lights shine over the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England on March 6, 2016

The Northern Lights over Stonehenge in Wiltshire in the early hours of the morning on February 27, 2023

The Northern Lights reached as far south as Dorset, captured over Knowlton Church, near Wimborne, on November 5, 2023

Northern Lights are seen in Northumberland on September 18, 2023

Photographer Shazz Hooper captured the Northern Lights above Knowlton Church, a Norman church near Wimborne, Dorset earlier this year

The opportunity to view the natural spectacle comes as the UK is gripped by temperatures well below freezing.

Met Office figures showed that Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway saw the lowest recorded overnight temperature as it reached minus 6C early on Saturday.

Sennybridge in Wales dropped to minus 5C overnight with many other rural areas seeing similar temperatures.

The first widespread frost of the autumn for much of the UK saw sub-zero temperatures as far south as Somerset with only the north of Scotland and parts of the east and south west of England staying widely above freezing overnight.

The Northern Lights reached as far south as Dorset on November 5, as seen over Knowlton Church, near Wimborne, just after sunset

The Northern Lights made a brief appearance over Stonehenge in Wiltshire on November 4, 2023

The Northern Lights captured in the early hours from the church car park at the village of Great Brington in Northamptonshire on March 24, 2023

The Northern Lights as seen from the Axenfell plantation on the Isle of Man on November 4, 2023

Earth has an invisible forcefield, the magnetosphere, that protects us from dangerous charged particles from the sun. While it shelters us, it also creates the impressive natural phenomena

A rainy day is forecast for many on Sunday and Monday before becoming colder again with widespread overnight frosts before some brighter skies on Tuesday and the risk of snow in places later in the week.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said: 'Early next week, following a brief more unsettled interlude, we expect to see a return to widely cold but quiet conditions.

'Some rain, or showers, are likely to affect some parts of the east coast, and these could turn increasingly wintry over higher ground areas towards the middle of the week.'
More than 2,500 NYPD cops have turned in their badges so far this year as the force continues to struggle with a mass exodus.

The resignations are leaving remaining staff with crippling workloads as they are forced to pick up 'inhumane amounts of overtime', according to union leaders.

So far 2,516 NYPD cops have left, the fourth highest number rate in the past decade, the New York Post reports.

Meanwhile the number of cops walking before they reach the 20 years required to receive their full pensions has soared by 104 percent, from 509 in 2020 to 1,040.

'The workload is a leading factor driving people away from the job,' Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry told the outlet.

More than 2,500 NYPD cops have resigned from their posts so far this year as the force buckles under a mass exodus

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said those left behind are forced to pickup 'inhumane' amounts of overtime

So far 2,516 NYPD cops have left, the fourth highest number rate in the past decade

'If the NYPD is going to survive these staffing reductions, it cannot just keep squeezing cops for more hours.'

He added that the reductions in staff were leading to cops picking up, 'inhuman amounts of forced overtime'.

The union is calling on the NYPD to bring in longer working hours spread across fewer working days.

It comes amid spiraling crime rates in the Big Apple under Mayor Eric Adams, whose decision to slash police funding and axe the next five Police Academy classes threatens to exacerbate the situation.

The sweeping cuts will see police numbers dwindle to their lowest since the 90s, with just 29,000 cops left by the end of the financial year in 2025.

Beleaguered Mayor Adams acknowledgement their is a 'law enforcement crisis' and blamed the migrant crisis for the dramatic cutbacks.

DailyMail.com previously reported how the force was grappling with a record number of resignations earlier this year, with around ten percent of this year's total occurring in January and February.

The vacancies come as the Big Apple's Mayor Eric Adams announced massive cuts to the force which will deplete it to its lowest level since the 90s

Adams said the drastic cuts will leave just 29,000 cops by the end of the fiscal year in 2025. He blamed the reduction on the city's migrant crisis

Two days in February saw a worrying 21 resignations according to the New York Post, which reported that more than a dozen staff walked out on February 20 and 21.

Among those to quit this year was NYPD Keechant Sewell, whose shock resignation after just 18 months blindsided City Hall.

The first female commissioner reportedly walked after clashing with Mayor Adams over a police disciplinary matter, according to a report.

She cited 'tragedy and challenges' as the reason behind her swift exit.

And it appears the pressure if being felt at every level, particularly among rank and file officers with many reporting they only plan to see out the job until they hit 20 years' service which would entitled them to their full pension.

One such police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Post that several of his police academy class mates 'all have the same notion' as they have been working 13 to 14 hour days in the wake of frequent protests across the city.

'I think maybe 95 percent of us are planning on leaving,' he said of his 2004 class of 2,400.

The resignations come as attacks against police this year have skyrocketed by 25 percent

Cops say the protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of cop Derek Chauvin have stoked anti-police sentiment through the defund the police movement

Meanwhile a 28-year-old cop from Queens described the situation as 'unbearable' and said he plans to leave as soon as possible.

An anti-cop sentiment and the defund the police movement which has been brewing since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin has also been blamed for the resignations.

Attacks against police are up 25 percent this year, with 1,731 assaults reported.

Among them was an NYPD cop who was brutally beaten after he asked two men to stop smoking at a Bronx subway station.

Kareem McClary, 23, and Izayiah Jessamy, 20, were freed without bail by a judge on November 14 as neither had a criminal record.

Hendry previously blamed anti-police activists and a lack of consequences for the attacks for the dramatic spike.
Mainland hopes result of 2024 Taiwan leadership election to help restore cross-Strait relations

Xinhua) 14:22, November 25, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday expressed the hope that the result of the Taiwan leadership election in 2024 would be conducive to cross-Strait peace and stability, and that it would help bring relations back onto the right track of peaceful development.

"We respect the current social system of Taiwan region," said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, when commenting on media reports concerning candidate registration for the 2024 election.

Taiwan is standing at a crossroads, with peace and prosperity in one direction, and war and recession on the other, Chen said.

The mainland hopes that Taiwan compatriots will safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation, uphold the 1992 Consensus, oppose "Taiwan independence" and make the right choice at the critical moment, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
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The owners of a defunct Colorado funeral home where 190 decomposing human bodies were found have returned to the state to face hundreds of felony charges.

Jon and Carie Hallford were arrested in Oklahoma on November 8 following the morbid discovery in their facility, called Return to Nature, in Penrose after reports of an 'abhorrent smell'.

They both face 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, over 50 counts of forgery, five counts of theft and four counts of money laundering, federal court records said.

Carie appeared in District Court in Colorado Springs via video on Wednesday and District Judge Samorreyan Burney maintained her bail at $2 million cash during the advisement hearing, KRDO-TV reported.

Jon's advisement hearing was Friday and his bail also remained at $2 million. Neither entered a plea and their next court appearance is set for December 5.

The owners of a defunct Colorado funeral home where 190 decomposing human bodies were found have returned to the state to face hundreds of felony charges

Carie (left) and Jon Hallford (right) were arrested in Oklahoma on November 8 following the morbid discovery in their facility, called Return to Nature, in Penrose after reports of an 'abhorrent smell'

The pair face 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, over 50 counts of forgery, five counts of theft and four counts of money laundering, federal court records said

The owners of the Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose were charged just over a month after cops swooped on their burial facility, following reports from concerned neighbors over a 'dead animal smell'.

Carie was booked into the El Paso County Jail in Colorado Springs on Tuesday and Jon was returned to Colorado on Wednesday.

In court, Carie's public defender had asked for her bail to be reduced to $50,000, citing her lack of a criminal record, but Judge Burney noted she faced more than 250 felony charges.

Court records say the Hallfords are both being represented by the public defenders office, which does not comment on cases to the media.

The case began in early October when the report of an 'abhorrent smell' led to the discovery of the bodies at a Return to Nature Funeral Home location in Penrose  about 34 miles southwest of Colorado Springs.

After the bodies were removed, officials said there were 190 sets of remains, with some having been there as long as four years.

The coroners office used fingerprints and medical records to try to identify the bodies, and would use DNA if necessary, officials said.

Family members had been falsely told their loved ones had been cremated and had received materials that were not their ashes, court records said.

The couple was arrested at the home of Jon's father in Oklahoma, according to a federal arrest warrant alleging they fled the state to avoid prosecution. The federal charge was dropped after their arrests.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis released a statement after the arrests which said: 'I am relieved that criminal charges have been brought against the funeral home owner, and a criminal investigation is proceeding.

'I know this will not bring peace to the families impacted, but we hope the individuals responsible are held fully accountable in a court of law.

Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller confirmed his department had managed to identify 110 of the bodies, but that investigators are still working 'diligently' to identify the rest.

At least 137 families have been contacted, with 24 bodies released back to their loved ones, Keller previously said at a press conference.

Fremont County deputies guard the road leading to the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colo. Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023

Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller said so far 110 of the decedents have been identified, but urged anyone who used Back to Nature funeral services between September 2019 and 2023 to get in touch

Fingerprints, dental records and medical hardware are being used to identify the deceased, with DNA tests ready to be used in cases where this is not possible.

Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper described the impact on his staff as 'unequivocally very negative' as he thanked them for their hard work.

So far, at least one family has filed a lawsuit against the facility, which specializes in environmentally friendly burials.

Woodland Park resident Lindsay Maher's family used the service for the burial of her grandmother Yong Anderson in summer.

She claimed the funeral home provided 'concrete dust' instead of her relative's ashes.

'To say my family is horrified and enraged is an understatement,' she said.

'My grandmas last wishes were to be cremated and have her ashes spread in the ocean.

'It turns out the ashes we received from Return 2 Nature was actually just concrete dust and my grandmas body has been at the abandoned building this entire time just decaying next to 114 other bodies of 114 other unsuspecting families.

'They falsified my grandmas death certificate and handed my grieving family concrete dust.'

The probe was sparked after neighbors complained about the odor emanating from the single story property.

Joyce Pavetti, 73, can see the funeral home from the stoop of her house and said she caught whiffs of a putrid smell in the last few weeks. 'We just assumed it was a dead animal,' she said.

Neighbor Ron Alexander thought the smell was coming from a septic tank, adding that Wednesday night's blur of law enforcement lights 'looked like the 4th of July.'

Documents revealed Jon told the Colorado Program Director of the Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration that he practiced taxidermy at the facility.

He admitted to having a problem at the property and 'was amenable' to meeting at the property on October 4 for an inspection.

The company charges $1,895 for a 'natural burial', which does not include the cost of a casket and cemetery space, according to the website.

Bodies are not embalmed and are buried in biodegradable caskets, shrouds or 'nothing at all,' according to its website.

The funeral home also previously offered cremation services for $1,290, which included a tree planted in a Colorado National Forest.

Family members who want to spend four hours with their loved ones must fork out $485, while a final hour-long private moment is $285.

The funeral home describes its services as, 'a natural way of caring for your loved one with minimal environmental impact.'

Under Colorado state law, green burials are legal and are defined as those which take place without any embalming.

However, non-embalmed bodies must be properly refrigerated within 24 hours.

Anyone who used the funeral home between September 2019 and September 2023 is advised to get in touch with police.
Royal Writer Omid Scobie ripped into 'hot-headed' Prince William in his new bombshell book, Endgame.

The Sussexes' cheerleader accused the Prince, 41, of being in 'heir-mode' and driving the rift with his brother Harry.

It came after the author, 42, insisted he was not on the Sussexes' payroll ahead of his latest publication.

The Times released extracts from Endgame today which revealed many explosive claims made Omid .

He said William is a 'hot-headed' company man who is 'increasingly comfortable with the Palace's dirty tricks and the courtiers who dream them up'.

Omid Scobie, pictured, ripped into 'hot-headed' Prince William in an extraordinary interview with French magazine Paris Match

The Sussexes' cheerleader accused the Prince, 41, of being in 'heir-mode' and driving the rift with his brother Harry

Omid, who was the royal executive editor of Yahoo! News until July of this year, claimed it is William who, through his loyal aides and press relationships, has painted his brother as mentally fragile.

The author claimed: 'The side of it that a lot of people don't know, or within our industry have known but chosen not to report, is just how involved William has been in many of the things that have gone out about his own brother.'

The Prince 'knows his father's reign is only transitional,' Omid wrote, 'and is acting accordingly.'

In another painful chapter in the 400-page book, Omid alleged that William ignored Harry's texts when the family were racing to reach Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral in her final hours on September 8, 2022.

Harry allegedly paid to charter a flight alone from Luton Airport to Aberdeen for 30,000. Omid said he found out his grandmother had died when a BBC News alert pinged on his phone.

Omid also claimed King Charles was 'cautious' when talking to Prince Harry after the publication of Spare and family members were told not to trust him.

The author described an alleged conversation between Charles and his son Harry, who had apparently called to talk to him about his vitriolic memoir following its release in January.

He said the King was 'cautious', further claiming that a message was circulated among family members not to trust Harry with anything and to ignore both the book's claims and what he was saying to promote it.

The Prince 'knows his father's reign is only transitional,' Omid wrote , 'and is acting accordingly.'

King Charles - right - was said to be 'cautious' after speaking to Prince Harry after the publication of Spare. They are pictured at Westminster Abbey in 2019

He says the King was 'cautious', further claiming that a message was circulated among family members not to trust Harry with anything. The royals are pictured on November 11

Spare became the fastest selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began in 1998, and sold 3.2million copies worldwide in the first week of publication

French magazine Paris Match yesterday released extracts from Endgame alongside an interview with Omid.

The journal reported that a source close saying of Charles' approach to the conversation: 'He wanted to limit their discussion to a harmless exchange.

'Concerning Harry, the message that circulated in the family was not to trust him... everyone took it very seriously.'

Harry used Spare to make a series of personal attacks on his family, including the claim they helped 'trash' his and Meghan's reputations, forcing them to move to California, and have 'shown no willingness to reconcile'.

He also accused his elder brother of physically attacking him at Nottingham Cottage in 2019 and 'lunging' at him after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in 2021.

READ MORE - Every claim from sneak peek of Omid Scobie's new book Advertisement

In Endgame, Omid said that despite the strained relationship between Charles and the Sussexes, she and Harry still keep him 'up to date' by 'sending him photos of their children'.

But he claims that after Harry and Meghan sent the Waleses' three children gifts last Christmas, William and Kate did not respond with so much as a text.

The author  dubbed 'Meghan's mouthpiece'  repeats previous claims that the Duchess of Sussex 'never wants to set foot in England again', 'never felt at home' in the UK and 'never wants to be involved in the British monarchy again'.

Yet he says Harry has said he is 'ready to forget' the recent troubles with his family and has given up on getting the 'apology or explanation' he has previously demanded, quoting the prince as saying: 'At this point, who cares, right?'

The claims emerged yesterday in Paris Match magazine to publicise Omid's second royal tome, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival.

His first was Finding Freedom, the rabidly pro-Sussex account of Harry and Meghan's romance, wedding and decision to acrimoniously quit as working royals.

The article in Paris Match, ahead of the book's publication on Tuesday, is a tangled mass of quotes from it, combined with Omid's own opinions on the state of the Royal Family and seemingly the interpretation of the magazine's journalist.

In Endgame, Omid said that despite the strained relationship between Charles and the Sussexes, she and Harry still send him photos of their children. Pic: Charles on Nov 21

Omid claimed there was 'palpable silence' as the former 'Fab Four' travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk for a royal walkabout in 2022 (pictured)

Several new claims are made but none is obviously explosive  so far  although Omid has conducted several pre-publication interviews to be aired over the next few days, and there is no doubt that the Palace views his public vendetta with the Royal Family as unhelpful.

Many insiders point out that it is no surprise Kate and Meghan have not been in 'direct communication' for four years, as Omid describes it, because the Sussexes left for Canada with baby Archie in the autumn of 2019 and the duchess has returned to the UK, briefly, only four times since.

Paris Match adds that Kate 'immediately detected a rival to her' in Meghan, writing: 'She spent more time talking about Meghan than with Meghan,' according to 'a close friend of the couple'.

Harry, while promoting his tell-all memoir earlier this year, said it quickly became 'Meghan versus Kate' after he started dating the US TV actress in 2016.

Harry also repeated claims that Kate made Meghan cry during a row about bridesmaids' dresses ahead of the Sussexes' 2018 wedding.

William, Kate, Harry and Meghan were at one time dubbed the Royal Family's 'Fab Four' after they initially appeared to form a close bond. But when they were reunited for a car journey the day after the Queen's death in September 2022, there was a 'palpable' silence as they travelled the short distance to Windsor's Long Walk, the book claims.

The magazine goes on to say the book describes the complete breakdown of relations between the brothers, saying: 'Not even a text message at Christmas, although, according to Omid, Meghan and Harry had sent gifts to Kate and William's children.'

While neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace wants to comment on the claims, the book's publication is unlikely to do anything to bolster hopes that Harry may one day be reconciled with his family.

In Endgame, Omid suggests William and Harry's relationship is beyond repair because the Prince of Wales sees his brother as a 'defector'

Last week it was suggested there was a thawing of relations after sources close to the prince leaked to chosen media that he had a warm conversation with his father when he rang to wish him a happy 75th birthday.

Omid insists he is not friends with the Sussexes, nor was he in direct contact with them over the book, and the Sussexes have denied they are 'affiliated' with it.

But there is a certain level of detail that, if true, could only have come from sources who are extremely close to the couple.

This includes claims that Harry twice texted his estranged brother around the death of the Queen, and heard nothing back, and that his father, King Charles, called him from an 'unknown number'.

Paris Match also reports that Omid will say it was Harry's aunt, Princess Anne, who persuaded Charles to withdraw the use of Frogmore Cottage from the Sussexes, prompting the prince to plead: 'Don't you want to see your grandchildren any more?'

And Omid said that only Harry's uncle, Prince Edward, was concerned about the prince's mental health.

He even accuses the King of being more worried about the pressure on Prince Andrew in the wake of the Epstein scandal.

The magazine says: 'Meanwhile, the King could not bring himself to hurt his brother. [He] was in tears because he was afraid for Andrew's mental health. Charles leads with his head and his heart. William is colder. He wants the job done and he had no problem with casualties along the way.'

There are clear howlers in the extracts from the book that have been released, including the suggestion the Prince of Wales 'is eager to ascend the throne'.

Friends of William have made clear that he wants to ring-fence his three young children for as long as possible and has no desire to hasten his progress towards becoming king.

MailOnline have approached Buckingham Palace for a comment.
Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand has been reunited with her devoted father after she was held hostage by Hamas for 50 days.

Hamas finally freed 13 Israeli hostages and seven of other nationalities on Saturday after initially refusing to let them go.

The hostages were handed to the Red Cross in exchange for 39 Palestinians. Among the hostages released from both sides were 41 children and 11 women.

Emily, an Irish-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped during Hamas' invasion of Israel on October 7, in which some 240 captives were taken back into Gaza. She had her ninth birthday while in captivity.

Tonight as she was released, her overjoyed family said: 'Emily has come back to us. We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days.

Clutching a teddy bear, Irish nine-year-old Emily Hand was reunited with her devoted father today after being held by Hamas for 50 days

Emily is pictured arriving in a convoy transporting Israeli hostages released by Hamas

Emily was one of 13 Israeli citizens to be freed tonight from terror group Hamas and had her ninth birthday while in captivity

An International Red Cross vehicle carrying hostages released by Hamas driving towards the Rafah Crossing this evening

Her father Tom Hand faced an unbearable two-day wait for news about his daughter Emily after Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz where she was staying for a sleepover at her friend's home on October 7.

When he was incorrectly told her body had been found, he welcomed the news because he said it was better than her being taken hostage during the barbaric attack on the Be'eri Kibbutz.

At the time he told CNN: 'She was either dead, or in Gaza. And if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death.

'They'd have no food. They'd have no water. She'd be in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people. And terrified every minute, hour, day, and possible years to come. So death was a blessing. An absolute blessing.'

Around three weeks later Emily's family was told she might not be dead.

A Red Cross vehicle, carrying hostages abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, arrives at the Rafah border, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel

'We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return.

'We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home.

'We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily's return.

'We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for the safe return of all.'

Earlier, at a press conference in London, Mr Hand said he believed she was facing 'sheer terror and panic every hour of every day.'

'She must be saying every day: ''Where's my daddy? Where's my daddy, why isn't be coming to save me?'''

He added: 'I don't know what condition she's gonna be in, but she's gonna be broken, very broken, mentally and physically, and we'll have to fix that.'

Her older sister, Natalie, told Israeli media: 'We were told that she had been murdered. We were in mourning.

Noga and Shiri Weiss pictured as they were released from the Hamas terrorist group

Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam, 12, were also pictured safely returning to their home territory

Hamas finally freed 13 Israeli hostages and seven of other nationalities on Saturday after initially refusing to let them go

'On October 31, they told us that it was highly likely that she had been abducted.'

When Natalie was asked whether she had anything she wanted to say to Emily, on the off-chance she could be listening, she said: 'I want to tell you that we are doing everything to get you home. We know you are being held hostage.

'We love you so much and miss you.'

Speaking to the Mirror ahead of his daughter's long-awaited release, a relieved Mr Hand said: 'We have been waiting for far too long for this moment. Every day has been a long and painful living nightmare. my Emily is coming home at last, broken but in one piece.'

Earlier the proud Irishman, who travelled to Israel to be reunited with his little girl, said she would enjoy 'the best birthday party she never had' after having marked turning nine while being held hostage.

On Saturday, Qatari and Egyptian mediators said Hamas agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven 'foreigners' on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The hostages - six women and seven children - were handed over to the Red Cross and crossed over at the Rafah Crossing on the border between Gaza and Egypt at around 9.30pm. By 10.05pm, the hostages were back on Israeli soil.

Hostages were seen on their way to the Rafah Crossing this evening

Among the hostages released from both sides were 41 children and 11 women

A total of 13 Israelis and seven 'foreigners' were handed to Red Cross in exchange for 39 Palestinians

This evening, Qatar 's foreign ministry said 13 Israeli hostages will leave Gaza in addition to seven foreign hostages

This is the scene at Ofer Prison in the West Bank, as the wait for hostages to be released continues

Emily was among at least 30 children believed to be still held in Gaza.

Irish Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: 'I am delighted that Emily Hind - a bright and beautiful young girl - has been released and will be reunited with her family.

'After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family.

Who are the hostages that have been released? Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13 Emily Hand, 9 Maya Regev, 21 Noam Or, 17 Alma Or, 13 Noga Weiss, 53 Shiri Weiss, 18 Sharon Avigdori, 52 Noam Avigdori, 12 Shoshan Haran, 67 Adi Shoham, 38 Yahel Shoham, 3 Naveh Shoham, 8 Advertisement

'The people of Ireland have been touched by Emily's story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father, Tom.

'I had the opportunity to meet Tom before travelling to the region, and I was struck by the strength and resilience with which he advocated for his daughter's release.

'This is a message that I and my colleagues in government sought to amplify as we engaged internationally, in a bid to secure Emily's safe return.

'I want to acknowledge the role played by the US, Qatar, Egypt and others that have been involved in securing the release of the hostages.

'I am conscious today that many more hostages remain in the hands of Hamas. I reiterate my call that all hostages in Gaza should be released immediately and unconditionally.'

Relatives of the hostages set free tonight have celebrated their release.

Adi Shoham's cousin Inbal Tzach, told The Guardian:'Like everyone else we watched our loved ones on their way home. The struggle has not ended. This is the saddest joy and the happiest sadness, but our family is home.

'This is an emotional evening for the families who received their loved ones tonight. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home.'

Zohar Avigdori, who is the uncle of Noam Avigdori and sister-in-law of Sharon Avigdori, who were also released today, told the paper: 'We are very excited, our legs are shaking and we are impatiently waiting to hug our loved ones, Noam and Sharon.'

The terror group claimed earlier on Saturday that Israel had not complied with the deal's terms and not delivered enough aid to Gaza.

This evening, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said: 'After a delay, obstacles to release of prisoners were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, and 39 Palestinian civilians will be released tonight, while 13 Israeli hostages will leave Gaza in addition to seven foreigners.'

In a second post, Ansari said the Israelis to be released from Gaza consisted of eight children and five women.

'Those to be released from Israeli prisons comprised 33 children and six women', the spokesman said.

People participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, near the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv

A total of 50 hostages currently held by Hamas are to be released during a four-day truce with Israel, the first such pause in fighting since October 7

Relatives of the Israeli prisoners that have been captive in Gaza Strip by Hamas stage a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel

Irish Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: 'I am delighted that Emily Hind - a bright and beautiful young girl - has been released and will be reunited with her family'

Ruth Munder, a released Israeli hostage, walks with an Israeli soldier shortly after her arrival in Israel on Friday

Hamas has said it was delaying the release of a second group of hostages, claiming that Israel had not complied with the deal's terms and not delivered enough aid to the besieged enclave

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said 196 trucks of aid entered on Friday, and Israel said four fuel trucks and four tanks of gas entered Saturday

The hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross and are on their way to the Rafah Crossing in the Gaza Strip

Tens of thousands of Israelis have amassed in Tel Aviv as the country waits for the return of a second group of hostages

People attend a rally organized by the Bring Them Home Now association to support families of kidnapped people and to call for release of hostages, in Tel Aviv

A number of Palestinians were also reportedly injured as a result of gunfire from Israeli forces as they waited for the release of their relatives as part of the exchange agreement near Ofer Prison in Ramallah, West Bank, this evening.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the roughly 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Those freed in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.

Hamas has handed over a second group of Israeli hostages, AFP reports

The hostages have been held captive since they were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 terror massacre

The truce between Israel and Hamas has so far held. Pictured: People gathering on the Rafah border crossing where aid trucks are expected to be passing once the handover begins

On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and it has been passed to Israel, according to a Egyptian official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk about details of the ongoing negotiations.

However, terror group Hamas then said it was delaying the release of a second group of hostages, claiming that Israel had not complied with the deal's terms and not delivered enough aid to Gaza.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said 196 trucks of aid entered on Friday, and Israel said four fuel trucks and four tanks of gas entered Saturday.

Relatives, friends and supporters of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel, take part in a protest asking for their release in Tel Aviv on November 25

Thousands of people and the families of hostages hold up their mobile phones with the torch on in Tel Aviv to sing the Israeli national anthem

A woman holds a flag of Israel and a portrait of 13-year-old Alma, held hostage in Gaza since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists

A young Israeli holds a portrait of 56-year-old Gelerenter Itzhak, held hostage in Gaza since the October 7 attack

Earlier an Israeli military spokesperson had told France's BFM television station that, barring last minute changes, 13 Israeli hostages were expected to be freed

Israeli families are preparing to greet their relatives who are due to be released later today

Empty chairs represent the people who were abducted by Hamas more than a month ago

A total of 50 Israeli hostages are to be freed by Hamas in staggered releases over the four-day truce in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed - something US President Joe Biden said he hoped would occur.

Separately, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to coordinate with parties on the ground and 'ensure the deal continues to move smoothly', according to a diplomat briefed on the visit.

This is the emotional moment a father reunited with his wife and two young daughters after they spent 49 days being held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza

Aviv Asher, two, her sister Raz, four and mother Doron, step off an Israeli military helicopter

The two girls were holding toys as they held tightly in their parent's arms on the hospital bed, after being checked over by doctors

A pair of female IDF soldiers comfort Raz, four, and Aviv, two, following their release

An Israeli soldier sits with Raz as she sits down to eat shortly after the youngster was freed

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss details with the media.

The start of the pause brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas.

Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent.

For the first time in more than a month, aid reached northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed there on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area yet.

Ofer Prison this evening as three Palestinians, waiting for the release of their relatives as part of the exchange agreement, were injured as a result of gunfire opened by Israeli forces in Ramallah, West Bank

Health officers carry injured Palestinians as a result of gunfire opened by Israeli forces

An injured person was carried on a stretcher into an ambulance this evening

Medics carry a Palestinian man injured during clashes with Israeli security forces outside the Israeli Ofer military facility

Ohad Munder and his mother Keren (left) travel in an Israeli military helicopter en route to the Schneider Children's Medical Center

Nine-year-old Ohad Monder meets his father, his brother and family members at the Schneider Children's Medical Center, in Israel today

Ohad and his older brother warmly hug after being reunited following his release on Friday

Hundreds of relatives gathered in Tel Aviv awaiting news of their loved ones

Families hope a last minute glitch in the release will be resolved allowing 14 people to be returned to Israel this evening

The UN said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City, where much of the fighting has taken place, to a hospital in Khan Younis.

Until Saturday afternoon, it still appeared everything was going according to plan. Aid trucks were entering Gaza, Hamas handed a list of more than a dozen hostages slated for release to mediators Qatar and Egypt, and Israel's Prison Service prepared a list of dozens of Palestinian prisoners for release.

But by nightfall, as the hostages should have emerged from Gaza, Hamas announced that it was delaying the release over what it said were Israeli truce violations.

The group alleged the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised, and that not enough of the aid was reaching northern Gaza - the focus of Israel's ground offensive and the main combat zone.

Hamas also said not enough veteran prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said earlier in Beirut: 'This is putting the deal in danger and we have spoken to mediators about that.'

In Tel Aviv, several thousand people packed a central square called 'the square of the hostages,' awaiting news of the second release.

'Don't forget the others because it's getting harder, harder and harder. It's heartbreaking,' said Neri Gershon, a Tel Aviv resident.

Saturday's setback came just hours after Egypt, which controls the Rafah border crossing into southern Gaza through which vital aid supplies have resumed, said it had received 'positive signals' from all parties over a possible extension of that deal.

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that Cairo was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement which would mean 'the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.'

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

Israel and Hamas have said hostilities would resume as soon as the truce ends, although US President Joe Biden said on Friday there was a real chance of extending the truce.
Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon has infuriated staff at the troubled network by running up an eye-watering expenses bill of 26,855 in just five months.

Ms Mahon, who earned 1.2 million last year for her role as the broadcaster's chief executive, put in a claim for a 1,634 hotel stay when she jetted off to watch the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on September 3.

She spent a total of 4,182 on accommodation, which also included a stay in a lavish hotel at the Cannes Film Festival, for which she charged 1,631.

Ms Mahon's total spend for flights alone during the five-month period between May until the end of September came to 6,825.

She was also gifted two tickets to the men's Wimbledon final in July. VIP tickets for the event can cost more than 8,000.

Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon has come under criticism for running up an expenses bill of 27,000 in just five months

Ms Mahon, 50, has put in expenses for the Italian Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival and Wimbledon, among other events

A Channel 4 employee told The Mail on Sunday: 'It all feels a little bit tone deaf. Alex might try to deny it but the channel is not in great financial health, shows are being axed all over the place. As usual Alex does what she wants.'

Earlier this year it emerged that Ms Mahon, 50, attended the Oscars in Hollywood at C4's expense.

She flew business class to Los Angeles and spent three nights in a hotel at a cost of more than 1,000 a night.

Ms Mahon's and her deputy, chief content officer Ian Katz, have come in for criticism for a series of costly flop programmes, along with their reputation for billing the channel for their flamboyant diary bookings.

In June, this newspaper revealed Ms Mahon charged 20,762 expenses for four months from January 1.

Earlier this year Channel 4 axed its rebooted reality show Four Weddings, medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics and series Naked Attraction.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: 'It is standard practice for employees to have costs covered by expenses when they are attending events, meetings and conferences on behalf of the organisation.

'Channel 4 is funded entirely by its own commercial activities and receives no public funding.'
While about 34 per cent had to choose between heating and eating

Oxfam are in a 'hypocrisy' row after the charity paid one worker at least 340,000 in a year.

The payout was made in the year that the anti-poverty charity's staff have had to rely on food banks to survive, which prompted the organisation's first-ever strike over poor pay.

Around eight per cent of staff have used foodbanks, 22 per cent could not pay their rent, and 34 per cent had to choose between heating and eating, according to a union survey.

But the organisation's had an income of 373 million and reserves of 44.6 million in 2021/2022, according to accounts.

The charity coughed up 340,000 to 349,000 in the year to March, 31, 2022, to a single overseas worker.

The payout was made in the year that the anti-poverty charity's staff have had to rely on food banks to survive, which prompted the organisation's first-ever strike over poor pay

The charity coughed up 340,000 to 349,000 in the year to March, 31, 2022, to a single overseas worker. This eyewatering sum is almost three times Oxfam boss Danny Sriskandarajah's salary.

This eyewatering sum is almost three times Oxfam boss Danny Sriskandarajah's salary in the same year.

Another overseas staffer was also paid 150,000 to 159,000, according to accounts.

The reason for payment is unclear, but according to reports, the sum 'reflects packages which include redundancy payments made to international staff as a result of organisational changes and as required under national legislation in the countries where they were based'.

The accounts also say that long-term expat staff may get cash 'towards the cost of education for up to three children' and living allowances in 'very expensive countries'.

The note adds: 'The figures for the four overseas-based employees earning over 100,000 include employees with pay set in USD and include payments for accommodation, redundancy and gratuity paid in lieu of pension.'

The charity expects around 500 Unite members to walk out for 17 days in December, which the union claims is the first strike in the charity's history.

Unite said Oxfam staff, which includes workers in the charity's shops, offices and headquarters in Oxford, are angry that average wages have been cut by 21% in real terms since 2018.

The union said Oxfam's last reported cash reserves stood at 44.6 million in 2022, the highest they have been in at least five years.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (pictured) said that Oxfam wants to end poverty and says it is on the side of unions. Yet its own workers report having to use foodbanks

Oxfam in Crowley. Unite's members voted by 83 percent in favour of strike action in a ballot with an 82 percent turnout after they rejected a pay offer Unite said was worth 1,750 or 6 percent

Unite's members voted by 83 percent in favour of strike action in a ballot with an 82 percent turnout after they rejected a pay offer Unite said was worth 1,750 or 6 percent (whichever is higher), plus a one-off taxed payment of 1,000 for the lowest earners.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Oxfam wants to end poverty and says it is on the side of unions.

'Yet its own workers report having to use foodbanks, it refuses to engage with the only union representing its workforce, and it is considering using unpaid labour to break a strike.

'This is rank hypocrisy from an organisation that should know better.'

'Oxfam is an extremely wealthy organisation and can afford to put forward an acceptable offer without impacting its charity work in the slightest.

'Its workers have their union's total and unflinching support as they strike to make sure that happens.'

The workers will take strike action impacting Oxfam offices and more than 200 shops on December 8-9, 14-17, 20-24, 26-31.

Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved, Unite warned.

An Oxfam GB spokesperson said: 'We are obviously disappointed that Unite members have voted to strike.

'We are acutely aware of the pressures colleagues face as a result of the rising cost of living and we have done what we can to address this.

'We chose to bring forward paying the latest real Living Wage increases and prioritised lower-paid colleagues in this year's award.

'We deeply regret that we could not do more, but the settlement Unite is asking for is simply not affordable for Oxfam at a time when many of the communities we work with around the world are also facing sharply rising costs.

'We will now do everything possible to minimise the impact on our work and to support colleagues over the coming weeks.'

An Oxfam spokesperson said:'The payment to a senior overseas staff member was largely made up of a redundancy payment that Oxfam was required to required pay under national legislation in the country in which the individual was based. It also included salary, tax, social security and accommodation costs.

'In addition, the payments were in US dollars, resulting in higher sterling costs because of the weak pound at the time.'
A school board member in California who claimed to be the 'Messiah' has been detained for a mental health evaluation after making concerning threats.

Jason Vassar, who is a local school board trustee in Tuolumne County, made a series of chilling threats, according to court filings seen by The Union Democrat.

The 50-year-old allegedly mentioned killing children as well as being the executioner for God and made racist and anti-government comments. Although he did not threaten any specific person.

Court filings include 'manifestos' which were allegedly written by Vassar and titled 'Homework'. He is said to have submitted them to Belleview Elementary School Superintendent-Principal Carmel Portillo minutes after he left a meeting on October 30.

It prompted school officials to get a restraining order against him and start the process of removing him from his role.

A school board member in California who claimed to be the 'Messiah' has been detained for a mental health evaluation after making concerning threats

Jason Vassar, 50, who is a local school board trustee in Tuolumne County which includes Belleview Elementary (pictured), made a series of chilling threats, according to court filings

Portillo called a meeting with Vassar on October 30 to 'discuss school board business and inquire as to his mental health'.

But he allegedly declared himself to be 'the messiah chosen by God' to bring the end of the world.

The court documents state that Vassar later sent emails with 93 pages of comments to the principal and another administrator on topics including the coronavirus pandemic, the Antichrist and made other biblical references.

'I was kind of shocked to read in Revelations that I was going to be executioner for God and kill your children,' he allegedly wrote.

'Im going to tear this planet apart starting with my home town, Sonora.

'Im going to kill these communists or socialists or whatever the f*** these cultists think they are. You are s*** on my boot that I am washing off, again.

'If anyone threatens my children, I will kill them in the most gruesome way I can think of, including corrupt government agencies that have illegally been f***ing with me because they think no one would ever set up the FBI with a sting.'

The school then filed for a temporary restraining order which stated that Vassars writings exhibited paranoia that could make him 'easily believe' that attempts to restrain his presence at school are a 'covert plot against him'.

He allegedly mentioned killing children as well as being the executioner for God and made racist and anti-government comments. Although he did not threaten any specific person

He is required to stay at least 1,000 feet away from the campus, students and staff as well as the county Superintendent of Schools Office facilities, staff and students.

Vassar also has to surrender his firearms to the police. He allegedly left a voicemail to a staff member at 11.30pm on November 4 following the restraining order in which he said: 'f*** you I hope you win the lottery and die the next day.'

A letter was sent to staff and parents on November 6 about the situation surrounding Vassar.

He was detained on a 72-hour psychiatric hold under code section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, according to the filing.

An updated letter to staff and families on November 13 said the Sheriff's Office confirmed Vassar was still detained and being monitored.

It also mentioned there will be a court hearing on November 28 over the possibility of a permanent injunction.

Superintendent-Principal Portillo confirmed the district has started the process to have Vassar removed from the school board through the Attorney Generals Office.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Belleview Elementary School and Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand and 12 other Hamas captives have finally been released after they spent 50 days imprisoned in real-life hell.

Noam, 17, and Alma Or, 13, the siblings who were cruelly taken hostage after the group of terrorists killed their mother, Yonat, were also returned.

Sadly, their father, who was also captured on October 7 by Hamas, has not been freed along with them.

Hostage names revealed through the Hostage and Missing Persons Families Forum, indicate that the terrorist group will release people from just one kibbutz, Be'eri.

Sharon Avigdori, 52, a drama therapist who works with people on the autism spectrum, and her daughter Noam Avigdori, 12, who was about to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah Both were captured from Kibbutz Be'eri.

Hostage names are coming through by the Hostage and Missing Persons Families Forum, and it appears the terrorist group will release people from just one kibbutz, Be'eri

Hamas fighters accompany a newly released Israeli hostage Maya Regev to a Red Cross vehicle

The release of hostages came as part of a temporary cease-fire deal put in place by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel

Noga and Shiri Weiss pictured as they were released from the Hamas terrorist group

Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand (pictured) has been freed as part of a hostage exchange after she was held by Hamas for 50 days

Other hostages released on Saturday night include Maya Regev, 21, Noga Weiss, 53, Shiri Weiss, 18, Shoshan Haran, 67, Adi Shoham, 38, Yahel Shoham, three, Naveh Shoham, eight

Emily Hand, pictured with another hostage as they were released back to their families

Hila Rotem, 13, who managed to escape from her home in Be'eri but was later found in the bushes and taken to Gaza, has also been freed - but her mother is still in captivity.

The other hostages released on Saturday night include Maya Regev, 21, Noga Weiss, 53, Shiri Weiss, 18, Shoshan Haran, 67, Adi Shoham, 38, Yahel Shoham, three, Naveh Shoham, eight.

The release of hostages came as part of a temporary cease-fire deal put in place by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel.

One captive released, Emily, was kidnapped during Hamas' invasion of Israel on October 7, in which some 240 captives were taken back into Gaza.

She was among at least 30 children believed to be still held in the besieged enclave.

Thomas Hand, father of nine-year-old Emily Hand, cries during a press conference by families of hostages at the embassy of Israel in London on November 20, 2023

A woman holds leaflets picturingIrish-Israeli girl Emily Hand, believed to be being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, November 17, 2023

Her father previously spoke of his fear that his daughter would not be released as part of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

'Until I see Emily's blue eyes looking into my own, I won't allow myself to believe anything,' the father from Dublin, 63, wrote in The Independent on Wednesday.

'News that 50 Hamas hostages might soon be released as part of a four-day truce has given me a glimmer of hope,' he wrote, 'but also a new sickness in the depths of my stomach. What if Emily is not among those that her assailants choose to send home?'

Noam and Alma are two siblings from the Or family who have been given their freedom back.

Their home was destroyed by the Hamas group as a group of fighters took the sibling, their father, Dror and their nephew, Liam, 18, hostage.

Noam and Alma, are two siblings from the Or family who have been given their freedom back

Maya Regev, 21, who was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival, is also among the 13 to be released

The pair's older brother, Yahli and their dog, Nella, thankfully survived, but the ruthless terrorists killed their mother on the day they savagely descended on their kibbutz.

Yahli is now volunteering for a year of national service in the north after he escaped what could have been a fatal fate as he wasn't home on October 7.

Dror was a chef and cheesemaker in the Be'eri Dairy, and his wife, Yonat, successfully created her own furniture line.

Maya Regev, 21, who was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival, is also among the 13 to be released.

It is believed the free spirit arrived at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in stable condition this evening.

Maya Regev, 21, who was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival, is also among the 13 to be released

Maya was the only hostage to be taken to the medical centre to undergo immediate medical attention

She was the only hostage to be taken to the medical centre to undergo immediate medical attention.

The music-lover was kidnapped during the festival along with her brother Itai, who still remains in captivity.

The Health Ministry says that her family is waiting for her and that they call on the public to respect her privacy at this time as she receives treatment and reunites with family and friend, according to The Times Of Israel.

Shoshan Haran, a noted agricultural expert, was also given back her freedom after being pronounced missing following the October attacks.

Her family have stayed strong and hopeful during the last few terrifying weeks.

Shoshan Haran, a noted agricultural expert, was also given back her freedom after being pronounced missing following the October attacks

Missing his sister immensely, Aviv Havron arrived at Shoshan's home with 200 civilians and a ceramic pot.

He told the local paper: 'It's all that's left from Shoshan's house.

'The terrorists detonated the home with explosives after abducting Shoshan and nine other members of her family.'

Shoshan founded Fair Planet, an internationally acclaimed farming project that has enabled thousands of previously impoverished farmers to earn a good living while providing a million Africans with a reliable food source.

After she was taken hostage, like her life, the organisation was put in jeopardy.

She studied plant biology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Rutgers University in New Jersey and since built an impressive career at Hazera Genetics.

The youngest known hostage released on Saturday night is Yahel Haran, who is just three years old and a granddaughter to Shoshan

Yahel's brother Naveh, eight, was also abducted with his father and five other members of his family

Shoham's psychologist daughter, Adi Shoham, 38, was also returned to Israeli officials on Saturday night

Shoham's sister-in-law, Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam, 12, were also pictured safely returning to safe territory

Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam were pictured safely returning to their home territory

The youngest known hostage released on Saturday night is Yahel Haran, who is just three years old and a granddaughter to Shoshan.

The toddler and her brother, Naveh, eight, were abducted with their father and four other wider members of their family.

While the four distantly related family members were released, their father, Tal Shoham, was sadly not granted his freedom with his children.

Shoham's psychologist daughter, Adi Shoham, 38, was also returned to Israeli officials.

Her sister-in-law, Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam, 12, were also pictured safely returning to safe territory.

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, was one of the very few prisoners released back to safe hands.

But the teenager returns with out her mother, Raya, who was also captured but the merciless group on October, 7.

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, was one of the very few prisoners released back to safe hands

The pair desperately hid in the safe room of their home when the killers tagetted their home town but Hila wrote to her brother at 12.05pm to inform him that they were abducted.

That was the last communication anyone had with Raya or Hila.

Their condition was unknown for weeks - their family were not officially informed that the pair were hostages in Gaza until October, 29.

Noga Weiss, 18 and her mother Shirim 53, were finally released this evening after Hamas attacked their Kibbutz Beeri, killing, burning and kidnapping those who lived there.

When the terrorist group broke into their family home, Noga desperately hid under the bed in her safe room and watched as the criminals abuducted her mother.

Noga Weiss, 18 and her mother Shirim 53, were finally released this evening after Hamas attacked their Kibbutz Beeri, killing, burning and kidnapping those who lived there

The teenager messaged her family on WhatsApp as the vultures set fire to her home.

When the fire made it impossible to breathe, Noga, was forced to escape out of the window and hide in a nearby bush.

She texted her sister at 11.30am that a terrorist was approaching her hiding spot - that was the last time anyone heard from her.

While she may have returned safely with her mother, the condition of her father, Ilan, is unknown and is still defined as missing.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
Biden's motorcade even took a different route into town - one that avoided driving past a group of protestors gathered on the side of the road

Protesters were kept about six blocks from President Biden on Saturday

Joe Biden was booed and heckled on the streets of Nantucket on Saturday even as people protesting the war in Gaza were kept far away from the president.

The president's motorcade even took a different route from where he is staying - David Rubenstein's $34 million home on Abrams Point - into town to avoid driving past protestors gathered on the side of the road with signs saying 'Free Palestine.'

A group of about 40 people calling for an end to the fighting in Palestine were kept down one end of Main Street in downtown Nantucket - about six blocks from where Biden was shopping with wife Jill Biden, son Hunter Biden and the first couple's grandchildren.

The protesters held a large banner reading 'Ceasefire 4Eva' and chanted: 'The pause is just a pause. A permanent ceasefire. Let Gaza live.'

Additionally, people in the crowds that lined the sidewalks shouted 'shame on you' and 'armchair murder' as the president walked by while others booed. But there were also plenty of cheers mixed in with the cat calls as Biden supporters tried to drown out his critics.

President Joe Biden sips a smoothie while out shopping in Nantucket

An onlooker shouts 'shame on you' as President Joe Biden, not pictured, visits local shops with relatives in Nantucket

President Joe Biden walks with his granddaughter Natalie Biden

Protesters wait along the route President Joe Biden will take into downtown Nantucket; his motorcade took a different route and didn't go past them

Hunter Biden with wife Melissa Cohen and son Baby Beau in Nantucket

Biden has become a target of criticism over his steadfast support of Israel, whose military has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians in their effort to root out Hamas fighters responsible for the October 7 attack.

The president has spent much of this Thanksgiving holiday dealing with war between Israel and Hamas.

He addressed the first round of hostages released on Friday and spoke about it again on Saturday, saying 'hopefully we'll see something soon' after zero Americans were released by Hamas.

But he also has spent a lot of time shopping with his family. He visited several shops in downtown Nantucket on Saturday, including the Murray Toggery, Mitchell's Book Corner, The Black Dog, and Nantucket Pharmacy, where he came holding what looked like a smoothie.

He ended his shopping trip by going to 5 pm mass at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church.

First lady Jill Biden was with him for the shopping portion of the day. She had her own fans - one group of girls yelled at her 'You slay Jill.'

It was her second round of shopping for the day. Earlier she was out with granddaughters Finnegan and Naomi.

Dressed in black workout gear the first lady stopped in Murray's Beverage Store, the local liquor store, and then made her way across the street to the Ralph Lauren store. She and the two girls were trailed by SUVs and a large contingent of Secret Service agents.

Protesters on Main Street in downtown Nantucket were kept far away from President Biden

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden out shopping in Nantucket on Saturday

President Joe Biden chats with onlookers as he walks the streets of Nantucket

There were a heavy security presence on the streets of Nantucket for Biden's shopping trip

First lady Jill Biden shopped twice on Saturday - earlier in the morning and then in the afternoon with the president

President Joe Biden walks arm-in-arm with granddaughter Maisy Biden

Shopping is a traditional outing for the Biden family when they are on the small island off the coast of Massachusetts.

On Friday, the family had their traditional lunch at Brotherhood of the Thieves, a local pub, before walking the streets for some Christmas shopping and then attending the annual lighting of the town's Christmas Tree.

Their first stop was Nantucket Bookworks, a family tradition.

'Can't come without going to the bookstore. We've got a tradition,' the president told reporters.

Biden walked out of the bookstore carrying the tome Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson.

'We're having a great time, thank you,' Jill Biden told reporters of their day.

The president then popped into Craftmasters of Nantucket, a store Hunter was spotted in Wednesday, where the first son purchased a pair of slippers - potentially a gift for the president as the family was celebrating his 81st birthday that day.

Demonstrators in support of Palestinians hold signs, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Biden's motorcade route

President Joe Biden exits St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church, after attending a mass with family in Nantucket

President Biden out on the streets of Nantucket

Jill Biden, in workout gear and carrying gloves and a water bottle, was shopping in downtown Nantucket on Saturday

Hunter Biden, his wife Melissa Cohen and their son Beau were out Friday and Saturday with the president and first lady. Hunter's daughters from his first marriage, Maisy, Finnegan and Naomi, were also on hand for both days, as was Naomi's husband of one year, Peter Neal.

First daughter Ashley Biden and husband Howard Krein are also on the trip as are the children of the late Beau Biden, Little Hunter and Natalie.

Several of the grandchildren - Natalie, Finnegan and Maisy - held on to President Biden as he walked the cobblestone sidewalks, keeping a grip on his arm as he made his way over the crooked bricks.

On Friday night, the town's annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony was interrupted by about a dozen protesters, asking the president to 'Free Palestine' and accusing him of genocide.

The president, first lady Jill Biden and their children and grandchildren were gathered alongside the tree in Nantucket's town square as the town crier led the countdown for the lighting ceremony.

As the ceremony came to an end, fewer than 10 protesters at the front of the crowd unveiled 'free Palestine' and 'end apartheid' signs, directly in the president's line of sight.

Finnegan Biden (right), looks back to talk to her grandmother Jill Biden

Naomi Biden follows Jill Biden out of Murray's, the local liquor store

Jill Biden and her granddaughters also shopped in Ralph Lauren

Jill Biden with Finnegan Biden

'Biden, Biden you can't hide. We charge you with genocide,' they chanted.

A man went up to the microphone to remind them 'this is a community tree lighting' and said that while he 'respected their right to the First Amendment' he encouraged them to stop.

They resisted, but their message was drowned out by the crowd's cheering and loud Christmas music playing.

The children's choir rushed over to the president in the interim.

The demonstrators were all Nantucket natives or currently live on the island.

'Nantucket Island has long been considered an exclusive vacation getaway for rich tourists. However, the protests on Friday night indicate that island residents are pushing back on their island and community being used as a safe haven for politicians and wealthy elites,' said a press release about the protest.

The Christmas tree lighting was the Biden family's last stop off the day after taking over downtown Nantucket for several hours.

The president's traditional Black Friday jaunt was delayed due to the first release of hostages from Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' brutal October 7 terror attack on Israel.

Dr. Jill Biden (left) smiles as she wateches the Christmas tree lighting on Main Street in Nantucket alongside Hunter Biden (left) and President Joe Biden (center)

Baby Beau Biden is hoisted up by his sister Maisy Biden at the annual Nantucket Christmas tree lighting that was interrupted by 'Free Palestine' protesters

The Biden clan reacts to the Christmas tree lighting Friday evening on Nantucket. (From left) Hunter, Melissa Cohen, the president, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, little Hunter, Finnegan, baby Beau, Maisy and Dr. Jill Biden

Protesters held up 'Free Palestine' and 'end apartheid' signs at the Nantucket Christmas tree lighting that President Joe Biden attended with his family Friday evening

He gave a speech after the first round of hostages were released, where he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be mindful of civilian casualties.

'I have encouraged the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective he has. That's a difficult task and I don't know how long it will take,' Biden said.

'My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can,' he added.
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A solo traveller has revealed the six biggest mistakes she made when backpacking around south east Asia and Europe.

TikToker Rory Hollier shared her do's and don'ts on booking hotels, spending cash and which hostels to avoid, in the video seen by 155,000 people.

She regularly makes videos where she shares helpful tips and tricks for solo travellers like herself.

In a video from July, she gave her best advice for those planning to backpack.

She told viewers 'I solo travelled south east Asia and Europe for six months this year on a budget by myself and these are the biggest mistakes that I made' - read on for the full list of the travel influencers recommendations.

TikToker Rory Hollier shared her do's and don'ts on booking hotels, spending cash and which hostels to avoid, in the video seen by 155,000 people

Staying at a mad monkey hostel in South East Asia

Rory revealed that the first mistake she made was deciding to stay at a Mad Monkey Hostel.

She said 'Mad Monkey Hostels in South East Asia,' while shaking her head.

The TikToker warned 'big mistake, don't go there. I'm not s******* on party hostels, I love a party hostel but they're disgusting and I don't support them.'

Mad Monkey is one of the largest hostel companies in Asia, welcoming over 350,000 customers per year in Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, and Laos.

Some commenters were in agreement, with one writing 'Dont tell me twice about mad monkey'.

However, others argued that they had a positive experience, adding 'What p***** you off about Mad Monkey? I stayed at 3 in Cambodia and 2 in Vietnam, thought they were all very good'.

Another chimed in with 'Oh damn. I went to mad monkey in Cambodia 7 years ago and it was amazing'.

She She told viewers 'I solo travelled south east Asia and Europe for six months this year on a budget by myself and these are the biggest mistakes that I made'

Mad Monkey Hostels commented 'Mad Monkey has always been about cultivating a sense of love and community.

'Over 13 years, we've built an excellent reputation, deeply embedded in our local communities.

'Employment at Mad Monkey directly supports nearly 800 local families, and we invest heavily in the personal and professional development of our team.

'Our track record includes significant contributions to community programs, ranging from water wells to education initiatives, which we're very proud of.

'We're saddened that Rory feels the need to express negativity based on her personal experiences. In our true spirit of spreading love, we'll be responding to Rory on TikTok next week, addressing all of her points!

'We'll happily invite her back to show her the true Mad Monkey Experience we all know and love!'

Booking Philippines flights 'too far in advance'

Her next regret was booking her flights for the Philippines too far in advance.

She explained 'I booked my Philippines flights like a month before because it was cheaper to do it in advance.

'Then I got there and I loved it so much that I cancelled the flights and booked new ones - I lost like a grand doing that'.

Packing too light

When backpacking, a big issue can be having too much stuff to carry around and overpacking, especially for first time travellers.

However, the travel fanatic had the opposite issue, she packed 'way too light'.

Rory said 'My backpack is 40L which is like carry on size and I thought that going under seven kilos, like carry on size, was smart but no one weighed my f****** carry on.

'I got it through every single time, I didn't bring my go pro, didn't bring my film camera. I barely brought any clothes, it was just a nightmare, I was throwing s*** out all the time.

'I should have just bought a new backpack but it is what it is.'

In a video from July, she gave her best advice for those planning to backpack

The influencers full list of mistakes she made while backpacking south East Asia and Europe Staying at a Mad Monkey hostel

Booking Philippines flights too far in advance'

Packing too light

Budgeting too hard

Staying at hotels too often

Not booking things in Europe enough in advance Advertisement

Budgeting too hard

Again, spending too much money is the more common problem among travellers, but Rory admitted that it's also important not to spend too little and miss out.

She told viewers 'The first three months I was using this app called Travel Spend and I was tracking every single expense.

'Like if I got a water bottle at a 7Eleven for ten bucks, it was going in my travel app and it just made me miserable.

'Just give yourself lenience, you're going to have days where you don't spend much money and you're going to have really expensive days.

'But I was like $50 a day in Asia and that's it, not spending any more money for the day and Europe $100 that's it.'

The influence continued 'I was just missing out on the things that I went there for.

'Like I went to Cappadocia, I spent hundreds of dollars on accommodation and transport and everything to get there and I didn't get on the hot air balloon, which is like the whole reason of going to Cappadocia.

'But I was like aww I've spent so much money - stupid. Don't budget so hard that you're missing out on experiences and don't budget so hard that you're constantly like oh no I can't do this, I can't do this and stressing about it, it will be fine.

'It will work out. Worst comes to worst you run out of money and the Australian embassy or the American embassy has to fly you home and then you're in debt to them.'

Spending too much money is the more common problem among travellers, but Rory admitted that it's also important not to spend too little and miss out

Rory regularly makes videos where she shares helpful tips and tricks for solo travellers like herself

Staying at hotels too often

Next, she concluded that she 'loves hostels' but after six months of travel she was 'so tired':

'In the last month I think I exclusively stayed in hotels and that's so much money that could be in my pocket if I just stuck it out and went to the backpackers.

'It is really nice to have your alone time but it gets so addictive, especially when you're really low on your social battery. Just stick it out, it's not that bad.

'You will eventually meet that person in the hostel that brings your social battery back to life, if you know what I mean.'

One commenter chimed in with 'Private rooms in hostels, perfect compromise between hotel and dorm life. Can always split with a friend too'.

Another agreed 'Do private rooms at hostels for alone time!! Most of the time they are cheaper than a actual hotel'.

READ MORE: Travel influencer reveals top tips for sleeping safely in an AIRPORT - from the best clothing to wear to the most secure areas to bed down in a pinch Advertisement

Booking in advance in Europe

Finally, her biggest point that she claims 'every backpacker needs to hear' is that you should book things in Europe far in advance.

She revealed 'I had a one way flight, I didn't book anything, I didn't even know that I was gonna go to Europe.

'I went to South East Asia thinking I was gonna do South East Asia for the rest of the year and then I ended up in the Balkans.

'The Balkans were really easy to do day by day but the hostels in western Europe were so expensive. I was spending like $100 a night in Florence, it was ridiculous.'

The travel pro admitted 'For my birthday I really wanted to go to either Switzerland or the Dolomites and I couldn't do either because you need to book those things really far in advance.

'It's not something that you can just waltz into, people are looking at hotels in the Dolomites years before they go.'

She concluded that for her next trip in the planning process she will go through all of her options for everything she wants to do, adding that she still wants to 'go with the flow, airy fairy day by day', but sometimes 'you do need an actual plan, especially if you're trying to go on a budget'.

Rory said 'I could have gone to Switzerland or the Dolomites but it would have cost me like $350 a night just for myself, whereas if I had booked it ages before, it would have been so much cheaper.'

Viewers flocked to the comments to share their own experiences, with one traveller writing 'I agree with everything your saying, except mad monkey. Everyone needs to experience going mad at the monkeys, good or bad lol'.

Someone else praised the TikToker, adding 'Good advice Rory I didnt do the balloon ride 25 years ago also my one travel regret but I did this year you have to go back'.

Another penned 'Dont budget so hard that you miss out is great advice - from someone who has been to 32 countries'.
'I would cry with joy if Marks & Spencer was in America.'

So says Victoria Prieto, an American living in London who spoke to MailOnline Travel about the differences between shops in the UK and her native country  and why America offers better hangover cures.

Ms Prieto, a self-confessed grocery store aficionado (as her @victoriaabroad TikTok biog states), says that she finds UK grocery stores 'amazing', revealing that she enjoys 'walking through an M&S, Tesco or Sainsbury's', but reserves the most passion for M&S  and Gail's bakeries.

'Those two are my ultimate favs,' she reveals.

In a TikTok video, the 34-year-old presented some of her favourite treats from the former  items, she pointed out, that aren't available in the States.

Victoria Prieto (above), an American living in London, spoke to MailOnline Travel about the differences between shops in the UK and her native country  and why America offers better hangover cures

First out of her M&S carrier bag was a small, packaged salad, with dressing, followed by a 'Bang Bang Noodle Slaw' and Millionaire's Bites ('these are the best, so tasty') and Percy Pig sweets.

Offering further explanation for her love of British grocery stores, the New Yorker said: 'UK grocery stores provide smaller quantities and more affordable options compared to U.S grocery stores. For example, meal deals, dinner packs and so forth.

'Also, UK grocery stores have more options for foie gras and pate. These would only be found in an expensive American cheese/meat section.

'I also love how many ready-made cakes there are available in all UK grocery stores. I wish I had a reason to buy them. They're all so colourful and cute.'

Ms Prieto, a self-confessed lover of grocery stores (as her @victoriaabroad TikTok profile biog states), says that she finds UK grocery stores 'amazing'

In a TikTok video, Victoria presented some of her favourite treats from the former  items, she pointed out, that aren't available in the States. First out of her M&S carrier bag was a small, packaged salad, with dressing, followed by a 'Bang Bang Noodle Slaw' and Millionaire's Bites ('these are the best, so tasty') and Percy Pig sweets

She continued: 'It seems like you guys [Brits] are really keen on sausage rolls, pork pies, mashed potatoes and Scotch eggs, while a lot of those would be rare to find in an American supermarket. Though not mashed potatoes.'

Victoria, who is Senior Campaign Manager at The Influencer Marketing Factory, is also a fan of the shopping culture in Britain  and Europe - in general.

The U.S does hangover cures better. I'm sorry I have to say it. It might come from a really simple fact that Americans just have larger portions. But the main difference is bagels

She explained: 'I think British people and Europeans buy more on a daily basis versus a weekly basis. Americans buy in bulk and I think it's a nicer, slower way of life to buy what's needed and be able to walk to the grocery store a couple of days later and get more fresh produce.'

However, there is one area where Victoria feels America is the outright winner  hangover cures.

She explained: 'The U.S does hangover cures better. I'm sorry I have to say it. It might come from a really simple fact that Americans just have larger portions. And who doesn't want a large, fat and greasy portion of food when hungover?

'But the main difference is bagels. Bagels are a huge part of American culture, specifically New York City, where I am from.

'Bagels can be found on every street corner and they're easy to deliver on any ordering app, but here in the UK they're hard to find.

'It would be my ultimate goal to open up a bagel and iced coffee shop in the UK, to introduce the New York style of bagels and coffee.

'Our iced coffee is iced coffee and not an iced latte. And we have bagels that are doughy, chewy, creamy and satisfying for any meal - but especially a hangover.'

Are there any outlets in America that she feels Brits would love if they set up shop in the UK?

Victoria said: 'I think the UK would love Trader Joe's - it offers such unique snacks, health food and creative items. Erewhon is great, too, just super pricey.'

For more from Victoria visit her TikTok profile and Instagram account - @thedailyvictoria.
Gemma Collins has revealed she's starting a fertility journey in a bid to welcome her first child.

The former TOWIE star, 42, suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2012 and has been open about her struggles to fall pregnant in recent years.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about her family plans, she revealed she was pleased to hear that Tana Ramsay had welcomed her sixth child at the age of 49, because it gave her hope that she too can conceive in her 40s.

'The Tana Ramsay news was the greatest thing to wake up to. Incredible', Gemma mused.

'It really made me think positively about my future and kind of took the pressure off. I don't think anyone knew she was pregnant, so it was a lovely surprise, but I got butterflies in my stomach when I saw it.'

Mama to be: Gemma Collins has revealed she's starting a fertility journey in a bid to welcome her first child after being given a new lease of hope by Tana Ramsay's baby news

Baby joy: Gordon Ramsay shocked his fans this month when he announced wife Tana had given birth to their sixth child at the age of 49

Gemma continued: 'This is amazing news for me. I'm starting my fertility journey within the next couple of weeks.

'I'm going to a clinic so watch these cards and get ready for me, honey.'

Revealing she feels positive about her chances, Gemma continued: 'I'll be standing on them steps announcing the child to the world. London will go to a standstill. The great Queen will come and greet the child!'

Gordon Ramsay shocked his fans this month when he announced wife Tana had given birth to their sixth child.

The celebrity chef, 57, posted a heartwarming photo of himself kissing his newborn on the head as Tana cradled him in her arms.

Sharing the announcement on Instagram, Gordon said the birth was an 'amazing birthday present', as his birthday is on November 8.

He wrote: 'What an amazing birthday present please welcome Jesse James Ramsay, 7lbs 10oz whopper!! One more bundle of love to the Ramsay brigade!! 3 boys, 3 girls. Done.'

Gordon and Tana are already parents to five children; Megan, 25, twins Jack and Holly, 23, Tilly, 22, and Oscar, four.

Tana also shared her own post, saying the Ramsay family had been 'blessed' with their new arrival.

She wrote: 'It's been a nerve wracking 9 months but we've made it and we have been blessed with this little bundle. Ramsay family definitely complete. Jesse James Ramsay we love you so much '.

Potential parents: Gemma revealed earlier this year she was praying for a baby with her fiance Rami Hawash. She is stepmother to his son Tristan, five

Gemma revealed earlier this year she was praying for a baby with her fiance Rami Hawash. She is stepmother to his son Tristan, five.

During a spiritual trip to Tel Aviv in January, Gemma and her fiance visited Bethlehem, with the star later confessing: 'I did pray when I was there, I said ''please God, please give me a baby this year'' and you know please God it happens.'

She previously detailed her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome battle (PCOS) which can affect fertility.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. Symptoms include menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity.

Gemma previously revealed she would wait until her 50s to try for a baby, having been inspired by Naomi Campbell, but has now decided to bring forward her plans.

Fertility specialists have warned, however, that celebrity success stories about later motherhood could convince women they can naturally conceive later in life or that fertility treatment is easy.

For most women aged over 45, the odds of becoming pregnant naturally stand at around 1 percent.

Naomi welcomed a baby girl in May 2021, at the age of 50 and a son in June this year aged 53.

While she has not revealed the method in which she welcomed her children, she stated that they are biologically hers.

There has been widespread speculation she used a surrogate, a method which is becoming increasingly common.
BOAT STORY

Sunday-Monday, BBC1

Rating:

First things first: Boat Story is very violent. The writers (brothers Harry and Jack Williams, also behind Baptiste and The Tourist) have clearly set out their stall by admitting, Theres a lot on TV and wed love it to stand out.

If your idea of a fun Sunday evenings viewing is a Strictly dance-off, this no-holds-barred, Tarantino-infused thriller may not be for you.

I physically flinched at all the gore yet also found myself (eventually, unexpectedly) entirely on board Boat Story simply because the premise is so engaging.

So what would you do if, like down-on-their-luck strangers Janet (effortlessly endearing Daisy Haggard) and Samuel (perfectly cast Paterson Joseph) who meet on a beach one day, you were confronted by a washed-up boat containing two very dead bodies and illegal drugs worth millions?

Obviously, its not a moral dilemma most of us would struggle with  calling the police would work!

Boat Story's Janet, played by Daisy Haggard, and Samuel, played by Paterson Joseph, and the washed-up boat

However, if youre creating a contemporary, adrenaline-filled, Yorkshire-set thriller featuring relatable protagonists soon out of their depth, then stealing it is clearly a no-brainer.

There were so many spoiler alerts attached to my press preview for the six-part series that I darent reveal much plot.

Suffice to say Janet and Samuel grapple with their sub-optimal personal lives while becoming messily entangled in the local criminal underworld while a psychopathic Frenchman, The Tailor (hypnotically watchable Tcheky Karyo), is hot on their heels.

A fabulous supporting cast includes the magnificent Joanna Scanlan as pasty-making mum Pat, whose intriguing love life swiftly becomes central to the action.

Yet while it has much to commend it, the high-octane drama is so pleased with the excessive violence (which adds nothing to the plot and detracts from the viewers ability to care about the characters journeys) that its inevitably Marmite viewing.

For every chunk of fabulous dialogue between Janet and Samuel (some of the best bits of the show) there is plenty of irritating quirkiness too.

Theres also an occasional narrator (Olafur Darri Olafsson), whose rumbling bass is presumably deployed to help potential US audiences of this Amazon co-production overcome all those thick Yorkshire accents.

Kathryn Flett physically flinched at all the gore yet also found herself entirely on board

Then theres plenty of black-and-white footage and subtitles (for The Tailors backstory), as well as lots of those pointless title cards, as seen in silent movies, making jarringly pretentious little jokes while they set the scene.

At this point, Boat Story becomes less Tarantino and more Wes Anderson  and not in a good way.

While its all but impossible not to have a pretty strong opinion about this show, I think theres a lot to be said for that. So whether or not you agree with me that Boat Storys desire to stand out from the crowd nearly cancels out its considerable cleverness, Id love to hear what you think.

Insightful but frustrating TV

THE GREAT CLIMATE FIGHT

Streaming on Channel 4

Rating:

This two-part documentary harnessed the skills of Mary (Queen Of Shops) Portas, Kevin (Grand Designs) McCloud and Hugh (River Cottage) Fearnley-Whittingstall to look for achievable solutions to climate change.

My contribution largely involves Googling retrofitting heat pumps affordably and wondering how long before nuclear fusion can provide us with clean energy (answer: a while!). However, Im keen for politicians to be called to account for their (in)actions  the programmes main aim.

Mary Portas, Kevin McCloud and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall look for achievable solutions to climate change in this two-part documentary

Given the UK building industrys depressing disengagement (we live in some of the worst-insulated houses in Europe and theres no legal requirement for developers to start turbo-greening new-builds  far less expensive than you might imagine), one hoped Kevins pursuit of Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove might bear fruit.

Cornered at a public event, he did seem genuinely engaged with the issues. However, the inevitable get-your-people-to-speak-to-my-people resulted in endless diary clashes.

Though churlish to hold Gove personally responsible, this did give us a sense of how other (level-headed, solutions-focused) activists like Kevin and co but without access to camera crews and primetime TV must feel. Insightful and frustrating viewing.

Dame Joan Collins opens up to Louis Theroux on Louis Theroux Interviews, BBC2

Nothing like this Dame!

I enjoy watching Louis Theroux deploy his clever, empathetic interview technique to get what he wants.

Even though what Louis wanted from Dame Joan Collins (Louis Theroux Interviews, BBC2) was what men have always wanted from her  sex. Albeit, in Louiss defence, just talking about it.

Joan, now 90, told how, as a naive 18-year-old, her response to being date-raped was to marry her rapist. When asked what shed tell her younger self, Joan didnt blink: Dont let the b*****ds get you down. What a woman!
CORONATION STREET

The Christmas curse that strikes everyone in soapland has come early this year. As Gemma prepares for her familys Christmas lunch  arranged in case her mum Bernies in prison on 25 December for handling stolen goods  young Joseph collapses and has to be taken to hospital. Then comes the shock news that hes been poisoned.

With the Christmas lunch finally in full swing, a real downer descends on the proceedings when Chesney returns from the hospital with a child protection officer, who wants to interview Gemma.

Joseph, of course, has been complaining of feeling ill for ages. Did Gemma poison him on purpose? Are we heading for a Munchausens Syndrome by Proxy storyline here? Lets hope not.

How much more can one family take? Sexual abuse, quads, debt, prison, Motor Neurone Disease. The Winters tale makes Shakespeares Winters Tale look like Carry On Christmas.

This week on Coronation Street, Joseph is taken to hospital. When it becomes clear that he has been poisoned, a child protection officer is keen to interview Gemma

Another lunch looks as if its embarking on a collision course when Nina tells Asha its time they got to know each others friends.

A COUPLE IN CRISIS Could Gemma and Chesney be heading for the rocks following Josephs poisoning? Its going to put a strain on their marriage, says Sam Aston (Chesney). Theyve got some difficult times ahead.' Advertisement

So, as they set out to get together with Isla and her senior colleague, Miles, how will Nina react when she arrives at Speed Daal to hear Asha bigging her up as a budding fashion designer?

Ashas been looking bored witless in recent weeks and clearly gets off more on talking about people almost dying on her paramedic watch than the cost of a sticky bun at the cafe (by the way, why does everyone always order a sticky bun and never lick their fingers or wash their hands after eating them? I worry about these things).

Come on, Nina, its you who has the raw end of the deal here; a Mogadon-induced stupor would give you more laughs than Asha.

And another question: why would the foursome go to the alcohol-free Speed Daal, when recently Asha and Nina have been downing bottles of wine quicker than the vineyards of Bordeaux can make it? You can almost hear the cry of vintners the world over yelling, Slow down, ladies!

EASTENDERS

The tension between Priya and Suki has been palpable from the outset, and the situation looks set to become worse when Priya demands money  or shell tell Nish all about Eve.

Suki manages to get 200, and Nish investigates when the Minute Mart till is 200 down. And what does the CCTV reveal? Suki and Eve kissing. At last, the cats out of the bag!

Nishs reaction is to smash up the shop. Forget the kiss; what about the matching outfits? Presumably they were dressed for Pride, which would explain why their embrace looked like a collision of Opal Fruits.

The CCTV in the Minute Mart reveals Suki and Eve kissing, which leads Nish to smash up the shop

Psychic Jaci may have struck again. Over two months ago, I said that a relationship was on the cards between Stacey and Jack, now that they had a grand-daughter in common.

When they have a heart-to-heart about the past, Stacey is clearly touched by Jacks support. I never believed Jack would forgive Denise for betraying him, so keep your eyes on this pair.

Please get rid of Karen ASAP. That ghastly hair, the smoking  yes, shes leaving, but it cant come a moment too soon.

Sukis secret is out of the bag

Its going to be interesting to see how Nish reacts when he finally learns the truth about Sukis relationship with Burger Queen Eve.

I think the heartbreaking jealous rage will consume him on so many levels, says Navin Chowdhry (Nish).

The idea that he doesnt know, when he is such a controlling man, is humiliating for him. Its a dagger in his heart. Dagger? Id say Samurai sword is closer to the truth.

EMMERDALE

Tracy cant resist those risky kisses with Caleb

Its a thin line between playing with fire and turning full-blown arsonist. Thats what Tracy seems intent on doing, though, when she shares another passionate kiss with Caleb. Will this woman never be satisfied?

Shes determined to put all thoughts of Caleb behind her, but her plans are thwarted when everyone gathers for Cains birthday celebrations. Sitting close to Caleb, Tracy cant resist and heads for the Woolpacks toilet corridor, where Caleb follows her to share another kiss.

Tracey and Caleb share a kiss in the Woolpacks toilet corridor

What is it about that pub toilet? So many have gathered there and engaged in pretty much everything other than the business for which toilets were intended. And why take the risk?

The pair are nearly caught by Cain, and still thats not enough of a warning for Tracy, who follows Caleb when he leaves. This isnt just fanning the flames of a hearth; its the Daless answer to the Great Fire of London.

Its a bit of a lip-suctioning time all round when Jacob and Victoria kiss but are spotted by an astonished David. His world rocked, David later makes the decision to pack up and leave the village. Great. Now maybe they can turn that dreadful shop into a wine bar.
by Raj Gonsalkorale

Economic mismanagement by successive regimes made Sri Lanka bankrupt. Rather than proposing a collective self-reflection, analysing mistakes made and looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past, some politicians are throwing stones from glass houses and pretending they are fully clothed Emperors.





A lotus tower and a walking man's reflection can be seen from a waterway in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on July 23, 2023.





It is common knowledge that the Sri Lankan bankruptcy was the culmination of economic misjudgement and mismanagement by successive regimes. Some politicians however do not think so although they too were complicit in this mismanagement.





While the Supreme Court in the country found that the leadership and senior economic managers of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency breached public trust by not managing the economy of the country for the benefit and wellbeing of the country, the ruling was against a specific fundamental rights case filed before the courts. It was in respect of the performance of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency.





If one were to consider events prior to that, particularly the performance of the regime prior to that, it is worth considering that that between 2015 and 2019, the GDP growth rate had declined from nearly 7% to 2.7%, the debt to GDP ratio had increased from 75% to 96% and ISB borrowings had risen by USD 12 Billion dollars. The current Leader of the Opposition was a senior minister in that regime and has to take collective responsibility for the economic performance of that regime.





The issue for the future of the country however is not about who is best at the blame game. It is about looking back at the mistakes made, and learning some lessons from them so that such mistakes can be avoided in the future. If a survey is done to find out how many Sri Lankans have any confidence in the ability of politicians to manage the economy, the outcome would be very revealing. Judging by the exodus of Sri Lankans to greener pastures and even not so green pastures seeking a better future for them and their families, there cannot be any doubt as to what most Sri Lankans think of their political leaders.





The latest political show and finger pointing directed towards condemning one set of politicians by another set of politicians who smell an opportunity to gain votes and win elections, is another nail in the coffin of a disenchanted population.





Rather than playing the same political games, the opportunistic set of politicians could have looked to the future and perhaps asked a group of academics, economists, business leaders, and civil society leaders to examine the economic performance of regimes in power since the end of the war against the LTTE and identify the key areas of mismanagement and misjudgements so that they, and the public would know what should not be done in the future to make the Sri Lankan Titanic sink for the second time. The post War period is mentioned as the country had suffered in economically, politically, and socially for nearly three decades prior to 2009, and as there were no grounds to justify a lack of economic performance since then.





The political parties also could undertake a self-reflection on the policies governing economic management and what changes are needed to avoid mistakes of the past. Most politicians in Parliament today would have no understanding of economics and how local and global events impact on the economy of the country.





They are driven by a major anomaly in the political structure of the country which is fundamentally short term in nature and practice. Economic planning spans a maximum of 5 years and is all about the next election and how the party in power could win the next election. The role of the Opposition is to throw as many obstacles as possible to prevent the party in power winning the next election.





The electorate unfortunately is also tuned to this scenario and vote for those offering short term relief not realising they are short term measures with negative consequences in the long term.





Sri Lanka needs long term planning, not just economic planning but in other key areas such as education and health. Such planning should be undertaken by experts in the relevant fields and not by politicians and as a minimum, such plans should be of 10 years duration that should be endorsed by all political parties after discussion amongst themselves and with each other. How well a political party in power performs in executing such plans should be the determinant at elections and not about major changes to the plans that have been collectively agreed by all political parties.





In the area of economics, the long-term plan should specify limits on borrowings, both locally and from overseas lenders. There should be an agreement on taxation, personal, company as well as on indirect taxation. Strengthening tax collection measures is an operational issue and the responsibility of a political party in power as expenditure on public programs, salaries etc will be dependent on tax revenue. Setting a limit on expenditure as a percentage of revenue should be an inclusion in the long-term economic plan.





Another key area that requires inclusion in the long-term planning process and legislatively is a policy on how investments, foreign and local, are assessed in regard to the return on such investments. There have been accusations of creating white elephants using the countrys own financial resources as well as overseas borrowings and these could be avoided if a firm policy is in place by law to assess investments in major projects.





After 75 years of independence, Sri Lanka is not just economically bankrupt but also bankrupt in its education, health, and social outcomes. Many question whether the education policies are grooming the next generation and the ones after that to be the well-rounded, socially conscious citizenry and capable leaders of the country that the country will need. Health services, at one time the envy of many neighbouring countries, have declined and health outcomes are deteriorating. The rich appear to be getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. The gap between these segments is widening.





Some measures have been taken by the President and the government to address major issues relating to corruption, the drug menace and crime. However, these are not sufficient judging by the fact that no one of consequence in the political hierarchy and the public service has been tried in the Courts to ascertain their guilt or otherwise, although the general belief in the country is that some have amassed vast amounts of wealth by illegal means. The drug menace seems to continue unabated judging by reports of instances where drug hauls have been discovered, while the general view is that what is detected is just the tip of a vast iceberg.





The country has major issues that needs addressing if it is to overcome its economic and moral bankruptcy. Fiddling has to stop if the country is to be saved.





Raj Gonsalkorale is an independent health supply chain management specialist with wide international experience. Writing is his passion.
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Doctor Who fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the beloved sci-fi franchise on Saturday night as the hotly-anticipated 60th anniversary special will arrive on screens.

The first of three special episodes will see the Tenth Doctor David Tennant once again take on the role of the titular Time Lord as he returns to the franchise, much to the delight of fans.

He will be making a comeback to the BBC show alongside Catherine Tate, who portrayed his companion Donna Noble, 15 years after they last travelled in the TARDIS together.

The beloved pair will front the trio of 60th anniversary specials before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role of The Doctor on Christmas Day, in an episode titled The Church On Ruby Road.

David's return came as part of a reverse regeneration storyline which saw the Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker transform back into David's version of the Doctor in her final episode, The Power of the Doctor.

David's first run as the Doctor played host to a whole array of memorable moments, including that famous tear-jerking beach goodbye with Rose Tyler (Billie Piper).

As the show returns to screens for the much-awaited 60th anniversary, MailOnline takes a look back at the franchise's most iconic and historic moments ever since its 1963 launch.

Memories: Doctor Who will return to screens for its 60th anniversary on Saturday, with David Tennant again transforming into the Doctor. From his iconic beach goodbye with Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), MailOnline looks at the show's best bits

THE SERIES THAT STARTED IT ALL

When the sci-fi series launched in 1963, William Hartnell was the first actor to take to the screen as the titular Time Lord, and he held the role until his departure in 1966.

The series kicked off with the Doctor crashing to Earth with his granddaughter Susan after being 'exiled' from their planet Gallifrey - the only member of the Doctor's family to join him on his travels.

Despite shaky effects and the black-and-white filming, the first series is remember fondly by die-hard fans and was re-imagined in the 2013 TV film Adventures Across Space and Time with David Bradley taking on William's role.

Travelling through space and time with Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, the team came across the series' most formidable foe The Daleks, with the robots notorious for their never-ending hatred for the Doctor and chasing him through the cosmos.

It was in this time the Doctor parted ways with Susan after she fell in love with human resistance fighter David Campbell in the 22nd Century.

The Doctor also came across the Cybermen in this era after they were first created as a 'better' version of humanity, with any and all emotions removed from their minds.

But years of travel eventually took their toll on the ageing Doctor, and it was after a battle with the Cybermen that he collapsed in the TARDIS with his companions Polly and Ben Jackson, transforming into the second incarnation.

Debut: When the sci-fi series launched in 1963, William Hartnell was the first actor to take to the screen as the titular Time Lord, and he held the role until his departure in 1966

RETURN OF FAMILIAR ENEMIES

Patrick Troughton then took over as the second doctor in 1966 and remained on screens for the next three years, during which time a whole host of familiar enemies made their return to the franchise.

As he embarked on plenty of travels with partner Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines), he tackled familiar foes such as the Daleks and Cybermen, and also encountered new enemies such as the Great Intelligence and the Ice Warriors, who have also made surprise appearances in the modern series.

This time also saw the debut of classic series mainstay Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (or the Brigadier), when he met the Doctor in the tunnels of the London Underground.

The Second Doctor's time came to an end when the TARDIS landed in the middle of a war-zone, created by a race of alien warlords who, with the help of another renegade Time Lord the War Chief, progressively kidnapped and brainwashed humans into becoming soldiers for them.

While he was able to defeat the plot, The Doctor's punishment came in a forced regeneration from the Time Lords for breaking the laws of non-interference, and he was also sentenced to exile on the 20th Century Earth.

New name: Patrick Troughton then took over as the second doctor in 1966 and remained on screens for the next three years, during which time a whole host of familiar enemies made their return to the franchise

FIRST EVER MULTI-DOCTOR CROSSOVER WITH JON PERTWEE

Jon Pertwee was the next big name to take over as the Doctor in 1970 and most prominently travelled with explorer Jo Grant (Katy Manning) as they explored all of time and space.

His era on the show also provided fans with the first ever multi-Doctor crossover, as the Third Doctor met his two previous selves.

The epic time-travelling extravaganza also became William Hartnell's last time portraying the First Doctor before his death in April 1975.

It also saw the introduction of prehistoric villains The Silurians and The Autons, who appeared in the first episode of the 2005 reboot series.

Eventually Jon's Doctor regenerated following a nasty encounter with The Green Death, with his old suited persona transforming into perhaps the classic era's most famous incarnation.

Time traveller: Jon Pertwee was the next big name to take over as the Doctor in 1970 and most prominently travelled with explorer Jo Grant (Katy Manning) as they explored all of time and space

TOM BAKER'S LOVE OF JELLY BABIES

Tom Baker was both the longest-serving Classic era Doctor as well as arguably its most iconic, becoming best known for his love of jelly babies.

His partnership with Sarah Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen) won over fans and she went on to become one of the show's most legendary companions, even getting her own spin-off after the modern revival, until her death in 2011.

Tom, known for his mass of curled hair and legendary striped scarf, brought his own flair to the role and became well-known for offering villains jelly babies at the worst possible moment.

His love of the sweets is arguably what his character became best known for, but he also went on seven years of epic adventures during his stint on the show.

The Doctor finally came across Time lord villain The Master, who went on to become a staple as recognisable as the Daleks and Cyberman both in the classic series and the modern revival.

After accidentally leaving Sarah Jane Smith in Scotland, the Doctor also goes travelling alone for the first time, and fans also see the Daleks creator Davros in an episode considered one of the series' best ever.

Tom's incarnation of the Doctor has gone down in history as one of the most beloved among fans, and the actor, now 89, has returned to the modern revival a number of times in homage to his classic era self.

Fan favourite: Tom Baker was both the longest-serving Classic era Doctor as well as arguably its most iconic, becoming best known for his love of jelly babies

FIRST MAJOR DEATH IN DOCTOR WHO

Peter Davison had a lot to live up to when he took over as the Fifth Doctor in 1982, and though fan interest in the franchise began to dwindle, his stint in the TARDIS is still well-loved.

His stint in the TARDIS also played host to one of the first major death's in Doctor Who to date, when Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) died trying to stop the Cybermen's space freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth.

The following serial Time-Flight saw the Doctor coldly move on from Adric's devastating sacrifice, which caused tension with his fellow TARDIS companion Tegan (Janet Fielding).

The era was also rife with Gallifrey political conflict, and he even met three of his previous incarnations after they were summoned to the planet by President Borusa, who was attempting to gain Rassilon's secret of immortality.

The Fifth Doctor's departure from the show came when he and his final partner Peri Brown (Nicola Bryant) were exposed to the drug spectrox in its deadly toxic raw form on Androzani Minor.

With only one dose of the antidote available, he nobly sacrificed his own existence to save Peri, expressing doubt for the first time that regeneration might be possible, before then successfully transforming into the Sixth Doctor.

Less popular: Peter Davison had a lot to live up to when he took over as the Fifth Doctor in 1982, and though fan interest in the franchise began to dwindle, his stint in the TARDIS is still well-loved

Sad: His stint in the TARDIS also played host to one of the first major death's in Doctor Who to date, when Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) died trying to stop the Cybermen's space freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth

COLIN BAKER'S TURBULENT STINT

Colin Baker entered the scene as the Sixth Doctor in 1984, but he only lasted a mere two years in the role as popularity for the sci-fi franchise dwindled further.

His stint as the sharp-tongued Doctor was a turbulent period, with the actor's early dismissal as ratings plummeted leading a slightly awkward regeneration scene.

The Fifth Doctor's companion Peri continued in the role but complications from the Time Lord's regeneration saw him attempt to strangle her as he struggled from mood swings and violent delusions.

After their rocky start, Peri and the Sixth Doctor went on to continue travelling together and faced numerous old villains including the Master, Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans.

Following their adventures, Peri's exit from the show was not played out on-screen, though she was believed to have been killed after being cruelly used as a test subject in brain transplant experiments.

However, in reality she was in fact alive, but after the Doctor was put on trial yet again the Time Lords, events left his timelines tangled slightly, as he and Peri did not reunite.

Colin bid farewell to the sci-fi franchise two years later when the TARDIS was attacked by villainous Time Lady scientist The Rani, leaving him injured and seeing him regenerate once again.

Mixed reviews: Colin Baker entered the scene as the Sixth Doctor in 1984, but he only lasted a mere two years in the role as popularity for the sci-fi franchise dwindled further

THE ARRIVAL OF BONNIE LANGFORD

The final actor who portrayed the Doctor in the original sci-fi series before its cancellation in 1989 was Sylvester McCoy but Bonnie Langford brought new life to the series as the Time Lord's assistant.

Though popularity for the show was trailing off, Bonnie and Slyvester's era in the TARDIS is still well-remembered as now-EastEnders star Bonnie took on the role of dizzy companion Mel Bush.

The Doctor - still his ever whimsical self - also crossed paths with the ruthless heroine Ace (Sophie Aldred), taking her under his wing and teaching her about the universe.

Ace made a return to the modern revival of the show last year alongside former assistant Tegan, as the BBC franchise paid homage to the classic series.

Sylvester's short-than-most tenure in the TARDIS came to an abrupt end when BBC axed the show in 1989. His regeneration didn't directly play out on-screen, but it was later shown in a TV movie revival.

Cast: The final actor who portrayed the Doctor in the original sci-fi series before its cancellation in 1989 was Sylvester McCoy but Bonnie Langford brought new life to the series as the Time Lord's assistant

DOCTOR WHO'S UNSUCCESSFUL TV REVIVAL

After a near-decade off-screen Doctor Who was brought back as a TV movie in an American co-production in 1996, with Paul McGann - a member of the McGann acting family - taking on the leading role.

The unsuccessful revival opened with Sylvester's regeneration in a hospital morgue as his new face was finally revealed many years later, though the movie was set just hours after the 1989 scenes.

This film saw The Master (played by Eric Roberts) trying to steal the Doctor's remaining lives by opening the Eye of Harmony the TARDIS, which nearly destroyed the Earth.

Luckily, the Doctor and his companion Dr Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook) prevent the Earth's destruction, leading the Master is sucked into the Eye.

The film showed for the first time what a romance between the Doctor and his companion could look like, as they share a firework-lit kiss in the closing scenes which infuriated fans at the time.

Not a hit: After a near-decade off-screen Doctor Who was brought back as a TV movie in an American co-production in 1996, with Paul McGann - a member of the McGann acting family - taking on the leading role

DOCTOR WHO RETURNS AS A HIT SERIES

Doctor Who finally returned to the BBC in March 2005, though fans were initially very skeptical about whether the revival would be successful after so long off-air.

Fans' concern grew when it was announced that pop star Billie Piper had been cast as Christopher Eccleston's companion Rose Tyler.

But the series proved all expectations wrong as the show became an instant hit when it came to screens in the debut episode, titled Rose.

Christopher quickly became beloved for his light-hearted, leather jacket-wearing version of the Time Lord, with the esteemed actor using his native Northern accent for the role because 'lots of planets have a North'.

A major change when compared with the original classic series was that the Doctor's planet Gallifrey had been destroyed off-screen during a Time War with the Daleks.

But the notorious villains still took centre stage in the revival, with a new scary gold exterior, with much of the storylines focusing in on The Doctor's battles with the Daleks.

An explosive finale to the first series saw thousands of the alien robots try to conquer a futuristic version of Earth under the leadership of their Emperor.

As well as a new Doctor and a new companion, Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) also made his first appearance in the show, before becoming a recurring character over the next few series.

Russell T Davies was the writer behind the revival series of Doctor Who, while fans were also introduced to Steven Moffat - who wrote the now-iconic episode The Empty Child, which was also Captain's Jack debut.

Despite its huge success, Christopher's tenure in the TARDIS was brief and lasted just one series, though it paved the way for the massive success in the years to come.

He's back! Christopher Eccleston played the Ninth Doctor when Doctor Who was revived in 2005, taking on the role one series alongside Billie Piper's companion Rose Tyler

New look: The Daleks took centre stage in this new series with a scary gold exterior, and an explosive finale saw thousands of the aliens robots try to conquer a futuristic version of Earth under the leadership of their Emperor

Emotional: Sadly Eccleston's tenure in the TARDIS was brief - largely due to reports of disagreements behind the scenes - but his regeneration proved epic, kissing Rose to absorb the TARDIS vortex and save her life

THAT DEVASTATING BEACH GOODBYE

David Tennant took over from Christopher Eccleston and became the Tenth Doctor, and has since gone on to become one of fans' favourite Doctors of all time.

His romantic storyline with Rose Tyler (Billie) won over fans' hearts as they rooted for the Time Traveller to find love with his companion, and avidly followed the pair's adventures.

However, their romance came to a devastating end in series two, which saw Rose become trapped in a parallel world as she tried to help the Doctor defeat the Daleks and the Cybermen once more.

Becoming stranded in the parallel universe and sealed away from her one true love, Rose then has a dream that the Doctor is calling to her and heads out on a voyage to find him.

In a now-iconic scene, Rose then speaks to the Doctor through a holographic message as she stands on a remote beach and finally admits that she loves him.

But in the devastating scenes, the Doctor's message is cut off as the gaps between the universe close, leaving him unable to tell her he loves her back.

The scene has since become a fan favourite and has gone down in history with Doctor Who fans, who were left devastated at Rose's exit from the sci-fi franchise.

The Doctor went on to team up with up Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) after a difficult period getting over the loss of Rose, but her character has briefly returned to the series in one-off special appearances.

Favourites: David Tennant took over from Christopher Eccleston and became the Tenth Doctor, and has since gone on to become one of fans' favourite Doctors of all time

Tear-jerker: However, their romance came to a devastating end in series two, which saw Rose become trapped in a parallel world, and the pair had an emotional goodbye on a beach

CATHERINE TATE JOINS THE FRANCHISE

Catherine Tate divided fans when it was first announced that she would be joining Doctor Who due to her comedy background, however she went on to become a fan favourite companion.

She first featured in a guest appearance in the 2006 Christmas Special that sent the show sky-high in terms of TV ratings and general fan appeal, and later returned as a permanent assistant.

Her performance was lauded thanks to her hilarious banter with The Doctor - or Spaceman as she liked to call him - culminating in the 2008 finale which saw many to Ten's former companions return to fight the Daleks and Davros.

The episode came to a sad end when The Doctor parted ways with all of his companions - including Rose who found happiness with a human/Time Lord hybrid version of him - setting the stage for David's departure the following year.

But Catherine's stint as Donna was much beloved by fans and she is due to return alongside David for the hotly-anticipated 60th anniversary special.

Beloved: Catherine Tate divided fans when it was first announced that she would be joining Doctor Who due to her comedy background, however she went on to become a fan favourite companion

DAVID TENNANT'S EXIT... AND MATT SMITH'S DEBUT

Viewers were left completely devastated when David stepped down as the Doctor and Matt Smith took over in 2010, with fans left unconvinced about his casting.

Becoming the youngest ever Doctor at 27, fans were adamant that Matt Smith would fail to fill the large shoes left behind by David.

However, Matt's charisma made sure to win over fans and within ten minutes of the 'Raggedy Doctor' tucking into fish fingers and custard with a young Amelia Pond, the Eleventh Doctor charmed viewers.

Matt was recognisable for his signature bow tie and teamed up with the adult Amelia Pond, played by Karen Gillan, in The Eleventh Hour, while Amy's fiance Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) also joined the time-travelling team.

Stephen Moffatt also took over as showrunner and brought back several aliens that made fleeting appearance during David's tenure, including the terrifying Weeping Angels, which saw Amy and Rory torn away from the Doctor forever.

Matt's tenure also saw a whole host of complicated storylines launched, including the ongoing mystery surrounding River Song's true identity, which spanned across series as they delved deeper into the implications of time travel.

After River Song's identity was revealed, a new mystery slowly unfurled involving the Doctor's newest companion Clara Oswald - played by now-Victoria star Jenna Coleman - who the Time Lord met many incarnations of throughout time.

Despite early doubts, fans were distraught when Matt confirmed he would be leaving the role of The Doctor in a Christmas Special just a month after the 50th Anniversary.

New face: Viewers were left completely devastated when David stepped down as the Doctor and Matt Smith took over in 2010, with fans left unconvinced about his casting

Popular: However, Matt's charisma made sure to win over fans and within ten minutes of the 'Raggedy Doctor' meeting both a young and adult Amelia Pond (Karen Gillan), the Eleventh Doctor charmed viewers

JOHN HURT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY APPEARANCE

Doctor Who marked the 50th anniversary since its 1963 launch in 2013, and a feature-length special came to screens in celebration.

The special episode was broadcast in upwards of 80 countries and saw Matt meet David's version of the Doctor, while they were also joined by another version of the Time Lord, played by John Hurt.

He made his debut in the series final finale just months before, surprising fans as it was revealed that there had been another version of the Doctor never mentioned by his other incarnations, said to come between the faces of Eight and Nine.

Viewers then saw how the Doctor was responsible for the end of his native Gallifrey, which was destroyed in a war in off-screen scenes, by setting off a device called The Moment that sealed the Time War away from the rest of the universe.

The complicated storyline saw the three faces of the Doctor come together in an epic adventure crossover, while Billie Piper also reprised her role as Rose Tyler/Bad Wolf.

Tom Baker also made a surprise cameo as the Curator as a whole host of stars reunited for the 50th anniversary special, which concluded with all 13 Doctors team up to transport Gallifrey into a hidden dimension safe from Dalek harm, setting up even more new storylines.

Famous faces: Doctor Who marked the 50th anniversary since its 1963 launch in 2013, and a feature-length special came to screens in celebration, featuring John Hurt and the returning Billie Piper

SHOW HEADS BACK TO ITS CLASSIC ROOTS WITH PETER CAPALDI

Peter Capaldi entered as a much-different version of the Doctor when compared to his whimsical predecessors David and Matt.

The Scottish actor transformed the show back to its classic routes as the dynamic between the Doctor and his companion Clara (Jenna) was similar to the original franchise.

After Clara's close relationship with Matt, any talks of a romance were quashed when Peter took over as the Time Lord and their storylines focused more on their thrilling adventures than their personal relationship.

The sinister character Missy - played by Michelle Gomez - took centre stage up until the big reveal that she was in fact called the Mistress, a regenerated version of iconic Who villain The Master.

Heartbreaking scenes also saw Jenna bid farewell to the franchise as her character Clara was killed by the sister Raven in devastating scenes, though her death was undone later as she went on endless journeys rather than facing her death.

Peter also teamed up with Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts, the show's first ever gay companion, while Matt Lucas also featured as Nardole.

Peter's incarnation of the Doctor was then forced to regenerate, paving the way for the first ever female Doctor to take centre stage.

Traditional: Peter Capaldi entered as a much-different version of the Doctor when compared to his whimsical predecessors David and Matt

Adventures: Peter also teamed up with Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts (pictured), the show's first ever gay companion, while Matt Lucas also featured as Nardole

THE FIRST EVER FEMALE DOCTOR

Jodie Whittaker became the first ever woman to play the Doctor when she took over the iconic role in 2018 after being cast by showrunner Chris Chibnall.

The actress made a brief debut at the end of the 2017 Christmas Special when Peter regenerated, before taking on the role permanently the following year in The Woman Who Fell to Earth.

During the episode, Jodie teamed up with Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) and his step-grandfather Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh) amid an alien invasion in Sheffield.

In a twist away from previous series, Jodie time travelled with three assistants in the TARDIS as the team headed off on a series of nail-biting adventures, coming face-to-face with enemies new and old.

Actors Tosin and Bradley both later left their roles as assistants but Mandip remained on the show as Yaz until Jodie's departure from the show.

Jodie portrayed the Doctor for four years, until she bowed out from the role last October, paving the way for David's hotly-anticipated return in the 60th anniversary special.

In her final ever episode The Power Of The Doctor, fans were left devastated when Yaz and the Doctor went their separate ways, after a potential love story had been teased between the pair.

A whole host of familiar faces also returned for Jodie's epic finale, including former Doctors Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Paul McGann, David Bradley - portraying William Hartnell's First Doctor - and Sylvester McCoy.

Fans were also rewarded with not one but who companions from the original series as Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding) turned up to save the world.

And David Tennant made his grand return as the Doctor at the end of the episode, lining up the storyline for the 60th anniversary special ahead of Ncuti Gatwa taking over the role.

Historic: Jodie Whittaker became the first woman to play the Doctor when she took over the iconic role in 2018. She teamed up with Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) and his step-grandfather Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh)
Viewers are hailing Netflix's 'bone-chilling' new drama series a 'must-watch' with 'stellar performances'.

Based on a devastating true story, 'The Railway Men - The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984,' follows the brave railway workers who risked their lives to save others after a deadly gas leak from a factory in the city.

The mini series consists of four episodes, starting with the hours leading up to the disaster.

Starring Indian actors R. Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon and Divyenndu, the show was released on November 8 and has since attracted acclaim from viewers.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was the worlds worst industrial accident, killing 70 times more people than Chernobyl.

Viewers are hailing Netflix 's 'bone-chilling' newest drama series a 'must-watch' with 'stellar performances'

The catastrophe took place on 2nd December 1984 when just after midnight, a storage tank at the Union Carbide chemical plant began leaking more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas.

It immediately killed at least 3,800 people and resulted in premature death for thousands more over the coming years.

Over 500,000 residents of small towns around the plants were exposed to the toxic gas.

Now, the four episodes retell the tragic story to a new audience on Netflix, who are already calling it 'the best series that Netflix has ever made'.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, on viewer wrote: 'The Railway Men on Netflix. What a chilling and powerful show. Must watch for everyone.'

Another added: 'The Railway men on Netflix is a great watch. The story is based on the Bhopal gas tragedy. Every character plays their part in the story, loved the @KayKayMenon02 character the most'.

Someone described it as an 'emotionally well connected story with so many heartbreaking moments' adding that 'the actors did a great job' and they 'can't even think about the real time tragedy'.

In the series, the station master, played by Kay Kay Menon, hires Imad Riaz as a loco pilot, portrayed by actor Babil Khan.

Based on a devastating true story, 'The Railway Men - The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984,' follows the brave railway workers who risked their lives to save others after a deadly gas leaks from a factory in the city

The four episodes retell the tragic story to a new audience on Netflix, who are already calling it 'the best series that Netflix has ever made'.

The show was released on November 8 and has since attracted acclaim from viewers

On X, formerly known as Twitter, on viewer wrote: 'The Railway Men on Netflix. What a chilling and powerful show. Must watch for everyone.'

Amongst the rest of the cast, Khan got high praise for his performance.

One viewer tweeted: 'AN ACTOR is BORN one of the main strengths of The Railway Men on Netflix is Babil Khan.

'A sustained, nuanced performance n a strong screen presence.. I'm not saying this just coz hes the son of the late Irrfan Khan. On his own terms, hes outstanding'.

Menon also received floods of positive comments, with one user writing: 'Goes without saying what a gem @kaykaymenon02 sir is.

'Always in awe of this stupendous performances across cinema, the latest being The Railway Men on Netflix. You sir deserve a standing ovation. Take a bow'.

Another X user penned: 'The Railway Men & Trial By Fire are easily the some of the best series that Netflix has ever made.

'Not a single line of dialogue, not a single frame wasted in my opinion. Please watch both of them!'

One viewer tweeted 'AN ACTOR is BORN one of the main strengths of The Railway Men on Netflix is Babil Khan'.

One movie fan said they had to take an 'anger break' between episodes, writing: 'Watching the Railway Men right now and I am on episode three.

'Watching the tragedy unfold because people in power were a little too comfortable with flouting of standard operating procedures and safety norms multiple times'.

Another said: 'I'm watching "the railway men" on Netflix. This story reminded how much I love side stories.

'This is a story of how railway workers/officials risk their lives to try & save the suffocating city during the union carbide gas leak - felt claustrophobic even while watching it'.
Devon Windsor set pulses racing by sharing a series of sultry snaps on her Instagram account on Friday.

In the photos, the 29-year-old model showed off her sculpted form in several skimpy outfits while relaxing by the ocean.

The fashion industry personality, who recently spoke about losing weight after welcoming her second child, also penned a short message that partially read: 'When your uniform is a bikini.'

Windsor flashed a wide smile while wearing a bright white bikini top, which exposed her toned tummy, in one of her snaps.

The model also donned a matching bottom that highlighted her toned thighs, and she added a bit of pop to her look with a multicolored cover-up.

Hot stuff! Devon Windsor set pulses racing by sharing a series of sultry snaps on her Instagram account on Friday

The runway regular later switched into an equally revealing red bikini that was accentuated with a brightly colored head scarf.

Windsor changed into a patterned pink bikini while playing a game of backgammon and relaxing in a recliner.

The fashion industry figure went on to don a black paisley-esque long-sleeve top that was paired with a matching bikini after stepping into the waves.

The blonde bombshell also wore a non-patterned black bikini as she held her gorgeous hair back for another shot.

Windsor eventually changed into a one-piece while soaking up the warm tropical sun in one of her snaps.

The model accessorized with various articles of jewelry and pairs of sunglasses while posing for the sultry photos.

The fashion industry personality's gorgeous blonde hair added a bit of extra brightness to all of her looks.

Windsor spoke about her namesake swimwear brand during an interview with Haute Living, where she stated that she had always planned on starting her own business.

Gorgeous: The runway regular later switched into an equally revealing red bikini that was accentuated with a brightly colored head scarf.

Pretty in pink: Windsor changed into a patterned pink bikini while playing a game of backgammon and relaxing in a recliner

Turning heads: The fashion industry figure went on to don a black paisley-esque long-sleeve top that was paired with a matching bikini after stepping into the water

Back in black: The blonde bombshell also wore a non-patterned black bikini as she held her gorgeous hair back for another shot

Va va voom: Windsor eventually changed into a one-piece while soaking up the warm tropical sun in one of her snaps

'It has always been my goal throughout my modeling career to be able to build my brand in as many directions as I can. I never saw modeling as the end goal,' she said.

She added: 'Starting my own line was always a dream, and swimwear was something I was always passionate about.'

The model also spoke about the design process behind each of her brand's collections.

'I try to create a style for every kind of woman. A few styles for our younger, sexier crowd, a few styles that my mom can wear, and so on,' she said.
Danny Cipriani's wife Victoria has reportedly been left devastated after seeing pictures of him getting close to Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal.

Victoria was said to have been stunned by the photos, with her pals telling The Sun: 'It was like she was knifed in the heart.'

The pair looked cosy as they left their first training session for the Strictly Christmas special on Wednesday.

The former rugby player, 36, has thrown himself into rehearsals, just days after announcing his split from his wife Victoria.

Jowita, 29, meanwhile, is thought to be single after splitting from Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, 33, earlier this year.

Distraught: Danny Cipriani's wife Victoria has reportedly been left devastated after seeing pictures of him getting close to Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal (right)

Devastating: Victoria (pictured) was said to have been stunned by the photos, with her pals telling The Sun : 'It was like she was knifed in the heart'

A source told The Sun: 'Victoria was gutted to see the pictures of Danny and Jowita.

'Its only been nine days since Danny announced on Instagram they had split  which Victoria had no idea about.

'That was distressing enough for her.

'But to see her husband so close with to another woman is absolutely heartbreaking for her.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Danny, Jowita and the BBC for comment.

Sources claimed the pair could be a 'sizzling pairing' for the Strictly Christmas special and will spend many hours together during two weeks of rehearsals before their performance.

The pair were pictured saying a warm goodbye with a close hug as they said goodbye before hopping into their waiting cars.

According to reports, Danny's participation in the Christmas special, which will air on Christmas Day, is a trial to see how well he could do if he wanted to take part in the series next year.

Getting close? The pair looked cosy as they left their first training session for the Strictly Christmas special on Wednesday

An insider told The Sun: 'BBC bosses must have had some idea it would be a sizzling pairing on the dancefloor, but on a personal level probably didn't expect them to get so close, so soon.

'They join a long line of stars and pros who've found themselves growing closer as a result of long, intimate sessions in the rehearsal studio.'

Danny is one of six stars taking part in this year's Strictly Christmas Special, joining Keisha Buchanan, Tillie Amartey, Sally Nugent, Dan Snow and Jamie Borthwick.

He said: 'Ive always enjoyed the concept of Strictly Come Dancing, it wasnt something I ever thought Id do.

'After addressing my own ideas and beliefs, I am very much looking forward to expressing myself through dance with no limitations.

'Strictly brings joy to everyones living rooms, being a part of that for Christmas Day will be special.'

Last week, MailOnline exclusively revealed Danny and his wife Victoria called time on their relationship a fortnight ago following a series of 'difficult' rows over text messages on his phone.

At the time, Danny released a statement to announce the news, telling his Instagram followers he 'only wished the best' for his ex.

All over: Last week, MailOnline exclusively revealed that Danny and his wife Victoria called time on their marriage a fortnight ago following a series of 'difficult' rows

Single: Jowita, meanwhile, is thought to be single after splitting from Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice earlier this year (pictured together on the show last year)

Since then, Victoria has announced that shockingly, she was 'made aware of the situation at the same time as the public' in a now deleted post.

The media personality opened up about the difficult time and apologised for her 'emotionally charge response.'

She wrote: 'Danny publicly announced our split without any prior notice or discussion with me. I was made aware of the situation at the same time as the public, and this has caused me a great deal of pain.

'I apologise if my reactions and responses have seemed reactive or emotionally charged.

'The truth is, I am still going through a difficult time, and it is challenging for me to see Danny speaking about our separation publicly while I have not yet found the strength to process it, adjust or heal.

Victoria concluded: 'I really don't want to be caught up in the fanfare. Sorry for any hurt I have caused.'

It comes after she allegedly had a furious spat with model Isa Yasmijn after she saw her husband chatting to Isa at an event.

Victoria is said to have confronted fitness trainer Isa at the event before later finding the messages shared with Isa and other women.

Practice: The pair shared their first photo together ahead of the festive special, which is just weeks away

It is claimed there was nearly a scrap between Victoria and Isa at a November 4 event hosted by rugby player Danny and self-help guru Garrett Kramer at the Four Seasons in Londons Mayfair.

A source told The Sun: 'Something was different about him. Normally Danny only has eyes for Vic but he wasnt giving her half the attention he usually would.'

They added: 'It was like he didnt really want her there. When they got to the talk, Danny was playing the crowds.

'Vic noticed he was looking at other women including Isa, chatting them up, and alarm bells started going off.'

The couple, who married in April 2021, are set to call in divorce lawyers after they parted a fortnight ago.

A source in their inner circle and close to the couple revealed that up until the summer, all had been well in the marriage.

But the source added: 'Victoria had been increasingly unhappy over the last few months. Things got tense and then she saw some text messages on his phone and it led to some difficult rows between them and they have now split up.'

Update: Victoria has announced that shockingly, she was 'made aware of the situation at the same time as the public' in a now deleted post

Oopsy: In a blunder, Danny claimed they were separating after four years of marriage - when their wedding day was two years ago

Furious: Victoria is said to have confronted fitness trainer Isa (pictured) at the event before later finding the messages shared with Isa and other women

The former England rugby ace has moved out of their Kent home and is staying at another address, although he has been seen visiting there over the last week, the source added.

'They are both devastated at the breakdown of their marriage' the source said.

Danny released a statement after the split, telling his 221,000 Instagram followers that he 'only wished the best' for his ex.

But in a blunder, he claimed they were separating after four years of marriage - when their wedding day was two years ago.
Taylor Swift kicked off the Sao Paulo leg of her Eras Tour concerts in Brazil with a big show of love to her fans on Friday.

The 33-year-old pop star - who is planning to spend Christmas with her boyfriend Travis Kelce - greeted the audience by making a heart sign with her hands, which comes a week after the tragic death of a fan at Taylor's Rio de Janeiro concert.

The superstar dazzled in a shimmering rhinestone embellished bodysuit and matching knee-high boots, and playfully flexed her muscles for the crowd.

She performed 'Now That We Dont Talk' from 1989 as the first surprise song for Day 1 of her Sao Paulo shows.

The second surprise ditty came in the form of 'Innocent' from Speak Now.

Big love: Taylor Swift kicked off the Sao Paulo leg of her Eras Tour concerts in Brazil with a big show of love to her fans

Flexing: The superstar dazzled in a shimmering rhinestone embellished bodysuit and matching knee-high boots, and playfully flexed her muscles for the crowd

Heartfelt: The 33-year-old pop star greeted the audience by making a heart sign with her hands, which comes a week after the tragic death of a fan at Taylor's Rio de Janeiro concert

The superstar dazzled in a shimmering rhinestone embellished bodysuit and matching knee-high boots.

Her blonde tresses were worn down in a straight style for the performance.

Another one of her dazzling outfits at the show was a sparkling silver fringe dress.

She also wore a stunning yellow dress during another part of the show.

During the show Taylor strummed on a silver rhinestone embellished guitar, featuring the number 13.

As Taylor begins the final leg of her 2023 Eras Tour in the Brazilian city this weekend, authorities continue to investigate the death of 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado.

Machado had died at the Nov. 17 show after fainting due to the brutal heat in the stadium that reached temperatures of over 100 Fahrenheit, according to local sources.

The Brazilian producer behind the show, Time For Fun's CEO Serafim Abreu, released a video statement regarding the death via Instagram on Thursday in Portuguese.

Surprise, surprise: She also performed 'Now That We Dont Talk' from 1989 as the first surprise song for Day 1 of The Eras Tour in Sao Paulo

Working hard: Swift blew fans away with her electrifying performance in South America

Surprise too: The second surprise ditty came in the form of 'Innocent' from Speak Now

Sparkling: Another one of her dazzling outfits at the show was a sparkling silver fringe dress

Having fun: Swift appeared to have a blast as she performed for the crowd

Investigation: As Taylor begins the final leg of her 2023 Eras Tour in the Brazilian city this weekend, authorities continue to investigate the death of 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado

Tragedy: Machado had died at the Nov. 17 show after fainting due to the brutal heat in the stadium that reached temperatures of over 100 Fahrenheit, according to local sources

'We recognize we could have taken some alternative actions in addition to all the others we have done,' Abreu said.

'Unfortunately for the first time in more than 40 years of operation, we had a fatality. We are absolutely devastated, very sad, with the loss of young Ana Clara, despite the prompt care and all the efforts made by the medical teams at the event and at the hospital.'

Swift was completely unaware of the tragedy as she performed and has since issued a statement expressing her devastation over Benevides' death as well as her condolences to the young girl's family.

'I can't believe I'm writing these words, but it is with her shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show. I can't even tell you how devastated I am by by this,' Swift wrote in her Instagram statement after the show.

'There's very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far two young,' she continued.

'I'm not going to be able to speak about this from the stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it.

I want to say now I feel this loss deeply, and my broken heart goes out to her family and friends.

This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring the show to Brazil.'

Multitalented: The superstar took a seat behind a piano painted in flowers during one portion of the performance

Flashy! The star kept her fans entertained with multiple costume changes throughout the show

Showstopper: Taylor showed off her moves in a two piece sparkly blue co-ord with backup dancers wearing black and white

More work: 'We recognize we could have taken some alternative actions in addition to all the others we have done,' Brazilian producer behind the show, Serafim Abreu, shared on Thursday

Wrapping up: Taylor has three shows left at the Allianz Parque in Brazil and resumes her tour in February 2024

Benevides is believed to have had a cardiac arrest according to her cousin, Estela Benevides, and as reported by Brazilian media.

Doctors at the scene attempted to revive the young fan but were unable to do so.

She was taken Salgado Filho Municipal Hospital but died soon afterwards.

Taylor has three shows left at the Allianz Parque in Brazil, and will resume her tour in February 2024, following a winter break.
He starred as anti-hero Chuck Bass in hit U.S. drama Gossip Girl before his life was derailed by rape allegations, which have since been dropped.

Now, Ed Westwick has found happiness in the home counties with actress and model Amy Jackson.

'We got a new place in the countryside just outside of London,' he tells the Daily Mail of his move from the capital at the launch of Fenix restaurant in Manchester.

'I'm decorating the house right now  I'm a bit of an interior designer.'

The university lecturer's son, 36, who was raised in Stevenage, Herts, met Amy, 31, a Bollywood star with a four-year-old son by an ex-boyfriend, at Silverstone racetrack in 2021.

Love story: Ed Westwick has found happiness in the home counties with actress and model Amy Jackson (pictured this week)

'Things are wonderful  she's my best mate,' he says.

'She's a great mother, all those things you want that I saw with my mum and dad. I hope I can have my version.'

The pair started dating in December 2021.

A source told The Sun on Sunday at the time: 'Ed and Amy are a really good match. They hit it off straight away.

'Both like to have fun and are career-driven.

Theyre enjoying getting to know each other for now.'

The couple went Instagram official just before Valentine's Day in 2022, with Amy penning a sweet note on her social media just in time for the occasion.

She wrote: 'Happy Valentine's Baby - forever grateful for the endless belly laughs and ultimate love!'

Shacking up: 'We got a new place in the countryside just outside of London,' he tells the Daily Mail of his move from the capital at the launch of Fenix restaurant in Manchester (pictured this week)

Amy was previously in a relationship with hotelier George Panayiotou, with the pair getting engaged in January 2019 and welcoming a son that September.

They broke things off in 2021, before her relationship with Ed began later that year. The model and the hotelier's son, named Andreas, is now four.

Ed was previously dating South African model and influencer Tamara Francesconi for two years, before the couple parted ways in 2021.

Amy has starred in a string of Indian films, predominantly in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu languages - after auditioning for one in London in a twist of fate.
Dave Portnoy has made a statement to clear up rumors that he and Vanderpump Rules star Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss hooked up while they were both in Cary, Illinois last month.

The 46-year-old Barstool founder and former Bravo TV personality, 29, were spotted in the same small town on October 27, prompting speculation that they were there together.

It came just before his ex-girlfriend Silvana Mojica suggested that they had split up with a telling TikTok video.

Dave said in a statement to Page Six on Friday: 'I can confirm Ive never met that trash bag in my life and its wildly insulting to even be mentioned in the same sentence as her.'

Via Instagram, he shared a message sent to the publication, in which he added, 'I was eating pizza at Uncle Jerrys [Pizza Company] though, which was spectacular by the way and got an 8.3.'

Official statement: Dave Portnoy has made a statement to clear up rumors that he and Vanderpump Rules star Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss hooked up while they were both in Cary, Illinois last month

Full response: Via Instagram, he shared a message sent to the publication, in which he added, 'I was eating pizza at Uncle Jerrys [Pizza Company] though, which was spectacular by the way and got an 8.3'

Page Six reported that Leviss was in Cary on the same morning and patronized Conscious Cup Coffee Cary.

While there, she snapped photos with multiple fans who recognized her.

And in an Instagram post shared on October 31, Rachel shared with her followers that she spent the weekend in Chicago, just an hour away from Cary.

About the timing of the trip to the tiny town, which has a population of 18,000 according to the outlet, Dave said it was 'wild.'

'Its kinda wild when I just had a breakup, which is hard enough to go through without hearing I f**ked that lady [Leviss],' he described.

Earlier this year, Leviss drew ire from VPR viewers when it came to light that she'd had an affair with castmate Tom Sandoval, who had been in a nine-year relationship with their co-star Ariana Madix at the time.

Following the scandal, dubbed 'Scandoval,' she opted not to continue the show after completing a stint in a mental health facility.

Now, the former beauty queen isn't on speaking terms with any of the cast.

Why he was there: Portnoy stopped in a Cary pizzeria to review their pies

Splitsville: The Dave and Rachel rumors came just before his ex-girlfriend Silvana Mojica suggested that they had split up after three years with a telling TikTok video; seen in 2022

Messy: Earlier this year, Leviss drew ire from VPR viewers when it came to light that she'd had an affair with castmate Tom Sandoval, who had been in a nine-year relationship with their co-star Ariana Madix at the time

Last month, Rachel revealed she told some 'triggering' items from Sandoval and raised $14,800 to donate to the National Alliance of Mental Illness.

The reality TV personality made $5,300 for a lightning bolt necklace, and $9,500 for the two hoodies, for a total of $14,800, her rep told People.

Leviss had worn the infamous lightning bolt necklace amid her months-long affair with Sandoval last year.

While discussing the mementos that she listed on eBay, the TV personality confessed that she never wants to 'see them' or 'wear them again.'
The 5.5-ton two-seat Boeing-Saab T-7 jet trainer is evolving into the F-7 jet fighter-bomber that can handle a lot of the work currently done by F-16s, and even extend the useful lives of existing 19-ton F-16s. While the F-16 can carry over seven tons of weapons, it usually hauls about half that. The F-7 can carry less than a ton of weapons. A fire control system has to be installed that can handle guided air-to-ground missiles and bombs.

Most of the 4,600 F-16s built were produced between 1973 and 2017. Limited production still continues, but only a few more new F-16s will be built. Most of the production work currently done is modifications, refurbishment and upgrades to existing aircraft. F-16s have gone through this process more frequently and extensively than any other jet fighter. There is a two-seat version of the F-16 for fighter pilots needing transition training from another jet fighter to the F-16. The lighter F-7 was designed as a trainer and, like many jet trainer aircraft, can be quickly converted into a combat aircraft. Nations that cannot afford to buy or maintain F-16s instead purchase jet trainers that can be quickly converted into combat aircraft. This conversion is often carried out when the jet trainers arrive to create a small force of jet fighter-bombers for countries that cannot afford or maintain anything more ambitious. As a trainer, the T-7 is quickly and easily turned into an F-7. The T-7/F-7 manufacturer expects to produce about 3,000 of these aircraft and expects some of be delivered to customers who intend to militarize their trainers into fighter-bombers quickly.

During the Cold War the Soviet Union gave a lot of countries combat aircraft, like the MiG-21, as a form of diplomacy. Suddenly these poor nations had an air force with modern combat aircraft. Even before the Cold War ended in 1991, a lot of these nations had inoperable MiG-21s and other Soviet-era warplanes. These were often parked at local major airports. It was common for these countries to base their MiGs at their few major airports where there were some maintenance services the jet fighters could use. That was often not enough to keep the MiG jet fighters operational and that explained the inoperable MiG-21s parked at commercial airports; there was no other area where they could be flown to and left to rot.

After the Cold War ended, Russia found more remote areas where they could have their old MiGs make one last flight to and then be parked in the open to rot in rural isolation. When commercial satellite photos became easily available after 2000, many of these abandoned Russian jet fighters were discovered in remote locations where few, if anyone, took notice. Even Americans military surveillance satellites did not notice these abandonment sites, mainly because thats not what the military satellites were looking for. Curious civilians later found these abandoned warplanes when they gained access to free satellite photos of remote portions of Russia and China. The civilians have plenty of time to scrutinize these photos and detected a lot of interesting things the military analysts missed or were not even looking for. In the Internet age this is called crowdsourcing.

It's no mystery where all the F-16s are. The U.S. was the earliest and largest user of the F-16 and its F-16 fleet, containing many aircraft acquired in the 1980s, is rapidly aging. The average age of existing F-16s is over 30 years, and the average aircraft has nearly 7,000 flight hours on it. Most European nations received their F-16s in the 1980s and have upgraded them since. But they are still basically elderly aircraft. Back in 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 flight hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest models (a Block 25) F-16 passed 7,000 hours in the air. The F-16C was originally designed for a service life of 4,000 hours, but advances in engineering, materials and maintenance techniques have extended that to over 8,000 hours. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, F-16s sent to these areas will fly over a thousand hours a year more than what they would fly in peacetime.

The F-16 follows the path of previous best-selling fighters. During the Cold War (1947-91) Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s. Since 1991 warplane manufacturing has plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong into the 2020s. The U.S. still has about a thousand F-16s in service, with about half in reserve units. F-16s built so far were exported to 27 countries. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used airplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 is beginning to replace all U.S. F-15s and F-16s, a process that will be complete by 2030. That means the U.S. will have plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, and many allies in need of low-cost jet fighters. Many current F-16 users planned to replace the F-16 with the F-35, but that aircraft costs more than twice as much as a new F-16V so air forces are seeking to operate a mixed force of F-35s and late model F-16s.

Since the 1990s most F-16s produced were for export and these, like the Israeli F-16I, cost as much as $70 million each. Some nations, like South Korea, built over a hundred F-16s under license. The 16 to 19-ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs it is an effective bomber. Since first entering service some 4,600 F-16s have flown over 12 million hours. Despite fears that a single-engine fighter would be less safe, F-16s have, in the 21st century, suffered a remarkably low accident rate (loss or major damage) of 2.4 per 100,000 flight hours.

The F-16 is one of the most modified jet fighters in service. While most are still called the F-16C, there are actually seven major mods, identified by block number (32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60, 70 and 72), plus the Israeli F-16I, which is a major modification of the Block 52. The F-16D is a two-seat trainer version of F-16Cs. The various block mods included a large variety of new components (five engines, four sets of avionics, five generations of electronic warfare gear, five radars and many other mechanical, software, cockpit and electrical mods.)

Until the Block 70 came along, the most advanced F-16 was the F-16 Block 60. The best example of this is a special version of the Block 60 developed for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The UAE bought 80 "Desert Falcons" (the F-16E) which is optimized for air combat. It is a 22-ton aircraft based on the Block 52 model, but with an AESA radar and lots of other electronic and mechanical enhancements. Block 70 goes beyond Block 60, especially in terms of electronics and airframe enhancement to extend flight life.

The most successful F-16 user is Israel which set a number of combat records with its F-16s. Israel plans to keep some of its late-model F-16s flying into the 2030s as it retires the oldest ones. At the end of 2016, Israel retired the last of its 125 F-16A fighters. The first 70 were acquired in 1980 and 1981 and included 8 two-seater F-16B trainers. One of the F-16As achieved a record by being the single F-16 with the most air-to-air kills (6.5), all achieved in 1982 using three different pilots. Israel received 50 used F-16As in 1994 (including 14 B models) and used these mainly as trainers.

These F-16As were the first of the nearly 400 F-16s Israel obtained from the United States since 1980. Israeli F-16s have shot down 47 aircraft, which is 70 percent of the 67 kills for all F-16s built. Israeli F-16As flew 474,000 sorties and spent over 335,000 hours in the air over 35 years. Israel was the most energetic user of the F-16 and also took the lead in developing upgrades and accessories. This could help sell the older F-16As, but that is a crowded market with more and more of these oldest F-16s being retired rather than upgraded. That is easier to do with the more recent F-16C models and that is what Israel did with all of its F-16Cs. Israel is buying more F-35s and using them heavily.
Tammy Hembrow has been enjoying a child-free vacation with her boyfriend Matt Zukowski.

The fitness influencer, 29, is staying at the Ayada in the Maldives for her romantic getaway, and the resort's prices are eye-watering.

The rates for rooms at the luxury resort start at around $11,000 for one week's stay, while the suite Tammy and Matt are staying in can range from $30,000 to almost $50,000 depending on inclusions.

The Instagram model was earlier defended against 'mum shaming' trolls who slammed her for taking a holiday without her children.

The influencer posed alongside her three young kids in an Instagram post on Friday and revealed that she was off on a child-free vacation.

Tammy Hembrow has been enjoying a child-free vacation with her boyfriend Matt Zukowski. Both pictured

The fitness influencer, 29, and her boyfriend are staying at the Ayada in the Maldives for the romantic getaway

'Guys I'm about to go on my first child-free holiday in YEARS and I really don't know how to act' the 29-year-old wrote.

'Already missing my babies (even though I know they'll be having the best time)' she continued.

'Nervous but also soooo excited, like a plane ride without a child?? What???? Do I order champagne? Take a nap? The world really is my oyster lmao'.

Some critics were quick to respond, with one person angrily writing: 'I feel so sorry for your children.

The rates for rooms at the luxury resort are eye-wateringly expensive

Tammy and Matt are staying for about a week, and the prices at the luxury resort for the cheapest room start at around $11,000 for that amount of time

While the suite Tammy and Matt are staying in can range from $30,000 to almost $50,000 depending on inclusions

'You're acting as if you deserve time away from them so you can spend time with your new boyfriend.'

'Good moms don't know what to do without the kids around your happy for five minutes yes no kids then it's like I'm bored need my kids' another said.

Many others defended the fashion designer and insisted she deserves a break.

'Girl enjoy. That's what aunties and grandparents are for' wrote Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis.

'Enjoy every moment, even though you'll miss them like crazy you deserve this time' said one fan.

Tammy was earlier defended against 'mum shaming' trolls who slammed her for announcing that she was taking a holiday without her children. Pictured with her children

Another wrote: 'I've gone on numerous holidays without my child. What's the problem?? You are entitled to a life as well!!! Stop mum shaming'.

Tammy welcomed her youngest daughter Posie, one, last year, with her ex-fiance Matt Poole.

She also shares two children, Wolf, seven, and Saskia, six, with her ex-fiance Reece Hawkins.

The social media star recently revealed she is dating Love Island Australia star Matt Zukowski, 28.

Tammy welcomed her youngest daughter Posie, one, last year, with her ex-fiance Matt Poole. She also shares two children, Wolf, seven, and Saskia, six, with her ex-fiance Reece Hawkins
Sharon Osbourne cut a glamorous figure as she departed the BBC Studios on Friday after an appearance on Woman's Hour.

The former X Factor judge, 71, wrapped up warm for the outing in a baby blue knee-length coat which she paired with matching trousers.

The chat show host also wore a white scarf and added height to her frame with a pair of black boots.

Wearing a light palette of makeup, Sharon completed her look for the day with a pair of silver earrings.

The outing comes after Sharon admitted she could do with 'putting on a few pounds' after dropping 42lbs with Hollywood's controversial weight loss drug.

Looking good: Sharon Osbourne cut a glamorous figure as she departed the BBC Studios on Friday after an appearance on Woman's Hour

Outfit: The former X Factor judge, 71, wrapped up warm for the outing in a baby blue knee-length coat which she paired with matching trousers

Style: The chat show host also wore a white scarf and added height to her frame with a pair of black boots

She spoke about her concerns over the weight loss drug which left her 'feeling nauseous the whole time' as she appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday.

Sharon told hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: 'It does what it says on the packet, it absolutely does. But my only fear is that it is put in the right hands. I don't think it's for teenagers at all.

'I'm scared for 16 to 20-year-olds. It's easy to say; "This is it, I can eat what I want and keep taking this injection. I think it needs to be in the hands of older people that totally understand that there can be side effects to this.

'I don't want young girls because the world we live in today everyone wants to be skinny.'

Giving her experience of using the weight loss drug, which she used last December, Sharon said: 'I was just fed up of going back and forth with my weight constantly. I thought I've tried everything so I thought I might as well try it.

'I could do with putting on a few pounds. But at this point the way my body is, it's not listening.

'Ozzy doesn't like it. He thinks something is going to happen to me. It's too good to be true.'

In an interview with Piers Morgan in September, Sharon spoke about how the side effects affected her.

Candid: Sharon admitted she could do with 'putting on a few pounds' after dropping 42lbs with a weight loss drug

Interview: Sharon spoke about her concerns over the weight loss drug which left her 'feeling nauseous the whole time' as she appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday

'It is a mental problem. It really is, apart from, you know, when children grow up in a household where they live off chips and pies,' she said.

'But I took [the injection]. I took it for four months and I lost 30 pounds, but like everything, theres always no quick recipe.'

She continued: 'I was very sick for a couple of months. The first couple of months, I just felt nauseous. Every day I felt nauseous, my stomach was upset, whatever.

'But listen, I took it for four months, I lost 30 pounds. Ive just shoved two chips in my mouth, while we had the break, and I eat normally now, and I havent put on a pound. Nothing.'

Health: Sharon pictured left at the Rolling Stone UK Awards on Thursday night, right in March 2022 before she started taking the controversial weight loss jab

Concern: Sharon told hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: 'It does what it says on the packet, it absolutely does. But my only fear is that it is put in the right hands'

Concern: Sharon shocked fans when she showcased her drastic two stone weight loss in an interview with Piers Morgan earlier this year

Sharon previously underwent a gastric bypass procedure in 1999 after spending years battling with her weight.

Ozempic, also known as Wegovy, is the brand name for semaglutide, which works in the brain to make users feel full.

According to the company's website, using the drug can have uncomfortable side effects that include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation.

'I started on Ozempic last December and Ive been off it for a while now, but my warning is dont give it to teenagers, its just too easy,' the music manager said.

'You can lose so much weight and its easy to become addicted to that, which is very dangerous,' the 5'2" celebrity admitted.

'I couldnt stop losing weight and now Ive lost 42 lbs. and I cant afford to lose any more.'

Elsewhere, Sharon recently spoke out about undergoing her most recent cosmetic surgery after a previous facelift had left her looking like 'Quasimodo'.

The former music manager has been open about her fondness for aesthetic tweaks over the years, but hasn't denied having regrets.

'Theres not one part of my body that I haven't had twisted, lifted, elongated, whatever,' she told the Daily Star.

'Ive been messed up many times. This last one was a kind of fix-it job from the guy that did it before.

'I looked like Quasimodo, because I had one eye here, one eye there. It was wicked.'

The mother-of-three previously confirmed that the disastrous facelift took place in October 2021, and took five and a half hours.
Gigi Hadid put on an animated display as she left her hotel in Paris, France on Friday.

The model, 28, showed off her quirky sense of style as she donned a bright yellow jumper which she tucked into a pair of high-waisted jeans.

Letting her platinum blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, Gigi also sported a yellow and black striped beanie hat.

The style maven also wore a white T-shirt and added to her look with a brown Louis Vuitton bag.

Also wearing a pair of sunglasses, the supermodel completed her look for the day with a pair of yellow trainers.

Looking good: Gigi Hadid showed off her quirky sense of style as she donned a bright yellow jumper which she tucked into a pair of high-waisted jeans in Paris on Friday

Style: Letting her platinum blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, Gigi also sported a yellow and black striped beanie hat

The outings come after Gigi and actor Bradley Cooper enjoyed a theater date night out at an Off-Broadway play earlier in the week.

According to Page Six, the model and the 48-year-old actor saw Danny And The Deep Blue Sea, which stars Aubrey Plaza and Chris Abbott.

The fun excursion follows a report that Bradley and Gigi were introduced by his former partner and the mother of his daughter, Irina Shayk, 37.

'Gigi was introduced to Bradley through Irina [Shayk] and their mutual friends in the industry,' a source told The Messenger on Wednesday.

'Gigi and Irina have been close over the years while working together, and Gigi and Bradley have hung out before, but it has always been friendly in social settings,' the source continued.

Bradley and Irina, who split in 2019 after four years together, share 6-year-old daughter Lea, while Gigi co-parents her 3-year-old daughter Khai with ex Zayn Malik.

'Gigi and Bradley were in touch recently, and were bonding over their daughters, when Bradley asked her out,' the source said, before adding,' He pursued her and she was definitely interested and excited'.

Earlier this year, Gigi was linked with Leonardo DiCaprio, and her new romance with Bradley is calling for something a bit more low-key.

Outfit: The style maven also wore a white T-shirt and added to her look with a brown Louis Vuitton bag

Couple: Gigi is currenty being romanced by A-list actor Bradley Cooper

'They have been casually seeing each other but it is extremely new,' the source continued. 'Gigi has expressed she does not want a serious relationship.

'They have a lot in common, and both relate to being parents in the industry. She wants to get into acting and is intrigued by Bradley's perspective and guidance. It is very casual at this point.'

As for Bradley, insiders say his interest in the catwalk queen is off the charts.

A source told DailyMail.com exclusively that the performer is 'very excited' about a love match and that Gigi is 'exactly his type.'

'He hasn't felt this excitement about a woman in a very long time,' the source added.
Tom Cruise cut a dapper figure as he enjoyed an evening out at Loulou's private member's club in Mayfair on Friday.

The Hollywood superstar looked smart in a crisp navy blue suit which he paired with an open-collar white polo shirt.

The actor, 61, tamed his wild locks after he debuted his newly highlighted impressive head of hair earlier this week.

Tom was seen touching down at London's Battersea Heliport after flying his own helicopter to the airstrip on Friday. He has had his pilot's license since 1994 and owns several aircrafts.

The star seemed to be struggling with high winds as they blew his long locks all over the place, however by the evening he had his mane perfectly styled and brushed out.

Smart: Tom Cruise, 61, tamed his wild locks as he cut a dapper figure in a navy suit for a night out with pals in London Mayfair on Frida evening after Mission Impossible filming gets back on track

Dapper: The Hollywood superstar looked smart in a crisp navy blue suit which he paired with an open-collar white polo shirt

Tom was joined by close friends as they enjoyed an evening out together as filming from Mission Impossible resumes after the SAG-AFTRA strikes.

The star looked in great spirits as he shook hands with the establishment's manager and doormen and waved at passing cars before heading home in the early hours on Saturday morning.

Not afraid to splash the cash, Tom was then seen passing a rolled up 50 note to his personal assistant who passed it on to the staff inside the club.

The star arrived into London by private jet from Florida earlier this week as filming resumed for Mission Impossible 8.

Tom had paid a visit to the hairdressers and had a noticeably lighter highlighted look than the darker hairdo he was pictured in summer.

Filming for the eighth instalment - which will likely be called Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part Two - has started up again after the actor's strike delayed the production.

Tom is no doubt eager to get back to work on the production after it had to be delayed due to the actor's strike.

The actor was originally scheduled to return as field agent Ethan on June 28, 2024.

New do: The star had his mane perfectly styled and brushed out after previous snaps of his unruly hair emerged earlier this week

Stylish: Tom scrubbed up well as he completed his outfit with some polished black brogues with a cuban heel

Back to work: Tom arrived into London by private jet from Florida earlier this week as filming resumed for Mission Impossible 8

Friendly: The star looked in great spirits as he shook hands with the establishment's manager and doormen

Courteous: Tom was also seen waving other cars passed in front of him

All smiles: Tom looked in great spirits as he bid goodbye to the club's staff

Startled: He looked slightly surprised as he settled into his car

Generous: Not afraid to splash the cash, Tom was then seen passing a rolled up 50 note to his personal assistant who passed it on to the staff inside the club

It's back: Filming for the eighth instalment - which will likely be called Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part Two - has started up again after the actor's strike delayed the production

But it has been delayed by almost a year as studios are forced to rejig release dates after the actors' strike.

Instead, Paramount Pictures has moved A Quiet Place: Day One into the slot, starring Emily Blunt.

The Mission: Impossible film series, beginning in 1996, is based on a 1966 television series of the same name.

Production on the eighth film had originally halted so that the cast could promote Part One, and then the strike began causing further delays.

Hairstyles: Tom had a darker hairdo back in June as he appeared for Mission Impossible in June
Asher Keddie is a proud mother to an eight-year-old son, Valentino, who she welcomed when she was 41.

And the 49-year-old actress says that when she fell pregnant, she felt young and healthy, but now she worries about ageing as she raises her young child.

'At the time, I didn't think anything of being what apparently is an older mother. I felt the same as I did when I was 25' she tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine.

'I was physically robust and that was fine, but not that long ago I did the stupid sum thing in my head. I thought, oh, I'm counting how old I will be when he's 18.'

She went on: 'You realise that you've probably lived the majority of your life, but you still have young people there whose lives you want to live with them and watch.

Asher Keddie is a proud mother to an eight-year-old son, Valentino, who she welcomed when she was 41. And the 49-year-old actress says that when she fell pregnant, she felt young and healthy, but now she worries about ageing as she raises her young child. Pictured in Stellar

'It's a bittersweet kind of thing, but most of it is sweet and most of it's exciting.'

Asher recently discussed her ten year marriage to artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo while discussing how the couple met.

She also shared a glimpse into the couple's home life with their son, Valentino, and Vincent's 11-year-old son Luca, from a previous marriage.

'I take care of stuff when I come home... but we have different roles within the house and as long as the kids come first, everything falls into place,' she added.

'At the time, I didn't think anything of being what apparently is an older mother. I felt the same as I did when I was 25' she tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine. Pictured with her son

'I was physically robust and that was fine, but not that long ago I did the stupid sum thing in my head. I thought, oh, I'm counting how old I will be when he's 18' she added. Pictured with husband Vincent Fantauzzo and his son from a previous relationship, Luca, 11

Asher and Vincent tied the knot in the beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014.

The couple went on to welcome a son of their own, Valentino, in March 2015.

Vincent's famous works include striking portraits of Julia Gillard, Baz Luhrmann and Heath Ledger, with his work highlighting the depth of Ledger's mental struggle was revealed one month after his death in 2008.

The artist has a hotel in Brisbane named after him, which is filled with his paintings.

Vincent, a four-time Archibald People's Choice prize winning artist, likes to spend time with his subjects before painting them, adding a personal relationship to his creative idea before putting his brush on the canvas.

Read more in this week's issue of Stellar Magazine
The Israeli reaction to the October 7 Hamas attack was to first stop them and then begin to dismantle Hamas as an effective organization. Initially that involved the use of military forces to destroy Hamas bases and facilities in Gaza as well as outposts in the West Bank and south Lebanon. This is not the first time Israeli forces have gone after Hamas in Gaza. In 2014 Israel did so with the main targets being Hamas storage sites for unguided rockets to be fired at Israel. These sites were usually in residential areas so Hamas could use local civilians as involuntary human shields against Israeli attacks. Any civilians killed were declared an Israeli atrocity in the subsequent Hamas press release, but Israel regularly sought to avoid civilian casualties while Hamas did not.

The Hamas attack on Israel has become 0rganizational suicide. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in Gaza and then send Mossad operatives after the surviving leaders in other parts of the world. Mossad had done this before and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated theyll do it to Hamas personnel around the world. When Palestinian gunmen seized Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics and killed most of them, the men responsible sought hiding places in Europe. One by one they were all killed. Israel admitted nothing but the Palestinians got the message. The Palestinian terrorist faction Hamas was unconcerned by that and on October 7 concentrated on killing as many Israelis as possible, including babies. Israel then openly declared it would destroy Hamas and all its personnel, and in particular eliminate all terrorist threats in Gaza by destroying most of it and occupying whats left. Two sides can attempt total destruction of the enemy. In this case, Israel has the means and Hamas does not. Israel is doing what it said it would and Hamas is rapidly disappearing.

While several senior Hamas leaders have recently been killed by Israeli airstrikes, there is still a Hamas leadership structure outside the region. Their mission is to persuade Western media that the Hamas cause is just and so is killing all Israelis, including women and children, they encounter. Hamas justifies this as striking back at their oppressor. Israel and Palestinians have long disagreed on what the oppression consists of. For Palestinians oppression is the existence of Israel and the continued presence of Jews the region. The Israelis say they came in peace to the Middle East, created prosperity and persuaded Britain and the UN to recognize Israel as a nation. The nearby Arab states objected to that and fought three more wars with Israel, losing them all and agreeing to make peace with Israel.

The Palestinian resistance came later, after the concept of Palestinians was invented and achieved wide scale acceptance. This began when some local Arabs, mostly in the West Bank and Gaza, refused to recognize Israeli independence. Neighboring Arab states refused to absorb the Palestinians and Jordan had to fight a brief war with their Palestinian refugees who staged a rebellion against the Jordanians in 1970. Those Palestinians were defeated and driven into Syria. While Israel and most Western nations accept just about anyone seeking to move to their country and settle down, this is not the custom in Arab states, where migration by foreigners, including other Arabs, is considered a hostile invasion and treated as such.

This led to a major problem invented by the UN when they sought to help by demanding that Israel allow Palestinians who fled their homes during the end of the 1947-49 war to return and vex Israelis who fought to establish their independence. The displaced Arabs who refused to recognize the new state of Israel also refused many other solutions that the UN and Israel agreed on and offered, and instead lived in the West Bank and Gaza, which could have been an independent state or states, but many of the Arabs insisted that Israeli surrender more territory, and when Israeli refused, the West Bank and Gaza Arabs, who rebranded themselves as Palestinians in the 1960s, demanded that Israel be destroyed and replaced with a Palestinian state that contained no Jews. That has been the underlying goal of the Palestinians ever since.

Their elected leaders are corrupt and tell the UN and donor nations that they just want peace with Israel while refusing to do anything to make that happen. The Palestinians have tried many ways and means of attacking Israel, or at least to kill Israelis, and none have succeeded. Like the four wars Arabs fought with Israel and lost, Palestinians were running out of ideas. Then the radical Palestinian faction Hamas came up with a bold and bloody solution that failed and created more disappointment.

The October 2023 Hamas attack killed more Israeli civilians than in any war since the first one that ended in 1949 with the recognition of Israel as a nation. Many Arabs refuse to accept the existence of Israel and support groups like Hamas that keep trying to destroy Israel. A growing number of Arabs believe that the solution to the Israel problem is making peace with Israel and doing business with them. This is especially true since the prosperous Persian Gulf oil states are threatened by Iran, as are Israel and Arab states like Egypt that depend on the Gulf states for investments and financial assistance. Iran backs Hamas and has paid for all those rockets they launched at Israel as well as training and other support for Hamas members. There is a pattern to the Hamas offensive, and it has its roots in Iran and Arabs who are obsessed with destroying Israel and killing or driving all Jews out of the region.

This is nothing new. The Arabs were big admirers of the Nazis during the 1930s and World War II. The Nazis wanted to kill all Jews everywhere. The Jews survived but so did the hate. Many people worldwide support Hamas, some without realizing what Hamas is and where it came from. Hamas failed but others will try to do what Hamas could not and destroy Israel.

To make that more difficult, Israel has launched a campaign to obliterate Hamas as thoroughly as possible. Other Arab states understand that concept because it has been a tradition in this part of the world for a long time. For example, Jews were forcibly expelled from the Middle East by the Romans two thousand years ago. The Romans, Eastern and Western, lasted until the 16th century. After that Jews slowly returned to the traditional Jewish homeland and this eventually led to the revival of a Jewish state in the region. The Arabs have been regularly defeated by Western armies and were in no shape to halt the creation of Israel. The Arabs tried, failed and eventually noted that Israel was good for their regional economies. Israel also created a military that local Arab states found they could not defeat. Along the way Israel developed nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to deliver them anywhere in the region. Israel can also deliver their nukes via their submarines, which are equipped to launch cruise missiles containing a nuclear warhead. That kind of deterrence works against established Arab states but not against stateless fanatics like Hamas and arguably not against Irans fanatic Islamic theocracy. Most of the Arab groups consider themselves Palestinians. That label is a codeword for someone dedicated to destroying Israel.

Israel is playing by Palestinian rules and striving to destroy Hamas to establish a precedent that the elimination of Hamas is what awaits anyone serious about trying to destroy Israel. This is another ancient local custom that persists despite post-World War Two efforts to discourage its application.

Israel is currently seeking out and destroying any Hamas presence in Gaza. The 2.3 million Arabs living there now will be left in peace as long as they are peaceful. Israel will control security, education, government and the administration of the economy plus foreign aid. The latter will produce much outrage from non-governmental organizations, the United Nations and officials of foreign governments who have been taking rake-offs from the aid they had nominally provided to Hamas and its Al Fatah predecessor in Gaza.

Israel has long allowed Palestinians to enter Israel to work in Israel. Palestinian leaders opposed this but Palestinians pointed out that Israel offered paying jobs, something Palestinian leaders were unable to do. Palestinian leaders administered millions of dollars sent each year to Palestinian governments in the West Bank (Al Fatah) and Gaza ,and stole much to most of it. Arabs who were Israeli citizens noted that Israeli government officials were more honest, and the Israeli economy provided good jobs for its Arab citizens as well as some Palestinians. About a quarter of the Israeli population is Arab and the Arab citizens do not have to serve in the military, although some volunteer.

Another quirk of the Israeli population is that about half the original Jews who fled to Israel were from Arab nations and their ancestors had lived there for over a thousand years. Once Israel became a state, most of these Arab Jews were no longer welcome in the homelands. Some went to Europe or America, but most headed for Israel where they faced decades of discrimination from European Jews. Eventually there was acceptance. After several generations, memories of life in Arab countries faded and the Arab Jews became more Israeli than Arab. That is why so many Israelis speak Arabic as well as Hebrew.

This means the Israeli army and government has lots of Jews who speak Arabic, and this will help with setting up a government in Gaza. At the moment Israeli troops are still seeking out and eliminating weapons, explosives and rockets stashed all over the Gaza territory. Hamas has been notably absent when it comes to meeting the basic needs of the more than two million Palestinians living in Gaza. Worse, Hamas seized most foreign aid that did arrive in Gaza before their October offensive. Little of this aid was distributed, instead it was hoarded by Hamas and the Israelis are looking for these food stashes so the goods can be distributed to the hungry civilians in Gaza.

Hamas still has some supporters in Gaza, but the many defeats suffered recently by Hamas and their poor treatment of Gaza civilians has left them with little popular support. On the other hand, most to almost all of Gazas civilians hate Israel and Jews due to 75 years of continuous indoctrination that they should. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that Israel will operate Gazas education system after the conquest to reverse this. How that will be done is a good question and might take as long (75 years) to be effective.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the EU (European Union) and the World Bank continue to urge Israel to accept a peace deal with the Palestinians that includes an independent Palestinian state. None of these proposals address the Palestinian demands that Israel must be destroyed before there can be peace, or Israeli demands that Hamas be destroyed. Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza often disagreed on many issues, but both agreed that Israel must be destroyed, and Jews expelled from the region before there can be peace. In the meantime, Hamas and Fatah continue encouraging violence against Israelis but fewer Palestinians comply. During the six months before the Hamas offensive, there was more violence in the West Bank than Gaza that required Israel forces to deal with. At first it was armed Palestinian groups fighting each other for dominance while organizing attacks on Israelis or in Israel itself. This led to a degree of fighting in the West Bank not seen since 2021 and may be the start of a new Palestinian offensive or intifada. This would be the third one. The first lasted from 1987 to 1993 while the second one was from 2000 to 2005.

Israel defeated the 2000 Intifada terror campaign by 2005. But as long as Palestinians had free access to Israel, the West Bank Palestinian government (Fatah) urged and encouraged Palestinians to attempt attacks inside Israel. The Israelis responded with tighter border controls which kept the terrorist threat low in Israel. Fatah insisted they had a right to keep trying to kill Israelis and, for over a decade, Arab and Western nations kept providing aid to the West Bank and Gaza despite the fact that more and more of it was used to support and encourage more terrorism against Israel. Some Palestinian leaders tried to describe the violence as an effort to defend Islam. The Palestinians were not very religious and their violence against Israelis was justified by their belief that Israel must be destroyed, and Israelis driven from the region.

There were other problems, mainly involving corruption. This has led more donor states, Moslem and non-Moslem, to openly complain of Fatah misuse of aid money. Fatah denied it and continued their corrupt ways. The donors cut their aid, often to nothing. It was not just the Fatah support of terrorism but the growing Fatah corruption which meant a lot of the aid was stolen to enrich Fatah leaders. Palestinians also opposed Fatahs job policy and Fatah was forced to tolerate more and more Palestinians renouncing terror to pass the background check and work in Israel. West Bank Palestinian jobs in Israel have become a crucial part of the West Bank economy even more so than they were back in 2000.

Iran, which has long sponsored Hamas, did not want Hamas to commit suicide. The years of Iranian support for Hamas was expensive and they expected Hamas to keep attacking Israel without triggering a massive response. Now Hamas is in danger of elimination from their base area in Gaza, where Iranian supplied rockets had, for years, proved useful for Iran. These rockets are gone as well. Iran praised the Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli cities and killing of Israeli soldiers. Iran did not want to be associated with all the civilians, including women and children, Hamas killed. Hamas also took hostages with the intention of trading them for the release of thousands of Palestinians jailed in Israel to violent crimes. Israel did not respond to the Hamas offer and keeps coming after Hamas, hoping to save the lives of as many hostages as possible. Hamas had no more leverage and realized they were being hunted down and killed by several hundred thousand Israeli soldiers, most of them mobilized for the occasion. As the old saying goes, choose your friends carefully and your enemies more carefully. Hamas chose poorly.

Hamas fighters deliberately do not wear uniforms to make it more difficult to identify them unless they are carrying weapons. They also hide among civilians and like to use civilians as human shields when attacking Israelis. If the Israelis shoot back anyway, Hamas considers the dead civilians as involuntary martyrs for the cause. For Hamas there is no bad publicity. While Israelis and Western nations deplore the ruthless tactics Hamas uses, they have a difficult time coping with Hamas unless they adopt some of the atrocious Hamas methods. This aids Hamas as well because Hamas did not encourage or sometimes did not allow civilians to leave Gaza city as the Israeli attack force is preparing to attack the city. The civilians have nowhere to go because Egypt has closed its borders to Palestinians.

Egypt has its own economic problems and is hostile to any pro-Iran activity inside Egypt because Iran has been hostile to Egypt for a long time. One reason for that is Egypt made peace with Israel decades ago and both countries allow their citizens to freely visit their neighbor and trade is encouraged. Both nations have profited from the natural gas deposits discovered offshore from Lebanon to Egypt. Israel briefly pulled most workers off an offshore natural gas off the southern Israeli coast. The Hamas surge never got that far but Israeli soldiers are still searching for stray Hamas gunmen still looking for Israelis to kill. The Hamas surge or flood tactics suffered more losses from Israelis shooting back and individual Hamas men wandering away from the group and losing contact.

Some fighting continues in Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians are dependent on foreign aid to survive. So far nearly 8,000 Palestinians in Gaza have died, and Israeli troops are still searching for the surviving armed Hamas members in Gaza. These Hamas men are in the 500 kilometers of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza.

Now the only Palestinian controlled area is the West Bank. Some Hamas men fled to the West Bank, where Iran has tried to smuggle in weapons, including rockets. That has not been successful because the West Bank is landlocked with Jordan on its eastern border and Israel on the western border. Since 1967 the West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation. Some portions are under Palestinian control but are surrounded by Israeli troops and 23o Israeli settlements. Jordan cooperates with Israel in keeping things quiet in the West Bank, especially on the Jordanian border. There is some anti-Israel violence in the West Bank, but the Palestinians have not been able to sustain that because of the hostile, to groups like Hamas, attitude.
Paris Hilton shocked her fans on Thanksgiving when she announced she had welcomed a baby girl named London.

Taking to Instagram, the mother-of-two shared the surprising news as she posted a pink baby outfit with the name 'London', revealing the gender and name of her new baby.

While her daughter shares a first name with England's capital city, the baby's full name is London Marilyn Hilton Reum.

This is her second child with husband Carter Reum, 42, after the pair welcomed their son Phoenix via surrogate in January.

But what's the inspiration behind the new baby's unusual name?

Inspiration: Paris Hilton shocked fans with the birth of her new baby girl - but what is the meaning behind her daughter's name? (pictured with son Phoenix who was born via surrogate in January)

Shock: The mother-of-two shared the surprising news as she posted a pink baby outfit with the name 'London', revealing the gender and name of her new baby on Thursday

It seems the model had her mind set on the unusual name for quite some time after revealing she actually decided on the name 10 years ago.

Talking on a live chat episode of her podcast back in March, she said she had picked out the name London if she ever had a daughter over 10 years ago.

'I'm really excited for Phoenix to have a baby sister one daynamed London. It's my favourite city and I've always wanted to name my daughter London,' she said.

'I had actually picked that name for a long time now, probably over 10 years. I always wanted London. I love that name for my daughter,' she added.

She also told Ellen DeGeneres on her show back in 2022 that she had her daughter's name planned.

She explained: 'The girl is gonna be named London Marilyn Hilton Reum.

'Marilyn after my grandmother and London because it's my favourite city and I think Paris and London sound cute together.'

Yet fans were also sent into a frenzy on Friday after they unearthed one of Paris' old tweets which seemed to suggest another meaning for the little one's name.

Paris shared a tweet several years ago, in which she revealed her shock that fictional character, London Tipton, a hotel heir who appears in The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody was named after her.

Paris and Phoenix: Talking on a live chat episode of her podcast back in March she said she had picked out the name London if she ever had a daughter over 10 years ago

Having a laugh! Fans unearthed a hilarious tweet from Paris as she revealed her new baby daughter's name is basically a tribute to... herself

Nostalgia: It took the model 12 years to realise that The Suite Life of Zack and Cody's Brenda Song' character, London Tipton who was the hotel's heir, was based on her - and fans are in a frenzy over the fact that she has basically named her daughter after this character

New cousin: After announcing the news on Instagram, Paris took to her TikTok with a sweet clip of her nephew and niece, whom she asked: 'Are you guys excited for your new cousin?'

And now she has named her own daughter London, in a comical full circle moment.

After she shared her newborn's name, fans went wild for her old post in which she said: 'What is on your mind?'. She then penned:' That London Tipton is basically me.'

The Suite Life... is set at the Tipton, which London's father owns - pretty similar to the DJ's upbringing.

London comes off as a very lovely and caring girl; however, she is quite spoiled and not always the sharpest tool in the box.

While Paris maybe nice and caring, there is no question that she is much brighter than the character played on Disney's iconic sitcom.

In awe of the realisation, one user penned: 'The fact that London Tipton from the suite life was based on Paris and now her babys name is London'.

Another wrote: 'LONDON TIPTON IMPACT WAS SO REAL.'

A third chimed: 'the way london tipton was based on paris hilton and now paris is having a baby named london we've come full circle'.

Another commented: 'paris hilton naming her daughter london, after a character based on hericonic'.

Dream come true: This is her second child with husband Carter Reum, 42. The pair welcomed son Phoenix via surrogate in January; They are seen in November

Disney dream: In awe of the realisation, one user penned: 'The fact that London Tipton from the suite life was based on Paris and now her babys name is London'

Big brother: Paris shared a sweet snap of her baby boy to Instagram Stories, proudly calling him a 'big brother'

She's here! After initially confusing fans by not revealing if the baby was on the way or had already been born, Paris clarified in a TikTok comment that her daughter has already arrived, writing: 'My princess has arrived!!'

After initially confusing fans by not revealing if the baby was on the way or had already been born, Paris clarified in a TikTok comment that her daughter has already arrived, writing: 'My princess has arrived!!'

Paris also wanted to keep the theme of cities running in her children, as her son is named after Phoenix in Arizona.

She previously said: 'It was hard to pick (Phoenix) because a lot of the cities that I like just wouldn't sound good as a name.

'Like Ibiza would be so weird as a kids' name, Vegas would be weird. It's difficult to find a cool name that's a city for a boy. Besides London, (because) that works for both,' she said.
Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.'s fingerprints from their arrest records are up for sale for $225,000 each.

Prior to their untimely deaths, the late rap icons were booked and those documents from back in the 1990s are now available for purchase from Moments in Time.

The autograph dealer's website has also listed the two unique pieces of memorabilia with the music legends' birth names on the documents.

The papers are from when Tupac  who was born Lesane Parish Crooks  served nine months of his 18-month to 4.5-year sentence after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a female fan.

This comes just weeks after the murder suspect accused of taking Tupac's life in a drive-by shooting nearly 30 years ago was arrested and appeared in court.

Rap legends: Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.'s fingerprints from their arrest records are up for sale for $225,000 each. Prior to their untimely deaths, the late rap icons were booked and those documents from back in the '90s are now available for purchase from Moments in Time

Arrest records: The autograph dealer's website has also listed the two unique pieces of memorabilia with the music legends' birth names on the documents. The papers are from when Tupac  who was born Lesane Parish Crooks  was found guilty of sexually assaulting a female fan

Original mug shot: According to the documents, Biggie Smalls  who signed with his legal birth name, Christopher Wallace  had been arrested for a robbery and aggravated assault charge in Pennsylvania

According to the documents, Biggie Smalls  who signed with his legal birth name, Christopher Wallace  had been arrested for a robbery and aggravated assault charge in Pennsylvania.

The incident involved a concert promoter, who claimed Biggie and his entourage beat him up after they had an alleged dispute in May 1995.

In January 1997, he had been ordered to pay $41,000 in damages, and the robbery charges were dismissed.

He faced criminal assault charges for the incident but they were never resolved.

On March 8, 1997, the rapper died at the age of 24 after an unidentified suspect in a car pulled up next to his vehicle and fired four fatal shots.

The collectible dealer's website is also selling a page of Tupac's liner notes for his last album for $95,000.

The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is the fifth studio album by the rapper and his first posthumous album as well as the last released with his creative input.

In the liner notes, he threw shade at other musicians, such as Dr. Dre, as well as television personality Wendy Williams and also name-dropped Biggie.

Fingerprints from arrest record: In 1995, Tupac was arrested and later served nine months of his 18-month to 4.5-year sentence

Unresolved case: The incident involved a concert promoter, who claimed Biggie and his entourage beat him up after they had an alleged dispute in May 1995. In January 1997, he had been ordered to pay $41,000 in damages, and the robbery charges were dismissed. He faced criminal assault charges for the incident but they were never resolved

RIP: Tupac was only 25 years old when he was shot four times in the chest on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas. He died on September 13 from his injuries

Rap icon: On March 8, 1997, Biggie died at the age of 24 after an unidentified suspect in a car pulled up next to his and fired four fatal shots

The tracklist includes some of the last songs he recorded before he was shot on September 7, 1996.

Nearly 30 years after his death, a murder suspect was arrested and indicted in connection to the drive-by killing of Tupac.

Just weeks earlier, Duane 'Keffe D' Davis was taken into custody by Las Vegas detectives and charged with a murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Tupac was only 25 years old when he was shot four times in the chest on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas. He died on September 13 from his injuries.
Nigel Farage's team fired off a legal letter to ITV bosses for showing him naked in the I'm A Celebrity jungle shower.

His furious aides claim there is an 'indecency' clause in his contract which bans the channel from showing footage of him nude.

But after scenes on Monday night's show, when Mr Farage's bottom was seen by millions of viewers, his lawyer claimed the agreement had been broken.

Three days later, more scenes of the Brexit Party founder  who is being paid 1.5 million to take part on the show  were shown of him naked in the bath.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Viewers were left astounded during Monday's episode as Nigel Farage showered

ITV last night confirmed receiving the complaint but insist there is nothing in Mr Farage's contract that forbids them from showing him naked. It is understood they are yet to reply to his team.

Friends of the politician believe the images have 'worked wonders' for his public profile, while others have credited his naked moments for stopping I'm A Celebrity becoming a 'snoozefest'.

A source close to Mr Farage, 59, told The Mail on Sunday: 'The legal team were not exactly over the moon about the naked scenes being shown. It simply broke the clause in the contract.

'Nigel will be surprised at the incredible reaction to it when he comes out because, as always, he is just being himself in the jungle. Who knows  maybe he could even do a calendar next year.'

Sorry Nigel, it's not a pint of your usual!

Farage undergoes a grueling trial on November 25, 2023

A right bellyful: Farage grimaces after the Down Your Sorrows Bushtucker Trial last night

His naked scenes have ensured that, along with influencer Nella Rose, 26, he is the most talked about contestant of this year's series.

Friends of his are furious with Lorraine Kelly for her comments about him being naked in the shower. Speaking on her ITV morning show last week, she described the image as 'traumatising'. One said: 'Imagine if Nigel had said that about Lorraine. It doesn't bear thinking about.' A post from Mr Farage's official X account, being managed by his staff, said on Friday: 'Has Lorraine apologised for bodyshaming Nigel Farage yet?'

Both ITV and the spokesman for Mr Farage declined to comment.

Mr Farage, who makes no secret of his love for a pint, went up against boxer Tony Bellew last night in the Down Your Sorrows Bushtucker Trial where he had to neck a disgusting drink.
Doctor Who fans lauded the show's brand new opening titles as the sci-fi series made it's dramatic return on Saturday.

The new look sequence featured the Time Lord's blue Tardis speeding through space with the eye-popping special effects leaving viewers 'obsessed'.

Many took to social media to praise the show's new 'insane budget' after the BBC signed a big-money deal with Disney+.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: 'Omg Disney plus budget coming through on the titles I'm crying already'.

With a second saying: 'The titles sequence!! The BUDGET had arrived!!'.

Lauded: Doctor Who fans lauded the show's brand new opening titles as the sci-fi series made it's dramatic return on Saturday

Loving it: The new look sequence featured the Time Lord's blue Tardis speeding through space with the eye-popping special effects leaving viewers 'obsessed'

Another typed: 'Loving the new opening titles, very colourful and beautiful'.

And: 'Oh the titles sequence are SEXY'.

Someone else said: 'I love the title sequence!'.

Viewers were also impressed by the beginning's Marvel style introduction which declared the new era the 'Whoniverse'.

One wrote: 'Doctor Who is turning into Marvel!'.

While a second said: 'This feels like a Marvel movie'.

With someone else writing: 'Ooh it's got a #Marvel like opening logo now'.

Impressive: Many took to social media to praise the show's new 'insane budget' after the BBC signed a big-money deal with Disney+

Back with a bang: The returns stars names featured in the credits

Return: The footage was described as 'colourful' and 'beautiful'

Obsessed: Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter , one wrote: 'Omg Disney plus budget coming through on the titles I'm crying already'

It comes after fans were treated to a surprise glimpse of Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson as the show marked its 60th Anniversary with an epic new trailer.

Ncuti will make his debut as the titular Time Lord in a Christmas Special next month alongside Millie, who will play The Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday.

The trailer featured a slew of clips of all 14 Doctors, including David Tennant who has reprised the role for a trio of 60th Anniversary Specials.

And amongst the montage was a tiny snippet of a pensive Millie as Ruby, flashing a brief smile with the TARDIS visible behind her.

Later in the preview, Ncuti could be seen in a snowy landscape, hinting at the time-travelling adventures that could be on the horizon.

New chapter: Viewers were also impressed by the beginning's Marvel style introduction which declared the new era the 'Whoniverse'

All change: One wrote: 'Doctor Who is turning into Marvel!'

Fans will get to see Ncuti and Millie make their full debut on Christmas Day, before they set off in the TARDIS for a new series in spring 2024.

Earlier in the day, David and returning showrunner Russell T Davies discussed the upcoming 60th Anniversary Specials during an interview on BBC Breakfast.

David said of his return: 'Doctor Who, when you're attached to it, you're attached to it. To get to revisit it, sort of full-time, even briefly, was something I never really imagined.'

While Russell gushed of his plans: 'I've always believed is all this show needs is to be good, to be fun, to be well cast, to be brilliant, that's really missing from the schedules at the moment. I dare not say I'm confident but I'm proud of what we've made and I hope it works.'

David also spoke about how Ncuti Gatwa will be taking over as the Doctor in the upcoming 2023 Christmas special as he gave his support to the actor.

He said: 'I've had a little glimpse of what Ncuti can do and it's very exciting. He's such a great energy, he's inventive, he's clever, he's quick, he's funny.

'It's really exciting that there is such a brilliant new Doctor coming and I'll be glued to every episode.'

Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary celebrations continue with The Wide Blue Yonder on Saturday at 6:30pm on BBC One in the UK, and Disney+ internationally.
Doctor Who viewers were left 'sobbing' after Wilf Noble's fate was revealed on Saturday after actor Bernard Cribbins died last year aged 93.

After the absent character was believed to have died it was revealed he was in fact happy and healthy, being cared for by UNIT's Kate Stewart (Gemma Redgrave).

As an emotional Doctor (David Tennant) seemingly accepted Wilf's fate saying 'He wasn't young, I loved that man, sorry for your loss'.

Only for granddaughter Donna (Catherine Tate) to exclaim: 'He's not dead!'.

'He's living in sheltered accommodation, he's 94 and can't manage the stairs!'.

The emotional episode then ended with Donna and The Doctor going to visit Wilf, who appeared in the series from 2007-2010, for 'one last time'.

RIP: Doctor Who viewers were left sobbing after Wilf Noble's fate was revealed on Saturday after actor Bernard Cribbins died last year aged 93 (pictured on the show in 2010)

Suprise! After the absent character was believed to have died it was revealed he was in fact happy and healthy, being cared for by UNIT's Kate Stewart (Gemma Redgrave)

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: 'Awe they've kept Wilf alive. Thank god I don't think I could have handled that'.

With a second saying: 'Not me sobbing at Wilf being mentioned, only for him not to be dead'.

A third typed: 'Nice moment about Wilf and Bernard Cribbins there'.

And: 'Kate making sure Wild is taken care of is so sweet omg'.

Another exclaimed: 'Really got me when Wilf was mentioned'.

Bernard died in July 2022 and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies led the tributes declaring the actor 'a legend has left the world'.

Earlier in the episode fans lauded the show's brand new opening titles as the sci-fi series made it's dramatic return on Saturday.

The new look sequence featured the Time Lord's blue Tardis speeding through space with the eye-popping special effects leaving viewers 'obsessed'.

As an emotional Doctor (David Tennant) seemingly accepted Wilf's fate Donna (Catherine Tate, R) exclaimed: 'He's not dead he's in sheltered accommodation!' (pictured with co-star Jacqueline King, L)

Emotion: Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: 'Awe they've kept Wilf alive. Thank god I don't think I could have handled that'

Missed: Actor Bernard (R) played the beloved character from 2007-2010

Many took to social media to praise the show's new 'insane budget' after the BBC signed a big-money deal with Disney+.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: 'Omg Disney plus budget coming through on the titles I'm crying already'.

With a second saying: 'The titles sequence!! The BUDGET had arrived!!'.

Another typed: 'Loving the new opening titles, very colourful and beautiful'.

And: 'Oh the titles sequence are SEXY'.

Someone else said: 'I love the title sequence!'.

Viewers were also impressed by the beginning's Marvel style introduction which declared the new era the 'Whoniverse'.

One wrote: 'Doctor Who is turning into Marvel!'.

While a second said: 'This feels like a Marvel movie'.

With someone else writing: 'Ooh it's got a #Marvel like opening logo now'.
It would fit into one wing of his TV mansion Downton Abbey  but that hasnt stopped newly separated Hugh Bonneville from splashing out 6,500 a month on a two-bedroom bachelor pad.

The 60-year-old, who played the Earl of Grantham in the ITV drama, separated from Lulu Williams, his wife of 25 years, in September.

Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal he is approaching his new single life in style by moving into a chic Soho apartment which has a terrace and spectacular views across London.

While many might enlist help to furnish their new home, Bonneville seems to be trusting his judgment  he was pictured in the week in creased trousers and an open-necked shirt while collecting a painting near to his loft apartment.

Hugh Bonneville is splashing out 6,500 a month on a two-bedroom bachelor pad

He is approaching his new single life in style by moving into a chic Soho apartment which has a terrace and spectacular views across London

Bonneville appears to be trusting his own judgement to furnish his new home, after being pictured collecting a painting near to his apartment

The 60-year-old, who played the Earl of Grantham in the ITV drama, separated from Lulu Williams, his wife of 25 years, in September

The couple marked their 20th wedding anniversary just five years ago by renewing their vows in Las Vegas's Graceland Chapel

The actor, who also stars in the Paddington bear movie franchise, previously lived with Lulu, 55, and their son Felix, 20, in Midhurst, West Sussex. In interviews he called Lulu his bedrock, crediting her for being the backbone of their household.

But in September he raised eyebrows by arriving alone and without his wedding ring at his Downton co-star Michelle Dockerys wedding to producer Jasper Waller-Bridge. His spokesman later confirmed that he and Lulu had separated.

Just five years ago the couple marked their 20th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in Las Vegass Graceland chapel.

Speaking afterwards, Hugh confessed: I thought I would be a bachelor for years.
Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola wowed the viewers at home with their Argentine Tango on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing.

The Coronation Street star, 22, and the professional dancer, 31, impressed with their stellar week 10 routine to Destiny's Child hit Bills, Bills, Bills, but fans thought the dance deserved a higher score.

Before the dance Ellie, who has sparked romance rumours with Vito, admitted her confidence has soared since Strictly, saying 'a few weeks ago I would never have been able to have done this dance.'

Looking incredible in a tight scarlet dress with a daring thigh-high split, Ellie and her partner only had eyes for each other during the red hot routine.

Wow: Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola wowed the viewers at home with their Argentine Tango on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing

Sizzling: The Coronation Street star, 22, and the professional dancer, 31, impressed with their stellar week 10 routine to Destiny's Child hit Bills, Bills, Bills, but fans thought the dance deserved a higher score

At the close of the number the pair shared a lingering look as they set fans talking with a near-kiss.

While viewers were impressed by their incredible chemistry, the judges were left slightly underwhelmed with Anton admitting he thought the routine 'lacked intensity.'

Craig added that he thought the dance 'lacked intimacy.'

Despite Anton and Craig's critique, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were impressed enough to score the couple a 10 each, with a total score of 38, leaving them top of the leaderboard.

Fans insisted though that it should have been a perfect 40.

On Friday, the pair again sent fans wild as they shared a joint post on Instagram where they posed together for several cosy snaps.

In one snap, Vito wrapped his arms around Ellie and rested his head on hers while in another, he held her face while leaning in for a kiss.

Alongside the post, he wrote: 'Live the present and be grateful for what you have in life. Be happy for waking up every morning and appreciate the small things. This makes the real Happiness'.

Uh oh: While viewers were impressed by their incredible chemistry, the judges were left slightly underwhelmed with Anton admitting he thought the routine 'lacked intensity'

Stunning: Looking incredible in a tight scarlet dress with a daring thigh-high split, Ellie and her partner only had eyes for each other during the red hot routine

'These are the words that Lulu and I keep repeating to each other.'

Ellie commented on the post and wrote: 'Always live in the present and appreciate the little things  so lucky and grateful for this experience with you xxx'.

Several Strictly fans commented on the pair's chemistry, with one writing: 'Please get married and have babies'.

Another wrote: 'Love you guys! You two are a match made in heaven - the laughs and chemistry just show every week looks effortless and not forced and that really matters  routing for you both'.

A third added: 'Tell me your a couple without telling me your a couple!!'

A fourth wrote: 'I get that this is just a photoshoot and that you are just dance partners and friends BUT half the country are now hoping that you might be more than 'just friends'. Just saying!'

What! Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were impressed enough to score the couple a 10 each, with a total score of 38, leaving them top of the leaderboard. Fans insisted though that it should have been a perfect 40

Strictly 2023: Week 10 Leaderboard Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola - Argentine Tango to Bills Bills Bills by Destiny's Child - 38 points out of 40 Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell - Couple choice to This Woman's Work by Kate Bush - 37 points out of 40 Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe - Pasodoble to The Matador Song - 36 points out of 40 Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin - American Smooth to Magic Moments by Perry Como - 34 points out of 40 Nigel Harman and Katya Jones - Rumba to It's All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion - 33 points out of 40 Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu - Cha Cha to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor - 31 points out of 40 Advertisement

It comes after Vito awkwardly avoided questions over his and Ellie's chemistry and relationship during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine on Tuesday.

The professional dancer dodged questions on his and the soap star's partnership as they remain the favourites to lift the Strictly Glitterball.

Host Lorraine said: 'Both of you are single, everybody wants a romance, you're getting on incredibly well - clearly there's a bond there...'

Vito replied: 'Not just Ellie, all of Ellie's family have become like another family for me. I've been so lucky because they are so wonderful.'

Turning to Ellie, he continued: 'Your mum does the best gravy, I ate the entire pot! So of course, friends and people who will stay in your life forever.'

Body language expert Darren Stanton spoke on behalf of Betfair Casino said them doing so well in the competition is down to them having a 'strong' relationship.

He explained: 'Ellie and Vito are clear favourites in the competition, and I think that's down to them having a journey.

'They've had good weeks, and bad weeks, so for them to take feedback on board and really work as a team, is showing the public they have a real connection.

'Ellie has gone from strength to strength in terms of her confidence on the show. Her relationship with Vito is incredibly strong.'

Ellie is single after splitting from her boyfriend of five years Reagan Pettman in May, saying she was doing Strictly after 'being cheated on'.

Vito is also single after splitting from his ex-girlfriend Arisa last year. The dancer won the Italian version of Strictly with in 2021.

Cosy: Ellie and Vito drove fans wild with speculation something romantic is going on between them after their latest social media post

It comes after Ellie also addressed the romance rumours swirling around and Vito, and tried to downplay their closeness.

The actress told OK! Magazine that her kisses with the professional dancer are just a sign of 'deep friendship'.

She said: 'It was only a kiss on the cheek. He gives me a kiss on the cheek every Saturday.'

Denying it could have been anything more, she added: 'It was definitely on the cheek.'
There have been some heartwrenching moments on Strictly during its 19-year history.

But none more so than Bobby Brazier's emotional tribute to his late mother Jade Goody last night, which reduced head judge Shirley Ballas to tears.

The model and actor picked for his Couple's Choice the hit This Woman's Work by Maxwell, a cover version of a song by Kate Bush, which he says reminds him of losing his mum in 2009.

Speaking before he took to the floor with partner Dianne Buswell, Brazier said: 'For me, the perfect song. He sings: 'I should be crying but I just can't let it go'  it's so beautiful. The story that we are going to tell, simply put, is my mum and I.

'My mum was Jade Goody, she was a famous TV personality. When she passed away it changed my life completely. I would love to spend the day with her, see where I get my smile from. In my earliest memory, I remember thinking, 'She's a superhero.'

Bobby Brazier's emotional tribute to his late mother Jade Goody reduced judge Shirley Ballas to tears

The model and actor picked for his Couple's Choice the hit This Woman's Work by Maxwell, a cover version of a song by Kate Bush , which he says reminds him of losing his mum in 2009

Brazier described it as 'the perfect song' before taking to the dance floor with partner Dianne Buswell

Strictly sources say that after Brazier was in the bottom two last Sunday he knew his time on the show might be coming to an end so he wanted to ensure he had a chance to perform the dance

'My intention isn't to give anyone some kind of answer, it's just to tell a story, make people feel empowered. This dance isn't only for my family, it is a tribute to my mum.'

Brazier and Ms Buswell were awarded 37 out of 40 from the judges. The star's father Jeff Brazier, who raised him after Ms Goody's death, said: 'As a family we are very tight. Loss makes you grow closer. I'm the lucky one, I'm the one who gets to bring the boys up, I'm the one who gets to watch him on Strictly. It brings so much joy to my life and I'm very grateful for that. He's a walking tribute to his mum.'

Strictly sources say that after Brazier was in the bottom two last Sunday he knew his time on the show might be coming to an end so he wanted to ensure he had a chance to perform the dance.

One said: 'This is something Bobby really, really wanted to do.'

Brazier said of the tune: 'My dad used to play it when I was young and it was really impactful for me.'

Ms Goody died on Mother's Day in 2009 following a battle with cervical cancer, aged 27.

Brazier's emotional tribute reduced head judge Shirley Ballas to tears

Looking back: Actor Bobby, 20, was only five when Jade, who rose to fame on Big Brother in 2002, died of cervical cancer on Mother's Day in March 2009

Family: His father, TV presenter Jeff, 44, single-handedly raised him and younger brother Freddie, 19 (right)

Emotional: Strictly's Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell moved Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke to tears on Saturday with their tribute performance to his late mother Jade Goody

Brazier and Ms Buswell were awarded a score of 37 out of 40 by the judges

Three weeks ago Annabel Croft paid tribute to her late husband Mel Coleman, who died in May following a short battle with cancer. Last night she and her partner Johannes Radebe danced the paso doble, earning 36 points.

Nigel Harman and Katya Jones scored 33 for their rumba to It's All Coming Back To Me Now by Celine Dion, while Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola impressed with their tango to Destiny's Child and were awarded 38 points.

Before the show, EastEnders actor Harman said he would be 'doomed' doing a raunchy rumba, but his display drew ringing praise.

Anton Du Beke called his performance 'superduper' and applauded Harman for trying to dance with his partner, instead of letting her perform around him.
Bobby Brazier and his Strictly partner Dianne Buswell are gearing up to perform an emotional dance on Saturday night in tribute to his mother, Jade Goody.

They will dance a Couple's Choice routine to 'This Woman's Work' by Maxwell, a song that the EastEnders star chose because it is close to his heart.

It comes one week after Dianne's father Mark, who lives in Dianne's native Australia with her mum Rina, started chemotherapy for his own cancer battle.

During rehearsals, Dianne, 34, admitted she's been struggling to hold back tears as the song reminds her of how Bobby lost his mother as a child and became the man he is today.

He was only five when Jade, who rose to fame on Big Brother in 2002, died of cervical cancer on Mother's Day in March 2009.

Moving: Bobby Brazier and his Strictly partner Dianne Buswell are gearing up to perform an emotional dance on Saturday night in tribute to his mother, Jade Goody

Reminds him of Mum Jade: Bobby was only five when Jade, who rose to fame on Big Brother in 2002, died of cervical cancer on Mother's Day in March 2009 (pictured in 2006)

Brave: It comes one week after Dianne's father Mark, who lives in Dianne's native Australia with her mum Rina, started chemotherapy for his own cancer battle

His father, TV presenter Jeff, 44, single-handedly raised him and younger brother Freddie, 19.

Bobby said: 'I've always thought it's the perfect song, the way he sings it the lyrics are profound and very impactful for me.

'There's lyrics in particular - "I should be crying but I just can't let it show" - and when I was a little bit younger and I was angry and resentful and I feared the world and just couldn't cry or express myself it was those lyrics, hearing that, that would make me cry because it felt so true.'

He added: 'It's a big week, it's our couples' choice. There's going to be a flood (of tears).'

It will undoubtedly be a difficult performance for the dancing pair as Dianne's father begins treatment for cancer.

Dianne hasn't specified what cancer her has father has, but shared a photo of him on his first day of chemotherapy.

She said: 'Im so proud of you dad. First round of chemotherapy today! I wish I could be there to hold your hand and support you in person but I do know that Im making you so proud over here in my concert every week.

'The Australian nurses and drs are now very aware of strictly come dancing as my dad wont stop talking about it you can do this daddy xxx Go mark @mark.3802 @rinabuswell'.

Support: Dianne posted another photo of her father to her Instagram Story, where he wishes her luck for Saturday, with the Maxwell song she will dance to on Saturday in the background

What a ride! Jade rose to fame on the third season of Big Brother in 2002 and finished in fourth place, earning a hugely warm reception from the crowd as she exited the house

Brutal: Bobby found himself in the dreaded dance-off last weekend after opening the show from Blackpool. He was saved by all four judges, who sent home Angela Rippon

Tight knit family: His father, TV presenter Jeff, 44, single-handedly raised him and younger brother Freddie, 19 (pictured together on Gogglebox)

Preparations: Dianne Buswell was pictured arriving at her hotel on Friday night ahead of Saturday's live show

Low-key look: The professional dancer was casually clad in a tracksuit as she checked in

Bronzed: Ellie Leach had her spray tan ahead of Saturday's show

Cute: Alijaz Skorjanec looked every inch the doting dad as he pushed his daughter Lyra

Adorable: Neil Jones' fiancee Chyna Mills carried their daughter Havana as she made her way to the hotel

Dianne posted another photo of her father to her Instagram Story, with the Maxwell song she will dance to on Saturday in the background.

The story featured texts from herself and texts from her father. She wrote in several texts: 'be strong daddy', 'you are brave and stronger than you think', 'that where I get my bravery from', 'it will pass the feeling', 'and you will get better soon', 'I know you will'.

Dianne's father wrote back: 'Hi Dot, All the very best for tonight's concert for you and BOBBY I know you can do it 8, 9, 9, 10 love you more daddy'.

It was back in October that Dianne admitted her father was not doing well after she broke down in tears on Strictly.

In a Q&A on her YouTube channel she said: 'I thought I would be very upfront and honest with you all. Last week I got some news about my dad's health and I won't go into detail, but obviously that affected me.

'Being away from home and not being able to support and help your family in a time of need is quite a difficult thing so I did struggle a little bit last week in terms of that.'

Dianne continued: 'There is a little road ahead for my dad but I believe 100% he is going to be fine and we are all going to get through it together.'

She then asked fans to give her dad 'a little thought or prayer', which she would 'greatly appreciate'.

Friends: Dianne and Ellie Leach, 22, make their way to the Strictly Come Dancing studio with a huge lilac suitcase

Well-rested: Ellie looked great in a grey jumper and shorts set and sunglasses and a pair of Ugg slippers

The emotional star went on: 'My dad is the sweetest, kindest man you will ever meet and the one thing he really wants is for me to keep going and to keep dancing my little heart out and doing what I love because that makes him the absolute proudest.

'Regardless if I go home with a glitterball or not I will still go home and have a hot Christmas.'

Bobby found himself in the dreaded dance-off last weekend after opening the show from Blackpool.

He was saved by all four judges, who sent home veteran newsreader Angela Rippon, 79.
Earlier in 2023 EU (European Union) leaders assured Ukraine that EU nations could supply with adequate supplies of 155mm artillery shells to deal with the Russian invaders. Ukraine pointed out that they needed about 350,000 shells a month for this and the EU efforts to deliver a promised million shells by early 2024 were faltering and likely to fail. The main problem was that no single EU nation could supply that many shells, or even a significant portion of them. There was not much coordination between EU nations when it came to defense production and the only alternative was the United States. While not an EU member, the Americans were the largest economic component of NATO, which all EU nations belonged to.

The United States has already sent Ukraine over two million 155mm shells and was spending over $3 billion to update and expand production capabilities of the firms that supply the components needed to manufacture 155mm shells. Without a major wartime demand for these munitions, investing in production capabilities is not a priority.

NATO members depend on the United States, which has the largest defense budget and military production capabilities. Collectively, NATO nations spend $1.1 trillion a year on defense, with the Americans accounting for two-thirds of that. While the United States is a single entity, the European NATO and EU countries have a difficult time coordinating their efforts. The Americans have a national government which can make decisions, often after a lot of discussions and debate, and then move forward at the national level. Thats why the many NATO and EU members depend on the Americans for decisive and effective efforts in an emergency.

NATO is a mutual defense organization to protect members from Russian attack. One reason Russia attacked Ukraine was because Ukraine wanted to join NATO. After two years of fighting, NATO has told Ukraine that they could join even while the war with Russian invaders continued. So far, Ukrainians have been doing all the fighting against the Russians, but NATO nations have supplied them with the weapons and economic assistance to keep going. Russian losses have been so heavy that Russia is having problems raising and equipping more troops. The original Russian explanation for their invasion of Ukraine was to protect Russia from NATO aggression. Eventually most Russians realized that NATO was and always has been a defensive organization and in Ukraine, Russians are the invaders.

In 2022 the Russian defense budget was $75 billion. When their initial invasion failed, the defense budget for 2023 rose by a third and will keep increasing until Russia can get itself out of the mess it created in Ukraine. Russian aggression against Ukraine began in 2014 when Russia seized the Ukrainian province of Crimea and portions of two other provinces in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine wants the Russians out of all of Ukraine that it seized in 2014-2015 and 2022-2023. Currently Russia occupies 18 percent of Ukraine, down from 27 percent in 2022. Ukraines NATO allies agree that as long as Russia occupies Ukrainian territory, the war will continue.

Russia is a large and wealthy country, with an annual economic (GDP) of $2 trillion. Yet that is half the size of the German economy, and the American GDP is twenty times larger than Russias and the U.S. is the supporter of Ukraine when it comes to weapons, munitions and economic assistance. While Ukraine has powerful allies, all Russia has is Iran and North Korea. The Russian government also has a major problem. If the war in Ukraine fails, the Russian government will fall. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is running out of political allies inside Russia and eventually that means a new government. A new government would probably be more practical, because Putins risky actions have cost Russia a lot of casualties and the loss of most modern Russian weapons and munitions, particularly the expensive high-tech ones.
Intricate challenges and pervasive violence in Eastern Congo, where ethnic conflicts, armed militias, and regional influences converge, create a volatile environment. As the government and international organisations grapple with restoring peace, civilians bear the brunt of the suffering. Will coordinated efforts involving regional players pave the way for a lasting solution, or is the region destined to endure the tragic cycle of conflict?

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the most populous Francophone country in the world with a population of nearly 112 million, has been witnessing massive violence in its eastern parts for months now. The country was known as Zaire from 1971 to 1997. As the general election in the country is approaching next month, the violence and torture by both rebels and government forces are rapidly increasing. Since coming to power in January 2019, just a year before the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic, President Felix Tshisekedi has not brought much improvement to the DRC. Now, global monitoring agencies have already raised an alarm about the prevailing corrupt practices of the countrys Electoral Commission and the potential for serious political violence in and around the country. This could directly compound the current conflicts in Eastern Congo and lead to more displacement once foreign forces leave these regions. So far, the Congolese Army has miserably failed to wrest control of these provinces from the armed militias violence.

There is not a single cause solely responsible for the mindless violence plaguing Eastern Congo. Its central root lies in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus. This genocide resulted in a mass exodus and refugee crisis in the African Great Lakes Region, comprising ten riparian countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. This crisis led to the migration of nearly 1.5 million ethnic Tutsis and over 1 million ethnic Hutus fleeing to eastern Zaire (now DRC). Subsequently, these refugees formed opposing armed gangs in the Eastern Congo provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

Another significant aspect of the conflict is the fierce competition among ethnic groups inhabiting these areas for the control and exploitation of vast resources, accompanied by inter-state regional rivalries. Additionally, the three neighbouring nations - Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi - maintain influence in the bordering regions of Eastern Congo. Consequently, the first and second Congo Wars took place among them, driven by conflicting interests in the border areas.

What continually encourages terror groups to carry out violent campaigns is the weakness of the central government based in Kinshasa. Furthermore, the regions instability directly contributes to the regrouping of armed militias, even if UN Peacekeeping Forces are stationed in some of the most volatile pockets of Ituri, South Kivu, and North Kivu.

It is estimated that around 120 armed groups are active in the Eastern Congo provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika. Many of these armed militias are alleged to receive support from neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. These groups and their commanders have been implicated in war crimes, including the recruitment of child soldiers, massacres, sexual violence, pillaging, and, most prominently, attacks on schools and hospitals. Among them, the deadliest is the M23 Group, formed in 2012, approximately 11 years ago. It was the latest in a series of ethnic Tutsi-led insurgencies that emerged to combat the Congolese Army in the East.

The name M23 is derived from a historic accord signed on March 23, 2009, which marked the conclusion of the Tutsi revolution in Eastern Congo. The primary contention of the M23 is that the Congolese Government in Kinshasa has not fulfilled the promises outlined in the agreement. According to them, the government has completely failed to integrate Tutsis into the Army and provide them with government jobs since the deal was signed.

The M23 and other Tutsi groups assert that they have been fighting for the genuine interests of their community. Their struggle is directed against Hutu militias, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR was established by Hutus who fled Rwanda after the infamous 1994 genocide, which claimed the lives of more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The emergence of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) poses a serious threat to the government forces of both the DRC and Uganda. In recent years, this group has wreaked havoc in many important cities and towns, including the capital cities of Kinshasa and Kampala, through deadly suicide bombings. Previously, the Ugandan military and the Congolese Army conducted joint operations against the ADF in the border areas of both nations, where the dreaded rebels operate. However, they were unable to completely root them out.

The U.S. also designates the ADF as a terrorist group, currently considering it the deadliest among dozens of militias operating in the mineral-rich Eastern Congo. Formed in 1995 by a coalition of rebel forces, including the Uganda Muslim Liberation Army and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU), the ADF was established to fight against the Yoweri Museveni regime in Uganda. Its leader, Jamil Mukulu, was initially born Christian but later converted to Islam and embraced Salafism while studying in Saudi Arabia. Although the ADF initially operated in western Uganda, it later shifted its bases to Eastern Congo.

It is noteworthy that initially, the Congolese Government offered full support to the ADF to counter the influence of Rwanda and Uganda in its eastern provinces. However, when the ADF began targeting the Congolese Army, Kinshasa had to retaliate against these rebels. Since the formation of the Islamic State in 2014, the ADF has declared its allegiance to it.

Today, the DRC is home to 7 million people who have been internally displaced due to extreme violence, threat perception, mine expansion, and poverty. These displaced people urgently need medical aid, food, and shelter around the clock.

How is the UN responding to the current chaos in Eastern Congo? For the locals, both the UN Peacekeeping Mission and the Congolese government forces have completely failed to protect them and restore peace to the restive region. In 2013, the UN Security Council authorised a rare offensive force under the mandate of the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to support the Congolese Army in the fight against the M23 Group. Initially successful in halting M23 violence, the alleged support of the Rwandan Government to the group has once again strained the relationship between Kigali and Kinshasa in recent years.

With Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, announcing the withdrawal of MONUSCO next month, a pressing question looms over the region: Does Tshisekedi have the power to secure the borders of his country?

The unrest in Eastern Congo is longstanding, with the added factor of Islamic militias claiming support from an already disintegrated Islamic State (ISIS). The conflict primarily revolves around land, survival, and ethnic dominance, particularly between the Tutsis and the Hutus, along with other smaller ethnic rebel groups. The response from the Congolese Government has been abysmal, and the role of the UN Peacekeeping Forces has not effectively addressed the root causes of the conflict. The civilian population bears the brunt of the suffering in any war or conflict, as is tragically evident in Eastern Congo.

While the world focuses on peace initiatives for conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and the tensions between Ukraine and Russia, prolonged and almost unending wars persist in Syria, Libya, Yemen, and various other parts of the globe. It seems that lessons from past wars, skirmishes, and civil unrest have yet to be learned, reflecting an ongoing struggle with greed and expansion.

Hence, finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Eastern Congo is not a primary concern for superpowers like the US. President Joe Biden and his team are working around the clock to ensure that Israel does not lose and has all the necessary weapons to defend itself, while also trying to reassure Washingtons Arab allies that it is all in pursuit of a two-state solution. Consequently, Kinshasa needs to develop its own solution to put an end to the current bloodbath in its eastern borders. The UN, while responding to the immense tragedy in the Gaza Strip, must work towards a permanent solution to the chaos in Eastern Congo by engaging all the regional players, mainly Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda.

It is time to save the innocent civilians who are suffering for no reason. The rebels are simply killing and marauding the same civilians for whom they claim to be fighting, all in the name of rooting out their enemies. Perhaps, George Orwell was right when he said: War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. However, war is not synonymous with peace, and not all wars lead to a state of peace. Be aware that wars linger behind the vagaries of rivalry, hatred, and animosity, often paving the way for another conflict in the future. Therefore, Tshisekedi, before planning to secure another presidential term, your responsibility is to first restore peace and order in the eastern provinces and address the humanitarian needs of the people there. It is time for Kinshasa, Kigali, and Kampala to act in unison to combat all rebels along their common borders.

(The writer is currently president of the Global Research Foundation)
Apart from Balia, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Chandauli of Uttar Pradesh (UP), a conspiracy was being hatched to expand the influence of CPI-Maoist by Naxalite activities in all the districts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh which has been disclosed by the UP ATS.

The UP ATS had recently arrested five Naxalites Tara Devi, Lallu Ram, Satya Prakash, Rammurat and Vinod Sahni who were holding a secret meeting in Ballia. The documents recovered from them have revealed a big conspiracy of Naxalites. It has been revealed from the recovered documents that all these Naxalites were increasing Naxalite activities in UP by making Ballia, Azamgarh, Varanasi and Chandauli their centers on the instructions of the Central Committee leaders.

In the diary recovered from him, the names of Naxalites killed in the encounter and details of funding to the organization were also found. Now NIA has taken over this case and started investigation.

Investigation has revealed that Central Committee member of arrested CPI Maoist Naxalite organization Pramod Mishra had formed an adhoc committee. Women and men were continuously being recruited in many districts of Purvanchal through the organization's secretary, Santosh Verma alias Mantosh, resident of Ballia. Also, a conspiracy was being hatched in Purvanchal to select an anti-government movement and convert it into an armed movement. For this, training in using weapons was also being given in the forest.

Arrested Naxalite Tara Devi alias Manju alias Manisha has been involved in Naxalite activities for 18 years. She was working closely with Naxal's MO (Mass Organization) and associates of mask organizations to recruit new active members. She was recruiting new people along with old underground members. Their objective was to overthrow the Government system through armed rebellion by mobilizing people of Naxalite ideology against the Indian government. She was collecting donations and levies and collecting weapons for her party CPI Maoist to establish the Naxalite Government.
Apki Yojna Apki Sarkar Apke Dwar program started on Friday in Ranchi district and across the State. On the first day, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rahul Kumar Sinha reached the camp organized in the remote Lapung block of the district. While giving information to the people who reached the camp organized in Dadi Panchayat about getting the benefits of the programs and schemes, he distributed the assets among the beneficiaries.

During this, local public representatives, Block Development Officer, Circle Officer, concerned block workers and villagers were present.

Assets were distributed among the beneficiaries of various schemes in the camp. The assets were distributed among the beneficiaries by the local public representative, DC and BDO. Savitri Bai Phule Kishari Samriddhi Yojana, Sona Sobaran Dhoti-Lungi Saree Yojana, cycle distribution, caste, residential certificate, MGNREGA job card and others were distributed from the Kalyan Manch. Sinha interacted with the beneficiaries one by one.

A person who came out of jail after serving a 24-year sentence, got the benefit of an on-the-spot pension scheme. The DC presented the acceptance letter of Chief Minister State Old Age Pension to Jhuki Pahan, a resident of Semar Toli. While talking to the beneficiary, he said that now he should live a respectable life. In the camp, he gave information to the villagers present about the Aapki Yojana Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar program. He said that through such programs people get information and benefits of the schemes. He told the villagers that your own labor is your biggest asset, take full advantage of the opportunity provided by the government. He told the villagers in detail about the Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme, Abua Awas Yojana, Savitri Bai Phule Kishori Samridhi Yojana and others.

During his address, Sinha said that all the departmental officers should provide information related to the department to all the summoned citizens coming to the camp. He said that people should be given information about the schemes in their language so that the eligible person can avail the benefits of the schemes as per his capacity. He said that do not leave any stone unturned in providing benefits to the deserving person.

The DC inspected all the departmental stalls organized in the program one by one. He directed the concerned employee to give benefits to the eligible person as per rules. He took detailed information about the application process, especially at the stall of Abua Housing Scheme. While carefully examining the applications received, he also talked to the applicants and asked the personnel present about the process of entry in the portal. He directed the BDO to give wide publicity about the Abua Housing Scheme.

During the inspection of the stalls in the camp, a person approached Sinha with a complaint about land rent receipt not being deducted. After hearing the complaint of the villager, he asked the circle officer to immediately process the complaint. He spoke directly to the people who came to the camp organized at Panchayat Bhawan. He instructed the villagers to avail the benefits of the schemes and apply for redressal of their complaints. He directed the BDO to give necessary information to the people coming to the camp.

A group of women met the DC outside the Panchayat Bhawan. The women applied to the DC for a community building and pond. On which he instructed the Land Conservation Officer to execute the application. He told the women that the benefits of the schemes will be made available to all eligible people as per the process. He also inspected the Government upgraded high school of Dadi Panchayat. The school principal put forward several points to the DC for better basic arrangements for the children, on which he said that work would be done as per the process.
Xavier School of Management XLRI conducted 31st JRD Tata Oration on Business Ethics on November 23 at Tata Auditorium, XLRI Jamshedpur Campus. This year the oration was delivered by Arun Maira - Consultant, Author & Thought Leader; Former Member, Planning Commission of India; Former Chairman, Boston Consulting Group, India on the topic Transforming Capitalism To Make The World Better For Everyone.

TV Narendran, Chairman, XLRI | Arun Maira - Consultant, Author & Thought Leader; Former Member, Planning Commission of India; Former Chairman, Boston Consulting Group, India | Fr. S George S.J., Director, XLRI | Prof. Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics), XLRI and Fr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu, S.J., Chairperson of JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics lit the lamp and kick started the event.

Fr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu, S.J., Chairperson of JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics said, JRD Tata was known throughout his life for one message - ask not just what is legal but go beyond and ask if its the right thing to do. Established in 1991, JRD Tata Foundation is to mark its long-standing commitment to business ethics in India. XLRI is the only B-School in India that has a dedicated center named after the industrialist JRD Tata.

He also talked about a few on-going activities of JRD Tata Centre for Business Ethics. XLRI regular course in managerial ethics is offered to all students which includes 11 different sections. A Cross dialogue with Michigan State University on Managing Diversity & Inclusion in India & United States was organized on October 19, 2023 for the PGDM (GM) students. A company newsletter on Ethics in Business World for Tata Steel was written and published. Last year our PGDM (GM) students participated in the Ethics & Sustainability Online Competition organized by Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, out of which 1 team won. Research & Publications in the field of Applied & Business Ethics is rigorously pursued and we have published 3 such books. All India Essay & All India Poster Competitions was successfully conducted with around 160 entries from Pan India. A 2 day International Conference on Enabling Business & Social Responsibility for our Globalised World in partnership with 4 foreign Un universities is planned for 2-4 February 2024 and we have already received tremendous response with more than 900 registrations for article writing, case studies and other activities, he said.

Arun Maira delivered the oration on Business Ethics. He said, In the early days, the view was that large companies only make simple things and were making profits but they werent building the nations which is what my generation wanted to do. Mahatma Gandhi had said that when he was fighting for Indias political freedom, Jamshedji was fighting for economic freedom. I too joined Tata to build up our nation.

He quoted JRD Tata explaining the criteria he used to resolve leadership dilemmas at his level. JRD Tata said that whenever he had to take a tough decision, he asked himself what will be good for Tatas and what will be good for India and if there was a conflict between the two, he would take the decision that was good for India. He said those decisions somehow always turned out to be good for Tatas in the long run. And even if it does not turn out good for Tatas, does it really matter? This leadership trait of JRD Tata is well known, he said.

Mr. Arun Maira discussed the ethical responsibility of management by giving reference to the Bhagvad Gita wherein Krishna gave Arjuna the answer - You only have rights to the work and not to the fruits thereof. You must do your work to the best of your ability but the fruits of your success must not be yours alone to enjoy. They belong to everyone in the world that has created you.

He concluded saying, Society must be recoupled with the economy. The laws governing corporations must be changed to redefine their purposes to improve the conditions of the society and the environment while they produce profits only then will the incentives of the Board & Corporate Executives and their compensation too will become aligned with the good of society. Indeed, time has come for Humanity to ask Capital Enterprises the opposite question: when will they become more socialist? The process of capitalism must change from the process of creative destruction and greedy competition to a process of co-creation of the public good driven by compassion and cooperation and by ethical values rather than financial valuations. Be more concerned about others than yourself.

Prof. Sanjay Patro, Dean Academics, XLRI proposed the vote of thanks and concluded the event.

XLRI- Xavier School of Management, in association with a few select Tata Group Companies, established in 1991 the XLRI  JRD Tata Foundation in Business Ethics, to mark their long-standing commitment and contribution to business ethics in India. The Foundation seeks to address itself by publicly affirming the urgent need for ethics in business and the need to bring about a conducive culture in which it can thrive. The activities that are envisaged by this Foundation are an annual JRD Tata Oration on Business Ethics, recognition and presentation of the JRD Tata Award for Business Ethics to an eminent person who has distinguished oneself in business ethics, and the setting up of the JRD Tata Chair in Business Ethics at XLRI for the advancement of research in this field. XLRI is the first B-school in the country to introduce a core course on Managerial Ethics for both its HRM and BM programs. Each year, XLRI confers a medal to the best student in Managerial Ethics at the institutes annual convocation.
Punjab Govt to provide all assistance to horticulture: Minister

Fazilka: Punjab Horticulture Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra on Friday addressed the concerns of Kinnow growers at Citrus Estate Abohar while assuring swift resolution of their issues. The Minister directed the District Mandi Officer to ensure proper functioning of the mandi. He categorically emphasized taking legal action against anyone impeding farmers in getting adequate price by creating a pool and instructed officials to provide J-Forms promptly to farmers after selling crops at the Kinnow mandi. The Minister also assured the farmers that the government would offer comprehensive support in addition to the existing subsidy framework, adding that the Department's various schemes would be reviewed to increase subsidies for farmers based on updated needs and new schemes will be initiated.

Punjab VB books Patwari, three others for taking Rs 34.70L bribe

Chandigarh: Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Friday registered a corruption case against revenue Patwari Gurwinder Singh, posted at revenue halqa Pirubanda, East Ludhiana, along with his private agent Nikku for obtaining Rs 34.70 lakh as a bribe. In this case, patwaris brother and father have also been booked for conspiring with him in accepting the bribe. Spokesperson said that the complainant Babbu Tanwar, a resident of Rampura Phool town in Bathinda district, had lodged a complaint against the said Patwari and his private agent on the Chief Minister's Anti-Corruption Action Line alleging that the duo have accepted a bribe amount of Rs 40,000 for sanctioning mutation of property belonging to his father which was got registered in 1994.

Hry to celebrate Constitution Day on Nov 26

Chandigarh: Haryana Government on Friday decided to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by celebrating Samvidhan Diwas (Constitution Day) on November 26. In a letter directed to all Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, and Deputy Commissioners, State Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal has urged that officers and officials in all government offices, attached and subordinate offices, autonomous bodies, organizations, and institutions, including educational establishments, read the Preamble to the Constitution as part of the celebrations. It added that talks and webinars on Constitutional values and the fundamentals of the Indian Constitution may also be organized. Citizens are also encouraged to take part in the online 'Read the Preamble' activity.

Public awareness campaign on organ donation, transplantation at PGIMER

Chandigarh: PGIMERs Department of Renal Transplant Surgery on Friday organized a public awareness campaign on Organ Donation and Transplantation to kick-start Golden Anniversary Summit on Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation. The event witnessed participation of over 500 delegates from across the country. Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher was the chief guest while PGIMERs director Prof Vivek Lal was the Guest of Honour. Kher said that the Government of India has launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme which covers dialysis for the beneficiaries and has now even included kidney transplants for the beneficiaries.

One Nation, One Ration Card scheme proving to boon for every citizen: Minister

Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Anoop Dhanak on Friday said that the success and immense benefits of the One Nation, One Ration Card scheme has emerged as a blessing for citizens across the country. Dhanak, addressing the beneficiaries of the scheme during inauguration of the Samvad programme in Faridabad, said that not only Haryana residents, but also people from other parts of the country, are benefiting from this programme. In Faridabad district, 4619 people who came to work from other states received rations in January, and 9831 people have benefited from this scheme in October.

Bajwa slams AAP Govt over unchecked illegal mining

Chandigarh: The Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday condemned the AAP-led Punjab Government in the strongest possible terms for its utter failure to keep check on illegal sand mining in the State. Punjab Government seems to have surrendered itself to the mining mafia. Illegal sand mining has been on without any deterrence from law enforcement agencies. From the manner the illegal mining is going on openly, it appears that there is some sort of connivance between the mining mafia and some influential people within the government, he said citing reports of a Drainage Department employee being allegedly run over by a tractor and killed a day before after he tried to stop illegal mining in Kotla Bajja village, which falls in the jurisdiction of Rangar Nangal police station of Batala police district.

GSC honours efforts to resettle Afghan Sikhs, Hindu refugees

Chandigarh: A special congregation was held at Gurudwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, New Mahavir Nagar, Delhi, Sri Sehaj Paath and Sri Akhand Paths were completed in the honour of late Manmeet Singh Bhullar, in whose memory the Bhullar Foundation is relentlessly working for amelioration of the lives of Aghan Sikhs and Hindus and other sections of the community. On the occasion, the Afghan Sikh Sangat honoured and felicitated Paramjit Singh Bedi, a sheet anchor of the Bedi Foundation and also vice-president of the Global Sikh Council (GSC), for his untiring efforts in the Afghan Sikhs and Hindu refugee relocation project.

HR conference unveils strategies for developing next generation leaders

Chandigarh: To address the evolving landscape of leadership development, HR Conference: Developing Next Generation Leaders convened on Friday at PML SD Business School, Chandigarh, bringing together human resources professionals, industry leaders, and experts in talent management to explore innovative strategies for nurturing and preparing the next wave of leaders. GGDSD College Societys general secretary Dr Anirudh Joshi, in his welcome address, encouraged the participants to take full advantage of the unique opportunity to broaden their understanding of current trends and future directions under Industry 5.0.
Coming down heavily on the K Chandrashekar Rao-led government while seeking support for Bharatiya Janata Party candidates in poll-bound Telangana during an election rally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday that BRS meant Bhrashtachar (corruption), Rishwatkhori (bribery) Samiti (committee).

A massive crowd enthusiastically welcomed the UP chief minister with saffron flags and chants of Yogi-Yogi. Yogi Adityanath established instant connection with the local citizens by addressing them in Telugu, receiving warm affection from the people of Telangana. KCR, Congress, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AMIM) and Bahujan Samaj Party were the targets of Yogi Adityanath.

The UP chief minister asserted that the Muslim reservation policy in Telangana was unconstitutional and pledged to abolish it if the BJP came to power.

Accusing KCR of deception, Yogi Adityanath highlighted his unfulfilled promises, including commitments to nillu (water), nidhulu (money), and niyamakalu (employment) after assuming office. Yogi drew a distinction, stating that while Congress made Hyderabad, the BJP aims to transform it into Bhagyanagar.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged support for BJP candidates Dr Palvai Harish Babu in Sirpur and Atmaram Naik in Asifabad, asserting that the KCR-led BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) government has fostered exploitation and anarchy in the state.

This state is yearning for its rights. The dirtiest game of appeasement politics is going on in Telangana. The government can go to any extent to divide the society, he said.

Yogi Adityanath went on to say, The BRS government conspired to deprive Dalits, the underprivileged, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes of their rights by giving reservation to Muslims. This is an insult to the Constitution made by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Muslim reservation is anti-constitutional, hence it will end with the arrival of the BJP in Telangana. BRS and Congress want to take the country towards a new division. BRS-Congress and BSP share a similar mindset.

Yogi Adityanath sought votes in favour of BJP candidate Dr Vikas Rao in Vemulawada. Here he also discussed senior leader and former Governor Vidyasagar Rao. He highlighted that during the prolonged movement for the creation of Telangana state from 1969 to 2014, the promise of providing nillu (water), nidhulu (money) and niyamakalu (employment) was a rallying cry. However, Yogi Adityanath lamented that once in power, KCR failed to fulfill these commitments.

When Telangana was formed, it was a revenue-surplus state. Today Telangana is in debt of Rs 3 lakh crore. BRS is cheating farmers, youth and women. Water has become a source of illegal money. With the wrong policies of the government, the youth are burdened with debt, he remarked.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath organised a vibrant roadshow in support of Marri Sashidhar Reddy in Sanathnagar, drawing a significant crowd. During the event, he emphasised the need for the BJP in Telangana, highlighting the transformation in Uttar Pradesh since 2017, where curfews and riots are now a thing of the past. Yogi Adityanath expressed concern for the farmers in Telangana, highlighting issues such as suicides and leaked examination papers. He raised questions about the competence of the current government, particularly in managing examinations and running the state effectively.

The UP chief minister said that AMIM was a common friend of both parties (BRS and Congress). Because of them, the government does not allow Telangana to celebrate the day of liberation from the Nizam. Elect the BJP government, work will be done to celebrate Liberation Day from Nizam as national day. Congress made Hyderabad, we have come to make Bhagyanagar, he said.

The streets of Ghoshamahal were packed on Saturday evening. The resounding chants of Yogi-Yogi filled the air and flowers rained down from the balconies and windows of every home. The powerful image of Yogi on a bulldozer drew the attention of the crowd, with mothers eagerly trying to catch a glimpse, and the youth captivated by the magic of Yogi.

The roadshow, featuring Yogi Adityanath in support of T Raja, witnessed an unparalleled welcome amidst the flashing lights of mobile cameras. Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming welcome, Yogi Adityanath said that the peoples passion alone could transform Hyderabad into Bhagyanagar.
A four-member CBI team on Friday reached Sahibganj to investigate illegal mining worth more than Rs 1000 crore related to the Nimbu Pathar area of the district. The CBI team will also interrogate ED's key witness Vijay Hansda and SP, DC and mining officer involved in mining.

The CBI has registered an FIR to probe the allegations of illegal mining in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand by Pankaj Mishra, an aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

In its FIR registered on Monday, the Ranchi unit of the CBI has booked Pankaj Mishra, Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Rajesh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Bacchu Yadav, Sanjay Yadav, and Suvesh Mandal allegedly involved in the "pilferage and illegal extraction" of stone at Nimbu Pathar in Sahibganj.

The Jharkhand High Court had directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the conduct of the accused people booked by Sahibganj Police and also the conduct of petitioner Vijay Hansda who had sought to withdraw the writ petition.

It issued the orders on the petition of Hansda, alleging that for the last two-and-a-half years, "stone mafias" are doing "illegal mining" in connivance with government officials, including mining officials, of his district.

He has alleged that they are using earthmoving machines and carrying out blasts which resulted in cracks in the houses of villagers.

Hansda had alleged that he had seen that illegal mining was done in the presence of Mishra but his complaints to district officials did not result in any action from their side.

The high court had also directed the agency to enquire into the roles of Ashok Yadav and Mukesh Yadav who had allegedly threatened Hansda on premises of the High Court while he was obtaining no objection certificate from previous advocates representing him.

It had also directed the agency to register a regular case after the PE and look into the role of other public servants.

After completion of PE, the agency has taken over the FIR filed by Sahibganj Police in an illegal mining case against the eight accused.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday issued second summons to Sahibganj SP Naushad Alam asking him to appear on November 28after the latter did not appear before the central agency on Wednesday. The ED had summoned Alam for questioning as the SP was found to be allegedly involved in turning Vijay Handsa, a key witness of the central agency in the illegal mining case, hostile.
The chief secretary SS Sandhu has directed all the departments of the State administration to work in coordination with one another to revive the vibrant village scheme. The CS chaired a meeting of different departments at the secretariat on Friday on the vibrant village scheme. In the meeting, he directed the officers to prepare proposals on the vibrant villages and send them to the government of India. The CS said that the proposals highlighting the tourism potential of the vibrant villages should be prepared. He said that the consultants should visit all these villages with the district tourism officer to find ways for realising their tourism potential. Sandhu directed the culture department to organise programmes of famous cultural troupes in the vibrant villages. He suggested that the allowances of the cultural groups visiting vibrant villages can be increased in view of the fact that they are located in remote and faraway places. It will help in encouraging the artist to visit these villages, he said.

The meeting was attended by secretary Radhika Jha, AS Hyanki, Sachin Kurve, Pankaj Kumar Pandey and additional secretary V K Jogdande.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has termed the decision to set up a camp office of the Chief Minister in Uttarkashi in the final phase of rescue operation in Silkyara as a cheap gimmick. He said the CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union minister of State V K Singh want to take credit for the rescue operation of the labourers trapped in the tunnel for about 15 days. He said that the rescue workers are working day and night to evacuate the workers. Mahara said that the BJP government took no lesson from the disaster in Raini in Chamoli and is now trying to hide its failure in Silkyara by trying to take credit for the rescue operation. The PCC president said that this type of work style of the CM and Union minister Singh will not only hinder the rescue operation but also affect the work of the government.

Expressing gratitude of the labourers, employees, engineers, geologists, government officers, personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and experts of five nations engaged in the rescue operation, Mahara said that the BJP has a past history of seeking credit of the hard work of others. He said that by setting up a camp office CM Dhami and his government is pretending to monitor the situation in Silkyara.

The PCC president said that if the safety measures were taken and all the norms were followed in digging of the tunnel then the lives of the 41 labourers would not have been in danger.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been camping in Uttarkashi to personally monitor the operation underway to rescue the 41 workers stuck in the Silkyara tunnel since November 12. On Friday, the CM disposed of various files at the temporary camp office set up at Matli in Uttarkashi.

Dhami has been staying at Matli since Wednesday to ensure that the rescue operation is carried out as required. To avoid delay in other official works, a temporary camp office of the CM is functioning from Matli. The CM on Friday disposed of various official files while also issuing necessary instructions to the officials. In the evening, Dhami went to Silkyara to check the rescue operation underway. He interacted with the team involved in the rescue operation and issued necessary instructions to them.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, paid tributes to Para Commando Sachin Laur of Aligarh who was martyred during an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Minister Yogi wrote on his official account on X, My condolences are with the bereaved family. We stand with them in this hour of grief. May Lord Shri Ram give place to the departed soul at his feet and give strength to the bereaved family members to bear this loss. Om Shanti.

Para Commando Sachin Laur, hailing from Nagariya Goraula village of Tappal in Aligarh, joined the army in 2019 and became a commando in the special forces in 2021. Presently, he was posted in the Para II Regiment in Rajouri. Sachin attained martyrdom while fighting the terrorists on Wednesday. He was going to get married on December 8.
he State Government is indifferent towards the interest of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The recent State Cabinet decision to amend the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Properties (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation Act (OSATIP) is an example of this, said the Congress on Friday.

The decision of transferring of ST lands to non-tribals would make the tribals financially weak and bring misery for them. Over 22.5% of the States total population is tribals. The State Governments same proposal had been rejected by the President of India in 2010, the Congress pointed out.
Chhattisgarh Police on Friday arrested a Congress corporator and his son for thrashing and hurting the religious sentiments of a Sikh man here a few days ago.

Corporator of Civic Centre Abhay Soni (64) and Amandeep (25) have been taken into custody, Durg Senior Superintendent of Police Ram Gopal Garg said.

They thrashed and removed the turban of Satpal Singh on November 19 following a row over electioneering.

The father and son were arrested after the statement of the victim was recorded with the police on November 22.
Chhattisgarh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan on Friday said that eviction of tribals from their land was a matter of serious concern and amounted to a violation of human rights.

Addressing a workshop on Mitti, Maa Aur Manavadhikar in Bhubaneswar, the Governor stressed the need to make tribals aware of their rights and to extend the governments welfare schemes to them, an official communication said.

It was the duty of government to protect the rights of the poor and downtrodden and every aware citizen should raise his voice to protect the human rights to the poor, he said.

The Governor also expressed concern on increasing pollution and warned of an epidemic if necessary steps were not taken in this regard.
In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths mission to make Uttar Pradesh a state with the best health services, the government has set out to upgrade hospitals in the state capital by equipping them with state-of-the-art machinery and facilities.

In this sequence, preparations are underway to equip Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, SPM (Civil) Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Post-graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Balrampur Hospital with modern equipment.

It is noteworthy that under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a detailed action plan was prepared for upgradation of government hospitals to improve health services in the state. The implementation of this plan has now begun.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak had also announced that Balrampur Hospital would be equipped with modern facilities. Consequently, the process of upgrading the surgery department of Balrampur Hospital with modern facilities has commenced.

In this regard, more than Rs 2.50 crore has been released by the state government to complete the upgradation process, after administrative and financial approval.

Through this upgradation process, there is preparation to update more than 109 surgery equipment categories in the surgery department of the hospital. This includes equipment such as 10 electro-surgical generators worth Rs 28 lakh, generators footswitches, and laparoscopic units worth Rs 25 lakh.

Additionally, the purchase of furniture and other furnishings suitable for the decor of wards will be facilitated. The items to be purchased for the decor, as part of the upgradation process, range from Rs 480 to Rs 28 lakh.

After the completion of the process, patients receiving treatment in the hospital will benefit, and there will be a reduction in inconvenience for the medical staff as well.
To strengthen the training and capacity building of states police personnel, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Haryana Police Academy (HPA) and Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat, on Friday at the HPA campus in Madhuban. The MoU will facilitate collaboration and resource sharing between the two institutions, paving the way for enhanced expertise and capabilities within the Haryana Police force.

The MoU is aimed to foster cooperation and resource sharing in the areas of education, research, extension, and training programs for mutual benefit, said the governments official spokesperson, adding that jointly designed educational programs will focus on upgrading the skills and training of police personnel, promoting innovation, and encouraging security-related research.

Spokesperson said that the MoU will enable introduction of online education through RRUs various institutions, leveraging their expertise in this domain. On behalf of Haryana Police, Dr CS Rao, chairman of the Drafting Committee and Director of Haryana Police Academy; Inspector General Administration Sanjay Kumar from Haryana Police Headquarters; and Arvind Hooda, Deputy Director of FSL, Madhuban, signed the MoU. On behalf of Rashtriya Raksha University, it was signed by Registrar Dr Shishir Kumar Gupta, Director Commodore Manoj Bhatt (retd), and Nodal Officer Raghunathan. The draft of the MoU was approved by the Government of Haryana.

The signing of the MoU has marked a significant milestone in Haryana Polices efforts to enhance its training and capacity building capabilities, said the spokesperson. By collaborating with a renowned institution like RRU, the Haryana Police will gain access to cutting-edge expertise and resources, enabling it to better address the evolving challenges of policing, added the spokesperson.

Spokesperson added that the MoU is expected to yield several benefits for both HPA and RRU. The signing of this MoU underscores the Haryana Police's unwavering commitment to provide its personnel with the best possible training and capacity building opportunities. By collaborating with esteemed institutions like RRU, the Haryana Police is taking proactive steps to ensure that its personnel remain well-equipped to meet the demands of modern policing, added the spokesperson.
The issue of gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious one. I thought the enactment of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018 will frighten our fellow emaSwati.

Findings in other countries suggest that most laws do reduce the chances of family or intimate violence. Research has shown how harsh laws deter would-be offenders from harming their families and partners. Its rather a different kettle of fish in Eswatini where women and children are terribly abused. Violence against women has reached an alarming level. I support calls that government must declare GBV as a national disaster. Its long overdue. We have to ensure that men charged with cases related to GBV are not admitted to bail and that their sentences range from 45 years to 82 years in jail.

For murder cases, the country should pass a law that provides explicitly or authoritatively, without any compromise or consideration of extenuating circumstances, that the convicted person shall be sentenced to 99 years in jail. The life sentence should be 99 years.

At the moment, the sentence of life imprisonment is not less than 25 years in the country. This is a joke. As long as the murdered person is cold in the grave, the murderer must be cold in jail. I still dont understand why a man doesnt walk out of an affair that he perceives as abusive, which is far better than killing his partner. Its an indisputable fact that violence against women and girls is rooted in the patriarchal power imbalance between men and women.

Dominant

It is rooted in the dominant belief that men protect and provide for and have authority over their family. As men, we say good women prioritise their familys health and wellbeing. We treat women as objects or subjects that we can to the cleaner at our convenience. All around the world, there are harmful beliefs that perpetuate GBV. As a matter of fact, GBV is a global concern. Oxfam International states that there are social norms which drive GBV. They include the following 

Women must be submissive to male family members in all aspects of their lives. Rigid gender roles often result in the expectation that women be submissive to male family members. When married, women are expected to obey their husbands, act according to their wishes and not strive for equal decision making. If they transgress these norms they may face physical violence used by husbands as punishment or discipline.

Men are expected to exercise coercive control. While women and girls are expected to be submissive, men are expected to exercise power and control in their families and relationships, which can manifest in various ways. In dating relationships, male dominance can appear in the form of monitoring mobile phones and social media.

Men have the right to discipline women for incorrect behaviour. Oxfam Internationals research reveals that there is strong belief, among both women and men, that violence is acceptable and even necessary when used by men to discipline women for not delivering on their perceived responsibilities or when their behaviour transgresses social norms. Women cannot deny their male partner sex. In intimate relationships, womens and girls choices over their bodies are dominated and controlled by their male partners and the belief that womens bodies should always be available to men. These norms contribute to intimate partner rape and other forms of abuse, which are the most common form of violence against women and girls.

Treatment

Section 28 (1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini) provides that women have the right to equal treatment with men and that right shall include equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities. Subsection two provides that subject to the availability of resources, the government shall provide facilities and opportunities necessary to enhance the welfare of women to enable them to realise their full potential and advancement.

It is stated in the Constitution that a woman shall not be compelled to undergo or uphold any custom to which she is in conscience opposed. One way to enhance the welfare of women is to protect them from harmful men. Sentences for men charged with SODV should be swift and harsher.

Its a shame when we murder or assault the people who carried us in their wombs for nine months. Outside their wombs, they gave us the essential breast milk that reduces the risk of high blood pressure, ovarian cancer and diabetes. This is the mother of your children. She takes care of them. Does she deserve to die in your hands? Its a sin. Its a transgression. Indeed, it cannot be tolerated because it is an abomination to the Supreme Being.

Let us not kill our women folk. They are special. They beautify the universe. Without them, we are nothing. There is no happiness anywhere in the world without the presence of our wives and mothers.

The excuse that men kill their wives or partners because they are disrespected or pushed to the limits by their partners is too lame to be considered for mitigation. Its not a justification for domestic violence. If we were assaulting our wives or girlfriends before or we are doing it now, it is the right time that we all agree to stop it. Its a pity we have children who are demanding justice for their mothers who were killed by their fathers.

Their mothers are cold in the graves while their fathers are languishing in jail or out on bail. In the accused dock, they see their father facing charges for their mothers murder. Children suffer double blow in situations in which they seek their mothers justice from their father. Its not a nice thing to be judged by your own conscience, on a daily basis, that you killed a human being.

Kill

A person was made in the image of God. As you kill her, you must know that you are killing someone who was made in the image of God. She was made or designed by God. His Majesty King Mswati III is correct in his view that there is no valid reason for killing a person, particularly in a domestic setting. Whether you caught her red-handed committing adultery, it is not a justification for killing her. Just thank God you have caught her and move on. Move on! I am aware of the feelings that come with it. They are hardly ever simple. Most of our NGOs in Eswatini focus mainly on the GBV symptoms. They are yet to teach a man how to control his emotions.

They are doing an incredible job, I agree. They can do better. I can only ask for a different approach to gender-based violence. The focus should be on men as we are the chief perpetrators  the real culprits. Women hardly kill husbands. They often do so in self-defence. I am neither condoning the killing of men by women nor emotional abuse or financial abuse to which they are subjected. I usually go through Mind Tools stuff. This organisation makes good men. It says societies have long held stereotypical perceptions of how men handle their emotions. This is because men suffer from antiquated ideas of burying feelings using alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism and even becoming physically abusive to avoid tackling the problem.

Obviously, none of these methods are healthy. And perpetuating these stereotypes does nothing to help men find an outlet without feeling overshadowed by judgment. Men are just as prone to anxiety, depression and emotional difficulties as women. While it can be hard to be vulnerable, particularly if youve had a lifetime of experience shutting your feelings down, its important to find ways to deal with your feelings in a healthier way, Mind Tools states. It is said that suppressing ones sadness and anxiety affects men in more ways than many people realise. In addition to being an underlying cause of anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders, suppressing emotions such as anger can impact your thinking and behavioural patterns and disrupt relationships.

According to Mind Tools, it can also lead to physical problems such as:

Increasing the risk of blood pressure

Heart complications

Headaches

Migraines

Digestive problems

Wellness writer Hannah Friedman observes that keeping a lid on negative emotions can also increase the risk of addiction. She says men suffer more from substance abuse and dependence than women do. My observation here is that with all of these problems associated with mens depression or stresses, they take it out on women. Reach Out, an NGO-based in Australia, has dealt with cases of hurting partners and how to deal with such disappointments. My take is that men need urgent assistance.

I know there are responsible and calm men in our society. However, the creation of the Mens House Facebook Page and the number of people who joined it within 24 hours taught me a thing or two that the brothers of Adam and sisters of Eve are on a collision course. In order to avoid killing your partner, Reach Out advises that no matter whats gone down, tell yourself that its never your fault that someone cheated on you. Be proud of yourself that you are not to blame and move on with life as I pointed out earlier. Avoid doing hurtful things for any reason you may think its justifiable to end human life. No person, I want to say again, has authority over human life.

Recall the moment you were told that your loved one has passed away. How did you feel on that day? It was like God has turned against you. It was an unbelievable report that your son or daughter has passed away. When his coffin was lowered to the ground, you were obviously inconsolable. Five years after his or her death, things have changed a little bit. The feeling is not the same, thats what I am trying to say. Accept that things are going to suck for a while. Eventually, you will heal. It may take time to heal, but you will eventually heal. Dont fight something you cant change. You found her or him cheating, you cant change the situation. She or he cheated and you caught her red-handed.

We can do better as men. Its barbaric to assault or murder a woman.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday emphasised the need to expedite the resolution of property ID objections, considering it a significant task that requires thorough resolution for those raising objections.

Special camps should be organized to facilitate this process, said the Chief Minister, while presiding over a review meeting of Urban Local Bodies Department in Chandigarh, along with the Urban Local Bodies Minister Dr Kamal Gupta and Chief Executive Officers of Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Corporations. The Chief Minister asked the officials to promptly register urban local bodies shops post-sale.

Urban local bodies should diversify their sources of income

Citing the significant potential for revenue generation through advertisements, the Chief Minister also underscored the need for urban local bodies to diversify their sources of income. There are 88 local bodies in the State.

The Chief Minister was apprised during the meeting that specific tax rates on advertisements have been set at four per cent for Gurugram, Manesar, and Faridabad; two percent for municipal councils, and one percent for committees. It was also informed that the process of advertising involves e-auctions, with 100 registered places at the state-level and a total of 1930 e-auctions planned. So far, 376 auctions have been conducted, resulting in revenue of Rs 40.44 crore.

During the meeting, it was also apprised that the regularization of 457 colonies under civic bodies and approximately 150 colonies under the Town and Country Planning Department is in progress. Tenders for infrastructural development of each colony are scheduled to be floated by December 5, with the release of 25 per cent of the funds upon the opening of tenders.

The wardbandi (delimitation) is nearing completion, and the tenure of five municipal corporations is set to conclude by January 2024. Elections will promptly follow the conclusion of this tenure. The Chief Minister issued an order for Ambala CEO Satendra to go on a 15-day leave for not giving a satisfactory response.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra to be carried out for 50 days in State

The Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has been started which will be carried out for 50 days in Haryana under the banner of Viksit Bharat Yatra Jan Samvad. The yatra will be conducted at the ward level in Municipal Corporations, at four to five locations in Municipal Councils, and at a single venue in Municipal Committees.

The primary goal of this yatra is to effectively communicate government policies to the common man. It is aimed to showcase the experiences of individuals who have benefited from government initiatives, providing a platform for them to share their stories with the wider public. The Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner will serve as the nodal officers for this yatra, he added.

The Chief Minister highlighted that over 100 Jan Samvad programs have been successfully conducted in rural areas, and now this Yatra will extend to urban centers to foster Jan Samvad.

He emphasized the meticulous handling of documents from each complainant received during Jan Samvad programs, with thorough reviews conducted on a dedicated dashboard. In addition, a specialized cell has been established to gather feedback from complainants regarding the actions taken on their applications, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their satisfaction levels. Jan Samvad program serves the crucial purpose of direct communication with the people at the grassroots level, he added.
In a major achievement for the Yogi Adityanath government, its ongoing massive crackdown on the drug dealers has resulted in seizure of more than two lakh kilograms of illegal drugs in the state.

With the direct monitoring by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, more than 2.41 lakh kilograms of illegal drugs were seized through raids in various districts of the state from the year 2020 to October 2023. Its value in the international market has been estimated at more than Rs 1,400 crore.

Additionally, more than 40,000 cases have been registered and more than 45,000 traders have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The stringent action against drug dealers has not only impacted the illegal trade significantly in the state but also led to the decline in related crimes.

Additional Director General (Crime) SK Bhagat said that in a swift action on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi, a total of 2,41,431 kg of illegal drugs had been seized in three years and 10 months.

This includes 1,94,346 kg ganja, 40,359 kg doda (poppy straw), 2,032 kg opium, 3,518 kg charas, 984 kg heroin (smack), 186 kg morphine and 3.82 kg cocaine.

Additionally, under the NDPS Act, legal proceedings have been initiated in 40,929 cases, leading to the arrest of 45,823 individuals. Property confiscation actions under Section 68 (E) and (F) of the Act have also been carried out in Hapur and Mathura.

Bhagat said that the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), formed to curb the drug trade, had seized 9349.93 kg of illegal drugs till October 23. This includes 43 kg morphine, 4.85 kg heroin (smack), 79.22 kg charas, 35.89 kg opium, 5965.15 kg doda (poppy straw) and 3259.92 kg ganja.

Meanwhile, the ANTF has registered 71 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 187 people. Moreover, the ANTF has demolished three illegal drug factories operating in the state. This includes two factories in Agra and one in Bareilly.

ANTF DIG Abdul Hameed said that so far this year, 40,905 kg of illegal drugs had been seized in eight zones of the state, while 6,013 cases had been registered against illegal drug dealers and 7,539 people had been arrested.

He said that a maximum of 10.816 kg of illegal drugs were seized in the Kanpur zone, 7,763 kg in the Varanasi zone, while 4,626 kg of illegal drugs were seized in the Meerut zone.

Similarly, 13,961 kg of illegal drugs were seized in seven police commissionerates, while 1,322 cases were registered against illegal drug dealers and 1,635 people were arrested.

The Agra police commissionerate seized the maximum of 4,460 kg of illegal drugs, while the Kanpur police commissionerate seized 3,265 kg, and Gautam Buddha Nagar police seized 2,703 kg of illegal drugs.
Lance Naik Sanjay Singh Bisht from 9 Para (Special Forces) who was martyred in an anti-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Thursday was cremated in Nainital on Friday. His body was brought in a helicopter which landed at the Sainik School, Ghodakhal helipad. From there, his body was taken in a procession will military honours with multitudes participating in the procession to pay their tributes to the martyred soldier. A large number of people accompanied the procession to his home in Ratighat. The crows were raising slogans Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Sanjay Amar Rahe. His body wrapped in the Tricolour was brought in an army vehicle to his home. Thousands of people reached his residence to pay their last respects to the brave soldier who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the motherland. From his home, the funeral procession covered a distance of about one kilometre to the banks of the Shipra river. His body was cremated with military honours.

It is pertinent to mention here that the son of Diwan Singh Bisht, Sanjay Singh Bisht was posted as a Lance Naik in the 9 Para (Special Forces). Villagers in Kalakot area in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir had informed the armed forces about terrorist activity in the jungle of Gulabgarh. Acting on the information, the armed forces began a combing operation. According to army sources, the soldiers encountered terrorists during this special operation. Bisht made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting the terrorists during this special operation.

During his cremation in Nainital, senior officers of the army, police, district administration and a large number of locals were also present along with the family members.
In anticipation of the Christmas festivities, members of Punjab Minorities Commission on Friday held a crucial meeting with the state Director General of Police (DGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla to discuss and strategize security measures for churches and associated Shobha Yatras during the upcoming Christmas celebrations.

Punjab Minorities Commission member Dr Subhash Thoba, emphasizing the universal significance of Christmas, underscored the need for heightened security across churches in the State. He expressed concerns over the safety of the Christian community, citing previous criminal incidents with malicious intent. The meeting aimed to address these security concerns and ensure a safe environment for Christmas celebrations.

He also drew attention to the unfortunate incident in Amritsar that had negatively impacted the sentiments of the Christian community. He stressed the importance of proactive security measures to prevent any untoward incidents during the festive season.

DGP Arpit Shukla, responding to the concerns raised by Dr Thoba, assured a proactive approach in ensuring the security of churches during Christmas. He pledged to address pending cases related to the Christian community promptly, demonstrating the commitment of the police department to safeguarding the interests and safety of minority communities.

The meeting was attended by key figures, including Professor Emmanuel Nahar, John Kotli, Baldev Randhawa, and others. The collaborative effort between the Punjab Minorities Commission and the police department aims to create a secure environment for Christmas celebrations, allowing the Christian community to observe the festival without apprehensions.
The Odisha Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed an unusual scene as Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra asked questions in Koshali and Industries Minister Pratap Keshari Deb replied him in the same language, creating a kind of amusement among the fellow legislators.

During the Question Hour, Mishra made a query on the State Governments initiatives in setting up of industries in his home district Balangir. The question was put in Koshali language. This appeared quite unusual for the Treasury Bench members as well as Opposition lawmakers as Mishra usually puts his question in English and Odia.

Not to lag behind, Minister Pratap Deb also took everyone by surprise as he replied in Koshali.

Adding more spice to the interaction, ruling BJDs Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujari started asking a question in Koshali.

The interaction among lawmakers in Koshali was viewed by many as an exercise by the leaders to impress the Koshali-speaking voters of western Odisha districts ahead of the 2024 elections.

Every time an election approaches, leaders from western Odisha evoke the Koshal pride issue. They allege deliberate and perennial neglect of the region by the coastal Odisha leaders and demand insertion of Keshali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

On Friday also, BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo raised the Keshali language issue and urged the lawmakers to put pressure on the Government of India to place the language in the Eighth Schedule.
Punjab Local Government Minister Balkar Singh, holding a review meeting with Department head office officials and commissioners of Municipal Corporations in Phagwara, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala at Sector-35 Municipal Bhawan, issued instructions to expedite the project completion under various schemes.

During the meeting, the Minister strongly emphasized the need for planned development in the cities, coupled with maintaining cleanliness in urban local bodies.

He reviewed the status of development works under the AMRUT Scheme of Urban Local Units, Swachh Bharat Mission, Punjab Urban Improvement Environment Program Phase 1, 2, and 3. The officials were instructed to utilize pending funds according to guidelines for development works benefiting the people.

The Minister discussed various issues related to making urban local units garbage-free, scientific waste disposal, wastewater management, pending building plans, and plot regularization.

He also urged the officials to share comprehensive information on development works related to their constituencys MLAs, ensuring alignment with residents needs. Additionally, he emphasized timely implementation of development schemes and proper fund utilization.

Minister appealed to the officials to work diligently and cooperatively, highlighting the Government's commitment to a corruption-free administration. At the same time, he warned that anyone involved in corruption would not be spared.
Peace Party, a Muslim dominated political party of eastern UP, is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

The Peace Party has come into the spotlight after it publicly stated its willingness to join hands with its ideological rival, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Dr Mohammad Ayub, who contested the last three Lok Sabha and three assembly elections in the last two decades, has now stated that the party has no hesitation in contesting along with the BJP.

He said that he felt that the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress had used the Muslim community only as a vote bank. He accused these three parties of abandoning the community after the elections.

Dr Ayub said that if given the opportunity he would not hesitate to form an alliance with the NDA. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had proved by their conduct and performance that now there was no discrimination on the lines of caste and religion.

He said for the last several decades, Muslims had been lured by the secular parties to defeat the BJP in the name of secularism. Muslims have now realised that they were being taken for a ride, he added.

Dr Ayub, a former MLA, claims to wield influence among the Pasmanda Muslims in the Purvanchal region. Pasmandas are one of the most backward sections among the Muslim community. They account for at least 85 per cent of all Muslims in the state, with Muslims in total comprising 18 per cent of Uttar Pradeshs population.

After the formation of the party in 2008 and consolidating the Muslim votes, the Peace Party had won four seats in its first assembly election in 2012. But without the support of any big parties, even during the coalition period, the Peace Party remained on the margins of UPs politics. The Peace Party is now seeking to expand its base in eastern UP, and its decision to move closer to the BJP is part of this strategy.

The BJP has, meanwhile, welcomed the change in political stance of the Peace Party. The BJP said the change of heart was the result of the impact of the welfare policies of the Yogi Adityanath and Narendra Modi governments.

BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai said that the welfare schemes by the Central and state governments gave equal treatment to every section of society, and Pasmanda Muslims had got their due share only during the BJP government.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the party contested 21 seats and got one per cent of the votes. Later, in the 2012 UP assembly election, the party contested 208 seats and won four. Now the party is hoping to forge an alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The prolonged standoff between the Punjab Government and agitating farmers demanding an increase in sugarcane prices has finally come to a resolution on Friday following a meeting between the two sides.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the breakthrough after a productive 90-minute meeting with the farmer union leaders at Chandigarh. The aftermath of the agreement included the clearance of the railway track in Jalandhar, and the main highway is expected to be unblocked.

Mann, addressing the media after the meeting, termed the meeting as successful while refraining from disclosing the State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane agreed upon. He mentioned that a subsequent meeting with sugar mill owners is scheduled for Saturday, underscoring the necessity of their cooperation for the proposed hike in SAP. Currently, six private sugar mills in Punjab contribute to 70 per cent of sugarcane crushing.

Initially, the State Government had proposed raising the SAP from Rs 380 per quintal to Rs 388 per quintal. The Chief Minister assured a proactive approach, noting that an official announcement regarding the resolution would be made after consultations with all stakeholders, including sugar mill owners. Punjab has 16 sugar mills, of which nine are government-owned and seven are private.

Addressing the ongoing issue of stubble burning and Punjab being unfairly blamed for it, Mann called upon the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting with representatives from all north Indian states to collectively find a solution. He emphasized that stubble burning is prevalent in central states like Madhya Pradesh and dismissed the singling out of Punjab.

We will make the announcement after holding meetings with other stakeholders. We specifically talked about disrupting rail and road traffic. All unions have agreed that people will not be made to suffer because of protests. The farmers will get good news in the coming days. I am not announcing it today. The government will announce it soon, said Mann.

Earlier this week, the protesting farmers had blocked the Jalandhar-New Delhi National Highway, causing significant traffic disruptions, including ambulances and commuters facing delays of up to four hours. Mann acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed relief that the farmers had agreed to lift the dharnas, ensuring that such situations would be avoided in the future.

Regarding accusations of the government succumbing to the pressure of unions, Mann clarified that it was not a war and that the farmers had promised to lift the dharnas. He reiterated the importance of avoiding situations where the public faces hardships due to protests.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the state's efforts to clear pending dues of sugarcane farmers, mentioning that government-owned mills had been settled, with only two private mills having outstanding payments. He commended Punjab for having the best SAP of Rs 380, which was recently surpassed by Haryana.

Mann also affirmed the State Government's commitment to providing the highest rates to sugarcane cultivators. He announced that the government had cleared all pending arrears of sugarcane farmers inherited from previous administrations, demonstrating a dedication to the welfare of the farming community.

The Chief Minister unequivocally expressed his disapproval of causing inconvenience to the public through protests, emphasizing that dialogue and negotiation were essential for issue resolution. He acknowledged the affirmative response from farmer unions to lift rail and road blockades for the greater public interest.

Addressing the issue of stubble burning, Mann advocated for incentivizing farmers for not burning paddy straw and promoting crop diversification. He urged the Central Government to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for alternative crops, thus supplementing farmers' income and encouraging sustainable farming practices.

The Chief Minister also cautioned the Union Government against threatening farmers to end the MSP regime on paddy. Instead, he suggested that the Union Government intervene and find a viable mechanism to stop burning paddy straw, which he termed as a problem for entire northern and central India.

Mann quipped that if Prime Minister Modi could boast of solving the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine, then addressing the issue of stubble burning in India should be comparably manageable. He underscored the need for the Prime Minister to consider this a relatively small issue in saving the environment of the country.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that Members of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party would raise the issues related to Punjab in the ensuing session of the Parliament. He reiterated his commitment to the holistic development of Punjab, emphasizing that every action of the State Government was aimed at ensuring the well-being of the people.

As the state gears up for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session, the Chief Minister hinted at an upward revision of sugarcane prices after consulting with mill owners.

In a subsequent development, protesting farmers in Jalandhar, seeking an increase in SAP for sugarcane crops, ended their dharna on highways and rail tracks after a meeting with the Chief Minister. The consensus reached in the meeting prompted the farmers to initiate the removal of blockades, allowing the resumption of vehicular movement.

Chief Minister Mann reflected on the efforts made by the State Government to clear the legacy arrears of sugarcane farmers, highlighting the unprecedented step taken for the welfare of the farming community. He acknowledged the pivotal role of Punjab in making the country self-reliant in food production and urged the Union government to refrain from abandoning the hardworking farmers.

At the same time, Mann categorically stated that his Government's doors were open for dialogue with any section of society, but he condemned the harassment of the common man under the pretext of protests. He emphasized the need to check this trend to prevent inconvenience to the public during protests.
The ongoing tussle between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Banwarilal Purohit has once again ignited a communication war on Friday. The Chief Minister, citing a recent Supreme Court directive, urged the Governor to expedite the approval of five pending bills passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. In response, Governor Purohit assured that the bills were under active consideration, and that a decision will be taken expeditiously, aligning his stance with the recent judgment of the Apex Court.

The developments came after the Supreme Court's intervention, directing the Governor Purohit to decide on the bills that were passed during the constitutionally-valid session held on June 19 and 20. The Court emphasized that the Governor's powers should not be used to thwart the normal legislative process.

In a letter addressed to the Governor, the Chief Minister Mann highlighted the passage of five crucial bills  The Sikh Gurudwara (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) (Amendment) Bill 2023; The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023; and The Punjab State Vigilance Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2022.

At the same time, he urged Governor Purohit to expedite the approval process, citing the recent validation of the June session by the Supreme Court.

Mann, in his letter to the Governor, said, It is submitted that the five Bills were passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which are pending at your end for accord of assent. Four of these Bills were passed in the sittings of the budget session held on June 19 and 20, 2023.In your earlier communications, you had stated that the validity of the special sittings of the Vidhan Sabha, was in doubt, was an impediment for clearing the Bills. The issue has been held to be valid by the Supreme Court of India in its orders pronounced in court on 10.11.2023. I would request that in keeping with the constitutional obligation and spirit of democracy, these Bills be cleared forthwith.

Governor Purohit responded to Manns letter, acknowledging that the bills were under active consideration and assuring that an appropriate decision, in accordance with the law, will be taken expeditiously.

He expressed satisfaction with the cessation of the practice of adjourning the Assembly sine die and recalling it without proroguing, attributing this positive change to the Supreme Courts intervention. The Governor also reminded the Chief Minister Mann to follow the agreed-upon procedures, as he had advised before.

This exchange of letters marks another episode in the ongoing discord between the AAP-led Punjab Government and Punjab Raj Bhavan.

The extension of the Budget session, which was adjourned sine die in March without being prorogued, has been a contentious issue between the Bhagwant Mann dispensation and the Raj Bhavan. The Supreme Court, in its judgment on November 10, declared the June session legal, emphasizing the Governor's role as an unelected head of state and warning against interference in the legislative process.

The recent back-and-forth between Chief Minister Mann and Governor Purohit carries significant implications. It eliminates the need for the Punjab Government to table the four bills that were passed during the June session. The Government, which was awaiting detailed orders, has received a boost as the Supreme Court's order has clarified the legality of the session.

The Chief Minister, addressing the media on Friday, welcomed the Supreme Court's declaration, emphasizing the legality of the June session. He reiterated the contents of the Governments letter to Governor Purohit, urging a swift decision on the pending bills.

The bills awaiting approval encompass critical legislation, such as The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, designed to establish an independent mechanism for the selection of the Director General of Police; The Sikh Gurudwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aims to diminish undue control over the broadcast rights of sacred Gurbani; the controversial Punjab University Laws (Amendment) Bill-2023, which challenges the Governor's role as chancellor, remains in limbo.

The Supreme Court's criticism of the Governor's prolonged withholding of assent underscores the need for adherence to constitutional processes. The Court highlighted that the Governor's powers shouldn't obstruct the normal course of lawmaking by state legislatures.

As the political drama continues to unfold, the two-day session of the Punjab Assembly scheduled for November 28 looms large. The pending bills, if approved, will significantly impact governance and legislative measures in the State.

Purohit had on November 15 prorogued the budget session after the Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretariat wrote to him requesting it.
A three-day 2nd SOA Literary Festival, organised by the Siksha O Anusandhan University here, got off to an exhilarating start on Friday with eminent Odia writer Dr Pratibha Ray underscoring the need to strive for an inclusive society where every citizen can contribute and flourish.

The quest for economic progress and individual success should not come at the cost of social cohesion and we must address the disparities that persist while striving for an inclusive society, Dr Ray said.

The Lit-Fest has drawn around 250 eminent writers, poets, historians, critics and artistes from across the country.

PPRACHINs Head and eminent writer Dr Gayatribala Panda announced during the inaugural ceremony that the university would launch a SOA Sahitya Samman at the national level from next year which will be presented to an eminent litterateur of the country. The award would carry a purse of Rs seven lakh.

The inaugural session was also addressed by eminent personalities including Prof Ashis Nandy, social theorist and critic.

The theme of the festival is Indian Culture, Society and Literature: Prospects and Challenges.
BUHLENI  She once called him boo but today, a 21-year-old woman claims she is living in fear of the very man she once loved.

She now alleges she wants him arrested so that she can once again live a life free from fear.

In a tale of alleged abuse and a laxity in police assistance, *Jackie, who spoke to Eswatini News, shared her traumatic experiences with her ex-boyfriend, *Jama. Jackie claims that despite repeatedly telling him that she was no longer interested in sustaining a relationship with him, he has persistently refused to accept their separation, subjecting her to a life of fear and torment. He threatened to kill me and cut my body into pieces and put them in a bucket, alleged Jackie. She alleged that they had broken up around August 2023 but that it appeared Jama, had not accepted this. Jackie said she was no longer in love with the man, The matter is highlighted at a time when Eswatini is joining the world in commemorating 16 Days against gender-based violence.

Elimination

This is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women. It runs from November 25 to December 10, 2023. Noteworthy, November 25 is the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. Jackie described her life as that of living in constant fear. She alleged that Jama once kidnapped her by forcing her into his vehicle while he was armed. She also alleged that the ex-boyfriend attempted to rape her. She said the harrowing ordeal had left her traumatised and embarrassed as she was allegedly forced into a car in full view of some of her work colleagues.

She said Jama was so confident in his alleged abuse that he was able to kidnap her in full view of the public without fearing that he could be arrested for his actions. Jackie repeatedly said the humiliation she experienced in front of her colleagues has only deepened her distress. Jackie said she had been to the Buhleni Police Post but that she did not get the assistance she required. She initially, said she had wanted the police to assist by contacting Jama and warn him against assaulting her. She said Jama was contacted and warned but that the abuse did not stop. Jackie alleged that she has since been to the Buhleni Police Post four times but no action has been taken against her ex-boyfriend.

Further, she alleged Jama even entered her house and left with her belongings. He stole my items, she said, adding that this was also a violation of her privacy. She lamented the apparent absence of privacy and support, fearing that Jamas aggression would escalate further.

Jackie said she was now feeling uncomfortable to go back to the police despite living in fear of her ex-boyfriend whom she said could potentially harm her.

Dispute

This incident is happening at a time when the country is faced with a high number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases. Recent incidents of GBV include where five women were shot, leaving four dead after a man had a dispute with one of them, who is said to have been his girlfriend. This was also followed by another incident in which a man shot dead his wife and then pulled the gun on himself. Children also recently became victims of violence when a man allegedly poisoned them.

Last Saturday, this publication reported that a 67-year-old man poisoned two children aged four and six after a dispute with their mother, whom he accused had lied to him about the paternity of the deceased children. The man is said to have the womans boyfriend and he was furious when he allegedly discovered that he was not the father of the said children.
Bowing down to the Opposition pressure, the Odisha Government on Friday sent its decision on tribal land sale to the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) for its reconsideration.

The decision was taken in a State Cabinet meeting held early in the morning before the Legislative Assembly began.

On November 14, the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had cleared a proposal that sought to revoke the current restrictions on sale of tribal lands to non-tribals.

The Opposition BJP and Congress dubbed the governments move a panic reaction to the rising discontentment of tribal communities across the State.

Since tribals are up in arms against the governments decision to allow sale of tribal lands to non-tribals, the ruling BJD has now no other option than to seek an exit route. Thats why they have sent the decision to the TAC for reconsideration. We want complete withdrawal of the decision, said Opposition Chief Whip and senior BJP lawmaker Mohan Charan Majhi.

Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said, When the Cabinet has power to withdraw its decision, why did it send it to TAC for reconsideration? This is a clearly a diversionary tactic. The Congress will not accept anything less than complete withdrawal of the decision.

Soon after giving its nod to sale of tribal lands to non-tribals, the government had issued a Press release in which it justified the decision. It said the decision was taken as per the recommendation of the TAC.

"An ST person may, with the written permission of the Sub-Collector, make a gift or exchange for public purposes or obtain a loan by security a mortgage in a public financial institution for agriculture, construction of residential house, higher studies of children, self-employment, business or establishment of small-scale industries or transfer the same in favour of a person not belonging to ST for the above purpose. But after such a transfer, he should not be landless or homestead-less. If the Sub-Collector does not grant permission, the person can appeal to the Collector within six months, whose decision shall be final," the Press release said.

The Orissa Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Amendment Regulation, 2000 which got assent of the President of India on September 4, 2002, clearly forbids sale of tribal lands to non-tribals. It also restricts that mortgage of tribal lands only to public financial institutes.

The Opposition maintains that the BJD has hatched a "conspiracy" to facilitate tribal land grabbing by affluent non-tribals and corporate entities.

Sensing that a strong discontentment is shimmering in the scheduled areas, Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi on November 17 had declared that the decision has been put on hold.
Union Bank of India, Ranchi organized 105th Foundation Day Program on 24th November 2023 here on Friday. Union Bank of India staff members, retired staff members, customers and their family members attended the programme. The programme was formally started by lighting of the lamp by the chief guest of the programme, Padma Shri recipient Ashok Bhagat, Zonal Head Baij Nath Singh, Deputy Zonal Head Vijay Kumar Roy and Deputy Zonal Head Alok Kumar and Regional Head Madam Sonalika.

On this occasion, many cultural programmes were organized and the Managing Director and CEO of the Bank, Mani Manimekhalai, addressed the function online to all the stakeholders, customers, staff members and their family members and greeted the gathering and delivered hearty greetings on the 105th Foundation Day. Five new products (Udaan, ICCW, Uni Pay Plus, Kisan Tatkal and Swanidhi) were also launched by the MD and CEO.

As the Chief Guest of the programme, social worker and Padma Shri awardee Ashok Bhagat congratulated all the staff members of Union Bank on their Foundation Day and shared the golden history and achievements of 105 years with the distinguished guests and staff members present there. On this occasion, Zonal Head Baijnath Singh heartily congratulated all the staff members, retired staff members, customers, the family members and expressed his gratitude to all the customers while presenting the bank's development journey and facts and figures pertaining to the development journey of the Bank. At the end of the program, a vote of thanks was proposed by Sonalika, Regional Head, Ranchi.
With the objective of enhancing the highway evaluation process, the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has decided to upgrade its mobile app.

This upgrade aims to facilitate the inspection of ongoing development projects on highways connected to industrial corridors in the state. The app will be upgraded and equipped with modern facilities.

The software, developed by Uttar Pradesh Electronics Corporation Limited (UPECL), is currently being utilised by UPEIDA and the responsibility for upgrading it will be handed over to a service provider agency.

In this process, through the Request for Proposal (RFP) medium, the selection of a service provider agency will be determined through the e-bidding process among the empanelled agencies in UPECL.

While upgrading the mobile app, the service provider agency will incorporate several features to assist in the evaluation and settlement of issues related to the ongoing activities on the expressway.

The upgraded mobile app will be equipped with various advanced features. It will include a database of highways falling under the jurisdiction of UPEIDA. Additionally, it will maintain a record of the work carried out by the companies that secured contracts during the annual contract period for evaluation of the ongoing construction and development works on all these highways.

Further, the app will include contact details of officials and individuals, which will help in facilitating communication with them and fixing accountability. This will not only enhance the evaluation process but also expedite the dispute resolution process, ensuring a precise assessment of the real status of all construction projects and providing momentum to their progress.

At present, UPEIDA is working rapidly to complete various works on the routes connecting expressways and industrial corridors across the state and with the advanced features of the mobile app, this process will further speed up.

With the objective of constantly upgrading the facilities, UPEIDA has decided to provide the facility of six advanced high-roof ambulances with advanced life support systems. These ambulances will be initially leased for a period of one year.

Additionally, the construction process has commenced for a four-lane connecting road in Bhatgaon, located in Sarojininagar, Lucknow, under the defence industrial corridor. The work has also started for various projects like the repair work of the airstrip for aircraft landing on the Purvanchal Expressway, the completion of CNG works in the Jhansi node, and the construction of reservoirs in Ghatampur, Kanpur, under the defence industrial corridor.

The development work for the wayside amenities along the Bundelkhand, Purvanchal and Gorakhpur Link Expressways has begun. This includes the development of emergency services and various civic amenities for the benefit of commuters traveling on these expressways.
Ram Lalla is going to be installed in his own temple on January 22, after 500 years. Prior to this historic occasion, the work of providing nutritious meals, on the lines of mid-day meals, to children aged 3 to 6 years in the state began from Ayodhya, signifying an auspicious beginning.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme at the Composite School located at the police lines, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that well-nourished and healthy children would become the pillars of a strong India.

He also laid the foundation stone of 3,401 Anganwadi centres in 35 districts at a cost of Rs 403 crore. Additionally, he inaugurated a transit hostel for police personnel in Ayodhya reserve police lines.

In his address, the chief minister highlighted that the initiative to provide hot meals with diverse menus on different days, following the model of the Mid-Day Meal, would progress with the mutual coordination of various departments.

Drawing attention to the successful eradication of encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister stated that due to inter-departmental coordination, the government was able to control within four years the disease which claimed the lives of 50,000 children in 40 years.

Therefore, it becomes essential that the work on the schemes be done through inter-departmental coordination, which can lead to better outcomes, he said.

The chief minister pointed out that there are 1.90 lakh Anganwadi centres operating in the state, with more than two crore beneficiaries registered. These centres provide six types of services. For the first time in the state, the auspicious work of providing hot cooked meals to 80 lakh children aged 3 to 6 years is being started.

Addressing the Anganwadi workers and helpers present at the programme, the chief minister said, Children are the form of God. You are fortunate because, like Yashoda Ma in the Dwapara Yuga, who nurtured Krishna in his childhood, you are serving and taking responsibility for the nourishment and health of hundreds of kanhas, contributing to the basis of a strong India. It is your fortune that you have got this opportunity.

The chief minister said that there were many questions about nutrition schemes in the past. However, he added, significant improvements have been made in the last 6-7 years. There is improvement in the levels of anemia among children, and notable progress has been observed in cases of underweight, height, and overall weight. There has also been a reduction in the infant mortality rate.

He further said that there was still room for further improvement, and continuous efforts were required. Healthy children are not only the responsibility of the Women and Child Development Department, but the Panchayati Raj and Urban Development departments should also be involved in it, he added.

Prior to this, the chief minister visited the classrooms of the Composite School at the police lines, interacted with the children, and took information about their education and school uniforms. He then served food to the schoolchildren.

During the programme, Chief Minister Yogi watched a short film related to the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme in Anganwadi centres and distributed Poshan bhi Padhai bhi kits to Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Additionally, the chief minister distributed Shree Anna nutrition plates to the children of Anganwadi centres.

On this occasion, Women Welfare, Child Development and Nutrition Development Minister Baby Rani Maurya, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh, Minister of State Pratibha Shukla, MP Lallu Singh, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, district panchayat chairperson Roli Singh, MLAs Ved Prakash Gupta, Ramchandra Yadav and Amit Singh, Principal Secretary (Women and Child Development) Veena Kumari Meena and advisor to the chief minister Awanish Awasthi were present.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated two buildings with 12 floors each for the residence of police officers in Ayodhya.

He said that high-quality buildings were being constructed for police officers in all police lines across the state.

He said it was the priority of the government to construct good barracks for the police personnel to live in all the police stations. Soon, no police officer will be compelled to stay in dilapidated barracks. The government is committed to providing the best facilities to police personnel, he said.
With the new Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 2023 coming into force, the legislators will no longer be allowed to carry mobile phones, flags, banners, posters and placards inside the Vidhan Sabha during the winter session set to start on November 28.

The Yogi Adityanath governments commitment to prioritise women empowerment will be seen in the assembly as well. Priority will be given to women members to speak during the session.

With the winter session of the UP assembly commencing here from Tuesday, the clamour to allow members to carry their mobile phones in the House is growing.

The bar on mobile phones in the House is part of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 2023 that the state assembly adopted during the monsoon session in August this year. It also bars display of flags or any other displayable items.

For now, the state legislative assembly has not yet made any arrangements for safe deposit of mobile phones outside the Vidhan Sabha.

UP Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana asserted, The new rule book of the House will be enforced now and the winter session of the House will be conducted under the provisions of the new rules. The new rules bar the members from carrying mobile phones inside the House.

Those aware of the development pointed out that the new rules have been introduced to enforce discipline in the House. Earlier this year, a Samajwadi Party MLA was found making live telecast of House proceedings on Facebook, inviting the ire of Speaker Satish Mahana, who asked the legislator to leave the House immediately.

An official of the assembly secretariat said a member also used the computer tablet, which is fixed on seats of all the lawmakers, to play cards or video games and such activities may create a bad impression about the state legislature.

The members, mainly from the opposition, display flags, banners and placards carrying slogans to register their protest during the proceedings of the house.

Justifying the demand to allow the members to carry their mobile phones in the House, SP chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey said, We put our mobile phones in silent mode inside the House. We will request the speaker to allow the mobiles to be in silent mode. We, as members of the House, cannot afford to disconnect from the people of our constituency.

He added, If any person in our constituency needs immediate attention or admission to a hospital, we have to help him or her. We will request the speaker to either allow mobile phones inside the House or provide a private secretary to attend to the mobile phone when the House is in session. Such a private secretary should be allowed to enter the House to inform the members about any urgent calls.

Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra said mobile phones were not allowed inside the House earlier too.

We will, however, request the speaker to allow mobile phones in the House subject to some restrictions. This is needed as a public representative must remain accessible to the people in case of any emergency, Mishra said.

Other rules incorporated in the new rule book bar the members from smoking, tearing any document and talking loudly in the lobbies of the House. No member is expected to stand or sit showing his back to the speaker. The members are expected not to go to the speaker (chair) themselves. They, if necessary, will be able to send a slip to the speaker through an officer of the House.

The new rule book has been framed after nearly 65 years to incorporate the technical changes. Change has been necessitated following the use of electronic devices to implement the National e-Vidhan Application to make proceedings of the House paperless. When the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly were framed in 1958, there was no television in India. UP assembly has been telecasting its proceedings live for some years now.

The first day of the winter session of UP legislature will begin with messages of condolences for the current and former members of the House who have passed away.

On November 29, official proceedings in the session will commence in the first half, including the tabling of ordinances, notifications, rules, etc. Simultaneously, the introduction of bills will also take place.

After 12:30 pm, the presentation of demands for supplementary grants for the financial year 2023-24 and other legislative tasks will be undertaken.

Moreover, supplementary grants for the financial year 2023-24 will be discussed on November 30, the third day of the session. There will be consideration and voting on the demands of the members.

Additionally, the Appropriation Bill will be introduced with the permission of the House. Alongside this, other legislative tasks will be addressed. On the last day of the winter session on December 1, legislative activities will be concluded.
In an alleged case of honour killing, the body of a lover was found hanging at his girlfriends house in Unnao district.

The incident has created a stir in the area with hundreds of crowds gathered outside the house demanding action against the accused.

Reports said that Deepak, son of Ramprasad, resident of Baksikheda village of Hasanganj Kotwali area, was having an affair with a girl, Pramika, from his neighbourhood. The girls family was continuously opposing their relationship and there were disputes between the two families on a regular basis.

On the complaint of Pramika's family, Deepak had also gone to jail on molestation charges. On Friday afternoon, when Deepaks body was found hanging in a room of the girls house, there was a stir and a crowd of hundreds gathered at the spot. On getting the information, the police reached the spot and collected evidence before sending the body for post-mortem.

The father of the deceased has accused the girls family for murder, claiming that they killed his son and later hanged the body to make it a case of suicide.

Circle officer, City, Ashutosh Kumar said that the body was sent for post-mortem and they were waiting for the report before heading with the investigation.

Meanwhile, a Dalit youth was stabbed to death in a dispute over allegedly commenting on Facebook at Mudadih Tiraha in Sahatwar police station area of Ballia district. Circle officer, Bansdih, Shiv Narayan Vais said that Dipu Paswan (21), a resident of Adhaila village, was seriously injured in a knife attack at Mudadih intersection of Sahatwar police station area on Saturday.

He said that after the incident, the injured youth was taken to the Community Health Centre in Revati, where, after giving first aid, the doctors referred him to the district hospital, but Deepu succumbed to injuries on the way. The police have sent the body for post-mortem.

According to the police, Deepu was returning home after attending a Tilak programme when he got into an altercation with the attackers at Mudadih intersection.

During this the attackers attacked him with a knife. A case has been registered against unknown persons on the complaint of the deceaseds mother, Shubhawati Devi. He said that during the investigation of the case, the fact came to light that the deceased Deepu had a dispute
Vivek Ramaswamys political narrative revolves around his aspiration for the American Presidency. Advocating anti-woke sentiments, he challenges the prevailing elitist culture, distinguishing himself as an entrepreneurial outsider. His stance on issues like immigration, Ukraine, and the Israel-Palestine conflict showcases a pragmatic approach, emphasising the need for strategic balance and national interest.

If all the scenarios align favorably for him, it can be supposed, in the context of the US elections, that individuals like Vivek Ramaswamy should be elected as the most powerful person on Earth-namely, to the American Presidency. He is young, energetic, and an Ivy League product, with his book Vivek Woke Inc serving as a draw similar to the MAGA credo of Donald Trump. However, it remains uncertain how much financial support he can amass for his election spending kitty. Another Republican aspirant, De Santis, uses the word Woke, but candidate Vivek brandishes his intellect against style, fads, and woke leftism.

The core element of what Vivek stands for is anti-elitism, aligning with his credo of being an entrepreneur and an outlandish outsider. This stance makes him a favourite after the candidature of Trump. Like Trump at the beginning of his first presidential campaign, Vivek postulates the still-hazy tenets of anti-elitism. In this regard, white-collar intellectualism of the armchair variant and the related cannibalistic influence of the corporate are criticised, ridiculed, challenged, and avidly propagated against by candidate Trump. Vivek similarly emphasises this anti-elitist perspective but does not play to the confetti-clad gallery as much as the big-speaking but still effective former President, Trump.

Woke is a term that has originated from African American Vernacular English, signifying a state of awareness against injustice, racial discrimination, and other societal, national, and political biases, including issues related to sexism and LGBT rights. It gained prominence, particularly in political and ideological discourse, in the 2010s-a period during which candidate Vivek was navigating the intellectual, political, and academic landscape of the Ivy League in the United States.

According to Connor Murrays article in Forbes, Woke is now widely recognised as a negative political buzzword, often used to criticise anything perceived as too liberal or progressive. This includes brands that support Pride Month, the upcoming Little Mermaid live-action film, and the inclusion of race-related topics in school curricula. However, the word has a lengthy history, originally conveying an awareness of racially motivated threats.

Vivek also electorally militates against woke Leftism, wherein he adopts a rebellious course of action and proposes policy formulations aligned with a modern Republican entrepreneur-ideologue. Vivek excitingly defines his anti-woke stance, eschewing forced respect and acceptability for a condition where a US university sophomore wakes up to imagined or real racial and sexual diatribes. In this narrative, a suffering minority is expected to be part of the collective disturbance in the human and national psyche.

Vivek asserts in his writing the need to be aware of the Eureka movement of wokism, as it aims to usurp the hierarchy of accepted systemic mores and seeks to turn it topsy-turvy.

It is this modern-day entrepreneurial revolutionary zeal that positions Candidate Viveks presidential campaign and his entire candidature at the electoral center stage. Of course, his Indian origins bring him closer to the Indian political and societal imagination.

The American national daily, The New York Times, recently reported that Ramaswamy himself owns valuable investments in many companies that have embraced environmental, social, and governance principles, known as E.S.G.  the kinds of woke corporate practices he decries  according to a financial disclosure filed with the Federal Election Commission that was released on Friday.

Most of the corporations in which Vivek holds a stake are well-known names and prove instrumental in popularising his candidacy for the American Presidency. Some of these corporations, particularly in the biotech industry, have been at the forefront of societal, human security, and economic-environmental causes in the American business landscape.

Candidate Vivek holds investments in companies such as Lockheed Martin, Home Depot, Microsoft, and Waste Management, with many of them aligning with ESG objectives and principles. This, in turn, addresses the perceived gaps in Viveks campaign for the American Presidency.

Candidate Vivek has a slightly different take on the Ukraine war, contending that Putin is bad does not mean that Ukraine is good. He further posits that the United States establishment need not provide monetary and weapons assistance to the beleaguered Zelensky in Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine has banned eleven political outfits in Kyiv, and all television broadcasters have been conglomerated into one state-controlled channel and TV station.

Additionally, endemic corruption has acted as a bane for the Ukrainian nation. Doubts about the national loyalty of the Russian-speaking Donbas region in Ukraine persist, as it has never identified with Kyiv since the conflict broke out, and even before the outset of the war.

Business Today reports that Ramaswamy, through his speeches, has also explained what he will do to tackle the crisis and not let Russia fall into Chinas lap. In an interview with Fox News, the American entrepreneur-turned-politician said if elected as US President, he would propose freezing the current lines of control between Ukraine and Russia, making a firm commitment that NATO will not admit Ukraine, and lifting sanctions. In return, he stated that Russia would have to exit its military alliance with China.

Thus, overall, candidate Viveks train of thought advances the notion that Russia must be discouraged from aligning with China if the balance of power is to be sustained in global politics and in the crucial strategic interests of the United States of America.

Immigration is also an engaging matter of concern in the American political landscape. Recently, Vivek vowed to end the concept and the attendant practice of birthright citizenship if he assumes the mantle of the American Presidency. As part of his immigration policy prescriptions, he has argued that he is willing to move beyond the right side of the election theme. In his speeches and campaign statements, he insists on supporting the concept of sanctuary cities in the Southern states of the nation and advocates for the militarisation of the Southern borders. However, he intends to go a step further in the abnegation process, aiming to deprive the progeny of illegal and undocumented immigrants from South and Latino America.

Following Elon Musk, Vivek highlights the issue of illicit immigration on the US-Canada border.

Similar to the standpoint of many individuals in the United States and the wider world, candidate Vivek supports the complete annihilation of the Hamas terror organisation through the utilisation of maximum force by the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces). Still, as we impatiently await the resolution of Trumps court cases, if the legal outcome does not favour him, it could be anyone ultimately vying for the seat at the White House. Candidate Santis is also leading in numbers and stats, according to reports and polls that have finally reached us.

(The writer teaches at International Relations and International Organisations, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi)
Violent clashes broke out in central Dublin on Thursday evening, with vehicles torched and riot police attacked, after a 5-year-old girl was seriously injured in a knife attack earlier in the day that also saw a woman and two other young children hospitalized.

Irish police arrested 34 people following the stabbing of three children by an unidentified man earlier in the day.

The head of the Irish police, Commissioner Drew Harris, said one officer was seriously injured in the violence that began after news spread that a 5-year-old girl was receiving emergency medical treatment at a Dublin hospital following the attack outside a school.

Irish police said the girl was receiving emergency medical treatment in a Dublin hospital following the attack outside a school.

Soon after that announcement, at least 100 people took to the streets, some armed with metal bars and covering their faces.

Police said over 400 officers including many in riot gear, were deployed in Dublin city centre to contain the unrest, which they said was caused by a small group of thugs. A police cordon was also set up around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, and officers from the Mounted Support Unit were in nearby Grafton Street.

There were clashes with riot police as some demonstrators let off flares and fireworks, while others grabbed chairs and stools outside bars and restaurants.

A number of police vehicles and a tram were damaged during the disorder, while a bus and car were also set on fire on the citys OConnell Bridge.

Shop windows were routinely smashed and a Foot Locker store was looted. All public transport in the city  trams and buses  was suspended and many firms have urged their staff to work from home on Friday.

We have a complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology, and also then this disruptive tendency engaged in serious violence, said Irelands top police officer, Drew Harris.

Police and politicians called for calm and warned against misinformation over the attack earlier in the day.

The scenes we are witnessing this evening in our city centre cannot and will not be tolerated, said Justice Minister Helen McEntee. A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc.

Earlier, police said a man in his 50s, who also was seriously injured, is a person of interest in their investigation. No other details about his identity were revealed.

At a press briefing in the evening, Harris was asked about a potential terrorist link, and he didnt rule it out.

I have never ruled out any possible motive for this attack ... all lines of inquiry are open to determine the motive for this attack, he said.

That appeared to be a slight change in stance from earlier, when Superintendent Liam Geraghty said police were keeping an open mind in terms of the investigation but were satisfied there is no terrorist link.

A woman in her 30s also suffered serious injuries during the knife attack shortly after 1:30 pm. The two other children, a 5-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, sustained less serious injuries.

Geraghty said at a media briefing that preliminary indications are that a man attacked a number of people on Parnell Square East. He said that police believe that it was a standalone incident, not necessarily connected to any wider issues that are ongoing in the country or in the city, and we need to identify the exact reasons for that happening.
Corteva (NYSE:CTVA  Free Report) had its price objective reduced by Roth Mkm from $82.00 to $63.00 in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on CTVA. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Corteva from $80.00 to $60.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Redburn Partners cut Corteva from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on Corteva from $66.00 to $62.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $74.00 price objective on shares of Corteva in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Barclays cut Corteva from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $66.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Corteva presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $65.32.

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Corteva Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:CTVA opened at $46.70 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.92, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.80. Corteva has a 12-month low of $43.22 and a 12-month high of $67.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09.

Corteva (NYSE:CTVA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 8th. The company reported ($0.23) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.63 billion. Corteva had a return on equity of 7.47% and a net margin of 5.38%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.12) earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Corteva will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Corteva Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.37%. Cortevas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.23%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Corteva

In other Corteva news, EVP Robert D. King purchased 640 shares of Corteva stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $46.77 per share, for a total transaction of $29,932.80. Following the completion of the acquisition, the executive vice president now owns 59,701 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,792,215.77. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CFO David J. Anderson bought 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $52.97 per share, with a total value of $105,940.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 65,308 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,459,364.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Robert D. King acquired 640 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $46.77 per share, with a total value of $29,932.80. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 59,701 shares in the company, valued at $2,792,215.77. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 2,990 shares of company stock worth $151,066 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Corteva

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in shares of Corteva by 93,588.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 322,957,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,505,438,000 after buying an additional 322,612,318 shares during the period. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Corteva by 5.8% in the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 38,895,669 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,228,722,000 after purchasing an additional 2,148,207 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Corteva by 1.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,988,480 shares of the companys stock valued at $856,916,000 after purchasing an additional 261,656 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Corteva by 2.7% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 12,505,783 shares of the companys stock worth $639,796,000 after acquiring an additional 327,321 shares during the period. Finally, Independent Franchise Partners LLP grew its position in Corteva by 38.1% in the second quarter. Independent Franchise Partners LLP now owns 11,292,296 shares of the companys stock worth $647,049,000 after acquiring an additional 3,115,825 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.56% of the companys stock.

Corteva Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Corteva, Inc operates in the agriculture business. It operates through two segments, Seed and Crop Protection. The Seed segment develops and supplies advanced germplasm and traits that produce optimum yield for farms. It offers trait technologies that enhance resistance to weather, disease, insects, and herbicides used to control weeds, as well as food and nutritional characteristics.

Further Reading

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS  Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock.

Credit Suisse Group Price Performance

Credit Suisse Group stock opened at $0.89 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $2.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.27. The firms fifty day moving average is $0.89 and its 200 day moving average is $0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79. Credit Suisse Group has a 52-week low of $0.82 and a 52-week high of $6.36.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Credit Suisse Group

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CS. US Bancorp DE raised its stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 8.9% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 50,292 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $395,000 after acquiring an additional 4,130 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group in the first quarter valued at $135,000. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 162.0% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 539,102 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,232,000 after acquiring an additional 333,335 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 3.9% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,131,757 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $40,284,000 after purchasing an additional 192,576 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 1.8% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 274,767 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,179,000 after purchasing an additional 4,883 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.20% of the companys stock.

About Credit Suisse Group

Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas.

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MBABANE  Russell Mmiso Dlamini could be counted as one of the countrys prime ministers (PM) who issued a statement within a month of his appointment.

It took him 20 days to issue what Alpheous Nxumalo, in an interview, described as a policy statement. Russells predecessor, Cleopas Dlamini, issued his statement 12 days after his appointment by His Majesty the King Mswati III. Former PMs Ambrose Dlamini and Cleopas alongside the incumbent Russell have maintained Sibusiso Barnabas Dlaminis record of issuing the statement within a month of royal appointment. After his appointment, Russell had to assist the King in the appointment of the ministers. He also had to chair the meeting in which parliamentarians introduced themselves to the King.

He also had honour the End of the Year Prayer Service hosted by His Majesty the King at Mandvulo Grand Hall at Lozitha Palace.

In an interview, Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary, said the prime ministers policy statement would guide the Cabinet programme of action for the next five years.

Policy

Experts define a policy statement as an organisation-level document that prescribes acceptable methods or behaviours. Essentially, a policy is simply the way things are done within an organisation or Cabinet in a political set-up. They say policies are different from procedures and standard operating procedures because they are applicable to an entire organisation and are primarily intended to set direction. Procedures and standard operating procedures, on the other hand, typically include very specific instructions used to accomplish defined tasks.

For instance, instead of referring to a specific individual in a policy statement, position titles could be used. The experts go on to explain that good policies are written in active voice and are easily understood. Short sentences avoid the use of jargon or acronyms, and using clear terms like must, required, recommended, and should make policy readable and easier to use. They are written in a very clear and formal style, such as; all journalists are required to write five stories per day to avoid shortage of news material. Other experts say a policy statement is a declaration of a governments political activities, plans and intentions relating to a concrete cause or, at the assumption of office, an entire legislative season.

In his policy statement, the PM touched on key performance indicators, that might inform his administrations strategic plan. He committed himself to the following programmes:

Formulation and implementation of a short to medium-term plan anchored on the Sibaya submissions;

Development of a long term plan, grand plan. The Grand plan will seek to modernise the country based on the Tinkhundla System as a vehicle for development;

The Tinkhundla Administration and Development will be strengthened institutionally.

Long term plan to incorporate countrys socio-economic development model and the investment models will be at the centre of governments plans;

Transformation of both economic and social outlook through investment attraction and job creation.

Create an environment that will attract investment, foster exponential growth, and nurture innovation ultimately ensuring sustainable job opportunities and well-being for all;

Government to work towards a society where every citizen, including persons with disabilities, women and children as well as the elderly feel safe and valued.

Government to improve the education curricula to reflect our African values and instill a winning mindset.

Strengthening of vocational institutions curricula with business acumen.

Government to strengthen the healthcare system by finding a lasting solution to the current crisis and by strategically increasing the focus on preventive health.

Government will give due attention to social services on which the poor and vulnerable depend;

Agricultures potential will be harnessed to employ many of the unemployed youth. This will be through large projects of commercialisation, mechanisation and building strong market systems that offer attractive returns to individual farmers.

Government to ensure that agricultural systems are adapted to climate change while fostering resilience and ensuring food security and sovereignty;

Every sector and government department will be integrated into the plan to attain the desired growth.

ICT, tourism, mining and manufacturing, among other important sectors, will receive appropriate attention and investment from government;

Infrastructure development plans will be ambitious and reflective of the mindset of thinking big.

With a majority of people predicted to live in cities, the future is urban, and it is critical that government builds resilient infrastructure that is long lasting.

Government will endeavor to complete all outstanding projects and ensure that new projects are cost effective, timeously completed, and responsive to the needs of the people. As part of the global community, Eswatini will continue to consider important global issues such as attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), climate change initiatives, and disaster risk reduction. The Kingdom of Eswatini is forearmed and must not be caught off-guard by any hazardous event, whether natural or man-made, such as the recent upheavals and COVID-19; The PMs administration will fight corruption by ensuring that the public sector acts in the interest of the people, by being transparent and accountable, and by exposing corrupt activities. Capacity of all government institutions that have a role in fighting and eradicating corruption will be significantly strengthened.

Government will promote the rule of law and strengthen the capacity of police services to enforce the laws of the country;

Since the need to inculcate a culture of excellence reverberated throughout Sibaya submissions, the roadmap for development and economic growth shall, therefore, be underpinned by a demonstration of excellence;

Remodel public service in line with the culture of excellence to ensure efficient service delivery;

Rigorously pursue the vision of Eswatini attaining first world status and being identified a developed country.

Government will focus on a few priorities through a sustainable, and integrated approach.

It is imperative that emaSwati and the government they elected chart their own path and resist the temptation of being tossed backward and forward, spreading the budget too thinly, and doing too many things; resulting in achieving very little. A senior politician advised that the policy statement should also be made before Parliament for filing purposes and for it to be captured by the Hansard, which is also used for future reference.

Meanwhile, the incumbent PMmentioned that he would unveil the Grand plan for the government.

His predecessor, Cleopas, in his two and half years in office, used Mandvulos Post COVID-19 Kingdom of Eswatini Economic Recovery Plan  carving the path to a private sector-led economy. On the other hand, Barnabas Dlamini had ESRA I and ESRA II. ESRA means Economic and Social Review Agenda. Absalom Themba Dlamini unveiled a programme styled SPEED (Smart Programme on Economic Empowerment Development).

Through the SPEED, ATs administration intended to achieve the mission of the government within the next three to five years by implementing components that would facilitate such achievement and create opportunities for the fulfilment of the States vision.

Mitigate

The programme detailed clearly the challenge areas and suggested policies and programmes to mitigate them and further spearhead a sustainable economy, expand the private sector, improve global partnerships for national and regional development.These policies and programmes were put in place to address such issues as HIV/AIDS, poverty, unemployment and job creation, small and medium enterprise growth, good governance and corruption as well as fiscal discipline and accountability.The nation awaits Russells Grand Plan and it is not yet clear when the prime minister will unveil.
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE:CWK  Free Report) had its target price decreased by UBS Group from $11.00 to $9.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. UBS Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the company. Raymond James dropped their price target on Cushman & Wakefield from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $10.50 price target on shares of Cushman & Wakefield in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cushman & Wakefield currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.10.

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Cushman & Wakefield Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of Cushman & Wakefield stock opened at $8.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -25.12 and a beta of 1.41. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $7.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $8.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. Cushman & Wakefield has a twelve month low of $6.24 and a twelve month high of $15.63.

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE:CWK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 30th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.65 billion. Cushman & Wakefield had a positive return on equity of 12.01% and a negative net margin of 0.79%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.43 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Cushman & Wakefield will post 0.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Cushman & Wakefield

In other Cushman & Wakefield news, major shareholder Tpg Gp A, Llc sold 10,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.63, for a total transaction of $76,300,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 24,832,955 shares of the companys stock, valued at $189,475,446.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.19% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in Cushman & Wakefield by 258.8% during the 1st quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 7,049,508 shares of the companys stock worth $74,302,000 after buying an additional 5,084,634 shares during the last quarter. Rush Island Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield during the second quarter worth about $28,113,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield during the first quarter worth about $22,573,000. Capital Research Global Investors acquired a new stake in shares of Cushman & Wakefield during the first quarter worth about $38,190,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Cushman & Wakefield by 47.5% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,515,078 shares of the companys stock worth $58,126,000 after purchasing an additional 1,776,929 shares in the last quarter. 90.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Cushman & Wakefield

(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.

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Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its stake in shares of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE  Free Report) by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 268,498 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 6,402 shares during the quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Cans holdings in FirstEnergy were worth $10,488,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Scotia Capital Inc. grew its position in shares of FirstEnergy by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 16,976 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $680,000 after acquiring an additional 257 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in FirstEnergy by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,167 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $343,000 after buying an additional 257 shares during the last quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in FirstEnergy by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,126 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $355,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems boosted its holdings in FirstEnergy by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 42,947 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,720,000 after buying an additional 269 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Snowden Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in FirstEnergy by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Snowden Capital Advisors LLC now owns 13,241 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $530,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the last quarter. 82.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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FirstEnergy Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE FE opened at $37.65 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $21.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.06 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09. FirstEnergy Corp. has a 52-week low of $32.18 and a 52-week high of $43.31. The businesss 50 day moving average is $35.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.12.

FirstEnergy Increases Dividend

FirstEnergy ( NYSE:FE Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.54 billion. FirstEnergy had a return on equity of 12.93% and a net margin of 4.06%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.79 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that FirstEnergy Corp. will post 2.54 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st were given a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 6th. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.36%. This is a positive change from FirstEnergys previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. FirstEnergys dividend payout ratio is currently 205.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on FirstEnergy from $42.00 to $39.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 12th. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on FirstEnergy from $45.00 to $41.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 5th. StockNews.com upgraded FirstEnergy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 30th. TheStreet cut FirstEnergy from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on FirstEnergy from $44.00 to $41.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $40.00.

Read Our Latest Report on FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy Profile

(Free Report)

FirstEnergy Corp., through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in the United States. It operates through Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission segments. The company owns and operates coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar power generating facilities.

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Gabelli Funds LLC reduced its holdings in Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB  Free Report) by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 22,361 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,230 shares during the quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC owned 0.09% of Proto Labs worth $782,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Proto Labs in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Proto Labs during the second quarter worth about $30,000. State of Wyoming raised its position in Proto Labs by 40.0% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,505 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Proto Labs by 34.4% in the 1st quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,264 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG lifted its stake in Proto Labs by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,378 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.97% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on PRLB. Craig Hallum upgraded shares of Proto Labs from a sell rating to a hold rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $26.00 to $28.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Lake Street Capital lifted their price target on shares of Proto Labs from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Proto Labs from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $38.33.

Proto Labs Price Performance

NYSE PRLB opened at $37.08 on Friday. Proto Labs, Inc. has a 12 month low of $23.01 and a 12 month high of $39.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $28.30 and a 200-day moving average of $30.68.

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 3rd. The industrial products company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $130.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $123.08 million. Proto Labs had a negative net margin of 21.20% and a negative return on equity of 15.26%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.14 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Proto Labs, Inc. will post 0.51 earnings per share for the current year.

About Proto Labs

(Free Report)

Proto Labs, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an e-commerce digital manufacturer of custom prototypes and on-demand production parts in the worldwide. The company offers injection molding; computer numerical control machining; three-dimensional (3D) printing, which include stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct metal laser sintering, multi jet fusion, polyjet, and carbon DLS processes; and sheet metal fabrication products, including quick-turn and e-commerce-enabled custom sheet metal parts.

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Gabelli Funds LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 52,804 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $774,000. Gabelli Funds LLC owned 0.29% of Greenhill & Co., Inc. at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GHL. New York Life Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,627,000. GABELLI & Co INVESTMENT ADVISERS INC. bought a new stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the second quarter worth approximately $173,000. Gardner Lewis Asset Management L P acquired a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth approximately $4,296,000. Mint Tower Capital Management B.V. bought a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the second quarter valued at $276,000. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at $75,000. Institutional investors own 61.26% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GHL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. TheStreet lowered Greenhill & Co., Inc. from a c rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Greenhill & Co., Inc. in a research note on Saturday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.83.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE GHL opened at $14.82 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $14.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.61, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a current ratio of 1.89. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $6.14 and a twelve month high of $14.97. The stock has a market cap of $278.91 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.20 and a beta of 1.07.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 12th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.70%. Greenhill & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is -24.84%.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Company Profile

(Free Report)

Greenhill & Co, Inc, an independent investment bank, provides financial and strategic advisory services to corporations, partnerships, institutional investors, and governments worldwide. The company offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, private capital raising, and other similar transactions.

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Gabelli Funds LLC lowered its stake in shares of Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY  Free Report) by 10.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,400 shares of the companys stock after selling 600 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLCs holdings in Chewy were worth $213,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Chewy by 120.2% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 874 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the period. WASHINGTON TRUST Co purchased a new stake in shares of Chewy during the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Chewy during the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chewy by 64.1% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 491 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bartlett & Co. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chewy by 867.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 1,451 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 1,301 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.28% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Chewy

In other news, CFO Stacy Bowman sold 11,423 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.24, for a total transaction of $208,355.52. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 215,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,923,715.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 2.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Chewy Stock Performance

CHWY opened at $20.31 on Friday. Chewy, Inc. has a one year low of $16.53 and a one year high of $52.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.74 billion, a PE ratio of 184.65 and a beta of 0.96. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $18.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $27.91.

Chewy (NYSE:CHWY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 30th. The company reported ($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.03) by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.76 billion. Chewy had a return on equity of 19.61% and a net margin of 0.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Chewy in a report on Friday, September 15th. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of Chewy in a report on Thursday, October 19th. TheStreet lowered Chewy from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. UBS Group raised Chewy from a sell rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $25.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Argus raised Chewy from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $30.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and fifteen have issued 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 $36.48.

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About Chewy

(Free Report)

Chewy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the pure play e-commerce business in the United States. It provides pet food and treats, pet supplies and pet medications, and other pet-health products, as well as pet services for dogs, cats, fish, birds, small pets, horses, and reptiles through its retail Website www.chewy.com, as well as mobile applications.

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Gamco Investors INC. ET AL lifted its stake in PG&E Co. (NYSE:PCG  Free Report) by 14.4% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 34,576 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,350 shares during the quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET ALs holdings in PG&E were worth $597,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of PG&E in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in PG&E during the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in PG&E during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in PG&E by 725.8% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 768 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BOKF NA acquired a new position in PG&E during the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. 74.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

PCG has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on PG&E from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Guggenheim reduced their target price on PG&E from $21.00 to $19.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. StockNews.com raised PG&E from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on PG&E from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded PG&E from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $19.00 to $21.00 in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, PG&E currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $18.63.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Cheryl F. Campbell sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.90, for a total value of $169,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 54,153 shares in the company, valued at $915,185.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock.

PG&E Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of PCG opened at $18.00 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09. PG&E Co. has a 12 month low of $14.71 and a 12 month high of $18.19. The stocks 50 day moving average is $16.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $16.92. The firm has a market cap of $47.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93, a PEG ratio of 5.91 and a beta of 1.15.

PG&E (NYSE:PCG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The utilities provider reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.28 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $5.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.48 billion. PG&E had a net margin of 8.13% and a return on equity of 9.21%. The businesss revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.29 EPS. Analysts predict that PG&E Co. will post 1.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PG&E Company Profile

(Free Report)

PG&E Corporation, through its subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, engages in the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas to customers in northern and central California, the United States. It generates electricity using nuclear, hydroelectric, fossil fuel-fired, fuel cell, and photovoltaic sources.

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Gamco Investors INC. ET AL cut its stake in Hess Co. (NYSE:HES  Free Report) by 5.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,497 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 349 shares during the quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET ALs holdings in Hess were worth $883,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. grew its stake in shares of Hess by 3.6% in the second quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 10,100 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $1,373,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its position in Hess by 1.2% during the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 15,749 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $2,124,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLC grew its position in Hess by 5.0% during the second quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 5,376 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $731,000 after buying an additional 258 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. grew its position in Hess by 314.8% during the first quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 366,989 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $48,567,000 after buying an additional 278,511 shares during the period. Finally, Manchester Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Hess during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,323,000. 81.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Barbara J. Lowery-Yilmaz sold 24,319 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.91, for a total value of $3,815,894.29. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 113,670 shares in the company, valued at $17,835,959.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 9.93% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James restated a market perform rating on shares of Hess in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Hess from $166.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Hess in a research report on Saturday. They set a sell rating for the company. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Hess from $167.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 9th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Hess from $205.00 to $210.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $173.06.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on HES

Hess Price Performance

HES stock opened at $145.40 on Friday. Hess Co. has a one year low of $113.82 and a one year high of $167.75. The companys fifty day moving average price is $150.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $145.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.31. The company has a market capitalization of $44.66 billion, a PE ratio of 28.02 and a beta of 1.53.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.64 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.40. Hess had a net margin of 14.94% and a return on equity of 18.06%. The firm had revenue of $2.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.89 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 27.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Hess Co. will post 5.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hess Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Monday, September 18th were given a $0.4375 dividend. This represents a $1.75 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.20%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 15th. Hesss dividend payout ratio is presently 33.72%.

Hess Company Profile

(Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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Great West Life Assurance Co. Can reduced its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL  Free Report) by 3.6% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 92,839 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,423 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Cans holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises were worth $9,674,000 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 the company. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 3.3% during the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 33,138 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,438,000 after purchasing an additional 1,067 shares in the last quarter. Profund Advisors LLC lifted its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 50.1% during the second quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 5,535 shares of the companys stock valued at $574,000 after acquiring an additional 1,847 shares during the last quarter. Trust Investment Advisors purchased a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the second quarter valued at approximately $270,000. Hollencrest Capital Management lifted its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 494.2% during the second quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 309 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 257 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. purchased a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the second quarter valued at approximately $3,677,000. 75.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Down 0.5 %

RCL stock opened at $104.45 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $26.76 billion, a PE ratio of 32.64 and a beta of 2.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.90, a quick ratio of 0.17 and a current ratio of 0.19. The firms fifty day moving average is $91.89 and its 200 day moving average is $94.37. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has a one year low of $47.91 and a one year high of $112.95.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Royal Caribbean Cruises ( NYSE:RCL Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $3.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.43 by $0.42. The business had revenue of $4.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.08 billion. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a net margin of 6.98% and a return on equity of 34.59%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 39.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.26 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will post 6.59 EPS for the current year.

A number of research firms recently commented on RCL. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $137.00 to $134.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. HSBC began coverage on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a report on Monday, October 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $115.00 price target for the company. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $127.00 to $120.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, October 30th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $111.93.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Royal Caribbean Cruises

Insider Transactions at Royal Caribbean Cruises

In related news, CEO Michael W. Bayley sold 7,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $819,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 94,391 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,911,055. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Michael W. Bayley sold 7,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $819,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 94,391 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,911,055. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Laura H. Bethge sold 3,502 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.00, for a total transaction of $301,172.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,226 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,911,436. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 31,302 shares of company stock valued at $3,094,672 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 8.70% of the companys stock.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises

(Free Report)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries. As of February 13, 2023, it operated 64 ships. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

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ProShare Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Free Report) by 1.4% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 161,618 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,212 shares during the quarter. ProShare Advisors LLCs holdings in Coterra Energy were worth $4,089,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Coterra Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Coterra Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Gradient Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Coterra Energy by 1,976.2% during the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 1,308 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,245 shares during the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Coterra Energy by 302.5% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,441 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,083 shares during the period. Finally, Ceredex Value Advisors LLC bought a new position in Coterra Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.54% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 68,275 shares of Coterra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.22, for a total transaction of $1,858,445.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,152,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $85,808,110.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 68,275 shares of Coterra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.22, for a total transaction of $1,858,445.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,152,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $85,808,110.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 400,000 shares of Coterra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.60, for a total value of $10,640,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,302,392 shares in the company, valued at approximately $87,843,627.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CTRA has been the subject of several research reports. Citigroup increased their price objective on Coterra Energy from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $42.00 price objective on shares of Coterra Energy in a research report on Tuesday, September 19th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of Coterra Energy from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $25.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $31.93.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Coterra Energy

Coterra Energy Price Performance

Shares of CTRA opened at $26.77 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $20.14 billion, a PE ratio of 9.20, a PEG ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 0.34. Coterra Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $22.25 and a 12-month high of $29.89. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $27.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

Coterra Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 16th will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 15th. Coterra Energys payout ratio is 27.49%.

About Coterra Energy

(Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company primarily focuses on the Marcellus Shale with approximately 183,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

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World Conference on China Studies -- Shanghai Forum held in Shanghai

Xinhua) 15:21, November 25, 2023

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, reads out a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping and delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the World Conference on China Studies -- Shanghai Forum, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Conference on China Studies -- Shanghai Forum was held in Shanghai on Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, read out Xi's letter at the forum's opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

Chen Jining, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, also attended the ceremony and made a speech.

Featuring four parallel sub-forums, the World Conference on China Studies -- Shanghai Forum was attended by more than 400 experts, scholars and representatives of relevant parties from over 60 countries and regions.

Attendees hailed the significance of Xi's letter in guiding further exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and the development of China studies.

They also called for further efforts to advance studies on China, thus providing new ideas and inspirations for the inheritance, development and innovation of different civilizations, and contributing more wisdom to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The forum also announced that the World Association for China Studies was formally established and granted the Award for Distinguished Contribution to China Studies to awardees.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
Global demand for aluminium is set to rise by 20% to 30% over the next seven years, thus creating immense growth opportunities for the region's aluminum industries, reported SPA citing a senior minister.

"Our region is home to some of the largest aluminum production facilities globally, accounting for approximately 10% of worldwide production," said Engineer Khalid bin Saleh Al Mudaifer, the Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, while speaking at the Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal) held recently in Riyadh.

In his address, Al Mudaifer highlighted the kingdom's abundant mineral wealth, estimated at over $1.3 trillion, its robust infrastructure as well as a strong global investment presence, and a well-educated, youthful workforce.

He underscored the pivotal role of aluminum across diverse industries. while emphasising its widespread use in conventional sectors like transportation, construction, and food packaging.

He also pointed out its indispensable role in driving the global energy transition through applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, and energy storage systems.

Al Mudaifer said since the launch of Vision 2030, the kingdom has aimed to establish itself as a key global hub for metal production.

KSA possesses competitive advantages conducive to achieving this aspiration, such as favourable energy prices and a strategically advantageous geographical location, he added.

According to him, bauxite and aluminum have been classified as strategic minerals due to their crucial importance in the shift towards cleaner energy.

"Our mining strategy aims to achieve ambitious goals by 2030, including doubling the production capacity of Bauxite and aluminum by two and four times, respectively, and tripling the primary aluminum production capacity," stated the minister.

The ultimate objective is to enhance the Kingdom's ranking as one of the top 10 aluminum producers worldwide, he added.
StockNews.com downgraded shares of Compania Cervecerias Unidas (NYSE:CCU  Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Wednesday.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on CCU. Bank of America lowered Compania Cervecerias Unidas from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $20.00 to $11.70 in a report on Friday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on Compania Cervecerias Unidas from $14.80 to $12.90 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, HSBC raised Compania Cervecerias Unidas from a hold rating to a buy rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $18.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $13.76.

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Compania Cervecerias Unidas Stock Performance

Compania Cervecerias Unidas Increases Dividend

Shares of Compania Cervecerias Unidas stock opened at $12.11 on Wednesday. Compania Cervecerias Unidas has a one year low of $10.82 and a one year high of $17.74. The company has a market cap of $2.24 billion, a PE ratio of 17.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a current ratio of 2.37. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.51.

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 1st were issued a dividend of $0.1146 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 22nd. This is an increase from Compania Cervecerias Unidass previous semi-annual dividend of $0.03. This represents a dividend yield of 3.3%. Compania Cervecerias Unidass dividend payout ratio is 28.99%.

Institutional Trading of Compania Cervecerias Unidas

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Toroso Investments LLC lifted its position in Compania Cervecerias Unidas by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 20,674 shares of the companys stock valued at $260,000 after acquiring an additional 2,507 shares in the last quarter. MQS Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Compania Cervecerias Unidas during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $289,000. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Compania Cervecerias Unidas by 217.4% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,567 shares of the companys stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 3,128 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Compania Cervecerias Unidas during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $443,000. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Compania Cervecerias Unidas by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 15,102,801 shares of the companys stock worth $190,295,000 after buying an additional 193,876 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 18.24% of the companys stock.

About Compania Cervecerias Unidas

(Get Free Report)

Compania Cervecerias Unidas SA operates as a beverage company in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The company operates through three segments: Chile, International Business, and Wine. It produces and sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer under proprietary and licensed brands, as well as distributes Pernod Ricard products in non-supermarket retail stores.

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The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has announced that the Brazilian exports to the Arab region for the first 10 months of 2023, surged by 9.35% to $15.76 billion over last year's figure of $14.42 billion, while its imports from the Arab region for the same period reached $8.937 billion, reported Wam.

The volume of Brazilian exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) amounted to $2.654 billion, while those to the UAE totalled $2.543 billion.

Exports to Egypt increased to $1.889 billion, marking a significant rise from the same period last year. Similarly, exports to Qatar stood at $266 million while those to Kuwait reached $220 million.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia leads the Brazilian imports from the Arab countries, totalled $2.937 billion while the UAE follows closely behind with $998 million.

Qatars exports to Brazil stood at $605 million, while the imports from Egypt reached $439 million. Imports from Kuwait also witnessed a significant surge, amounting to $323 million.

Osmar Chohfi, President of ABCC, said: Compared to the first 10 months of 2022, the Brazilian exports and imports have surged significantly during the same period this year, which demonstrates the strong and expanding trade relations between Brazil and the Arab world.

At ABCC, we relentlessly strive to amplify Brazilian exports to the Arab region by implementing several strategic initiatives and making dedicated efforts. These positive trade figures demonstrate our dedication to developing solid bilateral relations with Arab nations.

The ABCC report further stated that the export of beef and chicken meat from Brazil to Arab countries demonstrated robust performance from January to October 2023. The beef exports from Brazil to the Arab world stood at $866.68 million with UAE leading the list at $243.69 million. In addition, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Lebanon showcased a stronger demand for Brazilian beef, contributing $216.25 million, $174.74 million, $59.52 million and $46.41 million, respectively.

Furthermore, exports of poultry also witnessed a major increase, totalling an impressive $2.755 billion. With $742.93 million, the UAE emerged as the top importer, followed by the KSA, which amounted to $699.78 million. Kuwait Qatar, and Egypt also recorded a significant increase in the exports of poultry from Brazil, which was valued at $180.49 million, $133.84 million, and $112.48 million, respectively.

The notable increase in the exports and imports between Brazil and the Arab world indicates the growing economic alliance and emphasises the remarkable resilience and adaptability of both sides in the face of numerous global challenges.
Dar Es Salam, Nov 25 (UNI) Somalia on Friday officially became the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC) after the EAC heads of state summit endorsed its decade-long application to join the regional bloc.

The EAC leaders endorsed Somalia's membership into the bloc during the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha.

Somalia joins Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

"I am overjoyed beyond expression as today we have opened a new chapter as a new member of the EAC," said President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Mohamud thanked the EAC heads of state for the trust they extended to Somalia to approve its application to join the bloc, saying: "Let's work together for the prosperity of the regional bloc and the world in general."

Peter Mathuki, the EAC secretary general, said the entry of Somalia will massively boost the EAC's geographical reach, boost its efforts to improve its multilateral and fiscal standing, and the exploitation of Somalia's blue economy resources such as fish, boosting the regional economy.

During the summit, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye handed over the chairmanship of the EAC to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

UNI/XINHUA GNK
Voters go through the election procedures to cast their votes for the Rajasthan Assembly election, in Pushkar, Saturday. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)

Jaipur: People turned up at polling booths in Jaipur in large numbers as voting for the Rajasthan assembly elections began Saturday morning. Many voters, youngsters as well as the elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am when the polling began.

"I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar.

In other constituencies also, people showed enthusiasm and came out for voting in large numbers.

"This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said.

A voter in Jamwaramgarh, who also reached the polling booth before 7 am, said people in rural areas would cast their votes for development.

"I have come early in the morning so that I do not have to stand in the queue later. As far as the trend goes, I believe people in this rural area will vote for development. The one who works for development will get the vote," he said.

BJP candidate from Jaipur's Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency Diya Kumari exercised her franchise in the morning and said people should vote in large numbers.

"Casting vote is very important and all voters should exercise their franchise," the Rajsamand MP told reporters.

She also said that the BJP will get the mandate.

Polling in 199 out of 200 assembly constituencies began at 7 am Saturday. Elections in Karanpur in Sriganganagar have been postponed due to the demise of the Congress candidate.

The votes will be counted on December 3.

#RajasthanAssemblyElection2023 | Union Minister & BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with his family after casting vote in Jodhpur pic.twitter.com/vzC4nMYaLA  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023
57 lakh farmers owning below 5 acres to get Rs 4,400cr Rythu Bandhu on Nov.28

Hyderabad: About 57 lakh farmers will get their Rythu Bandhu funds on November 28, just two days before the month-end Assembly elections on Thursday. Tuesday the only day that is open to hand over the pre-poll bonanza after the Election Commission gave permission to the state government to pay out the funds.

Incidentally, in 2018, the government had transferred the funds in the first week of December, days ahead of the December 7 polls. At other times, the amount for the rabi season is given in January.

Official sources said that the state government has taken a decision to disburse Rythu Bandhu in the accounts of farmers holding lands up to 5 acres each. While there are over 70 lakh farmers who are registered on the Dharani portal and are eligible for Rythu Bandhu, 57 lakh farmers own less than five acres each.

Due to financial constraints in mobilising Rs 7,500 crore at one go, the government wants to cover the maximum number of landowning farmers with Rs 4,400 crore available at its disposal.

The EC gave the government four days for disbursal. However, the banks are into a long weekend holiday for the fourth Saturday, Sunday and Guru Nanak Jayanti on Monday, and the Election Commission did not allow disbursal on November 29 and 30 due to the 48-hour silence period. That left the government with November 28, till 5 pm.

Usually, the government begins transfer of Rythu Bandhu into the accounts of farmers owning up to one acre on Day-1. Subsequently, it increases the land extent by an acre every day until all the 70 lakh farmers are covered. Given the urgency this time, the government has worked out a way to reach all farmers owning up to 5 acres at one go.

The government credits Rythu Bandhu for the rabi season in January, but, keeping in view the Assembly elections, the government had sought to advance it.
We promised that we will end triple talaq and we did it. We said that Article 370 will be abolished, reservation for women, One Rank One Pension for soldiers and we fulfilled it. We promised to build Ram Temple and this is also being done. In Telangana, we promised to build Turmeric Board and it has been completed by the BJP government," he said. PTI

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the BRS and the Congress, declaring that their "public fights" during the ongoing Telangana Assembly election campaign were nothing more than "dramabaazi".

Stressing that the Congress and the BRS were cut from the same cloth, and were together, Modi said, "If the people blunder into giving the Congress a chance, then you will get a carbon copy of the BRS government."

Modi, speaking at public meetings in Kamareddy  where Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and state Congress president A. Revanth Reddy are the principal contestants and Maheshwaram constituencies, pummelled the BRS and the Congress on the theme of their togetherness. The Prime Minister said he was confident that the people had seen through the nexus between the two parties and were ready to "reject the BRS Nizamshahi, and Congress Sultanshahi attitudes."

Modi will stay overnight in Hyderabad and campaign in Telangana for two more days for the November 30 elections. He is also scheduled travel to Tirumala on Sunday for darshan of Lord Venkateswara in the temple down and return here on Monday.

Modi said, "The people of Telangana are exasperated with nine years of BRS rule and want to be freed of its control, and also that of the Congress which ruled this region for decades but neglected it."

The two parties, he said, had changed their names with the TRS becoming the BRS and the UPA becoming the I.N.D.I. Alliance. "People understand these tricks and changing names doesnt erase their histories of vote bank politics, corruption," he said.

Modi said that the BRS-Congress ties began with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao starting his political career in the Congress and being made a Union Cabinet minister by that party. "After Telangana was formed, KCR met Congress leaders. He supported the Congress in the President and Vice-President elections, and during the no-confidence motion against our government," he said.

"More proof that the BRS and the Congress are two sides of the same coin is in Maheshwaram. You elected a Congress candidate who joined the BRS and became a minister. This means, every vote to Congress will be a vote for the BRS," Modi said.

It was only the BJP, with the 'Modi guarantee' that could take Telangana and its people to the heights they aspired to, and deserved. "Elect BJP in the coming elections, bring a double-engine sarkar and I guarantee that this will happen. To remove the BRS from power and to make your dreams come true, your most trusted partner is the BJP," he declared.

"The BRS and Congress chiefs are contesting from Kamareddy which shows how much they fear losing from their own constituencies. Kamareddy will teach both parties a lesson that their parivarvaad, brashtachar, and thushtikaran (dynasty, corruption and appeasement) politics will be rejected," Modi said.

He also said the BJP will keep its promise of making a leader from the Backward Classes communities the Chief Minister, unlike Rao who said that he would make a Dalit will be made the CM but grabbed the post.

"The BJP stands for social justice and we have speeded up steps to undo the decades of injustice to the Madiga community. Yesterday in Delhi I held a meeting with officials to speed up the process of categorisation," said Modi who during his previous visit had announced the formation of a committee to study the sub-categorisation of reservations for the Scheduled Castes communities.

In Telangana, the BJP government at the Centre through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi disbursed Rs 3.25 lakh crores to 40 lakh farmers of whom 1.5 lakh are in Kamareddy district alone, Modi said.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed confidence that the Congress retain power in Rajasthan (ANI)

Jaipur: Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed confidence that the Congress retain power in Rajasthan, where assembly elections are underway for 199 seats on Saturday. "I am confident that the Congress will repeat the government," Pilot told PTI before casting his vote in Jaipur.

He said the Congress focused its election campaign on the issues of the people and claimed that the BJP has been exposed.

#WATCH | Congress leader Sachin Pilot after casting his vote in Jaipur says, "I hope people will use their right to vote today. I hope the public will make the right decision by looking at our vision for the state for the next 5 years. I think Congress will form the government pic.twitter.com/c4rxZS50ex  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Polling in 199 out of the 200 assembly constituencies began at 7 am. Elections in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district have been postponed following the death of the Congress candidate.
Rahul Gandhi speaks during an election rally at Vemulawada in Adilabad district (Photo by arrangement)

ADILABAD: AICC former president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the BRS, the BJP and the MIM had colluded against the Congress for the Assembly elections, saying "Modiji Ke Do Yaar Owaisi Aur KCR."

He said that it was the Congress that had developed the IT sector in Hyderabad and the international airport at Shamshabad, and stood with the people of Telangana, respecting their aspirations, when they were agitating for statehood.

The Congress former president was addressing election meetings in Bodhan, Adilabad and Vemulawada in support of party candidates.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had wanted Rao to continue to be CM in Telangana while Rao wanted Modi as Prime Minister at the Centre and both helping each other.

"The Congress is fighting with the BRS in Telangana to dislodge KCRs friend Narendra Modi from power at the Centre," said Rahul Gandhi and added that the BJP and the MIM were supporting the BRS secretly.

"Why did the BJP not take action against KCR and his family on corruption charges in Kaleshwaram and welfare schemes," the Congress leader said and alleged that Rao had retained profitable ministries within the family.

Gandhi said that he had visited the Medigadda barrage where its pillars had sunk and developed cracks and said it was the best example of the BRS governments mismanagement and corruption.

He also alleged that the BRS government had diverted funds from SC and ST sub-plans. He alleged that MLAs took Rs 3 lakh commission from each beneficiary under Dalit Bandhu.

He claimed that 8,000 farmers had committed suicides under the BRS rule. There would be no farmer suicides in a Congress government, and measures will be taken to boost the morale of the farmers. "The dream of Prajala Telangana will start by putting an end to Dorala Telangana," he said.

He to give 24-hour free power to agriculture and said this was a scheme first implemented by the Congress.

Gandhi said the partys Six Guarantees are not just promises given to the public and added that a Congress Chief Minister would make convert the promises into Acts.

Former minister Madava Venkateshwar Rao, senior leader Narsa Reddy and Kishan Rao joined the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi at Bodhan.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledges supporters during a public meeting at Kollapur ahead of Telangana Assembly elections, in Nagarkurnool district, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (PTI Photo)

Hyderabad: Union home minister Amit Shah categorically stated that the people had decided to usher in change and vote out Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. He appealed to the people to give the BJP a chance. "The BJP will not have any truck with the BRS," he promised.

Shah, speaking to the media here on Saturday, reiterated that a probe into the corruption of the BRS government would be held after the polls, once the BJP comes to power. "Inquiries cannot happen based on the election calendar," he said.

Shah, who addressed an election meeting and road shows later, said, "These elections are very important for Telangana as they will give direction to the state. Formed after a long and arduous struggle, self respect and peoples welfare were at the centre of the agenda. The state has now been left debt-ridden and youth are jobless and desperate and people are worried about the future of the state."

He said that the failure to give Dalit Bandhu benefits and distribute double bedrooms, coupled with corruption in Mission Bhagirathi, Outer Ring Road lease, Kaleshwaram as well as the liquor scam and the granite scam were now on the minds of the people.

The promised one lakh jobs have evaded the youth and even the dole of `3,016 per unemployed person was not given. The promise to provide education from KG to PG free was a colossal failure, he said.

The failure to waive Rs 1 lakh farm loan and opening a super speciality hospital in every district count among the remiss. The BJP on the contrary has fulfilled all its promises since the days of the Jan Sangh, he said.

Explaining the promises of the BJP, Shah said, "The Centre is providing gas cylinders to 12.5 lakh families, built roads over 12,000 km. The BRS appeases some sections of the people and does not celebrate Liberation Day and has given four per cent reservation based on religion."

"We will abolish it and give it to the SC, ST and OBC communities. We will give an MSP of `3,010 for paddy and buy even parboiled rice, unlike the BRS government. We will reduce VAT unlike the in Congress states and bring down petroleum prices," Shah explained.

A vote for the AIMIM would only benefit the BRS and a vote for the Congress would result in its legislators switching over the BRS. "The BRS, AIMIM and the Congress are 2G, 3G and 4G parties as they keep power within the family. Only the BJP can bring change and fulfill the aspirations of the people," he said.

Answering a query, Shah said the BJP would not object to the release of Rythu Bandhu funds.

Listing out the funds delivered to the state by the Centre, Shah said, "While the UPA government had given `2 lakh crore to the united state between 2004 and 2014, the NDA government has given `2.5 lakh crore. Tribal university and National Turmeric Board will be established."

"Unlike KCR who did not keep his word to make a Dalit the Chief Minister, the BJP will make a leader from the Backward Classes communities the CM. I appeal to the people to give the BJP a chance."

He said that riots dont occur in the BJP-ruled states "as we dont appease in the name of religion and deliver benefits equally to all religions."

Speaking at an election meeting in Kollapur, Shah said, "The BJP government will build a processing unit and ensure that the mangoes produced in Kollapur reach European markets. The Siddeswaram bridge in Somasila will be constructed in a time-bound manner," and added that justice would be done to the Valmiki Boya and Madasi Kuruwa communities.

Shah later held road shows in Khairatabad, Patancheru and Munugode. In Khairatabad he campaigned in support of BJP candidate Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, and activists of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti participated with their flags.

Shahs remarks on celebrating the Telangana Liberation Day on September 17 were received with enthusiasm. Shah also addressed a street corner meeting in Munugode to a jampacked crowd in support of party candidate Chalamalla Krishna Reddy.
A member of Al-Qassam Brigades helping a hostage out of a car before handing them over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, ahead of their transfer to Israel. (AFP)

DOHA: A total of 24 hostages -- 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino -- were handed over Friday to the Red Cross in Gaza by Hamas, Qatar, which mediated the deal, said.

"Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen," foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

He said 39 women and children detained in Israeli jails had also been freed under a deal to exchange hostages seized by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners.

Qatar has led weeks of intense negotiations, coordinating with the US and Egypt, to reach an agreement for the freeing of 50 civilian hostages from Gaza in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a four-day truce and access for humanitarian aid.

A source with knowledge of the talks confirmed to AFP the 10 Thais and one Filipino freed were in addition to the 50 Israeli hostages earmarked for release.

Their release was secured "following the Thai foreign minister's visit to Qatar and mediation efforts by the Qataris and Egyptians," the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

The number of hostages due to be freed under the deal, staggered over the four-day truce, is by far the largest since Hamas gunmen stormed across Gaza's militarised border on October 7 and carried out the deadliest attack in Israel's history.

Israel says the attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw around 240 more taken hostage, among them elderly people and children.

In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people, thousands of them children.

Qatar has said the initial four-day truce is designed to be extended if further hostage and prisoner exchanges can be secured.
Woolworths (OTCMKTS:WLWHY  Get Free Report) and BZAM (OTCMKTS:BZAMF  Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations and risk.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Woolworths and BZAMs top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Woolworths $4.10 billion 0.90 $286.17 million N/A N/A BZAM $37.96 million 0.46 -$27.31 million ($0.46) -0.24

Woolworths has higher revenue and earnings than BZAM.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Woolworths N/A N/A N/A BZAM -128.25% -31.87% -19.74%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

This table compares Woolworths and BZAMs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

0.0% of BZAM shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.7% of BZAM shares are owned by company 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.

Volatility & Risk

Woolworths has a beta of 0.74, suggesting that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BZAM has a beta of 1.99, suggesting that its stock price is 99% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Woolworths and BZAM, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Woolworths 0 2 0 0 2.00 BZAM 0 0 1 0 3.00

Summary

Woolworths beats BZAM on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Woolworths

(Get Free Report)

Woolworths Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates a chain of retail stores in sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It operates through seven segments: Woolworths Fashion, Beauty and Home; Woolworths Food; Woolworths Financial Services; David Jones; Country Road Group; and Treasury. The company provides food, clothing, homeware, beauty, and various lifestyle products, as well as operates department stores. It offers financial products and services, such as store cards, credit cards, personal loans, and other financial products. The company is also involved in the cash and debt management activities. Woolworths Holdings Limited was founded in 1931 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

About BZAM

(Get Free Report)

BZAM Ltd. operates as a cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods. Its brands include the BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, and TABLE TOP, as well as Dunn Cannabis, FRESH, and Wyld partner brands. The company operate facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. The company was formerly known as The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. and changed its name to BZAM Ltd. in February 2023. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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MAG Silver Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:MAG  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Friday. Stock traders acquired 3,581 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 615% compared to the average volume of 501 call options.

MAG Silver Trading Up 2.4 %

MAG Silver stock opened at $10.97 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.13 billion, a PE ratio of 34.28 and a beta of 1.11. MAG Silver has a 12 month low of $9.60 and a 12 month high of $17.02.

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MAG Silver (NYSEAMERICAN:MAG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 10th. The company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by ($0.07). On average, equities analysts forecast that MAG Silver will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Natixis bought a new stake in shares of MAG Silver in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of MAG Silver by 89.6% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,385 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 1,600 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in shares of MAG Silver in the 4th quarter worth $55,000. Spartan Fund Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MAG Silver by 817.9% in the 2nd quarter. Spartan Fund Management Inc. now owns 91,791 shares of the companys stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 81,791 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of MAG Silver in the 1st quarter worth $78,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.80% of the companys stock.

Several research firms recently weighed in on MAG. Scotiabank reduced their target price on MAG Silver from $16.00 to $15.50 in a research report on Monday, August 14th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on MAG Silver in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. They set an outperform rating and a $23.50 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded MAG Silver to a sell rating in a report on Monday, November 20th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a buy rating and issued a $19.50 price objective on shares of MAG Silver in a report on Monday, November 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MAG Silver has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $22.39.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on MAG

MAG Silver Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

MAG Silver Corp. engages in the exploration and development of precious metal mining properties. The company explores for silver, gold, lead, copper, and zinc deposits. It primarily holds 44% interest in the Juanicipio project located in the Fresnillo District, Zacatecas State, Mexico. MAG Silver Corp.

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TD Asset Management Inc cut its holdings in OFG Bancorp (NYSE:OFG  Free Report) by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 54,000 shares of the banks stock after selling 4,900 shares during the quarter. TD Asset Management Inc owned approximately 0.11% of OFG Bancorp worth $1,408,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. National Bank of Canada FI grew its position in shares of OFG Bancorp by 2.0% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 16,276 shares of the banks stock valued at $424,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of OFG Bancorp by 0.6% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 73,403 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,845,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its position in shares of OFG Bancorp by 1.7% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 27,562 shares of the banks stock valued at $734,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in shares of OFG Bancorp by 7.0% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 9,531 shares of the banks stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 625 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boothbay Fund Management LLC grew its position in shares of OFG Bancorp by 8.6% in the first quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC now owns 8,532 shares of the banks stock valued at $213,000 after purchasing an additional 676 shares during the last quarter. 91.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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OFG Bancorp Stock Performance

Shares of OFG opened at $33.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. The company has a market capitalization of $1.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.84 and a beta of 1.11. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $30.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.21. OFG Bancorp has a 1 year low of $22.34 and a 1 year high of $34.30.

OFG Bancorp Dividend Announcement

OFG Bancorp ( NYSE:OFG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 20th. The bank reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.92 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $172.19 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $170.00 million. OFG Bancorp had a net margin of 24.53% and a return on equity of 16.79%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that OFG Bancorp will post 3.79 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. OFG Bancorps dividend payout ratio is currently 23.10%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of OFG Bancorp in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

Check Out Our Latest Report on OFG

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other OFG Bancorp news, Director Patrick J. Haggarty sold 21,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.36, for a total transaction of $598,396.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 20,268 shares of the companys stock, valued at $574,800.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 3.11% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About OFG Bancorp

(Free Report)

OFG Bancorp, a financial holding company, provides a range of banking and financial services. It operates through three segments: Banking, Wealth Management, and Treasury. The company offers checking and savings accounts, as well as time deposit products; commercial, consumer, auto leasing, and mortgage lending services; financial planning and insurance services; and corporate and individual trust, and retirement services.

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Munger, Nov 25 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday declared that poverty in the state would get eradicated completely if special status demand was accepted by the Centre.

Kumar while addressing a function organised on the occasion of laying foundation stone of a Government Medical College and Hospital here, said that special status was an urgent need for

Bihar and it should be granted without any further loss of time.

On the basis of recently held socio economic caste survey, state government had decided to launch schemes for providing livelihood to poor and also concrete houses to them, which required Rs 2.5 lakh crores, he added.

"If Bihar is given a special status, state government would be in a position to spend Rs 2.5 lakh crores for alleviation of poverty completely in the state," Chief Minister said adding that Centre was meting out step motherly treatment to Bihar.

Nothing was being done by the Centre but much was being publicised, he quipped.

Kumar said that Centre had also controlled media to stop it from coverage of achievements of Grand Alliance government of Bihar.

Media persons were good but they were not being allowed to function freely, he remarked.

UNI KKS BM
TD Asset Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Southwestern Energy (NYSE:SWN  Free Report) by 68.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 232,600 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 94,518 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Incs holdings in Southwestern Energy were worth $1,398,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Southwestern Energy by 25.8% during the second quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 2,397,700 shares of the energy companys stock worth $14,410,000 after buying an additional 492,100 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its position in Southwestern Energy by 7.1% in the second quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 532,340 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $3,199,000 after purchasing an additional 35,284 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Southwestern Energy by 5.6% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 1,283,437 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $7,713,000 after purchasing an additional 68,243 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in Southwestern Energy by 1.8% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 3,196,996 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $19,214,000 after purchasing an additional 57,965 shares during the period. Finally, Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. lifted its position in Southwestern Energy by 10.2% in the second quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 64,835 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $390,000 after purchasing an additional 6,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.00% of the companys stock.

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Southwestern Energy Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of SWN opened at $6.83 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.52 billion, a PE ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.39. The companys fifty day moving average is $6.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $6.18. Southwestern Energy has a fifty-two week low of $4.57 and a fifty-two week high of $7.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Southwestern Energy ( NYSE:SWN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.42 billion. Southwestern Energy had a net margin of 62.31% and a return on equity of 14.13%. Analysts forecast that Southwestern Energy will post 0.63 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on SWN shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Southwestern Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Southwestern Energy from $7.50 to $8.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Southwestern Energy from $14.00 to $15.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Southwestern Energy from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Southwestern Energy from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Southwestern Energy presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $7.81.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SWN

Southwestern Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Southwestern Energy Company, an independent energy company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the United States. It operates through two segments, Exploration and Production, and Marketing. The company focuses on the development of unconventional natural gas and oil reservoirs located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Louisiana.

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Swiss National Bank increased its holdings in The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE:AZEK  Free Report) by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 262,550 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 18,000 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned approximately 0.17% of AZEK worth $7,953,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of AZEK. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AZEK by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,864,331 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,031,000 after purchasing an additional 98,704 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in AZEK by 30.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 9,227,941 shares of the companys stock worth $217,226,000 after acquiring an additional 2,162,699 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in AZEK by 272.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,973,475 shares of the companys stock worth $80,741,000 after acquiring an additional 2,906,460 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in AZEK by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,089,380 shares of the companys stock worth $72,715,000 after acquiring an additional 72,042 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in AZEK by 7.4% in the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,806,359 shares of the companys stock worth $85,005,000 after acquiring an additional 192,480 shares during the last quarter.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on AZEK shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of AZEK from $37.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 14th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of AZEK in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of AZEK from $17.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $35.00 target price on shares of AZEK in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of AZEK from $33.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AZEK has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $35.28.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.66, for a total value of $424,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,239,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $40,492,651.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total value of $999,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 70,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,332,400. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.66, for a total transaction of $424,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,239,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $40,492,651.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 56,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,794,550 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 3.10% of the companys stock.

AZEK Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of AZEK stock opened at $31.47 on Friday. The AZEK Company Inc. has a 1 year low of $16.76 and a 1 year high of $34.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $28.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $29.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 3.41 and a quick ratio of 2.08. The company has a market cap of $4.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 224.79, a PEG ratio of 6.59 and a beta of 1.73.

About AZEK

(Free Report)

The AZEK Company Inc engages in manufacturing and selling of building products for residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Residential and Commercial. The Residential segment designs and manufactures engineered outdoor living products, such as decking, railing, trim and molding, siding and cladding, pergolas and cabanas, and accessories under the TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, VERSATEX, ULTRALOX, StruXure, and INTEX brands.

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Swiss National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR  Free Report) by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 163,888 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned about 0.22% of EPR Properties worth $7,670,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of EPR Properties by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,272,904 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $404,247,000 after buying an additional 52,586 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in EPR Properties by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,177,924 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $160,311,000 after acquiring an additional 15,600 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its stake in EPR Properties by 24.5% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 1,708,349 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $93,463,000 after acquiring an additional 336,729 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in EPR Properties by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,222,718 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $46,586,000 after acquiring an additional 44,509 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in EPR Properties by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,170,081 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $44,580,000 after acquiring an additional 37,636 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.09% of the companys stock.

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EPR Properties Stock Performance

Shares of EPR opened at $45.60 on Friday. EPR Properties has a 12 month low of $33.92 and a 12 month high of $47.71. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $42.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $43.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.63 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a current ratio of 8.55, a quick ratio of 8.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14.

EPR Properties Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.275 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.24%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 29th. EPR Propertiess payout ratio is 170.98%.

In related news, CAO Tonya L. Mater sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.61, for a total transaction of $223,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 42,723 shares in the company, valued at $1,905,873.03. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.89% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of EPR Properties in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of EPR Properties from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of EPR Properties in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. They set an underweight rating and a $40.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of EPR Properties from $51.00 to $50.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of EPR Properties from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.44.

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EPR Properties Company Profile

(Free Report)

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) is the leading diversified experiential net lease real estate investment trust (REIT), specializing in select enduring experiential properties in the real estate industry. We focus on real estate venues that create value by facilitating out of home leisure and recreation experiences where consumers choose to spend their discretionary time and money.

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TD Asset Management Inc lessened its position in DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA  Free Report) by 48.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,677 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,768 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Incs holdings in DaVita were worth $1,374,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in DVA. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in shares of DaVita by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 22,651 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,562,000 after purchasing an additional 865 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of DaVita by 37.4% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 6,555 shares of the companys stock valued at $741,000 after purchasing an additional 1,785 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of DaVita by 63.6% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,998 shares of the companys stock valued at $338,000 after purchasing an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of DaVita by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 3,551 shares of the companys stock valued at $402,000 after purchasing an additional 242 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its holdings in shares of DaVita by 847.8% in the first quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 1,090 shares of the companys stock valued at $123,000 after buying an additional 975 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.69% of the companys stock.

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DaVita Stock Performance

Shares of DVA stock opened at $99.26 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.01, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The stock has a market cap of $9.06 billion, a PE ratio of 15.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $87.84 and a 200-day moving average of $96.05. DaVita Inc. has a one year low of $69.55 and a one year high of $116.97.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DaVita ( NYSE:DVA Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The company reported $2.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.93. DaVita had a return on equity of 63.38% and a net margin of 5.11%. The business had revenue of $3.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.45 EPS. DaVitas revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that DaVita Inc. will post 8.07 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on DVA. StockNews.com began coverage on DaVita in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. TheStreet cut DaVita from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Monday, October 23rd. UBS Group cut their price target on DaVita from $142.00 to $113.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price target on DaVita from $115.00 to $104.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $102.67.

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DaVita Profile

(Free Report)

DaVita Inc provides kidney dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure in the United States. The company operates kidney dialysis centers and provides related lab services in outpatient dialysis centers. It also offers outpatient, hospital inpatient, and home-based hemodialysis services; operates clinical laboratories that provide routine laboratory tests for dialysis and other physician-prescribed laboratory tests for ESRD patients; and management and administrative services to outpatient dialysis centers.

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TD Asset Management Inc lessened its position in shares of Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX  Free Report) by 42.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,200 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 15,100 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc owned about 0.06% of Matson worth $1,570,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MATX. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Matson by 55.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 9,779 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,180,000 after purchasing an additional 3,485 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Matson by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 4,745 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $572,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new position in Matson during the 1st quarter worth about $473,000. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new position in shares of Matson in the 1st quarter valued at about $231,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Matson by 49.4% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 22,040 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $2,658,000 after acquiring an additional 7,283 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.04% of the companys stock.

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Matson Trading Up 0.4 %

Matson stock opened at $96.13 on Friday. Matson, Inc. has a 52 week low of $56.51 and a 52 week high of $97.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.05 and a beta of 1.18. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $90.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $84.11.

Matson Dividend Announcement

Matson ( NYSE:MATX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 30th. The shipping company reported $3.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.36 by $0.04. Matson had a return on equity of 13.53% and a net margin of 10.06%. The business had revenue of $827.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $798.86 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.89 earnings per share. Matsons quarterly revenue was down 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Matson, Inc. will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 9th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 8th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.33%. Matsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.71%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Matson news, SVP Christopher A. Scott sold 350 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.59, for a total transaction of $31,006.50. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,926 shares in the company, valued at $1,056,524.34. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Matthew J. Cox sold 10,000 shares of Matson stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.30, for a total value of $883,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 221,267 shares in the company, valued at $19,537,876.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Christopher A. Scott sold 350 shares of Matson stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.59, for a total transaction of $31,006.50. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 11,926 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,056,524.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 24,168 shares of company stock worth $2,160,106 over the last three months. Insiders own 1.90% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com cut Matson from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Wolfe Research raised their price objective on Matson from $113.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Matson from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, Stephens raised their price objective on Matson from $73.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd.

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About Matson

(Free Report)

Matson, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides ocean transportation and logistics services. The company's Ocean Transportation segment offers ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, as well as to other island economies in Micronesia.

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TD Asset Management Inc reduced its stake in shares of Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE:TPH  Free Report) by 21.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 46,400 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 12,500 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Incs holdings in Tri Pointe Homes were worth $1,525,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. raised its position in shares of Tri Pointe Homes by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 8,103 shares of the construction companys stock worth $205,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 30.4% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,275 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 531 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 53,539 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $995,000 after acquiring an additional 559 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 9,272 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $305,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC raised its holdings in Tri Pointe Homes by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC now owns 33,752 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,109,000 after acquiring an additional 619 shares during the last quarter. 97.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Tri Pointe Homes Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of Tri Pointe Homes stock opened at $29.22 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $27.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $29.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. has a twelve month low of $17.52 and a twelve month high of $34.04. The stock has a market cap of $2.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.53.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Tri Pointe Homes ( NYSE:TPH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The construction company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.22. Tri Pointe Homes had a net margin of 10.53% and a return on equity of 14.36%. The firm had revenue of $825.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $766.05 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.45 EPS. The firms revenue was down 22.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. will post 3.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

TPH has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Tri Pointe Homes from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Oppenheimer upgraded Tri Pointe Homes from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $36.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Tri Pointe Homes from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $38.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, August 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Tri Pointe Homes in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wedbush boosted their price objective on shares of Tri Pointe Homes from $30.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Tri Pointe Homes presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $36.80.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Tri Pointe Homes

About Tri Pointe Homes

(Free Report)

Tri Pointe Homes, Inc engages in the design, construction, and sale of single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through a portfolio of six regional home building brands comprising Maracay in Arizona; Pardee Homes in California and Nevada; Quadrant Homes in Washington; Trendmaker Homes in Texas; TRI Pointe Homes in California, Colorado, and the Carolinas; and Winchester Homes in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

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Echo Echo is very pleased to share the fantastic news that Colin Norrbys Amid the Noise and the Haste has won the Light Moves Festival Innovative use of Music and Sound Award, sponsored by Contemporary Music Centre Ireland, at the prestigious biennial dance film festival held in Limerick.

One of the Prize Adjudicators Robbie Blake, performer, director and composer, commented on the film:

I really enjoyed all the shortlisted works, yet this compelling, heartfelt piece shone through. The interweaving of compositional elements  aural, filmic and physical  felt particularly special and noteworthy.

Amid the Noise and the Haste was commissioned and produced by Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement in 2021  the eighth edition of the international festival that has presented the work of over 300 artists to date.

Multi-talented local film-maker, musician and composer, Colin Norrby, was commissioned to record and make the film, and compose an original score, based upon a series of solo dances called Together Alone: Solos in the City by a cast of 20 people of all ages, directed by Echo Echo Artistic Director, Steve Batts, dancing in 50 locations around Derry and the northwest:

I'm thrilled to have received an award for the music and sound in Amid the Noise and the Haste. I'm very grateful to the festival for showcasing the film alongside several other unique works by amazing artists. The many dancers and the city of Derry itself served as a powerful source of inspiration for the sounds and music I made for the film.

Reflecting on the unique project, Echo Echo Artistic Director and Festival Director, Steve Batts, said:

As commissioner and producer of the film, I'm very happy that Amid the Noise and the Haste won this award. Colin Norrby is an exceptional artist in both film and music/sound. The comment from adjudicator Robbie Blake recognises the quality of the multiple layers of different elements that are essential to the film.

"The film stands as a powerful and poignant filmic work, while also deeply respecting and capturing the spirit and sensibility of the project, Together Alone, from which it grew. I think that's something that only the best dance films manage to do. Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company has collaborated with Colin Norrby frequently in the past and we look forward to working together again in the near future.

Amid the Noise and the Haste was supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Derry Strabane Council.
NSPCC Northern Ireland is asking people across Derry to Walk for Children next month to raise vital funds for the childrens charity.

The charity is encouraging people to take part in a 5k walk with friends and family to help raise money for children facing abuse and neglect across Northern Ireland.

This years walk will take place on 22nd December - the longest night of the year  because for children facing abuse, every night can feel like the longest.

And whilst participants are encouraged to take part on the longest night, they can do the walk (on their own or in a group) on any day in December.

Money raised will help fund NSPCC services, including Childline, which is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year  even Christmas Day.

Last Christmas, Childline delivered more than 1,000 high-risk counselling sessions across the UK, with 64% of high-risk calls and web chats during that period coming in after dark.

It costs 10 to sign up for Walk for Children and participants are asked to try and raise 100, which could pay to answer 25 childrens calls for help to Childline.

Everyone who signs up will receive a fundraising pack with everything needed to plan a walk, resources to use on the day, and an NSPCC t-shirt.

To find out more or sign up for this years Walk for Children, click here or go to www.nspcc.org.uk and search WALK FOR CHILDREN  anyone who uses the promo code WALK25 will get a 25% discount on their registration fee.

By raising funds through Walk for Children, people can help the charity be here for every child who needs help this festive season.

Stefani Mearns, supporter fundraising manager for NSPCC Northern Ireland, said: Christmas is such a bright and cheery time of the year. However, sadly for some children it can be a lonely and dark time, and this is why we are asking people to brave the cold on the longest night of the year, and Walk for Children.

All the money raised will go towards our crucial services, including our 24/7 Childline Service, our therapeutic services for children and families, our Speak Out, Stay Safe programme in schools and our Young Witness Service, supporting child victims and witnesses across the court system in Northern Ireland. No matter when or how far you walk, whatever way you decide to do it, the money you raise will ensure we can be there for children when they need us the most.

Also on 22 December, landmarks across Northern Ireland will turn green in aid of the NSPCC. A full list of buildings going green can be found on: www.nspcc.org.uk (search for Light Ups).

Anyone taking part in Walk for Children who happens to pass one of these landmarks, can share it with NSPCC NI on social media using #WalkforChildren and tagging: Twitter: @nspccni (Twitter/X) @nspccnorthernireland (Facebook) @nspccni (Instagram).

* To sign up to Walk for Children, visit http://www.nspcc.org.uk/walkforchildren

If you cant complete a walk but would like to donate to NSPCC, visit http://www.nspcc.org.uk/donate
From the musical nights of his youth that earned his nickname "the disc jockey" to his political adventures over the past decade, life has been one long party of one kind or another for Andry Rajoelina, who on Saturday secured a second elected term as Madagascar's president.

With his smooth features, slim build and thick black hair, the 49-year-old fits the image of a playboy that his enemies try to tar him with.

But Rajoelina calls himself the "builder president" responsible for new roads, schools and hospitals, and he has made his mark on one of the world's poorest countries.

Rajoelina won re-election with about 59 percent of votes cast in the first round, according to the election commission.

But most opposition candidates boycotted the vote and say they will not recognise the results, which must still be validated by the Constitutional Court.

Born to a middle-class family, Rajoelina owes his "DJ" moniker to the parties he promoted as a youth in the capital Antananarivo.

After marrying his wife, Mialy, and helped by his skill at public speaking, Rajoelina waded into politics setting up the Tanora Gasy Vonona party, earning him another name, "TGV", after France's high-speed trains.

His political rise was fast. In 2007, he trounced the party of then president Marc Ravalomanana to become the capital's mayor.

He quickly established himself as the leading voice of the opposition, and his supporters openly defied the government with the tacit support of the military that helped oust Ravalomanana in 2009 and put him in power.

Rajoelina, in his mid-30s, struggled to guide the country out of crisis as its unelected leader.

Rivals accused him of corruption, greed, and turning a blind eye to the pillage of the country's natural resources, including its precious rosewood forests.

Those accusations earned him another nickname -- "crayfish" -- a crustacean that walks backwards.

Under international pressure, Rajoelina did not contest a 2013 election but he was voted into power in 2018.

During campaigns, he spares no expense as he travels by helicopter or private plane to the four corners of the vast country, using the support of "long-standing friends", often wealthy businessmen.

Local pop stars appear at his rallies where he makes carefully prepared speeches.

Rajoelina draws large crowds, but his critics claim many are paid to attend.

- Fast and furious -

Only months ago, Rajoelina seemed in trouble.

In June, media reports revealed that he had acquired French nationality in 2014, triggering calls for him to be disqualified from running for president.

Opponents said by law the president should lose Madagascan nationality and the right to lead the country. But courts would not declare his candidacy invalid.

He became the butt of his detractors' jokes, with some asking whether as a Frenchman he would celebrate July 14, Bastille Day, in style.

Rajoelina responded in a three-hour radio and TV interview, all smiling and flirtatious, in which he said he became French "out of love" for his three children, to allow them to pursue their studies abroad.

Barack Obama had Kenyan origins and Nelson Mandela received several honorary citizenships, he said, downplaying the debate that raged at the time.

Rajoelina thought he had put the issue to bed, but the verdict sparked opposition anger.

For more than a month, election challengers held almost daily demonstrations in Antananarivo, decrying an "institutional coup" to favour the incumbent.

Despite the legal attacks and protests, led by former presidents Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Rajoelina was not shaken.

"There are always people trying to stir up trouble in Madagascar," he lamented, maintaining his smile, as he went to vote accompanied by his wife and children.

The "builder president" told AFP in a recent interview "there is only one man today capable of leading the country".

"The Malagasy people have chosen the path of continuity and stability," he said after winning the election. But Rajoelina still faces some long nights ahead.

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Independent County Derry MLA Claire Sugden has said the increase in food parcels being delivered to people in Northern Ireland is yet more evidence that people here are suffering worse from the cost of living crisis than the rest of the UK.

Nearly 40,000 emergency parcels were distributed by Northern Irelands food bank network between April and September, which is a rise of 23 per cent  higher than England, Scotland or Wales. Ms Sugden said people here were suffering from a range of extra pressures.

People in Northern Ireland are clearly finding themselves worse off than those in Great Britain, and this report from the Trussell Trust seems to confirm it, said the East Derry MLA.

Our government budget has been slashed, with many of the social safety nets and support systems either being slashed or scrapped completely.

The Holiday Hunger Scheme, for instance, is just one example of a programme that would have helped households with school-age children receiving free school meals ensure they had food to eat over the holidays. But this is just one of the many schemes that have been scrapped.

The vast majority of our public service workers have also not received the same pay rises as those in the rest of the UK. It is common for these workers  and others in work  to have to rely on foodbanks.

No-one should have to rely on food-banks in Northern Ireland in 2023, but the fact that those who work are unable to even put food on the table is a damning indictment of the situation here at the moment.

We need a government and we need a budget that reflects the needs of the country.
PICTURED: Student Niamh McAuley who is on the Open University Cyber Security course at NWRC, John DArcy, Director of The Open University in Ireland and Dr Catherine O Mullan, NWRC Director of Curriculum and Academic Standards, cut the ribbon on the Open University's new office at NWRC. (Pic Martin McKeown).

North West Regional College (NWRC) has officially cut the ribbon on a brand new Open University (OU) office at their Strand Road campus in Derry.

The office, adjacent to NWRCs Careers Academy, is the OUs first official premises in the North West and strengthens a partnership between the two organisations which saw the validation of two OU higher education level courses in September 2023.

During the official opening on Thursday, Dr Catherine O Mullan, NWRC Director of Curriculum and Academic Standards, handed over keys for the new office to John DArcy, Director of The Open University in Ireland.

Dr O Mullan said: Today is another exciting chapter in this unique educational partnership. We are delighted to welcome The Open University to our Strand Road Campus with its own office and base in the North West.

NWRC is committed to growing and developing our curriculum, offering something really different and much needed within the North West region.

Our partnership with The Open University is the culmination of extensive diligence and hard work from both organisations, as well as significant consultation with employers, over the past two years. It complements the existing partnerships we have with other Higher Education Institutions in the region and has allowed us to add to our portfolio of courses, providing a more diverse offer related to areas of skills gaps.

But this is just the beginning. We intend to grow our Higher Education curriculum offer at NWRC and hope to announce details of further developments in specialist subject areas with The Open University in the future.

John DArcy, OU, added: The Open University is proud to officially move into our new office at NWRC allowing us to work even closer with staff and students. We have worked hard with NWRC Senior Management to provide this level of choice and provision of higher education and I am delighted to see the students on our Foundation Degree in Cyber Security and Level 4 Certificate in Healthcare Practice courses performing so well since they first began in September 2023.

"This partnership will continue to grow, and we look forward to seeing what 2024 will bring to the North West region and further afield.

Applications are now open for all Higher Education courses beginning at NWRC in September 2024, including the OU Foundation Degree in Cyber Security (full and part-time), OU Level 4 Higher Education Certificate in Healthcare Practice, and OU Foundation Degree in Housing Practice.

Further details of additional courses presently being approved by OU will be made available in due course.
RYAN TUBRIDY has revealed his new radio shows, including a weekend programme to be broadcast on LMFM, are still "a work in progress".

"We are very much in planning stage at this point, but all in due course that will be revealed," he said.

The former RTE TV and radio presenter made the comments while speaking on the Limerick Today show with Joe Nash on Live95, about the recent news of his move to Virgin Radio UK.

His new weekday show will launch early January 2024 and will be broadcast live from London simultaneously on Dublins Q102, marking Ryan's return to Irish radio.

He is also set to present a dedicated Irish weekend show across a number of local radio stations in the Wireless Ireland group - including Live95, Dublins Q102, Corks 96FM and LMFM, all of which owned by Virgin Radio UK's parent company, News Corp.

Tubridy says he is enthusiastic about his move to UK radio, and added how pleased he is to still have a presence on Irish radio.

"The presence here in Ireland was a lovely addendum to the story. I thought it might just be a London and UK story but it turns out that the Irish question is answered also, which is quite pleasant," he said.

Before his move to London, Ryan will turn on the Christmas lights in Clifden in Galway this Friday, just hours before Patrick Kielty presents his first Late Late Toy Show.
Last Thursday Clogherhead RNLI volunteers came to the aid of two drifting vessels in Carlingford Lough.

Following a request by the Irish Coast Guard at 1.48 p.m. to go to the scene the Clogherhead volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather Shannon class lifeboat under Coxswain Sean Flanagan with five crew members onboard.

When the Clogherhead lifeboat reached the scene of the two drifting vessels at approximately 2.30 p.m. Kilkeel RNLI were already on standby at the scene.

Sea conditions were calm at the time with good visibility and a southerly wind blowing. It was found that one vessel was towing another and the leader vessel had broken down.

Both vessels with crew on board were drifting towards the shore. A local trawler had towed both vessels away from the shore to sea safety.

A decision was made for Clogherhead RNLI volunteers to establish a towline to the leader vessel which was done successfully. Both vessels were then towed back to the nearest safe port at Port Oriel, Clogherhead.

The lifeboat arrived in Port Oriel at 5.30 p.m. where Clogherhead Coast Guard provided assistance with locating a berth for both vessels. The crew on the vessels were seen safely ashore.

Speaking following the call out, Clogherhead RNLI Coxswain Sean Flanagan said:

It was very important that the crew of the drifting vessels contacted the Coast Guard for assistance. Most importantly they were wearing life jackets. With the help of Kilkeel RNLI volunteers 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.

We also appreciated the help of our colleagues in Clogherhead Coast Guard. Should you get into difficulty at sea always call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
A parliamentary question raised by Louth TD Ruairi O'Murchu to the Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin has shed light on the release on bail of one of the men accused in the murder of Private Sean Rooney.

The news came to light on 15th November, following a Lebanese media report announcing the release of the suspect who had been in Lebanese custody.

The case against the accused individuals is set to resume in Beirut on 15 December.

In response to O'Murchu's question, the Tanaiste provided a detailed reply on the government's actions and concerns surrounding the release.

The Tanaiste revealed that the Department became aware of the release through Lebanese media and immediately initiated inquiries to confirm the facts.

The individual in question was reportedly released on bail for medical reasons, accompanied by the payment of a financial bond. The Tanaiste said that efforts are ongoing to obtain more details about the circumstances of the release.

He also said he met with the deceased soldier's mother on 20th November to provide updates on the investigation's progress.

In his statement, the Minister emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring justice for Private Rooney, asserting that he had conveyed this determination to his Lebanese counterparts and the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

He also stated that the government has engaged the services of a Lebanese legal firm to represent Irish interests during court hearings.

The Tanaiste concluded by stating that:

Given that this matter is now before the Lebanese judicial system, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

However, I can assure the House that my Department, the Embassy in Cairo, the Honorary Consulate in Beirut and I will continue to monitor developments very closely.
Last week, President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Una McGoey, represented the Chamber as part of the Chambers Ireland Delegation at the European Parliament of Enterprises in Brussels.

The Chamber said that the Chambers Ireland delegation was fortunate to connect with essential stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore critical issues influencing the future of Ireland.

They continued:

The European Capital, with its role as a hub of collaboration and policy shaping, made this trip a pivotal moment in our commitment to advancing the interests of our members.

With over 700 entrepreneurs from 43 European countries, the event explored critical challenges and opportunities facing the business community. Discussions focused on labour shortages, sustainable energy, and the effectiveness of trade agreements for SMEs.

On Monday afternoon, Eurochambres of which the Chambers Ireland network is a member of, hosted the Women Entrepreneurs event, entitled 'A path towards a more female- friendly business environment with opening remarks by Marina Rozic, Chair of the Eurochambres Women Network and Secretary General of the Croatian Chamber of Economy and Esin Gural Argat, Chair of the TOBB Women Network, with roundtable discussions on access to finance, skills and gender equality.

Speaking about the visit, Ms McGoey said:

I was honoured to engage in the democratic process within the iconic walls of the European Parliament Hemicycle, debating and voting on business issues across skills, energy, and trade under the overarching theme of strengthening the single market. It was incredible to witness the similarities in perspectives and challenges across the EU.

On Wednesday morning, alongside fellow chambers across the Island of Ireland, the delegation engaged in discussions with Members of the European Parliament for Ireland, conveying the priorities and business opportunities for Dundalk and the North East which was hosted by Sean Kelly MEP including Ciaran Cuffe Green Party, Barry Andrews Fianna Fail, Colm Markey MEP Fine Gael, Frances Fitzgerald Fine Gael, Maria Walsh Fine Gael, Billy Kelleher MEP Fianna Fail and Clare Daly Independent.

The Chamber said meeting with the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in the afternoon, was invaluable, providing briefings on competitiveness, trade, energy, and climate, deepening our understanding of the EU landscape and aligning their goals for a sustainable and competitive future.

The Chamber wishes to thank lan Talbot and the Chambers Ireland team and Eurochambres for organising the event, and to all participants for sharing their expertise.
The need for a comprehensive mental health support system was raised by Louth senator Erin McGreehan in the Seanad yesterday.

Addressing Minister of State Mary Butler who was taking questions, the senator shared two distressing stories from her constituency.

In one case, a person had to fight strenuously to ensure her father received the care he needed, while another individual was turned away due to catchment area restrictions, tragically resulting in the loss of his life.

The senator detailed how: One person had to fight tooth and nail to save her dad and convince doctors and psychologists that he warranted entry to a safe environment in order to get better. She begged to be heard and understood. She and her father were sent home with a list of ways to manage anxiety.

No medication or intervention was provided. They were told to go to the GP. It began a very difficult time at home and a fight to survive. The person in question had to stay with her dad because she was incredibly worried, and rightly so. They called for an ambulance within 24 hours.

A doctor told her that her father had wasted resources and that he did not warrant the ambulance. Imagine hearing that from a medical professional. Even if it was not life and death at that moment, who was he to judge and to make a person feel more vulnerable?

The senator also raised a second case where a young father was sent away because he was not in the hospital's catchment area but was promised that the matter would be followed up in the correct area but this never happened.

Unfortunately and tragically, this young man took his own life, leaving a family in despair and a young child without a father. That in turn becomes a whole family trauma and leads to mental health difficulties, she said.

The senator stressed the unpredictability of mental health crises, noting that individuals do not plan to get sick, and crises often arise unexpectedly.

"It is necessary to provide the necessary support and guidance to those individuals and families during these challenging times," she emphasised.

Senator McGreehan drew attention to what she said were inadequacies in the current system, pointing out the difficulties individuals and families face in finding help during a crisis. She called for increased support workers and trained professionals in hospitals to assist patients and their families effectively.

In response, Minister of State Mary Butler, said that the government had this year launched the crisis resolution services model of care.

She said: It represents a significant step forward in the provision of targeted mental health supports for people experiencing a crisis. It also fulfils a long-standing goal, aligning with a number of recommendations in Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy.

She continued: Crisis resolution teams are community-based multidisciplinary teams that provide rapid assessment and intensive support to individuals who are in a mental health crisis, working rapidly and cooperatively to help people in a mental health crisis. 

She concluded by stating that she was happy to speak to the Senator about the two cases she raised to see if I can do anything to help.
CORKS favourite Derry Girl, the Aherla- born actor Siobhan McSweeney, is to return to Irish screens on Monday when she and her fellow Derry Girl, Kathy Kiera Clark, are the main course for the premiere of the second season of The Shared Table.

Siobhan, who played Sister Michael in the Emmy-Award winning series, and Kathy who won viewers over with her portrayal of madcap Aunt Sarah, will take viewers on what is described as a culinary journey filled with authentic Italian delights in the first episode of the Virgin Media Two series which airs at 10pm on Monday.

The series, which was filmed partly in The Anglers Restaurant in Carrigrohane, is described as a chat show with delicious food and a homage to the apparently unique Italian ritual of dining together.

Siobhan McSweeney, who added to her BAFTA win for her portrayal of Sister Michael in Derry Girls with a UK Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance in a play for her role as Winnie in Samuel Becketts Happy Days, is thrilled to be returning to Cork for the series.

For me the show radiates warmth, she said.

It also helped that the series is sponsored by Italian beer company, Birra Moretti.

Filming brought an eclectic group of people together over good food and great beer, she said.

And I cant wait to hear what viewers think when our episode airs. Getting to share the table with my Derry Girls co-star and friend Kathy Kiera was the icing on the cake!
WE live in an age where facts and stats are constantly at our fingertips, brought out and used as ammunition whenever we put forth arguments and opinions.

But sometimes, you dont need to be armed with hard evidence; your common sense and life experiences are all you need.

So, when I heard that there was a proposal to force motorists aged over 70 to undergo refresher courses and medical tests every five years in order to renew their licence, I didnt need to access a slew of facts on road safety, accidents, and deaths on Google or Wikipedia.

As a motorist for 35 years, and one who fears the standards of driving are deteriorating to worrying levels in recent times, I instinctively knew this idea was a load of baloney.

What are the European Commission - the brains behind this daft plan - thinking?

Fair enough, the safety of the continents roads is a pressing problem, particularly here in Ireland where we are heading for levels of road deaths in 2023 not seen since the bad old days of a decade or more ago.

But I would posit that the over 70s are in fact the safest, slowest, most courteous and cognisant of the rules of the road of all of the age cohorts.

Refresher courses? Medical tests? How insulting! They should be the ones giving the refresher courses!

I could hand the European Commission a list of areas where new rules could make a difference to the toll of tragedy, which dont penalise the safest group.

Heres a few, just off the top of my head:

More traffic police at accident blackspots - rather than situated at safe areas where they merely catch drivers out with fines and milk them as cash cows.

More speed cameras in operation in residential areas.

More speed cameras and policing at traffic lights to catch those going through on red.

A dedicated road corps with the power to pull over motorists and explain to them how they have been flouting the rules of the road.

Public information advice on TV and on posters, explaining how to use a roundabout and when to use your indicators (sadly, Im not joking).

Unmarked police on bicycles and on foot in built-up areas, catching and fining motorists using their phones while behind the wheel.

A ban on anyone under 18 from driving tractors on public roads.

All of these measures would have an immediate impact in Ireland, and only the last one has an age factor - but having said that, I would wager that few over 70s would be troubled if any of the above policies came into play.

Teenagers and young people, however, would have cause to change their behaviour. We call them boy racers, not geriatric racers, for a reason.

The next generation up would also have to adapt their behaviour - the busy, impatient parents in their SUVs on the school run, or the people in work vans and trucks being driven to distraction by satnavs, hands-free phones, Google maps, eircodes, and all other manner of gadgetry.

The over 70s? The safest people behind the wheel? There is simply no need to introduce legislation to address a problem that doesnt exist.

Not alone would such proposals be unnecessary and ineffective, they would also be damaging. Taking mobility away from the elderly would potentially isolate them and reduce their independence.

Not only that, but forcing elderly drivers from their cars could lead to more elderly pedestrians - and a third of all people aged over 65 killed in road traffic collisions are pedestrians, with the figure as high as 50% for fatalities in older women.

This mess of a plan also sends the complete wrong message to older motorists - that they are somehow a burden on society. Get outta my way, grandad, coming through!

The Commission seems to be under some illusion that older people are a major problem on our roads, but as Professor Desmond ONeill, chairperson of the Irish Society of Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, pointed out this week: This is the myth that wont die  that older drivers are more dangerous and that by screening them, we reduce crashes.

Professor ONeill is vehemently opposed to the plan for refresher courses and medical tests for over 70s, and pointed out that there was a widespread body of international research which demonstrated what most of us know already - that older drivers are the safest group of motorists on roads around the world.

Besides, there are already measures in place in regards handing out driving licences to the elderly.

In Ireland, motorists aged 65-71 can renew a licence up to their 75th birthday, while those aged 72-74 are only able to obtain a three-year licence. Any motorist aged 75 or over can get either a one or three-year licence, subject to certification of fitness to drive by their doctor.

The good news is that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar - a former GP, lets not forget - is also minded to oppose this European Commission proposal.

Frailty affects people much later in life than it used to and I see loads of people in their 70s and early 80s who are as sharp mentally and physically as many people in their 40s and 50s are, he said this week.

I think it does make sense not to have kind of strict cut-off ages, but actually to assess people based on their cognitive ability and their physical ability, he added.

Exactly. The European Commission proposal is not only ageist, it is utterly wrong-headed. A car crash, in other words.
Kenneth Fox

There is a heavy garda presence in Dublin city on Saturday as the clean-up continues following Thursday's riots.

Government ministers held a briefing on Friday night on the knife attack outside a school in Parnell Square that led to the unrest and violence that followed.

Thirty-two people have already appeared before the courts and further arrests are expected to follow as gardai examine tips and trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage.

A five-year-old girl remains in critical condition and her carer is also seriously injured in hospital after Thursday's knife attack in the city.

A six-year-old girl is also being treated in hospital, while a five-year-old boy has been discharged.

The suspect in the attack is in hospital - under guard, after a series of threats against him.

Overnight, the city was calm, apart from a number of arrests for sporadic public order offences.

There were a small number of arrests as gardai mounted a significant security operation around the OConnell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Amid criticism of the Garda response to the riots, Government ministers met and heard that legislation to facilitate the use of body-worn cameras by police officers will be fast-tracked.

She also insisted that the police force has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend, including securing the use of two water cannons from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Ms McEntee also rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to resign.
Black Friday ignites intense French debate

PARIS  A public schism has emerged between ministers in the French government, sparked by an advertising campaign encouraging the public to shun discounted items in Black Friday sales.

Meanwhile, various campaign groups have united in taking to the streets of Paris to protest against the perpetuation of fast fashion business practices.

An advertising campaign discouraging consumers from engaging with the annual Black Friday sales, commissioned by the Agence de la Transition Ecologique (ADEME), Frances environment ministry, has become the target of criticism from several quarters  not least, the nations economy minister Bruno Le Maire.

In comments made publicly he has clashed with ministerial counterpart Christophe Bechu, whose brief includes ecological transition, over a series of short videos urging shoppers not to buy new clothing as part of the yearly retail tradition imported from the United States.

Le Maire claims that discouraging consumer spending at a time when bricks-and-mortar retailers need support is ill-conceived.

The disagreement highlights on ongoing tension within the French government regarding the importance and compatibility of economic and ecological considerations. The nation has been at the forefront of fashion-specific legislation in recent years, including through introducing a five-year 154 million scheme offering to pay consumers for repairing clothes rather than buying new.

While in an appearance on French radio Bechu conceded that a campaign specifically targeting international online retailers would probably have been more appropriate, there are no signs from ADEME that the videos will be withdrawn  despite calls for this from several commerce associations.

The 30-second adverts are still available to view via the ministrys YouTube channel, all of which take an irreverent look at the practices of consumers being sold discounted Black Friday items they do not need.

While Le Maire was taking a stance against the ADEME ad campaign, he himself was the target of a Black Friday demonstration in central Paris. Protesters are calling on the minister to enshrine in law a requirement that fashion brands honour human rights and environmental commitments throughout supply chains.

The #StopFastFashion action brought together campaigners from groups including Action Aid France, Friends of the Earth France, Fashion Revolution France and Zero Waste France.

At the demonstration, activists strung up washing lines on which they hung garments emblazoned with slogans such as victims of fashion and we consume their exploitation.

With 150 billion items of clothing produced per year worldwide, overproduction in the textile industry has become a climate and human bomb that must be urgently defused, said a statement from Friends of the Earth France which was released to coincide with the protest.

Faced with an industry that has become expert in manufacturing new consumer needs, basing action on the choice of individuals will never be a solution. We are asking the government to be truly ambitious by capping the production volumes of fast-fashion brands. To consume less, we must first produce less.
(Photo: Sean Hawkey / WCC)Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal President of Germany addressed the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September 2022.

Germany's President, Frank Steinmeier, has taken aim at Russia as he stressed that the leadership of the Orthodox Church of Russia justifies and supports the war of his country's political leadership in Ukraine.

Steinmeier attended the first day of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Karlsruhe on Aug. 31 evoking criticism for his remarks from the Russian church, for interference.

He said he was happy that the first assembly of the World Council of Churches in Europe after 50 years was being held in Germany.

"The heads of the Russian Orthodox Church are currently leading their members and their entire church down a dangerous and indeed blasphemous path that goes against all that they believe," said the German leader.

The Russian Orthodox Church is the biggest Orthodox church in the WCC.

The WCC represents over 580 million Christians and includes most of the world's Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, and many United and Independent churches..

Referring to the Russian Orthodox Church Steinmeier said, "They are justifying a war of aggression against Ukraine  against their own and our own brothers and sisters in the faith."

'SPEAK OUT'

He noted, "We have to speak out, also here in this room, in this Assembly, against this propaganda targeting the freedom and rights of the citizens of another country, this nationalism, which arbitrarily claims that a dictatorship's imperial dreams of hegemony are God's will."

The German president said, "How many women, men and children have become victims of this hatemongering, hatred, and criminal violence?

"Carpet bombings targeted attacks on civilian buildings, apartment blocks, hospitals, shopping centers, stations, and public spaces. War crimes take place in full view of the world."

"Here, today, we cannot remain silent. We must call it by its name. We must denounce it. As a Christian community, we must express our commitment to the dignity and the freedom and the security of the people of Ukraine."

The Russian Orthodox Church hit back, however, in a statement from the Department for External Church Relations chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk.

"The President of Germany's address contained completely unsubstantiated accusations fully ignoring all the humanitarian efforts the Moscow Patriarchate made in the context of the confrontation in Ukraine as well as an outright demand that the WCC Assembly should condemn the Russian Orthodox Church," said Anthony.

The Russian church leader said he believes Steinmeier's position "is an example of rude pressure made by a high-ranking representative of state power on the oldest inter-Christian organization.

"It is interference in the internal affairs of the World Council of Churches, an attempt to question the peace-making and politically neutral nature of its work."
(Photo:  Peter Kenny)Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk on June 5, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland was until recently considered the No. 2 to Moscow Patriarch Kirill, a supporter of Vladimir Putin. Now he has been sidelined.

Pope Francis plans to meet with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, in September n Kazakhstan as many in the world live in hope that the confidante of Vladimir Putin can play a role in getting Moscow to cease its war in Ukraine.

According to Catholic News Service, the Pope confirmed the meeting in an interview aired in the United States on July 11 on Univision, the Spanish-language network.

"We are going to meet in Kazakhstan in September because there is a religious meeting" that both have promised to attend, he said.

It would be just the second face-to-face meeting between Francis and Kirill and the first since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

The invasion was an attack that Francis said had pulled Ukraine into a "cruel and senseless war," The New York Times reported on July 13.

The two religious leaders had spoken by video in March. Still, Kirill spent a good part of that meeting reading prepared remarks that echoed the arguments of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, said the Times.

'PUTIN'S ALTAR BOY'

Francis told an Italian newspaper he had told Kirill that the men were not "clerics of the state" and said the patriarch cannot be "Putin's altar boy."

In the Univision interview aired on July 11, Francis said he shared a "good relationship" with the patriarch.

"It is evident that his position is conditioned by his homeland in some way," Francis said. "Which is not to say that he is an indecent man."

He noted, "God knows each person's moral responsibilities in the depth of their hearts."

In an Easter message to Kirill on April 22, Francis said, "Dear Brother! May the Holy Spirit transform our hearts and make us true peacemakers, especially for war-torn Ukraine, so that the great Easter passage from death to new life in Christ may become a reality for the Ukrainian people, who long for a new dawn that will end the darkness of war."

Although the Vatican has not officially announced the visit, Kazakh authorities said the Pope confirmed his participation at the Congress of World and Traditional Religions during a Zoom meeting in April with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

INTERRELIGIOUS MEETING

The interreligious meeting will occur in the capital city, Nur-Sultan, Sept. 14-15.

Francis also commented on the abrupt dismissal of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk as head of external relations for the Russian Orthodox Church.

In a statement released June 7, the Russian Orthodox Church said the metropolitan was "released from his duties" and appointed administrator of the Diocese of Budapest and Hungary.

The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) reported on July 5 that r Putin had sacked Metropolitan Hilarion, often described as the foreign minister of the Russian Orthodox church and effectively its deputy head.

"Even if you're not an ecclesiastical expert or even just an occasional watcher of the church, this personnel move really matters because the institution is a semi-official arm of the Putin regime," wrote Elisabeth Braw.

"Until his dismissal last month, Hilarion was the church's de facto crown prince. And unlike its current leader, the woodenly pro-regime Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Hilarion is an energetic and highly intelligent cleric, a noted theologian, and an accomplished composer," she wrote.

"And while Kirill's steadfast support for the Kremlin's policies seems to be motivated mostly by opportunism, Hilarion has over the years toed the line but in a more independent manner."

Pope Francis told Univision it was "obvious that the war has had a great impact on the Russian church."

"The change in the Ministry of External Relations of the patriarchate shows that there is some sort of issue," he said. "I'm not saying it is a good or bad thing, and I say it with all due respect."
(Photo: Courtesy Saddleback Valley Community Church)Pastor Rick Warren and his wife Kay (left) announcing their successors as next Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church (on his left) Pastor Andy Wood and his spouse, Stacie.

Pastor Rick Warren, considered one of the most influential Evangelical Christians in the United States as leader of the Saddleback Church, has announced his successor when he retires in September.

He and wife Kay are stepping down after more than 40 years of ministry as of Sept. 12.

"Kay and I are thrilled to publicly announce our next Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church and his wife: Andy and Stacie Wood, who will be coming to lead Saddleback from their 14-year ministry at Echo Church in San Jose, California,"

"Like Kay and me, Andy and Stacie started a brand-new Purpose Driven Church with just a handful of people and they grew it to nearly 3,000 attendees on four campuses.

Warren will preach his final sermon series in August before Wood starts at Saddleback.

He authored the best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, and grew Saddleback Church from a small Bible study group back in 1980 to a 15-city megachurch today with over 20,000 people attending each week.

Warren is a fourth-generation Southern Baptist pastor.

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST COLLEGE

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist College, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Wort, Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.

He turned down an offer to become pastor of a 5,000-member church in Texas during his last year in seminary, he and his family arrived in California's Saddleback Valley in January 1980 to establish a church, according to Britannica.com

He explained, "43 years ago this month, in June of 1979, while I was a student at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, I had my Damascus Road experience. It was not a blinding light like Paul saw.

"Instead, it was with the dim light of a single 75-watt bulb hanging from the ceiling, on an old cord in a dusty storage room. It happened in the basement of nearby Texas Christian University Library where I had gone to research U.S. Census statistics on West Coast cities."

EYES FIXED ON SADDLEBACK

He said it was then his eyes had fixed on the Saddleback for the first time.

"I felt my gaze strangely frozen on that word. I couldn't take my eyes off it! The word Saddleback captivated my heart and I felt electric excitement running through my body," Warren recalled in making his sucessor announement.

"At that moment, God whispered, 'That's where I want you to invest your life growing a new church.' I started sobbing. That was my calling to serve you. From that moment on, for the next 43 years, every single day of my life would be dominated by that word, Saddleback."

Andy and Stacie Wood were in a group of people who planted Echo Church in 2008 and had been leading it since. The couple helped the church grow and launch different campuses, attracting an average of 3,000 people to their services each week.

In a statement, the couple said: "We've been so blessed by their friendship, and after months of prayer and seeking counsel from others, we believe that God has called us together to step into serving at Saddleback Church."
(Photo: LWF/ Rodrick Beiler)Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, dances with Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of South Africa to celebrate some 1.8 million signatures on an interfaith petition for climate justice during the COP21 climate summit in Paris, France.

The All Africa Conference of Churches has conferred its Human Rights Award on Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town for speaking out against an economy that remains discriminatory in South Africa.

The AACC, conferred the award on the Anglican leader at the Nov. 18-23, 12th general assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, this week.

It praised Makgoba in particular for his advocacy of the interests of the poor in South Africa which was once infamous for its apartheid ideology which discriminated against the black majority in the country..

Makgoba, who is quiet-spoken, was a young man following the now deceased Desmond Tutu as the leader of southern African Anglicans, and is seen by many as having some of the former Nobel Peace Prize winner's traits.

'DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETY'

"Although South Africa has a sound Constitution and a relatively well-developed economy, it remains a deeply divided society, wherein a high proportion of the country's income is earned by a few and a small proportion is earned by the vast majority," the citation for the award said.

The AACC is a continental ecumenical body that encapsulates more than 200 million Christians across the African continent.

The grouping is the biggest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and Indigenous churches in Africa, and a member of the worldwide ecumenical network.

As an ecumenical body, AACC is a fellowship of 210 members comprising of Churches, National Christian Councils, theological and lay training institutions, and other Christian organizations in 43 African countries.

"Although South Africa has a sound Constitution and a relatively well-developed economy, it remains a deeply divided society, wherein a high proportion of the country's income is earned by a few and a small proportion is earned by the vast majority," the citation for the award said.

The AACC noted that in the tradition of outspoken church leaders who campaigned against apartheid, Makgoba "chose to speak out and advocate publicly against an economy in which wealth is passed on from generation to generation, while the poor are excluded from the benefits of the economy."

It also cited Archbishop Makgoba's "walks of witness" with other religious leaders to areas in which people are suffering, and his marches with other faith leaders against corruption.

It noted that Makgoba experienced animosity from political leaders who told church leaders to keep religion out of politics.

The citation said he addressed this "by rejecting the worldview of distinguishing between religion and politics, and adopting the African worldview, which he thinks teaches that God is the God of all life, religious or political."

In his acceptance speech, Makgoba quoted himself in an interview saying that at the heart of the church's advocacy of Democracy, Human Rights, Good Governance and the Rule of Law is our care for God's people.

That includes their welfare, safety and inclusion in the kind of economic and social development which will ensure the abundant life which Jesus promises them.

"For me, my public ministry over the years has centred on carrying out walks of witness, and working within a prophetic theological framework which I call the new struggle," said Makgoba.
Business reception aims to strengthen Celtic partnership

The Chief Minister hosted a business reception at the DLA Piper offices in Dublin on Wednesday.

Representatives from more than 50 Manx and Irish companies gathered as the Chief Minister outlined his commitment to strengthening the Celtic partnership and developing business opportunities between the Isle of Man and Ireland.

Alfred Cannan expressed his delight at being in Dublin and sharing the podium with Sean Fleming TD, Irelands Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In his welcome, the Chief Minister outlined his vision for increased business cooperation between the Isle of Man and Ireland in various business sectors. Digital, sustainable finance, eGaming, insurtech and tourism are just some of the areas where the two countries could cooperate with mutual benefit.

Commenting on the event, the Chief Minister said: I believe that this visit creates a platform to both strengthen and re-invigorate the business relationships between Ireland and the Isle of Man which will enable us to leverage our longstanding Celtic ties.
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If you recently treated yourself to a Samsung Galaxy S23, Amazons Black Friday 2023 sale will allow you to complete your setup with a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro . Thanks to a 33 percent discount, the earbuds are $160 at the moment. Thats a new all-time low price for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which normally cost $240.

All three colorways  graphite, white and bora purple  are included in the sale, and, as of the writing of this article, in stock. Additionally, the retailer is offering a $10 Amazon gift alongside the earbuds, though you can forgo them if you want an additional $3 discount off the price of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

While the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro didnt make the cut for the list of the best wireless earbuds you can buy in 2023 , theyre still a great option, particularly if you own a Samsung phone. When he reviewed them last year, Engadgets resident audio geek, Senior Editor Billy Steele, awarded the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro a score of 86. At the time, he found them to be one of Samsungs best sounding pairs of earbuds. They offer plenty of bass without losing detail in the low end. Moreover, the sound signature is open while also being full and filled with detail and clarity. At the same time, Samsung managed to improve noise cancellation performance and, more importantly, the fit of the earbuds. Compared to their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are noticeably more comfortable, though the touch controls can make fit adjustments tricky.

Compared to newer models, the Buds 2 Pro could offer better battery life. In our testing, Steele found they were good for about five hours before they needed charging. If you end up using ANC a lot, the included charging case provides approximately 18 hours of additional use, which is less than most competing models. Call quality is also lacking, and as with any pair of first-party earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will work best with a Samsung phone  though of course its possible to pair them with any Bluetooth-compatible device.
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Black Friday is often a boon for deals on headphones and earbuds, and this year is no different. The shopping holiday has brought a plethora of deals on all kinds of headphones, include several top picks from our guides to the best wireless headphones, wireless earbuds, budget wireless earbuds and gaming headsets. Other popular models from the likes of Sony, Beats, Bose and Apple are discounted as well. All of this means it's an ideal time to pick up a new set, whether it's to give as a gift to someone on your holiday shopping list or just to replace your own aging cans. To help you get a good bargain, we've rounded up the best Black Friday deals on headphones and earbuds we could find for 2023.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget Sony WH-1000XM5 $328 $400 Save $72 Black Friday has brought the top pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones back down to its all-time lowest price. $328 at Amazon

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is down to $328 at Amazon, B&H and other retailers, which is a $72 drop and ties the lowest price weve seen. This is the top pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones, and we gave it a review score of 95 last year. Its active noise cancellation (ANC) is among the better options weve tested, its design is comfortable to wear over extended periods and its battery lasts a solid 30 or so hours per charge. The sound goes heavy on the bass by default, which should please fans of hip-hop and pop music, but you can customize the EQ curve through Sonys app. Like many Sony headphones, it also comes with a number of useful bonus features; Speak-to-Chat, for instance, automatically pauses your music when you start speaking.

Sony WF-1000XM5

For an in-ear pair, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is also on sale for $248 at Amazon, B&H and others. (Yes, Sonys headphone naming scheme is bad.) That matches the lowest price weve seen and comes in $52 below Sonys usual list price. This set tops our list of the best wireless earbuds and earned a score of 87 in our review this past July. Like the over-ear XM5 above, it offers a host of useful features, a warm yet customizable sound, powerful ANC and a comfortably snug fit that naturally isolates a good chunk of outside noise on its own. Battery life should sit around seven to eight hours with average use.

Sony WH-1000XM4

If you dont want to pay up for Sonys highest-end noise-canceling headphones, Amazon, Adorama and B&H have the older Sony WH-1000XM4 down to $248 as well. While that isnt an all-time low, its $100 off Sonys list price and a little lower than the usual sale price weve seen over the course of the year. The XM4 delivers similar ANC and battery performance as its successor and has nearly the same feature set. Unlike the XM5, it can also fold up for easier storage. However, its mics arent as clear for calls, its a little bulkier (though its still comfy) and it sounds a bit boomier out of the box. But at this price, its still a strong value. We gave it a 94 in our review back in 2020.

Apple AirPods Pro

Apples AirPods Pro are on sale for $190 at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy. That's $60 less than buying from Apple directly and ties an all-time low. This is the best for iOS pick in our wireless earbuds guide thanks to its suite of helpful Apple-specific features, including hands-free access to Siri, quick pairing with iPhones and device tracking through Apples Find My network. Effective (if not class-leading) ANC, a superb transparency mode and a pleasantly warm sound also stand out. That said, the Pros six-hour battery life is just average and, as with any set of AirPods, you pretty much have to be a dedicated Apple fan to get the most out of it.

This deal applies to the latest iteration of the earphones, which come with a USB-C charging case. If you dont mind using a Lightning charging case, Walmart has the previous version on sale for a new low of $169. Either way, we gave the AirPods Pro a review score of 88 last year.

Apple AirPods (3rd-gen)

The third-gen AirPods are available for $140 at Amazon, Target, Best Buy and others. Typically, these wireless earbuds have retailed between $10 and $20 higher in recent months, but steeper discounts have been uncommon. We gave this pair a review score of 88 back in 2021: There are certainly better-sounding options for the money, but the third-gen AirPods sound noticeably richer than their predecessor, and their haptic touch controls are altogether more convenient. This is another open design, though, so there still isnt much in the way of deep bass or noise cancellation. Not everyone will find the wider earpieces comfortable either.

Apple AirPods (2nd Gen)

The second-gen AirPods are down to $80 at Amazon and Target, which isnt an all-time low but comes in roughly $20 below the pairs usual street price in recent months. These are Apples entry-level wireless earbuds, having launched way back in 2019. Theyre a bit tougher to recommend these days, as their one-size-fits-all design wont fit everyone and you can get better sound quality even at this discounted rate. But if you prefer an open design that doesnt completely seal off your ear canal or just want the typical AirPods conveniences for as cheap as possible, this is at least a more acceptable price.

Apple AirPods Max

Apples top-of-the-line headphones, the AirPods Max, are discounted to $450 at Amazon and Best Buy. Thats $20 more than the lowest price weve seen but about $30 below the pairs usual street price. Apple itself sells the headphones for $550. The AirPods Max are still overpriced for most even with this discount, but they remain undeniably premium, with top-tier ANC, a superbly balanced sound profile, a high-quality aluminum design, reliable controls and all the usual AirPods features. Theyre hefty, though, and their included case is bafflingly flimsy. We gave the AirPods Max a review score of 84 in late 2020.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Boses new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are $50 off at multiple retailers, bringing the over-ear cans down to $379. Outside of a very brief drop a few weeks back that may have been a pricing error, this is the first significant discount weve seen. Bose only released the QuietComfort Ultra last month. We gave it a score of 86 in our review, praising its predictably comfy design, outstanding ANC, above-average call quality and bassy default sound. We still recommend the Sony XM5 to most, as that pair offers a wider feature set and the ability to be used passively (i.e., without being turned on), but the QuietComfort Ultra may still be worth a look if you must have especially powerful noise cancellation.

Well also note that the new, non-Ultra QuietComfort Headphones are $100 off, bringing them down to a new low of $249. We havent reviewed this model yet, but its the follow-up to 2021s QuietComfort 45, which we generally liked. Other reviews suggest it has a more bass-heavy sound, though, and wed expect it to be a slight step down from the Ultra across the board.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

The new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, meanwhile, are down to $249 at several stores. That's another $50 discount and an all-time low. We gave these in-ears a review score of 88 in September and recently named them the best for noise cancellation pick in our wireless earbuds buying guide. As that title suggests, the main reason to consider this pair over the Sony WF-1000XM5 is its ANC performance, which is the strongest weve tested from a true wireless model. We also enjoy Boses spatial audio tech. But the earpieces are on the larger side, the call quality and battery life (at six-ish hours) are just OK and theres no support for multi-device pairing.

Beats Fit Pro

The Beats Fit Pro is back down to $159, which isnt an all-time low but is still roughly $20 below its average street price. This is the best for workouts pick in our wireless earbuds buying guide, as it packs many of the iOS-friendly conveniences of Apples AirPods in a sportier and more stable design. It also uses physical control buttons instead of touch panels, and its punchy sound plays well with most popular music. But it cant connect to multiple devices at once, it doesnt support wireless charging and its ANC, while fine, isnt as capable as the AirPods Pros. The Fit Pro earned a score of 87 in our review from 2021.

Beats Studio Pro

The Beats Studio Pro is down to $170 for Black Friday at Amazon, Target and Best Buy. That tops the pairs previous low by $10 and falls about $130 below its average street price in recent months. The Studio Pro isnt a top pick in any of our guides, but we gave it a solid review score of 81 in July. Its sound is largely pleasant and even-handed, its ANC is strong enough to be useful and it can stream higher-quality audio if you connect over a USB-C cable. It works well with both iOS and Android, too, though it doesnt support multi-device pairing on the former. Theres no auto-pausing when you remove the headphones, either, and the design is mostly made of plastic. But if you like the Beats style, those flaws should be a little easier to accept at this price.

Amazon Echo Buds (2023)

We recommend the Amazon Echo Buds in our budget wireless earbuds guide to those who hate the feeling of traditional in-ear headphones. Theyre now down to $35 for Black Friday, a $15 drop that matches an all-time low. The Echo Buds have a semi-open design, so they let in a good amount of outside noise and cant produce deep bass, but some will find the shape preferable to a pair that sticks in their ear canals. They can sound perfectly decent with a bit of EQ tweaking, while features like multi-device pairing, wear detection and hands-free Alexa are all nice to have. However, theres no wireless charging, the battery life (five or so hours per charge) is mediocre and the IPX2 sweat-resistance rating is too weak for the gym. Amazons companion app is rather bloated too. But those shouldnt be deal-breakers for $35. We gave the Echo Buds a review score of 77 in July.

Anker Soundcore Space A40

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 is one of the best values in wireless earphones at its normal price of $79, but now its down to $54 for Black Friday. That ties the lowest price weve tracked. The Space A40 tops our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds because it delivers most of the features we expect from headphones that cost twice as much. Its comfortable, its ANC is genuinely capable, its battery lasts up to 10 hours per charge, its tiny case supports wireless charging and it can pair with two devices at once. Its warm sound will be pleasing enough for most by default, but it can also be customized through a clean companion app. The only major downsides are middling mic quality and a lack of auto-pausing when you remove an earbud.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the runner up in our budget wireless earbuds guide, as it offers a highly similar feature set as the Space A40 but comes in a larger stem design reminiscent of Apples AirPods. It has a more bass-forward sound by default, which some may find fatiguing, but it also has slightly more extensive touch controls and technically supports wear detection. Right now the Liberty 4 NC is down to $70 at Amazon, B&H and Best Buy, which beats its previous low by $10 and falls $30 below Ankers list price. If you prefer this kind of bulkier but easier-to-remove shape, this is an excellent value.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45

If youre after a wallet-friendly pair of noise-canceling over-ear headphones, Ankers Soundcore Space Q45 is worth a look at its Black Friday price of $100. For that amount, this pairs better-than-average ANC, softly padded design and multi-device pairing make for a strong value. Its V-shaped sound profile isnt especially detailed, but it can work well enough for pop music and its customizable through Ankers app. Call quality is mediocre, however. This $50 discount matches the lowest price weve tracked, and it's available at both Amazon and Anker's online store; just use the on-page coupon for the latter.

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT is a modest $10 off for Black Friday, bringing the wireless headphones down to $69. We saw this pair fall to $55 during Amazons Prime Day sale in July, but this is about as low as its been outside of that. The M20 is the budget pick in our wireless headphones guide thanks to its comfortable fit, 60-hour battery life, multi-device connectivity and relatively detailed audio quality. It lacks ANC and doesnt have the sturdiest design, but it should do the job if you just need a no-frills wireless headphone for cheap.

EarFun Free 2S

The EarFun Free 2S is down to $24.59 at Amazon with a Prime-only discount and the checkout code FREE2SPD1. Thats an all-time low. The Free 2S is the best under $50 pick in our budget wireless earbuds guide. It has a hugely bass-forward sound out of the box, but some may enjoy that with hip-hop or EDM and the profile is customizable through the EarFun app. The earpieces are comfortable and fully waterproof, the battery lasts around seven hours, and the suite of touch controls work reliably, which isnt a given in this price range. Theres no ANC, multi-device connectivity or wear detection, however, and the built-in mic will pick up wind noise if youre on a call outside.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro + $10 Amazon gift card

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are on sale for $160 for Black Friday, and you can get them with a $10 Amazon gift card for no extra cost. Thats a good way from their all-time low  they very briefly fell to $105 last year  but its still $30 or so less than their average selling price in recent months. While the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro arent a top pick in any of our guides, theyre worth a look if you use a Galaxy phone, as they can quickly pair with and swap between other Samsung devices (including TVs) and support a higher-quality audio codec on the companys handsets. More generally, this is one of the better sounding pairs of wireless earphones weve tested, with impressive clarity and well-controlled bass, and the buds themselves are both comfortable and waterproof. You cant connect to two devices at once, however, and the five-hour battery life is poor. We gave the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro a review score of 86 last year.

Jabra Elite 3

Another pick from our budget wireless earbuds guide, the Jabra Elite 3, is down to $40 at Best Buy. That matches the best price weve tracked. This pairs mildly bass-boosted sound is great for the money, and its snug, IP55-rated design is well-suited for workouts. Its a relatively basic set, though, as it lacks ANC, multi-device pairing, wireless charging and wear detection. But those omissions are easier to accept for $40. We gave the Elite 3 a score of 88 in our review from September 2021.

JLab Go Air Pop

The JLab Go Air Pop is available for $17 at Amazon, which isn't an all-time low  the pair was briefly down to just $10 at Walmart earlier this week  but still takes about $6 off their usual going rate. We highlight the Go Air Pop as an honorable mention in our budget wireless earbuds guide. Its IPX4-rated design is light and generally comfortable, its battery lasts around eight or nine hours per charge and, unlike many cheap earphones, its touch controls actually work. Its boomy sound profile wont win any awards, predictably, but its well beyond serviceable for less than $20. JLab even bakes three different EQ presets directly into the earphones. If youre looking for a cheap backup to your main wireless earphones, this is a great value.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

The Google Pixel Buds Pro are available for a new low of $115 at Wellbots, which is about $50 off their average street price. Other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy have them for $5 more. We call the Pixel Buds Pro the best option for Android users in our wireless earbuds buying guide due to their tight integration with the OS (and Googles Pixel phones in particular). Their ANC and V-shaped sound are solid (if not superlative) as well, and they can last between up to 11 hours depending on how often you use the former. The fit may be tricky for those with smaller ear canals, though. We gave this pair a score of 87 in our review last year.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X

Beyerdynamic's DT 900 Pro X headphones are down to $249 at Amazon and Target from a trusted third-party seller. Thats only $20 off their usual going rate, but we havent seen many larger discounts over the past few months. The DT 900 Pro X is a wired pair of open-back headphones designed for critical listening at home. Its currently the top pick in our guide to the best headphones for gaming, as its wonderfully spacious sound does well to envelop you in the fine details of any given game. Like most open-back cans, it cant produce truly deep sub-bass, but it delivers enough low-end to give in-game explosions a powerful sense of impact. A set of soft velour earpads keep the whole thing comfortable, though it cant fold up, and the open design means it wont block much external noise when youre outside of the house.

Sennheiser HD 560S

The Sennheiser HD 560S is another open-back pair of wired headphones we highlight in our gaming headset guide. Its down to $150 at Amazon, B&H, Sennheisers online store and other retailers  thats not an incredible deal, as the pair often sold for the same rate earlier in the year, but its about $30 less than the street price weve seen since the summer. Regardless, the HD 560S offers a pleasingly balanced, spacious and detailed sound profile and a frame thats comfortable to wear for extended periods. It can sometimes sound a little piercing in the treble, its not as sturdily built as the DT 900 Pro X and, again, itll leak and let in lots of noise. But if you want audio-centric headphones for less than $200, this is one of the better options in the price range.

In other Sennheiser deals, the Drop X Sennheiser HD 6XX is on sale for $169 at Drop, a $50 discount thats only $10 more than the lowest price weve tracked. We havent formally reviewed this pair, but Engadgets audio expert Billy Steele gave some positive impressions in a hands-on way back in 2016, and the pair upon which its based (the Sennheiser HD 650) has long been a favorite among audiophiles. If youd prefer an open-back pair with a little more bass warmth, it might be worth a look.

Astro A40 TR

Our favorite dedicated gaming headset for most people, the Astro A40 TR, is down to $100 at Amazon. Thats a $30 discount. This deal bundles the headset with Astros MixAmp M80, an optional amp that connects to Xbox controllers and provides various audio controls. Even without the accessory, we like the open-back A40 for providing a wider soundstage than most gaming headsets. Its not as open or detailed as the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X or Sennheiser HD 560S, and it misses more detail in the treble range, but its immersive, with a slight bass boost gives in-game effects a little extra boom. The headset as a whole looks gamer-y, but its comfortable. And while its built-in mic isnt the clearest weve tested, its at least serviceable for basic chat.

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

If all you want is a decent gaming headset for as little as possible, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is worth considering at $35. Thats only $5 below its usual going rate, but it matches the lowest price weve seen. The Cloud Stinger 2 is the budget pick in our gaming headset guide: It sounds narrower and less balanced than the Astro A40, but its built-in mic is great for the money and its bass-heavy profile at least makes action scenes feel a little more exciting. Its all comfy, too, though its largely made of plastic.

Logitech G535

The Logitech G535 is another honorable mention in our gaming headsets guide, one that should specifically appeal to those who want a wireless option for less than $100. If thats you, good news: Its available for just under $80 at Amazon, B&H and Best Buy, which is about $25 off its usual street price. The G535s noticeably light frame, relatively balanced sound and Bluetooth support all impress for the price; just note that it doesnt work with Xbox, and that its mic sounds a bit thinner than the wired headsets highlighted above. Its battery life clocks in at 30 to 35 hours per charge, which is decent but not great.

Shokz OpenRun Pro

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget Shokz OpenRun Pro $125 $180 Save $55 If you want a pair of headphones that don't totally shut you out from the outside world, the bone-conducting Shokz OpenRun Pro are worth a look. $125 at Amazon

The Shokz OpenRun Pro is back down to $125 for Black Friday, which is $25 more than its all-time low but $55 less than its usual street price. These are bone conduction headphones, which means they go around the side of your head and deliver sound via vibrations to your skull. If you want to listen to music and podcasts without totally blocking the outside world, they might make sense. The flipsides are that theyre harder to use in noisier areas and, generally speaking, not as full-sounding as traditional in-ear headphones. Engadget Editor Jon Turi found this pair to deliver more low-end depth than most of its peers, however. It can also last up to 10 hours per charge.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoos Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblogs experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
Atul Bhardwaj writes:

Xi Jinping, the President of China, embarked on his first visit to the United States (US) in six years with the primary goal not being the resolution of all the challenges in the USChina relationship. During a working lunch in California, Xi and his US counterpart, Joe Biden, aimed to refresh and stabilise bilateral ties while mitigating escalating tensions. The outcome of the meeting included limited agreements such as China agreeing to reopen military-to-military dialogues (discontinued after the then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022) and making a commitment to prohibit the export of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug. The fentanyl agreement holds significance for Biden as he prepares for an upcoming presidential election in 2024.

The four-hour-long discussions between the two leaders in San Francisco have revived a sense of hope in a world grappling with conflicts, indicating that the two superpowers are inclined to avoid direct confrontation. This message is particularly crucial given that the two nations were previously on a collision course with minimal prospects of diplomatic resolution. The movement from an uncontrolled confrontation to managed competition is a welcome sign as both the US and China are struggling to revive their economies in the midst of a global economic downturn.

What has been achieved in California is only a temporary stabilisation. The fragility persists in the relationship between the US and China as Beijing remains troubled by US backing for the Taiwanese government and its imposition of advanced technology export controls. Conversely, Washington is concerned about Chinas military build-up in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea. Various risks, such as the increasing dangerous encounters between the two navies in the Western Pacific and the ensuing presidential elections in both Taiwan and the US, pose potential destabilisation factors. Strategic competition will continue to dominate bilateral ties mainly because, economically, the two cannot completely disentangle from each other.

Trust, but verify is the phrase Biden is using to save the sinking relationship with China. Xi thinks that Washington need not distrust his country because Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed. In California, the Chinese President also addressed the American business, including Elon Musk of Tesla, Tim Cook of Apple, and Albert Bourla of Pfizer, reiterating that China is a big market and a friend.

Stabilisation with Beijing is crucial for Washington which is plagued with political polarisation and declining fiscal strength. The two rating agencies, Fitch and Moodys, have downgraded the US credit rating from stable to negative. In addition, the USs indulgence in wars in both Ukraine and West Asia has made it imperative for them to lower the temperatures on the Indo-Pacific front. Despite relentless US campaigns against Chinese companies, they continue to dominate the global markets. Till a few years ago, the American concern was Huaweis 5G technology. And now BYD, the Chinese car company, is giving sleepless nights to the American and European car makers in the electric vehicles segment. In the first quarter of 2023, China replaced Japan as the worlds leading auto exporter. BYDs sales target for 2023 is 2,50,000 vehicles, compared with 55,916 in 2022.

The US faces another challenge as China holds a dominant position in the global production of critical minerals, which are non-fuel minerals crucial for economic and national security. China accounts for approximately 60% of worldwide production and 85% of processing capacity for these minerals. These critical minerals play an indispensable role in the shift towards low-carbon energy sources and are integral to the production of various advanced technology-based products. For instance, gallium, a vital metal used in the manufacturing of specialised semiconductors crucial for cutting-edge defence equipment, is almost entirely produced by China, with the country supplying nearly 98% of the worlds raw gallium. In July 2023, China disrupted supply chains by imposing new restrictions on the export of gallium.

While the US grapples with a substantial debt burden, China is also facing challenges of dwindling economic growth, rising local debt, a faltering property market, and plummeting foreign direct investment. Beijing needs to bring investors back as it endeavours to support post-pandemic recovery. China may be willing to offer more concessions to the US in order to garner increased investments from American companies.

China, like the US, cannot bear the consequences of a direct military confrontation, especially considering the USs significant lead in the global deployment of both hard and soft power. The complex relationship, characterised by a mix of cooperation and rivalry between the two is likely to endure, as the economic disentanglement between the worlds two largest economies remains a formidable task in the current circumstances. However, on the geopolitical front, the relationship is likely to experience roadblocks as China continues to make inroads into regions that the US has dominated since the end of World War II.

Take for example West Asia, where the Chinese efforts to make inroads have picked up momentum, especially after the launch of the Israeli war on hapless inhabitants of Gaza. Beijings equation with Iran is strong. It has been instrumental in introducing Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to the BRICS grouping of emerging nations. Arab leaders have visited China as part of their diplomatic effort to step up the pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire. China has been critical of Israel, earning it some crucial points with the leaders of the global South, a group that the US also intends to woo. The geopolitical tussle is likely to intensify as the US does not like Chinese association with Russia and Iran. It intends to break the transcontinental linkages that the three are developing together to connect Eurasia through new supply lines, financial structures and optic fibres.

More importantly, the two are involved in a comprehensive competition to establish dominance in the field of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Though the US is still the world leader in terms of AI, China is quickly moving to take its place. It has abundant computing power and capital, two important ingredients for the development of AI. While Ernie, a Chinese counterpart of ChatGPT developed by Baidu, may be less effective and efficient, China is a global leader in AI research, evidenced by its numerous publications and patents. China established a local regulatory framework for AI, including generative AI services, prior to the emergence of ChatGPT. Western regulators could learn valuable lessons from Chinas experience in this regard. However, one cannot be sanguine about their collaboration in the realm of AI. To remain ahead in the geopolitical competition of the 21st century, the US will prevent China from gaining a significant advantage in economic and military fields through the use of generative AI and China is not likely to relinquish its right to climb up the technology ladder.
The Prime Ministers announcement to extend the supply of free foodgrains to around 80 crore people for another five years from January 2024 is a welcome step. It marks a major inflexion point in the drive towards food security, which has gained growing prominence since the enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013. It also indicates a significant turnaround in the governments open hostility towards welfare measures, often derogatorily termed freebies, perhaps motivated by the coming general elections. Whatever the reasons, the continuation of the free rations is also an explicit recognition of the plight of the vast majority of people who continue to be deprived of the basic necessities of life, including access to minimum levels of nutrition.

In the initial years of the NFSA, the focus was on delivering subsidised food. While households covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana were provided 35 kg of grains per month, each person in priority households received 5 kg of grains per month. The subsidised food was provided at `1, `2 and `3 for coarse grains, rice and wheat, respectively. This subsidised food supply continued till the outbreak of the pandemic when the government announced the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) which almost doubled the grain entitlements by providing an additional 5 kg of free grains per person per month from April 2020.

But even during the pandemic, the government was rather hesitant in supplying free foodgrains. It was initially provided for the three months between April and June 2020 and then extended till November 2020 after which it was discontinued for the next five months till April 2021. Then it was later extended, for a few months at a time, in another five phases till December 2022. It is estimated that the PMGKAY distributed 1,015 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in 28 months over seven phases, which cost the government around `3.42 lakh crore. The scheme was later extended for another year till December 2023 by providing free food for all the NFSA beneficiaries through the targeted public distribution system. The Prime Ministers recent announcement will now extend this free food benefit for another five years.

However, despite the sizeable allocations, the PMGKAY has failed to make any substantial dent in the levels of undernourishment. In fact, the trends show that the gains have in fact even been reversed. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data shows that between 201618 (three-year average) and 202022, the number of undernourished people shot up from 176.3 million to 233.9 million, an increase of around 58 million. Consequently, the prevalence of undernourishment in the total population moved up from 13.2% to 16.6% during the period. This is a major setback as the prevalence of undernourishment had been steadily decreasing from 38% in 197981 to 13.2% in 201618.

In fact, the FAO statistics on the levels of food deprivation in India are very damning. Numbers show that women in the 1549 child-bearing age group affected by anaemia increased from 171.5 million in 200406 to 187.3 million in 202022 and their percentage share remained constant at an extremely high 53% during this period. Similarly, the number of children with low birth weight decreased from 7.7 million to 6.3 million over almost two decades, with their share declining marginally from 29.5% to 27.4% during the period.

Equally or even more disturbing is the inordinately large number of people who are unable to afford a healthy meal. Though their numbers had declined from 1,067 million (78.8%) in 2017 to 987 million (71.4%) in 2019, the trends have been reversed since then. The number of people unable to afford a healthy meal was 1,064 million (76.2%) in 2020 and 1,043 million (74.1%) in 2021. The pandemic and the exclusion of millions from the NFSA, as food entitlements are restricted to around 67% of the population in the previous census (2011), has certainly deprived them of adequate nutrition.

Another study of the trends in extreme food deprivation in infants and young children between 1993 and 2021 in 36 states and union territories throws up more shocking numbers. It estimates that the number of children who do not get any food of calorific significance for an entire day, termed zero-food children, has only declined marginally from 20% in 1993 to 17.8% in 2021. The highest share of zero-food children was in Uttar Pradesh (27.4%), Chhattisgarh (24.6%), and Jharkhand (21%). More disturbingly, the share of zero-food children increased in states like Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Jammu and Kashmir during the period.

Such a dismal scenario calls for a radical rehaul of food policies to improve both the quantity and quality of affordable food accessible to the people. The last 50 years have seen a healthy improvement in the quality of food produced in the country. While the share of cereals in total agriculture output has reduced by more than half to 16.7%, that of vegetables and fruits has gone up by around half to around one-fifth of the total output. Similarly, the share of other nutrient-rich items like meat products has increased fivefold to close to one-tenth, while that of eggs and milk products has more than doubled. However, as the nutrition numbers indicate, the disadvantaged groups remain excluded from these gains. Clearly, the policy focus of the government must shift from simply providing free foodgrains to ensuring that the excluded population has access to affordable and nutritious food.
In its 246th report, the Parliament Standing Committee on Home Affairs has suggested that the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill (BNS), 2023 be amended to make adultery a criminal offence again (Joy 2023). The committee notes that the Supreme Court has struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 as being a violation of Articles 14, 15, and 21 (in Joseph Shine v Union of India1) but still bafflingly suggests that adultery be re-criminalised but in a gender neutral manner. Such re-criminalisation, it argues, is necessary to safeguard the sanctity of the institution of marriage.

The committees suggestion comes out of nowhere and there is little serious discussion as to the basis of making such a recommendation beyond a vague reference to the opinions of certain members and experts that the committee chose to hear. On the other hand, one of the dissenting notes by one of the members of Parliament on the committee, Derek OBrien, argues that adultery should not be decriminalised (Rajya Sabha 2023).
Friday, November 24, 2023

80 years ago The Battle of Tarawa was a pivotal engagement between American and Japanese forces in the Pacific theater. The atoll, a tiny but heavily fortified island, was a critical strategic point that held immense significance for both sides. The ferocity of the battle and the heavily fortified Japanese positions made it one of the most challenging and costly confrontations in the Pacific campaign.

Amidst the chaos and carnage of the battle, 1st Lt. William Deane Hawkins emerged as a symbol of courage and leadership. On November 20, 1943, as his company landed on Red Beach 3, they faced withering enemy fire and intense resistance. Undeterred by the hail of bullets and the harrowing conditions, Hawkins fearlessly led his men forward, determined to breach the formidable Japanese defenses.

In the heat of the battle, Hawkins single-handedly attacked and neutralized a series of heavily fortified enemy positions. Armed with a submachine gun and grenades, he moved from one pillbox to another, eliminating enemy soldiers with unmatched precision. His audacious assault not only saved the lives of many of his comrades but also disrupted the Japanese defense, creating a crucial opening for the advancing American forces.

Hawkins was seriously wounded five times during the battle, including in the chest during a last assault. However, he refused treatment and kept fighting. Hawkins destroyed three more pillboxes before he was severely injured by Japanese shellfire. His fearless actions and indomitable spirit rallied the Marines, turning the tide of the battle in their favor. Hawkins leadership under fire and his selfless dedication to the mission exemplified the highest ideals of the United States Marine Corps.

Its not often that you can credit a first lieutenant with winning a battle, but Hawkins came as near to it as any may could, said assault commander Col. David M. Shoup after the battle. He was truly an inspiration.

In recognition of his exceptional bravery and leadership, 1st Lt. William Deane Hawkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation highlighted his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, a testament to the extraordinary sacrifice he made for his country.
Defra Secretary Steve Barclay has said the UK and Ukraine 'stands shoulder-to-shoulder' to protect global food security following Russia's invasion.

The UK's new environment secretary addressed a Kyiv conference centred on grain, announcing new support for food initiatives.

In his video address to the conference, Mr Barclay announced 3 million of funding to enable Ukrainian grain shipments to feed the most vulnerable in Nigeria.

This follows 5 million that the UK contributed to the initiative in 2022, which facilitated lifesaving grain shipments to Kenya.

The Defra Secretary also highted progress in new technology which aims to stop Russian theft of Ukrainian grain.

After leaving the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia destroyed over 280,000 tonnes of grain in one month, which could have fed over 1.25 million people for a year.

The initiative ensures Ukrainian grain still reaches those most in need while protecting global food security, keeping prices down and strengthening markets.

Steve Barclay said: From our government to our farmers, our solidarity with the people of Ukraine remains cast iron. The UK is committed to ensuring Ukraine can continue to export grain to those most in need.

I am also proud we will be able to share the UK and Defras expertise to help Ukraines farmland and nature recover from the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam and the impact of the conflict.

Mr Barclay also updated the conference on the development of our Grain Verification Scheme, which is being backed with 2 million in UK funding.

The scheme will use cutting edge science to determine where grain has been grown and harvested  supporting Ukraines efforts to trace and stop theft of grain from occupied regions.

During his speech, the Secretary of State also noted the UKs support to help restore contaminated agricultural land and nature in Ukraine that have been devastated from both flooding and conflict.

This includes in June when the Environment Agency provided 16 million of flood equipment, including pumps and temporary barriers, following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which led to widespread flooding and damage.

As part of the Grain from Ukraine programme, Ukraine has sent 170 thousand tonnes of grain to countries experiencing the greatest food insecurity, including Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen.

The programme is planned to be expanded to other countries in need with the UK providing a further 3 million.

The Kyiv International Summit: Grain from Ukraine brought together more than 60 leaders of countries and organisations.
Lisa Snowdon could get married to George Smart "tomorrow".

Lisa Snowdon could get married 'tomorrow'

The 51-year-old former model and presenter - who previously dated Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney, 62, for five years on and off between 2000 and 2005 - has been engaged to her partner since 2016, but she doesn't think it's necessary to make things "official" by walking down the aisle.

However, that doesn't mean that one day they might get hitched spontaneously if it feels right.

She told Closer UK magazine: "It's not that we don't want to, we just haven't got the energy to do it.

"I've got the ring, we've got the commitment.

"I don't think it would change anything, except I could call him my husband rather than fiance.

"But if we we're in a country and we're like, 'The church is free and we can get married tomorrow', we might go for it!"

Similarly, Lisa recently told Best UK: "To be honest, we feel like we're already married.

I don't think a certificate or a big party will change anything. It feels perfect the way it is. I've always been able to visualise what I want, but marriage is something I've never envisaged. I know it sounds unromantic, but my parents split up when I was young, so I don't know if that union of marriage is all it's cracked up to be."

Lisa first met George two decades ago before the pair reunited through friends and she confessed that her love life was in "limbo" before their romance.

The brunette beauty told HELLO! magazine: "For a long time, I was kind of in limbo about what I deserved from a relationship.

"It was only when I took time out to reassess what I'd been doing as far as relationships go - the kind of people I was attracting and how that made me feel about myself - that I could work out what I did want and channel that. That's when George came back into my life."
, Justice, has just passed away at the age of 96. A beacon of hope and exemplar of women empowerment, she was also the first Muslim woman to be appointed to the higher judiciaries in the country. Post her superannuation as, she was appointed with the National Human Rights Commission, and then served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001. Recently this year, she was honoured by the Government of Kerala with the states second-highest honour, the Kerala Prabha Award.at a private hospital in Kollam, Kerala. The statesoffered condolences, saying, She was a brave woman who had many records to her name. She was a personality who through her own life showed that willpower and a sense of purpose can overcome any adversity.in the then Kingdom of Travancore, Justice Fathima attended Town school and Catholicate High School in Pathanamthitta. She earned her B.Sc. in Chemistry from University College, and B.L. from Government Law College, both in Thiruvananthapuram. She then enrolled as an Advocate in 1950, topping the Bar Council exam that year. She started her career in the lower judiciary in Kerala, later being appointed as Munsiff in the Kerala Sub-ordinate Judicial Services in 1958. She was then promoted to Sub-ordinate Judge in 1968, as Chief Judicial Magistrate in 1972, and District & Sessions Judge in 1974. In 1980, she was appointed as Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, and finally to the, becoming permanent in the following year.was also bestowed with the Bharat Jyoti Award and the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Lifetime Achievement Award. Her contributions to the field of Law, her determined approach to doing her best, and her inimitable spirit will always be remembered.
Australia has seen a significant shift in consumer behaviour, with 3 in 4 (76 per cent) of clothes buyers expressing their willingness to pay more for clothing if it ensures living wages for garment workers, according to a recent Oxfam poll. This highlights a growing awareness and concern for ethical manufacturing practices in the fashion industry.

The poll also reveals that Australian consumers believe 17 per cent of a clothing item's cost should be allocated to the garment worker's wage. This is a stark contrast to previous research, which found that only 4 per cent of the cost actually goes towards the worker's pay. This disparity indicates a gap between consumer expectations and industry practices.

Over 80 per cent of Aussie clothes buyers agree that clothing brands should increase transparency about their payment practices and treatment of garment workers in their supply chains, as per the poll.

About 76 per cent of Australian clothes buyers are willing to pay more for ethically made clothing, with 17 per cent of a clothing item's cost believed to be a fair wage for garment workers, according to a recent Oxfam poll. Over 80 per cent of Aussie clothes buyers agree that clothing brands should increase transparency about their payment practices.

Moreover, 71 per cent of respondents suspect that Australian clothing brands exaggerate or mislead consumers about the treatment of overseas garment workers in their supply chains, whether intentionally or unintentionally. This scepticism underscores the need for greater honesty and accountability in the fashion industry.

This polling is evidence of what we have long known, that ethical considerations are increasingly a significant factor in consumers purchasing decisions. Thats why taking action now is not only in the interest of workers, but in the interest of these companies bottom lines, said Oxfam Australia chief executive Lyn Morgain.

In response to these findings, Oxfam has released a Christmas Wish List, identifying brands that lag in their commitment to paying living wages. The list focuses on three key markers of commitment towards fair wages. Oxfam is advocating for enhanced transparency from brands, emphasising that sharing information on manufacturing locations empowers consumers, workers, and unions to hold companies accountable.

Oxfam also recommends that brands should include wages as an itemized part of price negotiations. This approach is seen as the most effective way to address aggressive pricing strategies and is a crucial step towards ensuring the payment of a living wage. The organization's push for these changes reflects a growing global movement towards ethical and sustainable fashion practices.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
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UK Export Finance (UKEF) have announced significant enhancements to support small UK businesses in international markets at its annual conference. The agency is introducing more flexible, fast-track financing options, making it easier for UK firms to engage in global trade.

UKEF has expanded its auto-inclusion scheme, which provides expedited access to trade finance products like the General Export Facility. This expansion means that small businesses can now access government-backed credit more quickly, without manual intervention from UKEF. The maximum support under auto-inclusion has doubled from 5 million to 10 million, enabling UK exporters to obtain more support through a simple request via participating banks. This is particularly significant considering that small businesses have already unlocked over 280 million in financing through the scheme since its inception in 2021.

Additionally, the maximum tenor for loans under the General Export Facility has been increased from two to five years. This change offers businesses more flexible repayment terms, addressing a crucial need for longer-term financial planning, the UKEF said in a press release.

UKEF has introduced flexible financing for UK small businesses to boost global trade. The auto-inclusion scheme's support doubled to 10 million, expediting credit access. Loan tenures under the General Export Facility have been extended to 5 years. The new UKEF-HSBC India partnership aims to facilitate UK exports to India, unlocking 100 million in loans.

UKEF also announced its first-ever Invest-to-Export loan guarantee. This guarantee has secured a major overseas investment in North-East England, promising to support over 2,000 jobs.

Highlighting its focus on expanding global trade relationships, UKEF, in partnership with HSBC India, is paving the way for UK exporters to enter the Indian market, one of the UKs closest trading partners. Approximately 7,500 SMEs from the UK currently export to India. A new agreement, encapsulated in a Letter of Intent between UKEF and HSBC India, aims to establish a financing programme under UKEFs Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee (SBLG) programme. This programme is set to unlock up to 100 million in potential loans, allowing Indian buyers to purchase UK goods.

Tim Reid, CEO at UK Export Finance, said: Were proud to celebrate another successful year of supporting UK businesses. In speaking with our customers, and especially with small businesses, its clear that ease of accessing finance and flexibility in repayment terms make a big difference for firms wanting to export.

Were confident that our announcements will unlock even more deals for UK firms looking to sell to the world, whether theyre exporting for the first time or looking for the latest in a long line of export successes.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Kotabommali PS Full Movie Leaked Online For Free Download Photo Credit: Gallery

Kotabommali PS is the latest cop-action political thriller directed by Teja Marni. The movie, which is a remake of the successful Malayalam film Nayattu was released on November 24 in Telugu to a positive response. Featuring Meka Srikanth, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Shivani Rajashekhar in the lead roles, the thriller film struck a chord with Telugu audiences as well.

Kotabommali PS Premise

The movie revolves around the lives of three policemen who are framed for murder by the politicians for benefit. How the trio tries to prove their innocence is all about the movie.

Kotabommali PS Twitter Review

Srikanth has been playing supporting characters of late in big productions with star heroes. However, he got an appropriate role in Kotabommali PS to make a comeback to the lead roles with such characterizations.

As soon as it hit the screens, Telugu movie lovers thronged the theatres to catch FDFS to review the movie in their style. They shared their opinions through posts on social media platforms. Check out some of them below.

Kotabommali PS Full Movie Leaked Online

Almost a day after the Nayattu Telugu remake Kotabommali PS hit the screens, the movie fell prey to the piracy mafia. Several unscrupulous websites have copied the entire contents of the political thriller and started to share them online. Kotabommali PS full movie leaked online for free download, enabling users to watch its entire content with the help of a link. These links also allow the consumer to download the movie. Measures to curb piracy by the filmmakers and the cops collectively went in vain.

Kotabommali PS Cast

The movie stars Meka Srikanth, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Rahul Vijay, Shivani Rajashekhar, and Murali Sharma among others in key roles.

Kotabommali PS Crew

Written and directed by Teja Marni, the movie was funded by Bunny Vas and Vidya Koppineedi. Ranjin Raj and Midhun Mukundan composed the film's background score and music. Karthika Srinivas worked as the editor while Jagadeesh Cheekati cranked the camera.
Satyagraha

Satyagraha movie deals with the movement of the middle-class to re-negotiate democracy.



It's the story of a man who is a firm believer of Gandhian principles, an ambitious entrepreneur who represents the modern India shining philosophy, a social activist who aims to be a politician, a fearless political journalist and a wily politician who uses every means to break the system.



Story in detail:



Satyagraha reflects the uprising of the middle Class against a corrupt and unjust system that leaves it with no recourse but to form a spontaneous movement to challenge the status quo.



It is the story of a dynamic and ambitious young man who is poised to take the elevator of corporate success when a personal tragedy exposes him to the shocking consequences of corruption in this country.



Joining hands with an idealistic old man, he ignites a peoples protest that soon escalates into a massive movement with a national resonance, battling politicians determined to crush and discredit him. However, when peoples raw and unbridled anger is unleashed, the unintended penalty could be horrifying by itself.



Character



Amitabh Bachchan - playing the role of Dwarka Anand, a man who is a firm believer of truth and an inherent believer of society who wants his son to give back to society and the nation all that they have given him.



Ajay Devgn - playing the role of Manav Raghvendra. He represents shining India and is a brilliant telecommunication czar who uses the ways of the world to get what he wants.



Kareena Kapoor - playing the role of Yasmin Ahmed. she is a hard headed TV reporter out on the field and she digs deep and as an opinion.



Arjun Rampal - playing the role of Arjun, a strong socially committed to become a politician. He studied in the same school of which Amitabh Bachchan was the principal.



Manoj Bajpai - playing the role of Balram Singh, wily young politician who uses every means to break the system. He is the real threat to democracy.



Amrita Rao - playing the role of Sumitra as daughter-in-law of Amitabh.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2023) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or the "Company") announces its Annual General and Special Meeting ("AGSM") will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 10:00 am EST at Maritime's Toronto office at 19th Floor, 110 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario.

In recent years, in response to the public health impact of COVID-19, Maritime provided its Shareholders with the opportunity to attend the Meeting by telephone rather than only in person. This option was well received and Maritime has decided to make this telephone conference participation available again this year. Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxy holders may participate in the AGSM via a live conference call. Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxy holders who have properly registered prior to the AGSM as outlined below will be able to ask questions of management via the conference call at the conclusion of the AGSM.

As a reminder, Shareholders who have not yet voted should vote on the matters before the AGSM by proxy or voting instruction form prior to the proxy cut-off on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 10:00 am EST.

Joining the AGSM

In order to participate in the AGSM, registered shareholders and duly appointed proxy holders must register via the following link prior to the proxy cut-off at 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Registration Link: https://pinconnect.conferenceconsole.com/PINConfSH.aspx?34045791-93f1-4c4f-a91d-772159eb69f8.

After you register, you will be provided with call in details including a Conference ID and your PIN. Please note that phone networks may be busy, and it is recommended that you attempt to connect at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the AGSM.

Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxy holders who wish to attend the AGSM in person are asked to contact Lorna MacGillivray, Corporate Secretary at 416 304-9093 or lorna@maritimegold.com prior to 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 so that appropriate arrangements can be made to accommodate their attendance.

AGSM Materials

Shareholder materials for the AGSM were filed and mailed to shareholders on November 3, 2023, and can be found on Maritime's website via the following link:

https://www.maritimeresourcescorp.com/investors/agsm/

About Maritime Resources Corp.

Maritime (TSXV: MAE) (OTC Pink: MRTMF) is a gold exploration and development company focused on advancing the Hammerdown Gold Project in the Baie Verte District of Newfoundland and Labrador, a top tier global mining jurisdiction. Maritime holds a 100% interest directly and subject to option agreements entitling it to earn 100% ownership in the Green Bay Property which includes the former Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold project. Maritime controls over 439 km2 of exploration land including the Green Bay, Whisker Valley, Gull Ridge and Point Rousse projects. Mineral processing assets owned by Maritime in the Baie Verte mining district include the Pine Cove mill and the Nugget Pond gold circuit. The Company also owns the Lac Pelletier gold project in Rouyn Noranda, Quebec.

On Behalf of the Board:

Garett Macdonald, MBA, P.Eng.

President and CEO

For further information, please contact Maritime Resources Corp. at:

1900-110 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1T4

Phone: (416) 365-5321

info@maritimegold.com

www.maritimeresourcescorp.com

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

YouTube

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" "plans" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the low capital intensity and rapid payback of the Project, the exploration upside relating to the Project, the pursuit of mine life extensions, the potential to increase mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, returns and FCF relating to the Project, capital financing processes relating to the Project, development of the next drill program on the Project, exploration and development of the Orion deposit, "Run of Mine" ore scheduled to be mined from the Project, timing of submission of the Project Development Plan and the Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan for Hammerdown, timing of future site construction, timing to first gold production, length of construction period for the Project, timing of completion of required permitting, timing for approvals to be obtained for the closure and development plans relating to the Project, availability of capital financing and the non-equity portion of any construction capital financing, timing of completion of construction capital financing process, amongst other things, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company in good faith as at the date of such information. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, base metal concentrates, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the use of ore sorting technology will produce positive results, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to continue to be able to access the capital markets for the funding necessary to acquire, maintain and advance exploration properties or business opportunities; global financial conditions; competition within the industry to acquire properties of merit or new business opportunities, and competition from other companies possessing greater technical and financial resources; difficulties in advancing towards a development decision at Hammerdown and executing exploration programs at its Newfoundland and Labrador properties on the Company's proposed schedules and within its cost estimates, whether due to weather conditions, availability or interruption of power supply, mechanical equipment performance problems, natural disasters or pandemics in the areas where it operates; increasingly stringent environmental regulations and other permitting restrictions or maintaining title or other factors related to exploring of its properties, such as the availability of essential supplies and services; factors beyond the capacity of the Company to anticipate and control, such as the marketability of mineral products produced from the Company's properties; uncertainty as to whether the acquisition of assets and new mineral property interests will be completed in the manner currently contemplated by the parties; uncertainty as to whether mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves once economic considerations are applied; uncertainty as to whether inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied; government regulations relating to health, safety and the environment, and the scale and scope of royalties and taxes on production; and the availability of experienced contractors and professional staff to perform work in a competitive environment and the resulting adverse impact on costs and performance and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in each MD&A of financial condition and results of operations. In addition, forward-looking information is based on various assumptions including, without limitation, assumptions associated with exploration results and costs and the availability of materials and skilled labour. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Maritime undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188658
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2023) - PesoRama Inc. (TSXV: PESO) ("PesoRama" or the "Company"), a Canadian company operating dollar stores in Mexico under the JOi Dollar Plus brand, announces the appointment of Rodrigo Castanon as Chief Operating Officer of the Company's operating subsidiaries in Mexico City.

Mr. Castanon joins with vast experience in several sectors including retail, marketing and fast-moving consumer goods. Within retail he has had experience in operations, expansion, finance, and marketing, among other areas. He worked for four years in Colombia for Tiendas D1, the largest hard discount retailer in Latin America with over 2,300 stores, where he was responsible for expansion and opened north of 1,100 stores during that period. With Tiendas D1 he implemented an expansion booster plan, led store maintenance, relocations, remodelling, and national security, as well as being a member of the executive committee. Before joining Tiendas D1 he worked for several years for DIA Group, a Spanish food retail company with more than 7,000 stores. With DIA he held responsibilities in Spain and in China where he lived for several years in Shanghai. He covered areas such as operations, sales manager, human resources, expansion, and business controlling. He holds a Business Administration and Law Degree from Universidad Pontificia Comillas and a Master's Degree in International Business from Zhejiang University.

In connection with his appointment, the Company has granted to Mr. Castanon incentive stock options (the "Options") to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 common shares (each, a "Share") of the Company.

The Options are exercisable until November 24, 2028 at a price of $0.23 per Share and shall vest as follows:  on the first anniversary of the date of grant,  on the second anniversary of the date of the grant,  on the third anniversary of the date of the grant, and  on the fourth anniversary of the date of the grant.

The Options are granted pursuant to the Company's stock option plan which was most recently approved by shareholders at the Company's annual and special meeting held on August 8, 2023, and remain subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About PesoRama Inc.

PesoRama, operating under the JOi Dollar Plus brand, is a Mexican value dollar store retailer. PesoRama launched operations in 2019 in Mexico City and the surrounding areas targeting high density, high traffic locations. PesoRama's 22 stores offer consistent merchandise offerings which include items in the following categories: household goods, pet supplies, seasonal products, party supplies, health and beauty, snack food items, confectionery and more.

For further information please contact:

Rahim Bhaloo

Founder & Executive Chairman

rahim@rahimbhaloo.com

416-816-3291

Erica Fattore

President & Chief Executive Officer

erica@joi.mx

Cautionary Note

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, among other things, statements regarding the Company's planned expansion, new store openings and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate. While the Company believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements, including due to changes in consumer behaviour, general economic factors, the ability of the Company to execute its strategies, the availability of capital and the risk factors which are discussed in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's prospectus dated January 31, 2022 and filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. PesoRama undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of PesoRama, its securities, or its financial or operating results (as applicable).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188652
Kyiv, Ukraine--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2023) - Consciousness Business Retreat Center, founded by entrepreneur/investor Dmytro Alexandrov, has opened and is working to provide a sanctuary for burned-out business owners and executives who need to recharge and find inspiration. Set on a 2-hectare forested property that is located near a lake, the center includes eight self-contained VIP houses and a hall for classes. Six more houses are under construction, including one that will provide a sauna for relaxation, aromatherapy, and additional windows for contemplating nature. The goal is to help entrepreneurs escape the noise of everyday life, hear their own thoughts in the silence, and enjoy new ideas and wise solutions.

Central to the Consciousness Business Retreat Center is the concept of business being a powerful spiritual practice. As the author of Consciousness in Business, or How to Combine Entrepreneurship and Spiritual Development, Dmytro believes that an entrepreneur can enjoy increased productivity and achieve more of their goals if they use their intuition each day. At the Consciousness Business Retreat Center, he and his team help guests to focus on the soul, with the goal of reducing burnout and increasing revitalization. The facility's programs focus on Quiet Days, which aim to enhance the creative energy and problem-solving abilities of entrepreneurs. The property, which is protected 24/7, is in the midst of the woods and is filled with birds and other wildlife. Each house comes fully furnished and is completely private.

"Entrepreneurs give all of themselves to their businesses, meetings, and projects. Inevitably, this leads to less time, dwindling energy, and burnout. No one can be productive and achieve their goals in this condition," says Dmytro. "The answer is greater consciousness that is found in the peacefulness of silence. At the Consciousness Business Retreat Center, our guests take a quality break for a few days. They learn for themselves why a weekly Quiet Day revitalizes them and leads to improved decision making."

To help its guests tap into the power of silence, the Consciousness Business Retreat Center guides them in a digital detox. Meditation and yoga sessions help entrepreneurs to turn inward and rejuvenate the mind so that answers can be found. In this state of relaxation and healing, guests can reconnect with their values and generate new ideas.

The Consciousness Business Retreat Center also contains facilities for teams, including a hall that can accommodate classes for 40 people. Groups are able to attend strategy and brainstorming sessions and reconnect with a company's core values and goals.

"The Consciousness Business Retreat Center offers every business leader something rare in this world: a place where you can calm your mind, work on yourself, and interact with your clients," says Dmytro. "You will be able to truly concentrate on what matters: deepening your ability to achieve your unique purpose in the business world."

Consciousness Business Retreat Center was created by Dmytro Alexandrov, a Ukrainian lawyer, entrepreneur, and author. The center serves as a sanctuary for entrepreneurs, allowing them to find the peace and tranquility they need to refresh themselves. The center also offers "Set of Meditations for Business," a free online course that allows anyone to try various meditation practices, all led by qualified teachers, and learn how to recognize and control their anger and panic, resulting in more energy and productivity.

For more information about Consciousness Business Retreat Center, please see https://consciousness.com.ua/ or contact:

Dmytro Alexandrov

consciousness.office@gmail.com

Conscious Business Retreat Center: https://consciousness.com.ua/retreat

"Consciousness in Business": https://consciousbusiness.com.ua/book

Conscious Business Summit: https://consciousness.com.ua/sammit

Set of Meditations for Business: https://consciousbusiness.com.ua/meditate_ua

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/187780
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / November 24, 2023 / Chowis Company ("Chowis"), a specialist in skin, hair and scalp diagnostic solutions, has teamed up with global Pierre Fabre Laboratories to launch the new technology Dermoprime. This multi-type diagnostic system can analyse the skin, hair and scalp by simply changing the lens and by using "Here to Care", a professional software that provides scientific analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Dermoprime is already deployed and in use in France, Spain, Austria, and will be registered for deployment in a total of nine countries by the end of the year.

Pierre Fabre Chowis

Pierre Fabre Chowis

Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the world's 2nd largest dermo-cosmetics company. Its dermocosmetic portfolio includes global dermocosmetics brands such as, Eau Thermale Avene, Klorane, Rene Furterer, Ducray to mention only those available in Asia.

Chowis Company, which was selected by Pierre Fabre, has an exceptional history of collaborating with global companies with its unique technology since its inception in 2012. Last year, the company solidified its position in the industry by introducing an unmanned kiosk-type diagnostic system and winning the CES 2023 Innovation Award for its ultra-compact AI mobile skin diagnostic system. This year, in particular, the company has made a name for itself in the global market through various collaborations, exhibition participation, and awards. As confirmed, Chowis has completed the delivery of its unique diagnostic solution to the Pierre Fabre Laboratories, which includes diagnostic devices and programs. The chosen solution is Dermoprime, a multi-type diagnostic system that can diagnose the skin, hair and scalp by simply changing the lens. Due to its efficiency, DermoPrime is used professionally by laboratories, clinics, and cosmetic brands. Given that Pierre Fabre wanted to support and use Chowis' diagnostic solutions across all brands in the group that care for the skin, hair, and scalp, they chose the most efficient and versatile solution.

The accompanying diagnostic program, "Here to Care," is a professional software that provides scientific analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as well as features such as a customer management system and cloud data security. In particular, the software is provided by exclusively customizing the 'DermoBella 2 evo' used in conjunction with DermoPrime according to the unique concept of the Pierre Fabre Laboratories, which is expected to further strengthen the brand image.

Ryan, CEO of CHOWIS declares: "Experience is an irreplaceable asset and a source of competitive advantage. We expect that our step with a global company like Pierre Fabre will be a new asset for the company, and we believe that our unique diagnostic technology will grow even more."

Tom EL-BEZ, Chief Digital Officer Consumers & Patients Activation department - Dermo-Cosmetique & Personal Care explains:  Pierre Fabre & Chowis have been working closely together to provide best in class for in-store experience based on insightful diagnosis backed by science, expressed through unique devices that empower our beauty advisors to respond to ever-evolving consumer request for expertise and unique experiences. 

About Chowis Company:

Chowis Company specializes in software development based on optical and sensor technology, hardware, big data, and AI models for skin, hair, and scalp diagnostic technology. Founded in 2012 with the goal of bringing "Science to Home" while creating smart and mobile skin and hair solutions, the company established a corporate research institute. Collaborating with experts and researchers worldwide, Chowis Company continuously generates ideas and implements the latest hardware and software content development.

For more detailed information about Chowis Company's diagnostic solutions, you can visit www.chowis.com.

CONTACT:

Press contact: chowis@chowis.com

SOURCE: Chowis

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/809955/pierre-fabre-laboratories-collaborates-with-chowis-company-to-analyze-skin-hair-and-scalp-with-ai-diagnostic-solutions
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2023) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTC Pink: AAIRD) ("Aires" or the "Company"), a pioneer in EMF modulation technology, is pleased to announce that the Company has granted 10,000 stock options (each an "Option") to an arm's length consultant pursuant to option agreement and the terms and conditions of the omnibus long-term incentive plan of the Company. Each Option vests immediately and is exercisable prior to July 6, 2026 to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.21 per share. The Options (and any Common Shares issuable upon exercise thereof) will be subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to the polices of the CSE and applicable securities laws.

Early Warning Report Disclosure

Further to the Company's press release dated October 19, 2023, on October 27, 2023, Josh Bruni acquired control over 6,548,992 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") pursuant to a shares for debt settlement (the "Debt Settlement") and 1,500,000 Common Shares pursuant to the settlement of restricted share units (the "RSU Issuance"). Prior to these acquisitions, Mr. Bruni did not hold any Common Shares. Following the acquisitions, Mr. Bruni exercised control over 8,048,992 Common Shares, representing 13.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis (15.7% on a partially-diluted basis). In addition, Serov Holdings Inc. acquired control over 2,201,348 Common Shares pursuant to the Debt Settlement and 2,300,000 Common Shares pursuant to the RSU Issuance. Prior to these acquisitions, Serov Holdings Inc. exercised control over 3,973,000 Common Shares, representing 9.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted and partially-diluted basis. Following the acquisitions, Serov Holdings Inc. exercised control over 8,474,348 Common Shares, representing 14.3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis (17.5% on a partially-diluted basis). Neither Mr. Bruni nor Serov Holdings Inc. currently has any plans to acquire or dispose of additional securities of the Company. However, Mr. Bruni and/or Serov Holdings Inc. may acquire additional securities of the Company, dispose of some or all of the existing or additional securities they hold or will hold, or may continue to hold their current positions, depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans or other relevant factors.

About American Aires Inc.

American Aires Inc. is a Canadian-based nanotechnology company committed to enhancing well-being and environmental safety through science-led innovation, education, and advocacy. The company has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Aires' Lifetune products target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi, including the more powerful and rapidly expanding high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under the ticker 'WIFI' and on the OTC QB under the symbol 'AAIRF'. Learn more at www.airestech.com .

On behalf of the board of directors

Company Contact:

Josh Bruni, CEO

Website: www.airestech.com

Email: wifi@airestech.com

Telephone: (415) 707-0102

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188674
The kids wear market is driven by growth in Sustainable and Ethical Fashion, rise in Gender-Neutral Clothing, and surge in focus of young consumers on comfort and functionality. Moreover, rapid technological advancement in the apparel and fashion industry has led to change in dynamics and made it easier for both customers and organizers to organize the market smoothly.

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled "Kids Wear Market by Product Type (Apparel, Footwear and Accessories), End User (Boys and Girls), and Distribution Channel (Supermarket & Hypermarket, Online Stores, Specialty Stores, and Brand Outlets): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 ". According to the report, the global kids wear market was valued at $194.1 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $286.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample Copy of Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2495

Prime determinants of growth

The growth of the kids wear industry is majorly driven by many factors. Market expansion for kids wear industry is significantly fueled by the fashion and apparel sector. Moreover, the kids wear market witnesed a shift toward gender-neutral or unisex clothing. Parents were challenging traditional gender norms and seeking clothing options that were versatile and inclusive. Brands that offered a wide range of colors, styles, and designs suitable for all children, regardless of gender, were gaining popularity. In addition, comfortable and functional designs were gaining prominence in kids' wear. Parents were looking for clothing that allowed their children to move freely and comfortably. Fabrics with stretch, adjustable features, and easy-care properties were becoming popular, aligning with the practical needs of parents.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 194.1 billion Market Size in 2032 $286.9 billion CAGR 4.1 % No. of Pages in Report 290 Segments covered product type, end user, distribution channel and region.. Drivers Rise in demographic trends Change in fashion and style preference Influence of economic factors Opportunities Involvement of innovative materials as opportunity in kids wear market Restraints High price sensitivity Size and fit challenges

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The apparel segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the apparel segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This category comprises outerwear such as coats and jackets, dresses for special occasions, tops such as shirts and sweaters, and bottoms such as skirts and trousers. The demand for eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing practices has driven the popularity of sustainability and ethical fashion. The digital transformation has changed the market as e-commerce and online shopping continue to grow. Character licensing is still a thriving industry, and the availability of inclusive and gender-neutral clothing is expanding. The increase in popularity of fast fashion has satisfied the needs of parents who are looking for stylish yet reasonably priced items for their kids.

The boys segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on end user, the boys segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Despite the growing awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly clothing options among environmentally conscious consumers, the trend of the leisure apparel which prioritizes comfort and adaptability, remains popular. Character licensing continues to capture younger audiences, and a wider variety of clothing alternatives is made possible by the advent of gender-neutral fashions. Teenage boys are fond of streetwear and urban looks, such sneakers and graphic tees. Growth-promoting variables include the rise in discretionary spending, overseas expansion prospects, the significance of internet retail expansion, and the cyclical need for apparel.

The supermarket & hypermarket segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on distribution channel, the supermarket & hypermarket segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Supermarkets and hypermarkets play a major role in the kids clothing sector because of the wide range of kids clothes they carry. This entails carrying a wide range of kid-friendly clothing, supporting private label manufacturers that offer affordable yet high-quality options, supporting seasonal sales and sustainability, and enhancing their online presence to attract clients. Increasing client happiness and retention can be accomplished by introducing reward systems, providing personalized services and an enjoyable in-store environment, and promoting inclusivity and diversity in fashion choices. In addition, having licenses and relationships with well-known children's clothing firms has provided designers of children's clothing collections an advantage in producing distinctive and eye-catching styles. In this cutthroat industry, retailers have used data analytics to boost sales and gain a deeper understanding of consumer preferences.

The Asia-Pacific segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on region, the Asia-Pacific segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. When it comes to the kids clothing market, Asia-Pacific is the largest and one of the regions with the fastest growth rates. Growing disposable income has allowed families to invest more on fashionable, high-end children's clothing. The need for children's clothes is directly driven by the area's younger and expanding population, which presents opportunities for retailers and manufacturers. The rapid trend of urbanization has altered people's lifestyle preferences and created a distinct market for children's clothing with an urban motif. Growing brand awareness has led to a demand for branded children's apparel, which has been facilitated by the influence of digital media and both domestic and foreign children's clothing companies.

Enquire before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2495

Leading Market Players: -

H&M Group

Ralph Lauren Corporation

Dolce & Gabbana S.r.l.

Marks and Spencer plc

Industria de Diseno Textil, S.A.

Gap Inc.

The Walt Disney Company

The Children's Place, Inc.

Under Armour, Inc.

Carter's, Inc.

The report analyzes government regulations, policies, and patents to provide information on the current market trends and suggests future growth opportunities globally. Furthermore, the study highlights Porter's five forces analysis to determine the factors affecting market growth.

Read More Trending "AMR Exclusive Insights:

Western Wear Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2031

Ethnic Wear Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031

Fashion Clothing Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

Workwear Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Sports Apparel Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.





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Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, a strong debate has surfaced between the supporters of Israel and those supporting the Palestinian people. In such a situation when celebrities have also come forward voicing feelings of solidarity and showing support for either Israel or Palestine, Gigi Hadid has once again displayed her support towards Palestinian people, considering her close relations to Palestine. Days after sharing a long note in the wake of the ongoing war, the supermodel took to Instagram and shared another post, expressing disappointment over the disturbing one-sided narrative being presented in the backdrop of the war.

The supermodel also criticised Israel for labelling Palestinian supporters as terrorists. Taking to her Instagram story, Gigi shared a video of a news report, claiming that Israelis have said that some Palestinian women and children are terrorists.

Israel sees any Palestinian as a terrorist, Any person supporting Palestinian rights as an antisemite, and any Jew that is opposed to the governments actions as self-hating,  even telling them to denounce their Judaism. So everyones lying and wrong, except Israel?!! If it wasnt so evil & disturbing, it would be comedic, she wrote in the IG story.

The actress also shared a few other posts on her Instagram stories, related to the detainment of Palestinian children by Israel.

Gigi Hadids statement amid Israel-Hamas war

Earlier in October, the 28-year-old model, who has been herself a person of Palestinian origin shared a long note expressing her solidarity with those affected by the tragedy of the war.

I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation; its a responsibility I hold daily. I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person, a part of her post read.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)



For the unversed, the Hadid sisters are closely related to Palestine. Their father, Mohamed Anwar Hadid, was born into a Palestinian Muslim household. That being said, Gigis father had also reacted to the conflict, blaming the Israeli government for the massive escalation between the occupied and the occupier in an explosive Instagram post.
Actors Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif clearly had the most dreamy wedding. After being secretive about their relationship to tying the knot in a traditional manner, the two have been fielding major couple goals since then. While Katrina Kaif is known for being an introvert, Vicky Kaushal has time and again opened up about their married life, sharing interesting deets about their relationship and marriage. This time too, the actor shared an interesting incident, that took place right before his marriage, revealing how he was threatened by Katrina of cancelling their wedding. Vicky Kaushal who is presently busy with the promotions of his upcoming film Sam Bahadur recently got into a conversation with Pinkvilla and spoke about his marriage to Katrina Kaif.

When Katrina threatened to call off wedding with Vicky Kaushal

Noting that the shooting of his film Zara Hatke Zara Bachke clashed with his wedding plans, the actor disclosed that he initially planned to take some time off for his marriage as he faced immense pressure from the makers to return to the set shortly after the wedding. However, as he shared his plans with Katrina, she was not very happy and gave him a dhamki and told him to forget the wedding.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09)

I had done half of the films shooting before my marriage and then I took off for my marriage. Right after the marriage, within two days, they were calling me on the set. It was then that I got the threat that if you have to go to the set in two days then dont get married, Vicky said further adding that he refused the makers and returned to the sets after five days.

Apart from that, Vicky Kaushal also expressed his admiration toward his married life, stating that it gives a peaceful feeling. Vicky also praised his wife Katrina Kaif for being a great companion. The actor also revealed that spending time with his wife feels like coming back home and that they dont talk much about films.

On the work front, Vicky Kaushal is presently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, Sam Bahadur. The film will hit theatres on 1 December.
Having courted controversy for his derogatory remarks against his Leo co-star Trisha Krishnan and other actresses, actor Mansoor Ali Khan has issued a public apology, asking the actress to forgive him. This came days after the popular Tamil actor faced massive backlash from fans and stars for his controversial remarks. It was in the interview when the actor voiced his disappointment for having no bedroom scenes with Trisha in Leo. While his remarks sparked public indignation, the actress also condemned him. Not only that, a police investigation was launched against him.

Amid all the criticism and backlash, the actor in an official statement has requested Trisha to forgive him. My co-star Trisha Forgive me! May God give me the opportunity to bless you on your marriage, a part of his statement roughly translates.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mansoor Ali Khan (@mansoor_alikhan_offl)

Trisha has also reacted to his apology. Taking to her X handle, she has shared a cryptic post and wrote, To err is human, to forgive is divine. However, he refrained from mentioning any names.

Mansoor Ali Khans controversial comments against Trisha

Recently, a video of the Tamil actor surfaced on the internet where he purportedly expressed disappointment over not having a bedroom scene with Trisha, as he had with actresses like Khushboo and Roja.

I thought there would be a bedroom scene in the film. I thought that I could carry her to the bedroom just like I did with other actresses in my earlier movies. I have also done rape scenes in a number of movies and its not new for me, he said.

Reacting to the video, Trisha took to the microblogging platform and condemned his remarks calling it vile and disgusting.

I strongly condemn this and find it sexist, disrespectful, misogynistic, repulsive, and in bad taste. He can keep wishing but I am grateful never to have shared screen space with someone as pathetic as him and I will make sure it never happens for the rest of my film career as well. People like him bring a bad name to mankind, she added.
Paris Hilton had a Thanksgiving surprise to share: a daughter named London.

Hilton on Friday shared an Instagram photo of a pink baby outfit with London printed on the top.

Thankful for my baby girl, read the caption.

She followed with several Thanksgiving TikToks that further demystified the new arrival, including one in which she and husband Carter Reum chant big brother to their baby son Phoenix. London was welcomed via surrogate, Hiltons representative confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paris Hilton (@parishilton)

Hilton has been open about her journey to motherhood, freezing eggs and surrogacy. On her podcast earlier this year, Hilton had said that she was excited for Phoenix to have a baby sister named London.

Its my favorite city and Ive always wanted to name my daughter London, Hilton said at the time. I had actually picked that name for a long time now, probably over 10 years. I always wanted London. I love that name for my daughter.

Hilton and Reum announced the arrival of Phoenix, also via surrogate, in January. The couple married in a lavish ceremony in November 2021.
One of the most talented and versatile actors in the Hindi film industry today, Ranbir Kapoor has got his name carved, thanks to his exceptional acting skills and performances. While Ranbir Kapoor has already proved his mettle as an actor, he is also a doting father. Ranbir and Alia Bhatt welcomed their firstborn, daughter Raha last year and recently also celebrated her first birthday. That being said, as the couple enjoys the new phase of parenthood, the Shamshera actor recently opened up about his experiences of being a new father. Not just that, he also revealed his newest tattoo, dedicated to his daughter.

It was during his recent appearance on Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishnas show, Unstoppable with NBK where he got into an interesting conversation with the host. He arrived on the show with his Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and co-actor Rashmika Mandanna.

Ranbir Kapoor revealed his Raha tattoo

During their conversation, the actor flaunted his newest tattoo inked on his collarbone which is the name of his daughter Raha. The particular clip from the episode is going viral on social media, leaving fans surprised as he had never before opened up about the tattoo since his daughter was born.



It was in the same episode where Ranbir opened up about how he always wanted a daughter and also hoped to have another daughter.

I never thought I would experience this kind of joy in my life. I was not expecting it and it has given me so much joy. I am grateful to God, Ranbir said further mentioning that he wants to help his daughter to follow her dreams in whatever she wants, while also incalculating the values that he has received from his parents.

Of late, the actor has been talking a lot about his daughter and his bonding with the little munchkin. Even during the music launch event of his upcoming film, he was seen sharing some interesting deets about Raha, noting that she has now started responding. Ranbir also revealed that she now gives flying kisses.

Ranbir Kapoor in Animal

Quite busy with the promotions of his upcoming film, Ranbir Kapoor will be next seen in Sandeep Reddy Vangas Animal. He features alongside actors like Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Rashmika Mandanna.

The film will release on 1 December.
Elon Musk supporting an antisemitic post on his social media platform X is going to cost him millions of dollars.

According to the New York Times report published on Friday, dozens of major brands, including Walt Disney and Warner Bros Discovery, have paused their marketing campaigns on the microblogging platform.

As a result, the company could lose $75 million in advertising revenue by the end of the year.

Lets take a closer look.

X losing major advertisers

Internal documents viewed by The New York Times this week list more than 200 ad units of companies from the likes of Airbnb, Amazon, Coca-Cola and Microsoft, many of which have halted or are considering pausing their ads on the social network, the report said.

X said on Friday $11 million in revenue was at risk and the exact figure fluctuated as some advertisers returned to the platform and others increased spending, the report says.

Notably, advertisers have fled X since Musk bought it in October 2022 and reduced content moderation, resulting in a sharp rise in hate speech on the site, according to civil rights groups.

The platforms US ad revenue has declined at least 55 per cent year-over-year each month since Musks takeover, Reuters previously reported.

The controversy

X has struck back and sued Media Matters, alleging the organization defamed the platform with a report claiming that advertisements from major corporation such as Apple, IBM, Oracle and Bravo, were displayed alongside antisemitic and pro-Hitler content on Musks microblogging platform.

The move came after major companies like Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Apple, Comcast and IBM pulled advertising from the platform, according to CNN.

Initially responding to the report, the richest man in the world denied claims that he is antisemitic and termed the media watchdog group evil.

Media Matters is pure evil https://t.co/gIV1rHO9d7  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2023

According to The Independent, Musk and other executives said that Media Matters study methodology for identifying the content that was affixed to firm advertisements did not accurately reflect how average users interacted with the site.

An X representative told the outlet that the firm did not deliberately position the advertisements next to the postings made by the antisemitic accounts, which have since been demonetised, making it impossible for advertisements to appear on their profiles. The accounts havent been deleted, though.

In the lawsuit filed in a US District Court in Texas, X claimed Media Matters manipulated the social media platform by using accounts that exclusively followed accounts for major brands or users known to produce fringe content, and resorted to endlessly scrolling and refreshing the feed until it found ads next to extremist posts.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Monday his office was opening an investigation into Media Matters and that he was extremely troubled by allegations that the group manipulated data on X, according to Reuters.

Media Matters President Angelo Carusone called the lawsuit frivolous in an emailed statement and said it was meant to bully Xs critics into silence.

Media Matters stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court, he added.

Elon Musks antisemitic post

Musk last week endorsed the assertion that Jewish communities incite hatred against Whites by agreeing with an antisemitic remark on X.

The Tesla-owner faced backlash from the White House and others for engaging with an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

It is unacceptable to repeat the hideous lie behind the most fatal act of Antisemitism in American history at any time, let alone one month after the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement to CNN.

According to The Independent, Musk later responded to the accusations, saying nothing could be further from the truth. I wish only the best for humanity and a prosperous and exciting future for all.

For those unversed, this came after his scandal several days after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, where he was forced to take down a post where he amplified an account that is widely accused of anti-Semitism and promotes unreliable information in its videos.

With inputs from Reuters
Cost has been a significant barrier to treating rare diseases.

Certain rare diseases can have annual treatment costs of several lakhs or crores of rupees, making them unaffordable for the majority of Indian patients.

In response to this problem, the government identified 13 rare diseases, including sickle cell disease, for which Indian pharmaceutical companies have been asked to produce medicines as soon as possible.

The cost of these medications can be reduced by up to 100 times compared to their imported counterparts, reported NDTV.

Lets take a look.

Made-in-India drugs for rare diseases

Eight drugs for six of these 13 diseases will shortly be on the market; the earliest will probably do so by March 2024.

On Friday, the Union Healthy Ministry announced that four of the eight medicines have received marketing approval and will hit the shelves soon, while the remaining four are awaiting regulatory clearance.

The six conditions include Gauchers disease, Wilsons disease, Tyrosinemia type 1, Dravet/Lennox Gastaut syndrome, Phenylketonuria, and Hyperammonemia. Approval is pending for the last two medications.

Known as low hanging fruits, six of these diseases may only be treated with small molecule medications that are readily produced and no longer protected by patents. Gene therapy or enzyme replacement therapyboth of which are still patent-pendingis required for six additional priority conditions. For these medications, the government is developing a production-linked incentive scheme and is encouraging study into indigenous therapies for such conditions.

Major drop in cost

According to Indian Express, the price of Eliglustat capsules used for treating Gauchers disease, which results in liver or spleen enlargement, bone pain and fatigue, in an adult has dropped from Rs 1.8 crore-Rs 3.6 crore a year to Rs 3-6 lakh.

The price of Trientine capsules for Wilsons disease, which causes a copper deposit in the liver and psychiatric symptoms, has dropped from Rs 2.2 crore for a child of 10 kilos to Rs 2.2 lakh.

The imported Nitisinone capsules used for treating Tyrosinemia Type 1, which is a metabolic disorder in which the body lacks an enzyme necessary for the breakdown of amino acids, causing major liver illnesses, used to cost nearly Rs 2.2 crore annually for a child of 10 kilos. This has been brought down to nearly Rs 2.5 lakh a year by two Indian companies.

The oral Cannabidiol solution used to treat Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which causes complex seizure syndromes, has seen the lowest nine-fold price cut. The imported medicine costs about Rs 7 lakh-Rs 34 lakh per year for a child of 10 kilos, however, the Made-in-India version costs about Rs 1 lakh-Rs 5 lakh, the report said.

These medications are all off-patent, meaning they do not have exclusive marketing rights.

The health ministry is considering making them available to patients through its Jan Aushadi stores and centres of excellences that specialise in genetic research, in addition to selling them through manufacturers.

Sickle cell anaemia medicines also to be manufactured

Apart from rare diseases, the government has also pushed the pharmaceutical industry to develop an oral hydroxyurea solution for treating sickle cell disease in children under the age of five, as per Hindustan Times.

While the capsule or tablet for hydroxyurea is readily available, an oral solution is not. The oral suspension costs about USD 840 or Rs 70,000 for a 100 ml bottle. Akums Drugs has already applied for an approval from the drug regulator and is likely to come into the market from March 2024 onwards. It will cost around Rs 405 a bottle, said VK Paul, member (health), Niti Aayog.

Rare diseases in India

The term rare disease lacks a commonly agreed-upon definition.

Nonetheless, the World Health Organization (WHO) describes it as a condition with a prevalence of one or fewer per 1,000 people that is often crippling and lifelong.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reports that there is hardly one instance every 2,500 persons.

It is believed that six per cent to eight per cent of the population suffers from a rare disease, which means that 8.4 crore to 10 crore Indians are affected. These conditions have no available treatments and therapies are quite expensive.

With inputs from agencies
Aditya L1 spacecraft is nearing its final phase, and manoeuvres to enter the L1 point are expected to be completed by January 7, 2024, according to ISRO Chairman S Somanath.

Aditya is on the way. I think it has reached almost its final phase, the ISRO chief told PTI on the sidelines of an event organised at VSSC to commemorate the 60th year of the First Sounding Rocket Launch.

Aditya L1, Indias first space-based mission to study the Sun, was successfully launched on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. The spacecraft, after travelling about 1.5 million km from Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1, considered closest to the Sun.

He said that the last preparations for the spacecrafts entry into the L1 point are currently underway incrementally.Possibly by January 7th, the final manoeuvres will be done for entering into the L1 point, Somanath added.

Among other tasks, it will capture and transmit pictures of the Sun for scientific experiments.

What is the Aditya-L1 mission?

The Aditya-L1 is an observatory or spacecraft that will monitor the Sun 247. This will be the first time that India will put a spacecraft on a Lagrange point  a position in space where, as per NASA, the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the Sun and Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.

There are five Lagrange points in the Sun-Earth system; Indias solar mission will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1, or L1, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth, according to ISRO.

L1, Adityas parking spot, has been housing Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, a project by Americas NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) since 1996, reported Space.com.

The Aditya-L1 mission will carry seven payloads, out of which four will directly observe the Sun. These seven payloads or scientific instruments include Visible Emission Line Coronagraph(VELC), Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS), High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS), Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA) and Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers.

These instruments will study the photosphere or the Suns visible surface; the layer above the photosphere known as the chromosphere; and the corona  the outermost part of the Suns atmosphere.

Objectives of Aditya-L1 mission

As per ISRO, the spacecraft will examine the dynamics of the chromosphere and corona; in-situ particle and plasma environment; the heating mechanism of the corona; magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in corona; temperature, velocity and density of coronal and coronal loops plasma; and development, dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

It will also study chromospheric and coronal heating, space weather, the physics of the partially ionized plasma, what leads to solar eruptive events, and how CMEs and solar flares start.

Why is studying the Sun important?

Before that, here are some facts about the centre of our solar system. The Sun, which sustains most life on Earth, is a 4.5 billion-year-old star. Located 150 million kilometres away from the Earth, the Suns gravity holds the solar system together. Unlike Earth, the Suns surface is not solid but made of super-hot, electrically charged gas called plasma, noted NASA.

According to the US Space Agency, The Suns activity, from its powerful eruptions to the steady stream of charged particles it sends out, influences the nature of space throughout the solar system.

The solar activity constitutes solar flares, CMEs or huge plasma clouds, high-speed solar wind, and solar energetic particles.

With inputs from agencies.
Chinas military will begin combat training activities from Saturday on its side of the border with Myanmar, it said on social media, a day after a convoy of trucks carrying goods into the neighbouring Southeast Asian nation went up in flames.

The incident, which Myanmar state media called an insurgent attack, came amid insecurity concerns in China, whose envoy met top officials in Myanmars capital for talks on border stability after recent signs of rare strain in their ties.

The training aims to test the rapid maneuverability, border sealing and fire strike capabilities of theatre troops, the Southern Theatre Command, one of five in Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, said on the WeChat messaging app.

The brief statement gave no details of timing or numbers of troops.

Myanmar was told of the drills, military junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said, adding that they aimed to maintain stability and peace near the border, and did not undermine Chinas policy of non-interference in Myanmars internal affairs.

The military tie between China and Myanmar is firm and collaboration between both armies is friendly and building up, he said in his post on state-run social media.

Fridays fire in the town of Muse came as Myanmars military has lost control of several towns and military outposts in the northeast and elsewhere as it battles the biggest co-ordinated offensive it has faced since seizing power in a 2021 coup.

The surge in fighting has displaced more than 2 million people in Myanmar, the United Nations says.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said that Indias health institutions are closely monitoring the ongoing pneumonia outbreak in China, with appropriate actions being taken.

Mandaviya stated, The government is continuously paying attention to the situation of pneumonia spreading within China. ICMR and the Director General of Health Services are keeping an eye on it and taking necessary action.

The media and ProMED had earlier reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China on November 21.

Addressing the issue, Dr Ajay Shukla from RML Hospital mentioned that there has been minimal impact on India so far.

He commented on reports of respiratory issues among children in China, stating, There are reports in the media that there has been a surge in respiratory problems among small children in China. WHO is concerned about this and is trying to seek details from the Government of China about it. Some experts are saying that this might be the case of a bacterial infection named Mycoplasma pneumonia. We cannot say much unless details are received. This might be a repercussion due to a weakness in immunity because of lockdown. Unless details are received, we cannot say anything. The whole world is observing this situation with seriousness. Till now, there has not been much impact on India. If anything is reported in India, we will have to take precautions, reported ANI.

Its noteworthy that hospitals in Beijing and northern China are facing a surge in respiratory illnesses among children, especially with the approaching winter after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions nearly a year ago.

Chinese authorities disclosed an uptick in respiratory diseases during a press conference on November 13.

A Beijing Childrens Hospital official noted that the current daily patient count of over 7,000 exceeds the hospitals capacity.

On Saturday, Tianjins largest pediatric hospital set a record with over 13,000 children seeking outpatient and emergency care.

With inputs from ANI
An Indian-origin student, pursuing a masters degree at the University of Tasmania, is in a medically induced coma following an assault.

The incident occurred on November 5 at a precinct in Tasmania, resulting in the victim suffering severe injuries.

The victim, in his 20s, underwent extensive brain surgery lasting several hours.

The alleged perpetrator, identified as 25-year-old Benjamin Dodge Collings from Lenah Valley, was arrested by the police and charged with criminal assault.

This offense carries a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.

Collings, who was granted magistrate bail, is set to appear in court on December 4 to address charges that include assault, providing false information, resisting a police officer, and unrelated driving offenses.

The University of Tasmanias Media Director, Ben Wild, said the establishment knows the incident.

Asked what measures the university has taken to assist the student in these difficult times, Wild said they have been in regular contact with the family and assigned a complex case manager to the case, along with translators, liaison, accommodation and other support.

The case has gone through the court system as well and we are very limited in what we can say, he said.

With inputs from PTI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar advocated for the development of international relations infused with distinctive Indian characteristics, stressing the need for devoting more time to look at Indias reservoir of culture and knowledge.

Speaking at the International Relations Conference in Pune, themed Indias Strategic Culture: Addressing Global and Regional Challenges, he posed a critical question about the necessity of dedicating more time, attention, and energy to understanding Indias culture, knowledge, history, and traditions to foster a unique Indian strategic culture in global interactions.

Drawing on his extensive diplomatic experience, the minister reinforced his argument by recounting interactions with American counterparts regarding Afghanistan.

I found that even after 20 years of being in Afghanistan, so much of the American understanding about that country was moulded by what was the British narrative of Afghanistan I actually asked them does it occur to you, have you ever thought why Peshawar is where it is? Was the Durand line actually something because the British Colonial construct was there, he asked.

Durand line is the international land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He said people who spent their lifetime in Afghanistan had never heard of a figure like Hari Singh Nalwa, the legendary Sikh warrior of Maharaja Ranjit Singhs empire. Nalwa was the commander-in-chief of the Sikh army along its border with Afghanistan.

And that tells you something. It tells you that they have looked at geography from one cultural lens. Unless we are able to put our lens in place, they will never look at it in a way in which it will serve our interest, Jaishankar said.

He underscored the importance of adopting an Indian perspective to shape global perceptions, criticising the tendency among Western intellectuals to readily acknowledge Chinas millennia-long history while overlooking Indias historical depth. He cited Winston Churchills dismissive remarks about India and challenged the perception that westernism equates to modernism.

Furthermore, Jaishankar highlighted the pervasive influence of British intellectual concepts and traditions, evident in everyday language and references to figures like Socrates and Plato.

He emphasised the need to recognise Indias contributions, such as Kautilyas insights predating Lord Palmerstons ideas on permanent interests. He called for a reevaluation of global perspectives through an Indian lens to better serve Indias interests in international relations.

With inputs from PTI
The Kerala Health Ministry is on alert amid China reporting a surge in pneumonia cases among children.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George told ANI, The World Health Organisation (WHO) discussed this with China yesterday. The WHO has discussed with China the pneumonia that is seen in children.

What we know is that China has clarified that there is nothing to worry about. When the news came out, our expert committee met to analyse the situation. Yesterday, I chaired a meeting with doctors from BME and DHS, she added.

She said that her team is on alert and is closely monitoring the situation.

Chinese health authorities have not detected any unusual or novel pathogens and provided the requested data on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

Talking about the surge in pneumonia cases, Dr George said, What experts said is that the approaches chosen by us, China and other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic are slightly different. They had a lockdown for a longer period. China gave relaxation only a year after the lockdown.

She added, It was already found globally that the natural immunity depth in children was reduced due to the pandemic. China has started experiencing it now. This is what our health experts have analysed.

It is important to note that Kerala is more susceptible to diseases due to more international movements in the southern state.

Apart from this, the population of Kerala is spread across the globe. Cases of diseases like monkeypox and COVID-19 were first reported in this state in India.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the ongoing situation of the pneumonia outbreak in China is being keenly observed by the health institutions in India and all appropriate actions are being taken.

Speaking to the media, Mansukh Mandaviya said, The government is continuously paying attention to the situation of pneumonia spreading within China. ICMR and the Director General of Health Services are keeping an eye on it and taking necessary action.

With inputs from agencies
The Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma told Canadian broadcaster CTV that India was convicted even before the investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani terrorist who was murdered by unknown miscreants in Canadas Surrey. Canada has accused India of playing a role in the death of Nijjar, an allegation India has denied.

The Indian envoy also said that New Delhi would look into anything very specific and relevant communicated to them to back up Justin Trudeaus allegations. He urged Canada to release evidence to back up its allegation in connection with the killing.

In an interview with CTV news channel, the high commissioner was asked about the allegations raised by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau of possible Indian government involvement in Nijjars killing.

Responding to this, Verma said, There are two points on that. One is that, even without the investigation being concluded, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?

On being asked how was India convicted, the high commissioner said, Because India was asked to cooperate and if you look at the typical criminal terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, it means you have already been convicted and you better cooperate.

So, we took it in a very different interpretation. But, we have always said that if there is anything very specific and relevant, and communicated to us. We will look into it, the Indian envoy added.

Ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil earlier this year. Nijjar was shot dead outside Gurdwara in Canadas Surrey on June 18.

India had rejected the allegations and called them absurd and motivated and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa asked a senior Indian diplomat to leave. Notably, Canada has not been able to present any evidence to back its claims over the killing, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier this week, India resumed the electronic visa services for eligible Canadian citizens with effect from November 22, 2023. This came after India decided to resume visa services in Canada for four categories after a considered review of the security situation last month.I

In October, Canada pulled out 41 diplomats from India and also halted its visa and consular services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates in the wake of the Union governments decision to strip them of their immunity. This came after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Ottawa over the disproportionate number of diplomats in India and sought a parity in diplomatic strength.

With inputs from ANI.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modis sortie in Tejas was a statement of Atmanirbhar Bharat and a boost to Make in India in the defence sector.

Prime Minister @narendramodis sortie in Tejas today was a statement of Atmanirbhar Bharat and a boost to Make in India in defence. It also underlines his personal commitment to defence of the nation, the EAM wrote on X.

PM Modi on Saturday flew in a twin-seater trainer LCA aircraft which was delivered to the Indian Air Force by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited last month.PM Modi is on a visit to Bengaluru to visit and review the manufacturing facility, including the facility for Tejas jets.

The PM flew in a twin-seater trainer version of the LCA Tejas aircraft that was delivered to the Indian Air Force last month itself on October 4 in the presence of the Union Minister Ajay Bhatt and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, IAF officials told ANI.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) twin-seater trainer version aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru on October 4.The IAF has two new trainer version twin-seater aircraft along with one twin-seater prototype aircraft which was used in the past for flying with VIPs, they said.

The sortie of the Prime Minister was being looked after by the Indian Air Force which currently has two squadrons of these planes.

The IAF has already placed orders for 83 new LCAs which are now named LCA Mark 1A.Prime Minister took to social media platform X to share his experience of taking a sortie of the Tejas fighter.Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our countrys indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential, the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

A flight to remember! Tejas is Indias pride, a manifestation of the strength and skills of 140 crore Indians. pic.twitter.com/n8hZk6fGKc  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2023

The other trainer aircraft was also in the air when the PM was airborne in the indigenous fighter aircraft.
Polling started Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan. The BJP is making significant efforts to wrest power while the Congress aims to overcome the states historical trend of anti-incumbency.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former chief minister Vasundhara Raje (Jhalrapatan), former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar) are some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray.

This is a festival of democracy. We all have cast votes for BJP for freedom from corruption, increasing crime, increasing incidents of rape and appeasement in Rajasthan. Congress government will never come to power in the state in future because people of the state have suffered a lot in the last five yearsBJP will definitely get more than 150 seats Union Minister Kailash Choudhary said after casting his vote.

Polling began at 7 am today. A total of 51,507 polling booths have been set up across the state, Rajasthans chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said. Union Minister of State Kailash Chaudhary was among the first to cast his vote, exercising his franchise in Balotra.

#WATCH | Rajasthan Elections | BJP MP and candidate from Jhotwara Assembly constituency, Rajyavardhan Rathore says, I urge all voters to celebrate this once-in-5-years festival with great fervour. Exercise your right to vote. This festival decides your future. This decides your pic.twitter.com/vrtdmPQgWL  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards of other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day.

#WATCH | Rajasthan: Preparation, mock poll underway as voting for #RajasthanElection2023 will begin at 7am today (Visuals from a polling booth in Jaipur) pic.twitter.com/NDNG8MEqQn  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. There are 5,25,38,105 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies.

                                                   Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2023

While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.

Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. The chief minister is up against BJPs Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority.

In Tonk, which has a sizable Muslim population, Congress partys former state chief Sachin Pilot will face BJPs Ajit Singh Mehta, who represented the seat in 2013.

This is the second assembly election for Pilot, who has previously won Lok Sabha polls from Dausa and Ajmer.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents with Congress Ram Lal Chauhan pitted against her. She has been the chief minister for two terms.

Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who founded the Rastriya Loktantrik Party, could be a concern for both the BJP and Congress in Khinvsar.

Several leaders of the BJP and Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied a ticket

Chief BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana.

In Congress, main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state.

With inputs from PTI.
With each passing day, the Uttarakashi tunnel rescue operation to bring the 41 trapped workers home is proving to be difficult due to technical snags. Now, Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said that the rescue operation has become technically complex adding that rescuers are working in an environment of unpredictability.

However, Hasnain said that all the 41 men continue to be stable and safe.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | A part of the vertical drilling machine is being taken to the top of the Silkyara Tunnel as an operation to rescue 41 workers trapped here continues. pic.twitter.com/sHLOShZAq8  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

You are seeing that this operation is getting technically complex. Earlier there were not many complexities and that is why some people in media were assuming timelines but we never gave timelines from our side. We are conducting rescue operations on hills. We are working in an environment of unpredictability, he said during a press briefing on Saturday.

I have experienced that when you do something with mountains, you cannot predict anything. This is exactly a situation like war, he added.

Hasnain also informed that advanced machinery is being airlifted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to replace the damaged part of the auger machine that broke down earlier today.

The good news is that the 41 workers are stuck inside are stable. All the basic things are being sent. The relatives of the workers have also come, and they are talking to the workers. As far as the rescue operation is concerned, there are certain problems we are facing. There has been damage in the auger machine and some part of it has not come out, Hasnain said.

The process of drilling will start in the next one or two days. Two methods are being used currently, but a third method that is draft method may also be used soon. Currently, the situation is that the 47-meter digging has been done, we have to keep it stable and remove the broken part of the Auger machine, the NDMA member said.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that a plasma cutter is being flown from Hyderabad to facilitate the cutting of the auger machine that is currently stuck in the debris of the Silkyara tunnel.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami took stock of the ongoing rescue operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/74MyBko2fP  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Apart from this, a 12-member team of the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) is on standby in case vertical drilling is required.

With inputs from agencies
On November 25, 1998, this columnist cast his vote with the press of button at Sarojini Nagar constituency in Delhi Legislative Assembly elections. Later in the day, he rushed to Institute of Driving and Traffic Research, Wazirabad to attend his election duty, the only time ever he had to perform one, being then an employee in a PSU under Delhi Government. This short but intense election duty involved receiving ballot boxes from the polling officers (along with necessary sets of papers) after the conclusion of polling before locking those up inside strong rooms set up at the premises of the institute.

Why this dichotomy  EVMs in the morning and ballot boxes in the evening? This was because the EVMs were used in six Assembly Constituencies viz Sarojini Nagar, Gole Market, Minto Road, Kasturba Nagar, Jangpura and Delhi Cantonment, while the rest of Delhi NCT voted the old way with the ballot. In all, people of 16 Assembly Constituencies voted with the EVMs in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on that day.

The EVMs thus returned to action after 14 long years. They had been illegalized by the Supreme Court in its order on March 5, 1984, while adjudicating an election petition  A C Jose v/s Sivan Pillai & Ors. Until then they had been used in 11 elections (select constituencies only) in Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Bihar in the 1982-1983 period. The first time the EVMs were used on an experimental basis were in Parur Assembly Constituency in Kerala in May, 1982.. The ban was not remotely based on any apprehension or complaint about their functioning. It was on the technical ground that the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 did not contain any explicit provision for the EVMs. It was actually a bad losers complaint, that set the clock back. Meanwhile Election Commission of Indias ambitious plans to universalize the EVMs in elections received heavy set back.

The necessary statutory amendments viz insertion of the Section 61A in the RP Act, 1951 was finally notified on March 15, 1989. The amendment came late for the EVMs to keep date with elections to Ninth Lok Sabha (November, 1989). However, between November, 1989 and March, 1990 Election Commission of India procured 1,50,000 EVMs at a cost of Rs 73.5 crores appx (this figure given by ECI in the year 2000 varies slightly with figures given by Law, Justice and Company Affairs Ministry). The Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms (1990), despite itself being satisfied about the credibility of the machines, recommended a high level technological committee appointed by the Department of Electronics to examine the issue.

Promptly a three-member Technical Experts Committee chaired by S Sampath of DRDO (also comprising V Indiresan of IIT, Delhi and Rao C Kasarbada, Director, ERDC, Thiruvananthapuram) was appointed to examine the matter. It gave a positive verdict in April, 1990 and favoured the re-introduction of the EVMs without further loss of time (B C Patra, ECI, Celebrating 40 years of EVM Pride of Indian Elections, P.24).

The EVMs failed to keep a date with the Tenth Lok Sabha Elections, 1991. However, while reply to a starred question (No.110) in Rajya Sabha on September 3, 1991 the then MoS, Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Rangarajan Kumaramangalam informed that 1,50,444 machines had been purchased at a cost of Rs 75.25 crores that were being distributed amongst state governments and UTs. It was proposed that EVMs would be used in all bye-elections and countermanded elections after October 1, 1991. There was a plan to universalize the EVMs after five years. However, things did not went according to the plan. Not a single EVM saw action until another seven years.

The Governments lethargy was evident. Even as the statute was amended in 1988/89, the rules were not framed by the Law and Justice Ministry (this was informed by Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, the then Law, Justice and Company Affairs during a debate in Lok Sabha on March 18, 1992).

Almost four years after those 1,50,444 EVMs were supplied, senior officers of M/s Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat Electronics Limited (the manufacturers of the EVMs) came from Hyderabad and Bangalore to Election Commission of Indias headquarters in New Delhi to give a demonstration on October 18, 1995. Though it was the weekly meeting day of the full Commission, unfortunately, both Chief Election Commissioner T N Seshan and Election Commissioner M S Gill were on leave, and only Election Commissioner G V G Krishnamoorthy sat through the demonstration. G V G Krishnamoorthy admitted he was impressed. However, PSU officers told him that the batteries of those EVMs, locked in warehouses for four years, would require replacement.

Return of the EVM was not going to be another feather in the cap of iconic T N Seshan. He retired on December 11, 1996 seven months after elections to 11th Lok Sabha without EVMs re-introduced. The Narsimha Rao government (1991-96) appears to have developed cold feet for political reasons. Seshan was succeeded by M S Gill, destined to lead Election Commission of India into 21st century. He apparently proceeded in a systematic manner with re-introduction of the EVMs, as much as with computerization of electoral rolls, and putting the Election Commission of India on the World Wide Web. The year 1997 were spent in building up the case for reintroduction. Two notable meetings were held with political parties in May, 1997 and December, 1997.

Meanwhile, a wakeup call to the Government of India and state governments was sounded in a CAG Report for the year ending March 31, 1997. The Comptroller and Auditor General took a strong view of the fact that 1,50,000 EVM machines procured at the cost of Rs 73.5 crore were gathering dust in different warehouses, whose rent and incidental cost had to be borne by the different state governments. The CAG Audit Report for this contained a separate section titled-Idle Electronic Voting Machine valued Rs 73.5 crore.

The elections for 12th Lok Sabha came prematurely in February, 1998, before the plan for EVM could be finalized. However, it was not a good idea to try out EVMs directly in Lok Sabha elections either.

The opportune moment came on November 25, 1998, when four states viz Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi went to polls. Election Commission of India while announcing the elections on September 26, 1998, informed that polls would be conducted in 16 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) comprising 2930 polling stations with EVM. These included five ACs in Madhya Pradesh comprising 1149 polling stations, five ACs in Rajasthan comprising 1070 polling stations, and six ACs in NCT of Delhi comprising 711 polling stations. This columnists constituency was amongst those. The counting was held on November 28.

This was indeed crossing the Rubicon. The onward march of the EVMs could not be stalled again. In February, 1999, Election Commission of India commissioned Centre for Study of Developing Society to conduct a detailed study on EVMs experience during the bye-elections in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. Of the respondents, 90.6 percent held a favourable view of the EVMs. The CSDS report also indicated that 96.5 percent polling staff had received proper training in the EVM. The EVMs reduced the counting process between 2 and 3 hours instead of normal 6 to 12 hours (ECI, Elections in India: Major Events and New Initiatives 1996-2000, P.279).

On June 4, 1999, with guns booming in the heights of Kargil, Goa became the first state where entire legislative assembly elections were conducted with EVMs. Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill inaugurated the first major public centre for demonstration of the EVMs. A massive awareness campaign was undertaken to popularize the EVM functioning. It was also when Election Commission of India developed a set of Comprehensive Guidelines for use of EVM.

The 12th Lok Sabha, shortest in history, had been dissolved on April 26, 1999. The elections in five phases, however, were held in September after the Kargil War and monsoon season ended. The EVMs were used in total of 46 Parliamentary Constituencies in Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Delhi NCT, Pondicherry (now Puducherry), Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Orissa (now Odisha) and West Bengal etc in Phase-I, II, III and V. In Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, there were simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and legislative assembly. Two separate machines had to be used, differentiated by an acrylic sheet of different colours behind the ballot papers.

The EVMs were universalized in elections to 14th Lok Sabha, 2004. Despite the efficient performance of the EVMs, were subsequently subject to a campaign of calumny to create doubt in public mind regarding vulnerability. This was a bad losers complaint on part of some political parties. Their complaint against the EVMs has been dependent on results. They complained only when they lost, and accepted the results without batting an eyelid when they won. In reality, the diversity of results in the EVM era, both pro and anti-incumbency, has been more than in pre-EVM era. The reason is that EVMs dont vote, they merely record the votes.

The best reply to doubting Thomas has been introducing of the VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail), which was first introduced in 2013, and universalized in Seventeenth Lok Sabha elections, 2019. It has increased the credibility of the EVM, without compromising on the secrecy of the ballot. The voter knows where exactly his/her vote has gone. A Supreme Court order dated April 8, 2019, has made it obligatory to tally VVPAT slips in five polling stations per Assembly Constituency with EVM results. No inconsistency in the results has come to light.

Today, the electorate size of India has crossed 95 crores. India is a whale compared to lobsters in the democratic world. While the EVMs might be optional in other democracies of the world, they are absolutely irreplaceable in India. A thoroughly indigenous product, India has reasons to be proud about her EVMs.

The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held its Economic Leaders meeting on 16 and 17 November in San Francisco in the United States. The US last hosted the summit in Honolulu in 2011 after having hosted the first one in 1993 at Blake Island. The last three summits were in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Wellington in New Zealand, and Bangkok in Thailand. Peru, Korea and Vietnam are forthcoming summit hosts.

Initially APEC established in 1989, was a ministerial dialogue, and the summits only started in 1993 at the behest of the Clinton administration. APEC headquarters are in Singapore and not in Jakarta as it is not an ASEAN centric body. It began with six and now has seven ASEAN members out of its 21 members.

APECs 12 Charter members were Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. China, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) joined in 1991, Mexico and Papua New Guinea in 1993, Chile in 1994. The last expansion took place in 1998 when Peru, Russia and Vietnam joined. Since then, expansion is checked. An effort by Indonesia as the Chair in 2013 to include India, with US support, was negated by China and the position holds.

Of the 21 members, seven are from ASEAN; only Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are omitted. The same ASEAN members are committed to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) as well. Among ASEAN dialogue partners, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the US are members. India is the only EAS member not in APEC. Papua New Guinea, Chile, Mexico, and Peru are members too. The larger Latin American economies like Brazil and Argentina are not members.

The APEC is an economic and functional cooperation institution, which focuses on finance, central bank governors, transport, trade, disaster management, food security, and more recently on health and energy as well as SMEs. Though not a political body the main interest at the last summit was on the China-US bilateral meeting without which perhaps the leaders meeting would have been tense. As Xi Jinping did not attend the G 20 summit in New Delhi, which Biden did, they could not meet since the Bali G 20 summit in November 2022. Biden did have an underplayed meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in New Delhi. Also, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Li met in Jakarta in September 2023 alongside the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Besides restoring the summit, Xi-Biden also agreed to renew military communications which were suspended by China. On all other matters, there is no agreement because China desires that its path of development and engagement with partners should not be impeded by the US. This is particularly so in the Indo-Pacific where China prefers the term Asia-Pacific as in APEC and wants the US to avoid seeking ASEANs support in challenging Chinese hegemony.

In the post-Cold War period, APEC was one of the early multilateral organisations to emerge. It was presumed that with Cold War bipolarity ebbing, the new order would bring the benefits of economic globalisation. The path seemed to be towards regional trading arrangements. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was under negotiation and APEC was considered a new channel for integrating Asian growth with the Pacific since all three NAFTA countries  the US, Canada and Mexico  were part of APEC.

The APEC countries lacked cohesiveness in traditional terms but were united by the prospects of better economic growth and a common economic outlook. Promoting free trade and economic integration was the motive of APEC which wanted to become the new supply chain in the Asia-Pacific. The diversity of developed and developing countries coming together was buttressed by China, who allowed Hong Kong and Taiwan to join as economic entities due to which APEC was seen as a collection of economies rather than states.

China has to tolerate the presence of Taiwan in APEC which is among the largest organisations that Taiwan is a member of. Now both China and Taiwan are vying for membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Two trade related economic frameworks were discussed around APEC. The US anchored IPEF showed buoyancy on supply chains, tax and corruption and clean energy, decarbonisation, and infrastructure. The failure of the US to establish the trade arrangement under IPEF was disappointing for IPEF members who mostly are APEC members other than India and Fiji. Member countries of the CPTPP also met around APEC but then the US is not part of CPTPP! Washingtons difficulties in providing trade avenues to its partners limits its economic leadership in the region.

It should be noted that at the 2020 summit in Malaysia, the APEC leaders supported the Putrajaya Vision 2014, which is a consensus document for an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, for the prosperity of all our people and future generations.

To achieve stability in the region, the focus for this summit was on sustainability, inclusion, resilience and innovation. A large number of CEOs were involved, many of whom are deeply embedded in Asia, in the Indo-Pacific in general and China in particular.

Last year, at APEC, Xi Jinping had reiterated Chinas commitment to promoting a shared future in the region including stable supply chains, economic upgradation, inclusive development and harmony in the region. In order to attain these, peaceful engagement between China and the US is imperative. If successful, it can be the locomotive for sustainable growth and shared benefits.

The Xi-Biden meeting promoted a cooperative ambience where engagement rather than confrontation was emphasised. This catalysed the Xi-Kishida meeting. They moved faster on trade and agreed to establish a new dialogue framework which may ameliorate the tensions arising out of restrictions on semiconductors and other key technology trade.

Reiterating its effort to be the premiere forum for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, APEC seems determined to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment, and a well-functioning WTO dispute settlement system which will enable and empower the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific agenda. It also pursued the APEC Connectivity Blueprint (2015-2025). It seeks to triple renewable energy capacity globally, create openings for MSMEs and start-ups to grow, including through opportunities to enhance competition. Also, the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER), is anticipated to foster an inclusive digital economy for all members.

The APEC pursues topics about climate change, AI, food security, energy security, and what each member can contribute to facing challenges that the new world economy has brought. However, APEC, not being a strategic institution, keeps its focus on functional cooperation in the hope that its sidelines and other regional meetings will keep the ambience good enough to pursue regional good.

The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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On 7 October 2023, President Putin was given an unusual birthday present from an unexpected source, the Hamas attack on Israel and the outbreak of war in Gaza was his perfect 71st birthday gift in every sense. For one thing, the war in Ukraine departed from the front pages of international media, and the heads of the United States and the West turned once again towards the Middle East.

Consequently, the Ukrainian conflict looked like a limited war, when compared to Israels war in Gaza, which has the risk of escalating and expanding in the region. Further, President Putin was secure in the fact that the aid to Ukraine as far as arms, ammunition and Western deterrence by deploying troops in the vicinity of Ukraine would now stand divided between the Ukrainian and Israeli cause. Finally, the brutality of Hamas and its mirror image shown by Israels retaliation have paled the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Prior to 7 October the majority view by Western analysts seemed to be that a stalemate was considered to be a pessimistic view point as far as Ukraine was concerned. The West had invested the Ukrainian Defence Forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and they were hoping that the counter offensive would be successful. The EU had done what was unthinkable before the invasion, they supplied lethal equipment and delivered it to a non-member state at war. Aid to Ukraine was the buzzword and there were frequent trips by President Zelenskyy to various capitals demanding assistance to fight the war.

Mission Impossible: The Counter Offensive

There was much speculation and optimism regarding the Ukrainian counter offensive given their initial successes in the two operations they had conducted in 2022 and due to the fact that their troops had been armed and trained by the West. However, the Leopards and Challengers failed to make any breakthrough across the obstacle line which the Russians had created in the winter months. The hope was that Ukrainian gains would result in the Russians being forced to negotiate for a resolution to the conflict but this was an illusion.

The flood of Western support, it was believed, would enable Ukraine to evict the Russians. The German Leopard 2, British Challenger 2, and American M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles promised were meant to decisively shift the odds. But the Ukrainian military needed many more of these combat vehicles, greater numbers of HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) rounds and long-range missiles, and thousands of artillery shells. It also needed greater engineering, amphibious, and logistics capacity to penetrate fortified Russian defensive lines, clear hundreds of miles of occupied territory, and conduct amphibious and ground assaults to cross into Crimea and dislodge Russian forces. Most importantly, it needed air power to give it an air attack capability Above all it needed trained manpower to handle these complex systems and integrate them. This was clearly lacking.

The fact is that the West dithered for months before agreeing to supply the tanks and then took even longer to actually send them, finally by the end August there were only 87 Leopards and 14 Challengers and no Abrams. That translates into a Brigade worth, while converting from Soviet origin to Western equipment is a challenge for the Ukrainian Army, there are also restrictions imposed in their employment as these cannot be used on Russian soil, hence the Surovikin Line could not be outflanked as was done to the Maginot Line.

The impediments to achieving further success by the Ukrainians are well dug in by the Russians, protected by multi-layered natural and artificial obstacles, and with reserves suitably positioned to counter any breach.

Advances are therefore likely to come at a much higher price in terms of human costs due to the hardening of frontlines. Territorial reclamation, undoubtedly important to Ukraine, appears unlikely as their counter-offensive has been unable to break though the forward defences.

It has been over eighteen months into the conflict and it seems clear that Ukraine lacks the capacity even with external assistance to achieve a decisive military victory. Regardless of how much territory they are able to re-capture, which is presently negligible, they are unlikely to push Russia out of the Donbas region and Crimea. Further, even if they do achieve success, the Russian Army will continue to pose a permanent threat.

The Stark Realities

The West had downplayed Russias fears and ignored the damage to its national pride. It is said that the humiliation faced by President Putin as a KGB officer being forced to leave East Germany and to witness the disintegration of the Soviet Union led to his wanting to restore Russia to its original glory and the fact that the West did not adhere to its promise of not expanding NATO Eastwards was a red line that had been crossed.

Europe also made the mistake of complacency post the collapse of the Berlin Wall. They no longer felt war on European soil was possible, as a result they cut down significantly on defence spending thereby reducing their force levels and consequently deterrence. There was no doubt that their military capacities and capabilities were shrinking. Spending was now diverted to welfare measures, unfortunately this world view was not shared by Russia and neither by China. This post-Cold War illusion of peace in Europe now lies tattered.

In November 2019, President Macron had stated, What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO. He said this in an interview with The Economist. Europe stands on the edge of a precipice, he said, and needs to start thinking of itself strategically as a geopolitical power; otherwise, we will no longer be in control of our destiny.

As a result of this the major contributor for the security of NATO has been the US. Since the war began, the Biden administration has directed more than $76 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institute. This figure does not include all war-related US spending, such as aid to allies. Whereas the aid to Israel was $3.3 billion in 2021. Now the US finds its closest ally Israel at war, hence it is only natural for them to turn their focus in that direction.

As far as the Ukrainian War is concerned it is more evident that the war is likely to end without a resolution to the territorial issue as far as Ukraine is concerned and they may have to settle for the line of contact being accepted as the de-facto border.

The Mounting Costs of Delaying a Resolution

Ukraine has witnessed scenes of soldiers facing each other from mud trenches both in World War I and World War II. The costs of those wars are well documented and need no reiteration. Ruined buildings and infrastructure, collateral damage to the civil population and a wasteland due to the artillery shelling and movement of armour in the wars. The conflicts in the twenty-first century were meant to be fought using advanced technologies, autonomous weapon systems and be played out in space and cyberspace. But the stark reality lay elsewhere, boots on ground mattered the most.

In 1914 also there was a sense of complacency in Europe, it was assumed that countries were too advanced, too economically integrated and too civilised to resort to armed conflict. Wars were meant to be fought on the peripheries of Europe or in colonial territories. Unfortunately, in 2022 a similar mindset prevailed, wars were meant to be fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Libya and not on mainland Europe. Major power conflicts related to India and China but not Taiwan and China.

The World Wars also found both sides exhausting stocks of ammunition meant to last for months in weeks and days. This resulted in mobilisation of their industries to focus on war production to ensure that the armies could keep fighting. The strain on the economies was immense.

While there seems to be visible determination on the part of the citizens of Ukraine to overcome the challenges and hardships of war, the question that remains to be answered is: how long can they bear the cross of destruction of infrastructure, shortages of resources, cutting off of ports, denial of airspace, fleeing of its population, and conscription of a young, able-bodied workforce to make up the deficiencies in the Armed Forces?

The fact remains that the longer a war lasts the more important allies and resources become, Ukraine depends on international support for continuing its war whereas the resources of Russia are far greater to sustain a conflict. Unfortunately, while Ukraine has many friends none were able to commit to join the fight as combatants. They are content with assistance in the form of economic sanctions against Russia and providing intelligence, armaments, training and logistics.

Clausewitz visualised the problems of waging war and had written in On War, We must evaluate the political sympathies of other states and the effect the war may have on them.

In the days of globalisation and of economies being intertwined, there is no doubt that the effect of the Ukrainian war is not restricted merely to the combatants. Even if conflict were to cease, the responsibility for rebuilding Ukraine and helping it get back on its feet has staggering economic implications. The Marshall Plan helped rebuild Europe and integrated Germany and Italy into the Allies leading on to them becoming key members of NATO. One of the key reasons was that the West was now united against an ideology that was communism and they needed to counter that by rebuilding Germany and Italy.

Today, there seems to be fatigue setting in regarding shouldering an economic burden that the conflict has imposed, the consequent growing disaffection amongst a populace unwilling to cover the cost, the dangers of the proxy war escalating and the EU being pulled into a war

It seems impossible to visualise a vibrant economy as far as Ukraine is concerned with sea ports blockaded, airspace closed and infrastructure damaged. Russia has also suffered, though on a lesser scale, due to the economic costs of waging a war and the sanctions imposed, though the effect of the latter is more of a bark than a bite.

Delaying a resolution is only multiplying the costs of war in terms of human and economic terms. It is unlikely if the fundamentals will change. It is also clear that as far as both sides are concerned there can be no definite outcome as far as attaining their initial objectives are concerned.

Conclusion

Well into its second year and at a point when the two boxers are once again going to be separated by Marshal Winter and General Mud which makes attack near impossible in Spring and Autumn, the RussiaUkraine War has panned out in the past year in a very different way than visualised and expected. Instead of decisive battles there have been grindingly slow advances where attrition rather manoeuvre have dominated.

The truth remains that there cannot be unrealistic assumptions about how easy it can be to overwhelm and defeat the enemy. Wars rarely go as planned hence neither side can afford to persist with a war in a hope of celebrating a victory purely on their terms.

The unvarnished fact remains that as long as the Ukrainians are willing to fight, the West is benefiting as this has tied up the Russian forces and thereby diminished the threat they pose. Unfortunately it is in their interests to prolong the war by bleeding Russia in this so called cost effective manner.

In 1919, the French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau said, Making peace is harder than waging war. Unfortunately, these words still echo with renewed significance and urgency today.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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On 22 November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the follow up virtual summit of the G20 before passing on the baton to Brazil, another developing country in the unusual trail which encompasses Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa. This is essential to ensure that the legitimate aspirations and needs of the Global South are not lost out in the ongoing din of global disorder and geopolitical contestations. India, immediately after assuming the presidency of G20, had called for a Global South summit to take onboard their concerns and requirements at this increasingly important G20 forum as the UN and others have been losing their sheen.

Indias shining moment was inclusion of the African Union (55 countries), and turning bankers G20 to peoples G20, as a permanent member effectively making it a G21. It also focused on critical issues for their wellbeing from green growth to renewable energy to debt relief to reforms of multilateral banks and institutions, accelerating SDGs to newer and pressing challenges of AI, crypto currency and cyber space as well as countering terrorism and finally the women-led development. Keeping with the same tradition India hosted yet another Virtual Global South Summit before the G20 virtual summit. The Russia -Ukraine war and its impacts were a major challenge for the Indian presidency especially in the issuance of the New Delhi Leaders Declaration on 10 September.

Hardly a month passed, and another recurring West Asian crisis ensued with the Israel-Hamas war, which is now in its seventh week, where terrorism and two-state solution for the age-old Palestinian issue have become another major challenge for the international community and hopefully a priority.

The G20 needed to highlight the fact that putting the issues under the carpet due to geopolitical conveniences will come back to bite with greater and ferocious intensity. This was evident in Hamas terrorist attacks killing 1400 Israelis and the severe Israeli response and resolve to destroy Hamas killing over 14000 Palestinians and pounding Gaza thereby causing a humanitarian disaster.

Both sides lost innocent civilians and 250 odd hostages taken by Hamas became the key to another temporary truce. Qatar and Egypt brokered a deal whereby some 50 hostages, consisting of Israeli women and children, will be released in lieu of a temporary four-day ceasefire and the return of 150 Palestinian women and children. India and the G20 welcomed it. Hopefully this phased truce and exchanges of hostages and prisoners and the international pressure would yield into a permanent ceasefire even as Netanyahu vows to eliminate Hamas.

In his remarks at the G20 virtual summit, regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, PM Modi reiterated the concerns about terrorism and human tragedy; and advocated the assistance and need for a two-state solution and the efforts to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the region. He stated that the G20 had arrived at a seven-point consensus, including the role that the G20 is ready to play to end the conflict. He enunciated that there was agreement in G20 on many issues. These included zero tolerance for terrorism, and death of innocent civilians, especially women and children, being unacceptable. According to the PM Modi, there was agreement also on five other issues  early, effective and safe distribution of humanitarian aid; welcoming humanitarian pause and release of hostages; resolving the Israel-Hamas issue through two-state solution; need for regional peace and stability; and reducing political tensions through dialogue and diplomacy. Finally, the G20 is ready to help in this effort in whatever way possible, PM added.

India has maintained principled position all through be it against the terrorist act of Hamas or loss of innocent lives on both sides as well as providing unimpeded humanitarian assistance and the pressing need for direct dialogue for a two-state solution as it immediately dispatched relief supplies to the Gazans via Egypt. PM Modi and Jaishankar conferred with all major regional and global leaders to seek their assessments, urging an early solution and end to humanitarian tragedy and efforts to contain the spread of war to other theatres in the region. New Delhi also reiterated its stand at the extraordinary BRICS Summit where Foreign Minister Jaishankar represented the prime minister. These detailed discussions were also held at the 2+2 FM/RM dialogue with USA and Australia recently.

Even at the UN General Assembly debates and the two resolutions Indias principled stand with regard to terrorism and two-state solution was clearly expressed . On the first one India abstained as it did not have proper reference to the terror trigger by Hamas but in the explanation of vote it spoke of humanitarian disaster and civilian strife and need for unimpeded relief supplies and the two-state solution. On the second one it voted against the continued and expanding Israeli settlements in the West bank which will ipso facto defy the very basis of the two-state solution and is violative of the international law and UNSC resolutions.

As Jaishankar clearly articulated at the BRICS Summit and other deliberations, the three critical issues have to be addressed simultaneously for a sustainable solution to the ongoing West Asian crisis. These include that there can be no compromise with terror; that there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza; and that the issue of rights, aspirations, and the future of the Palestinian people can only be addressed through a two-state political and negotiated solution with a viable and sovereign state of Palestine side by side with Israel. However, several critics point out the absence of a call for an urgent ceasefire and question: Whether this war with pauses and hiatuses and tremendous human tragedy will pave the way for the beginning of direct and meaningful dialogue between the two sides with the mediation of trusted interlocutors? This has to be seen.

The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Hamas has released 13 women and children, as part of a four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza that hopes to achieve the swap of 50 hostages for 150 Palestinians in Israeli jails. It is unlikely that any stories of what they really went through will ever emerge, but many Indians thoughts will turn to Moshe Holtzberg, the two-year-old Israeli who was saved by his Indian nanny from being murdered by Pakistani terrorists exactly15 years ago in Mumbai: 26 November 2008.

Moshe lost both parents to Islamist terror that day and four other Israelis also died in that attack. Today he lives in a town in northern Israel, not anywhere near the October 7 carnage. But the teenager must have had a sense of deja vu about that terror though little news emerged about the Israeli children killed by Hamas or left behind orphaned, their parents murdered in front of their eyes like Moshes. Many children taken hostage have no one like Sandra to comfort them.

The children freed in the first batchOhad Monder (aged 9), Emilia Aloni (6), Raz (4) and Aviv (2) Asher were all with their mothers, a blessing in those horrible days of captivity. Unlike Avigail Idan (3), who remains a hostage. Her siblings, aged 10 and 6, escaped capture as they hid in a closet. Avigail was in her fathers arms when both parents were killed. She ran to the next house but was kidnapped from thereall alonealong with a woman and three more children.

Avigail is not the only child alone in captivity: Thomas Hand was told his 8-year-old daughter Emily had been killed and said he was relieved as she would not have to undergo any ordeal given Hamas track record. Now he has been informed Emily may indeed be a hostage. Alone among the terrorists. Imagine his plight: overjoyed she is alive but tormented about her future. Can anyone gauge which of the threekilled, kidnapped or orphanedis the worse fate?

Ariel (4) and Kfir (10 months) were kidnapped along with their parents, Yarden and Shiri Bibas and may be among the next to be released, but as no men are part of the deal, their father will not be freed with them. It is not even known whether he is even held at the same place they are. So freedom may not mean the end of their trauma and pain. The same may be the case with Yahel (3) and Naveh Shoham (8) kidnapped with their parents Adi and Tal and other family.

Ella (8) and Dafna (15) Elyakim were taken with their father Noam, his girlfriend Dikla, and her son, Tomer. But the bodies of the other three were found later so the sisters probably witnessed those deaths but are now being held alone. Three-year-old twins Yuli and Emma Cunio, who were taken hostage along with their parents Sharon and David, are maternal cousins of Emilia Aloni released today. If they are freed next with their mother., what about their father?

Stories of kids orphaned by terrorists would resonate in India more than many other places, particularly today on the 26/11 anniversary. Like that of two-year-old Almog Levi, whose mother Eynav was killed by Hamas at the site of the desert rave party and his father Or is suspected to be one of those taken hostage. According to several international media reports, the toddler now keeps talking to himself pretending his parents are telling him what to do.

The release of a few women and children will not be any comfort for him as his parents are gone. Had Moshe, who was also just two when his parents were shot dead in Mumbais Chabad House, not had his doughty nanny Sandra Samuel by his side then and through the months that followed, he too may have become like Almog, looking for familiar faces and voices. Even so, Moshe had nightmares for a long time and clung to Sandra, asking where his parents were.

Like Almog, the hostage release will not change anything for 10 month old twins Guy and Roi either as their parents Hadar and Itay Berdichevsky were shot dead in their homes. They lay in their cots for 14 hours before being found by rescuers. Why they were not taken to Gaza by terrorists like many other infants is unclear. It seems the Hamas attackers were given conflicting orders on what to do with children, so some were killed, some kidnapped, some left behind.

Israel has not given any specific figures of the number of children among the 1,200 people now estimated to have been killed in the attacksnor the number left orphaned. Some 40 children, some of them just infants, are said to be among the 240 who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. And the Israelis say 16 children lost both parents in the attack and around 100 lost at least one. And then there are children whose parents are now hostages, orphaned too in a way.

In comparison, the ability of the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza to give precise numbers of those killedespecially childrenis astounding, given the chaos around bombed areas and medical facilities. Ubiquitous cameras film every spot after bombardment and the injured Gazans (especially children) being rushed to hospitals. But there is no query about why so many women and children had remained in the war zone despite repeated Israeli warnings to leave.

The first humanitarian pause is slated to see the release of just 50 of the 240 hostages in Hamas hands; unless it is extended into a longer ceasefire, of course. As some 40 of them are below the age of 18, it is very likely that the younger children will be the ones let off first, those with their mothersand maybe those without them too, like Avigail. However, the plight of the teenage boys and girls, possibly the most vulnerable, gives further cause for fear and concern.

Moshe is now 17, like many of the older children still being held in Gaza. He has not been in the public eye during this crisis but given that in November 2022 he had exhorted the world to look for ways to counter terror so that nobody ever has to go through what he had, Moshe must be following the hostage release closely like all Israelis and praying everything ends well.

At the opening of Israels newly elected 25th Knesset (Parliament) in 2022, the last lines that Moshe recited from Chapter 122 of the Book of Psalms are very relevant: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:/ May those who love you be secure./ May there be peace within your walls/and security within your citadels./For the sake of my family and friends,/ I will say, Peace be within you./For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,/I will seek your prosperity.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Around 3,000 Indian Sikhs arrived here in Pakistans Punjab province on Saturday through the Wagah Border to participate in the festivities in connection with the 554th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh and other officials greeted the visiting pilgrims at the Lahore border.

Around 3,000 Indian Sikh Yatrees arrived here to attend the festivities in connection with the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. We have made foolproof security arrangements, accommodation and travelling facilities for Sikh pilgrims, Saleem told reporters.

He said although there has been an agreement that some 3,000 Indian Sikhs would be accommodated for Baba Guru Nanaks birth anniversary the ETPB is ready to accommodate more Sikhs.

We welcome more than 3,000 Sikhs from India for this occasion if India allows them, Saleem said.

PSGPCs Ameer Singh demanded the resumption of train and bus service between the two countries to facilitate the people.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Amritsar party leader Khushmindar Singh expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements made by the ETPB for the visiting pilgrims.

Indian Sikhs are contented with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and protection of their holy places in Pakistan, he said and praised the people here for their love for the Yatrees.

The visiting pilgrims were transported to Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib by special buses where the three-day festivities will kick off on Sunday.

During their 10-day stay here, the pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aimenabad and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal.
Imran Khan has moved the Supreme Court for bail in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case in which Pakistans jailed former prime minister and his wife are accused of receiving land worth billions of rupees as a bribe from a real estate tycoon, according to a media report.

Khan, 71, who has been incarcerated in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since September 26 in various cases, Friday moved the apex court following rejection of his plea by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on November 14.

According to The Express Tribune newspaper, Khan in the bail application alleged that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), while acting as a tool of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, used the case to harass him on political grounds.

In the appeal, the Supreme Court was requested to annul the IHC decision of November 14 and the decision of the accountability court on August 10 on his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The Ali-Qadir Trust case is about the settlement of 190 million pounds, about Rs 50 billion, which the UKs National Crime Agency sent to Pakistan after recovering the amount from a Pakistani property tycoon.

Khan, being the prime minister then, instead of depositing in the national treasury, allowed the businessman to use the amount to partly settle a fine of about Rs 450 billion imposed by the Supreme Court some years ago.

Reportedly, the tycoon, in return, gifted about 57 acres of land to a trust set up by Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to establish the Al-Qadir University in the Sohawa area of the Jhelum district of Punjab.

Separately, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chiefs petition for an early decision on a request for withdrawal of his appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistans decision to disqualify him in the Toshakhana case following his conviction in the case in August. Later, his conviction in the case was suspended.

That case was filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan for hiding the proceeds of sale from the gifts he got from the Toshakhana, a repository for presents given to government officials by foreign officials, during his tenure as the prime minister.

The court said that many cases were going on simultaneously, assuring the PTIs lawyer that the matter would be decided next week. Khan wanted to withdraw his appeal to the IHC and take it to the Lahore High Court (LHC), the paper said.
Bangladesh police have clamped down on Rohingya refugees setting sail to Indonesia, officers said Saturday, after hundreds from the persecuted Myanmar minority took the long and risky sea voyage to escape squalid camps.

Some said they had paid traffickers a relative fortune of $1,000 for a place on a boat.

Bangladesh is home to one million mostly Muslim Rohingya refugees, the majority of whom fled a violent 2017 crackdown by the Myanmar military that is now subject to a United Nations genocide probe.

Conditions in the overcrowded, dangerous and under-resourced relief camps are tough, and refugees have said conditions are worsening due to cuts in food aid, deadly gang battles and a lack of jobs.

As the seas in the Bay of Bengal calm after monsoon rains, human traffickers are offering hundreds of Rohingya people berths on boats bound for Malaysia and Indonesia, police officers told AFP.

This month has seen a spike in journeys to Indonesias westernmost province of Aceh  a voyage of about 1,800 kilometres (1,120 miles)  with more than 1,000 arrivals in the biggest such wave since the 2017 crackdown.

Police said they had stopped and held 58 Rohingya on Friday night as they reportedly left camps heading to board boats at Teknaf, a Bangladeshi river port just across the border from Myanmar.

Among them nine are men, 16 are women and 33 are children. We detained two Bangladeshi human traffickers who were allegedly guiding them, Teknaf police station chief Osman Goni told AFP on Saturday.

They were ready to sail in a boat from Teknaf and were going to Indonesia and Malaysia.

Several Rohingya refugees who were held by police told AFP that they had paid human traffickers around $1,000 each for a boat journey to Indonesia.

They (the traffickers) kept us in a house, and said they would send us to Indonesia on a boat the next day, said Selim Ullah, a 22-year-old Rohingya refugee.

Ullahs wife and daughter were also held by police.
As part of a NATO peacekeeping mission being reinforced, British troops are patrolling the Kosovo-Serbia border out of worry that the former adversaries could resume hostilities after a string of violent incidents in recent months.

Following a struggle between the government and armed Serbs holed up in a monastery on September 24, which converted a peaceful town in northern Kosovo into a war zone, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation dispatched hundreds of additional forces to Kosovo from Britain and Romania.

Seen as the bloodiest violence since Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008, three gunmen and one police officer were slain in the town of Banjska.

Kosovo accused Serbia of providing financial and practical support for the gunmen, which Belgrade denies.

NATO has sent 1,000 extra troops to the region, bringing its presence there to 4,500 peacekeepers from 27 countries.

British soldiers are now being deployed in 18-hour shifts in freezing conditions to make sure no weapons or armed groups enter Kosovo.

As he made his way across the western Balkans on Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the alliance is assessing the necessity for a more sustained troop build-up to ensure that this doesnt spiral out of control and creates a new violent conflict in Kosovo or in the wider region.

With a majority of ethnic Albanians, Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008 following a NATO operation in 1999 and a guerrilla revolt.

Ethnic Serbs make up about five percent of the population of Kosovo; the majority reside in the north, rejecting Kosovos independence, and regard Belgrade as their capital. They have frequently battled with UN peacekeepers and the Kosovo police.

Many ethnic Serbs have been utilising their own systemwhich Pristina views as illegalinstead of registering their cars with Kosovo licence plates for over 20 years.

The administration of Prime Minister Albin Kurti has given about 10,000 drivers until December 1st to register their vehicles with Kosovo licence plates or risk paying steep fines. Last year, a similar plea led to bloodshed.

(With agency inputs)
On Saturday, the Chinese military announced that the USS Hopper, an American naval destroyer, had entered Chinese territorial waters without the Chinese governments consent.

The Chinese military used its air force and naval forces to track, monitor, and warn away the vessel, according to a post on the Southern Theatre Commands official WeChat page.

The incident, it continued, proves that the United States is an out-and-outsecurity risk creator in the South China Sea.

This most recent announcement comes days after China, referring to coordinated patrols between Philippine and American military since Tuesday, accused the Philippines of deploying foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea.

The U.S. side emphasised its worries about dangerous and unlawful Chinese actions there during candid talks on marine problems, particularly the disputed South China Sea, earlier this month, according to the U.S. State Department.

(With agency inputs)
Egypt hinted that the four-day truce would be prolonged by one or two days, and Hamas was scheduled to free a second batch of Israelis on Saturday as part of an agreement to allow the exchange of 50 hostages for Palestinian inmates.

If nothing unexpected happens, 13 Israeli captives should be released on Saturday, according to an Israeli military spokesman who talked to French TV BFM. In exchange, 39 Palestinian inmates will also be released.

Prior to this, sources close to Egyptian security claimed to have gotten the names of fourteen Israeli women and children from Hamas and were awaiting further information.

Under the terms of the truce agreement, crucial aid has resumed entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, which is controlled by Egypt. The country also reported that it had received positive signals from all sides regarding a potential extension of the agreement.

Egypts State Information Service (SIS) chief, Diaa Rashwan, said in a statement that Cairo was in intensive negotiations with all sides in hopes of reaching a deal that would allow for the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

As per the current agreement, 150 Palestinian prisonerssome of whom have been found guilty of serious offences and weapon chargeswill get 50 hostages in exchange over the course of four days. It was Friday when the first interaction happened.

Although U.S. President Joe Biden stated there was a genuine possibility of the truce being extended, both parties have stated that hostilities would resume as soon as it ends.

Israel has pledged to annihilate Hamas after its forces stormed past security barriers surrounding the Gaza Strip and rampaged through Israeli settlements surrounding the blockaded enclave, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 captives.

According to Palestinian health authorities, since then, Israel has dropped bombs on Gaza, killing around 14,000 Palestinians, about 40% of whom were youngsters.

The break in the almost continual air and artillery assaults has given many of the 2.3 million residents of the small Gaza Strip their first opportunity to travel around securely, assess the damage, and apply for access.

(With agency inputs)
The president of a pivotal UN climate summit defended on Saturday the large presence of industry representatives at the negotiations, saying private sector engagement was essential to curb global heating.

Everyone needs to be part of this process and everyone needs to be held responsible and everyone needs to be held accountable, COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber, of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, told AFP in an interview.

That includes all industries and in particular heavy emitting industries like aviation, transportation, aluminium, cement, steel, as well as the oil and gas industry, he added.

World leaders, country negotiators, activists, lobbyists and figures including Pope Francis will be among the 70,000 attendees expected at COP28 in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December, making it the largest United Nations climate change summit ever.

More than 1,000 businesses and philanthropic organisation leaders have registered for a two-day forum on 1-2 December on the sidelines of the negotiations between political leaders on preventing the planets climate tipping unstoppably out of control.

Businesses and industries are to announce a score of commitments at the forum, according to its organiser, Emirati businessman Badr Jafar.

National negotiators at COP28 will grapple with a host of flashpoint issues, including the future of fossil fuels  oil, gas and coal  and financial aid from rich polluters for the poorer nations most vulnerable to accelerating climate disruption.

But the central focus will be a damning stock-taking of the worlds limited progress towards curbing the pollutant greenhouse gas emissions fuelling the climate crisis.

Jaber, CEO of UAE state-owned oil giant ADNOC, has consistently stressed his wish to engage the private sector alongside national governments to finance the transition to clean energy and help vulnerable states adapt to their changing climate.

We also need to encourage private sector funding, he told AFP.

We need to provide the necessary insurance and the hedging mechanisms to protect the private sector, and incentivise them to come on board and to help fix the climate finance challenge.

US and European parliamentarians have urged the UN to bring in new rules on companies taking part in COP negotiations.

Asked about the demand, Jaber said the challenge was so enormous that both nation-states and the private sector needed to be involved.

Everyone must be consulted. Everyone must be given the opportunity to contribute, he said.

I will hold everyone and every industry responsible and accountable for keeping 1.5 within reach.

1.5 refers to the target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting the rise in the Earths average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Scientists have warned that humanity is dangerously close to exceeding that key 1.5C threshold.
While the homecoming of the 13 Israelis from captivity in Gaza has brought joy to families, relatives of male hostages who are still being held by Hamas pushed for their loved ones to be released saying fight still isnt over.

Under the hostage deal agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar, only Israeli women and children hostages will be released first. However, during a virtual press conference held Saturday, the family members of male Israeli hostages highlighted the plight of their loved ones who are still being held in Gaza.

We have a big struggle ahead of us, even though we did get some hope yesterday by the release of 13 people from our communities and 11 more people that are foreign citizens that would gain relief. The fight still isnt over, Nadav Rudaeff said.

He added that the families know nothing besides the fact that we know he was hurt during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Meanwhile, Noam Peri whose 79-year-old father Chaim has been taken hostage said that his family had recently received a sign of life after hostages who were being released on Friday said that he is still alive. Chaims wife Channa was among the hostages who were released on day one of the truce.

It feels very urgent to let them all out. We dont know how much time theyre going to be able to hold on there, Noam Peri stressed.

Hamas was expected to release a second group of Israelis on Saturday as a planned four-day truce to allow an exchange of 50 hostages for Palestinian prisoners continued to hold in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Egyptian security sources said they had received the names of 14 Israeli women and children from Hamas and were waiting for more details on when the hostages would be handed over to Egyptian authorities.

With inputs from Reuters
The armed wing of Hamas said Saturday it was delaying the handover of a second group of hostages due to be released under a truce deal until Israel adheres to the terms of the agreement.

The entry of humanitarian aid to the north of the Gaza Strip and the selection criteria for the liberation of prisoners were the issues in question, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.

An Israeli official confirmed to AFP the hostages had not yet been handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip.
Ukraines capital city bore the consequences of what the countrys air force described as Russias largest drone attack of the war on Saturday, leaving five people wounded as the continuing rumble of air defences and explosions woke residents.

The attack, which used Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones, began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, with more waves coming as the sun rose.

A spokesman for Kyivs city administration told public broadcaster Suspilne at least 40 drones had been downed.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on the Telegram app, said the attack had injured five people, including an 11-year-old girl, and damaged buildings in districts all across the city.

Fragments from a downed drone had started a fire in a childrens nursery, he said.

The target of the attack was not immediately clear, but Ukraine has warned in recent weeks that Russia will once again wage an aerial campaign to destroy Ukraines energy system, as it sought to do last winter.

Ukraines energy ministry said nearly 200 buildings in the capital, including 77 residential ones, had been left without power as a result of the attack.
Following a request from Thailands Foreign Ministry and parliamentary speaker, Iran helped free 10 Thai hostages from Gaza on Friday by giving a list of names to the Palestinian organisation Hamas, the Iranian embassy in Thailand announced on social media on Saturday.

This request was accepted by Hamas and 10 Thai hostages were released after the ceasefire, it said in a statement on social media.

In October, a delegation of Muslim lawmakers from Thailand visited Tehran and held meetings with high-ranking Hamas officials.

Concerning the release of Thai hostages, key officials in Cairo and Doha met Thailands Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara.

According to the Thai government, 20 of its citizens are still detained by Hamas.

One of the biggest groups of migrant labourers in Israel, with many working in agriculture, are over 30,000 Thai nationals.

(With agency inputs)
Iran said Saturday it helped broker the surprise release of Thai nationals who had been held by Palestinian militants in war-ravaged Gaza since their shock attack on Israel last month.

On Friday, Hamas unexpectedly released 10 Thais and a Filipino, along with the 13 Israeli women and children who were part of a temporary truce deal with Israel.

Israel in turn freed 39 Palestinian women and children from its prisons.

The issue of Thai prisoners was jointly pursued by the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told the official IRNA news agency.

The releases took place as a temporary truce paused fighting in Gaza for the first time since 7 October when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 240 more hostages, according to Israeli figures.

Israel has responded with a withering bombing campaign on Gaza, that has killed more than 15,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run government.

A list of names of these prisoners was given to Hamas officials to review and assist with the issue from a humanitarian perspective, Kanani added.

The Thai foreign ministry confirmed the releases on Saturday, saying the 10 individuals  nine men and one woman  had been taken to Israel via Egypt.

It added that roughly 20 Thais are among the estimated 215 people still held hostage in Gaza.

During the four-day truce, Hamas is expected to free a total of 50 Israeli hostages, some of them dual nationals, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

On Thursday, Kanani welcomed the temporary truce as the first step in the path of completely stopping war crimes committed by the Zionist regime against Palestinian people.

Iran, which supports Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the 7 October attacks as a success but denied any direct involvement.

Tehran has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Israel has got a list of hostages due to be set free from Gaza on Saturday by Palestinian militant group Hamas, officials said, following the release of 24 hostages during the first day of a planned four-day ceasefire on Friday.

Israeli security officials were reviewing the list, said a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has promised to work toward the release of all hostages taken by Hamas in an attack on Israel on October 7.

The released hostages, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers, were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, accompanied by eight staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a four-car convoy, the ICRC said. They were then taken to Israel for medical checks and reunions with relatives.

Qatar, which acted as mediator for the truce deal, said 13 Israelis had been released, some with dual nationality, plus 10 Thais and a Filipino  farm workers employed in southern Israel when they were taken hostage. Thirty-nine Palestinian women and children detainees were released from Israeli jails.

The Israeli hostages freed included four children accompanied by four family members, and five elderly women.

US President Joe Biden said there was a real chance of extending the truce and that the pause in fighting was a critical opportunity to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. The pause in fighting was the first break in the war that erupted seven weeks ago.

Biden declined to speculate about how long the Israel-Hamas war would last. Asked at a press conference what his expectations were, Biden said Israels goal of eliminating Hamas was a legitimate but difficult mission.

I dont know how long it will take, Biden said.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said that 196 trucks of humanitarian aid, including food, water and medical supplies, were delivered through the Rafah crossing on Friday, the biggest aid convoy into Gaza since Hamas assault on Israel and Israeli bombardment of the territory in retaliation. Some 1,759 trucks have entered the enclave since Oct. 21, it said.

MIXED EMOTIONS IN ISRAEL

The families of the hostages expressed mixed emotions, fearing for those left behind.

Im excited for the families who today are going to hug their loved ones, Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of Omer Shem Tov, 21, said in an interview with Israels Channel 12. He was not among those released on Friday. I am jealous. And I am sad. Mostly sad that Omer is still not coming home.

According to Israeli tallies, Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in the October attack and took about 240 hostages.

Since then, Israel has rained bombs on the Hamas-ruled enclave, killing some 14,000 Gazans, around 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Hundreds of thousands of Gazas 2.3 million people have fled their homes, including most people in the northern half of the enclave.

After the released hostages underwent initial medical checks and were taken to be reunited with their families, medical authorities said they appeared to be in good physical condition and were undergoing more evaluations.

Roni Haviv, a relative of Ohad Munder, said she was looking forward to giving the nine-year-old his favourite toy.

Im waiting to see Ohad and cant wait to give him his Rubiks Cube, which I know he really loved and he probably missed it so much and thats the first thing he takes everywhere he goes, she said.

Those released on Friday were exchanged for 24 jailed Palestinian women and 15 teenagers. In at least three cases, before the prisoners were released, Israeli police raided their families homes in Jerusalem, witnesses said. Police declined to comment.

There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait, said Sawsan Bkeer, the mother of 24-year-old Palestinian prisoner Marah Bkeer, jailed for eight years on knife and assault charges in 2015. Israeli police were seen raiding her Jerusalem home before her daughter was released.

We are still afraid to feel happy and at the same time, we do not have it in us to be happy due to what is happening in Gaza, she said.

A source briefed on the negotiations said the release of the Thai workers, who were all men, was unrelated to the truce talks and followed a separate track mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

Both sides said the war would resume as soon as the truce was over.
As a planned four-day truce to allow the exchange of 50 hostages for Palestinian detainees continues to hold in the restricted Gaza Strip, Hamas was scheduled to free a second set of Israelis on Saturday.

According to Egyptian security sources, 14 Israeli women and childrens names had been obtained by Hamas. They were awaiting more information regarding the exact time of the captives transfer to Egyptian authorities.

The amount and timing of the anticipated release were not confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, but Israeli security officials were going over the list.

Nine-year-old Ohad Munder was among those set go on Friday; in video provided by the hospital, he sprinted down a hospital corridor and into his fathers wide arms.

The director of paediatrics at the facility, Gilat Livni, told reporters that he and the other three kids who were released at the same time were in comparatively good health. She mentioned that several have talked about their experience, but she wouldnt go into specifics.

They shared experiences, we were up with them until late at might and it was interesting, upsetting and moving, Livni said.

According to the conditions of the agreement reached last week through mediation by Qatar, Israeli prison officials announced that they were getting ready to free 42 more Palestinian inmates on Saturday.

The first pause in the seven-week Gaza conflict calls for the gradual release of fifty women and children detained by Hamas over the course of four days in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children.

Twenty-three Israelis, ten Thai farm labourers, and one Filipino were among the twenty-four captives that Hamas terrorists rescued on Friday. Later, Israel released 39 Palestinian women and teenagers from custody.

Families of the hostages rejoiced over the news, but their joy was tempered with worry for those who were still detained in Gaza.

(With agency inputs)
Hamas is expected to release another 14 Israeli hostages in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, the second day of a four-day truce in their seven-week war.

On Friday evening the Palestinian Islamist group freed 13 Israelis and Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners from its jails, hours after the truce took hold.

Hamas snatched about 240 captives from southern Israel in an 7 October attack that Israeli officials say killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

In response, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and unleashed a withering aerial bombing campaign and ground operation in Gaza that the Hamas government says has killed nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians.

Here are four key developments from the past 24 hours:

More to be freed

Israeli officials said 14 hostages and 42 Palestinian prisoners would be released on Saturday, as the second day of the truce appeared to be held in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday Hamas released 13 Israeli hostages  all women and children and including dual citizens  along with 10 Thais and one Filipino who were also seized in the October 7 attack.

About 215 hostages are still held in Gaza, the Israeli army has said, adding however that in many cases it is unknown if they are alive or dead.

Under the truce deal brokered by Qatar with help from Egypt and the United States, Hamas is expected to free a total of 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Gaza relief

AFPTV live footage showed a stream of trucks carrying desperately needed aid lining up to enter the Gaza Strip for the second successive day.

The United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA, said 137 trucks carrying fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials had passed into the embattled Palestinian territory via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Friday.

Twenty-one critical patients were also evacuated.

OCHA said a total of 200 trucks had been sent from the Israeli village of Nitzana to the Rafah crossing on Friday.

Drone hits Israeli-owned ship

A drone suspected of being launched by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has struck an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Indian Ocean, according to a US defence official.

We are aware of reports that there was a suspected IRGC-initiated Shahed-136 UAV (that) struck a civilian motor vessel in the Indian Ocean on Friday, the official said, adding it caused minor damage and nobody was injured.

The attack, also reported by the maritime security company Ambrey, comes almost a week after Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

The Huthis have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October.

Israel strikes Lebanons Hezbollah

The Israeli army said it shot down a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon and targeting an Israeli drone.

The missile did not cross into Israeli territory, the military said on Saturday, adding that it deployed fighter jets to strike Hezbollah infrastructure in response.

Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has yet to say whether it will comply with the terms of the agreed pause between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group.

The cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have killed 109 people in Lebanon, at least 77 of them Hezbollah fighters, according to an AFP count.

On the Israeli side, six soldiers and three civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.
Israels Foreign Ministry has slammed the UNs womens body for taking 50 days to comment on sexual violence committed against women during Hamas October 7 onslaught.

For almost 50 days UN Women has been SILENT on the rape, murder and kidnapping of hundreds of Israeli women and girls. Seven weeks later and all they can muster is alarm. Disgraceful, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X.

We met with Israeli womens organizations & heard about the work of the Civil Commission for crimes against women and children, UN Women tweeted on X.

We met with Israeli womens organizations & heard about the work of the Civil Commission for crimes against women & children.

We remain alarmed by gender-based violence reports on 7 Oct & call for rigorous investigation, prioritizing the rights, needs & safety of those affected. pic.twitter.com/7KElvUDKbn  UN Women (@UN_Women) November 25, 2023

We remain alarmed by gender-based violence reports on 7 Oct & call for rigorous investigation, prioritizing the rights, needs and safety of those affected, the UN office added.

Meanwhile, National Council of Jewish Women CEO Sheila Katz said that UN Womens statement fails to explicitly address the severity of the terrorist attack, including the brutal murder of over 1,200 people in Israel, torture, and rape of women, as well as the targeting of civilians and families, is equally reprehensible.

Immediate and unequivocal acknowledgment of these atrocities is imperative, given the blatant violation of international law, she added.

Earlier this month, the Israeli police began investigating cases of sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7 based on forensic evidence, video and witness testimony.

Witness testimonies say that women and girls who were caught in the rampage were sexually and physically assaulted by Hamas terrorists.

According to Israeli Police Superintendent Dudi Katz, officials have recorded over 1,000 statements and collected more than 60,000 video clips related to the October 7 attacks that contain accounts of people who saw women being raped. However, it is not clear whether any of the rape victims have survived.
Israel Prison Service has received a list of 42 Palestinian convicts to be released on day 2 of the truce agreed upon by Israel and Hamas.

Saturday (25 November), is the second of four days in which more such exchanges are expected to take place. On Friday, Hamas released 13 hostages while Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners under the hostage deal mediated by Qatar.

The Prison Service says that the prisoners will first be transferred to Ofer Prison in the West Bank for initial medical checkups by the International Red Cross following which they will be released to the West Bank or East Jerusalem.

Under the truce  the first break in the seven-week war  50 women and children held by Hamas are to be released in stages over four days in return for 150 Palestinian women and children who are among thousands of detainees in Israeli jails.

Hamas fighters freed 24 hostages on Friday  13 Israelis, 10 Thai farm workers, and a Filipino  and 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenagers were later released from Israeli detention.

The former hostages underwent medical checks before returning for emotional reunions with relatives in Israel, where happiness mingled with concern for those still held by militants in Gaza.

I am happy I received my family back, its allowed to feel joy and its allowed to shed a tear. Thats a human thing, said Yoni Katz Asher, whose wife Doron and children Raz and Aviv were freed on Friday. But I am not celebrating, I will not celebrate until the last of the hostages returns home.

With inputs from Reuters
A container ship owned by an Israeli businessman was owned by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean amid the Israel-Hamas war.

According to a US defense official, the CMA CGM Symi was attacked on Friday as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted since the October 7 attack on Israel that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The Associated Press quoted the defense official as saying that the Malta-flagged vessel was attacked by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters.

The drone attack led to an explosion that caused damage to the ship but did not leave any of the crew injured.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said without explaining why the US believes Iran was behind the attack.
Japan detected the first case of the highly pathogenic H5-type bird flu this season at a poultry farm in the south of the country, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.

The local government in Saga prefecture will cull about 40,000 birds on the farm, NHK said, citing agriculture ministry officials it did not name.

Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment outside of business hours.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will convene relevant cabinet ministers to discuss measures to prevent spreading of the virus, NHK said. The virus was detected as a result of genetic testing conducted after some poultry birds were found dead at the farm on Friday, the report said.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread around the globe in recent years, leading to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds.

In Japan a record 17.7 million poultry birds were culled last season, prompting the authorities to stay on high alert.
Andry Rajoelina, the current leader of Madagascar, has virtually been granted a third term after the electoral commission (CENI) declared on Saturday that he had received the most votes in a boycotted and low turnout presidential election.

Following the tabulation, Rajoelina received 58.9% of the vote, according to the preliminary figures released by CENI. A politician named Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko received 14.4% of the vote. Nine days after the election authority announces provisional results, the nations High Constitutional Court is required to pronounce the official results.

Following the announcement of the results, 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ Rajoelina declared, The Malagasy people have chosen the path of continuity, serenity and stability.

He said that irregularities in the poll, such as the ruling partys use of public funds and intimidation of poll workers, had tainted the results; the party disputes the allegations.

Opposition demonstrators fought police on multiple times in the build-up to the election, claiming Rajoelina shouldnt have run because he obtained French nationality in 2014, which they claim automatically revokes his Malagasy identity, and because he had set up unfair election circumstances.

Later, ten of the candidates scheduled to compete in the election on November 16 requested that it be postponed, citing the need for the state to nominate independent officials to the electoral board beforehand. They asked voters to abstain from the poll when CENI rejected their request.

Only three candidates ran for office after that.

(With agency inputs)
In a shocking revelation, the head of President Vladimir Zelenskys parliamentary faction David Arakhamia said that Russia was ready to stop the fighting had Ukraine agreed to remain neutral, but the West advised Kyiv to keep going.

Russia was ready to stop the fighting had Ukraine agreed to remain neutral, but the West advised Kyiv to keep going, the head of President Vladimir Zelenskys parliamentary faction  and the chief negotiator at the peace talks in Istanbul, David Arakhamia was quoted by Russia Today as saying.

Arakhamia, who heads the Servant of the People parliamentary group, told the TV channel 1+1 that Moscow had offered Kyiv a peace deal in March 2022, but the Ukrainian side did not trust Moscow, according to Russia Today.

Russias goal was to put pressure on us so that we would take neutrality. This was the main thing for them: They were ready to end the war if we accepted neutrality like Finland once did. And we would make a commitment that we will not join NATO. This was the main thing, Arakhamia was quoted as saying by Russia Today.

Meanwhile, Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula since the full-scale war that started with Russias invasion 21 months ago, Russian officials said Friday. They did not mention any casualties or damage.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials reported that the Kremlins forces escalated their weekslong and costly attempt to storm Avdiivka, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine.

The stepped-up efforts came as both sides are keen to show they are not deadlocked as the fighting approaches 2024. Neither side has gained much ground despite a Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June, and analysts predict the war will be a long one.

With winter weather setting in, bringing snow and freezing temperatures to the battlefield, Ukraine and Russia are looking to take ground that could provide platforms for future advances.

The Moscow-appointed governor for the Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraines Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Crimea early Friday. He claimed that dozens of drones were shot down over the province and the northern part of Crimea.

Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal, and has used it as a staging and supply point during the war.

The Russian Defense Ministry said air defences downed 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and three more over southern Russias Volgograd region.

Ukrainian officials did not comment on the Russian reports. It was not possible to independently verify either sides battlefield claims.

Russia has been trying to capture Avdiivka since Oct. 10, using heavy bombardments and reportedly taking heavy losses. The city is wrecked, and the battle has become reminiscent of the fight over the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, which was largely destroyed during nine months of fighting before Russian troops eventually captured it.

Avdiivka lies in the northern suburbs of Donetsk, a city in a region of the same name that Russian forces partially occupy. Avdiivkas location grants Ukrainian forces artillery advantages over the city and could serve as a springboard for them to liberate Donetsk.

After intense artillery and aerial bombardments, Russian troops attacked the heavily fortified city from an additional direction and spread along the line of contact whereas before they attacked in columns, Vitalii Barabash, the head of Avdiivkas military administration, said Friday.

The city is enduring up to 40 bombardments daily, he said.

With inputs from AP.
Amid heightened tensions with Beijing over the contested waters, the Philippines and Australia kicked off their first joint maritime patrols on Saturday, days after the Southeast Asian nation concluded a similar activity with the US in the South China Sea.

The Philippines and Australia started their first joint maritime patrols Saturday, days after similar activity conducted by the Southeast Asian nation with the United States in the South China Sea.

The joint patrols with Australia kicked off shortly after Manila took similar measures with the United States, as Pacific nations cautiously monitored an increasingly assertive China. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced the three-day exercises on social media. These joint patrols were established following discussions earlier this year between the Philippines and Australia, aiming to emphasize their commitment to a rules-based order.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own waters, which has led to disputes not only with the Philippines but also with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. These claims have long been regarded as potential flashpoints in the region, and have fuelled U.S.-China rivalry.

Earlier this week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines said the situation in the South China Sea has become more dire as China expands its presence in an area where multiple nations have competing territorial claims.

China has shown interest in atolls and shoals that are closer and closer to the coast of the Philippines, with the nearest atoll about 60 nautical miles (111 kilometres) away, Marcos said.

Unfortunately, I cannot report that the situation is improving, Marcos said Sunday. The situation has become more dire than it was before.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said Chinas claims had no legal basis. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as Chinas aggressive activities in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and US tensions around naval operations.

The South China Sea is a region claimed in almost its entirety by China, serving as a crucial passage for over $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce. This includes areas contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to the peaceful, secure and prosperous region, where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said in a joint statement posted by Marcos.

The first joint patrol between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines demonstrates this commitment, Marles said.

The patrols will be carried out in the West Philippine Sea, said Philippine Department of National Defence spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, using Manilas term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone. The Philippine military said two of its navy vessels and five surveillance aircraft would participate, while Australia would send the frigate Toowoomba and P8-A maritime surveillance aircraft.

This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that may follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defence partnership between our countries, Marcos said on X, the platform formerly called Twitter. The Philippines and the United States concluded three-day joint sea and air patrols on Thursday, starting in waters near Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its own, and ending in the West Philippine Sea.

In an apparent reference to the United States, the southern theatre command of Chinas military said on Thursday that the Philippines enlisted foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea and has been stirring up trouble since Tuesday.

With inputs from agencies.
Pope Francis cancelled his scheduled activities Saturday due to light flu symptoms a week ahead of a key climate address he will make in Dubai.

The audiences of the Holy Father planned for this morning have been cancelled due to light flu symptoms, the Vatican said in a brief statement.

Pope Francis is scheduled to make a much-anticipated speech at the UN climate summit in Dubai next Saturday where he is expected to criticise the inaction of many governments and urge them to intensify efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Popes health has declined in recent months, forcing him to use a wheelchair and feeding speculations about him stepping aside, as did his predecessor Benedict XVI.

After a colon operation in 2021, the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Catholics has been hospitalised twice in 2023, including for a stomach operation.
The violence in Gaza is expected to resume following a four-day truce, which brought relief but also anguish to the families of Palestinian inmates freed by Israel as part of a hostage agreement with Hamas.

Under a deal mediated by Qatar, 39 Palestinian women and minors who had been jailed on a variety of crimes were released. Additionally, 13 Israeli hostages who had been taken prisoner by Hamas terrorists during their attack on Israel last month were liberated.

There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait, said Sawsan Bkeer, the mother of 24-year-old Palestinian prisoner Marah Bkeer, jailed for eight years on knife and assault charges in 2015. Israeli police were seen raiding her Jerusalem home before her daughter was released.

We are still afraid to feel happy and at the same time, we do not have it in us to be happy due to what is happening in Gaza, she said.

More than 100 more Palestinian prisoners are due to be released over the coming four days and more may be freed if the truce is extended.

In Beitunia, a city near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, a large crowd, mostly of young men, greeted freed prisoners by cheering, honking car horns and marching in the street carrying Palestinian flags.

Some in the crowd also carried the flag of the Hamas militant group that rules blockaded Gaza and chanted in support of Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of the groups armed wing.

I cant express how I feel. Thank God, said 17-year-old Laith Othman, who was detained earlier this year on suspicion of throwing an incendiary device and released on Friday. The situation inside (prison) is very difficult, he said as he was carried along the street on someones shoulders.

As they are ready to continue the battle in Gaza that was started in the wake of the Hamas attack, which, according to Israeli estimates, claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, Israeli commanders have vowed to rescue all the hostages.

The Israeli military claims it is getting ready for the next phase of the operation whenever the ceasefire expires. Approximately 14,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of the bombardment of Gaza and the ground operation that was started last month.

Speaking from the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, Ismail Shaheen that he was looking forward to seeing his daughter Fatima, who was detained earlier this year on suspicion of trying to knife someone.

The 32-year-old mother of a 5-year-old daughter was shot while being taken into custody. When Shaheen was first permitted to visit his daughter in prison, several months after her incarceration, he claimed to have been shocked to discover her in a wheelchair.

Thank God she was released in this exchange deal, he said. We were happy that she was going to be released but only slightly so, because we cannot ignore the dire conditions of our brothers in Gaza, where thousands have been killed.

(With agency inputs)
Pakistans decision to impose exit fees of around $830 for each Afghan refugee awaiting resettlement in Western countries has drawn sharp criticism from several Western diplomats and the United Nations. The diplomats have called the move shocking and frustrating, and is targeted at those seeking to leave Pakistan under resettlement schemes.

This development follows Pakistans announcement of a crackdown on undocumented foreigners, with November 1 set as the deadline for approximately 2 million unregistered Afghans to depart the country. As the deadline passed, mass deportations of undocumented Afghans commenced. Until this week, more than 400,000 Afghans have returned to their home country as a result of the ongoing crackdown on illegal foreigners.

The US government plans to resettle almost 25,000 Afghans in the country. The UK has said it will resettle 20,000 people. Five senior Western diplomats in Pakistan told the Guardian the exit permit fee in Pakistan was unprecedented internationally and had come as a shock.

I know it is very tough economically for Pakistan but really, to try to make money off refugees is really unattractive, The Guardian quoted a diplomat as saying.

The issue has also been raised by the two UN agencies in the lead on this mess, the [UN refugee agency] UNHCR and [International Organization of Migration] IOM, the diplomat added. It has also been raised in capitals and headquarters. I suspect everyone has also passed the message to their [Pakistani contacts].

Another diplomat said that Western officials had been told of the move at a briefing by the interior and foreign ministries. When concerns were raised about the fee, officials were told the initial decision was to charge USD 10,000 for each person but that had been lowered to USD 830.

It is very bizarre and I personally find it very frustrating. If Pakistan wants to facilitate the process of the settlement of refugees in the west then they should not make it more complicated with such absurd conditions, the diplomat said. What is the justification for this exit permit fee? To make a lot of money?

The exit permit must be paid via credit card, which many Afghan refugees have no access to.

This makes it worse as it should be paid by refugees and most of them dont have credit cards. I think we need a cooperative approach of working together to help the refugees and we expect Pakistan would help, another diplomat said.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistans foreign ministry, said there was no plan to change the policy.

These individuals have been here for the last two years and they are not refugees but immigrants with overstay in their visas and lack of documents. But we expect the concerned countries would expedite the visa and approval process so that they can leave for their destination as early as possible, The Guardian quoted her as saying.

Baloch said more information was needed to process the refugees resettlement because some Western countries had been giving them names without further details. But a western diplomat said: We are trying to provide information the Pakistani government is asking for, but we have legal restrictions as to how much information we can provide as well.

Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, said: The UNHCR is working with the government of Pakistan to resolve the issue of exit fines and overstay visa fees for refugees in the resettlement programme. The UNHCR advocates with the authorities for the exemption of refugees from these requirements.

He said the UN understood that the situation could cause anxiety among those who had fled to Pakistan but were eager to leave the country and restart their lives.

Resettlement is part of a global solidarity and lifesaving mechanism for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, The Guardian quoted him as saying.

Thousands of Afghans with expired visas or incorrect documents have been living in Pakistan since 2021 after the Taliban took over Afghanistan hoping to restart their work in Western nations. Most are still eligible to settle in Western countries on humanitarian grounds.
A fire tore through a shopping mall in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, killing at least nine people, officials and local media said on Saturday.

Local broadcaster Geo News said the blaze started early in the morning at the multi-storey RJ shopping mall in Pakistans most populous city.

The fire brigade rescued around 50 people but more are believed to be trapped inside the building.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui confirmed in a post on social media platform X that at least ten bodies had been transferred to local hospitals after the fire.

I can so far confirm 10 casualties and 22 people have been injured, he wrote.

He stated that the fire had been extinguished and the cooling process was under way.

The search process continues, he added.

Fire had been extinguished & cooling process is going on. I can so far confirm 10 casualties & 22 persons have been injured https://t.co/x3I873U7fG  Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) November 25, 2023

The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Geo reported several people injured in the fire were also being treated in hospital.

Earlier, police surgeon Summaiya Syed told Dawn.com that ten bodies had been taken to hospitals  eight to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and one to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). Wahab said one was also taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

She further said that an 18-year-old was currently admitted at CHK.

District East Deputy Commissioner (DC) Altaf Shaikh, who was personally supervising the rescue operation, said 30 others, including the wounded, had been rescued. The DC added that the building had been evacuated till the fourth floor while clearance of the fifth floor was under way. He said the exact cause of the fire would be ascertained after a proper investigation once the rescue operation was completed.

The building was a commercial high-rise that housed shopping centres, call centres and software houses.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched the streets of London on Saturday, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

It was the latest large pro-Palestinian demonstration in the British capital since the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel unleashed the latest conflict in the Gaza strip.

Protesters, bearing pro-Palestinian signs, marched through central London toward the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, expressing their demand for a comprehensive ceasefire, reported AFP.

The demonstrationa was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Stop the War Coalition.

In Gaza, a temporary truce was largely observed, with Hamas and the Israeli government releasing prisoners as part of an exchange for hostages held by the opposing side.

Hamas fighters snatched around 240 captives when they broke through Gazas militarised border with Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

In response to the attack, Israel initiated a comprehensive military campaign involving air, artillery, and naval bombardment, along with a ground offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas.

The toll included nearly 15,000 lives lost, predominantly civilians, including thousands of children, according to the Hamas government in Gaza.

The demonstration in London conveyed solidarity with the Palestinians, echoing the sentiment that they are not alone in their struggle.

However, London police have made hundreds of arrests for alleged hate crimes since the attack, reported AFP.

Showing support for Hamas is an offence in Britain, where the organisation is classified as a terrorist group.

With inputs from agencies
Palestinian militant group Hamas is still holding 20 nationals from Thailand after having freed 10 from Gaza, Thailands foreign ministry said on Saturday, following a deal during the first truce of a seven-week long war.

The freed hostages will return home after 48 hours in hospital, the ministry said in a statement after the deal brokered separately from Fridays exchange of hostages for Palestinians from Israeli jails.

There are now an estimated 20 Thai nationals who remain abducted, the ministry said, however, adding that four of the Thais released on Friday had not previously been confirmed by Israel to be in captivity.

We sincerely hope the remaining hostages will be treated humanely and released safely as soon as possible, ministry officials added.

Among those released was the only Thai woman known to be held by Hamas, photographs from the ministry showed, as the group met doctors at a medical centre in Israel.

People aware of the developments said the release was unrelated to the truce deal with Israel and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

The ministry thanked the governments of Egypt, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as others involved in the immense efforts that led to the release.

Earlier reports had said about a dozen Thais had been released.

About 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, forming one of its largest groups of migrant workers, many in agriculture.

Among those freed on Friday were Wichai Kalapat whose girlfriend told the BBC she had spotted him alive in a car carrying hostages from the border. She had initially believed him to have been among at least 30 Thai nationals killed in the October 7 attacks and had posted messages mourning him on social media.

The group included the only Thai woman to have been held, Nutthawaree Munkan, who is a factory worker and mother from a rural and impoverished region that many leave to seek opportunities abroad.
Speaking at an international conference on food security in Kyiv on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine needs more air defences to safeguard both its grain export routes and its bordering regions with Russia.

At the Grain from Ukraine event, which was attended by high-ranking European politicians such as Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Swiss President Alain Berset, Zelenskiy declared, There is a deficit of air defensethat is no secret.

Zelenskiy was speaking during Russias largest drone attack of the war, an overnight raid on Ukraine with 75 drones. Another air raid siren interrupted the three leaders combined press conference.

The president of Ukraine added that while there had been progress, Kyiv still hoped to increase its own production capacity and obtain additional supplies from allies to address its shortfall of air defence.

As of today, I cant say details what we are making and where, but there is progress, he stated.

Following Russias withdrawal from a UN-brokered agreement to permit grain ships to pass past its blockade in July, Ukraine, a significant grain producer, began shipping grain through unilateral corridors through the Black Sea.

Present-day grain export routes from Ukraine to the Black Sea all originate from ports in the Odesa area of the countrys south.

When questioned about the truckers protests in Poland and Slovakia that have recently obstructed a large portion of Ukraines road-based freight supply, Zelenskiy attributed the issue to those nations internal politics.

After the talks, he said at a press conference, I believe that there are difficulties on the border first and foremost because of certain political steps by our neighbours.

Zelenskiy stated that if Ukraines neighbours were given a bit of time to resolve the conflict, he was sure it would be resolved.

(With agency inputs)
A special European Union envoy Eamon Gilmore said on Friday that US sanctions are worsening the human rights situation in Cuba while reiterating the EUs call on the communist-led government to release individuals detained during the mass protests in July 2021.

During bilateral talks held over two days with top officials in Havana, discussions covered various aspects, including social and economic rights, as well as civil and political rights such as freedom of expression and the right to assembly or protest.

Gilmore while talking to the media, highlighted that the US sanctions on Cuba, which significantly restrict financial transactions, tourism, and trade, have evident impacts on Cubas economy and society. He emphasized that these sanctions are adversely affecting the human rights situation by causing harm to people on the ground.

The people who are impacted are ordinary Cuban citizens who have difficulty accessing food, and medicines, Gilmore told reporters before departing Havana late on Friday following a packed agenda of meetings.

Thats why the European Union, when we do impose sanctions, we target the sanctions at individuals and entities that abuse human rights, rather than at general populations.The US says sanctions are necessary to hold the Cuban government accountable for rights violations and that it makes exceptions for humanitarian purposes and programs to support the Cuban people and private sector.

Gilmore said Cuba had made some progress on womens rights and gender equality, but doubled down on the blocs previous criticisms of Cubas handling of protests in 2021, the largest since former leader Fidel Castros 1959 Revolution.

The United States and the European Union have both critiqued Cubas response to those protests as repressive and heavy-handed. Rights groups say around 1,000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs following the demonstrations and several subsequent protests.

Gilmore, who said he met Cubans ranging from President Miguel Diaz-Canel to relatives of jailed protesters, declined to comment on whether he had discussed a potential prisoner amnesty with Cuban officials.

I dont want to get into the detail of what we talked about in terms of the prisoners, other than to say the European Union has a long-standing call for the release of prisoners, he told reporters.

Cuba denies it holds political prisoners and says those detained are guilty of assault, vandalism and sedition, among other crimes. Tensions around the issue flared just days before Gilmores arrival after a prisoner died this week in Cuba, prompting a rebuke from the US embassy, which said it was outraged by the detainees death.

Gilmore said Cuban officials had provided some details to the EU delegation about the case, adding that there is an investigation underway and we will know the results in due course.

Gilmores visit to Cuba, which concluded with a formal dialogue on Friday with top Cuban officials on human rights, is a stipulation of a 2016 political and cooperation agreement between the bloc and the Caribbean island nation. Gilmore described the European Unions relationship with Cuba as constructive but critical.
Opinions Wanted for 2024 Super Duty

Ive owned a 2008 King Ranch with a 6.4 diesel since it was new. 242,000 miles and still runs well. Its been well maintained and has only had as its major issues the death wobble (trac bar) and the fuel screen in the tank breaking off the sending unit which left me stranded several times until I figured out what was going on. The truck is used around the ranch for pulling trailers with tractors or livestock and the power and torque have been very satisfactory. The truck also sees a lot of highway miles, including an annual trip of over 5,000 miles from Texas to the Carolinas to Pennsylvania and back.



All of the problems folks have been having with the 6.4s blowing up have given me the heebee jeebees about continuing to rely on this truck for the highway trips. Ive been thinking about ordering a 2024 but Ive gotten paralyzed over the choice of power plants. Do I keep the 2008 and use it for hauling trailers and other local stuff and buy a 2024 7.3 gas King Ranch or do I get rid of the 08 and buy a 2024 with the 6.7 diesel? To complicate matters I also have a 1998 Silverado Z71 in outrageously good condition which I could also keep for running around town if I dumped the 08.



So how is the power and fuel economy of the 7.3? I hate stopping for fuel every 300 miles on a trip so I want something that does better mileage wise. Also, long ago I had a 74 Chevy 1/2 ton with a 454 in it that got 7 mpg and I dont want to repeat that mistake. Yeah, I know, if I want a big motor I shouldnt be concerned with mileage but I dont want to drop $90k on a truck and then hate it.



Id like to hear from folks who own the 6.7s and the 7.3s as to how they like them, the real (not the Lie-o-meter) fuel mileage on both and whether they would do something different if they were to have the purchase to do all over again. Also, are there any maintenance issues that are popping up like the catastrophic engine failures in the 6.4s.



Many thanks, guys.
? Hechos y no palabras! La jefa de Estado, Dina Boluarte, anuncio el pago del cuarto tramo para las enfermeras y obstetrices, el cual se hara efectivo en diciembre proximo en beneficio de 140 mil trabajadoras y trabajadores de la salud.



? Ademas, anuncio el incremento de pic.twitter.com/eDfHepUTz1
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2023.
?En el Dia Internacional de la Eliminacion de la Violencia contra la Mujer, unamos esfuerzos para lograrlo.



?? #ActuemosYa. Salvemos a las ninas y adolescentes de la violencia sexual.#ConPunchePeru ?????? https://t.co/1iQ4Moz646
kacylee at 25-11-2023 05:59 AM (6 days ago) (f)

Chef Hilda Baci is under fire from some Ghanaians who are dragging her for saying Nigerians cook better jollof rice. In a podcast trending by 90s Baby Show, Chef Hilda said Nigeria have the upper hand when it comes to building the taste of jollof rice.

Chef Hilda Baci is under fire from some Ghanaians who are dragging her for saying Nigerians cook better jollof rice. In a podcast trending by 90s Baby Show, Chef Hilda said Nigeria have the upper hand when it comes to building the taste of jollof rice.

She said there are many things Ghanaians do better than Nigerians, and those things are not under contention, but not jollof rice. However, her conclusion on the popular debate did not go down well with a Ghanaian lady who promptly called her out.



According to the lady identified as Eviana Gh, Hilda's record wasn't the best either.



She wrote on Twitter: "Ghana Jollof Has No Flavour- Chef Hilda Baci. Someone help me educate her that her records in the Big book wasnt the best chef so she should know her place. Nigeria Jollof that tastes like Gravels."



After she made the post, some other Ghanaians joined to tackle the chef with some Nigerians coming in to defend her.



See her post below:



Ghana Jollof Has No Flavour- Chef Hilda Baci



Someone help me educate her that her records in the Big book wasnt the best chef so she should know her place.



Nigeria Jollof that tastes like Gravels pic.twitter.com/WAMJtADMij  Eviana Gh (@EvianaGh) November 23, 2023

Netizens react to Hilda's analysis of jollof rice



She said there are many things Ghanaians do better than Nigerians, and those things are not under contention, but not jollof rice. However, her conclusion on the popular debate did not go down well with a Ghanaian lady who promptly called her out.According to the lady identified as Eviana Gh, Hilda's record wasn't the best either.She wrote on Twitter:After she made the post, some other Ghanaians joined to tackle the chef with some Nigerians coming in to defend her.See her post below:Netizens react to Hilda's analysis of jollof rice Quote @BongoIdeas said: "Tell Hilda Baci that she should focus on hiding her not-so pretty face under makeup. At least Ghana jollof has more flavour than her no-make up face if she reveals it."



@TheDoublestar_ said: "I overheard someone saying Ghanaians dont understand good English. And I thought it was a joke but Im here to confirm." @AcademiaSpec said: "You too dey vex. Nigerians are coming to hit you." @stilldubem said: "Ghana jollof is trash in all honesty though.

Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 25-11-2023 05:59 AM (6 days ago) | Addicted Hero
Submitted by David Hildebrandt

Unique Expressions, which closed for good Sept. 30 after 28 years, sold artisan-driven items, such as old prints and cards from StoryPeople (based out of Decorah, Iowa), hand-painted art and furniture from Sticks Object Art and Furniture (based in Des Moines, Iowa), and other artisan merchandise that wasnt mass-produced that they acquired from shows in cities like Las Vegas, Dallas, San Francisco, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Protesters on Thursday fought running battles with police, torched vehicles and looted shops in Dublin, after three young children were injured in a knife attack outside a school.
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The Associated Press

Marah Bakir, right, a former Palestinian prisoner who was released by the Israeli authorities, is welcome at her family house in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina on Friday. Bakir was one of 39 hostages released by Israel during the first day of a four-day cease-fire.
12.5-year sentence upheld for retired lieutenant who ran China spy ring

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2023 06:28 PM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Taiwan's Supreme Court upheld a combined 12.5-year sentence conviction Thursday for a retired Army lieutenant, who developed a Chinese spy network for over 20 years and ran an underground money exchange service.

In the verdict, which is final, the court rejected defendant Shao Wei-chiang's () appeal, saying "investigations for the previous trial were complete and the sentencing was appropriate."

Shao, a former reporter and owner of Kinmen-based Safety Travel Service Co., was originally sentenced to 15 years in jail by Fuchien Kinmen District Court in May 2023 for violation of the National Security Act and the Banking Act in October 2022.

According to the Kinmen court, Shao began organizing a spy network for China in 2002 and provided an illicit Taiwan dollar-Chinese yuan money exchange service between January 2016 and February last year.

During the two-decade span until his arrest last year, he had recruited two people in his spy network, including Hsiang Te-en (), who was an Army colonel when he accepted Shao's request in 2019 to serve as a Chinese spy in return for a fixed monthly payment.

Between Oct. 31, 2019, and January 2022, Hsiang accepted a total of NT$560,000 (US$18,000) from Shao in exchange for information that he had obtained from the military, according to the district court.

During the court hearing, Shao also admitted to having organized an espionage network for China, and illegally providing money exchange services to customers.

Shao was sentenced to 12 years and five years for each crime and received a combined term of 15 years, which he later appealed.

In the second trial, the Fuchien High Court Kinmen Branch Court determined that Shao's combined sentence should be reduced to 12.5 years due to his confession and full return of his illicit gains.

(By Hsieh Hsing-en and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/kb

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Activists call for probe into China's 'consular volunteers' network

China recently formalized the use of unofficial personnel by its embassies and consulates, a rights group says.

By Yitong Wu and Chingman for RFA Cantonese 2023.11.24 -- The Chinese Communist Party is running a global network of "consular volunteers" through its embassies and consulates who form part of its "United Front" influence and enforcement operations on foreign soil, according to a new report, prompting calls for democratic governments to investigate.

While Chinese embassies and consulates have been using such informal networks for at least a decade, they were recently formalized through a State Council decree that took effect on Sept. 1, yet the networks remain largely undeclared to host countries, the Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders said in a report published this week.

Consular volunteers are mostly drafted in to help with administrative tasks linked to consular protection, risk assessments, and even "warnings and advisories" to overseas citizens and organizations, the report said, citing multiple online recruitment advertisements and other official documents.

This gives them full access to individuals' personal information, and "may also dangerously enhance their function of control over overseas communities and dissenters," the report warned.

China is already known to rely on an illegal, overseas network of "police service centers" that are sometimes used as a base from which to monitor and harass dissidents in other countries.

Since taking power in 2012, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has launched an accelerated expansion of political influence activities worldwide, much of which rely on overseas community and business groups under the aegis of the United Front Work Department.

Under the radar

While Beijing has shut down some of its overseas police "service centers" following protests from host countries, the "consular volunteer" network has managed to fly under the radar until now, further enabling China's overseas influence and illegal transnational law enforcement operations, according to the report.

According to the State Council decree, "The state encourages relevant organizations and individuals to provide voluntary services for consular protection and assistance."

The state also "encourages and supports insurance companies, emergency rescue agencies, law firms and other social forces" to take part in consular work, it says.

The decree also requires Chinese nationals overseas to "abide by the laws of China," regardless of location.

Organizations and individuals that "make outstanding contributions to consular protection and assistance" are to be commended and rewarded, it says.

And official reports on volunteer commendation ceremonies and training events show that they are - under the supervision of individuals with "direct and demonstrable ties to the CCP's United Front," the Safeguard Defenders report said.

"The [consular volunteer] network runs through United Front-linked associations and individuals and shows the involvement of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office," it said, adding that the Office was labeled an "entity that engages in espionage" by the Federal Canadian Court in 2022.

Global effort

A March 2023 recruitment drive by the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic posted to an official website called for volunteers from among "overseas Chinese, international students, Chinese employees of Chinese-funded enterprises and other individuals in the Czech Republic, overseas Chinese groups, Chinese-funded enterprises and other organizations, institutions and groups."

Similar notices have been seen in Trinidad and Tobago, Botswana, Turkey, Malaysia, Johannesburg, Equatorial Guinea, Chile and Japan, the report said, adding that the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office has also been directly named as a participant at training events for consular volunteers in Rio de Janeiro and Florence, Italy.

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, "the United Front system acts as a liaison and amplifier for many other official and unofficial Chinese organizations engaged in shaping international public opinion of China, monitoring and reporting on the activities of the Chinese diaspora, and serving as access points for foreign technology transfer."

The Safeguard Defenders report called on democratic countries to review the practice of "consular volunteering" by Chinese diplomatic missions, and warned them not to take part in United Front-linked events.

French current affairs commentator Wang Longmeng described consular volunteers as quasi-spies.

"The so-called assistance in providing consular services actually means collecting financial support from overseas Chinese individuals," Wang said. "This can help the Chinese Communist Party control overseas Chinese remotely, making them loyal to party and state, as well as helping China to steal Western technology and intelligence."

"These people are also collecting information on dissidents, and many dissidents' family members back home are also being threatened," he said. "This is a quasi-espionage organization and an integral part of the Chinese Communist Party's transnational repression network."

Wang said European countries have been fairly slow to catch on to such practices, compared with the United States.

"That encourages the Chinese Communist Party to extend its long arm even further," he said. "Their intention was never to stop transnational repression and United Front work," he said, calling for EU legislation to curb such activities "as soon as possible."

APEC summit

Zhou Fengsuo, executive director of the U.S.-based Human Rights in China, said China's consulate in San Francisco had engaged in the large-scale mobilization of patriotic protesters during President Xi Jinping visit last week to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit in the city..

"The Chinese Communist Party will take up every bit of space it can in democratic societies to extend its rule and engage in state persecution," Zhou told Radio Free Asia. "Consulates wield a great deal of power overseas."

"Much like it did with overseas police stations, the international community needs to face up to this form of [Chinese] government control."

After Chinese international student Tian Ruichen took part in protests supporting the "White Paper" movement of November 2022 and the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, he was unsettled to find he'd been doxxed - a common tactic employed by supporters of Beijing.

He told Radio Free Asia that overseas dissident communities need far more protection from the long arm of the Chinese Communist Party than they are currently getting.

"The latest China strategy document of the German federal government states that overseas dissident communities will be protected, so they can exercise freedom of speech and engage in political activism," Tian said.

"We hope that the German government will establish safe channels to contact the Chinese dissident community and actively collect information on cases of transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party, he said, calling for an investigation into overseas Chinese networks like the "consular volunteers."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Israel/Gaza: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the release of hostages and pause in hostilities

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.11.2023

EEAS Press Team

The EU welcomes the fact that, finally, the truce agreed between Israel and Hamas has started today. It should be fully implemented as a first step towards ending the ongoing horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza, and extended for a longer period.

The agreement foresees the release of a group of innocent women and children who had been abducted during Hamas' horrific attack on 7 October. All hostages should be unconditionally freed. Nobody should bargain with civilian lives.

While the agreement allows for limited access of food, water, medicines, and fuel for besieged Gazans, the EU asserts that humanitarian aid must reach civilians in Gaza without any conditions. Following Israel's military operation in Gaza, more than a million people have fled their homes, with nowhere to go. At the same time, the unchecked expansion of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank is unacceptable, as expressed by the G7 Foreign Ministers.

The EU has clearly stated that Israels right to self-defence should comply with international law, including humanitarian law. The EU deplores the great number of civilian casualties, particularly thousands of children and women. The United Nations and the Prosecutor of the ICC have stated that compliance with international law is not just a moral imperative. The protection of civilians, unimpeded access to basic services, and respect for protected sites such as hospitals and schools are a legal obligation.

One horror cannot justify another horror. The current downward spiral must be reversed, for the sake of both peoples.

The security of Israel cannot be guaranteed by military means alone. For the European Union, the only path toward sustainable peace, security and prosperity for both Israel and Palestine is the two state solution.

The international community has the duty to engage seriously to make this possible. The Peace Day Effort Initiative that the EU and a number of Arab countries have launched in September at the UN sets initial steps in this direction.

Together with Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, the EU will co-chair a ministerial meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona on Monday, 27 November. A diplomatic mission of the Arab League and of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation are invited to participate. The meeting will address the current situation of the conflict and aim at setting out a common approach for lasting peace in the Middle East.

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High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell meets Lebanese Foreign Minister Bou Habib in Brussels

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.11.2023

EEAS Press Team

On 24 November, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, met with Foreign minister of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib in Brussels.

The discussion focused on the regional consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the need to avoid any wider spill-over. The HR/VP informed his counterpart about the diplomatic efforts of the EU - including his recent visit to the region - with the aim to contribute to a de-escalation and sustainable solution to the conflict. The parties concurred on the necessity by all actors to protect civilians, and exercise the utmost restraint to avoid any further escalation.

HR/VP Borrell deplored the loss of innocent lives and large number of displacement of civilians around the Lebanese-Israeli border. He reiterated that the stability and security of Lebanon are essential for the EU, and called for the full respect of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions by all sides. The HR/VP stressed also the urgency to preserve Lebanon's policy of disassociation from regional conflicts and repeated the call on all actors in Lebanon to refrain from actions, that contribute to escalation and spill over of the hostilities and have negative repercussions on the Lebanese people. Regarding the future of the region, HRVP Borrell commended the role of Lebanon in the collective efforts to reach peace.

HR/VP Borrell and Foreign Minister Bou Habib agreed that the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), to which many EU Member States contribute troops, plays an essential role in maintaining stability and security, and commended the continued valuable cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in this respect. Current EU cooperation efforts and perspectives to support the LAF, notably under the European Peace Facility, were also addressed.

The HR/VP reiterated the EU's call on Lebanese decision makers to redouble efforts to address the protracted domestic institutional and economic crises.

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna at the session of the Baltic Council: we are standing together in defencing the gates of the West

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.11.2023

Today 24 November, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna chaired the 29th session of the Baltic Council, a cooperation body for Baltic governments and parliaments, at the Riigikogu.

In his speech, the foreign minister recognised the cooperation of the Baltic Council of Ministers with the Baltic Assembly, and emphasised that the cooperation of the government sector was particularly important in light of the complicated international security situation. Tsahkna also reaffirmed the unwavering unity of the Baltic States both on the international arena and in supporting Ukraine.

"We are standing together in defending the gates of the Western world," Tsahkna said. "For Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, existential security interests are at stake in the current security situation."

Tsahkna said the Baltic States needed to concentrate on raising the cost of the aggression right now. "We are working with other European Union member states on imposing new sanctions and effectively implementing existing sanctions; a trade embargo cannot be ruled out if it proves necessary."

Tsahkna noted that as border states, the Baltic States have a central role in preventing Russia from circumventing sanctions. At the same time, efforts are being made towards finding a way to hold the aggressor accountable for the crime of aggression and isolating it on the international arena.

"Also, it is Russia who should pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine," Tsahkna said. "The frozen assets of Russia must be used to rebuild Ukraine and I am glad that last year, the Riigikogu processed a bill drafted for that purpose. Here, Estonia is ready to lead the way for Europe. Europe must develop a common political will to make Russia pay for the aggression."

Tsahkna also said that Ukraine's future was in NATO and in the European Union, and Allies must jointly support Kyiv on that journey. "The era of grey areas is over. The policy of neutrality is not working," Tsahkna said. "Both the European Union and NATO must keep their doors open."

In his speech, the minister also underlined the role of improved connectivity in ensuring the security of the Baltic States, including the need to make sure Rail Baltic is completed by 2030. He also spoke about disconnecting energy links with Russia and transitioning to renewable energy as key steps in Baltic energy policy.

Photos of the 29th session of the Baltic Council are available HERE.

The full speech of Foreign Minister Tsahkna at the session of the Baltic Council is available HERE (In Estonian).

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An unfortunate bathroom mishap has seen man rushed to hospital after a broken toothbrush he accidentally swallowed got stuck in his throat.

The unnamed 32-year-old was brushing his teeth when the flimsy plastic toothbrush snapped in half. Before he even had time to think, his reflexes caused him to gulp the top half of the brush down his throat.

The horrified man immediately went to his local emergency department in his home country of El Salvador, where radiologists gave him a chest X-ray in and couldn't believe what they found.

The resulting images showed how the snapped head of the toothbrush had lodged in his oesophagus.

The man accidentally swallwoed the toothbrush head after it snapped off. Source: Jam Press

The man was given an upper GI endoscopy  a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to view inside the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract down to the duodenum. The procedure produced somewhat revolting images showing the bathroom item amid thick gunk in the mans gullet.

Doctors managed to pull the toothbrush head away from the liquid as the flustered man lay on the operating table. Eventually, the object was pulled up through the mans oesophagus and out via his mouth.

After images of the operation were shared online, one endoscopic surgeon praised the doctors involved in the retrieval writing: "This is new to me! Very well solved."

While certainly unusual, it's not the first time someone has accidentally swallowed a toothbrush. A 50-year-old woman had the bathroom item removed by surgeons in India in 2019 while doctors in Turkey performed the same procedure on a 27-year-old woman the previous year. Meanwhile last year Torree McGowan, an emergency physician in the US state of Oregon, said she treated a woman who also accidentally swallowed her toothbrush.

Brush safe out there.

Jam Press

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Meeting between prime ministers of Finland and Latvia focuses on deepening bilateral cooperation and security in Baltic Sea region

Finnish Government

Government Communications Department

24.11.2023

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina met in Helsinki on Friday 24 November. The prime ministers' discussions focused on bilateral relations between Finland and Latvia, security issues and topical themes on the EU agenda.

"Finland and Latvia have good, wide-ranging relations. It has been great to see how trade between our countries and cooperation in areas such as security and defence have intensified. In the current geopolitical situation, seamless cooperation throughout the Nordic and Baltic region is extremely valuable," says Prime Minister Orpo.

The prime ministers noted that the situations at their countries' borders are very similar: asylum seekers are being used as a tool for hybrid influence activities with the assistance of foreign authorities. Countering hybrid influence activities and enhancing cyber security are in both countries' interests.

Discussions between the prime ministers touched on the Finnish comprehensive security model. Finland is prepared to share its experiences and know-how with its allies, such as Latvia.

The prime ministers discussed major themes on the EU agenda, such as the enlargement of the Union, the mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework and the EU's Strategic Agenda for the next five years. The EU leaders are set to make decisions on EU enlargement and the mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework at the December European Council.

They also discussed Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine and the EU's support for Ukraine. Both Finland and Latvia are determined in their support for Ukraine and the country's path towards EU membership.

"Ukraine is defending its freedom for a second winter now, and we in the rest of Europe do not have the right to become fatigued. Comprehensive support for Ukraine must remain a strategic priority for Europe for as long as necessary. We must also work resolutely to gain the widest possible global support for Ukraine's peace initiative. In the end, we all want peace, but it must be achieved on fair terms," says Prime Minister Orpo.

Prime Minister Orpo also expressed Finland's support to Latvia in its efforts to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2026-2027.

While in Helsinki, Prime Minister Silina also met with President of the Republic Sauli Niinisto.

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Norway will develop a new super missile

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 24/11/2023

Norway is the world leader in missile production and produces one of the most advanced missiles in the world. Defence Minister Bjrn Arild Gram (Sp) reports that the government will now begin the development of the next generation missile. The development of this missile will be done in cooperation with Germany.

- We need to begin the work today to develop the weapons that will protect us against tomorrow's threats. The new missile will strengthen Norway's defence capability and ability to fight targets at long distances and is scheduled to be ready in 2035, says Gram. Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KDA) has developed today's naval strike missile, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), and will continue to take the lead role in the development of the new naval strike missile.

- The development of Norwegian missiles is a story of success. The Norwegian defence industry, led by Kongsberg, has unique expertise and are already developing state of the art missiles. The project will contribute to further develop the strategically important technological competence, so that we in the future can continue to develop missiles that are attractive to other NATO members and close allies, states Gram.

Today's NSM was developed in the early 2000s and delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015. Today, the missiles are utilized in a number of navies around the world. The goal of the project is to ensure that Norway, in the future, will continue to have a world-leading industry for missile production, as we have today. This industry creates hundreds of Norwegian jobs and gives us a strengthened role internationally and in NATO cooperation. The development of the new missile is a collaborative project between Norway and Germany. Among other things, the missile is planned to be used on Norwegian and German naval vessels.

- Germany is our most important European partner for cooperation on defence equipment and a majorly important ally in NATO, says Gram. The government is now proposing that a decision will be made to initiate the first initial design phase of the project. Germany plans to consider a decision on commissioning in 2024. The government will return to the Norwegian Parliament with a recommendation for the continuation of the project once the design phase has been completed.

- There is high uncertainty in such large and complex development projects in high-tech industry. For the government, it is important to minimize the financial risk in such a project. That is why we are planning a process with different phases where each phase has its own cost framework and where the goal is control over the costs in each phase, says Gram.

The missile has until now been referred to as the Future Naval Strike Missile (FNSM). In further development, it will go under the name Super Sonic Strike Missile (3SM) Tyrfing.

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Norway to increase support for the Palestinians

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 24/11/2023

In response to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Norwegian Government has proposed to increase support for the Palestinian people by NOK 470 million. This will bring Norway's total support to the Palestinians in 2023 to more than NOK 1.5 billion.

'After nearly seven weeks of fighting, the humanitarian needs are enormous and will continue to increase into the winter. The hope is that a pause in hostilities will make it possible to provide more humanitarian assistance. Norway is proposing an additional allocation of NOK 370 million to provide food, water, medicines, protection and other lifesaving assistance to the people of Gaza,' said Minster of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.

The funding comes in addition to the NOK 200 million allocated for relief efforts in Gaza following 7 October.

Of a total population of 2.2 million, some 1.7 million Palestinians are now internally displaced in Gaza. UN shelters, schools, and even warehouses are overflowing with people who have lost everything. Infectious diseases and diarrhoea are rapidly spreading and are affecting tens of thousands of people, particularly children. Heavy rains have further exacerbated the situation.

In connection with the announced ceasefire, permission has been granted for 300 lorries carrying emergency aid to enter Gaza every day. This is a positive step but is still far below the level of goods and aid delivered before 7 October. The World Food Programme has warned of the danger of widespread hunger as a result of the collapse of food production and distribution systems.

'The food shortage in Gaza is dire, and food assistance is urgently needed to prevent hunger. I am particularly concerned about the youngest children who may suffer permanent damage from malnutrition over time. The extra support includes response to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's appeal by providing NOK 30 million for food security efforts in Gaza,' said Ms Tvinnereim.

The additional funds will be channelled through Norway's partners on the ground in Gaza, or via their partners. The funds will be allocated to the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Norwegian humanitarian organisations.

Norway is continuing its diplomatic efforts to ensure the immediate provision of far more aid to Gaza.

'We have been urging Israel to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing for several weeks now. The temporary ceasefire provides a good opportunity to open the border crossing to deliver as much aid as possible to civilians while hostilities are suspended,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Support for the Palestinian Authority

'The war in Gaza is also having serious ramifications in the West Bank and for the Palestinian Authority (PA). This gives cause for great concern. The Norwegian Government is therefore proposing to increase its budget support by NOK 100 million, bringing Norway's total support for 2023 up to NOK 285 million. The funds will help to ensure the Palestinian Authority's ability to deliver critical services to the population,' said Mr Eide.

There has been a sharp rise in settler violence and forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. The impacts on the Palestinian economy have been severe. Among other things, Palestinians from the West Bank have lost their permits to work in Israel and Israel has made additional cuts to the transfer of clearance revenues to the PA. Norway has protested against these policies. It has now become extremely difficult to provide health care, education and other critical services in both the West Bank and Gaza.

'As chair of the international donor group for Palestine, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), our clear message to the international community, including Israel, is that in this situation we must focus on strengthening the Palestinian Authority, not weakening it. It is crucial that the Palestinian Authority maintains its ability to fulfil the needs of Palestinians throughout Palestine, i.e. in the West Bank and in Gaza. This is essential both to address the situation in the short term, and to be able to achieve a peaceful solution in the future,' said Mr Eide.

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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari November 24th, 20:15

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing

24.11.23

IDF

Shabbat Shalom.

Doron, Raz, Aviv, Danielle, Emilia, Ruth, Keren, Ohad, Adina, Channa, Margalit, Yaffa and Hanna, returned home tonight. Alongside them, 11 foreign nationals also returned.

They all underwent a preliminary medical examination at Kerem Shalom border crossing and there face no life-threatening medical emergencies. They are now being driven and they will arrive at Hatzerim Airbase shortly, where they will be in touch with their families, will complete medical examinations, and from there will be taken by IAF helicopters to hospitals to be reunited with their families. Likewise, the foreign nationals will meet representatives of their home countries at Hatzerim Airbase and from there will be taken to hospitals.

Each and every one of those who returned home tonight is an entire world. Their return is our moral obligation. All IDF commanders and soldiers worked over the course of many weeks, alongside the security agencies, to bring them home.

We must not forget that each of those who returned home tonight still has family members or relatives who were murdered, or who are still being held hostage in Gaza. This is a great sadness, mixed with joy and excitement. The scene of the hostages crossing the border into Israel is a great relief. Still, our hearts are with the hostages that are still being held in Gaza. We embrace the families of the hostages, they are in our thoughts constantly. We have the moral obligation to bring them all home.

We are just at the beginning of the process. We are preparing to continue the implementation of the framework to release the hostages. The days ahead of us will be complicated, nothing is over until it's over. We must be prepared for this. We don't forget for a moment that Hamas is a brutal and merciless enemy. More than ever, we must take care not to distribute unverified information. Thus, dear Hanna Katzir who returned home today, after terror organizations claimed that they had murdered her several days ago. You should rely only on official information.

In the Gaza Strip in the morning hours, IDF troops deployed along the lines of the operational pause in Gaza. The commanders were briefed and prepared the forces as to how to act during the time of the pause. The safety of our troops is of top priority. The safety of our soldiers takes precedence.

During the days of the pause, the IDF will continue the preparations for the next phases of the war. IDF troops are ready and prepared on all the fronts. Our policy is clear: we will act against every threat to the State of Israel.

Even during the operational pause, we must remain vigilant and not become complacent. Continue to comply with instructions from the Homefront Command. These are life saving.

To date, we have notified the families of 392 fallen IDF soldiers, who died during the battles to protect Israel. We remember these brave heroes of Israel this Shabat evening. Because of them and the battle they led us in, we will win. Our hearts are with the bereaved families and we embrace them and are at their side.



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Hamas committed to truce deal if Israel is: Ismail Haniyeh

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has said in a recording that the group is committed to the truce and prisoners swap deal as long as Israeli regime is committed as well.

Haniyeh said on Friday that the victims of the war in Gaza are the price of freedom, liberation, and independence, according to the Aljazeera news television network.

Hamas had on Wednesday announced a ceasefire with the Zionist regime. The truce went into force on Friday morning.

Under the ceasefire, 200 trucks of medical aid and four fuel trucks will enter the Gaza Strip daily.

Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the Zionist regime on October 7 in retaliation for the regime's occupation and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In response, Israel waged a bloody war on Gaza that has so far killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including at least 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

6125**9417

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Israeli regime kills two Palestinians returning home after ceasefire

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Two Palestinians have been killed and another has been wounded by Israeli soldiers shooting at hundreds of people who tried to return to the north of the besieged Gaza Strip, Sama News has reported.

According to Sama News on Friday, the Israeli military has told Palestinians not to try to return to homes in the northern part of Gaza and warned them that the "war is not over".

Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the Zionist regime on October 7 in retaliation for the regime's occupation and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In response, Israel waged a bloody war on Gaza that has so far killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including at least 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

6125**9417

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Iran FM: Future of Gaza will be determined by Palestinians

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says the future of the Gaza Strip will be determined by the Palestinian people and resistance.

Speaking with Al Jazeera news channel, Amirabdollahian said the Zionist regime could not continue the war on Gaza if it was not for the support of the United States.

"The solution in Gaza is determined and defined by the Palestinian people and the resistance, and the future of Gaza is decided by the Palestinian people and the resistance," he said.

He also pointed out that President Ebrahim Raisi presented an initiative to stop Israeli war crimes in Gaza to the leaders of Islamic countries and BRICS member states.

On the four-day ceasefire that went into force on Friday morning, the chief Iranian diplomat expressed hopes that the truce would be the beginning of the halt to the crimes of the Zionist regime.

"We received messages from the US that they do not want to expand the scope of the war. In response, we announced to the Americans that they are expanding the scope of the war by supporting Israel and equipping it with weapons," he added.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on Wednesday announced a ceasefire with the Zionist regime, which went into force on Friday morning.

Under the ceasefire, 200 trucks of medical aid and four fuel trucks will enter the Gaza Strip daily.

Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the Zionist regime on October 7 in retaliation for the regime's occupation and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In response, Israel waged a bloody war on Gaza that has so far killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including at least 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

4354**9417

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Trucks carrying aid, fuel begin entering Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel have begun entering the Gaza Strip, the spokesman of the Rafah crossing said Friday, hours after the Gaza ceasefire took effect.

According to Al Jazeera, the Palestinian official said it is expected that 230 trucks will enter the besieged strip through Egypt.

"It is expected that around 100 wounded people will leave this area today for treatment outside of Gaza," the official added.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on Wednesday announced a ceasefire with the Zionist regime. The truce went into force on Friday morning.

Under the ceasefire, 200 trucks of medical aid and four fuel trucks will enter the Gaza Strip daily.

Three Palestinian women and children imprisoned by the Zionist regime will also be freed in exchange for the release of every settler captured by Hamas as war prisoners last month.

Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the Zionist regime on October 7 in retaliation for the regime's occupation and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In response, Israel waged a bloody war on Gaza that has so far killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including at least 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

4354**9417

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Four-day Gaza ceasefire takes effect Friday morning

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- A four-day truce between the Zionist regime and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas went into force on Friday morning at 7:00 a.m. local time.

The ceasefire was supposed to be implemented on Thursday, but due to technical and logistical issues, it took effect with a one-day delay.

The Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, confirmed earlier that the ceasefire would go into effect on Friday morning.

Under the ceasefire, announced by Hamas on Wednesday, 200 trucks of medical aid and four fuel trucks will enter the Gaza Strip daily.

Three Palestinian women and children imprisoned by the Zionist regime will be freed in exchange for the release of every settler captured by Hamas as war prisoners last month.

Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the Zionist regime on October 7 in retaliation for the regime's occupation and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In response, Israel waged a bloody war on Gaza that has so far killed at least 14,532 Palestinians, including at least 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

4354**9417

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Hamas expects Gaza ceasefire to be extended: Senior official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas expects the four-day Gaza ceasefire to be extended, a senior member of the movement says.

"Our goal is to ensure a humanitarian ceasefire and we are working on that. God willing, [it will be extended] but it depends on the possible handover of other [war prisoners]," Basem Naim told TASS news agency.

Hamas announced on Wednesday that it had reached a humanitarian ceasefire with the Zionist regime over its war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The deal, which went into force on Friday morning, stipulated the release of 50 Israeli war prisoners held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.

Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the Zionist regime on October 7 in retaliation for the regime's occupation and crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In response, Israel waged a bloody war on Gaza that has so far killed at least 14,532 Palestinians, including at least 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

4354**9417

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A personal assistant claims she felt "sick" after discovering some "crunchy" extra topping on her Domino's pizza, spitting out what she believed was a finger nail.

Sophie Fruen ordered a medium 'create your own' pizza with chicken, mushroom, onion and sweetcorn during a night in with her boyfriend and sister. The 21-year-old polished off one slice before chomping down on what she initially believed was one of the crunchy toppings. Suspicious Sophie spat it out and was disgusted to find what she claims was a "bitten fingernail" lurking in the dough.

"At first I thought it was a piece of crispy sweetcorn or onion until I spat it out. I believe it's a fingernail, it's like someone's bitten the end of their fingernail off, I saw it straight away," she recalled.

"It was the whole top of a nail. I'm pretty sure someone bit it off because there were tiny breaks in the nail. It made me feel sick and then I didn't want to eat the rest of my pizza.

Sophie and her parter drove back to the store to confront staff about the unwanted ingredient. Source: Kennedy News

Disgusted, she rang the branch where she collected the order from but was unable to get through. Not satisfied, the trio jumped into the car and drove to the store with the pizza.

"There was a lady behind the counter who was really mortified, she went and got a manager."

After explaining the situation, Domino's agreed to provide a refund as well as a new pizza. But after cooking a new pizza Sophie claims the manager did not end up returning her money.

"[My boyfriend] waited 20 minutes for the pizza. When he said 'what about the refund?' [staff] said 'you don't get a refund because we've made your pizza'.

"I was more annoyed because everyone else's food at home had gone cold so they all had cold pizza.

"I had a good look at the replacement pizza because I didn't really want to be eating another fingernail. It put me off, I didn't really want to eat it.

The nail was reportedly in the cooked dough of the pizza. Source: Kennedy News (Kennedy News and Media)

The British woman claimed the ordeal has now put her off her favourite takeaway spot, with the company's response leaving a foul taste in her mouth.

Story continues

"I don't even think it would be bad if it was a hair because hair obviously can come out all the time, you can't really help that.

"But the fact that that's somebody's fingernail and someone's physically bitten that [is bad].

"Even if someone's nail had broken off, you know when your nail's snapped off. You'd say to someone 'we need to bin the rest of this dough, I've broken a nail'.

"I won't order from that store again."

A Domino's spokesman apologised for the incident, asserting that a full refund was offered.

"We have contacted this customer and offered a full refund and replacement pizza to make up for them not being able to enjoy their Domino's on this occasion."

Kennedy News

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US, Israel losers in battlefield and political field: Iran FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Doha, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says everyone's assessment of the Gaza war is that the Israeli regime and the US did not gain anything on the battlefield.

"The losers in the battlefield will also lose in the political field," Amirabdollahian said in a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

During the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister once again congratulated the Palestinian nation on their resistance and victory against the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip, saying they managed to secure great achievements against the occupying entity.

"Operation Al-Aqsa Storm shook the world, and although the human losses of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip are very high, bitter, and unfortunate, the dimensions of the victory and achievement of the Palestinian nation were much bigger," he said.

According to Amirabdollahian, the surprise operation, launched into the occupied territories on October 7, changed the strategic balances in different dimensions in favor of Palestine and to the detriment of the occupying, criminal Zionist regime.

Haniyeh, for his part, described the US government as the main axis of the Gaza war, saying the US was forced to succumb to the determination of the Palestinian nation despite its initial opposition to the ceasefire.

He also thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its special efforts and support in the realization of the temporary ceasefire.

"This is a political victory that was achieved based on the victory of the resistance in the field, and the enemy failed in achieving its goals except for the killing of women and children and citizens and destroying their houses," he added.

4354**9417

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Zionist regime cannot continue war without US' support: Iran FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 24, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian while welcoming the temporary ceasefire in Gaza said that if the Israeli regime continues the war after the ceasefire, the situation in the region will become more tense and the reactions will be more widespread.

Amirabdollahian met and talked with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, on Thursday night.

Amirabdollahian thanked the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar for his warm welcome and pointed out that this is the second meeting we have had in the last 6 weeks.

While welcoming the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, the Iranian foreign minister said that if the Israeli regime continues the war after the ceasefire, the situation in the region will become more tense and the reactions will be more widespread.

"The Zionist regime is not able to continue the war without the support of the United States, and what has happened against the United States in the region in the past 6 weeks is the reaction of the resistance groups in the region to the action of the United States in supporting the genocide in Palestine and has nothing to do with Iran," he added.

Amirabdollahian emphasized that Hamas is a freedom-seeking movement that emerged from within the Palestinian nation.

He stressed that Hamas cannot be eliminated and they should not think that they can achieve what they could not achieve during more than a month and a half of war.

2050

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Political consultations between Latvia and Kazakhstan held in Riga

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.11.2023

On 23 November 2023, political consultations between Latvia and Kazakhstan were held in Riga, during which the Under-Secretary of State - Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andzejs Vilumsons, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roman Vassilenko, discussed current issues of bilateral relations, the development of economic cooperation, and cooperation between the two countries in international organisations. The officials discussed topical issues on the regional and international agenda.

The two sides welcomed the positive trends in bilateral economic relations, underlining the positive impact of the constructive dialogue between the Latvian and Kazakh sectoral ministries and businesses on cooperation.

The officials also discussed the progress in improving the bilateral legal framework and confirmed their interest in holding an Intergovernmental Commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation in 2024.

The consultations also touched on issues related to deepening EU-Central Asia relations, including measures to promote connectivity between the two regions.

The previous political consultations between Latvia and Kazakhstan took place in Astana in 2022.

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Nordic and Baltic Defence Minister discussed regional security and priorities of NATO agenda

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-11-24

International cooperation

On November 22-23 Vice Minister of National Defence Zilvinas Tomkus attended the Nordic-Baltic Defence ministers' meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, where the regional security situation was addressed, as well as strengthening of critical infrastructure protection, assistance to Ukraine and priorities in implementing the NATO security and defence policy.

Participants of the meeting focussed extensively on directions of further cooperation between their countries, including regional air defence, better regional maritime situation awareness. The importance of assistance to Ukraine via capability coalitions was underscored and more intense cyber cooperation invited.

"The Baltic-Nordic defence cooperation has been developed successfully but we mustn't stop. The Finnish and the prospective Swedish NATO accession will bring even closer together, we wish to use the momentum efficiently so we are proposing areas to step up in together to our regional Allies," said Z. Tomkus.

The Nordic-Baltic (NB8) is an informal format of cooperation between Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

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The President: NATO allies must be united, strong, and demonstrate maximum readiness

President of the Republic of Lithuania

November 24, 2023

On Friday, President Gitanas Nauseda met with the Commander of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast, Lieutenant General Jurgen-Joachim von Sandrart. The meeting discussed the implementation of NATO's regional defense plans agreed upon at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, namely, the development of tactical plans and the assignment of military capabilities to them.

At the meeting, the Head of State stressed that the agreement reached at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on strengthening NATO's eastern flank, on the rotational air defense model, as well as on the regional defense plans, is of great importance for strengthening Lithuania's and the whole region's defense capabilities.

According to the President, Lithuania has an interest in the swift and effective adaptation of the regional defense plans and in the combat readiness, with the necessary allied capabilities assigned to it, as well as the necessary infrastructure and exercises.

"We are NATO's front line. The Alliance is as strong as its most vulnerable areas, so strengthening NATO's eastern flank has to be our top priority. An aggressive neighbor understands only one languagethat of forceso we need to be as strong and united as ever and to demonstrate maximum readiness. This is the best deterrent," Gitanas Nauseda pointed out.

The President and Lieutenant General Jurgen-Joachim von Sandrart also discussed Lithuania's contribution to NATO forces and to the capabilities of Multinational Corps Northeast. The meeting was also attended by the Chief of Defense, General Valdemaras Rupsys.

The President's Communication Group

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Truce deal in Gaza enters into force

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 17:03, November 24, 2023

CAIRO/GAZA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The first temporary humanitarian truce between Hamas and Israel entered into force at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Friday in the Gaza Strip.

Confirming the truce agreement had taken effect, Diaa Rashwan, chairman of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that 130,000 liters of diesel and four trucks of gas from Egypt will enter the Gaza Strip daily.

Some 200 trucks, loaded with food, medicine and water, can enter daily for the first time since the start of the war on Oct. 7, he said.

Egypt will continue to receive wounded and injured children from Gaza for treatment in Egyptian hospitals, helping foreigners and dual nationals detained in the Gaza Strip travel to their own countries, the SIS's chairman said.

He added that the Egyptian side will also allow the entry of Palestinians stranded in the country into the Gaza Strip at their will.

The truce is scheduled to be followed by the release of 13 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip at 4:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

Hamas and Israel reached an agreement earlier this week on a four-day cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Under the deal, at least 50 hostages, mainly children and women, would be freed for the release of about 150 women and teen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

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Israeli attacks continue in Gaza as truce postponed

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:27, November 24, 2023

JERUSALEM, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel continued its attacks in the Gaza Strip on Thursday morning since the ceasefire deal reached between the country and the Gaza-ruling Hamas movement did not, as expected, come into effect on Thursday.

The deal on a four-day temporary ceasefire in Gaza for a swap of at least 50 hostages kidnapped in Gaza and some 150 Palestinian detainees held in Israel, as well as for more humanitarian aid to enter the war-stricken Palestinian enclave, was initially agreed by the two warring parties on Wednesday and is due to take effect on Thursday.

However, in an announcement late Wednesday, Israel's National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi said the Qatari-mediated deal was postponed, while the Israeli strikes were going on overnight in Gaza.

An Israeli army spokesperson reported in a statement that heavy fighting continued in the areas of Jabalia and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, adding that more than 300 sites were struck over the past day.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday afternoon that it had apprehended the director of Gaza's largest Al-Shifa Hospital, Mohammed Abu Selmeia, accusing him of allowing Hamas to exploit the hospital as a command and control center.

On Israeli TV broadcasts, large clouds of black smoke were seen rising above northern Gaza.

The army re-issued a call for residents of Gaza City to evacuate southward. "We address the residents of Gaza City, especially in the neighborhoods of Jabalia and Shuja'iyya, to evacuate immediately for your own safety," the IDF wrote in Arabic on the social media platform X.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi met with commanders inside the Gaza Strip to assess the situation on the field. In video footage released by the army, Halevi was heard telling the commanders, "We are not ending the war. We will continue until we are victorious."

The conflict has led to massive destruction in Gaza, including whole neighborhoods razed by Israeli strikes, and the killing of at least 14,532 people, mostly civilians, according to official Palestinian figures. According to Israeli figures, about 1,200 people were killed, and about 240 others were held as hostages during the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that triggered the conflict.

Amid the persistent fighting, on Thursday afternoon, the mediator Qatar announced that the Gaza truce would officially take effect at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Friday.

On the Lebanon front, Hezbollah said in a statement on Wednesday that its fighters fired 48 rockets at Israel, the largest salvo toward Israel since the beginning of its border clashes with Israel.

The rockets triggered air raid sirens throughout the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed in a statement that about 35 rockets, in addition to several anti-tank missiles and mortars, were fired from Lebanon toward various locations in northern Israel.

An unspecified number of the rockets were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome system, according to the army.

No casualties have been reported but Israel's Fire and Rescue Authority said two anti-tank rockets hit two residential homes in the community of Kibbutz Manara.

Israeli artillery and aircraft struck the area from which the projectiles were fired, as stated by the army. The statement mentioned that one of the launchers was hit by the "Iron Sting," a dual guidance system utilizing both laser and GPS, which was introduced into combat within the past month.

According to figures released by Hezbollah, at least 85 militants have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the beginning of the escalation, while a Lebanese military source told Xinhua on Wednesday that a total of 115 people on the Lebanese side had been killed in clashes with Israel.

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2 killed, 5 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on S. Lebanon

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:03, November 24, 2023

BEIRUT, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and five others were injured on Thursday in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and military sources said.

A civilian was killed, and five others were injured in an Israeli air raid on a house in Lebanon's southern village of Aita al-Shaab, while Hezbollah announced that one of its fighters was killed.

Lebanese military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that Israeli drones and warplanes on Thursday carried out 13 airstrikes targeting several areas in southern Lebanon, including Iqlim al-Tuffah, 20 km from the Lebanon-Israel border.

Israeli artillery fired more than 600 shells at many villages across southern Lebanon, the sources added, stressing that the strikes were the most severe since the latest round of escalation along the borderline.

Hezbollah announced that its fighters attacked an Israeli infantry force hiding inside a house in the Al-Manara settlement, killing four soldiers, in addition to attacking several Israeli positions and the Birkat Risha site on the border.

Also on Thursday, specialized medical teams at the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health trained around 1,100 health personnel in 63 hospitals to prepare for a possible expansion of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.

The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tensions for over six weeks after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel on Oct. 8 in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day. Israeli forces responded by firing heavy artillery at several areas in southeastern Lebanon.

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Israel, Hamas strike 4-day truce-for-hostages deal, but vow to continue war thereafter

People's Daily Online

By Shuai Anning (Xinhua) 08:21, November 24, 2023

JERUSALEM/GAZA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Six weeks into the deadly fighting, Hamas and Israel on Wednesday agreed on a temporary halt in hostilities in exchange for a hostage swap.

The four-day ceasefire, as agreed after weeks of efforts led by Qatar, would provide a brief relief to the people in Gaza and may lead to additional hostage releases, but a definite end to hostilities is tragically nowhere on the horizon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the war will immediately resume once the truce expires. Israel's goals are to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and get back all 240 hostages held captive in Gaza, he told a nationally televised press conference. In a statement Wednesday Hamas also vowed to stand ready for war.

Meanwhile, the deal would not, as expected, come into effect on Thursday, but until Friday at the earliest, Israel's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a late-night announcement, without giving reason for the delay.

WIDELY EXPECTED DEAL

Under the deal, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly children and women in exchange for 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Meanwhile, hundreds of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, medicine, and fuel will be allowed to enter Gaza.

The hostages will be released in smaller groups over a span of four days, during which "a pause in the fighting" would take place, said the statement from Netanyahu's office, adding that the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day in the pause.

Hamas is believed to be holding more than 200 hostages, whom the group took when its fighters sallied out into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

The hostage deal, which had been discussed for weeks, was finally accepted as Netanyahu was under growing public pressure to bring the captives home. Families of the abducted have in recent weeks staged large-scale marches in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding the safe return of the kidnapped. Pictures of the hostages were seen everywhere in the country, with the tagline: "Bring Them Home Now."

On the Palestinian side, Hamas hopes to get some days of pause in the fighting to prepare for the next phases, said Nimrod Goren, president of the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies.

Yaakov Amidror, a senior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security agreed that the ceasefire gives Hamas more time to be "better prepared for the next stage of the war," yet he said he did not see big losses for Israel as that does not change "the balance of power."

Ahmed Rafiq Awad, a Ramallah-based political analyst said there is an urgent need on the Palestinian side for a ceasefire to provide relief and aid to its citizens and to be able to bury the bodies.

BROADER PEACE INVISIBLE

The four-day ceasefire is the first pause in the deadly fighting, which has killed over 14,000 Palestinians in Gaza and displaced more than one million. Yet both sides have voiced their readiness to resume hostilities once the pause is over and a broader peace is not on the table.

"I want to be clear. The war is continuing. The war is continuing. We will continue it until we achieve all our goals," Netanyahu said in the televised press conference, adding he had delivered the same message in a phone call to U.S. President Joe Biden.

He said he had instructed the Mossad spy agency to hunt down Hamas' exiled leadership "wherever they are."

Israeli's plan is "to destroy Hamas, return all our hostages and ensure that no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel," he said earlier on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Amidror said if Israel stops the war after the ceasefire, that will be the end of the government. "The sentiment within the military forces and the Israeli public is so strong to destroy Hamas that the war cannot be stopped," he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas also said in its statement on Wednesday that their hands will "remain on the trigger," and their brigades remain "on the lookout to defend our people and to defeat the occupation and aggression."

BRIEF RESPITE

A pause in the fighting, however brief, could offer some respite to the people in Gaza and may pave the way for additional hostage releases, said analysts.

Awad said that the truce could lead to the release of more prisoners if the current deal works well, and that the temporary pause might serve as a key to a permanent ceasefire if it is supported or encouraged by different parties.

During the pause in fighting, an increased amount of humanitarian aid will enter Gaza. "It will not address all the needs of the population there but will bring some improvement," he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres applauded the deal in a statement, saying it was "an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to end the suffering."

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit welcomed on Wednesday the humanitarian truce, voicing hope that it would lead to "a comprehensive cease-fire" in the besieged enclave.

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First group of Gaza captives exchanged for Palestinian prisoners as Gaza truce takes hold

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 6:35 PM

A total of 39 Palestinian female and child prisoners have been released by the Israeli occupation at Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank as a temporary ceasefire takes hold across Gaza following six weeks of Israeli attacks.

Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners who were imprisoned by Israel have arrived at the Beitunia checkpoint following their release from Ofer under a deal that followed weeks of ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt.

The prisoners had been freed from three jails in Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank and then taken to the Ofer prison on buses.

Earlier, the Palestinian movement Hamas said a group of captives taken during its October 7 operation were also handed over to the Red Cross at the Rafah crossing and then transferred to the Israeli-occupied territories.

They included 13 women and child captives, some with dual citizenship. Hamas also released 10 Thai captives as well as one Filipino as the total number of Gaza captives released hit 24.

The Red Cross said that over several days it will transfer captives held in Gaza to Israeli authorities, and transfer Palestinian detainees to authorities in the West Bank.

The statement also said that the ICRC would bring in "additional medical supplies" to be delivered to hospitals in Gaza.

During a four-day truce, at least 50 captives are expected to be freed, leaving an estimated 190 other captives in Gaza. In exchange, 150 Palestinian prisoners were to be released, all women and teenage boys.

Hamas asked Palestinians in the city of Nablus to gather and welcome the women and children who are expected to be released from Israeli prisons.

The group said it is inviting people for a "massive reception."

Media reports said Israeli forces fired volleys of tear gas at the people gathered outside the Ofer camp to welcome Palestinian prisoners.

Gazans returning home

The pause in fighting has triggered a mass movement of thousands of Gazans who had sought refuge in schools and hospitals from relentless Israeli bombardment that began on October 7.

There were multiple reports of Israeli forces breaking the truce by opening fire on Palestinians moving back toward their homes in northern Gaza.

AP reported that Israeli troops fatally shot two Palestinians and wounded 11 others as they headed toward northern Gaza.

Israel's air, artillery, and naval strikes alongside a ground offensive have killed about 15,000 people, Gaza officials said.

Gazans have struggled to survive with shortages of water and other essentials. 150 Trucks carrying more aid, including fuel, gas, and food, began moving into Gaza from the Rafah crossing with Egypt shortly after the truce began at 7:00 am on Friday.

Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA, expressed hope in Geneva that the pause "leads to a longer-term humanitarian ceasefire."

He repeated the need for access across Gaza, especially in the north "where the damage and the humanitarian needs are the greatest."

According to the UN, 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people are estimated to have been displaced by the fighting.

The truce was also a chance for some Palestinians to return to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz reiterated at a solidarity rally for the families of captives in Tel Aviv that the regime will resume fighting after the pause.

Calm also returned to Lebanon's southern border on Friday as the temporary truce took effect, according to Lebanese media.

Since the Gaza war erupted, Lebanon's southern border with Israel has witnessed deadly exchanges of fire, primarily involving the Israeli military and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, as well as Palestinian militant groups.

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Nov. 25, 1993

OWASCO  Sometimes she wakes them up early in the morning. Other days, she simply pops in for breakfast unannounced. And if she doesn't like what's on the menu, she'll saunter next door to see what they're serving.

Such rude behavior doesn't seem to ruffle the feathers of Rockefeller Road homeowners or leave them in a fowl mood.

They accept the fact their neighbor, Gwendolyn, is a turkey  literally.

Gwendolyn is a wild turkey hen that staked out a lakeside residence on Owasco Lake's east side earlier this summer.

"I've lived up here 21 years and this is the first time I've ever seen one up here," Gordon Grace said earlier this week.

"She's been coming around since July and everyone feeds her," Sam Emmi said. "And she's very friendly, which is unusual for a wild turkey. She even lets my wife pet her."

Joyce Ward and her husband named the bird Gwendolyn. "I'm not sure why we picked that name, but I guess it's kind of stuck," Ward said.

The turkey wakes the Wards every morning and at night sometimes roosts in their trees. Ward also said Gwendolyn is a finicky eater.

"She doesn't seem to care for the sunflower seeds we're leaving out for her, so she just goes to the neighbors."

"She's gained a lot of weight since she's been here," Ward said.
Hamas chief Haniyeh says Palestinians forced ceasefire upon Israeli regime

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 3:45 PM

The leader of the Hamas resistance movement says Palestinians have forced Israel into accepting the group's terms for a ceasefire agreement, vowing resistance fighters will continue to fight to liberate their lands.

Speaking on Friday, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said the resistance managed to confront the occupation, break its will, and thwart its plan to get back its captives through genocide.

"The enemy has bet on restoring the captives by means of guns, killing, and genocide. But after nearly 50 days, the enemy has bowed to the conditions of resistance and our brave people's willpower," Haniyeh said.

The Palestinian leader said the group is prepared to continue confronting the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip after the truce.

He vowed that Hamas would not vacate its positions in Gaza and refuse any "external interference" in the way the territory will be run in the future.

In his remarks, Haniyeh said the movement is committed to the truce and swap deal as long as the regime adheres to it.

He also hailed the resilience of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories and their role in confronting the Israeli aggression.

He said the great Palestinian people wrote an epic of steadfastness, and their fighters deepened the enemy's wounds.

Haniyeh thanked Qatar and Egypt for mediating ceasefire talks and stressed the necessity of continuing international efforts to help the Palestinian people achieve their aspirations.

He said the Palestinians are fighting the battle of national liberation across a solid front in Gaza, al-Quds, and all other locations.

The Palestinian leader also hailed resistance groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen for their sacrifices and their brave attacks on Israel in support of Gaza resistance.

A four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning, bringing to a halt the regime's 48-day aggression and enabling an exchange of captives between the two sides.

Under the deal, 50 Israeli captives held in Gaza were to be exchanged with 150 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The pause triggered a mass movement of thousands of Gazans who had sought refuge in schools and hospitals from relentless Israeli bombardment.

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Without US support, Israel couldn't have continued Gaza war: Iran

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 3:41 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Israel would not have been able to continue its war on the besieged Gaza Strip if it were not for the United States' support.

In an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran has received messages from the US that Washington is not looking to expand the scope of the war.

"Our response to the Americans was that by supporting Israel and supplying it with weapons, they are widening the scope of the war."

Israel ignited its bloody war machine after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories on October 7. The regime has killed at least 14,854 people, including more than 6,150 children and 4,000 women, in Gaza.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hamas announced a four-day truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip that will see the cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

Hamas said the deal, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, will allow the entry of hundreds of trucks with humanitarian aid, medicine and fuel to Gaza.

After seven weeks of massacre, the truce took effect at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Friday following a night of intense Israeli bombardment. It stipulates the release of Israelis held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

In his interview, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran hopes the truce in Gaza would be the beginning of an end to the crimes of Israel.

The Iranian foreign minister said the US believes it can decide who will assume power in Gaza without the return of the Palestinians to their homeland. However, the minister underscored, Washington is wrong. The future of Gaza is determined only by the Palestinian people, he said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi proposed an initiative with the leaders of Muslim and member states of the BRICS group of emerging economies to put an end to Israeli war crimes in Gaza, the minister said.

Addressing an emergency virtual meeting of the BRICS leaders on Tuesday, Raeisi said the members should unite their efforts to break the Israeli siege.

On Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian met with Head of Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh in the Qatari capital of Doha.

The senior Hamas chief appreciated Iran for its strong support for the Palestinian people and resistance, commending the latest ceasefire as a "political and military" victory for the resistance front.

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Islamic Jihad warns of 'response' in case of Israel's truce violation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 3:30 PM

A spokesman for the military wing of the Islamic Jihad has underscored the Palestinian resistance movement's commitment to the latest ceasefire deal in the besieged Gaza Strip but warned that the Israeli regime will face an "appropriate response" in case the agreement is violated.

Abu Hamza, a spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades, made the remarks in a video statement broadcast by Qatar-based Arabic-language Al Jazeera television news network on Friday, hours after a provisional truce put a halt on nearly 50 days of Israeli aggression on Gaza.

"The Brigades will be committed to stopping military and missile operations as long as the Israeli occupation is committed to," Abu Hamza said, stressing, "Any violation will be met with an appropriate response."

The spokesman said the al-Quds Brigades had bombarded towns in the occupied territories with hundreds of rockets and mortar shells over the past 48 days.

"We will not raise the white flag and we will only emerge victorious from the battle," he said, adding, "The resistance will not leave the [Palestinian] prisoners in the hands of the usurpers, and we will not abandon this battle until we achieve our goals."

Abu Hamza underlined that that the occupied West Bank "was and remains an integral part of the battle to defend Arab and Islamic honor."

The spokesman for the military wing of the Islamic Jihad also pointed to the retaliatory attacks by the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah on the occupied territories.

"The Islamic resistance in Lebanon is directing concentrated and deadly strikes at the enemy," Abu Hamza said, warning that, "What is going to unfold is greater," as he praised "the honorable resistance in Iraq and Yemen."

Al-Jazeera had earlier reported of "intense shooting" by Israeli forces east of Khan Younis and Rafah after a four-day ceasefire went into effect on Friday morning, saying two Palestinians were killed and another was wounded by Israeli soldiers shooting at hundreds of people who tried to return to the north of the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Qatari-mediated truce would see the exchange of captives and the delivery of relief aid to the Gaza Strip over a span of four days.

Under the terms of the agreement, for every Israeli captive released, there will be three Palestinian prisoners released, namely women and children. Two hundred aid trucks that include medical supplies for the entire Gaza Strip will also be allowed in during the four-day ceasefire.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in response to Tel Aviv's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

The Government Media Office in Gaza announced in a report on Thursday that at least 14,854 Palestinians, including more than 6,150 children and 4,000 women, have been killed and over 36,000 others injured in the Israeli strikes.

Some 207 health workers and 65 Palestinians were among those killed. That's while 7,000 Palestinians are still missing.

According to the report, 60 percent of homes in Gaza have either been destroyed or damaged due to the aggression.

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Israeli troops fire at Gazans returning home, kill two after ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 11:29 AM

There are reports of "intense shooting" by Israeli forces east of Khan Younis and Rafah after a four-day ceasefire went into effect on Friday morning.

Al-Jazeera reported that two Palestinians were killed and another was wounded by Israeli soldiers shooting at hundreds of people who tried to return to the north of the besieged Gaza Strip.

Some of those wounded have been evacuated to a hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The Israeli military also warned Palestinians that the "war is not over", telling them not to try to return to homes in the northern part of Gaza, which it described as a "dangerous war zone".

Gaza residents said the Israelis had dropped leaflets warning people not to travel north and have fired over the heads of some people who were trying to get back into Gaza City.

Israeli attacks had raged in the hours leading up to the truce, with officials inside the enclave saying a hospital in Gaza City was among the targets bombed.

Sirens sounded in two Israeli villages outside the southern Gaza Strip, warning of possible incoming Palestinian rockets. The Israeli military also said fighting would resume soon.

"This will be a short pause, at the conclusion of which the war and fighting will continue with great might and will generate pressure for the return of more hostages," Israeli minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant said.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and the Occupied Territories confirmed the death of one of its aid workers who had worked for more than 20 years for them.

"We are devastated by the killing of our valued colleague Abdellatif Ali Moussa, along with several of his family, in northern Gaza," they said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israel launched the war on Gaza after Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories on Oct. 7.

At least 14,854 Palestinians, including more than 6,150 children and 4,000 women, have been killed and over 36,000 others injured in the Israeli strikes.

Some 207 health workers and 65 Palestinians are among those killed, while 7,000 Palestinians are still missing.

According to the report, 60 percent of homes in Gaza have either been destroyed or damaged due to the aggression.

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US military bases in Syria, Iraq targeted by explosive-laden drones

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 6:55 AM

Three military facilities occupied by US forces in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and across Iraq have come under separate attacks by explosive-laden drones, the latest in a series of strikes on American forces in the two neighboring countries.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel claimed responsibility for the early Friday morning attack on US forces based at the al-Omar oil field in Dayr al-Zawr province.

There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facility, or possible casualties.

It noted that the base was targeted by a drone, linking the assault to the US support for Israel's bloody military campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The brutal war, which the Tel Aviv regime has been waging against the besieged Palestinian enclave since October 7, has so far claimed the lives of at least 14,532 people, including 6,000 children and 4,000 women.

The regime launched the war after Gaza's resistance groups conducted Operation al-Aqsa Storm, their biggest operation against the occupying entity in years in response to increased Israeli violence against Palestinians.

The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the regime with arms and ammunitions since the initiation of the Gaza war.

The US House of Representatives on November 2 passed a standalone $14.3-billion military assistance package for Israel. The legislation, however, is yet to clear the Senate.

Washington has also vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that called on the occupying regime to cease its aggression.

Late on Thursday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone strike against Ain al-Asad Airbase in Iraq's western province of Anbar, and another on a US-run military installation near the Erbil International Airport in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Earlier, Kadhim al-Fartousi, the spokesman for the Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada anti-terror resistance group, stated that the four-day truce between the Israeli military and Palestinian Hamas resistance movement, which is set to begin at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Friday in Gaza, will not extend to Iraqi resistance groups.

US Defense Department deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh said during a media briefing on Tuesday that "US forces have been attacked approximately 66 times since October 17. Thirty-two separate times in Iraq and 34 separate times in Syria."



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Nakhala says Israel failed to achieve goals as four-day truce in Gaza takes effect

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 6:38 AM

Islamic Jihad Secretary General Ziyad Nakhalah has said that Israel failed to achieve its stated goals in the Gaza war as a four-day truce took effect in the besieged territory after seven weeks of massacres.

The truce took effect at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) on Friday after a night of intense Israeli bombardment. It stipulates the release of Israelis held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

"Had it not been for the losses on the battlefield, the Zionist regime would not have agreed to the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners," Nakhalah said in a televised address.

He said the resistance will "force the Zionist enemy to exchange all the prisoners on a wider scale".

"The rest of the enemy's prisoners including officers and soldiers will not be released without the release of the rest of our prisoners, and this issue is related to the end of the war and aggression."

Nakhala said the resistance front will continue fighting and prevent the enemy from reaching its objectives.

"The enemy's goals of ending the resistance and crushing it still in place, so we must continue the battle to neutralize the enemy's goals. The Zionist enemy will continue its aggression more brutally."

Nakhalah said Operation al-Aqsa Storm on Oct. 7 has caused an earthquake within the Israeli regime and shed light on the Western support for Israel.

He thanked resistance groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen for courageously supporting Palestinians. Nakhalah underlined that those who speak of governing Gaza should think of protecting their own people instead.

In Khan Younis town in southern Gaza, housing thousands of families displaced from the north, streets filled with people venturing out of home and shelters.

"We are full of hope, optimism, and pride in our resistance. We are proud of our achievements, despite the pain this caused," resident Khaled Abu Anzah told Reuters.

The first prisoners would be freed at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT), with the total number rising to 50 over the four days, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said in Doha.

The prisoners were expected to be released to the Red Cross and an Egyptian security delegation that traveled to Gaza on Thursday, then brought out through Egypt for transfer to Israel, Egyptian security sources said.

Israel will release 39 Palestinians prisoners, among them 24 women and 15 teenagers, in the occupied West Bank in exchange for the 13 hostages due to be freed on Friday, a Palestinian official said.

Israel says the ceasefire could be extended beyond the initial four days if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said the total released could reach 100.





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Hamas chief hails 'political and military victory', thanks Iran

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 6:37 AM

The head of the political bureau of Hamas has appreciated the Islamic Republic for its strong support for the Palestinian people and resistance during the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, commending the latest ceasefire as a "political and military" victory for the resistance front.

Ismail Haniyeh made the remarks in a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in the Qatari capital of Doha on Thursday, ahead of a landmark four-day truce that will see the exchange of captives and the delivery of relief aid to the Gaza Strip after Israel's brutal onslaught on the besieged territory.

Haniyeh expressed his appreciation for the "firm support of the Iranian leadership, the president, the government and the people of Iran," as well as the "active diplomatic support of the Iranian minister of foreign affairs for the Palestinian issue and its people, especially during the ongoing Israeli war against Gaza."

The Hamas chief hailed as "honorable" the support of the resistance movements in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria to their brothers and sisters in Gaza, noting that it bears a "clear" message to the Zionist regime and the United States.

Pointing to various dimensions of the Israeli regime's war crimes against the people in Gaza, its hospitals and urban infrastructure, Haniyeh said the United States was the "main axis" of the Israeli war on Gaza.

"Despite the initial opposition to the ceasefire, the United States, understanding the realities of the battlefield, was finally forced to surrender to the will of the Palestinian people and the will of the world nations and the positive vote of 120 countries to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly for a ceasefire with Hamas, which shows the US dominance over the international order has diminished."

The head of the political bureau of Hamas thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its special efforts and support in the realization of the temporary ceasefire, saying, "This is a political victory that was achieved based on the victory of the resistance in the field and the enemy failed in achieving its goals except for the killing of women and children and citizens and destroying their houses."

Amir-Abdollahian, for his part, expressed his felicitations on the resistance, resilience and victory of the Palestinian people and the residents of Gaza during the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

"The consequences of Operation al-Aqsa Storm shook the world," the top Iranian diplomat said. "Although the human losses of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip were high, bitter and unfortunate, the dimensions of victory and achievement of the Palestinian nation were much bigger and tipped the strategic balance in different dimensions in favor of Palestine and the detriment of the usurping Zionist regime."

Despite more than a month and a half of aggression and brutal war and killing and injuring tens of thousands Palestinian citizens, the US and the Israeli regime failed to achieve the least in the military field and were forced to negotiate indirectly with Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of their prisoners," Amir-Abdollahian stressed.

Praising the honorable and courageous resistance of the people in Gaza and its resistance groups against Israel's 47-day brutal aggression, Amir-Abdollahian underlined the Islamic Republic's absolute determination to continue supporting the Palestinian people and resistance in the political and international fields.

The Israeli regime launched the war on Gaza on October 7 following the large-scale operation by the territory's resistance groups, which killed some 1,200 Israeli settlers and military forces and led to the captivity of hundreds more.

Israel has killed more than 14,800 people, including over 6,150 children, in Gaza since October 7.

The Qatari-mediated truce took effect at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Friday. As part of the agreement, 13 Israeli captives in Gaza are due to be freed at 4:00 p.m. (1400 GMT), followed by a number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Under the terms of the agreement, for every Israeli captive released, there will be three Palestinian prisoners released, namely women and children. Two hundred aid trucks that include medical supplies for the entire Gaza Strip will also be allowed in during the four-day truce.

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In show of force, US and Japan hold naval drills in Philippine Sea

Three carriers ply waters near where China has been engaged in a rising number of provocations.

By Park Jaewoo and Lee Sangmin for RFA Korean 2023.11.24 -- Fighter jets roared off the aircraft carrier's flat top into the night, their afterburners glowing.

The scene aboard the USS Carl Vinson - visited recently by Radio Free Asia journalists - came during recent joint exercises by American and Japanese naval vessels in the Philippine Sea that included two U.S. aircraft carriers and one Japanese helicopter carrier.

It was a show of force in a patch of ocean where Chinese provocations have increased, including a collision last month between Philippine fishing boats and a Chinese coast guard ship.

Naval officers aboard the ships said the exercises were simply meant to maintain freedom of the seas and improve cooperation between their navies, not send a warning signal to China or North Korea - at least overtly.

"We don't have any kind of intention to respond to that kind of frustration," Rear Admiral Kazushi Yokota of Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force told reporters at a joint press conference Nov. 6 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, another aircraft carrier, also visited by the RFA journalists.

"We just conducted the joint exercise or activities for maintaining the free and operating Indo Pacific Ocean and also for or improving our interoperability, just as our normal activity," he said.

'Are we ready? Absolutely'

For its part, China has bristled at the exercises. The state-run Global Times cited Chinese military experts saying the joint drills "tightened the instability of the region, and definitely are not in the interest of the regional countries."

Come what may, Rear Admiral Patrick Hannafin said the U.S. Navy would be ready.

"We are not directing this exercise for our activities or training against any particular crisis," Hannafin said during a separate news conference. "Are we ready to respond to any crisis across the world whether it's this theater or others? Absolutely."

Radio Free Asia journalists were among several invited by the U.S. 7th Fleet, headquartered in Yokosuka, Japan, to spend two days aboard ships involved in the exercises earlier this month.

Taken for a helicopter ride over the fleet, the RFA journalists got a bird's eye view of the two U.S. aircraft carriers - the USS Ronald Reagan as well as the USS Carl Vinson - churning through the water.

Nearby sailed Japan's Hyuga, a light carrier equipped with helicopters, an Aegis destroyer and a cruiser escort, among other support ships.

All told, the United States has 11 aircraft carriers total, and deploying two to the same exercise is somewhat unusual. Both the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan are Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, carrying about 5,000 crew and more than 60 aircraft, including F/A-18s, with the former ship also carrying F-35s.

Not strained

The exercises should dispel notions that crises in different parts of the world leave the U.S. overextended, said Harry Harris, the former ambassador to South Korea and a retired admiral who was once commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.

"This is a highly visible depiction of America's resolve and immense capability to defend our national interests and our allies in the Western Pacific," he said. "It answers those naysayers who believe that the U.S. is overextended in the Middle East and Europe. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Gen. Vincent Brooks, a former commander of the U.S. Forces in Korea, said that the exercises underscored the importances of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The US took advantage of two carriers available to practice naval operations in the area," said Brooks. "The US is a global power and presumptions of the US being distracted are dangerously ill-founded."

The exercises are meant to reassure American allies in the region and dissuade potential adversaries in different regions simultaneously, said Patrick Cronin, chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute.

"Chinese PLA (People's Liberation Army) forces regularly conduct peacetime confrontation operations designed to make the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and others feel anxious and uncomfortable," he said.

"Beijing wants others to comply with their wishes and to change any behavior they dislike."

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Pashinian: Future In Russian-Led CSTO Will Be Based On Armenia's 'Own State Interests'

By RFE/RL's Armenian Service November 24, 2023

YEREVAN -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has said any decision about Yerevan's continued membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be based on "its own state interests" after he declined to attend the current summit in Minsk.

During a live question-and-answer TV program with the public on November 24, Pashinian also said the country was looking for options to reduce its outstanding financial debt to Russia by several means, including using the payments it has made for weapons that Moscow has failed to deliver.

"We will focus on the state interests of Armenia, and if we have or haven't made any decision at this moment, our benchmark is the state interests of Armenia," Pashinian said during an almost nine-hour-long broadcast when asked by a caller why Yerevan remained a member of the CSTO defense bloc.

"At the moment, our records show that the CSTO's de facto actions or inaction do not address its obligations toward the Republic of Armenia, that is, in this sense, the CSTO's actions are not in line with Armenia's interests. And we raise this issue in a transparent way," Pashinian added.

The Pashinian government has long criticized the CSTO for its "failure to respond to the security challenges" facing Armenia.

Political analyst Areg Kochinian said Pashinian's latest remarks were not yet an announcement of "withdrawal" from the CSTO, but rather preparation for a possible move to make "some qualitative changes in the security architecture of Armenia."

Armenia has long been a close ally of Russia but -- angered in part by what it saw as a lack of support from Moscow during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh and subsequent border clashes with Azerbaijan -- has in recent months taken steps to distance itself from that alliance.

Armenia drew criticism from Moscow earlier this month after Pashinian said he would not attend the CSTO summit in Minsk.

Other Armenian officials also declined to participate in events held by the CSTO, which also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, but a senior official in Yerevan on November 23 said Armenia nevertheless was not considering quitting the CSTO.

A caller also asked Pashinian why his government wasn't considering the reversal of a controversial deal that Russia made with Yerevan in the early 2000s to take possession of some of Armenia's lucrative strategic assets in exchange for the South Caucasus country's debt.

Pashinian said Armenia was looking at several options to reduce its debt to Russia, including the use of payments it has made for weapons that Moscow has failed to deliver.

Pashinian and other Armenian officials have spoken about "hundreds of millions of dollars" transferred to Moscow as part of arms contracts that remained unfulfilled amid Russia's continuing war against Ukraine.

One caller asked Pashinian why his government would not consider the reversal of a controversial deal that Russia made with Armenia in the early 2000s to take possession of some of Armenia's lucrative strategic assets in exchange for the South Caucasus country's debt.

The Armenian prime minister gave no figures, but again confirmed that there were problems with Russia fulfilling its arms contracts with Armenia.

He said reducing Armenia's debt to Russia could be one of the mechanisms of settling the issue, but that there were other options as well.

"We know that Russia itself needs weapons. In this context, we expect to settle this issue in a routine working manner. I hope that our discussions will lead to concrete results," Pashinian said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-russia-debt- undelivered-arms/32698653.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UK commits further support to get aid into Gaza

The Foreign Secretary announces further UK funding to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

24 November 2023

on day 2 of a visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), the Foreign Secretary announces further UK funding to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza

in meetings in Israel, Foreign Secretary pressed to open up greater access for lifesaving support including medical supplies and fuel

as the fourth UK aircraft of humanitarian aid arrives in Egypt, the UK pledges 30 million additional aid funding for Gaza

Following a series of meetings with senior Israeli politicians on Thursday, the Foreign Secretary's talks today will focus on how UK efforts can help alleviate the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He will also discuss supporting the Palestinian Authority, including through training and capacity building, and look towards a long-term political solution to the crisis.

The Foreign Secretary will also meet aid agencies delivering UK-funded humanitarian support in Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary has announced that the UK will provide a further 30 million in humanitarian aid which will support trusted partners, including UN agencies on the ground, to deliver lifesaving aid to people in Gaza. It brings to 60 million the additional aid announced by the UK for Palestinian civilians since the crisis started in October.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

We are hopeful that today will see the release of hostages, and I am urging all parties to continue to work towards the release of every hostage. A pause will also allow access for life-saving aid to the people of Gaza. I am proud that a fourth UK flight carrying critical supplies landed in Egypt today, and I can announce new 30 million of funding which will be spent on vital aid such as shelter and medical provisions. It is vital to protect civilians from harm, and we are urgently looking at all avenues to get aid into Gaza, including land, maritime and air routes.

Today's additional funding comes as the fourth UK aircraft carrying humanitarian aid landed in Al Arish, Egypt, for onward transfer to Gaza. The RAF flight carried 23 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including 4,500 blankets and 4,500 sleeping mats for distribution by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The RAF continues to deliver on the UK's commitment to helping those in need by operating flights into the region to provide urgent humanitarian support which will save civilian lives. The UK is driving international efforts to support the humanitarian response in Gaza, working closely alongside partners and allies to de-escalate the situation.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary continued to urge all parties to make progress on the agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, to allow the release of a number of hostages and a pause in the fighting and ensure the agreement is adhered to in full.

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Three prosecutors resigned from the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office within days of each other last month, but new ones will replace them.

Former assistant district attorneys Jonathan Ward, Britton Bouchard and Richard Pado resigned in late October. Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci told The Citizen Ward left to take a position with the Cayuga County Department of Social Services. When asked about the circumstances of Bouchard and Pado's resignations, however, the DA said she couldn't discuss personnel issues.

Pado told The Citizen he and Bouchard submitted their resignation letters Oct. 31. The letters say each former assistant district attorney was willing to make Dec. 1 his last day at the office in order to facilitate a "smooth transition." Otherwise, the letters continue, their last day of employment would be Nov. 10. But in the copies of the letters provided to The Citizen by Grome Antonacci, "Nov. 10" is crossed out and "Oct. 31" is written on the page with her initials. Asked about that, she said only that Oct. 31 reflects Bouchard and Pado's last day working at the office.

In a statement emailed to The Citizen, Pado said he and Bouchard left the DA's office to start their own firm, which they've discussed since meeting in law school.

"Since graduation we remained steadfast in our desire to become small business owners. Recently, we decided it was a prudent time to pursue our dreams. We are truly grateful for being graced with the opportunity to serve the People of Cayuga County through the District Attorneys Office, and we wish them the best of luck in continuing their mission of protecting this county," the statement said.

Pado and Bouchard are starting the firm with attorney Kevin Mendillo. Mendillo, Bouchard & Pado PLLC is located in Auburn, and will open next month. Ward will share office space there as well.

Meanwhile, Grome Antonacci said her office will soon bring in four new assistant district attorneys. Job offers for three of them were made and accepted over a month ago: Courtney Venditte, Amanda Raub and Mark Moody, all of the Oswego County District Attorney's Office. The job offer for the fourth, whom Grome Antonacci will announce later, was made and accepted within the last two weeks.

The fourth opening at the office was created by the retirement of Senior Assistant District Attorney Diane Adsit in May.

Venditte, an assistant district attorney in Oswego with 10 years of prosecutorial experience, will join the Cayuga County office later this month. Raub, also an assistant district attorney in Oswego, will follow in December. Moody, the acting Oswego County district attorney and a prosecutor for more than 25 years, will join the office as an assistant district attorney in January.

"Our office is very excited to welcome three experienced and professional prosecutors," Grome Antonacci said.

With the four additions, the DA's office will be fully staffed beginning in January. Grome Antonacci said she has yet to decide if the four will focus on any specialized areas of prosecution.
Russia blocks discussions at Kimberley Process Plenary

Russia has blocked discussions on conflict diamonds and Ukraine at the Kimberley Process Plenary in Zimbabwe.

24 November 2023

At the most recent Kimberley Process Plenary meeting, held in Zimbabwe from 6 to 10 November 2023, Russia consistently used the rules around consensus to block attempts from Ukraine, the UK and others to discuss the implications of their full scale invasion of Ukraine on the Kimberley Process and its objective to delink conflict from diamonds.

Russia exports around 30% of the world's rough diamonds and accrues a significant amount from the proceeds which are contributing to its illegal war effort in Ukraine.

Since the full-scale invasion, the UK and other Kimberley Process members have been pressing the Kimberley Process to discuss the issue and to work on expanding the definition of 'conflict diamonds'.

In addition to having a substantive discussion on the issue blocked, Russia and other Kimberley Process participants then blocked the inclusion of a factual reference to the attempt to add the discussion to the agenda of the Plenary. This resulted in the failure to issue a final communique.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

Despite many productive conversations at the Plenary, we are disappointed it was not possible to discuss the link between Russia's proceeds of rough diamonds and the financing of Russia's illegal, premeditated, and unprovoked war in Ukraine. It is also regrettable that a final communique reflecting attempts to discuss this were blocked by Russia and a small number of participants. The Kimberley Process has achieved much since its creation and we remain committed to ensuring it continues to work towards eradicating the link between diamonds and conflict.

The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the Kimberley Process in important initiatives such as establishing a Permanent Secretariat in Botswana; the Review and Reform cycle, and broadening the definition of 'conflict diamonds'. We will continue to actively contribute to the Kimberley Process while pressing for reform.

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UNHCR and UNICEF express grave concern over the humanitarian toll on civilians in eastern DR Congo

UNICEF

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF's Representative in the DRC, Grant Leaity, and UNHCR's Representative in the DRC, Angele Dikongue-Atanga - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

24 November 2023

GENEVA, 24 November 2024 -- "UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, are greatly alarmed by the escalating crisis unfolding once again in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Violent clashes between non-state armed groups and government forces have forcibly displaced more than 450,000 people in the last six weeks in Rutshuru and Masisi territories in North Kivu Province.

"The severity of the crisis is further exacerbated by the limited humanitarian access to those in dire need, primarily due to the obstruction of major routes. Cut off from essential humanitarian aid, approximately 200,000 internally displaced people are currently stranded. Tragically, an additional 100,000 people are anticipated to confront restricted access in the coming days if the current trends of conflict persist.

"The disruption of roads not only impedes the delivery of critical humanitarian aid but also heightens the vulnerability of displaced populations, leaving them without essential resources and protection. Although UNHCR has built shelters in recent months for more than 40,000 people near the provincial capital of Goma, and distributed more than 30,000 kits containing tarps, cooking pots, and blankets, the international community must urgently address the obstruction of humanitarian access to ensure that the nearly 7 million people affected by conflict in eastern DRC receive urgent help.

"The gravity of the situation is underscored by the distressing narrative of displaced people in Sake, who are arriving by the tens of thousands in this town, 35 kilometres west of Goma. Having first been displaced in zones where aid was not accessible, they described to UNHCR's protection monitors making harrowing choices, including men risking death to feed starving children and women risking rape to collect firewood.

"These stories are underscored by statistics, with protection monitoring reports collected by UNHCR and partners in October showing over 3,000 reported human rights violations in October, nearly double the figure from the previous month. Rape and arbitrary killings feature prominently in these results, along with kidnappings, extortion, and the destruction of property, illustrating a deeply concerning pattern of abuse inflicted upon civilian populations.

"The intensification of violence is having a devastating impact on the lives of children, who are facing an alarming number of serious violations of their rights. The number of overall violations reported against children between July and September 2023, recorded by child protection partners, saw a sharp increase (130 per cent) to 2018 cases on the already high number of violations reported for the first half of the year.

"Children are increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, with more than 450 verified cases from July to September, a 50 per cent increase versus the first half of the year.

"UN partners and humanitarian actors are urgently scaling up humanitarian and protection assistance to tackle urgent needs stemming from overcrowding and inadequate shelter in spontaneous sites in the eastern provinces, with limited access to food and clean water. Cholera outbreaks continue, signalling concerning limitations of the humanitarian aid currently available.

"Since June 2023, UNICEF has reached nearly 700,000 people with lifesaving and life-changing assistance, including clean water and sanitation, child protection, non-food items, health, nutrition and education. With the recent deterioration of the security situation in North Kivu, UNICEF and its partners accelerated processes to identify, document, and support family tracing and reunification in Masisi and Rutshuru territories in October through the increased presence of trained staff and the setting up of listening centres providing vital psycho-social support.

"UNHCR and UNICEF urgently call on all actors in eastern DRC to stop the violence that is taking an enormous toll on the civilian population. We stand united in our commitment to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis, but the international community must act swiftly and generously to ensure that sufficient resources are mobilized.

"The humanitarian response in the DRC is significantly underfunded. For 2023, the coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan, which includes both UNHCR's and UNICEF's financial needs, is set at US$2.3 billion, but as of today, it is only 37 per cent funded."

#####

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Clashes in eastern DR Congo displace 450,000 in six weeks

24 November 2023 - Humanitarians are urgently scaling up aid in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where an escalating crisis is again unfolding, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, said on Friday.

Violent clashes between non-state armed groups and government forces have displaced more than 450,000 people in the last six weeks in Rutshuru and Masisi territories in North Kivu province.

People arriving in the town of Sake, located near the provincial capital Goma, spoke of having to make harrowing choices, with men risking death to feed starving children and women risking rape to collect firewood.

'Concerning pattern of abuse'

UNHCR said its monitoring in the region has showed over 3,000 reported human rights violations in October, nearly double the figure from the previous month.

"Rape and arbitrary killings feature prominently in these results, along with kidnappings, extortion, and the destruction of property, illustrating a deeply concerning pattern of abuse inflicted upon civilian populations," the agency said.

The intensification of violence is also having a devastating impact on the lives of children, with protection partners reporting a sharp increase in the number of overall violations against them.

Major roads obstructed

The UN agencies said the severity of the crisis is further exacerbated by the limited humanitarian access to those in dire need, mainly due to the obstruction of major routes, with some 200,000 displaced people cut off from aid.

The disruption also increases the vulnerability of displaced populations, leaving them without essential resources and protection.

Although UNHCR has built shelters in recent months for more than 40,000 people near Goma, and distributed more than 30,000 kits containing tarps, cooking pots, and blankets, the partners more action is needed to ensure that the nearly seven million people affected by conflict receive urgent help.

Humanitarian funding shortfall

UN partners and humanitarian groups are urgently ramping up efforts to tackle urgent needs stemming from overcrowding and inadequate shelter in spontaneous sites, with limited access to food and clean water.

Since June 2023, UNICEF has reached nearly 700,000 people with lifesaving assistance, including clean water and sanitation, child protection, non-food items, health, nutrition and education.

Together with UNHCR, the agency urgently appealed for an end to the violence and underlined their commitment to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis.

However, they stressed that the international community must act swiftly and generously, noting that a $2.3 billion humanitarian response plan for the DRC this year is only 37 per cent funded.

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Remarks , press conference of UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini - 24 November 2023: Visit to the Gaza Strip

UNRWA

24 Nov 2023

**EAST JERUSALEM UNRWA HEADQUARTERS **

As Delivered

Good afternoon,

Thank you very, very much for being here this afternoon.

I know you are all very busy following the developments related to the humanitarian pauses so I appreciate you coming.

I wanted to share with you what I saw in Gaza, during my second visit there since the war began.

Since my first visit two weeks ago, it was evident the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become much, much worse for the people there.

I went to Rafah and Khan Younis.

Some of the streets were almost empty, it was eery.

Solid waste piled up everywhere.

Most shops and pharmacies were closed.

A few vendors set up some vegetable stalls, queues at the few bakeries left were very long. Wherever we drove during the day, there were children.

Bombardment was constant.

At certain points, whole buildings shook. Just like what happened when I was meeting staff in Khan Younis, at the health centre.

This is the daily reality of life in Gaza, whether in the North, Middle or Southern area.

Constant fear and anxiety for over 2 million people in Gaza, whether children, women or older people,

People are going to sleep holding their children tight while not knowing if they will wake up alive the following morning.

We meet today at a very sombre milestone, as UNRWA records more than 1 million people now sheltering in our facilities across the Gaza Strip.

This is more than half of the total number of people displaced. They live in over 150 UNRWA schools and buildings.

Gaza is one of the very few places in the world where the United Nations opens its premises to host people forced to leave their homes.

It is a sign of trust of the local communities in the UN flag and UNRWA It is also a huge responsibility especially given the fact that we are not able to provide the basic of the basic for the displaced people to survive with dignity in our shelters.

This week, I visited one of those shelters.

Before this war, the shelter was UNRWA's pride and joy: a vocational training centre in Khan Younis for young people to join the job market.

Now, it is home to 35,000 people living in frightful conditions.

The place looks like an overcrowded prison with substandard living conditions with few toilets and sewage flooding.

But the most painful is t the shock, trauma and sadness in people's eyes.

They told their stories of how they have been forced to flee their homes, some as recently as last week, living their life behind:

They left under the bombs.

They left everything behind.

They lost loved ones.

They lost their homes and escaped by sheer miracle.

All were stripped of their dignity, overnight. This is how they feel. This is what many told me.

I met a father, who burst into tears as he told me how he was forced to run for his life and tried to save his family.

His home now is barely a four-square metre makeshift space in the UNRWA shelter covered with plastic sheeting. He lives there with his wife and five children.

He and his family sleep on the floor, with no mattresses or blankets. He uses their shoes as pillow.

He is one of over 1.7 million other displaced people.

Many have not changed their clothes for 45 days now.

People are struggling to have one meal a day.

It takes hours of waiting to use the couple of toilets available for hundreds of people in this shelter.

Winter is very fast approaching, and it is getting colder in Gaza.

Skin diseases and diarrhoea have exponentially increased as a result of unsanitary conditions made much worse by the rain.

In some places, the rates of diseases are 45 times more than it was in previous years.

Like I said before, it's only a matter of time before people in Gaza start dying due to the siege and the lack of basics not just because of the bombardment.

During the night I spent in Rafah, all I could think about were the children, older people and parents I met.

How it feels to be awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of an airstrike, bombardment, by the screams and shouts of your neighbours.

As we were heading out of Gaza, I started to get news of yet another UNRWA school in Jabalia the north of the Gaza Strip that was hit.

It was struck for the second time. I would like to stress that since the war began, 69 UNRWA shelters were hit, some more than once, some directly. Half of them are not in the north; they were in the southern and middle areas.

Most were sheltering thousands of displaced people. Nearly 190 people have been reported killed in UN premises.

Even the UN flag can no longer provide protection for people in Gaza. This is a blatant disregard to rules of war including international humanitarian law.

I confirm once again that UNRWA shares the coordinates of all its facilities across the Gaza Strip with all parties to the conflict.

I follow with great concern, reports of unauthorized entry and military use of our facilities mainly in the north.

Which also takes me to the floating idea and proposals to establish so-called "safe zone, or humanitarian zones".

I would like to reiterate the Humanitarian's community's position again. There is no such thing as safe zone when if it is declared unliterally in a war zone.

Safe zones in all cases, do not absolve the responsibility to abide to International Humanitarian Law, especially when civilians seek protection and shelters in UN schools and hospitals. They cannot be a military target and should continue to provide safety.

Before I close, let me say a few words on our response and humanitarian work.

Since the war began, UNRWA has remained in Gaza to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance.

We are committed to stay and scale up our operations. I was heartened to pay tribute to UNRWA staff in Gaza whom I respect and take inspiration from.

They are sharing the same living conditions, fear, and mourning, as everyone else in the Gaza Strip.

Yet, they go to work every day and make the impossible possible, with very few resources in an increasingly darkening environment.

They are like you and I.

I asked a colleague how he copes and keeps his composed attitude. His answer was, I don't.

Every day I find a place in the corner where I can cry. This is the only way I can keep going. I feel so powerless and helpless in front of my children and the communities.

Finally, as we all anticipate the beginning of the much-awaited pause, I reiterate my call for a long-standing humanitarian ceasefire.

People need respite, they deserve calm, they deserve to sleep at night without being anxious whether they will make it through.

The pause is also an opportunity to reach people in need including in the north and start repairing civilian infrastructure.

UNRWA calls for the expansion of the humanitarian operation to respond to the scale and volume of the overwhelming humanitarian needs and we are far from that.

We are committed to continue bringing assistance to people in need. We stand ready to receive at least 200 trucks of aid including fuel per day.

At the same time, I call for the reopening of commercial supply lines to get the private sector back on its feet and replenish the empty markets. For this we need the reopening of Kerem Shalom.

In closing, the longer this war goes on, the deeper the polarization, the anger, the frustration, and the further we are from a prospect of a political solution.

Thank you and ready to take your questions.

**ENDs- **

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Readout of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti's Meeting with Republic of Korea Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Yang Yong-mo

US Navy - Press Release

24 November 2023

Chief of Naval Operations Spokesperson Cmdr. Desiree Frame provided the following readout:

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met Republic of Korea Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Yang Yong-mo at Busan Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, today.

Franchetti's visit, her first international trip as CNO, underscored the ironclad U.S. - ROK alliance and the U.S. Navy's commitment to maintaining peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

Franchetti served as Commander, Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) from August 2013 to August 2015, and expressed her professional pride to return to the region during the 70th anniversary of the U.S. - ROK Mutual Defense Treaty and establishment of the U.S. - ROK alliance.

During her discussions with Yang, Franchetti noted that for seven decades the U.S. - ROK alliance has proven to be among the most capable, cooperative, and durable in the world. She applauded the significant advances in interoperability between the U.S. and ROK navies since she was CNFK and committed to advance Navy-to-Navy relations with purpose and urgency.

The U.S. and ROK navies regularly operate and train together, notably both navies participated in Maritime Counter-Special Operations Exercise, the 56th iteration of the Submarine Warfare Committee Meeting, as well as a trilateral maritime exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group earlier this year.

This was Franchetti and Yang's first meeting as Heads of Navy.

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Pakistan Firm on Exit Fee for Afghans Waiting for Asylum in West

By Ayaz Gul November 24, 2023

Officials in Pakistan have defended charging fees on Afghan nationals leaving the country or waiting for Western-sponsored resettlements, saying the decision complies with local immigration laws.

The targeted community comprises tens of thousands of people who worked for the U.S.-led NATO military mission in Afghanistan and fled the country fearing reprisals after the then-insurgent Taliban seized power in August 2021.

A Pakistani immigration official confirmed Friday that each Afghan asylum-seeker waiting to depart to a third country would be charged more than $800 for overstaying their visas or not possessing documents to stay legally.

"The government is doing a big favor to them. Otherwise, they would have to pay such amount every week in penalties," the official told VOA anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

U.S. officials have reported that about 25,000 Afghans could be eligible for relocation to the United States under a special immigration program. Britain has announced it would resettle more than 20,000 people from Afghanistan in the coming years.

Western embassies in Islamabad offering resettlement plans have reportedly decried the imposition of exit fees as an unprecedented move and raised it with Pakistani authorities through relevant United Nations agencies.

Thursday, a Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson rejected "inaccurate" media claims questioning the legality of the financial penalty or suggesting it is Afghan-specific.

"The fact is that under Pakistani laws, like the immigration laws in several countries, including the United Kingdom, there are fines and punishments for individuals who overstay their visas or are found to be in violation of immigration laws," Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at her weekly news conference in Islamabad.

"So, any fines that Pakistan has imposed or will impose will be in conformity with our laws," she said.

The imposition of exit fees comes amid mass deportations of foreigners, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghans illegally residing in Pakistan or overstaying their visas.

The crackdown has forced nearly 360,000 Afghans to return to their country of origin since mid-September, according to official data released Friday. Pakistani authorities have said those waiting for resettlement in the U.S. and other countries will not be deported to Afghanistan.

Pakistan has also repeatedly clarified that the 1.4 million legal Afghan refugees it hosts and more than 800,000 Afghan migrants registered by the Pakistani government in collaboration with the former Afghan government and the International Organization for Migration are not the subjects of the deportation plans.

The United Nations and partner agencies have repeatedly urged Islamabad to suspend its deportation plans, citing the onset of a harsh winter and the "worsening" Afghan humanitarian crisis.

Philippa Candler, representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, in Pakistan, said Tuesday that "mass arrivals are adding to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where winter temperatures are already dipping to -4C (24.8 F) in some locations.

"Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter," Candler said.

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Remarks by President Biden on the Release of Hostages from Gaza

November 24, 2023

White Elephant Nantucket

Nantucket, Massachusetts

2:16 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Hey, folks. We all set?

AIDE: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: All right. Yesterday, families all across America gathered together with their loved ones and to  to give thanks.

We have much to be thankful for in America: the food on our tables, the family and loved ones in our homes, and the many blessings that come from living in the greatest nation on Earth.

And today, we can also be thankful of families being recruited and reunited with loved ones who have been held hostage for nearly 50 days.

Beginning this morning, under a deal reached by extensive U.S. diplomacy, including numerous calls I've made from the Oval Office to leaders across the region, fighting in Gaza will halt for four days.

This deal also is structured to allow a pause to continue for more than 50 hostages to be released. That's our goal.

This morning, I've been engaged with my team as we began the first difficult days of implementing this deal.

It is only a start, but, so far, it's gone well. Earlier this morning, 13 Israeli hostages were released, including an elderly woman  a grandmother  and mothers with their young children, some under the age of six years old.

Separately, several Thai nationals and Filipino nationals who were also kidnapped by Hamas on the 7th, they were released as well.

All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them.

The teddy bears waiting to greet those children at the hospital are a stark reminder of the trauma these children have been through and at such a very young age.

Jill and I  and Jill is with me here  are keeping them all in our prayers today.

Today  today has been the product of a lot of hard work and weeks of personal engagement.

From the moment Hamas kidnapped these people, I, along with my team, have worked around the clock to secure their release.

We saw the first results of this effort with the release of two American hostages in late October followed by the release of two Israeli hostages.

I have consistently pressed for a pause in the fighting for two reasons: to accelerate and expand the humanitarian assistance going into Gaza and, two, to facilitate the release of hostages.

And over the past several weeks, I've spoken repeatedly with the Emir of Qatar, the President Sisi of Egypt, and Prime Minister Netanya-  Netanyahu of Israel to help secure this deal  to nail it down. And I want to thank all three leaders for their personal partnership to get this done.

I spoke with the Emir and President El-Sisi and the Prime Minister Netanyahu again on Wednesday to confirm the elements of the engagement.

As I said, today's release are the start of a process. We expect more hostages to be released tomorrow and more the day after and more the day after that. Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families.

We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well. Two American women and one four-year-old child, Abigail, who remains among those missing.

We also will not stop until we get these hostages brought home and an answer to their whereabouts.

I remain in personal contact with the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Israel to make sure this stays on track and every aspect of the deal is implemented.

You know, this extended pause in the fighting brings a critical opportunity to deliver much-needed food, medicine, water, and fuel to the civilians in Gaza, and we are not wasting one single minute.

Since my trip to Israel last month, I've been focused on accelerating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza in coordination with the United Nations and the Red Cross.

I just spoke with my Special Envoy for the Middle East Humanitarian Issues, David Satterfield, for an update, and I've asked him to monitor our progress hour by hour and keep me personally informed.

From the beginning, we have put in place mechanisms to prevent Hamas from diverting these supplies, and we are continuing that effort to make sure aid gets to the people who need it.

More than 200 trucks arrived at the crossing point in Egypt into Gaza today. These trucks carry food and medicine, as well as fue-  fuel and cooking gas. The fuel will be used not only to power the trucks delivering these lifesaving supplies but for desalinization, for water wells, for hospitals, and for bakeries.

And hundreds more trucks are getting in position as well, ready to enter Gaza over the coming days to support the innocent Palestinians who are suffering greatly because of this war that Hamas has unleashed. Hamas doesn't give a damn about them.

We also look to the future. As we look to the future, we have to end this cycle of violence in the Middle East.

We need to renew our resolve to pursue this two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can one day live side by side in a two-state solution with equal measure of freedom and dignity.

Two states for two peoples. And it's more important now than ever.

Hamas unleashed this terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.

You know, to continue down the path of terror and violence and killing and war is to give Hamas what they seek. And we can't do that.

So, today, let's continue to be thankful for all the families who are now and those who will soon be brought together again.

And I want to one  once again thank the Emir of Qatar, President Sisi of Egypt, and Prime Minister Netanyahu for their partnership to make what we've done so far possible and for their continued leadership as we all keep working to implement this deal.

And over the coming days, I'll remain engaged with leaders throughout the Middle East as we all work together to build a better future for the region  a future where this kind of violence is unthinkable; a future where all children in the region  every child  Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab  grow up knowing only peace. That's what we do.

We're waiting now  it'll be just a matter of  I thought maybe even as soon as by the time I got here. But in the next hour or so, we'll know what the second wave of releases are. And I'm hopeful that it's  it's as  as we anticipate.

So, thank you all for listening. I'll take a few questions.

Q Mr. President, when will the first American hostages be released, since none were included today?

THE PRESIDENT: We don't know when that will occur, but we're going to be  expect it to occur. And we don't know what the list of all the hostages are and when they'll be released, but we know the numbers that are going to be released. So, it is my hope and expectation it will be soon.

Q And of the 10 Americans that are unaccounted for, do you know all of their conditions? Are they all alive?

THE PRESIDENT: We don't know all their conditions.

Q Mr. President, how long do you expect this war is going to take? And have you encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu to set a timeline  say, by the end of this year?

THE PRESIDENT: I've encouraged the Prime Minister to  to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective he has. That's a difficult task, and I don't know how long it will take.

My expectation and hope is that, as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can.

Q Mr. President, do you trust Hamas to uphold their end of the deal?

Q Mr. President, what are the chances of this truce could be extended by a few days or more?

THE PRESIDENT: I think the chances are real.

Q Mr. President, there are members of your party who would like to see conditions placed on aid to Israel. What is your view on that? They would like to see, you know, a reduction in the bombing and that sort of thing.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that's a  a worthwhile thought, but I don't think if I started off with that we'd ever gotten to where we are today.

Q Mr. President 

THE PRESIDENT: We have to take this a piece at a time.

Q Mr. President, do you trust Hamas to uphold their end of the deal?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't trust Hamas to do anything right. I only trust Hamas to respond to pressure.

Q Mr. President, you said you were hoping to get cooperation from Arab leaders. What are you hearing from them when you talk to them? What would you like to see them do?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm hearing a lot, but I'm not going to speak to it right now. There's an overwhelming desire on the part of the region to  let me back up. I'm  I cannot prove what I'm about to say, but I believe one of the reasons why Hamas struck when they did was they knew that I was working very closely with the Saudis and others in the region to bring peace to the region by having recognition of Israel and Israel's right to exist.

You may recall when we did the G20 about  a little while ago, I was able to get a resolution  I  a statement passed through there saying we were going to build a railroad from Riyadh all the way through the Middle East into  into Saudi Arabia, Israel, et cetera, and all the way up to Europe. Not the  not the railroad, but it would be an  an underground pipeline and then railroad.

The whole idea is: There's overwhelming interest  and I think most Arab nations know it  in coordinating with one another to change the dynamic in their region for a longer-term peace. And that is what I'm going to continue to work on.

Thank you all very, very much. I appreciate it.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q Happy Thanksgiving.

THE PRESIDENT: Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I hope you enjoyed it.

2:26 P.M. EST

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Joint UN mission transfers critical patients from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, under intense fighting

24 November 2023

Statement

Geneva/Cairo

On 22 November, in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, WHO participated in another joint-UN mission to transfer 151 patients, relatives and health workers accompanying them from Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza. The mission was undertaken following specific requests from health authorities and hospital officials in Gaza.

This was the third mission to Al-Shifa carried out by WHO, other UN agencies and partners in less than a week; the first was an assessment mission (18 November) and the second was an evacuation mission to transport 31 infants (19 November).

During this mission, the team transferred 73 severely ill or injured patients, including 18 dialysis patients; 26 patients with serious spinal injuries; 8 patients with severe chronic conditions; two in need of critical care; and 19 patients in wheelchairs. The patients were transported in 14 ambulances supplied and staffed by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and two buses, with 8 health workers and 70 family members accompanying them.

This was a high-risk mission, as intense fighting and shelling continued in proximity of Al-Shifa hospital.

It took 20 hours for the team to complete the evacuation, including 6 hours at a checkpoint where the team and patients were screened by the Israeli Defense Force. This was despite an initial agreement to only screen participants at the origination point in Al-Shifa Hospital.

The screening process involved checks on the patients, their relatives, and the personnel; these included elderly, children and severely ill patients. Three medical personnel from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and three from the Ministry of Health were detained.

After 6 hours at the security checkpoint, the convoy proceeded as the condition of some of patients was already deteriorating. Patients reached their final destination late at night.

Most of the patients were ultimately transferred to the European Gaza Hospital, with the dialysis patients admitted to Al Najjar Hospital. Both facilities are in the south of Gaza.

WHO is extremely concerned about the safety of the estimated 100 patients and health workers remaining at Al-Shifa. Due to the limited time that the mission members were able to spend in the hospital and the urgency of moving the most critical, it was difficult to determine exactly how many remain.

Two of the six detained health workers have reportedly been released. We do not have information about the well-being of the four remaining health staff, including the director of Al-Shifa hospital. WHO calls for their legal and human rights to be fully observed during their detention.

This and other evacuations were requested by health authorities, health workers and patients, and became necessary as Al-Shifa Hospital is no longer able to function due to lack of water, fuel, medical supplies, food, and staff, and recent military incursions.

Also on 21 November, WHO and partners undertook a mission to Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza to assess medical priorities. Al-Ahli, which is one of the only functional hospitals in the north, must be urgently and regularly supplied with fuel, water, food and medical supplies to ensure the continuity of care. Today, 22 patients along with 19 companions arrived at the European Gaza hospital, in the transfer mission undertaken with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, following the assessement mission.

WHO again asks all relevant authorities to ensure that the medical evacuations that WHO has been requested to assist in can proceed safely, under agreed procedures, without endangering the lives of patients. Ultimately, the safety, security and evacuation decisions rest with the relevant authorities.

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Palestinians return to Northern Gaza in challenge to Israel

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 25 November 2023 / 10:25

The Israeli occupation's threats are falling on resilient, deaf ears as the Palestinian residents of Gaza return to their homes in the north despite these threats.

Tehran (ISNA) - Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been since the morning, the time when the ceasefire deal went into effect, returning to the northern Gaza Strip from the south, Israeli media reported on Friday.

The media added that the Israeli occupation forces will take strict measures to prevent the Palestinians from moving between the south and north of the Gaza Strip.

In response, Israeli Cabinet member Israel Katz told Channel 12 that "the army is trying to prevent tens of thousands of Palestinians from returning to the northern Gaza Strip," stating that "the situation in the north will not return to what it was before."

Israeli Security Minister Yoav Galant reiterated that "the ceasefire is a short truce, and the Israeli army will return with full force at its end."

Despite the threats from the Israeli occupation forces, which deployed tanks and military vehicles in the north and had targeted the displaced who left the northern Gaza Strip for the south, those same displaced people, upon the implementation of the ceasefire in the early hours of Friday, began to return to the North of Gaza. They flocked to their homes, hospitals, and cemeteries in a blatant challenge to the Israeli occupation.

The Israeli occupation is "threatening to open fire on anyone that approaches its forces stationed in the city of Beit Hanoun," an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.

"The residents have started to return to Beit Hanoun with the withdrawal of occupation forces and the beginning of the ceasefire," he added, noting that the occupation forces, with their soldiers stationed in the town, prevent residents from advancing.

Residents of Beit Hanoun confirmed that the occupation forces are opening fire at those who try to pass a certain point in Beit Hanoun while our correspondent explained that residents insist on inspecting their properties regardless of the threats being made by the Israeli occupation forces.

Some residents on Salah al-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip stated that the occupation was opening fire toward gatherings of residents who came out to inspect their properties, with its tanks positioned in front of Kuwait Square.

Earlier in the day, aid and fuel trucks started to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing as the temporary ceasefire came into effect this morning, lasting for four days. This period involves the release of several detainees, including child detainees, from Israeli occupation prisons, along with the entry of relief aid and quantities of fuel. In return, the Palestinian resistance will release some of the captives in its custody.

In the hours leading up to the implementation of the temporary truce, the Israeli occupation forces carried out intensive airstrikes on the north, central, and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, targeting schools that shelter displaced people, hospitals, and residential buildings, resulting in dozens of martyrs and injuries.

End Item

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Joyous Palestine welcome prisoners freed from Israeli prisons

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 25 November 2023 / 10:20

Freed Palestinian prisoners express their gratitude for the Resistance after their from Israeli occupation prisons in a prisoner swap deal.

Tehran (ISNA)- The Al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Resistance factions in Gaza have freed 39 female and underage male prisoners from Israeli occupation prisons, as part of the first batch of the truce agreement and the prisoner exchange deal, which began today and will continue for four days.

A four-day humanitarian truce went into effect in Gaza at 7 am (GMT+2) Friday after a deal was reached between the Israeli occupation and Hamas on the matter following an Israeli aggression that has persisted for 47 days, leaving tens of thousands injured, killed, and displaced.

Earlier, Israeli media outlets reported that the first batch of Israeli captives who were held by the Palestinian Resistance crossed the Rafah Crossing into Egypt, after being received earlier by the Red Crescent at the Khan Yunis Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which transferred them to the Palestinian-Egyptian borders.

According to news outlets, 24 captives were released, and "all of them are in relatively good condition."

The freed Palestinian female prisoners and child prisoners from the "Ofer" Prison arrived in the town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah in the West Bank, amidst a massive popular reception for them. The freed prisoners chanted slogans in support of the Palestinian Resistance and Gaza and raised victory signs.

In the same context, the Gaza Strip witnessed enthusiastic celebrations after the release of the first batch of prisoners of the prisoner exchange deal. In Jenin and its camp, mosques echoed Takbir (glorification of God) in celebration of the prisoners' release.

In her first statement after being freed, liberated prisoner Marah Bakir, from occupied al-Quds, said, "The feeling of freedom, in exchange for the blood of martyrs in the Gaza Strip and in the face of the great sacrifices of my people there, is very difficult."

Social media users shared the moment freed prisoner Malak Suleiman met with her family. Suleiman is from the town of Beit Safafa in occupied al-Quds. She was arrested on February 9, 2016, while in the Bab al-Amoud area of the Old City, carrying her school bag, and was subjected to beating and abuse at that time.

She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and after an appeal, the sentence was reduced to nine years.

On her part, freed prisoner Sara Abdullah thanked the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, saying, "I am proud of Hamas, and I love Gaza very much, and I am proud of Mohammed al-Deif and [Yahya] Sinwar because they are the only ones who stood by us."

Immediately after their release, underage male prisoners performed a prostration of gratitude to God.

In the same context, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that it transported a 17-year-old freed prisoner to the Ramallah Medical Complex after being attacked by Israeli occupation forces.

It is noteworthy that in an attempt to kill the Palestinian people's joy, the Israeli occupation has ordered that no celebrations be held at the freed prisoners' residences.

Senior Hamas official Zaher Jabarin affirmed that the humanitarian truce agreement would not have been possible without the steadfastness of the patient people in the Gaza Strip and its thwarting of the displacement conspiracy, and without the heroism of the Resistance that forced the neo-Nazis to comply with its conditions.

Elsewhere, Omar Nazzal, the head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, said that the "joy of victory is prevalent in Beitunia despite the feelings of pain over the martyrs" in Gaza.

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Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson sits back to think about the question. Her eyes well up. She puts a hand over her heart.

"It's enormous," Overstreet-Wilson says, holding back tears. "Not only is it enormous, I'm honored because I don't know why I was chosen."

Auburn was incorporated as a city in 1848. In 175 years, numerous white men have served on the City Council. The number of women councilors can be counted on two hands. The number of Black members? Zero.

That will change Jan. 1, when Overstreet-Wilson is sworn in as the first Black city councilor in Auburn's history.

The aforementioned question Overstreet-Wilson answered during an interview with The Citizen was: What does it mean to be the person associated with this first? She is humbled by the historic moment. There is pressure, she notes, but that will motivate her as a city councilor.

What she wants people to know, though, is that she didn't do this alone.

Early years

Overstreet-Wilson grew up in poverty on the city's west end. Her grandparents settled in Auburn after the Great Migration. She remembers her grandmother would get on a bus every morning to go to work for 10 to 12 hours a day. When she came home, she would cook for a house full of family members.

One of five children, Overstreet-Wilson says her mother and grandmother were role models. Her mother worked as a certified nursing assistant at Auburn Community Hospital for 30 years. She now volunteers to prepare meals four days a week at SS. Peter & John Episcopal Church on Genesee Street.

"There was never a time I didn't see people working," Overstreet-Wilson recalled. "It wasn't an option to be lazy."

Her faith was instilled at a young age when her family regularly attended church services. She also participated in programs at Booker T. Washington Community Center.

Those programs were about girl empowerment, she said, and the message was, "Whatever it is you want to be, you can be."

Juvenile justice

Because of how Overstreet-Wilson was raised and her involvement in various youth programs, advocacy has played a pivotal role in her life. She believes it's important to "give back what was given to me."

As a young mother at 19, she began working in the juvenile justice system. What started out as a job that allowed her to rent an apartment and buy groceries became a career.

The turning point was seeing systemic racism and how that affected children of color housed in those facilities.

"These kids are coming here from all over the state. We're doing therapy, but we're sending them right back to where they came from," Overstreet-Wilson said. "As a construct, we're passing judgment and we really don't know where these kids are really coming from. We're not looking at the root of the problem."

While working at Cayuga Centers and Hillside Children's Center over a 25-year career, she sought different approaches to these problems. She wanted to give the children under her supervision something they lacked  a support system.

"It was my way of paying it forward and hoping that I was doing a better job at being what they needed," she said.

Education

While in the juvenile justice field, Overstreet-Wilson decided to go back to school.

She earned a bachelor's degree from Empire State University. When a coworker encouraged her to pursue an advanced degree, she enrolled in a program at Keuka College, where she received a master's degree in business administration and management.

"I really liked how that felt," Overstreet-Wilson said. "I really liked knowing that I was applying that knowledge."

In 2016, she talked to a friend, Eli Hernandez, about pursuing a doctorate. They encouraged each other to enroll in a program at St. John Fisher University. After defending her dissertation in 2020, she earned her Doctor of Education in executive leadership.

Her passion for education led to two opportunities. She became a professor at Cayuga Community College and decided to run for the Auburn school board in 2017. She won and was reelected to a second term in 2020.

Before running for the school board, Overstreet-Wilson said she had conversations with Hernandez, a longtime board member, and Auburn Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo.

"I wasn't sure this was the path," she admitted. "I feel like all the support and the faith pushed me into early politics that way."

What she did not see, she said, was running for City Council.

2023

There were two open City Council seats this year, with incumbents Jimmy Giannettino and Tim Locastro not seeking reelection. Giannettino successfully ran for mayor, while Locastro will bow out of city government when his term expires in December.

Overstreet-Wilson, a Democrat, announced in December that she would run for City Council. The decision was the product of discussions she had with friends, namely Cayuga County Legislator Brian Muldrow, and a well-timed sermon.

Muldrow encouraged Overstreet-Wilson to run for higher office two years ago. At the time she was satisfied with serving on local boards. But when she decided not to seek a third term on the school board, she thought of other ways she could continue to be an advocate in her community.

Her initial thought was to join more boards, but Muldrow said she should run for City Council.

"I wasn't sure that was the way I was supposed to advocate," Overstreet-Wilson said.

And then she went to church. Her pastor delivered a sermon encouraging congregants to "make sure you are standing in your truth." The message resonated with Overstreet-Wilson, who realized there was "something else I'm supposed to be doing."

She discussed it with her family and friends, then declared her candidacy for City Council.

Election night

The Cayuga County Democratic Committee held its election night watch party Nov. 7 at Ancient Order of Hibernians. Overstreet-Wilson and her family sat near the front of the room awaiting the results.

Months of work led to this moment. Overstreet-Wilson said she had to get "buy-in" from her husband, Roy, and their children. She also wanted to ensure there were people who could take on her board duties while she campaigned for City Council. She knocked on doors and talked to voters. She followed guidance from her campaign manager, Bruce MacBain, and party leaders, including Cayuga County Democratic Chairwoman Dia Carabajal.

Overstreet-Wilson received 2,566 votes to win one of two City Council seats  Christina Calarco, a county legislator, won the other. They will join another councilor, Ginny Kent, in forming Auburn's first majority-women City Council.

"When it all came together and every part of the plan worked out, that is when you realize it took a village to get you here," Overstreet-Wilson said. "It wasn't just one piece. It wasn't me and my kids. It took an actual village and then I knew for certain there were tons of people that were behind me that had my back."

Reflecting on her history-making victory more than two weeks later, Overstreet-Wilson said it makes her emotional. She again credited those around her who have provided support throughout her life. She also thanked voters who may not know her, but believed in her to represent them on the City Council.

As she prepares to serve as a city councilor, she is motivated to make the most of her role as a trailblazer in Auburn.

Ann Bunker, who died shortly before Election Day, was the first woman to serve as an Auburn city councilor. She inspired other women to run for city office.

Overstreet-Wilson hopes to inspire other Black women and girls to run for office in the future. She wants them to see that a young girl who grew up in poverty on the city's west end can be a city councilor someday.

"It makes me want to be the best version of me," she said.
150 aid trucks entered Gaza on first day of 4-day truce

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 25 November 2023 / 10:11

On the first day of the temporary truce, 150 aid trucks entered the besieged Gaza Strip, including four trucks loaded with fuel through the Rafah crossing, as reported by Al Mayadeen's correspondent.

Tehran (ISNA) - Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been since the morning, the time when the ceasefire deal went into effect, returning to the northern Gaza Strip from the south, Israeli media reported on Friday.

The media added that the Israeli occupation forces will take strict measures to prevent the Palestinians from moving between the south and north of the Gaza Strip.

In response, Israeli Cabinet member Israel Katz told Channel 12 that "the army is trying to prevent tens of thousands of Palestinians from returning to the northern Gaza Strip," stating that "the situation in the north will not return to what it was before."

Israeli Security Minister Yoav Galant reiterated that "the ceasefire is a short truce, and the Israeli army will return with full force at its end."

Despite the threats from the Israeli occupation forces, which deployed tanks and military vehicles in the north and had targeted the displaced who left the northern Gaza Strip for the south, those same displaced people, upon the implementation of the ceasefire in the early hours of Friday, began to return to the North of Gaza. They flocked to their homes, hospitals, and cemeteries in a blatant challenge to the Israeli occupation.

The Israeli occupation is "threatening to open fire on anyone that approaches its forces stationed in the city of Beit Hanoun," an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.

"The residents have started to return to Beit Hanoun with the withdrawal of occupation forces and the beginning of the ceasefire," he added, noting that the occupation forces, with their soldiers stationed in the town, prevent residents from advancing.

Residents of Beit Hanoun confirmed that the occupation forces are opening fire at those who try to pass a certain point in Beit Hanoun while our correspondent explained that residents insist on inspecting their properties regardless of the threats being made by the Israeli occupation forces.

Some residents on Salah al-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip stated that the occupation was opening fire toward gatherings of residents who came out to inspect their properties, with its tanks positioned in front of Kuwait Square.

Earlier in the day, aid and fuel trucks started to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing as the temporary ceasefire came into effect this morning, lasting for four days. This period involves the release of several detainees, including child detainees, from Israeli occupation prisons, along with the entry of relief aid and quantities of fuel. In return, the Palestinian resistance will release some of the captives in its custody.

In the hours leading up to the implementation of the temporary truce, the Israeli occupation forces carried out intensive airstrikes on the north, central, and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, targeting schools that shelter displaced people, hospitals, and residential buildings, resulting in dozens of martyrs and injuries.

End Item

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 49 - 24 November 2023

A total of 24 Hostages in Gaza were released to the International Red Cross by Hamas, with the Hostages being Transferred through the Rafah Border Crossing into Egypt. The release of 12 Thai hostages was a side deal reportedly facilitated by Iran, who had separate channels with the Thai Govt. There are thousands of Thai contract workers in Israel: 31 were murdered on 7/10/23 and up to 25 abducted to Gaza.

IDF Special Forces and ISA Forces met with the released hostages. The released hostages underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory. They will continue to be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families. The IDF Spokesperson reiterated the importance of demonstrating patience and sensitivity during this time out of respect for the released hostages and their families. The Israel Defense Forces salutes and embraces the released hostages upon their return home. The IDF, together with the entire Israeli security establishment, will continue operating until all the hostages are returned home.

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."

It is the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war, as the Palestinian resistance killed more than 1,200, wounded more than 5,132 others, and captured more than 250, most of them military personnel, some of whom were high-ranking officers in the army.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

Either a martyr or a projected martyr. This is said to be the condition of the people of the Gaza Strip.

About 15,000 Palestinians, including about 6,150 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza Press Office said. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory reports that it had "counted up to this moment about 17,500 dead Palestinians". The Hamas-run government said more than 4,000 women were among the dead, with more than 33,000 more people wounded. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza said the number of missing people had risen to more than 6,800 [nearly doubl the 3,750 previously reported], including 1,800 children still under the rubble. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of wounded as 31,000 [previously announced as about 32,000 wounded],

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

The number of Israeli soldiers that the IDF admitted were killed in ground battles with the Palestinian resistance reached 72, while the death toll for the Israel forces had risen to 392 soldiers since the beginning of Operation al-Aqsa Flood. At least 7,771 Israelis were injured. The IDF previously announced that more than 260 soldiers had been injured since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, including 100 in serious condition.

Israeli army (IDF) reported the total number of casualties since October 7th to 392 and the number of troop deaths there to 72 since the ground war began.

Lebanons Health Ministry released its first official casualty numbers in fighting, saying 77 people were killed and 251 wounded since the start of the war on Gaza.

Hostages

According to some estimates, Hamas is holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad is holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The main points known about the hostage deal so far:

there will be a ceasefire from both sides in the Gaza Strip,

There is no ceasefire on the northern front with Lebanon, and the truce will be limited to the southern front with Gaza. But the ceasefire deal would also apply as a truce on the northern border with Lebanon, according to a Lebanese report in Nidaa al-Watan. "Hezbollah will adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that Israel does too," the first report announced, following a meeting between the leaders of the Lebanese and Palestinian organizations. An official source from Hezbollah later told Al-Jazeera that the group will respect the ceasefire also in Lebanon, reiterating the condition that Israel does too, adding that the Lebanese group was not consulted on the deal.

there will be a halt to the movement of Israeli military vehicles penetrating into the Gaza Strip,

During the days of the truce, the Israeli forces remain as they are and in their positions, provided that Hamas and the rest of the resistance forces adhere to a complete ceasefire.

Israeli military overflights in the southern Gaza Strip will be halted for four consecutive days. Israeli military overflights in the northern Gaza Strip will be limited to six hours daily, in order to allow Hamas to locate the other hostages who are being held by Hamas terrorists and Islamic Jihad.

Israel agreed to refrain from targeting or arresting any individuals throughout the truce's timeframe.

freedom of movement will be ensured for all Palestinians along Salah al-Din Street, which connects the districts of the Gaza Strip.

"The movement of residents from the south of the Gaza Strip to the north will not be allowed in any way, but only from the north to the south. Uncoordinated movement of trucks from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip will also not be allowed" the Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said via  X .

The prisoners in Israeli custody will be handed over to the Red Cross, which will transport them to the Rafah area, and there, under the auspices of Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators, they will be transferred to the Israeli side.

Upon their receipt by the Isreeli army, the occupation authorities begin releasing Palestinian female prisoners and children according to the agreed upon number

10 hostages will be released every day

Minimum of 53 hostages will be released, mostly minors (under 19) and their mothers, [the 50 prisoners, who appear to be 30 children, eight mothers, and 12 elderly women]. Hamas has 80 captive children, mothers, and elderly women, but at least in the first stage, if Hamas does not find more, at least seven children and five mothers will remain in captivity. The number of foreign workers is 41 prisoners, meaning that Hamas has 195 Israelis, more than 100 of whom will remain in Gaza even after this deal.

Israel will release approximately 150 Palestinian prisoners, women and minors (under 19), held in its prisons, and who do not have Jewish blood on their hands.

potential of the total number released reaching 80 prisoners, out of about 300 minors (under 19), and 33 female prisoners, detained in its prisons. The mechanism of the process is for Hamas to send through mediators a list of Israeli prisoners who will be released the next day, and the Israeli government approves it, so that the implementation process begins the next day. The number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement.

hostages to be released do not include foreigners who do not have Israeli citizenship or foreign workers who were around the Gaza Strip.

it is also possible that foreigners such as Thai citizens will be released, but this has nothing to do with the truce agreement.

The deal does not include Israeli soldiers.

on the fourth day of the truce, new names will be given to the Israeli detainees. Hamas will announce its desire to release them in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, according to the agreed-upon equation, which is one Israeli for 3 Palestinians.

Israel would extend the pause in fighting for one further day for each additional 10 captives released.

Hamas expressed its approval for the Red Cross to visit the remaining kidnapped persons in Gaza, and that it had committed to searching for the remaining kidnapped persons not in its custody, with the aim of seeking their release at later stages. But Hamas refused to allow the workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit the hostages and evaluate their health condition. Hamas believes that "any information related to the hostages must come at a price paid by Israel."

The agreement would also include the entry into the Gaza Strip, including in the north, of 4 trucks of fuel daily and two trucks of gas, in addition to at least 200 to 300 trucks of food, medicine and humanitarian aid

HAMAS said the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip will continue beyond the days of the agreement, and that the aid that will enter the Strip includes basic materials and clothing.

Operational Update

Two Palestinians were martyred and others were injured when the Israel army opened fire on citizens who tried to return to the northern Gaza Strip , after the start of the temporary humanitarian truce. Ambulances transported the injured from the area separating the south and north of the Gaza Strip at the Martyrs intersection on the outskirts of Gaza City to the Martyrs of Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah. On Friday morning, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to their neighborhoods and homes in various areas of the Gaza Strip to inspect them, with the entry into force of a temporary humanitarian truce lasting 4 days.

Israeli Cabinet member Israel Katz told Channel 12 that "the army is trying to prevent tens of thousands of Palestinians from returning to the northern Gaza Strip," stating that "the situation in the north will not return to what it was before." Israeli Security Minister Yoav Galant reiterated that "the ceasefire is a short truce, and the Israeli army will return with full force at its end."

The Israeli army warned the displaced in the southern Gaza Strip against heading to Gaza City and the north, and said in leaflets dropped by Israeli aircraft over the southern areas of the Gaza Strip: To the residents of the Gaza Strip, the war is not over yet. The humanitarian pause (truce) is temporary, and the area north of the Gaza Strip is a war zone. It is dangerous and forbidden to travel around. It continued, "You must remain in the humanitarian zone located in the south of the Strip and not go to the north."

The Israeli army said that movement is only available from north to south via the Salah al-Din Road, warning that returning to the north is forbidden and dangerous. Your fate and the fate of your families are in your hands. Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee noted in a tweet on the X platform that the war is not over yet. The suspension of fire for humanitarian purposes is temporary.

Despite the threats from the Israeli occupation forces, which deployed tanks and military vehicles in the north and had targeted the displaced who left the northern Gaza Strip for the south, those same displaced people, upon the implementation of the ceasefire in the early hours of Friday, began to return to the North of Gaza. They flocked to their homes, hospitals, and cemeteries in a blatant challenge to the Israeli occupation.

"The residents have started to return to Beit Hanoun with the withdrawal of occupation forces and the beginning of the ceasefire," he added, noting that the occupation forces, with their soldiers stationed in the town, prevent residents from advancing. Residents of Beit Hanoun confirmed that the occupation forces are opening fire at those who try to pass a certain point in Beit Hanoun while our correspondent explained that residents insist on inspecting their properties regardless of the threats being made by the Israeli occupation forces.

Some residents on Salah al-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip stated that the occupation was opening fire toward gatherings of residents who came out to inspect their properties, with its tanks positioned in front of Kuwait Square.

When the agreement negotiations were maturing and their near completion was gradually announced over the past few days, former military officials in Israel raised an issue that carried fears and apprehension that the truce would negatively affect the military momentum of the Israeli army. While these fears remained, their scope expanded with the entry into force of the agreement, and the influx of recently displaced residents to the south, due to the intensification of the bombing campaign.

The Times of Israel newspaper believes in a report that thousands of Gazans heading north represents a potential challenge to the Israeli armys campaign after the truce, and considered that Hamas is encouraging civilians to return to the war zone, while the Israeli army is using limited force to prevent the flow. The newspaper quoted retired General Israel Ziv, a former head of Israeli army operations, as saying, Hamas is trying to encourage many of the hundreds of thousands of Gazans who were evacuated to the south to return, in order to completely disrupt the Israeli military campaign to destroy the movement ruling Gaza.

Ziv added: Hamas has no problem sacrificing all the residents of Gaza, as it has proven, expecting that Hamas will intensify its efforts during the four days scheduled for the truce, which represents a very complex challenge, as the Israeli army seeks to resume its campaign when the cessation of fighting ends.

Retired Palestinian Major General Wassef Erekat says, "Israel does not want the displaced to return, because it wants to empty the area completely." Despite this, the Palestinian people will not accept this reality, as he put it. Erekat explains to Al-Hurra website that the residents of Gaza had originally rejected displacement and migration. Those of them who left from the north to the south migrated as a result of pressure... but they will return.

Since Israel issued evacuation orders for the first time in the northern Gaza Strip on October 13, an estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced out of the Strip's 2.2 million population as Israel seeks to overthrow Hamas. Despite the Israeli army's entry into Gaza City and other areas in the northern Gaza Strip three weeks ago, hundreds of families remained trapped in hospitals and in several camps, led by Jabalia. There are currently attempts to return the displaced, and retired Major General Erekat believes that the longer the truce extends, the more there will be a chance for the displaced to return, regardless of Israels desire or not.

The Times of Israel quoted a senior officer in the Israeli army's Southern Command as saying on Friday afternoon that "the forces will respond to any attempt to harm them amid the ceasefire, while the army spends its time preparing for the resumption of fighting." He added: Anyone who poses a threat to our forces will be struck. The security of our forces is a top priority. He continued: This is how we acted, and this is how we will continue to act. We are preparing to continue the attack with all our strength as soon as the truce ends.

Regarding the Israeli position, analyst and political researcher Yoav Stern explains that the issue of the northern Gaza Strip and the return of residents constitutes a challenge to Israel because after the end of the truce it wants these areas to remain empty. The presence of the population makes military missions in the region difficult, and Israel is trying to avoid civilians, Stern said in an interview with Al-Hurra website, Their presence in the northern Gaza Strip means that they are at risk of being targeted, which limits the capabilities of the Israeli army to operate freely.

The Israeli war in the northern Strip, which lasted for a month and a half, resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza, the majority of whom were women and children, and pushed nearly a million people to flee south. Over 45 percent of all homes across the Strip are too damaged to live in, according to United Nations estimates.

According to the American magazine "Politico", the destruction of vital infrastructure "has consequences for years to come" for the residents of the coastal strip, which is home to 2.3 million people. Analyst Stern believes that "the return of the population to the north means that after the end of the truce, the Israeli army will be forced to direct them again to the south." Since the Israeli army issued warnings and threatened to prevent movement, the analyst believes that it cannot prevent the return completely, because it does not intend to come into contact with them.

The return of residents from the south of the Gaza Strip to its north does not represent the only challenge that Israel is concerned about, and former Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat points to another, in an article published by the Israel Hayom newspaper, on Friday afternoon. Under what he called the necessity of avoiding the Hamas trap, Ben-Shabbat said that Israel must keep its war machine running during the ceasefire, and there is no doubt that the movement wants to see the ceasefire as a turning point in the conflict, according to His expression.

Hamas believes, as Ben Shabbat believes, that the ceasefire will cause the IDF to lose momentum and it will gradually reduce its operations through a series of limited ceasefires and restrictive conditions, until a complete cessation of offensive actions is reached. At the same time, the article stated, Israel will lose its legitimacy to fight a high-intensity war, and the international community will increase its diplomatic efforts in order to reach broader arrangements, and in the meantime Hamas will recover.

The ceasefire agreed upon as part of the hostage deal will pose many operational challenges for Israel, and the biggest challenge is how to ensure that the Israeli army is able to resume firing instead of falling into Hamas trap, the Israeli national security advisor considers. the previous. In turn, researcher Stern explains, "Israel is now concerned with releasing more detainees as much as possible, because it knows that a significant portion of the soldiers will remain in the hands of Hamas."

Israel will be concerned with the release of the elderly, women and children, and after that the battles will continue. We could see an extension of the truce, Stern believes, Hamas will procrastinate and there will be a lack of clarity on its part, which will push Israel to rush back to the battle, so that there is no doubt.

Before the truce entered into force, the Israeli army published a video recording of the Chief of Staff, Herzl Halevy, in which he said: We will not end the war. We will continue until we win. We move forward and continue in other Hamas areas. Before that, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before a meeting to approve the humanitarian truce: Let me be clear: We are at war - and we will continue the war.

While the Israeli Prime Minister's position was partly aimed at appeasing hardliners who strongly oppose any concessions to Hamas, he also emphasized that even after six weeks of fighting in which it occupied northern Gaza and caused unprecedented destruction there, Israel is still far from achieving its military goals, according to a report published by the Financial Times on Thursday.

A report published by Politico described Gaza City as having become like the surface of the moon in a state of war, and quoted Emily Tripp, director of Airwars, a conflict monitoring organization based in London, that the Israeli bombing in the seven weeks following the Hamas attack on October 7 was unprecedented. October unleashed more munitions than the United States has used in any year in its campaign against ISIS, a barrage that the United Nations describes as the deadliest urban campaign since World War II.

The American website report stated that the Israeli military attack turned most of the northern Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area, as entire neighborhoods were wiped out and homes, schools, and hospitals were subjected to aerial bombardment and burned by tank fire. Some buildings are still standing, but most of them were damaged by artillery shelling.

According to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data conducted by Corey Scher of the Graduate Center at the City University of New York and Jamon van den Hoek of Oregon State University; Nearly half of the buildings across northern Gaza were damaged or destroyed. According to the analysis, southern Gaza was spared the greatest firepower, yet the scarcity of food, water and fuel led to a humanitarian crisis. But this is changing. In the past two weeks, satellite data shows a sharp increase in damage in the southern city of Khan Yunis. Residents say that the occupation army rained evacuation warnings on the eastern parts of the city.

Despite the horrors of war, Yasser El-Sheshtawy, a professor of architecture at Columbia University, hopes that reconstruction will provide an opportunity to transform Gaza's dilapidated refugee camps and long-deteriorating infrastructure into "a more livable, more equitable and more humane place." But Palestinians say it is not just the destroyed infrastructure that needs rebuilding, but also the psychologically traumatized society.

A total of 137 trucks carrying food, water, medicine and other essentials have been unloaded in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas truce began Friday, the United Nations said. Four tankers of fuel and four tankers of cooking gas were transferred from Egypt to UN humanitarian aid organizations in the southern Gaza Strip via the Rafah Crossing. This was approved by the government of Israel as part of the pause and the framework for the release of the hostages agreed with the United States and mediated by Qatar and Egypt. The fuel and cooking gas are designated for operating essential humanitarian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas was actively employing new tactics to surprise Israeli forces invading central Gaza City, Israeli media reported. Israeli Ynet News military affairs correspondent Yoav Zitun reminded that senior Israeli commanders overseeing the ongoing operations a month ago said the tide of battle would sway in favor of those who innovate and learn quickly.

In areas such as the al-Zaytoun neighborhood and Jabalia in the northeast, Hamas had intensified its hit-and-run attacks featuring lone wolves emerging from hiding, firing, and swiftly retreating to tunnels connecting to the opposite side of the street, the Israeli journalist said. The attacks, he added, involve the coordinated firing of Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) from multiple directions.

He also noted what he called a "sophisticated" approach that has emerged in the past week, wherein the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, has been placing speakers in alleys that had been hit by Israeli bombardment, which are being used to broadcast Arabic conversations to instill further chaos among the invading Israeli soldiers. Reportedly, said speakers will have interlocutors, who are mostly children and teenagers, talking to each other in Arabic, which has had a chaotic effect on the Israeli soldiers invading such areas.

The Israeli military journalist stressed that the Palestinian Resistance is utilizing this tactic when the Israeli IDF soldiers, whether infantry or in tanks, approach. They activate the speakers when they approach to disorient them. In a recent incident, he reported, an infantry force followed by tanks investigated sounds coming from an alley leading to a previously attacked street. As they advanced, Resistance fighters hidden on a high floor of a nearby building opened fire with machine guns and anti-tank missiles.

The confrontation saw the Palestinian Resistance fighters used explosive devices and frag grenades to take down the invading Israeli soldiers, highlighting how the guerilla warfare methods used by the Palestinian Resistance are serving them and undermining the Israeli effort to invade Gaza and completely curbing it, even.

Bystanders

The head of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory, Dr. Rami Abdo, said that evidence and evidence confirm that Israel has committed genocide crimes against the residents of the Gaza Strip, during the war it has been waging in this sector since the seventh of last October. Abdo said - in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Net - that the crimes of genocide claimed the lives of about 20,000 Palestinians, who together with tens of thousands of wounded represent about 2.5% of the population in the Strip, in addition to the massive destruction of residential homes, civilian objects, and all means of life.

"There is no doubt that Israel has committed a wide range of violations and crimes in the Gaza Strip, and I do not believe that there is a place in this world that has witnessed such crimes in terms of quantity and diversity. We can definitively conclude that Israel has committed genocide, and this genocide, by definition, includes vocabulary. Essential, 3 of these clear terms were implemented by Israel, most notably the mass killing operations, and we witnessed from these operations the direct targeting of civilian gatherings, not only in the north of the Gaza Strip, but throughout it, north and south.

"We focused - from the beginning - on the fact that what the occupation is committing are crimes of genocide, and we communicated with United Nations experts and with international officials and academics, to examine these crimes. Indeed, more than 800 professors of international law issued a unified statement and confirmed that what is happening are crimes of genocide....

"UNRWA and other international agencies, in the first days of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, contributed to spreading a state of terror among citizens, when they withdrew their vehicles and crews and closed their headquarters in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip, in response to Israeli desires, which gave indications to citizens that not any type of protection can be offered....

"Also, we witnessed the World Health Organization, which did not make efforts. It could have at least provided protection for Palestinian hospitals, and refuted Israeli allegations, such as the presence of members of this organization, examining hospitals and confirming their safety, as well as delaying the supply of medicines and medical supplies...."

Sources told Al Mayadeen today that only 3 trucks loaded with aid arrived at areas in northern Gaza. UNRWA has proven time and again that it is colluding with the Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing the northern part of Gaza during the period of the aggression on the Strip, as the head of the Government Media Office Salamah Maarouf said on October 31. Maarouf said that UNRWA and its officials are not living up to their obligations and that they are conspiring with Israel which seeks to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

On his part, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qudra, said that the UN agency has turned its back on the residents of the Gaza Strip in general, leaving children unvaccinated, and terminally ill individuals without medication, as well as neglecting the needs o hospitals all over the Gaza Strip. Footage circulated on social media platforms, depicting UNRWA storage rooms filled with aid, while Palestinians are being killed by the Israeli war machine.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced on Friday that the idea of reviving the "two-state solution" has been exhausted for over 30 years and has not achieved much. He emphasized that "the only solution to the Palestinian issue," as explained by el-Sisi, is "the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

El-Sisi expressed Egypt's readiness for a demilitarized Palestinian state with security guarantees from NATO, the United Nations, or Arab and foreign forces. He also affirmed his efforts to extend the temporary ceasefire to release more prisoners. The Egyptian President emphasized that the current priority is containing the escalation and providing aid to Gaza sufficient for the relief of all its inhabitants.

Following talks with the Prime Ministers of Spain and Belgium at the Presidential Palace, el-Sisi clarified that Egypt "has not and will not close the Rafah Crossing," placing blame on Israel for hindering the exit of individuals with dual citizenship. El-Sisi addressed the gravity of the situation in Gaza, describing it as forced displacement beyond the sector's borders, adding that Egypt "will not permit the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip." He stressed the need to establish safe zones in each part of Gaza to accommodate those who have lost their homes.

Axis of Resistance

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, confirmed that the image that the Zionists tried to create of their power evaporated in one operation, and they suffered a resounding defeat for their reputation in the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation, due to the patience and resistance of the Palestinians, which breathed life into the veins of the Front of Truth for the oppressed of the world.

Brigadier Fadavi, in a speech to the crowds of mobilizationists supporting Palestine in the city of Ahvaz (southwest) today, Friday, described the support provided by the resistance in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon to the Palestinian mujahideen as shrewd, and added that 92 countries in the world have organized demonstrations against the Zionist entity. These demonstrations are still continuing and 100 countries in the world are screaming about the oppression of Palestine and the injustice of the Zionists.

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guard said that the Zionists are launching, with all humiliation and indignity, bombing residential areas from afar, bringing the number of victims of their massacres to more than 14,000 people, and that the entire world of arrogance has been attacking a small group for nearly 50 days and they do not even have mercy on infants, but it is incapable of achieving his goals.

The spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, Brigadier General Ramadan Sharif, confirmed that the Zionist entity submitted to the truce today after the course of events and the results of the operations were all in favor of the resistance movement, despite the Zionists not abiding by any covenants.

Brigadier General Sharif added in a speech in the Rosmarud region in northern Iran, at a ceremony commemorating the martyrs of that region, that the foundations for the survival of the Zionist entity are based on four pillars: first, the most advanced military and security systems, and then arrogance and aggression against the oppressed with the support of America. And the West, then terrorism and terrorizing others using a media empire that promotes the inability to defeat them, and after all this the presence of the American air bridge supporting them, but all of these Zionist strategic foundations collapsed in the Al-Aqsa flood at the hands of 3,000 mujahideen from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Brigadier General Sharif continued that the Palestinian resistance has been holding out in the field for 46 days with the minimum available capabilities, and the Palestinians did not initiate the slightest possible movement stating that they would leave their homeland after more than 40 days of bombing and the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs, and the patient Palestinian people have taught the arrogant people a harsh lesson.

The spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stressed that the strategy of the resistance movement, the Palestinian mujahideen, and the Hamas and Jihad movements is to look forward and in the face of the enemy, because they have suffered from this enemy and they are looking at it, face to face, in order to liberate the homeland.

He also pointed out that the Zionists are thinking about displacing the Palestinian people and eliminating Hamas, but they must know that Hamas is a school and approach to liberation and that the idea of liberation cannot be eliminated by bombing and shooting. Brigadier General Sharif stressed that the response to the Zionists is the language of force and fighting, and that Israel has submitted today to the truce and that all the course of affairs and operations were going in favor of the resistance despite the Zionists not adhering to any covenants and covenants.

In conclusion, he stressed that with the blessing of the jihad of the mujahideen in the axis of resistance, God Almighty will liberate Holy Jerusalem, and that the future belongs to those who stand firm in the field and are patient and do not fear anyone in the jihad for the sake of God Almighty.

The Friday preacher in Tehran, Hojjat al-Islam Kazem Seddiqi, said that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is the ideal of the Iranian Islamic Revolution. There is no point in negotiating with the aggressor and usurper. Hojjat al-Islam Kazem Siddiqi added in his Friday sermon to the latest developments in the occupied territories.

He added, in the past 44 years, the Palestinian peoples uprising had a defensive stance, but this time it took an offensive stance. The people who were trained in the school of faith, jihad and steadfastness, in a day and a half, dealt a fatal blow to the Zionists. He continued, The presence of the heads of Western countries, led by the American president [in the occupied territories], and then the support of the entity by the German Chancellor, the British Prime Minister, and the French President, proved that the Zionist entity is a spiders house and all powers are snowmen. If man trusts in the power of God, their weakness and strength will be proven empty words."

He stressed that the Hamas movement broke the back of the Zionist entity by relying on faith and force. In this brave and unprecedented attack, the resistance proved that if it took an offensive stance, it would have the upper hand. The Zionists wanted to eliminate Hamas, but they failed in all arenas. He pointed to the brutality of the Zionists in killing women and children and launching attacks on medical centers, and said: The killing of this large number of children awakened the consciences of humanity in the world and even the American people supported the resistance in front of the White House.

The Friday preacher in Tehran said that the presence of people in the streets of London and France indicates that the collapse of Israel is near. He added that the attacks of the resistance movement in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon prove that the back of the Zionists was broken under the heavy resistance fire.

The political advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, said today, Friday, that the ceasefire, which began this morning in the Gaza Strip, between Hamas and the occupation, is considered a complete failure for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Shamkhani added, through his account on the X website: Hamas was not destroyed, and is steadfast in its positions, and its infrastructure is still effective, especially the tunnels. The prisoners have not been released, but will be exchanged. He continued: "Netanyahu's goals, announced 50 days after the racist genocide, were not achieved. This is an absolute defeat."

Political Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri, confirmed that the future of the region belongs to its people and owners, including the Palestinians, and that there is no place for the Zionists in the region and that their inevitable fate is nothing but defeat.

Baqeri stressed that what is happening in Gaza is not a war, but rather genocide and a clear war crime, but the victors in Gaza are the children and women, and that the Zionists have been unable during the past 45 days to target any military center, but rather they are targeting homes, hospitals, mosques and churches.

He considered that there is no way for the Zionists but to end their occupation and aggression, and that increasing their aggression will increase the fires of anger of the Palestinians and free peoples against them, and that there is no inevitable fate for the Zionists other than defeat, and they must know that victory in the war between missiles and children is for the children, and that resistance is a confirmed right for the Palestinians and has not No one bestows it upon them, and no one can take it away from them.

He stressed that the Zionists are suffering today from confusion in their strategies and loss. If they end the aggression against Gaza and return to the previous conditions, they will have admitted their failure, and if they continue their aggression to escape defeat, they will have increased the file of their crimes, for which they will soon be held accountable before international and national courts, and they have increased global hatred. towards them, and therefore the Zionists do not see any passable path in front of them now. In response to a question from a journalist, Bagheri said, We should not ask why Iran supports the resistance, but rather America and European countries should be held accountable for why they do not support the resistance of the Palestinian people against the occupation. Regarding the two-state solution and the Iranian position on it, Bagheri said that no one can allow himself to make the decision instead. Regarding the Palestinians who do not need a guardian or delegate over them, as the Palestinians are the owners of the land and the inevitable fate of any occupier is to leave the land. There is no legitimacy for the presence of the Zionists anywhere in Palestine and the passage of time does not grant legitimacy to the occupation.

The Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister also stressed, in answering a question about the possibility of the war expanding, that the Zionists must stop their brutality and genocide in Gaza as soon as possible. Otherwise, the resistance will decide when and how to respond to the occupiers according to what it deems appropriate.

Israel and the United States have made no gains whatsoever, failing to accomplish any achievements on the political and military fronts, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said. During a meeting with Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian underlined that the reverberations of Operation al-Aqsa Flood were felt all around the world, though human casualties suffered by the Palestinian people in Gaza were "devastating, but the resounding victory garnered by these people was greater and changed the balance of power in favor of Palestine."

The United States and Israel, despite their aggression going on for nearly 50 days, "they did not achieve their declared goal, which is the destruction of Hamas," Amir-Abdollahian said. Neither party made any achievements, and they had to have indirect negotiations with Hamas to reach a ceasefire and release their prisoners. Hamas and the Palestinian Resistance factions' diplomacy "will invalidate and render obsolete the political plots that were being prepared for Gaza."

The consequences of Operation al-Aqsa Storm shook the world, the top Iranian diplomat said, Press TV reported. Although the human losses of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip were high, bitter and unfortunate, the dimensions of victory and achievement of the Palestinian nation were much bigger and tipped the strategic balance in different dimensions in favor of Palestine and the detriment of the usurping Zionist regime, he added.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani welcomed the four-day truce in Gaza, describing the development as the first step in halting the usurping and child-killing Zionist regimes war crimes against the Palestinian citizens, women and children. Describing the truce as the result of over 45 days of indescribable resistance shown by the Palestinian people and historical perseverance of the resistance combatants, the spokesman said the development marks the first step to victory for Palestine.

He then noted that Iran will continue to make efforts, use initiatives and hold diplomatic consultations with various regional and international parties to support the oppressed people of Palestine and make joint efforts with the friendly and like-minded countries in order to take immediate measures to stabilize and stretch the ceasefire, stop the Zionist regimes massacre machine, and provide urgent relief aid for the people of Gaza.

The Palestinian nation proved that it will decide its own fate and the fate of its homeland either in the battlefield or at the political arena, and will show an appropriate and determining response to any plot or ill-advised, aggressive and short-sighted measure by the usurping Zionist regime and its notorious sponsors, Kanaani added.

The Hamas chief hailed as honorable the support of the resistance movements in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria to their brothers and sisters in Gaza, noting that it bears a clear message to the Zionist regime and the US. Pointing to various dimensions of the Israeli regimes war crimes against the people of Gaza, its hospitals and urban infrastructure, Haniyeh said the US was the main axis of the Israeli war on Gaza.

Despite the initial opposition to the ceasefire, the United States, understanding the realities of the battlefield, was finally forced to surrender to the will of the Palestinian people and the will of the world nations and the positive vote of 120 countries to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly for a ceasefire with Hamas, which shows the US dominance over the international order has diminished, he added.

Haniyeh, during his talks with the Iranian foreign minister, hailed the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for their unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and people, especially throughout the ongoing war on Gaza. The Hamas leader saw that the support offered by the Resistance movements in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria to their brothers in Gaza was a "source of pride" that clearly sent a message of unity to the Israel and the United States.

Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad movement, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, confirmed Friday, that the temporary truce is an explicit acknowledgment of the setback to the goals of the Israeli occupation, which was forced to complete the agreement, as a result of its forces faltering in advancing on the fighting axes, which do not exceed more than 50 square kilometers.

Al-Nakhalah explained , in a televised speech, that further Israeli aggression was met with more resistance, which forced the occupation to negotiate over the civilians it captured. He added that the truce deal and the prisoner exchange process would not have been accepted by the occupation "had it not been for its losses in the field." He stressed that the remaining officers and soldiers of the occupation prisoners "will not be released without the freedom of the remaining Palestinian prisoners, and this will not happen before the end of the aggression."

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), will release a number of Israeli captives, in line with the clauses of the mediated prisoners exchange deal between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, the spokesperson for the Brigades, Abu Hamza, said in a broadcast address.

The military spokesperson confirmed al-Quds Briagdes' commitment to ceasing all military actions during the period of the humanitarian truce, which went into effect on Wednesday. However, Abu Hamza stressed that the Brigades will respond appropriately to any Israeli breaches of the agreement. Moreover, the official underscored the Palestinian Resistance's dedication to the Palestinian cause and to freeing all Palestinian territories from the Israeli occupation.

"We are a nation that will never abandon [Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails]," the military spokesperson underlined. He underlined that Palestinian prisoners "deserve [much more] from their Resistance and people." Abu Hamza commended the Palestinian people and Resistance who faced the "region's most powerful, most oppressive, and most lethal army," confirming that the occupied West Bank is still an integral part of the "battle in the defense of Arab and Islamic honor."

The spokesperson for al-Quds Brigades dedicated a section of his address to Resistance factions in the region, thanking the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and Iraq, as well as the Yemeni Armed Forces for taking significant military action in support of Palestine. Abu Hamza highlighted the "deadly concentrated hits" that the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon -Hezbollah is striking the Israeli occupation forces with on the border with Palestine. He also hailed the Resistance in Iraq that has been targeting the United States bases in Syria and Iraq.

The spokesperson paid special attention to the Yemenis' role in supporting the Palestinian Resistance, as they heavily target the occupied Palestinian town of Umm al-Rashrash or "Eilat". He also pointed to Yemen's seizing of an Israeli ship at the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, saying the action restored the Arab identity of the Red Sea. Abu Hamza said the Yemeni Armed Forces sent a clear message to the occupation, telling Israel that it would never hold the maritime and legal rights in the Red Sea.

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, affirmed that achieving the temporary truce is an explicit recognition of the occupation's failure to achieve its objectives of unconditionally retaining its captives held in Gaza. He stated that the agreement was reached due to the setbacks and losses suffered by the Israeli occupation forces while advancing on the battlefront, noting that the invading forces barely infiltrated an area of 50 square kilometers.

Al-Nakhalah explained in a televised speech that the intensified Israeli aggression faced increasingly valiant resistance, forcing the occupation to negotiate for the release of their captives. The PIJ Secretary-General also added that the temporary truce wouldn't have taken place if the occupation hadn't suffered intense casualties on the battlefield.

Al-Nakhalah further affirmed that the Resistance "will not be broken nor will it surrender. We will continue to fight. This is our choice today more than ever." He pointed out that the Palestinian people, after all these sacrifices, express the will of all the free people of the world. He concluded his speech by acknowledging the efforts of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and the Resistance in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, who are supporting the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza in the fight against the Israeli occupation.

The head of the Hamas movement abroad, Khaled Meshal, said Friday evening that what happened from the Zionist occupation towards Al-Aqsa, the acceleration of demolition plans, and the plans of extremist ministers to complete the Judaization of the West Bank and Jerusalem and displace its people were the motive for October 7.

Meshaal added during his speech at a conference organized by the International Islamic Forum for Parliamentarians that the suffering of more than 5,000 thousand Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons, the slow death of Gaza after 17 years of siege, and returning the issue to its true essence that it is a battle of occupation and settlement, were all present at the leadership of the movement. And our victorious brigades, when they decided to unleash the Al-Aqsa flood.

He emphasized the development of the resistances work from the uprisings and wars on Gaza, to taking a big step like the Al-Aqsa flood, on our long road to liberating Palestine. He stressed that the impressive performance of the Qassam elite mujahideen to confront the ground forces invading Gaza shows the quality of the training, in addition to their sincere faith and adherence to the Quran. Meshaal said: If the Algerians, Afghans and Vietnamese had listened to the advocates of defeatism who are demanding that we surrender, Algeria, Afghanistan and Vietnam would not have been liberated from colonialism and occupation.

He added, The terrorist Zionist occupation failed to achieve its declared goals of eliminating Hamas and displacing the entire population of the Gaza Strip, and the majority of the northern population remained in the north despite everything that our great steadfast north is exposed to.

On Friday, after the start of the truce in the Gaza Strip, Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the "Sadr Movement" in Iraq, expressed his hope that the truce would be the beginning of the end of Zionist-American terrorism. Al-Sadr said, Praise be to God, who gave victory to his servant, strengthened his soldiers, and defeated the Zionists alone. To Him belongs eternal and unceasing praise.

He continued, May God salute the heroic Palestinian resistance that humiliated the Zionist enemy and comforted the oppressed in the east and west of the earth... with its steadfastness and steadfastness in the face of the most powerful forces of evil, the Zionist, American, German, French, and British, and their henchmen... And here is another victory written on their hands with the start of the truce that the enemy was forced to enter into.  oppressive and unjust colonialism.

He expressed his hope that "this truce will be the beginning of the end of the Zionist-American terrorism that affects our beloved people in Palestine in general and our people in Gaza in particular."

He warned of the enemys treachery and his breaking of covenants and promises... There is no covenant with them and there is no good in them, as you know and we know... We also hope that peace will continue and that God will keep away terrorism and Zionist crime, stop the massacres against civilians and their livelihood and dignity, and that the Zionist enemy, its stinky leader, and its senile old supporter will be criminalized. As war criminals for the crimes they committed against humanity against children, women, hospitals, mosques and churches.

Al-Sadr added, And you should know, dear resistance fighters in occupied Palestine, that we are with you in your war and peace and in all your decisions, and the Zionists will remain our enemies, and there will be no normalization with them or peace as long as we live. God and history have immortalized October 7 as a victory that will not be erased or forgotten. So thank you.

Allied for Democracy

A poll conducted by the Maariv newspaper showed that the leader of the Blue and White party and a minister in the War Cabinet, Benny Gantz, is growing more popular among Israelis while the far-right coalition headed by Netanyahu is growing less popular. In response to a question in the poll about the parties the respondents would vote for in the next Knesset elections, the answers were as follows: "State Camp" 43 seats (a coalition which includes Benny Gantz's Blue and White party), "Likud" 18 seats, and "There is a Future" 13 seats. Election poll shows coalition parties would crash to 41 seats, opposition parties would skyrocket to 79; respondents prefer Gantz to Netanyahu as PM, 52%-27% Maariv poll published before hostage release.

Israeli Likud party MK, Tali Goitein, said Israel has conceded "everything" to Hamas in the ceasefire agreement "without receiving even a sign of life from the prisoners in Gaza." Goitein added that "agreeing to hours of ceasefire and fuel entry are actions that strengthen Hamas, and it would be interpreted as weakness on our part."

Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea who writes for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that "public pressure" has prompted Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a prisoner exchange deal and temporary truce in the Gaza. "A week ago," Barnea explained, Netanyahu, had "rejected" the deal that was "on the table", however, he changed his mind a couple of days ago, thus indicating that "what prompted him to agree to what he had rejected was public pressure."

The report also noted that public pressure was not the only reason for his "fluctuations", adding that "the position of the army, the Shin Bet, and the Mossad" also played a significant role, likely referencing the losses Israel faced amid the difficulty of the confrontations with the Resistance.

Haaretz reported that while much can go wrong, vis-a-vis occupation interests, "there was no other option, except to approve the proposed deal." As for Yedioth Ahronoth, Barnea held a similar opinion, saying, "There was no other option but to agree to the proposed deal," given that allegedly in the occupation's government "no one in the leadership has the authority" to make a decision to further postpone the decision so that the IDF would advance another kilometer.

Keir Starmer's defence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza has unleashed a harsh rebellion against him within the Labour Party. According to The Guardian, the issue could lose them so many votes among Muslims, young people, and urban progressives that it could cost them up to ten seats in marginal areas at the next year's elections. Eight frontbenchers and two parliamentary private secretaries resigned to vote for a Commons amendment that backed a full ceasefire. The amendment was tabled by the Scottish National Party (SNP), whose leader Humza Yousaf is married to a Palestinian-Scottish psychotherapist. His in-laws had visited their relatives in Gaza before October 7 and were stuck there for weeks.

While support for a ceasefire and solidarity with Palestine is growing in Great Britain  the past weeks have seen the largest anti-war demonstrations in London since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003  Starmer remains unashamedly pro-Israeli. Labour MPs were whipped to abstain from the SNP amendment, but 56 rebelled. Labour had 198 MPs before the vote; over 25 per cent refused to follow Starmer's lead.

Sources close to The Guardian say Starmer is facing more resignations if he does not shift his policy on Gaza. The paper wrote that several of those who remained loyal and kept their jobs are nonetheless angry about how the issue has been managed and are willing to quit. The rebellion in the House of Commons came after weeks of growing splits within the UK Labour Party. Several Councillors have resigned, and in total, 76 Labour MPs have in some way publicly called for an immediate ceasefire  this is almost 40 per cent of the party's MPs.

One of the first to speak out against Starmer was Lubaba Khalid, Labour MP and former leader of Young Labour's BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) group. She drew the line and initiated a wave of resignations. "As a Palestinian with family in Gaza, I am shocked by Starmer's statements", she emphasised in her resignation letter: "I've been afraid for my family for days and have received no support from Labour". The party is no longer a safe place for Palestinians and Muslims, said Khalid.

Nine leading members resigned in Glasgow, and six in Edinburgh. The Labour leader in Leicester, Peter Soulsby, emphasised to LabourList that there was great discontent within the party. The Labour man also told Left Foot Forward that he had never seen approval for Labour fall as rapidly as it is currently.

Dozens of Labour councillors have left the party since October 7, including almost a dozen members in Oxford, which meant the party lost the majority in the town hall there. Days later, 150 Labor Muslim Councillors Network members published an open letter calling on Starmer to call for a ceasefire. Hundreds of MPs and Councillors later signed it.

A Muslim Census poll released in late October shows the party under Starmer has lost 93 per cent of its Muslim voters. In 2019, 71 per cent of British Muslims planned to vote for Labor. In October 2023, only 5 per cent intend to do so. The survey also shows that British Muslims feel little represented by parties: only 38 per cent of respondents plan to vote for one of the parties currently represented in the House of Commons in the 2024 elections. Forty per cent no longer want to vote at all, and 20 per cent plan to support independent candidates. Another 17 per cent of the Muslim electorate would vote for the Greens, 10 per cent for the Liberals and only one per cent of those surveyed for the ruling Conservatives.

The latest census shows that over 4.2 million Muslims live in the UK, most in England. That is almost seven per cent of the population. They are among the most socially and culturally disadvantaged population groups: 39 per cent of the Muslim population lives in the poorest regions of England and Wales.

Similar debates emerged below the radar in Austria's social democratic SPO. While the mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig (SPO), had "Israel's" flag raised at the town hall and the entire party leadership, including leader Andreas Babler, expressed their solidarity with Israel at a rally in front of the Federal Chancellery, an opposite picture can be seen in party events.

The SPO-affiliated Bruno Kreisky Forum was invited to the former Chancellor's villa on October 23 for a book launch by Lebanese academic Munira Khayyat. The associate professor from New York University in Abu Dhabi talked about the "resistance in Northern Galilee" against Israel in "occupied Palestine". Instead of opposition from the audience, there was interest in what was said and agreement with the terminology.

Former President Heinz Fischer made similar statements at the federal congress of the SPO-affiliated Federation of Social Democratic Academics (BSA): "We must always listen to the Palestinians" and must not forget that "the founding of the state of Israel was a harrowing process for them". Here, too: Instead of opposition, he received applause.

To ensure that such voices do not gain the upper hand, the party leadership is taking aggressive action against left-wing, anti-imperialist voices within its ranks. An example has been made of the leftwing group "Der Funke" (The Spark), which has been working in social democracy and trade unions for three decades. The group has been visible at pro-Palestinian and anti-imperialist events in Austria since October 7.

As a consequence, in mid-October, almost all daily newspapers simultaneously published articles accusing the group of supporting Hamas. The party establishment was quickly on the scene. Sandra Breiteneder, SPO federal manager since June, issued a press release stressing the party was "fully on "Israel's" side".

The "Funke" is among the more influential left-wing forces in the country. According to the editor of a newspaper with the same name, Emanuel Tomaselli, there are "several hundred members throughout Austria". The organisation has the most substantial influence in the Western county, Vorarlberg, and Austria's capital, Vienna. In Vorarlberg, expulsion proceedings have been initiated against two members of the Socialist Youth (SJ) Vorarlberg, who are also on the executive council of the SPO. Financial support to the youth organisation was stopped.

The SPO Vienna went one step further: In the 9th district, the whole Funke-led Socialist Youth has been made to stand down and seven members expelled. The reason: Their members showed "anti-Israel attitudes" by attending and organising Palestinian solidarity rallies and demonstrations, the former chairman of the Socialist Youth in the 9th district, Martin Halder, told the author. It is an all-round attack on the entire "Funke" movement "because we are against the oppression of the Palestinians," he emphasises. Other regional associations are also facing divisions due to the anti-Palestinian stance of the party leadership, according to SPO sources.

Despite pressure from party leadership and media, the public is increasingly on the side of Palestine: Last weekend, well over 12.000 marched in solidarity with Palestine at one of the largest demonstrations in Austria's capital in years.

In Germany, the two historical parties of the left, the social democratic SPD, and the former GDR state party LINKE (The Left), are also firmly in the pro-Israeli camp, as they have been in the pro-Ukraine camp since February 2022. Influential politicians of the LINKE  once a party of peace  such as the Prime Minister of Tubingen, Bodo Ramelow, are even calling for the German armament of Ukraine.

However, a new party puts pressure on both. In October, ten MPs around the popular Sahra Wagenknecht left the LINKE and are preparing to form a new party. In conversation with the author, their North Rhine-Westphalia MP Sevim Dagdelen explained the new group's foreign politics: "We advocate for a ceasefire and negotiated solution in the Ukraine war and the Middle East. Arms deliveries are not a solution but part of the problem. Demands for the delivery of German tanks like Bodo Ramelow's add fuel to the fire." Instead, she explains, "Our actions are guided by international law, not a morally-disguised foreign policy."

In the Middle East, the "only way to peace is through immediate ceasefire negotiations. Without implementing the two-state solution and recognising an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital, there will be no solution to the conflict. "The new party promises to put enormous pressure on other parties." In nationwide polls, it stands well beyond ten per cent, and in some Eastern German states, it polls beyond 20 per cent.

In contrast, the LINKE sticks to their support for Israel, which could seal the fate of the party  polls suggest it will not be re-elected to parliament at the next elections.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that Hamas's release of the first group of hostages it held during its attack on Israel was "only the beginning," stressing that there were "real opportunities" to extend the four-day truce that entered into force in Gaza. Biden said that there are real opportunities to extend the truce between Hamas and Israel. He added during a press conference that it was necessary to "end the cycle of violence in the Middle East."

Biden stressed that stopping the fighting is a crucial opportunity to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza, while making it clear that Hamas does not care about the Palestinians. He added, "One of the reasons for the Hamas attack is America's work with Saudi Arabia and Israel to reach normalization of relations."

He mentioned that there are two American hostages and a child, who are still in the Gaza Strip, saying, There are still two women and a child, and they are Americans, among the kidnapped. Then he confirmed, "I expect more hostages to be released in the coming days."

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Trained eyes scan the big blue

By Captain Peter Nugent

24 November 2023

The mission of those deployed on Operation Solania could be compared to looking for a needle in a haystack.

In support of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Australian Defence Force (ADF) assets and personnel scoured the vast Pacific Ocean surrounding the Solomon Islands, in search of illegal fishing boats and other law-breakers.

Across ten missions, a RAAF C-27J Spartan and crew detected 41 suspicious vessels spread over 90,000 square kilometres of ocean, during the FFA's Operation Kuru Kuru.

35 Squadron Head Pilot, Flight Lieutenant James Badun, said his plane and crew are well suited to the demanding role.

"The C-27J is the ideal aircraft to conduct this type of tasking because it is small enough to be manoeuvrable around vessels at low level while still being able to loiter for a long time," Flight Lieutenant Bendun said.

"The aircraft systems also have the capability for us to locate vessels beyond visual range."

This is the fourth occasion this year that the ADF has contributed to FFA operations with maritime surveillance, under Operation Solania.

This time, as part of Operation Kuru Kuru, the ADF partnered with 14 other nations to enhance maritime security and promote sustainable fisheries management across the Pacific.

The 15 nations involved were the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, alongside assets and personnel from the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group: Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States.

"It's a very rewarding task for us to undertake with our Pacific neighbours, who are always very welcoming," Flight Lieutenant Bendun added.

During their mission, the crew also supported aerial damage assessments at the request of the Government of Vanuatu after Tropical Cyclone Lola made landfall.

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China releases 10-year vision, action plan for BRI, focusing on green, digital development and supply chain

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Nov 24, 2023 11:39 PM

China on Friday published a document entitled "Vision and Actions for High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Brighter Prospects for the Next Decade," which specified the key areas and directions for Belt and Road cooperation in the next 10 years.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has injected new growth momentum into the world economy and created vast room for global development. The initiative is believed to bring benefits to its partner countries through the newly released vision and action plan for BRI's development in the next decade, with some new focuses on green and digital development, as well as the stability and sustainability of supply chains.

From a China-proposed initiative to an international practice, the BRI, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023, has become a well-received international public good and a platform for international cooperation.

Analysts noted that the new action plan comes in time for future development, as the next "golden decade" for BRI starts and the plan involves new industries and global concerns. New cooperation sectors such as innovation, the digital economy and green development should be explored to inject vitality and momentum into the BRI, they said.

New focuses

In addition to what the BRI has been devoted to in the past decade - policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people ties - the Friday document added cooperation in new fields: green development, new forms and models of digital cooperation, technology innovation, international cooperation in health, according to the document.

The new action plan will also focus on promoting the organic integration of trade and the latest technologies, including internet, Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain.

As mentioned in the document, in the next decade, all parties will be encouraged to strive toward equal cooperation and mutual benefit, propelling BRI cooperation into a new phase characterized by high-quality development, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

There is vast opportunity for digital cooperation between China and BRI partner countries, as China has extensive experience in digital infrastructure construction and digital development. At the same time, China has a huge number of digitalized industries, Wang Peng, an associate researcher with the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

"In terms of AI, China and BRI partners can strengthen cooperation and exchanges on AI governance and rules, and research and development of AI technology," said Wang.

As the high-quality development of the BRI enters a new stage, partner countries hope to strengthen technological cooperation with China to help their own development of intelligent manufacturing and digital economy, said Wang.

During a Friday press conference that outlined the new BRI action plan, Chinese officials also said that making industrial and supply chains more resilient and expanding the scope of free trade agreements will be a focus of BRI cooperation in the future.

Analysts and enterprises said that deepening international cooperation under the BRI will provide important impetus to the operations of the global industrial chain and supply chain.

From the perspective of the layout of the global industrial chains and supply chains, China is one of the key nodes, Hu Qimu, deputy secretary-general of the digital-real economies integration Forum 50, told the Global Times.

"What we are advocating is mutual benefit and win-win. Therefore, China plays a very important role in the development of global trade, as well as the stability of industries and supply chains. In particular, global trade protectionism has been prevalent in recent years, but China has always been committed to opening-up," said Hu.

In the past 10 years, the total import and export volume of China and BRI partner countries has reached $19.1 trillion, and two-way investment has exceeded $380 billion, according to statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner.

A large number of BRI cooperation projects in agriculture, energy, digital economy and other fields has been carried out, strongly promoting the upgrading of industrial structure and the optimization of industrial chains in various countries, said NDRC.

For example, a total of 79,900 China-Europe Railway Express trains have reached more than 200 cities in 25 European countries, becoming a "golden channel" for stabilizing the global supply chain.

Well prepared

The BRI has gradually progressed from an idea into actions and from vision to reality by yielding fruitful results to countries and people around the world. Now China aims to promote high-quality, sustainable and people-centered development of the BRI through joint efforts to bring brighter prospects for the next decade, Maya Majueran, director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), a Sri Lanka-based organization that specializes in BRI cooperation, told the Global Times on Friday.

"No doubt that BRI will bring more and more benefits to partner countries and wealth and strength to the Global South and change the geopolitical balance between East and West," said Majueran.

China is well prepared to promote the high-quality development of BRI in the future.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in October produced 458 deliverables, and Chinese financial institutions established a financing window of 780 billion ($109 billion) for BRI projects. All this will contribute to high-quality BRI cooperation, and provide strong momentum for connectivity, development and prosperity around the world, an official said on Friday at the press conference.

"It is precisely because of the financing provided by BRI that our large-scale projects can be implemented in BRI partner countries, enabling more countries to achieve energy transformations," Zhu Daocheng, vice president of JA SOLAR, a Chinese photovoltaic power firm that has an extensive presence in BRI countries, told the Global Times.

Zhu noted that more countries are expected to benefit from BRI in green development.

Open to all

"China has always been committed to working together to resolve the global development deficit and offer inclusive development that delivers benefits to all through BRI. Through this high-quality BRI vision, China highlights its responsibility for and contributions to the world, which not only focuses on benefits for the Chinese people, but also benefits the people of the world," said Majueran.

At present, China has signed more than 200 documents with 152 countries and 32 international organizations on cooperation under the BRI, covering 83 percent of the countries with which China has established diplomatic relations, according to official statistics.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the BRI, Hazem Ben-Gacem, CEO of InvestCorp, the largest non-sovereign wealth fund private equity platform in the Middle East, told the Global Times.

"The mutually beneficial and win-win concept of the BRI is greatly appreciated and respected by investors from the Middle East," Ben-Gacem said.

Majueran noted that the West is jealous of BRI and accused China of engaging in "debt trap" diplomacy to discredit the initiative.

"A number of latest studies including Western studies show that there is no evidence of a so-called debt trap. The West proposed multiple initiatives to counter the BRI such as Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, but they were all talk with no action," Majueran noted.

China's move is in stark contrast to the US-led Western world's "small yard, high fence" approach of walling itself off from global cooperation, Bao Jianyun, director of the Center for International Political Economy Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-11-24 18:30

At the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will be in the United Arab Emirates for the World Climate Action Summit from November 30 to December 2.a

At the invitation of Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will visit Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and hold the 11th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee from November 26 to 30.

To further facilitate cross-border travel and China's high-quality development and high-standard opening up, China has decided to apply unilateral visa-free policy to more countries on a trial basis, which involves extending visa-free treatment to travelers holding ordinary passports from six countries, namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. From December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024, citizens from the above-mentioned countries holding ordinary passports can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.

CCTV: You just announced that Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will visit Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and hold the 11th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. Could you share more details andaexpectations for his visit to the two countries?

Mao Ning: Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners. At present, under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, China's relations with the two countries have grown at a high level. We are actively building a community with a shared future with both countries bilaterally. As major mechanisms for planning, guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation, the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee have played a vital role in following through on the common understandings between the heads of state and promoting cooperation in various fields. Both committees are meeting in person for the first time since the pandemic. This is yet another important high-level exchange between China and Central Asian countries since the China-Central-Asia Summit in May and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October this year. We are convinced that the visit will surely deliver on the common understandings between the heads of state and consolidate political mutual trust, deepen all-round cooperation and add new impetus to building a closer community with a shared future between China and Kazakhstan and between China and Turkmenistan.a

Reuters: Australia confirmed today its warship named the Toowoomba transited the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese officials said its military kept watch throughout but gave no further details. Does China have any comment on the passing of the Australian vessel?

Mao Ning: China's position is clear and consistent. We urge parties concerned not to make provocations or create trouble for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

CCTV: You just announced that Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the World Climate Action Summit in the UAE as Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative. Can you share more details? What is China's expectation for the Summit?

Mao Ning: The UAE will hold the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai as the chair of the UN COP28 to provide political guidance for COP28. The first-ever global stocktake since the Paris Agreement came into effect will conclude at COP28, which is a key milestone for global climate governance. The UAE President sent invitation letters to President Xi Jinping for the Summit. To actively respond to climate change and to cement our traditional friendship with the UAE, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the Summit as President Xi Jinping's Special Representative. China will seek efforts from various parties to uphold the institution, principles and objective of the UNFCCC system, especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the theme of "Unite. Act. Deliver." so as to earnestly resolve the difficulties and issues facing developing countries and promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.

During the Summit, G77 will also hold the G77+China Summit and invite leaders of developing countries to attend.

Reuters: Thailand expects just 3.4 to 3.5 million visitors from China this year, below its target and the 11 million Chinese visitors in pre-pandemic 2019, despite the country rolling out a visa-free program to attract Chinese tourists. Why does China think its citizens now seem less interested in traveling to Thailand?

Mao Ning: China always supports and encourages more cooperation on tourism with Thailand. We look forward to more tourists visiting each other's countries.a

Global Times: According to reports, on November 22 local time, ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed The Downing Street Accord, in which the two sides state that "We emphasise that our basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is an indispensable element in the security and prosperity of the international community. Given the serious nature of the situation in the East and South China Seas, we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the region. We reiterate our firm commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight." What's your response?

Mao Ning: I would like to stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and brooks no interference by any external forces. As for issues related to the South and East China Seas, neither the ROK nor the UK is a party concerned, and there has never been any problem with regard to the "freedom of navigation and overflight". China urges relevant parties to stop making irresponsible comment on issues bearing on China's core and major concerns and be very prudent about what they say or do.

France 24: The French foreign ministry reiterated its condemnation of North Korea sending weapons to Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine. What are China's views on this and will Foreign Minister Wang Yi express them to Catherine Colonna later today?

Mao Ning: The cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a matter between those two sovereign states. I'm not aware of the specifics. On the Ukraine crisis, China's position is clear and consistent.a

As for the talks between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Colonna, we will release information in due course. Please check back for updates.

Reuters: Could you confirm that the terms of the debt restructuring deal struck between China Exim bank and Sri Lanka last month have been sent to the IMF?

Mao Ning: To my knowledge, as an official creditor, the Export-Import Bank of China tentatively agreed with Sri Lanka on the debt treatment. China will continue to support Chinese financial institutions in actively consulting with Sri Lanka and maintaining friendly communication with other creditors and jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.

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Can China Achieve its Nuclear Energy Ambitions?

By Chermaine Lee November 24, 2023

Organizers of the coming COP28 climate conference, believing nuclear energy must play a role in weaning the world off fossil fuels, are likely to be comfortable with Chinese plans to make nuclear power a major part of its energy future.

While high-profile accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima have tarnished the image of nuclear power in much of the world, China a the world's biggest carbon emitter a is pressing ahead with ambitious plans for new nuclear construction.

Beijing has approved at least 21 new power units since 2021, and each year, six to eight new nuclear units are expected to be greenlit, according to a September report in Xinhua, the state-controlled news agency.

The country, which already generates more power through nuclear energy than any country except the United States, aims to meet 10% of its national power needs with nuclear by 2035 and 18% by 2060, the report said.

That effort can be expected to sit well with Sultan Al Jaber, president of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 28, which opens Nov. 30 in Dubai. Jaber told Agence France-Presse earlier this year that he supports expanding nuclear power, calling it a "robust bridge" in energy transition.

However, China has a long way to go and several obstacles to surmount if it is to reach its goal. Nuclear currently accounts for only 2.2% of its installed electricity generation capacity and ranks last behind other green energy sources including thermal, hydro, wind and solar.

Safety concerns after Japan's devastating Fukushima incident in 2011 have hampered the growth of nuclear energy in China, according to Philip Andrews-Speed, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies.

"What happened after Fukushima was [China] suspended the construction of all new [nuclear] plants. They also sustained this policy that no inland nuclear power plants [can be built]," Andrews-Speed told VOA in a video call.

The plants that will be built are expected to dot the coastline as it takes a lot of fresh water for them to operate, and it's considered less risky to discharge highly radioactive wastewater into water bodies nearby.

Compared to other clean energy plants such as solar and wind plants, nuclear plants take longer to build and put into operation because of their complex nature and safety concerns, the nuclear expert added. China currently has a shortage of skilled workers in this field.

Thus far, there are about 55 nuclear power plants in China, and more than 20 under construction. Achieving 10% of the energy mix in 2035 could be difficult, according to Bing Lam Luk, laboratory manager at the City University of Hong Kong and the chairperson of the Hong Kong Nuclear Society.

"It takes on average about 10 years or more to build one plant, so unless authorities speed up greenlighting new plants, reaching 10% can be hard. ... Another issue is that it's increasingly difficult to find a new site along the coast to build it," Luk said in an audio call.

Although there has never been a serious nuclear accident in China, some communities are resistant to having a plant nearby. A plan to build a nuclear fuel center in Guangdong was aborted in 2013 because of public opposition, Luk pointed out. He said more public education will be needed to change that perception.

At the same time, safety is becoming less of a concern because of the emergence of fourth-generation and small modular reactors with which, Luk said, a large-scale accident would be "nearly impossible." He said this could make it possible for China to change its policy and start building more nuclear plants inland.

Small modular reactors are more energy efficient than their larger counterparts and easier to transport and install, Luk said. He said the fourth-generation technology now being tested by Tsinghua University in Beijing replaces water coolant with helium, which is more heat resistant, reducing the risk of an explosion.

But a study from Stanford and University of British Columbia found that these reactors, touted as the future of nuclear energy, can produce more radioactive waste than conventional ones.

International cooperation

China's development of fourth-generation reactors is expected to benefit from the long-established sharing of technical information among countries including China, the United States, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain.

The cooperation between China and France, for instance, started a few decades ago. China's first two nuclear plants were built near Hong Kong in the mid-1980s with imported technology and managed by state-owned energy firm Electricite de France.

Many joint ventures in China followed and the two countries published a joint statement in April this year on "developing pragmatic cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy." They pledged to cooperate on the reprocessing of nuclear waste.

France is ahead of China in the reprocessing of spent fuel, so the two can work on this together, said Andrews-Speed. France is building a center where radioactive waste can be disposed of 500 meters below ground, set to open in 2035. China will only begin constructing a waste site by the 2040s at the earliest.

Geopolitical tensions between China and the West can also be a hurdle. Britain last year removed a Chinese company from its Sizewell nuclear project amid souring U.K.-China relations.

Recently, the U.S. also clamped down on its nuclear trade with China after decades of cooperation owing to "national security interests" and "common defense." China has, however, started exporting its nuclear technology to other countries such as Pakistan.

Asked about nuclear energy's role at COP28 this year, Luk said nuclear is likely to remain one of the main directions for energy transition discussions.

"Energy storage remains an issue for renewable energy ... so nuclear path will likely keep growing steadily," he said.

This report was prepared with support from a Climate Tracker Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship.

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PLA conducts real combat drill along China-Myanmar border, 'a necessary act to deal with emergencies, potential escalation:' experts

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Published: Nov 25, 2023 01:46 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command announced on Saturday that it will conduct a series of real combat training and drills along the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border, which is aimed to test the rapid maneuverability, border sealing and firepower capabilities of locally positioned troops.

Military experts told the Global Times this is a key signal sent by China targeting the deteriorating situation in northern Myanmar, adding that the country's military is being prepared for the impact from the military conflicts within Myanmar, and all conflicting parties in the China's neighboring country should try their best to avoid compromising the border security, as well as the safety of Chinese communities near border regions.

In accordance with the annual training plan, the PLA Southern Theater Command organized its ground force units to hold "real combat training activities on Saturday along the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border," according to its official Sina Weibo account.

"The theater command forces are always prepared to respond to various emergencies and are resolute in safeguarding national sovereignty, border stability and the safety of the people's lives and property," according to Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson of the PLA Southern Theater Command.

Song Zhongpipng, a Chinese military experts and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Saturday that "Myanmar is a country that suffers from long-standing civil war from time to time, and the conflicts within the country are also a long-standing threat to China's border security, so considering the worsening situation within Myanmar, it's reasonable for the Chinese military to take necessary actions to deal with the emergencies and the potential escalation of any conflict."

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Friday urged Chinese nationals to evacuate the Laukkai area of Kokang region in north Myanmar immediately, and to stay away from the zone, as conflicts continue in the area.

For the conflicting parties in Myanmar, neither the government military forces nor the local warlords want to see an accident that might harm security of China and Chinese people, but if the conflicts take place in the areas that close to the border, it's possible to see bombs or shells to cross the border and cause damage to the Chinese side, with a potential inflow of refugees representing another main challenge, experts said.

"The PLA will not get involved of the conflict, as China upholds the non-interference principle, but it's our military's duty to safeguard the security of our border," Song noted.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Saturday that the training courses like rapid maneuverability and border control or border sealing are flagging that the PLA forces are able to be deployed at speed and are capable of effectively controlling the border in an emergency situation.

Song added that the firepower drills are defensive, as it might test the capability of air defense to deter and defend the military aircrafts, bombs and missiles that could potentially cross the border during the conflicts inside Myanmar.

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Following North Korea's ballistic missile launch on 22 November, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson gave a statement.

24 November 2023

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea's ballistic missile launch on 22 November is, again, a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges North Korea to refrain from further provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.
Why a 'Historic' Inter-Korean Military Pact Broke Down

By William Gallo November 24, 2023

A 2018 military agreement, once hailed as a historic attempt to reduce tensions between North and South Korea, appeared to reach its demise this week, after both countries announced measures to step away from the pact.

Hours after the successful Tuesday launch of North Korea's first military spy satellite, the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a partial suspension of the accord, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement, or CMA.

As part of the announcement, South Korea said its military will resume reconnaissance and surveillance flights in border areas. Such activity was banned under the CMA, which established buffer zones, no fly zones, and prohibited a wide range of other military activity near the border.

In response, North Korea on Thursday announced it would "immediately restore all military measures" halted under the deal and vowed to "deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware" in the border region.

The CMA was perhaps the most concrete outcome of the 2018-19 diplomacy between the two Koreas, which saw three meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his then South Korean counterpart, President Moon Jae-in.

In Seoul, debate raged over who is to blame for the collapse of the accord, the latest in a cycle of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon Chung-in, who played a key role in the inter-Korean diplomacy as a foreign affairs advisor for ex-president Moon, said Yoon had been determined to kill the CMA for ideological reasons, and that North Korea's satellite launch provided an occasion for him to do it.

In Moon's view, the CMA served as a "last guardrail" to prevent accidental clashes in the border region, which will now become "a much more volatile and dangerous place."

"The problem is that there is a greater chance for the escalation of these accidental clashes into a full-blown conflict, even the North Korean potential use of tactical nuclear weapons," he told VOA in an interview.

North Korean violations

The conservative Yoon, who has slammed what he calls the "fake peace" initiative of his liberal predecessor, had for months threatened to scrap the CMA, pointing to North Korean violations of the agreement.

In one particularly high-profile violation, North Korea last year sent five small reconnaissance drones across the border, with one making it all the way to the northern edge of the capital, Seoul.

North Korea has also fired artillery shells into areas designated by the CMA as maritime buffer zones.

This week, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea had regularly violated the military pact by failing to cover the barrels and close the gun ports of coastal artillery and other weapons within a maritime buffer zone.

North Korea's actions have consistently eroded the trust underpinning the CMA and other inter-Korean agreements, effectively nullifying the deals, argued Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat turned conservative South Korean politician, in a Facebook post this week.

How we got here

Much inter-Korean tension can be traced to the breakdown of nuclear talks between Kim and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kim and Trump met three times in 2018-19, but ultimately failed to agree over how to pace sanctions relief and other U.S. concessions with steps to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program.

Around the time Kim walked away from talks with the United States, he also abandoned negotiations with South Korea, in part because U.S. and international sanctions restricted Seoul's ability to offer concessions to Pyongyang.

Since then, North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of major missile tests and steadily added to its nuclear arsenal, which it now says can be used for preemptive strikes, if necessary.

Yoon, who took office in May of last year, favors a more military-focused approach to North Korea. At times, Yoon has adopted an explicit "tit for tat" response to North Korean provocations, accelerating a cycle in which each side blames the other for raising tensions.

Some observers in Seoul say that dynamic played out this week, eventually leading to the death of the CMA, which had served as a crucial tension-reducing mechanism.

But others argue that the inter-Korean military pact had already lost much of its value as a means to reduce risk, given North Korea's decision to reject dialogue and pursue a more combative and inward-facing policy.

Sydney Seiler, who until earlier this year was the national intelligence officer for North Korea in the U.S. National Intelligence Council, told VOA earlier this week that abrogation of the CMA "will be the result of deteriorated inter-Korea relations and escalatory steps by North Korea, not the cause."

How the US feels

For years after the CMA was signed, U.S. military officials and diplomats in South Korea were publicly supportive of the pact.

As the Yoon administration's criticism of the CMA grew louder in response to North Korean provocations, U.S. officials' public statements became more cautious.

On Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson told VOA that South Korea's decision to suspend one provision of the CMA was a "prudent and restrained" response to persistent North Korean violations of the agreement.

While the CMA "helped reduce tensions," North Korea's failure to adhere to the deal "created untenable challenges" for South Korea's security, added the U.S. spokesperson.

However, even if many U.S. officials privately continue to support the CMA, they would not publicly criticize the decision of a key ally such as South Korea, said Moon, the former foreign affairs advisor.

"The Biden administration's basic stance on the Korean Peninsula is the stable management of the status quo," said Moon. "There could now be a higher probability of accidental military clashes, and that won't be helpful to U.S. strategic interests."

Chun In-bum, a retired lieutenant general in the South Korean army, said regardless of the outcome of the CMA, or its potential for success in the first place, it represented a "good effort, especially with a new North Korean leader and the threat of conflict at the time."

"It is unfortunate for everyone that the CMA is now declared defunct," said Chun. "Why does it matter whose fault this is?"

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Pyongyang General Control Center of NATA to Learn About Operational Preparation of Reconnaissance Satellite

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), visited the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) on November 24 to learn about the operational preparation of the reconnaissance satellite and watched the aerospace photos of Friday.

He was accompanied by Kim Jong Sik, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee.

The NATA of the DPRK reported in detail to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on the fine-tuning process of 62 hours after the reconnaissance satellite put into its orbit and the state of its present mission.

Kim Jong Un acquainted himself with the photos of major target regions including Mokpho, Kunsan, Phyongthaek, Osan, Seoul and other areas of south Koran puppets and several regions of the DPRK taken by the reconnaissance satellite while passing through the Korean Peninsula from 10:15 to 10:27 a.m. on Friday.

The NATA reported to Kim Jong Un on the plan for photographing the region of south Korean puppets and the additional fine-tuning process of the reconnaissance satellite on Saturday morning. -0-

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India and UK conduct Defence Consultative Group meeting

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 24 NOV 2023 4:21PM by PIB Delhi

Defence Secretary, Shri Giridhar Aramane co-chaired the annual India-UK Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting in New Delhi on 24 November, 2023, along with his UK counterpart Mr David Williams, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.

They discussed a host of regional security issues, reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation activities, discussed the situation and potential cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, and defence industrial cooperation proposals in missile systems and Electric Propulsion, among other possibilities.

Both sides planned for the increased interactions and joint activities in the maritime domain with focus on joint exercises, Maritime Domain Awareness, and information exchange.

They appreciated the commencement of the India UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue, and the increased pace of military to military engagements in all domains.

Mr David Williams later laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the Bravehearts.

*******

ABB/GC



(Release ID: 1979463)

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INDIA- NEPAL JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE SURYA KIRAN- XVII COMMENCES AT PITHORAGARH

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 24 NOV 2023 3:29PM by PIB Delhi

The Nepal Army contingent comprising of 334 personnel arrived in India to participate in 17th edition of Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN. The exercise will be conducted in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from 24th November to 07th December 2023. It is an annual event and conducted alternatively in the two countries.

The Indian Army contingent comprising of 354 personnel is being led by a Battalion from the KUMAON Regiment. The Nepal Army contingent is represented by Tara Dal Battalion.

Aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief under United Nations Charter on peace keeping operations. The exercise will focus on employment of drones and counter drone measures, medical training, aviation aspects and also environment conservation. Through these activities, the troops will enhance their operational capabilities, refine their combat skills and strengthen their coordination in challenging situations.

The exercise will provide a platform for soldiers from India and Nepal to exchange ideas and experiences; share best practices and foster a deeper understanding of each other's operational procedures.

Exercise SURYA KIRAN signifies the strong bonds of friendship, trust, common cultural linkages that exist between India and Nepal. It sets the stage for a productive and fruitful engagement, showcasing the unwavering commitment of both nations towards a broader defence cooperation. The exercise aims to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly neighbours.

*****

SC/GKA



(Release ID: 1979428)

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ODIHR experts present reports on recent early elections and referendum and discuss recommendations in Kazakhstan

24 November 2023

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final reports on Kazakhstan's 2023 early parliamentary elections, 2022 early presidential election and 2022 referendum during a visit to Astana and Almaty that took place from 20 to 24 November 2023.

"We very much appreciate the co-operation with the Kazakhstani authorities and the opportunity to discuss our latest election reports and recommendations, in particular those related to fundamental rights and freedoms," said Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the 2023 early parliamentary elections. "The recommendations need to be addressed in an open and inclusive manner, and to take place well ahead of the next elections."

The reports' key findings and recommendations were discussed with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Central Election Commission, both chambers of the Parliament, and the Commissioner for Human Rights. A roundtable discussion with civil society organizations also took place in Almaty.

Discussions centered on both the positive measures introduced ahead of the elections as well as recommendations that have not yet been implemented. The outstanding recommendations include removing existing restrictions to the fundamental rights of expression, peaceful assembly and association, ensuring pluralism, creating more favorable conditions for the registration of political parties and unimpeded work of citizen observers, enhancing the transparency and integrity of the electoral process and guaranteeing effective adjudication of election disputes.

ODIHR experts also outlined potential areas for ODIHR's engagement with national institutions and offered assistance to bring the electoral process closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards, including legal reviews and thematic workshops. The authorities expressed an interest in engaging in further discussions.

ODIHR's election observation methodology includes an assessment of countries' efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Kazakhstan, the last ODIHR observation mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the 2019 presidential election, the 2021 parliamentary elections and the 2022 referendum, and concluded that three recommendations had been fully implemented, another three mostly implemented, and 24 partially addressed, while others remain to be carried out.

In the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to "follow up promptly the ODIHR's election assessment and recommendations".

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Hundreds of Myanmar villagers report diseases from toxic mine waste

Poisoned water in Kachin state is giving residents lesions all over their bodies, locals said.

By RFA Burmese 2023.11.24 -- Residents in northern Myanmar are contracting diseases from nearby chemical waste, residents told Radio Free Asia. In Kachin state, rare earth mining produces toxic chemicals that end up in water sources, they said.

In Momauk township's In Khaung Par village, locals said they are getting skin diseases after contact with water in a nearby stream.

Liquid waste from mining sites is drained into a stream near In Khaung Par village, said a villager who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, and has affected the skin on his legs, palms and body. Many residents reported symptoms like peeling skin, rashes and sores on their hands, arms and legs.

"This has never happened before. Our village mainly uses stream water. There has never been a disease [from it]. Last year the mining work began near the village," he said. "A harsh liquid waste like acid was released from the rare earth mining ponds and poured into the stream. People use [the water] and get sores."

More than 1,000 people live in In Khaung Par, and the majority have noticed symptoms from the chemical waste runoff, according to local residents. Along with skin lesions, some residents have also passed out.

Despite the seriousness of the disease, most locals can't afford treatment and have not gone to Momauk Hospital, the villager added. Most of the locals work in agriculture and are only using traditional medicine to treat themselves.

Rare earth mining near In Khaung Par village started in 2021 with the permission of the Kachin Independence Organization, locals said.

RFA called Kachin Independence Organization information officer Col. Naw Bu about the outbreak, but he did not respond by the time of publication.

Rare earth minerals are widely used in technology and major supply chains around the world, and are heavily relied on by neighboring China. However, the industry's growth has come at a high cost to local communities, including environmental destruction, land confiscation, along with providing funds for Myanmar's military.

Kachin residents have protested the mines, and told RFA they strongly object to the industry, whose sites have expanded to take up roughly as much land as Singapore. However, the Kachin Independence Army has not made any commitments to relocating or removing sites they said.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Pakistan confirms making formal request to join BRICS

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:41, November 24, 2023

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Pakistan has made a formal request to join BRICS, saying it is an important group of developing countries.

"We have taken this decision after having noted the BRICS proclaimed openness to inclusive multilateralism," the ministry's spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told a weekly media briefing on Thursday.

By joining the group, Pakistan can play an important role in furthering international cooperation and revitalization of inclusive multilateralism, she said.

Pakistan enjoys friendly ties with most of the members of BRICS, as well as the newly invited group of countries, the spokesperson added.

"We also hope that BRICS will move forward on Pakistan's request in line with its commitment to inclusive multilateralism," she said.

BRICS is a group of emerging economies that are currently membered by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

At the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa in August, Iran, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had been invited to join the bloc, and their memberships would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

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Russia eyes new AI strategy to rival West's 'dangerous' monopoly: Putin

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 November 2023 4:56 PM

President Vladimir Putin of Russia says he will soon approve a new version of the national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in an effort to rival the West's "dangerous" monopoly in the sphere of controversial technology.

Addressing an AI conference in Moscow on Friday, Putin said that the West should not be allowed to develop a monopoly in the sphere of artificial intelligence.

He said some Western online search systems and generative models ignored or even canceled the Russian language and culture.

"The monopolistic domination of such foreign creations in Russia is unacceptable, dangerous and inadmissible," he said, urging his government to be "ahead of the curve."

Putin said he will soon sign a decree to approve "a new version of the national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence."

The new strategy, according to the president, would make significant changes, including "expanding fundamental and applied research in the field of generative artificial intelligence and large language models."

Putin has already ordered his government to pour funding into developing supercomputers and AI research.

Back in April, Russia's largest banking company Sber announced the launch of its own conversational artificial intelligence app called "Gigachat" but in test mode only.

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Russian Supreme Court Confirms Right Of Conscripts To Perform Alternative Service

By RFE/RL's Russian Service November 24, 2023

Russia's Supreme Court has issued a ruling confirming the right of a mobilized Russian man to perform alternative civil service.

The human rights organization Conscript School reported on November 23 that the Supreme Court issued the ruling in a decision that recognized the possibility of alternative civil service during mobilization, pointing out the inconsistency of the law on mobilization with the Russian Constitution.

The constitution provides that people who are unable to perform military service due to their convictions may perform alternative civil service instead. The law on mobilization, however, does not stipulate the possibility of alternative service.

The Supreme Court decision was made on an appeal filed by the military registration and enlistment office in the case of Pavel Mushumansky, a resident of Russia's Leningrad region who was conscripted during the so-called partial military mobilization in September 2022.

A court in St. Petersburg in March upheld his right to perform alternative civil service on the grounds of his religious beliefs.

Media reports at the time said that Mushumansky, an evangelical Christian, did alternative service in 2019 in place of his military service. But his request for a similar arrangement after being called up last year was rejected.

The military registration and enlistment office insisted Mushumansky take the oath, but he refused to take up arms.

The case eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor.

"All judicial authorities agreed with our position that the absence of a law providing for the procedure for the implementation of constitutional rights cannot deprive citizens of this right," lawyer Aleksandr Peredruk said of the decision.

According to the decision, when calling on citizens to mobilize, it is necessary to take into account the constitutional right to alternative civil service.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-right-alternative- military-service/32698045.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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EU's Frontex To Provide Additional Support To Help Finland Patrol Russian Border

By RFE/RL's Russian Service November 23, 2023

The European border protection agency Frontex plans to send 50 border guards and other staff to Finland to bolster the country's border security after an increase in the number of asylum seekers crossing from Russia.

The influx has already prompted Finland to close all but one of the border crossing points along its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.

Frontex said in a statement on November 23 that the "significant reinforcement" it plans to send is expected to be on the ground as soon as next week, with the first group of officers to be provided on November 29 to expand an existing mission of 10 officers.

The reinforcements will include border surveillance officers, support for registering migrants, document experts, and interpreters, Frontex said.

The statement emphasizes that events on the Finnish-Russian border affect the security of the entire European Union and says that Frontex's involvement entails "the humanitarian aspect of this scenario," especially in the harsh weather conditions and lack of preparation among the people arriving.

According to Finnish public broadcaster YLE, about 100 people asked for asylum at the Vartius and Salla crossings on November 23. They are citizens of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria, YLE said.

Helsinki has accused Moscow of funneling migrants from a range of countries to the border.

"Finland cannot be influenced, Finland cannot be destabilized," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in an address to parliament on November 23. "Russia started this, and Russia also can stop it."

The Kremlin denies the charge.

Finland announced the closure of all but one of the crossing points along its border with Russia from November 24 in a bid to stem the flow of asylum seekers. Orpo said at a news conference on November 22 that the move would leave only the northernmost border crossing open.

According to Finland's border control, that crossing, Raja-Jooseppi, known as Lotta on the Russian side, was calm on November 23, but Finnish authorities are preparing for an onslaught of migrants.

The governor of Russia's Murmansk region, Andrei Chibis, said on Telegram that there was a "congestion of refugees from other countries who want to get to Finland" in the Kandalaksha region.

Chibis said border guards and police "check the documents of foreigners in detail," but did not specify whether foreigners who do not have the right to enter Finland will be allowed to proceed through the checkpoint.

Helsinki claims that in the past the Russian authorities did not allow citizens without the necessary documents to cross but without explanation suspended the practice.

Finnish border guards and soldiers on November 22 began erecting barriers, including concrete obstacles topped with barbed wire, at some crossing points.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-finland- migrants-border-eu/32697365.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Taiwan's opposition KMT, TPP regroup as they try to defeat DPP: Analysts

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2023 10:40 PM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Taiwan's main opposition parties Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) must develop a new strategy if they want to defeat the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), now that they have failed to form a joint ticket, solidifying the Jan. 13 presidential election into a three-way race, analysts said.

KMT's VP pick to consolidate party base

Joining the race at the last minute as KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih's () running mate, Jaw Shau-kong () on Friday called on supporters to regroup without hesitation.

"The blue camp is urged to regroup, and there should be no room for alternative thinking. We must consolidate our will, concentrate our strength, and unite our votes; only then can we emerge victorious," Jaw said, referring to the color that denotes the KMT.

A source within the KMT told CNA that having Jaw, 73, run alongside Hou would significantly "strengthen the party's support base," creating opportunities for it to "strategically leverage votes" in its favor during the later stages of the election.

A founding member of the minor New Party, a pro-unification force that emerged as a spin-off from the KMT in 1993 during the party's shift towards localization, Jaw is considered an "emblematic figure" representing the ideology of the blue camp, a KMT source said.

With his deep-blue political stance, Jaw holds more appeal for voters in the northern region of Taiwan and can thus complement Hou, who aligns more with the localized faction within the KMT and can appeal to voters in the central and southern regions, the source said.

Known for his eloquence, Jaw, chairman of Taiwan's Broadcasting Corporation of China and veteran political talk show host, can also assist in articulating the campaign's narrative, capturing media attention, and generating voter enthusiasm, a KMT source said.

Expressing confidence in the election, Jaw said that the KMT has a good opportunity to win the election with a 45 percent share of votes, contingent on "strategic voting" that would cause Ko Wen-je () of the TPP to secure less than 20 percent, and prevent the DPP from growing its share to more than the current 35 percent, which is composed only of its support base.

Is "strategic voting" among KMT, TPP possible?

The KMT is expected to try the method of "strategic voting," meaning it will try to win over some of Ko's supporters.

In contrast to the KMT's assessment, Wang Yeh-lih (), a political science professor at National Taiwan University, said that the KMT's hopes may be hard to achieve "given that the support rates for both parties (KMT and TPP) are approximately equal."

Furthermore, a significant proportion of Ko supporters tend to dislike both the KMT and the DPP and that could pose a considerable challenge for a substantial transfer of Ko's voters to Hou, even if Ko were to rank third, Wang told CNA in an interview on Friday.

Some of Ko's supporters might opt to shift their allegiance to Vice President and DPP candidate Lai Ching-te () if they perceive Ko as having little chance of winning, Wang added.

The 2000 presidential race that saw the DPP's Chen Shui-bian () elected with 39.3 percent of the votes, defeating the KMT's Lien Chan () and the People First Party's James Soong (), serves as a reminder that votes can be split pretty evenly in a three-way race, he said.

Lai has maintained a stable lead with approximately 36 percent of support over the course of the past year based on various opinion polls, Wang said, and there's a possibility that Lai, along with his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (), Taiwan's former representative to the United States, could win over 40 percent of vote shares.

Echoing Wang's view, Shen Yu-chung (), a political science professor at Tunghai University, said recent polls showed that Hou's support has rebounded, but the gap between him and Ko was not significant enough for leveraging "strategic voting."

Challenges for DPP, TPP to galvanize young voters

Having failed to pair up with Hou on a joint ticket, Ko on Friday revealed that his pick for vice president was Wu Hsin-ying (), who until November 2022 had served in various executive positions in established companies, including Merrill Lynch and Shin Kong Life Insurance, before she filled a vacant at-large seat occupied by the TPP in the Legislature.

The TPP has praised 45-year-old Wu for her extensive experience and competence in managing international affairs, and financial expertise, which complements Ko's skills.

However, Dachi Liao (), an emeritus professor at National Sun Yat-sen University's Graduate Institute of Political Science, told CNA that Wu's lack of experience in politics could limit her ability to solicit votes for the Ko-Wu ticket.

Additionally, Liao expressed skepticism about whether Wu's status as a member of the wealthy elite would win her much popular support. Wu is the eldest daughter of former Hsin Kong Financial Holding Co. Chairman Eugene Wu ().

Swing voters, predominantly young people, play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of Taiwan's elections and the same is expected to be true in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in January 2024.

Scholars, however, share similar views that both Lai and Ko face difficulties in mobilizing young voters to cast their ballots for them.

Contrary to the 2020 elections, where young people actively voted for President Tsai Ing-wen () in support of her pro-Taiwan stance amid escalating tensions with China, Wang suggested that they might not feel as compelled to vote in a three-way race where Lai is likely to win.

Meanwhile, Shen said that while Ko enjoys stronger support among young swing voters, voter turnout of the group is often not guaranteed to be high.

(By Kao Hua-chien, Liu Kuan-ting, Fang Cheng-hsiang, Sean Lin and Shih Hsiu-chuan)

Enditem/cs

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Business tycoon Terry Gou drops out of presidential race (update)

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2023 07:52 PM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Business tycoon Terry Gou () announced his withdrawal from Taiwan's 2024 presidential election on Friday afternoon, hours before the deadline to formally register candidacies with the country's electoral authorities.

Gou, founder of manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn), said he was dropping out of the race in a statement posted on social media at around 2 p.m.

His running mate Tammy Lai () confirmed the withdrawal by saying in a separate statement that the duo "will not appear on the ballot in 2024."

"It is a tough decision," said Lai, a veteran actress who only recently crossed over to politics, "But after thorough consideration, it is the best decision [we can make] at the moment."

Neither of them, however, provided a reason for their withdrawal, with Gou saying only it was "for the future of the Republic of China."

It now remains to be seen which opposition presidential ticket Gou will endorse.

In his statement, Gou did not disclose his preference, but instead expressed hope for a change in government after eight years of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rule.

Both the main opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih () and the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je () registered on Friday to run for president after their televised joint press conference last night turned into a bitter showdown.

The press conference, moderated by Gou, was seen as the last attempt to bring Hou and Ko together to form a joint presidential ticket to give the opposition the best chance of defeating DPP front-runner Lai Ching-te () and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim ().

However, rather than working to forge an alliance, the two sides spent much of the time bickering.

Gou announced his bid to run independently for president in late August, months after failing to win the KMT's nomination for the second election cycle in a row.

In mid-November, he qualified to register for the presidential election slated for Jan. 13, 2024, following a successful petition campaign, despite accusations of signature buying and Beijing's tax probe into Hon Hai's operations in China.

Gou, who had said his presidential bid was meant to unite the opposition, never confirmed whether or not he would move ahead and formally register as a presidential candidate.

When the KMT and the TPP began negotiating over a joint presidential ticket in September, Gou found himself increasingly sidelined from the race, with polls showing his support dropping to single digits.

After the KMT/TPP agreement on forming a joint ticket collapsed last Saturday, Ko had repeatedly been seen by the media entering Gou's house, thus leading to media speculation that they could be hashing out a collaboration plan.

However, Ko declared that TPP Legislator Wu Hsin-ying () -- the eldest daughter of former Hsin Kong Financial Holding Co. Chairman Eugene Wu () -- would be his running mate on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Hou chose to team up with political talk show host Jaw Shau-kong (), who also chairs the Taiwan-based Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC).

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/kb

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The resumption of flights between China and the US is entering an accelerated phase, which shows how relevant departments of two countries implement, with practical actions, the consensus and vision reached by the leaders at the San Francisco summit. The number of weekly direct roundtrip flights between the two countries only reached double digits in the beginning of this year and has been continuously increasing since May. Currently, there are nearly 70 direct roundtrip flights between China and the US per week and ticket prices have decreased. This is highly welcomed by the societies of both China and the US, and it is also one of the achievements of the restoration and strengthening of high-level communications between the two countries.

The number of direct flights reflects the closeness of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and serves as a "barometer" of China-US relations. As the two largest economies in the world, China and the US cannot afford to not engage with each other. In fact, facilitating more convenient and cost-effective communication channels is a common desire of the societies in both China and the US. It is not difficult to see that every piece of news about the resumption of direct flights between China and the US has received a lot of attention on social media platforms in both countries. With the gradual restoration of people-to-people exchanges this year, American business giants such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Tim Cook have visited China. This all indicates that it is impossible for China and the US to not engage with each other.

Therefore, as many netizens have pointed out, there are still too few direct flights between China and the US. Compared to the peak period of over 300 flights per week and over 5 million people-to-people exchanges per year between China and the US, there is still a lot of room for growth in the number of flights. During the summit in San Francisco, the Chinese and US leaders agreed to further increase flights early next year and encourage and support more exchanges and communication between the two peoples. China has always been highly efficient in implementing the consensus. It is hoped that the US side will demonstrate efficiency in increasing flights and promoting people-to-people exchanges, which is clearly a win-win area.

The desire for communication and cooperation between the peoples of China and the US has always been strong. With a trade volume of $700 billion and accumulated bilateral investments of over $260 billion, there is a tremendous objective demand for two-way personnel exchanges. The current challenge lies in the fact that these desires and demands were unexpectedly interrupted by the irresistible force of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, some politicians in Washington have rubbed salt in the wound by deliberately suppressing these exchanges. While the interrupted part is relatively easy to restore with changing circumstances, the disrupted and suppressed part by Washington's political actions poses a more complicated challenge. It is this latter aspect that is causing concerns about the state of China-US relations.

The communication between the people of China and the US is constrained by the political relations between the two countries, but it in turn plays a role in promoting the improvement of China-US political relations. Through people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, goodwill accumulates continuously. The reduction and elimination of mutual misunderstandings among the people, and the acknowledgment and expansion of common interests are inevitably converging into an unignorable and undeniable force of public opinion, propelling China-US relations back onto a healthy and stable track. As President Xi Jinping has mentioned, the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in our societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels.

Some in Washington don't want to see the restoration of people-to-people exchanges between China and the US. They not only create obstacles in policy but also deliberately target individuals engaged in exchanges, especially Chinese nationals, to undermine the willingness for civilian interactions. Many Chinese individuals traveling to the US have faced unwarranted revocation of visas, questioning at airports, or even detention. This is a result of Washington's growing distrustful, sensitive, and narrow-minded mentality toward China. Cultural exchanges form the social foundation of China-US relations, and the strong desire for mutual interactions between the two societies is hindered significantly by the extreme actions of a small group of politicians in the US. This is regrettable.

China is steadfastly advancing a high-level opening-up to the outside world, including to the US, which is in accordance with the historical trend and a pursuit of win-win cooperation. The Biden administration recognizes that past extreme policies have also harmed the US. Therefore, it has shown an attitude aligned with China in promoting people-to-people exchanges. However, to dismantle the barriers between the societies of China and the US, Washington needs to exert even greater efforts. We hope that the US side can act in accordance with the trend and contribute more positive energy to the stable and healthy development of China-US relations. (Source: Global Times)








TPP's Ko vows to campaign for presidency as opposition 'leader'

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2023 04:46 PM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je () on Friday said that as the "leader of Taiwan's opposition parties," he felt duty-bound to enter the Jan. 13 presidential election in the face of a ruling party that is "increasingly out of touch with the people and progressive values."

Taiwan has been plagued by stagnant wages, high house prices, and high rent, and healthcare and labor insurance systems that are experiencing financial strain, with some even on the verge of bankruptcy, Ko said outside the Central Election Commission building in Taipei, where he registered his candidacy.

Ko also pointed to Taiwan's shortage of labor, land, talent, electricity, and water, which, he said, has caused many to become disillusioned and stop pursuing their dreams.

Furthermore, he said, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had failed to make comprehensive plans for the country's future and instead had resorted to profligate spending that only provided brief stimuli for the economy at the expense of financial stability for younger people.

He also pointed to increasingly high tensions in the Taiwan Strait and said that maintaining the "status quo" and pursuing peace is the "common denominator" shared by Taiwan, China and the United States.

As the "leader" of the opposition, Ko said, he was obligated to campaign resolutely in an attempt to realize "unfulfilled ideals."

If elected, Ko said, he would put together a "clean, diligent and professional" administrative team that would care deeply about the people and encourage transparency, openness, and public participation.

Regarding his running mate, TPP Legislator Wu Hsin-ying (), Ko said Wu had graduated from prestigious colleges in the United States and the United Kingdom and had served as the executive director at the Shin Kong Life Foundation.

Wu's nomination was decided by the TPP's election decision-making committee in a vote, Ko said.

Wu, the eldest daughter of former Hsin Kong Financial Holding Co. Chairman Eugene Wu (), said she hoped her "international perspective and financial expertise" would help the pair win popular support.

Asked to comment on the TPP's decision to pick Wu, Dachi Liao (), an emeritus professor at National Sun Yat-sen University's Graduate Institute of Political Science, said Wu's lack of experience in politics could limit her ability to solicit votes for the Ko-Wu ticket.

Liao added that Wu, if elected, would be the first-in-line for the presidency, a challenging position for a political novice.

Wu was inaugurated as TPP legislator-at-large in Nov. 2022 to fill a seat left vacant by former TPP Legislator Tsai Pi-ju (), who resigned after it was discovered that she had plagiarized her master's thesis.

Furthermore, Liao said, it was doubtful whether Wu's status as a member of the wealthy elite would win her much popular support.

Liao said that the TPP may have thought nominating someone with a connection to the U.S. to be its vice presidential candidate would have a positive impact, but that experience was still important.

She noted the level of political experience between Wu and former Taiwan representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim (), the DPP's vice president candidate, was "worlds apart."

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/kb





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KMT's Hou and newly named running mate Jaw Shau-kong register candidacy

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2023 03:47 PM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Kuomintang presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih () and his running mate Jaw Shau-kong () officially registered their candidacy for the 2024 election on Friday, after the latter was named as the party's choice for second place on the ticket.

The two candidates filed their registration at the Central Election Commission around noon on Friday, officially ending the KMT's bid over the past months to team up with the other major opposition party, the Taiwan's People Party (TPP), in an effort to unseat the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Earlier Friday, the KMT named Jaw, a 73-year-old talk show host and former lawmaker, as Hou's running mate in the Jan. 13, 2024 presidential election.

Jaw, who is also chairman of Taiwan's Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), had parted ways with the KMT in 1993 to form the New Party, in what was a split from the KMT by members of a faction known as the New Kuomintang Alliance. In February 2021, however, Jaw's membership in the KMT was restored, as he was seen by some influential members as a prime candidate for the party's chairmanship and its 2024 presidential ticket.

At a press conference Friday, Hou presented Jaw as his running mate, lauding him as "the most formidable, capable and combat-ready candidate."

Hou also said that up until the last minute, Jaw had been hoping that the KMT would reach an agreement with TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je () on a joint ticket for the 2024 presidential election.

With the registration deadline looming at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Hou said, he had personally called Ko to make a final pitch for a KMT-TPP alliance, but "the call was not answered."

KMT Chairman Eric Chu () also spoke at the press conference, saying that although it was humiliating, he and Hou had tried to push for a joint ticket with the TPP.

The months-long discussions on an alliance between the KMT and TPP broke down on Thursday during a session at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Taipei, which was open to the media.

According to Hou, former President Ma Ying-jeou (), who was helping with the KMT's efforts to forge an alliance, was at the session Thursday, still hoping for a resolution, "despite the humiliation of being left to wait" at the hotel for 23 minutes before Ko showed up.

Following the failed efforts, Chu on Friday called for solidarity within the KMT, and he urged the members to work towards the common goal of getting Hou elected.

Jaw, meanwhile, said he will quit his talk shows but will remain as BCC chairman, as the retention of that position does not violate the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.

(By Alison Hsiao)

Enditem/pc

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Australian Navy ship transits Taiwan Strait: Defense ministry

ROC Central News Agency

11/24/2023 10:56 AM

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) An Australian naval ship passed through the Taiwan Strait Thursday into early Friday, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The ship entered the strait from the north and sailed south, the MND said in a statement, which did not identify the vessel.

The MND said it was closely monitoring the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Strait as the ship was making the transit Thursday into early Friday, and nothing unusual was observed.

As of press time, the Australian Navy had not issued any statement on the matter.

The Taiwan Strait is defined by international law as an area in which high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply, but transits by international vessels often draw the ire of China, which has been trying to establish dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

On Nov. 18, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles accused the Chinese Navy of injuring Australian Navy divers, who were in international waters in Japan's exclusive economic zone clearing fishing nets that had gotten caught on the propellers of their ship the HMAS Toowoomba.

Marles said a Chinese destroyer closed in on the Toowoomba, ignoring a warning to keep a safe distance, and emitted sonar pulses that caused "minor injuries" to the Australian divers.

Those actions by the Chinese Navy were "unsafe and unprofessional," he said.

In response, the Chinese government issued a statement on Nov. 20, saying the accusations were "completely untrue."

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/pc

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Taiwan Presidential Election Heats Up After Opposition Parties Announce VP Candidates

By William Yang November 24, 2023

Taiwan's January presidential election is emerging as a three-way race analysts say will be a referendum on China relations.

The opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, both of whom want to renew talks with China, failed this month to agree on a joint presidential ticket. The Kuomintang will run Hou Yu-ih, a former police chief, for president with media commentator Jaw Shaw-Kang as his running mate. The Taiwan People's Party ticket will be former doctor and mayor Ko Wen-je for president with Cynthia Wu, a member of Taiwan's legislature, the Legislative Yuan, for vice president.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate is Taiwan's current vice president, Lai Ching-te, who is also a former doctor and mayor and has been leading in the polls in recent months. On Monday, he picked Taiwan's former envoy to the United States, Hsiao Bi-Khim, as his running mate.

Foxconn founder Terry Gou, who had been a potential fourth candidate, announced his withdrawal from the race Friday. He did not say who he might support in the brief statement shared on his Facebook page.

"Now that we have the vice presidential candidates in line, Taiwanese voters have to pick who they think is going to better preserve Taiwan's autonomy," Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, told VOA by phone.

With public discussion and media reports largely focusing on the opposition parties' attempt to join forces over the last few months, some experts say they think the selection of their presidential candidates will help redirect the focus back to more substantive election issues.

"After all the candidates are confirmed, the election will at least temporarily return to policy issues, including the debate on cross-strait relations between different candidates," Yen Wei-ting, an Taiwan politics expert at Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, told VOA in a written response.

Serious ramifications for cross-strait relations

Current President Tsai Ing-wen will step down after May because of term limits, so the election could have serious ramifications for cross-strait relations. China views Taiwan as its territory and has traditionally closely monitored the island's political developments.

For Beijing, Lai is a threat. During a daily press conference on Tuesday, Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson said Lai attempted to hide that he is a "pursuer of Taiwan independence" and an "instigator of war."

Since announcing his intention to run for president this summer, Lai has vowed to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait while highlighting the importance of Taiwan maintaining close relations with like-minded democracies such as the United States and Japan.

On the other hand, the Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih has been campaigning on the promise of reducing tension across the Taiwan Strait and restarting dialogue with China, arguing that the election will be a choice between war and peace.

To present his party as an alternative for Taiwanese voters, the Taiwan People's Party's Ko said he would make communication and deterrence the two pillars of his China policy and try to restart engagement with China in lower-risk areas.

Nachman told VOA he thinks that since the Kuomintang vice presidential candidate is known for pro-China rhetoric, China will show a clear preference for the Kuomintang.

"Jaw is going to be someone that Beijing looks at and says, we can endorse this ticket properly now," he told VOA.

Nachman said the outcome of the election could determine how China structures its response to cross-strait relations.

"If the KMT is able to pose a competitive fight against the DPP, I think Beijing might tone down its rhetoric during this election cycle," he said, adding that a resounding Democratic Progressive Party victory could push China to maintain the same aggressive attittude toward Taiwan consistent with what they've shown over the last few years.

Voters look beyond the China factor

Some Taiwanese voters, though, say cross-strait relations may not be the key factor determining their vote.

"The Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party have long dominated Taiwanese politics, and they always fail to put forward concrete policies on domestic issues," Stanley Chung, a 34-year-old banker, told VOA by phone. "I will vote for the third-party candidate Ko Wen-je, because I think he can help address the issue of corruption that has long plagued Taiwan's politics."

Since all presidential candidates have laid out their stance on cross-strait issues, other voters think their policy proposals on issues such as unaffordable housing prices and low wages for young people will have more impact on their final decision.

"For me, it's more important to see how a future leader of Taiwan will address domestic issues that directly affect our everyday life, rather than their master plan about how to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty, which feels very distant from me," Judy Hsieh, a 45-year-old accountant, told VOA by phone.

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Finland to grant additional support for Ukraine's food security and grain exports

Finnish Government

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

24.11.2023

Press release

Finland will grant EUR 3 million in additional support to improve food security in Ukraine. The funding will be used to support Ukrainian exports of grain to countries where food security is adversely affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Some of the funds will be used to help clear mines in rural Ukraine to restart agricultural production.

Finland has been supporting the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ukrainian grain exports since February 2022 to mitigate the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. With Finland's support, the WFP is buying grain from Ukraine and taking it to African countries affected by the food crisis. EUR 2 million of the funding now granted will be allocated as humanitarian assistance to the Grain from Ukraine Initiative implemented by the WFP. Finland's earlier support for Ukraine's grain exports amounts to EUR 11.5 million.

Finland also supports demining in Ukraine to help farmers reclaim their land for cultivation. It has been estimated that as much as one third of Ukraine's farmland is now contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance. Thousands of farms and rural households have been forced to cut down or shut down their agricultural activity.

To address this challenge, the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a new programme in Ukraine that combines demining, humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.

"By supporting the recovery of Ukraine's agricultural sector in areas exposed to war, we are helping Ukraine to improve its food security and revive its economy," says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

The programme has been prepared in close cooperation with the Ukrainian government. It is an example of a new kind of multi-stakeholder partnership that seeks to find more sustainable solutions by crossing sectoral boundaries.

The additional funding means that Finland's total contribution to humanitarian demining in Ukraine since the start of Russia's war will be approximately EUR 8.25 million.

Ukraine will hold an International Summit on Food Security on 25 November, drawing attention to the food security impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will deliver a pre-recorded address to the summit.

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis in Tallinn: "Signs of war fatigue are becoming more prominent in Western posture. We must combat it"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023.11.24

At the 29th Baltic Council on 24 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis noted that Ukraine's victory was an existential issue for the Baltic states and the West. Thus, support for Ukraine's fight must be our top priority in the near term.

"In 2024, we must continue to dedicate much time and effort to manage crises and prevent their consequences. But worse scenarios, which could directly impact the Baltic states' security, are also possible. Today, they don't seem unreal. Ukraine defends the rules-based international order at this moment. Therefore, Ukraine's victory is an existential issue not only for the Baltic states but also for the West, and our support for Ukraine's fight must be the most important priority in the near term," said the head of Lithuania's diplomacy in Tallinn.

According to the Foreign Minister, signs of war fatigue are becoming more prominent in Western posture.

"War fatigue is the phenomenon of societies living in peace. If Ukraine gave in to war fatigue, it would cease to exist. We must combat it - the West has enough structural power to provide Ukraine with the necessary support to achieve victory. Equally important is the question of what Europe we will live in after the war. In the Western capitals, discussions about future security architecture are already taking place. Even though not in the ramp light now, it is important that the voice of the Baltic states is clearly heard because, after the dawn of Day X, we will be the first to encounter Russia," Landsbergis said.

According to Landsbergis, the presence of the U.S. and NATO forces in the Baltic states is an essential element of security and defence in the Baltic region.

"We must strive for a permanent U.S. military deployment in the Baltic region. However, alliances need to be mutually beneficial. Therefore, we must be where the gaze of the United States is directed. We need to strengthen our cooperation with our like-minded partners from the Indo-Pacific. Only through joint effort can we preserve the rules-based international order and democratic norms from attempts by authoritarian countries to change them. We have endorsed Lithuania's Indo-Pacific Strategy. We have taken an important step in strengthening Lithuania's comprehensive cooperation with this region," said Landsbergis.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister also highlighted that it was imperative to maintain the pressure on Russia through sanctions and remain active shapers of the EU's sanctions policy.

According to Landsbergis, the Baltic states are an example of protecting the EU's external borders due to their geographical location. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure a unified regional implementation of sanctions while at the same time taking concrete and reinforced control measures in the fight against the circumvention of sanctions.

Landsbergis delivered a speech at the 29th Baltic Council, which adopted the Joint Statement of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.

In 2023, Estonia holds the Presidency of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers. In 2024, Lithuania will take the helm.

The Baltic Council of Ministers is a format for intergovernmental cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

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Lithuanian, Latvian Leaders Visit Kyiv As Russian Shelling, Drones Wreak Havoc Across Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 24, 2023

KYIV -- The leaders of Baltic allies Lithuanian and Latvia visited Kyiv on November 24, expressing continued support for the battle against the Russian invasion, while Ukraine struggled with disruptions to its electricity supply caused by Russian strikes and bad weather.

"At my first stop in Kyiv today, I paid respects to men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the most fundamental rights of a nation: to exist and to live in freedom," Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte wrote on X, formerly Twitter, together with a photo of herself laying a wreath at a memorial dedicated to the Ukrainians fallen defending their country against Russia's unprovoked and illegal invasion.

"They gave their lives to also defend all of us," Simonyte wrote. "The only way to achieve lasting and just peace is by helping Ukraine win as soon as possible, regain its full territorial integrity, serve international justice, and rebuild stronger."

Lithuanian media on November 23 reported that Simonyte will spend four days in Ukraine, without elaborating on her schedule.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he met with Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics, with talks focusing on Kyiv's defensive needs and the potential for Ukraine joining Latvia as a member of the EU.

In a joint news conference with Rinkevics, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv needed "three major victories" that "will stimulate it to fight the Russian Federation."

Zelenskiy said the "first victory" will be the decision of the U.S. Congress to provide assistance to Ukraine. The second will be the support of the European Union. In particular, he said, Ukraine should receive an aid package worth 50 billion euros ($55 billion).

The "third victory" is the opening of a dialogue on Ukraine's future membership in the EU, Zelenskiy said.

Meanwhile, Russian shelling and drone strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure continued on November 24, regional authorities and the military said.

Russia used three Iranian-made drones and two Kh-59 guided missiles in the attack, Ukraine's air defense said, adding that all drones had been shot down.

It did not give details about the areas that the attacks targeted.

In the western region of Khmelnitskiy, the deputy regional governor, Serhiy Tyuryn, said air defenses opened fire against incoming drones.

Tyuryn said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, in southern Ukraine, Russian shelling on the morning of November 24 destroyed a children's library in Kherson city, but there were no casualties, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram.

"Children's library. Six in the morning. A direct hit by a projectile. The barbarians destroyed the Kherson library, which for years delighted the youngest visitors and their parents," Prokudin wrote.

In Beryslav, in the same region, a civilian was wounded when a Russian drone dropped explosives on him, local authorities said.

Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Kherson from across the Dnieper River since they withdrew from the city one year ago in the face of the Ukrainian advances.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry, meanwhile, said that Russian attacks and increasingly bad weather had left 635 settlements without electricity across Ukraine.

Strong winds left 158 settlements without electricity in the Lviv, Volyn, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. In the southern Dnipropetrovsk region, almost 46,000 people were temporarily left without power due to technical reasons, the Ministry said.

The state-owned Ukrenerho power grid operator said in a statement that it had "activated emergency assistance from neighboring Romania with a total volume of 1,200 megawatts per hour" to make up for the shortages.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said on November 24 that its air defenses overnight shot down 16 Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea and the Volgograd region.

"Air-defense systems on duty destroyed 16 UAVs, 13 of which over the Crimean Peninsula and three over the territory of the Volgograd region," the ministry said on its Telegram channel, without providing details.

The claim could not be independently verified. Ukraine has not commented.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drones- russia-strikes/32698063.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine: UK national statement to the IAEA, November 2023

The UK statement at the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting, under agenda item 6: nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine.

24 November 2023

Chair, given the late hour I start with an apology for speaking for more than 3 minutes but I must begin by responding to comments from the Russian Federation related to the use of depleted uranium in Ukraine.

Chair, the United Kingdom has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades. This is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or nuclear capabilities. Russia knows this perfectly well because Russia also uses depleted uranium based ammunition. I hope, Chair, that the Russian Ambassador is not deliberately trying to mislead the Board and I emphasise that the UK is in full compliance with its safeguards obligations in this regard.

Chair, the United Kingdom thanks the Director General for his comprehensive report on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine and for the regular updates, the most recent of which was released earlier this week. These reports continue to provide the only independent source of information on the state of nuclear safety, security and safeguards at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under illegal Russian control.

Chair, we heard a long intervention from the Russian Ambassador, challenging multiple paragraphs of the DG's report before the Board today. However, we prefer to rely on the IAEA's assessment, which in our view, paints a worrying picture of the deterioration of nuclear safety at the ZNPP.

There is currently no comprehensive, systematic maintenance programme. Overall levels of maintenance are significantly lower than before the conflict. As the report states, "reduced maintenance of safety systems might result in a higher failure rate of other systems and components irrespective of the plant's shut down state, and might affect the safe operation of the plant."

Although the report refers to a small increase in daily staffing levels during the reporting period, the total number of staff has reduced significantly since the start of the conflict and this impacts safety across the site, including in the main control rooms.

Russia continues to replace experienced Ukrainian staff with new Russian personnel, unfamiliar with the site and its procedures.

The report states that the staffing situation is "not sustainable and may have implications for nuclear safety and security."

The Russian Ambassador disagreed with that assessment - that is his prerogative - but we prefer to believe the independent, expert assessment by the DG and his team.

Chair, in addition the report tells us that there is still no alternative steam source on site despite the regulatory order issued by the Ukrainian Regulator, SNRIU, on 8 June and repeated urging from the IAEA.

The IAEA team continues to struggle to secure adequate access, having to make advance requests and being "prevented from accessing critical areas for very long periods of time".

This means the IAEA cannot make a clear assessment that the DG's Five Concrete Principles are being observed at all times. For these reasons - and there are many more examples in the report - the situation at ZNPP should remain the Board's most serious nuclear safety concern.

For these reasons, Russia's seizure and continued control of ZNPP has been the focus of 3 Board of Governors resolutions and, most recently, a General Conference resolution, passed with cross regional support.

The Russian Ambassador talked about the number of votes in favour so I think it is important to remind colleagues that the resolution was adopted with only 6 votes against - an overwhelming majority in support. That resolution calls for the plant to be returned to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities and deals directly with matters of nuclear safety, security and safeguards, which have everything to do with this organisation's mandate.

In stark contrast to the situation at the ZNPP, the DG's report sets out the situation at Ukraine's other nuclear plants - those that are under Ukrainian control: All nuclear safety and security systems at South Ukraine, Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs continue to operate as designed and to be fully functional. The plants' operating staff conduct regular operational testing and preventive maintenance of the systems.

No failures or challenges to their operation were reported. All 3 plants have sufficient qualified operating staff to ensure the safe and secure plant operation.

All of this has been achieved against a backdrop of frequent air-raid alarms; a powerful explosion close to the Khmelnytskyy NPP, which damaged the windows of several buildings at the site; and, with the onset of winter, the looming threat of renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including power lines connected to the plants.

We recognise the heavy toll this takes on the Ukrainian operating staff and welcome the IAEA's work, with Ukraine, to support the physical and mental welfare of staff.

Given the Russian Ambassador's comments to this Board I will close with a reminder of the UN General Assembly Resolution adopted on 12 October 2022, which declared that, inter alia, the attempted illegal annexation of 4 regions of Ukraine on 4 October has no validity under international law.

With these remarks, the UK takes note of the report GOV/2023/59 and asks that it be made public.

Thank you, Chair.

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Ukraine now needs to maintain the assistance of its partners, and responsible states understand this - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

24 November 2023 - 19:48

Responsible states and leaders understand that Russia exploits various challenges in the world as much as possible to divert attention from any assistance to Ukraine, and they do everything to refocus attention on the war in our country to prevent a decrease in aid. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a media briefing after talks with President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics in Kyiv.

As the Head of State emphasized, Ukraine is also working at all levels with various countries and leaders, including with U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration, with both parties in Congress, and with the European Union, to maintain support for our country.

"We need three victories. The first is with Congress. It's a challenge. It's not easy. Not everything depends on us. But Ukraine must do everything it can, and even more, to ensure assistance. And I believe it will be," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The second important task, according to the President of Ukraine, is securing a EUR 50 billion aid package from the EU.

"Not everyone in the European Union is ready to support this package today. Our task is to make sure everyone supports this package," he said.

Furthermore, a significant motivational step for Ukrainians to continue the fight against Russian aggression should be the decision to start negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership.

"It is important for those working in the state, studying and teaching, and for those who sacrifice their lives on the battlefield," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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The Presidents of Ukraine and Latvia discussed the continued delivery and production of ammunition and armaments for the Defense Forces during their meeting in Kyiv

President of Ukraine

24 November 2023 - 19:33

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, who is visiting our country.

The Head of State thanked the President of Latvia for visiting the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv region, where Russian occupiers held Ukrainian prisoners in inhumane conditions for almost a month.

"This is just one of the few examples of Russian terror against Ukrainians, but this example is so eloquent in its cruelty that it is absolutely clear what modern Russia has become. We must win here in Ukraine, otherwise this evil of aggression may come to the cities and villages of other nations, especially Russia's neighbors," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with representatives of the media following the talks with Edgars Rinkevics in Kyiv.

The President of Ukraine expressed confidence that our country, together with its partners, has enough strength to stop the anti-European Russian aggression. He noted that Latvia has been assisting Ukraine from the first hours of the full-scale invasion by Russia.

The Head of State informed the Latvian leader about the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's defense needs.

"We are grateful for all the support Latvia has provided to our country. In particular, for the recent decision on the next package, which includes rounds, mortars, and other military equipment. We discussed how to make the supply and production of the necessary ammunition and weapons for our defense sustainable. I also turned to Mr. President regarding the possibility of supporting Ukraine with armored vehicles for evacuating our wounded soldiers from the battlefield," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The presidents discussed the possibilities of strengthening Ukrainian air defense, particularly on the front lines and in the coastal areas of the Black Sea.

The Head of State thanked Latvia for its support of the sanction policy against Russia.

He also expressed gratitude to all of Ukraine's partners seeking fair legal solutions to ensure that the assets of the aggressor are directed towards those affected by Russian aggression. The President emphasized that the aggressor's funds should contribute to the restoration of Ukraine after the hostilities, and our country will be grateful to Latvia for the relevant support.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of cooperation between Ukraine and Latvia in the energy sector, as well as in the reconstruction efforts, including the restoration of medical facilities, schools, and the construction of bomb shelters for educational infrastructure.

Additionally, the leaders discussed the relations between the two states at the institutional level within the European Union.

"Latvia has taken a principled stance in favor of Ukraine's full-fledged EU membership. I informed about the implementation of the recommendations of the European Commission by Ukraine, which was a prerequisite for opening the negotiations," the President said.

The Head of State thanked Latvia and personally Edgars Rinkevics for their readiness to maintain an energetic approach to EU cooperation with Ukraine.

During the meeting, the presidents also discussed efforts to implement the Peace Formula points.

Edgars Rinkevics expressed full support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and called it the only way to end the war in Ukraine.

He also said that Latvia is actively involved in the work to return to Ukraine children illegally deported by Russia.

In addition, the Republic of Latvia is ready for further cooperation in holding Russia accountable and establishing a corresponding tribunal.

The President of Latvia emphasized that political, economic, and military support for Ukraine from his country will remain unwavering.

"We discussed the continued military support for Ukraine. This year, Latvia has prepared 3,000 servicemen for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and we will do the same next year. We are also finalizing the preparation of the next package of military aid, which will be sent to Ukraine," Edgars Rinkevics said.

He also noted Ukraine's progress in reforms and meeting the criteria for European Union membership.

"We believe that the EU should react appropriately by initiating the negotiation process," said the President of Latvia.

Edgars Rinkevics emphasized the importance of ensuring the export of grain from Ukrainian ports, particularly to Global South countries, which will be discussed at the upcoming second summit of the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

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Mary Alice Newcomer, 102, has lived at the P.E.O. Home in Beatrice for about 10 years.

She has been a member of the PEO for 80 years. She takes pride in the home and living there.

Sept. 1, 2023 was the beginning of the 85th anniversary of the Beatrice P.E.O. Home.

Three centurions live in the home. The average age of the women is 96 years old.

People get real excited when they hear that Im that old, she said.

She provided a tour of each level of the home with Rose Fetty to provide history.

The land where the home sits was originally owned by Daniel Freeman. The house was built in 1880 for J.E. Smith for a total of $62,000. In 1904 R.J. Kilpatrick purchased the home. At his death in 1931, it was willed to J. Stewart Eliot. Eliot had been a child the Kilpatrick family took in after the passing of his parents. Years later, Eliot and his wife later gave the stately mansion to the Nebraska P.E.O. Chapter to be used as a retirement home for members.

The home has been remodeled throughout time. The steeple and the third floor, which was a ball room and maids quarters, were removed. Each room that has been remodeled was decorated to fit with the time period of the home.

P.E.O. was founded at Iowa Wesleyan University by seven women who wanted to help other women. It stands for philanthropic educational organization. There are only two P.E.O. homes in the United States now, although there had been others. There are 253 Nebraska Chapters of P.E.O. The sisterhood has awarded $414,633,107 to women furthering their education.

There were other homes, but they were not able to stay solvent, Fetty said. We are so fortunate to be able to have a licensed assisted living facility. We have room for 20 residents.

The family room was added after a donation from the Hughes family. It is used for exercise, Bible study groups, playing cards and watching television.

Newcomer made a replica of the P.E.O. Home for the 75th anniversary of the facility that sits in the main living room. The art is made from recycled materials.

Its all made of trash, she said. I added some Christmas pieces. I made the reindeer and they look a little like mosquitos, but they are reindeer.

A concert grand piano usually sits in the main level, however, had been taken to be refurbished by Beatrice native Morgan Cowell. It was scheduled to be returned to the home in the fall.

A new hallway with an elevator was added to the home.

A yellow and white star patterned quilt hangs in the hallway of the home on the main floor. The quilt was made by Ruth McFall McDermand, Newcomers mother.

Newcomer explained that her mother had been initiated into a Lincoln chapter of the PEO in 1907 and was a devoted member for nearly 50 years in different chapters throughout the state. She designed, pieced and stitched the quilt finishing it in 1921.

Newcomer said she has a lot of letters her parents wrote to each other and has written several books on genealogy for family members. She has also written stories for her family.

Ive written stories about my husband for family members, she said. So many didnt know Grandpa Joe and I wanted them to know him.

She showed off her room which is a two-room suite.

Fetty said each of the rooms were different in the home.

There are no two rooms alike, she said.

Newcomers trash cottage dollhouse is set up in her room. The dollhouse has unique details in each of the rooms and is decorated on the outside.

The most valuable boxes were toothpaste boxes, she said. The little butter cups started the whole thing. It looked like a little potty. Its sitting on a button.

I dont know how long it took to build this. I wasnt working just playing. I wasnt charging by the hour. It was just fun.

Fetty and Newcomer noted the basement houses the library, a family living room, kitchenette and dining area. The storage with the original brick floor to the building remains intact and many photos of historical significance are located in the hallways.

Newcomer talked briefly about her personal history. She had been married almost 40 years to James Newcomer. They had two daughters and one son.

She noted that she was a Home Economics teacher and an Early Childhood Education Director. She also spent time teaching adult sewing.

I loved working in early childhood education, she said.

Newcomer had written an extensive article about the P.E.O. and the history. She said she was distressed that people thought the home was a retirement home for teachers.

I just want people to know what were about, she said. We have so much history and want to keep the home going. We just need to let people know. Im passionate about P.E.O. Home and am fortunate to be here. It was really hard to leave my home, but it was time.

Fetty said people did not have to be P.E.O. member to live in the home but needs to have some affiliation, like a family member, to move into the home.

Theres a priority for Nebraska P.E.O. members, but members from other states are welcome too, she said.

Fetty is giving programs on the history of the P.E.O. as requested.

More information on the P.E.O. Home which is located at 413 N. 5th Street in Beatrice can be found at www.nebraskapeohome.org or by calling 402-228-4208. A copy of Mary Alice Newcomers article can be requested by calling the P.E.O. Home.
A portion of today's Staff meeting was devoted to a complex of issues for which our soldiers and society expect fair answers - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

24 November 2023 - 19:09

I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians!

Just concluded negotiations with the President of Latvia. It was a substantive conversation. We talked about the defensive support for our state, for our soldiers. About the sustainability of such support. In particular, we discussed the production and supply of ammunition - 155mm artillery - as well as the issue of medevac - special armored vehicles for evacuating our wounded soldiers. I am grateful to Latvia for its unwavering support for our European prospects - all the work towards the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Today, I informed Mr. President about our country's implementation of the European Commission's recommendations and our readiness for a political decision in December, as promised by the European side, opening the negotiation process. We expect this decision and the fulfillment of the European Union's promise. We discussed in detail with Mr. President mechanics of preparing the relevant EU decision.

I also spoke today with Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Thanked him for the support provided to Ukraine, for the recent decision on an additional EUR 2 billion for the next year. This is an important signal for other partners. Protecting our European way of life must continue, and unity in Europe is a key element for this. Mark and I also discussed our joint work on the Peace Formula, as well as important humanitarian initiatives like our Grain from Ukraine program. We are working together to preserve stability in critical regions of the world and thus protect our continent from waves of crises.

Today, I chaired an important and challenging meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff. Concerning not only the current situation on the front, although that was, as always, one of the main points. Our defensive, our offensive actions. Avdiivka, Donetsk direction, Maryinka, Kupiansk direction, southern directions. A significant part of today's meeting was dedicated to a complex of issues for which our soldiers and the entire society expect fair answers. This includes mobilization and demobilization, rotations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Issues regarding conscripts who were called to service before the start of the full-scale invasion. Of course, special attention was given to the situation with the work of the medical military commissions and military enlistment offices. What soldiers talk about, what commanders discuss must be resolved. Today, there were initial reports on this from Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny, Minister of Defense Umerov, Minister of Internal Affairs Klymenko, Minister of Health Liashko, and Chief of the General Staff Shaptala. I expect a more thorough analysis of each of these issues by both the government and the military and concrete proposals for state decisions.

I thank everyone who cares about Ukraine and Ukrainians! I thank each and every one who fights for the country and works for Ukrainian interests!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine President Seeks Key 'Victories' From Western Allies

By VOA News November 24, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that his country was looking for "three victories" from its Western allies, including the passage of two military aid packages a by the United States and the European Union a and the formal start of talks to join the European bloc.

"We need three victories. The first one is the victory with U.S. Congress. It's a challenge, it's not easy, but Ukraine is doing everything," Zelenskyy told a news conference in Kyiv.

President Joe Biden has proposed billions of dollars in new assistance for Ukraine, but the funding was not included in a stopgap measure Congress passed this month.

Some Republican lawmakers oppose approving more aid for Ukraine, but a majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress still support the additional aid.

In a statement Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken appealed to lawmakers to support Biden's latest funding request for Ukraine military aid.

"Helping Ukraine defend itself ... helps prevent larger conflict in the region and deters future aggression, which makes us all safer," Blinken said.

Zelenskyy said the second "victory" needed abroad was that "we need the help from the EU on the 50 billion-euro package," and "the third is to open a dialog about our future membership."

The European Union recently announced a 50 billion-euro package for Ukraine, but it has not yet been approved and is facing opposition by Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also said he is opposed to launching EU membership talks with Kyiv.

Zelenskyy made the comments at a joint news conference in Kyiv with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who expressed optimism that the EU aid package for Ukraine would eventually pass.

Moldova sanctions

In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it viewed Moldova's decision to join EU sanctions against it as a hostile step.

"We regard this as yet another hostile step by the Moldovan leadership, which is fully integrated into the anti-Russian campaign of the 'collective West,'" the ministry said in a statement.

"Its aim is the complete destruction of Russian-Moldovan relations," it said.

Moldova's parliament agreed to the sanctions against Russia on Friday, part of the country's bid to eventually join the European Union.

Russian crackdown

Russia's Justice Ministry said Friday that former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who later became a critic of the Kremlin, had been added to a registry of foreign agents.

Kasyanov served as prime minister for the first four years of Putin's administration but was fired in 2004.

He later became a prominent opposition figure, and after leaving the country in 2022, he criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The foreign agent law has been used against opposition figures and independent news media. It requires those designated as foreign agents who publish information to prominently label that the material comes from a foreign agent.

Battlefield

The Russian Defense Ministry said its missile defenses downed 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and three more over the Volgograd region early Friday.

Ukrainian officials did not comment on the Russian report.

Also Friday, officials in Ukraine said Russian forces were escalating their attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka.

Russia has been trying to capture the city since mid-October, in a brutal battle that has drawn parallels to the fight for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which Russia eventually captured after months of intense fighting.

The city sits on the front line five kilometers from Donetsk, the Russian-controlled capital of the region, one of four regions Moscow said it annexed from Ukraine.

The British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence update on the war that Russia continued to face "mass casualties from Ukrainian long-range precision strikes well behind the front line."

The ministry said that on November 10, more than 70 Russian troops were probably killed in a strike on a truck convoy 23 kilometers behind the front line in Hladkivka, a village in Kherson oblast. Then, the ministry said, a November 19 strike on an award ceremony or concert in Kumachove, 60 kilometers behind the lines, probably caused "tens" of casualties.

Ukraine, though, has suffered similar casualties, the update said, adding that a Russian missile killed 19 members of a Ukrainian brigade at a medal ceremony November 3.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Russia Facing 'Mass Casualties' from Ukrainian Strikes Behind Lines, UK Ministry Says

By VOA News November 24, 2023

Russia continues to face "mass casualties from Ukrainian long-range precision strikes well behind the front line" the British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence update on the war.

The ministry said that on November 10, more than 70 Russian troops were probably killed in a strike on a truck convoy 23 kilometers behind the front line in Hladkivka, a village in Kherson oblast. Then, the ministry said, a November 19 strike on an award ceremony or concert in Kumachove, 60 kilometers behind the lines, probably caused "tens" of casualties.

Ukraine, though, has suffered similar casualties, the update said, adding that a Russian missile killed 19 members of a Ukrainian brigade at a medal ceremony November 3.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian senior officials and soldiers said Thursday that Russia, which had bombarded the eastern city of Avdiivka for weeks, is now sending waves of troops toward the destroyed but strategically important spot in eastern Ukraine and is suffering terrible losses.

"The fields are just littered with corpses," Oleksandr, (one name) a deputy of a Ukrainian battalion in the 47th mechanized brigade, told Agence France-Presse.

"They are trying to exhaust our lines with constant waves of attacks," he said. He did not provide his full name for security reasons.

It is a strategy similar to the one Russia used against Bakhmut, a city it eventually captured.

Since mid-October, Russia has been trying to wrest the small city from Ukraine with no success, the Ukrainians say. The city sits on the front line 5 kilometers from Donetsk, the Russian-controlled capital of the region, one of four regions Moscow said it annexed from Ukraine.

Russia-backed separatists captured Avdiivka in 2014 and held it briefly before Ukrainian forces took it back and have been fortifying it ever since.

About 1,400 residents remain of the city's prewar population of 32,000, said Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiivka's military administration, who described the Russian onslaught as fierce.

"As regards the city, there is an average number of eight to 16 to 18 air attacks per day. Sometimes 30. We don't have time to count them," Barabash told Channel 24 television on Thursday. Russian reports on the war rarely mention Avdiivka.

Reuters could not independently verify battle reports from either side.

Earlier Thursday, four people were killed and five were wounded in Russian shelling in Ukraine's southern region of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said more than 60 residential and infrastructure buildings also were damaged in the attack.

"It is preliminarily known that the shelling was carried out with cluster munitions," Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said on Telegram. VOA could not independently verify that report.

The Russian army abandoned Kherson late last year but still regularly targets the area from the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

Meanwhile, Russian state television said Thursday one of its journalists died after being hurt in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine.

The Russian network announced the death of Boris Maksudov a day after the Russian defense ministry said he was hit while working in Zaporizhzhia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used part of his nightly address Wednesday to highlight new military aid packages from allies that he said include help for his country's air defenses.

Zelenskyy said the aid would better protect Ukraine's cities and towns from Russian attacks and that "Ukraine's sky shield is getting more powerful literally every month."

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia and ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp. (NEO: MOVE) (OTC: MOTND) (PowerTap or the Company or MOVE) is providing this update on the status of a management cease trade order granted on September 29, 2023 (the "MCTO") by the British Columbia Securities Commission under National Policy 12-203  Management Cease Trade Order ("NP 12-203").



On September 29, 2023, the Company announced that, for reasons disclosed in the news release, there would be a delay in the filing of its financial statements and accompanying managements discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 (the "Annual Filings") beyond the period prescribed under applicable Canadian securities laws (the "Default Announcement").

During the MCTO, the general investing public will continue to be able to trade in the Company's listed common shares. However, the Company's Chief Executive Office and Chief Financial Officer will not be able to trade in the Company's common shares.

Further to the last bi-weekly status update made on November 10, 2023, the Company advises that it has appointed Zeifmans LLP, as auditor of the Company, effective immediately.

The appointment of Zeifmans LLP was approved by the board of directors of the Company.

Other than as disclosed in this news release, there are no material changes to the information contained in the Default Announcement. The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of NP 12- 203 and will continue to issue bi-weekly default status reports for so long as it remains in default of the Annual Filings requirement.

ABOUT POWERTAP HYDROGEN CAPITAL CORP.

PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary, PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp. (PowerTap), is focused on installing hydrogen production and dispensing fueling infrastructure in the United States. PowerTaps patented solution has been developed over 20 years. PowerTap is now commercializing its third-generation blue hydrogen product that will focus on the refueling needs of the automotive and long-haul trucking markets that lack hydrogen fueling infrastructure.

www.PowerTapcapital.com www.PowerTapfuels.com

PowerTap Hydrogen common shares are listed on the NEO Exchange. Please visit the company's profile on the NEO Exchange website at https://www.cboe.ca/en/live/security-activity/MOVE#!/market-depth

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

PowerTap Contact:

Raghu Kilambi raghu@hydrogenfueling.co

+1 (949) 284-7060

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "could", "will", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations including negative variations thereof of such words and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, occur or be taken or achieved. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements relating to the expected development and operations of the Company, statements concerning the timing, review, completion and filing of the Annual Filings as well as the duration of the MCTO, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information included herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

This press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to, among other things, the timing and ability of the Company to complete the development and manufacture of its on-site hydrogen fueling units; finalizing supply chains; obtaining sufficient funding to complete and manufacture its on-side hydrogen fueling units; obtaining all necessary zoning and construction permits for locations hosting the fueling units; and the OEM's expectations for its trucks and market acceptance of electric trucks. Forward- looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, including without limitation, and risks related to the rollout of the OEMs business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on the Company's future business; the availability of capital; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports and documents filed with the applicable securities commissions, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Highlights:



Alaska Energy Metals Corporation has closed its previously announced acquisition to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of 1413336 B.C. Ltd., the owner of the Angliers-Belleterre nickel-copper project in western Quebec.

The TSX Venture Exchange has granted conditional approval and has granted the Company permission for the completion of this acquisition.

The target companys assets include approximately $2.8 million in cash.

The Angliers-Belleterre property is underlain by komatiitic ultramafic flow rocks and differentiated gabbro rocks in a regional setting thought to be a mantle plume. The setting is similar to that of the Kambalda nickel district in Australia.

Significant nickel prospects on adjacent claims, for example, the Midrim nickel prospect, appear to trend onto the Angliers-Belleterre project, and there is a six-kilometre-long belt of nickel-enriched rocks documented by the Quebec government on the project.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSX-V: AEMC, OTCQB: AKEMF) (AEMC or the Company) is pleased to announce it has closed its previously announced acquisition to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of 1413336 BC Ltd. (141 BC). The acquisition of 141 BC was effected through a Share Exchange Agreement between the Company, 141 BC, and the security holders of 141 BC dated November 7, 2023 (the Agreement). 141 BC is Arms Length to the Company, and its assets are comprised of the Angliers-Belleterre nickel-copper project (the Angliers project) in western Quebec and approximately $2.8 million in cash.

In consideration for the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of 141 BC, AEMC has issued a total of 31,827,720 AEMC shares (the Consideration Shares) and 4,105,958 AEMC warrants to the security holders of 141 BC on a one to one (1:1) basis for their existing shares and warrants of 141 BC. The deemed price of the Consideration Shares is $0.315 per share.

24,000,001 of the Consideration Shares are subject to a three-year escrow hold period, with 10% of the escrowed securities being releasable at the time of the Final TSX-V Bulletin, and 15% of the escrowed securities being releasable every six months thereafter until released in full.

7,827,719 of the Consideration Shares are subject to a 60-day contractual hold period.

The warrants will be exercisable at $0.80 for a period of two years from the date of issuance.

No finders fees are payable for this transaction.

The parties have agreed to an area of mutual interest for a term of five years covering three kilometres of the outer boundaries of the Angliers project.

Management believes that by virtue of owning a Quebec project, AEMC will have greater access to inexpensive flow-through capital and be eligible for rebates on exploration expenditures.

Alaska Energy Metals President & CEO Gregory Beischer commented: This is an area with which I am highly familiar, having studied it while stationed in Quebec in the late 1990s during my first career with INCO, which at the time was the largest nickel producer globally. We were attracted by the ultramafic flow rocks and the geologic conditions permissive for high-grade massive sulfide deposits. There are some great prospects nearby that clearly show the nickel-copper sulfide deposit-forming processes were operative in the area. It will be exciting to take a modern exploration approach to this project.

The Company has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSX-V) to complete this acquisition and has been permitted to close the acquisition in return for the Companys undertaking that it will not post the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report conducted on the Angliers Project on SEDAR+ until all remaining TSX-V comments have been resolved.

The property is subject to a 2.5% net smelter returns production royalty that can be reduced to 1.5% by paying the royalty holders $1.5 million.

Angliers Property

The Angliers property is large, consisting of 454 claims covering 24,182.64 hectares. Located in Angliers and Belleterre townships in the Temiscamingue region of western Quebec near the Ontario border. The town of Angliers lies at the northern end of the claim block, and St. Eugene de Guiges at the southern end of the claim block. Access is facilitated by paved highways and gravel roads.

Komatiitic ultramafic flow rocks and differentiated gabbro rocks form part of the Archean volcanic stratigraphy of the Baby Group, in a regional setting thought to be a mantle plume (MB 2020-12 published by the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests geologists Richer-Lafleche, Moorhead and Goutier). Mantle plume areas are known to localize a variety of base metal deposits from magmatic nickelcopper to polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. The plume area tapped mantle-derived magmas with primitive trace element geochemical signatures in mafic-ultramafic rocks. Primitive rock chemistry is documented in the MB2020-12 report. Komatiites (ultramafic lava flows) and magnesium-rich gabbroic rocks are important rock types for the formation of the Kambalda (Australia) district type of deposit nickel deposits. The same genetic mode may apply at the Angliers project. Kambalda is a very rich district with multiple deposits of high-grade massive sulfide deposits.

Nickel sulfides are documented in a series of prospects located one to three kilometres east of the Angliers project. Airborne magnetic surveys indicate that the stratigraphy hosting these prospects probably extends onto the Angliers property under deeper overburden cover, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Claim map on airborne magnetic base map showing potential extension of Midrim nickel  copper deposit host stratigraphy onto Angliers project claims, and elevated nickel in rock samples in northern magnetic belt.

In the north part of the claim block, there is a belt of highly magnetic rocks. Sampling by the Quebec government has shown that there is strongly anomalous nickel in rock samples over a six-kilometre-long trend.

An artificial intelligence analysis and synthesis of data was recently performed by 141BC. The results of the work highlighted the potential of both the southern and northern mineralized trends and served to focus future exploration efforts. AEMC will further compile all available public data, then, with results in hand, perform targeted geophysical surveys to develop drill targets.

In addition to magmatic nickel-copper deposits, the Angliers property is also prospective for gold and polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.

FlowThrough Financing and Exploration Rebates

With a project in Quebec, AEMC will be eligible to fund exploration by raising flow-through financing. The Company will also be able to take advantage of some of the exploration expenditure rebates offered by the Quebec government to stimulate mineral exploration, especially for critical metals like nickel.

Gregory Beischer, the Companys president and chief executive officer, is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/

About Alaska Energy Metals

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation is focused on delineating and developing a large polymetallic exploration target containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chrome, iron, platinum, palladium and gold. Its main projected, located in development-friendly central Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, the project is well-situated to become a significant, domestic source of critical and strategic energy-related metals. The Company is now bringing forward the Angliers  Belleterre project in Quebec.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Gregory Beischer

Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO

Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164

Sarah Mawji, Public Relations

Final Edit Media and Public Relations

Email: sarah@finaleditpr.com

Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation, that (a) AEMC will be eligible to fund exploration by raising flow-through financing or that it will be relatively less expensive than other financing options, (b) AEMC will be able to acquire exploration expenditure rebates from the Quebec government (c) AEMC will explore the Angliers project as planned, and (d) all outstanding TSX-V comments to the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report will be resolved as anticipated. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve 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 statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. 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 may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a305b9c-a4a9-4fbf-ba6d-d1df39336cdd
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MPW) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.



Class Period: May 23, 2023  Aug. 17, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Nov. 28, 2023

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/MPW

Contact An Attorney Now: MPW@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MPW) Securities Fraud Class Action:

The litigation focuses on the propriety of Medical Properties Trusts statements about its recapitalization transaction (Recap Transaction) with its third largest tenant, Prospect Medical Holdings.

The complaint alleges Medical Properties Trust misrepresented and failed to disclose that: (i) the Recap Transaction was subject to regulatory approval and (ii) on or about July 20, 2023, the company had received an order from the Californias Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) placing the transaction on hold.

Investors learned the truth on Aug. 18, 2023, when the Wall Street Journal reported on Medical Properties Trust and, referring to the Recap Transaction, said that [t]he nations largest hospital landlord said an unusual transaction that provided crucial financial support for one of its biggest tenants was a done deal[] and [i]t wasnt. The WSJ further reported that on Aug. 8, 2023, the company said the transaction boosted its revenue while in possession of an order by a California state regulator putting the transaction on hold and observed that Medical Properties Trust did not disclose the regulators order when it filed its quarterly earnings report.

In response, the price of Medical Properties Trust shares fell significantly lower on Aug. 18, 2023.

Were focused on investors losses and investigating whether senior management had a duty to disclose the California regulators hold order, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Medical Properties Trust and have significant 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 Medical Properties Trust case and our investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Medical Properties Trust 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 MPW@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.

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Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.
Montana public land leases produced an unexpected $161 million for public schools in the last fiscal year, state officials reported this week.

Coal was the unexpectedly big contributor for Montana schools and other public institutions primarily because complications with federal leasing forced the states only underground coal mine into state-owned coal deposits. The result was an unexpected $37 million increase in revenue, reports the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

The only time the state received more revenue from coal was in 2010 when Arch Coal paid $86 million to develop the never-materialized Otter Creek mine in southeast Montana. Ach cut the check but went bankrupt six years later.

Aside from 2010...more revenue was received through minerals activities this year than has ever been generated in past years exceeding the next largest amount by $18 million, DNRCs Ryan Weiss told the Montana Land Board this week. The largest contributor to this significant increase in revenue was due to coal royalties received from mining a single panel of underground state-owned coal seam at the Signal Peak coal mine, generating over $37 million and an average coal price of $120 a ton.

Montana coal production is downward trending, said Weiss, DNRCs deputy trust lands administrator, who noted the possibility of a mine closure in the next few years. Lee Montana newspapers analysis of coal production for four quarters ending in September, showed a decline of more than a million tons over the same period a year earlier, with production at one mine below 2 million tons due to declining demand.

The Signal Peak boost was an outlier brought about by the mines permitting challenges with federal coal. In March, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy vacated federal approval allowing Signal Peak to mine federal coal at its underground mine 40 miles north of Billings. The federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement had failed to consider the consequences of carbon emissions generated when Signal Peaks coal was eventually burned at power plants most likely in Japan, South Korea, or South America.

The mine was preparing to expand into 900,000 tons of federal coal when the court decision was issued. The expansion was to be the first step in a 175-million-ton mining project. After the ruling, Signal Peak relocated its longwall mining equipment to a pocket of state and private coal, generating an unexpected boost in Montana coal royalties.

The five-member Land Board consists of the states top 5 statewide elected officials, the auditor, attorney general, governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction. The board meets one day a month, but the political importance of natural resource extraction in Republican election culture gives the Land Board an outsized priority in elections.

There were other trust land revenue sources that high-marked in the state 2023 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Oil and gas revenues were at their highest point in nearly a decade largely because of increases in oil prices and a 31% increase in production, according to DNRC.

Timber harvests generated $8 million. Recreational and public access generated $1.86 million, mostly through the sale of conservation licenses.

Monday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen accepted checks total $57.7 million for K-12 education. DNRC estimated the contribution from the Common Schools Fund per student to be $323.
Highlights:



Alaska Energy Metals Corp. has closed its previously announced acquisition to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of 1413336 B.C. Ltd., the owner of the Angliers-Belleterre nickel-copper project in western Quebec.

The TSX Venture Exchange has granted conditional approval and has granted the Company permission for the completion of this acquisition.

The target company's assets include approximately $2.8 million in cash.

The Angliers-Belleterre property is underlain by komatiitic ultramafic flow rocks and differentiated gabbro rocks in a regional setting thought to be a mantle plume. The setting is similar to that of the Kambalda nickel district in Australia.

Significant nickel prospects on adjacent claims, for example, the Midrim nickel prospect, appear to trend onto the Angliers-Belleterre project, and there is a six-kilometre-long belt of nickel-enriched rocks documented by the Quebec government on the project.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 24, 2023 -- Alaska Energy Metals Corp. (TSX-V: AEMC, OTCQB: AKEMF) ("AEMC" or "the Company") is pleased to announce it has closed its previously announced acquisition to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of 1413336 BC Ltd. ("141 BC"). The acquisition of 141 BC was effected through a Share Exchange Agreement between the Company, 141 BC, and the security holders of 141 BC dated November 7, 2023 (the "Agreement"). 141 BC is Arm's Length to the Company, and its assets are comprised of the Angliers-Belleterre nickel-copper project (the "Angliers project") in western Quebec and approximately $2.8 million in cash.

In consideration for the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of 141 BC, AEMC has issued a total of 31,827,720 AEMC shares (the "Consideration Shares") and 4,105,958 AEMC warrants to the security holders of 141 BC on a one to one (1:1) basis for their existing shares and warrants of 141 BC. The deemed price of the Consideration Shares is $0.315 per share.

24,000,001 of the Consideration Shares are subject to a three-year escrow hold period, with 10% of the escrowed securities being releasable at the time of the Final TSX-V Bulletin, and 15% of the escrowed securities being releasable every six months thereafter until released in full.

7,827,719 of the Consideration Shares are subject to a 60-day contractual hold period.

The warrants will be exercisable at $0.80 for a period of two years from the date of issuance.

No finder's fees are payable for this transaction.

The parties have agreed to an area of mutual interest for a term of five years covering three kilometres of the outer boundaries of the Angliers project.

Management believes that by virtue of owning a Quebec project, AEMC will have greater access to inexpensive flow-through capital and be eligible for rebates on exploration expenditures.

Alaska Energy Metals President & CEO Gregory Beischer commented: "This is an area with which I am highly familiar, having studied it while stationed in Quebec in the late 1990s during my first career with INCO, which at the time was the largest nickel producer globally. We were attracted by the ultramafic flow rocks and the geologic conditions permissive for high-grade massive sulfide deposits. There are some great prospects nearby that clearly show the nickel-copper sulfide deposit-forming processes were operative in the area. It will be exciting to take a modern exploration approach to this project."

The Company has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") to complete this acquisition and has been permitted to close the acquisition in return for the Company's undertaking that it will not post the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report conducted on the Angliers Project on SEDAR+ until all remaining TSX-V comments have been resolved.

The property is subject to a 2.5% net smelter returns production royalty that can be reduced to 1.5% by paying the royalty holders $1.5 million.

Angliers Property

The Angliers property is large, consisting of 454 claims covering 24,182.64 hectares. Located in Angliers and Belleterre townships in the Temiscamingue region of western Quebec near the Ontario border. The town of Angliers lies at the northern end of the claim block, and St. Eugene de Guiges at the southern end of the claim block. Access is facilitated by paved highways and gravel roads.

Komatiitic ultramafic flow rocks and differentiated gabbro rocks form part of the Archean volcanic stratigraphy of the Baby Group, in a regional setting thought to be a mantle plume (MB 2020-12 published by the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests geologists Richer-Lafleche, Moorhead and Goutier). Mantle plume areas are known to localize a variety of base metal deposits from magmatic nickel-copper to polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. The plume area tapped mantle-derived magmas with "primitive" trace element geochemical signatures in mafic-ultramafic rocks. Primitive rock chemistry is documented in the MB2020-12 report. Komatiites (ultramafic lava flows) and magnesium-rich gabbroic rocks are important rock types for the formation of the Kambalda (Australia) district type of deposit nickel deposits. The same genetic mode may apply at the Angliers project. Kambalda is a very rich district with multiple deposits of high-grade massive sulfide deposits.

Nickel sulfides are documented in a series of prospects located one to three kilometres east of the Angliers project. Airborne magnetic surveys indicate that the stratigraphy hosting these prospects probably extends onto the Angliers property under deeper overburden cover, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Claim map on airborne magnetic base map showing potential extension of Midrim nickel - copper deposit host stratigraphy onto Angliers project claims, and elevated nickel in rock samples in northern magnetic belt.

In the north part of the claim block, there is a belt of highly magnetic rocks. Sampling by the Quebec government has shown that there is strongly anomalous nickel in rock samples over a six-kilometre-long trend.

An "artificial intelligence" analysis and synthesis of data was recently performed by 141BC. The results of the work highlighted the potential of both the southern and northern mineralized trends and served to focus future exploration efforts. AEMC will further compile all available public data, then, with results in hand, perform targeted geophysical surveys to develop drill targets.

In addition to magmatic nickel-copper deposits, the Angliers property is also prospective for gold and polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.

Flow-Through Financing and Exploration Rebates

With a project in Quebec, AEMC will be eligible to fund exploration by raising flow-through financing. The Company will also be able to take advantage of some of the exploration expenditure rebates offered by the Quebec government to stimulate mineral exploration, especially for critical metals like nickel.

Gregory Beischer, the Company's president and chief executive officer, is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/

About Alaska Energy Metals

Alaska Energy Metals Corp. is focused on delineating and developing a large polymetallic exploration target containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chrome, iron, platinum, palladium and gold. It's main projected, located in development-friendly central Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, the project is well-situated to become a significant, domestic source of critical and strategic energy-related metals. The Company is now bringing forward the Angliers - Belleterre project in Quebec.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Gregory Beischer"

Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO

Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164

Sarah Mawji, Public Relations

Final Edit Media and Public Relations

Email: sarah@finaleditpr.com

Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation, that (a) AEMC will be eligible to fund exploration by raising flow-through financing or that it will be relatively less expensive than other financing options, (b) AEMC will be able to acquire exploration expenditure rebates from the Quebec government (c) AEMC will explore the Angliers project as planned, and (d) all outstanding TSX-V comments to the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report will be resolved as anticipated. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve 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 statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. 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 may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a305b9c-a4a9-4fbf-ba6d-d1df39336cdd
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For years, San Antonios leaders have been urging Congress to fund construction of a new federal courthouse in the citys downtown. The current courthouse, originally built as a theater in the 1960s, lacks adequate security and is plagued by poor ventilation and unsafe drinking water. Now the effort is paying off. Congress has cut funding for courthouses in recent years, but the latest budget includes money for eight new ones, and San Antonio is on the list.The victory for the city was aided, in part, by lobbyists hired over a long period of years. While one government lobbying another doesnt often receive the same attention as lobbying by private industries, its an everyday occurrence in state capitols and in Washington. Data reported by the Center for Responsive Politics indicates that states, localities and their associations collectively spent $71 million in federal lobbying last year. The education sector, primarily colleges and universities, spent another $77 million. When combined, more was spent on those two areas of public-sector lobbying than defense, oil and gas, and some other major industries.Intergovernmental relations is one of those under-the-radar-activities for any city, says Jeff Coyle, who heads government affairs for San Antonio. How a city relates to and is governed by states and the federal government is crucially important to people in the community, whether they realize it or not.Some governments employ dedicated intergovernmental relations staff, and a select few larger cities maintain personnel in Washington. Many contract with private lobbying firms to give them broader reach. State and national associations further represent governments and groups of officials on a range of issues.At the federal level, top priorities of state and local government associations include protecting tax exemption for municipal bonds and seeking the authority to collect sales taxes from online retailers. Whether its education, advocating or lobbying, those who are closest to the people ought to have a seat at the table in informing decisions made by other levels of government, says Carolyn Coleman, director of federal advocacy for the National League of Cities.Puerto Rico spent about $2.3 million lobbying federal lawmakers last year -- more than any other government -- as lawmakers debated how to help address the territorys fiscal crisis. Most of the large spenders were universities -- 14 spent more than $500,000 each on lobbying last year. San Antonio spent just under $200,000 on its federal lobbying efforts, which included the campaign for the new courthouse. Its always a challenge to make sure were high enough on the priority list, says San Antonios Coyle, while living within what we can afford.In state capitols, localities are increasingly pushing back against laws limiting their jurisdiction on issues ranging from local fracking bans to minimum-wage ordinances. While many such proposals reflect partisan rivalries, others involve budgetary restrictions or operational measures that carry major implications. One bill San Antonio and other Texas localities fought last year proposed sharply reducing the amount that municipal property tax revenues could increase in the absence of an election. We spend 80 percent of our time playing defense, Coyle says, protecting our ability to make decisions at the local level rather than have state government dictate what we do.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not only supported a variety of preemption efforts but has repeatedly called for a prohibition on school districts or their boards spending money to lobby the legislature. Abbott sees the practice as a conflict of interest. School districts should directly represent the needs of their schools and not waste taxpayer resources on lobbyists, he said during a 2013 campaign speech.Two bills introduced in the Texas Legislature last year targeted government lobbying more broadly. A state senate proposal would bar political subdivisions that impose taxes from using public funds to influence legislation, with exceptions.State Sen. Konni Burton, the bills sponsor, views government lobbying as an improper use of public funds, saying it puts an unnecessary layer between state and local elected officials. While Burton says she is comfortable with government associations disseminating information on bills, she doesnt think they should lobby actively. Our taxpayer dollars are being used to work against us in Austin, Burton says. When I say that Im against taxpayer-funded lobbying, it gets a huge round of applause.Local officials in Texas say that they need a lobbying voice in state decision-making as they dont have the time or resources to keep up with the thousands of bills introduced each session. Many serve only part time, and the Capitol is a long drive away in a state as large as Texas.The Texas Association of Counties fears that the anti-lobbying bills could make it easier for the state to impose new unfunded mandates on the localities. Theres a lot of political hay to be made that associations like ours are out to lobby against the best interests of taxpayers, says Paul Sugg, the associations legislative director. Were trying to limit government and limit new burdens that add to the property tax.The government lobbying bills stalled in the Texas Legislature this year, failing to making it out of committee in either the House or Senate. Burton plans to reintroduce her bill next session.Data on just how much localities spend lobbying state legislatures is scant. A few legislatures have enacted laws requiring localities to report their lobbying expenses to the state. Nevadas local governments recorded $3.3 million in lobbying expenditures last year, while Minnesotas total exceeded $8.9 million.At the federal level, lobbying expenditures for states, localities and their associations have remained flat the past three years after peaking at $95.7 million in 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.Opposition has mostly come from conservative groups who argue its a waste of taxpayer money. Three residents of Williamson County, Texas, won a lawsuit against the county in 2008, citing a state statute that blocks counties from spending general fund revenues, in most cases, on dues to an association that attempts to influence legislation. A judge ordered the Texas Association of Counties to stop using county-paid dues for lobbying, so the group now funds the expenses using other sources of revenue.Outside of Texas, some public-sector groups include lobbying services in membership dues, while others allow governments to pay for representation separately. Governments and their associations are subject to more limitations than other lobby groups, such as not engaging in grassroots lobbying campaigns or attempts to influence elections.
Alonso better than Hamilton and Verstappen says Kubica

Aston Martin wants to sign a new contract with Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso, Las Vegas GP 2023

 Aston Martin Racing

On Thursday in Abu Dhabi, the Spaniard said his first year with the Silverstone based team was one of his best-ever performances in a long and successful Formula 1 career.

His friend and former rival Robert Kubica agrees.

Alonso, said the Pole when asked if he would sign the Spaniard or seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton if he was running a F1 team.

In my opinion, Alonso is the strongest of everyone even with an uncompetitive car, he told Gurulandia. Better even than Max Verstappen?

In an uncompetitive car, yes, Kubica insisted.

Alonso left Alpine last winter to join Aston Martin because the former team admitted it had concerns about the 42-year-old's advancing years.

No, I'm not concerned, Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack insisted on Friday when asked if Alonso's age is even a factor when contemplating the possibility of a contract extension for 2025.

Alonso is already under contract for 2024.
Alpine's Brivio could return to MotoGP

A top Alpine official looks set to return to his more familiar two-wheeled world.

Esteban Ocon, Las Vegas GP 2023

 Alpine

Davide Brivio was headhunted by Alpine's Formula 1 team in 2021, becoming racing director. But having thrived in MotoGP as team boss at Suzuki, the Italian struggled to adjust to F1 and is currently director of racing expansion projects at the Renault-owned carmaker.

France's Auto Hebdo now reports that Brivio is being wooed back to MotoGP by Honda to replace struggling team boss Alberto Puig.

When asked about the rumour in Abu Dhabi, Alpine's F1 boss Bruno Famin insisted: "You know the answer in this case - we do not comment on rumours.

I cannot say anything about that.

Honda's Puig, meanwhile, told Speedweek that he has a valid contract for 2024.
No Sargeant-Vesti decision in Abu Dhabi says Vowles

Rumours that Abu Dhabi is Logan Sargeant's last Formula 1 race for now are building steam.

Logan Sargeant, Las Vegas GP 2023

 Williams

Mercedes junior and top Formula 2 driver Frederik Vesti, a 21-year-old Dane, practiced in Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes on Friday - and is being linked with a debut for Mercedes-powered Williams in Sargeant's place for 2024.

When asked about whether he will be offered a new contract for 2024, American Sargeant admitted in Abu Dhabi: It's a good question. Honestly, I don't know.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher says he was surprised to see and hear Williams boss James Vowles' answer when he asked about Sargeant's future in Las Vegas.

I thought it's probably because Vesti is on the wish list and they're watching him closely here in Abu Dhabi, he told Sky Deutschland. "I hear that Williams will be allowed to see the data.

Maybe they have to take the decision for next year now, the German added.

Vowles, though, who is still close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff despite becoming Williams' new team boss this year, says he's not ready to make the call.

The decision will not be made this weekend in Abu Dhabi, he said.
Okyeame Kwame meets former US Vice President Al Gore at a Climate programme

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Nov - 25 - 2023 , 07:28

Award winning Ghanaian musician and Climate Clock Ambassador, Okyeame Kwame, has met the former US vice president Al Gore in Accra during the 54th Climate Reality Leadership Training recently.

The session which was led by Al Gore was one of the largest gatherings of scientists, experts and youth across the African continent providing overview of the latest climate science, existing policies, solutions and opportunities for advocates to make a difference.

In a tweet, Okyeame Kwame expressed his excitement about meeting the former Vice President and his commitments to climate change advocacy.

Since 2015, Okyeame Kwame has been at the forefront of Climate change advocacy when he was signed the ambassador for Redd Plus Campaign which was organised by the Forestry Commission of Ghana.

In 2018, he was also appointed ambassador for the Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) with was a World Bank programme spearheaded by Solidaridad and has since been leading campaigns on climate change.

And in July this year, the onetime VGMA Artiste of the year, successfully organised the Climate champions walk to demand requisite policies from the Parliament of Ghana to protect the environment.

Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman for Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change applauded renowned Ghanaian rapper, Okyeame Kwame for leading advocacy on climate change in the country.

Okyeame Kwame has stoked intellectual conversations following some unpopular ideals about nature, possibly borne out of his love for the safety of the environment. (Read Okyeame Kwame: Disagree with my opinions but dont tell me my mother)

Woso, Made in Ghana', 'Faithful', 'Yeeko', 'Sika', and the latest 'Insha Allah' featuring King Paluta has earned the father of two a reputable status in Ghanaian music circles.
In the series "The Protein Problem," The Associated Press examines how different parts of the world can raise their livestock without exhausting the planet.

AP correspondent Jaime Holguin reports on the story behind the story in a conversation with AP correspondent Jon Fahey.

AP correspondent Tiffany Wang also has several reports on different aspects of "The Protein Problem." Those include:

Beef is a way of life in Texas, but it's hard on the planet. One rancher in America thinks she can change that.

Demand for seafood is soaring, but oceans are giving up all they can. Can we farm fish in new ways? Learn about an environment-friendly method of fish farming that grows fish indoors.

Pastoralists have raised livestock in harsh climates for millennia. What can they teach us today? Learn more about Mongolian pastoralism that are good for the environment.

Poverty is killing the Amazon rainforest. Treating soil and farmers better can help save what's left. Learn about the dilemma of people in poverty and rainforest preservation in the Amazon.

Read more about "The Protein Problem" from The Associated Press

EDITORS NOTE  These stories are part of The Protein Problem, an AP series that examines the question: Can we feed this growing world without starving the planet?

Eating less meat would be good for the Earth. Small nudges can change behavior One of the thorniest problems of the 21st century is how to get people to eat less meat. A new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that most U.S. adults said they eat meat at least several times a week. About two-thirds said they eat chicken or turkey that often, and 43% eat beef that frequently. Experts agree that the urgency of climate change and the demands of a surging global population call for an overhaul of how humans get their protein. That will require changing consumer behavior. One answer? Small nudges to eat less meat.

Pastoralists have raised livestock in harsh climates for millennia. What can they teach us today? Pastoralists in Senegal and Mongolia draw on millennia of experience to raise livestock in harsh, volatile climates. But they and other pastoralists around the world face mounting pressures from deteriorating environments, shrinking rangelands, and new generations who seek a less grueling and tenuous life. At the same time, pastoralism is modernizing, with groups leveraging new technology to better care for their animals. In fact, the practice has survived for so long because it is designed to adapt to changing environments. Experts say it provides lessons that could help those who raise livestock at much larger scales adapt to climate change.

Meat made from cells, not livestock, is here. But will it ever replace traditional meat? More than 150 startups around the globe are chasing the same ambitious goal: meat conjured from animal cells that doesnt require raising and killing animals. The aim is to make it affordable and taste and feel like the meat we eat now. The ultimate goal? To use cell biology to reduce the environmental impact of the worlds ever-increasing demand for meat and change global protein production the way electric cars are shaking up the auto industry. Companies making so-called cultivated" meat are trying to scale up quickly. But they face scientific hurdles and public perception issues, and wide adoption is nowhere near assured.

Demand for seafood is soaring, but oceans are giving up all they can. Can we farm fish in new ways? Aquaculture has been the fastest growing food sector in the world for decades, and people now eat more farmed fish than wild fish. Fish farming and shellfish production usually spew far less greenhouse gas emissions than production of beef and other animal protein, but aquaculture can still cause serious environmental problems. Many are like problems that face massive chicken, pig and cattle operations. Faced with stinging criticism and tighter regulations  and eager to meet demand  fish farmers are trying new ways to boost production and minimize harm.

Plant-based meat is a simple solution to climate woes - if more people would eat it Climate scientists have long said that eating more plants and fewer animals is among the simplest, cheapest and most readily available ways for people to reduce their impact on the environment. And an explosion of new types of plant-based meat made from made from soybeans and other plants has emerged as a possible solution. But even though the products have come a long way from the dry veggie patties of the past, they haven't converted enough meat lovers to make enough of an impact. New techniques are in development, however, with hopes of satisfying our enduring craving for flesh with plants.

Poverty is killing the Amazon rainforest. Treating soil and farmers better can help save what's left Saving the remaining Amazon rainforest in Brazil will require ensuring that the 28 million people who live there can sustainably make a living. An AP analysis of data derived from satellite images showed that a vast area of the Amazon -- larger than the size of Portugal -- has been cleared for agriculture, then abandoned because of poor soil quality. Simple low-cost farming practices, such as planting legumes to enrich soil with nitrogen, can help farmers get more out of already cleared areas. And developing sustainable supply chains for rainforest fruits can help people derive money from standing forest.

Beef is a way of life in Texas, but it's hard on the planet. This rancher thinks she can change that For generations, beef has been the most quintessential of American main courses, and a premium protein around the world. Its also the single most damaging food for the planet. Beef is the largest agricultural source of greenhouse gasses worldwide, and it has a bigger carbon footprint than any other type of protein. Climate scientists say the answer is simple: Eat less beef and raise fewer cattle. But most people are consuming more beef, not less. Researchers and ranchers are looking for solutions. Among them is regenerative ranching. It's a practice in which cows are moved frequently to different pastures in an effort to restore the soil.

 Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.
The Ghanaian Perspective: Opinion Articles on Current Issues

People and Places: Cape Three Points

Douglas Anane-Frimpong Features Nov - 25 - 2023 , 09:22

Cape Three Points is a small peninsula located between the coastal villages of Dixcove and Princess Town along the West Coast, which is often described as the southernmost part of Ghana. It is in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.

Due to its proximity to the Null Island, Cape Three Points is sometimes referred to as the land nearest nowhere. The Null Island is the location where the Prime Meridian and the Equator intersect at latitude zero degrees and longitude zero degrees (0N 0E).

It is a point in the Gulf of Guinea, about 600 kilometres (370 mi) off the coast of Ghana. The nearest land to Null Island is a small islet 570 km (354 mi; 307.8 nmi) to the north that is part of Ghana. The nearest point on the mainland is Achowa Point between the coastal towns of Akwidaa and Dixcove in the Western Region.

The village of Cape Three Points is the southernmost community in Ghana, with beautiful beaches and picturesque landscapes. Atinkyin, the local name of Cape Three Points village, means the salt has been taken out.

Key attractions at Cape Three Points are its lighthouses, the first of which was constructed in 1875 by the British to aid navigation of trading vessels sailing through the Gulf of Guinea. After the initial structure deteriorated, a much bigger and improved one was constructed close by to replace it. The current structure, which was completed in 1925, is one of the seven lighthouses along the coast across four regions in Ghana. It is still in good shape and functioning.

A view from the top of the lighthouse reveals a picturesque view of the rock formations dotted along the coastline into the sea. Also is a panoramic view of the Gulf of Guinea and the rainforest reserve on the west coast.

It is said that one could also catch a glimpse of migrating whales and dolphins at certain times of the year. The lighthouse is open to the public throughout the week.
The Ghanaian Perspective: Opinion Articles on Current Issues

Tackling galamsey impact: Land reclamation needed in 5 northern regions

Mohammed Fugu Features Nov - 25 - 2023 , 08:54

The scars and devastating impact of illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, are staring in the faces of residents of mining communities in the northern part of the country.

While some residents, particularly illustrious young men are very often falling into abandoned pits and deep gullies, vegetative cover is begging for survival.

A birds eye view shows vast swathes of farmlands, forest and off-forest reserves that lay bare in some mining communities in the North East, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East regions.

The areas include Mamprugu/Moaduri, Bawku West, Talensi, Wa West, Wa East and Bole districts as well as the Kasena-Nankana, Jirapa and Sissala East municipalities, all in the five regions of the north.

Uncovered pits

In the Mamprugu/Moaduri district, for instance, illegal miners have caused massive destruction to about five acres of arable lands.

They have mined at the site and left behind deep uncovered pits and gullies, after they were flushed out by the District Security Council (DISEC) and their equipment confiscated.

In September 2022, luck eluded five illegal miners who had gone to the site to prospect for gold after a pit caved in on them. The deceased were identified as Kwaku Noah, Issahaku Osman, Mohammed Ibrahim, Salifu and Aliu Waliu.

The situation is not different from that of the Dorimon and Manwe communities in the Wa West and Wa East districts where the miners have dug deep pits and cleared large tracts of both forest and off-forest reserves to prospect for gold.

An uncovered deep pit at the Manwe mining site in the Upper West Region

In the case of Zebila and its environs in the Bawku West District, the illegal miners are engaged in surface mining. The once fertile land used for the cultivation of onion, cabbage, sorghum and maize is a pale shadow of itself.

Some illegal miners  Adam Mahama, Yakubu Fuseni and Isaac Adelwini in an interaction with the Daily Graphic admitted the negative impact of their activities on the environment, but said that was their only source of livelihood.

Some of our friends have been dying every day and our activities are also destroying the environment but we dont have a choice for now, one of them said.

Reclamation project

In 2022, the government rolled out the national land reclamation project to restore lands degraded by illegal mining activities in the country.

The project, which is part of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is targeted mainly at degraded lands that straddle water bodies, with the ultimate aim of restoring the lands, while breathing a new lease of life into rivers.

So far, more than 1,000 hectares of degraded lands in the Western North, Eastern and Ashanti regions have been reclaimed.

However, no degraded lands in the mining communities in the north have been reclaimed as yet.

The Daily Graphics checks for the past three months indicate that the illegal miners have left the pits uncovered, while others are currently on-site causing harm to the environment with impunity.

Land restoration

The Executive Director of TAMA Foundation Universal, Dr Chrys Anab, who has been leading a crusade to promote sustainable natural resource governance in the north, described the illegal mining menace as a serious threat to the lives of the people.

He said the impact of illegal mining on the north was very severe just as the south, for which reason same attention should be given to it.

The damage has already been caused and we cant change that but we have to take stringent steps to reclaim the degraded lands. The government should scale up the reclamation programme to the northern part of the country to help restore the fragile vegetation cover, he said.

Dr Anab emphasised the need for the government, to as matter of urgency, test the soil and water bodies in the north to ascertain the level of pollution caused galamsey activities, adding, My organisation is currently taking geo location of all mining communities and trying to test the soil and water bodies to quantify the extent of heavy metal pollution.

Licenses

According to the Minerals Commission of Ghana, about 270 licenses had been granted to companies for gold prospecting and reconnaissance purposes across the five regions of the north.

Five leases have been granted to companies for large scale, deep underground mining with three already operating in the Upper East and Upper West regions.

Aside from that, communities such as Dakurpe and Tinga, all in the Bole District, are also engaging in a community mining scheme.

The galamsey activities are gaining notoriety in the area just like in the south. However, the authorities have vowed to flush them out of the area.

In a recent interview, the North East Regional Minister, Yidana Zakaria, indicated that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), had started engaging all illegal miners and residents of mining communities on the need to form community mining schemes.

Aerial view of land destroyed by illegal miners

That, he said, would help stop the illegal mining activities from continuing to destroy the environment and which led to loss of lives.

For his part, the District Chief Executive for Mamprugu/Moaduri, Abu Adam, said it required a national effort to reclaim the degraded lands as the assembly had limited resources.

He, however, denied reports that his outfit had sold some earth-moving equipment confiscated from Chinese illegal miners in the area, stating that all equipment confiscated are in the custody of the Regional Security Council.

Climate crisis

There is no doubt that activities of illegal mining are taking a toll on the vegetative cover in northern Ghana, as the few forest reserves and economic trees such as shea, which constitute about 90 per cent of the ecology, are being destroyed.

The growing menace, among other things, is adversely destroying the biodiversity and worsening climate crisis.

The Forestry Commission estimates that about 6.6 million hectares of Ghanas 8.2 hectares of forest trees have been depleted over the years through indiscriminate human activities.

Dr Chrys Anab, Executive Director of TAMA Foundation Universal

Currently, the countrys remaining forest cover of 1.6 million hectares is being threatened by illegal mining, lumbering and other human activities.

According to the Global Forest Watch, in 2010, northern Ghana had 47.3 hectares of tree cover, extending over 0.68 per cent of its land area.

However, it has lost two hectares of tree cover, equivalent to 19.0 kt of Carbon dioxide (CO) emissions in 2022.

Way forward/SDG

Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impact and preserve the environment.

However, achieving this goal appears to be bleak with the rampant destruction of the vegetation cover through illegal mining, which is gradually exacerbating the climate change situation.

To address this, there is the need for the government to deliberately scale up a reclamation exercise to reclaim degraded lands and restore hope to the people of the north, just as is being done in the southern part of the country.
Berekumhene, Daasebre Amankona Diawuo II, goes home

Biiya Mukusah Ali, Nov - 25 - 2023 , 08:09

The funeral of Berekumhene, Daasebre Dr Amankona Diawuo II, has been performed at Berekum in the Bono Region.

The elaborate traditional burial ceremony, which began last Monday and climaxed on Thursday, brought social and economic activities in the area to a standstill.

The place was drowned in a cacophony of varied sounds of drums, smokes of muskets, horns and incantations as chiefs and their respective retinue of elders arrived at the palace to prepare the grounds for the final funeral rites of their beloved chief.

Mourners, who thronged the funeral grounds to witness the funeral rites (Doteyie), were dressed in black apparels, while trees and electricity poles in the Berekum Municipality were also draped in red and black ribbons.

The solemn but traditional rich ceremony was graced by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and his retinue of chiefs.

It also attracted hundreds of people from all walks of life, including dignitaries such as the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education.

Other chiefs from far and near and heads of departments, institutions and organisations, including the clergy and other religious groups and associations were also there to mourn with the people.

Earlier on Tuesday, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, attended the funeral, while the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also visited on Wednesday.

Court action

There were some security concerns when the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, had earlier expressed his preparedness to attend the funeral.

However, last Wednesday, the Sunyani High Court restrained him from attending on Thursday following fear of breach of the peace in the area.

A member of the Berekum Traditional Council, Osabarima Kyere Yeboah Darteh II, took the court action to stop Osagyefo Agyeman Badu, who is also the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, to prevent possible clashes between his subjects and those of the Asantehene over some historical disagreements.

Per the funeral arrangements, it was gathered that Osagyefo Agyeman Badu and members of the Bono Regional and National Houses of Chiefs were to attend the burial rites on Wednesday, November 22, while the Asantehene, who presides over Berekum, was to attend the burial the next day.

The Otumfuo is the last person to attend the burial of a Berekumhene since he (Berekumhene) owes allegiance to the Golden Stool.

Background

Daasebre Dr Amankona Diawuo died on June 9, 2023, at the Sunyani Regional Hospital.

He was known in private life as Dr Leonard Ofori, a Germany trained medical practitioner.

The late chief, who was born in 1939, was installed in February 2001, to succeed Nana Yiadom Boakye II, his late uncle.

However, the installation was characterised by disputes which raged on for 18 years until the Supreme Court passed a verdict on December 13, 2017, in his favour.

He was later admitted by the then Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in September, 2018.
ECOWAS supports flood victims in Volta Region

Alberto Mario Noretti Nov - 25 - 2023 , 08:26

THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has presented relief items to victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage in the Lower Volta Basin in the Volta Region.

The Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Ghana, Baba Gana Wakil, made the presentation at Battor last Thursday when he paid a visit to the North Tongu District to present a truck-load of relief items worth about $10,000 to the victims.

Ambassador Wakil, who was accompanied by a team of ECOWAS officials and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said the visit was also to enable the team to gather relevant information of the situation beyond media reports.

He said Ghana was a very active member of ECOWAS and, therefore, it was only proper for the community to support her in times of crisis such as the flood situation.

The items, which were presented through the District Chief Executive of North Tongu, Osborn Fenu, included bags of rice, cartons of vegetable oil, palm oil, tinned fish, salt, and gari.

Others were boxes of matches, bags of water, washing powder, toilet soap, bleach, packs of toilet roll, and sanitary pads.

The rest included exercise books, pencils, sharpeners, rulers and boxes of chalk.

Additional support

Ambassador Wakil said ECOWAS had a standard response procedure it followed in times of disasters in member states.

He, therefore, said additional support would be offered the victims after further assessment of the situation.

We will continue to monitor the ground and inform the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja for the appropriate steps to be taken, the envoy added.

Gratitude

The DCE, Mr Fenu, expressed gratitude for the support. He said although the floods had largely receded, life was yet to return to normalcy in the area.

Mr Fenu said three weeks after schools had reopened, many children were still at home because their schools were still serving as safe havens for displaced persons.

For instance, the DCE mentioned the St Kizito senior high technical school which, he said, was still holding about 1,500 displaced people and added that we are now holding make-shift classes for the children.

Mr Fenu said an ongoing infrastructural integrity assessment would determine which houses were safe to be occupied again.

So far, the DCE said, 12,433 people had been displaced in 69 communities by the floods in North Tongu, which has 615 safe havens.

Mr Fenu said many of the 4,216 displaced persons were living in the safe havens, while about 8,000 were living with relatives and friends.

Ambassador Wakil and his team later toured the St Kizito school camp to commiserate with the victims.
Health experts raise alarm: Call for strict law enforcement

Augustina Tawiah Nov - 25 - 2023 , 09:24

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has called on the Pharmacy Council and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to tighten regulation on medicines used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants to ensure that only those who have prescriptions can access them.

Also, such medicines, technically known as antimicrobials, should be available only to pharmacies which are the only entities allowed to stock and dispense them.

It said antimicrobials, which include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, should never be treated like over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.

The PSGH stressed that OTC medicine sellers, popularly referred to as drug stores or chemical sellers, should immediately stop stocking, dispensing or selling antibiotics as that was prohibited by law.

We, therefore, call on the Pharmacy Council and the FDA to ensure that the necessary laws and regulations are enforced and antibiotics are dispensed only in pharmacies by pharmacists as the law requires, it said.

This was contained in a message entitled: Call to action on the management and use of antimicrobials.

It was read by the President of PSGH, Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh, in Accra last Thursday, November 23, as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness week.

For the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA), the situation called for intense education on the proper use of antibiotics so that their usage does not compromise the system of individuals.

Professor Raphael Folitse of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Veterinary Medicine, who made the call at the 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 24th Biennial Conference of GVMA, said research by scientists had revealed that people would die every three seconds by the year 2050, if nothing was done to address the abuse of antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when disease-causing germs stop responding to frequently prescribed antimicrobial medicines.

This jeopardises the ability to treat common infections, increases the cost of treatment, disrupts the progress made in combating diseases, posing a grave challenge to communities, health systems and economies.

Every year, the international community observes World AMR Awareness Week from November 18 to 24 to raise awareness of the risks posed by the inappropriate use of antimicrobial medicines in humans, animals and crops and encourage their responsible use to reduce the emergence and spread of AMR.

The theme for this year is, Preventing antimicrobial resistance together.

Cold, cough, flu

Dr Donkoh further urged the general public to desist from taking antibiotics to treat cold and flu symptoms.

When you have cough, cold and sore throat, antibiotics should not be your first choice. Do not go to your doctor, pharmacist, OTC seller, demanding antibiotics for treatment of cough and sore throat, he said.

OTC medications are adequate to help relieve most of these symptoms. These conditions are not conditions to be managed by antibiotics as we do presently, Dr Donkoh advised.

Giving a similar advice on antimalarial medications, he said until the patients had tested and proven that they were positive for malaria, they should not take antimalarial treatment, as stated in the national policy.

Citing antimalarial medication among antimicrobials, the president of the PSGH said if people did not stick to the principles and policies guiding those medications, they would end up having resistance, just as it had been with previous antimalarial medications such as chloroquine, sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine, commonly sold under the name Fansidar.

He said when that happened, it would be difficult to tell what the future would be for the treatment of the ailment, especially because very few investment was going into the discovery and development of new classes of antimicrobials.

Developing new antibiotics

Dr Donkoh explained that the process of developing a new antibiotic was time-consuming and financially burdensome, as it took about 10 to 15 years, costing over $1 billion.

That dearth of innovation, the PSGH president pointed out, made them vulnerable as the arsenal against microbial infections stagnated in the face of evolving AMR threats.

In the face of these staggering figures, it is evident that we stand at a critical juncture. Our response to AMR must, therefore, be swift, coordinated and unwavering, Dr Donkoh stated.

As the country joins the world to commemorate the 2023 World AMR Awareness Week, he reminded all that everyday choices of today would shape the health and well-being of generations to come.

This is the admonition from the PSGH and a practical one to all patients that do not use the antimicrobials indiscriminately, Dr Donkoh stressed.

He said the society would collaborate with stakeholders and the media to implement policies and content on adhering to infection prevention and control interventions.

Address root causes

The Technical Officer for Antimicrobial Resistance at the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ghana Office, Dr George Kwesi Hodidor, said in 2019, 1.27 million people died from AMR infections globally, more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

He said sub-saharan African countries bore the highest burden of AMR-associated deaths at 99 deaths per 100,000 people and, therefore, called for urgent action to address the main causes of AMR.

Dr Hodidor listed the causes to include misuse and abuse of antimicrobial medicines; lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene; poor infection prevention and control practices; inadequate use of vaccines to decrease infections; inadequate laboratory capacity including equipment and reagents to guide proper treatment; poor waste disposal practices and the presence of antimicrobials in food-animal production and crop protection.

The Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Joycelyn Azeez, said AMR made infections harder to treat and increased the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

The media must use their platforms to encourage responsible antibiotics use, she said and also emphasised the importance of completing prescribed medicines and discourage self-medication.

The Deputy Registrar, Operations at the Pharmacy Council, Dr Daniel Amaning Danquah, urged the public to report any OTC seller that stocked or dispensed antibiotics to the council for action to be taken.

Prof. Folitse, during the address, said: Some of the antibiotics can easily treat some diseases, but if they are not properly used, it will come to a time when the same antibiotics do not work because the disease-causing agent or germs get used to the antibiotics.

Speaking on the theme: One Health in Zoonosis Control in Ghana: Repositioning Veterinary Services for Maximum Impact, he said health professionals must, therefore, be educated on how to properly administer antibiotics.

Prof. Folitse said zoonotic diseases  which are infections that are spread between people and animals  posed a significant threat to global health, food security and the economy worldwide.

To successfully prevent and control zoonoses, health professionals and their related institutions and disciplines must work together  an approach that is referred to as One-Health, Prof. Folitse said.

Zoonotic diseases

The reorganisation of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme is placing emphasis on enhancing the various commodity value chains, with prioritisation of the poultry value chain, particularly the broiler value chain, to address the challenges affecting the efficiency in the sector.

The President of the GVMA, Dr Cyril Quist, said building a database of all farmers in areas of flock numbers, mortality and vaccinations, among others, should be prioritised to know in real-time, gaps and deficits in production parameters for early response and attention.

He said active surveillance structures should also be put in place for the country to be ahead of any disease outbreak.

Dr Quist also wants the government to subsidise vaccines required for vaccine-preventable diseases such as anthrax as a poverty alleviation intervention.

Equip laboratories

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture would support the disease surveillance, control and management of animal diseases capacities and capabilities of the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) by equipping its laboratories to lead and collaborate with stakeholders within the One-Health concept, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, said in a speech read on his behalf.
Invest more in blind children: Blind Union appeals

Beatrice Laryea Nov - 25 - 2023 , 09:07

The Director of the Ghana Blind Union (GBU), Peter Obeng Asamoah, has appealed to government, corporate institutions and philanthropists to consider investing in the needs of blind children to help them attain a better future.

He said there were many disability children across the country, especially blind children who could not get access to basic education due to the lack of necessary equipment to train them.

Mr Asamoah made the appeal at an event to hand over a braille version of a human rights protection protocol manual to the GBU by the leadership of the Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), a CSO, in Accra on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

The presentation was done by a solicitor for CEPIL, Mr Alhassan Iddrisu. The manual contains the nature of human rights and protection of human rights defenders.

Mr Asamoah said: I want the government and corporate institutions to take a second look at the needs of blind children in the country. I want philanthropists and well-meaning citizens to hear about this call to invest a little more in blind children.

Right now, there is technology for teaching blind children and we have made several appeals to the government to invest just a little in securing some of these equipment for the children.

If the government is printing textbooks for children in schools, why cant they put some of these books in braille or digital form for blind children, he queried.

Mr Asamoah further said more emphasis needed to be placed on value rather than cost and added that education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty.

He said other major challenges facing his outfit included raising of funds for activities since the union had run out on donations.

We have been in existence since 1951, yet we dont have any source of reliable funding and this makes it very difficult to run the union, the director said.

Commendation

Mr Asamoah commended the leadership of CEPIL for the support.

A lot of times, these manuals and reports come out but we dont get access to them. So giving us this document in an accessible format is what we call inclusion, and until our society is totally inclusive, our development goals will continue to elude us.

We are most grateful to CEPIL and we hope that other sectors will emulate this example, he added.

Essence

For his part, Mr Alhassan said his outfit undertook the initiative to influence public institutions to produce public documents in braille format to enable the blind to also get access to information.

The essence is to influence every public institution to be able to produce public documents in braille form to enable these people get access to information. Government institutions should start making their reports, for instance the recently read budget, in diverse forms for people who cannot see and others who cannot even read English so that the information will be available to all Ghanaians, he said.

He called for an end to discrimination against persons with disability since it was no fault of theirs to be born blind.

A person becomes blind not by choice. It is creation of God and they did nothing wrong to be blind so that person should not be discriminated in any way. Discrimination against blind people must change and this must change because these things draw us back as a people.

We must do whatever we can, through sensitization and maybe through legislation to stop this. There is an ongoing effort to amend the disability act and I believe the input they are seeking will address some of these issues. I am sure we will have a law that avoids discrimination and considers the specific needs of persons with disability because they are part of the society, he added.

He mentioned that this was the first time that CEPIL was making a donation to the union saying: We intend to make more copies and we will go to the regions, as far as our resources will permit, to donate these reports and future reports in braille form to other blind associations. There must be universal dissemination of information and accessible to as many people as possible.
Minority blocks LI to restrict importation of 22 items

Daniel Kenu & Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Nov - 25 - 2023 , 08:40

The Minority in Parliament, for the third day running, shot down the laying of a Legislative Instrument (LI) on the Export and Import of (Restrictions on Importation of Selected Strategic Product) Regulations, 2023, over the lack of quorum and consultation.

The efforts of the Minister of Trade and Industry, K. T. Hammond, were forcefully resisted by the Minority yesterday, with the minister losing his cool and flaring up as he pushed for the paper to be laid.

First, the MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, raised the issue of quorum, with the Minority side having 28 members in the chamber as against 13 by the Majority.

He built his argument on Standing Order 48, which states, among others, that the House must have at least two-thirds of members for such an important business to be conducted.

The Deputy Minority Chief Whip and MP for the Banda Constituency, Ahmed Ibrahim, expressed worry that the document was never captured in the Order Paper for both last week and this week, but rather smuggled to the House in the form of an addendum.

He said the LI was crucial for the business community of Ghana and that since MPs were representatives of the people, it was fair that their concerns were factored into the document.

After arguments from both sides of the divide, leadership  led by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu  agreed to further consult and ask the minister to refine the paper and bring it to the House on Monday for a decision to be made.

Last Thursday, the Minority thwarted efforts to lay the LI, urging the Minister of Trade and Industry to undertake more consultations with stakeholders.

LI

The LI will compel importers of 22 restricted items such as poultry, rice, sugar, diapers and animal intestines (commonly called yemuadie at local eateries) to seek licences from a committee set up by the Minister of Trade and Industry.

The Trade Minister was due to lay two instruments  the Export and Import (Restrictions on Importation of Selected Strategic Product) Regulations, 2023 and the Ghana Standards Authority (Manufacture of Cement) Regulations, 2023.

While the former will regulate the restriction and the importation of selected items, the latter will regulate the monitoring of inputs used for the production of cement in the country.

The minister was able to lay the latter but was obstructed from doing the same with the former.

Briefing

Addressing journalists on the issue in Parliament last Thursday, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said with Ghana being a member of the World Trade Organisation, the practice was not only dangerous but also violated international trade practices.

This is not a policy that we should encourage and I am worried that a time will come when if you are not a New Patriotic Party member, you will not get a licence to import something into this economy and that is unacceptable, he said.

Dr Forson said the government is asking Ghanaians that before you import 22 items, you need to go the Ministry of Trade to seek permission.

Banning these items will create an artificial shortage and prices of these goods will go up.

We know they want to restrict importation of sugar, but there is no sugar processing plant, he added.

The Minority Leader said the regulation was in bad shape and not properly thought through.

He said the regulation was not in the best interest of the country and called for consultation with and inputs from all stakeholders, including the Association of Ghana Industries.

Dr Forson said the LI would give the minister so much power and lead to corruption.

He said if the government believed that the time had come to ban certain commodities, it should show reason why such action must be taken if it had reason to substitute them locally.
Kumawu MP commissions administrative office, donates educational resources to schools

Kweku Zurek Politics Nov - 24 - 2023 , 19:46

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti region, Ernest Yaw Anim, inaugurated his administrative office on Friday, November 24, 2023, while also donating educational resources to basic schools in the Sekyere Kumawu district.

The MP, joined by party supporters, introduced the well-furnished administrative office earlier in the day, marking a historic development in the constituency, aimed at enhancing legislative accountability to the people. The strategically located office sits at 18 Mu Street in Oyoko.

Accompanied by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere Kumawu district, Samuel Addai Agyekum, officers from the Sekyere Kumawu District Education Directorate, and party faithful, MP Ernest Yaw Anim made a generous donation of over 2,000 reading books and Nkabomwura-branded exercise books.

These materials are set to be distributed to all 42 basic schools, along with 150 modern dual desks for 13 basic schools that had made specific requests.

The MP emphasized that the reading materials aim to "assist the students in improving their English language skills," and the desks are intended to "provide them with comfort" for effective studying.

It is worth noting that Mr. Anim had previously donated 500 study desks to select basic schools and committed, in collaboration with the DCE, to meet the educational needs of the Sekyere Kumawu district.

During the event, the Mr. Anim encouraged students and teachers to strive for excellence, aligning with the commitments of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to provide quality education. Additionally, 36 tertiary students received a total of GH50,000 in cash support from the MP's Scholarship Scheme.

The MP said his ongoing initiative to engage citizens of Sekyere Kumawu holding leadership and business positions worldwide, aiming to inspire and support students in becoming positive change agents. The gesture received heartfelt appreciation from students, teachers, and officials from the Sekyere Kumawu Education Directorate.
In 1986, Zach Ducheneaux watched as his dad loaded their cows onto a truck to leave the ranch for good. He didn't realize the weight of the situation then, and because of that he wasn't afraid of going back.

Since February 2021, Ducheneaux has served as administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. Prior to that, he was a third-generation rancher on the familys ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

"I never heard my Dad complain about it," Ducheneaux said of the 1980s farm loan crisis, when lenders suddenly quit lending to families like his. "He had the gift of stoicism or compartmentalizing -- or whatever it is -- that allowed him to not let us know, in that moment, that we were poor."

Ducheneaux said it wasn't until he reached college that he realized what his parents were protecting him from. Ducheneaux said his upbringing is part of the "why" he leads the FSA in the way he does today.

"It helps guide my approach to this, and there are going to be little things that don't go your way, but you've got to keep your eye on the big picture and have the long range vision," he said.

Ducheneaux gave the keynote speech at the the Upper Midwest Farmland Summit on Nov. 14 hosted by Farmland Access Hub, a consortium of entities including Renewing the Countryside who work together to improve farmland access for emerging farmers.

Feedback that Ducheneaux received at the summit was from farmers who had operations of their own in the '80s and were impacted directly. He said he also hears from people in the administration who were kids like he was during the farm financial crisis.

"It's still very prevalent on folks' minds," Ducheneaux said of the '80s farm crisis. "And it's important to stress that this iteration of the federal government is doing it different. We're helping distressed borrowers, and we're trying to find a way to help them navigate out of this with a positive outcome."

Other reactions that Ducheneaux heard from attendees at the summit were about what the FSA is doing for underserved producers. One woman -- a former FSA employee -- mentioned that one of the reasons she left that job was she saw a preponderance of the financial benefits going to "corporate" farms.

"I shared with her what we've been doing in this administration to -- as the secretary puts it -- fill the gaps that exist and meet producers where they're at and provide assistance to the many," Ducheneaux said, referring to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "And not just the few, so that we can help preserve that rural way of living."

Every dollar loaned through an FSA loan generates $1.36 into the local economy, and the work FSA did in 2022 put $1.3 billion into the livestock industry, supported 90,000 jobs and created a $5.9 billion increase in GDP, according to the FSA.

"If you've got more small farmers out there, now you've got a school, and when you've got a school, you've got a hospital, and if you've got a hospital, you've got a store," Ducheneaux said. "Now you've got an economy churning out there in rural America, where maybe it was eroding away."

Even for people who lived through the farm crisis in the '80s, there's hope for a better farm finance world.

"Folks can start to see themselves in that reality. They can see themselves being in that rural community, and there's that desire to be there," Ducheneaux said. "After the '80s farm crisis, there was an exodus, and it's just my good fortune that our mom and dad shielded us from it, so we were still willing to go back. Otherwise it'd be another farming opportunity that was lost."
With each Sony flagship release, the company tries to introduce something never seen before in the mobile industry. In a way, Sony tries to maintain a tradition of "world's first" and a recent report from a Japanese news outlet with a fairly accurate track record regarding Sony-related rumors has an idea of what's coming next to the Xperias.

Reportedly, Sony's upcoming Xperia flagships will apply a unique digital signature to photos and videos to prevent fakes. Perhaps examining the metadata of the images and videos will reveal whether or not the content has been tampered with.

A similar feature was recently introduced for Sony's DSLR cameras, which will soon be pushed via a software update. So, it makes sense for Sony to bring that to its smartphones as well.

Source (in Japanese)
Norman Analista, is the founder of Analista & Co., a Guam-based fashion brand specializing in bespoke apparel. He has designed clothing for dozens of celebrities and social media influencers in the US, Asia, and Europe. For unpublished content related to this column, follow @tastemaker671 on Instagram. For story suggestions email nanalista@yahoo.com.
Irish police were out in force Friday night in Dublin to prevent a repeat of rioting blamed on far-right agitators that erupted after a knife attack outside a school that injured three children.

Officers made sporadic arrests after darkness fell as youths began to congregate on O'Connell Street, one of the city's most famous throughfares that was the scene of violence, vehicle fires and looting the previous night.

But the situation was generally stable, with the country's police force -- known as Garda Siochana -- posting on social media that "Dublin city centre is open for normal business".

"We have an enhanced policing plan in place this evening," it said, adding that people were welcome there over the coming weekend.

Water cannons borrowed from Northern Irish police were on standby, however, should the situation deteriorate.

The relative calm was in stark contrast to 24 hours earlier, in what Prime minister Leo Varadkar called the worst violence in decades which had brought "shame" on Ireland.

Police blamed a "complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology".

The unrest came after three children were wounded in a stabbing near the centre of the Irish capital. A five-year-old girl was left in a critical condition in hospital.

The subsequent violence -- which resulted in dozens of arrests -- started when agitators broke through a police cordon around the scene of the attack.

Hundreds of rioters then set buses and trams alight and looted shops.

- 'Chaos' -

Varadkar said the damage done to the Irish capital's public infrastructure could cost tens of millions of euros.

As well as the five-year-old, two other children and two adults -- a woman and the suspected perpetrator of the attack -- were taken to hospital with lesser injuries.

Rumours on social media about the nationality of the assailant, who police only described as a man in his 50s, helped fuel the ensuing unrest.

"They (the rioters) did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people," Varadkar said.

"They did so because they're filled with hate. They love violence. They love chaos, and they love causing pain to others," he added.

The Irish leader drew a contrast with those who disarmed the attacker, including a Brazilian Deliveroo driver and 17-year-old trainee French chef Alan Loren-Guille.

French President Emmanuel Macron telephoned Loren-Guille "to congratulate him and thank him for this act of bravery that saved lives and made us all proud", his office told AFP.

Varadkar vowed to use the "full resources of the law... to punish those involved in yesterday's grotesque events".

New laws would be passed in the coming weeks "to make better use of" CCTV evidence, he said.

Government ministers met Friday evening to discuss the situation, with Justice Minister Helen McEntee briefing them that 34 people were arrested during the disturbances.

"She indicated that (police) are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests are certain," Varadkar's office said.

- 'Anger' -

Ireland will also "modernise" laws regarding hate and incitement, with world-renowned cage fighter Conor McGregor likely to come under the spotlight.

The Dublin native has recently sent a series of social media posts criticising the government's immigration policy, writing to his 10 million followers: "Ireland, we are at war."

On Friday he posted "I do not condone last night's riots" before adding "I do understand frustrations however".

The unrest is the latest sign of tensions in Ireland over immigration, after several years of increased asylum seeker and refugee arrivals.

The authorities and academics say "far-right" ideologues are fuelling the frictions.

A few bunches of flowers marked the school scene where the stabbings occurred, with feelings still running high Friday.

"There's a lot of anger and the government is pretending it's just far-right," Australian Jamie McGlue, who has lived in Dublin for four years, told AFP.

"But there's legitimate grievances and that is fuelling these crazy people to take advantage.".

But local Robbie Hammond, 28, said the rioting was "not the way to make progress".

Police Commissioner Drew Harris told a press conference that several of the 400 responding officers were injured, one of them seriously, when projectiles were thrown at them.

"These are scenes that we have not seen in decades," Harris said.pvh

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In New Orleans, just a few blocks from the Fair Grounds Race Course, comes barreling a new Thanksgiving Day tradition  one with all the glitz and glamor of the Kentucky Derby, and none of the horses.

The fourth annual Human Horse Races took place at Easton Park on Thursday, with a sizable crowd of costumed jockeys, horses, and cheerleaders of all ages.

I was worried about the rain, said founder Ingrid Anderson. But people really showed up.

Founder Ingrid Anderson poses in the costume she designed.Emily Topping

Spectators watch eagerly as the races commence.Emily Topping

Anderson, a local makeup artist and fashion designer, created the Human Horse Races in 2019. The year prior, she had suggested attending the traditional event at the Fair Grounds, but her friends expressed their uneasiness.

Animal rights activists, they explained, have long since rallied against the practice of horse racing. Its not uncommon for horses to suffer life-threatening injuries at the track: This year alone, 12 horses have died at Churchill Downs.

I realized most people arent even there to watch the race, Anderson said. Why put animals through cruelty when we can do something different?

And so an alternative was born.

This year, teams of parents and children, along with solo riders and masked horses hoisting jockeys overhead, careened down the muddy fields of Easton Park. Spectators cheered from the sidelines, placing bets in the form of raffle tickets. People poured homemade drinks or purchased them from the Watering Hole and chowed on vegan-friendly food.

Winners of the two-person heat celebrate at the podium. In first place is Mohamed Hafez, seen in leopard print alongside his jockey Mejan Helsel.Emily Topping

"I found my new calling today," says Mohamed Hafez, as friends and strangers soak in the finer details of his costume.Emily Topping

The main event, however, was the fashion.

Weve been working on this since July, said Amy Ellis, twirling in a meticulously designed metallic dress fashioned into a gilded carousel. From her geometric skirt, a dozen miniature equines dangled in a circle  except for one spot, where the rope hung empty.

Thats me, Im the missing horse, said Doug Whitley, with a bow. The duo traveled all the way from Jacksonville, Florida, to attend the races. All this creativity, and benefiting animals. Whats better?

Doug Whitley, left, and Amy Ellis, right, show off their first place costume.Emily Topping

Victoria Cerza, a musician, attended the event with her daughter Violet.Emily Topping

A contestant in the "Top Top Hat" competition gives the audience a spin,Emily Topping

Other contestants, too, spent months preparing. Ten-year-old Isabella Chiurazzi sculpted her awarding-winning top hat at an arts camp this summer.

I had a sketch idea for a top hat with a cat on it, because I love cats, she said. But then I realized the cat needed its own top hat too, of course.

Isabella Chiurazzi, 10, accepts her first place prize for Best Top Hat from founder Ingrid Anderson.Emily Topping

Angelica Burdette, right, watches the competition alongside Warren Bryant, left.Emily Topping

Andrea Spreeter, left, hands out free Fireball whiskey to a new friend. "I've been coming here long enough that I've got this figured out," she says.Emily Topping

Scott M.X. Turner shows off his homemade top hat.Emily Topping

All proceeds from the event benefited the Greeno Equine Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue and care of abused horses. Chad Theunissen, founder of the sanctuary, estimated that the donations from last years races comprised nearly a fifth of their total funding.

Im not sure what we could have done without this event, actually, he said.

Chad Theunissen, founder of Greeno Equine Sanctuary, stands at an informational booth for the non-profit. By midday, the event had raised enough donations to purchase a new stall for the sanctuary.Emily Topping

Many attendees, too, said that a Thanksgiving without the Human Horse Races now seems impossible to remember. Anderson says shes just happy people decide to come at all.

I love its been successful, because I feel like this event is just so perfectly New Orleans, said Anderson. You can truly be yourself. Were helping a cause, and everybody is welcome.

Ingrid Anderson speaks to a friend while preparing for the next "heat."Emily Topping




iciHaiti - PNH : Frantz Elbe spoke with the Ambassador of Canada





Friday, November 24, 2023, Frantz Elbe, Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH) accompanied by members of the High Command received a visit from the Ambassador of Canada to Haiti, Andre Francois Giroux.



During this meeting, Ambassador Giroux discussed the projects that the Canadian Government intends to organize via certain international agencies, with the aim of strengthening the operational capacity of the PNH.



At the end of this meeting, Andre Francois Giroux and Director General Frantz Elbe renewed their commitment to continue working together to strengthen the existing cooperation between the PNH and Canada.



IH/ iciHaiti


















After three children and a school assistant were hurt in a stabbing attack yesterday, anti-immigration riotersegged on by racist social media personalitiesburned and looted downtown Dublin. Fearing further rioting, the Gardai has borrowed riot control water cannons from over the border, reports RTEand were keen to point out that they would be operated by officers from the Republic, not the U.K. 34 rioters were arrested during and after last night's violence.

hours after the knife attack, rioters destroyed 11 police vehicles, while 13 shops were badly damaged and more were looted during clashes with riot police.Three buses and a tram were also destroyed and several police officers were injured during over three hours of sustained violence. Two Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) water cannon vehicles are being sent across the border, following a request from Irish police.

The opposition Sinn Fein leader demanded that the police chief in Dublin resign, but was otherwise just as critical of the rioters as Leo Varadkar's government. Sadly for the British and American conservatives fantasizing a more racist Irish nationalism, "Come out, ye blacks" isn't catching on.



Moreover, the BBC reports that the original knife assailant was not a foreign national, but an Irish citizen of 20 yearsand that the hero of the hour was a Brazilian immigrant who disarmed him and gave him a thorough beating.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





The Canal Committee says no to the Government

The Haitian Government asked this week the Management Committee for the construction of the irrigation canal on the Maribaroux plain with water intake on the Massacre River to temporarily suspend the work to facilitate the evaluation of the work. This request was categorically rejected, according to information confirmed by the committee in charge of construction which states that the work will be completed in mid-December...



Moise assassination : 5 people invited by the courts

As part of the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html . 3 former close collaborators of the President: Renald Luberice, Esther Antoine and Louis Edner Gonzague Day as well as Jean Gue of the Konba party and Anrino Destinoble of the Montana agreement, must be heard by the investigating judge Walter Wesser Voltaire between the 27 November and December 1, 2023.



CARICOM : new proposal

The CARICOM Group of Eminent Persons has transmitted the document of its draft framework of agreement to the various actors involved in the discussions on the Haitian crisis, for examination and reactions. It provides, among other things, for the expansion and strengthening of the attributes of the High Transitional Council (HCT) expanded to 7 members (4 from political parties, 1 from the private sector, 1 from the religious sector and 1 from civil society) endowed presidential powers to the extent possible. A Government Action Control Body composed of 15 representatives all appointed by the HCT and the establishment of the CEP among others... The transition will last 18 months from the signing of the agreement and the Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry will remain at the Prime Minister.



Mgr. Max Leroy Mesidor elected President of the CEH

Friday, November 24, 2023, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Port-au-Prince Mgr Max Leroy Mesidor was elected as the new President of the Conference of Bishops of Haiti (CEH). He replaces the Archbishop of Cap-Haitien Mgr. Launay Saturne who completed 2 consecutive 3-year mandates.



NOTE to Prosecutors laureates

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) informs the twenty laureates of the Public Prosecutors competition https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41048-icihaiti-justice-list-of-20-laureates-of-the-prosecutors-competition.html that a period not exceeding 15 days is granted to them to deposit at the School of Magistracy in Freres, the originals of all the documents required during recruitment. After this period, the school will be obliged to use the waiting list in order to replace latecomers.



Gender violence : 16 days of activism

Launch this week, at the initiative of the Defender Collective, of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence around the theme "Ann fe solidarite pou konbat vyolans sou fanm ak tifi ann Ayiti", The activity will take place from 25 November to December 10.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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A former executive assistant to ex-governor Andew Cuomo is suing him under New York's Adult Survivors Act, claiming that her former boss subjected her to humiliating and demeaning tasks, forced kisses on her and groped her. The window for claims under the act expires today, with many being filed this week as the deadline approached.

Brittany Commisso worked in the Executive Chamber from 2019 to 2021, according to the lawsuit, and was the staffer whose original complaint of groping led to a misdemeanor criminal complaint being filed against Cuomo at the time. Moreover, Commisso claims, she was demoted by Kathy Hochul, then lieutenant governor, in retaliation.

The day after Cuomo resigned, officials with the office of the "lieutenant governor (Hochul) demoted her from the position of executive assistant to the governor, removed her from the executive chamber front office, and assigned her to the demeaning task of answering telephones in the lieutenant governor's office until moved to other offices, including loss of overtime, ostracism, given little or no work, demotion, and loss of career opportunities and advancement," the summon states. "The continuous sexual harassment by defendant Cuomo included unwelcome sexual advances, sexualized comments about appearance and personal matters, relations, their dating, their sex life, and her marriage, assignment of humiliating and demeaning tasks, hugs, kisses, sexual touching of the buttocks, and forcible touching of the breast all of which was objectively unreasonable and abusive."

Would it be a surprise if Hochul turned out to be Cuomo's victim fixer? I never got the "Suzanne Scott" impression from her, general failings notwithstanding, but that apears to be a big element of Commisso's claims.

Cuomo's lawyer, Rita Glavin, says it's a cash grab: "Ms. Commisso's claims are provably false, which is why the Albany District Attorney dismissed the case two years ago after a thorough investigation. Ms. Commisso's transparent attempt at a cash grab will fail. We look forward to seeing her in court."
Kurt P. and Monica Villani, who died Wednesday when their car exploded at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, were a kind and hardworking couple who were closely tied to their Grand Island community and the family hardware business Kurts father started nearly 40 years ago, their friends said Friday.

The couple, both age 53, were on their way to Toronto to see a Kiss concert after stopping at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino when something went wrong. Multiple videos from the scene show their 2022 Bentley speeding in the plaza of the Rainbow Bridge going toward the bridge. The vehicle flew into the air and then exploded into flames.

Hochul: 'No indication' of terrorism in fatal car crash, explosion at Rainbow Bridge A car that crashed and exploded Wednesday morning on the American side of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, killing two people, does not appear to be an act of terrorism, Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a news conference. "There is no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash. We have identified that this is a local individual," she said.

The explosion prompted fears of terrorism. But the FBI and other assisting agencies concluded within hours that the explosion was not a terrorist act and rather a terrible accident  possibly caused by a medical incident or a vehicle malfunction. In 2021, the Australian government issued a limited recall of Bentleys over problems with the accelerator getting stuck.

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert M. Restaino told The Buffalo News he has been a longtime friend of the Villani family. Kurt Villani Sr., who died last year, started the familys business, Guis Lumber and Home Center, in 1986, according to its website. It has since grown to seven Ace Hardware stores throughout Western New York.

I also knew Kurts dad, who died last year, through my father. Our families have known each other for decades. I knew Kurt and Monica, two kind, easygoing and very hardworking people, Restaino told The News on Friday. This was just a tragic, horrible incident, and because of the condition of the vehicle and sadly the human remains, we may never find out exactly what happened.

The Villanis had a son and a daughter, and are also survived by Kurt Villanis mother, the mayor said.

Eric Fiebelkorn, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, said the Villanis were well-known on the island, especially in the business community.

Everybody knows everybody on Grand Island, Fiebelkorn said. ... Its the smallest town of small towns. There are some people who are always plugged in. Their family always was.

The Villanis were always happy to help with charitable causes and community projects, he said.

They are a very generous and community-oriented family, Fiebelkorn said. With the loss or Kurt Sr. last year, and now this tragic loss of Kurt Jr. and Monica, it leaves a void in our small-town business community that will be very difficult to fill. Our prayers and our thoughts certainly go out to their family and staff. The membership of the Chamber of Commerce will be available to help them in any way we can.

The Villanis had recently purchased land in the town center to develop. We were excited to see what they were going to do with that, he said.

Niagara Falls police: It will be 'some time' before Rainbow Bridge investigation is completed The occupants of the fast-moving car that went airborne over an 8-foot fence and crashed and exploded at the American side of the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday appear to have stopped at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino just before the fatal crash.

News spread quickly through the town about the crash as residents heard that it involved a Bentley and people from Grand Island, he said.

Its a nice community, but not too many of us have Bentleys, he said.

The town will be mourning the tragedy for some time, he said.

Its so sudden. Almost, really unbelievable, Fiebelkorn said.

The Villani family, along with the Maniccias  Monica Villanis family  and Guis Lumber released a statement Friday through the Erie County Sheriffs Office: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we are requesting privacy so we may begin the process of healing. Thank you.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation Friday.

On Wednesday night, Gov. Kathy Hochul said that it may take a while to determine what happened. This vehicle basically incinerated; there is nothing left but the engine, she said. Photos from the scene on the U.S. side of the Rainbow Bridge showed charred bits of debris strewn all over the toll inspection area.

Restaino said that based on his conversations with police, a medical emergency or a mechanical problem with the couples Bentley luxury car are seen as the most likely causes of the fiery, high-speed crash.

The Niagara Falls mayor said police are aware that some Bentley vehicles  other than the model that Villani was driving  have been recalled in recent years because of problems with stuck accelerator pedals.

Im not saying they have decided that was the cause, but they are certainly looking into it, Restaino said.

In 2021, the Australian government issued a limited recall of about 400 Bentleys manufactured between 2018 and 2021  Continental GT and Flying Spur  for issues involving the accelerator.

If the accelerator pedal is fully pressed whilst driving and is unable to return to its resting position, the vehicle will continue to accelerate, even when the drivers foot is removed from the accelerator pedal, the recall notice said. ...This could increase the risk of losing vehicle control, potentially resulting in a collision and/or serious injury or death of vehicle occupants and other road users.

As of 12:40 p.m. Friday, a spokeswoman for the company that sells Bentleys in the United States said she was unaware of any contact between the company and police regarding the crash.

We saw the videos of the accident and Bentley is certainly going to help out any way we can, once we are contacted by the police, said Erin Bronner, spokeswoman for Bentley USA.

There have been safety recalls for Bentley Flying Spur vehicles that were produced in the years 2018-2021, she said, but those were vehicles sold outside the United States, and on those vehicles the driver sits on the right side of the car.

Bronner said she could not say for certain Friday whether the Villanis car ever had a problem with the accelerator pedal.

Until we get the VIN number and information on the service records of the car, I could not answer that question, Bronner told The Buffalo News.

She said Bentley will absolutely cooperate with any police investigation into the crash.

Restaino told The News that, to his knowledge, the Villanis were riding in a 2022 Flying Spur when it crashed.

Restaino said he would be astonished if the crash was a purposeful event.

I know police are looking into every possibility, but from my conversations with investigators, that appears very unlikely, Restaino said.
The Town of Hamburg Police Department is seeking the publics help in its investigation of a fatal pedestrian accident that happened Friday.

The pedestrian was hit by a motor vehicle about 5:20 p.m. in the 4200 block of Lake Avenue, police said.

The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with police. The victim has not been identified.

The police departments Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene and is handling the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information is asked to call 716-648-5111.

- Deidre Williams
It is the most beautiful time of the year. Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer. Diwali itself calls for a celebration and no celebration is ever complete without sweets to tease your sweet tooth. Blessings from the elders of the family, decorating the house, making rangolis, lighting up Diyas, and making delicious food is a delightful combo pack of Diwali. Absence of either of them makes Diwali dull and low.

Lights and Diyas light up your hallways, but there is only one thing that lights up your food. Since ancient times Kesar is being used to add flavour and colour to food. Kesar helps in enhancing the taste of sweets like rabdi, kheer, Ras malai, Gulab Jamun, etc. When used in dark spots, and helps in providing that natural shine and inner glow to the skin. Kesar also enhances the nutritional value.

Not only this, Kesar is also used during skin care regime. Face packs, moisturisers, face oil, hand and feet cream also uses Kesar to enhance the value of the products. It also helps brighten the skin, get rid of dark spots, and under eye dark-circles.

Some other benefits of Kesar include:

1. Kesar is known to help get rid of the oxidative stress

2. It helps in curing the body pain

3. Kesar also helps in increasing the Dopamine levels in the brain, thus further lifting up your mood

4. Kesar is briefly used for treating patients with Depression

5. Helps in retaining memory

6. It also helps with the treatment of Cancer

These are the health benefits of Kesar. Let us know how Kesar is beneficial for our skin:

1. It has Anti-ageing properties

2. It helps in brightening the skin

3. It helps with pigmentation

4. It acts as a natural moisturiser for the skin

5. It is also effective in treating under-eye dark-circles

6. Helps treat skin inflammation

7. Helps provide protection against UV rays

Not only this, Kesar is also known to boost immunity. It has Diaphoretic, carminative, and aphrodisiac properties. It also helps in reducing the PMS symptoms. It also helps in treating the skin cancer. You can consume Kesar in warm milk or you can even use for garnishing purposes.

Today, Kashmiri Kesar is being used in almost all the countries of the world, but because of the easy availability in colder regions, it had always been a part of their day-to-day lives.

Its fibers are given to small children after dissolving them in milk so that they can fight the severe cold. The tradition of giving it to pregnant women (above three months) by dissolving it in milk every morning is also seen in Indian families. People believe that this improves the development of the brain and nervous system of the baby in the womb. Even after birth, if the baby is made to consume saffron milk regularly, then it enhances its memory and IQ.

Today saffron is available in large quantities in the market but the availability of good and genuine saffron is a matter of doubt. Because people living in the plains are not well aware of the saffron plant and its natural structure. Due to which they are not able to choose the right saffron.

Baidyanath Kashmiri Kesar comes to your rescue here. The Kesar provided by Baidyanath is pure and ISO and GMP certified. This Kesar is free from chemicals, preservatives, dyes, artificial colors, stabilizers, taste enhancers, and no adulterant. In short, Baidyanath Kesar is all-natural.

You may make a purchase from Baidyanath without worries. The Kashmiri Kesar sold by them will not disappoint you.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Billionaire businessman Warren Buffet's company Berkshire Hathaway has sold its entire stake in digital payment company Paytm. The global firm ended up selling 2.46 percent stake in Paytm's parent company One97 Communications at a hefty loss. Warren Buffet's firm Berkshire Hathaway sold its entire stake in the fintech company Paytm.(Reuters Photo)

Berkshire Hathaway sold its stake in Paytm through its affiliate company BH International Holdings. Over 1.56 crore shares of the fintech firm Paytm were sold on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) at a loss of 620 crore.

The company had acquired 2.6 per cent stake in Paytm for 1,279.7 per share at an aggregate value of 2,179 crore, as per an official document. The shares were disposed of on Friday at an average price of 877.29 apiece, taking the transaction value to 1,370.63 crore, according the data available on the NSE.

While 2.46 percent out of the total 2.6 has been unloaded by Warren Buffet's multi-billion dollar firm, it is not yet ascertained when the entity had offloaded the 0.14 per cent stake.

After BH International Holdings exited the fintech company, the shares of parent firm One97 Communications declined around 3% to close at 895 apiece.

In October, Fintech company One97 Communications, which operates under the Paytm brand, reported the narrowing of consolidated loss to 291.7 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal. The company had posted a loss of 571.5 crore in the year-ago period.

The consolidated revenue from operations of the company increased about 32 per cent to 2,518.6 crore during the quarter from 1,914 crore a year ago.

The shares offloaded by Buffet's company were bought by Copthall Mauritius Investment and Ghisallo Master Fund, which ended up purchasing 1.19% and 0.67% stake respectively.

Earlier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked banks and shadow banks to maintain higher capital buffers, Paytm has had to tighten its ship amid recent changes in its finances.

With inputs from PTI
Gurugram-based manufacturer Royal Enfield has launched the all-new Himalayan 450 adventure tourer, with the model due to replace the Himalayan 411 in the company's global lineup. Himalayan 450 (Image courtesy: Royal Enfield)

The motorcycle was launched at the company's Motoverse 2023 event, in Goa.

Variants

Himalayan 450 will be offered in three variants  Base, Pass, and the top-spec Summit. While the Base variant comes in the Kaza Brown colour, Pass is offered in Slate Himalayan Salt and Slate Poppy Blue colours.

The colour schemes available for Summit, on the other hand, are Kamit White and Hanle Black.

Price

The ex-showroom pricing begins at 2.69 lakh (Base), going up to 2.74 lakh (Pass), 2.79 lakh (Summit; Kamet White) and 2.84 lakh (Summit; Hanle Black). The prices, it must be noted, are applicable till December 31, and, therefore, are only introductory.

Deliveries, meanwhile, will begin at a later date.

Powertrain

The bike gets the newly-developed Sherpa 450 engine, which is a 450 cc single-cylinder and liquid-cooled unit, a first for Royal Enfield. The engine churns out 39.4 bhp of peak power and 40 Nm of maximum torque; also, it is paired to a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch.

Features

The 2-wheeler boasts of features such as an in-house all-digital centre console with turn-by-turn navigation via Google Maps; Ride-By-Wire with two riding modes (Eco and Performance); switchable dual-channel ABS, all-LED lighting, Bluetooth connectivity, call/SMS alerts, new joystick, adjustable seat heights, etc.

Rivals

Himalayan 450 will take on the KTM 390 Adventure, Triumph Scrambler 400 X, and Yezdi Adventure.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday celebrated the platinum jubilee of Ambala-based No 5 Squadron Air Force, also known as Tuskers at the Air Force Station. The ceremony was attended by serving personnel and veterans, who had served in the squadron. (HT Photo)

An air show by the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team, the Aakashganga para-diving team, Rafale and Jaguar aircraft formations was also organised.

The ceremony was attended by serving personnel and veterans, who had served in the squadron.

At the occasion, a special postal cover was released by Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Commodore Commandant of the Squadron in the presence of Group Captain MP Verma, Commanding Officer of the Sq, dignitaries, veterans and their families.

The Commodore Commandant said that it was a tribute to all those who had contributed towards building the rich legacy of the squadron.

November, 1948 saw the birth of Tuskers under the leadership of Wg Cdr JRS Danny Dantra at Kanpur, equipped with B-24 Liberator heavy bomber aircraft. The squadron has been pivotal in safe-guarding the skies and upholding the honour of the nation, be it the operations in Congo, the 1965 war with Pakistan or the 1971 War for Liberation of Bangladesh, he said.

Highlighting its role during the 1961 operations in Congo under the United Nations, 1965 Indo-Pak War and in 1971 war, Air Marshal Singh said that on August 1, 1981, Tuskers were re-equipped with deep penetration strike capable aircraft, the Jaguar at Ambala.

Later in July 1988, the squadron participated in Operation Pawan, in support of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and over the years, the Tuskers have proved their mettle by displaying exceptional professionalism in representing the IAF internationally, in various exercises with foreign air forces, such as Cope Thunder, Red Flag 2014 and Cope India-2018, a statement quoting the Commodore Commandant, said.

Veterans relive memories

As the nation celebrates 75 years of the squadron, the veterans from the region, on the sidelines of event at the Air force station shared anecdotes.

91-year-old KK Bhadwar is one of the few people from the three services to have received two medals for a single operation during the 1971 war.

An AVSM and VRC, he also participated in the 1965 war and attacked total six locations in Pakistan with the Squadron and was retired in 1986.

Sharing an anecdote, he said, 1971 war came as a surprise for most of us when I was commanding 35 sq in Pune. We were kept on standby since October and were allowed to move in camps. I was watching movie at a theatre, when my name appeared on a screen asking me to report to the base at the earliest.

Air Marshal Anil Khosla retired as the vice-chief of the air staff at the IAF in 2019 and was part of the sq during 1984-85, later also joining the Surya Kiran as chief instructor.

The Balakot air strikes was the farewell gift for me, as I was retired few months later. I must also appreciate the Surya Kiran that has improved its air display to much extent, he told.
Police have busted a gang that robbed two people within a span of nine days after offering them shared taxi rides in Dera Bassi earlier this month. Explaining the modus operandi of the gang, Dera Bassi assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Darpan Ahluwalia said the gang would approach passengers waiting to board buses at the Singhpura bus stand and offer them cheaper rides in their shared taxi. (Getty Images)

While two accused, Rajinder and Neha, both residents of Zirakpur, have been arrested, search is on for their three accomplices. Police have also recovered a Volkswagen Vento car from the duo that they used to lure passengers.

Explaining the modus operandi of the gang, Dera Bassi assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Darpan Ahluwalia said the gang would approach passengers waiting to board buses at the Singhpura bus stand and offer them cheaper rides in their shared taxi.

With their accomplices already in the back seat of the car, posing as other passengers, the victim would be forced to take the front seat next to the driver.

They would then drive the car to Haripur Kuran village on the pretext of avoiding toll fee and rob the passengers of their valuables after restraining them from behind.

Among their latest victims were Dhakoli resident Narendra Kumar and Hisar resident Bhanu. Narendra was robbed of 1.64 lakh, besides his mobile phone and documents, on November 16 and the latter of 27,800, mobile phone and documents on November 7. Separate cases of theft, extortion and criminal conspiracy were registered in this regard at the Dera Bassi police station.

The ASP added, The gang members are history-sheeters, facing multiple cases of snatching and drug peddling. Multiple teams have been deployed for both technical and human surveillance to apprehend the remaining gang members. Nehas husband is among those being pursued. Efforts are underway to apprehend the entire gang.
The Punjab government has suspended Bathinda superintendent of police Gurbinder Singh for dereliction of duty in connection with the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state on January 5, 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on his way to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur to address an election rally when his cavalcade had to take a U-turn after farm protesters blocked his way on January 5, 2022. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 20 minutes. (HT file photo)

According to an order issued by the state home department on November 21, Gurbinder Singh, who is posted as Bathinda SP, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect.

Also read: Successfully completed: PM Modi takes sortie on Tejas aircraft in Bengaluru

He was posted as SP, operations, in Ferozepur where he was performing key duties during Modis visit.

A report dated October 18, 2023, was submitted by the director general of Punjab Police in connection with the security breach during Modis visit wherein the DGP made remarks that Gurbinder Singh, then SP, operations, did not perform his duty properly, states the order by home secretary Gurkirat Kirpal.

The order said after consideration of the matter at the level of the competent authority, the officer concerned has been suspended with immediate effect.

Prime Minister Modis convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.

Earlier, a Supreme Court-appointed committee, which probed the breach, had indicted several state officers for lapses. Modi was on his way to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur to address an election rally when his cavalcade had to take a U-turn after farm protesters blocked his way. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 20 minutes.

The SP-rank officer is the first police officer to be suspended for the lapses.
A major pile-up involving 30 vehicles, including a school bus ferrying 40 children, disrupted traffic near Daheru village on the national highway running through Khanna town on Saturday morning. A major pile-up involving 30 vehicles, including a school bus ferrying 40 children, disrupted traffic near Daheru village on the national highway running through Khanna town on Saturday morning. (Representational photo)

Police said the school students on an educational tour to Kurukshetra in Haryana had a narrow escape when their bus rammed into a truck in front. The truck was carrying glass sheets. The children escaped unhurt but the glass sheets were damaged due to the accident.

Also read: Ludhiana: Gang of vehicle lifters busted, 3 held; 22 two-wheelers recovered

The bus driver said he failed to notice the truck due to poor visibility on the stretch.

After the mishap, 28 vehicles crashed into each other, causing the pile-up.

Khanna traffic in-charge Paramjit Singh Benipal along with a police team reached the spot and initiated investigation. The damaged vehicles were removed from the road and the flow of traffic was restored by noon.

On November 13, a man had died and six other commuters were injured in four major pile-ups on the national highway in Khanna.
One officer carried a woman in labor through the snow. Six officers from E District formed a caravan to rescue stranded motorists. Another hitched a ride with a snowmobiler to get to work.

During the Blizzard of 2022 that paralyzed Western New York, Buffalos police officers were faced with life-threatening scenarios they had never imagined before.

During a lot of emergency stressful situations, you have to improvise. You have to take what you have within your training and your plans and improvise  kind of call an audible and put it to work, said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

Last week, the police department held an awards ceremony to honor some of the heroes of the storm. In an old courtroom on an upper floor of the public safety building downtown, family members watched and snapped cellphone photos as the officers and a few civilians received their commendations from Mayor Byron W. Brown and the commissioner:

Mayors Award of Merit and Mayors Civilian Award of Merit: Officer Allana Laquerre and her parents, Stephen and Phyllis Laguerre. Officer Laquerre was monitoring calls from motorists stranded in whiteout conditions on Dec. 23, the day the blizzard began. She spoke to a family who was stuck in their vehicle at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Howard Street  three children and two adults. She checked on them again the next day and they were still trapped in the same place and had run out of gas. They were in danger of freezing to death. Laquerre called her parents who live nearby and they offered to take the family in. Laquerre stayed on the phone with the family as they trudged through the blasting winds and snow until they got to her parents house. They ended up spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Laquerres.

Civilian Distinguished Service Award: Jaamel Carr is the custodial engineer at the Ferry-Fillmore District Station House  C District  which turned into an emergency shelter during the blizzard. More than 50 civilians weathered the storm inside the police building. Carr stayed at the station for more than 48 hours, taking care of the civilians, stranded officers and the building. He cooked food and kept the stationhouse clean. He cleared entrances and exits over and over and made sure that the heat and water were operating.

Commissioners Leadership Award: Lt. Jenny Velez and Lt. Courtney Tripp were at C District where they faced an array of challenges, from taking care of civilians to coordinating rescues. At one point, the districts dispatching system went down. They couldnt receive incoming calls for assistance. Velez and Tripp figured out a way to reroute the calls into a Buffalo police laptop, and they served as the districts dispatchers for the next 48 hours.

Lt. Vincent Judge report to work on Dec. 23, knowing it was likely hed get stuck. He worked 48 hours straight and made key decisions including at one point commandeering lifesaving equipment.

Medal of Valor: Officers Shawn McCabe, Aaron Gervase, Lucas Maciejewski and Michael Kiripolsky were dispatched to a call about a woman in labor on Christmas Day. The officers determined she needed to get to a hospital right away. McCabe carried the woman through the snow to a vehicle. Then Gervase, with Kiripolskys help, drove a plow through blinding snow ahead of the vehicle the woman was in. Maciejewski waded through the snow to flag down a front-loader truck to help them. They got the woman to the hospital where she gave birth. The baby needed immediate emergency care.

Commissioners Medal of Commendation: Police Officers Christopher Bauer, Stephen Schulz, Nicholas Piazza, Branden Lowe, Andrew Dalgleish and Frank Menza created a caravan of three two-person vehicles as they searched for people stranded in cars and brought them back to the Northeast District stationhouse on Bailey Avenue. At one point, their patrol vehicles got stuck and together they walked half a mile in blizzard conditions to get to Erie County Medical Center where they were stranded for 24 hours.

Officer DeWayne Raye found himself stranded in his vehicle on the Skyway for more than 12 hours and had nearly run out of fuel when he was finally rescued. But he didnt want to rest. Raye and Officer Kyma Dickinson used Rayes personal vehicle to rescue more people.

Officer Robert Grande made his way to work on Christmas Eve, abandoning his own vehicle along the way. Once at the stationhouse, he helped triage calls and took care of civilians seeking refuge there. The next morning, Grande and Officer John Davidson worked together for 48 hours straight. Using a snowmobile to get around, they picked up food and prescriptions and delivered them to residents. They transported two people to Mercy Hospital when an ambulance crew couldnt get to them. They also found a 10-year-old boy who had gone missing.

Officers Brian Walters and Community Police Officer Shree Siwakoti learned about a 99-year-old World War II veteran who had lost heat at his house that was a few blocks from the C District stationhouse. He wasnt able to walk so the officers carried him to Fillmore Avenue where they were met by another officer who drove the man to the stationhouse to warm up.

Officers Brian Walters, Michael Scheu, Marc Hurst and Det. Derek Brennan responded to reports of stranded motorists on Route 33 and rescued a traveling nurse who was in a vehicle with her two dogs. She had run out of fuel. In another car, they found a man returning from his appointment at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Officers Mark Hilmey, Nathaniel Rodriguez and Adrian Pinto worked for 40 straight hours to rescue stranded motorists and other people in need, at one point using a National Guard F350 to get around.

Officer Patrick Eck and Connor Frascatore responded to a 911 call for a possible child drowning at a local hotel on Dec. 27. The first to arrive, they performed CPR as the father gave the child breaths. Frascatore realized there was an obstruction in the childs throat and gave her back blows to get food and water out of her. The underwater recovery team arrived and took the child to Oishei Childrens Hospital. She died a few days later but family thanked them for giving them those extra days with their child.

Lt. Andrew Shea and Police Officers Clayton Reed, Dylan Ross and Emily Gawlak together rescued a sheriffs deputy, an essential worker, a heavy equipment operator and other stranded civilians. But as they were conducting rescues, their own vehicles became stuck in snow. They came up with a plan to walk through the blizzard to the City Engineering Garage that was about 200 yards away. Then, Shea made the call to use plows and a high-lift at the garage to help them get to the South Buffalo district stationhouse. Reed, who happened to be a former plow driver, drove a plow. The deputy drove the other. The civilian heavy equipment operator who had been rescued drove the high-lift. Together they were able to get everyone to the stationhouse safely before continuing with more rescues.

Commissioners Unit Award: Gramaglia commended the SWAT, the Underwater Recovery Team and the Homicide Squad who did welfare checks on residents and recovered the bodies of the dead, an operation coordinated by Chief of Detectives Craig Macy and led by SWAT Commander Lt. Peter Nigrelli, URT Commander Lt. Peter Kocol and Homicide Squad Captain Craig Leone. The teams special training along with equipment made them uniquely suited for the grim task of going through the long list of calls from people worried about loved ones.
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 25 (ANI): In a shocking incident, a 36-year-old man died after he was punched on the nose by his wife after he refused to take her to Dubai for her birthday celebration. HT Image

The incident took place at the couple's apartment, located in a posh residential society in Pune's Wanavdi area, on Friday.

The victim, identified as Nikhil Khanna, a businessman in the construction industry, had a love marriage with his wife, Renuka (38), six years ago.

According to a senior police officer posted at the Wanavdi Police station, "The incident occurred on Friday afternoon. As per the primary investigation, it has been revealed that the couple had a fight because Nikhil did not take Renuka to Dubai to celebrate her birthday and did not give her expensive gifts on her birthday and anniversary. Renuka was also upset with Nikhil for not giving a favourable response to her wish to go to Delhi to celebrate the birthdays of some relatives."

The police further informed that "during the fight, Renuka punched Nikhil in the face. The impact of the punch was so hard that Nikhil's nose and some teeth were broken. With heavy bleeding, Nikhil lost consciousness."

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against Renuka under IPC Section 302 and arrested her for further investigation. (ANI)
Around 68.24% of polling was recorded till 5pm in 199 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan. While Alwars Tijara witnessed the highest turnout of around 80.85%, the lowest was seen in Palis Sumerpur with 57.81%. (HT Photo)

The highest polling was recorded in Jaisalmer district (76.57%), followed by Dholpur (74.11%), Jhalwar (73.37%), Pratapgarh (73.36%), and Baran (73.12%) while the lowest polling was recorded in Pali (60.71%), Sirohi (63.62%), Jalore (64.10%), Jodhpur (64.32%), and Udaipur (64.98%).

While Alwars Tijara witnessed the highest turnout of around 80.85%, the lowest was seen in Palis Sumerpur with 57.81%.

However, the final turnout report was awaited till the polling ends at 6pm.

Polling is being held in 199 out of 200 constituencies in the state. The election in onoe constituency, Karanpur in Sriganganagar, has been adjourned due to the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar, who was also the sitting MLA from the seat.

The states voter turnout in 2018 assembly elections was 74.72%.

The state with 51,756 polling stations comprises around 52,538,659 voters- of whom 27,358,965 are men and 25,179,694 are women. According to the Election Commission, 61,021 elderly and specially-abled people have already cast their votes through home voting, in the states first attempt for such a facility.

Polling was majorly peaceful in Rajasthan except for a few scattered occurrences in which police detained around 40 in Bikaner, Sikar, and Dholpur for breaking the peace and harmony in the polling areas.

The Bikaner police in the morning detained 26 people for their suspicious movement. We have also seized five cars belonging to those 26. The movements of outsiders are restricted in a particular constituency 48 hours ahead of the polling. Police found these people were from Haryana, and a few other states but had been moving around in the Kolayat area today morning during the polling process. Further investigation is underway, said Bikaner superintendent of police (SP), Tejaswani Gautam.

A verbal clash between two groups also turned into a fierce stone-pelting in Sikars Fatehpur. Sikar SP Deshmukh Paris said, We detained around 7 from the spot. Strict action will be taken against them for disturbing the peace of the area on the polling day. We have deployed an additional force in the spot for the security of the voters who are yet to cast their votes at the booths.

In Dholpurs Rajai Kalan, two groups of local people allegedly exchanged firing within a 150 metre radius of a polling booth, following which the police detained 7. Dholpur SP Manoj Kumar said, The clash between two local groups broke out over a murder incident that took place seven years ago. Both groups held each other accountable for it. However, we are investigating what exactly induced the incident this morning.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate in Karauli, Advocate Ravindra Meena lodged a complaint with the collector and the police superintendent for an alleged fatal attack on one of his aides while they were heading towards a booth this morning. However, the additional SP and the collector reached the spot to verify the fact, following which a case can be registered, said Karauli SP, Mamata Gupta.

An independent candidate, S P Singh in Sikars Fatehpur, was allegedly assaulted by a few people while heading toward his constituency by car. A polling agent in Churu also claimed that he was assaulted by four to five people causing minor injuries.

The people in two polling booths in Alwars Tijara and Sirohis Pindwara accused the polling staff of allegedly forcing them to vote for a particular political party. However, the incidents were not yet confirmed by the administration.

Meanwhile, technical malfunction in the electronic voting machine (EVM) was reported in many places such as Sumerpur, Pratapnagar, Pokharan, Sirohi, Nadbai, and Jhalawar causing delays in the process in the morning.

The people in around six polling booths located in Pipalda, Ladpura, Sadulpur, Kolukhera, Ahore, and Uchchera boycotted voting due to the administrative ignorance to their long-time issues such as water shortage, lack of a railway-overbridge, merging with an old panchayat etc.

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) polling agent, identified as Shantilal Rajpurohit (65) in a booth in Palis Sumerpur constituency, died following a sudden cardiac arrest. An 81-year-old voter, Trilok Chand Nahar in Pushkar, also died minutes after casting his vote.

Polling on Saturday was held from 7am to 6pm amid tight security arrangements, chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote from Jodhpur with his family around 10 am. Before voting, he visited his ancestral house in Jodhpurs Mahamandir lane and reached the polling booth walking with the local people.

Appealing to the people to cast their votes at the maximum number, he told the reporters, The wind is in the Congresss favour. I can assure you that our party will repeat the government. Our guarantee will only work in the election; (Prime Minister Narendra) Modis schemes have failed drastically. The BJP will not be visible after today.

After casting vote from her own constituency in Jhalrapatan, former CM and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje said, I appeal to everyone, particularly the fresh voters, to cast their votes. It is your responsibility to the country.

Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who is also a Congress candidate from Tonk, cast his vote from Jaipurs Civil Lines area and appealed to everyone to vote.

Meanwhile, Union Jalshakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat showed confidence in the BJPs win after casting his vote from Jodhpur. The BJP will grab power with a complete majority. People want a change this time after suffering under the Congress rule in the last five years when law and order got devastated, and crime and corruption have seen a sharp rise.

After casting his vote in Jaipur, CEO Gupta appealed to the people to ensure a peaceful polling process and cast their votes at the maximum number. People are voting with a fresh wisdom this time. From youth, women to the elderly are taking part in this festival of democracy at a maximum number. There are a few EVM malfunctions reported in some places. We are changing the machines there immediately, he said.

An 88-year-old voter in Jaipurs C-Scheme area Radhakishan Gupta, said, I like to come and vote from the booths in the morning, which is why I didnt opt to vote from home. I will cast my vote for a party who may ensure development in my area.

95-year-old Vimla Devi, a resident of the walled city said, I have voted on the basis of the work done. Standing next to her, two sisters Muskan and Anjali Meena, first time voters, said that they voted on the basis of development work.

I was enthused since morning to caste my vote. Looking to long queues I returned home twice but now I am standing with my mother to caste vote, said 21-year-old Muskaan.

In a new initiative of Green Booth by the Ajmer district administration, the first five voters at every booth planted a tree at the ground of the polling stations.

The results of the assembly elections in five states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram- will be declared on December 3.
Rajasthan on Saturday witnessed around 24.74% of polling till 11 am for the 199 assembly constituencies, according to information provided by the election commission. Polling held at Ghersaiwad area in Rajasthans Jaipur (HT Photo)

The voting began at more than 51,000 polling booths at 7am and will continue till 6pm. The results will be declared on December 3. 1,862 candidates are in the fray in 199 seats of the 200 Assembly constituencies whose fate will be decided by more than 50 million voters.

The election in one constituency  Sriganganagars Karanpur seat  has been adjourned due to the death of a Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar, who was also the sitting MLA.

According to the election commission, the highest polling turned in Dholpur district (30.25%), followed by Hanumangarh (29.16%), Baran (28.91%), and Ganganagar (28.22%) while the lowest was in Udaipur (21.07%), Rajsamand (21.98%), Jodhpur (22.58%), and Dungarpur (22.82%) after the four hours of polling.

Bharatpurs Kaman constituency recorded the highest polling of around 38.56%, while the lowest in Rajsamands Bhim with only 15.42%.

The state with 51,756 polling stations comprises around 52,538,659 voters  of whom  27,358,965 are men and 25,179,694 are women. Around 2,220,913 are also all set to cast their votes this election.

According to the election commission, 61,021 elderly and specially-abled people have already cast their votes through home voting, in the states first attempt for such a facility.

A direct contest is likely to be seen between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While the former is hoping to retain power in the state breaking the 25-year-trend of altering parties every election, the latter is also looking forward to winning the majority of seats to form its government in the desert state.

At present, Congress has 107 MLAs, the BJP 70, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party-3, two each of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), one from Rashtriya Lok Dal, 13 are independents and two seats  Udaipur and Karanpur are vacant.

The Congress has fielded 97 sitting MLAs, including seven Independents and one from the BJP, while the Opposition BJP has given tickets to six Lok Sabha members and one Rajya Sabha member as well as 59 MLAs.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot had cast his vote from Jodhpur with his family on Saturday morning. Before voting, he visited his ancestral house in Jodhpurs Mahamandir lane and reached the polling booth walking with the local people.

Appealing to the people to cast their votes at the maximum number, he told the reporters, The wind is in Congresss favour. I can assure you that our party will repeat the government. Our guarantee will only work in the election; (Prime Minister Narendra) Modis schemes have failed drastically. BJP will not be visible after today.

After casting the vote from her own constituency in Jhalrapatan, BJP leader and former CM Vasundhara Raje also appealed to the people, particularly the fresh voters to cast their votes, saying it is their responsibility towards the country.

Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who is also a Congress candidate from Tonk, cast his vote from Jaipurs Civil Lines area and appealed to everyone to vote.

I believe that the people will keep the works and the performance of our party in the last five years in mind while voting. People can see how the Congress is working enthusiastically in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh after forming our governments recently. BJP has failed as an opposition. Congress is going to win with full majority, he said.

Meanwhile, the Union Jalshakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat showed confidence in the BJPs win after casting his vote from Jodhpur. BJP will grab the power with a complete majority. People want a change this time after suffering under the Congress rule in the last five years when law and order got devastated, and crime and corruption have seen a sharp rise, he said.

Among the prominent BJP faces are the Union law minister and Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Meghwal, agriculture minister and Barmer MP Kailash Chaudhary, Lok Sabha speaker and Kota MP Om Birla, Amber MLA and the deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia, BJPs Vidhyadhar Nagar candidate and Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, Jhotwara candidate, and Jaipur Rural MP Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore have also cast their votes in Saturday morning.

State education minister Bulaki Das Kalla, Parliamentary Affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal, and food and civil Supplies minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas were among the prominent Congress candidates who turned in their votes in the first hours of the polling process.

Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra, and the Assam Governor and former Rajasthan minister Gulab Chand Katariya also turned in their votes in the morning.

Meanwhile, a few incidents of clashes were also reported. While an independent candidate  S P Singh in Sikars Fatehpur was allegedly assaulted by a few people while heading toward his constituency by car, the people in two polling booths in Alwars Tijara and Sirohis Pindwara also accused the polling staff of forcing them to vote for a particular political party. However, the incidents were not yet confirmed by the administration.

Technical malfunction in an EVM machine was reported in places, including Sumerpur, Pratapnagar, Pokharan, Sirohi, Nadbai, and Jhalawar, causing delays in the process.

The people in around six polling booths in Pipalda, Ladpura, Sadulpur, Kolukhera, Ahore, and Uchchera boycotted voting due to the administrative ignorance to their long-time issues such as water shortage, lack of a railway-overbridge, merging with an old panchayat etc.

A BJP polling agent identified as Shantilal Rajpurohit (65) in Pali also died after reporting deteriorating health.

However, after casting his vote in Jaipur, CEO Gupta appealed to the people to ensure a peaceful polling process and cast their votes at the maximum number. People are voting with a fresh wisdom this time. From youth, women to the elderly are taking part in this festival of democracy at a maximum number. There are few EVM malfunctions were reported in some places. We are changing the machines there immediately, he said.

An 88-year-old voter in Jaipurs C-Scheme area  Radhakishan Gupta reached the polling booth within a few minutes of the process began at 7am. Holding a stick in one hand and his daughter-in-laws wrist in another hand, he said, I like to come and vote from the booths in the morning every year which is why I didnt opt to vote from home. I will cast my vote for a party who may ensure development in my area.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal legislative assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has lodged a police complaint against chief minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly threatening to arrest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) men if her own party leaders were arrested by central agencies. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (File)

They have sent four of our legislators to jail, thinking that they would bring down our numbers in this way. If they send four of my people to jail in corruption cases and malign them, I will send eight of them (BJP men) to jail in murder and other cases, Banerjee said on Thursday while addressing Trinamool Congress in Kolkata.

At least five high-profile TMC leaders, including four legislators, of whom two were state ministers, are now in judicial custody after they were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in various alleged scams.

I have emailed my complaint to the officer-in-charge of the Hare Street police station, requesting him to lodge an FIR against the chief minister for the comment she made at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. She threatened, by taking a vow on behalf of her party to arrest eight of our (BJP) people, Adhikari wrote on his X handle.

He also stated that if the police refuse to register the FIR, he would wait for 72 hours and then approach the additional chief judicial magistrates court, requesting to take cognisance of the complaint.

The actions of such a nature discloses offences which are cognizable in nature and directly trying to target me and the other members. Thus the act and gesture attract the offences punishable under sections 182, 194, 195A, 211, 203, 505 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. Kindly treat this letter of complaint for the purpose of registration of FIR, he wrote.

Adhikari, who was earlier with the TMC, joined the BJP in December 2020 in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah. He defeated Banerjee by 1,956 votes in Nadigram constituency in the 2021 state assembly polls. Banerjee later contested from Bhowanipore and won.

The chief minister, in her speech, which lasted for more than an hour, also said she doesnt believe that the arrested TMC leaders in various alleged scams were corrupt.

Today you are laughing because our party leaders Anubrata Mondol, Partha Chatterjee, Manik Bhattacharya, Jyoti Priya Mallick and a few other leaders are in jail. This tradition will continue. In future, when you would no longer be on the chair, where would you be? In a cell? she said adding that the Centre has kept everyone at gun-point.
Over 2.41 lakh kilogram of illegal drugs were seized in raids carried out across Uttar Pradesh by the state police from 2020 to October this year, additional director general (ADG-Crime) SK Bhagat has said, adding the crackdown against drug peddlers and syndicates had broken their spine. (For representation)

In a communique shared with the media, police officials said the seized drugs were valued at 1,400 crore in the international market. More than 40,000 cases were registered, and 45,000 persons were arrested under the NDPS (Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act in the said period.

Bhagat said a total of 2,41,431 kg of illegal drugs were seized in three years and 10 months. Among the seized narcotic substances were 1,94,346 kg of ganja, 40,359 kg of doda (poppy straw), 2,032 kg of opium, 3,518 kg of charas, 984 kg of heroin (smack), 186 kg of morphine and around 3.82 kg of cocaine.

The ADG added the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), constituted to curb drug trade, seized around 9,350 kg of illegal drugs till October and arrested 187 persons after booking them in 71 cases registered under the NDPS Act. Also, it demolished three illegal drug factories operating in Agra and Bareilly.

Deputy inspector general (DIG)-ANTF Abdul Hameed said this year 40,905 kg of illegal drugs were seized in eight zones of the state, while 6,013 cases were registered and 7,539 people arrested. He said a maximum of 10,816 kg of drugs was seized in the Kanpur zone, followed by 7,763 kg in Varanasi and 4,626 kg in Meerut.

Similarly, around 13,961 kg of illegal drugs were seized within the limits of the seven police commissionerates in the state; 1,322 cases were registered and 1,635 people were arrested. In the Agra commissionerate limits alone, 4,460 kg of illegal drugs were seized, followed by 3,265 kg in Kanpur and 2,703 kg in Gautam Buddh Nagar.
PANVEL Navi Mumbai, India - Nov. 24, 2023:Curbing traffic issues - Navi Mumbai traffic police gets 30 wardens from PMC in Navi Mumbai, India, on Friday, November 24, 2023. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO)

Perennial traffic issues in Panvel region are expected to be curbed with Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) providing 30 wardens to Navi Mumbai traffic police. The initiative followed a request from the traffic department. More wardens are expected to follow.

The wardens from Maharashtra Security Force have been deployed at traffic junctions and other places to support the traffic personnel.

Panvel has long been suffering traffic jams with the traffic police being unable to do much due to paucity of personnel. It had been following up on appointment of wardens for long with PMC.

PMC had a couple of years back approved the appointment of wardens with the general body approving appointment of 50 wardens. The issue was however delayed due to technical issues.

Municipal Commissioner Ganesh Deshmukh has recently managed to get 45 wardens from Maharashtra Security Force. Of these he has sent 30 to Navi Mumbai traffic police to coordinate traffic in PMC jurisdiction, the rest will be used by the civic body for its security purposes. PMC will pay 12 lakh per month in salaries with the annual expenditure being R 1.44 cr.

The wardens have been posted at Panvel, Kalamboli and Kharghar traffic police beats. They have been posted on the field post Diwali and can be seen regulating traffic.

Said Deshmukh. We had a request from Navi Mumbai traffic police to provide them with manpower to regulate traffic in our region as they have a shortage of staff. Traffic snarls are indeed an issue in the region and hence we took up the request and have provided the wardens to them. It will help the city traffic management.

Stated deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakde, This is a useful manpower multiplier for us thanks to PMC that has made the wardens available at our request. It will certainly ease the situation. They have been posted at various locations in the region to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

He explained, The wardens will assist our personnel in traffic management, during accidents for diversion and rescue operations and also at bottlenecks. They will also be deployed with our patrolling staff, with one policeman and one warden instead of another policeman on the bike.

Informed Kakde, We have asked for a total of 50 wardens and hence are hopeful of getting more of them.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh on Saturday wrote to the state power minister AK Sharma urging him to present the Lift and Escalators Safety Bill in the upcoming session of the assembly. On August 3, a 73-year-old woman succumbed to injuries after a lift she was travelling in malfunctioned, at a high rise society in Sector 137, Noida. (PTI)

A copy of the letter was also marked to the chief minister Yogi Adityanath and additional chief secretary (power) Mahesh Gupta, Singh told media persons.

Currently, Uttar Pradesh has no law to govern the installation, operation or maintenance of lifts/elevators. The need for such a regulations was felt -- especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) cities, where thousands of people living in high-rise complexes that rely entirely on lifts -- as several cases of people getting trapped in elevators took place in the past.

On August 3, a 73-year-old woman succumbed to injuries after a lift she was travelling in malfunctioned, at a high rise society in Sector 137, Noida.

On September 15, a service lift malfunctioned at an under construction site in Greater Noida West, leading to the death of nine daily wagers.

With winter session of the assembly is set to begin on November 28, and MLA Singh has urged the minister to present the Bill in the assembly.

The absence of a dedicated Lift and Escalator Safety Act has been a notable gap in our legislative framework, leading to increased safety risks for our citizens. Due to the absence of such a regulation, companies installing lifts and people associated with these are often negligent. As a result, many people die in lift accidents in NCR. Therefore, the public is demanding immediate implementation of the Act in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said in his letter.

He further said, This Act should aim to establish clear guidelines and standards for the installation, maintenance, and regular inspection of lifts and escalators.

Earlier on August 11, state power minister AK Sharma informed the assembly in Lucknow that the promulgation of the Lift Act in Uttar Pradesh was in the process.

Singh said, In this regard, I have had discussions with the top officials of the state, including power minister AK Sharma. I have high hopes that the Bill will be passed in the assembly session starting Tuesday.

Founder of the Federation of Apartment Owners Association and Ghaziabad resident Alok Kumar had filed a PIL in 2015, seeking directions from the state to formulate and implement comprehensive regulations for the safe installation, maintenance, and licensing of lifts and escalators in private and government buildings.

Kumar said residents hope that after years of struggle, the Bill will be finally implemented.

We have been fighting to get this Act since a long time, and several people have lost their lives in the meantime in lift accidents. We hope now the government will take it seriously and finally implement the Act in the state, he said.
A 20-year-old woman, a student of a private medical college in Ghaziabad, was found dead in a fountain on the premises of a residential high-rise in Indirapuram on Saturday morning, police said, adding that prima facie investigation has revealed that the woman died by suicide by jumping off the roof of a tower in the complex. The incident was reported from ATS Advantage Society in Indirapuram. Police said the 20-year-old woman was depressed and under medication. The body has been sent for an autopsy and the reports are awaited. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Police said they were alerted about the body on Saturday morning even though the death had taken place the previous evening at ATS Advantage Society in Indirapuram, as deduced from the CCTV footage from the complex.

The Indirapuram police conducted a six-hour long inquiry at the high-rise on Saturday morning and established the identity of the woman.They said she used to visit the high-rise often to meet her male friend who resided there.

The police said the woman lived in a rented flat in Shakti Khand locality of Indirapuram and came in contact with her male friend about a year ago through an online dating and friendship app. The investigators also said the two were in a live-in relationship and parted ways about a month ago.

After a thorough investigation and communication with the womans family, we came to know that she was depressed and on medication. About 10 days ago, her male friend decided to shift to Mumbai, to pursue a career in movies, and he was to go on Saturday. After scanning the CCTV footage, we have ascertained that the woman arrived at her friends flat in the high-rise around 9am on Friday and left around 1.30pm. She was again spotted around 6.08pm in a lift and three minutes later, she jumped off from the terrace of the tower, which is about 22 storeys high, said Swtantra Kumar Singh, assistant commissioner of police, Indirapuram.

Police said they found a pair of sandals on the terrace and these were later identified as hers by her family.

She fell into the fountain on the ground floor at the rear of the tower. Because of that, residents did not see her until Saturday morning. We have also recovered CCTV footage that shows her falling from the tower, the ACP said.

The woman was the daughter of a businessman in Delhi while her male friend is a senior official of a MNC in Gurugram, said police, adding that both families knew about the relation of the two.

The police said it appeared that the woman was upset about her friend leaving town and shifting to Mumbai.

After a thorough investigation, it appears that she jumped on her own and prima facie there is no foul play. We have sent the body for an autopsy and reports are awaited. Her family has not come forward to give us any complaint so far, said Shubham Patel, deputy commissioner of police (trans-Hindon).
A 73-year-old woman, daughter of a freedom fighter, in Assams Bongaigaon district, Seje Bala Ghosh, received a notice from a foreigners tribunal (FT) in March 2020 and after three years of legal battle, she has proven that she is not an illegal migrant from Bangladesh. Seje Bala Ghosh. (HT Photo)

After receiving a copy of the order earlier this week, Das said that questioning her citizenship was an insult to her fathers sacrifices and just declaring her as Indian is not enough. However, she didnt ask for anything specific.

Das received the copy from FT in Bongaigaon on November 20 and on Friday she told HT that she is still feeling humiliated.

My father was a freedom fighter. He was a close associate of Chandra Shekhar Azad Ji and sacrificed a lot for this countrys freedom. But after seven decades of independence, his daughter was called an illegal migrant, this is a shame, she said.

Seje Bala lives alone at her house in Bongaigaons Salbagan village and she is a devotee of Lord Krishna. She said, May be this was written in my destiny but those who caused this humiliation to my dignity, will pay for this. My Krishna is watching everything.

According to her, a team of police came to her house with a notice from FT in March 2020, just before the lockdown started. I couldnt read it and I asked the police to tell me what my crime is. They said, the court (FT) believes that I am an illegal migrant from Bangladesh and I have to appear before the court, she said.

According to advocate Tanya Laskar, there are two ways by which FTs issue notices- based on electoral role revision by election officers and reports by border branch of the police.

When the election officers find irregularities in names and details of voters, they put D mark at the list and send it to police. In other method, the border branch of police under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act, sends list of doubtful citizens to the FT, she said.

According to her, the FT after receiving the list of doubtful citizens, asks the police to investigate and when police say that the persons under doubt failed to produce proper documents that can prove their Indian citizenship, FT issues notice to those persons and asks them to appear before the trials.

The fact is, in most of the cases, police submit reports without visiting the doubtful persons house and they also do not serve the notices properly. As a result, FT has declared many original Indians illegal migrants, who later proved their identity in higher courts, she said.

During the first lockdown in 2020, members of Assam-based NGO, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) reached out to her and started providing legal support.

They appointed an advocate, named Dewan Abdur Rahim, to present Seje Balas case at the tribunal. Rahim said that documents show that Seje Balas father, Digendra Ch Ghosh and Barada Bala Ghosh came to India in 1947 due to religious persecution in the then East Pakistan and settled in Assam.

Seje Bala was born in 1951 at Balogara village in Mangaldoi district and in the same year her fathers name appeared in the National Register of Citizens (NRC). A passport was issued in 1954 and his name appeared in the voters list of 1958 and several upcoming years, according to the advocate.

He said that they presented 13 valid documents showing that Seje Balas family was in Assam before 1951. With the documents related to individual identities of Digendra Ch Ghosh and Seje Bala, we also submitted documents to establish their relationship (as father and daughter). All the documents were found valid in FTs verification, he said.

Seje Bala appeared before the FT in 2021 for the first time but before that she broke her left leg in an accident and due to this she was taken in a wheelchair. After several hearings, the FT on November 4, this year, gave its opinion and declared that she is not a foreigner.

The FT observed that Seje Balas family moved to India in 1947 and stayed here. FTs members mentioned that the documents are valid and show that her fathers name was recorded in the Refugee Registration certificate, Passport, NRC of 1951 and voter list of 1958. Her mothers name is recorded in the Donation Slip of 1962 and voter list of 1966 in Mangaldoi.

Seje Balas name appeared in the voters lists of 1989, 1997, 2005, 2011 and 2020 in Bongaigaon. She was also given OBC certificate and ration card etc. She submitted a relationship certificate (with her father Digendra Ch Ghosh) issued by Chairman of Bongaigaon Municipal Board in 1994 and the FT considered this as a valid document.

According to the members of CJP, she cried after getting a copy of the FTs order in her hands.

She said that she didnt deserve this insult. She is angry with the fact that the FT called her Bangladeshi. But she didnt want anyone to apologise, instead, she said that Bhagwan (almighty) will give her justice, said the state incharge of CJP, Nanda Ghosh.

Nanda said that Seje Balas son died a few years ago and the other family members have left her. She stays at her house alone and the neighbours are looking after her. A nephew, named Gopal Ghosh helps her as well, according to him.
VARANASI: During the 41st convocation ceremony of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU) in Varanasi, Governor Anandiben Patel asserted that casteism is most entrenched among the educated, highlighting the need to eradicate it for the nations progress. Addressing a gathering of students and professors, she urged over 14,000 graduates to contribute to Indias development in various fields. Governor Anandiben Patel (HT Photo)

Presiding over the ceremony, governor Patel highlighted the importance of digital education, applauding SSUs online Sanskrit course as a significant step forward. Stressing the next 25 years as crucial for Indias advancement, she called upon the youth to play a pivotal role.

Expressing joy over women and girl students earning PhD degrees in Sanskrit, governor Patel envisioned the global dissemination of Indias knowledge tradition. Describing Kashi as the land of justice, she acknowledged the universitys historical significance while acknowledging its recent challenges.

SSUs Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bihari Lal Sharma, shared the universitys achievements and welcomed esteemed guests, including Prof Srinivas Varkhedi from Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, and U.P. Minister Yogendra Upadhyay.

Prof Varkhedi, the chief guest, pointed out that the importance of rigorous research and thorough subject study for providing quality education. He encouraged scholars to disseminate the National Education Policy widely. In his concluding remarks, he urged collective efforts for the welfare of Sanskrit.

Minister Yogendra Upadhyay reiterated the significance of Sanskrit in challenging and reforming the education system, as he called for a cultural connection with values. Overall, the convocation marked a pivotal moment for SSU, with collective efforts aimed at restoring its past glory.
Cars and buses whizz past on Michigan Street as Pastor Eric Johns leads his crew to a spot under an overpass. He shouts hello and waves at a man across the road who waves back at him from his tent.

He then looks at his team and says, This is where it all began, pointing at the steep brick-paved hill that leads to the little pockets under the bridge.

Families are the new face of homelessness: Erie County housing hundreds in hotels after spike in evictions It is not a homeless crisis, but a housing crisis, according to the Erie County. An increase in the number of people without housing, particularly families, has led Erie County to use more hotels for them.

Twenty-five years ago, Johns began sleeping under bridges and overpasses  and in shelters  and frequenting soup kitchens during Thanksgiving week to raise awareness about the needs of the homeless and working poor.

A pastor at the Buffalo Dream Center for more than three decades, Johns remembers the exact moment when he decided to partake in this unparalleled project in Buffalo.

I was actually driving my van through Delaware Avenue. This was a moment in my life when I felt like God spoke to me so clearly, Go live with the homeless people,  he recalled Wednesday while sitting down with a cup of coffee to rest after spending his third night of the week on the street.

Following his vision, he packed his belongings in a backpack and left his house for five days in 1998.

This caught the medias attention and helped raise funds for a project Johns was passionate about from the start: giving Christmas gifts to children in poor families. In the first year, Buffalo Dream Center distributed gifts to 200 children as part of the Boxes of Love campaign.

On the 25th anniversary of his undertaking this project, the volunteers at the center will wrap presents for 4,000 needy children and distribute food among 3,500 families in the Buffalo Niagara area, and at two churches in Pittsburgh.

Anyone who wants to support or volunteer for the Buffalo Dream Centers Boxes of Love program can go to buffalodreamcenter.org or call 716-854-1001. Families in need of toys and food can also register at that website.

The face of homelessness has changed over the years. When he first started, Johns remembered seeing more single, middle-aged men on the streets. Over the years, the number of unhoused women and children has increased. While the population went down before the pandemic, there are nearly 1,594 homeless people in Western New York, according to the Homeless Alliance of Western New Yorks January Point In Time data.

Pastor who spends week homeless in Buffalo says 'more people are in need' than ever before "Theres more people standing in line for food than have never stood in line for food before," Pastor Eric Johns said. "If I go down the line and talk to people, a lot of people tell me, 'Ive never been to a food pantry. Ive never had to do this. This is the first time.' "

Just from the few days Ive been on the street this year, theres more people on the street than there were last year, Johns said.

Johns team had a hard time finding a place to sleep. Their usual go-to spot, the Exchange Street overpass near the Amtrak station, remains pretty crowded this year. Because of an increased interest in the community to spend a night with Johns throughout this week, he often has a big group, which makes it difficult for them to stay with other large groups of unhoused people. This year, his squad includes his sons, Alex and Nate Johns, as well as his nephews, Dream Center members, and his friend Pastor Pat Fleming from North Carolina. Fleming, a former pastor in Amherst, had previously joined Johns on this project for 11 years from 2001 to 2012.

Theres a certain place we like, you know, when were homeless, Johns said. We dont mind being next to homeless people, but theyre just too many for the large group that I have. So we had to find another place. I think that theres been a lot more people on the street.

Sporting a grey jacket and a wide smile, and carrying a little blue backpack on his shoulders, Johns walked to the Buffalo City Mission for lunch. Familiar faces popped by to say hello as he helped himself to the hot meal being served to the folks who come in.

Having done this for a while, Johns and his group know the first names of most of the people they interact with, their histories and their journey.

Buffalo pastor spends 20th year sleeping on the streets Once a year, the Rev. Eric Johns spends a week sleeping outside and eating in soup kitchens. For Johns, pastor of the Buffalo Dream Center, its part of an effort at shining a light on life for the homeless and encouraging contributions to Boxes of Love, a charitable campaign that feeds 3,000 families during the holiday and provides gifts

It takes time to develop those relationships, he said. We call them our friends from the street.

However, when he first started out, Johns did not really know how to reach out to the folks.

The first year I did it, I was alone. A lot of the time, I was so scared. I never slept at night, he said. He remembers keeping his sneakers and glasses on and being alert at all times.

Now, he snores within five minutes of laying down in his sleeping bag, said his elder son, Alex Johns, laughing.

Johns, 52, now finds it more physically challenging to keep up with this annual tradition. Age, health and the cold weather are his biggest concerns.

Its harder, physically. Twenty-five years ago, its no big deal, he said. I slept on concrete under the bridge in November in Buffalo. Now, its a lot harder for me to walk.

On an average day, Johns and his group walk about 10 to 12 miles, planning their move between different soup kitchens for meals before finding a suitable spot to rest.

I get colder quicker than I used to. So I am only retiring from this week, Johns said.

His sons are taking over the Thanksgiving week homeless project, along with other willing participants from Buffalo Dream Center. Johns still will be involved with the toy donation campaign and a mobile food pantry that gives out groceries to families in need.

His eyes crinkled as he laughed and teased, I dont think theyll raise as much money as I did, because Im better looking, but well give them a shot.

He is quick to add, My hope is that theyre able to do much more than I was able to do. Maybe I gave them the foundation, but Im sure these guys can take Boxes of Love way further than I could have ever taken, and Ill just be able to sit back.

Alex Johns, 20, said, Were ready, when asked if they were nervous to step into Johns shoes. Its an honor for us, and we feel like we have that same vision that he had 25 years ago.

Nate Johns, 19, and his brother reminisced about a time when they were too young to venture out in the night with their father. While he allowed them to stay with him on the streets during the day and visit soup kitchens to interact with the people there ever since they were 10, it was not until they were 16 that they spent their first night on the streets.

That first night, I do remember it pretty distinctly, Nate said with a faint smile, as Alex nodded. I was definitely a little nervous. Colder than you think. Its never what you expect.

One of the harder things about living on the streets is getting access to clean restrooms, Alex Johns explained. Cafes and other shops require people to purchase food or other items. Public restrooms in the train station or bus stations can be unsafe.

Even just being able to clean your face and put on a new shirt makes you feel like a new person, and to not be able to do that for months at a time is depressing, he said.

We know in a week from now were going to be back home. But for a lot of these guys, they just dont know. Its the uncertainty of I dont know how tomorrows going to go for me or where Im going to sleep, Nate Johns added.

On Thanksgiving Day, while the pastor rallied his group through the streets, volunteers gathered at the Buffalo Dream Center warehouse at 437 Masten Ave. to load their vehicles with turkey dinners and groceries to deliver to families in need.

When you start to live your life for others, youre going to make an impact in other peoples lives, but its going to change you as a person, Johns said, smiling. If we sat down and did this interview 25 years ago, you would have interviewed a different guy. Its changed me in a good way.
Pune: A 38-year-old real estate developer in Maharashtra's Pune died after his wife allegedly punched him in the face. The man has been identified as Nikhil Khanna who was a real estate developer in the city's Wanwadi area. The incident took place in the Wanwadi area. The accused has been identified as 36-year-old Renuka. Representational photo(HT)

According to the police, the couple had an argument over Renuka's birthday plan and anniversary gift. She allegedly wanted to celebrate her birthday in Dubai and also wanted an anniversary gift. They had a fight over the topic after which she punched him in his face.

During the investigation, it came to light that the man's 36-year-old wife, Renuka, had her birthday on September 18. She wanted to celebrate it in Dubai, but her husband did not fulfil her demand...Besides, the couple also had their wedding anniversary on November 5 and she was expecting some good gift from her husband. The woman was also upset as she wanted to go to Delhi for her relative's birthday, but there was no favourable response from her husband," an official told PTI.

In a fit of rage, the woman allegedly punched her husband in the nose. The man, profusely bleeding, got unconscious. The police reached the spot after neighbours called them. They took the man to a local hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The police are probing if the woman used a blunt object to hit her husband, adding the autopsy will reveal the exact cause of death.

They have registered a murder case against the accused Renuka.
From Only Murders in the Building to Atlanta, Hulu is the best choice when you love to experiment with varied genres and not stick to one. Thus, for November 2023, we've compiled a list of must-watch shows and original series on Hulu, whether it be for a terrifying night hiding under the blanket or rolling on the floor laughing over your favourite character's actions. We've compiled a list of must-watch shows and original series on Hulu, whether it be for a terrifying night hiding under the blanket or rolling on the floor laughing over your favourite character's actions.

Law & Order: SVU (1999-present)

Genres: Drama|Action|Crime

Cast: Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino

Ratings: IMDb-8.1/10| Rotten Tomatoes-78%

Plot: Having earned the title of the longest-running primetime drama series in TV history, the show is a spin-off of Dick Wolf's Law & Order. It stars Mariska Hargitay, the last remaining original cast member, along with Ice T in gripping tales of true stories of indulging plots.

Bob's Burgers

Genres: Comedy|Animation

Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Jenny Slate, Dan Mintz, Andy Kindler, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, Kristen Schaal

Ratings: IMDb-8.2/10| Rotten Tomatoes-100%

Plot: An animated sitcom created by Loren Bouchard in 2011, the show follows Bob Belcher, a third-generation restaurateur who manages Bob's Burgers with his wife and three kids. Bob firmly believes that his burgers can speak for themselves, and is hesitant to experiment with unconventional creations. Linda, Bob's wife, stands by her husband's wishes but is worrisome due to the prolonged periods of slow business. Additionally her, health inspector ex, remains a constant threat to the restaurant adding to the couple's stress. Well, Bob remains undeterred to keep serving up the plate.

Reservation Dogs

Genres: Drama

Cast: Sarah Podemski, Funny Bone, Lil Mike, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Elva Guerra, Lane Factor, Paulina Alexis, Devery Jacobs

Ratings: IMDb: 8.2/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 99%

Plot: Reservation Dogs centers around four Indigenous teens in Oklahoma. The group is still mourning the death of one of their friends a year prior and hopes to make the move to California as he dreamed of doing. Before they can, however, they need to tie up some loose ends and make a plan  something that proves to be difficult.

Fleishman is in Trouble

Genres: Drama

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Adam Brody, Claire Danes

Ratings: IMDb: 7.7/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Plot: Fleishman is in Trouble centres on 40-something doctor Toby Fleishman, who, after getting divorced from his wife Rachel, steps into the world of online dating.

Schitt's Creek

Genres: Comedy

Cast: Jennifer Robertson, Eugene Levy, Emily Hampshire, Chris Elliott, Catherine O'Hara

Ratings: IMDb: 8.5/10|Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Plot: The Emmy-winning Canadian series follows a wealthy family who loses everything and is forced to move to a tiny, backwoods town where they own a rundown motel. They slowly begin to accept their new lives and even love their new town and its citizens.

What We Do in the Shadows

Genres: Comedy|Sci-Fi|Horror

Cast: Matt Berry, Harvey Guillen, Natasia Demetriou, Mark Proksch, Kayvan Novak, Kristen Schaal

Ratings: IMDb: 8.6/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Plot: Inspired by a 2014 film of the same name, the vampire comedy series follows centuries-old vampires living together in the modern world.

A Small Light

Genres: Biography|Drama|History

Cast: Billie Boullet, Ashley Brooke, Noah Taylor, Bel Powley, Andy Nyman

Ratings: IMDb: 8.4/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Plot: A Small Light is a biographical drama set in WWII during the German invasion of the Netherlands about a brave Dutch woman named Miep Gies, who helped hide Jewish refugees, including the family of Anne Frank.

Tiny Beautiful Things

Genres: Drama|Comedy

Cast: Julien Marlon Samani, Johnny Berchtold, Aneasa Yacoub, Kathryn Hahn

Ratings: IMDb: 7.2/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Plot: Adapted from Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things, the show focuses on a messy midlife crisis and explores a hopeful arrival of sunshine in the form of one's self.

Cruel Summer

Genres: Documentary

Cast: Froy Gutierrez, Chiara Aurelia, Olivia Holt, Harley Quinn Smith

Ratings: IMDb: 7.4/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Plot: Set in the mid-90s, this teen drama follows the perspectives of two high school girls: Kate Wallis, a popular who is abducted and Jeanette Turner who steps into the palatial vacuum left by Kate.

Superstore

Genres: Comedy

Cast: Lauren Ash, Mark McKinney, Colton Dunn, Ben Feldman

Ratings: IMDb: 7.9/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Plot: Superstore is a workplace comedy that takes place in a fictional Big Bix store in St. Louis. If you're a fan of The Office and Parks and Recreation give this one a try.

The Golden Girls

Genres: Comedy

Cast: Betty White, Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan

Ratings: IMDb: 8.2/10

Plot: The Golden Girls follows the lives of four women sharing a home in Miami, Florida.

Under the Banner of Heaven

Genres: Drama|Mystery|Thriller

Cast: Seth Numrich, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Adelaide Clemens, Wyatt Russell, Sam Worthington, Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Billy Howle, Rory Culkin, Gil Birmingham

Ratings: IMDb: 7.5/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Plot: It is a true crime drama based on the 2003, non-fiction of the same name. Andrew Garfield and Gil Birmingham star as two detectives investigating a brutal murder of a mother and child and its connections to Mormonism.

Welcome to Chippendales

Genres: Biography|Drama

Cast: Annaleigh Ashford, Murray Bartlett, Kumail Nanjiani, Juliette Lewis

Ratings: IMDb: 7.3/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Plot: Inspired by the book Deadly Dance: The Chippendales Murders by K. Scot Macdonald and Patrick MontesDeOca. Laced with murder and sex, an Indian immigrant Steve Banerjee builds the largest and first male strip joint, Chippendales, only, to burn it down and end up being an accessory to murder.

Pose

Genres: Drama

Cast: Billy Porter

Ratings: IMDb: 8.6/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Plot: Pose is an American drama television series about New York City's ball culture, an LGBTQ subculture in the African-American and Latino communities, throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Justified: City Primeval

Genres: Drama|Crime

Cast: Alexander Pobutsky, Timothy Olyphant, Boyd Holbrook, Marin Ireland

Ratings: IMDb: 7.4/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Plot: Continuing from Justified, it takes inspiration from the Elmore Leonard novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit and the short story Fire in the Hole. This is the next step for U.S. Marshal Rayan Givens.

Single Drunk Female

Genres: Comedy

Cast: Rebecca Henderson, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Ally Sheedy

Ratings: IMDb: 6.9/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Plot: Single Drunk Female captures a millennial's attempt at sobriety. The show navigates rough topics like trauma, responsibilities, and adulthood with witty dialogue.

Ramy

Genres: Comedy

Cast: Hiam Abbass, Amr Waked

Ratings: IMDb: 8.0/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Plot: Starring comedian Ramy Youssef as the titular character, Ramy offers representation for American Muslims. Living in New Jersey, Ramy tries to balance between his Egyptian community, focused on morality and his reckless millennial friends.

Great Expectations

Genres: Historical

Cast: Shalom Brune-Franklin, Olivia Colman, Fionn Whitehead

Ratings: IMDb: 5.3/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 43%

Plot: Based on the iconic Charles Dickens novel, this period drama follows Pip, a poor orphan in 1860s London dreaming for betterment.

The Other Black Girl

Genres: Drama|Mystery|Comedy

Cast: Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Karins Willis, Kate Owens

Ratings: IMDb: 6.8/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Plot: Based on the novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris, the show dabbles with comedy, mystery, horror, drama and suspense. It stars Sinclair Daniel as Nella, an assistant at a successful publishing house, Wagner Books, whose career is on the upswing and only seems like it's getting better when she hires a new girl, played by Riverdale alum Ashleigh Murray. However, all is not well for long.

Reasonable Doubt

Genres: Drama

Cast: Emayatzy Corinealdi

Ratings: IMDb: 6.3/10| Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Plot: The show centres around Jax (Emayatzy Corinealdi), an LA defence attorney and partner at one of the citys top firms. Jax scrambles to handle her professional and personal life while finding new love.
New Delhi: Fifteen years after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist group continues to flourish in Muridke with the countrys all-weather friend China shielding Islamabad against sanctions targeted at the principal perpetrators of the attack by the UN 1267 Committee. The Nariman House was under siege during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Since Xi Jinping took over as President in March 2013, China blocked efforts by the US, UK, France and India to designate Pakistan-based terrorists belonging to LeT and Bahawalpur-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and sanction them by listing them under the ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee at the UN that was set up in 1999 under resolution 1267.

READ | China blocks proposal by India, US to blacklist Pak-based LeT terrorist and 26/11 accused Sajid Mir

While 26/11 principal planner LeTs emir Hafiz Saeed, his brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki, operational planner Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, and financier Arif Qasmani are all on the 1267 list, Sajid Mir, the principal handler of 10 terrorists who wreaked havoc on Indias commercial capital on November 26, 2008 has not been put on the list due to hurdles put up by China. Mir was the man who directed the two jihadists at Chabad House at Nariman Point to take headshots at Rabbi Gavriel and his wife Rivka during the attack while the rabbis two-year-old son Moshe survived due to his Indian nanny.

The proposal to designate Sajid Mir aka Wasi bhai on the 1267 list was submitted by the US with Indian co-designation on September 6, 2022 before the 1267 Sanctions Committee. Beijing blocked it on September 15,. 2022, and extended the hold on March 14 and until June 20, 2023. The Xi Jinping regime broke the consensus requirement by finally objecting to the proposal on June 20, 2023. Its modus operandi in other cases was similar. The proposal to designate Abdul Rehman Makki, the financier and ideologue of the 26/11 attack, was submitted by India with US co-designation on June 1, 2022. China placed the proposal on hold on June 16, 2022. With the US threatening to take the matter to the UN Security Council, China reluctantly lifted the hold on January 16, 2023 after which Makki, who has $ 2 million bounty on his head, was put on the list.

The proposal to designate LeTs propaganda wing member Shahid Mehmood as global terrorist was submitted by India and the US on October 4, 2022. A close aide of Sajid Mir, Mehmood raises terror funds under the garb of proscribed Falah-e-Insaniyat foundation of the Pakistani group. China placed the proposal on hold on October18, 2022 and finally objected to it on November 29, 2022. Finally, the proposal to designate Talha Saeed, son of Hafiz Saeed, was submitted by the US and India on October5, 2022. China placed hold on the proposal to designate Talha, who now runs the show from Muridke, on October 19, 2022 and objected to it on November 29, 2022.

READ | Isolated China gives up on UN listing of LeTs Makki as global terrorist

Chinese support to terrorist and terror groups in Pakistan is not limited to LeT; it took the might of US, UK, France and India over three years to get JeM mastermind Masood Azhar Alvi listed in the 1267 committee. The proposal was moved on February 2016 and the jihadist was finally listed on May 1, 2019 after his group massacred CRPF troopers in Pulwama attack. The proposal to designate his brother Abdul Rauf Asghar Alvi, the chief operational commander of JeM, was submitted by the US and India on July 27, 2022. China supported Pakistan, by placing a hold on this on August 10, 2022. On February 7, 2023, Xi Jinping regime extended the hold by three months until May 10, 2023 after which Beijing objected to the proposal.

While India has plans to propose listing of Yusuf Muzammil, the predecessor of Zaki Lakhvi as LeTs chief commander against India, Masoods brother and IC 814 hijacking accused Athar Ibrahim Alvi, Pathankot attack accused Ali Kashif Jan and Pulwama attack accused Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir and is collecting evidence in support of these actions, it is clear that China will block all these proposals to bring these terrorists in Pakistan to book.

If the people behind 26/11 are still free 15 years later, this is the main reason for it.
Raipur : Asim Das, a driver who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier this month in connection with the 508 crore Mahadev gambling app case, has retracted his statement that earlier allegedly implicated Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, and said that he is being made a scapegoat. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel (PTI)

ED started investigating the Mahadev Book Online Betting App syndicate in July 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that the promoters of the app  identified as Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal  are based overseas and remotely ran illegal betting operations with proceeds of crimes running into several thousand crores.

On November 3, four days before the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly polls, ED arrested Das and a constable, Bhim Singh Yadav (41), and allegedly seized 5.39 crore in cash from Dass car.

As per ED, Das said that he, on the instructions of another accused Shubham Soni, came to Raipur to deliver the money to politicians of the Indian Congress party for election funding.

ED told the court that Das admitted to them that the amount was to be delivered to ruling political executives and named CM Baghel as the intended final recipient for the cash.

However, Das has now retracted the statement.

I am now realising that I am being made a scapegoat I want to make it clear that I have never given any money or any kind of support to Baghel, any Verma or any other Congress party leader or worker, he wrote in a written statement submitted to the special PMLA court.

Reacting to the development, the Congress launched a sharp attack at the central agency. EDs allegations in the case are not true... They want to target the Congress government, said party spokesperson RP Singh.

Earlier, on November 10, Das wrote a letter to the court, alleging that he is being wrongly implicated by Soni.

I met Shubham Soni in Dubai where he promised to help me in setting up a construction firm but the newspapers are reporting a very different story. he wrote in the letter.

When I asked Shubham Soni about the ongoing investigations into the Mahadev app, he assured me that Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have already sorted things out with some ED officer named Mishra Dass letter added.

The letter further detailed how Das was instructed to pick up a car, deliver it to a hotel in Raipur, and later found cash in the vehicle. Das claimed he was coerced into signing a statement he did not understand and vehemently denied supplying money to any politician.

We have filed an application along with the letter written by Asim Das from jail narrating how he was trapped and falsely accused in the matter. We didnt know whats going on and came to know about the allegations like him being a courier boy from the news reports and hence it became necessary to put forward our side, said advocate Shoaib Alvi, representing Asim Das in court .

Soon after the controversy broke out, CM Baghel denied the charge and made counter allegations against the BJP and ED. First of all, I do not know this person nor have I ever met him in the way he is claiming. I cant say if he was a part of any gathering or function. Secondly, this person is claiming that he is the owner of Mahadev App. Surprisingly, even the ED, the agency which has been investigating this case for months, was not aware of this and till two days ago, the ED was calling him a manager, he said.
New Delhi It will not be proper for the highest court of the land to appoint a special investigation team (SIT) to look into alleged violations of minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms by Adani group companies without there being evidence of lapses on part of the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebis) which is investigating the matter, the Supreme Court observed on Friday. HT Image

Even as it reserved its judgment on a bundle of petitions demanding investigation into allegations of accounting fraud and stock manipulation against Adani group companies, raised in a research report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, the court remained emphatic that it cannot order a probe based only on certain media reports and without hearing the entities impacted by its orders.

Where is the material before us to start doubting Sebi? Sebi is a statutory body exclusively entrusted with investigating stock market manipulation. Is it proper for the highest court of the land to say without any proper material that we dont trust Sebi, and we will form our own SIT? This has to be done with a great deal of calibration, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud told advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was appearing for one of the petitioners in the case.

The bench, which also comprised justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, added that it cannot expect a statutory regulator like Sebi to start issuing show-cause notices on the basis of reports published by Hindenburg or by a news organisation such as Financial Times.

Both reports cited the alleged violation of MPS norms by Adani group companies using 13 overseas entities. Indian stock market laws require a listed company to have a minimum public shareholding of 25% with the objective to keep a free float available for price discovery of stocks. While the court-appointed panel had in its report in May said that these allegations were in the realm of not proved at this stage, Bhushan alleged that there was enough material contained in the two reports to infer Sebis lapses.

But the bench retorted: We dont think you can ask a statutory regulator to take a newspaper source, even if it is Financial Times, as a gospel truth. We are not saying that we doubt their sources, but we cant say it is evidentiary for Sebi. When you are dealing with evidentiary requirements, someone who has to publish a news report cannot be treated on par with a statutory regulator. Sebi is answerable to appellate authorities. If it issues a show-cause notice based on this, it will be quashed the very next day.

During the proceedings, the bench also enquired from Sebi about the steps it has taken to protect investors by keeping extreme market volatility in check and the tightening of pertinent regulations. At one point, the court observed that it has identified four areas, pertaining to the regulatory regime and investors protection, where it is inclined to issue further directions to the regulator. The court, however, did not assign a date for delivering its order.

On the Hindenburg report, the apex court said that though it can be treated as some kind of disclosure forming the starting point of a probe by Sebi, it cant presume the report to be credible. We cannot make an assumption that it is credible or lacking credibility. We will have to rely on our investigating agencies... And Sebi says they have completed their investigation and are acting as per the law. Should they disclose the investigation even before they issue notice? Because then we will pre-judge guilt before hearing the party, it added.

Hindenburgs report published in January claimed brazen accounting fraud and stock manipulation by the Gautam Adani-led group. Though the conglomerate rejected the report as unresearched and maliciously mischievous, it triggered a massive rout of Adani group stocks, which lost over $140 billion in days and forced the cancellation of a 20,000 crore share sale.

The Supreme Court on March 2 set up a six-member panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge AM Sapre, to look into regulatory failure by Sebi and alleged breach of laws by the Adani group. In its report submitted in May, the committee said the allegations of stock price manipulation or violation of MPS norms by Adani group companies cannot be proved at this stage.

On Friday, Bhushan alleged that the market regulator did not apprise the court of an investigation initiated by the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) against the Adani group companies in 2013 over alleged overvaluation of import of equipment and machinery by various entities of the group from a UAE-based subsidiary.

Rebutting the allegation, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Sebi, pointed out that the issue of overvaluation was not only not germane to the present proceedings but also that the DRI investigation got over in 2017, concluding there was no incriminating evidence to prove the allegations. The conclusion was first affirmed by the Customs, Excise And Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) and finally by the apex court, Mehta added.

At this point, the court told Bhushan: You have to be also very careful. We are not giving a character certificate to anyone. Equally, you must think of fundamental principles of fairness. You are relying on a DRI communication to Sebi. DRI closed the matter. CESTAT concluded it. Your entire allegation is based on overvaluation which was decided upon. So, if there was no overvaluation, where is the question of DRI investigation?
In a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of flouting the 48-hour silence period by tweeting about the Rajasthan elections on the day of voting. The BJP has asked the EC to direct X, formerly Twitter, to remove Gandhis tweet, and to file a criminal complaint against Gandhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (File Photo)

In the impugned tweet, Gandhi said in Hindi, Rajasthan will choose free treatment, Rajasthan will chose cheap gas cylinders, Rajasthan will choose interest-free farm loans, Rajasthan will choose English education, Rajasthan will choose OPS, Rajasthan will choose caste census. Today, go and use your right to vote in huge numbers. Choose the guaranteed Congress government that focusses on public welfare. #CongressAgain.

The BJP cited section 126 of the Representation of People Act which defines the 48-hour silence period before the conclusion of the poll. According to section 126, election matter means any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election, and violation of this is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine.

This constitutes a huge violation by star campaigner of the Congress party. Such an audacious act on the date of voting deserves to be handled strongly by the Commission and stern punitive action should be taken urgently against the delinquent, the BJP said in its complaint.

The BJP said that the tweet also constitutes a corrupt practice under section 123 of the Representation of People Act, alleging that Gandhi has committed a deliberate act for influencing the voters by enticing them to vote for INC in the name of freebies, as also on the basis of caste considerations by referring to caste census as on the date of voting.

The BJP said that Gandhis tweet had already been viewed 230 thousand times as of 10.35am on November 25.

There was no immediate reaction from the Congress.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a formal complaint to the Election Commission of India, urging immediate action against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for alleged violations of the Representation of People Act 1951. The complaint centres around a social media post by Rahul Gandhi on "X" (formerly Twitter). Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Rajasthan. (ANI)

The BJP contended that the post, which included promises related to healthcare, gas subsidies, agricultural debt relief, English education, Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations, along with a call for active participation in the ongoing voting process in Rajasthan, was in violation of the 48-hour silence zone limit.

The party further alleged that posting such a message on the day of polling in Rajasthan constitutes an offence under Section 126 of the Act, which prohibits the display of any election-related material within 48 hours of the conclusion of the polls in a constituency.

In the letter, the BJP said that the post by Rahul Gandhi has already been viewed by a significant number of users on the social media platform, exceeding 2,30,900 viewers as of 10:35am on November 25.

This constitutes a huge violation of law by star campaigner of the Congress party. Such an audicious act on the date of voting deserves to be handled strongly by the Commission and stern punitive action should be taken urgently against the delinquent (sic), it added.

The BJP urged the Election Commission to direct social media platform X to immediately suspend Gandhi's account and remove the offending contents with immediate effect. It also called on the poll body to issue directions to the Chief Election Officer Rajasthan for filing a criminal complaint and initiating criminal prosecution against the Congress leader.

On Saturday, polling is being held in 199 out of the 200 assembly constituencies in the state. More than 5.25 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,862 candidates in these 199 seats.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) to probe the allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra that she took bribes to raise questions in the Lower House, people familiar with the development said on Saturday. TMC MP Mahua Moitra. (ANI)

The agencys investigation in the alleged cash-for-query matter is based on a reference by Lokpal, the anti-corruption authority which looks into the complaints against public servants, officials said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey had approached Lokpal with a complaint against Moitra alleging that she was asking questions in the Lok Sabha with the intention of targeting the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.

Confirming the probe, a CBI officer said, We have registered a PE to probe the matter referred to us by the Lokpal (against Mahua Moitra).

A PE is the precursor and formal enquiry into any matter for CBI to decide whether it wants to convert it into a regular case (a first information report) based on available evidence or close it. The agency is empowered to examine documents, summon a person for questioning but cannot carry out searches or make arrests, according to the agencys manual.

The Lok Sabha ethics committee earlier this month adopted a report recommending the expulsion of Moitra for sharing her login credentials and password with an unauthorised person, its impact on national security, and finding that it amounted to unethical conduct and contempt of the House.

The recommendations of the report, which was adopted by a margin of 6-4, also mentioned that Moitra accepted money  cash and kind, amenities and various other facilities from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, with whom the password and login details were shared. It also noted that 50 out of the 61 questions asked by Moitra in Parliament sought information with the intent of protecting or perpetuating business interests of Hiranandani.

Moitra had deliberately shared her Lok Sabha login credentials with Darshan Hiranandani, a business tycoon, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, thereby, facilitating him to operate the same from Dubai for raising parliamentary questions in Lok Sabha. Therefore, Smt Mahua Moitra is guilty of unethical conduct, breach of her privileges available to members of Parliament and contempt of the House, the panel concluded.

Moitra had told the committee on November 2 that there was no substantial evidence in the affidavit of businessman Darshan Hiranandani against her to substantiate the cash-for-query allegations, and accused lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, her former friend, of lodging a bogus complaint after their relationship ended.

The ethics panel report that recommended her expulsion will now be placed on the floor of the Lok Sabha on the first day of the winter session.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said earlier this week that plans were in the works to expel Moitra from Parliament but any such action would help the lawmaker from Krishnanagar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The controversy began last month after BJP lawmaker Nishikant Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on the basis of a complaint by Dehradai, who alleged Moitra accepted money and favours to ask questions in Parliament. Moitra denied the charges that she received gifts, and asked other parliamentarians if they never shared their passwords.
Chennai: A stray dog, that was beaten to death by residents in Chennai for biting 29 people, has been found to be rabid. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is monitoring the 29 residents and rounding up other strays in the locality of Royapuram, officials aware of the matter said. A stray dog, which was beaten to death in Chennai for biting 29 people, found to be rabid. (HT Archive/ Representative Image)

The post mortem has revealed that the dog which bit people has rabies, said GGC commissioner J Radhakrishnan who is also a veterinary doctor by training. In the last two days we have caught 31 dogs from this locality and they will be under observation, he said after admitting them to the animal birth control centre. The 31 dogs which are under observation will be kept if they show behaviour changes and if not, they will be administered a round of anti-rabies vaccine and sterilisation before being released.

Like other metros, Chennai too has a huge number of stray dogs. A special dog raid and ARV vaccination for stray dogs is happening across Chennai, the GCC said.

This year more than 17,000 stray dogs have been caught out of which more than 13,000 have undergone surgeries at the Animal Birth Control centre, the corporation said.

Earlier on Tuesday, a stray dog had suddenly attacked pedestrians on a busy road in Royapuram biting 29 people on their legs. Locals beat up the dog and the corporation carried the dead dog to the Madras Veterinary College for post mortem. The injured people received treatment from the government Stanley Medical College. Their injuries were of category 2 (bite marks without beeding) and category 3 (saliva of the dogs enter the human bloodstream) The injured have been given anti-rabies immunoglobulin medication, the commissioner said. And they have also been given an anti-rabies vaccine.

The GCC is planning to involve NGOs to conduct a census of stray dogs in the city and sterilise them en-masse.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has filed a formal complaint against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleging criminal intimidation and threats made by the the Trinamool Congress supremo during a recent political event. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee during a party meeting, in Kolkata, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023.(PTI)

Adhikari, outlining a series of grievances, alleged that since his shift in political allegiance, he has faced numerous vexatious and concocted cases. He claimed that the ruling Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, has consistently promoted ill will and hatred towards him and his political party members.

The complaint specifically points to Banerjee's speech at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Thursday, where she reportedly made remarks indicating that if four MLAs of her political party are sent to jail, she will ensure the incarceration of eight individuals from the opposition party on murder charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

Banerjee claimed that central agencies currently targeting opposition leaders will be after the BJP post-2024 Lok Sabha polls, asserting that the government at the Centre will last for three more months.

Issuing a stern warning to BJP, Banerjee said, "If you arrest four of us, we will arrest eight of you," in response to the perceived misuse of central agencies in apprehending TMC leaders on false corruption charges.

Describing the chief minister's speech as "provocative" and "criminally intimidating," Adhikari asserted that such statements are not only baseless but also carry severe consequences, including capital punishment under the aforementioned section.

"In such baseless manner, the repercussions are far greater than one can imagine," the complaint read.

Adhikari urged the police to register an FIR (First Information Report) against Mamata Banerjee and others involved in the incident citing potential violations of various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 182 (false information), 194 (false evidence), 195A (threatening or provoking for inducing a person to commit an offence), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), 203 (giving false information respecting an offence committed), 505(II) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
News / Local

by Staff reporter

THE Zimbabwe Schools Examination (Zimsec) Grade Seven examination results will be released on Friday next week, Chronicle Online has learnt.In a press conference invitation letter sent to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education permanent Secretary Mr Moses Mhike, Zimsec director Dr. Lazarus Nembabware said the presser will be addressed by the chairperson of the Zimsec board Professor Eddie Mwenje."Zimbabwe School Examinations Council will release the 2023 Grade 7 Examination Results to the nation on Friday, the 1 of December 2023 at 12 noon. We invite you to the Press conference which will be held at the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Headquarters in Mount Picasant. The Chairman of the ZIMSEC Board, Professor E. Mwenje will make the press statement. We look forward to seeing you," reads the invitation letter gleaned by Chronicle Online.Candidates sat for their examinations from Monday 25 September 2023, starting with English Paper One which was followed by Mathematics Paper One on 26 September. The last paper was Physical Education and Arts Paper One written on October 9.In the 2022 examinations, there was a slight drop in the pass rate from 41.13 percent recorded the previous year to 40.09.The pass rate for female candidates last year was 43.66 percent while that of male candidates stood at 36, 22 percent.
Rising cases of respiratory illnesses in northern China have sparked fresh health concerns, with speculation online of a new pandemic threat four years after Covid-19 first emerged in the country. Chinese health authorities, however, have attributed the rising infections to the end of strict Covid restrictions, the arrival of the cold season, and the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2. A man carries a child as they leave a children's hospital in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.(AP)

While the World Health Organization has requested more information on undiagnosed pneumonia, Beijing asserted that there has been no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens.

Amid growing concerns over the surge in respiratory illnesses in northern China, Dr Ajay Shukla, the Director of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, has offered advice to the public on minimizing the risk of infection and maintaining personal health practices. Shukla emphasized the importance of cleanliness and urged people to exercise caution, especially when in proximity to individuals displaying symptoms of respiratory illnesses.

"If you feel that there's someone who's got this respiratory illness or infection, try to maintain distance from other people," ANI quoted Shukla as saying.

"Because we are also dealing with pollution if you're going out, and if you can afford it, it's better you should use a mask, preferably an N95 and N99 mask. Wash your hands and maintain safe, healthy practices," he added.

Shukla mentioned that one expert pointed to a common but not dangerous bacterial infection, mycoplasma pneumoniae, as a possible cause for the illness. The director of RML Hospital further assured the public that, based on current information, there is no need to worry about the disease in India.

"Not a single patient infected with this disease has been found in India yet. There is no increase in cases in any part of India so far, or any part of the world apart from China," he affirmed.

Shukla asked people not to panic and that a pandemic-like situation will not happen going by the limited information that exists about this new influenza.

"According to the very few details that are available, people are saying there's nothing to panic about, there's nothing to suggest it is something that will take the shape of a pandemic, like with COVID. So, we should not start comparing it with that. I would suggest that we need to monitor the situation very closely and wait for additional information before we reach any conclusion," he said.

(With ANI inputs)
The Kerala high court on Friday directed the state education department not to forcibly send students up to Class 12 to attend the ongoing Nava Kerala Sadas, an outreach programme of the state government involving the chief minister and the cabinet touring all 140 assembly constituencies. During the hearing in the case, the state also assured the court that the circulars of the education department regarding students being asked to attend the government outreach programme as well as school buses to ferry participants would be withdrawn (Representative photo)

The interim order by the bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran came in response to petitions filed by many people including PK Navas, the state president of Muslim Students Front (MSF), seeking the withdrawal of circulars issued by district education officers to schools regarding attendance of students at the government event.

Needless to say, therefore, the headmasters/principals of schools are warned not to subject any of their students/wards to any activities which are not part of the educational curriculum, on the instructions of any of the official respondents in this case, Justice Ramachandran said in the order.

The HC underlined that the right to education is a constitutionally protected right of all children and it is the duty of educational authorities to protect this right. It also said that deputy directors of the education department are exceeding their powers while asking students to attend such government programmes.

Navas, welcoming the court order, told HT, Earlier this week, the Tirurangadi DEO in Malappuram district convened a meeting of school headmasters and other officials to press them to send a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 200 students from each school for the Nava Kerala Sadas programme. Only disciplined students were to be picked for the programme. We opposed the meeting because it runs contrary to the guidelines of Unicef regarding childrens forcible attendance at political programmes. When more DEOs began to issue orders, we decided to go to court.

During the hearing in the case, the state government also assured the court that the circulars of the education department regarding students being asked to attend the government outreach programme as well as school buses to ferry participants would be withdrawn.

Earlier on Friday, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had registered a case following reports of schoolchildren, including primary grade students, being made to line up under scorching conditions along roads to greet chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the cabinet of ministers as they travelled in a bus from one assembly constituency to another.

The case was filed on the complaint of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the state chief secretary was asked to take action and submit a report within five days.

The Nava Kerala Sadas, which began from Manjeshwar in Kasaragod district of north Kerala on Noveber 18, entered Kozhikode district on Friday after completing the tour through three districts. It involves the chief minister and his cabinet of 20 ministers touring through the 140 Assembly constituencies in a modified bus in what has been planned as a major outreach to the public ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the last elections in 2019, the CPM-led LDF had lost 19 of the states 20 seats including in some of its strongholds where it had been winning for years. The defeat considerably pulled down the share of MPs of Left parties like CPM and CPI in the lower house of Parliament.

The Nava Kerala Sadas is billed as an initiative of the LDF to get closer to the electorate, address their grievances and publicise its achievements especially in the backdrop of two heavy defeats to the opposition UDF in recently-held bye-elections. As part of the outreach, there are meetings with eminent persons in the mornings followed by the CM and the ministers personally interacting with members of the public with regard to their grievances. Complaints, both written and stated orally, are collected and acted upon at the spot. Meetings are also held parallely with local body officials and bureaucrats to take stock of implementation of government schemes and infrastructure projects.
A Jaipur court on Friday sentenced three people to life imprisonment for the sensational 2018 murder of a 28-year-old man whom one of the accused had met on Tinder, a dating app, in a case that gripped the nations attention. The case traces its roots to February 2018, when 28-year-old Dushyant Sharma met 27-year-old Priya Seth on Tinder. (HT File)

Sessions judge Ajit Kumar Hinger in his verdict said the prosecutions evidence conclusively proved that the three were responsible for the murder.

The case traces its roots to February 2018, when 28-year-old Dushyant Sharma met 27-year-old Priya Seth on Tinder. The two soon started seeing each other, but the relationship was built on two key lies. Sharma, who was married, was posing as Vivan Kohli, a wealthy businessman from Delhi. Seth, meanwhile, got together with Sharma as part of a plot to extort him of several lakhs of rupees.

READ | Dating app scam: She called me to specific cafe, forced to pay hefty bill

Both their lies unravelled when Seth got wind of Sharmas fake identity. She then conspired with her friends Dikshant Kamra and Lakshya Walia, kidnapped Sharma and asked his family for ransom.

When the family was unable to meet the 10 lakh demand, the three stabbed him 10 times and suffocated him with a pillow. They then stuffed the body into a suitcase and tossed it off a highway near Amer in Rajasthan.
A fire broke out at Kulti Railway Station on Saturday morning in Paschim Bardhaman in West Bengal. Firefighters have arrived at the spot to douse the flames that engulfed cables kept below a footbridge of the railway station. Fire breaks out at Kulti Railway Station in Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage to Kulti Railway Station are expected to be assessed once the flames are fully extinguished.

Further investigation is underway and more information is awaited.
The seven-month-old IK Gujral-led United Front Government collapsed on November 28, 1997, with the Congress withdrawing support and staking claim to form an alternative government. Former Prime Minister IK Gujral with Congress chief Sitaram Kesri and President KR Narayanan in July 1997. (HT Archive)

Gujral tendered his resignation from the seven-month-old ministry but did not recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

In his resignation letter submitted to President KR Narayanan, the Prime Minister said he was resigning following withdrawal of support by the Congress on unjustified grounds.

The withdrawal of support by the Congress brought the curtains down on the two-week-long political uncertainty, triggered by its demand for the ouster of the ministers of the DMK from the government on the grounds that the Dravidian party had been indicted by the Jain Commission on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination issue.

READ | What IK Gujral gave Indian politics | Opinion

The decision to withdraw support was announced by Congress president Sitaram Kesri at a crowded press conference after two protracted sessions of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

Earlier, Kesri met Narayanan and submitted to him a letter conveying the partys decision to withdraw support.

In the letter, Kesri requested the President to explore the possibilities of formation of an alternative government at the Centre without resorting to the dissolution of the House.

Kesri also staked claim to form a government, saying we are sure, given a chance, we would be able to prove our majority on the floor of the House.

In the letter, Kesri assured that the Congress will continue to work to build up broad-based unity among secular parties with the objective of containing communal and disruptive forces.

READ | Just Like That | The life and times of Inder Kumar Gujral

Kesri, in his four-page letter given to the President, recalled that he had written two letters to Gujral requesting him to drop the DMK ministers from the Union Government.

Unfortunately, on both the occasions, Prime Minister IK Gujral turned down our request. We made it very clear in our letters that it would not be possible for the Congress to continue support to the United Front Government in view of the gravity of the situation and sensitivity of the issue, he wrote.

After his meeting with the President, Kesri presided over the CWC meeting at party headquarters during which he announced the decision to withdraw the support.

The Union Cabinet met to consider the situation around the same time when Kesri was meeting the President. At that stage, the Congress communication concerning the withdrawal of support had not reached the Prime Minister.

The letter was subsequently delivered at the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) by AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes.

Emerging from the Cabinet meeting, agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra and defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav told newsmen that the government had no option but to resign after the withdrawal of support by the Congress.

Information and broadcasting minister and Front spokesman Jaipal Reddy asserted that none of the constituents of the UF would support any attempt by the Congress or the BJP to form the government.

He said all the UF constituents had given a commitment to this effect in writing to Front convenor Chandrababu Naidu.

The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) took time to write its letter in this connection. The TMC Parliamentary Party fell in line with other UF constituents only after discussing the issue at a meeting.

The TMC functionaries said the party would, however, support any attempt to form a secular and stable government.

In a related development, Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma announced that the House, adjourned sine-die on November 25, following stalling of proceedings by the Congress on the DMK issue, would be reconvened on December 2. He said this after a meeting with government representatives and leaders of the Congress. Sangma also conveyed this decision later to the President.

(An edited excerpt of the news report carried in HTs edition of November 29, 1997.)
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said his Hitler tweet which he deleted was not to hurt Israel but the letter from the Israel Embassy a month after the tweet proved that the embassy might have been prompted by someone. The Israel Embassy wrote the external affairs ministry and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing their disappointment over Sanjay Raut's "anti-Semitic" tweet. After Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital came under attack, Sanjay Raut wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he realised why Hitler used to hate the Jews so much. Sanjay Raut said the Israel embassy's letter came a month after he posted the Hitler tweet and deleted it.

"It's been a long time since I shared that post on X. I have since deleted that post. I did make a reference to Hitler in my post but had no intention to hurt Israel. I did criticise and condemn the way Hamas attacked southern Israel and took innocent lives. At the same breath, however, I also condemned the way Gaza hospitals were attacked, killing newborns and children, and their essential supplies blocked. I believe children shouldn't be targeted during a war," Sanjay Raut said.

"It was only after a month that Israel's High Commission in India wrote to me over the post. I feel someone may have prompted them to write to me," Raut said.

The post was made on October 14, seven days after Hamas attacked Israel. As the post drew flak, Sanjay Raut deleted the post. The tweet was seen as a support to the Holocaust.

Sanjay Raut said he had also condemned Hamas's attack on Israel and his Hitler tweet was not to hurt Israel but to criticise the inhumane thing that happened in Gaza.

The Israel embassy thanked India for India's stance on the October 7 attack. India condemned the terror attack but asserted its belief in the two-state solution of the Israel-Palestine issue.
Ngunliansanga, 18, and Labiakcliki, 17, are not friends. But they are together because they share the same fate, one that tore apart their lives. Labiakcliki (left) and Ngunliansanga at school in Zokhawthar. (Prawesh Lama/HT Photo)

Every morning at around 7.30am, the two students of class 10 leave their homes in Myanmars Tiao Khawmami village and run down the road to the bridge over Tiao river that serves as the international border. They hurriedly cross it to enter India, then run another kilometre to attend class at Zokhawthar secondary school.

Of the 63 students in their class, there are six who make the journey from villages in Myanmar to India everyday. The two teenagers have been doing this for the past one and a half years, ever since the only school in their village was damaged in the fighting between Myanmar military and rebel forces.

Zokhawthar, the first village at India-Myanmar border at Champhai district in Mizoram, has 11 schools  nine primary, one high school and one senior secondary school. The fighting across the border has led to the closure of many schools in the border villages of Myanmar.

READ | Village life before and after the Myanmar crisis: Hard to harder

There are 400 Myanmar students who come to our school daily. Before the military coup in 2021, we only had 10-15 students who came to our school. Of the 702 students today, we have 400 students from Myanmar who cross the border to take classes, said Francis Rammuanawma, 38, headmaster of St Josephs School in Zokhawthar.

The students who come here are from villages close to the bridge and also from places such as Hanlun, which is around 5km inside Myanmar. In the fight with Myanmar military, rebels have taken over many school premises.

Fighting between the military junta and the rebel forces such as Peoples Democratic Force and Chin National Army have intensified since last month. Earlier this month, the rebel forces took control of the military bases near the Khawmami village in India, bordering Myanmar.

READ | India may need to reconsider its engagements in Myanmar

Rammuanawma said the school also has some students from refugee camps, but the number is low because they are unable to pay the tuition fee.

Until last year, Ngunliansanga and Labiakcliki were students of the Basic Education High School at Tiao Chaunga. They lived in the same village but hardly spoke to each other while studying at the Myanmar school.

Its different now.

Since the pandemic, the school was hardly functioning. When the fighting started in 2021, our classes were suspended. Then sometime last year, our school was closed. We did not know if it would open again, so our parents decided to send us here, Labiakcliki said.

Under the Free Movement Regime (FMR) at the porous India-Myanmar border, people from both countries are allowed to travel up to 60km without a visa.

Labiakclikis father is a carpenter, Ngunliansangas a truck-driver.

Ngunliansanga said most of his friends dropped out of school after civil war broke out in Myanmar. We love the schools in India. They have better facilities and more teachers. I have made many new friends, but I miss the ones back home, with whom we had grown up together. They have joined the cadre of the People Democratic Force (PDF), or have got married and are staying at home, he added.

The PDF is one of the prominent rebel groups fighting the military junta to restore democracy in Myanmar. Most refugees in Mizoram admitted that the young men in their families dropped out of school and joined the PDF.

It is a peoples revolution. We do not mind sending our sons to fight against the army. The elders in the family participated in the protests as part of the civil disobedience movement. My younger brothers son also joined the rebel forces and is fighting the army, said Senjiphnemi,42, a refugee at the Theiba camp, who is from Myanmars Kalay district.

The closure of schools in the Myanmar villages has also opened new avenues for many Mizoram residents, who teach nursery students inside restaurants across the border.

Lulun Taithul, a teacher at Baptist English School who teaches 95 students from Myanmar, said there are many who need remedial classes. I charge 400 from each student. The students are from nursery to class 8. Nursery students cannot travel so I take home classes. Sometimes I teach in the eateries that their parents run, Taithul said.

In the afternoons when business is slow, I use a corner of the restaurant to teach a Myanmar eatery owners daughter. The older ones come over to India.

Earlier this month, when the military junta conducted air strikes to attack rebel forces, who had taken over the military camps in the area, Ngunliansanga and Lalbiakcliki, along with their families, had shifted to a refugee tent on the Indian side of the border. Before leaving their homes on the night of November 12, the two had also carried their uniform and books.

For five days, we lived in India near the school. It was easier for us. We did not have to get up early and could reach school in five minutes. But now our parents have moved back to Myanmar. So we travel to India every morning again, Lalbiakcliki said.

While in school, classmates often tease the two for spending most of their time together, time that is spent in leaving home, reaching school, attending the same class and returning.

But they do not mind.

I attend this school in India to become someone famous in life. I want to become a movie director someday. There are big cities in India, which offer better opportunities, Ngunliansanga said.

Lalbiakcliki, too, is pursuing a dream. She wants to finish school quickly, become a nurse and serve her people back home.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, anticipating isolated heavy rainfall on Sunday. Heavy rainfall is expected in southeast Rajasthan, southwest Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Gujarat region, north Konkan, north Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada on Sunday. (File)

As per IMD's forecast, isolated heavy rainfall is expected in southeast Rajasthan, southwest Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Gujarat region, north Konkan, north Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada on Sunday.

IMD's X post on Saturday said, There is a possibility of heavy rain along with hailstorm in West Madhya Pradesh on 26th November. The general public is requested to take weather related precautions and avoid going to waterlogged, unpaved roads and crowded areas

Regarding Rajasthan, the weather department mentioned, There is a possibility of hailstorm in East Rajasthan on 26 November. The general public is requested to take weather related precautions and stay safe!

Stay alert Madhya #Maharashtra! There is an Orange Alert issued for heavy rainfall and hailstorm on November 26th. Make sure to stay prepared and safe at all times! IMD's warning said on Saturday.

IMD indicated the possible formation of a Cyclonic Circulation in the South Andaman Sea and surrounding region by Sunday, likely resulting in a low-pressure system over the adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal by Monday. This circulation might move west-northwestwards and intensify into a Depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal by November 29.

Additionally, the weather department forecasted light rainfall at isolated places in the Western Himalayan Region and plains of Northwest India from Sunday until November 28. Thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on November 27 have been predicted.

Maharashtra rain

IMD has issued a 'yellow alert' for Sunday in Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra, warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph. Palghar remains under this alert for Monday as well.

In Saturday's tweet, IMD warned about the possibility of heavy rain and hailstorms in Marathwada, Heads up, #Marathwada! An alert is issued for isolated heavy rainfall (64.5 to 115.6 mm) along with hailstorm on November 26th. Take necessary precautions and stay safe!

For Sunday's forecast, IMD predicts thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and heavy rain in isolated areas of North Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada. Similar conditions are expected in isolated spots of North Konkan with heavy rain and gusty winds. In the districts of South Konkan-Goa and South Madhya Maharashtra, isolated areas may experience thunderstorms with lightning, along with light to moderate rain and gusty winds. These weather patterns are expected to persist with light to moderate rain in these regions until November 28.

Rain updates in southern India

Intense rainfall swept across Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, and other regions of Tamil Nadu, prompting a warning from the Regional Meteorological Centre of continued rainfall in about 12 districts on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. The overnight downpour led to sudden flooding in several areas. Despite the chilly weather, morning walkers ventured out during a brief lull before the anticipated heavy rainfall later in the day. Chennai regional meteorological centre reported moderate rain accompanied by isolated thunderstorms in specific areas of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, as well as the coastal regions of Villupuram, Cuddalore districts, and Puducherry.

Meanwhile, relentless heavy rains in Kerala have created a flood-like situation in various cities until Thursday. Landslides were reported in the hilly terrains of Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts, while extensive waterlogging in low-lying areas has disrupted the daily lives of residents.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan locked horns on Friday over the financial contributions of local bodies for the ongoing Nava Kerala Sadas programme of the state government. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a Nava Kerala Sadas programme, a public outreach drive by the LDF government. (HT Photo)

Vijayan accused Satheesan of threatening the chairperson of Paravur municipality, which falls in the latters assembly constituency, after he agreed to give 1 lakh for the outreach programme from the fund of the urban local body. The Congress-led UDF has boycotted the government programme, alleging that it was simply a ploy to waste financial resources at a time when the state was facing a crunch.

The Opposition leaders move against the Paravur municipality is an attempt to keep the local self-government bodies in a tight grip by not allowing them to function independently. A municipality council which was democratically elected had decided unanimously to give 1 lakh for the Nava Kerala Sadas. The threat to fire him if the money is given cannot be accepted by society. The immature action of the opposition leader, who is also an MLA from Paravur, should not have taken place, the CM said on Friday.

There are two problems here. One, to drag the local governance system onto a narrow and viciously anti-democratic path. Two, the decision to boycott the programme taken by the Congress is not even acceptable to their own public representatives at the grassroots level. The party cannot even convince its own members, the CM said.

In response, Satheesan argued that the order of additional chief secretary Sarada Muralidharan on November 1 directing local bodies to arrange funds for Nava Kerala Sadas was illegal. Neither the state government nor its officials have the authority to ask for money from own funds of panchayats, municipalities and corporations. Chapter 5 of the Kerala Municipality Act makes it clear. A government which cannot pay welfare pensions and salaries is illegally asking municipalities for funds, he said.

He alleged that the Paravur municipality secretary went against the councils decision of not to give funds for the Nava Kerala Sadas.
National Institute of Open Schooling celebrated its 34th Foundation Day on the 23rd of November 2023, in the auspicious presence of the renowned academicians of the country at the Kalyan Singh Sabhagar, NIOS. The Foundation Day celebration was graced by the Distinguished Guests Shri Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of SE & L, Ministry of Education, Govt. Of India, and Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Padma Vibhushan awardee and Honourable Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. The program was inaugurated by the lightening of the lamp accompanied by Saraswati Vandana by Spoorthi Santosh Rao.

The program was inaugurated by the lightening of the lamp accompanied by Saraswati Vandana by Spoorthi Santosh Rao, an extraordinarily talented learner of this organisation. The program reached its height by Dr. Sonal Mansingh and her troop with their remarkable performance of Naatya Katha "Meera" based on the life of the legendary titular figure and avatars of Lord Vishnu.

The program continued as Prof. Saroj Sharma, Chairperson, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) felicitated the distinguished guests. After that the NIOS song was presented that documented the achievements of this renowned organization. Chairperson, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) delivered a welcome speech highlighting the mission and vision of NIOS and its various tasks in implementing the NEP 2020 in the school curriculum. She mentioned that NIOS constantly is receiving recognition from different organizations of the world for its innovation work. Recently, NIOS had signed a MoU with NDRF for the development and assessment of a certificate course of Communicative English.

On this occasion NIOS Gender Policy was released and the Arambhika portal and the Pensioner's portal were launched. The program carried on with the felicitation of NIOS learners.

Ms. Kanta, UN Women, Deputy Country Representative, India congratulates the learners for choosing NIOS for their education. All he invited Guests acknowledged the journey of enthusiasm and steady efforts of the personnel under the wide and systematic institution that has brought it to a level where it is serving the nation in the best possible manner and hence, contributing efficiently in the development of the nation.

Dr. Rajiv Kumar Singh, the Secretary and the Director (Academic) of NIOS gave an inspiring and motivational speech and appreciated the untiring contributions of each and every member of the organisation.
Hong Kong: 379 people receive honours

Chief Executive John Lee today presented honours and awards to 379 people in the 2023 Honours and Awards Presentation Ceremony at Government House.

Among the recipients, five received the Grand Bauhinia Medal, nine received the Gold Bauhinia Star and 27 received the Silver Bauhinia Star.

In addition, two individuals received the Medal for Bravery (Silver), 15 received the Distinguished Service Medal for the disciplined services and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and 39 received the Bronze Bauhinia Star.

Three people received the Medal for Bravery (Bronze), 42 received the Meritorious Service Medal for the disciplined services and the ICAC, 86 received the Medal of Honour, 68 received the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service, and 83 received the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service.

The 2023 Honours List was announced on July 1.

This story has been published on: 2023-11-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

FORMER High Court judge Webster Chinamora allegedly left a huge backlog of reserved judgments, with Delta Corporation continuing to haunt him despite his recent resignation, the Zimbabwe Independent revealed.President Emmerson Mnangagwa was forced to appoint a tribunal after complaints from litigants, including Delta, whose cases were allegedly mishandled by the judge.Among the allegations against Chinamora were that he handed down a judgment in a matter he never heard.In February this year, Chinamora and former Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese were given 10 days to show cause why tribunals should not be constituted to investigate alleged acts of misconduct.Makonese stepped down but Chinamora remained on the bench, handling High Court cases. This was despite recommendations by a judges' panel in February.Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa also wrote to Mnangagwa and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) a fortnight ago to rein in Chinamora.But the former judge tendered his resignation six days ago after the President appointed a tribunal last week on Tuesday. However, sources this week indicated that Chief Justice Luke Malaba ordered Chinamora to clear cases he was handling, among them, reserved judgements.The Independent is reliably informed that lawyers dealing with the Delta complaint advised by Advocate Thabani Mpofu were planning to write to the JSC and the Supreme Court registering displeasure with the way the Chinamora case was being managed.Mpofu was representing Delta Beverages and Schweppes Zimbabwe in a legal dispute with South African company, Blakey Plastics.Chinamora, who heard the case, ruled in favour of Blakey Plastics, which was resisting the cancellation of its contract to supply Delta with plastic materials over five years ago.Sources told the Independent that the lawyers representing Delta were questioning why the Supreme Court heard an appeal over a contested judgment. Rather, the lawyers want to push for a fresh hearing of the case at the High Court.A panel set up by the JSC to review the complaint made up of judges Anne-Marie Gowora, Alfas Chitakunye, and Custom Kachambwa concluded that Chinamora had a case to answer.Delta lawyers, according to sources, also claim that lack of clarity on the matter has seen Blakey Plastics using the same High Court judgment against the beverage company despite the registered complaint that led to the setting up of a tribunal."They are also worried that Chinamora's resignation was just a way of avoiding going through a disciplinary process but the confusion triggered by the judgment remains," the source said.This is not the first time that Chinamora has been embroiled in a legal controversy with the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ).LSZ spokesperson Richard Chidza said the society would issue a comprehensive response on the issues regarding Chinamhora."Unfortunately, Justice Chinamora's file is in the executive secretary's office; hence, we do not have details at hand. The executive secretary of the Law Society of Zimbabwe is away on business and we will only be able to comment on his return to the office next Tuesday," he said.meanwhile, lawyers spoken to with cases before Chinamora have raised concerns after reports that Justice Malaba had allegedly given the judge an instruction to clear his backlog.malaba last year accused judges of sitting on cases causing a huge backlog and frustrating justice delivery."Chinamora was told by the Chief Justice to clear cases in his office before leaving the bench, especially reserved judgments. This issue is topical in the judiciary corridors," another source alleged.The JSC did not respond to questions sent by the Independent. Chinamora did not also respond to questions, while Mpofu's mobile phone was not reachable.Legal experts, who spoke to the Independent this week said while Chief Justice Malaba was not at fault in Chinamora's case, the resignation and the pending matters could have been handled better.Constitutional law expert and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Lovemore Madhuku said the matter was not about Chinamora but the High Court as an institution."It could be a matter of the judge having resigned without communicating his judgments in cases he presided (over). The fact that he had reserved judgments does not wash away the court processes," Madhuku said. "He was acting as the High Court and not Chinamora and we must separate the two. What he cannot do now is to hear any new cases but communicate his judgments in the reserved cases."Another legal expert Sharon Hofisi said the constitution, Judicial Services Act, and Code of ethics play crucial roles in addressing the resignation of judges and handling unresolved cases."The constitution protects judges but remains silent on resignation procedures. The Judicial Services Act outlines a code of conduct and ethics, indicating that a judge under investigation may be requested to take leave of absence at the Chief Justice's discretion," Hofisi said. "Concerning resignation, the ambiguity of immediate effect versus time-lapse influences whether a judge can be compelled to clear cases."Immediate resignation may exempt a judge from such obligations, while a delayed resignation could allow for the resolution of certain cases. The absence of a clear impeachment process in Zimbabwe's legal framework raises questions about the accountability of judges. Unlike impeachment, which involves the legislature, the constitution and judicial codes avoid this route, potentially impacting transparency and accountability."Hofisi said in the absence of a subpoena detailing the cases in question, the process becomes further complicated, raising concerns about clarity and fairness in addressing unresolved cases.Chinamora was expected to appear before retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ahmed Moosa Ebrahim and seasoned lawyers Gift Manyatera and Clara Phiri, according to a Government Gazette published last week.From September 2014 until his appointment to the bench on August 20, 2019, Justice Chinamora was an advocate.
Dhramshala: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated an audit of at least 12 ongoing tunnel projects across Himachal Pradesh, to assess their structural integrity, safety protocols and emergency preparedness, an official familiar with the matter said on Friday. HT Image

The decision comes in the backdrop of the collapse of under-construction Silkyara Tunnel in neighbouring Uttarkashi, where operations to rescue 41 trapped workers have entered 13th day.

Instructions have been issued for a safety audit of the tunnels under construction. Regional officials are personally visiting the tunnels to ensure adherence to safety standards, said NHAI project director Varun Chari.

On November 22, the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) announced that the NHAI will undertake a safety audit of all 29 under-construction tunnels, with a total length of about 79 km, across the country.

The 29 tunnels comprise 12 in Himachal Pradesh, including the strategically vital Chandigarh-Manali four-lane project. Other projects to be audited are six in Jammu and Kashmir, two each in Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and one each in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, the ministry said in its statement.

NHAI officials, along with a team of experts from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as well as other tunnel experts, will inspect the ongoing tunnel projects and will submit a report within seven days, the statement was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) will appoint a nodal officer to look at platforms safe harbour status, the minister of state for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced on Friday. He also said that the IT ministry would assist aggrieved users of social media platforms in filing FIRs if the need arose. Chandrasekhar announced this after holding a meeting with social media companies, device manufacturers and telecom service providers in the morning. Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrashekar (ANI File)

A Rule 7 officer has been nominated and the process to invoke Rule 7 will be done whenever platforms are non-compliant with the rules. And that will open up for those who are aggrieved by this [and can] file FIRs and MeitY will assist with a platform that will help the users very easily notify MeitY about violations of Rule 3.1.b. MeitY will design a mechanism to help with FIR filing in a smooth manner, he said.

According to Rule 7 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, if an intermediary does not follow the rules, it shall lose its safe harbour and be liable for punishment under the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code.

READ | Wait till Nov 24: Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Centre's actions against deepfakes

Under Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, all intermediaries are required to make reasonable efforts to prevent the existence of 11 kinds of content on their platforms, content that Chandrasekhar calls unlawful content. These include content harmful to children, malware, intellectual property rights violating content, content that impersonates another person, and content that intentionally communicates any misinformation or information which is patently false and untrue or misleading in nature among other things.

The meeting was held to strengthen the due diligence requirements for intermediaries prescribed under the IT Rules.

The intermediaries have been instructed to submit details of their terms and conditions, and terms of use to the IT Ministry in the next seven days after making sure that these documents are aligned with the IT Rules. They must also inform the ministry how they will regularly remind users of what is unlawful content under the rules in simple, illustrative language.

READ | Centre sets deepfake crackdown in motion

To be sure, the terms and conditions of all social media platforms are publicly available. It is understood that after the intermediaries submit their policies, the IT ministrys legal division will assess if they are in compliance with the IT Rules.

There is a slight departure in the way MeitY will handle this [unlawful content]. In the past, we were not necessarily going for 100% response to 100% of the violations of Rule 3 [of IT Rules]. From today onwards, they will be at absolutely 100% compliance, zero tolerance to any violation by any platform or user of any of the 11 no go areas of content, Chandrasekhar said.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Meta, Google, Twitter, Snap, Sharechat, Koo, Telegram, telcos Airtel and Jio, device manufacturers Apple and Samsung and industry body NASSCOM.

HT learns that the minister told the platforms that they had had enough time to comply with the IT Rules and that if they did not demonstrate compliance immediately, people could start filing FIRs against them and they could not claim safe harbour. .

READ | Dealing with deepfakes: Regulation & education

One of the slides of the presentation Chandrasekhar delivered in the meeting read, a) Intermediary can seek revocation of Rule 7 and reinstatement of its Safe Harbour by providing originator information; or b) aggrieved party / MeitY can file FIR.

Only courts can determine if an intermediary can lose its safe harbour. This determination is made if there is a cause of action, such as in the form of an FIR. Loss of safe harbour means that a platform can be held liable for content that users post on its platform. Functionally, it means that the intermediary cannot use safe harbour as a legal defence. Even when a platform loses its safe harbour, it loses it for a particular piece of content, not for all third party content.

It is understood that during the meeting, Chandrasekhar told the intermediaries that while the extant laws are enough to deal with the issue of deepfakes, the government does not want to foreclose the possibility of a new regulation, if the need arises.

In the tech space, theres always space for new regulations and a new law.  There is no denying that today if anybody argues for a new regulation or new law, that is a no brainer because the [IT] Act is 22 years old. However, that is not to distract from the fact that there is a current framework, there is a current law and there are current compliance and legal obligations of platform. These are not binaries. This is not mutually exclusive. We are asking for compliance with the law as of today, we are saying we will seek to enforce the law in its complete entirety. And yes, a parallel conversation about new laws, new regulations, new tech, all of that can continue to happen. These are not in any way contradictory, he said in response to HTs question.

This meeting follows the intermediaries meeting with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday. After the meeting, Vaishnaw announced that the government will bring in a new regulation to deal with deepfakes and so-called synthetic content online . On Thursday, there was no discussion with the intermediaries about what the regulation could look like, HT had reported earlier.

One person aware of the proceedings described Fridays meeting as an examination of how to strengthen the due diligence mechanisms prescribed under the Indian law while the Thursday meeting focussed on what the intermediaries should do if deepfakes and misinformation appear online despite best efforts.

Remind users of what is unlawful

The meeting also focussed on the need for platforms to regularly remind users of what is unlawful content in simple, accessible language. In the press conference, Chandrasekhar said, If the user doesnt know, it should be lawful and now unlawful, what is unlawful? Every user is not a lawyer. Therefore, put it in simple English that deepfakes are prohibited on this platform, CSAM )child sexual abuse material) is prohibited on this platform. Copyright violating music is prohibited on this platform.

It is understood that he raised the same issue during the meeting as well. A representative from Meta pointed out that displaying such notices every time a user signs in will have limited utility since most people remain logged in.

Under the IT Rules, all intermediaries are obligated to remind their users, at least once a year, of its rules and regulations, privacy policy, or user agreement, and changes to them. This notification must also specify that in case of non-compliance with the platforms policies, the platform can delete users account and/or the problematic content. Another Meta representative raised this rule during the meeting, HT has learnt.

During the meeting, Chandrasekhar expressed his displeasure with X, formerly Twitter, for not taking down the deepfake of actor Rashmika Manndana quickly. It is understood that the Twitter representative said that the context of the tweet mattered. Chandrasekhar asked him if he would try to contextualise misinformation in court as well.

A representative from Meta told the government during the meeting that it had been more proactive in taking down deepfakes since the governments last advisory. It is not clear if this last advisory is a reference to the February advisory that MeitY send or the November 7 letter reiterating the MeitY advisory that was sent.

It is understood that Chandrasekhar also reprimanded Telegram for not dealing with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) effectively.

The telcos and the device manufacturers did not have much to add. The Samsung representative just said that they are happy to work with the government as and when required.

During the meeting, it is understood that Chandrasekhar also told the intermediaries that MeitY has spoken to RBI about loan apps. I said that for even that we are issuing an advisory on loan apps and, and betting apps, and deep fakes the whole intersection of these three things, he told the press. He told the intermediaries that they should not advertise loan apps and betting apps that are not kosher.
Indian high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma has once again urged Canada to release evidence to back up its allegation in connection with the killing of pro-Khalistan militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India and Canada saw a massive diplomatic row over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusation of possible Indian government involvement in the murder of Nijjar earlier this year. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma.(X)

In what appears to be his first TV interview since Canada made the stunning allegations, Sanjay Kumar Verma told CTV News Channel that India was ready to look into anything specific and relevant evidence to back Justin Trudeau's allegations.

Why is India not cooperating in investigation?

On being asked why why was India not cooperating in the investigation after Trudeau's allegations, Verma replied, There are two points. One is that even before the investigation being completed, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?

In the interview  the full conversation will be aired on Sunday, Verma was asked how was India convicted as it was an allegation raised by the Canadian government.

Because India was asked to cooperate and if you look at the typical terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, which means you are already convicted and you better cooperate. We took it in very different interpretations, but we always said that if there is anything specific and relevant and communicated to us, we will look into it, the high commissioner replied.

Earlier this month, in an interview with The Globe and Mail, Verma reiterated that neither Canada nor its allies have shown concrete evidence related to Nijjar's killing. "There is no specific or relevant information provided in this case for us to assist them in the investigation," Verma told the Canadian daily.

Justin Trudeau's allegation against India over Nijjar killing

On September 18, Trudeau told the House of Commons that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.

In the immediate aftermath, both countries expelled each other's diplomats. India also suspended its visa services to Canada initially, but relaxed them for a select group a month later. On Wednesday, India resumed issuing electronic visas for Canadian nationals.

Verma, denying India's role in the case, suggested that the probe into the killing by the Canadian Police had been damaged by Trudeau's public statements.

Sanjay Kumar Verma demands evidence

Where is the evidence? Where is the conclusion of the investigation? I would go a step further and say now the investigation has already been tainted. A direction has come from someone at a high level to say India or Indian agents are behind it, Verma was quoted as saying.

Verma also pointed out that any conversations between diplomats are protected and cannot be used as evidence in court nor can they be released publicly.

"You are talking about illegal wiretaps and talking about evidence. Conversations between two diplomats are secure by all international law," he said. "Show me how you captured these conversations. Show me that someone did not mimic the voice."

The Indian envoy said both sides need to ensure any disputes are dealt with professionally through communication and dialogue.

He, however, also added that India expected Canada to "rein in Khalistan supporters".

"Don't allow your soil to be used by a group of Canadian citizens who want to dismember India. Who wants to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," he said. "There must be some rules, some law in place."

Verma also highlighted that India made 26 requests to Ottawa over the past five or six years to extradite people from Canada to India, but said that New Delhi is awaiting any action.

The Indian envoy, who has been given Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) security due to threats, said that he is concerned about his safety.

"I am concerned about my safety and security. I am concerned about the safety and security of my consul generals. God forbid if something happens," he told the newspaper.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flew in the light combat aircraft (LCA) in Bengaluru and described the experience as incredibly enriching, while also heaping praise on the countrys indigenous military capabilities. PM Narendra Modi took a sortie in an LCA Mk-1 fighter jet in Bengaluru on Saturday (Twitter/@narendramodi)

The PMs sortie in an LCA Mk-1 fighter jet is being seen as a significant endorsement of the LCA programme.

Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our countrys indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential, Modi wrote on X after the flight.

The development has turned the spotlight on the locally produced fighter jet that the Indian Air Force is looking at inducting in big numbers, and India is also seeking to export. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari was in Bengaluru for the PMs LCA sortie.

The development came weeks after Chaudhari announced plans to order 97 more LCA Mk-1As at an estimated cost of Rs.67,000 crore. IAF ordered 83 Mk-1A fighters for Rs.48,000 crore in February 2021.

Flying in Tejas today, I can say with immense pride that due to our hard work and dedication, we are no less than anyone in the world in the field of self-reliance. Heartiest congratulations to the Indian Air Force, DRDO and HAL as well as all Indians, the PM wrote on X.

This is the first time an Indian PM has flown a fighter aircraft sortie, IAF said in a statement.

The sortie was carried out from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, Bengaluru. During the 30-minute sortie, capabilities of the fighter aircraft were demonstrated to PM, the statement said.

PM Modi, who has given a strong impetus to Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing, applauded the scientists, engineers and flight test crew associated with the designing, development, and production of the state-of-the-art fighter aircraft, it added.

Todays sortie by PM will encourage the aeronautics ecosystem and give a big boost to Aatmanirbharta in defence sector.

On October 4, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over the first trainer version of LCA Mk-1 to Chaudhari in Bengaluru, with the twin seater set to fill a key training role and double as a fighter if needed.

The aircraft is part of an earlier order for 40 Mk-1 jets in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations  the first variants of LCA. Of the 40 Mk-1s, IAF has inducted 32 single-seater jets and raised two LCA squadrons. The remaining eight aircraft are trainers. Seven more twin-seater aircraft will be delivered to IAF by March 2024.

LCA is set to emerge as the cornerstone of the IAFs combat power in the coming decade and beyond. IAF, the worlds fourth largest air force, is expected to operate around 350 LCAs (Mk-1, Mk-1A and Mk-2 versions), with a third of those already ordered, some inducted, and the rest figuring prominently on the air forces modernisation roadmap and expected to be contracted in the coming years.

The newer variants, Mk-1A and Mk-2, will come with significantly improved features and technologies over the Mk-1 aircraft.

HAL has the capacity to build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru and a new production line in Nashik line will help the firm ramp up production to a total of 24 jets.

The first Mk-1A will be delivered to IAF in February 2024, and the last of the 83 jets by 2028 (instead of 2029, the contracted delivery schedule). The new plant in Nashik will help advance deliveries.

IAF will deploy LCAs at forward air bases in the western sector to bolster its combat readiness against Pakistan and fill the gap left by the gradual phasing out of the Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets, as first reported by HT.

An LCA-Mk 1 squadron based at Sulur in Tamil Nadu is set to be relocated to a frontline fighter base in Gujarat, while the first LCA Mk-1A squadron will be raised at an air base in Rajasthan.

IAF is expected to begin raising the LCA Mk-1A squadron after HAL delivers the first aircraft to it early next year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared photos of him taking a sortie on a Tejas fighter jet, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at the firm's site in Karnataka's Bengaluru. PM Modi completed a sortie with indigenously developed Tejas fighter jets.(NarendraModi/Twitter)

Tejas is a light combat aircraft which was primarily developed to replace the aging squadron of MiG 21 fighter jets from the Indian Air Force. The IAF and defence ministry had signed a contract with HAL to develop a procure a total of 324 Tejas aircraft, including all its variants.

HAL Tejas aircraft: 5 things to know
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a sortie on Tejas aircraft at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) site in Karnataka's Bengaluru. Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a sortie on Tejas aircraft at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) site in Karnataka's Bengaluru.

Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential, Modi wrote on X while sharing some pictures.

He was also scheduled to review and visit HAL's manufacturing facility, including the facility for Tejas jets.

The prime minister has been pushing for indigenous production of defence products and has highlighted as to how his government has boosted their manufacturing in India and also their exports. Several countries have shown interest in buying Tejas, a light combat aircraft, and US defence giant GE Aerospace had inked a pact with HAL to jointly produce engines for the Mk-II-Tejas during Modi's state visit to the US.

The Modi government has taken giant steps for increasing our defence preparedness and indigenisation which includes Tejas aircraft, defence sources said.

The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the IAF in 2016. Currently, two squadrons of IAF, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas, the sources added.

Under the Modi government, an order worth 36,468 crore for delivery of 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft has been placed with HAL and delivery is scheduled to begin by February 2024, they said.

More than 9,000 crore have been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and more lethal version of LCA Tejas, the sources said. "To further promote indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine, Transfer of Technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India has been negotiated with GE during Prime Ministers visit to the US in June 2023, they said.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh had noted in April that Indias defence exports have reached an all-time high of 15,920 crore in FY 2022-2023. It is a remarkable achievement for the country, he had said.

In October, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said the Indian Air Force was in the process of finalising a 1.15 lakh crore deal to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft besides upgrading 84 Sukhoi-30MKI jets at a cost of 60,000 crore.

In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a 48,000-crore deal with state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF.

With the additional 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets, the total number of indigenously-developed aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180.

The Chief of Air Staff also said that 84 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets will be upgraded at a cost of a little over 60,000 crore.

The defence ministry is also looking at signing a contract with the HAL next year to procure a total of 156 light combat helicopters (LCH) out of which 66 will be for the IAF.

The IAF now operates 10 light combat helicopters.

"We had signed the contract for 83 LCA-Mark 1As. What we are looking at is now to supplement that contract with 97 additional aircraft.

"So it will bring the total to about 180 LCA-Mark-1As. The contract value will be a little over 1.15 lakh crores," Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said.

Asked about the timeline for delivery of the LCA Mark-1As as HAL can produce only 15 of them annually, he indicated that the aerospace major may increase the pace of production in partnership with the private sector.

The Chief of Air Staff said the number of LCA-Mark-1A jets being procured is not linked to future procurement of Tejas Mark-2 Light Combat Aircraft.

The highly anticipated Tejas Mark2 aircraft is expected to be ready for the first flight by 2025.

What is Tejas aircraft?

Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake the air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles.
Amid the pause in the rescue operation at the Uttarakhand tunnel site due to issues with the auger machine, the team has initiated the planned "vertical drilling" process following the previous setback in horizontal drilling. A section of the vertical drilling machine was observed being transported to the top of the Silkyara Tunnel on Saturday.(PTI)

In a video released by news agency ANI, a section of the vertical drilling machine was observed being transported to the top of the Silkyara Tunnel as the efforts to rescue the 41 trapped workers continued.

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, the current focus is on the vertical drilling, set to commence within the next 24 to 36 hours as machinery is being positioned on a platform above the tunnel. He emphasised the necessity for cautious operations, stating that it will take time to ensure the safe extraction of the trapped workers.

An estimated 86 metres of vertical drilling is required to reach the tunnel's crust, after which it will be breached to access the trapped workers.

The rescue efforts faced a setback on Friday night when the auger drilling machine, attempting to drill through the debris, encountered an obstacle, presumably a metallic object. International tunneling expert Arnold Dix informed reporters that the auger had encountered multiple obstructions while attempting to create an exit passage. Augering is finished... the auger is broken, destructed, he said.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami mentioned on Saturday that the auger machine's blades had become lodged in the debris, impacting the ongoing rescue attempts.

How will the rescue team carryout vertical drilling?

On Saturday morning, a big drilling machine was directed toward the hill overlooking the tunnel, targeting the two identified lowest points for vertical drilling. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a 1.5-km access road leading to the tunnel's summit, preparing for the potentiality of vertical drilling, a plan in consideration for some time now.

Vertical drilling, a more intricate and time-consuming method, requires precision and caution due to the limited space atop the tunnel roof, as stated by International tunnelling expert a few days ago.

NDMA member said the ongoing operation as highly challenging. While two methods are presently in use, there is contemplation about employing a third method  the drift method  soon.

As of now, a horizontal drilling of 47 metres has been completed. The focus is on removing the damaged part of the auger machine and ensuring stability in the drilled structure. An 800-mm-wide steel pipe has been inserted into the drilled passage. The collapsed segment is estimated to be around 60 metres long.

Arnold Dix, an international tunneling expert, highlighted the breakdown of the auger machine, prompting rescuers to explore alternative options, including vertical and manual drilling, in their efforts to extricate the trapped workers.

41 workers trapped inside tunnel are stable

The workers are currently located within a constructed two-kilometre tunnel, receiving essential supplies like food, medicines, and other necessities through a six-inch pipe. Communication with their relatives and medical personnel is facilitated via walkie-talkies.

"The good news is that the 41 workers are stuck inside are stable. All the basic things are being sent. The relatives of the workers have also come, and they are talking to the workers. As far as the rescue operation is concerned, there are certain problems we are facing. There has been damage in the auger machine and some part of it has not come out," NDMA member said.

The Chief Minister, urging the trapped workers to notify authorities of any issues, assured that their rescue is imminent. Stressing the nationwide solidarity with the workers, both the Central and State Governments prioritize a swift and secure evacuation.

Dhami emphasised sustaining the vigor of officials, experts, and everyone engaged in the operation. He also highlighted the importance of employing all available technology and resources to expedite the rescue efforts, even considering bringing in additional resources if necessary.

"Every possible support will be provided by the state government. Together we will complete the relief and rescue work very soon," he said.
New Delhi The Supreme Court issued notice on the petition filed by rebel MP Raghu Ramakrishna Raju of the YSR Congress Party and directed that the petition be heard in January with another petition filed by Raju seeking transfer of the trial against Reddy to Delhi. (HT Photo)

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a petition against separate orders of the Telangana high court granting bail and exemption from personal appearance to Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in a corruption trial pending against him in Hyderabad.

A bench of justices AS Oka and Pankaj Mithal issued notice on the petition filed by rebel member of Parliament (MP) Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, belonging to the same political party that rules Andhra Pradesh and directed the petition to be heard in January along with another petition filed by Raju seeking transfer of the trial against Reddy to Delhi.

Advocate Balaji Srinivasan who appeared for the petitioner MP told the Court that his earlier petition for shifting the trial from Telangana to Delhi was entertained by a separate bench of the top court on November 3.

In the present petition, Raju challenged separate orders passed by the Telangana high court on August 26, 2022 and October 28, 2022 exempting personal appearance of Andhra CM during the trial and refusing to set aside bail granted to him by the trial court.

The bench directed the present matter to be listed before the appropriate bench along with the other matter which has been listed in January next year.

Raju, a YSR Congress Party MP, said that the CBI was hand-in-gloves with the accused as it had not challenged the two orders challenged by him. He accused the agency of being a mute spectator to the hundreds of adjournments in the case which has delayed the trial for over a decade.

The Andhra CM has been accused of amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of 40,000 crore which is under probe in 11 cases registered by the CBI in August 2021 on the direction of the Andhra Pradesh high court. The cases have been registered under various provisions of cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and acts of corruption by public servant punishable under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Srinivasan who was assisted by advocate Rohan Dewan pointed out to the Court that the trial in this case depicted a sorry state of affairs. The petition said, The state machinery (CBI) have been more than happy to be silent spectators to this abuse of the processes of courts...There appears to be a pattern discernable in relation to Prevention of Corruption Act cases which reveals a disturbing trend of prosecution and accused having friendly matches, the petition said.

In the earlier order passed by the top court on November 3, the bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti said, Doubts have arisen whether the present transfer petition on behalf of the petitioner  Raghu Ramakrishna Raju will be maintainable. However, we would like to ascertain and know the reason why trial is taking so long to conclude. It was further clarified that the present proceedings will not delay the trial in any manner.
The Supreme Court adjourned till Friday the hearing on a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker Raghav Chadha challenging his indefinite suspension from the Rajya Sabha. Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha (File Photo)

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud agreed to await the decision of the Rajya Sabha secretariat in this regard after being informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, that there was some development on the issue and the meeting between Chadha and RS secretariat saw discussions take place in good faith.

Mehta said, The Court may keep the matter next Friday. The petitioner had met the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Some discussion has taken place in good faith. He has to appear before the privileges committee.

The Court had on November 3 allowed Chadha to seek an appointment with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, who is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, and offer unconditional apology.

Chadha had met the Rajya Sabha chairperson to offer an unconditional apology after being suspended from the House in August for an alleged breach of privilege

Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for Chadha, requested the matter to be taken up on Wednesday as certain timelines for submission of questions in Parliament were due for expiry. The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said, It is sometimes important to keep calm and read between the lines of what the Solicitor general is saying.

On the earlier date, the Court sought a way forward after noting that Chadha was the youngest member of the August House besides being a first-time MP. The Court then asked the VP to consider the apology sympathetically. The matter was kept for Friday to know further status of the matter.

The 34-year-old lawmaker was accused of not obtaining the consent of five Rajya Sabha MPs before including their names in a select committee for considering the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023 that seeks to diminish the power of the elected AAP government in the Capital over services.

On a complaint by the five MPs alleging breach of privilege, the same was referred to the Privileges Committee and Chadha was suspended till the committee submitted its report.

Chadha had claimed in his petition that this is not the first time the names of members were added to the Select Committee without their consent. It was pointed out on his behalf by his lawyers that in the past 75 years, there were 11 such instances and none of the cases resulted in a case of breach of privilege. Rather, the names of non-consenting members were dropped.

The AAP MP was suspended under Rule 256 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Council of States which allows the Chairman to suspend a member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the Council by persistently and willfully obstructing the business. Chadha said, that at the highest, suspension under this rule can extend till the end of the session and not beyond.

The case also highlighted the need to determine the contours of freedom of speech within the House and the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution available to a member even outside the Parliament.

Although the Court was willing to go into the question, it sought a way out after advocate Farasat pointed out that the petitioner had no intention to affect the dignity of the House and was willing to offer an apology. Due to the indefinite suspension, Chadha was unable to take part in the various parliamentary committees of which he is a member.
The Supreme Court on Monday suggested Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan should go through its judgment released a day ago, mapping out the powers and corresponding duties of governors with regard to the bills sent for their assent by state legislatures. The judgment held that governors cannot keep bills pending indefinitely and that they must give their assent if the legislature re-adopts the bills despite their objections. The Supreme Court tells Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan to refer to its verdict on pending bills. (ANI)

We uploaded the order in Punjab matter last night. Ask the governors Secretary to look at the order and tell us on Tuesday (November 28) what your response is, a bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, told attorney general R Venkataramani.

The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing a petition filed by the Kerala government on a stalemate over eight bills, pending with the governor for a period ranging between seven and 26 months.

Representing the state government, senior advocate KK Venugopal complained that several bills sent for Governors assent have been pending for the last two years. All the ministers have met him (governor). The chief minister has also met him several times, said Venugopal, adding that eight bills remain pending.

At this, the CJI told the A-G that the governors office should peruse the judgment passed in a similar matter filed by the Punjab government.

In its judgment released on Thursday, the top court held that Governors cannot be at liberty to keep bills pending indefinitely, emphasising that the exercise of unbridled discretion in areas not entrusted to the discretion of the governor risks walking roughshod over the working of a democratically elected government in the state.

The 27-page judgment said that state governors must show deference to the use of expression as soon as possible under Article 200 of the Constitution, making it obligatory to quickly return a bill with a message on the reconsideration of the proposed law if they chose to withhold their assent.

Constitutional language is not surplusage. The expression as soon as possible is significant. It conveys a constitutional imperative of expedition. Failure to take a call and keeping a bill duly passed for indeterminate periods is a course of action inconsistent with that expression...The governor cannot be at liberty to keep the bill pending indefinitely without any action whatsoever...The governor is not at liberty to withhold his action on the bills which have been placed before him, said the court.

The court pointed out the governor must return a bill to the legislature for a review if she decides not to give her assent to it because any other interpretation of the constitutional provision would mean that the governor, as the unelected head of state, can virtually veto the functioning of the legislative domain by a duly elected legislature by simply declaring that assent is withheld without any further recourse.

It acknowledged that the governor is entrusted with certain constitutional powers. However, this power cannot be used to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by the state legislatures...the power to take decisions affecting the governance of the state, or as the case may be, of the nation essentially lies with the elected arm of the government. The governor is intended to be a constitutional statesman, guiding the government on matters of constitutional concern, underlined the bench.

The courts judgment came on a petition moved by the Punjab government against state governor Banwarilal Purohit keeping four bills, including those pertaining to fiscal management and the administration of gurudwaras, pending since June.

The verdict came at a time when Raj Bhavans in several states have been locked in confrontation with the elected governments. In the last few months, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Punjab, besides Kerala, have approached the Supreme Court, seeking directives to their respective governors.

On November 20, the court expressed its displeasure at the delay on the part of the governors in giving assent to bills passed by state assemblies, as it took up the related petitions moved separately by Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments and asked for responses of their respective governors. The petition moved by the Tamil Nadu government is expected to come up for hearing on December 1.

The Kerala government, too, has taken on its governor Khan in the apex court for delaying certain key bills, some dating back almost two years. Kerala has accused Khan of acting in a manner which defeat the rights of the people by withholding the passage of eight bills on issues ranging from public health, higher education, Lokayukta, etc.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Gweru, one of Zimbabwe's heavy industrial hubs continues with its tailspin after Bata Shoe Company retrenched 106 workers on Monday this week.Except for Bata, most of Gweru's industrial area is now a ghost town with large companies like Zimasco, ZimAlloys and even the National Railways of Zimbabwe having closed shop in the last two decades.Unemployment rate in the country is estimated at 85%.Bata's decline is that last episode of the death of Gweru's once vibrant heavy industry. Gweru and Kwekwe were considered the capital of Zimbabwe's heavy industry but now they both have none.Bata Country Manager Simon Mutisya confirmed the development to The Mirror in an interview. He said the shoe company is failing to cope with a huge workforce.The workers expressed shock and surprise at the move and said that they were caught unawares with no plans for the future. They also said that there were no retrenchment packages for them even though they had served for up to 10 years each"As you might be aware that some sections of the factory caught fire and might take time to come back on stream. As such some of these sections will be restructured and approximately 10 percent of the workforce ha been affected."Approximately 106 workers out of 1200 have been retrenched," he said."We are very disappointed by the development. We weren't notified about the retrenchment and we don't have plans as we are approaching a festive holiday." The most worrying thing is that we don't have packages after we worked for more than ten years," said Michael Sibanda.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), if voted to power in Telangana in the upcoming elections, would initiate a probe into the alleged scams and financial frauds that surfaced during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rule and throw all those found guilty behind the bars. Union home minister Amit Shah during a public rally in Nizamabad district. (PTI)

Addressing an election rally in Armoor assembly constituency in Nizamabad district, Shah alleged that chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao had done nothing for the development of the state except misappropriation of crores of rupees of public money in the last nine and a half years.

KCR and his family members have looted thousands of crores through various corrupt deeds. If elected, the BJP will set up an inquiry commission to look into all the scams and frauds committed by KCR. All those found guilty of corruption in the state will be brought to book if the BJP is elected and thrown in the jail, he said.

Referring to the alleged corruption in the construction of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, Shah said those had indulged in the corruption would be punished and they would be forced to cough up their ill-gotten money. Similar allegations of corruption came to light in Miyapur land deals, awarding of contracts for Hyderabad Outer Ring Road, Mission Kakatiya and liquor scam, he said.

Referring to the leakage of question papers of Telangana State Public Service Commission, Shah said in the last seven years, question papers in six categories of examinations conducted by the commission were leaked. We have decided that we will give jobs on merit to 250,000 youngsters of Telangana. Those accused in the paper leak incidents will also be identified and put behind the bars, Shah said.

The Union home minister also promised to reduce the goods and services tax (GST) on petrol and diesel in the state, provide a minimum support price (MSP) of 3,100 for paddy, buy boiled rice and extend Fasal Bima Yojana without any premium from farmers.

He said research in turmeric processing would be taken up in Nizamabad district so that turmeric farmers could get more money for their produce.

Orders were issued for the establishment of the National Turmeric Board. Research will be taken up in the next phase. Processing units will also be established, Shah said. He also promised to establish an exclusive hospital for beedi workers and an NRI ministry to address the problems of migrant workers from Telangana in the Gulf.

He alleged that KCR had given tickets to the people involved in corruption cases, adding that the BRS traded party tickets. The BRS legislators seized government land allocated for building bus depots for the convenience of commuters and raised shopping malls instead. Why did KCR give tickets to such MLAs? It is because the BRS trades party tickets, he said.

Old city became adda for terrorists

Addressing a road show at Rajendranagar in the old city of Hyderabad, the Union home minister alleged that Rajendranagar area had become a haven for terrorists. In the last one year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken into custody three persons having terrorist links. They could get the shelter in the old city of Hyderabad only with the support of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), he alleged.

He declared that if the BJP is voted to power in Telangana, it would weed out all the terrorists hiding in the state.

The BRS leaders are yet to respond to the allegations made by Shah against the KCR government.
Some terrorists who infiltrated into India from across the border are retired Pakistan soldiers, one of the armys senior-most generals said on Friday, a day after forces gunned down a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and his associate during a 31-hour gunfight in Jammus Rajouri district that also saw five soldiers, including two army captains, losing their lives. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said the army tried to seek the identification of the terrorists and came to know that some of them were retired army personnel from Pakistan.(PTI)

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, said the army tried to seek the identification of the terrorists and came to know that some of them were retired army personnel from Pakistan.

Since our (anti-terror) operations are continuing here, Pakistans attempt is to bring foreign terrorists here (and fuel terrorism) because local recruitment is not happening. Therefore, our attempt is to eliminate foreign terrorists, he told reporters after paying his respects to the five army personnel at a wreath-laying ceremony.

READ | Rajouri attack and the Pakistan hand

Roughly there is a possibility of 20 to 25 terrorists operating in the area but the way the army, police and other intelligence agencies have intensified their operations, we are sure to control the situation within one year, he added.

The encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Bajimaal area of Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district on Wednesday morning after officers from the army and Jammu & Kashmir Police acted on an intelligence input and launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area.

By Wednesday, even as bullets continued to fly in the densely forested area, two army Captains and two soldiers were killed, while another officer and soldier were wounded in the fierce gunbattle.

On Thursday, the forces eliminated a top LeT commander  identified as Pakistani national Quari who is believed to be the mastermind behind the Dhangri and Kandi terror attacks this year  along with his associate, who was not identified. Senior army officials said Quari was an expert bomb-maker, a sniper, and was well trained in guerrilla warfare.

READ | J&K: LeT terrorist shot dead on Day 2 of Rajouri encounter

The five soldiers who died were identified as Captain MV Pranjal, Captain Shubham Gupta, Havaldar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, Paratrooper Sachin Laur.

Lt Gen Dwivedi called the killing of Qauri and his associate a big success for the nation.

Its a major setback to Pakistan because the two dreaded terrorists were trying to bring together an ecosystem that existed in Rajouri and Poonch districts. The moment we finished them, the entire game plan of Pakistan suffered a big setback, he said.

These two dreaded terrorists committed heinous killings for the past one year. We were not able to catch them because they were getting weapons, ammunition and inputs from their contacts (ecosystem)... They killed unarmed and hapless civilians and hence killing them was mandatory, he added.

The January 1-2 Dhangri attack left seven civilians dead. On May 5, five soldiers were killed in an attack during an encounter inside Kandi forest in Rajouri.

The army commander said it was possible that the two terrorists were trained in several countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

READ | Rajouri encounter: 1 more soldier dies, toll goes up to 5, LeT terrorist killed

They were highly trained foreign terrorists and our brave soldiers without paying attention to their safety got into the operation and eliminated them. The troops have done a laudable job, he said, and praised the local populace for their support.

The way security forces and intelligence agencies have intensified their operations with the help of locals, and if the operations continue the way they are on, we would be able to control the situation well within a year, he added.

The mortal remains of the five army personnel were brought to the Army General Hospital in Jammu from Rajouri where a wreath-laying ceremony was organised. J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, Lt General Dwivedi, chief secretary Dr A K Mehta, director general of police R R Swain, divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar and inspector general of police Anand Jain were among a large number of officials of armed forces, civilians and police who paid tributes.

I bow to our army bravehearts, Captain MV Pranjal, Captain Shubham Gupta, Havaldar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, Paratrooper Sachin Laur martyred while protecting the motherland during an anti-terror operation in Rajouri. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Condolences to their families, Sinha posted on X (formerly Twitter).

(With agencies' inputs)
New Delhi: Delhi's Saket court has announced life imprisonment for four men who murdered television journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008. The court also imposed a fine of 1.25 lakh on the four convicts. Soumya Vishwanathan was shot dead in her car at Vasant Kunj around 3.30am on September 30, 2008. (HT file photo)

The fifth accused has been sentenced to jail for three years.

Soumya Vishwanathan was shot dead in her car in Vasant Kunj on September 30, 2008, when she was returning home from work.

On Friday, the court had reserved its order on the pronouncement of the quantum of sentence in the murder case.

Trial judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey had reserved the verdict after detailed arguments. During the arguments, the public prosecutor told the court that apart from the convict Amit Shukla, the DLSA had given an "unsatisfactory" report of conduct in jail.

"However, a report from the Jail superintendent has shown 'unsatisfactory conduct' by three of the five convicts and multiple penalties on them. We don't know how the DLSA report and jail report are different," the public prosecutor said.

Court convicted them in October

In October, Judge Pandey convicted four accused -- Ravi Kapoor, Ajay Kumar, Baljeet Malik and Amit Shukla -- under the murder and MCOCA charges.

Also read: Delhi court convicts 5 in Soumya Vishwanathan murder case; mother demands life imprisonment

The court convicted the four men for the murder. The fifth accused, Ajay Sethi, was convicted under Section 411 of the Indian Penal Code for retaining the offending vehicle.

Soumya Vishwanathan's mother had demanded life imprisonment for the convicts.

The journalist was shot dead at Vasant Kunj's Nelson Mandela Marg. She was an employee of a private television news channel.

The police zeroed in on the convicts while investigating the murder of Jigisha Ghosh.

The police claimed the motive behind Soumya Vishwanathan's murder was robbery.

With inputs from ANI
New Delhi: Madhavi Vishwanathan, the mother of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan who was murdered in 2008, reacted to the court awarding life sentence to her daughter's four killers on Saturday, saying she wants them to suffer. "In a way, we are also enduring a life imprisonment," she told the media. Parents of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan.(Hindustan Times file photo)

On September 30, 2008, Soumya Vishwanathan was murdered by four men in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area when she was returning home from work. She was a journalist at a Delhi-based television channel.

Madhavi Vishwanathan said she wasn't satisfied with the verdict.

"I am not satisfied, but I can say it is a good thing... A message has been given to society that you have to face consequences for what you do," she told ANI.

The court gave life imprisonment to four convicts and a three-year jail sentence to the fifth accused.

I wanted this. What I am suffering, I want them to suffer for life, she told PTI.

Also read: Soumya Vishwanathan murder: 4 convicts get life sentence

Soumya Vishwanathan was shot dead in her car in Vasant Kunj around 3.30am on September 30, 2008, while she was returning home from work.

During the court proceedings, the Delhi judge asked her if she wanted to say something. She replied: "Justice must be done".

Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey sentenced Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar to life imprisonment. He also imposed a fine of 1.25 lakh each.

Also read: Delhi court convicts 5 in Soumya Vishwanathan murder case; mother demands life imprisonment

The fifth convict -- Ajay Sethi-- was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of 7.25 lakh.

They were convicted in October.

The police said Soumya Vishwanathan was murdered while the four convicts were trying to rob her at south Delhi's Nelson Mandela Marg. The police had zeroed in on the convicts while investigating the Jigisha Ghosh murder.
Chennai: Five district collectors of Tamil Nadu filed identical petitions separately in the Madras high court on Friday against summons issued to them by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a sand mining money laundering case. The state government has contested the summons saying that the BJP-led Union government is using the ED as an instrument to harass, undermine and usurp the powers of states which are not ruled by them. Tamil Nadus public department secretary filed the five petitions in the Madras high court on behalf of the five collectors stating that the Enforcement Directorate is interfering in the domain of the state government which is mining leases for sand excavation. (HT Archives)

The five IAS officers who are collectors of Ariyalur, Karur, Vellore, Thanjavur and Trichy were issued summons by the ED by e-mail on November 17. The state has asked for the summons to be quashed on the grounds that it is without jurisdiction, unreasonable and is in violation of both the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 and the Constitution.

Tamil Nadus public department secretary K Nanthakumar filed the five petitions on behalf of the collectors stating that the federal agency is interfering in the domain of the state government which is mining leases for sand excavation.

The PMLA does not permit interference by the ED in the affairs of the state and to summon its officers for investigation, the state said. But in this case, the agency is using the legalisation with unguided and unchecked power to interfere in a state in a pick- and-choose approach, in violation of the principles of federalism, the state added . And to impinge upon and hinder the power of the State Government to exclusively deal with its law and order situation, particularly in States not governed by the political party in power at the Centre. Illegal sand mining is not a scheduled officer under the PMLA, the state said.

The ED has asked the district collectors for information on sand mines and issued summons to appear in person with their Aadhaar cards without giving them details of the case being investigated. The state said that this fishing and roving enquiry is an abuse of process and cannot be permitted. It is respectfully submitted that under the garb of exercising powers under the PMLA, the authorities acting under it cannot initiate action in matters wherein they have no jurisdiction, the state said. Such action/ exercise of power would be vitiated on account of malice in law. It is submitted that the actions impugned herein are taken for collateral, oblique and improper purposes, clearly amount to colourable exercise of powers, and are wholly unsustainable.

The petitioners said that as officials of the state they are neither accused nor witnesses and therefore, they cannot be summoned under the provisions of the PMLA unless a notification under clause (j) of Section 54 of the PMLA specifies that such officials may be issued. No such notification has been issued the district collectors concerned till date.

This results in the usurpation of the powers of the State by the Centre through the Enforcement Directorate and is in stark contravention of the principle of federalism under the Constitution, the affidavit read. There are several FIRs registered against illegal mining in each district, which are being investigated by the state. The Respondent (ED) is merely attempting to conduct a fishing and roving enquiry into the mining affairs of the State with a view to harass and undermine the State machinery.
A high-level experts panel set up by the Amit Shah-headed cooperation ministry to frame a new policy for cooperatives has recommended special economic zones for the bodies and tapping of export markets to boost the sector, according to excerpts of a draft report reviewed by HT. HT Image

The panel, headed by former Union minister Suresh Prabhu, in draft report to be made final within a month has recommended setting up of so-called cooperative economic zones pivoted towards export-oriented enterprises.

Cooperatives are collective businesses jointly owned by participating members who share profits and losses. The popular milk brand Amul, for instance, is owned by a cooperative; the largest fertilizer maker, IFFCO is one too.

Aside from being a large provider of employment, the cooperative sector also has nearly 38000 viable primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS), which are now being digitized in broad push to modernise the sector.

Some of the recommendations, such as priority for export-oriented cooperatives, are already under implementation, an official with knowledge of the matter, said, separately.

In August, Shah, the minister for cooperation and home affairs, launched the countrys first multi-state cooperative society for exports to provide a global platform for the countrys organic products. The enterprise, The National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL), is one among three national cooperatives being planned by the Modi government.

The draft report also wants more multi-state cooperative banks to be set up, which will boost internal financial security of the country. It has also sought a review and handholding of all sick units to revive them, with a focus on creating a level-playing field for the cooperation sector.

Positioned as a premier enterprise, the NCEL will extend a range of services to ramp up overseas shipments of organic produce. In January, the Cabinet had given its approval for the launch of the NCEL. The government is also in the process of setting up two more multi-state cooperatives for promoting seed businesses and organic farming.

NCEL will connect the ministries of commerce and industry, external affairs and Indian embassies to boost market linkages and supply chains for export of farm produce, Shah said. It will develop into a complete export ecosystem, covering procurement, storage, processing, marketing, branding, labeling, packaging and certification, the ministry said in a statement . According to its proposed business model, at least 50% of profits will go to farmers.

In its monsoon session in July, Parliament passed The Multi-States Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022, as part of reforms by the Modi government to modernize the countrys 115-year-old cooperative sector.

The law seeks to bring transparency in the governance of cooperatives, paves the way for a cooperative election authority to bring electoral reforms and prevent malpractices in the cooperative sector, measures which will be recommended by the Prabhu-led panel in its final report, according to a person aware of the development.

Under the Constitutions Seventh Schedule, which divides responsibilities between the Centre and states, state governments have jurisdiction over cooperatives. However, the Centre has control over policy-making for cooperatives that operate in more than one state, known as multi-state cooperatives.
With the auger machine drilling through the debris of the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel suffering irreparable damage, authorities on Saturday were looking at alternative plans to evacuate the 41 workers trapped behind the what was nearly 60-metre-thick wall of rubble, in a setback that was poised to delay the rescue operation further. Rescue personnel work at the collapsed under construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district on Saturday. (AFP)

Officials are now shifting focus to two alternatives  manual drilling through the remaining 10 or 12 metre stretch of the rubble or drilling down 85-90 metres from the top of the mountain.

Briefing mediapersons in Delhi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain said, This operation could take a long time.

READ | Uttarkashi video shows how 41 workers will be pulled out of collapsed tunnel

At the site of the disaster, international tunneling advisor Arnold Dix said the workers will be out by Christmas, attributing the delays to a cautious approach being followed in the operation.

Manual drilling would involve individual workers entering the already bored 47-metre stretch of the rescue passage, drilling for a brief period in the confined space and then coming out to let some else take over.

Only one person who would have to go inside the narrow pipes can be at the forefront. One cant work for longer in such narrow passage. Shortage of oxygen and heat generated due to the use of machine is another problem, an RVNL official said on Saturday.

This, officials said, was likely to begin on Sunday, after the rescuers take out the blades of the auger machine that have been stuck inside the evacuation pipes that were being pushed through the debris to create a passage for the men trapped since November 12 to crawl out of.

READ | Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Auger machine is finished; official explains delay in rescue

HT on Friday reported that the drilling could not resume after being halted on Thursday afternoon when the platform on which the 25-tonne machine was mounted got destabilised after the drill bit damaged the steel pipes used in the construction of the tunnel. While the machine was disassembled and repaired, officials on Friday said that the evacuation pipe being pushed through the 800mm wide hole being drilled got warped, and the machine was stuck just 10 metres from breaking through.

It is a big setback for us and could delay the rescue operation for few more days. First we have to try to take out the remaining auger joint from the rescue pipes and have to be cautious at the same time as the process could also damage the pipes that we have inserted through the debris. It could take us back to scratch and all our efforts can go in vain, the RVNL official cited above said.

An official bulletin on the operation said that the evacuation pipes will be pushed further only after removal of obstruction.

READ | Locals bring 'doli' of local deity to Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site. Watch

The pushing for 10th pipe (4.7m length) started at 4.25 pm on November 24, and about 2.2m was inserted by 5.15pm [the same day], resulting in total inserted length of 46.9m. After this an obstruction was observed, and pushing of pipes had to be stopped. Pulling back of Auger started and after pulling back of 15m length of auger, the auger joint got broken. Efforts are ongoing to pull back the rest of 32m auger left inside the pipe. Manual cutting of auger blades has been started inside the pipe to pull out the augers. Further pushing of pipe can only to be taken up after removal of obstruction, the bulletin said.

A plasma cutter has also been called in from Hyderabad to expedite the operation, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, emphasising that the rescue work has been going on in challenging circumstances.

We have removed 20 metres of the [auger] machine by cutting it. We have to remove approximately 25 metres more. We are expecting the machine to be removed completely (from pipes) by Sunday morning. We have also summoned a plasma cutter from Hyderabad and it is expected to reach the tunnel site by night. It will increase the speed of cutting the machine. Currently, we have been able to cut the stuck auger just 1.5m an hour. With the plasma cutter, we can cut the auger at a speed of 4m an hour, Dhami, who also spoke to the trapped workers, said.

Once the auger is removed, we will begin manual drilling, he said.

Secretary, ministry of road, transport and highways, Anurag Jain said, We have to push through the debris just 10-12 more metres. They will try to complete it as quickly as possible.

While Dhami did not give a specific timeframe for the operation to end, he said the morale of the trapped men was high.

I spoke to some of the trapped labourers and everyones morale is high. They are not fearful...they (trapped workers) themselves asked us to take them out safely whatever days it takes, Dhami said, adding that all possible efforts are being made by both the state and central governments.

The workers were seen alive for the first time on Tuesday, peering into the lens of an endoscopic camera sent by rescuers down a thin pipe through which air, food, water and electricity are being delivered.

Though trapped, they have plenty of space in the tunnel, with the area inside 8.5 metres high and stretching about two kilometres in length.

Drilling was at standstill for almost the entire day Friday, but the extent of the problem was known Saturday when international expert Dix told reporters that the auger machine is busted.

Augering is finished... the auger is broken, destructed, he told reporters. The mountain has again resisted the auger, so we are rethinking our approach. I am confident that the 41 men are coming home, he said, while advising against rushing through the operation.

If we rush, we can cause another problem.... That is why we are taking our time. We are not going to hurt anybody in the process (rescue). We have been looking at multiple options, he said.

In an indication that the operation, already in the second week, could stretch further, Dix said, I have always promised that they will be home by Christmas.

Heavy equipment, already brought to the site, was being put in place on Saturday for vertical drilling that officials had earlier said could take weeks. Officials said that the machine for vertical drilling by Satluj Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) has been assembled.

SJVNL will vertically drill 1.2m-wide hole to dig through 85-90m to rescue trapped men from above. This tunnel will be later used for emergency exit, officials had earlier said.

Hasnain indicated that was the quicker of the two main options now being considered, and the process would begin in the next 24 to 36 hours, even as CM Dhami said that work on vertical drilling has begun.

But the drilling to be undertaken by ONGC will begin only after the report of a field survey in this regard is submitted.

Meanwhile, the work on a platform to use a machine for horizontal drilling from side by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) was underway on Saturday.
Uttarkashi: The rescue operation of the 41 workers trapped inside a partially collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, will take longer than expected due to its complex nature, senior officials said on Saturday. A woman walks past the collapsed under construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of India's Uttarakhand state, on November 25, 2023.(AFP)

The rescue got delayed as a heavy drill machine  called the Auger machine  hit an obstacle and went out of commission on Friday. Its blades got badly damaged. It was being pulled out of the 47-meter access pipe inserted inside the debris.

A senior member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt general (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain today said the operation was becoming more complex and slow. He said it can go on for a long time.

Slow speed of drilling

The rescue authorities have decided to not use the Auger machine any further and employ manual drilling. According to officials, manual drilling may take more time than the Auger machine drilling.

Rescue workers have drilled 47 meters so far.

"We now have to go 12-15 meters more. It could be 10, 12 or 14 meters, that we have to go manually now," said a senior NHAI official.

Asked about the speed of manual drilling, he said it could be one meter per hour or more, depending on the situation.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Auger machine is finished; official explains delay in rescue

Other challenges

Hasnain said the situation was as "unpredictable" as war.

"I feel everyone has their attention on this as to when this operation will be over, but you need to see that this operation is getting even more complex. We have never given you the timeline. I have experienced that when you do something with mountains, you cannot predict anything. This is exactly a situation like war," he said.

He said the drilling will start over the next one-two days.

Two methods are being used currently, but a third method that is draft method may also be used soon. Currently, the situation is that the 47-meter digging has been done, we have to keep it stable and remove the broken part of the Auger machine...I feel in the next 1-2 days the drilling will again start, he added.

Rescue personnel work at the collapsed under construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district. (AFP)

Elaborating on the problems rescuers have been facing, the official said some parts of the damaged auger machine are struck in the debris.

"Advanced machinery is required to bring that part of the auger machine out which is being airlifted by the Indian Air Force and it will reach the tunnel site soon," he added.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: NDMA warns of potential risk to workers, rescuers amid '2-hour rescue' hope

He further said due to these obstacles, no progress had been made over the last 24 hours. He said manual drilling will begin after the stuck parts are removed.

He said the access tunnel is blocked and the authorities are working to cut the broken portion.

So the tunnel itself is blocked at the moment, the access tunnel is blocked at the moment and work is going on to cut that portion, the broken portion and bring it out. For that special machines have been flown in, special cutters have been flown in from different parts of the country by the Indian Air Force and work on that aspect is about to begin sometime today, hopefully. So as a result, there is no access being made through this particular route at the moment. But the good news is that the 41 workers are all safe, he said.

He said vertical drilling may start in the next 48 hours. He said the morale of the trapped workers was high.

"They are speaking to their relatives, the logistics are in place, the six-inch and four-inch pipes are all intact, the power line is intact, water is going inside...Vertical drilling will perhaps start in about 48 hours. I cannot lay a timeline fully yet, but hopefully, it should start in that time frame, provided all the machinery is in place," he added.

The workers have been trapped inside the tunnel since November 12.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
Uttarakhand tunnel collapse Highlights: Despite authorities showing confidence that the rescue operations will conclude by the evening of November 24, the attempts to rescue the trapped 41 workers in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi continue after the drilling machine hit another snag late on Friday night. Uttarkashi: Rescue efforts continue in Uttarakhand as 41 workers remain trapped inside the rubble of the collapse tunnel (PTI)(PTI)

Agencies such as NDRF, SDRF, BRO, NHIDCL, and ITBP have joined forces to conduct the rescue operations for the trapped workers, and an American auger machine is being used to drill a tunnel into the rubble to rescue the men eventually. Meanwhile, food, drinks and medical supplies are being given to the workers through the 6-inch pipe drilled into the collapsed tunnel.
Uttarkashi: The authorities working round the clock to evacuate 41 workers trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi, brought out the damaged Auger machine on Saturday morning. The rest of the rescue operation -- which entered its 14th day today -- will be completed through manual drilling. Rescue personnel move a digging machine during rescue operation for workers trapped in the Silkyara under construction road tunnel, days after it collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of India's Uttarakhand state.(AFP)

The US-made Auger machine's blades struck an obstacle again and sustained damage. It was removed from the pipeline for repairs. As only a few metres separate the trapped workers and the rescuers, it was decided to employ manual drilling. The heavy duty drillers could be moved back 22 metres, reported ANI quoting an unnamed official. The remaining 6-9 metres of debris will be cleared manually.

"There are multiple ways. It's not just one way... At the moment, everything is fine... You will not see the Augering anymore. Auger is finished. The auger (machine) has broken. It's irreparable. No more work from auger. No more drilling from auger. There will not be a new auger," said tunneling expert Arnold Dix.

A senior official told the news agency that frequent breakdowns in the Auger machine had been delaying the rescue of the trapped workers. The senior official said every time the machine hit an obstruction, it had to be pulled back 50 metres and pushed back after repairs. The entire process would set the rescuers back by 5-7 hours.

"While drilling with the US-made Auger machine, if we hit an obstruction every two to three feet, we have to remove it. And, every time we hit an obstruction, we have to roll Auger back 50 metres (up to which the pipeline has been laid). After running repairs, the machine has to be pushed back up to 50 metres, which takes about 5 to 7 hours. This is the reason why the rescue operation is taking longer than it should," the official, who didn't wish to be named, told ANI.

"The rescue team has now decided that the pipeline will now be extended further through manual drilling over small distances. Even if we hit an obstruction further up, the issue could be resolved manually and the pipeline could be extended further without losing out on precious time," the official added.

Also read: Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: NDMA warns of potential risk to workers, rescuers amid '2-hour rescue' hope

The officials refused to quote a timeframe for their rescue. They were, however, hopeful of a positive outcome.

Ground-penetrating radar used

A team of rescuers used the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique to study the tunnel. They found there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres inside the tunnel.

Also read: '12-14 hours': Senior official gives time frame for Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation

The team was called after the Auger machine hit an obstruction, leaving it in a state of disrepair.

Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has been asked to transport machines to allow the authorities to enable vertical drilling.

This approach was discussed after the machine drilling horizontally from the Silyara side hit an obstacle on Friday evening.

A final decision on the vertical drilling option is likely to be taken by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, reported ANI.

The 41 workers have been trapped inside the tunnel since November 12, when the tunnel partially collapsed. They are safe as they are trapped inside a 2-km-long built portion. The authorities have been supplying them with food, water, medicines and oxygen.

With inputs from ANI
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Former Cabinet Minister and a senior employee at the World Bank in the USA has expressed shock at the level of corruption in Zimbabwe after suspected fraudsters, conniving with the Deeds Office in Harare forged documents to his US$140 000 Chisipite house and sold it.The matter is before the courts after Dr. Dzingai Mutumbuka acted just in the nick of time.Justice Webster Nicholas Chinamora who resigned last week following corruption allegations is said to have granted the order for Mutumbuka to vacate his house on a technicality. The order issued on September 18, 2023, instructed Mutumbuka to vacate the house and assist the purported buyer with the necessary paperwork.Mutumbuka then appealed to the Supreme Court.The buyer of the house armed with Chinamora's order sought for Mutumbuka's immediate eviction. The High Court however, threw out Marange's appeal yesterday.Mutumbuka said corruption in Zimbabwe was alarming and added that he was able to save his house so far because he is well known and influential. He felt sorry for poor people who are losing their properties daily with no chance for recourse.He said he met President Mnangagwa and told him that although he is doing a great deal of work for the country, he will not go far if he doesn't address the problem of corruption."I met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and I congratulated him on his achievements, but I told him he will not achieve much if he doesn't deal with corruption."I am known that is why I am able to fight my case in the courts. What about those ordinary men and women in the streets who are not known? They easily lose their hard-earned properties to such fraudsters," said Mutumbuka.He called upon ZRP to investigate the Deeds Office whose officials he allege, collude with fraudsters to produce fake documents and swindle people of their properties.Mutumbuka was the first Minister of Education and Culture Dzingai at independence.The Mirror understands that two men, Prosper Biziweck (43) and Tatenda "Shaft" Wakatama (44) crafted fake documents and sold Mutumbuka's house to Marange. The duo which worked with officials from the Deeds Registry was arrested and has since appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mungota.Ironically while they were still appearing in Court Marange approached the High Court and Justice Chinamora ordered (Case number HCH 4912/22) Mutumbuka out of the house.The allegations are that on June 22, 2021, the two, together with accomplices Jonah Ngome, Taurai Makata, Peter Chigayo and Kenias Mutyasira who are still at large forged title deeds of house number 90, Harare Drive, Chisipite in Harare which is registered in Mutumbuka's name to be in Ngome's name.Before the trial of the alleged fraudsters was finalised at the magistrate's court, Marange approached the High Court and obtained the order from Justice Chinamora.Chinamora resigned last week after President Emmerson Mnangagwa set up a tribunal to investigate him.There were allegations particularly reported by Newshawks that Chinamora was not being investigated as recommended because he was receiving protection from Mnangagwa.Sources said the Mutumbuka case is probably the one that eventually led to the resignation of the Judge.The alleged fraudsters are set to appear in court on November 29, 2023.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday explained the present status of the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation as the 14-day-long work encountered sudden hiccups at the last leg with the auger machine failing once again. The auger machine is expected to be out by tomorrow morning and after that manual digging will begin, the chief minister said adding that he spoke with the construction workers trapped under the tunnel for the last 13 days. "Their morale is high. When I spoke to them, they told me that they were doing fine and getting food," the CM said. The US-made auger machine stopped once again as the rescue work in the Uttarkashi tunnel stopped on Saturday.

"Do not worry about us. Take your time and safely take us out from here," the construction workers told the CM, as Dhami said.

A plasma cutter is being flown to the site from Hyderabad to cut the auger machine as it got stuck in the tunnel, Pushkar Singh Dhami said.

What happened to the auger machine? Why did it hit hurdles repeatedly?

The US-made high-duty auger machine was deployed for the drilling of the earth at the Silkyara site on November 16, four days after the under-construction tunnel caved in trapping 41 workers inside. Since then, the machine ran into troubles several times as it was drilling through the debris placing pipes through which the trapped men can be rescued. The machine stops working when there is any metal obstruction in its way. The auger machine has to be brought out of the tunnel every time it faces an obstacle.

Manual drilling or vertical drilling?

The operation gathered pace in the middle of this week as the rescuers said the mission entered its final phase. But the final phase had more obstacles for the auger machine than estimated throwing a spanner in the works. While the agencies are ready with the post-rescue plan of how the workers would be quickly put onto stretchers and taken to ambulances parked outside, the rescuers are yet to reach the trapped men.

With the auger machine out of the picture now, the experts are exploring other options like manual drilling of creating a vertical escape passage.
The fate of the 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi remains uncertain as the rescue operations hit yet another snag on Friday night, forcing agencies deployed for the evacuation to halt the drilling for the time being. Rescue operations in progress at the tunnel in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, on Friday. (PTI)(HT_PRINT)

The NDRF, SDRF, ITB and other central and state agencies are anxiously surrounding the Uttarkashi rescue site after the American auger machine hit a metal grinder in the final phase of the rescue operation, extending the timeline to retrieve the trapped workers.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue operation: Top updates

The final phase of the rescue of the 41 trapped men commenced on Friday morning, with the American auger resuming its horizontal drilling. However, the operation hit a snag in the evening.

The auger hit a metal grinder in the rubble, due to which the drilling was put to a halt. It is not yet known when the drilling will resume and the workers will be wheeled out of the collapsed tunnel.

Agencies have revealed that only 10-12 metres of drilling is left in the final phase of the rescue, which can be completed in 5-6 hours when resumed.

After multiple setbacks leading to the repeated repair of the American auger machine, the rescuers are exploring the method of manual drilling. This could, however, lead to a slowdown of the process.

The NDRF has prepared a method to roll out the rescued workers using a stretcher with wheels attached to it, which will go inside the tunnel once the drilling is complete.

Agencies have said that there is "no timeline yet" for the final phase of the rescue operations to conclude, and the workers can remain trapped for another day.

Rescuers are also planning to commence vertical drilling after horizontal drilling of the tunnel has encountered multiple setbacks. Only 10 per cent of the remaining portion is left to be cleared in the final phase.

With no fixed timeline provided by the government and agencies yet, it is expected that the rescue mission will take another 18-24 hours if rescuers resort to manual drilling methods.

Forty-one workers have remained trapped in the rubble of the Silkyara tunnel since Diwali day, November 12, with the rescue operations in Uttarkashi halted once again on Day 14. The agencies have not yet revealed when the rescue ops will resume once again.
For the past year, Rambamithleng has a fixed routine. He stirs out of bed  a soiled sheet stretched over planks of rotting wood  even before the slightest streak of red has bloodied the eastern sky, finishes his morning chores, and then shuffles towards the far side of the makeshift tents perched precariously on the hillside that he now calls home. A row of makeshift tents where an estimated 10,000 Myanmar nationals are living in Zohkawathar, Mizoram. (Prawesh Lama/HT Photo)

There, the 40-year-old and his family of five have cut two small squares out of the mossy sheet of tarpaulin. He looks out at the verdant mountainscape stretching out before him, the gurgling waters of the Tiao river gushing many hundreds of metres down a steep slope. As the first rays of the Sun hit the mountain in the distance, they also illuminate the embers of what used to be his family home  before they were gutted by the junta in an escalation of the simmering conflict that has ravaged the region.

It wasnt always like this. I had a decent house because I worked with the government. Our homes were bombed by the military because they said our village had rebels, Rambamithleng said.

READ | India may need to reconsider its engagements in Myanmar

Since last November, when he fled the clashes between Myanmars ruling junta and armed rebel militias, Rambamithleng has called the remote Mizoram town of Zohkawathar  that shares the porous frontier with the restive neighbour  his home. Around them are another 6,000 people orphaned by the sudden conflagration, now living in a maze of tents sitting in the middle of a muddy clearing  a jumble of green and blue tarpaulin kept up with bamboo poles struggling to hold together the shattered remains of their once-normal lives.

There are five such makeshift refugee camps in town, said Medal Thanga, a government school teacher, who is also the coordinator for the five camps. HT visited three of them. The government estimates at least 30,000 Myanmar nationals have crossed over to Mizoram since the 2021 military coup. At least 10,000 of them are housed in Champhai district, where Zohkawathar is the a small town.

Earlier this month, rebel groups in Myanmar, including the Chin National Army (CNA), the Peoples Democratic Force (PDF), and the Chinland Defence Force, took over military posts in the border areas in a bid to take back territory from the Junta, which has been in control of the country since the military coup in 2021. In response, the Myanmar Army bombed areas in the vicinity, resulting in thousands of people living in villages nearby feeling to India.

Refugees have been streaming into Mizoram since fighting between the ruling junta and the rebel forces intensified in Myanmar on October 27  a reflection of the shared community solidarities of many tribal groups such as Kuki-Zo people, whose populations are scattered across the porous border.

READ | Can a divided ASEAN solve the Myanmar crisis?

The unrest has crushed Rambamithlengs life. I was a government employee with the agriculture in Myanmar. I now work as a labourer at the border and carry goods loaded in trucks between India and Myanmar, he said. Yet, he considers himself lucky. The military junta burnt over 100 homes in my village in Kalay district, which is about 120km from the border. I have been living here since November 2022.

In every refugee camp, clots of people often gather around phones and the rare television set, straining their eyes and ears for scraps of news from their home country. Some refugees have television sets but there are no news channels. They follow social media and chat with their friends for news about Myanmar, added Thanga.

Yet, not all people in these camps are alike  some are from places deeper inside Myanmar such as Kalay, while others are from villages right across the river. Many have picked up jobs as loaders at the border bridge, as fruit sellers, or as managers of kiosks selling betel nuts  an addiction that continues to unite residents on both sides of the frontier  reconciling to their fate.

Lalmihriati is one of them. Pregnant with her first child, the 18-year-old is certain she will not return. On the night of November 12, as soon as the bomb fired by military junta hit the villages, we ran across the border to India. I could not risk staying there with my unborn child. It was unsafe for me to run while carrying the clothes and utensils but I had to do it for my child. I will ensure that my child is born here in this peaceful country, she said.

Fifty-two-year-old Ramthanuia is so determined that he wont go back anytime soon, that he has given his house in Myanmar on rent.

My wife developed a psychological disorder after witnessing the explosion and hearing the sounds of bombs that landed near our homes. She could not sleep. The doctors in Champhai confirmed that she developed a medical condition related to the heart because of her anxiety. We will stay in India until it is safe, he said.

And others, such as 78-year-old Vanruma, are fearful of the consequences if they ever step back across the border.

I live here with my wife. My grandson is a commander of the rebel group. The army knows this so they had attacked our village last year. He was the one who had recently attacked the two military posts in the hills of Rikhandar and Khawmami.

With resources in scarce supply, the church and influential non-governmental organisations such as Young Mizo Association (YMA) have come forward to help. This is a humanitarian crisis. People across both sides of the river share the same ethnicity, said Malsawmliana, general secretary of YMA.

A security officer at the check post on the Indo-Myanmar border said, On the western side, the rebels have taken over camps and in response the Myanmar army is dropping bombs. So villagers are crossing over regularly. The number will increase. But the locals, church and NGOs are coming forward.

HT contacted chief minister Zoramthangas office for a comment but did not receive a response.

Robert Zoremthualga, who works with the Mizoram government and is also the chairperson of the Champhai district refugee sub-committee, said,The number 30,000 estimated by government is just based on the identity cards that the government had issued last year. They stopped issuing cards after 30,000. In every camp, only one of every three refugees have such an ID card. The actual number of refugees in Mizoram is multiple times higher.

Across the refugee camps, life is stark and difficult  the biting cold, the bright plastic furniture clashing violently with the drab wooden shelves and beds, a childs bicycle hanging from the ceiling or a blue-and-white identity plate sometimes bringing a waft of normalcy in their upended lives. Caught in the war, thousands of refugees struggle to move on. Rambanmithleng, for example, has just returned from the local health centre where his wife delivered a boy. I did not wish for him to be born while we are living in a refugee camp, the young father said. But this is my life. I have accepted that I am no longer a mid-level government employee but a porter who is working hard to feed his family.

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Chennai Tamil Nadu chief minister says he would speak in detail on the issue of governors in his next podcast episode of Speaking for India. (ANI)

After the Supreme Court judgment on Friday on governors, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin said he would speak in detail about the issue in his next podcast episode of Speaking for India.

Former union minister P Chidambaram said Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi should read every line of the judgment and, if he thinks it necessary, call a competent senior advocate to explain the judgment to him.

In the last few months, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Punjab have approached the Supreme Court in separate petitions seeking directives to their respective governors.

On Punjabs petition, the SC on Friday said that governors cant veto legislature by withholding assent to the bill.

Quoting the courts judgment that The Governor, as an unelected Head of the State, cannot thwart the State Legislatures, Stain said in a post on X, I will talk in detail on this issue in the next episode of Speaking for India. The ruling DMK of Tamil Nadu has been accusing the BJP-led Centre of using governors in opposition-ruled states to obstruct their governance.

On November 20, the court expressed its displeasure at the delay on the part of the governors in giving assent to bills passed by state assemblies. Tamil Nadus petition on October 29 was against governor Ravi for sitting on 12 bills. On November 13 without giving any reasons, the governor returned 10 of the 12 bills mentioning I withhold assent. The remaining two bills were sent to the President of India for consideration.

Following this in a special assembly session convened by the Tamil Nadu government on November 18, the 10 bills were readopted and passed. He returned the Bills due to his personal whims and fancies, Stalin had said in the assembly. It is undemocratic and anti-people to not give assent.

According to Article 200 of the Constitution, the Governor has to give assent if the Bill is passed for a second time which the SC during the recent hearings has reiterated
Its hard to tell when something isnt there. And so, extinction lists around the world are places of heated debate, rebuttal, and anxious enquiry. Theres even a pitfall with an endearing name: the Romeo Error.

Lets get to that one first. The Romeo Error occurs when a species thought to be dead (like Romeo at the end of the Shakespearean play) turns out to be alive (as in the play) and the error of thinking him dead ends up having fatal consequences for him and for others. In nature, when a species is mispronounced extinct and later found to still be around, funding tends to bottom out and stay low. So does public interest. The habitat may suffer from being ignored too.

Its an error with a charming name, but very real consequences. Erroneously declaring a species extinct could lead to its actual demise, simply because stakeholders may give up on trying to save it, says P Jeganathan, a wildlife biologist with the NGO Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF).

So how does one know? By the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a species may be declared extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. In some cases, sadly, that reasonable doubt is becoming easier to erase, as crucial habitats erode.

Two new species of stingless bee from Tanzania and Madagascar, for instance, were recently identified, from among existing specimens collected over a century ago. Scientists were able to reasonably assume both extinct, because the conditions in which they lived simply do not exist in the small and rapidly changing habitats that once housed them.

In most of the world, the reasonable doubt can linger. And few countries have the means and manpower to conduct the kinds of exhaustive surveys required, and mandated by IUCN, to track even known endangered species. It is a daunting task even with larger mammals, and becomes incrementally harder with species that are smaller, nocturnal, or dwelling in hard-to-access habitats.

The solution, biologists suggest  Jeganathan is one among them  is to depend less heavily on enumeration. It is more important to conserve entire habitats rather than focus on just species, he points out. If a habitat is healthy, the species within it will be less at risk to begin with, and will be easier to spot as well.

A focus on long-term surveys is essential too, says Sanjay Sane, a professor who specialises in insect flight, at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru. Such surveys require longer funding cycles. The average cycle of government funding in India is three years, while a single long-term survey needs to be at least a decade long, says Sane.

The use of student-level research could help. Agriculture students, for instance, conduct systemic surveys as part of their course work. Most of their findings are saved in silos, gathering dust.

At the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, then professor of entomology VV Belavadi began doing things differently last year, cataloguing students findings to build an active archive. During their course, each student collects about 50 insects and studies them, he says. We began cataloguing the species collected through these assignments, with descriptions of their nesting behaviours. As these efforts continue at the institute, the hope is that, over the years, data on populations and patterns will accumulate, and trends will become apparent.

Given how little we know about the natural world, large stores of data from across sources is vital. As the oft-cited and reasonably accurate statistic has it, modern science has only identified about 14% of the species on Earth, and 9% of those in the oceans. (There are an estimated 8.7 million species globally.)

The IUCN Red List currently lists 150,388 at-risk species, from among those known to us and well-studied. It groups these across nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct. Around the world, wildlife departments in individual countries track and list extinctions too.

We have meanwhile been declared to be in the midst of a sixth mass extinction  driven this time not by geological shifts and natural disasters but by human activity. Given this landscape, it is only by casting the widest net possible that we can assess where we stand; track and prevent extinctions; identify endangered habitats to protect (so as to eventually protect our own too). And celebrate the victories as species rebound.

In 2021, for instance, four species of commercially fished tuna were moved down the IUCN list of most-threatened, amid stricter laws and more effective enforcement.

In other good news, a species assumed extinct is currently in the process of being re-categorised, in a campaign that has animated communities of biologists and bird-lovers in the US. The species is the ivory-billed woodpecker, a majestic black-and-white bird with a bright red crown nicknamed the Lord God Bird, after the reaction its sighting evokes.

It was officially last sighted in 1944, and was almost taken off a list of protected animals and birds this year, because the US Fish and Wildlife Service intended to declare it extinct. Then a study led by researchers at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution in May. It presented drone footage, audio recordings and images from trail cameras collected over a decade, to establish an intermittent but repeated presence of the bird. The Fish and Wildlife Service is now reconsidering its decision.

Which brings us full circle to the vital importance of data, collaboration and new approaches; and the complications of declaring a species extinct  even just one; even one already known to us.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: The auspicious festival of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav or Guru Nanak Jayanti is just around the corner. It is one of the most important days of Sikhism and marks the birth anniversary of the first of the ten Sikh gurus and the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The occasion is marked with fervent devotion, spiritual gatherings and the recitation of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism. The day not only honours the teachings and wisdom of Guru Nanak Dev Ji but also promotes unity, equality and selfless service, embodying the core principles of Sikh philosophy. From date to history here's all you need to know about this day. (Also read: Guru Nanak Jayanti long weekend ideas: 6 exciting getaways to explore ) Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: Date, history, rituals and significance of Guru Purab(HT Photo)

When is Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023?

On the fifteenth lunar day of the Hindu month of Kartik, or Kartik Poornima as it is known in the Gregorian calendar, people celebrate the festival. In the Hindu calendar, this takes place in the month of November. This year, the auspicious festival will be celebrated by Sikhs around the world with utmost love and reverence on Monday, November 27 It will be celebrated as the 554th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious timings for performing the rituals of Guru Nanak Jayanti are as follows

Purnima Tithi Begins - 03:53 PM on November 26, 2023

Purnima Tithi Ends - 02:45 PM on November 27, 2023

Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: History and significance

Religious sources state that Talwandi Nankana Sahib is where Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469. His parents were Tripta devi and Kaluram Mehta ji Khatri, often referred to as Kaluran Chand Das Bedi. He wed Sulakhani Devi, the daughter of Chando Rani and Mul Chand (also called Mula). Their children are called Shri Chand ji and Lakhmi Chand ji. Shri Guru Nanak Dev settled close to Kartarpur in his final hours, where he tended a farm before passing away. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is credited for bringing wisdom to humanity and laying the foundations for the Sikh religion. The celebration honours his life, achievements and legacy.

In the fifteenth century, Guru Nanak was recognized as the spiritual leader who established Sikhism. He began composing the hymns for the Guru Granth Sahib and finished 974 of them. The entirety of his teachings are collected in the holy book known as the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the primary holy religious text of Sikhism. The Guru Granth Sahib is recognized as the ultimate, all-powerful, and everlasting Guru. The verses promote wealth, social fairness, and selfless service to humanity regardless of differences.

Rituals of Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Gurpurab, is marked by significant rituals in Sikhism. Devotees participate in nagar kirtan processions, engage in continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib through the akhand path, and conduct kirtan and katha sessions to sing hymns and discuss teachings. The community kitchen, Langar Seva, serves free meals to promote equality. Gurbani recitation, prayers and ardas express gratitude and seek well-being. In addition, Kar Sewa involves voluntary community service, reflecting the core values of Sikhism and honouring the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The anniversary of that momentous day is an occasion to celebrate and cherish the enlightened and most resilient Constitution drafted in the post-colonial world. It is a Constitution that was conceived, drafted, debated, negotiated and adopted over three years entirely by Indians, something that all of us can take justifiable pride in.

The people of India can also take pride in working this Constitution through fair and rough weather in the last seven decades without compromising the foundational principles of the Republic embodied in the Constitution document. These foundational principles  liberty, equality and fraternity - are nothing but a reflection of the universal and eternal aspirations of humankind since the dawn of civilisation.

Members of the Constituent Assembly, being people of the soil, carried a deep understanding of the historical, socio-political, economic and cultural milieu of our nation. This is amply reflected in the manner that issues unique to our society and culture have been addressed in the Constitution: It has deftly woven in provisions of great import such as special protections to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities, the Directive Principles of State Policy, the language issue and many more. If the Constitution of India has gained in acceptability and relevance with time among the people of India and their political representatives, it is because of its acceptability among the masses right from its inception and for continuing to instil a sense of justice, ownership and hope among all sections of society.

The roots of our democratic institutions date back to the Vedic period. Historical evidence establishes the prevalence of popular assemblies and elective monarchies. The rich heritage of Indias participative governance institutions was duly noted by the constitutional luminary, BR Ambedkar. While speaking in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, for the motion to adopt the Constitution of India, he stated that it is not that India did not know what is democracy.

There was a time when India was studded with republics and even where there were monarchies, they were either elected or limited. He elaborated that the Buddhist Sangha knew and observed all the rules of parliamentary procedure known to modern times. They had rules regarding seating arrangements, rules regarding motions ... Although these rules of parliamentary procedure were applied by the Buddha to the meetings of the Sanghas, he must have borrowed them from the rules of the political assemblies functioning in the country at this time. The voluminous debates of the Constituent Assembly reveal the extent of engagement of members in the proceedings that led to the drafting and framing of our Constitution. The Constituent Assembly devoted a total of 165 days spread over 11 sessions. More than 7,600 amendments were tabled by members, of whom almost 2,500 were moved and debated. What is also interesting to note is that more than 50,000 visitors came to Parliament to witness the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly and see for themselves first-hand the making of the Constitution.

The Constituent Assembly also received thousands of representations and petitions from citizens from all over India who wished to convey their views and ideas about the foundational document of the Republic. This was a barometer of the extent of enthusiasm among citizens about the process of constitution-making. This enthusiasm and engagement of common citizens with the Constitution did not pale with time: On the contrary, the sanctity of the text has gained greater legitimacy.

The articles of the Constitution are like articles of faith not only for the official machinery of the State but for individuals who consider them as reference points for addressing challenges before the nation and the citizens. In fact, common people approach public representatives, executive functionaries and the courts daily by invoking the Constitution to seek redressal of grievances or for the enforcement of rights. The legitimacy that the Constitution enjoys can, to a large extent, be attributed to the way it has been worked in the last seven decades. Ambedkar was prescient when he pointed out that The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of the State such as the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the State depend are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics.

Looking back, one cannot but agree that the leaderships of the three organs of the State have upheld the principles of the Constitution. The provisions of the Constitution have served both as guardrails of our political life and as beacon lights for socio-economic change. Hundreds of enlightened legislations, erudite court judgments and people-centric policies of governments bear testimony to the sagacity of the leadership of the State.

The one feature that endears the Constitution to all citizens is its ability to communicate meaningfully and with empathy with the citizens  whether from the generation of the freedom struggle or the millennials, across gender, caste, class, language and region. It has subsumed in itself the civilisational core of this great nation, yet remains modern in its outlook and temperament, accommodative of diversity, tolerant of differences.

It is on account of the constitutional ethos that the Constitution has so successfully ingrained in our political mind space that smooth transfer of power after each one of the hard-fought 17 general elections to the Lok Sabha and scores of elections to the state legislative assemblies is taken as a given. The smooth transfer of power is a remarkable tradition not only for the subcontinent but, indeed for the entire post-colonial world, which has often witnessed abrupt abrogation of constitutions and violent overthrow of elected governments.

The makers of our Constitution had the wisdom and foresight to acknowledge that a document drafted and adopted in a particular age needs to be equipped with flexibility and adroitness to accommodate the demands of future generations. Great care was taken to allow amendability of the constitutional provisions but the degree of ease of amendability of an article was very carefully modulated on sound legal principles and practical considerations about the content of the given Article. A balance was sought to be struck between flexibility and rigidity in a manner that amendments that impinged on the federating provisions, for instance, required to be ratified by a majority of legislatures of the states.

The 106th Constitution Amendment Act  the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam  was a landmark legislation passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as its first legislative business during the historic first session of the new Parliament building. This Act of Parliament at the historic session in September 2023 is an eloquent and the most recent example of how the organs of the State, the executive and the legislature in this case, have worked in tandem to bring about one of the finest transformative pieces of legislation to promote gender justice. As we celebrate the Samvidhan Divas today, let the spirit of our Constitution guide us in building a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous India for future generations. I extend heartfelt greetings and good wishes to all my fellow countrymen on this auspicious Samvidhan Divas.

Om Birla is Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The views expressed are personal
In a highly critical blog post, a now-former Google employee who resigned last week after 18 years with the company, called out CEO Sundar Pichai, saying that lack of visionary leadership on the latter's part, has led to deterioration of culture at the tech giant. Google CEO Sundar Pichai (Reuters file photo)

Ian Hickson, who spent his first nine years at Google working on HTML and related standards, worked on Flutter in the last nine. While he termed Google's early days an excellent place to work, it was with Flutter that issues began to come up, though he noted how some of his fondest memories are from the early days of the project.

Today, I don't know anyone at Google who who could explain what the company's vision is. Morale is at an all-time low. If you talk to therapists in the (San Francisco) bay area, they will tell you all their Google clients are unhappy with it, he wrote.

Hickson continued: Much of these problems today stem from a lack of visionary leadership from Sundar Pichai, and his clear lack of interest in maintaining the norms of early Google.

Stating how this has led to a spreading contingent of inept middle management, the ex-staffer was particularly severe on Jeanine Banks, who manages the department that covers projects such as Flutter, Dart, and Firebase.

Her (Banks) understanding of what her teams are doing is minimal at best; she frequently makes requests that are completely incoherent and inapplicable. She treats engineers as commodities in a way that is dehumanising She is completely unable to receive constructive feedback, Hickson stated.

He, however, remained optimistic, noting how it was still possible for the company to heal itself, even if this would require some shake-up at the leadership level, with power being handed over to someone with a clear long-term vision for the Mountain View, California-based tech firm.
Aitana Lopez (pictured above) is Spain's first artificial intelligence (AI)-created model, and looks like a real person to the extent that, as per The Clueless, the agency that created her, an unnamed but well-known Latin American actor, once texted to ask her out, not knowing that she does not exist. Aitana Lopez, the AI-created model.

Who/what is Aitana Lopez?

Speaking to Euronews, Ruben Cruz, Aitana's designer who founded The Clueless, revealed the circumstances that made the company develop this virtual female.

We were going through a rough patch as we did not have many clients. So, we started analysing how we were working and realised that many projects were being cancelled due to problems beyond our control. Often it was the fault of the influencer or model and not due to design issues, Cruz told the website.

The agency, therefore, decided to have its own influencer to be used a model for brands that approached it, leading to Aitana's birth.

How is Aitana created?

Each day, Aitana is brought to life by a team that decides what she will do during a week, which places she will visit, and which photos will be uploaded to her Instagram page, followed by more than 121,000 people, with the count going up by the day.

With Photoshop, design experts superimpose the model at different locations; the photos, on the other hand, are developed using AI.

Aitana's 'personality'

According to Cruz, she is a 25-year-old exuberant woman from Barcelona  Spain's second-largest city behind Capital Madrid. Pink haired, Aitana was created as a fitness enthusiast, determined, and with a complex character.

Advertising career

She earns a little over 1000 euros (around 91,000) per advertisement, making up to 10,000 euros (approx. 9.1 lakh) per month, though the monthly average is 3000 euros ( 2.73 lakh), Cruz said.

In fact, the model has been so successful that the firm created a second virtual female influencer called Maia. Also, their names are not at all random, as each contains AI, the acronym for artificial intelligence.

Criticism

The project, however, has been criticised for the highly sexualised images of the models. In response, The Clueless says it is simply following the aesthetic already created by the real influencers and brands themselves.
A woman had to give a hefty fine of $3300 all because of a chicken sandwich. As per reports, the 77-year-old was fined by Australian authorities after she forgot to declare an uneaten and packed sandwich in her bag at border patrol. The woman paid a fine of $3300 for a chicken sandwich at Brisbane Airport (Representative picture). (Unspalsh/@suea)

77-year-old woman, June Armstrong, paid the fine of $3300 at Brisbane Airport, reports NZ Herald. She later tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day permit period. However, Armstrong claimed that she was met with only 'generic automatic replies'.

Armstrong shared that when coming into the country she declared all her prescription medications, but simply forgot about the sandwich. She added that this is a financial burden for her and her husband as they both are pensioners. She expressed that this incident left a huge and lasting impact on her life.

Why was she fined?

Australias Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry told the outlet that Amstrong was fined because she was without an import permit to bring meat into the country. Meat has strict import conditions which can change quickly based on disease outbreaks. Uncanned meats, including vacuum-sealed items, are not allowed into Australia unless accompanied by an import permit, they added.

All food products must be declared on arrival and may be inspected to ensure they comply with import conditions. Items that do not meet these conditions are not permitted into Australia, the authorities further shared.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Masvingo West ward 2 candidate Roki Kamuzonda has distanced himself from the self-proclaimed interim party secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu who recalled a sizeable number of councilors, legislators, and senators alleging they had ceased to be members of the party.Kamuzonda said he did not even know Tshabangu and hears about him like anyone else saying he has never spoken to him ever.He said allegations that he was linked to him were just political smearing which is normal in any political contest and said he will not be moved by that."I don't belong to any faction, I don't know Tshabangu personally but I only hear about him like anybody else. How can I know him at this level? This is just a factional war between some leaders at the top and I am not involved in any way," said Kamuzonda.Asked about who signed his nomination papers, Kamuzonda said his papers were signed at the party office and he was only called to go and verify which he did and all that was being said was just political smearing."My papers were signed in Harare just like anyone else and if there is any faction it is up there where our papers were signed. The reason I entered the race is simply because I am confident that I have support in the ward so it's not even about factions but the people who are telling me that they stand by me," said KamuzondaHe went on to say he recognized the presidency of the party leader Nelson Chamisa and he is the one who can tell him not to contest and no one else."In August I wanted to contest as Independent and had filed my papers. However, the president called me before sending a delegation from Harare and we went on to discuss the matter and I withdrew, now that a chance has come, I have to contest."I can only withdraw if the president talks to me directly, that way I will know for sure that it's his decision because as it stands, its people around him who are fighting, so as a party member I am not affected by the factional wars in our party, hondo ndedze vakuru variku Harare ikoko (the factional wars is for the leaders in Harare) and this does not affect my candidature because the people have selected me, the electorate know who their best candidate amongst the four contestants is and they are going to decide in December," said Kamuzonda.He also said he had already started campaigning and was confident that he would win the election because he trusted that people have confidence in him."I have already started door-to-door campaigns where we are also distributing fliers and I am confident that I will win this election because God is in it and I have trust in the people whom I have served before as I have done what was required of me," said Kamuzonda.The ward has 3 candidates from CCC with double candidates Kamuzonda and Chiwara then Frank Chirairo who contested as Independent after another fallout with the party's candidate selection process.Chirairo had filed as a CCC candidate in August and later withdrew after negotiation with the party.Chiwara's chances are banked on the fact that she is said to be the party or Chamisa faction's official candidate.
Delhi Police and West Bengal Police took to social media to share words of caution regarding traffic rules with the help of the viral Moye Moye trend. They shared videos that show bike stunts gone wrong. The departments used the clips to remind people of the importance of following rules while riding to avoid disasters. The image, taken from a video by Delhi Police, shows the moment a biker's stunt went horribly wrong. (X/@DelhiPolice)

Gaadi par control na khoyen, nahi toh ho sakta hai Moye Moye [Dont lose control of your bike or it can lead to Moye Moye, Delhi Police wrote on X.

The video they shared shows a rider speeding a bike while going through an empty road. The rider tries to balance the bike just on the back wheel, loses control, and falls.

Take a look at this video shared by Delhi Police:

West Bengal Police shared their advisory on Instagram. Ektai jibon ei vabe nosto na korai bhalo. Traffic ain mene cholun o susto thakun [You have got one life, dont waste it. Follow traffic rules and stay safe], the department added.

The video they shared opens to show two men on a bike drinking. Within moments, the passenger riding pillion tries to perform a stunt and ends up falling at the side of the road.

Check out the video shared by West Bengal Police:

Both the posts received tons of reactions from netizens. While some appreciated their creativity, others praised them for sending such an important message.

Good one, wrote an individual. Savage, expressed another. Respect for the editor, joined a third. Good to see this, commented a third.

About Moye Moye trend:

Moye Moye is a chorus from the Serbian song Dzanum by Teya Dora. This sound effect gained popularity among social media users and many started using it to represent situations that are sad, emotional, or simply dramatic. The term translates to nightmare in Serbian.
Around 3,000 Indian Sikhs arrived here in Pakistan's Punjab province on Saturday through the Wagah Border to participate in the festivities in connection with the 554th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion. Sikhs arrived in Pakistan to take part in Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations.(HT File)

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh and other officials greeted the visiting pilgrims at the Lahore border.

"Around 3,000 Indian Sikh Yatrees arrived here to attend the festivities in connection with the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. We have made foolproof security arrangements, accommodation and travelling facilities for Sikh pilgrims," Saleem told reporters.

READ | Guru Nanak Jayanti 2023: Date, history, rituals and significance of Guru Purab

He said although there has been an agreement that some 3,000 Indian Sikhs would be accommodated for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary the ETPB is ready to accommodate more Sikhs.

"We welcome more than 3,000 Sikhs from India for this occasion if India allows them," Saleem said.

PSGPC's Ameer Singh demanded the resumption of train and bus service between the two countries to facilitate the people. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Amritsar party leader Khushmindar Singh expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements made by the ETPB for the visiting pilgrims.

"Indian Sikhs are contented with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and protection of their holy places in Pakistan," he said and praised the people here for their love for the Yatrees.

The visiting pilgrims were transported to Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib by special buses where the three-day festivities will kick off on Sunday. During their 10-day stay here, the pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aimenabad and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal.
Amazon workers walked out on strike at multiple locations across Europe on Friday in protests against the U.S. e-commerce giant's working practices on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Amazon is seen at the company's logistics centre in Boves, France, October 6, 2021 REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo(REUTERS)

"Make Amazon Pay", a campaign coordinated by the UNI Global Union, said strikes and protests would take place in more than 30 countries from Black Friday - the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, when many retailers slash prices to boost sales - until Monday.

Originally known for crowds lining up at big-box stores in the U.S., Black Friday has increasingly moved online and gone global, fueled in part by Amazon, which this year has advertised holiday discounts from Nov. 17 to Nov. 27.

In Germany, Amazon's second-biggest market by sales last year, trade union Verdi estimated that around 2,000 workers went on strike across six Amazon fulfillment centre in Germany.

It said 500 workers had gone on strike at a warehouse in Rheinberg, accounting for nearly 40% of the workforce, and around 250 workers had done so at a warehouse in Leipzig, accounting for about 20% there.

An Amazon spokesperson in Germany said only a small number of workers were on strike, and that workers are paid fair wages, with a starting salary of more than 14 euros ($15.27) an hour. The spokesperson said deliveries of Black Friday orders would be reliable and timely.

In England, more than 200 workers were striking on Friday at Amazon's warehouse in Coventry as part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Nick Henderson, a worker at the warehouse, which acts as a logistics hub for Amazon to process products to send to other warehouses, said he was striking for higher pay and better working conditions.

The striking workers were chanting their demand for a pay rise to 15 pounds ($18.69) an hour.

An Amazon UK spokesperson said minimum starting pay is between 11.80 pounds and 13 pounds an hour depending on location, and would increase to 12.30 to 13 pounds an hour from April 2024. Amazon said the strike would not cause disruption.

In Italy, trade union CGIL said more than 60% of workers at the Amazon warehouse in Castel San Giovanni were on strike, while Amazon said more than 86% of its workers there had come to work and there has been no impact to operations.

Spanish union CCOO called for Amazon warehouse and delivery workers to stage a one-hour strike on each shift on "Cyber Monday" next week.

In France, Amazon's parcel lockers - located in train stations, supermarket car parks, and street corners, and used by many customers to receive orders - were plastered with posters and barricade tape, according to anti-globalisation organisation Attac, which planned the protest.

Attac, which calls Black Friday a "celebration of overproduction and overconsumption", said 40 lockers were targeted across the country. Amazon said all its lockers in France remained accessible.

Amazon has remained popular in Europe even as rivals like Shein and Temu have seen rapid growth. Amazon's app had 146 million active users in Europe in October, compared to 64 million for Shein and 51 million for Temu, according to data.ai.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers next week to highlight the alliance's commitment to Ukraine in its war against Russia, the State Department said on Saturday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken(AP)

NATO is actively supporting Ukraine and Kyiv hopes one day to join the military bloc. NATO itself is not at war with Russia, a situation which Western leaders say they want to avoid given Moscow's vast nuclear arsenal.

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In a statement, the State Department also said Blinken would emphasize U.S. support for democracy and regional stability in the western Balkans. NATO is examining a more permanent ramp up of troop numbers in the region to keep tensions under control.

The meeting will take place from Nov 27-29 in Brussels.
An Indian-origin student in Australia is in coma after he was assaulted, a report claimed. One suspect has been taken into custody and charged with criminal assault. the student, who has not been identified, is in his 20s and is pursuing a masters degree at the University of Tasmania. The incident took place on November 5 in Tasmania and the victim had extra jural bleeding that caused his brain to shift. Australia Student Assault: The incident took place on November 5 in Tasmania.(File Photo)

Sydney-based Special Broadcasting Service reported that his right lung collapsed and he had to undergo brain surgery. Benjamin Dodge Collings, a 25-year-old resident of Lenah Valley, was taken into custody by police and charged with criminal code assault. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.

Benjamin Dodge Collings was granted a magistrate bail and is scheduled to return to court on December 4 to respond to the charges. These include assault, providing a false address and name, resisting a police officer, and unrelated driving offences as per reportes. The University of Tasmania said that the establishment knows the incident and is taking measures to assist the student in these difficult times.

We have been in regular contact with the family and assigned a complex case manager to the case, along with translators, liaison, accommodation and other support, the university said, adding, The case has gone through the court system as well and we are very limited in what we can say."
Beijing police are investigating suspected crimes committed by Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, a leading Chinese wealth manager, according to a social media post published by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau on Saturday. A general view of the Zhongzhi Enterprise Group office building in Beijing, China (REUTERS)

Zhongzhi earlier this week told investors it is heavily insolvent with up to $64 billion in liabilities, threatening to reignite concerns that China's property debt crisis is spilling over into the broader financial sector.

The firm has sizable exposure to China's real estate sector and is a major player in China's $3 trillion shadow banking sector - roughly the size of the French economy.

Zhongzhi did not immediately reply to an email request for comment after normal business hours on Saturday. A phone call went unanswered.

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Zhongzhi apologised to its investors in a letter issued on Wednesday that said it had total liabilities of about 420 billion yuan ($58 billion) to 460 billion yuan ($64 billion), compared to estimated total assets of 200 billion yuan.

The social media post from Beijing authorities said it was looking into "many" suspects involved with the company and encouraged investors to report their losses in order to help with the ongoing investigation.

"Investors are requested to actively cooperate with the police in investigating and collecting evidence and safeguard their rights and interests through legal channels," it read in part.

The post did not specify what crimes Zhongzhi or the individuals were suspected of having committed.
The Israeli military on Friday cautioned about the complications involved in the implementation of the deal with Hamas militants to release the hostages, "nothing is over until it's over". Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari acknowledged the release of 24 hostages, including 13 Israeli nationals, as a "great relief" and expressed solidarity with those still held in Gaza, reported CNN. International Red Cross vehicle reportedly carrying hostages released by Hamas crosses the Rafah border point in the Gaza Strip towards Egypt from where they would be flown to Israel to be reunited with their families, on November 24, 2023.(AFP)

The days ahead of us will be complicated, nothing is over until it's over. We should be prepared, Hagari said.

A four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began Friday in Gaza as part of an agreement that Qatar helped broker, paving the way for the release of hostages from Gaza. Most of the Israeli hostages released by Hamas were said to be in good health after returning to Israel, according to the hospital receiving them. Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners later in the day.

"In the Gaza Strip in the morning hours, IDF troops deployed along the lines of the operational pause in Gaza. The commanders were briefed and prepared the forces as to how to act during the time of the pause," Hagari said.

"During the pause days, the IDF will complete the preparations for the next phases of the war," he added.

On the concerns about the potential evacuation of senior Hamas officials during the ceasefire period, the IDF spokesperson said, We're monitoring everything necessary, and are monitoring senior Hamas officials, in Gaza and anywhere in the world.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the nation is committed to ensuring the release of all the hostages from Gaza as it is "one of the aims of the war." Netanyahus office said it has received a new list of hostages to be released by Hamas on Saturday. It would be the second batch of hostages to be released by the Islamic militant group under a four-day truce.
As a knife-wielding assailant attacked children outside an Irish school, a Brazilian delivery driver insisted that he acted like every parent would when he used his motorcycle helmet to stop the unnamed suspect. In the knife attack, a five-year-old girl sustained serious injuries and remains in hospital. The attack sparked the worst night of rioting in Ireland's capital Dublin for nearly two decades as unconfirmed reports circulated on social media that the stabbings were carried out by an illegal immigrant. Dublin Knife Attack: A man works to remove a broken window from a sport shop that was damaged in a riot.(Reuters)

Caio Benicio, who works for the Deliveroo takeaway app, and other interventions by passers-by were praised by Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar, who called them "the real Irish heroes". Father to a 12-year-old boy and daughter, 19, Caio Benicio said that he does not think of himself as "a hero".

"I'm a parent. I have two kids myself. I think every parent would do the same," he said of his spur-of-the-moment actions. It's something that you don't think about, (you) just act," he told news agency AFP.

The local response and a call from his children were priceless, he said.

It's nice to make them proud. That's very, very nice, he shared. Another trainee chef from France, who has been in Dublin on an internship at a local restaurant since October helped Caio Benicio to fight with the assailant.

Caio Benicio also reiterated that the riot by around 500 people following the attack "makes no sense".

"The protest is against immigrants, and I'm an immigrant myself and I was the one to help out," he said, adding, Anyway, I think it was a small group of people (responsible) that they don't even know what they're doing, fighting for.
The murder of an Italian student, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, has sparked conversations in the country over the issue of violence against women. A 22-year-old student named Giulia Cecchettin was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend and her dead body with multiple stab wounds was found near a lake north of Venice. A 22-year-old student named Giulia Cecchettin was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend and her dead body with multiple stab wounds was found near a lake north of Venice.(X(formerly Twitter))

Giulia Cecchettin was a student of biomedical engineering at the University of Padua. She had been missing for nearly a week and a massive search operation was on to find her. Before her disappearance, CCTV cameras captured her former boyfriend Filippo Turetta hitting her. Cecchettin's sister revealed that the former couple had split but went for shopping together to buy a dress for the girl for her graduation ceremony.

Filippo Turetta was arrested in Germany and the court allowed his extradition to Italy where he will be investigated further.

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According to a report by the Guardian, one women is killed every three days in Italy. The report quoted Cristina Gamberi, a research fellow at the University of Bologna who highlighted that 106 women had been killed in Italy so far this year. Majority of the killings involved women's partners or ex-partners.

Cristina Gamberi pointed out how Giulia Cecchettin's sister Elena is spearheading the fight for justice which has resonated with the younger generation, leading to widespread outrage over the latest murder.

Shes[Elena] fighting back with a very strong determination and anger. And I do think shes giving voice to a new collective awareness that is really widespread among the younger generation, said Cristina Gamberi.

In Italy, protests and demonstrations are happening in the wake of Giulia Cecchettin's gruesome murder. Meanwhile, Italy has passed a bill to protect women and prevent increasing femicides in the country.

Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni said, Every single woman killed because she is 'guilty' of being free is an aberration that cannot be tolerated and that pushes me to continue on the path taken to stop this barbarism.
Hamas handed over 13 Israeli hostages and four foreigners to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday night, Qatar's foreign ministry said, after a brief disruption earlier to the deal to free captives was overcome with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt. People participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip.(AP)

The Gaza hostage deal was back on track after a temporary delay over a dispute about aid supplies to the north of the besieged enclave.

"13 Israelis and 4 foreigners were received by ICRC and on their way to Rafah," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

TV images showed Red Cross vehicles at Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

READ | 'Don't know', Joe Biden 'clueless' when Hamas will release American hostages

A Palestinian official familiar with the diplomacy said Hamas would continue with the four-day truce agreed with Israel, the first break in fighting in seven weeks of war.

Al Ansari earlier said a brief delay and obstacle to the hostage release were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, adding that 39 Palestinian civilians were going to be released in exchange.

Among the Israeli hostages, eight were expected to be children and five others women, Al Ansari said, while the Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons would consist of 33 children and six women.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the hold-up over the hostage deal, Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said. About 3-1/2 hours after their call, the White House learned from the Qataris that the agreement was back on and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was moving to collect the hostages, Watson added.

READ | Hamas releases 13 Israeli hostages on Day 1 of prisoner swap. Who are they?

The armed wing of Hamas had earlier said it was delaying Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel met all truce conditions, including committing to let aid trucks into northern Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan said only 65 of 340 aid trucks that had entered Gaza since Friday had reached northern Gaza, which was "less than half of what Israel agreed on."

Al-Qassam Brigades also said Israel had failed to respect the terms of the Palestinian prisoner releases. Qadura Fares, the Palestinian commissioner for prisoners, said Israel had not released detainees by seniority, as was expected.

Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security cabinet, told Channel 13 News that Israel was "abiding by the deal" with Hamas that Qatar had mediated.

Israel has said 50 trucks with food, water, shelter equipment and medical supplies had deployed to northern Gaza under UN supervision, the first significant aid delivery there since the start of the war.

The brief dispute over the truce raised concerns over the smooth implementation of the hostage deal after 13 Israeli women and children were freed by Hamas on Friday. Some 39 Palestinian women and teenagers were released from Israeli jails.

READ | Thai mother dances with joy after daughter released from Gaza

Israeli army spokesperson Olivier Rafowicz told French television Israel was strictly honouring the terms of the truce, and said the military had carried out no attacks or offensive operations in Gaza on Saturday.

TRUCE EXTENDED?

A total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days under the truce, the first halt in fighting since Hamas fighters rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.

In response to that attack, Israel has vowed to destroy the Hamas militants who run Gaza, raining bombs and shells on the enclave and launching a ground offensive in the north. To date, some 14,800 people, roughly 40% of them children, have been killed, Palestinian health authorities said on Saturday.

Before the delay to the latest hostage and prisoner exchange, Egypt, which controls the Rafah border crossing through which aid supplies have resumed into southern Gaza, said it had received "positive signals" from all parties over a possible truce extension.

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

DANCING FOR JOY

The short-lived row over the truce accord's implementation contrasted with scenes of joy earlier in the day as hostages were reunited with their families.

After almost 50 days in captivity in Gaza, nine-year-old Ohad Munder ran down a hospital corridor in Israel into his father's arms, footage released by the hospital showed.

He and three other children released at the same time were in relatively good condition, Gilat Livni, the centre's Director of Paediatrics told reporters.

"They shared experiences, we were up with them until late at night and it was interesting, upsetting and moving," said Livni.

"I dreamt we came home," said another hostage, four-year-old Raz Asher, as she sat in her father's arms on a hospital bed after she and her mother and younger sister were freed. "Now the dream came true," her father, Yoni, replied.

For Palestinians, however, joy at the release of prisoners from Israeli jails had a bitter tinge to it. Israeli police were seen raiding the home of Sawsan Bkeer on Friday shortly before her daughter Marah, 24, was released. Israeli police declined to comment.

"There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait," said Sawsan Bkeer. "We are still afraid to feel happy," she said.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

A 26-year-old man, who allegedly killed his girlfriend in Marondera after a misunderstanding, died at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare on Wednesday night.Echfel Musaida Gora died hours after an initial court appearance from his hospital bed, facing a murder charge.Gora stabbed his girlfriend, Sharon Mashowo (29), to death with an okapi knife on Thursday last week following a misunderstanding in Nyameni, Marondera.He then locked her in his room and drove off, leaving her bleed to death.Gora fled to Odzi where he attempted to commit suicide by consuming an unknown poisonous substance on Sunday.He was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital and was arrested on Monday after being positively identified while admitted.Manicaland acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed Gora's death."We have been informed that he (Gora) died yesterday evening. We are awaiting post-mortem results," said Ass Insp Chinyoka.
Vetoon Phoome's family feared the Thai farm worker had been killed by Hamas in last month's attack on Israel, until they found out on Saturday he had been freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza. Israel-Hamas War: A Thai official (C) posing for a group photo with 10 released Thai hostages in Israel, after they were freed by Hamas(AFP)

"He told me not to cry, to tell mother I'm coming back," Vetoon's sister, Roongarun Wichagern, told Reuters after an emotional reunion with him via video call.

Vetoon, 33, who has been living in Israel for five years, was one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of a seven-week-old war that started with the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.

"He said, 'I'm not dead, I'm not dead'," Roongarun said, calling his survival a "miracle".

The 10 Thais were among 24 hostages freed on Friday in a deal negotiated in parallel with the truce and an exchange of 39 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Thailand's government said 20 of its nationals are still captive.

Thailand's foreign minister and army chief will travel to Israel to bring the freed hostages back, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters, adding that his government was still trying to secure the release of the remaining captives.

"We will not stop. We will bring them back," he said.

Iran's Embassy in Bangkok said on social media that Tehran had facilitated the release by providing a list of names to Hamas following a request from Thailand's Foreign Ministry and a parliamentary speaker.

A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson said Thailand had "provided lists since the beginning to everyone," including Qatar, Egypt, Israel and Iran.

"Different actors would have different influence on Hamas," the spokesperson said.

About 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, forming one of its largest groups of migrant workers, many in agriculture.

Vetoon told family members he had shouted "Thailand, Thailand!" when the militants approached, before capturing him and holding him in tunnels, Roongarun said.

He was not wounded or tortured, was given food and water and did not appear to have lost weight, Roongarun added.

His friends believed he had died, but the family followed the news "without sleeping", hoping he had been taken hostage, she said.

"I saw the news hostages would be released, and then someone sent a photo," Roongarun said. "It was clearly my little brother."

The released captives also included the only Thai woman known to be held by Hamas, a factory worker and mother from a poor rural area where many people leave to seek job opportunities abroad.

Photographs from the Thai Foreign Ministry showed them meeting doctors at a medical centre in Israel. They will return home after 48 hours in hospital, the ministry said, thanking Egypt, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross for "immense efforts" on the deal to free them.

A source briefed on the negotiations said the release was unrelated to the truce deal with Israel and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

A group of Thai Muslim politicians had travelled to Tehran and met senior Hamas officials in October.

Thongkoon Onkaew told Reuters authorities had said her son, Natthaporn Onkaew, a 26-year-old farm worker, was not among the first group released, but she added that she was waiting for good news.
Iran executed a 17-year-old convicted of murder, two rights groups said as the country continues to hang people for crimes committed as minors. Hamidreza Azari was executed in prison in the eastern town of Sabzevar in Razavi Khorasan province, the Norway-based Hengaw and Iran Human Rights (IHR) groups said as per news agency AFP. Iran Executions: An Iranian flag flutters.(Reuters)

Hamidreza Azari was the only child in his family and had already started working as a scrap worker. The rights groups said that he was 16 years old at the time of the crime and 17 when executed. Hamidreza Azari had reportedly been sentenced to death for killing a man in a brawl in May this year. The rights groups said that the execution marked another violation by Iran of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The convention defines a child as any person under the age of 18.

Iran Human Rights said, Iran is one of the few countries that sentences child-convicts to death and executes more juveniles than all other countries. As per data issued by the group, at least 68 minors have been executed in Iran since 2010 and at least 684 people have been executed this year in Iran. IHR director Mahmood-Amiry Moghaddam said, "In Iran, if someone wants to get a driver's licence, they must be 18 years old, but 15 years old is enough to be executed."

Iranian media had reported the execution falsely gave his age as 18 in a deliberate attempt to evade accountability for violating international laws, the group alleged.

Earlier, Iran also executed a man in his early 20s who was the eighth person to be hanged in a case related to months of nationwide protests that erupted in September 2022.
A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday. Representational picture(via REUTERS)

The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess Iran was behind the attack.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the vessel's crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

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The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessels Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping, the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. The vessels AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack.

The Symi is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific Shipping in Singapore rang unanswered Saturday, while no one responded to a request for comment sent by email. The Israeli military referred questions to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which did not immediately respond.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with Eastern Pacific, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

In the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants' Oct. 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the war, though Iran itself has yet to be linked directly to an attack.
Israel-Hamas war Highlights: Saturday is the second day of a 96-hour ceasefire that marks the first pause in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Notably, the two sides have been warring since October 7, when Hamas carried out a series of attacks in Israeli territory, and abducted more than 200 Israeli citizens and foreigners. A man holds an Israeli flag as people await news of hostages expected to be released by Hamas, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel.(REUTERS)

On the first day of the truce, Hamas freed 24 hostages (13 Israelis, 10 Thais, and a Filipino), while Israel, in return, released 39 Palestinian prisoners. Both sides are expected to release more people in the coming days.

The peace agreement was brokered by Qatar.

More than 1300 Israelis have lost their lives as a result of the conflict, while the toll on the Palestinian side is higher, with nearly 15,000 fatalities. In response to the Hamas attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been targeting the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people, and is governed by the terrorist group.
Iran said Saturday it helped broker the surprise release of Thai nationals who had been held by Palestinian militants in war-ravaged Gaza since their shock attack on Israel last month. Israel-Hamas War: An Iranian flag flutters.(Reuters)

On Friday, Hamas unexpectedly released 10 Thais and a Filipino, along with the 13 Israeli women and children that were part of a temporary truce deal with Israel.

Israel in turn freed 39 Palestinian women and children from its prisons.

"The issue of Thai prisoners was jointly pursued by the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told the official IRNA news agency.

The releases took place as a temporary truce paused fighting in Gaza for the first time since October 7 when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 240 more hostage, according to Israeli figures.

Israel has responded with a withering bombing campaign on Gaza, that has killed more than 15,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run government.

"A list of names of these prisoners was given to Hamas officials to review and assist with the issue from a humanitarian perspective," Kanani added.

The Thai foreign ministry confirmed the releases on Saturday, saying the 10 individuals -- nine men and one woman -- had been taken to Israel via Egypt.

It added that roughly 20 Thais are among the estimated 215 people still held hostage in Gaza.

During the four-day truce, Hamas is expected to free a total of 50 Israeli hostages, some of them dual nationals, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

On Thursday, Kanani welcomed the temporary truce as "the first step in the path of completely stopping war crimes committed... by the Zionist regime against Palestinian people."

Iran, which supports Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the October 7 attacks as a "success" but denied any direct involvement.

Tehran has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Three people were killed by Palestinian factions in the West Bank for allegedly collaborating with Israeli soldiers, it was reported as Hamas released a first wave of 13 Israeli women and children on Friday under a truce deal. The terrorist group also released 11 farm workers from Thailand and the Philippines. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed crowds of people cheering as two bodies were hung on an electric pole and desecrated in Tulkarm. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinians leaving the north walk through the Salaheddine road in the Zeitoun district on the southern outskirts of Gaza City.(AFP)

A third was killed in Jenin, Fox News reported while Israel's N12 news channel identified the two men murdered in Tulkarm as Hamza Mubarak, 31, and Azam Juabra, 29. The report claimed that the men were killed as the crowd shouted "you traitors!" and step on your head, you spy. The bodies of the two men were abused, it claimed. The two men were accused of providing the Israeli military with information which led to the deaths of three terrorists who belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The men reportedly "confessed" in a video recording, saying that they received payments for helping the IDF.

"We would like to inform you that there is no immunity for any informer or any traitor, and that whoever is proven to be involved in any case of assassination of our fighters, we will attack him, pursue him and impose a death sentence on him," an organization calling itself "Resistance Security" commented on the executions as per i24 News.

Hamas took about 240 hostages and killed 1,200 people when they raided Israel on October 7, as per Israel. The hostages were from communities, including collective farms, called kibbutzim and military bases in southern Israel. More than half the hostages held foreign and dual citizenship from some 40 countries including the US, Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Spain and Portugal. According to Israeli media and the Israeli government, up to 40 hostages were children while some soldiers, elderly people and people with disabilities were also taken.
US president Joe Biden said that Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 in part because of a possible Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization deal. Israel-Hamas War: US president Joe Biden responds to a reporter as he leaves after speaking in Nantucket.(AP)

I cannot prove what Im about to say. But I believe one of the reasons why Hamas struck when they did was they knew that I was working very closely with the Saudis and others in the region to bring peace to the region by having recognition of Israel and Israels right to exist," Joe Biden said.

Earlier, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was optimistic about relations with Saudi Arabia. "I think we're getting closer to peace every day that passes, he said in September, adding, "The reason we didn't have for a quarter-century any new peace treaties after we made peace with Egypt and Jordan, we didn't have for 25 years a single new peace treaty because everybody said, first you have to satisfy whatever the demands of the Palestinians are. You've got to conclude a peace treaty with the Palestinians. Well, there was only one problem with that. The Palestinians don't want a peace with Israel."

Earlier, on the release of a first group of hostages taken by Hamas, Joe Biden said that it was just a "start" and that there were "real" chances to extend a temporary truce in Gaza. Joe Biden also said that it was time to "renew" work on creating a two-state solution.

"This morning I've been engaged with my team as we began the first couple days of implementing this deal. It's only a start, but so far it's gone well," he said. When asked about the American women and children hostages who could be released as part of the deal, Joe Biden said he did not know when they would be set free but "we expect it to occur."
In a recent announcement made by King Charles' estate, it has been revealed that the British monarch is set to transfer more than 100 million into ethical investment funds. As per the Guardian, the funds that are being transferred include money collected from dead people under the archaic system of bona vacantia. This comes after the backlash faced by the King over the Duchy of Lancaster's use of funds, which are collected from people who die without a will or next of kin. FILE PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III attends the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Chamber, in London, Britain, November 7, 2023. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo(via REUTERS)

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According to an investigation led by the outlet, it was discovered that the money of the dead was secretly being used to renovate properties owned by the King, which are rented out for profits. However, the duchy said that some of the funds were being used for the restoration of public and historic properties. Moreover, the King's estate has also been questioned over a portion of bona vacantia revenues that are given to its charities. The outlet adds that two such charities have used the money to build endowment funds worth over 40 million.

A spokesperson for the estate told the outlet on Friday, In line with the kings longstanding support of ethical investing, the Duchy of Lancaster has begun the process of transferring its investment portfolio into ESG funds. This process is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year. However, the king's estate has not made any announcement on either a change in the way these funds are being used or a plan to cease collecting the bona vacantia revenue altogether.

ALSO READ: Kate Middleton wears rare 100-year-old tiara last worn by Queen Mother in 1930s

The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund and Duchy of Lancaster Jubilee Trust are two charities that receive a portion of bona vacantia revenue, which have built major endowment funds worth 18 million and 26 million respectively. Both charities aim for an annual return of 500,000 from their investments. Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith said, Like so many other local people I was surprised to learn the anomaly that means those dying without a will or heir in the county palatine see their assets passed to the king rather than the state. Its an unjust and archaic hangover from the medieval times and Ill be seeking advice on how to bring my constituents rights out of the feudal era.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry accused two royal family members of making racists comments about their son Archie, it was claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked the world when during a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, they opened up about their experiences in the royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

In the chat, the couple alleged that an unnamed member of the royal family had expressed "concerns" about "how dark" Prince Archie's skin would be when he was born.

The couple's allegations sparked outrage as many called for the Sussexes to reveal the person who made the comments. Royal author Omid Scobie has now alleged that Meghan Markle named two members of the royal household in private letters which she wrote to King Charles. This comes as the author is set to release his bombshell book Endgame which has been described as "a penetrating investigation into the current state of the British monarchy".

In the book, the author claimed that Meghan Markle alleged that the two family members took part in "conversations" about her son. The names of those involved have not been revealed yet but the author claimed that he knows the names but "laws in the United Kingdom prevent me from reporting who they were."

The letters Meghan Markle wrote to King Charles are said to have been sent in the spring of 2021, after she and Prince Harry spoke to Oprah. The King is said to have wanted his return letters to express how he felt no "casual prejudice" had been involved, the report claimed.

Endgame will include claims that Meghan Markle and King Charles felt they had "both been heard" after exchanging letters, the Mirror reported.
The sun is experiencing a surge of activity, with many sunspots appearing on its surface and releasing hot plasma into space. NASA has shared an image capturing the sun in the midst of a solar flare (Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO via nasa/Instagram)

Sunspots are dark spots on the sun where the magnetic field is very strong. They can produce coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are huge clouds of plasma that are ejected from the sun at high speeds.

sun can also emit solar flares, which are intense flashes of electromagnetic radiation.

Solar flares and CME are both caused by the sun through its magnetic field being twisted and stressed through motions in the sun, Daniel Brown, an associate professor in astronomy and science communication at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., told Newsweek.

However, a solar flare is the immense release of light triggered by the snapping and rearranging of the magnetic fields on the sun. That will go hand in hand typically with the release of a CME. But it will take a day or more for the particles to arrive while the light and radiation reaches us in just over 8 minutes. So a good comparison is that a flare is the flash of a muzzle while the CME is actually the cannonball traveling and possibly hitting us.

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In the past week, the number of sunspots has increased by a factor of 10, and several CMEs have been launched every day. One of these CMEs may be on a collision course with Earth, according to a NASA model, and could reach our planet by late November 25. This will be confirmed after scientists analyze the paths of the storms.

When a CME hits the Earth, it can cause a geomagnetic storm, which is a disturbance of the Earths magnetic field and atmosphere by the solar plasma.

A geomagnetic storm occurs when the Earths magnetic field is seriously disrupted by eruptions from the sun, Huw Morgan, head of the Solar Physics group at Aberystwyth University in the U.K., quoted to Newsweek.

When a large plasma storm erupts from the sun, and that storm carries a magnetic field which is oriented in an opposite direction to Earths magnetic field, we have a perfect storm, and a larger geomagnetic storm.

Geomagnetic storms can have different levels of intensity, ranging from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), according to NOAA. The strongest storms are very rare: for every 11-year solar cycle, there may be 1700 G1 storms, 100 G4 storms, and only 4 G5 storms.

One of the effects of a geomagnetic storm is the enhancement of the aurora, which is the colorful display of lights in the sky near the poles. The aurora is caused by the interaction of charged particles in the Earths atmosphere with gases like nitrogen and oxygen, which make them glow.

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Under quiet conditions, charged particles (both from the solar wind and the ionosphere) can become trapped in the magnetosphere, happily bouncing from hemisphere-to-hemisphere, pole-to-pole. Under these circumstances, some of these charged particles will collide with upper atmospheric particles, causing auroras in the polar regions, Brett Carter, an associate professor in space science at RMIT University in Australia, told Newsweek.the outlet.

However, when a CME arrives and triggers a geomagnetic storm, these particles are pushed deeper into the atmosphere, where they collide with more gases and create a brighter and wider aurora. This means that the aurora can be seen in lower latitudes than usual, depending on the strength of the storm.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

NATIONAL police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, has revealed that complaints against the police have been increasing due to some officers demanding money from people to take their reports.Speaking to Community Relations and Liaison Officers (CRLO) in Harare yesterday, Ass-Comm Nyathi implored officers to be wary of engaging in corrupt activities and loose talk during crime awareness campaigns.He said the increasing number of complaints against police stemming from poor service delivery is damaging the reputation of the organisation, and officers underperforming should be held accountable rather than needlessly defended.Defending such individuals, he said, only fosters further misconduct and erodes public trust."It is disheartening to hear of some CRLOs engaging in corrupt activities."We must be mindful of our words during crime awareness campaigns, guard against corrupt activities and loose talk."I implore you to become advocates for good customer service and ensure that our clients are treated with respect and attention."We have received numerous reports of clients being turned away or harassed by our police officers at roadblocks."Some station details even demand money from clients in order to take down their reports. While I will not mention specific station names, it is essential that we work together to address this issue."What is even more concerning is our inability to effectively manage these complaints, resulting in people complaining about the outcomes of their complaints," said Ass-Comm Nyathi.He encouraged CRLOs to take full advantage of opportunities provided by the Staff College to enhance their knowledge and skills, saying it helps them even after leaving the police.
Pope Francis went to a hospital in Rome on Saturday for a scan, which the Vatican said had ruled out lung complications after a flu forced him to cancel his activities. Pope Francis (REUTERS)

A Vatican statement said the 86-year-old pontiff had already returned to his residence in the Vatican after undergoing the CT scan at the Gemelli Isola hospital in central Rome early on Saturday afternoon.

Part of one of the pope's lungs was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

His next public appearance is scheduled for Sunday, when he is expected to address crowds in his weekly Angelus message in St. Peter's Square.

The pope is scheduled to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai from Dec. 1-3, where he is expected to have nearly an entire day of bilateral meetings with world leaders attending the event.

Earlier this month, Francis skipped reading a prepared speech for a meeting with European rabbis because he had a cold, but he appeared to be in good health during a meeting with children just hours later.

In June, he had surgery on an abdominal hernia, spending nine days in hospital. He appears to have recovered fully from that operation.

On Saturdays, he usually holds regular meetings with Vatican officials, including a weekly one with the head of the Vatican department that oversees the appointment of bishops, as well as private audiences.

His agenda this Saturday included a meeting scheduled with the president of Guinea Bissau.
The royal author Omid Scobie has claimed that Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship deteriorated further after Harry revealed his issues with the royal family and the institution in his explosive 2021 interview with CBS. Prince William believes that Prince Harry's confessions add strain to royal family relations(AFP)

In his new book Endgame, Scobie wrote that Harry's decision to go public with his complaints in the tell-all with his wife Meghan Markle widened the gap between him and William. He also wrote that Harry's 2022 Netflix documentary and his 2023 memoir, Spare, did not help to mend the rift.

The Duke of Cambridge no longer even recognises his brother after his royal step out.

According to Scobie, Prince William felt that Prince Harry and Meghan had betrayed the family by airing their grievances to the world. He also alleged that Prince William expressed his disdain for Harry and Meghan's "oh so California self-importance" to his friends and aides over the last two years.

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The royal author further alleged that a source told him that Prince William believed that Harry had been "brainwashed" by an "army of therapists" and that he no longer recognized his own brother.

Prince Harry, on the other hand, shocked the world in 2020 when he and Meghan announced that they were stepping back from their senior royal roles.

The couple, who have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, moved to the US and started to share their side of the story behind their royal exit.

As Prince Harry delved into his experiences as a member of the royal family, notably in his memoir, his relationship with William and their father, King Charles III, grew increasingly strained.

The Duke of Sussex confessed in his book that he felt like he was "the shadow, the support, the Plan B" to William who is the heir to the throne.

"I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part," Harry wrote of his role in the family.

"Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow. This was all made explicitly clear to me from the start of lifes journey and regularly reinforced after."

Scobie, who has been covering the royal family for years, revealed in his book that he witnessed the brothers' conflict firsthand in 2019.

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The author explained that he felt "growing strains" on his "working relationship with Kensington Palace" as 2020 approached. After covering Prince Harry and Meghan's October 2019 southern Africa trip, Scobie alleged that one of William's aides told him that he "felt uncomfortable" with his "relationship with the Sussex team."

Scobie claimed in Endgame that a Kensington Palace aide "privately" informed him that while he didn't "need to pick a side" he should "accept that there are sides in this."

While Prince William and Prince Harry remain estranged, William's relationship with his father, has seemed to improve amid the turmoil.
Ukraine's capital suffered what officials said was Russia's largest drone attack of the war on Saturday, leaving five people wounded as the rumble of air defences and explosions woke residents at sunrise. A police officer inspects a compound of a kindergarten damaged during Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko(REUTERS)

The attack began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, with more waves coming as the sun came up. The air raid warning lasted six hours.

Air force chief Mykola Oleschuk said 71 of the 75 drones launched at Ukraine had been downed.

He praised the effectiveness of 'mobile fire' units - usually fast pickup trucks with a machine gun or flak cannon mounted on their flatbed. According to Oleschuk, these downed nearly 40% of the drones.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on the Telegram app, said the attack had injured five people, including an 11-year-old girl, and damaged buildings in districts all across the city.

Fragments from a downed drone had started a fire in a children's nursery, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pointed out that the attack had come in the early hours of the day when Ukrainians commemorate their worst national tragedy - the 1932-33 Holodomor famine in which several million people starved to death.

"Wilful terror .... The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill," he wrote on Telegram.

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Ukraine's leadership has previously drawn parallels between Holodomor and Russia's current invasion.

Ukraine and over 30 other countries recognise Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union, which ruled Ukraine at the time and sought to crush its desire for independence.

Moscow denies the deaths were caused by a deliberate genocidal policy and says that Russians and other ethnic groups also suffered because of famine.

The target of Saturday's attack was not immediately clear, but Ukraine has warned in recent weeks that Russia will once again wage an aerial campaign to destroy Ukraine's energy system, as it sought to do last winter.

Ukraine's energy ministry said nearly 200 buildings in the capital, including 77 residential ones, had been left without power as a result of the attack.

"It looks like tonight we heard the overture. The prelude to the winter season," Serhiy Fursa, a prominent Ukrainian economist, wrote on Facebook.
A protester was arrested Saturday in London on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, as tens of thousands of people turned out on central London's streets for a pro-Palestinian march calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Demonstrators hold Palestinian flags and signs in Whitehall by the Cenotaph, during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.(REUTERS)

The National March for Palestine, which aimed to finish in Whitehall, central London, was the latest in several huge protests that have dominated the British capital's streets every weekend since the Israel-Hamas war began last month.

The Metropolitan Police said it arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred near the start of the protest.

Officers spotted him carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it," police said.

Officers handed out leaflets at the march that sought to clarify what would be deemed an offence, after the force faced pressure from senior government officials to be tougher on alleged displays of antisemitism at the protests.

Anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation, said Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan.

We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism  such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people  or who spreads hate speech," he added.

In Paris, a march staged for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women drew both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli activists as well as other groups.

Some protesters, waving Palestinian flags and posters reading Free Palestine, walked in a show of solidarity with Gaza and Palestines women who are being murdered.

A group of Jewish women also joined the march to denounce crimes committed by Hamas, including rapes and killings, chanting, We are women, we are proud, we are Jewish and we are angry.

Meanwhile, some pro-Palestinian protests were organized over the weekend in Frances major cities including Strasbourg, Lyon and Marseille.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the Islamist group, also protested Saturday outside the Egyptian Embassy in London. Tens of thousands of people are also expected to take part in a march organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity on Sunday.
When Natthawaree Mulkan's mother saw that her daughter was among the Thai hostages released by Hamas, she was so happy she danced with her 8-year-old granddaughter outside their home in northeastern Thailand. Bunyarin Srijan, the mother of a Thai hostage released as part of a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel,(REUTERS)

"I was elated ... I came out and danced," Bunyarin Srijan, 56, said pointing to her patio.

Natthawaree, a mother of two, was one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of a seven-week-old war that started with the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.

She was the only Thai female abducted.

Her mother lost touch with her after the attack and then stopped following reports, dreading bad news.

During that hopeless period I didn't watch the news for half a month," Bunyarin recounts alone in her living room.

"I was afraid of seeing my daughter lying dead.

Some 30,000 Thai labourers, mainly from the country's impoverished northeast, work in the Israeli agriculture sector, one of its largest groups of migrant workers.

Natthawaree is seen in a photograph from the Thai foreign ministry in a clinic, smiling with her hands clasped in a traditional 'wai.'

Bunyarin said her daughter had planned to marry her boyfriend, Boonthom Phankhong, who was also abducted by Hamas and released on Friday.

"After she's back, I'm going to take her to the temple to observe religious rites," she said, wiping away tears.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Saturday that the government was still trying to secure the release of 20 Thai citizens who remain captive.
WHEN HAMAS murdered and kidnapped 1,400 people on October 7th it triggered the biggest Middle East crisis in a decade and a brutal war in Gaza. On November 24th a small number of the roughly 240 captives tasted freedom again amid a four-day truce in the fighting. Israeli officials confirmed that 13 Israeli hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross; the authorities in Qatar said another 11 captives, ten holding Thai passports and one from the Philippines, were being released. At the Hatzerim air base in southern Israel, helicopters were standing by to whisk the released Israeli victims, all women or children, to hospitals. Their horrific ordeal may be over but at least 200 other captives remain in Gaza and Israels war against Hamas is likely to go on.

The dealfor Hamas to free 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for the four-day truce and the release of 150 Palestinians in Israeli prisonswas struck after weeks of negotiations through Qatari, Egyptian and American mediation. It came amid mounting domestic pressure in Israel to bring the hostages home and growing international outrage over the destruction that Israel has wrought on Gaza. The accounts of the released hostages of the atrocities on October 7th, their abduction and their treatment are likely to dominate life in Israel in the coming days. They will also deepen the debate about whether Israel should prioritise saving further hostages, or put more weight on destroying Hamass capacity to terrorise Israelis, and in the process destroying more of Gaza.

The truce between Israel and Hamas came into play at 7am, just as the sun began to rise in Gaza. An alien silencefree of airstrikes and the buzz of dronesdescended across the strips south. Palestinians, many of whom had fled Israels advances, emerged in their thousands from crammed tents and houses in Gazas southern cities. Israel had asked those in the south not to return to the north over which it now has effective control, but the unbearable conditions and a desperate search for the missing saw huge crowds march northward regardless. At least 11 Palestinians were wounded and two killed by Israeli forces as they attempted to reach their homes in northern Gaza.

One of those heading north was Sobhia Al-Najar, who had found shelter in Al-Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. She took advantage of the pause to go to her house, only to learn it had been destroyed. All I found was stones and sand, she said, bursting into tears. Now I have no home, and no hope for anything. Abu Mohammed returned to search for missing relatives. They made a ceasefire as if we would return to our old lives, he said. But our lives have lost all meaning, so their ceasefire is useless.

Several Palestinian ambulances at last made it to the coastal highway near Zahra to collect the bodies of nine Palestinians killed by Israeli naval fire. The Hamas-controlled authorities in Gaza say that some 7,000 Palestinians4,700 of them women and childrenare missing in the enclave. Many of them are thought to be dead and buried beneath the rubble. That is in addition to the more than 14,000 people killed since October 7th, according to the same authorities. One Palestinian official says that now the fighting has stopped, the official death toll will increase sharply.

The truce provides an opportunity to get aid into Gaza. Martin Griffiths, the UNs humanitarian chief has described the humanitarian situation as the worst ever. Two hundred lorries packed with food, medicine and other aid have been allowed through the Rafah crossing. Some were carrying essential fuel, though humanitarian agencies said that amount was utterly insuficient.

For the first 39 of the 150 Palestinian women and children to be released from Israeli prisons as part of the deal, there were muted welcoming receptions in the West Bank. Local officials decorated the family home of Rawan Abu Ziadeh with Palestinian flags and banners of the ruling Fatah party. Yet her family, who had been informed she may be among those freed after serving nine years for the attempted stabbing of a soldier, were more subdued. We are not in the mood for celebrating. The Palestinian people in Gaza have paid a huge price for this. They are the ones we should be thanking, said her father, Nafes Abu Ziadeh.

If the truce holds more hostages will be released in the coming days. Hamas will hope the deal will amplify calls in Israel for the government of Binyamin Netanyahu to prioritise saving more hostages over prosecuting the war; and draw global attention to the plight of ordinary people in Gaza, in turn putting even more international pressure on Israel to adopt a longer ceasefire. Yet Israel shows little sign of having changed its military objectives and America shows no sign of pulling the plug on its ally. Yoav Gallant, Israels defence minister, has said fighting will continue with intensity for at least two more months after the truce. Under the deal Hamas may gain an extra day of truce for every ten additional hostages it releases.

Yet several uncertainties remain. One is whether, as the scale of death and destruction becomes more apparent, Gazans will direct their rage towards Hamas and its nihilistic credo, as well as towards Israel. Another is whether and how Israel will modify its tactics to reduce the number of civilians it is killing in Gaza, both to assuage global opinion and to adapt to fighting in the south, from where non-combatants have no realistic possibility of evacuation. Just before the ceasefire came into effect the Israel Defence Forces launched intense strikes on targets in Gaza, including the south. The next phase of the fighting could involve lower-intensity raids in the south in an attempt to kill or capture Hamass leaders and fighters.

The last uncertainty is whether a resumption of fighting triggers another round of escalation by Hizbullah and other Iran-backed militias across the region. By November 28th the ceasefire could be over and the Middle Easts nightmare in full swing again.
Several thousand people marched in France on Saturday to condemn violence against women on the international day to combat the scrouge. Women hold as they march during a demonstration to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Toulouse, south-western France.(AFP)

Many wearing purple, the colour of women and gender equality, demonstrators wove through the chilly streets of Paris and other cities, carrying signs reading: "One rape every six minutes in France" and "Protect your girls, educate your boys".

"We don't want to count the dead any more," Maelle Lenoir, an official from the All of Us activist group, told reporters, urging the government to devote more money to eradicating violence against women.

France has recorded 121 women killed so far this year in femicides, the killing of a woman due to her gender, compared with 118 in 2022, according to government data.

"Continued violence against women is not inevitable," President Emmanuel Macron said in a video posted on social media earlier on Saturday.

"We must put an end to it and we will do".

Leonore Maunoury, 22, said that the justice system needed to be changed to deal effectively with the phenomenon, as she march in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

"Sexual violence is difficult to prove. Many cases are dismissed. The justice system is ill-adapted" to deal with the issue, she said.
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Italy's main cities on Saturday to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, just as an Italian man suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend was extradited from Germany. A woman attends a demonstration on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Milan, Italy.(AP)

The slaying of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin, allegedly at the hands of her former boyfriend, sparked outrage across Italy, where on average one woman is killed every three days.

Suspect Filippo Turetta, 21, landed at the Venice airport around mid-morning on Saturday. He was immediately transferred to a prison in the northern city of Verona to face questions in the investigation into Cecchettin's death, Italian media reported.

Cecchettin had disappeared after meeting Turetta for a burger at a shopping mall near Venice, just days before she was to receive her degree in biomedical engineering. The case gripped Italy.

READ | Italian court says no rape happened as woman didnt scream, minister takes stock

Her body was found on Nov 18  covered by black plastic bags in a ditch near a lake in the foothills of the Alps. Turetta was arrested the following day in Germany.

Cecchettin's killing has sparked an unprecedented wave of grief and anger in Italy, where many women say patriarchal attitudes are still entrenched.

Data from the Italian Interior Ministry show that 106 women have so far been killed in Italy this year, 55 of them allegedly by a partner or former partner.

Italy's RAI state TV reported that in the days since Cecchettin's body was found, calls to a national hotline for women fearing for their safety at the hands of men have jumped from some 200 to 400 a day  including from parents of young women.

Rome has been invaded...we are 500,000, said activists from Non Una Di Meno (Not one less), the anti-violence feminist association that organized the rally in the capital.

Many of the demonstrations that took place across Italy remembered Cecchettin and her striking story.

Male violence is something that personally touched me and all of us, at every age, said Aurora Arleo, a 24-year-old student, who went to the demonstration from Ladispoli, a town close to Rome. We have united also in the name of Giulia, because her story struck us, and I hope it will change something.

Monica Gilardi, 46, noted that her generation was probably the one that suffered in silence more than others, despite having experienced years of women's battles and emancipation.

Now that I've reached a different awareness, I hope to be able to share it with my sisters, she said.

Thousands of men of all ages also responded to the call for joining Saturday's initiatives against gender violence.

I think it was important to be here today, said Leonardo Sanna, 19, who took part in the Rome demonstration with female friends. It's not my first time, but I believe that Giulia's death changed in part the perception of this problem among youths. And I hope this is not going to be short-lived.

Earlier this week, the Italian parliament approved new measures to clamp down on violence against women, following unanimous support from the two chambers.

Among the measures being introduced is a campaign in schools to address sexism, machismo and psychological and physical violence against women.

A human society that aspires to be civilized cannot accept, cannot endure, this string of attacks on women and murders, Italy's President Sergio Mattarella said on Saturday. We cannot just counter this with intermittent indignation.

In his message to mark the battle against gender violence, Pope Francis said it is a plague that must be rooted out from society and called for educational action.

Violence against women is a poisonous weed that plagues our society and must be pulled up from its roots, the Pope wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

These roots grow in the soil of prejudice and of injustice; they must be countered with educational action that places the person, with his or her dignity, at the centre, he added.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world. According to the most recent UN data, globally, over 700 million women  almost one in three  have been subjected to physical and sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

Thousands of people also rallied in Paris on Saturday to demand more government action to prevent gender violence. Protesters marched behind a large banner saying women are angry, stop violence: actions and resources, now.

France has taken steps in recent years to toughen punishment for rape and sexual misconduct. But while President Emmanuel Macron has promised to tackle deadly domestic abuse and other violence against women, activists say France still has a long way to go.
A top Pakistani court on Saturday decided to take up next week for hearing appeals by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan against his verdict in the Toshakhana corruption case, including his disqualification by the election commission. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan(REUTERS)

Khan was convicted on August 5 in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for hiding the proceeds from the sale of gifts he received from the Toshakhana at cheaper rates. He was arrested on the same day and incarcerated.

However, the 41-year-old chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party challenged his conviction in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which accepted his post-arrest bail on Aug 29 but the conviction was intact.

Now the IHC fixed November 30 as the date for hearing Khans appeals against the punishment awarded to him and the verdict in the Toshakhana case, including his disqualification from contesting elections.

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A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Jehangiri will hear the appeals. The court had also issued notices to the ECP in the last hearing. It is not clear how long the court will take to decide on the appeals.

Khan is still in jail facing Al-Qadir Trust corruption and cipher cases.

Dozens of cases had been filed against him since ouster from power in April last year.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden said he did not know when Hamas would free American hostages as part of a deal with Israel. The terrorist group did not release any US citizens on the first day of a four-day truce in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Joe Biden is uncertain about the hostages-prisoners swap between Hamas and Israel. U.S., November 24, 2023. REUTERS/Tom Brenner(REUTERS)

We dont know when that will occur, Biden said.

Were gonna be expecting it to occur and we dont know what the list of all the hostages are and when theyll be released, but we know the numbers that are going to be released.

He added, It is my hope and expectation it will be soon.

Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages in four days, out of about 240 taken from southern Israel on Oct. 7. The first group of 24 included 13 Israelis and 11 foreigners, but no Americans.

ALSO READ| Thats how you do it, Vivek Ramaswamy blast GOP's boring debate format, Proposes moving to X

Biden spoke from Nantucket Island, where he is vacationing with his family. He also said the US did not know how many American hostages were alive or their conditions.

Nine US citizens and one permanent resident remain missing.

We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well  two American women and one 4-year-old child, Abigail, who remains among those missing, the President said.

We also will not stop until we get these hostages brought home and an answer to their whereabouts.

The truce comes as Biden faces pressure from left-wing Democrats to convince Israel to stop its attack on Gaza. Demonstrators in Nantucket shouted "Free Palestine!" and "Stop the fighting!" directed at Biden following his comments.

The 81-year-old said the truce brings a critical opportunity to deliver much needed food, medicine, water and fuel to the civilians in Gaza.

Hamas doesnt give a damn about them, he added.

Israel said the truce could be extended if Hamas releases 10 more hostages per day after the initial period. Israel has also consented to release 150 imprisoned Palestinian women and children as a component of the agreement.

ALSO READ| Gaza hostages release 'only a start', says US President Joe Biden

Biden noted that two US citizens were released by Hamas on Oct. 20.

Today has been a product a lot of hard work and weeks of personal engagement. From the moment Hamas kidnapped these people, I along with my team have worked around the clock to secure their release. We saw the first results of this with the release of two American hostages in late October, followed by the release of two Israeli hostages, he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo City Council Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou has appealed to residents to open weep holes in their precast perimeter walls to prevent flash floods during the upcoming rainy season.Weep holes are designed to allow accumulated water to drain away.According to the Roads Act (Chapter 13:18) under Part V111, landowners, occupiers, or users are obligated to take all reasonable measures to ensure that water is not obstructed or impeded from draining into, under, or through their land from a public road.Addressing the handover ceremony of four fire tenders recently, Zhou explained that flash floods are caused by the obstruction of water flow due to closed perimeter walls."We remain hopeful that the rains will soon arrive, and we therefore urge residents to open weep holes in their perimeter walls so that we do not experience flash floods caused by a lack of water flow due to blocked perimeter walls," she stated.Zhou emphasised that the fire brigade will be forced to open weep holes at the property owner's expense if called upon to do so in an emergency."Let us avoid putting unnecessary strain on city services by addressing matters that we can control. While it will be at your expense if we have to open a weep hole in an emergency, we cannot guarantee that we will do so in a manner that will protect your wall. Our primary focus will be to open a weep hole," she clarified."Whether your precast wall collapses or not will be your responsibility. Therefore, open your precast wall before we intervene. We will be using a digger to open the weep hole," she added.Zhou reiterated that residents cannot prevent the natural flow of water."We urge residents to open weep holes. Precast walls are designed with holes, but residents often close them. We urge you to open those holes. Do not let your dislike for your neighbors prevent you from allowing water to flow into your yard. Water follows its natural course, and there is nothing you can do to stop it from flowing. Therefore, let us open weep holes so that if the rains arrive, we do not experience flash floods," she concluded.
A young man who shot four people at a Walmart store in Beavercreek, Ohio, on Monday night may have been influenced by a radical ideology based on race, according to the FBI. The shooting occurred around 8:35 p.m. on Monday at the Walmart store in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton. Benjamin Charles Jones (On Left-Shooter)(BEAVERCREEK POLICE DEPARTMENT/ BLOOMBERG)

The 20-year-old shooter, Benjamin Charles Jones, also took his own life following the violent spree.

The FBI said on Wednesday that they found evidence in Jones journal writings that suggested he was at least partly motivated by Racially Motivated Violent Extremist (RMVE) ideology. They did not elaborate on the nature or source of the ideology, but said the investigation was still ongoing.

Jones had purchased the gun he used in the shooting, a Hi-Point .45 caliber carbine, just two days before the incident. The FBI said they were checking if he had lied on his gun purchase paperwork.

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The shooting occurred around 8:35 p.m. on Monday at the Walmart store in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton. Jones entered the store and opened fire, injuring four people: a white woman, two black women, and a white man. All four victims were taken to nearby hospitals and are in stable condition.

No police officers fired their weapons during the response, according to the Beavercreek Police Department. Jones died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the store.

The police said they had no information on Jones motive or background.

We have no motive yet, no information on what he may have been thinking, or anything else, Beavercreek Police Capt. Scott Molnar told reporters Monday night, according to NBC News.

Walmart issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing its sorrow over the incident. Were heartbroken by whats happened at our Beavercreek, Ohio store, a company spokeperson said.

This remains a developing situation, and were working closely with investigators on the scene. All questions should be directed to local law enforcement, the statement concluded.

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The Beavercreek shooting was the second deadly incident at a Walmart store in the U.S. in less than a day.

A man and a woman, were fatally shot on Sunday night in the parking area of an Anchorage, Alaska Walmart, as reported by the Anchorage Police Department.

The police said they had no suspects or motive in that case.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur and presidential candidate, has renewed his demand for the Republican National Committee (RNC) to change the way they conduct their debates. He said the current format is boring and fails to attract younger and new voters. FILE - Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Family Leader's Thanksgiving Family Forum, Nov. 17, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)(AP)

Ramaswamy suggested that the next GOP debate, scheduled for January 2023, should be held on X (Formerly X), a popular social media platform, instead of cable TV, the New York Post reported.

He also proposed that Tucker Carlson, a conservative commentator, should be the moderator and ask questions that are relevant to the primary voters.

Thats how you do it, Ramaswamy quoted to the New York Post on Friday. They say they want to reach younger voters and new audiences?

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The Indian-American Presidential candidate has been critical of the RNCs debate guidelines and performance for a long time. He has called on RNC chair Ronna McDaniel to resign after the Republicans lost several elections. He has also urged the RNC to raise the donor threshold from 70,000 to 100,000 and to have a single moderator who can enforce the rules.

Ramaswamy made his views clear in the third debate, hosted by NBC News in Miami on Nov. 8, where he said the debates should be moderated by Carlson, Joe Rogan and Elon Musk to get ten times the viewership.

The viewership of the Republican primary debates has declined steadily since the first one, hosted by Fox News Channel in Milwaukee on Aug. 23, which drew 12.8 million viewers. The second one, hosted by Fox Business Network in Simi Valley, Calif. on Sept. 27, got 9.5 million viewers, while the third one in Miami got only 7.51 million viewers.

The fourth debate will take place in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Dec. 6. It will be hosted by NewsNation and moderated by former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas and The Washington Free Beacons Eliana Johnson. The debate will also be broadcast live on the CW Network in the Eastern and Central time zones.

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The number of candidates on the stage will be smaller than in Miami, as the qualification criteria have been tightened and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has dropped out of the race. Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley are likely to qualify for the Alabama debate. Former President Donald Trump is not expected to attend.

The Republicans have not announced the dates and locations of the future debates, but they are likely to have at least one more debate before the Iowa caucus on Jan. 15 and the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23.
Roger Stone, longtime advisor to former American president Donald Trump recently slurred Caset DeSantis, the wife of Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis as a C*** on X, formerly Twitter. Roger was responding to a post from former GOP congressional candidate Mike Crispi objecting to Casey's mentioning of her children on the campaign trail. Roger was responding to a post from former GOP congressional candidate Mike Crispi objecting to Casey's mentioning of her children on the campaign trail.

Casey Desantis campaigning: I have a 6, 5 and a 3 year old I have a 6, 5 and a 3 year old I have a 6, 5 and a 3 year old I have a 6, 5 and a 3 year old Did you know I have a 6, 5 and a 3 year old?' Mike wrote, mocking Casey. Roger replied to the post with the comment: SeeUNextTuesday, which is a common slang for the derogatory word.

Well, this isn't the first time Roger has taken to throw derogatory remarks at Casey. In May, Michael Kruse, from Politico, quoted Roger in an unflattering explanation of Florida's first lady.

Have you ever noticed how much Ron DeSantis wife Casey is like Lady Macbeth? asked Roger, who was quoted alongside three other Democrats in the piece.

Another attack on Casey DeSantis was made in June, in an article published by Katie Baker from Daily Beast who termed the 43-year-old former news journalist as "Walmart Melania [Trump]'"

Ron and Casey will also never be the Trumps, added Katie.

Ron and Casey share three kids- two daughters and a son. Casey, who survived battles with breast cancer in 2021 and 2022 is valued by her husband as a confidante, partner and political advisor.

Netizens react to Mike and Roger's comments on Casey

Many on X took to reprimand Mike Crispi and Roger Stone over their comments on Casey DeSantis' campaign trail.

You are a soulless, despicable, sad man, wrote one.

I can see why Team Trump would be upset about Casey highlighting the fact that they have a happy young family and her husband's opponent is almost twice his age, wrote another.

What are you 6,5,or 3 quipped another.
Derek Chauvin, a former cop who is serving a 21-year sentence for his involvement in Geroge Floyd's murder case, was stabbed in prison on Friday. Prior to the attack that left him seriously injured, Chauvin reportedly tried to overturn his federal civil rights conviction according to PBS News Hour. In a motion filed on November 13, Chauvin said that he would never have pleaded guilty to Floyd's murder if he knew of Dr. William Schaetzel's theories. FILE - Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)(AP)

Chauvin revealed that the Kansas-based forensic pathologist, with whom he first began corresponding in February, claims that Floyd did not die from asphyxia. According to the outlet, Schaetzel believes that he died not because Chauvin kneeled on his neck, but from a rare tumour called paraganglioma.

Although the pathologist did not examine Floyd's body, he reviewed his autopsy reports. Based on this, he deduced that the complications due to the tumour led to Floyd's demise.

Schaetzel told the Associated Press on Monday, the same day Chauvin filed a motion in federal court, I cant go to my grave with what I know. I just want the truth. Chauvin further alleged that in 2021, Schaetzel reached out to Eric Nelson, his trial attorney, the judge and prosecution in his state-court murder trial.

However, Nelson never informed him about the forensic pathologist. He also alleged that Nelson failed to challenge the constitutionality of the federal charge. The ex-police officer and convicted murderer also claimed that no jury would have ever found him guilty had they heard Schaetzel's theories.

In December 2021, Chauvin waived his right to appeal upon pleading guilty. The only exception to it being- a claim of ineffective counsel. However, a federal appeals court had rejected Chauvin's requests for a rehearing twice.

On November 24, at around 12:30 p.m., Chauvin was brutally stabbed by a fellow inmate in an Arizona prison. Before being transported to a hospital, he was provided with life-saving measures in light of his serious injuries.
The Chinese military said that American naval destroyer USS Hopper entered China's territorial waters without the approval of the Chinese government. In a post on the official WeChat account of the Chinese People Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command, the Chinese military said that it deployed its naval and air forces to "track, monitor and warn away" the vessel. The United States and Philippines conducted joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea.(AP)

The incident proves that the United States is an out-and-out 'security risk creator' in the South China Sea, China said as per news agency Reuters.

Read more: Iran says it facilitated release of 10 Thai hostages from Hamas

This comes days after China accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea as it called out joint patrols held by Philippine and US forces. Earlier this month, the United States and China held "candid" talks on maritime issues, including the contested South China Sea. The US side underscored its concerns about "dangerous and unlawful" Chinese actions in the region, the US state department said.
Ohad Munder spent his ninth birthday as a hostage in Gaza hoping to return home to his family in Israel. And then it happened. On the first day of a planned four-day truce and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, Ohad Munder was among four young children freed from captivity. Israel-Hamas War: Ohad Munder, 9-year-old, reacts as he meets with his family members after he returned to Israel.(Reuters)

His cousin watched Ohad Munder being handed over by Hamas to Red Cross staff and said, I'm waiting to see Ohad and can't wait to give him his Rubik's cube which I know he really loved and he probably missed it so much. That's the first thing he takes everywhere he goes.

Ohad Munder's father had spoken to him and said that he, his mother Keren, and grandmother Ruth, were all fine and healthy. But Ohad Munder's grandfather, Avraham Munder remained in captivity in Gaza.

The 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas fighters included sisters aged 2 and 4 and their mother, a 5-year-old girl and her mother, as well as elderly women. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Children, their mothers and other women. Every one of them is a world in themselves. But I stress to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: We are committed to bringing back all our hostages."

Ten Thais and one Filipino, who were taken captive at the same time, were also freed under a separate agreement. After their release, hostages underwent initial medical checks and were reunited with their families.

Yosef Mendelovich, associate director of the ministry of health, We've all anxiously awaited their return and are elated to see the day that they have come home to us.

In exchange, 39 Palestinian women and minors detained by Israel were released, the first of a group of 150 who are due to be freed.
After seven weeks of bombardment stopped in Gaza for a truce, Tahani al-Najjar used the calm on Saturday to return to the ruins of her home, smashed by an Israeli air strike that she said killed seven of her family and forced her into a shelter. Representational picture(Reuters)

More than 24 hours into the four-day pause in fighting, thousands of Gaza residents are making that same difficult journey from communal shelters and makeshift encampments to discover what has become of their homes.

"Where will we live? Where will we go? We are trying to collect bits of wood to build a tent to shelter us, but to no avail. There is nothing to shelter a family," Najjar said, picking through the rubble and twisted metal of her house.

Najjar, a 58-year-old mother of five from Khan Younis in the south of the enclave, said Israel's military had also levelled her house in two previous conflicts in 2008 and 2014.

She pulled several miraculously intact cups from the ruins, where a bicycle and dust-caked clothes lay amid the debris. "We will rebuild again," she said.

For many of the 2.3 million people who live in the tiny Gaza Strip, the pause in the near-constant air and artillery strikes has offered a first chance to safely move around, take stock of the devastation, and seek access to aid imports.

ALSO READ| Italy student murdered by ex-boyfriend: Stab wounds, body thrown near lake

At outdoor markets and aid depots, thousands of people stood queuing for some of the aid that began flowing into Gaza in larger quantities as part of the truce.

Since Hamas militants launched their unprecedented attack on Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, Israel's response has been the bloodiest and most destructive offensive ever visited on the 40km-long (25 miles) Gaza enclave.

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

Palestinian health officials in the Hamas-run territory say the bombardment has killed more than 14,000 people, 40% of them children, and levelled swathes of residential districts. They have said thousands more bodies may remain under the rubble, still unrecorded in official death tolls.

Israel's military last month told all civilians to leave the north of the strip, where the fighting was heaviest, but it continued to bombard the south where hundreds of thousands fled and where Najjar's home was located.

It has said civilians should not return to the north during the truce and many of those who fled south are now seeking information from those who stayed behind.

An accompanying blockade has meanwhile added to a humanitarian crisis with little electricity for hospitals, fresh water, fuel for ambulances or food and medicines.

In a street market in Khan Younis, where tomatoes, lemons, aubergines, peppers, onions and oranges sat in crates, Ayman Nofal said he was able to buy more vegetables than had been available before the truce and that they cost less.

"We hope the truce will continue and be permanent, not just four or five days. People cannot pay the cost of this war," he said.

At a U.N. agency centre in Khan Younis, people waited for cooking gas. Supplies had begun running short weeks ago and many people were cooking food over open fires fuelled by scavenged wood salvaged from bomb sites.

Mohammed Ghandour had been waiting five hours to fill his cylindrical metal canister, after getting up at dawn in the school where he and his family shelter and making the long trip to the depot, but was still too late. "I'm now going home without gas," he said.

However, at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, trucks could be seen early on Saturday moving slowly over the border and into Gaza bringing fresh supplies.
News / Regional

by Simbarashe Sithole

The love of beer has landed two Plumtree men in prison after they stole a pistol from a parked car.Bongani Khumalo (31) and Nqobizitha Mabhena were dragged to Plumtree magistrates courts yesterday.They pleaded guilty to the charge and were slapped with a year in jail by Magistrate Joshua Nembaware.They told the court that they stole the gun because they wanted to sell it and raise money for beer.Prosecutor Selestine Madziwa told the court that on September 24 the complainant Mpakathi Ncube left his Isuzu vehicle registration number ADL 5117 parked at Patse Business Centre.The duo hatched a plan to open the car and steal the licensed CZ pistol.After stealing it they were looking for buyers and a police report was filed.The police acted swiftly and arrested the duo.
Hy-Vee, Inc. recently announced that it is hosting a unique opportunity to advance local minority- and women-owned companies through a networking and showcase opportunity in Omaha in January.

The Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit will be held Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Scott Conference Center, located on the University of Nebraska Omahas Scott Campus in Omaha, and is open to the business community.

The summit will feature an expo offering resources for small businesses, learning opportunities through presentations and panel discussions, the chance to be inspired by other brands and more. Hy-Vee is also offering one-on-one mentoring sessions with local store directors. Local community groups and organizations, area businesses and other professionals interested in supporting or networking with small-business owners are also invited to attend at no cost.

In addition, local minority-and women-owned businesses are invited to apply for the chance to showcase their products or services during a pitch competition at the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit. Selected applicants will present to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $30,000 as an investment for future endeavors.

Hy-Vee is currently accepting submissions for local products or services for the pitch competition at hy-veeopportunitysummit.com in the following categories of economically viable and/or previously tested products or services: food and beverage; product innovation and technology; and health, wellness and beauty. There is no cost to apply. The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023.

A panel of judges will select one grand-prize winner to earn $30,000. Plus, one first-place winner will be selected from each pitch category (three total) to win $5,000 each. Additional cash investments may be awarded and select finalists may be invited to participate in further discussions regarding their product or service following the summit.

Hy-Vees OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Scott Conference Center, University of Nebraska-Omaha, 6450 Pine St., in Omaha.
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Salvation Army, Market 32 Launch Holiday Kettle Program

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Price Chopper/Market 32 is once again playing host to the Salvation Army's "Red Kettle" holiday campaign at all 130 of its stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The Salvation Army and Price Chopper/Market 32 have been collaborative partners in the communities they serve for more than 35 years.

"The annual Red Kettle campaign has become integral to the holiday season  both in our stores and in our communities," said Blaine Bringhurst, Price Chopper/Market 32 president. "Being able to extend ourselves and welcome our community partners in support of friends and neighbors in need is a blessing."

Last year's "Red Kettle" campaign at Price Chopper and Market 32 stores raised nearly $500,000 in donations directly benefitting those in need throughout the communities where the funds were collected.

"With the cost of living continuing to increase, more families are coming to The Salvation Army for assistance than ever before," said Major Kevin Stoops, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army, Empire State Division. "Our continued Red Kettle partnership with Price Chopper/Market 32, and the generosity of their customers, makes it possible for The Salvation Army to continue to help keep food on the table for your neighbors in need."

The campaign this year will run Nov. 13 to Dec. 24.
FEMA Awards Funds to Massachusetts for COVID Administrative Costs

BOSTON  The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $37 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse it for some of the administrative costs incurred responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will receive a total of $36,547,871 in federal funding through FEMAs Public Assistance grant program to reimburse the cost of administering grants FEMA provided to the commonwealth for such expenses as COVID vaccinations and testing, non-congregate sheltering, and providing meals to vulnerable populations.

The direct and indirect administrative costs of activities included tracking, charging, and accounting for items related to eligible projects for this incident. The administrative costs are calculated as a percentage of the grants provided.

"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Massachusetts with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Reimbursing state, county, and municipal governments  as well as eligible non-profits and tribal entities  for the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our nations ongoing recovery."

FEMAs Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

So far, FEMA has provided more than $2.5 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
Nightwood lights up the grounds of The Mount for the fourth year. The installation is not so much a holiday theme but rather a reflection on nature. Food and beverages are available in The Mount's courtyard. PreviousNext

Nightwood Illuminates The Mount for Fourth Year



Created during the pandemic as a safe activity, the outdoors light and sound installation has become a tradition at Edith Wharton's home.

LENOX, Mass.  Lights and sounds are bringing The Mount's property alive after hours during the fourth year of Nightwood.



Executive Director Susan Wissler said the show feels like an expanded experience, as there are many new components. The event opened on Friday and will run through Jan. 6.



"Front and center still are the stars, the trees," she said. "But the light and the musical score that accompany them just transformed into a completely different world."



The immersive winter exhibition stretches across about 3/4 of a mile through the historic property and includes four new installations: The Hollow, The Woods Revisited, The Crossroads and The Stream. Nightwood combines scenic elements, theatrical lighting, and a dramatic score surrounding author Edith Wharton's elegant estate.



"Everything that we've built is very much inspired by the natural and the built elements that we find here, and each area is so unique. Some are very rustic," said designer Chris Bocchario of Clerestory Light.



"Some are very classically elegant, some are deep and dark, some are bright and airy so we really start just by trying to listen to what the environment is saying and draw inspiration from that."



The finale of the tour, "The Stream," is in an actual stream bed, "pulling the feel of that stream bed and the way that we experienced it in the day in the summer and sort of transforming it into something new that can be experienced at night that sort of speaks to the spirit of the stream," Bocchario said.



Rather than being a traditional holiday show, Wissler describes it as a "celebration of the vast splendor and mystery of our natural world."
Asha Von Ruden, a science teacher at Mount Everett Regional School, has been selected is this month's Teacher of the Month. Ruden keeps her students challenged and engaged in her classroom and says it's important to create a safe learning environment for all. PreviousNext

Teacher of the Month: Asha Von Ruden



Asha Ruden has spent her entire career at Mount Everett as science teacher in the middle school and more recently in the high school. She's working toward a doctorate in education leadership. SHEFFIELD, Mass.  Mount Everett Regional School science teacher Asha Von Ruden has been selected as the November Teacher of the Month.

The Teacher of the Month series runs for the next six months in partnership with Berkshire Community College.

For a span of 26 years, Ruden has been a guiding force at Mount Everett, dedicating her entire career to the institution.

Throughout her tenure, she has attempted to encourage students to be lifelong learners.

"I hope that they stay curious about the world, that they see themselves as a part of the world, and that they learn something from every place and every person that they meet," Ruden said.

Ruden not only teaches this sentiment but is also practicing what she preaches, being a lifelong learner herself.

She is currently working toward her doctorate degree at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in leadership in education with a focus in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.

Ruden hopes to have it completed by May. In the future she would like to have a leadership position in a STEM program.

She has been an integral part of initiating and maintaining school traditions such as Greek Week and ballooning, Middle School English teacher Kim Simpson-Gomes said.

Most of Ruden's career has been in middle school but this year she is teaching high school and college-level science courses.

"Asha came on a short time after I did and we worked together for 21 years in middle school. She's great," Principal Jesse Carpenter said.

"Working with the middle school students at the time, [she] really did a tremendous job with all aspects of teaching, social emotional learning, teaching science. Getting kids really engaged and interested in science, I think, was one of her strong points."

Ruden taught the students that she currently has in seventh grade and said it is "mind blowing" seeing them grow and develop.

Every student is different and comes into the classroom with their own knowledge and experiences, she said. "I have learned that I am probably going to learn more from the kids than they are going to learn from me," Ruden said.

Her students expressed being grateful for having the opportunity to have her twice.

"I've had her twice now and in each class, I kind of felt like she really actually helps me learn. If I have a problem in some other classes, I feel like it's not tended to as nicely, but in here I understand things and if I don't, then she'll take time out and stop the lesson and go over something," said one student.

"She has helped me in countless ways, like I've gotten into science, and I'm actually planning on going into physical education and this class specifically is helping me solidify that with all the anatomy she's teaching us. She's been like a teacher I've always wanted to have more times, but I've never been able to but now I'm grateful that I have had the chance to have her twice."

It is important to create a safe environment where the kids feel comfortable enough to ask questions, Ruden said.

As soon as you walk into the classroom you cannot help but notice some of Ruden's animals, which include two chinchillas and a couple tanks of fish.

Although students are not allowed to take the chinchillas out of the cage, they are allowed to reach in and pet them. Having pets to interact with is helpful to some students, Ruden said.

Having pets in the classroom teaches students to be respectful and helps them understand that the animals are living creatures, she continued, and some students develop a level of interest in helping to care for the animals.

Having the animals builds community and helps the students see outside of themselves, Ruden said.

"Kids need to feel safe to share what they're thinking and ask questions. If they don't they're not going to develop their ideas, and they're not going to grow as a community and as an individual," she said.

Teaching middle school students poses different challenges than high school students, Ruden said. Middle school students have "quite an energy" so when teaching them you have to try and manage that energy and channel it into things that are positive in the classroom.

In high school that is not so much the case, she said. The challenge is to make sure that the curriculum, information, and tasks are challenging to them.

She believes it is important to help students grow in their own way. Every student is different and it is satisfying to see each student arriving at the same answer a different way, she said.

"I love when the kids figure something out. I like to pose problems to them and have them figure them out and when they do that's very satisfying," Ruden said.

"...When they realize something about themselves that they didn't know beforehand or they realize they can do something they didn't think they could do or, you know the 'aha' moment, and the light bulb goes off, that's the most satisfying part of teaching."
In recent years, workforce has been a hot topic, especially among the medical field, Columbus Community Hospital (CCH) CEO and President Mike Hansen said. That's why CCH signed a master affiliation agreement with the University of Nebraska Medical Center earlier this month.

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been difficult attaining and maintaining a solid workforce as many retired, moved their work to home or to another place entirely, Hansen said. This agreement puts the hospital's previous agreements into one bundle to help alleviate some of that difficulty.

"We already had a lot of collaboration with the Med Center, and lots of other folks as well in terms of students that rotate through here on their rotations," Hansen said. "We had multiple agreements and contracts for UNMC, so this kind of puts everything together in a nice package."

Hansen added that CCH has been working on this issue for a while through various channels locally and elsewhere in the state. Pathway programs in the schools, for instance, help future medical workers get some experience in high school and nurse apprenticeship programs pay nurses for working and going to school. After those, they work on the next part of the equation, Hansen said.

"When they're done, they have committed to the hospital several years. We're also looking at a shared clinical model where we provide our nurses, our masters-trained nurses and some of our bachelors-trained nurses to help teach the different colleges around the region," Hansen said.

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold said in a Nov. 20 press release that, given the recent shortages across several areas of the medical field, agreements like this are essential to the future of rural health care.

Strong educational experiences in our communities, such as the ones provided at Columbus Community Hospital, are integral in growing the states rural health workforce. We are excited at the possibilities this new agreement opens up," Gold said in the release.

In the same press release, UNMC Director of Rural Initiatives and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Workforce Education Relations Nicole Carritt said this will hopefully increase the number of students who, after experiencing the rural health care environment, choose to go down that path for their future.

Columbus Community Hospital has been a great partner, Carritt said in the press release. It has gone above and beyond to ensure students have a great learning experience while on their rotations. We are interested in using this agreement as a springboard to even more collaborations."

Hansen said that, ideally, this would mean more health care workers deciding to come back to CCH after their rotations and stay in Columbus, expanding the options for patients and smoothing out workloads.

"We also see it as a recruitment tool. Because when they come through and have a great experience here, and they think about where they want to work in the future, we have a pretty good chance to grow," Hansen said.
MLCon Berlin 2023

27.11.2023 bis 30.11.2023

Art der Veranstaltung: Messe Ort: Berlin Datum: 27.11.2023 - 30.11.2023 Uhrzeit: 9:00 - 18:00 Veranstalter: Software & Support Media GmbH Zielgruppe: , C-Level, Fachexperten, Branchenoffentlichkeit, Arbeitnehmer URL: https://mlconference.ai/berlin/ E-Mail: marketing@sandsmedia.com Voranmeldung erwunscht: ja

Step into MLConference 2023, where machine learning and artificial intelligence reach new heights, is located in Berlin and will start on November 27  30, 2023. This transformative event in Berlin brings together brilliant minds, tech enthusiasts, and industry experts to redefine innovation and shape the future of technology.



Experience captivating talks by world-renowned speakers pushing the boundaries of their fields. They'll share groundbreaking research and insights into the latest advancements in machine learning, covering everything from deep learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations.



Engage in thought-provoking discussions and interactive workshops, exploring practical applications, emerging methodologies, and real-world ML challenges. Connect with fellow attendees, forge collaborations, and elevate your career.



MLConference Berlin 2023 celebrates the possibilities of AI. Share stories of success and failure, debate technology's future, and embrace collaboration as a catalyst for progress.



Reflect on the transformative power of machine learning as the conference concludes. Witness its potential to reshape industries, revolutionize businesses, and positively impact society. Be part of a movement shaping the world's futureone algorithm, one dataset, and one idea at a time.



Join MLConference Berlin 2023 on November 27  30, 2023 and immerse yourself in a limitless world of innovation, where ideas ignite and the future of machine learning comes alive. Together, let's pave the way for a future where technology and human ingenuity create a better world.
Brother Philippines, the leading provider of printing, imaging, and labeling solutions, in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), successfully carried out this years Brigada Eskwela last August 12, 2023, at Inigan Elementary School in Rodriguez, Rizal. The event marks the 11th consecutive year of Brother Philippines' partnership with the PBSP to support this local educational institution.

Brother Philippines President Glenn Hocson with the beneficiaries of this years Brigada Eskwela

Brigada Eskwela is an initiative that aims to enhance the readiness of public schools for the opening of the school year. It brings together volunteers from various organizations to help improve the facilities and provide essential resources for students and teachers.

"In our 11-year journey with Inigan Elementary School, we've witnessed the transformative power of education. It's not just about providing resources; it's about creating an environment where young minds can thrive. Brother Philippines remains committed to this cause, and we look forward to many more years of supporting the dreams and aspirations of these students, shares Brother Philippines President Glenn Hocson.

11 Years of Brigada Eskwela

Over the past 11 years, Brother Philippines and PBSP have been steadfast supporters of Inigan Elementary School, delivering tangible benefits to the school and its community. This aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on the 4th SDG of Quality Education by being dedicated to creating opportunities for the students of Inigan Elementary School.

On top of that, With over a decade of partnership efforts, Brother and PBSP have been able to provide essential school supplies and materials to students, contributing to their learning experience. This also hit the UNs 17th SDG or Partnership for the Goals.

In 2018, Brother Philippines installed solar panels at the school, ensuring a consistent source of electricity. In 2019, they also aided in upgrading the school's water system, improving water access for students and staff.

In addition to these infrastructure enhancements, Brother has actively engaged with the students and faculty through creative and educational activities during their annual visits. These activities not only provided valuable learning experiences but also fostered a sense of community and camaraderie.

Despite the lockdown and strict quarantine guidelines in 2020, Brother donated printers and other consumables for the school. In 2021, they also donated 3 sets of School-in-a-Bag (SIAB)  2 sets from Brother and 1 set donated by the Employees. Each package contained ten (10) tablets, a laptop, LTE pocket Wi-Fi with a starter load, a memory card, USB storage, CVIF-DLP e-manual, Adarna Houses Buribooks (via web), and Oyayi USB + Teachers guide. All of which were beneficial and useful for their distant learning.

The Brother Philippines team returned to Inigan Elementary School in 2023, resuming their tradition of supporting the school community. This year, the team brought essential school materials and supplies, ensuring the students were well-prepared for the upcoming school year. The event featured fun educational games and presentations, creating a memorable experience for all participants.

"Brother's commitment to our local communities is unwavering. Brigada Eskwela at Inigan Elementary School is a testament to our mission of making a positive impact and improving lives through education. We are proud to see the results of our long-term partnership and the smiles on the faces of the students, Hocson stated.

Brother Philippines' continued commitment to Inigan Elementary School exemplifies the company's dedication to its CSR initiatives and its belief in the power of education to transform lives.

For more information about Brother Philippines and its CSR initiatives, please visit www.brother.com.ph/en/contents/sustainability.
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China announced Friday that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism.

Starting Dec. 1, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia will be allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa. The trial program will be in effect for one year.

The aim is to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing.

China's strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals, discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. The restrictions were lifted early this year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not done so for Japan.

In the first six months of the year, China recorded 8.4 million entries and exits by foreigners, according to immigration statistics. That compares to 977 million for all of 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

The government has been seeking foreign investment to help boost a sluggish economy, and some businesspeople have been coming for trade fairs and meetings, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook. Foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic.
What first started as concerns over how new development in Orange County could damage the environment has turned into a larger conversation about government transparency across Virginia.

And it could mean Orange County will have to defend itself in court.

On Nov. 10, the Piedmont Environmental Council, a nonprofit group that advocates for protecting the land and waters of Virginia, filed a lawsuit against the county alleging it violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act by denying it access to documents pertaining to a local rezoning application.

Approved in April, that application allowed for the rezoning of 2,500 acres in the Germanna-Wilderness area, the largest rezoning effort in the countys history.

Piedmont Environmental Council says the proposed development, known as Wilderness Crossing, would be built on gold mines that have never been cleaned of contaminants such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead.

PEC recommends that Orange County seriously consider how the toxic legacy of gold mining at this location could impact the health, safety and welfare of future residents and downstream communities, reads a post on its website.

Additionally, the group has concerns about how industrial development could affect local taxes, infrastructure, traffic and the habitat.

And it wanted to learn more about what exactly was actually going to be built on the land.

So it submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to get details.

The group has recently learned that the development will be Amazon data centers, but that was only known after it threatened a lawsuit. When the Piedmont Environmental Council made its original FOIA request, the county provided few specifics.

In its initial responses, Orange County redacted sender and recipient names and random words in emails without explanation, reads a PEC statement announcing its decision to sue. And the county would not release nondisclosure agreements, meaning the public could not learn who was buying the land or what it would be used for.

What exactly is being proposed for this Wilderness Crossing project? Don McCown, a land use field representative for the council, wanted to learn. Can you tell us how many buildings? How tall are they? Whats your plan? Details like that.

Orange County would not provide those details, presumably because it had signed an NDA with Amazon.

Its our position thats not how good government is supposed to work. And thats kind of the whole point of FOIA. Government is not supposed to keep these things secret, McCown told The Daily Progress.

While information about the project can be protected by the NDA, the council argued that the NDA itself should at least be shared with the public. That way everyone would know who signed the NDA, which would give an idea of which private group was building on the land (in this case Amazon) and which government official signed the agreement.

If the Orange County Board of Supervisors is allowed to hide critical information on the largest rezoning in county history, using nondisclosure agreements to withhold even a description of the types of information being kept secret, it sets a precedent that will, in effect, allow governing decisions to be conducted behind a veil of secrecy, undermining the democratic process for generations to come, Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller said in a Nov. 10 statement.

Additionally, the council asked for a privilege log, which McCown said a government entity must provide when it denies access to certain documents under FOIA law.

Its a description of what theyre withholding and the reason why, McCown said. Its supposed to cite the exceptions from FOIA theyre claiming. We never got that.

But the lawsuit appears to have made the county more willing to divulge information. An open court hearing was scheduled for Nov. 17. One day before, the Piedmont Environmental Council and Orange County reached an agreement: The county would allow PEC to view the nondisclosure agreements.

In addition, the county has agreed to re-review other requested documents referenced in our complaint and to provide us, by Dec. 8, a privilege log that lists those withheld documents, PEC spokeswoman Cindy Sabato wrote in an email last week.

In response to the countys decision and its self-imposed Dec. 8 deadline, the council decided to defer the hearing. At least for now.

Them releasing the NDAs to us was the first part of our request, so we deferred hearing to give them time to produce the privilege log, McCown said, calling it a positive development.

Orange County seems to have realized they at least cant withhold an actual NDA document from the public, he said.

That doesnt mean the lawsuit is dead. Piedmont Environmental Council attorneys are still waiting to receive the privilege log.

At that point well take a look at what they do provide and if we still question their rationale for withholding anything further, then wed make decision at that time, McCown said on the future of the lawsuit. If the council finds the county still has not provided enough information, the parties may have to go to court.

And that could have big implications for Virginia.

More and more data centers are being proposed across the commonwealth, and those large facilities can have large impacts on the surrounding environment.

Its a highly impactful land use. The size of structure, the height of structure, not to mention the issues with how much water they need to cool the data centers, McCown said. It requires huge amounts of energy which results in the need for new or larger transmission lines and an increased electricity demand. That makes it difficult to keep up with the climate goals the Virginia Clean Economy Act has mandated.

We have just seen around our region that this is becoming kind of a common practice, where data center developers or localities will execute NDAs which prevents the public from finding out details about these projects, McCown said.

So if the Piedmont Environmental Council does take Orange County to court, a final ruling could impact similar projects in other parts of the commonwealth.

In the meantime, the council is hoping the county will provide all documents requested so the public can learn more about what exactly is planned for the 2,500 acres of land.

We dont know for sure there are other documents that they have withheld. They may have turned over everything, McCown said. But what theyre supposed to do is provide us a list of whats been withheld and under what FOIA exception and why thats within scope of law. And we can disagree that theyre improperly applying the exception.

Mark Johnson, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, declined an interview request from The Daily Progress.

I have no comment to make on the issues," he said.

Orange County government offices did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Daily Progress.
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North Korea claims its leader Kim Jong-un has reviewed photos of US military bases in Hawaii and Seoul that were taken by his new spy satellite.

The nuclear-armed nation successfully launched the satellite in orbit on Tuesday, although South Korean defence officials and analysts are yet to independently verify its capabilities.

South Koreas defence minister had earlier said the Norths claims of seeing US military installations through the satellite were exaggerated.

Mr Kim inspected photos reportedly taken by the spy satellite on Friday and Saturday of major target regions, said state-run KCNA.

Among the most significant target regions supposedly seen by Mr Kim were the US Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

The satellite also captured images of several cities in South Korea, including capital Seoul, Mokpo, Kunsan, Pyeongtaek and Osan, KCNA reported. All the cities house US and South Korean military bases.

One photo also showed US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which arrived at a port in Busan on Tuesday.

Photos of Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu and Gangneung cities were also seen by Mr Kim during his Friday and Saturday visits to Pyongyangs National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA).

Kim Jong-un celebrates spy satellite launch with daughter (AP)

The NATA reported to Kim Jong-un on the plan for photographing the region of South Korean puppets and the additional fine-tuning process of the reconnaissance satellite, KCNA said.

In a separate commentary carried by the state-run mouthpiece on Saturday, North Korea criticised the US for providing advanced weapons to its puppets, saying even a small spark on the Korean peninsula could result in a global nuclear war.

The United States had better ponder over the catastrophic consequences entailed by the arms offer to the puppet forces, it said.

Top diplomats of Japan, South Korea and the US on Friday strongly condemned the launch for its destabilising effect on the region.

Earlier this week, KCNA said Mr Kim viewed images taken above the US Pacific territory of Guam of US military installations.

On Thursday, South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea had exaggerated its claims by saying Mr Kim had viewed images of Guam before.

Even if it enters normal orbit, it takes a considerable time to carry out normal reconnaissance, Yonhap quoted him as saying at the time.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Indian authorities have released a prominent Kashmir journalist on bail nearly two years after he was arrested on accusations of publishing anti-national content and glorifying terrorism in the disputed Himalayan region.

Fahad Shah, founder and editor of news portal The Kashmir Walla, was arrested in February 2022 under Indias sedition and anti-terror laws. He was released on Thursday after a court last week granted him bail, saying there was not enough evidence to try him for terrorism and quashed some of the charges.

The 21 months' confinement of Shah, who is also a correspondent for U.S. newspaper Christian Science Monitor and other international outlets, highlighted the widening crackdown against journalists and freedom of expression in the contested region. The Indian government banned The Kashmir Walla earlier this year for undeclared reasons.

What he and his colleagues at The Kashmir Walla actually did was to report widely and honestly about events in Kashmir, where journalists operate in an increasingly oppressive and hostile atmosphere, Mark Sappenfield, editor of The Christian Science Monitor, wrote on Monday after Shah was granted bail.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis government, press freedoms in India have steadily shrunk since he was first elected in 2014.

At the time, the country was ranked 140th in the global press freedom index by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. This year, the watchdog has ranked India at 161 out of 180 nations  below the Philippines and Pakistan. The slide has nowhere been more glaring than in Kashmir.

Muslim-majority Kashmir is one of the most heavily militarized regions in the world and the fighting has left tens of thousands of people dead.

Media has always been tightly controlled in Indias part. Arm twisting and fear have been extensively used to intimidate the press since 1989, when rebels began fighting Indian soldiers in a bid to establish an independent Kashmir or union with Pakistan. Pakistan controls Kashmirs other part and the two countries fiercely claim the territory in full.

Kashmirs diverse media flourished despite relentless pressure from Indian authorities and rebel groups. But their situation has gotten dramatically worse since India revoked the regions semi-autonomy in 2019, throwing Kashmir under a severe security and communication lockdown and the media in a black hole. A year later, the governments new media policy sought to control the press more effectively to crack down on independent reporting.

Since then, dozens of people have been arrested, interrogated and investigated under harsh anti-terror laws as authorities began filing criminal cases against some journalists in a campaign that has been widely seen as criminalization of journalists in Kashmir. Several of them have been forced to reveal their sources, while others have been physically assaulted.

Authorities have pressed newspapers by chastising editors and starving them of advertisement funds, their main source of income, to chill aggressive reporting.

Fearing reprisals, local media has largely wilted under the pressure and most newspapers appear to have cooperated and self-censored stories, afraid to be branded anti-national by a government that equates criticism with secessionism.

The court in its judgment said that although getting bail under India's anti-terror law was difficult, it could not be denied to Shah because he did not pose a clear and present danger to society if released.

It would mean that any criticism of the central government can be described as a terrorist act because the honor of India is its incorporeal property," the court said in its bail order. "Such a proposition would collide headlong with the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined in Article 19 of the constitution.

Shah continues to face trial under other sections of the anti-terror law.
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The 41 Indian workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel for 14 days will have to wait even longer to be rescued as officials trying to pull them out have faced yet another unexpected hurdle.

A drilling machine that is being used to remove debris and install a pipe to evacuate the workers has broken down, an international expert aiding rescue operations said on Saturday.

The construction workers have been trapped inside the 2.8-mile-long tunnel since 12 November after a landslide in an environmentally sensitive region in northern Indias Uttarakhand state led to its collapse.

The extensive operation to free the workers has become an increasing source of concern for their families, who are anxiously waiting to reunite with their loved ones.

Officials have repeatedly said the workers will be rescued soon, but have hit repeated major technical issues.

The machine [to drill through the debris] is busted, said Arnold Dix, an international expert assisting the rescue team at the accident site.

It is irreparable, he said, while adding that it is unclear when drilling will begin again.

The mountain has once again resisted the auger (machine).

Rescuers have since been working by hand to remove debris.

A view of the collapsed under construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of India's Uttarakhand state (AFP via Getty Images)

The teams faced setbacks earlier too with the drilling machine, but had made slow progress to reach the sensitive spot, about 650ft from the entrance, where the workers are stuck.

The mountainous terrain in the area has made it difficult for drilling machines to break through debris. Rescue teams had devised a horizontal drilling plan and inserted pipes into a dug-out channel, creating a passageway for the workers to be pulled out on wheeled stretchers.

The auger machine had drilled about 6.5ft of the last 40-foot stretch of rock debris to create a passage for the workers to come out.

About 151ft of pipe has been laid so far, according to Devendra Patwal, a disaster management officer, reported Reuters.

But because of the drilling machine not working any longer, government officials are now looking to begin an alternative, vertical drilling strategy.

Rescuers will have to cover twice the distance of the originally planned horizontal shaft, potentially further delaying rescue efforts.

A new vertical drilling machine was transported for this purpose to the accident site on Saturday.

While rescue teams have established an access road to the hills summit, they must now dig downward for 338ft to reach the workers.

The workers, who are migrant labourers from various parts of India, are being provided with oxygen, food and water through a pipe.

Doctors and officials have been in regular contact with them, and have continually assessed their health and well-being. But the anxious families of the workers are now camping at the accident site with the hope of seeing their loved ones soon.

The tunnel being built by the workers was designed as part of an all-weather road that aims to connect various Hindu pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand.

The flagship project has raised concerns over the risks of construction and drilling in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region once again.

Several towns in the region are built over landslide debris and have been facing increasing risks landslides, land subsidence and floods.
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Deforestation in Brazil is projected to hit a historic low by 2025, a government official told reporters this week.

The president of Ibama  Brazils environmental enforcement agency  told several outlets that the country expects deforestation to reach the same rates recorded in 2012, when the country was at its lowest rate of deforestation yet, Reuters reported.

Who knows, in one or two years we could hit the numbers from 2012 and we will work in the direction of zero deforestation, Rodrigo Agostinho told reporters, per Reuters.

Ibama did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment.

Mr Agostinhos announcement comes after Brazil hit a fifteen-year deforestation high in 2021 under former president Jair Bolsonaro, the Associated Press reported. In the four years Mr Bolsonaro was in power, deforestation rose 60 per cent.

When Brazils current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, took office on 1 January, deforestation rates began dropping almost immediately. Within the first six months of 2023, Amazon deforestation in Brazil dropped by 33.6 per cent .

Joao Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary for Ibama, said in July the deforestation growth curve had been reversed, The Independent previously reported.

That is a fact: we reversed the curve; deforestation isnt increasing, Mr Capobianco said.

This projection comes on the heels of a major heatwave and series of disastrous floods and wildfires in Brazil.

Last week, a 23-year-old woman died after waiting for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour concert in Rio de Janeiro in a heat index that peaked at 58.8C (138F) degrees. Meanwhile, the high heat has spurred wildfires, caused widespread power outages in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and contributed to the Rio Grande flooding.

Brazils population and environment  particularly in the regions containing parts of the Amazon Rainforest  are under severe threats from the human-driven climate crisis, per the United Nations Development Programme.
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Antoni Porowski and Kevin Harrington have reportedly called it quits after four years together.

Last year, the 39-year-old Queer Eye star and the brand strategy developer announced their engagement on Instagram with a cloudy selfie. I really hope the wedding photos are less blurry, Porowski wrote at the time.

While the formerly engaged pair seemed to be moving forward with wedding planning - Porowski hosted his bachelor party just two months ago - the longtime couple have now called off their engagement. According to Porowskis representative, the two decided to end their relationship before saying I do.

After many conversations and reflection during the wedding planning process, Antoni and Kevin have amicably decided to part ways, the representative told People on 22 November. While they still have a lot of respect for each other, as they talked more about the future, they realised they were on different paths. They both remain focused on work, and are surrounding themselves with friends during this time.

Porowski and Harringtons romantic journey began in 2019. It wasnt long before the duo decided to move in together during the Covid-19 pandemic. In an interview with People in 2020, Porowski described how the quick progression of their relationship only deepened their infatuation with each other during quarantine.

It came to a shutdown in New York - there was no toilet paper - and we decided to stay in Austin and fostered a dog, Porowski told the outlet. We went from being in a relationship and each having our own apartments and not having a dog, to living in the same place with a dog.

As of now, neither Porowski nor Harrington have addressed their breakup and their photos together still remain on their separate Instagram accounts. The chefs last Instagram post with Harrington was published on 24 August from their trip to Bali. Meanwhile, Harrington posted his own carousel of photos from the trip, including a shirtless selfie of the two of them.

POV: Youre a monkey and weve just broken your one cardinal rule, he captioned the post.

The Independent has contacted Porowskis representative for comment.
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A mother sparked online debate after she was photographed breastfeeding her child during a ride at Disney Worlds EPCOT.

Meredith Barnyak and her husband Jeremy had travelled to Florida along with her mother and stepfather to introduce their children Graham, 3, and Poppy, 1, to the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World. The family had been on a ride, with Ms Barnyak holding Poppy in her arms when the one-year-old began to squirm.

She would just pull on my shirt and I thought, OK, its dark out. Were all humans. Were all honestly going to enjoy the ride a lot better and youll be happier being fed, Ms Barnyak told Today. She added that it was normal for her to breastfeed her daughter whenever she needed it, which so happened to be the Frozen Ever After ride. I am a pretty big proponent of any way you can feed your baby you should be able to do it  in any place.

On a lot of Disney rides, theres a camera that usually snaps photos of the riders, and when the camera went off on the Frozen Ever After ride, Ms Barnyak said she felt mortified. She laughed to the outlet, As soon as I saw the flash, I was like, Oh no, I think all these people have a picture of [me] breastfeeding my baby on this ride.

Her cousin Jo Goddard - who runs the womens lifestyle website, Cup of Jo - asked Ms Barnyak if she could post the photo from the ride to her Instagram page. Ms Goddard posted the photo with the caption, My cousin @meredithbarnyak being an absolute MOM on this Disney ride.

Ms Barnyak thought the photo was funny and didnt care that it was going on social media. I thought it was a great picture and our family was laughing about it. And so I was more than happy for Joanna to post it.

But among comments with messages of support, were comments expressing concern that bordered on mom-shaming.

Not to be a stick in the mud but this seemskinda dangerous?? one commenter wrote. Am I overestimating the thrill level on this ride? The rest of the adults seem to be clinging on pretty tight!

Another added that Ms Barnyak breastfeeding her daughter on the ride was stupid, dangerous, and irresponsible, while another commented that the mother had ruined the photo for other ridegoers with her breastfeeding.

Others defended Ms Barnyak, pointing out the double standard mothers face.

If this happened to be a father holding a child in this exact photo, I cant help but wonder if the responses would sound something like, What a fun dad! someone wrote. But, when we see a mother doing as she knows best, we are so prone to be more critical.

The mother found herself surprised by the negativity, pointing out that her entire was strapped in safely with seatbelts, and her husband could be seen holding their three-year-old son Graham tightly in his arms. Both of them had been holding their children securely.

I guess if you look at this picture, it might look like its an intense ride. But its a boat ride, she explained to the outlet. Theres no seatbelts. Its a very nice relaxing ride except that there is a drop that you dont see coming because its dark. And thats what that photo was taken.

Ms Barnyak added that she wouldnt have breastfed her daughter if the ride was anything but safe. If anything, I felt like it was actually more secure because she was in one place versus me having to juggle her moving around. I wouldnt have breastfed my child if it was a roller coaster, she said.

According to the Disney Parks website, the Frozen Ever After ride is family-friendly, safe, and appropriate for people of all ages and any height. The ride is reportedly slow with little to no drops.
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Thanksgiving feasts are about to begin, but theres one important thing to consider when the holiday is done: What do you do with all the leftovers?

Thursday is just one day away and many Americans are already in planning mode, from buying the turkey to decorating their home for guests. While much of the work begins on Thanksgiving morning, with the fast-paced schedule of cooking dinner, perhaps an even bigger task is trying to finish all the servings of stuffing, turkey, green bean casserole, steamed vegetables, and pies that were leftover from Thanksgiving.

Some people may opt to eat their leftovers separately, but why not combine all the Thanksgiving food to create an even bigger dish? Here are five fun meals you can create with your Thanksgiving leftovers this year.

Turkey Soup

The cold months are fast approaching, so a warm bowl of soup is perfect comfort food for the winter. Begin this dish by bringing your broth to a boil and adding in different seasonings, such as salt and pepper. Then, spice up your soup by adding some of your Thanksgiving leftovers.

According to Martha Stewart, one simple recipe for turkey soup calls for eight cups of turkey stock  which can be made with turkey bones and water. Then add one and a half cups of shredded cooked turkey leftover from Thanksgiving, as well as leftover vegetables and seasonings used to cook for the holida - lemon wedges, chopped dill, three small carrots, salt, and pepper. The recipe also calls for one non-Thanksgiving-related ingredient: three dried wide egg noodles.

After the stock has been seasoned, add the noodles and carrots and return the pot to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer until the carrots are tender and the noodles are al dente, which will take about four minutes. Stir in the cooked turkey and let it simmer for about a minute, before sprinkling dill and serving the soup with a lemon wedge on the side.

Pot pies

A beloved pot pie dish usually consists of meat cooked inside a flaky pastry. However, this pot pie doesnt necessarily have to be filled with chicken or veggies, as you can instead make the savoury meal with the help of some leftovers.

One recipe from Bon Appetit - called the Leftover-Turkey Pot Pie - includes a range of Thanksgiving foods, such as half a cup of leftover vegetables, one and one-half cups of cooked turkey, one and one-fourth cups of turkey gravy, and the optional cranberry sauce for serving.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Other ingredients include one tablespoon of unsalted butter; one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil; one cup of chopped onion; six ounces of button mushrooms; kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; one cup of thinly sliced, peeled carrots; one teaspoon of chopped fresh thyme; one-fourth cup of thawed, frozen green peas; one tablespoon of chopped, fresh Italian parsley; one large egg white; one nine-inch pie crust and all-purpose flour.

For cooking, begin by putting one tablespoon of butter and one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, before adding a cup of chopped onion. Cook for for seven minutes, before adding mushrooms with the stems trimmed and caps cup in half. Sprinkle some salt and pepper and stir for about four minutes.

The recipe then calls for adding carrots to the skillet and covering it for two minutes. After that, add the leftover cooked vegetables, cooked turkey, turkey gravy, and thyme. As you bring the mixture to a boil, season it with salt and pepper and mix in the parsley and thawed green peas. Then pour the mixture into a glass pie dish and wait for it to cool, which will take about 30 minutes.

For the next step, gently brush the rim of the pie dish with one large beaten egg and a teaspoon of water. Now that the filling has cooled down, add the pie crust to the top of the filling and fold the edges of the dough. As you preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, brush the top of the pie with the egg mixture. Then make three to four small slits in the centre before pressing parsley leaves onto the crust. The pie will bake for about 30 to 35 minutes.

Casseroles

A casserole, whether its filled with green beans or sweet potatoes, is a fan-favourite dish for Thanksgiving. But when the holiday is done, why not create your own casserole out of the stuffing and turkey thats left in the fridge? The Pioneer Woman, also known as foodie Ree Drummond, has one receipe for a casserole called the Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole. Luckily, it allows for all the Thanksgiving leftovers to be used in one dish.

The ingredients include four cups of stuffing, four cups of chopped turkey, one and one-half cups of green beans, one and one-half cups of gravy, three cups of mashed potatoes, one large egg yolk, one cup of shredded Monterey jack cheese, and cranberry sauce for serving.

Before cooking the dish, begin by preheating the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and buttering the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add the stuffing into the dish to create a crust for the casserole. From there, layer the turkey and green beans over the stuffing and pour the gravy on top. Combine the egg yolk and mashed potatoes into another bowl, and pour the mixture over the turkey. Once youve sprinkled cheese onto the dish, cover it with foil, place it on the third rack of the oven, and bake for about 20 minutes.

Once 20 minutes have passed, uncover the dish and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes. After taking the dish out of the oven and letting it cool for 10 minutes, the casserole can be served with cranberry sauce.

Sandwiches

Whether its during a lunch break or at dinner with friends, any type of sandwich makes for a great meal. Instead of buying the lettuce and tomatoes for your usual sandwich, now you have the opportunity to turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a delectable sandwich.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In the recipe for Delishs Best Thanksgiving Sandwich - which makes two sandwiches - the ingredients include two tablespoons of mayonnaise, one tablespoon of Dijon mustard, four slices of toasted sourdough bread, two cups of roasted turkey, half a cup of mashed potatoes, half a cup of cranberry sauce, half a cup of stuffing, one fourth cup of warmed gravy, and one fourth cup of baby spinach.

To prepare the sandwich, begin by mixing mayo and mustard into a small bowl and spreading it on one side of the two pieces of bread. Add one cup of turkey, one-fourth cup of mashed potatoes, two tablespoons of cranberry sauce, and one-fourth cup of stuffing onto the bread slices. Finish off each sandwich with two tablespoons of gravy and spinach, before placing the second piece of bread on top - making the ultimate Thanksgiving sandwich.

Quiches

Although the savoury pastry is typically filled with cheese and meat, make the quiche your own with the help of Thanksgiving leftovers.

According to the Food Network, one recipe calls for a nine-inch frozen pie shell. To make the quiches filling, assemble one cup of crumbled stuffing, one cup of chopped turkey, one cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, one-fourth cup of parsley leaves, kosher salt and pepper. For the custard in the dish, youll need one and one-fourth cups of half and half, three large eggs, one-fourth teaspoon of grated nutmeg, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.

To make the quiche, begin by partially baking the empty pie shell without the filling - which you can do by following the directions on the package. Then, create your filling by sprinkling the turkey and stuffing into the pie shell, topping it off with parsley and cheddar. Next, season the dish with salt and pepper. For the custard, mix the half and half, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in one bowl. Finally, pour the mixture over the filling.

Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let it bake for about 35 to 45 minutes. Give the quiche at least 30 minutes to cool, and serve!
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Kyle Richards and husband Mauricio Umansky have celebrated Thanksgiving together, four months after announcing their separation.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 54, and the real estate agent, 53, each took to their respective Instagram Stories on 23 November to show how they were spending the holiday. Richards shared a video of her three German shepherds playing around the house and tagged her estranged husband, who could be seen chatting with friends in the background.

Meanwhile, The Agency CEO and founder shared clips of his Thanksgiving preparation to his Instagram Story. In one video, Umansky revealed that the hosts were expecting 15 or 16 guests at their home in Encino, California.

Okay, the turkey has been cut, it has been cooked. Let me see the turkey, he said to Richards, as she lifted up the lid of the serving dish to show the finished turkey. Let me see the next one, Umansky told Richards, who lifted up the remaining lids to show off their side dishes of mashed potatoes and peas.

He then panned his camera to reveal their second turkey and some freshly baked cookies, proclaiming: We are good!

The luxury real estate broker shared a message of gratitude to his followers amid a rough year for the couple of 27 years. Im grateful and thankful for life, I am grateful for all the love and energy. [Thanksgiving] is one of my favorite holidays because it reminds us all to have gratitude, he wrote on his Instagram Story.

Richards and Umansky announced they were separating in July after 27 years of marriage. Following reports the pair were getting a divorce, the reality TV stars maintained that the divorce rumours were untrue. However, the RHOBH alums admitted theyve experienced a rough year and one of the most challenging times in their marriage.

(Instagram / Mauricio Umansky)

But we both love and respect each other tremendously, the couple shared in a joint statement. There has been no wrongdoing on anyones part. Although we are in the public eye, we ask to be able to work through our issues privately. While it may be entertaining to speculate, please do not create false stories to fit a further salacious narrative.

Richards and Umansky, who first met in 1994, have three daughters together: Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23 and Portia, 15. The RHOBH star was previously married to Guraish Aldjufrie, with whom she welcomed daughter Farrah Brittany, 34.

In 2010, the Halloween actor joined the cast of Bravos RHOBH and has been a prominent cast member ever since. Meanwhile, Umansky is the star of the Netflix reality series Buying Beverly Hills, which follows his real estate business and his two daughters - Farrah and Alexia - as agents.

This isnt the first time Richards and Umanksy have spent the holidays together as a family. Just one day after they announced their separation, the estranged couple put on a united front by celebrating Independence Day together on 4 July. The broker shared a series of pictures and videos on Instagram, which showed them celebrating the Fourth of July at a parade and air show.

Happy Independence Day, he captioned the post. Hope everyone is having a great day.

Most recently, Richards appeared on Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen, where she revealed that she was the driving force behind their decision to separate. It originated from me, she said in October.

She also revealed that she and Umansky continue to live under the same roof amid their separation. I let him stay in the primary bedroom, Richards told Cohen, noting that shes been staying on the second floor of their shared home.

While Richards and Umansky recently spent the Thankgiving holiday together, fans have been watching as the couple navigate their marriage during RHOBH season 13, which aired on 25 October. However, the real estate broker recently revealed that hes decided not to watch the current season of the Bravo show.

I know that theyre dramatising everything. Theres a bunch of stuff that I dont really want to see because it will just create more noise for me and more opinions, Umansky said during The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast on 16 November. The people that watch that show are all opinionated and they just dont realise that there are two humans on the other side of that opinion. Thats really, really difficult.
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If you think about it, as you ought, the arrival of the battery electric car represents a mortal threat to most established makers of automobiles, and especially to those whove built up formidable technical expertise in the internal combustion engine.

Some have adapted rapidly. Some not. Understandable (and if the critics are right, it might not end badly for the later arrivals).

If youve spent decades perfecting the art of building exquisitely engineered petrol and diesel engines, making them run efficiently and reliably in equal measure, but you have then to start from scratch with the new battery technologies, it must hurt. Your technological advantage is wiped out, your sunk investment and proud expertise in the old technology rendered worthless, and your intellectual property time expired. All you are left with is a badge, plus the ability to actually put a car together. That isnt something that all the newcomers can do...

This brings me to the curiously named Honda e:Ny1 the nearest thing in car badging to a Scrabble hand and looks tricky to say. Actually, its supposed to be pronounced Anyone. Geddit?

Anyone? Anyway, its new and it represents the problem Honda and its compatriots face. The visionary Soichiro Honda started life as a mechanic in the 1920s, began making motorbikes after the Second World War and the first cars followed in the 1960s. They, following the motorbikes, were characterised by ultra-smooth high-revving engines, which encouraged a sporty kind of driving (even though much of the elderly clientele declined to take up the offer of pushing the rev counter into the red zone). The Honda Civic R, among passenger cars, was the apogee of the Honda way.

THE SPEC Honda e:Ny1 Advantage Price: 46,300 (as tested; range starts at 44,995 Drivetrain: Single electric motor, powered by 62kWh battery pack Power: 201bhp Top speed: 99mph 0-60mph: 7.7secs Fuel economy: 4.1m/kWh CO2 emissions: 0

Now? Those beautiful engines will soon be redundant. Honda is a distinctly late arrival. The little Honda e, a jewel-like town car, was its eye-catching electric debut, and, distinctive and desirable, it promised much. Perhaps inevitably, the next launch was going to be something of an anticlimax, and, with the best will in the world, the e:Ny1 doesnt have that same appeal.

Being Honda, it has leveraged its skill at assembly and design into a medium SUV/crossover thats at least competitive. It feels just as carefully constructed as any equivalent with an internal combustion engine, and that includes the petrol hybrid version of the e:Ny1, the HR-V, with which it shares most of its egg-shaped bodywork.

Being Honda, it couldnt help but excel in the application of the BEV technology, which means that its extremely responsive, to the point of alacrity, especially in sport mode, when the torque delivered to the front wheels almost overwhelms them and the driver too. The engineers have also found a way for it to get charged especially quickly  an extra 60 miles worth of leccy pumped into the batteries in 11 minutes with the fastest commercial chargers, and it doesnt slow up so much after it hits 80 per cent capacity. It sounds different too. Im not sure whether this is deliberate or not, but the Honda also has a slightly noisier than usual drivetrain for an electric car. Its no high-pitched screaming S2000, but it does at least make a bit of a noise.

As with other electric cars, the Honda e:Ny1 Advantage has a central touchscreen that controls a lot of the vehicles functionality (Supplied )

But, unlike the old ICE Hondas, this one doesnt make you want to push things. Its nice to drive, and thats about it. Its a docile sort of beast, and its very much sober family or comfortable retiree transport, and I suspect that most of its owners wont bother to shift it out of economy mode.

It does that pretty well, though. The cabin is fairly roomy, and, as usual with cars in this class, its really a four-seater rather than good for five, which I suspect is some sort of marketing game. The cabin materials are of good quality, and the controls have a familiar Honda lightness to them. Theres a big tablet touchscreen on the dash, which is safer to use than most of them but still not as sensible as old-fashioned physical dials, knobs and buttons, something the industry is starting to realise. If you dont think you can drive and use an iPad at the same time  youre right. The worst sin is that this very important car for Honda  a proudly independent but smaller player in a landscape of behemoths  is rather anonymous, and theres no sense of it being as strong a contender as it needs to be. It appeals to the Honda loyalist but I doubt itll attract much attention elsewhere.

Id say the e:Ny1 is not quite as pleasant to be in as the Jeep Avenger or BMW iX1, its behind the Kia Niro for efficiency, and its nowhere near as good value as the (smaller) MG4, but for the Honda fan there is at least here a realistic step into the future. Just dont try revving it.
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Some people know me because theyve seen a meme, the influencer Nella Rose told Capital Xtra earlier this year. [Some] dont know anything about me. Since the 26-year-old social media star entered the Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! camp last week, thats all changed. After just a few days in the jungle, Rose has inadvertently become the shows main character  and has provoked the disproportionate levels of online vitriol that come with that dubious honour.

It all started with a clash over the campfire with First Dates maitre d Fred Sirieix. When his age came up in conversation, the Channel 4 shows resident cupid noted that, at 51, he could be [Roses] dad. The apparently throwaway remark didnt sit well with Rose, who lost both of her parents at a young age; the next day, she confronted him, calling him disrespectful and a weirdo and even refusing to eat the food that hed prepared.

Nella Rose insists she and Fred Sirieix friends again after clash over father

The pair have since come to a tentative reconciliation, but her comments prompted a vicious backlash on social media: one that has so far arguably exceeded the ire directed at Nigel Farage, whose avowed right-wing views have prompted some Im a Celebrity fans to boycott the series altogether. And Rose, who currently has 800,000 subscribers on her self-titled YouTube channel and 1.1 million followers over on TikTok, gained further airtime when she took Farage to task over his politics. Im stopping you getting a GP appointment? Youre not getting an appointment because the NHS is lacking funding, she told the former Brexit Party leader when he suggested that immigration was impacting healthcare services.

Another contestant might have been hailed by anti-Farage viewers as heroic for their comments, and yet the youngest Im a Celeb hopefuls row with Sirieix (who, it should be said, has also called out Farage) seems to have already villainised her in the publics eye. But a glance at her life story perhaps explains why she might have reacted emotionally in the pressure-cooker environment of the camp.

Rose, whose full name is Ornella Rose Hollela, was born in Belgium to a family of Congolese heritage, and moved to the UK with her mother Eseho Omolongo and older brother Albert when she was seven years old. Growing up in northwest London, she would reportedly watch videos of long-time Im a Celebrity presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, copying their voices in an attempt to get rid of her Belgian accent (its a wonder she didnt end up with a Geordie twang).

As a teenager, Rose wasnt sure that university was the right route for her but, she later explained to The Guardian, she knew that if she didnt attend, my family would never let it go. She ended up studying sociology at the University of Leicester, and started posting on her YouTube channel as a fresher, uploading fashion and beauty videos as well as frank, funny chats with her friends about university life. Her authenticity and sense of humour had viewers hooked, and it didnt take long for her to start seeing social media as a potential career: her studies became a hurdle that gets in the way, she admitted at the time. I have so many opportunities in London but Im stuck in Leicester doing a flipping dissertation.

Divisive: the 26-year-olds row with Fred Sirieix sparked a backlash from some viewers (ITV)

Roses student days were also touched by personal tragedy and upheaval. Just weeks after she turned 19, her mother died in [her] arms after a long illness. Then, while she and her brother were grieving, they received a letter from the council serving them notice, effectively evicting them from the family home. I was planning on using my student loan and my little YouTube money to pay the rent and bills, she later explained in a video. But then my brother and I get a letter telling us we [have] 30 days to move out. So Im in my second year of uni, Im dealing with my mums death and now were homeless. The siblings had to move out quickly, leaving many of their mums possessions behind. We lost so [many] memories from living in that house, she told her followers.

And while her life might have looked glamorous on social media, with Rose interviewing celebs, sharing fashion hauls and attending lavish influencer events with her fellow influencers, she was effectively without a home. My uni room was my house or I was going on brand trips abroad in the holidays because I was running away from the fact I had nothing to call my own, nothing solid, she said. I was escaping my problems. You all thought I was living my best life, but in reality, I was homeless, living out of a suitcase and hopping from bed to bed. Her words were a salutary reminder of the gap between real life and the shiny, happy version we present online. Finding a London flat to rent later gave Rose more stability, but she admitted to her followers that she struggled with living alone after her mums death. I didnt want this to be my life, she confessed in a vlog. I wanted to come home to my mum and live with my family.

Influencer: Nella Roses social media fame has opened doors (GettyT)

She continued to focus on her social media following, landed viral fame when her: Are you not embarrassed? catchphrase started doing the rounds on TikTok, and was eventually crowned PrettyLittleThings YouTuber of the Year in 2020. But Rose was hit by another devastating loss that same year: the death of her father Kamango Paul Hollela. Watching you suffer for the past month has been the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life but at least youre not in pain any more, she wrote in a social media tribute to him, posted in May 2020. Dealing with grief during lockdown took its toll, she revealed to fellow Im a Celebrity campmate Grace Dent this week. Lack of self-discipline got me from a size 12 to a size 20, she said. My dad passed, I locked myself in the house for two months and drank every single day, ate every single day. I gained it all and it was the pandemic. So it wasnt like I was leaving [the house] or working.

In spite of yet another setback, Roses career continued to thrive. She landed her first TV gig as the co-host of Catfish UK for MTV in 2022, launched a fashion collaboration with PrettyLittleThing, and has hosted the Brit Awards red carpet live stream for two years on the trot, presenting alongside the likes of Drag Race star Michelle Visage and comedian Munya Chawawa. But Im a Celebrity represents her biggest, most mainstream platform to date. Perhaps her now-settled row with Sirieix is proof that grief can hit us all in different ways (and that we dont always get to see the full picture on reality TV).

Rose went into the camp vowing to keep the morale and humour high  and theres still plenty of time left for her to do just that.
It was a flurry of brown, black and white in the field off Gordonsville Road in Keswick while the hounds waited to be called. The hunters in bright and bold red  called pink in the fox hunting world  and black jackets waited too, more patiently, brushing their boots to a shine and socializing atop their horses. By a quarter to 10, a crowd of guests could be spotted in the churchyard over at Grace Episcopal. Its what everyone had been waiting for, the once-a-year, rain-or-shine service, the Blessing of the Hounds.

Thanksgiving Day marked Grace Episcopal Churchs 95th such service, an ancient fox hunting tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Grace Episcopal is one of the first churches in the country to hold its own, on Nov. 28, 1929.

There were more than 1,200 in attendance Thursday to see 15 select foxhounds, escorted by 50 riders and their mounts, blessed before the next hunt.

The occasion was marked by prayers for protection for the hounds as well as hymns, conversation, apple cider and hot chocolate.

Its a nice occasion, Colquitt Shackelford of Stony Point, a former volunteer who was in attendance Thursday, told The Daily Progress. It draws a lot of people to the church. Its a nice outdoor affair. Its as much of a social thing as a religious thing.

While guests on Thursday stood in a roped-off area, the hounds were free to roam the churchyard, sniffing anything and everything. The riders routinely called out to a hound or two whose curiosity was getting the better of them and had strayed too far from the pack.

The hounds are really well behaved, and the horses are beautiful, Alison Walden with Grace Episcopal Church said.

The foxhounds would soon be tapping into their innate curiosity. Blessed and pampered by clergy and congregation, the hounds would head off into the country Thursday in hot pursuit of a wily fox. It was slated to be a short hunt, but even a short hunt can span an incredible distance; the hunt clubs territory covers Albemarle County into neighboring Orange and Louisa.

As the blessing came to a close and the riders prepared to head out, members of the hunt club made their way through the crowd, collecting donations in a riding helmet. Donations on Thursday were headed to the Montanova Stables Foundation and Hopes Legacy Equine Rescue programs. Montanova is a nonprofit group that provides after-school equestrian classes, and Hopes Legacy is a nonprofit horse, pony, donkey and mule rescue home.

The Keswick Hunt Club is a roughly 127-year-old organization with more than 200 members. Its hunt season runs from from September through March.

Those who are not members of the Keswick Hunt Club but would like to participate in a fox hunt can buy single day passes to ride. Equestrian and cross-country experience is recommended and, depending on the hunt, some qualifications are required. For spectators, a car is available to follow the hounds through a hunt.

The fox hunting tradition itself dates back to the 16th century in England. In Britain, the goal of fox hunts has historically been to kill, providing a solution to the fox overpopulation in the country.

In America, the adopted sport rarely involves killing. A successful hunt results in the fox being surrounded but not killed by the hounds. Foxes will often jump into a burrow or other hole, where they will be fetched and then released, alive, for another chase on another day.

While a hunt might take horse, hunter and hound through a rough landscape of streams, fields, hills and more, the Keswick Hunt Club has trackers embedded in all of its hounds, so no one ever gets lost.

There is record of both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, Founding Fathers and Virginians, participating in fox hunts together and apart. Washington kept a pack of hounds at Mount Vernon.
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The royal family is riven with ambition, suspicion and competition with the Prince and Princess of Wales at the heart of it all, according to an explosive new book about The Firm.

In Endgame, royal reporter and author Omid Scobie moves beyond Prince Harry to detail an alleged power struggle between King Charles and Prince William.

He explores the new kings relationship with his disgraced brother Prince Andrew and examines why Kate is perfect in the mould of Britains future queen.

Scobie examines the UK medias coverage of past controversies surrounding William and Kate, and makes sensational claims about the heirs attitude towards his brother Harry.

Ahead of the books release on 28 November, here are some of the biggest royal revelations from Endgame:

William snapping at Charles heels as ambitious prince eyes throne

One of the key themes of Scobies book is the alleged rift between King Charles and Prince William (Getty)

Scobie highlights an alleged rift between King Charles and his son, the Prince of Wales. In Endgame, William is painted as an ambitious, hot-headed prince, determined to lead the royal family into the future, with Scobie claiming that he wants to rip up the rulebook and do things the Cambridge way.

He adds that, while William respects his father, the difference in their views might become an issue over the years ahead. Scobie writes that William and Charles are united in their frustration towards Prince Harry but do not see eye to eye about how the institution should be run.

He describes Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, the offices of Charles and William respectively, as hives of competing agendas and different ideas about how to modernise the monarchy. Scobie also claims William is not giving his father the same space Charles did with the late Queen, as the 41-year-old eyes the throne. Theres no time for that, the author writes.

Inside the Wales relationship with UK press

The book looks at favourable coverage in the media of William and Kate (PA Wire)

Through the lens of a number of incidents in 2019, Scobie provides an analysis of the UK medias relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince Harry has previously claimed stories about his wife were leaked to the British press. Calling it a dirty game in the couples 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry said negative news coverage about Meghan helped steer unwanted media attention away from other members of the royal family.

Scobie brands William and Kates 2019 holiday to Balmoral Castle a showy publicity stunt. That year, the prince and princess were praised for booking a 73 a head Flybe flight from Norwich to Aberdeen amid reports that Harry and Meghan had chartered four private flights in 11 days. What wasnt included in the PR gamesmanship, Scobie writes, was that the Cambridges scheduled flight did not have the Flybe logo on its side.

Since airline bosses were keen for them to use a properly branded plane, an empty one was sent from the headquarters in Humberside, around 123 miles north of Norwich. The same plane also returned empty to Humberside after the family landed in Aberdeen.

In total, the two flights released over four and a half tons of carbon emissions. Their perfect family trip was exposed for what it really was; a showy publicity stunt, Scobie says. A source close to William and Kate reportedly said they were unaware Flybe had switched the flights and did not seek any special treatment, in a statement to MailOnline.

William thinks Harry has been brainwashed by army of therapists

Prince Harry has been very open about his mental health struggles (Apple TV+)

Scobie believes the relationship between William and Harry is unlikely to be mended, as the rift between the brothers continues to push them apart.

The heir and the spare have grown apart in the aftermath of Harrys bombshell allegations against the royal family since resigning as a senior member and relocating to the US with Meghan.

In Endgame, the British journalist claims William believes Harry blindsided the family with their public complaints and oh so California self-importance. A source reportedly told Scobie William is convinced his younger brother is being brainwashed by an army of therapists and that he no longer recognises who Harry has become.

He feels he has lost Harry and doesnt want to know this version of him, a source close to William told Scobie. Harry is reportedly ready to move on from the whole saga, whether he and Meghan receive an apology or not over their alleged treatment by the royal family since their wedding.

Kate jokingly shivered when Meghans name came up

Meghan was regarded more difficult than Kate because she had opinions (PA)

Scobie gives Endgame readers his take on the reportedly frosty relationship between Kate and Meghan, writing that they were never close.

Citing multiple sources, he claims Kate was never a fan of the former actress. One person reportedly told Scobie the Princess of Wales has spent more time talking about Meghan than talking to her. He also reveals that Kate has jokingly shivered when Meghans name has come up on recent occasions.

Describing Kate as an institutional dream come true, Scobie suggests the future queen has successfully sublimated her authentic self, becoming an enigma to the public and perhaps even herself. He claims Kate, who was born in Reading and attended St Andrews, where she met Prince William, has had several rounds of elocution lessons and now sounds posher than her husband.

In contrast, one former palace aide told Scobie Meghan was regarded as being difficult because she had opinions.

They wanted Meghan to just go with everything that was suggested and not create any additional work, he writes. It was a combination of her not conforming with how women marrying into the family are expected to behave and certain individuals just being lazy.

William ignored his brother and Harry was left completely by himself after Queens death

Prince Harry has become increasingly distanced from his family in the UK (Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Gala)

Queen Elizabeths reign ended last year, as the long-serving monarch died on 8 September 2022. Scobie writes that the Sussexes had no idea that Buckingham Palace was preparing for her final few hours, when Charles rang Harry and asked him to make his way to Balmoral Castle immediately.

When Harry reached out to William to check whether they could travel to Scotland together, he was said to have been met with radio silence.

Harry was reportedly informed William had secured a flight for himself and his uncles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Meanwhile, the duke received no details about joining that flight.

A source told Scobie: It was upsetting to witness. [Harry] was completely by himself on this.

Harry sent his brother a follow-up text message but he still didnt hear back from William  despite the fact that seats were available on the Dassault Falcon private jet the prince had chartered.

William ignored him, said a family source. He clearly didnt want to see his brother.

In the end, Harry flew out by himself in a private plane, costing $37,000, from Luton airport.

Harry learnt about Queens death after news alert

A source claimed William completely ignored Harry in the time surrounding the Queens death (Getty)

Harry had no idea his grandmother had died at 3.10pm on 8 September, over two hours before his own flight took off. While the duke was still racing against time to make it to Her Majestys bedside, Buckingham Palace was preparing to break the news of her death to the world, Scobie writes.

[Harrys] team literally had to beg for them to wait for his plane to land and they reluctantly agreed to hold the statement back for a little bit, Scobie shares a statement from a close family friend. But, when Harrys plane was delayed by bad weather over Aberdeen International airport, they could wait no longer and the announcement went live at 6.30pm, he writes.

When the plane landed at around 6.50pm, Harry received a text message from Meghan, urging him to call her after she received a BBC breaking news alert that the queen had died.

Harry was crushed, a friend of the duke told Scobie. His relationship with the queen was everything to him. She would have wanted him to know before it went out to the world. They could have waited just a little longer, it would have been nothing in the grand scheme of things, but no one respected that at all.

Charles tearful over disgraced Andrews mental health

Prince Andrew with his brother Charles (Getty Images)

Scobie says that Charles, like his late mother, has a soft spot for Prince Andrew, who stepped back from royal life over intense scrutiny of his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Stonewalling and expelling his son came easy enough, he writes, referring to Charles approach in dealing with Harry, although its a different story with his own brother.

Amid Andrews fall from grace, Scobie writes, Charles was tearful over fears for the shamed dukes mental health.

The Duke of York was stripped of his military titles by his mother after one of Epsteins victims Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexually abusing her at his apartment in Belgravia when she was 17. Andrew strongly and repeatedly denied the allegations, and later paid a multimillion-pound amount to settle the lawsuit.

According to r Scobie, it was William who set the wheels in motion in distancing the royal family from Andrew, although the Queen was the official face of Andrews reckoning. Charles, he claims, didnt want any part of it.

Royal familys silence over Prince Archie race row

Harry is apparently now in a great place and focusing on his physical and mental fitness (Getty)

In the two years since the royal family became embroiled in a race row over Harry and Meghans son, no one except Charles is said to have addressed the alleged conversation about Prince Archies skin colour.

After they relocated to Montecito, California, Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. During their hour-long conversation about their treatment by the royals, Meghan claimed that a senior member had speculated about the colour of Archies skin while she was pregnant.

While the issue has reportedly been privately addressed in letters between Meghan and Charles, neither Kate nor William have reached out to the Sussexes about the matter.

The silence has caused a lot of confusion and upset, says a source close to the family.

Harry is in a great place

With the long rift between him and his family showing no sign of healing, Prince Harry is focussing on his role as a father to Archie and Princess Lilibet.

According to Scobies account, Harrys also prioritising his physical and mental fitness, adding that the duke works out regularly with his personal trainer. His routine also includes regular hikes, bike rides, and ice baths.

Endgame will be released in the UK on 28 November. You can read The Independents review of the book here.

Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and the Sussexes were all contacted for comment.
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The Princess Royal convinced the King to move the Duke and Duchess of Sussex out of Frogmore Cottage, a new book about the royal family claims.

The book Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchys Fight for Survival, by royal commentator Omid Scobie, takes a deep dive into the institution and its future.

Endgame is said to claim that Princess Anne was at the forefront of the supporters of the firm approach taken with the Sussexes, who resigned from their positions as senior members of the royal family in 2020.

According to The Telegraph, Scobie writes that Anne is said to have persuaded Charles to withdraw the use of Frogmore Cottage from the couple, the use of which was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II.

Though the Sussexes left the UK for a new life in Canada, then Montecito, California, in early 2020, they still had items in the cottage as recently as early 2023.

Princess Anne (Getty Images)

However, shortly after the release of Harrys memoir Spare in January, Sir Michael John Stevens, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, sent a letter to the Sussexes team pushing them to complete their exit from the Windsor property.

The letter stated that because the Duke and Duchess were no longer working members of the Royal family and lived abroad, they should return the keys to Frogmore Cottage.

In June, Sir Michael confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had vacated Frogmore Cottage at the annual Sovereign Grant account briefing on royal finances.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Gala)

Safe to say that, as has previously been stated, the duke and duchess have paid for the expenditure incurred by the Sovereign Grant in relation to the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, thus leaving the Crown with a greatly enhanced asset, he added.

In 2019, royal accounts showed Meghan and Harry paid 2.4 million to cover the refurbishment and rental of Frogmore Cottage, on the Home Park Estate, a property they have only used a handful of times since relocating to the US.

A palace official said there was nothing to add in relation to who would live in the cottage in the future.

Elsewhere in the book, set for release next week, Harry is said to have asked his father: You dont want to see your grandchildren any more?
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A trainee anaesthetist is facing jail after admitting stealing drugs from the hospital where he was working, planning to use at least some of them for sexual activity with a girlfriend.

Judge Philip Grey said he would sentence Jonathon Dean on the basis that his intention was to use at least some of the stolen anaesthetic drugs for sexual activity with Miss (Tara) Slade.

Dean, of Poplar, east London, stole the drugs from Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London.

The judge told Huntingdon Crown Court on Friday it was plain (Miss Slade) was anaesthetised.

He said Dean knew full well he shouldnt take drugs (from the hospital) or use them in this way, but that he would not sentence him on the basis it was all his idea.

The judge said Dean was finished as a doctor, and adjourned the case while reports are prepared about the defendant.

Dean was about to stand trial when he pleaded guilty to nine counts of the theft of drugs, including morphine, from Whipps Cross Hospital.

Five of the counts, concerning the theft of the drugs cyclizine, ondansetron, propofol, midazolam and morphine, were said to have happened on or before December 14, 2018.

Three of the counts, involving cyclizine, ondansetron and morphine, were said to have happened on or before January 28, 2019.

The ninth count of theft, of propofol, was said to have happened between January 21 and March 21 of this year.

Dean also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

One count was of the class A drug morphine on January 28, 2019 and the other was of the class C midazolam on December 14, 2018.

He denied a count of unlawfully administering a noxious substance, a mixture of morphine, propofol and midazolam, to Tara Slade with intent to endanger life.

The judge ordered that the count, under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, lie on the file.

Explaining to jurors why they were not required, the judge said: You were about to start trying Mr Dean on charges which related to the theft of anaesthetic drugs from Whipps Cross Hospital where he was a trainee anaesthetist.

He said Dean had pleaded guilty to the thefts and that the prosecution were not seeking a trial on the one outstanding charge so there is not going to be a trial.

Catherine Farrelly, prosecuting, said Dean had been suspended on full pay.

Dean will be sentenced on February 16 at either Huntingdon Crown Court or Cambridge Crown Court.

The judge granted him bail but told him that a prison sentence was overwhelmingly the most likely outcome in these proceedings.
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People displaying a swastika inside a Star of David and other Nazi symbols were among those arrested as tens of thousands of Pro-Palestine protesters took to the streets of London on Saturday.

Officers had made 18 arrests as of 7pm on Saturday evening, following what the force called a significant policing operation, but the Met stressed the overwhelming majority of demonstrators had protested lawfully.

The Metropolitan Police had issued a warning over the spreading of hate speech ahead of the latest major demonstration in the capital calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Protesters holding placards and Palestinian flags take part in a National March For Palestine in central London on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images)

Within minutes of the protesters gathering at Park Lane for the march to Whitehall, officers announced a man wielding a placard with Nazi symbols on it had been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

It was among a series of handmade placards and banners held up by demonstrators, with some referencing the slogan from the river to the sea. Another placard displayed a picture of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer under the word genocide, while one other had a picture of leaders of the G7 above the words war criminals on the run.

Ahead of the rally, the Met said more than 1,500 officers would be deployed over the weekend, with some handing out leaflets to provide absolute clarity on what would be deemed an offence.

Tens of thousands of Pro-Palestine protesters took to the streets of London on Saturday (Marco Furlanetto)

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said the leaflets set out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation. He added: We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism  such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people  or who spreads hate speech.

Organisers Stop the War Coalition said that such a measure was intrusive, but asked anyone attending to avoid any actions that might leave you or others around you open to arrest. The group said in a statement: We ask that all attending our marches respect these clear anti-racist principles, including in any signs or placards they choose to bring to the march.

The Met said it also discovered a stall in Whitehall that was distributing literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David after officers spotted the same literature at the demonstration. The four people staffing the stall have been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

A man wearing a green headband with white Arabic script who was initially seen in a video was spotted by officers in Trafalgar Square and arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.

Two women seen on CCTV holding offensive placards were arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence as hundreds gathered at the smaller Hizb-ut-Tahrir protest at the Egyptian embassy on South Street in Mayfair.

It was the groups first protest since 21 October, after which a video emerged showing a man chanting jihad. The Met said no offences were identified from the clip.

The majority of marchers did so lawfully, the police said (Harry Stedman/PA Wire)

Remarking on the incident in preparation for this weekends protest, the force said: It is a word that clearly causes upset and concern, but its always contextual. If we think people are chanting this to incite violence, terrorism or antisemitism  we will act decisively and quickly.

At the start of the Hizb-ut-Tahrir rally on Saturday, those gathered were warned by an organiser: Dont come up with your own chants, follow what is on the stage, follow the chants from those who are chanting. The crowd, made up of men, women and children, held signs that read Muslim Armies! Liberate Palestine! and US & UK Hands Off The Middle East.

A statement by the group said Muslim leaders should not feel bound by Western laws and borders, calling the latter mere lines in the sand.

It is the latest in a series of large demonstrations in the capital since the deadly 7 October (Getty Images)

Dr Abdul Wahid, of the UK executive committee of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, told the crowd liberation would mean a system that allowed Muslim, Jew and Christian to live side by side in peace and respect with everyone having rights.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Adelekan added that it was only a minority [of protestors who] have crossed the line over recent weeks.

It comes after weeks of pressure on the force over the handling of the now-regular demonstrations, with pressure from senior politicians for officers to come down harder on alleged displays of antisemitism.

Organisers rejected the label of hate march deployed by former home secretary Suella Braverman before she was sacked by Rishi Sunak, after a previous rally on Armistice Day saw scenes of violent disorder when far-right thugs clashed with officers.

The march reaches Trafalgar Square (PA)

A 90-minute march organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism is also due to take place on Sunday, with around 40,000-50,000 people expected to attend.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire on Friday, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its 7 October attack on Israel which triggered the war, while Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and a citizen of the Philippines.

Under the agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed. However, the militants armed wing said on Saturday afternoon they have decided to delay the second round of hostage releases until Israel is committed to allowing aid trucks to enter northern Gaza.

It follows weeks of fighting and Israeli bombardments of Gaza during the conflict sparked by the Hamas incursion into southern Israel that saw 1,200 people killed.

DAC Adelekan said: I would like to acknowledge the overwhelming majority who came into London today and exercised their right to protest lawfully.

Regrettably, there was still a small minority who believed the law did not apply to them. Thanks to the efforts of our CCTV teams and other officers, a number of those are already in custody.

Investigations into other offences are already under way and will continue in the coming days.
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Hundreds of people have attended demonstrations in Scotland calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

In Glasgow, people gathered at the Buchanan Street steps on Saturday holding signs and banners which said ceasefire now.

It comes amid a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict which has so far seen the release of 24 hostages by Hamas.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators said Hamas has agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven foreigners on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The announcement came after Hamas delayed the releases for several hours, claiming Israel had not complied with the terms of a truce deal that had set the stage for such swaps.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Glasgow waved Palestinian flags and some held homemade placards with messages such as you cant pause a genocide and some referencing the slogan from the river to the sea.

Demonstrations also took place in Edinburgh where people gathered on Waverley Bridge and events were also planned in Aberdeen and Dundee.

The Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign tweeted: There is a pause in the genocide but the people in Gaza are suffering unimaginable horrors.

They still need our support.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire on Friday, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, triggering the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Under the agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.
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In the bustling market town of Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, residents are used to spotting a famous face or two.

The bookshop on the high street displays signed copies of local resident Jeremy Clarksons latest book in its windows, while Amanda Holden is often seen browsing in the nearby homestore, which sells wind chimes made out of dried orange slices.

In The Chequers pub in town, regulars recall Mr Clarkson loudly boasting about having lunch with David Cameron. The former Top Gear host was overshadowed when another punter  who happened to be billionaire property mogul Tony Gallagher, who famously hosted a 50th birthday party for the former prime minister  retorted So what? I had breakfast with Boris.

As a result, residents of the Cotswolds town remain unfazed by the latest status of one of their own  none other than Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, as he is now known. The former PM was introduced into the House of Lords this week as part of his surprise return to frontline politics as Rishi Sunaks foreign secretary, and has spent the last few days in Israel avoiding the scrutiny directed at his time lobbying for finance firm Greensill Capital.

Im not going to doff my cap to him [Lord Cameron], Jeremy Catling, whose family has run the off-licence on the high street for the past 50 years, tells The Independent.

There are a lot of influential people round here. You get the Murdochs round here  we deliver papers to them  and we deliver papers to Rebekah Brooks too.

So David Cameron is just another fly in the ointment really. Im not going to treat him differently if he comes in. I wont even put the prices up.

Soho Farmhouse is the trendy hangout of the Chipping Norton set for luminaries, including Jeremy Clarkson and Cameron, who have houses in and around the area (UK Parliament/Andy Bailey)

The town, which lies within Lord Camerons former constituency of Witney and known as Chippy by locals, is one of two halves, with the bus stop to Oxford still without a roof, ripped off from a recent storm. A long-awaited new community hub is yet to be built in the old Natwest, while shopworkers complain of rising crime, shoplifting, homelessness and deprivation.

On the other side is Soho Farmhouse, the trendy hangout of the Chipping Norton set  a group of monied luminaries, including Mr Clarkson and Lord Cameron, who have houses in and around the area and socialise with each other at lavish parties.

Others include newspaper editor Ms Brooks, PR guru Elisabeth Murdoch, and Alex James, a local cheesemonger and part-time bassist from Blur.

Sandra Coleman, the mayor of Chipping Norton, told The Independent: Chipping Norton is portrayed by the media as a wealthy Cotswold town, home to the Chipping Norton Set, but is actually a normal rural market town, with significant pockets of deprivation.

But she praised the former PMs role in the community, which, according to locals, includes him putting his time and money into the local food bank.

David Cameron has lived in the area for more than 20 years and has taken an active role in our community so knows the area well and has a deep understanding of the issues those who live here actually face.

Barry Stephens, 42, who was having a cigarette on the steps of the magnificent Palladian-style Town Hall that looms large over the high street, remembers Cameron as a good bloke (Barney Davis)

When David was prime minister, he took his role as our local MP very seriously and was often seen in the constituency  but I suspect that as foreign secretary this may be more difficult.

NHS receptionist and food bank recipient Dominique Delaney agreed, adding: He helps the local food bank out of his own pocket and helped deliver the Chippy Larder parcels to most of Chipping Norton. It was a pleasant surprise when he delivered ours and he was very pleasant to talk to as well.

Others, however, were less complimentary about the new baron, who abruptly resigned in June 2016 in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum.

In Nashs Bakery, owner Angela said she felt talked down to by Lord Cameron when he visited the store just after resigning from No 10. She said: It was just his attitude he treated me like a servant.

I thought dont take [resigning] out on me. He had the airs of a Lord already.

I didnt realise who he was, I just thought he was like any other customer  it was only my manager who said after I cant believe you spoke to David Cameron like that.

She went on: He is welcome to come back here, everyone is. But just drop the attitude. He did apologise later.

Author Lesley Wildman, who has lived in the area for 23 years, said the village had become a laughing stock since the announcement of Lord Cameron.

She said: People keep messaging me taking the p***. They think its hilarious.

Author Lesley Wildman said the town had become a laughing stock since the announcement (Barney Davis)

Its all chums and nepotism, I thought we were over this. I thought we lived in a democracy but we obviously dont, not with this government anyway.

She added: We didnt vote for him so can I just say Im the lady of Chipping Norton? I have more of a claim than him.

Pauline Watkins, who has lived in the area her whole life, said: There was no vote, nothing. Everybody thinks its a laugh really. We have so many celebrities around here  we just ignore them all.

This is the first Lord of Chipping Norton I have heard of. There may have been lords of the manor but that was back in the 1600s.

Mr Catling echoes other residents views that the whole thing is rather baffling: I thought we were past all those days. I dont think we have a local squire anymore either  I hope he doesnt come in one day and go Heres a pitchfork now go into battle for me.

In the centre of town, another resident was a little put out by the news  the previous self-proclaimed Lord of Chipping Norton, aka the towns character Paul Pinky Hicks.

Dressed in bright overalls and armed with a litter picker, the retired tradesman now spends his days picking up rubbish or at the pub. It didnt take long to find him wandering around the Co-op where he knows everyones name.

Im the real Lord of Chipping Norton you can have a photo if you like, he fervently declared, thrusting his litter picker in my direction.

The man previously known as The Lord of Chipping Norton  Pinky (Barney Davis)

Im very jealous of David Cameron getting the official title. But Ive got the lady of Chipping Norton picking me up now. Her name is Kim. I met her 12 months ago in the pub.

He added: I met David a couple of times when I was young and so was he. He is a very nice gentleman.

There are a hell of a lot of issues around here Lord Cameron could sort out. He could sort out the Chippy Hub for a start. Its a social centre thats still being built. Its taken a long time and he needs to come and open it.

Ive got to go around now and pick up litter.

Barry Stephens, 42, who was having a cigarette on the steps of the magnificent Palladian-style town hall that looms large over the high street, remembered when Lord Cameron had come into the electronics shop where he works.

David Cameron has come in the shop a lot and he seems a good bloke. Its a shame he lost his job as prime minister, to be honest, he said.

Sam Hurst, whose mother had run for Conservative candidate, said Lord Cameron was a great help to her.

The 19-year-old, who works in gift store Hyde & Home, said: I thought he was done, to be honest. He would be in Sainsburys with all his security guards all the time.

They used to wait outside as he did his shopping but there arent many terrorists in Chipping Norton. Were alright here.

Sam Hurst, whose mother had run for Conservative candidate, said Cameron was a great help to her (Barney Davis)

Dr Mariah Whelan, 37, a local writer, was also cynical about the appointment. She said: He loves swanning about here getting photographed at the foodbank but the policies he oversaw are the reason our town has some of the worst deprivation rates in the South East.

There is a level of poverty here that is horrifying. It sickens me to see it side by side with Range Rovers zooming past on their way to Soho Farmhouse.

She added: Ive never met David Cameron but I would like to understand where hes coming from.

I think he was the last Tory prime minister who cared. I disagree with his methodologies completely and entirely, but I think he was genuinely trying to make things better.

And under him, gay marriage was legalised so I have to give him credit for that.
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Watch as Pro-Palestine protesters march in London on Saturday, 25 November, after the first hostages were freed in a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Under the agreement, a total of 50 Israeli hostages will be freed in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Thirteen Israeli women and children held in captivity by the militant group in Gaza were released on Friday evening, while 39 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.

Footage showed an emotional reunion between a nine-year-old boy who was held hostage by Hamas hugging his father for the first time after being released.

Police at Saturdays march, which was predicted to draw thousands to London, were expected to hand pro-Palestine protesters leaflets for "clarity" on potential crimes.

Around 1,500 officers were due to be deployed for the demonstration.

The Metropolitan Police were expected to hand out leaflets warning against using language or images "likely to land you in jail".

Deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: This sets out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation.
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Tens of thousands are expected to gather in London for the latest pro-Palestinian demonstration calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Around 1,500 officers will be deployed for the protest, which comes amid a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the release of 24 hostages by Hamas in exchange for 39 Palestinians held by Israel.

Around 100,000 people are expected to march on Saturday from Park Lane to Whitehall.

Organisers rejected the label of hate march deployed by Mrs Braverman before she was sacked by Rishi Sunak, after a previous rally on Armistice Day saw scenes of violent disorder when far-right protesters clashed with officers.

The Met said that officers would be handing out leaflets to provide absolute clarity on what will be deemed an offence.

Deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: This sets out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organisation.

Officers are expected to share these leaflets across the route of the march (Metropolitan Police)

Organisers Stop the War coalition said that such a measure was intrusive, but asked anyone attending to avoid any actions that might leave you or others around you open to arrest.

We ask that all attending our marches respect these clear anti-racist principles, including in any signs or placards they choose to bring to the march, the group said in a statement.

A 90-minute march organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism is also due to take place on Sunday, with around 40,000-50,000 people expected to attend.

New Home Secretary James Cleverly said that he expected the Met to address the concerns from the Jewish community.

What we saw over the last few weeks is the Jewish community in the UK telling us over and over and over again they felt vulnerable, he told The Times.

Thousands are expected to march as part of an anti-semitism protest on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images)

The police have to respond to that. In the conversations I have had with senior police officers in the Met and more broadly and in the conversation I had with the mayor of London Ive made clear it is my expectation that they address those concerns.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron used a two-day trip to the region to warn Benjamin Netanyahus government that Israels long-term security depends on the Palestinians also being able to live in peace and stability and security.

He told the BBC: Ultimately, there wont be long-term safety and security and stability for Israel unless there is long-term safety, security and stability for the Palestinian people.

Among those released by Hamas on Friday were 13 Israelis who had been held in the Gaza Strip since the militant group staged a raid on Israel nearly seven weeks ago.

They are the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began on Friday. The freed Israeli hostages included eight women  six in their 70s and 80s  and three children.

Israel also confirmed that it had released 39 Palestinians from prisons, including women and children, as part of the agreement.
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A nine-year-old girl feared dead by her father after she was taken captive by Hamas has been freed.

Emily Hand, nine, was held hostage by militants in Gaza after being captured in the deadly attack on Kibbutz Beeri on 7 October.

Her father Thomas, originally from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, last week made an emotional appeal for her release, saying the family was living through a nightmare, and getting Emily back was his reason for living.

Emily was one of several children released by Hamas (AP)

After her release, Emilys family released a statement saying they were overjoyed to be able to embrace the 9-year-old agin and thanked the world for unwavering support in trying to secure her return.

We cant find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days.

Emily had been having a sleep over with her friend Hila Rotem who was also freed - although Raya, Hilas mother remains in Gaza.

At the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return. the family added. We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home.

Emily and her father Thomas Hand, who feared she had been killed (Natali Hand)

Emily turned nine this month while in captivity and her family in Ireland held a birthday party for her at St Stephens Green in the Irish capital as they campaigned for her release.

Her father met Irish president Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Mr Varadkar described a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family.

An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and our country breathes a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered, he said.

A little girl was snatched from her home and held captive for almost seven weeks. She spent her ninth birthday as a hostage. We hope she will soon heal and recover from the traumatic experience in the loving embrace of her family.

He paid tribute to her familys tireless campaigning for Emilys release.

They travelled across Europe to keep her plight in the public eye. When I met Tom and Natali in Dublin, their pain was etched on their faces, but so was their courage and determination to ensure that Emily would be freed. I shared their grief and was inspired by their example, he said.

Irish people everywhere share in the relief of Emilys family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the hostages in Gaza, but we followed particularly closely the fate of Emily, a dual Irish-Israeli citizen.

Since our country first heard that she may still be alive, we have hoped beyond hope that her name would be on one of the lists of hostages to be released.

Mr Varadkar said while Emily is now returning to her family, it cannot be forgotten that many more hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

Their fate is unknown, but we hope that like Emily, they will also be allowed to return to their homes and their families. We think of all the families suffering in this troubled region, and we redouble our efforts to work for a permanent ceasefire, and for a just and lasting peace, he said.
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A flagship post-Brexit trade deal is worth even less than previously thought, official estimates show.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch was mocked for a prediction the deal with Asia-Pacific countries would grow the economy by 0.08%.

But she staunchly defended the agreement, hailed in a blaze of publicity as part of a new global Britain strategy.

But new figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility suggest joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could add just 0.04% to GDP in the long run, after 15 years.

The figures were contained in documents released alongside last weeks Autumn Statement.

Two other deals, with Australia and New Zealand, might increase the level of real GDP by a combined 0.1% by 2035.

The OBR also calculates that the economy will be 4% smaller than if the UK had stayed in the EU.

Trade expert David Henig said that while entry into the CPTPP had been presented as a huge victory for the UK, its impact had been hugely overhyped. Some companies will benefit, but the effects will be very small, he told the Observer.

When she announced the deal on UK entry into the CPTPP, Ms Badenoch said it would bring significant benefits to the UK.

She responded to mockery of the 0.08% figure by saying her departments estimate was probably too low and ignored some benefits.

But the Independent revealed earlier this year that officials working on the CPTPP deal changed their usual approach to calculating the GDP figure and instead used a new model that generates larger estimated GDP impacts, according to the governments own documentation.

A technical document, published by the Department for International Trade, said officials could not employ their usual approach to calculating the GDP benefits of a deal, known as a Melitz-style model, because there were too many unknown variables.

Instead, it used a so-called Armington-style model, which the document notes tend to produce higher GDP figures for a given free trade agreement.

At the time Sam Lowe, a trade expert and senior visiting fellow at the King's Policy Institute, told The Independent: "While the approach the government has taken is perfectly credible, the change in methodology does seem to have been made with the intention of making the GDP figure sound more impressive."The Department for Business and Trade has been approached for comment.

A Department of Business and Trade spokesperson said: As the Trade Secretary said when signing the deal, the benefits of CPTPP will increase significantly the more businesses use it."
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New Home Secretary James Cleverly faced an angry backlash from Tory MPs after he declared the governments flagship Rwanda asylum policy not the "be all and end all" of plans to stop the small boats.

Mr Cleverly also called on people not to fixate on the controversial proposals, as he attempted to play them down a week after they were declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Rishi Sunak has promised to unveil a new treaty  and emergency legislation  he hopes will get planes to Rwanda in the air.

But he is under enormous pressure from MPs within his own party, including the former home secretary Suella Braverman, to ensure flights depart before the next election.

Mr Cleverly, who has had a bumpy few weeks in his new role, said he was frustrated at the focus on the Rwanda policy. Last week he failed to deny he had called it bat****. That row only intensified days later when he denied he had called Stockton a ****hole, but admitted calling its Labour representative a sh** MP.

In an interview with the Times, Mr Cleverly said: "My frustration is that we have allowed the narrative to be created that this was the be all and end all."

"The mission is to stop the boats. That's the promise to the British people. Never lose sight of the mission.

"There are multiple methods. Don't fixate on the methods. Focus on the mission."

Mr Cleverly also went further than before on his reservations about any move to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

His comments provoked a backlash from Tory MPs.

Senior Tory John Redwood said: The Home Secretary is sceptical about the Rwanda plan and does not want to strengthen UK law against foreign courts. So how is he going to stop the small boats? This is a criminal trade endangering lives.

Former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Independent Rwanda was government policy and it is customary for governments to be fixated on their own policies.

The Tory right has clamoured for the UK to pull out of the treaty, seeing it as a major barrier to ending Channel crossings.

The most recent blow to the policy came from the UK Supreme Court. In their judgement justices also made clear that the ECHR was just one piece of legislation that led to their finding the policy was unlawful.

But Tories want to ensure that the ECHR and the Strasbourg court that rules on it will not prevent the policy from being implemented.

On the ECHR Mr Cleverly said: "My argument has always been that we need to modernise, update and reform.

"What some people, I fear, do is jump to their preferred solution and hang on to that really, really tightly and say this cannot be the right answer unless you do a particular thing.

"I do not want to do anything that might undermine the key co-operation we have with countries [who] are very wedded to the ECHR for understandable reasons.

"Nothing is cost free. Everything needs to be considered, the advantages and disadvantages."
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Police are using 3D scanning technology to help create a digital crash scene, as the investigation into the Rainbow Bridge vehicle explosion continues.

The incident, in which two people were killed, occurred at the bridge at the US-Canada border crossing on Wednesday, sparking concerns over possible terrorist activity  though these suggestions were later dismissed by authorities.

On Friday the two occupants of the vehicle who were killed in the explosion were named as husband and wife Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, with tributes pouring in from friends and neighbours.

According to Niagara Falls Police Department Chief John Faso, 3D scanners are now being used to help create a digital crash scene to help discover the cause of the crash.

"They take it to the scene, it scans the scene and reproduces a 3D image for them to work on of the entire scene," Mr Faso told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

Police stand guard as the Peace Bridge after the crash (Getty Images)

There has been speculation that the driver of the vehicle may have suffered some sort of medical condition, causing the vehicle to crash.

Investigators are also probing as to whether a mechanical failure could be to blame, with experts suggesting that the vehicles Event Data Recorder (EDR)  which is similar to an aircrafts black box  may be critical to discovering the cause of the crash.

Automotive analyst Lauren Fix believes that acceleration data recovered from the EDR may help investigators narrow determining factors of the crash.

"Every vehicle collects your data, that data is shared with the manufacturers," Ms Fix told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

"It knows steering input, because we have steer by wire, it has accelerator information. It would tell you if the pedal was put to the floor.

"They could actually see that the driver applied the accelerator pedal, not unintentionally, then it could have been [possibly] a medical issue. Theyre going to have to make a decision based on the knowledge that they have."

The incident, in which two people were killed, occurred at the bridge at the US-Canada border crossing on Wednesday (AP)

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls , told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the US arm of Bentley Motors told the outlet that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

Chief Faso said investigations were likely to take a while, adding: This is not something thats going to happen overnight. Its a monumental task.
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Alaska authorities have identified several family members who were killed in a major landslide that smashed into a residential area earlier this week.

The bodies of Timothy Heller, 44, Beth Heller, 36, and their 16-year-old daughter Mara Heller, were recovered by search crews late on Monday or early on Tuesday.

The couples other two children, Derek Heller and Kara Heller, 12 and 11 respectively, are still missing.

The Hellers neighbour, Otto Florschutz, 65, is also still missing. Mr Florschutzs wife survived the landslide.

Ground search teams worked throughout the week in the aftermath of the slide, with K-9 teams searching along the waterline, later assisted by heat-sensing drones.

The aftermath of the landslide in Wrangell, Alaska (AP/ US Coast Guard)

The landslide  which occurred on Monday night  churned up the earth from near the top of a mountain down to the ocean, tearing down a wide swath of evergreen trees, near to the island community of Wrangell.

At least three homes were hit by the landslide, which is estimated to be about 137m wide.

Rescue crews found the body of Mara Heller in an initial search on Monday night and the bodies of her parents on Tuesday.

The Hellers ran a construction company called Heller High Water, according to Tyla Nelson, who described herself as Ms Hellers best friend since high school.

Beth and Timothy both grew up in Wrangell and married in August 2010, Ms Nelson told local outlet the Juneau Empire, describing Ms Heller as a fantastic human.

The landslide struck on Monday (Alaska Department of Public Safety)

She was a wonderful mother. She did everything for those babies, she said.

Ms Heller also served on the Wrangell School Board from 2019 to 2020 after several years on the districts parent advisory committee.

Mr Florschutz previously served on Wrangells Port Commission. Last year entered the race to fill the congressional seat which was vacated following the death of US Representative Don Young.

Mr Florschutz received 193 votes out of nearly 162,000 cast.

Around 54 homes are cut off from town by the landslide, and roughly 35 to 45 people have chosen to stay in that area, interim borough manager Mason Villarma said previously.

Authorities have been searching for two children and their neighbour (US Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management)

Boats are being used to provide supplies, including food, fuel and water, and prescription medications to those residents.

Officials continued to clear debris from a roadway on Friday.

Such landslides are known as debris flows and pose a threat due to the steep slopes in southeastern Alaska, which is further increased during heavy rain, according to state Department of Natural Resources geologist Barrett Salisbury.

Mr Salisbury said that saturated soil can give way when gusts blow trees on a slope, triggering the slides.
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Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who fatally shot two Black Lives Matter protesters in Wisconsin in 2020, has now gone broke, according to his lawyer.

Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, died after Mr Rittenhouse, then 17 years old, fired a semi-automatic AR-15-style assault rifle at them during a night of unrest in Kenosha, as hundreds gathered to protest the police shooting of Black man Jacob Blake.

Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, was also shot but survived.

After the shootings, Mr Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and two charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.

Mr Rittenhouse, now 20, argued he fired in self-defence after each of the men attacked him.

In 2021, a jury acquitted him of all charges.

Since then, Mr Rittenhouse has made regular appearances in right-wing media and recently announced the release of his new book, titled Acquitted, which he describes as a story of survival, resilience, and justice.

But, despite his infamy, Mr Rittenhouses lawyer has revealed the 20-year-old has lost all his money since his acquittal.

Kyle Rittenhouse has gone broke since his acquittal, according to his lawyer (2021, Sean Krajacic, Kenosha News, All rights reserved)

He is working, he is trying to support himself. Everybody thinks that Kyle got so much money from this. Whatever money he did get is gone, lawyer Mark Richards told Court TV.

Hes living, I dont want to say paycheck to paycheck, but hes living to support himself. Obviously, as his lawyer and somebody who I want to do well, I hope he does re-engage in his studies.

But right now he is working full-time, he is living a law-abiding life and he is doing something that he enjoys.

Mr Rittenhouse has previously been open about his financial situation, appearing on Fox News to plead for donations to his legal fund.

Despite being acquitted in criminal court, the 20-year-old is currently facing a lawsuit filed by John Huber, the father of Anthony Huber.

Mr Huber filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Mr Rittenhouse, Kenosha city officials and its police force accusing them of violating his sons constitutional rights.

Mr Rittenhouse has raised $250,000 in donations for a legal defence fund to fight the lawsuit.

The estate of Joseph Rosenbaum also filed a wrongful death suit against Mr Rittenhouse in August of this year for compensatory and punitive damages.

Mr Rittenhouses trial and acquittal were divisive, with prosecutors portraying him as a wannabe soldier who had gone looking for trouble, while his supporters regarded him as a patriot who took a stand against lawlessness.

Controversy has continued to surround the 20-year-old in the aftermath of the trial, as he has slammed the media and officials including President Joe Biden and campaigned for gun rights.

Earlier this year, he joined gun rights activists in opposing a Texas state House bill that sought to raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21, in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting a year earlier.

Meanwhile, in July, he filed papers with the Texas secretary of states office to establish The Kyle Rittenhouse Foundation, a non-profit which seeks to protect human and civil rights secured by law, including an individuals inalienable right to bear arms and ensure the Second Amendment is preserved through education and legal assistance.
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Two people died after a vehicle exploded at a US-Canadaborder crossing at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, on Wednesday 22 November.

The car was attempting to enter Canada from the United States when it sped toward a checkpoint, crashed into a fence and erupted into a fireball just before midday, according to witnesses.

Video footage and photos showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from the checkpoint, and a security booth that had been charred by flames.

The blast killed two, reportedly injured one Border Patrol officer and led to the closure of four border crossings between the US and Canada in New York state.

Within hours, investigators had ruled out that the car had been carrying explosives or was connected to terrorism.

The fatal explosion briefly threw Thanksgiving travel plans into chaos, as borders were closed and travel routes suspended.

Smoke billows from Niagara Falls border crossing at Rainbow Bridge (Reuters)

What happened?

At 11.50am ET, the Rainbow Bridge was closed due to a traffic event, according to an incident alert from the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition.

Witness Mike Guenther told NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV that he had been walking on the bridge when he saw a speeding car approach the border checkpoint, hit a fence and go airborne before exploding.

Another witness told reporters that he had seen the vehicle catch fire, before seeing black smoke and flames.

Ambulances arrived soon afterward to find the vehicle completely burned out. Two individuals travelling in the car died, officials said.

Thanksgiving travel impacted

The incident came at a time of heightened fears of a possible terror attack. Ms Hochul issued a warning days earlier that officials had detected increased chatter of a possible terror attack in the state due to unrest in the Middle East.

The White House said in a statement that President Biden was closely following developments. US Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the unfolding situation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to the scene.

Mr Trudeau said officials in Canada were taking this extraordinary seriously.

This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls, Mr Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

The FBIs Buffalo field office said in a statement it was leading the local, state and federal response until it determined there were no threats of terrorism. It then handed the investigation to the Niagara Falls Police Department.

Debris is scattered about inside the customs plaza at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing (AP)

Officials closed four US-Canada border crossings in New York: the Rainbow Bridge, Peace Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.

Amtrak also temporarily suspended cross-border services between New York and Canada.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo said it would close until after Thanksgiving out of an abundance of caution.

International departures and arrivals were paused at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It was reopened several hours later.

Travellers arriving at the airport were warned to expect additional screenings, while vehicles would undergo extra security checks.

The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Airports are fully operational. We advise travelers to give themselves time for these extra precautions in addition to holiday travel, the agency said on X.

Three of the four bridge crossings were reopened on Wednesday afternoon, with only the Rainbow Bridge still closed. It reopened on Thursday afternoon.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said security would be stepped up across the area.

Who were the two people killed in the blast?

Law enforcement sources told CNN on Wednesday night that the Rainbow Bridge crash is believed to have involved a local New York individual and a passenger who had planned to attend a KISS concert in Toronto, Canada.

The concert was cancelled earlier in the day due to frontman, Paul Stanley, falling ill with the flu.

Police identified the couple on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, both 53; they lived in Grand Island, New York. They are survived by two children, according to an obiturary for the husbands father.

The Villanis own Guis Lumber, a business with eight locations across western New York.

In a statement to CBC, the business wrote: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing.

All bridges between New York state and Canada were closed after the explosion. Three were reopened hours later (Getty Images)

Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, owned and operated by The Seneca Nation, did not confirm if the car that crashed was present at their location but said they were cooperating with law enforcement, in a statement provided to The Independent.

We have reviewed and provided information related to a vehicle that stopped at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino only for a matter of minutes shortly before the crash occurred, the Seneca Nation said.

Reportedly, the couples car was speeding in a Bentley when the car rammed into the crossing.

Devastated friends, neighbours and loved ones in the upstate New York community of Grand Island have spoken out paying tribute to the Villannis.

The couples friend Chuck Meyer told WGRZ of his shock when he learned that the tragedy broadcast on national news involved those close to him.

I got home yesterday (Wednesday). I didnt know anything other than hearing things on the news about the border, and then saw that their driveway was filled up with all these cars, he told the local outlet on Thursday.

I thought, Oh, theyre having Christmas or Thanksgiving early, and like, thats really nice. And then about an hour later, heard the news and Im like, oh my God.

What caused the crash?

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge blast remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the American arm of Bentley Motors told the paper that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

Whatever the cause, getting to the bottom of what happened could take time as the car was effectively incinerated in the fireball blast.

Incident at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls (via REUTERS)

On Thursday, Niagara Falls Police Department  which is now leading the investigation after the FBI found no signs of terrorism  carried out an accident reconstruction, including retracing the last known movements of the couple.

In a press conference on Wednesday evening, Ms Hochul said she would not go so far as to declare the blast an accident just yet as the probe continues but that the two people killed were local residents with no ties to terrorism. No other potential motive had been discovered.

I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers, at this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack, Ms Hochul said.

She added: Based on what is happening in the world, everyone is on edge. This is an international border. I wont call it an accident yet. All we know is there was a horrific incident, a crash, a loss of life  but at this time: no known terrorism activity.

The FBIs Buffalo division also released a statement saying that no explosives had been found at the scene and that no terrorism nexus was identified.

The bureau said it had turned the investigation over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation.

Ariana Baio, Rachel Sharp and Kelly Rissman contributed to this report.
 Close Smoke billows from Niagara Falls explosion as two people dead in vehicle blast

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Police in Niagara Falls have warned the public about the dangers of misinformation about the deadly crash at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing.

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53 and from Grand Island, New York, were killed last Wednesday when their speeding Bentley rammed into the border crossing, which connects the US and Canada.

The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack, but officials later ruled this out.

Now, investigators are still working to piece together what caused the deadly crash with authorities probing the possibility of a mechanical failure on the car or a medical emergency involving the driver.

Police are also using 3D scanning technology to help create a digital crash scene.

While information remains scant, Niagara police chief of police hit out at the rampant speculation which is causing significant and unnecessary anxiety within the local community.

We saw an immense amount of misinformation and speculation on both mainstream and social media platforms, which created significant and unnecessary anxiety in the community, he said.
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A Minnesota moose has attracted a huge following on social media after residents started to track his travels across the state.

The majestic moose, nicknamed Rutt after a moose in the Disney movie Brother Bear, has been tracked by doting fans for weeks after roaming around Southern Minnesota, an area where moose rarely venture into.

The moose was first spotted crossing the border from northwestern Iowa, very far south for the species, to Minnesota in October before making its way up the state north.

Todd Froberg, a big game program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the states 3,300 or so moose usually stay in the north, so for Rutt to end up on a brave expedition down to the south part of the state is rare.

He said that moose, who are usually found in the northern US states, who end up in southern territory stick out like a sore thumb.

"I would say this ones fairly unique," he told the outlet. "I think its probably just out searching for a home territory or other moose."

Rutt the moose spotted on his travels (Bernie Stang via AP)

Usually, moose who break their daily routines and exit their habitats may be infected with brain worm, a parasite that can make them very ill, but Mr Froberg said Rutt seems to be in good condition.

Rutt gained popularity online after Minnesota resident Brenda Johnsons moose-spotting Facebook page was flooded with updates on the elusive travelling animal.

The page was initially set up in 2018 to follow another moose who also enjoyed gallivanting across long distances, but the page went quiet when it was struck by a semi-truck while crossing a highway.

Followers were left devastated until a new moose, Rutt, was sighted enough times to become the new star of the moose-spotting page.

The enthusiasts held their breath for a Rutt update after he was expected to cross Interstate 94; many worried he would meet the same fate as their previous beloved creature.

The solo traveller crossed the border from Iowa to Minnesota in October (Bernie Stang via AP)

Fortunately, Rutt survived and continued along in his journey, appearing 140 miles northwest of Minneapolis on Tuesday, likely trying to reach cooler temperatures.

Danielle Magnuson began searching for Rutt last month as a distraction from the stress of everyday life, eventually spotting him on 13 November near Sauk Creek.

Its almost like seeing a unicorn, Ms Magnuson told AP.

Theyre just really beautiful animals, and we dont get a chance to see them around our area.

Barb Keller, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff member, told CBS that residents should be reminded that shooting moose in Minnesota is illegal and that all residents should keep their distance from these gigantic creatures.

Moose are dangerous animals. So we recommend if people see them out in southern Minnesota, certainly take pictures and videos but do not approach, said Ms Keller, something that is echoed on Ms Johnsons Facebook page.

The page, which now has over 27,000 followers, continues to track his route and connect with each other on all things moose.
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A five-year-old girl who was among three children injured in a knife attack in Dublin was fighting for her life on Friday as the spotlight fell on far-right groups in Ireland following a night of riots in the Irish capital.

Police chiefs said they expected many more arrest to follow after 34 were held following a night of disturbances when about 500 far-right sympathisers and apparently angry youths on Thursday went on the rampage, causing damage that could cost tens of millions of euros to repair, according to Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

A care assistant was also in a serious condition in hospital after the attack outside a primary school, which some blamed on an immigrant  reports that sparked violence, looting and thuggery.

Around a dozen garda (police) cars were torched, buses and trams were set alight and shops looted and windows smashed.

As Dubliners were coming to terms with the violence, police came under fire for how prepared they were. Garda commissioner Drew Harris blamed the rioting on a lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far-right ideology.

Mr Harris, who said some of the 400 officers involved had been injured, one seriously, denied the disturbances were a failure of personnel.

Asked about his forces preparedness, he added: We could not have anticipated that this would have been the reaction.

A man is arrested on Friday (Reuters)

However, two water cannons were sent from Northern Ireland to Dublin on Friday to help with policing any further trouble at the weekend.

Irish justice minister Helen McEntee said 34 people had been arrested, 32 of whom appeared in court on Friday. They faced charges relating to the misuse of drugs, theft and public order.

But the leader of the main opposition party, Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald, called on Mr Harris and Ms McEntee to resign, saying garda lost control of the city to a mob fuelled by hate.

The violence flared after the attack on schoolchildren and their care assistant outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire school at lunchtime on Thursday.

Demonstrators smash a bus with hammers and set it alight on Thursday night (Reuters)

Fireworks were thrown at police officers on Thursday (Reuters)

A six-year-old girl also injured remained in hospital on Friday, but a five-year-old boy who was wounded was discharged.

Mr Varadkar said it was important to back the police force, and Ms McEntee refused to resign, insisting garda had all the resources necessary to keep people safe in Dublin over the weekend.

Garda were trawling through social media and CCTV footage, she said. And she described a very volatile situation, adding: I have no doubt that many people will be imprisoned after those horrific events yesterday.

What happened yesterday evening following this awful, tragic act was nothing but thuggery.

Justice minister Helen McEntee says people will go to prison over the riots (PA)

This was a group of individuals who used this horrendous event as an opportunity to wreak havoc in our city, to sew division in our city, they will be responded to with force and garda responded in the most appropriate way.

The clean-up was continuing on Dublins thoroughfare OConnell Street on Friday, with burned-out buses lifted away by cranes while broken glass and missiles were cleared.

Garda made several arrests in Dublin city centre amid a significant security operation in the area.

By-standers who intervened to halt the attacker, including a Brazilian Deliveroo driver, were hailed as heroes by the police and politicians.

Caio Benicio said he saw the man grab a girl and attack her. He said: When I saw the knife, I stopped my bike and I just acted by instinct.

He said he took his helmet off and hit the man in the head with it with all of my power.

Delivery Caio Benicio attacked the knifeman (PA)

Later on I found out [the woman] was the teacher. She was very, very brave.

Garda said a man seriously injured at the scene was a person of interest in their investigation.

Ms McDonald said she had no confidence in Ms McEntee or Mr Harris, that there had been an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing and that a problem had been building for months.

I do not say the following lightly, but it must be said. I have no confidence in how Dublin is being policed, she said.

This shouldnt have happened and  let me be very clear  it can never happen again.

However, Mr Varadkar said the rioters brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves.

These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland. They did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people. They did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped.

They did so because theyre filled with hate, they love violence, they love chaos and they love causing pain to others.

Police patrol central Dublin on Friday (AP)

Ireland does not have a track record of strong far-right support.

Various factors led to Thursdays violence, according to Kevin Doyle, head of news at the Irish Independent  with a homelessness crisis and a steady growth in numbers of migrants helping to feed a growing far-right narrative that Ireland is full.

A group of people that arrived at the scene of the attack were chanting things like get them out, he told The Independent. At one point they broke through the garda cordon.

The people supposedly outraged about the attack actually impeded the investigation.

Mr Doyle added: People are worried about it [far-right support] now. Its definitely a minority but its a minority that has caused millions of damage. Tensions are high.

Windows were smashed (Reuters)

The unrest follows two high-profile crimes that rocked Ireland  Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, who were found murdered in their homes in Sligo, and schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, who was stabbed while out jogging in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Last week her killer, Jozef Puska, 33, a Slovakian, was jailed for life. In his victim impact statement, Ms Murphys devastated partner Ryan Casey alluded to some of the tensions facing Irish society as he pointed out her unemployed killer had benefited from social housing and welfare for 10 years.

I feel like this country is no longer the country that Ashling and I grew up in and has officially lost its innocence when a crime of this magnitude can be perpetrated in broad daylight, he said.

Earlier this year, a Travelodge in north Dublin housing asylum seekers became the focus of right-wing protests.

In September, crowds of far-right supporters protested outside Dublins parliament building.

Wendy Via, president of the Global Project Against Hate & Extremism, said the country was part of a global trend in growing right-wing sentiment.

In Ireland, its largely anti-immigrant sentiment driving it, she said, adding: You have to keep your eye on the fringe.

People claim this attacker is a certain race or ethnicity and it was driven by XYZ and it just spreads and it is very inflammatory. They will co-opt another issue to legitimise themselves and unfortunately sometimes you get what you got last night, which was arson, damage and injuries.

UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the scenes showed society needed a proper debate" about migration, immigration, what we need in skills and how we treat people and what pressures it brings to our domestic services.
"Now the Sirens have a still more fatal weapon than their song, namely their silence "  Franz Kafka

I guess its fair to say that were more afraid of each other than we are of nature  having bought into the myth, over the last century or two, that we somehow control the latter. When we go to war with humans, the potential dangers imposed by enemies are pretty much at the forefront of the publics consciousness.

This is not an accident. During wartime, national, regional and local governments, with the cooperation of most media outlets, continuously remind people to take precautions and instruct them how to do so. Schools and workplaces practice mandatory air-raid drills. People and communities are encouraged to stock up on food, water and medical supplies ahead of possible shortages resulting from the conflict. Regular meetings of volunteer civil-defense organizations keep people up to date on critical developments and prepared to react as needed.

However, in America the fear of enemy invasion or bombing has subsided since WWII ended and the Cold War nuclear threat was mostly contained by American-Soviet detente, treaties and mutual deterrence. Schools no longer hold air raid drills (although, sadly, active shooter drills have partially replaced them). Most people casually go about their business as if there were no imminent threats to worry about.

But there are dangers, and they are on the rise. They have wiped out whole communities, as well as killing families and individuals. They are the very real threats of climate-change-enhanced wildfires, tornados, floods and heat waves  and we seldom think of them as potential local hazards. For the most part, we are not preparing, drilling, setting up warning systems or instructing people how to react in emergencies. Our heads are in the sand.

In my last column I wrote about the air-raid sirens that were tested regularly in the small Colorado towns where I grew up  and how, across the country, those sirens have gone quiet over the years. I pointed out that although we now have radio alerts and ubiquitous cell phones, it might be wise to reactivate the sirens, because many people dont have their cell phone with them at any given time. A siren can wake you from your sleep, whereas a phone in another room might not.

But what does a siren tell us, other than somethings wrong? Second-guessers criticized authorities in Lahaina for failing to activate sirens to warn people about the rapidly advancing wildfire that ultimately destroyed the town. But those sirens were meant to warn people against tsunamis, and the authorities chose to keep them silent because they feared people would flee away from the coast and toward the hills  right into the advancing fire.

So, we need sirens, but we also need instructional programs to let people know what they mean, and real-time information systems so a construction worker or classroom teacher can turn on a phone or radio and immediately know whether they should respond to a tornado, rising flood waters or a fast-moving fire. Whether they should seek shelter in the basement or on the second floor, or just leave as quickly as possible  and in which direction and by what evacuation routes to flee.

That information and, just as important, the reminders of potential danger should be everywhere and broadcast frequently. Fortunately, we can use the lessons from past wars, as hard as they were, to set up such warning systems. To do so, we neednt adopt the paranoid mentality of people at war. Unlike human enemies, nature hasnt designed a strategy for targeting a specific population. Its just reacting, randomly, to environmental changes  making it an even more dangerous enemy at our ecological house.
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Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

A bus on fire on OConnell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes unfolded following a knife attack on Parnell Square East on Thursday (PA Wire)

A second girl, aged 6, continues to receive medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin. A boy, aged 5, was discharged from CHI Crumlin yesterday evening.

The childrens care assistant, a woman in her 30s who was said by the authorities to have used her body to protect the children, remains in a serious condition in the Mater Hospital. A man in his 50s also remains in a serious condition in a hospital in the Dublin region.

The knife attack outside a school

Witness Siobhan Kearney described what she saw at the scene on Parnell Square East as absolutely bedlam, telling RTE she watched people disarm a man whom she said had a knife.

Police officers walk near the crime scene of the school stabbings in Dublin (Getty Images)

I looked across the road and I see the man and the stabbing motion with a load of children so I flew across the road, she said.

The man was after stabbing two children as far as I could make out, and we got the children up to the left with the women that were there, and the teachers I presume.

People were trying to attack the man so me and an American lady, we formed a ring around the man, and then about three minutes later the ambulance came for the children and then another ambulance and fire officers came for the man on the ground.

Irish police maintained a large presence in central Dublin on Friday following a night of protests and violence on Thursday (AP)

Politicians and police have hailed as heroes members of the public who intervened to halt the attacker.

Caio Benicio, a Brazil-born Deliveroo driver, said that he leapt from his moped and knocked the knifeman to the ground with his helmet as part of the public effort to stop him.

Police have since said they believe the incident itself was a standalone attack and is not terror-related. A man in his 50s has been arrested and named a person of interest in the investigation and the scene remains cordoned off as of Friday morning.

Caio Benicio, a Deliveroo driver, at the scene in Dublin city centre after he witnessed the incident on Parnell Square East (PA)

How the subsequent riots unfolded

As news of the attack spread, far-right agigators began to whip up a frenzy online, with speculation on the knifemans nationality and unfounded links to illegal immigration among the false rumours rapidly gaining momentum.

A demonstration formed at the edge of the police cordon over the course of Thursday afternoon and escalated as the evening progressed.

A crowd of between 100 and 200 people, some of whom wore scarves and hoodies to cover their faces, confronted gardai verbally before violent clashes erupted with riot police. The mobs number would ultimately grow to around 500, according to later estimates.

Tricolours and an Irish lives matter sign were held by some who were present.

A man works to remove a broken window from a sport shop that was damaged in the riots (REUTERS)

Fireworks and flares were soon thrown at police and, just before 7pm, a Garda car was seen alight near the scene.

Two more police cars sustained fire damage during the episode and another eight were extensively vandalised by the rioters, some of whose actions was captured on mobile phone footage that was swiftly spread across social media.

Some 13 shops were significantly damaged or subjected to looting, as people were seen picking up furniture from nearby shops and smashing it to the ground, some of whom appeared to be minors.

Several small pushes were made by riot police down OConnell Street and away from the scene, which appeared to temporarily scatter those gathered, only for them to reform and confront police again.

Police officers patrol the city for a second night to counter violence and unrest sparked by the school stabbings (Getty Images)

Some onlookers sheltered in a hotel lobby until the garda effort had moved down towards OConnell Bridge, where a car and a bus were also set alight.

An empty Luas tram that had been left at a stop nearby had its windows smashed and was set on fire. Dublin Fire Brigade tackled the flames that had engulfed the Luas, as well as nearby buses, once they reached the scene.

Rioters were also seen on nearby Henry Street, a major shopping thoroughfare, looting a Footlocker shoe store.

People threw bottles at gardai on the famous street, while others carried metal bars and smashed shop windows.

Smoke from bus and car fires filled the air while a Garda helicopter monitored the situation overhead.

Ireland's Justice Minister Helen McEntee speaking to the media outside Government Buildings on Friday (PA)

The aftermath

As of Friday morning, 32 of the 34 people arrested have been charged over Thursday nights violence, which required 400 police officers and a further 250 public order officers to contain, according to the authorities.

The affair has been condemned by the Irish justice minister Helen McEntee and the Garda commissioner Drew Harris.

Ms McEntee pledged that the scenes of disorder will not be tolerated and said: A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc.

She told colleagues that officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made.

Fireworks were thrown at police officers on Thursday (REUTERS)

She also insisted that the police force has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend, including securing the use of two water cannons from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Mr Harris described the clashes with police officers and the criminal damage as disgraceful and blamed a complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology for Thursdays chaos.

He said one Garda officer received a serious injury, with numerous other members injured as missiles were thrown at them.

He also urged the public to act responsibly and not to listen to the misinformation and rumour that is circulating on social media.

A burned-out bus is removed from OConnell Street in Dublin, in the aftermath of violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday (PA Wire)

Among those condemning the participants was Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said on Friday that the knife attack and the violence that followed had brought shame on Ireland.

He added that damage to public infrastructure in Dublin from the disorder could cost tens of millions of euros to repair.

After local residents were advised to work from home on Friday, a small number of arrests were made in the evening as gardai mounted a significant security operation around the OConnell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Amid criticism of the Garda response to the riots, Government ministers met and heard that legislation to facilitate the use of body-worn cameras by police officers will be fast-tracked.

Ms McEntee rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and the Garda Commissioner to resign.

Mrs McDonald said there had been an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing and that a problem leading to Thursdays riot had been building for months.

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor said he does not condone the riots in Dublin but insisted that a change must occur, after tweeting that Ireland is at war following the sentencing of Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak who was jailed for life over the murder of 23-year-old Irish woman Ashling Murphy.

A fundraiser on gofundme.com for the Brazilian motorbike driver raised over 250,000 euros on Friday, while a separate online funding drive raised more than 160,000 euros for a creche worker and children who were attacked.
 Close Emergency services at scene of stabbing near school in Dublin city centre

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The suspect in the Dublin nursery stabbing which sparked violent riots in Irelands capital has suffered extensive brain injuries which may be permanent, it has been claimed.

An Garda Siochana did not comment on claims by a source who told the Irish Mirror that the suspect is in a bad way, adding: His head injuries are extensive and may be permanent.

It comes as the five-year-old girl who was stabbed remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street, while the childrens care assistant, a woman aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald insisted on Monday that justice minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harriss positions were untenable, warning that we now have a scenario where people do not feel safe in parts of Dublin's inner city.

Irelands further education minister Simon Harris pledged that there would be a full review of the policing of the riots which engulfed parts of central Dublin on Thursday, which he condemned as absolute opportunistic criminality and thuggery.
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Hundreds of pets have been rescued from Icelands town of Grindavik, after they were separated from their owners over threats of an imminent volcanic eruption.

Charities have taken part in a number of rescue efforts in a bid to save animals in the town with rescuers returning to look for animals.

Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts after many were left behind following evacuation orders which gave residents minutes to leave. Over 4,000 people were evacuated.

Charities and other organisations stepped in to save the day as many happy reunions took place amid the bittersweet circumstances.

Hannah Everson, manager of Kattholt Animal Shelter, said she went back to the town to search for animals. She was able to collect a total of 49 animals.

Matthias and Lana Jonsson were reunited with their pugs Mafia, 3, and Maria, 1, after 11 days (Barney Davis)

Cats had been hiding in the cracks to keep warm but there are fears the molten could rise (Reuters)

She reports that many pets were traumatised and having trouble eating, or peeing and pooping. She said one cat in particular suffered from after-tremor shakes for 24 hours.

Some of the cats are still there, she said. They are hiding in the cracks after the earthquake, because its warm there. What happens if the lava bursts through?

The Dog and Cat Hotel in Asbru, run by Harpa Lind, Sunn Hermannsdottir and Elmar Magnusson, have been offering free stays for animals that couldnt go with their owners.

Matthias and Lana Jonsson were reunited with their pugs Mafia and Maria after an excruciating 11 days when they were given just 10 minutes to leave their home.

Owners of The Dog and Cat Hotel, Harpa and Sunn (Barney Davis)

The couple were forced to stay at a hotel that didnt accept pets but instead were able to give them up to the Dog and Cat Hotel who were offering lodgings for free to 30 cats and 20 dogs.

Matthias said: We had 10 minutes to grab everything we could. It was scary. We havent been let back in yet. To see the pictures of the town being ripped apart. We dont know if we will ever go back again.

Its been absolutely horrible to be separated from them but we had no space at all.

Maria said: It was so heartbreaking to leave my babies but now we are a full family again.

Ms Lind said: There have been a lot of tears but people are just happy they dont have to give them up altogether. We wanted to help just remove that extra stress that they are going through.

People are having to pay double rent or struggling to find places to move. Residents are still calling us and we will take them all for as long as it takes.

Dyrfinna, a charity that specialises in reuniting lost pets with their owners, worked with first responders to secure the evacuation of animals in the town.

Following earthquakes in Grindavik, it made a painstakingly thorough attempt to map every pet that needed rescuing, which was estimated by some to be around 300.

They were also able to confirm that thousands of hens had also been evacuated by emergency workers.

In a post on X, they said: The actions of the last few days have been characterised by a great struggle for the animals who do not have a voice and their owners.

The owners and people in Grindavik have been very involved in getting the animals out with excellent results.

Additional reporting by Maira Butt
 Close Huge cracks appear on roads in Icelandic town at risk of volcanic eruption

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Around 120 earthquakes have rocked the areas surrounding the town of Grindavik as they await a likely eruption, report the Icelandic Met Office.

It comes as the exact location for an eruption has been revealed by the Icelandic Met Office, which says it is still considered likely.

Experts at the Icelandic Met Office have issued a key update after a study of data from GPS stations and satellite images showed an uplift continues in the area of Svartsengi, north of Grindavik.

The Met Office stated that the eruption is still considered likely as the magma inflow continues, adding that the highest likelihood for an eruption is in the middle part of the dike between Hagafell and Sylingarfell.

Earthquake activity has also led to the deepening of the port at Grindavik, according to RUV.

The change in depth is because of the earthquakes impact, said the port manager Sigurur Arnar Kristmundsson.

He told RUV: The docks seem to have sunk by 20-30 centimeters when we measured about 10 days ago and then there is a chance that, yes, the bottom has sunk accordingly.

A fortnight ago, Grindavik was evacuated after magma-induced seismic activity tore vast chasms through the streets.
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Russia has launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting Kyiv.

Moscow launched around 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against Ukraine, of which 71 were destroyed by air defense, Ukraines armed forces said.

Kyiv was the main target, Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk posted on Telegram.

The attack was the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration, noting that air defence shot down more than 60 air targets over the capital throughout the morning.

Employees remove debris from a Kyiv kindergarten damaged by Russian drone strikes on Saturday (Reuters)

The assault on Kyiv began at 4am on Saturday, continuing in waves for over six hours, and caused power outages in 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, according to Popko.

At least five civilians were wounded in the hours-long drone assault on Kyiv, which saw several buildings damaged, including a kindergarten. The wounded included an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Firemen extinguish a blaze at the site of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv on Saturday (AFP)

In the citys Solomiansky district, debris left a crater in the courtyard of a residential area, and the windows of a nearby building were blown out. Residents, most of them elderly, received medical attention at the scene. Others took shelter in a nearby subway station.

As people were clearing up debris and broken glass in the neighbourhood, the hum of a fresh wave of drones could be heard nearby.

Residents immediately began sealing up broken windows using tape and paper to keep out the cold late November winds.

Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. But we continue to work to strengthen our air defence and shoot down more, he said.

In addition to Kyiv, the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions were also targeted.

The attack was carried out on the morning of Holodomor Memorial Day which commemorates the deliberate famine in Soviet Ukraine that killed millions of Ukrainians between 1932 to 1933, and is marked on the fourth Saturday in November.

Meanwhile, shelling killed one person and wounded three in the southern Kherson region, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Saturday. According to Prokudin, the region had been shelled 100 times over the previous 24 hours.
 Close Kyiv suffers largest ever drone attack by Russia leaving five wounded

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Ukrainian president Volodmyr Zelensky has vowed that his countrys forces will not back down despite a difficult counteroffensive and a recent spate of Russian attacks.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu claimed this morning that Russia was advancing in all directions on the frontline.

While the claim cannot be verified and is likely to be exaggerated, it speaks to a fear among western military experts that Russia could begin to make gains in 2024 owing to a deeper arsenal of weapons and personnel compared with Ukraine.

Over the past month, Russia has launched a large mechanised assault on Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine in the first signs of their renewed assault, though they have made negligible territorial gains.

In an interview on Thursday, Mr Zelensky admitted that he was not satisfied with Western support and that Ukraine didnt get all the weapons we wanted.

He said: We are losing people, I'm not satisfied. We didn't get all the weapons we wanted, I can't be satisfied, but I also can't complain too much.

Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second (best) army in the world, I am satisfied.
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A four-day ceasefire in Gaza set to begin on Friday will allow for the release of 50 hostages, the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid, and a brief respite from the relentless bombardment of the densely populated territory for more than two million civilians.

But what happens when it ends?

The short answer is that the war will continue, and it may be even bloodier than before. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu put it bluntly on Wednesday during a live address about the hostage deal. The war continues, he said. We continue until we have achieved complete victory.

Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said he hoped the deal would eventually lead to "serious talks" on resolving the conflict, but the Israeli army has made it clear they do not consider this a precursor to more talks. Lt Col Richard Hecht, the Israeli armys international spokesperson, said they would not even call it a ceasefire.

Our terminology is not ceasefire, our terminology is an operational pause, Lt Col Hecht said.

Israels United Nations ambassador, Gilad Erdan, said that as soon as the pause ends, we will continue striving towards our goals with full force." Chief among those goals was to eliminate all of Hamas terror capabilities.

That will be no easy feat. Israel has repeatedly stated that it will be satisfied with nothing less than the complete destruction of Hamas. That could take months or years.

Moty Cristal, a crisis negotiator involved in previous exchanges and a former member of the government, told The Independent that there is no appetite within Israel for ending the war any time soon.

Something changed on 7 October. The magnitude of the national trauma changed something in the Israel psyche, the military mindset. We are no longer afraid of long wars, neither the public nor the military, he said.

The agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that the ceasefire may be extended by a day for every 10 hostages that are released. That leaves open the possibility that fighting may not resume immediately, but when it does, it will likely move in two directions.

Israeli forces currently control Gazas coastline and have cut through the middle of the territory, effectively surrounding the north. Aid agencies estimate that some 200,000 to 300,000 civilians remain in the northern half of Gaza. Israels bombardment there has targeted places of worship, hospitals, schools and residential areas, and it has justified those strikes with claims that they are used by Hamas fighters.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Tuesday that Israeli forces had surrounded the Indonesian Hospital, a 110-bed outpatient and surgical facility that is among the final functioning hospitals in the north.

Relatives, friends and supporters of Alon Ohel, who is held hostage by Hamas, take part in a demonstration (AFP via Getty Images)

The Indonesian Hospital is now in its worst condition. It is besieged on all four sides, and food and medicine are not allowed to enter, Mounir al-Bursh, the Gaza Health Ministrys director of hospitals, told the Washington Post , adding that a strike on the hospital compound Monday had killed 12 displaced people and wounded four medical staffers.

Israel claims the bulk of Hamas infrastructure is in the north. As soon as the ceasefire ends, Israel will likely continue its bombardment there.

But even as Israel continues its push into Gaza City in the north, it has signalled that it may soon turn its attention to the south, where it believes many of Hamas key leaders have escaped to, and where most of an estimated 1.7 million displaced people have fled. Tens of thousands from the north have sought refuge there in schools and tents, and face a lack of food and water.

The Israeli air force began dropping leaflets over the southern city of Khan Younis last week, warning people to evacuate the area in anticipation of an offensive there.

"For your safety, you need to evacuate your places of residence immediately and head to known shelters," the leaflets said, naming the neighbourhoods of Khuzaa, Abassan, Bani Suhaila and Al Qarara. "Anyone near terrorists or their facilities puts their life at risk, and every house used by terrorists will be targeted," the leaflets said.

Just a few days later, at least 28 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on two residential areas of the city.

Some expect a bombing campaign to resume with even more force following the pause. A Middle Eastern diplomat told the Washington Post that the bombing campaign will likely be more much aggressive, the newspaper reported, and that the south will be targeted much more heavily due to the belief among Israel officials that Hamas operatives have escaped to the south.

Those warnings have sparked concern among aid groups.

Catherine Russell, head of the UN childrens agency, Unicef, said that a military escalation in the south of Gaza would exponentially worsen the humanitarian situation there, and said attacks on the south must be avoided.

Significantly, a potential attack on the south has also drawn criticism from Israels closest ally, the United States. The Biden administration has until now given its full support for Israels military operation, but several US officials have warned of the dire consequences of turning the offensive south.

We dont support those kinds of operations absent a cohesive plan by the Israelis to factor in how theyre going to be able to protect what is now mathematically an increased dramatically increased civilian population itself, because they were evacuated from the North, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

Its even more incumbent upon the Israelis to make sure, before they begin operations down there, that they have factored in ways in which they can they can protect those civilians who moved at their urging to the south, he added.

Those words of caution are unlikely to restrain Israeli forces, however. The Israeli government has spoken of its operation in Gaza as a battle against the enemies of civilization itself.

Meanwhile, aid agencies say the four-day pause will not be enough to address the severe humanitarian crisis now facing 2.3 million people in Gaza, which will almost certainly worsen in the coming weeks and months.

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said four days is not enough time to address the immense needs after six weeks of fighting, bloodshed, and destruction.

Winter is looming, and it will be a disaster to reignite this conflict. Small shelters have housed scores of people, with little food and water and mounting health hazards. Children are traumatised, and many face a future without their parents and siblings. They need urgent, long-term help. This can only happen through a sustained ceasefire, he said.

Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress, also described the pause as "not enough."

When this short-term agreement expires, the bombing of innocent civilians will continue. We need a permanent ceasefire that saves lives, brings all the hostages and those arbitrarily detained home, and puts an end to this horrific violence, she said.
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Palestinians in Gaza have spoken of their intense relief at a period of "calmness" that has brought areas "back to life" at the start of a four-day truce  the first respite in a ferocious seven-week bombardment that has killed more than 14,000 people and displaced more than one million.

People emerged from their homes to collect belongings, bury the dead, and locate missing family members. There were moments of levity among the carnage, with families visiting the beach to bathe in the ocean and children making the most of the sky being free of fighter jets.

Under a Qatari-brokered deal, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will be in place during the release of a total of 50 Israeli women and children, held hostage since 7 October when Hamas launched an attack inside Israel during which 1,200 people were killed. In tandem with the hostages being freed, 150 Palestinians jailed inside Israeli prisons will also be released.

For families in Gaza, the temporary pause marks the first moment of calm after Israel unleashed its heaviest-ever bombardment of the Hamas-run territory in response to the Hamas attack.

Sara, 21 a Palestinian student who has lost dozens of family members and friends in the bombing and has been displaced three times in war, said that her parents left on foot to try to work out the fate of relatives in another southern town that they had lost contact with.

I know this temporary ceasefire will never bring back my beloved ones but I hope this will be the first and the last ceasefire and forever, she said, saying that the last seven weeks had been a nightmare.

The pause has brought us back to life. I cant describe the calmness around the streets, there is no sound of airstrikes, no sound of bombing.

Images shared on social media showed children trying to make the most of the pause in fighting. One photograph sent to The Independent by a Gaza resident who did not wish to be named showed their feet stretched out on the sand at the beach as the waves lapped the shore. Finally, first steps outdoors after 40 days, they wrote in a message.

Hind Khoury, a journalist based in Gaza who has been documenting the ongoing war, also posted an image of the beach. Today, I visited the sea, where I bared my feet to the waves. Laughter echoed as kids had their heads shampooed by their mom, she wrote.

However, Israeli officials have said that their war on Hamas will continue once the temporary ceasefire ends. Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant said after the truce started that it would be a short pause and that the troops would then resume operating with full military force.

Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in eastern Khan Younis (AFP via Getty Images)

At least 200 trucks of aid are expected to be delivered to Gaza each day to alleviate a worsening humanitarian crisis, as food, water and medical supplies are fast running out. Israel imposed a blockade of the strip as part of its response to 7 October, as well as the aerial and ground operations. The Israeli military said that two tankers of fuel and two tankers of cooking oil crossed in the morning.

Sara told The Independent it was too dangerous to go back to Gaza City to check on their family home - and had been told those who had tried to go back to the north of Gaza had come under fire from Israeli forces.

Israel launched a ground incursion into Gaza and occupies swathes of territory in north Gaza - including encircling towns and refugee camps. The Independent asked the military about the reports and was told: The IDF is stationed along the designated operational lines of the pause in accordance with the provisions of the agreed upon framework.

Sarah shared a video purporting to show civilians trying to go north coming under fire.

Ahmed, who asked for his surname not to be mentioned for security reasons, said a neighbour who was a taxi driver had attempted to drive one family north to Gaza City so they could bury their dead and collect belongings and supplies came under fire as they drove up.

He said one young member of the family was shot in the neck so he had to do a 180 degree turn and get out of there. He had blood all over his back seat and said he saw with his own eyes hundreds of people on the ground.

Displaced Palestinians stand among the rubble of houses destroyed in an Israeli strike during the conflict, as they return to their homes, (REUTERS)

Ahmed said even in the southern town of Rafah, where many have evacuated to, the destruction from the strikes was catastrophic.

Its a level of damage Ive never seen, I have also never seen so many people there were hundreds of thousands of [displaced] people everywhere.

The deal is a major breakthrough in the seven-week war and Qatar officials said it could be the catalyst for a longer term peace deal.

Our hope is that this deal will be the catalyst for peace which we need, for a viable negotiation for an end to this war, the diplomat said.

The only way forward is for a proof of concept of peace to happen through this deal: for people to go home to their families and for the pressure to mount on both sides, to show that talking can get you results on the ground.

Under the truce deal, 50 hostages are supposed to be freed in stages - with thirteen released by Friday evening. In exchange for the release of what Hamas said would be 150 Palestinians - with 39 believed to be released Friday as well. Israel said the truce would be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it notified the families of hostages listed for release Friday.
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Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the Gaza ceasefire by at least one more day to allow for more hostage releases.

On Thursday, just minutes before the six-day ceasefire was due to expire, Israels military said in a statement the truce will continue.

In light of the mediators efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework, the operational pause will continue, said the Israeli statement released on Thursday.

Hamas announced in a separate statement that a consensus had been reached to extend the ceasefire for a seventh day.

Qatar said the two sides had agreed to extend the truce for an additional day (today, Thursday) under the existing conditions, which are a cessation of all military activities and the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The extension of the ceasefire had been uncertain up until the last hour as Israel and Hamas couldnt come to an agreement over the new list of Israeli hostages slated for release from Gaza.

The truce between Hamas and Israel was due to expire at 7am local time (5am GMT).

Earlier, Hamas had claimed that Israel had declined to receive seven women and child hostages and the bodies of three others, who the militant group said were killed during the Israeli militarys bombardment of Gaza, in exchange for a temporary truce extension on Thursday.

This is despite confirming through mediators that this group is all the (Hamas) movement has in terms of detainees in the agreed-upon category, Hamas said in a statement, according to Al Jazeera.

Hamas freed 16 Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian women and child prisoners late on Wednesday.

Qatar, a key mediator of the truce negotiations, said that 10 of the freed captives were included in the current truce arrangement, while four Thai citizens and two Russian-Israelis were freed outside the terms of that agreement.

A Thai national waves an Israeli flag while walking to a bus leaving the Shamir Hospital in Ramle, Israel, Wednesday, 29 November 2023, on his way back to Thailand, after being released from Hamas custody. International mediators on Wednesday worked to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas militants to keep freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and further relief from Israel's air and ground offensive (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press All rights reserved)

Meanwhile, Qatars foreign affairs ministry stated that further negotiations are ongoing in hopes of reaching a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

During the six-day ceasefire, authorities said that 97 Israeli and foreign hostages were released by Hamas and 210 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons.

Just before announcing the ceasefire extension, both Israel and Hamas had resorted to increasingly aggressive rhetoric, with the Israeli military saying it was ready for the next stage of the war.

Over the past few days Ive been hearing this question  will Israel go back to fighting after maximising this phase of returning our hostages? So my answer is unequivocal  yes, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Hamas military wing had also asked its fighters to be ready for combat in case the ceasefire was not extended. The Al-Qassam Brigades had earlier on Telegram asked the fighters to maintain a high combat readiness.
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The helicopter landed at a hospital east of Tel Aviv on Friday night, blowing twirls of dust into the faces of the medical staff who stood in wait. On it, the first hostages freed by Hamas, as part of the long sought-after hostage deal and truce lasting four days. As they went inside to see their families for the first time in seven weeks, a landmark was reached in this conflict.

More hostages were released on Saturday, and 17 more on Sunday  with the potential for more beyond that, should a ceasefire be extended, although delays over the exchanges in the weekend will have put everyone on edge. As the families of those freed rejoice, the loved ones of those remaining in Gaza continue to wait, counting the minutes as they pass.

On the seventh floor of a high-rise in central Tel Aviv, the family of 36-year-old hostage Yarden Roman-Gat have gathered for Shabbat dinner, watching events unfold.

The past seven weeks have seen their apartment transform into a command centre. Laptops line a long dining table in the kitchen. TV crews unfold tripods and run wires through the living room. Friends bring round steaming trays of home-cooked food. From the break of dawn until late at night, interviews are set up, phone calls are made, and plans are drawn.

The tentative first stages of the hostage deal have given the team here  made up of family, friends and neighbours  a lifeline. Words cant describe how Im feeling, says Yardens husband Alon, gesturing to the sky above central Tel Aviv. Im floating up above.

Alon, who has spent these weeks as a single father, was the last person to see Yarden.

Alon Gat, husband of Yarden Roman-Gat, sits on the balcony of his familys apartment in Tel Aviv (Tom Bennett)

After being abducted from Kibbutz Beeri with their three-year-old daughter Geffen, Yarden and Alon were forced into a car and driven towards Gaza. As the car slowed at a junction, they saw an opportunity. They leapt from the vehicle, Geffen clasped tight around her mothers neck, and made a dash for woodland up ahead. As bullets peppered the ground around them, Yarden took a split-second decision to pass Geffen to Alon, in the hope that he could run faster to evade the gunmen. Alon and Geffen escaped. Yarden was taken hostage.

The weeks since have been excruciating. Like the other hostage families across Israel, their lives have changed overnight. Their days are filled with interviews, meetings, planning and PR. One team handles diplomacy. One handles communications. One handles events. Theyve travelled overseas, to Washington, New York, Munich and Berlin, meeting with politicians, religious groups and celebrities.

Its excitement. Its anxiety. Its hopefulness. Its helplessness, says Yardens brother, Gili Roman. Theres nothing I can do right now to influence the deal and whether my sister will be in it or not. I dont even know where shes held. And I dont know what the governments priorities are.

Gili has been a lynchpin for his family over the past seven weeks. In the days after the attack, he travelled to Kibbutz Beeri, painstakingly combing the woodland with the help of the army, searching for any trace of her. Alon joined them, showing the exact spot where she was last seen. They tracked her footprints, and reached the conclusion that she had been recaptured.

At the Hostage Families Forum, an office block in central Tel Aviv that has been commandeered for the cause, the families of those not expected to be released continue to campaign for ongoing negotiations.

Aviram Meir, uncle of Almog Meir Jan, stands outside the Hostage Families Forum (Tom Bennett)

I dont believe anyone. I dont believe my government, and I dont believe the other side [Hamas], says Aviram Meir, uncle of 21-year-old Almog Meir Jan, taken hostage from the Supernova Festival. I believe less in the other side. I believe they want psychological war, he says, tapping his hands on a table in the foyer of the building.

When the news broke of the deal, Aviram was in the UK speaking at an event held by the Jewish community. Hes spent time in London and Manchester in recent weeks, becoming the driving force behind his familys efforts to rescue Almog.

For most of the families, he tells me, it is the uncles, cousins and aunts who have been the most active campaigners  the relatives once removed from the agony of the situation.

For my sister, Almogs mother, the talks of the deal are like a stab to her stomach. Shes in a very sensitive mental situation. Its all just driving her crazy, he says, gazing into the middle distance.

Now, Aviram and a group of other families whose relatives are unlikely to be released have banded together to put on an event for the young adult hostages, to be held during Hanukkah on 7 December. We want to do an event for the young hostages. Until now it was the kids and the old. And now we want to do something for the youngsters.

For some families their nightmare is close to being over. For others, the structure of the deal has led to fears that their loved ones may be used as a bargaining chip for weeks.

I can tell you that about 20 per cent of the families are functioning, 80 per cent are less functioning, says Aviram.

For ex-Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin, who helped secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011 via years of back-channel bargaining with Hamas, the hostage deal is a positive step. I think that theres a good chance if the deal goes well, if its smooth and there are no breakdowns in the ceasefire, that it could go for a fifth day, a sixth day, a seventh day, an eighth day, to get most of the women and maybe all the women and all the children out. Im not sure about the elderly and the other civilians. That might require another negotiation.

In the end, he adds, Hamas is going to be left with the soldiers [they have taken] and theyre going to try and negotiate for all the prisoners in Israel. Thats probably a non-starter and I dont think that Israel would ever do that.
Ethics complaint investigations against past and present Greater Albany Public Schools school board members met their official end last week.

That was after the Oregon Government Ethics Commission approved final orders on Nov. 17 for three members tied to a public meetings law violation.

Current members Pete Morse and Brad Wilson received letters of education in lieu of a penalty, while former member Eric Aguinaga said he'd likely accept a letter too.

'A Place to Sleep' podcast travels to Grants Pass It's a community that openly heckles  and worse  its homeless neighbors, many who have deep roots. And it may have a date with the Supreme Court.

Former school board member Michael Thomson received a $100 fine because of a previous violation.

The complaints all stemmed from a closed-door meeting, called an executive session, earlier this year and were filed by the district's then assistant superintendent Lisa Harlan.

An improper meeting?

In her complaint, Harlan said the school board met improperly during a Feb. 27 meeting when they discussed a list of contract renewals and extensions for GAPS teachers, an out-of-bounds topic for executive sessions according to her reading of state guidelines.

A preliminary review of Harlan's complaint by an Ethics Commission investigator found the board may have violated rules when they held the closed-door meeting for the purposes of considering the hiring of a "public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent."

That's fair game under state rules but reviewing teacher contracts didn't fit that bill according to the investigation report.

According to the same report, GAPS attorney Paul Dakopolos said district staff had mistakenly cited the wrong provision in Oregon's executive session law when drafting the Feb. 27 meeting agenda.

Dakopolos said the meeting should have been held to "consider information or records that are exempt from public inspection," and said the list of teachers up for contract extensions, which the superintendent periodically recommends to the board for approval, was a confidential document under a separate Oregon statute.

The Commission voted to investigate the matter further on June 2, giving the body charged with enforcing the state's ethics laws 180 days to resolve the case.

The complaint was broken down into four different cases against former school board members Aguinaga and Thomson, as well as current members Morse and Wilson, all present at the Feb. 27 meeting.

According to the Commission's final orders for Morse, Wilson and Thomson, the investigation found the school board members had indeed violated the state's executive session law, though each member contended their violations were not willful or intentional.

Instead of paying fines, Morse and Wilson each received a letter of education which informs them about the requirements of Oregon's executive session law and acknowledges they took personal responsibility for their actions.

It also says board members, not staff, are responsible for ensuring compliance with public meeting rules.

Prior violations

Thomson, however, received a $100 fine. That's because it's not his first such violation.

A complaint was filed against Thomson and the rest of the GAPS school board in 2021 for another executive session violation, this time for holding a closed-door meeting that included discussion of then superintendent Melissa Goff's contract  an unauthorized topic.

Thomson said he accepted how both matters were settled by the Ethics Commission, but said as a school board member, a volunteer position, he depended on the board chair and superintendent  at the 2021 and 2023 meetings  to set agendas that complied with state public meeting laws.

"And I feel like I was let down twice," he said.

Aguinaga, who was present for both meetings, also received a letter of education for the 2021 violation.

As for Harlan's complaint, he told the Commission during their recent Nov. 17 meeting he'd received hours of equity and staff management training in his capacity as a school board member, but not on public meetings law.

Like Thomson, Aguinaga said he relied on staff to ensure meetings complied with state rules, though he apologized for the violation.

At the most recent school board meeting, Morse and Wilson acknowledged the results of their ethics complaint investigations and said they didn't intend to violate rules.

Wilson, the board's current chair, also said going forward they would look into having an attorney present at all closed-door meetings to ensure compliance with state rules.

A 'class-less' complaint?

A separate complaint against Morse related to the Feb. 27 meeting was dismissed by the Commission.

Harlan filed the complaint because Morse didn't declare a conflict of interest when he voted to approve the contract extensions for GAPS teachers, including his wife's.

In an email response to the commission investigator earlier this year, Morse said his wife's contract was one of over 500 presented to the board for approval by the superintendent and argued his actions were covered by the "class exemption" of a state rule regarding conflicts of interest.

That exemption holds any action taken by a person in their capacity as a public official isn't a potential conflict of interest if it affects a group of people to the same degree as themselves or a relative.

In this case, Morse cited the list of GAPS teachers as the specific group or "class."

For the Commission, however, the prospect of dismissing the case based on that rationale led to a complicated discussion about what constitutes a "class" and whether the individual teacher contracts compiled for the board's Feb. 27 meeting fit the bill.

"I think I'm struggling with the language the legislature has provided us," Commission Chair Amber Hollister said at one point during the Nov. 17 meeting, referring to the state's conflict-of-interest rules.

Commissioners appeared to wrestle with the implications of dismissing the compliant due to a class exemption, worried it would create a "slippery slope" that opened public bodies, like school boards, to more conflict-of-interest violations.

In his own brief testimony before the Commission at the same meeting, Morse said in hindsight he should've abstained from the vote, but also said the contracts were brought before the board by the superintendent, and that Harlan was present at the meeting.

"For me, not a lawyer, someone who is volunteering my time on a school board, I ask for the expertise of the staff," he told the Commission.

"I didn't try to get my wife something she shouldn't have got," Morse said.

In the end, all commissioners voted to dismiss the complaint, without citing the class exception.

Going forward

During the Nov. 20 school board meeting, Morse highlighted recent state legislation that updated procedures for how public meetings complaints are managed.

That includes a rule requiring a complainant to first file their grievance to the public body in question to give the body an opportunity to rectify any errors.

"I believe this process will be beneficial for boards and governing bodies throughout the state," Morse said.

"Unfortunately, these complaints have become as much about possibly doing something wrong as it is just a vendetta," he added, an apparent reference to Harlan.

Harlan had previously suggested the ethics complaints she filed against school board members could have influenced the superintendent's recommendation to the board later in March not to renew her contract with the district.

The district put Harlan on administrative leave in April following a workplace complaint.

Harlan later filed a tort notice against GAPS, alleging retaliation for reports she made about gender bias and a hostile work environment at the end of 2022.

She has since reached a settlement with the district, according to superintendent Andy Gardner.

Harlan declined to comment for this article.
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Seventeen hostages have been released by Hamas from Gaza following a delay that required a last-minute intervention from Qatar and Egypt.

Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand, who turned nine while in captivity, was among those freed on Saturday night after last-minute delays. Earlier this week, Emilys father Thomas, wrote for The Independent that he could only hope that his daughter would be among those freed so that her family could give her the birthday celebration she has been denied.

He said Emily, whose mother died of breast cancer when she was a baby, was attending a sleepover when she was kidnapped with her friends family. He wrote about his fears that even after she is freed well be dealing with the damage that has been done for the rest of our lives, but on Saturday night they were finally reunited.

Emily Hand, aged nine, is among the captives freed on Saturday night (Supplied)

Thirteen Israelis  six women and seven children  were released as part of a four-day truce and hostage release deal. Four Thai nationals were also released at the same time, but were not part of the core Israel-Hamas deal in which 39 Palestinians will also be released from prisons in Israel.

Meanwhile early on Sunday a bus carrying nearly three dozen Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived in the West Bank. Hundreds of people greeted the International Committee of the Red Cross vehicle as it arrived in Al Bireh. Crowds chanted God is Great and several young men stood on the roof of the vehicle. Many in the crowd held Hamas flags and chanted pro-Hamas slogans. The release was the second batch of prisoners to be freed as part of a four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Thirty-nine Palestinian prisoners, including six women and 33 children, from two prisons were set free.

After her release, Emilys family released a statement saying they were overjoyed to be able to embrace her again and thanked the world for unwavering support in trying to secure her return. We cant find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days.

A Palestinian man is welcomed home in the West Bank in the early hours of Sunday (AFP)

Israeli hostages are handed over to the Red Cross on Saturday (Reuters)

Emily had been having a sleep over with her friend Hila Rotem who was also freed  although Raya, Hilas mother, remains in Gaza. At the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return. We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home, the statement added.

The families of the other released hostages spoke of the need to keep fighting for those who had been left behind.

Inbal Tzach, the cousin of Adi Shoham, 38, who was freed together with her mother Shoshan, 67, and her two children Nave, 8, and Yahel, 3, who was the youngest in Saturdays group. Inbal said she felt the saddest joy and the happiest sadness. Like Emily, the family had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri.

We still have a long way to go, she said after she was freed. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home. Keep fighting with us, she said.

Adi Shoham and three-year-old Yahel (AP)

Zohar Avigdori is the uncle of Noam Avigdori, 12, and brother-in-law of Sharon Avigdori, 52, both released on Saturday. He said his legs were shaking as he and the rest of the family waited.

We dont forget for a moment that these are the same legs that will continue the journey to sustain us in the long journey that is still ahead of us  until the safe return of all the hostages, he added.

Among those released on Saturday was Maya Regev, 21,  she was shot when she was abducted from Reim festival and so was taken to hospital in Israel for treatment.

The other Israelis released were: the Or family: Noam, 16, and Alma, 13; the Weiss family: Shiri, 53, and Noga, 18; Hila Rotem Shoshani, 12. The names of the four Thai hostages were still to be released.

The release had been put back by several hours as Hamas armed wing said it wanted a delay until Israel commits to allowing aid trucks to enter northern Gaza.

It showed the fragile nature of the hostage deal and a connected temporary four-day ceasefire which took weeks of fraught negotiations. Qatari officials, who flew to Israel for a very rare meeting, furiously shuttled between all sides in the eleventh hour before announcing the second daily release of hostages would go ahead shortly before those freed were transferred to Rafah.

Hundreds of Palestinians greeted the arrival of released detainees on Sunday morning (AFP)

In a statement, Hamas said it upholds their appreciation towards Egypt and Qatar for ensuring the continuation of their temporary truce with Israel. Reports had earlier circulated on Hamas-affiliated social media channels accusing Israel of tampering with the terms of the truce, including curtailing free movement of aid north and the use of aircraft, which is barred by the details of the agreement. Israeli sources said they did not violate the agreement.

A Hamas spokesperson had said a total of 340 aid trucks entered Gaza but only 65 reached north Gaza which was less than half of what Israel agreed on.

The Palestine Red Crescent had posted just an hour before the Hamas statement that it was able to deliver aid to Gaza City and the north Gaza governorate in one of the largest convoys since the start of the war. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees added that 196 trucks of aid entered on Friday, and Israel said four fuel trucks and four tanks of gas entered Saturday.

Two of the Palestinian women freed , Maysoun Jabali and Israa Jaabis, were imprisoned in 2015 after being convicted of carrying out attacks on Israelis  which they deny.

Sharon Avigdori, 52, and Noam Avigdori, 12, have been returned to Israel (Supplied)

Ms Jaabis suffered severe burns during the incident. Also on the list, according to Palestinian rights group Addameer, are five minors who are in administrative detention  meaning they are held without charge or trial, something rights group say is a violation of international law. Israel denies accusations of arbitrary detention.

The hostage release and temporary ceasefire deal was agreed after weeks of tense negotiations, a breakthrough which saw Israeli families finally reunited and granted Palestinians civilians a rare moment of respite under ferocious Israeli bombing.

Israel has unleashed its heaviest bombardment yet of Gaza in retaliation for 7 October attack by Hamas on southern Israel, where militants killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage.

The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza says Israels bombing of the besieged strip has killed more than 14,000 people, including thousands of children. It has also levelled swathes of the besieged strip and an unknown number of people remain trapped under the rubble.

On Friday the agreement appeared to continue comparatively smoothly with 13 Israelis released via Egypt, and 39 Palestinians detainees sent home from Israeli jails  alongside at least 200 trucks of aid entering the besieged strip. That initial release had also included an additional 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino.

Among the Israelis freed on Friday after almost 50 days in captivity in Gaza was nine-year-old Ohad Munder, who ran down a hospital corridor in Israel into his father's open arms, footage released by Schneider childrens medical centre showed.

He and three other children released at the same time were in relatively good condition, Gilat Livni, the centre's director of paediatrics told reporters.

Alma Or and her older brother Noam have both been freed after they were kidnapped with their father Dror (Supplied)

I dreamt we came home, another hostage, four-year-old Raz Asher said sitting in her fathers arms on a hospital bed after she and her mother and younger sister were freed. Now the dream came true, her father, Yoni, replied.

Under the Israeli-Hamas agreement, a total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinians, all women and teenagers imprisoned in Israel.

Before the delay from Hamas in the latest hostage release, a Qatari delegation made an extremely rare trip to Israel on Saturday to ensure the deal continues to move smoothy and to discuss further details of the ongoing deal, one source told The Independent. Qatar and Israel formally do not have diplomatic relations highlighting the importance  and perhaps the stakes  of the visit. A Qatari jet was photographed landing in Tel Aviv.

Palestinian civilians in Gaza told of finally being able to breathe as the bombing stopped. Families walked for miles to try to get news of their relatives they were separated from in the fighting. Others sought to find and bury their dead as thousands of bodies are trapped under the rubble. Many shared videos of severe levels of destruction. But there were also videos shared of families going to the beach. Men are going to hair salon, women are going out to get supplies, I cant describe the calmness, said Sara, 21.

There were even discussions of an extension to the ceasefire just a few hours before the temporary setback.

Palestinians walk through destruction in Gaza City (AP)

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypts State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that Cairo was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement which would mean the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

The families of the hostages said on Saturday that they were counting on deal being extended to allow the release of different categories of captives including men. So far only children, their mothers and the most vulnerable elderly women have been included on the lists.

Getting everybody back alive and soon is the aim, alive and soon are connected to each other said Noam Peri: daughter of Haim Peri, 79, who was kidnapped from his home in kibbutz Nir Oz and as a man is not eligible for release right now. She said he had recently survived a heart attack and depended on medication to survive.

Ms Peris said she had proof of life for her father from Fridays release of hostages who had been held with him, in hard conditions underground.

We dont even know if he can stand where he is kept, it has been 50 days.
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Warning: This live feed may contain distressing scenes.

Watch a view of an Israeli prison and the Rafah border crossing as hostages and prisoners were released as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal on Saturday, 25 November.

The militant group released a group of hostages through the Rafah crossing and in return, Israel released Palestinians from its jails.

On Friday, 13 Israelis were freed after weeks of being held captive inside Gaza.

They were among 240 people kidnapped by Hamas during the 7 October attack on Israel when 1,200 people were killed.

In exchange, Israel released 39 Palestinians, a mix of women and minors, imprisoned in its jails as part of the four-day ceasefire deal.

As part of a separate, Qatar-backed agreement, ten Thai nationals and one Filipino held hostage by Hamas were also released.

The Israeli government published the names and ages of 13 individuals released from captivity in Hamas, with many from the Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Their ages ranged from two to 85 years old.
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A four-day truce has started which will see a total of 50 Israeli hostages released in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

In this deal the first two groups of hostages - 26 Israeli women and children held in captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza - were released on Friday and Saturday.

At the same time, a total of 78 Palestinian women and children - three for every Israeli - were expected to be released from Israeli prisons, with the inmates handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and gathered at Israels Ofer military jail before going home.

Marah Bakir, right, a former Palestinian prisoner who was released by the Israeli authorities, at her family home in east Jerusalem (AP)

The exchange has thrown a spotlight on Palestinian women and minors jailed in Israel, a surge in arrests since Hamass bloody attack on 7 October and accusations of arbitrary detention, and unfair trial - something Israel vehemently denies.

When news first broke of a ceasefire deal Israel released a list of 300 names in Hebrew of detainees that it said would be eligible for release. Israel has said the Qatari-brokered truce can be extended by a day for every 10 additional Israeli hostages that are released.

In tandem, there will be the additional release of Palestinians. Israel has said it refused to include prisoners convicted of murder on the release lists but those convicted of attempted murder, however, could be.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy accused the Palestinian prisoners due to be released of having blood on their hands, telling Sky News they were convicted of stabbing and shooting attacks.

Former Palestinian female prisoner Hanna Barghouti wears a Hamas headband while she is received by supporters upon her arrival in the West Bank town of Beitunia (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

On the list are 123 minors, with the youngest aged 14 who was arrested in May on offences listed as sabotage activity assault against a police officer and throwing stones. He is one of five who are also 14 years old.

The eldest on the list is 59 year old Hanan Saleh Barghouti who was arrested in September and released on Friday. She was among several being held in administrative detention, which means a person is held without trial or charge - something international and Palestinian rights groups said could amount to arbitrary detention and so a war crime.

Rights groups say that there has been a record high number of arrests of Palestinians since Hamas launched its bloody 7 October attack on southern Israel, abducting approximately 240 people.

Palestinian rights group Addameer told The Independent that since then they have documented more than 3,100 cases of arrest of Palestinians including 100 women and 40 journalists.

Eighty per cent of those arrested since 7 October are being held - like Hanan - in administrative detention. They believe there now 7,000 Palestinians in Israel jails, among that number are 200 child prisoners and 62 women.

Former Palestinian prisoners were released on the first day of a four-day cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Israeli prisons service said there are more than 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in the country. The Israeli military has said repeatedly is conducting counter terrorism raids and is apprehending wanted terror suspects.

Amnesty international says right now more than 2,000 Palestinians are being held in administrative detention - which is a historic high and a significant increase from 1,300 administrative detentions recorded before 7 October.

In a report released earlier this month the rights group said: Administrative detention is one of the key tools through which Israel has enforced its system of apartheid against Palestinians. Israel denies any such characterisation.

The report also said that there was mounting evidence of torture, with detainees stripped, beaten and humiliated in recent weeks. Israel vehemently denies these accusations.

An Israeli prison transport vehicle carries Palestinian prisoners released by the Israeli authorities from Ofer military prison near Jerusalem on Friday (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The Independent has documented testimony from Palestinians of Israelis in military uniform beating, stripping, urinating on and attempting to sexual assault Palestinians in the occupied West Bank - an incident the military said it was investigating. It follows other reports of violence that have appeared in videos which the military said was deplorable and does not comply with the armys orders. 

Addameers Tala Nasir said that they have documented that six prisoners and detainees have died in Israeli custody since 7 October. Two of the four were workers from the Gaza Strip held incommunicado in military detention centres.

In a statement released last month International Committee for the Red Cross has confirmed that Palestinian prisoners have been denied contact with their families and lawyers since 7 October.

Addameer said that around 3,000 workers from Gaza who were in Israel on the day of the attack were detained and then deported them to Gaza through Karem Abu Salem crossing. However, Addameer says the fate of around 700 workers remains unknown.
Arriving late in Ajaccio, Corsica, at Aeroport Napoleon Bonaparte, I take a taxi to Hotel Napoleon. Its a block south of the main thoroughfare, Cours Napoleon, where next morning I bask in the Mediterranean warmth with a croissant and double espresso at the Grand Cafe Napoleon.

A few doors away is a cinema advertising Ridley Scotts new film, Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix, which opened in UK cinemas this week. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio in 1769, yet if I imagined the density of public monuments here named after their prodigal son equated to popularity, I find his legacy divides Corsican opinion.

My local guide for a day, Catherine Lehmann, says Corsicans generally admire him but they do so through clenched teeth. The movie trailer claims he came from nothing and conquered everything, but its not true as his parents were already an established noble family, she complained. He did nothing for Corsica during his time in power.
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Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue  and what it means for you.

Barry Freeman was waiting on the platform at Amsterdam Centraal when the first Eurostar train from London St Pancras drew in. Back in February 2018, the British expatriate with an interest in rail excellence recognised the significance of the event. One of the key international air markets in Europe, linking the capitals of the UK and the Netherlands, was now an intercity rail route.

London-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam was a dream trip for rail passengers keen to reach the Netherlands without the hassle of flying or (for those who stick to terrestrial travel) changing from train to ship and back again.

It was, initially, only a one-way miracle. The big problem: Eurostar relies on juxtaposed border controls. All continent-bound travellers are cleared into the European Union while still at London St Pancras International. Five years ago, when the UK was still pretending to be in the EU, that was no problem: French frontier officials simply checked that every British passenger had a valid passport, and that it belonged to them. Inbound from Amsterdam, though, it took time to create a space inside the beautiful-but-constrained Centraal station for the mandatory security checks and passport formalities.

Then the UK government got Brexit done  and successfully negotiated for British travellers to have the same status as people from Tonga and Venezuela, vis a vis the European Union. The EU delivered exactly what we asked for: that every UK citizen must have their passport scrutinised for evidence of overstaying, and stamped.

The British decision took effect in 2021 and multiplied the time taken for each UK traveller. As a result, Eurostar must cap passenger numbers on trains leaving Amsterdam for London.

Now the Dutch want to renovate Amsterdam Centraal. The British did the same with another 19th-century gem, London St Pancras  but had the huge advantage of Eurostar trains running in and out of London Waterloo until the new terminus was good and ready.

Such is the scale of the work at the Dutch end of the route that the security-plus-passports operation required to board passengers for London has been squeezed out. Trains from Britain can still arrive and disgorge passengers, who can stride into the city centre or (my preference) take a free ferry across to Amsterdam Noord. But direct trains are simply not possible in the opposite direction. They will, instead, run empty to Brussels.

Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide, says: Eurostar is a victim here of behaving like an airline  with dedicated terminals and security. This is, of course, imposed on Eurostar by the UK governments insistence on segregated handling of Eurostar passengers and checking immigration status prior to boarding trains.

The train not departing from the Dutch capital is a casualty of Brexit, she says: Eurostars exceptionalism and that need for dedicated terminals is the direct result of Britains difficult relationship with its EU neighbours.

Thousands of passengers from beyond Dutch borders arrive every day in the Netherlands. Though trains from abroad arrive at over a score of Dutch stations.

But Eurostars need for dedicated terminals just undermines the flexibility that normally comes with cross-border rail travel. Passengers from the Netherlands on direct trains to Belgium, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland wont be so seriously affected by the Dutch infrastructure work in 2024, as those trains dont need dedicated terminals.

One of rail travels permanently optimistic characters is Mark Smith, The Man in Seat 61. He says things could be worse: It sounds like a decent compromise. The feared 12 months has been cut to six. London Amsterdam, Amsterdam-London has a Brussels shuffle. But some of the extra time is recovered by there no longer being any need to add check-in time at Amsterdam.

Barry Freeman, meanwhile, has an appealingly simple solution: The UK should join the Schengen area then none of this malarkey will need to take place.

While little in travel is certain these days, I cant quite see that happening in the next seven months.
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Severe turbulence during a flight this week led to crew members on board being taken to hospital in Australia.

The incident occurred on a plane operated by Australian low-cost airline Bonza, flying across the state of Queensland between Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday (21 November).

The extent of the injuries and the exact number of people hurt has not been confirmed.

Tim Jordan, chief executive of Bonza, confirmed to The Independent that no customers were hurt.

A flight from Rockhampton to the Sunshine Coast experienced unexpected and severe turbulence leading some Bonza crew members needing to be assessed at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, he said.

Read more: What is turbulence and can it cause your plane to crash?

The priority is always the safety of our staff and customers, Mr Jordan added, stating that staff were able to return home the evening after the incident.

The mid-air fright caused the cancellation of a flight from the Sunshine Coast to Mildura, in Victoria, while the aircraft was assessed.

Whilst turbulence is something that any airline can experience, and we followed procedures onboard, we will be undergoing a review and taking any learnings onboard. Our thoughts are with the customers and crew who are no doubt impacted by the events of yesterday. The aircraft has been thoroughly inspected and was back in operation the following morning, said Mr Jordan.

Bonza is a new airline, having only started operations in January 2023. It has five aircraft in its fleet, according to Planespotters.net, and serves domestic and regional routes across Australia.

Its not the only airline to have experienced severe turbulence this year.

In June, a British Airways flight from Singapore to London Heathrow hit such severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal that the plane had to return to its starting point to check for possible damage. A mother-of-two described her terror after the plane was hit by the worst turbulence in years as it was flying at 30,000ft. She said it felt like she fell out of the sky.

Two months earlier, eight passengers and two crew members required medical assistance after severe turbulence struck a plane making its way to Portugal. The moment the turbulence first hit was caught on camera, showing people and food being thrown across the cabin.
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Amsterdam-Rotterdam-London, the fastest-growing of Eurostars intercity routes, is to close for around six months, Dutch Railways (NS) has announced.

Eurostar trains will run empty on the route between June 2024 and January 2025, picking up London-bound travellers on arrival in Brussels.

Eurostar says passengers will still be able to travel outbound from London to both Dutch cities.

Refurbishment of Centraal station in the Dutch capital is responsible for the closure. There will not be sufficient space to handle London-bound passengers at the station, given the more intensive post-Brexit formalities.

For several months negotiations have been going on between NS, Eurostar, the Dutch infrastructure provider ProRail and the Dutch government.

An NS statement read: Unfortunately, we have had to conclude that despite all efforts, there will be a period in which there will be no direct train to London from Amsterdam. That period is expected to be six months (approximately June 2024January 2025).

That is very disappointing because we have worked hard in recent years to make the Eurostar to London an attractive alternative to the plane. It is a particularly difficult puzzle to solve. If there had been a simple solution, all parties would have seized it with both hands. Unfortunately, after various investigations, that simple solution appears not to exist.

We have jointly chosen to take a step back in the second half of 2024 and not run a Eurostar directly to London for a while.

The new, large terminal will be ready from January 2025 and we will have the opportunity to allow many more travel;ers to travel directly from Amsterdam to London. In this way we make Eurostar an even more attractive alternative to the plane for many more travellers.

Until that happens, passengers from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will need to change trains in Brussels.

Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of Eurostar Group, said: Eurostar has always aimed to find a solution that would have the least possible impact on customers, the environment and its business. We acknowledge that a final decision has been made.

We are pleased that the discussions have shortened the gap in services between Amsterdam and London from 12 to six months and we continue to work on reducing the inconvenience for passengers, local residents and the economy of Amsterdam and surrounding areas.

|t is very important that all the parties involved are responsible and supportive of each other to meet the deadlines.

Our focus must now turn to how we can offer the best experience and journey connections for Eurostar customers in this period. As part of this work, we will still run services directly between London and Amsterdam one way as a minimum.
A convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, 25 November, on the second day of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

It comes after aid reached northern Gaza for the first time in over a month on Friday.

The UN said the pause has enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of humanitarian aid convoys on 21 October.

All imports into Gaza have been barred by Israel throughout the conflict, except for a minimal amount of supplies from Egypt.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of London on Saturday, 25 November, to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

It is the latest pro-Palestine demonstration in the capital, which came after Egyptian officials confirmed that Hamas will later free another 14 hostages in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as part of the four-day ceasefire deal.

Protesters in London are marching from Park Lane to Whitehall, with police handing out leaflets to provide absolute clarity on what will be deemed an offence.
Italian women are asking to burn down the patriarchal system while marching for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.

It comes after Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student, was found dead on 18 November.

In response, Cecchettins sister Elena said: For Giulia, dont make a minute of silence. For Giulia, burn everything down.

The call was heard by Emma Ruzzon, 23, the student-body president of the University of Padua, who helped organise a minute of noise in memory of Giulia.

I am asking the Italian government to be brave and admit there is a problem with gender-based violence, Ms Ruzzon told The Independent.
Back in the eighties a gnarled old tabloid editor, Derek Jameson  dubbed Sid Yobbo by Private Eye  became an unlikely TV success with a BBC programme, Do They Mean Us?

The idea was a simple one: each week Jameson would ridicule foreign media coverage of Britain. The underlying premise was that foreign journalists were by and large stupid. And that, in the immortal couplet of the 1960s songwriters Flanders and Swann: The English, the English, the English are best / I wouldnt give tuppence for all of the rest!

Jamesons programme came back to me this week when a German journalist, Birgit Maass of Deutsche Welle, won the top prize at the annual Foreign Press Association awards in London for a film shed made about the UK.
As women are taking to the streets across Europe on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a new chant is rising up from the Italian demonstrations: burn everything down.

This is the message launched by the sister of Giulia Cecchettin, the 22-year-old biomedical engineering student who was found dead on 18 November.

Giulia went missing after having dinner with her ex-boyfriend at a local McDonalds in the Venice province. After a week of frantic searches, her body was discovered near a lake.
Tommy Kelly sold his remaining stake in e-commerce platform ESW to long-term shareholder Asendia in 2021

The Tommy Kelly-founded global e-commerce platform ESW has taken a substantial impairment amounting to almost 94m, a year after its acquisition of Los Angeles-based Scalefast.

The impairment is understood to reflect a planned recognition of overlap between ESWs and Scalefasts pre-existing platforms and associated business integration measures after the US business was bought for 285m in 2022.

ESW works with retailers across the world, such as Nike and Calvin Klein, to help them localise their websites for about 200 markets.

The technology helps brands handle everything from online ordering and buying to dealing with taxes and tariffs, delivery, returns, fraud protection and data security.

Scalefast, acquired as a complementary business, provides similar services to brands but is more focused on one-off and short-term marketing campaigns.

Accounts just filed for two entities in ESWs corporate structure indicate revenues have increased to around 1.6bn across the business, which is headquartered in Swords, Co Dublin.

That is based on 2022 accounts filed for US Direct E-commerce Limited (ECOI) and US Direct E-Commerce Holdings DAC (ECH). The accounts dont give a complete picture of ESW Groups finances but ECOI is known to account for under 80pc of overall group revenues. Its accounts show revenue rose 21pc to 1.288bn  indicating group sales above 1.6bn.

ECOIs profit after taxation was 17m, down on 2021.

The accounts for ECH show a loss after taxation for the year of 89.47m, substantially due to the exceptional Scalefast impairment. In July of this year, Tommy Kelly announced he was stepping back from his chief executive role to become co-chairman of the business, two years after finalising his sale of the digital platform.

He became co-chairman alongside Marc Pontet, CEO of Asendia, ESWs owner.

Eric Eichmann took over as chief executive. Mr Kelly had stayed on as CEO for two years after selling his remaining 49pc stake in the business in 2021. He founded ESW in 2010.

ESWs owner, Asendia, is a joint venture between units of Frances La Poste and Switzerlands La Poste Suisse.

Asendia has been a shareholder since 2013 and had raised its stake in the business to 50.1pc in 2017 before eventually buying out the business in 2021.
The companys level of debt remained high, with liabilities of 99m as of the end of the year. Above, Gannon Homes Ltd developer Gerry Gannon

Profits at Gannon Homes, the building firm owned by prominent developer Gerry Gannon, more than doubled to 5.5m in 2022, new accounts show.

However, the companys level of debt remained high, with liabilities of 99m as of the end of the year.

New accounts for Gannon Homes Ltd, Gannons main firm, show the companys turnover was stable during 2022 at 55.9m.

This is up slightly compared with the 55.2m recorded in 2021.

However, the company managed to reduce its running costs from 48.2m to 45.6m.

This helped the firm record an operating profit of 8.3m, up from 4.8m in 2021, and a full-year profit of 5.5m. In turn, this allowed Gannon Homes reduce its liabilities, which dropped from 104.7m to 99.2m.

A note attached to the accounts said this was due to strong demand for new properties and showed the general strength of the Irish housing market.

The activity for the year reflects the demand in house construction and sales which is a factor of overall market performance, it said.

The company continues to develop stock for sale reflecting a confidence in the underlying demand for new homes.

The accounts added that the directors are confident in the ability of the company to trade strongly and develop new housing stocks, which it said would allow the firm to remain profitable.

The companys loans are held by the States bad bank, Nama.

In 2012, Gannon Homes entered into an agreement with the organisation which allowed it to continue trading after running up significant liabilities during the Celtic Tiger.

The companys accounts state: An extension of this [agreement] continues to be negotiated, whilst new funding was received in 2020 to continue development until 2024.

The directors are confident that Nama will continue to provide financial support to the company for the foreseeable future and will continue to work with Nama in this regard.

With this support, they are satisfied that the company can continue to manage its business and pay its liabilities as they fall due.

The accounts said that because of this arrangement with Nama, despite the companys high level of debt, the directors are confident the business will continue.

They also show that seven people were employed by Gannon Homes during 2022, compared to eight in 2021.

Gannon Homes has been involved in multiple prominent housing projects since its arrangement with Nama.

This included an ambitious plan to build over 2,500 homes at a site in Belcamp Hall on the Malahide Road in north Dublin, which is being considered by An Bord Pleanala.

More recently, Mr Gannon has accepted an offer to sell his car park at Dublin Airport.

The 17-hectare site has room for more than 6,000 car-parking spaces as well as planning permission for an office building.

The developer opted to sell the leased lands to service his debts to Nama, with Fingal County Council being reported as the winning bid.
An Bord Pleanala has upheld a decision to reject planning permission for 99 apartments in blocks of up to six storeys in Foxrock, Dublin, saying the development would be "too tall".

The scheme was proposed by Macro Properties North West Limited. Bryan Walsh, the director of Dublin commercial property firm Acres, is one of the companys directors. Mr Walsh also lives in Foxrock.

The proposal to build 99 apartments would have involved demolishing two homes located on the site to the south of Westminster Road, near Foxrock village.

The development would have been in three apartment blocks, which would have ranged between three and six storeys tall.

It also would have included 145 car-parking spaces, 216 bike-parking spaces and a gym and cinema located on the ground floor of one of the apartment blocks.

The project was rejected by Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council, which found that it would have been overdevelopment of the site due to the number of homes proposed.

It also said there was an issue with the height of the buildings, which would have resulted in a visually dominant structure.

The local authority also said that the removal of 73 trees would adversely affect the special character and appearance of the Foxrock architectural conservation area.

This was appealed by the developer to An Bord Pleanala. An inspector for the planning regulator recommended that permission be granted for the project, saying this was in regard to housing policy which seeks to promote infill residential development and increased residential densities.

The inspector added: Having regard to the pattern of existing development in the area, it is considered that the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential amenities of the area in terms of visual impact.

However, the planning regulator did not agree with the recommendation, instead upholding Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Councils decision and refusing permission for the project.

In its decision, the organisation said: The board is not satisfied that the scale, design and massing of [the blocks] achieve balance and integrate with the existing single and two-storey dwellings in the vicinity of the site.

It added: It is considered that the proposed height would result in a visually dominant and overbearing form of development and would seriously injure the visual and residential amenities of the neighbouring properties.

The proposed development would therefore be contrary to the sustainable development of the area.
Paul Murray on why he almost gave up writing: There was no escape... It felt like I had been shamed

After winning Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, the Booker-shortlisted author on how he will react if he wins the award in London for The Bee Sting tomorrow, and the bad review that made him question his career

Irish Book Awards novel of the year winner Paul Murray. Photo: Frank McGrath

Eithne Shortall Sat 25 Nov 2023 at 03:30

Paul Murray is a private person. This comes up a few times over the course of our conversation. His books take years to write and he is happiest in that space; working away quietly, just the words and him. But lately that has been impossible. Because Murrays latest novel, The Bee Sting, is in contention for one of the worlds biggest literary prizes, the Booker, and hes a man in demand.
The drummer on the bands long road to success, his childhood memories of Lynott and how trying heroin just once put him off for life

Brian Downey was one of the lucky ones. Heroin never got its claws into him. Like many members of internationally successful rock bands in the 1970s, he tried the drug. But once was enough  he hated the stuff.

I tried it in America, the Thin Lizzy drummer says. The band had were on tour at the time. I was really curious to see what the big deal was, because Phil [Lynott] and Scott [Gorham] were taking it on a sort of semi-permanent basis.

When I took it, I got as ill as you can get. I was as sick as a dog, vomiting really badly. I lay down on the bed and woke up half an hour later as high as a kite. There was a party going on in the next room and I just joined in. But the next day, I experienced the worst hangover of my life. I was too frightened to try it again. Wed a gig to do that night and I dont know how I managed it. My muscles had seized up and I barely got through it. I said to Phil, Look man, I cant play the drum solo and he understood. He actually started laughing.

Lynott knew the side effects of heroin all too well, but he had become accustomed to the drug. Its effects would eventually take its toll, however, and his heroin dependency is at least part of the reason why he died at just 36 in 1986.

Gorham eventually managed to get clean. When Scott went into rehab, Downey says, Phil should have gone with him. He had promised Scott that he was going to go in with him.

Our manager at the time said, Hes working on his new solo album. Theres no time to go into the clinic. He wants to get this off his chest first. In the end, he never went, unfortunately.

Downey is doing promotional rounds to mark the release of a 50th anniversary edition of Thin Lizzys third album, Vagabonds of the Western World, but is content to talk about everything and anything. Hes an engaging raconteur and he has plenty of stories to tell.

The Dubliner formed Thin Lizzy with Lynott, Eric Bell and Eric Wrixon in 1969. Wrixon, who was a founding member of Van Morrisons first band, Them, left after a few months, but Lizzy hit the ground running. And, yet, despite exciting critics and audiences, big-time success came slowly.

The first pair of albums were critically acclaimed but only moderately successful. Vagabonds marked a development in the bands artistic prowess but the breakthrough was still a number of years away.

Prior to the release of Vagabonds, the band enjoyed a hit with their supercharged and gleefully reimagined Whiskey in the Jar. Downey recalls that the original plan was to release Black Boys on the Corner as the single, but the record company pushed hard for their cover of the trad song instead. It was a smart move, Downey say. Black Boys is a good song, one Ive always enjoyed playing, but Whiskey in the Jar made a lot of sense.

Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey

Vagabonds, Downey says, is significant for several reasons. It was the last album that [original guitarist] Eric Bell made with Thin Lizzy and it was the first to feature the artwork of Jim Fitzpatrick. Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson would bring their guitars to subsequent albums, starting with 1974s Nightlife, and Fitzpatrick  who was already celebrated for his Che Guevara poster and Celtic mythology imagery  would be responsible for Lizzys distinct visual identity from then on.

Although they had been a hit back home in Ireland from the off  and toured the country extensively  overseas success arrived with the release of the Jailbreak album in 1976. Downey says he had a feeling that things were about to change during the sessions for that album. Its centrepiece, The Boys are Back in Town, felt like a song that was going to connect with a large audience. And so it did.

By the time Jailbreak was released, the band had become a formidable live outfit. We had been recognised as a really good live band in the early days when Eric was with us and that continued when Robbo [Brian Robertson] and Scott joined us, Downey says.

With the success of Jailbreak, there might have been a perception from some that we were an overnight success, but wed put in five or six years of work beforehand. Wed become very finely honed.

There are few towns in Ireland they didnt play at least once. (I was delighted some years ago to hear that, as they played the showband venue circuit, they had graced the stage of the hall my parents used to dance in, the Las Vegas in Templemore, Co Tipperary.)

Eventually, they had bigger fish to fry, especially when the giant US market came calling. We had been touring in America with [Canadian band] Bachman-Turner Overdrive  who were terrible live  and we could blow them off the stage. We were aware back then that we really had to put on a good live show to impress.

Lizzys extraordinary on-stage prowess is captured on Live and Dangerous, which was released in 1978. It is still cited as one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, although controversy surrounds it. How much of it was live and how much were overdubs applied by producer Tony Visconti in the studio?

Downey doesnt deny that Viscontis alchemy played a part in its sound but he insists his own drumming wasnt tampered with. Tony went on record to say that 50pc of the album were overdubs, but I think it was about 25pc and the rest was live. I remember him saying to me, Do you want to do anything on the drums overdub-wise? and I said, It doesnt really need anything. So every single thing you hear on Live and Dangerous, drum-wise, is what you would have heard in those concerts.

Many drummers of Downeys generation suffered severe pain later in life. Phil Collins has frequently spoken about how his playing in Genesis has wreaked havoc on his body. Larry Mullen, who is a decade younger than Downey, has had to sit out U2s Las Vegas residency due to severe physical discomfort.

There might have been a perception from some that we were an overnight success, but wed put in five or six years of work beforehand

Downey says he is one of the lucky ones and, at 72, he continues to pound the skins. Its easy to overexert yourself when youre drumming, especially when youre playing big concerts, but I was always conscious of not doing that, he says. It helped that his father was also a drummer, having played percussion for years in the Harolds Cross Pipe Band.

Few days go by when Downey doesnt think of Lynott. Both grew up in Crumlin and attended the same school, although Lynott was two years older. They didnt really know each other then. He wasnt just the only black guy in the school, but the only black guy in the whole of Crumlin.

He chuckles at a memory. I remember Phil coming around with the Black Babies Box [as the charity collection boxes were then called]. Youd come in with your penny or hapenny. If you didnt put it in, hed elbow you in the shoulder and say, Next time I come around, make sure your mum gives you something to put in for the black babies because youll be the only one in the class who hasnt put something in. Years later, I asked him what the story with that was and he said that the head brother had told him to go collecting in each class and anyone who didnt put any money in was to be given a box!

It was only when Lynott joined his first band, the Black Eagles, that Downey got to know him. He had an unbelievable stage presence but when I got to meet him, he became a good friend very quickly.

Downey joined the band but he and Lynott were soon hatching plans to form their own group. Phil wasnt the leader of that band  it was Frankie Smith, who was son of the manager Joe Smith  but he [Lynott] had the charisma of a frontman, so it was inevitable [that he would front a different band].

That band would forever alter Brian Downeys life and write its legend into Irish rock lore.

Thin Lizzy's Vagabonds of the Western World was released 50 years ago

The 50th Anniversary edition of Vagabonds of the Western World is out now
Businesses fear customers will be reluctant to visit Dublin after violence

Gardai outside Foot Locker on OConnell Street, which was targeted in the riots. Photo: Frank McGrath

Black Friday trading in Dublin city centre plummeted yesterday compared with last year as businesses grappled with the aftermath of Thursday nights destruction.

This is traditionally one of the biggest weekends of the year for the retail industry, with businesses preparing for weeks to welcome eager shoppers into stores.

However, for some businesses on Irelands main thoroughfare and beyond, this key trading period has been severely disrupted.

Public transport into the city centre was also compromised yesterday after a Luas tram was set ablaze and overhead lines damaged.

Videos posted online during Thursdays rioting showed people breaking into numerous shops, including Foot Locker on OConnell Street, smashing windows and stealing items.

Trading in Dublin city centre [on Friday] is down 70pc on last year, Retail Excellence chief executive Jean McCabe said.

We need to make sure that we support those retailers that have been affected because this weekend should have been a bumper weekend for them all and theyll be trying to claw back those figures, especially when we consider the pressure thats already on the retail industry in regards to doing business.

The mood around retailers is devastated, shocked and angry, at the opportunistic lawless group, she said.

One retailer told Ms McCabe he suspected elderly customers would be scared to travel into the city.

Theres a big concern about how last nights events might have on trading over the next few days but also how it might affect consumer behaviour over the coming weeks, Retail Ireland director Arnold Dillon said.

Cliff Nolan, who runs Bike Stop on Capel Street in Dublins city centre, said damage to his business would cost thousands to repair.

They tore the glass out, damaged a good few bikes and stole a few thousand worth of new bikes and second-hand bikes, he said. Weve lost a lot of business today and were going to lose a lot of money trying to secure the place.

Industry bodies and businesses have long called for action as anti-social behaviour, particularly in the north inner city, surged after the pandemic.

We have been given assurances that there will be significant additional garda presence, given the elevated risk, Mr Dillon said. Retailers are looking for a robust and visible presence to reassure consumers.

Department store Arnotts, which was targeted by looters on Thursday, reopened at midday yesterday after staff worked through the night.

They may have damaged our store and stolen some merchandise, but they can never damage the Arnotts spirit, we will not allow them, Brown Thomas Arnotts chief executive Donald McDonald said.

A Penneys spokesperson said the retailer was deeply saddened by the Parnell Square attack. The subsequent events that unfolded in the city centre last night were appalling and do not reflect the spirit of Dublin city, they added, thanking store teams and gardai who evacuated employees and customers.

Penneys said the retailer had made the decision to shut stores on OConnell Street and Mary Street earlier yesterday to ensure our people get home safely.

The hope is that this will be the catalyst to implement those changes that need to be made, Retail Excellences Jean McCabe said. If it doesnt happen now, I dont know when itll ever happen.
Girl (5) and care assistant still in serious condition

Floral tributes at the scene of the stabbing on Parnell Square in Dublin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

Armed gardai are patrolling the hospital treating the suspect for Thursdays stabbing outside a Dublin school.

It is understood there have been credible threats against the mans life as he continues to get medical care for his injuries.

Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl was last night continuing to cling to life at Temple Street Hospital after suffering a critical wound in the incident.

A female care assistant in her 30s was also in a serious condition.

Two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, suffered less serious injuries. The girl remained in hospital on Friday but the boy has been discharged.

Gardai said a man who sustained serious injuries at the scene was now a person of interest in their investigation.

At this stage, detectives have still not established any link between the suspect and the school he attacked but it is not considered to be a terrorism incident.

Information has come to gardai that the suspect was highly agitated in recent days about an issue that had nothing to do with the school.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris says a child, 5, "seriously injured" after Dublin stabbing as he blasts rioters

The grievance is the suspected motivation for the stabbing attack.

For a reason only known to himself, this individual seems to have targeted children and their carer in a dispute that has nothing to do with them, a source said.

The man is not born in Ireland but became a naturalised Irish citizen in 2014. He has been living in homeless accommodation in Dublins north inner city.

Shortly after the incident at the school, a group of protesters gathered at the scene.

It was not long before they attempted to break through a garda cordon. Within a few hours, hundreds of people were on the street as the situation gradually grew more violent.

As darkness fell on the capital, chaos ensued, with gardai suffering assaults, public transport being torched and shops being looted.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on Friday said it was disgraceful that garda inquiries into the knife attack had been disrupted by the riots in Dublin.

He told a press conference: These [riots] are scenes that we have not seen in decades but what is clear is that people have been radicalised through social media and the internet.

But I dont want to lose focus on the terrible event in terms of the dreadful assault on schoolchildren and their teacher. Theres a full investigation ongoing. Theres also a full investigation in respect of the disorder.

Meanwhile, a hero Deliveroo rider who helped stop the attacker has told how he sprung into action when he saw a child being stabbed.

Father-of-two Caio Benicio described how he used his helmet to hit the man who had attacked three young children and the female creche worker.

Mr Benicio is originally from Rio de Janeiro and arrived in Ireland a year ago.

Hero Deliveroo driver who stopped Parnell Square knife attacker

A GoFundMe established to thank Mr Benicio hit its 200,000 target within hours of being set up on Friday.

The fundraiser was set up to buy Caio Benicio a pint.

Mr Benicio told the Irish Independent that he had not been frightened when he intervened on Thursday.

I didnt have time to be afraid. I have two kids myself and I didnt have time to be afraid, I just acted, he said.

Mr Benicio said he originally thought it was a fight between a man and a woman.

I was working like a normal day. And I was passing by in Parnell Square. For me, at first, it looked like a fight, a normal fight. I slowed down my motorcycle and it was a man and a woman, he said.

Mr Benicio then described how he saw a woman fighting for a young girl.

She was very, very brave. She was fighting for a girl, a little girl.

I was like, Whats happening here and then I saw him with a knife and he grabbed a little girl.

It was then that Mr Benicio saw the man stab the little girl.

I stopped my bike and I dont know, I acted by instinct I took off my helmet and hit him with the helmet on the head.
Damage to a shop on O'Connell Street following the disturbance on Thursday night Picture: Gerry Mooney

A Dublin business is offering to replace broken glass for small businesses in the city from the riots.

Rathmines Glass has stated that they will only charge the cost of materials and will fix any small business's broken glass windows for free.

Danielle Tutty of Rathmines Glass told the Irish Independent that she received over 50 calls today.

"They werent even just from businesses, I had an old lady ring me say she's seen it online and that we were brilliant and that she's gone into town to buy some things to support small businesses, she said.

Its all been about helping in whatever way we can.

Ms Tutty said that Rathmines Glass will continue to try help any small businesses impacted by Thursdays events all they need to do is reach out.

A statement posted on Instagram from the small family glass business expressed their desire to help others affected by the recent events in Dublin.

"Are you a small business affected by the events in Dublin over the last few days? Or do you know a small business affected?" the post from Rathmines Glass asked.

Dublin riots: Footage shows damage to shops in city centre as Black Friday sales due to kick off

"We want to help. We want to offer every business in the city centre free fitting of any glass broken on their premises. We will also clean up and dispose of their old glass. They just pay the trade cost of the glass, which is whatever it cost us.

"Why? Well, we are a small family-run Irish business, and the recent events don't speak for us.

"No business should be out of pocket for this. It's disgusting. The number of calls I received yesterday from small business owners looking for a 'price' to fix their windows, as they are afraid to put it through their insurance, as their premiums will 'go through the roof.'

"It's Christmas, and we gained lots of extra business because of this madness. So, we can give back. I've been scratching my head at the whole lot. We want to help."

Rathmines Glass has expressed their goal to get the city 'open and trading' because '99.9pc of Irish people are sound.
Criticism of McEntee over failure to tackle danger in capital

Helen McEntee responded to criticism of the violent scenes in the city centre by insisting she would not resign

Backbench Fianna Fail TDs and senators have said Justice Minister Helen McEntees position is untenable after her handling of the Dublin riots, following increasing concern for safety in the capital.

Anger was rife in the party on Thursday night, especially among Dublin politicians, a number of whom said they could not believe Ms McEntee was still in place.

A number of TDs and senators, speaking privately, said her position was now untenable. One Fianna Fail minister said she was out of her depth.

Ms McEntee insisted last night that she would not resign after the Taoiseach and Tanaiste both said they had confidence in her.

I cant believe shes still in the job, said one senator.

A TD said: I thought she should have gone a long time ago. Shes not a good minister.

Shes not across the issues  she is constantly referring to her notes in media interviews.

Another TD weighed in, saying: Shes out of her depth. She has a commissioner who doesnt have the confidence of 90pc of his corps and thats a disaster.

Ms McEntees performances on TV news programmes on Thursday night and yesterday morning were also criticised.

Everybody Ive spoken to today has spoken about it, a TD said last night.

Maybe shes better off not being seen because shes not inspiring many people when she is seen.

Limerick TD Willie ODea, who served as defence minister from 2004 to 2010, said: The Government have taken a pretty laissez-faire approach and the investment hasnt come quickly enough.

McEntee seems to be very focused on certain aspects of her department, of which law and order doesnt seem to be one.

Helen McEntee promises Gardai have necessary resources to keep people in Dublin safe

Senator Malcolm Byrne registered his frustration following Thursdays riots.

He said: The softly-softly approach of the minister and the commissioner to dealing with thugs who show no respect for the law has to end.

Decent people are fed up that people who make no contribution to society seem to be able to get away with criminal and anti-social behaviour. There is a lot of real anger about.

Fine Gael TDs also expressed dismay behind the scenes at Leinster House. However, they would not publicly criticise the minister.

One said: Fine Gael is the party of law and order. We have always offered no compromise with crime. Our whole stock-in-trade is at risk after a series of embarrassing episodes.

Another said: You watch her on television and you know in your heart of hearts that it is not good enough.

She is too wooden and mechanical. You dont hear the full firmness that we need. Shes not blunt and tough enough.

A third Fine Gael source said: She doesnt seem to have established the trust of the people.

Ms McEntee insisted she would not be offering her resignation.

Im committed to my work, she said, and expressed full confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, saying the force had responded quickly and in an excellent way.

She claimed the rioters had eventually been confined to a small area.

Ms McEntee recently claimed Dublin is a safe city, but she admitted yesterday that it was anything but safe on Thursday night.
French president Emmanuel Macron has congratulated the 17-year-old intern from France who helped disarm the suspect involved in Thursdays Parnell Square attack in Dublin.

The suspect had attacked a queue of young schoolchildren who were being escorted by a creche worker into an after-school care facility.

Alan Loren-Guille (17) is originally from Ardennes, France. The final year secondary school student has been doing his internship in a restaurant in Dublin since October and was due to return to France at the end of November, according to French media, France Bleu and France 3.

Mr Macron called Mr Loren-Guille to congratulate him and thank him for this act of bravery which helped save lives and which makes us all proud , the Elysee, the official residence of the French President, told French media Le Figaro yesterday.

We salute the courage of our compatriot, who helped put an end to the attack perpetrated by an attacker in Dublin yesterday, said the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris to Le Figaro.

We also send our thoughts to the victims of this attack and their families. We stand with Ireland and the Irish people.

This is our own 17 year old super hero, the pub and restaurant, Spitalfields, said on social media.

Alan Loren-Guille who was one of the brave heros that managed to disarm the school children attacker yesterday in Dublin on his way to work. He is one of our brilliant French stagiaires in the kitchen @spitalfields_dublin.

He noticed something happening as he passed by and selflessly jumped in to stop the attacker and managed to wrestle the knife off him.

The restaurant said the Frenchman is fairly unscathed despite having  a couple a cuts to his hand and face.

They added: Without this act of bravery who knows what else might have happened. Our prayers are with the poor children, families and teachers who were affected by this tragedy. Please lookout for one and other. Not all superheroes wear capes.

Declan Maxwell from the restaurant, who is the teenagers guardian in Ireland, told RTEs Brendan OConnor Show that Mr Loren-Guilles parents would prefer if he didnt do any interviews because of his age.

He said the teenager received a phone call from President Macron yesterday and will be meeting with him when he goes back home to France next Wednesday.

"He spoke with him for about 10 minutes. I don't think he fully understands the impact of what he done. Yesterday evening, about six o'clock in the restaurant, we had a couple of ladies come in with their kids, Mr Maxwell said.

And they said, could we speak to the guy who helped with the kids at Parnell square?, so I brought them down speak to him and all the kids get him cards with messages on them saying youre my hero.
The Government and gardai are to review their approach to far-right groups in the wake of the chaotic scenes in Dublin city centre.

The violence has been blamed on gangs of thugs acting on misinformation and agitation from far-right groups in the wake of the stabbing of three children and a creche worker on Thursday.

Gardai have so far adopted an intelligence-led approach to far-right agitators, wary of taking direct action amid concerns the leaders of these groups want to provoke such confrontation. However, that policy will be reviewed in light of the chaotic events in Dublin city centre, which made headlines across Europe.

Major protests are currently planned in five counties over international protection applicant centres.

One involves a vigil being staged outside a former Cork maternity home and guest house. Some locals oppose plans to locate 56 international protection applicants in the Fermoy complex.

For the past six days, a 24-hour vigil has been maintained outside the property as a protest.

Fermoy and Mallow Against Division said the developments were disheartening and that the group was very worried at ongoing attempts to divide the north Cork town.

Several local councillors attended the vigil to demonstrate their support for the protesters.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted it was important the Government and state agencies listened carefully to local residents concerns over the accommodation issues for international protection applicants.

He was speaking specifically about concerns raised in Kerry over the large number of international protection applicants in Killarney.

Kerry officials have now asked the Department of Integration to reconsider a plan to locate 70 international protection applicants at Killarney.

When it comes to local residents, I think we need to listen to the concerns of people, said Mr Varadkar.

But I need to be honest with people as well  there is a difference between people coming from Ukraine and people who are seeking international protection.

People from Ukraine have the right to come here. That is a situation we have to manage.

International protection is different  this is people coming from outside the EU. They just arrive. It is not the case that the Government is letting them in. There is a bit of naivety around that sometimes.

There are big problems in the world. There are hundreds of millions of people on the move [around the world].

Gardai are worried the Dublin riot may increase tensions, which will then be exploited by far-right agitators at local protests.

One proposed centre for international protection applicants was already the target of a botched arson attack over the past week.

A petrol bomb was thrown at the complex but the wick detached before it detonated, avoiding any damage to the structure.
The gardai have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to identify a 14-year-old schoolgirl victim of catfishing who had sexualised images of herself in a school uniform shared via social media.

Detective Sergeant Paul Johnstone from the Garda National Cybercrime Bureau (GNCB) revealed details of the ongoing case today at the Annual National Prosecutors Conference hosted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Convention Centre Dublin this morning.

In his talk to prosecutors, Detective Sergeant Johnstone said that while criminal were using AI tools to carry out crimes, it was also a useful tool for the gardai.

He identified the case of a 14-year-old girl who wrongly believed she was speaking to another 14-year-old girl and then shared sexualised images of herself though social media.

Gardai later established that the schoolgirl had unknowingly sent her images to a man in his 40s who had posed as a 14-year old in a form of catfishing.

Detective Sergeant Johnston said gardai used AI tools to identify the victim in the case and the suspect.

He said gardai were able to extract an image of the girls school badge and then carried out a search for this on the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database which involves 68 countries.

We were able to identify the school and subsequently identify an Irish victim and then the actual suspect themselves, said Johnstone.

The child has now had an intervention appropriately, and there's potential prosecution as far as the suspect is concerned. So that's where AI comes into play at a basic constructive and practical level.

Johnstone said the use of AI by the GNCB was always subject to human oversight.

Responding to a question about Taoiseach Leo Varadkars commitment to bring in new legislation in the aftermath of the Dublin riots on Thursday, Johnstone said the gardai would welcome any new laws that aided their work in analysing and using CCTV footage.

In his talk, Johnstone said there are no crimes committed that do not have some element of technological evidential data.

He said the arrival of AI technology meant that criminals can upscale their phishing and ransomware attacks. He said criminals can pay hackers to develop attacks for as little as 45.

He said the use of generative AI, deepfakes and voice cloning meant that phishing attacks were becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot.

However, he said gardai are able to use AI tools to process large volumes of data and to trawl though images.

He said this can help reduce the impact of staff having to view large numbers of offensive images.

Johnstone said he welcomes AI with open arms given its potential applications to aid investigations.

In her address to the conference, Catherine Pierse, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said she was constrained from speaking about the events of Thursday. More than 30 people have been charged in relation to the riots.

Referring to the case taken by murderer Graham Dwyer who took a legal challenge over Irelands data retention laws, Pierse said there are important principles at play in terms of privacy rights and the aims of investigators in cases.

In very general terms the more specific investigators and prosecutors can be in relation to the preservation, seizure and disclosure of data, then the better we can protect the privacy rights of an accused person, a victim or a third party, said Pierse.

But of course in a world where we are dealing with millions of records, there are real practical difficulties in being specific about what is potentially relevant. That challenge is particularly acute where a crime may not even have been committed or come to light yet.

She said that the EU Court of Justice had found in the Dwyer case that indiscriminate retention of data was in breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights but that it may be permissible in certain circumstances to request data be retained in respect of particular suspects or locations.

As we know Ireland had argued that Investigators will not generally be aware before a serious crime comes to light that it is necessary to track a persons phone movements, said Pierse.

She noted that lengthy legal arguments about the admissibility of phone evidence had been a feature of many recent trials.

From a human rights perspective, it is crucial that there is certainty for investigators that the powers they exercise accord with national and European law and that they can know the precise parameters of those powers  for example, when it is appropriate to use a search warrant or when should a production order be used; how specific it is necessary to be in that search warrant; or how to deal with material in respect of which privilege is being asserted.

Pierse said she is aware that the government is preparing a new Garda Siochana (Powers) Bill and at EU level the E-Evidence Regulation and Directive will be effective from February 2026. She said this create a new European Production Order and European Preservation Order and provide for harmonized rules on the gathering of electronic evidence in the EU.
Earlier, a five-year-old boy who had also been wounded in the same incident was discharged after treatment

A six-year-old girl injured in last Thursdays horrific stabbing attack in Dublin has been released from hospital.

Earlier, a five-year-old boy who had also been wounded in the same incident was discharged after treatment.

Both had suffered less serious injuries than the five-year-old girl who last night remained in a critical condition at Temple Street Hospital.

Meanwhile, a female care assistant in her 30s remains in a serious condition while gardai are patrolling the hospital where the man described as a person of interest in their investigation is still being treated.

It is understood there have been credible threats against the mans life as he continues to get medical care for his injuries..

At this stage, detectives have still not established any link between the suspect and the school he attacked but it is not considered to be a terrorism incident.

Information has come to gardai that the suspect was highly agitated in recent days about an issue that had nothing to do with the school.

The grievance is the suspected motivation for the stabbing attack.

For a reason only known to himself, this individual seems to have targeted children and their carer in a dispute that has nothing to do with them, a source said.

The man was not born in Ireland but became a naturalised Irish citizen in 2014. He has been living in homeless accommodation in Dublins north inner city.

Shortly after the incident at the school, a group of protesters gathered at the scene.

It was not long before they attempted to break through a garda cordon. Within a few hours, hundreds of people were on the street as the situation gradually grew more violent.

As darkness fell on the capital, chaos ensued, with gardai suffering assaults, public transport being torched and shops being looted.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on Friday said it was disgraceful that garda inquiries into the knife attack had been disrupted by the riots in Dublin.

He told a press conference: These [riots] are scenes that we have not seen in decades but what is clear is that people have been radicalised through social media and the internet.

But I dont want to lose focus on the terrible event in terms of the dreadful assault on schoolchildren and their teacher. Theres a full investigation ongoing. Theres also a full investigation in respect of the disorder.

Meanwhile, a hero Deliveroo rider who helped stop the attacker has told how he sprang into action when he saw a child being stabbed.

Father-of-two Caio Benicio described how he used his helmet to hit the man who had attacked three young children and the female creche worker.

Mr Benicio is originally from Rio de Janeiro and arrived in Ireland a year ago.

A GoFundMe established to thank Mr Benicio hit its 200,000 target within hours of being set up on Friday.

The fundraiser was set up to buy Caio Benicio a pint.

Mr Benicio told the Irish Independent that he had not been frightened when he intervened on Thursday.

I didnt have time to be afraid. I have two kids myself and I didnt have time to be afraid, I just acted, he said.

Mr Benicio said he originally thought it was a fight between a man and a woman.

I was working like a normal day. And I was passing by in Parnell Square. For me, at first, it looked like a fight, a normal fight. I slowed down my motorcycle and it was a man and a woman, he said.

Mr Benicio then described how he saw a woman fighting for a young girl.

She was very, very brave. She was fighting for a girl, a little girl.

I was like, Whats happening here and then I saw him with a knife and he grabbed a little girl.

It was then that Mr Benicio saw the man stab the little girl.

I stopped my bike and I dont know, I acted by instinct I took off my helmet and hit him with the helmet on the head.
A young Tipperary girl was ushered to Dublin tonight to make the end of the Toy Show for her dream to come true.

Host Patrick Kielty told how one little girl really grabbed our attention during the Toy Show auditions, adding: It was mainly because she said that her one and only dream was to come and see us at the Toy Show which sounds simple, but it wasnt as straightforward for her as she was in hospital a lot this year.

"Tonights the night when anything can happen and we know this evening that shes actually at a Toy Show viewing party in Dublin with her family and some friends, said Kielty.

"She has no idea whats about to happen.

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Sophie and her family were quickly ushered into a bus, driving to Dublin to make it in time for the end of the show.

She brought with her a toy unicorn named Uni  who she said is eight and has leukaemia  who looked a bit worn before Sophie explained why.

"Uni doesnt have as much fur as him (another toy), in the shops they have loads of fur but all hers got off because I hug her so much, she told Kielty.

Sophie unpacked a small suitcase of Minnie Mouse ears, dolls from Disneys Encanto and Wish before Kielty revealed she was going to head to Disneyland in Orlando, Florida for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

"Wed love to make another one of your wishes come true, he told her, adding he was delighted to get her and her family to Disney.
The arrivals gate at Dublin Airports Terminal 1 was full of emotion and excitement as families and friends gathered to welcome over 200 Irish troops as they returned home from Lebanon.

Banners with messages for their loved ones were held proudly with balloons dotted around the crowded gate, as husbands, wives, grandchildren and siblings waited patiently to see the soldiers walk through the sliding doors.

Troops from the 122nd Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (UNIFIL) landed in Dublin airport on Saturday morning after a six-month deployment to South Lebanon.

While reunions with the troops have happened many times before at the airport, this deployment was a stressful time for families, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas began while the troops were deployed.

Getting their loved ones home has been something that families said they have been looking forward to for a while.

Its just so exciting, were completely overwhelmed. Its been a long few months and quite worrying as well, Samantha Browne said while waiting for her son, Airman Ryan Browne.

He did a tour last year so its always a worry, but this one was so much different, she added.

Front and centre of the crowds were Henry Mullen (2), Georgia Mullen (3) and Isabella Mullen (5), all waiting for the granddad, Sergeant Daniel McEntee to return home.

Were very very proud of him. Its been a difficult time as well, quite stressful, Rosanna McEntee said while waiting to welcome her husband home.

Were very relieved to have them home, but also excited that it all went well on this tour, she added.

Ms McEntee said that she found it very worrying while her husband was in Lebanon and was constantly trying to get any news she could while he was there.

I found it very stressful, very worrying and not getting very much information either. So just hanging off the news and just trying to get as much information as we could to make sure the guys were safe, Ms McEntee said.

As the troops came through the doors at arrivals, for many the emotion of the day became too much and there were plenty of tears from those who waited and the soldiers who saw their families for the first time in months.

For Orlaith Gallagher, while being on tour was such a good professional experience, seeing her family today "was the important bit.

Its just amazing to be home now, Im just so happy to see Finn and Sadhbh and John, Ms Gallagher said, surrounded by her husband John Walsh, son Finn and daughter Sadhbh.

Weve been literally counting down the days. This week the kids said the build up was as good as the build up to Christmas, its just fantastic now that shes home, Mr Walsh said.

Speaking at Dublin Airport after he had greeted his family, Lieutenant Colonel Cathal Keohane said that from the outset, it was important that all the Irish troops returned home.

Im delighted, its a big relief, Mr Keohane said when asked how he felt to be home.

We did at the very outset say that the chief metric of success was to get everyone sitting on the plane. It was a bit emotional when the plane did land and were delighted. Absolutely over the moon, he added.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee provides extra overtime in the capitalMinister allocates additional 4.4 million for the purchase of 95 extra garda cars and vans by the end of this year

There is a significant and visible garda presence on Dublin's O'Connell Street this afternoon, as gardai remain vigilant to the threat of violence in the city centre this weekend.

The number of gardai maintaining a presence in the area has swelled significantly since this morning, with several units on foot, motorbikes and in cars patrolling Dublin city centre.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed that a total of 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday.

Much of the garda focus has been on policing around the GPO and the Spire where a group of 15 to 20 anti-immigration protesters have gathered throughout lunchtime.

At one stage the protesters' attention was drawn to a group of six men holding a "grandfathers against racism" banner at the Spire.

Four public order units have been deployed and a large garda van are also in the area. The dog unit and the mounted unit are also being deployed, and two water cannons are now available for use if required.

A small number of businesses on O'Connell Street said they plan to close early this evening so staff can leave work safely.

An additional 100 gardai have been deployed to the city this weekend as part of a specialised policing plan.

Minister McEntee said she has been briefed this afternoon by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and senior gardai on the ongoing operations to maintain order in Dublin city centre.

I have also been briefed today by gardai in Pearse Street and the Bridewell, as well as the Dublin Metropolitan Region Control Centre at Heuston Station, she said.

I thanked gardai and garda staff for their work in recent days in restoring order in the capital and told them the Government fully supports them in that work.

"My thoughts remain with the young children and their creche worker who were so viciously assaulted on Thursday.

The children, their carer, their families, friends and those who are caring for them must remain at the forefront of our thoughts this weekend.

Ms McEntee said she has provided additional overtime in the capital, and is determined to maintain the momentum we are now building in garda recruitment to increase the number of garda members on the ground.

I have allocated an additional 4.4 million for the purchase of 95 extra garda cars and vans by the end of this year, she said.

This includes 17 high visibility public order Garda vans which will be deployed in our towns and cities across the country to provide further reassurance for people, businesses and communities. It also includes 38 new fully electric patrol cars and 40 unmarked surveillance cars.

This is in addition to 10 high visibility community policing vans which are currently being prepared for deployment.

The Commissioner and I continually assess what more can be done to support An Garda Siochana, either through additional resources or legislation.

I want to again be clear that the thuggery we saw on Thursday will not be tolerated and, as Minister for Justice, An Garda Siochana, including Commissioner Harris, have my full support to maintain order. Those responsible will be brought to justice.

Gardai in neighbouring districts are on standby, and there are a number of officers on patrol in plain clothes and unmarked cars.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has loaned An Garda Siochana two water cannons following a request for mutual aid from Commissioner Harris.

They will solely be operated by members of An Garda Siochana if deployed.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Training has taken place to refresh previously trained operators and water cannons are now an available tactic to public order operational commanders for An Garda Siochana.

"Commissioner Harris thanks the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and all PSNI personnel involved for their offer of assistance and rapid response to his request."

It is thought further far-right demonstrations could take place today following violent clashes and vandalism on O'Connell Street since Thursday.

Apart from a heated exchange between a couple of anti-immigration protesters and gardai there has been no disruption reported yet today.
An emotional moment on the Late Late Show tonight reunited a grandmother with her family for the first time in six years.

Host Patrick Kielty said there was a hamper prize for everyone in the audience except for one person as he sat down next to Carol OBrien and her daughter Bernice from Navan, Co Meath.

"I know this is a bit of a disappointment because obviously were letting everybody send messages to other people, said Kielty.

"But youre not going to be sending any messages tonight because we know that your family have been in Perth in Australia for the last six years and you havent seen them. So, were going to send you a little message from them.

The rare occasion of someone has actually COME BACK from Australia #LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/U0hK3BPfuk  The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 24, 2023

A small video message was played of her family waving before they suddenly appeared on stage, emerging from backstage.

They hugged each other in a tearful reunion, posing for a photo together during the ad break.

"Such a beautiful moment, one viewer wrote, while another joked: Im not crying, you are.

"Not a dry eye here. Enjoy folks, so special, one said.

The reunion was one of many emotional moments during the show tonight, another coming when Sophie (8) made it to the studio for the end of the show.

She brought with her a toy unicorn named Uni, who has less fur than other toys as Sophie hugs her so much.

During the show, Kielty revealed that Sophie and her family are going to head to Florida to visit Disneyland.

"Wed love to make another one of your wishes come true," he told her.

Young Stevie from Kilkenny told comedian Kielty that it was the best day ever after he was surprised by Peter OMahony and Bundee Aki, who gifted him his very own signed Ireland jersey.

Over 3 million was raised as part of the annual RTE Toy Show Appeal, which will remain open throughout the weekend for viewers to donate.
Smokers could be banned from lighting up in outdoor dining areas and vapes may have to be hidden from view in shops as a public consultation on smoking-related laws opens.

A potential ban on smoking cigarettes in outdoor dining areas and extending more restrictions to vaping are among the new proposals put to the public today.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Public Health Minister Hildegarde Naughton have issued a public consultation which could result in a more radical crackdown on smoking and vaping.

They said: "vaping has become more popular in recent years, particularly among young people. Compared to cigarettes, vaping may be less harmful, but vaping is not harm free. Most vaping liquids contain nicotine.

Legislation to ban vaping products to under 18s is currently before the Oireachtas with measures on preventing young people from beginning to smoke or vape to protect their health.

This consultation looks at what additional measures could be introduced to decrease the appeal of nicotine inhaling products to children and young people and further denormalise smoking.

The areas where views are being sought include the display of nicotine inhaling products in shops, nicotine inhaling product flavours, the appearance of nicotine inhaling products, proxy sales of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, smoking in outdoor dining areas, extending smoke-free restrictions to vaping and increasing the age of sale for tobacco products as well as increasing the price of vapes

Mr Donnelly said: While I understand that e-cigarettes are used by many adults who are trying to quit smoking, I am deeply concerned by the rise in popularity of vaping among young people. These products clearly appeal to children and young people, and we do not yet know the long-term health impacts of their use.

We have already taken strong action and will have legislation in place by the end of this year, which will ban the sale of e-cigarettes to children and require a licence to sell them.

I would now like to invite the public to comment on other aspects such as packaging, display and flavours. We also know that effective actions on public health issues require a whole of Government approach, which is why we are asking for peoples views on increasing the price of vapes. This will help to inform my colleague, Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, on how best to approach the taxation of these products to support our public health goals.

This consultation will help us make effective decisions to protect our children from an addictive product, while reducing the extreme harm caused by smoking.

Minister Naughton added: We know that young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke, so it is important that they are not drawn to these products.

We can clearly see how some vaping products might be targeted at children or younger people by virtue of their exotic flavouring and colourful packaging.

The public consultation is open for six-weeks to January 5 with more information on Department of Health website.
Staff at Belfasts SSE Arena to refuse to work at Wolfe Tones gig

Brian Warfield has defended the song and its lyrics, insisting those who are offended by it are misguided about its meaning,

The Wolfe Tones perform to a record crowd at Electric Picnic

Steven Moore Sat 25 Nov 2023 at 13:40

Some workers at Belfasts SSE Arena have said that they wont be working the night the Wolfe Tones sing Ooh, aah, up the Ra next October.
Tanya Sweeney hears from experts about the strengths and weaknesses of Helen McEntees zero tolerance five-year plan and the biggest barriers to its success

In the aftermath of Ashling Murphys murder in January 2022, Justice Minister Helen McEntee promised zero tolerance and a new strategy that would thoroughly tackle gender-based violence in Ireland. In June of that year, the Department of Justice published its third national strategy on the issue. Its action plan has been designed to ensure, in McEntees words, that those who engage with the justice system are treated with respect, dignity and empathy by everyone they come into contact with from the outset.

Designed with a number of organisations including the Rape Crisis Centre (RCC), the National Womens Council of Ireland (NWCI) and Womens Aid, the five-year, zero-tolerance strategy is billed as a 363m whole of Government plan that will combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Some 144 actions have been assigned to various government departments, and according to thr Department of Justice, the majority [of them] have progressed, or are progressing, in line with the specified timeframes.

Under Budget 2024, an additional 12m in funding for combating DSGBV has been allocated, a 25pc increase on the previous year.

It aims to combat with DSGBV by addressing four pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination. Many of the actions are focused on enhanced support for victims, including the provision of legal aid/legal advice and trauma-informed training for for the legal profession, criminal justice agencies, relevant departments and other agencies.

The third national strategy is absolutely a step in the right direction. But today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, its fair to ask how effective it might be.

The strategy is very ambitious, says Orla OConnor, director of the NWCI. If everything was implemented in that strategy, we would be in a very different place in terms of the protection of women and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Among the highlights in the strategy are a plan to double the number of refuge units to 280 by 2026 and the establishment of a statutory DSGBV agency in January. Legislation to set up this agency is before the Oireachtas. It will have a core budget of 43m next year, and is designed to support local organisations in implementing the strategys goals.

Niamh Reilly, professor and head of the school of political science and sociology at NUI Galway, has been working for decades in the area of gender-based violence. A dedicated agency is super important, because Im old enough to remember when there was a Department of Equality and Law Reform, and gender issues were in that, then got moved into bigger portfolios and got buried in the wider family support domain, she says. Here, the Government [acknowledges] you wont get the changes you need, unless you have an agency to do that.

Changing societys attitudes to domestic and sexual violence is a major aim of the strategy. This will involve awareness campaigns on issues such as consent and support services, as well as education initiatives on intimate image abuse.

The thing with awareness campaigns is that you get great ones, and they run through a couple of years, and youre making headway with a particular generation, but you then have to reinvent the wheel every half generation, Reilly says.

Murdered: Ashling Murphy

Legislation has also been introduced to encourage more victims to come forward. New standalone offences of non-fatal strangulation and stalking are being created, while the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill  signed into law by President Higgins in July  also increases the maximum penalty for assault causing harm from five to 10 years.

This builds on several pieces of legislation that have been enacted in recent years. These include: Cocos Law, which criminalises sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent; the enacting of a law to remove reporting restrictions that prevented parents from speaking publicly about an unlawfully killed child; and the enacting of measures to introduce pre-trial hearings to ensure that victims are less likely to face stressful unexpected delays and adjournments.

Weve seen a real push forward and advance on legislation, and the minister has brought forward really important pieces of legislation, as well as stronger sentences, which is critical, OConnor says.

Sarah Benson, chief executive of Womens Aid, welcomes the reviews on the pillars of prevention and policy, both of which she says are far better developed than in previous strategies.

There are really welcome things that have happened and a lot has been happening, particularly driven through the Department of Justice, she says. You have domestic violence leave as a statutory obligation on employers, and thats something weve fought very hard for alongside others.

The legislative changes send a strong message to society, OConnor says, but she feels there is also need for reform of the family court.

A lot of women coming forward would talk about feeling revictimised in family court, she says. Theyre really in the dark going into family court because of a lack of information and transparency. For me, the strategy doesnt go far enough in terms of addressing the experiences that these women are talking about.

Shirley Scott, policy manager at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, also welcomes the reforms. If the strategy can start to address things like delays within the criminal justice system, that would have a positive effect, she says. Cases of sexual offences take a considerable amount of time to go through the criminal justice system, and that doesnt just have an impact on the victim/survivor and their family, but on the accused too.

Certainly, a number of recent reports suggest that the implementation in full of this strategy cannot come quickly enough.

A Council of Europe report this month identified serious shortcomings in how women and children in Ireland are protected from violence and murder, and noted that urgent improvement is needed in legislation, the courts, schools and data collection.

The report came from the councils group of experts on violence against women (Grevio). While it welcomed the implementation of the national strategy in its report, Grevio also raised concerns about the experiences in Irelands family law and criminal courts of women and children who have previously been subject to violence.

Respect, dignity and empathy: Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Photo: Colin Keegan

Elsewhere, in a major review published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, it was revealed that there had been a significant increase in the number of teenage girls presenting at sexual assault treatment units in Ireland.

While the 48-page strategy is comprehensive, experts have mentioned a lag in its implementation. The wheels turn very slowly on these things, Reilly says. It would be amazing to wave a wand and not be dealing with these issues tomorrow, but theres a lot of work going on, and a lot of people are looking to come to grips with this.

OConnor agrees. Theres been a lot of focus on the establishment of the agency and the legislation for the agency, and getting it up and running, and it wont be up and running until next year, so there is a big time lag between strategy being agreed and then moving into robust implementation.

Where I think the gaps are [in the strategy], we need much stronger supports for victims in terms of coming forward, and theres the whole cultural change, and one strategy is not going to change it, but changes in terms of whats happening in primary and secondary schools, all that prevention and changing culture and changing behaviour, thats the mountain to climb.

Reilly points out the potential gap between the strategys ambitions and the resources needed to realise them.

This is partly the world of politics and policy, but you have to keep pushing. NGOs, media and advocates have a really big role to play in making sure that policies are implemented and when agencies are formed and promises are made, that questions are continually asked and pressure is continually applied.

You also need to be sure as a society that these things arent tied to particular ministers or a particular government  that theres an institutional commitment, and a 10-year horizon.

Society can collude with some of the most effective tactics of abusers, which is to shame victims and make them feel responsible for whats being done, and destroy their self-esteem

You have a minister who comes in and is particularly motivated and does great work, but then theyre not there in five years. Although you often need a minister who is particularly passionate about an area, this shouldnt be personality-driven, or tied to one individual.

In terms of creating systemic change, Reilly believes that tackling deep-seated misogyny in Irish society is a huge but not impossible task.

You counter it with different information, and ensure that the school curriculum, from kindergarten onwards, that these things are acknowledged, named, recognised and made clear its not acceptable, she says.

Benson says that changing sexism in Irish culture is where the deep work is.

What needs to change is the mindset, which is still frequently victim-blaming and still very stigmatising, she says. Society can collude with some of the most effective tactics of [domestic violence] abusers, which is to shame them and make them feel responsible for whats being done, and destroy their self-esteem.

Whats critical is that domestic and sexual violence cannot be eradicated in a gender-unequal society  thats where sexists and gendered stereotypes exist. These things have to be chipped away at.

We need to recognise that the vast majority of violence globally is perpetrated against women and by men against men, and the work involved in combating male violence against women is also effectively the work to combat male violence against men.

This can come from a stereotypical concept of masculinity where dominance, entitlement and aggression is acceptable and other emotion is not, she adds.

Many experts believe that the strategy should have a much longer scope than five years.

We shouldnt be dealing with a horizon of less than 20 years in terms of a commitment to investing and getting things done, Reilly says. Theres usually a new dimension or new level to things like online abuse or image abuse  there are going to be new forms of gender-based violence that need to be named and recognised.

Its a constant process, but thankfully this strategy recognises that. The women weve interviewed will say that all they really want is for the people who have been abusing them to know that this society doesnt tolerate this.
Fionnan Sheahan: Everybody saw this coming  bar Drew Harris and Helen McEntee

New York had its broken windows policy, but in Dublin there is still a lot of shattered glass

Watch: 34 arrests, 11 garda vehicles destroyed as Dublin city wakes up to aftermath of night of chaos

Fionnan Sheahan Sat 25 Nov 2023 at 03:30

The Black Friday sign was obscured by the broken window being taken out by the glaziers at the Asics store. Black Thursday will be remembered for some time on OConnell Street. Dublins main thoroughfare has been the site of many significant events, from rebellions to celebrations, but this is one for the annals of recent times.
Austrians greatest trick, we are told, has been to convince the world that Adolf Hitler was German and the sublime Beethoven was Austrian. But we are reminded by an ongoing row about Hitlers birthplace that the opposite was the case, though both men obviously had strong associations with both countries.
Splinter and April, two puppies that needed a foster home at the beginning of the month. Pic: DSPCA

The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is looking for people to foster a pet throughout the Christmas period.

We are looking for people who have time and energy, and a space in their home to look after an animal for a week or so, said Joanne McGarry, foster manager for the DSPCA.

Its to make sure that every animal in the shelter has a warm bed for Christmas. We work on a very small staff and rely so heavily on volunteers.

Emptying the shelter is our goal. The foster department work with the adoptions team over that time period, and applications have already been launched.

The DSPCA says fostering is a great way for people to help animals if they are not in a position to commit to a pet long term, or want the chance to trial having a dog before committing to adopting.

Its a good time when all the family is home for the holidays to see if the animal will actually fit in with family life and each member of the family, Ms McGarry said.

My own journey started with the DSPCA through a Christmas foster. In my head at the time, I thought Id go to foster an older dog for a couple of weeks and return it.

I ended up walking out of the gate with a one-year-old Springer Spaniel, and hes just completely the love of my life.

He was meant to be with me, but I foster all the time as the manager of the foster department, so I can go home with anything on any given day. Ive had roughly over 80 fosters now.

Fostering takes place for a minimum of a week or longer, depending on the needs of the individual animal. All food, bedding and blankets will be provided, and the animal must be kept in the house.

However, the DSPCA says some of the animals for fostering will not be available for adoption afterward as the shelter may be taking in the animal on a short-term basis, or there might already be a home arranged for the animal.

For those thinking of opening their homes and adopting a dog or cat, there are certain requirements. According to the DSPCA, to become a foster, you must be 18 years of age and have your own transport.

Fosters are also advised to live within a reasonable distance from the shelter in Rathfarnham so they can attend regular veterinary check-ups. The DSPCA is seeking people who dont work full-time or part-time, as fosters need to be around during the day to care for the animal.

Those interested in fostering can apply online on the DSPCA website.
Rachel Hennessy, owner of Happy Days in Leopardstown, which is opening its doors to five other local businesswomen this Christmas

From now until January 7, Happy Days in Leopardstown is hosting the market featuring the five female-owned brands providing the likes of jewellery, candles and Smooth Sticks to those looking to buy local this Christmas.

Girl Gotta Change (planners), MYSA (comfort products), The Smooth Company (hair products), Style Ignite Studio (sustainable fashion), and Croia Jewellery items will be available, along with Happy Days dress rental ahead of the busy festive period.

Rachel Hennessy, owner of Happy Days, is giving her customers the chance to come in and rent a dress for Christmas parties and other events. But this time around, shes opening her door to other businesses to give women the chance to buy a variety of Irish-made goodies.

Rachel cut out fast fashion from her own lifestyle and now provides women of all sizes with access to beautiful and stylish clothing without the hefty price tag, all while helping the environment.

A lot of people are in this wear-once culture, you get your photo on Instagram and once people have seen you in this outfit you dont want to wear it again, she said.

Wearing it once, throwing it away or having something hang in your wardrobe for years doesnt make any sense. People need to think before buying stuff. Do you really need it, or did you just see it on TikTok or Instagram?

I want people who buy fast fashion to think about where it is going after. Will it sit in your wardrobe, or will you throw it out? Or could you have just rented something and not have the guilt of buying something and just having it sit there after, she told the Irish Independent.

Traditionally, Christmas is a time of over-consumption but Rachel thinks its time to re-think the way we consume. Rachel explained that 1.7 million dresses with sequins are sent to landfill after Christmas every year. Most sequins are plastic and nonbiodegradable.

A lot of people have already rented dresses for Christmas parties, a girls night out, or for Christmas day. Buying patterns are shifting to renting, she said.

The great thing about Happy Days is that you can come in and try it on. You never know what style will work. The quality is great.

We all buy our stuff second-hand from previous seasons. Our sparkly dresses are from Rixo and theyre normally 400 to 600 to buy, she added.
Louth County Council and Irish Red Cross launch accommodation appeal

A view of a hospital heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Selydove, Donetsk region, Ukraine November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey.

Louth County Council and the Irish Red Cross are appealing to those who have unoccupied properties or rooms to offer them as temporary homes for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

This new call comes as hundreds of Ukrainian people continue to arrive in Ireland each week, seeking safety.

A tax-free recognition payment of 800 per month is available to anybody offering a room or property to house Ukrainian people or families. Ideally accommodation would be available for 6 months or longer.

Since the conflict began, more than 98,500 people from Ukraine have arrived in Ireland. Irish people haves been extremely generous in offering many of them accommodation and other community supports.

As winter begins and thousands continue to require temporary homes, this appeal aims to encourage anyone who can make an offer of accommodation to consider it.

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Louth County Council takes and manages offers of unoccupied houses, apartments or holiday homes. The property must be a standalone property that is not occupied by others and have its own entrance door and all the main facilities required for independent living. Offers can be made at offerahome.ie or by contacting Louth County Council on 042-9335457.

The Irish Red Cross takes and manages offers of any accommodation, including rooms and shared properties. Offers can be made at https://registerofpledges.redcross.ie/#/ or by phoning 1800 753343.

Those making offers can be assured that Louth County Council or the Irish Red Cross will follow up within days to discuss suitability, complete the required assessments and match properties to Ukrainian people and families in need.

Irish people have shown incredible support for the people of Ukraine and there is a huge appetite to help those who need shelter and safety from war, said Yvonne OBrien, Acting Director of Service, Ukraine Humanitarian Response. It has been heartwarming to see people offer their unused vacant houses in Louth and how that offer has impacted so well on the lives of the beneficiaries.

Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross echoed the plea.

"The Irish Red Cross Register of Pledges platform has been supporting refugees fleeing conflict, oppression, and climate change since 2015. The outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine in 2022 saw an unprecedented outpouring of goodwill from the Irish people, who opened their hearts and homes to those fleeing conflict in their home country, she told the Drogheda Independent.

As winter approaches and pressure on the private rental sector continues to mount, together with our partners and local authorities around the country we are calling on the people of Ireland to continue extending a welcoming hand to those fleeing extremely difficult circumstances in Ukraine by offering a home.

Your pledge could make a huge difference in the life of an individual or family seeking a home this winter."

To make an offer or for more information, visit gov.ie/offerahome
The work of a Mayo mental health team has highlighted the need for extra funding for support amid claims that the government is failing to grasp the scale of the mental health emergency.

Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus has said that the Government is failing to grasp the scale of the mental health emergency in Ireland as funding for mental health services did not increase in the budget.

The Midlands Northwest representative was speaking after visiting the Mayo Mental Health Association at their offices in Ballina alongside his Sinn Fein colleague and local election candidate Una Morris.

Mayo Mental Health Association aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for individuals and communities while the group also supports people with lived experience of mental health challenges in their recovery.

MEP MacManus said he was particularly impressed with their work in mental health promotion in schools and the provision of housing for local people who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

However, he believes the groups efforts are being undermined by Governments failure to prioritise mental health due to a lack of financial support in the 2024 budget.

This work is vital for helping to deliver better mental health outcomes for people across the county. The overall percentage of spending for mental health in the health budget remained at 5.8% for 2024.

"We have seen a steady decrease in this figure, with 6.3% in 2019 of the overall health budgets spent on mental health to 5.8% this year. We are heading in the wrong direction as international recommendations, and those set out in Slaintecare, for mental health spending are 16% and 10%, respectively, of the overall health budget. Current and past governments are failing to grasp the mental health emergency that we are facing, and this lack of true increased spending will have knock-on consequences for the service provision, waiting times and the treatment of service users.

Sinn Fein proposed a new spend of 75 million in our alternative budget. In government we would raise the spending to meet the required recommended percentage. People and their families deserve a mental health service that works for them and Sinn Fein is committed to delivering this as a priority, said Mr McManus.
Pupils from Sooey NS helped a Sligo company get in the festive spirit ahead of Friday nights Late Late Show.

Abtran, the Business Process Services company employing over 1,500 people in Cork and Sligo, supported Fridays RTE Late Late Toy Show Appeal with host Patrick Kielty presenting the 48th edition of the show.

Abtrans staff from its Sligo office at Finisklin and Cork HQ opened hundreds of phone lines accepting donations for children's charities during the show's broadcast as well as during its repeat airing over the weekend.

Abtrans voluntarism is part of a larger community initiative with children from Sooey NS in Sligo, including children of Abtran staff, taking part in fun events to encourage donations to the RTE Toy Show Appeal.

The funds raised from this appeal will be managed by registered charity Community Foundation Ireland (RCN: 20044886), benefiting a range of children's charitable causes across Ireland.

Last year's RTE Late Late Toy Show had 1.6m viewers from Ireland and all over the world contributing to a total of 4 million raised for Irish charities across the island.
Members from foreign representative agencies in Ho Chi Minh City attended a pho cooking class under the guidance of chefs from the Saigon Professional Chefs Association (SPC) on Nov. 23.

Co-hosted by the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF), the Ho Chi Minh City Food & Beverage Association (FBA) and the SPC, the event drew leaders and staff of representative agencies from the U.K., Australia, Belarus, Cambodia, Hungary, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) who cooked beef, lamb and vegan pho.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Pham Tran Thanh Thao said the exchange activity, in response to Vietnam's Day of Pho on Dec. 12, enables diplomats and their families to explore and spread the essence of Vietnamese culinary culture, and the secrets of making delicious pho to the international community.

After completing the class, the agencies received certificates and joined in a gathering to enjoy the noodle soup. They also had the opportunity to visit a display of photos and taste complimentary servings of various dishes at the event.
Deputy Chief Executive, Dorothy Clarke, Councillors Arthur Gibbons and Marie Casserly, Director of Services John Moran and Jim Molloy welcomed the ambassador to County Hall along with Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerard Mullaney.

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Gerard Mullaney, welcomed the Republic of Korea Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Yong-kil Kim, to County Hall recently.

Also in attendance were Deputy Chief Executive, Dorothy Clarke, Councillors Arthur Gibbons and Marie Casserly, Director of Services John Moran and Jim Molloy.

The Cathaoirleach said It is an honour to welcome His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Yong-kil Kim.

Cllr Mullaney said: Only a few decades ago, Ireland could have been considered a relatively insular society with only modest engagement with other countries. Ireland is now a proudly multicultural community, one that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity.

Sligo, with its rugged coastlines, majestic mountains, and vibrant arts scene, has long been a source of inspiration for artists, poets, and musicians. Just like the breathtaking beauty of Sligo, the relationship between Korea and Ireland is built on a shared appreciation for culture, creativity, and innovation.

Today, we celebrate the unique connection between Sligo and Korea. We recognise the immense potential for collaboration and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Sligos thriving industries in sectors such as agri-food, tourism, and renewable energy align closely with Koreas expertise and interests.

Our shared commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship creates a solid foundation for fruitful partnerships.

Beyond the realm of commerce, cultural exchanges have enriched our understanding of each others traditions, arts, and heritage.

From the vibrant colours of traditional Korean Hanbok to the soulful melodies of Irish music, our cultures have found common ground, inspiring creativity and forging lasting friendships.

2023 is the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Korea. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Government Ministers Coveney, McConalogue and Harris travelled to Korea for a Team Ireland Trade Mission Week earlier this month. The Taoiseach met with President Yoon, during the visit, in the hope of opening up new trade, investment and education links with Korea.

The Korean Embassy plays a very positive role in working alongside our state agencies to promote inward trade and investment. They have supported Irish companies in trying to identify new markets, and they assist companies with their network of business contacts. Both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland have offices in Korea, with the Ambassador directly overseeing the local market team.

As we look to the future, there is no doubt that the relationship between Ireland and Korea will continue to grow from strength to strength.

We must seize the opportunities that lie before us and explore untapped potential in various sectors. By nurturing our mutual understanding and deepening our engagement, we can unlock new avenues for collaboration and create a better future for our peoples.
Chris O'Toole and Edel Jordan at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Imelda Doyle and Mary Murphy at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Imelda Doyle and Marie Foley at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Michelle Murphy and Ann Collins at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Anne Aylward, Ann Lawlor, Aislinn O'Leary, Marian Kelly and Hilary Mahon at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Colaiste Bride class of 1983 at their reunion in The Bailey.

Colaiste Brides Class of 1983 has gotten together over the years for a reunion, but their latest marked the biggest yet.

The 40 year reunion was organised by old school friends Margarite OBrien, Deirdre Kelly and Linda Toibin.

Anne Aylward, Ann Lawlor, Aislinn O'Leary, Marian Kelly and Hilary Mahon at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

We have had a reunion for our 20th, 25th, 30th reunion and this one marked 40 years since we graduated from Colaiste Bride, said Linda.

The trio reached out to their old school pals to invite them to their special 40 year reunion in The Bailey on November 4.

Luckily they had most of their numbers from their previous reunions but also spread the word when they saw old faces around Enniscorthy Town.

Michelle Murphy and Ann Collins at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Over 60 women from the Class of 1983 showed up to reminisce on their school days.

On the night everyone got a chance to mingle and chat. There was finger food and a bit of 80s music, but it wasnt too loud so everyone could talk with each other.

Imelda Doyle and Marie Foley at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

"It wasn't too loud and everyone got to have a great chat and go around and talk to people, said Linda.

Margarite O'Brien made a speech on the night thanking everyone for coming and she thanked The Bailey for hosting.

She also gave a special nod to four of the class group's members who have since passed away.

Imelda Doyle and Mary Murphy at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

Martina Foley, who was the secretary in Colaiste Bride during the time the time the women went to school there, was also in attendance. Martina only retired from the school this year.

Linda Toibin shared her delight over the nights success and said she is already planning the next one.

Chris O'Toole and Edel Jordan at the Colaiste Bride class of 1983 Reunion in The Bailey.

It was the best we ever had, we really really enjoyed it, we are going to do another one in five years time. We might be coming up the stairs in zimmer frames but we will have another reunion in five years, she said.
The Dog Squad in Ramsfort in Gorey has won two awards in the Ireland Local Pet Awards recently.

The owner of the Dog Squad Karen Alford attended the awards ceremony alongside her team and took home two glass trophies and certificates for the Daycare of the Year in Leinster/Connaught/Ulster award and Salon Based Dog Groomer of the Year award.

Karen hadnt heard about the competition until she received a phone call from the organisers recently with the news that she had been nominated by her clients. "Im overwhelmed with the win and so proud of myself and the team, said Karen.

The Dog Squad caters to all canine needs with its dog-grooming services, day-care and training. Karen set up the Dog Squad six years ago and now has a team of six working behind the scenes.

Karen would also like to thank her loyal customers for their support, continued business and votes. Call 0857332842 if youd like to book in with the Dog Squad.
Progress has been made on developing links between the South East Greenway and Inistioge, Slieverue and Glenmore.

An update was given by senior executive engineer with Kilkenny County Council, Anne Marie Shortall at a joint meeting of the south Kilkenny and New Ross municipal districts.

Reading from a report by Frank Stafford of Kilkenny County Council, Ms Shortall said Lot 5a (Ferrybank to Curraghmore) will be the next section of greenway to be worked on, beginning later this moth. Glas Civil Engineering Ltd have been awarded the contract and are due to begin works on site later this month, she said.

A tender process to appoint technical consultants, for contract supervision, administration and handover of the lot is also complete.

She said Failte Ireland have engaged The Paul Hogarth Company to conduct an interpretation, wayfinding and orientation plan for the greenway.

The plan can be used to apply for funding for the implementation of same. Following a meeting involving Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford county council officials in July, a site visit was undertaken in August and now public consultation meetings are taking place based on the findings of the groups report, at the Rhu Glenn Hotel on November 22 from 11 a.m.. to 2 p.m. and at the Brandon House Hotel, on the same day, from 3.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On the greenway link to Glenmore village, a Part 8 planning consultation period has concluded. 15 submissions were received and council staff are currently reviewing these. Meanwhile, the feasibility and route selection report for a link to Slieverue is completed.

Consultation is ongoing with the Transport Infrastructure Irelands (TII) Structures Section and it is likely that additional design works with respect to the proposed N29 over bridge will be required prior to commencing the planning process.

In 2022, Kilkenny County Council, in partnership, with Trail Kilkenny, commissioned Punch Consulting Engineers to prepare a preliminary feasibility study and route selection report for a recreational connectivity link between Woodstock Estate and the South East Greenway.

In conjunction with the preparation of this study the council commenced discussions with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The net result of these discussions was that the TII agreed the project had merit and subsequently allocated funding to progress the scheme in line with TIIs Project managers Manual for Greenway Projects, wrote Mr Stafford.

In July, utilising TIIs Technical Services framework Agreement, tenders were sought for a multi-disciplinary engineering team. In total three tenders were received, the tender assessment process is now nearing completion and it is anticipated that a tender recommendation report will be issued for TII for approval within the coming weeks.

The estimated time to complete the project is 49 months.

Cllr Pat Barden expressed concern that there may be a delay in a section of greenway where some landowners have yet to complete negotiations with Kilkenny County Council.

Ms Shortall said reaching agreements around compensation can be a slow process.

Speaking about the 24km greenway project as a whole, Cllr Michael Whelan said: We should to all we can to get more of the it open as soon as we can.
The property at Peter Street in Wexford town which has been sold by Wexford County Council for 66,000.

Any concerns over Wexford County Council getting value for money on a derelict property in Wexford town centre were quickly allayed at the November meeting of the Wexford Borough District.

The three-storey house, no. 10 Peter Street, had been acquired by the local authority as part of an initiative to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use.

It was assessed by the housing department and the decision was made that, as it was in such a poor condition, the extent of works required to bring the property back into use made in unviable for social housing.

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It was therefore proposed to dispose of the property for the sum of 66,000 to a Mr Mark Kelch of 36 Sladermore Avenue, Ard Na Greine, Dublin 13.

When the disposal of the property arose, Independent councillor Leonard Kelly expressed some reservations.

"Why are we not putting this on the open market? he asked. This might be an attractive proposition to many people. We should try get as much as possible for it. Im not in favour of this as it stands.

Labour councillor George Lawlor pointed out that the building has been derelict for a long time and we need to get it developed. If somebody is willing to come in and develop it, we should let them. I thought we were trying to get rid of dereliction in our town?

Sinn Fein councillor Tom Forde also wanted more information in relation to the property and Mayor John Hegarty sought clarification, opting to return to the topic later in the meeting.

Eventually, a representative of the housing department arrived in the chamber and advised that the property had in fact been listed on the open market for ten weeks between August and October and that the figure of 66,000 was the highest offer theyd received.

Having heard this, the councillors unanimously voted in favour of disposing of the property.
Members of the Palyanytsya Ukrainian Hub in Arklow knitting cold weather clothing for their war torn compatriots.

Members of the Palyanytsya Ukrainian Hub in Arklow knitting cold weather clothing for their war torn compatriots.

Members of the Palyanytsya Ukrainian Hub in Arklow knitting cold weather clothing for their war torn compatriots.

The Ukrainian community in Arklow have been busy crafting warm garments for those impacted by the ongoing conflict in their homeland and have appealed to the public for help in their knitting initiative.

Members of the public are encouraged to drop off any wool, partially woollen yarns or fleece clothing to the Palyanytsya Ukrainian Hub (at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre, in Avoca River House), where a 16-strong group of knitters have been crafting cold weather clothing for their war torn compatriots.

Donations can be made until Wednesday, December 6, after which time the new garments will be shipped to eastern Europe with the help of a Ukrainian voluntary organisation.

Additionally, the group is inviting local residents to join the knitting and singing gatherings held at the hub on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12-2 p.m.

There are so many issues that people in Ukraine need support for, and we have been helping out with food, money, and clothing as much as possible, hub member Svitlana Bezsmertna said.

We were thinking about how we could help the people back in Ukraine more, and knitting is a hobby for some people in the group, but now it has grown to something bigger.

A big thank you to the Arklow community and the people of Wicklow and Ireland for their support. It has been just fantastic.
Greystones author and poet Frances Browner launched her first novel, titled A Bronx Summer, to a hugely supportive gathering at Greystones Library.

The novel was officially launched by Greystones poet Paul T Dillon.

Councillor Stephen Stokes, who attended the launch, said it was standing room only, as people from around North Wicklow gathered to celebrate Francess latest achievement.

Frances is an amazing community person. It was no surprise that Greystones Library was packed to the rafters. It was a superb evening with so many positive positive performances. I would like to wish Frances great success with the book, and all of her continued endeavours.

Throughout the evening there were readings and musical performances from guests.

A Bronx Summer has been described as a wry, humorous, and authentic innocent abroad narrative that delves into the emotional and sexual transformation of a young woman. In the vein of Colm Toibins Brooklyn with an 80s soundtrack, the novel explores a life left behind and the promise of a new one, vividly capturing the Irish experience in New York during their last significant wave of immigration to America.

In a local setting, the author believes that this story, my first foray into novel-writing, will transport readers to a bygone era and make them reflect on the human experience of transformation, nostalgia, and the pursuit of new beginnings. Frances Browner, originally from County Dublin and now a resident of Greystones, is a well-respected creative writing tutor with Dun Laoghaire/Dublin ETB and Greystones Cancer Support Centre.

She is actively engaged in local arts and was awarded Greystones culture Person of the Year 2022.

Her literary contributions have been published in numerous journals, and she has a poetry collection, Roots & Wings, also published by Revival Press in 2019.

Cllr Stephen Stokes added: The Greystones Library team go above and beyond for the community. We appreciate their service.

A Bronx Summer is available to purchase online from limerickwriterscentre.com.
DEPUTY John Brady has expressed concern over the slow pace of a site acquisition for a permanent home for Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School.

While conditionally welcoming confirmation which he received from the Department of Education confirming that a site assessment exercise is being carried out for the school having identified a potential property.

Deputy Brady is worried at the length of time the process is taking, particularly as the school, which is currently in temporary accommodation at The Glebe in Wicklow town, is under growing pressure to cope with the demands of a growing population in the Wicklow town area, with limited space and an increased demand that the school is struggling to meet in its current location.

Deputy Brady said: While I welcome confirmation by the department that progress has been made, albeit slowly, in respect of a site acquisition for Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School,

I am both concerned and frustrated at the length of time that it is taking the department of Education to progress this project.

The fact is that Wicklow ETSS are faced with enormous challenges. The school is operating at almost full capacity, with only one available classroom to meet the needs of 72 new students, who hope to start at ETSS in September 2024.

There have been massive population increases in the Wicklow town area, which is placing further pressure on Wicklow ETSS.

The school remains in temporary accommodation. It has no leaving cert specialist rooms, no computer room, or school library, and lacks adequate sporting facilities. The school provides for 300 families in the area, who are growing in frustration at the length of time it is taking to progress work towards a new school.

The school has been waiting over five years for a new school, and it looks like they may be forced to use prefabs to cope with overcrowding.

It is not acceptable at any level that the Minister for Education has left the school in limbo as the wait for the acquisition of a site for a new school continues for Wicklow ETSS.

It is imperative that Wicklow ETSS is prioritised. The school cannot be left to cope with the limitations of its current location indefinitely.
One of the new murals on Salthouse Lane in Wicklow town.

Cllr Shay Cullen was full of praise of the mural project taking place in Wicklow town and also asked could the streetscape funding for Newtown be rolled out to the capital town.

The murals project is focused on placemaking. Its core objective is to bring life and vibrancy back to the essential connections between Wicklow towns main street, south quays, harbour, and market square.

The murals have been one of the main talking points around the town in recent weeks, impressing all with their colourful and distinct paintings, all with a theme linked to Wicklow town and its maritime tradition.

Cllr Cullen said: The murals have been received so well. They look amazing and the feedback has been great. The positive feedback has been unbelievable and they are making a very positive contribution to the town.

In August of last year, new funding was announced for Newtownmountkennedy businesses to upgrade their building facades, artwork, murals, lighting, street furniture and canopies. A total of 26 towns in Ireland received this funding, with each local authority to receive 100,000 as part of the initiative. The primary aim of the scheme is to make towns and villages more attractive places to live, work or visit.

Cllr Cullen commented: The difference the funding to paint and upgrade buildings in Newtownmountkennedy has made is unbelievable. You have different colour schemes on different buildings and it looks great. Everyone is talking about it and its something I would love to see rolled out to Wicklow.

District Manager, Brian Gleeson, in reply stated that the scheme isnt necessarily open for funding every year, but that the Wicklow Town Team are inquiring about potential funding.
Ceasefire wont bring back my beloved ones, but I hope it will last forever  Palestinians relief at temporary truce

Gazans say pause in bombardment by Israelis is bringing the streets back to life

First Israeli hostages leave Gaza under four-day truce agreement with Hamas

Bel Trew UK Independent Sat 25 Nov 2023 at 03:30







Palestinians in Gaza have spoken of their intense relief at a period of calmness that has brought areas back to life at the start of a four-day truce  the first respite in a ferocious seven-week bombardment.
Of 24 Vietnamese students attending the 2023 International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO), eight pocketed gold medals, three times more than last year.

Of them, five won medals in Math and the rest for Science.

The students who won the top prize in Mathematics are Le Do Minh Duc from Archimedes Academy Secondary School, Nguyen Gia Tuan from Newton Grammar, Nguyen Phong Chau from Newton 5 Elementary School - Secondary School and Le Quang Vinh from Trung Vuong Junior Secondary School in Hanoi, and Kieu Uy Vu from Nguyen Trai Secondary School in Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition to the gold medal, Duc and Tuan also won the "Best Exploration" award.

For Science, Dao Trong Cuong and Tran Huu Phuc from Newton Grammar and Dang Tuan Phong from Newton 5 Elementary School - Secondary School won gold.

Vietnamese students attending the 2023 International Mathematics and Science Olympiad. Photo by IEG

In addition, 13 students brought home silvers and three won bronze medals.

Last year, Vietnam sent 24 students to the contest and they bagged three gold and 16 silver medals.

IMSO is an annual competition specifically for students under the age of 13.

This years edition was held by Indonesia in an online format from Nov. 17 to 19.

It gathered 300 students from 21 countries and territories.

Most Vietnamese contestants this year are sixth graders and only two of them are in fifth grade.
Hamas frees first group of Israeli hostages under Gaza truce terms

Family of Irish-Israeli child Emily Hand (9) hope she will be among those released in the coming days

Hostages abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel are handed over by Hamas militants to the International Red Cross yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Bassam Massoud and Janis laizans Sat 25 Nov 2023 at 03:30







Hamas fighters released 24 hostages yesterday during the first day of the wars first truce, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers, after guns fell silent across the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks.
Latest | Watch the moment Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand (9) is reunited with her father after being released by Hamas

Emily was included in the second batch of Israelis to be released by Hamas after being taken hostage on October 7President Higgins hopes Emily can now enjoy a happy and fulfilling lifeRelease came after Hamas delayed for several hours, saying Israel had violated the terms of a truce dealA precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family  Tanaiste

Emily Hand runs into the arms of her father, after she is released from captivity

Hugh O'Connell, Tabitha Monahan, Ahmed Tolba, Bassam Masoud and James Mackenzie Sun 26 Nov 2023 at 09:47







Nine-year-old Israeli-Irish national Emily Hand has been released by Hamas, along with eight other Israeli children and five women.
Rob Lambert/Unsplash

Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Council on Saturday accorded the administrative approval for setting up of four new Industrial Estates in J&K.

The decision was taken during administrative council under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor; Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta,Chief Secretary and Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, attended the meeting.

These include Industrial estates at Budhi Kathua, Medicity Jammu, Chandgam and Lelhar Pulwama which shall be developed over 1379 Kanals of land with an investment of Rs 136.65 Crores.

A part from attracting the investments, the projects shall provide a boost to local employment and is expected to generate over 11497 jobs in the private sector.

The new Industrial estates shall be comprehensively developed in terms of infrastructure viz. internal road works, availability of electricity, Centralized Water Distribution System, rainwater harvesting, roadside greenery and plantation etc.

Besides, the development shall involve setting up of Centralized Effluent Treatment plants on new patterns as per the norms of the National Green Tribunal and other facilities on modern state of art technology. The timeline for completion of projects shall be 18 months.

The establishment of new industrial estates is in line with the commitment of the government to boost industrial development & entrepreneurship in J&K.

(With UNI inputs)
Photo Courtesy: Dan Poraz X page video grab

Twenty-four hostages, including 13 Israeli nationals, have been released as a part of the temporary truce reached between Israel and Hamas, media reports said.

Confirming the release, Israel's Foreign Ministry posted on X: "13 of our loved ones are back home in Israel and will be reunited with their families."

For the first time in seven weeks, 13 Israelis will spend Shabbat with their families.



More than 200 Israeli families are still waiting for their loved ones to come home.



We will not stop working until every hostage is home. pic.twitter.com/1p3kf8uLgk  Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) November 25, 2023

"We stand with all of the hostages and their families and will do everything we can to bring all of the hostages home," the Ministry said.

The hostages were met by members of the Shin Bet security service and then ferried by the Israel Defense Forces in an operation dubbed Heavens Door via the Kerem Shalom crossing into Israel, where they were taken to the Hatzerim Airbase near Beersheba for an initial reception, and to undergo a short physical and mental checkup, reported The Times of Israel.

They were then taken to Schneiders Childrens Medical Center and the Wolfson Medical Center in central Israel, and other medical centers, by helicopter and ambulance, to be reunited with their relatives, the news portal reported.

Most of the Israeli hostages appeared to be in good physical health upon return to Israel, the hospital receiving them was quoted as saying by the news portal.

The Israeli authorities freed 39 Palestinian women and teenagers from prison.

During the four-day pauce of fighting, 50 hostages were freed.

Meanwhile, the United Nations said it was able to scale up delivery of humanitarian assistance into and across Gaza during the humanitarian pause that went into effect on Friday following an agreement reached this week between Israel and Hamas.

Gaza has a population of over two million, with the UN agency that assists Palestine refugee, UNRWA, hosting more than a million displaced people in 156 of its installations across the enclave.

The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Friday that 200 trucks were dispatched from Nitzana, a town in Israel, to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

From there, 137 trucks of goods were offloaded by the UNRWA reception point in Gaza, making it the biggest humanitarian convoy received since the start of hostilities on 7 October.

Additionally, 129,000 litres of fuel and four trucks of gas also crossed into Gaza, and 21 critical patients were evacuated in a large-scale medical operation from the north of the enclave.

Hundreds of thousands of people were assisted with food, water, medical supplies and other essential humanitarian items, OCHA said.

The UN welcomed the release of 24 hostages held in Gaza since 7 October and renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Separately, UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland issued a statement welcoming the start of the implementation of the agreement, while expressing hope for an extended humanitarian ceasefire.

He said the development saw the release of 13 Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas and others, 39 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, and several foreign workers held in Gaza.

Wennesland  officially the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process - looked forward to additional releases that are expected over the coming days.
Photo Courtesy: GMB Union X page

More than 1,000 workers, who are demanding a pay rise, have gone on strike outside a major warehouse of US online retailer Amazon in the United Kingdom.

Around 1,150 workers at Amazons Coventry distribution warehouse joined the picket line in a row over pay and working conditions, reported The Independent.

Unions told the newspaper that workers are tired of only just about making ends meet and walking miles every day in their roles.

The Coventry centre is considered as one of the busiest of Amazon's UK operations.

Workers from the US, Germany and Italy were also expected to join the action which is part of what unions call a global movement for better pay and working conditions, the British newspaper reported.

According to reports, strikes are also expected to take place in the US and other European nations.

One worker told The Independent that the strikes had brought workers together but the situation for many was dire.

Some of my colleagues are doing multiple jobs barely seeing their partners or kids, she said. Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world, its founder is busy building rockets yet the people who made him that fortune are on the breadline, going to food banks, pawning items to make ends meet," the worker said.

She said that working at the company was both physically and mentally draining as heavy lifting for ten hours a night took its toll and injuries occured.

When it comes to mental health, she said the effect was similar: You constantly have managers coming up to you telling you that your rate is low, or youre put on a line of shame with all the other under-performers, it does take a toll on people's mental health.

Having to work many more hours means not having the time or chance to do things that are good for them.

The GMB union, which represents workers, told The Independent staff were disappointed that Amazon bosses had refused to discuss pay and working conditions despite months of action.

Its a really simple ask, a spokesperson told The Independent. We want the company to sit down and start talking to us. Its a reasonable request and Amazon bosses have refused to talk.

Amazon, however, said the strike will not impact customers.

The company told The Independent: There will be no disruption to customers. Our Coventry site does not directly serve customer orders.
Photo Courtesy: X page video grab

At least 10 people died and 22 others were injured after a fire broke out at RJ Mall on Karachis Rashid Minhas Road in Pakistan on Saturday, media reports said.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab confirmed the fire incident and said the blaze has been douzed.

Confirming the casualty, he posted on X: "Fire had been extinguished & cooling process is going on. I can so far confirm 10 casualties & 22 persons have been injured."

Fire had been extinguished & cooling process is going on. I can so far confirm 10 casualties & 22 persons have been injured https://t.co/x3I873U7fG  Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) November 25, 2023

Sharea Faisal Station House Officer (SHO) Raja Tariq Mehmood told Dawn News that the building was a commercial high-rise that housed shopping centres, call centres and software houses.

A statement from the Fire and Rescue spokesperson said they were alerted about the incident at 6:30am, after which eight fire tenders, two snorkels and two bowsers were sent.

The injured people were rushed to nearby hospital for treatment.
Photo Courtesy: UNHCR/Caroline Gluck

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is raising concerns over Pakistans announcement for undocumented foreigners to leave, as the orders have adversely affected Afghan nationals including registered refugees and others with valid documents.

Since Pakistans announcement of the plan on 3 October 2023, an estimated 374,000 people have returned to Afghanistan  mostly in fear and haste. We are witnessing an exponential increase in arrests, detentions and deportations of Afghans in Pakistan.

Mass arrivals back to Afghanistan are adding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis as winter temperatures start to dip  in some locations the minimum already reaching -4C . Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter.

UNHCR has visited different locations in Pakistan in the past two weeks, meeting Afghans on the move and local authorities. Afghans interviewed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province  known as KP  in the northwest, and Balochistan province in the southwest of the country, including registered refugees, said they were leaving in a rush, fearing arrest and detention. All registered Afghan refugees are exempt from the Governments orders, but the announcement and follow-up actions, including reports of intimidation by local authorities and evictions by landlords, have created a sense of panic.

The ongoing pressure to return has caused severe distress within the communities despite the assurances received from the Government of Pakistan.

We have been reiterating our call that any return to Afghanistan should be voluntary, safe and dignified, irrespective of legal status in Pakistan. We have urged the Government of Pakistan to put in place a screening mechanism to identify individuals in need of international protection. UNHCR is offering support to Pakistan to put in place a system that addresses the legitimate concerns of the Government of Pakistan as well as Afghans seeking safety on its territory.

UNHCR welcomes statements from Pakistani authorities at different levels to initiate legal actions against those who have been involved in extortion and mistreatment of Afghans who are on the move as a result of the Governments order.

We are also seeking further discussions to help address the challenges faced by Pakistan while upholding the rights of all Afghans on its territory.

Those arriving now at border points inside Afghanistan are exhausted and in need of emergency assistance. Many have complained of harassment, extortion and mistreatment. Desperate women and children are among those who were not given a choice but to pack and leave.

In Afghanistan, UNHCR staff and humanitarian partners are scrambling to monitor and provide assistance to the large-scale influx of returning Afghans arriving at two official border crossings with Pakistan  Torkham, in Nangarhar province, and Spin Boldak, in Kandahar province. It is a daunting task on top of the ongoing humanitarian crises in Afghanistan affecting over two thirds of the population.
Photo Courtesy: X video grab page

A day-long anti-Pakistan poster exhibition was recently organised at the Broken Chair in front of the United Nations Geneva ahead of the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

India will mark the occasion on Sunday.

The posters highlighted the gruesome 2008 Mumbai attacks when ten members of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks, lasting four days across Mumbai, reported ANI.

A human rights activist and author who organised the poster exhibition, Priyajit Debsarkar, told ANI: Today, we are protesting in front of United Nations Geneva. We have displayed a lot of balance here to commemorate the costly and terrible barbaric terror attacks which rocked Mumbai, the Indian financial epicentre 15 years ago.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks also referred to as 26/11 were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.

The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday 26 November and lasted until November 29, 2008. At least 174 people died, including 9 attackers, and more than 300 were wounded.

Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.

There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai's port area, and a taxi at Vile Parle.

By the early morning of 28 November 28, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces.

On November 29, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers; it culminated in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.
The trip from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3., which will also include several bilateral activities in the UAE, will be made at the invitation of the UAE government and the Turkish government, according to a communique of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

COP28 is scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in Dubai with more than 70,000 participants, including government leaders, heads of non-government organizations, businesses, youth delegates and other related parties.

Vietnam and Turkey established diplomatic relations on June 7, 1978. Turkey became one of Vietnam's first business partners in the Middle East. Bilateral trade revenues reached more than US$2 billion in 2022, including $1.6 billion of Vietnamese exports.

Turkey is investing in 36 projects pledged with $974.3 million in Vietnam. Its company IC Ictas led the Vietur joint venture to win a contract in August to build a passenger terminal worth VND35 trillion ($1.44 billion) at Long Thanh airport, slated to be Vietnam's largest.

Around 200 Vietnamese are living in Turkey. Vietnam sent $100,000 and two rescue teams as aid to Turkey's earthquake disaster in February.
Viewers are hailing the freshly released show All the Light We Cannot See as a "must watch."

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Anthony Doerr served as the inspiration for this historical drama, which is based on the linked lives of two teens named Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig during World War II. Their paths cross in a German-occupied France as they navigate a difficult and complicated historical era.

netflix

What Is The Story Of All the Light We Cannot See?

All the Light We Cannot See, written and directed by Steven Knight and produced by Shawn Levy, tells the story of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and her father Daniel LeBlanc, who escape Paris as German troops leave the city, taking a famous diamond with them to keep it out of Nazi hands. The vicious Gestapo agent Reinhold von Rumpel then begins pursuing them obstinately in an attempt to seize the valuable stone.



netflix

The father-daughter pair soon flees to Saint-Malo, France, where they live with Uncle Etienne, a man who secretly transmits anti-revolutionary ideas. Marie-Laure unexpectedly crosses paths with Werner in this coastal city. Werner is a bright young man forced to track down illegal transmissions by Adolf Hitler's administration. Werner and Marie-Laure, in spite of their disagreements, have a secret connection and faith in the goodwill of others.

netflix

Meet The Cast Of All the Light We Cannot See

In this series on Netflix, Aria Nell Sutton plays the younger Marie-Laure, while Mia Loberti plays the adult version of the character. Well-known actors like Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo play Uncle Etienne and Daniel LeBlanc, respectively. Louis Hofmann, who plays Werner, and Lars Eidinger, who plays the ruthless Gestapo officer Von Rumpel, complete the cast. Marion Bailey also adopts the persona of Madame Manec.



netflix

Talking about the book and the show, director Levy said, The father-daughter storyline between Daniel and Marie is a big part of the book, but I knew it would be an even bigger part of my series because I am a father of four daughters and that relationship is at the center of my every day.



You can stream All the Light We Cannot See on Netflix.



(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)
1. To Err Is Human, To Forgive Is Divine: Trisha Finally Reacts To Mansoor Ali Khans Apology

Tamil actor Mansoor Ali Khan put millions to shame after passing insensitive rape remarks against actress Trisha Krishnan. The matter quickly escalated where everyone including several celebrities slammed Khan for his awful mindset. Days after denying to apologise, Mansoor yesterday finally said sorry. Read More!

Indiatimes

2. Inside Pics Of Big B's 50 Crore Bungalow Prateeksha That He Recently Gifted To Daughter Shweta



Actor Amitabh Bachchan owns some of the most luxurious properties across the country including five of his ancestral family homes. He recently handed out one of them to his daughter Shweta Nanda as a gift. Paying a stamp duty of 50.65 lakh, Big B released his iconic Rs 50 crore bungalow - Prateeksha. As per registration documents accessed by Zapkey.com, this property was located in Juhu Vile Parle Development schemes 10th Road. Read More!

Indiatimes

3. Reel Life Foes And Real Life Besties! Ranbir And Bobby's Bromance From Animal Event Goes Viral



Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deols on-screen rivalry in the recently released Animal trailer has taken the internet by storm. The duo lock horns in a fierce altercation and nobody knows who emerges as the winner. Cut to, off-screen Ranbir and Bobby cannot help but embrace their heartwarming bromance. Check out Ranbir and Bobbys bromance at the Animal album launch!

Indiatimes

4. 'We'll Adopt Him', Internet Breaks Into Tears As 4 YO Cries On Korean Show Due To Bad Parenting



Every child deserves a parent, but not every parent deserves a child. Parenting can be a really taxing thing especially when one is not ready for the responsibility. A major section of adults are often seen talking on the internet about how their growing up years weren't good because of toxic parents but imagine a four-year-old being self-aware of this and trying to hold back tears confessing it. Read More!

Indiatimes

5. Bobby Deol Quit Sugar And Trained Vigorously For Months To 'Look Broader Than Ranbir' In Animal



I do have a distinct feeling that Bobbys gonna outshine Ranbir in Animal - a user said. Ever since the trailer of Animal has been released, netizens have flooded social media with conversations about how good Bobby Deol looks in it. Where Ranbir Kapoor plays the protagonist, Lord Bobby is the deadly antagonist who stunned the internet within a few shots in the trailer. Read More!

Indiatimes

For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


EVENT POSTPONED: Report from Chile on the 50th Anniversary of the US AFL-CIO Supported Coup

Date:

Saturday, December 02, 2023

Time:

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Event Type:

Panel Discussion

Organizer/Author:

Joan Simon

Location Details:

San Jose Peace & Justice Center

48 S. 7th St.

San Jose, CA 95112

Lisa Milos, a Chilean American and member of UPTE UCSF (University Professional and Technical Employees, University of California San Francisco) went to Chile to join in the commemoration events. Lisa will report on what happened during the commemoration and the lessons for today and Chile.



Alicia Carvajal, a Chilean refugee since 1976. Alicia worked at the Legal Aid Society for 28 years helping families with immigration, tenants rights and workers rights. She was a former delegate for her union, the National Organization of Legal Service Workers, NOLSW-UAW local 2023 of the South Central Labor Council for 17 years. Alicia is the co-founder of the Coalition for Immigrant Rights 1ero de May and participated in many social justice organizations and continued to fight against the Pinochet dictatorship.



Co-sponsored by: Labor Education Project on AFL-CIO International Operations (AFL-CIO Education International Project | Exposing the relationship between the AFL-CIO and imperialism) aflcio-int.education, WorkWeek Radio, and the San Jose Peace and Justice Center.


The Court of Appeal in Lagos State has affirmed the March 18 election victory of Ogun States Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

In a split decision, on Friday, the court dismissed the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the election.

Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh delivered the decision of the majority while Judge Jane Inyang, ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

Recall that in September, the Ogun governorship election petition tribunal upheld the victory of Abiodun at the poll.

In a unanimous decision, the tribunal, led by Hamidu Kunaza, held that the petition by Adebutu was incompetent, defective and lacking in merits.

READ ALSO: Imo, Kogi Victory Proves Nigerians Are Pleased With APC  Uzodinma

Abiodun, in reaction to the judgment in a statement, said the court verdict validates the mandate bestowed on him by the people during the election.

According to him, his administration is focused on the advancement of the development of the state.

I sincerely wish to convey my deepest appreciation for your unwavering support throughout our journey.

Todays triumph at the Court of Appeal not only validates the authenticity of the mandate you bestowed upon us during the last governorship election but also demonstrates the strength of our unity, the Governor said.
Gunmen on Friday abducted scores in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Figures by Daily Trust, projected the victims mostly women and children, to a total of 150.

According to witness report, one person was also killed during the operation that lasted for hours.

Information understands that this is coming barely a week after 17 persons were abducted in Ruwan Dorawa village of the same LGA.

The bandits attacked four villages of Mutunji, Kwanar-Dutse, Sabon-Garin Mahuta and Unguwar Kawo during the latest operation.

A resident of Mutunji, according to Daily Trust said the bandits who stormed the affected villages around 9pm on Friday, carried out operation across the four villages simultaneously.

Immediately they entered Mutunji village, they started firing gunshots sporadically into the air to scare the residents. As expected, people started running for their lives.

READ ALSO: Israel DMW Finally Opens Up On Reason For Split With Wife

The bandits then apprehended the weak among the residents who were mostly women and children. Of course, the abled ones among the residents escaped. While they were operating, I tried to call a friend in the neighbouring village of Kwanar-Dutse to seek for help but he told me that they were also under attack.

Ibrahim told me that as at the time I was speaking with him, he was in the bush together with some people after escaping, the resident said.

Another anonymous resident said the bandits might be of same gang, but divided themselves into four with each group attacking one village.

We learnt that after the separate operations in the four villages, the bandits regrouped and dragged the abductees into the bush. The bandits are now attacking villages and abducting their victims at will. They no longer face any resistance from security personnel. In fact, residents have now been abandoned. We dont receive any help from the security personnel whenever the bandits operate.

The issue is that even if you inform the security or the traditional rulers nothing is being done to prevent such attack. Sometimes, we get to know about the coming of the bandits but even if we inform the concerned authorities, that will not make any positive impact, he said.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos State, on Friday, affirmed the March 18 election of Peoples Democratic Partys Sheriff Oborevwori as Governor of Delta State.

However, Ovie Omo-Agege, governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) said he firmly believes that justice is yet to be given to the people of Delta who voted for him and the APC.

Information Nigeria reports that a three-member panel of the appellate court, dismissed the appeal filed by Omo-Agege, for lacking in merit.

On September 29, the Delta governorship petition tribunal affirmed Oborevworis election on the grounds that the issues raised were speculative since the petitioners failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and corrupt practices beyond a reasonable doubt.

READ ALSO: Tinubus Government Inherited Dead Economy  Gov Soludo

Reacting to the verdict of the appellate court, Omo-Agege in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Sunny Areh, said he would take his appeal to the apex court.

We will proceed to the supreme court. The issues at stake touch on the future and well-being of the people who voted for a new Delta.

We have a duty to respect them by defending their faith in us with every sense of diligence and responsibility. We dont waver on what is right, he said.
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has warned Nigerians against illegal migration.

The NIDCOM boss led this out on Fridays edition of Channels Televisions Politics Today, in view of a growing number of Nigerians migrating out of the country.

Recall that Dabiri-Erewa had recently visited some Nigerians at a shelter in Brampton, Canada where she said some of the asylum seekers are living in deplorable conditions.

READ MORE: Stop Travelling Abroad Without Proper Documents  NIDCOM Warns

She said: So you cant stop migration, legal or illegal. But lets reduce the temptation to go and get into a tougher place.

Dont leave for what you call a greener pasture to what I call a reder pasture, she added.

Where you are going to, ensure you have a job; somebody who is going to look after you.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that many Nigerians have developed the habit of Japa Syndrome, a means of escaping from their country for a better place.

Some travel to European countries through Mediterranean Sea, risking their lives just to leave Nigeria.
Following the truce that brokered between Israel and Hamas, the first set of hostages in Gaza and the Jewish nation have regained freedom.

The truce had brought a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza after weeks of conflict.

Although the Palestinian militant group had released 24 persons held as captives, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that 13 Israeli hostages had returned on Friday and underwent initial medical assessments.

The other freed prisoners include 10 Thais and one Filipino.

The hostages were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, accompanied by eight staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a four-car convoy.

READ ALSO: Israel-Hamas Conflict Gone Beyond Wars, This Is Terrorism  Pope Francis

In return, 39 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli prisons.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister said: We have just completed the return of the first batch of our hostages. Children, their mothers and other women. Each and every one of them is a world in itself.

But I stress to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: We are committed to returning all our hostages.

As part of the deal, the IDF said four tankers of fuel and four tankers of cooking gas, designated for operating essential humanitarian infrastructure were transferred from Egypt to the United Nations (UN) humanitarian aid organisations in southern Gaza, via the Rafah Crossing.

The deal will see at least 50 Israeli hostages released in Gaza while 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails will also be released over a period of four days.

Officials have hinted that the truce could be extended.
Celebrity logistic manager, Isreal DMW, has disclosed how his boss Davido, supported him and how he made him heal from depression after his marriage crashed.

He made this revelation after calling out his estranged wife, and documenting everything that transpired in their marriage and how they met.

While addressing his marital troubles, the O2 Arena performing artist shared on his Instagram story that he experienced depression while crediting the Grammy award nominee, Davido, for helping him through the tough times.

READ MORE: Ensure You Have A Job, Someone To Look After You Before You Japa- Dabiri-Erewa Tells Nigerians

He mentioned that Davido consistently checked up on him, made him laugh, and played a supportive role during the difficult period.

I immediately fell into serious depression. Thanks for Oga, who would always call to check up on me and make me laugh, he wrote.

It would be recalled that about a year ago, Isreal tied the knot with Sheila Courage in a lavish ceremony attended by notable personalities such as his boss, Davido, Chioma, Cubana Chief Priest, Poco Lee, and others.

Sheila Courage moved out of the house citing irreconcilable differences, the marriage was unable to survive to celebrate its first anniversary due to difficulties.

Sheila, however, shared her side of the story, she accused her estranged husband of beating up her mother.
Reelected Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, has averred that the victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo and Kogi states during the November 11 election shows that Nigerians are happy with the Party.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states.

APC won the election in Kogi and Imo while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Bayelsa.

On Friday, Uzodinma and Usman Ododo, Kogi governor-elect, presented their certificates of return to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Speaking during the visit, Uzodinma said APCs victory in Kogi and Imo states showed the growing popularity of the Party.

READ ALSO: Imo Guber: Re-Election Vindicated Me As 2019 Poll Winner  Uzodimma

According to Uzodinma, they came to present the certificate to the President to appreciate his leadership in the country.

You recall that the election of November 11, our great party, APC, is growing in popularity and came out successfully in Kogi and Imo states.

Our victory at the polls shows that Nigerians are still very happy with the APC. Nigerians voted en mass for the President and this victory validates this claim through the voters in Kogi state and Imo state.

So we have come to honour the president and also use the opportunity to thank him for his support, advice, and wisdom.

He imparted on us and achievements he has recorded since he became the president which most of us leverage on to be able to convince the voters to vote for us, Uzodinma stated.
ELKO Elko County teachers and support staff will be receiving an 11% cost-of-living pay increase over a two-year period after school board approval of collective bargaining agreements with the Elko County Classroom Teachers Association and the Elko County Support Staff Organization.

The two-year contract commits the district to an 8.5% cost-of-living adjustment in the first year retroactive as of July 1, 2023, and an additional 2.5% adjustment effective July 1, 2024, according to an announcement from the Elko County School District.

The agreement, which went into immediate effect, also provides a 3.75% increase to employees district-paid retirement contributions, ECSD reported.

The kink in the boards approval of the 11% COLA increases after a closed bargaining session is that the boost in pay teachers and support staff will put the ECSD budget for the current fiscal year below the 4% state required ending fund balance, Chief Financial Officer Julie Davis said on Nov. 7.

She said that due to the boards decision to approve the contracts, board and management must submit a written explanation along with the December augmented budget by Dec. 28 to the Department of Taxation.

Trustee Jeff Durham said he didnt want to go below the 4%, but he voted for the contracts because through the advice of negotiators it was made clear that getting to that number would be impossible. I feel our hands are tied, he said.

The board agreed the administration should work on the explanation for the state before coming to the board for final approval.

The state prefers an ending fund balance of 13% to 14% of expenditures, and a budget augmentation earlier this year put the fund balance for the current fiscal year at $11.85 million, which is 10.2% of expenditures, or 1.2 months of operations.

The ending fund balance, however, before that June augmentation from new money from the 2023 legislative session and special education money the Nevada Department of Education earlier withheld was $1.09 million, which would have required the explanation to the state.

Davis didnt report in public session Nov. 7 what she estimated the ending fund balance would be with the pay increases, but she said on Nov. 27 that fiscal impacts of negotiations are discussed with management and the board during agendized closed sessions throughout the negotiation process.

She said that well publish a final dollar amount with the December budget augment, for consistency purposes. For transparency, we are disclosing in advance that we anticipate a projected FY24 general fund balance under 4% of expenditures.

ECSD could get financial help with the COLA raises that could affect the ending fund balance. The district is now able to apply for funds through Senate Bill 231, which provides an additional temporary legislative salary increase for eligible classified and certified staff through July 1, 2025.

Based on the districts full-time equivalency ratio of the statewide total of all school districts, ECSD can apply for a maximum of $7.3 million, to be divided amongst eligible certified and classified staff over the course of the next year and a half, according to the district statement.

ECSD teachers and support staff received a 2% raise for the 2021-2022 school year and a 1% raise for the 2022-2023 school year under the prior contracts, on top of a $1,000 bonus for extra work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bonus money was mostly covered by federal relief funds, however.

The latest negotiated agreements for teachers and support staff can be viewed on the school districts website.

This story has been updated to include corrected information about the districts projected ending fund balance.
A yet to be identified vehicle assistant popularly known as motor boy has died in a lone accident at Anthony Oke inward Gbagada on Saturday morning.

It was gathered that the driver of the truck who was found unconscious by the operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, was rushed to the Gbagada General Hospital where he is being treated at the intensive care unit.

Reacting to the horrible report, LASTMA the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident, revealed that while the truck driver was rescued unconscious, his motor-boy was not lucky as he was found dead at the scene of the accident.

READ MORE: Sanwo-Olu Sacks LASTMA Boss, Appoints Replacement

He said: Immediate investigation revealed that the driver of the containerized truck with registration number T 20345 LA lost control due to a brake failure. Immediately, the truck fell down a few metres while ascending Anthony Oke Bridge inward Gbagada area of Lagos.

Immediately after the accident happened, LASTMA personnel rushed to the scene and rescued the driver who was unconscious. However, his motor boy was found dead
Abu Asad, a well-known terrorist commander, and many of his fighters have been eliminated as a result of the latest military operation carried out by the Nigerian Air Force.

Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under the Boko Haram sect, was targeted and killed during an air operation conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.

The Air Force declared the operation to be extremely successful and said that two of the three terrorists structures has been successfully destroyed by the airstrikes.

The Air Forces Director of Information and Public Relations, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated that the air interdiction was directed against a group of more than a hundred heavily armed terrorists who were either organising a meeting or getting ready to launch an attack on Nigerian troops.

The statement released by the Air Force, titled NAF airstrikes hit Tagoshe on the Mandara mountains, eliminates Abu Asad, others, highlighted the significant impact of the operation.

It read, In what could be described as arguably one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, Nigerian Air Force aircraft, on November 24, 2023, carried out air strikes on a massing of terrorists in an isolated location consisting of three zinced structures amid several trees.

From the footage, it was evident that the terrorists were massing up at the location for either a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on own troops. Over 100 heavily armed terrorists were observed throwing banters and moving randomly around the structures which also had 4 troop carriers.

READ MORE: Students Wont Need To Have Connections To Qualify For Loan Scheme  Gbajabiamila Assures

The aftermath of the air strike revealed that two out of the three structures, as well as the entire troop carriers, were destroyed. There were also indications that one Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under Boko Haram, and

several of his fighters like Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, and Mustafa Munzir among others were eliminated in the air strike.

He said, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, congratulated the Air Component Commander and his troops on a job well done, and he asked them to keep working closely with the land component to maintain the momentum in the war against terrorism.

We must continue to justify the trust and confidence the Federal Government and our people have bestowed on us by ensuring that we go all out in making life unbearable for these terrorists and criminals until they surrender or are completely eliminated, he was quoted as saying.
A Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of being partisan.

The appellate court said it was embarrassing that the Commission could appear before it to act in favour of a party in an election dispute by disowning documents that it not only issued but also duly certified.

Justice K. I. Amadi said this while delivering the lead judgment in the case involving the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, on Friday.

He said: The INEC as an institution should be reminded of its role in an election; to be an unbiased umpire between parties.

It should stop behaving irresponsibly, having in mind that its duty to conduct election has a direct bearing on peace and well-being of the country.

READ MORE: CTC Error: Youve Lost Jurisdiction To Correct Mistakes  Olanipekun Tells Appeal Court

The role of INEC in election dispute should be limited to the tendering of all the documents used in an election and explaining what they were used for and how they were obtained.

INEC should stop dancing naked in the market, pretending that no one is seeing its nakedness and its dancing steps, the court stated while delivering judgment in a Bauchi State House of Assembly election appeal.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says the Students Loan Application system is being designed in a way that there wont be interface between the loan administrators and the beneficiaries.

According to him, plans are underway to ensure the take-off of the scheme in January 2024.

This, Gbajabiamila said, is to ensure that Nigerian students could access the loan to fund their educational aspirations.

READ ALSO: Ensure You Have A Job, Someone To Look After You Before You Japa- Dabiri-Erewa Tells Nigerians

The Chief of Staff disclosed this on Friday while delivering the lecture titled, Empowering Nigerian Youths in the Present Day Economy at the 35th convocation ceremony of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos.

He said that to make the process seamless, applicants will apply online, be verified online and credited based on the verifiable documents and credentials they submitted.

Nobody will need to know anybody to qualify for these loans so that access to this financing will be genuinely egalitarian, he added.
Maternal mortality, food insecurity, and a rise in child behavioral health problems are among the most entrenched public health issues in Philadelphia. A new research director at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia is now inviting the people most affected by these challenges to work alongside academic researchers to devise solutions.

The pilot program at CHOP PolicyLab is an example of what the future of health equity research could look like, said Meredith Matone, who in October took over as director of CHOP PolicyLab, a center focused on translating academic research into community programs.

Matone has been a public health researcher with CHOP PolicyLab for 13 years and most recently worked as its scientific director. She replaces longtime director David Rubin, who co-founded the organization in 2008.

CHOP PolicyLab employs 35 faculty researchers, plus a team of more than 80 public health, law, and communications professionals.

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The Inquirer spoke with Matone about CHOP PolicyLabs work and how to improve the pathway from academic research to effective community programs.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What are the most pressing pediatric health issues for PolicyLab to investigate?

A core value of the PolicyLab is that all children deserve a healthy start to life, yet we know there are profound inequities in pediatric health outcomes. For us, the most pressing research is research that helps us reduce disparities in health outcomes for children.

Among those are social safety net programs. We have a growing body of research around food insecurity and understanding the impact of optimization of programs like WIC. We know that child poverty, particularly in Philadelphia, is a huge determinant of health outcomes.

The needs around behavioral health treatment, access, and prevention services are profound. We have a large portfolio thats focused on how we can implement best practices in primary care and community settings.

Caregiver health is a determinant of child health and well-being, and we know there is a maternal morbidity and mortality crisis here in our community, as well as nationally. We have a portfolio of work looking at the pediatric role in screening for postpartum health. What is the role of pediatrics in supporting caregiver health, when we see postpartum visit rates are so low but infant well visits are so high? How do we leverage that?

What are your priorities in your first year as director?

Im most excited about digging in on the role of building and strengthening our partnership with organizations outside the health system. Were building out ways to engage more directly. For instance, we established a community engagement pilot grant that pairs faculty with a community member to co-lead and co-create pilot projects. Thats one of the ways were thinking about building out the infrastructure, so that we can train the next generation of pediatric health services researchers, including in this community.

How does the community engagement pilot grant work?

Were asking community members what their concerns are and engaging them to be involved. It changes the dynamic. We have leverage, resources, and a set of skills that can be used to support a community agenda, and its really about understanding how to do that in a way that meets the needs the community sees as most pressing.

The pilot grant program just funded our second cohort of seven awardees who are getting started in areas of adolescent health, intimate partner violence, trauma informed care. Some really exciting projects are developing.

This feels like the way forward for a health equity research agenda in pediatrics.

What are the benefits of developing programs with community members, not just for them?

I think at the most basic level, it respects the lived experience of the individuals who were hoping to touch with our programming. Were sharing power and decision-making around what programming touches families and how. Theres a respect for how resources are prioritized and allocated, and making sure the individuals whom we are working on behalf of have a voice in these decisions.

What has the response been so far?

Were still learning about how we can make ourselves available for this, but we got a robust response for applications and are now working with a number of organizations. Some of these key leaders, who are really embedded at the ground level with the community on some of our most pressing social and health issues, have come to the table excited to partner and share voice.
Harriet Parker, 82, stays active and in touch with family and friends. Read more

The pandemic shed a light on loneliness, showing the nation what it feels like to be socially isolated.

Suddenly, people saw how horrible it can be for older Americans, many of whom live by themselves, said Marypat Tracy, executive director of SOWN, formerly the Supportive Older Womens Network, based in Manayunk.

As the holiday season commences, SOWN staff and volunteers are striving to make sure that the nearly 600 people with whom they interact  96% of them women  feel connected to someone.

This can be a rough time, Tracy said. Many older people watch TV, and now theyre seeing holiday commercials with families gathering, with grandma and grandpa being welcomed into their kids homes.

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But so much of that can be unrealistic: Many cant afford to travel, many arent necessarily close with their kids, and quite a few arent healthy enough to go anywhere.

Americans are sold a bill of goods that you age into golden years, when life is wonderful. Well, that aint true for most folks.

Tracy hastens to add that theres a difference between loneliness and social isolation: One can feel the sadness of being lonely in the company of others; its a reaction to internal feelings. Social isolation is the absence of social interactions and contacts.

In battling loneliness and social isolation, the SOWN secret to helping older Philadelphians is older Philadelphians. Peer relationships  fostered by SOWN groups that meet in senior centers around the city, or in clusters on the phone  can be the keys to helping beat back loneliness.

Peers provide one another the ongoing conversation about aging, Tracy said. They connect, and suddenly, they have all these sisters in their lives.

Enjoy life

In Philadelphia, there are around 318,000 people aged 60 and older, almost 308,000 of whom live in the community, outside of long-term care facilities, according to Allen Glicksman, a social gerontologist and researcher at NewCourtland. The nonprofit is an agency headquartered in Germantown that helps seniors find housing and health care.

Of the 308,000, more than 33% (about 103,000) live alone, Glicksman found. Around 58% (nearly 180,000) are women, many of whom have outlived their spouses.

Harriet Parker, 82, of Southwest Philadelphia, lost one husband to disease, another to divorce. Her daughter is grown with a child of her own, and Parker lives alone.

But, she says, shes not lonely.

I still feel the love and the warmth from my family when they lived with me in this house that Ive lived in since 1953, said Parker, who has worked as a school crossing guard and a salesperson at Strawbridges.

And out in the world, she has her very active friends.

I meet with the SOWN ladies twice a week at Southwest Senior Center on Elmwood, she said. I also do line dancing, Zumba, Bible study.

On Thursday, she was in a Thanksgiving-themed play at Star Harbor Senior Community Center nearby.

She also used to run in track meets in her 70s: They would call me Flo-Jo [sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner], she said. On one wild day, she set aside her walker and did a daring run on a zip line at the Salvation Armys Camp Ladore in Waymart, Wayne County.

I wont do that again, she said.

The key to her happiness, Parker said, is simple: Be with people. Dont give in to feeling old. And be happy. Enjoy life, because its short.

Connected by phone

Not everyone can get out like Parker. Many dont move as well as they once did, or are suffering from debilitating illness, or face other challenges.

That doesnt mean theyre not in community, however.

Alexzandra Gentsch, a volunteer with SOWN, runs one of the nonprofits telephone support groups, connecting women to women for an hour once a week.

For me, Im impressed by how lighthearted the conversations are, said Gentsch, 38, who works as a health-care researcher, and has a masters degree in social work. Theres never been a session without a funny joke  always in good taste.

One day, Gentsch asked the six women normally on her call how theyd met their significant others. All the women are single from death or divorce, Gentsch said. They each said they didnt remember. Then they all burst out laughing. They thought that was hilarious.

Often, the women talk current events: The submersible vessel that went missing in June near the wreck of the Titanic. COVID-19 vaccinations. Affirmative action.

Its not uncommon for a member of the group to discuss the effects of aging, the way time changes a body.

Most of the women havent met each other, or Gentsch. Were all too spread out over the city, she said. But several will talk by phone beyond the scheduled weekly hour, checking in frequently, and growing closer, noted Lori Lattimer, SOWNs director of programs.

While numerous programs around the city strive to fight social isolation among older Philadelphians, SOWN appears to be unique, according to Glicksman. Its blend of in-person meetings in centers and regularly scheduled support phone calls is a very special model, he said.

Also, SOWNs phone interactions are facilitated by old-fashioned landlines, not smart phones or Zoom calls, which can be difficult for older adults to manage, Lattimer said.

Ultimately, the women benefit because their talks cut at least a bit into the isolation many older people feel. One of the women talks regularly about loneliness. The others always listen with understanding and empathy, Gentsch said.

The ladies will always tell the one who says shes lonely, Dont forget. We are all here for you.
A member of Pennsylvania Task Force One, an urban search and rescue team, steps over rubble at the scene of an explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in West Reading, Pa., in March. Read more

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the sun shone brightly. Little did we know that that beautiful day would end as the second bloodiest on American soil in history.

The dust had hardly settled when our Pennsylvania Task Force One deployed to help with the search and rescue efforts.

Task Force One was the first out-of-state urban search and rescue to assist in what became known as The Pile, the 1.8 million tons of wreckage left from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

Now, more than two decades after 9/11, some are calling for a second urban search and rescue team in Western Pennsylvania.

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Once a natural disaster or terrorist incident strikes, fast delivery of the most appropriate resources is critical to save lives, limit suffering, and properly stage for recovery.

Each urban search and rescue team is composed of 70 members. These members specialize in search, rescue, medicine, hazardous materials, logistics, and planning. They include physicians, engineers, canine search teams, and other specialists. Each team should be ready to deploy within six hours of a disaster.

Task Force One is based in Philadelphia. Whether the commonwealth needs a second urban search and rescue team for Western Pennsylvania is an important conversation to have, given emergencies like the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburghs East End in 2022.

When those conversations occur, they must include a complete cataloging of emergency assets across the commonwealth to identify the specific capabilities and location of these resources in order to identify asset gaps in our search and rescue infrastructure.

To be clear, this is a challenge many states face. Today, there is an intrinsic local, state, and federal urban search and rescue capability across our nation, including specialists in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives, as well as swift water rescue.

The flooding this summer in my own county of Bucks, where seven lives were lost, revealed the critical need for swift water rescue capabilities and swift water rescue units ready to go when needed.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have a list of resources at the local level, but this information cant be found in one central database or communicated easily between states or municipalities.

Even now, there remains no rapid process for identifying resources for addressing a catastrophic disaster affecting multiple states and regions or multiple disasters occurring at the same time.

Simply put, the lack of an instantaneous nationwide database may lead to delays in emergency response  when every second counts.

This brings us back to Pennsylvania. The need for quickly deployable and diverse assets is clear. Fortunately, the Shapiro administration stands as a strong proponent of building effective emergency response infrastructure.

Pennsylvania should consider a second urban search and rescue team based in the southwest that would operate solely within the commonwealths borders. If created, Pennsylvania will have to develop a long-term funding structure for its operation.

Timing and prompt action to launch a second team is critical. Task Force One will be an important component of our readiness infrastructure in the southeast as we prepare for millions of people to descend on Philadelphia in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Americas birth. Standing up a second allied team will ensure Pennsylvania is prepared to respond quickly to emergencies anywhere in the commonwealth.

Mark S. Schweiker, who served as the 44th governor of Pennsylvania, is now executive-in-residence of Rider Universitys homeland security program.
The U.S. Supreme Court released its first code of ethics in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices, but the new rules are essentially toothless, writes the Editorial Board. Read more

Try as it may, the U.S. Supreme Courts new code of conduct does little to solve the ethical rot undermining the historically low confidence in the court.

There are numerous deficiencies with the code. For starters, the court explicitly said that these rules and principles are not new. So essentially nothing has changed when it comes to policing the nine members.

Yet, the new guidelines were sparked by media reports of gift-taking, luxury travel, and ethics rules violations by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

However, with no external enforcement, the justices will continue to police themselves, making the code of conduct essentially toothless.

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 READ MORE: Clarence Thomas makes a mockery of ethical standards | Editorial

The rules themselves are an affront to common sense. Consider the section on recusals. A judge is supposed to step aside when there is a real or perceived conflict of interest impacting a case, but the code allows justices to disregard a recusal if they think their vote is needed.

More troubling, the financial disclosure standards remain lax. This cuts to the heart of the problem exposed by reports of Thomas luxury trips and dubious financial ties to Republican donors. As well as Alitos junket on a private jet to a $1,000-a-night fishing lodge in Alaska with a hedge fund billionaire with cases before the court.

In adopting the code of conduct, the court said it was acting to dispel the misunderstanding that the justices lacked ethics rules. To condescendingly label what appears to be blatant corruption of the court a misunderstanding reeks of arrogance.

The more likely explanation as to why Thomas and Alito never disclosed the gifts is because they knew it was patently wrong. Thomas, in particular, has been a glutton when it comes to freebies from friends like billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow, who could not say for sure he would be pals with Thomas if not for his judicial robes.

Thomas received at least 38 vacations, including a yacht trip around the Bahamas, 26 private jet flights, and a dozen VIP passes to sporting events. In addition, Crow bought Thomas childhood home in 2014 and spent tens of thousands to renovate it while Thomas mother continued to live there.

Crow also paid $6,000 a month for Thomas nephew to attend boarding school, while another wealthy friend underwrote the $267,230 purchase of Thomas recreational vehicle.

Thomas never reported any of the largesse. The public only knows about it because of fine reporting, mainly by ProPublica.

What else have the justices received?

The Senate Judiciary Committee rightly called for Crow to disclose all the gifts he gave to Thomas. The committee wants other donors to disclose gifts above $415 given to Thomas and Alito. A full accounting is needed to know if the justices had conflicts in cases before them.

Some have been exposed: Alito voted with the other justices in a case that resulted in $2.4 billion for the hedge fund titan who paid for his Alaska fishing junket. Alito rejected calls to recuse himself from a tax case involving a lawyer he is connected to. After writing the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, Alito went on a trip to Rome paid for by an antiabortion group that filed a friend of the court brief in the case.

 READ MORE: The Supreme Court ethics mess is todays Watergate. Lets treat it that way. | Will Bunch

Thomas, in turn, issued the lone dissent in a case where former President Donald Trump tried to block the release of records to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. All the while, Thomas wife lobbied lawmakers and the White House to overturn the 2020 election. Ethics experts said Thomas should have recused himself from the case. Thomas wife has her own financial conflicts that may influence her husband.

Thomas also voted with other justices to overturn a bribery conviction against a former Virginia governor in 2016, while he was enjoying luxury vacations. That ruling conveniently made it harder to convict public officials of corruption.

The scope of the handouts Thomas has received exceeds any legitimate explanation of gifts from friends. Alito has likewise demonstrated he is ethically challenged.

If Thomas and Alito had any sense of judicial propriety, they would resign. Thats not happening, so Congress must impose stronger safeguards to stop the corruption of the court.

Until then, the only checks and balances are coming from journalists.
Jared Adkins had a vision for his distillery: a sunny, inviting space, in a neighborhood where people could wander in to enjoy craft cocktails and learn about his spirits. As he explored the suburbs of Philadelphia in search of a home, his pitch was rejected four times.

Then he got to Phoenixville, where borough officials not only said yes, but put him in touch with the owner of a vacant building he'd seen on the way into town  and pretty much welcomed him with open arms.

Bluebird Distilling, which opened in 2015, was the first distillery in Phoenixville. But it's only one piece of a movement that has turned the borough of 17,000 into a destination for eaters and drinkers, especially beer lovers. One half-mile stretch of Phoenixville's downtown is now home to four breweries, three winery tasting rooms, Bluebird Distilling, and The Foodery, a store selling more than 1,000 choices of bottled beer.

Phoenixville is a robust example of a trend urban planners are seeing throughout the region and the country, said Karen Cilurso of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission: community rebirth built around food and drink.

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"We're seeing a food tourism sector now in more of these places," she said. "People want an experience, to sit outside and watch people walk by, and they want to enjoy something that's homegrown and affordable. The same way people don't want to drive an hour to work, they don't want to drive an hour to be entertained. And it's so contributed to the revitalization of places like Phoenixville."

Many such communities have blossomed outside of Philadelphia. Collingswood, N.J., is home to a restaurant boom years in the making, with more locally owned shops and eateries that draw customers from around the region. This year, West Chester was recognized by a national Main Street organization for its dining scene, which attracts food tourism and has powered that borough's economy. Kennett Square, Ardmore, Conshohocken, Media, and Doylestown have all benefited from a surge of new restaurant activity.

In Phoenixville, these new establishments have created jobs, given the downtown new vibrancy, and attracted new residents. Home values are rising, and new luxury apartment buildings are filling up, with 2,000 more residential units planned. Phoenixvilles population, about 15,000 in 2004, is on track to hit 20,000 in the next five years, said Borough Manager Jean Krack.

It didn't happen by accident or overnight. Borough officials, looking to revive the downtown and fill empty storefronts, years ago revamped their zoning laws and tax code specifically to encourage the development of restaurants and other businesses.

"When you sell a home, the number-one conversation at the closing table is the breweries," said Jennifer Daywalt, a longtime area real estate agent. "Which ones are coming, comparing them to one another."

More are on the way. The Conshohocken Brewery will expand to Phoenixville this year, and new brewery Rebel Hill plans to open as well. That's in addition to Stable 12, Root Down, Crowded Castle Brewing Co., and restaurants like Guatemalan Kitchen, Vecchia Pizza, and Downtown Bangkok Cafe. Sly Fox, the pioneering brewhouse launched in Phoenixville in 1995, is just outside of the downtown area.

Located about 45 minutes northwest of Center City, Phoenixville is a former steel town. After the 1987 shutdown of the Phoenix Iron & Steel Co., the jobs disappeared, families left, and storefronts along Bridge Street closed. Local developer Manny DeMutis, who grew up in town, remembers a time in the early 1990s when the borough couldn't afford to keep streetlights on at night.

Borough leaders hired a consultant to draft a plan aimed at supporting growth while preserving attractions like the historic Colonial Theater. Investors like DeMutis started buying property. By the late 1990s, Phoenixville had created a Main Street Development Corp. and begun a series of community programs like murals and First Friday events with live music.

In 2010, the borough rewrote its zoning code, simplifying the guidelines to attract new businesses, said Krack. The borough also started offering tax incentives to business owners who rehabilitated abandoned buildings.

Bluebird founder Adkins, who recently moved to Phoenixville, said that when he began searching, many municipal officials warned he'd face an uphill battle with zoning restrictions. "Instead of people being open to fitting it in somewhere, the response I got was, this won't fit in," he said. "Phoenixville had open arms."

Recent changes to state liquor laws also unlocked the market for smaller businesses in Phoenixville and other towns. In 2015, breweries were given the go-ahead to sell beer by the pint, and to create satellite locations, which has led to the opening of more brewpubs around the state. Micro distilleries were allowed to apply for affordable licenses to sell directly to customers, similar to the existing laws in place for wineries, which has ushered in a craft distillery boom.

Phoenixville's downtown sits where the French Creek and the Schulykill converge. It offers access to a paved trail along the river that runs for miles through Chester County and beyond, along with kayaking and fishing  experiences that are attractive to many of the borough's newcomers.

"A number of those same people have an interest in good food and beer, and that palate is now being met," Adkins said.

Since 2004, Phoenixville's assessed valuation has increased by almost $200 million, Krack said. Homes that could be bought for under $100,000 a decade ago are going for close to $300,000, according to Daywalt, and many storefront buildings that were once priced at $300,000 now cost more than twice that. The growth has led local leaders to start looking at whether enough affordable housing remains in the area.

But to many businesses, Phoenixville still offers relative affordability and an opportunity to spread out. At The Foodery, the first suburban outpost of the Philadelphia chain of craft beer stores, customers can sample beer on tap and browse the vast shelves of a 28-yard-long beer cooler.

"Everyone is pretty much amazed when they walk in," said general manager Nikita Borovik. "You couldn't fit this anywhere in a city."

Borovik said that Foodery patrons include everyone from construction workers to young working professionals to township employees. Krack often sees people working on laptops at the Iron Hill Brewery's bar. At other local brewpubs, Daywalt sees families brunching with young children.

"Years ago, you'd never take your kid to a bar. It would be taboo," she said. "Now a lot of these places have a different atmosphere; there's food for them to eat, it's encouraged."

Last month, a craft bar crawl among six establishments drew more than 800 people, Adkins said  so many that organizers ran out of the T-shirts promised to patrons who completed the event. On First Fridays, families and couples stroll in and out of restaurants and bars, go to movies or concerts, or browse the shops. During weekend festivals, Bridge Street is often closed to traffic to accommodate thousands of people and live music.

When Andrew Deery opened his BYOB, Majolica, in 2004, he had few neighbors on Bridge Street. He built a loyal following, he said, possibly because there were few similar options anywhere in the area. These days, Phoenixville has so many choices that customers sometimes have trouble parking. But he thinks the infusion of brewpubs and other eateries have made the borough well-rounded and more appealing to different types of people.

"We very much appreciate the availability of places for our patrons to get drinks before or after dinner," said Deery, whose restaurant is next door to the Black Walnut Winery's tasting room. "They complement our other businesses, and they add to the commerce downtown."

DeMutis, the developer and lifelong Phoenixville resident, said the key to the borough's newfound vitality is that quality brewpubs and restaurants have moved in, companies operated by craftsmen who stand behind their products.

Phoenixville has developed very slowly over time and has been able to keep its character and charm, he said. The businesses coming in see that, and as a result, everyone who comes here has become an investment partner in our town.
The home at 2408 Pine St. is one of three condominiums that have been subdivided from the 1930 Joseph Horn Mansion, built and named for the co-founder of the old Horn & Hardart food emporium. Read more

Christina Roberto and Joe Simmons knew from the moment they saw 2408 Pine St. that theyd stumbled onto something special and that they might have to act on it  even though theyd not planned to become homeowners just yet.

It was 2015, and Roberto, who was living in Boston, had applied for a medical teaching position at Penn, where Simmons, whom she was dating, was on the faculty at the Wharton School. If the job came through, the couple would purchase a home together. They liked Fitler Square, but werent feeling any urgency to buy.

But the Pine Street listing stopped them cold. It was one of three condos subdivided from the original Joseph Horn Mansion, built and named for the cofounder of the Horn & Hardart food emporium.

And it was a 3,500-square-foot stunner.

Twice as wide as nearby rowhouses, its multiple windows allowed light to flood the homes interior. Roberto, who craves sunlight, was enchanted.

The airy second floor  an open dining and living area, with attached office space and chefs kitchen  felt expansive yet cozy, thanks to hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace, window seats, and multiple built-in shelves and cabinets.

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And the three bedrooms on the third floor were just as inviting: generous spaces with gracious architectural touches and treetop views.

From the front windows, you could see Fitler Square, and from the kitchen windows, we looked down into this private, magical bluestone courtyard, accessed off the homes first-floor entrance area, which included an arched-doorway bonus room, said Roberto.

Back at Simmons apartment, after crunching numbers, they put in an offer on the house, despite not knowing how Robertos job situation would unfold.

Eight years later, the couple  since married  have thriving careers at Penn; two kids (Jack, 6, and Charlotte, 2); a raft of beloved friends; and deep roots in a city that Roberto calls the best place Ive ever lived in.

The couples lives are anchored by memories from their circa 1930 home.

Like the tons of dinner parties, where guests routinely trill, You have the best house!, and the easy walks to Penns campus.

Christmas mornings with the kids, Jack racing down the open stairwell to see what Santa left for him and his little sister.

Sleepy weekend mornings at Fitler Square, catching up with fellow parents while their kids burn off energy climbing the animal sculptures and statues.

Now, though, Roberto and Simmons are ready to create new memories.

In June, they both began a year-long sabbatical from Penn and moved to Berkeley, Calif., where theyre renting a house. Theyre now planning the next phase of their familys evolution: setting up house in suburban Philadelphia, post-sabbatical, commuting to Penn, and raising their children with a little more peace and quiet.

When we get older, well want to come back to Philly, Roberto said. But her husband is not so sure. He thinks the Pine Street house has set her expectations awfully high.

He told me, Im afraid well never find another house in the city youll want to live in! 

But if these last eight years have taught the couple anything, its to trust their sense of timing  and let the details take care of the rest.

The home is listed by Patrick Campbell at Compass for $2.2 million.
Surge Battery Metals Inc. announced it has submitted to the Bureau of Land Management an Exploration Plan of Operations and Reclamation Plan Permit Application (EPO) for its high-grade lithium clay discovery at Nevada North.

The Nevada North Lithium Project is in Elko County, in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot and about 45 miles north-northeast of Wells. Surge said the first round of drilling at Nevada North, completed in October 2022, identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of about 5,300 feet. The 2023 drill program, which was designed to expand the known lithium-rich clay to a strike length of more than 11,480 feet, has been completed and Surge is awaiting the complete assay results.

The new EPO will provide for up to 250 acres of disturbance compared to the currently authorized five acres. The company said this permitting milestone, once approved, will allow for in-fill drilling to further define the current mineral resource area and allow for possible expansion of the known deposit through step-out drilling. The results of these activities will be used for an updated mineral resource calculation and to advance further economic studies.

Proposed activities in the EPO also include installation of groundwater wells to support hydrogeologic baseline characterization, performing additional metallurgical characterization and testing, and completion of geotechnical investigations.

The BLM is responsible for preparing an Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. Required biological studies, a Class III cultural inventory and a preliminary hydrologic baseline evaluation were completed by Surge in the 2023 field season, according to the company. To support the NEPA review, Surge said it will move forward on the permitting path working closely with the BLM.

We are extremely pleased to achieve this significant milestone in the development of the NNLP, at this stage of exploration, said Greg Reimer, chief executive officer and director of Surge Battery Metals. The expanded program, once approved, will allow us to continue to define the size of the mineralization of the NNLP. In the interim, we continue to plan our 2024 drill program within our remediated five-acre disturbance limit and the ground the company acquired an interest in from M3 Metals Corp.
At the 2023 Irish Food Writing Awards, held at the end of October in the salubrious surroundings of Dublins RDS, where over 90 nominees for multiple awards attended a splendid banquet in the vast library, the reaction and applause was especially heartfelt as Denis Cotter headed to the stage to receive the award for Best Irish Cookbook for Paradiso: Recipes and Reflections (Nine Bean Rows Books).

It was the cherry, on the icing, on top of the cake in a very special year for Cotter  actually, make that years, for just days before, his internationally renowned, multi-award-winning vegetarian restaurant celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding in 1993.

Cotter grew up in Macroom, in West Cork, the second child in a family of four boys and one girl, and his parents ran a printing works in the town.

I had no real interest in food. Our meals were typical, traditional Irish stuff. My mother ran the shop and my father ran the printing press, so she was working full-time  cooking was a chore for her.

Foodwise, I was picky. We ate mostly meat and potatoes, and the potatoes were easily the only enjoyable part of that.

In an era of near-permanent recession, there were five standard options for school leavers, if you included the dole queue. The first three were emigration, college, or the civil service. Cotter, 17, opted for the fourth, The Bank, spending his first four years in Mitchelstown.

There was nothing to do, Cotter says, but its where I first had to start cooking, in a shared house. I wasnt a vegetarian, but tending towards it. We took turns, one guy would do chops, mine was a vegetable curry. Even then I never cooked meat and ate it without enthusiasm or interest.

A transfer to Dublin was his escape hatch.

Dublin in the early to mid-80s was grim and grey but very vibrant, despite the greyness, a very left-field, post-punk culture, alternative politics and vegetarianism was part of that. It was a cool place, great bars, cinema, music,

theatre.

My favourite restaurant was a vegetarian place, Bananas, off the top of South Great Georges St. They had a standard short menu and at weekends, they did a more creative thing, very thoughtful, experimental. I tried to get a job there. I was trying to figure a way out of the bank, looking for something else and settled on cooking. Giving up the bank in 1985 was considered a bad move, but my mother was very supportive, she could see I wasnt happy.

Cotter emigrated to London, to find a cheffing job and wound up in Cranks, an English chain of wholefood vegetarian restaurants that ran for over 40 years until 2002.

Staff rotated quickly, mainly Aussies passing through London, and it was easy enough to get in.

I started on the floor clearing tables, then serving behind the counter, then the bakery, and finally in the kitchen  in just a year and a half.

I knew very little really when I started, just cooking very simple food at home. Their systems were very good, training and assessments were top class and made staff competent.

The interior of Cafe Paradiso in Cork. Pic: David Creedon

Cotter returned to Cork in the late 80s.

I came back intending to open my own place and got a temporary job in the Quay Co-op [wholefood vegetarian cafe/shop], but stayed for four years. I really had so little experience so those years made a big difference. There were good people there, but they only wanted part-time jobs. I walked in and said: I can run this if you let me. I basically brought all the Cranks systems, and some recipes as well to be honest, and streamlined it.

Cotter introduced an a la carte evening service, and it soon became a hot ticket around town.

Vegetarians and carnivores alike were wowed by a strong menu, served up in one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city.

It went OK but clashed with the ethos of the place. They didnt think the Quay Co-op should be a fancy restaurant, it was going against the grain. I needed to go out on my own.

Cotter opened Cafe Paradiso, on Lancaster Quay, in Cork city, with then-partner Bridget Healy, in 1993.

I remember the first lunch, we did 50, it was jammers. I dont remember working the shift, but I remember afterwards being elated and absolutely exhausted. People loved it, it was completely new and different to anywhere else in Ireland. I see that now, like a restaurant from somewhere else, a fantastic new modern place.

Months later, in February 1994, Seamus OConnell opened The Ivory Tower, another iconoclastic and hugely influential Irish restaurant.

Cork had always served as a pathfinder for Irish hospitality, but these Young Turks were not only operating the two best restaurants in Ireland, both veered wildly from the traditional fine dining model. The country had never seen anything like either restaurant.

Any other food scene in Ireland, Kinsale or whatever, seemed very old school compared to what was happening in Cork. It was incredible, such a buzz. Seamus and I used to go out and talk a lot and we assumed there was a similar wave of new chefs behind us, but that didnt really happen for a long time.

I was just cooking the way I liked to eat at home, a lot of highly flavoured food: Asian-style spices, creams, risottos, cheese. It was also a very deliberate decision to create something very distinct from how vegetarian food was perceived, a deliberate decision to leave out pulses, brown rice, even rice in general.

There was always an ambition for Cafe Paradiso to be a very different style of vegetarian restaurant, a mainstream restaurant that happened to serve vegetarian food, and I wanted to be treated like other mainstream restaurants that I admired. It still is the case today.

For a long time, lunch was very much the focus; at night I was trying to push the boat out a little more, but it took a good long while to become more of an evening restaurant.

I didnt anticipate the level it went to, how excited people got, and it became increasingly successful over time, going way beyond my ambition for it.

I wanted acceptance from the mainstream, but I couldnt have foreseen it turning out the way it did; it grew from peoples response.

Gradually, Cotters focus honed in on the produce coming into his kitchen.

The focus became more on the ingredients, specific veg and what to do with them. I didnt have a traditional reference for them anywayeven though kale might have had a place in Irish and English cooking, I had never cooked it. To me, it was just a green thing.

Denis Cotter, owner and executive chef of Paradiso in Cork. Pic: David Creedon

There have always been globally renowned restaurants helmed by star chefs that appear to capture the culinary zeitgeist, setting trends, dictating the pace in contemporary cooking of their respective eras.

Then there is another, infinitely smaller, coterie that are even more influential, but as much for the ethos or the guiding philosophy that informs their raison detre, as for the specifics and standards of technique, texture, and flavour in what is served up on the plate.

It is obvious now in hindsight, but this was especially true of Paradiso, pretty much the first anywhere to present vegetarian cooking as a fine dining proposition.

It was eight years later before renowned Parisan chef Alain Passard gambled by converting his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, LArpege, entirely over to a vegetarian menu, in 2001.

Renowned US food writer Coleman Andrews, a judge for the Irish Food Writing Awards said, in his citation for Cotters winning tome: Darina Allen once told me she had eaten in Paradiso several times [back in the 90s], before she even tumbled to the fact that there was no meat on the menu.

But what turned Paradiso into a globally unique restaurant was Cotters collaboration with Ultan Walsh and Lucy Stewart of Gort na Nain Farm, in Nohoval, Co Cork, beginning in 2001.

We started with simple stuff, a mutual interest  in particular vegetables  and how to treat them, but it changed the way we worked from recipe driven to produce driven, a response to produce rather than coming up with a recipe and sourcing the ingredients.

By the following year, Walsh was the restaurants main supplier.

Walsh not only grew produce of extraordinary quality, but often introduced commercial crops of exotic vegetables for the first time to Ireland, including Crown Prince squash, blue potatoes, aubergines, artichokes, scorzonera and beans (broad, borlotti etc), at one point growing over 100 different varieties of produce each year.

Crucially, planting was planned at the start of the growing season by Walsh and Cotter, a model now found in other world restaurants.

We are doing it now for close to two decades, Cotter says, it is still at the heart of how we put our menus together, focussed most of the time on an ingredient from the farm.

As the 21st century approached mid-teens, Paradiso (having shed the cafe) was beginning to fall off the radar for some critics and diners.

Even certain former champions began dismissing the restaurant as yesterdays news, focusing elsewhere in their pursuit of the hottest new on-trend restaurant/chef/cuisine.

The exterior of Cafe Paradiso in Cork. Pic: David Creedon

But, in 2019, Cotters and Walshs symbiotic and globally groundbreaking partnership was honoured with the Collaboration of the Year prize, at the inaugural and highly prestigious World Food Awards.

It began an Irish reappraisal that has never since let up.

Paradiso seems to me to be one of the most interesting places in working for the future, World Restaurant Awards co-founder Andrea Petrini said to the Irish Examiner at the time, a future with closer and more prolific collaborations between chefs and suppliers.

Cotters talent as a writer was evident from his first book, Cafe Paradiso Cookbook, published in 1999.

I wanted to write  and write around food, not necessarily about food  connecting a lot of it to childhood and the wider culture, exploring something wider than a foodie notion of I love eating . [The latest book] Paradiso came about through a realisation we were selling books that were completely outdated, in comparison to the food we are serving now.

There are recipes and techniques but Paradiso, the cookbook, is equally a distillation of the ethos that has made the little Cork restaurant so influential. It is an exquisite production, both photography and writing, but there is a sense Andrews selection was also swayed by the restaurants global impact: It is the work, he wrote, of one of Irelands most innovative  and best  chefs, a man who dedicated himself to meatless cooking decades before it was the trendy thing to do.

These days, Cotter is executive head chef, no longer in the kitchen on a daily basis, and divides his time equally between the restaurant and Maureens, the pub in Shandon he owns and operates with his partner Maureen McLaughlin.

Part of creating the book was for it to serve as a launching pad for the future, as much as a summing up of the past, the starting point for the next period of Paradiso. There is a repertoire, an ethos, and I dont see why that cant continue.

There is no reason for Paradiso to shut down if I dont cook in it, its almost independent of me, and Im increasingly comfortable with that.

And what of Paradisos legacy?

Its not wrong to say Paradiso has been an inspiration and influence on Irish food, more so in terms of how people source ingredients than anything to do with vegetarianism  and that is something Im really proud of, to be honest.
In one of the more entertaining press tours of recent memory, Ridley Scott has been attacking critics of his upcoming Napoleon biopic, featuring Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role.

Responding to academics whove taken issue with the events his film depicts, Scott minced few words. When I have issues with historians, he said to The Times last week, I ask: Excuse me mate, were you there? No? Well, shut the f**k up then.

At this, I find myself torn.

On the one hand, Scotts statement is inarguably ridiculous.

Its obvious to the point of truism that historians can, and do, find truths beyond their own personal experience.

It is, in fact, the only way we know anything about anything.

Secondly, much of their research is based on people who were there and wrote down what happened at the time.

To deny this is not just childish but baffling to hear from someone who is, aside from anything else, literally speaking about an entire film he has, by definition, based largely on things written down by historians.

The reason Im torn, then, is because I love Ridley Scott quite dearly, and his puckish resistance to historical critique tickles parts of my brain ungoverned by the sanctity of truth.

Ridley Scott attending the UK premiere of Napoleon at the Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square, London. Pic: Ian West

I find it silly, even offensive, for him to say historians are useless, but I also find it extremely funny, and of a piece with a man whose motivation is to make a thrilling piece of drama, not a document of historical fact.

It seems like theres a bit of it about.

On Brendan Courtneys Radio 1 show this week, Geri Halliwell spoke of her new childrens book which recasts Ann Boleyn as an unlikely proponent of Girl Power, done in by Thomas Cromwell for trying to help the poor.

Last Saturday, Channel 4 aired an hour-long documentary purporting to show new evidence that Richard III did not  as is generally believed  murder his nephews, resulting in almost unanimous derision from British historians.

Meanwhile, Netflixs The Crown has seen blades drawn for its treatment of the late Princess Diana, who spends a goodly portion of the sixth series as a ghost, commentating on events around her.

Though not an ardent enough royalist to quibble on the finer details of the Windsors life stories, I reckon that full-throatedly pronouncing Princess Diana lived on for a bit as a spectral cheerleader may cross some form of invisible line of historical fact.

Unlike with Napoleon, Ann Boleyn, or Richard II, The Crowns difficulties are exacerbated by the shrinking horizon of any broad, sweeping historical narrative.

Its first season was set in the 1950s, a time just distant enough that smudging a few details could be done with relative imperceptibility.

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in The Crown. Picture: Netflix

Its toothsome period set-dressings and stellar cast, all boasting accents like glazed cherries, gave proceedings a patina of class that made any such quibbling redundant.

It might simply be harder to recreate this suspension of disbelief once the show hoves to the end of the 20th century, to people and events we all now remember watching on 24-hour news channels.

In the case of The Crown, historical accuracy is low on my list of grievances.

My main beef, then as now, was the yawning chasm at the centre of my heart where there exists, in other people, an interest in the Windsors.

For all the ire its drawn from royalists for its unsympathetic characterisations  and these do show up consistently, to its credit  the shows general tone seems guided by the knowledge that the overall reputations of its central characters remain somewhat sacred.

In Dianas case, this impulse finds almost laughable expression, depicting an undeniably kind and mistreated woman as something like a Godhead, complete with ghostly visitations that wouldnt be out of place at a Marian shrine.

In the case of the series more long-term treatment of the Queen herself, I got a similar feeling.

Its just I cant claim that this was to do with historical, so much as emotional, accuracy.

Several times an episode, I would screw up my eyes and remind myself that the great motivating drama of Her Majestys life is meant to be a nebulous sense of duty, and that this through-line should prove compelling to me as a viewer.

Leaving aside the fact that Ive never found blank stoicism the most cinematic of virtues, its also a silly one, once we consider the medieval fiction of divine right from which it springs.

A great deal of the latter series is spent dwelling on the idea that it would be the worst thing in the world if the queen wasnt the queen, or even if she showed normal human emotions, when in reality  itd be fine, wouldnt it?

At many points, I found this central absurdity indistinguishable from watching a show about a mental patient who believes they have to keep reciting prime numbers or else the world will end, except that we as viewers seemed bidden to think quite right, mam, and thank you for your service.

All historical dramas must wage a war between throwing us enough flaws and foibles to humanise the statues in our heads, versus a directly opposing necessity to make them seem, at least in part, as larger-than-life as they are in our collective memory.

Accuracy is often the first casualty of such a war. Alas, in the case of The Crown, we must also count my attention span among the fallen.

Not that my opinion means much, either way.

The Crown is a continent-spanning smash hit, which has proven massively popular all over the world  including with almost all my friends, family and my own wife  and remains one of just a handful of dramas to have progressed past Netflixs three-season killing floor.

Im happy to concede that all of the above is as much about my own cynicism, bias, personal taste, and lack thereof.

As for whether its accurate or not, well ... I wasnt there. So maybe I should shut the f**k up.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris are to be invited before the Justice Committee by Fianna Fail TD and Chair of the Justice Committee "to conduct a detailed analysis" of Thursday's violence in Dublin.

Fianna Fail TD and Chair of the Justice Committee James Lawless said he will issue the invite.

"I believe the events in Dublin of Thursday night were a perfect storm of far-right hate groups organising online but also of rogue gangs of local youths who have been menacing the city centre since Covid," Mr Lawless said.

"While the issues here are complex, at least one of the solutions has to be resourcing the Gardai including recruitment and retention issues, and proactively reclaiming the streets for ordinary, law-abiding people.

"I welcome the increased presence (of gardai) in the capital on Friday night but that must become the norm, not the exception."

"We need to get tough on city centre policing. Prosecutions, convictions and zero tolerance for repeat offenders must be part of a wider law and order crackdown."

He also said coordination on social media platforms must also be tackled with online orchestrators facing penalties as tough as those on the ground.

McEntee will not step down

Meanwhile, the justice minister has refused to resign despite mounting calls for her to step down following the riots in the centre of Dublin on Thursday night.

There was a strong garda presence in the capital on Friday night, and a number of people were arrested as smaller crowds took to the streets.

Cabinet ministers were also briefed late on Friday evening that gardai will continue to be on the streets in numbers this weekend as there are fears of further trouble.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said damage done to public infrastructure in the city centre on Thursday could cost in the tens of millions of euros.

He said the people involved in rioting "brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland, and brought shame on their families and themselves".

He also confirmed the Government is to push through new laws around incitement to hatred, as well as fast-tracking legislation on body-worn cameras.

While he expressed his full confidence in Drew Harris, Mr Varadkar said a review would also have to be conducted in relation to what happened on Thursday.

There were 32 people  28 men and four women  before the courts on Friday charged with a range of public order and theft offences in relation to the riots.

More arrests

Ms McEntee said more arrests will be made in the coming days and gardai are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV and social media footage.

They're engaging with members who saw what happened and I can absolutely reassure people that not only will there be further arrests, but people will be brought before the courts and I have no doubt that many people will be imprisoned after those horrific events, she said.

A number of gardai were injured in the rioting, with some receiving treatment in hospital.

Seven vehicles and eight garda cars were damaged, 13 properties were attacked and three buses and a Luas tram were destroyed.

Ms McEntee defended her position and said she has not been asked to resign and will not do so.

It follows calls from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald who said she has no confidence in the minister or Commissioner Harris.

A Sinn Fein spokesman said it is too late for the party to submit a motion of no confidence in Ms McEntee for next week, but if she remains in her position, the party will consider a motion for the following week.

The Social Democrats and People Before Profit have also expressed no confidence in the minister.

Colleagues 'unimpressed'

Some Fianna Fail and Fine Gael backbench TDs have also said they are unimpressed with Ms McEntees performance.

Were supposed to be the party of law and order, and what happened raises serious questions for her and garda management, a senior Fine Gael source said.

A Fianna Fail source said: There are many of us within the party who are saying she has to go, but wont say it publicly. Everyone will be fearful this will bring the Government down, and were not ready for an election.

Ms McDonald said gardai lost control of the centre of the capital and a mob was allowed to shut down the centre of the city".

Defending her position, Ms McEntee said: The only people who are responsible for the mayhem that we saw over a number of hours are the mindless thugs who took what was an awful, awful situation, an awful barbaric act against a group of small children, and use that to sow division and to wreak havoc.

Islamic Centre Ireland cancels classes

Meanwhile, Shaykh Dr Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri, Chief Imam at Islamic Centre Ireland has told the Irish Examiner that it has cancelled all weekend classes due to the violence.

I have just come from a meeting of 200 Muslims from all over Dublin. Women, men and children are literally shaking in fear.

We are all affected by it the terrible riots. We had to hold a meeting on safety.

There is genuine fear, the next three days we have all postponed weekend schools, and we are not holding classes for now, we are all being extra vigilant.

We have advised people not to go to Dublin city for the next two to three days unless you must.

People who are anti-immigration have exploited a tragedy and are dividing our community where we have lived for many years in peace. It is terrible to see this happening.

I could not have imagined this. Ive seen it all over Europe, now it is in my city, Im really shocked.

Anybody who is attacking children is obviously mentally not well. People how gone straight to the wrong conclusion
A second child injured in the stabbing incident outside a school in Dublin on Thursday has been released from hospital.

It comes as the Justice Minister has confirmed that 48 people have now been arrested since the riots on the streets of the capital which followed the stabbings.

Gardai said the injured girl, aged 6, has been discharged and returned to the care of her family.

However, another girl (5) seriously injured in the knife attack, remains in a critical condition in CHI Temple Street, while a female creche worker, in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater.

A five-year-old boy was also released from CHI Crumlin on Thursday evening.

Elsewhere, a man, in his 40s, remains in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin region. He is being monitored by gardai and is expected to be questioned when well enough.

The incident occurred shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday, outside Scoil Cholaiste Muire on Parnell Square East.

It led to a number of protests and riots, orchestrated by far-right agitators in Dublin city centre.

Three buses, three Garda cars, and a Luas tram were set alight as groups clashed with gardai. A number of shops were also broken into.

So far 32 people have appeared in court in relation to Thursday night's incidents.

Today, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said a total of 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday. She said a high visibility policing plan is in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units.

"The dog unit and the mounted unit are also being deployed, and two water cannons are now available for use if required.

"I have provided additional overtime in the capital, and I am determined to maintain the momentum we are now building in Garda recruitment to increase the number of Garda members on the ground."

She also said she has allocated an additional 4.4m for the purchase of 95 extra Garda cars and vans by the end of this year, including 17 high visibility public order Garda vans which will be deployed across the country
Emily Hand had her ninth birthday as a hostage in Gaza, the day before she was reunited with her father, who initially believed she had been killed in the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel last month.

Returned in the second group of hostages released by the Islamist movement under a Qatari-brokered deal with Israel, she appeared in good health in a photograph released with fellow hostage Hila Rotem, whose mother remains in Gaza.

The daughter of an Irish immigrant to Israel, Emily's mother died of cancer when she was 2 years old and her family described the violent mix of feelings reported by other hostage families.

"We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days," her family said in a statement.

"We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return."

For residents of the Hands' home kibbutz of Be'eri, one of the communities worst hit by last month's attack by Hamas, the release of some of the hostages abducted on October 7 brought a measure of relief tinged with sadness.

Emily Hand reunited with her father, Tom Hand. Picture: Amy Spiro/X

In the Dead Sea resort where most of the residents of the kibbutz have been evacuated to, there were cheers and applause as the community watched the hostages being brought to Israel.

"You don't know, you can't imagine they will come. You just can't imagine it, what they will do, if they will talk about it," said 10-year-old Talia, a friend of Emily Hand.

"We have a lot of questions, everyone wants to ask them, What happened there, what they did to them, if they ate and drank," she said.

'A day of enormous joy'

Commenting on her release, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said this is "a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family."

In a statement he said: "An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and our country breathes a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.

"A little girl was snatched from her home and held captive for almost seven weeks. She spent her ninth birthday as a hostage.

"We hope she will soon heal and recover from the traumatic experience in the loving embrace of her family.

"Irish people everywhere share in the relief of Emilys family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the hostages in Gaza, but we followed particularly closely the fate of Emily, a dual Irish-Israeli citizen.

"Since our country first heard that she may still be alive, we have hoped beyond hope that her name would be on one of the lists of hostages to be released."

A Red Cross vehicle carrying Israeli hostages drives by at the Gaza Strip crossing into Egypt in Rafah on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has also welcomed confirmation that the Irish-Israeli citizen is being returned to her family.

In a statement he said: "I am delighted that Emily Hand - a bright and beautiful young girl - has been released and will be reunited with her family.

"After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family. The people of Ireland have been touched by Emilys story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father, Tom.

"I had the opportunity to meet Tom before travelling to the region, and I was struck by the strength and resilience with which he advocated for his daughters release.

"This is a message that I and my colleagues in government sought to amplify as we engaged internationally, through political, diplomatic and security channels, in a bid to secure Emilys safe return."

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald also welcomed the news.

"The trauma and heartbreak that little Emily and her family have been subjected to over the last number of weeks is unimaginable.

I commend the mediators efforts, including the government of Qatar and all other neighbouring states, for the constructive role that they have played in securing the release of Emily and the other hostages, as well as Palestinian women and children who were imprisoned under administrative detention, who are finally reuniting with their loved ones today.

She reiterated her call that all hostages be released urgently and for an immediate full ceasefire to be in place.

Ireland must continue to be a voice for peaceful dialogue on the international stage, she said.

Exchange

A Red Cross vehicle carrying Israeli hostages drives by at the Gaza Strip crossing into Egypt in Rafah on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

More than 100 people were killed during the attack on the kibbutz, located a few kilometres from the security fence with Gaza that was breached by Hamas gunmen in the early hours of Oct. 7, and the kibbutz has become one of the most potent symbols of the suffering caused by the attack.

Around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed and some 240 were seized as hostages.

Since then, Israel has vowed both to destroy Hamas and bring the hostages back home. It has unleashed a relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 14,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Saturday's release of 13 hostages came after some six weeks of fighting as part of a deal to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Once the scheduled four-day truce to complete the exchange is over, Israeli commanders and Hamas have both said they expect fighting to resume. The future for the hostages who remain in Gaza is unclear.

"This is the saddest joy and the happiest sadness, but our family is home," said Inbal Tzach, whose cousin Adi Shoham was visiting Be'eri, along with her children Nave, 8 and Yahel, 3 when the family was abducted.

However, with Adi's husband, Tal, still in Gaza, she said there remained a long way to go. "This is an emotional evening for the families who received their loved ones tonight. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home."

- Additional reporting by PA
Three Cork men and one Cork woman joined in a violent attack on a Spanish student walking home through the city as he was robbed of his phone.

Aaron Breen, 23, of Greenwood Estate, Togher, Cork, was jailed for three years for his part in the robbery and assault causing harm to the Spanish student on Bandon Road on Saturday March 25, 2023.

Judge Helen Boyle also activated six months of a previously suspended sentence and made that consecutive to the three years imposed on Mr Breen at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Sergeant Colin Greenway said the 24-year-old Spanish student was walking home from a friends house shortly after 4am on Saturday morning, March 25.

He was walking from Cork city centre to his home on Magazine Road. On Bandon Road he was approached by three males and a female. One man ran past him and turned to get into conversation with him.

Aaron Breen came up behind him and punched him in the side of the head, causing him to fall. He was then kicked in the head by Aaron Breen. He lost his phone during the assault. Aaron Breen picked it up.

Aaron Breen is seen on CCTV of the incident holding it out and gesturing, Det Sgt Greenway said.

Mr Breen was then joined by a woman, who went through the injured partys pockets. It is uncertain if anything was taken. The entire incident lasted two minutes and 17 seconds and took place near Lennoxs chipper on Bandon Road.

The young Spanish student was punched a total of seven times by Aaron Breen as well as being kicked in the head four times.

The victim contacted the ambulance service. His injuries included bruising to his neck and face, cut lips and black eye. He has made a full recovery and no longer lives in Cork.

Defence barrister Niamh Stewart said the accused had apologised and expressed remorse. She said the defendant was doing well in prison, where he is regarded as an enhanced prisoner.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a jail term of four years with the last year suspended. The judge further considered an application to revoke the suspension on a 12-month term for an earlier crime. The judge revoked half of it and made it consecutive to the new sentence of three years.

An accomplice in this attack on the Spanish student, Richard Harrington, of no fixed address, signed a plea of guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to the young man on March 25.

Judge Boyle remanded him in custody for sentencing on February 9, 2024. His barrister Alison McCarthy said he wanted to wanted to take part in a residential treatment programme for addiction issues.
From tomorrow, new 24-hour bus lanes will come into effect on one of Cork's busiest streets.

Two-way traffic has already started on MacCurtain Street as part of the MacCurtain Street Public Transport Improvement Scheme, a multi-million euro revamp project to deliver cycling and pedestrian connectivity improvements, road surfacing and signalised junction upgrades.

Traffic management changes have also been made along Andersons Quay, Camden Quay, Penrose Quay, Merchants Quay, St. Patricks Quay including the Christy Ring Bridge, Lavitts Quay, Mulgrave Road, Devonshire Street and Cathedral Walk, as well as Bridge Street and Coburg street areas.

The scheme was officially opened on Saturday by Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy.

Mr Martin's speech was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists calling for an end to the hostilities in Gaza.

Members of the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign group were calling for a ceasefire and for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland while the Tanaiste gave his speech shortly before noon.

However, Mr Martin did not stop speaking and continued his speech.

The activists held Palestinian flags and held banners with the sign of "Boycott Apartheid Israel."

Protesters disrupted the speech of Minister Micheal Martin at the official opening of the re-vamped MacCurtain Street, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

The chanting continued when both the Lord Mayor of Cork City and the Tanaiste went to cut the red ribbon at the opening.

Mr McCarthy said MacCurtain Street is "now an important exemplar of a vibrant, diverse, sustainable, green quarter with buses, pedestrians and cyclists making their way in and out of the city, safely and timely".

MacCurtain Street and its surrounding neighbourhoods are steeped in a rich history, heritage and memory and today we are writing another chapter," he said.

"The opening of this Cork City Council project is an important piece of an evolving story about how we live, work and recreate in a growing Cork City."

The project on the street will see 24-hour bus lanes in operation on MacCurtain Street, Coburg Street, Bridge Street and Cathedral Walk.

A Cork City Council spokesperson said this "will improve bus journey times and allow for two-way bus movements on these streets, making it easier to access local schools and businesses by bus."

207, 207A, 208 and 209

For these bus services, the routes will travel from Summerhill North and turn right onto MacCurtain Street and stop at the new westbound bus stop outside York Street.

The right turn from Summerhill North onto MacCurtain Street is for buses only, not for other motorists.

They will then continue westbound on MacCurtain Street and then turn left onto the new contraflow bus lane on Bridge Street - stopping at the new bus stop there.

They will then continue onto St Patrick's Bridge and then onto St Patrick's Street.

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy and students from Scoil Mhuire and Christian Brothers College on the revamped MacCurtain Street, enjoying the new bus stops, pedestrian crossings and public realm improvements delivered under the MacCurtain Street Public Transport Improvement Scheme. Picture: Brian Lougheed

Northbound buses will travel from Patrick's Street via Patrick's Bridge and stop at the new bus stop on Bridge Street before continuing onto MacCurtain Street and stopping at the new bus stop beside York Street.

As before, the 207, 207A, 208 and 209 will continue onto Summerhill North, the 214 onto the Lower Glanmire Road, and the 205 and 212 onto Alfred Street.

203, 215, 248

The southbound routes for these bus services will travel from the N20 to Leitrim Street towards the new sheltered bus stop on Coburg Street.

They will then turn right onto Bridge Street before continuing onto Patrick's Bridget and then onto Patrick's Street.

The northbound routes will then travel from Patrick's Bridge, onto Bridge Street and then turn left onto Coburg Street.

It will then continue onto Devonshire Street and turn right onto the N20.

A new contraflow bus lane has also been provided on Cathedral Walk to facilitate access for the 203 and 215 to Watercourse Road.
Too much of the media seems to be in the business of presenting a story rather than informing the public of current events.

Neither the conservative nor liberal media is particularly interested in who is actually running the executive branch of the government. It appears that neither of their opposing narratives are benefited by the answer to that question. The conservative media is content with portraying Biden as a senile, semi-invalid who is ruining the country. The liberal media tells us Biden is doing great even when he embarrasses them by falling off a stage or forgetting where he is at.

The lack of curiosity is phenomenal.

Immigration is another example. You may have noted that the government has never given us a solid reason as to why our southern national border is wide-open. What is the underlining principle driving this? What strategy is being pursued? We dont know  but why has the government never bothered to tell its own citizens, and why has the media not reported it?

Demonstrations and riots are another example. The media has generally made all of these into a backdrop for a narrative, but stop a minute and consider what they are asking you to believe by doing so.

John sees something in the media that outrages him. He stands and shouts, By golly, I have to do something about this. Tomorrow Im going to drive 500 miles to Washington and march down Constitution Avenue. I should probably leave early so I can get there by 3 p.m. And  oh yes, I need to create a professional looking sign to carry with a slogan that just now burst into my mind. I wonder if anyone else will be there.

Jane sees another media account and she rises up and shouts, Holy smokes, someone has to do something. Ah, tomorrow Im going to drive 800 miles to Washington and march down some street. Ive never been to DC. I dont know where anything is at or where I could park, but I should probably leave now so I can get there by 3 p.m. I need to get busy and create a professional looking sign with a slogan on it.

That is the magic world the media is asking you to believe when they dont bother to give you two facts: 1) Who organized this demonstration?and 2) Who paid for it?

The answers to these two questions would explain a movement or demonstration more than anything else. Instead, the media almost never answers these questions. The answers may be incompatible with the storyline, which seems to be more important than reality.

It is a very rare occasion for thousands of people to spontaneously show up at the same location to demonstrate.

Yet we see demonstrators marching down a street carrying professionally made signs, all of whom are shouting the same slogans and catchphrases. The media is recording it all, but even here they are not telling us the full story. If the demonstration fits their narrative, they will show you pictures making the demonstrators look large, powerful, and numerous. Why, the whole world agrees with them.

If they dont like the narrative, the demonstration is ignored, or the camera will be held high and looking down to make the demonstration and the people involved look as small as possible.

Another case of manipulated news has been evident for several long months. Someone named Taylor Swift has been in every media outlet  every time  everywhere. There are hundreds of thousands of people who would like a little publicity to sell a book, or to raise money for good causes, or to warn about something dangerous, and they never make the news. But Taylor Swift (is that her real name?) is seen in every outlet  every time.

Remember the word gravitas? It came up during George W. Bushs run for the presidency. Not unlike parrots, for days on end, every reporter in the country, none of whom had ever used the word before, repeatedly talked about Bushs lack of gravitas.

It would be an understatement to say that the news we receive is manipulated.
An Bord Pleanala has given the green light to one of east Corks biggest-ever housing developments by approving the construction of over 700 new homes in Carrigtwohill.

The board has granted planning permission to BAM Property for the development of 714 residential units at Castlelake, Carrigtwohill under the fast-track planning process for strategic housing development which meant the developer was not required to first seek approval for the project from Cork County Council.

The development consists of 224 houses and 282 duplex units and 208 apartments as well as a creche and multi-use games areas on a 18.3 hectare site.

Parking spaces will be provided for almost 1,300 vehicles and over 900 bicycles.

The apartments will be provided across seven blocks ranging from one to five storeys in height, while the duplexes will be contained in 122 buildings up to three storeys in height.

An Bord Pleanala directed that two duplex units from BAMs original proposal be removed because of their impact on a neighbouring property.

In its ruling, the board observed that the overall development would result in a significant contribution to the housing stock in a time of housing need".

The board said the provision of a development of the nature and scale of the one proposed at Castlelake was desirable given its close proximity to the rail station in Carrigtwohill which provided high frequency, high-capacity train services.

It also noted that the new housing scheme was located in an area with a wide range of employment opportunities and social infrastructure facilities".

The apartments will be provided across seven blocks ranging from one to five storeys in height, while the duplexes will be contained in 122 buildings up to three storeys in height.

Access to the proposed development will be via an extension to Castlelake Avenue as well as new entrances linking the new housing estate with the Station Road Link Road.

The board said the development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or other properties in the vicinity subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions.

They include a stipulation that all houses and duplex units can only be sold to individual buyers and not to any corporate entity or housing body.

The board said BAMs plans were also acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development as well as with regard to traffic, pedestrian safety and convenience.

It also expressed satisfaction that the development would not have any significant adverse effects on the surrounding road network or the environment.

Cork County Council had also recommended that planning permission for the housing scheme be granted.

BAM has proposed to make 104 units consisting of 47 apartments, 46 duplex units, and 11 houses available to Cork County Council for social housing under its Part V obligations.

The company has estimated the average cost of a two-bed apartment in the development will be 330,523, while a two-bed duplex will be 370,102.

The cost of a three-bed house in Castlelake is expected to be 386,157.
Infamy and Bonaparte are words that often appear in the same sentence, as we have been reminded by the release of Ridley Scotts Napoleon, a biopic of the infamous emperor. Not to be outdone, Bonapartes niece  his favourite, it was said  caused a sensation when she lived in Waterford.

Letitia was the talk of the city when she moved there after marrying one of its illustrious natives, Sir Thomas Wyse, in 1821; the year her famous uncle died. It sends a little shiver up my spine to think of this lively young princess flitting from dinner party to dance in the first quarter of the 19th century.

She was interested in local politics and she apparently threaded her shoes with orange laces so that she could drag them through the dust. That was her way of criticising the Irish Protestant ascendancy and voicing her support for Henry Villiers-Stuart, who was elected as an MP on a Catholic Emancipation ticket in 1826.

The wags suggested that Letitias interest in Villiers-Stuart was more than political. It doesnt feel right to repeat the rumour, but much of what we know about this formidable woman has a whiff of controversy about it.

As Cliona Purcell, researcher at Waterford Museum of Treasures, puts it in a highly entertaining blog, Letitia Bonaparte Wyse had a lifelong courtship with scandal.

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How, then, did she end up with Sir Thomas Wyse, a diligent, studious man interested in politics, diplomacy, and travel?

Well, the story goes something like this: While Sir Thomas was on his grand tour  the jaunt around the world seen as a rite of passage for rich young men  he met Lucien Bonaparte, prince of Canino and brother of the deposed emperor, along with his then 11-year-old daughter, Letitia.

When he finished his tour  five years later  he called on the Bonapartes again. (On an aside, its worth giving a bare-bones account of that trip. It took him from Athens to Constantinople  present-day Istanbul  on into Cairo, down the Nile into Sudan, and later on to Palestine and Lebanon, where he assumed Arab dress, before travelling back to Naples. Little wonder men of means went off travelling.)

In any event, once back in Italy, he called to the Bonapartes country villa at Viterbo and was reintroduced to Letitia. By then she was 16 and, of course, beautiful and charming: The Venus of the Bonapartes. The less romantic versions of the story make more of the fact that a potential match would enhance Wyses political ambitions to lead Irish Catholics.

We can only speculate, but the 10,000 dowry that came with her was a much-needed boost to the coffers of the Wyse family.

It was not, shall we say, a marriage made in heaven. The couples first son, Napoleon Alfred, was born in Rome in January 1822. By that summer, though, Thomas Wyse (with support from Letitias father and the Vatican) had his wife put in a convent.

As Cliona Purcell says: His reasoning, as he explained to her parents when seeking their approval, was that despite the fact that they hadnt been married long, they fought often, and in one of these marital tiffs Letitias temper got the best of her and she struck Thomas clean across the face.

Given the descriptions of her independent spirit, its a wonder that Letitia ever looked at him again, but when Thomas returned to Waterford in 1825, she went with him.

A second son, William Charles, was born in January 1826. Thomas was rarely home. He spent much time in Dublin campaigning for Catholic emancipation.

Yet, without his wifes approval, he sent the couples elder son, Napoleon, to a private school, while William was looked after by one of his aunts.

Letitia left for London without telling her husband. Some accounts say that the Irish weather was the final straw for the Italian princess, although its clear there was a lot more going on in this unhappy union.

The Dictionary of Irish Biography describes the break-up like this: Though Thomas Wyse and his wife, Letitia, shared intellectual interests, they were temperamentally incompatible and so their marriage broke down. On 30 January, 1828, she left Waterford for London. The pair never met again.

Wyse went on to become an MP and a diplomat in Athens, Greece, while Letitia had to face down the scandal of being in London without her husbands permission. In spite of that, she carved out a life for herself and had three more children.

Yet, she was still officially married to Thomas Wyse. This infuriated him, and he went to see Emperor Louis Napoleon (Napoleon Bonapartes nephew) to try to prevent Letitia from citing him as father of her three youngest children. The emperor apparently said that he found it easier to rule France than his family.

The emperor did, however, pay Letitias debts and granted her a pension, on condition she agreed to leave the Wyse family alone.

Thomas Wyse died in 1862. And, writes Cliona Purcell, his wife appears to have had the last laugh. After hearing of his death, she then left for Waterford to contest his will. Victorious, finally, Letitia commissioned a local stone sculptor to place a sculpture of the Bonaparte imperial eagle above the main entrance door at the Manor St John, the family home of the Wyses and, beneath it, emblazoned the words Letitia Bonaparte Wyse.

The same year, she took up residence at the family mansion with her son, Napoleon Alfred, the Waterford News reported.

He became a justice of the peace, deputy lieutenant and high sheriff of County Waterford, but eventually he was forced to sell up. He died in Paris.

His brother, William Charles, bought the manor and went on to become a recognised Provencal poet, who led the revival of the Provencal language.

Letitia Bonaparte Wyse died in 1871, but her memory lives on in Waterford, even if it seems to have faded outside of that city.

Her uncle, Napoleon, gave her a lock of his hair and, after he died, she received a mourning cross, one of 12 jet and gold objects made for the female members of the family. Hers is the only one that survives intact.

You can go to see both artifacts and Letitias box piano at the Bishops Palace in Waterford.

Napoleon's toothbrush which the military commander gave to his personal physician, Irish-born Barry Edward O'Meara. Picture: courtesy of RCPI

Speaking of artifacts, Ireland also has Napoleons horse-hair toothbrush. It was donated to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland by the family of the emperors personal surgeon at St Helena, Irish-born Barry Edward OMeara. Thats a fascinating story for another day.

It does provide a focus, though. As the French critics take out the carving knives for the movie Napoleon  Barbie and Ken under the Empire, according to Le Figaro  we might use the biopic to explore the many links to the French emperor that are held in museums and archives around Ireland.

What better project in a week when the Archives and Records Association, Ireland launched Explore Your Archive, an initiative that encourages people to delve into their local archives.
The starting gun was fired this week on the European elections, but it also has set a timer on when the general election will be called.

There is a lengthy list of sitting TDs, including Barry Cowen, Michael Creed, Colm Burke, Peadar Toibin, and Josepha Madigan, who are all strongly rumoured as being interested in Europe.

Other names that are being pumped out by the Leinster House gossip machine are Labours Alan Kelly and the Social Democrats Roisin Shortall.

Even before the Electoral Commission had announced an extra seat for a newly configurated Midlands-North-West constituency, many of these high-profile names were being floated.

If successful in next Junes elections, they would have an impact on the Dail arithmetic.

Added to the mix is the departure of sitting Fine Gael MEPs Deirdre Clune and Frances Fitzgerald.

The rise of Sinn Fein, a party that currently only has one MEP in Chris McManus, also has to be factored into where the seats will eventually end up.

The departure of any TD from the Dail sets off a six-month countdown to a replacement. By-elections can be dirty affairs, from which Government parties rarely come out well.

Sandwiching what could be multiple by-elections, in between a bruising local campaign and a challenging general election, would be ludicrous.

Instead, Leo Varadkar would have to chose the nuclear option of skipping straight ahead to a full general election.

Its another reason why speculation around an election in the autumn of next year now seems the most likely outcome.

The most common opinion now is that the European elections will be held before any Dail poll.

Ireland South

At least one of the five seats in Ireland South is guaranteed to be occupied by a fresh face, after Fine Gael blueblood Deirdre Clune announced last week she would not be running again.

While poll-topper Sean Kelly is expected to retain his seat for Fine Gael, Mr Varadkars party will have to find a serious contender to put alongside him.

Fortunately for him, there seems to be plenty of people who are showing interest. Unfortunately for him, they all seem to be men.

While he has kept quiet, at least publicly, many sources say former agriculture minister Michael Creed would be the preferred option and would be the one to get through a party convention.

A Fine Gael wildcard could come in the form of Wexford TD Paul Kehoe, who was very unlucky in the general election boundary redraw. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins

Sitting TD Colm Burke could be interested in a return to Brussels, while other names that have been touted are the partys Cork-based senators Jerry Buttimer and Tim Lombard.

It is expected the party will stand three people in this constituency and a Fine Gael wildcard could come in the form of Wexford TD Paul Kehoe, who was very unlucky in the general election boundary redraw. But the party may feel it must have a ticket with a gender balance.

Fianna Fail will be confident in retaining Billy Kelleher, who has remained a prominent fixture in the Irish media since making the move to Brussels in 2019.

But again, the party will be looking for a female running mate for the former Cork North Central TD, where no obvious options exist.

Carlow Kilkenny TD Jennifer Murnane OConner has ruled herself out. However, two strong councillors  Deirdre Cullen in Kilkenny and Tipperary-based Siobhan Ambrose  have been touted as possibilities.

Sinn Fein is likely to run at least two candidates after missing out in the final seat, which Grace OSullivan of the Green Party managed to steal just ahead of Liadh Ni Riada, last time around.

Senator Paul Gavan is being widely tipped to run, however, it is unclear who else Mary Lous party will put on the ticket.

What the Labour Party and the Social Democrats do remains to be seen, while MEP Mick Wallace is expected to go again.

Midlands-North-West

Fianna Fail senator Lisa Chambers has expressed strong interest in running for Europe. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The addition of Laois and Offaly has all but rubber-stamped Barry Cowens appearance on the Fianna Fail ticket.

Mayo senator Lisa Chambers has also expressed strong interest, with a senior party source telling the Irish Examiner last September that the pair would be the dream ticket for the party.

However, it is understood Donegal senator Niall Blaney is also interested.

Just two of the four MEPs elected in the 2019 elections currently remain, after Matt Carthy took up a seat in the Dail and Mairead McGuinness accepted a promotion when she was appointed an EU Commissioner.

Her replacement, Colm Markey, is eager to stay on, as is his fellow Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh.

Sinn Fein will run someone alongside Chris McManus.

Green Party senator Pauline OReilly had announced her intention to stand, even before the new boundaries were announced.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin is also toying with the idea.

Dublin

While Fianna Fail has its dream team in Midlands-North-West, the Irish Examiner last week reported that, in Dublin, Fine Gael is eyeing up its own dream team of former TDs Noel Rock and Kate OConnell.

However, other party members  perhaps seeing a chance to escape what is likely to be a bruising general election campaign  have been strongly briefing, or letting others brief on their behalf.

This includes junior education minister Josepha Madigan, former social protection minister Regina Doherty, Dublin South-West TD Colm Brophy, as well as senators Barry Ward and Emer Currie.

Sinn Fein senator Fintan Warfield has made it known he is interested in Europe. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

But a big focus in Dublin will be on how many seats Sinn Fein can gain this time, after Lynn Boylan unexpectedly lost out in 2019.

Now in the Seanad, Boylan has also been mentioned for a seat in the Dail.

Sinn Fein is holding its selection convention in early December, with Boylan expected to easily get through.

Fellow Sinn Fein senator Fintan Warfield has made it known he is interested, and will likely battle it out with well-known councillor Daithi Doolan for the other place on the ticket.

Fianna Fail is unlikely to put up a second candidate alongside Barry Andrews.

Clare Daly is expected to run again, as is Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe.

Recently appointed as Labours Dublin spokeswoman, Annie Hoey will also be on the ballot paper.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats are keeping their cards close to their chest, but it is understood that Gary Gannon has ruled himself out of any race to Europe.
The United Nations Security Council is paralysed, and it has been for 10 years. We need to be honest about this. Russia and China do not want to see it operating as it should, for fear that it would call out their many indiscretions.

No new peacekeeping missions have been authorised since 2014. This is at a time when civil strife is spreading across Africa and the Middle East. Recently, it took 60 days for the UN Security Council to issue a statement calling for a truce (not even a ceasefire) in Gaza. This is why change is needed.

The Irish Government is right to seek to change the triple lock (by which Government, Dail, and UN approval are needed to send more than 12 Irish soldiers abroad). We must live in the here and now, and not continue to hope that things will improve. Our policies and procedures must reflect this new reality.

The idea that we would allow authoritarian dictators, like Putin and Xi, to have a de-facto veto on Irish participation in peacekeeping missions across the world is demeaning to our status as a mature, stable democracy.

I can already imagine the same old arguments from the Irish left, claiming that this is a first step on a slippery slope to joining NATO, and to ending Irelands long-standing policy of military neutrality.

The two are in no way connected, and it is disingenuous to claim otherwise. Neutrality means that Ireland is not part of any military alliance. Ireland amending its own rules as to how, why, and when members of Oglaigh na hEireann can deploy on overseas peacekeeping missions has nothing got to do with our neutrality. Reactionary, left-wing politicians should desist from conflating the two issues. It is insulting to the intelligence of our people.

As the Tanaiste stated, every Irish mission will still be fully consistent with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. This has been the hallmark of our countrys activities on the global stage since we joined the UN in 1955. Future missions will be initiated after either receiving a request from other multi-lateral organisations, such as the EU or the African Union, or following a request from an individual country.

However, what really galls me about the criticism of this policy change is the idea that certain left-wing politicians, as members of Dail Eireann, dont trust themselves and their colleagues to make a decision in the best interests of Ireland and its Defence Forces.

Sadly, I believe every utterance by the usual gang of neutrality hawks comes from a very simple place: they intensely dislike the US and the West, and view every issue as binary. If the US is possibly involved, then we must be on the opposite side, is their logic.

We are a sovereign, democratic state, with a strong separation of powers. I do not believe we have anything to fear from making the decision ourselves and taking back the power from authoritarian states like Russia and China.

We are one of the longest continuing democracies on the continent of Europe, with a representative and proportional parliament. Who do they think will be making these decisions? Hawkish, right-wing warmongers or the members of Dail Eireann, who are very much in touch with the Irish people?

Lets call a spade a spade. No Irish government will be formed that does not contain at least two, but more than likely three, parties. There will be a mix of centre left, centrist, and centre-ight parties. Future coalition governments in Ireland will reflect the broad will of the Dail, and, crucially, I believe, the Irish peoples longstanding support for military neutrality.

Very few, if any, countries tie their hands behind their back, and give an effective veto to the likes of Russia and China (as well as France, the UK, and the US) about decisions of national security policy. We should be confident in our own abilities to make informed decisions on where and when we deploy members of our Defence Forces.

Lets not be lacking in confidence about our abilities to make the right decision. If we can trust our TDs and our Government to make decisions about taxes and spending, then surely we can trust them to decide when and how to deploy our troops as peacekeepers?

If we cant, then we have an even bigger problem as a country.
An acrid smell of burning rubber permeated OConnell St early on the morning after. It wafted down past a blackened hulk of twisted steel that had been a bus, now immobile and redundant on one of the thoroughfares lanes.

Next to it on the Luas line a train was damaged, windows smashed, doors broken, as if it had been abandoned in a hurry in the face of a natural disaster. Further down the street, the GPO, symbolic cornerstone of our democracy, looked as if it had slept through the whole thing, its windows adorned with decorations and Christmas lights.

A scattering of those setting out for work before dawn stopped beside the debris, raised their phones, and took the requisite pic for posterity. The whole scene illustrated how delicately democratic societies are held together these days.

Damage to Asics on O'Connell St as the clean-up operation got under way in Dublin on Thursday. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Since the pandemic, the citys main streets, particularly north of the river, have not been the same. There is an edge to things. There has been a low level of anti-social behaviour, much of it from disaffected youth. Many people talk of a sense of tension over what they perceive to be an undercurrent of menace.

The city is not as it was before covid and you have to wonder whether the lost years have had a hugely disproportionate effect on communities which were least equipped to carry the load.

The uneasy tension in the city nearly feels as if everybody is waiting for something to happen. Maybe that something did on Thursday.

The shocking attack on children and adults on Parnell St was completely out of the blue. Nobody could have predicted it. What unfolded showed the worst and the best of the city. The attack was unprecedented in this country, but not so in other developed, wealthy states.

Perhaps its a harbinger, or a reminder that while our politics has been stable and, challenges notwithstanding, the economy sound, we are part of a new, frightening world.

On the other hand, those who rushed to the rescue served notice of the better self of our society. Siobhan Kearney was attending the Stardust inquest across the road, looking for truth from a darker Ireland. She ran across the road and intervened with the assailant.

I saw a man stab the children, she told the Irish Examiner. I jumped in and stopped it. We all jumped in. I immediately defended the children.

Brazilian delivery driver Caio Benicio did likewise.

In terms of employment, delivery drivers are something of an underclass, working savage hours with zero security in unsafe conditions. When he saw what was happening, he didnt give any thought for his own safety, or react as might a person who feels alienated or abused in this country to which he has come to work. He showed the best of us.

What happened in the aftermath of that outrage may well have been the something that has been threatening to occur over the last few years. A small band of far right activists saw their opportunity. They didnt see horribly injured children or heroes to be commended. They saw the chance to make a mark, to show that they do matter irrespective of their complete failure to gain purchase through political activity. So they sent out the word and showed up.

Pretty soon they had gathering around them dozens and dozens of disaffected youth, some who enjoyed shouting obscenities about foreigners, others just looking to have fun. The violence started and the organisers melted back into the crowd, cowards to their core, fully aware of the kind of surveillance in the city centre that would produce plenty of evidence.

What resulted was beamed around the world as if Ireland had taken its place among the fully developed nations of the world where such upheaval is no longer alien.

The rioting in Dublin was beamed around the world as if Ireland had taken its place among nations where such upheaval is no longer alien. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

What is required now is unity of purpose. Those who fanned the flames are small in number and should no longer be allowed to act with impunity. They thrive on social media and cant be permitted to undermine democracy further.

The time has long passed when social media companies should have been forced to take responsibility for how they earn their crust. Proper regulation, and more importantly enforcement, can wait no longer.

Garda management has major questions to answer. Individual gardai performed on the night in the best tradition of policing. They were brave and selfless and risked serious injury. But questions remain about how quickly or otherwise management reacted to the gathering storm.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Individual gardai were brave and risked serious injury but questions remain about how quickly or otherwise management reacted to the gathering storm. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Word was going around social media from mid-afternoon, urging people to gather in the city centre by 7pm. Why was the public order unit not fully in place to meet the threat?

This is just one of a whole range of issues contributing to a malaise in An Garda Siochana. Elements have been addressed in a piecemeal fashion, but right now the State, and particularly the capital, needs a fully-functioning police force. And while they are at it, why arent the well-known small band of agitators subjected to the same degree of ongoing scrutiny that the gardai have successfully deployed in tackling other serious criminals?

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee need to earn their corn or else step aside and let somebody else do it.

There also needs to be unity across the political divide to tackle these agitators before they get a proper foothold. Heretofore, some of the opposition parties have studiously excluded Government parties in any effort to tackle far right ideology or actions. That playground stuff has had its day. Either all who profess to have allegiance to democracy want to eliminate the threat to our society or they want to use it to further their own political ambitions.

Beyond all that, questions arise as to why it was so easy to incite that many youths to behave like thugs. The agitators would not have been equipped to create the mayhem that ensued without exploiting major disaffection among a large cohort.

Did the pandemic do more damage than has been acknowledged? Why in a wealthy society does there appear to be such a level of disaffection that a spark can ignite wanton violence? Dublin deserves to have its city centre returned to its pre-pandemic shape. Proper investigation and intervention are needed to find out where things went wrong. Without that, scenes like last Thursday may not be isolated.
Growing up, there were two photos in the kitchen.

One, the Sacred Heart, was partially obscured by books and newspapers and other necessary day-to-day paraphernalia.

The other photo was much more prominent.

It hung like a portrait of a heroic granduncle who was shot down over Arnhem.

My mother often commented that all four of her sons resembled this man, which was a little confusing because, in so far as all we knew, we were not related.

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In any case, the resemblance was a myth, just as the man in the photo seemed to me to be.

It was, of course, JFK.

Such expressions of idealistic and religious devotion were not uncommon in rural Ireland in the late decades of the 20th century, and a key characteristic of that fealty was how little it was prosecuted.

There was no critique or evaluation, just fidelity to an institution or, in the case of my mother and JFK, an ideal, the promise of a better tomorrow.

I never thought it strange as a child that I could literally sketch JFKs high cheekbones and corrugated-iron hair from memory. Maybe it was a West of Ireland thing, but people rarely hung family photographs in the 1980s, not until much later.

Its probably just as well as we all looked a little malnourished and wild.

Framing a Kennedy was a much more elegant thing to do, and though the mystery of the Sacred Heart was never properly explained to me, I was in no doubt as to the significance, magnificence, even, of JFK.

By my mothers telling, he was Irelands most handsome son, the first Catholic president of the US.

He married Jackie Bouvier, was a devoted and loving husband, and the type of father that would shame all other fathers, such was his filial fortitude.

A civil rights champion who vehemently opposed the war in Vietnam, he was struck down in his prime, but only after my mother and her best friend best friend Erna hung out of a Shop Street window and saw him in the flesh when they were 16.

Not only did they see him, but he saw them, waved and flashed a smile so bright the two teens nearly fell from their perch.

JFK at Collins Barracks Cork, 1963.

My mother still recalls how remarkably yellow he looked. Having never met an American before, I assumed it to be a suntan.

Seeing Jack Kennedy in her hometown, reaching out and touching people like a sixties Jesus, confirmed something to her that many still believe to this day: He was an unimpeachable icon.

Unbeknownst to my mother, by the time Kennedy reached Galway, he was jaundiced by liver disease, likely induced by his heavy drinking. That explains the yellowish hue. Nor could she have been aware of JFKs Washington reputation as a womaniser and a cad.

Sixteen years old, living in Galway and not privy to CIA memos, she could never have known that, in May 1961, JFK authorised sending 1,000 Special Forces troops and military advisers to join the 16,000 already in Saigon, deployed to assist the pro Western government of South Vietnam.

Not war-mongering, but not exactly kumbaya either.

My mother could be forgiven for not knowing any of these things then, but even when, in the decades since, these less-favourable truths came to light, she simply didnt care.

JFK was and remains a transcendent force in her life. A totem of good in a world perpetually on the brink of bad.

His death, and the death of his brother Bobby, still rank as two of the most traumatic moments of her admittedly sheltered youth. My mum lost her only sister Marcia this week.

Recalling that most innocent moment of promise and hope they shared as young women some 60 years ago only served to remind me of the myth of the Kennedys, and their cursed Camelot.

The truth of Kennedys many contradictions and my mothers selective indifference to them has long mirrored that of Ireland and America.

For all its faults as a country, we forgave it a lot because of what the country aspired to become  a land of opportunity, one where the pursuit of happiness was fundamental to its identity, and we  the Irish  were central to the journey.

Despite successive Guinness-drinking presidents, the relationship has never been more strained.

The irony that Joe Biden  the most Irish president since Kennedy  is the man overseeing what feels like the last days of a crumbling relationship, is rich.

When he came to Mayo last April the whole charade seemed as tired as the man himself.

US president Joe Biden speaking at St Muredach's Cathedral last April. Picture: John O'Grady

The moral dereliction of his unwavering support for Benjamin Netanyahu is certainly not the cause of the current decline, but just another symptom.

The coveted green card was once the definition of winning lifes lottery. Now, its a booby prize.

Kennedy, like the America he briefly governed, was far from perfect. But as an emerging nation in need of a big brother, Ireland needed the US, and though we rarely understood its methods, we blindly chose to believe its motives to be pure. The dream may well be finally over.

Never meet your heroes, they say. Maybe the next time we do, well have our eyes wide open.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, has been seriously injured in a stabbing by another inmate at a federal prison in Arizona.

A source told the Associated Press the attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages.

The US bureau of prisons confirmed an inmate was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12.30pm local time on Friday.

In a statement, the agency said prison staff contained the incident and performed life-saving measures before the inmate, who it did not name, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

No employees were injured and the FBI was notified, the bureau of prisons said with visiting at the facility, which has about 380 inmates, suspended.

Neither Chauvins lawyers nor the FBI have responded to requests for comment.

Chauvin, 47, was sent to FCI Tucson from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022 to simultaneously serve a 21-year federal sentence for violating Mr Floyds civil rights and a 22-year state sentence for second-degree murder.

His lawyer Eric Nelson had advocated for keeping him away from other inmates, anticipating he would be a target. In Minnesota, Chauvin was mainly kept in solitary confinement largely for his own protection, Mr Nelson wrote in court papers last year.

Chauvin, whose appeal against his murder conviction was rejected by the US Supreme Court last week, is making a bid to overturn his federal guilty plea on the grounds new evidence shows he did not cause Mr Floyds death.

Mr Floyd died on May 25 2020 after Chauvin pressed a knee on his neck for more than nine minutes on the street outside a convenience store where he was suspected of trying to pass a counterfeit 20 dollar bill.

Bystander video captured Mr Floyds fading cries of I cant breathe and his death sparked protests worldwide, some of which turned violent, and forced a national debate on police brutality and racism.

Three other former officers received lesser state and federal sentences for their roles in Mr Floyds death.
Hamas is expected to swap more of its hostages for prisoners held by Israel on the second day of a ceasefire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and a citizen of the Philippines.

During the four days, Hamas is due to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed  something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass.

The start of the truce on Friday morning brought the first moment of quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas.

Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of humanitarian aid convoys on October 21.

Doron Katz and her daughters, Aviv and Raz Asher, were three of the hostages released on Friday (Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum/AP)

It was also able to deliver 34,078 gallons of fuel  just over 10% of the daily pre-war volume  as well as cooking gas.

In the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, a long line of people with fuel cans and other containers waited outside a filling station hoping to get some of the newly delivered fuel.

For the first time in more than a month, aid reached northern Gaza, the focus of Israels ground offensive. A UN convoy delivered flour to two facilities sheltering people displaced by fighting.

The UN said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City, where much of the fighting has taken place, to a hospital in Khan Younis.

Channa Peri was held captive in Gaza for weeks (Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum/AP)

The relief brought by the ceasefire has been tempered, however, for both sides  among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the brevity of the pause. The short truce leaves Gaza mired in a humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

Israel has vowed to resume its massive offensive once the truce ends. That has clouded hopes that the deal could eventually help wind down the conflict, which has fuelled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank.

After nightfall on Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. The freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nine and under.

The released hostages were taken to three Israeli hospitals for observation. The Schneider Childrens Medical Centre said it was treating eight Israelis  four children and four women  and that all appeared to be in good physical condition.

An Israeli prison transport vehicle carries Palestinian prisoners released by the Israeli authorities from Ofer military prison (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

It said they were also receiving psychological treatment, adding that these are sensitive moments for the families.

At a plaza dubbed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, a crowd of Israelis celebrated at the news.

Yael Adar spotted her mother, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, in a TV broadcast of the release and was cheered to see her walking.

That was a huge concern, what would happen to her health during these almost two months, she told Israels Channel 12.

But Yaels 38-year-old son, Tamir Adar, remains in captivity. Both were kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Everyone needs to come back. Its happiness locked up in grief, she said.

Daniel Aloni and her daughter Emilia were released on Friday (Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum/AP)

The hostages included multiple generations. Nine-year-old Ohad Munder-Zichri was freed along with his mother, Keren Munder, and grandmother, Ruti Munder.

The boy was abducted during a holiday visit to his grandparents at the kibbutz where about 80 people  nearly a quarter of all residents of the small community  are believed to have been taken from.

The plight of the hostages has raised anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. In the West Bank town of Beitunia, hundreds of Palestinians poured out of their homes to celebrate, honking horns and setting off fireworks that lit up the night sky.

The teenagers had been jailed for minor offences such as throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers, and others who had been arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I cant really celebrate, said Abdulqader Khatib, a UN worker whose 17-year-old son, Iyas, was freed. But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy.

Palestinians flee to northern Gaza (Mohammed Dahman/AP)

The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, said the hope is that momentum from the deal will lead to an end to the violence. Qatar served as a mediator along with the US and Egypt.

But hours before it came into effect, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told troops that their respite would be short and that the war would resume with intensity for at least two more months.

Mr Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamass military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.

Women and children have consistently made up around two thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.

The ministry says some 6,000 people have been reported missing, feared buried under rubble. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its death tolls.

Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence for its count.
The Israeli military says Hamas has released 13 Israelis and four Thais, in the second round of swaps under a ceasefire deal.

The army said Red Cross representatives transferred the freed hostages to Egypt late on Saturday. They were to be transferred to Israel later in the evening.
The Brotherhood Alliance is marching towards the capital of Kokang Self-Administered Zone  Laukkai Town  after seizing the last junta miliary bases in the southwest of Laukkai Township on Friday.

Control of Kokang, which borders China in northern Shan State, has shifted back and forth between ethnic Kokang people and Myanmars military over the decades.

The alliance  which included the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)  seized the four junta bases in northern and southern Kokang region on the 29th day of what it calls Operation 1027. It also seized Sai Tar Aine hill, which had been the last hill top controlled by junta troops in Ton Shan.

It was the last hill the [junta] military troops controlled in Laukkai [Township], the MNDAA said, adding that alliance troops are now marching towards Laukkai Town.

The alliance comprises the MNDAA the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army. They launched a joint attack on the juntas military in northern Shan State on October 27, calling the offensive Operation 1027 due the date of its beginning.

Myanmar military troops fought fiercely in 2009 and 2015 against the MNDAA, which until 2009 was led Peng Jiasheng. After the 2009 Kokang battle and the removal of Peng Jiasheng, Myanmars military took control of Kokang and shared power with those who followed its orders.

The MNDAA is now led by Peng Jiashengs son, Peng Daxun.

It is attempting to retake Laukkai Township in order to regain control of Kokang Self-Administered Zone.

MNDAA spokesperson Li Kyarwen described Laukkai Town as the most important of Kokangs two townships but declined to discuss plans for retaking the capital.

The Chinese embassy in Myanmar on Friday warned its citizens to immediately evacuate the Laukkai Township and avoid the rest of Kokang, Residents of Laukkai Town who can leave have been fleeing but some remained trapped in the town.

Li Kyarwen said the MNDAA is trying to help residents trapped in the town.

The Brotherhood Alliance said that as of November 24 it had seized more than 180 junta military bases in northern Myanmar since the launch of Operation 1027.

The MNDAA said it seized large caches of weapons and ammunition from junta troops after fierce fighting on Friday.
China will grant unilateral visa-free entry for up to 15 days to travelers holding ordinary passports of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

Starting Dec 1, the trial policy will be in effect for one year, until Nov 30, 2024, the ministry's spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news conference.

Citizens of the five European countries and Malaysia can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes, she said, adding that the measure is aimed at facilitating cross-border travel and promoting high-quality development and high-level opening-up.

This is China's latest effort to improve its visa policies. Earlier this month, it expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries to include citizens of Norway.

China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa, but suspended this after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for citizens of Brunei and Singapore in July.

Since the beginning of the year, China has adopted several measures, including scrapping all COVID-19 testing requirements and ceasing online visa appointments in favor of walk-in visa application services, to ensure smooth channels for foreigners traveling to the country.
The current war in Myanmar differs from past conflicts in the country because ethnic armies are no longer on the defensive, the spokesman for the most powerful ethnic army in Rakhine State told the Irrawaddy in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Junta troops are the ones how are on the defensive now as ethnic armies and resistance groups have unleashed fierce attacks on multiple fronts, Arakan Army (AA) spokesman Khaing Thu Kha explained.

The AA launched attacks in the north of Rakhine State in western Myanmar on November 13, intensifying pressure on a regime that was already struggling to contain resistance offensives in other parts of the country.

The surprise attacks ended a yearlong ceasefire with the junta.

Within 10 days, the ethnic army  which is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance that is attacking junta targets in northern Myanmar  seized four junta outposts and took control of more than 40 others it said were abandoned by regime troops.

Khaing Thu Kha said Operation 1027 (launched by the Brotherhood Alliance in northern Myanmar on October 27) has gone nation-wide. He also accused junta troops of committing war crimes in Rakhine State and discussed the AAs vision for a post-junta Myanmar.

Why did the AA open a new front against the junta in Rakhine State?

I just want to say that the battle erupting in Rakhine now is rooted in the clashes that are breaking out across the country. Although we had a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, the Myanmar military made many restrictions on people in Rakhine State and oppressed them, which is another reason why fighting has been renewed in Rakhine. The military strategy of the junta is to oppress and put restrictions on people in Rakhine and they thought we  would not be able to fight them.

You had an informal ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar military. Did the junta contact you for negotiations or for other reasons when you launched the offensive?

So far, the junta hasnt officially reached out to us. However, Myanmar military officers are visiting well-known monasteries in Rakhine cities. They are asking abbots to help request that we not enter towns and cities.

But on the ground, Myanmar military troops are targeting civilians. Instead of fighting one armed force to another, the Myanmar military is using its army, navy and air force to attack civilians. The junta is committing both war crimes and crimes against humanity.

How much further will you escalate your fighting against the Myanmar military in Rakhine, and what are the AAs objectives?

Its hard for me to expose our military objectives exactly. However, what I can say precisely is this [round of fighting] is very different in Rakhine and other parts of the country. It is quite different from any other previous fighting.

In the past, most parts of the country experienced Myanmar military offensives, but now the war  including in Rakhine and throughout the country  is [characterized by] offensives launched by ethnic armed groups and other revolutionary and resistance forces.

Will fighting also break out in southern Rakhine State?

I cant reveal the details of our military strategy, but as you can see, Operation 1027 has spread all over the country, and all the different armed groups are on the offensive  If you look at these offensives, you can see that Operation 1027 has now reached the nation-wide level  These offensives, including the one in Rakhine State, have gone nation-wide  which is the next level of Operation 1027.

What do you want to say to the international community about the junta militarys attacks on civilians?

The Myanmar military has always attacked civilians. They are flagrantly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In Rakhine State, the Myanmar military detained over 200 civilians in Pauktaw as hostages when they entered the town on November 16  [Junta troops] used them as human shields. As a result, on November 21 the AA annihilated some Myanmar military troops in Pauktaw and rescued around 100 civilians.

And on November 22, by chasing and eliminating the juntas military troops in the town, we were able to rescue another 104 residents. If you look at these situations, you can see that the Myanmar military has always been lying [when it says] they are not targeting civilians. It is not true.

In fact, the Myanmar military has always  used innocent civilians as human shields. In most incidents, [junta spokesman] Zaw Min Tun has always denied atrocities and crimes committed [by junta troops]. In that way, they are spreading their propaganda to the international community.

So, I would like to ask the international community not to trust their propaganda and instead listen to people on the ground and investigate if needed. We would also like to request that the international community takes more effective action against the Myanmar junta.

What is the political goal of the Arakan Army? Has the current situation changed your previous objectives?

We have always vowed that our political ambition for Rakhine State to achieve a status that shouldnt be less than a confederate. [The same level of autonomy as the Wa Self-Administered Division] At the end of the ongoing nation-wide operations  after we are done uprooting and annihilating the juntas military  we hope that all ethnic groups in the country can unite more than ever. We believe that we can build mutual trust and cohesion. After we defeat the military dictatorship, we strongly believe that we can all eventually construct a better political system for the country.
The Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) claims to have seized the juntas large Mine Kyat base in Lashio Township, northern Shan State, on Thursday after 28 days of attacks.

The groups spokesman told the media that TNLA troops abandoned the base because of junta airstrikes but retook the camp on Friday morning.

A TNLA video released on Friday shows its troops seizing mortars, other weapons and ammunition.

The casualties on both sides were unknown.

On Friday morning, junta airstrikes hit Zel Lent village in Muse Township, damaging more than 10 houses and vehicles, according to media reports.

On Thursday night, a house in Namkham town was destroyed by junta shelling, according to the TNLA.

The armed group said nearly 200 houses had been destroyed across northern Shan State by junta airstrikes and shelling since the launch of Operation 1027 on October 27.

It said more than 60 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed and more than 100 injured by junta airstrikes and shelling.

More than 180 junta bases and six towns have been seized across the northern Shan State.
Chinas military conducted live-fire drills on the Chinese side of the border with Myanmar on Saturday amid fierce fighting between Myanmar junta troops and ethnic allied forces.

Fighting has raged along the China-Myanmar border since October 27 when the brotherhood alliance launched Operation 1027, a coordinated offensive against the Myanmar military that has seen most border trade routes closed.

In response, China has publicly called on all parties in the conflicts to exercise restraint and move toward a ceasefire to ensure stability on its border.

The drills, which are part of annual training, aim to test the how troops move and protect the border as well as their firepower capability, a spokesman for the Southern Theater Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, Senior Colonel Tian Junli, said in a statement.

He said the forces in southern Chaina are prepared to respond to all kinds of emergencies, including safeguarding sovereignty, border stability, and peoples lives and property, according to a report in the government-controlled China Daily.

No end date was given for the drills.

Myanmar junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said on Saturday that Myanmar had been informed of the drills. He also claimed that military ties between China and Myanmar are firm and that collaboration between two armies is friendly getting closer.

The claim followed a protest by regime-backed nationalists against the Chinese government outside Yangon City Hall and the Chinese Embassy in Yangon last Sunday. Protesters accused China of backing the ethnic alliance that has been defeating regime troops in northern Shan State.

The regime has lost over 180 of its bases and six towns  including strategic sections of key Myanmar-China trade routes  to the Brotherhood Alliance. The alliance comprises three ethnic armies: the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Taang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army. Together, they launched Operation 1027 last month.

The drills that began on Saturday are a reminder to both the Myanmar government and ethnic armed forces that China is ready to guarantee Chinas sovereignty and security as fighting continues to intensify along the border, China experts say.

On Friday, a convoy of trucks bringing goods into Myanmar from China went up in flames at the Kyin San Kyawt border gate in Muse town. Junta-controlled described the fire as an insurgent attack, saying: Due to this terrorist act  about 120 out of 258 vehicles carrying household goods, consumer goods, clothes and building materials were destroyed by fire.

MNDAA spokesman Li Kyar Win said the Brotherhood Alliance did not torch the convoy, saying it did not conduct attacks that damage civilians.
Peace and stability prevail in Myanmar with festivals taking place across the country and foreign tourists thronging popular destinations. Welcome to the alternative reality of junta propaganda newspapers.

In its latest attempt to conceal defeats on multiple fronts and administrative collapse across swaths of territory since early November, the regime is holding pagoda festivals and fairs in major cities like Yangon, Naypyitaw, Taunggyi, Pyin Oo Lwin, and Pyay in the third week of November. Junta-controlled newspapers have amplified the carnival of illusion with exaggerated reports on the events.

However, the mask slipped when a popular lighting festival had to be canceled in Pyin Oo Lwin, the seat of junta military academies, over security fears.

Meanwhile, all three regime newspapers featured front-page reports that tourist arrivals in the temple city of Bagan were surging, adding a photo of visitors taking a hot air balloon ride. The juntas attempt to deceive readers failed, however, since the story included just a single quote from an Indian tourist and none from European tourists.

No-drone zones

As attacks by ethnic armed organizations and their allies intensify in northern Shan, Chin, Karenni and Rakhine states and Sagaing Region, the regime is tightening security in cities including Naypyitaw and Yangon.

A local decree was issued on November 18, banning the sale of drones and parts, as well as unauthorized drone flights in the commercial capital.

Drone attacks by resistance groups have had a marked but modest impact on regime forces over the past two years. But they have proven to be far more destructive in recent fighting in northern Shan State.

At an emergency meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on Nov. 8, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing admitted that junta positions in northern Shan State were being bombarded mainly with drones.

Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun also remarked that the resistance is using drones to bomb junta positions in daily attacks.

Dictator visits wounded troops

Min Aung Hlaing visited wounded junta soldiers receiving treatment at a military hospital on Nov. 19 as his forces were being hammered by assaults in northern Shan, Chin, Karenni, and Rakhine states and Sagaing Region.

The junta boss was accompanied by his top brass, including chief of General Staff (army, navy and air force) Maung Maung Aye, air force chief Tun Aung, and navy chief Moe Aung. They checked the medical records of wounded soldiers and touched their broken limbs before they left.

The regime has lost almost every battle for nearly a month now, but Min Aung Hlaing has apparently failed to boost morale of his soldiers given the surrender of entire companies and police stations.

The junta boss hasnt even bothered to acknowledge his soldiers for their desperate last-ditch struggles to defend territory. Is it any wonder, then, that his army is losing ground?

Junta spokesman tries to incite Shan hatred

Regime spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun says the Brotherhood Alliance is fighting to seize ethnic Shan land, not to end military rule. Read more:

14,000 troops to shore up Naypyitaw: sources

Massive troop movement is reportedly underway as the junta reinforces its nerve center against an expanding resistance offensive. Read more:

Poll body disbands Kokang pro-democracy party

Election commission dissolves Shan State Kokang Democratic Party  the main rival of the regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party  for violating the juntas political party law. Read more:
BUYO Bioplasticss product was highly evaluated as it is completely decomposable in the natural environment and safe for health, while helping minimise carbon emissions. The firm will represent Vietnam to join international competitions in the Australia, the Europe, Republic of Korea, Singapore and the US.



BUYO Bioplastics is the champion of the National Innovation Technopreneur Contest TECHFEST Vietnam 2023. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Meanwhile, AIRXCARBON won the first Runner-up title with the solution that promotes the circular economy by using agricultural, industrial and forestry waste to create bioplastic particles. The second Runner-up went to CENERGY which carries out research and produces energy storage systems based on the flow battery technology towards the development of the energy storage infrastructure in Vietnam.



Besides, five teams whose products are suitable for the Republic of Koreas development vision were selected for the 2023 Vietnam TECHFEST Shinhan Global Track Awards held by Shinhan Square Bridge Incheon in 2024. They are AirxCarbon, BUYO Bioplastics, Beekids, Toothless (Diaflow), and Trainizi.



More than 500 dossiers and nominations from localities and tech villages across the nations were sent to the contest, which was launched on May 23. Ten most excellent teams were chosen to the final round that took place in Ho Chi Minh City on November 24.



Tran Van Tung, permanent member of the management board of the National Programme 844 to support the National Innovation Initiative to 2025, said that the board will continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese startups to develop and shine in both domestic and foreign market.



He expressed his hope that the innovative solutions will make contributions to concretise the nations commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.



Meanwhile, Sun Sukkun, Director of Shinhan Square Bridge Project under Shinhan Financial Groups Hope Foundation, said that beyond a competition, the event helps nurture innovative ideas, and is a touch of passion and innovation.



He said he wants to give a helping hands to promote cooperation between innovative startups in Vietnam and those in the Republic of Korea.



The annual National Innovation Technopreneur Contest draws the participation of leading experts, investors, and technology groups who have joined hands to provide support for a new generation of businesses. Winning teams receive prizes worth more than 18 billion VND (741,500 USD), and a lot of benefits, including market development, product popularisation, exhibition and education-training./.
Saturday, Nov 25th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 1,880

The UK Governments 5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme has today announced two new contracts, which sees ISP Gigaclear awarded 26.5m to cover around 10,000 rural premises in North and South Oxfordshire. At the same time, Connect Fibre has scooped a 16.5m deal to cover 6,000 premises in North East Staffordshire.

Just to recap. Project Gigabit aims to extend 1Gbps (download) capable networks to reach at least 85% of UK premises by the end of 2025, before hopefully achieving nationwide coverage (c. 99%) by around 2030 (here). Commercial investment is expected to deliver more than 80% of this, which leaves the governments scheme to focus on tackling the final 20% (mostly rural and some sub-urban areas), where the private sector alone often fails. The project is technology neutral, so it can be delivered via either full fibre FTTP, Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) or fixed wireless access (e.g. 5G)  but FTTP is strongly favoured.

NOTE: c. 80% of UK premises can already access gigabit speeds (58% via just FTTP)  c. 80% of UK premises can already access gigabit speeds (58% via just FTTP)  detail

The project uses a number of different methods to tackle this challenge (e.g. vouches and investment in dark fibre builds), but the largest part of the scheme involves a gap-funded subsidy approach  the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS). This is where smaller local or larger regional contracts are awarded to network operators and ISPs who can help to build their gigabit-capable infrastructure across the final 20%.

The Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency, which manages this programme, has already awarded a string of initial rollout contracts to various operators  across various parts of the UK (see bottom of article for a summary), but todays news reflects the first new awards theyve announced since July 2023. Were expecting a few more announcements to follow close behind.

The New Project Gigabit Contracts

The biggest of todays two contracts has seen Gigaclear win 26.5m of public investment to extend their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to cover an additional 10,000 premises in hard-to-reach parts of Oxfordshire, including communities such as Stoke Row, Somerton and North Aston, among others.

The deal actually reflects two Project Gigabit contracts  South Oxfordshire (Lot 13.01  c.6,500 premises) and North Oxfordshire (Lot 13.02  4,900 premises), which should complement the providers existing commercial 84m investment across the whole of Oxfordshire.

However, we hope Gigaclear will do a better job of this than they did with their some of their previous BDUK contracts, which suffered from significant delays and a few even ended up being cancelled (e.g. Devon and Somerset). BDUK will have hopefully made extra sure that the mistakes of the past, which occurred under different leadership, are not going to be repeated.

Next up, Connect Fibre has scooped the 16.5m North East Staffordshire (Lot 19.01) contract, which will see them extend FTTP across around 6,000 premises, including locations such as Longnor, Marchington and Alstonefield, among others. In all cases, the first construction work is expected to get underway by next spring 2024 (i.e. after the usual engineering surveys have completed).

Sir John Whittingdale, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, said: We want to make sure that no matter where you live or work, everyone has access to reliable internet which is why were spending billions to upgrade local networks. In rural Oxfordshire and North East Staffordshire, thousands will experience the positive impact fast and reliable broadband has as their connectivity improves, supporting households and businesses, fostering growth and boosting productivity.

Gigaclear CEO, Gareth Williams, said: I welcome the award of these contracts as they reinforce the important role Gigaclear is playing in helping the Government achieve its wider broadband roll-out ambitions. Weve already invested more than 70 million to extend our network across many of the countys rural communities and once these contracts have been delivered, Gigaclear will have provided a new Gigabit fibre connection to more than 85,000 rural Oxfordshire residents and businesses.

Connect Fibre CEO, Stefan Stanislawski, said: Connect Fibre is incredibly proud and honoured to be awarded the Project Gigabit contract to deliver full fibre broadband to the Staffordshire Moorlands and beyond. Delivering real, reliable broadband will change the lives of people living in rural areas and the region as a whole. With our smart farming programme and free gigabit connections for community learning and library sites, our commitment to supporting the community goes beyond just broadband. We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will have on residents in the region.

We should point out that the Infracapital and Equitix backed Gigaclear, which is being supported by investment worth around 1.1bn, has so far already covered 500,000 premises (430k Ready for Service) across 25 counties in England, and they hold an ambition to cover over 1 million premises by 2027.

By comparison, Connect Fibre is a smaller player that, with support from the Foresight Group (here), aspires to cover 100,000 premises across the East of England. Suffice to say that this is a particularly big contract win for them, but hopefully theyll be able to scale up and deliver on it. Further details should follow once the final rollout plan has been decided for all of todays contracts.

The new Project Gigabit contracts come as Building Digital UK (BDUK) reports that, so far, a total of 929,700 premises in mostly hard-to-reach areas of the UK now have access to gigabit connectivity thanks to government investment. This includes 162,600 premises that have been added in the past year. The overall total includes 204k premises from vouchers, while 731k premises were in areas that previously only had sub-30Mbps speeds.

Project Gigabit GIS Contract Awards History

 Wessex Internet for North Dorset (Lot 14.01) in August 2022 (here)

 GoFibre for Teesdale (Lot 4.01) in September 2022 (here)

 GoFibre for North Northumberland (Lot 34.01) in October 2022 (here)

 Fibrus for Cumbria (Lot 28) in November 2022 (here)

 Wildanet for Central Cornwall (Lot 32.03) and South West Cornwall (Lot 32.02) in January 2023 (here)

 CityFibre for Cambridgeshire (Lot 5) in March 2023 (here)

 Wessex Internet for the New Forest (Lot 27.01) in April 2023 (here)

 Freedom Fibre for North Shropshire (Lot 25.02) in May 2023 (here)

 CityFibre for Norfolk (Lot 7), Suffolk (Lot 2) and Hampshire (Lot 27) in July 2023 (here)

 Gigaclear for South Oxfordshire (Lot 13.01) and North Oxfordshire (Lot 13.02) in Nov 2023

 Connect Fibre for North East Staffordshire (Lot 19.01) in Nov 2023

UPDATE 27th Nov 2023 @ 5:30pm

Weve had a few extra details on Gigaclears contract. More than 40 rural communities across north and south Oxfordshire are set to benefit including Ardington, Uffington, Binfield Heath, Begbroke, Duns Tew and North Aston. Survey work will now get underway with build due to begin in spring, 2024. Gigaclear plans to use 68% PIA (existing infrastructure such as poles and ducting) to speed up delivery and reduce disruption. The work is scheduled to be completed by autumn, 2026.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the Russian attack on Kyiv on the anniversary of the Holodomor conscious terror.

More than 70 shaheds on the night of the day of remembrance of the victims of the Holodomor-genocide. Conscious terror. Just at this time. The Russian leadership is proud that it can kill, he wrote on the Telegram channel.

Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all. But we continue to strengthen air defense and shoot down more. And we continue to work to unite the world in defense against Russian terror. The terrorist state must lose and be held accountable for what it has done, the President said.
US Ambassador Brink: Russia sends waves of drones when temperatures drop below zero

Russia is sending waves of drones when temperatures drop below zero, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said.

Air defenses working actively in Kyiv all night long. As temperatures drop below zero in Ukraine, Russia cynically sends waves of Iranian drones to attack the capital and the country. Thank you to Ukraines air defenders, she said on X.
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As the war on Gaza began being described as a genocide, the years of pain that I buried finally burst and led to the creation of this art.

( Waging Nonviolence )  I woke up on Oct. 7 to a Facebook timeline full of friends posting about how the world is just so cruel. Confused, I scrolled a bit further, and read what Western newspapers were saying: Israel and Hamas were targeting each other again.

The heaviness that lives in my chest laughed. Of course, here we go again. Im a diasporic Palestinian American, so Im used to these news cycles. Horrors and atrocities enacted on my people by Israel for generations, and we Palestinians struggle to get one article about it in the back pages of major, or even small town newspapers. Israel bulldozes our houses, detains children without trial. Kills nonviolent Gazan protesters and declares six human rights groups supporting Palestinians to be terrorist organizations. Forces Gazans to live in a region that the U.N. said would be unlivable in 2020 without escape.

But the minute Hamas does anything, Western news blares again about conflict, complexity, how both sides are equally bad. Turn on almost any news channel and theyll say thats why Israel has a right to its security, its all Hamas fault. Israel has a right to defend themselves, so lets once again use U.S. tax dollars that could be funding health care and housing to kill more Gazan children.

However, something different clicked through the digital screens before me. The word genocide was popping up everywhere, from advocacy emails to Instagram infographics. Social media graphics educating on the Nakba were filling my feeds. I was amazed, remembering how even a few years ago throwing out the word occupation was controversial. With that, the heaviness in my chest suddenly did something it had never done before: it burst. Years of pain Ive had to bury, swallow like knives came pouring out of me. The silence stitched into every Palestinian tongue broke loose, and we all screamed.

And for me, for the first time, I truly felt like the world was watching. For the first time, I fully realized it was my right and duty to express the grief and rage living inside of me.

From that, came this art.

1. To be Palestinian (Oct. 12)

A heaviness built in my gut as I drew this piece. I feel torn  I want to touch on universal Palestinian experiences, but I know I only taste a shade of the larger knot of pain. I know that Palestine is not defined by grief and trauma, and carries with it a rich, delicious (seriously, Palestinian fruit is top fucking notch) and vibrant culture I have the privilege of being a part of, even if from a diasporic distance.

I also know our lives are defined by persistent othering. Dehumanization. Ive lost track of the times I have had to explain whats really happening in Palestine, dealing with irreverent questions, being told as I beg advocacy spaces to listen to Palestinians that our needs call for an impossible moral purity.

This is a norm for U.S. Palestinians even in progressive spaces. Today I watched as the U.S. agreed yet again to send military aid to Israel at the same time Israel said theyre cutting off electricity in Gaza. One Gazan doctor said soon the hospital will be a mass grave as they run out of fuel.

I watch with a nonstop knot in my chest as progressive politicians try to equate Hamas (which yes, is fucked for targeting civilians, but I shouldnt even have to add that addendum) with a nuclear state with a multibillion-dollar military budget thats been killing my people for 75 years. That has been abducting children, raiding villages, all while the media was silent.

I watch as celebrities usually vocal on social issues stay silent. As I read the horrible news every day and know that no one in my circles, or most circles, knows whats going on.

Its not just the horrors Israel perpetuates that forces us to swallow stones. Its the silence, the normalization, the knowing of just how much of the world sees us as a nuisance, does not care if we live or die.

So I desperately do what I can. I make art piece after art piece after art piece hoping more people feel the pain that always lives in my gut, that lives in every Palestinian gut. That the norm changes, that Palestinians will get some God damn apologies. Reparations. Freedom. That I can use the word genocide without stirring controversy. That Im just heard.

2. Palestine is bleeding (Oct. 8)

The Arabic word you see on the left says Gaza. I wanted to write we love you Gaza but my Arabic isnt that great sadly.

Of the two regions legally declared Palestine right now, the West Bank is considered the part of Palestine that has it easiest, especially major cities. What is one thing youll see all over West Bank houses, especially major cities? Massive black water tanks.

Why the massive black water tanks? Israel only gives Palestinians water, at best, three days of the week, at worst twice a month. Most Palestinians cant even wash their hair or flush when they pee. Because yes, Israel controls Palestines water flow, as well as their trade and airwaves. Palestinians still are only allowed access to 3G at best. Want to send your Palestinian friend a package? Forget it. Oh, and Palestinians, especially Palestinian refugees, can be shot and killed by the Israeli military for walking on the wrong sidewalk or driving on the wrong road. Or for no reason at all.

And Israel wont even give 66 percent of the West Bank access to water. Theyre forced to poop in trash cans and go to local towns for bottled water. I know, because when I visited this part of Palestine (called Area C) I had to do both.

And no, the water tanks are not due to water shortages. Israeli settlements, which sit right next to Palestinian towns, regularly have pools in the backyard.

And Gaza has it worse. People in Gaza cant leave, even for medical emergencies. Theyre denied access to electricity. There is no clean drinking water. It was declared unlivable in 2020 and is unlivable because of Israels blockade. This sudden uptick in violence and horrendous bombings by Israel is a small grain of sand in a sea of violence against Palestinians by Israel. Yet the effects are treacherous.

Thats why we call it apartheid, colonization, genocide.

3. We just want to be free (Oct. 10)

This piece speaks from my perspective as a Palestinian of the diaspora. I cannot fully speak to the horrors beyond human language taking part in the Gaza Strip. I only watch it from afar, do all I can to support my people, but feel mostly powerless. I speak as someone where getting to visit my own homeland is becoming harder as each year goes by, even with recent political actions by the U.S. government for Palestinian-Americans that are supposed to ease our transit.

I want to go home. I want to not sit with knots in my stomach praying my relatives are safe. I want to be able to call for the freedom of my people without getting the automatic racist response of, but what about Hamas? Does Israel not have a right to its security? To be allowed to speak about the horrors of what Palestinians are going through without fear it will hurt my career and future.

I want Israel to stop bulldozing Palestinian homes. I want all Palestinians to have full access to water and electricity, to not have to drive on separate highways and walk on separate sidewalks from Israelis. For Israels detention of Palestinian children to end. I want people in Area C to be able to build beautiful homes, to not have to live in caves because Israel wont let them build anything. I want the people of Gaza to be able to go to bed at night with their only concern being whether or not it will rain tomorrow. I want Israel to stop killing our culture. I want everyone in the West Bank to be able to go to the beach.

I want apartheid to end. I want this genocide to end. I dont want my tax dollars funding this anymore. I want to scream my truth loud and clear without harassment. To not have to swallow myself over and over and over and over again. I want, simply put, for Palestine to be free.

The people of Palestine are steadfast, and wake up every day refusing to leave their home, their identity. But they shouldnt have to. They should be able to live their lives with ease, joy, peace.

4. Grief beyond language (Oct. 14)

I have grieved the loss of many loved ones in my lifetime. But the grief over watching the people in Gaza, my people, my ancestry, die in droves under Israels horror, is beyond anything I can explain.

Ive spent half this past week starting at the wall feeling helpless. Genocide feels like too kind, too formal, too soft of a word.

We let Gaza down. We saw them suffer for decades and did nothing. Gaza, you deserved love and a fight for your freedom. The world shouldve stopped just to save you. Im sorry will never be enough. You were failed. Let us now carry you in our hearts. We will not allow the world to forget your fight for freedom.

5. What is left (Oct. 16)

The grief of a genocide happening to your people while being told its your fault and watching the world support it wreaks havoc on the soul in ways I could not comprehend before. My body refuses to eat. This is a pain no one should know or carry.

6. Children should never be ancestors (Nov. 6)

Almost 4,000 children in Gaza dead, killed by Israel, this number not including children who died from lack of access to medical care, dehydration and hunger from Israel cutting off electricity, water and food.

I cant even comprehend that number. I cant comprehend one.

We just passed Samhain, a holiday meant to celebrate our relationship to the dead, since the veil between the living and the dead is thin. When I hear the word ancestor, I think of the elderly who lived long, hearty lives, people who have had enough life experiences to give guidance to the living.

Children should never be ancestors. Children never had the chance to grow, develop into full beings who know themselves, their quirks, their flaws and strengths. To even learn how to walk, talk, in the cases of many who Israel has killed.

To accept what Israel is doing in Gaza as necessary for their security is to intentionally dehumanize us. To look at us Palestinians as a people and say yeah, theyre allowed to die. Do not fall for the genocidal myth. What Israel is doing is unacceptable, unconscionable. Targeting hospitals, schools, mosques and densely populated refugee camps is an atrocity beyond human language.

Call for a ceasefire. Call your government officials every day and demand a ceasefire. Especially if youre in the U.S. Call for a ceasefire, call for an end to all military support to Israel, call for an end to Israels occupation and apartheid. Call for a free Palestine.

7. The world will remember (Oct. 18)

Now is not the time for complicity. The world is watching. Free Palestine. End all U.S. military support to Israel. Demand an end to Israeli apartheid. Call for a ceasefire. Hold Israel accountable, name what they are doing as ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Call your government officials. Post on social media. Educate friends on disinformation. Donate to Palestinian mutual aid funds. Go to a protest. Do not shut down. We need action if we are to survive as a people.

This story was produced by IPRA Peace Search

Liz Bajjalieh (she/they/he) is a queer Palestinian of the diaspora, artist, poet, and staff member with Peace Action National. All views displayed here are their own.

Via Waging Nonviolence
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Seattle, Wa. (Special to Informed Comment; Featured)  If an Arab writer would create a Palestinian version of Schindlers List, and if an Arab, or a filmmaker sympathetic to Arabs, would create the movie, I wonder what the story would look like. I wonder what the writer would write. I wonder what the filmmaker would create.

How much do we know about Gaza when it is described as an open-air prison?

How much do we know about the genocide in Gaza perpetrated by Netanyahu?

Maybe we dont know anything. We have no idea about the pain Jews suffered throughout the years. And we have no idea about the pain Palestinians suffer now. But we can relate to each pain when we compare the pain we suffer.

Lets talk about two kinds of pain: physical and psychological.

When it comes to physical pain I think about toothache, headache, cancer surgery, and amputation. I think exile, witnessing murder, depression, and dealing with rapes aftermath are psychological pains.

Did Jews recover from the pain they suffered during the holocaust?

Can we expect Palestinians, or Arabs for that matter, to recover from the genocide in Gaza?

CNN: Blogger leaves haunting words in final video from Gaza

The best line Ive read so far is written by Adam Shatz in the London Review of Books:

As for the people of Gaza, not only are they being forced to pay for Hamass actions: they [Gazans] are being forced, once again, to pay for Hitlers crimes.

What is the solution then?

As a peace journalist and peace activist, I still dont know how to address atrocity. I have experienced atrocity myself. I know that both physical and psychological pain is so great that I dont know how to talk about it. After years of therapy, nightmares, sweaty dreams, sleepless nights, and feeling shame, and guilt, I still think that Nonviolence is the key to winning a genocide, a holocaust  to defeating atrocities and heartlessness.

I understand that it is easier to talk about nonviolence than to do it. I know. But, there is no better alternative. I know because Im talking from experience.

Sara Jamshidi
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Here is the interview Alex Greaney of StayTunedNBC did with Juan Cole about the Egypt scenes in Ridley Scotts film, Napoleon.

StayTunedNBC: Juan Cole on Ridley Scotts depiction of Napoleon in Egypt

I wrote a book about Bonaparte in Egypt for those of you who want to know more about the first major Western colonial war in the Middle East:



Juan Cole. Napoleons Egypt. Click here.

[Those who donate $100 to our annual fundraiser at IC will get a signed copy of Napoleons Egypt:

Personal checks should be made out to Juan Cole and sent to me at:

Juan Cole

P. O. Box 4218,

Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548

USA

(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed) ]

Here is an account of the invasion by eyewitness Pierre Francois Xavier Boyer, an aide to Bonaparte, translated by the British, who intercepted it and other correspondence between Cairo and Paris.

From: Copies of original letters from the army of General Bonaparte in Egypt, intercepted by the fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Nelson. With an English translation (London, J. Wright, 1798-1800, 3 vols.), vol. 1, pp. 147-162.

TRANSLATION.

Grand Cairo, July 28th.

My dear Parents,

OUR entrance into this city furnishes me with an opportunity of writing to you(1); and as my design is to make you fully acquainted with an expedition no less singular than astonishing, I shall take the liberty of recapitulating our achievements since the day we left Toulon.

The land army, composed of 30,000 men, embarked at Marseilles, Toulon, Genoa, and Civita Vecchia, set sail on the 19th of May, under the convoy of 15 sail of the line (two of which were armed en flute[2]) 14 frigates, and several smaller ships of war. The convoy altogether formed a total of more than 400 sail; and never perhaps, since the Crusades, has so large an armament appeared in the Mediterranean.

Without calculating the dangers of the element on which we were embarked, or those which we had to apprehend from an enemy formidable at sea, we steered with a favourable wind for Malta, where we arrived on the 10th of June. The conquest of this important place cost us but a few men. It capitulated on the 12ththe Order was abolished, and the Grand Master packed off to Germany with a budget of fine promises; in a word, every thing succeeded to our wish. Time, however, was preciouswe had no leisure to amuse ourselves with calculating the advantages to be derived from the possession of Malta; for an English squadron of 13 sail of the line, commanded by Nelson, was at anchor in the Bay of Naples(3), and watched all our motions. Bonaparte, informed of this, scarce gave us time to take in water: he ordered the fleet to weight immediately, and, on the 18th of June, we were already in full sail for the second object of our expedition. We fell in with Candia on the 25th, and on the 30th our light vessels made Alexandria.

Admiral Nelson had been off the city on the noon of this very day; and proposed to the Turks to anchor in the port, by way of securing it against us; but as his proposal was not accepted, he stood on for Cyprus; while we, profiting by his errors, and turning even his stupidity to our own advantage, made good our landing on the 2d of July, at Marabou. The whole army was on shore by break of day, and Bonaparte putting himself at their head, marched straight to Alexandria, across a desert of three leagues, which did not even afford a drop of water, in a climate where the heat is insupportable.

Notwithstanding all these difficulties, we reached the town, which was defended by a garrison of near 500 Janizaries. Of the rest of the inhabitants, some had thrown themselves into the forts, and others got on the tops of their houses. In this situation they waited our attack. The charge is soundedour soldiers fly to the ramparts, which they scale, in spite of the obstinate defence of the besieged: many Generals are wounded, amongst the rest Kleberwe lose near 150 men, but courage, at length, subdues the obstinacy of the Turks! Repulsed on every side, they betake themselves to God and their Prophet, and fill their mosquesmen, women, old, young, children at the breast, ALL are massacred(4). At the end of four hours, the fury of our troops ceasestranquility revives in the cityseveral forts capitulateI myself reduce one into which 700 Turks had fledconfidence springs upand, by the next day, all is quiet.

It will not be amiss, I think, to make a short digression just herefor the sake of informing you of the object of this expedition, and of the causes which have induced Bonaparte to take possession of Egypt.

France, by the different events of the war and the Revolution, having lost her colonies and her factories, must inevitably see her commerce decline, and her industrious inhabitants compelled to procure at second hand the most essential articles of their trade. Many weighty reasons must compel her to look upon the recovery of those colonies, if not impossible, yet altogether unlikely to produce any of the advantages which were derived from them before they became a scene of devastation and horror; especially, if we may add to this, the decree for abolishing the slave trade.

To indemnify itself, therefore, for this loss, which may be considered as realized, the Government turned its views towards Egypt and Syria; countries which, by their climate and their fertility, are capable of being made the storehouses of France, and, in process of time, the mart of her commerce with India. It is certain, that by seizing and organizing these countries, we shall be enabled to extend our views still further; to annihilate, by degrees, the English East India trade, enter into it with advantage ourselves; and, finally, get into our hands the whole commerce of Africa and of Asia.

These, I think, are the considerations which have induced the Government to undertake the present expedition against Egypt.

This part of the Ottoman dominion has been for many ages governed by a species of men called Mameloucs, who, having a number of Beys at their head, disavow the authority of the Grand Seignior, and rule despotically and tyrannically, a people and a country, which, in the hands of a civilized nation, would become a mine of wealth.

To gain possession of Egypt, then, it is necessary to subdue these Mameloucs(5); they are in number about 8000al cavalryunder the command of 24 Beys. It is of consequence to give you some idea of these people, their manner of making war, their arms, defensive and offensive, and their origin.

Every Mamelouc is purchasedthey are all from Georgia and Mount Caucasusthere are a great number of Germans and Russians amongst them, and even some French. Their religion is Mahometanism: exercised from their infancy in the military art, they acquire an extraordinary degree of dexterity in the management of their horses, in shooting with the carabine and pistol, in throwing the lance, and in wielding the sabre; there have been instances of their severing, at one blow, a head of wet cotton.

Every Mamelouc has two, three, and sometimes four servants, who follow him on foot wherever he goes; nay, even to the field. The arms of a Mamelouc on horseback, are two carabines, carried by his servantsthese are never fired but oncetwo pair of pistols stuck in his girdle; eight light lances in a kind of quiver, which he flings with admirable dexterity; and an iron headed mace. When all these are discharged, he comes to his last resourcehis two sabers: putting, then, the bridle of his horse between his teeth, he takes one of them in each hand, and rushes full speed upon the foe, cutting and slashing to right and left. Woe be to those who cannot parry his blows! For some of them have been known to cleave a man down the middle. Such are the people with whom we are at war! I shall now proceed with my narrative.

Having organized a government at Alexandria, and secured a communication(6) with the read of our army, Bonaparte ordered every man to furnish himself with five days provisions, and made preparations for passing a desert of twenty leagues in extent, in order to arrive at the mouth of the Nile, and ascend that celebrated stream to Grand Cairothe prime object of his expedition. We began our march on the 5th of July, and reached the river by easy stages, falling in, on our route, with some detached parties of the Mameloucs, who retired as we advanced. It was not till the 12th, that General Bonaparte learned that the Beys were marching to meet him, with their united forces, and that he might expect to be attacked the next day: he marched therefore in order of battle, and took the necessary precautions.

Bonaparte sent me forward to gain intelligence, with three armed sloops; with this little flotilla I advanced about three leagues in front of the army. I landed at every village on both sides of the Nile, to gain what information I could respecting the Mameloucs; in some I was fired at, in others received with kindness, and offered provisions. In one of them I met with an adventure as laughable(7) as it is singular: the Cheik of the place having collected all his people to meet me, came forward from the rest, and demanded to know by what right the Christians were come to seize a country which belonged to the Grand Seignior. I answered him, that it was the will of God and his Prophet to bring us there. But, rejoined he, the King of France ought at least to have informed the Sultan of this step. I assured him that this had been done; and he then asked me how our King did? I replied, very well; upon which he swore by his turban and his beard, that he would always look on me as his friend. I took advantage of the kindness of these good people, collected all the information I could, and continuing my route up the Nile, came to anchor for the night opposite a village called Chebriki, where the Mameloucs were collected in force, and where the first action took place.

I sent off my dispatches to the Commander in Chief that night; in these I gave him all the information I had been able to obtain respecting the Mameloucs.

As soon as the day broke, I clambered up the mast of my vessel, and discovered six Turkish shalops bearing down upon me; at the same time I was reinforced by a demi-galley. I drew out my little fleet to meet them, and at half after four a cannonade began between us, which lasted five hours; in spite of the enemys superiority, I made head against them, they continued nevertheless to advance upon me, and I lost for a moment the demi-galley, and one of the gun-boats. Yielding, however, was out of the question, it was absolutely necessary to conquer;in this dreadful moment our army came up, and I was disengaged. One of the enemys vessels blew up. Such was the termination of our naval combat.

While this was passing, the Mameloucs advanced upon our army; they rode round and round it, without finding any point where an impression might be made, and, indeed, without any attempt at it. I presume, that, astonished at the manner in which our columns were drawn up, they were induced to put off to a future day the decision of their fortune and their empire. This affair was trifling enough in itself, the Mameloucs only lost about 20 men, but we reaped a considerable advantage from it, that of having given an extraordinary idea of our tactics to an enemy acquainted with any; who knows of no other superiority in arms than that of sleight and agility; without order to firmness, unable even to march in platoons, advancing in confused groups, and falling upon the enemy in sudden starts of wild and savage fury.

After the retreat of the Mameloucs, we advanced upon Cairo, where the decisive action took place. It was, in fine, on the 22d of July, that the army found itself at daybreak about three leagues from Cairo, and give from the so much celebrated Pyramids. Here the Mameloucs, commanded by the famous Mourad, the most powerful of the Beys, awaited us: till three in the afternoon the day was wasted in skirmishes; at length the hour arrived! Our army, flanked on the right by the Pyramids, and on the left by the Nile, perceived the enemy was making a movement. Two thousand Mameloucs advanced against our right, commanded by General Desaix and Regnier. Never did I see so furious a charge! Giving their horse the rein, they rushed on the divisions like a torrent, and pushed in between them. Our soldiers, firm and immoveable, let them come within ten paces, and then began a running fire, accompanied with some discharges of artillery; in the twinkling of an eye more than 150 of them fell, the rest sought their safety in flight. They returned, however, to the charge, and were received in the same manner. Wearied out at length by our resistance, they turned, and attacked out left wing, to see if fortune would there be more favorable to them.

The success of our right encouraged Bonaparte. The Mameloucs had thrown up a hasty entrenchment in the village of Embabet, on the left bank of the Nile, in which they had placed thirty pieces of cannon, with their valets, and a small number of Janizaries to defend their approachesthis entrenchment the General gave orders to force; two divisions undertook it, in spite of a terrible cannonade. At the instant our soldiers were rapidly advancing towards it, six hundred Mameloucs sallied from the works, surrounded our platoons, and endeavoured to cut them down;but, instead of succeeding, met their own deaths. Three hundred of them dropt on the spot; and the rest, in their attempt to escape, threw themselves into the Nile, where they all perished. Despairing now of any success, the Mameloucs fled on all sides; set fire to their fleet, which soon after blew up, and abandoned their camp to us, with more than four hundred camels loaded with baggage.

Thus ended the day, to the confusion of an enemy who were possessed with the belief that they should cut us in pieces; and who had boasted that it was as easy to cut off the heads of a thousand Frenchmen, as to divide a gourd or a melon(8).

The army marched on that night to Gizeh; the residence of Murat, the Chief of the Mameloucs. The next day we crossed the Nile in flat-bottomed boats, and entered Cairo without resistance.

Here ends the narrative of our military operations. I propose now to give you some account of the miseries we underwent in our march, together with a brief description of the country we have traversed, and of the inhabitants.

Let us return to Alexandria.This city has nothing of its antiquity but the nameif there be any other relicks(9) of it, they remain utterly unregarded and unknown, among a people, who appear to be scarce conscious of their own existence. Figure to yourself being incapable of feeling, taking events just as they occur, and surprised at nothing; who with a pipe in his mouth, has no other occupation than that of squatting on his breech before his own door, or that of some great man, and dreaming away the day, without a thought of his wife or family. Figure to yourself too, a number of mothers strolling about, wrapped up in a dirty black rage, and offering to sell their children to every one they meet;Men half naked, of the colour of copper, and of a most disgusting appearance, raking in the puddles and kennels like hogs, and devouring every thing they find there;houses of twenty feet in height at the most, of which the roof is flat, the interior a stable, and the exterior four mud walls.Figure to yourself all this, I day,and you will have a pretty correct idea of the city of Alexandria. Add, that around this mass of misery and horror, lie the ruins of the most celebrated city of the ancient world, the most precious monuments of the arts.

Leaving this city to ascend the Nile, you cross a desert, bare as my hand, where every three or four leagues you find a paltry well of brackish water. Imagine yourself the situation of an army obliged to pass these arid plains, which do not afford the slightest shelter against the intolerable heat which prevails there! The soldier, loaded with provisions, finds himself, before he has marched an hour, overcome by the heat, and the weight of what he carries, and throws away every thing that adds to his fatigue, without thinking of tomorrow. Thirst attacks him! He has not a drop of water; hunger!he has not a bit of bread. It was thus that amidst the horrors which this faithful picture presents, we beheld several of the soldiers die of thirst, of hunger, and of heat; others, seeing the sufferings of their comrades, blew out their own brains; others threw themselves, loaded as they were, into the Nile, and perished in the water.

Every day of our march renewed these dreadful scenes; and, what was never heard of beforewhat will stagger all belief; the army, during a march of seventeen days, never tasted breadthe soldiers lived during the whole of this time on gourds, melons, poultry, and such vegetables as they found on their route. Such as the food of all, from the General to the common soldier,nay, the General was often obliged to fast for eighteen to twenty hours, because the privates generally arriving first, plundered the villages of every article of subsistence, and frequently reduced him to the necessity of satisfying himself with the refuse of their hunger, or of their imtemperance!

It is useless to speak of our drink. We all live here under the law of Mahomet, which forbids the use of wine; but, by way of indemnity, allows us as much Nile water as we can drink.

Shall I give you some account of the country between the two branches of the Nile? To do this properly, I must lay before you a topographical chart of the course and direction of the river.

Two leagues below Cairo it divides itself into two branches; one of which falls into sea at Rosetta; the other at Damietta: the intermediate country is called the Delta, and is extremely fertile. Along the outer sides of the two branches, runs a slip of cultivated land, broader in some places than in others, but no where more than a league: beyond this are the Deserts, extending on the left to Lybia, and on the right to the Red Sea. From Rosetta to Cairo, the country is well peopled, and produces a good deal of wheat, rice, lentils &c. The villages are crowded together-their construction is execrable, being little more than heaps of mud trodden into some consistency, hollowed out within; and resembling, in every feature, the snow heaps of our children. If you recollect the shape of those oven-like piles, you have a perfect idea of the palaces of the Egyptians!

The husbandmen, commonly called Fellas, are extremely laborious; they live on little, and in a state of filth and degradation that excites horror. I have seen them swallow the residue of the water which my camels and horses happened to leave in their troughs.

Such is this Egypt, so celebrated by travelers and historians! In despite, however, of all these horrors, of the hardships we endure, and of the miseries the army is condemned to suffer, I am still inclined to think that it is a country calculated above all others to give us a colony which may be productive of the highest advantages(10); but for this, time and hands are necessary. I have seen enough to be convinced, that it is not with soldiers as ours! They are terrible in the field, terrible after victory(11), and, without contradiction, the most intrepid troops in the world: but they are not formed for distant expeditions. A word dropt at random, will dishearten themthey are lazy, capricious, and exceedingly turbulent and licentious in their conversationthey have been heard to say, as their officers passed by, there go the Jack Ketches of the French! and a thousand other things of the same kind.

The cup of bitterness is poured out, and I will drain it to the dregs. I have on my side firmness, health, and a spirit which I trust will never flag: with these I will persevere to the end.

I have yet said nothing of Grand Cairo. This city, the capital of a kingdom, which, to borrow the language of the Savans of the country, has no bounds, contains about 400,000 souls. Its form is that of a long shaft or tunnel, crowded with houses piled one upon another, without order, distribution, or method of any kind. Its inhabitants, like those of Alexandria, are plunged in the most brutal ignorance, and regard with astonishment the prodigy who is able to read and write! This city, however, such as I have described it, is the centre of a considerable commerce, and the spot where the caravans of Mecca and India terminate their respective journies (My next will give you some account of these caravans).

I went yesterday to see the installation of the Divan, which Bonaparte has formed. It consists of nine persons(12). And such a sight! I was introduced to nine bearded automatons, dressed in long robes, and turbans; and whose mien and appearance altogether, put me strongly in mind of the figures of the twelve apostles in my grandfathers little cabinet. I shall say nothing to you of their talents, knowledge, genius, wit, &c.this is always a blank chapter in Turkey. No where is there to be found such a deplorable ignorance as in every part of that countryno where such wealth, and no where so vile and sordid is a misuse of the blessing.

Enough of this. I have now, I think, fulfilled my intentions: many topics have been doubtless overlooked; but these deficiencies will be well supplied by the dispatches of General Bonaparte.

Do not entertain any uneasiness on my account. I suffer, it is true, but the whole army suffers with me. My baggage has reached me in safety; I have, therefore, in the general distress, all the advantages of fortune. Once again, be easy; I am in good health.

Take care of your healths; in less than a year I hope to have the happiness of embracing you. I know how to appreciate that happiness in advance, as I will one day shew you.

I embrace my sisters with the sincerest affection, and am with respect,

Your most obedient son,

BOYER.
On the 90th anniversary of the tragedy of the Holodomor-genocide, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the world to unite and condemn the crimes of the Russian Federation.

The world must unite and condemn the crimes of the past. The world must unite and stop the present crime. The evil was not stopped, it was not atoned for. Now we are stopping it. Ukraine will survive. Ukraine will not fade away. Ukraine will preserve itself and the truth, the President said on the Telegram channel.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine, with deep sadness and respect we honor the memory of millions of our people - millions of victims of the famine. They tried to humble us, muzzle us, exterminate us. They failed. They wanted to hide the truth from us and keep silent about terrible crimes. They couldnt. They wanted to confuse us, deceive us, make us neither believe, nor remember, and therefore forgive. They couldnt, he noted.

He thanked the states that officially recognized the Holodomor as a crime against people.
Kim Hye Soo received an unforgettable tribute as the actress bid goodbye to hosting one of Korea's most prestigious ceremonies. The 2023 Blue Dragon Film Awards are her last time to grace the stage as the MC, along with co-host Yoo Yeon Seok.

Interestingly, the organization and fellow stars honor the actress' great contribution as the annual event's longtime host.

Jung Woo Sung Delivers a Special Tribute to Kim Hye Soo

Amid the glitz and glam of the night, Kim Hye Soo stole the spotlight with her stunning selection of dresses.

The actress graced the 2023 Blue Dragon Film Awards red carpet with a golden pleated dress from Zuhair Murad and paired it with a cloud clutch from Jimmy Choo from the winter 2023 collection.

As for her look on stage, Kim Hye Soo dons a Monique Lhuillier Fall 2023 collection with an off-the-shoulder column gown.

Other than giving recognition to individuals, one of the highlights of the 2023 Blue Dragon Film Awards is a special tribute given to Kim Hye Soo.

READ MORE: Kim Hye Soo Shares Touching Letter from Han Ji Min Ahead of 2023 Blue Dragon Film Awards

Presenting the award is Jung Woo Sung, who felt "honored" and, at the same time, "saddened" to hand the trophy to the actress.

 Kim Hye Soo was handed a special trophy by Jung Woo Sung at the 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards 



She has been hosting the Blue Dragon Film Awards since 1993. Sadly, tonight is her last time as she recently announced her decision to step down as MC#BlueDragonFilmAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/DSArus63dg November 24, 2023

The actor also mentioned Kim Hye Soo's amazing support for fellow celebrities and filmmakers who graced the stage as they accepted the trophy.

Meanwhile, as the actress received the special trophy from Jung Woo Sung, the audience cheered as the "Under the Queen's Umbrella" star got emotional.

During her speech, she spoke about how she'll miss hosting the annual ceremony but was confident that her successor will do a spectacular job.

"I don't have any regrets about letting go, whether it's work or a relationship. It's because I know that even if I go back, I won't be able to put in as much passion as I did at that moment, and I'm confident that I tried hard enough during that time."

Kim Hye Soo has been hosting the Blue Dragon Film Awards since 1993, and this year marks her 30th year as the ceremony host.

Unfortunately, this will be her last time to grace the stage as host after announcing her decision to step down as MC.

Netizens Pay Tribute to Kim Hye Soo as the ' Blue Dragon Film Goddess'

Over social media, netizens posted various photos and videos of Kim Hye Soo as they expressed their gratitude for being the ceremony host for three decades.

Fans described the award-winning star as an icon and legend for being the Blue Dragon Film Awards' MC for the past 30 years.

She is the very definition of elegance and a symbol of distinction. She served with grace & sophistication and will always be the Blue Dragon Goddess 



SHE IS AN ICON. 

SHE IS KIM HYE SOO.  pic.twitter.com/zkakj4p3Bo  ACEL  (@hyesoosssi) November 25, 2023

On the other hand, Kim Hye Soo is set to return to the small screen with the office comedy series "Trigger" with "The Glory" star Jung Sung Il.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Kim Hye Soo Labeled as 'Best Queen Ever' By Viewers for Performance in 'Under the Queen's Umbrella'

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
A settlement panel has rejected complaints from the U.S. Trade Representatives office over how Canada is allocating its dairy import quotas. Dairy cows are seen at a farm Friday, August 31, 2018 in Sainte-Marie-Madelaine Quebec.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Canada, EU in favor of more active work on use of Russian assets for Ukraine

Canada and the European Union call for seeking decisive progress in directing immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine, as the parties said in a joint statement at a Canadian-EU summit.

"Canada and the EU recognize that decisive progress is needed, in coordination with partners, on how any extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from Russia's immobilized assets could be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction, consistent with applicable contractual obligations, and in accordance with EU and international law," the document adopted in Canada's St. John's on Friday says.

Canada and the EU also declared that they remained "committed to further strengthening our cooperation and coordination on broader sanctions actions, including disrupting circumvention, in support of our policy objectives."
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Soleiman Faqiri is shown in this undated family handout photo. In the 11 days before Soleiman Faqiri's death, family members tried to visit him four times, making the hour-long drive to the Ontario jail where he was being held, his brother said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Yusuf Faqiri *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Ontario Liberal Party leadership hopefuls (left to right) Ted Hsu, Yasir Naqvi, Bonnie Crombie and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith are seen in a composite image of four file photos. Members of the Ontario Liberal Party are voting this weekend to select their new leader to go head to head with Premier Doug Ford in the 2026 election.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick, Justin Tang, Chris Young, Patrick Doyle
Decades ago, I missed my college graduation ceremony with President Clinton as the commencement speaker because I had to be elsewhere. I was in Shanghai, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Medical Associationan organization founded by my great-grandfather, Wu Lien-teh, who was the first Chinese person to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. My father, his grandson, had immigrated to the U.S. from Beijing, met my mother in Palo Alto, and settled our family in Silicon Valley. He brought tales of Wu Lien-teh with him.

In 1910, my father told me, a plague swept through Northeast China. Victims spiked fevers and suffered coughing fits as their skin turned purple, often dying within days. Desperate government authorities summoned my great-grandfather, a 31-year-old physician and infectious disease expert. He traveled to the region by train, arriving on Christmas Eve, 1910, when the temperature was -30 degrees.

At that time, no one knew what caused the disease, and bodies piled up as the Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in Chinese culture, approached. Officials feared the disease would spread rapidly as families returned home to celebrate. Lien-teh, who had studied infections in Europe, discovered that the plague spread through coughs. To stop its transmission, he invented a mask, a forerunner to the N95, made from layers of cotton and gauze.

Battling racisma French doctor dismissed him as a Chinamanas well as the virus, Lien-teh and his mask brought the plague to an end in the spring of 1911.

I had heard these stories and knew them by heart, but their significance didnt truly hit me until that stifling day in May 1995 when my father and I landed in Shanghai for the medical association conference. Cousins and extended family greeted and feted us with a 10-course banquet, replete with delights like Chinese candied bananas.

That week, doctors paraded onto the conference stage to testify to the achievements of Lien-teh, who, after ending the plague, set up hospitals in China that blended Western and Chinese medicine. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1935.

My Mandarin, despite years of Friday night lessons, was too shaky for me to understand all the speakers said. But the passion with which they spoke was unmistakable. Touched by their words, I spent the following summer in Taiwan with my aunt, where my Mandarin improved, and my connection to my roots deepened.

I returned to the U.S. and became an emergency medicine doctor in Boston. Then, in March 2020, I faced a plague of my own. Previously healthy people flooded our intensive care unit and needed ventilators to breathe. Suddenly, the terror my great-grandfather must have felt became real in a way it never had before.

As the pandemic wore on, my children became my solace. But as I curled up at night with my 6-year-old daughter, we noticed something in the stories we read: the heroes never looked like us. We resolved to change that. Together, we wrote a childrens book, Masked Hero, about my great-grandfather, a bespectacled man who stood about 5 feet tall.

He grew up in Malaysia with ten brothers and sisters, in a house with no electricity, studying by lantern at night. He won a scholarship to attend prestigious Cambridge University, only to face discrimination when he returned to Malaysia, then a British colony, and sought a government job. Yet, throughout his life, nothing stopped himnot the severe typhoid he suffered as a child, the rejection from his native country, or the sneers of some doctors in plague-stricken China who refused to believe in his masks.

Now it is up to us, his descendants, to carry on his legacy of benevolence, resilience, and scientific curiosity. We aim to show children that heroes come from all races, genders, and geographies. We hope our book is a small part of that.

Shan Liu is an attending physician in the department of emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. She earned her MD from Harvard Medical School, her doctorate in science in health policy from Harvard School of Public Health, and completed her residency at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Currently, she is an associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School and serves as the MGH Geriatric Emergency Medicine Division Fellowship Director. She is the co-author of Masked Hero: How Wu-Lien Teh Invented the Mask and Ended an Epidemic and can be reached at her website and Instagram @shanwliu and @maskedhero_wulienteh.
Ukrainian defenders shoot down one missile, five UAVs over Dnipropetrovsk region  regions head

Air defense shot down one enemy missile and five UAVs over Dnipropetrovsk region, said head of the Air Defense Forces Serhiy Lysak.

At night, sky defenders with the Skhid (East) air defense missile system shot down a missile and five UAVs over the region, he wrote on his Telegram channel.

So, according to him, it was restless in Nikopol region, where on Friday evening the aggressor hit the regional center. And at about midnight Marhanets communty.

In total, half a dozen artillery shells were fired. There were no casualties or injuries, Lysak emphasized.

According to him, the night in other areas of Dnipropetrovsk region passed without enemy shelling.
Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board (KCETB) has been recognised for best practice in Adult Guidance Services in the annual Learners Voices Across Ireland report which was launched at the AONTAS Adult Education Summit at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last week.

Further Education and Training (FET) learners from Kilkenny and across Ireland participated in focus groups and surveys to inform the research report which highlights overwhelmingly positive experiences of FET.

KCETB learners reported that the Adult Guidance Service were well-advertised and accessible, provided clear information on course options, and had a positive impact on their learning experiences. One learner said: Ive been to the Adult Guidance Centre. I felt I could go there to get help. I think the staff are absolutely brilliant. I could not recommend it enough.

However, the report also reveals regional disparities in learning experiences due to inequalities in public transport, facilities, and inclusion and mental health supports.

Speaking at the AONTAS A Window to the World summit, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris said: The Learners Voices Across Ireland Report is an important research project which gives learners of all ages, backgrounds and areas of FET the opportunity to share their experiences and recommendations in a solutions-focused way.

The power of adult learning, especially community education, cannot be underestimated in its potential to transform peoples lives. No matter who you are or where youre from Im committed to making sure there is access to the educational opportunity that you desire.

Also speaking at the event, CEO of AONTAS Dearbhail Lawless said: There are two principal narratives emerging from this years report  that education has a hugely transformative impact on learners lives, particularly those returning to education later in life  and that issues around local infrastructure and facilities are creating inequalities and barriers for learners across the country to access, or take full advantage of, those transformative experiences.

For many people in Kilkenny and across Ireland, particularly those from under-resourced communities and groups that face the greatest challenges in accessing quality education, crossing the threshold of a college or training centre is a huge step, and for many even getting to the front door is proving to be the biggest barrier. Without affordable, reliable public transport, people in rural areas and people living in poverty continue to be at a disadvantage in accessing education and training opportunities.

In addition to public transport, learners also highlighted a need for improvement in language supports, accessibility aids, and onsite facilities such as parking, heating and canteens.
Further thuggery on the streets of Dublin will not be tolerated, Irelands Justice Minister has warned.

There has been a heavy gardai presence in the Irish capital across the weekend following rioting on Thursday night.

The chaotic scenes  which involved far-right elements  saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and a high-visibility policing plan is in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has visited officers at the Irish Parliament where steel fencing has been erected following rioting in Dublin on Thursday night. Water cannon is among the tactics available if there is a repeat of violent scenes tonight. pic.twitter.com/FHTHRUr9iD  Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) November 25, 2023

The Garda dog unit and the mounted unit are also being deployed, and two water cannon have been described as available for use if required.

The water cannon are on loan from the Police Service of Northern Ireland following a request for mutual aid from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

They will solely be operated by members of An Garda Siochana if deployed.

Mr Harris visited officers at the Irish parliament on Saturday afternoon as Leinster House was protected by a ring of steel fencing.

There is a strong Garda presence at the parliament, as well as on OConnell Street  the main Dublin thoroughfare where the worst of the rioting was seen on Thursday.

Ms McEntee said her thoughts remain with the young children and their creche worker who were assaulted on Thursday afternoon.

A five-year-old girl injured in the knife attack outside a school remained in a critical condition in hospital on Saturday while the female care assistant, in her 30s, was in a serious condition.

The two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, suffered less serious injuries.

The six-year-old was discharged on Saturday, and the boy was discharged on Friday.

Gardai said a man who sustained serious injuries at the scene is a person of interest in their investigation.

Ms McEntee said: The children, their carer, their families, friends and those who are caring for them must remain at the forefront of our thoughts this weekend.

She said she was briefed on Saturday afternoon by Mr Harris and senior gardai on the ongoing operations to maintain order in Dublin city centre.

I thanked gardai and Garda staff for their work in recent days in restoring order in the capital and told them the Government fully supports them in that work, the minister said.

Ms McEntee said she has provided additional overtime in the capital, and is determined to maintain the momentum we are now building in Garda recruitment to increase the number of Garda members on the ground.

She said she has allocated an additional 4.4 million euros (3.8 million) for the purchase of 95 extra Garda cars and vans by the end of this year, including 17 high-visibility public order Garda vans.

The minister added: I want to again be clear that the thuggery we saw on Thursday will not be tolerated and, as Minister for Justice, An Garda Siochana, including Commissioner Harris, have my full support to maintain order.

Those responsible will be brought to justice.

Ms McEntee and Mr Harris have faced criticism from Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, who said she does not have confidence in them.

On Friday she said there had been an unacceptable failure to keep people safe, and called for Ms McEntee and Mr Harris to resign.

However speaking in Cork on Saturday, Tanaiste Micheal Martin hit back, saying this was not a time to be undermining gardai or its leadership because the State essentially came under attack last Thursday evening.

All of this is essentially an attack on the State and an attack on families, on workers and on our communities and society and we cannot tolerate that, he said, adding that the Governments focus now is on dealing with threats to public order because it has an obligation to protect citizens across the country.

Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from Thursday night with a view to making more arrests of those involved in the rioting.

Friday night saw quieter scenes on OConnell Street amid a heavy gardai presence.

A Garda spokesperson said a small number of people were arrested for public order incidents.

On Saturday cafes on OConnell Street had erected signs indicating they planned to close at 7pm.

A pro-Palestine protest that had been due to take place in the area on Saturday was postponed following the rioting on Thursday.

A small protest centred on immigration issues took place peacefully on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile more than half a million euros (434,469) has been raised for the victims of the stabbing attack, and those who intervened.

A number of GoFundMe pages have been set up, with the highest total for an effort to assist Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio who intervened in the attack to stop the man armed with a knife.
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(Kitco News) - Finnish gold mining company Endomines announced today it has signed a new, long-term evergreen agreement with Swedens Boliden for the sales of gold concentrate.

The agreement covers the entire production of gold concentrate from Endomines' Pampalo mine.

In addition to gold, the contract covers silver and copper that may be found in the concentrate.

Endomines said that in its strategy update last year, the company decided to shift the focus of its business to the Karelian Gold Line in Finland.

Therefore, this is an important cooperation agreement that will stabilize Endomines' business and its growth for many years to come, it added.

Endomines (OMX Helsinki: PAMPALO) is focused on gold production and exploration in the Karelian Gold Line in Eastern Finland. The company also owns the rights to seven gold deposits in the United States.

The company said its vision is to develop the Karelian Gold Line into one of the most important and sustainable gold-producing regions in the world.
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(Kitco News) - To end the week gold has spent much of the time trading above $2,000 a ounce, noted mining audiences manager Michael McCrae.

On Friday McCrae recorded Kitco Roundtable.

After the good CPI numbers earlier this month that may allow the Fed to stop hiking, gold has found room to rise.

Notable economic number this week were the the S&P Global Flash U.S. manufacturing and services PMI.

Manufacturing contracted while services expanded. Bottomline is that the numbers put the U.S. economy at neutral.

Copper was up again this week, nearing the $3.80 lb point. Supply disruptions favored the metal.

First Quantum is facing supply disruptions and a looming court decision. Protestors in Panama are blocking supplies from reaching the mine. Without relief, the company warned that production could be halted.

The mine also faces legal challenges. It's recently signed mining contract it signed with the government is being challenged in the supreme court. A decision is expected in the coming days or weeks. A majority of lawyers surveyed by Reuters said the Supreme Court is likely to rule against the company, citing a precedent.

In 2022 the First Quantum produced 350,438 tonnes of copper ranking the company as a top ten copper miner.
STOCKHOLM, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The conflict between Swedish unions and Tesla heated up on Friday as a supplier of critical components joined in a sympathy action to get the electric car maker to sign a collective bargaining agreement for its Swedish workers.

Around 50 workers that make specialized Tesla components at Hydro Extrusions, a subsidiary of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Hydro, will either stay at home or be given other tasks from Friday until further notice, the IF Metall union said. "They deliver components to Tesla's factory in Berlin, and if this causes disruption to them we hope to force them back to the negotiation table," said IF Metall negotiation secretary Veli-Pekka Saikkala, adding Hydro Extrusions was the only supplier of the components in Europe. IF Metall, Sweden's biggest manufacturing union, is locked in a fight with Tesla to get a collective bargaining agreement for its 130 mechanics in Sweden. Metall put the mechanics on strike on Oct. 27, refusing to service Tesla's cars. Since then, the mechanics have been joined by members of other unions such as postal workers, dockworkers, cleaners and others who refuse to work with Tesla or its products.

Saikkala said the union was prepared to ramp up the conflict if Tesla refused to sign.

Tesla did not reply to several requests for comment.

"We don't have any minimum wages or laws for when you can and cannot work in Sweden. We have frameworks and employment protection, but apart from that, it is collective bargaining agreements that regulate the labour market," said Torbjorn Johansson, negotiation secretary at LO, the union umbrella organization. Around 90% of all employees in Sweden are covered by collective bargaining agreements, which regulates wages, vacation, overtime pay and other conditions. "We treat everyone the same, and the employer also gets a healthy competition. If we allow Elon Musk to have different competition than everyone else, then the whole model will erode. That would be devastating," said Johansson, referring to Tesla's CEO. Hydro Extrusions' Vetlanda plant makes aluminium profiles - aluminium alloys transformed into shapes and used in safety features, and is the first Tesla supplier in Sweden to down tools in support of the mechanics' strike. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Marie Mannes in Stockholm, Victoria Waldersee in Berlin Editing by Susan Fenton)
Ukraine to follow path of freedom with those it respects, who respect its statehood  Zelenskyy

On the 90th anniversary of the memory of the victims of Holodomor, the solidarity of all free people is visible, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"Ninety years have passed. Today our prayers will sound. And our words will sound in defense of justice. And our solidarity will be visible - the solidarity of all free people who will light candles of memory as a sign that Ukraine will never forget its people, whose lives were carried away by the Holodomor-genocide, the President said on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

He is convinced that Ukraine cannot be broken, conquered or destroyed, when on the night before the memory of the victims of the Holodomor the work of our air defense was heard, when the weapons of our soldiers worked to protect the lives of Ukraine, when our rescuers of the State Emergency Service liquidated the consequences of enemy shelling and helped people.

Ukraine will survive. And it will be free. And it will follow the path of freedom together with those in the world whom it respects and who respect our state. This is only our choice - and so it will be, Zelenskyy said.

According to him, prayers, the desire for justice and fire, symbolizing national memory, will unite the Ukrainian nation.

We will never forget what Ukraine had to go through. And we will definitely stop the new genocide that Russia, which inherited the crime of totalitarianism, brought to our land, the President concluded.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Generally cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 38F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 19F. Winds light and variable.
Zelenskyy holds meeting with speakers of parliaments of Belgium, Ireland, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland and Estonia

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a multilateral meeting in Kyiv with speakers and representatives of the parliaments of Belgium, Ireland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Estonia.

It is a great honor for us to share this special historical day with them, Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel, commenting on the meeting.

During the meeting, international support for Ukraine, in particular, the grain initiative, was discussed.

We discussed in detail possible ways to strengthen international support for Ukraine, the effectiveness of the humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine launched by our state. Thank you for supporting this program and participating in its second summit, the President emphasized.
Shares of Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. (CVE:YFI  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.04 and last traded at C$0.04, with a volume of 16000 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$0.05.

Edgewater Wireless Systems Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of C$7.53 million, a P/E ratio of -4.00 and a beta of 1.92. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$0.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.05.

About Edgewater Wireless Systems

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Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc develops and commercializes technologies and intellectual property for the wireless communications market in North America. The company provides IP Licensing, Wi-Fi spectrum slicing solutions, dual channel Wi-Fi; wireless access points and associated peripheral equipment and support services; and PowerZoning, a channel power control product for multi-channel single radio Wi-Fi networks.

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Phoenix Group Holdings plc (OTCMKTS:PNXGF  Get Free Report) shares were up 0.1% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $6.09 and last traded at $6.09. Approximately 100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average daily volume of 1,279 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.09.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on PNXGF shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Phoenix Group from GBX 680 ($8.51) to GBX 630 ($7.88) in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Berenberg Bank lowered their price target on shares of Phoenix Group from GBX 770 ($9.63) to GBX 739 ($9.25) in a research report on Monday, September 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Phoenix Group from GBX 500 ($6.26) to GBX 430 ($5.38) in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Phoenix Group from GBX 715 ($8.95) to GBX 718 ($8.98) in a research note on Thursday, September 7th.

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Phoenix Group Stock Performance

Phoenix Group Company Profile

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $5.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.62.

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Phoenix Group Holdings plc operates in the long-term savings and retirement business in Europe. The company operates through four segments: UK Heritage, UK Open, Europe, and Management Services. It provides a range of pensions and savings products to support people across various stages of the savings life cycle.

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Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TAIPY  Get Free Report) shares shot up 53.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $14.12 and last traded at $14.11. 4,956 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 31% from the average session volume of 7,187 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.19.

Taisho Pharmaceutical Stock Up 53.5 %

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $9.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.88.

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Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and prescription pharmaceutical products in Japan and internationally. It operates through Self-Medication Operation Group and Prescription Pharmaceutical Operation Group segments.

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 43F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 37F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 43F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 37F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 39F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Ukraine will receive sea boats to escort ships along the grain corridor in the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said and added that there are already corresponding agreements with partners.

I have agreements with several states regarding powerful escort [of the vessels] by Ukrainians, but on different equipment, on a convoy. That is, they will hand over and are already handing over the corresponding sea boats to us, he said at a press conference Grain from Ukraine with the presidents of Switzerland, Latvia and the Prime Minister of Lithuania in Kyiv on Saturday.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is making every effort to ensure the safety of ships in the Black Sea, as well as in Odesa region. In particular, as he noted, there are already agreements and a positive signal from partners regarding air defense systems.

"Because there the corridor is important, and our people. Our people in Odesa region are important to us, very important. There is a shortage of air defense, you know this, this is not a secret, but nevertheless. There is a very specific required number of systems and very specific names. This request [for systems] exists. Ill tell you frankly, the answer is positive - when these systems begin to protect that region.

That is, it is important that there is an agreement, there is a positive signal, the corridor is working. And we will increase the volume and security in Odesa region, the President said.
Following the initial three tests, BIGBANG G-Dragon's hair dyeing & bleaching results also came out negative. As a response, the police won't be doing any additional tests but THIS.

G-Dragon's Results of Hair Bleaching & Dyeing Are Negative

After repeatedly denying drug accusations, BIGBANG G-Dragon once again proved his innocence after his fourth drug evaluation came out as negative.

On November 24, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's drug crime investigation team recently received GD's fourth test from the National Forensic Service, stating:

"There was no circumstantial evidence of bleaching or dyeing Kwon's hair."

ALSO READ: G-Dragon Starts Large-Scale 'War' Against Haters + To Respond with ZERO Tolerance

This was conducted after the K-pop icon was booked by the police for illegal drug use on October 23. At the time, the K-media reported that he was suspected of taking illicit substances after a nightclub worker mentioned his name while investigating the establishment.

When the report arose, GD jumped to his defense and denied rumors, even stating that he would willingly cooperate with the police investigation.

After visiting the police for his reagent test on November 6, he tested negative. He did another two tests but the results were the same. Both his urine, hair, fingernail and toenails tests weren't able to prove that he had taken drugs for the past six months to 1 year.

On November 16 then, the police requested the National Forensic Service to check whether G-Dragon's hair was dyed or bleached after the three aforementioned evaluations were found to be negative.

As an explanation, dyeing or bleaching often results in poor drug testing accuracy, thus, the drug components were harder to identify.

After a detailed evaluation of his hair, G-Dragon was able to prove that he didn't try to tamper with evidence by bleaching or dyeing his hair.

Even when Kwon attended the police questioning at the Nonhyeon Police Station in Incheon, Kwon was firmed on his position that he didn't take any illegal drugs.

Police Won't Make Additional Tests to GD But Focus on Investigation Through Witnesses

As a result, the police official stated:

"We are not considering further evaluation with Kwon (Jiyong)."

Despite this, the police's investigation doesn't end there. The police are continuing to look into the idol after being booked on charges of drug administration.

While Kwon claims that he "didn't do drugs," the police plan to focus on proving the allegations by investigating witnesses.

Nevertheless, VIPs and even celebrities are supporting BIGBANG GD's innocence. 2NE1 CL, fashion model Suju, photographers Hong Janghyun and Kim Hee Joon, fashion designer Kwon Dami, her older sister, and actor Kim Minjoon, her brother-in-law, are openly cheering for G-Dragon by participating in the "Guardians of Daisy," a campaign being hosted by G-Dragon's fans.

In addition, actor Lee Jinwook pressed "like" on G-Dragon's post on his SNS.

READ MORE: G-Dragon's Fingernail Test Results Finally Out, Police Address Criticism Amid Probe

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Hungarian consortium is starting the reconstruction of Soltanly village in Karabakh, Hungarys Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in an exclusive interview with Trend, as he visited Azerbaijan.

When it comes to Karabakh, Hungarys position has always been very clear. We were standing up for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. From the very beginning, we made it very clear that we would be very happy to take part in the reconstruction efforts. After long discussions we have come to an agreement. A Hungarian company put together a consortium of many Hungarian companies and they have been contracted to rebuild the settlement called Soltanly. We took part in the groundbreaking ceremony in Soltanly to start reconstruction of the village in order to enable almost 5000 people to return. We are going to build houses, schools, hospitals, social institutions, he said.

Purpose of visit

Peter Szijjarto said he has come to Baku this time to participate at the SPECA (Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia) ministerial meeting, which is of high importance for Hungary.

Connectivity between East and West, connectivity between EU and Asia is of utmost importance for us. We dont want those politicians, who are willing to decouple and isolate Asia from Europe, to push for their will. Therefore, we see Central Asia having a huge role. Central Asia is a bridge between East and West. We do see this role of Central Asia becoming more and more significant. We would like to contribute to strengthening Central Asia, strengthening the cooperation among the Central Asian countries. We would like to participate in infrastructural development, modernization, digitalization, said the minister.

Development of Middle Corridor

He went on to add that Hungary is absolutely interested in developing the Middle Corridor.

China is now the number two import source for the Hungarian economy. Hungary is a number one target of Chinese investments in Central Europe and we buy more and more energy sources from this region, including oil from Kazakhstan and natural gas from Azerbaijan. So, were absolutely interested in increasing the capacity of the delivery routes between Asia and Europe. This means that we would like to contribute to increasing the capacity of the Middle Corridor be it a transportation route, railway or energy transportation, electricity or gas. In this regard, we have exemplary cooperation with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania in a project called the Middle Green Corridor in the framework of which we are delivering green energy from the Caspian region to Central Europe, Peter Szijjarto noted.

Caspian-EU green corridor

The minister pointed out that Hungary is absolutely committed to environmental protection.

Meantime, were committed to the balance between economic competitiveness to be improved and environment to be protected. Therefore, were interested in sustainable way of generating energy in Hungary. Thats why we invest in solar and nuclear energy. We are interested in most of the imported sources to be green as well. Potential of green electricity from the Caspian region is huge, as we understand, it is many gigawatts. So, the capacity of the transmission line under the Black Sea should be somewhere around 3 to 4 gigawatts in order to make sense from both perspectives, meaning supply and demand, he said.

Gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Hungary

Peter Szijjarto noted that Hungary would like to diversify its energy sources, including the gas sources and the delivery routes.

For us diversification doesnt mean that there would be replacement of the current sources with other ones. Diversification for us means that we add new sources to our energy mix. Therefore, Azerbaijan is a very important partner of cooperation. We have already agreed on terms of delivering 100 million cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan to Hungary already this year. We are interested in piling it up to some 1 billion cubic meters annually, said the minister.

Unfortunately, said Szijjarto, it does not exclusively depend on Azerbaijan and Hungary.

It depends on the infrastructure, capacity of the delivery routes through the South-Eastern Europe. We have already turned to the European Commission to help us with financial means in order to increase the capacity of the infrastructure in the South-Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, so far, the EU is rejective, which is unacceptable from our perspective. They say that within 15 years gas is not going to be part of the national energy mix. We say, number one: we dont know and number two: even if it is the case, what happens in the next 14 years? While European Commission is putting pressure on us to diversify sources, but they are not ready to take part in financing the capacity increase of the South-East European infrastructure. But we are working together with Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia in order to find solutions, he said.

Southern Gas Corridors expansion

He noted that the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor should be increased not only from the perspective of deliveries to Hungary, but from the perspective of increasing European demand.

For us what matter is whether the capacity of the South-East European network can be increased or not. Because the delivery route would include that region from Turkiye through Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania. There are the bottlenecks that should be eliminated, capacities of pipelines and interconnectors should be increased. The bigger capacity such kind of delivery routes as the Southern Gas Corridor have, the bigger hope we have to get access to new sources of energy. So, Hungary is interested in boosting the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor, noted Szijjarto.

Record in bilateral trade

We have really good news. In the first eight months of this year, trade between Azerbaijan and Hungary approached $100 million, which has never been the case ever before if you look at the entire years. In eight months, the trade was bigger than any other entire year before. This means, we are breaking record this year, which is great and we continue to work on it, the minister said.

When it comes to companies corporate investments in Azerbaijan, Szijjarto noted that there is $211 million worth investment on behalf of the energy drinks producer company Hell.

They are very successful on your market and they would like to locate some production here as well. Our biggest pharmaceutical company called Richter has signed a production agreement with one of your pharmaceutical companies. They will produce medical and pharmaceutical products here as well. So, the Hungarian companies are interested, they started to invest, trade is breaking records and on top of that we are buying gas. It is totally new dimension in our relations, he added.

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PNN

New Delhi [India], November 25: The Global Economic Forum - G20 Initiative successfully concluded, collaborating with the Sri Lankan Government and SUNFO Global at Asia's largest convention centre, BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), on November 22-23, 2023. Distinguished leaders, including Cabinet Ministers, the Parliament Speaker, the President of Sri Lanka, and other notable figures, attended. The event featured an International Cultural Festival with performances by global artists and a focus on Kannada Rajyotsava Celebrations, including theme songs and the honouring of guests with Karnataka flags.

Also Read | Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Auger Machine's Blades Stuck in Rubble, Plasma Cutter Being Brought From Hyderabad (Watch Video).

The Global Economic Forum Delegation, led by Dr Sir Hari Krishna Maram, Founder of the Global Economic Forum, and Sri Lanka Chapter President Dr. Sir Deshapriya S. Wijetunge, received a warm reception. A spiritual retreat was organized at Sri Lanka's oldest Buddha Temple, Sunethra Devi Purana Raja Maha Vihara, Pepiliyana.

During this event, Global Icon Awards were presented to esteemed leaders from various fields, including:

Also Read | Delhi Police's Innovative 'Moye Moye' Video Sparks Social Media Frenzy on Road Safety (Watch Video).

1. Dr Kiran Reddy - Founder, AIMS Institutes, Bangalore

2. Gopal Reddy - Director, AIMS Institutes, Bangalore

3. Dr. Geeta Bora - Founder & Director, Spherule Foundation

4. Dr Vidya Kumar Gundala - Director, GVK EDUTECH PVT LTD, Vice-Dean, CASPIAN UNIVERSITY

5. Dharavath Srinivas - Chairman, SS Group of Hospitals, SS Group Schools, SS Constructions, and REAL VISION HOMES PVT LIMITED

6. Neelakantappa HS - Business Head, M/s WEB ADVISOR

7. P. K. Prakash Rao - Director, NAMR NGO IRPWA

8. Parineeta Mehra - Founder, Look Beyond Consulting

9. Jyothsna Naidu & Sabarish Naidu - Co-Founders, JAS Studio

10. Saidalavi Poily - Founder, GAI Gold & Diamond Dubai

11. Dr Syed Mahammad Rafi - International Commissioner, SACO Diplomatic Ambassador

12. Ambassador Dr. Vinay Sarikonda - Chairman, World Economy Federation

13. Dr. Haleema Yezdani - Vice President, HIMSS India, General Physician & Diabetologist

14. Shoke Venkatesan - Chairman, Sea Sky Groups

15. Vincent Renold - Founder, Indian Kitchen Colombo

16. Dr. Swathi P Bharadwaj - Founder, NATIONAL CLASSICAL DANCE ACADEMY, along with international artists

17. Sujay V Kulkarni - Tabla Player

18. Vaishnavi Siya - Solo Dancer

The Global Economic Forum presented the Highest Honour of Appreciation Award to eminent leaders in Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka, as well as the "NAAM 200 Commemoration" in honour of 200 years of Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Honoured individuals include J.R. Jayewardene's Grandson, Hon. Pradeep Jayewardhane Jayawardena, who is recognized as the most respected elder statesman of Sri Lanka. He built strong relationships with Indian leaders and supported Indian communities in Sri Lanka.

Other notable figures honoured include

Most Ven Wellampitiya Sumanadhamma Thero, Chief Incumbent of Sunethra Devi Purana Raja Maha Vihara - KINGS ANCIENT BUDDHA TEMPLE

A Aravindh Kumar MP, Minister of Education

Srilanka First Citizen Awardee Sri Lankabhimanya Karu Jayasuriya Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Previously he was Mayor of Colombo, Minister of Power and Energy, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs and Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Administration, and Democratic Governance in 2015. He has served as Chairman of the Leadership Council of the United National Party (UNP).

Jeewanashuree Sasanamamaka Victor Ranasinghe Ex.M.M.C Capital City of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte

The Global Economic Forum believes in bringing together influential leaders from various sectors to set global agendas. They emphasise the positive impact of entrepreneurship on society and uphold high standards of moral, intellectual, and governmental integrity.

For more information, you can contact them at

Email: join@globaleconomicforum.in

Website: www.globaleconomicforum.in

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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Jaipur, Nov 25 (PTI) Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya on Saturday expressed confidence about his victory in the assembly elections, saying the general voters were with him.

"I can say that the general voters in my Bagidora constituency are with me. No one can stop my victory, Malviya told PTI.

Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: Polling Begins for 199 Seats, Over 5 Crore Voters To Decide Fate of 1,862 Candidates (Watch Videos).

Bagidora is in Banswara district. The minister, who is contesting as a Congress candidate, offered prayers at a Hanuman temple before casting his vote.

Polling in 199 out of 200 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan began at 7 am Saturday. Elections in Karanpur in Sriganganagar have been postponed due to the demise of the Congress candidate.

Also Read | Amazon: EU Workers Stage Strikes to Make Amazon Pay.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen briefed diplomats of nearly 90 foreign missions in Delhi on Dhaka's foreign policy priorities, political developments and preparations for the upcoming general elections against the backdrop of western allegations of "democratic backsliding" in that country.

A day after the interaction with the diplomats, Momen told journalists on Saturday that he invited countries to send observers to Bangladesh ahead of the election.

Also Read | South Korea Horror: True Crime Fan Stabs Stranger Over 100 Times Out of Curiosity, Gets Jail for Life.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Momen held extensive talks on Friday here under the framework of India-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

"I met the heads of missions to brief them about political developments...I invited them to visit Bangladesh before the elections," Momen said.

Also Read | Mahua Moitra Cash-for-Query Case: CBI Initiates Investigation Against TMC MP.

The US has been critical of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh over the political atmosphere as well as the alleged "democratic backsliding" in that country ahead of the general elections in January.

It has been calling on Dhaka to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the opposition party in Bangladesh, has been targeting Prime Minister Hasina and her Awami League party for allegedly trying to muffle its voice.

A number of envoys who attended the interaction with Momen last evening are those who are accredited to Bangladesh and operate from their missions in India.

In his address to the diplomats, the Bangladesh foreign secretary also called on the heads of missions of those countries which are still operating from New Delhi.

Momen also apprised them about Bangladesh's various achievements including its economic growth and socio-economic development.

"I briefed the envoys on Bangladesh's development journey and achievements in various fields," he said at the media briefing.

At the foreign office consultation, the Indian and Bangladeshi sides discussed a wide range of issues to further expand the ties.

"The Indian side appreciated Bangladesh's participation in the recently held Virtual G20 summit and the Voice of Global South Summit 2.0," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

"Both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh," it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 25 (ANI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid tributes to Capt MV Pranjal after his mortal remains arrived at Bengaluru's HAL Airport on Friday.

The 29-year-old Captain Pranjal from 63 Rashtriya Rifles was killed during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday.

Also Read | Amazon: EU Workers Stage Strikes to Make Amazon Pay.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also announced a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the family of Captain Pranjal.

Karnataka Minister KJ George, BJP leader and Bengaluru MP Tejasvi Surya, and BJP state president BY Vijayendra also paid their last respects to the fallen soldier at the airport.

Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Campaigning Ends, Polling in 199 Seats to Begin at 7 AM.

Taking to the social media Platform 'X' Surya expressed his grief and wrote, "With a heavy heart, received mortal remains of Capt. Pranjal MV, who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the nation at Rajouri, J&K, during an encounter with terrorists."

"While the nation mourns the loss of her young officer and pays obeisances to his ultimate sacrifice, I pray to almighty to give strength to his family to withstand this unbearable loss," read the post further.

Earlier, the mortal remains of four fallen soldiers, Captain M V Pranjal, Captain Shubham Gupta, and Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht and Paratrooper Sachin Laur were brought to Jammu, where LG Manoj Sinha, along with senior officials, accorded a tearful farewell at a wreath-laying ceremony.

Five soldiers, including two Army captains, lost their lives in the firefight carried over from Wednesday. The encounter broke out between terrorists and a joint team of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Bajimaal area of Rajouri district.

Two terrorists, including a top LeT commander and sniper, identified as Quari, were also neutralised on Thursday. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], November 25 (ANI): The Rohini Sessions Court of Delhi has granted bail to an accused in a 4-year-old murder case and said the accused has been in judicial custody since April 27, 2019, and that there is no connecting evidence against the accused except disclosure statement.

The Additional Sessions Judge Vikram, while granting bail to the 26-year-old accused, said, "We cannot lose sight of the fact that though the Investigating Agency has completed the investigation and submitted the charge sheet, the fact remains that the necessary charges have not been framed, therefore, the presence of the appellant in custody may not be necessary for further investigation."

Also Read | Bihar Road Accident: Five Cops Injured As Their Vehicle Overturns in Aurangabad.

Advocate Ravi Drall appeared for the accused, namely Jodie, and submitted that the accused in the present case had been falsely implicated upon the disclosure statement of co-accused persons who were arrested in another murder case. Even the name of Applicant Joginder isn't mentioned in the disclosure statement of the co-accused rather some Sonu name has been mentioned.

Further, the accused Joginder has been arrested for the offence of conspiracy for making calls to co-accused before the commission of the crime and Call Detail Record (CDR) has been relied upon by the investigating agency but neither the SIM nor the phone belongs to the accused, submitted the Advocate Drall.

Also Read | Conrad K Sangma's Convoy Road Accident: Pilot Car of Meghalaya CM's Convoy Hit by Pick-Up Truck at Upper Shillong.

The accused wasn't seen in CCTV footage and in pursuance to his disclosure statement, no recovery of clothes has been shown from the accused which can be matched with the accused wearing at the time of the incident and seen in CCTV, added Advocate Ravi Drall.

Appearing for Delhi Police, the Additional Public Prosecutor had opposed the bail application and submitted that the allegations were very serious.

It was further submitted that the applicant/accused is a habitual offender having involvements in 7 other matters and he is also BC of PS Ashok Vihar. It was also submitted that applicant/accused may extend threats to the witnesses.

On February 28, 2019, a person (deceased) after collecting the dues of a businessman of Rs 1,75 lac was going on his motorcycle during which he was shot dead in an attempt to snatch the money bag but somehow the bag could not be snatched. The incident of looting was captured on nearby CCTV.

Co-accused persons were arrested after about 1 month in another murder case in which they confessed their involvement in the present case, and after submission of the charge sheet, the case was committed to Sessions Court Rohini. The case was pending for a long time in wait of the FSL report, which was submitted in October 2023, the concerned lawyers said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Socio-political training classes are being held in field conditions with the Azerbaijani Armys servicemen as part of activities to enlighten military personnel, the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The classes provide detailed information about the historical significance of the diplomatic activity of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, as well as about the courage and bravery shown by the country's heroic servicemen in military operations.

During educational work and political informatization, as well as in leisure time, enlightenment talks and exchange of views are held with servicemen, questions interesting them are answered and necessary recommendations on military service are given.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 25 (ANI): A BJP delegation on Saturday called on Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jammu) Sachin Kumar Vaishya and pushed for development initiatives at camps housing migrant Kashmiri residents.

The demand was highlighted in a memorandum submitted by the BJP's Kashmir displaced unit led by the party's district chief, Chand Ji Bhat.

Also Read | Telangana Assembly Election 2023: 'Muslim Reservations' in State 'Unconstitutional' and Insult to Dr BR Ambedkar, Says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

District President Chand Ji Bhat, along with Vice President Chetan Wanchoo, Treasurer P K Bhat and Office Secretary Chaman Lal Pandita, met with Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sachin Kumar Vaishya at Jammu.

During the meeting, the delegation submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, drawing his attention to critical issues concerning the well-being and development of Kashmiri migrants residing in Jagti camp, TRT Nagrota, TRT Purkhu, and TRT Muthi.

Also Read | Odisha Shocker: 'Lovelorn' Youth Tries to Kidnap College Girl at Gunpoint in Balasore's Kamarda, Arrested.

One of the key requests made was for the implementation of a smart bus service connecting Jagti Township and TRT Nagrota to Jammu, aimed at enhancing transportation facilities for the residents.

Prioritising the safety of the camp residents, the delegation urged the Deputy Commissioner to establish a 24x7 Fire Brigade station in or around Jagti Township for a swift response in the unfortunate event of a fire.

Additionally, the delegation emphasised the need for the installation of an open-air gym in all Kashmiri Pandit camps, enhancing the recreational facilities in Jagti, Nagrota, Muthi, and Purkhu camps.

Responding to these concerns, the Deputy Commissioner has instructed his staff to allocate a sum of Rs 2 lakh for the open-air gym for each camp in the next financial year. This financial support aims to address pressing needs and enhance the overall living conditions of the residents.

Furthermore, the delegation successfully secured the agreement of the Deputy Commissioner to conduct a personal visit to all migrant camps.

This commitment reflects the DC's dedication to understanding the on-ground realities and fostering a direct connection with the residents.

The BJP delegation expressed gratitude for the Deputy Commissioner's responsiveness and commitment to addressing the concerns raised during the meeting.

This collaborative effort signifies a step forward in ensuring the well-being and development of Kashmiri migrants in the region. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 25 (ANI): Two persons have been arrested at Baramulla's Uri police station with over Rs 4 lakh and four hand grenades, police said on Saturday.

Accoridng to the Uri Police, the accused have been identified as Naseem Khanday and Zameer Khanday.

Also Read | Kerala Stampede: Four Students Die in Stampede During Music Concert at Cochin University in Kochi; 46 Injured (Watch Videos).

The police arrested the accused at Jhulla bridge and recovered Rs 4,67,000, four hand grenades, and some eatables.

"A case has also been registered under sections 7/25 IAA, 120-B,13,18,23,38,39, at police station Uri in this regard," added the police.

Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: Cash, Liquor, Drugs Seizures at Rs 690 Crore in State As Voting Concludes.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Earlier, a joint team of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered ammunition, including explosives from the terrorist hideout in Sarniyal Forest, Khari Tehsil of Ramban district.

According to the officials, information was received through reliable sources regarding the presence of a cache of arms, ammunition and other war-like stores in the forested area of Khari.

"The search continued till late in the evening. During the search security forces busted a terrorist hideout and recovered a huge haul of arms and ammunition among other stores from the spot," the officials said.

113 - 7.62 mm AK 47 Rounds, 2 - 9mm Rounds (rusted condition), 7 - 7.62 mm Sniper Rounds, 5 - PIKA Rounds, 1 - PIKA Belt, 3 - AK-47 Magazines (rusted condition), 3 - Chinese Grenades, 1 - Pakistan Grenade, 2 - UBGL, 300gms of explosives, 1 - FM Transistor, 2 - Fuses and 2 - Detonators were the items recovered.

"A case vide FIR No 262 under section 7/25 of Arms Act and Sec 4 of Explosives Substances Act has been registered at police station Khari and an investigation has been taken up," the officials added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], November 25 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party state spokesperson Pratul Shahdev accused the Jharkhand government of giving protection to Bangladeshi infiltrators and said that whenever the state government is questioned about Bangladeshi infiltrators, the state government starts blaming the central government to save itself.

Addressing the press conference, Pratul Shahdev said "The central government has given the right to the state government to identify infiltrators in the state and their fake Aadhaar cards can also be cancelled. Despite this, the state government says that we do not have the rights. The government officials are also engaged in hiding the case of Bangladeshi infiltrators. The officials of Lohardaga, Dumka, Jamtara, and Godda have wrongly submitted reports in the case of Bangladeshi infiltrators."

Also Read | Telangana Assembly Election 2023: 'Muslim Reservations' in State 'Unconstitutional' and Insult to Dr BR Ambedkar, Says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

"It has been clearly stated by Soren government that in these districts there has been no infiltration by Bangladeshi infiltrators," he added.

He also alleged that the Bangladeshi infiltrators take shelter in the border madrasas and locals are being trapped and converted by them.

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"Despite this, in June 2023, a report was issued by the Special Branch of the state government in which it was said that there was information about the entry of Bangladeshi infiltrators into the state. But Bangladeshi infiltrators are being used to enjoy power in the state. The report clearly states that Bangladeshi infiltrators first reach Jharkhand, after which they take shelter in the madrassas at the border and the process of making local documents is also there. Even local innocent tribal girls are being trapped and converted by Bangladeshi infiltrators," he added.

Earlier, Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and state BJP president Babulal Marandi on Monday termed religious conversion a "major problem" not only in the state but also in the entire country and further suggested conserving the religious places to deal with the issue.

Speaking to ANI in an interview, Babulal Marandi also accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government led by state Chief Minister Hemant Soren of promoting religious conversion in the state.

"Religious conversion is a major problem, not only for Jharkhand but the entire country. The previous state government had formed laws to punish anyone who converts people by luring them or forcefully after a complaint is made against them," the 65-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader told ANI when asked if illegal conversions gained momentum in Jharkhand soon after Hemant Soren government came in power. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 25 (ANI): In a historic milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew a sortie in the indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured Tejas Twin Seat Light Combat Fighter aircraft at Bengaluru on Saturday.

The sortie was carried out from the Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment, Bengaluru.

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During the 30-minute sortie, the capabilities of fighter aircraft Tejas were demonstrated to the PM. This is the first time an Indian Prime Minister has flown a fighter aircraft sortie. The PM described his experience of flying the sortie as "memorable".

PM Modi, who has given a strong impetus to Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing applauded the scientists, engineers and flight test crew associated with the designing, development and production of the state of art fighter aircraft. He expressed pride in the capabilities of Indian engineers and scientists.

Also Read | Delhi Air Pollution: No Relief As Air Quality Continues To Be in 'Very Poor' Category in National Capital.

The LCA trainer is a lightweight, all-weather, multirole aircraft which can undertake all roles of a single-seat Tejas fighter and can also be used as a fighter trainer. This is the first time ever that an indigenous twin-seat fighter has been designed, developed and manufactured in India. With an amalgamation of contemporary concepts and technologies such as quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree manoeuvring, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite materials for the airframe, it is a state-of-the-art aircraft.

The fighter aircraft has enhanced the defence capabilities and preparedness of the nation.

IAF test crew have been involved with the Tejas project right from conceptual stage till prototype testing. The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the IAF in 2016. Currently, two squadrons of IAF, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas. An order worth Rs 36,468 Crore for delivery of 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft has been placed with HAL and delivery is scheduled to begin by February 2024.

HAL has current capacity to build 8 LCA aircraft per year. This is being increased to 16 aircraft's every year by 2025 and further to 24 aircraft every year in the next 3 years.

More than Rs 9000 crore have been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and more lethal version of LCA Tejas.

To further promote indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine, Transfer of Technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India has been negotiated with GE during Prime Minister's visit to the US in June 2023. In the coming years, Tejas would be the largest fleet of fighter aircraft to be operated by the Indian Air Force. Today's sortie by the Prime Minister will encourage the aeronautics ecosystem and give a big boost to Aatmanirbharta in defence sector. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, Nov 25 (PTI) An officer of the Superintendent of Police (SP) rank in Punjab has been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state in January last year.

The officer, Gurbinder Singh, was at the time of the incident posted as the Superintendent of Police (Operations) and was on duty in Ferozepur.

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Singh, currently posted as an SP in Bathinda district, has been suspended with immediate effect, according to an order issued by the Punjab Home Department on Wednesday.

On January 5, 2022, Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any of the events, including a rally. The security breach ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections had led to a major political controversy.

Also Read | Telangana Assembly Election 2023: Rahul Gandhi Meets Job Aspirants in Hyderabad (Watch Video).

According to the suspension order, a report dated October 18, 2023, on the incident was submitted by the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) in which the state police chief said that Singh did not perform his duty properly.

After consideration of the matter at the level of the competent authority, the officer concerned is suspended with immediate effect, said the order issued in Punjabi.

A Supreme Court-appointed committee that probed the security breach had earlier indicted several state officers for lapses.

The top court had on January 12 last year appointed the committee to probe the breach, saying these questions cannot be left to "one-sided inquiries" as they needed "judicially trained independent minds" to investigate.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur, November 25: As the polling for the Rajasthan Assembly elections concluded on Saturday, over 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded with stray incidents of violence. In Rajasthan, 199 out of 200 seats went to the polls as, due to the death of a Congress candidate in Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat, Gurmeet Singh Koonar the election in this constituency was adjourned.

The state saw a polling percentage of 71.74 per cent of voter turnout, according to latest data from Election Commission. In the last assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent. Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: Cash, Liquor, Drugs Seizures at Rs 690 Crore in State As Voting Concludes.

As per the poll body, Tijara witnessed the voter turnout of 85.15 per cent. Tonk recorded 68.55 per cent. The capital city- Jaipur, recorded 72.70 per cent of voter turnout, while Jaisalmer recorded 82.37 per cent, Jhalawar at 78.15 per cent, Hanumangarh at 81.35 per cent, and 69.56 per cent of electorates cast votes at Jalore by 6 pm.

Voting at a total of 51,507 polling stations in the assembly constituencies began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, but officials said all the voters who had reached the booth premises by this time will be allowed to vote. The state recorded 9.77 per cent voter turnout at 9.30 am, but it picked up pace by 6 pm.

A total of 68.24 per cent electorates cast their votes till 5 pm, the Election Commission informed. Incidents of heavy stone pelting were reported in Sikar on the polling day. But Rajasthan Police clarified that there is no hindrance to voting and that people should come out and vote. Earlier in the day, a scuffle broke out at a polling booth in Sardarshahar assembly constituency. Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: Voters Reaching Booth Premises by 6 PM Allowed to Vote, Says Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta.

Councillor representative Asif Khokhar alleged that he was assaulted by around five to seven people. A heavy police force arrived at the 'Rajkiya Anjuman Vidyalaya' polling booth after receiving information about the fight.

A total of 5,26,90,146 voters are registered in the state, while 1,862 candidates are in the fray.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot exercised their franchise at their respective polling booths. Among all the constituencies, all the eyes are on Sardarpura, Tonk, Jhalarapatan, Nathdwara, Jhunjhunu, Jhotwara, and Churu among others.

Sardarpura is on the list of key constituencies as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has won this seat since 1998. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Mahendra Singh Rathore from the Congress' bastion. The Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from Jhalarapatan. The party's heavyweight has been winning the seat since 2003 from here. In 2018, she secured 54 per cent votes, defeating then-Congress leader Manvendra Singh, who is now the BJP's candidate from the Siwana constituency, which was earlier a part of Barmer and is now included in the newly formed Balotra district.

Among the highly discussed seats is Tonk, where Congress' prominent leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot will take on BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta. In 2018, Pilot defeated the BJP's Yoonus Khan by a margin of 54,179 votes. Moreover, Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra has been pitted against BJP's Subhash Mehria in the Lachhmangarh constituency.

From Udaipur, a BJP's stronghold since 2003, the fight will be between Tarachand Jain and Congress' Gourav Vallabh, who has been famous as the Congress party's national spokesperson. In Jhotwara constituency, BJP has fielded former Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore against Congress' Abhishek Choudhary. In 2018, Congress candidate Lalchand Katariya defeated Rathore in this seat.

Another key constituency would be Nathdwara, from where the BJP has fielded Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, a descendant of Maharana Pratap Singh, against Congress veteran CP Joshi, the current speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly. In Jhunjhunu, three-term MLA and Congress leader Brijendra Ola will take on his rival BJP's Nishit Kumar. In 2018, Ola secured victory with 76,177 votes.

Another key Assembly segment to feature in the list is the Churu constituency, currently represented by the incumbent BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. This time, the BJP has fielded Harlal Saharan from the constituency against Congress' Rafiq Mandelia.

Notably, the BJP has fielded Rathore from the Taranagar constituency this time. Moreover, the BJP has decided to field the Lok Sabha MP from Alwar, Mahant Balaknath, from Tijara constituency, against Congress candidate Imran Khan. Many rebel candidates of BJP and Congress withdrew their names after persuasion. But still, around 45 rebel candidates from both parties are in the fray. These also include MLAs, former MLAs and party officials.

Jhotwara has the highest 18 candidates, followed by Rajgarh-Laxmangarh and Pushkar with 17 each. The lowest number three are contesting in Lalsot. This time 419 candidates are contesting less as compared to the last election. Earlier on Friday, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that polling stations have been set up at a total of 36,101 places in the state.

"A total of 10,501 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 41,006 in rural areas. Live webcasting will be conducted at a total of 26,393 polling stations. These polling centres will be monitored from the district-level control room. Across the state, 65,277 ballot units, 62,372 control units and 67,580 VVPAT machines including reserves will be used for voting," he had said. In 2018, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP won 73. Gehlot assumed the CM position with the support of BSP MLAs and independents.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Numerous measures are being implemented to further improve the comprehensive provision of units and the organization of troops' service in the Azerbaijani Army, the Defense Ministry told Trend.

The First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev and the Deputy Minister of Defense  Director General Agil Gurbanov has visited one of the military units under the Main Department of Communications, Information Technologies and Cybersecurity of the Defense Ministry.

The leadership of the Ministry of Defense inspected the warehouses in the military unit.

Various communication tools and equipment that meet the modern standards for the organization of sustainable communication and secret management of Azerbaijani Army's troops were presented.

Information was provided about the latest technological equipment available for continuous monitoring and control of the information and communication technologies environment of the Azerbaijani Army.

The chief of the Azerbaijani Army's General Staff gave relevant tasks to the authorized officials on the further improvement and effective application of communication tools and information technologies in the units.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Jaipur, November 25: Rajasthan on Saturday recorded 24.74 per cent polling for 199 assembly constituencies till 11.30 am, the Election Commission informed. Voting began at 7 am on Saturday after days of hectic campaigning by major political parties, including the ruling Congress and BJP. However, polling for the Karanpur assembly constituency was adjourned following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

Voters, who lined up outside their booths as the polling process got underway on Saturday, can cast their votes until 6 pm. Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful and fair elections, the polling officials informed earlier. A total of 1,02,290 security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting, an official said. As many as 69,114 police personnel, 32,876 Rajasthan Home Guard, Forest Guard, and RAC personnel, and 700 companies of CAPF have also been deployed to ensure free and fair polling, he added. Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: Nearly 10% Voter Turnout Till 9:30 AM, Says EC; Polling Continues for 199 Seats

The ruling Congress is eyeing another term while the BJP is seeking to replace the Ashok Gehlot government, banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prominent candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former CM Vasundhara Raje, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, Congress national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, and Rajasthan LoP Rajendra Rathore. Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Scuffle Breaks Out at Sardarshahar Constituency, Representative of Counciller Alleges Attack on Him

Many rebel candidates of the BJP and Congress withdrew their names after being persuaded to do so. But still, about 45 rebel candidates from both parties are in the fray. These also include MLAs, former MLAs, and party officials. The counting of votes has been scheduled for December 3. In 2018, the Congress won 99 seats while the BJP finished a close second at 73. Gehlot took oath as CM with the support of BSP MLAs and Independents. Meanwhile, police personnel were deployed after a scuffle broke out at a polling booth in Churu, hours after polling began in the state.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Coochbehar, November 25: Continuing its operation against illegal cattle smuggling, the vigilant troops of the Guwahati Frontier Border Security Force rescued 54 cattle heads that were being smuggled to Bangladesh on Saturday. Acting on specific intelligence input, on November 25, 2023, "The vigilant troops of 75 Bn BSF under the Gopalpur Sector of the Guwahati Frontier of the Border Security Force rescued 54 cattle in a border area near Village Dhumarkata, District Coochbehar (West Bengal)." Cattle Smuggling on India-Bangladesh Border: BSF Rescues Seven Cattles in Unique Operation Using Drone With Night Vision (Watch Video).

The seized cattle were thereafter handed over to the concerned agency for further action. Keeping in view the vulnerability of the border and the heightened activities of smugglers and anti-national elements on the border, BSF troops are maintaining extra alertness to curb trans-border crimes. Cattle Smuggling on Indo-Bangladesh Border: North Bengal Frontier Troops Rescue Three Cattles in Unique Operation Using Night Vision Drone Camera (Watch Video).

Earlier a week ago, using the recent addition of a drone with night vision, the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled another attempt at cattle smuggling on the India-Bangladesh International Border within the span of a month and caught seven cattle. The BSF said there is a drastic change in trans-border crimes, especially in cattle smuggling and illegal crossing, due to the use of drones by the forces on the India-Bangladesh border area, and both sides of smuggling and touts are frightened due to the effective use of the technology in the border area.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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Lahore, Nov 25 (PTI) Around 3,000 Indian Sikhs arrived here in Pakistan's Punjab province on Saturday through the Wagah Border to participate in the festivities in connection with the 554th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh and other officials greeted the visiting pilgrims at the Lahore border.

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"Around 3,000 Indian Sikh Yatrees arrived here to attend the festivities in connection with the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. We have made foolproof security arrangements, accommodation and travelling facilities for Sikh pilgrims," Saleem told reporters.

He said although there has been an agreement that some 3,000 Indian Sikhs would be accommodated for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary the ETPB is ready to accommodate more Sikhs.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Military Launches Biggest Drone Attack Against Kiev Since Beginning of Ukraine Invasion.

"We welcome more than 3,000 Sikhs from India for this occasion if India allows them," Saleem said.

PSGPC's Ameer Singh demanded the resumption of train and bus service between the two countries to facilitate the people. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Amritsar party leader Khushmindar Singh expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements made by the ETPB for the visiting pilgrims.

"Indian Sikhs are contented with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and protection of their holy places in Pakistan," he said and praised the people here for their love for the Yatrees.

The visiting pilgrims were transported to Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib by special buses where the three-day festivities will kick off on Sunday. During their 10-day stay here, the pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aimenabad and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Cape Town [South Africa], November 25 (ANI): Director General at the Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Countries Sachin Chaturvedi has said the African Union (AU) joining the G20 can change the larger international architecture for Global South.

"We are taking the idea of the #GlobalSouth forward--in terms of how we look at this engagement and the concept of the #AfricanUnion joining the #G20 table, and how the performance and larger international architecture for the Global South can change," the Think20 India Core Group member said while addressing the Cape Town Conversation event.

Also Read | South Korea Horror: True Crime Fan Stabs Stranger Over 100 Times Out of Curiosity, Gets Jail for Life.

He was speaking at the session "Time for Africa: AU in the G20".

Chaturvedi said that roughly two-thirds of the world's population and 75 per cent of global trade were covered by the G20. With the inclusion of the African Union, "we have 77 per cent of the population, 88 per cent of GDP and 78 per cent of global trade."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Military Launches Biggest Drone Attack Against Kiev Since Beginning of Ukraine Invasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his opening remarks at the 18th G20 Leaders' Summit, invited the African Union, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member.

"With everyone's approval, I request the AU head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member," Modi said in his address.

Following PM Modi's announcement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar accompanied the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani as he took his seat among world leaders.

African Union is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The move to include the African Union in the G20 grouping was proposed by PM Modi earlier this June.

The RIS Director General, Chaturvedi said: "Africa is bearing a disproportionate burden of climate change. The African Union's preparedness is also relevant here. How do we bring in coherence and experiences as compared to what we have seen in the past?"

Meanwhile, the African Union Commission's former commissioner for human resources, science and technology, Sarah Agbor said that with the G20, "as we move from India to Brazil to South Africa, we have consecutive Global South presidencies. There are advantages to the African Union's presence. The AU needs to take responsibility as Africans first and determine what it needs to do in the spirit of Ubuntu as it joins the G20. The G20 will give us opportunities to fulfil our own focus." Agbor said: "Collaboration between the members of the African Union is key, with coordinated efforts on #healthcare, education, science, tech and innovation. By 2063, the Africa we want is a self-reliant one. Fostering good governance is important. Where there is no #peace, there is no development."

'Cape Town Conversation' is taking place from November 24-26 in the coastal city of Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town Conversations serves as an annual South Africa-based platform that brings together key stakeholders and new voices. It is designed as a common platform where established and emerging actors convene for a global conversation on contemporary issues of global governance --identifying new challenges, ideating possible solutions and shaping the world order of the future. The Ambassador and Special Envoy of the President of the European Union Said Abass Ahamed said: "The question should be--why did it take so long to bring us to the table? We Africans need to make sure we sit at the table. We had a conversation on whether the Commission, which has a 4-year cycle, should lead at the G20 or a President who changes annually. The decision is on a special envoy appointed for 2 years."

He added: "One of the big challenges remains the UNSC. Status quo cannot continue anymore. We need an African voice at the table there as well." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kabul [Afghanistan], November 25 (ANI): The Afghan Embassy has said that there is no diplomat representing Afghanistan in India as of November 23.

"Neighbourhood first policy: We, the former Afghan diplomats want to set the record straight: As of Nov 23, there is no Afghan diplomat representing the former Republic in India. Those with ties to the Taliban are aligning themselves with Taliban and also Delhi's interests," as per the Afghan Embassy in India's official handle on 'X'.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: 14 Israeli Hostages To Be Freed Today in Exchange for 42 Palestinian Prisoners.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs has made no comments regarding the closure of the Afghanistan Embassy in India. Moreover, India has not recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

India has not recognised the Taliban government -- which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 -- and evacuated its own staff from Kabul two years ago. India no longer has a diplomatic presence there. India has said it will follow the lead of the United Nations in deciding whether to recognize the Taliban government.

Also Read | Pakistan Fire: At Least 11 Killed, 22 Other Injured After Blaze Erupts in Karachi Shopping Mall, Videos Surface.

The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi was run by staff appointed by the previous government of ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, with permission from Indian authorities.

The Afghanistan Embassy recently announced its permanent closure in New Delhi.

Releasing an official statement on the closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, the Afghan Embassy said, "Effective from November 23, 2023, owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government. The decision follows the Embassy's earlier cessation of operations on September 30, a move made in the hope that the Indian government stance will favourably change to let the mission operate normally."

The Embassy said it was 'cognisant' that some may attempt to characterise this move as an internal conflict, allegedly involving diplomats who switched allegiance to the Taliban, adding "that this decision is a result of broader changes in policy and interests".

"To the Afghan citizens in India, the Embassy extends its sincere gratitude for their understanding and support throughout our mission's tenure," it added.

Despite "limitations in resources and power", the Afghan Embassy said it has worked "tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul".

Over the past two years and three months, the Afghan community in India has witnessed a significant decline, with Afghan refugees, students, and traders leaving the country, the Embassy noted in its statement, adding that the number has nearly halved since August 2021, with very limited new visas being issued during this period.

"We assure the Afghan community that the mission operated with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to fair treatment based on the goodwill and interests of Afghanistan considering historic ties and bilateral relations with India," it added.

"Unfortunately, efforts have been made to tarnish our image and hinder diplomatic efforts in order to justify the presence and work of Taliban-appointed and affiliated diplomats. In the face of these challenges, our committed team worked diligently in the most difficult circumstances, prioritizing the interests of the 40 million Afghans in every possible sphere from securing humanitarian aid and online education scholarships to facilitating ease in trade and advocating for the formation of a broad-based government," the Afghan Embassy stated further in its statement.

It added that the Afghan Embassy "exerted diplomatic pressure in its power on those who defy the will of the Afghan people by failing to form an inclusive government and denying millions of girls the right to attend school".

As of now, there are no diplomats from the Afghan Republic in India. Those who served in the national capital have safely reached third countries, the Embassy informed through its release, adding that the only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings.

"The diplomats of the Afghan Republic have handed over the mission solely to the Indian government. It now rests upon the Indian government to decide the fate of the mission, whether to maintain its closure or consider alternatives, including the possibility of handing it over to Taliban diplomats. The responsibility of diplomats appointed by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has officially come to an end. The unfortunate end of the Republic mission marks the conclusion of the Afghan Republic in India," it added.

"We have considered the historic events and current circumstances carefully in arriving at this conclusion. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of India for their support and assistance to Afghanistan over the past 22 years. We reiterate our commitment to serving the people of Afghanistan and will continue to explore avenues to support our nation in these challenging times," the statement concluded.

Notably, the Afghan Embassy announced the closure of its operations on November 1, citing "lack of resources" and "failure to meet Afghanistan's interests" by the Taliban regime.

The Embassy also made an "unequivocal statement" stating that certain consulates that work on the instructions and funding from Kabul are not in consonance with the objectives of a legitimate or elected government but rather serve the interests of an "illegitimate regime". (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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Kabul [Afghanistan], November 25 (ANI): In order to support the healthcare system and combat infectious diseases in Afghanistan at a time when the country is facing an economic crisis under the Taliban, the European Union has pledged 10 million euros to the World Health Organization (WHO) to aid the country, Pajhwok News reported.

The funding will improve preparedness and response systems for future disease outbreaks as well as health and nutrition emergencies, according to a statement issued by the EU office in Kabul on Thursday,

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The long-lasting cooperation between the EU and WHO has contributed to stronger and more resilient health care in Afghanistan, it said.

The increased financing is intended to improve health care in all 34 provinces, benefiting almost 2 million people. The additional funding expands on the previous EU-WHO collaboration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by integrating and improving diagnostic and infectious disease management and response in Afghanistan, the EU stated, according to Pajhwok News.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: First Group of 13 Israeli Hostages Handed Over to Red Cross, En Route to Rafah Crossing (Watch Video).

"The EU is deeply committed to protecting Afghans from disease outbreaks and other health and nutrition emergencies. Building on our ongoing cooperation with WHO in Afghanistan, the new funding helps to strengthen public health across the country and ensure the well-being of Afghans," said EU Chargee d'Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan, Raffaella Iodice, reported Pajhwok News.

Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the country's economic situation has deteriorated. The Afghans have repeatedly complained of lack of basic amenities under the Taliban government and the country is now heavily dependent on humanitarian aid. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nantucket, Nov 25 (AP) It wasn't all work and no play for President Joe Biden on Friday on this picturesque Massachusetts island.

He spent much of the day in multiple briefings with national security aides, who were updating him as the first phase of hostages were released in Gaza earlier on Friday. Biden then delivered brief remarks on the hostage deal, saying it is "only a start, but so far, it's gone well".

Also Read | Switzerland: Anti-Pakistan Posters Come Up in Geneva Ahead of 15th Anniversary of 26/11.

But then the president joined in the traditional Biden day-after-Thanksgiving festivities -- lunch with his family, perusing local shops and mingling with the Nantucket crowd as the town Christmas tree is lit.

Because of the remarks on hostages, the traditional family lunch happened later than usual. But like always, it was at Brotherhood of Thieves, a cozy bar and grill that advertises itself as an "1840s whaling bar".

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: First Group of 13 Israeli Hostages Handed Over to Red Cross, En Route to Rafah Crossing (Watch Video).

Then the president's shopping outing began.

His first stop was just a couple doors down from the restaurant at Nantucket Books, where first lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley were already browsing.

"Can't come without going to the bookstore," the president said as he ducked inside. "We've got a tradition."

He left about 20 minutes later, carrying a copy of "Democracy Awakening" by the historian Heather Cox Richardson, who interviewed Biden at the White House last year.

Biden then stopped at Craftmasters of Nantucket, followed by a quick stop into the Jeweler's Gallery. He was greeted throughout his walk by cheering crowds, shouts of "happy birthday" (the president celebrated his 81st birthday on Monday) and people waving and taking photos of the first family.

Finally, the Bidens ended up at Nantucket's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, clapping as the town crier led the countdown and the tree was illuminated with coloured lights.

Biden's outing was interrupted twice by pro-Palestine protesters, once earlier Friday as he walked to lunch and then again by a handful of demonstrators at the tree ceremony who had wiggled their way to the front of the crowd. Leaning against metal barricades and waving banners that said "Free Palestine", the protesters chanted: "Biden, Biden, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide!"

It was unclear whether the president -- who was greeting members of the children's choir -- heard them. A local official urged the protesters to stop, noting that the community event was not a political one.

Visiting Nantucket for Thanksgiving is a decades-long tradition for the Biden family.

Joe and Jill first came here for the holiday with young sons, Beau and Hunter, in the mid-1970s. As they've done in past years, the Bidens are staying at an expansive compound owned by billionaire businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein, according to the White House. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Azerbaijan has sent a domestic "Revival P" mine-clearing vehicle to Ukraine, Trend reports, referring to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

The statement said that Azerbaijan handed over the vehicle to the rescuers of Ukraine's Poltava region.

It was also noted that the representatives of the manufacturing company arrived in Ukraine, where they will hold trainings for local specialists.

Azerbaijan's gesture to send the vehicle fits within the country's ongoing humanitarian aid efforts to Ukraine. Earlier in November, a humanitarian aid convoy from Azerbaijan arrived in Ukraine. The humanitarian commodities (including electrical equipment) were sent by a convoy of 14 trucks to assist in the restoration of sustainable electrical supply to the impacted territories.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladislav Kanevsky on numerous occasions expressed gratitude of the country for Azerbaijan's helping efforts.
Islamabad, Nov 25 (PTI) The ex-husband of the wife of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday filed a case against them, accusing the former first couple of fornication and fraudulent marriage, according to a media report.

Khawar Farid Maneka filed a complaint against Khan, 71, and Bushra Bibi, 49, in the court of Islamabad East Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah under Sections 34 (common intention), 496 (marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage) and 496-B (fornication) of the Pakistan Penal Code, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: US President Joe Biden Hopeful of More American Hostages Being Released, Hamas Accuses Israel of Breaching Deal.

During the hearing, Maneka also submitted a statement under section 200 (examination of complainant) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Maneka, who was recently given bail in a graft case, in the statement reiterated his claim that Khan ruined his married life.

Also Read | South Korea Horror: True Crime Fan Stabs Stranger Over 100 Times Out of Curiosity, Gets Jail for Life.

Subsequently, the court issued notices to the three witnesses mentioned in the case  namely Istekham-i-Pakistan Party member Awn Chaudhry, Mufti Muhammad Saeed who officiated the nikah and Maneka's house employee Latif  and directed them to appear before the court on November 28.

Earlier this week, Maneka had held Imran responsible for ruining his married life before eventually marrying Bushra Bibi.

The allegations were met with strong criticism from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party leaders who questioned the moral necessity of Maneka's interview, while their PML-N adversaries used the same to sling mud at the former premier.

Maneka in the complaint urged the court that Khan and Bushra be summoned and punished strictly in accordance with law in the interest of justice.

He stated that the PTI chief often visited his house for hours in his absence under the guise of spiritual healings, which was not only undesirable but unethical.

He further said that Khan used to call Bushra at late hours, with the latter also given separate contact numbers and mobile phones for communication. Maneka said he divorced Bushra on November 14, 2017.

He said the heinous offence of fornication has been committed by respondents no.1 (Imran) and 2 (Bushra) and the drama of marriage was staged on January 1, 2018.

The development comes a day after a petitioner in a similar case withdrew his plea, citing technical reasons.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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Tokyo, Nov 25 (AP) Top diplomats from Japan and China met for bilateral talks Saturday as they try to resolve disputes including China's ban on Japanese seafood that has badly hit Japanese exporters.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, met in South Korea's southern port city of Busan. They will join their host, Park Jin, for three-way talks on Sunday.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Military Launches Biggest Drone Attack Against Kiev Since Beginning of Ukraine Invasion.

Kamikawa, who took office in September and met with Wang in person for the first time, said their meeting was extremely meaningful". She said they had agreed to start security and economic meetings, but gave no details.

The Japanese and Chinese leaders met 10 days ago in San Francisco, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and achieved a vague agreement on easing a dispute over China's ban on Japanese seafood that has been in place since the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant began discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea on Aug 24.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: 14 Israeli Hostages To Be Freed Today in Exchange for 42 Palestinian Prisoners.

Japan says the wastewater is much safer than international standards and that the International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded the environmental and health impact of its release is negligible. China calls the discharge nuclear-contaminated water.

The foreign ministers from Japan, South Korea and China are meeting Sunday to set the stage for resuming a trilateral summit of their leaders, which has not been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 outbreak and their complicated ties.

Japan, South Korea and China are close economic and cultural partners, but their relationships have suffered on-and-off setbacks due to a mix of issues including Japan's wartime atrocities, the US-China rivalry and North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai [UAE], November 25 (ANI/WAM): The Dubai Police has urged the public to steer clear of watercourses and valleys during unstable weather conditions. The force also emphasises adherence to traffic regulations, including reduced speeds, allowing for adequate safety distances between vehicles, and avoiding distractions while driving.

In preparation for any weather-related incidents, Dubai Police has affirmed its readiness to handle emergency reports, especially those arising in potentially hazardous areas such as mountainous regions and valleys.

Also Read | Pakistan Fire: At Least 11 Killed, 22 Other Injured After Blaze Erupts in Karachi Shopping Mall, Videos Surface.

Citizens and residents are reminded to follow Dubai Municipality and Dubai Police guidelines when visiting beaches and marinas, notably heeding the red flag warning that indicates a prohibition on swimming and sailing until further notice.

The public is advised to contact the Dubai Police emergency number 999 and 901 for non-urgent matters and general inquiries. (ANI/WAM)

Also Read | Elon Musk To Visit Israel, Meet PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a Sign of Solidarity Amid Antisemitism Controversies, Says Report.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, November 25: Raped and abused all through Friday night, a minor girl committed suicide on Saturday by setting herself on fire at Kandi in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The accused is a youth from Khargram in the same district, who is absconding. The victim's family members told the police, the minor girl went out on Friday evening with the accused youth who had promised to marry her.

The accused took the girl to his residence where he raped and abused her throughout the night. Early on Saturday morning, the accused youth threw her out of his house. In the afternoon, she set herself on fire. She was rushed to the hospital where she was declared brought dead. West Bengal Shocker: Man Arrested for Raping Minor, Sharing Video of Heinous Act With Victims Mother in Durgapur.

The family members of the victim have filed a complaint against the accused youth and two of his associates. Further probe is underway.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2023 08:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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A 12-year-old tiger died after allegedly coming in contact with electrical wires on a farm in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, an official said on Saturday.
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San Francisco, November 25: SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met his father Errol Musk after seven years during the launch of the Starship rocket, according to reports. Errol and family watched the Starship launch with local and international guests from a VIP platform last Saturday, and he was visited by Elon when he was in Austin, Texas, to spend some time with his daughters.

"They spoke for a long time. It was very touching for me and our daughters to see this. We were speechless," Errol's ex-wife Heide Musk was quoted as saying. ''The family cried. It was pretty emotional stuff. Errol was very happy to see Elon, and Elon appeared very happy to see his father. They immediately sat down at Elon's table next to one another and started talking as though no time had passed," Heide added. Misinformation Super-Spreaders on X Sharing Elon Musks Ads Revenue, Says Report

Elon and his father last met in Cape Town, South Africa in 2016 during Errol's 70th birthday celebrations. Errol, 77, created a sensation last year when he admitted that he is not a 'Lothario' (serial womanizer) but in his head, he has "slept with many women". After revealing that he had a second child with his own stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout, Errol said that he is not a serial womaniser despite claims of countless lovers and fathering two children with his own stepdaughter, reported The Mirror. Elon Musk Joins Controversy Around Annie Altman Who Accused Her Brothers Sam Altman and Jack Altman of Sexually, Physically and Financially Abusing Her

Errol, who now lives in South Africa, announced last year that he fathered a second child with the 36-year-old daughter of his former wife Heide. When asked whether he was proud of his son Elon, he said: "One doesn't walk around saying 'I'm proud'. "It's one of the seven deadly sins. Instead I would say I'm very thankful for Elon's achievements and that he is okay and managing."
The UN Special Economic Program for Central Asia (SPECA) week is being held in Baku from November 20 to 24. The exhibition, covering an area of 4,000 square meters at the Baku Expo Center, features stands exclusively from SPECA countries. The stands feature samples of products from public and private companies in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

On November 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev opened the exhibition Exhibition of SPECA Countries: Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development at the Baku Expo Center, organized by Azerbaijan within the framework of SPECA Week. President Ilham Aliyev officially opened the exhibition by removing the white cover from the installation Values that Unite Us," prepared by Azerkharcha OJSC. This installation reflects the cooperation between SPECA countries.

At the exhibition dedicated to the 25th anniversary of SPECA, a project specially prepared by Azerkharcha OJSC for this event highlights the common cultural, economic, political, friendly, and fraternal ties that unite the peoples of Azerbaijan and Central Asia in friendship. Combining contemporary and traditional art, this installation depicts nine ancient carpet patterns used in the carpet weaving art of Central Asian tribes. This product includes the "Lake Zeyva" pattern, "Givrim" pattern, "Kash" pattern, "Dishlipare" pattern, "Shirvan" bush, "Buynuz" pattern, "Bird" pattern, "Zagli" flower, "Kilim" flower, etc. All these nine carpet patterns are firmly connected with threads of different colors as symbols of our ancient roots, traditions, and spiritual tiesthe values that unite us. In order to survive, it is important for them not only to preserve old traditions but also to develop and keep up with the times. The art of carpet weaving is constantly changing and developing along with modernity while preserving ancient traditions, patterns, and secrets of weaving. In this respect, the idea of this installation is in line with the SPECA exhibition, whose guiding principle is sustainable development. The 3.5-meter-high installation The Values That Unite Us is purple, a symbol of wealth, reliability, and elegance, considered very rare in nature, unique, and even sacred.

The Architect of the State collection, dedicated to the immortal and blessed memory of national leader Heydar Aliyev, was also demonstrated to the exhibition participants. A unique triptych, an encyclopedic commemorative carpet composition, was also presented. The co-authors of the project, implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Azerkhalcha OJSC, were Honored Artist Emin Mammedov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerkhalcha OJSC, and Honored Artist Rashad Alekbarov, and the performers were the creative team of Azerkhalcha.

The "Heydar Aliyev 100" carpet, a joint project of Azerkhalcha OJSC and Jan Azerbaijan LLC, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, was once again presented to local and foreign guests at the exhibition.

Among the other carpets on exhibit are four from the Azerkhalcha OJSC collection titled "A New Look at Karabakh Carpets," which are dedicated to the 44-day Patriotic War, our glorious victory. The Azerkhalcha OJSC creative team assisted in the creation of new Karabakh carpets based on the ideas of the republic's honored artist, Rashad Alekperov. The "Gasimushagi" carpet from the Karabakh carpet weaving school was included in the collection in four distinct colors and a design suitable for modern tastes and decor. A total of 44 carpets with an area of 4 square meters each and four colors were woven.
Washington, November 25: US President Joe Biden hoped on Saturday that more American hostages will be released in the 2nd lot of the Hamas and Israel exchange of prisoners and hostages on the 2nd day of ceasefire in Gaza after two were freed in the first lot on Friday. President Biden has secured the release of two American citizens as part of the larger group of around 50 hostages to the four-day pause in fighting, a White House official announced. But media reports said Biden's assurances of more Americans being released in the first lot was belied by Hamas.

"We are early in the process that will see at least 50 women and children released during the first phase of the agreement," said an US government official who did not want to be identified. "We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens. This will unfold over the coming days. We will not comment on individual cases as the process is underway, the official said. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: Gaza Cease-Fire Enters Second Day With More Hostages To Be Exchanged and Critical Supplies Delivered.

President Biden said on a nationally televised address that his plan for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in order to help end "this cycle of violence was the only viable solution to the end of the war and its horrors. "Our resolve to pursue a two-state solution ... is more important now than ever," he said as he welcomed the release of Israeli hostages while at the same time, saying he was looking forward to more people being let go as well as the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. "To continue down the path of terror and violence and killing and war is to give Hamas what they seek, and we cant do that," Biden said..

A Qatari operations team landed in Tel Aviv on Saturday to "ensure the truce deal continued smoothly. A diplomat told NBC News that further details on ceasefire and hostage prisoner swap would be discussed in detail while reviewing the progress of the four-day truce. On the other hand, a Hamas official said that not enough aid was reaching northern Gaza and said that it could threaten the entire agreement. Within hours the International Red Crescent said 61 trucks had been dispatched to the region today, the "largest" so far. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: 14 Israeli Hostages To Be Freed Today in Exchange for 42 Palestinian Prisoners.

Taher al-Nono, an adviser to Hamas' political bureau, said that Israel "has not fully committed to" key terms of the cease-fire agreement, particularly with regards to the amount of aid reaching northern Gaza. "This puts a real risk on completing the process," he said. According to al-Nono, the agreement said that at least 100 trucks with humanitarian aid would enter Gaza, but that far fewer have reached its northern part.

Other parts of the deal are also being monitored. Qatars lead negotiator, Minister Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, told the media that they "remain optimistic" that Hamas will fulfill its promise to find any civilian hostages held by other groups in Gaza. He said they were "monitoring" the Hamas commitment to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to assess all the hostages being released.

More than 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza, where health officials say the death toll has surpassed 14,500 since the Israeli attacks. The IDF estimates 1,200 people were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack, with more than 200 people held hostage in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are believed to be still in northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the Israeli military attacks.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2023 10:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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Kiev, November 25: Russia on Saturday launched largest drone attack in Kiev since the beginning of Ukraine invasion, officials here said. Taking to Telegram, Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said, "Russia attacked Ukraine with 75 kamikaze drones Shahed-131 and Shahed-136, and most of them were launched against Kiev."

The Ukrainian air defence destroyed 71 of the drones, it said, Xinhua news agency reported. The drone strike, which lasted for six hours, marked the fourth attack on Kiev this month, the Kiev City Military Administration said in a statement. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Troops Mount Massive Missile and Drone Attack Against Ukraine Following Its Retaliation Promise.

The attack disrupted the electricity supply to 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, it said. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four adults and an 11-year-old child suffered minor injuries in the attack. Private houses, apartment blocks and a kindergarten in Kiev have been damaged by the falling drone parts, Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 25, 2023 06:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Actor Jamie Foxx has responded to accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a New York bar, and that accusation has led to a massive lawsuit. However, the Oscar winner has actually outright denied these allegations.

The accusation came as part of the flurry of sexual assault allegations that came this week as the New York Adult Survivors Act (ASA) is expiring on Friday, November 24. The New York law gave a one-year window for survivors of assault to come forward, regardless of when the assault took place.

One of the most infamous people hit by the law is former President Donald Trump who infamously lost his case against former Elle Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who proved that Trump did sexually assault her inside a New York department store.

In the lawsuit, a Jane Doe accused Jamie Foxx, whose real name is Eric Marlon Bishop, of assaulting her at the Catch restaurant rooftop in New York City last August 2015. The actor has denied the allegation and vowed to issue a countersuit against his accuser.

A spokesperson for the actor told The Independent, "The alleged incident never happened. In 2020, this individual filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Brooklyn. That case was dismissed shortly thereafter. The claims are no more viable today than they were then. We are confident they will be dismissed again. And once they are, Mr Foxx intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution against this person and her attorneys for re-filing this frivolous action."

More Details About Jane Doe's Lawsuit Vs. Jamie Foxx Surface

The court filings for Jane Doe are now public and it showed that she is also suing the employees of the restaurant, as well as the co-founder of Catch Hospitality Group, Mark Birnbaum, as co-defendants. She also wants a trial by jury and she is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

READ MORE: Jamie Foxx Health Update: Oscar Winner Breaks Silence

PEOPLE Magazine managed to get a copy of the court filing and it alleges that she "has suffered and continues to suffer physical and emotional injuries, anxiety, distress, embarrassment, and economic harm."

The lawsuit alleged that Foxx "seemed intoxicated" and told Jane Doe that she had the body of a supermodel and that she looked like Gabrielle Union. This was when he allegedly grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to the back area of the rooftop where the alleged rape occurred.

The filing also noted that she "attempted to step away from Foxx" and noticed a security guard, who allegedly "saw what was happening but walked further away."

Former Model Accuses Axl Rose of Rape in Another ASA-Related Lawsuit

Aside from Jamie Foxx, another woman is using the soon-to-expire ASA to sue former Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose of sexually assaulting her. The plaintiff is former Penthouse magazine model and actress Sheila Kennedy. She alleges that Rose "violently" sexually assaulted her in 1989 after they met at a New York City nightclub.

The complaint alleges that the rocker "used his fame, status, and power as a celebrity and performer in the music industry to gain access to manipulate, control, and violently sexually assault Kennedy" and that he "knocked her to the floor," before proceeding to sexually assault her "while he was in a sexual, volatile rage."

READ MORE: Taylor Swift Eras Tour Postponed in Brazil After Fan Dies in Rio de Janeiro Show

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Actor Jamie Foxx accused of sexually assaulting woman at NYC restaurant - CBS New York
Pope Francis recently hosted a Vatican luncheon for a group of transgender women, many of whom are sex workers or migrants from Latin America, according to Fox News.

This gathering took place as part of the Catholic Church's "World Day of the Poor."

The pope and these transgender women have developed a close relationship, which originated during the COVID-19 pandemic when the pontiff assisted them when they were unable to work.

Now, they have monthly VIP visits with the pope and receive support in the form of medicine, money, and other essentials.

The luncheon was a broader event, with around 1,200 impoverished or homeless individuals also attending inside the papal audience hall to enjoy a full meal and dessert.

This invitation to transgender women aligns with a recent Vatican document that generated controversy.

Released earlier in the month, the document affirms that individuals dealing with gender identity disorders are permitted to be baptized or serve as godparents under specific conditions.

While responding to a query from Brazilian Bishop Giuseppe Negri of Santo Amaro, the guidance from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed by Pope Francis, maintains that the baptism or involvement as godparents must not cause "scandal" or "disorientation."

This nuanced stipulation has been praised by LGBTQ+ advocates.

READ NEXT: Pope Francis Removes Conservative Texas Bishop

Pope Francis: 'Who Am I to Judge?'

Prominent LGBTQ+ organizations are applauding Pope Francis for his message of inclusivity, recognizing that gay and transgender individuals have historically felt marginalized within a church that officially characterizes homosexual acts as "intrinsically disordered."

Francis has been on a trajectory toward greater acceptance, starting with his notable "Who am I to judge" remark in 2013 about a purportedly gay priest, AP reports.

In January, he reinforced this stance by asserting that "being homosexual is not a crime."

The pope has consistently evolved his position, emphasizing that everyone, unequivocally, is a child of God, loved by God, and welcomed in the church - a sentiment expressed with the resounding declaration, "todos, todos, todos" (everyone, everyone, everyone).

However, this judgment-free perspective isn't universally shared within the Catholic Church.

A recent synod, a gathering of bishops and laypeople at the Vatican, stopped short of explicitly advocating for the welcoming of LGBTQ+ Catholics.

Pope Francis' approach has faced strong opposition from conservative Catholics, including cardinals.

Despite internal divisions, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups like GLAAD and DignityUSA see Pope Francis' inclusive tone as a powerful message.

They believe it could encourage political and cultural leaders to cease the persecution, exclusion, and discrimination against transgender individuals.

Lunch with Pope Francis

Latin America migrants and sex workers had the opportunity to share a meal with Pope Francis featuring cannelloni pasta filled with spinach and ricotta, followed by meatballs in tomato-basil sauce and tiramisu for dessert, THEM noted.

"We transgenders in Italy feel a bit more human because the fact that Pope Francis brings us closer to the Church is a beautiful thing," Carla Segovia, a 46-year-old sex worker from Argentina, said, expressing gratitude.

Claudia Vittoria Salas, a trans tailor and house cleaner from Argentina, had a personal connection to the recent declaration by the Catholic Church regarding trans godparents.

She shared that she had previously worked as a sex worker to support her nieces and nephews, to whom she served as a godparent. She found herself seated next to Pope Francis during the lunch.

"Before, the church was closed to us. They didn't see us as normal people; they saw us as the devil. Then Pope Francis arrived, and the doors of the church opened for us," Andrea Paola Torres Lopez, a trans woman from Colombia, said, reflecting on the changing perception of the church.

READ NEXT: El Nini, Alleged 'Chapitos' Security Chief, Arrested

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Transgender women go to lunch with Pope Francis - From Associated Press
It is official! Daniel Noboa is now Ecuador's new president and is now the South American country's youngest president ever. However, he faces some very tough challenges ahead as he finally takes office.

While many believe Noboa's youth is an asset, others think his inexperience in politics may also cost him as Ecuador faces plenty of economic and social challenges, as well as an uptick in violence as criminal organizations continue to make their presence felt.

Ecuador used to be a peaceful country but has now become an important hub in the illegal drug trade. Local criminal organizations have teamed up with Colombian and Mexican drug cartels to ship illegal drugs to Europe and the US.

There is also some political instability in the country. Noboa's term will run only through May 2025 as the term he is serving is the remainder of former President Guillermo Lasso's tenure, per the Associated Press.

Despite the mounting challenges he is facing, Noboa, who is the son of one of the richest people in the country, is still forging forward as he received the presidential sash from the head of the country's newly elected legislature, Henry Kronfle in Quito.

New President Daniel Noboa Pledges To Reduce Violence and Create More Jobs

In his inaugural speech, Ecuador's new president, Daniel Noboa, stated, "To fight violence we must fight unemployment. The country needs jobs and to create them I will send urgent reforms to the assembly, which should be treated with responsibility and by putting the country first."

"We cannot keep repeating the same policies of the past expecting to have a different result," he continued before telling everyone that they should all work together to tackle violence and misery, adding, "The job is hard and difficult and the days are few."

READ MORE: Ecuador Political Violence Continues as Local Political Leader Is Killed

According to Reuters, with his tenure as president limited, he is expected to declare a state of emergency for Ecuador. This will allow him to propose laws to the assembly with 30-day approval timelines to address the rising amount of violence in the country. However, this tactic was also used by his predecessor and had little effect on curbing crime.

Ecuador's crime rate is increasing, and it was made worse when presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated by a criminal organization. To further complicate matters, the El Nino phenomenon is causing a massive drought in El Salvador, causing power problems all over the country.

Who Is New Ecuador President Daniel Noboa?

At 35 years old, Daniel Noboa is the youngest president in Ecuador's history. He is also the heir to a billion-dollar banana empire, being the son of one of Ecuador's richest men, Alvaro Noboa, who himself ran for president multiple times and lost.

He graduated with a degree in business administration from New York University and has three master's degrees from Harvard, Northwestern, and George Washington universities. However, despite him being a notable capitalist, he formed an unlikely alliance with leftist former President Rafael Correa and the right-wing Social Christian Party.

READ NEXT: Ecuador: President Guillermo Lasso Asks FBI for Help After Election Murder

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Gravitas: Daniel Noboa Ecuador's 'Banana Heir' is the new President - WION
Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios has been crowned Miss Universe, and both the Daniel Ortega regime and his critics are using the win to their advantage. For the government, it is a rare PR win but for the opposition, it also presents a good way to further spread the injustices being done under the dictatorial government.

President Daniel Ortega's government has expressed that New Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios is the country's "legitimate joy and pride" in a statement made last Sunday. However, this quickly turned into condemnation after it turned out that Palacios graduated from a college that was the center of 2018 protests against the Ortega regime. It also turned out that the new Miss Universe even participated in the anti-Ortega marches that were quickly and violently suppressed by the government.

Because of those 2018 protests, ordinary Nicaraguans are not allowed to carry the national flag in marches. However, with Palacios's win, ordinary citizens took to the streets to celebrate while waving the Nicaraguan flag and the opposition took advantage of this.

According to the Associated Press, people were parading the blue and white colors of Nicaragua and not the red and black Sandinista banner, and the government was not happy about it.

In addition, photos of the new Miss Universe participating in the 2018 protests soon resurfaced on Facebook. This has galvanized the opposition, with many leaders congratulating her openly on social media.

The opposition leaders congratulating her include Roman Catholic priest Silvio Baez, who was once jailed for opposing Ortega. He wrote, "Thank you for bringing joy to our long-suffering country! Thank you for giving us hope for a better future for our beautiful country!"

Nicaragua Government Lashes Out on Rhetoric Reminiscent of North Korea

As the opposition celebrates Palacios' win and the surfaced images of her joining the anti-Ortega protests, Vice President and First Lady Rosario Murillo lashed out Wednesday in what CTV News describes as a "clunky rhetoric reminiscent of North Korea."

READ MORE: Nicaragua Avoiding Accountability by Leaving OAS, Says US State Department

"In these days of a new victory, we are seeing the evil, terrorist commentators making a clumsy and insulting attempt to turn what should be a beautiful and well-deserved moment of pride into destructive coup-mongering," she said in a statement.

Nicaragua has been clamping down on all forms of opposition against the Ortega regime since the 2018 protests. The government jailed or exiled political opponents. It also shut down independent media, kicked out Roman Catholic missionaries and priests, and denied opponents of their Nicaraguan citizenship.

Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios To Focus More on Mental Health Advocacies

Meanwhile, the new Miss Universe has not yet commented on the political situation happening in her country. However, Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios has been very loud in her chosen advocacy of mental health.

The 23-year-old communications specialist has said that she wants to work to promote mental health. According to Marca, this is because she has previously suffered from debilitating anxiety attacks herself. She recently opened up about her insecurities in an interview with Telemundo.

"Number one, with my height, because in my country it's not normal to be 1.77, 1.80, it's considered a pretty big height, so it was typical for people to say to me 'How's the air up there' (...) that gave me a lot of complexes," the new Miss Universe admitted. "Another thing that made me feel very self-conscious for a long time was my skin color, which now I love. I didn't feel it was discrimination at the time, I self-sabotaged myself."

READ NEXT: Daniel Ortega Net Worth

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: MISS UNIVERSE 2023 Sheynnis Palacios FULL PERFORMANCE - All about EVERYTHING
Argentina's President-elect, Javier Milei, affirmed on Friday that the closure of the country's central bank, a central campaign promise, is a "non-negotiable matter," according to Reuters.

This statement, released via social media platform X, was in response to what he referred to as "false rumors." Milei, an outsider libertarian economist, is currently assembling his team in preparation for assuming office on December 10.

Despite indications of a potentially more moderate Cabinet than anticipated, the closure of the central bank remains a firm commitment.

In a noteworthy shift from initial plans, economist Osvaldo Giordano, from the central Cordoba region, will lead Argentina's social security administration ANSES.

This decision is significant given Milei's commitment to reducing state spending and subsidies.

The announcement indicates a departure from the previous intention to appoint a close ally to head the administration.

Furthermore, Horacio Marin, a private executive in the energy sector, has been confirmed as the incoming chief of the state oil company YPF.

READ NEXT: Argentina's New President Javier Milei Faces Daunting Economic Problems

Argentina President-Elect Javier Milei's Economy Minister Remains Unknown

The statement from Argentina's President-elect, Javier Milei, follows a day of intense speculation about key appointments in his upcoming administration, per Buenos Aires Herald.

While Bloomberg reported that Luis Caputo would become the economy minister, sources from La Libertad Avanza (LLA) indicated no official confirmation.

Caputo previously served as Finance Secretary and president of the Central Bank during former President Mauricio Macri's administration.

There was uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the Central Bank, with reports suggesting that Emilio Ocampo, an advocate for dollarization, might not take the position due to the potential appointment of Caputo as the economy minister.

The Herald's sources close to Ocampo did not confirm his decision regarding the role.

Ocampo has been a prominent supporter of abolishing the peso, co-authoring a book titled "Dolarizacion: una solucion para Argentina" ("Dollarization: a solution for Argentina").

This uncertainty appears to be causing some individuals close to the president-elect to distance themselves.

Carlos Rodriguez, previously mentioned by Milei as a top economic advisor, announced that he was ending all formal ties with LLA, expressing a desire to offer his opinions without political party associations.

In the official statement posted on an X account dedicated to sharing Milei's pre-inauguration decisions, two new ministers were confirmed.

Economist Osvaldo Giordano will lead the National Social Security Administration (ANSES), and engineer Horacio Martin will oversee YPF.

The appointment of Giordano sparked controversy as Milei had previously mentioned national deputy Carolina Piparo as the leader of ANSES.

Piparo announced a meeting with the current ANSES director, Fernanda Raverta, on Monday to discuss the transition.

Javier Milei Faces Problems

Javier Milei's ambitious reform agenda, encompassing plans to dollarize the economy, close the central bank, and privatize state-owned entities like YPF, faces considerable challenges, the Financial Times noted.

The realization of these proposals will demand substantial effort and adept political maneuvering.

Milei's libertarian coalition has a limited presence in Congress, and he lacks the support of provincial governors.

Furthermore, he must navigate the demands of the more mainstream conservative bloc, whose backing was pivotal in his recent election victory.

The path ahead for Argentina's President involves striking a delicate balance between his unwavering reformist principles and the complex realities of the country's political landscape.

Success will hinge on Milei's ability to build consensus and navigate the intricate web of political interests.

READ MORE: Pope Francis Meets, Dines with Trans Women

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: What an 'anarcho-capitalist' will do for Argentina - From DW Business
Saying that the Brazilian leg of Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour has been wild would be an understatement. First, it was hit with a tragedy after a fan died due to excessive heat, and now, another fan has just given birth when her water broke during the concert.

The fan death and excessive heat in Brazil postponed the concert. However, during Tay-Tay's Saturday performance, a fan, identified as 24-year-old Maria Mendes, fell ill. She said she was just feeling cramps, but in reality, her water broke just moments before Taylor Swift was supposed to take the stage in Rio de Janeiro. As it turned out, Mendes did not know she was pregnant at that time and thought it was just menstrual cramps.

In an interview with a local Brazilian outlet, G1, Mendes stated that she had been waiting several years to see her favorite artist take the stage. When she was finally about to see her idol, she said that she felt some pain in the morning but brushed it off as normal menstrual cramps. She still went to the venue.

"It was a pain that came and went, but it didn't cross my mind that it was a pregnancy contraction," she said. "I stayed from 10 am until the gate opened, waiting and hoping that the pain would go away soon, as it was close to the show."

However, the pain worsened when she reached her seat at Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium. This was when her water broke.

She was rushed to Salgado Filho Hospital. There, after an ultrasound, she discovered she was pregnant for the first time and then went into labor.

Mendes gave birth to a healthy baby girl, whom she named Maria Flor. She then admitted she had no clue she was expecting a baby despite dealing with constant muscle spasms, according to The Daily Mail.

Brazil Authorities Launch Investigation Into Fan's Death During Taylor Swift Concert

The death of 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado shocked the entire world and even left Taylor Swift herself traumatized. However, the incident has now made Brazilian authorities turn their eye to the concert's organizers, Time For Fun (T4F).

READ MORE: Taylor Swift Traumatized Over Brazil Concert; Thanksgiving Plans in Jeopardy

According to the Huffington Post, the company is being investigated for "the crime of endangering the life and health" of those who attended the show. The organizers reportedly forbade fans from bringing water despite the searing temperatures. Taylor Swift herself called them out on this and asked her own crew to distribute water to the fans.

"Event organizers will be called to testify, and other steps are underway to investigate the facts," a spokesperson for authorities in Rio de Janeiro said in a statement.

Fan Death During Taylor Swift Eras Tour Was a 'Big Miss' for the Organizers, Says Expert

Andrea Davis, the president and CEO of the Resiliency Initiative, spoke with USA Today and told USA Today that the organizing during the first day of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Brazil was a "big miss."

Her company, which consults on crisis management and risk mitigation planning, stated that the company "should have known about the weather," and added, "There should have been protocols for the venue. They should have made sure about the water accessibility, made sure there was plenty of water and if they ran out, had a contingency to get more. They should have had cooling stations and misters. And was the staff trained to be able to go out and see if somebody was struggling and get them to help?"

READ MORE: Taylor Swift Eras Tour Postponed in Brazil After Fan Dies in Rio de Janeiro Show

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Taylor Swift Pays Tribute to Fan Who Died at Concert - Inside Edition
Despite the differences between their husbands, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has requested that former First Lady Melania Trump be invited to her funeral before she died last November 19. It was reported that she thought it was important to show bipartisanship at her funeral, though Melania's husband, Donald Trump, had been burning bridges with all the other former presidents.

Former President Jimmy Carter had been very critical of former President Trump, but a report from the Washington Post showed that his family is willing to honor her wishes and invite "all former first ladies, including Melania Trump."

Chip Carter, the former first couple's son, revealed that his mother was "involved in that decision" to invite Melania Trump, even though she knew his father had "public disagreements over many issues" with Donald Trump. He told the outlet, "My mother was a gracious person, and she would treat everybody with respect, including a former first lady."

Melania Trump To Attend Rosalynn Carter Funeral Along With Her Husband

As for whether or not the Trumps will attend Rosalynn Carter's funeral, in a rare moment of peacemaking, the former president confirmed on Truth Social that he and Melania are both attending, honoring the request made by the late first lady.

As Yahoo! News pointed out, this will be a rare opportunity to see all of the living first ladies together. This will not just include Melania Trump but also Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton, as well as current First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

READ MORE: January 6 Footage Revive Conspiracy Theories Which Quickly Become Debunked

Melania Trump has garnered a reputation for not being one of the most diplomatic first ladies, much like her husband. As Donald Trump did not invite then-President-Elect Joe Biden to the White House after losing the election to him, so did Melania as she also did not extend any courtesy to Dr. Jill Biden as she did not invite her for the customary "a tea and tour" of the White House.

However, despite her differences with the Trumps, Rosalynn Carter had never been petty and still invited Melania. In some way, she managed to get all the former First Ladies of the United States together in a rare moment of unity, and this will be remembered as one of her final acts of grace.

Rosalynn Carter's Advocacy in Mental Health Gets the Spotlight Once Again After Her Death

Before she died at the age of 96, Rosalynn Carter had used her platform as First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) to advocate for mental health, as the issue has a very special place in her heart.

According to NPR, the late First Lady has often pointed out the inadequacies in the US healthcare system when dealing with mental health issues. This was during the 1970s and early 1980s when mental health was not explored as much as it is today, making her ahead of her time. After her husband left office, her advocacy for the matter continued.

She admitted that the subject of mental health was a very uncomfortable topic back then, as family members of people with mental illness would tell her in hushed tones how difficult it is. Her work on shedding light on mental health has been praised by experts on the field, as she did spread awareness into the plight of many,

Dr. Rebecca Brendel, a former president of the American Psychiatric Association, stated in a tribute, "She imagined that we would have mental health treatment, just the same way that people were going to the doctors for their physical health," and this was way ahead of the thinking that we have even today.

READ MORE: Donald Trump is Confused Why Co-Defendants Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro Pleaded Guilty

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Remembering Rosalynn Carter: Georgia's First Lady - 11Alive
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The ASAN (Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network) Center will begin operating in the country's Shusha city next year, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ulvi Mehdiyev told reporters, Trend reports.

He said that work related to the establishment of the ASAN service center has started in Shusha.

From next year, the agency will begin work in Shusha. It's planned to gradually open ASAN service centers in other liberated territories, the official added.

The ASAN service was formed on July 13, 2012. It has headquarters in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Sabirabad, Barda, Masally, Gabala, Guba, Mingachevir, Imishli, and Shaki cities.

ASAN service centers are one-stop shop-based locations that bring together representatives of 10 government entities and private companies providing services in a public-private partnership.

More than 300 services are provided, including birth, death and marriage registration; identity cards; passports; driver licenses; real estate records; immigrant status and other civic services. At the same time, functional support services, including banking, insurance, legal support, translation and other services are rendered at the center.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
In a heartwarming Thanksgiving revelation, Paris Hilton shared a delightful surprise with her followers-a new addition to her family, a daughter named London.

Hilton took to Instagram on Friday, posting a photo of a pink baby outfit with the name "London" printed on it, expressing gratitude for her baby girl in the caption. The socialite heiress followed up with a series of Thanksgiving TikToks, offering a peek into the joyous occasion.

In one video, Hilton and her husband, Carter Reum, joyfully chant "big brother" to their baby son, Phoenix.

It was confirmed by Hilton's representative to The Associated Press that London was welcomed into the world via surrogacy.

Earlier this month, Paris Hilton hinted at expanding her family, expressing eagerness for the prospect of welcoming another child. The socialite also shared her anticipation, stating she "can't wait to have another baby" and expressing a particular desire for a little girl in the future.

Hilton also opened up about her profound affection for her son, describing herself as "obsessed" with the delightful moments they share. She shared glimpses into Phoenix's joyful activities, noting that he spends his time laughing and dancing and exudes a constant, infectious smile.

The hotel heiress further disclosed that, at an early age, Phoenix has already achieved certain linguistic milestones, uttering words like "Mama," "Yes," and adding "Dada" to his repertoire.

READ NEXT: Paris Hilton, Carter Reum Welcome a Baby Boy

Why Is Paris Hilton Baby Named' London'?

In a podcast episode titled 'This is... I'm Pregnant??' on her show "This is Paris," Paris Hilton shared her dream of having a daughter and naming her London.

She expressed that this dream had been with her since childhood, fueled by her love for the pairing of London and Paris, according to Metro UK.

For a boy, Hilton kept the name a secret to maintain an element of surprise and to avoid anyone "stealing" her chosen baby name. London had been her openly shared preference for a considerable period, making it less of a well-kept secret.

When confirming the name of her son, Phoenix, Hilton elaborated on the selection process during a podcast episode featuring an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, "Paris." She disclosed that the name was chosen years ago while scouring a map for cities, countries, and states that would complement both Paris and London.

Explaining the significance of Phoenix, Hilton noted its cultural references and, more importantly, its symbolism as a bird that flames out but rises from the ashes to fly again.

Hilton expressed her desire for her son to grow up understanding the cyclical nature of life, encompassing both adversity and triumph, providing a source of hope for the future.

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum, who had been dating for over a year, announced their engagement in February 2021. The couple solidified their commitment with a lavish three-day wedding ceremony held in November of the same year.

Reum, a Chicago native and a longstanding friend of the Hilton family, is not only an author and entrepreneur but also the founder of the venture capital firm M13.

"It's always been my dream to be a mother, and I'm so happy that Carter and I found each other," Paris Hilton told PEOPLE, expressing her joy and fulfillment as a proud mother after the birth of their son Phoenix.

She expressed excitement about embarking on this journey of parenthood together, emphasizing the overwhelming love they feel for their baby boy.

Reum is already a father to a daughter from a previous relationship with former reality star Laura Bellizzi.

READ MORE: Suki Waterhouse Pregnant

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Paris Hilton Welcomes Baby No. 2 - From E! News
If the giant Star of Bethlehem illuminated each night on South Mountain wasnt enough of an indicator, theres now a giant tree illuminated in Bethlehems Payrow Plaza to remind folks that theyre in the Christmas City at the perfect time of year.

Hundreds gathered at dusk Friday evening at the plaza between Bethlehem City Hall and the Bethlehem Area Public Library to watch as the lights were flipped on for the first time on the citys Christmas tree in the annual post-Thanksgiving ceremony. Other towns in the Lehigh Valley are holding similar events this weekend.

Santa Claus arrived moments after the lighting on a Bethlehem firetruck. Live music, hot chocolate, cookies and ample holiday cheer on a seasonal late-November night were part of the festivities.

Lehighvalleylive.com freelance photographer Donna Fisher was there to capture images of the ceremony. Check out her gallery atop this post.

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RAFAH, Gaza Strip  Hamas has released 24 hostages who had been abducted and held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire that offered a small glimmer of relief to both sides.

Israel  wrenched by the abduction of nearly 240 people in Hamas Oct. 7 deadly attack that triggered the war  cheered as 13 Israeli women and children emerged free from Gaza on Friday. Most were in their 70s or 80s, and the youngest was a 2-year-old child. Also released were 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines.

No Americans were among the 24 hostages who were released Friday, according to President Joe Biden. But the president said he is hopeful some Americans will soon be released, according to ABC News.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said on social media he and his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, are relieved to see the first group of hostages released and pray for the safe return of Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old Bergen County native who was fighting in the Israeli military and has been missing since Hamas deadly attacks on Israel Oct. 7.

Alexander graduated from Tenafly High School last year, and officials have said he is among the hostages being held by Hamas.

We wont rest until all hostages come home, Murphy wrote.

Tammy and I are relieved to see the first group of hostages released. These women and children went through a horrific ordeal at the hands of Hamas.



We applaud @POTUS and pray for the safe return of fellow New Jerseyan Edan Alexander. We wont rest until all hostages come home. https://t.co/eO3yTJOfU3  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 25, 2023

In Gaza, the truces start Friday morning brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

Increased supplies of food, water, medicine and fuel promised under the deal began to roll into Gaza, where U.N. officials had warned that Israels seal on the territory threatened to push it to starvation.

But relief has been tempered  among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the briefness of the pause. The short truce leaves Gaza mired in humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

Israel says the cease-fire could be extended if more hostages are released, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said it had received a new list of hostages to be released by Hamas on Saturday.

But Israel has vowed to resume its massive offensive once the truce ends. That has clouded hopes that the deal could eventually help wind down the conflict, which has fueled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank and stirred fears of a wider conflagration across the Middle East.

People in Tel Aviv, Israel, react as they hear the news of the release of 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza strip. Friday, Nov. 24, marks the start of a four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, during which the Gaza militants pledged to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

First group of hostages released

Under the deal, Hamas is to release at least 50 hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners over the four days. Both sides were starting with women and children. Israel said the four-day truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

After nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages, as seen live on Egypts state-run Al-Qahera TV. The freed Israelis included nine women and four children 9 and under.

The released hostages were taken to three Israeli hospitals for observation. The Schneider Childrens Medical Center said it was treating eight Israelis  four children and four women  and that all appeared to be in good physical condition. The center said they were also receiving psychological treatment, adding that these are sensitive moments for the families.

At a plaza dubbed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, a crowd of Israelis celebrated at the news.

Yael Adar spotted her mother, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, in a TV newscast of the release and was cheered to see her walking. That was a huge concern, what would happen to her health during these almost two months, she told Israels Channel 12.

But Yaels 38-year-old son, Tamir Adar, remained in captivity. Both were kidnapped on Oct. 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Everyone needs to come back. Its happiness locked up in grief.

The hostages included multiple generations. Nine-year-old Ohad Munder-Zichri was freed along with his mother, Keren Munder, and grandmother Ruti Munder. The fourth-grader was abducted during a holiday visit to his grandparents at the kibbutz where about 80 people  nearly a quarter of all residents of the small community  are believed to have been taken hostage.

The plight of the hostages has raised anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenagers held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. In the West Bank town of Beituna, hundreds of Palestinians poured out of their homes to celebrate, honking horns and setting off fireworks that lite up the nights sky.

The teenagers had been jailed for minor offenses like throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers, and others who had been arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I cant really celebrate, said Abdulqader Khatib, a U.N. worker whose 17-year-old son, Iyas, was freed. But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy.

Iyas had been taken last year into administrative detention, without charges or trial and based on secret evidence. Israel often holds detainees for months without charges. Most of those who are tried are put before military courts that almost never acquit defendants and often dont follow due process, human rights groups say.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, Israel is currently holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.

Cease-fire starts

Fridays halt in fighting brought Gazas uprooted population a moment to catch their breath after weeks of fleeing for shelter, searching for food and fearing for family.

After the truce began Friday morning, four trucks of fuel and four trucks of cooking gas entered from Egypt, as well as 200 trucks of relief supplies, Israel said.

Israel has barred all imports into Gaza throughout the war, except for a trickle of supplies from Egypt.

Its ban on fuel, which it said could be diverted to Hamas, caused a territory-wide blackout. Hospitals, water systems, bakeries and shelters have struggled to keep generators running.

During the truce, Israel agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,340 gallons) of fuel per day  still only a small portion of Gazas estimated daily needs of more than 1 million liters.

Most of Gazas 2.3 million people are crowded into the southern portion of the territory, with more than 1 million living in U.N. schools-turned-shelters. The calm brought a chance for displaced residents of the south to visit homes and retrieve some belongings.

But the hundreds of thousands who evacuated from northern Gaza to the south were warned not to return in leaflets dropped by Israel. Israeli troops hold much of the north, including Gaza City.

Still, hundreds of Palestinians tried walking north Friday. Two were shot and killed by Israeli troops and another 11 were wounded.

Sofian Abu Amer decided to risk checking his home in Gaza City.

We dont have enough clothes, food and drinks, he said. The situation is disastrous. Its better for a person to die.

Israels northern border with Lebanon was also quiet on Friday, a day after the militant Hezbollah group, an ally of Hamas, carried out the highest number of attacks in one day since fighting there began Oct. 8.

Hezbollah is not a party to the cease-fire agreement but was widely expected to halt its attacks.

Hopes for a longer peace

The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

The hope is that momentum from the deal will lead to an end to this violence, said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which served as a mediator along with the United States and Egypt.

But hours before it came into effect, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops that their respite would be short and that the war would resume with intensity for at least two more months.

Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government. Women and minors have consistently made up around two-thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.

The ministry says some 6,000 people have been reported missing, feared buried under rubble. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its death tolls.

Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence for its count.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Full AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission says Upper Mount Bethel Township Supervisor David Friedman violated the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act.

Friedman said he not only disputes that ruling but he is appealing the decision.

The ethics commission ruled in October that Friedman committed ethics violations when he participated in deliberations and twice voted against motions of the Upper Mount Bethel Township Board of Supervisors, which eliminated his personal liability for counsel fees relating to a lawsuit that he and others had previously filed against the township,

The commission ruled Friedmans actions were a violation, however, it did not impose a fine or consider the matter criminal in nature.

Turning to the matter of referral, although Friedmans conduct in this matter was a clear violation of the public trust, we do not find his conduct to be so egregious as to warrant referral of this matter to the Pennsylvania Attorney General for review, the commission order states.

Friedman said he sought advisory counsel from the ethics commission after he was elected supervisor specifically to avoid acting in a way that would be an ethics violation.

In September 2020, township supervisors passed a zoning text amendment at the request of River Pointe Logistics Center, a proposed 800-acre industrial development on River Road in the township.

Friedman, who was not a supervisor at the time, and several other residents formed the Concerned Citizens of Upper Mount Bethel Township, or CCUMBT, and filed a lawsuit against the township that alleged the township did not act appropriately regarding the text amendment.

In the November 2021 election, Friedman won a seat on the Upper Mount Bethel Township Board of Supervisors.

On Nov. 10, 2021, Friedman requested advice from the state ethics commission whether he should withdraw his name from the lawsuit in order to vote on issues pertaining to the text amendment and he asked if he will he need to disassociate himself from CCUMBT.

You will need to recuse yourself from any action regarding the Text Amendment so long as you (or an immediate family member) remain associated with the lawsuit and/or CCUMBT, the commissions Advice of Counsel dated Dec. 6, 2021, states.

Friedman said he immediately quit CCUMBT and requested that he be removed as an appellant in the lawsuit against the township. An order dated Feb. 4, 2022, by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania granted Friedmans request to be removed as an appellant.

In May 2022, Supervisor Robert Teel made a motion to instruct the township solicitor to investigate if the township could recover legal costs due to the lawsuit brought by CCUMBT members, which passed 3-2 with Friedman voting against it.

The next month in June 2022, Teel made a motion to countersue the applicants of the original lawsuit for the townships legal expenses, which failed by a 2-3 vote with Friedman voting against it.

Friedman said he removed himself as an appellant as per the ethics commissions advice, so, he did not have conflict of interest in participating in the votes.

Its my contention Ive done nothing wrong because I listened to the ethics commission, Friedman said. I listened to their specific advice.

The ethics commission also noted in its advice and eventual ruling that a public official cannot use his authority for his private pecuniary, or monetary, benefit.

Voting against authorizing a lawsuit against the appellants was a conflict of interest for Friedman, according to the commission. Even though Friedman had removed himself as an appellant, he still may have been financially liable from his previous inclusion in the lawsuit.

Friedman said the commission calculated his potential liability incorrectly based on the timeline of his removal from the lawsuit. He also said he didnt feel the supervisors would have had legal standing to sue the appellants anyway.

The motion I felt was illegal, Friedman said. The board was trying to sue its own citizens, which is a violation of their first amendment rights.

According to the Public Official Ethics Act, any advice from the commission is a complete defense in any enforcement proceeding initiated by the commission.

Friedman said he acted in good faith in accordance with the commissions advice he received and should never have received the violation.

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A Peace walk in Laois organised for Portlaoise has had to be called off following consultation with gardai and local authorities, according to one of the main orgainsers.

Naeem Iqbal, who was among the organisers of the pro-Palestine event, issued a statement on November 25 the day before the event was due to take place on behalf of the organisers. The Fianna Fail local election candidate confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the event was called off due to the impact the riots in Dublin.

"In light of recent events and advice from an Garda Siochanna and the local authorities, the planned peace walk for Sunday (26/11/2023) has been postponed. A future date will be planned.

"Thank you all for your continued support, if anyone would like to continue to donate you can do via Irish Palestine Support Campaign (IPSC) website or directly to the Laois IPSC branch.

"We will continue to organise events in the future and volunteers are welcomed to continue our efforts for our brothers and sisters in Palestine," said the statement.

It is understood that there was immediate nervousness about the event among the organisers in the wake of the riots in Dublin that followed the stabbings of children and their teacher in Dublin.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. With a strong local team and multiple facilities across the Caspian, we're well-equipped to support diverse projects in this region, Steven Travers, Europe and Caspian Region Director at Baker Hughes oil field services company told Trend on the sidelines of the SPE Caspian Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Baku.

"For instance, in Uzbekistan, we're deeply involved in an ongoing design project, collaborating closely with local operating companies, aligning our strategies with the evolving market dynamics", he said.

Travers noted that the company's activities in Uzbekistan underline the commitment to adapt to new companies and investments that fall within Baker Hughes' expertise and business objectives.

"Moreover, my team in particular specializes in subsurface consulting. While our hub is based in Baku, we are actively engaged in Tajikistan's oil sector development, currently operational in Turkmenistan, and possess a substantial business presence in Kazakhstan," the company representative added.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a warning to parents and adults about the safety risks surrounding popular Christmas presents for kids.

The RSA is urging people not to purchase e-scooters, scramblers or quad bikes as gifts for any children this Christmas.

The warning was highlighted ahead of last night's Late Late Toy Show on RTE with thousands of children across Ireland tuning in to one of the staples of the Irish Christmas calendar.

Three e-scooter riders were killed and 48 seriously injured on Irish roads between January 1 2022 and September 24 2023. During the same period, one other road user was killed and 11 more seriously injured in collisions involving e-scooters.

Parents should not consider purchasing an e-scooter for any child this Christmas," said Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA.

"It is important that parents and members of the public are also aware of the risks associated with quadbikes and scrambled.

"They are intended to be driven by people in a supervised and controlled environment who understand the threat when driven on uneven ground, Mr Waide explained.

Casualty figures show that between 2017 and 2021, 88 people were injured in collisions involving a quadbike or scrambler on a public road. In the same period, there were four fatalities involving quad bikes or scramblers on public roads.

Following the passing of legislation earlier this year permitting their use, people will be allowed to drive e-scooters on Irish roads next year. However, under the regulations, children will not be allowed to use them.

Under the legislation, which will come into force in 2024, you must be 16 years or older to use an e-scooter in Ireland.
A Naas District Court defendant was accused of being in possession of money that is the suspected proceeds of criminal conduct.

The allegations were made by gardai in the case of Eoin Poole, with an address listed as 1846 Lourdesville in Kildare town, but who is currently remanded in custody.

The 30-year-old accused appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan via video-link on Thursday, November 23 last.

Gardai allege that on February 20 last, Mr Poole was spotted acting in a suspicious manner by gardai on patrol at Eyre Street in Newbridge.

They claim that when they stopped and searched Mr Poole, they allegedly found 1,186 in cash on his person.

Gardai added that as a result, he was arrested and later brought to Newbridge Garda Station.

After hearing the alleged details of the accusations made by the State against Mr Poole, Judge Zaidan refused jurisdiction over the case.

He adjourned the case to January 1, 2024, to allow time for approval of his decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions and for service of a book of evidence.

A separate Naas District Court matter involving Mr Poole as a defendant was adjourned by the judge to December 7.

Judge Zaidan remanded Mr Poole in custody until the latter date.
The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called on all public representatives to back farming and our rural communities by voting against the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) when it comes before the Irish and European Parliaments for final ratification.



Speaking on this INHFA President Vincent Roddy detailed how the compromised text agreed in Brussels last week will create major problems for many farmers and the wider rural community.



For the estimated 50,000 farmers impacted we will, he stated see a major reduction in farming activity and in some instances see the cessation of all farming activity.



This he added will impact well beyond the farm gate, undermining the rural economy but critically failing to deliver for nature.



Staying with the issue of protecting and enhancing our natural environment, the INHFA President outlined how many of our existing habitats are dependent on farming activity and have developed alongside sustainable farming practices.



These practices are, he continued, best seen on High Nature Value (HNV) farming systems developed and sustained through these extensive low-input farming systems.



Beyond the possible impact on existing HNV farmlands, the NRL in its current form could, stressed Roddy see lands subject to the law no longer eligible for CAP payments, especially if this land is deemed to be an ecological ecosystem rather than an agricultural area.



This he added is an issue we raised with personnel involved in the final drafting of this law and the fact that our concerns and proposals were ignored is something that is very concerning.



Moving on from the threat to CAP payments, the INHFA leader also outlined concerns around the funding gaps clearly evident in last weeks agreement.



It is, he stressed, shocking that we are developing a law that will massively impact farmers and their communities and there is no budget to support them.



When these designations were first introduced no one imagined that they would impact like they have and this is a lesson we must learn with regard to the NRL.The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called on all public representatives to back farming and our rural communities by voting against the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) when it comes before the Irish and European Parliaments for final ratification.



Speaking on this INHFA President Vincent Roddy detailed how the compromised text agreed in Brussels last week will create major problems for many farmers and the wider rural community.



For the estimated 50,000 farmers impacted we will, he stated see a major reduction in farming activity and in some instances see the cessation of all farming activity.



This he added will impact well beyond the farm gate, undermining the rural economy but critically failing to deliver for nature.



Staying with the issue of protecting and enhancing our natural environment, the INHFA President outlined how many of our existing habitats are dependent on farming activity and have developed alongside sustainable farming practices.



These practices are, he continued, best seen on High Nature Value (HNV) farming systems developed and sustained through these extensive low-input farming systems.



Beyond the possible impact on existing HNV farmlands, the NRL in its current form could, stressed Roddy see lands subject to the law no longer eligible for CAP payments, especially if this land is deemed to be an ecological ecosystem rather than an agricultural area.



This he added is an issue we raised with personnel involved in the final drafting of this law and the fact that our concerns and proposals were ignored is something that is very concerning.



Moving on from the threat to CAP payments, the INHFA leader also outlined concerns around the funding gaps clearly evident in last weeks agreement.



It is, he stressed, shocking that we are developing a law that will massively impact farmers and their communities and there is no budget to support them.



When these designations were first introduced no one imagined that they would impact like they have and this is a lesson we must learn with regard to the NRL.
FeatureUganda wants to stop importing used clothes, which are extremely popular, in order to develop its textile industry. The decision is in line with the East African regional bloc's directive but has proven challenging for governments to enforce.

"Stop buying second-hand clothes, they are the clothes of the dead!" declared Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the end of August, as he announced his intention to ban imports of used clothing. The provocative statement did not encounter much opposition: In this poor, landlocked East African country, where little or nothing is bought on a whim, it's not hard to believe that it's end-of-life, rather than consumerism and fast fashion, that drives white people to part with the vast quantities of clothing that flood the region, and more widely the continent. The presidential remark was no doubt intended to steer Ugandan consumers away from these highly popular products.

Entire containers, mainly from the US and Europe, pour into African capitals every day to meet demand. According to a 2015 Oxfam study, 70% of donated clothes end up in Africa. In Nairobi, for instance, markets and street vendors spill out onto the main thoroughfares, sometimes with a few items hanging on a rack or shoes laid out on a large cardboard box. In the Kenyan capital, a long way from France, it's not unusual to come across a passer-by wearing a cap emblazoned with "La Clusaz," a ski resort in Haute-Savoie, or a T-shirt adorned with the unlikely words, "Aquitaine Region."

Sylivia Namatovu, 30, sells second-hand clothes at Owino, Kampala's largest second-hand clothing market, on October 24, 2023. KATUMBA BADRU FOR LE MONDE

In Kampala, the capital's vast and bustling Owino market is the nerve center of this trade. In addition to caged chickens, dried fish and kitchen utensils, this huge, frenetic labyrinth is home to thousands of second-hand stalls, specializing in dresses, sportswear, hats and jeans.

Sylivia Namatovu, who is known as "Shareen" having converted to Islam, sells baby clothes starting from 5,000 Ugandan shillings, the equivalent of just over 1. The shopkeeper also stocks some new items but stresses that it's the second-hand ones that sell the quickest: Consumers prefer sturdy and consistently more affordable second-hand options over lower-quality, more expensive Asian designs. "I can sell 10 second-hand pieces for every five new ones," she said, perched on her small stand amid piles of tiny bodysuits and pants.

For the sellers, the announcement rings like a catastrophe, and they choose to believe it only half-heartedly. "If this is the end of second-hand goods, I'll just have to go back to the village," joked this 30-something from the Rakai district in the far south, as she showed a pregnant customer some baby pyjamas  some velvet-lined, despite the tropical heat. A few dozen meters away, 26-year-old Francis Kibalama was selling children's hats. He claimed to earn an average of 200,000 Ugandan shillings a month (50). "The ban is not good, because it's thanks to these bundles of clothes that we can eat," he said. According to the industry's association, four million people, including importers, wholesalers and small informal retailers, make their living directly and indirectly from second-hand clothes.

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The ten Thai hostages (with a Thai official, center, in shirt), after their release on November 24, 2023 (photo released on November 25 by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs). MINISTeRE THAiLANDAIS DES AFFAIRES eTRANGeRES/AFP

The release of 10 Thai hostages on Friday, November 24, as part of the four-day truce agreed between Israel and Hamas, was the crowning moment of a month of frenetic diplomatic activity on the part of a country that claims to be neutral and friendly to all, but is little invested in the Middle East. Srettha Thavisin's government only took office at the end of August, and the hostage crisis was its baptism by fire. Thirty-nine Thais were killed by Hamas bullets on October 7. Twenty others remain captive in Gaza after the first day of handovers. All were among the 30,000 Thai farm workers employed on Israeli kibbutzes under an agreement between the two countries.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Thai farm workers, collateral victims of Hamas attacks

The vast majority of them come from Isan, the large, impoverished region in the northeast of the country that happens to be the stronghold of Pheu Thai ("Party for the Thais"), the party of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which took the lead in the coalition formed after the May 14 elections.

Directly after the October 7 Hamas attacks, Thavisin's government immediately appointed the House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha to run the mission. "Wan Noor," a Muslim politician who has long represented the southern provinces, populated mainly by Thai-Malays, Sunnis like himself, is also a close ally of Pheu Thai. Wan Noor set about activating his networks, notably in Malaysia, where Hamas has a presence.

Saiyid Sulaiman Husaini, the influential leader of a Thai Shiite association, then organized a trip to Tehran on October 27 by Wan Noor's advisors. Iran is the main political and financial supporter of Hamas in the Middle East. On this occasion, the president's emissaries received assurances from Hamas representatives that the Thai hostages would be released as soon as Israel agreed to a truce.

Following this initial breakthrough, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, visited Qatar on October 31. In addition to his Qatari counterpart, he met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who assured him of "Iran's full support".

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Iranian Minister Amir-Abdollahian aspires to lead the 'axis of resistance' against Israel and the United States

The following day, the head of Thai diplomacy made a stopover in Cairo to enlist Egypt's cooperation. Consultations continued right up to the last minute. On Thursday, Wan Nor welcomed the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani to Bangkok to discuss the hostage issue. On Friday evening, as soon as the former Thai hostages arrived in Israel, where they will remain for 48 hours under medical supervision, Bangkok expressed its thanks to "all those from whom [Thailand] asked for help, namely the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and the International Committee of the Red Cross."
President, Andry Rajoelina, addresses supporters at an election rally in Antananarivo, November 12, 2023. ALEXANDER JOE / AP

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has won re-election in the first round of a ballot boycotted by nearly all opposition candidates, the election commission said on Saturday, November 25. Madagascar voters chose 'stability', Rajoelina said after his being elected for a third time.

Rajoelina won 58.95% of the votes cast in the November 16 election, according to the results presented by the poll body. Turnout was just over 46%, down on the previous presidential election in 2018.

Rajoelina, 49, first came to power in 2009 following a mutiny that ousted former president Marc Ravalomanana. He then skipped the following elections only to make a winning comeback in 2018.

The 11 million voters had to choose between Rajeolina and 12 other candidates. Ten of the incumbent's rivals refused to campaign and urged voters to shun the ballot, branding it a farce.

Rajoelina, a former mayor of the capital Antananarivo, is accused by rivals of corruption, greed, and turning a blind eye to the pillage of the country's natural resources, including its precious rosewood forests.

"What results? What election?" was the joint opposition response to a request for comment on Rajeolina's victory. "We will not recognise the results of this illegitimate election, riddled with irregularities, and we decline all responsibility for the political and social instability that could ensue", the opponents warned.

Ruling party supporters of President, Andry Rajoelina, attend an election rally in Antananarivo, November 12, 2023. ALEXANDER JOE / AP

'Worrying anomalies'

The opposition has not yet indicated if it will formally contest the result and has not called for more street demonstrations. In the weeks leading up to the vote, the opposition  including two former presidents  led near-daily, largely unauthorised protests that were regularly dispersed by police using tear gas.

Madagascar has been in turmoil since media reports in June revealed Rajoelina had acquired French nationality in 2014. Under local law, the president should have lost his Madagascan nationality, and with it, the ability to lead the country, his opponents said.

Opposition candidates complained of an "institutional coup" in favour of the incumbent, accusing government of working to reappoint Rajoelina. They called for the electoral process to be suspended and for the international community to intervene.

Eight countries and organisations including the European Union and the United States expressed concern about the "disproportionate use of force" to disperse opposition demonstrations.

The opposition has denounced irregularities, including closed polling stations, a lack of ballot boxes and the use of state resources by Rajoelina for his campaign.

One of the two opponents who formally remained in the race, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, also denounced "worrying anomalies" which he said "raise legitimate questions about the validity of the results."

The results still have to be validated by the High Constitutional Court, the country's highest court, within nine days, during which appeals in the event of a challenge can be lodged.
A LIMERICK hurler was one of a number of men who punched a man on the ground and was standing on top of him as well, a trial has heard.

A witness - Christopher Heelan, from Caherdavin, a UL engineering graduate working in Frankfurt, Germany - said he knew who Mr Hayes was from seeing him on the TV and the hurling.

The fourth day of the trial, which is being heard before a jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, took place this Friday.

Craig Cosgrave, aged 24, of Caherelly, Grange, Limerick and Kyle Hayes, aged 25, of Ballyoshea, Kildimo, Limerick have both pleaded not guilty to alleged offences relating to an incident in the early hours of October 28, 2019.

Mr Cosgrave is charged with one count of violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre.

Mr Hayes, a five-time All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler and four-time All-Star, is charged with violent disorder in the Icon nightclub; violent disorder at Upper Denmark Street, Limerick and assault causing harm at Upper Denmark Street.

On Monday, another man - Jai Chaudri, aged 22, of Carheeny, Kildimo, Limerick also pleaded not guilty to a charge of engaging in violent disorder at Upper Denmark Street and assault causing harm to Mr McCarthy at Upper Denmark Street on the same date.

However, following legal argument this Friday, Judge Dermot Sheehan, presiding, told the jurors that they do not have to concern themselves with Jai Chaudri any further.

Later in the day, prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, asked Mr Heelan if he noticed anything about the alleged injured party Cillian McCarthy when he was standing outside Smyths on the night in question.

There was blood on his T-shirt and jumper and blood coming from his nose. I asked him what happened. He said he was hit in the Icon by Kyle Hayes, said Mr Heelan, who knew one of the men across the road in the vicinity of Kyle Hayes.

I went over to him to see if he knew anything. He didnt. Kyle came towards me and a few other gentlemen. He wanted to know who I am and what did I have to do with the situation, said Mr Heelan, who asked why Mr McCarthy was hit.

Mr OSullivan asked if he received a response from Mr Hayes? I cannot remember, said Mr Heelan, who said he attempted to diffuse the situation and split people up.

I was not successful. Both Cillian and Craig Cosgrave (one of the accused) ended up on the floor in the foetal position. I believe Kyle Hayes was punching and standing on top of him as well, said Mr Heelan, who added that there were in the region of three to five men involved.

Brian McInerney SC, defence barrister for Mr Hayes, said that Mr Heelan saw himself as the peacemaker or the Kofi Annan of Limerick.

Mr McInerney said that Mr McCarthy said in his evidence on Thursday that Mr Heelan told Mr McCarthy: Kyle Hayes wanted to fight me one-on-one around the corner.

He may have. I dont recollect, said Mr Heelan. Mr McInerney referred to Mr Heelans statement to gardai a month after the alleged incidents when he didnt refer to Kyle Hayes wanting a fight around the corner.

Mr McInerney also questioned him about the location of the alleged assault.

If you dont know where this happened you cant be sure of what you saw, said Mr McInerney.

Mr Heelan said it did not stay in the original location. Im not sure of the exact position, said Mr Heelan.

The first witness on Friday morning was Aislinn Condon, a school teacher from Crecora - one of the two girls with whom the alleged victim Mr McCarthy and the accused Craig Cosgrave were talking to in Smyths.

Ms Condon said she and her friends Aisling Coughlan, Mr McCarthy and Mr Cosgrave were dancing and just having a laugh.

She said Mr Hayes came over and asked Mr Cosgrave, Why are you dancing with my friend? What are you doing? She is seeing my friend.

It wasn't like he (Mr Cosgrave) was trying to get with her (Ms Coughlan) or anything. I pulled Craig away. Aisling pulled Kyle away, said Ms Condon.

Mr OSullivan asked if Mr McCarthy did anything.

No. He just stood up for his friend, said Ms Condon.

Mr McInerney put it to Ms Condon that when she is out with her female friends that they have each other's backs. Ms Condon agreed.

Ms Coughlan, a civil servant from Mungret, was the next witness. She said she was with her friend Ms Condon, who bumped into one of her friends Mr McCarthy and his friend Mr Cosgrave.

She said they were chatting and dancing. Ms Coughlan said she didnt know what Mr Hayes said to Mr Cosgrave but they had an intense conversation.

Mr OSullivan asked if she said anything? I said leave it off to both of them, said Ms Coughlan.

Mr McInerney put it to Ms Coughlan that when she is out with her female friends that they have each other's backs. Ms Coughlan agreed.

Mr McInerney said that if a man was persisting with one of their friends they would stick up for her and he would be told to desist. Ms Coughlan agreed.

You were seeing somebody? asked Mr McInerney. Yes, for a few weeks, said Ms Coughlan.

A friend of Kyle Hayes? asked Mr McInerney.

Yes, said Ms Coughlan.

The trial continues on Tuesday.
THE national apprenticeship awards ceremony for Limerick and Clare education and training board (ETB) and Kerry ETB took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Apprentices from a wide range of disciplines were conferred including: aircraft and agricultural mechanics, carpentry and joinery, construction plant fitting, electrical, hairdressing, metal fabrication, motor mechanics, pipefitting, plumbing and stonemasonry.

One of this years graduates from Limerick was 25-year-old plumbing apprentice, Dean Territt from Dooradoyle, who travelled home from Australia for the ceremony.

According to Dean, he was inspired to learn a trade by his grandfather who was a fitter.

Dean said he loved to watch his granddad working when he was growing up and knew then he wanted to find a trade for himself..

Another graduate was a hairdressing apprentice, Kate Enright from Kilfinny.

Kate said she also knew what she wanted to do from a young age, working for the last 14 years as a hairdresser in the Purple Rain salon in Croom.

Kate said that she was thrilled when the opportunity to be part of the first cohort of national hairdressing apprenticeship graduates, who have completed a three year programme.

Chief executive of Iarnrod Eireann Jim Meade was the guest speaker. Congratulating the graduating apprentices, he told the newly qualified apprentices that this was just the beginning of their stories, and encouraged them to test themselves.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Hungary is interested in piling up gas imports from Azerbaijan to some 1 billion cubic meters annually, Hungarys Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in an exclusive interview with Trend, as he visited Azerbaijan.

He noted that Hungary would like to diversify its energy sources, including the gas sources and the delivery routes.

For us diversification doesnt mean that there would be replacement of the current sources with other ones. Diversification for us means that we add new sources to our energy mix. Therefore, Azerbaijan is a very important partner of cooperation. We have already agreed on terms of delivering 100 million cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan to Hungary already this year. We are interested in piling it up to some 1 billion cubic meters annually, said the minister.

Unfortunately, said Szijjarto, it does not exclusively depend on Azerbaijan and Hungary.

It depends on the infrastructure, capacity of the delivery routes through the South-Eastern Europe. We have already turned to the European Commission to help us with financial means in order to increase the capacity of the infrastructure in the South-Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, so far, the EU is rejective, which is unacceptable from our perspective. They say that within 15 years gas is not going to be part of the national energy mix. We say, number one: we dont know and number two: even if it is the case, what happens in the next 14 years? While European Commission is putting pressure on us to diversify sources, but they are not ready to take part in financing the capacity increase of the South-East European infrastructure. But we are working together with Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia in order to find solutions, he said.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
THERE were joyful scenes at Dublin Airport this Saturday morning as hundreds of Irish troops were flown home from a deployment in Lebanon.

Over 200 Irish troops from the 122nd Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (UNIFIL) returned to Ireland on Saturday, November 25, following a six-month deployment to South Lebanon.

The personnel landed in Dublin at approximately 11.15am, and were met by their families and friends.

Drawn from many different units around the country across the Army and Air Corps, the majority of the 122nd Infantry Battalion's personnel are drawn from the 12th Infantry Battalion based in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick city.

Posting on social media, the Defence Forces welcomed home the men and women of the 122nd Infantry Battalion.

"After a 6 month tour of duty in Lebanon our personnel are safely back on Irish soil! Enjoy your time off and have a great Christmas!" a post on X(formerly Twitter) read.

"Best of luck to the 123rd Battalion, now deployed to UNIFIL, continuing Irelands unbroken record of service in the cause of international peace and security," it continued.

Click through to see more heartwarming pics from the 122nd Battalion's homecoming.
New studies indicate that articles from liberal media sources express a higher level of opposition towards artificial intelligence (AI) compared to their conservative counterparts. This opposition is often rooted in concerns regarding AI's potential to exacerbate societal issues such as racial and gender biases, as well as income inequality, according to researchers from Virginia Tech University in the United States, reported PTI.

The researchers noted that the media's stance on artificial intelligence, as reflected in public sentiment, can significantly influence policymakers' perspectives. Consequently, these findings carry potential implications for shaping future political dialogues on AI. The research was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Additionally, the researchers highlighted that the variations in sentiment toward AI within partisan media outlets could potentially contribute to divergent public opinions on the subject.

"Media sentiment is a powerful driver of public opinion, and many times policymakers look towards the media to predict public sentiment on contentious issues," stated Angela Yi, study author and a PhD student in the marketing department of Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business.

In conducting the study, the researchers assembled a dataset comprising more than 7,500 articles on artificial intelligence published between May 2019 and May 2021. These articles were sourced from diverse media outlets, including liberal-leaning publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post, as well as conservative-leaning outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. The selection criteria involved identifying articles with specific keywords such as "algorithm" or "artificial intelligence."

The researchers utilized an automated text analysis tool to examine the "emotional tone" of the collected articles. This tool operated by quantifying the variance between the percentage of positive emotion words and the percentage of negative emotion words within a given text. Subsequently, each article received a standardized 'emotional tone' measure or score based on this analysis.

Reportedly, the researchers clarified that they refrained from making judgments about whether the liberal media or conservative media were operating optimally. They emphasized that they did not take a stance on what should be considered the "right way" to engage in discussions about AI.

"We are just showing that these differences exist in the media sentiment and that these differences are important to quantify, see, and understand," said Shreyans Goenka, a study author and assistant professor of marketing at Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business.

The researchers also investigated the shift in media sentiment toward AI following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black American man, lost his life in Minneapolis, USA, when Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white police officer, was involved in the tragic incident.

"Since Floyd's death ignited a national conversation about social biases in society, his death heightened social bias concerns in the media," stated Yi.

"This, in turn, resulted in the media becoming even more negative towards AI in their storytelling," Yi added.

(With inputs from PTI)

Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.
BERLINBayer Chief Executive Bill Anderson said the company would bounce back quickly from a recent spate of bad news, and warned that a breakup of the pharmaceutical and agricultural company was no universal cure for its ailments.

A stream of negative news has rekindled calls from investors for Bayer to unlock value by spinning off its units into separate businesses. But in an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week, Anderson said the company couldnt be distracted from the tough restructuring to fix the businesses.

If we dont have the most agile and responsive approach to product development, customer proximity and how we run our businesses, breaking [the company] into pieces isnt going to solve things," he said. No structural options are going to make up for lack of great execution."

Over the past week, the German company canceled a clinical trial for a drug it had hoped would underpin future profit. Bayer, whose products include aspirin and the Roundup weedkiller, was also ordered by a Missouri court to pay $1.56 billion to four plaintiffs who claimed Roundup caused their cancera decision the company is appealing.

The court decision reminded investors that Bayer still faced unquantifiable liabilities stemming from its 2018 acquisition of Monsanto. And the abandoned clinical trial dashed hopes Bayer had found a successor to lucrative drugs whose patents are expiring soon.

The combined news sent Bayer shares tumbling on Monday. By the end of the week, Bayers market capitalization fell 8.7 billion euros, equivalent to $9.5 billion, to 32 billion, lower than the companys net debt of 38.7 billion at the end of third quarter. Bayer shares have lost 21% of their value since last Fridays close.

The company reported a net loss of 4.57 billion for the third quarter on losses in its crop-science business and declining sales and earnings in pharmaceuticals.

Anderson, who became CEO in June, has been tasked to clean up his predecessors disastrous Monsanto acquisition and re-energize Bayers pharma-to-consumer businesses.

After joining Bayer, the Texas native appointed a team of experts including investment bankers to map out potential breakup scenarios. In October, he said the company had ruled out a three-way split and promised more clarity early next year.

Anderson said in this weeks Journal interview that the recent troubles didnt require him to rethink his strategy for transforming the company, adding that more work had to be done before any breakup could be considered.

The CEO is pressing to thin out Bayers bloated bureaucracy to put more decision-making power into the hands of individual managers running teams and businesses, a change that he said would give them a sense of ownership and accelerate product innovation.

We want to rapidly bring this new system into place," Anderson said. But in the meantime we continue to have a close dialogue with our shareholders about the different options."

The team studying strategic options is looking at how spinning off some operations would affect the company, Anderson said. They need to review how the companys leverage and financial flexibility would be altered, he added, saying any change couldnt come at the expense of operational performance.

Bayer has three core business: pharmaceuticals, crop science and consumer health, which deals with nonprescription over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin, which the company began making in 1899 and is now one of the most common household medicines.

Investors who have called for a breakup, such as Bluebell Capital, argue that Bayers share price suffers from a conglomerate discountthat the individual parts of the company are more valuable separately than the sum of the parts as a whole. Separate companies, they argue, would also be more focused and able to make faster decisions.

Charlie Bentley, analyst for the brokerage Jefferies, wrote in a recent note that if all options are on the table, its time to carve up." He said the failure of recent drug trials leaves Bayer facing a patent cliff" where its current product Xarelto, a blood thinner, is due to expire. This setback increases challenges facing the new CEO," he said in a note this week.

Bayers pharmaceutical business generated 13.5 billion in sales and 3.8 billion in profit during the first nine months of this year. This weeks announcement that Bayer was halting late-stage trials of asundexian, an experimental anticoagulant designed to prevent strokes in risk patients, leaves the companys drug pipeline looking dangerously empty.

Anderson said the decision was not a shock from the standpoint that this could happen.  I think what it does is it puts more emphasis on the importance of our early pipeline efforts and some of the late-stage trials that are ongoing."

Analysts estimate that the failed drug could have generated as much as 5 billion in revenue.

This really increases the pressure on Anderson to strengthen the pipeline, and that is going to be difficult to do organically. They will need to make acquisitions," said Markus Manns, a senior portfolio manager at Union Investment, a German investment fund.

One problem is that Bayers acquisition of Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018 left the company saddled with debt, restricting its ability to make acquisitions.

Another is the legal baggage the deal brought with it, which leaves Bayer facing hard-to-compute costs in the future.

Andersons predecessor, Werner Baumann, launched a bid for Monsanto just 10 days after becoming CEO. Baumann had expected that a combination of Bayers agrochemical businessknown for its strength in pesticideswith Monsantos seeds business would create a global juggernaut.

Yet within weeks of the deals completion, Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, lost a lawsuit by a consumer who claimed that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsantos Roundup weedkiller, had caused his cancer. Bayer was ordered to pay $289.2 million in damages, an amount later reduced on appeal.

During an analyst call this week, Bayer said it had settled 113,000 glyphosate cases in the U.S. from an original list of 165,000. The company says it currently faces about 50,000 cases and plans to litigate each one if necessary.

After winning a series of cases, Bayer has lost the past four lawsuits in a row, raising the stakes as the company continues to fight back. Bayer said that on appeal the companys lawyers have been able to reduce awards by 90%.

Were going to continue to vigorously defend ourselves. We believe wholeheartedly in the importance of glyphosate and the safety of glyphosate when used as advised," Anderson told the Journal.

Write to William Boston at william.boston@wsj.com
Air India, India's largest international carrier by available seat kilometers (ASK), is expanding its international network with new flights to Phuket, Thailand. The airline will commence operations to Phuket from December 15, 2023, with four weekly flights initially, increasing to daily service from January 8, 2024. Phuket is the first of four new international destinations that Air India plans to launch by the end of March 2024.

Capitalizing on Visa-Free Travel

Thailand has added India to its list of visa-free countries, effective from November 10, 2023, until May 2024. Currently, four Indian carriers, four Thai carriers, and one Bhutanese carrier operate direct flights between India and Thailand. However, IndiGo remains the sole carrier offering flights to Phuket.

With a previously affordable and easily obtainable visa, including an "on-arrival" option, Thailand has always been a popular tourist destination. By introducing visa-free travel, Thailand has ensured renewed attention and solidified its position as a mass tourism destination.

Also Read | Thailand extends visa-free entry to Indian and Taiwanese tourists for six months

Delhi as the Air India Hub

Air India holds an advantage over IndiGo in terms of transferring passengers, as all its operations are under one roof. However, for international-to-international transfers, both airlines stand on equal footing.

Seven of Thailand's top ten source markets are Asian countries, with the remaining three being Germany, the UK, and the USA. None of these three countries have direct connections to Phuket, except for seasonal charters from the UK.

This traffic is currently handled by Middle Eastern carriers. Air India's timings offer competitive two-way connections from London to Phuket, while connecting flights from other European and American cities have long layovers.

Taking on IndiGo

With its Phuket expansion, Air India has clearly signaled its intention to take on IndiGo head-on, the only airline offering nonstop flights from Delhi to Phuket.

On average, 5,000 passengers fly nonstop between India and Thailand daily. Around 200 passengers fly nonstop to Phuket from Delhi, while the rest connect via Bangkok or use alternative modes of transportation. Air India's offering allows passengers to combine multiple destinations without changing airlines.

Also Read | IndiGo, Air India to source parts locally

Air India will seek an edge over IndiGo through its interline arrangement with Bangkok Air.

Significantly, Air India is entering a small, monopoly-controlled market currently dominated by IndiGo, which has a cost advantage over Air India and offers more frequencies and destinations in Phuket and Thailand.

If this expansion strategy continues, Air India could also launch flights to Phuket from Mumbai.

Tail Note

The new flights will add to the existing 265 weekly departures between India and Thailand. The Air India group plans to induct one new aircraft every six days, enabling rapid expansion within India and beyond. Phuket's launch indicates Air India's willingness to challenge IndiGo.

Most Read | IREDA IPO: What GMP, subscription status signal? Allotment date, how to check status

Moreover, Air India is moving beyond its cautious approach and embracing bolder choices.

This suggests that we can expect further regional expansion from Air India in the coming days. The airline's ability to balance its full-service and low-cost (Air India Express) offerings will provide further insights into its plans to take on IndiGo. For now, Air India has left AIX to handle domestic route competition with IndiGo. Its recent additions of flights to Mangalore from Bengaluru, Hyderabad to Lucknow, or Bengaluru to Trivandrum have broken IndiGo's monopolies. With Phuket, the same strategy extends to international routes.

Air India's costs are higher than IndiGo's. Will it attract a sufficient mix of business and economy class passengers to offset these higher costs? Will transit passengers compensate for the higher costs? These are the risks that Air India faces as it goes head-on with IndiGo. A cost advantage may never materialize, but a near-level playing field is essential over the next few years. Can expansion wait until then? Clearly, it cannot, and Phuket is just one of many new stations and routes on the horizon.

Ameya Joshi is an aviation analyst.

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Investors had shown immense interest in the IPOs that were listed this week. The market was buzzing with 5 IPOs including Tata Group's Tata Technology. The smooth listing of all the IPOs received applauds from several industry majors.

Investors on the stock market placed bids worth a total of 2.59 lakh crore in the recently concluded mainboard IPOs. Apart from Tata Tech, four other mainboard IPOs were also listed this week, including Gandhar Oil Refineries Ltd., Fedbank Financial Services Ltd., Flair Writing Industries Ltd, and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). Praising the smooth listing of all the issues this week in the stock market, Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath said that market regulations have improved phenomenally over the past two decades. After a long time, we have had massive activity in the IPO market, with 2.6lk cr blocked in bank accounts for IPOs worth 7.6k cr. If this was 2003, it would take 16 working days (or ~1 month), and the entire money would have moved to investment bankers and cost investors (an interest forego) at least 0.5% (assuming 6% pa) or 1300 crores," wrote Kamath on X, formerly Twitter.

He also pointed out towards the reduction in IPO listing timeline to T+3, which used to be T+16 years ago. While mentioning the benefit of T+3 timeline, Kamath said, T+16 became T+12, T+6, and from Sep 2023 it is T+3 (~1week). Now, the money never leaves the bank account until allotment. While institutional investors might miss out on interest income with money blocked in current bank accounts which don't yield any interest for those 3 days, retail investors continue to earn the interest from their savings accounts during the IPO process."

T+3 timeline is the time period for the settlement of stock transactions in financial markets. From September, SEBI has made it mandatory for all IPO issues to list on the stock exchanges within three working days from the closure of the IPO.

He also praise the phenomenal improvement of capital market regulations over the last 20 years. especially in the last five years.

"In almost every aspect, capital market regulations in India have improved phenomenally over the last 20 years, especially in the last five years," he added.

The week ending November 24, emerged as one of the busiest weeks for primary market in recent years. The five mainboard IPOs opened to raise 377 crore.

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Over the next few weeks Dubai will be abuzz. Tens of thousands of diplomats, activists and business folk are due to fly in to join the UNs annual climate pow-wow. The United Arab Emirates skill at wrangling countries and industries with vastly disparate interests, in the hope of making further progress on tackling climate change, will be on full display. But that is not the only reason to pay attention to the UAE. It also shows how to thrive in the multipolar age.

The country is home to just over 0.1% of the worlds people and produces only 0.5% of its GDP, but it contains nearly 10% of the worlds oil reserves, and this wealth helps it punch above its weight. Like many emerging countries today, it straddles political and economic divisions. It is a closed autocracy, yet one of the worlds most open economies. It is a close ally of America, but its biggest trading partner is China. Although its GDP per person exceeds that of Britain or France, it is often seen as part of the global south and is a hub for Indian and African businesses, making it the Singapore of the Middle East. And in 2020 it was one of the first Gulf countries to normalise relations with Israel.

As a consequence, the UAE is prospering even as war rages in the Middle East and superpower rivalry unravels the world. The non-oil economy is growing at nearly 6% a year, a rate that India is enjoying but that the Westand these days even Chinacan only dream of. Talent and wealth are flocking to the country, as Chinese traders, Indian tycoons, Russian billionaires and Western bankers alike seek stability and success. Last year it attracted more foreign investment for greenfield projects than anywhere except America, Britain and India.

Like Singapore, the UAE is a haven for its region. But whereas Singapores ascent coincided with a golden age of globalisation, the UAE is seizing opportunity in a time of chaos and disorder. It wants not just to thrive economically but, more dangerously, to exert its political influence abroad. Both its successes and its failures hold lessons for middling powers as they navigate a fragmenting world.

One lesson is to play to your economic strengths. The UAE has had its share of economic embarrassments, notably Dubais debt-fuelled construction binge, which ended in crisis and a bail-out in 2009. An obsession with the blockchain has faded. But in other areas it has made the most of its advantages, to impressive effect. The operators of its vast ports now run sites from London and Luanda to Mumbai and Manila. DP World, one such firm, handles roughly a tenth of all global shipping-container traffic. Masdar, one of the worlds biggest clean-energy developers, has ploughed money into everything from wind farms in Texas to solar plants in Uzbekistan. All told, the UAE is now one of the biggest investors in Africa, helping build vital infrastructure across the capital-starved continent.

Meanwhile, access to lots of capital, computing power and data has helped artificial-intelligence researchers in Abu Dhabi train up Falcon, an open-source large language model that in some ways beats Metas. Some experts reckon that the UAE may well be the third-most-important country for AI, after America and China. And throughout, its rulers have doubled down on the utility of the countrys position as an entrepot at the crossroads of Africa, Asia and Europe, by building institutions for good economic governance and technocracy.

Another lesson is to welcome foreign talent. With just 1m locals, the UAE needs lots of both highly skilled and low-skilled migrants. And the world is full of go-ahead people hoping to make their fortunes. Whereas Saudi Arabia is resorting to heavy-handed measures to attract expertise, such as requiring regional offices to be set up in the country, the UAE focuses on making itself a more attractive place to live and do business. A golden-visa scheme set up in 2019 offers professionals long-term residency; a select few can even apply for citizenship, once unheard of in the Gulf. In time Saudi Arabia, which is just starting to wean its economy off oil, may become a serious rival. Although the UAE severely restricts political freedoms and has a bad record on human rights, the threat of competition is spurring it to become more socially and economically liberal.

Nor has the UAE forgotten the gains from trade. Other countries have favoured industrial policy and protectionism, but it has been doing deals. India, wary of free trade, signed its first such deal in a decade with the UAE; commerce between the two has since leapt by 16% in nominal terms. An agreement with Israel has given the UAE precious tech know-how and Israeli firms access to deep pools of capital and the bigger Gulf market. Western airlines stopped flying to Tel Aviv after the war in Gaza began. Etihad and Flydubai, two Emirati carriers, still make regular flights there.

Yet some opportunities are turning out to be pitfalls. As Americas influence wanes, enterprising powers everywhere will be tempted to amass influence abroad for themselves. Muhammad bin Zayed, the UAEs ruler, has duly seized the initiative. The countrys pragmatism has sometimes served it well. In much of Africa it is a welcome business partner, without the imperial baggage of the West; at the UN climate meeting, it hopes to be a broker between rich and poor. But the UAE has also made terrible mistakes.

Mirage in the desert

Fearing the influence of political Islam in its backyard, and wanting to protect trade flows, the UAE is arming the Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese militia that is committing genocide in Darfur. In the past that approach has failed miserably. In Libya the UAE backed a warlord who tried to march on Tripoli in 2019 and lost. In Yemen it joined Saudi Arabia in a long war against the Houthi rebels, before partially withdrawing in 2019.

Over the years the UAEs rulers have built mechanisms to ensure a stable business environment at home; they know, too, that domestic failures would quickly incur the ire of their citizens. But the regime faces no such constraints abroad, allowing it to indulge its whims and protect its interests, no matter the consequences elsewhere. In a fragmented world, many countries will be looking for new ways to play on the global stage. The UAE shows the promise that lies aheadand the perils, too.

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 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Voting for the Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023 is all set to take place on Saturday, November 23. Polling will be held across more than 26,000 booths located in 199 of the total 200 assembly seats. As many as 3,383 model polling stations have also been setup for the Rajasthan elections, the Election Commission said.

"A total of 10,501 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 41,006 in rural areas. Live webcasting will be conducted at a total of 26,393 polling stations. These polling centres will be monitored from the district-level control room. Across the state, 65,277 ballot units, 62,372 control units and 67,580 VVPAT machines including reserves will be used for voting," Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said was quoted by PTI as saying.

Follow Assembly elections 2023 LIVE Updates HERE

As the day of the polling nears, here's look at how voters can check the polling booth where they need to cast their vote on Saturday:

Step 1: Download Voter Helpline App (VHA) in your mobile phones

Step 2: Click on "Know Your Polling Station"

Step 3: Enter your voter ID number and hit "Search Polling Station"

View Full Image Credit: Election Commission of India (ECI/X)

OR

Step 1: You can go on this website -https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP/status/1711269681959739803

Step 2: Click on "know Your polling station". This link will open - https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/pollingstation

Step 3: Enter EPIC or Electors Photo Identification Card number

Step 4: Enter Captcha code and hit search

ALSO READ: Assembly, Lok Sabha Elections: How can NRIs cast vote, enroll as voters in India

One can also call toll free number "1950" for any voter registration queries. People must also carry "Voter Information Slip" with them at the time of voting.

ALSO READ: Rajasthan Election 2023: Don't have voter ID? Here's how you can caste your vote tomorrow

Meanwhile, People with Disability (PwD) with 40 per cent benchmark disability and senior citizens above the age of 80 year can fill form 12D to avail the optional Postal Ballot facility to vote from the comfort of their homes, the Election Commission says.

The voting in Rajasthan will begin at 7 am and conclude at 6 pm on Saturday, November 25. The poll results will be declared on December 3.

Out of the total 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan, 199 will be contested on November 25. This is because the election in the Karanpur assembly constituency was adjourned after the Congress candidate from Karanpur, Gurmeet Singh Koonar, died due to sepsis. Koonar was the sitting MLA from Karanpur.

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Rajasthan Assembly Elections : The state of Rajasthan voted to elect representatives to their 200-member Legislative Assembly on Saturday 25 November. The state registered more than 68 per cent voter turnout by 5 pm on Saturday. Rajasthan Assembly Elections passed off peacefully barring a few stray incidents of violence.

Rajasthan is witnessing a bipolar contest involving the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to elect the new state government.

Polling at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, but officials said those already in queue at the polling booths would be allowed to vote.

In the last assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent. The Election Commission has set a target of at least 75 per cent turnout in each constituency this time.

Nearly 10 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the first two hours of voting and the figure went up to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and to more than 40 per cent by 1 pm.

The voting percentage till 5 pm was 68.24 per cent, an official said.

Polling in the Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar has been postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate.

The votes will be counted on December 3.

Two people - a polling agent of a candidate and an elderly voter - died of cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts.

There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats while 1,862 candidates are in the fray.

In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, two persons including a policeman were injured in stone-pelting.

"Police fired 12 rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. Voting was disrupted for a few minutes due to the incident," Deeg Superintendent of Police (SP) Brijesh Upadhyay said.

In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and a jawan was injured in the violence.

An altercation occurred between a polling agent and a person outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat

In Uniara of Tonk district, 40-50 people tried to enter a polling booth. However, the situation was brought under control, SP Rajarshi Raj said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes. Gehlot and Shekhawat cast their votes in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar and Pilot in Jaipur.

Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi exercised his franchise in Chittorgarh and party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore voted in Jaipur. Kumari and Rathore are among the seven BJP parliamentarians who are contesting the assembly elections.

An official said Shanti Lal, a polling agent of the BJP candidate from the Sumerpur constituency Joraram Kumawat, collapsed at booth number 47. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and then to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Satyendra Arora, 62, collapsed at a polling booth in Udaipur. He was taken to a nearby hospital by his family members where doctors declared him dead.

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Argentina's President-elect Javier Milei has reaffirmed his commitment to shutting down the country's central bank, labelling it a "non-negotiable matter", as per a Reuters report. This statement from his office was posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and was aimed at addressing what he termed as "false rumors".

Also Read: Who is Javier Milei, Argentina's next president who wants to scrap local currency, and eliminate the central bank?

With his December 10 inauguration looming, the outsider libertarian economist is in a rush to assemble his team. Indications suggest that Milei might opt for a more moderate Cabinet than initially anticipated, the report added.

Key Appointments Unveiled

The statement disclosed that economist Osvaldo Giordano, from the central Cordoba region, is set to head Argentina's social security administration ANSES. This move holds significance in light of Milei's commitment to reducing state spending and subsidies.

This announcement also marks a shift from Milei's earlier plan, which involved nominating a close ally to lead the administration. Furthermore, Horacio Marin, a private energy sector executive, was confirmed as the incoming chief of state oil company YPF.

Also Read: Will Javier Milei dare dollarize Argentina?

Obstacles Ahead for Milei's Reforms

Implementing Milei's radical reform agenda faces significant challenges. Plans encompass dollarizing the economy, closing the central bank, and privatising state companies such as YPF. However, these reforms may encounter substantial time constraints or feasibility issues.

Also Read: PM Modi greets Argentina's new president Javier Milei, says Look forward to working closely with you

Milei's libertarian coalition holds a limited number of seats in Congress and lacks provincial governors' support, the report added. Additionally, he must navigate demands from the more mainstream conservative bloc, whose endorsement was pivotal in his victory during the run-off election last week.

A look at Milei

Until a few years ago, Milei was a prominent expert featured on TV news shows, who critiqued the lack of fiscal discipline and condemned the political class for failing to improve the economic condition of the masses.

But in 2021, he took the political plunge and was elected as a lawmaker, on the symbol of his own political party  Libertad Avanza (Freedom Advances).

In August this year, he shocked political pundits in South America by emerging as the candidate with the highest vote share in the primary election. He secured 30.5 percent of the votes, higher as compared to 28 percent bagged by the main conservative coalition and 27 percent secured by the ruling Peronist coalition.

Milei's ascent to power is expected to shake the political landscape of Argentina, which has been historically influenced by socialism in Latin America.

The 53-year-old has not only promised to tighten the fiscal expenditures  seen by critics as a tight overhaul of the welfare schemes  but has gone a step ahead by promising to scrap the local currency and shutting down the central bank.

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A year ago, the debate between EVs and hybrids looked settled. Now, Elon Musks vision for an electric-vehicle future is being challenged anew by Toyota and its re-energized hybrid plans.

Musk, Teslas chief executive, wants to make the world electric, targeting annual vehicle deliveries that would overtake Toyota to become the bestselling automaker before 2030. And while that goal is far off, hes had some successin the U.S., Teslas small lineup has already overtaken some of Toyotas bestsellers.

A slowdown in EV sales growth in the U.S., however, is testing Musks gamble. At the same time, hybrid vehicles have seen a surge in buyers this year, in part because of the success of new offerings by Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus.

The buzz of electrification in the industry has somewhat mainstreamed hybrids," David Christ, the head of the Toyota brand in North America, said during an interview. Its really had an awakening."

The pitch to customers for buying a hybrid is simple: Such cars are often cheaper than all-electric rivals and get some benefits of electrification with improved MPG compared with a traditional car without the headaches of having to charge like an EV.

The Japanese automaker, first with the Prius sedan more than 20 years ago, helped popularize hybrid technology, which combines batteries with gas-powered motors to improve fuel efficiency.

But it is a technology that looked poised to be forgotten as hybrid sales slumped last year and EV sales rose 65%, a sign for those betting a new era was dawning. Time to move on from hybrid cars," Musk tweeted last year. That was a phase."

Amid the EV enthusiasm, some investors agreed. Few saw hybrids as a proper Tesla-fighter. Certain investors tried unsuccessfully earlier this year to oust Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda over the companys strategy to hedge investments across hybrids, EVs and other technologies. He had stubbornly cautioned that the all-in EV approachfavored by some rivals racing to catch up with Teslawasnt what many customers wanted or were prepared for.

Months later, as the likes of Ford and General Motors pulled back their EV production plans, Toyoda seemed to gloat. People are finally seeing reality," he said last month.

Its easy to understand why he feels that way. Between its Toyota and Lexus brands, the company in the U.S. sells 26 electrified-vehicle optionsincluding hybrid, EV and other technologiesand saw deliveries of those offerings together rise 20% this year through the first three quarters to a total of about 455,000.

View Full Image In California, price cuts have made the cost of an entry Tesla Model 3, including federal and state tax breaks, less costly than the suggested starting price of a Camry. PHOTO: MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS

Tesla, which doesnt release U.S. delivery results, sold about 493,500 all-electric vehicles during that period, a 26% increase, according to an estimate by data firm Motor Intelligence.

Amid a tougher sales environment overall lately for the U.S. car market, Musk has committed to fueling sales growth this year at the cost of profitability to the dismay of some investors. Teslas profit fell 44% in the third quarter.

The biggest pot of new customers for Tesla comes from Toyota, according to Strategic Vision, which surveys new buyers. Nationwide, 8% of Teslas buyers came from Toyota vehicles.

Tesla is stealing sales from Toyota left and rightbut they are having to drastically reduce their pricing to keep this up," Alexander Edwards, Strategic Vision president, said. Toyota on the other hand has kept pricing the same and has allowed dealers to mark up their products."

The front line for that fight is in California, where Teslas price cuts have made the cost of an entry Model 3 sedan, including federal and state tax breaks, less expensive than the suggested starting price of a Camry. Tesla is nipping at Toyotas lead in market share in the state.

Nationally, Teslas Model Y crossover sales overtook Camry this year through September and were fewer than 7,000 vehicles short of Toyotas bestselling U.S. vehicle, the RAV4 crossover, according to estimates by Motor Intelligence.

Musk clearly noticed the narrowing gap. In October, he told analysts, To be totally frank, if our car costs the same as a RAV4, nobody would buy a RAV4, or at least theyre very unlikely to."

He has long been dismissive of hybridseven though Toyota helped Tesla early on with an investment and sweetheart deal on its first assembly factory. You want to go all electric because that is the truly sustainable path," he told The Wall Street Journal years ago. If you split the baby and you have a car that is trying to be a good gasoline car and a good electric car, you end up being not as compelling as either a pure gasoline or pure electric."

For its part, Toyota is doubling down on its hybrid strategy. This month at an event in Malibu, Calif., Toyota announced that for the first time the Camry, the nations top-selling sedan, will only be offered as a hybrid when the next generation vehicle hits U.S. showrooms in the spring.

Over the last few years, when we sell a vehicle with multiple power trainsan internal combustion engine and a hybridin most cases, the hybrid powertrain has been sold out longer and more popular with customers," Toyotas Christ said. That gave us an inclination that customers are ready and willing to go all hybrid."

Part of new enthusiasm for hybrids comes from what Toyota has been able to do with cost and performance.

When Toyota began spreading its hybrid technology to vehicles beyond the Prius, it came at a hefty premium. In 2005, for example, Toyotas Highlander hybrid cost almost $10,000 more than the base version of the sport-utility vehicle and was engineered to maximize efficiency at the expense of performance. Or, put another way, customers paid more for some noticeable compromises.

Today, thats changed. Toyota hasnt said what the new Camry will cost, but the current hybrid version starts at a little less than $2,500 more than the base version of the sedan. And Toyota is touting the new hybrid will have more horsepower than the current base version.

Or, as Christ put it, Theres no compromise anymore."

Write to Tim Higgins at tim.higgins@wsj.com
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 25. Turkmenistan is ready to increase the volume of natural gas supplies to Iran via the Korpeje-Kurt-Kui gas pipeline, as well as through the 'Caloyuk' station, Trend reports.

This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, speaking at the Turkmen-Iranian business forum, which was held in Ashgabat.

He noted that currently joint work in the gas industry is carried out under a swap scheme that allows the supply of Turkmen natural gas to third countries, while he expressed Turkmenistan's readiness to significantly expand such a partnership.

Furthermore, Meredov added that the oil and gas sector is one of the main sectors of Turkmenistan's economy, its material and technical base is being consistently modernized, modern technology is being introduced.

According to the results of this year, gas production in Turkmenistan is expected to exceed 80 billion cubic meters, of which about 73 billion cubic meters will be accounted for by Turkmengaz, and exports are projected to amount to about 40 billion cubic meters, of which about 35 billion cubic meters will be supplied by the state concern.
As heavy rainfall batters Tamil Nadu, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a thunderstorm alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the upcoming three hours.

Meanwhile, all schools in Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai will have a holiday today due to heavy rain in the region, as informed by the District Collector. View Full Image IMD issues thunderstorm warning for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next three hours. Tamil Nadu received heavy rainfall on Friday, IMD said in a post on X. IMD wrote, Coonoor in the Nilgiris district experienced 9 cm of rainfall, while Alakarai Estate, Bilimalai Estate, and Barliyar recorded 8 cm, and Surangudi in Thoothukudi district registered 8 cm of rainfall."

As reported by ANI, according to Balachandran, the Director of the Chennai Regional Meteorology Department, there is a forecast for additional heavy showers in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts in the coming two to three days.

Also Read: Rain Update: Torrential rainfall pounds Tamil Nadu, Kerala; triggers waterlogging in many areas| Watch videos

Several areas in these two districts received heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours. The clouds, which were seen mostly in the eastern parts of the Bay of Bengal, have now started moving. As many as 45 locations (in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts) recorded heavy rainfall (over the last 24 hours), 8 places recorded very heavy rainfall, and 2 recorded extremely heavy rainfall. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over the next two to three days. However, heavy rainfall is forecast for the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts over the next two to three days," he said.

Also Read: IMD issues yellow alert as Mumbai braces for unseasonal rainfall from November 25. Details here

In response to heavy rainfall and landslides in the area, the Indian Railways took the decision on Wednesday to temporarily halt train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Rail Route (NMR) between Coonoor and Mettupalayam.

Officials from the South Salem Division of the Railways reported that continuous wet weather resulted in a mudslide, obstructing the railway track at Hillguro, situated between Kallar and Runnimedu.

According to the Chennai Meteorological Department, there is a potential for the formation of a cyclonic circulation in the vicinity of the South Andaman Sea around the 25th of November.

Also Read: Rainfall alert: IMD predicts heavy rain in THESE states in next 4-5 days. Check list here

The regional weather forecast department of Tamil Nadu has issued a warning predicting light to moderate rainfall in districts such as Thrivallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, as well as in Puducherry and Karaikal areas.

The IMD further indicates the likelihood of heavy rainfall at isolated places specifically in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai districts of Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry and Karaikal areas on Saturday.

(With inputs from ANI)

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All schools in Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai will have a holiday today November 25 due to heavy rain in the region, the District Collector has announced, as per an ANI report.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre Chennai, the city has realised a significant amount of rainfall per mm during the last 1-2 hours.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a thunderstorm warning for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next three hours.

Further, the IMD expects moderate rain with isolated thunderstorms at one or two places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram districts and coastal areas of Villupuram & Cuddalore districts and Puducherry area, it said.

As per a 7 am alert by an independent weather blogger in the city, while the batch of rains has reduced over most parts of Chennai, they are tracking the next set of thunderstorms that is roughly 25 km away from the coastline.

"It is expected to move E to W so high chance for a fresh spell of rains to hit a few parts of Chennai by 8 AM. The exact impact area will be known as the storms come closer," they added.

Unseasonal Rainfall

Earlier this month on November 15, all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Puducherry districts were closed due to heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu.

Several parts of Tamil Nadu witnessed heavy rainfall on November 15. After coastal and interior districts of Tamil Nadu received severe downpours, many districts declared a holiday for schools.

IMD Forecast

The IMD expects light to moderate rainfall at many places in India accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning over Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa, Marathwada, Madhya Pradesh during November 24 -27; over Gujarat State on November 25 and 26.

It also expects thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by hail at isolated places over south Rajasthan, southwest Madhya Pradesh, north Madhya Maharashtra, and north Marathwada on November 26. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over southwest Madhya Pradesh, north Madhya Maharashtra, and Gujarat Region on November 26, it added.

Further, light rainfall is also expected at isolated places over the Western Himalayan Region and plains of Northwest India during November 26-28. Thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by hail are likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand on November 27.

A cyclonic circulation is likely to emerge over South Andaman Sea and the neighbourhood around November 25. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the South Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood on November 26. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Andaman Sea around November 27.

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The rescue operations to evacuate 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district entered the fourteenth day on Saturday. Multiple agencies, including the NDRF, SDRF, BRO, NHIDCL, and ITBP, joined the rescue efforts. Arrangements were made to supply oxygen, electricity, and eatables to the trapped labourers through air-compressed pipes. However, on Friday, it faced yet another setback. Fresh hurdles have emerged in ongoing rescue operations as machines have again stopped.

Here are the top 10 updates on the Uttarakhand Tunnel rescue operations

1) Auger drilling machine 'busted', need to consider other options to rescue workers trapped in Uttarkashi tunnel, news agency ANI quoted expert Arnold Dix.

2) Officials earlier today said that manual drilling will begin soon to cut through the rubble that separates rescuers from the 41 trapped workers in the collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel.

3) A team of experts who came to conduct a survey at the rescue site of the Silkyara tunnel, informed that there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres in the rescue tunnel. The team, which came from Parsan Overseas Pvt Ltd Delhi, used the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique to examine the rescue tunnel.

4) The drilling by the American-made auger machine to rescue the trapped workers was halted after the rescue team faced a technical glitch.

5)"We hope that all of them are rescued safely. They have been stuck there since November 12. Every expert says that there is no escape tunnel. No rules and regulations were followed...The central or state government should take accountability from the contractors," Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday said

6) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the officials that the last phase of the rescue operation should be conducted at a fast pace and with complete caution.

7) The rescue teams also are inserting pipes into the dug-out channel and welding them together to serve as a passageway. About 46 meters (151 feet) of pipe has been put in so far, according to Panwar.

8) Members of the National Disaster Response Force plan to bring the workers out one by one on stretchers that have been fitted with wheels.

9) The workers have been trapped for the past 14 days after a portion of the under-construction tunnel on the Uttarakhand Char Dham route collapsed on November 12. The tunnel the workers were building was designed as part of the Chardham all-weather road, which will connect various Hindu pilgrimage sites.

10) Most of the trapped workers are migrant laborers from across the country. Many of their families have traveled to the accident site, where they have camped out for days to get updates on the rescue effort and in hopes of seeing their relatives soon.

-With agency inputs

ARNOLD More Information

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The Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the recent outbreak of H9N2 cases and clusters of respiratory illness among children in northern China. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a press release addressing concerns raised by some media reports about the clustering of respiratory illness cases in the region.

Also Read | Mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China: Hospitals overwhelmed as cases surge, WHO issues advisory  All you need to know The press release reassured that there's a low risk to India from both the avian influenza cases and the clusters of respiratory illness reported from China. The information currently available suggests an increase in respiratory diseases in China over the last few weeks. However, the causes remain typical, with no identification of unusual pathogens or unexpected clinical manifestations. Expert Opinion Speaking to ANI, Dr. Ajay Shukla from RML Hospital said the World Health Organisation (WHO) is concerned about the surge in respiratory illness among children in China and is trying to seek details from the Chinese government. He added specifics about the disease cannot be discussed till details are received and the surge could be due to decreased immunity among children due to the prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns. He also added that India is on wait-and-watch as there has been no impact here yet. Also Read: WHO presses China for data on wave of undiagnosed pneumonia cases "Some experts are saying that this might be the case of a bacterial infection named Mycoplasma pneumonia. We cannot say much unless details are received. This might be a repercussion due to a weakness in immunity because of the lockdown. Unless details are received, we cannot say anything. The whole world is observing this situation with seriousness. Till now, there has not been much impact on India. If anything is reported in India, we will have to take precautions..." Dr Shukla said.

Preparedness Measures Discussed

In a recent meeting chaired by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), preparedness measures against potential human cases of Avian Influenza in India were discussed, as per an ANI report. Notably, the meeting came after a human case of H9N2 (Avian influenza virus) in China was reported to the WHO in October 2023.

The WHO's overall risk assessment indicates a low probability of human-to-human spread and a low case fatality rate among reported human cases of H9N2. It has however recognised the need for enhanced surveillance across human, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors; and the importance of improved coordination.

Also Read | Chinas batwoman scientist warns another highly likely coronavirus outbreak in future: Report

India has assured its preparedness for any potential public health emergencies by adopting a holistic One Health approach to address such issues, the report added. There has been significant reinforcement of health infrastructure, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strengthening Health Systems

The Health Ministry release noted that the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has "enhanced capacities of health systems at all levels, from primary to tertiary care, ensuring an effective response to present and future pandemics or disasters".

It added that learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, India's surveillance and detection networks under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) also possess extensive experience in managing challenging health situations.

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Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma has once again asked Canada to provide evidence supporting its allegations that India was involved in the killing of its pro-Khalistani citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The ongoing dispute stemmed from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations earlier this year, hinting at possible Indian government involvement in Nijjar's murder, despite India designating Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

Also Read: Explained. India's contradictory response on assassination attempt claims of Nijjar, Pannun

India's Stance on Cooperation

Speaking to CTV News Channel regarding India's cooperation in the investigation post-Trudeau's allegations, Verma highlighted two key points.

Firstly, he expressed concerns about India being presumed guilty before the investigation's completion, questioning the adherence to the rule of law. Secondly, Verma emphasised that India has always offered a willingness to scrutinize any "specific and relevant" evidence supporting Trudeau's claims.

Also Read | India-Canada ties: On resumption of e-visas for Canadians, Jaishankar says situation relatively improved

Verma reiterated India's stance, stating that neither Canada nor its allies had provided substantial evidence regarding Nijjar's killing. He emphasised the absence of specific or relevant information to aid in the investigation, underscoring India's inability to assist due to this shortfall.

Diplomatic Fallout and India's Position

Following Trudeau's assertions, diplomatic tensions surged, resulting in mutual expulsions of diplomats and temporary suspension of certain visa services by India. Verma indicated that India's non-involvement had been undermined by Trudeau's public statements, potentially impairing the Canadian Police's inquiry into the killing.

Also Read | Mint Explainer: Foiled attack on the pro-Khalistan leader and India-US ties

While stressing the importance of professional dispute resolution through communication and dialogue, Verma urged Canada to prevent the use of its soil by Khalistan supporters, emphasizing the need for rules and laws governing such activities.

Highlighting India's 26 extradition requests made to Ottawa in recent years, Verma said action on these requests is still pending. Expressing concerns about safety, particularly citing threats necessitating security from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), he underscored the need to safeguard himself and his consulate generals.

Also Read: India briefs Australia on Canada spat

The High Commissioner emphasised the sanctity of diplomatic conversations under international law, highlighting their inadmissibility as evidence in court and the requirement to maintain confidentiality.

CTV said it will air the full interview on the present situation in India-Canada ties on November 26.
Hamas is likely to release 14 captives they had taken with them after the 7 October surprise attack on Israel. This will be done in exchange for the release of 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, on the second day of the four day truce in the Israel-Hamas war that has been going on for over seven weeks now.

The development was confirmed by officials in Egypt. They also informed that it had received positive signals from all parties over a possible extension of the Gaza truce for one or two days.

On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.

On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and the list has been passed along to Israel, according to a Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk about details of the ongoing negotiations, AFP reported.

Further, Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that the country was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement over extending the four-day truce, which "means the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.", Reuters reported.

Under the truce agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed, and Israel's Prison Service had already said earlier Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release.

Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners during the four-day truce, all woman and minors.

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed  something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass.

Separately, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to coordinate with parties on the ground and ensure the deal continues to move smoothly," according to a diplomat briefed on the visit. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to do discuss details with the media.

The start of the truce Friday morning brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of humanitarian aid convoys on October 21.

In the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, a long line of people with gas cans and other containers waited outside a filling station hoping to get some of the newly delivered fuel.

For the first time in over a month, aid reached northern Gaza, the focus of Israel's ground offensive. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed to northern Gaza on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area since the start of the war.

The relief brought by the truce has been tempered, however, for both sides  among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the brevity of the pause. The short truce leaves Gaza mired in humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

(With agency inputs)

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In July one of Taiwans top newspapers, United Daily News, published a story based on supposedly leaked minutes from a secret government meeting. America had asked Taiwan to make biological weapons at a lab run by the islands defence ministry, the report claimed. Taiwanese and American officials denied it. The allegedly leaked minutes, it transpired, were not written in the usual style of Taiwanese government records. They were filled with official-sounding phrases that are used in mainland China, but not in Taiwan.

This was probably Chinese disinformation, Taiwanese officials said. Yet the story spread to Taiwanese talk shows and influencers. It soon evolved into a wilder claim: Taiwan was going to collect 150,000 samples of Taiwanese blood and hand them to the Americans, so they could develop a virus to kill Chinese people.

This sort of disinformation is so widespread in Taiwan that analysts have given it a moniker: yi mei lun, or the US scepticism" narrative. Its spread is becoming a major worry for Taiwans government and civil society in the run-up to a hugely important presidential election next January. Taiwanese voters will in effect be asked to decide whether Taiwan should remain aligned with America in strengthening deterrence against a possible Chinese invasion, or should move towards building ties with China. The opposition Kuomintang has called the vote a choice between war and peace", implying that the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys hostility towards China will provoke it to attack. Chinese state actors have backed that framing, spreading narratives that portray America, not China, as the islands biggest threat. Much of the disinformation is intended to reinforce that false message.

Lo Ping-chen, a cabinet minister who since 2018 has been leading a government task force against disinformation, says it has severely infiltrated" Taiwans society. We used to think there was more during election season. But its now become normalised. It happens every day." Most Taiwanese voters have little idea of this. A recent survey by Doublethink Lab, a Taiwanese group that studies disinformation, found that less than 20% of respondents believed the false information spread in Taiwan during elections came from abroad. Puma Shen, who heads Doublethink Lab, worries about the one-fifth of voters who are not aligned with any party and could be a decisive bloc. Even if only 15% of voters are truly affected by Chinese disinformation, it takes only 7% of voters to change the election results," he says.

A recent study of US-scepticism narratives by the Information Environment Research Centre, a Taiwanese research group, found Chinese actors were helping to spread most of them. But more than half appeared to have Taiwanese origins. That suggests China is piggybacking" on fears in Taiwanese society, says Chihhao Yu, the reports author. He notes that many Taiwanese have an orphan mentality": they fear abandonment by outsiders because of Taiwans experience of losing American diplomatic recognition in the 1970s.

Chinese actors are exploiting those worries, just as Russian disinformation exploited Americas racial and cultural cracks to help Donald Trump in 2016. Chinese disinformation also echoes Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine, which claims America is behind the conflict (and is creating bioweapons in Ukrainian labs).

China has developed systematic means to make falsehoods trend in Taiwan, says Chien Yu-yen, a former journalist and author of a book about Chinese influence on Taiwans media. She points to a spurious claim that America wants to blow up" TSMC, a Taiwanese chipmaker. It originated with a misleading video posted on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, which featured an American lawmaker appearing to discuss the possibility. The following morning, a Taiwanese newspaper published a story about the video. Opposition lawmakers and talk-show hosts whipped up outrage. The journey from Chinas Douyin to Taiwans mass media, videos, newspapers and television took less than half a day," says Ms Chien. Chinese state media amplified the narrative, as if merely commenting from the outside on a Taiwanese debate.

Taiwanese officials believe that many of the Taiwanese launching US-scepticism untruths are local collaborators" taking orders and payments from China. But that is hard to prove, because the suspected Chinese funding is probably funnelled through Taiwanese businesspeople or public-relations firms. Wang Kun-yi, a local commentator who frequently writes US-scepticism narratives for Chinese media and pro-China Taiwanese media, defends his work as a commercial enterprise. All journalists in Taiwan serve the bias of their newspapers bosses, says Mr Wang, who has worked for both pro-independence and pro-unification newspapers. Everyone just treats it as a job," he says. Its a tool to feed yourself."

Taiwan has laws against foreign infiltration and election influence, but they are limited to cases of proven state-sponsored activity. It has additional laws against spreading wilful falsehood in broadcast media, but they do not cover print or digital outlets. In 2020 the government revoked the licence of CTI News, a pro-China channel, citing repeated failures to verify information. CTI simply moved online.

The case sparked accusations of censorship, which Taiwan wants to avoid. So the government has resorted to more liberal methods of fighting disinformation. It has tried to improve media literacy, provide faster official clarifications and promote fact-checking organisations. But such means cannot match the speed of Chinese propaganda. In August Meta, which owns Facebook, removed a network of more than 7,000 accounts, pages and groups that were spreading Chinese disinformation. But new accounts are easy to set up, a problem that will only accelerate with artificial intelligence, says Mr Lo.

Chinese disinformation has already distorted Taiwans public conversation. Will it move votes? Meta has noted that the Chinese disinformation network it removed was high volume, low reach", despite having a veneer of engagement designed to make the accounts look more popular than they were. Studies of Russian disinformation in America have found that it has little impact on voter preferences. Despite all the messaging in Chinese and Taiwanese media against the Democratic Progressive Party, its candidate, William Lai, is leading in the polls. And for all the scepticism about America, Taiwanese are even warier of China. A 2022 survey by Academia Sinica, a Taiwanese research institution, found 34% of respondents agreeing that America is a credible" country. Only 9% said the same of China.

China is to blame. It recently surrounded Taiwan with warplanes and warships even as its ruling Communist Party unveiled an integration plan promising benefits to Taiwanese people living in Fujian, a southern province near the island. Most Taiwanese know where their real threat comes from. But Chinas insidious efforts to mislead them are increasing.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Rockstar Games generated significant excitement among gamers by announcing that the trailer for GTA 6 would be released in December. Now, an alleged leak has surfaced online, revealing the possible preorder date for GTA 6. If you have been eagerly anticipating the game for over a decade, you can now find out when to preorder it online.

An image circulating on X featuring an Argos Support agent hints at the imminent arrival of the GTA 6 preorder date. According to leaked information, it is suggested that GTA 6 preorders might become available on December 12.

HT tech reported that the Argos agent allegedly stated, I have been informed the software Grand Theft Auto VI for the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 will be available to pre-order on December 12, 2023, confirmed to us by the distributors."

Yet, when Rockstar Universe contacted Argos Support, the support agent straightforwardly mentioned that GTA 6 would be "available for pre-booking" once the official release date is disclosed.

While the authenticity of the circulating screenshot remains unverified, it adds an intriguing layer to the speculation surrounding the GTA 6 trailer release date. Notably, it is already established that December signifies the 25th anniversary of Rockstar Games, with the anticipated GTA 6 trailer set for release during the same month.

GTAForums, the site where 90 early development footage clips of GTA 6 were leaked last year, conducted a poll to speculate on the potential launch date of GTA 6. While many participants made random guesses, Rockstar Insider Tez2 provided significant insight into the potential release date of GTA 6. According to the leaker, "several devs" anticipate that GTA 6 could be released in Spring 2025.

However, Tez2 pointed out that Rockstar has adhered to a Spring release timeline for some of its past games, including GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, both of which experienced delays extending into their respective launch years. This suggests the possibility that the GTA 6 launch might occur in the latter part of 2025.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 25. Kazakhstan is interested in cooperation with Turkiye in the field of seed production, Trend reports.

This was stated during a meeting between the Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Abulkhair Tamabek and the Vice Minister of Agriculture of Turkiye Ebubekir Gizligider.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed attracting investments to Kazakhstan and cooperation between the countries in the field of agriculture.

In addition, Kazakh vice minister met with representatives of the Association of Industrialists and Seed Producers, the Turkish Seed Association TURKTOB and the Seed Association of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECOSA).

Tamabek discussed with them possible joint projects on seed production and the development of new varieties of seeds.

At the same time, Gizligider said that the 22-nd International Exhibition of Greenhouses, Agricultural Technologies and Livestock Equipment (GROWTECH) will be held in Turkish Antalya on November 22-25, 2023.

In this regard, Gizligider invited Tamabek to take part in the exhibition.

Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkiye amounted to $4.4 billion from January through September 2023.

Turkiye is one of Kazakhstan's most important trading, economic, and investment partners. Kazakhstan has more than 3,800 firms (3,835) with Turkish capital participation, ranking second among foreign countries.

Turkiye's direct investment in Kazakhstan has totaled $4.6 billion over the last 17 years.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. French Development Agency (AFD) Group hopes to finance its first project in Kazakhstan in 2024, Vincent Caupin, Head of Central Asia Office of AFD, told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"During the visit of President of France Emmanuel Macron to Kazakhstan, the two governments signed an intergovernmental agreement on French Development Agency (AFD) Group activities in the country. This will allow the three entities of the group to operate in Kazakhstan," he said.

According to him, AFD can provide long-term financing for public investment in many sectors, from health to water and energy.

"Proparco (French financial institute) will support the private sector through loans to private financial institutions and companies. Expertise France (French public agency) can provide technical expertise to government bodies to implement public policies. We focus on supporting policy to tackle climate change and to adapt the economy and the environment to a warmer climate," he said.

Caupin noted that AFD will finance projects and programs based on the government of Kazakhstan requests.

"For instance, a first visit from our technical experts in the health sector took place in early October to identify needs and to what extent we can provide added-value to address them. Similar visits will be organized in the coming weeks on water/sanitation/irrigation topics and on energy," he said.

AFD Group thinks that in order to reach the target of carbon-neutrality by 2060, the Kazakh economy will have to diversify, and the Agency stands ready to contribute to the financing of this dynamic. Without financing for innovative approaches, there is no economic growth.

"The first step is to have these technical visits and understand the needs and the specificities of Kazakhstan. We will then be able to finance relevant projects. We hope to be able to finance a first project in 2024," Caupin noted.
Ballymahon One Act Festival was deemed a great success as the Bog Lane Theatre recently played host to three fantastic nights of drama.

The theatre was sold out for all three nights, with nine one act plays performed over the weekend.



A social media post from the festival read: We want to thank the casts and crews of the nine visiting groups, our adjudicator Paul Brennan, everyone who minded groups, booking office, box office, lighting, sound all who helped in the kitchen our supporters Kepak, Longford County Council, Michael and Josephine Cooney and John Nally Circle K.



Thanks to every business who displayed our poster's the news media for promoting our festival over the past few weeks, and the local parishes who promoted our festival in their newsletter.

It concluded: To our Festival Director Michele Doran for all the time and work that you devoted in making the festival another success.



Edgeworthstown's Mostrim Plauyers was the only local drama group on the programme. The well regarded group secured a second place in the confined section with a one act written by Wicklow man Mattie Lennon

In the Open section the first place went to Prosperous Dramatic Society, with The Same. Second spot to Balally Players for their production of Salome. The third place went to Corn Mill Theatre Group, with Clarity at Last.



In the Confined section The Ray Leonard Players got first spot with A Night Without Stars. The second place went to Mostrim Players with A Wolf by the Ears and the PIC Players scooped third place with Three Lives Three.

The festival is part of the annual circuit that sees theatre groups compete in open and confined sections for the coveted All Ireland Drama title.

This year the All Ireland One Act Finals will be taking place in Castleblayney, Monaghan.



All around the country festivals are taking place and the nine best plays, all of them multi award winners, will progress to Castleblayney for the finals.

Ballymahon is a popular festival as the intimate surroundings of Bog Lane lend to audience engagement.



The adjudicator for this years One Act Festival in the Bog Lane is Paul Brennan. This one act festival featured some of the top drama groups in the country.
Suffolk County Corrections Officer Charged with Sexual Assault and Misconduct in Jailhouse Incident

Crime

By Long Island Published: November 25 2023

Suffolk County Corrections Officer Jason Middleton was arrested for allegedly forcing an inmate to perform a sexual act, facing charges of Criminal Sexual Act and Official Misconduct.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the arrest of Suffolk County Corrections Officer Jason Middleton, 35, of Central Islip, who is accused of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree and Official Misconduct, after allegedly forcing an inmate to perform oral sex.

This defendant is alleged to have violated his oath and preyed upon an individual whom he was

sworn to protect, said District Attorney Tierney. Hard-working corrections officers play an

essential role in our criminal justice system and are entrusted with the care and safety of

incarcerated individuals. My Office will not tolerate any abuse of that trust. I thank the Sheriffs

Office for their assistance in this investigation.

I am shocked and disgusted by the acts of this Correction Officer and this is something we have

absolutely no tolerance for, said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. Make no

mistake, this is no reflection of the men and women of the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office who

work hard day after day and take their oath of duty seriously.

According to the investigation, on a date between April 26, 2023, and September 29, 2023, while

Middleton was working as a Corrections Officer in the Riverhead Correctional Facility and tasked

with guarding inmates, he allegedly escorted an inmate into a utility walkway between jail cells

that he knew to be a blind spot in security camera coverage. Once inside, he allegedly closed the

door and ordered the inmate to perform oral sex upon him, and the inmate complied. Prior to the

commission of the sexual assault, Middleton had allegedly previously threatened the inmate that

if the inmate ever disobeyed him, he would plant contraband in the inmates cell that would likely

result in additional criminal charges filed against the inmate.

On November 24, 2023, Middleton was arrested by members of the District Attorneys Public

Corruption Squad and is expected to be arraigned on November 25, 2023, in Southampton Town

Justice Court for the charges of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony and

Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. Middleton is expected to be placed on supervised

release, as these offenses are not bail eligible under current New York State law.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Laura de Oliveira and Bureau Chief Kevin

Ward of the Public Corruption Bureau and was investigated by Senior Investigator Reinhardt

Andersen and Assistant Special Investigator Brian Wood of the District Attorneys Public

Corruption Squad, together with members of the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office of Professional
One man was killed and another was injured in a shooting in a parking lot in the Allston neighborhood of Boston early Saturday, according to police.

Officer responded to a radio call shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday about two people shot at 85 E. Newton Street. Two men were found suffering from gunshot wounds, the Boston Police Department said in a statement.

One of the men was pronounced dead, and the other suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to the departments statement.

Further investigation revealed both men were shot in a parking lot across from 12 Glenville Ave in the rear of 161 Harvard Ave. in Allston, the department detailed.

Investigators are currently on scene, the statement said, and no arrests have been made.

The Boston Police Departments Homicide Unit is reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call the unit at (617) 343-4470. Those 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.
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A woman was left with life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Boston late Friday, according to police.

Officers responded to a report of a person shot in the area of 30 Business St. in the Hyde Park neighborhood of the city around 10 p.m. Friday. The woman was found with gunshot wounds, Boston Police Sgt. John Boyle told MassLive.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for her life-threatening injuries, according to Boyle.

No arrests had been made as of Saturday morning, Boyle said.

No further details regarding the shooting were immediately released to the public by authorities Saturday morning.
The holiday season is here and with it comes endless opportunities to go out to eat, whether it be an after-work gathering, mini family reunion or special out-of-towner visit.

Everyone has their ol standbys, the diner down the road that makes their steak just the way they like it, or the fancy restaurant two towns over reserved for only the most special of occasions.

But sometimes you want to try some place new, some place you wouldnt normally think to go. For that, OpenTable, the reservation website, offers 10 restaurants in Greater Boston deemed the best to eat at in November.

The list includes a variety of eateries showcasing food from all over the world, such as Italian and French cuisines.

Here is OpenTables full November list:

Moonshine 152  South Boston

This modern neighborhood restaurant is located in Southie, where residents can feast on jalapeno crab rangoons, blistered shishito peppers and Shine famous bacon-wrapped stuffing bites.

The Moonshine 152 has 4.9 stars out of five, making it a strong choice for people looking for a nice meal in South Boston.

Highly recommend for food and friendly staff, Judy, a top restaurant reviewer on OpenTable, wrote. The caramelized onion beet dip and chips were to die for. Im forgetting the exact name but the rice bowl with the pork belly is mouth-watering. The chef delivered the food to our table and stopped to talk with us. What an amazing experience! You will love it!

Brighton Bodega  Brighton

If you are looking to take small bites off a small plate, Brighton Bodega is your place. This restaurant features small dishes youd find at a street fair. Their menu includes Japanese-style oysters, lobster rangoons and crispy chicken.

Service was great. Drinks were spectacular, one OpenTable review wrote. The restaurant was very accommodating and friendly. Food was superb. Everything we ate was amazing.

Daddy Jones Bar  Somerville

If you like American food in the Boston area, try Daddy Jones Bar in Somerville. This restaurant features a good mix of drinks and food sure to sizzle your tastebuds. Try lemon pepper chicken wings or a Manhattan Mix Tape, their latest whiskey infusion.

You can also partake in their Thursday trivia night, where you can test your knowledge on all sorts of topics with friends.

Omakase at Shore Leave  South Boston

Looking for a cool sushi-filled experience? Try Omakase at Shore Leave, the restaurants 45-minute experience will fill your taste buds with food such as nigiri, sashimi and tempura.

The chef, Vincent, was just fantastic, Gerald S., an OpenTable reviewer wrote. The pieces were creative, interesting and delicious. Multiple favorites through the courses with a chefs choice final piece that was really special. The recommended drink pairings were excellent. The staff was attentive and welcoming. All around great experience! Pacing is quick though, as noted45-55 minutes total.

Enzina Pizzeria  Waltham

Walthams own Enzina Pizzeria uses recipes that can be dated back to the 19th century and uses flour imported from Italy. They also buy from local farmers and artisans to create their Italian food.

Great menu, Kim O., an OpenTable reviewer wrote. Food absolutely delicious. Service is very attentive. Definitely a hidden jewel.

If seafood is more your style, try Oyster Bar by Puritan & Co., whose menu includes crab salad, kampachi crudo and scallop crudo.

An amazing dining experience! Sarah K., an OpenTable reviewer wrote. Every dish was delicious- especially enjoyed the anchovies with sourdough. Will return to try more!

Seafood can also be found at Devlins Restaurant in Brighton, which soffers meat dishes, pastas and salads, according to OpenTable.

Meals are typically less than $30, which makes it a good place to eat out on a budget.

We ordered the prosciutto arugula pizza and the stuffed meatball, Allie A. on OpenTable wrote. Both were 10/10 AMAZING! My boyfriend and I both audibly gasped at how delicious the pizza was and the meatball tasted like it was from the north end. Love it here and love every single meal Ive tried!

Troquet on South  Theater District

Drink from fancy wines and/or eat a fish sandwich, double burger, salumi trio and steak tartare at Troquet on the South, an eatery that focuses on French cuisine.

We had a wonderful evening celebrating our 19th anniversary, Melissa L., one reviewer on OpenTable, wrote. Our waiter and all the staff were just wonderful and our meal was delicious. Definitely coming back soon!

Fioritaly Trattoria  Medford

Chef Gabriele Ascione chooses each meal at Fioritaly to showcase the essence of Italian meals from her home, according to OpenTable. Some of these meals include caprese, Fioritaly shrimp scampi and gnocchi sorrentina.

While the food was fantastic and the cozy interior was inviting, the highlight of our evening was the enthusiastic and efficient wait staff, Pete, a customer, wrote on OpenTable. Also, dont pass up an opportunity to sample the cannolis.

Molinari will fill your stomach with quintessential Italian comfort food such as mussels fra diavolo, arancini, wood oven-roasted chicken wings and chicken parmigiana.

Food was delicious! Bill B. wrote in review on OpenTable, Sat at a bar watching the chefs nonstop filling orders was amazing! They all moved like a well-oiled machine!
WILBRAHAM  When Karen Romano testified before a Legislative Committee, offering her support of a proposed state law mandating universal changing stations in Massachusetts businesses, she thought the hearing went well. So did a representative of The Arc Massachusetts, a national advocacy group supporting people with disabilities.

It was a beautiful hearing. She was super powerful, said Maura Sullivan, senior director of government affairs and health policy for Arc. I cant tell you how impactful it was to hear stories of parents who have spent their lives laying their older children on dirty floors and changing them.

The bill is before the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Shortly after the Sept. 12 hearing, Romano received a troubling call from partners campaigning with her to pass the bill.

The chair of the committee told them, We believe strongly in the bill, however, our fear is without support from the business community, its going to end up dying in Ways and Means, said Romano. Any bill affecting state finances must be considered and passed by the House Ways and Means Committee.

According to Romano, Chairman Jay Livingstone said he and members of the committee received negative reaction to the bill from the business community. The committee is looking for proponents of the bill to garner positive momentum with the business community, said Romano.

Struggling for dignity

Romano is the parent of a 6-year-old boy who has developmental delays and is not toilet trained, which means she and her husband are still changing his diaper  and like many other parents and caregivers, they struggle to find a sanitary, private space to do so. There are no changing tables in public restrooms big and strong enough to support larger children, or adults with disabilities, who need to be changed.

According to Changing Spaces, 16 million Americans live with a cognitive disability, while over eight million people need help with daily self-care. House bill H.212 mandates universal changing stations be installed in Bay State businesses being constructed or renovated. Each station costs between $2,000 and $10,000, which doesnt include the expense of installing them.

Arc and Changing Spaces  two of the more powerful associations advocating for people with disabilities  are joining forces with Romano and her allies to round up support for the bill. Theyre contacting health care providers and community leaders, even friends and family, soliciting statements in support of the legislation.

Were at a critical point, because the committee is making the decision now whether to pass the bill, said Sullivan.

Supporters of the proposed law have testified publicly before the Joint Committee, but opponents have not. They are using informal channels to express their views, which makes it difficult for advocates to address the opposition, Sullivan noted.

The process isnt always as transparent as you would want it to be. We did ask the committee to give us names, and they havent. We want to sit down at a stakeholders roundtable and make sure they understand what the bill means. Some of that can get lost in legal language, said Sullivan.

Naming names

Livingstone would not commit to releasing the names of those opposing the bill when asked if he would do so by The Republican, but in a statement, he said, We are reaching out to stakeholders now, understanding any concerns they may have, and figuring out, if such concerns exist, if we can address them consistent with the goals of the sponsors of the bill. Bills have a better chance of advancing into law when any concerns raised are addressed.

Sponsors and backers of the bill say they might be willing to compromise, but they need to understand what is driving resistance to the measure. Until we do, were just negotiating against ourselves, said Romano.

We dont know exactly what the complaint is from the business community. The hardest piece is trying to figure how to compromise, when youre not fully informed on what compromise is going to require, said Romano.

Without specific information, organizers are broadly targeting business associations and those who represent their interests.

Our best bet is to try to tap into the companies that are lobbying for businesses in the Statehouse. Those are the people that are in the ear of the committee. Were trying to figure out who those people are and how to access them, said Romano.

Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfield, sponsored the bill and is lobbying hard for passage by the Joint Committee.

Ive talked to the chair and committee members to express my strong support. We need a statewide push from doctors and physicians who support the proposed legislation to express their views to their representatives and senators. We need grassroots support, he said.

Diana Szynal, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber, said the Bill was not on her radar. I have not heard from member businesses, but I will put it in front of the appropriate legislative subcommittee, she added.

The Republican attempted to contact the Associated Industries of Massachusetts but did not hear back from the organization.

Sullivan has two sons with profound autism who needed to be changed until they were 7 and 8 years old. Only four states  Arizona, California, New Hampshire and Tennessee  have laws mandating universal changing stations. She is hoping Massachusetts falls in line with the others.

Massachusetts is known to be progressive and to care about people with disabilities. But how can we overlook something thats really a health concern? Do we not care about people with disabilities or their caregivers, she asked. Were the ones putting ourselves in precarious and sometimes humiliating positions trying to change our loved ones in public.
The Boston police officer who was driving a department vehicle during a June car crash involving Mayor Michelle Wu contributed to the crash by running a red light, according to a newly released police department letter.

However, though the letter conflicts with earlier police findings that the officer did not cause the crash, it also recommends that no action be taken against the officer.

Read more: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu involved in car crash

The crash happened on June 6 at the intersection of Hyde Park Avenue and Blakemore Street in Roslindale around 9:50 a.m., according to police records. A mother and an infant were in the other vehicle involved in the crash. Wu was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Boston police officer Keyanna Smith.

Video footage of the crash shows that the police vehicle stopped at a red light on Blakemore Street before driving into the intersection with the vehicles emergency lights on. The police vehicle is then hit by the other vehicle, which is crossing the intersection on Hyde Park Avenue.

What police records say about the crash

Boston Police Captain Leighton Facey wrote in a July 20 letter to Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox that he believes Smith was exercising her discretion with due care and regard and following standard department practices when she ran the red light. He also writes that this is the first time the police officer has been found to have contributed to a crash.

Still, Facey writes, while Smith drove slowly into the intersection, by driving her vehicle contrary to the traffic signal, the officer did contribute to the accident.

I respectfully report that after reviewing the attached reports, I do not fully agree with the findings of Sergeant Detective Cary Chin in this investigation, he wrote.

Chin wrote in a June 26 letter that he believes Smith was driving in a responsible manner while operating her assigned unit department motor vehicle and obeying the traffic laws.

I find that there is no need for counseling or further investigation regarding this motor vehicle crash, he wrote.

Read more: Video appears to show Boston Mayor Michelle Wus car running red light in crash

According to police records, the other driver involved in the crash declined to speak to police about the incident through a lawyer. A witness described that persons vehicle as barreling down Hyde Park Avenue, records say.

Additionally, Chin wrote in his letter that video of the scene shows the vehicle passing two cars that had stopped for the police vehicle, and that it didnt slow down until just before the crash.

Police records indicate that the police vehicle had its sirens on at the time of the crash, but Mayor Wu told reporters previously that the crash did not happen during an emergency. She told investigators she was reviewing documents on her phone in the front seat of the police vehicle at the time of the crash and was not looking at the road.

What the other driver has said about the crash

Yosmery Pena told Boston 25 News that she was the other driver involved in the crash. She told the news station she couldnt see the police vehicle before the crash because other vehicles were in the way.

The car should have stopped and given enough time for the traffic to completely stop before it went through the red lights, she told Boston 25 News.

After the crash, records say, both Wu and Smith got out and spoke to the mother, and Wu acted as a Spanish translator for her. Wu then accompanied the mother and child to Boston Childrens Hospital where they were evaluated.

When asked for comment on the crash findings, Wus office sent an audio recording from Thursday, Nov. 23 during which Wu said she is deferring any determination about the crash to the police department.

Im just thankful everyone is safe, she said.

Boston police declined to comment on the matter Friday afternoon.
In recognition of Native American Heritage Month in November, MassLive asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the Indigenous community throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.

MassLive will publish profiles of these leaders through November. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.

Paul W. Pouliot (left) and Denise Pouliot (right) are part of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People.Courtesy of Denise Pouliot

Paul and Denise Pouliot

Ages: 76 (Paul) and 50 (Denise)

Community: Merrimack Valley communities of Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Their Story: The Pouliots careers have been focused on advocating for regional and state-level Indigenous affairs commissions, activism, education and politics.

In 1990, Paul W. Pouliot was elected Sag8mo (head male speaker) for the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People. Under his leadership, the Band filed for federal acknowledgment in 1995.

In 2005, Denise Pouliot became the treasurer for the Band. She went on to become the Sag8moskwa (head female speaker) in 2008.

Through the Band, the Pouliots works with towns, schools districts, churches and historical organizations to decolonize local histories, town logos/seals and school mascots. Most of their works includes developing specific acknowledgment and stewardship statements for their particular locale.

The Poulitots also helped found the Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective (INHCC), which is a regional academic research group and internet platform for public engagement and education. Denise Pouliot is also a multi-media basket weaver and artist.

In their words: Working as an Indigenous leader requires very deep cultural and historical knowledge, Paul Pouliot said. You also have to be able to outreach and present your knowledge in many public forums in an effort to educate the general public while uplifting the greater regional Indigenous community.

Working as an Indigenous female leader is particularly challenging considering that most community leaders and spokespeople are men, Denise Pouliot said. It takes a particular strength, knowledge, and public speaking ability to present your views and advocacy for your community. As an Indigenous woman I am at the forefront of our Bands efforts for social, cultural and environmental justice for all regional Indigenous People.

Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
Paul Majkut was a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, just on the cusp of becoming a lieutenant colonel, when he resigned his commission as a chaplain to take his 15 years of experience and training to Ukraine to help a beleaguered nation fight off what he called, a terrorist state.

When you are dealing with people who could be in situations that make their hope deteriorate, when they are dealing with death not just for themselves but their family and friends, and the psychological effects it has on them, to be able to instill hope and instill Gods love and help increase peoples faith is something critically needed in Ukraine right now, said Majkut, who resigned from the Reserve on Oct. 2. I saw that the skill set that I learned in the Army Reserve beautifully integrates with what the needs are in Ukraine and especially the chaplain corps there.

Paul Majkut (center) is shown during his recent volunteer chaplain mission to Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of Paul Majkut)The Republican

A fully ordained Pentecostal minister, Majkut will speak Sunday at the Bethesda Ukrainian Pentecostal Church in West Springfield at 10 a.m. about his time in Ukraine, working with military chaplains there to refine their counseling skills to better serve the front-line Ukrainian soldiers and to uplift the people of Ukraine.

Majkuts interest in Ukraine is personal, too: He traces his own lineage there. One grandfather was captured by German forces while he served with the Polish Army, while the three other grandparents from near Lviv in western Ukraine were held as slave labor by German occupying forces. All four survived to immigrate to the United States following the war.

While 80 percent of Ukrainians are Orthodox, and Majkut is Pentecostal, he said there was no problem sharing their faiths. He had traveled to Ukraine five times as a short-term missionary before his October trip.

We all have Jesus as a common denominator there, he said. The defenders of their country on the front lines, they always appreciate any help from chaplains. ... The big thing I did out there with the Ukrainian soldiers, especially those on the front lines, was prayer.

Paul Majkut (shown here just miles from the front lines) has returned from Ukraine, where he was a volunteer chaplain. (Photo courtesy of Paul Majkut)The Republican

On his last trip, Majkut spent three weeks in Kyiv and near the front lines in the Donetsk Oblast region. Working with an American nonprofit called Heroes International and a Ukrainian NGO called My House, Majkut and other former American chaplains traveled to Ukraine to work with Ukrainian chaplains.

In the U.S. Army, we are taught that the three core components of a chaplain are to nurture the living, care for the wounded and to honor the dead, he said. In the United States, commanders know that chaplains are force multipliers, and we have chaplains who are trained up already. The military gave us counseling training and techniques, so when the need arises, we are ready to go. In Ukraine, they have been at war for only 18 months, and before the war, these people were priests and ministers, like the soldiers who were school teachers or laborers, and now are defending their country. In the United States military, perhaps 80 percent of what chaplains do is counseling. Over there, they dont have that kind of background, so they need to be trained up. "

Just like in the U.S., Ukrainian soldiers might have the same issues coping with combat and then reintegrating back into society after their military service.

Paul Majkut has returned from Ukraine, where he was a volunteer chaplain. (Photo courtesy of Paul Majkut) The Republican

When people come back from the front line, how do you get them to transition back into society when they have been in military mode for the past year or maybe years? They have seen things that normal people dont see, dont experience. There is potentially trauma, and PTSD is not something that shows up right away sometimes, he said. I was able to give them some techniques they can use in a group setting, to ask key questions that help the troops talk about their experiences, their jobs, their marriages, even child rearing after they have been away.

Not far from the Donetsk Oblast front lines, 1 or 2 kilometers from Russian combat soldiers, Majkut got a chance to meet troops just back from the trenches, when he and other chaplains brought drones, medical supplies, tourniquets, winter military clothing and food. Through translators, Majkut said he was able to talk with troops and found morale to be high.

We have a litmus test we use to gauge how unit morale is doing, and from what I saw, these are soldiers who are in their right minds, who are capable, who love their country, who love their families and love God, and want to do their best to defend their country, to defend their values, he said.

Paul Majkut (second from right) is shown praying with soldiers during his recent volunteer chaplain mission to Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of Paul Majkut)The Republican

Part of the high morale among Ukrainians comes from the international support received since Russian troops invaded in 2022.

Ukrainians are doing the best that they can with the whole world supporting them. You know, in the military, we learn about what a just war is, we understand the rules of engagement. Thats something Russia is not following, he said. But Ukraine is being supported by NATO, the E.U., the United States specifically. They are getting critical support, and that keeps morale high.

In Kyiv, nonprofit organizations provide a wide range of services to the people of Ukraine, and one called Veterans Hub provides specialized care for veterans, much like the United States provides through the Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Hub offers counseling, employment services and even an on-site attorney, and the services are not limited to combat soldiers but extended to Gold Star families, as well.

Paul Majkut has returned from Ukraine, where he was a volunteer chaplain. (Photo courtesy of Paul Majkut)The Republican

Majkut said he sees his role in helping Ukrainians as Gods work.

Absolutely. I wouldnt be there otherwise. To be able to help instill hope, instill Gods love and help increase a peoples faith. I know I can help be a great part of that. And not only that, but I can train other chaplains, as well. Thats one thing chaplains always bring out is hope. The love of hope and the love of Christ.
Fifteen people were displaced and roughly $1 million worth of damage was caused by a fire that broke out in Waltham on Thanksgiving.

The blaze was reported on the back deck of a two-family house at 904 to 906 Moody Street in Waltham around 5:15 p.m. Thursday. The firefighters who first arrived at the scene saw heavy flames coming from the rear of the building, the Waltham Fire Department said in a post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Residents who evacuated the building reported there were people trapped on the third floor. Waltham Deputy Fire Chief Paul Quaranto requested a second alarm be struck to help with the search and rescue, according to the departments post.

All the people inside the building were alerted by smoke detectors and made it out safely. Fifteen residents were displaced, the department said.

One firefighter was injured and evaluated at the scene. Another person was taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to the department.

Because of how close the blaze was to surrounding houses, it spread to a second home toward the back of the building that originally caught on fire at 11 Underwood Park. Two other nearby structures were also damaged, the departments post said.

A third alarm was eventually struck for the blaze. Fire crews had the situation under control in roughly 60 minutes, according to the post.

Damage from the blaze was estimated at around $1 million, the department noted.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshals office, Waltham Police Department and Waltham Fire Prevention Bureau, according to the department.
It wasnt all work and no play for President Joe Biden on Friday on this picturesque Massachusetts island.

He spent much of the day in multiple briefings with national security aides, who were updating him as the first phase of hostages were released in Gaza earlier Friday. Biden then delivered brief remarks on the hostage deal, saying it is only a start, but so far, its gone well.

But then the president joined in the traditional Biden day-after-Thanksgiving festivities  lunch with his family, perusing local shops and mingling with the Nantucket crowd as the town Christmas tree is lit.

Because of the remarks on hostages, the traditional family lunch happened later than usual. But like always, it was at Brotherhood of Thieves, a cozy bar and grill that advertises itself as an 1840s whaling bar.

Then the presidents shopping outing began.

His first stop was just a couple doors down from the restaurant at Nantucket Books, where first lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley were already browsing.

Cant come without going to the bookstore, the president said as he ducked inside. Weve got a tradition.

He left about 20 minutes later, carrying a copy of Democracy Awakening by the historian Heather Cox Richardson, who interviewed Biden at the White House last year.

Biden then stopped at Craftmasters of Nantucket, followed by a quick stop into the Jewelers Gallery. He was greeted throughout his walk by cheering crowds, shouts of happy birthday (the president celebrated his 81st birthday on Monday) and people waving and taking photos of the first family.

Finally, the Bidens ended up at Nantuckets annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, clapping as the town crier led the countdown and the tree was illuminated with colored lights.

Bidens outing was interrupted twice by pro-Palestine protesters, once earlier Friday as he walked to lunch and then again by a handful of demonstrators at the tree ceremony who had wiggled their way to the front of the crowd. Leaning against metal barricades and waving banners that said Free Palestine, the protesters chanted: Biden, Biden, you cant hide. We charge you with genocide!

It was unclear whether the president  who was greeting members of the childrens choir -- heard them. A local official urged the protesters to stop, noting that the community event was not a political one.

Visiting Nantucket for Thanksgiving is a decades-long tradition for the Biden family.

Joe and Jill first came here for the holiday with young sons, Beau and Hunter, in the mid-1970s. As theyve done in past years, the Bidens are staying at an expansive compound owned by billionaire businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein, according to the White House.
Designed with modern professionals in mind Regus Grand Bay Central is not just shared office space, but a dynamic ecosystem, fostering creativity, connectivity, and productivity. Located in the heart of Grand Bay at Grand Bay Coeur de Ville, the centre boasts a prime location that combines accessibility, and adequate parking in a vibrant local community.

Key features of Regus Grand Bay Central include:

1. Flexible workspaces: From private offices to open plan workstations, Regus Grand Bay offers a variety of flexible options to suite the diverse needs of both individuals and teams.

2. Unique Amenities: Our centre is equipped with the latest technology, high-speed secure internet, modern board rooms, kitchenette, and business lounge facilities to ensure every aspect of work life is optimized for success.

3. Community Collaboration: For those after working hour hours, our one of a kind rooftop terrace offers an inspiring environment to engage and network with others in the centre encouraging productivity and a positive work play balance.

Regus Grand Bay Central is ideally located in one of the most popular shopping precincts of Grand Bay offering on site access to world class shopping, wellness, and a host of tempting food outlets and restaurants.

The centre comprises of 48 private offices with a total of 330 workstations including 6 dedicated co-working desks, 2 board rooms and a community meeting room offered free of charge for two hours per day to all our customers.

Andrew Slome, Chief Executive Officer of Regus Operating Companies (Mauritius) expresses excitement about the launch:

We believe that the future of work is dynamic and collaborative. Regus Grand Bay Central is not just a place to work but a community where professionals can thrive together.

To celebrate our launch, Regus Grand Bay Central is offering exclusive promotions and trial usage of some of our unique facilities. To explore our new era workspace solutions

 Regus Grand Bay Central is an impressive addition of 1551 sq.mt of workspace, complete with co-working spaces, private offices, meeting rooms and unique creative spaces.

 The new location is part of a drive to provide top class serviced workspace facilities in a wide variety of locations in addition to our existing centres located in Ebene Cybercity and Port Louis Central Business district.

 This opening is a key development in our strategy to offer both value for money and trusted serviced office standards that have become a hallmark of Regus centres worldwide.
Le ministere des Services Financiers va signer prochainement un accord de principe avec lUnited Nations Economic Commission for Africa pour le developpement du National Fintech Strategy for Mauritius.

Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in order to secure, inter alia, technical support for the development of a National Fintech Strategy for Mauritius.

The scope of work for the development of the Strategy would cover, among others, the following activities:

(a) an assessment of the current level of Fintech penetration, Fintech adoption and digital maturity, both at corporate and consumer levels; and

(b) a marketing strategy to promote Mauritius as a leading Fintech Hub and which should include an incentive package, both financial and non-financial, to attract companies and start-ups to set up in the Mauritius Fintech Hub to serve both Mauritius and Africa.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 25. The Uzbekistan Senate has endorsed the ratification of the Treaty on Allied Relations with Kazakhstan, Trend reports.

The Parliamentary Senate of Uzbekistan said the main purpose of the treaty is the legal consolidation of a new stage of interstate relations aimed at further strengthening the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and sustainable economic development of the two countries.

The agreement provides for close cooperation in the fields of foreign policy, defense and security, migration, the development of industrial cooperation, the adoption of joint measures for the rational use of transboundary water resources, strengthening ties between parliaments, political parties and public organizations.

Earlier this month, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov have signed an agreement on regulating the activities of the "Central Asia" international center for industrial cooperation, which is being created on the border of the two countries.

The center will stimulate the creation of new industries, jobs, processing of agricultural and industrial products, as well as provide logistics services for further transportation of goods.

The operation will increase the efficiency of transporting goods and will also speed up the process of customs clearance. The signing of the agreement will allow us to begin the practical implementation of the project.

The launch of the center will help increase trade turnover between countries to $10 billion, according to estimates.

The trade turnover between the countries amounted to $2.19 billion from January to July 2023, which is 7.5 percent of the total trade turnover of Uzbekistan. In terms of total trade turnover, Uzbekistan exported goods worth $699.3 million to Kazakhstan, and imports amounted to $1.496 billion.
IT'S fast becoming the must-do culinary experience in the country. Locals and tourists alike packed out the Nephin Restaurant at the Mulranny Park Hotel recently for the annual Gourmet Greenway Banquet, and the general consensus was that this was the best one yet.

Covid put a stop to the event for some two years, but the banquet has now taken place for more than ten years and membership of the Gourmet Greenway has now swelled to 22 local food and drink producers.

For the uninitiated, the Gourmet Greenway was devised by the Mulranny Park Hotel to showcase the wonderful artisan food in the vicinity of Mulranny, Newport, Westport and Achill.

And the express aim of the banquet itself is to show how an amazing 9-course meal can be created around food and drink sourced from around the area.

The man tasked with putting all this food on a plate for the night is the renowned executive chef at the Mulranny Park Hotel, Sri-Lankan native Chamila Mananwatta, and he and his staff outdone themselves this year.

Dermot Madigan, General Manager at the hotel, informed guests that there were some 420 different ingredients used by Chamila in delivering the banquet menu, and the attention to detail in constructing each course was there for all to see.

Before taking their seats in the Nephin Restaurant, attendees were treated to some delicious canapes in the Waterfront Bar including Quail Scotch eggs, Kelly's black pudding, dressed iceberg Keem Bay barbecue salmon, savoury Croagh Patrick black mussel muffins and Keem Bay organic salmon macki roll, all washed down with Mescan Brewery's 7 Virtues Lager and the Achill Island Distillery Whiskey's 'Mayo Mojito'.

On sitting down in the restaurant, a baked selection from local bakeries Cafe Rua (Castlebar) and Cornrue (Westport), complemented by Wildwood Balsamic Vinegars (Ballina).

Each course was accompanied by wine chosen by Pat Smith, brand ambassador of Maison E Guigal, the most prestigious wine estate in the Rhone Valley.

Ronan Mahon and Dermot Madigan pictured with Katie and Michael McKay, of Irish American Whiskey, who created a special 'Mayo Mojito' for guests arriving at the banquet. Pics: Frank Dolan

Courses

THE following was a sample of the ingredients included in each course:

Mis En Bouche: goat's cheese parfait, beetroot cannelloni, Ceylon spiced tomato chutney, red ribbon sorrel.

Pre-Starter: Lough Mask Gin and lemon cured Clare Island salmon, Mulranny seaweed and Achill Island Sea Salt tarlet's, wakami, ponzu aioli, Oscietra caviar.

Starter: Clew Bay scallop mousse, Mulranny lobster and brown crab bisque, burnt lime comb bust, Croagh Patrick clams.

Middle Course: Poached Croagh Patrick oyster, wasabi mayonnaise, yuzu caviar, compressed kohi robi, buttermilk.

Mystery Course: Deep-fried croquette of ice-cream.

Main Course: Ballantine of free range Irish chicken, fois gras, home smoked duck, pork crepe, Calvey black faced lamb croquette, autumn black truffles, morels, veal jus.

Desserts: Sponge cake, blackberry cloud, felled tree branch, madeira gel, Petit Fours blackberry marshmallows and Irish American Whiskey truffles.

Truly, this was a meal fit for a king, and in addressing the gathering, it was perhaps best summed up by Mr Smith, from Maison E Guigal, who said: I have just come down from Dublin and something like this does not exist in Dublin. The food we are having here is Michelin style, I don't think I have ever tasted anything like it.



Making plans

DERMOT Madigan also revealed on the night, that far from resting on their laurels, there are concrete plans to build on the success already achieved by the Gourmet Greenway.

He explained that earlier in 2023, they were approached by Failte Ireland and Leader to take a look at the Gourmet Greenway itself and how it is going to grow, change or develop into something that Failte Ireland and Mayo County Council could support, and most importantly how it could attract additional visitors to this part of Mayo.

As a result, Suzanne OBrien of Shore Tourism was appointed to carry out a study and she has spent months examining the Gourmet Greenway and talking to members, and potential members, as to how it can be grown as a visitor experience.

Suzanne, a former marketing employee with the Mulranny Park Hotel, is hugely familiar with how the whole Gourmet Greenway works and she told the banquet she will continue to look at what works, what doesnt work and what could be improved.



Five-year plan

THERE is really goodwill from members to work together, said Suzanne. This is a five-year plan, there are some new members, there will be new experiences involved, so it is a matter of getting all the ideas together.

There are ideas of the commercialisation of the trail, so whether it is within your own businesses in having different things that you can sell, promote or cross-promote within each of the members, it means everybody working together, promoting each other.

People buy from people and if you promote other peoples business it all helps. The plan is there. It is a long plan with lots of information in it. It will be circulated in time and hopefully the members will all take something from it.

MORE

The names of all 22 members of the Gourmet Greenway can be found at www.greenway.ie/gourmet-greenway. All enquiries regarding the Gourmet Greenway can be directed to Mulranny Park Hotel. Booking is essential for a banquet style menu. To book this exclusive dining experience, call direct on 098 36000 or email info@mulrannyparkhotel.ie.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 24, 2023

In a victory for X Corp., formerly Twitter, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming the company violated a Washington state law by asking users to provide contact information in order to safeguard their accounts, but then harnessing that information for ad targeting.

In a ruling issued Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Dimke in the Eastern District of Washington said the allegations in the complaint, even if proven true, wouldn't establish that the tech company violated Washington's anti-pretexting law. That statute prohibits people from using fraudulent, deceptive, or false means to obtain telephone records of state residents.

Dimke's ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought in April 2022 by state resident Glen Morgan, who alleged that he gave his cell phone number to Twitter after it promised to protect nonpublic information in his account.

X Corp. disclosed in 2019 that users' phone numbers and email addresses were mistakenly incorporated into an ad platform that allows companies to use their own marketing lists to target ads on Twitter. Separately from Morton's lawsuit, the revelations separately sparked a Federal Trade Commission complaint that resulted in a $150 million fine.

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X Corp. urged Dimke to dismiss Morgan's complaint for several reasons. Among other arguments, the company argued merely obtaining a user's phone number from him or her doesn't violate the state pretexting law, which refers to telephone records.

If the legislature meant for 'telephone record' to include something as basic as the users own number, it surely would have said as much, X Corp. wrote in a motion filed in June.

Dimke agreed, writing that the pretexting law is plainly focused on protecting the consumers call history data.

She dismissed the complaint with prejudice -- meaning that Morgan can't amend the allegations and bring them again.

Morgan is appealing the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
A "weird bacterium" may be the culprit behind a mystery respiratory illness seen among dogs in the US. Scores of dogs across the US have been experiencing a mysterious respiratory illness. Some dogs have died from the illness, which starts with a cough that can last for weeks, runny eyes and sneezing .

Unusual Characteristics of the Suspected Pathogen Unveiled by Pathology Expert

Dogs as well as humans have multiple types of harmless bacteria and other microorganisms living both inside and outside the body. In the gut, they are thought to aid in

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However, "21 of the initial 30 samples from New Hampshire had some genetic material from one atypical bacterial species", Needle said.The team is sharing its results prior to publishing a research article, hoping they will give veterinarians some information as they deal with other respiratory syndrome outbreaks, the report said.



Source: IANS Dogs as well as humans have multiple types of harmless bacteria and other microorganisms living both inside and outside the body. In the gut, they are thought to aid in digestion . The initial sequencing showed there were no known viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens.However, "21 of the initial 30 samples from New Hampshire had some genetic material from one atypical bacterial species", Needle said.The team is sharing its results prior to publishing a research article, hoping they will give veterinarians some information as they deal with other respiratory syndrome outbreaks, the report said.Source: IANS

Researchers from the University of New Hampshire in the UK said that it could be caused by a bacterial infection that may be very good at evading the canine immune system, NBC news reported. The team identified the pathogen from a genetic sequencing of samples from an initial group of 30 dogs from New Hampshire who were infected last year and then an additional 40 from Rhode Island and Massachusetts who got sick this year.The pathogen is "a funky bacterium," David Needle, pathology section chief at the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, was quoted as saying."It's smaller than a normal bacterium in its size and in the size of its genome. Long story short, it's a weird bacterium that can be tough to find and sequence."
Sandeep Reddy Vanga wasnt lying when he said he would show the world what violence is with his next film Animal.

The film has already been rated A by the Indian Censor Board (CBFC) and the trailer has showcased brutal action scenes and a lot of gore making it obvious why the film is not fit for underaged folks.

However, now, a copy of the UK censor certificate is going viral on social media and it has revealed some shocking details behind the reason why the film got an 18+ rating by BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).

@ T Series

BBFC has rated the film on 8 fronts. On violence, it has got 5 out 5, threat and horror is 3 out 5, language is 4 out 5, s*x is 3 out 5, s*xual violence and s*xual threat is 4 out 5 and injury detail is 4 out 5. As for discrimination and drugs, it has got zero.

This has led to the film getting an 18+ rating for release in the UK.

The certificate has also revealed mild spoilers about the kind of content the film has.

Take a look at it below:

People on social media are losing it over the revelations.

One user wrote, This scared the heck out of me.

Another user commented, Brooo?? What even ? What has he made !

A third user reacted, Looks like Arjun Reddy is nothing in front of this. Domestic violence vera Incoming outrage in 3....2...1....

Check out some of the responses below:

Looks like Arjun Reddy is nothing in front of this. Domestic violence vera 

Incoming outrage in 3....2...1.... https://t.co/nbVyEHH8Tc pic.twitter.com/zfdKCm9Xqy  Burnt soul (@burntsoul3) November 24, 2023

Spoiler alert



Reminded of vanga's dialogue



"I will show them what a violent film will be"#animal https://t.co/NS996eruRH  vin (@vin5991) November 24, 2023

Reddit

Reddit

Reddit

Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna and Anil Kapoor, Animal will release in theatres on December 1, 2023.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The bodies of three climbers who died following an avalanche in Lorestan province in western Iran have been found, Trend reports.

Thus, as Iranian media said, the total number of dead climbers increased to five.

On November 24, nine climbers were caught in an avalanche at Sanboran heights in Lorestan province, and four of them were found by rescuers and hospitalized.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. Over the past 24 hours, a total of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip, the press service of the Israel Defense Forces, Trend reports.

The trucks reportedly entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing and delivered supplies to international humanitarian organizations working in the southern Gaza Strip.

It was noted that the flow of humanitarian aid approved by the Israeli government continues as part of the hostage release agreements.

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.
MIDLAND, MI  If youre looking for a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, hold a fancy business meeting or to simply try something different, executive chef Theo Bawar says Cafe Zinc could be the place to go.

Cafe Zinc is attached to The H Hotel in Midland located at 111 W. Main Street.

The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes. They also have a takeout counter for those who want to grab an Illy specialty coffee with a fresh baked treat.

Bawar said the Benedict dishes and omelets for breakfast, the sandwiches paired with the French onion soup for lunch and the scallops and half roasted chicken dish for dinner are some of the most popular dishes among their customers.

They change the menu items three times per year, Bawar said.

We try to do more of the Mediterranean feel, Bawar said. We try to do our best. We try to be as creative as much as possible.

Being the executive chef for both ONe eighteen and Cafe Zinc at The H Hotel is a bit demanding Bawar said, but with the amazing team that they have, they continue to be successful.

The support is great, the creativity is there, the dedication is there so I cant do anything without my direct supports and also the team, he said.

Even though ONe eighteen and Cafe Zinc are under the same umbrella of The H Hotel, Bawar said they do differ in ambiance and menu items.

Theres quite a few things that we serve here that no one else would in the area, Bawar said. We just try to be a little bit different with our menus as much as possible.

Bawar added that their pastry chef is from France and creates a variety of decadent pastries and breads in addition to their dine-in menus. Customers can order larger versions of the desserts available and can purchase fresh bread when they visit.

To order cakes, Bawar said they ask for a 72-hour notice to prepare it and customers can stop in or give the restaurant a call at 989-837-6030 to place the order.

Bawar said he hopes all customers will have a great experience and meal when they visit.

From the front of the house to the back of the house, we all share the same vision to take care of our guests, he said.

Cafe Zinc is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Check out their website here and their Facebook page here.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.

Would you like MLive to feature your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Kaytie Boomer at kboomer@mlive.com.
GENESEE TWP, MI -- Hundreds of Genesee County residents stepped and spun into a Christmas wonderland on Friday night.

For the 30th year, Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad hosted a tree lighting, with the hue from the illuminated bulbs dancing from face to face in the crowd.

After some caroling and a countdown from 10, the tree was lit to cheers from the crowd and a fireworks finale.

The fireworks soared high above the park, connecting the skyline and the million-plus Christmas lights for brief moments in time.

Adam Kim watched with Fengchen Changs arm wrapped gently around him.

Their daughter, Irene Kim, 5, viewed the pops of color above from the stroller below.

Kim said it felt good to be around his family during this time, as he lives in California for work and was able to return for the holidays.

Hes visited light shows all over, but said this one topped them all.

Just a few feet away, Jake Hansen, 15, held his younger sibling Avelyn Alfaro, 7.

Hansen has gone to the event as part of a family tradition since he was young.

I like going on the Ferris wheel, thats always a good time, Hansen said. And the fireworks and tree too.

In other places throughout the park, attendants shopped the warmly lit general store, walked through giant ornaments, and rode the Huckleberry Railroads 8-mile loop along Mott Lake and through Genesee Township.

Attendants can see the village, 6140 N. Bray Road in Genesee Township, from 4-9 p.m. on weekends (Friday-Sunday) from Nov. 24 to Dec. 30 during the holiday celebration.

The Holiday Magic lights display will be open for drive-through-only nights from 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11, 18 and 24, with a cost of $10 per vehicle. Sales end at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets for specific days of the event can be reserved on the Genesee County Parks website. Village-only tickets are $15 each. Combo tickets with train and village access are $25 each, with special pricing for children and seniors.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.

Read more from The Flint Journal:

A magical moment: Lights, carols, smiles kick off Christmas season in Saginaw

Magical Christmas drive-through in Michigan has 2-million lights, animations

5 great places to order Thanksgiving feast takeout in mid-Michigan

SkyBridge to unveil jaw-dropping holiday display with 150,000 twinkling lights

Light Night kicks off the holidays in Grand Haven Friday
JACKSON, MI  Dentons Den first opened in 1981 and while it has undergone several renovations, changes and even challenges through the years, it has stayed true to its country rock roots.

The Jackson dive bar even temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 shutdowns. However, it was able to fully reopen two years later and has since been flooded by regulars and newcomers who have enjoyed the drinks, food and atmosphere, owner Rick Denton said.

Ever since, its been like nonstop, which Im glad, Denton said. And weve drawn a lot of new people because they like the atmosphere, they like the way the bar looks.

Dentons Den is known for offering an old school dive bar feel, he said. Many also enjoy the menu, which features a range of chicken baskets, burgers, appetizers, tacos and sandwiches.

The burgers, made fresh, are the biggest sellers, Denton said, adding this is especially true for the Den Burger. The burger comes with any topping customers want, but onion, tomato, lettuce and cheese are popular choices, he said.

The secret to its popular flavor is a homemade sauce thats added to the burgers, he said.

Weve had (the sauce) forever, and thats why weve always been known for our burgers, Denton said.

Other burgers include the Den Cheeseburger and the Den Bacon Cheeseburger.

The wet burrito is also a hit among customers. This large burrito is filled with taco meat, beans, onions and some peppers, he said. It is then topped with lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and red sauce.

Aside from the food, people also enjoy the full bar. Dentons Den offers beers on tap, canned and bottled drinks, as well as plenty of liquor options, he said.

I try to give the people what they want, Denton said.

Through the years, the crowd at Dentons Den has tried to stay true to its roots, typically drawing in an older crowd, with a couple of younger folks, he said. Country rock music is a go-to for patrons, he said.

Patrons also enjoy the occasional live bands, pool tables and karaoke.

Dentons Den, 802 E. Michigan Ave., is open noon to midnight Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

More information can be found on Denton Dens 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: Martini Spa & Lounge is more than just a place to get a pedicure

Michigans Local Best Eats: The hearty California Chicken Salad sandwich is a hit at Lakeside Cafe

Michigans Best Local Eats: The bacon jam burger, 20 ciders on tap draw people to Boss Cider

Michigans Best Local Eats: Serving pizza since 1955 has made Charlies Tavern more than a watering hole

Michigans Best Local Eats: Hearty sandwiches, fresh doughnuts are hits at Foundry in Albion

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

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Twenty-five Michigan lawmakers this week called on President Joe Biden to advance a lasting cease-fire in Gaza.

This is necessary to address the growing humanitarian crisis as the Israel-Hamas war continues, reads the letter, dated Wednesday, Nov. 22 and signed by Democrats in the Michigan House and Senate.

We write to urge you to do everything in your power as the president of the United States to reach an immediate durable cease-fire, it says. We urge the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, the adherence of all international laws and aid to ensure that every person living in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank can live with self-determination, dignity and humanity.

The lawmakers condemn the killing of all innocent civilians, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.

Friday, at the start of a four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 hostages and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison, the Associated Press reported. This, the Michigan lawmakers said, is a positive first step.

Israel will continue its offensive once the agreement ends, but it has said the cease-fire could be lengthened if more hostages are released, according to the Associated Press.

Throughout the four days, Hamas is to release at least 50 hostages and Israel is to free 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Biden on Friday said the chances are real the fighting could stop for a few additional days.

In an opinion piece published Nov. 18 in the Washington Post, Biden said a cease-fire is not peace as long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction.

An outcome that leaves Hamas in control of Gaza would once more perpetuate its hate and deny Palestinian civilians the chance to build something better for themselves.

On Friday, Biden said, Ive encouraged the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective.

In an Oct. 7 attack, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, wounded thousands more and returned to Gaza with about 240 hostages.

Israel has responded in force. More than 11,000 Palestinians  including thousands of children  have been killed as of earlier this month. The Health Ministry in Gaza has said it cannot update the count as Israels ground invasion has intensified, according to the Associated Press. Many have been forced from their homes. Thousands are struggling to find sufficient food and water. Some hospitals are not operational.

Michigan is home to the largest Arab-American community in the United States and the war abroad has divided state Democrats.

The U.S. House this month censured Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit and the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, for her comments supporting Palestine. She used the phrase from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, seen by many in the Jewish community as an antisemitic call for the eradication of Israel and killing of Jews. She said it is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence.

State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Jewish, organized a press conference to condemn Tlaibs comments.

A bipartisan resolution introduced by Republican Bill Schuette of Midland early in the conflict had some calling for official support of Israel, but it went nowhere.

The Democrat-led MI House refused to condemn Hamas terrorist acts and hostage taking. Now these lawmakers are calling ceasefire. Hamas shouldnt get to butcher children and then call truce. This letter is an error&insult to those victims of terror, Schuette wrote on X, once known as Twitter.

How many children in Gaza should be bombed, Bill? responded Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Brownstown Township, who signed the letter.

Bombing children will not bring peace, Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck and the majority floor leader, wrote on X. He also signed the letter and posted it to the social media platform.

An end to violence is the only way to legitimately address the occupation and bring lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
Nursing homes are facing a crisis.

Staffing levels have tumbled in the nearly four years since the COVID-19 pandemic  leaving nursing homes scrambling to care for the elderly. A recent study from a University of Michigan researcher found nursing home employment is 10.5% below its pre-pandemic level, more than triple the rate at hospitals, 3.3%, or physician offices, 1.6%.
Disciplinary councils within France's Education Ministry have sanctioned 605 pupils following incidents that marred tributes last month to teachers Dominique Bernard and Samuel Paty. 85 students, permanently excluded from their schools, will have to find alternative establishments.

Some 179 incidents of disruption were registered during the minute's silence held in French middle schools and high schools on 16 October in memory of Dominique Bernard and Samuel Paty.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Education announced 454 pupils had been excluded  85 were permanent, 322 were temporary and 47 were suspended.

The 85 permanent excluded will now have to find alternative schools.

For the most serious acts of protest or disruption, such as the offence of "justification for terrorism", students had already been removed from school immediately after the homage was held.

"These sanctions are first and foremost a commitment kept," Attal said in Thursday's statement.

Making waves

Immediately following the disrupted homage to the teachers, Education Minister Gabriel Attal had promised severe punishments.

"I made a commitment to the French people that I would not let anything go unchallenged, in the name of the memory of Dominique Bernard and Samuel Paty, and in the name of respect for authority in schools.

"Moreover, these unprecedented results are proof that we are well and truly turning the page on the 'Don't make waves' [attitude]," he added.

Dominique Bernard, a teacher of French, was stabbed to death at a school in Arras on 13 October this year, in what the government described as an Islamist terror attack.

History teacher Samuel Paty was murdered near his school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine outside Paris on 13 October 2020 by a young Islamist extremist. Paty had showed cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a class on freedom of expression.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 25. The 18th meeting of the joint Turkish-Russian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation has taken place in Ankara, Trend reports.

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat wrote on his page on X (Twitter) that a protocol was signed following the meeting.

On the Russian side, the document was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

The previous meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission was staged in Ankara in May 2022.

Last year, trade turnover between Turkiye and Russia reached $68 billion.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
- Source:

24.11.2023 LISTEN

The UK Supreme Court ruled on 15 November 2023 that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful. The plan would have seen tens of thousands of asylum seekers sent from the UK to Rwanda, which would then process and host such refugees indefinitely.

Along with countless refugee and human rights groups  including the United Nations  I raised red flags about the plan and welcome the decision to halt it. My research and work over more than a decade has focused on the livelihoods and survival of refugees in east Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.

The UK court's decision is grounded in the view that Rwanda is unsafe for asylum seekers because it might force them to return to their home country. Forced return is against international human rights law as refugees and asylum seekers may be persecuted again in their country of origin.

Much of the recent media focus has been on what the ruling means for the UK and its migration policy. But it's also important to understand the implications for Rwanda itself and for the refugees already residing there.

Rwanda currently hosts more than 135,000 refugees and asylum seekers . Most are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. It's one of the most densely populated countries in Africa and has a high poverty rate , which matters for its ability to host refugees. In the UK's effort to deter irregular migration, it sought to outsource the asylum-seeking process and ultimately refugee hosting to Rwanda. The east African nation would in return receive development funds . Neither side of this deal was taking the needs of asylum seekers into account.

The recent UK court ruling highlights two things that Rwanda and its development and humanitarian partners need to consider:

the east African nation's human rights record

international support for refugees and asylum seekers.

Failing to address the current gaps in these two areas reflects a disregard for human rights that falls on the international community's shoulders, too.

Rwanda's human rights record

The evidence considered in the UK ruling adds to ongoing documentation about Rwanda's poor human rights record. Refugees and citizens in the country have experienced political repression, including being killed during protests . A recent Human Rights Watch report documented Kigali's use of threats, kidnapping and even killing of Rwandan refugees and migrants abroad who undertake or are affiliated to political activism.

Worrying past evidence of the treatment of asylum seekers includes the outcome of a secretive deal between Israel, Rwanda and Uganda to receive African asylum seekers (mostly from Eritrea and Sudan) between 2014 and 2017. A majority of those deported from Israel to Rwanda immediately left, some through dangerous migration routes .

In its recent ruling, the UK court concluded

there were substantial grounds for believing that there were real risks that asylum claims would not be properly determined by the Rwandan authorities. There were, therefore, real risks of refoulement {forced return}.

The evidence provided by the UN Refugee Agency highlighted serious issues in Rwanda's asylum system . This included a lack of adequate legal representation, the risk of bias by judges and lawyers in politically sensitive cases, and current practices of forced return. A failure to comply with international law suggests Rwanda may well continue to benefit from development funding while sending asylum seekers home or pressuring them to leave the country .

To rectify these failings, the government of Rwanda must commit to eliminating forced return. In the absence of enforcement mechanisms in Rwanda to do so, the international community  including the UN Refugee Agency and activists in the region  must continue to document evidence of human rights violations and speak out. If these violations don't cease, Rwanda should no longer be funded as the  donor darling  that it has been.

Areas for improvement

At the same time, the UK court ruling illustrates the need for humanitarian and development partners to support Rwanda to improve its conditions for refugees and its asylum-seeking process. In its written evidence for the case, the UN Refugee Agency assessed that

long-term and fundamental engagement is required to develop Rwanda's national asylum structures to fairly adjudicate individual asylum claims.

This statement is both a critique of the limitations to the existing asylum infrastructure in Rwanda and an important call for action.

As of 31 October 2023, the UN Refugee Agency's Rwanda operation was only 38% funded . This means that refugees within Rwanda lack healthcare support and have limited access to legal counselling and assistance.

These figures demand a closer look at the treatment of refugees in Rwanda and the region. These funding deficits restrict the rights of those refugees most in need.

Read more: Supreme court rules Rwanda plan unlawful: a legal expert explains the judgment, and what happens next

Efforts to improve the asylum system can and should build on the promising practices within Rwanda that relate to refugees. These include over 90% of children born as refugees having their birth registered, and a provision on the right to work . Urban refugees and refugee students can also access the national community-based health insurance scheme.

Non-legal barriers  such as lack of access to capital for businesses and poor camp infrastructure, including limited electricity  still play a role in impeding access to these services for many refugees. However, these are important rights to continue to actualise  and ones that many other refugee-hosting countries don't offer at all.

The court's attention to Rwanda's human rights violations may lead to restricted development funding or wider repercussions for the country from the international community. But there's a need for more  not less  investment in refugee assistance in Rwanda.

Next steps

There are two best possible outcomes of the UK-Rwanda migration deal being deemed unlawful.

First is that it leads to commitments by the government of Rwanda to improve its treatment of refugees, including Rwandan refugees abroad. Second is that it encourages the UK and other countries to examine their own unlawful practices, such as the indefinite detention of asylum seekers and ongoing attempts to externalise asylum .

Just as Rwanda's human rights record should not be brushed under the rug, neither should the international community's limited support for refugees.

Evan Easton-Calabria receives funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Research conducted through these grants is unrelated to the contents of this article.

By Evan Easton-Calabria, Senior Researcher at the Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, and Research Associate at the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford
Majority Caucus in Parliament has questioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) pledge to introduce a 24-hour economy in 2024, arguing that aspects of this concept are already in place thanks to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments digitalization drive.

During a parliamentary debate, the Chairman of the Trade, Industry, and Tourism Committee, Carlos Ahenkorah, asserted that Ghanaians can now make payments for electricity and water charges around the clock due to the implementation of digital payment systems.

We're already experiencing this 24-hour economy in Ghana due to the intelligence of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Today even in some areas, you have to pay for water and electricity through some digitalized means. Is that not what a 24 hour economy is? You are only trying to find new ways to justify our digital economy and you're using 24-hour economy, he argued.

Ahenkorah also addressed the need for additional taxation and borrowing to offset the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When we went on lockdown and you enjoyed free water and electricity, where were you expecting the government to get the money from? Today we're asking you to pay and you're complaining? If you think the government is going to conjure money from somewhere else, no, we are going to pay ourselves, he added.

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to implementing his proposed 24-hour economy policy, dismissing criticism from opponents and reiterating its potential to boost employment and revitalize the Ghanaian economy.

During a campaign rally in the Bono East Region, Mr. Mahama emphasized that his vision for a 24-hour economy extends beyond simply extending the operational hours of existing businesses.

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Monday, November 20, suggested that the 24-hour economy concept was already being implemented in Ghana and that Mr Mahama lacked understanding of the policy.

But in a response, the NDC flagbearer explained that his policy is based on a comprehensive approach that encourages and incentivizes businesses across various sectors to adopt 24-hour operations, thus creating new employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

If one factory is doing 24 hours, that is not what I'm talking about. Everybody should be encouraged to be able to do a 24-hour shift. We have the harvest season now and factories that are processing agricultural products should be able to run two shifts, Mr. Mahama explained.

We will give incentives for everybody who wants to run a 24-shift system to be able to do that so that more young people will be employed, he added.

Mr. Mahama added that the 24-hour economy policy can transform Ghana's economic landscape and alleviate the unemployment crisis.
France's top diplomat called on Beijing Friday to be vigilant against China providing any direct or indirect support to Russia in its war on Ukraine.

Catherine Colonna and her counterpart Wang Yi also discussed joint efforts to avoid escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

"We want to have an in-depth dialogue with China on global issues, of course, but also on major crises," Colonna told a press conference in Beijing after meeting with Wang.

She said France was "counting on the vigilance" of Chinese authorities to ensure nothing in China "contributes directly or indirectly to Russia's illegal war effort".

Wang said China maintained "normal and friendly relations" with Russia and Iran, but also with many other countries.

"In handling international and regional affairs, China has always maintained an objective and impartial position, always upheld the basic norms of international relations, has always resolved disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation, and insisted on maintaining world peace and stability," he said.

Growing weight

Colonna's talks in Beijing came the same day that a truce between Israel and Hamas took effect, with the militant group set to release a first group of 13 hostages later Friday, and a total of 50 over four days.

Paris has said that the conflict in the Middle East is an important topic on the agenda for Colonna and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

"China is an actor with growing weight in the region" due to its "strong relationship" with Iran, a French diplomatic source said this week.

"The first thing we expect from China in this conflict is to join its efforts with ours to ensure that we avoid any regional escalation," they added.

Beijing has this year sought to play a greater role in the Middle East, facilitating a historic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and sending an envoy to the region to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and generally seems to be more willing to deal with the US and the EU.

Colonna was also received by Premier Li Qiang at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, saying China and France shared "global responsibilities" as permanent members of the Security Council.

The two must "strive to find answers to major challenges, in particular the challenges of climate, biodiversity and anything that can ease tensions in the world", she said.

Li, in turn, noted a "positive trend of Sino-French cooperation on all fronts".

"This close cooperation between China and France has also injected a lot of positive energy and provided more certainty to the uncertain world today," he added.

Action plan

Colonna and Wang also held a bilateral dialogue at Peking University earlier in the day aimed at enhancing cooperation on everything from climate to education.

In 2019, during a visit of President Emmanuel Macron to China, Beijing and Paris agreed on an "action plan for Franco-Chinese relations" that would include discussions on climate change, promoting trade and investment.

This increased cooperation will touch on fields such as aviation, astronomy, nuclear energy, culture (exchange of exhibitions like "China in Versailles") and sports, with Beijing and Paris organising the winter- and summer Olympics in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

In another sign of softening ties with the EU, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on 24 November announced that passport holders of five EU countries, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as Malaysia, would be able to enter China for 15 days without visa, for a period of one year starting on 1 December.

Diplomatic ties

One key aim of the visit was to pave the way for activities marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between France and the People's Republic of China early next year.

France and China established ties on 27 January 1964, in a time that both Beijing found common ground in Paris with then French President Charles de Gaulle's reluctance to follow Washington.

France was one of the first Western countries that shifted recognition from the Taiwan-based "Republic of China" ruled by the Nationalist Kuomintang to the Communist government in Beijing, after the UK, Switzerland and the Scandinavians in 1950.
"Be assured Ghanaians, we don't need the NDC to protect this electionwe Ghanaians are going to protect this election with everything," thats the clear message from Ghanaian radio journalist, Kwabena Bobie Ansah. Since I have already stated that Ghanaians shouldn't consider the effort to restore Ghana's vibrant economy as a battle between the NDC and the NPP, but should be a fight between the entire country and the NPP, I became very interested in Mr. Ansah's passionate message to Ghanaians.

Ghana is in a dangerous situation, and the direction the nation is currently taking is truly frightening. However, aside from the state-sponsored journalists who support and promote the government's immoralities, the nation is left with a small number of journalists who are unwilling to back down in the face of tyrant Akufo Addo and who are willing to take on this government head-on, even if it means their deaths. That is my goal, and I am happy to recognize this man's efforts to help Ghana.

The people of Ghana have become too complacent and fail to recognize the true threat that would confront them after 2024 if they do not take action to stop Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare, the NPP politician stationed in the Electoral Commission office, from carrying out their diabolical actions. Ghana's government is neither democratically administered nor controlled by politicians, Mafioso criminals control the nation; and their sole concern is looting and destroying the nation.

Akufo Addo and the NPP politicians have destroyed the country beyond remedy and without any remorse, regret, sympathy, or feeling the pain of the people, they rather keep telling Ghanaians that they will break the eighth cycle. That should tell everyone that this is a plot to hide serious financial crime and various levels of public corruption. Since their financial crimes have destroyed businesses, banking institutions, and both foreign and local investments, the NPP must go together with their Bawumia.

Mr. Kwabena Bobie Ansah, dissatisfied with the disasters that have befallen our country, has chastised the government for ignoring some issues and yet wants to elect a destructive politician to the presidency. "Ghanaians will devise a strategy against Akufo Addo and Bawumia and it will shock them," the speaker emphasized. I wholeheartedly endorse Bobie Ansah's words since I have stated in several of my publications that the NPP will go through exactly what happened at the Assin North in 2024.

Readers of this writer's column will agree with me when I began alerting Ghanaians about Akufo Addo and his relative finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, at least four years ago. Many disagreed with me when I said that Akufo Addo is more corrupt than the Mahama, and more crucially, that Ken Ofori-Atta was appointed to make corruption much easier for the family, which is the calamity of today, in a country where many people value tribalism more than development.

The NPP is well-positioned to use the embezzled funds, which have grown to be a massive debt on the shoulders of the suffering people, to finance or persuade the people to vote for them. Fortunately, the people are now wise enough to know that the seven years of the NPP have been a complete disaster, sending many people to their untimely deaths. Therefore; they will take the money from the vote purchasers and still throw them out of power, thus; their schemes to buy votes will backfire.

Consider a president who, although having committed combat corruption and illicit mining, has been revealed to be complicit in both of these crimes. I wholeheartedly endorse Kevin Taylor, and I am also fully in favor of Mr. Kwabena Bobie Ansah's efforts to ensure that this pack of destructive wolves is driven out of the former Flagstaff House, which I know will happen. If I were Akufo Addo, he ought to start packing his stuff from the "Julor Bi House.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, has taken a swipe at the leadership of the Fixing the Country Movement for attempting to picket at his Cantonments office.

He lashed out at the group for dabbling in what he described as bizarre and inexplicable antics in the face of the economic mess created by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

The Fixing the Country Movement called off its planned demonstration and picketing at Mahamas office, which was scheduled for Thursday, November 23, 2023, after the group was stopped by National Security.

Mr. Mahama stated that the aborted picketing was designed to divert attention from the mismanagement of the economy.

In a statement signed by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Special Aide to Mr Mahama, said, It is most regrettable that amid the excruciating hardship and the suffering brought upon Ghanaians by the NPP government, they would rather find it necessary to dabble in bizarre and inexplicable antics over a so-called Airbus matter, which has long been laid to rest and over which Mr. Mahama has absolutely no questions to answer.

The needless aborted picketing was clearly designed to divert attention from the mismanagement of the economy, the public's frustration with hunger and high costs of living, and the citizenry's anger with the daily reports and evidence of high-level corruption sanctioned by the Presidency.

The former President stated that he is focused on pursuing his political agenda, emphasizing that he will not be distracted by any shenanigans by the NPP.

Mr. Mahama will obviously not be distracted by the NPP or any political shenanigans. He remains focused on engaging the people of Ghana on his plans to revitalise the economy to create more opportunities and decent well-paying jobs in a 24-hour economy for the youth.

He expressed his appreciation to the Greater Accra Youth Wing of the NDC for embarking on a clean-up exercise at his office.

Ayekoo to the young people including women who converged at the Cantonments office on Thursday to solidarise with John Mahama in the face of what was a misguided attempt by elements sponsored by the leadership of the NPP to picket around the office.

Read below the statement by Mr. Mahama Mahama grateful to Greater Accra NDC Youth Wing for their unflinching solidarity and support.

[Accra, November 24, 2023.] HE John Dramani Mahama wishes to convey his gratitude and appreciation to members of the public and particularly the Greater Accra Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for the love, support, and commitment to defending his strong and incorruptible character.

Ayekoo to the young people including women who converged at the Cantonments office on Thursday to solidarise with John Mahama in the face of what was a misguided attempt by elements sponsored by the leadership of the NPP to picket around the office.

Mr. Mahama also notes that the Ministry of National Security decided to intervene and stop the advertised picketing.

It is most regrettable that amid the excruciating hardship and the suffering brought upon Ghanaians by the NPP government, they would rather find it necessary to dabble in bizarre and inexplicable antics over a so-called Airbus matter, which has long been laid to rest and over which Mr. Mahama has absolutely no questions to answer.

The needless aborted picketing was clearly designed to divert attention from the mismanagement of the economy, the public's frustration with hunger and high costs of living, and the citizenry's anger with the daily reports and evidence of high-level corruption sanctioned by the Presidency.

It must be placed on record that Mr. Mahama has never been accused of, or investigated for, any involvement or wrongdoing of any sort by either the UK or US authorities in relation to Airbus. Indeed, neither the Ghanaian government nor any other authority anywhere in the world has any evidence of wrongdoing against him.

The Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom has long announced their discontinuation of the Airbus case due to lack of evidence. It is also a matter of record that there has been no breach of Ghana's procurement laws or any other law in the processes leading to the purchase of the aircrafts under reference.

It has also been revealed that due to the competent negotiations by officials of the Ghana Armed Forces' Technical Negotiating Team, the aircrafts were purchased at a price lower than the prevailing market price at the time.

Mr. Mahama will obviously not be distracted by the NPP or any political shenanigans. He remains focused on engaging the people of Ghana on his plans to revitalise the economy to create more opportunities and decent well-paying jobs in a 24-hour economy for the youth and the Ghanaian people.

He is also poised to carry out far reaching governance including anti-corruption and constitutional reforms to meet the aspirations and expectations of Ghanaians.

SIGNED Joyce Bawah Mogtari Special Aide to HE John Mahama

citinewsroom
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has won re-election in the first round of a ballot boycotted by nearly all opposition candidates, the electoral commission announced on Saturday.

Andry Rajoelina, 49, won 58.95 percent of the vote in the first round of balloting on 16 November, it said.

Such a margin of victory would eliminate the need for a runoff election and give him a third term as leader of the Indian Ocean island of 28 million.

The turnout was fairly low after 10 of 12 opposition candidates called for a boycott complaining of an "institutional coup" in favour of the incumbent.

Rajoelina, a former DJ and mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, was president of a post-coup provisional government in 2009-2014.

He was elected president in 2019 and gained a degree of notoriety during the coronavirus pandemic by promoting a herbal drink as a cure for COVID-19.

The lead up to the 16 November election was marked by protests against Rajoelina led by opposition candidates.

Security forces fired tear gas grenades at demonstrators, and two opposition candidates sustained minor injuries.

Some polling stations were torched ahead of the election, which was delayed for a week because of the trouble.

(with newswires)
President Nana Akufo-Addo has lauded Liberias recent elections, calling for emerging democracies to emulate its democratic example.

He further applauded Liberia for strengthening the frontiers of democracy by successfully electing a new president to take over the reins of affairs of the country.

President-elect Joseph Boakai, the presidential candidate of the Unity Party, emerged victorious in the elections, defeating the incumbent President George Manneh Weah.

President Akufo-Addo in a Facebook post on November 24 said, Through the peaceful exercise of their sovereign and democratic right to elect their own leaders, the people of Liberia have strengthened the frontiers of democracy for emerging democracies on the continent to emulate. The consolidation of democracy in Liberia, in the wake of Liberias painful civil war, continues to gather pace.

While congratulating the newly elected president, he also commended the outgoing President George Weah for exhibiting statesmanlike concession of defeat.

He expressed hope that the President-elect would continue on the path of his predecessors, thereby deepening further the friendship that exists between Liberia and Ghana.

citinewsroom
25.11.2023 LISTEN

Ranking member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, is calling for an investigation into the distribution of approximately 300,000 bags of rice, suspected to be infested with maggots, to Senior High Schools.

The legislator alleges that the rice, imported since 2021, remained uncleared at the ports due to high import duties, causing them to reach their expiry date.

He urges the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant stakeholders to investigate the matter, expressing concerns about potential negative health implications for students.

There is this rice which was imported into the country in 2021 and has been kept at the warehouse all this time. My investigation shows that the inability of the importers of the rice from India to pay the import duties resulted in the rice being stored there.

Then, a few weeks ago, this rice was taken out of the warehouse and distributed to secondary schools in the country. That is why I have brought this matter to the highest level, Parliament. It is now left for those who are responsible to go and conduct their own investigation and find out how the rice got to the schools. As I have made the allegation, it is for them to investigate and report back whether my claim is true or not.

citinewsroom
Emtithal Mahmoud, a Sudanese refugee, writer and activist, is preparing to attend the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai this month as part of her mission to raise up overlooked voices. RFI met her during a visit to the Minawao refugee camp in northern Cameroon, where displaced people are experiencing the harsh realities of climate change first-hand.

Liatou Habila, a 26-year-old Nigerian refugee in Cameroon, has a broad smile after shaking hands with Emtithal Emi Mahmoud.

I am surprised that she came to see us, Habila says of the Sudanese-American poet and goodwill ambassador for the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.

She is so humble and so nice and everybody likes her, Habila tells RFI.

The two women met at the Minawao refugee camp in Cameroon's Far North region, which Mahmoud recently visited.

The activist, who fled Darfur as a toddler and then grew up in the United States, was in the region to speak to displaced people ahead of the Cop28 climate summit, which starts on 30 November.

She says she will be at the talks in Dubai to lift the voices of refugees  who have long been left out of discussions on climate change, but increasingly find themselves on its frontlines.

Climate displacement

You see other refugee situations where climate disasters did lead to displacement, because 70 percent of refugees actually come from climate-vulnerable settings, in different countries including Afghanistan, the DRC, Yemen and Syria, Mahmoud says.

But from my context specifically, I have experienced that kind of environmental loss at many different levels and many different climates, both in the States and in Sudan and many different areas.

In Cameroon, the Far North region hosts thousands of displaced people, some from Nigeria and others forced to flee from within the country. Some have fled extreme weather events or conflicts over land and resources aggravated by climate change.

But they can't escape climate pressures at the Minawao refugee camp.

Drought, deforestation

The camp spans some 623 hectares, with temperatures sometimes reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius. The area has seen regular droughts in recent years, much like many other regions of the Sahel, the semi-arid scrubland that borders the Sahara desert.

This has been made worse in Minawao by the loss of trees, which both refugees and the local population depend on for firewood.

According to the Centre for International Forestry Research, an estimated 80 percent of Cameroonians rely on wood for all their household energy. It estimates that 2.2 million metric tonnes of firewood is burned annually throughout the nation. And with electricity in short supply and domestic gas practically unavailable in remote places like Minawao, firewood is the camp's primary source of fuel.

The rising demand for firewood is adding to the pressure on Cameroon's forests, which are already threatened by logging, farming, mining and construction.

Even as refugees like Habila go further afield in search of firewood, they face the prospect of sexual violence.

They are sexually abused. They are raped almost every day they step out to look for wood, said Luka Isaac, a spokesperson for Nigerian refugees at Minawao.

The refugees therefore initiated a tree-planting campaign  not only to help provide fuel, but also to provide shade from the searing Sahelian heat.

Over 50,000 new trees

We started with just 500 trees, Luka tells RFI. With the help of the Cameroon government, the UNHCR and other aid agencies, we are now on more than 50,000 trees.

Mahmoud sits in the shade of a neem tree taking in the breeze.

I think what's so brilliant about the climate solutions here are that they weren't just offered or led by refugees, they were created by refugees from the outset, she tells RFI.

She says she performs her spoken-word poetry because she believes that if one person hears it and it makes a difference in their lives, if it shifts their perspective about a refugee or a vulnerable person or it makes them see us as more human, if it just makes one person listen a little bit better or see the humanity a little bit more, that makes a huge difference for me.

The same mission will take her to Cop28, where she hopes to ensure that refugees' long-ignored voices are heard.
Young people in Africa have called on developed countries to double the funding for climate change adaptation in Africa.

At the Youth Forum on Adaptation Finance in Africa (YOFAFA), held in Yaounde in Cameroon in November, participants stressed the critical role of financial support in securing a sustainable future for the continent.

YOFAFA gathered 200 participants from across the African continent and another 2000 participants online.

In a statement drawn-up during the forum, they said they were frustrated by gap between actual adaptation financial flows, commitments, and the real needs on the ground.

They also stressed the disproportionate impacts of climate change in Africa and the potential for even greater severity in key areas of the economy across the continent. The work of the forum along with the statement will be presented at the upcoming COP28.

Major polluters, they said, must develop a framework at the Dubai summit that commits to more than double annual adaptation finance flows to Africa by 2025.

Climate challenges

Participants from all over the continent outlined some of the challenges they are facing in the coming years.

One of the major issues is declining rainfall. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, rainfall in Cameroon has been decreasing by 2.5 mm each year since 1960, putting millions of people on the brink of famine.

In 2008, a food crisis led to violent protests that resulted in at least 40 deaths according to government figures, although independent organizations claimed at least a hundred people were killed.

Kenyan climate activist Shampi Anna says the northern part of her country is a concrete example of the devastating effects of these extreme events.

"Whenever the rain comes, it's very heavy, and there are always floods. So, if we have a drought, it's extreme, if we have rain, it's also extreme. In case of floods, most of our houses are temporary, so they end up being washed away. Children die, cattle die," she said.

Livestock department statistics in Kenya reveal that the country lost 2.5 million head of cattle in 2022, and the remaining 10 million in arid areas suffer from a lack of pasture and water.

The country's tourism ministry also revealed that between February and October 2022, 205 elephants died due to drought in protected areas.A further 512 wildebeests, 381 zebras, 12 giraffes, and 51 buffaloes also perished in the same period and region. These figures do not include animals that may have died in the grazing ecosystem, where 60% of the wildlife coexists with the community's livestock.

A 2023 World Bank report indicates that Kenya could lose up to 7.25% of its economic production by 2050 if it does not take decisive action to adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects.

"So, what people need are actually adaptive projects to be resilient to these climate disasters that cannot be avoided. Things like dams are very crucial in these areas," Shampi told RFI.

Environment initiatives

In Ethiopia, rural women travel several kilometers to collect firewood, the primary source of fuel for most of the country's 112 million people. This has put Ethiopia's forests under enormous pressure.

The East African nation has been suffering from deforestation and degradation for decades to the point where natural forests in an already drought-prone region are on the verge of collapse. For an economy largely based on agriculture, reforesting has become crucial to creating a sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Yabtsega Getachew works with an NGO that seeks to provide rural populations with alternative sources of energy in an effort to keep the remaining forests alive.

"We teach people in rural areas how to produce electric stoves. We produce them in local markets. We use only local resources, and in addition to electric stoves, we train them in the use of biomass to produce biogas," she said.

She added that transitioning to clean cooking also means improving the health of the population, a crucial element in building a more productive society.

"To have a productive society, we need to eliminate the health problem, and to eliminate this health problem, we need to primarily focus on clean cooking because most mothers are not really healthy due to these unclean cooking practices," she said.

Devastating climate change

Continent-wide statistics on the impacts of climate change are staggering.

According to the latest study published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), temperatures in Africa are expected to increase by 3C to 6C compared to pre-industrial levels by the turn of this century.

"This will lead to more frequent and severe climate extremes, even in the best-case scenarios, which will have significant impacts on agriculture, water resources, and human health," the forum heard.

"Increased warming and inaction could result in crop yield reductions of up to 50%, an increase in water stress of up to 60%, an increase in malaria incidence of up to 90%, and a loss of biodiversity of up to 40%."

The African Development Bank claims that climate change could reduce Africa's GDP by 2.8% to 10% by 2050, depending on the severity of the impacts.

It suggests that this could lead to an annual loss ranging from 68 to 259 billion dollars. According to World Bank estimates, up to 86 million Africans could move within their own countries by 2050 due to climate change-related conflicts.

African youth leaders

African youth leaders argue that in light of these threatening forecasts, helping Africa adapt to the effects of climate change has become both a moral duty and a calculated investment in the continent's future resilience.

In addition to opening up new prospects for social participation, job development, innovation, and economic diversification, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that one dollar invested in adaptation could result in four dollars in benefits.

The adaptation mechanisms already implemented on the continent have a cost, with many analysts saying that Africans are paying for climate change adaptation with their lives.

"We are already spending a lot of money and resources to adapt to climate change. A report published in 2022 indicates that over eleven sub-Saharan African countries are spending five times more on adaptation than on healthcare," Njamshi Augustin itold RFI.

"This means that what they spend on adaptation is more than what they spend on healthcare. This means that Africans are paying for climate change adaptation with their health and their lives."

Yet, Africa's priority remains adaptation and, therefore, the need to increase adaptation financing has become imperative.

Njamshi estimates that Africa as a continent needs about $53 billion per year until 2030 to address its climate change adaptation challenges.

Yet, the continent received only $11.4 billion between 2019 and 2020 for this purpose.

"Doubling efforts would bring adaptation financing to about $40 billion. Yet, this is far below the actual adaptation need."

According to the UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2023, the current adaptation funding shortfall is between $194 billion and $366 billion per year until 2030.

This indicates that expected needs for developing countries are five to ten times higher than existing adaptation funding flows.

Moreover, achieving the goal of increasing adaptation funding to $40 billion by 2025 is unlikely. According to UNEP, bilateral and international public funding for adaptation to developing countries fell by 15% in 2021, reaching $21 billion.
63 watches from Dubai Watch Week

The WorldTempus team has compiled a super Dubai Watch Week gallery of photos of all the timepieces that they got to see during the fair, including all the new releases that were launched. Feast your eyes on these 63 Dubai Watch Week timepieces.
From the musical nights of his youth that earned his nickname "the disc jockey" to his political adventures over the past decade, life has been one long party of one kind or another for Andry Rajoelina, who on Saturday secured a second elected term as Madagascar's president.

With his smooth features, slim build and thick black hair, the 49-year-old fits the image of a playboy that his enemies try to tar him with.

But Rajoelina calls himself the "builder president" responsible for new roads, schools and hospitals, and he has made his mark on one of the world's poorest countries.

Rajoelina won re-election with about 59 percent of votes cast in the first round, according to the election commission.

But most opposition candidates boycotted the vote and say they will not recognise the results, which must still be validated by the Constitutional Court.

Born to a middle-class family, Rajoelina owes his "DJ" moniker to the parties he promoted as a youth in the capital Antananarivo.

After marrying his wife, Mialy, and helped by his skill at public speaking, Rajoelina waded into politics setting up the Tanora Gasy Vonona party, earning him another name, "TGV", after France's high-speed trains.

His political rise was fast. In 2007, he trounced the party of then president Marc Ravalomanana to become the capital's mayor.

He quickly established himself as the leading voice of the opposition, and his supporters openly defied the government with the tacit support of the military that helped oust Ravalomanana in 2009 and put him in power.

Rajoelina, in his mid-30s, struggled to guide the country out of crisis as its unelected leader.

Rivals accused him of corruption, greed, and turning a blind eye to the pillage of the country's natural resources, including its precious rosewood forests.

Those accusations earned him another nickname -- "crayfish" -- a crustacean that walks backwards.

Under international pressure, Rajoelina did not contest a 2013 election but he was voted into power in 2018.

During campaigns, he spares no expense as he travels by helicopter or private plane to the four corners of the vast country, using the support of "long-standing friends", often wealthy businessmen.

Local pop stars appear at his rallies where he makes carefully prepared speeches.

Rajoelina draws large crowds, but his critics claim many are paid to attend.

Fast and furious

Only months ago, Rajoelina seemed in trouble.

In June, media reports revealed that he had acquired French nationality in 2014, triggering calls for him to be disqualified from running for president.

Opponents said by law the president should lose Madagascan nationality and the right to lead the country. But courts would not declare his candidacy invalid.

He became the butt of his detractors' jokes, with some asking whether as a Frenchman he would celebrate July 14, Bastille Day, in style.

Rajoelina responded in a three-hour radio and TV interview, all smiling and flirtatious, in which he said he became French "out of love" for his three children, to allow them to pursue their studies abroad.

Barack Obama had Kenyan origins and Nelson Mandela received several honorary citizenships, he said, downplaying the debate that raged at the time.

Rajoelina thought he had put the issue to bed, but the verdict sparked opposition anger.

For more than a month, election challengers held almost daily demonstrations in Antananarivo, decrying an "institutional coup" to favour the incumbent.

Despite the legal attacks and protests, led by former presidents Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Rajoelina was not shaken.

"There are always people trying to stir up trouble in Madagascar," he lamented, maintaining his smile, as he went to vote accompanied by his wife and children.

Rajoelina, seen here with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris earlier this year, has received flak for holding French nationality. By Ludovic MARIN (AFP)

The "builder president" told AFP in a recent interview "there is only one man today capable of leading the country".

"The Malagasy people have chosen the path of continuity and stability," he said after winning the election. But Rajoelina still faces some long nights ahead.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Wa Central, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has defended the 24-hour economy idea proposed by the partys flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, lambasting the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for opposing the idea.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaian voters to reject Dr. Bawumia in the 2024 elections, arguing that he is not an alternative to solving the countrys apparent problems.

During a campaign rally in the Bono East Region, Mr. Mahama emphasized that his vision for a 24-hour economy extends beyond simply extending the operational hours of existing businesses.

However, on Monday, November 20, Dr. Bawumia, speaking in the Northern Region, dismissed former President John Mahama's understanding of the 24-hour economy policy, asserting that it was already being implemented in Ghana through the extended operations of hospitals, fuel companies, and some chop bars (food restaurants).

He asserted that Mahama's economic strategies have consistently fallen short, and that true economic transformation requires more creative thinking.

During an interview on The Big Issue on Citi TV, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo rejected the idea of Ghanaians giving the NPP, and for that matter, Dr. Bawumia, who has been part of the economic mess, another chance to lead the country.

If you look at the economy today and cannot propose a drastic change, then theres something wrong with you. We in the NDC think that by the nature of the economy, by the inefficiencies of the people managing the economy, theres the need to inject into it an economic decision that will turn things around very quickly within the 4 years when we come into office.

He added, I heard Dr. Bawumia say its not a good thing. Im very much surprised. What kind of economy was it when Dr. Bawumia was not regularly in school and was washing plates in the UK?

He insisted that the NPP and Dr. Bawumia be shown the exit in the 2024 polls, urging voters not to take them seriously.

The way the NPP has run this country, all the lapses we have suffered, the retrogression we have suffered, we need to operate a night economy. If you are a Ghanaian and you are concerned and determined to change the circumstances we face now, I will be very much surprised if anybody still takes NPP as a viable political alternative in this country, in the person of Dr. Bawumia.

He managed this economy to our failure; he spearheaded the failure we are experiencing today. We are bringing an alternative to solve the problem, and the same man says its not good. Why was he compelled to speak? People should no longer take Dr. Bawumia seriously these days. We have seen the failure which is his track record, he told Selorm Adonoo.

The MP underscored the importance of the 24-hour economy, which, if implemented, will turn the economy around and change the fortunes of the country, stressing that its a non-negotiable area.

He assured that the next NDC government will ignite the economy with its 24-hour economy idea coupled with other proposals.

When we project ideas, we implement them; we dont just throw things away. The economy is already riddled with corruption; we will ignite the economy, he said.

citinewsroom
Ukraine has said on Saturday it had downed 74 out of 75 Russian attack drones overnight, in what Kyiv said was the biggest drone attack since the start of the invasion.

The Ukrainian army said Russia had launched a "record number" of Iranian-made Shahed drones, the majority of which were downed over the capital, Kyiv, causing power cuts in the centre of the city as temperatures dipped below freezing.

The drone attack came as Ukraine marked Holodomor Remembrance Day, commemorating the 1930s starvation of millions in Ukraine under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

"The enemy launched a record number of attack drones at Ukraine; The main direction of the attack is Kyiv," the commander of Ukraine's air force, General Mykola Oleshchuk, said.

The air force said it had downed "74 out of 75" Shahed drones.

Kyiv authorities said five people were wounded in the capital, including an 11-year-old child, and that the air raid lasted six hours.

Falling drone debris had sparked fires and damaged buildings across the city, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Kyiv residents cleared smashed windows and other damage in the city's Dniprovsky district, with ambulances parked nearby.

One of the buildings that was damaged housed a nursery and another had part of its top floor destroyed.

Local resident Viktor Vasylenko said he had soothed his young daughter, who experienced "panic and nausea" during the long night-time attacks as they sheltered in a corridor.

The 38-year-old said his family always has "everything prepared" in case of such attacks but it was the first time one had hit so close.

"My wife thought that the house would collapse in half," he said.

Latvia's president, Edgars Rinkevics, on a visit to Kyiv during the attack, posted photos on social media inside a dark bomb shelter.

Dozens of buildings had their power cut off after the attacks but Ukraine's energy ministry said electricity was later restored.

Kyiv 'main target'

Kyiv's army said that while the "main target" of the attack was Kyiv, air defence had also been called into action across southern Ukraine and a guided missile had been destroyed over the central Dnipropetrovsk region.

There were power cuts across the region, authorities said.

Kyiv has warned of and prepared for a renewed Russian campaign targeting its energy grid as winter descends, fearing a repeat of events last year, when thousands were left without heat or light in freezing temperatures.

More than 21 months into Moscow's offensive, fighting is most intense in the east of Ukraine and is now centred around the city of Avdiivka, which is nearly encircled by Russian forces.

Kyiv authorities said it was "symbolic" that the capital had been the subject of such a large-scale attack on the day Ukraine marks Holodomor.

"More than 70 Shahed on the night of the Holodomor Remembrance Day. The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill," Zelensky also said on social media.

'Impossible' to forgive

Zelensky attended a ceremony with Kyiv's top military brass, holding candles, to mark the event.

Ukraine says Holodomor, Ukrainian for "death by starvation", was caused deliberately by Soviet's agricultural policies.

Moscow denies this, and says it was part of a wider famine that also affected Russian parts of the Soviet Union.

He said it was "impossible" for Kyiv to forgive or forget the "horrific crimes of genocide" and thanked the growing number of countries that had recognised Holodomor as a deliberate crime against Ukraine.

Zelensky said Russia's current attacks on Ukraine were possible because of what he called uncondemned crimes of the past.

"In the last century, famine came from Moscow. Now, we hear words of denial from there. And every one of these words of denial actually sounds like a confession," Zelensky said.

Ukraine has urged the West for more weapons to counter the Russian invasion, concerned that global attention has shifted to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Drones have been extensively used in the conflict, with Ukraine also launching drones into Russia and annexed Crimea.
Amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the exodus of ethnic Armenians from the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is getting little media attention  to the chagrin of Armenians, who feel betrayed by the international community, for the third time.

"I'm the third generation of Armenian genocide survivors," says Aline Kamakian, a chef and owner of a string of restaurants in Armenia and Lebanon, who volunteers to help refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Kamakian, who is part of the vast global Armenian diaspora, is referring to the massive campaign of ethnic cleansing launched by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, which murdered up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians.

The mass killings and death marches saw entire villages destroyed, and prompted the remaining population to flee on a massive scale.

"I always thought that because there was no TV or internet at the time, that's why the genocide arrived. Because if someone would know what's going on, no way that any country would let that happen," Kamakian told RFI in an interview at the offices of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (Agbu) in Paris.

The world did pay some attention to the genocide at the time. There were books and even a Hollywood movie based on the story of an Armenian girl, Aurora Mardiganian, who managed to escape while her relatives were killed.

Her memoir and the film adaptation, as well as efforts by Western diplomats and Armenians who had fled abroad, resulted in a global support network and generated sympathy among the public at large.

But global attention was mainly focused on World War I and its aftermath, and the Armenian genocide, already underreported when it happened, was quickly forgotten.

Two decades later, Adolf Hitler  who, according to some researchers, was inspired by the tragic events to target Jews  famously asked on the eve of the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939: "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

Pogroms

Under Soviet rule from 1921 to 1989, the semi-autonomous "Armenia Soviet Republic" lived in relative peace. But when the Soviet Union started to fall apart, hostilities flared again in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in a brutal, six-year war starting in 1988 that cost the lives of some 25,000 people.

And in 1990, according to the Council of Europe, hundreds of thousands of Armenians living in Baku  capital of the then Azerbaijani Soviet Republic  faced "a large-scale series of pogroms" where "hundreds of Armenians were murdered, mutilated, persecuted, displaced". As a result, the Council's members declared in 2020, "under the threat of extermination, around 250,000 Armenians were forced to flee Azerbaijan".

But the episode wasn't widely reported as it was  once again  overshadowed by other matters, in this case the turbulent events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile the conflict continued, and according to Human Rights Watch, both sides were guilty of extreme atrocities. In 1994 a stalemate resulted in a fragile peace guarded by international peacekeepers, but hostilities broke out again in 2020.

That war ended with a Moscow-brokered ceasefire. A Russian force of 1,960 military personnel and 90 armoured personnel carriers was deployed in the enclave to keep the peace, with a renewable five-year mandate.

But in 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan stepped up its actions against Nagorno-Karabakh, blocking its supply routes and starving the population.

On 19 September, the bombing started  and forced the 200,000 remaining Armenians to flee the territory.

'State of shock'

The Armenians are "still in a state of shock", according to Richard Giragosian, director of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center, who spoke to RFI in Paris.

"The unexpected surrender by the Karabakh leadership and military was rather shocking to many in Armenia, but also to everyone forced to flee from Nagorno-Karabakh," he says.

The government in Yerevan finds itself confronted with the task of receiving and housing the sudden influx of tens of thousands of refugees.

"Part of the problem is international assistance," according to Giragosian. And aid, as significant as it's been, has not been quick enough to respond to urgent needs.

The Armenian diaspora, however, jumped into action.

Kamakian, who was born and raised in Lebanon but keeps strong ties with Armenia, flew to Yerevan and traveled to Goris, where most of the refugees concentrated after their journey over the mountain pass from Nagorno-Karabakh.

"People were very tired, depressed," she tells RFI.

"They are people [who have been] living there since centuries and now going out of that and becoming refugees in Armenia.

"So what we were trying to do is at least to give a small comfort," she says, such as a hot meal that offers a familiar taste.

'No one did anything'

But when asked about how she feels about the waning attention from the West, Kamakian says she's disappointed.

"We are watching it live on the internet and nobody's moving. Maybe because we don't have gas, or because we're not politically wanted, no one talks about it. There was a ten-month blockage. No one nobody did anything," she says.

"The perception is hypocritical discrepancy between coverage of Ukraine versus neglected coverage of the plight of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh," adds Giragosian.

"And now with the situation in Gaza, it's even worse in terms of the news cycle, which has moved on very quickly."

Though many countries, including France, have sent observers and promised aid or weaponry, not much has materialised yet.

"'Disappointed' is a very small word when you see your own country, your own people being brutally genocided and nobody talks about it," says Kamakian.
25.11.2023 LISTEN

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, has called for the inculcation of values and ethics in the pursuit of academic knowledge, describing it as equally vital.

In our pursuit of knowledge, let us not forget the values that underpin a just and compassionate society, he said.

Mr Bagbin said this when Professor Sam K. Afrane, the President of the Christian Service University College (CSUC), Kumasi, led a delegation to call on him in Parliament House as part of the Schools 50th anniversary celebration.

Members of the delegation included Mr Andrew Kingsley Doku, Registrar, CSUC; Pastor Samuel Eduamah; Reverend Justice Boffah Poku Mensah; the Director of Institutional Advancement Office and Public Affairs.

The visit was also to foster a stronger partnership with Parliament and explore avenues for collaboration in the realisation of its critical institutional projects as it marked 50 years of academic excellence.

It was also an opportunity to formally invite the Speaker to the Schools grand anniversary durbar in September 2024.

Recognising the role of faith-based academic institutions in nation-building, particularly in the area of quality human resource development, Mr Bagbin urged the College not to relent in its efforts to influence society through sound doctrine.

Prof Afrane, in his remarks, commended the Speaker for his dynamic leadership in the promotion of Parliamentary democratic ideals in Ghana.

He mentioned four institutional projects in the area of installation of solar energy, the youth leadership development scholarship scheme, the acquisition of a 32-seater bus for the Nursing and Midwifery Department, and the upgrade of Information Technology infrastructure to enhance teaching, learning, and research.

Prof Afrane was optimistic that the successful implementation of the key projects would transform the institution and position it as a citadel of ethical and transformational leadership in societal advancement.

Recounting some achievements of the College, Prof Afrane mentioned that the University College had been adjudged the third in a nationwide licensure examination for three conservative years, by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

He also mentioned prominent alumni from the University, such as Prof Emmanuel Asante, former Chairman of the National Peace Council; Rt Rev Prof Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana; Mr Erastus Asare Donkor, the 2023 Journalist of the Year, (Multimedia Group); Mr Kennedy Kwasi Kankam, a former Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso and the Municipal Chief Executive Asokore Mampong and among others.

The CSUC, a liberal arts evangelical institution, based in Kumasi, has impacted the socio-economic development of Ghana for the past 50 years.

The University College began in January 1974 as a merger of two groups, the Ghanaian interdenominational evangelical institution and the expatriate missionaries. The first residential class which started with five students had since grown to become a reputable non-denominational Christian University College in Kumasi, Ghana.

GNA
25.11.2023 LISTEN

Madam Kate Gyamfuah, the National Women's Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said the NPP-led Government has brought greater relief to women than any other government in Ghana's history.

Through its pro-poor policies such as the Free Senior School, Planting for Food and Jobs, Ghana School Feeding Programme and the One District One Factory initiatives, women have received support in diverse ways to improve their livelihoods and well-being.

She, therefore, called on the party faithful, particularly the women, to work harder than before to retain the Government in power for the continuation of its pro-poor policies.

That would benefit the vulnerable and the poor in society by changing their lifestyle and also living decently, Madam Gyamfua told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Friday.

Voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be a vote for insensitivity, hardship and visionless government, she said.

Many Ghanaian women who wouldn't have been able to send their children to senior high school due to high fees are now saving some money for other economic ventures as a result of the Free SHS

More than 5,000 women caterers had been employed to provide meals to basic school pupils under the School Feeding Programme, while women farmers had also benefitted from the Planting for Food and Jobs to boost food security and generate sustainable income.

Let me urge all women to take advantage of these policies to address issues of malnutrition, hunger and food security in the country', Madam Gyamfuah said.

On the party's parliamentary primary, she called on the aspirants to conduct their campaigns peacefully, devoid of insults and name-calling.

We all belong to the elephant family so let's unite and fight for a common goal, which is victory in 2024.

GNA
25.11.2023 LISTEN

Mr Benjamin Ampadu, Head of Pharmacy, Focus Orthopedic Hospital, has advised the citizenry to avoid self-medication, overuse, and misuse of medication to help control the rising rates of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Whenever there is something wrong with you medically, try to resist self-medication because it doesn't help, we have turned ourselves into doctors diagnosing all kinds of things happening to us so, even before we get to the pharmacy, we suggest the drugs we want and this is unhealthy, he said.

Mr Ampadu was speaking at a panel discussion held by the Focus Hospital in Accra on Friday to mark this year's World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week.

The World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week is a global campaign celebrated from 18-24 November every year to raise awareness and understanding of AMR.

The week also seeks to promote best practices among health stakeholders to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

It was on the theme: Preventing antimicrobial resistance together.

Mr Ampadu entreated the public to use antibiotics under a medical prescription and avoid using leftovers or antibiotics obtained without a prescription.

He said it was also unacceptable for pharmacies to sell antibiotics to customers without a prescription and urged them to be present in their facilities to offer professional advice and services when people requested antibiotics without prescriptions.

We need to adhere to prescriptions, every prescription has its frequency and duration, for instance, if you are asked to take a medication twice a day for six days, please stick to it, it is inappropriate for you to overuse or underuse what is clearly stated, he said.

The pharmacist advised the public to avoid buying medications from drug peddlers in markets.

He said antimicrobial resistance was a naturally occurring process, but human activities such as poor infection control, prolonged, overuse and abuse of medications were rapidly facilitating it.

Dr Francis Addai, A Family Physician and Head of Medical Services at Focus Orthopedic Hospital asked parents to avoid using antibiotics for respiratory infections in children when not prescribed.

He said there was a clear guideline when it came to using antibacterial agents for viral upper respiration infections and that using it when not prescribed was wrong.

Using antibiotics is not allowed in the first weeks of an infection, a primary infection in the first week is viral and you don't need an antibiotic, it may be used within the second week when it becomes a bacterial infection, he said.

Dr Irene Adorkor Wulff, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Orthopedic Hospital, said antimicrobial resistance had been recorded in TB infections, malaria, and HIV.

She advised the public to use medications and antibiotics in the best ways, saying We need to make smart choices about when to use them, which one to use, how much to use, how to take them and for how long.

Dr Wulff advised the public to make good use of the vaccine to avoid viral and bacterial infections.

Dr Gifty Boateng, Head of Natural Public Health and Reference Laboratory at the Ghana Health Service called for the provision of a policy to regulate the usage of antimicrobials in humans and animals.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections difficult to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

Antimicrobials  including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants.

AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. It makes infections harder to treat and makes other medical procedures and treatments, such as surgery, caesarean sections and cancer chemotherapy much riskier.

GNA
Ghana Immigration Service has warned that Ghana may be harbouring transnational criminals, which may also have repercussions on the country's security.

This is due to the failure of organizations to conduct extensive checks on foreigners they admit into their institutions.

According to the Weija Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service, which encompasses Weija Gbawe, Ga Central, and Ga South Municipalities of the Greater Accra region, most institutions, including tertiary schools, fail to undertake extensive background checks before admitting foreigners.

The situation is even worse with owners of residential facilities.

The outfit is cautioning against this trend, stating that Ghana risks becoming home to criminals engaged in various forms of crime, including terrorism in neighboring countries.

Commander for the sector, Chief Superintendent Richard Coffie, told Citi News that it was always prudent for owners of residential facilities, employers, and schools to inspect the residence, work, and school permits of foreigners they admit ensuring that they have been profiled by the immigration service and have no criminal record.

He admonished entities to cooperate with personnel of the immigration service to make their operations more fruitful. Nonetheless, he says his outfit has been working assiduously to monitor the activities of foreigners.

However, the command is constrained with challenges, including a lack of decent office space.

Our major challenge is the increasing number of foreigners in the country and the failure on the part of organizations to run extensive checks on them. This may, in the long run, lead to Ghana harbouring transnational criminals. We urge organizations to deal with us in flushing out such persons, Chief Superintendent Richard Coffie said.

Operating from a former office of departments under the Weija Gbawe Assembly, it took personnel of the Immigration Service here at the sector command to renovate the edifice, giving it a facelift.

However, the lack of decent washrooms poses a challenge to personnel, especially female officers. Both male and female officers share one toilet facility, causing a lot of inconvenience.

The command has taken the initiative to construct one for themselves and is appealing for support.

The appeal has received a positive response, as the Empire Cement factory located within the Weija enclave has donated some 300 bags of cement with an unspecified amount to cater for workmanship.

Managing Director of the company, Stephen Qi, says the gesture is to aid the service in gaining a befitting office to enhance the welfare of personnel.
The lack of well-documented plans of succession is a major cause of the numerous chieftaincy disputes currently experienced in some parts of Northern Ghana, stakeholders in conflict management and peacebuilding have identified.

The situation, according to the stakeholders, has created a culture and environment of greed and lust for power among some traditional governance systems leading to several protracted chieftaincy and related conflicts in some traditional areas.

The stakeholders, including the Catholic Church, traditional authorities, the Upper East Regional Security Council and the Peace Council, underscored the urgent need for traditional areas to take steps to develop and document clear succession plans according to their culture and traditions to help minimise chieftaincy disputes.

The stakeholders made the call during a Chieftaincy Act and Succession Planning training, organised for members of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO), the development wing of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga and held at Pusu-Namongo in the Talensi District.

The training was part of the implementation of the Integrated Peacebuilding for Improved Food and Nutrition Support (INPEACE) project by NABOCADO and sponsored by the MISEREOR, a German Catholic Church Organisation.

Very Reverend Father Lawrence Azure, the Vicar General of the Diocese, noted that sustainable peace was not only a sign of God's presence in the life of humanity but a necessary ingredient to achieving sustainable socioeconomic development and national cohesion.

You will all bear with me that Palestine and Israel or the Middle East for that matter has become pale of itself since October.

Our own backyard, Bawku has become pale of itself as economic, normal social life of the people have all been disrupted by this aged old chieftaincy conflict, many have lost their livelihoods and lives and several others have been maimed in all these conflicts, he said.

Chieftaincy, he said, an important institution over the years had become one of the major causes of conflicts in many communities in recent times and attributed the challenge to a lack of document succession plans and the willingness of power seekers to abide by such plans

As a result of greed and lust for power, there are some people who will always want to put aside laid down succession roadmaps in other to ascend to the throne when it is not yet their tenure.

Mr Ali Anankpieng, the Executive Secretary of the Upper East Reginal Peace Council, explained that the judiciary and the chieftaincy institution were the most resilient institutions that had survived colonial, military and democratic rule, however, it was open secret that the chieftaincy was one of the major causes of conflicts in the country.

He noted that due to the issue of succession, some chiefs had become parties in conflicts making their resolutions tedious and urged the chiefs to develop documented roadmaps for succession to help minimise the conflicts.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, said seven traditional councils in the region had completed their succession plans awaiting approval from the national level and commended NABCADO for working to promote peace in the region.

Dr Joseph Bangu, the Director of the Good Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate, NABOCADO, said the project had contributed to building peace structures at the community and district levels in the North East and Upper East Regions, which had helped to restore relative peace in communities.

He said the project aimed to consolidate the gains at the regional levels and help traditional areas document succession plans to improve governance and reduce chieftaincy conflicts.

Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, noted that the call for documented succession plans for traditional areas was the right one and called for support to help traditional areas document their succession plans.

GNA
Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR  Get Free Report) CEO Ivan Kaufman acquired 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.23 per share, with a total value of $183,450.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 1,048,412 shares in the company, valued at $12,822,078.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Ivan Kaufman also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, November 24th, Ivan Kaufman acquired 20,000 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.15 per share, with a total value of $243,000.00.

On Monday, November 6th, Ivan Kaufman bought 10,000 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $12.47 per share, with a total value of $124,700.00.

Arbor Realty Trust Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of ABR stock traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $12.13. 1,917,922 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,883,480. The firm has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.86 and a beta of 2.04. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $10.10 and a fifty-two week high of $17.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.25, a quick ratio of 38.40 and a current ratio of 38.40. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.45.

Arbor Realty Trust Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Arbor Realty Trust

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 14.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. Arbor Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.18%.

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of ABR. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Arbor Realty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $212,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 55.4% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 76,796 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,310,000 after purchasing an additional 27,383 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 7,214 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $131,000 after purchasing an additional 1,223 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 12.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 138,111 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,356,000 after purchasing an additional 14,771 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 28.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,436,190 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $160,982,000 after purchasing an additional 2,103,266 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.00% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Arbor Realty Trust from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Finally, Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Arbor Realty Trust from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $16.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.33.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ABR

Arbor Realty Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc invests in a diversified portfolio of structured finance assets in the multifamily, single-family rental, and commercial real estate markets in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Structured Business and Agency Business. It primarily invests in bridge and mezzanine loans, including junior participating interests in first mortgages, and preferred and direct equity, as well as real estate-related joint ventures, real estate-related notes, and various mortgage-related securities.

Further Reading

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There is lots to catch up from the highly-anticipated Dubai Watch Week! Daily reports, fascinating interviews and exciting new releases - see what you missed in our special weekly round-up

Editorial  The Magic of Dubai Watch Week

To start off the week, Brice Lechevalier dives into his thoughts and the remarkable statistics from the events 2023 edition. It has now solidified its place as an unmissable fixture on the watch industry calendar, boasting participation from over 60 brands and drawing in nearly 20,000 visitors.

Dubai Watch Week Daily Show  Day 1

This week, WorldTempus brought you live daily reports from Dubai Watch Week 2023, where you could tune in to see what the team was up to as our videographer followed them around the fair. In case you missed it, check out the busy first day here, with interviews with Ulysse Nardin, Armin Strom and Oris.

The Avener x Frederique Constant Release Two Limited Editions in Dubai

Next up, our Editorial Director Sophie Furley had the pleasure of sitting down with Frederique Constants new muse, the renowned French DJ The Avener, to chat about the two new Highlife models he designed with the brand and the story behind their interesting musical dials. Find out more here.

Highlife Automatic The Avener  Frederique Constant

Hind Seddiqi Exclusive Interview

Speaking of fascinating people to interview, heres a conversation with Hind Seddiqi, the Director General of Dubai Watch Week, who tells us about the fairs program this year. Discover more details about the watchmaking classes, round-table discussions and workshops for children here.

Four Timepieces Go On a Day Trip to Dubai

For the fourth and final day of the fair, our team dedicated the afternoon to uncovering the city's top tourist destinationsthe Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah, the Museum of the Future, and Old Dubai. At each spot, we present you with a watch review inspired by its unique location.

A Dubai Watch Week Discovery

Switching gears, WorldTempuss Sophie Furley takes a closer look at Chronoswisss Dubai Watch Week novelty: the Open Gear Flying Tourbillon Underworld. A delightful piece that showcases the brands many talents in the horological arts!

Open Gear Flying Tourbillon Underworld  Chronoswiss

The Trilogy of Success

Moving on, WorldTempus explores the distinctive qualities that set DWW aparta platform nurturing exchanges and inspiring numerous watchmaking events, whilst remaining true to its founding essence. Three key ingredients: global launches, limited series and image building. Read on over here.

New Releases

Last but not least, for our new releases of the week, we have the Bell & Ross BR-X5 Green Lum, the Chopard Alpine Eagle Summit with gem-set bezels and L.U.C. Strike One in ethical 18-carat white gold, the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Small Seconds Blue Enamel, the Louis Moinet Jules Verne Tourbillon "Mystery Island", the Reservoir x Abdulla Lutfi and the Van Cleef & Arpels Ludo Secret Watch.
Shares of BayWa Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:BYW6  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as 29.10 ($31.98) and last traded at 29.65 ($32.58), with a volume of 10312 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at 29.60 ($32.53).

BayWa Aktiengesellschaft Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -78.03, a PEG ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a 50-day moving average of 32.24 and a 200-day moving average of 34.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 359.41, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 1.33.

About BayWa Aktiengesellschaft

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BayWa Aktiengesellschaft provides wholesale, retail, logistics, and support and consultancy services in Germany and internationally. The company's Renewable Energies segment is involved in the planning, managing, and construction of wind farms and solar parks; production of power; and sale of photovoltaic systems and components.

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Shares of Canadian Gold Corp. (CVE:CGC  Get Free Report) rose 3.3% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$0.16 and last traded at C$0.16. Approximately 3,400 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 98% from the average daily volume of 190,623 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.15.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CGC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Alliance Global Partners lifted their price target on shares of Canadian Gold to C$1.30 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Gold from C$0.56 to C$0.66 in a research report on Friday, September 15th.

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Canadian Gold Price Performance

Canadian Gold Company Profile

The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 3.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The firm has a market cap of C$24.72 million, a PE ratio of -15.50 and a beta of 2.11. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$0.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$0.22.

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Canadian Gold Corp. engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada. Its principal project is the Tartan Lake gold mine project that consists of 20 mineral claims covering an area of approximately 2,670 hectares located northeast of the town of Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The company was formerly known as Satori Resources Inc and changed its name to Canadian Gold Corp.

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Shares of Gafisa S.A. (OTCMKTS:GFASY  Get Free Report) were up 6.1% on Friday . The company traded as high as $2.25 and last traded at $2.25. Approximately 2,040 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 2,993 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.12.

Gafisa Trading Up 6.1 %

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.24.

About Gafisa

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Gafisa SA operates as a homebuilder under the Gafisa brand name in Brazil. The company engages in the development, sale, and brokerage of residential units, such as luxury buildings with swimming pools, gyms, visitor parking, and other amenities for higher and middle-income customers; entry-level buildings and house units for middle-low-income customers; and commercial units.

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Great Bear Resources Ltd. (CVE:GBR  Get Free Report)s stock price was down 2.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as C$28.15 and last traded at C$28.15. Approximately 1,886,525 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 525% from the average daily volume of 301,841 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$28.80.

Great Bear Resources Stock Down 2.3 %

The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$28.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$28.15. The company has a market cap of C$1.63 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of -153.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 3.82 and a current ratio of 3.85.

Great Bear Resources Company Profile

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Great Bear Resources Ltd. operates as a mineral exploration company in Canada. The company primarily explores for gold. Its flagship property is the Dixie project covering an area of 9,140 hectares located in the Red Lake district of Ontario. The company was formerly known as Great Bear Uranium Corp.

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iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF (BATS:IBMM  Get Free Report) shares fell 0.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $25.82 and last traded at $25.84. 105,477 shares were traded during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at $25.87.

iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF Price Performance

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.72.

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iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 3rd were paid a $0.0391 dividend. This is a boost from iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETFs previous dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 2nd.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF

About iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF by 59.7% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,295 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 484 shares during the period. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF by 7.9% during the third quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 6,501 shares of the companys stock worth $167,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshire grew its stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF by 14.7% during the second quarter. Bank of New Hampshire now owns 7,805 shares of the companys stock worth $201,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $206,000. Finally, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF during the third quarter worth approximately $205,000.

(Get Free Report)

The iShares iBonds Dec 2024 Term Muni Bond ETF (IBMM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2024 index. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of investment-grade AMT-Free municipal bonds that mature between January 1 and December 2, 2024. IBMM was launched on Mar 20, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock.

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MFS Intermediate High Income Fund (NYSE:CIF  Get Free Report) dropped 0.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $1.62 and last traded at $1.63. Approximately 22,326 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 55% from the average daily volume of 49,969 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.64.

MFS Intermediate High Income Fund Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.62.

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MFS Intermediate High Income Fund Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.0137 per share. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 14th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About MFS Intermediate High Income Fund

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Arlington Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at about $134,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. lifted its position in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund by 30.1% during the 2nd quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 33,119 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 7,667 shares during the period. Sit Investment Associates Inc. lifted its position in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund by 46.3% during the 2nd quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. now owns 429,980 shares of the companys stock valued at $701,000 after purchasing an additional 136,011 shares during the period. Creative Planning acquired a new position in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, SFI Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MFS Intermediate High Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $97,000. 8.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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MFS Intermediate High Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in high income debt instruments. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Barclays U.S.

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National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report released on Friday.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $59.00 to $61.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Scotiabank raised shares of National Fuel Gas from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $68.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 13th.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on NFG

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 0.2 %

NFG traded up $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $51.21. The company had a trading volume of 96,481 shares, compared to its average volume of 531,660. The company has a market cap of $4.70 billion, a PE ratio of 9.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.67. The business has a 50-day moving average of $52.35 and a 200-day moving average of $52.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.51 and a quick ratio of 0.41. National Fuel Gas has a 1-year low of $48.60 and a 1-year high of $66.84.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The oil and gas producer reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $368.95 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $475.08 million. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 16.86% and a net margin of 21.94%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.19 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that National Fuel Gas will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of National Fuel Gas

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Spirit of America Management Corp NY grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 50.0% in the 2nd quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NY now owns 600 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 145.5% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 572 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 134.8% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 770 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 442 shares in the last quarter. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 137.4% in the 2nd quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 907 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 525 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.70% of the companys stock.

National Fuel Gas Company Profile

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National Fuel Gas Company operates as a diversified energy company. It operates through four segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, and Utility. The Exploration and Production segment explores for, develops, and produces natural gas and oil in California and in the Appalachian region of the United States.

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Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR  Get Free Report) CFO Paul Elenio purchased 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.20 per share, with a total value of $30,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief financial officer now owns 279,799 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,413,547.80. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Paul Elenio also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, November 16th, Paul Elenio purchased 7,500 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $12.37 per share, for a total transaction of $92,775.00.

Arbor Realty Trust Trading Down 0.3 %

ABR stock traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $12.13. 1,917,922 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,883,480. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $10.10 and a 12-month high of $17.74. The company has a quick ratio of 38.40, a current ratio of 38.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.25. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.86 and a beta of 2.04.

Arbor Realty Trust Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 14.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. Arbor Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 97.18%.

ABR has been the subject of several recent research reports. Piper Sandler cut shares of Arbor Realty Trust from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $16.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, July 31st. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Arbor Realty Trust from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Arbor Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Arbor Realty Trust currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $15.33.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Arbor Realty Trust

Institutional Trading of Arbor Realty Trust

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Sandy Spring Bank increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 400.0% in the 1st quarter. Sandy Spring Bank now owns 2,500 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Arbor Realty Trust by 8,000.0% in the second quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 2,106 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 2,080 shares during the period. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new position in Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. 53.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Arbor Realty Trust Company Profile

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Arbor Realty Trust, Inc invests in a diversified portfolio of structured finance assets in the multifamily, single-family rental, and commercial real estate markets in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Structured Business and Agency Business. It primarily invests in bridge and mezzanine loans, including junior participating interests in first mortgages, and preferred and direct equity, as well as real estate-related joint ventures, real estate-related notes, and various mortgage-related securities.

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Singapore Airlines Limited (OTCMKTS:SINGF  Get Free Report) traded up 1.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $4.57 and last traded at $4.57. 1,100 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the average session volume of 3,588 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.51.

Singapore Airlines Price Performance

The firms 50-day moving average price is $4.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.97.

Singapore Airlines Company Profile

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Singapore Airlines Limited, together with subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services under the Singapore Airlines and Scoot brands in East Asia, the Americas, Europe, Southwest Pacific, West Asia, and Africa. It operates through The Full-Service Carrier, The Low-Cost Carrier, and Engineering Services segments.

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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SUTNY  Get Free Report) shot up 1.8% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $3.81 and last traded at $3.71. 18,885 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 72,511 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.64.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Stock Up 1.8 %

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $3.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $3.68.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Company Profile

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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc operates as a trust bank in Japan and internationally. It offers supervising services for management strategies, and financial and human resource management; and general affairs, business process, corporate administration, operational process, risk, and compliance management services; and internal auditing services.

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Actress Sonya Stetsenko, who played her granddaughter in Matchmakers, admits that despite the great experience she had on the set, she has some bad feelings about her work in the series. It's all because of the Russian actors who have been traveling to Ukrainian film sets for years, and now they are actively supporting Russian aggression.

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Svitlana Stetsenko, the actress's mother, who was with her daughter during the filming, explained to OBOZ.UA why she is not ashamed of actresses Tatiana Kravchenko and Olesia Zhelezniak, who are running around on Russian propaganda channels and defaming Ukraine.

When "The In Laws" was filmed in Moscow, Sonya Stetsenko and her mother stayed for almost three weeks with actress Tatiana Kravchenko, who plays Zhenia's grandmother in the script. As you know, the actress, who was born and raised in Donetsk, is now actively supporting the Kremlin's aggression. Sonia's mother Svitlana Stetsenko recalled in an interview: "When we arrived for the filming of the New Year's "Matchmakers", we were accommodated in an apartment that was not suitable for living. I was scared to stay there with my child, even for a night. I called Tatiana: "Let us stay with you for one night while you find us another place to live." In the morning, she called back to those who were in charge of the settlement and said: "They don't need to look for anything, they will stay with me."

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In a commentary to OBOZ.UA, Svitlana Stetsenko says that she is grateful to Tatiana Kravchenko for the shelter, but admits that it hurts her to hear the horrors Kravchenko is making up about Ukraine. Svitlana Stetsenko is surprised: Russian actors have always been treated like dear guests here, with the best working conditions. The actors lived here not for weeks, but for months, so they saw and know perfectly well that no one harassed Russian-speaking Ukrainians, but they theatrically complain about it in the Russian media.

"You know, the filming of The In Laws was a long time ago," says Svitlana Stetsenko, "14 years have passed, as if in another life. We talked, wished each other happy birthdays when those days fell on filming. And that was it. After filming, we didn't talk to anyone."

"I shared a room with Olesia Zhelezniak, who plays the main characters' neighbor Larysa Bukhankina, for almost a month in Crimea when we were filming the next season of Matchmakers," recalls Svitlana Stetsenko. "What do I feel when I hear her talking about Ukraine now? Nothing, because she is not a person close to me for whom I could be ashamed. I'm not disappointed because I've never been enamored. Don't look for "good Russians" in that country, they are not there. They're all trying to find a warm place - nothing else matters."

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Actress Sonia Stetsenko recalls her work in The In Laws as follows: "If you watch the series very carefully, you can see both my mother and brother in the extras. My dad also came to the set often, but we didn't have time to document him. For me, "Matchmakers" is a good childhood memory and a very cool experience. But when I start to think about my colleagues... Because of the full-scale invasion, I don't feel very good, because the Russian actors who play the main roles support the Kremlin's aggression."

Actress Olesia Zhelezniak says in her interviews that "Ukrainian soldiers are beasts who hate Russians," while the Russian military are "nice and kind people." The "In Laws" star, who has probably already been brainwashed by propaganda, accused Volodymyr Zelenskyyiof "wanting to kill her children." "I don't know what kind of metamorphosis should happen to a person, I really don't know... So it happened. Sometimes I even ask myself: "Volodymyr, did you really hate me so much that you want to kill my children?"

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The patriotic Zhelezniak has relatives in Ukraine, but claims that they are "drugged." "My cousin Sasha, with whom we don't communicate now, thinks that I am the one who is drugged. His father reached Berlin, his entire chest was covered with orders. Sasha cannot hear. And now we don't even talk." And Tatiana Kravchenko publicly declared President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi "her personal enemy."

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the "The In-Laws" actor spoke about the "snobbery" of Russian stars on the set of the series in Kyiv: they treated everyone with disdain.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Bulls finally achieved it! The Nifty50 started the new F&O series on a healthy note as the index not only surpassed its previous all-time high (hit on September 15) but also ended at a fresh record closing high on December 1, with above-average volumes. Hence, as long as the index holds 20,000 (psychological mark-19,800 low of the week), marching towards 20,500 looks likely in the coming days despite intermittent consolidation, experts said. The Nifty50 opened higher at 20,194 and gained strength as the day progressed, to hit a fresh record high of 20,292 in the afternoon. It saw a bit of profit-taking in the last hour of trade and finally settled with 135 points gains at 20,268. The index has formed a bullish candlestick pattern on the daily charts with higher highs and higher lows for four days in a row. On the weekly scale, the Nifty50 has formed a big bullish candlestick pattern and gained 2.4 percent, the biggest weekly gain since June this year. "The weekly chart formation signals sharp upside breakout in the market as per long-term charts," Nagaraj Shetti, technical research analyst at HDFC Securities said, adding though, Nifty placed at all-time highs, still there is no indication of any reversal pattern unfolding at the highs. He feels the short-term trend of Nifty continues to be positive, and one may expect further upside in the coming week. "The next upside levels to be watched around 20,510 (50 percent Fibonacci projection, taken from March 23 bottom-September 23 top-October 23 bottom). Immediate support is at 20,140." Also read: Gainers and Losers: 10 stocks that moved the most on December 1 On the weekly Options front, with the robust trend in the equity markets, the supports and resistances shifted higher with 21,000 strike enjoying the maximum Call open interest, the key resistance area going ahead in current month, followed by 20,400 strike and 20,300 strike. The maximum Call writing was seen at 20,400 strike and then 20,800 strike. The maximum Put open interest was visible at 20,000 strike, which can act as crucial support in the coming days, followed by 19,500 strike and 20,200 strike with Put writing at 20,200 strike and then 19,500 strike. Bank Nifty The Bank Nifty continued its higher highs and higher lows formation for five days in a row. The index rebounded after a day of small profit-taking and climbed 332 points to 44,814 on Friday with above-average volumes, forming a bullish candlestick pattern with a minor upper shadow on the daily scale. For the week, the banking index jumped 2.4 percent and formed a long bullish candlestick pattern on the weekly scale. Now, 45,000 is expected to be an immediate resistance for the index, with support at 44,300-44,000 levels. "The Bank Nifty index maintained its robust bullish momentum, breaching the resistance level of 44,700. The immediate hurdle on the upside is positioned at 45,000, marked by the highest open interest on the Call side," Kunal Shah, senior technical & derivative analyst at LKP Securities said. On the downside, he feels a substantial support level rests at 44,300, serving as a protective buffer for the bulls. "Any retracement towards this support presents an opportune moment for investors to initiate long positions." Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The new winner of the prestigious Miss Universe title, Shanice Palacios from Nicaragua, is caught up in a loud scandal. Not everyone at home is happy about the beauty, as some details from her past that the government does not like have surfaced.

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The country's opposition used the contestant's biography to incite people to protest against President Daniel Ortega. The details of the scandal were reported by ABC News.

After Shanice's victory, the official statement of the current government said that the country was "happy and proud" of its participant. However, the opposition spoke out, pointing out that the winner had participated in protests in 2018.

These tragic events of five years ago were caused by people's dissatisfaction with reforms, censorship, and other actions of the authorities.

The protests lasted several months and were accompanied by shooting, chaos, and deaths. At least 318 people were known to have died. The people did not achieve their goal - Daniel Ortega continued to rule the country.

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Some Nicaraguans took advantage of a fellow citizen's victory in a beauty pageant to celebrate in the streets with blue and white flags indicating the opposition movement. This did not sit well with the current government.

The journalists found out that in 2018, the crowned queen studied at a university that was the center of protests against the regime. In addition, her page had photos from the protest and confirmation that she had participated, which have now disappeared.

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Palacios, 23, said during the competition that she wants to work on mental health, as she has experienced debilitating anxiety attacks, and also to fight for gender equality.

The winner is currently in New York, where she posts videos. She did not comment on the scandal in her home country.

As a reminder, Shanice Palacios became the first Nicaraguan woman to win the crown at the prestigious pageant. We wrote about the beauty earlier. OBOZ.UA also showed how the winner looked like as a child.

Recently, the organizers of Miss Universe 2023 apologized for a gross mistake. There was confusion during the announcement of the finalists.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The awakening of ancient bacteria that are currently dormant in permafrost could cause a crisis on the planet, resulting in the destruction of ecosystems and extinction. Ancient pathogens may come back to life due to global warming, which leads to melting permafrost.

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This is stated in a study published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. The crisis scenario is only one of the possible ones, as scientists cannot predict how the "resurrected" bacteria will behave, but they assume that they will not be "peaceful".

It is the unpredictability of what will happen to the pathogens that break free that worries scientists the most.

The scientists conducted a very detailed computer simulation in which a digital virus-like pathogen from the past was introduced into a digital petri dish with other bacteria-like hosts.

"We use artificial simulations of life. You have these digital organisms that are like computer programs competing for resources. Although they are quite abstract, they act like bacteria. They use resources to grow, compete, reproduce, and interact with the environment in a similar way," Giovanni Strona, lead author of the study from the Joint Research Center of the European Commission and the University of Helsinki, told IFLScience.

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The simulations showed that ancient pathogens can often survive and evolve in the modern microbial world, which is an impressive discovery in itself.

It also turned out that they are very successful in this and can even become the dominant species, or increase microbial diversity. However, there have also been simulations where the "invaders" have produced unpredictable results.

"Some invaders that seemed unlikely could turn out to be very successful and be very unpleasant for society," Strona explained.

According to him, it is the unpredictability of this process that "is the bad news" as it confirms that humanity will have a hard time preparing to confront these pathogens.

Meanwhile, rising global temperatures are increasingly leading scientists to believe that dormant microbes that have been frozen in ice caps and permafrost for thousands of years may wake up and be released into the environment.

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The worry is not only about whether these pathogens could infect humans, causing a new pandemic, but also that the return of ancient microbes upsets an existing equilibrium that has likely been stable for thousands of years.

Scientists are concerned that even the return of such a tiny microorganism could have profound consequences for the wider ecosystem.

"Disrupting the structure of ecological communities is not a good thing, even if the net diversity has remained the same or even if it has increased. We can have some kind of cascading effects that are completely unpredictable. You can trigger cascading effects that can destroy ecosystems or lead to new extinctions," Strona said.

It could also affect humans, who are inextricably linked to the trillions of microorganisms that live in and around us. So adding new undesirable characters to this mix could upset the long-standing balance, increasing the risk of disease and disaster.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told that the Antarctic hides the Earth's karmic revenge on humanity.

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During archaeological excavations in the village of Pien, Poland, scientists found the skeleton of a woman who could have been a vampire in the 17th century. This is evidenced by a sickle around her neck and a padlock on her big toe.

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Such measures were taken in the old days during the burial of "vampires" so that they could not leave the grave, as they were feared even after death. Pictures of the unique find for Poland were published on the Arstechnica website.

Different countries had different ways of burying people who were considered vampires. For example, in the early Middle Ages, Russian peasants exhumed suspicious corpses and destroyed the bodies by cremation, beheading, or stabbing a wooden stake through the heart. Stakes were often placed over the corpses during burial so that the creature would impale itself if it "tried to escape." In Germany and Western Slavic regions, suspected vampires were beheaded and the head was buried between the legs or away from the body.

Leaving a sickle around the neck and a padlock on the thumb is one method.

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"The sickle was not laid flat, but worn around the neck in such a way that if the deceased tried to stand up, the head would most likely be cut off or damaged. The lock symbolizes the closure of the stage and the impossibility of returning," explained Professor Dariusz Polinski.

In addition, archaeologists in Poland found a silk cap on the skull of the found skeleton. This led to the conclusion that the woman had a high social status.

Scientists also drew attention to the large front tooth of their find. They suggested that it was the woman's unusual appearance that could have caused superstitious locals in the 17th century to brand her a vampire or a witch.

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Archaeologists were surprised that the woman's body was buried with great care. This was a rarity for "anti-vampire" rituals at that time.

The found remains were taken to Torun, where they will undergo a thorough examination.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, OceanGate Expeditions, a deep-sea research company, has released the first video of the Titanic sinking in 8K resolution. Modern technology and image quality allowed scientists to see unprecedented details on the deck and in the bow of the ship.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
On the night of Saturday, November 25, the terrorist country of the Russian Federation launched the most massive UAV attack on Kyiv, during which more than six dozen air targets were shot down by air defense forces. Unfortunately, as a result of the falling debris, the capital's buildings, including a kindergarten, were damaged.

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This was reported by the press service of the Kyiv City Regional Military Administration. There are victims, including a child.

Thus, on the night of November 25, the enemy once again used Shahed drones. The UAVs attacked Kyiv in waves in numerous groups and from different directions, constantly changing their course. Nearly five dozen air targets were shot down by air defense forces.

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Unfortunately, as a result of the falling debris, there was a fire on the territory of a kindergarten and in a non-residential building with an area of 100 square meters in the Solomianskyi district.

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"Five people were injured in the attack. The youngest, a child, is 11 years old, and the oldest is 65. Three of them have acute stress reactions. Two more had cut wounds to the limbs. All were provided with timely medical assistance," the Kyiv city RMA added.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the morning of November 25, when Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with Iranian kamikaze drones from several directions. Air defense was activated in the capital.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
New York City firefighters work at the World Trade Center after two hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York. (Ron Agam/Getty Images/TNS)
A man walks past a subway stop in Manhattan two days after a man was pushed to his death in front of a train on Dec. 5, 2012 in New York City. A Florida manas social media posts threatening a mass shooting on the <a href="https://new.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit" id="link-54946647450d8b2e8a9294c2ab563f9b">New York City subway</a> landed him in jail, authorities said Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images/TNS)
Overhead power lines were damaged in an overnight attack on the capital on November 25. Experts have begun repair work, but this may result in a power outage in Kyiv and the Kyiv region.

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This was reported by the press service of Ukrenergo. Residents of the capital region were urged to consume electricity sparingly.

"Ukrenergo's main overhead power lines and distribution lines of regional power companies in the region were damaged as a result of the enemy's night attack. This means that the reliability of power supply in the region has been reduced. Our repair crews and colleagues have already started emergency repair work. During the period of restoration work, there may be power supply restrictions in Kyiv and the Kyiv region," the press service warned.

Ukrenergo added that it will take time to eliminate the consequences of the attack. Currently, repair crews are doing everything possible to restore the reliability of the power supply as soon as possible, and Kyiv residents were urged to help power engineers by not overloading the grid and consuming electricity sparingly.

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As a reminder, after an enemy attack in Kyiv on November 25, residential buildings and institutions were left without electricity. Problems with power supply due to the enemy attack were also recorded in the Kyiv region.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the morning of November 25, when Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with Iranian kamikaze drones from several directions. Air defense was working in the capital.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ukraines military says Russia launched its largest drone attack since the start of the invasion

Ukraines military says Russia launched its largest drone attack since the start of the invasion View Photo

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia on Saturday morning launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting the Ukrainian capital, military officials said.

In total, Russia launched 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against Ukraine, of which 74 were destroyed by air defenses, Ukraines air force said.

Kyiv was the main target, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his Telegram channel.

The attack was the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat confirmed later that the air defenses shot down 66 air targets over the capital and surrounding region throughout the morning.

At least five civilians were wounded in the hourslong assault, which saw several buildings damaged by falling debris from downed drones, including a kindergarten. The wounded included an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

In the citys Solomiansky district, debris left a crater in the courtyard of a residential area, and the windows of a nearby building were blown out. Residents, most of them elderly, received medical attention at the scene. Others took shelter in a nearby subway station. As people were clearing up debris and broken glass in the neighborhood, the hum of a fresh wave of drones could be heard nearby.

The assault on Kyiv began at 4 a.m. local time, continuing in waves for more than six hours, and caused power outages in 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, according to Popko. Ukraines Energy Ministry said 17,000 people were without power in the Kyiv region as a result of the attack, noting that four power lines were damaged. Power was restored in the early afternoon.

Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. But we continue to work to strengthen our air defense and shoot down more.

The attack was carried out on the morning of Holodomor Memorial Day, which commemorates the manmade famine in Soviet Ukraine that killed millions of Ukrainians from 1932 to 1933. It is marked on the fourth Saturday in November.

Speaking at the Grain from Ukraine summit on Saturday, which saw leaders and parliamentary representatives from Belgium, Ireland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland and Estonia meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss global food security, the Ukrainian president warned that if (Russian President Vladimir) Putin could arrange another Holodomor for Ukraine, he would do it.

Besides Kyiv, the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions were also targeted.

Meanwhile, shelling killed one person and wounded three in the southern Kherson region, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Saturday. According to Prokudin, the region had been shelled 100 times over the previous 24 hours.

By SAMYA KULLAB

Associated Press
Colorado funeral home owners where decomposing bodies found returned to state to face charges View Photo

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)  The owners of a defunct Colorado funeral home where 190 sets of decomposing human remains were found have been returned to the state to face hundreds of felony charges.

Carie Hallford appeared in District Court in Colorado Springs via video on Wednesday. District Judge Samorreyan Burney maintained her bail at $2 million cash during the advisement hearing, KRDO-TV reported. Jon Hallfords advisement hearing was Friday and his bail also remained at $2 million.

Carie Hallfords public defender had asked for her bail to be reduced to $50,000, citing her lack of a criminal record, but Burney noted she faced more than 250 felony charges. Both Hallfords face 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, over 50 counts of forgery, five counts of theft and four counts of money laundering, federal court records said.

Neither entered a plea. Their next court appearances are set for Dec. 5.

Court records say the Hallfords are both being represented by the public defenders office, which does not comment on cases to the media.

The case began in early October when the report of an abhorrent smell led to the discovery of the bodies at a Return to Nature Funeral Home location in Penrose  about 34 miles (55 kilometers) southwest of Colorado Springs.

After the bodies were removed, officials said there were 190 sets of remains, with some having been there as long as four years. The coroners office used fingerprints and medical records to try to identify the bodies, and would use DNA if necessary, officials said.

Family members had been falsely told their loved ones had been cremated and had received materials that were not their ashes, court records said.

The couple was arrested on Nov. 8 at the home of Jon Hallfords father in Oklahoma, according to a federal arrest warrant alleging they fled the state to avoid prosecution. The federal charge was dropped after their arrests.

Carie Hallford was booked into the El Paso County Jail in Colorado Springs on Tuesday and Jon Hallford was returned to Colorado on Wednesday.
Appeals court says Georgia may elect utility panel statewide, rejecting a ruling for district voting View Photo

ATLANTA (AP)  A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that Georgia can keep statewide elections for its five-member commission regulating utilities, overturning a lower court judge who found statewide elections illegally diluted Black votes.

The ruling is important beyond Georgias Public Service Commission because it could help protect certain statewide elections in other states subject to scrutiny for racial discrimination under the Voting Rights Act. It also could signal limits to a new wave of voting rights litigation after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key part of the law this year in an Alabama case.

In August 2022, U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg had ordered Georgias commissioners elected by district, the first time a statewide voting scheme had been overturned by a federal judge. But a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Grimberg went too far.

Georgia chose this electoral format to protect critical policy interests and there is no evidence, or allegation, that race was a motivating factor in this decision, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Branch wrote for the unanimous panel. On the facts of this case, we conclude that plaintiffs novel remedial request fails because Georgias chosen form of government for the PSC is afforded protection by federalism and our precedents.

Plaintiffs decried the ruling as sanctioning discrimination. Grimberg had found statewide elections illegally handicapped Black-favored candidates, and that such candidates would have a better chance if only voters in a district elected each candidate, making it possible to draw at least one Black-majority district.

This ruling is another act of continuing discrimination against Black voters in Georgia, Brionte McCorkle, the executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters and one of four plaintiffs, said in a statement. Voters should have an opportunity to vote for a public service commissioner that is responsive to their needs and represents their community. Instead, millions of voters are disenfranchised to maintain outdated and unfair electoral practices.

It wasnt immediately clear if the plaintiffs would further appeal. Another plaintiff, minister and political activist James Major Woodall, pledged that the fight is far from over and we will continue to use every tool in our disposal to gain the relief we seek.

If the ruling stands, it could put three of the five Georgia commission seats on 2024 ballots. Commissioners typically serve staggered six-year terms, but elections for the places held by Commissioners Fitz Johnson and Tim Echols were delayed from 2022 by Grimbergs ruling. Johnson and Echols had already each won the GOP nomination.

A third Republican, Commissioner Tricia Pridemore, was already scheduled for election in 2024. Commissioners are required to live in particular districts under state law, but run statewide.

Retaining statewide elections enhances the chance that all five seats will remain in Republican hands, as they have been for years. Some Democrats who want elections by district would likely be less favorable to utilities. The commission determines how much Georgia Power Co. and other regulated utilities are allowed to bill millions of ratepayers, and what power plants and other facilities the utilities can spend on.

It wasnt immediately clear Friday if parties would nominate new candidates, or if the 2022 nominees would stand. Its also unclear whether delayed elections would take place in November 2024 when voter turnout will be highest, or at some other time. No other statewide offices besides public service commission are scheduled for 2024 ballots.

The appeals court said the lawsuit must fail because the plaintiffs hadnt proposed a plan to remedy discrimination while maintaining a statewide election system, saying courts cant impose a new form of government as part of a Voting Rights Act remedy.

Plaintiffs novel proposal is that we dismantle Georgias statewide PSC system and replace it with an entirely new districted system, the court wrote. But we have never gone this far.

The panel also cited earlier cases that upheld at-large elections for judges, saying a district system could lead commissioners to favor their own districts over statewide concerns.

If each commissioner represented only a district, then important questions of utility regulation  such as the location of energy and infrastructure  could turn into a zero-sum game between commissioners beholden to their districts instead of a collaborative effort to reach the best result for the entire state, the court wrote.

Plaintiffs said the current commission is unresponsive to Black voters, including people with lower incomes who pay high utility bills.

By JEFF AMY

Associated Press
MERIDEN  Meriden community member Laura Noonan announced a series of fundraisers for Beat the Street Community Center over the next month to help them prepare for their annual holiday party, which is planned for Dec. 22. She said her goal is to provide supplies for the party and bring awareness to the organizations work in the community.

It is such a great program and they do so much to encourage children to go on to high school, to college, to find a path for them, Noonan said. So, really just to raise awareness about this program and hopefully to help the families involved have a nice holiday.

Noonan said she first connected with Beat the Street, at 121 S. Colony St., five years ago when volunteering for a Thanksgiving Turkey Toy Drive. However, this is the first fundraiser Noonan has hosted for Beat the Street.

Celebration, empowerment

The annual holiday party is an opportunity to celebrate their students and empower the relationships between the communitys nonprofits, said Beat the Street executive director Larry Pelletier.

He said the holiday party includes a potluck, gift-giving, a performance from Beat the Street students and a visit from Santa Claus. Although the party is exclusive to students and families, he often invites board members and local elected officials, such as state Reps. Hilda Santiago and Cathy Abercrombie.

Pelletier described how Meriden community members band together to make the event come together each year.

Its a time where we can reflect on what we do from one day to the next, what we continue to do, what our goals going forward are for the next year, he said.

Noonans fundraising efforts are just one of many examples of the community working together for the holiday party, said Pelletier. For example, he said that local restaurants donate catering for the potluck part of the holiday party every year. In addition, they work with the United Way to provide extra support to families in need.

How to donate

Donations can be snacks or drinks, paper goods, white T-shirts or hoodies size Youth small to Adult XXL, and toys, games or gift cards for children ages 5 to 18. Residents interested in donating can contact Noonan to pick up items or Pelletier to drop off donations directly at Beat the Street Community Center. They are accepting donations until the party date, Dec. 22.

Noonan is also accepting money to buy supplies for the holiday party and partnering with two local restaurants. Illianos Restaurant-Pizzeria, 510 W. Main St. A, Meriden, will donate 10% of profits from in-house orders on Dec. 6. The second is on Dec. 14 as Casa Di Roma, 103 Main St., Meriden, will donate 10% of all profits that day.

To learn more about how to donate, contact Laura Noonan at lauraw925@yahoo.com.

cvillalonga@record-journal.com203-317-2448

Health Equity reporter Cris Villalonga-Vivoni is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. They can be reached at cvillalonga@record-journal.com and 203-317-2448. Support RFA reporters through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re.
WALLINGFORD  The Board of Education is developing educational specifications for the possible construction of one large high school to replace its two smaller schools, the start of a process that can take up to two years to complete.

In February, the board voted 8-1 to consolidate Mark T. Sheehan and Lyman Hall high schools into a larger, 300,000 square foot school that potentially would be located on the Lyman Hall campus along with the state-sponsored Regional Agricultural Science and Technology Education Center, which would not be included in the consolidation and remain on the Lyman Hall campus. The town would be liable for state financial sanctions should that program, which includes students from 14 area districts, close.

Only one board member, Republican Ray Ross, voted against the consolidation. Since then, the Nov. 7 election resulted in two new board members that will replace Republican board Chairwoman Tammy Raccio and Democratic member Cathy Castelli, both of whom did not run for re-election.

Melanie Rossacci, a Democrat, will be sworn in with other elected town officials on Jan. 8. She was a driving force behind the formation of Wallingford Says No to One High School after the February board vote, and has been a vocal opponent of the proposal. She said she would like to see the board take another vote after the new board is sworn in.

"What I would like to see happen is a transportation study and a land feasibility study," she said. "Then based on that, I would like to see the new BOE revote because new information would be available and it's a new BOE."

Republican Caroline Raynis, the other new board member-elect, is also against consolidation, she told the Record-Journal before the election.

"At this time, I do not believe that the current plan for one high school is in the best interest of the children," she said. I believe a consolidation would instantly catapult our students from learning in a small-town environment to being forced to adjust to an urban-leaning setting."

The board also considered renovating both high schools to like-new status, but Raccio has said that Sheehan High School's enrollment has dropped to the point the building would only be about 60% used, which could decrease how much the state would reimburse the town for that project, making it financially difficult.

Staff compile ed specs

But for now, the district is moving forward with the education specifications, the first step in the process of obtaining state funding for the new school. It's estimated a new school will cost $216 million, with 43% of that eligible for state reimbursement. leaving the town's share at about $122 million. The Town Council would have to approve that bonding before the Board of Education could apply for the state reimbursement.

In May the board went before the council to present its consolidation plan and received a cool reception from both council members and the public, with dozens speaking out against the project. The council took no action at that meeting on the proposal, but the board is continuing moving forward.

"Educational specifications are being developed for one consolidated high school," Superintendent Danielle Bellizzi said. "The development process includes the involvement of high school staff, high school building administrators, curriculum coordinators, and central office administration. The educational specifications will address the learning environments and programming that will facilitate the districts learning experiences for students."

Applications for new school construction funding are due to the state Department of Administrative Services by June 30 of each year. Information required in the application includes "a description of the project's general nature and purpose, which may include the applicant's long-range plan and the project's relationship to the plan; enrollment data and proposed project capacity; the nature and organization of the educational program; support facilities; space and site needs; accommodation for educational technology, and specialized equipment," according to the state guidelines.

The state then determines the project costs that are eligible for reimbursement and the amount the town will receive. In order to apply for the state reimbursement, the town must already have approved funding the remaining costs and must have a school building committee in place to oversee the project.

The project is then placed on the annual school construction priority list, which is forwarded to the state legislature for approval.

The Board of Education is in the process of developing a 10-year capital improvement plan for the district, Bellizzi said.

"The plan will identify the capital projects for each of the 12 schools within the district and provide a planning timeline, along with estimated project completion dates, and an estimated cost for each project," she said. "Based on the current needs of the district/school, the projects will be reviewed, added, and re-prioritized on a consistent basis."

The town's two middle schools are also a priority for renovation but that would be done after the high school project to avoid students enduring construction in both middle school and high school.

karmunni@record-journal.com
A study by scientists has unexpectedly found that if you show people high-quality fake video footage from movie remakes that never actually existed, the subjects begin to remember seeing them and even compare them to the originals.

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This is stated in a study published in the journal PLOS One. Scientists believe that this proves how easy it is to "plant" memories of a person's life that never happened.

As part of the study, people were shown fragments of movies that used the technology of deepfakes, when artificial intelligence replaces the actor's real face with the face of the actor provided by the authors of the study.

For example, 436 subjects were shown a non-existent reboot of The Matrix, in which the role of Neo was played not by Keanu Reeves, but by Will Smith, who, by the way, was really Reeves' competitor during auditions for the role. Excerpts from The Shining were also shown, with Brad Pitt playing Jack Nicholson, Captain Marvel with Charlize Theron replacing Brie Larson, and Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark" with Chris Pratt instead of Harrison Ford.

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It turned out that even short but well-made video clips were enough to make the subjects believe that they had seen the movie. Some of the participants in the experiment even began to recall what emotions they had experienced while watching the movie, and whether it was better than the original.

At the same time, the authors of the experiment urge not to dramatize the results. In their opinion, it is possible to replace a person's memories not only through the use of the technology of the dipfake.

"Deepfakes proved to be no more effective in distorting memory than simple textual descriptions," the article says.

So, according to the scientists, the dipsticks are not absolutely necessary to trick someone into accepting false memories.

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"We shouldn't jump to conclusions about a bleak future based on our fears of new technologies," said Gillian Murphy, lead author of the article and a disinformation researcher at University College Cork in Ireland.

In an interview with The Daily Beast, she acknowledged that there are very real harms from dipfakes, "but we should always gather evidence of those harms before rushing to solve problems we've only just realized exist."

On average, 49% of participants were deceived by fake videos, and another 41% of this group claimed that the Captain Marvel remake was better than the original.

"Our findings are not particularly worrisome, as they do not indicate any unique threat posed by dipshits compared to existing forms of disinformation," Murphy concluded.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that STB TV channel got into a scandal by "sticking" the face of a Ukrainian colleague to a Russian actor.

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Worlds largest animal rediscovered in Seychelles after being wiped out by hunting Metro (furzy)

The Most Powerful Cosmic Ray Since the Oh-My-God Particle Puzzles Scientists Nature

The sordid lessons of Kinderladen Unherd (Userfriendly)

Mysterious respiratory illness sickens dogs NPR (David L)

The Rolling Stones  with an average age of 78  are hitting the road again in 2024 with a 16-city tour. Its sponsored by AARP (seriously) Axios (Dr. Kevin). Better living through chemistry!

#COVID-19

When the first researchers started to propose that Covid would cause AIDS like immune dysfunction, one of the main pushbacks was that since Covid had infected most of the population, we should be seeing surges of opportunistic infections & bacterial pneumoniae if that was true. https://t.co/cmZl4q7Cdb

China?

Climate/Environment

European Disuion

The tension simmering beneath the Dublin riots The Spectator

Geert Wilders faces early setback in Dutch coalition talks Financial Times (Kevin W)

It Snowballed: How a Knife Attack in Dublin Led to a Riot New York Times. I hate to point this out, but nowhere does the story say the rumor was untrue, that that the attacker was not an immigrant. Ditto Sky News (Dublin riots: Everything we know about the knife attack and police clashes) when it merely says that attack was stand-alone and not part of terrorist activity. Now it is correct that people should not rampage before someone has at least been charged. But the insinuation is that the rumors were false, as opposed to vigilantes should not try to usurp due process. After all, we in the US think its perfectly OK to destroy the careers of people merely accused of sexual misconduct, as opposed to waiting for the courts to do their work.

F**k the EU: Nulands decade-old Maidan quip has never been more true RT
CDC issues food safety alert over recalled fruits linked to LISTERIA outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a "food safety alert" over a deadly bacterial outbreak linked to whole fruits sold around the country.

According to the Nov. 23 CDC alert, three fruits sold by HMC Farms  peaches, nectarines and plums  may be contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in late October that samples of the fruits it obtained from HMC Farms tested positive for the pathogen.

The aforementioned fruits were sold in stores nationwide between May 1 and Nov. 15 in 2022 and 2023. One person has died so far, and nearly a dozen people have been hospitalized in seven states  California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan and Ohio.

The outbreak promoted HMC Farms, which is based in California, to voluntarily recall conventionally grown fruit that could be potentially contaminated with L. monocytogenes. No organically grown fruit was included in the recall notice. (Related: Listeria OUTBREAK linked to milkshakes sold at Frugals Tacoma causes three deaths, six hospitalizations.)

Consumers who purchased the conventionally grown peaches, plums and nectarines, individually or packed in two-pound bags, through Nov. 15 were urged to check their freezers as they may have frozen the recalled fruits for later uses. Recalled products were not to be consumed but disposed of or returned to their local stores for a full refund. Consumers were also urged to clean their refrigerators, containers and surfaces that may have touched the contaminated fruits.

The CDC said investigators were still determining if any additional fruit or products made with these fruits may have been contaminated. It added that the true number of sick people may likely be higher than the number reported because some people recover without medical care and were not treated for the bacterial infection called listeriosis.

Listeria infection: What you need to know

Listeria infection or listeriosis is usually caused by eating food contaminated with L. monocytogenes, which can be found in animal feces, soil, vegetation and water.

People can contract listeriosis through eating raw fruits and vegetables contaminated from the soil, or from contaminated animal manure used as fertilizer, contaminated meat, unpasteurized cheese or milk. If food is not prepared correctly, the bacteria can become more concentrated  and that's when it can cause illness.

Pregnant patients are about 18 times more likely to acquire serious listeria infections with exposures. Those over the age of 65 and those who have compromised immune systems  those undergoing chemotherapy or taking medications for autoimmune diseases are also at high risk for listeriosis.

Like most foodborne illnesses, listeriosis can often have gastrointestinal effects, such as diarrhea, stomach cramping and vomiting, but sometimes it can also just be body aches, fatigue and weakness. Those symptoms can show up within 24 hours after exposure but sometimes, they dont show up until 70 days after exposure.

Always practice basic food safety steps in food handling, cooking and storage. In every step, follow the four guidelines to keep food safe  clean (wash hands and surfaces often); separate (avoid cross-contamination); cook thoroughly to proper temperatures; and chill (refrigerate promptly).

If you're immunocompromised or if you're pregnant, take extra precautions, such as avoiding deli meats and raw veggies, fish that is lightly cooked, soft cheeses and so on.

Visit Outbreak.news for more stories about listeriosis outbreaks caused by contaminated food.

Watch this news report about the recall of nectarines, peaches and plums amid a deadly listeria outbreak.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Listeria OUTBREAK linked to recalled ice cream cups feared to have spread in 20 states.

CDC: Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat and cheese, kills 1, infects 16.

Listeria outbreak strikes frozen foods: 47 MILLION pounds recalled; be careful what you consume.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

CDC.gov 1

CDC.gov 2

FSIS.USDA.gov

Brighteon.com
After losing top advertisers, Elon Musks X (formerly Twitter) SUES Media Matters

Elon Musk's X Corporation, the entity overseeing the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), has initiated legal action against progressive activist group Media Matters.

According to the lawsuit filed in Texas federal court, Media Matters conducted a "fraudulent attack" on X  leading to a substantial financial setback. This also resulted in influential corporations  such as Apple, Comcast, NBC Universal and IBM  withdrawing their advertising on the platform.

X Corp. accused Media Matters of deliberately interfering with the platform's contracts with advertisers; disseminating false statements that disparaging the quality of X Corp.'s services; and disrupted its economic relationships, resulting in monetary losses.

The complaint states that Media Matters knowingly and maliciously fabricated images juxtaposing advertisers' posts on X with Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content, falsely representing these images as typical user experiences on the platform. (Related: Twitter parent company X Corp sues Center for Countering Digital Hate over "scare campaign" that drove away advertisers.)

X asserts that Media Matters engineered a feed precision designed to produce side-by-side ad/content placements to alienate advertisers. The lawsuit accuses Media Matters of manipulating the situation, generating an inauthentic volume of advertisements to achieve the desired result: controversial content next to X's major advertisers' paid posts.

Seeking redress for alleged misconduct, X is pursuing actual and consequential damages, a preliminary and permanent injunction to remove the contentious article from all Media Matters-controlled platforms, and recovery of costs and attorney's fees. The case has been assigned to District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee known for previous involvement in significant legal battles.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, had previously declared his intention to pursue a legal course, describing it as a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against Media Matters and all entities involved in the alleged fraudulent attack.

Media Matters vows to fight X Corp.'s lawsuit

Meanwhile, Media Matters President Angelo Carusone dismissed Musk's claims as attempts to stifle accurate reporting, promising to defend the group against the complaint. He said Musk had admitted that the ads in question ran alongside the pro-Nazi content identified by the group.

While the X owner does not dispute the results of Media Matters' analysis, the lawsuit focuses on the group's methodology. It is alleging that Media Matters created a test account and manipulated X's advertising systems to run ads beside extremist content, a situation unlikely to occur in the real world.

Legal experts have criticized X's complaint as weak and opportunistic, filed in a court likely to favor Musk. Some see the lawsuit as more symbolic than substantive, with critics highlighting its potential to backfire and expose sensitive information about X during the discovery process.

"It's one of the lawsuits that's filed for symbolism than for substance  as reflected in just how empty the allegations really are, and in where Musk chose to file, singling out the ultra-conservative Northern District of Texas despite its absence of any logical connection o to the dispute," said law professor Steve Vladeck. "The choice of venue can best be described as trying to shore up a weak claim on the merits with a bench more likely to sympathetic even to weak claims."

Joan Donovan, a professor of journalism and emerging media studies at Boston University, said: "X does admit the ads were shown next to hateful content, but argues it was 'rare.' This is the same strategy employed by advertisers that got YouTube to demonetize political content in 2017."

Visit ElonMuskWatch.com for more stories about the X platform (formerly Twitter).

Watch Emerald Robinson talk about X Corp.'s lawsuit against Media Matters below.

This video is from The Absolute Truth w/ Emerald channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

THE IRONY: Elon Musk threatens to file defamation case against Anti-Defamation League for waging advertiser boycotts against X (Twitter).

Censorship remains a problem even after Musks Twitter takeover.

Before Elon's purchase, Twitter (X) "was completely controlled by the far-left," claims Elon Musk.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

Edition.CNN.com

Brighteon.com
Israel-Hamas war will continue until rights are recognized  analyst

Security and international affairs analyst Haruna Warkani spoke to RT about the Israel-Hamas war in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, stating his view that the conflict will not end until one party recognizes the rights of the other.

(Article republished from RT.com)

Warkani, who previously served as an Economic Community of West African States Commission diplomat, noted that the conflict long predates what we see today, tracing it back to even before the 1948 declaration that established the state of Israel, he said.

He added that the UN has done all it could to propose this two-state solution However, both nations are claiming the same territory.

Since 1948, the UN and generally the world has accepted that it [Israel] has to have a right to stay. Palestine historically had also been there and they also have a right to stay.

He said that it is difficult to take sides. Warkani explained that on the one hand, the Palestinians are in a difficult situation as a nation without a state. On the other hand, Israel lives in fear of extremists who do not recognize its right to exist, he added.

If Hamas, for instance, says they cannot recognize Israel, you will see that there is no way anyone will demand legitimacy within the same environment and refuses to also recognize the other party.

It means there will never be an end to this, Warkani claimed.

South Africa has sided with the Palestinians as an ideological position, he said, recalling the countrys experience with apartheid, and its like a similar history or similar experience for the Palestinians. South Africa and Israel have had a rather frosty diplomatic relationship, he stressed.

Other African countries have adopted different positions saying we support Israel or we support Palestine. According to Warkani, the choice is mostly connected to religious leanings.

The analyst said the key to resolving the problem is going back to the two-state solution.

Read more at: RT.com
Target DOUBLES DOWN on WOKEISM by promoting LGBT Pride strategist

Big-box retailer Target appears to be doubling down on wokeism by promoting an LGBT Pride strategist , following backlash the company received for selling LGBT products.

The Minneapolis-based Target promoted Erik Thompson as senior LGBTQIA+ segmentation specialist and Pride lead. Thompson, who has been with the company since 2016, previously served as an associate buyer of men's sportswear between 2016 and 2019. After that stint, he was promoted to buyer in Target's beauty and cosmetics division.

The newly promoted LGBT marketing strategist plans to "flip the script and rewrite the narrative of [consumer packaged goods] retail industries to better serve all segments, and thoughtfully and authentically cater to all guests, all humans and all hearts who enter [Target] stores and across the nation."

Thompson, who went by the handle @gaycruella on Instagram, shared the news of his promotion with his followers. The LGBT strategist said he was "honored" to accept the role, adding: "Time to whip out the glitter and hellfire, and rip that old world to shreds, darlings."

One commenter put in their two cents on Thompson's promotion, sarcastically asking: "[Are] you [going to] make Target's sales tank, too?" He responded in the affirmative, answering that he would "make sales tank" with heart and kissing emojis.

Target stocking LGBT products and appointing Thompson to oversee their marketing

Target's appointment of Thompson as lead LGBT marketer lines up with its recent introduction of woke products on store shelves. In his new role, Thompson will be in charge of making sure these products sell. But unfortunately, he will have to endure criticism from outraged customers disappointed with Target's wokeism.

Earlier this year, the big-box retailer yielded to wokeism by offering products in time for Pride month  which is typically celebrated in June. Even worse, it stocked some products designed by a known Satanist, further adding fuel to the fire.

Writing for PJ Media, Catherine Salgado expounded on the different items Target offered for Pride month. Such items include Pride-themed body suits, rompers and bibs for babies. For older children, there are swimsuits, socks, leggings and dresses.

More notably, it also included chest binders and "tuck-friendly" swimsuits for gender-confused individuals.

Meanwhile, an InfoWars piece noted that some of the items Target sold for Pride month were from designer Abprallen. "The items include a 'We Belong Everywhere' mini messenger bag, a 'Too Queer for Here' tote bag and a 'Cure Transphobia, Not Trans People' sweatshirt  all listed as 'Pride Adult Clothing,'" it said.

"But it was a 'Satan respects pronouns' shirt that garnered the most attention. Other products feature skeletons draped in Pride and trans colors, 'gay cult' stuff and buttons with 'trans witches for abortion' emblazoned on them."

A not-so-merry "wokemas" for Target

The resulting backlash against the Pride items prompted a boycott from outraged customers. This forced Target to move the controversial items to the back of its stores. The boycott had a serious effect on the company, as the launch of the Pride products and the resulting boycott forced the company's stock to drop from roughly $160 to $130 a share per the Epoch Times.

But it seems that Target hasn't learned anything at all from this lesson, as it launched "woke" Christmas decorations months after the Pride fiasco. Based on pictures shared by the X account End Wokeness, One photo featured a figurine that looked like a dark-skinned Santa Claus in a wheelchair. Another photo showed a nutcracker soldier with its cap adorned with the six-color Pride rainbow and holding a Progress Pride flag. (Related: Target in hot water once more over WOKE Christmas decorations.)

"You would think [Target] would have learned from the last time," one commenter wrote. "When will companies finally start to realize it? Go woke, [get] broke."

Watch Target CEO Brian Cornell denying the accusations of Satanism linked to its Pride products below.

This video is from the GOD > gov channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

TWISTED: Target introduces LGBTQ clothing line for INFANTS.

Target loses $9B in week following boycott calls over LGBTQ-friendly kids clothing.

Target launches new "Satanist Pride" line of LGBTQ+ clothing for CHILDREN, prompting anti-woke boycott.

Gavin Newsom fumes at Target for removing satanic LGBT pride children's clothing from stores, accuses CEO of "selling out LGBTQ+ community.''

Sources include:

En-Volve.com

Newsmax.com

PJMedia.com

InfoWars.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
Blue whales are returning to the Indian Ocean several decades after they were driven out by whaling, an age-old practice of hunting whales for food and oil that was once conducted by seafaring nations around the world.

Now, scientists have recorded that some members of the blue whale species (Balaenoptera musculus), Earth's largest animal, are making their presence felt once again in the waters of Seychelles.

Scientists consider that this is a haven or sanctuary for giant marine mammals.

Whaling, also called ancient whaling, has been practiced by humans for thousands of years globally, including by coastal communities across the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean.

The practice has also been used for research or commercial use, where the latter has lasted for more than 200 years. Due to excessive hunting associated with whaling, large whale species such as B. musculus were almost driven to the brink of extinction.

Blue Whales Return to Seychelles

Blue whales have now returned to the Republic of Seychelles, which was once part of the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary in 1979. This latest development comes after scientists reported that there are sightings again of marine animals in these tropical waters.

The scientific reports were made by scientists from the University of Seychelles, Oregon State University, and Florida International University.

The recordings involve 23 species of whales, including blue whales. Over the past five years, five blue whale sightings have been confirmed in the waters of Seychelles.

Also Read: Endangered Blue Whale Off California Coast is a Rare December Sighting

What is the Oldest Evidence of Whaling?

Whaling has been practiced long before modern vessels and fishing equipment were invented.

However, the exact origins or oldest evidence of ancient whaling has long been contested by experts. Still, there are several clues left behind by the prehistoric hunting practice.

In a study published in the journal Les Nouvelles de l'archeologie, the oldest evidence of ancient whaling can be traced back to 6,000 years ago.

This is based on archeological evidence in the form of ancient visual narratives or rock art petroglyphs in the White Sea, located northwest off the coast of Russia, depicting the relationship between whales and human communities.

Commercial Whaling Industry

Although whaling has long been banned in the majority of the world, some countries like Iceland, Norway, and Japan are still engaged in this ancient hunting practice but has now become a part of the modern whaling industry.

Due to the ecological and existential threat posed by whaling, various organizations and marine wildlife authorities are denouncing the persistence of this method.

According to the organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Japan, Iceland, and Norway have collectively killed almost 40,000 large whales since the banning of commercial whaling in 1986.

In addition, over 100,000 dolphins, porpoises, and small whales are slaughtered for their meat, substances, and body parts in different countries each year, the organization added.

Related Article: Blue Whales Are the Biggest Microplastic Consumer Victims, Eating an Estimated 10 Million Pieces of Microplastic Daily
A recent report discovered that over half of the glacier surface in Peru declined by more than half in the last six decades.

Rising temperatures can affect the surface of glaciers. Extreme heat can melt the glaciers, bringing rapid sea level rise.

Understanding the decline of glaciers will help scientists develop mitigation efforts and plans to deal with glacier problems. The increasing temperatures can likely accelerate the melting of glaciers.

In Peru, the latest report monitored the disappearing glaciers in the country due to the impacts of climate change. About 56% of tropical glaciers were lost in the span of the last six decades.

Over Half of Peru's Glacier Surface Lost

Peruvian scientists raised concerns over the melting and disappearing glacier surfaces in Peru. About 175 glaciers in the country became declined and suffered from extinction between 2016 and 2020.

The threat of climate change has significantly affected the glaciers and surfaces in Peru exacerbated by increasing global temperatures.

According to glaciology expert Mayra Mejia, about 56.22 of the glacier coverage lost since it was recorded in 1962. Mejiais from the National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems in Peru.

For instance, the glacier Chila has devastatingly lost its glacier. The glacier impacts can affect the country's water security. Recent reports explained that glaciers serve as reservoirs that can be helpful during drought and summer conditions.

With aquatic species needing cold water, some aquatic species can be impacted to survive. It can also likely disrupt the food web. As a result, continued monitoring and climate mitigation efforts are crucial to prevent the complete loss of glaciers in Peru.

Also Read: Climate Hazard Flip: Changes in Frequent Floods, Drought Bring Devastating Impacts on Communities

Burning of Fossil Fuel Effects on Swiss Glaciers

Meanwhile, researchers discovered that fossil fuel burning and climate change contributed to the decline of Swiss glaciers. The report highlighted the low volume of snow in the region and the accelerated effects of global warming.

The Swiss Academy of Sciences discovered that 4% of the region's glaciers declined, especially in 2022. Alarmingly, the small glaciers slowly disappeared in Switzerland.

Without immediate restoration efforts, the glaciers can likely suffer from extinction and widespread decline. The rapid effects of climate change could be devastating and affect cold-adapted animals.

Also Read: Climate Change Threatens Bears Habitats, Food Sources

Related Article: Extreme Weather Events Increase Social Cost of Carbon By Over 20%, Research Warns

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News
The latest weather report showed that first lake-effect snow is forecast in the Northeast and Midwest, bringing travel difficulties in the region.

People should stay alert for heavy snow and cold-related health concerns.

The National Weather Service (NWS) advisory warned of a potential winter storm in the Central Plains and parts of Texas. On the weekend, people could expect challenging gusty winds, slippery road conditions and snow-covered roads.

Americans with travel should monitor the latest forecasts this weekend. Prolonged exposure to extreme cold could lead to hypothermia and frostbite.

First Lake-Effect Snow in Northeast, Midwest

The outbreak of lake-effect snow can bring weather dangers in the Northeast and Midwest. Whiteout conditions can be possible and localized heavy snowfall, according to the latest forecast.

On Sunday and early Tuesday, snow with a cold weather outlook is expected in the following areas:

Kington

Toronto

Erie

Barrie

Detroit

Traverse City

Chicago

Portage

Meanwhile, the NWS Weather Discussion revealed that a weak storm over the Gulf Coast States can bring stormy conditions to the Mid-Atlantic this weekend.

New England can also expect potential rounds of rain.

The stormy outlook over Canada will unleash the lake-effect snow early next week. Challenging driving conditions could occur in Buffalo, New York City, especially on Interstate 90.

In NYC, the advisory added that below-average temperatures can unload in the Central Park as a cold front arrives. Meanwhile, in Boston, people can anticipate the cold and dry outlook in Southern New England, with widespread subfreezing temperatures.

Next week, colder air is expected with quick-hitting snow in the following areas:

Boston

New York City

Washington

Buffalo

Montreal

Detroit

Sudbury

Chicago

Indianapolis

Duluth

Green Bay

On Tuesday, residents can anticipate strong winds within Albany, Washington, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago and Portland.

Also Read: US Weather Forecast: Colder Temperatures to Unfold in Eastern US, Rockies; Florida to Expect Light Rain

Strong Winds and Colder Weather: How Can People Stay Safe?

The lake-effect snow with strong winds can cause localized power outages and damage to crops and plants. Americans traveling are likely affected by the latest weather.

As a result, weather preparedness is important for homeowners this week. It is also helpful to keep safe from winter storms and snow storms.

Here are essential weather reminders this weekend in the said areas.

Check for blustery conditions and forecasts

This weekend, motorists and homeowners should monitor for blustery weather conditions and the latest forecasts. It will be helpful for people to keep safe from poor weather conditions.

Furthermore, staying at home is much recommended this weekend due to the challenging weather outlook.

Keeping Home Emergency Kits

Next, homeowners should store survival kits at home, especially when winter is near to US. The recommended emergency kits should include medicine, food supplies, bottled water, a flashlight, a small radio, winter clothes and a backup phone.

Related Article: Heavy Snow to Unload in Colorado, Wyoming; Winter Warning Advisories in Effect

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News
On November 25, Polish activists continue to block all 4 checkpoints to Ukraine for trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons. The queue at the border is several kilometers long. This has led to the suspension of imports from Poland, as well as a blockade of exports through the neighboring country. Ukrainians are coming to the checkpoints to feed the drivers stuck in the queues.

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The situation in the queue

Two drivers have already died in the kilometers-long queues during the border blockade. In fact, Ukrainians have found themselves without help, without hot meals, without the opportunity to rest and warm up. Ukrainians living near the border began bringing food to the border.

The number of trucks in queues on the Ukrainian-Polish border has increased to 11,000 vehicles on both sides. This was reported by LB.ua with reference to the State Customs Service.

The corresponding video appeared on social media. The video was posted by a user with the nickname vallehvalya. At the same time, one of the protest leaders, Polish far-right politician Rafal Mekler, complains about threats allegedly from Ukrainians that he receives on social media.

He also reported on talks with the Polish prime minister. "We familiarized the government side with the extent of the pathology caused by irresponsible decisions of the EU, as well as unfavorable decisions of the Ukrainian side (eChurch). During the talks, it might have seemed that the Prime Minister was not aware of many negative aspects of relations with Ukraine in the current legal architecture, which I think was supplemented by today's meeting," he said on social network X (formerly Twitter).

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The Ukrainian side is seeking talks involving Poland and the EU. However, the European Commission has not yet confirmed the receipt of a letter requesting a monitoring mission on the Ukrainian-Polish border, Radio Liberty reports. Ukraine proposed that this group should record the situation at the checkpoints: the passage of dangerous goods and humanitarian aid, as well as the conditions under which Ukrainian drivers stay for more than two weeks.

"We see our role in this situation primarily as facilitating discussions between the Polish government, Ukrainian authorities and protesters. We are staying in touch with the governments, and of course we are following the situation on the ground very closely, which is actually surprisingly dire," said Adalbert Janz, a spokesman for the European Commission.

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Losses of carriers are only part of Ukraine's economic losses. As Iryna Kosse, a research fellow at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, explained to OBOZ.UA, the losses of the entire Ukrainian economy are much higher, given the failure of enterprises to fulfill contracts and the suspension of production. Poland also has problems, and they are proportional to those of Ukraine. " Polish business will also suffer losses from this blockade. And it is possible that these losses are comparable to the Ukrainian ones," the expert noted.

Meanwhile, the strike is only gaining momentum: as of November 24, a queue of thousands of trucks has formed at the border, and four checkpoints have been blocked: "Yahodyn-Dorohusk, Rava-Ruska-Hrebinne, Krakovets-Korchova, and Medyka-Shehyni. Ukraine plans to hold talks with Poland and the European Commission this week to unblock the Ukrainian-Polish border, where "Polish carriers" are rallying.

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Who is behind the action

Ukrainian carriers claim that only one association of Polish carriers, which had previously been actively working with Russia, supported the border blockade. Polish politician Rafal Mekler took over the political representation. His party has a small representation in the Sejm. He represents the far-right, which is against Poland's integration into the EU and in favor of limiting ties with Ukraine. However, the far-right does not have much support in Poland (they have only 6 seats out of 460 in the parliament).

Rafal Mekler represents the far-right party Ruch Narodowy. He actively spreads Russian propaganda fakes about Ukraine and tells his voters about "Banderites." A few days after the outbreak of a full-scale war and the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Poland, he declared the "need to preserve the ethnic system."

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According to Mykola Solsky, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the situation is complicated by the specific demands of the strikers. After all, "it is difficult to find any constructive things in them".

As reported by OBOZ.UA, due to the blockade of the border by the Polish far-right, Ukraine's economy is suffering significant losses, in particular, due to a decrease in the number of goods imported into the country. However, there is no need to talk about a critical decline in imports and a shortage of certain items: businesses are actively looking for alternative ways to import goods or offer Ukrainians affordable analogues.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Experts said that black dots that are seen mostly on all-white fronts of African penguins could serve as a tool for them to recognize one another.

A recent study explained that birds are known to be highly social and visual animals. Yet no specific visual feature has been identified to be responsible for individual recognition in birds.

Ventral Dot Patterns

Researchers have utilized a differential looking paradigm across five experiments to demonstrate that African penguins, Spheniscus demersus, spontaneously discriminated between life-size photographs of their monogamous, lifelong partner and a nonpartner colonymate using their ventral dot patterns.

The study's findings challenged the assumption of limited visual involvement in penguin communication and suggested a rather complex and flexible recognition process in these birds.

The combination of the current results and previous findings, which showed cross-modal (visual/auditory) recognition in these animals, suggested that African penguins use their ventral dot patterns to individually recognize their colonymates.

''Our results provide the first evidence of a specific visual cue responsible for spontaneous individual recognition by a bird, and highlight the importance of considering all sensory modalities in the study of animal communication,'' the study said.

The ability to recognize others as specific individuals is considered to be a building block for the evolution of sociality and the maintenance of cooperation.

Individual recognition can be helpful for many complex social behaviors, such as understanding the relative position of a conspecific within a dominance hierarchy, allocating efficient parental care and discriminating neighbors from intruders in territorial defense.

Birds are highly visual and social animals. Yet only a handful of studies have attempted to investigate their visual recognition abilities, and of those, few can speak to visual individual recognition.

African penguins have salient ventral dot patterns on their lower bodies that provide ample opportunity for individual recognition as they meet all the requirements for a potential individual identifier.

This distinctive pattern of dots is present within the ventral feathers of each penguin and this often appears at the age of three to five months and does not change throughout their lives.

The pattern does not seem to be reliant on the individual animal's living conditions (e.g. amount of food, temperature during development) and is unique to each individual penguin.

These patterns have been exploited to develop an artificial intelligence system to identify penguins from images or video sequences, and are often used by zookeepers to recognize individual penguins.

The penguins' vision is adapted for water and air; hence, researchers have hypothesized that African penguins may utilize their ventral dot patterns to recognize each other.

Read Also: Three Endangered African Penguin at Arizona Aquarium Give Hope for Conservation Efforts Against Species Population Decline

Penguins and their Preferences

Penguins clearly preferred their partner over a non-partner when the entire body was visible, preferred their partner with dots to without dots, showed no preference when the ventral dot pattern was removed, and lacked a preference when only the head was visible.

Although penguins showed a preference when they could only see others' lower bodies, this preference was less strong than when the entire body could be seen.

Together, these observations suggest that African penguins may rely on a more holistic visual representation of their partner, which includes both the ventral dot patterns and their partner's facial features.

Notably, these abilities are not dependent on the ability of a pair to produce offspring together.

Related Article: World's Oldest African Penguin 'ET' Dies from 'Natural Causes' at Richmond Zoo
On Saturday, November 25, Swiss President Alain Berset arrived in Ukraine on an official visit. He is to take part in the International Food Security Summit

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He announced his arrival on his account in X, formerly known as Twitter. He also plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a number of important issues.

"I arrived in Kyiv, where I will take part in the International Food Security Summit and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The main focus will be on the consequences of Russia's military aggression for the world, food security and Switzerland's long-term support for Ukraine," Berset wrote.

Earlier, Swiss President Alain Berset said that joining the sanctions against Russia does not contradict neutrality. According to him, when one state aggressively and grossly violates the borders of another, third countries cannot simply go about their business as usual.

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As a reminder, Switzerland does not rule out the possibility of using the assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for the post-war recovery of Ukraine. We are talking about an amount of about $8.3 billion.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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Ujwal Jalali By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A 40-year-old man along with his son and an electrical engineer died after an electric shock while carrying out repair work at a private hospital in Ranhola area of outer Delhi on Friday, police said.

The victims were identified as Sarven Kumar, 59, an electrical engineer employed by the hospital, Kunwar Pal, 40, and his 20-year-old son Raman, both plumbers by profession.

According to a senior police officer, a PCR call was received at 2.48 pm saying three men were trapped in a private hospital water tank due to electric shock, and that urgent help was required. A team of Ranhola police station was rushed to the spot. Two fire tenders were also reportedly dispatched. The firemen learnt that there was an electric current in the underground water tank in the hospital that is meant to supply water to the fire hydrant system.

The police found the bodies of the three men inside the water tank located within the hospital premises. The reason for death will be established only after an autopsy. The bodies have been shifted to DDU Hospital, the officer said. The police have inspected the area and a team of Delhi Police and a team from Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, were also called to examine the underground water tank. Police sources said the initial inquiry revealed that an electric water motor installed inside the water tank malfunctioned. Prime facie, it appears that the three suffered an electric shock while carrying out the repair, said a police officer.

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NEW DELHI: A 40-year-old man along with his son and an electrical engineer died after an electric shock while carrying out repair work at a private hospital in Ranhola area of outer Delhi on Friday, police said. The victims were identified as Sarven Kumar, 59, an electrical engineer employed by the hospital, Kunwar Pal, 40, and his 20-year-old son Raman, both plumbers by profession. According to a senior police officer, a PCR call was received at 2.48 pm saying three men were trapped in a private hospital water tank due to electric shock, and that urgent help was required. A team of Ranhola police station was rushed to the spot. Two fire tenders were also reportedly dispatched. The firemen learnt that there was an electric current in the underground water tank in the hospital that is meant to supply water to the fire hydrant system.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The police found the bodies of the three men inside the water tank located within the hospital premises. The reason for death will be established only after an autopsy. The bodies have been shifted to DDU Hospital, the officer said. The police have inspected the area and a team of Delhi Police and a team from Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, were also called to examine the underground water tank. Police sources said the initial inquiry revealed that an electric water motor installed inside the water tank malfunctioned. Prime facie, it appears that the three suffered an electric shock while carrying out the repair, said a police officer. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ujwal Jalali By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Maine tumhare jaise bahot fauji dekhe hain, tum jo bigadna chaho bigad lo (I have seen several Army personnel like you, do whatever you want to), an alleged fraudster told a senior Army officer when he was asked to return the money which he had taken in lieu of selling used cars of foreign embassies.

The Army officer, who was at that time posted in the Ministry of Defence at South Block, New Delhi, had fallen into a trap of a man, named Mohd Yasar, whom he had met through a common acquaintance, and promised him a good used car at a reasonable price, either through a dealer or through an embassy. But it was all fraud! The money was transferred but the car was never delivered.

After repeatedly demanding his money for almost two years, the Armyman ultimately approached the police, following which a case was registered against the alleged man under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Army personnel was last year transferred to Kargil and serving there as a Colonel. In his complaint to the police, the Army officer said that after his transfer to Kargil, the alleged Yasar kept on pursuing the car matter with him on mobile through calls, WhatsApp chats and text messages. The alleged fraudster showed availability of a car and the Armyman transferred him an amount of Rs 15.9 lakh. All this time Yasar kept assuring us that since he is getting cars from the embassies it's taking a little and very soon these cars will be delivered. When the cars went undelivered and Yasars response to my telephonic queries slackened, I asked for returning the money to us, the FIR read.

The complainant stated that since March the accused stopped picking up calls and responding to his messages. When I told him that I will be forced to approach the police for the cheating, fraud and forgery done by you he used threatening language, the defence personnel stated. Police said they have started the investigation and very soon the culprit will be nabbed.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: Maine tumhare jaise bahot fauji dekhe hain, tum jo bigadna chaho bigad lo (I have seen several Army personnel like you, do whatever you want to), an alleged fraudster told a senior Army officer when he was asked to return the money which he had taken in lieu of selling used cars of foreign embassies. The Army officer, who was at that time posted in the Ministry of Defence at South Block, New Delhi, had fallen into a trap of a man, named Mohd Yasar, whom he had met through a common acquaintance, and promised him a good used car at a reasonable price, either through a dealer or through an embassy. But it was all fraud! The money was transferred but the car was never delivered. After repeatedly demanding his money for almost two years, the Armyman ultimately approached the police, following which a case was registered against the alleged man under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Army personnel was last year transferred to Kargil and serving there as a Colonel. In his complaint to the police, the Army officer said that after his transfer to Kargil, the alleged Yasar kept on pursuing the car matter with him on mobile through calls, WhatsApp chats and text messages. The alleged fraudster showed availability of a car and the Armyman transferred him an amount of Rs 15.9 lakh. All this time Yasar kept assuring us that since he is getting cars from the embassies it's taking a little and very soon these cars will be delivered. When the cars went undelivered and Yasars response to my telephonic queries slackened, I asked for returning the money to us, the FIR read. The complainant stated that since March the accused stopped picking up calls and responding to his messages. When I told him that I will be forced to approach the police for the cheating, fraud and forgery done by you he used threatening language, the defence personnel stated. Police said they have started the investigation and very soon the culprit will be nabbed. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Pooja Das By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Whether you like eating a steaming bowl of ramen on a cold day or just enjoy looking at beautifully designed and constructed sushi from your favourite Japanese anime, food is definitely one of the most wholesome experiences in Japanese culture. The Japan Food Fest 2023 organised by the Consulate General of Japan in Bengaluru is coming back to the city on November 26, 2023, at Shangri-La Hotel to celebrate the rich flavours of Japanese cuisine.

Around 20 well-known restaurants in the city will be putting up stalls, and serving various delicacies. They will also have restaurants from other places like Puducherry and New Delhi. The fest will also feature a sashimi-cutting demonstration wherein a Japanese chef will showcase how sashimi is cut and made into rolls. In order to deepen Japan-India relations, it is important to know, recognise, and respect each others culture. I believe that food is the basis of culture, and making Indian people taste Japanese food is a shortcut to learning about the Japanese culture at large, says Nakane Tsutomu, Consul-General of Japan in Bengaluru.

The last edition saw around 1,900 people participating in the fest and this year, an upward of 2,000 people are expected. Tsutomu says, I was surprised at the turnout at last years fest, it was unfortunate that I was not able to taste the food at the stalls due to the many friends and acquaintances who came to the event. The Sushi Exhibition held at Chitrakala Parishath in August this year attracted 5,500 visitors in two weeks. We are pleased to see the growing popularity of Japanese food in Bengaluru.

Speaking about the citys cultural inclusivity, Tsutomu says, Bengaluru, with its favourable climate, has always attracted a diverse range of people from all over India. Therefore, I understand that Japanese culture, especially Japanese food culture, can be tried without prerequisites or barriers, and accepted as each person feels. Japanese food is said to be eaten with all five senses, and we hope that everyone in Bengaluru will enjoy it. He further adds that technique and precision are very important to the cuisine.

Some of the most important aspects of Japanese cooking are the five methods (cutting, boiling, grilling, steaming, and frying), five tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami), relished with five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste), and five colours (red, yellow, green, white, and black) which is very pleasing to the eye.

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BENGALURU: Whether you like eating a steaming bowl of ramen on a cold day or just enjoy looking at beautifully designed and constructed sushi from your favourite Japanese anime, food is definitely one of the most wholesome experiences in Japanese culture. The Japan Food Fest 2023 organised by the Consulate General of Japan in Bengaluru is coming back to the city on November 26, 2023, at Shangri-La Hotel to celebrate the rich flavours of Japanese cuisine. Around 20 well-known restaurants in the city will be putting up stalls, and serving various delicacies. They will also have restaurants from other places like Puducherry and New Delhi. The fest will also feature a sashimi-cutting demonstration wherein a Japanese chef will showcase how sashimi is cut and made into rolls. In order to deepen Japan-India relations, it is important to know, recognise, and respect each others culture. I believe that food is the basis of culture, and making Indian people taste Japanese food is a shortcut to learning about the Japanese culture at large, says Nakane Tsutomu, Consul-General of Japan in Bengaluru. The last edition saw around 1,900 people participating in the fest and this year, an upward of 2,000 people are expected. Tsutomu says, I was surprised at the turnout at last years fest, it was unfortunate that I was not able to taste the food at the stalls due to the many friends and acquaintances who came to the event. The Sushi Exhibition held at Chitrakala Parishath in August this year attracted 5,500 visitors in two weeks. We are pleased to see the growing popularity of Japanese food in Bengaluru.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speaking about the citys cultural inclusivity, Tsutomu says, Bengaluru, with its favourable climate, has always attracted a diverse range of people from all over India. Therefore, I understand that Japanese culture, especially Japanese food culture, can be tried without prerequisites or barriers, and accepted as each person feels. Japanese food is said to be eaten with all five senses, and we hope that everyone in Bengaluru will enjoy it. He further adds that technique and precision are very important to the cuisine. Some of the most important aspects of Japanese cooking are the five methods (cutting, boiling, grilling, steaming, and frying), five tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami), relished with five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste), and five colours (red, yellow, green, white, and black) which is very pleasing to the eye. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rahna Mariyam By

Online Desk

A 16-year-old queer artist from Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain died by suicide after receiving a slew of hate comments on their Instagram.

Pranshu, a 16-year-old queer artist and social media influencer was found dead, reportedly hanging from their mother's dupatta, on Tuesday. According to reports, Pranshu was a self-taught make-up artist and ran an Instagram handle where they shared make-up and beauty content with over 14,500 followers.

During Diwali, the artist posted a reel of wearing a saree, following which many people made hateful and homophobic remarks about the reel.

Following the death of Pranshu, actor-activist Trineta Haldar Gummaraju claimed that the artist's comment section was flooded with over 4,000 homophobic remarks, and this forced them to die by suicide.

"Are we happy now? A child is gone. Just like that. So, so angry. How many more queer children do we lose? There was Arvey Malhotra, today there is Pranshu, and tomorrow there will be more. What is the point of creating content, really, if the kids arent safe? Neither online nor offline? What has changed?," the actor wrote in an Instagram post.

Quoting Kamal Singh Gehlot, the police station in charge, India Today reported that the 16-year-old's mobile has been seized and details will be obtained from Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook.

Police have also added that they haven't yet identified the solid basis behind the suicide.

(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7).

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A 16-year-old queer artist from Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain died by suicide after receiving a slew of hate comments on their Instagram. Pranshu, a 16-year-old queer artist and social media influencer was found dead, reportedly hanging from their mother's dupatta, on Tuesday. According to reports, Pranshu was a self-taught make-up artist and ran an Instagram handle where they shared make-up and beauty content with over 14,500 followers. During Diwali, the artist posted a reel of wearing a saree, following which many people made hateful and homophobic remarks about the reel.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Following the death of Pranshu, actor-activist Trineta Haldar Gummaraju claimed that the artist's comment section was flooded with over 4,000 homophobic remarks, and this forced them to die by suicide. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju (@trintrin) "Are we happy now? A child is gone. Just like that. So, so angry. How many more queer children do we lose? There was Arvey Malhotra, today there is Pranshu, and tomorrow there will be more. What is the point of creating content, really, if the kids arent safe? Neither online nor offline? What has changed?," the actor wrote in an Instagram post. Quoting Kamal Singh Gehlot, the police station in charge, India Today reported that the 16-year-old's mobile has been seized and details will be obtained from Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook. Police have also added that they haven't yet identified the solid basis behind the suicide. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7). Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat has called upon the followers of Hinduism to connect with each other to translate the essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam into its letter and spirit at a time when the world faced a variety of challenges.

Speaking on Friday at the World Hindu Congress in Thailands capital Bangkok, the RSS chief made an impassioned appeal to Hindus living across the world to strengthen their bonds with the people. He said Hinduism opens up the path of peace and happiness and considers the entire humanity as the soul of the existence of all creatures. Bhagwats remarks came at the inaugural session of the World Hindu Congress 2023.

Touching upon various disciplines and ideologies of Sangh and Hinduism, he said the COVID-19 pandemic forced humanity to rethink the ways to achieve peace for the sake of existence. He said only Bharat can show a path of happiness and peace to the world. The Sangh chief asserted that Hindus should start playing a role of promoting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (entire world one family) by coming together above any kind of perceptional differences for the welfare of the world.

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NEW DELHI: RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat has called upon the followers of Hinduism to connect with each other to translate the essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam into its letter and spirit at a time when the world faced a variety of challenges. Speaking on Friday at the World Hindu Congress in Thailands capital Bangkok, the RSS chief made an impassioned appeal to Hindus living across the world to strengthen their bonds with the people. He said Hinduism opens up the path of peace and happiness and considers the entire humanity as the soul of the existence of all creatures. Bhagwats remarks came at the inaugural session of the World Hindu Congress 2023. Touching upon various disciplines and ideologies of Sangh and Hinduism, he said the COVID-19 pandemic forced humanity to rethink the ways to achieve peace for the sake of existence. He said only Bharat can show a path of happiness and peace to the world. The Sangh chief asserted that Hindus should start playing a role of promoting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (entire world one family) by coming together above any kind of perceptional differences for the welfare of the world.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
On November 25, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Michal Scherba, addressed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He said that Ukraine should become a member of the Alliance and that it has 227 days before the NATO summit in Washington.

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This was reported by MP Oleksii Honcharenko. Micha Szczerba also said that he would do everything he could to ensure that our country is supported as much as possible.

As a sign of support, he presented a NATO flag to the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk. In his turn, Stefanchuk emphasized that three flags would soon be hanging in the Ukrainian parliament.

Earlier it was reported that the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland, Jussi Halla-Aho, spoke in Ukrainian in the Supreme Court. MPs gave the politician a standing ovation.

Also on November 24, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. During the meeting, they discussed the defense needs of the Armed Forces, the need to strengthen air defense, and Ukraine's accession to the EU.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Jitendra Choubey By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As extreme weather events such as early arrival of heatwave-like conditions and unseasonal rains and hailstorm hit wheat production in the last two rabi seasons, the government aims to increase the acreage under climate-resilient varieties. The target is cover up to 60% of the total area with climate-resilient varieties.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has suggested constituting a monitoring committee to achieve the target. This newspaper had on Monday reported that government officials were worried about late sowing of wheat. They are concerned that the late sowing would expose the wheat crop to more heat wave-like conditions. This would impact productivity as well as quality of grains.

Addressing a review meeting of rabi-sowing crops and future estimation, Tomar said that last years record rise in temperatures, followed by a spate of unseasonal rains and hailstorms, had adversely impacted the wheat crop. Gyanendra P Singh, director of the Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, said that two heat-tolerant wheat seed varieties  DBW 187 and DBW 303  are already shared with different state governments to provide for farmers.

These varieties are heat-tolerant and will neutralise the impact of early arrival and increase yield, said Singh. He further said that DBW 187 was mostly preferred in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other Indo-Gangetic plains, while DBW 303 was mostly preferred in Indo-Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The winter wheat crop is more susceptible to heat. Moderate temperature of February-March helps the juice of wheat flowers to take shape into the robust grain. However, February 2023 was recorded as the hottest in the past 123 years. March 2022 was recorded as the hottest in the 122 years of IMDs history. This has shrivelled grains and reduced production in those years.

Indias final wheat output was estimated at 107.74 million tonnes (MT) in 2021-22 and 110.5 MT in 2022-23 against the target of over 112 MT in both the years. The less production led to lesser procurement for the countrys buffer. This year, the government was only able to procure 26.2 MT as against the target of 40 MT, leading to price rise.

Till now, the wheat sowing acreage reached 248.59 lakh hectares in different states. Spillover monsoon rainfall till the third week of October had delayed paddy harvest as well as sowing of wheat. In eastern India, harvesting of paddy is yet to start.

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NEW DELHI: As extreme weather events such as early arrival of heatwave-like conditions and unseasonal rains and hailstorm hit wheat production in the last two rabi seasons, the government aims to increase the acreage under climate-resilient varieties. The target is cover up to 60% of the total area with climate-resilient varieties. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has suggested constituting a monitoring committee to achieve the target. This newspaper had on Monday reported that government officials were worried about late sowing of wheat. They are concerned that the late sowing would expose the wheat crop to more heat wave-like conditions. This would impact productivity as well as quality of grains. Addressing a review meeting of rabi-sowing crops and future estimation, Tomar said that last years record rise in temperatures, followed by a spate of unseasonal rains and hailstorms, had adversely impacted the wheat crop. Gyanendra P Singh, director of the Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, said that two heat-tolerant wheat seed varieties  DBW 187 and DBW 303  are already shared with different state governments to provide for farmers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); These varieties are heat-tolerant and will neutralise the impact of early arrival and increase yield, said Singh. He further said that DBW 187 was mostly preferred in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other Indo-Gangetic plains, while DBW 303 was mostly preferred in Indo-Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The winter wheat crop is more susceptible to heat. Moderate temperature of February-March helps the juice of wheat flowers to take shape into the robust grain. However, February 2023 was recorded as the hottest in the past 123 years. March 2022 was recorded as the hottest in the 122 years of IMDs history. This has shrivelled grains and reduced production in those years. Indias final wheat output was estimated at 107.74 million tonnes (MT) in 2021-22 and 110.5 MT in 2022-23 against the target of over 112 MT in both the years. The less production led to lesser procurement for the countrys buffer. This year, the government was only able to procure 26.2 MT as against the target of 40 MT, leading to price rise. Till now, the wheat sowing acreage reached 248.59 lakh hectares in different states. Spillover monsoon rainfall till the third week of October had delayed paddy harvest as well as sowing of wheat. In eastern India, harvesting of paddy is yet to start. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: The Kolkata High Court on Friday allowed the BJP to hold a rally in front of the Victoria House at Esplanade in central Kolkata on November 29, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to speak.

The ruling Trinamool Congress organises its annual mega event, Martyrs Day on July 21, at the same venue. This will give the saffron camp an opportunity to show its strength ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice TS Shivagnanam turned down the state governments petition against holding the rally, upholding the earlier order of a single-judge bench. The single-judge bench had dismissed the Kolkata polices advisory that said the application will only be taken into consideration if applied two to three weeks prior, neither before or after, to the scheduled programme. The BJP had filed the application 23 days prior.

The advisory was not a statute. It cannot be taken as a rigid rule and there was discretion vested with the authorities, the division bench said. With the high courts order, BJP will be the first political party other than the TMC to hold a rally at the same venue in the recent past. Party insiders said the TMC has got the first contender in its signature venue, and others will queue up.

The single-judge bench of the high court had pulled up the Kolkata police on November 20 for denying permission for the BJP rally at the same venue twice with no apparent reason. Taking notice of the fact that processions, rallies and meetings are a regular feature in the state of West Bengal and more particularly in Kolkata, the division bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, observed that there have been several instances that have come to the notice of the court where rallies, meetings and agitations have been held for which no permission has been obtained.

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KOLKATA: The Kolkata High Court on Friday allowed the BJP to hold a rally in front of the Victoria House at Esplanade in central Kolkata on November 29, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to speak. The ruling Trinamool Congress organises its annual mega event, Martyrs Day on July 21, at the same venue. This will give the saffron camp an opportunity to show its strength ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The division bench headed by Chief Justice TS Shivagnanam turned down the state governments petition against holding the rally, upholding the earlier order of a single-judge bench. The single-judge bench had dismissed the Kolkata polices advisory that said the application will only be taken into consideration if applied two to three weeks prior, neither before or after, to the scheduled programme. The BJP had filed the application 23 days prior.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The advisory was not a statute. It cannot be taken as a rigid rule and there was discretion vested with the authorities, the division bench said. With the high courts order, BJP will be the first political party other than the TMC to hold a rally at the same venue in the recent past. Party insiders said the TMC has got the first contender in its signature venue, and others will queue up. The single-judge bench of the high court had pulled up the Kolkata police on November 20 for denying permission for the BJP rally at the same venue twice with no apparent reason. Taking notice of the fact that processions, rallies and meetings are a regular feature in the state of West Bengal and more particularly in Kolkata, the division bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, observed that there have been several instances that have come to the notice of the court where rallies, meetings and agitations have been held for which no permission has been obtained. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: In a setback to the Enforcement Directorate, the Rajasthan High Court on Friday cancelled the summons issued to Mevaram Jain, the Congress candidate from Barmer in the Assembly elections. The court said the ED action amid the poll campaign was not appropriate.

The court said it was not made clear why his presence at Jaipur (500 km from his constituency) was necessary. Mevaram Jain is a three-time Congress MLA from Barmer and is contesting again. The ED is investigating a sextortion racket linked to money laundering.

Senior advocate Vikas Balia presented the petition on behalf of Jain before the single bench of Justice Farzand Ali. The petition said the ED issued a notice to Jain on November 20 in which there were instructions to appear before the EDs Jaipur office on Wednesday, November 22.

The petitioner said the summons should be cancelled since the assembly elections were due on November 25 and hectic campaigning was going on by candidates. Justice Farzand Ali noted that Jain in order to appear before the ED will have to travel 500 km to and from the EDs Jaipur office. If the summons is postponed for seven days, it wont have any impact on the money laundering case, Jains lawyer argued.

The court said that giving notice in these circumstances was not right. It is necessary for Mevaram to remain in his assembly constituency, the court observed. Meanwhile, it is unclear why the summons is sent  whether he is called an accused or as a witness. The court said in both cases, the petitioner has the right to know the allegations against him. If he is summoned to give a statement before the authorities, he has the right to know for what purpose his presence will be necessary so that he can collect the required documents.

Requirement not clear: HC

The high court said it was not made clear why Mevaram Jains presence at Jaipur (500 km from his constituency) was necessary. The court said the ED action amid the poll campaign was not appropriate. The court also pointed out that it is unclear why the summons is sent  whether he is called as an accused or

as a witness.

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JAIPUR: In a setback to the Enforcement Directorate, the Rajasthan High Court on Friday cancelled the summons issued to Mevaram Jain, the Congress candidate from Barmer in the Assembly elections. The court said the ED action amid the poll campaign was not appropriate. The court said it was not made clear why his presence at Jaipur (500 km from his constituency) was necessary. Mevaram Jain is a three-time Congress MLA from Barmer and is contesting again. The ED is investigating a sextortion racket linked to money laundering. Senior advocate Vikas Balia presented the petition on behalf of Jain before the single bench of Justice Farzand Ali. The petition said the ED issued a notice to Jain on November 20 in which there were instructions to appear before the EDs Jaipur office on Wednesday, November 22. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The petitioner said the summons should be cancelled since the assembly elections were due on November 25 and hectic campaigning was going on by candidates. Justice Farzand Ali noted that Jain in order to appear before the ED will have to travel 500 km to and from the EDs Jaipur office. If the summons is postponed for seven days, it wont have any impact on the money laundering case, Jains lawyer argued. The court said that giving notice in these circumstances was not right. It is necessary for Mevaram to remain in his assembly constituency, the court observed. Meanwhile, it is unclear why the summons is sent  whether he is called an accused or as a witness. The court said in both cases, the petitioner has the right to know the allegations against him. If he is summoned to give a statement before the authorities, he has the right to know for what purpose his presence will be necessary so that he can collect the required documents. Requirement not clear: HC The high court said it was not made clear why Mevaram Jains presence at Jaipur (500 km from his constituency) was necessary. The court said the ED action amid the poll campaign was not appropriate. The court also pointed out that it is unclear why the summons is sent  whether he is called as an accused or as a witness. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: The battle for Rajasthan assembly elections has reached its final phase. The voting in the state is due on November 25. More than 5 crore voters in Rajasthan will decide the fate of the candidates.

This time there is a direct contest between BJP and Congress on most assembly seats.

Congress party is entering the field with an undeclared face of the CM. The problem of the ruling Congress in Rajasthan is that in the last 30 years, there is a trend of power changing hands every five years. This time the entire responsibility is on Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to bring the party back to power.

While last time, he had to compete with the then chief minister Vasundhara Raje, this time the competition is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, who has attacked Congress on corruption and the secrets hidden in an alleged lal diary, 14 paper leaks, increase in atrocities against women and farmers.

Gehlot faces people with his social security schemes and 7 guarantees. This election has become Gehlot vs Modi. Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government.

The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan.

On the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, BJP and Congress have accused each other of stalling the project. Last time, Congress won 35 of 39 seats there. One reason for this was that due to Sachin Pilot being the CM candidate, the inclination of Gujjars was towards the Congress. This time Congress has fielded 12 candidates while BJP has fielded 9 Gujjar candidates. But the situation is different this time due to the division of Gujjar votes.

In the urban and rural areas of the seven divisions, Congress faces the challenge of repeating its previous performance in the Jaipur division. There are 50 assembly seats in 5 districts in the division. There is a tough fight between BJP and Congress on most of the 19 seats in Jaipur district.

There are more than a dozen seats that have turned difficult for the saffron side. The BJP was successful in stopping the rebellion in Jhotwara from where Col Rajyavardhan Rathore is contesting. Diya Kumari of Jaipur royal family is getting the benefit of Vidyadhar Nagar being dominated by Rajputs. She is an MP from Rajsamand and has given a lot of attention to the central leadership of BJP after the sidelining of Vasundhara Raje. From the Laxmangarh seat, BJP has given the ticket to former MP Subhash Maharia. In the Jodhpur division  the centre of politics, Marwar, the stronghold of CM  13 out of 33 seats remain hot seats.

Parties repeat tickets

Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan. The voting is due November 25. More than 5 crore voters will decide the fate of the candidates.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

JAIPUR: The battle for Rajasthan assembly elections has reached its final phase. The voting in the state is due on November 25. More than 5 crore voters in Rajasthan will decide the fate of the candidates. This time there is a direct contest between BJP and Congress on most assembly seats. Congress party is entering the field with an undeclared face of the CM. The problem of the ruling Congress in Rajasthan is that in the last 30 years, there is a trend of power changing hands every five years. This time the entire responsibility is on Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to bring the party back to power. While last time, he had to compete with the then chief minister Vasundhara Raje, this time the competition is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, who has attacked Congress on corruption and the secrets hidden in an alleged lal diary, 14 paper leaks, increase in atrocities against women and farmers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gehlot faces people with his social security schemes and 7 guarantees. This election has become Gehlot vs Modi. Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan. On the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, BJP and Congress have accused each other of stalling the project. Last time, Congress won 35 of 39 seats there. One reason for this was that due to Sachin Pilot being the CM candidate, the inclination of Gujjars was towards the Congress. This time Congress has fielded 12 candidates while BJP has fielded 9 Gujjar candidates. But the situation is different this time due to the division of Gujjar votes. In the urban and rural areas of the seven divisions, Congress faces the challenge of repeating its previous performance in the Jaipur division. There are 50 assembly seats in 5 districts in the division. There is a tough fight between BJP and Congress on most of the 19 seats in Jaipur district. There are more than a dozen seats that have turned difficult for the saffron side. The BJP was successful in stopping the rebellion in Jhotwara from where Col Rajyavardhan Rathore is contesting. Diya Kumari of Jaipur royal family is getting the benefit of Vidyadhar Nagar being dominated by Rajputs. She is an MP from Rajsamand and has given a lot of attention to the central leadership of BJP after the sidelining of Vasundhara Raje. From the Laxmangarh seat, BJP has given the ticket to former MP Subhash Maharia. In the Jodhpur division  the centre of politics, Marwar, the stronghold of CM  13 out of 33 seats remain hot seats. Parties repeat tickets Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan. The voting is due November 25. More than 5 crore voters will decide the fate of the candidates. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A court here on Saturday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment for killing TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008 while the fifth convict was sent to three years in jail.

While sentencing Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar to life imprisonment, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey also imposed a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh on each of them.

The fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 7.25 lakh.

The court, however, noted that he had already undergone more than 14 years of imprisonment.

The court also ordered that of the total fine amount imposed on the convicts, Rs 12 lakh will be paid to the victim's family.

Ordering the quantum of punishment, the additional sessions judge said the offence does not fall in the category of rarest of rare cases.

So request for death penalty is refused, he said.

During the proceedings, the victim's mother Madhavi Vishwanathan told the court that she has been waiting for justice for over 15 years.

Soumya Vishwanathan, who was working with a leading English news channel, was shot dead in the early hours of September 30, 2008, on south Delhi's Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work.

Police claimed the motive was robbery.

On October 18, the court convicted Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) provisions for committing organised crime resulting in the death of any person.

Ajay Sethi was convicted under IPC section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and MCOCA provisions for conspiring to abet, aid, or knowingly facilitate organised crime and receiving proceeds of organised crime.

According to the prosecution, Ravi Kapoor shot Vishwanathan with a country-made pistol on September 30, 2008, on Nelson Mandela Marg in South Delhi while chasing the victim's car to rob her.

Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar and Baljeet Malik were also with Kapoor.

Police recovered the car used in the murder from the fifth accused Ajay Sethi alias Chacha.

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NEW DELHI: A court here on Saturday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment for killing TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008 while the fifth convict was sent to three years in jail. While sentencing Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar to life imprisonment, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey also imposed a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh on each of them. The fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 7.25 lakh.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The court, however, noted that he had already undergone more than 14 years of imprisonment. The court also ordered that of the total fine amount imposed on the convicts, Rs 12 lakh will be paid to the victim's family. Ordering the quantum of punishment, the additional sessions judge said the offence does not fall in the category of rarest of rare cases. So request for death penalty is refused, he said. During the proceedings, the victim's mother Madhavi Vishwanathan told the court that she has been waiting for justice for over 15 years. Soumya Vishwanathan, who was working with a leading English news channel, was shot dead in the early hours of September 30, 2008, on south Delhi's Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work. Police claimed the motive was robbery. On October 18, the court convicted Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) provisions for committing organised crime resulting in the death of any person. Ajay Sethi was convicted under IPC section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and MCOCA provisions for conspiring to abet, aid, or knowingly facilitate organised crime and receiving proceeds of organised crime. According to the prosecution, Ravi Kapoor shot Vishwanathan with a country-made pistol on September 30, 2008, on Nelson Mandela Marg in South Delhi while chasing the victim's car to rob her. Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar and Baljeet Malik were also with Kapoor. Police recovered the car used in the murder from the fifth accused Ajay Sethi alias Chacha. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Madhavi Vishwanathan, mother of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan who was shot dead 15 years ago, said on Saturday that she is "satisfied" with the court's judgement, but not "happy".

A court in Delhi on Saturday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment for killing Soumya, while the fifth convict was sent to three years in jail.

"I wanted this. What I am suffering, I want them to suffer for life. I am satisfied, but I will not say that I am happy. My husband is in ICU. He had a bypass surgery," said Madhavi.

During the proceedings, the judge asked the victim's mother whether she had any submissions, to which she said, "Justice must be done."

While sentencing Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar to life imprisonment, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey also imposed a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh on each of them.

ALSO READ | Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan murder: Four convicts sentenced to life imprisonment

The fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 7.25 lakh.

The court, however, noted that he had already undergone more than 14 years of imprisonment.

Vishwanathan, who was working with a leading English news channel, was shot dead in the early hours of September 30, 2008, on south Delhi's Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work.

Police claimed the motive behind the crime was robbery.

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NEW DELHI: Madhavi Vishwanathan, mother of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan who was shot dead 15 years ago, said on Saturday that she is "satisfied" with the court's judgement, but not "happy". A court in Delhi on Saturday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment for killing Soumya, while the fifth convict was sent to three years in jail. "I wanted this. What I am suffering, I want them to suffer for life. I am satisfied, but I will not say that I am happy. My husband is in ICU. He had a bypass surgery," said Madhavi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); During the proceedings, the judge asked the victim's mother whether she had any submissions, to which she said, "Justice must be done." While sentencing Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar to life imprisonment, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey also imposed a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh on each of them. ALSO READ | Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan murder: Four convicts sentenced to life imprisonment The fifth convict, Ajay Sethi, was sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 7.25 lakh. The court, however, noted that he had already undergone more than 14 years of imprisonment. Vishwanathan, who was working with a leading English news channel, was shot dead in the early hours of September 30, 2008, on south Delhi's Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work. Police claimed the motive behind the crime was robbery. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday said it is closely monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 (Avian Influenza virus) cases and clusters of respiratory illness in children in China and is prepared to meet for any kind of exigency. The Union Health Ministry said that there is a low risk to India from both the avian influenza case reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness.

Some media reports have indicated the clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which World Health Organisation (WHO) has also issued a statement. The WHO has also asked China for more information about the rise in illness and pneumonia clusters.

Based on available information, a rise in the incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks, the health ministry said. The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manifestations, it said in a statement.

A meeting was recently held under the Directorate General of Health Services to discuss the preparedness to tackle human cases of avian influenza in the country, against the backdrop of a human case of H9N2 in October in China that was reported to the WHO. The overall risk assessment by the WHO indicates a low probability of human-to-human spread, and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 is reported to the WHO so far, the ministry said.

The need for strengthening surveillance among human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors and improving coordination was recognised. India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency, it added.

The WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on the spike in respiratory illnesses after Chinese health authorities reported multiple infectious respiratory diseases with surging cases of mycoplasma pneumonia and influenza flu among children. India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency. India is embarking on a One Health approach to adopt a holistic and integrated roadmap to address such public health issues, the ministry said.

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NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday said it is closely monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 (Avian Influenza virus) cases and clusters of respiratory illness in children in China and is prepared to meet for any kind of exigency. The Union Health Ministry said that there is a low risk to India from both the avian influenza case reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness. Some media reports have indicated the clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which World Health Organisation (WHO) has also issued a statement. The WHO has also asked China for more information about the rise in illness and pneumonia clusters. Based on available information, a rise in the incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks, the health ministry said. The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manifestations, it said in a statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A meeting was recently held under the Directorate General of Health Services to discuss the preparedness to tackle human cases of avian influenza in the country, against the backdrop of a human case of H9N2 in October in China that was reported to the WHO. The overall risk assessment by the WHO indicates a low probability of human-to-human spread, and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 is reported to the WHO so far, the ministry said. The need for strengthening surveillance among human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors and improving coordination was recognised. India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency, it added. The WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on the spike in respiratory illnesses after Chinese health authorities reported multiple infectious respiratory diseases with surging cases of mycoplasma pneumonia and influenza flu among children. India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency. India is embarking on a One Health approach to adopt a holistic and integrated roadmap to address such public health issues, the ministry said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: The Patna High Court in a judgment has annulled the marriage of an Army personnel, who was kidnapped and forced to marry a woman at gunpoint 10 years ago. The verdict is likely to bring down the cases of forced marriage in Bihar, Pakadua Vivah in local language.

A division bench comprising Justices P B Bajanthri and Arun Kumar Jha gave the judgment earlier this month, setting aside a three-year-old judgment of the family court in Lakhisarai. The petitioner Ravi Kant, a native of Nawada district, was abducted by the brides family on June 30, 2013, when he had gone to Lakhisarai to worship at a temple.

The petitioner had fled from the brides house without consummating the marriage and resumed his duty in Jammu and Kashmir. On his return to Bihar on leave, he filed a petition in the family court seeking annulment of the marriage. His petition was dismissed by the family court on January 27, 2020, following which he filed an appeal before the High Court.

The High Court set aside the impugned order observing that the family court took a flawed view that the petitioners case became disbelievable since he did not immediately file the suit for annulment of marriage. The court ruled that the petitioner had explained the situation and there was no undue delay.

The court also referred to a Supreme Court judgment according to which no wedding could be valid unless saptapadi (seven circumambulations of the consecrated fire) was performed as per Hindu traditions. The learned family courts finding that not performing the ritual of saptapadi does not mean that marriage has

not been performed, is devoid of any merit, ordered the High Court.

Bihar has been grappling with the menace of Pakadua Vivah for long. According to the State Crime Records Bureau, 7,194 forced marriage cases were reported in the state from January to November 2020; 10,925 in 2019; 10,310 in 2018 and 8,972 in 2017.

Families of prospective brides even take service of criminal gangs to kidnap men and force them into wedlock. A large number of such cases go unreported in view of the fear of these gangs, sources in police headquarters said. Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Nawada and Patna are considered to be vulnerable for such gangs that are hired by prospective brides family members to force the bride grooms into wedlock.

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PATNA: The Patna High Court in a judgment has annulled the marriage of an Army personnel, who was kidnapped and forced to marry a woman at gunpoint 10 years ago. The verdict is likely to bring down the cases of forced marriage in Bihar, Pakadua Vivah in local language. A division bench comprising Justices P B Bajanthri and Arun Kumar Jha gave the judgment earlier this month, setting aside a three-year-old judgment of the family court in Lakhisarai. The petitioner Ravi Kant, a native of Nawada district, was abducted by the brides family on June 30, 2013, when he had gone to Lakhisarai to worship at a temple. The petitioner had fled from the brides house without consummating the marriage and resumed his duty in Jammu and Kashmir. On his return to Bihar on leave, he filed a petition in the family court seeking annulment of the marriage. His petition was dismissed by the family court on January 27, 2020, following which he filed an appeal before the High Court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The High Court set aside the impugned order observing that the family court took a flawed view that the petitioners case became disbelievable since he did not immediately file the suit for annulment of marriage. The court ruled that the petitioner had explained the situation and there was no undue delay. The court also referred to a Supreme Court judgment according to which no wedding could be valid unless saptapadi (seven circumambulations of the consecrated fire) was performed as per Hindu traditions. The learned family courts finding that not performing the ritual of saptapadi does not mean that marriage has not been performed, is devoid of any merit, ordered the High Court. Bihar has been grappling with the menace of Pakadua Vivah for long. According to the State Crime Records Bureau, 7,194 forced marriage cases were reported in the state from January to November 2020; 10,925 in 2019; 10,310 in 2018 and 8,972 in 2017. Families of prospective brides even take service of criminal gangs to kidnap men and force them into wedlock. A large number of such cases go unreported in view of the fear of these gangs, sources in police headquarters said. Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Nawada and Patna are considered to be vulnerable for such gangs that are hired by prospective brides family members to force the bride grooms into wedlock. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

JAIPUR: More than 68 percent of the electorate in Rajasthan voted by 5 pm on Saturday in a bipolar contest involving the Congress and the BJP to elect the new state government, with polling passing off peacefully barring a few stray incidents of violence.

Polling at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, but officials said those already in queue at the polling booths would be allowed to vote.

In the last assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 percent.

The Election Commission has set a target of at least 75 percent turnout in each constituency this time.

Nearly 10 percent of the electorate cast their votes in the first two hours of voting and the figure went up to nearly 25 percent by 11 am and to more than 40 percent by 1 pm.

The voting percentage till 5 pm was 68.24 percent, an official said.

Polling in the Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar has been postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate.

The votes will be counted on December 3.

Two people - a polling agent of a candidate and an elderly voter - died of cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts.

There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats while 1,862 candidates are in the fray.

The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling.

More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state.

In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, two persons including a policeman were injured in stone-pelting.

"Police fired 12 rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. Voting was disrupted for a few minutes due to the incident," Deeg Superintendent of Police (SP) Brijesh Upadhyay said.

In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and a jawan was injured in the violence.

"Stone pelting occurred outside a polling booth. One jawan was injured in the stone pelting.No civilian was injured. Around 5-7 persons have been detained," Fatehpur DSP Ram Pratap said.

An altercation occurred between a polling agent and a person outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat "Two vehicles were damaged in the ensuing violence. Polling was stopped for some time and resumed later," Dholpur Collector Anil Kumar Agarwal said.

In Uniara of Tonk district, 40-50 people tried to enter a polling booth. However, the situation was brought under control, SP Rajarshi Raj said.

The election in the desert state is a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

The Congress is aiming to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while the BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Many voters, including youngsters and the elderly, queued up at polling centers well before 7 am.

"I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends, and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar.

"This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes.

Gehlot and Shekhawat cast their votes in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar and Pilot in Jaipur.

Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi exercised his franchise in Chittorgarh and party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore voted in Jaipur.

Kumari and Rathore are among the seven BJP parliamentarians who are contesting the assembly elections.

In their interactions with the media, the leaders expressed confidence that their respective parties would get the mandate of the people.

There is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again, Chief Minister Gehlot said in Jodhpur.

"There seems to be an undercurrent. Looks like the (Congress) government will be repeated," he said.

Talking to reporters in Jhalawar, Gehlot's predecessor Raje retorted, "I agree with him. There is indeed an undercurrent in the favour of the BJP. Lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom on December 3."

In Jodhpur, Union minister Shekhawat said, "BJP is coming to power with a huge majority. This time people will vote keeping in mind crimes committed against women, paper leak incidents, and corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress."

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several other leaders appealed to the people of Rajasthan to vote in large numbers.

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JAIPUR: More than 68 percent of the electorate in Rajasthan voted by 5 pm on Saturday in a bipolar contest involving the Congress and the BJP to elect the new state government, with polling passing off peacefully barring a few stray incidents of violence. Polling at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, but officials said those already in queue at the polling booths would be allowed to vote. In the last assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 percent.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Election Commission has set a target of at least 75 percent turnout in each constituency this time. Nearly 10 percent of the electorate cast their votes in the first two hours of voting and the figure went up to nearly 25 percent by 11 am and to more than 40 percent by 1 pm. The voting percentage till 5 pm was 68.24 percent, an official said. Polling in the Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar has been postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate. The votes will be counted on December 3. Two people - a polling agent of a candidate and an elderly voter - died of cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts. There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats while 1,862 candidates are in the fray. The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling. More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, two persons including a policeman were injured in stone-pelting. "Police fired 12 rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. Voting was disrupted for a few minutes due to the incident," Deeg Superintendent of Police (SP) Brijesh Upadhyay said. In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and a jawan was injured in the violence. "Stone pelting occurred outside a polling booth. One jawan was injured in the stone pelting.No civilian was injured. Around 5-7 persons have been detained," Fatehpur DSP Ram Pratap said. An altercation occurred between a polling agent and a person outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat "Two vehicles were damaged in the ensuing violence. Polling was stopped for some time and resumed later," Dholpur Collector Anil Kumar Agarwal said. In Uniara of Tonk district, 40-50 people tried to enter a polling booth. However, the situation was brought under control, SP Rajarshi Raj said. The election in the desert state is a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The Congress is aiming to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while the BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year. Many voters, including youngsters and the elderly, queued up at polling centers well before 7 am. "I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends, and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar. "This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes. Gehlot and Shekhawat cast their votes in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar and Pilot in Jaipur. Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi exercised his franchise in Chittorgarh and party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore voted in Jaipur. Kumari and Rathore are among the seven BJP parliamentarians who are contesting the assembly elections. In their interactions with the media, the leaders expressed confidence that their respective parties would get the mandate of the people. There is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again, Chief Minister Gehlot said in Jodhpur. "There seems to be an undercurrent. Looks like the (Congress) government will be repeated," he said. Talking to reporters in Jhalawar, Gehlot's predecessor Raje retorted, "I agree with him. There is indeed an undercurrent in the favour of the BJP. Lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom on December 3." In Jodhpur, Union minister Shekhawat said, "BJP is coming to power with a huge majority. This time people will vote keeping in mind crimes committed against women, paper leak incidents, and corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several other leaders appealed to the people of Rajasthan to vote in large numbers. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Online Desk

Polling began Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan where the BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress which hopes to beat the state's anti-incumbency tradition.

More than 40 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the Rajasthan assembly elections till 1 pm on Saturday, officials said.

"The voting percentage till 1 pm was 40.27," a spokesperson of the election department said.

"Polling began at 7 am today. A total of 51,507 polling booths have been set up across the state," Rajasthan's chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said.

Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

There are 5,26,90,146 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.

Some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of the BJP (Jhalrapatan), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar).

More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards from other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), and 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day.

Congress in its manifesto promised to double the insurance sum under the flagship Chiranjeevi health insurance from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, 10 lakh jobs including 4 lakh government jobs and continue the Old Pension Scheme. It has also laid thrust on conducting a caste census if voted back to power.

As no political party has retained power in Rajasthan for the last 25 years, Congress is hoping to buck the trend banking on Gehlot's welfare schemes and promises made in its manifesto while the BJP seeks to oust what it claims to be a "corrupt" government by vociferously raising issues concerning farmers, women and youth.

Since 1998, the Congress and BJP have been coming to power in the state alternately after every five years. While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, the opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

#WATCH | Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote at a polling booth in the Civil Lines area of Jaipur



Pilot is contesting from the Tonk assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/GMEghnpi1d  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Big faces in contention

Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan.

Last time, Congress won 35 of 39 seats there. One reason for this was that due to Sachin Pilot being the CM candidate, the inclination of Gujjars was towards the Congress. This time Congress has fielded 12 candidates while BJP has fielded 9 Gujjar candidates. But the situation is different this time due to the division of Gujjar votes.

Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. The chief minister is up against BJP's Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority.

In Tonk, which has a sizable Muslim population, Congress party's former state chief Sachin Pilot will face BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta, who represented the seat in 2013. This is the second assembly election for Pilot, who has previously won Lok Sabha polls from Dausa and Ajmer.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from the Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents with Congress' Ram Lal Chauhan pitted against her. She has been the chief minister for two terms.

#WATCH | Rajasthan Elections | Former CM and BJP candidate from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency, Vasundhara Raje cast her vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar. pic.twitter.com/LzapJjKZsq  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims.

Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who founded the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, could be a concern for both the BJP and Congress in Khinvsar.

Several leaders of the BJP and Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied a ticket Chief BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana.

In Congress, the main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state.

People turn up at polling booths in large numbers

People turned up at polling booths in Jaipur in large numbers as voting began this morning. Many voters, youngsters as well as elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am when polling began.

"I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar.

In other constituencies, people showed enthusiasm and came out to vote in large numbers. "This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said.

A voter in Jamwaramgarh, who also reached the polling booth before 7 am, said people in rural areas would cast their votes for development.

"I have come early in the morning so that I do not have to stand in the queue later. As far as the trend goes, I believe people in this rural area will vote for development. The one who works for development will get the vote," he said.

(With inputs from ENS, PTI and ANI)

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Polling began Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan where the BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress which hopes to beat the state's anti-incumbency tradition. More than 40 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the Rajasthan assembly elections till 1 pm on Saturday, officials said. "The voting percentage till 1 pm was 40.27," a spokesperson of the election department said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Polling began at 7 am today. A total of 51,507 polling booths have been set up across the state," Rajasthan's chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said. Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. There are 5,26,90,146 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3. Some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of the BJP (Jhalrapatan), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar). More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards from other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), and 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day. Congress in its manifesto promised to double the insurance sum under the flagship Chiranjeevi health insurance from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, 10 lakh jobs including 4 lakh government jobs and continue the Old Pension Scheme. It has also laid thrust on conducting a caste census if voted back to power. As no political party has retained power in Rajasthan for the last 25 years, Congress is hoping to buck the trend banking on Gehlot's welfare schemes and promises made in its manifesto while the BJP seeks to oust what it claims to be a "corrupt" government by vociferously raising issues concerning farmers, women and youth. Since 1998, the Congress and BJP have been coming to power in the state alternately after every five years. While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, the opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year. #WATCH | Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote at a polling booth in the Civil Lines area of Jaipur Pilot is contesting from the Tonk assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/GMEghnpi1d  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023 Big faces in contention Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan. Last time, Congress won 35 of 39 seats there. One reason for this was that due to Sachin Pilot being the CM candidate, the inclination of Gujjars was towards the Congress. This time Congress has fielded 12 candidates while BJP has fielded 9 Gujjar candidates. But the situation is different this time due to the division of Gujjar votes. Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. The chief minister is up against BJP's Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority. In Tonk, which has a sizable Muslim population, Congress party's former state chief Sachin Pilot will face BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta, who represented the seat in 2013. This is the second assembly election for Pilot, who has previously won Lok Sabha polls from Dausa and Ajmer. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from the Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents with Congress' Ram Lal Chauhan pitted against her. She has been the chief minister for two terms. #WATCH | Rajasthan Elections | Former CM and BJP candidate from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency, Vasundhara Raje cast her vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar. pic.twitter.com/LzapJjKZsq  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023 The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims. Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who founded the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, could be a concern for both the BJP and Congress in Khinvsar. Several leaders of the BJP and Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied a ticket Chief BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana. In Congress, the main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state. People turn up at polling booths in large numbers People turned up at polling booths in Jaipur in large numbers as voting began this morning. Many voters, youngsters as well as elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am when polling began. "I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar. In other constituencies, people showed enthusiasm and came out to vote in large numbers. "This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said. A voter in Jamwaramgarh, who also reached the polling booth before 7 am, said people in rural areas would cast their votes for development. "I have come early in the morning so that I do not have to stand in the queue later. As far as the trend goes, I believe people in this rural area will vote for development. The one who works for development will get the vote," he said. (With inputs from ENS, PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
On Saturday, November 25, Ukraine commemorates the victims of the mass famines of 1921-1923, 1946-1947, and the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932-1933. On this day, state flags will be at half-mast and a national minute of silence will be observed at 16:00.

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In addition, Ukrainians will attend memorial services, as well as put symbolic pots of grain and candles at the monuments to the dead and on the windowsills in their homes. OBOZ.UA decided to recall the history and traditions of this day.

This year, the Institute of National Remembrance of Ukraine started the initiative "Remember the Holodomor victims. Support those who are fighting for Ukraine", the symbol of which was a trench candle. Ukrainians were urged to light a candle at home and send warmth to those on the front line. This can be done through donations to trusted foundations and volunteers.

History

In the former Soviet Union, any mention of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 was banned, although the memory of its victims began to be honored abroad in 1933. The commemoration of the victims of that year, took place in Berlin, Germany, in particular.

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The next known public mourning events organized by Ukrainians in exile took place in the United States almost 20 years later. On September 11, 1951, a rally to commemorate the victims of the Great Famine was held in New York City.

The annual commemoration of the Holodomor victims at the official level began in 1983 in the Canadian province of Alberta.

In Ukraine, mourning events and memorial services for Ukrainians killed in 1932-1933 were held in September 1990. Three years later, a memorial sign "To the Victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933" was erected on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv. That same year, President Leonid Kravchuk signed a decree "On Measures in Connection with the 60th Anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine."

The annual national Holodomor Remembrance Day on the fourth Saturday of November was established by President Leonid Kuchma's decree in 1998.

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In 2008, the Holodomor Victims Memorial Museum was opened in Kyiv, and since then, official events have been held near it to commemorate the dead Ukrainians.

Recognition of the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people in the world

Recognizing the Holodomor as an act of genocide against Ukrainians is very important in international politics. According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, the Holodomor has been recognized as genocide by the parliaments of 28 countries: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Hungary, and the United States.

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Estonia was the first to suffer a famine in 1997.

The exact number of victims of all the Holodomors in Ukraine has not yet been established as the totalitarian regime tried to hide its crimes. All deaths were simply not registered. Therefore, it is likely that their actual number is many times higher than the figures that are known today.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- The declaration condemning the use of civilian starvation as a method of warfare was signed by 55 member states of the United Nations. The document was initiated by the Ukrainian delegation on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.

- In the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region, Russians are demolishing monuments to the victims of the Holodomor. The Holodomor Museum called on law enforcement agencies to investigate these crimes and identify all those involved in the destruction of the monuments.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
By Online Desk

Polling began Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan where the BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress which hopes to beat the state's anti-incumbency tradition.

More than 55 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the Rajasthan assembly elections till 3 pm on Saturday, officials said.

"The voting percentage till 3 pm was 55.63 per cent," a spokesperson of the election department said.

"Polling began at 7 am today. A total of 51,507 polling booths have been set up across the state," Rajasthan's chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said.

Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

There are 5,26,90,146 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.

Some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of the BJP (Jhalrapatan), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar).

More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards from other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), and 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day.

Congress in its manifesto promised to double the insurance sum under the flagship Chiranjeevi health insurance from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, 10 lakh jobs including 4 lakh government jobs and continue the Old Pension Scheme. It has also laid thrust on conducting a caste census if voted back to power.

As no political party has retained power in Rajasthan for the last 25 years, Congress is hoping to buck the trend banking on Gehlot's welfare schemes and promises made in its manifesto while the BJP seeks to oust what it claims to be a "corrupt" government by vociferously raising issues concerning farmers, women and youth.

Since 1998, the Congress and BJP have been coming to power in the state alternately after every five years. While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, the opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

#WATCH | Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote at a polling booth in the Civil Lines area of Jaipur



Pilot is contesting from the Tonk assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/GMEghnpi1d  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Big faces in contention

Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan.

Last time, Congress won 35 of 39 seats there. One reason for this was that due to Sachin Pilot being the CM candidate, the inclination of Gujjars was towards the Congress. This time Congress has fielded 12 candidates while BJP has fielded 9 Gujjar candidates. But the situation is different this time due to the division of Gujjar votes.

Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. The chief minister is up against BJP's Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority.

In Tonk, which has a sizable Muslim population, Congress party's former state chief Sachin Pilot will face BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta, who represented the seat in 2013. This is the second assembly election for Pilot, who has previously won Lok Sabha polls from Dausa and Ajmer.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from the Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents with Congress' Ram Lal Chauhan pitted against her. She has been the chief minister for two terms.

#WATCH | Rajasthan Elections | Former CM and BJP candidate from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency, Vasundhara Raje cast her vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar. pic.twitter.com/LzapJjKZsq  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims.

Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who founded the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, could be a concern for both the BJP and Congress in Khinvsar.

Several leaders of the BJP and Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied a ticket Chief BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana.

In Congress, the main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state.

People turn up at polling booths in large numbers

People turned up at polling booths in Jaipur in large numbers as voting began this morning. Many voters, youngsters as well as elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am when polling began.

"I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar.

In other constituencies, people showed enthusiasm and came out to vote in large numbers. "This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said.

A voter in Jamwaramgarh, who also reached the polling booth before 7 am, said people in rural areas would cast their votes for development.

"I have come early in the morning so that I do not have to stand in the queue later. As far as the trend goes, I believe people in this rural area will vote for development. The one who works for development will get the vote," he said.

(With inputs from ENS, PTI and ANI)

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Polling began Saturday morning for the 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan where the BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress which hopes to beat the state's anti-incumbency tradition. More than 55 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the Rajasthan assembly elections till 3 pm on Saturday, officials said. "The voting percentage till 3 pm was 55.63 per cent," a spokesperson of the election department said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Polling began at 7 am today. A total of 51,507 polling booths have been set up across the state," Rajasthan's chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta said. Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. There are 5,26,90,146 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3. Some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of the BJP (Jhalrapatan), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar). More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards from other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), and 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day. Congress in its manifesto promised to double the insurance sum under the flagship Chiranjeevi health insurance from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, 10 lakh jobs including 4 lakh government jobs and continue the Old Pension Scheme. It has also laid thrust on conducting a caste census if voted back to power. As no political party has retained power in Rajasthan for the last 25 years, Congress is hoping to buck the trend banking on Gehlot's welfare schemes and promises made in its manifesto while the BJP seeks to oust what it claims to be a "corrupt" government by vociferously raising issues concerning farmers, women and youth. Since 1998, the Congress and BJP have been coming to power in the state alternately after every five years. While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, the opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year. #WATCH | Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote at a polling booth in the Civil Lines area of Jaipur Pilot is contesting from the Tonk assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/GMEghnpi1d  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023 Big faces in contention Both parties have repeated most tickets, contrary to the claims made in the selection of candidates. However, analysts believe that this time there is neither any wave nor any anti-incumbency against the government. It is believed that like last time, this time too, the key to power will be in the hands of the voters of 39 seats of eastern Rajasthan. Last time, Congress won 35 of 39 seats there. One reason for this was that due to Sachin Pilot being the CM candidate, the inclination of Gujjars was towards the Congress. This time Congress has fielded 12 candidates while BJP has fielded 9 Gujjar candidates. But the situation is different this time due to the division of Gujjar votes. Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. The chief minister is up against BJP's Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority. In Tonk, which has a sizable Muslim population, Congress party's former state chief Sachin Pilot will face BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta, who represented the seat in 2013. This is the second assembly election for Pilot, who has previously won Lok Sabha polls from Dausa and Ajmer. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from the Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents with Congress' Ram Lal Chauhan pitted against her. She has been the chief minister for two terms. #WATCH | Rajasthan Elections | Former CM and BJP candidate from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency, Vasundhara Raje cast her vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar. pic.twitter.com/LzapJjKZsq  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023 The BJP has not fielded even a single Muslim candidate and has tried to polarise the Hindu vote bank by giving tickets to sants, mahants and acharyas on Muslim-dominated seats. The Congress has fielded 14 Muslims. Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who founded the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, could be a concern for both the BJP and Congress in Khinvsar. Several leaders of the BJP and Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied a ticket Chief BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana. In Congress, the main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state. People turn up at polling booths in large numbers People turned up at polling booths in Jaipur in large numbers as voting began this morning. Many voters, youngsters as well as elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am when polling began. "I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar. In other constituencies, people showed enthusiasm and came out to vote in large numbers. "This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said. A voter in Jamwaramgarh, who also reached the polling booth before 7 am, said people in rural areas would cast their votes for development. "I have come early in the morning so that I do not have to stand in the queue later. As far as the trend goes, I believe people in this rural area will vote for development. The one who works for development will get the vote," he said. (With inputs from ENS, PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday revealed that retired Pakistan soldiers are part of militant ranks operating in Jammu and Kashmir and stated that the two Lashkar militants killed in Rajouri encounter were highly trained and might have been trained in many countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

We have found that some militants operating in J&K were retired Pakistani soldiers. There are no local recruits here and they are pushing foreign terrorists to carry out militant activities. Our effort is to eliminate all the foreign militants operating in J&K, Lt Gen Dwivedi told reporters after participating in a wreath-laying ceremony for the five soldiers killed in a two-day-long encounter with Lashkar militants in Kalakote forest area of Rajouri.

Two Lashkar militants including a top commander and Pakistani militant Qari were also killed in the two day encounter. Army used Special forces, unmanned aerial vehicles, night enabled cameras and other modern equipment during the two-day encounter. Terming the killing of two LeT militants as a major setback to militancy in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, Lt Gen Dwivedi said they were active in the belt from last one year.

They had carried out many killings in the last one year and we were unable to track them as they used to hide in the dense forest area. They used to get weapons, ammunition and supplies for somebody. We have suffered casualties in the encounter but killed both dreaded militants, he said. The Northern Army commander said the two LeT militants were well trained and heavily armed. It seems that they were trained in many countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The slain LeT militants, he said, were responsible for killing of civilians in Dangri, Kandi and Rajouri TCP this year. Asked how many militants are active in Poonch and Rajouri, he said about 20- 25 militants are active in the region. We will be able to root them out and control the situation within a year, he added.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

SRINAGAR: Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday revealed that retired Pakistan soldiers are part of militant ranks operating in Jammu and Kashmir and stated that the two Lashkar militants killed in Rajouri encounter were highly trained and might have been trained in many countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. We have found that some militants operating in J&K were retired Pakistani soldiers. There are no local recruits here and they are pushing foreign terrorists to carry out militant activities. Our effort is to eliminate all the foreign militants operating in J&K, Lt Gen Dwivedi told reporters after participating in a wreath-laying ceremony for the five soldiers killed in a two-day-long encounter with Lashkar militants in Kalakote forest area of Rajouri. Two Lashkar militants including a top commander and Pakistani militant Qari were also killed in the two day encounter. Army used Special forces, unmanned aerial vehicles, night enabled cameras and other modern equipment during the two-day encounter. Terming the killing of two LeT militants as a major setback to militancy in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, Lt Gen Dwivedi said they were active in the belt from last one year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); They had carried out many killings in the last one year and we were unable to track them as they used to hide in the dense forest area. They used to get weapons, ammunition and supplies for somebody. We have suffered casualties in the encounter but killed both dreaded militants, he said. The Northern Army commander said the two LeT militants were well trained and heavily armed. It seems that they were trained in many countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan. The slain LeT militants, he said, were responsible for killing of civilians in Dangri, Kandi and Rajouri TCP this year. Asked how many militants are active in Poonch and Rajouri, he said about 20- 25 militants are active in the region. We will be able to root them out and control the situation within a year, he added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing investigating agencies during elections and cited the example of Telangana where he said at least four candidates of his party were summoned or their premises searched in the midst of the poll campaign.

Chidambaram said no candidate of the BJP has been searched by the probe agencies and took a swipe, saying "It is obvious that all candidates of the BJP were chosen by the gods and carry divine blessings".

In a post on X, the former Union minister said at least four Congress candidates in the Telangana elections were summoned or their premises searched by the investigating agencies in the midst of the election campaign.

"One of them was the Chairman of the BJP's Manifesto Committee and resigned from the BJP on November 1," he claimed.

"To the best of my knowledge, no candidate of the BJP has been searched by the agencies. It is obvious that all candidates of the BJP were chosen by the gods and carry divine blessings," Chidambaram said.

In fact, if the BJP is elected, the party will take the people of Telangana straight to heaven, he added.

At least four Congress Candidates in the Telangana elections were summoned or their premises searched by the investigating agencies in the midst of the election campaign



One of them was the Chairman of the BJP's Manifesto Committee and resigned from the BJP on November 1



To  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 25, 2023

"The misuse of the investigating agencies is so obvious that it does not require any argument in a court of law," Chidambaram said.

Assembly elections in Telangana will take place on November 30 and results will be declared on December 3.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing investigating agencies during elections and cited the example of Telangana where he said at least four candidates of his party were summoned or their premises searched in the midst of the poll campaign. Chidambaram said no candidate of the BJP has been searched by the probe agencies and took a swipe, saying "It is obvious that all candidates of the BJP were chosen by the gods and carry divine blessings". In a post on X, the former Union minister said at least four Congress candidates in the Telangana elections were summoned or their premises searched by the investigating agencies in the midst of the election campaign.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "One of them was the Chairman of the BJP's Manifesto Committee and resigned from the BJP on November 1," he claimed. "To the best of my knowledge, no candidate of the BJP has been searched by the agencies. It is obvious that all candidates of the BJP were chosen by the gods and carry divine blessings," Chidambaram said. In fact, if the BJP is elected, the party will take the people of Telangana straight to heaven, he added. At least four Congress Candidates in the Telangana elections were summoned or their premises searched by the investigating agencies in the midst of the election campaign One of them was the Chairman of the BJP's Manifesto Committee and resigned from the BJP on November 1 To  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 25, 2023 "The misuse of the investigating agencies is so obvious that it does not require any argument in a court of law," Chidambaram said. Assembly elections in Telangana will take place on November 30 and results will be declared on December 3. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Narendra Sethi By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: With the horizontal drilling machine hitting yet another hurdle in the collapsed section of a tunnel in Uttarkashi on Friday, authorities sought to expedite the vertical drilling option to rescue 41 labourers stranded on the other side of the rubble since Diwali day.

The US auger machine that had to halt on Thursday after colliding with a metallic object, resumed drilling on Friday afternoon but stopped soon after, since a metal rod came in its way. The obstacles it is facing include iron nets, girders and iron rods. The machine and the pushed pipes got damaged while cutting through the iron mesh and other barriers.

Earlier in the day, Col Deepak Patil, in-charge of the rescue operations at Silkyara tunnel, told this newspaper: With resumption of drilling by the auger machine, two more pipes will be welded and pushed in using the drill and push method. This work will take a maximum of six hours; so the rescue is expected to be completed by Saturday afternoon. Welding of pipes were expected to take 1.5-2 hours. At present, drilling has been done up to 47 metres; 10 metres more to be drilled, he added.

But with the auger machine encountering too many hurdles, work on vertical drilling has been put on the fast track. According to official sources, a 1,150-metre access road to the vertical drilling spot has been completed by Border Roads Organisation. The BRO has also towed the vertical drilling machine to the site platform. Identification of the drilling points over the tunnel has been finalised after discussions with Geological Survey of India, RVNL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, they said.

Sources at Silkyara said: A team of six tunneling-mining specialist engineers from Bengaluru-based Squadron Infra is at the site and studying it using artificial intelligence. Additionally, Squadron Infra has sent two advanced drones along with drone pilots and geotechnical experts to assist the rescue efforts.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

DEHRADUN: With the horizontal drilling machine hitting yet another hurdle in the collapsed section of a tunnel in Uttarkashi on Friday, authorities sought to expedite the vertical drilling option to rescue 41 labourers stranded on the other side of the rubble since Diwali day. The US auger machine that had to halt on Thursday after colliding with a metallic object, resumed drilling on Friday afternoon but stopped soon after, since a metal rod came in its way. The obstacles it is facing include iron nets, girders and iron rods. The machine and the pushed pipes got damaged while cutting through the iron mesh and other barriers. Earlier in the day, Col Deepak Patil, in-charge of the rescue operations at Silkyara tunnel, told this newspaper: With resumption of drilling by the auger machine, two more pipes will be welded and pushed in using the drill and push method. This work will take a maximum of six hours; so the rescue is expected to be completed by Saturday afternoon. Welding of pipes were expected to take 1.5-2 hours. At present, drilling has been done up to 47 metres; 10 metres more to be drilled, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); But with the auger machine encountering too many hurdles, work on vertical drilling has been put on the fast track. According to official sources, a 1,150-metre access road to the vertical drilling spot has been completed by Border Roads Organisation. The BRO has also towed the vertical drilling machine to the site platform. Identification of the drilling points over the tunnel has been finalised after discussions with Geological Survey of India, RVNL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, they said. Sources at Silkyara said: A team of six tunneling-mining specialist engineers from Bengaluru-based Squadron Infra is at the site and studying it using artificial intelligence. Additionally, Squadron Infra has sent two advanced drones along with drone pilots and geotechnical experts to assist the rescue efforts. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Narendra Sethi By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Despite a fortnight of arduous efforts by a 200-member strong team of experts and engineers, the 41 workers trapped in a collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand are yet to see the light of day. Engineers working round the clock to rescue the workers are now mulling the vertical drilling option.

The complexities of the rescue operation that is being carried out on a war footing are constantly challenging the relief team. After the Auger machine was used to drill about 47 metres from the horizontal direction, the pipe-laying operation has been postponed for the time being due to frequent encounters with metallic and hard rock objects inside the tunnel.

However, the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is not ruling out the option of horizontal drilling.

"We can't think of switching to vertical drilling before we completely exhaust the option of inserting 800 mm pipes for the rescue," said Colonel Deepak Patil, head of the rescue operation.

According to an official source, "A 1.5-km access road to the top of the tunnel has already been built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as the option of vertical drilling has been on the cards for some time. The platform for launching the drilling machine with markings of drilling points above the tunnel has also been finalised after discussions with GSI, RVNL and ONGC."

"Vertical drilling is a more time-consuming and complicated option that demands more exactitude and caution due to narrower space available on top of the tunnel roof," international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix said.

Rescue authorities have also roped in the THDC, which has started constructing a rescue tunnel from the Barkot end, with four explosions already completed, resulting in a 9.10-metre drift.

Another drill machine is being brought from Hyderabad to further strengthen the rescue operation, Uttarakhand Finance Minister Premchand Agarwal told The New Indian Express.

Minister Agarwal also said, "On the instructions of the government, a BSNL landline facility is being provided near the tunnel so that the families of the workers can talk to them."

Five agencies -- NHIDCL, SJVN Ltd, RVNL, NHAI, and TCIL -- have been assigned specific responsibilities, and are working collaboratively with coordinated efforts for operational efficiency and safe evacuation of stranded labourers.

The 2 km section of the tunnel with completed concrete work, ensuring the safety of the workers, is the focus of the rescue efforts. In this secured portion of the tunnel, electricity and water supply are operational, and provisions, including cooked food and medicines, are being delivered through additional pipelines of 6-inch diameter in addition to an existing 4-inch lifeline.

With the completion of the Silkyara tunnel which is a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the distance between the Chardham route will be reduced by 90 minutes and from Dandalgaon to Silkyara on the Yamanotri route by 32 km.

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DEHRADUN: Despite a fortnight of arduous efforts by a 200-member strong team of experts and engineers, the 41 workers trapped in a collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand are yet to see the light of day. Engineers working round the clock to rescue the workers are now mulling the vertical drilling option. The complexities of the rescue operation that is being carried out on a war footing are constantly challenging the relief team. After the Auger machine was used to drill about 47 metres from the horizontal direction, the pipe-laying operation has been postponed for the time being due to frequent encounters with metallic and hard rock objects inside the tunnel. However, the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is not ruling out the option of horizontal drilling.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We can't think of switching to vertical drilling before we completely exhaust the option of inserting 800 mm pipes for the rescue," said Colonel Deepak Patil, head of the rescue operation. According to an official source, "A 1.5-km access road to the top of the tunnel has already been built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as the option of vertical drilling has been on the cards for some time. The platform for launching the drilling machine with markings of drilling points above the tunnel has also been finalised after discussions with GSI, RVNL and ONGC." "Vertical drilling is a more time-consuming and complicated option that demands more exactitude and caution due to narrower space available on top of the tunnel roof," international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix said. Rescue authorities have also roped in the THDC, which has started constructing a rescue tunnel from the Barkot end, with four explosions already completed, resulting in a 9.10-metre drift. Another drill machine is being brought from Hyderabad to further strengthen the rescue operation, Uttarakhand Finance Minister Premchand Agarwal told The New Indian Express. Minister Agarwal also said, "On the instructions of the government, a BSNL landline facility is being provided near the tunnel so that the families of the workers can talk to them." Five agencies -- NHIDCL, SJVN Ltd, RVNL, NHAI, and TCIL -- have been assigned specific responsibilities, and are working collaboratively with coordinated efforts for operational efficiency and safe evacuation of stranded labourers. The 2 km section of the tunnel with completed concrete work, ensuring the safety of the workers, is the focus of the rescue efforts. In this secured portion of the tunnel, electricity and water supply are operational, and provisions, including cooked food and medicines, are being delivered through additional pipelines of 6-inch diameter in addition to an existing 4-inch lifeline. With the completion of the Silkyara tunnel which is a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the distance between the Chardham route will be reduced by 90 minutes and from Dandalgaon to Silkyara on the Yamanotri route by 32 km. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By ANI

UTTARKASHI: Manual drilling will start soon to cut through the debris that separates rescuers from the 41 trapped workers in the collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, officials informed on Saturday.

According to officials, manual drillers will get to work once the US-made, heavy-duty Auger drilling machine is removed from the pipeline through which the trapped workers are to be brought out.

Manual drillers will work to cut through the remaining rubble that separates the rescuers from the workers and enable the insertion of the pipeline through the further few metres that are yet to be covered.

The ongoing operation to rescue workers, who were trapped after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on November 12, entered its 14th day on Saturday.

Success could soon be achieved in taking the Auger driller out of the pipeline, officials informed further, adding that the heavy-duty drillers could now be moved back by 22 metres.

Speaking to ANI, a senior official involved with the rescue operation said manual drilling could start soon. He added that the remaining debris, extending approximately up to 6 to 9 metres, which stands between the rescuers and the trapped workers, will be removed through manual drilling.

Elaborating on the reasons why the officials involved in the rescue operation have decided to remove the Auger from the pipeline, the senior official told ANI, "While drilling with the US-made Auger machine, if we hit an obstruction every two to three feet, we have to remove it. And, every time we hit an obstruction, we have to roll Auger back 50 metres (up to which the pipeline has been laid). After running repairs, the machine has to be pushed back up to 50 metres, which takes about 5 to 7 hours. This is the reason why the rescue operation is taking longer than it should."

"The rescue team has now decided that the pipeline will now be extended further through manual drilling over small distances. Even if we hit an obstruction further up, the issue could be resolved manually and the pipeline could be extended further without losing out on precious time," the official added.

He informed further that after drilling up to a further 5 metres, the rescuers will reach the final few metres that separate them from the trapped workers.

However, the officials refrained from quoting a timeframe within which the rescue mission could be completed, saying that they were hopeful of a positive outcome once the manual drilling starts on Saturday.

Earlier, a team of experts who came to conduct a survey at the tunnel site informed that there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres inside the tunnel.

The team from Parsan Overseas Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi used the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique to examine the rescue tunnel.

Ground Penetrating Radar, also known as GPR, Georadar, Subsurface Interface Radar, or Geo-probing Radar, is a totally non-destructive technique to produce a cross-section profile of the subsurface without any drilling, trenching, or ground disturbances. GPR profiles are used for evaluating the location and depth of buried objects and to investigate the presence and continuity of natural subsurface conditions and features.

After examining the rescue tunnel, geophysicist and GPR survey team member B Chendhoor said they were called to the scene after the Auger driller hit an obstruction.

After a portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside. The workers are trapped in a 2 km-built portion, which is complete, including concrete work, which provides them safety.

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UTTARKASHI: Manual drilling will start soon to cut through the debris that separates rescuers from the 41 trapped workers in the collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, officials informed on Saturday. According to officials, manual drillers will get to work once the US-made, heavy-duty Auger drilling machine is removed from the pipeline through which the trapped workers are to be brought out. Manual drillers will work to cut through the remaining rubble that separates the rescuers from the workers and enable the insertion of the pipeline through the further few metres that are yet to be covered.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The ongoing operation to rescue workers, who were trapped after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on November 12, entered its 14th day on Saturday. Success could soon be achieved in taking the Auger driller out of the pipeline, officials informed further, adding that the heavy-duty drillers could now be moved back by 22 metres. Speaking to ANI, a senior official involved with the rescue operation said manual drilling could start soon. He added that the remaining debris, extending approximately up to 6 to 9 metres, which stands between the rescuers and the trapped workers, will be removed through manual drilling. Elaborating on the reasons why the officials involved in the rescue operation have decided to remove the Auger from the pipeline, the senior official told ANI, "While drilling with the US-made Auger machine, if we hit an obstruction every two to three feet, we have to remove it. And, every time we hit an obstruction, we have to roll Auger back 50 metres (up to which the pipeline has been laid). After running repairs, the machine has to be pushed back up to 50 metres, which takes about 5 to 7 hours. This is the reason why the rescue operation is taking longer than it should." "The rescue team has now decided that the pipeline will now be extended further through manual drilling over small distances. Even if we hit an obstruction further up, the issue could be resolved manually and the pipeline could be extended further without losing out on precious time," the official added. He informed further that after drilling up to a further 5 metres, the rescuers will reach the final few metres that separate them from the trapped workers. However, the officials refrained from quoting a timeframe within which the rescue mission could be completed, saying that they were hopeful of a positive outcome once the manual drilling starts on Saturday. Earlier, a team of experts who came to conduct a survey at the tunnel site informed that there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres inside the tunnel. The team from Parsan Overseas Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi used the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique to examine the rescue tunnel. Ground Penetrating Radar, also known as GPR, Georadar, Subsurface Interface Radar, or Geo-probing Radar, is a totally non-destructive technique to produce a cross-section profile of the subsurface without any drilling, trenching, or ground disturbances. GPR profiles are used for evaluating the location and depth of buried objects and to investigate the presence and continuity of natural subsurface conditions and features. After examining the rescue tunnel, geophysicist and GPR survey team member B Chendhoor said they were called to the scene after the Auger driller hit an obstruction. After a portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside. The workers are trapped in a 2 km-built portion, which is complete, including concrete work, which provides them safety. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

NEW DELHI: India's aggressive infrastructure push into the ecologically fragile Himalayan mountains has been given a "wake-up call" by the collapse of a road tunnel that trapped 41 men, environmental experts say.

The partial cave-in of the under-construction Silkyara road tunnel in northern Uttarakhand state nearly two weeks ago -- with the desperate men still awaiting rescue on Friday -- was only the latest disaster in the geologically unstable region.

Added to that are the challenges caused by rising global temperatures unleashing a cascade of extreme weather that scientists warn will get worse.

"The scale and extent of the infrastructure development needs a complete rethink," Shripad Dharmadhikary, an environmental researcher and veteran activist, told AFP.

India's monsoon rains mean flooding is common, but major infrastructure projects in the mountains -- including hydroelectric dams, railways and roads -- are being built in areas hit ever harder by storm surges and landslides.

"It is one thing to build roads for local connectivity," Dharmadhikary said.

"But roads for big hydropower projects are much wider, increasing vulnerability and risk... Scale makes a big difference."

'Risks ignored'

Raghav Chandra, ex-chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), warned Friday that "building a tunnel through a mountain is perilous", but dangers were multiplied when such large-scale projects are poorly carried out.

"The accident is a wake-up call about the perils of undertaking massive construction projects in the fragile Himalayan range, which is under threat from intense human activity and the vagaries of the climate crisis," Chandra wrote in HT, alongside another top ex-NHAI official, BS Singla.

The Himalayas -- the world's highest mountain range, with peaks driven upwards by colliding continental plates -- is one of the globe's most seismically active regions, with earthquakes common. Scientists say glaciers in the Himalayas are melting faster than ever due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters.

Last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Himalayan regions were struggling with rapidly melting glaciers, warning on a visit to neighbouring Nepal that the "rooftops of the world are caving in."

The Silkyara tunnel is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's infrastructure project aimed at cutting travel times between some of the most popular Hindu temples in the country. The 4.5-kilometre (2.7-mile) passage is meant to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, two of the holiest sites.

For Modi, leader of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the grand projects help burnish his appeal, with elections due next year. But India's projects are also focused on improving access to strategic areas bordering rival China. New Delhi has been wary of Beijing's growing military assertiveness and their 3,500-kilometre shared frontier has been a perennial source of tension.

"Tunnelling helps to reduce travel time and plays a strategic role by enabling quicker passage of defence armaments and military troops," Chandra and Singla added.

"But, with the growing urgency to speed up construction, the manifold risks and challenges involved... are often ignored."

'Course correction'

After the Silkyara collapse, the NHAI said it would assess all 29 under-construction tunnels to "ensure safety and adherence to the highest quality standards."

Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, pointed out the advantages of building tunnels. "The environmental footprint of a tunnel is likely to be less than the environmental footprint of a much larger and more complex road," Dix told AFP at the Silkyara tunnel site, where he is helping rescue efforts.

Campaigners say that while development is needed, the breakneck pace is causing problems, including a surge of unregulated building development replacing the forests that helped keep hillsides stable.

"This decade... the Himalayas have been tunnelled, blasted, cut, gouged, turned to rubble and concretised as never before," environmental campaigner Priyadarshini Patel wrote in the Times of India this week.

"The development model in this young, fragile mountain range has been disastrous and needs course correction," added Patel, head of Ganga Ahvaan, a community group working to protect the Himalayas and the watershed of the Ganges river.

"Mega-projects are not what the Himalayas are about, culturally or geologically."

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NEW DELHI: India's aggressive infrastructure push into the ecologically fragile Himalayan mountains has been given a "wake-up call" by the collapse of a road tunnel that trapped 41 men, environmental experts say. The partial cave-in of the under-construction Silkyara road tunnel in northern Uttarakhand state nearly two weeks ago -- with the desperate men still awaiting rescue on Friday -- was only the latest disaster in the geologically unstable region. Added to that are the challenges caused by rising global temperatures unleashing a cascade of extreme weather that scientists warn will get worse.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The scale and extent of the infrastructure development needs a complete rethink," Shripad Dharmadhikary, an environmental researcher and veteran activist, told AFP. India's monsoon rains mean flooding is common, but major infrastructure projects in the mountains -- including hydroelectric dams, railways and roads -- are being built in areas hit ever harder by storm surges and landslides. "It is one thing to build roads for local connectivity," Dharmadhikary said. "But roads for big hydropower projects are much wider, increasing vulnerability and risk... Scale makes a big difference." 'Risks ignored' Raghav Chandra, ex-chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), warned Friday that "building a tunnel through a mountain is perilous", but dangers were multiplied when such large-scale projects are poorly carried out. "The accident is a wake-up call about the perils of undertaking massive construction projects in the fragile Himalayan range, which is under threat from intense human activity and the vagaries of the climate crisis," Chandra wrote in HT, alongside another top ex-NHAI official, BS Singla. The Himalayas -- the world's highest mountain range, with peaks driven upwards by colliding continental plates -- is one of the globe's most seismically active regions, with earthquakes common. Scientists say glaciers in the Himalayas are melting faster than ever due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters. Last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Himalayan regions were struggling with rapidly melting glaciers, warning on a visit to neighbouring Nepal that the "rooftops of the world are caving in." The Silkyara tunnel is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's infrastructure project aimed at cutting travel times between some of the most popular Hindu temples in the country. The 4.5-kilometre (2.7-mile) passage is meant to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, two of the holiest sites. For Modi, leader of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the grand projects help burnish his appeal, with elections due next year. But India's projects are also focused on improving access to strategic areas bordering rival China. New Delhi has been wary of Beijing's growing military assertiveness and their 3,500-kilometre shared frontier has been a perennial source of tension. "Tunnelling helps to reduce travel time and plays a strategic role by enabling quicker passage of defence armaments and military troops," Chandra and Singla added. "But, with the growing urgency to speed up construction, the manifold risks and challenges involved... are often ignored." 'Course correction' After the Silkyara collapse, the NHAI said it would assess all 29 under-construction tunnels to "ensure safety and adherence to the highest quality standards." Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, pointed out the advantages of building tunnels. "The environmental footprint of a tunnel is likely to be less than the environmental footprint of a much larger and more complex road," Dix told AFP at the Silkyara tunnel site, where he is helping rescue efforts. Campaigners say that while development is needed, the breakneck pace is causing problems, including a surge of unregulated building development replacing the forests that helped keep hillsides stable. "This decade... the Himalayas have been tunnelled, blasted, cut, gouged, turned to rubble and concretised as never before," environmental campaigner Priyadarshini Patel wrote in the Times of India this week. "The development model in this young, fragile mountain range has been disastrous and needs course correction," added Patel, head of Ganga Ahvaan, a community group working to protect the Himalayas and the watershed of the Ganges river. "Mega-projects are not what the Himalayas are about, culturally or geologically." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

MADURAI/THENI: As the Mullaiperiyar storage reached 136 feet on Friday, a first-stage flood alert was issued by the dam authorities on Friday. According to an official, the dam has received about 2,400 cusecs of water, and the storage has reached 136 feet by 4 pm on Friday.

Accordingly, a flood alert has been issued to the residents in the vicinity, including those in the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border region, as the surplus water could be soon released from the dam. At present, about 1,000 cusecs of water is being released to the areas in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, official sources said that 4,000 cusecs of water has been released to Vaigai river from Vaigai dam for irrigation purposes. A flood alert has been issued in Madurai as the water reached the district on Friday. The State Disaster Management Authority asked the residents to stay safe. The water is expected to reach border areas of Ramanathapuram district by Saturday. Additionally, 1,504 cusecs of water will be released for seven days, till November 29, sources added.

As the river has excessive water hyacinth near AV bridge, the flow got disrupted here, and water entered Vaigai bank road on Friday. Later, the PWD department deputed machines and cleared the plants, ensuring free flow of water.

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MADURAI/THENI: As the Mullaiperiyar storage reached 136 feet on Friday, a first-stage flood alert was issued by the dam authorities on Friday. According to an official, the dam has received about 2,400 cusecs of water, and the storage has reached 136 feet by 4 pm on Friday. Accordingly, a flood alert has been issued to the residents in the vicinity, including those in the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border region, as the surplus water could be soon released from the dam. At present, about 1,000 cusecs of water is being released to the areas in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, official sources said that 4,000 cusecs of water has been released to Vaigai river from Vaigai dam for irrigation purposes. A flood alert has been issued in Madurai as the water reached the district on Friday. The State Disaster Management Authority asked the residents to stay safe. The water is expected to reach border areas of Ramanathapuram district by Saturday. Additionally, 1,504 cusecs of water will be released for seven days, till November 29, sources added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As the river has excessive water hyacinth near AV bridge, the flow got disrupted here, and water entered Vaigai bank road on Friday. Later, the PWD department deputed machines and cleared the plants, ensuring free flow of water. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

LHOKSEUMAWE: Indonesian police and fishermen said Saturday they have begun patrolling parts of the country's westernmost province to prevent Rohingya refugees from landing on its shores after nearly 1,100 members of the persecuted Myanmar minority arrived this month.

Thousands from the mostly Muslim minority risk their lives each year making sea journeys from refugee camps in Bangladesh, often in flimsy boats, to try to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.

As sailing conditions eased this month, more than half a dozen boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya people from Bangladesh arrived in Aceh province, including some that locals tried to turn back to sea.

Police in East Aceh, a regency of more than 350,000 people that saw 36 Rohingya arrive on Sunday, said they have now imposed round-the-clock patrols.

The force "has instructed its subordinate police precincts with coastal areas to intensify surveillance, both along the coastline and in the waters of the Malacca Strait, to prevent the entry of Rohingya immigrants", it said in a statement.

"The police are patrolling 24/7 to prevent Rohingya immigrants from landing in East Aceh," said police chief Andy Rahmansyah.

In North Aceh, head of Tanoh Anoe village Amiruddin Ismail told AFP patrols were stepped up on Friday night after fishermen reported sighting a Rohingya boat two miles (three kilometres) off the coast of Muara Batu town.

Fishermen, local police and military units all conducted patrols along the coast until the alleged boat was no longer seen, he said.

The fishing community head in North Aceh's Dewantara district Naharuddin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, confirmed the patrols to AFP.

"We immediately conducted surveillance along the coastline. While fishermen went to sea... we requested them to keep an eye out," he said.

Experts have expressed concern Indonesia will be the next country to toughen its borders to prevent Rohingya landings, with Malaysia, Thailand and India all deterring their arrivals.

Many Acehnese have long been sympathetic to the plight of their fellow Muslims.

But some say their patience has been tested, claiming the Rohingya consume scarce resources and occasionally come into conflict with locals.

More than a million Rohingya have fled Myanmar since the 1990s, most in the wake of a 2017 military crackdown that forced many to settle in camps in Bangladesh.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the United Nations refugee convention and says it is not compelled to take in refugees from Myanmar.

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LHOKSEUMAWE: Indonesian police and fishermen said Saturday they have begun patrolling parts of the country's westernmost province to prevent Rohingya refugees from landing on its shores after nearly 1,100 members of the persecuted Myanmar minority arrived this month. Thousands from the mostly Muslim minority risk their lives each year making sea journeys from refugee camps in Bangladesh, often in flimsy boats, to try to reach Malaysia or Indonesia. As sailing conditions eased this month, more than half a dozen boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya people from Bangladesh arrived in Aceh province, including some that locals tried to turn back to sea.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Police in East Aceh, a regency of more than 350,000 people that saw 36 Rohingya arrive on Sunday, said they have now imposed round-the-clock patrols. The force "has instructed its subordinate police precincts with coastal areas to intensify surveillance, both along the coastline and in the waters of the Malacca Strait, to prevent the entry of Rohingya immigrants", it said in a statement. "The police are patrolling 24/7 to prevent Rohingya immigrants from landing in East Aceh," said police chief Andy Rahmansyah. In North Aceh, head of Tanoh Anoe village Amiruddin Ismail told AFP patrols were stepped up on Friday night after fishermen reported sighting a Rohingya boat two miles (three kilometres) off the coast of Muara Batu town. Fishermen, local police and military units all conducted patrols along the coast until the alleged boat was no longer seen, he said. The fishing community head in North Aceh's Dewantara district Naharuddin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, confirmed the patrols to AFP. "We immediately conducted surveillance along the coastline. While fishermen went to sea... we requested them to keep an eye out," he said. Experts have expressed concern Indonesia will be the next country to toughen its borders to prevent Rohingya landings, with Malaysia, Thailand and India all deterring their arrivals. Many Acehnese have long been sympathetic to the plight of their fellow Muslims. But some say their patience has been tested, claiming the Rohingya consume scarce resources and occasionally come into conflict with locals. More than a million Rohingya have fled Myanmar since the 1990s, most in the wake of a 2017 military crackdown that forced many to settle in camps in Bangladesh. Indonesia is not a signatory to the United Nations refugee convention and says it is not compelled to take in refugees from Myanmar. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

BERLIN: With the power out, the water off, medical supplies short and hundreds of war injured and sheltering Palestinians crowding the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Ahmed Abunada was faced with impossible choices.

"Who do I let die, this woman or that man?... I do not have the time to do reconstructive surgery on this child, I will have to amputate," said the 47-year-old surgeon, who left Gaza earlier this month to escape the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

"These are very difficult decisions for a doctor," said the German doctor of Palestinian origin.

Abunada was received on Friday by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier along with seven of his compatriots, who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip when the Rafah border crossing between the Palestinian territory and Egypt was opened to foreign nationals.

"We were operating on the floor, on gurneys. There were no beds left," he told AFP about his time in the hospital.

"The week that I left the hospital, the situation got worse. We had no more electricity, no more water, no more oxygen," he said. Without oxygen, it was no longer possible for Abunada to operate. "That is why I left, on the 28th day of the conflict."

Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, was a key focus for the Israeli military, who said Hamas used a tunnel complex under the compound to stage attacks -- a claim the Palestinian militants and hospital officials denied.

"I worked there as a doctor and I did not notice anything like that," Abunada said, when asked about Hamas's alleged presence at the facility.

Last week, the hospital's director Mohammad Abu Salmiya, who has been frequently quoted by international media about conditions inside the complex, was arrested by Israeli forces.

"I hope they free him soon," said Abunada.

'Too loud to sleep'

Abunada, who did his medical studies in Germany, has lived in Gaza for the last eight years with his wife and four children, one of whom was injured before the family's departure.

The war was triggered when Hamas gunmen stormed across the border into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others, according to Israeli officials.

Israel, which has vowed to destroy Hamas, responded with persistent bombardments and a ground campaign, which have killed nearly 15,000 people, according to Hamas officials.

As the head of vascular surgery at Al-Shifa, Abunada barely had time to rest after the war started. "Naturally, I had to have breaks to sleep. But sleeping without being able to lie down is difficult," he said. He added: "The bombardments were everywhere. It was too loud to sleep."

On Friday, Abunada gave his account to the German president and asked for more aid to enter Gaza. "I called for the creation of a medical air bridge from Germany" to deliver supplies, the surgeon said.

"There are lots of German doctors of Palestinian origin. They could be made available and could help."

Not all members of Abunada's family have left the Gaza Strip. "My mother is there, she is 85. I worry about her a lot."

The elderly woman fled her home in Gaza to the south during the war on foot, he said.

WHO voices concern over fate of Al-Shifa hospital chief

The World Health Organization voiced concern on Friday about the fate of the head of Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital, whom Israeli forces detained over the facility's alleged use by Hamas.

The WHO said in a statement that the chief of the biggest hospital in the besieged Palestinian territory had been arrested on Wednesday along with five other health workers, while they were taking part in a UN mission to evacuate patients. "Three medical personnel from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and three from the Ministry of Health were detained," the WHO said. Since then two of the six have reportedly been released, but "we do not have information about the well-being of the four remaining health staff, including the director of Al-Shifa hospital," the statement added. The UN agency called for "their legal and human rights to be fully observed during their detention." A spokesperson for the Israeli army said on Saturday that hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya was being questioned. "We are currently moving forward with questioning him over the fact that he was the head of a hospital that was really sitting on top of an entire terror network," Doron Spielman said. "How could he not know what's happening? We have hostages that were on, you know, CCTV in his hospital." Abu Salmiya has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside Al-Shifa, a major focus of the Israeli ground offensive following attacks by Hamas militants on October 7. The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks. Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied the claims. The WHO has carried out three missions to Al-Shifa in the space of a week, the organisation has said, on one occasion managing to evacuate 31 babies from the hospital. During the third mission on Wednesday, which was carried out in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent, 151 people were evacuated, including patients, their relatives and healthcare workers, according to the WHO.

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BERLIN: With the power out, the water off, medical supplies short and hundreds of war injured and sheltering Palestinians crowding the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Ahmed Abunada was faced with impossible choices. "Who do I let die, this woman or that man?... I do not have the time to do reconstructive surgery on this child, I will have to amputate," said the 47-year-old surgeon, who left Gaza earlier this month to escape the fighting between Israel and Hamas. "These are very difficult decisions for a doctor," said the German doctor of Palestinian origin.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Abunada was received on Friday by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier along with seven of his compatriots, who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip when the Rafah border crossing between the Palestinian territory and Egypt was opened to foreign nationals. "We were operating on the floor, on gurneys. There were no beds left," he told AFP about his time in the hospital. "The week that I left the hospital, the situation got worse. We had no more electricity, no more water, no more oxygen," he said. Without oxygen, it was no longer possible for Abunada to operate. "That is why I left, on the 28th day of the conflict." Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, was a key focus for the Israeli military, who said Hamas used a tunnel complex under the compound to stage attacks -- a claim the Palestinian militants and hospital officials denied. "I worked there as a doctor and I did not notice anything like that," Abunada said, when asked about Hamas's alleged presence at the facility. Last week, the hospital's director Mohammad Abu Salmiya, who has been frequently quoted by international media about conditions inside the complex, was arrested by Israeli forces. "I hope they free him soon," said Abunada. 'Too loud to sleep' Abunada, who did his medical studies in Germany, has lived in Gaza for the last eight years with his wife and four children, one of whom was injured before the family's departure. The war was triggered when Hamas gunmen stormed across the border into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others, according to Israeli officials. Israel, which has vowed to destroy Hamas, responded with persistent bombardments and a ground campaign, which have killed nearly 15,000 people, according to Hamas officials. As the head of vascular surgery at Al-Shifa, Abunada barely had time to rest after the war started. "Naturally, I had to have breaks to sleep. But sleeping without being able to lie down is difficult," he said. He added: "The bombardments were everywhere. It was too loud to sleep." On Friday, Abunada gave his account to the German president and asked for more aid to enter Gaza. "I called for the creation of a medical air bridge from Germany" to deliver supplies, the surgeon said. "There are lots of German doctors of Palestinian origin. They could be made available and could help." Not all members of Abunada's family have left the Gaza Strip. "My mother is there, she is 85. I worry about her a lot." The elderly woman fled her home in Gaza to the south during the war on foot, he said. WHO voices concern over fate of Al-Shifa hospital chief The World Health Organization voiced concern on Friday about the fate of the head of Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital, whom Israeli forces detained over the facility's alleged use by Hamas. The WHO said in a statement that the chief of the biggest hospital in the besieged Palestinian territory had been arrested on Wednesday along with five other health workers, while they were taking part in a UN mission to evacuate patients. "Three medical personnel from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and three from the Ministry of Health were detained," the WHO said. Since then two of the six have reportedly been released, but "we do not have information about the well-being of the four remaining health staff, including the director of Al-Shifa hospital," the statement added. The UN agency called for "their legal and human rights to be fully observed during their detention." A spokesperson for the Israeli army said on Saturday that hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya was being questioned. "We are currently moving forward with questioning him over the fact that he was the head of a hospital that was really sitting on top of an entire terror network," Doron Spielman said. "How could he not know what's happening? We have hostages that were on, you know, CCTV in his hospital." Abu Salmiya has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside Al-Shifa, a major focus of the Israeli ground offensive following attacks by Hamas militants on October 7. The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks. Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied the claims. The WHO has carried out three missions to Al-Shifa in the space of a week, the organisation has said, on one occasion managing to evacuate 31 babies from the hospital. During the third mission on Wednesday, which was carried out in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent, 151 people were evacuated, including patients, their relatives and healthcare workers, according to the WHO. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
A monument to the Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Matsievskyi was unveiled in Nizhyn, Chernihiv region. In early March 2023, a video appeared showing him being shot by the Russian occupiers after saying "Glory to Ukraine!"

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Matsievsky's monument became the centerpiece of a memorial in honor of the defenders who died in the Russian-Ukrainian war. An OBOZ.UA correspondent reported this from the scene.

The 2.2-meter-high sculpture is made of bronze. It is also planned to create a memorial complex in Nizhyn. It will be built on a round red granite with a diameter of 16 meters, and the black granite segments of the Cossack cross will bear the names of the fallen Heroes.

To this date, 158 defenders from Nizhyn have been killed at the front since the beginning of the full-scale war.

During the unveiling of the monument, a comrade-in-arms of the fallen soldier said that Oleksandr Matsiievskyi performed a special act, saying "Glory to Ukraine!" to the enemy in the eyes.

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As a reminder, Russian terrorists who came to Ukraine with the war have shot an unarmed Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandr Matsievsky. The Russians shot the soldier after he said the words "Glory to Ukraine!". At the same time, the invaders filmed their crime.

According to OBOZ.UA:

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- In his last conversation with his mother, Matsiievskyi promised her that he would never surrender. On March 12, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced that he had awarded Matsiievskyi the title of Hero of Ukraine.

- It is known that Maciejewski was a citizen of Moldova. According to the SBU, the soldier was killed on December 30, 2022, near the village of Krasna Hora, Donetsk region. The body was returned home in February 2023.

- Maciejewski's commander said that the Hero, together with his group, went on a mission on that fateful day and engaged in combat with superior enemy forces. All five Ukrainian soldiers in the group were killed.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
By AFP

DUBAI: An Israeli-owned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected drone attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, a US defence official said on Saturday.

"We are aware of reports that there was a suspected IRGC-initiated Shahed-136 UAV (that) struck a civilian motor vessel in the Indian Ocean," the official said, confirming the attack on Friday and adding that "the ship incurred minor damage" and there were "no injuries".

Maritime security company Ambrey said the Malta-flagged, French-operated container ship was reportedly damaged when the unmanned aerial vehicle exploded close to it.

"The vessel was managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, which was assessed to be the reason why it was targeted," Ambrey said, adding that in the days before the attack, the ship's tracking transmissions had stopped shortly after departing port in the United Arab Emirates.

The reported attack comes almost a week after Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

Ambrey said in a separate incident on Friday the Huthis cautioned a tanker southwest of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeida "to change course and warned that an attack would follow if they did not follow the instructions".

The security firm said the warning was issued several times, adding it is "likely a Huthi operation is imminent".

The Huthis, declaring themselves part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-affiliated groups, have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Israel has vowed to "crush" Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, after the Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages on October 7, according to Israeli authorities.

Gaza's Hamas government says nearly 15,000 people have been killed in Israeli aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory since then.

On Monday, the Huthi rebels pledged further maritime attacks until Israel halts its Gaza campaign.

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DUBAI: An Israeli-owned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected drone attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, a US defence official said on Saturday. "We are aware of reports that there was a suspected IRGC-initiated Shahed-136 UAV (that) struck a civilian motor vessel in the Indian Ocean," the official said, confirming the attack on Friday and adding that "the ship incurred minor damage" and there were "no injuries". Maritime security company Ambrey said the Malta-flagged, French-operated container ship was reportedly damaged when the unmanned aerial vehicle exploded close to it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The vessel was managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, which was assessed to be the reason why it was targeted," Ambrey said, adding that in the days before the attack, the ship's tracking transmissions had stopped shortly after departing port in the United Arab Emirates. The reported attack comes almost a week after Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea. Ambrey said in a separate incident on Friday the Huthis cautioned a tanker southwest of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeida "to change course and warned that an attack would follow if they did not follow the instructions". The security firm said the warning was issued several times, adding it is "likely a Huthi operation is imminent". The Huthis, declaring themselves part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-affiliated groups, have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israel. Israel has vowed to "crush" Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, after the Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages on October 7, according to Israeli authorities. Gaza's Hamas government says nearly 15,000 people have been killed in Israeli aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory since then. On Monday, the Huthi rebels pledged further maritime attacks until Israel halts its Gaza campaign. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

MALE: Maldives ex-president Abdulla Yameen will form a new political party, his lawyer said, splitting from his successor's ruling party and posing the new president Mohamed Muizzu a major setback ahead of parliamentary polls.

Primarily known as one of the most expensive holiday destinations in South Asia, with pristine white beaches and secluded resorts, the strategic Indian Ocean island nation has also become a geopolitical hotspot.

Global east-west shipping lanes pass the nation's chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands, stretching around 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator.

President Mohamed Muizzu, 45, was sworn in last week after being elected in September as a proxy for his pro-China predecessor Yameen, who was disqualified from the polls because he was serving an 11-year jail term for corruption.

On Friday, Yameen loyalists accused Muizzu of seeking to hijack the leadership of their Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and the former president will now form his own party.

Yameen "chose to resign from the PPM and President Muizzu's coalition", the 64-year-old ex-leader's lawyer Mohamed Jameel told AFP late on Friday, adding: "Yameen is now forming a new political party and a significant portion of the party is rallying behind him."

Muizzu needs to win a majority in parliamentary elections slated for next year to implement his legislative program.

One of the new president's key election pledges was to evict a small contingent of Indian troops.

Yameen, 64, who was released from jail to serve his sentence from home soon after Muizzu's victory, has felt sidelined, Jameel said. The new president had not taken calls from Yameen, the lawyer added.

Muizzu's office did not offer any immediate comment.

Yameen leaned heavily on China for both financial and diplomatic support when in power from 2013-2018. After his election, Muizzu insisted that he was only "pro-Maldives" and was willing to work with all, including China and regional power India.

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MALE: Maldives ex-president Abdulla Yameen will form a new political party, his lawyer said, splitting from his successor's ruling party and posing the new president Mohamed Muizzu a major setback ahead of parliamentary polls. Primarily known as one of the most expensive holiday destinations in South Asia, with pristine white beaches and secluded resorts, the strategic Indian Ocean island nation has also become a geopolitical hotspot. Global east-west shipping lanes pass the nation's chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands, stretching around 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); President Mohamed Muizzu, 45, was sworn in last week after being elected in September as a proxy for his pro-China predecessor Yameen, who was disqualified from the polls because he was serving an 11-year jail term for corruption. On Friday, Yameen loyalists accused Muizzu of seeking to hijack the leadership of their Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and the former president will now form his own party. Yameen "chose to resign from the PPM and President Muizzu's coalition", the 64-year-old ex-leader's lawyer Mohamed Jameel told AFP late on Friday, adding: "Yameen is now forming a new political party and a significant portion of the party is rallying behind him." Muizzu needs to win a majority in parliamentary elections slated for next year to implement his legislative program. One of the new president's key election pledges was to evict a small contingent of Indian troops. Yameen, 64, who was released from jail to serve his sentence from home soon after Muizzu's victory, has felt sidelined, Jameel said. The new president had not taken calls from Yameen, the lawyer added. Muizzu's office did not offer any immediate comment. Yameen leaned heavily on China for both financial and diplomatic support when in power from 2013-2018. After his election, Muizzu insisted that he was only "pro-Maldives" and was willing to work with all, including China and regional power India. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

TEL AVIV: Hamas fighters were set to release a second group of hostages Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, officials said, as a truce largely held in the devastated Gaza Strip after seven weeks of war that killed thousands of people.

Israeli prison authorities said 42 Palestinian inmates -- both male and female -- would be freed under the terms of the agreement, which mandates exchanges at a ratio of three to one.

An Israeli official source said 14 hostages would be handed over.

The transfers follow an initial exchange Friday, the first day of a four-day truce that largely silenced the guns on both sides.

The second day of the truce appeared to be holding. Only a small plume of grey smoke rose over northern Gaza, the focus of Israel's air and ground offensive against Hamas, an AFPTV livecam showed.

On Friday Hamas released 24 hostages, according to Qatar and an official Israeli list. They included 13 Israelis -- all of whom were women and children, including some dual citizens.

Ten Thais and one Filipino were also unexpectedly freed.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," said Kittiya Thuengsaeng in Thailand, who thought her 28-year-old boyfriend had been killed by Hamas. Then she saw a photograph of Wichai Kalapt after his release.

"I had a chat with him in the morning. He was still smiling. He told me he was safe," she said.

Hamas fighters snatched around 240 captives when they broke through Gaza's militarised border with Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, according to Israeli authorities.

In response to the deadliest attack in its history, Israel launched an air, artillery and naval bombardment alongside a ground offensive to destroy Hamas, killing nearly 15,000 people, according to the Hamas government in Gaza.

READ HERE | Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors and women in wartime prisoner swap

A two-minute video released by Hamas showed masked militants with rifles, wearing military fatigues and the green headband of the Islamist movement's armed wing, handing hostages over to the Red Cross.

Israel in turn freed 39 Palestinian women and children from its prisons.

In a Tel Aviv suburb, people applauded and held up Israeli flags as helicopters flew in the freed captives. Elsewhere in the city, the smiling faces of freed hostages were projected onto the walls of an art museum with the message: "I'm home".

"Today we are excited about the returnees, but I want us not to forget all those who have not yet returned," Yael Adar, daughter-in-law of former hostage Yaffa Adar, 85, told Israel's Ynet news website.

About 215 hostages remain in Gaza, though in many cases it is unknown if they are dead or alive, Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman said.

Hamas is expected to free a total of 50 hostages during the truce in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement struck after talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war: Escaped from Al-Shifa, a Palestinian surgeon recalls impossible choices

'Finally home'

"It's only a start, but so far it's gone well," US President Joe Biden told reporters, adding "the chances are real" for extending the truce.

At Wolfson Medical Center, which received five elderly women hostages, Dr Shoshi Goldner said "there was no one in the room that could hold his feelings and stop crying".

"You are finally home in a safe place," Goldner said.

Israel's Kibbutz Nir Oz community issued a statement welcoming the release of the Filipino hostage Gelienor (Jimmy) Pacheco, 33, who was caregiver to Amitai Ben Zvi, murdered in the October 7 attacks.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, fireworks exploded and crowds filled the street where they hoisted aloft young men who had been freed from prison. Wearing identical grey jumpers, they waved Palestinian and Hamas flags.

Most of the 39 prisoners freed by Israel on Friday were released in the West Bank, an AFP correspondent reported, while 11 were taken to annexed east Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group.

"I spent the end of my childhood and my adolescence in prison, far from my parents and their hugs," freed prisoner Marah Bakir, 24, told AFP after returning to her home in annexed east Jerusalem.

Bakir spent eight years in prison for attempting to kill an Israeli border guard.

Earlier in the evening, Israeli authorities fired tear gas to disperse crowds as the prisoners were released. The Palestinian Red Crescent said three people were shot and wounded by Israeli security forces.

In Israel, authorities asked the media to let the newly-freed hostages reunite with loved ones in privacy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring all the Hamas hostages home.

"This is one of the goals of the war," he said.

Humanitarian convoy

The pause in fighting in Gaza opened the way to more desperately needed aid.

Trucks carrying supplies, including fuel, food and medicine, began moving into Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt shortly after the truce began.

According to the Israeli defence ministry body that handles Palestinian civil affairs, 200 aid trucks in total entered in the biggest humanitarian convoy since the war began.

Israel had placed Gaza under near-total siege, leaving Gazans struggling to survive with shortages of water and other essentials.

In Rafah on Saturday many waited to fill gas canisters for cooking. "All the people are hoping and ready for it to make their lives easier," said one resident, Ezzeddine Abu Omeira.

Prior to the war, 500 trucks crossed into Gaza daily, according to OCHA, the United Nations humanitarian agency.

The UN estimates that 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced by the fighting.

Thousands have now been returning to what is left of their homes.

"We are civilians," Mahmud Masood, standing in front of flattened buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza. "Why have they destroyed our houses?"

Israel's army said early Saturday that it downed a surface-to-air missile launched from Lebanon towards an Israeli drone. In response, the army said Israeli war planes also struck infrastructure of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group allied with Hamas, both of which are backed by Iran.

An Israeli-owned ship suffered minor damage in a suspected attack by an Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean on Friday, a US defence official confirmed on Saturday.

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TEL AVIV: Hamas fighters were set to release a second group of hostages Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, officials said, as a truce largely held in the devastated Gaza Strip after seven weeks of war that killed thousands of people. Israeli prison authorities said 42 Palestinian inmates -- both male and female -- would be freed under the terms of the agreement, which mandates exchanges at a ratio of three to one. An Israeli official source said 14 hostages would be handed over.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The transfers follow an initial exchange Friday, the first day of a four-day truce that largely silenced the guns on both sides. The second day of the truce appeared to be holding. Only a small plume of grey smoke rose over northern Gaza, the focus of Israel's air and ground offensive against Hamas, an AFPTV livecam showed. On Friday Hamas released 24 hostages, according to Qatar and an official Israeli list. They included 13 Israelis -- all of whom were women and children, including some dual citizens. Ten Thais and one Filipino were also unexpectedly freed. "I couldn't believe my eyes," said Kittiya Thuengsaeng in Thailand, who thought her 28-year-old boyfriend had been killed by Hamas. Then she saw a photograph of Wichai Kalapt after his release. "I had a chat with him in the morning. He was still smiling. He told me he was safe," she said. Hamas fighters snatched around 240 captives when they broke through Gaza's militarised border with Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, according to Israeli authorities. In response to the deadliest attack in its history, Israel launched an air, artillery and naval bombardment alongside a ground offensive to destroy Hamas, killing nearly 15,000 people, according to the Hamas government in Gaza. READ HERE | Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors and women in wartime prisoner swap A two-minute video released by Hamas showed masked militants with rifles, wearing military fatigues and the green headband of the Islamist movement's armed wing, handing hostages over to the Red Cross. Israel in turn freed 39 Palestinian women and children from its prisons. In a Tel Aviv suburb, people applauded and held up Israeli flags as helicopters flew in the freed captives. Elsewhere in the city, the smiling faces of freed hostages were projected onto the walls of an art museum with the message: "I'm home". "Today we are excited about the returnees, but I want us not to forget all those who have not yet returned," Yael Adar, daughter-in-law of former hostage Yaffa Adar, 85, told Israel's Ynet news website. About 215 hostages remain in Gaza, though in many cases it is unknown if they are dead or alive, Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman said. Hamas is expected to free a total of 50 hostages during the truce in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement struck after talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war: Escaped from Al-Shifa, a Palestinian surgeon recalls impossible choices 'Finally home' "It's only a start, but so far it's gone well," US President Joe Biden told reporters, adding "the chances are real" for extending the truce. At Wolfson Medical Center, which received five elderly women hostages, Dr Shoshi Goldner said "there was no one in the room that could hold his feelings and stop crying". "You are finally home in a safe place," Goldner said. Israel's Kibbutz Nir Oz community issued a statement welcoming the release of the Filipino hostage Gelienor (Jimmy) Pacheco, 33, who was caregiver to Amitai Ben Zvi, murdered in the October 7 attacks. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, fireworks exploded and crowds filled the street where they hoisted aloft young men who had been freed from prison. Wearing identical grey jumpers, they waved Palestinian and Hamas flags. Most of the 39 prisoners freed by Israel on Friday were released in the West Bank, an AFP correspondent reported, while 11 were taken to annexed east Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group. "I spent the end of my childhood and my adolescence in prison, far from my parents and their hugs," freed prisoner Marah Bakir, 24, told AFP after returning to her home in annexed east Jerusalem. Bakir spent eight years in prison for attempting to kill an Israeli border guard. Earlier in the evening, Israeli authorities fired tear gas to disperse crowds as the prisoners were released. The Palestinian Red Crescent said three people were shot and wounded by Israeli security forces. In Israel, authorities asked the media to let the newly-freed hostages reunite with loved ones in privacy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring all the Hamas hostages home. "This is one of the goals of the war," he said. Humanitarian convoy The pause in fighting in Gaza opened the way to more desperately needed aid. Trucks carrying supplies, including fuel, food and medicine, began moving into Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt shortly after the truce began. According to the Israeli defence ministry body that handles Palestinian civil affairs, 200 aid trucks in total entered in the biggest humanitarian convoy since the war began. Israel had placed Gaza under near-total siege, leaving Gazans struggling to survive with shortages of water and other essentials. In Rafah on Saturday many waited to fill gas canisters for cooking. "All the people are hoping and ready for it to make their lives easier," said one resident, Ezzeddine Abu Omeira. Prior to the war, 500 trucks crossed into Gaza daily, according to OCHA, the United Nations humanitarian agency. The UN estimates that 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced by the fighting. Thousands have now been returning to what is left of their homes. "We are civilians," Mahmud Masood, standing in front of flattened buildings in Jabalia, northern Gaza. "Why have they destroyed our houses?" Israel's army said early Saturday that it downed a surface-to-air missile launched from Lebanon towards an Israeli drone. In response, the army said Israeli war planes also struck infrastructure of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group allied with Hamas, both of which are backed by Iran. An Israeli-owned ship suffered minor damage in a suspected attack by an Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean on Friday, a US defence official confirmed on Saturday. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Jitendra Choubey By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Fossil fuelscoal, oil and gasare by far the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for over 75% global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions like carbon, methane and nitrous oxide. Yet, oil and gas companies seem to be investing heavily in liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals while paying lip service to achieving the Paris accord target of limiting global heating by 1.5C.

GHGs trap the Suns heat and accelerate the rise in temperature, which impact all forms of life on Earth as they change weather patterns and disrupt the usual balance of nature.

A public database organisation Global Oil and Gas Exit List (GOGEL), which tracks 1,623 oil and gas companies and their investment, shows these upstream (production, exploration, expansion, etc.) and midstream (pipeline and LNG terminal) companies have increased capital spending in exploration of new gas and oil fields and are investing in setting up of LNG terminals.

Analysis shows that these upstream corporations have spent over US $170.4 billion on exploration of new oil and gas reserves in the past three years. The top seven exploration companies spending over a billion dollars are China National Petroleum Corporation, CNOOC, Aramco, Pemex, Sinopec Group, Pioneer Natural Resources and Shell.

The world cannot afford to burn more fossil fuels. The recent UN Emission Gap report shows that the world is teetering on the edge of a catastrophic temperature rise and heading towards 2.9C, if the current situation persists. Even the latest Global Stocktake report concluded that the world is not on track to meet the Paris agreement. The magnitude of the oil and gas industrys expansion to truly frightening levels needs to be put in check to keep the target of 1.5C alive. A speedy, managed decline in both oil and gas production is vital, said Nils Bartsch, an expert on oil and gas research, who contributed to the GOGEL analysis.

The analysis also shows that even if coal extraction magically ends overnight, the world still needs to leave almost 20% of the currently approved oil and gas resources to achieve the target of 1.5C. The upcoming COP28 presidency is with Sultan Ahmed Jaber, who is both UAEs minister as well as CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Environmentalists accuse him of a conflict of interest that may impact net zero outcomes. They fear Jaber may push the narrative towards fossil gas as the cleaner successor to coal for the energy transition.

Reckless expansion and overshooting

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed a roadmap to achieve the net zero target by 2050 for fossil fuel companies on how to do short-term expansion without overshooting the pathways. GOGEL analyses the short-term expansion of companies and the extent of overshoot from the IEAs pathways. According to GOGEL, 539 companies are preparing to bring 230 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) of untapped oil and gas resources production in 129 countries (see table). These countries have either little or no oil and gas production. Instead of transitioning to cleaner energy sources, they are driving them to depend on fossil fuels. For instance, TotalEnergies, one of the top oil and gas producers, is exploring and developing new oil and gas resources in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique or Papua New Guinea.

One-third of these short term productions would come from only seven companiesAramco, QatarEnergy, Gazprom, Petrobras, ADNOC, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil. Jabers ADNOC has the highest overshoot of any company in the world. The more disturbing part of ADNOCs investment is its projects in the Marawah Biosphere Reserve, which harbours many endangered species and is the largest marine reserve in the Arabian Gulf.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: Fossil fuelscoal, oil and gasare by far the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for over 75% global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions like carbon, methane and nitrous oxide. Yet, oil and gas companies seem to be investing heavily in liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals while paying lip service to achieving the Paris accord target of limiting global heating by 1.5C. GHGs trap the Suns heat and accelerate the rise in temperature, which impact all forms of life on Earth as they change weather patterns and disrupt the usual balance of nature. A public database organisation Global Oil and Gas Exit List (GOGEL), which tracks 1,623 oil and gas companies and their investment, shows these upstream (production, exploration, expansion, etc.) and midstream (pipeline and LNG terminal) companies have increased capital spending in exploration of new gas and oil fields and are investing in setting up of LNG terminals.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Analysis shows that these upstream corporations have spent over US $170.4 billion on exploration of new oil and gas reserves in the past three years. The top seven exploration companies spending over a billion dollars are China National Petroleum Corporation, CNOOC, Aramco, Pemex, Sinopec Group, Pioneer Natural Resources and Shell. The world cannot afford to burn more fossil fuels. The recent UN Emission Gap report shows that the world is teetering on the edge of a catastrophic temperature rise and heading towards 2.9C, if the current situation persists. Even the latest Global Stocktake report concluded that the world is not on track to meet the Paris agreement. The magnitude of the oil and gas industrys expansion to truly frightening levels needs to be put in check to keep the target of 1.5C alive. A speedy, managed decline in both oil and gas production is vital, said Nils Bartsch, an expert on oil and gas research, who contributed to the GOGEL analysis. The analysis also shows that even if coal extraction magically ends overnight, the world still needs to leave almost 20% of the currently approved oil and gas resources to achieve the target of 1.5C. The upcoming COP28 presidency is with Sultan Ahmed Jaber, who is both UAEs minister as well as CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Environmentalists accuse him of a conflict of interest that may impact net zero outcomes. They fear Jaber may push the narrative towards fossil gas as the cleaner successor to coal for the energy transition. Reckless expansion and overshooting The International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed a roadmap to achieve the net zero target by 2050 for fossil fuel companies on how to do short-term expansion without overshooting the pathways. GOGEL analyses the short-term expansion of companies and the extent of overshoot from the IEAs pathways. According to GOGEL, 539 companies are preparing to bring 230 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) of untapped oil and gas resources production in 129 countries (see table). These countries have either little or no oil and gas production. Instead of transitioning to cleaner energy sources, they are driving them to depend on fossil fuels. For instance, TotalEnergies, one of the top oil and gas producers, is exploring and developing new oil and gas resources in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique or Papua New Guinea. One-third of these short term productions would come from only seven companiesAramco, QatarEnergy, Gazprom, Petrobras, ADNOC, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil. Jabers ADNOC has the highest overshoot of any company in the world. The more disturbing part of ADNOCs investment is its projects in the Marawah Biosphere Reserve, which harbours many endangered species and is the largest marine reserve in the Arabian Gulf. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Henry Cavill departed 'The Witcher' due to studio not following author Andrzej Sapkowski's feedback

Los Angeles, Nov 24

A ctor Henry Cavills departure from The Witcher was a subject of great controversy and disappointment for fans of the series who were particularly taken with his portrayal of Geralt of Rivia.

One of the prime reasons why Cavill left was because the studio never took the ideas of author Andrzej Sapkowski who wrote the books.

Sapkowski, speaking at the Vienna Comic-Con last week, was asked if he gave the studio and the series writers any feedback.

Laughing at the question, he replied: Maybe, I gave them some ideas, but they never listened to me. But its normal.

He then broke into an impression of a Netflix executive and said dismissively, whos this? Its a writer, its nobody, according to 'The Hollywood Reporter'.

While the makers had revealed that they wanted to do their own thing with the source material, Cavill had made no secret his distaste with Netflix for deviating so heavily from the books.

As the actor is an avid fan himself, he wanted to portray Geralt and the world of The Witcher with authenticity, and according to the books.

When the makers refused to heed the ideas of Sapkowski and Cavill, the actor made his decision to leave the series after Season 3, which ended up turning out a disaster as it was bombared with negative comments, currently holding only a 19 per cent audience rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Months before his announced departure from the show, Cavill told 'The Hollywood Reporter' that he was committed to seven seasons as long as we can keep telling great stories which honour Sapkowskis work.

After The Man of Steel actor left the project, writer Beau DeMayo who helped in writing the first two seasons also opened up about his own distaste for Netflix, and the creative heads for deviating so much from the books in order to advance a certain agenda.

He revealed on Instagram: Ive been on a show  namely  The Witcher  where some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games (even actively mocking the source material).

"Its a recipe for disaster and bad morale. Fandom as a litmus test checks egos, and makes all the long nights worth it. You have to respect the work before youre allowed to add to its legacy."

Henry Cavill departed 'The Witcher' due to studio not following author Andrzej Sapkowski's feedback

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Russian occupants have launched a third wave of assault on the positions of the Defense Forces in Avdiivka. They are trying to attack head-on, which has never happened before as Ukrainian soldiers have installed extremely effective fortifications at those positions.

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This was reported by an officer of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk on Svoboda Live. He noted that such actions of the invaders are illogical and caused by absurd demands of the Russian military command.

"Absurd tasks and deadlines set by the command to take Avdiivka by a certain date. What is the goal? It is impossible to give it a human assessment because it is curable in a psychiatric clinic only," the military commander emphasized.

Tsehotskyi added that the situation near the city is consistently turbulent and attacks continue constantly with varying intensity. "Our soldiers are constantly under the influence of artillery, attack drones, and sometimes infantry.

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As OBOZ.UA reported, the day before, Russia shelled civilian settlements in the Donetsk region. Toretsk, Avdiivka and Chasovyi Yar were once again hit by the enemy.

"The invaders keep trying to encircle Avdiivka in the operational area of the Tavria Brigade. Today, they stormed in vain east of Novobakhmutivka and in the areas of Pivnichne and Avdiivka," the spokesman of the Joint Press Center of the Tavria Defense Forces noted.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
India's cashew nuts head for US, B'desh, Qatar as new markets open

New Delhi, Nov 24

T he Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), an organisation under the Ministry of Commerce, played an instrumental role in flagging off cashew nut shipments to the US, Bangladesh, Qatar and Malaysia to mark National Cashew Day on November 23.

Bangladesh will be receiving its first-ever shipment of cashew nuts all the way from Odisha.

After Cote d'Ivoire, India is the second largest producer and exporter of cashew nuts with a share of more than 15 per cent, followed by Vietnam.

India's top export destinations are the UAE, the Netherlands, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the major Cashew producing states in India. India primarily exports Cashew Kernels with small quantities of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid and Cardanol.

With the UAE and the Netherlands remaining as the top export destinations for Indian Cashew Nuts, APEDA is working towards exploring new markets for cashew in the international markets of Japan, Saudi Arabia, UK, Spain, Kuwait, Qatar, the US and European countries.

APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev said the demand for cashew products has been on the rise, and to see the industry evolve and thrive is a heartening moment. The growth is a testament to the hard work of the farmers, processors, and exporters.

In the future, APEDA may intervene in the automation of the cashew industry. Training of professionals, registration of cashew processing units, and a traceability system will be formulated for cashew, replicating peanuts, he added.

APEDA jointly with its Regional Offices organised programmes to celebrate the National Cashew Day in seven states in collaboration with the Cashew Association, Exporters and Stakeholders. The event included a diverse range of activities such as interaction sessions with the stakeholder of Cashew, Platform for Networking, Knowledge Sharing, and discussion on industry trends and challenges faced in the sector.

India's cashew nuts head for US, B'desh, Qatar as new markets open

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RBI supersedes Board of Directors of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank for poor governance

New Delhi, Nov 24

T he Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday superseded the Board of Directors of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank Ltd., Mumbai, for a period of 12 months.

Consequently, the Reserve Bank has appointed Satya Prakash Pathak, former Chief General Manager of State Bank of India, as the Administrator to manage the affairs of the bank during this period.

The RBI has also appointed a Committee of Advisors to assist the Administrator to discharge his duties. The members of the committee are Venkatesh Hegde (former General Manager, SBI); Mahendra Chhajed (Chartered Accountant); and Suhas Gokhale (former MD, COSMOS Co-operative Bank Limited).

The above action is necessitated due to certain material concerns emanating from poor governance standards observed in the bank. No business restrictions have been placed by RBI and the bank shall continue to carry on its normal banking activities as is hitherto, under the guidance of the Administrator," RBI said.

RBI supersedes Board of Directors of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank for poor governance

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New Delhi, Nov 24

T he Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has expressed concerns over the reliance placed by the petitioners in the Adani-Hindenburg case on certain media reports to level allegations against the Adani Group and Indias regulatory system.

The court said that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) cannot be expected to follow what newspaper reports have said in order to make its findings.

The Chief Justice also expressed displeasure over the use of information from reports by organisations such as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Hindenburg Research by the petitioners.

The observations came after the Supreme Court resumed its hearing in the ongoing case after a gap of almost three months.

The Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, brought new facts regarding the OCCRP report to the notice of the Supreme Court.

As per Mehta, when SEBI wrote to the OCCRP seeking details and documents relied upon by the organisation while levelling allegations against the Adani Group in its August 31 report, the OCCRP did not share the details of the allegations, and said that they could instead be obtained from an NGO in India, which had provided it the information.

As per the Solicitor General, the NGO is run by Prashant Bhushan.

During the hearing, Mehta informed the Court that investigation in 22 out of the 24 cases relating to the allegations against the Adani Group were over.

"For the remaining two, we need information from foreign regulators etc., along with some other information. We have been in consultation with them. Some information has come but that is where we are not in control of the time limit for obvious reasons...," he said.

To recall, while rejecting OCCRP's allegations, the Adani Group had termed the report as yet another concerted bid by Soros-funded interests supported by a section of the foreign media to revive the meritless Hindenburg report.

The Adani Group had said, These claims are based on closed cases from a decade ago when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) probed allegations of over invoicing, transfer of funds abroad, related party transactions and investments through FPIs.

"An independent adjudicating authority and an appellate tribunal had both confirmed that there was no overvaluation and that the transactions were in accordance with the applicable law. The matter attained finality in March 2023 when the Supreme Court ruled in our favour.

"Clearly, since there was no overvaluation, there is no relevance or foundation for these allegations on transfer of funds.

SEBI can't act against entities based only on news reports: CJI

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British intelligence has expressed doubt that the Russian occupiers will be able to push back the Defense Forces, which have managed to gain a foothold on the left bank of the Kherson region, beyond the Dnipro River. Currently, the defenders are holding the de-occupied territories in the southern part of the front.

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This was stated by the head of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center, Ants Kiviselg, ERR reports. It is noted that the Defense Forces have two main goals of the Armed Forces in the region:

- control over the areas on the left bank of the Dnipro River;

- pushing the Russian invaders to the south, which will protect Kherson from shelling.

Kiviselg emphasized that he currently sees no prerequisites and does not believe that Ukrainians will be thrown back to the right bank. Unless it is the decision of the defenders themselves.

In general, according to the Estonian intelligence officer, the intensity of fighting in Ukraine has decreased due to the deteriorating weather. The only exception is the frontline near Avdiivka, where the number of attacks by the occupiers has increased.

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As a reminder, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria airborne unit, said that Russian terrorists had reduced the number of air strikes in the area. Over the past day, the enemy attacked from the air only 4 times.

At the same time, the activity of enemy infantry is still high: over the last day the Russians conducted 50 combat engagements and fired 912 artillery rounds. According to the military commander, the Defense Forces are holding steady in the Avdiivka sector.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- On November 23 and 24, Ukrainian troops conducted counterattacks in the west of Zaporizhzhya region. The defenders managed to recapture the westernmost trench of the three located about 1 km from Robotyno.

- The occupants launched a third wave of assault on the positions of the Defense Forces in Avdiivka. They are trying to attack head-on, which has never happened before, as Ukrainian soldiers have installed extremely effective fortifications at those positions.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Rain likely. High 46F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with light rain this evening. Low 39F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
In their latest report, global real estate consultancy Knight Frank and their US partners Berkadia, noted that India is currently facing a deficit of 2 billion square feet of healthcare space to cater to its current population base of 1.42 billion people. The estimated need for additional beds to reach the recommended ratio of 3 beds per 1000 people stands at 2.4 million beds.

According to the report, India has a considerable gap between the number of hospital beds available in the country and the number of hospital beds required. Indias existing bed to population ratio is 1.3/1000 population (both private and public hospitals included), and there is a deficit of 1.7/1000 population, it added.

To cater to the existing population, there is an additional requirement of 2.4 mn beds. This disparity provides an opportunity for public and private players to expand their footprint in the healthcare industry in India.

The report added that as per government estimates, there are about 582 investment opportunities in medical infrastructure including hospitals valued at US$ 32bn. The hospital industry accounts for 80% of the healthcare market in India. Currently, India has an estimated 70,000 hospitals of which the private sector constitutes 63% of the total share, the report said.

Indias healthcare market was estimated to be at US$ 372 bn in 2022, a significant growth from US$ 73 bn a decade ago, in 2012, the report said. At this level and pace, Indias healthcare industry has grown at an annual average rate of 18% and got accelerated with pandemic as it challenged the healthcare sector by stretching the need for infrastructure and service delivery, therefore making it a trigger for transformation.

Global investments in healthcare related real estate has reached US$38 bn, accounting to 4.3% of total global real estate investments.

Expansion of Indias healthcare market

As part of the Sustainable Development Goals, India is committed to achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage. To achieve its goals, the policy makers in India have introduced schemes over the years pertaining to insurance as well as access to affordable healthcare services. Indias National Healthcare Policy (2017) aims to achieve government spending on healthcare upto 2.5% of the GDP.

Demand drivers of Indias healthcare industry

As per Knight Franks analysis, India is one of the fastest growing economies with high personal spending potential of individuals of which healthcare comprises a major share. Factors such as the gradual rise in an ageing population, increasing per capita incomes, growing health awareness and the penetration of health insurance drive the demand for the healthcare industry in India.

Additionally, there has been a growing incidence of lifestyle diseases in India led by cardiovascular diseases, which will heighten the demand for specialised healthcare.

India: Popular destination for healthcare tourism

India is emerging as one of the most affordable healthcare destinations in the world providing quality medical procedures at a relatively cheap cost. In the pre-pandemic years between 2014-2019, the inflow of foreign tourist arrivals on medical visas grew at a CAGR of 30%. It is noteworthy that despite the deficit in healthcare infrastructure in India, the country is an attractive market for healthcare tourism.

The report added that as per Medical Tourism Index (2020-21), India ranked 10th out of 46 destinations in the world. With an aim to improve medical tourism, Indias tourism ministry formulated a national strategy and roadmap for medical and wellness tourism in 2022 under the Heal in India initiative with the primary objective to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in the country.

Shishir Baijal, chairman and MD, Knight Frank India, said, The challenge of Indias population to bed ratio, coupled with increasing population, underscores the pressing need for significant enhancement in the countrys healthcare infrastructure. Addressing this demand necessitates nearly doubling the current real estate capacity to adequately meet the expanding healthcare requirements of the population.

Post the pandemic, healthcare ranks amongst the mainstream avenues for investors looking for investments into long income generating assets. According to our Attitudes Survey, almost one-fourth of the Indian ultra-high net worth individuals had cited to invest in healthcare related assets in 2023. There is also an emerging opportunity for investments in medical research and development, to accentuate discovery of new drugs to navigate any future break out of pandemic inflicted diseases.

The global healthcare sector remains buoyant and is expected to grow despite a challenging economic outlook. This comes as the global population shifts rapidly towards an ageing demographic, which is anticipated to drive demand for elderly care beds, particularly for full-time nursing care delivered in specialised facilities.

Investors have seized upon this trend, with North American capital contributing almost 68% of the funds deployed in the past year, while France and Belgium attracted the highest levels of cross-border investments. Recognising the potential of APACs ageing demographic, the private sector is actively exploring opportunities in response. Acquisitions of operating assets in the APAC care sectors reached a record high of US$2.8 billion in 2022.

Julian Evans, partner and head of healthcare, Knight Frank, said, Broad in its coverage, the case for investment in the healthcare sector remains consistent not only across its various sub sectors but also across geographic borders. Supported by an ageing population across the globe and shifting demographic trends, the healthcare sector is seeing increased demand for long-term care facilities. Furthermore, as private equity, REITS and institutional investors continue to chase the strong, long income generated, there is growing interest in healthcares capabilities to aid ESG investing strategies.
At least 400-500 PhD scholars at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay have been asked to vacate their single occupancy hostel rooms and instead shift to shared occupancy rooms by the last week of December by the institutes administration citing severe space crunch  a move that has been met by silent marches and protest demonstrations by a group of these students on campus. This is yet another point of confrontation the students have run into with the institute of late followed by the recent protests over new rules for organising political events on campus and segregation of non-vegetarian tables at the hostel mess.

In a directive issued and reiterated via separate email communications, by the institutes hall managers as well as associate dean students affairs, from November 8 to November 24, all PhD scholars of 2018 batches (July and December) have been asked to vacate their hostel rooms and shift to shared occupancy.

As per orders of the competent authority, all 2018 PhD students (joined in December 2018/January 2019) are required to shift to double occupancy in Hostel 4/Tansa/Hostel 12 by the last week of December 2023, for one semester. Limited shared rooms are available in H12 (for boys)/Hostel 10 (old wing) (for girls), which will be available on first-cum-first serve basis, read one of the emails by the hall manager, hostel 12. (The email has been seen by News18).

Students affected by the directive sat on a protest demonstration outside the main building for the second consecutive day on Friday, which was followed by a silent march across campus. Calling the move abrupt, a group of research scholars from affected hostels  12, 13, 14 and 18 (for boys) and 10 and 11 (for girls) said the institute has cited an old rule where PhD students are allowed hostel accommodation only for five years while previous batches have stayed up to six years.

Also, the protesting students maintain that the mess bill data clearly shows that there are over 270 vacant rooms in at least three hostels. This is an arbitrary way of evicting us while the institute has not released official data on the vacant rooms available. At this crucial stage, PhD students need to work till late at night and give interviews which can definitely not be done in the presence of a roommate, as it may disturb the other person and his/her work, said a research scholar, requesting anonymity.

According to rules, PhD students get a research stipend from the union government for five years and are allowed hostel accommodation for the same time while IIT-Bombay allows one year more to students to complete their research work.

However, as per an email sent to students on Friday, the institute citing a severe space crunch asked scholars to move to shared occupancy to make room for the incoming batches. The directive also asks PhD scholars to strictly comply with the emails sent by respective hall managers as far as shifting to shared accommodation/vacating the room is concerned.

While it is our endeavour to provide every student with an individual roomstudents must keep in mind that we currently have a severe shortage of rooms, for two main reasons. First, an increase in number of student intake due to implementation of EWS quota and female supernumerary seats as well as increase in the number of PhD students overall. Second, we have lost three hostels (H-7, H-8 and old wings of H-4), which had to be demolished due to structural safety issues, stated an email communication issued on Friday by the Associate Dean, Student Affairs, Atul Srivastava to PhD students.

A students collective participating in the protest, however, contested the first reason cited by the institute while maintaining that data shared by the government in a recent RTI response received by them shows that reservation rules were not followed and there was no such increase in the average intake per year.

We demand the withdrawal of the abrupt rule at the earliest possible and a continuation of the convention of 6 years of single occupancy accommodation for these two batches, followed by a double occupancy stay till PhD defense. Also, the institute must conduct an open house session at the earliest where the concerns of all students can be raised, read a statement by the protesting students.

News18 reached out to IIT-Bombay administration over the issue. This story will be updated when and if a response is received.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) commenced the registration process for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in December 2023. Candidates willing to apply can visit the official website of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences at natboard.edu.in. It is to be noted that candidates applying for the FMGE December 2023 should possess a primary medical qualification from a recognised institution, which is to be confirmed by the concerned Indian embassy of that country.

Furthermore, candidates will have to submit the necessary documents as evidence to prove that they have qualified for the final examination of the primary medical examination. The Commission has also provided guidelines for foreign medical graduates who have completed MBBS from Ukraine and the Philippines.

Guidelines For Graduates From Ukraine

The Candidate must have completed a medical course in an institute in Ukraine or a course equivalent to the MBBS course in India in offline mode with or without one year of internship and have returned to India. Candidates are also required to obtain provisional registration from the concerned state medical council and thereafter undergo a one-year compulsory rotating medical internship as per the CRMI Regulation, 2021. Such graduates from Ukraine will be eligible to receive a stipend on parity with Indian Medical Graduates.

It is also to be noted that candidates who had a break in their final year and were bound to return to India owing to the COVID-19 pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine War and completed the FMG course, including exams, in online mode are also eligible. Such candidates will have to undergo a one-year clinical clerkship (CC) in India in lieu of a deficiency in their training from their parent medical college.

It is possible that the Indian Medical College may charge a maximum clerkship fee of up to Rs 5,000 per month.

After successful completion of a 1-year clinical clerkship supported by a log book followed by authentication from the concerned college authority, they will be allowed to begin CRMI, which may be done in a medical college or any recognised institute. Such students at the stage of CRMI shall be eligible to receive a stipend equivalent to the stipend received by IMGs of that college and institution.

Such students will be allotted, in consultation with each other, to clinical clerkship or internship programmes, which will be done through the concerned DME and SMC.

Existing FMGs undergoing internships will be allowed to continue to complete their two years before permanent registration is given by the State Medical Council. FMGs who have a break in the penultimate year of study owing to the COVID-19 pandemic or war and have completed the FMG course, including the examination, in online mode only will have to undergo two years of clinical clerkship supported by a logbook, further authenticated by the concerned college authority.

The Indian Medical College may charge a clerkship fee from FMGs of up to Rs 5,000 per month. After successful completion of a two-year clinical clerkship supported by a log book followed by authentication from the concerned college authority, they will be allowed to begin CRMI, which may be done in a medical college or any recognised institute.

Such students at the stage of CRMI shall be eligible to receive a stipend equivalent to the stipend received by IMGs of that college or institution. Allotment of such students to clinical clerkship or internship programmes will be done through the concerned DME and SMC in consultation with each other.

Guidelines For Graduates from the Philippines

The National Medical Commission derecognizes BS courses in the Philippines as per the FMGL Regulation, 2021. Hence, candidates who had taken admission in a BS course at the time of publication of the FMGL Regulation or were studying a BS course are not allowed.

However, candidates who have taken admission in an MD course on or before November 18, 2021, are eligible to complete the course and subsequently write the FMG Examination in India. After qualifying for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, these foreign medical graduates are required to undergo one year of internship in order to compensate for the deficiencies in their training from parent foreign medical colleges, followed by CRMI after obtaining provisional registration.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially released the schedule for the second round counsellingof Karnataka AYUSH NEET PG Counselling 2023. Interested candidates are advised to visit the official website of KEA atkea.kar.nic.infor detailed information and to ensure they stay updated of the latest developments in the counselling process.

According to the released schedule, eligible candidates have the opportunity to enter their options from today, November 25 to November 27. The eagerly awaited second-round seat allotment results are set to be released on November 27, post 8 pm.

Subsequently, candidates can proceed with the payment of fees and the download of admission orders, a window open from November 28 to November 29. The final date for reporting to the allotted colleges has been stipulated as November 30.

Candidates falling under Choice 2 are actively participating while retaining a seat allotted in the initial round. Higher-order options will be presented to them during this phase. On the other hand, Choice 3 candidates are participating without any pre-allotted seats. It is crucial to note that all the options entered by the candidates will be prominently displayed. Those candidates who have successfully verified their eligibility for the second round must diligently enter their preferences.

Karnataka AYUSH NEET PG Counselling 2023: How to fill options

To facilitate a seamless options entry process, candidates can follow the step-by-step guide provided below:

Step 1. Visit the official website of Karnataka Examinations Authority atkea.kar.nic.in.

Step 2. Locate and click on the Karnataka AYUSH NEET PG Counselling 2023 link available on the home page.

Step 3. Enter the required details as required and click on the submit button.

Step 4. Fill in the options as per your preference and check everything carefully.

Step 5. Review your options and click on the submit button.

Step 6. Download the page and retain a hard copy for future reference.

For more comprehensive details and any additional information related to the Karnataka AYUSH NEET PG Counselling 2023, candidates are advised to refer to the official website of Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).
On the eve of polling day in Rajasthan, three-time Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told News18 in an interview in Jodhpur that there is an undercurrent for the Congress in Rajasthan and claimed that the public will teach the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lesson for trying to bring down a duly elected government in 2020.

Shaandar mahaul hai (the atmosphere for us is good). There is an undercurrent in the entire Rajasthan which is in our favour. People have decided to repeat our government. They will vote for our good governance, schemes and guarantees, Gehlot told News18. The CM is contesting from Sardarpura in Jodhpur, a seat he has constantly held for the past 25 years.

The CM said the BJP was worried and scared, which showed in the language used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Assam, Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma, respectively. They all spoke the same line. It means they are losing, have admitted their defeat and they are frustrated, Gehlot told News18.

BJP NE MUJHPE DHAWA BOL DIYA

The CM claimed that the BJPs strong campaign against him was borne out of their pain that they could not bring down his government in 2020. They made governments collapse like in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Par Rajasthan mein unki daal nahi gali. There is this pain in their heart toh unhone pura dhawa bol diya ki tab nahi gira paye toh ab girayenge.

ALSO READ | Rajasthan Elections: PM Instigating Gujjars by Dragging in Late Rajesh Pilot, Ashok Gehlot Tells News18

The CM told News18 that the PM said that he wont ever become CM again. I take it in good spirit if the PM and HM say something personal about me because I feel let them target me, the CM said.

Gehlot told News18 that people will give the BJP an answer because people failed the BJPs plan to topple his government. Our high command gave us their blessings. It was the people who used to call our MLAs and say stay in hotels for six months if you want to, but the government should not fall. This is the feeling among the people that the government should not have fallen, but the BJP wanted to bring down our government. Now the BJP is coming to take revenge for that, but the public will take revenge on the BJP for how they dared to bring down a democratically elected government. The public is aware and has extraordinary common sense, Gehlot has told News18.

PMS COMMENT ON SACHIN PILOT

Gehlot said some comments made by the PM like on Rajesh Pilot and Sachin Pilot were to instigate people and the BJP never spoke about his schemes or guarantees. They wanted to make non-issues into issues. But the public wont be instigated by them, Gehlot told News18. He said he was not concerned about the issues inside the Rajasthan BJP and if Vasundhara Raje had been ignored by the BJP central leadership in this election. The CM said his focus was his party.

ALSO READ | Congress Insulting Gurjars in Rajasthan: PM Modi

The Kerala government was repeated because good work was done there during the Covid time. We have also done good Covid management plus we brought so many schemes, so why wont our government be repeated? People are remembering the work we have done. Our governance was good and IT-enabled. We have passed so many good laws, there is a long list brought so many schemes, we are giving seven guarantees, So much work has happened in infrastructure, education and social security, the Chief Minister told News18.

The CM will vote in Sardarpura on Saturday morning.
The Election Commission (EC) has issued an advisory to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for his controversial remarks against the states Congress leadership. Ahead of the Telangana Assembly polls scheduled in the upcoming week, the CM was asked to follow the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.

Rao had made certain threatening remarks against the Congress leadership on October 30 in the Banswada constituency of Telangana after an attack on a member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) which is led by him.

Following his remarks, a leader from the National Students Union of India (NSUI) had approached the poll panel demanding action against Rao. The advisory read, You are hereby advised to follow the provisions of the MCC in letter and spirit.

The letter was intented to remind the BRS leader about the ECs instruction that all the political parties, their leaders in all capacities and the contesting candidates must observe utmost restraint and decency in their speeches. The poll panel also said that leaders must set an example in maintaining high standards of conduct and behaviour during the course of their poll campaigs.

The campaigns for the November 30 polls will end in the evening of November 28.

(with PTI inputs)
Ashok Gehlot will lose from the Sardarpura seat in Jodhpur and the BJP will do a clean sweep of all 10 Assembly seats in the city, Union Minister and BJP MP from Jodhpur Gajendra Shekhawat told News18. He had defeated the CMs son, Vaibhav Gehlot, to win Jodhpur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and has a long rivalry with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

People of Sardarpura will this time choose an MLA, not a CM. People in Sardarpura voted for Gehlot in 1998 and ever since, but he was missing from the seat and people kept looking for him. They are angry with him. He was not with them in their happy or sad moments, Shekhawat said. He also called the Gehlot-Pilot unity show a facade.

Gehlot and Sachin Pilot kept fighting for five years, they did mere photo-ops of unity with various top Congress leaders. People suffered because of their fight. Pilot worked hard for five years before 2018, but Gehlot, like a jadoogar (magician), became the CM after pushing him behind. Wait and see how Gehlot and Pilot will start attacking each other after their big loss in these elections. It will show that they had never patched up, Shekhawat told News18.

He said it was crystal clear that the BJP was winning in Rajasthan with a big majority. Congress ki vidai tai ho gayi hai (Congress departure is certain). A person (Gehlot) who has done vishvasghaat (betrayal) with people after 2018 by not fulfilling promises, his guarantees wont be trusted by the people, Shekhawat said.

He added that Gehlot had realised that his foundation was lost so he started conducting guarantee camps about six months ago. People have rejected his seven guarantees from day one. The results will show it, Shekhawat said.

The senior BJP leader, however, did not comment on whether he was in the race to become the Chief Minister among others like Diya Kumari and Rajendra Rathore. Whoever becomes our CM will fulfil PM Modis vision and take Rajasthan forward, Shekhawat said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, while addressing an election rally in Telangana, claimed that Hyderabad will soon be renamed as Bhagyanagar when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power.

Congress made Hyderabad what it is today, BJP will make Hyderabad Bhagyanagar again. Goddess Bhagyalaxmi is here and we are committed to naming the city after her. This will be our partys gift for all the Ram Bhakts in Telangana, said Adityanath during the rally in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district.

However, this is not the first time Adityanath raised calls to rename Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar. In 2020, while campaigning for the party during the municipal elections, Adityanath said that Hyderabad should ideally be called Bhagyanagar and attributed the name Bhagyanagar to the Bhagyalaxmi temple.

The BJP leader further alleged that the Muslim reservations in Telangana are an insult to the Constitution made by Dr B R Ambedkar.

Dirty game of appeasement politics can be seen in Telangana now. We have seen in Telangana to what extent a government can go to divide the society when the BRS government announces Muslim reservation, Adityanath said.

Earlier on Friday, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that the BJP will rename Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar within 30 minutes of BJP coming to power in the state. Sarma further emphasised that no one will raise a hue and cry if Hyderabad is renamed.

Hyderabad Renaming: The Debate

The issue of renaming Hyderabad has been a recurring point of discussion in cultural and political circles.

The controversy earlier erupted in 2021 over the demand for renaming Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar after Union Minister of State for Railways, Raosaheb Danve, said on Wednesday that there should be no objection to rechristening Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar.

Telangana is all set to elect a new assembly, the issue of renaming Hyderabad has once again come to the fore with BJP leaders claiming that the same will be done if BJP comes to power in the state.

Yogi Adityanath Renamed These Cities in UP

Yogi Adityanath often faced criticism for changing the names of cities across Uttar Pradesh. The chief minister renamed Faizabad as Ayodhya and Allahabad as Prayagraj in a cabinet meeting chaired by him in 2018.

His government also changed the name of Mughal Sarai to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Nagar.

The government also renamed Aligarh. Earlier this month, the Aligarh Municipal Corporation unanimously passed a proposal to change Aligarhs name to Harigarh.
A strike on the occupiers' military unit in Dzhankoi on the night of November 24 destroyed a radar station, air defense equipment, and enemy personnel . The bodies of the dead invaders were taken out all day.

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This was reported by the Atesh military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. They confirmed that they, along with the residents of Dzhankoy, were involved in strikes on enemy targets in occupied Crimea last night.

"According to our source from the military unit in Dzhankoi, all vehicles intended for the transportation of the dead have been used to evacuate the bodies since the night before. Separately, the movement of 8-10 hearse trucks with the bodies of 200 people was recorded early in the morning," the statement said as of 20:12 on Friday, November 24.

Atesh recalled that in recent months they have often published information about the locations of Russian air defense, radar and training centers for "mobiks " in occupied Dzhankoi.

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" We passed all the information collected from sources in the army and from civilians directly to the 'decision-making centers of Ukraine,'" the movement said.

Atesha also emphasized that they had previously warned the Russian invaders that they should leave the Ukrainian peninsula:

"We warned the occupiers that they had nothing to do in Crimea . Now they will go home in black bags."

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- Powerful explosions occurred in occupied Dzhankoi on the night of November 24. Local residents reported that there were at least seven explosions, which occurred around 00:20 and 01:40. Ukrainian monitoring channels wrote that Dzhankoy was probably attacked by UAVs.

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- The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that "Ukrainian" drones attacked, assuring that "all 16 targets" were "successfully" shot down. The UAVs also allegedly tried to attack a military unit in the Volgograd region of Russia.

- A video of a large-scale fire in the Dzhankoi military unit after the explosions was posted online. No one was allowed on the territory.

- In early November, Atesh reported that a new batch of Russian mobilized soldiers had arrived in Dzhankoi. Among them were many Buryats, Yakuts, Uyghurs and other representatives of Russian national minorities.

- It was noted that in Crimea, the "mobiks " faced inhuman treatment - they were not fed and generally "not considered people."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday reiterated that the Bharatiya Janata Party will do away with reservation for Muslims. He added that BJP has always fulfilled its promise, be it construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

K Chandrasekhar Rao hasnt fulfilled any promises, and scams have happened in every project. Whatever promises BJP has made, it has fulfilled them. We promised Ram Mandir, and temple construction is happening, Amit Shah said.

He further reiterated that the four per cent reservation of the Muslim community will be ended, and distributed among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes.

I am confident that Telanganas informed voters, before casting their votes, will properly analyse everything and will take into account the background of everything. Following this, their choice will definitely be the Lotus, will definitely be the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Union minister said.

On the contrary, Telangana chief minister KCR promised to set up a special information technology (IT) park for Muslim youth at Pahadishareef near Hyderabad, if the BRS is voted back to office.

Addressing a rally at Maheshwaram on Thursday, he said Congress had always treated Muslims only as a vote bank and had never worked for their development.

Communal disturbances were a regular feature during the Congress regime, whereas there had been no curfews and law and order issues during the last nine years of BRS government, KCR said.
Rajasthan has a special relationship with NOTA as it was one of the few states allowed the None of the Above option for voters on the EVM in the 2013 Assembly elections following a Supreme Court order.

As the state votes again on Saturday, News18 takes a look at how often voters in Rajasthan have rejected all candidates on the EVMs.

In the last two Assembly elections, Rajasthan electors havent shied away from pressing the NOTA option on the EVMs. But data shows voters have become more decisive over the last two elections. Will there be an even sharper mandate this time?

From 5.90 lakh votes in 2013, NOTA votes in Rajasthan dropped to 4.67 lakh in 2018.

Official numbers analysed by News18 also show there were at least 25 seats where voters chose NOTA more than 5,000 times in 2013. But in 2018, only eight seats witnessed a similar voting pattern.

In 2013, out of the total 3.08 crore votes, 5.89 lakh (1.93%) were for NOTA. The vote-share of NOTA that year in Rajasthan was more than three national parties  Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Nationalist Congress Party. It was also more than the votes garnered individually by Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (Secular), Rashtriya Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party. It is also important to note that these parties fought the 2013 elections in the state on a limited number of seats.

In 2018, while the total votes increased to 3.56 crore, NOTAs share dropped to 4.67 lakh (1.32%). All the parties listed above again secured fewer votes than NOTA.

The Election Commission of India introduced NOTA on October 11, 2013 based on a Supreme Court order dated September 27, 2013. The main objective of NOTA was to enable electors who do not wish to vote for any of the candidates to exercise their right not to vote for any candidate without violation of the secrecy of their decision.

Along with Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were also given the NOTA option in 2013. In these states, too, the vote share of NOTA witnessed a drop in 2018 compared to 2013. In total, these states received 16.37 lakh NOTA votes in 2013 that dropped to 12.94 lakh in 2018.

In 2018, Kushalgarh was among the handful of seats in Rajasthan where an Independent candidate got the mandate. The highest NOTA votes were secured in Kushalgarh the last time. With 94,344, Independent Ramila Khadiya won the seat, while the BJP came second with 75,066 votes. With 11,002 (5.56%) votes, NOTA was at the third position. Khadiya eventually extended her support to the Congress.

In around 35 seats of the total 200, NOTA secured the third highest vote share, including 17 won by the Congress and 16 bagged by the BJP.

The seats where the BJP won and NOTA secured the third highest vote share were Churu, Ajmer South, Nasirabad, Soorsagar, Jalore, Raniwara, Reodar, Udaipur Rural, Mavli, Dhariyawad, Ghatol, Rajsamand, Jahazpur, Dag, Manohar Thana, and Malviya Nagar.

Similarly, in Rajakhera, Hindaun, Lalsot, Khandar, Niwai, Jaisalmer, Nimbahera, Pratapgarh, Nathdwara, Hindoli, Kota North, Kishanganj, Pilani, Kolayat, Jamwa Ramgarh, Civil lines, and Adarsh Nagar, NOTA secured the third position while the Congress won the election.

In around 65 seats, NOTA secured the fourth-highest vote share. These included Jhalrapatan, Suratgarh, Khajuwala, Bikaner West, Sadulpur, Mandawa, Khetri, Sikar, Dhod, Shahpura, Chomu, Jhotwara, Amber, Sanganer, Alwar Rural, and Khanpur.

Jhadol secured the second highest NOTA votes at 7,457, followed by Reodar with 6,108.

In 2013, the highest NOTA count was from Pindwara Abu (7,253 votes), followed by Keshoraipatan (7,230 votes).
The Congress will come to power in Telangana and the first cabinet meeting will be held on December 9, Sonia Gandhis birthday, to pass the orders to implement all six election promises in the state, senior party leader and deputy chief minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar told News18 in an exclusive interview.

People want change and want to see KCR restricted to his famed farmhouse permanently, he said.

Hitting the campaign trail in Telangana, where his popularity matches as that in his home state, Shivakumar also commented on the caste census controversy in Karnataka and the withdrawal of the state governments approval for a CBI probe against him.

Edited excerpts:

You seem to be as popular in Telangana as in Karnataka

I am a ground-level worker; leadership is next. Whatever we promise, whatever I speak, I do so with confidence, and that has been my strength. I have come to tell the people of Telangana that there should be a change. Sonia Gandhi ji made a promise to give you Telangana and delivered. You should be grateful to her and repay her.

Ten years have been given to KCR, and he has failed to fulfil the promises and commitments made to the people of Telangana. Voters have a choice; you have to be grateful. We have given you six guarantees, and that will change the family and economic life of all. Our six guarantees cover all aspects: housing, health, pension, Bhagyalakshmi, and also provide for farmers. These guarantees are enough for a common man to lead a common life. This is the commitment of the Congress party.

Will the Karnataka model work in Telangana?

Of course! K Chandrasekhar Rao did not fulfil the promises made, and I have come here to highlight that. What we promised in Karnataka, we cleared it in our very first cabinet. I am telling you the Congress party will come to power; on December 9, Sonia Gandhi jis birthday, we will have a cabinet meeting to implement all six guarantees in Telangana.

How confident is the Congress now in Telangana?

Lets take a look at the constituency that I am in now  Warangal. The BRS candidate is a former deputy CM and MP. Despite his influence, people here are asking for change. They want a leader who will keep their promises; people want change and want to see KCR restricted to his famed farmhouse permanently.

You have added a sixth guarantee in Telangana, one more than Karnataka. This health insurance is being seen as a copy of the scheme that the BRS introduced. The BRS says that the Congress is copying their schemes. How do you react?

We need not copy anybody. After we gave these guarantees, both KCR and Modiji copied it. Modiji had said that the entire state will vanish, and Telangana will face a financial crisis. Now you see, Modiji has given a certificate to his partner that this will be a state with the highest corruption. First, let KCR give answers on the state of corruption. I also ask the voters to answer. The BJP knows they will not come to power, and so they are supporting KCR and his party through the back door. With our guarantees, we will change the destiny of the people of Telangana.

There is talk of an internal rift within the Congress on who will be the chief minister in case your party wins.

No question of in case; the Congress party will win. With the collective leadership, all will decide as to who will be the chief minister like we did in Karnataka.

The Karnataka cabinet has decided to withdraw approval for a CBI probe against you. How do you react?

There are a lot of lacunae connected with the case. I dont want to be an advocate for myself. I did not attend the cabinet. Its a call taken by the government. I had applied on the issue that whatever permission given was invalid. That is what the advocate general at the time said it was not right. I dont want to take a call on the decision.

They say its relief for you from the Karnataka government because the Congress is in power.

I dont want to say anything. I have not done anything wrong. It is a political call they have taken. This is a legal call that the government has taken, I feel.

On the caste census, it is being said that papers are missing, and its being done as a strategic political move.

We are committed to the socio-economic survey or the census that we have announced. We are saying there should be a systematic survey to be done.

It is being said that there are pages missing, and the report may be hidden.

I dont want to comment any further.
Called Mini India because of its diversity, Malkajgiri in Telanganas Medchal-Malkajgiri district is Indias largest assembly constituency by the number of voters. In 2018, there were approximately 4 lakh voters while this time it is estimated to be 5 lakh.

Apart from a sizeable north Indian population, many from Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also settled in Malkajgiri. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP national president JP Nadda had recently held public meetings here.

Most of the residents here have decided to vote for the BJP. We want someone who will work for the development of the country. Also, most of them are upper caste Hindus and they support the BJP. Our candidate is an educated person and we trust he can bring change. We voted for the Congress and BRS in the past and we are not happy, said a shopkeeper in Goutham Nagar.

The politics

Ramchander Rao, Malkajgiris BJP candidate, is the president of the city unit. A lawyer by profession, he was an MLC from 2015 to 2021.

The assembly constituency was in the news in August after sitting BRS MLA Mynampally Hanumantha Rao lashed out at health minister Harish Rao for creating hurdles in the way of his son Rohith Reddy getting a ticket from Medak constituency.

Though his remarks met retaliation from the BRS, he still got the party ticket to contest the polls from Malkajgiri. The MLA, however, was adamant about his sons ticket and jumped ship to the Congress, which gave tickets to both.

The BRS then fielded Marri Rajashekar Reddy from the constituency, who had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls earlier. He is the son-in-law of state labour minister Malla Reddy, who is well-known for his chain of educational institutes and is one of the richest politicians in Telangana.

Interestingly, Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy is the MP from Malkajgiri.

More voices

There are 75 percent north Indians in Malkajgiri. In 2018, there were 60,000 ex-servicemen votes here. This year, the number is estimated to be 75,000. This year, the BJP is going to win this segment. Hanumantha Rao has joined the Congress so those who would have voted for the BRS will vote for the Congress this time. This will bring down BRS votes, which will work in favour of the BJP. Leaders like Nirmala Sitharaman and JP Nadda have held public meetings here. We are positive that the BJP will clinch at least 25 seats in the state, said Dharmendra Kumar Singh, a BJP booth manager getting ready for a door-to-door campaign in Goutham Nagar.

There are three army centres in and around Malkajgiri  Ordnance Corps centre, Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, and Hakimpet air force station. This is the reason why people from across the country have come here and many have made Hyderabad their home.

Kendriya Vidyalayas and Sainik schools have also made it easy for the army personnel to settle for the education of their children. Many have bought homes and have been residing here for the past 25 years. In Goutham Nagar, there are a number of railway employees as the Railway Nilayam is located nearby.

Farther away from Goutham Nagar, however, an auto driver said his vote will go to the BRS. No one is better than KCR. Its wiser to vote for local parties. In national parties, the decision making process is cumbersome. They have to take approvals from multiple panels before decisions are made for the state. Why should others make decisions for my state? he asked.

The well-tended houses of army personnel give way to slums as you move towards Moula Ali area. Pre-poll scenes are more evident here as security personnel, who have set up a post near Kaman, are regularly checking vehicles for illegal cash. Campaign vehicles of the BRS and Congress are seen making several trips.

It does not matter that Hanumantha Rao jumped ship to the Congress. He has been an accessible MLA and did a lot of work here. There is an RTC colony behind, which is a hilly area that did not have good roads. The MLA laid out concrete roads, installed streetlights and worked towards other civic issues. Before this, an area measuring 1,000 square yards cost Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. Now, the cost has gone up to Rs 30 lakh due to the makeover, said a voter on condition of anonymity.

We have never met the BRS candidate (Marri Rajashekar Reddy). Their idea is to buy votes as they are very rich. It is true that some young voters will be swayed by money, but older ones will only vote for the people who bring development. Hanumantha Rao is well-respected here, the voter added.
Sony TVs daily soap, Barsaatein: Mausam Pyaar Ka has delighted audiences with its gripping storyline since its launch in July 2023. The shows ability to resonate with viewers has contributed to its success as it recently reached a significant milestone as the telly series completed 100 episodes. In celebration of this achievement, the lead actors, Shivangi Joshi and Kushal Tandon, took to their social media platforms, sharing clips from the show and thanked the fans for their love. Fans of the beloved actors celebrated the series milestone by creating special edits and using 100epsofAransh in every post.

Shivangi delighted her fans by reposting fan-made video clips featuring her character, Aradhana, on the other hand, Kushal shared a sneak peek from an upcoming episode, teasing a romantic moment between the couple during Aradhanas haldi ceremony. Along with the picture, the actor added, Happy 100 and a heart emoji.

To make Kushal Tandons day more special, the former Bigg Boss contestant received a sweet surprise, a customized cake from a devoted fan from Malaysia. The cake had a message for the Barsaatein: Mausam Pyaar Ka actor, which read, Congratulations on completing 100th episode as Reyansh Lamba. You have repeatedly given brilliant performances in episodes. Hats off. You are amazing as Reyansh, hope you liked the cake. Sending lots of love from Malaysia.

The ongoing storyline in Barsaatein follows Shivangi Joshis character Aradhana Sahni, torn between her commitment to marry Jay Khurana played by Simba Nagpal and her feelings for Kushal Tandons character Reyansh Lamba. In the upcoming episodes, Aradhana finds herself in emotional chaos as she deals with conflicting emotions as she imagines Reyanshs presence in her room. Fans will be delighted seeing her visualize Reyansh kissing her. This thought of her will leave her with mixed feelings.

The romantic drama series starring Kushal Tandon and Shivangi Joshi is produced by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. It has struck a chord with viewers since it premiered on July 10, 2023. The storyline revolves around Aradhana, a dedicated journalist and Reyansh, her boss. The plot takes a turn when a misunderstanding leads Reyansh to think that Aradhana took advantage of him. Due to this, Reyansh dismisses her from the office. However, he later understands his mistakes.

Before working for Barsaatein: Mausam Pyaar Ka, Shivangi Joshi was seen in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai while Kushal Tandon was featured in Ekta Kapoors web series titled Bebaakee.
Bigg Boss 17, one of the most popular reality shows, is getting interesting with every passing day. On Saturday Weekend Ka Vaar fans saw the shocking turn of events as Salman Khan was seen scolding some contestants for their behaviour. The show became more interesting when Khanzaadi was seen shouting at the actor after he slammed her for always bringing up health issues. Jigna Vora was also eliminated from the show.

Vicky Jain and Ankita Lokhandes mothers

Vicky Jain and Ankita Lokhandes mothers were seen in the show. Salman Khan introduced them to the audience. Earlier, the promo was released by the makers in which we saw both Ankita and Vicky becoming emotional after seeing them. Vicky Jains mother will be seen raising questions about him fighting with Ankita. She will also scold Ankita for raising her slipper on Vicky.

Orry Awatramani enters BB 17

The show started with a surprise wild card entry of Orry Awatramani. Rumours had been going on for a long time and now finally it ended with his entry. He made a grand entrance to the show. Fans are expecting a new twist into the intense atmosphere of the Bigg Boss house after his arrival.

Sunny Leone and Abhishek Singh arrived

Salman Khan invited actresses Sunny Leone and Abhishek Singh, an IAS officer. Sunny and Abhishek came to promote their song Third Party. This song has been written by Abhishek himself. After this, Salman makes Sunny Leone meet Sunny Tehelka through a prank. Sunny Leone then gives the task to Munavvar to show the acting of Isha and Abhishek. After this, all the boys danced one by one in front of Sunny Leone and impressed the actress. Abhishek and Sunny Leone then make the housemates do a task. He asks everyone one by one who will not get along with him in the house. Then they will apply gulal on his or her face with three fingers. The fight also broke between the contestants during the task.

Salman Khan slammed Khanzaadi

During the task, Khanzaadi was seen getting upset after her health problem was discussed by everyone. She kept on saying that not discuss. Salman tells Khanzaadi that if she did not want to talk about health then why did she say it. Meanwhile, Khanzaadi says that she has to go home. She starts crying and screaming. Ankita then tells Salman that Khanzaadi has been in a wheelchair for three years. She had fallen and got hurt. Khanzaadi even was seen abusing. Salman again said  All this drama will not work with me. He said that Khanzaadis psychiatrist had said that she was fit and hence came into the house.

Jigna Vora evicted

Later, in the end, Salman Khan announced Jigna Voras name for eviction.
Police have registered a case of murder after the body of a man was found on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtras Palghar district, an official said on Saturday.

The body was discovered on the carriageway on November 22 within the limits of the Bapane village, he said.

While the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police initially registered an accidental death case, they upgraded it with section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code on Friday after receiving the autopsy report of the man, aged around 25 years, the official said. Efforts are on to identify the man as well as those behind his murder, he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of Belagavi Cantonment Board was found dead at his official residence here on Saturday morning, police said. K Anand (40), who hailed from Tamil Nadu, was posted in Belagavi for over the last one and a half years. He lived alone here.

No visible injury marks were found on his body, they said and suspect it to be a case of suicide. However, no suicide note has been recovered yet. According to the police, Anand had not been going to the office for the last two days.

When a police team reached his residence this morning, the main door was locked from inside. The team then broke open the door and found him lying lifeless on the floor.

The exact cause of death would be ascertained through an autopsy, a senior police officer said. The incident comes a few days after the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids on the Cantonment Board for alleged irregularities in the recruitment of employees in 2021.
Given the crucial lessons from the Covid-19 outbreak, it is essential for China to investigate the causes of any unexplained illness promptly and come clean, Dr NK Arora, the head of the Centres Covid panel told News18.

According to Dr Arora, head of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI)  an apex panel that takes critical decisions on using and deploying Covid-19 vaccines in India  if independent verification proves challenging for China, the country should immediately seek international collaborations.

China has been experiencing a strain on hospitals recently because of a sharp increase in cases of unexplained pneumonia-like illness. Earlier this week, ProMED, an online medical community, noted a number of media reports of clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia among children in northern China. It was ProMED that had raised questions in late 2019 about an unknown illness circulating in Wuhan, which later became Covid-19.

The world is closely watching the evolving situation in China, which is unfolding eerily similar to how the Covid-19 pandemic had first started with unexplained pneumonia-like illness.

Dr Arora told News18 that the world expects the World Health Organisation to pursue the situation strongly and go forward to catalyse international collaborations to promptly identify the cause of the outbreak.

Arora said the UN health agency must insist on greater transparency, especially with respect to two aspects  handling of the outbreak and sharing the results emerging from the investigations.

Learnings from Covid Should Not Go to Waste

In this post-Covid world, Arora said, everyone has understood that national boundaries are meaningless. Hence, urgent action can save lives if a pathogen has pandemic potential.

The world must not let any delay happen here and promptly investigate all three aspects  clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological, including strong genomic surveillance.

Even if the evolving situation in China fizzles out soon, India and other countries should never disband their genomic surveillance networks which have been established as learning from Covid-19, he said.

The world must continue enhancing genomic analytical capabilities and strengthen the mechanism put during the outbreak for catching future outbreaks on time.
A constable of Madhya Pradesh Polices Special Armed Forces (SAF) was killed in Gwalior by his father and brother in the early hours of Thursday. He was killed after an argument over why his marriage was being delayed, police said.

The 32-year-old victim  Anurag Rajawat  was killed in his father, head constable Sukhveer Rajawats official quarters, a Times of India report noted.

Other than the father, two other persons are also accused in the murder of the SAF constable. The two are his younger brother, 22-year-old Govind, and a family friend, Bhim Singh Parihar.

Anurag  posted in Bhopal  argued with his family over the delay in his wedding being fixed and that too, on a regular basis. However, considering his alcoholism, his family was skeptical about getting him married.

Reportedly another squabble broke out between on Wednesday night when the the mother of the deceased was away from home, in Bhopal. This time, the usual argument turned into a murder, leaving Anurag dead.

At around 1:30 am on Thursday, three men were spotted on a motorcycle near Girwai police station  about 4 km from the SAF premises  by a police patrol. Suspicion arose when the trio attempted to evade the police, after which they were detained.

A while after their detention, a body was found dumped near the perimeters of the SAF compound, in a cluster of bushes. Anurags body was found with a head injury.

Following this, the three  Sukhveer, Govind, and Bhim Singh  were interrogated by the police, during which they confessed to the crime. The trio were placed under arrest by the police.

The victims younger brother also gave an account of how the murder unfolded. Police said that after Anurag started arguing, he was under control and only stick to the house, however the quarrel kept spiraling until Govind attacked him, leading to his death.

The trio tried desperately to get rid of the body quietly, however, they were caught when a police patrol spotted them on their way back.

Last month, a 28-year-old man was arrested in Nagpur for allegedly strangling his mother after she refused to give him money to buy a smartphone, police said.

The 47-year-old victim, Kamlabai Badwaik, died on October 18. A murder investigation was launched after post-mortem reports stated her cause of death as strangulation.

Her other son Deepak had said that he received a call that his mother was rushed to a hospital by his brother Ramnath  the accused  shortly after which she died.

After Deepak alerted police, Ramnath was questioned on the basis of suspicion. He confessed to killing her with a scarf as she had refused to give him money for a smartphone, a police official said.

(With PTI inputs)
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who had arrived in Kyiv on an official visit the day before, witnessed a massive Russian drone attack on the capital on the night of November 25. He was forced to hide in a shelter.

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Rinkevics posted the photo on his Twitter account. The caption to the photo says that it was taken on November 25 at 5:10 am.

As a reminder, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Russian army launched a record number of drones at Ukraine last night: about 75. Air defense forces shot down 71 of them.

The attack was mainly aimed at Kyiv, where more than 60 drones were destroyed.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- On November 24, Edgars Rinkevics met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. During the meeting, they discussed the defense needs of the Armed Forces, the need to strengthen air defense, and Ukraine's accession to the EU.

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- Ukraine is increasing the number of mobile groups to fight Shahed drones. Work to strengthen the protection of energy infrastructure and civilian facilities is also underway.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A court in Rajasthans Jaipur sentenced three people for killing a 28-year-old businessman, whom one of the accused had met five years ago on an online dating platform.

Sessions Judge Ajit Kumar Hinger, in his order on Friday said that the prosecution has presented adequate evidence in order to verify the facts.

A 28-year old man was stabbed to death by his Tinder date after the victims family failed to pay Rs 10 lakh as a part of a ransom which she demanded after kidnapping the man at her place.

Prosecution counsel Sandeep Lohariya quoted the judge as saying, The prosecution has presented adequate evidence to authenticate these facts. The evidence presented by the prosecution proved that the accused have committed the crime.

On the basis of the evidence, the three accused was convicted by the court under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Priya and Dushyant started their relationship in February 2018 but on the basis of two lies. The accused, 27-year old Priya started interacting with the man only to kidnap and extort money from him whereas the victim, identified as Dushyant lied about the fact that he was already married. He also claimed himself to be a wealthy businessman from Delhi and used a fake name  Vivan Kohli- on the online dating platform.

As per several media reports, the accused kidnapped Dushyant after calling him to her place with the help of her two companions  Dikshant Kamra and Lakshya Walia.

On making a ransom call to the victims family in order to demand Rs 10 lakh, Priya and her accomplices realised that Dushyant had put up a fake identity all this time.

After the victims father deposited Rs 3 lakh in his sons account, the accused used Dushyants debit card to withdraw Rs 20,000 from an ATM near Jaipurs Nehru Udhyan. Fearing that their crime will come to light, the accused killed Dushyant, cut his body into pieces and stuffed them into a suitcase, and then dumped it on the Delhi road.

Priya and Dikashant have a criminal history. She was arrested thrice in 2014, 2016 and 2017 for breaking an ATM machine while Kamra was arrested once in Mumbai.

(with PTI inputs)
Four out of five convicts in the murder case of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan were sentenced to life imprisonment on Saturday while the fifth convict was given three years in jail. Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan was killed in 2008.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey also imposed a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh on all the convicts- Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ajay Kumar.

Noting that he had already undergone over 14 years of imprisonment in connection with the case, the court sentenced Ajay Sethi to three years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 7.25 lakh

The court also ordered that of the total fine amount imposed on the convicts, Rs 12 lakh will be paid to the victims family.

Regarding the demands for the death penalty to the convicts, the court noted that their offence does not fall in the category of rarest of rare cases.

During the proceedings, the victims mother Madhavi Vishwanathan told the court that she has been waiting for justice for over 15 years.

Meanwhile, Soumya Viswanathans mother, while talking to ANI, said she was not satisfied with the courts verdict but said she was happy that the quantum of punishment would send out a message in the society.

I am not satisfied, but I can say it is a good thing. A message has been given to society that you have to face consequences for what you do, said Vishwanathans mother.

Soumya Vishwanathan Murder

Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, who was working with a leading English news channel, was shot dead in the early hours of September 30, 2008, on south Delhis Nelson Mandela Marg while she was returning home from work.

Police claimed the motive was a robbery. On October 18, the court convicted Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) provisions for committing organised crime resulting in the death of any person.

Ajay Sethi was convicted under IPC section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and MCOCA provisions for conspiring to abet, aid, or knowingly facilitate organised crime and receiving proceeds of organised crime.

(With PTI inputs)
Two BJP leaders from Uttar Pradesh faced criticism on social media over a photo op with the grieving mother of Indian Army Captain Shubham Gupta who was among the five Army soldiers killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri between Wednesday and Thursday.

In the video surfaced on social media, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Yogendra Upadhyay and BJP MLA GS Dharmesh are seen trying to get their photo taken with the grieving mother while handing over two cheques to her at their Agra residence. She is seen sobbing and asking them to stop the public display.

Yeh pradarshini mat lagao bhai (dont make this a public display). Get my son back, I dont want all this, she says, but the leaders look at her and turn back to face the cameras.

Opposition parties shared the video and slammed the BJP for its leaders insensitivity.

Congress posted the video on their X (formerly Twitter) handle with a one-word caption, Vultures.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha also shared the video on his X handle and wrote, The B in BJP should stand for Besharm and P for Publicity. Captain Shubham Gupta made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during an encounter in the Rajouri sector. His mother is grieving and eagerly awaiting her sons mortal remains. In the midst of her inconsolable sorrow, UP governments BJP Minister Yogendra Upadhyay shamelessly persists on having a photograph taken for his PR  this, despite the mothers plea to refrain from turning her grief into a spectacle. Shame.

The B in BJP should stand for Besharm and P for Publicity.Captain Shubham Gupta made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during an encounter in the Rajouri sector. His mother is grieving and eagerly awaiting her sons mortal remains. In the midst of her inconsolable pic.twitter.com/IXUX0a3Iu1  Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) November 24, 2023

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also shared the video and wrote, Shameless, insensitive.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had paid tributes to Captain Gupta on Thursday and announced a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a government job for a member of his family.
In a shocking incident, a 38-year-old woman has been arrested for the murder of her husband in Maharashtras Pune, after he refused to take her to Dubai for her birthday celebration. The incident occurred at the couples flat in a posh residential society in Punes Wanavdi area on Friday, after the accused punched 36-year-old Nikhil Khanna on the nose during a fight.

According to police, the accused, identified as Renuka, and Nikhil a businessman in the construction industry had a love marriage six years ago.

During prima facie, police found that on Friday afternoon, the couple had a fight because Nikhil did not take Renuka to Dubai to celebrate her birthday and did not give her expensive gifts on her birthday as well as the anniversary.

Renuka was also upset with Nikhil for not giving a favorable response to her wish to go to Delhi to celebrate the birthdays of some relatives, an official said.

During the fight, in a fit of rage, Renuka punched Nikhil in the face. The impact of the punch was so hard that Nikhils nose and some teeth were broken. With heavy bleeding, Nikhil lost consciousness, the official said.

The police has registered a case into the matter and booked Renuka under section 302 (punishment for murder) of Indian Penal Code and arrested her for further investigation.
The central government has placed an order of Rs 36,468 crore for 83 LCA Mk 1A Tejas aircraft with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Their delivery is scheduled to begin by February 2024, official sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the HAL facility in Bengaluru on Saturday and took a sortie in the fighter jet in full gear. Sources said the government under his leadership has taken giant steps for increasing Indias defence preparedness and indigenisation, including the Tejas fighter aircraft.

The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016. At present, two squadrons are fully operational with LCA Tejas, sources said.

Sources further said more than Rs 9,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and more lethal version of LCA Tejas.

To further promote indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine, the transfer of technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India was negotiated with the US firm during the prime ministers visit to the country in June, sources added.

Prime Minister Modi, meanwhile, said his experience on the Tejas aircraft has bolstered his confidence in the countrys indigenous capabilities. Taking to social media platform X, he said, Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our countrys indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential.

He added: Flying in Tejas today, I can say with immense pride that due to our hard work and dedication, we are no less than anyone in the world in the field of self-reliance. Heartiest congratulations to the Indian Air Force, DRDO and HAL as well as all Indians.

Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential. pic.twitter.com/4aO6Wf9XYO Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2023

Officials said the PM visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to review the ongoing work at its manufacturing facilities. He has been pushing for indigenous production of defence products and highlighting how his government has boosted their manufacturing in India and also their exports.

Several countries have evinced interest in buying Tejas, a light combat aircraft. Defence minister Rajnath Singh noted in April that Indias defence exports have reached an all-time high of Rs 15,920 crore in 2022-2023. He called it a remarkable achievement for the country.

(With PTI inputs)
Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Updates: The rescue operations to evacuate 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district entered the fourteenth day on Saturday. The drilling was again halted last night after the auger machine encountered another glitch.

With one hurdle or the other not letting the auger machine drill further and lay steel pipes through the rubble to prepare an escape route, rescuers are considering option of manual drilling. However, manual drilling takes longer time.

As soon as after the auger drilling machine is brought out of the tunnel pipeline, manual drilling work could be started in the last 6-9 meters,; said a senior official who is part of the rescue operation.

Refusing to give the time frame of the rescue operation, the official said that the new drilling process today might bring good results.

However, according to sources, the situation is getting tougher with every passing hour.

The auger machine has stuck inside the pipe. At least 30 meter of the machine has been stuck inside the pipe. Some part of it has been taken out manually Around 21.5 meters of the auger drill has been removed from the 800 mm diameter pipe. It is expected that the entire operation of removing the drill will happen by tonight. Manual tunneling teams have reached the spot. Once the entire blade is removed then the manual drilling process will start, they said.

According to International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix the auger has broken and is irreparable now. There are multiple ways. Its not just one way At the moment, everything is fine You will not see the Augering anymore. Auger is finished. The auger (machine) has broken. Its irreparable. It is disrupted. No more work from auger. No more drilling from auger. There will not be a new auger, he said.

Meanwhile, heavy machines for vertical drilling have also reached Silkyara Tunnel site. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami also went to Uttarkashi, to take stock of the rescue operation underway.

,                            -                pic.twitter.com/hgD4TyScrU  Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 25, 2023

Addressing media, Dhami said, a plasma cutter has been called in from Hyderabad to cut through debris manually. The rescue operations are happening in very difficult situations We are expecting by tomorrow morning the entire machine will be taken out.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has deployed ground-penetrating radar on the evacuation site, which can scan up to five meters into the soil to determine the obstacles, and then the movement of the auger machine will be done.

Relief and rescue work, which entered the 13th day, is being carried out by scientists, international experts, NDRF, SDRF, and BRO on a war footing. Officials said currently there is no timeline as to when the the operation could be resumed and workers would be rescued, however, they hope to evacuate them at the earliest.

While addressing a press briefing on the tunnel rescue operation, NDMA member Lt, Hasnain said, All 41 workers trapped are in normal and happy state. Every necessary item is being given to them. Line of communication too is normal. More family members have arrived. There morale is on all time high.

Adrressing the media, NHAI Member Vishal Chauhan said that the operation has reached 47 meters and that only 12-15 meters more is left.

#WATCH | Silkyara tunnel rescue operation | Vishal Chauhan, Member, NHAI says, As we have reached 47 meters. We now have to go 12-15 meters more. It could be 10, 12 or 14 meters, that we have to go manually nowThe environment impact assessment of this project has also been pic.twitter.com/5l5FMCDYGX ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Timeline Of Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse

On November 12, labourers got trapped as portions of the Silkyara-Dandalgaon under-construction tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri highway collapse following a landslide at around 5.30 am on the day of Diwali. Rescue efforts are launched by the district administration and arrangements made to supply oxygen, electricity and eatables to the trapped labourers through air-compressed pipes.

On November 13, contact was established with the trapped workers through a pipe meant to supply oxygen to them and they are reported to be safe. Rescue efforts continued as fresh rubble kept falling from above due to which the debris accumulated in an area of around 30 metres spreads to 60 metres, further complicating the evacuation process.

On November 14, steel pipes of 800- and 900-millimetre diameterwere brought to the tunnel site to be inserted through the rubble with the help of an auger machine for horizontal digging.However, when more rubble fell from the cavity created by the cave-in, two labourers sustain minor injuries.

On November 15, dissatisfied with the first drilling machine, the NHIDCL asked for a state-of-the-art auger machine, whichwas airlifted from Delhi to speed up the operation.

On November 16, the drilling machine was assembled and installed and it started working past midnight.

On November 17, working overnight, the machine drilled about 24 metres through the 57-metre stretch rubble stretch by the afternoon and four MS pipes were inserted.The process comes to a halt when the fifth pipe hit an obstacle. Yet another high-performance auger machine was flown down from Indore to assist in the rescue efforts.In the evening, the NHIDCL, during the positioning of the fifth pipe, reported that a big cracking sound was heard in the tunnel. An expert warned about the possibility of further collapse in the vicinity and the operation was suspended immediately.

On November 18, drilling remained halted as experts felt that the vibrations created by the diesel-driven 1,750-horsepower American auger inside the tunnel might cause more debris to collapse, posing a risk to the lives of the rescue personnel.Alternative options were explored by a team of officials from the PMO and experts who decided to work on five evacuation plans simultaneously, including vertical drilling through the top of the tunnel to rescue the trapped labourers.

On November 19, drilling again remained suspended while Union minister Nitin Gadkari who reviewed the rescue operation said boring horizontally with the huge auger machine appeared to be the best bet.

November 20, rescuers pushed through a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubble, a breakthrough that helped them supply larger quantities of food and other essentials to trapped workers.However, the horizontal drilling that got suspended after a boulder appeared to block the progress of the heavy-duty auger machine remained suspended.

On November 21, rescuers released the first video of the labourers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel. The workers, wearing yellow and white helmets, were seen receiving food items sent to them through the pipeline and talking to each other.Two blasts were set off at the Balkot-end of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route, beginning the process of drilling another tunnel  an alternative to the Silkyara-end option. However, this approach could take up to 40 days, experts said.The NHIDCL resumed overnight the horizontal boring operation from the Silkyara end that involved an auger machine.

On November 22, ambulances were positioned on standby and a special ward at a local health centre was made ready. Horizontal drilling of 800 mm diameter steel pipes reached about 45 metres with only 12 metres remaining of the around 57-metre debris stretch.However, in a late evening development, the drilling hit a hurdle when some iron rods came in the way of the auger machine.

On November 23, the iron obstruction that had caused a delay of six hours in the drilling is were removed and rescue operations were resumed. State governments nodal officer told reporters that drilling had progressed by 1.8 metre and 48-metre point has been reached by the drill.But boring through the rubble had to be put on hold again apparently after cracks appeared in the platform on which the drilling machine ressted.

On November 24, the 25-tonne machine was restarted and drilling was resumed. However, a fresh hurdle came in the way of boring after the drill hit a metal girder. The rescue operation is was halted again.

(With inputs from agencies)
Two persons died after the Swift car in which they were sitting caught fire in Uttar Pradeshs Noida early Saturday morning.

According to chief fire officer, Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, the fire department received a call at 6:25 am from a resident of a society in Sector 119 about a white Swift car ablaze on the main road outside Amrapali Platinum residential society in Sector 119.

2 dead after fire engulfs a car in Noidas Sector 119 area. The incident happened at Amrapali Platinum residential society. #Noida #Fire #Video pic.twitter.com/iB8aKalRSB Vani Mehrotra (@vani_mehrotra) November 25, 2023

Immediately, a firefighter team was rushed to the spot and fire was doused. Two male bodies were recovered from inside the car. It was a petrol car with a Ghaziabad registration number, Chaubey said.

The deceased are yet to be identified and the bodies have been sent to the mortuary for postmortem, said Shakti Avasthy, additional deputy commissioner of police, Noida.

Forensic and technical teams arrived on the spot, and an investigation into the incident has been launched, added Avasthy.

As per CCTV footage around the area, the car was seen outside the society at 6:08 am and by 6:11 am. It burst into flames on its own. No other person can be seen around the car at the time, he added.

#WATCH | Shakti Mohan Awasthi, ADCP, Noida, says, In the morning, we got information about the burning of a white Swift car in Sector 119 standing in front of Amrapali Platinum Society As soon as the information was received, local police and fire police reached the spot, pic.twitter.com/RzyyQXGh0X ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 25, 2023

In September 2023, two brothers were killed and three other persons sustained injuries after a car they were travelling in caught fire in Mumbai.

According to a PTI report, the incident took place at around 4:00 am on B A Road in the Matunga area after the CNG car hit a road divider when the occupants of the vehicles were returning after having a party.

The car suddenly burst into flames and its occupants did not get time to get out of the vehicle, a fire official said.
An around a week-old infant was found dumped on the Darbaripur road in Haryanas Gurugram with its throat slit, police said on Friday. Soaked in blood, the baby was spotted by a sweeper on the morning of November 17 who swiftly informed the police.

Police officials reached the site and sent the body for post-mortem. Officials also made inquiries in the surrounding area about the baby but got no leads. A senior officer also noted they checked several CCTVs within 1 km of the crime spot but found nothing.

Meanwhile, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem, said that the child was no more than a week old.

On the basis of the post-mortem report released on Thursday, an FIR was registered against unknown persons at Badshahpur Police Station under charges of murder, destruction of evidence, and concealment of birth.

An investigation into the killing is underway with assistance from a crime branch team. Police are enquiring street vendors and other people to identify the child and the murderer.

In September 2023, a 28-year-old woman was booked by the Mumbai police for allegedly throwing her 39-day-old baby from the 14th floor of a building, leading to her death. According to reports, the accused is mentally ill and has speech and hearing disorders.

We enquired with the mother and learnt she was speech and hearing impaired and her husband has the same disabilities. She is from Surat and had come to her parents home during pregnancy. She allegedly threw the girl around 6.30 am, Hindustan Times quoted a police officer as saying.

(With PTI inputs)
The Kerala Story actress Adah Sharma was reportedly purchasing the flat in the Mont Blanc Apartments in Mumbai, where late actor Sushant Singh Rajput used to live. This news had sparked curiosity and interest among fans and the public alike back in August. Sushant Singh Rajputs unfortunate demise in 2020 sent shockwaves across the nation. His body was discovered in that apartment on June 14, 2020. Since that tragic day, the flat has reportedly remained vacant. Now Adah has broken silence over the news.

Speaking with Hindustan Times, Adah Sharma shared, My house is my temple, I wouldnt want every tabloid and phone splashing things about where I am living. I have always lived in Pallai in my fathers house, since childhood. Even if I decide to move, this is not how I am going to announce the news. I would like to share it in my own way. Where you live, your house, your home, is something very personal to me. Let people keep guessing, I will take my time to confirm the reports. Right now, my focus is to live in peoples hearts, and even in the future.

She also added, I have a personal choice to share with everyone. I can tell my fans whenever I want. I dont feel uncomfortable due to any rumours. The rumours and everything is a part of my life as an actor. I dont take it as a privacy invasion or anything, of course fans hain toh unhe jaanne ki utsukta hoti hogi. They want to know our favourite colour, food, etc.

Media reports from earlier this year indicated that many potential tenants were hesitant to take the flat due to its grim association with Sushants death. Prospective renters would turn away from visiting the flat upon learning about its history. Many preferred to explore other flats in the same area, away from the controversy that clings to this particular one. However, as time passed, more people started to consider renting it.

The apartments real estate agent, Rafique Merchant, had also posted an online advertisement in hopes of finding new tenants or owners for the flat in December 2022.

The spacious duplex 4BHK flat at Mont Blanc Apartments boasts a breathtaking sea view and spans 2,500 square feet, complete with a terrace. Located on Carter Road in Mumbais Bandra West, this flat is on the sixth floor.

The late actor had reportedly moved into this residence in December 2019, agreeing to a monthly rent of 4.51 lakh. He shared this abode with his roommates and then-girlfriend, actress Rhea Chakraborty.
Khakee Season One, titled Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, left audiences impressed. Backed by Neeraj Pandey, the series featured talented actors such as Karan Tacker, Avinash Tiwary, Nikita Dutta, Abhimanyu Singh, Ravi Kishan, Ashutosh Rana, Anup Soni and others. The inaugural season follows the story of an honest police officer who gets entangled in struggles as he hunts down the most dreaded criminal of Bihar. Recently, season 2 was announced and today, the team is celebrating the one year anniversary of the Netflix web series. Among the cast members, Karan shared a series of behind the scenes snapshots featuring the protagonist, played by Avinash and director Bhav Dhulia.

The actor delighted fans by sharing pictures of him in the police costume. Among these images, one features the actor alongside crew members, including his on-screen wife played by Nikita Dutta. Additionally, the Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai star shared an interesting moment with the real-life inspiration behind the character, IPS officer Amit Lodha, who has also written the original book. These pictures give us a glimpse of Karans dedication to his role. Sharing the picture, Karan wrote, Happy 1 year to Khakee. Just a scroll back into some beautiful unforgettable memories. A big thank you to everyone who made it happen including the audience for giving it all so much love.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Tacker (@karantacker)

Earlier, in a conversation with New Indian Express, Karan Tacker spoke about his preparation for his role in Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. The actor said, As an actor, I try to find the truth about the character. Whether it is a real character or fictional doesnt necessarily define my approach to my acting. Eventually, as an actor, you are trying to make the character as believable as possible. Even if I try to portray a superhero tomorrow, Ill play it in the most convincing way possible. Primarily, all you are trying to do as an actor is to bring out the truth of the character.

After playing Amits character, I started valuing real-life relationships more. The other takeaway is the realisation of how hard the people in uniform work. It is a thankless job, he added.

Following the success of Season 1, Neeraj Pandey previously confirmed the development of Khakee Season 2. While the filmmaker didnt share details about plot and cast members, diehard fans of the show are eagerly waiting for its release. Presently, no official launch date has been disclosed. However, speculations suggest the series might stream on Netflix from 2024.
On the night of November 25, Russian terrorist forces launched one of the most massive drone attacks on Ukraine. Air defense forces destroyed most of the enemy UAVs.

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About 40% of the targets were shot down by mobile fire groups. This was reported by the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk.

According to him, the Russian occupiers launched 75 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs at Ukraine at night. The main target of the attack was Kyiv and the Kyiv region.

Thanks to the skills of the Ukrainian military, 74 UAVs were destroyed. Oleshchuk also emphasized the combat work of mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine. According to him, it was the mobile groups that shot down about 40% of the UAVs.

In his turn, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhii Naiev emphasized that 55 enemy attack drones were destroyed in the Northern Operational Zone.

According to him, 28 kamikaze drones were destroyed by mobile air defense fire groups equipped with heavy machine guns, man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft guns.

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The defenders shot down 7 attack drones in the Sumy region, 4 in the Chernihiv region, and 17 in the Kyiv region.

As a reminder, the military and political leadership is increasing the number of mobile groups to combat enemy UAVs. Work to strengthen the protection of energy infrastructure and civilian facilities is also underway.

Earlier, it was reported that on the morning of November 25, when Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with Iranian kamikaze drones from several directions. The falling debris caused injuries and destruction in the capital.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A Russian actress Polina Menshikh died while performing for the Russian troops in a Russian-controlled area of eastern Ukraine. She was a choreographer, playwright and the director of the ethnic dance theatre Nezhen. The actress lost her life after Ukraine attacked the Kumachovo village of Donetsks Starobenshevsky district, as per the report of TASSa Russian news agency. Nezhen Ethnic Dance Theater confirmed the news of the 40-year-old actress on November 19. The military officials have not confirmed that there has been an attack in the area by Ukrainian forces. A video of the same is now going viral in which the actress is seen performing on the stage while the bombing took place.

As per the latest viral video, Russian actress Polina Menshikh is performing on the stage for the Russian soldiers. She was seen playing guitar before a loud blast was heard at the venue. The video is now been circulated across social media.  It is with great pain that we inform you that Polina Menshikh died during a performance in the Donbas as a result of shelling quoted TASS News Agency.

JUST IN: Russian actress Polina Menshikh was killed by a Ukrainian missile while performing for Russian marines.The incident happened in the village of Kumachovo which is 40 miles from the front lines. The strike was conducted by the Ukrainian military using a US-supplied pic.twitter.com/7xNtawpBzT  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 22, 2023

A Russian military investigator revealed that a school and cultural centre had been hit by HIMARS missiles on November 19 by Ukrainian forces quoted by Russian state television. The Ukranian commanders also said their forces had attacked a Russian military award ceremony. Their objective was to target Russias 810th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade. Robert Brovdi, a Ukrainian military commander said that 25 people had been killed in the strike. More than 100 people have been wounded in this attack.

Polina Menshikh has staged many performances and donned various characters during her career. According to reports, the actress was the head of the Lege Artis theatre studio. She was the director of this theatre from 2011 to 2016. In 2018, she performed at the Museum at the Zamoskvorechye Central Childrens Theater. The actress founded the Nezhen ethnic dance theatre. She became the director of this theatre in 2021.
Suhana Khans debut film The Archies is just two weeks away from its release. Ahead of the same, the makers have kickstarted the films promotions with the much-needed zest. Recently, the young star kid along with her co-stars jetted off to Delhi to promote the film. Now, Suhana is back to the bay. As she arrived, she dished out a major airport fashion goal for her fans.

Suhana looked effortlessly glam in a varsity jacket which she teamed with a black spaghetti top. She paired with a pair of olive green pants. She left her wavy locks loose and complemented her attire with a luxury handbag. As she walked across the terminal, the paparazzi captured. She gently smiled at the shutterbugs.

Have a look at the video :

The 23-year-old, who is set to make her film debut with Zoya Akhtars The Archies, recently spoke at the India Today Conclaves session titled New Kids on the Block: Meet the Gen Z of Bollywood aka The Archies Gang. My biggest source of guidance are my parents and actually, my entire family. I feel like we all chip in and help each other out I ask Mom Was that okay? Is my hair okay? Is my outfit okay?, Suhana said.

The Archies, directed by Zoya Akhtar, is an Indian live-action musical movie based on the popular American comics of the same name. It also marks the acting debut of late star Sridevi and film producer Boney Kapoors daughter Khushi Kapoor (Betty), and megastar Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda (Archie).

Earlier this month, the makers of The Archies dropped the second track titled Va Va Voom, a lively tribute to the 1960s rock and roll era. The song captures the essence of timeless rock and roll tunes and features Dot (Aditi), Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Mihir Ahuja, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, and Yuvraj Menda. What caught our attention was Agastya Nandas rendition of Shah Rukh Khans iconic dance moves. The song boasts relatable and romantic lyrics. Agastya Nandas guitar strumming adds a touch of romance, complemented by dance sequences featuring Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor, along with other co-stars. The video features their dance skills, with Agastya Nanda impressively imitating Shah Rukh Khans signature dance steps seen in films like DDLJ and Main Hoon Na, where he performed floor dance moves.

The Archies is all set to release on December 7.
Actor Vicky Kaushal is eagerly waiting the release of Meghna Gulzars Sam Bahadur, wherein he plays the title role. In a recent interview, he mentioned that his wife Katrina Kaif wasnt a fan of his clean-shaven look for the film. During a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Vicky said that Katrina was well-informed about the making of Sam Bahadur.

He said, She was very happy to see the look of Sam Bahadur and the kind of work that was going behind it, she was aware of the whole process of the shooting. When Vicky showed up in his clean-shaven avatar to Katrina, she wasnt surprised. It didnt come as a surprise to her but she hated me when I was clean-shaven, the actor said. Vicky is now making up for it. He added, But I am making up for it this year with the look I have. But she loved the look of Sam Bahadur.

In Sam Bahadur, Vicky portrays the character of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the first Indian Army officer to achieve the rank of Field Marshal. Manekshaw played a crucial role in Indias triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 war, ultimately leading to the formation of Bangladesh.

In another chat with PinkVilla, Vicky heaped praises on wife Katrina and revealed that the actress has really changed his life. The actor got candid about whether he discusses his script with Katrina and how she evoked his love for travelling.

Vicky shared, Nahi, itna work discuss nahi hota. Ki scripts aur films aur ye woh. (No, we dont discuss work too much. Not about scripts and all). Of course, its such an integral part of our lives. We both belong to the same profession so of course wo wali baat cheet mein baat to hoti hai. But it has been beautiful, it really has been beautiful.

Sam Bahadur is set to release on December 1.
As the tensions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict continue, India has formed a crucial part of the discourse. How has India responded? Who does India support? What has India got to gain from its stance? Are the government and people of India on the same page? Has Indian foreign policy experienced a shift? A number of questions have been addressed and the discourse has been unending, and apparently agenda-driven.

Two events in the past week and their coverage in the international media need to be examined in this context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the terror attacks by Hamas and the deaths of civilians in Gaza as part of his inaugural speech at the Voice of Global South Summit on November 18. The following day, on November 19, another batch of Indian aid to Gaza was dispatched. This was the second batch of humanitarian aid dispatched from India since the conflict began after the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

It is interesting to note that media coverage that has elaborately touched every aspect of the Indian response, these two recent, defining events, caught little discussion outside of national media. This is both surprising and not surprising, depending on how we choose to interpret the same. This heightened activity in the cognitive domain has a deep connection with the countrys cognitive resilience.

International media discourses regarding the conflict have consistently covered India, ranging from its unequivocal support to Israel against terrorism, Indias abstention to vote on the recent UN Resolution, mass protest rallies (both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel) inside the country, to even Kolkatas synagogues being protected by local Muslim caretakers as a generational legacy. This seems fairly contrary to the amount of coverage received by the two recent events, just as important and vocal representations of Indias current foreign policy that has been a focus point in most discussions surrounding the conflict.

While this reflects the influence India holds in the regional dynamics of West Asia, the nature of reportage has been rather interesting. A repetitive rhetoric has been connecting the current governments Hindu nationalism with its support to Israel. This is often backed by the increased India-Israel relationship in terms of economics and defence, as well as the historic 2017 visit of Prime Minister Modi to Tel Aviv that made him the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel. While relations have warmed up since 2014, a number of simultaneous facts have been comfortably overlooked.

The India-Israel relationship has been on the rise since formal diplomatic relations were established in 1992. Moreover, Israel was one of the very few countries that supported India against Pakistan in the wars of 1971 and 1999, events that found India almost isolated even within the Non-Aligned Movement that India proudly led. Having said that, apart from being the first Prime Minister to visit Tel Aviv, Modi also became the first to visit Ramallah the following year. While the foundational foreign policy principles have continued to remain the same, what indeed changed under the ruling government was a conscious de-hyphenation of Indias relationship with actors in the region. This included warmer ties with each of the three power centres in the region  Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel  hence, also consequently, with Israel and Palestine. However, this is just one part of the ongoing rhetoric.

The next most discussed aspect is Indias abstention to vote on the UN Resolution on Gaza. Mass protests, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine have been covered against the background of India supporting Israel and abstaining from a recent United Nations vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Clarifications on the same have been officially given but with limited coverage. While India favoured an immediate, durable, sustainable humanitarian truce, supporting an amendment authored by Canada, India called for a simultaneous explicit condemnation of terrorist attacks on October 7. Abstention came about as a protest to the exclusion of the proposed amendment, where India did not vote for the exclusion of an explicit condemnation of terrorism and did not vote against a much-needed halt to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, where India itself has sent over two batches of aid and relief material.

Having noted that, this becomes important to discuss because narrative-laden information floating amidst the conflict not only attempts to impact Indias international image, but also seems to challenge the cognitive resilience within the country. Against this background, it is interesting how the current narratives cater to different sections of popular sentiments within the country, touching on themes across the spectrum: deprivation; communalism; identity crisis; and liberal values. It carefully exploits each of the pre-existing faultlines, thereby creating a wedge between various segments of the masses, eventually attempting to delegitimise the governments credibility to represent the people of India.

This reminds us of Kautilyas depiction of four kinds of seducible parties while referring to vulnerable sections of the population: ---   (1.13.22), roughly translating as the enraged, the deprived, the frightened, and the proud. If the state is unable to identify and tend to them, they being targeted and turned against the stability of the state is a critical threat. A mass rally virtually hosting a former Hamas member in Kerala last month, or disinformation drives running wild on social media are only tips of the iceberg that awaits us.

Given that India is a vibrant democracy that is home to a diverse demography, we must acknowledge that these 2 billion people are our biggest strength as well as our critical vulnerability. The Indian Constitution protects and celebrates this diversity, hence differences in aspirations and opinions are not only existent but also encouraged. To ensure that these differences do not become cognitive fractures to be exploited by adversaries, ensuring cognitive resilience is built becomes a necessity. The enraged must be listened to, the deprived must be tended to, the frightened must be reassured, and the proud must be honoured.

In doing so, India must make sure that official communication is more extensive, and clarifications on ongoing narratives and disinformation campaigns must be prompt and efficient  that is, faster and louder. If delayed, given the emotive element they carry (of grief, devastation, and deprivation), the snowballing is beyond control. While studying Cognitive Warfare, this is often termed as participatory propaganda where the requirement of agenda-driven media warriors to spread propaganda vanishes. Here, ordinary people who believe that the information so shared is true, tend to participate in furthering that propaganda, thereby turning an artificially created/manipulated information into an organic conversation. With social media in the picture, its speed has been tremendously accelerated.

As India continues to rise in stature, the threats will become more damaging and targeted. Developing cognitive resilience is going to be Indias defining step in facing the threats in the cognitive domain.

Tejusvi Shukla is a Research Associate at Chanakya University, Bengaluru, and is also serving as a Research Analyst for the Online Indian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies. Previously, she has served with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, a Think Tank of the Indian Army. Her areas of research include Indias internal security with a special focus on the information domain. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The Chakravyuha or Padmavyuha was a very special military formation (vyuha), created by Guru Dronacharya on the thirteenth day of the Mahabharata war to protect the Kaurava forces. Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, managed to enter the Chakravyuha but was soon encircled and trapped. The soldiers kept moving in the form of a spinning wheel, and their movement closely resembled the helix of a screw commonly seen in watches. The Chakravyuha is a multi-tier defensive formation that looks like a disc (chakra, ) when viewed from above.

This military formation ensures that a specific stationary object or a person can be totally encircled and breaching the formation by the surrounded individual is impossible. It is a hopeless no escape situation for the entrapped victim who is sure to get decimated. The formation of Chakravyuha cannot be comprehended at ground level but can be instantly understood from an aerial perspective.

From the above map, it is obvious that Israel is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. All these neighbours  Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon have committed acts of aggression, at various points in time, against Israel.

Over six Arab nations attacked Israel in 1948  Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iraq, as well as the Palestinian Arab forces of Gaza, and the Holy War Army of Arab Palestinian irregulars. Over five Arab nations attacked Israel in 1967  Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq along with Kuwait and Lebanon. On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked Israels forces in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. This war is also referred to as the Yom Kippur War, the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, which was an armed conflict fought from October 6-25, 1973, between Israel and the coalition of Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria.

On January 17, 1991, Iraq initiated a missile campaign against Israel. Over the course of more than a month, approximately 42 Scud missiles were fired into Israeli territory, primarily at the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. In addition, Israel has been periodically attacked by terrorist organisations from the PLO, to Hamas, to Hezbollah, to the DFLP, supported by various nations of the Muslim world.

Iran has been constantly threatening Israel with dissolution. The Iran-Israel proxy conflict is on the basis of vitriolic antisemitic reasoning, which has cobbled up an Axis of Resistance which includes the Syrian government, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militant groups from Iraq to Yemen. Hezbollah, the most powerful group in the axis, boasts a force of 100,000 fighters, and a formidable arsenal of rockets.

Not to be outdone in rhetoric warfare, Israels Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat, warned that Irans Ayatollahs will be wiped off the face of the earth should Hezbollah attack Israel. He also called Iran a snake and vowed to cut off the head of the snake if Israel is attacked.

The current war started by the terror group Hamas on October 7, 2023, is one day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur war. One striking similarity between the 1973 war and the 2023 war is the fact that Israel has been caught on both occasions by total surprise. The 2023 war started on a Saturday, when many Israelis stayed home to observe the Sabbath, while the 1973 war started on Yom Kippur, a holy day when many Israeli businesses observe the holiday for religious purposes.

It is surprising that despite decades of facing brutal hostilities and violent attacks, Israels famed intelligence and national security officials let their country down. Despite Israels sophisticated technological prowess in espionage, intelligence, and counter-intelligence operations, Hamas fighters had undergone extensive preparations for the assault, undetected for at least a year. The blitzkrieg by the terrorist fighters, who were divided into different units with specific goals, had extensive and intensive knowledge about military bases, their exact locations, and the layout of the Kibbutzim. The resultant carnage left more than 1,400 people killed, including many women, children and old people who were murdered systematically and brutally. Women had to face savage rapes reminiscent of the ordeal faced by the Yazidi women at the hands of the terror group ISIS. Hundreds of Israelis are held hostage or are reported missing, as of date.

Another monumental failure has been the total ignorance about the construction of a massive network of tunnels, claimed to be around 500 kilometres, which is another dimension to the Chakravyuha formation. Reports also suggest the existence of a second underground network that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) colloquially refer to as the Gaza metro, which is used for transporting people and goods; storing rockets and ammunition caches; and housing the command-and-control centres of the terror group Hamas. That no intelligence agency had any inkling about this maze of tunnels, speaks volumes about their utter inefficiency.

Israel has to reconcile with the fact that none of its neighbours will ever permit the nation to live in peace. Their overarching philosophy is ask not what your religion can do for you, ask what you can do for your religion (modification of John F. Kennedys famous words). The military superiority edge that Israel presently enjoys might not be a permanent feature. A combined joint attack, simultaneously, by all the neighbours, can be disastrous for Israel, prompting the use of undisclosed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Iran is also perfecting its hypersonic missiles, and this can change the contours of war in future, in the region.

Israel has to think about redefining existing geographical boundaries, to escape from the stranglehold of the Chakravyuha.

The writer is a retired officer of the IRS and the former director-general of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The fate of Nathuram Godse had to be decided on two frontslegal and moral. While the legal proceedings progressed steadily, culminating in the successive higher courts confirming Godses death sentence, the road to a political decision, taking into consideration the moral aspects, was anything but smooth. Godse had fatally shot Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on January 30, 1948. The trial court passed the death sentence for Godse and Narayan Apte on February 10, 1949, which was upheld by the Punjab High Court in June, and the two were hanged on November 15.

The moral reactions to the judicial verdict started coming in as soon as the trial court announced its judgement. The main current of this reaction was in favour of commuting the death sentences. Two fundamental issues that came to be debated at this time which, unfortunately, have featured in Indias political discourse much less than they deserve were the applicability of Gandhian principles of non-violence to statecraft and the abolition of capital punishment.

Brajeshwar Prasad, a member of the Constituent Assembly, was one of the first ones to write to Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel that it would be befitting Gandhijis memory to pardon this scoundrel along with the others who have been sentenced and to make them settle down in the Andamans as free men. Incensed at the suggestion of clemency, Patel quickly replied, I am sure you will appreciate that nobody knows better than myself what Gandhiji would expect me to do in the matter. You can, therefore, leave the matter at that.

While the Punjab High Court was hearing the appeal against the verdict of the trial court, Gandhis third son, Ramdas Mohandas Gandhi, wrote to Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the governor-general of the Dominion of India, on May 1, hoping that you (prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel and Rajagopalachari) are not one of those who want to see him sent to the gallows.

Surprisingly, Ramdas put a political argument before referring to Gandhis principles to support his point of view. He argued that with the exception of a few, the rest of the Hindus in India or elsewhere were all RSS-minded as far as their attitude towards Muslims of India and Pakistan was concerned. It is not one Godse the assassinator of Bapu that is to be dealt with but millions of Godses, Ramdas claimed. Therefore, instead of killing one or two individuals, a more effective way to change this mindset in his view was to send Godse and his close associates to a penitentiary to ponder and think over if they had achieved their goal by assassinating Gandhi and decide once for all that Hinduism or India cannot be and will never be saved by pursuing RSS methods. If, on the contrary, Godse is sent to the gallows, you know Bapu, wherever he may be, will feel deeply hurt; the same will be the condition of known and unknown associates of Bapu.

After appealing to the top brass of the Nehru government, Ramdas approached Godse directly through a letter. On May 17, he wrote, I am sure, you will one day realise that you have only put an end to my fathers perishable body and nothing more.

Godses response of June 3 from the prison in Shimla was to some extent compassionate, in which he wanted Ramdas to see his point of view. For a person accused of having committed a crime out of hatred, Godses letter was remarkable in having no hint of rancour. In fact, quite the contrary. Godse wrote to Dear Brother Shri Ramdas M. Gandhi that as a human being, I have no words to express my feelings for the wounds that you and your relatives must have received by the tragic end of your revered father, by my hands. He was a man of reason and logic, Godse wrote, but at the same time, a man of powerful sentiments also, the most important of which was devotion to my Motherland.

To Ramdas assertion that once Godses mind was free from misunderstanding he would repent, Godse replied, Brother, I say that I am an open-minded man, always a subject for correction. Until then he had come across nothing which will make me repent, but he was curious regarding the method by which Ramdas wanted to remove his misunderstandings. Making it clear that neither the gallows nor any big show of mercy would help achieve that, Godse told Ramdas that the only way is to see me and make me realise. He therefore suggested that Ramdas should meet him with some prominent disciple of your revered father, particularly who is not interested in any power politics, and to bring to my notice my most fatal mistake. Who knows you may be able to change me and make me repent or I may change you and make you realise my stand, he wondered. Godse ended his letter by expressing his utmost regrets as a human being for your sufferings due to the death of your revered father by my hands.

Ramdas readily agreed to meet Godse, hoping that divine grace would help you to see your mistake and realise that it was after all Gandhiji who knew bestthe interests of our Motherland, and the Hindu religion in particular. Godse was happy that Ramdas agreed to see him. My pressing request is to try to have this interview, even if it took place one day before my execution.

He might have anticipated the pressure on Ramdas to drop the idea of the meeting and wrote, It does not matter even if you do not see me at all due to some other difficulties, but [that] mentally you are prepared to see me is enough for me to be convinced about your sincerity of cause. He additionally suggested that if possible, you can enquire through Shri Vinobaji Bhave, who belongs to Maharashtra by birth, or through somebody else about my general character and behaviour up to my arrest. Perhaps that will be useful for you to know the background of the person who committed a very cruel crime.

Ramdas informed Nehru that he wanted to see Godse along with Vinoba Bhave and his brother, Balkrishna Bhave, but soon proposed to substitute Balkrishna with Kishorlal Mashruwala who he felt would be in a better position to bring about a desired change in the outlook and wrong policy that has been pursued by Godse. Nehru was not happy with Ramdas idea. He was inclined to advise Ramdas not to visit Godse but decided to be guided by Patel and Rajagopalachari.

Rajagopalachari was derisive of Ramdas efforts in his letter to Patel. It seems Ramdas is excited and is not able to restrain his anxiety to talk to condemned prisoners and convert them to the creed of non-violence and repentance! he wrote, adding that it was something that Bapu himself was not able to do and to which he was sacrificed like a lamb led to the altar! His annoyance at the increasing demand, especially from Congress leaders and Gandhians, for clemency to Godse, knew no bounds. So intense was his revulsion that he started believing that all this was being subtly engineered by Godse himself.

Unless the death sentence was abolished by law at once it would be entirely absurd to give the benefit of such abolition to Godse who does not show the least sign of repentance, Rajagopalachari wrote to Mashruwala. He was cynical of such demands in the press, accusing them of trying somehow to get the death sentence abolished in time to save the killer of Gandhi. Predictably, he was not ready to let the man who has done the wickedest act of modern times and murdered India herself get the benefit of rash reforms. Therefore, he told Ramdas, I would advise you to leave the case of Godse in the hands of the Government. My emphatic advice to you is not to intervene in the case. Patel too concurred. Thus, Nehru, Patel and Rajagopalachari were all against the idea of Ramdas meeting Godse.

Patel was apprehensive that in an atmosphere where there is every likelihood of an attempt being made to treat him [Godse] as a martyr, the meeting would invest the last days of Godse with a certain amount of glory. Moreover, Ramdas is not equal to him at all, Patel wrote to Nehru. Ramdas capitulated to the pressure from the stalwarts of the government. On June 29, he informed Nehru, As it has never been my intention to do anything that all the three of you may not like, I have decided to leave Godses case in the hands of Destiny.

To be continued

Sources: Sardar Patel Papers (National Archives of India), Sardar Patels Correspondence (Ed. Durga Das), Volume VIII

Chandrachur Ghose is author of the national bestsellers 1947-57, India: The Birth of a Republic (2023) and Bose: The Untold Story of an Inconvenient Nationalist (2022), both published by Penguin. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Five good men that could have chosen to do anything with lives, chose instead to serve their country and when that wasnt enough, chose to sacrifice their all for their Bharat Mata. These five sons of India were slain while trying to get the better of alleged Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in the Bazi Mal Upper forests of the Rajouri district of South Kashmir.

These five gallants, Captain MV Pranjal, Captain Shubham Gupta, Havildar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht and Paratrooper Sachin Laur have left behind five grieving, shattered families.

At Captain Guptas home in Agra, they say that nobody expected him to join the forces. But he responded to a higher calling. Captain Guptas father, forcing back his tears, can only bring himself to say, I am proud that I am known by my sons name

And that name is Captain Gupta. Never forget.

In Bengaluru, Captain Pranjals father M Venkatesh said that his son had secured a seat in the citys RV Engineering College but opted to join the army instead. On December 9 Captain Pranjal would have been promoted to the rank of Major.

The distraught M Venkatesh says, We were waiting for his call, but now we are going to receive his dead body.

Make no mistake these officers and the three other soldiers were killed by bigotry. By the mujahideen of a twisted idea of Islamist supremacism that is intent on waging a declared Ghazwa-e-Hind.

These words will exercise a lot of people who will with heartless whataboutery shoot the messenger. The favored tool is to label truth speakers jingoists hell bent upon stirring the communal pot.

Then in an attempt to change the goal posts they will say that the state is supposed to do a better job of anticipating terror attacks. That a professional force would have instituted better protocols to lower the toll on our forces.

While the latter questions are undoubtably legitimate and need to be posed to the authorities, the fact is that no army, even the most vigilant, can stop religious extremists intent on carrying out suicide missions.

Last month, on October 7, in Israel this became amply clear. Then radicalized Islamists poured into Israel undetected across arguably the worlds most militarized border.

The truth is ugly when it is unvarnished. And the truth is that the Lashkar-E-Toiba and other terrorist groups sponsored by Pakistan are sworn to the establishment of a caliphate across Hindustan.

The need of the hour today is to draw attention to the real problem in Kashmir. Which is that the only thing standing between India and a durable peace in the Union Territory is the wall of Islamist supremacism.

The wall can only be breached through a mix of united political and public activism. Sadly, weighed down by electoral expediency and a false sense of loyalty, this unified response has never come.

But what if these parties and their supporters had poured out onto the streets of Srinagar or Delhi or Mumbai or Malappuram holding up not in my name placards? What if they had denounced India designated terror sponsor Pakistan by name?

It isnt as if they dont have the agency. They are the very same people who marched against alleged Israeli apartheid and bigotry for Palestinians. And no one can deny that the collective weight of protest isnt having the effect of causing Israel to at least temper its aggression.
Needless political nitpicking by the Congress has emerged over Prime Minister Narendra Modis first sortie in a Tejas aircraft on Saturday.

According to government sources, some in the Congress have pointed out that the late Rajiv Gandhi was a pilot, others are simply trying to take credit for the indigenous fighter jet while there are also those wondering who the prime minister was waving at when he was up in the air.

As Modi became the first Indian prime minister to fly on a fighter jet, he put out a strong message on the importance of atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence sector.

Sources said the occasion, in fact, should be one to be proud of but the Congress is choosing to take potshots over it. It can be seen in the video that the PM is waving at pilots in the fighter jet accompanying his.

Prime Minister Modis sortie carried the message of his governments focus on atmanirbharta in the defence sector and is part of a sustained outreach on the issue. A few months ago, President Droupadi Murmu also flew on a Sukhoi fighter jet while defence minister Rajnath Singh had taken a sortie in the Tejas in 2019.

Last year, Singh had also taken a sortie in the light combat helicopter Prachand developed by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which has also manufactured Tejas. The strategy is also a message to Indias adversaries like Pakistan and China.

Sources further said the Narendra Modi-led government has taken giant steps in increasing Indias defence preparedness and indigenisation, including the Tejas aircraft. The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016. At present, there are two fully operational squadrons with LCA Tejas.

The central government has also placed an order worth Rs 36,468 crore for the delivery of 83 LCA Mk 1A Tejas aircraft with HAL, the delivery for which is scheduled to begin by February 2024. More than Rs 9,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and more lethal version of LCA Tejas.

To further promote indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine, transfer of technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India has been negotiated with GE during PM Modis visit to the US in June. Many countries have also shown an interest in importing the LCA Tejas.

PMs visit to HAL facility

The PM visited the LCA Tejas Final Assembly on Saturday and discussed the aircrafts capabilities. Tejas is a lightweight, all-weather multi-role aircraft and has been operationally deployed with the IAF to be the mainstay of its fighter fleet in years to come. The aircraft is capable of undertaking offensive air support role as well as ground attach roles and is superior to its contemporaries.

Modi walked through the production line of LCA Tejas and interacted with the engineers on the different features of the aircraft. It was explained to him that the fighter jet is presently powered by GE 404 engine, which will get an upgrade to GE 414 Engine for LCA Mk II. This will be manufactured in India with 80 percent transfer of technology arrangement with GE Engines, for which a pact has already been signed.

This will be the first time that an engine of this class will be produced in India and is likely to bridge the technology gap that exists in Indias aero-engine domain.

Officials also briefed Modi on the capacity investments being done by HAL to produce LCA Tejas aircraft in greater numbers. The defence PSU has established two production lines of the aircraft in Bengaluru, and this can produce up to 16 aircraft per year. Further, an additional production line is being established at HAL Nashik to take the production rate beyond 24 aircraft from 2024-25. HAL is also planning to advance the deliveries of present and future orders of LCA Tejas to customers.

The PM also discussed the extent of indigenisation efforts of LCA Tejas. It was explained to him that flight controls, fuel systems, hydraulics, air-conditioning, mission and display systems have also been indigenised. He was informed that HAL is striving to take the indigenous content of the aircraft beyond 70 percent in the next three to four years under the indigenisation drive as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
A fire at a shopping mall in the Pakistani city of Karachi killed 11 people and left 35 injured. At least 60 people were inside the mall when the fire broke out on the fourth floor of the six-storey building in the southern port city.

Our rescue workers have taken 11 dead bodies to hospitals so far, said Shahid Hussain, a spokesman for the Chippa welfare organisation, which runs a rescue service, was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Hussain said that 35 people were injured and out of those 35 at least seven of them were in serious condition.

At least 40 people have been rescued, he added.

Karachi health ministry spokesperson Shabbir Ali confirmed the death toll and number of injured persons while speaking to AFP and said that the fire was started by a generator short circuit.

The fire then quickly spread to engulf two floors of the building. In Pakistan buildings are often constructed by flouting safety laws and building codes and the enforcement of these rules are lax. Poor safety laws and building codes as well as lax enforcement has led to frequent fire-related accidents in Pakistans large buildings.

At least 250 labourers died at a garment factory in Baldia Town in 2012 when a fire engulfed the factory. The building had no fire escape.

Karachis planners and engineers earlier this week warned that buildings did not comply with safety standards. They said that they were sure some 90% of all structures in Karachi  residential, commercial and industrial  did not have fire prevention and firefighting systems.

They blamed regulatory bodies like the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and accused them of criminal negligence claiming that they put lives of millions of people in Pakistans financial capital at risk.

Shopping mall fires have also been previously reported in Pakistan. A huge fire was reported last year at the Centaurus mall in Islamabad which engulfed at least 17 floors of the mall in flames. This was due to an electric short-circuiting at a restaurant located in the food court area of the mall.
Hamas on Friday freed a first batch of hostages seized in the deadliest attack in Israels history under a deal that saw a temporary truce take hold in war-ravaged Gaza.

Thirteen Israeli hostages captured during Palestinian militants cross-border raids were back in Israeli territory where they would undergo medical checks before being reunited with their families, the army said.

They included four children and six elderly women, an official Israeli list showed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring all the hostages home.

This is one of the goals of the war, and we are committed to achieving all the goals of the war, he said.

A convoy of Red Cross vehicles was earlier seen crossing the border between Gaza and Egypt, with some of the passengers waving, after Hamas handed over the hostages to the humanitarian organisation.

Israel is set to free three times as many Palestinian prisoners  women and teenage boys  under a deal that followed weeks of talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Key mediator Qatar confirmed Hamas had on Friday released a total of 24 hostages and that Israel had freed 39 women and children from its prisons.

Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen, its foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said.

Hamas released a two-minute video later Friday showing masked militants wearing the green headband of its armed wing handing hostages over to Red Cross officials.

US President Joe Biden said Fridays release was just a start and that there were real chances to extend the temporary truce in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters in Massachusetts, where he was spending the Thanksgiving holiday, Biden urged a broader effort to emerge from the crisis with a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Pictures released by the Israeli army showed bright pink and blue headphones sitting on the seats of a helicopter ready for the released hostages to use, along with toys and teddy bears waiting at a reception centre where they were being taken.

Hamas broke through Gazas militarised border with Israel on October 7 to kill, according to Israeli officials, about 1,200 people and seize around 240 Israeli and foreign hostages.

During a four-day truce, at least 50 hostages are expected to be freed.

In exchange, 150 Palestinians prisoners are expected to be released.

Of the 39 prisoners released on Friday, 28 were freed in the occupied West Bank, an AFP correspondent reported, while the other 11 were brought to annexed east Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

Those released in the West Bank were greeted by large crowds and fire crackers that lit up the night sky. In east Jerusalem, Israeli police issued orders banning celebrations.

The police are in our house and are stopping people coming to see us, said Fatina Salman, whose daughter Malak, now 23, was among those released.

Going home

The pause in fighting in Gaza triggered a mass movement of thousands of people who had sought refuge in schools and hospitals from relentless Israeli bombardment begun after attacks by Hamas militants.

Im going home, Omar Jibrin, 16, told AFP after he emerged from a hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip where he and eight family members had sought refuge.

In Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza where many Palestinians fled, a cacophony of car horns and ambulance sirens has replaced the sound of war.

For Khaled al-Halabi, the truce is a chance to breathe after nearly seven weeks of war.

Israels retaliatory air, artillery and naval strikes alongside a ground offensive have killed about 15,000 people, most of them civilians, the Hamas government in Gaza said.

Gazans have struggled to survive with shortages of water and other essentials.

Trucks carrying aid, including fuel, food and medicine, began moving into Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt shortly after the truce began at 7:00 am (0500 GMT).

A total of 200 aid trucks passed through on Friday  the biggest humanitarian convoy to enter the besieged territory since the war started  according to the Israeli defence ministry body that handles Palestinian civil affairs.

Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, expressed hope that the pause leads to a longer-term humanitarian ceasefire.

The UN estimates that 1.7 million of Gazas 2.4 million people have been displaced by the fighting.

In Khan Yunis, they loaded belongings onto carts, strapped them to car roofs, or slung bags over their shoulders, crowding streets to return to their homes from temporary shelters.

Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets warning people that the war is not over and it is very dangerous to return north, the focus of Israels military campaign.

Carefully prepared

Ziv Agmon, legal adviser to Netanyahus office, told reporters before the hostages were freed that they would be received individually or in groups by the Red Cross, taken across the border and handed to the Israeli army.

From El-Arish, in the Sinai, they would be flown to Israel, an Egyptian security source said.

Agmon said soldiers had been carefully prepared to receive potentially deeply traumatised women and children.

After medical examinations, the former captives will be able to telephone family members before reunions later at Israeli medical facilities, he added.

AFP has confirmed the identities of 210 of the roughly 240 hostages.

At least 35 of those seized were children, with 18 of them aged 10 or under at the time of their abduction.

Hamas earlier released four women and Israeli forces rescued another. Two other captives, including a woman soldier, were found dead by Israeli troops in Gaza.

Maayan Zin, whose eight- and 15-year-old daughters Ela and Dafna are among the hostages, posted on social media platform X that she had been informed their names were not on the list of those due to be released.

This is incredibly difficult for me; I long for their return, she wrote.
In the early morning hours of November 25, when Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with Iranian kamikaze drones from several directions. The air defense system in the capital responded: more than 60 enemy targets were shot down.

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This was reported by the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Serhii Popko. It also became known that debris fell in the Pecherskyi, Dniprovskyi, Holosiivskyi and Solomianskyi districts. A kindergarten building caught fire in the Solomianskyi district, with five people injured. There were also destructions.

Air defense forces effectively targeted enemy drones, which the enemy launched at the capital in several waves from different directions. The UAVs attacked Kyiv in waves in numerous groups, constantly changing their vector of movement. In total, 66 enemy drones were destroyed in the Kyiv region and over Kyiv during the six-hour alert, according to the data provided by the spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat.

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"Approximately 66 were destroyed in the Kyiv region. This is a huge number. We remember New Year's Eve well when 45 (Shahed drones - Ed.) were shot down on the outskirts of the capital. The same as the next day, 39. That is why it is a record number of UAVs launched by the enemy at the Kyiv region as of today," noted Ihnat.

According to him, Russia launched a total of 75 drones at Ukrainian territory during the latest attack, 71 of which were shot down by the defenders of Ukrainian skies.

Destruction and fires were recorded as a result of falling debris in several areas and five victims aged 11 to 65 were reported. Three of them, including a child, were diagnosed with acute stress reactions. Two more Kyiv residents had cut wounds to their limbs.

According to the Kyiv city RMA, as of 07:20, there were reports of debris falling in the Holosiivskyi district: it fell in a green area, and there were no casualties. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klychko reported that a piece of drone debris fell on a four-story residential building. Rescuers were immediately sent there.

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A piece of debris fell on a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district. Initially, there were reports of a possible fire. But as of 7 am, there was no fire and no injuries.

The debris fell in an undeveloped area in the Pecherskyi district. According to preliminary data, the fall did not cause any serious consequences.

The State Emergency Service reported that the falling debris destroyed the roof of a kindergarten over an area of 100 square meters in the Solomyanskyi district. They extinguished a fire over an area of 2 square meters.

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A piece of debris fell near a five-story building at another address in the same area, damaging 4 cars and shattering windows in the building on the 1st through 5th floors. Rescuers rescued two women on the second floor who were trapped in an apartment.

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According to the Kyiv city RMA, over 40 enemy drones were shot down by air defense forces over the capital.

"According to preliminary information, two people were injured, both suffering acute stress reactions. This was the most massive attack on Kyiv over the past month," said Mykhailo Shamanov, a spokesman for the KIA.

At about 4 a.m., Popko warned that a large group of enemy drones was heading towards the capital from different directions.

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"A large number of enemy UAVs are approaching Kyiv from different directions! We urge you to stay in shelters until the alarm goes off!" Popko's message, which was posted at 04:09, read.

When the Iranian drones reached Kyiv, the city's air defense system started working.

"Air defense is working in Kyiv. Stay in shelters," Popko wrote at 05:20.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klychko also wrote about the work of air defense. He noted that the defenders of the sky over the capital were shooting down air targets.

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"It's loud in the capital. Air defense forces are shooting down Russian UAVs. Several more groups are heading towards Kyiv. Stay in shelters!" Klytchko wrote at 05:25.

He later reported that the wreckage of a downed kamikaze drone fell in one of the capital's districts.

"The wreckage of a downed UAV has fallen in the Pecherskyi district of the capital. All services are on the way. There are also medical calls in the Solomianskyi district. The crews are on their way," the mayor of the capital said.

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At the same time, falling debris in the Solomianskyi district of the capital caused a fire in a kindergarten.

"As a result of the downing of enemy UAVs and falling debris in the Solomianskyi district, a fire broke out on the territory of a kindergarten. Information about the victims is being clarified. All emergency services are involved," the Kyiv city RMA said.

There was also an open-air fire in the area. Apartments' windows were damaged in some buildings.

"There were fires in several places in the Solomianskyi district: in a residential building and non-residential premises. An 11-year-old child was also injured. Acute stress reaction. Medics are providing assistance on the spot," Klychko said.

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As of 06:30 a.m., at least two people were reported injured in Kyiv, both of whom were treated on the spot. One call for medical assistance was also registered in the Solomianskyi and Podilskyi districts.

"As a result of repelling an attack by enemy UAVs on Kyiv, a fire broke out in a non-residential building in the Solomianskyi district over an area of 100 m2. Information about the victims is being clarified. The enemy drone attack is not over yet. Stay in the shelters until the end of the attack," the Kyiv city RMA said at 06:34.

Klychko added that the second floor of a five-story building was damaged as a result of the falling debris in the Solomianskyi district. Rescuers are unblocking two women from there.

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The wreckage of a downed UAV fell on a multi-story building in the Dniprovskyi district. Smoke was detected on the upper floors.

"Rescuers and medics are on their way," Klytchko assured.

However, the emergency services that arrived at the scene did not find any fire or victims in the high-rise.

"In a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district, a small piece of a drone fell on the stairwell of the top floor. There was no fire. No victims have been found so far. Rescuers are inspecting the roof and technical floor of the building," Klychko said at 07:15 am.

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Kyiv residents also reported that part of the Pecherskyi and Dniprovskyi districts lost power during the attack.

Later, the Ministry of Energy said that 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions were cut off from power after the attack.

"On the morning of November 25, during a large-scale drone attack on the capital, an overhead line was cut off. As a result, 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions in the central part of the city lost power. The causes are being investigated. Restoration work is underway. 330 kV overhead lines were disconnected during the shelling in the Kyiv region. The preliminary reason is damage caused by shelling. An investigation to determine the cause is underway," the statement said.

As of 6 a.m., air defense forces continued to work, so Ukrainians were urged to stay in shelters and stay away from windows and glass.

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"The attack from the northeast continues! As of now, drone groups are located in the west of the Sumy region, near Poltava, Myrhorod, near Nizhyn and east of Pryluky in the Chernihiv region, in the south of the Kyiv region, near Obukhiv, above and around Kyiv," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported at 06:19.

A minute later, they added that several more groups of kamikaze drones had entered the airspace of the Sumy region from the Kursk region.

And at 07:15, the Air Force reported another group of drones heading towards Kyiv from the northeast.

As a reminder, on November 24, Russian troops launched ballistic missiles at Ukraine. An air alert was declared in the eastern and southern regions, and a few minutes later an explosion was reported in Pavlohrad, Dnipro region.

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China on Friday said that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia in a bid to encourage more people to visit the country for business and tourism.

French, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and Malaysian citizens will be allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa. This is a trial programme and it will be in effect for one year.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a daily briefing said that the aim is to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world.

For almost three years people were discouraged from visiting China due to its strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals. The restrictions were lifted early this year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

Japanese, Singaporean and Bruneians were allowed to enter China without a visa but the programme was suspended after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not done so for Japan.

In the first six months of the year, China recorded 8.4 million entries and exits by foreigners, according to immigration statistics. That compares to 977 million for all of 2019, the last year before the pandemic, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Their report said that France welcomed the move, citing French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, who was in Beijing for talks and said France has decided in return to allow Chinese students who earn masters degrees in France to stay in the country for five more years to facilitate exchanges.

The EU Chamber of Commerce in China expressed hope that more European nations would be given visa-free access soon. In a statement, it called the move a tangible and practical improvement, which will also increase business confidence.

The Chinese government has been seeking foreign investment to help boost a sluggish economy, and some businesspeople have been coming for trade fairs and meetings, including Teslas Elon Musk and Apples Tim Cook. Foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic.
The families of those held hostage by Hamas following the October 7 attacks on Israel waged an intense campaign and the two sets of hostages released on Friday and Saturday was largely due to their efforts, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Hamas released 14 hostages on Saturday and on Friday released 24 hostages out of which 13 were Israelis -all of whom were women and children, including some dual citizens  along with 10 Thais and one Filipino.

Israel in response released 39 women and children from its prisons. During a four-day truce, at least 50 hostages are expected to be freed. In exchange, at least 150 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be freed from Israeli prisons. The deal was finalised after weeks of talks involving Israel, Palestinian terrorist groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

However, the families of those people who were being held hostage also waged a massive campaign to pressure the government.

The Bloomberg report cited efforts made by citizens like Avichai Brodutch (whose wife and three young children were abducted) and Dudi Zalmanovich, a powerful lawyer, and several others who set up pressure groups or protested individually to ensure that hostages become the top priority as they felt that their loved ones are in danger as Israeli bombardment of Gaza grew intense.

Hamas took over 240 people hostage on October 7 when it launched the deadliest attack in Israels history killing about 1,200 people. Israel in response has bombarded Gaza and nearly 15,000 people, 6,150 of them children, have been killed in the war.

The families of those held also took help from former spy and security chiefs, celebrities and film directors and mounted a massive campaign spanning several major cities worldwide to ensure hostages return home.

A hostage square was set up in Tel Aviv, hostage photos cropped up on every corner as well as in New Yorks Times Square and other cities and kin of the captives took out a four day march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem joined by thousands, disrupting traffic, which forced the government to refocus on ensuring safe release of the hostages.

Dual nationals met with the respective heads of state of the country they hold a passport of to gather international support. Gili Roman, whose sister Yarden holds a German passport and is believed to be held in Gaza, went to Berlin and met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss how to ensure her sisters safe return.
Israeli authorities said that Hamas terrorist group will release 14 hostages being held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday while Israeli officials will free 42 Palestinian prisoners held inside Israeli prisons, according to a report by news agency AFP.

The four-day truce deal, which began on Friday and will oversee the release of hostages held by the Palestinian terrorist group in exchange of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, entered its second day on Saturday.

The Israeli prison authorities said that they are freeing 42 prisoners  both male and female  as part of the agreement. The agreement mandates exchanges at a ratio of three to one, and an Israeli official familiar with the developments said 14 hostages would be handed over.

Hamas on Friday freed a first batch of hostages who were taken hostage on October 7 when it launched the deadliest attack in Israels history killing about 1,200 people and seize around 240 Israeli and foreign hostages.

During a four-day truce, at least 50 hostages are expected to be freed.

In exchange, 150 Palestinians prisoners are expected to be released.

The deal was finalised after weeks of talks involving Israel, Palestinian terrorist groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

In Gaza, nearly 15,000 people, 6,150 of them children, have been killed in the war, officials in the Hamas-run territory said. The UN estimates that 1.7 million of Gazas 2.4 million people have been displaced by the fighting.

A total of 39 prisoners were released by Israeli authorities under a truce agreement to pause the fighting in Gaza on Friday. Of the 39 prisoners released on Friday, 28 were freed in the occupied West Bank and 11 others were brought to east Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

The truce also allowed trucks carrying aid, including fuel, food and medicine to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt shortly after the truce began at 7:00 am (local time). At least 200 trucks carrying aid has passed through on Friday. This is the biggest humanitarian convoy to enter the besieged territory since the war started, according to the report by AFP.
Two people from the Indian diaspora were killed in the US state of Ohio this month in two separate incidents. An Indian-origin man was struck by a car while he was walking on the pavement in Ohioan city of Brunswick while a student hailing from India and enrolled at the University of Cincinnati was shot dead earlier this month.

An Indian-origin man died after being struck by a vehicle in Medina County, according to a report by Ohio-based news outlet WKYC. 52-year-old Piyush Patel, a resident of Brunswick City, was hit by a car on the evening of November 19 while he was walking on Substation Road.

When police arrived at the scene, they found a 25-year-old Cameron Luiza and her Volkswagen which struck Piyush Patel. Luiza was travelling south on Substation Road when he struck Patel, according to WKYC.

52-year-old Piyush Patel from Brunswick sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene, the troopers said in a release.

Luiza did not sustain any injuries as a result of the crash but Patel was pronounced dead at the scene. Luiza was wearing safety restraints at the time of the crash.

Brunswick Hills and the Ohio State Highway Patrol have launched a probe into the crash and are yet to make any arrests.

Earlier this year in June, another Indian-origin man, Milan Hiteshbhai Patel (30) died in a car crash in Ohio.

In a separate incident, Aaditya Adlakha, a 26-year-old doctoral student hailing from India at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, succumbed to gunshot wounds which he sustained on November 9 inside a vehicle while travelling along the Western Hills Viaduct.

Adlakha was set to complete his doctorate in 2025 and was lauded for his work on ulcerative colitis.

He was much-loved, exceedingly kind and humorous, intelligent and sharp, whose research was described as novel and transformative, Dr. Andrew Filak Jr., senior vice president for health affairs, and Christian Holmes, professor and dean of the College of Medicine, said in a statement, expressing their grief over the death of the Indian student.
Former Nepalese prime minister Madhav Nepal denied there is civil unrest in the country, saying people are not fed up with democracy. Instead, he said there is a tense situation due to a loan scam created by an individual

In a phone conversation with CNN-News18, Madhav Nepal said there is no question of the monarchy returning as people do not want it. There is no civil unrest in the country. People are not fed up with democracy. Differences are there but natural in any democratic setup. People dont want monarchy and there is no question of monarchy coming back, he said.

He added: This is a loan scam, which is causing this huge tension, and created by an individual who has taken huge loan and doesnt want to repay.

Earlier this week, riot police in Nepal used batons and tear gas to halt tens of thousands of supporters of Nepals former king, who attempted to march to the centre of the capital to demand the restoration of the monarchy and the nations former status as a Hindu state.

The protesters, waving the national flag and chanting slogans supporting former King Gyanendra, had gathered on the edge of Kathmandu and attempted to move toward the centre of the city. Riot police blocked them, beating them with bamboo batons and firing tear gas and a water cannon. There were minor injuries on both sides.

Top officials of the Indian intelligence establishment, however, told News18 that this unrest in the neighbouring country can be attributed to Chinese interference that has not allowed any government to settle down in the landlocked Himalayan country.

This is due to continuous Chinese interference in Nepal. They have not allowed even a single government to settle down. The people of Nepal are restless because this is a landlocked country and is dependent on the rest of the world, an Indian intelligence official said.

But due to corrupt practices of political parties and politicians, local people and public are suffering. Now, they are forced to go to China which is not their culture. Airports and highways have been sold to China. Local public want Nepal to run under one command and control, that is their king. They want a Hindu state, not one which has proximity to China as a colony, the official added.

Protesters have accused the current government of corruption and failed governance. In 2006, weeks of street protests had forced King Gyanendra to abandon his authoritarian rule and introduce democracy. Two years later, in 2008, a newly elected parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and declared Nepal a republic with a president as head of state.

Since then, Gyanendra has been living as a private citizen with no power or state protection. He still has some support among the people, but little chance of returning to power. The demonstrators have also demanded that Nepal should be turned back into a Hindu state. The Himalayan nation was declared a secular state in 2007 by an interim constitution.
A week after new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, his opponent and former President Mohamed Nasheed attacked the ruling government by saying I dont think this is the path that the people of Maldives would benefit from.

Mohamed Nasheed, who had good ties with New Delhi, said he has spoken in the Parliament and continues to speak that the future of Maldives is in a strong relationship with India.

We had presidential elections and there is a new government. The new government will follow a different foreign policy but I cant see how that can change our relationship with India. I do know that there was some rhetoric on asking Indian troops in Maldives to leave but I dont think this is the path that the people of Maldives would benefit from, Nasheed said, according to ANI.

#WATCH | Cape Town, South Africa: At the Cape Town Conversation, Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed says "We had presidential elections and there is a new govt. The new government will follow a different foreign policy but I can't see how that can change our relationship pic.twitter.com/29waN9KsmL ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

I have spoken in the Parliament and will continue to speak to my people giving my view that our future lies in an ever-stronger relationship with India. I believe that the new government will come to understand the intricacies of this, he added.

The reaction comes after a statement released by the Maldivian presidents office said Muizzu formally requested the government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives to Union minister Kiren Rijiju in a meeting last Saturday.

Muizzu, who had built his presidential campaign against Solih on the promise of expelling Indian military personnel from the country, won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Solih in a runoff.

Soon after the oath-taking on Friday, President Muizzu asserted that he was firmly committed to ensuring that his country remains free of any foreign military presence to preserve its independence and sovereignty.

The Indian side, meanwhile, is hopeful of a solution which is viable to both the sides, sources said. The Indian side will not take any step which will create tension between the two countries. We are still hopeful that this cooperation will continue in one way or the other.

There were 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering, Undersecretary for Public Policy of the Presidential Office, Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel has said.

The Maldives is one of Indias key maritime neighbours in the strategic Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence and security have been on an upward trajectory under the government of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The Maldives is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of Indias Neighbourhood First policy.
An Israeli-owned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected drone attack by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, a US defence official said on Saturday.

We are aware of reports that there was a suspected IRGC-initiated Shahed-136 UAV (that) struck a civilian motor vessel in the Indian Ocean, the official said, confirming the attack on Friday and adding that the ship incurred minor damage and there were no injuries.

Maritime security company Ambrey said the Malta-flagged, French-operated container ship was reportedly damaged when the unmanned aerial vehicle exploded close to it.

The vessel was managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, which was assessed to be the reason why it was targeted, Ambrey said, adding that in the days before the attack, the ships tracking transmissions had stopped shortly after departing port in the United Arab Emirates.

The reported attack comes almost a week after Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

Ambrey said in a separate incident on Friday the Huthis cautioned a tanker southwest of Yemens Red Sea port city of Hodeida to change course and warned that an attack would follow if they did not follow the instructions.

The security firm said the warning was issued several times, adding it is likely a Huthi operation is imminent.

The Huthis, declaring themselves part of the axis of resistance of Iran-affiliated groups, have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, after the Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages on October 7, according to Israeli authorities.

Gazas Hamas government says nearly 15,000 people have been killed in Israeli aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory since then.

On Monday, the Huthi rebels pledged further maritime attacks until Israel halts its Gaza campaign.
The World Health Organization on Friday voiced concern over the fate of the head of Gaza Citys Al-Shifa hospital, whom Israeli forces detained over the facilitys alleged use by Hamas.

In a statement the WHO said that the head of the biggest hospital in the besieged Palestinian territory had been arrested on Wednesday along with five other health workers, while they were taking part in a UN mission to evacuate patients.

Three medical personnel from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and three from the Ministry of Health were detained, the WHO said.

Since then two of the six have reportedly been released, but we do not have information about the well-being of the four remaining health staff, including the director of Al-Shifa hospital, the statement added.

The UN agency called for their legal and human rights to be fully observed during their detention.

Hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya has been frequently quoted by international media about the conditions inside Al-Shifa, a major focus of the Israeli ground offensive following attacks by Hamas militants on October 7.

The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks.

Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied the claims.

On Thursday the Israeli army announced it had arrested the hospital chief, along with a department head.

According to the WHO statement, the organisation has carried out three missions to al-Shifa in the space of a week, on one occasion managing to evacuate 31 babies from the hospital.

During the third mission, on Wednesday, which was carried out in cooperation with the Palestinian Red Crescent, 151 people were evacuated, including patients, their relatives and healthcare workers, according to the WHO.
After debating for decades, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) could finally set the ball rolling on the Loss and Damage fund. But, operationalising the fund is likely to be a strenuous task with rich and developed countries still sparring over who will compensate the vulnerable communities for the climate change.

Set up at Egypts Sharm El Sheikh last year, the fund is expected to support developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to severe impacts of climate change like droughts, floods and other disasters. After five rounds of rocky negotiations, the Transitional Committee finally reached consensus in Abu Dhabi this month on a set of recommendations to be taken up for discussion at COP28. However, crucial questions remain.

The fund is expected to be hosted by the World Bank with an independent secretariat to monitor it and governed by a 26-member board, including 12 members from developed countries. But it is still unclear which countries will be eligible to access it, and who will eventually pay.

Its not the World Bank money, just that theres a World Bank trustee, banker, and a secretariat. But the money is the funds money, and the board can set its own eligibility and rules on who gets it and who doesnt, said Professor Avinash Persaud, Special Envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados on Investment and Financial Services, at a discussion hosted by Climate Trends.

However, rich nations are yet to fulfil their $100 billion pledge, and remain evasive over any definite support to the L&D Fund. Under the current recommendations, no country is legally obliged to pay for the fund, thus failing to provide any assurance to vulnerable communities that their financial needs for coping with the climate crisis will be met.

The rich countrys budgets for aid are not going up, they are shrinking, they are double counting and reclassifying. That is why this $100 billion pledge is also way out of date now, we now know we need $2.4 trillion per year in developing countries. So the loss and damage funds is a very important historic event, added Prof Persaud.

RAISING AMBITION WITHOUT FINANCE MEANINGLESS

The UAE presidency is determined to close the two-weeks long conference with a first-ever Global Stocktake this December that urges enhanced ambitions. However, experts unequivocally highlight that raising ambition would remain an empty exercise without adequate finance to support it. It is important to understand the motivation behind the Global Stocktake (GST) process. It is a formal point for the whole world to collectively reflect and take stock for ratcheting up ambition, said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy Environment & Water (CEEW).

But the biggest tussle is who will pay for it? So, meaningful delivery of finance, not just for Loss and Damage, but also for mitigation will be central to the talks. India will definitely look to raise the unfulfilled pre-2020 promises made by the developed countries.

A key part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, GST will be done every five years to assess the global progress on meeting climate goals, followed by a call to raise ambition. The countries will be urged to step up ambition in their next round of NDCs due in 2025.

According to Alok Kumar, former principal secretary, Ministry of Power, India has not been very aggressive on demanding climate finance at various platforms. Meeting the energy demands is critical for a country like India. Then, we have to plan for 2030. If we accelerate renewable energy, then beyond a point there are some technical issues like storage. Thirdly, we need finance to develop the green energy corridors. Fourth, India should raise the affordability issue and supply chain of critical minerals at the international platform. Fifth, the technology is available but the issue is at what cost? Therefore, India needs to talk about finance and critical minerals when we talk of accelerating renewable energy, he said.

The two-week annual United Nations conference on climate change (COP28) is set to begin in the UAE on November 30.
On the night of November 25, the Russian terrorist army launched Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones repainted in black into Ukraine. Probably, in this way, the enemy is trying to complicate the work of Ukrainian air defense.

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At the same time, there is no talk of any new modification of these UAVs. This was stated by Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the telethon.

According to him, the Russian occupiers are constantly trying to modernize Shahed attack drones. This time, the enemy decided to repaint the UAV's body in a matte black color.

Ihnat suggested that in this way, Russian troops may be trying to complicate the work of Ukrainian air defense. In addition, the invaders began to use carbon fiber material in drones, which absorbs radar signals.

"They improved the UAVs they received from Iran, the ones they make themselves, using certain composite materials for the reflective surface. Now we see that they used carbon fiber. Carbon is an absorbent material for radar signals, and the black color is understandable," Ihnat said.

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At the same time, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force assured that these are not the Shahid jets that Iran showed at the arms exhibition the day before. It is currently unknown how many of them are being produced and what the fate of this jet UAV will be.

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Earlier it was reported that on the morning of November 25, when Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with Iranian kamikaze drones from several directions. The falling debris caused injuries and destruction in the capital.

As a reminder, on the night of November 25, Russian terrorist forces launched one of the largest drone attacks in Ukraine. Air defense forces destroyed most of the enemy UAVs. About 40% of the targets were shot down by mobile fire groups.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Former Cabinet Minister and a senior employee at the World Bank in the USA has expressed shock at the level of corruption in Zimbabwe after suspected fraudsters, conniving with the Deeds Office in Harare forged documents to his US$140 000 Chisipite house and sold it.

The matter is before the courts after Mutumbuka acted just in the nick of time.

Justice Webster Nicholas Chinamora who resigned last week following corruption allegations is said to have granted the order for Mutumbuka to vacate his house on a technicality. The order issued on September 18, 2023, instructed Mutumbuka to vacate the house and assist the purported buyer with the necessary paperwork.

Mutumbuka then appealed to the Supreme Court.

The buyer of the house armed with Chinamoras order sought for Mutumbukas immediate eviction. The High Court however, threw out Maranges appeal yesterday.

Mutumbuka said corruption in Zimbabwe was alarming and added that he was able to save his house so far because he is well known and influential. He felt sorry for poor people who are losing their properties daily with no chance for recourse.

He said he met President Mnangagwa and told him that although he is doing a great deal of work for the country, he will not go far if he doesnt address the problem of corruption.

I met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and I conguratulated him on his achievements, but I told him he will not achieve much if he doesnt deal with corruption.

I am known that is why I am able to fight my case in the courts. What about those ordinary men and women in the streets who are not known? They easily lose their hard-earned properties to such fraudsters, said Mutumbuka.

He called upon ZRP to investigate the Deeds Office whose officials he allege, collude with fraudsters to produce fake documents and swindle people of their properties.

Mutumbuka was the first Minister of Education and Culture Dzingai at independence.

The Mirror understands that two men, Prosper Biziweck (43) and Tatenda Shaft Wakatama (44) crafted fake documents and sold Mutumbukas house to Marange. The duo which worked with officials from the Deeds Registry was arrested and has since appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mungota.

Ironically while they were still appearing in Court Marange approached the High Court and Justice Chinamora ordered (Case number HCH 4912/22) Mutumbuka out of the house.

The allegations are that on June 22, 2021, the two, together with accomplices Jonah Ngome, Taurai Makata, Peter Chigayo and Kenias Mutyasira who are still at large forged title deeds of house number 90, Harare Drive, Chisipite in Harare which is registered in Mutumbukas name to be in Ngomes name.

Before the trial of the alleged fraudsters was finalised at the magistrates court, Marange approached the High Court and obtained the order from Justice Chinamora.

Chinamora resigned last week after President Emmerson Mnangagwa set up a tribunal to investigate him.

There were allegations particularly reported by Newshawks that Chinamora was not being investigated as recommended because he was receiving protection from Mnangagwa.

Sources said the Mutumbuka case is probably the one that eventually led to the resignation of the Judge.

The alleged fraudsters are set to appear in court on November 29, 2023. Masvingo Mirror




It's a novel thought experiment: What if our money had an expiration date? In Noema , Jacob Baynham explores the idea and how it would transform the very idea of what money is, or should be. As Baynham explains, a German economist named Silvio Gesell proposed the idea more than a century ago in his book The Natural Economic Order. "Only money that goes out of date like a newspaper, rots like potatoes, rusts like iron, evaporates like ether, is capable of standing the test as an instrument for the exchange of potatoes, newspapers, iron and ether," he wrote. In Gesell's view, people tend to hoard money because it gathers interest and gains value, and he argued that the practice leads to both economic and social ills. Gesell went beyond theory, however, devising a form of currency called Freigeld that is explained in detail in the piece.

Freigeld, alas, did not catch the world by storm. And while many have dismissed Gesell as a crackpot, none other than John Maynard Keynes years later wrote that the principles of Freigeld were sound. "I believe that the future will learn more from the spirit of Gesell than from that of Marx," Keynes wrote. A modern-world example: Former Federal Reserve official David Andolfatto wrote a paper in 2020 noting that COVID stimulus checks didn't goose the economy as quickly as expected because people held onto the money. "What if we gave them the money with a time fuse?" Andolfatto tells Baynham. "You're giving them the money and saying look, if you don't spend it in a period of time, it's going to evaporate." He says he now finds Gesell's theory "intriguing" but doesn't think it would could work on a large scale. Read the full story. (Or check out other longforms.)
Israelis celebrated Friday as a ceasefire held and 13 Israeli hostages were released by Hamas . The nine women, most of them elderly, and four children were taken to hospitals in Israel for observation after they were released as part of a four-day ceasefire deal, the BBC reports. The Israeli military said they will be reunited with their families after an initial medical assessment. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said initial examinations showed the hostages "face no life-threatening medical emergencies" after 48 days in captivity. The AP reports that 10 Thai citizens whose release was negotiated separately were also freed Friday, along with a man from the Philippines.

In a Tel Aviv plaza now known as Hostages Square, a crowd of hundreds of people cheered when the release of hostages was confirmed, the Guardian reports. The freed Israelis include multiple members of some families. The youngest child to be released is two years old. Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, the CEO of Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, said she was "thrilled to be the one to receive four children, three mothers and one grandmother," the BBC reports. "Their physical condition is good and they are currently undergoing medical and emotional assessment," she said.

Under the ceasefire deal, 50 Israeli hostages will be freed by Hamas over four days and Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners. Hours after the Israelis were released, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenagers were freed from prisons in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Times of Israel reports that Israeli authorities have received a list of another 13 hostages that Hamas plans to release Saturday, and it includes more children than the four freed on Friday. Israel has said it is willing to extend the ceasefire by a day for every 10 extra hostages released. President Biden said Friday that he believes "the chances are real" that the truce could be extended, reports Reuters. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is being sued by one of the 11 women whose accusations of sexual harassment against him were corroborated by the state attorney general's report that preceded Cuomo's resignation. Brittany Commisso filed a summons late Wednesday in New York's state supreme court, the Times-Union reports. The former Cuomo aide is suing under the state's Adult Survivors Act, which opened a one-year window during which lawsuits for sexual harassment or assault could be filed even if the statute of limitations had run out, CBS News reports. That window closed Friday.

Commisso came forward in 2021 to identify herself as the woman formerly known only as "Executive Assistant #1." She said that while she was working for Cuomo in 2019, the then-governor groped her multiple times, including grabbing her breast under her shirt. A criminal investigation was opened into her allegations, but the case was ultimately dismissed. Also named in her lawsuit against Cuomo is his former chief counsel and the state of New York. A lawyer for Cuomo calls her lawsuit a "cash grab" and denies the allegations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Commisso says she was harmed by the former governor's "pervasive abusive conduct" and that after reporting the alleged abuse, she experienced retaliation. In allegations being made public for the first time, she says it was current Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was then lieutenant governor, whose office demoted Commisso and assigned her "demeaning" tasks after she came forward with her allegations. "The claim regarding then-Lt. Gov. Hochul is clearly a mistake, as she had no control over Executive Chamber personnel decisions," says a spokesperson for the now-governor. (Read more Andrew Cuomo stories.)
The partner countries will provide Ukraine with warships to ensure the safety of ships in the "grain corridor" in the Black Sea . Odesa region will also be protected by additional air defense systems.

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This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi at the Grain from Ukraine conference in Kyiv. He called the creation and operation of the "grain corridor" one of the biggest achievements of the year.

"We have agreed with our partners and will accompany the ships at sea to ensure their safety," Zelenskyi explained.

According to him, there are already specific agreements on receiving ships, and this is a matter of the near future.

In addition, there are already agreements on additional "very specific air defense systems" to protect Odesa region.

"A very specific request has already been sent by our partners, and I can say that it has already been agreed. Soon this region will be protected by very powerful air defense. Not only ships are important to us, but also the people who live there," Zelensky emphasized.

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To recap, the day before, Canada announced a new aid package for the Ukrainian army. It includes 11,000 assault rifles and more than 9 million rounds of ammunition produced by the Canadian company Colt Canada.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, 400 thousand euros were raised in a week for a Black Hawk helicopter for the DIU soldiers. The total cost of the aircraft is about 4.3 million euros. As soon as the required amount is raised, the Black Hawk will be delivered to Ukrainian intelligence officers.

- The Finnish government proposed to the parliament to amend the draft state budget for 2024. It is planned to increase funds to help Ukraine, which is fighting Russia's invasion.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Kamala Harris posted a photo of herself and her husband preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Pretty uncontroversial, right? Not so much: In the background of the photo looms a gas stove, the very same type of stove the federal government was rumored to be considering banning earlier this year. (The Biden administration quickly made clear that would not be happening, despite recent studies linking them to health issues including asthma in children.) Not surprisingly, this led to a lot of people calling the vice president and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff out over their ownership of the vilified appliance, Newsweek reports.

"Good morning to everyone except the never ending hypocrisy of the Commie Left - nice gas stove Kamala," wrote one X user in response to the VP's post, as cited by KATU. Some big names in politics, including former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, were among those raising their eyebrows at Harris' post, Fox News reports. A Florida state legislator, Berny Jacques, posted on X, "Meanwhile they want you to give up your gas stoves, while they live it up with theirs. Friendly Reminder: not only will gas stoves remain legal in Florida, we also made them tax free!" (Read more Kamala Harris stories.)
UPDATE

Nov 25, 2023 1:55 PM CST

A former Minneapolis police officer serving a prison sentence in the murder of George Floyd is expected to survive after being stabbed by another inmate, Minnesota attorney general's office said Saturday. "I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence," Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement, per the AP. "He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence." George Floyd's brother said Saturday that he didn't wish such harm on anyone and that the news of the attack left him numb. "Whatever happens in those four walls, I don't really have any feelings about it," Terrence Floyd said.

Nov 24, 2023 8:41 PM CST

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told the AP. The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The release of a second group of hostages under a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was delayed Saturday after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement. A senior Hamas official tells the BBC that Israel broke the terms of the agreement by failing to allow aid trucks into northern Gaza and by flying drones over the southern part of the territory. The official says the Israeli military also killed two Palestinians in Gaza and made changes to a list of Palestinian prisoners due to be freed under the ceasefire deal. Israel denies violating the agreement. Earlier Saturday, the country's prison service said it was preparing 42 Palestinian prisoners for release, the Washington Post reports.

An Egyptian official tells the AP that mediators Egypt and Qatar received a list of 14 hostages to be released by Hamas Saturday and passed it to Israel. On Friday, nine Israeli women and four children were released and 42 Palestinian women and teenagers were freed. Ten Thai citizens and one Filipino were released under a deal negotiated separately. It's not clear whether more non-Israeli hostages seized in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel will be released Saturday.

The Hamas official told the BBC that only three aid trucks had been allowed to enter northern Gaza. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said 196 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza on Friday. The New York Times reports that COGAT, Israel's military liaison to the Palestinians, said 200 more trucks carrying aid were due to enter Gaza and 50 would be transferred to the northern part of the territory. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, an American defense official said Saturday. The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the Israel-Hamas war that threatens to become a wider regional conflicteven as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The defense official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters.

The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew. "We continue to monitor the situation closely," the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the US military gathered to assess that Iran was behind the attack, though authorities suspect Tehran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard carried out the assault. The same drones have been used by Russia in its war on Ukraine, as recently as in a barrage launched Saturday that Kyiv described as Moscow's biggest drone attack since the war began. CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, referred questions to the Symi's owner, Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping. That company is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

In recent days, the Symi's crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat. The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Last Sunday, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen.

(Read more shipping stories.)
Honda is recalling select 2023-24 Accord and HR-V vehicles due to a missing piece in the front seat belt pretensioners, a problem that could increase injury risks during a crash. According to notices published by Honda and the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration this week, the pretensionerswhich tighten seat belts in place upon impactmay be missing the rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate. This means that passengers may not be properly restrained in a crash, regulators said. The NHSTA credited the issue to an error made during assembly. More than 300,000 Accords and HR-Vs are potentially affected, the AP reports.

As of Nov. 16, Honda had received seven warranty claims but no reports of injuries or deaths related to the faulty pretensioners, according to documents published by the NHSTA. For consumers impacted by this recall, dealers will inspect all cars and potentially replace the seat belt pretensioner assembly at no cost. Those who have already paid for these repairs may also be eligible for reimbursement. Honda estimates that less than 1% of the potentially affected vehicles will require a replacement. The vast majority are expected to be satisfied by an inspection alone, a Honda spokesperson told the AP on Saturday. Notification letters are set to be sent via mail to registered owners of the affected vehicles starting Jan. 8. Replacement parts should to be available to dealers by the end of the month, the spokesperson said, but consumers can go to a Honda dealer for the inspection now.

(Read more Honda recall stories.)
The rescue comes one week after a couple were rescued from the area, after bad weather forced them off-track.

Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said the Tararua Ranges are known for extreme weather conditions.

"Strong wind and low cloud are frequent factors, which often results in poor visibility and makes the challenging terrain even more difficult to safely navigate," he said.

He added choosing the right track, understanding the weather forecast and packing warm and waterproof clothes are important steps of planning.

"During trip planning, consideration of alternate routes is essential as well as having a backup plan and being prepared to stay longer at safe points such as huts," Daisley continued.

Wellington Search and Rescue Squad member Pete Cadle said the most important pre-trip tasks are telling someone your plans before you go, and packing an emergency communications device such as a distress beacon.

Beacons can be hired from many DoC Visitor Centres or outdoor tramping and hunting stores for as low as $10, and once activated, the beacon alerts New Zealand's Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

"Let someone you trust, like family or friends, know where you are going and when you expect to be back," he said.

"You should always take extra gear, so you are prepared for the unexpected, even on a day trip. While the weather may appear fine, it can very quickly turn."

Here are five simple rules to keep yourself safe:
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt have agreed on collaboration to broaden cooperation and increasing opportunities for bilateral trade exchange by working to eliminate all obstacles restricting access to markets in their countries.

This came as Finance and National Economy Minister, His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and his Egyptian counterpart, Mohammed Maait, co-chaired the first meeting of the Bahraini-Egyptian Governmental Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, held in Cairo.

A joint statement said the meeting aims to launch a new phase of further developing bilateral ties to consolidate developmental partnership between the two the countries, supported by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and with the follow up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly.

The committee announced that ministries, agencies and public companies in both countries have agreed on 15 cooperation initiatives and preparing 13 memoranda of understanding to be signed.

Investment and trade

The committee will work on encouraging cooperation between Bahraini and Egyptian business communities to mobilise investment and trade and increase visits of business delegations to specialised events.

A Bahraini-Egyptian commercial centre will be launched and an agreement will be signed between customs in both countries on mutual recognition of the authorised economic operator (AEO), the statement said.

Other facets of cooperation include protection of competition, preventing monopoly, integrated industrial partnership to achieve sustainable economic development and regional and Arab integration, and strengthening cooperation in all areas.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

In acknowledgment of the pivotal role and tireless efforts of the Supreme Council for Women, Member of Parliament Dr. Maryam Al-Dhaen affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrains commitment to safeguarding women from all forms of violence.

Dr. Al-Dhaen emphasized that Bahrain has established a robust legislative foundation dedicated to the protection of womens rights, with ongoing efforts to update and review laws to ensure their efficacy.

The legislative authority, as asserted by Dr. Al-Dhaen, actively supports initiatives that strengthen womens rights and serve as protective measures against various forms of violence and discrimination.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, she highlighted Bahrains advanced position within the international community in combating violence against women, emphasizing the nations significant contributions to global efforts in this regard.

Dr. Al-Dhaen also emphasized the importance of the day in spotlighting endeavours that contribute to achieving gender equality.

Addressing violence against women as a national responsibility, Dr. Al-Dhaen lauded the accomplishment of abolishing Article (353) of the Penal Code, which previously allowed the exemption of a rapist from punishment if he married the victim.

This legislative amendment is recognized as a significant stride towards protecting women and preserving their rights. Dr. Al-Dhaen extended her sincere praise to the Supreme Council for Women, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, for the unwavering commitment to ensuring and promoting the rights of Bahraini women.

She acknowledged the Councils instrumental role in combating violence, including domestic violence, through awareness-raising initiatives and other significant endeavours. Furthermore, Dr. Al-Dhaen commended the Womens Support Centre and various governmental bodies such as the Ministries of Interior, Health, etc.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

In an earnest bid to safeguard homes and curtail the devastating impact of fires, the General Directorate of Civil Defense advocates for the adoption of a robust security culture, emphasising adherence to recommended safety requirements within households.

A key facet of this safety initiative involves the installation of fire alarms, specifically smoke detectors.

Widely available in the market at affordable prices, these devices serve as a crucial line of defence, contributing to the creation of a secure atmosphere within homes.

Their efficacy becomes particularly pronounced during nighttime when families are at rest.

The timely alarm issued by these detectors acts as the first warning, alerting residents to a potential fire regardless of the time of day.

This early notification enables swift precautionary measures, significantly reducing the potential for damage, loss, injuries, or fatalities resulting from a fire outbreak.

One notable advantage of smoke detectors lies in their accessibility, operating with regular batteries readily available in markets.

Furthermore, these devices emit audible signals when the battery requires replacement, ensuring continuous functionality.

They also prove resilient in the face of power outages, ensuring uninterrupted vigilance.

Battery-Operated Smoke Detectors:

Residents are urged to prioritize the installation of smoke detectors powered by regular batteries.

These devices serve as a critical early warning system in the event of a fire, offering a timely alert that can prove indispensable, especially during crucial hours such as at night or during family rest periods.

Window Safety:

A crucial aspect of household safety involves refraining from placing iron bars on windows that do not open from the inside.

Ensuring unobstructed exits is paramount for seamless evacuation during emergencies, underscoring the importance of accessibility in times of crisis.

Fire Extinguisher Preparedness:

The provision of suitable fire extinguishers is emphasized, with a focus on strategic placement, especially in kitchens where fire risks are heightened.

Residents are encouraged not only to possess these essential tools but also to undergo training on their proper usage.

Regular maintenance checks are stressed to ensure their operational readiness.

Electrical Safety Measures:

Residents are advised to prioritize the safety of wire connections and electrical appliances through regular maintenance checks.

By adopting a proactive approach to electrical safety, households can mitigate potential risks and create a secure living environment.

Automatic Circuit Breaker Usage: Mitigating electrical risks further, authorities recommend the employment of automatic circuit breakers.

This proactive measure adds an extra layer of protection against electrical hazards, fostering a safer living space.

Gas Cylinder Safety:

Promptly closing gas cylinders after use is highlighted as a crucial safety measure. This simple practice can prevent leaks and potential fire hazards, contributing to a secure household environment.

Handling Flammable Liquids:

To minimize the risk of fire, residents are urged to keep flammable liquids away from potential sources of fire, heat, and electricity.

This proactive measure is essential in reducing the likelihood of accidents within the home.

Warehouse Ventilation:

For households with warehouses, especially those storing self-combustible materials and chemicals sensitive to high temperatures, adequate ventilation is crucial.

This measure ensures a safer storage environment, minimizing the risk of fire incidents.

Caution in Gas and Vapor Presence:

Residents are reminded to exercise caution in areas saturated with the smell of gas or vapor from flammable materials.

Refraining from activities such as lighting matches, fanning flames, or smoking in these environments is vital to prevent potential fire hazards.

Fire Response Protocols:

In the unfortunate event of a fire, residents are strongly advised against opening windows.

This precautionary measure aims to impede the spread of the fire within the house, offering valuable time for occupants to enact emergency response protocols and evacuate safely.

By embracing these safety measures, residents contribute significantly to reducing the risk of house fires and fostering a secure living environment.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense urges widespread awareness and implementation of these guidelines to fortify homes against the threat of fires.
The court of appeal sitting in Lagos has upheld the judgment of the tribunal affirming Umo Eno as the governor of Akwa Ibom state.

In the judgment handed down on Friday, the appellant court quashed three separate appeals filed against Eno.

The three-member panel of judges led by Festus Obande dismissed the appeal instituted by Bassey Albert and his party, the Young Progressives Party (YPP), against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Eno, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for lacking in merit.

The court also ruled in favour of Eno against the petitions by John Udoedehe of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) and Akanimo Udofia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) respectively, for devoid of substance.

The electoral umpire had declared Eno as the winner of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom with a total of 356,348 votes, while Albert came second with 136,262 votes. Udofia polled third with 129,602 votes.

Dissatisfied with the election outcome, Albert, Udofia, and Udoedehe, who came fourth, filed separate appeals at the tribunal - ranging from certificate forgery to improper conduct of the PDP's primary poll that produced Eno as governorship candidate.

Delivering judgment in September, the tribunal held that the supreme court had already settled the issue of Eno's qualification and that the petitioners lacked the locus to challenge how the PDP conducted its primaries to produce a candidate.

Unfazed by the tribunal verdict, the trio went to the appeal court.

On Friday, the court of appeal upheld the tribunal's position on the certificate forgery allegations against Eno.

"On the issue of the academic certificates of the second respondent, no cause of action has arisen or will ever arise regarding his credentials," the judge said.

"There was no forged certificate presented to INEC. It has already been held to be genuine by the supreme court, so the issue is resolved against the appellant."

The court also awarded the sum of N500,000 in favour of Eno and his party, against Albert.




Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Saturday urged Igbo residents in Kano State to exercise utmost caution and remain neutral amid the ongoing political uncertainties and tensions.





With pro and anti protests surrounding the judgment of the Appeal Court, Ohanaeze advised Igbo residents against participating in any of the protests.





Recall that the Appeal Court had sacked Governor Yusuf and declared Gawuna as the duly elected governor of the state.





But, the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the judgment showed that the appellate court affirmed the victory of Yusuf. However, the court dismissed it, attributing it to typographical error.





Some supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to which Yusuf belonged had taken to the streets to protest the judgment of the court. There are indications of other protests today (Saturday) in the state.





However, Ohanaeze said the possibility of these planned protests escalating into full-scale violence and political warfare is a cause for concern.





The apex Igbo body called on all Igbo residents to take preventive measures, including closing down their businesses, in the event of a breakdown of law and order in Kano, adding that this will help safeguard Igbo properties and prevent the destruction of their goods within Kano State.





A statement by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze reads partly: We appeal to the security agents to ensure that Igbos are not made sacrificial lambs to the potential fallout of these two protests in Kano today.





Distress calls from Kano indicate that the political godfathers of the rival parties must restrain their followers and encourage them to abide by the law, maintaining peace and order. Failure to manage these Kano rival protests appropriately could jeopardize our democracy.





Ohanaeze Ndigbo, through its communication channels, emphasizes to Igbos in Kano that political abstinence remains crucial in securing their investments and properties. We implore all Igbo residents to prioritize their safety, exercise restraint, and avoid engaging in any activities that may escalate the current tensions.





We must protect our interests and preserve the peace. By remaining neutral, we demonstrate our commitment to the safety and prosperity of our people. Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges all Igbos in Kano to prioritize their well-being and contribute to the stability of the region.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike on Friday disclosed that President Bola Tinubu gave him targets before assuming office.

Wike said Tinubu made him and other ministers sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the need to deliver projects yearly.

He disclosed this during a media parley with selected journalists in Abuja.

Wike told the newsmen that the president expects deliverables from each of the ministers.

He said, We were all given targets, Mr President has set the targets and we have signed that memorandum of understanding, the deliverables for me, Mr President, will be one year in office on May 29. Mr president is celebrating, now what are you celebrating? What can Mr President say he has done for the people of Abuja?

Then he will look at me, Minister how far? We have a lot to show in terms of infrastructure, so I summoned the companies. You want my money? How long can you finish your job?

They promised to finish their jobs by April ending if paid. I spoke with Mr President on the Supplementary budget so we can finish the job before May 29.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, descended heavily on the Independent National Electoral Commissioner, INEC, accusing it of being partisan.

The appellate court said it was embarrassing that the Commission could appear before it to act in favour of a party in an election dispute, by disowning documents that it not only issued, but also duly certified.

It decried that the electoral body has continued to dance naked in the market, even though it was meant to assume a neutral stand in election litigations.

The INEC as an institution should be reminded of its role in an election; to be an unbiased umpire between parties.

It should stop behaving irresponsibly, having in mind that its duty to conduct election has a direct bearing on peace and well-being of the country.

The role of INEC in election dispute should be limited to the tendering of all the documents used in an election and explaining what they were used for and how they were obtained.

INEC should stop dancing naked in the market, pretending that no one is seeing its nakedness and its dancing steps, the court stated while delivering judgement in a Bauchi State House of Assembly election appeal.

The lead judgement of a three-member panel of the court was delivered by Justice K. I. Amadi.

The panel, in its unanimous decision, nullified the election of the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, who was earlier declared the winner of Ningi Central Constituency in the state, by INEC.

The court held that evidence before it established that the election was inconclusive.

Aside from voiding the Certificate of Return that was issued to Suleiman who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the appellate court directed INEC to conduct a supplementary poll in 10 polling units in the state, within 90 days.

The court further awarded a cost of N500, 000 against INEC.

The judgement followed an appeal that was brought before the court by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election, Khalid Abdulmalik-Ningi.

INEC had declared that Suleiman of the PDP polled a total of 16, 866 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abdulmalik-Ningi of the APC, who scored 15, 065 votes in the election that held on March 18.

However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC candidate lodged a petition before the State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

The petitioner, among other things, alleged that results of the election were cancelled due to over-voting or corrupt practices.

Even though INEC which was a Respondent in the matter, denied the claim that there was over-voting, it however failed to produce any witness before the tribunal which eventually dismissed the petition.

While faulting the decision of tribunal, the appellate court noted that the Appellant brought nine witnesses that testified in respect of the various polling units and also tendered certified copies of INEC documents to support his case.

It held that going by Section 137 of the Electoral Act 2022, the certified INEC documents were enough to sustain the allegation that the election was not conducted in compliance with provisions of the law.

The court wondered why INEC denied that results of the election were cancelled in some polling units, when its officials established the same fact in Forms EC 40G that they signed and submitted to it.

It held that the tribunal was statutorily empowered to accord probative value to the INEC documents which it said disclosed all information required to prove the alleged non compliance.








The estranged wife of Davidos Logistics Manager, Sheila, has denied her ex-husbands claim that she taunted him by calling him a slave for serving his boss.





Israel Afeare, popularly known as Israel DMW, had in an Instagram post explained why his marriage to Sheila hit the rocks.





He alleged she taunted him saying I derive dignity in begging my oga [Davido], and that I am fully a slave and that am disgracing her on social media.





However, in a swift reaction via her Instagram story, Sheila denied the allegations, saying she never had problems with Israel serving his boss.





She said she only advised him to start a business or a legacy for himself.





She wrote, I never had an issue with him [Israel DMW] serving his boss [Davido].





As a wife, I only told my husband to get something doing! Get a business running, start building a legacy. [I] Gave him countless ideas on things he could possibly do.





I just wanted him to have something going on for himself which his family fully supports as its a concern to everyone.




The troops of Operation Haderin Daji in the Northwest zone have neutralized suspected terrorists in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.





A statement issued by the spokesman of OPHD, Captain Yahaya Ibrahim said the troops also rescued kidnapped hostages in Faskari and Batsari Local Government Area of the State.





Furthermore, troops offensive operations led to the neutralization of terrorists in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. Troops responded to bandits activities in Malumfashi and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively as well as Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.





The statement disclosed that the troops conducted a fighting patrol in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State and arrested a suspected impostor in Mallam Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State.





On 13 November 2023, following a tip-off, troops arrested five suspected terrorists in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects were part of the terrorists that attacked Sayaya village on 6 Nov 23 in the same LGA





On 13 and 14 November 2023, troops intercepted and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages in Faskari and Batsari Local Government Areas of the State





On 15 November 2023, troops while on fighting patrol made contact with terrorists in Batsari LGA of Katsina State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized one terrorist and recovered one AK47 rifle, 2 magazines loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo and 4 motorcycles





Between 18 and 19 November 2023, in separate operations, troops responded to information on bandits activities in Maru, Malumfashi and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 4 bandits and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages





The troops recovered one AK47 rifle with magazine loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo, 3 mobile phones, one motorcycle and the sum of N18,560.00





The statement added that, On 20 November 2023, troops conducted a fighting patrol and made contact with bandits in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, saying that with a firefight, troops neutralized 4 terrorists and recovered 2 locally made pistols, one long Dane gun, 5 empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 4 mobile phones and destroyed 2 motorcycles.





On 21 November 2023, troops on fighting patrol responded to kidnapping activities in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State. Troops rescued 52 kidnapped hostages on the operation.





It further stated that On 17 November 2023, the air component of Operation Haderin Daji conducted air interdiction on a targeted terrorist leaders enclave known as Lalbi Nagogo.





The enclave is in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State. Following confirmation of the terrorist and his foot soldiers presence, the location was struck with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralized with various structures destroyed





The troops neutralized 20 terrorists, arrested 20 terrorists and rescued 83 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, one AK47 rifle loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one long Dane gun, 2 locally made pistols, 72 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 empty cases of rounds of 7.62mm special 4 magazines, 5 motorcycles, 7 mobile phones and amongst others





All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further actions. These actions include prosecution
Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has directed Abuja landowners to recertify their existing certificate of occupancy (C-of-O).

While speaking on Friday during a media parley, Wike said the recertification will involve the linking of the owners national identification number (NIN) and bank verification number (BVN).

He said the motive behind the recertification is to put an end to the suspected racketeering of C-of-O issued to mass housing estate developers.

Wike said the issuance of C-of-O will now cost N3.5 million, a reduction from the previously proposed cost of N5 million.





Over the years, nobody has been able to enforce the payment of ground rent. I came on board and I said okay, it cant be business as usual, he said.

You have property, you are given a C of O to back up your property. In that C of O, you are told to be paying annual ground rent. For the past 15 years, you didnt pay. Some people, for the past 20 years, they never paid.

And you know Nigerians, they said nothing will happen. I came and said something will happen and they have to pay. Seeing that we mean what we have said, if you dont pay, we will revoke and we have been doing that, people are now queuing up to pay. Go to AGIS, people are queuing up and that has now increased our IGR.





The minister said the internally generated revenue (IGR) in the FCT has increased from a monthly collection of N14 billion to over N20 billion.

On November 15, the FCT minister inaugurated a committee to investigate the issuance of C-of-O for mass housing and the recovery of land use contravention fees.

During the chat, Wike said since his assumption of office, he had refrained from signing C-of-Os because of the need to introduce enhanced security measures on the issuance.

He added that the recertification of C-of-Os would cost N50,000 for individuals and N100,000 for corporate bodies.

There are a lot of discrepancies, a lot of cloning of C-of-Os. So, we have come up with an idea that every allottee who seeks and applies for a C-of-O must supply his NIN; this is one of the features we are going to put in the new C-of-O, Wike said.

If a corporate body doesnt have an NIN and they have a property, they must put their BVN. So many persons have not registered, and this will make them go and re-register.

For everyone who has a C-of-O, they will come for a recertification, so that we can incorporate the NIN or BVN.

Those who had a C-of-O before dont need to pay money again; the highest they can pay is N50,000, and corporate bodies will pay N100,000. It helps in terms of security; it also helps to improve our revenue generation.
Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has expressed worry over the current state of affairs within the countrys judiciary.

NEF in a statement, yesterday by its Convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, stressed the need for the judiciary to be cautious in its actions to prevent the erosion of its integrity, public trust, and confidence.

He said: The potential consequences of these actions may ultimately validate the concerns raised by retired Supreme Court Justice, Dattijo Mohammed in his valedictory remarks about corruption and undue compromises within the judiciary.

We recognise the importance of a fair and impartial judiciary in upholding the rule of law and safeguarding democratic principles.

The judiciary plays a critical role in ensuring justice, protecting citizens rights, and preserving the credibility of the electoral process.

Any actions that compromise these principles undermine the very foundation of any democratic nation.

NEF, therefore, calls on all levels of the judiciary to uphold the highest ethical standards and maintain impartiality in their decision making processes.

Judges should exhibit unwavering integrity and resilience when adjudicating cases, especially those pertaining to elections.

The judiciary plays a crucial role in sustaining constitutional democracy by ensuring the rule of law, protecting individual rights, and providing checks and balances on the other branches of government. However, if the judiciary fails to fulfill its responsibilities, it can have severe implications for the stability and functioning of a democratic society.

The current trend may encourage politicians to view politics as a do-or-die affair. When the judiciary fails to effectively adjudicate disputes and hold politicians accountable for their actions, it creates an environment where politicians feel emboldened to engage in corrupt practices, abuse their power, and disregard the principles of democracy. This erosion of trust in the judiciary can lead to a breakdown of democratic norms and values, ultimately undermining the legitimacy of the political system.

Furthermore, a collapsing judiciary jeopardizes the safeguarding of constitutionalism, which is the cornerstone of any democratic society. The judiciary acts as the guardian of the constitution, ensuring that laws and policies adhere to the principles enshrined within it.

Without a functioning judiciary, there is a risk of constitutional violations going unchecked, leading to the erosion of citizens rights and freedoms. This can result in a loss of public confidence in the democratic process, as citizens may feel that their voices are not being heard or that their rights are being trampled upon.

The fairness and transparency of the judicial system are vital for fostering public trust, confidence, and belief in the democratic process.

NEF believes that the judiciary should be an unbiased and independent arm of government, which is essential to the success of democracy and it should not be seen as compromising the integrity of its decisions particularly at a time when the nation is grappling with a range of challenges.

NEF, therefore, calls on the judiciary to consider the consequences of its actions and decisions and strive to uphold the rule of law in all its activities to justify the confidence reposed on it by Nigerians.

The NEF called on the public to remain vigilant in as to the direction the nations judiciary is headed and not to hesitate to expose any perceived misconduct on the part of the judiciary.

It is our firm belief that a strong and incorruptible judiciary is crucial for the development and progress of our great nation. NEF, alongside other concerned stakeholders, will continue to closely monitor the conduct of the judiciary and advocate for its ethical revitalization to safeguard the interests of all Nigerians, he added.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Friday denied claims of litigation threats against President Bola Tinubu regarding appointments.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation issued the denial while expressing pleasure that Igbos secured a few crucial ministerial appointments after the Southeast overwhelmingly voted for the Labour Party.

A statement signed by the factional Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, appealed that the Southeast is in dire need of developmental projects like the construction of Southeast Federal expressways with cement technology, deep seaports at Asa Blue River in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State and at Afikpo River in Ebonyi State, construction of standard gauge railway lines from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri, and the creation of an additional state (of Aba State) for the Southeast.

He also mentioned other needs to include restoration of peace and security in the Southeast through the use of carrots and stick solutions for Biafra agitators and immediate federal inquiry and investigation into the killings of 70 Nigerians, especially Igbos, at Lokpanta Cattle Market along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Abia State.

According to Isiguzoro, Igbos will be grateful to Tinubu if he gives urgent attention to these genuine needs of the Southeast, not appointments.

The statement reads: Notably, Ohanaeze Ndigbo acknowledges that the Southeast has received numerous appointments from previous federal governments since 1999.

However, these appointments have failed to yield substantial public benefits, attractive policies, and developmental projects.

The region has witnessed deteriorating federal highways and a lack of federal presence, despite having influential ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during the Obasanjo-YarAdua-Jonathan regimes.

It is disheartening to note that these appointments predominantly benefitted the elite class, while the suffering masses were left neglected. Regrettably, some individuals who were part of the campaign directors of the Labour Partys presidential council from Ohanaeze are now attempting to use grandstanding tactics to secure appointments under Tinubus administration.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly distances itself from any such plot and reaffirms its commitment to representing the genuine interests of the Igbo people. The organisation recognises the importance of engaging constructively with the government to ensure the equitable development and progress of the Southeast.

Ohanaeze regrets the circumstances that led to these unauthorised publications of litigation threats over demands for more political appointments.

However, the organisation remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering unity, promoting the welfare of the Igbo people, and advocating for their rightful inclusion in national affairs.
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) says it arrested Wilfred Bonse, former Cross River governorship candidate, in connection to the security breach and financial fraud suffered by Patricia, a cryptocurrency firm.

He contested the Cross River governorship election in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Bonse, according to Muyiwa Adejobi, NPF public relations officer (PRO), conspired to launder the sum of N50 million that originated from the fraudulent diversion of N607 million from Patricia.

In a statement on Friday, Adejobi said Bonse received the funds with his bank account through a cryptocurrency wallet.

The fund is part of the N2 billion Patricia lost to a on its crypto processing platform in May 2023.

Adejobi said after painstaking efforts, the police trail led to the arrest of Bonse.

He said the police, through its national cybercrime center (NPF-NCCC) made significant strides in the investigation of the complex financial fraud case reported by Patricia.

The case involves a criminal conspiracy, unauthorised modification of computer systems, network data, and the unlawful diversion of funds amounting to over Two hundred million naira (N200,000,000:00k) as contained in a petition to the inspector general of Police, the PRO said.

Outlining the details of the alleged theft, conversion of cryptocurrency wallets, and unauthorised fund diversion from the companys Flutterwave account, the petition specifically mentioned some individuals currently at large.

Having registered his involvement in the complex crime. Wilfred Bonse conspired in laundering the sum of fifty million naira (N50,000,000:00k) originating from the fraudulent diversion of six hundred and seven million naira (N607,000,000:00k) from Patricia Technology companys account to his bank account through a cryptocurrency wallet.

While the investigation is ongoing, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to assure the public that all individuals involved in this criminal conspiracy will be brought to justice.

This is not the first case of Bonses involvement in cyber fraud.

In February, the politician was accused of benefitting at least N40 million from a cyber fraud scheme executed by a group of hackers identified as The Syndicate.

BONSE WAS USED TO STEAL FROM PATRICIA

Commenting on Bonses arrest, Hanu Agbodje, founder of Patricia, said the politician was used to steal N607,000,000 from Patricia.

This is not all the monies lost, but recovery from this would go a long way to soothe Patricia users, Agbodje said.

The case is still being investigated, the hackers used politicians to launder the stolen money. All of whom would be brought to the book. One by One.

My commitment remains to Patricia users, Repayment started on the 20th of November, and it would continue. Until every user is reached.

Agbodje said he takes the new development as a win even though the company still has some grounds to cover.




A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has called on security agencies to protect leaders of the party from attacks.





Oguntoyinbo enjoined the Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and other security agencies to offer protection to the leaders of NNPP following alleged threats to their lives.





The NNPP chieftain made the call on Saturday in a statement.





Oguntoyinbo, in the statement made available to newsmen, said there are reports of threats to the lives and properties of some leaders of the party.





He called the security agencies to be on alert and ensure that those planning to attack NNPP chieftains are apprehended before they strike.





Oguntoyinbo described the party as a peace-loving one, adding that members of the party do not engage and will not engage in violence.





He warned that the lives and properties of members of the party must not be put in danger.





He said, I am calling on the security agencies to please protect our leaders as there are threats to their lives and properties across the country because the party is growing and receiving the support of Nigerians.





What happened at the Court of Appeal where the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf got a judgement that was tampered with and the fact that our opposition is now seeing clearly that we will get victory at the Supreme Court, have led them to be threatening our lives and our properties.





According to information at the partys disposal, there are alleged plans by some people under the tag of unknown gunmen to attack the National Secretariat of our party while at the same time, some leaders of the party have been marked down for elimination.





The security agencies should come to our aid. I implore our leaders and members across the country but most importantly in Kano State to remain peaceful but be alert and watch out against attack. NNPP is a peace-loving party. We dont engage and will not engage in violence. But our lives and our properties should not be put in danger.
Judas Priest is heading out on tour this spring.

The heavy metal groups Invincible Shield Tour starts April 18 in Wallingford, Conn. and wraps on May 22 in Syracuse, N.Y. Special guest Sabaton will join the tour.

Judas Priest will perform at Prudential Center in Newark on April 19.

The 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees recently headlined the Power Trip Festival in Indio, Calif.

If you want to see Judas Priest live, tickets can be bought on Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity, MegaSeats and TicketNetwork.

The cheapest ticket we could find on the secondary market, before fees, for their N.J. show $57 is on Vivid Seats.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

You can find a full calendar of Judas Priests tour dates here.

More upcoming 2023-2024 rock tours

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are not the only rock artists on a huge tour right now.

Here are a few more upcoming tours you wont want to miss.

RELATED STORIES ABOUT LIVE EVENTS:

Creed tour 2024: How to get tickets to the Summer of 99 Tour

20 Taylor Swift gifts for the Swiftie in your life

How to get Bad Bunny tickets if you missed the presale

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  Hamas agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven foreigners late Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, Qatari and Egyptian mediators said, after the militant group delayed the second round of swaps for several hours and claimed that Israel had violated the terms of a truce deal.

The last-minute snag had created a tense standoff on the second day of what was meant to be a four-day cease-fire. By nightfall, as the hostages should have emerged from Gaza, Hamas alleged that the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised and that not enough of the aid was reaching northern Gaza  the focus of Israels ground offensive and main combat zone. Hamas also said not enough veteran prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday.

This is putting the deal in danger and we have spoken to mediators about that, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said in Beirut. But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said obstacles had been overcome, and Hamas issued a statement listing six women and 33 boys and teenagers it said were expected to be released by the Israelis.

While uncertainty around the details of the exchange remained, there was some optimism, too, amid earlier scenes of joyous families reuniting on both sides.

On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the roughly 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.

Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners, during the four-day truce  all woman and minors.

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed  something U.S. President Joe Biden said he hoped would occur.

Separately, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to coordinate with parties on the ground and ensure the deal continues to move smoothly, according to a diplomat briefed on the visit. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details with the media.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said on social media Friday he and his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, pray for the safe return of Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old Bergen County native who was fighting in the Israeli military and has been missing since Hamas deadly attacks on Israel on Oct. 7.

Alexander graduated from Tenafly High School last year, and officials have said he is among the hostages being held by Hamas.

We wont rest until all hostages come home, Murphy wrote.

The start of the pause brought quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent.

War-weary Palestinians in northern Gaza, the focus of Israels ground offensive, returned to the streets, crunching over rubble between shattered buildings and at times digging through it with bare hands. At the Indonesian hospital in Jabaliya, besieged by the Israeli military earlier this month, bodies lay in the courtyard and outside the main gate.

For Emad Abu Hajer, a resident of the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza City area, the pause meant he could again search through the remains of his home, which was flattened in an Israeli attack last week.

He found the bodies of a cousin and nephew, bring the death toll in the attack to 19. With his sister and two other relatives still missing, he resumed his digging Saturday.

We want to find them and bury them in dignity, he said.

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of aid convoys on Oct. 21. It was also able to deliver 129,000 liters (34,078 gallons) of fuel  just over 10% of the daily pre-war volume  as well as cooking gas, a first since the war began.

In the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, a long line of people with containers waited outside a filling station. Hossam Fayad lamented that the pause in fighting was only for four days.

I wish it could be extended until peoples conditions improved, he said.

For the first time in over a month, aid reached northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed there on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area yet.

The U.N. said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City, where much of the fighting has taken place, to a hospital in Khan Younis.

The relief brought by the cease-fire has been tempered, however. For Israelis, by the fact that not all hostages will be freed. For Palestinians, by the brevity of the pause.

At least two Palestinians were injured Saturday at a tense West Bank checkpoint where Israel was to free prisoners. Israeli security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians gathered at Beitunia checkpoint. It was not clear how the two were injured.

FIRST HOSTAGES FREED

In Tel Aviv, several thousand people packed a central square called the square of the hostages, awaiting news of the second release.

Dont forget the others because its getting harder, harder and harder. Its heartbreaking, said Neri Gershon, a Tel Aviv resident. Some families have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government of not doing enough to bring hostages home.

The freed Israelis included nine women and four children ages 9 and under. They were taken to Israeli hospitals for observation and were declared to be in good condition.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. The teenagers had been jailed for minor offenses like throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers.

Its a happiness tainted with sorrow because our release from prison came at the cost of the lives of martyrs and the innocence of children, said one released prisoner, Aseel Munir al-Titi.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, Israel is holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.

A LONGER PEACE?

The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

We will return immediately at the end of the cease-fire to attacking in Gaza, operating in Gaza, Herzi Halevi, Israeli chief of staff, told soldiers.

Israeli leaders have said they wont stop until Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for the past 16 years, is crushed. Israeli officials have argued that only military pressure can bring the hostages home. But the government is under pressure from hostages families to prioritize the release of the remaining captives.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government. Women and minors have consistently made up around two-thirds of the dead. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo and Mroue from Beirut. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed.
A man died early Thanksgiving morning after he was struck by a police car on a busy Camden County highway, authorities said.

He was hit by an on-duty officer from the Waterford Police Department on White Horse Pike in the Atco section of Waterford, according to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:19 a.m.

Neither the man who was hit or the officer was identified by the attorney generals office as of 9:30 p.m. Friday, and no other information about the incident was released.

Per state law, the office investigates all incidents where a person dies during an encounter with police, and the evidence will eventually be presented to a grand jury to determine if the officer should be indicted.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A man accused of fatally shooting a 30-year-old woman early Thanksgiving morning in Elizabeth was arrested Friday, investigators said.

Gerard Manning, 30, of Elizabeth, was charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child and weapons-related offenses, according to a news release from the Union County Prosecutors Office.

Authorities said Victoria Myers, also of Elizabeth was found dead at Mravlag Manor, a public housing complex in the city. Shortly after Myers body was found, Manning was quickly identified as a suspect, officials said.

The relationship between Myers and Manning was unclear.

Manning was arrested early Friday morning, charged and was being held in the Union County Jail, authorities said Friday night.

The office did not explain why Manning was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and a spokeswoman for the office did not immediately respond to an email seeking clarification.

Anyone with information about the deadly shooting is urged to contact Union Prosecutors Office Sgt. Filipe Afonso at 908-370-4318, Detective Alex Lanza at 908-603-7116 or Elizabeth Police Department Detective Tom Gaines at 908-418-6434.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
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Israeli fighter jets pounds Gaza Strip on Friday shortly after a week long truce expired with no agreement to extend it.
A Mari Lwyd is a decorated horses skull on a pole. Its part of a Welsh Christmas holiday tradition in which a group carries the totem from door to door.

At each house, the Mari Lwyd group knocks on the door and starts this rhyming contest, basically asking, Hey, can we come in? says William Ransom of the Krewe of Krampus. The people respond in rhymes, coming up with all sorts of reasons why they cant come in. If the Mari Lwyd comes in, it gets into all your food and beer, and then it moves on to the next house. Its almost like caroling.

Ransom will lead the Mari Lwyd group in this years Krewe of Krampus parade, in which a procession of frightening figures hit the streets of Bywater on Saturday, Dec. 2.

The krewes namesake is a figure in Alpine lore, who comes out during the holiday season to scare or punish children who have been bad. Krampus is often depicted with horns and goat hair. Krampus figures, or similar looking characters, are common in northern European and Scandinavian countries. Another common figure represented in the parade is the Barbegazi, which are hairy bearded gnomes.

Mike Esordi founded the krewe five years ago, and the parade features many figures from European folklore, as well as some of the krewes own creations. One of the krewes subgroups is the Sisters of Shhh. The women in the group all dress in ghostly white and silver, and they often wear headdresses with horns. They walk in front of Krampus to announce hes coming.

Ransom is in charge of the krewes Yules, a collection of ghostly spirits from various cultures. One of the most popular is the Yule Cat, which is based on an Icelandic tradition.

The Yule Cat eats people who havent received any new clothes, Ransom says. You are supposed to get new clothes for Christmas. It sounds unfair to the person being eaten, because no one gave them clothes, but I think its meant to make sure you give clothes to others for the holidays.

There also is a Japanese ghost in this years procession. The Yuki-onna is a spirit who appears in snowstorms. She often holds a baby and asks her victim to hold the baby. But its usually a no-win proposition in which she kills the victim or leaves them to die in the cold.

The parade also has several guest groups, including the drumming group Skinz N Bonez, the Aerial Space Squad and Crescent City Fae.

Documentary about French Quarter chess master Jude Acers premieres at Zeitgeist Theatre on Nov. 29 In 'The Man in the Red Beret,' Acers shares his love of chess, his life in the French Quarter and more about his professional feats and travels.

The parades prized throws are lumps of coal. This year, Krampus will give out lumps made from glass recycled by Glass Half Full.

The parade starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at Royal and France streets and goes toward the French Quarter. There is a two-block Accessibility Row on Independence Street, and there the krewe provides a quiet zone with a sensitivity trailer, a sign-language interpreter, a viewing area for people with limited mobility and more. Last year, local weatherman Carl Arredondo broadcast the parade for the visually impaired. This year, he will march in the parade as St. Nicholas.

There are two post-parade parties with music, one at Bratz Yall and one at Bud Rips.

The krewe has filled its calendar with events, including a summertime Alpine Luau and the Halloween season Swampus event. This year, it will have a collaborative event with the Krewe of Joan of Arc. The party will highlight the transformation from Krampus season of darkness to the Carnival seasons light.

For parade and krewe information, visit kreweofkrampus.com.
As a Chalmette native son, MeMes chef-owner Doug Braselman knows there are two things his parish customers wont abide.

A restaurant cant get away with sub-par flavor or small portions, says Braselman, who bought the iconic restaurant on W. Judge Perez Drive in January. The food has to be good, and you need to feed people down here.

Braselman is more than up to that task. A long-time chef and fixer for Emeril Lagasses restaurants, he was the guy sent in to help struggling restaurants get on track. He spent three years in Charlotte, and more than three in Orlando. When it was time to come home, the pandemic struck. Along with a few other Emerils colleagues, Braselman started the Furloughed Four, a catering company specializing in multi-course, wine-paired dinners for clients in their home.

MeMes Bar & Grille What MeMes Bar & Grille Where 712 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, (504) 644-4992; memesbarandgrille.com When Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. How Dine-in Check it out A fresh start at MeMes in Chalmette

Another one of the four, Ray Gumpert, is often in the house at MeMes. He was the manager at Emerils flagship and the sommelier in charge of its extensive wine list. Hes another sign of positive change at MeMes. He and Braselman walk the line between keeping longtime customers happy and attracting new diners to the restaurants impressive cuisine and wine options, offered at reasonable prices. Braselman didnt want to spend a lot on the physical space, and really, the 100-seat restaurant didnt need much beyond fresh paint. He did add New Orleans-centric art by Jessica Elliott, an art teacher from Christian Academy.

From the start, we wanted to keep things that worked on the menu, but elevated, Braselman says. We are also emphasizing seasonal and local ingredients. That includes local oysters and shrimp that fishermen drop off on their way to the seafood houses downtown.

While holding onto the much-loved pan-roasted crab cakes and barbecue shrimp, Braselman added appetizers like a sweet and spicy honey Buffalo shrimp with blonde barbecue sauce, oven-roasted meatballs with mozzarella fondue and crawfish boudin egg rolls with pepper jelly vinaigrette.

In the entree department, the grilled double-cut pork chop with mashed sweet potatoes isnt going anywhere, and nor is the chicken Parmesan with angel hair pasta. But now theres a blackened Louisiana redfish served with fried green tomatoes, crawfish remoulade and Southern coleslaw.

He expanded the steakhouse classics to include a 14-ounce strip and a 32-ounce tomahawk rib-eye for two. Most of the appetizers are in the $13-$18 range, and entrees, other than the steaks and redfish, are below $30. Sides including roasted Brussels sprouts, loaded baked potato and grilled asparagus are amply portioned and priced at $8.

The oyster program remains robust, with char-grilled, Rockefeller, Thai chili and bacon and blue cheese options. Raw Gulf oysters are available as well, but the previous ownerships oyster happy hour is gone. Oysters are priced between $12 and $14 for a half-dozen and $18 and $23 per dozen. Raw oysters are usually market price, which translates to upwards of $26 a dozen at many seafood houses.

Gumpert took a measured approach to improving the wine list. He recalibrated the list to spotlight lesser-known brands. Saintsbury chardonnay is a tropical, lightly oaked wine that some folks may not be familiar with. The Albert Bichot Beaujolais is a food-friendly gamay with soft floral notes that pairs beautifully with fall dishes.

Every Tuesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m., all bottles are half price, a promotion geared to get the word out to wine lovers outside of the Parish. Were just 20 minutes from downtown, Gumpert says.

Although he never imagined living back in the Parish, never mind owning a restaurant there, Braselman is loving the warm welcome that his neighbors and community bring to his table. I actually see my relatives, he says. They never came to Emerils.
Finn Walter grew up in Lubbock, Texas, but he also spent a lot of time in Santa Fe and Boston and traveling in Europe. His cooking experiences mirrored his travels, from stints in Paris to the Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley. Hes combined those influences to create a vision of High Plains cuisine at his restaurant, The Nicolett, in Lubbock. He lived briefly in New Orleans and now returns to present a seven-course dinner at Mister Mao on Tuesday, Dec. 5. For more on Walter, visit nicolettrestaurant.com. For tickets to the dinner, visit mistermaonola.com.

Gambit: Why did you open your restaurant in Lubbock?

Finn Walter: Texas is surrounded by Santa Fe and places that have food culture. If you are in Houston, youre in the South. If youre in Hill Country, youre in Hill Country. West Texas is different. Youre going to the Southwest. Its what they picture Texas as.

My goal was always to go back home and utilize things that I learned. I thought that would be Austin. I moved there in 2012 and met my wife.

Then I took a job to open a restaurant, Eloisa, in Santa Fe for an L.A. chef named John Sadler. He is originally from Santa Fe. Hes friends with chefs like Dean Fearing and Mark Miller. He owned Bikini in L.A.

Then we found the space were in. It reminded me of places I worked in the Napa Valley and in Paris, and there was the potential for us to own the building. Our restaurant is named for the first hotel where Lubbock was founded. (The hotel) was owned by the first mayor of Lubbock, and it was where the ranchers and the bankers and the outlaws all kept a bed under one roof.

Gambit: What defines your High Plains cuisine?

Walter: I think working with Sadler, one of the pioneering fathers of Southwestern cuisine  its taking an approach that is Southwestern, but informed. Doing Southwestern food in a thoughtful way. Our soundtrack is filled with Guy Clark, The Flatlanders, Terry Allen, people who are from West Texas or Lubbock specifically. Lubbock is at a point where it is embracing people that used to get out as fast as they could. I moved from Lubbock to Berlin, Germany, and went to college in Maine. I got pretty far.

On our opening menu, we did beef cheeks. We would call it a beef cheek brisket. Wed do a beef cheek that would get a 72-hour braise with black truffles and our house red wine. If you read our food menu and our wine menu, it pretty much echoes my travels and the kitchens I have worked in, but hopefully approaching these things in a way that makes sense in time and place.

On the menu for Mister Mao, we are going to be doing a lamb neck that we approach in the style of a brisket. Lambs neck is my favorite part of the animal. We either get Texas or Colorado lamb. We wrap it in a crust of approximately eight types of peppers. We treat it with a brisket rub and roast it overnight in a single portion size and finish it with local stone fruit wood.

We have a beef cheek bao that we are doing. I try to focus on my strengths. I trained in pastry, and there werent a whole lot of people baking bread out here (in Lubbock). We can bake bread or steam bread, we can do it in all sorts of ways, but lets stuff it with beef cheeks and bring in those other things with the goal of tapping into flavor memories.

Our green pozole is a flavor memory of mine from a place in Santa Fe. A lot of people will say I have had only red chili and braised pork shoulder. But I didnt grow up with that. If I tried to make that, there are 20 grandmothers who can make a much better version than me. If you are trying to create a flavor memory, our pozole is the most intensive thing we have on the menu. It will always be on our menu. Its made with five ingredients. But to have someone say that tastes like what their grandmother made, its very specific.

Gambit: How does your Michelin star cooking fit in?

Walter: Meadowood was my finishing school. It was good to be on a team that got three Michelin stars and four stars from the San Francisco Chronicle. The influence and approach is in everything. The nuances to our crab dish or our yuca churro reflect it.

I like to do things that feel thoughtful to the guest. We have the yuca churro. Yuca is indigenous to this area. It was used by the Comanche to make rope or soap. If there was no buffalo, they would eat it as a vegetable. Its also something I learned to work with in French kitchens in San Francisco. I like things that overlap. You can see yuca chips in the Caribbean.

I was like, were not gonna just fry it. I cooked it down into a puree to look at it. Its like taro root and poi in Hawaii. When you cook it down, it gets gummy. The further you cook it and blend it, it reminds me we can treat it like a Spanish-style churro. Thats fair food out here. We add yuca blossoms and citrus zest. Then lets take caviar and add that. Whats High Plains cuisine about caviar? I get caviar from two women I know in San Francisco and have their own caviar company. They sell this to the best restaurants in San Francisco and Napa Valley.

There are lots of things that look great on Instagram. At Meadowood, (chef) Christopher Kostow talked about if at the end of the day the food doesnt taste good, we have failed.
New Orleans native Renard Bridgewater fell in love with hip-hop as a kid, but it was during his time at Holy Cross High School that he became an ardent writer, filling notebooks and message boards with lyrics. As he came of age and while attending University of New Orleans, he took his music to the stage under the moniker Slangston Hughes.

Bridgewater every Thursday, midnight to 2 a.m., co-hosts Draw Fo Radio with Thelonius Kryptonite on WWOZ, the stations first show dedicated to hip-hop. Bridgewater also until recently was the community engagement coordinator at the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans. Find his music at slangstonhughes.bandcamp.com.

This interview is part of a series reflecting on New Orleans as hip-hop turns 50.

Gambit: What was your introduction to hip-hop?

Renard Bridgewater: I think I've had a couple of different access points. The earliest memory that I have of hip-hop, from a musical standpoint, was MC Hammer. That was probably one of my first introductions, just because as a kid, everybody that I knew wanted to be MC Hammer. We wanted the MC Hammer pants, wanted to be able to dance like MC Hammer, a lot of emulating him from that standpoint. I think that's one of my earliest memories.

Then, not too long after that: House Party 2. The opening scene for some reason really stuck with me, and I think it also just opened up my mind to what a hip-hop performer could be  or what hip-hop performance could look like. Because the opening scene is Kid is dreaming, more or less, and it's this cypher that's going down and [theres] a dance battle in the cypher. To some degree, I envisioned what that could look like for me if I was in Kid's shoes.

The last and most focal point of my introduction to hip-hop was my time as a junior in high school. For some reason, at that point in time, I was starting to really delve into the classics: your Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), your Nas Illmatic, and other classics like that. Not only listening to the classics, but going back and just really, fully immersing myself into the culture  not just the music but the culture of hip-hop at that time.

I was one of the founding members of my high school's hip-hop club. I was doing everything. Back then in my junior year in high school, in 2001 ... it was my moment. It was the time that I really immersed myself in the art form.

I also started writing in 01 as well. This was at the time when Okayplayer was still [early online], and it was early Reddit kind of stages. You had your message boards and things like that. I came up at a time where the message board was still a thing, and people would find out about new music there and then go to LimeWire and download it.

Thats where I found myself, to some degree, as a lyricist, because what I would do at that time is read other peoples [rhymes]. Folks were just bustin 16s (16-bar verses) left and right in the message boards. There were even battles that were taking place in the message boards, where one emcee would put their best 16 up against the other emcee. I was doing that, but I was also having those message board battles with folks I went to high school with on AOL Instant Messenger. We would go back-and-forth, and someone would spit two bars, and then you would come back. It was like a virtual battle that was taking place via AOL Instant Messenger.

Those three moments really stand out as far as my introduction to the music and to the culture.

Gambit: MC Hammer is obviously just cool, but for you did the wordplay and the lyricism become the draw?

Bridgewater: Yeah. Honestly, it became addictive, because I was doing that online and at the same time, I was filling Steno Pads and notebooks with words and lyrics and songs. I was battling online, but I was doing just as much, if not more, writing offline as I was online.

For me, it was the science and the art form of writing that I came to appreciate. I think having peers that also appreciated that was helpful and encouraging for me to keep going and hone in on my craft from that standpoint.

Gambit: Who was the first New Orleans hip-hop artist you admired?

Bridgewater: I will always claim, and others will as well, that [Lil] Wayne is the GOAT. But I think back before my full immersion into the artform, Hot Boy Turk. Turk was my favorite of the Hot Boys at the time, and I think he certainly stood out to me and caught my ear very early on in my love of hip-hop.

I think Turk would be number one at that time, and then Mystikal as well just because of his tenure at the time, even before I was like really listening to hip-hop like that. So having a respect for him and his artistry because it had been taking place for quite some time prior to me coming into the artform  also his charisma, his onstage performance, his overall versatility in the octave that he used on the microphone.

Turk for sure is a first, and if there is a close second or a tie, it would be Mystikal.

Gambit: You co-host Draw Fo Radio on WWOZ with Thelonius Kryptonite. Were there any New Orleans radio hosts you look to for inspiration or that you think are important to this history?

Bridgewater: Oh, for sure. First comes to mind is Wild Wayne, right? He has broken many hip-hop and bounce records on Q93. Hes provided a space for aspiring emcees and rappers with 9 OClock Props. He continues to do it right, and not just on air  I think it was called Industry Influence  an event he and Sess 4-5 did for several years in a post-Katrina landscape to be able to provide prizes and networking opportunities for upcoming emcees and artists over at The Hangar. His reach is certainly profound. Its something that has history to it, and the beautiful thing is hes still doing it.

I always gotta shout out my fellow OZ DJ, Soul Sister, because of what shes been able to do. [She plays] a different sound, but shes always had an appreciation and the respect  and one that has taken place publicly  for hip-hop, for sure.

I also gotta pay respect to the big homie, DJ EF Cuttin. Hes been breaking records for years. He had his show with DJ RQ Away on WTUL called Reel 2 Real that they did for a couple of years, and that was late-night hip-hop, playing a lot of New Orleans hip-hop. So I think to some degree, EF provided the foundations for what myself and Thelonious do now as well.

Gambit: What has been New Orleans' most significant contribution to hip-hop?

Bridgewater: As [Edward] Buckles used to say a couple years ago, We the culture. At the end of the day, everybody whos anybody is attempting to create New Orleans sound. Full stop. They trying to do what we do so easily. Whether it be our ethos or who we are as individuals and artists, we dont have to source it, we dont have to think about it, we just are it.

So when were thinking about the significance of what New Orleans hip-hop and emcees and artists and culture bearers bring to the table, we provide a distinct and unique sound that everybody wants a piece of, that everyone is attempting to replicate or emulate in some form or fashion.

Gambit: Do you feel like New Orleans gets the recognition it deserves for that?

Bridgewater: I think were starting to. I wish it would have happened some time ago. I think much like hip-hop, theres an ebb and flow that takes place within the music, but what Im starting to see now  and the beauty of what Im observing  is that the artists that are coming up, they not only want to be recognized, they want to be credited for what their contributions are. Its not just about a quick check, its about, like OK, I should be compensated, and I should be respected for what Im contributing to the art form.

They also are starting to understand the legacy that comes with the music  those continued contributions over the last several decades  and understanding that New Orleans hip-hop is a thing and it has been a thing for decades. Folks are starting to see that, not only here but outside of the city.

The artists in the city are like, Youre gonna put some respect on our name at the end of the day, and I think thats helpful to be able to continue to drive the local culture nationwide and internationally.

Gambit: Reflecting on this anniversary, what does hip-hop mean to you today?

Bridgewater: Oh, man, hip-hop ultimately took this shy, nerdy kid and allowed him to fully be himself. [It helped me] not to shy away from the things that I may have gotten picked on about or made fun of [for], because it allowed me to really step into my character and my personality and who I was, who I am and what I really enjoyed about myself.

Hip-hop, generally speaking, allowed me to really push back on people that thought I shouldnt be there or thought I shouldnt be a part of the community because of how I looked or the fact that I read comic books or anything like that. It allowed me to prove myself, not only to others but most importantly to myself, that I belong. And it allowed me to delve deeper into who I was, who I am as a person and reflect that musically, reflect it onstage and reflect it outwardly.

Gambit: Is there anything youd like to add?

Bridgewater: Im just appreciative of the time right now. Because what Im seeing and what Im experiencing now  and I had this conversation with Nate [Cameron, glbl wrmng co-founder / music industry professional] a couple weeks ago  its very reminiscent of a time that he and I were coming up.

I often say that 2011, 2012, that era of New Orleans hip-hop, for me was kind of a renaissance  or I would say my own personal renaissance, something that I was experiencing and I think other people that were coming up at that time [were experiencing], like Nate and Lyrikill and Truth Universal, etc. All of us, we were operating in such a beautiful and streamlined way, because you often had something, like an event, a residency, a show, that was taking place on a weekly basis. You could go to a New Orleans hip-hop event once a week, and thats how we build community. Thats how collaborations took place and music was being created.

Were starting to see that a lot now, over the last couple of years, with the glbl wrmng folks. Everybody is kind of not necessarily saying unity, but theyre showing it in their actions. That spirit of collaboration reminds me a lot of what was taking place in New Orleans in 2011, 2012. Its a beautiful thing, and I hope it continues for the next generation as well.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Jordans King Abdullah II reaffirmed the importance of continuing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, according to a statement by Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy on Wednesday.

This came during the Egyptian-Jordanian Summit that took place a few hours after a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas was announced.

El-Sisi and King Abdullah also emphasized the need to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in line with international consensus reflected in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly.

Both leaders also reiterated their outright rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, either internally or externally.

El-Sisi and King Abdullah underscored that stability in the region should be pursued through a comprehensive political process aimed at achieving a just resolution to the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution.

This resolution includes the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, with a key focus on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.

Additionally, the two leaders reviewed the joint efforts of both countries to engage with all parties, expressing the necessity for the international community to leverage the current truce to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and address the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The Palestinians death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 14,128 since the war began on October 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministrys report on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, during a parliamentary session, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed Egypt's strong opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians to Sinai, despite economic and political pressures.

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Anti-abortion demonstrators, center left, argue with abortion-rights activists outside the Supreme Court in Washington in 2022.
The Head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan stated on Friday that Egypt has secured the release of 12 Thai nationals, along with 13 Israelis, including children and women, held in captivity in Gaza.

Cairo anticipates their release within the next hour through the Rafah border crossing, Rashwan said.

He added that preparations are underway at Rafah to receive the detainees released by Hamas, for transfer to Israel.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.

The deal involves both sides agreeing to stop hostilities and end Israeli military operations throughout Gaza. It also includes the release of 50 Israeli prisoners, including women and children under 19. In return, 150 Palestinian women and children under 19 will be released from Israeli detention, based on seniority-based criteria.

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The Art Barn School of Art will exhibit treasures from its permanent collection at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Valparaiso.

The art school at 695 N. 400 East in Valparaiso has a collection of more than 2,000 pieces that founder Jan Sullivan collected. Its winnowed down the collection Sullivan bequeathed when she died in 2016 to the most important and historically significant works that will stay in its permanent collection. It plans to sell the rest to fund its operations, showing them off at exhibits where they can be purchased.

Art Barn will display Treasures from the Archive at the hotel at 2020 Laporte Ave. in Valparaiso from Nov. 29 through March 5. An opening reception will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 11.

The Art Barn has often featured Sullivans work in exhibits but will instead showcase members of the artistic community.

Art Barn members John Bernbom and Denise Kirland selected artworks to display from Ruth Bremner, Tom Lynch, Joanne OConner, CA Gallagher, Jean Uhl Spicer and an unknown artist.

We are thrilled to be included as a collaborator for this exhibition, states Art Barn Director Amy Davis Navardauskas. Country Inn and Suites is partnering with key arts organizations to install exhibitions in their gallery year-round. For us, it provides an extension of our mission to highlight regional artists and provides greater access to art for new audiences.

Bremner, whose work has been featured in American Artist Magazine, has exhibited at the Art Rental & Sales Gallery of the Art Institute of Chicago, the North Shore Art League and the Schoolhouse Shop.

Lynch hosted award-winning art shows on PBS TV and is renowned for his watercolors, including of many Chicago scenes.

OConnor, a University of Notre Dame grad, taught at Munster and Lake Central high schools for many years before going on to teach at Art Institute of Phoenix.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

All of the artworks will be available for purchase with proceeds funding arts education, exhibits and other programming.

All works are available for purchase and will provide a legacy for growth as we strategically expand our programming and community reach. One hundred percent of all sales benefit Art Barn programs and operations.

For more information, call 219-462-9009 or visit artbarnschool.org.
With their large frames, bright red patches and unique calls, whooping cranes are hard to miss.

However, research completed by Purdue University and the International Crane Foundation, or ICF, found that most people don't even know whooping cranes exist. That's because just a few decades ago, North America's tallest bird was almost gone for good.

Dwindling populations

Before European settlers began draining wetlands and plowing prairies, North America was home to an estimated 10,000 whooping cranes. The bird's historical range extended all the way to the Arctic; Indiana would have been a breeding ground for whooping cranes.

However, decades of habitat destruction and unregulated hunting caused populations to dwindle. By 1940 there were just 20 whooping cranes left in the wild. The remaining birds all followed the same migration route, called a "flyway," breeding in Canada and traveling to coastal Texas in the winter.

Stephanie Schmidt, the ICF's whooping crane outreach coordinator, said conservationists realized it was "incredibly dangerous" to have such a small population of cranes all in one flyway. If any kind of disturbance harmed the birds during migration, all of the wild whooping cranes in North America would be lost.

Over the last 50 years the ICF, which is headquartered in Wisconsin, has been working alongside national and regional partners to restore whooping crane populations. Today there are 836 whooping cranes in North America.

Indiana plays a key role in maintaining that growing population.

I think people see themselves in whooping cranes," Schmidt, said. "They dance when they're excited, they mate for life and they are fierce, protective parents, so its hard not to relate to them and want to protect them."

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 made hunting whooping cranes illegal and while "the damage was largely done at that point," Schmidt said conservationists have been able to bring the species back from the brink through reintroduction and protection.

The historic population that breeds in Canada has grown from 20 to 500 and additional populations have been established. In 1993 biologists reintroduced a non-migratory population of whooping cranes to Florida and in 2011 a non-migratory population was reintroduced in southern Louisiana.

For years, there were no whooping cranes in the eastern part of the U.S. In Indiana, whooping cranes are considered a federal and state endangered species. A multi-state effort to reintroduce the eastern migratory population, began in 2001. Using ultralight aircrafts, small flying devices that resemble hang gliders, researchers led whooping cranes on guided migrations until the birds were able to carve out their own routes.

The Eastern population consists of about 60-80 birds and breeds in Wisconsin. Schmidt said about 30 of the cranes will winter in Indiana, usually at the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Linton or at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville. Another 25 whooping cranes winter in Alabama, the rest are scattered across the eastern flyway.

As populations continue to grow, the ICF wants to make sure people understand these mighty birds. The ICF has launched an education and outreach initiative focused specifically on classrooms in Wisconsin, Alabama and Indiana.

"The only way we're actually going to be successful is if we get buy-in and interest from the people who actually live around whooping cranes," Schmidt said. "People are at the core of conservation."

An umbrella species

Whooping cranes are what the ICF calls an "umbrella species."

"If you focus your conservation efforts on this one animal (whooping cranes), thousands of other species will benefit as well," Schmidt explained.

With a height of about 5 feet and a weight of 15 pounds, the bright white creatures tend to stand out. This is why whooping cranes rely on wetlands, the dense, aquatic habitat protects them from predators and provides them will all the food they need. Whooping cranes will eat just about "anything they can get their beak on"  roots, tubers, berries, fruits, crayfish, frogs and more.

The bird's huge appetite helps keeps plant and animal populations in check, making whooping cranes a key players in the wetland food web.

Whooping cranes also require a large amount of habitat to breed and rear their young. Schmidt said one pair of cranes could need as much as 1,000 acres. Protecting crane habitat helps fight wetland fragmentation and protects overall wetland biodiversity.

While the ICF first launched their whooping crane and outreach efforts in 2015, Schmidt said they were really derailed by COVID because many students were no longer in classrooms. This year the ICF is putting together a "coordinated push" to bring educational activities to Wisconsin, Alabama and Indiana, Schmidt said.

The activities, which can be done virtually or in-person, are hands-on and show students how wetlands function, the many adaptations that make a bird a crane, how to conduct field research and more. Schmidt said ICF staff can even lead field trips at Jasper Pulaski or Goose Pond.

Learning about whooping cranes at an early age could give students a greater stake in the protection of the birds and could even introduce them to a career in conservation.

"We're building the future of whooping crane conservation by starting young," Schmidt explained.

Making sure children grow up knowing the importance of whooping cranes is especially important in Indiana where crane poaching has been an issue. Schmidt said Indiana poachers tend to be young, with an average age of 26.

Another threat cranes face in Indiana is powerlines. The birds often hit them while flying, collisions that can be fatal. The ICF works with power companies to get powerlines relocated and to install flight diverters, bright, reflective devices that can be added to powerlines to make them more visible.

Individual birders and hikers can also play a part in whooping crane conservation. People can report signs of poaching to the Indiana DNR at 1-800-TIP-IDNR. Because whooping cranes are very sensitive to disturbances, Schmidt said birders should observe them from a distance of at least 200 yards.

The DNR also asks residents to report Whooping Crane sightings at savingcranes.org.

Outside the classroom, the ICF has started to hold weekly whooping crane Wednesday walks at Goose Pond. The guided hikes start at the Goose Pond visitors center, 13540 W. 400 S., Linton, at 8 a.m. and end at 9:30 a.m. Every year the ICF also celebrates cranes during the Marsh Madness Festival. Held at Goose Pond, the event will take place on . 17 this year.

"When you really think about the history of whooping cranes' population collapse, it was caused by people," Schmidt said. "For human-caused issues it really needs to be a human solution ... it's our responsibility."

For more information about the ICFs educational activities or to book a program, email sschmidt@savingcranes.org.

PHOTOS: Sandhill cranes at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area pulaski crane crane pulaski Jasper Pulaski jasper pulaski crane pulaski sandhill crane sandhill cranes
The lawyer representing two former Valparaiso University professors who sued in an attempt to block the proposed sale of artwork from the Brauer Museum of Art is now putting pressure on the Indiana Attorney General's office to prevent the sale following the lawsuit's dismissal.

In April, Richard Brauer, the museum's founding director and namesake, and Philipp Brockington, one of the museum's benefactors, filed a lawsuit against the university, its president, Jose Padilla, and Attorney General Todd Rokita in order to block the sale of three artwork pieces from the museum. Padilla announced the university's intention to sell the artwork in February, saying the proceeds would be used to fund renovations of some student residence halls.

The lawsuit argued the sale of the paintings violated the Percy H. Sloan Trust, which donated the artwork to VU.

The artwork in question is Georgia O'Keeffe's "Rust Red Hills," Frederic E. Church's "Mountain Landscape" and Childe Hassam's "The Silver Vale and the Golden Gate."

The O'Keeffe piece itself was once valued at $15 million. However, according to lawyers representing the university, the three paintings collectively are valued at around $10 million.

In October, a Porter County Superior Court judge ruled Brauer and Brockington lacked standing to sue.

But according to the plaintiffs' lawyer, Patrick McEuen, while the judge ruled they could not sue the university, he left open the possibility of taking action against the attorney general or scrutinizing the next steps Rokita's office could take.

On Nov. 13, McEuen sent an email to the attorney general's office reiterating his clients' view that the sale would be a "breach of trust" of the Sloan charitable trust. The email was in response to a letter sent in March by lawyers representing VU, in which the university was seeking advice on how to proceed with the proposed sale.

In the letter, lawyers representing the university argued the student dorm renovations were part of VU's strategic plan that would help reverse VU's declining student population and provide a boost to the city of Valparaiso's economy.

But, McEuen claims the university did nothing to establish its right to sell the art pieces.

Rokita's office failed to respond to a request for comment.

VU declined to comment, but a spokesperson for the university said no final decision has been made on the sale of the artwork.

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MICHIGAN CITY  Michigan City Mayor-elect Angie Nelson Deuitch has appointed Marty Corley to serve as the Michigan City Police Chief beginning Jan. 1.

"Public safety is a priority for our community and our neighborhoods," said Deuitch, Michigan City's first African American mayor. "Having safe, stable neighborhoods creates a sense of community pride and we're trying to bring people together."

Deuitch, a Democrat, wanted to make her appointment soon after winning the mayoral election because public safety is one of her top priorities, she said. Corley is a 23-year veteran of the Michigan City Police Department who has been the assistant chief of operations since 2021.

"The ultimate goal is to have adequate staffing on the uniform patrol shifts and provide additional staff in the investigative division, including the detective bureau and LaPorte County Drug Taskforce," Corley said.

Prior to serving as assistant chief of operations, Corley served on the department's SWAT team for 18 years: 12 years in the investigative division, seven years in the uniform patrol division, and more than ten years as a drug recognition expert and Indiana law enforcement certified instructor, the mayor's office said.

Additionally, Corley wants to staff more officers in specialty units focusing on proactive and community-oriented policing.

"The Michigan City Police Department will aggressively pursue all opportunities to break down the barriers of police and citizens working together," Corley said.

Steve Forker, who has been the police chief since Oct. 2022, will trade positions with Corley, taking over the role of assistant chief of operations. Forker said himself, Corley and Assistant Chief of Services Dave Cooney, will continue operating as a cohesive team by prioritizing the department's and the community's needs.

Forker has been with MCPD for 18 years. His previous positions within the department include: patrol officer, field training officer, SWAT team member, general investigator, school resource officer and commander of the Division of Professional Standards.

Cooney, who has been with MCPD for 17 years, will continue to provide support in managing the department's finances. Moving into the new year, his top priority will be to continue education for all officers and supervisors, he said.

"I'm excited to keep the complement of Marty Corley, Steve Forker and Dave Cooney, who will continue implementing programs and public safety measures together as a team," Deuitch said.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail Kristy Miller Donald Starks Jeremy Marshall Andre Johnson Victoria Vasquez Allen Fugate Thomas Reeder Samuel Fleming Giovanni Ferreyra-Ruiz Cleophis Swanson Jr. Yvonne Noe Bonnie McGriff Tabitha Ramirez Rickey Bureau Quayshuan Kelly Almani Flippins Amber Coursel Barry Geber Jordan Glancy Donald Franklin Lauren Smith Jermaine Carter Calvin Simmons
Parlor Doughnuts in Munster and Valparaiso is looking to spread holiday cheer this weekend.

The artisan doughnut and coffee shop seeks to collect 500 toys for local children through the USMC Toys for Tots and Salvation Army. So Parlor Doughnuts is offering anyone who brings a free unwrapped toy to donate at one of its Northwest Indiana locations this weekend a free doughnut and a photo opportunity with Santa.

Parlor Doughnuts will have a Polar Express-themed free Santa Photo Booth for anyone taking part in the toy drive. Kids can get their pictures taken with Santa and his elf from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the new Munster location at 8130 Calumet Ave, Suite 102 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Valparaiso location at 255 Morthland Drive.

Complimentary photo strips will be given out.

"Parlor Doughnuts NWI is proudly veteran-owned and excited to partner with the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots and Salvation Army programs to bring joy to children in our community. The holiday season is a time for giving and caring for others. We invite our customers and the local community to join us in making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate," said Wes Barnes, the owner and operator at Parlor Doughnuts Northwest Indiana and a former United States Marine Corps Captain.

Parlor Doughnuts is known for its layered doughnuts that combine the cake and yeast styles.

For more information, visit www.parlordoughnuts.com or find the business on Facebook or Instagram.
A retroactive state statute barring class action lawsuits against colleges and universities for specific claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic does not infringe on the judiciary's power to set legal procedures, according to a new ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court.

In a 5-0 decision, the state's high court said the limited class action ban in House Enrolled Act 1002 (2021) passes constitutional muster because even though it changes a judicial process without the judiciary's consent, it does so to further a public policy objective rather than a judicial administration objective.

"Without running afoul of our Indiana Constitution's separation of powers, our judiciary may accommodate statutes altering judicial processes when the statutes predominantly further public policy objectives rather than judicial administration objectives, so long as the statutes do not undermine the truthseeking function of litigation, and they do not otherwise interfere with the judiciary's ability to fulfill its constitutional obligations," said Justice Derek Molter, a Newton County native, on behalf of the Supreme Court.

In this case, Molter said it's clear the Republican-controlled Legislature made a public policy decision to minimize postsecondary educational institutions' litigation exposure for rapid, difficult decisions they were forced to make amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to comply with government directives, including Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's stay-at-home order.

"Most telling in this regard is that (the class action ban) was part of a broader bill establishing a number of pandemic legal protections, including protecting health care workers from professional discipline and tort liability, declaring that pandemicrelated emergency orders did not create new causes of action, shielding other government entities from pandemicrelated class actions for contract claims, and establishing immunity from tort claims for governmental entities and employees acting within the scope of their employment for COVID19related damages," Molter said.

From that perspective, Molter said state lawmakers were not  as the Court of Appeals held Oct. 5, 2022  usurping the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, which specifically authorize a class action when certain conditions are met, including questions of law common to all class members for which a single resolution will promote efficiency and economy of judicial resources.

"Under our separation of powers, if a statute is a substantive law, then it supersedes our trial rules, but if such statute merely establishes a rule of procedure, then our trial rules would supersede the statute," Molter said.

The Supreme Court ruling precludes Keller J. Mellowitz, a former Ball State University student, from continuing to seek on behalf of all affected Ball State students a refund of in-person tuition and student fees for the period after March 2020 when the Muncie university closed to minimize the potential spread of the coronavirus.

However, the Supreme Court said Mellowitz still can pursue his individual claims of breach of contract and unjust enrichment against Ball State.
Gov. Eric Holcomb is joining leaders across the nation in directing state and local institutions to lower their flags to half-staff between Saturday and Wednesday in memory of Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady of the United States.

Indiana's Republican chief executive likewise is urging businesses, homeowners and other entities flying the flag to similarly lower it during the five-day period.

All flags at federal government buildings and U.S. military installations also will be at half-staff beginning Saturday under an order issued by Democratic President Joe Biden.

Rosalynn Carter, 96, died Nov. 19. She was the wife of ailing Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981, and an prominent advocate for mental health and women's rights.

The Carters were married for 77 years  longer than any other couple to live in the White House.

Photos: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter through the years Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1966 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1970 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1971 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1976 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1976 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1976 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1976 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1976 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1976 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1977 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1977 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1977 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1977 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1977 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1977 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1978 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1978 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1979 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1979 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1980 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1980 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1984 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1985 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1988 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 1995 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2004 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2007 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2007 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2008 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2009 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2009 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2009 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2010 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2011 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2014 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2015 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2015 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2017 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2018 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2018 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, 2019
May it please the court. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, good morning. The video evidence, I think, will be very helpful and meaningful to you because you can see it for yourself without lawyer talk, lawyer spin, lawyer anything. You can see it for yourself. Please. Please. I cant breathe. Please, man. Please somebody help me. Please. Im about to die in this thing. Oh my God. What did he say? He said, Im about to die. Oh my God. While watching the George Floyd trial, I noticed the differences and the importance of footage. This corner  When Stephon was murdered, we only had the officers footage. We only had their point of view. Hey, show your hands. You know, when my son was killed being on the platform, there was several bystanders that filmed. And had it not been for the cameras, we wouldnt even be here today because they would have probably said it was justified. Bro, with your feet on his head, man. You knee on his neck. Hes pushing harder. Yeah. I cannot breathe. A little bit more. Right here. I dont watch the footage of my dads incident because its torture. You see the officers giving a trove of blows to his body? Yes. To his arms, to his torso, to his legs. Here it is 30 years later, nothing has changed. Now who are you going to believe? The defendants or your own eyes? I am watching the George Floyd case with my best friend, Tiffany, at her home. Oh my gosh. Wow. And hes still on his neck. Today was the first time I watched the entire video of George Floyd, and it definitely made me think about my dad begging for his life screaming. Check his pulse. Check his pulse. His daughter was the same age I was when my dad was beaten. My name is Lora Dene King. Im the middle child of Rodney Glen King. The world saw the videotape. We thought the video showed excessive force and unnecessary force. With that videotape, if they had two eyes and they werent blind, you could see that it was excessive force. The defense tried to dilute the impact of the tape by dissecting it, frame by frame, in an effort to show that King was a threat to the officers. He kind of gave out like a bear-like yell, like a wounded animal. If he had grabbed my officer, it would have been a death grip. If he had grabbed the weapon, he would have had numerous targets. He didnt grab anybody during these events, did he? No sir, he did not. He couldnt walk. He had 50 broken bones. His skull was permanently fractured. He had permanent brain damage. My dad was never the same after that. You know, and everybody just considered him to be normal. I think if that happened to anybody, they wouldnt be normal ever again. This doesnt just affect the person it happened to. It also affects all those people who are out there watching it. Theyre all affected forever. I was desperate to help. I was just kind of emotional, and I went to the African-American that was standing there on the curb. And I was just like, theyre not going to help them. Oh my God. This man, he witnessed another African-American man getting his life taken. The nine-year-old speaker on the trial. Good morning, [inaudible]. Good morning. Which one is you? Just so happened to be walking down the street. She will never forget that for the rest of her life. You ultimately ended up posting your video to social media, right? Correct. And it went viral? Correct. It changed your life, right? The girl who filmed George Floyd, the fact that there was nothing she can do to save his life. Its been nights, I stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more. Thats something that will haunt her like George Holliday, who captured my dads video. Without George Holliday, these four officers might not be on trial. He just wanted to test this new camera he had. Like, oh let me take  he stood there shaking, terrified. And he still suffers to this day because that was the right thing to do. What could he have done to deserve that? If I was to see George Floyds daughter today, I wish there was something I can say. But its not easy. Its not easy at all. Because Im sure shes watched that videotape. And thats something that carries in your mental every everyday, just like my dads video tape. For the jury, a difficult decision ahead, knowing that to acquit the four officers could ignite this city. Not guilty of  Chanting: No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace. And damage to the city of Los Angeles running into billions of dollars. Thats what Im saying. The police, they dont pay a cent for this trial. So my mother and I, we was watching the George Floyds trial. And it brought back so many memories of my son Oscars case. Oscars last picture in his cellphone was of the officer who shot him. My name is Wanda Johnson. Im the mother of Oscar Grant. Grant was shot once in the back as he lay face down on the train stations platform. He was unarmed. The 27-year-old officer has said he thought he had drawn his Taser gun   but accidentally pulled out his handgun instead. And the incident was captured on cellphone video. Video speaks for themselves. And the jury will see that and make the correct decision. We knew that we would have a very hard time winning in the court systems because the judicial system was not made for everyone in the society. As the situation went on, the crowd began to grow and grow. Oh my goodness, the same playbook that they used for what happened with Oscar, they used the same thing for George Floyd. Oh, there was a crowd of angry mob people. They were behind them. There were people across the street, people yelling. We dont know if they were going to attack us. I thought about the young man testifying in George Floyds case. You grew angrier and angrier. Calling the police on the police. 911, whats the address of the emergency? How do you have somebody investigate those that they work with? Of course youre going to find that theyre going to believe the people that they work with quicker than they will believe the citizens who are filing the complaint. Would you like to speak with those sergeants? Yeah, Id like to. He was unresponsive. He wasnt resisting arrest or any of this. OK, one second. Murderers, bro. Yall are just murderers, bro. You know, when we was going to jury trial for Oscar, they would ask questions like, Do you know anybody who went to jail? Do you know anybody who had an encounter with the police? And as soon as the person said that, they would strike them from being a juror, right? Having a jury that consists of different backgrounds, it could help with the decision-making of innocent or guilty. The 27-year-old officer   pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. His trial had been moved to Los Angeles over concerns of racial tension and intense media scrutiny. Everybody, lets just pray for one minute. Father God, we come to you and your son named Jesus Christ. Father, we ask the people that see this  Every time I come to my moms house, Im reminded that my son was killed here. My name is Sequette Clark. Im the mother of Stephon Clark. 22-year-old Stephon Clark was fatally shot while running from police. Clark was see evading authorities after allegedly smashing a car window. He was shot eight times in his grandmothers backyard. Police apparently thinking he was holding a gun, now say it was a cellphone. Out of fear for their own lives, they fired their service weapon. And following the incident, officers manually muted their body cameras at times. Move over this way. As we watched the George Floyd trial, I invited particular members of my family because you cant address something in the community or the city or the nation until you address it at home with the family. When Mr. Floyd was in distress, Mr. Chauvin wouldnt help him, didnt help him. So thats just how they left my boy out there. They handcuffed him after he was dead. Excessive force. Excessive force and lethal force after the fact of death. I felt saddened, heavy, drained. I felt as if I was a slave 400 years ago. Just hearing how he was dead, seeing how he was dead. And then to turn around and hear the defenses attempt to bring up the fact that we should not focus on the   9 minutes and 29 seconds   that it took to kill George Floyd. But we should focus on what went on ahead of that. Anything that does not deal directly with the murder of George Floyd is irrelevant in my opinion. Hes 6 to 6 and a half feet tall. You did not know that he had taken heroin. Mr. Floyd did use a counterfeit $20 bill to purchase a pack of cigarettes. Mr. Floyd put drugs in his mouth. Poppas already dead. George Floyd is already dead. Thats right. Thats right. So now youre resurrecting him just to kill him all over again. Basically. Defame him in order to justify the wrongdoing of your officers, reminded me exactly of what the district attorney did to Stephon. The cellphone examination revealed a domestic violence incident that happened with the mother of his children. Texts and phone calls showing that he was seeking drugs and a photograph of his hand holding 10 Xanax pills. What was on his cellphone has zero to do with the actions of the police officers at the time of his homicide. I feel like its a bittersweet thing thats happening watching the George Floyd trial. Because Im optimistic that this is a piece of justice for the death of my son. We might not be here. Theyre going to get him. Theyre going to get him. Was a crime committed? The answer to that question is no. And as a result, we will not charge these officers with any criminal liability related to the shooting death or the use of force of Stephon Clark. April 14, 1991: King fights emotional and physical scars. So this is basically a photo album book of my dads newspaper articles since hes been in the news. Years and years and years. You throw someone to the wolves and you expect them to be normal. You know, theres no such thing as normal after that. And then, can you imagine how many Rodney Kings there is that never got videotaped? Theres plenty of them. I would have prayed and hoped that Oscars trial would have been televised because America has to really look in the mirror and say, Are all people being treated equally? There was excessive use of force against George Floyd  Were not focused on the videotape, his toxicology, his heart condition. Were focused on the fact that several people witnessed this man get murdered. You can see it with our own eyes. Its crazy. People dont realize what it does to your family. Its bigger than just a trial and this officer. We never get to see them again. We never get to smell them again and kiss them again. Our lives are completely affected forever.
Betty Rollin, a network news correspondent who described intensely personal life passages in two memoirs  First, You Cry, about being diagnosed with breast cancer and having a mastectomy, and Last Wish, in which she revealed that she had helped her pain-ravaged mother end her life  died on Nov. 7 in Basel, Switzerland. She was 87.

The cause was voluntary assisted suicide, at Pegasos, an assisted dying service, said Ellen Marson, a close friend, who disclosed the death to The New York Times on Thursday. Ms. Rollin, she said, had been dealing with pain from arthritis and a gastrointestinal condition and had been brokenhearted since the death of her husband, Harold Edwards, a mathematician, in 2020.

Betty recently told a few close friends she was going to do this, Ms. Marson wrote in an email. True to form, she was resolute in her decision; Betty made it clear she did not want to hear our objections to her plan. In a phone interview, she added, She felt she didnt have much more to contribute.

Ms. Rollin, who lived in Manhattan, belonged to Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group that supports expanding access to end-of-life medicine.
Two Hamas sources told AFP that some of the captives seized in the October 7 raids on Israel were on Friday handed over to the Red Cross for return to Israel, via Egypt.





"Half an hour ago, the prisoners were handed to the Red Cross who will take them to the Egyptians" at the Rafah crossing, one of the sources said.

"They were handed over to the Egyptian side," the source added.

A source in the military wing of Hamas confirmed the handover, adding: "This is the first group under the agreement."

A first tranche of 13 women and children captives were expected to go back to Israel on Friday after a truce between Israel and Hamas went into effect in the Gaza Strip in the morning.

Israel is set to release three times as many Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, women and teenage boys, under the terms of the deal reach with Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Hamas led an offensive on Israel on October 7, killing according to Israeli officials, 1,200 people and captured around 240 Israeli and foreign captives.

Israel has vowed to "crush" Hamas and unleashed a withering military campaign on Gaza that the Palestinian health ministry says has killed at least 15,000 people, 6,150 of them children.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.



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The New York Police Department detained 34 demonstrators at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade who were protesting Israels killings of civilians in Gaza, the authorities said on Friday.

The parade, which drew protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting, was briefly stalled when some of the demonstrators, dressed in white jumpsuits splashed in fake blood, sought to glue their hands to the pavement. The action was just one of a series of demonstrations over the Thanksgiving holiday in which protesters across the country demanded a permanent cease-fire.

Four of the protesters face a range of charges, including harassment, obstruction of governmental administration and resisting arrest. Thirty received summonses for trespassing and disorderly conduct along the parade route.

Activists painted the words Free Palestine on the outside of the New York Public Librarys main branch and accompanied the message with handprints in red paint. The police said the investigation into the vandalism, which they defined as criminal mischief, was ongoing.

The protests came amid mounting global scrutiny of Israels bombings, which have been carried out in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people in Israel. More than 10 times as many people have been killed since then in Gaza, according to the regions health ministry.

Earlier this week, Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary cease-fire, and dozens of hostages were released from Gaza on Friday in exchange for the release of dozens more Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

But the lull did little to cool tempers on Thursday in New York, where the interruption of the parade drew jeers from people gathered to see the events signature floats and balloons.

Protesters turned out again a day later in several cities for a series of actions aimed at disrupting the shopping holiday of Black Friday.

In New York, large crowds of demonstrators marched from Washington Square Park to Herald Square. The protest was largely peaceful, and a Police Department spokesman said there were no arrests.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of murdering George Floyd during a 2020 arrest that set off a wave of protests, was stabbed at a federal prison in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday, according to the office of Keith Ellison, the Minnesota attorney general.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an inmate at the Tucson prison was stabbed at 12:30 p.m., though the agencys statement did not identify Mr. Chauvin, 47, by name. No other inmates or prison staff were injured, and the situation was quickly contained, according to the people familiar with the situation.

Emergency medical technicians initiated lifesaving measures before transporting the inmate to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation, bureau officials wrote. No details were immediately available on his condition, but one of the people with knowledge of the incident said that Mr. Chauvin survived the attack.

Mr. Ellison, who oversaw the prosecution of Mr. Chauvin, condemned the attack. I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence, Mr. Ellison said in a statement. He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence.
Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, a Democrat who began a long-shot primary challenge to President Biden last month, said on Friday that he would not run for re-election next year.

Mr. Phillips, 54, a moderate third-term congressman who represents a district that includes suburban Minneapolis, renewed his call for generational change in Washington as he announced the move.

After three terms it is time to pass the torch, he said in a statement, describing a country facing a crisis of cooperation, common sense and truth.

In challenging Mr. Biden for the Democratic nomination, Mr. Phillips has cited the presidents age, 81, and his low approval ratings, warning that Mr. Biden risks losing his re-election bid to former President Donald J. Trump, 77, the Republican front-runner. Recent polls, including a New York Times/Siena College survey, have shown Mr. Biden trailing Mr. Trump in key battleground states.
Families of the Americans being held hostage by Hamas must wait longer to find out if their relatives will be among those released.

President Biden said earlier this week that he expected the cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel to result in American hostages returning home, but they were not among the 24 people Hamas released in the first round on Friday. The cease-fire deal calls for Hamas to return 50 women and children in phases over four days, while Israel would release 150 imprisoned or detained Palestinian women and teenagers.

At a news conference on Friday, President Biden said he did not know when American hostages would be released, but that officials expect it to occur. He added that he did not know the conditions of the 10 Americans who are unaccounted for, and he did not say how many he expected would be freed over the next three scheduled days of releases.

President Biden called the Friday releases the start of a process.

The hostages that were initially released by Hamas included 13 Israelis, all women and children, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino, according to government officials.

In addition to killing about 1,200 people in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, the militants took about 240 hostages back to Gaza. Hamas had previously released four of the hostages, including a mother and a daughter with dual American citizenship, on Oct. 20.

Image Avigail Idans family said she turned 4 on Friday. Credit... Tal Edan, via Associated Press

On Friday, President Biden referenced two American women and mentioned one American hostage by name: Avigail Idan, whose family said she turned 4 on Friday. Avigails parents were killed in the Hamas attack, and her family had hoped that she would be free by her birthday.

Avigail, whose name has also been spelled Abigail in the U.S. media, is a dual Israeli and U.S. citizen.

I find myself barely breathing through the last 24 hours, her aunt, Tal Idan, said after the announcement of the agreement. Every hour that goes by feels like forever.
Hamas freed two dozen hostages held in Gaza and Israel released nearly 40 imprisoned Palestinians on Friday, completing the first exchange in a tense, temporary truce that halted the fighting after seven weeks of war.

The cease-fire, reached after weeks of painstaking negotiation with the help of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, had held for a few hours before word emerged that anyone had been released. Then came a flurry of announcements from Egypt, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which helped receive hostages after their weeks in captivity in Gaza.

The hostages released included 13 Israelis, several children among them, as well as 10 Thais and one Filipino  reflecting the large number of foreign farm laborers in Israel, and the far-reaching effects of the Hamas attacks on Israel last month.

Not long after those hostages were declared free, Qatars Foreign Ministry said that 39 Palestinian women and minors imprisoned by the Israeli authorities had been released. All the hostages freed by Hamas were expected to be swiftly moved to Israel to receive urgent medical care.
Israelis waited all day Friday in nervous anticipation for a piece of good news and ray of light after seven weeks of collective mourning and trauma.

By the time the first group of 13 Israeli hostages finally crossed the borders from Gaza into Egypt, and then into Israel, the sun had set and dusk had turned into darkness.

The starry night sky was like a metaphor for a nation torn between celebrating the release of at least some of its hostages and trepidation for the future, over the war and the more than 200 others, including child hostages, grandparents and soldiers, still in captivity in Gaza.

We will welcome them in silence, with bowed heads, mutely, Nahum Barnea, a leading Israeli political columnist, wrote in Fridays Yediot Ahronot newspaper, summing up the national mood. Their seven weeks in captivity are a wound that needs healing, he added.
It was the moment the crowd outside the gates of Ofer prison just outside the West Bank city of Ramallah had awaited for hours: A large white bus carrying Palestinian prisoners and detainees exited the prison gates and made its way through the crowd around 8 p.m. Friday.

Throngs of Palestinians erupted in cheers while drivers revved their engines in celebration. Fireworks erupted, replacing the sounds of tear-gas canisters that Israeli security forces had fired to disperse the crowd throughout the afternoon. One man climbed on top of the bus and hoisted two Hamas flags, while those around him praised the group they saw as responsible for the release of their loved ones and neighbors.

The people want Hamas! The people want Hamas! They cried.

For hours on Friday afternoon into the early evening, hundreds of Palestinians had waited outside Ofer for the first group of Palestinian prisoners and detainees to be released as part of an exchange laid out in a deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza.

The hours of anticipation had been tinged both with grief for the devastation wrought by the war in Gaza, and with elation for a moment that many saw as a small victory for Palestinians  one that many in the crowd attributed to Hamas.

As the prisoners and detainees made their way to a nearby municipality building, hundreds of people raced alongside them, waving Palestinian and Hamas flags.

Hanan Saleh al-Bargouthi, 59, who was among those released, hugged her husband and grandchildren as tears clouded her eyes. She had spent around 80 days in prison, she said. According to the Israeli authorities, her case was being tried in military court on state security charges. But now, reunited with her family, a sense of relief and defiance washed over her.
All but one of the 13 Israeli hostages released on Friday were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, an Israeli village close to the Gaza border where Hamas militants took more than 70 people on Oct. 7.

Family members said they were thankful that 12 hostages taken from the kibbutz had been returned home to Israel, but that was only a drop in the bucket, said Larry Butler, 73, a Nir Oz resident who survived the attack. Of the estimated 215 hostages who remain in Gaza, roughly 30 percent of them are from Nir Oz.

Per capita, Nir Oz is the Israeli village most affected by the Oct. 7 assault.

That day, roughly 100 Nir Oz residents were killed or abducted  one quarter of the villages prewar population.

On Friday night, the survivors felt some sense of salvation as 12 of their neighbors and relatives  ranging from Yaffa Adar, 85, to Aviv Asher, 2  were driven to safety by the Red Cross through Egypt to Israel.

Is that my grandmother? a young girl cried out after residents identified Margalit Moses, 78, their neighbor from Nir Oz, waving from a Red Cross vehicle.

But that elation was tempered by a wider feeling of loss.

There are kids here without parents, parents without kids, and grandparents with grandchildren but no parents, Mr. Butler said.

See the baby over there? he said, pointing to a newborn cradled in a womans arms. The husband is in Gaza.

The village was founded in 1955 as a collective farm whose members pooled their resources and earnings.

The villages surviving residents describe their hometown as a left-leaning community, dominated by people who hoped for peace with the Palestinians across the border in Gaza, even as most Israelis lost hope in a negotiated peace settlement.

Mr. Butler, a Philadelphia native who fought in Vietnam as a Marine, moved to Nir Oz in 1974 because the community  some of them soldiers turned peace activists  embraced him at a time when Americans turned their back on veterans.

But after the Oct. 7 attack, Mr. Butler said his commitment to peace had been shaken.

Thirty of Mr. Butlers friends were killed and 60 were abducted, he said.

I trusted them, Mr. Butler said about his Palestinian neighbors. I was completely wrong, he added.

After much of the village was destroyed on Oct. 7, most of the survivors moved en masse to a hotel in Eilat, a resort city on the Red Sea.

The mood in the hotel swings rapidly between normality to grief.

Earlier this week, packs of Nir Oz kids ran around barefoot in the hotel lobby, seemingly oblivious to the trauma around them.

Suddenly one boy, about 10 years old, paused his play. Whats that? Im hearing shooting, he said, imagining a semiautomatic weapon only he could hear.

On Thursday evening, when uncertainty about the impending hostage deal was at its peak, Idan Cunio, 8, came up to his mother, Paula Cunio, 38, to announce that he heard on the news that his twin cousins were going to be released.

Hes just saying what he wants to be true, Ms. Cunio said.

The Cunio family has four family members still in captivity: David Cunio, 33, his partner Sharon Alony Cunio, 44, and their twins Emma and Yuli.

Sharons sister, Danielle Alony, 44, and her daughter Amelia, 5, were set free on Friday.

Irit Lahav, 57, who has spent most of her life in Nir Oz, said that being together in the hotel has brought the community together. We already were like a family, she said. But now its more like a hugging family.

However, the Nir Oz residents were recently warned that their time in Eilat is coming to a close.

In mid-December, they will be moved to an apartment complex in Kiryat Gat, a small, uncelebrated city in central Israel, for a year. This will jeopardize the communal fabric the kibbutz has worked so hard to maintain, residents said.

Who will you meet, just your neighbors in the apartment building? asked Ms. Lahav.

For Ms. Lahav, an avid triathlete, the five-minute walk from the hotel to the Red Sea has been an upgrade from the hourlong drive from Nir Oz to the Mediterranean.

Even so, her training has been on pause because her bike is still chained up in Nir Oz. The attackers left it intact, but they stole Ms. Lahavs keys, and its still too dangerous to bring in a locksmith to cut the lock.

In Kiryat Gat, Ms. Cunio plans to devote her time to figuring out whats next. Were starting from scratch, she said. The life we had before is over.

The community will be saving rooms for the hostages, but until they are released, Ms. Cunio does not know how they will fit into the future of the kibbutz

One thing is for certain, Ms. Cunio said: She and many other survivors will not be going back to the kibbutz. Theres nowhere to return, she said.

Patrick Kingsley contributed reporting from Jerusalem.
The book citys mission  to actively support culture and arts based on books  can be seen in buildings all over town. Photopia, a serene purple structure curved like an ocean wave, serves as a photography production and processing studio. One publishing company, Dulnyouk, has its headquarters in a towering, geometric structure that resembles the kind of cumbersome transport vehicle found in Star Wars. Quaint cafes, where visitors can sip their drinks while reading, dot Pajus street corners. Everything is designed to preserve and spread a love for books.

At the core of Paju Book City is where Lee works, the Asia Publication Culture and Information Center, a five-story complex that includes an education facility, events hall and exhibition space, and that serves as a social and professional nucleus for local publishers. The center draws almost 10,000 visitors a year.

On the buildings first floor is the Forest of Wisdom, a central library with tens of thousands of books on display and tens of thousands more in storage, according to Lee. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, some more than 25 feet tall, line the walls. Though visitors are not allowed to check out books  fiction and nonfiction, reference texts, picture books and other works  they are welcome to browse the shelves and read in common areas. The seemingly boundless collection means guests include families with children, young couples on dates and groups of older people on social outings. The center includes a hotel for anyone who wants to spend the night.
Vanessa McGrady, a writer in California who was married for three years and who became a parent during that time, said that she realized there were some insurmountable issues with her former husband and chose to use the document service We the People for her divorce.

It was not contentious, and it was easier because we didnt have assets together, she said. We had no I.R.A.s. It was my condo and I was making the payments. She recommends having a lawyer review a document divorce to ensure that it is done correctly.

The process took a year and cost less than $2,000 because she had hashed out issues with her ex before their divorce proceedings, she said. Ms. McGrady, 55, was glad to have saved thousands of dollars for her own retirement or for her daughters future needs. I dont know anyone whos had as simple and easy a divorce as we did, even though it was frustrating and sad at times, she said. Before you go down the rabbit hole of rage and revenge, think where you want your money to go.

Caitlin Steele, who lives in Seattle, used a mediation service from a start-up called Wevorce, which cost $750 when she got divorced in 2017. At the time, Ms. Steele, a senior design manager at Atlassian, a software company, had little disposable income and no children. She had witnessed a friend experience the emotional and financial fallout of an embattled divorce that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars and limited access to his child for six years.

She had been married for 10 years when, she said, the wheels started to fall off. She filed for divorce, which was finalized six months later. Her husband was making $180,000 to her $90,000 a year, which in San Francisco left her, at the age of 38, sharing a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate.
The European Union has long known that the way to Frances heart is through its stomach. So, dont touch the Camembert  never, ever.

Related Melting cheese and tram stops in Alexandria

Last week, legislators at the European Parliament made sure it wont happen anytime soon.

Tucked in a proposal on streamlining and optimizing waste management throughout the 27-nation bloc, some French cheese producers in recent weeks sniffed out something and turned it into a culinary stink.

They claimed that the proposals wording would make it illegal for the famous cheese to be cradled into its usual wooden packaging for its final weeks of ripening and, eventually, sale. The round box is as essentially Camembert as its unctuous texture and pungent smell.

Suddenly, there was a frenzied flutter that something fundamentally French would fall foul of the Brussels bureaucrats  derisively known by many as Eurocrats  who are all too often blamed for flaws real and false.

It is a matter of common sense. Dont touch our Camemberts! said Jean-Paul Garraud, a member of the European Parliament for Frances far-right Rassemblement National.

The reasoning was this: If Camembert were forced into something easier to recycle like plastic, the perfect breathing of the cheese through wood might instead produce something sweaty and flabby. Wood, however, is hard to recycle sustainably, and the EU wants to remove it from food packaging as much as possible.

Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said ahead of Wednesdays vote that the EU would make sure that the raw-milk specialized non-industrial Camemberts  those with a controlled designation of origin  will be exempt from any such regulation.

Even Gen. Charles de Gaulle, the French World War II hero and later president of the nation, knew all about such gourmet sensitivities. How do you want to run a country that has 246 kinds of cheese, he was quoted as complaining.

Wednesdays action proved that cheese can be an effective binding agent, as European legislators ranging from free-trade liberals to the far-right made sure that an amendment to allow wooden boxes in case of exceptional circumstances would survive.

We have saved our Camemberts, said French free-trade Renew Europe legislator Valerie Hayer after the vote. And she said others will be safe under the measure: Camembert, Pont lEveque or Mont dOr will be well protected.

The center-right European Peoples Party, the biggest group in the European Parliament with a traditional farming electorate and penchant for heritage protection, led the defense of the wooden boxes for Camembert and other cheeses.

Who can imagine a Camembert or a Mont dOr without its wooden strapping? Packaging them in plastic would be a gustatory and environmental aberration, said French MEP Laurence Sailliet.

Europe must know how to protect the environment, but never to the detriment of the specific characteristics of its member states, she added.

And food is one of the touchiest characteristics for sure.

The British used anti-EU food foment to the extreme in the years leading up to Brexit, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, then still a Brussels journalist, leading the tabloid assault with stories that the EU would insist that bananas would have to be straight and eliminate beloved British biscuits.

It helped turn the United Kingdom against the EU, and voters decided in a referendum to leave.

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It is said that wars end when both sides conclude they have nothing more to gain by fighting. By that logic, Israel and the Palestinians should have long ago agreed to the only solution that makes sense: separate states side by side. Theyve tried, again and again, but in this cauldron of religious passion and competing grievances, peace has always lost out. Is there any chance that things will be different when the guns fall silent this time?

On the face of it, it does not seem promising. The brutal attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 and the massive Israeli retaliatory assault on Gaza have already led to too much death and destruction and have ignited communal hatreds in the United States and beyond. Every eruption in the past  whether war, intifada or military raid  has only demonstrated that neither side can achieve its longed-for security, dignity or peace through violence. On the contrary, every eruption only hardens divisions and ensures more bloodshed next time.

In fact, what peace might look like is not a mystery: The shape of a Palestinian state has been explored in minute detail by successive peace conferences, meetings, negotiations and private initiatives, collectively known  or derided, in their apparent futility  as the peace process. The Oslo Accords of the 1990s were a major breakthrough in bringing hardened Palestinian and Israeli commanders to the table and establishing basic principles of coexistence. In 2000, Ehud Barak, Israels prime minister at the time, put a significant offer on the table to the Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat for a two-state solution, which he rejected as insufficient and failed to meet with any serious counteroffer. Several years later, Mr. Baraks successor Ehud Olmert and the Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, met 36 times over nearly two years to hammer out a detailed plan that involved swapping some land, sharing Jerusalem, creating a free passage between the West Bank and Gaza and cooperating on business and resources.

That initiative foundered, as they all did, through violence, politics and circumstance: the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a clash with Hamas in Gaza, Mr. Olmerts resignation and Benjamin Netanyahus victory, the ouster of the Palestinian Authority from Gaza. Extremists  be it Palestinian Islamists determined to destroy the Jewish state or Israeli settlers determined to push Palestinians out of the West Bank  knew they could undermine any effort toward peace through provocation or terrorism.

The victims, as they always are in this cruel war, are the children, women and men who just want to live in peace. The victors, as always, are the zealots who pursue their absolutist goals by murder, provocation and deception, demonizing the other side. It is likely that Hamas launched its attack on Oct. 7 in part to undermine the movement toward an Israeli deal for normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.

This board has called many times for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, and we have called for mercy and reason in the current conflict. We have based this on the presumption, the hope, that there are still enough people who see the futility and horror of the endless cycle of violence on both sides and that the United States, which has invested so much treasure and diplomatic effort into resolving the crisis and has given Israel unstinting support through the decades, still has some clout. We have to believe this, because the alternative is anarchy and blood.

How the current fighting ends will shape much of what happens next. There is no telling whether a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange mediated by Qatar and the Biden administration will hold or, if it does, for how long. But there is still every reason to think beyond the fighting, if only because the terrible cost it is exacting demands sanity. These are areas that bear deliberation:

The fact that no Arab states have openly endorsed the Hamas invasion and two  Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates  denounced it outright while expressing concerns for the impact on Gazas civilians is important. It shows that the last thing Arab leaders want is for Hamas, backed by Iran and long dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state, to be strengthened by the current war with Israel.

That said, these states  mostly out of frustration with the Palestinian Authoritys corruption and unwillingness in past negotiations, with Mr. Barak and with Mr. Olmert, to agree on a painful, end-of-all-claims compromise with Israel  began to wash their hands of the Palestinian cause. These states needed and wanted their own direct ties to Israel, primarily to counterbalance Iran. So in the Abraham Accords and subsequent discussions about normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians were effectively left aside. If one outcome of this war is a still moderate Palestinian Authority with better leadership, the natural partnership between it and the Arab states can be renewed. This could, in turn, revive a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as widening normalization between Israel and Arab or Muslim states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Indonesia.

It is also noteworthy that the Palestinian Authority under Mr. Abbas has largely stayed clear of the Gaza eruption. And the role of the Biden administration in mediating the truce, whatever it was, is, at the least, evidence that the United States, however divided, remains a go-between to be reckoned with. These factors suggest there is still a foundation for future negotiations.

But we have no illusions: Through its use of terrorism, Hamas has destroyed whatever legitimacy it had as a governing force. For these negotiations to be meaningful, the Palestinian Authority has to be overhauled. It needs new leadership and institutional reform. To generate and maintain any stable peace with Israel, the authority needs to be able to demonstrate that, in comparison with Hamas, it is more capable of governing Gaza and the West Bank effectively. In its present condition, it cannot.

At the same time, Israel and its supporters must accept that this is not an equal contest. Israel is the dominant power here, and in the current conflict, Israel will once again need to be first to move toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. For many Israelis, their primary concern is finding security, or bitachon, a Hebrew word that also encompasses trust and faith, and it requires a leap of both to believe that this will come from an independent Palestinian state. But the alternatives  continuing the occupation and incorporating occupied territories into Israel  are demonstrably worse.

To make that choice, Israel must jettison the government of Mr. Netanyahu, which has steadfastly worked against a settlement with the Palestinians.

Mr. Netanyahu cannot lead Israel in the search for peace. Now 74, he has been in and out of the prime ministers office since his first election victory in 1996, in the wake of Mr. Rabins assassination by an Israeli extremist for signing the Oslo Accords. In 2009, Mr. Netanyahu gave a famous speech at Bar-Ilan University embracing the principle of a Palestinian state alongside Israel  on condition that the state was demilitarized and that the Palestinians recognized Israel as the state of the Jewish people. But everything he has done since has been to expand settlements in the West Bank and to stymie the peace process. His strategy was to undermine the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, even though he knew it was cooperating with Israels security services to help maintain calm there, while tacitly helping Hamas consolidate its power in Gaza. This allowed him to tell every American president: Id love to make peace, but I have no Palestinian partner; theyre divided.

Many Israelis now blame Mr. Netanyahus far-right cabinet partners for fracturing the Israeli armed forces with a dangerous attempt to undermine the judiciary and diverting the armys attention from the Gaza border by fomenting trouble in the West Bank. The Israeli media has reported that well before the Hamas invasion on Oct. 7, Israels military intelligence warned Mr. Netanyahu that Hamas and Hezbollah had noticed the fractures in Israeli society  and were tempted by them.

Holding Israels leaders to account in no way lessens the responsibility that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad bear for the present suffering in Gaza. Hamas knew full well that a murderous attack on Israeli civilians would ensure a massive retaliation against the helpless civilians of Gaza, including innumerable children  the very people Hamas purported to represent and govern. Hamas has gained advantage by deliberately slaughtering civilians in Israel and justifying the deaths of thousands of its own people as martyrdom. The current leaders of Hamas, who have never renounced the obliteration of Israel as a goal and have pledged to continue inflicting violence to that end, have effectively rejected any role in seeking a lasting settlement.

With Mr. Netanyahu still leading Israels government and Hamas still in control of Gaza, it is difficult right now to imagine credible negotiations toward peace. The river to the sea extremists, those who ecstatically call for the eradication of the other, cannot play a constructive part.

Yet peace is still possible, and it is also possible that those who might sit at the table will include former militants. Given the history of this conflict, that is actually quite likely. The primary condition for any peace negotiation is that those who seek peace must lay down their arms and come prepared to make painful concessions. Mr. Rabin was first a military leader, and his interlocutor, Mr. Arafat, was viewed by most Israelis at the time as a terrorist. Many prominent Israeli leaders today similarly come from military backgrounds, and some of the Palestinians who could lead their side are likely to have spent time or are spending time in Israeli prisons. The critical qualification is for each side to understand the yearnings and fears of the other and to accept that the other has a right to live in peace.

How that can work is clear. The urgent challenge, as soon as the guns fall silent, is for Israel, the Palestinians, the Arab states, the United States and all other parties with an interest in a settlement to get to work.

Source photographs by Okea, via Getty Images.

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If you make it to the U.S., then youre more likely than not to be able to stay. So its absolutely worth the chance of taking that risk.

MUZAFFAR CHISHTI, a senior fellow with the Migration Policy Institute, on the increasing number of Chinese seeking asylum in the United States. Page A1.
But much of the evidence cited by the states was blacked out by redactions in the initial filing.

Now the unsealed complaint, filed on Wednesday evening, provides new details from the states lawsuit. Using snippets from internal emails, employee chats and company presentations, the complaint contends that Instagram for years coveted and pursued underage users even as the company failed to comply with the childrens privacy law.

The unsealed filing said that Meta continually failed to make effective age-checking systems a priority and instead used approaches that enabled users under 13 to lie about their age to set up Instagram accounts. It also accused Meta executives of publicly stating in congressional testimony that the companys age-checking process was effective and that the company removed underage accounts when it learned of them  even as the executives knew there were millions of underage users on Instagram.

Tweens want access to Instagram, and they lie about their age to get it now, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said in an internal company chat in November 2021, according to the court filing.

In Senate testimony the following month, Mr. Mosseri said: If a child is under the age of 13, they are not permitted on Instagram.

In a statement on Saturday, Meta said that it had spent a decade working to make online experiences safe and age-appropriate for teenagers and that the states complaint mischaracterizes our work using selective quotes and cherry-picked documents.
Since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, when cruise ships filled with sickened passengers were blocked from U.S. ports, residents in Key West, Fla., have been trying to limit the size and number of vacation vessels on the tiny island, using the momentum created during the pandemic to argue for continuing restrictions on cruise vessels.

Activists flooded City Commission meetings, protested on the dock, collected signatures and managed to pass three ballot measures in 2020 imposing stricter controls to protect the marine environment and limit passengers to 1,500 a day  only to see the state Legislature, with the approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis, void the new restrictions the following year.

Now the wealthy hotelier who operates Key Wests cruise ship port is doubling down, asking the state for permission to expand, which would allow bigger ships with more passengers to operate legally out of the port.

The issue will soon land on the desk of Mr. DeSantis, who has received nearly $1 million in campaign donations from the piers owner. It represents a tough balancing act for the Republican governor, a 2024 presidential candidate who has touted his environmental record but has also been a booster of Floridas tourism industry.
The roots of the Republican crackup this fall that paralyzed the House, fueled the unexpected rise of Speaker Mike Johnson and now threatens to force a government shutdown crisis early next year lie in a fateful choice the party made more than a decade ago that has come back to haunt its leaders.

In early 2009, congressional Republicans were staring down a long exile in the political wilderness. Barack Obama was about to assume the presidency, and Democrats were within reach of a filibuster-proof, 60-vote supermajority in the Senate and the largest House majority in more than 20 years after the economic crisis of 2008.

But Republicans saw a glimmer of hope in the energized far-right populist movement that emerged out of a backlash to Mr. Obama  the first Black president  and his partys aggressive economic and social agenda, which included a federal health care plan. Republicans seized on the Tea Party and associated groups, with their nativist leanings and vehemently anti-establishment impulses, as their ticket back to power.

We benefited from the anger that was generated against the one-way legislation of the Obama years, said Eric Cantor, the former House leader from Virginia who became the No. 2 Republican after the 2010 midterm elections catapulted the party back into the majority. It was my way or the highway.
The stabbing on Friday of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020, at a special unit inside a Tucson, Ariz., prison is the latest in a series of attacks against high-profile inmates in the troubled, short-staffed federal Bureau of Prisons.

The assault comes less than five months after Larry Nassar, the doctor convicted of sexually abusing young female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times at the federal prison in Florida. It also follows the release of Justice Department reports detailing incompetence and mismanagement at federal detention centers that led to the deaths in recent years of James Bulger, the Boston gangster known as Whitey, and Jeffrey Epstein, who had been charged with sex trafficking.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an inmate at the Tucson prison was stabbed around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, though the bureau did not identify Mr. Chauvin, 47, by name. The agency said in a statement that the inmate required life-saving measures before being rushed to a hospital emergency room nearby. The office of Keith Ellison, the Minnesota attorney general who prosecuted the former police officer, identified the inmate as Mr. Chauvin.

He is likely to survive, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly.
For nearly 79 years, Anne Walker Collingwood knew little about her father, an American soldier who died about three months after she was born while fighting near Hucheln, Germany, during World War II.

Her father, Second Lt. Gene F. Walker, was the commander of a tank that was hit by an anti-tank round and caught fire in November 1944. The attack is believed to have killed Lieutenant Walker, 27, instantly, but heavy fighting in the area prevented the surviving crew members from recovering his body.

Later efforts to recover Lieutenant Walkers remains could not determine if those found in the area were his, or if they belonged to other soldiers who had died or were missing. At home in Indiana, Ms. Collingwoods family told her little about her father.

Then in July, Ms. Collingwood received an unexpected call: the military had identified her fathers remains.
Below the shattered windows of the high-rise hotels in downtown Acapulco, people walk alongside towering hills of garbage bags filled with rotting food and debris, from mattresses to Christmas decorations. Volunteer firefighters from distant states clear the waste, wiping away swarms of cockroaches from their arms.

Miles from the coastal beachside resorts, Elizabeth Del Valle, 43, listened as her teenage daughter Constanza Sotelo described the mountains of trash still blocking many streets surrounding their home.

We have no way to find face masks to keep ourselves healthy, said Ms. Del Valle. We expect that were going to get an infection from the smell, from the garbage.

Weeks after Hurricane Otis shocked forecasters and government officials by intensifying rapidly into the strongest storm to hit Mexicos Pacific Coast and devastate much of Acapulco, residents say they now face an unfolding public health disaster.
There are moments in life that stick in memory as a fulcrum between before and after.

Arti Kumaris came on a morning a few months after her wedding, when she took her place on the starting line for her physical exam to qualify for a government security job  running a mile in seven minutes or less. It was the culmination of months of early-morning training sessions and years of study.

Her mother, Meena, waited anxiously outside the recruitment center. Rohit, Artis new husband, was with her, his presence a tangible sign of his support.

But even as Arti awaited the starting gun, the crowd of candidates beside her made painfully clear how much competition she faced. So many candidates had traveled to the exam site, on a remote campus in Uttar Pradesh State, that there was nowhere to house them all. Arti, Rohit and Meena had slept in a local gurudwara, a Sikh place of worship, packed in with the other hopefuls and their chaperones.
A devastating fire engulfed a multistory shopping center in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Saturday, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more, officials said. The disaster drew attention to the continuing fire risks in a densely populated city where building codes are often ignored.

The fire began around 6:30 a.m. on the second floor of the RJ Mall, a commercial high-rise that housed call centers and other businesses in addition to shops, on a busy road in the city. The blaze quickly spread to the fourth, fifth and sixth floors, trapping several dozen people.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Video footage captured the scene as rescuers worked to get victims out. Firefighters tackled the blaze with extinguishers, their efforts hampered by thick smoke.

When the fire started, I just ran out of the building, Zaheed Ahmed, a worker at a clothing shop in the mall, said in an interview. The smoke was so thick, I couldnt understand what happened.
Egypt received five planes carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza from Russia, Oman, UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia at El-Arish Airport on Saturday, according to media reports.

Also on Saturday, seven fuel trucks  four loaded with cooking gas and three with diesel  entered the strip through the Rafah border crossing, Al-Qahera News TV channel reported.

The three diesel trucks carry 130,000 litres of fuel, according to the head of the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) branch in North Sinai Khaled Zayd in statements to the media.

The ERC also announced that 100 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza along with the fuel trucks.

On Friday, the first day of the Israel-Hamas truce, Egypt received three humanitarian aid planes from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman at El-Arish Airport.

The same day, 200 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip, according to the Head of Egypts State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan.

Additionally, four fuel trucks and four cooking gas trucks entered the strip, according to the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) of the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

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It was everything by instinct  I remember I took off my helmet, to protect myself and use it as a weapon, he said. Just hit him in the head with all the power I have. And he fell down.

Image Caio Benicio in Dublin on Saturday. Credit... Peter Murphy/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

The police confirmed on Saturday that a 5-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s were being treated for serious injuries and were still in the hospital; two other children were treated for less serious injuries, the police said.

Although the authorities have not publicly identified the citizenship of the attacker, whom witnesses described as a man in his 50s, rumors spread online claiming that he was an immigrant, drawing many members of the far right to central Dublin on Thursday, some holding signs reading Irish Lives Matter. The protest quickly escalated, and roughly 500 people, mostly young men, vandalized cars, looted shops, and attacked hostels and hotels where immigrants were thought to be staying, according to the authorities.

By the end of the night, the police had deployed 400 officers and arrested 34 people, in what has been described as the worst rioting in the country in years. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that those behind the violence had brought shame to Ireland.

It was not lost on many of those who rushed to buy Mr. Benicio a proverbial beer that an immigrant had intervened in an attack that then inflamed anti-immigrant sentiment. As of Saturday afternoon, the campaign, on GoFundMe, had attracted more than 31,000 single donations  many of which were for 5 or 6, or the average price of a pint.
Russia launched a huge drone attack at Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, before dawn on Saturday, sending wave after wave of crewless aircraft packed with explosives toward a city that is home to around three million people.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that the attack had featured a record number of one-way attack drones, an estimated 75 in total, most of them directed at Kyiv. Its air defense teams managed to shoot down nearly all of them, preventing mass casualties, officials said.

Still, at least five people were injured in Saturdays attack, including an 11-year-old child, city officials said, and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed by falling debris.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine called the bombardment deliberate terror.

The Russian leadership is proud of its ability to kill, he said on Saturday, noting that the attack had coincided with a day on which Ukrainians pay tribute to the millions killed in the Holodomor, a famine orchestrated by Stalin.
More women and children have been reported killed in Gaza in less than two months than the roughly 7,700 civilians documented as killed by U.S. forces and their international allies in the entire first year of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, according to estimates from Iraq Body Count, an independent British research group.

And the number of women and children reported killed in Gaza since the Israeli campaign began last month has already started to approach the roughly 12,400 civilians documented to have been killed by the United States and its allies in Afghanistan during nearly 20 years of war, according to Neta C. Crawford, a University of Oxford professor who is co-director of Brown Universitys Costs of War Project.

These comparisons are based on the thousands of deaths directly attributed to U.S. coalition forces over decades in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Far more people  hundreds of thousands in total  are estimated to have been killed in these conflicts by other groups, including the Syrian government and its allies, local militias, the Islamic State and the Iraqi security forces.

But while the overall death tolls in those wars were larger, the number of people killed in Gaza in a very short period of time is higher than in other conflicts, said Professor Crawford, who has extensively researched modern wars.

In the nine-month battle of Mosul, which Israeli officials have cited as a comparison, an estimated total of 9,000 to 11,000 civilians were killed by all sides in the conflict, including many thousands killed by the Islamic State, The Associated Press found.

A similar number of women and children have already been reported killed in Gaza in less than two months.

The bombs being used in Gaza are larger than what the United States used when it was fighting ISIS in cities like Mosul and Raqqa, and are more consistent with targeting underground infrastructure like tunnels, said Brian Castner, a weapons investigator for Amnesty International and a former explosive ordnance disposal officer in the U.S. Air Force.

More than twice as many women and children have already been reported killed in Gaza than have been confirmed killed in Ukraine, according to United Nations figures, after almost two years of Russian attacks. (The United Nations believes the true toll in Ukraine is considerably higher, however, and Ukrainian officials have estimated that more than 20,000 civilians died in the port city of Mariupol.)

Not only is Gaza tiny when compared with conflict zones like Ukraine, Afghanistan or Iraq, but the territorys borders have also been closed by Israel and Egypt, giving civilians few, if any, safe places to flee.

More than 60,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed in the Gaza Strip, satellite analysis indicates, including about half of the buildings in northern Gaza.

They are using extremely large weapons in extremely densely populated areas, Mr. Castner said of Israeli forces. It is the worst possible combination of factors.

A War for Our Existence

Israeli officials say their campaign is focused on degrading Gazan military infrastructure that is often built near homes and civilian institutions  or buried underneath them.

To get to that target, Colonel Conricus said, the military has to use larger bombs with a higher yield.

When an Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, was asked in an Oct. 24 interview with PBS about the pace of the strikes, he said Israel was aiming for a shorter campaign than the United States waged in Iraq and Syria.

Hopefully, we get it done quicker, Mr. Regev said. Thats one of our goals. But it could take longer than many Israelis would hope, because Hamas has been in power for 16 years.

Israel has directed Gaza residents to evacuate areas where the bombing campaign is especially concentrated, but it has continued to strike other areas as well.

More broadly, Israeli officials say this is a campaign on its own borders to wipe out Hamas, a group dedicated to Israels destruction. The war here is for our existence, one Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, told reporters on Nov. 8.

The brutality of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 traumatized Israelis, and some prominent members of the Israeli government have made clear that they are waging a ferocious campaign.

Gaza wont return to what it was before. Hamas will no longer exist. We will eliminate everything, Yoav Gallant, Israels defense minister, said in the days after the Hamas raids.

After initially questioning the death toll in Gaza, the Biden administration now concedes that the true figures for casualties may be even worse.

Barbara Leaf, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told a House committee this month that American officials thought the casualties were very high, frankly, and it could be that theyre even higher than are being cited.

International experts who have worked with the Gaza Health Ministry during this and other wars say that it gathers death figures from hospitals and morgues across the enclave, which tally the dead and report the names, ID numbers and other details of people killed.

While the experts urged caution around public statements about the specific number of people killed in a particular strike  especially in the immediate aftermath of a blast  they said the aggregate death tolls reported by the Gaza Health Ministry have typically proved to be accurate.

In the last few weeks, recording the dead in Gaza has become increasingly difficult in the chaos of the fighting, as hospitals come under direct fire, much of the health system ceases to function and other government officials have begun updating the number of killed instead of the ministry. But even before those changes, the number of women and children reported dead already outpaced other conflicts.

Women and children account for nearly 70 percent of all deaths reported in Gaza even though most combatants are men  an extraordinary statistic, Rick Brennan, the regional emergency director for the World Health Organizations Eastern Mediterranean office, said at an event this month.

Normally, one would expect the opposite, Mr. Brennan said. In past clashes between Israel and Hamas, for example, about 60 percent of the reported deaths in Gaza were men.
Election 2024 Who Would Donald Trump Choose as His Running Mate?

Donald J. Trump hasnt won a single primary or caucus vote yet, let alone the Republican nomination, but his lead in the polls has left much of the political world viewing his nomination as all but inevitable.

It has also inspired a fair amount of speculation about who might wind up on a 2024 ticket beside him. It will almost surely not be former Vice President Mike Pence, who crossed Trump by certifying the 2020 election results.

While Trump has not begun formal veepstakes talks, he has casually weighed the pros and cons of some contenders with friends and advisers.

His team has discussed possible parameters, like whether a woman on the ticket would help win back suburban women who abandoned him in the last election, or if choosing a person of color would be a smart choice, given the gains he saw in 2020 with Black and Hispanic men.

Either way, Mar-a-Lago courtiers generally agree that any resume for the No. 2 spot on the ticket must include some Trump-specific requirements that defy demographics: absolute loyalty to the Trump brand, a willingness to filter every decision and public comment through a subservient lens, and the know-it-when-you-see-it central casting look the former president prizes.

Heres a look at some possible contenders.

The Political veterans Household names in national politics, these are some of the figures most often floated as possible running mates. Tim Scott A senator from South Carolina, Scott ran for president but dropped out in November. Al Drago/EPA, via Shutterstock PROS The only Black Republican in the Senate, he is one of the partys most prodigious fund-raisers, and one of its most well-liked figures.

Scott has often leaned on his faith, which could help ease evangelicals concerns about Trump. Some have been depressed by Trumps eagerness to blame them for the party's losses in 2022 and by his lack of passion for their anti-abortion priorities. CONS He's not on anyone's list of Trump's most vocal supporters.

He said when he dropped out that he had no intention of endorsing another candidate, but that could always change.

Scotts inability to produce memorable moments in three primary debates might not bode well for a potential face-off against Vice President Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor. Nikki Haley Haley, a former United Nations ambassador under Trump and a former governor of South Carolina, is running for president against him. Samuel Corum for The New York Times PROS She has proved to be a skillful debater and formidable campaigner.

As her state's first female governor and the nation's second governor of Indian descent, she would diversify a Trump ticket.

Her executive experience on economic issues as governor and her handling of foreign policy issues in Trump's cabinet could prepare her well for a debate with Harris. CONS Trust could be a problem after she endorsed a rival of his in 2016 and entered the 2024 race against him, accusing him of pursuing chaos, vendettas and drama and saying a younger president was needed.

Her ambition could spook a man reluctant to share the spotlight.

Trumps nastiness toward her  he has relentlessly called her birdbrain  could be a barrier. Tom Cotton A staunch and provocative conservative, the Arkansas senator has been seen as one of the Republican Partys rising figures. Doug Mills/The New York Times PROS At 46, hes three decades younger than Trump.

Hes a decorated military veteran with a substantial foreign policy resume.

Trump has shown interest in Cotton before: He considered him for a cabinet post. CONS He voted to certify the 2020 presidential election, which has become Trump's most important political litmus test.

Hes a foreign policy hawk, which might not align with Trumps often isolationist, America First views. Marco Rubio The Florida senator, a rival to Trump in 2016, has hummed along as a reliable Trump ally and leading Republican voice on foreign policy issues. Scott McIntyre for The New York Times PROS Experienced on the national stage, Rubio is a known quantity.

His pro-Israel, anti-Putin track record is particularly timely.

He is a fluent Spanish speaker, and his Cuban heritage figures prominently in his political bio.

Rubio and Trump have quietly had a close relationship for years. Before Trump was voted out of the White House in 2020, he was considering Rubio as a possible secretary of state nominee. CONS Rubio has never quite fulfilled the expectations that many Republicans held for him  and that he helped stoke  after his underdog Senate victory in 2010.

He very publicly said he didnt want to be considered for Trumps ticket in 2016.

What could disqualify him is the central role he played in a 2013 immigration overhaul effort that, even a decade later, remains anathema to the Republican base. Mike Pompeo Pompeo, a former congressman from Kansas, was a fixture in the Trump administration, first as C.I.A. director and then as secretary of state. Al Drago for The New York Times PROS He has more high-level experience than most of the other contenders.

He would provide geographic balance as a Midwestern presence on the Republican ticket. CONS In his memoir about his time in the administration, Pompeo criticized the former presidents handling of Vladimir V. Putin, said Trump had a nutty plan to put him in charge of the Departments of Defense and State, and revealed that tough talk about China had upset Trump.

Pompeo had considered a 2024 presidential campaign, which Trump viewed as a sign of disloyalty. Before deciding not to run, he publicly warned Republicans to move on from celebrity leaders with fragile egos.

The Loyalists For any potential Trump sidekick, a track record of accomplishments is nice to have. A track record of fealty may be even more important. J.D. Vance The best-selling author and former venture capitalist is now a senator from Ohio, thanks largely to a Trump endorsement. Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times PROS He and Trump resolved their differences and have become particularly close.

Vance is one of Trumps most vigorous defenders, which sets him apart in a Senate populated with skeptics of the former president.

Both are immigration hard-liners who also share similar views on trade. CONS Hes much younger than Trump, but he wouldnt add any gender or ethnic diversity to the ticket.

Ohio is no longer a presidential battleground.

Vance is fiercely anti-abortion, which could add to the partys difficulties on that issue. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Trumps former White House press secretary, she parlayed the exposure that gave her into the Arkansas governors office. Doug Mills/The New York Times PROS She is a young, female Republican who is widely well-regarded in the party.

She learned the ins and outs of the West Wing while becoming a MAGA star as the administrations lead spokeswoman.

She endorsed Trump in November. CONS Trump resented that it took her a year to endorse his 2024 campaign.

A minor scandal in Arkansas over the purchase of a $19,000 lectern was the sort of unforced error that presidential campaigns try to avoid. Kristi Noem A popular governor and a former congresswoman, Noem has welcomed speculation that she could be invited to join the ticket. Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times PROS A telegenic Midwesterner, Noem could help connect with suburban women in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, states where Mike Pence spent much of his time in 2016.

A two-term governor, she has a record of economic accomplishments in her state that could resonate with voters in 2024. CONS She is untested on the national stage.

She has close ties to Corey Lewandowski, the longtime on-again, off-again Trump adviser, whose brushes with the law have generated unwelcome headlines for Team Trump. John Ratcliffe A former House member from Texas who served as the director of national intelligence in Trumps administration. Doug Mills/The New York Times PROS A former prosecutor, Ratcliffe made a name for himself grilling Peter Strzok, an F.B.I. agent, over text messages mocking Trump before the 2016 election. Trump still talks about those texts on the campaign trail.

He was rated as the most conservative legislator in Texas by the Heritage Foundation.

He remains close to Trump and would be viewed as a solid choice for the position. CONS He turned down a chance to become attorney general when Trump approached him about the position after the 2020 election.

He warned the Trump White House team against trying to overturn the 2020 election, according to one staff members sworn testimony to Congress.

He is not so well known among Trump supporters that his presence on the ticket would energize the base. Kari Lake Lake, a prominent election denier, narrowly lost the 2022 Arizona governors race. Rebecca Noble for The New York Times PROS Few Republicans have emulated Trumps signature style of confrontational politics better than Lake.

A former Phoenix local news anchor, she delivers a polished presentation of her far-right agenda.

She came within a percentage point of winning statewide in Arizona, one of the countrys top presidential battlegrounds. CONS Lakes Trump impression might be a little too inspired. He is loath to share any of the attention that comes his way, let alone risk being eclipsed.

Adding her to the ticket would combine two of the party's most divisive figures.

She and Trump have exactly one electoral victory between them. Vivek Ramaswamy A wealthy entrepreneur, Ramaswamy has built his campaign around his devotion to Trump, and many Republican voters have responded warmly. Kenny Holston/The New York Times PROS Youthful and energetic, Ramaswamy could be a potent surrogate for Trump, who will spend much of 2024 tied up in court defending himself on criminal charges.

No presidential contender has been more eager to praise Trump from the debate stage, on social media or on the campaign trail.

Trump has returned the adoration, saying in August that he thought Ramaswamy would make a very good V.P. pick. CONS He has no previous political experience.

He has irritated both Republican leaders and voters: Polls show that those with unfavorable opinions of him outnumber those with favorable opinions.

Hes relatively untested and unvetted compared with some of the other contenders.

The Up-and-Comers Lesser known on the national stage, these politicians could provide the ticket with a fresh face. Byron Donalds A second-term congressman who has made a name for himself in Washington as an avatar for the next generation of pro-Trump Republicans. Erin Schaff/The New York Times PROS He is one of the partys relatively few Black officeholders and would add racial diversity to the ticket at a time when Republicans are seeking to draw Black voters away from Democrats.

Trump has taken notice of Donalds and has spoken admiringly of him to advisers. CONS He is relatively inexperienced as a politician.

He ran unsuccessfully for House speaker against Kevin McCarthy, who had Trumps endorsement.

Donalds had some run-ins with law enforcement two decades ago, including a bribery charge to which he pleaded no contest. He has said that he learned from the experience, describing what he did as the actions of a young kid. Elise Stefanik Stefanik, a five-term congresswoman, has morphed from a Bush administration staff member into one of the partys most prominent Trump supporters. Hans Pennink/Associated Press PROS A 39-year-old woman and rising Republican, Stefanik would bring youth and gender diversity to a ticket with the septuagenarian Trump.

She has a proven ability to reinvent herself as the political moment necessitates. CONS Her devotion to Trump may be surpassed only by her own political ambition. Theres room for only one personal brand at Mar-a-Lago.

Shes from New York, which despite Republican gains remains a solidly blue state. Tudor Dixon Dixon, a conservative media personality, lost the 2022 governors race in Michigan to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. Brittany Greeson for The New York Times PROS A young, charismatic woman from a battleground state, Dixon would check a lot of boxes for Trump. Betting markets are also high on her.

She proudly highlighted a Trump endorsement during her 2022 campaign. CONS Dixon was trounced by 10 percentage points in 2022. Trump likes winners.

She has taken positions on abortion that some party leaders, including Trump, now view as out of touch with voters. Nancy Mace A House member from South Carolina who was the first female military recruit to graduate from the Citadel. Kenny Holston/The New York Times PROS She enjoys a large media profile and has openly expressed interest in joining the ticket.

Mace largely aligns with Trump on social issues, and has cautioned her party against going too far in restricting access to abortion.

Shes politically pliable: hailed as a moderate by some, a pro-Trump warrior by others. CONS She strongly condemned Trump for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and has said he should be held accountable.

Trump recruited a primary challenger to run against her last year, and its unclear if they have made amends.

She hasnt yet endorsed Trumps latest presidential bid. Wesley Hunt A freshman in the House and a retired Army Apache helicopter pilot, he has become one of the partys rising stars. Suzanne Cordeiro/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images PROS Hunt is another young Black Republican seen as having a bright future, and tells a powerful personal story about growing up in a family of staunch Democrats.

He endeared himself to Trump on the 2024 trail in Iowa by remaining in the state for several days after the campaign had left in order to stump on Trumps behalf. CONS He isnt on many lists of potential Trump V.P.s, but neither was Mike Pence.

His inexperience may not reassure voters who are nervous about Trump's advanced age.
Television presenter Katja Mia has spoken out following the riots that occurred in Dublin on Thursday evening. The surreal scenes transpired following a stabbing attack in the capital yesterday afternoon.

The broadcaster, who was recently named as the new host of the Six O'Clock Show on Virgin Media alongside Brian Dowling, said she was proud of her background and is someone who has come from "humble beginnings".

"I know they're targeting immigrants," Mia stated on Ireland AM on Friday morning.

"I'm proud to be Irish, but I'm even more proud to be an immigrant. My parents came to Ireland in 1997, they left Burundi with nothing.

She added: "A lot of asylum seekers regret their circumstances and they want nothing more than to integrate and to contribute to society - to be part of a new Ireland."

Im proud to be Irish but Im even more proud to be an immigrant@MiaKatja reacts to the violence in Dublin City last night#IrelandAM pic.twitter.com/RukCdVhx78  Ireland AM (@IrelandAMVMTV) November 24, 2023

34 people were arrested and 32 people appeared before the courts today after a night of rioting in Dublin City Centre following the stabbing of five people, including three children on Parnell Square.

Following the incidents, groups of people gathered in the city and clashed with gardai, looted shops and set fire to a number of vehicles, including Garda cars, buses and a Luas tram.
Bengaluru On Track To Overtake Chennai, To Get India's Largest Circular Railway Network

Large Number Of People Pay Last Respects To Capt M V Pranjal In Bengaluru

Bengaluru

oi-PTI

A large number of people paid their last respects to Captain M V Pranjal, who was killed during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, amid poignant scenes.

His mortal remains were flown to Bengaluru on Friday night, and later taken to his parents' home in Anekal taluk near here. Mourners filed past the body of Capt Pranjal and paid tributes.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and Bangalore Rural MP D K Suresh were among those who paid homage to the departed soul and offered condolences to the bereaved family today.

After a wreath-laying ceremony, Pranjal was accorded a guard of honour by the Army and the state government. His mortal remains will be taken in a procession to a crematorium in Kudlu Gate for the last rites.

The 29-year-old from 63 Rashtriya Rifles, who lost his life during an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Rajouri sector on Wednesday, is survived by wife and parents.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid their last respects at HAL Airport, after his remains landed here last night.

4 Army Personnel Killed In Encounter With Terrorists In J-K's Rajouri

Siddaramaiah, expressing grief, announced Rs 50 lakh compensation to the martyr's family.

The opposition BJP has postponed its protest against the state government over the Cabinet decision to withdraw consent for a CBI probe against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, in view of last rites of the martyred soldier today.

Son of M Venkatesh, retired Managing Director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, Pranjal did his schooling at Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada district.

After he completed his engineering and academic mentoring programme, he joined the National Defence Academy and enlisted into the Army.
Investigate Adani First: Mahua Moitra After BJPs Dubey Claims CBI Probe Ordered Against Her

DK Shivakumar Refrains From Commenting On Cabinet Move To Withdraw Approval For CBI Probe Against Him

CBI Begins Probe In Cash-For-Query Case Against TMC's Mahua Moitra

India

oi-Prakash KL

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started a preliminary probe into the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.

"We have initiated an inquiry on orders of Lokpal. We have not registered a Preliminary Enquiry or FIR against Mahua Moitra as yet," India Today quoted CBI sources as saying.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had approached the Lokpal with a complaint against Moitra over allegations of taking bribes to raise questions in Parliament. Dubey had also accused Moitra of compromising national security for monetary gains.

The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha is also looking into the allegations against her.

The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry which is the first step towards ascertaining if the allegations merit a full-fledged investigation. If enough prima facie material is found during the PE, the CBI can convert it into an FIR.

Dubey had accused Moitra of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.

Moitra has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that she was being targeted as she had raised questions on the deals of the Adani group.
Disgruntled BJP Leaders to Visit Delhi to Convey Feelings to Central Leadership

Some BJP leaders, who are disgruntled following the appointment of B Y Vijayendra as the president of the partys Karnataka unit and R Ashok as the leader of opposition in the Assembly, are likely to visit New Delhi early next month to convey their feelings to the central leadership.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Some BJP leaders in Karnataka, who are unhappy with the appointment of B Y Vijayendra as the president of the party's state unit and R Ashok as the leader of opposition in the Assembly, are planning to visit New Delhi early next month to express their concerns to the central leadership.

Senior leader V Somanna, who has been sulking following the appointments, said on Saturday that he will visit the national capital with MLAs Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad, Ramesh Jarkiholi, former MLA Arvind Limbavali, and others. All five leaders named have been critical of the saffron party's decision to appoint former chief minister B S Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra as its state president and Ashoka as the leader of opposition.

Somanna to Visit Delhi With Other Leaders

I received a message on Friday night. I will probably go to Delhi between December 7 and 10 along with Yatnal, Limbavali, Bellad, Jarkiholi, and several others. We will meet the top party leaders and share our feelings with them," Somanna told reporters here. He said the leaders have a vision, which will be conveyed to the top leadership. Only when a child cries does the mother feed it milk. The party must grow. No one should be taken for granted; no one should have a complete say," Somanna said.

Somanna Shares Feelings With Siddaganga Math Pontiff

Earlier in the day, Somanna visited the influential Siddaganga Math here, and a video of him purportedly sharing his feelings in front of math pontiff Siddalinga Swami was aired on television news channels. In the video, Somanna can be heard saying that accepting the party's decision that he should contest the Assembly polls from two seats was a mistake. What was I to do when I was asked to contest with just four days left? Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in my house for two-three hours, and he badgered me. What should I have done, Swamiji?" he is heard asking the pontiff.

Somanna Sulking After Losing From Two Constituencies

Somanna, a leader from the Lingayat community, has been sulking ever since he lost from two constituencies in the Assembly polls held in May. He was asked to shift from his Govindaraj Nagar seat to contest from Varuna against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as also from Chamarajanagar. There is speculation that he might quit the BJP and join the ruling Congress in the southern state.

Yediyurappa Tried to Reach Out to Somanna

Asked about Somanna's disgruntlement, Yediyurappa said he has not been able to reach out to his party colleague. I tried talking to him over the phone. He is not receiving my calls. We will try everything possible to keep him in the party," the former chief minister said.

The discontent among some BJP leaders in Karnataka over the recent appointments is a sign of the growing factionalism within the party. It remains to be seen how the central leadership will address the concerns of these leaders and whether they will be able to placate them.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed Saturday appreciation for the positions of Slovenia and Portugal in supporting a humanitarian truce in the Gaza war.

El-Sisi's remarks came during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Joao Gomes Cravinho in Cairo on Saturday.

Slovenia is set to assume a position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2024/2025.

According to Egypt's Spokesman for the Presidency Ahmed Fahmy, the Slovenian and Portuguese sides welcomed the humanitarian truce declared in the Gaza Strip.

The two top diplomats valued the leading Egyptian role, strategically, politically, and at the humanitarian level, throughout the crisis since its outbreak on 7 October.

During the meeting, which was attended by Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, there was consensus on the necessity to continue efforts to firm up the truce and build on it to reach a permanent ceasefire.

The two top diplomats affirmed that Egypts efforts culminated with the joint mediation that led to a truce and the exchanges of release of captives and detainees, according to Fahmy.

They also acknowledged Egypts role in evacuating foreign nationals from the Gaza Strip.

The meeting also agreed on the necessity of providing immediate and effective support to the humanitarian relief efforts for the Strip, in a manner sufficient to support the people of Gaza who have been deprived of their livelihoods and security.

There was also agreement on the categorical rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people of Gaza from their lands.

Furthermore, El-Sisi stressed the need for the international community to move, in earnest, to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, and recognize the independent Palestinian state along the borders of 4 June 1967, with east Jerusalem as its capital.

The Egyptian president stressed that this shall take place in a manner that achieves justice and ensures permanent security and stability in the region for all its people.

Earlier on Friday, Head of Egypt's State Information Service Diaa Rashwan, Egypt is communicating intensively with all parties to extend the four-day truce between the Palestinian and Israeli sides for one or two additional days.

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Centre has given nod to renaming 7 cities, towns in last five years: Govt in Lok Sabha

For Insulting Prophet Mohammed, Muslim Youth Attacks Bus Conductor In UP With Cleaver

India

oi-Prakash KL

In a shocking incident, a Muslim youth brutally assaulted a bus conductor for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed. The incident occurred in Praygraj in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

The accused is identified as Lareb Hashmi and the victim is Harikesh Vishwakarma who was assaulted with a cleaver over a ticket fare dispute. Once attacking the conductor, he escaped into a university campus while the bus conductor was rushed to the hospital.

Later, the 20-year-old shared a video in which he is seen justifying his heinous act. "(The bus conductor) was abusing Muslims. So I attacked him with a cleaver. He will not survive. He will be dead soon. From India to France, whoever insults our Prophet will be exterminated," Hashmi is heard saying in the clip.

"I have kiIIed that kafir because he Mocked our IsIam"



This guy is Md Lareb Hashmi, he sIit throat of a Bus conductor named Hariksh Vishwakarma over some dispute. After that he made a video confessing the crime as well.



The incident is said to be from Prayagraj, UP. pic.twitter.com/qCKemeieRl  Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) November 24, 2023

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"We are ready to die for you and go to jail, O Prophet Muhammad. Dear Muslims, rise about this world's materialism and be ready to sacrifice your life for the Prophet," Lareb Hashmi added.

The individual with Islamist beliefs proclaimed "Allahu Akbar" and recited "La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah" while rationalizing the vicious assault on the Hindu bus conductor.

Upon being alerted about the incident, law enforcement arrived at the college campus. Lareb Hasmi made an effort to flee and even discharged a firearm at the police. In response, the police fired back, injuring him in the leg.
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In Pics: PM Modi Takes To The Skies In Tejas Fighter During HAL Visit In Bengaluru

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the skies in a Tejas fighter jet during his visit to the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru on Saturday.

His trip aimed to oversee the ongoing operations at the manufacturing facility.

According to prior sources, the prime minister's agenda included a comprehensive review of HAL's manufacturing setup, specifically focusing on the production of Tejas jets.

Modi has been a staunch advocate for bolstering indigenous defence production, emphasizing his government's efforts to advance manufacturing within India and boost exports.

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The Tejas, a light combat aircraft, has garnered interest from multiple countries. During the prime minister's state visit to the US, US defence giant GE Aerospace forged an agreement with HAL to jointly manufacture engines for the Mk-II-Tejas.

Highlighting India's achievements, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh revealed in April of the current year that the nation's defence exports had reached an all-time high of Rs 15,920 crore in FY 2022-2023, marking a significant milestone for the country.
Make A Polling Record: PM Modi To Rajasthan Voters

India

oi-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in Rajasthan to score a turnout record on Saturday during the assembly elections.

In a message on X, Modi urged all registered voters to poll in maximum numbers and wished the first-time young voters.

Polling for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is being held on Saturday, with the BJP looking to end Congress rule in the western state amid a determined effort by the ruling party to retain power.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former chief minister Vasundhara Raje (Jhalrapatan), former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar) are some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray.

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More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards of other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), 120 RAC Companies have been deployed for the day.

While the ruling Congress is hoping that it will retain its government in Rajasthan, opposition party BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.
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Pune Woman Kills Husband For Not Celebrating Birthday In Dubai

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

In an appalling incident, a woman in Pune, allegedly killed her husband after he refused to take her to Dubai for her birthday celebration. The victim, 38-year-old Nikhil Khanna, was found dead in his apartment after suffering a severe punch to the face, according to Wanwadi police.

The incident was reported on Friday afternoon from Wanwadi area. According to police reports, the 36-year-old wife, Renuka, had been demanding a trip to Dubai for her birthday, which fell on September 18th. However, her husband, Nikhil, was unable to fulfill her wish due to financial constraints.

The couple also had their wedding anniversary on November 5, and woman was expecting a good gift from her husband, but they did not celebrate as family was facing financial issues.

As per the reports, both of them had a heated argument on the day incident took place. In a fit of rage, the woman punched her husband in the face, resulting in excessive loss of blood and falling him unconscious.

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After learning about the incident, neighbours immediately informed the police and took the victim to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Meanwhile, police registered a case of murder under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 302 and took woman into the custody. The body of the deceased was sent for the autopsy to find out the exact cause of death, as police has a doubt that whether any other object was used in the killing or not, a police official said.
74% Voter Turnout in Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018

More than 74 per cent of the electorate in Rajasthan voted on Saturday in a keenly contested election between the Congress and the BJP. The polling percentage till 5 pm was 68.24 per cent. The highest turnout was in Jaisalmer district, followed by Hanumangarh and Dholpur districts.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In a keenly contested battle between the Congress and the BJP, over 74 percent of the electorate in Rajasthan exercised their franchise on Saturday to elect a new government. The polling, barring a few stray incidents of violence, passed off peacefully.

According to an election commission official, the tentative voter turnout was 74.96 percent till the last report came in at 6 pm. Earlier, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta stated that the final voting figures would be released once the data is compiled.

High Voter Turnout

By 5 pm, the polling percentage stood at 68.24 percent. Addressing a press conference after the polling ended, Gupta said the highest turnout was recorded in Jaisalmer district, followed by Hanumangarh and Dholpur districts. Polling at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies began at 7 am and concluded at 6 pm. However, officials clarified that those already in queue at the polling booths were allowed to vote. The votes will be counted on December 3.

Responding to queries about repolling at booths where clashes were reported, Gupta said the decision would be taken after reviewing the observers' reports. He further stated that there were no reports of the voting process being halted at any location. Regarding the malfunctioning of EVMs at some booths, he clarified that the number was less than the national average.

Previous Assembly Elections

In the previous assembly elections held in 2018, Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 percent. This time, the Election Commission has set a target of achieving at least 75 percent turnout in each constituency. However, polling in the Karanpur Assembly constituency in Sriganganagar was postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate.

Incidents of Violence

Two individuals, Shanti Lal (polling agent for BJP candidate Joraram Kumawat from the Sumerpur constituency) and 62-year-old voter Satyendra Arora, passed away due to suspected cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts. Over 5.25 crore registered voters across 199 seats exercised their right to vote, with 1,862 candidates in the fray. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the Election Commission, deploying more than 1.70 lakh security personnel across the state.

In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, stone-pelting erupted, resulting in injuries to two individuals, including a policeman. To disperse the crowd, the police resorted to firing 12 rounds in the air. According to Deeg Superintendent of Police SP Brijesh Upadhyay, the incident disrupted voting for a few minutes. In Fatehpur, Sikar, two groups clashed, leaving a jawan injured. Additionally, stone-pelting occurred outside a polling booth, injuring one more jawan. Fatehpur Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram Pratap informed that around five to seven individuals have been detained.

Furthermore, an altercation occurred between a polling agent and an individual outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat, leading to damage to two vehicles. The violence caused a temporary halt in polling, stated Dholpur Collector Anil Kumar Agarwal. In Uniara of Tonk district, a group of 40-50 people attempted to enter a polling booth, but the situation was brought under control by Superintendent of Police Rajarshi Raj.

Leaders Cast Their Votes

The Congress aims to break the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while the BJP seeks to regain power in the state ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls. Several voters, including youngsters and senior citizens, queued up at polling centers well before 7 am. Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, expressed his enthusiasm to be among the first to vote at a polling booth in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur. Another voter, Jai Singh, emphasized the importance of participating in this democratic festival.

Among the early voters were Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. Gehlot and Shekhawat cast their votes in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar, and Pilot in Jaipur. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Ministers Shanti Dhariwal, Ashok Chandana, and Pramod Jain Bhaya exercised their franchise in Kota. State BJP President C P Joshi voted in Chittorgarh, while party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore cast their votes in Jaipur.

Leaders Express Confidence

Leaders from various parties expressed confidence in securing the people's mandate. In Jodhpur, Gehlot asserted that there is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and expressed confidence in forming the government again. He also noted an undercurrent in favor of the Congress. However, Raje, Gehlot's predecessor, countered that the undercurrent is in favor of the BJP and predicted a blooming lotus (the BJP's poll symbol) on December 3. When asked about the potential Chief Ministerial candidate if the BJP comes to power, Raje deferred the decision to the party.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla commended the voters for expressing themselves through their votes. He highlighted the steady increase in voting percentage since 1952 as a testament to the strength of Indian democracy. In Jodhpur, Shekhawat expressed confidence in the BJP's victory with a significant majority. He urged voters to consider the crimes against women, paper leak incidents, and corruption during the Congress's five-year rule.

Dhariwal, the urban development and housing minister, expressed confidence in Congress retaining power in the state. With the conclusion of polling, the fate of the candidates now rests in the hands of the voters, and the results will be declared on December 3.
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Rajasthan Polls: More Than 73% Voting, Stray Incidents Of Violence

India

oi-PTI

More than 73 per cent of the electorate in Rajasthan voted on Saturday in a bipolar contest involving the Congress and the BJP to elect a new government, with polling passing off peacefully barring a few stray incidents of violence.

The tentative voter turnout was 73.92 per cent till the last report came in at 6 pm, an election commission official said. Earlier, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said the final voting figures will be issued once data is compiled.

"The polling percentage till 5 pm was 68.24 per cent. The highest turnout was in Jaisalmer district, followed by Hanumangarh and Dholpur districts," Gupta said at a press conference after the polling ended.

Polling at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, but officials said those already in queue at the polling booths were allowed to vote. The votes will be counted on December 3.

When asked about repolling at booths where incidents of clashes were reported, he said the decision would be taken after the report of the observers. Gupta said there were no reports of the voting process getting halted at any place.

On the malfunction of EVMs at some booths, he said the number was less than the national average. In the last assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent. The Election Commission has set a target of at least 75 per cent turnout in each constituency this time.

Polling in the Karanpur Assembly constituency in Sriganganagar was postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate. Two people -- Shanti Lal, who was a polling agent of the BJP candidate from the Sumerpur constituency Joraram Kumawat, and 62-year-old voter Satyendra Arora -- died of suspected cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts, officials said.

There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats while 1,862 candidates are in the fray. The EC had made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling with more than 1.70 lakh security personnel being deployed across the state. In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, two people, including a policeman, were injured in a stone-pelting incident.

"Police fired 12 rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. Voting was disrupted for a few minutes due to the incident," Deeg Superintendent of Police (SP) Brijesh Upadhyay said. In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and a jawan was injured in the violence. "Stone pelting occurred outside a polling booth.

One jawan was injured in the stone pelting. No civilian was injured. Around five to seven people have been detained," Fatehpur Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram Pratap said. An altercation occurred between a polling agent and a person outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat. "Two vehicles were damaged in the ensuing violence.

The polling was stopped for some time," Dholpur Collector Anil Kumar Agarwal said. In Uniara of Tonk district, 40-50 people tried to enter a polling booth, however, the situation was brought under control, Superintendent of Police Rajarshi Raj said. The Congress is aiming to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while the BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Several voters, including youngsters and the elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am. "I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends, and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Malviya Nagar here. "This is the festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes. Gehlot and Shekhawat voted in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar, and Pilot in Jaipur.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan ministers Shanti Dhariwal, Ashok Chandana, and Pramod Jain Bhaya cast their votes in Kota while state BJP president C P Joshi exercised his franchise in Chittorgarh and party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore voted in Jaipur. The leaders expressed confidence that their respective parties would get the mandate of the people.

There is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again, Gehlot said in Jodhpur. "There seems to be an undercurrent. Looks like the (Congress) government will be repeated," he said. Talking to reporters in Jhalawar, Gehlot's predecessor Raje retorted, "I agree with him. There is indeed an undercurrent but in the favour of the BJP. Lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom on December 3."

Asked who will be the CM if the BJP comes to power, Raje said the decision will be taken by the party. Birla said by casting their votes, the people have expressed themselves. The constant rise in the voting percentage since 1952 reflects the strength of our democracy and we all are proud of it, the Lok Sabha speaker told reporters.

In Jodhpur, Shekhawat said, "The BJP is coming to power with a huge majority. This time people will vote keeping in mind crimes committed against women, paper leak incidents, and corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress." Dhariwal, the urban development and housing minister, said he was confident of Congress retaining power in the state.
Constable sentenced to life for instigating minor to suicide after sexual abuse

Soumya Vishwanathan Murder Case: Life Imprisonment For 4 Convicts

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Saket Court in Delhi sentenced four convicts in the 2008 murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan to life in prison on Saturday, while the fifth was sentenced to three years in prison.

As per a PTI report, the court decided that the crime did not meet the criteria for the rarest of rare cases, hence dismissing the plea for the death penalty.

Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar were all sentenced to life imprisonment, while Ajay Sethi, the fifth convict, was given a three-year term of simple imprisonment.

Earlier, on November 7, the court had postponed the proceedings due to pending verification of affidavits submitted by the convicts. Nevertheless, the judge accepted the pre-sentence report filed by the probationary officer.

EXCLUSIVE: Soumya Vishwanathans Mother Seeks Life Term For Killers, Calls For Swift Justice For Safer India

This case dates back to October 18, when Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar were convicted under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code along with provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Soumya Vishwanathan, employed at a prominent English news channel, was fatally shot on September 30, 2008, while returning home from work along Nelson Mandela Marg in south Delhi. Police asserted the motive behind the killing was robbery.

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Story first published: Saturday, November 25, 2023, 16:21 [IST]
Union Minister Pulls Up Officers Over Poor Sanitation in Gurugram

Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh pulled up officers over poor sanitation in Gurugram and asked them to improve the citys cleanliness in 15 days.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Union Minister and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh expressed his displeasure over the poor sanitation conditions in Gurugram during a meeting with officials of the district administration and municipal corporation on Saturday. He urged sanitation workers to resume work, emphasizing that their absence is contributing to the decline in hygiene standards in the city.

Discussion of Key Issues

The meeting, held at the PWD guest house, saw Singh engaging in discussions on several important matters. These included the clearance of the Bandhwadi landfill, cleanliness measures in Gurugram, the ongoing strike by sanitation workers, and the handling of construction and demolition waste.

Emphasis on Gurugram's Global Image

Singh highlighted the significance of Gurugram's global image and stressed the moral responsibility of the administration to ensure better hygiene in the city. He urged officials to take strict legal action against those who hinder efforts to maintain a clean Gurugram.

Seeking Improvements Within 15 Days

The Union Minister sought a report from corporation officials on the sanitation measures implemented in Gurugram and set a deadline of 15 days for improving the city's cleanliness. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Eco Green Company, which is responsible for garbage collection, and asked officials to investigate their work since the awarding of the contract.

Addressing the Sanitation Workers' Strike

Singh acknowledged the right of sanitation workers to express their views in a democratic system. However, he emphasized that the methods chosen to voice demands should not negatively impact the lives of ordinary citizens. He called upon the workers to resume work, urging them to find alternative means of addressing their concerns without disrupting essential services.

Focus on Construction and Demolition Waste

The meeting also addressed the issue of construction and demolition waste management. Corporation officials informed the minister that approximately seven lakh tonnes of such waste needs to be cleared from various locations in the city. The file seeking approval to enhance the waste lifting capacity of the current working agency has been forwarded to the Chief Minister's Office for consideration.

In conclusion, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh's meeting with Gurugram officials highlighted the urgent need to improve sanitation conditions in the city. He emphasized the importance of maintaining Gurugram's global image and directed officials to take strict measures against those responsible for hindering cleanliness efforts. The discussions covered various key issues, including the clearance of the Bandhwadi landfill, ongoing strike by sanitation workers, and management of construction and demolition waste. The minister set a deadline of 15 days for improving the city's cleanliness, seeking cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure a cleaner and healthier Gurugram.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Evacuation Of Workers To Take 3-4 Hours, Says NDMA

Joyful Reunion: Families Express Thanks To Govt After Successful Rescue of 41 Workers From Silkyara Tunnel

Practised Yoga, Took Walks To Keep Spirits Up: Rescued Workers Tell PM Modi

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Kin Of Three More Trapped Odisha Workers To Reach Uttarakhand

India

oi-PTI

Family members of three more Odia workers will reach Uttarakhand, where the labourers have been trapped in an under-construction tunnel for a fortnight, an official said.

The kin of the two other labourers from Odisha are already in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district where the incident occurred.

Labour Commissioner N Thirumala Naik on Friday said one more official of the department will also travel to the site where two others are camping and providing all updates about the rescue operation to the government.

A total of 41 workers have been trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel.

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Board Games, Playing Cards To Help Trapped Workers Relieve Stress

''While family members of two workers are already in Uttarkashi, those of another three workers will travel there on Saturday morning,'' Naik told PTI.

The state government is facilitating travel, food and accommodation of these family members, he said.

They will remain there till the completion of the rescue operation. All the five trapped workers from Odisha are doing fine, Naik added.

Of the five workers, Khirod Nayak, Dhiren Nayak and Bisweswar Nayak are from Mayurbhanj district, while Bhagwan Bhatra and Tapan Mandal hail from Nabarangpur and Bhadrak districts respectively.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Manual Drilling Being Considered, No Timeline Yet For Rescue Work

Another labour department official said the family members of two workers, who are already in Uttarkashi, have talked to the workers over walkie-talkie sets.

Labour Minister SP Nayak said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been monitoring the tunnel collapse incident and is concerned over the safety of 41 workers, including five from the state.

The multi-agency rescue effort began on November 12 when a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed, trapping workers who were still inside.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Trapped Workers To Get Khichdi In Bottle As Their First Meal In 9 Days

Fact Check: Is This The Picture Of A Man Trapped In Uttarakhand Tunnel? Heres The Truth

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Manual Drilling Being Considered, No Timeline Yet For Rescue Work

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The rescue operations to evacuate 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district has entered fourteenth day on Saturday.

On Friday, the auger drilling machine hit a metal girder in the evening, a little after drilling was resumed after officials resolved a technical snag. The 25-tonne machine was reactivated, and drilling recommenced. Nevertheless, a new obstacle emerged when, after about an hour of boring, the drill encountered a metal girder, prompting another pause in the rescue operation. As of Saturday, the rescue efforts marked their fourteenth day.

Once the auger drilling machine is removed from the tunnel pipeline, manual drilling can commence for the final 6-9 meters, according to a senior official involved in the rescue mission. Declining to specify the rescue operation's timeframe, the official expressed optimism that today's new drilling process might yield positive outcomes.

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has instructed agencies to expedite the final phase of rescue operations due to workers being trapped in the debris since November 12.

Rescuers have opted to insert a pipe into the drilled section of the rubble. So far, approximately 46 meters of steel pipe has been installed to create a passage.

NDRF workers have devised a plan to extract the trapped workers individually using wheeled stretchers, demonstrating the technique in a video as well.
A total of 200 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Friday, the first day of the truce between Israel and Hamas, according to the Head of Egypts State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan.

The humanitarian aid trucks were accompanied by two ambulances provided by Egypts Tahya Misr Fund, 15 trucks containing a Jordanian field hospital, and 11 trucks containing an Emirati field hospital.

Rashwan also mentioned that Egypt received 17 injured Palestinians with their 15 escorts and 12 others who travelled to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

He stated that a total of 134 Palestinians who were stranded in Egypt returned to Gaza upon their request.

Rashwan concluded his statements by highlighting the success of the first day of the ceasefire, which saw the complete cessation of gunfire and Israeli overflights of the strip.

Furthermore, the exchange of prisoners and detainees was completed under full Egyptian supervision.

On Friday evening, Egypt secured the release of 12 Thai nationals and 13 Israelis, including children and women, who were held in captivity in Gaza.

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Low Pressure Likely To Intensify Into Depression, Heavy Rains Likely For Parts Of Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone Midhili To Make Landfall In Bangladesh Coast, Fishermen Warned Not To Venture Into Sea

Weather Alert: Heavy Rains In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry For The Next 3 Hours; Schools Shut In Chennai

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday has issued a thunderstorm alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, spanning the next three hours due to ongoing rainfall in the area. As per forecasts, moderate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate rain are expected in specific areas across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpatti districts in Tamil Nadu. A holiday has also been declared in all schools in Chennai, news agency ANI reported, citing the district collector.

Additionally, the IMD predicts a probability of light thunderstorms and lightning, along with light to moderate rain, in isolated spots across districts such as Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayuladuthurai, and others.

The IMD cautioned that due to the heavy rainfall, isolated areas in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal might experience waterlogging, slippery roads, and minor damage to weaker structures. The Met Department also predicted potential disruptions to traffic flow in certain regions.

According to the IMD bulletin, a trough of easterlies extending from the Maldives to the north coast of Maharashtra at lower atmospheric levels has triggered the weather forecast for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, and Lakshadweep.

Karnataka Weather Alert: Yellow Alert In Kodagu, Chikkamagalur; Bengaluru Likely To See Light Rains

With incessant rainfall affecting the state, Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister K Rajan led a meeting on Thursday to address the situation. He mentioned that no rain-related accidents have been reported and assured special provisions for the smooth travel of Sabarimala pilgrims.

There's a possibility of a cyclonic circulation developing in the South Andaman Sea and nearby regions by today. This circulation might lead to the formation of a low-pressure area around November 26 within the South Andaman Sea vicinity. Forecasts suggest its probable movement towards the west-northwest direction, potentially strengthening into a depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea by approximately November 27.
Baffling Find: Doctors Discover Intact House Fly Inside 63-Year-Old Man's Intestines

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

US doctors were astounded when, during a routine colonoscopy in Missouri, they stumbled upon an entirely intact housefly inside a man's intestines. This peculiar discovery, detailed in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, occurred as a 63-year-old man underwent a standard colon screening. The procedure progressed as usual until the doctor reached the transverse colon-the upper part of the large intestine-and encountered a perfectly preserved fly. Doctors from the University of Missouri School of Medicine reported this exceptionally rare finding in the journal, yet the mystery remains regarding how the fly managed to reach the transverse colon.

The patient, whose identity remains undisclosed, was equally surprised and clueless about the insect's entry into his body. He informed the doctors that prior to the procedure, he had only consumed clear liquids. Additionally, two days before, he had eaten pizza and salad, but he had no recollection of a fly being on any of the food he consumed. Medical professionals noted that the man displayed no symptoms indicating he had ingested the fly.

In their journal entry, the doctors mentioned that the fly showed no signs of movement when examined and manipulated with the scope. Matthew Bechtold, head of gastroenterology at the University of Missouri, verified that the fly was indeed deceased when speaking to The Independent.

Bechtold speculated on potential ways the fly could have entered the man's stomach-through ingestion or entering via the rectum. However, the precise path by which the housefly ended up in the transverse colon remains a puzzling enigma. Discussing the matter, Bechtold mentioned that if the fly had entered through the mouth, digestive enzymes and stomach acid would typically degrade it. Yet, the fly remained intact, casting doubt on this theory.

Regarding the possibility of entry through the rectum, Bechtold commented that it's improbable for a fly to navigate the complex and dark passages of the large intestine undetected. "That seems unlikely," he stated, noting the challenges of such a journey from below.

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Story first published: Saturday, November 25, 2023, 14:38 [IST]
North Macedonia To Temporarily Lift Flight Ban For Russian Foreign Minister

North Macedonia will temporarily lift its ban on flights from Russia to allow Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to attend an international conference in the country.

International

-Sathish Raman

Skopje, North Macedonia - NATO member North Macedonia announced on Friday that it would temporarily lift its ban on flights from Russia for a brief period next week. This decision was made to enable Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to attend an international conference in the country, should he accept the invitation.

Brief Window for Flights

According to a government statement, the window for flights from Russia to North Macedonia will be open from November 29 to December 1. During this time, Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, will host a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

OSCE and the Russian Delegation

Russia is one of the 57 member states of the OSCE, an organization established during the Cold War to ease tensions between the East and the West. North Macedonia currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE. Most European countries, however, imposed a ban on flights from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Whether Lavrov will accept the invitation extended by North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, which was sent last week, remains uncertain. If he does, the government statement indicated that North Macedonia's foreign and defense ministries would need to issue additional permits for the visit.

Precedence for Brief Flight Ban Suspension

The statement emphasized that the temporary suspension of the flight ban is not unprecedented, particularly in the context of international conferences. For the Russian delegation to reach North Macedonia, which is a small, landlocked country in the Balkans, they would need to fly through the airspace of other NATO or European Union member states, which would require special permission.

Lavrov's Limited Travel Since the War in Ukraine

With the exception of Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, Lavrov has not visited any European countries since the war in Ukraine began. However, he has traveled to NATO member Turkey, which does not have a ban on Russian flights, as well as the United States, where he attended meetings at the UN headquarters.

In March last year, Lavrov was denied permission to fly to Geneva for a United Nations conference due to the flight ban imposed by European Union members on Russian aircraft. This ban was part of extensive sanctions against Moscow. In a video address to the UN session, Lavrov condemned the move as "outrageous" and accused the EU countries of attempting to avoid direct dialogue and contacts aimed at finding political solutions to pressing international issues.

Increased Diplomatic Pressure on Russia Expected

In October, Osmani stated that Moscow could anticipate increased diplomatic pressure from the OSCE during the coming months, as North Macedonia holds the presidency of the organization until December 31. The OSCE chairmanship rotates among its member states.

The temporary lifting of the flight ban for Lavrov's potential attendance at the OSCE conference in Skopje reflects the balancing act that North Macedonia, as a NATO member, must navigate in maintaining relations with both Russia and its Western allies.
Sexual Transmission Of Monkeypox Confirmed In Congo Amid Record Outbreak

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the occurrence of sexual transmission of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a significant development in the country's ongoing outbreak and raising concerns among African scientists about the potential for increased difficulty in containing the disease.

In a recent statement, WHO revealed that a Belgian man who visited the DRC in March tested positive for monkeypox shortly after his arrival. The man, who identifies as gay, frequented underground clubs catering to men who have sex with men (MSM).

Subsequently, five individuals with whom the man had sexual contact also tested positive for monkeypox, marking the first confirmed instance of sexual transmission of the virus in Africa, according to Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist affiliated with WHO.

Monkeypox, previously confined to sporadic outbreaks primarily transmitted from infected rodents to humans in parts of Central and West Africa, experienced widespread epidemics among MSM in Europe last year, with over 100 countries reporting approximately 91,000 cases.

WHO has highlighted the presence of numerous discreet clubs catering to same-sex relationships in the DRC, warning of the potential for monkeypox to spread rapidly within these networks. Notably, the current outbreak in the DRC, with over 12,500 infections and approximately 580 deaths, has for the first time spread to Kinshasa, the country's capital, and the conflict-ridden South Kivu province.

Monkeypox Is No Longer A Global Health Emergency: WHO

Tomori said that the number of cases reported in the DRC outbreak may be an underestimate, suggesting that similar occurrences could be happening across Africa due to inadequate disease surveillance. He cautioned against driving at-risk populations underground, as this could hinder disease containment efforts.

Despite the severity of the outbreak, Tomori lamented the lack of vaccination campaigns in Africa, stressing the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to address the escalating situation.

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Story first published: Saturday, November 25, 2023, 14:53 [IST]
Centre Urges States To Review Hospital Preparedness In View Of Pneumonia Outbreak In China

Six Countries Enjoy Visa-Free Travel To China: New Policy Starts December 1

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

China announced on Friday its decision to grant visa-free entry to citizens from five European countries and Malaysia, aiming to encourage greater business and tourism visits to the country.

Under this trial program lasting one year, citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia will be permitted to enter China for up to 15 days without requiring a visa.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated during a daily briefing that the initiative is geared towards "facilitating high-quality development in Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges, promoting high-level openness to the outside world."

For nearly three years, strict pandemic measures deterred travel to China, including mandatory quarantines for all arrivals. Although these restrictions were lifted earlier this year, international travel has not yet rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

Previously, Japan, Singapore, and Brunei had visa-free entry privileges to China, which were suspended after the COVID-19 outbreak. While visa-free access resumed for Brunei and Singapore in July, it has not been reinstated for Japan.

China Grapples With Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak, WHO Seeks Details On Circulating Pathogens

In the first half of the year, immigration statistics showed China recorded 8.4 million entries and exits by foreigners, a significant contrast to 977 million in all of 2019, the year preceding the pandemic.

The move received positive responses from various quarters. France, represented by Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna during talks in Beijing, reciprocated by allowing Chinese students earning master's degrees in France to extend their stay by five years, facilitating exchanges.

The EU Chamber of Commerce in China expressed optimism for more European nations to gain visa-free access soon, deeming the move a "tangible and practical improvement" likely to bolster business confidence.

Seeking foreign investment to revitalize a sluggish economy, the Chinese government has attracted business figures like Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook for trade engagements. However, foreign tourist arrivals are still notably lower than pre-pandemic levels.

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Story first published: Saturday, November 25, 2023, 10:41 [IST]
Tragedy At Tech Fest In Kerala College; 4 Students Killed In Stampede During Concert

Kochi

oi-Prakash KL

In an unfortunate incident, four students died in a stampede during a Tech Fest at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) on Saturday evening.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M R Ajith Kumar said, "It is suspected that there was a college arts function being held by the school of engineering. The invitees were asked to come in back t-shirts...Due to sudden rain people who were at the sites tried to get inside. So suddenly people who were on the steps fell down & people walked over them...Four people were brought dead to the hospital, and another four were seriously injured... Other than that, around a total of 46 people have reported injuries in medical college..."

The incident occurred during a music concert featuring Nikhita Gandhi at the open-air auditorium around 7 pm. The stampede is reported to have ensued when students hurriedly entered the music hall due to a sudden downpour.

Students from various other colleges were also participating in the event, and as a consequence, the identities of the deceased have not yet been revealed yet.

4 person died and over 45 injured in #Kerala stampede.



The music event at the Cochin University of Science and Technology #CUSAT, Kerala turned into chaos after rain forced the outside crowd to rush inside the overpacked venue.#keralastampede #cochinuniversity pic.twitter.com/XOtEeqEv4d  Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) November 25, 2023

Over 2,000 students are believed to be taking part in the annual fest.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed his shock over the incident.

"The entire state is in shock over the stampede that unfolded at CUSAT University in Ernakulam. Heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of the four students who lost their lives. Immediate and enhanced treatment facilities have been arranged for the injured. P. Rajeev, the Minister for Industries, and R. Bindu, the Minister of Higher Education, have departed for Ernakulam to assess the situation directly. A thorough investigation into the incident will commence without delay," he said on X.

#WATCH | Kerala | Four students died and several were injured in a stampede at CUSAT University in Kochi. The accident took place during a music concert by Nikhita Gandhi that was held in the open-air auditorium on the campus. Arrangements have been made at the Kalamassery pic.twitter.com/FNvHTtC8tX  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan expressed his condolence and said, "Deeply shocked and grieved to know about the sad demise of four students at a stampede at CochinUniversity of Science&Technology. Heartfelt condolences to their families. Prayers for speedy recovery of injured."
Andry Nirina Rajoelina is a French-Malagasy politician and businessman who served as the seventh President of Madagascar from 2009 to 2014 and the ninth from 2019 to 2023. He was previously president of a provisional government from 2009 to 2014 following a political crisis and military-backed coup, having held the office of Mayor of Antananarivo for one year prior. Before entering the political arena, Rajoelina was involved in the private sector, including a printing and advertising company called Injet in 1999 and the Viva radio and television networks in 2007.
Hamas said the hostage releases would be delayed if Israel did not adhere to the agreed terms for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Eurasia Review 25 Nov 2023

The humanitarian pause is supposed to start on November 24 and last for four days. Israels Prime Minister and leaders of..
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Egypt has received a list of 13 Israeli captives in Gaza and 39 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who are set to be released on Saturday as part of the Israel-Hamas truce, the Head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan stated.

Rashwan affirmed that Egypt is engaging both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to secure the release of a larger number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and captives detained by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Rashwan disclosed that 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid bound for north Gaza crossed into the strip through the Rafah border crossing on Saturday.

On Friday, as per the truce agreement, Hamas released 13 Israeli captives who were received by Egypt through the International Red Cross (IRC).

On the other side, Israel released 39 Palestinian political prisoners, all women and children, from its jails.

Moreover, as per Egyptian mediation, Hamas also released 11 Asian workers - 10 Thai and one Philippine - who were also received by the IRC and handed to the the Egyptian authorities.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a truce agreement on a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.

The truce agreement involves a stop to all hostilities in Gaza and the entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including water, food, medical supplies, and fuel, to 2.4 million Palestinians in the besieged strip.

The agreement stipulates the release of 50 Israeli captives, including women and children, in batches of 12 every day during the truce.

In return, 150 Palestinian political prisoners, including women and children, would be released from Israeli detention in batches of 39 every day during the truce.

The agreement also allows room for an extension and the release of more captives and prisoners.

On Friday, 200 aid trucks, carrying food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing to relieve 2.4 million Palestinians who had been under Israeli bombardment and blockade since 7 October.

Also on Friday, trucks carrying two field hospitals from Jordan and the UAE entered the strip.

Since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October, Egypt has delivered 2,468 tons of medicines and medical supplies, 8,440 tons of food, 658 tons of fuel, 6,345 tons of water, 18 ambulances, and additional relief materials totaling 1,885 tons to Palestinians in the strip.

Egypt has also received approximately 236 injured individuals accompanied by 273 others, along with 8,514 foreign nationals and 1,256 Egyptians.

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Israel said it received a list of the second batch of hostages to be freed by Hamas, as the truce enters its second day. Meanwhile, the UN said it evacuated more people from al-Shifa hospital on November 22. DW has more.
In the wake of a ban on all activities related to Hamas and the group Samidoun, German authorities have searched numerous properties connected to suspected supporters. What is known about the groups?
BBC News 01 Dec 2023

The Constitutional Court dismisses complaints about the vote boycotted by much of the opposition.
The Hamas militants said the hostage handover had been delayed until Israel lets humanitarian aid into northern Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel said its forces exchanged fire with Hezbollah at the Lebanese border. DW has more.
Sen. Cruz challenged a FactCheck.org post disputing his claim about Biden's stance on an Israel-Hamas cease-fire, which prompted a response from the White House.
The United States has expressed a desire to work together on the release of American citizens who were captured by Hamas during the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The United States continues to strengthen its position in Europe, using its partners as a tool to reach some geopolitical aims. It has become known that on October 27, the U.S. and Lithuania signed defence Security of Supply Arrangement on defence goods and services committing to support each other in the area of critical defence supplies.

Lithuania has over 60 projects underway with the United States alone. Two countries have agreed to sign a contract on AMRAAM missile acquisition by the end of the year. A contract for purchasing the HIMARS system has also been signed earlier, it was also preceded by contracts for buying 500 JLTV Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, 4 Black Hawk helicopters, and Switchblade drones. Lithuania has also been a U.S. client in buying the Javelin anti-tank missile systems and various communications equipment for many years.

The U.S. has privileges not only in Lithuanian defence sector, but also in economics. And this is the real problem for the small country. To get bonuses from the U.S. in developing national military capabilities, Lithuania has to follow Washington's politics. Very often the political decisions, which are fully agreed with the United States, directly influence the country's economic situation.

Thus, Vilnius annulled the agreement on the transit of Belarusian fertilizers from February 1, 2022. This happened immediately after the U.S. imposed sanctions against dozens of Belarusian companies, including JSC Belaruskali. Due to these restrictions and the closure of eastern markets, the Lithuanian transport sector has faced serious difficulties. This led to the cessation of transporting Belarusian products through Lithuania.

According to the 2022 results, LTG Cargo reduced the freight volume by almost 40%.

Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Communications said on November 14, that Belarusian potassium fertilizer producer Belaruskali has filed a lawsuit against Lithuania, seeking damages estimated at 1 billion euros; this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

It was filed on the basis of the Treaty of March 5, 1999, between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Belarus on the promotion and protection of investments.

Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis made a decision to refrain from commenting.

In short, Vilnius does not fulfill not only bilateral, but also international obligations. Even the European Union could not convince Lithuania to change its mind. A UN committee urged Lithuania to review its decision to ban the transit of Belarusian fertilizers, saying that it leads to food insecurity in Africa and Latin America. But Lithuania does not follow common sense.

So, Lithuanian government is ready to pay for the U.S. decision a very high price. But is population ready? And does Lithuania have an extra billion?
Oregon State left tackle Joshua Gray will miss his first game in nearly four years as he wasnt in uniform during warmups for Fridays game against No. 6 Oregon.

Gray started his 44th consecutive game last Saturday against Washington. Grays 44-game streak of consecutive starts is the fifth longest in school history. Its not known why Gray isnt in uniform.

Second-year freshman Jacob Strand is likely to start at left tackle. Nevada transfer Grant Starck, who has missed the past two games, was warming up at left guard as Heneli Bloomfield is out for the season.
Lisa Boccetti is horrified by the restrictive covenant that is in the deed to her 1950s ranch house in Raleigh, North Carolina: It states that the land cannot be sold or occupied by Black people.

The property shall not be sold to Black people, and said premises shall not be occupied by Black people, except domestic servants and their families, employed by the occupants of the premises, the original deed states.

She and her husband, Bob Williams, would like to remove the offensive language, which hasnt been legally binding for more than half a century, but North Carolina doesnt have a process to do so. In 2021, two state senators filed legislation to give homeowners a way to erase such covenants, but the bill was sent to a committee and died.

Its infuriating, because unless your state has a process in place through legislation to remove or repudiate the contract, theres nothing you can do to make it go away, Boccetti said.

In recent years, more than a dozen states have passed laws repudiating historical, racially restrictive covenants embedded in property deeds that prohibited the sale of those homes to Black residents or, depending on the community, to immigrants from certain countries such as Poland or Ireland, or to Jews or Asian Americans.

In some states, such as Oregon and Washington, new laws now allow the historical wording to be removed altogether.

Lawmakers have touted the new laws, passed with bipartisan support, as a formal rebuke to segregationist housing policies and the symbolic closing of a dark chapter in American history. The U.S. Supreme Court declared the covenants unconstitutional in 1948; the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlawed them.

Covenant clauses that prevented non-whites from buying or occupying land were a tool that enforced segregation in U.S. communities across the country in the early to mid-20th century, led to discrimination by banks and, researchers note, have lingering effects today.

I emphasize all the time that efforts to discharge the language in these covenants needs to be the start of a conversation, not the end of a conversation, said Michael Corey, a researcher for the Mapping Prejudice project at the University of Minnesota, which focuses on the causes of segregation in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

We cant erase history because it makes white people uncomfortable, Corey said in an interview. We have to understand how this history has disadvantaged minority populations from access to wealth building.

Historians and researchers praise one states covenant law for looking to the future as well as the past: Washington states measure not only recognizes the harmful effects of past real estate discrimination but also seeks to rectify it, at least in part.

The law, which Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee signed in May, levies a fee of $100 on all real estate transactions to fund a so-called covenant homeownership account.

That account will provide down payments and closing cost loans to certain first-time homebuyers who were, or would have been, prevented from buying properties prior to April 11, 1968, when the Fair Housing Act became law.

The descendants of people who were or would have been harmed by the covenants also are eligible. All recipients must have incomes at or below 100% of an areas median income, however. The fee is projected to generate between $75 million and $100 million annually, according to a legislative analysis.

Washington has yet to determine how much assistance qualifying homebuyers will receive, and under what conditions, but the new fund is supposed to begin disbursing money next July.

Upon House passage of the bill, sponsor state Rep. Jamila Taylor described it as a focused and thoughtful approach to help right the wrongs of the past.

The deliberate and harmful barriers preventing Black homeownership impact intergenerational wealth and housing security, Taylor, a Democrat, said in a statement on her legislative site. Because this racial discrimination was targeted, the solution must also be targeted.

The homeownership rate among Black, Hispanic, Asian and Indigenous people in Washington state is 49%, 19 percentage points lower than that of non-Hispanic white households, according to a state report released last year. Only 31% of Black households own their homes, the report said.

History has taught us that it took generations of systemic, racist, and discriminatory policies and practices to get to where we are today, the report states.

It cites restrictive covenants but also redlining, or the denial of loans to people residing in poor or minority neighborhoods. It also blames so-called blockbusting, in which real estate speculators preyed on white fears by introducing a Black family to a neighborhood, persuading fleeing white homeowners to sell at below-market rates, then reselling those homes at high prices to new Black families.

Oregons law, signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, allows redaction of discriminatory language from real estate documents. It was modeled after the Washington state law, which was upheld by Washingtons Supreme Court in 2022, but does not include the fee element.

During the debate over the Washington state bill, at least one Republican argued that the $100 transaction fee would harm the first-time homebuyers and lower-income people the legislation was designed to help.

But James Gregory, a history professor at the University of Washington, said paying for compensation is a central piece of what the model legislation would look like if states were actually trying to restore the harms of these covenants.

These covenants not only caused segregation, but it limited homeownership opportunities for generations of people, Gregory said. If youre trying to undo those harms, you need to take measures to reopen those opportunities that were never available.

Richard Rothstein, whose 2017 book, The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, documented how federal, state and local policies explicitly created racially homogenous neighborhoods, told Stateline that merely removing racist covenants wont address current housing disparities. He described the covenants as the least important of these policies affecting systemic barriers in housing, especially after they lost enforcement power.

But Rothstein, a fellow at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, praised the Washington bill as a justifiable measure to restore harm done through those covenants.

Washingtons law is the exception, however.

In Nevada, which enacted a law renouncing racist covenants earlier this year, sponsor Sen. Dallas Harris said she would have liked to emulate Washington states approach. Harris said the covenants created systemic barriers to homeownership and capital in her state, and that while she knew they had existed before she began pushing her bill, she didnt realize how extensively they were used.

But Harris said a bill similar to Washingtons was a nonstarter in Nevada, which has a Republican governor.

It was important for me to find a way to strike hurtful and harmful language, without making attempts to erase what the damage that these covenants caused, she told Stateline. She said a law such as Washingtons is the ultimate goal.

Taking action steps and providing actual compensation for the harm thats done is good policy, she said. But it may be hard to do that in some states, financially or politically.

In the Raleigh area where Lisa Boccetti and Bob Williams live, nearly 74% of white residents own their homes, while less than 46% of Black residents and about 47% of Hispanic residents are homeowners, according to census data.

Boccetti and Williams, who are white, are voluntarily leading a project to pore through property record books and catalog racial covenants to create a searchable database for the Wake County Register of Deeds, where Raleigh is located.

Tammy Brunner, a Democrat and the register of deeds, told Stateline the project can help explain how todays neighborhoods were shaped.

We strongly believe that once we pull out all of the restrictive covenants, we will create a map of redlining in the county and well find that the underserved communities were created by these covenants, she said.

Boccetti hopes the effort helps to spur covenant legislation in the GOP-controlled legislature.

Discovering the restrictive covenant in her deed and the struggle to remove it has been a learning experience, she said.

Its allowed us to see the ways why our neighborhood has been shaped the way it is, she said. Its something we must grapple with, even if it makes us uncomfortable.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

2023 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A man was shot and killed by law enforcement officers Friday morning in southeast Salem.

Marion County deputies, Salem police and state police descended on an area near Southeast Arabian Avenue and Sorrel Court at 11 a.m. after receiving reports of a man firing a gun in the neighborhood, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

Officers found the man and shot him, according to the statement. The man died at the scene, sheriffs officials said. They didnt identify him or release other details.

The sheriffs office did not say how many officers fired or who they were. None were injured, according to the statement.

The Clackamas County Sheriffs Office and Keizer Police Department are investigating the shooting.

Marion County Sheriffs Office and Keizer police declined to comment. The Clackamas County Sheriffs Office did not respond to requests for comment.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is heading to Barcelona and New York this week to participate in the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee meetings with the Union for the Mediterranean and the UN Security Council session on Gaza respectively, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Minister Shoukry will depart on the morning of Sunday, November 26, to the Spanish city of Barcelona to participate in the eighth ministerial forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, scheduled for 27 November 2023.

This year's forum is dedicated to discussing developments in Gaza.

The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, of which Shoukry is a member, will meet in Barcelona with Jose Manuel Albares, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, to present the outcomes and decisions of the recent Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh.

The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee was formed to garner international support for the emergency decisions of the Riyadh summit.

Additionally, they will participate in a ministerial roundtable organized by the Union for the Mediterranean, titled "Developments in Israel and Palestine-Gaza and the Region."

Shoukry will also travel to New York on Tuesday, 28 November, to join other committee members in a briefing session held by the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

The Chinese presidency of the Security Council has decided to convene this ministerial-level session to address developments in the Gaza Strip.

The objective is to review the Arab and Islamic positions calling for an end to the war, urging the Security Council to assume its responsibility to promote a comprehensive ceasefire and end Israeli violations of international law.

The committee will also emphasize, during its meetings in New York, the need to immediately revive the peace process.

This includes ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.

Earlier on Saturday, Shoukry discussed with the foreign ministers of Portugal and Slovenia during their visit to Cairo the draft resolution that the Arab and Islamic group intends to present to the Security Council on the flawed system for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.

During the meeting, Shoukry expressed his appreciation for the balanced positions of Portugal and Slovenia, noting their support for the Arab resolution on Gaza in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He also acknowledged Portugal's traditional support for Palestine and the two-state solution, which was reflected in the Portuguese Prime Minister's call for a ceasefire in Gaza during the European Council summit held last month.

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Police identified the woman shot and killed outside an apartment complex in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood as Nicole Lashawn Davis, 40, of Portland.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting in front of the complex near Northeast 111th Avenue and Weidler Street around 4 p.m. Wednesday. They found Davis dead when they arrived, police said.

Police said any suspects left the scene before officers arrived.

Davis death marked Portlands 67th homicide so far this year, compared to 94 at this time in 2022.

Police asked anyone with information to contact Detective Meghan Burkeen at Meghan.Burkeen@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2092, or Detective Brian Sims at Brian.Sims@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2079, referencing case number 23-303557.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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A 56-year-old tradition continues Friday, Dec. 1, when the 123-foot giant sequoia at Western Oregon University in Monmouth lights up as one of the Northwests largest Christmas trees.

The tree lighting isnt the only time-honored tradition that night, however. Expect penguin jokes.

A holiday parade winds from the Monmouth Public Library to the Werner University Center starting at 6 p.m. Megan Habermann-Guthrie, Westerns orientation director, has narrated the parade from the steps of the Instructional Technical Center for the past 14 years.

I tell everyone about the parade entries that theyre seeing as well as tell them some wonderful terrible jokes -- a lot of kids jokes about penguins and elves and things like that, Haberman-Guthrie said.

As the parade ends, winners of a Christmas essay contest among elementary school students from Monmouth and Independence are announced. Monmouth Mayor Cec Koontz, Independence Mayor John McArdle and Western President Jesse Peters share a few remarks. Then the first-place essay winner pushes a giant T-bar to light the tree.

HERE IS OREGON: HereisOregon.com | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Habermann-Guthrie said she loves the moment when all the lights along North Monmouth Avenue through campus are turned off. Its totally dark, she said. Everyone is quiet. You can feel the energy along the whole street. Then we do a big countdown together. When we reach 1, the student gets to hit the plunger, and the tree lights up. Its pretty magical.

The magic started when Western students organized the first tree lighting in 1967 back when the institution was Oregon College of Education. The giant sequoia itself was planted by students in 1887.

Employees of Westerns facilities department strung some 100 strands and approximately 2,500 individual lights on the tree Nov. 7.

President Peters accompanied them last year as they took a bucket crane all 123 feet to the top of the tree. I was less scared than I thought I would be because I was so focused on not dropping my phone, he said. Some of the workers get into the branches, and theyre harnessed while theyre setting the rigging that holds on the lights. Its quite a production.

Sabra Jewell, a former development officer for Western who is now the communications director for Monmouth, said it costs approximately $5,600 to light the tree. Theres definitely cost associated with it, Peters said.

Nonetheless, he added, its worth it. I really like the way it connects Western in particular and how were trying to be a community-focused institution that welcomes and celebrates everybody, he said. Its nice to see the human connection, the human contact, gathering together in community to celebrate each other in the spirit of lighting that tree.

The campus Christmas tree has always been a student-led effort, primarily through the Student Activities Board.

Brittany Kima, a communications officer for Western, served on the board when she was an undergraduate at the university. I have photos from when I was a student, Kima said. I went to the tree lighting every year. I have photos of my friends and me at the event. Its very nostalgic for me. Im excited for it.

The lighted tree is visible for miles around Monmouth as people travel up and down Oregon 99W. Im looking forward to seeing it as I drive to work, Kima said.

Monmouth Mayor Koontz is already preparing her remarks for this years event. Being a part of the tree lighting is a highlight of the year for me, she said. The parade, student essays and, of course, the arrival of Santa on the fire truck make for a festive start to the holiday season.

Yes, there will be a Santa Claus.

He spends the off-season masquerading as an anonymous Monmouth resident, Habermann-Guthrie said. Sometimes you can spot him around town, she said. Ive actually thought about making an Instagram account called Santa Sightings because hes just Santa. Its a real beard situation.

Various legends hold that Western has the largest decorated Christmas tree in the country. However, a 144-foot tree in Enid, Oklahoma, and other contenders spoil such legends.

The size of the tree is ultimately unimportant compared with the size of the holiday spirit it generates, Habermann-Guthrie said.

Its wonderful how the town and gown are really committed to the same event, she said. Its really where you see the campus and community merging into one to celebrate together.

IF YOU GO

The annual Christmas tree lighting at Western Oregon University in Monmouth starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, with a holiday parade that starts at the Monmouth Public Library at 168 S. Ecols St. and ends at Westerns 123-foot giant sequoia tree at 390 N. Monmouth Ave. in the middle of campus. The event is free.
The last time I stepped on a plane for vacation, for fun, was more than three years ago. I havent been able to visit California, whose coast I adore. Nor Rome, where my husband and I lived for some time.

And yet, Im told, Ive been on a journey. Two journeys, actually: First, a traumatic brain injury journey, the recovery at Johns Hopkins Hospital after I banged my head and developed trouble with my balance and gait. More recently, Ive been a traveling companion on my husbands cancer journey at Memorial Sloan Kettering, in New York City.

These are two of the highest-ranked hospitals in the country. The care was excellent in both places. But neither of these journeys resembled our bike ride in Ireland or the wine-tasting trip in Sonoma a few years before.

So much of being seriously ill has been rebranded in American health care as a kind of adventure. Experts speak of stroke journeys. Hospital systems invite people on kidney transplant journeys. The language has trickled down into advertising: Take a hair loss journey or a weight loss journey (newly popular because of Wegovy and similar drugs). The heart failure journey even comes with a map.

A map? But on these journeys, you dont get to go anywhere  except maybe the hospital or doctors office, which is likely, too, to have bought into the travel concept.

In the past two decades, American hospitals have gotten into the business of hotel-like hospitality (illness can be fun!) rather than confine themselves to the business of disease (what a downer). And although the care might stay solid, the focus on luxurious amenities and the fancy new buildings that house them is one of the factors that have helped send costs for patients soaring that much higher, to prices well above those in other developed countries.

In this version of health care, Im no longer a patient. Im a client, a customer, or (worse) a guest, no matter that I didnt choose this journey cum illness. I appreciate a little luxury and privacy as much as the next person. But, at a time when Americans life spans are getting shorter and 4 in 10 adults say theyve delayed or gone without necessary care because of cost, is it worth it?

In recent years, tight budgets, staffing shortages, and burnout have hit American hospitals. At the same time, many health centers in the U.S.  including the most prestigious ones, and even some community hospitals  have morphed into seven-star hotels. New hospital buildings, such as recent projects at the University of Michigan hospital system and Valley Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey, offer all-private rooms, in many cases with couches and flat-screen TVs. A hospital might now boast about its views, high-thread-count sheets, or food provided by a Michelin-starred chef.

Those commissioning and designing these pavilions cite research showing that private rooms are better for healing, because they offer a better chance at sleep and a lower chance of infection. (Actually, the evidence is pretty murky.)

But were suckers for this type of thing, and the industry knows that even small comforts can make us feel better, regardless of whether were actually getting better. In 2008, researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research estimated that a hospital investing in amenities would increase demand by 38%, whereas a similar investment in clinical quality would lead to only a 13% increase. More recently, hospital executives told The Boston Globe that the main reason hospitals have moved in this direction is that peoples expectations have changed, and it creates a competitive advantage that can be marketed to potential customers.

And so the Mayo Clinic now offers complimentary concierge services, which can help with recommending nearby restaurants and finding pet care. I think thats the hospitality version of what used to be called the hospital help desk, whose function was merely to explain to visitors how to get to patient rooms. Cleveland Clinic, which employs a team of curators, owns one of the largest contemporary art collections in the region, and its leaders see that collection as one tool for positively affecting patient outcomes. Patients at Cedars-Sinai can experience its therapeutic art collection of Chagalls, Picassos, and Oldenburgs.

Hospital food has gotten so good that in some areas people go to their local hospital for haute cuisine rather than medical needs. And when you look at the numbers on your hospital bill, remember that all of this adds up. For the amount that American patients (or their insurers) pay for some luxury hospital journeys, they could sign up for a Virgin Galactic suborbital joy ride.

This transformation from hospital to hospitality has filled up hospital C-suites with chief experience officers, whose function is to manage patients experiences throughout their healthcare journey, as described by the publication HealthTech. The Cleveland Clinic was the first major academic medical center to add one, back in 2007; now some health systems hire for this and similar positions directly from the hospitality industry, picking people whod previously been managers at a Ritz-Carlton or a Trump hotel.

The American Hospital Association acknowledges and defends the transformation. These are not just nice to haves, Nancy Foster, AHAs vice president of quality and patient-safety policy, wrote to me in an email. Actions hospitals can take to reduce stress and provide other psychological support can have a meaningful impact on ones physical and behavioral health, including the ability to recover more rapidly.

But pretending that illness is an Abercrombie & Kent safari is harmful. These amenities have a cost, and they are not worth nearly what were paying for them as were billed for $100,000 joint replacements and $9,000 CT scans. Room charges in many hospitals can exceed $1,000 a night. And facility fees for outpatient procedures and even office visits can reach hundreds of dollars, and simply dont exist elsewhere.

A hospitals function is to diagnose and to heal, at a price that sick people can afford. I dream of a no-frills Target- or Ikea-like hospital for care.

That doesnt mean hospitals need to resemble prisons. Hospitals certainly have room to improve on breakfasts featuring Lilliputian plastic cups of orange juice and rubbery eggs. But to understand one of the many reasons Americans pay so much for health care, consider this: The best hospitals in Europe are utilitarian structures that most resemble urban high schools. When I got stitches for a deep cut in my forehead in Gemelli Hospital  where the pope gets health care  I sat on a gurney in a big, dark room with other patients.

Instead of providing free coffee and a piano in a soaring, art-filled marble lobby, how about focusing on the very basic things that health systems in the U.S. should do, but  in my experience  in many cases do not, like making it easier for patients to schedule appointments? Shortening the now lengthy wait times to see physicians who take insurance plans? Paying for adequate staffing on nights and weekends, so patients dont linger in bed pointlessly for two days until social workers return on Monday? Or ending those two-day stays in emergency rooms when all inpatient beds are full? (Hotels aspire to run at full occupancy to maximize revenue; hospitals, Id argue, should not.)

This winter, Im planning a journey for which I look forward to some good food and art. We havent yet determined the exact destination, but it will not be a U.S. hospital.

This story also ran on The Atlantic.

Elisabeth Rosenthal is Senior Contributing Editor, Health News Analysis, at KFF Health News. She is a graduate of Harvard Medical School.
The judge overseeing the case of a man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death late last year is banning members of the media and the public from using cameras and audio recording devices in the courtroom, saying they jeopardize the defendants right to a fair trial.

Second District Judge John Judge in Moscow, Idaho, said the court would, however, operate a livestream, available on its YouTube channel, that would ensure members of the public can observe the proceedings.

Bryan Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths at a rental house near the university campus in Moscow last November. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf earlier this year. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has said he intends to seek the death penalty, and the case is scheduled for trial this fall, although it could be postponed.

The judge had been allowing news cameras in the courtroom during hearings under strict conditions, but on Nov. 17 he granted a request by Kohbergers attorneys to ban them. Judge wrote that some photographic and video coverage had zoomed in on Kohberger, despite his directive that shots show the entire courtroom, and that some shots depicted him entering or exiting the courtroom, despite orders that images only be taken when court is on the record and not in recess.

It is the intense focus on Kohberger and his every move, along with adverse headlines and news articles, that leads the Court to conclude that continued photograph and video coverage inside the courtroom by the media should no longer be permitted, Judge wrote.

In Oregon, trial court rules require public access audio and video recording by the media or others except in rare circumstances.

Wendy Olson, an attorney representing a coalition of media organizations, including The Associated Press, which sought to preserve their ability to take photos and video during hearings in the case, did not immediately respond to an email and phone call seeking comment.

The bodies of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found Nov. 13, 2022, at a home across the street from the University of Idaho campus. Investigators pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video that they say links Kohberger to the slayings.

Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University, which is a short drive from the scene of the killings across the state border. He was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania, and the unusual details of the case have drawn widespread interest.

Judge said his order, which cannot be appealed, would balance the publics interest with Kohbergers right to a fair trial and the orderly administration of justice, because the court would not have to monitor who was recording images of what.

To be clear, the Court is not accusing all journalists and media outlets of violating the Courts orders, he wrote. However, Court operated video system will give the Court greater control over what is being videoed, will lessen the burden on the bailiffs, will help to alleviate counsels concerns, and will allow the media and the public access to the video footage of the proceedings.
After five years of collaborating with tribes and state agencies to create the largest research forest in North America, Oregon State University officials have decided they will no longer participate in its management.

The announcement came in a letter from the universitys new president, Jayathi Murthy, to the State Land Board on Nov. 20, just over a month before the states deadline to submit a critical habitat conservation plan for the Elliott State Research Forest to federal agencies for approval. The universitys decision stems from the difficulty of resolving the competing interests of state, tribal, industry, environmentalist and community interests, it said in a release.

In her letter, Murthy said she was concerned the current management and habitat plans for the 80,000-acre forest north of Coos Bay would not allow enough logging and would not bring in sustainable revenue.

Regretfully, I find the current trajectory of the planning process is on a course that will fail to deliver the public good anticipated, and falls well short of the world class research forest envisioned, she wrote. She added that the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, partners in the forests planning and management, have also expressed to university leadership that more forestland needs to be opened to logging.

The Elliott State Forest has about 41,000 acres of old-growth trees, making it one of the largest uncut areas left in the Oregon Coast Range, according to Oregon Wild. It also has some of the most productive and pristine streams for protected salmon and critical habitat for threatened species, such marbled murrelets, northern spotted owls and salmon.

As a research forest, it can be studied for sustainable logging, habitat and conservation practices and used for recreation.

Without Oregon States involvement, the Oregon Department of State Lands could be set back in its planning, but not derailed, said department director Vicki Walker.

Let me be abundantly clear, she wrote in response to Murthys letter, the state remains deeply committed to the vision of an Elliott State Research Forest. The department will continue to work collaboratively with the prospective board, tribes, stakeholders and partners to map out options and actions needed for the research forest to become a reality.

From working forest to research forest

The Elliott State Research Forest, formerly the Elliott State Forest, was Oregons first state forest taken from the ancestral lands of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. Since the early 1900s, it was logged to provide revenue for the states Common School Fund. In 2016, the state took it out of production, in large part because it had been too heavily logged and lawsuits claiming violations of the Endangered Species Act had limited much of the logging still allowed in the forest.

The State Land Board attempted to sell it to a private timber company, but under pressure from environmentalists brought the Department of State Lands, Oregon State University and the Confederated Tribes together as co-partners to manage it as a future research forest.

By December 2022, state officials voted to buy the forest with $220 million of Oregon taxpayer funds, and to take it out of production for schools. The Legislature created a new government entity, the Elliott State Research Forest Authority, to oversee the management of the forest by the state, tribes and university.

According to current habitat and forest management plans, about one-third of the forest cannot be intensively logged and about one-third of it cannot be logged at all. About 14,000 acres, nearly one-fifth of the forest, is open to clearcutting and about 3,400 acres of old growth up to 160-years old can be logged. An unknown number of acres could be used as carbon sinks to offset polluters who buy into carbon credit markets.

That was also a point of contention for Murthy, according to her letter.

Desired timber harvests

Walker of the state lands department said in her letter that taking some acreage out of logging and putting it into carbon sequestration would help the state meet climate resilience goals without impacting research, and she reiterated that the forest management and habitat plans currently drafted reflect the realities of complying with federal laws.

I also want to reaffirm basic expectations for the Elliott State Research Forest, she wrote. The research forest must be supported by a habitat conservation plan that complies with the Endangered Species Act.

Brad Kneaper, council chair of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians said in a news release Wednesday that the acreage taken out of management for logging would hurt species and the forests health.

This approach stands in contrast to a tribal approach, which favors active stewardship to promote an ecologically diverse and resilient landscape, he wrote.

Kneaper referred to the reserve acres as no touch and said that they would lead to overgrown tree canopies crowding out diverse species and plant life in the forest.

These forests have been stewarded by tribal people since time immemorial. We traditionally used fire, pruning, harvesting, and planting to create a healthy and diverse landscape, he said. The forest was healthy, and helped to provide the tribe with the culturally important species such as deer and elk, salmon and lamprey, berries and cedar on which our people and our culture thrived.

In the news release, Kneaper applauded Oregon States decision to delay final action on the Elliott and continue to work with the tribe, suggesting the tribe could follow suit.

The tribe hopes that the Department of State Lands will reevaluate this position and will continue to work with the tribe rather than move forward against the opposition of the tribe, he wrote.

Whats next?

The newfound dissatisfaction from the tribes and university this late in the planning process confounds Bob Sallinger, a member of the nine-member board of the Elliott State Research Forest Authority and director of the nonprofit Bird Conservation Oregon.

The fact is that everyone  OSU and the tribes  were at the table when all of these decisions were made for the better part of half a decade, he said. Were still getting our heads around what has happened, but I think its entirely possible to move forward based upon the work that was done.

Sallinger said Oregon States exit will not sink the ship, and that perhaps it will play a less involved role but still benefit from the forest.

They can do research on the forest, or they can choose not to. I dont think OSU was necessarily essential to moving this forward, he said.

Walker wrote that the state lands department would submit its habitat conservation plan to federal agencies and that she would soon release additional information on a path forward.

Oregonians across the state came together in support of a research forest and collaboratively created the foundations we are continuing to work from: the Elliott as a publicly owned forest that has completed its obligation to funding schools, but will continue to contribute to conservation, recreation, education, indigenous culture and local economies as a research forest, she wrote.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The acting Libyan Minister of the Interior, General Imad Trabelsi, has stressed the need to support agencies involved in the fight against illegal immigration by providing training and logistical requirements to enable them to carry out their work
Egypt is communicating intensively with all parties to extend the four-day truce between the Palestinian and Israeli sides for one or two additional days, the Head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said Saturday.

Rashwan noted that the truce's extension would mean the release of more Israeli captives in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

The head of SIS further explained that Egypt has so far received positive indicators from all parties on the possibility of an extension to the truce.

According to Rashwan, Egypt received a list of 13 captives in Gaza and 39 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who are set to be released Saturday as part of the truce.

In addition, Rashwan disclosed that 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid bound for northern Gaza crossed into the strip through the Rafah border crossing Saturday.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a truce agreement on a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.

The truce agreement involves a stop to all hostilities in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid to 2.4 million Palestinians in the besieged strip.

The agreement stipulates the release of 50 Israeli captives, including women and children.

In return, 150 Palestinian political prisoners, including women and children, would be released from Israeli detention.

The agreement also allows room for an extension and the release of more captives and prisoners.

On Friday, as per the agreement, Hamas released 13 of its Israeli captives and Israel released 39 Palestinian political prisoners in its jails.

Moreover, as per an Egyptian mediation, Hamas also released 11 Asian workers - 10 Thai and one Philippine - who were taken captive on 7 October.

A total of 200 aid trucks, carrying food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday.

On Saturday, the spokesperson for the civil defense forces in Gaza told Al Jazeera that retrieving the bodies of thousands of Palestinians who were buried under the rubble due to Israeli bombardment cannot be done in the four-day window of the truce.

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For new parents, understanding the ins and outs of baby care can be a daunting task. One important aspect of infant development is 'tummy time'-a crucial practice to help your baby strengthen their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. However, many parents often wonder about the appropriate duration for tummy time. This guide aims to provide clear insights into how long tummy time should be, ensuring your baby's safety and promoting optimal development.

Tummy time involves placing your baby on their stomach while they are awake and supervised. This position helps babies develop the muscles necessary for rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and eventually walking. It also prevents the flattening of the back of the head, known as positional plagiocephaly.

Recommended Duration for Tummy Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests starting tummy time as early as the first day home from the hospital. Initially, aim for a few minutes, two to three times a day. As your baby grows and develops, gradually increase the duration. By the time your baby is 3 months old, aim for about an hour of tummy time spread throughout the day.

Tips for Successful Tummy Time

Start Slow: Begin with short sessions of a minute or two and gradually increase the time as your baby gets used to it. Engage and Entertain: Use toys, mirrors, or even lie down face-to-face with your baby to keep them engaged and happy during tummy time. Stay Consistent: Try to incorporate tummy time into your baby's daily routine. Consistency is key to helping your baby get comfortable with the position. Watch for cues: Pay attention to your baby's signals. If they seem tired or frustrated, it might be time to take a break. Safety First: Always supervise your baby during tummy time and ensure it's done on a flat, safe surface.

Overcoming Challenges

Some babies may resist tummy time at first, often because it's a new experience and it can be physically challenging. If your baby seems uncomfortable or cries during tummy time, don't be discouraged. Try shorter, more frequent sessions, and gradually increase the duration as they become more accustomed to the position.

Read Also: When Do Babies Roll Over? Experts Share Tips to Help Your Baby Start Sooner

Benefits of Tummy Time

Muscle Development: Tummy time strengthens the neck, shoulders, and arm muscles, which are crucial for crawling and walking. Motor Skills: It promotes motor skills and gives your baby a different perspective on their environment. Prevents Flat Spots: Regular tummy time helps prevent the development of flat spots on the back of your baby's head. Sensory Development: Being on their tummy helps babies improve their sensory skills by exploring different textures and views.

Tummy time is an essential part of your baby's development. Starting with short sessions and gradually increasing the duration can help your baby build the necessary strength and skills for future milestones. Remember, every baby is different, so it's important to be patient and responsive to your baby's needs and comfort levels. With consistent practice and engagement, tummy time can become a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your baby.

Related Article: Benefits of Tummy Time: Strengthening Baby's Muscles and Motor Skills
Photo: (Photo : MICHAEL TRAN / Getty Images)

In a delightful Thanksgiving surprise, Paris Hilton, the renowned DJ and hotel heiress, announced the arrival of her second child with husband Carter Reum.

The couple introduced their baby girl, London, in a a series of post both on Instagram and TikTok that captured the essence of the joyous occasion.

A Thanksgiving Delight: Paris Hilton's Baby Girl Announcement

Paris Hilton, at 42, took to Instagram to share the exciting news with her global audience. She posted a photo of baby clothes in pink with the name "London" written in the sweater.

The post featured additional touches of cuteness, including hot pink heart-shaped sunglasses and a knitted toy bunny, creating a visual celebration of the newborn's arrival.

Hilton's Instagram post and TikTok video became the epicenter of the baby announcement, showcasing the star's knack for blending personal joy with digital storytelling. She later posted a family photo on an Instagram story over Thanksgiving dinner with a writing "I'm a brother now" with his son Phoenix and husband Reum.

In a separate TikTok video, Hilton engaged her niece and nephew, eliciting their excitement for their new cousin and confirming that she now has two babies. The comments section buzzed with fans expressing their joy and congratulations, seamlessly connecting with the broader online community.

She also posted on TikTok a video of their family singing to their son as he becomes a big brother, everyone seemingly excited for the new addition to the new family.

The announcement resonated across the celebrity sphere, with Kyle Richards, star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, expressing her joy through a cascade of pink heart emojis.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell also joined the celebration, extending heartfelt congratulations to the growing family.

Read Also: Is My Child Too Skinny? Signs Your Kid Is Struggling to Gain Weight

Paris Hilton's Growing Family and Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving 2023 marked not only a day of gratitude for Paris Hilton and Carter Reum but also the expansion of their family.

The newborn, London, joins the couple's first child, Phoenix Barron, born via surrogate in January. Hilton, known for her candid social media presence, treated her followers to glimpses of the family's celebrations, including a lively dinner table dance with Carter and Phoenix.

This recent addition to the Hilton-Reum family comes after Paris Hilton hinted at expanding her family earlier this month. The couple's joy was palpable as they danced at the dinner table with Phoenix, who excitedly embraced his role as a big brother.

While a representative for Hilton remained silent on further details, the Instagram and TikTok updates captured the essence of the family's pure and unfiltered joy.

Earlier in the year, Hilton shared with Glamour UK the reasons behind her and Reum's decision to choose surrogacy for the birth of their son.

In 'The Simple Life, she had an experience where I had to be present in the delivery room, and that was deeply traumatic for her, she revealed to the magazine.

Despite her strong desire for a family, the physical aspect of childbirth is daunting for her. SHe harbor significant fear around childbirth and death; these two things frighten me more than anything else in the world.

Related Article: FDA Intensifies Efforts in WanaBana Recall as Lead Poisoning in Cinnamon Apple Puree Increases
Keiji Nishitani died on this day, the 24th of November, in 1990. I noted this a few years ago. And thought it good to repeat. What follows is lightly edited from that earlier posting.

If youre unfamiliar with Professor Nishitani, and you are interested at all in Zen, I suggest you may want to learn more.

He was one of the principal figures in the establishment of the Kyoto School, which the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, tells us was a group of 20th century Japanese thinkers who developed original philosophies by creatively drawing on the intellectual and spiritual traditions of East Asia, those of Mahayana Buddhism in particular, as well as on the methods and content of Western philosophy. I would add about the Kyoto School it is of particular importance to those of us concerned with Zen as a living spiritual tradition.

Nishitani was born in a small town on the Japan Sea on the 27th of February, 1900. While brilliant he failed to win entrance to the prestigious Daiichi High School because of tuberculosis, the disease which killed his father when he was fourteen. At seventeen he retook the examinations, again proved to be brilliant, but also passed the physical examination.

In High School he became fascinated with Zen, principally through the writings of D.T. Suzuki. He also wandered from the curriculum reading Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Emerson, the Bible and a life of St Francis. He also found a book by Kitaro Nishida, a professor at the Kyoto University, and the founder of the Kyoto School, as noted above bringing Western philosophical disciplines to Buddhist and Zen studies. When he graduated he entered Kyoto University in order to study with Nishida.

Upon graduation he became a professor at Otani University in Kyoto, and then later, at Kyoto University. He also began Zen studies as a householder with Gyodo Furukawa at Engakuji. Then continued with Taiko Yamazaki at Shokokuji. He would continue with his Zen teacher for twenty-four years.

Obtaining a fellowship he spent for two years at the University of Freiburg where he studied with Martin Heidegger. There Nishitani became fascinated with Germanys mystical traditions, delving into Eckhardt as well as Nietzsche. He returned to Japan where he earned his doctorate.

At the end of the war he was deemed unsuitable for teaching by the occupation forces, having supported the war time government. A truth. During this time he intensified his Zen practice as well as turned to writing. It was also at this time he dove deeply into the questions of nihilism and a Zen response to it.

Five years later he was reinstated to his teaching post. At this time Nishitanis magnum opus, published in 1983 in English as Religion and Nothingness was published. In his retirement he accepted the position of chief editor of the Eastern Buddhist, a periodical founded by D.T. Suzuki, which became a fountain of insight into aspects of Buddhism and Zen from a scholarly perspective.

In this fruitful post-war period Nishitani became the generally recognized successor to Kitaro Nishida as leader of the Kyoto School.
The Ghanaian-made luxury watch brand, Warrior King Watches, has secured a spot in the global market to amplify Ghana's rich cultural essence through timekeeping.



Renowned for blending traditional Ghanaian craftsmanship with contemporary design, the watch brand has been featured as a must-have luxury fashion piece worldwide in GQ magazines recent publication.



This feature highlights the brand's dedication to excellence, making it a standout player in the global luxury watch market. It also aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for diversity and foster cross-cultural understanding, contributing to a world where traditions are respected and celebrated.



Derived from the literal meaning of Ghana, which translates to Warrior King, these bespoke timepieces are not merely masterpieces of craftsmanship but also symbols of strength and legacy.



Warrior King Watches reflect cultural essence, weaving a unique narrative of Ghanas rich history into each timepiece. The Warrior King Heritage model showcases a distinctive design that draws inspiration from the iconic Independence Arch and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum of Ghana, honouring the struggle for sovereignty and visionary leadership. These elements are incorporated seamlessly into the intricate details of the timepieces.



This remarkable watch brand received its first endorsement from the esteemed Asantehene, who was honoured with a custom-made 18-karat gold watch during the Awukudae festival. This bespoke watch holds immense historical and cultural significance. Fun fact: Patrick Amofah dedicated about 4896 hours to the intricate craftsmanship, bringing to life this exceptional watch for the Asantehene.



According to the founder, Warrior King Watches global recognition is attributed to strategic collaborations with tastemakers and international retailers who share a passion for exceptional craftsmanship. These partnerships have played a pivotal role in expanding the brand's reach and showcasing the allure of Ghanaian luxury on a grand scale.



The brand's commitment to cultural representation, unique designs, and attention to detail serves as an invitation to watch enthusiasts, cultural connoisseurs, and advocates of global unity to join in the celebration of Ghana's essence through the artistry of timekeeping.



His vision to narrate the untold stories of Africa through his timepieces is clear. We aim to convey our values and heritage through our watches. Our timepieces blend style, uncompromised robustness, and a quintessential touch of our primordial roots, merging the durability, ingenuity, and elegance of our ancestral artisans with contemporary design to create something truly unique, he said.



Continuing to honour his fathers memory and passion for watches, the watchmaker remains dedicated to providing not just timepieces but also sentimental treasures. His commitment to warmth and satisfaction in his services embodies the legacy of his parents and the traditions of his childhood.



In the rhythm of ticking seconds, Warrior King Watches journey continues to showcase the power of time, Ghanas essence, and craftsmanship.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has sounded the alarm bell regarding crucial challenges facing the freight forwarding industry in the country.



The organization has emphasized the need for immediate and resolute action to address these pressing issues, which include valuation challenges, SIGMAT issues, negative effects of the exemptions law, shipping line problems, and the complexities of navigating policies in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world.



The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, a leading professional body representing freight forwarders and other stakeholders in the industry, has expressed deep concerns over the impact of these challenges on the efficient operation and growth of the industry.



Valuation challenges have been identified as a major issue affecting the freight forwarding sector. Inaccurate or inconsistent valuation of goods can lead to discrepancies in customs duties and taxes, causing delays, disputes, and financial losses for importers and exporters. The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders has stressed the importance of establishing a transparent and standardized valuation system to streamline operations and enhance trade facilitation.



One of the foremost issues we face is that of valuation of goods by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. Although Valuation has been a sore point in doing business in the Ports, this has been further exacerbated by a recent imposition of a reference price list for the valuation of goods by the Board of Directors of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). We specifically make reference to a memo emanating from the Board and then to the Customs Division that No discounts, variations or acceptance of values below the reference price list should be given on any item or product. This directly contradicts international trade agreements, particularly those under the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).



As a signatory to the WTO, Ghana is bound by principles that advocate for fair and transparent valuation processes.



The Customs ACT, 2015 (ACT 891) clearly and unequivocally states how valuation for goods should be done and what ought not to be DONE,  GIFF President, Eddy Akrong said at a press conference held in Tema.



SIGMAT issues have also been flagged as a significant concern. Inconsistent application of the SIGMAT system can result in confusion and complications during customs clearance processes. The organization has called for improved communication, training, and coordination among relevant agencies to ensure a consistent and efficient implementation of the SIGMAT system.



A full implementation of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), reminiscent of the Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) which recently caused an uproar in the industry until it was branded fake news, raises serious concerns within our industry. The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) discourages such practices that hinder the smooth flow of goods across borders. It is crucial to reassess and rectify policies that may inadvertently impede the efficiency of our logistics and supply chain operations.

We are reminded again as signatories to the WTOs Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to avert our minds to:



Furthermore, the negative effects of the exemptions law have been highlighted by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders.

While exemptions are meant to promote specific sectors or activities, their misuse or misinterpretation can lead to unfair advantages, revenue losses, and distortions in the market. The organization has urged policymakers to review and refine the exemptions law to ensure it aligns with the broader goals of economic growth and fairness.



The freight forwarding industry in Ghana has also been grappling with shipping line issues, including erratic schedules, unreliable services, and high costs. These challenges not only hamper the smooth flow of goods but also impact the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses in the global market. The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders has called for increased collaboration between shipping lines and industry stakeholders to address these concerns and improve service quality.



Finally, the complexities of navigating policies in a VUCA world present a significant challenge for the freight forwarding industry.

Rapid changes in global trade dynamics, emerging technologies, and geopolitical uncertainties require adaptability and agility from industry players. The organization has emphasized the need for continuous training, capacity building, and the development of resilient strategies to cope with the volatile and dynamic business environment.



The concerns raised by the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to address the critical issues affecting the industry. Stakeholders are urged to collaborate closely to find effective solutions that will enhance trade facilitation, streamline operations, and promote sustainable growth in the freight forwarding sector. Failure to take decisive action could have detrimental consequences for Ghanas economy and its position in the global trade landscape.



According to the organization, urgent and decisive action is needed to address pressing challenges related to valuation challenges, SIGMAT issues, negative effects of the exemptions law, shipping line issues, and navigating policies in a VUCA world.



One of the key issues relates to the recent imposition of a reference price list for the valuation of goods by the Board of Directors of the Ghana Revenue Authority.



This contradicts international trade agreements and adds to the high cost of doing business.



The organization has called for a collaborative approach between the government and industry stakeholders to formulate policies that promote the seamless flow of goods and foster economic growth for Ghana.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Last week the East Legon Police command arrested the notorious landguard, Tahiru Mohammed aka. Captain Abu for alleged acts of impunity including burning of buses, assault, violent attacks, threatening the peace as well as inflicting varying degrees of injuries on persons carrying out their work in Borteyman in peace.



He was subsequently transferred to the Greater Accra Regional Command where he was processed and arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court for prosecution.



After making an appearance before the Court, he has been officially charged with 8 counts including; Causing Unlawful Damage, Conspiracy to Commit Crime, Prohibition of the activities of Landguards, Stealing, Assault amongst others.



These alleged criminalities were performed in cohort with some other miscreants namely; Ibrahim Adam, Adamu Yusif Haruna, Alhassan Boko, Lion, Aliu, Chowe, Tinny and Commander who are all at large and whose arrest is being facilitated rigorously by the Ghana Police Service.



The Ghana Police Service and the Judiciary have so far been applauded by affected residents of Borteyman for arresting the alleged notorious landguard.



Efforts are being made by the Poilce Service to arrest his accomplices, who are at large.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Finance Department of Stanbic Bank Ghana, as part of their annual Corporate Social Engagements, has supported the Hope Childrens Village in the Central Region and Klicks Africa Foundation institutions with food items and various sums of money to aid the effective running of the institutions. At the Hope Childrens Village, the team presented items including toiletries, foodstuff, and assorted drinks to the orphanage. The team also donated a sum of GHS 5,000 towards buying books and other learning materials for the children.



Victor Yeboah-Manu, Chief Finance Officer at Stanbic Bank, led the delegation from the bank and encouraged the young children to focus on their education to become responsible members of society.



He stated, At Stanbic Bank, we are committed to fostering national growth through promoting quality education. As proud members of the bank, we at the finance department have decided to contribute towards this by supporting the management of the Village of Hope Orphanage in their efforts to provide quality education for the brilliant children in their care. We have been here in previous years and we are glad to see how the institution has developed. We have seen how the management of the orphanage has prioritized the education of these young children and we have therefore decided to make our support an annual tradition. This year we have come to present items including foodstuff, water, and toiletries to the institution We are also presenting a cash donation that will support management in purchasing notebooks, stationery, and other learning materials to enhance the learning experience for the children.



He added, To our wonderful young children, education is a powerful tool that can push you towards achieving your dreams. Regardless of the challenges you face, you must take advantage of the opportunities you have. We at the Finance Department of Stanbic Bank believe in you and want to help you make your dreams come true. I am certain that if you take your studies seriously you have the potential to become responsible, contributing members of our society. Remember that the future of our country is in your hands and we know you will play a pivotal role in transforming our country for the better.



Managing Director of the Hope Childrens Village, Samuel Osei Addo, accepted the donation on behalf of the village and thanked the bank for their continuous support over the past three years. At Klicks Africa Foundation, the Stanbic Bank team donated a sum of GHS 30,000 to the foundation. Nana Dickson, Head of Management Accounting Finance at Stanbic Bank led the delegation from the bank and shared that this donation formed part of the banks agenda to support the vulnerable in society.



He said At Stanbic, we always say that Ghana is our home and we drive her growth. For this reason, we at the bank's finance department have decided to visit the Klicks Foundation to spend time with our future leaders. We believe that nobody should be denied access to quality education regardless of their background or physical challenges. Today we are donating GHS 30,000 to support the management of the Klicks Foundation to continue the amazing work they are doing for these brilliant children. It is wonderful to see how committed the management of the school is to providing these children with the proper care and the right environment for them to study and become productive members of society.



Mr. Asiamah Kuffour, Co-Founder of Klicks Africa Foundation thanked Stanbic Bank for their donation saying, On behalf of the Klicks Foundation I am grateful to the Finance Department of Stanbic Bank for this wonderful donation. Providing proper care for these children and giving them access to quality education is our ultimate goal. Unfortunately, this requires great financial commitment which can be challenging at times. This donation is an answer to our prayers and will go a long way to help us support these brilliant children and provide them with the right environment to study and develop their skills. Thank you all.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has told Parliament that the residence of the current Clerk-to-Parliament was sold to a private developer in 2015 and not 2019.



He said his checks at the Lands Commission showed that the said land was given out during the previous administration.



The then Minister of Works and Housing gave an offer to a private developer in 2015 and a lease was granted in the 2015, he said.



Related articles

Investigations to find who attempted to sell Speaker's residence welcome - Parliament

VIDEO - What Bagbin said about Speaker's residence "almost sold" to private sector and "actually given out"

At no point was Speaker's residence almost sold to private sector - Lands Commission reacts [VIDEO]

Speaker didnt say his residence was sold  Parliamentary Service

Unimpeachable records



Contributing to a debate for the House to approve the motion on the 2024 Budget Statement on the floor of Parliament Thursday (Nov 23), Mr Jinapor said, these records at the Lands Commission is unimpeachable as it happened in 2015."



It just so happened that the developer, having bought the land in 2015 and having been given an offer letter in 2015 and having been granted a lease in 2015 took possession in 2019."



To all intent and purposes, the land was sold in 2015, he told the House.



Background



Attached below is a breakdown of what the Minister presented to Parliament



ALLEGED SALE OF SPEAKERS RESIDENCE AND THE RESIDENCE OF CLERK OF PARLIAMENT



THE FACTS



As the Lands Commission indicated in its earlier Press Release, the land in question is a public land acquired by the State since 1920. As a public land, no person, other than the Lands Commission, has the right to make any grant, sale, or lease of the said property;



At no point in time has the Lands Commission sold, or attempted to sell, the official residence of the Rt. Hon. Speaker. On the contrary, the Commission has taken steps to regularise the interest of the Parliamentary Service in the said property, by granting a Certificate of Allocation to the Service on 28th April, 2023;



Neither the Rt. Hon. Speaker, nor the Parliamentary Service, has made any complaint to the Lands Commission about a purported and/or attempted sale of the official residence of the Rt. Hon. Speaker. The Commission first became aware of the said allegation following the ongoing media discourse on the subject matter;



The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has, subsequently, directed the Commission to investigate the matter, and submit a report to him, accordingly. The Commission will, therefore, respectfully, formally communicate to the Parliamentary Service to seek its assistance in the ongoing investigations;



In respect of the other properties adjoining the Speakers property, the Commission wishes to clarify that the Cantoments Residential Area, where the Speakers official residence is located, was earmarked for redevelopment as far back as 1995, under Governments Redevelopment Agenda, and several lands in the area has since 1995 been leased to private developers for this purpose;



It must be noted that the Speakers official residence was designated as such in the year 2003, after the original official residence of the Speaker was de-confiscated and returned to the original owner. The then Speaker of Parliament, therefore, moved to the area after the said redevelopment had commenced in 1995, at the time some of these lands had already been leased to private developers;



On the specific allegation of the Clerk of Parliaments accommodation being sold in 2019, records at the Lands Commission indicates that the property in question, House No. 90, Sixth Circular Road, Cantoments, was granted to a private developer in the year 2015, by a letter from the Ministry of Works and Housing, dated 23rd June, 2015, as part of the Accra Properties Redevelopment Scheme. Subsequent to the said letter, a lease dated 18th August, 2015, was granted to the private developer over the said property;



For the avoidance of doubt, the said property was not sold in 2019, but rather in 2015;

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie South, Clement Opoku Gyamfi has shredded former President John Dramani Mahamas 24-hour economy promise into pieces.



The Amansie South DCE questioned the former Presidents ability to fulfill the promise, digging up his past records.



John Mahama has assured Ghanaians that if re-elected President, he will ensure the economy runs 24 hours stressing this is part of his manifesto to improving the living standards of the citizenry as he believes the New Patriotic Party led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has failed Ghanaians.



"A new NDC administration will work urgently to equip our youth with the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable future. We will introduce a 24-hour economy with incentives and tax breaks for manufacturers who will run extra shifts to create more room for employment," he promised.



But to lawyer Clement Opoku Gyamfi, Ghanas economy is already running 24 hours, hence he feels the former President and leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress is only saying something so, he will have power again.



He recounted the days of dumsor that plagued Ghanaians among other bad policies that characterized the previous Mahama administration.



Theres no bank in Ghana that closes. As I sit here now, you can send money to me; you can send money as late as 12 midnight or 1 amYou dont even need to go to the bank. So, the bank is running 24/7, he cited on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show.



He expatiated that in several sectors of the economy, the services are non-stop.



Today, when you go to Bantama even at 2 am, you will find food to buy or something to eat, he added.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Charles Owusu has urged political leaders and all Ghanaians to be decorous in their utterances.



He cautioned against trying to cause divisions among people, warning that the tongue is too dangerous because it is what we use to bless and curse."



He stated that the use of obscene language and raining insults on leaders, chiefs, and President of the Republic and at one another is not the right way to go.



He recounted how politicians of different political affiliations are friends privately, hence telling those who follow them to note that it is an ideology we are backing and that we dont hate ourselves."



The former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission further warned against the tensions leading up to the 2024 elections saying its like a do-or-die affair."



I will plead that because election is a process and not an event," the actions and utterances of people should be in good taste, he admonished on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Thousands of people across major world capitals and cities came out in massive demonstrations for a lasting ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza, as a four-day truce entered its second day.

It was the sixth straight weekend protests demanding an end to the Israeli war on Gaza and a permanent ceasefire since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October.

In London, thousands of people carrying Palestinian flags marched to protest against the Israeli war on Gaza and express their support for oppressed Palestinians.

The protestors gathered at Marble Arch in west London and marched towards Piccadilly in the city center, calling for an enduring ceasefire while vehemently denouncing Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians.

In Germany, defying a campaign of repression against supporters of the Palestinian Cause, a massive demonstration unfolded in Berlin, demanding an end to Israeli aggression and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.

In Paris, defying repression against Pro-Palestine protesters, a large demonstration condemned Israeli war crimes against civilians, urging international protection for Gazans and demanding Israel be held accountable for the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Palestine.



French protesters raise pro-Palestine placards at a women's rights march in Paris on Saturday

In Manila, the capital of the Philippines, hundreds of people participated in a pro-Palestine demonstration, calling for a lasting ceasefire and condemning the Israeli war.

A similar march took place in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.

On Friday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at shopping malls in major US cities to demand an end to US funding for Israel and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

These marches were organized as a nationwide campaign titled "Shut It Down for Palestine," while many prepared for the annual Black Friday shopping spree.

Across these cities, the international community united to denounce Israeli crimes in Gaza, demanding justice, accountability, and a lasting ceasefire in the war-torn strip.



People gather during a demonstration in support of Palestinians outside Macy's in New York City on November 24, 2023. AFP

The demonstrations around the world come as a four-day truce between Hamas and Israel has offered some respite for 2.4 million Palestinians who have been subjected to a genocidal war by Israel since 7 October.

After nearly 50 days of bombardment, 15,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 40,000 wounded in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, with more than two-thirds of them women and children.

Moreover, the civilian population has teetered on the verge of starvation as Israel coupled its bombardment campaign with a blockade on all water, food, and fuel supplies to the strip.

Meanwhile, 1.8 million Palestinians were displaced after Israel bombed more than 50 percent of all homes in the strip.

According to the truce deal, all hostilities would stop, a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel would take place, and 200 trucks carrying food, water, medical supplies, and fuel would be allowed to enter the strip every day.

However, local and international aid and humanitarian workers say four days are not nearly enough to allow for enough relief to reach the civilian population or retrieve the thousands of bodies still buried under the rubble.



Women hold Palestinian flags while taking part in a demonstration in the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and in support of the Palestinian people in Buenos Aires, on November 25, 2023. AFP

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In the wake of what he now calls election failures, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure late Friday afternoon announced the resignation of his director of administration, Charles M. Dertinger.

The resignation follows the Nov. 7 municipal election in which a human error in programming the countys voting machines led to incorrect paper-record printouts of votes for Pennsylvania Superior Court.

The Northampton County Election Commission Board on Tuesday certified the election results, making them official. The results of two types of post-election audits on Friday matched the election results, county spokeswoman and Deputy Director of Administration Brittney Waylen told lehighvalleylive.com.

Referring to Dertinger, McClures announcement described his election failures of 2019 and 2023. The November 2019 election was the first time the county used ExpressVote XL touchscreen voting machines made by Omaha, Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software (ES&S), and they malfunctioned.

Earlier this month, in the wake of the election, McClure said his administration was very confident that the vast majority of people who wanted to vote on Election Day cast a vote.

Based on everything we know, there was a legal, fair and accurate election and no races were materially affected by the voting machine problems, McClure had told lehighvalleylive.com.

In a news release sent out at 4:22 p.m. on Black Friday, McClure, a second-term Democrat re-elected in 2021, stated: Mr. Dertinger has spent nearly six years honorably serving the people of Northampton County in my administration. While the 2019 and 2023 elections were failures under his leadership of the Elections Division, the 20, 21, and 22 elections were nearly flawless, as any complicated human activity can expect to be.

McClure was not immediately available for additional comment. Dertinger, reached at his Slate Belt home, declined to speak with a reporter other than to say, Have a good weekend. County Council President Kerry Myers did not immediately return a call for comment.

In 2019, Northampton County purchased 320 of the ES&S ExpressVote XL machines under a five-year $2.88 million contract, now in its fifth year and with renewal periods. During their first use Nov. 5, 2019, an estimated 30% of the machines were improperly calibrated by the company, leading to hypersensitivity problems in registering some voter choices.

The problem on Election Day 2023 in Northampton County involved whether to retain U.S. Superior Court Judges Jack Panella and Victor Stabile for additional 10-year terms. Votes of yes or no to both were fine, but one yes and one no created problems. Thats because the names were switched on the printout versus the touchscreen  a human-error, data-entry mistake that was not caught in testing until it was noticed the morning of Nov. 7, executives with ES&S said.

About 2,400 voters in Northampton County used paper ballots on Election Day as the county and workers at the polls grappled with the error, county officials previously said. Some 100 voters told Northampton County Republican leaders they were affected by the mistake.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
By JONATHAN MATTISE and MARIA SHERMAN, The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Daryl Hall has sued his longtime music partner John Oates, arguing that his plan to sell off his share of a joint venture would violate the terms of a business agreement the Hall & Oates duo had forged.

The move quickly prompted a judge to temporarily block the sale while legal proceedings and a previously initiated arbitration continue.

A Nashville chancery court judge issued the temporary restraining order on Nov. 16, writing that Oates and others involved in his trust cant move to close the sale of their share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC until an arbitrator in a separately filed case weighs in on the deal, or until the judges order expires  typically within 15 days, unless a judge extends the deadline.

Chancellor Russell Perkins issued the order the same day Hall filed his lawsuit, which was largely brought forth under seal, obscuring most details. An order Wednesday by the judge allowed more filings to be made public, though many details about the pairs business agreement and the proposed sale remain under wraps.

Writing in favor of sealing certain filings, Halls attorneys reasoned that its a private dispute under an agreement with confidential terms, concerning a confidential arbitration process.

Although the publicly released version of the lawsuit didnt specify whats at stake in the sale, Primary Wave has already owned significant interest in Hall and Oates song catalog for more than 15 years. In a 2021 interview with Sky News, Hall alluded to disappointment with the sale of his back catalog.

Oh, in the early days, it got sold off for me and I didnt get the money, he said. In the same interview, he advised artists to retain their publishing rights, saying all you have is that.

The lawsuit contends that Hall opened an arbitration process on Nov. 9 against Oates and the other defendants in the lawsuit, Oates wife, Aimee Oates, and Richard Flynn, in their roles as co-trustees of Oates trust. Hall was seeking an order preventing them from selling their part in Whole Oats Enterprises to Primary Wave Music.

According to the lawsuit, Oates team intimated at the time that the sale could close within days, although no arbitrator had been picked yet to sort through the conflict.

The lawsuit says Oates team entered into a letter of intent with Primary Wave Music for the sale, and alleges further that the letter makes clear that the music duos business agreement was disclosed to Primary Wave Music in violation of a confidentiality provision.

Thus, the entire Unauthorized Transaction is the product of an indisputable breach of contract, the lawsuit states.

The case will be taken up at a Nov. 30 court hearing.

The Associated Press sent emails to attorneys for both parties and to representatives for Primary Wave Music on Friday. Still unclear is whether the dispute centers on the music catalog of Hall & Oates, a soft-rock-and-pop duo best known for its No. 1 hits Private Eyes, Rich Girl and Maneater.

Daryl Hall and John Oates got their start as Temple University students in Pennsylvania before signing with Atlantic Records in 1972. In the decades since, they have achieved six platinum albums and many more Top 10 singles with their unique approach to blue-eyed soul. Hall & Oates was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and their latest album, Home for Christmas, was released in 2006. The duo continued to perform as of last year.

We have this incredibly good problem of having so many hits, Oates told the AP in 2021, just before resuming a national tour that had been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Believe me, its not a chore to play those songs because they are really great.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia on Saturday morning launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting the capital city for over six hours, military officials said.

Kyiv was the main target, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his Telegram channel.

In total, Russia launched 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against Ukraine, of which 74 were destroyed by air defenses, Ukraines air force said.

The attack was the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat confirmed later that the air defenses shot down 66 air targets over the capital and surrounding region throughout the morning.

At least five civilians were wounded in the hourslong assault, which saw several buildings damaged by falling debris from downed drones, including a kindergarten. The wounded included an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

In the citys Solomiansky district, debris left a crater in the courtyard of a residential area, and the windows of a nearby building were blown out. Residents, most of them elderly, received medical attention at the scene. Others took shelter in a nearby subway station. As people were clearing up debris and broken glass in the neighborhood, the hum of a fresh wave of drones could be heard nearby.

Residents immediately began sealing up broken windows using tape and paper to keep out the cold late November winds.

Paramedics give psychological aid to residents of a damaged apartment building following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Russia launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Saturday morning, military officials said. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)AP

The assault on Kyiv began at 4 a.m., continuing in waves, and caused power outages in 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, according to Popko. Ukraines Energy Ministry said 17,000 people were without power in the Kyiv region as a result of the attack, noting that four power lines were damaged. Power was restored in the early afternoon.

Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. But we continue to work to strengthen our air defense and shoot down more, he said.

The attack was carried out on the morning of Holodomor Memorial Day which commemorates the manmade famine in Soviet Ukraine that killed millions of Ukrainians from 1932 to 1933. It is marked on the fourth Saturday in November.

In addition to Kyiv, the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions were also targeted.

Meanwhile, shelling killed on person and wounded three in the southern Kherson region, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said on Saturday. According to Prokudin, the region had been shelled 100 times over the previous 24 hours.
Police departments across Pennsylvania have struggled to recruit cadets since the pandemic, and protests in the summer of 2020 over police brutality in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Now state officials are working to make police training an option for more people.

The state House passed legislation last week that would lower the minimum fitness standard for a potential recruit to be admitted to a police academy. But not everyone thinks thats a good move.

The bills intent is to end the shortfall that Gov. Josh Shapiro put at 1,200 officers statewide during his budget address in March, its prime sponsor, Rep. Dan Williams (D-Chester), said.

One of the greatest dangers to citizens, as well as law enforcement officers, is not enough officers, Williams said during debate before the bill passed Nov. 14 with a 115-88 vote. The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.

Civil rights groups have argued that the solution lies not with the quantity of officers, but the quality, calling for reforms to how officers are trained for dealing with people in mental health crisis, for instance.

House Bill 863 would reduce the minimum fitness level for police academy recruits from the 30th percentile to the 15th percentile of performance on the standard physical fitness assessment, which includes a 1 mile run, a 300-meter sprint, push-ups and pull-ups.

In order to graduate from the police academy, a cadet would have to improve their physical fitness to reach the 30th percentile of performance. It would also alter the reading comprehension standard to allow local police departments to submit their own reading tests to the state for consideration.

Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks) was among those who voted in opposition to the bill, all of whom were Republicans. As the Houses representative to the Municipal Police Officers Training and Education Commission (MPOTEC), Jozwiak said changing the fitness and reading standards is a bad idea. MPOTEC issues the states police academy and firearms training curricula.

Society expects police officers to be the best of the best, at least better than the average citizen, Jozwiak said. To accomplish that, we set high standards in our police academies, expecting to have the very best cadets graduating and to give applicants the best chance to succeed.

Jozwiak noted that the fitness standards were already lowered from the 50th percentile to the 30th percentile several years ago.

And when a police department makes the decision to sponsor a recruit in training, he said, it has already invested significant resources in vetting candidates by way of background checks.

MPOTECs police academy curriculum requires that cadets maintain the 30th percentile through the five months of the academy, with the first assessment after one month, Jozwiak said. He said fitness training instructors say it would be impossible for a person to improve from the 15th to 30th percentile in a month.

Entrance requirements are meant to keep people from wasting your time and money trying to do something that they are not prepared to do or would not be eligible to do, Jozwiak said.

The Shapiro Administration and Pennsylvania State Police, which oversees MPOTEC, support finding solutions to ease the shortage of municipal police officers, the state police said in a statement issued by its press office.

The Administration supports easing the physical fitness requirements to allow more, qualified applicants to enter municipal police academies, where they can receive training to meet the fitness standards required to become police officers, the statement reads.

Shapiro has taken other measures to improve recruiting for the state police and local police departments. In one of his first actions as governor, Shapiro removed the college degree requirement for thousands of state jobs, including the state police.

This years budget proposal included a $2,500 tax credit to encourage young people to consider careers in law enforcement and other critical front-line professions in which interest has dwindled.

Marcia Cole, director of the Criminal Justice Training Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, agreed that lowering fitness standards could result in wasted resources if recruits wash out because theyre not able to meet the fitness standards.

If somebody comes into the academy in decent shape they have a better chance of graduating, Cole said, adding that they would be less likely to be injured, too.
It was Thanksgiving in 1963 when a group of 25 people in Plymouth, Massachusetts had an idea: Lets skip Thanksgiving dinner.

These men and women, in the town where Americas first Thanksgiving was held by the Pilgrims, decided to fast at Plymouths First Church. The group donated the cost of their Thanksgiving dinners to the United Nations World Food Program to feed the hungry. The Hartford Courant reported on this plan to draw attention to the worlds hungry.

Our purpose is simply to focus attention on the hunger needs of millions overseas who have little or nothing to eat on this day. We do not feel that the usual practice of holiday gluttony is in keeping with the desperate plight of half the worlds population, said a Reverend participating in the event. By donating to the UN World Food Program (WFP) these Plymouth activists helped a new agency started by President John F. Kennedy.

The WFP was an experiment of an international food for peace effort. The experiment was a success. Now today the WFP is the largest hunger relief organization leading food aid missions in war zones and countries impacted by natural disasters. As this years Thanksgiving arrives, hunger emergencies are dangerously escalating around the globe.

War and climate change are the main cause behind the extreme hunger in the most affected nations. The WFP and UN Food & Agriculture Organization sounded the alarm with a new report warning acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in 18 hunger hotspots  comprising a total of 22 countries or territories including 2 regional clusters  during the outlook period from November 2023 to April 2024.

The report says Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan and the Sudan remain at the highest concern level. Palestine was added to the list of countries/ territories of highest concern due to the severe escalation of conflict in October 2023.Furthermore, the report states Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Pakistan, Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen are hotspots of very high concern.

These are all nations facing starvation or dangerously spiraling toward it. Whether its war or drought, growing food becomes a nearly impossible task. Think of families, who depend on farming for a living, being displaced by war. They lose access to food supplies and their children are facing malnutrition. They need the help of hunger relief agencies to survive.

On Thanksgiving you can support life-saving missions of humanitarian aid organizations by including them in your plans. You could donate to a charity fighting hunger like WFP, CARE, Save the Children, Marys Meals, Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF, Mercy Corps, Edesia and so many others. You can write a letter to Congress about increasing funding for global food aid.

With the massive level of hunger emergencies ongoing, funding is too low for relief agencies. In some cases the WFP has been forced to reduce rations because of the funding shortfalls. There needs to be more public support to help humanitarian organizations to keep pace with the growing hunger crisis. As past generations have done you can take action to feed the hungry on Thanksgiving.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger.
By Elizabeth Preate Havey

Every year about this time in Pennsylvania, a skeptical newspaper columnist from this paper or another in some other part of the state, asks: Why do our politicians and business leaders all go to New York for some event called Pennsylvania Society Weekend?

Why dont they just stay at home, and hold their black tie dinner and many receptions right here in the Keystone State? It is the PENNSYLVANIA Society, after all, they argue?

As the Societys current president, and someone who has attended this event since I was a teenager, maybe we bear some of the responsibility for these questions. Its possible we just have not done a good enough job explaining what The Pennsylvania Society is all about, how it got started, and why we head to New York City in early December every year.

Since this years PA Society Annual Dinner will be our 125th, this seems like an ideal time to tell our story.

Im going to assume most readers are not familiar with the name Barr Ferree. His is not exactly a household name  or even a common name at all! But the PA Society story begins with him and his affection for Pennsylvania.

Barr grew up in Philadelphia late in the 19th century, graduating from Central High School and the University of Pennsylvania. He moved to Manhattan as a young man and went on to have a distinguished career as the owner of a publishing company and was even a world-renowned lecturer on architecture.

But Barr also missed home  he missed Pennsylvania. So, in 1899, longing to be with friends who shared his beloved Pennsylvania roots, he founded The Pennsylvania Society of New York.

For their first social event, Barr invited 55 fellow Pennsylvanians also living in Manhattan to join him for dinner at The Walford Astoria Hotel. So, you see from Day One, The Pennsylvania Society was linked to New York City.

Barr wrote then that their goal was to establish a society uniting all Pennsylvanians at home and away from home in bonds of friendship and devotion to their native or adopted state. Eventually shortening their name to The Pennsylvania Society, they would meet for dinner every year, same time, same place. Its a tradition we have carried forward now for 125 years!

The weekend has grown beyond only the dinner, to include receptions hosted by organizations such as the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, many law firms, higher education institutions, and many others.

The Annual Dinner, where we bestow a Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement and award significant charitable contributions, had still been held at the famed Waldorf Astoria until just recently, when it temporarily closed for renovations. Some used that closure to suggest that PA Society Weekend ought to abandon New York altogether, and instead alternate between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, bringing the weekends economic impact to Pennsylvania. But that has never been what The Pennsylvania Society was about.

It was created as a New York-based event and ought to stay that way.

Our members look forward to this weekend in New York for many reasons. Certainly New York City is incredibly special during the holiday season. But its more than that. PA Society weekend is one of those rare times during the year when we come together not as Republicans and Democrats  not as business competitors  but as Pennsylvanians. Ironically, leaving Pennsylvania behind helps tremendously in this regard. We leave behind our competitive and often combative environments for a new festive and celebratory atmosphere.

All these years later, I am incredibly proud that The Pennsylvania Society represents community, civility, and charity  and that the Society is more diverse and welcoming than ever before. We are the longest-serving, member-driven organization of its kind anywhere in the nation. We are focused on expanding our younger members who benefit from mentorship and exposure to fellow Pennsylvanians they otherwise might not meet.

Civility, which is now rare, is demanded and expected. There is no question that getting outside of Pennsylvania  coming together to celebrate the Commonwealth we all love  is what Barr Ferree envisioned. We are keeping his legacy alive and well. And we are keeping PA Society Weekend in New York City.

Elizabeth Preate Havey, an attorney at Dilworth Paxson in Philadelphia, is president of The Pennsylvania Society.
The Suncor Energy Centre is pictured in downtown Calgary, Alta., Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. Federal officials gave leaders of major energy and utility firms a secret-level briefing on cybersecurity threats, one element of a concerted government effort to underscore the serious risks to the sector. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Ayman Bazaraa, CEO and co-Founder of Egypt-based e-learning and training solutions provider Sprints, won third place at the fifth edition of Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, which concluded on Friday in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

Sprint is an end-to-end service with a mission to bridge the tech talent gap. The company assesses and pairs talent with top-paying jobs, delivers customized learning journeys, and supports its clients' career growth.

Another Egyptian contestant, Mohamed Ali, CEO and founder of I Lock, also made it into the top 10 list.

I Lock, known previously as Power Lock, is an electrical safety company with a global presence and a range of products, including electrical accessories, multi sockets, and cables.

Over two days, 10 innovative entrepreneurs pitched their businesses core mission and described how they contribute to changing lives in the communities where they work.

ABHs top 10 finalists have achieved remarkable milestones, collectively raising over $153 million in investment, serving over 37.5 million customers and users, receiving $7 million in prize money, operating in 52 countries across Africa, creating over 123,000 direct and indirect jobs, and reporting revenues exceeding $252 million.

Sprint believes itself to be the only social enterprise in the Middle East and Africa that offers guaranteed hiring programmes where graduates only pay upon successful hiring, in zero percent interest payments over three years. In four years, it delivered more than 50,000 learning experiences, graduated more than 15,000 learners, and delivered over 1.3 million learning hours in the 13 most-in-demand technology fields. Based on the programmes objectives and duration, the companys prices range from $50 up to $400," Bazaraa told Ahram Online.

I Locks Ali told Ahram Online that it has plans to expand its business into other African countries. Egypt is suffering severe economic challenges, especially the weakness of the local currency, that put pressure on local entrepreneurs and startup owners, he added.

Yet, expansion can help these businesses overcome these challenges to grow, according to Ali.

The first-place winner was Ikpeme Neto, CEO and founder of health insurance service provider Wellahealth Technologies, from Nigeria.

Wellahealth works to increase affordable healthcare access across Africa using technology. They have created a network of 2,000 healthcare providers linked to 27 insurance companies, leading banks, telcos, and a network of sales agents, solving the problem of healthcare fragmentation.

Wellahealth has served over 130,000 patients, and it makes over $100,000 a month.

The second-place winner was Thomas Njeru, CEO and co-founder of Kenya's agriculture insurance provider Pula Advisors Limited.

It utilizes innovative technology to assess damages quickly and provides digital tools and advice to improve farming practices. It leverages partnerships with governments, insurers, and reinsurers to foster better cooperation.

Pula also forms insurance consortiums for risk transfer to global markets. It aims to enable all African farmers to access insurance and achieve yields similar to those of developed economies, sustaining their livelihoods.

The remaining seven entrepreneurs include Ismael Belkhayat, CEO and founder of Chari from Morocco.

Chari helps traditional local businesses cope with competition from large and medium-sized stores. Chari digitalizes points of sale by allowing them to source online, benefit from payment terms, and offer financial services to their end consumers. Chari delivers for free and in less than 24 hours to the points of sale, whatever their location, in town or the countryside. Chari educates points of sale to better understand and use technology and contributes to their digital and financial inclusion.

The list also involves Nthabiseng Mosia, CMO and co-founder of Easy Solar company from South Africa.

The company finances high-quality solar systems and appliances for those with limited or no access to the conventional grid. Customers can pay in weekly or monthly installments via cash or mobile payment.

Easy Solar has reached one million people and distributes through its extensive network of more than 400 agents and outlets across Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Christina Gyisun is the CEO and co-founder of Sommalife Limited from Ghana.

Sommalife uses its cutting-edge TreeSyt software to connect over 50,000 rural smallholder farmers to global food and cosmetic manufacturers, who pay premium prices for their commodities (shea nuts, shea butter, and soybeans).

Bola Bardet is the CEO and co-founder of the online healthcare services application Susu from Benin.

Susu provides digitally enhanced, full-service, and innovative healthcare solutions for the African diasporas families back home by allowing health insurance and care to be financed from anywhere in the world.

Its care packages are specifically designed to help vulnerable persons deal with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and pregnancy. It offers a yearly subscription, paid monthly, for a predictable and affordable cost.

Albert Munyabugingo is the CEO and co-founder of Rwanda-based retail services provider Vuba Vuba.

Vuba Vuba is a Rwandan mobile app that provides a convenient solution for Kigali, Musanze, and Rubavu residents to order meals and daily essentials to their homes or offices. Since 2020, its team of 31 full-time employees, 100 delivery riders, and 50 part-time workers have delivered over a million orders and continues to reach an average of 1,000 deliveries per day.

Vuba Vuba stands out in the market by not charging extra fees on top of the regular prices of products, only adding a delivery fee of $1.

Theo Baloyi is the CEO and founder of Bathu, one of South Africas leading sneaker brands. The idea for Bathu shoes came to Baloyi when he realized that Africa had no sneaker brand that authentically told the African story.

Bathu employs over 400 people in 35 stores across the county. The Bathu Care initiative has distributed over 50,000 pairs of school shoes and aims to increase that number to one million over the next 10 years.

The ten finalists are awarded a total of $1.5 million in grant funding. The winner secures $300,000, the first runner-up $250,000, and the second runner-up $150,000. The remaining seven finalists each receive $100,000; the remaining $100,000 is distributed among all finalists for additional training programmes post-competition.

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It has been a tale of two different universes as President Biden has been spending a nice holiday weekend with his family as Donald Trump is melting down on his failing social media platform.

Here is President Biden:

Small businesses are more than just the engines of our economy. Theyre the glue that hold our communities together. Shop small today, folks. pic.twitter.com/xnJeEEAUjp  President Biden (@POTUS) November 25, 2023

Here is how President Biden is spending part of Thanksgiving weekend, via the White House Pool Report as provided to PoliticusUSA on Friday:



At 4:08 pm POTUS walked out of Nantucket Books, arm and arm with Finnegan. He was carrying a book: Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson. Naomi was beside him.

He walked into Craftmasters of Nantucket at 4:12 pm and out at 4:19 pm. Jill Biden has joined the posse of Bidens walking in and out of shops.

POTUS paused at various shops to wave to people standing in the windows. Crowds are all all over the sidewalks waving and shouting Happy Birthday and Mr. President. He is waving back and has shouted Happy Thanksgiving.

At 4:22 pm he walked into the Jewelers Gallery. Hunter, Melissa and Baby Beau sat on a bench outside. He came out at 4:25 pm.

A group of kids had been waiting at a upstairs window in the building next to the jewelry store but an agent told them to close it. They came downstairs however and POTUS stopped to chat with them. They asked for a photo with POTUS. Hunter took it.

In the about 20 minutes POTUS walked about six blocks and made his way to the town square at 4:30 pm. The agents cleared the sidewalk before him, the presidential SUV trailed him and the pool was on the opposite sidewalk, weaving its way through civilians who were waving and taking pics of POTUS with their cell phones.

During POTUS jaunt, Melissa Cohen walked behind POTUS as did Hunter. Ashley Biden wore a headband with some kind of ears or decoration. Her husband Howard was carrying Baby Beau. Peter Neal is also walking in the group.

POTUS and Bidens are now at town square for the annual tree lighting. A choir is singing traditional carols.

This is how Donald Trump is spending his weekend on Truth Social posting things like this:

Andrew C. McCarthy: If youre a top executive at a financial institution that is heavily regulated by New York State, and you see how the state has gone after Trump hammer and tong in a transparently partisan vendetta, do you want to get on the wrong side of that? When you see that an elected-Democratic attorney general, aided and abetted by an elected-Democratic judge, is hellbent on putting Trump out of business and taking a quarter-billion dollars from him in a case where there are no victims, what makes you think they wouldnt come after you if you cross them? This is the business climate under woke-progressive, vindictive government.

Trump has also threatened to take away healthcare from 40 million Americans if he returns to the White House, and he attacked Forbes magazine for not believing his lies about his wealth.

The way the two men are spending their holiday weekends encapsulates the choice that voters will face in less than a year.

Do the American people want the low key throw back Americana competence of the Biden presidency, or do they want to return to divisive self-centered chaos of Trump?

Polls and talking heads can trying to quantify the election around numbers and issues, but the choice comes down to a simple question. In purely human terms, which of these two men do the majority of Americans want to spend the next four years?

The answer will define the direction and future of the nation.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High near 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Three stories, one theme:

David Morgan had a mile-long rap sheet when he was charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a felon for shooting up a nightclub parking lot. When he pleaded guilty in February 2017, his lawyer asked for a presentencing report  which is extremely rare for repeat offenders but which the judge granted.

The judge also agreed to release him under electronic monitoring while the report was completed. That didnt take long, York County Solicitor Kevin Brackett told a House panel earlier this month. But his lawyer was Rep. Todd Rutherford, and Mr. Rutherford was able to use the legislative clock to keep himself and his client out of the courtroom until March 2018.

When Mr. Morgan was finally sentenced to a surprisingly brief three years in prison, he got credit for more than a year he sat in his living room rather than in a jail cell.

State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis had several cases on the criminal docket when he showed up in Judge Roger Youngs courtroom in September 2021. The surprised judge said he thought he wouldnt be able to hear the solicitors motion to revoke bond for one of the lawmakers clients because he had invoked what the court calls legislative immunity.

Mr. Stavrinakis said that was correct, and the judge asked why he was there. Because he wanted to represent a client who was pleading guilty but not the ones at risk of having their bond revoked. And under an extraordinary court order granting lawyer-legislators immunity from court during the legislative session  and year-round during the pandemic  the judge couldnt force Mr. Stavrinakis to represent his other clients that day.

Before continuing, Judge Young told the lawmaker: I havent seen the order on that, but that doesnt seem (like its) in the spirit of things.

Hes right about that, as Orangeburg County Solicitor David Pascoe said when he testified as a tag team with Mr. Brackett. How do you think the optics of that exchange are for the court, solicitors in the room, defense attorneys, defendants and victims? Mr. Pascoe asked. I know youre a judge, but you cant lock my client up today on a bond revocation no matter how bad the facts because Im a legislator.
A supply-chain software startup spun out of the Medical University of South Carolina is investing $220,000 to relocate its headquarters to Charleston's Historic District and expand its payroll.

QuicksortRx Inc. said it plans to add 41 jobs over the next three years.

The health-care technology firm will be moving to downtown's French Quarter. It will swap out its existing space in the Charleston Tech Center on Morrison Drive to a larger 4,000-square-foot office at 2 Cumberland St., a block south of Market Street, to accommodate new hires and hold on-site conferences for customers.

Charleston is an amazing city to live and work in," QuicksortRx co-founder and CEO Jonathan Yantis said in a written statement. "Im lucky to call this my hometown, and we couldnt ask for a better place to grow a company. It also helps that talented people want to move here."

Yantis and business partner Matt Hebbard launched the business within the MUSC Innovation Center on upper Meeting Street in 2016.

Their initial goal was to create a software platform that would allow the state hospital system to track its pharmaceutical supply chain in real time and make purchasing adjustments to help lower medication expenses. They saw an opening in 2019 for a standalone business that would provide the same service to other medical providers.

The company was spun off as AscendRx before being renamed in 2020. MUSC remains a primary backer.

According to its website, the firm has helped clients save more than $80 million.

Its a terrific success story, said Ernest Andrade, executive director of the Charleston Digital Corridor, a technology-focused economic development group that doubles as the company's landlord on the upper peninsula.

Other investors in QuicksortRx are Shawn Jenkins and Steve Swanson, who were named to the board of directors in mid-2021 after pumping an undisclosed amount of capital into the company.

Jenkins is co-founder and onetime CEO of Benefitfocus Inc., a former publicly traded Charleston software business that's now part of New York-based Voya Financial. He also donated $25 million toward the construction of the children's hospital that now bears his name at MUSC.
A new senior care development is planned as part of a 9,000-acre mixed-use community in the Charleston area.

Plans recently submitted to the city show a 450-unit continuing care residential center proposed for a 37-acre parcel on the north side of Clements Ferry Road. The site is across from the Publix-anchored shopping center in Point Hope.

The facility is slated to have 378 independent and assisted living units and 72 memory care rooms in the second phase of Restore at Point Hope.

The first phase calls for 92 single-family units and 66 single-family attached units on 92 acres for senior housing.

The Berry Co. of Mount Pleasant is listed as the developer. A representative of the firm did not respond for a request for comment.

Plans for both projects are now making their way through the city's approval process.

New townhomes

The developer of the 5,000-acre Nexton master-planned community recently banked land in Goose Creek for a homebuilder that plans to build several hundred townhomes.

An affiliate of California-based Brookfield Residential paid $10.73 million for 40 acres along Planet Road off St. James Avenue.

Brookfield bought the land for Texas-based D.R. Horton, which can build up to 456 townhomes on the property, according to Goose Creek economic development director Rob Wiggins.
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Planned upscale bar to replace former dining venue

The owner of a North Charleston dining venture recently sold the business to a new entity that plans to open a high-end bar at the leased site.

Mike Tuttle sold the business operations of Coney Island Hot Weiners at 4258 Spruill Ave. to Bar Specialists LLC, owned by Kaloni Chaney and a business partner.

The business and the fixture and furnishings changed hands for $180,000, according to Jim Moring, who handled the transaction for the buyer, seller and the property owner, an affiliate of Charleston businessman David Abdo.

Moring said the restaurant closed recently, and the new owners, who took over the remaining six years of the lease for the 1,950-square-foot site, plan to open during the next few months.
Its been a wild and wonderful fall cultural season, careering from resplendent Charleston Symphony concerts to smart, artful theatrical works, from mind-blowing exhibitions to ambitious operatic undertakings.

Now, Im rearing to switch gears to the dulcet, nostalgia-laced notes of holiday classics. I crave a balletic confection from a few cracks at The Nutcracker. I hanker to see Scrooge follow a spirit-facilitated light by way of Charleston Stages A Christmas Carol. Im even game for the transformation of Charlie Browns scrappy little tree, via a staged production at the Gaillard.

As you polish off that leftover turkey-stuffing-cranberry sandwich, whet your appetite for Charlestons holiday parade of dance and theater productions that are sure to lift your seasonal spirits.

Let it Show: Seasonal Theater

Nov. 26, The Footlight Players continues its Speakeasy series with A Holiday Happening with Tonya Nicole, with the popular chanteuse who blends gospel, jazz, R&B and funk into her sultry rendition of holiday classics. Joined by Jonathan Lovett on piano and Tim Khayat on bass, shell deliver hits by Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Miller, Eartha Kitt and others. The limited-seat performance takes place at 8 p.m. in the lobby of Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen St. For tickets, visit footlightplayers.net.

Charleston Stage is ready to get Scrooged with its annual A Christmas Carol. Last year it rolled out a resplendent new set and costumes, which add much to this treasured Charleston tradition. Performances run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22 at Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. For tickets and information, visit charlestonstage.com.

From Dec. 1 through 17, Flowertown Players presents Miracle on 34th Street, a contemporary spin on the beloved film, which is based on the novel by Valentine Davis. In short: When a skeptical New York questions the authenticity of a Macys Kris Kringle, miracles may well happen. The show takes place at the James F. Dean Community Theatre, 133 S. Main St. For tickets and information, visit flowertownplayers.org.
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott has many admirable qualities that would have made him a compelling presidential candidate in another year. Still, given the state of the Republican race, his decision to drop out of the GOP primary should be welcomed. Read moreCommentary: Do the right thing, like Tim Scott
FLORENCE  When conductor Terry Roberts and ballerina Susan Rowe met in Monaco some years ago, they didn't have any idea they would be working together as husband and wife in South Carolina on productions of "The Nutcracker."

For the past five years, the couple has combined their talents to help mount a show different from other junior performances of "The Nutcracker."

Its extremely uncommon for a preprofessional ballet company to have a live orchestra, Rowe said. Its kind of unheard of.

Since Rowe and Roberts have been working together on "The Nutcracker," the Florence Symphony Orchestra has played the music live while the South Carolina Dance Theatre performed.

Every ballet dancer in the company is 5-17 years old. What makes a ballet with live music so different is how much it challenges the dancers to listen closely, Rowe said. When performing to a recording, the music always will be the same.

I dont water down the choreography, Rowe said.

The dancers have been rehearsing for the upcoming performance since late August. The orchestra has had less time to practice.

This year the dates to see "The Nutcracker" are Dec. 1-2.

The Dec. 1 performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and the Dec. 2 showing starts at 2 p.m. Both will take place at Francis Marion University's Performing Arts Center in downtown Florence.

After COVID started in 2020, attendance for live performances declined, which is why there will only be two performances. Roberts and Rowe anticipate adding a third performance next year.

Its kind of a timeless story, Rowe said. (Clara) falls asleep and her uncle Drosselmeyer gives her a nutcracker, and she dreams that the nutcracker comes to life and the mice become life-size so its really cute  its just cute.

It has become kind of a Christmas tradition in the United States, Roberts said.

Rowe was born in Wyoming and Roberts was born in Oklahoma. Both have lived all over the states but met in Monaco when Rowe was the ballet mistress of the Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Roberts was first horn for the orchestra philharmonic.
Today comes word that Derek Chauvin has been attacked and seriously injured by another inmate in federal prison. John wrote about the stabbing and commented on the Chauvin case here earlier this morning.

Somethings happening here. What it is is pretty clear.

When Derek Chauvin filed an appeal of his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, a funny thing happened on the way to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Chauvin lost his lawyer. At trial Chauvin had been represented by a single (overmatched) attorney, Eric Nelsonassisted by a young associateassigned to represent him from a limited roster of attorneys on call through the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers insurance program. However, Chauvins insurance did not cover the appeal and he was denied a public defender.

I put out a call on Power Line for some Minnesota attorney to step forward and represent Chauvin on appeal in Derek Chauvin needs a lawyer. Minneapolis attorney Bill Mohrman responded to the call. Bill represented Chauvin in the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Both the Minnesota and U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvins appeal. The U.S. Supreme Courts denial of Chauvins petition for certiorari was filed this past Monday. Alpha News editor Anthony Gockowski covered the denial here.

I viewed the trial proceedings from the media center set up in the Thrivent Financial Building across the street from the courthouse. The court set up the media center in the buildings auditorium. I saw the scene outside the courthouse up close and I thought that Chauvin was tried in a lynch-mob atmosphere that precluded a fair trial. I wrote about that aspect of the case, most recently, in the City Journal review/essay The anti-cop attorney general.

Alpha News reporter Liz Collin has now produced the film The Fall of Minneapolis. The film is based on Lizs Amazon bestseller Theyre Lying: The Media, The Left, and The Death of George Floyd. The book and the film provide a contrarian take on the prevailing narrative surrounding George Floyds death and the trial of Derek Chauvin as well as a powerful portrait of the consequences for Minneapolis.

Alpha News supported free distribution of the film on social media for maximum viewership. Viewers can contribute to support Alphas work and help promote the film here. I have posted the film via Rumble below.

The films portrayal of the aftermath is devastating. The contrast that emerges between the many former Minneapolis police officers who speak up on camera and the feckless politicians who called the shots  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other officials including former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo  could not be starker.

Liz appeared briefly on Megyn Kellys SiriusXM show last week along with director J.C. Chaix to discuss the film. Video of Megyns segment with Liz and Dr. Chaix is embedded in the Alpha News story on the premiere and available here on Megyns YouTube channel. Earlier this week Liz appeared on Fox News Channels Jesse Watters Primetime to talk about the movie. Posted here on YouTube, the interview is preceded by a powerful excerpt of the film.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on the international community to recognize the Palestinian State and admit it to the United Nations, during a press conference with the Prime Ministers of Spain and Belgium on Friday.

Sisi said that the revival of the two-state solution idea over 30 years hasn't yielded significant progress.

"There is a need for a different approach, one that involves the international community's recognition of a Palestinian state and its entry into the United Nations," he added.

The State of Palestine attained recognition as an observer state of the United Nations General Assembly in November 2012.

"The only solution to the Palestinian issue," as explained by El-Sisi, is "the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, within the borders of 4 June (1967), with East Jerusalem as its capital."

El-Sisi expressed readiness to accept a demilitarized Palestinian state, potentially with the presence of international forceswhether from NATO, the United Nations, or American or Arab forcesto guarantee security for both the Palestinian and Israeli states.

 :              #__2024#__#_ pic.twitter.com/NNUHpD5u91  ON (@ONTVEgy) November 24, 2023

Regarding Egypt's stance on Palestinians' displacement from Gaza, El-Sisi adamantly reiterated, "We will not permit the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip."

He emphasized, "I sensed a genuine and real understanding by the international community on our rejection of the displacement issue."

The Egyptian president, whose country brokered a ceasefire in Gaza alongside Qatar and the United States, voiced his hope for the extension of the ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of continuous humanitarian aid to the strip.

El-Sisi detailed that his tripartite discussions with the Prime Ministers of Belgium and Spain focused on the provision of adequate aid to Gazans and the establishment of safe zones across the Strip.

The President also explained how Egypt has helped citizens from over 30 countries exit the Gaza Strip, contributing significantly to regional stability.

He proudly declared, "Cairo has provided 70 percent of the aid that entered the Gaza Strip, underscoring the nation's substantial role in supporting the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians."

El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to the continuous operation of the Rafah border crossing for the delivery of aid. "Rafah Crossing has not and will not close," he stressed.

For his part, the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez asserted that a permanent truce must be achieved in Gaza alongside the continuous flow of humanitarian assistance into the Strip.

Sanchez emphasized the importance of reaching a two-state solution, explaining that it will not be easy to achieve, but is essential to pursue to resolve the century-old Israeli-Arab conflict.

The Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo also stressed the importance of achieving a permanent truce in Gaza and providing more humanitarian aid to the Strip.

He thanked Egypt for evacuating more than 100 Belgians from the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, he demanded Israel open more border crossings for the entry of more humanitarian aid.

De Croo also announced that he will visit the Rafah border crossing along with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez on Friday.

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Cliff May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a columnist for the Washington Times. He is a veteran reporter, foreign correspondent, and editor for the New York Times and other publications. Cliffs current column is The unmaking of the United Nations (at FDD, where it is posted with links). Cliff has kindly given us his permission to post his column on Power Line. He writes:

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres observed last month that Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israelis did not happen in a vacuum. Hes not wrong.

But what he neglected to mention are the multiple ways the U.N. encouraged Hamass orgy of mass murder, rape, and child-stealing; the U.N.s efforts to demonize and delegitimize Israel; and its campaign to make Israel an international scapegoat, whipping boy, and pariah.

Id trace this campaign back to 1975, when the Soviet Union led the U.N. General Assembly to adopt a resolution calling Zionism a form of racism.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Daniel Patrick Moynihan rose to declare that this is a lie and to denounce that the abomination of antisemitism has been given the appearance of international sanction, and to state unequivocally that the United States does not acknowledge, it will not abide by, it will never acquiesce in this infamous act.

Ambassador Moynihan understood that, prior to 1948, Zionism was the movement in support of self-determination for the Jewish people in part of their ancestral homeland which had been, for millennia, under the rule of foreign empires.

Since Israels declaration of independence, Zionism has meant supporting Israels right not to be annihilated. And lets acknowledge the obvious: The disestablishment of Israel would require genocide.

In 1991, the U.N. underwent a moment of sanity: 111 nations voted to revoke the Zionism is racism resolution, with only 25 nations, mostly Islamic and hard-line Communists, as The New York Times reported, voting against.

That reflected the shifting political currents of recent years, the Persian Gulf war in particular, which split the Arab and Islamic worlds, and the changes in the former Soviet bloc, fostered by the collapse of Communism.

Before long, however, the Jew-haters were back. On September 22, 2001, the U.N. staged an anti-racism conference in Durban, South Africa that morphed into a festival of Jew-hatred.

Participants held up signs reading: For the liberation of Quds [Jerusalem] machine-guns based upon FAITH and ISLAM must be used! and The martyrs blood irrigates the tree of revolution in Palestine! and Down with Nazi-Israeli apartheid!

American and Israeli representatives walked out. But the U.N. has stuck to its guns, so to speak. Theres been a Durban II, III, and IV.

And, at the 20th-anniversary gala in 2021 in New York City Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declared: Im honored to announce that my nations willpower is dedicated to the total elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, including apartheid and Zionism.

I need to note how ludicrous is the apartheid charge. Israeli Arabs  about 20% of the countrys population  have political parties, vote, and hold office. Jewish and Arab students matriculate in the same universities. Jewish and Arab doctors work together in Israeli hospitals. Israeli Arabs volunteer to serve in the Israel Defense Forces.

As for Gazans, theyve been ruled by Hamas since 2007 two years after Israelis withdrew from that territory. The only Jews in Gaza are hostages.

Palestinians in the West Bank are governed by the Palestinian Authority. Israeli civilians are barred from entering Palestinian cities. Israeli troops enter only to battle terrorists.

To see apartheid in practice, you need only visit Mr. Amir-Abdollahians country where Bahai, Christians, Sunni Arabs, and other minorities face intense discrimination and persecution, and women are maimed and murdered for not properly covering their hair.

Yet last week, Martin Griffiths, the top U.N. humanitarian aid official, met with Mr. Amir-Abdollahian to discuss the situation in Gaza.

And last month Tehran became chair of a U.N. human rights forum  appointed by the president of the U.N. Human Rights Council, which has become a club for human rights abusers.

Also last month, the U.N. General Assembly failed to pass a resolution condemning Hamass most recent war crimes.

Other U.N. agencies that are soft on Hamas include the WHO (World Health Organization); the U.N. Office on Genocide Prevention; and UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency), a welfare agency that employs Hamas members and confers refugee status on the millions of descendants of the 1948 Arab war against Israel. This definition of refugee applies nowhere else in the world.

Francesca Albanese, the U.N.s Special Rapporteur on Palestine, argues that Israel has no right of self-defense because Gaza is a land it colonizes  ignoring the fact that Jews lived in Gaza centuries before armies from Arabia conquered and colonized the territory. Also, as noted above, all Israelis left Gaza in 2005.

And then theres Navi Pillay, who heads the U.N. Commission of Inquiry, a sort of Spanish Inquisition charged with blood libeling Israel in perpetuity. She claims Israelis have no right to defend themselves because the International Criminal Court opined that self-defense is limited to combating state actors, not terrorist groups. Hamass response to that opinion: We salute the courts decision.

The U.N.s hostility toward Israel is augmented by its incompetence. One example: After the 2006 war in Lebanon, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 1701, establishing a multinational force to disarm Hezbollah in the territory adjacent to Israels border. Hezbollah has since installed tens of thousands of missiles in that territory with no serious objections  much less actions  by the U.N. Hundreds of those missiles have been fired at Israel since Oct. 7.

The United Nations came into existence in October 1945, in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust. It was meant to maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law.

It consistently fails to accomplish those missions.

Instead, it has become the handmaiden of Islamic supremacists, Chinese Communists, Russian imperialists, and Palestinian terrorists.

No good can come from failing to recognize this disappointing reality.

SCOTT adds: See John Boltons memoir Surrender Is Not an Option at 40-43 for the story behind the repeal of the UNs odious Zionism is racism resolution.
On October 7, Gaza murdered 31 Americans and is believed to have kidnapped 13 more, including a three-year-old child. Yesterday an initial exchange of hostages for prisoners was carried out. Ten Thais and one Filipino were let go, but no Americans were released:

The U.S. does not know when the Americans held hostage would be released or all of their conditions, Mr. Biden said.

We dont know what their conditions might be, because they have been held incommunicado by murderous, anti-American thugs for more than a month and a half.

This is a disgrace. The U.S. currently has two Carrier Strike Groups, bearing almost unimaginable striking power, in the eastern Mediterranean. If our president were not a senile, half-witted fool, he would have told Hamas long ago that if all Americans were not freed within 12 hours, Gaza would be reduced to rubble. Not to mention that Gaza would never get another nickel of American money.

I am not much of a fan of Donald Trump, but that is what he would have done, and the American hostages would have been free within days after they were kidnapped. Joe Bidens utter failure in the current crisis is one of the worst of his sad term in office. Remarkably, I have seen no criticism of his ineptitude in the press. I understand that reporters and editors are doing their best to protect the Democratic Party in the upcoming election, but their silence is a dereliction of duty almost on a par with Bidens.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-25 02:07:09

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 24, 2023 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) announces that it will be entering into a debenture and interest settlement agreement with an arm's length creditor of the Company (the "Creditor") to settle an aggregate of $2,581,096 in convertible debentures and interest (the "Debt"). In settlement of the Debt the Company will issue the Creditor:162,192 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Settlement Shares") at a deemed price of $0.50 per Settlement Share; andan unsecured convertible debenture with a principal amount of $2,500,000 (the "Settlement Debenture", and together with the Settlement Shares, the "Settlement Securities").The Settlement Debenture will be convertible, at the option of the Creditor, into common shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") at a price of $0.50 per Share (the "Conversion Price"). Further, the Settlement Debenture will mature and be repayable on the date that is one year from the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"), and bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum until maturity, which will be calculated and payable semi-annually on the last day of June and December in each year. The Company will have the right to pay all accrued and unpaid interest either in cash or in Shares at the Conversion Price, in its sole discretion.The terms of the Settlement Debenture further provide that the Company may from time to time, at the Company's option, prepay all or part of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest without penalty or bonus. Conversion of the Settlement Debenture may be forced at the option of the Company if the 15-day volume weighted average price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange exceeds 250% of the Conversion Price.Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord") acted as the Company's advisor in connection with the settlement of the Debt. As consideration for its advisory services, the Company has agreed to issue Canaccord:125,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Advisory Shares") at a deemed price of $0.55 per Advisory Share; and125,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Advisory Warrants", and together with the Advisory Shares, the "Advisory Securities"), each of which is exercisable by Canaccord to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (an "Advisory Warrant Share") at a price of $0.55 per Advisory Warrant Share for a period of one year from the date of issuance.The Settlement Securities, the Advisory Securities, and any securities issued upon conversion thereof, will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws.The securities of the Company referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience accelerator focused on nextgeneration drug formulations and delivery systems, diagnostic screening tests, and new active pharmaceutical production and evaluation, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, lowcost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization and clinical evaluation of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets.BioNxt Solutions Inc.Hugh Rogers, CEO and DirectorEmail: info@ bionxt.comPhone: +1 780-818-6422This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.
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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / November 24, 2023 / Chowis Company ("Chowis"), a specialist in skin, hair and scalp diagnostic solutions, has teamed up with global Pierre Fabre Laboratories to launch the new technology Dermoprime. This multi-type diagnostic system can analyse the skin, hair and scalp by simply changing the lens and by using "Here to Care", a professional software that provides scientific analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Dermoprime is already deployed and in use in France, Spain, Austria, and will be registered for deployment in a total of nine countries by the end of the year.Pierre Fabre Chowis Pierre Fabre Chowis Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the world's 2nd largest dermo-cosmetics company. Its dermocosmetic portfolio includes global dermocosmetics brands such as, Eau Thermale Avene, Klorane, Rene Furterer, Ducray to mention only those available in Asia.Chowis Company, which was selected by Pierre Fabre, has an exceptional history of collaborating with global companies with its unique technology since its inception in 2012. Last year, the company solidified its position in the industry by introducing an unmanned kiosk-type diagnostic system and winning the CES 2023 Innovation Award for its ultra-compact AI mobile skin diagnostic system. This year, in particular, the company has made a name for itself in the global market through various collaborations, exhibition participation, and awards. As confirmed, Chowis has completed the delivery of its unique diagnostic solution to the Pierre Fabre Laboratories, which includes diagnostic devices and programs. The chosen solution is Dermoprime, a multi-type diagnostic system that can diagnose the skin, hair and scalp by simply changing the lens. Due to its efficiency, DermoPrime is used professionally by laboratories, clinics, and cosmetic brands. Given that Pierre Fabre wanted to support and use Chowis' diagnostic solutions across all brands in the group that care for the skin, hair, and scalp, they chose the most efficient and versatile solution.The accompanying diagnostic program, "Here to Care," is a professional software that provides scientific analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as well as features such as a customer management system and cloud data security. In particular, the software is provided by exclusively customizing the 'DermoBella 2 evo' used in conjunction with DermoPrime according to the unique concept of the Pierre Fabre Laboratories, which is expected to further strengthen the brand image.Ryan, CEO of CHOWIS declares: "Experience is an irreplaceable asset and a source of competitive advantage. We expect that our step with a global company like Pierre Fabre will be a new asset for the company, and we believe that our unique diagnostic technology will grow even more." Tom EL-BEZ, Chief Digital Officer Consumers & Patients Activation department - Dermo-Cosmetique & Personal Care explains:  Pierre Fabre & Chowis have been working closely together to provide best in class for in-store experience based on insightful diagnosis backed by science, expressed through unique devices that empower our beauty advisors to respond to ever-evolving consumer request for expertise and unique experiences. About Chowis Company:Chowis Company specializes in software development based on optical and sensor technology, hardware, big data, and AI models for skin, hair, and scalp diagnostic technology. Founded in 2012 with the goal of bringing "Science to Home" while creating smart and mobile skin and hair solutions, the company established a corporate research institute. Collaborating with experts and researchers worldwide, Chowis Company continuously generates ideas and implements the latest hardware and software content development.For more detailed information about Chowis Company's diagnostic solutions, you can visit www.chowis.com CONTACT:Press contact: chowis@ chowis.com SOURCE: Chowis
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Moore Marine College Is Redefining Learning Beyond Classroom WallsCLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 24, 2023 / According to many experts, higher education has long needed a substantial overhaul as colleges and universities often fail to adequately prepare students for the real-world challenges they'll face upon graduation. Forbes highlighted this issue by emphasizing the struggle faced by learners and employers alike, with companies struggling to find candidates equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the current economy.Among the institutions aiming to bridge this gap is Moore Marine College, a private four-year college in Clearwater, Florida, offering three different degree programs centered around marine biology. At this institution, students aren't confined to traditional classroom settings alone. The students engage in a multifaceted learning approach that includes lectures, labs, and perhaps most importantly, hands-on field experiences alongside their professors.The college founder, Alan Moore, says Moore Marine College was conceived from the realization of the importance of practical exposure for biology students. "I understood the urgent need for these students to gain practical, real-world experience to flourish in their field," Moore reflects. "Thus, I took the initiative to acquire a boat and establish a marine education and research academy." Moore firmly advocates for a blend of education and experience to optimize the college years for students, eliminating the necessity for prolonged internships or low-paying jobs post-graduation.In the context of STEM degrees, such as marine biology, there has been a notable surge in graduates from American institutions since 2010, as reported by Pew Research. The foreseeable job market indicates substantial growth in STEM occupations, with an estimated 1.7 million job openings. This surge reflects an increasing preference for STEM fields among higher education seekers, signaling a shift in educational inclinations and career aspirations.However, the critical question remains, how can colleges and universities better prepare students for their careers? Places like Moore Marine College's approach centers on the fusion of education and practical experience, aiming to address the financial constraints of students who cannot afford extensive post-graduation internships or unpaid job training. The institution prides itself on providing an innovative educational framework that not only prepares graduates for a career but also enables them to excel in their chosen fields.In addressing the current landscape of higher education, a resounding call for change emerges. Colleges and universities have long grappled with the challenge of adequately equipping students for the professional world upon graduation. The traditional classroom setup, while valuable, often falls short of offering the hands-on, real-world experiences that have become indispensable for navigating modern career pathways effectively.Experiential learning ensures graduates are not just academically ready but adept in navigating the demands of their chosen professions. This paradigm shift is crucial to prepare students comprehensively, enabling them to thrive and innovate in an ever-evolving global landscape.ABOUT MOORE MARINE COLLEGEMoore Marine College is a new four-year private college in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by Alan Moore on the belief that education combined with field experience provides the most comprehensive training for aspiring marine biologists. No other college offers the level of field experience that MMC offers its students, committed that that is the difference when graduates are applying for higher degrees or careers. For more information, visit www.mooremarinecollege.com . For additional information, visit Moore Marine College on Facebook or Instagram.CONTACTAlan Mooreinfo@ mooremarinecollege.com727-454-5770 SOURCE: Moore Marine College
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Callaghan O'Connor & Oak Bay Group complete sale of Uplands mansion that sets new price record on Vancouver IslandVICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2023 /Historic Sale Sets New Record in Oak Bay's Real Estate MarketIn a historic moment for Oak Bay's real estate market, an extraordinary 11,900-square-foot waterfront mansion located in the prestigious Uplands neighborhood has fetched a record-breaking sale price of $13.195 million. This remarkable achievement not only underscores the appeal of Oak Bay's luxury properties but also establishes a new benchmark for the Greater Victoria area's real estate market.The Epitome of Luxury LivingThe mansion, situated at 3155 Beach Drive, captivated the attention of buyers worldwide with its timeless and elegant design, boasting beautiful hand-crafted finishing and appointments throughout. The property features five generously sized bedroom suites, each luxuriously appointed, and eight bathrooms. The well-designed layout caters to both large-scale entertaining and relaxed family living, making it the quintessential residence for those seeking the ultimate in luxury.A Global AttractionThe sale, facilitated by the esteemed listing agent Lisa Williams of Sotheby's International Realty Canada and buying agent Callaghan O'Connor of EXP, also saw interest from prospective buyers not only across Canada but also from the United States and around the world. This level of global interest speaks to the allure of Victoria's waterfront real estate and the caliber of properties that Oak Bay has to offer.Setting Records and Raising the BarThe sale of 3155 Beach Drive sets a new record within the realm of MLS-listed properties in the Greater Victoria area, surpassing the previous record set just a year ago when a property in Metchosin at 529 Swanwick Rd. changed hands for $12 million. The Swanwick property featured a remarkable 10,500-square-foot house that had received architectural awards.Callaghan O'Connor: Elevating Oak Bay Group to New HeightsOne of the facets of this historic transaction lies in the fact that it was orchestrated by Callaghan O'Connor, an esteemed figure within the realm of real estate. This achievement serves to further cement Oak Bay Group's prominent standing as one of the preeminent firms in the province specializing in luxury real estate. Remarkably, Oak Bay Group now lays claim to an impressive five entries within the top 10 record-breaking sales in the distinguished Oak Bay district. This resounding success stands as a testament to their steadfast dedication to the pursuit of excellence and their consistent capacity to yield exceptional outcomes in the exclusive high-end real estate market.Notably, Callaghan O'Connor continues to lead the way in sales within the prestigious Uplands neighborhood of British Columbia, affirming his reputation as a trailblazer in this esteemed locale.It's worth noting that the record applies specifically to MLS-listed properties. Notably, a property on Towner Park Road in North Saanich, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed during the winter of 2019, was listed for $18 million in 2012 but was not marketed within MLS, and the actual selling price remained undisclosed.The Pinnacle of Luxury LivingThe current highest-listed price for a house in the capital region on MLS is $16.75 million for a property located at 8338 West Saanich Rd. This property, once owned by the now-disgraced investment adviser Ian Thow, offers a large waterfront property with a 20-meter-long dock, a helipad, and a two-bedroom guest house. In recognition of its exceptional design and features, the house received an award from the Canadian Homebuilders' Association in 1999 for being the best single-family detached home of more than 3,500 square feet.The Future of Luxury Real Estate in Oak BayThe historic sale of 3155 Beach Drive not only sets a new standard but also paves the way for the future of luxury real estate in Oak Bay. As discerning buyers continue to seek out exclusive properties along the waterfront, Oak Bay remains a premier destination for those in search of the finest in luxury living.Visit SOURCE: Oak Bay Group
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-25 01:17:09

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Hedge Security Solutions Provides Proactive Security Plans to Prevent Crisis, Not Just React to ItHUNTSVILLE, AL / ACCESSWIRE / November 24, 2023 / In recent times, the United States has been gripped by an alarming escalation in mass shootings, setting a disconcerting pace that seems destined to rival historical records. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the nation has already surpassed 600 mass shootings in the current year, marking an ominous trajectory of rising violence. Notably, these tragic incidents have struck at the very heart of educational institutions, with numerous shootings occurring within schools.As reported by CNN, the statistics present a grim reality that there have been at least 71 school shootings documented in the United States this year alone, as of November 9, 2023. This analysis, drawing data from reputable sources like Education Week, Everytown for Gun Safety, and the Gun Violence Archive, reveals a distressing pattern that 24 of these incidents unfolded within college campuses, while the remaining 47 took place within K-12 school premises. The toll is harrowing, with at least 33 lives lost and over 79 individuals left wounded in the wake of these tragedies.Amidst these troubling trends, the pressing question lingers: how does society forge a path forward in the face of such pervasive violence?One business, Hedge Security Solutions, offers a proactive stance in mitigating these threats by equipping individuals and organizations with the necessary tools to safeguard lives. The company's mission revolves around empowering various entities including schools, businesses, and places of worship to institute robust safety measures.Michelle Cummings, a seasoned Army Veteran and Managing Director of Hedge Security Solutions, spearheads a proactive approach to preventing violent incidents through comprehensive security measures, crime prevention assessments, and staff training for diverse organizations. Cummings asserts, "Waiting until it's too late is never an option. Proactive prevention is what's needed today to fortify facilities against potential intruders, equip staff with the skills needed to avert a crisis, and keep people safe in this era." The National Center for Education Statistics underlines the profound impact of violent incidents within educational settings, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences on both the school populace and the wider community. The surge in violent school shootings and tragic losses of young lives underscores the urgency for proactive measures to prevent such catastrophes.Hedge Security Solutions, among others, advocates for heightened awareness and tailored security enhancements as the linchpin in fortifying institutions. Cummings stresses the importance of a cohesive security approach, stating, "Each security enhancement must seamlessly complement the other, creating a unified defense mechanism. It's not just about optics, it's about practical effectiveness." In a world marred by escalating violence, the call to action is clear to provide a collective effort to prioritize preparedness, vigilance, and a proactive approach in averting further tragedies. There is an urgency for robust security protocols and continuous training, fostering an environment where safety is a paramount concern for all.ABOUT HEDGE SECURITY SOLUTIONSHedge Security Solutions provides security solutions for any organization to enhance the overall safety of students, employees, volunteers, and customers. They offer a proactive approach to security and believe the best defense is a good offense. Managing Director Michelle Cummings is an Army Veteran, who created the company to investigate every aspect of a company's security plan to help them keep their people safe. For more information, visit www.hedgesecuritysolutions.com . For additional information, visit Hedge Security Solutions on Facebook or LinkedIn.CONTACTMichelle Cummingscontact@ hedgesecuritysolutions.com256-274-4164 Source: Hedge Security Solution
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the top global trade association of airlines, has again criticised Nigeria and other African countries for not allowing international airlines to repatriate their profits.

The group said trapped funds in African countries is currently estimated at $1.68 billion, noting that this perennial challenge is impeding the growth and development of air transportation on the continent.

IATA expressed its concerns this week while meeting with delegates at the 55th yearly general assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), in Entebbe, Uganda.

Similarly, the organisation urged Nigeria and other African countries to avoid imposing higher fees, levies, carbon taxes or new taxes on air transport, trade or tourism amidst their inability to repatriate their funds.

$1.68 billion in airline funds remain blocked across the continent. This is despite repatriation from Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe through IATAs working with the respective governments, it noted.

Meanwhile, as of August, report indicated that foreign airlines fund trapped in Nigeria stood at $793 million amidst foreign exchange scarcity.

Of this figure, $300 million is said to be legacy debt, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken, but yet to be remitted to IATA on behalf of the airlines.

In August last year, IATA lamented airlines trapped funds in Nigeria rose to $464 million (N199.2 billion) in July 2022.

Disturbing trend

In his remarks, IATAs Regional Vice-President for Africa and Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, told AFRAA delegates that as of September 2023, $1.68 billion of airline funds were blocked across Africa out of $2.36 billion globally.

The numbers are alarming and the impact of this on connectivity is devastating, he said, reiterating that aviation is capital intensive, and cash flow is key for airlines business sustainability.

The official explained that since airlines are not able to repatriate their funds, it severely impacts their operations and decisions on where to fly.

However, Mr Alawadhi said the risk of blocked funds is not limited to just airlines but that the negative impact extends to the countries blocking the funds.

It impacts the countrys economy and its connectivity, and it hurts investor confidence and reputation. Aviation is not only an economic enabler, it is a pillar of modern economies,  he explained , urging governments to prioritise aviation and find sustainable solutions in the clearing of blocked funds.

High cost of operations

The Vice-President said further that Africas aviation industry is still recovering from significant losses due to the pandemic and that to make up for this shortfall, governments should avoid higher fees, levies, carbon taxes or new taxes regime.

These concerns would only make air travel more expensive and less accessible in Africa, where the average airfare is already 30 per cent higher than the industry average and the jet fuel cost is 10 to 20 per cent higher than the global average, he said.

Higher costs would discourage customers who are sensitive to prices, resulting in lower demand and revenue for airlines and other stakeholders in the aviation sector, such as airports, ground handlers, suppliers and air navigation services, Mr Alawadhi said.

He added: High cost leads to high price, which reduces demand and growth in a price elastic market, and ultimately affects connectivity negatively.

The message is clear: governments should follow the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) policies on charges and infrastructure and consult with airlines and industry to ensure a fair and cost-effective operational environment that benefits a more connected continent.

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Nigerias central bank governor, Olayemi Cardoso, on Friday, said the apex bank would direct deposit money banks in the country to increase their capital towards achieving the countrys $1 trillion economy plan.

The apex bank governor made this known on Friday while delivering his keynote address at the 58th Annual Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Lagos.

President Bola Tinubu had in October said that a $1 trillion Nigerian economy is possible by 2026, and a $3 trillion economy is possible within this decade.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Cardoso explained that Nigerian banks do not have sufficient capital relative to the financial systems needs in servicing a $1 trillion economy in the near future unless action is taken.

He said considering the policy imperatives and the projected economic growth, it is crucial to evaluate the adequacy of the banking industry to serve the envisioned larger economy.

It is not just about the stability of the financial system in the present moment, as we have already established that the current assessment shows stability.

However, we need to ask ourselves: Will Nigerian banks have sufficient capital relative to the financial systems needs in servicing a $1.0 trillion economy in the near future? In my opinion, the answer is No! unless we take action.

Therefore, we must make difficult decisions regarding capital adequacy. As a first step, we will be directing banks to increase their capital, Mr Cardoso said.

He said technology will continue to play a critical role in delivering financial services and enhancing financial inclusion.

However, he said recent developments in the payment services landscape have raised concerns regarding the use of technology and the existing licensing and regulatory framework.

We have observed that some licensees are operating outside the approved activities, breaching the boundaries set for them. Any intentional or unintended non-compliance will be subject to sanctions, as operators have the responsibility to ensure that they are licensed for the activities they undertake, he added.

Concurrently, Mr Cardoso said, As we conduct a comprehensive review of the licensing framework for payment services, we will engage in extensive consultations to develop a new regulatory and compliance framework that is suitable for the technology-driven payment services sector.

Looking ahead for the industry, he said banks should reassess the responsible banking framework to ensure that the requirements are effectively integrated into their strategies.

I am aware that some banks have made commendable progress in this regard.

Furthermore, the Central Bank of Nigeria is taking steps to enhance its in-house capacity so that it can assist other banks that still have progress to make in implementing their sustainability principles, he said.

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A Nigerian chef and former Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, philanthropist, Prada Uzodinma, and real estate entrepreneur, Bright Shekoni, have been nominated for the Under-30 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Awards.

The chairperson of the awards Committee, Mina Obeten, in a statement, on Saturday in Abuja, said the award would be organised by the CEOs Network Africa (CNA).

Mrs Obeten expressed the organisations unwavering commitment to fostering the growth of young African talents, highlighting the accomplishments of the nominees.

She said that the organisers of the award released the nomination list on Friday, adding that the voting process would be open till 6 December.

Mrs Obeten said, As a devoted platform fostering the growth and recognition of exceptional talent, CEOs Network Africa (CNA) invites the public to actively participate in the voting process.

Nominees, including Prada Uzodinma, Hilda Baci, Bright Shekoni, and others, have been thoughtfully selected for their outstanding contributions as creators and business owners who exemplify unparalleled leadership, innovation, and creativity.

Mrs Obeten, who emphasised the need for public participation in the voting process, stated that the voting period would provide ample time for the public to engage and have their voices heard.

By participating in the voting process, you become an integral part of shaping the narrative of success for these extraordinary individuals.

We believe in the power of the community to recognise and celebrate the achievements of young business leaders, she said.

Speaking on behalf of CNA, the awards committee co-chair, Mr Abass Oroh, highlighted the profound impact the awards have had on the African business landscape over the past five years.

Mr Onoh said, The Under 30 CEOs Awards have served as a beacon, illuminating the remarkable work of businesses and business owners across the continent.

Witnessing the transformative influence these awards have had on the lives of young entrepreneurs has been nothing short of inspiring.

The success stories that have emerged from past award recipients are a testament to the resilience and innovation inherent in Africas youth.

It is this impact, this tangible result, that fuels our teams unwavering dedication to organizing this event annually.

He, therefore, encouraged the public to join the organisers in their quest to showcase African talent and hard work by voting for businesses and people they believe deserve the recognition.

(NAN)

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Egypt received on Friday 24 captives, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thais, and 1 Filipino, from the Gaza Strip via the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The handing over of the captives is part of a swap deal between Hamas and Israel brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US.

Egyptian medical teams are conducting medical examinations on each captive at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, reported the Egyptian news outlet Al-Qahera News.

The channel released footage showing a vehicle appearing to carry the captives as it moved toward the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing. The vehicle was surrounded by several ambulances.

The captives are expected to be handed over to the Israeli side.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.

The deal went into effect on Friday at 7 am Palestine time.

It involves halting the Israeli military air and ground operations throughout and releasing 50 Israeli prisoners, including both women and children below the age of 19.

In return, 150 Palestinian women and a group of children under 19 will be released from Israeli prisons based on seniority.

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Talented Nigerian rapper Nanle, real name Nanle Joel, will release his debut album, Unorthodox on 29 November.

The album will feature collaborations with Jesse Jags, Ice Prince, BOC, and others.

To mark the occasion, the rapper hosted a listening party on 24 November at Kruiseyard in Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State.

Fans, music enthusiasts, and industry professionals gathered for a first-hand experience of his musical journey.

Recently, the rapper released an official music video for his recent single Young Don, produced by a Russian producer, Midmind, while Suka Sounds worked on the sound engineering.

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Nanle started his musical journey in 2013 and has gained recognition with remarkable singles such as On a Base to Score.

Born and raised in Jos, Plateau State, he remains an independent solo artist, choosing not to align himself with any record label.

Nanle, who resides in Istanbul, continues to express optimism about the future of the Nigerian music industry.

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Movie Title: Lugard

Running time: 1 hour 44 minutes

Director: Tunde Olaye

Writers: Laduda Quadri and Segun Akejeje

Cast: Gabriel Afolayan, Kehinde Bankole, Adeniyi Johnson, Hafiz Saka Oyetoro, Debo Mr Macaroni Adebayo, Omowunmi Dada, Zack Orji, Norbert Young, Laduba Quadri Qidad, Kalu Ikeagwu, Tunji Adeyemo

Over the years, cultism has persistently plagued tertiary institutions. During the early days of Nollywood, many flicks were released around these social vices; Another Campus Tale (1997) and Silent Night (1996) were classic examples.

While recent cinematic flicks have been somewhat reticent on cultism in higher education, Linda Ikejis Dark October stands out as an exception. Inspired by the harrowing real-life incident of the Aluu-4, where four University of Port Harcourt students fell victims to a mob over a decade ago, the film serves as a sad reminder of the gravity of the university happenings.

However, Lugard sets a standard as the movie thrusts deep into the realities of happenings in Nigerian Universities; the film not only serves as a satirical commentary on the prevailing system but also infuses a substantial dose of suspense.

Positioned as a family-oriented film, Lugard not only enthrals audiences with its suspenseful narrative but also strikes a chord with the collective memories of those intimately acquainted with the landscapes of Nigerian universities and the dynamics of student unionism; there were scenes in the movie almost every Nigerian university student could relate with.

The strength of Lugard lies not only in its portrayal of campus unrest and corruption but also in its ability to humanise the characters.

The movie Lugard tells the intriguing story of an intelligent new entrant in a university who was initiated into cultism due to his intimidating brainpower. After his first assignment, which led to the death of a rival confraternity leader, Lugards life is being hunted.

Plot

The movie opens with a cult attack on a man who ran to save his life but was later ambushed by his attackers; he was referred to as Powerline by the leader of the cult group, whose name was Mendoza.

While Mendoza and his boys are about to kill him, there is a sudden thunderstorm that sparkles an uproar, and both Mendoza and his boys run away. Such an exciting opening that would gripe you with suspense, having you adjust your seat correctly and settle your mind for the journey the movie is about to take you through.

The following scenes open you to another story of a young man in Southeastern Nigeria named Francis; he just finished his NYSC and has just been retained by the organisation where he spent his youth service. When he returns to meet his mother, who lives in poverty, he breaks the good news of life he is about to enter; he tells his mother about the house, the car, the increased salary and all the goodies that the company promises to offer.

But just in that moment, when things were about to change for him and his mother, that moment the poor woman was about to celebrate the answers to her long-aged prayers, came a group of cultists from the school. It turned out that Francis was a notorious cultist in school, whose operation name was Consultant.

The cult group came to kill him as a payback for his many atrocities while in school. He and his mother pleaded that the cult group should spare his life, and for a moment, they did but only returned and shot him in his head, right before his mother, a poor widow.

But that is not the story of Lugard. Lugards story begins in the subsequent scenes. Lugard is a charismatic and intelligent university student leading an anti-corruption group called the Vanguard. When the university administration raises fees, Lugard fearlessly spearheads a peaceful protest, drawing attention to the rampant corruption within the institution.

Lugard and his team, the Vanguard, strongly opposed the school authorities. He spurred up a peaceful protest that soon gained the school authoritys attention, and then they summoned him. He was presented with a dicey offer, one that he couldnt just have said no to, yet he stood his ground and walked away, even fully aware that he had only freely purchased trouble for himself. Lugard knew he had a more considerable problem, as he constantly dreamed that he was gunned to death.

However, relentless in killing him, Little, the leader of another cult group, Red Confraternity, conspired with the student union government. With the help of Matilda, Lugards girlfriend, through diabolic mediums, they were able to pin Lugard down literally.

As if that was not enough, his true identity was exposed, that the now admired leader and anti-corruption activist, Lugard, was once a very dangerous cultist himself. What would become his fate now?

Movie Analysis

A bit of history: Cultism in Nigeria began as far back as 1952; this was during the pre-colonial era. It started as fraternities, confined within university campuses to maintain law and order on campuses. However, with the influx of multiple cult groups, values were worn out, and it gradually degenerated into a violent set, distorting law and order.

This visual exploration of the complex societal issue is vividly captured in the film Lugard, set within the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State. This deliberate choice of location adds a distinctive visual appeal and fosters a profound emotional connection to the movies central themes.

Lugard skillfully weaves various sub-stories into a cohesive narrative, ensuring that these auxiliary plots do not overshadow the central motif. Characters like Francis, Little, and others contribute to the multifaceted layers of the storyline.

The movie employs the literary technique of flashbacks to interlink these sub-stories with the central theme, heightening suspense and providing a logical coherence to the overall plot.

For instance, the man who was chased and almost killed in the first scene gave more intriguing insights into Lugards identity in the later stages.

Away from the sub-stories, the movie drew a sharp contrast between the different cult groups in school. At the same time, some fraternities lean towards violence, and the film portrays another set that strives to uphold justice, law, and order. This juxtaposition serves to underscore the multifaceted nature of cultism, showcasing both its destructive and seemingly noble dimensions within the university context.

Thematic, didactic, satirical

The movie is highly didactic; by this, we mean that it is intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive. There are a lot of take-homes from this title, which positions the movie as a family-oriented movie.

The dialogue was highly philosophical but not out of context. The themes of justice, vengeance, betrayal, cultism, corruption, and friendship were predominant.

The movie masterfully employs satire to expose the paradoxes within the student union government, ostensibly a body advocating for student welfare but portrayed as more concerned with individual gains. A scene depicts this when the student Union president prostrates like a lizard after promising the students outside that he will face the school administration like a blizzard.

The movie satires the systemic corruption in the university, and it showcases the micro-reality of Nigerian politics.

The movie Lugard also explores the pettiness of various cult groups; Nigerian students are all too familiar with cult group pettiness, such as being cautioned or threatened with death for wearing the colour of their fraternity.

The movie also gives justification for the characters actions by humanising their characters. It doesnt just show their flaws and weaknesses, but the film, through various literary devices like intriguing dialogue and flashbacks, shows why some characters act the way they do.

Tolus resentment towards Lugard, for instance, finds justification in the latters separation of Tolu from his love, Mary. Similarly, the vendetta between Lugard and Little is not without reason, as past tragedies involving lost loved ones intertwine their fates logically and synchronously.

Furthermore, the film subtly captures significant details, such as Lugard and his Vanguard set consistently donning African outfits, symbolising the underlying values of the group. These nuances enrich the narrative, elevating the viewing experience and inviting audiences to delve deeper into the characters intricacies and motivations.

Shortfalls

The scriptwriters, Tunde Laoye, the director, Quadri Qidad, and Segun Akejeje, flatten the characters in Lugard. Except for the title character, all other characters were so flat that youd think they served no purpose other than garnering the film, while the main character is lonely at the top. We know Lugard is a final-year psychology student, but we know nothing about what his comrades studies.

We also dont know what Tolu (Adeniyi Johnson), his betrayer, studies other than that hes a jealous man and a cultist. We also dont know what Little, the assassin, studies. For a film about students, were in the dark as to what these students study in school.

Also, the character of Lugard outweighs the actor, played by Laduba Qidad, and it wont be compelling. The feeling was always bigger than him. Although he constantly struggled with the character, the delivery of nature was relatively not maximised.

Lastly, the movie risked overlapping several conflicting ideas, from Lugard stopping Tolu from dating Mary because they are both members of the Vanguard Group to him kissing Mary without any proper definition of their relationship. There was a constant overlap of ideas.

Verdict

7/10

The movie meets and goes beyond what viewers might have anticipated, possibly offering a more intense, thought-provoking, or immersive experience than expected.

The movie, though produced in 2021, is now showing on Prime Video.

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More trucks carrying humanitarian supplies moved through Egypts Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the second day of a temporary truce agreed to by Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement.

Seven fuel trucks, including four loaded with cooking gas, passed through the crossing on Saturday, an Egyptian official said.

In addition, 100 trucks carrying food and medical aid bound for Gaza also crossed through Rafah, Raed Abdel-Nasser, the head of the Red Crescent in Egypts northern Sinai, told dpa.

The Palestinian Red Crescent, meanwhile, said its teams received 196 trucks of relief supplies via Rafah on Friday from its Egyptian counterpart.

The truce agreement, which was brokered and announced by Qatar on Wednesday, involves a four-day pause in fighting between both sides.

The pause will allow desperately needed aid to flow into the densely populated Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of some hostages Hamas kidnapped during the bloody 7 October attacks on Israel.

Israel also agreed to release a number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons as part of the deal.

(dpa/NAN)

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The husband of a German-Israeli dual national released from captivity by hostage-takers in the Gaza Strip has expressed his happiness at the return of his wife and their two young daughters.

However, he would not celebrate until all the kidnapped people had returned home, he said in a video message in Hebrew posted to Facebook late on Friday evening.

I am happy that I got my family back, he said.

According to Israeli media, the mother and the two children were abducted from their grandmothers house.

The grandmother herself was murdered by terrorists in the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

The man said he would help his wife and children recover from the trauma they had suffered: There are still difficult days ahead of me.

The first 24 hostages were released from the Gaza Strip on Friday at the start of a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza war.

The released hostages were made up of 13 Israelis, including four dual nationals who also have German citizenship, as well as 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen.

All of them were kidnapped from Israel during the 7 October attacks and had been held in captivity in Gaza.

(dpa/NAN)

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At least 11 people were killed and several others displaced when terrorists, locally referred to as bandits, on Friday evening attacked communities in Yantu and Ussa in Ussa Local Government, Taraba State.

Communities in Southern Taraba, where these two towns are located, have a history of attack by non-state actors.

A resident of Yantu, Yakubu Tinya, who narrowly escaped the mayhem, told PREMIUM TIMES that several villages in Ussa town, including Ribasi, Nyichu and Ruyah, were attacked on Friday. He said nine people were killed.

He said another person was also killed in the Tukwog community along Takum- Manya road.

They came in numbers to separate communities around 6 p.m. and killed anyone on sight. Some people were attacked right on their farms, some on their way back, some in their houses.

They attacked me and my two brothers and killed one of us. Some of them are Fulanis, but some do not look like Nigerians. They appeared to us at a very close range, Mr Tinya said.

Peter Shamwun, the chairman of Ussa Local Government confirmed the attack. He said the bandits laid siege along Takum- Ussa road to kill more people.

He said the bandits also attacked the Kpambo Yashe community and killed one person.

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The chairman appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Agbu Kefas to urgently send security operatives to the area.

Information available to me now is that the bandits have laid siege along Takum-Ussa road and other areas around Yantu to kill more people.

I do not know why the bandits have decided to concentrate in the area and have been operating freely without being antagonised by the security operatives. From where a man was killed yesterday evening in Ussa to the military barracks in Takum, is not up to a kilometre.

The continued attack on the people has brought so much food insecurity. My people are being attacked anytime they go to the farm. We are at the mercy of bandits. I want both the state and federal governments to intensify efforts to flush out the bandits to allow my people to farm.

There have been issues of Fulani bandits in our area but I am suspecting that the ones operating currently in the area are those that have been chased by the military operatives in Zamfara and other states in Nigeria. They have moved to settle in some local government in Taraba, Mr Shamwun explained.

The Spokesperson, Taraba State Police Command, Usman Abdullahi, said the incident was being investigated.

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The Akwa Ibom State Government owned airline  Ibom Air, has received the first of 10 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft it ordered from the European manufacturer  Airbus.

The first delivery came two years after the airline sealed a deal with Airbus at the Dubai Airshow in November 2021.

In a statement announcing the delivery on Friday, the companys Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, said the handover was done at Airbus Mirabel facility in Canada.

The ceremony was attended by top officials of the airline, including its CEO, Mfon Udom. The immediate-past governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, whose tenure the company was established, was also in attendance.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the airlines CEO, Mr Udom said, The introduction of the Airbus A220-300 to our fleet is a game-changing leap forward for Ibom Air. The decision to invest in a fleet of highly efficient brand-new aircraft to power our growth plans underscores our determination to offer no less than world-class airline services to our valued customers.

Ibom Air, which currently has seven aircraft (five Bombardier CR900 and two Airbus A220-300) in its fleet, flies 11 routes spanning six cities in the country including, the nations capital, Abuja, and Nigerias commercial city, Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt.

The airline, which started commercial operations in 2019, has become one of the most top rated in Nigerias airspace, garnering several awards, including best airline of the year for three consecutive years  2020, 2021 and 2022.

Earlier in the year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded the airline a safety certification.

As part of its expansion drive, the airline, in October, launched its first African sub-regional flight, touching down in the West African country, Ghana.

With the arrival of the new aircraft, the airline is expected to expand its operations to other West and Central African countries.

The Akwa Ibom State Government, as part of the efforts for the smooth take-off of the Ibom Airs international flight operations, on 28 May, commissioned an International Terminal, Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) facility, a new taxiway and an apron extension to cater for the anticipated influx of people at the airline hub  Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo.

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A Nigerian senator, Shehu Umar, on Wednesday said the gains of the digital economy in Nigeria may be defeated if the federal government does not fund the nations cybersecurity programme.

He also said the paucity of funds and non-prioritisation of the National Cybersecurity Programme is becoming a major impediment to national security efforts and this critical challenge is inimical to national survival.

Mr Umar, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, made the comments during the sitting of the joint committee of both Chambers on National Security, Intelligence, ICT and Cybersecurity which was held on Wednesday.

Mr Umar said the prioritisation of funding cybersecurity should be a matter of national urgency in the same category as the national food security emergency recently declared by President Bola Tinubu.

In a special consideration by the Senate recently, the Committee is seeking urgent legislative intervention to address this critical challenge, to empower and strengthen the Nation to have a sustainable funding mechanism among other legal frameworks, he said

The intervention seeks to enhance the Nations capability to assess, update, implement, and advance the security of national critical economic infrastructure and protect the Nations cyberspace across all cybersecurity domains, he added.

Excerpts of his speech at the event are reproduced below.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON NATIONAL SECURITY & INTELLIGENT, AND ICT AND CYBERSECURITY

National Assembly Complex: Three-Arms Zone P.M.B 141, Garki-Abuja

Venue: Room 231, Senate Building, National Assembly, Abuja

Wednesday 22TH November 2022

A Speech by Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence

Protocol:

1) First, my appreciation goes to the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly under the leadership of Distinguished SENATOR. GODSWILL AKPABIO, who has demonstrated both the capacity and commitment of the Senate to support the consideration of the review and amendment of the CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC) ACT, 2015, which has passed the First and the Second readings of the Senate.

2) I would also like to commend my Distinguished Colleague, Senator Shuiab Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, who provided collaboration opportunities between the two committees to work in synergy in line with the directive of the Senate President. This gesture ensures a harmonious stakeholders consultative process, being the lead Senate Committee with oversight on the ICT and Cybersecurity.

3) The initial proposal for the amendment initiated is seeking amendments to the CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, etc.) ACT, 2015, to help address specific critical gaps in the Act and realign and reposition the Nation towards effectively implementing the National Cybersecurity Programme.

4) Cybercrime Act 2015 provides the legal framework for the coordination, enforcement, and implementation of the national cybersecurity policy and strategy, critical information infrastructure protection, substantive and procedural legal measures on enforcement of directives on cybersecurity breaches, reporting, investigation of cyber-attack and cybercrime incidences and prosecution of offenders for deterrence purposes.

5) The paucity of funds and non-prioritisation National Cybersecurity Programme is becoming a major impediment to national security efforts and this critical challenge is inimical to national survival.

6) For instance, the complexity in interpreting and applying certain provisions of the Cybercrime Act 2015 has stifled national cybersecurity efforts in the face of well-organised cyber syndicates and adversaries.

7) Prioritization of funding cybersecurity should be a matter of national urgency in the same category as the national food security emergency recently declared by His Excellency President Bola Tinubu.

8) In a special consideration by the Senate recently, the Committee is seeking urgent legislative intervention to address this critical challenge, to empower and strengthen the Nation to have a sustainable funding mechanism among other legal frameworks.

9) The intervention seeks to enhance the Nations capability to assess, update, implement, and advance the security of national critical economic infrastructure and protect the Nations cyberspace across all cybersecurity domains.

10) The Committees rationale and national security imperative on the amendments are due to the clarion call of drawing the attention of the Senate to the poor funding and the disruptive impact of the current and emerging existential cyber threats against national security and critical economic infrastructures.

11) The protection, security, and sustainability of Nigerias active engagement in cyberspace depends on the readiness to fund and diversify the cybersecurity engagement roadmap envisioned by the current administration and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.

12) The alarming exploitation and growing widespread of cybersecurity incidences across the sectors call for the Nation to review the countrys law, realign legislative amendments with the current National Security objectives, and the dynamic reality of continuously and persistently protecting digital economic infrastructures.

13) Nigerias Cyber Threat Profile extends far beyond cybercrime, with over seven major cyber threats classified under the National Cybersecurity Strategy.

14) The Nations national philosophy should shift to conscious national funding, empowering, strengthening, and advancing the National Cybersecurity Programme in line with the extant national security strategy and digital economy policies and appropriate international treaties and conventions such as Africa Union-Malabo 2014 and EU-Budapest Conventions 2004, seek where such treaty meet our national interests.

15) For instance, recently, African countries, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on 23-24 March 2022, convened the first African Summit on Cybersecurity in Lome and agreed to a Lome Declaration on Cybersecurity and Fight Against Cybercrime and related conflicts and crises, 2022.

16) The Declaration expressed African Governments commitment to establishing a framework for cybersecurity, including the creation of authorities, structures, capacities, and funding dedicated to cybersecurity. Without an adequate and dedicated fund mechanism, implementing the National Cybersecurity Programme will remain a mirage and ineffective.

17) Another major shift is redefining the Nations Cybercrime Act 2015 to a more resilient cybersecurity capability. This is urgent and critically important. The Nation needs to refocus on building strong domestic cybersecurity, advancement in cyber-counter extremism measures, enhanced cyber-intelligence to boost the Nations cyber-defense and cyber-offensive capabilities, and R&D diversification with innovation in an emerging AI-powered cyber environment is urgently critical to our survival as a nation.

18) If we must survive as a nation, the current weak approach to enforcing national cybersecurity directives must be re-examined and prioritized among other considerations. Currently, the EFCC, ICPC, NITDA, CBN, and Nigeria Police funding concentrates on fighting cybercrime activities based on their limited Acts.

19) Despite having a robust National Cybersecurity Programme with a well-defined implementation roadmap, the Nation is helpless in moving forward due to these gaps in Cybercrime Act provisions, many of which are ambiguous in interpretation and application.

20) Our legislative imperative and commitment demand that we prioritise our intervention in line with the collective interests of the Nation and international good practices that align with the national cybersecurity philosophy to protect, defend, and advance the Nations cyberspace security with legal commitment.

21) In this regard, I call on the stakeholders to provide helpful input and proactive submissions, considering the urgency and dynamic nature of a well-funded national cybersecurity.

22) Therefore, It is hoped that the outcome of this Public Hearing will help us achieve our collective objectives of why we are here today.

23) On behalf of the Senate and Distinguished Colleagues, I express my deep appreciation to the leaders and representatives of MDAs at the federal and state levels, businesses, chambers of industry, non-governmental organizations, professional bodies, captains of industry, professional thought leaders, and other stakeholders member of the public present here today.

24) I assure you all that your memorandums would be duly considered by the joint committees in the Nations best interest.

Once again, I welcome you all!

Thank you.

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Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently attending the 37th Annual Akesan Day Celebration 2023, at Iperu community in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is organised by the Iperu Development Association (IDA).

On arrival, the vice president was received by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, governors of Kwara and Kogi states, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and other top federal and state governments functionaries.

Akesan is the mythical founder of Iperu, an ancient town in Ogun, South-western Nigeria.

ALSO READ: Shettima urges governors to develop agriculture sector

Oral history has it that Akesan was a daughter to an Alaafin who along with her husband Ajagbe migrated from Ile Ife to finally settle in Iperu around the 13th or 14th century.

(NAN)

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Vice President Kashim Shettima says the traditional institution and its leaders are at the top of President Bola Tinubus list of priorities in his administrations bid to navigate the complexities of Nigerias diversity.

He noted that the nations diversity should be a source of strength and not of division, just as he urged Nigerians to keep imbibing the lessons firmly fixed in the countrys cultural tapestry.

Mr Shettima who spoke on Saturday during the 37th Annual Akesan Festival in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, expressed delight with the way Nigerias noble traditions that serve as poignant reminders of the origins and identities of its people have endured.

Delivering his address titled, Learning from the Past: Unity and Tradition in the Akesan Festival, at the event, Mr Shettima said, I am further delighted by the significance that the Akesan Festival has achieved, even though I expected nothing less. So, I must, once again, express my gratitude to my brother, our industrious Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and His Royal Highness, Oba Adeleke Idowu Basibo, the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, for inviting us to witness this festival and participate in shaping this historical narrative.

Your Royal Highness, this festival serves as an opportunity to reinforce President Bola Ahmed Tinubus commitment to giving priority to our traditional leaders in navigating the intricacies of our diversity. The commitments articulated by our administration stand firm, and we pledge to honour these assurances, ensuring positive transformations in the lives of our people.

Like previous festivities, the VP noted that the 37th edition of the Akesan Festival is imbued with the essence of the unity Nigerians have forged as a nation, even as he described Ogun State as a template for the complexities of the nations cultural practices.

It (Akesan Festival) symbolises the heartbeat of our nation, and Ogun State has long become the template for the resilience of our cultural practices as vehicles for progress. From intellectuals and cultural icons to industrialists, Ogun State has been an enduring source of inspiration at the crossroads of culture and modernity.

Your Excellencies, Your Majesty, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, this land has not only nurtured industries but also cultivated a rich cultural heritage that unites us. Our nation will forever cherish the sacrifices youve made, serving as guardians of tradition, preserving our cultural legacy, and fostering unity among all of us, he said.

Applauding the state for investing time and resources to establish Iperu Remo on the global map, Mr Shettima urged Nigerians to take a cue from the spirit of unity, cooperation and determination in the community.

He added, I am not here today just to celebrate with you; I am here to testify to your resilience and spirit. I am here to thank you for reminding us of the sociology and economics of cultural festivities in nation-building.

Through your preservation of these beautiful traditions, you have reinforced the identities and pride of your communities, fostering their patriotism and commitment to pursuing our collective progress and nurturing the bonds that bind us as a people.

As we revel in the festivities, let us not forget the lessons ingrained in our cultural tapestry. This diversity within our nation is a source of strength, not division. It is a testament to our adaptability as a people. So, we must thank all those whove made this happen, from bottom to top.

We must acknowledge the artisans, the craftsmen, the historians, the cultural custodians and the everyday people who have devoted their lives to preserving our heritage, passing down traditions from one generation to the next.

Asking other communities to actively take part in the beauty of the countrys traditions as well as the potential that lies within them, which he said the Akesan Festival signifies, Mr Shettima noted that by celebrating their culture, Nigerians are celebrating their identity and showcasing the richness of their values to the world.

Welcoming guests to the event, the Akarigbo/Paramount ruler of Remo Kingdom, Obama Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Torungbuwa II, hailed President Tinubu, saying despite the current challenges in Nigeria, the visions and programmes of his administration would definitely wriggle the country out of the woods.

He urged the indigenes to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who spoke for the Chairman of the occasion, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State, called on the people of Ogun State to continue in their peaceful coexistence and cohabitation as existing amongst the people of the state.

In his speech, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, said Akesan Day was an unending heritage that is fast boosting the tourism potential of the state.

He pledged further commitments to the festival, saying it was fast becoming a uniting event among Ogun people as well as people of its neighbouring states.

READ ALSO: Tinubu committed to welfare of families of fallen heroes Shettima

He described the Gateway International Cargo Airport as one mega project that would blossom in the South-west and Nigeria at large, adding that it would soon be open for business.

Present at the event were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal; Ogun West senator Solomon Adeola; former Governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba; serving and past members of the National Assembly, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; traditional rulers, and a host of others.

*Stanley Nkwocha*

*Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications*

*(Office of The Vice President)*

*25th November, 2023*

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At least 15,750 teachers nationwide sat the November 2023 professional qualifying examination which began on Thursday and ended on Saturday.

The qualification examination is conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to test the professional competence of teachers.

Director, Certification and Licensing at the TRCN, Jacinta Ezeahurukwe, told journalists, on Saturday in Abuja that the examination ensured that teachers were competent and licenced before they went to teach.

The examination, conducted in batches, was held in some states on Thursday; it was held in some other states on Friday and the last batch was held on Saturday.

In all, we had 15,750 teachers who wrote the examination for the `Batch B across the country.

We conducted the examination for more than 100,000 teachers in the past. Our target is to cover all unregistered teachers.

The examination is mandatory because teaching is a profession and for every profession, there must be a professional qualifying examination.

One of the features of a profession is that apart from the academic qualification, practitioners must write a qualifying examination and must be registered and licenced.

If teachers do not write the examination, it would not be possible to license them to teach. The examination is not testing subject knowledge, it is testing for professional competence, she said.

Ms Ezeahurukwe explained that the qualifying examination establishes foundational knowledge that a teacher must possess and exhibit as contained in professional teaching standards.

The results of the November examinations would be released in two weeks, she added.

Nature of questions

It is a computer-based examination and the questions are not replicated to wade off malpractice. No two candidates can have the same set of questions.

The questions are scrambled and categories have their different questions.

Questions for `Category D which is for National Certificate of Education holders are different from questions for `Category C for first degree or Bachelor of Education or Post-Graduate Diploma degree holders.

Questions for `Category B  Masters Degree holders are also different from those for `Category A  Ph.D. holders, she explained.

Other comments

In his remarks, the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement at the Federal Ministry of Education, Yusuf Saidi, said the examination would also enhance quality teaching.

He called for more support for the TRCN to deliver on its mandate in ensuring that teachers were licensed to practice.

The TRCN ascertains that it is those that registered that sat for the examination; there cannot be proxy candidates, he said.

Mr Saidi represented the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, at one of the examination centres.

Some of the candidates who spoke with journalists expressed confidence in the examination, saying it would weed out quack teachers.

Secretary of the Nasarawa State chapter of the National Association of Private Schools, Olu-Andrew Kayode, a candidate, told journalists that the examination would help to improve teaching quality.

As an educationist, I observe that the examination is very simple. It allays fears about computer-based tests.

With what I have experienced today, a basic computer knowledge and ability to read and write are all you need to pass, he said.

Another candidate, Luka Gabi, commended the TRCN for the introduction of computer-based tests and called for an upgrade of the system.

Chioma Okpara, a private school owner who also sat the examination, advised uncertified teachers to sit the examination as it had inherent benefits.

(NAN)

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Israel summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium following comments made by their respective leaders during a visit to Egypt on Friday.

Israel's foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors of the two countries over statements about Tel Avivs rejection of a complete ceasefire to end the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The European PMs held a press conference at the same border crossing through which Israeli captives passed into Egypt, where they urged a 'permanent truce'.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the current truce in Gaza is not enough and that a permanent ceasefire was needed alongside the continuous flow of humanitarian assistance into the Strip.

"I firmly believe that we have to call on Israel to comply with its obligations under international law," Sanchez told a press conference at the Rafah crossing.

He stressed the importance of reaching a two-state solution, noting that though hard to reach, this solution is essential to resolve the century-old Israeli-Arab conflict.

"The time has come for the international community and the European Union to recognize the State of Palestine. And we in the EU must do this together. But if this is not the case, Spain will take its own decisions", he added.

For his part, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, stressed the importance of achieving a permanent truce in Gaza and providing more humanitarian aid to the Strip.

Moreover, he demanded that Israel open more border crossings for the entry of more humanitarian aid.

The two officials also called on Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza and to respect international law.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "strongly condemned" Sanchez and De Croo's comments, saying they "did not attribute to Hamas full responsibility for the crimes against humanity it perpetrated and its use of Palestinians as human shields".

"We condemn the false claims of the Prime Ministers who give support to terrorism," Israel's foreign minister Eli Cohen said.

"Israel is acting per the international law and is fighting an organization worse than ISIS," Cohen added.

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A cultural group in Kogi State, the UkOmu Igala Organisation, has described the recent governorship elections in the state as fraudulent.

The group also faulted INECs conduct in the election, accusing some of its officials of sabotage.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by its National Leader, David Abutu, and Secretary, Sabestine Abuh.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo, as the winner of the 11 November election.

Mr Ododo, an Ebira man, polled over 446,237 votes to defeat his closest opponent and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajala, an Igala man, who polled 259,052, according to the results declared by the electoral commission

Mr Ajaka has said he was not challenging the results in court because doing so would amount to a waste of time.

He accused some INEC officials of colluding against him to make Mr Ododo the winner of the election.

I have been around for the past 20 years. I know what it is. What am I going to court to do when the same INEC that did this is going to come as a witness to defend what they did? So it is a waste of time, he said in an interview on Channels Television, shortly after the results were announced.

The election is fraudulent

But the UkOmu Igala Organisation, which described itself as one of the foremost socio-cultural groups in Kogi East Senatorial District, tagged the election as fraudulent.

The group accused INEC of failing to cancel elections in parts of the state where there was over-voting as dictated by the Electoral Act, thereby making the APC candidate a winner in a fraudulent process.

UkOmu Igala said although the Electoral Act had envisaged and provided solutions to some of the irregularities that marred the electoral process, INEC failed to invoke its constitutional powers to address them.

We, the leaders and members of UkOmu Igala Organisation, a socio-cultural group in Kogi East Senatorial District, are depressed and disappointed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has failed to invoke its constitutional powers to effect redress in the conduct by its officials whose fraudulent roles have produced a so-called winner in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, part of the statements reads.

The group claimed there were over voting in at least five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, but the Electoral Officers deliberately ignored this fraud and went ahead to announce the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, as winner of the election.

It also quoted the report of the Situation Room, a civil society organisation, which had also described the election as a major setback for Nigerias democracy.

The Situation Room, in its report, stated that it received reports of over voting in five LGAs including Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Mangongo, Okehi and Okene.

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The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) also knocked INEC for collating results from these LGAs without conducting any thorough investigation and making its findings public.

The cultural group expressed disappointment that the INEC headquarters did not review the results of the election and upturn it within seven days, as part of the powers granted it by the electoral law.

It said: As stated by various civil society organisations, lawyers and experts in political science, the role INEC played in the governorship election in Kogi State is totally unacceptable and a setback for the countrys democracy. It is safe to state that the actions of INEC as currently constituted under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has become the biggest threat to Nigerias democracy. The Commissions attitude lately has further dampens the interest of the Nigerian people in electoral democracy, as the electoral umpire elects to support electoral fraud rather than authentic votes cast by the Nigerian people.

The group, therefore, called on the Attorney General of the Federation to set up a panel of judges to review the conduct of the Kogi election.

We appeal to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Attorney General of the Federation to set up a panel made up of unbiased judges to review the conduct of the elections in Kogi State on November 11, 2023, it said.

Our democracy should not be one that rewards fraud and punishes those who play in accordance with the provisions of our electoral law. All hands must be on deck to save our democracy.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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Terrorists operating in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday abducted more than 100 residents in separate but coordinated attacks in several villages over the failure of the villagers to pay a N110 million protection levy.

The terrorists that carried out the attack are believed to be loyal to a terror kingpin, Damina, who operates around the Dansadau axis of the state.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that those abducted were from Mutunji, Unguwar Kawo, Kwantar Dutsi and Sabon Garin Mahuta.

A local source told BBC Hausa that Mr Damina led a gang of terrorists on motorcycles and surrounded the community a few minutes after the dusk prayer at 8:00 p.m.

We were sitting in a place called Yar Kasuwa after the Ishai prayers when the terrorists stormed the community. They surrounded the community while others drove into the community centre. We began running but it was already too late. They matched people into the forest, he said.

Men, women and children were abducted, he said.

Unknown to the residents of Mutunji, other neighbouring communities were being raided at the time.

They also attacked other communities including Unguwar Kawo, Kwanar Dutsi and Sabon Garin Mahuta and took away several people. Weve at least 100 people taken. Were still counting to ascertain the true number of those taken, another source said.

Compensation levy

The source said Mr Damina attacked Mutunji because the village failed to give him N50 million he asked them to pay as compensation for informing soldiers of the terrorists movements.

Mr Damina gave the residents a week to gather the money but the source said they couldnt gather it.

We were trying to gather the money reaching out to people when he (Mr Damina) decided to strike.

He had also imposed such levy on the other communities. Kwana residents were asked to pay N30 million, people of Sabon Garin Mahuta were asked to gather N20 million while residents of Unguwar Kawo were asked to pay N10 million, he said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attack.

The North-west subregion has been battling terrorists, also called bandits, for over a decade.

The terrorists have killed and abducted thousands of people and tens of thousands of others have been displaced in the region.

The terrorists primarily target schools, religious houses, travellers and rural communities.

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The factions in the political crisis in Ondo State reached a truce on Friday after a meeting brokered and hosted by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

The highlight of their agreements was that the political status quo would be sustained in the state.

However, Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was directed to submit an undated letter of resignation to President Tinubu, to guarantee that he would not disrupt the political configuration in the state while he runs the government until the full recovery of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

This means Mr Aiyedatiwa will keep his job and run the government, but he will not be declared acting governor, despite the continued incapacitation of Governor Akeredolu.

The president had summoned stakeholders in the state, including lawmakers, Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and party chiefs to Abuja in a bid to diffuse the tension created by the absence of the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja lasted for several hours until about 11 p.m.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the meeting directed the the termination of the process for the removal of the deputy governor from office by the state House of Assembly and for the status quo to remain.

A member of the state executive council, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, confirmed the resolutions.

The official affirmed that the deputy governor was ordered not to tamper with the structure of government and the state executive council.

He was asked to submit an undated letter of resignation, as part of his commitment to the peace deal, the official said.

It was also resolved that the leadership of the House of Assembly would not be changed and that state activities should continue as before the conflict.

It was further resolved that the structure of the APC in the state would remain intact.

Shedding more light on the resolutions, the spokesperson of the House of Assembly, Olatunji Oshati, said, on Saturday morning, that the rationale behind the safeguards was to allay fears of victimisation by the deputy governor of members of the executive and legislature who stood against him during the crisis.

It was a win-win situation for the aides. The deputy governor will remain as the deputy governor. The status quo must remain, Mr Oshati said.

There is no need to make the deputy governor acting governor because the state governor, who is our father, is still there.

The deputy governor should not reshuffle the cabinet and there should be no change in the leadership of the House.

On the undated letter of resignation, Mr Oshati explained: You know there were fears that the deputy governor, once reinstated, would begin to witch-hunt the others, so the president used it to allay the fears of everyone that no such thing will happen.

He further noted that the meeting took care that its decisions do not rubbish the legacies of Mr Akeredolu.

There was reason no to rubbish the governor, because he is our father and we are all beneficiaries of his legacies, so we were mindful not to take any decision that would undermine him, Mr Oshati said.

Mr Akeredolus illness and absence had induced political maneuvering and created animosity between the deputy governor and his principal.

After Mr Akeredolus return from his medical leave in August, the state House of Assembly made a sudden move to remove the deputy governor whom they accused of disloyalty and gross misconduct.

But the deputy governor obtained an order of the Federal High Court that restrained the chief judge and the lawmakers from taking any further step in the process until the court had examined Mr Aiyedatiwas complaints.

The crisis has divided Mr Akeredolus cabinet and the assembly into factions, and slowed down governance in the state.

Mr Akeredolu has about a year left before the end of his tenure as governor. He was reelected to a second term in October 2020.

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A chieftain of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Seinde Arogbofa, has expressed concerns over the resolutions reached on Friday at a meeting held by President Bola Tinubu with factions in the Ondo State political crisis.

On the resolution of the meeting against declaring Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as acting governor, Mr Arogbofa warned that there could be a further crisis if there is no one from whom authority issues in the state government.

The six-hour meeting which was held at the Aso Rock Villa on Friday, also ordered the state lawmakers to shelve their stalled move to remove the deputy governor from office, and that the current party and cabinet structures are not tampered with.

If the governor is in place, there is no need for an acting governor; but if the governor is not in place, there is a need for someone who has the authority to carry the task of governance, said Mr Arogbofa.

If there is no one with that authority, then it will be like an animal kingdom.

He, however, noted that the concern of Afenifere and other leaders in the state is for peace to reign in Ondo State.

He said the group would consider the items on the resolution of the meeting with the President and issue a formal statement after a meeting of its elders.

Afenifere had, on Tuesday, called on President Tinubu and the APC national leadership to wade into the Ondo crisis, noting that the state government was in disarray.

On its part, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state said the president failed to resolve the issues brought before him.

The partys spokesperson, Kennedy Peretei, said with the pending issues, the two factions will remain in dispute.

It is a situation of 1-1 draw, the Aiyedatiwa group wanted the deputy governor to be made acting governor, and the Akinteriwa-led group wanted the deputy governor impeached.

READ ALSO:

There is no difference between what is done now and what the Masari-led peace committee (of the APC) did  just appealed to them to sheathe their swords. The only difference now is that the president did the talking.

That the deputy governor will not be impeached anymore appears to be the soft landing for him and perhaps the only thing achieved in the meeting.

But the issues of the state still remain. The cabal will still be using the name of the governor to steal.

Since August, the leadership of the local governments in the state were dissolved and nothing has happened since then. Is that how to run a state, is that what the Ondo people want?

For me, it is inconclusive, and that is because the issue at stake is the 2024 governorship election and unless a clear-cut decision is taken, the problems will remain.

Meanwhile, Mr Aiyedatiwa, while speaking on the resolutions after the meeting, said he would ensure that what happened in the recent past was left in the past.

He pledged to carry on with the affairs of the state and called on all commissioners and officials to be on the same page with him in handling the states affairs.

I want to say that I pledge to all of you that I embrace every one of you. I put behind all that has happened before now. Ive let go and also let God, just as the President has advised us, Mr Aiyedatiwa said.

And I want to say that no offence, no guile in my mind whatsoever. All that has happened is politics. Impeachment is part of politics. If you survive it, it is also politics. It has come. Ive survived it and every other thing in his past.

It is one big family and our father has intervened to bring all the children together to remain under the same family and with the position that I occupy, I will carry every one of you along in every decision that needs to be taken and everything that we do we will work together; the executive and the legislature will work together to ensure that governance is on the right track.

We should respect one another regarding the offices we occupy and our age differences. So, its going to be mutual respect.

And I want to assure the party structure that we will work together because the party is supreme. We will always give you the due respect.

Also, in his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, provided the details of the resolutions.

Our resolution is that one, we shall embrace peace. Secondly, there would be no more dissolution of the cabinet and the Deputy Governor would maintain the status quo as far as the House of Assembly leadership is concerned.

We will maintain the status quo as far as the party leadership in the state is concerned and maintain the status quo as far as the leadership of the State House of Assembly is concerned, Mr Oladiji said.

Related to the development, President Tinubu has directed the police to withdraw from the premises of the Ondo State House of Assembly in Akure.

The police deployed officers to the complex following speculation that some lawmakers planned to meet Friday morning to declare Governor Akeredolu incapacitated and Mr Aiyedatiwa as acting governor.

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HAIKOU, China, Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The AIIC 2023 Alcohol Innovation and Investment Conference ("AIIC 2023"), aptly themed " Profound Changes : Breakthrough and Rebirth" and held in Haikou, Hainan province from November 18th to 20th, has been widely viewed as a resounding success. This year's event focused not only on innovation and investment, but also on the evolving challenges and shifts within the alcohol. As a gathering point for innovative ideas and collaborative efforts, the conference has firmly established itself as a vital platform for boosting confidence, imparting insightful theories, charting new courses, and arming stakeholders with actionable strategies and solutions. The event has been instrumental in steering the industry towards high-quality growth at this crucial juncture.

AIIC 2023 featured an array of activities, including the plenary session, a roundtable on alcohol region sustainability, another on alcohol innovation and investment, as well as forums on marketing and technology, and business and creativity. With over 100 expert speakers, the conference delved into variety of pertinent topics, including the evolution of the industry and commerce, the sustainability of alcohol appellations, investment strategies, international market expansion, marketing strategies, the role of AI in technological advancements, and distinct competitive approaches. The event was further enriched by the AIIC Friends Meeting, AIIC Theme Night and 20 parallel sessions. The lineup of activities drew participants from over 10 countries and regions, including leaders from more than 20 associations, over 500 corporate executives, and 2,500 individuals from both within and allied to the alcohol. The conference also unveiled five inaugural reports on the alcohol, resulting from collaborations with renowned entities such as Alibaba's subsidiary Lingyang, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), RIES, Alibaba's TaoTian Group, and Youzan.

AIIC 2023's exhibition space was expanded to 20,000 square meters, featuring dedicated zones for liquor-producing regions, premium brands, and marketing and creative services. The conference drew close to 150 globally recognized brands, including Wuliangye, Fenjiu, China Resources Beer, Xifengjiu, Quanxing and Shanghai Guijiu, and welcomed delegations from Moldova, Georgia, Zunyi and Gulin, four of the world's emerging alcohol-producing regions. In a notable first, the event showcased over 30 domestic and international whisky brands, establishing a special area exclusively for whisky exhibitions.

At AIIC 2023 marked the debut of the Hainan Alcohol and Lifestyle Carnival, an event brimming with interactive activities. Highlights included the MBTI Slightly Drunk Party and the City Drink event. The French Consulate and the Georgian Embassy enhanced the event by hosting "Master Classes" led by leading alcohol experts. In tandem, the exhibition area buzzed with activity as various renowned groups and brands, among them, Loch Lomond Group (China), Kentucky Owl Wiseman, Master of Malt, Laizhou Distillery and SPEY Whiskey, offered their own master classes.

During its three-day exhibition, AIIC 2023 saw an impressive turnout of some 20,000 visitors, predominantly professionals from various sectors of the industry. The dynamic interactions and negotiations between suppliers and buyers provided a compelling showcase for the alcoholic beverage industry, while also bolstering the confidence of participants across the upstream and downstream supply chain. This optimistic environment has heightened expectations among industry professionals for the recovery and growth of the food and beverage market.

The inaugural Newcomers Festival stood out as one of the key innovations of AIIC 2023, bringing together over 100 mainstream alcohol brands. The festival also featured a live commerce segment, and a supply and procurement matchmaking session, aimed at both emerging brands and exhibitors. Both events facilitated strong connections between suppliers and buyers by highlighting practicality and effectiveness, providing precise matchmaking, and capitalizing on the "cornucopia effect". A highlight of the festival was a 9-hour live broadcast by Lafeige, Jiuxian.com's top live stream host and a prominent figure in alcohol live commerce, which reached an audience of 3 million. The broadcast captivated nearly 500,000 viewers, with an average viewing time exceeding 3 minutes, and generated over 2 million yuan in sales. Additionally, a short-form video tied to the event garnered over 300,000 views. Furthermore, the AIIC Innovation Exhibition and Newcomers Festival recorded some 5,000 inquiries, reflecting heightened interest in the emerging talents and trends within the alcohol sector.

The Alcohol Innovation and Investment Competition saw a remarkable surge in participation, with the number of entries topping 1,000. This competition, with an emphasis on fostering innovation and encouraging investment, represents a first for the industry. In addition to presenting seven annual awards, it featured a prestigious Future Award. The grand prize, a cash sum of 500,000 yuan was awarded to Mishan's plum alcohol project.

AIIC 2023's success significantly contributes to China's economic objective of reviving and broadening consumption. The conference also serves as a strategic initiative to chart a course toward sustainable and robust growth for the industry during a period of transition. Future editions will uphold AIIC's commitment to innovation and investment, aiming to support manufacturers and cultivate partnerships within the alcohol. Importantly, the AIIC 2024 Alcohol Innovation and Investment Conference is already scheduled to convene in Haikou, Hainan in November 2024. Stay tuned for upcoming updates.

SOURCE Alcohol Innovation & Investment Conference 2023
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 21st century, we cannot tolerate the rape and abduction of girls and women, forced child marriage, and the continued denial of any human rights and equality to girls and women everywhere.

Our investment in education and human rights is our investment in the unbreakable spirit of women and girls everywhere.

We must take stronger action to end violence against girls and women through the UN 16 Days of Activism campaign  running from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (25 November) until Human Rights Day (10 December). We urge leaders everywhere to take firm, concrete action to put all the human rights of girls and women  especially their right to 12 years of safe, quality education  at the forefront of the international agenda.

This year's theme is 'Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls.' By investing in safe schools, protective learning environments, and mental health and psychosocial support  through holistic, quality education that empowers girls to be confident of their rights and have the power to claim them  we can truly empower an entire generation of future women leaders.

Investing in girls' education also contributes towards achieving the binding commitments enshrined in the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must act now. Every minute, 22 girls are forced into child marriage, and about 21% of girls worldwide are married before they turn 18. Now is the time to fully invest in the education of girls so they can become child scholars, not child brides.

Globally, an estimated 736 million women  almost one in three  have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. It is time to be loud and clear that no woman or girl can be subjected to any violation of their dignity, rights, freedoms and their person.

Now is the time to end reckless governance in the world that results in armed conflicts and flagrant violations of International Humanitarian Law. We must act collectively to ensure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, where the humanitarian system is facing near total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2.2 million civilians, including 788,800 girls and women who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.

We must be moved to action by their words: "I saw dead bodies lying on the street. My mom told me to close my eyes, but I couldn't. I was so scared," said an 11-year-old girl at an UNRWA school. We cannot close our eyes to armed conflicts or violations of human rights and humanitarian law anywhere in the world.

We cannot close our eyes to the denial of human rights in Afghanistan, where girls are banned from attending secondary school and university because of their gender. We cannot close our eyes to insecurity and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or any other country where girls are abducted, raped, killed in inter-ethnic clashes and denied their humanity.

Just as the world can make war and oppress girls and women, we also have the same capacity to make peace and empower girls and women. The choice is ours. The choice we make as a human family will determine who we are and how far we have come as a human species.

Meanwhile, we who have chosen human dignity and moral responsibility will continue to invest in the education and the unbreakable spirit of girls and women everywhere. Our investment in education is our investment in their courage, resilience, brilliance, strength and fortitude. For the sake of 8 billon members of humanity. But we can't do it alone. We are all in this together.

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
DUBLIN, Nov. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Fixed Broadband Market Trends and Opportunities, 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

'Fixed Broadband Market Trends and Opportunities in Europe - 2023,' provides an executive-level overview of the fixed broadband market in Europe. It delivers quantitative and qualitative insights into the fixed market, analyzing key trends, and growth drivers in the region.



'Europe as a region is largely an advanced fixed broadband market. Governments and regulators are working in tandem to drive and develop fixed broadband infrastructure and adoption, especially in regards to FTTH/B - with major high-speed broadband coverage targets set across Europe.



The European Commission (EC) has a vision to transform Europe into a gigabit society and to become a digital single market. The EC's targets include a 100 Mbps broadband coverage across all member states by 2025 and upgradable later to Gigabit connectivity. Often, member states opt for FTTH/B to achieve these targets. Major government-backed national broadband plans will drive fiber coverage, faster Internet speeds, and boost competition.



Fixed broadband development also provides more service bundling and monetization opportunities for telcos - e.g., OTT video, cloud gaming, home office solutions (e.g., UC&C), and smart home services.



Ongoing structural/functional separation trends in Europe, aimed at creating fiber wholesalers, open access to the acceleration of fiber deployments.

It provides an in-depth analysis of the following:

Section 1: Europe in a Global Context: This section provides a comparison of Europe's macro-economic KPIs, fixed telecoms market size, and trends with other regions.

in a Global Context: This section provides a comparison of macro-economic KPIs, fixed telecoms market size, and trends with other regions. Section 2: Regional Market Trends and Competitive Dynamics: This section analyzes the competitive dynamics that have been shaping the European fixed broadband markets over the past few years, including market entries, market exits, consolidations, and M&A activities.

Section 3: Fixed Broadband Subscription Trends: Provides analysis, historical figures, and forecasts of fixed broadband subscriptions and usage trends in the region as well as their growth drivers.

Section 4: Fixed Broadband Revenue Trends: Examines changes in the breakdown of overall revenue and ARPU over 2023-2028.

Section 5: Key findings: A summary of key findings and growth opportunities for Europe's fixed broadband market.

Scope

Fixed broadband lines penetration of the population will reach 33.5% in 2023, and will further expand to 38.4% in 2028.

Fixed broadband lines in Europe will reach 324.8 million in 2028. The total broadband market will be led by the FTTH/B segment, which will increase by 95.1 million lines between 2023 and 2028.

will reach 324.8 million in 2028. The total broadband market will be led by the FTTH/B segment, which will increase by 95.1 million lines between 2023 and 2028. FTTH/B will account for 73.3% of total fixed broadband lines in 2028, up from 50.7% in 2023.

Between 2021 and 2026, operators in Europe will generate a cumulative $462.3 billion in fixed Internet services revenue.

Reasons to Buy

This Insider Report provides a comprehensive examination through forward-looking analysis of Europe's fixed broadband markets trends in a concise analytical format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.

fixed broadband markets trends in a concise analytical format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies. Accompanying the analyst's Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Europe's fixed broadband markets.

fixed broadband markets. The report is designed for an executive-level audience, with charts and tables boasting presentation quality.

The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive actionable insights will help operators, equipment vendors, and other telecom industry players better position to seize the growth opportunities in Europe's evolving fixed broadband market.

Key Topics Covered:

Europe's fixed broadband markets -key takeaways

Europe highlights

Section 1: Europe in a Global Context

Europe's Demographics at a Glance

Demographics at a Glance Europe in a Global Context

Section 2: Competitive Dynamics

Regulatory Drivers of Fixed Broadband in Europe

Major Competitive Changes in Europe

National Broadband Plans: A Key Growth Driver of Fixed Broadband in Europe

Europe's Main Competitive Market Trends

Section 3: Fixed Broadband Subscription Trends

Internet User Trends in Europe

Fixed Broadband Technology Trends in Europe

Section 4: Fixed BroadbandRevenueTrends

Fixed Broadband ARPU in Europe

Fixed Broadband Revenue Trends in Europe

Section 5: Key Findings and Recommendations

Key Findings and Recommendations

Appendix

Acronyms and Definitions

Companies Mentioned

Related research

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

4iG Plc

Antenna Hungaria

Cecoin Kft

CityFibre

Deutsche Glasfaser

Digi Group

Disney+

Gagnaveita Reykjavikur

Green Dot

Liberty Global

Magyar Telekom

MEO Portugal

Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)

Netflix

Open Fibre

Orange France

Orange Romania

Poland's Play (P4)

Play (P4) Predica

Proximus

RadioLan

Salt

SIRO

Slovanet

Sunrise Switzerland

Swisscom

Telefonica Spain

Telefonica Spain

Telekom Romania

TIM Italy

UPC Poland

Vauban Infrastructure Partners

Vodafone Germany

Vodafone Portugal

Vortanoria Investments

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4chtdq

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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The kids wear market is driven by growth in Sustainable and Ethical Fashion, rise in Gender-Neutral Clothing, and surge in focus of young consumers on comfort and functionality. Moreover, rapid technological advancement in the apparel and fashion industry has led to change in dynamics and made it easier for both customers and organizers to organize the market smoothly.

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled "Kids Wear Market by Product Type (Apparel, Footwear and Accessories), End User (Boys and Girls), and Distribution Channel (Supermarket & Hypermarket, Online Stores, Specialty Stores, and Brand Outlets): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032 ". According to the report, the global kids wear market was valued at $194.1 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $286.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample Copy of Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2495

Prime determinants of growth

The growth of the kids wear industry is majorly driven by many factors. Market expansion for kids wear industry is significantly fueled by the fashion and apparel sector. Moreover, the kids wear market witnesed a shift toward gender-neutral or unisex clothing. Parents were challenging traditional gender norms and seeking clothing options that were versatile and inclusive. Brands that offered a wide range of colors, styles, and designs suitable for all children, regardless of gender, were gaining popularity. In addition, comfortable and functional designs were gaining prominence in kids' wear. Parents were looking for clothing that allowed their children to move freely and comfortably. Fabrics with stretch, adjustable features, and easy-care properties were becoming popular, aligning with the practical needs of parents.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 194.1 billion Market Size in 2032 $286.9 billion CAGR 4.1 % No. of Pages in Report 290 Segments covered product type, end user, distribution channel and region.. Drivers Rise in demographic trends Change in fashion and style preference Influence of economic factors Opportunities Involvement of innovative materials as opportunity in kids wear market Restraints High price sensitivity Size and fit challenges

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The apparel segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the apparel segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This category comprises outerwear such as coats and jackets, dresses for special occasions, tops such as shirts and sweaters, and bottoms such as skirts and trousers. The demand for eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing practices has driven the popularity of sustainability and ethical fashion. The digital transformation has changed the market as e-commerce and online shopping continue to grow. Character licensing is still a thriving industry, and the availability of inclusive and gender-neutral clothing is expanding. The increase in popularity of fast fashion has satisfied the needs of parents who are looking for stylish yet reasonably priced items for their kids.

The boys segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on end user, the boys segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Despite the growing awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly clothing options among environmentally conscious consumers, the trend of the leisure apparel which prioritizes comfort and adaptability, remains popular. Character licensing continues to capture younger audiences, and a wider variety of clothing alternatives is made possible by the advent of gender-neutral fashions. Teenage boys are fond of streetwear and urban looks, such sneakers and graphic tees. Growth-promoting variables include the rise in discretionary spending, overseas expansion prospects, the significance of internet retail expansion, and the cyclical need for apparel.

The supermarket & hypermarket segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on distribution channel, the supermarket & hypermarket segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Supermarkets and hypermarkets play a major role in the kids clothing sector because of the wide range of kids clothes they carry. This entails carrying a wide range of kid-friendly clothing, supporting private label manufacturers that offer affordable yet high-quality options, supporting seasonal sales and sustainability, and enhancing their online presence to attract clients. Increasing client happiness and retention can be accomplished by introducing reward systems, providing personalized services and an enjoyable in-store environment, and promoting inclusivity and diversity in fashion choices. In addition, having licenses and relationships with well-known children's clothing firms has provided designers of children's clothing collections an advantage in producing distinctive and eye-catching styles. In this cutthroat industry, retailers have used data analytics to boost sales and gain a deeper understanding of consumer preferences.

The Asia-Pacific segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on region, the Asia-Pacific segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the kids wear market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. When it comes to the kids clothing market, Asia-Pacific is the largest and one of the regions with the fastest growth rates. Growing disposable income has allowed families to invest more on fashionable, high-end children's clothing. The need for children's clothes is directly driven by the area's younger and expanding population, which presents opportunities for retailers and manufacturers. The rapid trend of urbanization has altered people's lifestyle preferences and created a distinct market for children's clothing with an urban motif. Growing brand awareness has led to a demand for branded children's apparel, which has been facilitated by the influence of digital media and both domestic and foreign children's clothing companies.

Enquire before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2495

Leading Market Players: -

H&M Group

Ralph Lauren Corporation

Dolce & Gabbana S.r.l.

Marks and Spencer plc

Industria de Diseno Textil, S.A.

Gap Inc.

The Walt Disney Company

The Children's Place, Inc.

Under Armour, Inc.

Carter's, Inc.

The report analyzes government regulations, policies, and patents to provide information on the current market trends and suggests future growth opportunities globally. Furthermore, the study highlights Porter's five forces analysis to determine the factors affecting market growth.

Read More Trending "AMR Exclusive Insights:

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.





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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Rise in prevalence of rabies in developing countries, increase in number of dog bites and rising number of stray dogs and presence of large market players who manufactures rabies vaccine is anticipated to boost the growth of rabies vaccine market. Moreover, rise in awareness among the population regarding importance of vaccination and increase in number of post-exposure prophylaxis is anticipated to drive the growth of the global rabies vaccine market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Rabies vaccine Market by Type (Chick Embryo Cells Rabies Vaccine, Vero Cell Rabies Vaccine, Human Diploid Cell Vaccine and Others), Prophylaxis Type (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post Exposure Prophylaxis), Application (Human and Animal) and End User (Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global rabies vaccine market was valued for $1,207.03 million in 2022, and is projected to reach $1,903.17 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample of the Report on Rabies Vaccine Market Forecast 2032- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/3264

Prime determinants of growth

Rise in prevalence of rabies, increase in post exposure prophylaxis for rabies and increase in number of initiatives by government for eradication rabies is anticipated to boost the growth of market. However, high cost of rabies vaccine is anticipated to hinder the growth of market. On the contrary, high presence of rabies vaccine providers, rise in number of adoptions of key strategies by manufacturers of rabies vaccine is to witness growth during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $1,207.03 million Market Size in 2032 $1,903.17 million CAGR 4.7 % No. of Pages in Report 451 Segments covered Type, Prophylaxis Type Application, End User and Region. Drivers Rise in prevalence of rabies in developing countries High presence of rabies vaccine manufacturers Opportunities Rise in adoption of number of strategies by market players of rabies vaccine Restraints High cost of rabies vaccine

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The chick embryo cells rabies vaccine segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By product type, the chick embryo cells rabies vaccine segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifth of the global rabies vaccine market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to the high presence of market players who manufactures chick embryo cells rabies vaccine. However, the human diploid cell vaccine segment is projected to manifest significant growth with a CAGR of 5.3% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the effectiveness and safety associated to human diploid cell vaccine.

The post exposure prophylaxis segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By prophylaxis type, the post exposure prophylaxis segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifth of the global rabies vaccine market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to rise in awareness among population regarding post-exposure prophylaxis. However, the pre-exposure prophylaxis segment is projected to manifest a significant CAGR of 5.1% from 2023 to 2032, owing to rise in number of pre exposure prophylaxis by tourist, healthcare activist, environmentalist and population who are having pets.

The human segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By application, the human segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifth of the global rabies vaccine market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to rise in awareness among the population regarding importance of vaccination. However, the animal segment is projected to manifest a significant CAGR of 5.0% from 2023 to 2032.

The hospitals segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By end user, the hospitals segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifth of the global rabies vaccine market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to rise in number of vaccinations in hospitals. However, the veterinary clinics segment is projected to manifest a significant CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032.

For Procurement Information- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/3264

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

By region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global rabies vaccine market revenue. This is attributed to high presence of rabies vaccine manufacturers in North America and rising number of initiatives taken by government for animal vaccination. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032 and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to increase in awareness among the population regarding importance of rabies vaccination, rise in number of dog bites and increase in number of stray dogs in developing countries like India.

Leading Market Players:

Bharat Biotech International Limited

Sanofi

Boehringer Ingelheim International Gmbh

Novartis Ag

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Merck And Co., Inc.

Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.

Zoetis Inc.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated.

Virbac Sa

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global rabies vaccine market. These players have adopted different strategies such as agreement, partnership, acquisition, and business expansion to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Comprehensive Healthcare Industry Research Studies:

mHealth Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Biomaterials Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Flow Cytometry Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

Healthcare IT Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

MRI System Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222032

About Allied Market Research:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
JINAN, China, Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 25, local time, Shandong Heavy Industry Group's global Partner Conference and New Product Exhibition was held in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, UAE. 570 dealers and major customers from more than 70 countries in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South Asia and other regions participated.

Picture2 image_5030058_45088429

Dubai has unique geographical advantages. It is the first choice for Shandong Heavy Industry Group to gather strength and deepen the development for Middle East and Africa market, and is also the second stop for Shandong Heavy Industry Global Partner Conference. The Conference aims to work with partners to explore new paths for international cooperation, create a new platform for regional win-win cooperation, and open up new space for future development.

Shandong Heavy Industry Group, headquartered in Jinan, China, is a global industrial equipment group with annual revenue of 72 billion US dollars. It owns Weichai Power, Sinotruk, Shacman, Lovol Intelligent Agriculture, Shantui Construction Machinery, Zhongtong Bus, Ferretti, KION, Linde Hydraulics, Dematic, PSI, Baudouin and other well-known brands, and has 14 stocks from 12 listed companies. The main business covers powertrain systems, commercial vehicles, agricultural equipment, construction machinery, intelligent logistics and marine mobility. It has set up science and technology innovation centers in more than 10 countries in the world to provide products and service solutions for more than 150 countries and regions. Heavy-duty engines, heavy-duty transmissions, heavy-duty trucks, industrial forklifts, luxury yachts and other products lead the world in technology and sales.

In recent years, Shandong Heavy Industry Group has continued to increase its investment in the Middle East market, and invested in Dubai to establish its Middle East Operation Center integrating product display, warehousing and logistics, after-sale service, gen-set testing, and training support. At present, Shandong Heavy Industry is planning to build regional operation centers in Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and other places, link up with the world's leading dealer partners, and strive to build a unified service platform for the whole Group, and synchronize the layout of local manufacturing and financial support to build a complete global market service support system.

During the event, the New Product Exhibition of Shandong Heavy Industry Group was held at the same time, and more than 10 ownership enterprises of Shandong Heavy Industry Group brought their popular products and the latest technologies. The event focused on promoting the popular products in the field of high-end heavy-duty trucks, buses, gen-sets, new energy power and other fields within the Group, as well as the collaborative research and development technology with unique international competitive advantages. The companies can customize a full range of integrated product portfolio solutions for global customers in multiple scenarios and individual needs to create maximum value for customers.

There is an Arabic proverb, "Words are the leaf, and actions are the fruit." Shandong Heavy Industry Group will join hands with global partners and move forward side by side, take root in local operations, develop markets, expand brand effect, and jointly create a new model of international win-win. More beautiful fruits would be born around the world through practical cooperation, and we will join hands to sail to a better future!

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2285351/Picture2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2285348/image_5030058_45088429.jpg
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Gaza, Nov 25 : The Israeli army withdrew on Friday from the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza after raiding the premises for over a week, a Palestinian security source said.

The source, who requires anonymity, told Xinhua news agency that "the Israeli forces detonated facilities within the complex before their withdrawal, including power generators, oxygen pumps, and radiology equipment".

The Israeli army announced on Friday they destroyed a route of underground "terrorist" tunnels and tunnel shafts beneath the hospital, which they say served as a Hamas hideout.

Approximately 250 patients and staff remained at the hospital, which is currently non-operational due to severe shortages of power, water, and medical supplies, according to a UN report on Thursday.

The withdrawal came on the first day of the temporary humanitarian cease-fire between Hamas and Israel that is expected to last for four days.
Jaipur, Nov 25 : Polling for the 199 Assembly seats in Rajasthan began on Saturday morning, where as many as 1,863 candidates are in the fray.

The fate of these candidates will be decided by over 5.26 crore voters of the state.

The polling began at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m. while the results will be announced on December 3.

Congress candidate from Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar district, Gurmeet Singh Kooner (75), died at the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and thus polls have been adjourned on the seat.

The ruling Congress and the opposition BJP are the key contestants in the state.

The poll results will also decide whether the trend of changing government every time in the state will continue this time or not.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is contesting from his traditional seat Sardarpura in Jodhpur while former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting from Jhalrapatan in Jhalawar district.

Similarly, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is the Congress candidate from the Tonk seat while Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathod is contesting from Taranagar.

The reputation of many BJP MPs is also at stake in this election. MP Diya Kumari is contesting from Jaipur's Vidyadhar Nagar; Baba Balaknath from Alwar's Tijara; former Union Minister and MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore from Jaipur's Jhotwara; MP (Ajmer) Bhagirath Chaudhary from Ajmer's Kishangarh; MP Devji Patel from Sanchore, Narendra Khinchar from Mandawa of Jhunjhunu and Rajya Sabha member Kirodilal Meena is contesting from Sawai Madhopur seat.

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that a total of 51,507 polling booths -- 10,501 (urban) and 41,006 (rural) -- have been set up across the state.

Live webcasting is being conducted at a total of 26,393 polling booths. These polling centres will be monitored from the district-level control room.

Across the state, 65,277 ballot units, 62,372 control units and 67,580 VVPAT machines including reserves are being used for voting.

He said that to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of the elections, 6,287 micro observers and 6247 sector officers with reserves have been appointed, who will immediately resolve any kind of problem by continuously coordinating with the polling parties. One additional EVM machine will also be given to all sector officers.

For quick resolution of EVM-related problems, two engineers will also be present in every assembly, who will reach the centers immediately after receiving the information. These engineers will also have one additional EVM machine each, he said.

Gupta further said that 2,74,846 polling personnel will conduct the voting. As many as 7,960 women polling personnel will take command at women-managed polling stations and 796 disabled polling personnel will take command at disabled-managed polling stations.

Wheelchairs have been arranged for voting at all the polling booths, taking advantage of which the disabled people and senior voters above 80 years of age can cast their vote without any inconvenience, he added.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that a total of 1,02,290 security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting.

To conduct free and fair elections, three flying squads and three SST teams are being deployed in each constituency for intensive checking and monitoring on voting day.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will host the curtain raiser for the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) on December 12 in the national capital. The prelude event will witness an evening featuring panel discussions and interactions.

UNESCO recently declared Kozhikode as the first 'City of Literature' in India, attributing this honour to the city's rich cultural tapestry, with KLF serving as a key catalyst in this journey.

KLF 2024 will witness Turkey taking the spotlight as the guest country of honour. Original Sufi dancers from Konya, Home of Rumi, with over 25 performers will stage on the beaches of Kozhikode on January 13.

Speakers and authors in attendance include M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Arundathi Roy, Kailash Sathyarthi, Piyush Pandey, T.M. Krishna, Vikku Vinayakram, Gurcharan Das, Palanivel Thiagarajan, Ankoor Warikoo, William Dalrymple, Prakash Raj, Mallika Sarabhai and more.

Renowned writer Prof. K Satchidanandan will lead the charge as the Festival Director, overseeing a diverse range of sessions that aim to map literature through discussions on science and technology, history and politics, environment, business and entrepreneurship, health, art, cinema, theatre, music & leisure, travel & tourism, gender, economy, and various facets that shape human consciousness.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the people of Rajasthan to score a turnout record in the Assembly elections currently underway.

In a post on X, Modi said, "For Rajasthan Assembly votes will be held today. I urge all the voters to exercise their franchise and make a new record of voting. On this occasion and my best wishes to first time voters."

Polling for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is currently underway.

The Congress is looking for a second consecutive term, while the BJP is aspiring to end the grand-old-party rule in the desert state.

Counting of votes is scheduled for December 3.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday urged the voters in Rajasthan to vote in favour of the party for "guarantee" of their happiness.

Kharge in a post on X said, "Savings, relief, growth and flying high of dreams, People benefiting from welfare schemesaWill choose only Rajasthan! The aware people of Rajasthan know that their valuable vote is the guarantee of their happiness. 'The people of Rajasthan, the land of great heroes and symbol of social unity, are requested to vote. Make sure that there are no obstacles in your improving life. There is an appeal to young friends and first time voters to cast their vote. Choose Social Security, Choose economic empowerment, Choose only the guarantee of prosperity and development," the Congress president said.

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi also took to X, saying "Rajasthan will choose free treatment, interest free farm loans, cheap gas cylinders, English education, the OPS and the caste-based census. Go out in large numbers and exercise your franchise. Choose the Congress government that is beneficial for people and ensuring guarantees."

Urging the people of the state to vote for the guarantees of her party, Congress General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "My dear brothers and sisters of Rajasthan, your every single vote for is for your beautiful future, for your rights and for Congress guarantees. "Free treatment upto Rs 50 lakh, Rs 10,000 to women head per year, Gas cylinder for Rs 400, implementation of the old pension scheme, 10 lakh new jobs, right to home, cow dungs to be bought at Rs two per kg, MSP to farmers, and Rs two lakh loan without interest, laptop to college girl students, free education in private schools, case based census," she added.

Polling for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is currently underway.

While the Congress is looking for a second consecutive term, the BJP is aspiring to end the grand-old party rule in the desert state.

Counting of votes for the Assembly polls, along with four other state Assembly elections, is scheduled for December 3.
New Delhi: Foxconn chief executive Terry Gou during a press conference in New Delhi on Aug. 4, 2015. . Image Source: IANS News

Taipei, Nov 25 : Terry Gou, founder of contract manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (better known as Foxconn) has withdrawn from Taiwan's 2024 presidential election.

His running mate Tammy Lai confirmed the withdrawal, saying that the duo "will not appear on the ballot in 2024," reports Focus Taiwan website.

"It is a tough decision. But after thorough consideration, it is the best decision (we can make) at the moment," Lai was quoted as saying.

However, the reason for Gou's withdrawal was not revealed.

Gou said the decision was "for the future of the Republic of China."

"It now remains to be seen which opposition presidential ticket Gou will endorse," the report mentioned.

In August, the iPhone maker Foxconn's founder announced an independent bid for the Taiwan presidential election in January 2024.

He was pitted against Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je, and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih of the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT).

Gou had said at a press conference he will "make Taiwan overtake Singapore within 20 years" and have the highest GDP per capita in Asia.

"Taiwan should absolutely not become Ukraine. I shall never let Taiwan be the next Ukraine," said Gou.

"I can guarantee that I'll bring 50 years of peace to the Taiwan Strait."

As of 2022, Gou had a net worth of $6.8 billion.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 25 : The science is clear: Emissions must fall by 45 per cent by the end of this decade compared to the 2010 levels to meet the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Contrary to this, the UN Global Stocktake synthesis report -- a Paris Agreement-mandated evaluation of the global response to the climate crisis every five years -- finds that without urgent action, global temperatures will rise by 2.4-2.6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

This reinforces the need for transformative commitments at the forthcoming two-week UN climate summit or COP28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

To help fill the gap, nature can provide up to one-third of the emission reductions required by 2030, alongside ambitious decarbonisation plans.

Among the key issues that the COP28 Presidency can possibly claim this year could potentially be the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund for climate change and tripling of global renewable targets by 2030.

However, experts believe, a lot of tussle is expected on who will pay for the Loss and Damage Fund.

On the need for bringing clean power to all by 2030, while the G20 nations have supported it in the Delhi Declaration, it cannot be taken for granted till the remaining 170 plus nations also buy into it.

Ambition is empty without the finance to support it. Finance solutions are coming from the global south, like the Bridgetown Agenda which identifies that the private sector has to be tapped for mitigation finance. Also, tripling of multilateral development banks (MDBs) is required to provide public finance for adaptation and new innovative ways are required to unlock finance for the Loss and Damage Fund.

Not to forget at this COP is the Global Stocktake, a formal collective moment for the world to reflect and take stock for ratcheting up ambition.

The new tussle is on methane. With the US and China coming to agreements, it will put methane in the new geopolitical ambit of Greenhouse gasses (GHGs), forcing nations to assess their methane emitting sectors and economy.

Looking internally at India's own transition, it has not made enough attempts for finance, climate experts told IANS.

India can scale renewable energy, but will need finance for developing green energy corridors, grid infrastructure and critical minerals to meet its ambition.

Green hydrogen and energy efficiency as potential sectors to watch out for, though green hydrogen comes with caveats.

India is a late entrant to the exporters club and it is still a beginner in electrolyser manufacturing. Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy Environment and Water, told IANS the big difference in this particular COP is that this is a Global Stocktake COP.

"It is important to understand the motivation behind the Global Stocktake process, which is a formal point for the whole world to reflect and take stock for ratcheting up ambition, and I think that is the keyword. It is not just for taking stock, it is a formal process for reflection and ratcheting of ambition. "Of course, at every COP we have the UNEP's Emission Gap reports so we know if progress is taking place or not. But it will be a formal thing at COP28 which is expected to happen every five years."

On tripling of renewable energy (RE) targets, Chaturvedi said, "We might be taking the global target of tripling of renewables for granted because the G-20 declaration kind of adopted it. But it will only become a global goal if all 190 plus countries agree at COP28.

"This would be a great win, but we should never take these things for granted, because there are another 170 plus countries who have not really weighed in on this subject, and what we saw and what we have seen during the negotiation process is that in many, many countries the capabilities are so low that it's not easy for them to understand the implications of any such thing for their country."

"It is not so straightforward. We are expecting that tripling of RE will formally come into the COP text. I hope it does but some effort will need to happen for that also," he said.

On India's mitigation pathway, Alok Kumar, former Principal Secretary with the Union Ministry of Power, said, "The debate on coal phase-out and phase-down has been going on for many years. India has not been very aggressive on demanding climate finance at various platforms.

"There are some aspects to this. First, meeting energy demands is critical for a country like India. Then, we have to plan for 2030. These are all long-term projects. I agree that at the renewable energy level, we can do more. If we accelerate renewable energy, it is fine.

"Beyond a point there are some concerns like the technical issue of storage, our political system giving free electricity and that India's reality is different.

"Third, we need finance to develop the green energy corridors. If the government is not sure about this, new coal mines will be set up automatically to meet the growing energy needs.

"Fourth, India should raise the affordability issue and supply chain of critical minerals at the international platform.

"Fifth, the technology is available but the point is, at what cost? So let us talk about finance. Therefore, India needs to talk about finance and critical minerals when we talk of accelerating RE. India is doing sufficient. Local manufacturing in RE projects is picking up. Our track record of transparent bidding and payment has worked.

"The issues will come on transmission lines, storage lines and for these, we need climate financing and not for setting up RE projects. We need more money to scale up the project."

According to Kumar, green hydrogen is a futuristic ambition for India, which will scale up in the next decade. However, there are three issues for India as it wants to tap export markets and major competitors like Australia who have already moved ahead.

"India will have to depend on domestic demand for scalable returns. If we have domestic demand, India can become a leader in green hydrogen production.

"Lastly, when we look at electrolyser manufacturing, both material-wise and technology-wise, we are still a beginner in technology and we can't build a green hydrogen ecosystem without having expertise in electrolysers," Kumar said.

According to Chaturvedi, the new tussle would be methane as the US and China have already come out with their announcement.

"India has already said officially that the agricultural sector is out of our NDC (nationally determined contribution) or any emission pledge because it is such a complicated sector for us. In India, more than 60 per cent methane emissions are from the livestock sector, and then it is rice production.

"Both sectors are very complicated for us to deal with. It is hard for me to expect India to sign on the methane pledge. But if it happens in a big way, then one will be forced to look at many, many things and eventually three, four, five years down the line, one could see that this becomes a very big sticking point the way loss and damage has been till now. So a new channel has been opened at this COP," Chaturvedi added.

By the end of COP28, negotiators hope countries must agree to shun fossil fuels -- the root cause of climate change as impacts are felt everywhere, including in the Antarctica, and with a clear timeframe aligned to the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
Patna, Nov 25 : People in Bihar are experiencing early chilly weather this winter season and the met department is expecting 1 to 3 degrees minimum temperature in the next 24 hours. This may be a temporary phase but it is a reflection of the change in the climate due to various reasons, says an expert.

He said there are various reasons for the climate change here during summer and winter. The state is lacking green cover especially in the rural areas. Bihar, over the years, is facing disasters like the annual floods in North Bihar and a drought-like situation in South Bihar every year.

As per a study by the Journal of Natural Science Research, 21% of the total area comes under seismic zone 5. Bihar has 14 districts which are highly vulnerable due to lack of forest cover, flood affected zones and other issues. Around 70% of the districts have a wind speed of nearly 50 meters/second which is considered very high. The northern part of Bihar has low lying plains where water from Nepal accumulates. Rivers like the Kosi, Kamla Balan, Gandak, Parman originate from the Himalayas and their water crosses various North Bihar districts to finally fall into the Ganga river.

The biggest challenge for the state government is the silt carried by these rivers and its accumulation in the low lying areas of North Bihar, affecting the natural drainage. This became worse after the drainage system in various districts was developed in an unplanned manner. The water comes from the Himalayan range but does not exit to other sides due to the poor drainage system.

Around 21 districts including West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Supaul, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea, Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Patna and many others are hit by floods every monsoon season. "The actual reason for flood water accumulating in these districts is the siltation and the poor drainage system. The state government has failed to construct a drainage system in a well planned manner. In the last few years, various people in the government and different agencies are discussing it and expressing concern about the changes in the weather but because of political apathy, Bihar does not have an action plan on the ground," said Bharat Sharma, a Patna based environmentalist.

Dinesh Kumar Mishra, research expert (IIT Kharagpur) on the Bihar flood situation, pointed out that the poor functioning of the state government is responsible for the problem. "Everyone in the government and engineers in the water resource department know that siltation and drainage are the key issues to resolve the problem but the government looks only at temporary solutions. When the Kushaha tragedy happened in the Kosi region in 2008, the Nitish Kumar government had given compensation to the affected families and they kept quiet. No one spoke about permanent solutions. The state government opens a control room in Patna to monitor the flood situation every year from May 15 to October 15. Every year, floods occur in July. Why can the control room not work for 12 months? They know the problem but have failed to address it," Mishra told IANS.

"In 1955, the farmers of North Bihar said that flood waters remained for two and a half days in their villages. Now, the water stays for 4 to 6 months in some of the districts like Supaul and Sheohar. Why did it happen? The natural drainage systems were disturbed at a massive level. Hence the water does not drain towards the nearby rivers," he said.

The Bihar government has formulated a plan to connect the rivers with one another. Recently, the Nitish Kumar government had brought Ganga water to districts like Nalanda, Gaya and Nawada. The experts believe that such efforts are needed in North Bihar as well to connect various rivers and drainage systems with rivers through channels to address these issues.

The Nitish Kumar government launched the Jan Jeevan Hariyali programme on October 2, 2019 and allocated Rs 24,524 crore to promote ecological balance and water conservation in the state. One of its goals was to deal with water scarcity especially in the southern part of Bihar. This needs proper implementation in districts like Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad, Jamui Sheikhpura and others.

The government came with the Bihar State Action Plan of Climate Change in 2015 and made sectoral plans to deal with it. However, the implementation was lacking. In the same year, the state government constituted a team of experts to make an action plan with the help of the Department For International Development (DFID). the DFID suggested some measures like desiltation in North Bihar especially in the Kosi range, strengthening agricultural chains, development of agro based industries. The government, through the Bihar state pollution control board signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme India in February 2021 to prepare strategies to build climate resilience and reach net zero emission by 2070.
Mumbai, Nov 25 : A climate crusader-cum-academic-cum farmer, who has analysed long-term and short-term climate data, has warned that by 2100, Maharashtra will become hotter, wetter and agriculture activities would be hit in a big way, affecting major crops and raising questions on food security for the people.

Prof. Rahul S. Todmal, who teaches Geography at the Vidya Pratisthan's ASC College, Baramati (Pune) -- likes to describe himself as a farmer by upbringing and a climate activist by choice -- has prepared a study, 'Future Climate Change Scenario over Maharashtra, Western India', with several stunning revelations of how the coming 75 years would affect the state.

"I used the projected climate data (regional model) from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, for the period 2015-2100, based on the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 scenario that was considered in the Fifth Assessment Report of IPCC," Todmal told IANS.

Accordingly, Maharashtra will experience a staggering increase in monsoon rainfall between 18-22 per cent in the regions of Raigad, Satara, Pune, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia and Akola, over the next 25 years (2050).

"However, this rainfall increase can be destructive, if it occurs along with an increase in extreme events and repeat the catastrophic flood events witnessed in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts (August 2019). Most districts of Vidarbha region are likely to see a spike in rainfall by 53-122 mm, with Nagpur-Wardha poised to see rainfall increase of 82-122 mm," Todmal said.

The 30 districts (out of 36) which will see big jump in rainfall are: Mumbai & Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Hingoli, Aurangabad, Jalna, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Nagpur, and Wardha.

Though increase in rains is a 'natural bonus', it can cause havoc if accompanied by extreme events that could threaten the rainfed agriculture through flash floods, waterlogging and other woes, besides posing challenges for water resource management, he avers.

After the wetter spells, 80 per cent of the state will see a rise in Annual Mean Temperatures (AMT) of between 1C-2.5C degrees, albeit with spatial variations.

These districts are: Mumbai & Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Hingoli, Aurangabad, Jalna, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, Nagpur, Bhandara, and Wardha.

"Along with the rise in AMT, the annual minimum-maximum temperature is also expected to increase, meaning that in the coming years, winters would be quite warmer and summers would be much harsher" said Todmal grimly.

This twin development will directly impact agriculture and crops in different parts of the state, making them vulnerable and also hit the farmers badly, said Todmal, himself a tiller who goes in his fields regularly.

With the Planet heating up, jowar crops will plummet by 6-18 per cent in Satara, Pune, central Maharashtra; Sugarcane will drop by 6-22 per cent in Osmanabad, Pune, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Satara and Ratnagiri.

Other major crops to be hit would be rice, bajra and cotton with the increased temperatures due to germination/pollen related aspects, and the rising mercury would affect both the Kharif and Rabbi crop seasons, with rainfed crops and irrigated crops facing a decline in productivity.

The AMT increase in the winters may hit wheat cultivation, plus augment the rate of evapotranspiration that could aggravate water scarcity in parts of the state, especially those falling in the 'rain shadow' zones.

Todmal said though the state has a larger net sown area under rainfed crops, in the past few decades the area under cash crops (sugarcane, cotton, onion, maize, etc) is increasing with a corresponding increase in demand for agricultural water.

Against these challenging backdrops, Todmal said that agro-experts and agronomists can contribute by introducing low-water requiring crop varieties that can withstand and perform in future climates, while the government should introduce stricter policies on cropping patterns depending on the cropping zones to reduce pressures on water resources for farming.

Despite huge investments in rainwater harvesting in the state, water scarcity persists  in stark contrast to Israel which has marginal rainfall (500 mm) but has conquered its water crisis by applying water-saving techniques in agriculture, he pointed out.

Todmal cited a World Bank (2008) report warning that the droughts and floods (in 2003 and 2005) have consumed about Rs 175 billion - which was larger than the planned budget of Rs 150 billion - on agriculture, irrigation and rural development for 2002-2007 period.

These extreme events are also responsible for the suicides of around 400,000 farmers in the state since 1995 till date, and the future hotter-wetter months could have serious implications not only on the country's agriculture and economy but also society at large.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Bengaluru, Nov 25 : Dasabettu Mathayes D'Sa, popularly known as Desa, has accomplished what many could not even contemplate. He spent his entire retirement savings to purchase a wasteland -- a red stone quarry -- and planted a variety of wild trees that are on the verge of extinction.

Desa's determination to transform the wasteland into a mini forest is inspiring, especially on the eve of the COP28 Summit in Dubai focused on the climate challenge.

The flourishing mini forest now stands in place of the scarred land, once marked by deep trenches, covering three-fourths of an acre in Satwadi, a small village near Kundapura town in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

The 63-year-old Desa, after retiring from a humble job in Mumbai, moved to Satwadi in 2017, leaving his wife and son behind to pursue his dream of cultivating a forest and dedicating the rest of his life to nature in his native region.

Residing in Moodlakatte near Kundapura, merely a kilometre away from his dream forest, Desa relies on a bicycle as his primary mode of transport. He also owns a small boat with a tiny petrol engine, allowing him to explore the mangrove forest near his house. In Kundapura, he actively spreads awareness about the importance of mangrove forests among nature lovers, students, and journalists.

Additionally, he contributes to making the area a tourist hub by taking people on boat rides to explore the beauty of the small trees growing in coastal saline or brackish water, providing self-employment opportunities to locals. Desa also contributes to greening his village roads by planting and watering plants.

In an interview with IANS, Desa explained that his inspiration came from the novel "Swapnada Hole" by well-known Kannada author K. Shivaram Karanth. "I belong to the Christian community. Despite community members' curses for not attending church masses, I had dedicated my weekends to nature trips," Desa says.

He is a long-time member of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), has attended various nature camps nationwide for wildlife studies with BNHS, and is a lifetime member of the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI), participating in numerous trekking programmes at both state and national levels.

Desa has volunteered for wildlife studies in the Nallamala forest with the Government of Telangana Wildlife Department and has led countless students and professionals in various trekking programs.

Describing the challenges of growing a forest on quarry land, Desa highlighted the difficulty of dealing with trenches up to 15 feet deep, where the land below that depth is infertile.

Despite the financial constraints for levelling the land, Desa has managed to grow tree saplings in the existing trenches.

Reflecting on his decision to retire in Satwadi instead of pursuing a watchman's job in Mumbai, Desa emphasized the joy of reliving childhood days through reading, wandering in forests, and fishing.

Desa passionately believes that the survival of the land depends on the existence of forests.

He criticizes politicians for their soft stance on forest destruction and points out the encroachment of forests by politicians and elites, particularly in the birthplace of the Cauvery river, where vast acres of coffee plantations have replaced natural forests.

Desa emphasizes that people will only realize the importance of forests during water shortages in big cities, calling attention to the collective responsibility to protect these crucial ecosystems.
Lucknow, Nov 25 : He was a student when he saw ponds and lakes in Gautam Buddha Nagar gradually shrinking and then vanishing. Ramveer Tanwar, now 29, felt that if the local people took the initiative, they could save the water bodies in their areas.

"I had an unexplained fascination for water. I would take my herd of cattle for grazing in my village Dadha. I would sit by the local pond to leisurely finish my schoolwork, even as the animals munched on the grass," recalls the resident of Gautam Buddha Nagar.

Tanwar, who went on to pursue his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering also witnessed the urbanisation of his village and all the areas of Greater Noida, over the years.

The urbanisation resulted in population growth, which further resulted in the shrinking of water bodies and forests, as the tall buildings were constructed on those lands.

Since it was mandatory for students pursuing the course to participate in social and environmental activities and provide viable solutions for issues related to them, Tanwar decided that he would address the concern of disappearing water bodies and forest lands.

Tanwar and his batch mates started an informal campaign on water conservation called 'Jal Chaupal' with local communities. He started from his village Dadha, but soon visited other villages in Uttar Pradesh, including Dabra, Kulipura, Chauganpur, Raipur, Sirsa, Rampur, Salempur.

The student group was also accompanied by several environmentalists and they held meetings with the villagers. In these 'Jal Chaupals', villagers shared their experiences on water quality issues, and the student group and experts discussed mitigation measures.

He urged the people to conserve water and save natural resources like ponds, lakes and wetlands. Tanwar started off by giving lessons to children from his village, who in turn, began to feel like they had to do something about their dying water sources.

Later, he told the students to come with their parents every Sunday and he would facilitate a discussion and suggest methods to conserve water.

The message finally started to sink in, and the villagers were really starting to grasp the problem they were facing.

His effort was appreciated by the district authorities, and these 'Jal Chaupals' were officially recognised.

In 2015, Tanwar and his team of volunteers, students, and their parents removed all the garbage from the first pond. Not only did they clean it, they also planted some trees around it.

Later on, they invited the local administration to come and see the glorious restoration. The good news spread fast and soon enough, people from other villages and districts started to come to Tanwar to ask for help with the restoration of local lakes.

He roped in more people and went on to restore dozens of lakes and ponds in the region. Soon after he completed his graduation, Tanwar got a job in a multinational company, where he worked for nearly two years.

However, he could not get 'Jal Chaupal' out of his mind and heart all that while and soon Tanwar quit his plush job to dedicate his time and energy in saving the parched water bodies and promoting afforestation.

Finally, Tanwar became a full-time conservationist in 2016. Tanwar says that more than 60 per cent of the water bodies in India are either filled with garbage or solid waste or those areas have been encroached upon.

"This is more prevalent in areas where urbanisation is taking place. The wetlands in the rural areas are comparatively in a better position. Whichever area is urbanised, rest assured the wetlands of the area will be damaged," he says.

Tanwar says the lack of solid waste management is another reason for the deterioration of the water bodies, and this factor is prevalent in both urban and rural areas.

In rural areas, he says, the management is more difficult because there are no dedicated landfill sites or garbage collection vans, and nobody likes to keep the waste inside the house. So, the villagers dump the waste in the nearby water body, most of which is non-biodegradable.

Besides, the water bodies that are no longer a source of income for the villages or communities, are not taken care of, he adds.

He further says that when water bodies become contaminated with dangerous bacteria, it results in devastating health effects in humans. Symptoms may include an array of health issues, such as diarrhoea and neurological problems.

Tanwar's moment of glory however came when he was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat' and also by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He has been declared as the Brand Ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Ghaziabad and has been appointed as the District Coordinator of the 'BhuJal Sena', Noida (Groundwater Force) by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Mangroves can act as bio-shield in Kerala, as storm surge likely to increase.. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Nov 25 : At a time when West Bengal is hitting the national headlines for all the wrong reasons, there is at least one area where the state has been acclaimed nationally as a model. And that area is minimising the impact of increasingly frequent and untimely cyclonic storms in coastal areas.

Besides being accepted as the national model for systematic and scientific mangrove plantation to reduce the impact of cyclonic storms on coastlines, this project adopted in Sunderbans area scattered over the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal has also become an exemplary example of women empowerment.

In July this year, the aSunderbans modela was accepted nationally by the Union Government as an Rs 200 crore project named aMishti.a Now, extensive and systematic mangrove plantation will be done on the Indian coastline right from Gujarat to Odisha to minimise the impact of cyclonic storms.

At the same time, the spirit of women empowerment that was adopted in the aSunderbans modela is also being replicated in the national model of aMishtia where women-dominated Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be entrusted with the task of plantation and maintenance of mangroves along the coastlines.

Encouragingly, six coastal states namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala individually approached the West Bengal forest department by the end of last year to purchase nine varieties of mangrove seeds for their states.

A team of experts from West Bengal also visited these six coastal states to train their counterparts there on the plantation, nurturing and maintenance of the mangrove saplings.

According to experts, the speciality of the mangrove plantation are the stilt roots that develop from the stem nodes and join the soil substratum, hence providing mechanical support even to weaker stems. That is why the mangroves are in a better position to bear the impact of cyclonic storms and donat get easily uprooted.

Though the West Bengal Government and the ruling Trinamool Congress have taken the credit for the aSunderbans modela being adopted nationally, however, the beneficiaries give the real credit to a group of environmental activists.

The protectionists, under the aegis of the Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS) started a mission in 2007 to achieve permanent and concrete protection from the ravages of cyclones.

The initiative started under the banner of aProject Green warriorsa involved women from three villages in the Sunderbans area in South 25 Parganas, namely Dulki-Sonagaon, Amlamethi and Mathurakhand.

Before the beginning of the project, although the state forest department practiced mangrove forestation in July every year, nothing remained by winter since the plantation was monoculture in nature.

Lack of monitoring was also a reason for the quick wiping out of the plantation undertaken by the state forest department before 2007.

However, after aProject Green Warriorsa started in West Bengal involving 150 village women, there was a change in the approach towards systematic mangrove plantation as a long-term resistance tool against cyclonic storms.

The volunteers of NEWS along with the 150 SHG women started educating the local people to avoid certain practices like cattle grazing in the mangrove plantations or fishing net-dragging that were uprooting the plants and leading to soil erosion. This extensive and parallel exercise resulted in a good yield between 2008 and 2009.

The positive impact of the project on Sunderbans was felt in May 2009 during Cyclone Aila. Its tail touched Sunderbans before it moved on to Bangladesh. While the rest of the Sunderbans was severely affected by Cyclone Aila, the patches of land where the mangrove forestation was done under the project was absolutely untouched.

That was an eye-opener for everyone, and NEWS started mobilising funds, doing risk-mapping and between 2010 and 2015 over 18,000 local women were involved in the project.

Over 4,600 hectares of land scattered over 183 villages in 14 community development blocks in the Sunderbans areas was brought under large-scale mangrove forestation.

Later, mangrove plantation was also included in the 100-day job project under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, ensuring that the protection of the coastlines continued unabated.
Tel Aviv, Nov 25 : Thailand on Saturday said that there are still 20 of its citizen which are held by Hamas.

On Friday, Hamas released 13 Israelis hostages, including 10 Thailand citizens and one Philippine national while Israel released 39 Palestinians as part of the deal between Hamas and Israel brokered by Qatar.

Thailand said that it will work for the release of all its citizens held by Hamas.

Reportedly, Iran has played a pivotal role in the release of 10 Thailand nationals and one Philippine national.

Sources in Thailand Embassy in Tel Aviv told IANS that they will use all the possible backchannels for the release of its citizens.

As part of deal, including four day ceasefire which stared from Friday, the movement of trucks with aid materials including food, fuel and medicines will be allowed in Gaza via Rafah crossing.

No gun shots were heard since Friday morning in Gaza, reports said.

However, Israel has alleged that it has shot down missiles allegedly fired by Hezbollah from the West Bank region on Saturday morning.
Manila, Nov 25 : Six members of a family were killed and two others injured when a fire broke out in a house in the Philippines' Quezon province, police said.

A 69-year-old woman and her five grandchildren were trapped inside the two-storeyed house in Candelaria town due to fire.

Two other females, aged 48 and 37, were injured, Xinhua news agency reported.

The blaze, which broke out at around 1 a.m. local time, was put out an hour and a half later.

Police said a neighbour witnessed the fire and "saw the family members trapped, shouting and seeking for help."
Kolkata, Nov 25 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought help of Mumbai-based National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) in investigation on the multi- crore cash-for- school job case in West Bengal.

Sources said that help has been sought from NSDL about the permanent account number (PAN)-related details of a particular corporate entity which is linked to Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a prime accused in the case.

Information has also been sought from NSDL about some present and past directors of the said company. Sources said that after getting the details from NSDL on this count, the ED sleuths will corroborate the same with the available documents already available with them.

They said that once the details sought from NSDL is available and corroborated with the documents already available with ED sleuths, the accounting juggleries made in the entire scam process will be more clear.

One of the individual PAN cards, whose information has been sought by the ED sleuths from NSDL is that of Sujay Bhadra. However, the ED sleuths are tight-lipped about the other directors whose information they have sought from NSDL.

Sources said that ED sleuths are exploring all opportunities to track the minute financial juggleries in the school job case to make a watertight case in the court. Already the central agency sleuths are under pressure to complete the investigation process at the earliest following a recent direction of the Calcutta High Court directing ED to wind up the investigation process by December 31 this year and approaching NSDL for the related information is perceived as a step to meet the deadline.
Jaipur, Nov 25 : Veteran Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his son Vaibhav Gehlot on Saturday cast their votes in Sardarpura for the Assembly polls.

Soon after exercising his franchise, Ashok Gehlot said, "Congress will repeat the government in Rajasthan...After today, they(BJP) will not be visible."

The seven guarantees announced by Congress will prove to be a masterstroke. The tradition (to change govt alternatively) will change and Congress will repeat the government in the state, said his son Vaibhav Gehlot.

Meanwhile, he will be on a three-day visit to Telangana from November 26 to 28.

Union Minister Gajendra Sekhawat also cast his vote with his family and said, "People will vote to script a new political chapter in Rajasthan."

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra also cast his vote.

He called all voters to participate in large numbers to cast their vote.

Long queues of voters could be seen since morning in many cities, including Jaipur and Jodhpur.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje also cast her vote in Jhalawar and urged everyone to vote.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot also cast his vote in C Scheme of Jaipur.

A total of 1,863 candidates are in the fray in this election whose fate will be decided by 5.26 crore people of the state.

Voting will conclude at 6 p.m.

Counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Five years ago in 2018, there was 74.06 per cent voting. As always, the main contest is between BJP and Congress.

The total poll per cent in Jaipur is 9.90, Jodhpur -- 8.54, Alwar -- 9.95, Sikar -- 10.20, Udaipur -- 9.04, Kota -- 12.11, Bikaner -- 9.71 and Ajmer -- 9.04.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 25 : The Kerala Bar Council on Saturday constituted a commission to probe into the unruly incident which took place at a magistrate court in Kottayam when angry lawyers staged protest and shouted slogans against a woman magistrate.

The Commission has been asked to file a detailed probe and submit it within a week's time.

On Thursday, lawyers shouted provocative slogans against Chief Judicial Magistrate Viveeja Sethumohan after an FIR was filed against a lawyer.

The Bar Council had decided to take up the issue after the Kerala High Court on Friday expressed its displeasure over what happened at the court in Kottayam.

Justice Devan Ramachandran questioned why the bar was selectively interfering in such "unnecessary matters".

"What is the bar doing? For all the unnecessary things, the bar is interfering. Yesterday, I saw the issue in Kottayam. Why is the bar being selective? Where are we going? (there is) no meaning," he said.

Acknowledging that he was uncertain about the particulars of the incident in Kottayam, Justice Ramachandran expressed concern and said such incidents affect the public perception about the legal community.

"We will be here for only sometime now and the next generation will take our place. I was disturbed due to the Kottayam incident. What will citizens think about the legal fraternity when they see such incidents," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : The Rainbow Lit Fest - Queer and Inclusive is set to take place on 9th and 10th December 2023 at the Gulmohar Park Club, New Delhi. Bringing together diverse voices from across the nation, the Rainbow Lit Fest seeks to discuss queerness, find common ground and stitch more informed narratives about the LGBTQIA+ community.

This year, over 60 speakers, entertainers and performers will participate in the festival. In about 30 sessions covering a wide variety of topics, they will celebrate queerness and love while encouraging inclusivity. The festival will open with a spotlight session with director Jaydeep Sarkar (maker of the new queer docuseries Rainbow Rishta). There will be more such spotlight sessions with Saurabh Kirpal (senior advocate & author), actor Kalki Koechlin, Seema Anand (London-based mythologist; intimacy columnist) and Hoshang Merchant (modern India's first openly gay poet).

Other prominent speakers include Alankrita Shrivastava (Director & Writer), actor Mona Ambegaonkar, Jaya Sharma (queer feminist activist), Urvashi Butalia (author and activist), Akhil Katyal (poet and queer activist), Poonam Saxena (senior journalist, translator, author), Rituparna Borah (queer feminist, writer, founder - Nazariya  QFRG), Niladri R Chatterjee (author and translator) and Rohin Bhatt (lawyer and activist).

Exploring themes of love and the law, social hierarchies and identities, the relationship between mythology, literature and culture, the overlap between queer rights and feminism, among other things, the conversations will revolve around the Rainbow Lit Fest's aim to unravel queer history, acknowledge present realities and work towards a hopeful future. Special 'Spotlights on History' include revisiting India's first Stonewall moment with activist Arif Jafar, and another remembering historian and gay rights activist Saleem Kidwai.

Besides history and academia, the Fest delves into the sub-continent's rich culture of folklore and fluidity to bring together an immersive two-day experience. Five films that cover different aspects of queerness will be screened at the festival, including the award-winning My Mother's Girlfriend and Muhafiz, among others. Mumbai-based Tamasha Theatre is set to perform Be-loved, an intriguing saga exploring love and freedom through a queer lens, for the first time in Delhi. Performances by queer artists feature musician John Oinam and band, drag performer Lush Monsoon, Geetanjali & Katukaleen rendering Kumaoni folk music, trans performer Avatari Devi, and Gayathri Sharma & Bhadra Sinha in a Bharatnatyam production representing the Ardhanarishvara philosophy.

The winners of the first-ever Rainbow Awards for Literature and Journalism will be announced and felicitated on Day 2. The Fest will also see queer-run enterprises at work through stalls and pop-ups. In addition, there would be a bookstore run by the 'queer-friendly' Kunzum.

The festival is being supported by Delhi Queer Spaces, Naz Foundation, Nazariya  QFRG, Keshav Suri Foundation, Official Humans of Queer, The Pink List, The Q-knit, Queering in Chandigarh, Sweekar - The Rainbow Parents and Yes We Exist. Everything from the fest's location  Gulmohar Park, which saw the early risings of the gay movement at the residence-cum-office of the Naz Foundation back in 2001  to its belief system  that literature and art should speak for as many as possible, particularly those who aren't usually heard  sets the Rainbow Lit Fest  Queer & Inclusiveapart.

Festival Director and Founder, Sharif D Rangnekar said, "After the Supreme Court verdict on marriage equality, there is a greater need for the community to come together and voice their views. Conversations around lived experiences are extremely essential in giving the community a sense of space, identity and belonging, while also informing the audience of queerness and the expanse of love and choice."

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov25 : Nobu Dubai, the iconic culinary destination and the jewel of Atlantis, The Palm's crown, proudly celebrates 15 years of delivering unparalleled dining experiences to its guests. To commemorate this special milestone, the restaurant is unveiling two extraordinary Omakase (chef's choice) menus featuring world-class Nobu creations.

Available for a limited time, the exclusive menus showcase Chef Nobu's innovative and signature dishes, reflecting the essence of his culinary legacy. Guests can experience a gastronomic journey that captures the spirit of Nobu Dubaias culinary evolution over the past 15 years.

Sushi Bar Omakase

Embark on a culinary journey like no other at Nobu Dubaias exclusive sushi bar, where a select number of guests will have the opportunity to experience the artistry of the 10-course menu. Diners will enjoy front row seats as the skilled chefs present a bespoke selection of the finest sushi and sashimi, showcasing the pinnacle of Nobu's culinary expertise. With limited seating available, each guest will be treated to a personalised and unforgettable menu, bringing Chef Nobuas creativity to life.Date: Thursday, 23rd November to Saturday, 25th NovemberTime: 6:00pm to 12:00amPrice: AED 1,050 per personNote: Limited seating, bookings must be confirmed in advance

Nobu 15th Anniversary Omakase

The Nobu 15th Anniversary Omakase menu will take guests on a journey, offering much-loved dishes and a selection of Chef Nobuas favourites. Diners are invited to try the likes of Nobu style signature sashimi trio, King Crab tempura aji Amarillo truffle honey soy, Chilean sea bass sobagaki white truffle, and smoked Japanese beef with coriander jalapeno salsa, as well as kaki goma cake with yuzu coconut sorbet and homemade passion fruit mochi for the sweetest of finales.Date: Wednesday, 22nd November to Saturday, 25th NovemberTime: 6:00pm to 12:00amPrice: AED 950 per person

In an exciting addition to the anniversary celebrations, Chef Nobu himself will be visiting Nobu Dubai throughout the week. This presents a unique opportunity for diners to witness the master at work and savour the exquisite flavours crafted by the culinary genius behind the Nobu phenomenon.

After 14 years of residence in The Avenues at Atlantis, The Palm, Nobu Dubai moved in January 2023 to its iconic-new location within the crown of the destination resort. Taking the space formally home to The Royal Bridge Suite on the 22nd floor, Nobu Dubai offers incredible views over the Palm Island and Arabian Gulf.

Guests can sit in one of five dining areas, including the main dining room, the exclusive sushi bar, VIP booths with views to the bustling kitchen, and a beautifully appointed and expansive Palm view terrace, featuring a comfortable lounge area coupled with the stunning skyline of Dubai. The slick and sophisticated Nobu bar is also a key element in the overall Nobu experience, taking centre stage in the restaurant.

To find out more about Nobu Dubai or to make a reservation log onto www.atlantis.com/dubai/restaurants/nobu or call 04 4 60760. Alternatively, check us out on social media @nobudubai @nobuprivedubai

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

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'Won't celebrate until last of the hostages returns': says family member of freed hostage Yoni Asher. Image Source: IANS News

Tel Aviv, Nov 25 : Yoni Katz Asher, whose wife and two daughters have returned from the captivity of Hamas, has said that he won't celebrate their release until the last of the hostages is back home.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "My family - Doron, Raz, and Aviv have returned home from captivity. I am determined to help my family recover from the terrible trauma and loss we went through, for my daughters and my wife's future. Difficult days are still ahead of me."

"This is a moment of celebration but I will not do that until our last hostage is back home," he said.

He further said that he must express thanks and appreciation to the brave sons of the IDF who were risking their lives to protect the nation.

Asher also thanked the Israeli government and the War Cabinet who are engaged in the task of protecting the nation.

He said, "Thank you to the wonderful Israeli people for the support. Great thanks to the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters who work to return them all."

"I am happy that I received my family back, it's allowed to feel joy and it's allowed to shed a tear. That's a human thing. But I am not celebrating, I will not celebrate until the last of the hostages returns home."

He said that he wanted to emphasise that the Israeli children, fathers, mothers, and sisters are currently hostages, there are people whose hearts are breaking at this time and wanted to ensure that each and every hostage returns home.

He said, "The families of hostages are not posters, they are not slogans, they are real people."

Yoni also added that the families of the hostages were his new family and that he would do everything to ensure the last hostage returned home safely.

His family was released as part of part of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that includes the release of at least 50 Israeli hostages overall. Israel will release 150 Palestinian women and children from its prisons under the deal.
Uttarkashi: Rescue operations are underway following the collapse of a section of an under-construction tunnel. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Nov 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously in touch with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone and taking stock of the operation being carried out to rescue the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.

In a post on X in Hindi, Dhami said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply concerned about the workers trapped in the Silkyara, Uttarkashi tunnel. The Prime Minister is taking detailed information daily about the well-being of the workers and the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the tunnel."

Dhami added, "Central agencies, the state administration, and teams of international experts are working on all possible options. We will soon be successful in evacuating the labourers safely."

Modi has been calling Dhami regularly since November 12, when a section of the under-construction tunnel collapsed, and taking updates about the 41 trapped workers and their families.

The Prime Minister has instructed the Chief Minister to make arrangements for the health check-ups and medical care of the workers after their evacuation.
Kolkata, Nov 25 : A special court in Kolkata on Saturday directed a central hospital here to form a medical board to evaluate the voice sampling test of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a prime accused in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal.

The ESI Hospital at Joka in the southern outskirts of Kolkata has been entrusted by the special court with the task of forming the medical board for the purpose.

The special court has given the instruction following an appeal from Enforcement Directorate (ED) informing the court about repeated refusal from the authorities of the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital in South Kolkata, where Bhadra is housed now, to allow the central agency sleuths to conduct the voice sampling test of the accused on medical grounds.

In its argument in the special court, the ED has made a submission that since Bhadra is admitted at a hospital of his choice even months after completion of his bypass surgery, a separate medical board at a different and central hospital should be formed to evaluate his medical conditions.

After its fresh communique to S.S.K.M. authorities earlier this month seeking time for conducting the voice sampling test failed to evoke any positive response, the ED officials approached the special court.

In the fresh communique, the sources said that the central agency sleuths have specifically inquired about the date and time when they can reach the hospital and conduct the voice sampling test.

Earlier, the same special court gave permission to ED twice for conducting the voice sampling test.

The voice sample test has become imperative now following the Calcutta High Court's direction to wind up the investigation into the school jobs case by December 31.
Mumbai, Nov 25 : Versatile actor Pankaj Tripathi, who will be seen as a man suffering from retrograde amnesia in the upcoming film 'Kadak Singh', has called it one of the most 'special projects', sharing how from its script and direction to its ensemble cast and music, everything about the film is special.

Directed by National Award winning director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Pankaj will be seen as AK Shrivastav, a man suffering from retrograde amnesia who gets caught in a web of lies as he tries to recover his memory.

In the ongoing 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the makers had launched the trailer of the film at the opening ceremony, along with the world premiere of 'Kadak Singh' under 'Gala Premiere' category ahead of its release.

"It was an honour to witness the world premiere of 'Kadak Singh' at IFFI amidst a packed auditorium. It was my first time watching the film from start to end and I could not hold back my tears," he said.

He said that 'Kadak Singh' is one of the most special projects he has been part of.

"From its script and direction to its ensemble cast and music, everything about the film is special so to witness a standing ovation and so much love from the audience meant a lot to the entire team who have put in their heart and soul into this film," he said.

The 'Tashkent Files' actor added: "It has been an encouraging start to the promotional leg of the film.

The film sees the coming together of actors including Pankaj, Sanjana Sanghi, Parvathy Thiruvothu , Jaya Ahsan, Paresh Pahuja, and Varun Buddhadev.

The film follows the life of AK Shrivastav aka Kadak Singh, a Joint Director at the Department of Financial Crimes who is currently battling retrograde amnesia. The film unfolds as AK is admitted in the hospital and is presented with conflicting narratives about his past, compelling him to discern fact from fiction.

Amidst the maze of half-baked memories, he is determined to uncover the truth behind him mysteriously landing up in a hospital and behind a significant financial crime, all of this while saving his family from falling apart.

It is also the story of a dysfunctional family and how they come closer due to a series of unforeseen events leading to a rollercoaster of emotions. The film highlights relationships in different forms and how these relationships provide different perspectives, helping the story move forward.

It is set to premiere on ZEE5 on December 8.
Jaipur, Nov 25 : Incidents of sporadic violence and EVM malfunctioning marred the polling in the Rajasthan elections which recorded 40.27 per cent polling till 1 p.m. on Saturday, as per the election Commission.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, voting is underway in 199 Assembly seats of the state. The highest voting was registered in Karan district at 45.75 per cent, while the lowest was in Udaipur at 37.60 per cent.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and many senior leaders of Congress and BJP voted early in the morning.

"After the Congress wins, the high command Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will take a decision on the next chief minister." Gehlot said.

Meanwhile, to the same query, former Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said that no one can erase what is destined. "And no one can give anything if it's not in your destiny. The party's ideology is above all, he added.

Senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, after casting her vote in Jhalawar, expressed confidence in her party winning the polls and asked people to vote in large numbers.

Meanwhile, voting was delayed due to EVM malfunction at many booths in Sikar and Sriganganagar districts.

A clash was also between Congress and BJP workers at a booth in Sardarshahar, Churu. The bride and groom also came to vote at the booths of many assemblies including Alwar, Jhalawar, Shrimadhopur. A 113-year-old voter Bhuli Devi cast her vote in Tonk's Niwai Assembly.

Till 11 am, the highest voting was registered in Dholpur district at 30.25 per cent. At the same time, the lowest turnout was in Udaipur district at 21.07 per cent.

Meanwhile, a violence was also reported at booth number 130-131 of the polling booth in Anjuman School of Sardarshahar assembly constituency of Churu district.

Councilor representative Asif Khokhar alleged that he was attacked by a group of five-seven people. Voting was also sdelayed due to EVM malfunction at many booths in Sikar and Sriganganagar.

There was a clash between police and voters over mobile phones at the booth of Acharya Shriram Vidyalaya of Bikaner West Assembly constituency.

In Jhalwad and Udaipur, two elderly voters died while standing in the voting line. At the polling station of Molkya Kala in Jhalawar, an elderly 70-year-old voter suddenly became ill due to dizziness and fell down and went unconscious.

He was declared dead in the hospital. At the same time, a similar death of a 69-year-old voter took place at a polling booth in Udaipur Rural.

There have been complaints of voters' names missing from the voters list coming out in Jaipur on Saturday as the polling continues in Rajasthan.

One Mamta says that her name went missing from the voters list while her voter card is with her. However, her husband's name is very much there.

Another candidate Ravi Verma also said that his name is missing from the voters list even though he contested polls for corporation elections.

He asked the administration to look into the issue.

Another voter complained that he had a family of four but the husband wifeas names are missing from the voters list.

"We have been asking voters to check their names regularly. There was a deadline till November 7th. Had they checked their names, they would have been added to the list," said Banwari Yadav, PRO, Election Commission, Rajasthan.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : A 43-year-old man, who got himself shot by his own nephew to implicate his lenders, was arrested, a Delhi Police official said on Saturday.

Sharing the details, the official said that on Friday at 6:13 a.m.,a police control room (PCR) call was received regarding a firing incident at Tahirpur in northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri area.

Upon reaching the spot, it was found that Sundar, a resident of New Seemapuri had sustained gun-shot injury on his right upper arm.

"A .315 bore empty shell was found at the spot. His nephew, Himanshu (19), was also present with him," said the official.

According to the victim and his nephew, they were feeding fish at the fish pond at Agriculture land, Tahirpur, when one person came and shot Sundar from behind after abusing him.

"Sundar was taken to GTB Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment and is out of danger," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey.

During investigation, it was found that Sundar owed money to some persons and was trying to implicate them in the firing incident.

"On grilling, his nephew broke down and admitted to have shot at his uncle as per their conspiracy. He had planted an empty shell at the spot to make it look convincing. He had thrown the katta in the pond after firing. On his disclosure, a katta with an empty shell inside was recovered from the pond," said the DCP.

"Both Sundar and Himanshu have been arrested in the case. Legal action will be taken against them for trying to falsely implicate others in a criminal case," the DCP added.
Mexico City, Nov 25 : Slamming the anti-immigrant rhetoric of US governors in Texas and Florida, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said both have a inhumane attitude towards migrants which gets worse during polls.

Addressing daily press conference, the Mexican president said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis both have a very "inhumane" attitude towards migrants and called it "politicking" for votes, Xinhua news agency reported.

On his visit to the southern state of Oaxaca, he said: "There is this very hypocritical attitude, which always exists, but gets worse or more intense when there are elections."

At the recent 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting held in San Francisco, Lopez Obrador proposed to his US counterpart Joe Biden to launch a development plan to reduce northward migration from Latin America, in which some progress has been made.

"We have to agree to carry out a development and cooperation plan to help the people of Latin America, especially Central America and the Caribbean," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday carried out searches on the premises linked to DLF at its headquarters in Gurugram in connection with some third party transactions, sources said.

As per the sources, the financial probe agency searched the premises of the DLF on Thursday and Friday in connection with a third party issue.

The DLF was asked to cross verify a few transactions that have taken place which do not belong to the DLF.

The central agency was keen on cross-verifying specific documents concerning land purchases made by DLF from Supertech and the involvement of a local Haryana politician, the sources said.

During searches, DLF extended complete cooperation to the agency sleuths and also provided the requested documents to them.

After the ED arrested Supertech Limited Promoter Director Ram Kishor Arora on June 27 this year, it alleged that he diverted hundreds of crores of rupees collected from home buyers and investors to shell companies instead of completing its projects.

The ED probe showed that in one of the transactions, Supertech Group siphoned Rs 440 crore received from customers, home buyers for purchasing land in Gurugram in 2013-14 at highly inflated prices while their already promised projects in Noida were not completed yet.

It claimed that the new project was launched on this newly acquired land and further advance was collected from hundreds of home buyers and loans were taken from banks or NBFCs which also became NPA and were declared fraud by banks.

"Similarly, Rs 154 crore was misappropriated by Supertech for acquiring land in another shell company in the same time period," the probe said.

Also, Rs 40 crore were siphoned off to another shell company and land was purchased in the name of it in Delhi. In such a manner, funds were diverted to shell companies instead of completing its projects which in fact are not completed till date even in 2023.

During this period, Arora was the main controlling and decision making authority for Supertech Group and decided to divert the investors' money to various shell companies.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that people in Rajasthan will reject Prime Minister Narendra Modi's lie schemes and also make his government realise that there is a limit to the misuse of central agencies.

"Voting is underway in Rajasthan. Today, the people of Rajasthan will reject the Prime Minister's lie schemes and will make the Modi government understand that there is a limit to the misuse of ED and CBI," Congress Communication In-Charge Jairam Ramesh said.

He said that this time the tradition is going to change in Rajasthan.

"People are rejecting the politics of polarisation and are voting on the achievements and guarantees of Congress. The trust remains intact," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Even Congress General Secretary (organization) KC Venugopal said, "My appeal to the voters of Rajasthan - come out in record numbers and vote for a progressive, prosperous and inclusive Rajasthan."

He reminded the people of the five years of exemplary governance of the Congress government, with welfare programs that have changed the face of Rajasthan and given a safe and secure environment for everyone.

"The Chiranjeevi Scheme, mobile phones to women, Indira Rasoi and many such pro-poor schemes have made a meaningful impact. You also remember a dark period of the BJP's misrule and corruption, where day to day life was tough and their leaders were busy pitting one community against the other and looting the state's coffers," he said.

"When we return to power, we will fulfil the 7 seven guarantees made during the campaign. We did it in Karnataka, we will do it in Rajasthan as well! The time has now come to break this cycle of interrupting a people-centric government with that of the BJP - vote for 5 more years of Congress," the Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan said.

The polling for the 200 member assembly began at 7 a.m. in Rajasthan. The Congress is eyeing a second consecutive term in the state and is banking on its seven guarantees it made to the people of the state whereas the BJP is also eyeing to return to power in the state.

Rajasthan has a tradition of alternate party government for last three decades and the Congress is hopeful that it will change the tradition in this assembly election.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : The National Biofuels Coordination Committee chaired by the Union Petroleum Minister has announced the introduction of phase-wise mandatory blending of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) in CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic cooking) segments of the city gas distribution sector.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday that the decision would encourage investment of around Rs. 37,500 crores and facilitate establishment of 750 CBG projects by 2028-29.

The key objective is to stimulate demand for CBG which will lead to reduced imports of costly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and saving in foreign exchange while assisting in achieving the target of net zero emission.

It has been decided that CBG blending obligation will be voluntary till financial year 2024-2025 and mandatory blending obligation would start from 2025-26.

CBG blending obligation will be kept as 1 per cent, 3 per cent and 4 per cent of total CNG/PNG consumption for FY 2025-26, 2026- 27 and 2027-28 respectively. From 2028-29 onwards CBG blending obligation will be 5 per cent.

A Central Repository Body (CRB) will monitor and implement the blending mandate based on the operational guidelines approved by the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Discussions also took place for promoting production of ethanol from maize with all stakeholders especially with the Department of Agriculture and Department Food and Public distribution (DFPD) to make it a prominent feedstock in coming years. It was discussed that in the last few years there has been an increase in Maize cultivation area, yield per hectare and production.

Work has been initiated by this ministry in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and DFPD to further develop high starch yielding varieties, improve quality of maize DDGS (Dried Distillers Grain Solids) by removing aflatoxins, faster registration of new seed varieties with high starch.

On Friday another important announcement was made for promoting biofuels in the country. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF/Bio- ATF) initial indicative blending percentage targets were set by the committee.

Based on the comments received from the stakeholders, like MoCA, Niti Aayog and oil companies OMCs, the capacities of Sustainable Aviation Fuel plants coming up in the country and projected aviation turbine fuel sales, the following initial indicative blending percentages of SAF in ATF are approved: 1 per cent SAF indicative blending target in 2027 (Initially for International flights); 2 per cent SAF blending target in 2028 (Initially for International flights).
Late Saturday evening, after hours of delay, Hamas released 13 Israeli captives while Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners from its jails, as Egyptian and Qatari intense mediation to resolve contentious matters averted a collapse in the truce deal.

The International Red Cross (IRC) facilitated the swap of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners in the late hours of Saturday evening under the 4-day truce deal brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US on Wednesday.

Earlier in the evening, Hamas announced delaying the release of Israeli captives as per the truce deal until Israel abides by the terms of the truce deal.

The released batch of Israeli captives, which included six women and seven children, were welcomed by the Egyptian authorities on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

These released captives will be transported by the Israeli authorities from the Karm Abu Salem border crossing between Egypt, Gaza, and Israel back to Israel.

The IRC also received four Thai workers who were captured by Hamas on 7 October and released under a separate mediation effort.

Meanwhile, Israel has started releasing 39 Palestinian prisoners, all of them women and children, from the Israeli incarceration facility Ofer, which is located near the town of Bireh in the occupied West Bank, to the IRC which is escorting them to the Palestinian side as per the truce deal.



Thai workers arrive at the Rafah border crossing on Saturday evening

Deadly West Bank raids



As all eyes were focused on the future of the truce between Hamas and Israel after 50 days of a brutal war on Gaza, the Israeli army carried out a number of deadly raids in various parts of the occupied West Bank, killing four Palestinians in Jenin, including two teenagers, and one man in Qabatia.

Moreover, the Israeli army fired teargas at the crowds that gathered near Ofer to welcome released Palestinian prisoners in order to prevent any form of celebration in the event that could be deemed a sign of a defeat for Israel in accepting the truce deal.

In tandem, the Israeli army continued its arrest campaign in different towns and refugee camps in the West Bank on Saturday, arresting at least 17 men in Jenin alone.

The Israeli crackdown in the West Bank has left more than 270 Palestinians killed and 3,100 arrested.

Marathon mediation



Earlier in the evening, Egypt and Qatar said that Cairo and Doha have resolved all contentious issues that prompted Hamas to delay the release of the second batch of Israeli captives as per the truce deal.

Diaa Rashwan, the head of the State Information Sevices, said Egypt succeeded in resolving all technical issues that led to the delay in the release of the second batch of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, confirming the swap will proceed tonight.

Rashwan had explained that the IRC has deployed to receive all those released - 13 Israeli captives and 39 Palestinian prisoners - as per the truce deal.

Moreover, the IRC will also receive seven foreign nationals who will be released by Hamas.

Earlier, in a separate statement, the Qatari foreign ministry also announced that Qatar and Egypt succeeded in resolving sticking issues that delayed the prisoner exchange on Saturday.

Simultaneously, various Israeli media outlets also confirmed that the second batch in the captive-prisoner swap will proceed tonight.

Threats and counter-threats



Earlier in the evening, in a press conference in Beirut, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official and spokesperson who is based in Lebanon, said the Palestinian side remains committed to implementing the terms of the truce agreement with Israel and holds the Israeli side responsible for any breakdown in the deal."

"Israel has not released the Palestinian prisoners according to the names provided by the Palestinian factions," Hamdan charged.

The truce deal stipulated the release of the 150 oldest Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails but Israel did not adhere to these terms," he added.

"Moreover, Israel has not allowed more than 240 humanitarian aid trucks to the Gaza Strip in the first two days of the truce, which is slightly more than 50 percent of the trucks agreed upon to the strip," he added.

Qassam statement



Hamdan's press conference came shortly after Ezz Eddin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced delaying the release of the second batch of its Israeli captives until Israel complies with the terms of the truce agreement that was reached on Wednesday.

In a statement, Qassam said it is delaying the release of Israeli captives until all humanitarian aid trucks agreed upon to enter the Gaza Strip are allowed to pass through.

In the press conference, Hamdan said Hamas has informed the mediators that Israel must implement the terms of the truce and is waiting for an answer.

Hamas rejects any discussion of post-war arrangements for Gaza or any proposals for the deployment of any international troops to the strip, Hamdan stressed.

Israel has allowed only 65 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the north of Gaza out of 200 trucks that were agreed upon according to the truce agreement, he said.

Pressure Israel



Hamdan called on the Arab World and the world community to send more humanitarian and medical aid to Gaza.

He also called on the world to pressure Israel for the release of all detained Palestinian medical providers including MD Mohamed Selmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, who was arrested on Thursday.

Hamdan said Hamas treated Israeli captives with respect as evidenced in videos released of the release of some of these captives showing Qassam fighters helping women and children on Friday.

On the contrary, he noted, Israel has been abusing Palestinian political prisoners in its jails.

As an example of Israelis teaching children hatred and racism, Hamdan shared a video circulating on social media showing an Israeli Major sending images of his army unit blowing up a Palestinian home in Gaza as a gift to his little daughter on her birthday.

Tense standoff



Shortly after the Qassam announcement, the Israeli army radio said the delay in the swap of captives would be resolved soon.

However, Israel Channel 12 reported that the Israeli government has threatened to resume its military operations if Hamas does not release the second batch of Israeli captives tonight.

Earlier on Saturday, Egypt announced that it has received a list of 13 captives in Gaza and 39 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who are set to be released Saturday as part of the truce.

Truce deal



On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a truce agreement on a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.

The truce agreement involves a stop to all hostilities in Gaza and the entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, to 2.4 million Palestinians in the besieged strip.

The agreement stipulates the release of 50 Israeli captives, including women and children, in batches of 12 every day during the truce.

In return, 150 Palestinian political prisoners, including women and children, would be released from Israeli detention in batches of 39 every day during the truce.

The agreement also allows room for an extension and the release of more captives and prisoners.

On Friday, as per the agreement, Hamas released 13 of its Israeli captives and Israel released 39 Palestinian political prisoners in its jails.

Moreover, as per an Egyptian mediation, Hamas also released 11 Asian workers - 10 Thai and one Philippine - who were taken captive on 7 October.

The Head of the State Information Services Diaa Rashwan disclosed on Saturday afternoon that 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid bound for northern Gaza crossed into the strip through the Rafah border crossing Saturday.

A total of 200 aid trucks, carrying food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday.

On Saturday, the spokesperson for the civil defense forces in Gaza told Al Jazeera that retrieving the bodies of thousands of Palestinians who were buried under the rubble due to Israeli bombardment cannot be done in the four-day window of the truce.

World pro-Palestine protesters: Permanent ceasefire



As the four-day truce entered its second day, thousands of people across major world capitals and cities came out in massive demonstrations for a lasting ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza,

It was the sixth straight weekend of protests demanding an end to the Israeli war on Gaza and a permanent ceasefire since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October.

In London, thousands of people carrying Palestinian flags marched to protest against the Israeli war on Gaza and express their support for oppressed Palestinians.

In Paris, defying repression against Pro-Palestine protesters, a large demonstration condemned Israeli war crimes against civilians, urging international protection for Gazans and demanding Israel be held accountable for the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

Read the full report

In Tel Aviv, thousands of protesters demonstrated to demand that their government do more to ensure the release of all Israeli captives, with some calling for the resignation of PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The truce deal: The future?



On Saturday, Head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said Egypt is communicating intensively with all parties to extend the four-day truce between the Palestinian and Israeli sides for one or two additional days.

Rashwan noted that the truce's extension would mean the release of more Israeli captives in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

The head of SIS further explained that Egypt has so far received positive indicators from all parties on the possibility of an extension to the truce.

According to Rashwan, Egypt received a list of 13 captives in Gaza and 39 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who are set to be released Saturday as part of the truce.

In addition, Rashwan disclosed that 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid bound for northern Gaza crossed into the strip through the Rafah border crossing Saturday.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a truce agreement on a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.

The truce agreement involves a stop to all hostilities in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid to 2.4 million Palestinians in the besieged strip.

The agreement stipulates the release of 50 Israeli captives, including women and children.

In return, 150 Palestinian political prisoners, including women and children, would be released from Israeli detention.

The agreement also allows room for an extension and the release of more captives and prisoners.

On Friday, as per the agreement, Hamas released 13 of its Israeli captives and Israel released 39 Palestinian political prisoners in its jails.

Moreover, as per an Egyptian mediation, Hamas also released 11 Asian workers - 10 Thai and one Philippine - who were taken captive on 7 October.

A total of 200 aid trucks, carrying food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday.

On Saturday, the spokesperson for the civil defense forces in Gaza told Al Jazeera that retrieving the bodies of thousands of Palestinians who were buried under the rubble due to Israeli bombardment cannot be done in the four-day window of the truce.

Palestinians in Gaza: A people in waiting



After nearly 50 days in the Israeli war on Gaza, 15,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 40,000 wounded in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, with more than two-thirds of them women and children.

Moreover, the civilian population has teetered on the verge of starvation as Israel coupled its bombardment campaign with a blockade on all water, food, and fuel supplies to the strip.

Meanwhile, 1.8 million Palestinians were displaced after Israel bombed more than 50 percent of all homes in the strip.

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Of the takeover of hospitals & hotels by TN hospital groups. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Nov 25 : The healthcare sector in Tamil Nadu is seeing a state of consolidation and expansion with major home grown groups on an acquisition spree.

And for the owners of hospitals and hotels that are not doing well financially, the exit choice is largely between hospitals and residential apartments, said a hotelier.

With the healthcare sector being in a healthy condition on the back of unhealthy, the takeover of hospitals by hospitals is logical as it largely involves change of name boards, letter heads and some heads as well.

In recent times the city saw two hospital chains acquiring two hospitals of Fortis Healthcare.

The latest acquirer was MGM Healthcare Private Ltd which was successful this time around in its acquisition attempts.

On Friday Fortis Healthcare announced that it will be selling the 140-bed Fortis Malar Hospital and related assets to MGM Healthcare for a total sum of Rs128 crore.

The business operations of Malar Hospital are housed within a listed subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare - Fortis Malar Hospitals Limited (Fortis Malar) and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company - Fortis Health Management Limited (FHML).

Further, the land and building comprising Malar Hospital and related / adjacent real estate assets concerning Malar Hospital are housed in two wholly owned subsidiaries of Fortis Healthcare namely - FHML and Hospitalia Eastern Private Limited (HEPL).

In July this year, Fortis Healthcare had sold its other hospital property here to Kauvery Hospital group for Rs152 crore.

In toto, Fortis Healthcare has encashed a couple of its properties here for Rs 280 crore.

In September this year, the city based Apollo Hospitals Group announced the acquisition of a partially built Kolkata hospital and equipment for Rs102 crore.

In a regulatory filing Apollo Hospitals said it has acquired a property comprising 1.4 acres land with a partially constructed hospital building with built up area of about 1.74 lakh sq. ft. and medical equipment in Sonarpur, Kolkata, from Future Oncology Hospital and Research Centre (Future) through an assets purchase process.

Curiously, the hospital chains not only look at rivals for acquisition but also the financially unwell hotels.

The reason?

"The hotel and hospital building structure is similar," Ruban Das, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Chennai told IANS,

Not only the structure, there are some similarities in the operations of hotels and hospitals though the core focus of the two are widely diverse.

Be that as it may, it was the Apollo Hospitals group which first converted its three star Om Sindoori Hotels into a hospital as part of the hospital expansion.

Similarly the owner of another partially built hotel building is now rethinking about getting into hospital business instead of hospitality.

Recently, the MGM Healthcare group attempted to acquire Appu Hotels Ltd that owns Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Chennai and Le Meridien Hotel in Coimbatore but was not successful.

It was said MGM Healthcare would convert them into hospitals.

Hospital groups are recent suitors for the financial unwell hotel properties. Earlier it unwell hotel buildings went under hammers in favour of residential apartments.

Several hotels that were popular once upon a time have vanished and residential apartments have risen in their place. For instance, Hotel Oceanic on the Santhome High Road here, the famed Dasaprakash Hotel are the two notable examples.

Not long ago, an almost complete hotel building -- that was supposed to house a JW Marriott Hotel -- was demolished and a residential apartment was built instead, near The Leela Palace hotel here.

In the case of residential apartments, the promoter collects the money for building and exits -- relatively a one shot affair. But, a hotel is a rental model with added issues of competition from- rivals, standalone restaurants- maintenance and others.

"While the business for the hotels is booming now, if some hotel property owners sell out then it may be due to their companies or other business not doing well," Das said.
Kochi, Nov 25 : The Kerala High Court has pointed out that the enactment of laws in English would not harm the growth of regional languages.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas further pointed out this was also required under the Constitution of India, and opined that the enactment of laws in English would not harm the growth of regional languages.

"Enacting laws in English as mandated by the Constitution in a diverse country like India, will not have any bearing on the growth of the regional language. On the other hand, it can enhance the growth potential of the state as an investment destination with better awareness about its laws," said the judge whose father Justice K.T. Thomas is a retired Supreme Court judge.

"aThe need for publishing statutes and rules in English language need not be reiterated. When a state like Kerala opens its invitation for people from all over the world to invest, it would be incongruous if the laws were incomprehensible to them. The importance of English as an international language of communication and comprehension within and outside the Country cannot be ignored. Parochial considerations have to be kept aside while contemplating growth and development of the State," added the judge.

The High Court made these observations while considering a petition under the Kerala Town and Country Planning Act, 2016, which found the rules were available only in Malayalam.

"The legislature and the rule making authority are bound to issue an English translation, simultaneous with the introduction and passing of the law and the Rules. The requirement of an English text is a Constitutional obligation and cannot be avoided," said the court.
Ceasefire day 2: 14 Israeli hostages to be freed today in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners. Image Source: IANS News

Tel Aviv, Nov 25 : Israeli authorities on Saturday said 14 hostages held captive by Hamas will be released in exchange of 42 Palestinian prisoners as part of ongoing swap on the second day of the four day ceasefire, the media reported.

On Friday, 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino national, were released while Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.

As part of the agreement between Israel and the Hamas, three prisoners are to be released for each Israeli freed, The Times of Israel reported.

The October 7 Hamas attack in Israel killed 1,200 people, and about 240 were held hostage.

On the other hand, Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel's retaliation.
Imphal, Nov 25 : In a fresh incident of violence, a 21-year-old youth was killed in an attack by armed cadres of a rival outfit along the inter-district border between Kangpokpi and Bishnupur on Saturday, the police said.

The police in Imphal said that a gunfight occurred in the Kuki tribal dominated Joupi village for several hours, killing Khupminthang Haokip on the spot.

To protest the killing, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, called for an urgent shutdown in Churachandpur district and also to pay their homage to their "fallen martyr".

The ITLF leaders said that militants of a rival outfit with sophisticated weapons launched an attack on Joupi village in Kangpokpi district, killing village volunteer Khupminthang Haokip who was guarding one of the bunkers set up by the villagers.

"Armed with single-barrel rifles, the courageous villagers fought valiantly and managed to push back the attackers. During the melee, some of the assailants reportedly went missing.

"Upon realising that some of their members were missing, the attackers regrouped and are gathering in significant numbers near Ngarian in Bishnupur district," an ITLF leader said.

Saturday's incident occurred five days after the killing of two people, including a police constable, by an unidentified armed group in Kangpokpi district November 20.
New York, Nov 25 : Exposure to fine particulate air pollutants from coal-fired power plants (coal PM2.5) is associated with a risk of mortality more than double that of exposure to PM2.5 from other sources, say researchers after examining emissions data and Medicare records.

Between 1999 and 2020, 460,000 deaths among Medicare enrollees were attributable to coal-fired power plants; 10 of these plants each contributed at least 5,000 deaths, according to the study led by George Mason University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Most of the deaths occurred between 1999 and 2007, when coal PM2.5 levels were highest, according to the study published in the journal Science.

While previous studies have quantified the mortality burden from coal-fired power plants, much of this research has assumed that coal PM2.5 has the same toxicity as PM2.5 from other sources.

"PM2.5 from coal has been treated as if it's just another air pollutant. But it's much more harmful than we thought, and its mortality burden has been seriously underestimated," said lead author Lucas Henneman, assistant professor at George Mason University.

Using emissions data from 480 coal power plants in the US between 1999 and 2020, the researchers modelled where wind carried coal sulfur dioxide throughout the week after it was emitted and how atmospheric processes converted the sulfur dioxide into PM2.5.

They then examined individual-level Medicare records from 1999 to 2016, representing the health statuses of Americans ages 65 and older and representing a total of more than 650 million person-years.

By linking the exposure fields to the Medicare records, inclusive of where enrollees lived and when they died, the researchers were able to understand individuals' exposure to coal PM2.5 and calculate the impact it had on their health.

They found that 460,000 deaths were attributable to coal PM2.5, representing 25 per cent of all PM2.5-related deaths among Medicare enrollees before 2009.

"Beyond showing just how harmful coal pollution has been, we also show good news: Deaths from coal were highest in 1999 but by 2020 decreased by about 95 per cent, as coal plants have installed scrubbers or shut down," Henneman said.

These findings can help policymakers and regulators identify cost-effective solutions for cleaning up the country's air, for example, by requiring emissions controls or encouraging utilities to use other energy sources, like renewables, the authors noted.
Chandigarh, Nov 25 : Punjab Police SP Gurbinder Singh has been suspended for the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ferozepur district in January last year.

Gurbinder Singh, who is currently posted in Bathinda, has been blamed for dereliction of duty.

The security breach happened on January 5, 2022, when Modi was on his way to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur and his cavalcade had to stop and later taken a U-turn after protesters blocked his way.

The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for around 20 minutes.

The Congress was in power in Punjab at the time of the incident.

During the visit of Modi, Gurbinder Singh was posted as the Superintendent of Police (Operation) in Ferozepur.

A five-member Supreme Court-appointed committee had earlier blamed the senior state police officer for failing to discharge his duty to maintain law and order despite the availability of sufficient personnel.

"Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order. He failed to do this even though sufficient force was available and even though he was informed two hours before that the Prime Minister will enter that route," then Chief Justice N.V. Ramana had conveyed to the waiting lawyers after perusing the report of the committee, which was headed by former apex court judge Justice Indu Malhotra.

At the time of the incident. Harmandeep Singh Hans was the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) posted in Ferozepur.
Rohtak, Nov 25 : Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda on Saturday said far from building new schools, the BJP-JJP government in the state is not providing electricity, water and even toilets to girls in schools.

He said this "shameful truth" of the coalition government has been exposed in the High Court.

Talking to the media here, he said the fine of Rs 5 lakh imposed on the state government by the High Court exposed how it "is continuously ruining the education system of Haryana through its misdirected policies".

"First, the BJP stopped the recruitment of teachers as the government has not done even a single JBT recruitment in nine years. After that, the government made the teachers to leave their teaching work and put them on duty like managing the arrangements in markets and fairs, and making family identity cards. Then thousands of posts of teachers were abolished by bringing policies like rationalization," he pointed out.

The Leader of Opposition said the government implemented new policies to send children of government schools to private schools.

"Even private schools were encouraged to adopt government schools. About 5,000 schools were closed in the name of merger.

"The Education Department has said there is not even drinking water in 131 government schools of Haryana. Electricity connection was not given in 236 schools. The government, which gave the slogan of toilet for every household, did not build even a single toilet for girls in 538 schools. A total of 1,047 schools do not have toilets even for boys," he stated.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : Madhavi Vishwanathan, the mother of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, who was shot dead while driving home from work in 2008, said that her family is living in "life imprisonment" in a way.

Madhavi Vishwanathan was present in the Saket court on Saturday when Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey sentenced the four men convicted in the 2008 murder case of her daughter to life imprisonment, while the fifth convict was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Saying that the offence does not fall in the category of "rarest of rare" cases, the court refused to grant the request for the death penalty.

Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar have been sentenced to life imprisonment and Ajay Sethi sent to jail for three years.

Early on September 30, 2008, Soumya was shot dead on the Nelson Mandela Road in south Delhi. The Vasant Kunj police station received information about the incident at 3.45 a.m, and a case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code was filed.

She was found dead in her Maruti Zen car with blood oozing from her head. Police also recovered an empty bullet shell from the spot and began its probe.

Following a year-long investigation, a significant breakthrough occurred on March 21, 2009, when the body of techie Jigisha Ghosh was discovered in Faridabad.

Subsequently, three accused, Kapoor, Shukla, and Malik, were arrested in connection with Ghosh's case. During interrogations, Malik allegedly disclosed the involvement of the other accused in Vishwanathan's murder, leading to the arrest of Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi, who dealt in stolen vehicles.

Kapoor, who had a long criminal history for car theft, was apprehended in March 2009, and the pistol used as a murder weapon was reportedly found in his possession.

It was suggested that Kapoor initially attempted a robbery, shooting Vishwanathan when she didn't stop.

In custody, Kapoor made several attempts to escape included throwing chilli powder at police and displaying a knife during court hearings.

Shukla, Kapoor's accomplice, fled Delhi shortly after the murder, returning just before the Ghosh case.

Malik, a.k.a Poppy, provided a crucial breakthrough by admitting his involvement in the 2008 murder during his arrest in connection with the Ghosh murder case. Ajay Kumar, a key link in the chain of events, evaded arrest but was eventually apprehended in 2009.
Justice served but no closure, says Soumya Vishwanathan's mother after sentencing of convicts. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Nov 25 : Madhavi Vishwanathan, the mother of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, who was shot dead while driving home from work in 2008, said that her family is living in "life imprisonment" in a way.

Madhavi Vishwanathan was present in the Saket court on Saturday when Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey sentenced the four men convicted in the 2008 murder case of her daughter to life imprisonment, while the fifth convict was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Saying that the offence does not fall in the category of "rarest of rare" cases, the court refused to grant the request for the death penalty.

Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar have been sentenced to life imprisonment and Ajay Sethi sent to jail for three years.

Early on September 30, 2008, Soumya was shot dead on the Nelson Mandela Road in south Delhi. The Vasant Kunj police station received information about the incident at 3.45 a.m, and a case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code was filed.

She was found dead in her Maruti Zen car with blood oozing from her head. Police also recovered an empty bullet shell from the spot and began its probe.

Following a year-long investigation, a significant breakthrough occurred on March 21, 2009, when the body of techie Jigisha Ghosh was discovered in Faridabad.

Subsequently, three accused, Kapoor, Shukla, and Malik, were arrested in connection with Ghosh's case. During interrogations, Malik allegedly disclosed the involvement of the other accused in Vishwanathan's murder, leading to the arrest of Ajay Kumar and Ajay Sethi, who dealt in stolen vehicles.

Kapoor, who had a long criminal history for car theft, was apprehended in March 2009, and the pistol used as a murder weapon was reportedly found in his possession.

It was suggested that Kapoor initially attempted a robbery, shooting Vishwanathan when she didn't stop.

In custody, Kapoor made several attempts to escape included throwing chilli powder at police and displaying a knife during court hearings.

Shukla, Kapoor's accomplice, fled Delhi shortly after the murder, returning just before the Ghosh case.

Malik, a.k.a Poppy, provided a crucial breakthrough by admitting his involvement in the 2008 murder during his arrest in connection with the Ghosh murder case. Ajay Kumar, a key link in the chain of events, evaded arrest but was eventually apprehended in 2009.
Kolkata, Nov 25 : Six students of Jadavpur University (JU), who were in connection with the tragic death of a fresher of the institute earlier this year, have been barred from entering the varsity campus for an indefinite period.

The first year student of Bengali honours had reportedly committed suicide after jumping off the balcony of a studentsa hostel on August 10. It is suspected that he became a victim of ragging.

A formal announcement in this regard was made by the JU authorities on Saturday. As per the announcement, the entry ban will stay in place till the time they come clean of the charges levelled against them.

The six accused are Deepsekhar Dutta (economics), Manotosh Ghosh (sociology), and Md Asif Afzal Ansari, Md Arif, Ankan Sarkar and Satyabrata Roy (all engineering students).

All six of them are currently serving judicial custody at the Presidency Jail.

The decision to bar the students from entering the university campus was taken at the last executive committee meeting of JU, according to the registrar of the university, Snehamanju Basu.
Mumbai street to be named in memory of actor Vikram Gokhale. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Nov 25 : The Maharashtra government has decided to name a street in Andheri West in honour of late National Award-winning actor-director Vikram Chandrakant Gokhale on his first death anniversary on November 26, officials said here on Saturday.

The street is adjacent to the new headquarters of Cine & Television Artistes' Association (CINTAA) and CAWT, which was inaugurated last month, and leads to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of the late actor's wife Vrushali Vikram Gokhale, a galaxy of Bollywood and Marathi film personalities and political leaders, will perform the road-naming ceremony on Sunday.

Gokhale, who passed away last year aged 77, was a past President of CINTAA (2017-2022) when he contributed immensely to the welfare of CINTAA artistes and even donated one-acre land to the premiere association.

CINTAA General Secretary Amit Behl said that "Gokhale will be remembered for his overpowering histrionics and humanitarian initiatives, both for the association and the Marathi film industry".

Hailing from a family of artistes acting since four generations spanning the past 110 years, Gokhale was the great-grandson of Indian film industry's first woman actress, the legendary Durgabai Kamat-Gokhale, who died in Pune aged 117 in 1997.

Durgabai was cast as the first-ever female lead in "Mohini Bhasmasur" (1913), the second film made by the Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, alias Dadasaheb Phalke, who created history with his maiden feature film, "Raja Harishchandra" (1913).

Incidentally, Durgabai's daughter Kamala became the first female child actress in the same film ("Mohini Bhasmasur"), and the mother-daughter duo is credited with starting the trend of women acting in films 110 years ago, something that was considered a taboo then.

A veteran of stage, television and films, the Pune-born Gokhale's film career started with "Parwana" and "Mai Mauli" (Hindi and Marathi, respectively, both released in 1971).

Over the years, he essayed prominent roles in several major films like "Yehi Hai Zindagi" (1977), "Prem Bandhan" (1979), "Insaaf" (1987), "Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro", "Elaan-e-Jung" and "Eeshwar" (1989), "Agneepath" and "Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaye" (1990), "Khuda Gawah" (1992), "Laadla" (1994), "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (1999), "Love At Times Square" (2003), "Lucky: No Time For Love" (2005), "De Dana Dan" (2009), "Ab Tak Chhappan-2" (2015), "Traffic" (2016), "Hichki" (2018), and "Mission Mangal" (2019), among others.

He also acted in scores of major Marathi films, some Gujarati movies and was a familiar name in Marathi and Hindi theatre circuit and was seen in important roles in several television serials in both languages as well.

Gokhale was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2011), National Award (2012), Chitra Bhushan Award (2015-2017) of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal, V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) of Maharashtra government, and also a Marathi Filmfare Award (2017).
New Delhi, Nov 25 : In yet more trouble for Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will look into the charges forwarded by the anti-corruption body Lokpal, sources said on Saturday.

A source said that the agency will enquire into the charges mentioned by the Lokpal against the Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar area. No preliminary enquiry has been registered by the CBI as yet.

Following the development, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in a post on X, said, "If Income Tax will not be given, and the MP accused of corruption keeps on travelling indiscriminately to Dubai, America, London and within the country by business class and has fun in a 5-star hotel, then the CBI on the instructions of the Lokpal will definitely ask for bills from travel agents and hotels. It will definitely ask who paid for it? If you give the threat of ED to others, then you too, will have to suffer."

The development comes days after Dubey filed a complaint against Moitra with the Lokpal in the alleged 'cash-for-query' matter.

On November 8, Dubey, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand's Godda claimed that the Lokpal has ordered a CBI inquiry against Moitra on the basis of his complaint against there.

In a post on X, Dubey had said, "On the basis of my complaint, the Lokpal today ordered a CBI inquiry into Mahua Moitra's corruption that compromises national security."

Dubey had earlier complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the alleged corruption by Moitra and the Parliament's Ethics Committee on November 9 adopted the draft report against Moitra in connection with the alleged 'cash-for-query' matter.
Kodagu, : Nov 25 (IANS) Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP Pratap Simha slammed the Karnataka Police on Saturday for taking an apology letter from a party worker on an anti-Government Facebook post. He also threatened to barge into the police station with BJP workers if such an incident was repeated again by the police.

Pratap Simha, who visited the Virajpet Rural police station with former Speaker KG Bopaiah, criticised the police, stating that they were working like agents of the Congress party.

Loshan Karyappa, a resident of Ammatti village and a BJP worker, had put up a post on Facebook stating that Karnatakaas aATM governmenta is funding elections in Telangana.

A complaint was filed with the SP in this regard, which was transferred to the Virajpet Rural police station.

The local police had summoned Karyappa to the police station and obtained an apology letter from him after getting the post deleted.

MP Pratap Simha questioned the police, asking how they could summon a BJP worker for a Facebook post.

He further inquired whether, when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar attacked the previous government without any grounds, the police had taken apology letters from them.

"If any BJP worker is harassed in the future, we will barge into the police station," he warned.

The police assured him that they would close the case against Karyappa.
Kolkata, Nov 25 : A minor girl at Kandi in West Bengal's Murshidabad district committed suicide on Saturday afternoon by setting herself on fire after allegedly being raped and abused throughout Friday night, police said.

The accused, a youth from the district's Khargram, is absconding and the police have launched an operation to track and arrest him.

As per the complaint by the victimas family to the police, the girl went out of the house on Friday evening with that youth who promised to marry her. He took the victim to his residence and raped and abused her throughout the night, before throwing her out early on Saturday morning.

She came back to her residence and sobbed throughout the day out of the humiliation. Finally, on Saturday afternoon she killed himself.

She was rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead.

The family members of the victim have filed a complaint against the accused youth and two of his associates in the matter. The police are investigating.
Kolkata, Nov 25 : Raped and abused all through Friday night, a minor girl committed suicide on Saturday by setting herself on fire at Kandi in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

The accused is a youth from Khargram in the same district, who is absconding.

The victim's family members told the police, the minor girl went out on Friday evening with the accused youth who had promised to marry her. The accused took the girl to his residence where he raped and abused her throughout the night.

Early on Saturday morning, the accused youth threw her out of his house. In the afternoon, she set herself on fire. She was rushed to the hospital where she was declared brought dead.

The family members of the victim have filed a complaint against the accused youth and two of his associates. Further probe is underway.
Pune : , Nov 25 (IANS) The All India Ulema Board (AIUB) on Saturday warned of an agitation if the Muslim community in Maharashtra is denied the promised 5 per cent quota in education by the state government.

The AIUB demand came in the midst of the ongoing reservation agitations raging across the state by the Marathas for quotas, Dhangars seeking to change classification from NT(C) to ST, and OBCs wanting to protect their existing quotas.

Besides the quotas, the convention also demanded the introduction of Arabic language teaching in all Urdu medium schools in the state.

AIUB's Wakf wing chief Saleem Sarang said that all these issues were discussed in detail at the convention and a formal plea will be made to the government to concede the demands.

With Lok Sabha and Assembly elections scheduled in 2024, he issued a veiled warning that if the Muslim community cannot ensure the win of a particular candidate in elections, they can definitely spell defeat for anyone and so, "the time has come to stop ignoring their demands and take them very seriously".

He rued that despite the courts approving 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in the academic sphere, no government in the state appears keen to implement it.

Earlier, Maharashtra Congress leaders like M. Arif Naseem Khan and Hussain Dalwai, Samajwadi Party chief Abu Asim Azmi and other minority leaders too had raised the issue of Muslim quotas on several occasions.

On the demand for including Arabic in the Urdu school syllabus, Sarang pointed out that many people secure jobs in the Gulf countries and knowledge of the local language improves their chances to get good employment.

He also referred to the campaigns against 'madrasas', and said that children there learn many things, including Arabic language, and now it must be implemented by the state government in Urdu medium schools.

Sarang said that they have sought appointments with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Minority Affairs Minister and other top government officials to press their demands.
Patna, Nov 25 : The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks taught many lessons to security agencies, not only in the country but also globally.

Even 15 years after that devastating attacks, the security agencies are constantly on their toes to prevent such a terror attack from happening again and they have by and large been successful in it.

States like Bihar may not face many terror attacks but many operatives having connections with various militant modules have been arrested from it.

The people of Bihar witnessed a terror attack a decade ago during the aHunkar Rallya of then prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, Narendra Modi, in Patnaas Gandhi Maidan on October 27, 2013.

Apart from that incident, which claimed six lives and left 85 injured, no major bombing or terror attack has taken place in the state since then.

Now, Bihar has turned into a breeding ground for people having alleged links with terror networks or banned outfits.

Patna Police unearth a suspected terror module by arresting many operatives of the Popular Front of India (PFI) from Phulwari Sharif on July 14, 2022. After that sensational case, people of the country learnt terminologies like aGhazwa-e-Hinda and aMission 2047a to turn India into a Muslim country.

Patna Police arrested eight people in connection with the suspected Phulwari Sharif terror network and PFI. The investigators believe that they are connected with each other and hence two separate FIRs were registered soon after the raid on July 14, 2022.

In the PFI suspected terror module case, the sleuths had first arrested Athar Parvez, Mohammad Jalaluddin and Arman Malik. They revealed the names of Marguv alias Danis and Shabbir. Marguv was running a social networking group called aGhazwa-e-Hinda that was connected with the youth of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The investigators claimed that Athar Parvez was associated with the banned organisation Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and his brother Manjar Alam was involved in the serial bomb blasts in Gandhi Maidan during the aHunkar Rallya.

Mohammad Jalaluddin also has some connection with SIMI. During that raid, the joint team had recovered some incriminating documents which indicate that they were involved in the brain washing of Muslim youths. They were also working on aMission 2047a to make India a Muslim country.

Since the matter was extremely serious, Bihar Police transferred this case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Subsequently, the NIA, the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) Bihar and Bihar Police jointly conducted several raids in various districts of the state, especially in East Champaran and arrested many PFI operatives.

Since Bihar is a border state having a long porous border with Nepal, it allows people to transit from one country to another easily. This puts an additional burden on the security agencies to keep an eye on strangers and anti-nationals. East Champaran district is located right on the edge of Nepal and this place is also known for the several PFI operatives it has churned out.

On October 9, 2023, Motihari Police arrested a PFI operative Riyaz Maroof alias Bablu from East Champaran district. Maroof was the state secretary of the PFIas Bihar unit and was on the aMost Wanteda list of the NIA and ATS, Bihar.

On August 5, 2023 in a joint operation the NIA and Motihari Police arrested two PFI operatives from the district. The two operatives Sayyed Reza and Mohammad Kaif were arrested from Ward Number 8 Officers Colony of Motihari city.

On July 19, 2023 in a joint operation, the Patna ATS and Motihari Police managed to arrest a PFI operative Usman Sultan Khan alias Yakub Khan from Chakia block in the east Champaran district.

On May 31, 2023 a team of the NIA conducted a raid at PFI operative Mahboob Alamas house in Biharas Katihar District but he managed to flee. Alamas house is located at Vansi Nagar area under Hasanganj police station in the district.

On March 17, 2023 the Bihar ATS managed to arrest the aide of the PFI chief from East Champaran District. The accused was identified as Irshad Ansari, the right hand man of PFI head Yaqub alias Sultan. Ansari is said to be on the aMost Wanteda list of the NIA.
Panaji, Nov 25 : The around 105-km long Goa coast, which was put on alert after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, is under close watch by the coastal police, according to officials. However, the opposition Congress has suggested to the government to focus more on coastal security, instead of spending money on events.

Curtorim MLA Aleixo Lourenco, an Independent, had raised the issue of coastal security during the monsoon session of the Assembly, where Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had replied that all measures are taken to ensure that coastal security is not jeopardised.

Speaking about the patrolling vessel used by the coastal police, Sawant had said that the newly procured 15 meter Fast Interceptor Boat was designed and built by one of the premier shipyards of the country to conduct sea patrols and to meet marine challenges. "It is equipped with Radar, Automatic Identification System, GPS, Echo-sounder, Magnetic Compass, Communication equipment, Surveillance equipment, etc," he said.

Sawant said that the police personnel posted at the coastal security police stations are regularly trained in various aspects of coastal policing at the National Academy of Coastal Policing at Okha in Gujarat, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, boat related training with Goa Shipyard Limited and Captain of Ports Department.

Aleixo Lourenco had also asked whether the government is planning to establish a Marine Police Force on the lines of commandos who are trained to fight and use weapons in the water. Replying to him Sawant had said that " No such proposal is under consideration of the government,"

Lourenco, speaking to IANS, said that a Marine Police Force is the need of the hour. "I really believe that this force should be established with more 'teeth' and they should patrol the sea round the clock. So far, we have seen coastal police taking action against illegal sand mining and nothing else."

He added that when drugs are available on the ground, the possibility that they are coming via the sea route can't be ruled out. "I will not say that drugs come from the sea route, but the possibility cannot be ruled out," Lourenco, who has supported the BJP government, said.

Speaking to IANS, a senior home department officer said that there are 10 boats, including the newly procured Fast Interceptor Boat, which keep a close watch on all activities along the coast.

"We have seven police stations along the 105 km coastal area and there are around 400 staff working to ensure security," he said.

"Those who allege that narcotics come through the sea route, they should first understand that there are three-layer checks and security there -- the Navy, Coast Guard and the coastal police. Criminals can't pass through these layers," he said, adding that if the opposition has any information about drug supplies they should share it with the police.

"Our police patrol the coastal area round the clock. We have enough staff and the facilities which are needed to combat any illegal activities taking place in the coastal areas. Our coastline is absolutely safe," he said.

Girish Chodankar, permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, said that the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai

were the most horrifying and darkest days of history.

"Heavily armed terrorists entered Mumbai through the coast and killed dozens of innocent people and police personnel, injuring hundreds. After this incident, we need to be really vigilant and keep a constant watch on our coast," Chodankar said.

"We need to remember that these terrorists of 26/11 had entered Mumbai using fishing boats. In Goa too we are engaged in fishing activities. If you ask our fishermen they will tell you that our coast is not safe. I doubt that the coastal police even have facilities to check and combat terrorist activities," he said.

"The BJP led government of Pramod Sawant is nothing but an event management company and has compromised the safety of people. Thus we can see narcotics entering the state most probably through the sea routes. Today it is narcotics, in the future more illegal things can enter Goa and our tiny state could be a target if we don't take measures," Chodankar said.

"I request this government to please take a lesson from the 26/11 incident and bring measures to keep a check on illegal activities. There is a need to provide more facilities to the coastal police and recruit more staff for coastal patrolling," Chodankar added.

National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) General Secretary Olencio Simoes said that "Our coast is not safe because if we go to the 'Exclusive Economic Zone' we can see foreign boats coming there, there is no control. I don't know what the coast guards are doing. Illegal things are happening in the sea be it LED fishing or bull trawling."

He said the government has no control over it and any boat can reach our coast. "This is a serious concern. There is no check."

"If you go 6 to7 miles into the sea you can see hundreds of boats, making it look like a playground. Illegal things are happening there. Then how will our coast be safe? The government should learn lessons from the 26/11 terror attack and take measures to safeguard Goa," Simoes said.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has slammed the previous Congress-led UPA government and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying they had ignored the Intelligence inputs about the attacks.

The saffron party criticised the Congress over its stance on terrorism and terror attacks while praising the Narendra Modi-led Central government for "directly targeting the roots of terrorism".

The BJP said that due to the Modi government's policies, instances of terror attacks have declined drastically across the country.

Recalling the ghastly attacks that brought life to a screeching and bloody halt for three days in the country's financial capital Mumbai on November 26, 2008, BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla told IANS that then Defence Minister AK Antony later recalled that intelligence agencies had warned of the possibility of a terror attack by using the sea route.

According to Shukla, the former Defence Minister also said that despite the inputs, security was not tightened in the coastal areas due to which dozens of innocent lives were eventually lost in Mumbai.

Accusing Pakistan of not taking significant steps in response to the Mumbai attacks, the BJP leader claimed that the then Air Force chief had discussed with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the 'command centre' in Karachi from which Lashkar-e-Taiba was operating.

The BJP leader claimed that the Air Force chief explored the idea of attacking the command centre in Karachi, but Singh did not allow them to do so.

Shukla said that the situation, however, has changed after Narendra Modi came to power at the Centre in 2014.

"Two major terrorist attacks took place in Uri and Pulwama but the action that was taken in response demoralised the terrorists.

"PM Modi-led government not only took action against the terrorists by entering Pakistan but also entered Myanmar to leave the terrorist organizations spreading terrorism in the northeast paralysed. Due to such steps, the terrorists are scared of attacking India now," he said.

He also said that the terrorists -- whether they are in Pakistan or Canada -- now fear the Indian agencies.

Shukla added that the Congress-led regimes in the past from the 80s to 2000 have always been soft towards terrorism.

On the delay in taking action against the 26/11 perpetrators, the BJP leader said that "action will be taken against these terrorists only as per international law, because in other countries, they have patronage".

"However, India's campaign against terrorism continues. India has played an important role in shaping the discourse against terrorism at various global fora including the UN General Assembly, G-20, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Bhupi Sir (26/11 PACKAGE) How the Mumbai attacks shook Uttar Pradesh out of its reverie. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Nov 25 : As the ghastly and frightening images of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai unfolded hour after hour on television screens, Uttar Pradesh -- till then a laid-back state in terms of security -- was shaken out of its lethargy.

What happened in Mumbai, could happen anywhere, anytime.

The Uttar Pradesh government had already established an Anti-Terror Squad in 2007 to deal with terrorist activities in the state. The Mumbai attacks acted as a catalyst and the ATS became effectively operational and started working as a specialized unit of the Uttar Pradesh Police.

From 'just another unit' it has gone on to emerge as an efficient force when it comes to controlling terrorism.

In the past decade and a half, the ATS has busted several terror modules, thwarted attempts to foment trouble and arrested innumerable elements involved in anti-national activities.

Azamgarh, once known as a nursery of terrorism, is today known for its weavers.

Having realised the utility of the ATS, the Uttar Pradesh government has now decided to set up a training centre for the Anti-Terrorist Squad commandos in Saharanpur's Deoband, known for its Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband.

Apart from strengthening the ATS over the years  post 26/11-- Uttar Pradesh has set up the necessary security paraphernalia.

Metal detectors, sensors, CCTV cameras are now an essential part of every building having public access. Shopping malls, multiplexes, hospitals, airports, bus stations, railway stations and even premium educational institutions have security personnel and the necessary equipment.

According to a retired Director General of Police, 'We did learn some important lessons from the Mumbai attacks and this led to installation of security equipment at all vital installations. However, we have failed in strengthening the informer network at the local police level. The ATS and STF have built up their own network which has scripted their success story but the local policing continues to remain lax and dull."

He said that terror groups are known to draw local support from petty criminals and these can be checked only if the police at the grassroot level remains adequately vigilant.

A senior ATS official who did not wish to be named said, 'As we bust terror modules, we discover to our dismay that most of them are seemingly innocent and unemployed youth who are sucked into the terror vortex. Our job would be easier if the police at local levels kept an eye on the activities of such elements and prevent their enrolment in these groups."

He said that even home guards and traffic constables could play a role in checking terror activities if they remained vigilant.

"The civil police are the first line of defence against terrorism, and often the first responder. But state police forces are grossly under-resourced and lack the organisation, leadership and culture to play an effective counter terrorism role," he felt.

Besides, coordination between various policing agencies needs to be improved and information sharing should be stressed upon. "Agencies cannot and should not work in isolation if terrorism is to be checked," said the official.
The United Nations heralded the forthcoming scale-up of malaria vaccination across Africa after the first shipment of doses arrived in Cameroon.

Since 2019, more than two million children have been jabbed in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi in a pilot phase, resulting in substantial reductions in severe malaria illness and hospitalizations.

Now the scheme is moving into a broader rollout, with 331,200 doses of RTS,Sthe first malaria vaccine recommended by the UN's World Health Organizationlanding Tuesday in Cameroon's capital Yaounde.

The delivery "signals that scale-up of vaccination against malaria across the highest-risk areas on the African continent will begin shortly," the WHO, the UN children's agency UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance said in a joint statement.

They called it "a historic step towards broader vaccination against one of the deadliest diseases for African children".

The doses are donated by manufacturer GSK.

"We encourage all parents to take advantage of this life-saving intervention," said Cameroon's Health Minister Malachie Manaouda, adding that malaria "remains a major public health threat in the country".

A further 1.7 million doses are set for delivery to Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone in the coming weeks.

Malaria is the leading cause of mortality in infants and children aged under five in Liberia, the country's Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah said.

"This vaccine has the potential to save many lives and reduce the burden of this disease," she added.

'Breakthrough moment'

Several African countries are finalizing preparations for malaria vaccines to be introduced into routine immunization programs, with the first doses set to be administered in January-March 2024.

"Introducing vaccines is like adding a star player to the pitch... we are entering a new era in immunization and malaria control," said UNICEF chief Catherine Russell.

Africa accounted for approximately 95 percent of global malaria cases and 96 percent of related deaths from the mosquito-borne disease in 2021.

Yearly global malaria deaths fell dramatically between 2000 and 2019when they stood at 568,000but shot up 10 percent in 2020 to 625,000 as the COVID-19 crisis hit protection and treatment efforts.

Deaths dipped slightly to 619,000 in 2021of which 77 percent were children aged under five. Meanwhile, global malaria cases rose slightly to 247 million.

The vaccine rollout is a "breakthrough moment for malaria vaccines and malaria control, and a ray of light in a dark time for so many vulnerable children in the world", said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The RTS,S vaccine acts against plasmodium falciparumthe most deadly malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa.

It is administered in a four-dose schedule which begins at around the age of five months old.

"Broad implementation of malaria vaccination in endemic regions has the potential to be a game-changer for malaria control efforts, and could save tens of thousands of lives each year," the joint statement said.

"This moment has been decades in the making," said the United States' global malaria coordinator David Walton, as he looked forward to "a world in which no child dies from a mosquito bite"

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Bhupi Sir (26/11 PACKAGE) Pak may be cash-strapped, but it is still lead sponsor of narco-terrorism. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Nov 25 : While India has stepped up its vigil and there has been a paradigm shift in the country's counter-terror doctrine which now allows retaliatory strikes, Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism to keep Jammu and Kashmir on the boil.

Although Pakistan has plunged into an economic crisis and is surviving on foreign loans, it somehow manages to scrape together enough resources to finance terror groups. Proof has also emerged that the narcotics trade is being used to finance these terror activities. Pakistani drones carrying drugs and arms across the border have been shot down in Indian territory.

India has been relentlessly highlighting Pakistan's involvement in sponsoring cross-border terrorism, but Islamabad has managed to wriggle out of the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and secured a bailout from the IMF aided by geopolitical considerations and backing from big brother China.

Cash-strapped Pakistan has hiked its defence expenditure by a whopping 15.5 per cent to Rs 1.8 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2023-24, making its priorities very clear.

In a joint statement issued after talks between U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington in June this year, the two countries "strongly condemned cross-border terrorism and the use of terrorist proxies" by Pakistan.

The statement called on Islamabad "to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks."

However, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry in a cynical response said the statement was "politically motivated," and it was "surprised" by the reference given "Pakistan's close counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S."

India has been forced to take measures to fortify its national security both against terrorism as well as the twin military threats on its borders with Pakistan and China.

The Narendra Modi government's new counter-terror doctrine provides for retaliation against terror groups responsible for strikes within or outside the country. The 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot strike by the Indian armed forces formed part of this strategy. Both these retaliations were well planned with all the three defence services fully prepared for both vertical and horizontal escalations by land, air or sea.

The retaliation by India across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2016 and in Balakot in Mansehra district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in 2019 after the Pulwama attack, has served to send a message to the hostile neighbour that India will not let such acts go unpunished. Many prominent leaders of terrorist groups have been forced to scramble for shelter in safe houses of Pakistan's ISI due to the fear of Indian overt and covert retaliation.

India's coastal areas, including those near big cities such as Mumbai and Chennai are much better protected now than they were in 2008 when the 26/11 attack took place in the country's financial capital.

The Indian Navy, Coast Guard and State Marine Police, as a three tiered cover, along with other agencies such as Customs and Port Trusts, patrol the Maritime Zones of India, islands and adjacent seas, using ships and aircraft to detect and check infiltration through the sea routes.

The electronic surveillance mechanism has been augmented by provisioning of an electronic/radar chain called Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) comprising a Chain of Static Sensors equipped with a radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), day/night cameras and advanced communication systems, the government has stated in Parliament.

These measures assist in developing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), which has been achieved by interconnecting 51 Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard stations, which has been established to develop a Common Operational Picture. Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) radars in ports also facilitate surveillance of port areas.

Coastal Security Exercises are being conducted regularly by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard to assess the effectiveness of existing mechanisms and to address gaps.

Another important development in tackling terror has been the increased role being given to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to deal with such cases.

The country's police and internal security system in the hands of the states is highly fragmented and often poorly coordinated. These forces, especially the local police, are often poorly trained and equipped and riddled with high levels of corruption.

The NIA, which operates directly under the Union Home Ministry, has successfully dealt with innumerable incidents of terrorist attacks, not only in the militancy and insurgency affected regions and areas affected by Left Wing extremism, but also in the form of terrorist attacks and bomb blasts in various parts of the hinterland and major cities.

A large number of such incidents are found to have complex inter-state and international linkages, and possible connections with other activities such as the smuggling of arms and drugs, pushing in and circulation of fake Indian currency and infiltration from across the borders.
Aizawl/Imphal, Nov 25 : Ten Manipur tribal MLAs, including ministers, who have been demanding "separate administrations" (equivalent to separate state) for tribals in their state, have met Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in Aizawl and sought his intervention to solve the ethnic crisis in Manipur.

To intensify the "separate administrations" demand for the tribals, the Kuki-Zo tribals, for the first time, would hold rallies in at least five other states besides Manipur on November 29.

Manipur tribals' apex body, Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum;s (ITLF), senior leader Ginza Vualzong on Saturday said that the November 29 mega rally of the Kuki-Zo tribals would be held in Mizoram, Tripura, Delhi, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, besides different districts in Manipur.

Zoramthanga, who is the President of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), said that the tribal MLAs of Manipur including ministers met him in Aizawl on Thursday and requested him to hold talks with the Naga leaders in Manipur and Nagaland regarding the current ethnic turmoil in the neighbouring state.

He said that the Manipur legislators, belonging to Kuki-Zo tribals, wanted to maintain good relationship with the Naga tribal community in this time of ethnic strife in Manipur.

"I have requested the Manipur tribal MLAs and Ministers to keep a close contact with the Union government and continue to apprise him of what is actually happening in Manipur," he said.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the MNF always stands with the ethnic kindred brothers and sisters in Manipur and other neighbouring states as well as Myanmar, Bangladesh and other countries.

"Mizoram is for all the ethnic Mizos around the globe," he said while addressing the party workers in Aizawl.

Zoramthanga, his Cabinet colleagues and MNF MLAs had participated in the 'Solidarity March', organised by the NGOs Coordination Committee in Mizoram on July 25 to express solidarity for the Kuki-Zo tribals, affected in the violence in Manipur.

Ten Manipur MLAs, including seven belonging to the ruling BJP, since the ethnic riots began in the state have been demanding a aseparate administrationsa for the tribals in the state. The Central and state governments and BJP leaders, on a number of occasions, rejected the demand and vowed to maintain a united Manipur.

The ITLF, since the beginning of the ethnic strife, has been demanding removal of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
New Delhi, Nov 25 : Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday carried out a derailed review of the safety aspects of the Indian Railways with the board members, zonal officials, and RDSO and discussed automatic signalling and long working hours for crews.

According to the Railway Ministry officials, Vaishnaw chaired a meeting to review the safety aspects across the railway network.

In a meeting, apart from the Railway Board members, zonal officials, divisional officials, and RDSO officials also joined via video conferencing.

The official said that during the meeting, the Minister discussed various safety aspects, emphasising on various safety aspects of automatic signalling , long hours of crews, yard modernisation and safety in yard infrastructure, and disaster management.

He also instructed the drawing up of a fortnightly safety action plan and its review on a regular basis.

--IANS

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Porbandar/New Delhi, Nov 25 : Fifteen years have passed since the deadly terror attack carried out by Pakistani terrorists rattled the country's financial capital but the trawler that was used by the terrorists including Ajmal Kasab to reach Mumbai remains parked in a corner at the ports of Porbandar in Gujarat.

The trawler was bought by Gujarati businessman Hiralal and his brother Vinod Masani.

However luck did not favour him even as the boat was named 'Kuber'. Lord Kuber is God of wealth.

The younger brother Vinod, who was given the trawler by his elder brother, is now paralysed and speaks in a feeble voice and broken tone.

Speaking to IANS, Vinod said: "The trawler has been brought offshore and kept there ever since it was brought back to Porbandar in 2009, just few months after the Mumbai terror attack."

Vinod rued: "We have not been able to earn anything from it. And it has only brought us huge losses."

The 'Kuber' was hijacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and eight other terrorists to orchestrate the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

Ajmal Kasab and his accomplices hijacked the boat off the Gujarat coast a few days before they launched the attacks on November 26, 2008.

"And once it came back to Porbandar, none of the people could show enough courage to run it again as they feel it is an ill omen," he said, adding that many of the crew he convinced to operate the boat refused to come on board.

He further said that the boat is only making losses for him as maintaining it even ashore costs a lot.

Appealling to the government for help, Vinod said: "The government must think about me, as I lost everything in it.

Meanwhile, Manish Lodhari, ex-president of Porbandar Fishermen and Boat Association, said that the boat aKubera could never set sail in the sea again after the 2008 terror attacks.

He said that people have nicknamed it as "terror boat".

"Vinod Masani tried to take the trawler out to sea several times but all his efforts went in vein because people were not ready to sign as they were not convinced to be part of the crew of the terror boat," Lodhari said.

Lodhari also recalled that in Porbandar, earlier about 5,000 boats used to be in operation for fishing.

"However, the number has now come down to around 2,500. About 1,200 boats are in Pakistan's custody and about 200 fishermen are also locked in Pakistan," he said.

He said that during Diwali this year, around 100 fishermen were released from Pakistan and they were brought back.

"However, there are about 200 fishermen locked in Pakistan," he added.

Lodhari also said that many of the people have now switched to other businesses, and those who are operating avoid going towards Pakistani waters fearing their arrest, he said.

A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The attack was carried out by 10 well trained Pakistani terrorists, who laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at several iconic and vital locations of Mumbai including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Hotel Taj, Trident Hotel, Nariman House -- a Jewish Centre among others.

Meanwhile, an Intelligence source said that to thwart any such terror attacks in the future and to develop the more precise intelligence on the terrorists plans, the government has put a focus to strengthen the Intelligence Bureau to collect more information, which it has been doing after conducting regular meetings with the state police, other agencies and the Indian Army.

The IB now collects and shares the intelligence with them to keep a close tab on all the information shared and analyse them.
Kolkata, Nov 25 : The leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, shot a letter to the director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday seeking a central agency probe into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of PPE kits and other medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

In the letter, a copy of which is available with IANS, Adhikari alleged that a huge financial scam was executed in West Bengal during the pandemic period with regard to purchase of PPE kits and other medical equipment by the state Health Department.

According to Adhikari, huge funds were provided by the Union government at that time to bolster the efforts for fighting the pandemic collectively.

However, considering the urgency of the situation, no stringent measures were placed which could have delayed the procurement process and the Union government allowed all the state governments to act swiftly in good faith, he said.

Adhikari alleged that the corruption amounted to Rs 5,000, in which PPE kits costing Rs 300 apiece were purchased for Rs 1,200. Adhikari also named four senior bureaucrats as being allegedly involved in the scam.

"I have written to the ED director as well the principal director general of the Income Tax Department and the Secretary in the Union Health Ministry seeking a central agency probe in the matter," Adhikari said.
Washington, Nov 25 : US President Joe Biden hoped on Saturday that more American hostages will be released in the 2nd lot of the Hamas and Israel exchange of prisoners and hostages on the 2nd day of ceasefire in Gaza after two were freed in the first lot on Friday.

P:resident Biden has secured the release of two American citizens as part of the larger group of around 50 hostages to the four-day pause in fighting, a White House official announced. But media reports said Biden's assurances of more Americans being released in the first lot was belied by Hamas.

"We are early in the process that will see at least 50 women and children released during the first phase of the agreement," said an US government official who did not want to be identified.

"We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens. This will unfold over the coming days. We will not comment on individual cases as the process is underway," the official said.

President Biden said on a nationally televised address that his plan for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in order to help end "this cycle of violence was the only viable solution to the end of the war and its horrors.

"Our resolve to pursue a two-state solution ... is more important now than ever," he said as he welcomed the release of Israeli hostages while at the same time, saying he was looking forward to more people being let go as well as the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid.

"To continue down the path of terror and violence and killing and war is to give Hamas what they seek, and we can't do that," Biden said..

A Qatari operations team landed in Tel Aviv on Saturday to "ensure the truce deal continued smoothly. A diplomat told NBC News that further details on ceasefire and hostage prisoner swap would be discussed in detail while reviewing the progress of the four-day truce.

On the other hand, a Hamas official said that not enough aid was reaching northern Gaza and said that it could threaten the entire agreement. Within hours the International Red Crescent said 61 trucks had been dispatched to the region today, the "largest" so far.

Taher al-Nono, an adviser to Hamas' political bureau, said that Israel "has not fully committed to" key terms of the cease-fire agreement, particularly with regards to the amount of aid reaching northern Gaza.

"This puts a real risk on completing the process," he said.

According to al-Nono, the agreement said that at least 100 trucks with humanitarian aid would enter Gaza, but that far fewer have reached its northern part.

Other parts of the deal are also being monitored. Qatar's lead negotiator, Minister Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, told the media that they "remain optimistic" that Hamas will fulfill its promise to find any civilian hostages held by other groups in Gaza. He said they were "monitoring" the Hamas commitment to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to assess all the hostages being released.

More than 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza, where health officials say the death toll has surpassed 14,500 since the Israeli attacks. The IDF estimates 1,200 people were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack, with more than 200 people held hostage in Gaza.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are believed to be still in northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the Israeli military attacks.
Bengaluru, Nov 25 : The mortal remains of Captain M.V. Pranjal, who laid down his life while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full military honours here on Saturday.

Pranjal (29) from 63 Rashtriya Rifles was killed during an exchange of fire with terrorists in J&K's Rajouri sector on Wednesday.

Thousands attended Pranjal's final march before the cremation. Earlier, the mortal remains were kept at Pranjal's residence at Nandanavana Layout in Bengaluru. The farewell march crossed a distance of 23 km before reaching the Somasundarapalya crematorium. 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Captain Pranjal Amar Rahe' chants were raised by people, including students, all through route.

BJP's leader of opposition R. Ashoka said that Captain Pranjal embraced martyrdom after putting up a brave fight.

"Pranjal was a man of honour who sacrificed his life for the nation. He will remain a model to the youth for years to come. He will always remain in our hearts," Ashoka said.

Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh said, "Without soldiers, it is impossible for us to survive. We will pray for his family."

On Friday night, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, state minister K.J. George, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, and state BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra had paid their respects to Captain Pranjal after his mortal remains reached the city from Rajouri.

The state government has also announced Rs 50 lakh for Pranjal's as a mark of respect.
Three killed as bus rams into passengers in Vijayawada. Image Source: IANS News

Shillong, Nov 25 : A pickup truck hit the pilot car of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma's convoy at Upper Shillong on Saturday, police said.

However, the Chief Minister and the security personnel are safe.

Police said that the accident caused partial damage to both the vehicles.

The accident took place while Sangma was en route to Dawki town along the India-Bangladesh border to attend an official event.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 25 : Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's recent release '12th Fail' has been submitted to the Oscars as an independent nomination, confirmed the film's lead actor Vikrant Massey, who plays IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma in the movie.

During a media event, Vikrant shared the news and also spoke about his journey in the film industry that started when he was just 15.

Going down memory lane, he spoke about how he had to look out for work since he did not want his college fees to be a burden on his father.

Vikrant started his journey with the television show aDhoom Machao Dhooma. He was then seen in 'Balika Vadhu' and aQubool Hai'.

He has also acted in films such as 'Lootera', 'Dil Dhadakne Doa, 'Half Girlfriend', 'Chhapaak', 'Haseen Dilruba' and 'Gaslight'.

He will next be seen in 'Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba'.
Hyderabad, Nov 25 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday visited a popular restaurant in Hyderabad and also interacted with unemployed youth.

Gandhi, who is in Telangana to campaign for November 30 Assembly elections, visited the Bawarchi Restaurant at RTC X Roads in the city.

Customers were surprised to see him in their midst and they vied with each other to shake hands with him and take selfies.

He also visited City Central Library to meet unemployed youth preparing for government recruitment exams. The job aspirants explained to him the problems faced by them due to question paper leak in the TSPSC exams.

The Congress leader enquired about the recent suicide of a girl student who was preparing for recruitment exam. Gandhi assured the youth that if voted to power, Congress will provide government jobs to two lakh youth. He said a job calendar with dates of exams, results and job notifications will be released.
According to a study of some 10,000 people over 65 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare released early this week, 36.9 percent were economically active last year, up from 30 percent in 2008. Some 73.9 percent said they work to make ends meet.

Korea is graying rapidly with 15.7 percent of its 52 million population aged 65 or over, and many have to find jobs after retirement to make ends meet.

Their incomes increased apace, more than doubling from W7 million a year in 2008 to W15.58 million in 2020 (US$1=W1,115).

Only 27.5 percent of the money came from state pension and other welfare payments, which is much lower than the average of 57.1 percent in the OECD, where pensions are usually more generous. In Germany the figure is 70.6 percent, in Japan 49.2 percent, and in the U.S. 41.4 percent.

Senior citizens are getting used to digital devices, with 56.4 percent saying they use smartphones, up from just 0.4 percent in 2011, and 40.8 percent use social media.

More senior citizens feel they are healthy, rising from 24.4 percent in 2008 to 49.3 percent in 2020. Some 37.7 percent said hobbies and other leisure activities are the most important part of their lives, which is higher than economic activity (25.4 percent) or socializing (19.3 percent).

The proportion of senior singles rose from 66.8 percent to 78.2 percent over the same period, while the proportion who live with their children continued to decline from 27.6 percent to 20.1 percent. The proportion who want to live with their children also declined from 32.5 percent to 12.8 percent.

Asked what a good death means to them, 90.6 percent said passing away without burdening their family or friends, while 86.5 percent said they are opposed to prolonging their life artificially.

Lee Yoon-kyung at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs said, "Senior citizens are becoming increasingly independent and active when it comes to economic affairs, their health matters and family relations, but we need to bolster state care services for senior citizens aged 75 or more."
Imphal, Nov 25 : The security forces in Manipur on Saturday recovered five looted arms, including an US-made carbine and a self-loading rifle, from Imphal East District.

A police spokesman said that the security forces also recovered four grenades, explosive materials and 16 pieces of broken PEK.

In a separate case, Manipur Police arrested one active cadre of PREPAK from Imphal West district. The militant was involved in extortion from common people, the police said.

To check the movement of vehicles and inimical elements, a total of 138 check-posts were set up in different districts in which 225 persons were detained for violation of different laws.
Jaipur, Nov 26 : Newly-wed couples, Divyangs, third genders, tribals and youth turned out in huge numbers in specifically set up ethnic booths during the polling across 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan on Saturday.

Voters across the state were seen participating enthusiastically and excercising their franchise in the festival of democracy, said election commission officials.

Nearly 68.24% voting was reported in the state till 5 p.m.

Voters who reached polling stations till the end of poll hour are allowed to cast their votes.

Many voters were seen to be in queue at 6 p.m. also.

Polling could not be conducted for Srikaranpur Assembly Constituency on Saturday as the election process was withheld due to death of a candidate.

Chief Election Officer Praveen Gupta said that the final figures of the voter turnout would be known by Sunday after scrutiny of form 17A.

Webcasting facility was available in over 26,393 polling stations including 12,433 booths identified as vulnerable and critical.

Adequate CAPF and micro observers were deployed at all critical polling stations.

For the first time in the state, home voting facility was provided for octogenarian and Divyang voters having more than 40% disability.

Across the state, Form 12D was filled by 50,730 senior citizens (80+ years) and 11,798 Divyang voters. Of the 61,618 such voters alive, a total of 49,365 senior citizens and 11,656 Divyang voters cast their vote from Home, which was 99% of those who applied for the facility.

Form 12D was filled by 6,694 essential services personnel, of these, 4,427 essential services personnel cast their vote through postal ballot facility. Third gender voters also participated in the poll process and cast their votes enthusiastically.

As many as 3,71,442 polling staff cast their votes on facilitation centres.
Bengaluru, Nov 26 : Former Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has criticised the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for withdrawing consent to a CBI probe against Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in an alleged graft case.

"CM Siddaramaiah had made a decision that brought disrepute to the state," he said while speaking to reporters here.

Kageri said: "The CBI and court are in the process of filing charges against him."

At this stage, CM Siddaramaiah and the Karnataka cabinet made a decision that would bring disrespect to democracy and the Parliamentary system," he asserted.

"I strongly condemn the Cabinet decision. Utilising the position of the Speaker to make this decision is unfortunate. The Speaker's position carries its own Constitutional dignity. The issue of giving consent to the CBI inquiry does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Speaker," he said.

"It is an unpardonable crime by the Congress government to claim that the Speaker had not given consent to hand over the case against Shivakumar to the CBI and make a decision on this matter in the cabinet. It does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Speaker," he reiterated.

Kageri was on the seat of Speaker in the previous BJP government when the decision was made.

Kageri pointed out that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is an experienced politician and it is now evident whose influence he is working under.

"Let him work according to his conscience. CM Siddaramaiah should not make decisions by succumbing to pressure helplessly or with hatred against the BJP," he said. Kageri stated that the Speaker has no role in the matter of handing over the probe to the CBI, and it does not fall within the purview of the post.

The CBI investigation against Shivakumar must continue, he insisted.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday had said that the CBI probe ordered by the previous BJP-led state government against his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar over corruption allegations did not have the consent of the Assembly Speaker, adding the opinion of Advocate General was also not considered.

The Karnataka BJP had stated that the decision of the Congress government to withdraw consent to the CBI probe on the disproportionate assets case against Shivakumar was against the law.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Actor Sikandar Kharbanda, who plays the role of Manoj Poddar in 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' (YRKKH) said he is proud to be part of the show, adding that it has been running for almost 15 years now as the audience feels connected to it.

"YRKKH is India's longest running television show. So if one gets offered to play a character in this show, it's definitely a milestone moment. It is indeed a rare feat that a show is consistent with their connection and content. To be part of such a popularly successful franchise, is very gratifying for any actor. I'm fortunate that I got this opportunity," he said.

Talking about his role, the 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay' actor shared: "My character excites me because I'm getting to play a role that's unlike I've ever done, a docile, gentleman who puts others' needs before his own. An out and out positive character."

"The one thing that I share with the character I'm playing is the love and respect I hold towards my family and that in reel and real life, I absolutely adore my wife," said the 'Pari Hoon Main' actress.

He says he is sure the audience will love this part of the show as well.

"I am pretty confident that the audience will love this new family as much as the earlier ones. The reason being that I'm confident in the maker's vision, which is time tested. They've done it before and they will do it again. Fifteen years is a long time to prove that," he said.

He further said: "Rajan Sir is one of the most creative people I have ever known. He is an extremely hands-on producer and oversees each aspect of the show with an eye for detail. He does not compromise with the quality of the show. Be it the storyline, the cast or the backdrops. And to be on board with such a team, guarantees a satisfying outcome."

'Yeh Rishta Kehlata Hai' airs on Star Plus.
"Chances are real" for an extension of the temporary halt to the war, Biden said in his Friday remarks. He added that two American women and a 4-year-old American child remained among those missing.

Under the cease-fire deal, Israel is pausing its attacks on Gaza for four days. Hamas confirmed on its Telegram channel that attacks from its forces would also pause. Israel said the four-day stop in fighting would be extended an extra day for every 10 additional hostages freed by Hamas. A Qatari spokesperson said Doha hoped to broker another agreement to release more hostages from Gaza by the truce's fourth day.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government freed 39 Palestinian women and male juveniles who had been imprisoned or detained. "Teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday began carrying out a multiday operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian detainees to the West Bank. The operation will include the delivery of additional, much-needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza," the ICRC said in a statement about the four-day truce brokered by Qatar.

For Israelis, the Qatar-brokered halt in hostilities means some of the 240 hostages Israel says were abducted by Hamas in an unprecedented attack in Israel on Oct. 7 are now returning home. Twenty-four hostages, including 13 Israeli women and children, ranging in age from 2 to 85, were released Friday evening. Additionally, Hamas released 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino whom it also had taken hostage, according to the Qatari government.

The U.S. president thanked Qatar, Egypt and Israel for the deal that led to the release of some of those taken captive by Hamas. "It's only a start but, so far, it's gone well," Biden said. Biden's remarks, from Nantucket, Massachusetts, came hours after the planned four-day cease-fire began after seven weeks of war.

The president said he and his team have been working for weeks for a pause in the fighting, pressing for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and for the release of those abducted by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7.

As a truce took effect between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, President Joe Biden on Friday took partial credit for the negotiated release of hostages by Hamas and the freeing of prisoners by Israel, saying it was the "result of extensive U.S. diplomacy."

 Care for Released Hostages

Israeli public health official Dr. Hagai Levine said some of the elderly hostages had chronic conditions like diabetes. And the children have not seen daylight in almost seven weeks, he said.

"We do not know, we need to be prepared, to hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Levine said. "So, that's why in Israel we need to be prepared to meet their needs, a holistic approach. Some of them, the hostages, were severely wounded, had their limbs amputated, their hand or their leg, gunshot wounds. We don't know if and how they were treated, if they got infected."

A second group of Israeli hostages was expected to be released Saturday.

 Relief for Gaza Residents

For Palestinians, the cease-fire means a respite from almost seven weeks of Israeli airstrikes that have killed more than 14,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-affiliated health ministry.

Jason Lee, the West Bank director for Save the Children, said children in Gaza have been inordinately affected. "We now have a situation where one child is killed every 10 minutes," Lee said. "The numbers of civilians that have been injured are increasing as well. Over 30,000 civilians are injured, and again, indicating the asymmetry of this conflict, almost 70 percent -- that's seven out of 10 -- is a woman or a child."

Israel said it would allow large quantities of humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. "Four tankers of fuel and four tankers of cooking gas were transferred from Egypt to UN humanitarian aid organizations in the southern Gaza Strip via the Rafah Crossing," according to the Israel Defense Forces. About 200 trucks crossed into Gaza with humanitarian aid beginning Friday morning, according to Biden. Before the war broke out between Israel and Hamas, about 500 trucks entered the Palestinian territory daily.

 Both Sides Vow to Fight on

Israel dropped leaflets warning residents of northern Gaza who had fled the fighting not to return to their homes, as fighting is expected to resume once the cease-fire expires.

The spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing called Thursday for the escalation of hostilities with Israel. "We call for escalation of the confrontation with the occupation throughout the West Bank and all resistance fronts," Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said in a speech aired by Al Jazeera TV.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to ensure Hamas is unable to attack Israel in the future. "I want to be clear. The war is continuing. The war is continuing. We will continue it until we achieve all our goals," Netanyahu said at a news conference Wednesday.

 International Reaction

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who hosted the Spanish and Belgian prime ministers on Friday, said in a televised address that international leaders, including Biden, have told him that Palestinians will not be forced out of Gaza and into Egypt. He said that living conditions in Gaza were impossible, and that this would push people to leave the area. The Egyptian leader said he spoke with Biden, who assured him that the U.S. would not permit the forced migration of Palestinians out of Gaza.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told journalists during a visit to Egypt's Rafah border crossing Friday that the European Union was hoping to get more aid into Gaza than has been entering the strip.

Sanchez called for Hamas to release all remaining hostages and urged Israel to show more restraint. "I also reiterate Israel's right to defend itself, but it must do so within the parameters and limitations imposed by international humanitarian law, and this is not the case," he said. "The indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, is completely unacceptable. Violence will only lead to more violence."

Sanchez went on to propose an international peace conference to discuss the Arab-Israeli conflict, and to stress the need to implement a "two-state solution" between Israel and Palestinians.

Visiting Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated the goal of the European Union's mediation between Israel and the Palestinians was to produce a "permanent cease-fire," and to allow the entry of the massive backup of humanitarian aid supplies on the Egyptian side of the border. He also criticized Israel's military operation in Gaza, while condemning the Palestinian Hamas group, which runs Gaza.

"On the other side of this border, horrific fighting has taken place. Too many civilians have been killed, and as always, the first victims are women and children. Families have been torn apart, communities have been destroyed," De Croo said. "Israel has a right to defend its citizens. The whole of Hamas is barbaric, and Hamas needs to do everything to release all the innocent hostages."

Arab and Islamic leaders called for an unconditional cease-fire and efforts by the international community to implement a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians during a joint Arab-Islamic summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Nov. 11.

Biden on Friday reiterated his stance to pursue a two-state solution so Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side. "It's now more important than ever," he said.
Yarros Re-ups with Montlake Lauren Plude at Montlake has acquired world rights for two more standalone contemporary romance books by bestselling author Rebecca Yarros. The first of the as-yet-untitled books is expected to be published in fall 2025, with the second due in fall 2026. The deal was brokered by Louise Fury of the Fury Agency. Montlake previously published Yarross novel In the Likely Event in August 2023, and has another (still untitled) book set to be published in September 2024. Yarros is best known for her Empyrean fantasy-romance series, comprising the books Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, which were published by Entangled Publishing in April and November of this year, respectively.

LaDelle Finds a Place at Ballantine

Love Radio author Ebony LaDelle has sold North American rights to her first adult offering, Youve Got a Place Here Too, to Chelcee Johns at Ballantine. The deal was handled by Kristin Ostby at Greenhouse Literary Agency. Ballantine said the book is an anthology of love stories set at historically Black colleges and universities, pitched as Modern Love meets Beyonces Homecoming. Contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Kiese Laymon, Farrah Rochon, and Dawnie Walton. The book is set for a fall 2025 release.

Putnam Takes Three from Davidson

In one of her first acquisitions in her new role as executive editor at Putnam, Daphne Durham has bought world rights to three novels by popular Southern gothic horror writer Andy Davidson. The deal was negotiated by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Services. Putnam said the first book in the deal, The Vampire and the Robot, finds a pair of unlikely heroes setting off across a monster-ravaged landscape to protect the worlds last human child. The novel will be published in summer 2025. Details were not announced for the other two titles in the deal.

Newitz Sells Three to Tor

Tor executive editor Lindsey Hall has acquired world English and German rights to three books by Annalee Newitz. The first, Automatic Noodle, which Tor described as a cozy sci-fi novella about a crew of abandoned food service bots that take over a ghost kitchen in late 22nd-century San Francisco, will be published in early 2026. The deal was struck by Laurie Fox at the Linda Chester Literary Agency. No pub dates were announced for the other two books, which Tor said includes a bittersweet sci-fi novel titled The Recipe for Blue and Newitzs first foray into fantasy, Dirty Animals.
In March 2021, days after he was hired as a senior editor at Simon & Schuster, Yahdon Israel went on Instagram Live to tell his thousands of followers what kind of books he was looking to acquireessentially a call for submissions, which Big Five editors rarely put out.

He would be acquiring eight to 12 books per year, he said, and briefly rattled off the genres he was looking for. But for most of the livestream, he painted a picture of the sort of writer he wanted to work with: writers with strong senses of selves as well as business acumen, who understand that their art is also a product and that their work doesnt end with turning in manuscripts. He encouraged anyone who fit the bill to email him directly.

Later that day, he received an email from a self-taught, unagented writer named Aaliyah Bilal with the manuscript for a debut short story collection about the lives of Black Muslims in America. It was titled Temple Folk.

This book is the proof of concept of what hiring someone like me could mean for this industry, Israel said of Temple Folk, which was a finalist for this years National Book Award. As an editor, Israel is keen to circumvent traditional channelsfor instance, he hosts livestreams instead of lunching with agentsto engage directly with writers outside of the literary establishment. Temple Folk showed that alternative methods of acquisition can yield extraordinary results.

She knew who she was and she knew who she wanted to be as a writer, he said of Bilal. But how would an agent have found her? For Israel, looking for authors outside of their usual habitatsyour Iowa Writers Workshops, your Bread Loaf Writers Conferencescreates a healthier literary ecosystem.

There are people who dont have an agent, dont have MFAs, and are probably writing something fireand theres actually no way to get to that person, he said. Youre trustingor youre hopingthat the cream rises to the top, but that only works if there are reliable and consistent factors that are finding cream in all its forms. The onus, he said, is on the publishing industry to actively seek out talent, whether it be authors or employees, in unconventional places: If you look for it, youll find it.

Israel himself came to S&S without a traditional publishing background. Though he had long been deeply involved in the literary worldhe served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle and the selection committee for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, taught at CUNYs MFA program and the Sackett Street Writers Workshop, and founded the Literaryswag Book Club, among other endeavorshe had never before worked at a publisher.

But the circumstances of his hiring, he stressed, were an anomaly. In late February 2021, Israel reached out to Kathryn Beldena friend and Scribners editorial directorto let her know he was looking for a job in publishing, hopeful it might lead to an informational interview. Within a week, he was being courted by S&S CEO Jonathan Karp and then-publisher Dana Canedy. To his surprise, they offered him a senior editor role, despite him being prepared to start in an entry-level position. Without those people, he said of Belden, Karp, and Canedy, Id still be circling the outer perimeter of the industry.

At every opportunity, Israel gives due credit to his colleaguesa personal practice that encapsulates the philosophy behind his social media presence. Hes become known for using Instagram to demystify the publishing process, and in doing so, he hopes to show readersespecially those who might balk at the prices on hardcoversjust how much work and how many people are needed to publish a book.

Part of that transparency is about getting consumers to really think about, well, why does this book cost so much? he said. Because theres a lot of labor from a lot of people that contributes to what youre reading. Its about getting people to appreciate labor that they dont see, to think about the entire process that extends beyond and in addition to an author.

He likened his explanatory Instagram posts to flinging open the kitchen doors in a restaurant, telling patrons to look at these line cooks and look at how much goes into that meal.

Humanizing the labor behind books, Israel hopes, can also help nurture an affinity between readers and publishers. I realized that publishing is a B2B business, he said. Most consumers dont buy their books from publishers directly, instead going through retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or indie booksellers, so that colophon on the side of the book really means very little to a consumer. How do I give a sense of a more direct feeling, a more intimate connection, between the publisher and the consumer?

Broadcasting the industrys inner-workings and his own work on Instagram, Israel bucks what he called the old Max Perkins framework, in which editors strive to be invisible. I think that what that also does, ironically, is inadvertently reduce the valuation that an average person has for a book, because in their mind youre only paying for one thing. Writing a book may be solitary pursuit, he added, but publishing is a collaborative endeavor.

Case in point: while telling the story of Temple Folks success, Israel detailed not only his own contributions, but also those of his colleagues, including publicist Chonise Bass, Sienna Ferris and Imani Seymour of the multicultural marketing department, and former S&S editor-in-chief Mary Sue Rucci, whom he called an unsung hero of the book.

As for Israel, one of his most heroic feats has been managing his inbox, which is perpetually flooded with submissions. The day after his initial Instagram livestream, the one that yielded Temple Folk, he received more than 500 manuscripts. But Israels open call remains open.

For every 500 submissions, you get Temple Folk, he said. And when you think about it, isnt that worth it?
Thanksgiving is over and Black Friday has passed: the holiday season is in full swing. Its been a year of ups and downs for publishers, and PW reached out to a selection of indie presses to see how the final sales push of 2023 is shaping up, and what titles they expect to be popular gift choices.

Agate Publishing

Our November sales are already showing us as having a strong holiday season. The holidays will be led by two new releases by longtime Agate authors: How to Taste Coffee, Jessica Eastos much-anticipated follow-up to 2017s Craft Coffee, and a completely updated second edition of Ron Faiolas Wisconsin Supper Clubs, one of our bestselling backlist titles, which first came out a decade ago and has spawned two follow-ups. In December well be shipping the paperback edition of Under the Henfluence by Tove Danovich, which sold out two printings in hardcover earlier this year.

Doug Seibold, publisher

Archipelago Books

Taras and Marjana Prokhaskos Who Will Make the Snow, translated from the Ukrainian by Boris Dralyuk and Jennifer Croft, is a picture book that is also an interesting read for parents, grandparents, caretakers, and babysitters. Another book that I hope will reach a lot of people is Sara Gallardos January, translated from the Spanish by Maureen Shaughnessy and Frances Riddle. First published in 1958, it could start conversations within households and between friends about abortion and womens agency. I also think works by Mahmoud Darwish, Elias Khoury, and Najla Jraissaty Khoury, writers who investigate the lives of Palestinians under occupation, will be read by many people in the U.S. and around the world this winter.

Sarah Gale, editor and director of publicity

Bellevue Literary Press

Like with many other publishers, the backlist has a lot of momentum at the moment, and were hoping that weve made the right inventory predictions and are relieved that printers schedules have improved. We have high hopes for Paul Hardings Pulitzer Prizewinning first novel, Tinkers, which has sold very well for us this year due, in part, to the extraordinary accolades hes received for his new novel, This Other Eden. We are also excited that The Bear by Andrew Krivak, first published at the beginning of the pandemic, is reaching new audiences through the NEAs Big Read program. We expect that book to sell well alongside Andrews newest novel, Like the Appearance of Horses, which published in May.

Erika Goldman, publisher and editorial director

Black Lawrence Press

Of course, costs are rising everywhere, but from what Ive read in the news and what Im experiencing here at BLP, people havent cut back their spending. Here in the Night by Rebecca Turkewitz is currently flying off the shelves. So is Highwire Act & Other Tales of Survival by JoeAnn Hart. Horror and dystopian short story collections really seem to be having a moment right now. Also, Feast: Poems and Recipes for a Full Seating at Dinner is a perennial bestseller because it appeals to both poets and cooks and serves as a great host gift.

Diane Goettel, executive editor

Blair

Sales are up this year after last years industrywide postpandemic slowdown, and that should set us up nicely for a strong holiday season, perhaps our best. For us, its the big movers in the fall that will launch us into a strong holiday season. American Ending by Mary Kay Zuravleff is an engrossing story of Russian Orthodox immigrants in coal mining Pennsylvania. Mary Kay has been drawing large crowds all over the place. Also, during this time of crisis in the Middle East, weve had a lot of interest in The House on Sun Street by Mogjan Gharizad. This is a gorgeous, highly autobiographical novel that follows a young girl and her family through the 1970s revolution in Iran. For nonfiction, we have high hopes for our anthology Key West Sketches: Writers at Mile Zero, edited by Carey Winfrey, and Time and Tide: The Vanishing Culture of the North Carolina Coast by Tim Hatcherboth beautiful full-color books. Also, the legal assaults on transgender kids and their families has made Letter to My Transgender Daughter by Carolyn Hays essential reading.

Lynn York, publisher

BOA Editions

From my vantage point, the Covid-19 lockdown period led many new readers to discover poetry. And, while a plateau seems to have been reached, sales have stayed higher. Some of those new poetry readers, in particular, will be looking to fill out their collections, and BOA is fortunate to have some evergreen titles that are perfect for the holidays. Id argue that our best gift book is The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton. Its a beautiful hardcover book that spans the celebrated poets entire career and includes previously unpublished poems. To top it off, theres a beautiful introduction by Toni Morrison; an informative and insightful concluding essay by Kevin Young, the books coeditor along with Michael S. Glaser; and a helpful bibliography and index at the end.

Peter Conners, publisher and executive director

City Lights Publishing

City Lights is closing out our 70th anniversary year, and we are grateful for the support from our fellow publishers and booksellers. The Delicacy of Embracing Spirals by mimi tempestt is a hit up and down California, and shell head to New York in December for a number of events. On a somber note, Mosab Abu Tohas Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza, published in April 2022, has found many new readers wanting to understand life for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Abu Tohas new op-eds, essays, and poems published in the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the Atlantic, among other places, have affected public perception of the war, as he writes from Gaza under unfathomable stress.

Stacey Lewis, v-p and director of publicity and marketing

Feminist Press

Things were down in 2022 compared to 2021, but not by much, so Im thinking well be in a similar ballpark. Genre trends seem to have continued, from what I can tell. Its exciting to see more of a demand for nonfiction than I would have expected. Were also seeing the same love from independent booksellers in previous years continue to grow, and I hope folks will continue to purchase their books from indie bookstores rather than buying online. I believe FPs usual bestsellersTastes Like War by Grace M. Cho and It Came from the Closet, edited by Joe Valesewill remain our top-selling titles this holiday season, as they were in 2022 and throughout 2023. I also think were going to see a lot of preorders for our January 2024 book The Singularity by Balsam Karam, translated from the Swedish by Saskia Vogel.

Rachel Gilman, sales and marketing coordinator

Hub City Press

This year has been really strong for us, and weve regained a lot of ground we lost in last years post-pandemic slump. Our 2023 list was deeply literary, and the coming year is even more chock-full of hybrid, genre-pushing work. That readers seem to be searching out these kinds of books pushes us to find and champion books that are truly surprising, instead of simply chasing trends. Were expecting our lead title of the fall, the debut collection of short stories Good Women by Halle Hill, to continue to be a strong seller for the holidays after being named a best book of 2023 by Oprah Daily, Kirkus, and Book Riot. Ill look to our backlist nonfiction to continue to sell well for us. In particular, our first illustrated memoir, Landings by Arwen Donahue, which we published in 2022, should do well. It received an incredible boost after Barbara Kingsolver, who penned the introduction, won the Pulitzer Prize this year. The hybrid poetry and nonfiction of writer and naturalist J. Drew Lanham is a perennial favorite, and his newest collection is Sparrow Envy.

Meg Reid, executive director, Hub City Writers Project and publisher

Ice Cube Press

The Holiday season is off and rolling, and three titles have us super excited. The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality by Chris Jones is one. People all over the Midwest are concerned about water quality. Its not a small issue: Iowa is first in egg and pork production, and as a result the states tributaries to the Mississippi River have played an outsize role in creating the Gulf of Mexicos oxygen-depleted dead zone. A Widows Guide to Becoming a Handyman by Susan Huehn is a heartbreaking tale of transatlantic love and grief. Red, White, and Black. Americas Czech with Balance! Antonin Dvorak by Gary Kelley is a historical graphic novel exploring the role New York City and a small town in Iowa played in Dvoraks musical career.

Steve Semken, publisher

Tin House

Tin House has great offerings for debut fiction this fall and winter, including E.J. Kohs novel, the lyrical family saga The Liberators, and Ghassan Zeineddines knockout story collection Dearborn, a moving portrait of place and community. And were excited for the new year, when well publish Andres N. Ordoricas How We Named the Stars, a tender story of first love set between the U.S. and Mexico.

Masie Cochran, editorial director and interim publisher

Two Dollar Radio

I honestly have no clue how the holidays will play out. I think the industry is on unsteady ground right now, and I wish distributors were doing more to support indie bookstores. Were out with a new story collection by Bennett Sims, Other Minds and Other Stories, and hoping that it will be a breakout book and earn Sims the recognition he deserves. It was just excerpted at LitHub and Bomb, received a glorious starred review from PW, and is an Indie Next pick for December, with Caitlin Luce Baker of Island Books in Mercer Island, Wash., calling it a perfectly unsettling collection about memory, perception, self-doubt, Hegel, and amateur chicken butchering that goes horrifically wrong. 

Eric Obenauf, editorial director

Unnamed Press

Our new bookstore, North Figueroa Bookshop, a joint venture of Unnamed Press and Rare Bird, celebrated its first birthday in November. Alongside our copublishing partnership, it represents a special relationship for two independent presses, and one that has empowered West Coast literary publishing even as it partners with publishers from around the country. In collaboration with Grove Atlantic, the store will be launching a three-part event series about Groves legendary publishing history, facilitated by Grove authors like Viet Thanh Nguyen and Mark Haskill Smith. Our copublishing program features the release this month of Shadows of Love, Shadows of Loneliness, a two-volume landmark retrospective of William T. Vollmanns photography and artwork spanning 40 years. And going into the holidays, we are certainly excited about our two November books: an ambitious debut novel by celebrated art historian James Elkins, Weak in Comparison to Dream, about a city scientist who is yanked from his lab to go on a tour of world zoos, and Upcountry, a northern gothic page-turner by Chin-Sun Lee about country gentrification gone wrong.

Chris Heiser, publisher and cofounder
BlackRock recently walked back its public commitments to ESG in various ways. And for good reason. BlackRock has lost billions of dollars from state pension funds and others pulling out of ESG funds while it has taken a brand beating for its support of ESG.

The company has been the subject of ad campaigns, investigations, and numerous inquiries from state attorneys general, treasurers, and legislatures. Congress examined ESG practices in July, and BlackRock often found itself squarely in the line of questioning from lawmakers.

This summer, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink declared that he was ashamed to be mentioned in the ESG debate and that BlackRock should move away from the term ESG itself. They hired lobbyists in DC and across the country, particularly in states like Texas, where BlackRock faced investigations and possible divestments, and funded a feel-good ad campaign to go on the offensive. They even began touting their investments in oil and gas and other disfavored industries.

As part of these efforts, BlackRock released self-reported data that their support of ESG through proxy voting in 2023 declined from previous years. Its support of E&S shareholder proposals declined from 43% in 2021, to 24% in 2022, to just 7% in 2023. The firm largely blamed overly prescriptive proposals and other changes to the content of the resolutions themselves instead of claiming an ESG about-face.

However, a look at the data shows that BlackRocks ESG activism may have already accomplished much of its goals and may be why Fink and other activist asset managers are publicly pulling back from ESG.

But dont take Fink at his word.

BlackRock and others high level of ESG proposal support in 2021 and 2022 pushed many companies to take on ESG initiatives that are largely standard practice across corporate America now. This includes reporting GHG emissions, setting net-zero emissions targets, publishing diversity data, meeting board diversity thresholds, and more. Proxy voting was merely the last resort if BlackRock did not get its way through negotiation or engagement meetings as the firm describes it. BlackRock reported nearly 4,000 engagementslobbying the C-suite on diversity and climate issues during the 2021-2022 proxy season. If unsuccessful in private, the investment manager often voted with others against management or board members and supported shareholder resolutions to force behavior.

BlackRock and others became more careful about voting behavior in 2022 as scrutiny increased, but the worlds largest asset manager used its might when it mattered. So did State Street. An analysis of the ten most supported resolutions filed by ESG activist coalition As You Sow in 2021 and 2022 (see table) shows that BlackRock supported 80% in 2021 and 70% in 2022, and State Street 70% in both.

This massive pressure coerces recalcitrant companies to abide by the ESG agenda when they are not receptive to negotiations  and sends a message to other CEOs.

Some of this is cause and effect; as one of the largest shareholders in every one of the S&P 500 companies, BlackRock often can sway a vote by several percent. This draws special attention to the proposals just barely receiving over 50% of shareholder support. If BlackRock had voted differently, ExxonMobil and Phillips might have been able to focus on business rather than issuing climate reports that activists are sure to use against them.

In 2023, BlackRock and others supported even fewer E&S resolutions. And understandably so; every for vote draws scrutiny for supporting ESG causes that management opposes. Why risk unnecessary controversy on votes that are more likely to fail anyway? However, it is worth noting that the self-reported stats BlackRock issues leave out the governance-related proposals. A new report reveals that BlackRock voted on 30% of ESG-related proposals in 2022, 6% more ESG-support than the 24% number it reported on E&S proposals. These governance proposals are potentially the most impactful.

Because BlackRock imposes diversity requirements on companies, its voting on governance proposals is important. It requires company boards to be at least 30% diverse, including at least two women and 1 director who identifies as a member of an underrepresented group. BlackRock votes against directors at companies who have not established sufficient progress towards this goal.

Now that the ESG train has gained momentum, Fink can afford to take his visible hand off the throttle. But while Fink keeps his head down in public, we dont know what hes doing in private. Regardless, companies valuing shareholders and long-term viability should get back to business and away from the stakeholder capitalism theyve been forced to follow.

In the meantime, close scrutiny should be applied to BlackRock and other activists to ensure they are not furthering ideological agendas inside or outside the proxy voting process. This is especially true for state pension funds, which rely on taxpayer dollars and require the highest level of fiduciary care.

To move past ESG, investors need to move past BlackRock and other activist asset managers.
Actress Lee Se-young is appearing in MBC's new period drama that started Friday.

At a press event in Seoul earlier this week, she expressed high expectations for the series, in which she will show off her charms in hanbok, or traditional Korean dress.

"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" deals with a girl from Korea's Confucian past who accidentally travels in time to a futuristic modern world and struggles to return to her own time.

Lee has a reputation for being cut out for roles in historical dramas.

But she admitted that wearing hanbok is not fun. "It is such a pain to wear hanbok and shoot in the summer. I really had a hard time during shooting in the summer, but it turned out great and I'm happy I look well-suited."
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INVESTMENT PROPERTYLUNA COUNTY, NEW MEXICOI own a nice 1/2 acre lot in Deming, Luna County, New Mexico with close access to Interstate 10. This land is in an excellent location near Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. Tucson, Arizona is a 3-hour drive west on I-10. This area is right near Hatch, NM. The Hatch Chili Pepper is a staple of New Mexican cuisine. Red or green - you know if you know.TERMSI am selling the lot for $1,950. The bid amount will be added to this figure. There is no minimum, whic...

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Garrett Yrigoyen / Instagram

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/24/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Garrett Yrigoyen has revealed where he and ex-fiancee Becca Kufrin currently stand now that three years have passed since their split.Garrett, 34, proposed marriage to Becca on 's fourteenth season in 2018, but they had differences that were too difficult to overcome, and so they announced their split in September 2020.Garrett just married yoga instructor Alexandra "Alex" Farrar in Hawaii earlier this month, and Becca is married to her 17 alum Thomas Jacobs , with whom she welcomed her first child in September.Garrett said he hopes Becca is "happy" in her new relationship with Thomas during a recent appearance on "The Ben and Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast."Garrett shared of Becca's new life, "It's totally fine with me.""Life goes on. Life moves," he said. "And for me, when something is done, it's done. I make that set in my mind and my heart, and when it's like that, there's no going back for me."Garrett therefore insisted, "So when we broke up and there was no chance of that reconnecting, life goes on. We just want what's best for each other -- at least I want what's best for her."After Becca's stint and Thomas' time on Katie Thurston 's season, the pair met on Bachelor in Paradise's seventh season and fell in love.Becca and Thomas broke up and left Paradise separately before the finale filmed, but they reunited in San Diego and picked up where they had left off. The couple then welcomed a son , Benson Lee Jacobs Kufrin, in September, before they tied the knot in October "Whatever she did to get where she's at now, I'm happy for her and excited, as long as she's happy and living life the way she wants to," Garrett explained."For me, I don't have any bother or any worry or anything like that [about her new romance] other than just hopefully she's living the life that she wants."Garrett is apparently content and happy in his life with Alex. They plan to live in Reno, NV, for a while, and Garrett is currently working as a firefighter.Garrett and Alex met when Alex had DMed him following his breakup with Becca. They went public with their relationship with a Halloween-themed Instagram post in late 2020 and got engaged two years later in October 2022.Garrett revealed that Alex had watched The Bachelor franchise prior to their meeting but she wasn't exactly a big fan."She was a viewer of it in the past. She watched it, but she didn't watch every episode. She watched it here and there with her friends," Garrett told Bachelor Nation's Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti "She said when she was watching [Becca's] season that I was her favorite... She liked that I was outdoorsy and not trying to seek fame or anything like that. It was more attractive to her."As for what's next for them, Garrett said they'll hopefully be buying a house soon."We're just getting ready for the holidays and paying off that wedding," Garrett said with a laugh. "But kids are in the future, for sure."Shortly after Becca and Garrett split, Becca spontaneously moved to Los Angeles, CA, in September 2020 to embrace a "new adventure" in her life.Split rumors began swirling about Becca and Garrett's relationship in June of that year, but neither person spoke on them until Becca confirmed their relationship was over on the September 1, 2020 episode of her former "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast."So I don't think it's going to come as a shock to anyone, but Garrett and I have decided to end our engagement," Becca shared with her listeners."If you followed us on Instagram for the past couple months, you'll have noticed I spent a lot of time in Minnesota. I was with family and close friends, and he was out on the West Coast doing the same. We were really just trying to take the time and gain some clarity as to what was the next best step in our lives, whether that was together or as individuals."A source told Us Weekly at the time that Becca "didn't want to be reactive" and "never intended to be cryptic or mysterious" about her relationship status.And Becca confirmed on her former podcast she and Garrett had slowly arrived at the decision to call it quits on their relationship "after many conversations.""It wasn't something that we just arrived at one night... There's much more to it," Becca explained.Becca, however, said in her breakup announcement that she and Garrett had enough time to "come to terms" and be at peace with their choice to split."We've realized that we still have so much love and kindness and compassion in our hearts for the other person, but sometimes people's paths just go different ways... Life happens and sometimes people drift apart and have differences," Becca noted.E! News first reported in August 2020 that Becca and Garrett had called off their engagement after the pair was noticeably spending a lot of time apart."Their lifestyles don't mesh anymore. Garrett wants different things and they came to a realization that they aren't compatible anymore," a source told E! News at the time, adding, "They are trying to keep it low-key because they are still working things out, but the relationship is definitely done."One of their major differences seemed to be their political views., although Becca had tried to stay open-minded during their relationship.Garrett came under fire in 2018 as Becca's season was airing on ABC for his taste in offensive, controversial and politically-extreme Instagram memes involving undocumented immigrants, Parkland shooting survivors, and more.Garrett issued an apology in May 2018, but then in June 2020, Garrett expressed support for the police during the "Black Lives Matter" movement. Becca admitted the future of their relationship was uncertain at the time.Former star Rachel Lindsay even called Garrett out and put him on blast multiple times when she had co-hosted the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast alongside Becca.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Ridley Scott, that great man of cinema who had the luck (or misfortune?) of putting together three unforgettable masterpieces at the beginning of his attractive if uneven career  The Duellists, Alien and Blade Runner  spoke with lasting art of the Napoleonic era in the ancient, continuous, mysterious and obsessive duels between two officers of the Emperor of France. It happened in the beautiful The Duellists.

Napoleon did not appear in it, although his presence floated throughout the story. Infinite years later, Scott has managed to portray the transcendent and deadly biography of the Corsican gentleman who set out to conquer the world and largely succeeded. This individual also obsessed the all-powerful Stanley Kubrick, but after multiple attempts he never did produce his own portrait of the great man. And when it comes to a director like Ridley Scott and the protean personality of the man he is portraying, you walk into the movie theater in the hopes of seeing a great show. For this concept to be complete, one assumes that not only the eyes will feel admiration for what they see, but that what happens on the screen will also convey emotion and other gratifying sensations. For my part, I admired how some of the battle scenes were filmed, although this Napoleon, who appears in almost every shot, triggers both coldness and antipathy in me.

It is assumed that this individual of legendary fame was very complex and that his turbulent history aroused terror as well as fascination. It causes nothing but fatigue in my case. The character is twisted but never magnetic. As conceived by Ridley Scott and played by Joaquin Phoenix, an actor who I almost always find unbearable, I care neither about his triumphs nor his military failures, about his methodology for becoming the master of Europe or about the twilight of his ambitious dreams. His turbulent and eternal love life with the Empress Josephine did awaken a certain curiosity in me, but it was because of the interest I felt in her, not him. The former courtesan and adulteress who had seen it all and was incapable of conceiving the baby Napoleon that would have fulfilled the fathers supreme desire: to have an heir to prolong his empire. I found her interesting every time she had a scene. As I also enjoyed the seductive performance by Vanessa Kirby, the actress who brought bitterness and sensuality to the young Princess Margaret in the series The Crown. But spending two hours and 40 minutes in the company of the intense Phoenix exhausted me.

Vanessa Kirby, as Josephine in 'Napoleon'. Aidan Monaghan Photographer

The script is not complacent with the characters supposed historical greatness. The French are, unsurprisingly, upset with the vision that Scott offers of Napoleon. His war exploits are described, but an explanatory note at the end of the movie also tells us about the millions of deaths they caused. Napoleon was a military genius as well as an opportunist with an enormous capacity to accumulate power. The empire of the guillotine is well told, and how it not only ended beheading the kings and the aristocracy, but also of the revolutionaries themselves.

However, there are fundamental characters, such as the sinister Fouche, who survived everything and everyone while always holding on tow power, who are described with unforgivable speed. And the directors visual power dazzles as he describes the definitive decline of Napoleon at Waterloo or the disastrous invasion of Russia. There are brilliant moments in the film, although in general I am assailed by coldness or indifference about what I am being told. I suppose that the character, his legend and his reality, will return to the cinema on more occasions, and I hope with greater fortune. To take revenge for my relative disappointment, I walked out and watched another historical film, the wonderful Spartacus. And as always, there are moments when tears well up in my eyes. Its a great show, but it also moves me. Whereas I dont really care whether Napoleon dies, defeated and alone, on the island of Saint Helena.

Napoleon Director: Ridley Scott. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ruper Everett, Paul Rhys. Genre: biopic. United Kingdom, 2023. Runtime: 158 minutes. Release date: November 24.
Emotional scenes unfolded as Israeli children and women, held captive by Hamas militants in Gaza for a gruelling 49 days, were released and finally reunited with their families under a Qatar, Egyptian and US brokered deal.

IMAGE: 9-year-old Ohad Munder reunited with his family after being held hostage by Hamas for 49 days in Gaza. Photograph: Screen grab

Ohad Munder, 9, in a video released by Schneider Children's Medical Centre (SCMC) can be seen running and hugging his father in a tight embrace for the first time since he was released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on Friday.

Ohad was freed along with his 55-year-old mother Keren Munder, and 78-year-old grandmother Ruti Munder. Ruti's husband Avraham Munder still remains in Gaza in Hamas' custody.

Ohad turned nine while being held in Gaza, and events were held across Israel to mark the day.

A keen solver of Rubik's cubes, people campaigning for the boy's release created his portrait out of the puzzle.

Images circulating on social media on Saturday showed Ohad solving a Rubik's cube in the hospital as soldiers from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) looked on.

Emilia Alony, 5, who was released with her mother Danielle as part of a temporary cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel, was reunited with her grandma.

In photos released by the SCMS, Emilia can be seen in a tight embrace with her grandmother.

The two were visiting Danielle's sister and her family at Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 when they were all kidnapped during the dastardly attacks carried out by Hamas.

Sharon Alony Cunio, 33, and her husband David Cunio, 34, and their twin three-year-old daughters, Yuli and Emma, are still being held hostages in Gaza.

In an emotional video, Ohad's brother Roy Zichri Munder, thanked the IDF for its role in releasing his family members and all the citizens for their "hugs and support without which we wouldn't have been able to hold up for these 49 days".

"Thank you to all the people of Israel. It is very important for me to say that we are not celebrating today. We are happy but not celebrating as we have more hostages and we need to continue with our campaign. We will continue with our efforts till all the hostages are released," Roy said, extending support to all those whose loved ones are still stuck in Gaza in Hamas' custody.

"Don't lose hope. They will soon return," he said.

SCMC has made special arrangements for the hostages being released, arranging for all possible things to make them switch to normal surroundings.
Britain's political pundits don't believe Rishi Sunak and his Conservative party will win next year's general election, so we wonder if the Stanford grad is preparing for a post election career. After all, wife Akshata Murty once ran a fashion business.

Rishi was spotted learning how to make jewellry at The Emma White Jewellery Studio in Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

The Emma White Jewellery Studio makes exquisite heirloom jewellery, which are passed on generations.

IMAGE: Rishi Sunak, next to Emma White, holds a piece of metal. All photograph: Molly Darlington/Pool/Reuters

IMAGE: Rishi hammers a piece of jewellery.

IMAGE: Emma assists Sunak in the jewellery making process.

IMAGE: Rishi seems happy with the finished product.

IMAGE: Rishi meets with small business owners from Sunny Bank Mills over a cuppa tea.

IMAGE: Folks listen to the PM speaking.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
More than 68 per cent voter turnout was recorded by 5 pm in the Rajasthan Assembly elections on Saturday, with polling passing off peacefully barring a few stray incidents of violence.

IMAGE: An elderly voter shows an ink-marked finger after casting a vote for the Rajasthan assembly elections at a polling station, at Raniwara in Sanchore district. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that the final voting figures will be issued once data is compiled.

In the last assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent. The Election Commission has set a target of at least 75 per cent turnout in each constituency this time.

Voting at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, but officials said those already in queue at the polling booths were allowed to vote.

"Polling percentage till 5 pm is 68.2 per cent. The highest turnout was in Jaisalmer district, followed by Hanumangarh and Dholpur districts," Gupta said at a press conference after the polling ended.

The election in the desert state is a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The Congress is aiming to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while the BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Nearly 10 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the first two hours of voting and the figure went up to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and to more than 40 per cent by 1 pm.

Polling in the Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar was postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate.

The votes will be counted on December 3.

Two people - Shanti Lal, who was a polling agent of the BJP candidate from the Sumerpur constituency Joraram Kumawat, and 62-year-old voter Satyendra Arora - died of cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts.

IMAGE: A view of a polling booth managed by the Public Works Department in Udaipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats while 1,862 candidates are in the fray.

The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling. More than 1.70 lakh security personnel were deployed across the state.

In Sanwler village of Kaman in Deeg district, two persons including a policeman were injured in stone-pelting.

"Police fired 12 rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. Voting was disrupted for a few minutes due to the incident," Deeg Superintendent of Police (SP) Brijesh Upadhyay said.

In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and a jawan was injured in the violence.

"Stone pelting occurred outside a polling booth. One jawan was injured in the stone pelting. No civilian was injured. Around 5-7 persons have been detained," Fatehpur DSP Ram Pratap said.

An altercation occurred between a polling agent and a person outside a polling booth in Dholpur's Bari seat "Two vehicles were damaged in the ensuing violence. Polling was stopped for some time and resumed later," Dholpur Collector Anil Kumar Agarwal said.

In Uniara of Tonk district, 40-50 people tried to enter a polling booth. However, the situation was brought under control, SP Rajarshi Raj said.

Asked about the decision to conduct repolling on booths where incidents of clashes were reported, the chief electoral officer said that a decision would be taken after the report of observers is received. Gupta said that there was no report of the voting process being halted at any place.

On complaints of malfunctioning EVMs at some booths, he said that the number was less than the national average

IMAGE: Transgender voters stand in a queue to cast their votes in Kota. Photograph: ANI Photo

Many voters, including youngsters and the elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am.

"I got ready by 6 am, called up my friends and reached the polling booth so that we are the first ones to vote," Himanshu Jaiyaswal, a college student, told PTI at a polling booth in Nitin Public School in Malviya Nagar.

"This is a festival of democracy and all should participate in it," Jai Singh, another voter, said.

Selfie points were put up at polling booths and people, particularly young voters, took selfies after casting their votes.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes. Gehlot and Shekhawat voted in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar and Pilot in Jaipur.

Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi exercised his franchise in Chittorgarh and party MPs Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore voted in Jaipur. Kumari and Rathore are among the seven BJP parliamentarians who are contesting the assembly elections.

In their interactions with the media, the leaders expressed confidence that their respective parties would get the mandate of the people.

There is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again, Chief Minister Gehlot said in Jodhpur. "There seems to be an undercurrent. Looks like the (Congress) government will be repeated," he said.

Talking to reporters in Jhalawar, Gehlot's predecessor Raje retorted, "I agree with him. There is indeed an undercurrent but in the favour of BJP. Lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom on December 3."

In Jodhpur, Union minister Shekhawat said, "BJP is coming to power with a huge majority. This time people will vote keeping in mind crimes committed against women, paper leak incidents and corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress."

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and several other leaders appealed to the people of Rajasthan to vote in large numbers.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also contesting the assembly polls in the state.

In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress wrested power from the BJP and formed the government with Ashok Gehlot as chief minister for a third time. The Congress had won 100 seats and the BJP 73 then. The BJP, in 2013, formed the government with Vasundhara Raje becoming the chief minister for a second time. In 2013, the BJP had won 163 seats and the Congress 21.
Exercise Surya Kiran, the joint military exercise between the Indian and Nepalese armies, commenced on Friday, November 24, 2024, at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.

The annual exercise -- this is the 17th edition -- will end on December 7, 2023.

The aim of Exercise Surya Kiran is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief under the United Nations Charter on peace eeping operations.

The exercise provides a platform for soldiers from both countries to exchange ideas and experiences, share best practices and foster a deeper understanding of each other's operational procedures.

All Photographs: Kind courtesy ADG PI - Indian Army/X

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Aerial view of the Turunuelo archaeological site, in the Spanish province of Badajoz near the border with Portugal. This is where the remains of dozens of sacrificed animals were found

Five years ago, when scientists began excavating at Casas del Turunuelo  a Tartessian site in the Spanish province of Badajoz  they believed that they were unearthing a hecatomb.

This word means a great public sacrifice. The original meaning  which comes from ancient Greek  is the sacrifice of 100 oxen or other victims, which were made to the gods.

At the sanctuary in Tartessos, they havent found 100 oxen, but they have found the remains of around 50 animals, especially horses. Today, the in-depth study of all the animals illuminates the relevance of this place for its builders, the Tartessians. But the reasons why Tartessos abandoned this type of sanctuary  like the rest of its constructions  remains a mystery.

The site was discovered in 2014. It was buried under 20 feet of silt and earth, which originate from the nearby Guadiana River. When the archeologists unearthed it the following year, they found a two-story building. Something like this wouldnt appear in the western Mediterranean until Roman times, until Pompeii, says Sebastian Celestino, a researcher at the Institute of Archeology of Merida (IAM-CSIC) and co-director of the excavation.

Using different dating techniques, the team found that the site was in use in the 5th century BCE  about 2,500 years ago. These were the last days of the Tartessian civilization, born along the coast of what is now Cadiz at the hands of Phoenicians, who came from the eastern Mediterranean and expanded from the Guadalquivir Valley to the Guadiana Valley. For the ancient Greeks, this was the greatest civilization in the West.

While excavating, the scientists discovered a room with an altar in the shape of an ox skin, in which there were decorative elements of either Carthaginian or Greek origin, along with animal remains. As the researchers went deeper into the earth, they first found the remains of two horses at the foot of a staircase, followed by a kind of patio with about 20 animals remains. Then, underneath that layer of bones, there were dozens of more beings. About eight years ago, it was believed that they were part of a Greek-style hecatomb and banquet. Now, however, the complete review of all the remains tells a different story.

The results of the archaeozoological study of the bone remains  published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE  have identified 52 animals. The majority are horses (41 of the total) and adult mules, but there are also bovids (bulls and cows), pigs and a dog. But stratigraphic analysis shows that this mass sacrifice didnt take place during a single hecatomb, but was rather part of a series of rituals carried out in the last years of the building until its abandonment, when it was intentionally sealed.

The two images show part of the 51 animals that were sacrificed Construyendo Tarteso

At first, to us, the sacrifice seemed to have been made in a single moment, says Silvia Albizuri, a zooarchaeologist at the University of Barcelona and co-author of the analysis of the animals. You get there, you see that still photo and you think that they were all sacrificed [in one shot], adds Maria Pilar Iborra, her colleague, who is a researcher at the Valencian Institute of Conservation, Restoration and Research.

The taphonomic study (the study of the transition of organic matter from the biosphere to the lithosphere) that weve done has provided us with information about the history of that deposit, from when it was buried until it was unearthed, Iborra explains. The bones collect all that information, everything that has happened to them: if theyve been sacrificed, if [the animal was] consumed, if theyve been exposed to the sun. All this information is what has allowed us to conclude that there were three major moments of burial. The site was a kind of sanctuary in which the Tartessians made sacrifices over the years.Perhaps for a decade, Iborra estimates.

The analysis has also shown that the equids were adult males, almost all between the ages of five and eight upon sacrifice. Of the six bovids, four were bulls, while the pig remains belonged to adult sows. Age is key for scientists to rule out that they had been deposited there after a natural death or due to an illness. The thesis of sacrifice gains more strength when one takes into account that both horses and sows were at the peak of their useful life, whether they had been used as pack animals or for breeding. Albizuri  the zooarchaeologist  affirms that such sacrifices implied an enormous effort for a community.

Confirmation of ritual sacrifice is evident in the bones from the first two phases of the burial. The two layers were separated by a kind of blanket of about six inches of burnt wheat, which implies that the offerings were made to benefit the fertility of the land. The bones show no marks that would stem from the animals having been dismembered, gutted, or consumed by the humans. Furthermore, the specimens found in the first phase of the burial  the oldest  show that they were exposed to the environment, to the sun and to the wind. When they made a sacrifice, they didnt bury [the animal immediately]  first, they wanted the people to see it. It was an exhibition of what had been done and how costly it had been, because they sacrificed animals that were very precious, Iborra notes.

But in the third phase, something changed. What weve been able to observe in the last phase of storage is that, in addition to the sacrifice of animals, their meat was also consumed. Although not in the cases of the horses: only the cows and a calf. We even detected human bite marks. Then, a banquet would be held, [as] an act of comradery in that last phase, Iborra explains. Her colleague Albizuri adds: When we talk about a banquet, we dont know where the meal took place but we do know that the leftovers of that meal were left on the patio.

Iborra says that this was done to preserve the memory of that act. In fact, she adds, in phase three, the calf has all the bones unconnected, with butchery marks, with human bite marks but all buried together, without anatomical connection. In the Iron Age, these bothros (pits) were very common. In The Odyssey, Homer described the bothros as holes that were dug, into which drinks for the deities were poured. Victims were sacrificed on top of them.

After that banquet  or shortly afterwards  the Casas del Turunuelo was buried and the site was abandoned. Neither Iborra nor Albizuri know the reason for this.Neither does the co-director of the excavation: They sealed it with clay and abandoned it, Celestino shrugs. However, he notes that there are 13 other Tartessian locations, all intentionally buried and all abandoned at the same time, in the 5th century BCE. Something happened that affected everyone.

The researchers are now working with geologists and paleoclimatologists to investigate whether the cause could have been a persistent drought or, on the contrary, a succession of rains. With the help of the Palarq Foundation  an NGO that finances archeological endeavors  and the state and regional administrations, the researchers want to unearth more places in Tartessos and continue excavating in the Casas del Turunuelo. Theyre convinced that, beneath the sacrificed animals, theres something more.
Iran's strategy in the Middle East is essentially a take on an old proverb: Give your proxies and partners weapons and you can sustain their battles for a day. Teach them to make weapons and they can fight your enemies for a lifetime.



With Iranian-backed militant groups taking the charge in the Islamic republic's fight against Israel and the United States, Tehran is seeing its effort to help them acquire their own weapons-manufacturing capabilities pay off.



"Iran has established a network of allies and partners throughout the Middle East, from the Huthis in Yemen, to pro-Iranian groups in Iraq, to pro-Iranian groups in Syria, to Hizballah in Lebanon, to Hamas in Gaza," said Samuel Bendett of the Virginia-based Center for Naval Analyses. "And [Tehran] basically feeds some of its technology there directly, or provides kits and parts and other assistance to the local developers from those units, from those groups, and either gives them training in Iran or trains them on their location."



Increasingly, those Tehran-backed militant groups are turning to weapons they have produced themselves, often based on Iranian blueprints or manufactured or assembled with Iran's assistance. "Those groups now have a lot of know-how which was provided to them by Iran," Bendett said. "And they're now using them against the U.S. and its allies in the region."



The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance Movement -- better known as Hamas and considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union -- utilized a vast array of indigenously produced weapons and employed advanced battlefield tactics during its surprise multipronged attack on Israel on October 7 that left around 1,200 people dead.

The Israeli Defense Forces said they recovered Iranian-manufactured mortars and explosives used by the Palestinian extremist group after the assault, and Israeli military officials have reportedly estimated that up to 10 percent of the weapons used in the attack were made in Iran.



But most were produced or refined by Hamas indigenously in the Gaza Strip, including assault rifles, missiles, rockets, mortars, shells, and ammunition, according to Israeli defense officials.



Some of the at least 19 Iranian proxies and partners in the region that help make up Iran's so-called axis of resistance have also used Iranian-derived or indigenously manufactured weapons built with Tehran's help against Israel as well as U.S. troops based in the region since the Hamas assault.



These militant groups boast varying levels of firepower in their respective arsenals made up of Soviet-era, Russian, Iranian, and indigenously manufactured weapons based on Iranian designs. While Iran denies delivering arms to the groups directly, many of the missiles, rockets, and other weapons are similar to those produced by Iran.



Lebanese Hizballah boasts the most formidable arsenal of projectiles among Tehran's proxies -- including its own manufactured or refitted missiles and rockets. Since October 7, Hizballah has launched hundreds of rockets and missiles at Israel.



The Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen claim to have launched ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, at Israel. On November 8, the Pentagon announced that a U.S. military surveillance drone was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Huthi forces.



In an apparent response to U.S. support for Israel's retaliatory land invasion and aerial bombardment of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria have launched 58 attacks against U.S. forces in the past month, according to the Pentagon.



Tehran has denied involvement in the Hamas attack, and in early November Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly pressed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to silence those calling for Iran and Lebanese Hizballah to join the Israel-Hamas war.

According to sources cited by Reuters, Khamenei said during the meeting with Haniyeh in Tehran that Iran would continue to offer political and moral support but would not directly enter the conflict.



But Iran has publicly boasted about the military aid it has provided to Hamas in recent years. And despite international sanctions and a sea and land blockade on the Gaza Strip that was imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2005, experts say it is clear that Tehran has provided assistance to boost Hamas's fighting capabilities.

Middle East political analyst Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib told RFE/RL that Hamas built up its arsenal by looting weapons from former stockpiles of the Palestinian Authority or illegally purchasing them decades ago from Israeli sources through straw-man sales, smuggling arms and materials across the border with Egypt, and domestically producing drones, rockets, and various munitions.

But there is little evidence that any seaborne smuggling of arms has taken place since Hamas took power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, he said. And the smuggling from Egypt that reached its height after the Egyptian revolution in 2011 declined sharply after the Muslim Brotherhood government there was overthrown in 2013 and has since "been reduced to a trickle."



Nevertheless, Alkhatib said, "the weaponry and the arsenal that Hamas has right now has been building up for over a decade" and benefited from thousands of tons of smuggled arms and materials that could be used to manufacture its own weapons.



"Even if the smuggling stopped, those are still significant and vast enough to offer Hamas and other groups the ability to inflict damage as we saw on October 7 and as we're seeing in their defensive battle with advancing Israeli ground troops," said Alkhatib, a U.S. citizen from Gaza.



Whereas Hamas historically focused on building up a stockpile of rifles and machine guns, he says, it turned its attention to developing kinetic capabilities -- including mines, targeted explosive warheads, improvised explosive devices, anti-tank missiles, and rocket propelled grenades.



Hamas has also invested heavily in developing longer-range rockets and guidance and targeting capabilities as well as a range of unmanned aerial vehicles, including fixed-wing and weaponized commercial-grade drones.



Hamas had a falling out with Tehran, including over the extremist group's support of the Syrian uprising in 2011, Alkhatib says. But Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza, realigned the organization with Tehran "because they have realized that without Iran, their military capability won't stand a chance in continuing to evolve."



The realignment "with Iran, with the Syrian regime, and certainly with [Lebanese] Hizballah," he added, "are directly related to Hamas's needs and reliance on Iran to procure materials and, more importantly in the era of limited to no smuggling, technologies and know-how to domestically produce [weapons] systems."



Aided by Iranian weapons blueprints and the use of modern digital platforms for remote training, Hamas has learned how to upgrade old rockets and missiles to expand their range and lethality, he said.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hizballah have also been able to remotely teach Hamas fighting tactics and how to develop its massive tunnel network. "And, more importantly, Iran is also teaching Hamas how to use strategic capabilities," Alkhatib said, such as how to integrate drones on the battlefield.



"What was particularly spectacular about the October 7 attack," Alkhatib said, "is that Hamas for the first time demonstrated a combined-arms approach to guerrilla warfare, whereby intelligence was linked with the artillery barrage, was linked with the aerial capabilities of using the paragliders, was linked with the ground troops with the elite forces, with the logistical networks to transport the hostages back to Gaza and to send the attacks in waves with internal operational security.



"This was a qualitative leap forward in Hamas's fighting doctrine. And it could have only been learned and developed through assistance from Iran, broadly, and more specifically, its proxies and its arms in the region such as Hizballah and the IRGC," he added.



Elsewhere in the Middle East, Iran's support for proxies and its involvement in the Syrian civil war now leaves it with a significant number of experienced fighters at the ready for future conflicts.



Alkhatib notes that Iran supported hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite militias and fighters in Iraq and Syria, both to support the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and to combat the Islamic State (IS) extremist group alongside Syrian and Iraqi government forces.



"Now that both have been largely defeated, IS and the Syrian rebels, Iran was left with these powerful, battle-hardened, well-trained, well-organized militias that had nothing to do," Alkhatib said. "And so, they have been recycled and repurposed by the IRGC to further bolster the so-called axis of resistance, and to be used in a potential fight with Israel and the United States."
The human rights group Memorial has recognized Alsu Kurmasheva, a veteran journalist of RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service who has been in Russian custody since October 18, as a political prisoner.

Kurmasheva, a Prague, Czech Republic-based journalist with RFE/RL who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenships, traveled to Russia for a family emergency in May.



She was temporarily detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at the airport in the capital of the Tatarstan region, where both of her passports were confiscated. She was not able to leave Russia as she awaited the return of her travel documents.



On October 11, Kurmasheva was fined 10,000 rubles ($103) for failing to register her U.S. passport with the Russian authorities, according to local media reports based on court documents they'd seen.



Kurmasheva was detained again on October 18 and this time charged with failing to register as a "foreign agent," a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.



The Investigative Committee said Kurmasheva was being charged under a section of the Criminal Code that refers to the registration of foreign agents who carry out "purposeful collection of information in the field of military, military-technical activities of Russia," which, if received by foreign sources, "can be used against the security of the country."



It gave no further details.



The Investigative Committee said its investigation found that while the Russian Justice Ministry did not add her to the list of foreign agents, she failed to provide documents to be included on the registry.



Kurmasheva and RFE/RL have both rejected the charge.

Russia's detention of Kurmasheva, the second U.S. media member to be detained by Moscow this year, triggered a wave of criticism from rights groups and politicians saying the move signals a new level of wartime censorship.



Sergei Davidis, the leader of Memorial's Support of Political Prisoners project, told RFE/RL that Kurmasheva was recognized as a political prisoner because the group considers illegal the Russian Criminal Code's article on foreign agents and its connection with so-called "purposeful collection of information in the field of military, military-technical activities of Russia."



Davidis added that Memorial considered the prosecution and possible conviction of people for failing to carry out "a so-called obligation to voluntarily declare themselves as foreign agents...also illegal."



"That request is illegal because, de facto, it is not about punishment for failure to declare, but for implementation of legal activities. The information in question is not classified and it is not illegal to collect such information," Davidis said, stressing that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had given a vague explanation about what can be considered information banned for collecting.



"Additional to that, we see concrete political goals in [Kurmasheva's] case that were obvious by how the persecution was carried out. First, she was detained and convicted of failure to declare the second citizenship, and after that only, after obvious thinking over and looking for reasons -- they filed the second case," Davidis said.

"This is the first criminal case and arrest of that kind. It explicitly indicates the artificial grounds of the whole construction. This illegal charge was thought over for a long time before it was used. They had searched for something to deprive Alsu Kurmasheva of her freedom," he added.



Russia has been accused of detaining Americans to use as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians jailed in the United States. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for alleged spying -- a charge he and the newspaper vehemently deny -- in March.

WATCH: The husband of the RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was detained in Russia on October 18, has said she is a "political prisoner."

Since 2012, Russia has used its so-called foreign agent laws to label and punish critics of government policies. It has also been increasingly used to shut down civil society and media groups in Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.



Amnesty International, the UN Human Rights Office, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the chairman of the U.S. House of Representative's Foreign Affairs Committee have called for the immediate release of Kurmasheva.



The "foreign agent" law allows authorities to label nonprofit organizations as "foreign agents" if they receive funding from abroad and are engaged in political activities.



RFE/RL says the law amounts to political censorship meant to prevent journalists from performing their professional duties and is challenging the authorities' moves in Russian courts and at the European Court of Human Rights.

More than 30 RFE/RL employees have been listed as "foreign agents" by the Russian Justice Ministry in their personal capacity.



In March, a Moscow court declared the bankruptcy of RFE/RL's operations in Russia following the company's refusal to pay multiple fines totaling more than 1 billion rubles ($14 million) for noncompliance with the law.

Memorial, founded in 1987 to remember victims of Soviet repression, was closed down by Russia's Supreme Court in November 2021 -- citing the "foreign agents" law -- although it still functions outside the country and has managed to continue some activities inside Russia.

Kurmasheva is one of four RFE/RL journalists -- Andrey Kuznechyk, Ihar Losik, and Vladyslav Yesypenko are the other three -- currently imprisoned on charges related to their work. Rights groups and RFE/RL have called repeatedly for the release of all four, saying they have been wrongly detained.

Losik is a blogger and contributor for RFE/RLs Belarus Service who was convicted in December 2021 on several charges including the organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Kuznechyk, a web editor for RFE/RLs Belarus Service, was sentenced in June 2022 to six years in prison following a trial that lasted no more than a few hours. He was convicted of creating or participating in an extremist organization.

Yesypenko, a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen who contributed to Crimea.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, was sentenced in February 2022 to six years in prison by a Russian judge in occupied Crimea after a closed-door trial. He was convicted of possession and transport of explosives, a charge he steadfastly denies.
NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine -- It was still completely dark when Mykyta Zavilinskiy woke up at 4 a.m. and rushed out of his unit's base to evacuate a wounded soldier from the battlefield in the Donbas region.

The semiconscious man had multiple shrapnel wounds and was losing blood. With injuries from his feet to his torso, putting tourniquets on his legs was impossible, so the medics tamponed his wounds one by one with their fingers.



The driver of their Mitsubishi pickup truck was speeding 150 kilometers per hour under the Russian fire control to get to a safer spot. As the sun started to rise, the monitors inside the car showed that the patient's oxygen saturation was up, and his heart rate was down.



"My partner and I traded looks and understood that he was stabilized," Zavilinskiy, 33, said, recalling his first medical evacuation from the front line in late April 2022. He described it as "one of the most emotional moments" of his life.



Since then, he has taken part in over 200 evacuations along with other members of the Hospitallers Medical Battalion, a Ukrainian organization of volunteer medical professionals. With the Russian Army pushing forward in several segments of the 1,200-kilometer front line and another winter of intense fighting approaching, he is sure many more lie ahead.



Heroes Without Supplies



For over 20 months of all-out war against the Russian invasion, thousands of Ukrainian doctors, nurses, and paramedics have been saving lives amid the carnage of Europe's biggest post-1945 war.



To the popular imagination, they have become symbols of perseverance and hope. But in reality, combat medics in Ukraine face daunting problems that eventually led to the November 19 dismissal of Commander of the Medical Forces Tetyana Ostashchenko by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The move was preceded by growing frustration over poor-quality supplies, alleged corruption, and a lack of sufficient medical training. The loudest scandal revolved around cheap, poor-quality tourniquets, many of them made in China, that literally cost soldiers' lives.



On July 31, opposition lawmaker Solomia Bobrovska said the military's Medical Forces command did not purchase any first-aid kits in 2023, and those provided through international aid were not properly checked.



Ostashchenko dismissed this statement as untrue and said the problems Ukraine faced had no precedents in modern times. At the same time, the General Staff vowed to undertake "several steps and organizational changes designed to solve problems in the field of tactical medicine."



The effect of those was apparently insufficient, and Ostashchenko had to give way to Anatoliy Kazmirchuk, head of a military hospital in Kyiv, as the new commander.

In a video address justifying the change, Zelenskiy explained that society, and especially the combat-medics community, demanded a "fundamentally new level of medical supply for our soldiers."



Zelenskiy indicated that many changes were needed.



"From high-quality tourniquets to full digitalization and transparency in supplies, from high-quality training to honest communication with combat medics in those units that are functioning properly and efficiently," he said.



At The Stabilization Point



Providing proper first aid and quick evacuation from the battlefield -- ideally taking place within the so-called golden hour when the likelihood of medical and surgical intervention preventing death is highest -- is crucial to saving soldiers' lives.



Once the wounded are pulled out of battle, often after too many hours waiting for help, they're brought to a stabilization point where doctors and paramedics try to keep them alive long enough to make it to the hospital.

"Most patients arrive here in serious condition, often on the verge of death," Oleksiy Marchenko, 42, told RFE/RL during a mid-November visit to a stabilization point near Bakhmut, a now ruined city in the Donetsk region that fell to fighters of Russia's notorious Wagner mercenary group and other forces in May after many months of grueling warfare.



Since Ukraine liberated the villages of Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka on Bakhmut's southern outskirts in September, Russian forces have been trying to retake the initiative here, meaning regular infantry assaults and artillery shelling.



On average, 50 wounded soldiers are brought to the stabilization point daily, but as many as 200 can arrive at times, Marchenko says, adding that 80 percent of wounded suffer from blast injuries caused by mines or artillery fire. Before he spoke with RFE/RL, he had performed three operations, including a leg amputation.



"What strikes me most were the hundreds of soldiers who were here three times, but they still came back to fight alongside their comrades," he said.



Reasons For Optimism



Several doctors and combat medics told RFE/RL there are reasons for optimism despite the dire reality of grinding warfare.



Marchenko's colleague, Volodymyr Veselovskiy, 36, told RFE/RL the team of 20 doctors and paramedics working alongside them had substantially refined the way they work since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. He said the results of transitioning from Soviet-style care to NATO standards were already visible.

Dozens of freshly washed tourniquets, devices designed for single use, had been hung on the wall at the stabilization point to dry. But overall, the facility had modern equipment and full stocks of disposable materials. Most of it comes from volunteers and donors, Veselovskiy said, adding that state support is also becoming more robust.

That was not always the case. Katarzyna Daniszewska, a Polish medic and head of the Awangarda volunteer group that has been helping medics and evacuation teams since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, said battlefield medicine in Ukraine was "evolving very rapidly."



Most of the positive changes, however, have been driven by the bottom-up impulses of soldiers and units trying to increase their chances of survival, she said.



Daniszewska spent multiple months working at various stabilization points, including one close to Bakhmut during the period of the most intense fighting there. "In the beginning, there was a shortage of equipment for bone and blood injections, and now advanced transfusion fluids are the norm," she said.

In September, after months of negotiations between Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Health Ministry, and the Medical Forces Command, the government granted combat medics, even those without medical degrees, permission to perform blood transfusions prior to the hospitalization of wounded soldiers -- a decision widely perceived as a symbolic recognition of their increasing professionalization.



"Every month, specific units and brigades are becoming more self-sufficient," Daniszewska said, adding that she remains impressed by the army's high morale despite months of exhausting warfare.



Incessant Stream Of Wounded



With no end to the fighting in sight, the stream of wounded soldiers evacuated from the battlefields, rescued at stabilization points, and treated in hospitals seems unending.



Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses information about their casualties, but according to unofficial U.S. estimates, reported by The New York Times in mid-August, Ukraine's losses amount to about 70,000 soldiers killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded, while Russia's are about 120,000 and 170,000 to 180,000, respectively.

Zelenskiy recently said Ukrainian losses were "five times less" than Russia's, but he has also indicated that hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are being killed or wounded every day during the most intense periods of fighting.



On a recent evening, a team of medics from the MOAS aid organization, which transports the most severe cases from stabilization points to hospitals, was evacuating a severely injured man. That morning, he stepped on a land mine; his feet were torn to pieces and half of his body burned.



Surrounded by beeping monitors and life-support equipment, Alla Molochko, the doctor treating him, said the soldier would survive but a long rehabilitation awaited him. The ambulance was racing at 130 kilometers per hour to get him to a hospital in Dnipro and return to the organization's base in the Donbas.



More severely wounded men were waiting for them.
The 'San Jose' Spanish galleon at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea; June 6, 2022. Colombian Presidency

The alluring enigma surrounding the San Jose, a Spanish galleon that met its demise in 1708 at the hands of English privateers near the Colombian Caribbean coast, has taken an intriguing turn. After years of legal battles and legends of untold riches, Colombian president Gustavo Petro has proposed a public-private team to undertake a mission to salvage a staggering $20 billion deep-sea treasure despite opposition from scientific and cultural groups advocating for the preservation of the archaeological site.

The Colombian authorities are the only ones who know the exact coordinates of the wreck. In recent years, a few underwater images have been released, revealing vases, coins, cannons, and parts of the San Jose's anchor. Adding to the excitement, the government announced in June 2022 the discovery of gold ingots, Chinese tableware, and two new sunken vessels in the same area.

Culture Minister Juan David Correa said the Navy, the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History and other institutions have agreed to conduct an initial salvage effort to see how the archaeological artifacts will hold up. There wont be some massive extraction of gold and silver. We need to see the material and how it changes when we bring it up from depths that are near impossible to reach. We have to figure out a viable plan.

Correa told The New York Times that project bidding will commence in early 2024 and will take about three years to deliver results. A museum and an archaeological study laboratory will be built in the Colombian city of Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast. To set expectations for the ambitious endeavor, Correa said, We need to change our mindset and realize that its not just a 19th-century treasure. Its an archaeological heritage that holds immense cultural value for Colombia.

"The Battle of Baru" in which the "San Jose" was sunk; oil on canvas by Samuel Scott.

However, much of the scientific community strongly advises against any intervention at the site, citing the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. The Ministry of Cultures premise is not aligned with current archaeological positions, said historian and anthropologist Ricardo Borrero. While its good they acknowledged that the shipwreck isnt a treasure, the consensus is to maintain it in its current state, where it has lain for centuries in harmony with its surroundings.

According to Borrero, images indicate that there is plentiful life in the area, which contradicts the initial assumptions. Deep-sea fish and algae form the foundation of the food chain in this environment. Any human intervention poses a threat to both nature and culture. This debate originated in the 1980s, during the presidency of conservative leader Belisario Betancur, when some people said the San Jose's treasure could help pay off the countrys foreign debt. In 2001, the Colombian Congress voted against joining the UNESCO convention due to pressure from treasure hunters who argued that signing the agreement would put the countrys sovereignty at risk.

Contractual disagreements with European firms hired by Colombia to salvage the wreck and a tense diplomatic standoff with Spain further delayed the project. A vague law passed in 2013 during the Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018) administration enabled private companies to freely explore and exploit the countrys underwater heritage. These companies have been in the hunt for sunken treasure ever since.

According to Mariano Aznar, a professor of international law at Jaume I University in Valencia (Spain), Colombia is still obligated to protect and cooperate in the preservation of Spains cultural heritage despite its failure to sign the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty in 1982. Spains position is that the San Jose is a Spanish vessel in which 550 of its sailors perished, whereas Colombia is mostly focused on the ships potential commercial value.

Some say President Petro is being pressured by Roger Dooley, a 75-year-old American treasure hunter associated with the Swiss company Maritime Archeology Consultants (MAC), which has a controversial reputation among European archaeologists. Filipe Castro, a renowned expert in Iberian naval architecture and a professor at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), is one of the critics. The warships of the late 17th century were highly complex and sophisticated machines. It feels like a crime to me to destroy them just to salvage a few coins..

Castro doubts that the wreck can be salvaged in the three years announced by the Colombian government. Only an unprofessional person or company would dare to claim that they can excavate a wreck at these depths in such a short time. He also expressed concern about Colombias ability to properly preserve the salvaged heritage. Ricardo Borrero points to the poor condition of numerous colonial-era anchors and other artifacts decaying in Cartagenas Naval Museum and other facilities.

Castro acknowledges the concerns regarding the availability of sustainable technological and scientific resources, and underscored the reservations about the potential involvement of companies like Maritime Archeology Consultants. Treasure hunters typically make extravagant promises of vast riches to uninformed politicians. However, if the basic requirements of an archaeology project are met, Colombias expenses will far exceed the value of the promised treasure.

Of the 55 wrecked Iberian vessels from the 17th century that have been located, scholars have only managed to complete the ideation, construction and design process in seven cases. The rest have been looted or completely ruined due to ill-conceived salvage efforts. Borrero says the San Jose is especially significant because it represents a crucial link between multipurpose galleons with large cargo holds and artillery, and ships specifically designed for warfare.

Most importantly, we must stop talking about treasure, said Mariano Aznar. Its a cultural heritage we share with other places like Manila, Asia, Bolivia and Mexico. Its main value lies in its cultural significance and the insight it offers about the shared history of different peoples. What was the state of global trade at the time? What was daily life like on these ships? What else can we learn about those naval battles? Social scientists believe these questions can be answered without salvaging the ships.

The English warship Mary Rose (1545) and the Swedish Vasa (1626) offer valuable insights for this story. Experts point to the high cost of conserving raised vessels and the structural impacts to the wrecks. The priority, said Ricardo Borrero, is to find out why Colombian authorities are intent on salvaging it, and then explore alternatives for gathering information without compromising the San Jose and its surroundings.

Three centuries have passed since the San Jose went down, yet its precious heritage and watery resting place remains a battleground of conflicting political, economic and cultural ideologies.
Members of the military junta of Niger, on August 26 at the Seyni Kountche stadium in Niamey, where thousands of supporters of the coup d'etat gathered.

Three West African nations led by military juntas met this week to strengthen a newly formed alliance described by some analysts on Friday as an attempt to legitimize their military governments amid coup-related sanctions and strained relations with neighbors.

In his first foreign trip since the July coup that brought him into power, Nigers junta leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani held separate meetings Thursday with his Mali and Burkina Faso counterparts.

During their meetings, the leaders pledged security and political collaborations under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a partnership the three countries announced in September as a measure to help fight the extremist violence they each struggle with and across the Sahel, the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert.

The alliance provides a path of sovereignty for the countries and for their citizens, Gen. Tchiani told reporters after his meeting with Malian leader Col. Assimi Goita. Through this alliance, the peoples of the Sahel affirm that  nothing will prevent them from the objective of making this area of the Sahel, not an area of insecurity, but an area of prosperity, Tchiani said.

In reality, though, the partnership is in part an effort to entrench and legitimize (their) military governments more than to tackle the violent extremism which they have limited capacity to fight, said Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

The violence across the Sahel has contributed to a recent surge of coups in the region and militaries that claimed they took over power to help tackle their countrys security challenges have struggled to do so.

On Thursday, Gen. Tchiani partly blamed the violence on foreign powers, repeating claims his government has often made against France  which had been influential in the three countries before being forced out after their militaries took over  and against West Africas regional bloc of ECOWAS, which has heavily sanctioned Niger as a measure to reverse the surge of coups in the region.

The new partnership also offers the military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger an opportunity to say, we are not internationally isolated and we actually have partners that share our ideology and philosophy, said James Barnett, a researcher specializing in West Africa at the U.S.-based Hudson Institute.

Some analysts, however, believe that by pooling their resources together, those countries are able to reduce individual reliance on foreign countries and tackle the security challenge with one front.

The merit of this new alliance, despite its limited means and capabilities, lies in its initiation by concerned members, said Bedr Issa, an independent analyst who researches the conflict in the Sahel. Its long-term success depends both on the resources that member countries can mobilize and the support that Africans and the broader international community could provide, he added.

In the Malian capital of Bamako, 35-year-old Aissata Sanogo expressed hope that such a partnership could be useful.

Its important that we take charge of our own security, said Sanogo. Thats what Im expecting from this alliance.

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PM Modi on Tejas Latest News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Expresses Confidence in Indigenous Capabilities

PM Modi on Tejas Latest News: In a significant demonstration of confidence in India's indigenous defense capabilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi soared through the skies in the Tejas aircraft on Friday. The successful flight left the Prime Minister not only impressed but also instilled in him a heightened sense of pride and optimism regarding the country's technological prowess.

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Sharing his experience on the social media platform 'X' (previously Twitter), Prime Minister Modi hailed the flight of Tejas as a success. The post read, "Successful flight of Tejas," accompanied by expressions of his incredible experience aboard the indigenous aircraft. The Prime Minister's first-hand encounter with Tejas underscored the strides made in bolstering India's defense preparedness and reliance on homegrown technologies.

Reflecting on the flight, PM Modi expressed, "The experience was incredible, which strengthened my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities and gave me a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national capabilities." The Tejas aircraft, a symbol of India's commitment to self-reliance in defense, has been a focal point in the government's efforts to enhance indigenous manufacturing in the defense sector.

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Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Bangalore and proceeded to visit the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The visit included an inspection of the manufacturing hub of Tejas, further emphasizing the government's commitment to advancing aerospace capabilities within the country.

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Tejas, an integral part of the government's strategic initiatives for bolstering defense preparedness, was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016. Currently, the 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron of the Indian Air Force operate fully operational Tejas aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the indigenous production of advanced fighter jets.

(For More News Apart from PM Modi on Tejas Latest News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the plenary session of the international artificial intelligence conference AI Journey 2023 at the World Trade Centre in Moscow, Russia, 24 November 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announced a plan to endorse a national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that its essential to prevent a Western monopoly.

Speaking at an AI conference in Moscow, Putin noted that its imperative to use Russian solutions in the field of creating reliable and transparent artificial intelligence systems that are also safe for humans.

Monopolistic dominance of such foreign technology in Russia is unacceptable, dangerous and inadmissible, Putin said. He noted that many modern systems, trained on Western data are intended for the Western market and reflect that part of Western ethics, norms of behavior, public policy to which we object.

During his more than two decades in power, Putin has overseen a multi-pronged crackdown on the opposition and civil society groups, and promoted traditional values to counter purported Western influence  policies that have become even more oppressive after he sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin warned that algorithms developed by Western platforms could lead to a digital cancellation of Russia and its culture.

An artificial intelligence created in line with Western standards and patterns could be xenophobic, Putin said.

Western search engines and generative models often work in a very selective, biased manner, do not take into account, and sometimes simply ignore and cancel Russian culture, he said. Simply put, the machine is given some kind of creative task, and it solves it using only English-language data, which is convenient and beneficial to the system developers. And so an algorithm, for example, can indicate to a machine that Russia, our culture, science, music, literature simply do not exist.

He pledged to pour additional resources into the development of supercomputers and other technologies to help intensify national AI research.

We are talking about expanding fundamental and applied research in the field of generative artificial intelligence and large language models, Putin said.

In the era of technological revolution, it is the cultural and spiritual heritage that is the key factor in preserving national identity, and therefore the diversity of our world, and the stability of international relations, Putin said. Our traditional values, the richness and beauty of the Russian languages and languages of other peoples of Russia must form the basis of our developments, helping create reliable, transparent and secure AI systems.

Putin emphasized that trying to ban AI development would be impossible, but noted the importance of ensuring necessary safeguards.

I am convinced that the future does not lie in bans on the development of technology, it is simply impossible, he said. If we ban something, it will develop elsewhere, and we will only fall behind, thats all.

Putin added that the global community will be able to work out the security guidelines for AI once it fully realizes the risks.

When they feel the threat of its uncontrolled spread, uncontrolled activities in this sphere, a desire to reach agreement will come immediately, he said.

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Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Latest News

National Disaster Management Authority Assures Continued Efforts as Challenges Persist in Uttarakhand Rescue Mission

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Latest News: In a challenging rescue operation that has entered its 14th day, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced on Saturday that progress in drilling efforts to rescue 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand has been halted since Friday night. The NDMA, however, assured the public that the restart of auger machine is imminent to overcome obstacles encountered during the drilling process.

Despite the temporary suspension of drilling on Friday due to technical challenges, the NDMA remains committed to restarting the operation soon, utilizing advanced technology. Lt. General (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the NDMA, stated that all means are being employed to ensure the safe rescue of the trapped workers. Approximately 15 meters of drilling remains before reaching the trapped individuals.

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Syed Ata Hasnain explained that the use of an auger machine, capable of drilling 4-5 meters per hour, is in the pipeline, provided there are no further impediments. He cautioned against speculating on the timeframe for completing the rescue operation, emphasizing the complexity and challenges of the ongoing mission.

"All workers are safe," reassured Hasnain, mentioning that their relatives, including Union Minister V.K. Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, have been in contact. The rescue efforts involve various central agencies and state governments actively participating in the operation.

As per the news sources, the manual drilling process is anticipated to resume in the last 6-9 meters after extracting the auger machine from the tunnel pipeline. A senior official involved in the rescue operation expressed optimism about potential positive outcomes from the new drilling approach, although refraining from providing a specific timeframe.

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Mukesh Nautiyal, the project manager of the Operation 108 Ambulance initiative, informed that a total of 41 ambulances, including 31 from '108' and 10 provided by the administration, are stationed at the Silkyara tunnel site, ready to assist as soon as the rescue operation reaches its successful conclusion.

(For More News Apart from Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


Punjab News Latest, Mohali News

DRI Foils Attempt to Smuggle 1632 Grams of Gold Bars from Kuwait to Chandigarh

Punjab News Latest, Mohali News: In a significant operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) under the Commissionerate of Customs Ludhiana successfully intercepted and recovered gold worth Rs 98.61 lakh at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali. The illicit consignment was being smuggled by a passenger traveling from Kuwait to Chennai and finally to Chandigarh.

Customs staff, acting on intelligence, apprehended a passenger on flight 65-6005 from Chennai to Chandigarh and seized 1632 grams of gold bars valued at Rs 98.61 lakh. The passenger, upon interrogation, disclosed that he was instructed to transport the gold bars obtained from the seat of flight 6E-1242 from Kuwait to Chennai. The individual has been arrested, and the investigation is underway.

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The Arrest was facilitated through the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), highlighting the efficacy of modern technology in curbing smuggling activities. This incident follows a recent case where a passenger was caught attempting to transport five gold sheets resembling credit cards and a gold biscuit weighing 520 grams, collectively valued at Rs 27.73 lakh. The credit card-shaped sheets were concealed in the wallet's pocket slot.

In another instance earlier this week, DRI officials, using APIS, intercepted two passengers arriving at Mohali Airport from Dubai. The subsequent search led to the recovery of 3 silver-coated gold crosses and 2 silver-coated gold chains weighing 750 grams, with an estimated value of Rs 39.98 lakh. The smuggled gold, seized from the Dubai flight, was valued at Rs 67.71 lakh.

The series of successful interceptions underscore the vigilant efforts of customs and law enforcement agencies at Mohali Airport to combat the illegal transportation of precious metals into the country. Authorities remain committed to safeguarding national interests and curbing the activities of those involved in smuggling operations.

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(For More News Apart from Punjab News Latest, Mohali News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
At the 21st Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, BYD has showcased new products, platforms and advanced technologies

Hosting four booths at the 21st Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, BYD is displaying its present and future capabilities to the entire world. The companys ever-expanding global presence is powered by a comprehensive range of advanced technologies and innovations. As the world embraces electrification, BYD has showcased its full lineup of new energy vehicles at the Guangzhou auto exhibition.

Sea Lion 07  Tesla Model Y rival

As part of its Ocean Series, BYD has unveiled the Sea Lion 07 EV. This is the first mid-sized pure electric SUV launched by the company. Sea Lion 07 utilizes the Ocean Aesthetics design language and will be available in both rear wheel and four-wheel drive architectures. Tech integrations include iTAC intelligent torque control and cell to body (CTB) technology. In CBT, the Blade battery is integrated into the body of the vehicle. CBT tech can also be seen with India-bound BYD Seal electric sedan.

BYD Sea Lion 07 will primarily rival Tesla Model Y. Sea Lion 07 has been designed by ex-Audi designer Wolfgang Egger, who currently heads the design department at BYD. The SUV is based on the e-platform 3.0. It is 4,830 mm in length, 1,925 mm in width, 1,620 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,930 mm. Tesla Model Y is smaller in comparison. It is 4,750 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,623 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,891 mm.

BYD Sea Lion 07 will be more affordable than Tesla Model Y. It is expected to be available in the price range of 200,000 to 260,000 yuan (approx. Rs 23.32 lakh to Rs 30.32 lakh). In comparison, Tesla Model Y is available in the range of 266,400 and 363,900 yuan (approx. Rs 31.06 lakh to Rs 42.44 lakh).

Yangwang e4 Concept car and supercar platform

Yangwang is a premium sub-brand of BYD. The primary attraction was the e4 concept car. e4 concept car gets some pioneering features such as a three-in-one technology for driving, braking, and steering.

The e4 concept does not have conventional mechanical systems such as steering gear and braking mechanisms. The new energy Yangwang U8 off-road SUV and the all-electric supercar Yangwang U9 were also showcased. Interiors of Yangwang U9, revealed for the first time, presented a new level of sportiness and technological sophistication.

Denza D9 PREMIER

Denza is another high-end sub-brand of BYD. The D9 PREMIER inaugural edition was unveiled with four seats and a comprehensive range of hi-tech features. Exteriors are differentiated with a galaxy dual-tone theme, whereas interiors boast of intangible cultural heritage gilding techniques. Some of the key features include a premier intelligent customized cockpit, 22 DEVIALET audio speakers and an 8-inch armrest screen.

Starting December, High-speed NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) will be available to consumers. In Q1, 2024, users will also have access to urban NOA. Other features such as light map mode, sentry mode, and commute mode will be introduced in a phased manner next year.

FANGCHENGBAO BAO 5

FANGCHENGBAO, the professional personalized sub-brand of BYD, unveiled the BAO 5 at the exhibition. The Super Hybrid Hardcore SUV was recently launched and is available at a starting price of 289,800 yuan or Rs 33.79 lakh. Tech integrations include DMO and DiSus-P. The SUV utilizes an ultra-safe Blade battery that has 5-layers of protection structure. Moreover, it is shielded by a ring-type double-protection system.
This Force Trax Cruiser Safari version is a special application vehicle deployed on duty starting at Tadoba Tiger Reserve soon

Lifestyle off-road vehicles have been all the rage in the recent past with Mahindra riding this wave like a champ. Theres another name that is pretty much associated with lifestyle and adventurous lifestyle  Force Motors. The company has launched Force Trax Cruiser Safari version in India for jungle expeditions.

Force Trax Cruiser Safari Version

The company is diversifying its portfolio and carving multiple versions of its immensely versatile Cruiser body. For starters, Cruiser has an Ambulance version, Utility Van version and now the Safari or expeditions version. Cruiser is also sold on its own as Cruiser, which is a 13-seat version and there is separate sub-brand Citiline 10-seter version as well.

With its unmatched versatility, Force Trax Cruiser is a fitting choice to eke out a Safari version for multiple jungle expeditions. Initially, Force Trax Cruiser Safari version will be put to use at Tadoba Tiger Reserve soon, as we can see with the decals on the body. There have been extensive modifications to standard Cruiser MUV to carve out this purpose-built Safari vehicle.

For starters, doors have been extensively modified to have more glass area. This is particularly useful in Safari and expedition vehicles. These windows wont roll down, owing to their size. Ventilation for cabin is in the form of dual sunroofs and AC (roof-mounted vents with separate blower for rear 2nd and 3rd row passengers).

Speaking of rows, Force Trax Cruiser Safari version has seating for six, spanning across 3 rows with sliding leatherette captain seats. This is the same vehicle that can seat 10 in Citiline and 13 in Standard Cruiser. But in a Safari vehicle, there has to be enough wiggle room to stand too. So, 6-seater layout is logical.

Visual differences from regular Cruiser

Not only on the inside, Force Trax Cruiser Safari version has multiple alterations on the outside too. Apart from the large stuck windows, there is a green colour for this vehicle that should blend in nicely with surrounding environments. Front windshield has a guard that Force offers with 3-door Gurkha as it is basically the exact same windscreen.

Headlights and bumper are identical to standard Crusier and there is a beefy bull guard here too. Attached to this front bull guard are side guards that extend across cars profile and seem to fixed to cars ladder-frame chassis at multiple locations. This should act as side step and maybe a frame to stand. Depending upon the wildlife habitat, of course.

There is a sturdy roof carrier on top of its 3rd row. Maybe helping passengers to hold on to, while standing through the twin sunroof. There are chrome-finished alloy wheels too that look like they are 15-inch in size. Where powertrains are concerned, it gets the same Mercedes-derived 2.6L FM CR diesel engine that also powers every other Force vehicle.

We can see a white number plate too, which begs the question, why doesnt Force sell its Cruiser-based vehicles for private buyers? Imagine a Force vehicle with 5.1m length and 3m+ wheelbase to rival Mahindra Scorpio N that has exterior styling elements and off-road hardware of Gurkha and a different and more upmarket interior? With a seating capacity of 6 or 7 passengers and acres of legroom and headroom. All for Rs. 15 lakh (ex-sh). Why not?
KTM sales both in domestic and export markets showed off a significant month-on-month growth over sales achieved in September 2023

The Austrian brand, KTM, is doing well in terms of sales both in domestic markets and globally. Total sales have posted both a YoY and MoM growth. Even as sales dipped YoY in domestic markets, sales figures were high on a MoM basis. It was the KTM 200cc range that was more in demand in Indian markets while the export list was headed by the KTM 390 range.

KTM Sales October 2023  Domestic

The company has been active at the recently concluded 2023 EICMA Show where it showed off the new KTM 990 Duke. The companys current lineup in India includes Duke Series (125, 200, 250, and 390), RC Series (125, 200, and 390) and Adventure Series (Adventure 250 and 390), all of which are produced at the Bajaj Auto Plant.

KTM India domestic sales in October 2023 stood at 7,241 units, down 13.10 percent YoY from 8,333 units sold in October 2022. Every model on the list has posted a YoY de-growth except for the KTM 390. MoM sales increased 54.39 percent from 4,690 units sold in September 2023.

Commanding over 46 percent share in the company lineup was the KTM 200 (Duke and RC) with 3,391 units sold last month, down 15.25 percent over 4,002 units sold in October 2022. It was, however, a MoM growth from 3,112 units sold in September 2023 when share percentage had stood at 66.35%. Last month, the KTM 200 was also on the list of 150cc-200cc motorcycle sales at No.10.

Sales of KTM 250 range also dipped 5.99 percent to 2,056 units, down from 2,187 units sold in October 2022. This was a 131 unit volume decline with the 250 range commanding a 28.39 percent share. MoM sales improved by 693.82 percent from 259 units sold in September 2023.

KTM India has been seeing good demand for its 390 series, sales of which improved by 25.76 percent YoY and 40.86 percent MoM to 1,572 units. There had been 1,250 units and 1,116 units sold in October 2022 and September 2023 respectively. While sales of its 125 series, dipped 75.17 percent YoY to 222 units in October 2023 from 894 units sold in October 2022, MoM sales improved by 9.36 percent over 203 units sold in September 2023.

KTM Exports October 2023

Positive growth was seen across global markets with 5,000 units exported last month. This was an 88.32 percent YoY growth from 2,655 units shipped in October 2022 relating to a 2,345 unit volume growth. MoM exports also saw a 134.85 percent improvement from 2,129 units sold in September 2023.

It was the KTM 390 that attracted more attention globally with 2,795 units sold last month to command a 55.90 percent share on this list. It was also a 113.69 percent YoY and 142.83 percent MoM growth over 1,308 units and 1,151 units sold in October 2022 and September 2023 respectively. KTM 250 exports also saw outstanding results with 983 units exported last month, a 333.04 percent hike over 227 units exported in October 2022. MoM exports grew by 24475 percent from just 4 units exported in September 2023.

The KTM export list also had the 125 range of which 672 units were exported last month while of the 200 series, the company shipped 550 units. The 200 range has seen both a YoY and MoM decline.

KTM Cumulative Sales (Domestic + Exports)

Cumulative sales grew both on YoY and MoM basis with 12,241 units sold last month. This was an 11.40 percent YoY growth from 10,988 units sold in October 2022 relating to a 1,253 unit growth. MoM sales also improved by 79.51 percent from 6,819 units sold in September 2023 with a 5,422 unit growth.

KTM 390 series saw a 70.72 percent YoY growth from 2,558 units sold in October 2022 to 4,367 units in the past month while it was also a 92.63 percent MoM improvement in sales from 2,267 units sold in September 2023.

Sales of the KTM 200 dipped 21.77 percent YoY and 3.55 percent MoM to 3,941 units while that of the 250 range saw a 25.89 percent YoY and 1055.51 percent MoM growth to 3,039 units. There were also 894 units of the KTM 125 range sold last month relating to an 8.59 percent YoY de-growth from 978 units sold in October 2022. However, MoM sales improved by 340.39 percent6 from 203 units sold in September 2023.
Robust sales were reported for models in the mid-size SUV segment even as the list was commanded by the Mahindra Scorpio/N and XUV700

In the earlier post we discussed sales of Sub-compact SUVs (sub 4m SUVs like Nexon, Punch, Brezza, Venue) and Compact SUVs (4.2m to 4.4m like Creta, Taigun, Seltos, Grand Vitara, etc). In this article, we will take a look at the sales performance of mid-size SUVs in the 4.4m to 4.7m segment. Total sales in this segment stood at 31,354 units in October 2023, up 33.08 percent YoY from 23,560 units sold in October 2022. It was also a MoM growth of 14.87 percent when compared to 27,295 units sold in September 2023.

Top 10 mid-size SUV Sales October 2023

Mahindra Scorpio/N topped the sales list with 13,578 units sold in October 2023, up 82.55 percent YoY from 7,438 units sold in October 2022. MoM sales also improved by 14.62 percent from 11,846 units sold in September 2023. The Scorpio /N currently commands a 43.31 percent market share in this segment.

Also from the Mahindra stables was the XUV700 at No. 2. Sales improved 59.88 percent YoY to 9,297 units, up from 5,815 units sold in October 2022 while MoM sales grew by 8.67 percent over 8,555 units sold in September 2023. Mahindra currently sits on pending orders to the tune of 2.86 lakh units, most of which are made up by Mahindra Scorpio/Scorpio N, Thar, XUV700 and Bolero.

MG Hector / Plus sales also grew significantly on a YoY basis by 65.83 percent to 2,703 units, up from 1,630 units sold in October 2022. This was a 1,073 unit volume growth with an 8.62 percent market share. MoM sales grew by 1.88 percent from 2,653 units sold in September 2023. With the 2023 Harrier and Safari facelifts launched in India, competition for the MG Hector/Plus gets stronger.

Tata Harrier posted a YoY de-growth of 31.35 percent to 1,896 units in October 2023, down from 2,762 units sold in October 2022 while MoM sales improved by 104.75 percent from 926 units sold in September 2023.

Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson

Lower down the sales list of mid-size SUVs in October 2023, were the Hyundai Alcazar (1,837 units), Tata Safari (1,340 units), Jeep Compass (398 units) and Hyundai Tucson (202 units), each of which have posted YoY decline in sales. Alcazar and Tucson also saw lower MoM sales.

The list of mid-size SUV sales also had the Volkswagen Tiguan with 98 units sold last month relating to an 18.07 percent YoY growth but 48.96 percent MoM decline. Citroen C5 Aircross also saw sales dip 66.67 percent YoY to 5 units in October 2023 from 15 units sold in October 2022 while MoM sales grew from 3 units sold in September 2023.
Gustavo Petro during the inauguration of Daniel Noboa as president of Ecuador. KAREN TORO (Reuters)

No one is untouchable, slips a source from the Casa de Narino, the presidential residence of Colombia. President Gustavo Petro wants results in the short term that will pull his government out of its lethargy, and to do so he will not hesitate to dispense with whoever is necessary, as evidenced with Peace Commissioner Danilo Rueda, who was dismissed overnight. Cabinet members know that, at this point, none of them are indispensable. The president, these same sources insist, considers that things are going very slowly and that he has already given too much time to projects that have not yet gotten off the ground.

Petro has a reputation for ruthlessly cutting off heads since his time serving as mayor of Bogota, between 2012 and 2015. It was common for him to trigger crises that ended with new appointments in the most relevant positions. Those who know him point out that he can be patient, but that from one moment to the next, he can also act bluntly. Ruedas case serves as an example to other officials. In recent weeks there have been rumors about changes to ministerial portfolios and advisory positions, although for now these are largely rumors. But everyone is on high alert. The president is upset at not getting results soon, said the source.

There are several signs that Ruedas dismissal caught those involved off guard, despite the fact that the high commissioner had suffered some obvious wear and tear and there were even lawmakers who were insistently asking for his resignation. The decision had not been discussed in his close circles. The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace had even called a press conference for Thursday that had to be canceled after the presidents message. Beyond a brief presidential message on X, formerly Twitter, the government is keeping quiet about what triggered the decision.

In the Government of Total Peace, as Petros administration bills itself, there is simultaneous dialogue with all armed groups, and the position of the Peace Commissioner takes on enormous relevance. It is the presidents flagship policy, for better or for worse. Rueda imbued the position with his personality. His critics point out that he often fell into improvisation in a position that requires strategy. Along the way, he had friction at various times with the Minister of Defense, Ivan Velasquez.

In his year and a half in power, the president has already had two major cabinet crises. There have already been 30 ministers, some portfolios have already had up to three people in charge, and only seven of the original 18 ministers remain (Foreign Affairs, Defense, Justice, Labor, Environment, Housing and Trade).

Speculation about the ministerial readjustments  which in Colombia is known colloquially as cabinetology  has been going on for months. Ruedas dismissal could be the prelude to a moment of expectation about a political opening to include other sectors, meaning the national agreement that Petro often invokes. The executive has entered into talks to assemble (or reassemble, technically) a broader coalition that will allow the government to process a legislative agenda that includes reforms that are facing a lot of resistance, especially those affecting health. This week, Petro held two key meetings that showed a more conciliatory mood, one with entrepreneurs and another with former president Alvaro Uribe.
Leader of the far-right Freedom Party PVV Geert Wilders speaks to the media following a meeting with party leaders for coalition talks in the House of Representatives in The Hague, The Netherlands, November 24 2023.

A senator from the Netherlands Party for Freedom was appointed Friday to investigate possible governing coalitions after the far-right partys election victory, while the party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it would support a center-right administration in parliament but not join the next government.

The Party for Freedom, or PVV, led by veteran anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, won 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house, indicating a seismic shift to the right for the Netherlands. Ruttes Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy won 24 seats, 10 fewer than in the previous election, according to a near complete count of Wednesdays votes.

After a meeting of party leaders at the parliament, PVV Senator Gom van Strien was appointed to investigate possible coalitions. Newly elected lawmakers will debate his findings on Dec. 6.

Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, the new leader of the Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, tweeted that after losing 10 seats in the election, the longtime ruling party would make possible and constructively support a center-right Cabinet with good policies, but wouldnt join a government.

Wilders called the decision, which was announced before formal coalition talks had begun, extremely disappointing.

The election result and appointment of Van Strien pave the way for Wilders to take the lead in forming a new coalition and potentially to succeed Rutte as prime minister. However, he will likely have to convince potential coalition partners that he would tone down some of his anti-Islam policies.

His partys election platform states that the Netherlands is not an Islamic country. No Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques.

One potential coalition partner for Wilders is the recently formed New Social Contract party, or NSC, which won 20 seats. The partys centrist leader, Pieter Omtzigt, said he couldnt accept unconstitutional policies.

Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution outlaws discrimination on grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.

In an election-night victory speech, Wilders pledged not to push any policies that would breach Dutch law or the constitution.

His foreign policy also has raised concern among the Netherlands allies, Dutch caretaker Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said Friday.

Wilders election program says we will not send our money and defense equipment such as F-16s to Ukraine.

I hope and expect that the support will remain, Ollongren told reporters in The Hague. She said she had received concerned calls about the issue since the election. The caretaker administration led by Rutte will remain in office until a new coalition is formed.

In August, Rutte said that the Netherlands and Denmark would send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help the fight against Russias invading forces. An international training hub for F-16 pilots including from Ukraine was opened earlier this month in Romania.

Rutte tweeted Friday that he had held one of his regular calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The Netherlands stands with the people of Ukraine and supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, Rutte said.

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Emilia was 14 years old when she disappeared on her way to school in Apatzingan, Michoacan. Her mother and family reported her missing, blocked roads in desperation and marched to demand that she be found. None of this worked, and the teens body was located six months later in a vacant lot. She joined a long list of girls and women who are murdered every year in Mexico with total impunity. Violence against women, far from ending or decreasing, has increased in the last 30 years, even though governments insist on highlighting some specific declines. Newly published data reinforces the theory that women in Mexico experience violence from birth.

Every year, more than 3,000 women  including children and teens  are murdered, although only 24% of that figure is counted as femicides. Feminist and civil society organizations, however, point out that it is very likely that this number is much higher due to the problems getting prosecutors and courts to investigate and pass judgment with a gender perspective. Of all those murdered, 50% have characteristics of femicide, says Maria de la Luz Estrada, director of the National Femicide Observatory, which believes the real number of femicides is more than 1,500 each year. Until the month of September, state prosecutors offices had tallied counted 625 of these misogynistic murders.

A recent study published by the National Institute of Statistics (Inegi) indicates that in recent years there has been an increase in sexual crimes against girls and adolescents, complaints of family violence, trafficking and child femicides. For example, in girls between five and nine years old, sexual abuse occurs almost three times more often than in boys, while girls between 15 and 17 years old were abused eight times more than their male peers. In 2022, according to data from the state prosecutors, the crime of rape registered a peak in the 10 to 14 year old group and occurred 4.7 times more in girls than in boys of this age, with 4,197 complaints filed.

The violence faced by women and girls is considered a widespread and devastating problem in Mexico that begins to be suffered at alarmingly early ages. It is a situation that develops from the first stages of life and affects the health and well-being of the victims, even a long time after having been abused. Exposure to violence from the first years of life can become a pattern that affects the rest of their life and can lead to tolerance, and even reproduction of violence later in life.

Any figure regarding sexist violence usually falls short. Currently between 10 and 11 women are murdered a day, the impunity rate exceeds 95%, and only one in 10 victims dares to report their attacker due to fear and lack of trust in the authorities.

As women grow older, violence also increases. A 2023 national census by state prosecutors shows that in the case of girls and adolescents from 0 to 17 years old, violence within the family is the crime that occurs most frequently, with 22,271 cases this year. This year, 2,588 crimes were recorded against girls aged 0 to 4 years and 8,058 cases involving teens aged 15 to 17 years. Family violence occurs approximately twice as often in girls as in boys and increases as women become adults, while in men it decreases during the last stage of adolescence.

Hundreds of women will take to the streets again on Saturday, November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to demand justice and an end to the murders, rapes, disappearances, harassment and impunity. They will march for their daughters, for their mothers, for their friends who are no longer there.
Ukrainian marines and special forces have managed to overcome what the Prussian military genius Carl von Clausewitz wrote in 1832 was natures best ally for a defending army: they have been able to advance against an enemy entrenched on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River. Despite all the adversities, several thousand of Ukraines crack troops have managed to establish a foothold along 12 miles of the rivers eastern bank, in the Russian-held part of Kherson province, on the wars southern front.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have opened a new flank against the invader where it seemed most difficult to achieve. It is their greatest success on the front in the year since the liberation of the western half of Kherson province, on the right bank of the Dnipro. Kyivs other significant success since the summer has come from air and marine drone strikes against the Russian fleet in Crimea, driving back enemy warships in the Black Sea. But on land, Ukraine has not had very much good news. The counteroffensive that began in the summer in Zaporizhzhia province did not bring the desired results, and Russia is attacking in the provinces of Donetsk and Kharkiv. Its forces have numerical superiority in terms of artillery, drones, and troops, but this superiority has been at the cost of leaving the southern flank, including Kherson, more vulnerable. The Russian defense relies on the difficulty of overcoming the Dnipro river and its miles of wetlands.

In October, and with the utmost secrecy, the Ukrainian Armed Forces began a campaign of constant assault using speedboats to gain a foothold on the other side of the Dnipro. Although several assaults also occurred in the summer, the large-scale operation was not carried out earlier because miles of fields were flooded when the Kakhovka dam was destroyed last June. The floodwater eventually receded and as the weeks passed, the fields dried out. The result is that the troops have managed to establish what in military theory is known as two bridgeheads  two points secured by troops with boats arriving daily, to relieve soldiers and even transport armored light infantry vehicles  as reported to EL PAIS by Vitali, the commander of a special forces company, who requested that his last name not be published.

The Antonivksiy Bridge in Kherson, where Ukrainian troops have crossed towards the Russian-occupied bank of the Dnipro. Image from November 20, 2023. Cristian Segura

The two bridgeheads are about 12 miles apart; one is located near the city of Kherson, in the vicinity of the Antonivskiy bridge, with fighting going on in the town of Oleshky. The other is farther north, in the town of Krinki. To the south of the city of Kherson, the same strategy is also being deployed, according to the weekly military analysis reported on November 15 by Espreso, one of Ukraines leading media outlets. Landings have intensified in Hola Pristan, a settlement located four miles from the provincial capital.

In the online publication Oboz on November 15, Roman Svitan, a retired Ukrainian Armed Forces colonel and one of the most cited analysts of the war, maintained that this third spearhead could be decisive in liberating the mouth of the Dnipro, as far as Cape Kinburn. This would force Russian troops to retreat towards Skadovsk, on the border with Crimea, to avoid being cut off. The situation would also allow Ukraine to regain control of the Dniprovska Gulf, a safe river outlet to the Black Sea from Kherson and Mykolaiv.

The Ukrainian General Staff reports that officially the immediate objective is to drive the invader back 12 miles away from the river, to ensure civil and economic life in the municipalities on the left bank can recover. This distance is the minimum to reduce Russias ability to use its old Soviet-era artillery to cause destruction in the settlements along the river. Both Espreso and the Institute for the Study of War, an American center analyzing the conflict, emphasize that one of the reasons for the operations in the Dnipro is to force a transfer of Russian troops from the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia fronts to the south. Sources from the High Command for the South assure this newspaper that a land advance from the Dnipro towards Crimea, about 62 miles away, is currently impossible, due to numerically inferior human resources and artillery.

A view of Kherson from Oleshky on the left bank of the Dnipro. The town is the scene of fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Image from November 20, 2023. Cristian Segura

If the two armies agree on something, it is restricting media access to the Dnipro. The Ukrainian High Command for the South has denied the media access and any opportunity to interview soldiers in the rear. In the summer counteroffensive on the Zaporizhzhia front, the Ukrainian military was obsessive about maintaining secrecy. Government representatives publicly complained that the media and analysts were increasingly turning to Russian military sources to understand what was happening on the battlefield. The same thing is happening in Kherson. This November, the BBC interviewed Russian soldiers who fought in Krinki. They claimed that members of the Ukrainian special forces had assaulted their positions wearing uniforms of Russian firefighters or emergency services personnel, which is something that contravenes the Geneva Convention.

These Russian soldiers estimated that 500 Ukrainian soldiers had already landed in Krinki, although the number in the entire area is much higher, as Western military sources told The Guardian on November 16. According to the British newspaper, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had managed to land three marine brigades on the eastern side of Kherson, which would be equivalent to 6,000 soldiers. Taking into account that these troops fight in rotations of several days, it would indicate that there are at least 3,000 soldiers operating on the left bank.

The Russian soldiers also confirmed to the BBC something that Western and Russian analysts have highlighted. The first wave involves the special forces that take enemy positions and then the marine corps comes into action. Clashes between both armies have been reported four kilometers from the shore, but Vitali, the special forces commander, remarks that his men have penetrated much further into the enemys ranks. The objective is to locate the Russian artillery and drone pilots so that the Ukrainian howitzers and unmanned devices can neutralize them. He says this is key to ensuring river barges can safely transport armored infantry vehicles, such as the American Bradley tanks, in maneuvers that can take up to 40 minutes.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare for a landing on the Dnipro on October 15, 2023. Mstyslav Chernov (AP)

At the moment the infantry has not crossed the river with mechanized brigades, but very soon it will be possible, says Vitali. Retired colonel Svitan was not so optimistic in his interview with Oboz, and explained that first of all, assault companies that can manage to keep the Russians nine miles away are needed in addition to the current troops. That will be when pontoon bridges can be put in place and batteries of anti-aircraft defense can be set up on the western bank. For the moment, Svitan commented, the Ukrainians have to act in small tactical groups that are constantly on the move. This is especially important now that the Russian command has assigned a new parachute regiment to regain control in Krinki, as reported on Thursday by Ukrainian military studies institute, the Center for Defense Strategies. The terrain [wetlands and sandbars] is not suitable for digging trenches, so the best defense is to stay on the move and disperse, Svitan concluded.

From the rear in Kherson, the Ukrainians are constantly firing howitzers and medium-range precision rockets such as the American Himars, to disrupt the enemys logistical lines. The British Ministry of Defense confirmed this Friday that a Ukrainian attack on November 10 destroyed a Russian convoy on the Kherson front, 14 miles from the river, killing more than 70 soldiers. British intelligence services also claim that in Donetsk on November 19, a concentration of Russian troops was bombed, resulting in dozens of casualties.
Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

Microfinance  or small scale financial services for the underprivileged  was hailed in the 1980s as the magic wand which would end poverty once and for all. Its pinnacle of recognition came in 2006 with the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Mohammad Yunus, one of its masterminds and principal champions.

But the glory did not last long, and 10 years later, there was a tsunami of criticism alleging it put clients into too much debt, as well as meting out measures that were too harsh to defaulters. Microfinance programs were blamed, for example, for the suicides of 80 women in the Indian region of Andhra Pradesh in 2010.

Over the years, microfinance has become a sizeable global industry, the first to demonstrate that it can successfully address the needs of the most disadvantaged. It is estimated to have given more than $180 billion (165 billion) in credit and to have served around 200 million people. However, the debate persists over how beneficial microfinance really is for its clients.

Proving microfinance is working is no easy task. Esther Duflo, a renowned Nobel laureate in economics, conducted randomized control group trials (RCTs) in 2010 without drawing a clear conclusion. The RCT approach does not document the factors and dynamics that produce the outcome, hence, the only conclusion was that the impact of these financial services depends on the context and on those involved.

Defining cause-effect in the microfinance market is hard as there are many factors that influence the improvement of clients lives. Moreover, the impact is not evident in the short term. As I tell my Masters students, if we were all given a microcredit to improve our lives, would we all have the same success?

According to 70% of clients, microcredit generates greater financial resilience. For 75% of clients, repayment is not a problem. Only 6% indicate that paying back the debt has proved a burden.

What is clear is that using a formal financial credit system as opposed to an informal one has advantages, not only in terms of access and cost, but also in terms of client protection and the regulation of financial practices.

Given the amount of funds allocated to finance microfinance, would it not be better to ask clients if and how it has changed their lives? This is what the report from 60 Decibels, a company set up by Acumen Fund, has just done, and its conclusions are compelling. Eighty nine percent of clients say that their quality of life has improved thanks to microfinance. Based on interviews with more than 32,000 clients in 32 countries, the index has compiled more than one million pieces of data. The survey covers more than 84 million microfinance clients, or about 40% of the global total.

The time factor is key to experiencing an improved quality of life. Clients who have been with their financial service provider longer are more likely to strongly agree that their lives and domestic situation have improved. Some 22% of the longest-serving clients reported a significant rise in spending on home improvements and quality meals, as well as spending more on their childrens education. These results are also highlighted by the BBVA Microfinance Foundation reports on social performance.

Clients who have accessed additional services from their financial service provider beyond credit also report substantial improvements in quality of life, business income, ability to manage their finances, savings and confidence. Two-thirds of the microfinance institutions interviewed currently offer financial and non-financial services to clients in addition to credit.

According to 70% of clients, microcredit generates greater financial resilience. For 75% of clients, repayment is not a problem. Only 6% indicate that paying back the debt has proved a burden. Clients are more likely to report that their household food consumption has been reduced and their financial concerns increased.

The impact on womens lives is also significant. Eighty-three percent of women report improvements in their confidence because of their relationship with their financial service provider, and 67% report better financial decision making. Improvements reported by women are marginally greater than those reported by men.

Clients are clear about the role of microfinance in mitigating the risk of relapse into poverty and in coping with contingencies, as well as being empowering for poorer women.

Wouldnt it be better to stop theorizing about the impact of microfinance and concentrate on developing and implementing better regulation and protection for customers, especially when it comes to developing products that really meet unique individual needs and are able to boost the impact on lives?

As I wrote in an article on the Huruma Fund, the key lies in being able to offer microfinance products specific to the needs of particular sectors, such as the smallholder farmers who feed the world. We have a lot of work to do in this regard. It is the only way to improve the impact on microfinances most vulnerable clients.

Maria Lopez Escorial is a consultant specializing in social innovation and business solutions to combat poverty, and a professor at Instituto de Empresa since 2002. She was elected in the Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain in 2018, and received the Codespa 2022 Journalism for Development Award.
The word 'entrepreneur' has a long history, dating back to the 18th century when the French economist Jean-Baptiste first coined the term. While many people today associate entrepreneurship with financial success, the term's original meaning was much broader. It encompassed a wide range of creative and innovative endeavors. Richard Cantillon, an Irish-French economist, explored this concept further in his book 'Essay on the Nature of Trade in General.' There, he describes an entrepreneur as someone who not only acquires a product at a certain cost but also navigates the unpredictable nature of the market to resell it. This definition perfectly captures the dynamic and ever-changing nature of entrepreneurship.

National Entrepreneurship Day is celebrated in India every year on the 25th of November. This day serves as a bridge between the historical roots of entrepreneurship and its vibrant contemporary landscape. It not only celebrates individual entrepreneurs' achievements but also underscores their collective impact on the national economic fabric. India is a country known for its rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and economic diversity, where the entrepreneurial spirit becomes a unifying force, driving innovation and contributing to the economy's dynamic growth. The celebration of National Entrepreneurship Day is a tribute to the evolution of the entrepreneurial spirit within India, from the traditional bazaars to the digital marketplaces that define the modern era. It's a day to reflect on the transformative power of entrepreneurial ventures, transcending geographic and sectoral boundaries. The intricacies of entrepreneurship, as highlighted by Cantillon's definition, mirror the complexity and adaptability required to navigate the contemporary business landscape.

From the bustling streets of Mumbai, the tech hubs of Bengaluru, and the cultural melting pots of Delhi, Entrepreneurs in India are not just business leaders but also architects of change. They are celebrated not just for their corporate successes but also for their local businesses and startups that make a difference in communities. They leverage technology to address societal challenges and contribute to societal development and positive change. National Entrepreneurship Day in India is more than just a date on the calendar. Recognizing the dynamic spirit propels the nation forward, celebrating the risk-takers, dreamers, and doers who shape India's economic destiny. As we celebrate in 2023, let us embrace the diversity of entrepreneurial journeys and acknowledge the power of ideas to transform businesses and entire societies.

A Strong Mindset Matters

I believe that in order to become a successful woman entrepreneur, having a strong mindset towards your goals is extremely important, and as we celebrate Women Entrepreneurship Day, I hope to see a world where gender breaks off the barrier and merit becomes the only criterion for success. In the coming years, I aspire to see a surge in funding for women entrepreneurs and enable them to scale their ventures and contribute significantly to the economy, says Madhuri Ganadinni, co-founder of The Tea Planet.

Break Barriers & Create Legacies

In my experience, the ability to rebound from setbacks, break through societal barriers, and leave that prominent mark on the business landscape hinges on unwavering resilience. This tenacity, along with my background in jewelry design, has fueled the inception of DishiS Designer Jewellery. I strongly believe that when we all work together, we can leave a legacy of inspiration and empower the future generation, says Dishi Somani, the founder of DishiS Designer Jewelry.

Fuel Passion with Setbacks

We as women often find ourselves breaking barriers and challenging the norms that society has set for us, but being able to take setbacks as opportunities and turn obstacles into stepping stones is what makes our entrepreneurial journey unique. I dont want our Indian startup ecosystem to just acknowledge the work of women but also actively champion the diversity, creativity, and resilience that women bring to the forefront of innovation, says Nidhi Sabharwal, Director and co-founder of PRtainment Media and Communication Pvt Ltd.

Celebrating Authenticity & Dedication

Recode Studios is that dream of mine which I dared to chase. Just like every day is a fashion show, we at Recode strive to be the showstopper. Despite being completely from a different background, Recode today, proudly stands before you for the strides the brand has made in the beauty industry, competing shoulder-to-shoulder with giants. This journey was not always easy, every challenge and setback was a fuel to my strong ambitions. Over the years, Recode has seen phenomenal growth soaring from 25 lakhs in 2018 to an astounding 30 crores in FY 22-23. Recode is not just selling products but is creating a heaven for beauty enthusiasts, says Dheeraj Bansal the Founder of Recode Studios.

Be the Guiding Light for the Upcoming Generation

As a successful woman entrepreneur in India, I attribute a significant part of my journey to a relentless pursuit of resilience. In the dynamic and often challenging landscape of entrepreneurship, resilience has been my guiding force. This has not just shaped my professional life but also helped me in my personal growth. In a country like India, the entrepreneurial ecosystem can thrive, but at the same time, it can be challenging. And embracing resilience has not only fueled my own success but has also empowered me to inspire and support other aspiring women entrepreneurs, says Nikita Malhotra, the Co-Founder of Winston.

A World of Inclusivity & Empowerment

Being a successful entrepreneur is not just about skills and strategy; its about how you stand strong through a storm and take setbacks with a sweet, positive smile. Just like the delicate notes in our perfumes, I hope to see women get recognized for their unique contributions and be given equal opportunities to flourish. At the end of the day, all I want to see is a future where the world is made of greater inclusivity and empowerment, says Nidhi Gupta, the CMO of French Essence.

From Chaos to Couture

 Our journey began with a visionary, my father Mr. Shyam Gupta, who sowed the seeds of this brand with a mere 1000 in 1980. Today on Entrepreneurship Day his inspiration, creativity and resilience have pushed us through all the challenges and setbacks we have achieved in our journey. Against all odds, our brand has achieved a remarkable 50% growth in sales. In the face of uncertainty, our loyal customer base has been the driving force behind a remarkable turnover of Rs 10 crore last year. Seeing our creations adorn the likes of Abhay Deol, Riteish Deshmukh, Saqib Saleem, Rajkummar Rao, Sunny Kaushal, Rana Duggabati, and many more celebrities is not just a victory but a symbol of the dreams that we dared to dream, says Ravi Gupta the Creative Director & Designer of Gargee Designers.

From Humble Start to Thriving Success

The incredible journey of Milap Cosmetics is proof that commitment, dedication, passion and innovation are all you need to become extraordinary in life. We started our journey with a sindoor and today we stand with a diverse portfolio of 700+ distinct SKUs across 19 categories. The heart of our success lies in the trust of our customers and it is their support that has pushed Milap to an impressive average year-over-year growth of 37%. As the Director of Milap Cosmetics, I find inspiration in our journey and the challenges we've overcome. And on this Entrepreneurship Day, I urge every aspiring entrepreneur to embrace challenges, celebrate diversity, and persistently innovate, says Mr Sachin Chadha, the Director of Milap Cosmetics.

Nitin Godawat, Managing Director, CREST Olympiads

Happy Entrepreneurship Day to my fellow entrepreneurs and aspiring ones! Today, let's celebrate the spirit of innovation, courage and determination that drives entrepreneurs. In my opinion, entrepreneurship is about turning dreams into reality, building an all-round personality and fuelling the countrys economic engine. On this day, I also ask for a better eco-system from the Government and support from society.

A few words of wisdom for the ones who would like to embrace entrepreneurship  'Do not copy an existing idea, Identify a gap and fill that up, Build a strong team, Initially invest your own funds rather than depending on investor money, Stay focused, Solve one problem at a time, and Take care of financials'. People will be willing to pay for your service or product if it is cheaper, faster and better, and adds value to peoples lives. Keep innovating, keep creating, and keep inspiring.

Rupa Bohra, Managing Director, TNSIF

In my journey of empowering women, each little step tells a story of determination. On Women's Entrepreneurship Day, let's celebrate the strength and uniqueness of women in business. Their entrepreneurial spirit not only brings them financial independence but also fuels a much larger impact in society. They turn challenges into triumphs, paving a legacy that inspires and transforms the lives of little girls who never thought success and freedom was possible. Here's to shaping a future where every woman's story is a beacon of empowerment for future generations.

Dr. Reema Nadig, Co-founder & Group Medical Director, KITES Senior Care

In the realm of geriatric care, each day whispers stories of strength and compassion. On Women Entrepreneur Day, let's celebrate the unique fusion of feminine leadership in crafting a future where elders receive not just care but a touch of empathy and understanding. In this canvas of entrepreneurship, women are weaving threads of change, making a difference one elder's smile at a time. Here's to all the women entrepreneurs who dare to innovate, creating ripples of impact across diverse fields.

Anushree Jain- Cofounder of SocialTAG

Women Entrepreneurship Day is a testament to the courageous spirit of female founders. It's about breaking barriers, not glass ceilings. I'm proud to be part of the influencer marketing industry where persistence and creativity are the cornerstones of success and where women can empower brands and build meaningful connections. I consider myself fortunate to have received unwavering support along the way, and I hope that every aspiring businesswoman gets the same level of encouragement and opportunity to thrive in their chosen fields. Let's continue to build a future where every woman has the opportunity to chase her dreams and create her own success story.

Chaitali Pishay Roy, Founder of CPR Consultants

As a woman entrepreneur, I've witnessed the transformative power of resilience and determination. In every boardroom, every negotiation, and every milestone, women are not just contributors but architects of success. As we celebrate Women Entrepreneur Day, here's to defining success on our terms. Cheers to embracing strength and brilliance, shaping a future of endless possibilities!.

Mamta Roy, Founder of Odette

Women Entrepreneurship Day is a day to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women who lead businesses, both big and small. In the fiercely competitive world of fashion, I've worked tirelessly to bring my vision to life through Odette. Women Entrepreneurship Day is a testament to the determination and innovation of women entrepreneurs. We have the power to break barriers, set new trends, and build successful ventures. Let's continue supporting and uplifting one another because when women empower women, incredible things happen. Together, we're unstoppable.

In conclusion, National Entrepreneur Day is a celebration of the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of entrepreneurship in India. It recognizes the transformative impact of innovative ideas on the economy and collective destiny of the nation. The entrepreneurial spirit serves as a unifying catalyst that drives innovation and contributes to dynamic economic growth, reflecting the complexity and adaptability that define entrepreneurship. As we celebrate this day in 2023, let us acknowledge the power of ideas to transcend boundaries, transforming not only businesses but also the destiny of nations.
Noida International Airport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IndiGo to collaborate in developing and enhancing air connectivity within Uttar Pradesh and beyond. This partnership makes IndiGo the first airline to operate from the airport, showing its dedication to supporting the rapidly growing aviation market in India.

"Under this arrangement, Noida International Airport and IndiGo will work together towards developing and strengthening the air connectivity within Uttar Pradesh and beyond. The partnership will also explore new and innovative ideas aimed at gaining operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience", said the airline spokesperson.

Christoph Schnellmann, Chief Executive Officer, Noida International Airport, said: "We are excited to sign this MoU with IndiGo, which has a strong base both in domestic and international markets. The partnership between NIA and IndiGo will not only help bolster air connectivity but also innovate, ensuring an exceptional customer experience for our customers alike".

"By leveraging IndiGo's extensive route network and expertise, we aim to provide our passengers with unparalleled connectivity and an exceptional travel experience," Schnellmann. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said: "Our operations at the airport will provide the people of Uttar Pradesh with seamless connectivity across our unparalleled network. We look forward to the inauguration of the new airport in 2024 and will continue to work with airport management to explore innovative ways to deliver an affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel experience across the 6E network", he added.

The initial stage of the Noida International Airport is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. It will consist of one runway and one terminal, which can handle a total of 12 million passengers annually. Upon completion of the fourth phase, the airport will have the capability to manage up to 70 million passengers per year.
CoinDCX, a startup focused on Virtual Digital Assets, declared a partnership with The Sandbox, a leading blockchain gaming platform known for its educational and community-oriented approach. The Sandbox, an Animoca Brands platform, serves as a virtual realm where users can construct, possess, and profit from their gaming encounters driven by blockchain technology. Sumit Gupta, Cofounder of CoinDCX, emphasized the company's dedication to its community, highlighting their ongoing commitment to actively involve and collaborate in crafting experiences that resonate with the evolving desires and needs of their community members.

CoinDCX's involvement in BharatBox, an innovative cultural metaverse hub within The Sandbox, signifies a substantial partnership. Gupta expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, emphasizing its potential to deepen their connections within the metaverse. BharatBox, a collaborative venture between The Sandbox and Brinc, a venture accelerator firm, will concentrate on user-centric educational content and interactive Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions. Additionally, it aims to create a comprehensive knowledge base on these technologies and foster creativity by focusing on India-specific metaverse projects and immersive quests. This initiative will unfold in two stages.

In Phase 1, initiatives like Game Nights and Education & Media Series are set to commence. CoinDCX and BharatBox will host exclusive game nights to introduce the metaverse experience to their community. They will also conduct AMAs and collaboratively curate educational resources. This phase encompasses an Ambassador Program to advocate for the metaverse, along with giveaways, contests, and community-building activities across platforms like Discord and Twitter.

Phase 2 will involve Creative Metaverse Projects, Bounty Programs, Buildathons, SDK Integration, and The Sandbox Ecosystem Quests. Karan Keswani, CEO of BharatBox, highlighted the collaborative effort's significance in reshaping India's digital landscape through the promising potential of the metaverse and Web3. It's not just about establishing a digital presence but leaving a lasting digital legacy, he shared.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Amid an overdose crisis of epic proportions, illegal drugs are being sold in ways that range from old-school peddling on the streets of Staten Island to scores made with strangers on the dark web, according to experts from the Staten Island Fentanyl Task Force.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, his staff and members of the NYPD were among the speakers at a recent meeting of the task force held both virtually and at the district attorneys office in St. George.

Members of law enforcement spoke candidly about their successes and the challenges amid an illegal drug market saturated with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. As little as two milligrams of fentanyl could kill a healthy adult, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Fentanyl has been linked to about 80% of fatal overdoses in New York City and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, is on the rise as a corrosive killer detected in about 22% of the Staten Islanders who died last year from overdoses on Staten Island.

The overdose rates are the highest in New York City since official reporting began in 2000 when about 10 people per 100,000 residents perished from accidental drug overdoses compared to about 43 in 100,000 residents last year, based on the provisional statistics provide from the city Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Department of Health. (Courtesy of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene)Courtesy of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The NYPD is fighting back with a variety strategies that resulted in 297 arrests and 41 search warrants executed for the year as of October on our borough. This year, as of last month, 16 cases involving seven fatal overdoses and nine rescues led to the arrests of 12 suspects, Sgt. Angel Melendez of Narcotics Borough Staten Island (NBSI).

A total of 71 people had died of drug overdoses on Staten Island as of Oct. 15, down over 10% from that time period last year. A total of 118 people have been saved after accidentally overdosing so far this year, down over 14% from the 138 revivals at this point in 2022, according to the case statistics of Narcotics Borough Staten Island.

INVESTIGATING ODs

As part of the Overdose Response Initiative, drug-related deaths are investigated immediately and in the same manner as any other crime scene by the NYPD and the district attorneys office. Narcotics detectives interview witnesses and collect vital evidence such as cell phones, drugs, paraphernalia and surveillance-video footage.

Cell phones are key in solving many investigations, so they are secured as soon as possible from the victims and carefully analyzed by the district attorneys office and the NYPD for links to drug dealers and other victims of overdoses.

Staten Island Operation OD Pipeline, a joint effort by NBSI and the district attorneys office, linked 20 overdoses from 2021-2022, leading to the arrests of six suspects who were charged with felonies. During the investigation, authorities recovered 245 grams of crack/fentanyl, 37 grams of fentanyl, 598 glassines of fentanyl and $19,131, according to Michele Molfetta, chief of the Narcotics Investigations Bureau for the district attorneys office

McMahons office has teamed with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to obtain real-time data about likely fatal overdoses on Staten Island using a tool called the Suspected Potential Overdose Tracker (SPOT).

SPOT gives authorities the ability to learn about overdoses and gather information almost immediately, rather than waiting for toxicology reports that could take months.

The Richmond County District Attorneys Office offers diversion programs as alternatives to incarceration to suspects in about 30% of drug-related cases.

Drug traffickers are flooding the United States with illegal fentanyl in forms such as powders and counterfeit prescription pills that are linked to many fatal overdoses. These glassine envelopes with labels such as "Breaking Bad" and "Stranger Danger" contain heroin and fentanyl. (Courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration)

FENTANYL IS EVERYWHERE

Authorities spoke candidly about the challenges they face in a borough where teens and adults have easy access to dangerous drugs.

Were all here today because fentanyl is everywhere, Molfetta said, adding that law enforcement confiscations of the opioid are up not only in our borough but across the country.

Theyre seizing pure fentanyl, Molfetta said.

Investigations on our borough indicate that fentanyl is being sold by itself and mixed with other drugs such as heroin and cocaine, and used in fake prescription pills, according to Molfetta.

Rarely are authorities recovering heroin alone, she said.

The sign at the entrance to Tompkinsville Park is shown in this file photo. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

OPEN AIR MARKETS AND HOME-DELIVERY SERVICES

Illegal drugs are brazenly peddled in what amount to open-air markets on Staten Island, according to law enforcement.

Bay Street and Victory Boulevard in the vicinity of Tompkinsville Park and Bay Street around Broad Street in Stapleton are two popular hubs for drug transactions, according to Molfetta.

Tappen Park on Bay Street between Water and Canal streets in Stapleton is also a hot spot for drug dealing, Melendez said.

The dealers often have addicts do their dirty work by completing those street transactions.

The NYPD uses a variety of law-enforcement efforts ranging from traditional buy-and-bust operations with undercover officers on the streets to long-term investigations targeting major drug dealers.

Overdose investigations have revealed that many drugs are making their way to Staten Island from New Jersey, especially Newark, where there are multiple open-air markets, Molfetta said.

Staten Islanders dont even have to leave their homes to obtain a fix.

Were seeing delivery services where people are calling a phone number and the dealers are delivering the drugs straight to the purchasers homes all across Staten Island, Molfetta said.

Jail also is not a safety zone since fentanyl is being smuggled into our correctional facilities, Molfetta said.

About 15,000 pills of potentially-deadly fentanyl were confiscated by authorities in New York City in September 2022. The opioid pills that resembled candy and fake prescription tablets were hidden in a LEGO-style toy box, according to authorities. (Courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration)

FAKE PRESCIPTION PILLS

Bogus pills that look like real prescription opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, sedatives such as alprazolam, and stimulants including amphetamines are being tainted with potentially-lethal amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the DEAs One Pill Can Kill campaign.

Laboratory testing indicates that seven out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA contains a lethal dose of fentanyl, according to the DEA.

While fake prescription pills generally arent recovered during investigations of street sales, they are sometimes seized when authorities armed with search warrants raid homes on Staten Island; the pills likely were obtained via social media and the dark web, Molfetta said.

Were also seeing, which is very problematic, online drug sales, said Molfetta, mentioning various platforms including social media and websites.

She noted that its difficult for local authorities to infiltrate, investigate and prosecute the websites and people involved in these sales. The websites often notify the suspects of their legal process.

The photo shows some of the fentanyl and other drugs recovered from the takedown of a pill mill that used mailing facilities on Staten Island. (District Attorney Michael McMahon's office)

AUTHORITIES FIGHT BACK

We were able to dismantle a fentanyl-pill-mill ring that was using mailing facilities all across the country  some on Staten Island  and they were shipping thousands of pills across the country that were being sold over a website, Molfetta said.

Although the pills were promoted as real oxycodone, Xanax or even diet pills, they were in fact straight fentanyl pills, Molfetta said.

Dozens of search warrants were executed on Staten Island as well as New Jersey and it led to the takedown of a pill mill located in Jersey City where police recovered about 60 kilograms of counterfeit fentanyl pills valued at over $2 million, Molfetta said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Incredibly Blessed Inc. is busy preparing for its fourth annual Holiday Event, slated for Friday, Dec. 1, at the Grand Oaks Country Club in Huguenot, at 7 p.m.

The charitable organization is asking all supporters to join in festive fun to ring in the holiday season, which is not just a celebration, but also a gathering of hearts committed to making a difference.

The night promises to be an evening of celebration, compassion, and kindness toward others as we approach the holiday season, said AnneMarie Catello, founder of Incredibly Blessed. At the event, we will be presenting Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Richmond University Medical Center, and Thomas J. Forlenza, MD, MS, FAAHPM, RUMCs chief of Palliative Care, with a $50,000 check, for the opening of their Palliative Care Unit.

Also being honored at the event is the Fauci family, proprietors of La Fontana restaurant in Oakwood, who will be receiving the organizations prestigious Blessed award.

The Fontana family has continually shared kindness, empathy, compassion, and generosity throughout our Staten Island community for the past 40 years, said Catello. We thank the Fontana family and everyone for supporting us, as we continue to share one act of kindness at a time.

To reserve tickets to Incredibly Blesseds Fourth Annual Holiday Event, please email Acatello@incrediblyblessed.org or call 347-534-8245. Grand Oaks Country Club is located at 200 Huguenot Ave.

Advance file photo (2022) of Incredubly Blessed Inc.'s Veterans Day Awards Dinner: Standing, from left: Honoree Vienna Profeta, Carmela Randazzo, and Dianne Powers. Seated, from left: Graceann Morawek and Jennie Magnante. (Dr. Gracelyn Santos/Staten Island Advance)Dr. Gracelyn Santos/Staten Island Advance

ABOUT THE PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM AT RUMC

Launched in late 2020, the new Palliative Care Program at RUMC is providing the targeted care that is helping patients and their families better understand serious and complex health conditions, manage pain and anxiety, and optimize their quality of life.

Palliative care is something that touches every aspect of medicine, explained Forlenza in a statement. Our program is founded on the premise that very difficult and complicated health care decisions should not have to be made alone. Our multidisciplinary team is highly experienced, takes a compassionate approach, and is able to support patients and their families through the more difficult aspects of disease.

Since the launch of our Palliative Care Program, our team has treated patients managing everything from cancer, COPD, and congestive heart failure to COVID-19, cardiac arrest, dementia, and failure to thrive.

Oncologists, medical staff and senior leadership from Richmond University Medical Center gathered with cancer survivors for a touching dedication ceremony at RUMCs Center for Cancer Care to celebrate June as National Cancer Survivors Month. From the left, Dr. Marc Adams, Dr. Hoon Lee, Daniel J. Messina, president and chief executive officer of Richmond University Medical Center, Aubrey Barr, Dr. Thomas Forlenza, Dr. Victoria Forte, chief of Hematology-Oncology. (Courtesy/RUMC/Meredith Gaskins)Courtesy/RUMC/Meredith Gaskins

Individuals diagnosed with serious illnesses can request palliative care from RUMCs program covering conditions that include Alzheimers disease, cancer, dementia, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, lung disease, and multiple sclerosis.

The ultimate goal of palliative care is the improved quality of life for the patient and their family, said Messina. Patients and their families often find it difficult understanding or making rational decisions when faced with a devastating or life-threatening diagnosis. As a result, they may delay treatment.

Our Palliative Care Program is a comprehensive resource, providing direction and support with compassion and dignity. We are grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for their support and partnership.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP)  Egyptian officials said Hamas was preparing to release 14 Israeli hostages Saturday for 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as part of an exchange on the second day of a cease-fire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.

On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.

On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and the list has been passed along to Israel, according to a Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk about details of the ongoing negotiations. A second Egyptian official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the details.

Under the truce agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed, and Israels Prison Service had already said earlier Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release.

It was not immediately clear how many non-Israeli captives may also be released.

Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners during the four-day truce, all woman and minors.

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed  something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass.

Separately, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to coordinate with parties on the ground and ensure the deal continues to move smoothly, according to a diplomat briefed on the visit. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to do discuss details with the media.

The start of the truce Friday morning brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

For Emad Abu Hajer, a resident of the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza City area, the pause meant he could again dig through the rubble of his home, which was flattened in an Israeli attack last week.

He found the bodies of a cousin and nephew Friday, bring the death toll in the attack to 19. With his sister and two other relatives still missing, he resumed his digging Saturday.

We want to find them and bury them in dignity, he said.

Israeli soldiers stand on Salah al-Din road in central Gaza Strip on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, as the temporary ceasefire went into effect.AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of humanitarian aid convoys on Oct. 21. It was also able to deliver 129,000 liters (34,078 gallons) of fuel  just over 10% of the daily pre-war volume  as well as cooking gas, a first time since the war began.

In the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday, a long line of people with gas cans and other containers waited outside a filling station hoping to get some of the newly delivered fuel.

As he waited for fuel, Hossam Fayad lamented that the pause in fighting was only for four days.

I wish it could be extended until peoples conditions improved, he said.

For the first time in over a month, aid reached northern Gaza, the focus of Israels ground offensive. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed to northern Gaza on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area since the start of the war.

The U.N. said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City, where much of the fighting has taken place, to a hospital in Khan Younis.

The relief brought by the cease-fire has been tempered, however, for both sides  among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the brevity of the pause. The short truce leaves Gaza mired in humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

Amal Abu Awada, a 40-year-old widow who fled a Gaza City-area camp for Khan Younis with her three children earlier in November, ventured out Friday to a U.N. facility looking for food and water, but said there was none available.

We went back empty handed, she said. But at least there are no bombs, and we can try again.

FIRST HOSTAGES FREED

After nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. The freed Israelis included nine women and four children 9 and under.

The released hostages were taken to three Israeli hospitals for observation. The Schneider Childrens Medical Center said it was treating eight Israelis  four children and four women  and that all appeared to be in good physical condition. The center said they were also receiving psychological treatment, adding that these are sensitive moments for the families.

At a plaza dubbed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, a crowd of Israelis celebrated at the news.

The hostages included multiple generations. Nine-year-old Ohad Munder-Zichri was freed along with his mother, Keren Munder, and grandmother, Ruti Munder. The fourth-grader was abducted during a holiday visit to his grandparents at the kibbutz where about 80 people  nearly a quarter of all residents of the small community  are believed to have been taken from.

The plight of the hostages has raised anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.

Hours later, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem were freed. In the West Bank town of Beitunia, hundreds of Palestinians poured out of their homes to celebrate, honking horns and setting off fireworks that lit up the night sky.

The teenagers had been jailed for minor offenses like throwing stones. The women included several convicted of trying to stab Israeli soldiers, and others who had been arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, Israel is currently holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.

A LONGER PEACE?

The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, said the hope is that momentum from the deal will lead to an end to the violence. Qatar served as a mediator along with the U.S. and Egypt.

Israeli leaders have said they would resume fighting eventually and not stop until Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for the past 16 years, is crushed. Israel has set the release of all hostages as the second goal of the war, and officials have argued that only military pressure can bring them home.

At the same time, the government is under pressure from the families of the hostages to make the release of the remaining captives the top priority, ahead of any efforts to end Hamas control of Gaza.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government. Women and minors have consistently made up around two-thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Thursday marked 15 years since one of New York Citys bravest, FDNY Lt. Robert J. Ryan, made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ryan of West Brighton was a lifelong Staten Island resident and a 17-year veteran of the FDNY. On Nov. 23, 2008, Ryan, 46 at the time, and his fellow firefighters of Engine 155, were the first to arrive at the scene of an electrical fire at 39 Van Buren St. in New Brighton.

The veteran firefighter manned a hose in an attempt to tackle the homes burning attic when the ceiling collapsed, throwing Ryan down and knocking off both his helmet and oxygen mask. Ryan was unconscious when firefighters pulled him from the two-story home; he died of smoke inhalation.

A husband and father, Ryan was survived by his wife, son, daughter, stepson and stepdaughter.

Ryan had worked in every borough during his FDNY career, having been promoted to lieutenant in March 2001.

In 2006, Ryan suffered burns fighting a blaze in Brooklyn. However, this did not hinder Ryans desire to get back on the job; a determination which impressed former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who commended Ryans character during a memorial in 2009.

You couldnt really find a better advertisement for the FDNY than Bobby Ryan, Bloomberg told Ryans family members, brother firefighters, department brass and elected officials at Engine Co. 155/Ladder 78 in New Brighton. Honest, dedicated, hard-working.

At the same event, Engine 155 Firefighter Edward Puccio said that Ryan was a mentor to young firefighters, and a tremendous officer and leader who kept the firehouse running smoothly and still relished the hands-on job of battling blazes.

How I wish we were still responding to fires together, he said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  If you have a spare dollar in your pocket, a New York Lottery scratch-off ticket might be worth your investment, since many still have top prize tickets in circulation, and some are worth $7,000.

State data shows that as of Wednesday, Nov. 22, there were millions of winning tickets left in circulation for those games that cost $1 to play.

And though those games come with the lowest payouts, players can still see a big payday.

Heres a look at how many winning tickets are out there for each game, and the top prizes still available for each one.

7-11-21 TRIPLER (Game #1581)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  451,682

Top prize in circulation  Four tickets worth $2,100

Low prize  245,044 worth $1

LOOSE CHANGE (Game # 1552)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  13,744,204

Top prize in circulation  1,264 worth $500

Low Prizes  7,649,568 worth $1

INSTANT TAKE 5 (Game # 1574)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  19,047,587

Top prize in circulation  76 tickets worth $5,555

Low Prize  12,835,835 tickets worth a free ticket

LOOSE CHANGE (Game #1476)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,129,099

Top prize in circulation  58 tickets worth $500

Low prize  745,095 worth $1

INSTANT TAKE 5 (Game # 1516)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,458,293

Top prize in circulation  19 tickets worth $5,555

Low prize  1,029,935 worth a free ticket

INSTANT TAKE 5 (Game # 1455)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,333,551

Top prize in circulation  19 tickets worth $5,555

Low prize  975,367 worth a free ticket

LUCKY 7S (Game # 1570)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  3,087,404

Top prize in circulation  10 tickets worth $7,000

Low prize  1,443,048 worth $1

INSTANT TAKE 5 (Game # 1455)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,387,687

Top prize in circulation  19 tickets worth $5,555

Low prize  979,367 worth a free ticket

LUCKY 7S (Game # 1570)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,087,401

Top prize in circulation  10 tickets worth $7,000

Low prize  1,443,048 worth $1

LUCKY 7s (Game # 1454)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  918,507

Top prize in circulation  Six tickets worth $2,700

Low prize  593,428 worth $1

CASH X5 (Game # 1557)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,837,673

Top prize in circulation  Four tickets worth $5,000

Low prize 725,111 worth $1

MATCH 2 WIN (Game # 1566)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  472,277

Top prize in circulation  Three tickets worth $5,000

Low prize  193,497 worth $1

HOLIDAY 7s (Game # 1550)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation 654,343

Top prize in circulation  Three tickets worth $7,000

Low prize  358,567 worth $1

FAST 50 (Game # 1527)

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  349,742

Top prize in circulation  Two tickets worth $500

Low prize  179,757 tickets worth $1

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games.

The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.6 billion during fiscal year 2021-2022 to support education in New York state.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the States toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area, or contact a Recovery Center for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City is putting anything on the table to help ease its housing crisis.

The citys Department of Housing Preservation and Development this week announced it was launching a pilot program that would help homeowners add additional dwelling units to their existing properties.

The program  dubbed the Plus One ADU and part of a push by Mayor Eric Adams administration to find a solution to the housing crisis  provides up to $395,000 in funding through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and $2.6 million in grant funding from New York State Homes and Community Renewal to qualified homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, such as backyard cottages, garage studios, attached in-law suites, basement apartments, and attic space conversions.

By paving the way for easier, more affordable accessory dwelling unit conversion, we are delivering a tangible win for families, said Adams. Whether its for seniors who need space for a caregiver, a multigenerational household who want separate living spaces, or young parents with a little one on the way, an ADU can offer the flexibility families need to make New York City work for them.

City Councilwoman Kamillah M. Hanks (D-North Shore) said she was cautiously optimistic about the mayors plan.

I look forward to collaborating with the mayor on ideas and solutions that both protect and enhance the prosperity of our unique Staten Island communities, she added.

Each ADU would comply with existing zoning and building codes and other requirements to ensure they are safe, and fit within the existing neighborhood.

Fifteen working- and middle-class homeowners throughout the five boroughs will be chosen for the pilot program, according to the city. Applications are currently being accepted via the Department of Housing Preservation and Development website.

The program is part of Adams administrations City of Yes Housing Opportunity initiative, which is currently undergoing environmental review and wont kick off formal public review until the spring.

Another initiative the Adams administration has proposed is the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality initiative, which, if approved by the City Council in the coming weeks, would implement zoning changes citywide.

Those zoning changes would include updates to regulations on where massive battery energy storage sites, also known as BESS sites, could be placed on Staten Island and in the rest of the city.

A portion of this City of Yes proposal suggests fewer zoning limitations for BESS structures, and would allow for those structures to be placed in a wider range of districts. If the zoning changes are approved, the BESS sites would also be deemed acceptable in or on residential buildings, pending FDNY and city Buildings Department approval. BESS would also be without size limits in areas that are considered commercial and manufacturing districts, which sometimes directly border neighborhoods with schools and homes.
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Babies pick up language quickly, much faster than adults. A few months are all they need to begin to understand basic words; after a year, they are already articulating words. Scientists have even suggested that the acquisition of language begins before birth, because a fetus can already hear after six or seven months of gestation, and newborns prefer their mothers voice over other female voices. Now, research published this week in the journal Science Advances suggests that speech stimulation through the mothers voice in prenatal stages produces changes in the babys neuronal activity that contribute to the learning of language processing: before birth, the babys brain begins to be modeled, from these first experiences with language, to understand its native language.

In the final stages of pregnancy, the fetus can hear muffled sounds from outside. The uterus acts as a kind of filter that attenuates frequencies above 600 hertz: individual sounds are suppressed, and only the melody and rhythm of speech remain. Enough, in any case, for newborns to prefer their mothers voice over others, and to lean towards the language that she spoke during pregnancy.

What was not known until now is how the brains of children were shaped by those first linguistic experiences, and whether this prenatal exposure could improve their ability to learn a language in the first stages of life. It was still not clear how much babies learn from prenatal experience, admits the author of the study, Judit Gervain, a researcher at the Center for Neuroscience of the University of Padua (Italy). Previous studies, including studies from our own laboratory, had shown that this filtered prenatal experience shapes the babys ability to perceive speech and shapes brain mechanisms related to language. What is new about our study is that we show learning as it develops. We discovered that the activity of a newborns brain is transformed in real time, even after a few minutes of listening to people talk in their native language, that is, the language they heard before birth, she explains.

The researchers analyzed, through encephalography, the neuronal activity of 33 newborns of French-speaking mothers. They placed caps with a dozen electrodes located near brain areas associated with auditory and speech perception, and monitored their activity. First, they measured resting-state activity for three minutes. The babies then listened to speech in three different languages: French, Spanish and English, in seven-minute blocks. Finally, resting-state activity was measured again for three minutes. The speech stimuli consisted of natural recordings of translation equivalent sentences in the three languages from the childrens story Goldilocks and the Three Bears recorded in mild infant-directed speech, explain the researchers.

By comparing resting states with cycles of linguistic stimulation, the researchers wanted to find out whether language exposure affects neural dynamics in the infant brain. Plastic changes immediately following exposure to speech may underlie infants ability to learn about the sound patterns they hear, they write. We asked whether exposure to speech makes lasting changes in neural dynamics, supporting learning and memory. They also wanted to see whether these plastic changes take place in the brain after exposure to all languages, or only to the language heard prenatally; that is, if prenatal experience already shapes, in some way, neural circuitry. If prenatal experience already plays a role, then newborns may show greater plastic changes after exposure to the language heard prenatally than after unfamiliar languages, the researchers continue.

After conducting the studies, the scientists concluded that newborns electrophysiological activity exhibits increased long-range temporal correlations [LRTCs] after stimulation with speech, particularly in the prenatally heard language, indicating the early emergence of brain specialization for the native language. LRTCs are a unit of measurement that indicates how similar a signal, in this case that of brain activity, is to itself on large time scales, explains Gervain. We found that after stimulation with the native language, babies brain activity is more similar to their previous states than before stimulation. This is, therefore, a sign of learning, says the scientist.

Thus, what happens when newborns are exposed to their mothers language is that their brain activity becomes organized in such a way that the activity repeats or resembles itself over long periods of time. We could say that it retains a certain type of memory of its own responses to previous events, and those same responses become more frequent, Gervain explains. The experience of language in prenatal stages can therefore begin to shape the brain and contribute to learning. The results show that for French, the language heard prenatally, brain activity shows more memory of previous states, but not for two unfamiliar languages. This shows the learning of the language heard before birth, says Gervain.

Non-deterministic impact

The researchers explain that, while their findings suggest that the prenatal period lays the foundations for further language development, its impact is not deterministic. This means, says Gervain, that it helps and supports the learning of the same language. However, if the prenatally heard language is not the one the baby will learn after birth, due to adoption or moving, for example, having no prenatal experience does not have a strong detrimental effect. Newborns can learn languages to which they were not exposed prenatally in the usual, normal way.

Jordi Costa Faidella, researcher at the Institute of Neurosciences of the University of Barcelona and the Sant Joan de Deu Research Institute, thinks that this study adds evidence to a booming field, that which investigates the effects of prenatal exposure to auditory stimuli produced by the mother or environmental sound. What is most innovative about it, he continues, is the methodology that was used. What this study provides is this idea that the learning with which the baby is born is quite specific: the babys brain activity is in tune with the mothers language, the brain rhythms adjust to the mothers rhythms. The scientist points out that this study (in which he did not participate) opens possibilities for early interventions in babies at risk of developing language acquisition problems: If plastic changes are already generated from the womb due to this exposure, perhaps interventions can be made earlier in babies born at risk for future language-related problems. For example, babies with low birth weight or high birth weight, which may be more likely to suffer some delay in language acquisition, he suggests.

In any case, the importance of exposure to language is now recognized as a key element in neurodevelopment. In the neonatology unit of the Vall dHebron Hospital, in Barcelona, Spain, where premature children are treated, they often use voices as a neurostimulation tool. Especially the mothers voice. We try to stimulate them with her voice when they are in the incubator, says neonatologist Fatima Camba. They are aware of how important it is that these premature babies, outside the uterus before their time, are exposed to voice and language. This is key to their neurodevelopment, the doctor points out. When a baby is born prematurely, we try to make their development as similar as what life inside the womb would be, because we know that the external stimuli they receive are inappropriate for them and can have a negative effect. Thus, when a baby is born prematurely, we try to simulate the environment of the womb and look for a quiet environment, where the mother speaks to them in a way that is similar to what they would hear inside the womb, she concludes.

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Historically, babies have never been a hard-sell: they are cute, funny and have very squishable cheeks. Their positive attributes more than make up for the fact they are, to be blunt, resource-intensive productivity-killers.

This week The Australian newspaper published a column advocating in favour of babies, in the context of a debate about immigration and declining fertility rates. The column argued that apart from bringing economic benefits, increasing the fertility rate improves the national character  it is a sign of societal optimism and confidence.

Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit:

It made the case that babies are an unalloyed good, and who could disagree with that? Anyone who has known a baby will agree that babies are the best. But the piece then went on to blame the baby-making slump on particular culprits, namely coercive feminism and green ideology that depicts children as enemies of self-fulfilment and destroyers of the planet.

I do sometimes wonder how many consecutive days such commentators have spent looking after children, alone, while also running a household and working a job; not to mention their powers of empathy when it comes to the blasted uteruses and sundry gynaecological issues which frequently arise from childbirth.
Australia is one of the worlds most successful multicultural societies. As social tensions are increased by conflicts elsewhere, it is vital that we recognise that it didnt happen by accident.

European Union countries are now voting for governments that promise to better manage, or minimise, immigration. Italy has elected Giorgia Meloni, Hungary continues to endorse Viktor Orban, and in the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, who has long channelled and stoked Dutch concerns over immigration (especially from majority Muslim countries), received a huge slice of the vote and may be in a position to form government.

Right-wing demonstrators shout at people protesting against the victory of Geert Wilders in the Dutch general election on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images

And those countries dont have the problems of some of their neighbours. In Germany, parallel societies are entrenched and children are growing up illiterate in two languages, as policymakers have fretted. France has had the highest number of home-grown Islamic terrorist attacks in Europe and, last month, Sweden called on its army to help police tackle an epidemic of gang violence. Just this year, there have been 324 shootings in the nation of just over 10 million, 48 of them fatal.

Anti-immigration violence is escalating, too. In Ireland this week, a migrant man attacked and stabbed children and their teacher. Before the motivation was even known, far-right groups started rioting in the centre of Dublin, yelling anti-immigration chants.
It took Mariam Mukhtar nearly two years to have her teenage son Raamiz assessed for autism following a paediatric referral, and she fears the delay in getting him support has cost him his high school experience.

Having support at the right time  that would have been a life-changing experience, she said.

Raamiz showed early signs of developmental delays, but the year 9 students symptoms were amplified when he started high school. Raamiz didnt understand social cues, constantly forgot his books, was hyperactive in class and struggled academically.

It took more than 18 months for Mariams 14-year-old son Raamiz to be seen by a specialist to diagnose him. Her younger son Wadi Hassan (pictured) also has autism, but was diagnosed early and has access to support. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

After some difficult juggling to collect school and behavioural reports, Raamiz received a paediatric referral to the Childrens Hospital at Westmead for assessment.
A NSW police officer has been charged with assault while he was off duty in inner Sydney early on Saturday morning.

The constables employment status is under review following the alleged assault at William Street in Darlinghurst near Kings Cross just before 1am.

The alleged assault took place at William Street in Darlinghurst. Credit: Rhett Wyman

The 26-year-old, who is attached to a specialist command, was arrested at the scene and taken to Kings Cross police station.

He was charged with three counts of common assault and one count of common assault (domestic violence).
The state government has made attempts to alleviate the burden with a $1 billion upgrade to Nepean Hospital, a $115 million renovation of Fairfield Hospital and a new hospital at Rouse Hill, but whether that is enough to keep up with population growth in Sydneys west will be an important question for the inquiry (the Western Sydney Local Health District has grown by 34 per cent since 2005, and South West Sydneys by 24 per cent over the same period). Inequity is also at play when it comes to funding distribution. Sydney has vastly different patient cohorts, depending upon area and region, and that demands different kinds of spending. Western Sydney Local Health District, for example, which encompasses Westmead Hospital as well as Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals, represents higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage than the rest of Sydney, and as a result treats patients who have more complex health concerns and who interact with the health system differently. According to the health districts submission to the inquiry, 52 per cent of patients in its hospitals speak a language other than English at home. The average cost of a patient encounter at one of the area hospitals in the 2022-23 financial year was $954.13. If an interpreter is required, that cost balloons to $3516.

The district has trialled urgent care clinics, which work alongside existing GP clinics to provide after-hours care for those lower urgency and non-urgent patients who would otherwise end up in its hospitals emergency departments. The clinics have treated 2144 patients in the past year, nearly half of which were children. Dr Edward Jegasothy, an epidemiologist and public health lecturer at the University of Sydney, advocated in his submission for state-run primary care clinics with doctors who are paid a salary, rather than a fee-for-service payment charged through Medicare. People who are disadvantaged tend to not be able to afford a constant, stable GP, he said. If we had salaried [GP] positions, where people could walk in and receive care and have continuity of care, that would be a superior model for achieving the aims of having an equitable health system. Health Minister Ryan Park has said the failures of primary care are placing a greater burden on the states hospitals. Every night, there are 550 people in NSW hospital beds that are clinically ready to leave or should be in aged care.

Under the National Health Reform Agreement established in 2011, the federal and state governments share the cost of running hospital services such as emergency departments, acute patients and admitted mental health services. The amount that the Commonwealth chips in is based on activity: how many patients a hospital treats, and the complexity of their conditions. But the Commonwealth has a cap on its share of funding, which means that the state will pick up the bill for any increase in demand, says Andrew Wilson, co-director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Sydney. Clearly, NSW will bear an increasing load of the cost if demand continues to increase, which it is definitely going to do, unless we find ways to make the system more efficient, Wilson says. In that process, we need to make sure that there isnt a trade-off between being more efficient and the safety of those services. The move towards activity-based funding has had the unintended consequence of widening the funding gap between local health districts, says Kathy Eagar, an adjunct professor of health services research at the University of NSW. In 2005, most local health districts received within 3 per cent of the funding they needed under the resource distribution formula touted by then-health minister Morris Iemma.

Loading In her submission to the inquiry, Eagar estimated that figure had blown out to 11 per cent, meaning some local health districts were receiving substantially more than their fair share, while others received substantially less. Essential workers will also come to the inquiry demanding a pay rise after Labor abolished the cap on public sector wages. The previous cap on wages helped keep the cost of delivering care low in NSW relative to other states, but overdue pay rises to nurses and other health workers have already chewed up billions of dollars in the most recent state budget. Those pay rises may not be enough to prevent essential workers from asking for more. Paramedics are threatening to boycott their professional registration, leaving them unable to work, if they dont get a 20 per cent pay rise, and the nurses and midwives union wants more funding for primary care nurses and community-based care.
Corporate Australia has been challenged to tackle the surge in online child sex abuse material by addressing the risk of crimes being committed on their premises by employees.

Acting eSafety Commissioner Toby Dagg warned at the launch of The Australian Business Coalition for Safeguarding Children that workplace proliferated abuse was more prevalent than most people realised.

Australian Childhood Foundation CEO Dr Joe Tucci urged businesses to sign up to the coalition.

A new study by the coalition, which is an Australian Childhood Foundation initiative, found more than half of Australian businesses do not have protocols to protect children and 65 per cent of businesses believe there is no potential for child exploitation within their business or industry.

That belief was highest among leaders in the banking and finance sector at 76 per cent, followed by leaders in technology, engineering and design and leaders in industry, automotive and manufacturing at 75 and 58 per cent.
A car upholsterer who was sued for defamation over a Facebook post calling a former employee a scammer has been ordered to pay $90,000 plus costs after he didnt turn up to court.

The County Court has awarded aggravated damages and costs to Carrum Downs man Michael Iskander after he took legal action against rival upholsterer David Barcos, owner of automotive seat-cover business BNB Products.

In December last year, according to court documents, Barcos uploaded a post to his company Facebook page that started with the words: Dear Customers and Followers. This is an official Scam Alert From BNB Products PTY LTD.

Car upholsterer Michael Iskander won $90,000 after his former boss called him a scammer online. Credit: Penny Stephens

In the post to his 20,000 followers, Barcos cited a customer named Trev who he said had hired Iskander for some interior work on his Holden after Barcos had knocked him back because he was booked out.
Police hope video cameras filming inside an ex-military plane when it crashed into Port Phillip Bay last weekend will help piece together the moments before the fatal mid-air collision, as the fuselage was pulled from the water off Mornington on Saturday.

Wreckage of the plane was recovered on Saturday morning as part of an extensive recovery mission after the crash that killed pilot Stephen Gale and passenger James Rose.

Police have recovered wreckage from Port Phillip Bay following a plane crash in Mount Martha last weekend. Credit: AAP Image/Con Chronis

Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Martin Bourke said the initial investigation indicated the wing of the plane struck the wing of another plane while they were performing tandem manoeuvres.

Gale, a pilot, engineer, inventor and aspiring filmmaker, and Rose, a talented cameraman and drone operator, died after the collision with another jet about 12 kilometres west of Mount Martha, in Melbournes south-east on Sunday afternoon.
The prestigious list of Highly Cited Researchers, compiled by the multinational firm Clarivate, has excluded more than 1,000 scientists due to allegations of fraud. The criteria to be included has now been tightened, after a scandal involving Saudi university rankings was uncovered by EL PAIS earlier this year.

This list typically includes close to 7,000 researchers whose studies are the most often mentioned by other colleagues, which is a supposed indicator of excellence. Influential international university rankings, such as the Shanghai Ranking, take into account the number of highly-cited academics to either elevate or demote an institution. These scientists should be the best in the world, but in recent years, the list has enabled all kinds of mediocre researchers to grab a slot by doing all kinds of tricks.

Saudi Arabias dictatorship  determined to clean up its image  has set the goal of placing at least five of its universities among the top 200 in the international rankings by 2030. Some Saudi institutions have taken a shady shortcut: paying up to $75,000 annually to highly-cited foreign scientists, to lie in the Clarivate database and declare that their primary workplace is a Saudi Arabian university. Last year, 11 highly-cited Spanish scientists falsely claimed that their primary affiliation was in the Saudi kingdom. After the controversy, none of them are on the list anymore. The largest scientific body in Spain, the National Research Council (CSIC), has just opened disciplinary proceedings against its five researchers allegedly involved.

Saudi universities will plummet in the next international rankings, according to a new analysis by the Barcelona-based consulting firm SIRIS Academic, which advises academic entities around the world. Saudi institutions boasted 109 highly-cited researchers last year, but now have only 76, a 30% decrease. King Abdulaziz University, based in Jeddah, is the most affected. It claimed to have 31 highly-cited scientists in 2022. This year, it only has 12. As a result of this, the institution will fall by more than 50 spots in the Shanghai ranking, from its current position of 166, according to calculations made by Swiss specialist Yoran Beldengrun, the main author of SIRIS Academics report. This past April, the consultancy already revealed that Saudi Arabia had five times as many highly-cited scientists as Germany, a country with more than double the population.

In Saudi universities, theres been a brutal drop in the number of highly-cited scientists. Its not a natural fall, but rather, one caused by the impact of the EL PAIS investigation and SIRIS Academics own reports, Beldengrun says. The Swiss expert emphasizes that Saudi Arabia recently launched Vision 2030, a plan to transform its economy at the stroke of a checkbook. One of the declared objectives of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman  considered to be guilty of orchestrating the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi  is to have at least five Saudi universities among the top 200 in the world. Beldengrun emphasizes that this goal is slipping away.

King Abdulaziz University will drop from the Top 200. Taif University will drop from the Top 300. And Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University will disappear from the Top 400, according to our calculations. This powerful impact on university rankings is going to do a lot of damage to Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 project, the consultant notes.

EL PAIS asked Clarivate for a list of Spanish researchers excluded for alleged bad practices. However, a company spokeswoman said that the firm cannot share these records. She also emphasizes that scientists with incorrect behavior demonstrated in formal research cannot be selected for the Highly Cited Researchers [list].

The chemist Rafael Luque no longer appears on the 2023 list, after having been expelled 13 years without employment and salary from the University of Cordoba, in southern Spain. This decision was taken after he falsely declared that, between 2019 and 2022, his main place of work was King Saud University, in Riyadh. Damia Barcelo, another chemist, also doesnt appear on the list this year: hes being investigated by the Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia after claiming, between 2016 and 2022, that his primary affiliation was King Saud University, despite the fact that he was actually the director of the Catalan Institute for Water Research in Girona, Spain.

Without clarification from Clarivate, its impossible to know if Luque and Barcelo have been permanently expelled from the list of Highly Cited Researchers or, simply, if theyre no longer as cited as in previous years. Another Spaniard who has disappeared from the list is Ruben Dominguez, who, last year, was listed as a researcher at King Abdulaziz University, despite the fact that he was working at the Meat Technology Center in San Cibrao das Vinas, Spain. A fourth Spanish scientist who no longer appears on the list is the marine ecologist Angel Borja, who received authorization from the Basque technology center AZTI to declare, between 2020 and 2022, that his principal place of work was King Abdulaziz University.

David Pendlebury, an analyst at Clarivate, explained this past November 15 that his company has established more strict criteria in the face of the challenges of an increasingly contaminated academic [sector]. The authors of the 2023 list of Highly Cited Researchers have ruled out hyperprolific researchers who author several studies per week (as Rafael Luque did). They have also excluded experts who cite themselves too much, or those who participate in networks where members cite each other just to climb in the rankings. With these filters, the number of rejected preliminary candidates has gone from 500 in 2022 to more than 1,000 this year, according to Pendlebury.

However, food technologist Francisco Tomas Barberan still appears on the new list. In 2020, he falsely declared that he worked near Mecca, at the University of Taif, instead of in Murcia, Spain, at the Segura Center for Soil Science and Applied Biology, which belongs to the CSIC. This public body, which has more than 120 research centers in Spain, has reached an agreement with Clarivate to receive the list of Highly Cited Researchers each year before its publication, in order to verify that their researchers first affiliation is the CSIC, according to a spokesperson. This year, Tomas Barberan, an expert in intestinal microbes who presides over the Agricultural and Agri-Food Sciences area of the state research agency, has declared his actual workplace.

Another name that disappeared from the 2023 list is that of Gunasekaran Manogaran, an Indian researcher. He allegedly set up a megafactory of fraudulent scientific studies, which were mass-produced. Authorships were subsequently sold to scientists eager to publish quickly and advance in the rankings. The Manogaran case affected computer engineer Ruben Gonzalez Crespo, vice-rector of the International University of La Rioja (UNIR), and three of his colleagues. Their names were on a total of 16 retracted studies, although they claim that they were victims of Manogaran.

The cleanup of the list will likely result in Saudi Arabia being left with only one university in the top 200: King Saud. This institution  which currently occupies 115th place in the Shanghai ranking  would barely fall 15 positions, despite the fact that it suddenly lost five highly-cited Spanish researchers, who lied in the Clarivate database last year. Yoran Beldengrun celebrates the victory of scientific integrity and invites Saudi Arabia to develop its own talent and attract academics from other countries, instead of simply paying to achieve a virtual impact on a virtual list.
More than 150 homes and businesses remain without power as firefighters battling a blaze which has destroyed 18 homes in Perths north prepare to face terrible conditions.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has advised crews are working to restore power to 158 residential homes and businesses, most of which were in Wanneroo and Mariginiup.

A bushfire is continuing to burn in Perths north, across the City of Wanneroo and Swan. Credit: Night News

Western Power crews have completed repair works around the fringe of the fire, restoring power to almost 400 homes but were still working to repair damage to more than 100 poles, burned transformers and downed wires.

There are more than 160 emergency services personnel and a support aircraft at the scene of the fire, which DFES has warned remains contained but not controlled.
The selling agents were Raine & Horne Double Bays Ric Serrao and Sasha Bronfentrinker. It was a local guy who bought it for his kids ... he owns local property here and he saw the value in doing up this apartment, Serrao said. The run-down penthouse needs work. Credit: Peter Rae We actually had more than 330 inquiries on this one and it was the first time it was offered up to the market in 30-odd years. Serrao said while the home needed a significant reno, that Bondi magic paved the way to an outstanding sale.

When it comes to Bondi truthfully, nothing surprises me now. At the end of the day, it was a unique property and its very hard to put a price on a view like that. Not everyone has an extra $1.5 million sitting in the bank for refurbishments, but it was still good real estate, he said. Loading Its also interesting how its becoming more and more common for parents to help out their kids, although I agree that this was an extreme case. It was one of 914 auctions scheduled in Sydney on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62 per cent from 582 reported results, while 167 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. At 7 Hopetoun Avenue, Mosman, a magnificent six-bedroom home boasting an extensive frontage with views of Chinamans Beach fetched $14.215 million under the hammer after a long, drawn-out auction.

Bidding kicked off at $12.5 million and continued in small and sluggish increments of $5000 and $10,000 among four registered bidders. For the 50 onlookers largely spread out on the homes veranda, a sense of relief flowed out when the hammer finally went down 21 minutes later for a figure that was just over the $14 million reserve. Selling agents were Atlas Lower North Shores Anthony Godson, Nick Gittoes and Amelia Andrews. The home features a wine cellar, gas-heated swimming pool, library and a self-contained apartment, and was designed by architect Robert Harrington. According to Pricefinder data, the home last sold in 2017 for $10.5 million and in 2022 it was listed as a rental for $5000 per week. Over in Bronte, three crumbling beachside cottages owned by 100-year-old George Watkins sold for a collective $13.925 million.

Watkins inherited the homes  at 4, 6 and 8 Collingwood Street  in 1975 and was even born in number 4. His parents and grandparents made a name for themselves as the areas quarry masons while his great-grandfather, Richard Watkins, was the mayor of Waverley in 1909. They are said to have bought the homes in 1885. Selling agent Bethwyn Richards, of The Agency Eastern Suburbs, said it was one of the most remarkable auctions shed ever held, with three separate families buying each cottage. The cottage at number 4 sold on Friday night for $4.7 million. Both number 8 and number 6 sold under the hammer on Saturday for $5.275 million and $3.95 million respectively while Mr Watkins nephews watched. In the lead up to the auction, we had interest of $13.5 million so to get this result was pretty wonderful, she said.

Richards said the timber cottage at number 8 attracted three buyers. Bidding kicked off at $4.6 million and a flurry of $100,000 bids followed until a local buyer, who had recently sold their nearby home, nabbed the keys. Number 6 then opened at $3.925 million and the sole bidder increased their offer to $3.95 million to buy the cottage. They also bid on number 8 and had missed out  so they werent going to miss out again, she said. At 45 Beresford Road, Thornleigh, a Brisbane couple (who bucked the nationwide northern migration trend to instead move south to Sydney) made the winning bid of $2.61 million.

The immaculate five-bedroom home sits on a 916.9 square metre block and last sold for $555,000 in 2006. Loading Selling agent Nathan Leuzzi, of Ray White Upper North Shore, said the underbidder kicked off the auction at $2.35 million, with increments of largely $50,000 thrown down until $2.5 million. From there it slowed down and then it was a back and forth until we could reach the reserve, he said. All parties were happy and for the couple from Brisbane, the home ticked all the boxes. They had been renting down here for a year.
Washington: The surge of migrants entering the United States across the southern border increasingly includes people from a surprising place: China.

Despite the distances involved and the difficulties of the journey, more than 24,000 Chinese citizens have been apprehended crossing into the US from Mexico in the past year. That is more than in the preceding 10 years combined, according to government data.

A group of people, including many from China, walk along the wall after crossing from Mexico into the US to seek asylum last month. Credit: AP

They typically fly via Turkey into Ecuador, where they do not need a visa to enter. Then, like hundreds of thousands of other migrants from Central and South America and more distant locations, they pay smugglers to guide their travel through the dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama en route to the US. Once there, they turn themselves in to border officials, and many seek asylum.

And most succeed, in turn fuelling further attempts. Chinese citizens are more successful than people from other countries with their asylum claims in immigration court. Even when they are not, they end up staying anyway because China usually will not take them back.
At the start of the rally on Saturday, the crowd was warned by an organiser: "Don't come up with your own chants, follow what is on the stage, follow the chants from those who are chanting."
On the first day of the four-day ceasefire on Friday, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, triggering the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.
Labour had originally promised in 2021 to invest 28 billion-a-year until 2030 in green projects if it came to power. But in June shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the figure would instead be a target to work towards in the second half of a first parliament.
Mr Sunak, however, will have been delighted at the welcome given to his Autumn Statement by right-leaning newspapers. The whole point, politically, was to open up clear blue waters with Labour and remind voters of what the Tories are meant to stand for.
Their fate is unknown, but we hope that like Emily, they will also be allowed to return to their homes and their families. We think of all the families suffering in this troubled region, and we redouble our efforts to work for a permanent ceasefire, and for a just and lasting peace, he said.
The fire ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 15, 2023.

When Daniel Skousen scrubs at the ash and soot covering his Maui home, he worries about the smell. What chemicals created the burning-trash-barrel scent that has lingered since a deadly wildfire tore through Lahaina in August? Should he believe government agencies assessment of when the air, land and water will be safe enough for his family to return?

Or will political and economic pressures to rebuild and restore Mauis robust tourism industry

 where visitors normally spend $14 million per day  lead officials to look at any testing results through rose-colored glasses?

It appears very important to them to get that tourism tax revenue back, said Skousen. It makes you wonder if the testing will be biased.

The fire blew out Skousens windows and filled his home with ash, but the building is still standing, and he hopes someday to move back in. The home next door burned to the ground.

Skousen wants a second opinion on any government environmental assessments, preferably from an expert with a stake in the community. But the raw data isnt easy to find, and experts say the long-term health effects from fires like the one that incinerated Lahaina are mostly unknown. There are no national standards that detail how clean is clean enough for a residential home damaged by a nearby fire.

At least 100 people died in the Aug. 8 wildfire, and thousands were displaced. Nearly 7,000 were still in short-term lodging two months later.

The rubble left behind includes electrical cables, plastic pipes and vehicle tires that emit dangerous dioxins when burned; lead from melted vehicles or old house paint; and arsenic-laden ash from termite-resistant building materials.

After a major wildfire burned 1,000 homes in Boulder County, Colorado, in 2021, health officials learned that even professionally remediated homes were often still polluted with ash, char and other toxic substances long after the fire, said Bill Hayes, the countys air quality program coordinator.

The reason? High winds  like those that plagued Maui during the wildfire this summer  forced fine particulate matter into every crevice, Hayes said. Those particulates would sit inside window panes, behind light switches, between shingles and elsewhere until the winds started up again, re-contaminating the home.

Char is a carcinogen, so we dont ever say any level of those particulates are safe, Hayes said. That became a challenge in the cleanup  determining the level of when is it clean enough?

State and federal agencies have released regular updates on Lahainas relative safety. The water in much of the town is still unsafe to drink, and visitors have been advised to use protective gear in impacted areas. Officials say pregnant people and kids should stay out of the burn zone, though the Hawaii Department of Education says the schools, which are above the burned part of town, are safe.

Crews have installed air quality monitors throughout town and are spraying a soil sealant to prevent toxic ash from being washed into the ocean or blowing around.

An attorney representing Skousen and about two dozen other Lahaina residents sent a public records request to the Environmental Protection Agency last month asking for all records regarding residential testing of contaminants in Lahaina and their impact to human health.

The EPAs reply, sent earlier this month, wasnt reassuring: No records could be located that are responsive to your request.

EPA spokesman Kellen Ashford told The Associated Press his agency did some environmental hazard testing in the burn zone, but only to determine the immediate risk for workers involved in the initial cleanup.

He referred further questions about such testing to the Hawaii Department of Health, which he said was responsible for determining longer-term safety for residents.

The Hawaii Department of Healths Environmental Health Services Division also told Skousens attorney it had no records about residential testing of contaminants to release.

The Health Department declined interview requests. Spokesman Shawn Hamamoto said in an email the department will pursue additional air quality and ash testing when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins removing debris from Lahaina.

I think that theyre playing hide the ball, said Skousens attorney, Edward Neiger. The question is, why do they feel the need to hide anything?

Ashford acknowledged some residents are skeptical of the cleanup efforts. He said the EPA has people stationed at the Lahaina Civic Center and at work sites to talk to community members about their concerns.

Andrew Shoemaker, a fine art photographer who operated a gallery on Lahainas famous Front Street, believes its an important part of healing to go back to the burned areas to see what is left, but he has recently had a lung infection and doesnt want to risk his health. I dont even want to take the chance of going over there, he said.

Dioxins, toxic compounds that can be released when plastic pipes, tires and other household materials are burned, are a particular concern for Shoemaker. Dioxins can last for decades inside the human body, and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

The EPA has found that forest fires and household trash burning in backyard burn barrels  how Skousen now describes the scent of Lahaina  are both major sources of dioxin emissions.

Irva Hertz-Picciotto, a professor and environmental epidemiologist with University of California-Davis, said the air monitors are effective and can measure particles that are about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Still, there is a lot that scientists dont yet know about the long-term health risks posed by fires, Hertz-Picciotto said.

That post-fire smell noticed by Skousen can be a result of off-gassing, she said, which occurs when volatile organic compounds are absorbed into surfaces and released later.

Even with careful air quality monitoring, off-gassing can expose residents and cleanup workers to toxic fire emissions for months, and research shows only some volatile organic compounds can be trapped by high-quality air particle filters, according to the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

If it smells like burned plastic or burned electrical cables, then probably those chemicals are in the air and not healthy, Hertz-Picciotto said. The other side of that, though, is even if you cant smell it, that doesnt mean its safe.

Skousen is a teacher and runs a cleaning business on the side. Hes spent his off hours in Lahaina working on cleaning his and his neighbors homes. Skousen and his wife decided to homeschool their kids at their temporary residence outside of Lahaina for now rather than risk exposing them to possible health problems.

Most of the guidelines for human exposure to pollutants are based on industrial settings, where people might work 40 hours a week  not their homes, where they might spend 90% of their time, said Hayes, the Boulder County air quality coordinator. Whether a home can be made safe enough for residency comes down in part to the residents risk tolerance, Hayes said.

There is no black-and-white, clear-cut answer, he said. If they have young children in the home, or anyone has respiratory conditions, they might want to do significantly more cleaning than what the guidance documents are recognizing.

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During the conflict, Norwegian King Haakon VII sought refuge in London which was also home to the country's government-in-exile while many Norwegians tuned into radio broadcasts from the UK which kept them informed of the course of the war and the feats of the Norwegian resistance.
The attack was the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration, noting that air defence shot down more than 60 air targets over the capital throughout the morning.
A dog is cared for at a mobile veterinary service for pets in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama (Getty Images)

A mysterious respiratory illness has been spreading across the United States, affecting hundreds of dogs and leaving veterinarians grappling with a challenging situation. However, researchers at the University of New Hampshires Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies have made significant strides in identifying a potential culprit behind the disease.

According to NBC News, researchers have uncovered a previously unknown germ through genetic sequencing of samples from infected dogs in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Dr. David Needle, the pathology section chief at the University of New Hampshire, described the pathogen to USA Today as a funky bacterium that is smaller than typical bacteria in size and genome. The germ is believed to have evolved from a component of the dog microbiome, although its not yet confirmed if this is the same pathogen causing illness in dogs nationwide.

What is the illness?

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is monitoring reports of a canine respiratory illness across the country, with over 200 cases reported in Oregon alone since mid-August. The illness is resistant to antibiotics and has been observed in various states, leading to numerous fatalities. Researchers at the University of New Hampshires Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies have identified a potentially causative pathogen through genetic sequencing.

The illness appears to be a chronic respiratory disease that, in some cases, can lead to pneumonia. While antibiotics have shown limited efficacy, the newly identified bacteriums structure provides insights into potential treatment options. The antibiotic doxycycline has been suggested as a possible effective treatment.

The lack of a specific test and the similarity of symptoms to other respiratory infections present challenges to experts. Despite efforts to grow the new bacteria in the lab for testing, researchers have been unsuccessful.

What are the symptoms for the dog illness?

Dogs with the illness can present symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. The illness has been observed to manifest in three general clinical syndromes: chronic mild-moderate tracheobronchitis, chronic pneumonia, and acute pneumonia with rapid progression, often leading to negative outcomes within a short timeframe.

It is recommended that dog owners seek veterinary care promptly if these symptoms are observed.

How does it spread?

Experts say that its most likely spread through close contact and breathing the same air of an infected animal.

Which states have reported cases of the dog illness?

Cases of the respiratory illness have been reported in several states, including Oregon, Colorado, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Idaho, Georgia, and Florida. While the research team has not confirmed if the same pathogen is causing illness nationwide, the situation is a cause for concern, and veterinarians are actively collaborating to understand and combat the disease.

What can I do to protect my dog?

Veterinarians advise dog owners to take precautions during the ongoing holiday season. These include reducing contact with large groups of unknown dogs, avoiding sick dogs, keeping sick dogs at home, and seeking veterinary care promptly if they present any symptoms. They also recommend that dogs are up-to-date on necessary vaccinations, including canine influenza, Bordetella, and parainfluenza, as well as avoiding communal water bowls.

Can the illness kill my dog?

Although some dogs have died from the illness, Needle said that it is not particularly fatal. I think a subset of animals can develop pneumonia, more or less like upper respiratory, bronchitis, rhinitis, tracheitis. If that secondary infection appears, it can lead to death, he explained.

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Bucharest children's cancer hospital built on donations and sponsorships inaugurated on Friday

The first National Children's Hospital for Cancer, Severe Illnesses and Trauma built from donations and sponsorships on the grounds of the 'Marie Curie' Children's Emergency Clinical Hospital in Bucharest was inaugurated Friday evening.

Project initiator Carmen Uscatu, president of the Give Life Association which organized the event marking the completion of the facility, said that it was built with the contribution of over 350,000 individuals and 8,000 companies.

"Today, in this touching moment, we are able to say 'we made a hospital'. A hospital where, for the first time in Romania, a child afflicted by cancer will receive treatment as any parent would wish. As of tomorrow we'll say 'we are building a medical campus', because we need to move all the specialties of the 'Marie Curie' Hospital to new premises, to build training and research spaces, a hotel for parents and children. We won't stop here, and we are asking you to keep supporting us. We are 350,000 people, we are more than 8,000 companies, and we need to stay together, to also bring the Romanian state at our side in this country project," said Carmen Uscatu, noting that from now on, there is a place in Romania where parents who learn that their child has a "terrible diagnosis" can seek treatment.

Present at the event, actor and musician Tudor Chirila said that he is truly impressed by the act of the 350,000 Romanians who donated money for the construction of the hospital.

"We know the conjugation in Romanian - we will do, we do, we did. The Romanian state doesn't speak Romanian. The Romanian state will just do sometime in an uncertain future, it still lives in the future tense. It hasn't yet learned the present or the past, therefore I have a problem with the Romanian state, because first of all it needs to learn Romanian in order to be able to speak with its own citizens, so as to defuse all adversity between us and the Romanian state, because it's there, this cannot be denied. (...) Just figure what kind of a country this is, where people build a hospital despite the adversity of the Romanian state. What tremendous potential this country could have if we weren't ruled by crooks," Chirila concluded.
MEP Dacian Ciolos, speaking on Saturday at REPER Party's "Renew Europe" event about the future of European Romania, cautioned that in absence of a credible political construction and with widespread distrust in politicians, many Romanians fall for "populist lies" and "extremist attitudes".

"Amid lacking trust in politics and in politicians, in absence of state performance, and often disgusted with politics, increasingly more Romanians bend the ear to populist lies and extremist attitudes. Society lacks a credible mediator, but a mediator among politics, civil society and the entrepreneurial environment, not just between political parties," Ciolos said, Agerpres informs.

He went on to say that a "broader and more credible" political construction will give people hope that things can be done differently and that there is an alternative to "incompetence and extremism."

"The goal, from my point of view, is clear - Romania's active people who don't want to join a party and have no intention of doing politics, but who would like to work for Romania - must be able to contribute to the project of Romania's future. (...) The presidential elections are just at the end of next year (...), but I think that before talking about presidential candidates, we need a project of unity and collaboration between us, the civil society and the entrepreneurial environment. (...) The rift between society and political parties is obvious and this is where we must act first, before building a project for Romania," Ciolos said.In his opinion, the essential condition for seriousness to take over at Romania's helm is for the civil society and the entrepreneurial environment to be involved in the debates about the future, be asked and consulted.Dacian Ciolos admitted that grassroot people have good reason to no longer trust those at rule. "We look at what the Social Democratic Party has done in just a few months of government, how it managed to impose bigger taxes to cover the incompetence that caused holes in the state budget, or at all the hiccups on decisions that they take or backtrack on, creating what is most harmful for the entrepreneurial environment: unpredictability, the inability to project in the medium and long term. And then, what is the working man, the entrepreneur or the farmer supposed to understand from such lack of seriousness, what are the striking teachers to understand, when they are promised salary increases but nothing happens?," the MEP inquired.According to him, an alternative to what doesn't work in today's politics can be built "through realism and pragmatism".
James Longstreet was the most loyal of Confederates. A Southerner, slave owner and second in command to Robert E. Lee, Longstreet, despite grave misgivings about Lees strategy for the battle of Gettysburg, followed orders and led a charge that decimated the Confederate Army and destroyed Southern hopes.

But Longstreet had friends on both sides of the conflict, notably Ulysses S. Grant, Union Army commander and a fast friend since the two were cadets at West Point. While many Southerners reviled Grant as a butcher, Longstreet remembered a generous friend. When he swore an oath to the Union as a condition of his postwar freedom, his new loyalty was to the Union and to Grant, a decision that would turn Longstreet into traitor number one in the eyes of many Southerners, and dog him for the rest of his days.

In her new biography, acclaimed Civil War historian Elizabeth Varon does justice to this unlikely iconoclast. Varon looks beyond the war to Longstreets travails during the blood-soaked years of Reconstruction, when his commitment to Congress revolutionary program for remaking the American South was put to a severe test.

Longstreets postwar life began in New Orleans. As a federal official, he worked with the Republican-controlled government and supported equal political rights for Black people, newly guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. A proven leader with an implacable air of authority, when Longstreet published four 1867 letters in various newspapers, he had a guaranteed readership but his forthright stance that the South should accept defeat inflamed Southern resentment. His war record was forgotten, then maligned. One paper said it would be better if Longstreet had died of his grievous war wound. Another compared him to one of Christs murderers.

Meanwhile, in Louisiana, white supremacist terrorists awash in a culture of paranoia and hatred went on a rampage, committing over a thousand political murders in 1868 alone. In the middle of this combusting atmosphere, in 1872, Longstreet declared his support of a radical Republican gubernatorial ticket: a white governor, a Black lieutenant governor.

White rage exploded in the 1874 Battle of Liberty Place, when armed insurrectionists flooded the streets of New Orleans with the aim of throwing off federal control. Longstreet led a force of policemen and militiamen into battle against the so-called White League, but the insurrectionists briefly wrested power from the federal government. Wounded and held captive by the insurgents, Longstreet was eventually freed, but his life in New Orleans was over. His career in government service continued but his enemies never let up, widening their attacks to take aim at his war record.

The scapegoating of Longstreet tainted his reputation and, for decades afterward, historians questioned his leadership. But in the 20th century, Longstreets life story received recalibration and rehabilitation from novelist Michael Shaara, who read Longstreets memoirs and made him the divided soul at the center of The Killer Angels, his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about Gettysburg.

Varon never quite gets to the core of Longstreets gift (or curse) for thinking independently, but her brisk narrative style expertly sets his decisions into the context of the era. For readers interested in the tragedy of Americas Civil War, the horrors of Reconstruction and their implications for our own divided time, Longstreet is an essential book.
Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

ST. LOUIS  This is how a bill becomes a law.

It starts with a tragedy. Or perhaps one that is averted. I wrote about such a case last year.

John Gaal and his wife, Mary, were on a Southwest Airlines flight headed out west, where he was scheduled to speak at a conference. Gaal is a retired union official who spent a fair amount of his professional life educating folks in the construction industry about the dangers of opioid abuse. He recently helped found a national program, The Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace, to make sure naloxone can be available at all construction sites. Thats the underlying drug in Narcan, a nose spray that when applied quickly and properly can reverse an opioid overdose and save a persons life.

John and Mary, who live in St. Louis, carry Narcan with them.

A person on the flight collapsed. Gaal and other passengers carried the man to the back of the plane. Gaal recognized the symptoms of an opioid overdose. He gave the man Narcan. He came back to his senses.

Gaal told me this story not to get publicity for himself, but because he was upset. Southwest Airlines doesnt carry Narcan on its flights. Many of the other major airlines do, following a recommendation of the Federal Aviation Administration issued in 2019. Gaal wants the FAA recommendation to become a requirement. And hed like Southwest Airlines to follow the lead of American, United and Delta airlines, which all carry Narcan in their medical kits aboard flights.

So he wrote the CEO of Southwest Airlines, Bob Jordan. He wrote Missouris congressional delegation. He wrote me. I wrote about Gaals quest about a year ago.

Sam Cahnman read the column. Hes an attorney who lives in Springfield, Illinois. He agreed with Gaal that Congress should force the FAA to require that airlines carry Narcan in their medical kits. Early this year, he ran into U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat representing the 13th District of Illinois, which stretches from the Metro East to Champaign-Urbana.

Cahnman mentioned the column to Budzinski at a public event and asked her to look into it. He emailed her to encourage her to file a bill.

The next passenger to suffer an opioid overdose on a flight will probably not be so lucky as to have a fellow passenger like Gaal on board, Cahnman wrote. That is why I am asking you to sponsor legislation to mandate that all commercial air flights have Narcan on board and that their staff be trained on recognizing opioid overdose symptoms and administering Narcan. I would empower the FAA to administer and enforce this mandate.

In October, he followed up with Budzinskis office to see whether she was going to file a bill. But, as it turned out, somebody else already had. In May, Rep. David Trone, a Maryland Democrat, filed H.R. 3616, a bill that would direct the FAA to require Narcan on all airline flights. With opioid overdoses on the rise, airlines need to be prepared to handle a possible overdose on board. Its just common sense, Trone said in a news release announcing the legislation.

Trones nephew died of an opioid overdose in 2016, about a year before Gaals son died of suicide. Now both men, in their own way, are advocating for a new law that might save the next persons son or nephew, mother or father, or total stranger, by making sure that Narcan is readily available when an overdose occurs.

Trones bill has been assigned to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In a House that has struggled to elect a speaker, there has been no action taken on it.

But the number of co-sponsors on the bill is growing.

In October, Budzinski added her name to the list.

There are now 18 co-sponsors, including three Republicans. Earlier this year, the House passed a five-year FAA re-authorization bill sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, a Republican from northwest Missouri. It didnt include Trones language, but instead has a passage that calls on the FAA administrator to review and update the medical kit regulations on flights, with specific attention paid to opioid overdoses.

The Senate is debating its own version of the FAA re-authorization bill. The review and update of medical kits on all airlines is not yet law. And even if it passes, the language as written doesnt require the FAA to mandate Narcan on flights.

That means Gaal has more letters to write. In the past year, hes written multiple letters to the CEO of Southwest Airlines, and letters to U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from Town and Country, and Missouris two senators, Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, both Republicans. Hes written the FAA. Hes written the Secretary of Transportation. Hes received very little in the way of response.

Gaal is not about to give up.

In light of this nations opioids crisis, what are we waiting for? Our citizens are dying at the rate of 190 per day due to drug overdoses, Gaal wrote in one of his most recent letters to Hawley. That young man I saved on 10/22/22 is a citizen in the state you represent. He is a taxpayer and remains alive today to pay taxes because of another fellow Missourian being prepared to save his life w/ Narcan.

Trones bill is not yet a law. But an idea born from tragedy is gaining momentum. One mans voice inspired another, and that voice led to a member of Congress adding their name to the cause.

More voices are needed. What are they waiting for?
JEFFERSON CITY  A first-term legislator from Lake Saint Louis is facing allegations that as a teenager he attempted to choke his then-girlfriend and that more recently he misrepresented his military record.

The headache for state Rep. Justin Hicks has been brought on by a challenger in the Aug. 6 Republican primary, Max Calfo, who earlier this year unveiled a page on his website called The Real Hicks with records he says he obtained from an individual no longer active in politics.

Calfo says Hicks, 30, an Army veteran, falsely claimed to have fought in battle. And, he said a woman in 2010 accused the lawmaker, when he was 17, of attempting to choke her.

The womans name is redacted from the records posted to Calfos website. But Calfo shared the womans name with the Post-Dispatch and the newspaper interviewed her by phone Friday.

I cant speak to his character now. I mean, I believe people can change, the woman said, asking that her name be withheld from publication. I feel it is in the past for me, but I just hope this isnt happening to anyone else.

I do think that the truth needs to be told because people, especially victims of any kind, deserve a voice, she said.

As of Friday, Calfos accusations have not led to any apparent erosion of support for Hicks, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this article. Hicks has been a rising star within the House Republican caucus, earning a freshman legislator of the year award from House Speaker Dean Plocher.

So far, Calfo, 34, a former Wentzville School District teacher who was raised in Connecticut, says his allegations have been met with general silence.

And I think that silence is deafening, Calfo said.

State Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville, said this week, I have not done any investigation and I will not be doing an investigation just because Justin Hicks is a good-standing member in the House of Representatives, and I have no reason to believe that hes done anything wrong.

Calfos broadsides include an open letter in September drawing two additional members of the House Republican caucus into the fray, state Reps. Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville and Holly Jones of Eureka.

He said both lawmakers had hired him as their legislative assistant, and that Byrnes forced him out of his job in January after a monthslong pressure campaign against him releasing the information on Hicks.

Reached Friday by phone, Byrnes said she couldnt comment on Calfos personnel record, which she said was closed.

Byrnes called Calfo just a hack who was slandering people.

Hes losing support the more he speaks to people.

You shouldnt

The documents that Calfo published on his website say Hicks was the subject of a protective order in 2010 after his female partner alleged that he grabbed her by the neck and attempted to choke her.

Calfo published a purported protective order issued Nov. 4, 2010, against Hicks along with a petition for order of protection in St. Louis Circuit Court. Also pictured is a final protective order, dated Nov. 19 that year.

John OSullivan, spokesman for the St. Louis County Circuit Court, said the forms pictured appeared to be documents used by St. Louis County courts at that time. He said he couldnt confirm the existence of the records that Calfo posted.

But the woman who sought the court-ordered protection on Friday vouched for the authenticity of the documents.

The restraining orders true, she told the Post-Dispatch.

In the petition for order of protection, the woman, then 19, said she and Hicks had been in a romantic or intimate relationship.

She checked boxes saying the respondent, Hicks, then of Overland in St. Louis County, intentionally caused physical harm to me, harassed me, and placed me in fear or apprehension of immediate physical harm.

The petitioner said that on the day prior, Hicks grabbed me by the back of the neck and attempted to choke me.

Then he dragged me to his car, telling me we were going somewhere. I told him I didnt trust him, and he said, You shouldnt.

The woman said she exited the car, and that the police were called, everything was reported, and that Hicks didnt go to jail.

In the Nov. 19 order of protection, Hicks was told to stay away from the petitioners house. Hicks was also directed to attend counseling with a licensed professional for 12 consecutive weeks unless he is shipped out.

Military record, reaction

Calfo also claimed Hicks lied about his military record with statements such as Ive spent my life fighting for this country on battlefields in campaign literature as well as his statement that he fought in wars in a 2022 radio interview.

Hicks repeatedly falsely claimed to have fought in battle. Hicks military enlisted record brief proves his overseas deployment was in an HR role in the United Arab Emirates and it shows he was never in Iraq or Afghanistan, Calfo said on his campaign website.

Bryce Dubee, a U.S. Army spokesman, told the Post-Dispatch that Hicks served as a human resources specialist in the Army between April 2011 and September 2017.

He deployed to the United Arab Emirates from July 2012 to May 2013 and held the rank of Sergeant at the end of service, Dubee said, adding that his awards included the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon.

With regard to Iraq or Afghanistan, Dubee said the only deployment record the Army has on file here is the UAE deployment from 2012-13, and do not indicate a deployment to either of those countries.

Interviews with local Republican officials revealed a distaste for Calfos political attacks.

I dont know how much validity there is to it.... I dont believe in mudslinging personally, said Tom Gallaher, Republican committeeman for the Lake Saint Louis Township.

He said he thinks its better when a candidate speaks of the differences and the positive things that they intend to do.

Despite his criticism of Calfos attacks, Gallaher said he was glad there were two people in the race. He said he opposed digital currency legislation by Hicks that has been criticized over personal liberty and privacy concerns.

As far as other Republicans talking about Max, you know, when somebody runs a negative campaign, at some point, they got to start talking about what theyre going to do, said Bob Eno, chairman of the St. Charles County Republican Central Committee.

What hes doing now, hes being a hack, and hes going about it the wrong way and hes really upsetting a lot of people, West said.

Calfo responded: I think choking a girl should upset some people.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  The owners of a defunct Colorado funeral home where 190 sets of decomposing human remains were found have been returned to the state to face hundreds of felony charges.

Carie Hallford appeared in District Court in Colorado Springs via video on Wednesday. District Judge Samorreyan Burney maintained her bail at $2 million cash during the advisement hearing, KRDO-TV reported. Jon Hallford's advisement hearing was Friday and his bail also remained at $2 million.

Carie Hallford's public defender had asked for her bail to be reduced to $50,000, citing her lack of a criminal record, but Burney noted she faced more than 250 felony charges. Both Hallfords face 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, over 50 counts of forgery, five counts of theft and four counts of money laundering, federal court records said.

Neither entered a plea. Their next court appearances are set for Dec. 5.

Court records say the Hallfords are both being represented by the public defenders office, which does not comment on cases to the media.

The case began in early October when the report of an abhorrent smell led to the discovery of the bodies at a Return to Nature Funeral Home location in Penrose  about 34 miles southwest of Colorado Springs.

After the bodies were removed, officials said there were 190 sets of remains, with some having been there as long as four years. The coroner's office used fingerprints and medical records to try to identify the bodies, and would use DNA if necessary, officials said.

Family members had been falsely told their loved ones had been cremated and had received materials that were not their ashes, court records said.

The couple was arrested on Nov. 8 at the home of Jon Hallford's father in Oklahoma, according to a federal arrest warrant alleging they fled the state to avoid prosecution. The federal charge was dropped after their arrests.

Carie Hallford was booked into the El Paso County Jail in Colorado Springs on Tuesday and Jon Hallford was returned to Colorado on Wednesday.
Jehovahs Witnesses are well-known for proselytizing door-to-door and handing out their literature on city streets. Less known to the general public, their adherents have been required for the past century to make regular reports to their congregations leaders on how many hours they put into such ministry.

Those hourly reports were a key metric for a congregations spiritual vitality and a factor in deciding who rose to leadership. Former adherents tell of pressure to meet these quotas and guilt when they didnt.

But in a historic shift, that practice ended this month.

For the first time since 1920, leaders of the Jehovahs Witnesses have removed the hours-reporting requirement for rank-and-file adherents.

Our ministry involves much more than counting time, Samuel Herd, a member of the denominations Governing Body, said in announcing the policy change to applause at the October annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, a legal entity central to the Jehovahs Witnesses work.

Herd said the Governing Body is confident that you dear ones will continue to render whole-souled service, motivated not by obligation but devotion to God, whom they call Jehovah. But he acknowledged leaders would have to adapt.

You will have to know the flock well, he said. Evaluating a congregations spiritual health or a brothers qualifications to serve (in leadership positions such) as an elder or ministerial servant will not simply be a matter of computing averages, time spent in the ministry, literature placements and so forth.

The video of the meeting, held in Newburgh, New York, was publicly posted by the organization in early November, though leaked recordings circulated for weeks earlier on unofficial websites.

This is one of the biggest changes I ever remember in the organization, said former elder Martin Haugh of York Haven, Pennsylvania.

Removal of the hours requirement applies to publishers, or rank-and-file adherents involved in active ministry. They will now only need to file monthly reports saying whether theyve conducted any evangelistic activity and Bible studies, without specifying hours.

Those who sign up for more extensive service, known as pioneers or missionaries, will continue to record their hours.

Skeptical former adherents, however, are speculating different motives are at play  that adherents ministry hours have dropped so noticeably, particularly since the pandemic.

When numbers were growing, it was always brought up at meetings or in their publications to show the growth of the organization, said Mitch Melin of Washington state, a former adherent now working to bring awareness to what he calls the darker side of the organization, such as its control of Witnesses and the practice of shunning certain members. He speculated that if theyre declining, it might be embarrassing to show the numbers.

Jarrod Lopes, a spokesman for Jehovahs Witnesses based at their world headquarters in New York state, disputed this notion. He said ministry time had been increasing yearly until the pandemic, peaking above 2 billion hours worldwide. While the hours are below pre-pandemic levels, he said they began rising from 1.4 billion in 2021 to 1.5 billion hours in 2022 as Witnesses resumed door-to-door visits and other ministry.

Former elder Haugh, who left over what he saw as the denominations mishandling of sexual abuse and other matters, said the hours requirement was once central in adherents lives.

It showed you how loyal you were to Jehovah by how much time was put in, he said.

Haugh recalled how a regional supervisor yelled at elders if their congregations performance lagged. Haugh said marriages broke up over spouses different levels of commitment, and people who were judged as failing at ministry would spiral into depression. Now they dont have to have that stigmatization that theyre not putting in the hours, he said.

On a recent weekday afternoon, Jehovahs Witnesses were handing out literature to passers-by at various downtown locations in Pittsburgh  the 19th-century birthplace of the movement.

Those interviewed said they planned to do as much ministry as ever and hadnt focused on the hours. It doesnt affect our day-to-day life, said Chuck Ghee, a local elder. We give the best out of our heart.

The Governing Body also devoted part of the annual meeting to revising its interpretation of biblical prophecies about the end times  a paramount focus of Jehovahs Witnesses.

The Governing Body now accepts that even in the final countdown to Armageddon, nonbelievers might still accept the truth and be saved. That reverses a previous understanding that, once an apocalyptic Great Tribulation gets underway, it would be too late.

That announcement, not yet formally made public, has also been circulating online on the same unofficial sites that distributed authentic recordings of the announced policy change on tracking hours.

The Jehovahs Witnesses faces intense scrutiny worldwide over the handling of child sexual abuse. A Pennsylvania grand jury has charged 14 men since 2022 with sexual abuse within the organization.

The denomination counts 8.7 million adherents worldwide, with 1.2 million in the United States.

Classic Christmas songs that are more than 100 years old Classic Christmas songs that are more than 100 years old 'Jingle Bells' (1885) 'Here We Come A-wassailing' (c. 1850) 'Good King Wenceslas' (1853) 'O Tannenbaum' (1824) 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen' (1760) 'We Three Kings' (1863) 'It Came Upon the Midnight Clear' (1850) 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' (1907) 'What Child is This?' (1871) 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' (1751) 'Silent Night' (1818) 'Carol of the Bells' (1919) 'In the Bleak Midwinter' (1906) 'The Holly and the Ivy' (1911) 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day' (1872) 'O Holy Night' (1847) 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' (1868) 'Away in a Manger' (1885) 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' (1855) 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' (1780) 'Angels We Have Heard on High' (1862) 'The Cherry Tree Carol' (c. 1500) 'The Friendly Beasts' (12th century) 'Joy to the World' (1719) 'Coventry Carol' (c.1591)
Supporters cheer following the announcement of the projected passage of Issue 1, a state constitutional right to abortion, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Columbus, Ohio, November 7, 2023.

Ohios new constitutional projections for abortion access and other reproductive rights are supposed to take effect Dec. 7, a month after voters resoundingly passed them. That prospect seems increasingly uncertain.

Existing abortion-related lawsuits are moving again through the courts now that voters have decided the issue, raising questions about how and when the amendment will be implemented.

The amendment declared an individuals right to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions and passed with a strong 57% majority. It was the seventh straight victory in statewide votes for supporters of abortion access nationally since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned constitutional protections.

But the amendment did not repeal any existing Ohio laws, providing an opening for Republican elected officials and anti-abortion groups to renew their efforts to halt, delay or significantly water it down.

A lot of that hard work of figuring out what state laws are inconsistent with the amendment and what state laws can remain, does tend to devolve to the courts, said Laura Hermer, a professor of law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, who studies access to health coverage and care in the U.S. Its difficult to imagine that the Legislature will say, All right, you win. Were going to repeal the heartbeat ban and so forth.

The state Legislature is controlled by Republicans whose leaders opposed the November ballot amendment, which was known as Issue 1. The Ohio Supreme Court also is controlled by Republicans, who have a 4-3 majority, and will be the final judge of constitutional questions. Several of the Republican justices have taken actions or made statements that have caused abortion rights organizations and ethics attorneys to question their objectivity on the subject.

Minority Democrats in the Ohio House announced legislation two days after the election aimed at avoiding a piecemeal approach to implementing the amendment. Among other steps, they called for repealing the states ban on most abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is around six weeks, and a 24-hour waiting period.

There are over 30 different restrictions in place, said state Rep. Beth Liston, a physician and co-author of the Reproductive Care Act. And I think that it is important that we dont require citizens to go to court for every restriction, and, quite frankly, that we dont let harm occur in the interim.

House Minority Leader Allison Russo was careful not to criticize the high court, which holds sway over the fate of those laws.

My hope is they will uphold the rule of law and the constitution, she said.

Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy last week ordered lawyers for the state and a group of abortion clinics to tell the court how they believe the measures passage has affected a case involving Ohios ban on most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected, which has been on hold since October 2022.

A day after voters approved the amendment, U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett made a similar request of the parties in a long-running federal lawsuit challenging a set of state restrictions imposed on abortion providers operations. They included a requirement that clinics obtain agreements with a nearby hospital for emergency patient transfers, as well as a prohibition against public hospitals entering into those agreements.

At least three other Ohio abortion laws also have been on hold in the courts. Passing legislation to bring Ohio law in line with the new constitutional amendment has been a non-starter with Republican lawmakers, who mostly opposed it and took extraordinary steps to defeat it.

With a primary election in their GOP-heavy districts only months away, they are facing fierce pressure from anti-abortion groups to go in the other direction and either pass laws countering the amendment or using their supermajorities to strip courts of their power to interpret it.

The (Ohio) Constitution specifically says reigning in out-of-control courts is the legislators job, the anti-abortion group Faith2Action argues in a recently released video. So lets call on the legislators to do their job, to use their constitutionally granted right to represent us and to keep pro-abortion judges from repealing Ohio laws based on an amendment that doesnt even mention a single Ohio law.

The video argues that the right to life created in Ohios constitution is inalienable and that the U.S. Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade punted the abortion issue to the peoples elected representatives.

But in his concurring opinion in that ruling, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, wrote that constitutional amendments were among the avenues for deciding the future of abortion access.

Moreover, the Constitution authorizes the creation of new rights  state and federal, statutory and constitutional, Kavanaugh wrote. But when it comes to creating new rights, the Constitution directs the people to the various processes of democratic self-government contemplated by the Constitution  state legislation, state constitutional amendments, federal legislation, and federal constitutional amendments.

For now, Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens has said legislation targeting the power of state courts will not be considered. GOP Senate President Matt Huffman has ruled out lawmakers pushing for an immediate repeal of Issue 1, as had once been suggested, saying nothing like that should be tried, at least in 2024. How Attorney General Dave Yost will proceed also is being closely watched.

In a legal analysis of Issue 1 that the Republican published before the election, Yost said the amendment created a new standard for protecting abortion access that goes beyond the law of the land under Roe v. Wade.

That means that many Ohio laws would probably be invalidated ... and others might be at risk to varying degrees, he wrote.

Hermer, the law professor, said that statement is convenient for lawyers fighting to implement the constitutional amendment but such an analysis isnt legally binding for Yost.

He doesnt necessarily have to stand down, but, of course, having already said that, its going to make it a bit more difficult to hold those sorts of positions, she said.

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In the early 1980s, South Korea began developing and building its own FFX series of frigates. The first ones were nine 2,200-ton Ulsan-Class ships. These entered service between 1981 and 1992. Each ship served about three decades before being retired. These ships had a crew of 186 and were armed with two 76mm cannon, as well as three or four 30-40mm autocannon. Each ship carried eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles. There were six torpedo tubes for lightweight ASW (anti-submarine warfare) torpedoes along with twelve depth charges,

In 2013 the first of six 3,200-ton Incheon-Class ships entered service. The others entered service between 2014 and 2016. Each ship is expected to serve about three decades before being retired. All are still in service. These ships each have a crew of 140 and are armed with a 127 mm cannon, as well as missile defense systems consisting of a 20mm Phalanx autocannon and a longer-range RAM missile system. There are six ASW torpedo tubes and eight South Korean anti-ship missiles as well as six South Korean land attack versions of these missiles. Both have a range of about 200 kilometers. In the rear of the ship is a flight deck for a helicopter as well as a hangar.

The Inchon-class ships were joined in 2016 by eight 3,900-ton Daegu -class frigates. All of these entered service by the end of 2023. After that a new class of six 4,300-ton Chungnam-class frigates are being built. The first of these is to enter service in 2024. These two classes of frigates have the same armament as the Inchon-class but have better electronics and sensors that are operated from a novel integrated mast.

All these frigates are highly automated, requiring a crew of only 140. Top speed is 55 kilometers an hour while range is 8,300 kilometers if cruising at 33 kilometers an hour. Most of the equipment (including electronics) and weapons are locally built. South Korea plans to build as many as 24 FFX series frigates at a cost of $200-300 million each. South Korea plans to export the FFX to many navies who want high quality, low cost, warships. Meanwhile, South Korea has also developed a slightly larger FFX II frigate and subsequent FFXs will be this version. But for export customers South Korea will make smaller versions as it has already done for the Philippines. This approach was pioneered by European shipyards and later adopted by Russia. One size does not fit all, and the customer is always right because they are paying for it.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 24, 2023 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB: BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) announces that it will be entering into a debenture and interest settlement agreement with an arm's length creditor of the Company (the "Creditor") to settle an aggregate of $2,581,096 in convertible debentures and interest (the "Debt"). In settlement of the Debt the Company will issue the Creditor:

162,192 common shares in the capital of the Company (the " Settlement Shares ") at a deemed price of $0.50 per Settlement Share; and

") at a deemed price of $0.50 per Settlement Share; and an unsecured convertible debenture with a principal amount of $2,500,000 (the "Settlement Debenture", and together with the Settlement Shares, the "Settlement Securities").

The Settlement Debenture will be convertible, at the option of the Creditor, into common shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") at a price of $0.50 per Share (the "Conversion Price"). Further, the Settlement Debenture will mature and be repayable on the date that is one year from the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"), and bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum until maturity, which will be calculated and payable semi-annually on the last day of June and December in each year. The Company will have the right to pay all accrued and unpaid interest either in cash or in Shares at the Conversion Price, in its sole discretion.

The terms of the Settlement Debenture further provide that the Company may from time to time, at the Company's option, prepay all or part of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest without penalty or bonus. Conversion of the Settlement Debenture may be forced at the option of the Company if the 15-day volume weighted average price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange exceeds 250% of the Conversion Price.

Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord") acted as the Company's advisor in connection with the settlement of the Debt. As consideration for its advisory services, the Company has agreed to issue Canaccord:

125,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the " Advisory Shares ") at a deemed price of $0.55 per Advisory Share; and

") at a deemed price of $0.55 per Advisory Share; and 125,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Advisory Warrants", and together with the Advisory Shares, the "Advisory Securities"), each of which is exercisable by Canaccord to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (an "Advisory Warrant Share") at a price of $0.55 per Advisory Warrant Share for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

The Settlement Securities, the Advisory Securities, and any securities issued upon conversion thereof, will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The securities of the Company referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About BioNxt Solutions Inc.

BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience accelerator focused on nextgeneration drug formulations and delivery systems, diagnostic screening tests, and new active pharmaceutical production and evaluation, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, lowcost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization and clinical evaluation of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets.

BioNxt Solutions Inc.

Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 780-818-6422

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.

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Callaghan O'Connor & Oak Bay Group complete sale of Uplands mansion that sets new price record on Vancouver Island

VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2023 /

Historic Sale Sets New Record in Oak Bay's Real Estate Market

In a historic moment for Oak Bay's real estate market, an extraordinary 11,900-square-foot waterfront mansion located in the prestigious Uplands neighborhood has fetched a record-breaking sale price of $13.195 million. This remarkable achievement not only underscores the appeal of Oak Bay's luxury properties but also establishes a new benchmark for the Greater Victoria area's real estate market.

The Epitome of Luxury Living

The mansion, situated at 3155 Beach Drive, captivated the attention of buyers worldwide with its timeless and elegant design, boasting beautiful hand-crafted finishing and appointments throughout. The property features five generously sized bedroom suites, each luxuriously appointed, and eight bathrooms. The well-designed layout caters to both large-scale entertaining and relaxed family living, making it the quintessential residence for those seeking the ultimate in luxury.

A Global Attraction

The sale, facilitated by the esteemed listing agent Lisa Williams of Sotheby's International Realty Canada and buying agent Callaghan O'Connor of EXP, also saw interest from prospective buyers not only across Canada but also from the United States and around the world. This level of global interest speaks to the allure of Victoria's waterfront real estate and the caliber of properties that Oak Bay has to offer.

Setting Records and Raising the Bar

The sale of 3155 Beach Drive sets a new record within the realm of MLS-listed properties in the Greater Victoria area, surpassing the previous record set just a year ago when a property in Metchosin at 529 Swanwick Rd. changed hands for $12 million. The Swanwick property featured a remarkable 10,500-square-foot house that had received architectural awards.

Callaghan O'Connor: Elevating Oak Bay Group to New Heights

One of the facets of this historic transaction lies in the fact that it was orchestrated by Callaghan O'Connor, an esteemed figure within the realm of real estate. This achievement serves to further cement Oak Bay Group's prominent standing as one of the preeminent firms in the province specializing in luxury real estate. Remarkably, Oak Bay Group now lays claim to an impressive five entries within the top 10 record-breaking sales in the distinguished Oak Bay district. This resounding success stands as a testament to their steadfast dedication to the pursuit of excellence and their consistent capacity to yield exceptional outcomes in the exclusive high-end real estate market.

Notably, Callaghan O'Connor continues to lead the way in sales within the prestigious Uplands neighborhood of British Columbia, affirming his reputation as a trailblazer in this esteemed locale.

It's worth noting that the record applies specifically to MLS-listed properties. Notably, a property on Towner Park Road in North Saanich, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed during the winter of 2019, was listed for $18 million in 2012 but was not marketed within MLS, and the actual selling price remained undisclosed.

The Pinnacle of Luxury Living

The current highest-listed price for a house in the capital region on MLS is $16.75 million for a property located at 8338 West Saanich Rd. This property, once owned by the now-disgraced investment adviser Ian Thow, offers a large waterfront property with a 20-meter-long dock, a helipad, and a two-bedroom guest house. In recognition of its exceptional design and features, the house received an award from the Canadian Homebuilders' Association in 1999 for being the best single-family detached home of more than 3,500 square feet.

The Future of Luxury Real Estate in Oak Bay

The historic sale of 3155 Beach Drive not only sets a new standard but also paves the way for the future of luxury real estate in Oak Bay. As discerning buyers continue to seek out exclusive properties along the waterfront, Oak Bay remains a premier destination for those in search of the finest in luxury living.



Visit www.OakBayGroup.com



https://www.ctvnews.ca/greater-victoria-home-sells-for-record-breaking-13-2-million-1.5938211



https://vancouversun.com/business/real-estate/oak-bay-house-sells-for-13-195-million-setting-new-record#:~:text=The%203155%20Beach%20Dr.,is%20set%20on%201.67%20acres.

SOURCE: Oak Bay Group

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Innovative Solutions for Diagnostic Imaging QA, Nuclear Medicine, & Medical Imaging Tables Also Featured for Mirion Medical at RSNA

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mirion (we or the company), announced today that it will debut the new InstadoseVUE personal dosimeter, from its Dosimetry Services brand, at the 2023 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Meeting starting Sunday in Chicago, Illinois. Mirion Dosimetry Services joins Sun Nuclear, Capintec, and Biodex medical imaging brands in the Mirion Medical booth (#6328) at RSNA, which will feature products and services for occupational dosimetry, diagnostic imaging QA, nuclear medicine, and medical imaging tables and accessories.

Introducing the InstadoseVUE Personal Dosimeter

The new InstadoseVUE advanced, wireless personal dosimeter offers a display screen for improved user engagement, insights, and compliance. Harnessing Bluetooth Low Energy Technology, the InstadoseVUE dosimeter enables wearers to capture personalized dose reads on-demand, anytime and anywhere. With programmable calendar features, scheduling automatic dose reads ahead of time is easy, simplifying dose reporting and management even further.

Highlights for the Mirion Medical Booth

Other industry-leading solutions featured at the Mirion Medical booth include:

IQphan Phantom for comprehensive CT QA (Sun Nuclear)

RapidCHECK Analysis Software (Sun Nuclear)

Captus 4000e Thyroid Uptake System (Capintec)

CRC Dose Calibrators and Well Counters (Capintec)

Surgical C-Arm Table  840 (Biodex)

Sound Pro Combination Table (Biodex)

Mirion Medical experts will be on hand to provide product insights and demonstrations.

ec Software Solutions, Now Part of Mirion Medical

Earlier this month, Mirion Medical welcomed ec Software Solutions, expanding the companys Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Portfolio. Featured for ec at RSNA in booth #2101, Numa software provides innovative DICOM and HL7 workflow and communications solutions to meet the specific needs of nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology, Radiopharmacies, PET and PET/CT departments.

"We are thrilled to welcome ec Software Solutions to our medical family of solutions, further expanding and strengthening our commitment to leverage ionizing radiation to support innovation in healthcare. By adding to our portfolio through acquisitions and strengthening our proven technologies, as weve done with our new InstadoseVUE dosimeter, we continue to build on the depth and breadth of our medical portfolio, said Thomas Logan, Mirion CEO.

RSNA attendees can gain insights on these products and more in Mirion Medical booth #6328 at RSNA.

About Mirion

Mirion is a global leader in radiation safety, science and medicine, empowering innovations that deliver vital protection while harnessing the transformative potential of ionizing radiation across a diversity of end markets. The Mirion Technologies group provides proven radiation safety technologies that operate with precision  for essential work within R&D labs, critical nuclear facilities, and on the front lines. The Mirion Medical group solutions help enhance the delivery and ensure safety in healthcare, powering the fields of Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy QA, Occupational Dosimetry, and Diagnostic Imaging. Headquartered in Atlanta (GA  USA), Mirion employs approximately 2,700 people and operates in 12 countries. Learn more at: mirion.com.

InstadoseVUE, IQphan, RapidCHECK, Captus, CRC, Sound Pro, Numa, Sun Nuclear, Capintec, Biodex and Mirion Dosimetry Services are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mirion Technologies, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231125158901/en/

For investor inquiries:

Jerry Estes

[email protected]

For media inquiries:

Erin Schesny

[email protected]

Source: Mirion
MACAO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 2023 Shenzhen New Energy Vehicle Industry (Macao) Conference was held on 22nd November at the Wynn Palace in Macao. It comprehensively showcased the achievements of Shenzhen's new energy vehicle industry development and promoted the market-oriented, rule-of-law, and internationalized business environment in Shenzhen. The event welcomed and encouraged various sectors in Macao to seize the opportunities for the development of China's new energy vehicle industry. Mr. Wang Shourui, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Yang Hao, Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macau SAR, Zhang Zuowen, Director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Zan Dong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum (Macao) (appointed by Portuguese-speaking countries), Jiang Likun, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen, and representatives from various sectors of government and business in Shenzhen and Macao, totaling nearly a hundred people, attended the event.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231125273104/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

Vice Mayor Wang Shourui emphasized that transitioning to new energy vehicles represents the sole pathway for China to evolve from merely a large automotive manufacturer to an automotive powerhouse. The new energy vehicles serve as a fresh avenue for transforming, elevating, and fostering high-quality growth within China's automotive sector. For eight consecutive years, China has maintained the top spot globally in both the production and sales of new energy vehicles. Shenzhen, a pinnacle and exemplar city in the new energy vehicle realm. The city has a population of 860,000 new energy vehicles, achieving a penetration rate surpassing 60%, a leading position worldwide. Given the ongoing development in the scientific and technological evolution, Shenzhen aims to leverage its industrial strengths in high-tech clustering. Simultaneously, Macao seeks to maximize its position as a gateway for Greater Bay Area with its global connectivity. Collaboratively, Shenzhen and Macao aim to harness their respective strengths, enhancing multi-faceted cooperation, particularly in the new energy vehicle industry. Their joint endeavour to explore international markets promises to significantly contribute to enriching the "one country, two systems" framework and expediting the attainment of advanced scientific and technological self-reliance.

Director Zhang Zuowen commented that the automotive industry is transitioning toward green, digital, and intelligent advancements. Shenzhen's automotive sector has spearheaded the progress in developing new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, leading China in advocating for and implementing new energy vehicle technology. Its robust competitiveness in key technological innovation continues to grow. Within the context of the high-caliber collaborative efforts shaping the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and guided by the operational framework of the Shenzhen-Macao Cooperation Conference and the Special Cooperation Class, Macao intends to fully leverage the institutional advantages afforded by the "one country, two systems" model. Macao also aims to amplify the role of its "Connect the World" business cooperation service platform. This involves deepening collaboration with Shenzhen across multiple fronts, including new energy vehicles, ecological preservation, and environmental protection. The objective is to aid Shenzhen's new energy vehicles in exploring global markets, particularly those in Portuguese-speaking countries, while supporting the advancement of Shenzhen's new energy vehicle industry and the establishment of a "new generation world-class automotive city."

Deputy Secretary-General Zandong highlighted that Portuguese-speaking countries possess strategic geographical locations and abundant natural resources, presenting significant potential for economic development. Their economic and trade ties with China are progressively deepening, fostering expansive prospects for collaboration. China's new energy automobile industry is rapidly gaining recognition in the global automotive industry for its advance technology development. The conference gathering offers a rare opportunity for Portuguese-speaking countries to grasp the dynamics within Shenzhen's new energy vehicle industry and seize the developmental possibilities it offers. The Permanent Secretariat of the Forum between China and Portuguese-speaking countries pledges to remain a facilitative platform for fostering exchanges and cooperation between China and these nations. It aims to support both Shenzhen and Macao in actively expanding their market presence within Portuguese-speaking countries. Furthermore, it intends to comprehensively fortify economic and trade cooperation across various sectors with these nations.

Director Jiang Likun emphasized that the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area stands as a significant national strategy personally envisioned, planned, and advocated by President Xi Jinping. This conference centers on the theme of "expanding the global market presence of this new energy vehicles" and aims to promote high quality advancement of new energy automotive industry within the Greater Bay Area. Shenzhen will intensely focus on the objective of establishing an international hub for science and technology innovation within the Greater Bay Area. It is determined to grasp firmly the developmental necessities of the "20+8" industrial cluster. Additionally, it aims to enhance understanding among Hong Kong, Macao, and the global community regarding Shenzhen's industrial policies, investment milieu, and its future developmental. The goal is to encourage Hong Kong and Macao to actively participate in the holistic development of the country. This collective endeavour is to spearhead development of advance technology hub in the Greater Bay Area for both domestic and international market growth in tandem. Thereby the vision is contributing significantly to the establishment of an advance world-class bay area.

At the event, the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology presented the "Shenzhen Three-Year Action Plan (2023-2025)" aimed at expediting the creation of a "New Generation of World-Class Automobile City." Additionally, six companies, including BYD Co., Ltd., Skyworth Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen University, Hongde Automobile Industry Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Bihu New Energy Automobile Technology Co., Ltd., Dahang Science and Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Infineon Technology Co., Ltd., delivered specialized speeches on the new energy vehicle industry's development.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231125273104/en/

Shenzhen People's Government Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office

[email protected]

Source: Shenzhen People's Government Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office
With a bright new modern-designed restaurant and seasonally inspired menu, Moxies Kenaston showcases its glow-up.





WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MOXIES is delighted to welcome back guests to its newly renovated location at 1620 Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg. Elevating the dining experience, Moxies menu offers high-quality made-in-house food and drinks created using the freshest ingredients. The upscale casual restaurant has been fully transformed. It is perfectly poised to accommodate locals, out-of-town diners, and cocktail connoisseurs with its trademark signature ambiance and top-tier service.



Situated in the Kenaston Common, the latest location renovation includes lush greenery, marble walls, gold accents, and modern art throughout the restaurant. At 7500 square feet, the venue has a light bright interior space with interior seating for 220 guests and 100 on the outdoor patio, ensuring plenty of flexible options for any party or private dining event.







We are so excited to share our modernized look with new and returning guests. With elevated hospitality and a renovated room filled with fresh energy, there is no better place to celebrate with friends and family, stop by for a drink after work, or just come in to say hi to a familiar face. At Moxies, we truly believe that once you walk through that front door, you will be glad you did, shares Anton Pradinuk, Regional Manager, Moxies Winnipeg.



The re-opening of our Kenaston location marks an energizing new chapter for Moxies and our incredible loyal guests in Winnipeg," shares Joanne Forrester, President, and COO. As a big part of the local community, we are very excited to introduce a newly refreshed menu, beautifully bright renovated space, and provide an unforgettable dining experience."







Director of Culinary and Beverage Chef Brandon Thordarson is excited to bring his passion and knowledge of the brand through a curated menu of artfully crafted, fresh flavours exclusive to Moxies. Diners can expect an extensive modern menu containing one-of-a-kind, crave-able dishes made in-house daily and exceptional cocktails that look just as delicious as they taste.



Moxies globally inspired menu includes standout dishes that the brand is renowned for, including the Tuna Sushi Stack, with sushi grade tuna, seasoned rice, avocado, mango, soy ginger glaze, spicy mayo, and seasoned prawn crackers; Thai Curry Laska made with house-made creamy coconut broth, mushrooms, rice noodles, and fresh vegetables; and Chipotle Mango Chicken with house-made chipotle seasoning, ancient grains, seasonal vegetables, avocado and salsa.







Guests can expect a wide selection of margaritas, handcrafted cocktails, and a curated wine list featuring some of Canada's finest selections. Happy Hour runs daily with the addition of half-priced bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Drink highlights include the Ginger Peach Smash, Lavender Lemonade, and the famous Marky Marg made with Flecha Azul Blanco tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, pineapple syrup & fresh basil.



Moxies has been a staple in the Southside of Winnipeg for quite some time now. Since day one, we have built up a list of loyal regulars and families who visit us and have now gotten to the point that we are a part of their daily routine. Our re-opening gives us a great opportunity to elevate our look and hospitality for our guests, shares Daniel Magundayao, General Manager, Moxies Kenaston.







Moxies will welcome visitors seven days a week and open late on Fridays and Saturdays, with Happy Hour available from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and 9:00 p.m.  Close (Daily).



For more information, visit www.moxies.com, and follow MOXIES on Instagram @moxies



About Moxies

Moxies, a premium casual Canadian concept owned by Northland Properties and Dallas Stars proprietor Tom Gaglardi, is well-known for delivering a uniquely stylish and relaxed guest experience through its blend of high-end design, uncompromising food and beverage items, and a friendly, energetic approach to hospitality. The menu at Moxies offers globally inspired flavours with fresh, high-quality ingredients made fresh in-house. Moxies serves lunch, dinner, happy hour, and a late-night menu seven days a week and weekend brunch at over 58 restaurant locations across Canada and in the United States, including Boston, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Scottsdale, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c005b2bf-9d40-4fe6-bff2-0cace2367c23

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Ebene, Mauritius--(Newsfile Corp. - November 24, 2023) - Virtual Pay Group ('Virtual Pay'), a leading global payment and technology service provider, announces the formal establishment of its headquarters in Mauritius. This move marks a significant milestone in Virtual Pay's commitment to enhancing its global presence and strengthening its position as a key player in the payments industry. An official launching ceremony was held in the presence of Mr Dhanesswurnath Thakoor, Chief Executive of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), along with other distinguished guests, on Friday, November 17, at the Hennessy Park Hotel, Ebne.

The decision to establish its global headquarters in Mauritius is driven by the country's robust regulatory framework, skilled workforce and proactive approach to fostering innovation and economic growth. Strategically located between Asia and Africa, Mauritius is a choice gateway for investment into Africa, and Virtual Pay aims to leverage this advantage to continue in its global growth strategy, entrenching itself as a key player in the global payment ecosystem.

Mr David Morema, Virtual Pay Group CEO, shared his optimism, stating, "Mauritius presents a well-regulated and dynamic business landscape for financial technology innovation, and we are excited to establish our global headquarters in this vibrant market. Our primary goal is to empower businesses and their clients with seamless, secure, and efficient payment solutions."

Mr Dhanesswurnath Thakoor, Chief Executive of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), expressed enthusiasm about Virtual Pay Group's choice of Mauritius as its Global Headquarters, stating, "We welcome Virtual Pay to Mauritius and commend their contribution to the growth and efficiency of the financial ecosystem. This strategic move is a testament to our country's sound strategy when it comes to developing our financial services sector. We are more than ever committed to fostering technological advancements in this industry, whose growth potential is immense."

The Honourable Renganaden Padayachy, Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, Republic of Mauritius, said in a statement, "The Virtual Pay Group's decision to establish its head office in Mauritius is proof of the confidence that our international financial centre inspires. It demonstrates that the measures implemented in recent years to strengthen our regulatory environment and stimulate innovation are bearing fruit. Based on our positioning, we can expect other companies of this calibre to choose Mauritius to set up their headquarters and manage their operations throughout Africa and beyond."

The launch marks another milestone for Virtual Pay Group which has consistently demonstrated its commitment to providing innovative payment solutions to merchants on a global scale. The company expresses gratitude to its employees, clients, and stakeholders for their continued support and looks forward to a sustained business growth.

About Virtual Pay International:

Virtual Pay Group is a leading payment and technology service provider with innovative payment solutions, offering a wide range of solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses worldwide. The company is committed to expanding its global footprint and contributing to the evolution of the financial landscape.

Virtual Pay is regulated in Mauritius by the Financial Services Commission, in Kenya by The Central Bank Of Kenya, in Rwanda by The National Bank of Rwanda, in Tanzania by the Bank of Tanzania and in Dubai by the Department of Economy and Tourism.

Contact Info:

Name: Anthony Migui, Head Of Strategic Alliances, and Growth, Virtual Pay Group

Email: [email protected]

Organization: Virtual Pay International

Address: 01, Level 2, The Catalyst, Ebene, Mauritius

Phone: +254 756 441 826 | +230 525 36943

Website: http://www.virtual-pay.io

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188624
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

With its mission to cultivate global connection, Immerse is pioneering an all-new VR language learning platform that blends human interaction, cutting-edge virtual reality, and artificial intelligence in a groundbreaking approach to language learning.



Immerse, the global leader in social VR language education, has unveiled a transformative and immersive language learning platform developed by experts to revolutionize how adults go from zero to speaking fluency 4x faster than traditional methods.

Established in 2017 by "Forbes 30 under 30" entrepreneur Quinn Taber, Immerse uniquely blends human expertise, cutting-edge virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). This extraordinary combination allows Immerse to offer a unique educational experience featuring both live lessons and conversation events, as well as AI-driven language practice scenarios.

From Humble Beginnings to Global Impact

Immerse started by teaching refugees in the Middle East. "As I met with aid workers and entrepreneurs and refugees, I learned that language learning was the biggest blocker to their development and that access to quality English education was sparse," shared Taber, whose mom is Iranian with a rich family history in the ancient capital city of Esfahan.

Born in Paris, Taber was raised by parents who were heavily involved in various social development projects in the Middle East. After moving to the US to study Middle Eastern History and Religion, he raised $600,000 and created a team to build a VR-powered language teaching and learning platform.

After realizing the greater significance of VR language learning post-pandemic, Taber shared, "Immerse has gone from a nice-to-have to mission-critical."

Immersive Language Learning For All

Immerse takes language learning far beyond the vocabulary building and sentence translation of most language learning platforms.

Immerse provides unlimited access to fun, immersive, low-stakes language learning opportunities focused on genuine communication. Every class, conversation event, game and AI practice scenario emphasizes speaking practice in order to guide learners gently along the path to conversational fluency in a new language.

The platform has led the way in helping thousands of adults, from five of the seven continents, escape from the sentence construction activities typical of classrooms and Duolingo-style apps and become confident speakers in Spanish, French, and English. .

Immerse's new platform is built on five fundamental principles: Learn, Connect, Practice, Play, and Grow. All these elements work together to provide students with the type of rich learning experience necessary to truly acquire conversational fluency in a language. The pinnacle of learning a new language is being thrown into a situation and being able to confidently communicate meaning and personality in spoken form, so everything in Immerse equips members to engage in real communication tasks in authentic virtual environments like giving directions, expressing a preference, or making an appropriate apology.

"This isn't just about learning phrases," said Christian Rowe, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Immerse. "We empower learners how to confidently communicate in real-life situations."

The platform's VR language learning includes classes, events, games, and AI conversation practice in English, Spanish, and French which can be accessing using a desktop computer or Meta Quest virtual reality (VR) headset.

A Milestone Partnership and Unique Offerings

Immerse recently became an official Meta education partner, underscoring its solid commitment to elevating language learning in the tech scene. Immerse is the only full immersion language learning platform that offers both live lessons and conversation events facilitated by expert teachers, and AI-powered speaking practice and language learning games.

According to Taber, this also paved the way for its separate donor-funded project in partnering with impact schools across the Middle East and North Africa. Taber added, "For the first time, students who never had access to an English teacher, much less never dreamt of being in the US, can don a Virtual Reality headset and meet with a real-life English teacher in the most exciting virtual locations on Earth."

The young CEO and founder said the two most important tech trends of the decade, AI and the metaverse, are "beginning to look like two powerful ocean swells that then combine to create the perfect wave." He added, "It is time for us educators to grab our surfboard and get ready for the ride of our life!'"

In recent months, the Immerse team has won over a dozen international awards for its platform, including being a two-time 2023 VR Awards and Webby Awards winner, and the company has been featured in Forbes, Road to VR, and over 50 other publications.

Those who want to learn more about the platform's immersive language learning progrmas for personal or corporate training needs can visit https://www.immerse.com for more information.

About Immerse

Founded in 2017, Immerse is an award-winning social VR language education platform designed by experts to help learners confidently speak a new language in any situation. By combining human-powered teaching, virtual reality technology, and artificial intelligence, Immerse is pioneering the new age of language education for learners across the globe.





Contact Info:

Name: Christian Rowe - Growth Team

Email: Send Email

Organization: Immerse

Website: https://www.immerse.com/



Release ID: 89113996

In the event of any inaccuracies, problems, or queries arising from the content shared in this press release, we encourage you to notify us immediately at [email protected]. Our diligent team will be readily available to respond and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any identified issues or assist with removal requests. Ensuring the provision of high-quality and precise information is paramount to us.
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.



Friday, November 17th, marked a special Thanksgiving initiative as Yes I Can, led by CEO Simcha Feller, teamed up with Bishop Michell Taylors Urban Upbound Annual Turkey Run.

Urban Upbound is dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty in New York City public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. Every year Bishop Mitchell Taylor holds a Turkey Run before thanksgiving where his organization - Urban Upbound - gives out turkeys to families that might not be able to afford one themselves.



In a generous move, Feller gave out essential school supplies to students in Ravenswood and Queensbridge housing communities, emphasizing the importance of education beyond the holiday feast.



Feller expresses, "This Thanksgiving, let's gift not just a meal (Turkey) but the tools for success to every student."



Urban Upbound expresses its gratitude upon the discovery of Feller's remarkable initiative. Feller's dedication to the community shines through the preparation of over 1200 knapsacks, each thoughtfully equipped with essential school supplies, including a notebook and pen, tailored for every student residing in the housing communities.



While these may appear as simple items, their impact resonates significantly for students facing financial constraints, ensuring they have the necessary tools to thrive academically despite challenging circumstances.

The benevolence demonstrated by Feller extends beyond the immediate provision of school supplies. Yes I Can, recognizing the value of fostering lasting connections, eagerly looks ahead to a continued partnership with Urban Upbound. In an exciting development, plans are underway for Professional Developments scheduled for early next year.



Renowned and licensed counselors are set to take the lead in conducting seminars focused on mental health and various Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) initiatives. This collaborative effort aims to empower and uplift the community by addressing crucial aspects of personal well-being and community support.

Professional Developments mark a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between Yes I Can and Urban Upbound. These initiatives underscore the commitment of both organizations to holistic community development, with a focus not only on immediate needs but also on the long-term well-being of individuals within the housing communities.



Through these efforts, Yes I Can seeks to create a positive and sustainable impact, fostering resilience, and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.



About Yes I Can:



Acclaimed nationwide, Yes I Can is steadfast in its mission to uplift students facing learning disabilities. Co-founded by Ruchi and Simcha Feller, the enterprise champions comprehensive solutions, promotes collaboration, and regularly upgrades its training modules. With ambitious plans for growth, Yes I Can remains in line in its dedication to ensure every child's academic success.



For more information visit www.yesicanservices.com.



Contact Info:

Name: Zachary Levi

Email: Send Email

Organization: Yes I Can

Website: https://yesicanservices.com



Release ID: 89113794

In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers.
VANCOUVER, BC , Nov. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Asep Medical Holdings Inc. ("Asep Inc." or the "Company") (CSE: ASEP) (OTCQB: SEPSF) (FSE: JJ8) is pleased to announce that the Company's AI-based sepsis diagnostic technology, called SepsetER TM, has received successful patent approval in the United States . The Company received confirmation from its attorneys of its US Patent Application No. 16/279788, which has been subsequently validated in the US, representing 332 million people. This patent is in addition to the successful European and Australian patents awarded to the Company in November of 2022, which represent approximately 400 million people.

The US patent, granted on August 18, 2023 , is exclusively licensed to Asep Inc.'s subsidiary Sepset Biosciences Inc. and validates the Company's unique AI-based approach to sepsis diagnosis, a disease that globally causes more than 11 million deaths annually. SepsetER TM is a blood-based gene expression assay developed under the direction of leading UBC microbiologist and Asep Inc.'s Founder, Chair & CEO, Dr. Robert E. W. Hancock . The test enables earlier and faster risk assessment of sepsis and enables targeted treatment. Sepsis is also the cause of death in most patients with severe COVID-19.

The patents also provide a solid foundation for the Company's business since the test is in advanced development and in preparation for formal clinical 510(k) studies in the United States . Since the SepsetER signature has already been validated and refined in more than 700 sepsis and severe COVID-19 patients to date, the Company is looking to duplicate this in a formal trial. In the diagnostics area, the 510(k) route involves a single clinical study that, if successful, will lead to approval by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Once approved, the test will be marketed for use in emergency rooms and intensive care units worldwide, enabling physicians to make early informed decisions about patient care that will improve prognosis and survival.

The SepsetER TM test senses the dysfunctional immune response underlying sepsis when patients first enter the emergency room. The test is a blood-based gene expression assay that is straightforward to implement using equipment available in most hospital labs, and results are obtained in about 60-90 minutes. Current diagnostic tools deliver results after approximately 8-36 hours, often delaying the initiation of treatment. SepsetER TM is designed to enable physicians to quickly predict how severe the disease will become and thus trigger urgent patient treatment.

CEO Dr. Robert E. W. Hancock stated, "Patents are the lifeblood of biotechnology companies like ours. This new patent in the US once again validates the novelty of our technology in major markets, which now represents over 700 million people."

ABOUT ASEP MEDICAL HOLDINGS INC.

Asep Medical Holdings Inc. (www.asepmedical.com) is dedicated to addressing the global issue of antibiotic failure by developing novel solutions for significant unmet medical needs in human medicine. The Company is a consolidation of three existing private companies, all with technology in advanced development  Sepset Biosciences Inc. (proprietary diagnostic tools to enable the early and timely identification of sepsis), ABT Innovations Inc. (broad-spectrum therapeutic agents to address multi-drug resistant biofilm infections), and SafeCoat Medical Inc. (an antibacterial peptide medical device coating technology).

Sepset Biosciences Inc. (www.sepset.ca) is in the final stages of preparation for clinical studies and commercialization of an in vitro diagnostic test that involves a patient gene expression signature that helps assess the development of severe sepsis, one of the significant diseases leading to antibiotic failure since antibiotics are the primary initial treatment for sepsis. Sepsis was responsible for nearly 20% of all deaths on the planet in 2017 and essentially all deaths due to COVID-19 and other pandemics. The SepsetER test is a blood-based gene expression assay that is straightforward to implement, and results are obtained about an hour after taking a blood sample in the emergency room or intensive care unit. This proprietary diagnostic technology differs from current diagnostic tests, enabling the risk assessment for progression to severe sepsis within ~60 minutes of initiating the test. Bacterial culture, the gold standard, provides results after ~15 hours but can be as long as three days. Asep Inc. believes its test will enable critical early decisions to be made by physicians regarding appropriate therapies and thus reduce overall morbidity and mortality due to sepsis.

ABT Innovations Inc.'s (www.abtinnovations.ca) peptide technology covers a broad range of therapeutic applications, including bacterial biofilm infections (dental, wound, sinusitis, skin, medical device infections, chronic infections, lung, bladder, ear-nose and throat, orthopaedic, etc.), anti-inflammatories, anti-infective immune-modulators and vaccine adjuvants. The company is in the pre-clinical development phase with promising data for the first three indications.

SafeCoat Medical Inc.'s (www.safecoatmedical.com) technology encompasses anti-fouling self-assembling polymers combined with conjugated antimicrobial peptides, which can be applied to various surfaces as antimicrobial and anti-fouling coatings. In particular, the invention relates to coatings that may be applied to multiple medical devices and implants, and feasibility has been demonstrated in animal models. The company's expertise also encompasses the methods for manufacturing and applying these anti-bacterial coatings.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "plan," "continue," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "may," "will," "potential," "proposed," "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements include but are not limited to the successful clinical testing of our Sepsis in vitro diagnostic test and its intended filing for regulatory market authorization; the Company not receiving regulatory market authorization as planned or at all; the undertaking of pre-clinical studies on our lead therapeutic, with the expectation that this will lead to fast-track clinical trials; the timeframe for identification of sepsis with the company's products; the potential opportunities for the generation of revenue; the therapeutic benefits of the company's products; and other statements regarding the company's proposed business plans. Various assumptions were used in drawing conclusions or making the predictions contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks including the risk that the company's products may not perform as expected; that the company may not receive the requisite regulatory market authorization or results of testing; the Company's testing of the products may not be successful and market authorization may not be obtained in the estimated timelines or at all; the company may not be able to generate revenue from its products as expected or at all; the market for the company's products may not be as described in this news release; and various other risk factors identified in the Asep Medical Inc.'s prospectus dated November 9, 2021 , and in the company's management discussion and analysis, available for review under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Asep Medical Inc. is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asep-medical-holdings-inc-is-granted-patent-approval-for-its-ai-based-sepsis-diagnostic-technology-in-the-us-301997372.html

SOURCE ASEP Medical Holdings Inc.
Derek Chauvin at his trial for the killing of George Floyd. POOL (Pool via REUTERS)

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer serving a 22-and-a-half-year sentence for killing George Floyd, was seriously injuring in a stabbing this Friday in a medium-security federal prison in Tucson, Arizona. Chauvin was attacked by another inmate, according to the Associated Press. The agency said emergency responders improvised life-saving measures for Chauvin, 47, before he was taken to a hospital.

The name of Chauvins attacker has not been released by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which admitted in a brief statement that an inmate, whom they did not identify, was attacked this Friday around 12:30 at the Federal Correctional Institution of Tucson. Responding employees isolated and contained the incident and at no time was the public in danger, states the message from federal authorities. Visits to the prison have been suspended, for now. The FBI is investigating the events.

It is not the first mishap in the prison in which Chauvin is serving his sentence. In November of last year, an inmate in the medium-security area got hold of a gun and threatened to kill a visitor. The man fired the gun, but it malfunctioned and no one was injured.

Chauvin was transferred to Tucson in August 2022 from a maximum security state prison in Minnesota, where he spent most of his time in solitary confinement in a nine-square-foot cell for his own safety. The federal prison in Arizona has a population of 266 inmates who are divided into maximum and medium security systems.

Chauvin is serving two sentences simultaneously, a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyds civil rights and a 22-year state sentence for second-degree murder.

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pressed a knee on his neck for 9 minutes on the street outside a convenience store where Floyd was suspected of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.The man said at least 25 times that he couldnt breathe. The killing, captured on video by a woman passing by, sparked months of protests in various parts of the world and raised racial tension during the administration of Donald Trump.
HAIKOU, China , Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The AIIC 2023 Alcohol Innovation and Investment Conference ("AIIC 2023"), aptly themed " Profound Changes : Breakthrough and Rebirth" and held in Haikou , Hainan province from November 18th to 20th , has been widely viewed as a resounding success. This year's event focused not only on innovation and investment, but also on the evolving challenges and shifts within the alcohol. As a gathering point for innovative ideas and collaborative efforts, the conference has firmly established itself as a vital platform for boosting confidence, imparting insightful theories, charting new courses, and arming stakeholders with actionable strategies and solutions. The event has been instrumental in steering the industry towards high-quality growth at this crucial juncture.

AIIC 2023 featured an array of activities, including the plenary session, a roundtable on alcohol region sustainability, another on alcohol innovation and investment, as well as forums on marketing and technology, and business and creativity. With over 100 expert speakers, the conference delved into variety of pertinent topics, including the evolution of the industry and commerce, the sustainability of alcohol appellations, investment strategies, international market expansion, marketing strategies, the role of AI in technological advancements, and distinct competitive approaches. The event was further enriched by the AIIC Friends Meeting, AIIC Theme Night and 20 parallel sessions. The lineup of activities drew participants from over 10 countries and regions, including leaders from more than 20 associations, over 500 corporate executives, and 2,500 individuals from both within and allied to the alcohol. The conference also unveiled five inaugural reports on the alcohol, resulting from collaborations with renowned entities such as Alibaba's subsidiary Lingyang, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), RIES, Alibaba's TaoTian Group, and Youzan.

AIIC 2023's exhibition space was expanded to 20,000 square meters, featuring dedicated zones for liquor-producing regions, premium brands, and marketing and creative services. The conference drew close to 150 globally recognized brands, including Wuliangye, Fenjiu, China Resources Beer, Xifengjiu, Quanxing and Shanghai Guijiu, and welcomed delegations from Moldova , Georgia , Zunyi and Gulin, four of the world's emerging alcohol-producing regions. In a notable first, the event showcased over 30 domestic and international whisky brands, establishing a special area exclusively for whisky exhibitions.

At AIIC 2023 marked the debut of the Hainan Alcohol and Lifestyle Carnival, an event brimming with interactive activities. Highlights included the MBTI Slightly Drunk Party and the City Drink event. The French Consulate and the Georgian Embassy enhanced the event by hosting "Master Classes" led by leading alcohol experts. In tandem, the exhibition area buzzed with activity as various renowned groups and brands, among them, Loch Lomond Group ( China ), Kentucky Owl Wiseman , Master of Malt, Laizhou Distillery and SPEY Whiskey, offered their own master classes.

During its three-day exhibition, AIIC 2023 saw an impressive turnout of some 20,000 visitors, predominantly professionals from various sectors of the industry. The dynamic interactions and negotiations between suppliers and buyers provided a compelling showcase for the alcoholic beverage industry, while also bolstering the confidence of participants across the upstream and downstream supply chain. This optimistic environment has heightened expectations among industry professionals for the recovery and growth of the food and beverage market.

The inaugural Newcomers Festival stood out as one of the key innovations of AIIC 2023, bringing together over 100 mainstream alcohol brands. The festival also featured a live commerce segment, and a supply and procurement matchmaking session, aimed at both emerging brands and exhibitors. Both events facilitated strong connections between suppliers and buyers by highlighting practicality and effectiveness, providing precise matchmaking, and capitalizing on the "cornucopia effect". A highlight of the festival was a 9-hour live broadcast by Lafeige, Jiuxian.com's top live stream host and a prominent figure in alcohol live commerce, which reached an audience of 3 million. The broadcast captivated nearly 500,000 viewers, with an average viewing time exceeding 3 minutes, and generated over 2 million yuan in sales. Additionally, a short-form video tied to the event garnered over 300,000 views. Furthermore, the AIIC Innovation Exhibition and Newcomers Festival recorded some 5,000 inquiries, reflecting heightened interest in the emerging talents and trends within the alcohol sector.

The Alcohol Innovation and Investment Competition saw a remarkable surge in participation, with the number of entries topping 1,000. This competition, with an emphasis on fostering innovation and encouraging investment, represents a first for the industry. In addition to presenting seven annual awards, it featured a prestigious Future Award. The grand prize, a cash sum of 500,000 yuan was awarded to Mishan's plum alcohol project.

AIIC 2023's success significantly contributes to China's economic objective of reviving and broadening consumption. The conference also serves as a strategic initiative to chart a course toward sustainable and robust growth for the industry during a period of transition. Future editions will uphold AIIC's commitment to innovation and investment, aiming to support manufacturers and cultivate partnerships within the alcohol. Importantly, the AIIC 2024 Alcohol Innovation and Investment Conference is already scheduled to convene in Haikou , Hainan in November 2024 . Stay tuned for upcoming updates.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charting-new-paths-in-a-transforming-landscape-aiic-2023-alcohol-innovation-and-investment-conference-closes-with-breakthrough-insights-301997427.html

SOURCE Alcohol Innovation & Investment Conference 2023
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif

NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 21st century, we cannot tolerate the rape and abduction of girls and women, forced child marriage, and the continued denial of any human rights and equality to girls and women everywhere.

We must take stronger action to end violence against girls and women through the UN 16 Days of Activism campaign  running from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (25 November) until Human Rights Day (10 December). We urge leaders everywhere to take firm, concrete action to put all the human rights of girls and women  especially their right to 12 years of safe, quality education  at the forefront of the international agenda.

This year's theme is 'Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls.' By investing in safe schools, protective learning environments, and mental health and psychosocial support  through holistic, quality education that empowers girls to be confident of their rights and have the power to claim them  we can truly empower an entire generation of future women leaders.

Investing in girls' education also contributes towards achieving the binding commitments enshrined in the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must act now. Every minute, 22 girls are forced into child marriage, and about 21% of girls worldwide are married before they turn 18. Now is the time to fully invest in the education of girls so they can become child scholars, not child brides.

Globally, an estimated 736 million women  almost one in three  have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. It is time to be loud and clear that no woman or girl can be subjected to any violation of their dignity, rights, freedoms and their person.

Now is the time to end reckless governance in the world that results in armed conflicts and flagrant violations of International Humanitarian Law. We must act collectively to ensure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza , where the humanitarian system is facing near total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2.2 million civilians, including 788,800 girls and women who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.

We must be moved to action by their words: "I saw dead bodies lying on the street. My mom told me to close my eyes, but I couldn't. I was so scared," said an 11-year-old girl at an UNRWA school. We cannot close our eyes to armed conflicts or violations of human rights and humanitarian law anywhere in the world.

We cannot close our eyes to the denial of human rights in Afghanistan , where girls are banned from attending secondary school and university because of their gender. We cannot close our eyes to insecurity and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or any other country where girls are abducted, raped, killed in inter-ethnic clashes and denied their humanity.

Just as the world can make war and oppress girls and women, we also have the same capacity to make peace and empower girls and women. The choice is ours. The choice we make as a human family will determine who we are and how far we have come as a human species.

Meanwhile, we who have chosen human dignity and moral responsibility will continue to invest in the education and the unbreakable spirit of girls and women everywhere. Our investment in education is our investment in their courage, resilience, brilliance, strength and fortitude. For the sake of 8 billon members of humanity. But we can't do it alone. We are all in this together.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/end-violence-against-women-301995400.html

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
This IPL hair removal system combines professional salon-grade technology with the convenience of at-home use, achieving salon-level results in three weeks. It's also FDA-approved for users' safety.

NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beauty brand NAISIGOO announces the launch of the latest IPL hair removal device, The Shiner, on November 25, 2023 . NAISIGOO results from its parent brand, MYCHWAY, a salon-grade beauty equipment supplier. It seamlessly combines professional-grade technology with at-home ease, allowing users to achieve salon-level results in just three weeks.

Beauty is born of confidence. NAISIGOO founders, Mr. and Mrs. Zhai , care about their staff suffering from PCOS hirsutism. NAISIGOO insists on empowering those facing PCOS hirsutism and body hair challenges, making managing body hair easier and helping them find their natural confidence.

Effective - Salon-level Results in 3 Weeks

The Shiner combines salon expertise with home convenience and privacy. It reduces hair growth effectively, and in three weeks, it delivers salon-quality hair removal results.

Safe - FDA-approved

The Shiner is FDA-approved, guaranteeing users' safety and meeting strict standards to ensure the well-being.

Comfy - Relaxing Hair Removal Experience

The Shiner now uses a wavelength range of 550-1200nm. This precision helps the device easily target hair follicles, making hair removal comfy and gel or cream-free. During the process, users will enjoy a refreshing, cool sensation on the skin, like the soothing feeling of ice cubes in a cup of coffee.

Moreover, with The Shiner's extended handle, people effortlessly extend their reach to those tricky areasneck and backwhen relaxing, such as watching TV, talking with friends, listening to music, etc. And if choosing to, customers can even remove hair from legs when lying down. The device provides users with exquisite control over its angle and placement, ensuring every moment of use is a comfort-driven experience.

The Shiner, normally priced at $359.99 , will have a $140 coupon for Black Friday. Please find this deal on Naisigoo.com, Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. (https://www.naisigoo.com/)

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FILE PHOTO: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during the bilateral meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 07 September 2023.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday a truce in the Israel-Hamas war marked "important progress" in the conflict, as he welcomed the release of hostages by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Hamas fighters released 24 hostages on Friday during the first day of the war's first ceasefire after guns fell silent in the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks.

"Australia welcomes the release of hostages and the pause in hostilities to allow humanitarian access to Gaza," Albanese said on social media platform X.

"Todays developments represent important progress and Australia welcomes them."

Australia's government has previously urged a pause in hostilities and has strongly criticised Hamas, while calling on Israel to exercise restraint to minimise civilian casualties.

"We have consistently called for all hostages to be released, for the protection of civilian lives and for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire and a long-term, enduring peace," Albanese said on X.

In Australia, the conflict has triggered protests from both Jewish and Palestinian groups, with thousands turning out for rallies in the country's largest cities.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
PARIS (Reuters) - A fire overnight in a residential building north of Paris killed three people and injuring eight others, including one child who was badly hurt, local police said on Saturday.

Judicial authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the blaze, which took place in the town of Stains in the Seine-Saint-Denis department and has now been extinguished, the police added.

(Reporting by Claude Chendjou; Writing by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Mark Potter)
By Hamza Ibrahim and Ahmed Kingimi

KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least 150 people, including women and children, were abducted with one person killed in a coordinated attack by gunmen on four villages in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, residents said on Saturday.

Kidnapping for ransom has become rife in northwestern Nigeria in recent years where armed gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, have targeted villages, schools, and travellers, demanding millions of naira in ransom and making it unsafe to travel by road or to farm in some areas.

The Zamfara police spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the attack, which took place late on Friday.

Residents told Reuters that gunmen on dozens of motorcycles stormed the villages of Mutunji, Kwanar-Dutse, Sabon-Garin Mahuta and Unguwar Kawo in the Maru local government area of the state.

Dankandai Musa, a resident of one of the villages, told Reuters he managed to slip away unnoticed during the chaos. But 20 members of his household were taken.

"I managed to escape after they were regrouping us and the people from the three other villages that were attacked," he said. "I fled while they were dragging us to the bush."

A local village head said Lawali Damana, leader of the gunmen, had demanded 100 million naira ($119,000) from the villages as retribution after Nigerian troops killed four of his men earlier.

"So yesterday, he came in the company of his boys and took away over a hundred people with him and we haven't heard anything from him since. One person was shot dead in the process of taking the hostages," said the village head, who didn't want to be named for fear of being targeted.

Nigeria faces numerous security challenges, including a 14-year Islamist insurgency in its northeast, separatist violence in the southeast, and frequent deadly clashes between farmers and herders in the central region.

President Bola Tinubu has yet to detail how he will tackle the insecurity. His economic reforms, including the removal of a costly petrol subsidy and freeing the naira currency, have led to a sharp increase in the cost of living, angering citizens.

($1 = 839.5400 naira)

(Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Mark Potter)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Three journalists recently kidnapped in Mexico's southern state of Guerrero have been freed unharmed after search operations by security authorities, the office of the state's attorney general said on Saturday.

Mexico is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with five killed this year, the international free-speech group, Article 19, has said.

The three journalists released on Saturday were among five people whose disappearance in the tourist town of Taxco the state attorney general's office had said this week it was investigating.

Silvia Arce and Alberto Sanchez, who lead the digital platform RedSiete, were freed early on Saturday, Article 19 said, after having been taken on Wednesday by armed men who entered the outlet's central Taxco offices.

Another journalist freed on Saturday was Marco Toledo, director of the weekly El Espectador de Taxco, authorities said.

Toledo's wife and son had also been kidnapped by five armed men who entered their home last Sunday, Article 19 said.

Although Toledo's wife has been freed, authorities are still searching for the journalist's son, the attorney-general's office said in its statement.

With a tally of 13 murdered, last year was the deadliest for journalists in Mexico since Article 19 began keeping records in 2000.

(Reporting by Adriana Barrera; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Clarence Fernandez)
Madagascar's President and a presidential candidate Andry Rajoelina flanked by his wife Mialy Rajoelina as he arrives to cast his ballot at a polling station, during the presidential election in Ambatobe, Antananarivo, Madagascar November 16, 2023. REUTER

By Lovasoa Rabary

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's incumbent leader Andry Rajoelina effectively secured a third term after the electoral body (CENI) on Saturday said he had obtained the most votes in a presidential election marked by a low turn out and an opposition boycott.

Provisional results announced by CENI at the end of tallying showed Rajoelina garnered 58.9% of the vote followed by Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a lawmaker, who got 14.4%. The country's High Constitutional Court is mandated to announce final results within nine days after the poll body declares provisional results.

"The Malagasy people have chosen the path of continuity, serenity and stability," Rajoelina, a 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ, said after results were announced.

"I thank the Malagasy people who now refuse to choose the wrong path, who no longer accept to take the path of unrest. Democracy is exercised through elections and not in the streets or through unrest."

On Friday his opponents had declared they would not accept the results.

"We cannot legitimize the results that will come out," said Hajo Andrianainarivelo, who was among 10 of the 13 candidates intially cleared to run who told voters to boycott the poll.

He said the poll had been tainted by irreularities including intimidation of polling officials and use of public resources by the ruling party, which denies the claims.

In the run up to the poll opposition protesters clashed with police on several occasions, saying Rajoelina should not have run because he acquired French nationality in 2014 - which they say automatically revokes his Malagasy one - and had created unfair election conditions.

Ten of the candidates due to run in the Nov. 16 election later asked the poll body to postpone it saying the state needed to first appoint independent officials on the electoral body. When CENI refused they decided to ask voters to boycott the poll.

Subsequently only three candidates campaigned.

Only 46.4% of the voters cast their ballots, according to CENI, with the opposition describing it as the lowest turn out in the country's history.

Rajoelina first rose to power in the Indian Ocean Island nation in a 2009 coup. He then stepped down after almost five years as leader of a transitional authority and then became president again after winning a 2018 election.

(Writing by Elias Biryabarema; editing by Alexandra Hudson)
FILE PHOTO: Malaysian opposition leader and former premier Muhyiddin Yassin speaks during an interview at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Saturday he aimed to contest the presidency of his party during internal elections next year, a day after vowing to step down from the post.

Muhyiddin had said it was time to pass the leadership of his Bersatu party to a new team, raising questions over who would lead the Malay-dominated opposition alliance as the former premier is one of its few leaders with broad appeal.

"I will stay for the last term (as Bersatu president)," Muhyiddin said in a speech at the annual meeting of Bersatu, which leads the Perikatan Nasional opposition bloc along with a conservative Islamist party.

Muhyiddin, who led Malaysia for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, said he made his decision to stay on after consulting his wife.

It remains unclear, however, if any members of Bersatu will challenge him for the presidency during next year's party elections.

The opposition made inroads among Malaysia's majority ethnic-Malay Muslims during regional polls in August and last year's general election.

Its popularity among more traditional Malays and young voters is seen as a threat to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's progressive, multi-ethnic alliance.

Muhyiddin has served as president of Bersatu since its formation in 2016 and he also chairs the Perikatan Nasional opposition bloc.

(Reporting by Danial Azhar; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shakes hands with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before the bilateral meeting at the Malacanang palace in Manila, Philippines, September 8, 2023. Earvin Perias/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China.

The three-day exercises, announced by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on social media, follow discussions by the Philippines and Australia early this year on joint patrols to underscore what they say is their commitment to a rules-based order.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis.

The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tensions around naval operations.

"Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to peaceful, secure and prosperous region, where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected," Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said in a joint statement posted by Marcos.

"The first joint patrol between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines demonstrates this commitment," Marles said.

The patrols will be carried out in the West Philippine Sea, said Philippine Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, using Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine military said two of its navy vessels and five surveillance aircraft would participate, while Australia would send the frigate Toowoomba and P8-A maritime surveillance aircraft.

"This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that may follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries," Marcos said on X, the platform formerly called Twitter.

The Philippines and the United States concluded three-day joint sea and air patrols on Thursday, starting in waters near Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its own, and ending in the West Philippine Sea.

China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble. Manila insists the maritime activities are within its rights.

(Reporting by Karen Lema in Manila; Editing by William Mallard)
By Maya Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Nov 25, 2023 - 22:49 | World, All, Japan

The foreign chiefs of Japan and China reaffirmed Saturday in Busan the two countries will seek to settle a row over the ocean discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant through dialogue, the Japanese minister told reporters.

Japan's top diplomat Yoko Kamikawa, who met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi for the first time since assuming the ministerial post in September, also said they agreed on mutual visits by the two countries' foreign ministers.

Kamikawa and Wang vowed to work together toward improving strained bilateral ties in their opening remarks made in the presence of reporters. Their meeting was held ahead of trilateral talks in the South Korean port city Sunday with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin.

During the talks with Wang, which lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes, Kamikawa said she sought an immediate end to China's ban on seafood imports from Japan imposed over the Fukushima plant water release that began in late August.

"Recognizing there are differences in our respective positions, we have agreed to try to find ways to resolve issues through consultations and dialogue in a constructive manner" based on what was agreed between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, Kamikawa said

At a summit held in San Francisco, Kishida and Xi agreed to hold expert consultations on the water release. Kamikawa said the two countries will arrange such a dialogue and discuss the issue from a scientific perspective.

In his talks with Kamikawa, Wang repeated China's opposition to releasing "nuclear-contaminated" water and criticized Japan's "irresponsible actions," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He emphasized a need to build "a long-term monitoring mechanism that is comprehensive, effective and independent among all stakeholders," the ministry added.

Wang called for independent monitoring of the wastewater discharge in his talks earlier this week in Beijing with Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition. The water release prompted Beijing to impose the seafood import ban.

As for China's request, Kamikawa said she told Wang about Japan's basic principles of respecting national sovereignty as well as the authority and independence of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been conducting environmental monitoring in waters near the Fukushima plant.

The Japanese minister also said she has called for the early release of Japanese nationals detained in China for alleged espionage, as well as the removal of a buoy installed by Beijing within Japan's exclusive economic zone near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

China, which claims the islands and calls them Diaoyu, repeatedly sends ships into Japanese waters around the Senkakus.

On North Korea, which launched a military spy satellite earlier this week using banned ballistic missile technology, Kamikawa and Wang agreed to keep communicating closely with each other in the international arena, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Meanwhile, Xi has sent a message of condolence to Kishida over the death earlier this month of Daisaku Ikeda, longtime leader of the lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai and founder of Komeito, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

In the message sent Thursday, Xi hailed Ikeda's important contributions to promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Xi also expressed readiness to work with Kishida to promote a sound and steady development of bilateral relations along the right track, China's official Xinhua News Agency said.

Related coverage:

China calls for independent monitoring of treated Fukushima water

Head of Japan's Komeito party meets senior China official, seeks end of seafood ban
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Angelo Amante and Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis went to a hospital in Rome on Saturday for a scan, which the Vatican said had ruled out lung complications after a flu forced him to cancel his activities.

A Vatican statement said the 86-year-old pontiff had already returned to his residence in the Vatican after undergoing the CT scan at the Gemelli Isola hospital in central Rome early on Saturday afternoon.

Part of one of the pope's lungs was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

His next public appearance is scheduled for Sunday, when he is expected to address crowds in his weekly Angelus message in St. Peter's Square.

The pope is scheduled to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai from Dec. 1-3, where he is expected to have nearly an entire day of bilateral meetings with world leaders attending the event.

Earlier this month, Francis skipped reading a prepared speech for a meeting with European rabbis because he had a cold, but he appeared to be in good health during a meeting with children just hours later.

In June, he had surgery on an abdominal hernia, spending nine days in hospital. He appears to have recovered fully from that operation.

On Saturdays, he usually holds regular meetings with Vatican officials, including a weekly one with the head of the Vatican department that oversees the appointment of bishops, as well as private audiences.

His agenda this Saturday included a meeting scheduled with the president of Guinea Bissau.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella and Angelo AmanteEditing by Mark Potter and Helen Popper)
FILE PHOTO: People wait for Portugal's Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Rui Rio to arrive for a campaign rally for Portugal's snap elections, in Lisbon, Portugal, January 17, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

By Catarina Demony

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's main opposition leader vowed on Saturday to lower income tax for young people and gradually increase state pensions if he wins a snap election called earlier this month after the country's prime minister stepped down.

Portuguese Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on Nov. 7 over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lithium, hydrogen and data centre deals.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called an election for March 10.

A poll by Intercampus showed on Friday that Costa's Socialist Party, which will elect a new leader next month, with 23.6% of the vote and centre-right opposition Social Democrats (PSD) with 21.9%. Other polls show PSD ahead.

According to Friday's poll, PSD would need the support of far-right party Chega to establish a government but party leader Luis Montenegro has so far ruled out any such alliance.

Often criticised for lacking political charisma, Montenegro acknowledged at a party congress on Saturday that some believed he had to be "more energetic and sharp" and promised to give his all in the race for premiership.

"Let's get to work, let's go to the streets," said the 50-year-old. "We are the only alternative that counts ... anyone who wants a change in government ... has to vote for the PSD."

Montenegro said the PSD would release its full party programme in due course but said some of its proposals would include lowering income tax for those under 35 and free daycare and pre-school for all.

In a bid to attract older voters, Montenegro said the PSD would not "cut one cent from any pension" and that they would gradually increase. The minimum monthly monetary benefit for low-income pensioners should be 820 euros ($894.37) by 2028, he said.

He said it was important to attract migrants to Portugal to help solve its demographic challenges, saying the "door shouldn't be wide open nor locked," adding: "It is necessary to regulate and dignify."

Montenegro, a lawyer, seemed to be making an indirect reference to Chega, which has anti-immigration policies at the top of its political agenda. He also said it was crucial to eradicate corruption, regulate lobbying and criminalise illicit enrichment.

($1 = 0.9168 euro)

(Reporting by Catarina Demony in Lisbon; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
KYIV/GENEVA (Reuters) - Swiss President Alain Berset pledged his long-term support for Ukraine on Saturday in a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv, where he also attended an international summit on food security, the Swiss government said.

Ukraine is hosting an international summit to promote its efforts to export grain despite an ongoing Russian blockade of the Black Sea, its main export route.

"In talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President Berset stressed that Switzerland stands in solidarity with Ukraine for the long haul, even in times of multiple concurrent crises," the Swiss government said. Zelenskiy said on X that mine clearing, peace proposals and the use of profits from frozen Russian assets were also discussed.

Switzerland has previously said it has frozen some 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.5 billion) in Russian assets.

During the trip Berset also visited Bucha where many civilians were killed in the early stages of the war and laid flowers at a memorial in Kyiv for the Soviet-era Holodomor, when millions of Ukrainian peasants starved to death.

Berset also said Switzerland would provide additional aid to the country, supplying 10 more ambulances and six fire engines to replace damaged ones.

Switzerland, which has the principle of neutrality embedded in its constitution, has nevertheless imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and joined an international call for a special tribunal to address Russia's crime of "aggression" against Ukraine. It says there is no contradiction as the legal definition of neutrality means not favouring any warring party militarily.

($1 = 0.8855 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Max Hunder in Kyiv and Emma Farge in Geneva; Editing by Mark Potter and Hugh Lawson)
Newly appointed Head of the Ukraine's State Security Service Vasyl Maliuk looks on during a session of Ukrainian parliament, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File

(Reuters) - A Ukrainian sea drone attack on Russia's Crimean bridge in July had "overturned" naval operations and forced Moscow to resort to ferries to move weaponry, the head of Ukraine's main intelligence agency said in a video broadcast on Friday.

Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said the second of two major attacks in August had seriously disrupted operations on the 19-km (12-mile) bridge, Europe's longest, and dented the notion of Russian invincibility.

"We have practically overturned the philosophy of naval operations," Maliuk said in the first of a series of televised documentaries entitled "SBU, the Special Operations of Victory."

"We have destroyed the myth of Russian invincibility. The country is a fake. The bridge is doomed. Plenty of surprises lie ahead and not just the Crimean bridge."

Maliuk outlined how the attack, endorsed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, involved five "Sea Baby" seaborne drones -- remotely controlled from Kyiv, 1000 km (600 miles) to the north.

Video clips showed a fiery explosion on the bridge and technicians cheering the outcome in a control room.

The documentary said reports submitted by agents showed that six of eight supporting structures were destroyed and two damaged and Russian forces switched to ferries to supply their troops with weapons.

Russia said the July attack killed two people on the bridge linking the Crimean peninsula with the Russian mainland by road and rail. Traffic has since been operating on the bridge, though Russian officials say repair work is still proceeding.

The bridge was completed amid great fanfare in 2018, four years after Moscow annexed the peninsula, proclaiming it Russian territory forever.

The attack on the bridge is one of a number of Ukrainian offensive actions in the Black Sea, including a missile assault on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol in September.

Zelenskiy said this month that Ukraine has seized the initiative from Russia in the Black Sea and, thanks to the use of naval drones, forced Russia's naval fleet and warships to pull back.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Josie Kao)
The main gate of the Auschwitz concentration camp on Jan. 27, 2023, Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Oswiecim, Poland. (Omar Marques/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Music composed by Auschwitz prisoners during the Holocaust will finally see the light of day next week.

Orchestras of Auschwitz will feature four of the more than 200 pieces discovered in 2015 by conductor-composer Leo Geyer when he visited the death camp in formerly Nazi Germany-occupied Poland that year, following the death of British historian and Holocaust expert Martin Gilbert, CNN reports.

There were, at one point, as many as six orchestras at Auschwitz and they were all very much sanctioned by the SS and in some cases commissioned by the SS, explained Geyer, noting that prisoner orchestras existed at a majority of the camps. Some of those were secret operations, and even featured musical cryptograms, as a form of rebellion.

They were generally small and featured a bizarre hodge podge of instruments, based on what was available to the prisoners. Orchestra staples like woodwinds were not present, while instruments that would rarely be seen in orchestras, such as accordions and saxophones, were frequently featured in the camps orchestras.

Unlike most of the victims and prisoners of Auschwitz, Geyer is not Jewish. He embarked upon the visit in search of a sense of the gravity of Gilberts work.

An archivist at the museum and memorial alerted Geyer to the surviving scores.

The music had been mostly destroyed so what remains is almost like a broken jigsaw puzzle, except there are several and they are all mixed in together, said Geyer.

The music Geyer will debut next week as part of his Constella Musics 10th anniversary concert will remain faithful to what prisoners had available to them, and are meant to raise awareness and funding so that we can finish the rest of the job and present the full series so that people can hear this music around the world.

Geyers efforts are being realized amid a global spike in antisemitism, fueled by the Israel-Hamas war that began last month.

2023 New York Daily News.

Visit at nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes)

Somewhere in Iraq, February 1991: Iraqi prisoners of war are checked after their surrender to American troops from Iron Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

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Cargo ships wait in the anchor zone to cross the Panama Canal from the Pacific entrance near Panama City. (Walter Hurtado/Bloomberg)

The congestion at Panama Canal could be to Europes benefit as US liquefied natural gas supplies will largely bypass Asia.

The price gap between the Asian spot LNG price and the European gas benchmark for January has widened in recent weeks, but its not enough to encourage shipping American gas to Asia via longer routes through the Suez Canal or the Cape of Good Hope, according to S&P Global Commodities Insights.

The opportunity to sell more profitably to Asia over Europe from the US depends on your access to Panama Canal slots, said Ciaran Roe, a global director for LNG at S&P. If you have these, then your costs may be sufficiently low to send the cargo to Asia more profitably than to Europe for January arrivals, otherwise its more profitable for cargoes to go to Europe.

The glut of LNG shipments in the Atlantic that pushes prices lower at the height of the heating season would be an advantage for Europe. The development would also ease fears that Asia may pull fuel away from the continent during the frigid winter.

The gap between Asian spot LNG and the super-chilled fuel delivered into northwest Europe is about $3 per million British thermal units now, Roe added. A difference of only $2.40/MMBtu makes it more profitable to ship a US cargo to northeast Asia over northwest Europe. But to make a shipment more profitable via Suez or the Cape, the price gap needs to be around $3.7/MMBtu or above, he said.

The Panama Canal is a vital shipping route for LNG supplies from the US - the worlds top exporter - to north Asian nations such as Japan, Korea and China. However, a record drought, coupled with projections of poor rainfall for the rest of year, has limited traffic drastically.

While some vessels have paid record-high prices in auctions to jump the queue, most others are avoiding the waterway altogether, opting for longer voyages rather than adding weeks of waiting.

From December, LNG shippers face even higher uncertainties in securing a transit slot, as they lose top priority to container vessels, according to BloombergNEF. That means the number of LNG tankers passing through the route could even drop to zero in January when auctions for slots will no longer be held, it said.

US LNG is free of destination restrictions and can be redirected anywhere, depending on demand and prices.

For example, the Panama Canal congestion cost on the journey from Sabine Pass in the US to Futtsu in Japan makes up almost a third of total shipping costs in January, at $5.6 million, data from Spark Commodities show, taking into account delays of 29 days for a return trip.

While arbitrage opportunities could still make it lucrative for holders of US-origin LNG to direct cargoes to Asia instead of Europe, full inventories in Asia are another factor in play, according to Rystad Energy.

With inventory levels at several major LNG import terminals in China and South Korea currently high, LNG suppliers are struggling to find buyers willing to purchase cargoes, Masanori Odaka, a senior analyst at Rystad Energy, said in a note this week.

With assistance from Stephen Stapczynski.

Visit bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
KNU fighters from Brigade 7 move through a jungle after returning from the front line in Myanmar. (For The Washington Post)

SOUTHEASTERN MYANMAR  For decades, Myanmars ethnic minorities have rebelled against the countrys military, but mostly on their own and with little success.

Now, however, nearly three years after a military coup ousted Myanmars democratic government and triggered a civil war, its these ethnic rebels, camped out in the countrys mountains and jungles, who pose the biggest potential threat to the ruling junta.

While Western governments and international aid agencies have focused much of their attention on the pro-democracy forces led by exiled members of the ousted civilian government, it is increasingly the ethnic rebels tenuously allied with them who are shaping the trajectory of the conflict, security analysts say. These groups have troops, guns and grenades. They control territory, collect taxes and run schools and hospitals. Just in recent weeks, theyve notched battlefield victories that security analysts say have pushed the junta into its weakest position since the coup.

On a recent morning, Washington Post journalists motored down a mud-colored river on a long-tail boat for a rare visit to the undisclosed headquarters of the countrys oldest and one of its most powerful ethnic armed groups: the Karen National Union, or KNU.

Beyond a river bank and past a curtain of trees, several hundred soldiers from one of the KNUs seven brigades surrounded a clearing that functioned as their base. Some stood on trucks with AK-47s slung across their chests; others squatted on the ground next to grenade launchers and shoulder-fired rockets. In the center, at a long table, sat a bespectacled 64-year-old rebel leader cracking open a fistful of betel nuts.

We are doing this revolution to get peace, said Pdoh Saw Thaw Thi Bwe, the joint secretary general of the KNU. But not just for our territory. For everyone.

In exclusive interviews, Thaw Thi Bwe and other KNU leaders described the groups armed campaign and its growing efforts to strike alliances with other ethnic rebels and resistance groups.

A lush mountain range of Karen-held territory in Kayin State, Myanmar, is seen across the Moei River, which runs along the Thailand-Myanmar border. (For The Washington Post)

The KNU, which has been fighting the military on behalf of ethnic Karen people for 74 years, was the first of several rebel groups to oppose the 2021 coup. Within months of the militarys takeover, it voided a previous cease-fire agreement and resumed attacks on military positions across southeast Myanmar. KNU leaders say they have also armed and trained thousands of insurgents from other ethnic groups, including the Bamar ethnic majority, which has traditionally supported the military. (The Bamar lent their name to Burma, the previous name for Myanmar.)

The decisive role of ethnic insurgents in the conflict has come into sharp relief in recent weeks after an alliance of several other rebel groups launched a surprise offensive in Myanmars northern Shan state, forcing the military to publicly cede control over major townships. In the south, Karen rebels and their allies, the Karenni, launched simultaneous attacks on military bases, while in the west, a militia representing ethnic Rakhine people opened a new front in the war against the military.

The synchronized attacks, which analysts call unprecedented, are still unfolding. But the escalation has made clear that Myanmars ethnic rebels are no longer a peripheral factor, according to Min Zin, who runs the Myanmar-based Institute of Policy Studies - Myanmar. Theyre kingmakers, he said.

New fighters, new alliances

Since the coup, the KNUs armed wing, known as the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), has grown to more than 10,000 troops, according to the armys adjutant general Hsa Tu Gaw, who oversees personnel. Each of its brigades has added several hundred recruits, and there are entirely new militias, loosely organized under what is called the Peoples Defense Forces, that are also under KNLA command in southeast Myanmar, he said.

Some of these new fighters are Karen. But many are not. These young people feel like they have no other choice but to hold up a gun and fight, said Hsa Tu Gaw. For the revolution, this is good.

Nwe Nwe Wyin, who is Bamar, was a college student in the city of Mandalay when she saw another student fatally shot in the head by security forces during peaceful anti-coup protests in early 2021. Within weeks, she said, she had dropped out of school and was making her way to Karen-held territory.

People were being killed, said Nwe Nwe Wyin, now 23, her hair cropped close to her ears as a soldier for the KNLA. I had to find another way to resist.

Fighters of Brigade 7 of the Karen National Liberation Army rest on the back of a pickup truck after returning from the front line in KNU headquarters in October. (For The Washington Post)

The KNUs armed wing has deployed many of these new rebels in a campaign to push westward and southward from its territory, aiming to cut off key trade routes to Thailand and to sever the militarys main link between the capital Naypyidaw and the countrys largest city, Yangon.

The group has also, however, sent a steady flow of fighters back to their hometowns in the Bamar heartland, helping to transform what used to be military strongholds into areas of fierce combat, security analysts said.

This combination of newer, pro-democracy insurgents and older, battle-hardened rebels has not occurred on this scale before in Myanmar and it has posed a potent challenge to the military. In the heavily contested regions of Sagaing and Magway, analysts said, the most successful insurgents have been trained by ethnic rebel groups.

Spared so far

The military did not respond to requests for comment for this article. But at a news conference in August, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said he was amazed by the growing collaboration between ethnic rebels and terrorist insurgents and that it could place the entire country in jeopardy.

According to conflict-monitoring groups, the military has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on KNU territory, which stretches across a jungle area roughly the size of Maryland. The raids have spared the groups headquarters so far, though in the last 10 months, airstrikes have hit the command centers of two of the KNUs closest allies, the Chin and the Kachin ethnic rebel groups.

We know they will attack us, said Saw De Kwe, a brigadier stationed at a KNLA base tucked at the bottom of mist-covered hills. We just dont know when.

Its not just bases at risk. After the coup, teachers, doctors, bus drivers and other government workers who refused to work for the junta arrived here in droves.

A hospital that had been languishing for two years without qualified doctors became fully staffed with about 30 former employees from government medical centers, said Saw Diamond Khin, the KNUs head of health services. The facility, which treats both civilians and soldiers, is now the most advanced in KNU history, he said.

There are six doctors, including an orthopedic surgeon, an anesthetist and a pathologist. It has two operating rooms, an X-ray machine, ultrasound equipment and a laboratory. And on one end of the teal-colored building, two large bunkers have been dug into the ground.

Medical personnel work at a hospital in Karen-held territory. (For The Washington Post)

The hospital has been kept secret except to local villagers and is surrounded by checkpoints staffed by KNLA soldiers. Still, Diamond Khin said, if the military found it, it would take them just minutes to destroy it all.

Generations of rebellion

As dusk descended, Thaw Thi Bwe, the KNU joint secretary general, thwacked at overgrowth in front of a cemetery where Karen soldiers were buried. Many of them didnt die in combat, he said. They died of sickness or of old age, waiting for the end to a revolution that never came.

I know every single one, he said, walking by rows of stained wooden crosses. Can you believe it?

Many KNU leaders, like him, joined the insurgency as young men and now have children, even grandchildren serving on the same front lines. Even as they boasted about recent gains, many had been at war too long to presume victory would be easy.

The cost of ammunition has tripled since the coup, and there are about 600,000 or so people displaced by fighting now living in KNU territory who need food and shelter, leaders said. A breakaway militia has drawn away some donations from overseas Karen communities. And several KNU leaders have struggled to shake allegations of corruption, spurring disillusionment in some corners of the community.

Perhaps the biggest challenge, however, lies in navigating the shifting alliances and rivalries within the resistance movement, KNU leaders said.

Myanmars democratic government in exile, known as the National Unity Government, says it leads a united front against the military. But many rebel leaders are still skeptical of NUG leaders, alleging that many are former government officials who stood by in previous decades as the military brutalized ethnic minorities. The NUG says it supports a federal democracy, but its unclear how much power it would share with ethnic leaders, said Pdoh Kwe Htoo Win, chairman of the KNU.

Bamar people think they own the country, he said. But people like Nwe Nwe Wyin, the former student from Mandalay, made him think things could be changing, he added.

After her basic training two years ago, she was placed in a unit assigned to protect the KNU command center. Sitting in a wooden shack near her spare quarters, she talked about the people in her brigade, Karen and Bamar, who had just returned from fighting alongside other ethnic rebels in a neighboring state. Their boots and rifles were muddy, their eyes reddened at the corners.

Nwe Nwe Wyin missed Mandalay, but she wanted to go where theyd been. She wanted to do what she came to rebel territory for, she said, which was to fight.

Yan Naing in Bangkok and Cape Diamond in Yangon contributed to this report.
In this photo provided by Manuel Hernandez Lafuente, the CMA CGM Symi is seen at port in Valencia, Spain, Oct. 22, 2023. A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Manuel Hernandez Lafuente/AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday.

The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess that Iran was behind the attack, though authorities suspect Tehrans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard carried out the assault.

The same drones have been used by Russia in its war on Ukraine, as recently as in a barrage launched Saturday that Kyiv described as Moscows biggest drone attack since the war began.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, referred questions to the Symis owner, Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping. That company is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

A statement issued on behalf of Eastern Pacific acknowledged the company being aware of claims that a container ship under the companys management was targeted in a possible security incident overnight on Friday.

The vessel in question is currently sailing as planned, the statement said. All crew are safe and well.

The company through representatives declined to answer any questions. The Israeli military referred questions to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which did not respond.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with Eastern Pacific, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

In recent days, the Symis crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubais Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessels Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping, the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. The vessels AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack.

Irans mission to the United Nations didnt respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

In the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants Oct. 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen.

On Saturday, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, said an entity declaring itself to be the Yemeni authorities had ordered at least one ship away from a location off Hodeida, Yemen, in the Red Sea.

Vessels in the vicinity are advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity, it warned.

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the war. However, Iran itself has yet to be linked directly to an attack.

Iran has been wary of intervening in the ongoing Middle East crisis and is likely to avoid any action that might escalate the conflict, the Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk firm, said in an analysis. Small-scale attacks on U.S. forces and Israel by Irans allies throughout the region suggest Tehran is willing to turn up the heat in a limited fashion, but unless the attacks cause U.S. casualties or significant damage, a major U.S. response is unlikely.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Bahrains state-run news agency reported that its national carrier, Gulf Air, had been targeted in a hack that may have seen some information from its email and client database accessed.

A statement posted online by a self-described group calling itself Al-Toufan, or The Flood in Arabic, claimed the hacking of Gulf Air. Days earlier, another statement claimed that it hacked the Foreign Ministry and other government websites purportedly over the island kingdoms stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Isabel DeBre contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
Bodyguards flank Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom, as he speaks to the media after casting his vote in the Dutch general election on Nov. 22, 2023, in The Hague, Netherlands. (Carl Court/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Geert Wilders edged a step closer to securing the majority he needs to form a working government after a center-right rival said it is prepared to lend him its parliamentary support, even while it ruled itself out of taking up seats in his Cabinet.

The Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, will support a center-right Cabinet as kind of a tolerating partner, its leader Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius said in The Hague on Friday ahead of a meeting with other party heads in parliament.

Wilders hopes of forming a working majority now hinge on the decision of the party that came fourth in Wednesdays election, after the Left alliance which came second ruled itself out of cooperation.

The VVDs surprising move will make the formation process harder, Pieter Omtzigt, the head of that fourth-placed party, said on Friday.

Yesilgoz-Zegerius qualified offer of support echoes the predicament of Ruttes first coalition, which ruled via a minority government that rested on external votes from Wilders and ended up lasting only 18 months.

We will make a center-right Cabinet possible. We will support constructive proposals, so it is a form of tolerance, Yesilgoz-Zegerius said.

Of her partys decision to avoid Cabinet seats, she added: After 13 years, a different role suits us. The voters also said: VVD, skip a round. The decision honors a pledge she made before the election not to serve under Wilders were he to become prime minister.

If the VVD ends up supporting Wilders government with its votes, his surest path to a working majority  and by extension, a claim to the prime ministerial role  would be via the support of Pieter Omtzigts New Social Contract, or NSC, which has 20 seats.

We have a big responsibility, and that is why it is disappointing that VVD takes a kind of a holiday from responsibility, Wilders said of the VVDs refusal to serve in his Cabinet.

A small positive is that she wants to support us from the outside, and we have to see and find out if that is for real, Wilders said in response to the VVD announcement. On Friday the far-right lawmaker said he had chosen Gom van Strien, a Freedom Party senator, to act as lead negotiator in coalition talks.

Wilders delivered a shock election victory on Wednesday, picking up 37 seats  more than any preelection polls had predicted. The VVD came third with 24 seats, having been the largest party in the last government, when it was led by outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Wilders needs to forge alliances with rivals to achieve the 76-seat majority necessary to forming a government. After the exit polls, he had suggested he would be open to center-right coalition including the VVD, as well as newly launched center-right group NSC, and the Farmer Citizens Movement.

Left alliance leader Frans Timmermans, who after the election now leads the second-largest bloc in the parliament, ruled out a coalition with Wilders as soon as exit-poll results became clear.

Celeste Perri contributed to this report.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 25, 2023 - 16:18 | World, All

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has inspected pictures of "major target regions" in South Korea and the U.S. state of Hawaii taken by its recently launched military spy satellite, its official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday.

Kim visited the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration on Friday and Saturday and was briefed about preparations for the formal start of the reconnaissance satellite's operation on Dec. 1, KCNA said.

The photos North Korea claims to have taken with the satellite launched last Tuesday include those of Seoul and the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which is docked in the southern South Korean port city of Busan, as well as a U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu.

However, those satellite photos have not been released.

South Korea said Thursday that the North's launch was successful and that the payload had been put into orbit, adding that Pyongyang is believed to have received technological assistance from Russia.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have condemned the launch using ballistic missile technology as in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Related coverage:

North Korea's Kim Jong Un says satellite part of "right to self-defense"

Japan confirms object launched by North Korea orbiting Earth

North Korea says to restore military measures near demarcation line
Lines of rucks held up at borders between Ukraine and neighboring European countries are regularly exceeding 25 miles. (International Road Transport Union (IRU)/Facebook)

A senior Ukrainian official accused Polish authorities of inaction as blockades staged by protesting truckers at the border cause traffic chaos in which two drivers have died.

Thousands of vehicles have piled up in lines stretching as far as 25 miles as drivers wait in freezing temperatures to cross the border into Ukraine. Ukraines deputy infrastructure minister, Serhiy Derkach, said the government in Warsaw has stood by as local authorities help the demonstrators, while deliveries of humanitarian aid get snarled.

This is the reaction of the current government - they say they dont support protest, but they dont to anything about it, Derkach said in an interview on Friday. Its an inhumane situation.

A second Ukrainian driver died on Thursday in the standoff, which has escalated as drivers from Poland and other eastern European Union states decry what they call unfair competition from haulers across the border. Theyre demanding that restrictions on the movement of cargo trucks out of Ukraine should be re-imposed after the bloc loosened rules in response to Russias invasion.

Poland signaled that Ukraine was to blame. Kyiv has refused to acquiesce to demands by Polish drivers to ease the passage of trucks returning from Ukraine, Deputy Infrastructure Minister Rafal Weber told Bloomberg. He said hes been in contact with demonstrators to resolve the dispute.

The deadlock adds to simmering tensions between Ukraine and Poland even after Warsaws staunch support for Kyiv in its military effort against the Kremlin. Polands decision to ban Ukrainian grain imports this year, a response to plunging prices, triggered a volley of accusations between the two governments.

Very Dire

Derkach said three of four crossings for trucks with cargo are now blocked. Polish drivers have refused a compromise solution to add extra lines for empty trucks, he said. The only solution is cutting off entry to Ukrainians, he added.

While military hardware is getting through the blockades, Ukraine says humanitarian aid shipments are being disrupted, which can hinder the war effort. Kyiv called on the European Union to help resolve the crisis, sending a letter to the European Commission asking for a monitoring group to be set up on the border.

Ukraines envoy to Poland, who confirmed the death of the second driver, responded to the fatality with a demand to Polish authorities to help lift the blockade. Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych urged the government to take action to allay a blockade thats a threat to peoples lives and health, according to a statement on Facebook Thursday.

Trucks are lined up along roads through sparsely populated areas, with many drivers having had no shower for weeks and difficult access to groceries and simple amenities.

If a person needs to walk three kilometers to a toilet, we believe its not healthy in freezing temperatures, Derkach said.

The commission in Brussels called the standoff very dire. It will seek to facilitate talks between Poland, Ukraine and the protesters, a spokesman for the blocs executive arm, Adalbert Jahnz, said.

Slovak truckers are weighing whether to join the blockade. The Slovak Haulers Union said its seeking to cooperate with its Hungarian counterpart on joint action on their border with Ukraine, it said in a statement Thursday. A meeting will be held Saturday.

With assistance from Olesia Safronova, Daniel Hornak and Lyubov Pronina.

Visit bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Ofri Bibas Levy wears a shirt with the images of her brother, sister-in-law and their two children, who were taken captive in Gaza by Hamas. (Ariel Schalit/AP)

TEL AVIV, Israel  Ofri Bibas Levy has been haunted by nightmares since Oct. 7, when her brother, sister-in-law and their two young children were snatched by Hamas militants from their homes and dragged into the Gaza Strip.

In those dreams she sees her captive relatives, all except for her brother Yarden. That subconscious omission may reflect her ordeal: Out of the Israeli hostages, only women and children are expected to be among the 50 people released during a four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that started Friday.

All of the Israeli men, and many women, will remain captive in Gaza for now. It was not clear if all children were expected to be freed. Hamas freed 24 people Friday, including 13 Israeli women and children, 10 people from Thailand and one Filipino.

Its a deal that puts the families in a situation that is inhuman. Who will come out and who wont? Bibas Levy asked. The children come out, but my brother and many other people stay? Her relatives were not among those freed in the first release.

The deal will bring relief to dozens whose relatives are captive  as well as to Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of bombardment and dire conditions.

But with some 240 hostages in militant hands, only a fraction of families will be reunited under the current arrangement. There is some hope that the agreement could be expanded: Israel has said it will extend the truce one day for every 10 hostages freed.

Many families are expected to be left to endure the torment of not knowing the fate of their loved ones.

The plight of the hostages  who range from babies to older adults  has gripped Israelis. The captives families have embarked on a campaign to free their loved ones that has tugged at the heartstrings of many and ratcheted up pressure on the Israeli government to make concessions and secure deals for their release.

That pressure and the families widespread public support could force the government into extending the cease-fire even though it has pledged to keep fighting once the current truce expires.

Securing the freedom of all hostages, especially the soldiers among them, could prove difficult. Militants in Gaza see the captives as a critical bargaining chip in their war with Israel.

The leader of Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, said Friday that Israeli soldiers who were taken wouldnt be freed until all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are released.

Bibas Levy has put her life on pause to devote herself to fighting for her familys release  her nephews age 10 months and 4 years were some of the youngest taken captive. The occupational therapist who moved out of a targeted southern Israeli community two months before Hamas attack, said she will keep battling until all her relatives return.

Dani Miran  whose son Omri was taken hostage  has been distraught over his sons well-being. With the unbearable uncertainty and without a sign of life for seven weeks, he is plagued by difficult thoughts.

My son is not on the list. Hes 46 years old. and I hope that he is in a health condition where he can cope with all the hardship that there is there, that they didnt wound him, didnt torture him and didnt do things that are inhuman, Miran said.

For many families, the news of a deal has sparked a mix of emotions  grief in cases where they dont expect their loved ones to be freed and hope that it may lead to further releases.

I wish that all of them would come back, and I believe that all of them will come back. But we must have patience, and just be strong, said Yaakov Argamani, whose daughter Noa, 26, was taken captive, along with dozens of other young adults from a music festival that came under attack.

Many families have said they cannot endure listening to the news because all the twists and turns of the negotiations are incapacitating. The current deal, brought about after weeks of fitful negotiations, appeared definite until a last-minute snag prompted a one-day delay.

Its like a rollercoaster, said Eyal Nouri, whose aunt Adina Moshe, 72, was among those released Friday. Earlier, Nouri had said that he did not expect her to be among those freed. Moshes husband, Said, was killed on Oct. 7.

The nightmare for many wont end even if their relatives are released, Nouri said.

After the joy of the reunion, those freed will need to reckon with the trauma of their captivity, their dead loved ones, their destroyed communities and their country at war.

She has nothing. No clothes, no house, no husband, no town. Nothing, said Nouri. Once shes released shell need to build her life from scratch, at 72 years old. Our lives are completely different.
Aviv Asher, 2, 5-year-old, her sister Raz Asher, 4,5-year-old, and mother Doron, react as they meet with Yoni, Doron's husband and their father, after they returned to Israel to the designated complex at the Schneider Children's Medical Center on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. A four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza on Friday with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. (Schneider Childrens Medical Center/AP)

AL BIREH, West Bank  Hamas militants on Saturday released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, from captivity in the Gaza Strip, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage of a four-day cease-fire.

The late-night exchange was held up for several hours after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement. The delay underscored the fragility of the cease-fire, which has halted a war that has shocked and shaken Israel, caused widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip, and threatened to unleash wider fighting across the region.

The war erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants in Gaza burst across the border into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting some 240 others, including, women, children and older people. Israel immediately declared war, carrying out weeks of airstrikes and a ground offensive that have left over 13,300 Palestinians dead, according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory. Roughly two-thirds of those killed in Gaza have been women and minors.

The cease-fire, brokered by Qatar and the United States, is the first extended break in fighting since the war began. Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. All are women and minors.

Israel has said the truce can be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive and complete its goals of returning all hostages and destroying Hamas military and governing capabilities.

The plight of the hostages has gripped the Israeli publics attention. Thousands of people gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday in solidarity with the hostages and their families. Many accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not doing enough to bring the hostages home. The releases have triggered mixed emotions: happiness, coupled with angst over the scores of hostages who remain in captivity.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Sunday that it had received a new list of hostages slated to be released later in the day in the third of four scheduled swaps.

In the West Bank, hundreds of people burst into wild celebrations for a second night as a busload of Palestinian prisoners arrived early Sunday. Teenage boys released in the deal were carried on the shoulders of well-wishers in the main square of the town of Al Bireh. But the mood of celebration was dampened by scenes of destruction and suffering in Gaza.

The start of the pause brought quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who are reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel also went silent.

War-weary Palestinians in northern Gaza, where the offensive has been focused, returned to the streets, crunching over rubble between shattered buildings and at times digging through it with bare hands.

At the Indonesian hospital in Jabaliya, besieged by the Israeli military earlier this month, bodies lay in the courtyard and outside the main gate.

For Emad Abu Hajer, a resident of the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza City area, the pause meant he could again search through the remains of his home, which was flattened in an Israeli attack last week.

He found the bodies of a cousin and nephew, bringing the death toll in the attack to 19. His sister and two other relatives are still missing.

We want to find them and bury them in dignity, he said.

The United Nations said the pause enabled it to scale up the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the resumption of aid convoys on Oct. 21. It was also able to deliver 129,000 liters (about 35,000 gallons) of fuel  just over 10% of the daily pre-war volume  as well as cooking gas, a first since the war began.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, a long line of people with containers waited outside a filling station. Hossam Fayad lamented that the pause in fighting was only for four days.

I wish it could be extended until peoples conditions improved, he said.

For the first time in over a month, aid reached northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed there on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area yet. The U.N. said it and the Palestinian Red Crescent were also able to evacuate 40 patients and family members from a hospital in Gaza City to a hospital in Khan Younis.

JOY AND EXPECTATION

The last-minute delay created a tense standoff on the second day of whats meant to be a four-day cease-fire. By nightfall, when hostages had been expected to emerge from Gaza, Hamas alleged that aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised and that not enough was reaching hard-hit northern Gaza. Hamas also said not enough longtime prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday.

But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said the obstacles had been overcome.

Shortly before midnight, Hamas released the hostages  13 Israelis and four Thais. The Israelis were turned over to Egypt and then transferred to Israel, where they were taken to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

Hamas released a video showing the hostages appearing shaken but mostly in good physical condition as masked militants led them to Red Cross vehicles headed out of Gaza. Some of the hostages waved goodbye to the militants. One girl was on crutches and wore a cast on her left foot as she was escorted away.

A Red Cross vehicle carrying Israeli hostages drives by at the Gaza Strip crossing into Egypt in Rafah on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Fatima Shbair/AP)

The Israeli hostages included seven children and six women, Netanyahus office announced. Most were from Kibbutz Beeri, a community Hamas militants ravaged during their Oct. 7 cross-border attack. The children ranged in age from 3 to 16, and the women ranged from 18 to 67.

It was a bittersweet moment for the residents of Beeri, who have been living in a Dead Sea hotel since their community was overrun. A kibbutz spokesperson said all the released hostages either had a family member killed in the Oct. 7 rampage or had left a loved one in captivity in Gaza.

The mother of one of the released hostages, 12-year-old Hila Rotem, remained in captivity, the spokesperson said. Another, Emily Hand, is a girl whose father believed her to be dead for weeks before finding out she was held as a hostage.

At their hotel, kibbutz residents gathered in a function room, cheering in excitement as they saw the first images of their loved ones being released on television.

A HEROS WELCOME

Some of the Palestinian prisoners were released in east Jerusalem, while the bulk returned home to a heros welcome in the occupied West Bank.

Among those released was Nurhan Awad, who was 17 in 2016 when she was sentenced to 13 1/2 years in jail for attempting to stab an Israeli soldier with a pair of scissors.

In Jerusalem, Israeli troops evicted journalists who gathered outside the home of Israa Jaabis, who had been imprisoned since 2015 after being convicted of carrying out a bombing attack that wounded an Israeli police officer, and left Jaabis with severe burns on her face and hands.

Jaabis later told reporters at her home that she is ashamed to be happy at a time when Palestine is injured.

In Al Bireh, the teenage boys were paraded through the main square where they waved Palestinian flags as well as green banners of Hamas and yellow banners of the Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas. May God make them strong. May God be with the Qassam Brigades, said one of the boys, referring to Hamas military wing.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, Israel is holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.

The war in Gaza has been accompanied by a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Late Saturday, Palestinian health authorities said four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, hours after another raid in the same area killed the local governors 25-year-old son.

A 16-year-old Palestinian boy was also killed by Israeli fire near the city of Ramallah. The Israeli army, which frequently conducts military raids aimed at local militant groups, did not immediately comment.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Mroue from Beirut. Federman and Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel reported from Jerusalem.
Reuma Tarshansky holds a poster showing Gali, 13, who was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Be'eri, as she sits with family members held hostage in Gaza during a conference in Tel Aviv on Nov. 13, 2023. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

Warning: The following report includes graphic descriptions of sexual violence.

TEL AVIV - The first indications of possible sexual violence came as early as Oct. 7, the day that thousands of Hamas and other fighters streamed into Israeli towns and began live-streaming bloodshed and torture.

Footage showed several women stripped of their clothing. One video showed a woman, her hands zip-tied behind her back, with blood on the crotch of her pants.

Later came testimony from witnesses and first responders. One witness described in graphic detail a gang rape at the Nova rave site near Reim. An Israeli reserve combat paramedic told The Post that he found the bodies of teenage girls with signs of sexual assault.

Combatants from Gaza overran 22 Israeli communities, killed at least 1,200 and took 240 hostage in the surprise attack. But their greater goal, sexual trauma specialists say, was to introduce terror against women - and children and other unarmed civilians - as a means of spreading fear.

The torture of women was weaponized to destroy communities, to destroy a people, to destroy a nation, said Cochav Elkayam Levy, the head of a nongovernmental commission investigating crimes perpetrated against women and children Oct. 7.

Hamas denies that its fighters use rape or assault against women as a weapon of war. To do so, Hamas official Basem Naim said, would go against its founding Islamic principles. The group, he said, considers any sexual relationship or activity outside of marriage to be completely haram - forbidden by Islam.

Whoever does this kind of act is committing a major infraction and would be punished both legally and on Judgment Day, he told The Washington Post. So our soldiers would not go close to this forbidden act.

Earlier this month, Moussa Abu Marzouk, Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau based in Qatar, also said in an interview with the BBC that women, children and civilians were exempt from Hamass attacks - despite a death toll that was made up mostly of those groups.

The Israeli commission, established by Elkayam-Levy, is working to compile a comprehensive database of the assault that day, based on the testimonies of survivors, witnesses, medical examiners, first responders, police and militants themselves, many of whom participated first from behind the camera, as they recorded their actions, and later in front of the camera, as they were interrogated by Israeli security forces.

Thats in addition to the investigation by Israels police in coordination with the military and Shin Beit, the internal security service. The agencies have been building a case on charges of mass murder, rape, torture and bodily mutilation.

Authorities invited journalists this month to view a video compilation that drew from at least 60,000 clips and more than 1,000 witness statements.

There was humiliation through rape on the morning of Oct. 7, Israeli Police Chief Kobi Shabtai said.

There was worse evidence that we were not able to show, he said. They cut limbs ... they raped, they abused corpses. There were sadistic sexual acts. Its unclear whether authorities have accounts directly from rape survivors.

Israel has experience and training in mass casualty events, but never before on the scale of Oct. 7, the bloodiest day in the countrys history.

A volunteer with Israel's military rabbinate who helped prepare remains of women killed by fighters from Gaza on Oct. 7 stands near refrigerated containers that hold bodies, body parts and ashes at a makeshift morgue for soldiers on the Shura military base near Ramla on Oct. 29, 2023. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

Israel is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and Israeli authorities have not said whether they intend to prosecute Hamas militants for war crimes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly condemned ICC investigations of war crimes allegedly perpetrated by Israeli and Palestinian forces in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Some forces in the Middle East, including those of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Islamic State, have used systematic rape as a weapon. But many armed groups consider the act taboo, even in war. The practice has never been used systematically in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to experts.

Naim, the Hamas official, said the groups fighters did not commit any infraction that related to harassment or rape.

We affirm that all these Israeli claims are inaccurate, he said.

The mission to identify and document rape and gender-based violence has been a grassroots effort, focusing on providing care to witnesses and survivors while also recognizing what specialists say is the possibility that most or all of the victims were killed.

The countrys several dozen sexual trauma specialists have been meeting with female survivors of Oct. 7 in clinics or in the hotels where the women are long-term guests, unable to return to damaged or destroyed homes in what is now a designated military zone.

The specialists have been hosting webinars, studying rape as a weapon of war in places such as Ukraine or Bosnia and communicating with other professionals in the field. They are sharing information on things like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help women begin to take control over traumatic memories, created under fire and likely processed erratically in the following weeks, as the war raged on and hostages, including survivors loved ones, remained in captivity in Gaza.

The specialists advise against asking a person whether they were raped. Instead, its important to let them know that theyre not alone. One might say: There have been reports of sexual violence. Is it possible you know something about it?

You throw out a thread and see if they take it, said sexual trauma clinic director Inbal Brenner, the assistant director of Lev-Hasharon Mental Health Center in central Israel. Mental health care providers, many of whom were traumatized, too, are grappling with the challenges of Oct. 7, which compounded sexual violence with a kind of namelessness, she said.

Theres always dehumanization in rape, she said. But here its also nationalistic, which is very difficult to measure.

The commission isnt necessarily encouraging survivors to report their assaults to police. Telling the facts of their experiences to investigators in offices for the record could clash with the primary goal of returning a sense of control or a sense of self.

One woman, her face blurred and her identity concealed in a video statement to police, said she saw a gang rape at the Nova rave near Reim during the Oct. 7 attack, as she lay down, pretending to be dead.

An Israeli soldier looks at a bed stained with blood in a home at Kibbutz Be'eri near the Gaza border where people were killed on Oct. 7, 2023. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

The witness saw a woman bleeding from the back, she said, first bent over, then pulled back up by combatants. One man pulled the womans long hair and raped her, the witness said, then passed her onto another man, who also raped her before shooting her in the head.

He didnt pick up his pants, the witness said. He shot her while inside her.

Survivors and witnesses have been reluctant to come forward, specialists say.

There is always underreporting in sexual violence, said Orit Sulitzeanu, who runs the Association of Rape Crisis Centers, based in Tel Aviv. But with war crimes we know there will be extreme underreporting.

Under those conditions, first responders and morgue workers have become a key source of information.

We saw many women with bloody underwear, with broken bones, broken legs, broken pelvises, said Shari, a volunteer worker at the Shura military morgue. She spoke on the condition that her last name be withheld to discuss the sensitive issue.

An Israeli reserve combat paramedic who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comply with military protocol told The Post that he found the bodies of two teenage girls in their bedroom with indications of sexual assault.

One was on the bed. Her arm was dangling from the bed frame. Her legs were bare with bruises, and she had a bullet hole in the chest-neck area, he said. The other was lying on the floor, on her stomach, her legs spread and her pants pulled down toward her knees. There was a liquid on her back that looked like semen. She was shot in the back of the head.

Devorah Bauman, a gynecologist, said women sometimes provide testimony indirectly - saying, for example, that they heard there was rape in a neighbors house, or that there was an adolescent who was raped in front of her grandmother, in a nearby house. They are speaking indirectly, but I am not sure that it didnt happen to them.

Bauman is director of the Bet Ami Center, which treats rape survivors at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Shes helping to prepare hospitals to receive women and possibly men if and when they come forward. They could include hostages now held in Gaza by Hamas and other groups. Ninety of the approximately 240 hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7 are women or girls.

Kinneret Sterns cousin sold jewelry at the Nova rave, and was among the people kidnapped. As the family searched for her, they were shown a video of the woman, posted apparently by her captors, in a ditch and begging for her life.

This is one of the Jewish dogs, a man says. Any man here will see what we will do to her, and we are here in the field.

The video implies the nightmare that every woman is afraid of, of not being able to defend her own body, Stern said. Its an issue that we dare not even say out loud.

Sarah Dadouch in Beirut and Lior Soroka in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
Graffiti in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, West Bank, Palestinian territories (Wikimedia Commons)

JERUSALEM  Palestinian militants in a West Bank refugee camp shot and killed two alleged collaborators with Israel early Saturday, Palestinian officials said. Mobs then kicked the bloodied corpses and dragged them through alleys before trying to tie them to an electrical tower.

The scenes, widely shared on social media, were reminiscent of the chaos in the occupied West Bank during two Palestinian uprisings against Israeli rule that erupted in 1987 and in 2000, respectively, each lasting several years. During these periods of heightened conflict, there were frequent killings of alleged informers, at times with bodies displayed in public.

Saturdays killings in the Tulkarem refugee camp laid bare the pressures tearing at Palestinian society as the Israel-Hamas war worsens what has already been a bloody year for the territory. Deadly Israeli military raids, settler attacks and Palestinian militancy in the West Bank have surged since Israel mounted its devastating offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas Oct. 7 bloody rampage through southern Israel.

Over 230 Palestinian have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank in the past seven weeks alone, most of them during Israeli army raids targeting militants. On Saturday, Israeli forces raided the northern Palestinian town of Qabatiya seeking to arrest militants, sparking a firefight and killing a locally prominent doctor, 25-year-old Shamekh Abu al-Rub, Palestinian health officials said. Abu al-Rub was the son of Kamal Abu al-Rub, governor of the Palestinian city of Jenin.

In the Tulkarem refugee camp, a local militant group accused two Palestinians of helping Israeli security forces target the group in a major army raid that killed three key militants on Nov. 6, a Palestinian security officer said. The two alleged informers were in their late 20s and early 30s, respectively, and one was from the camp, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

A second Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity for the same reason, confirmed that Palestinian security forces were aware of the incident. The public prosecutors office said it would have details in the coming days about a police investigation into the killings.

The local militant group  affiliated with the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular nationalist Fatah party  posted a cryptic statement just after the two men were reported killed. We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves, it said.

The family of one of the accused informers sought to distance itself in a statement Saturday, calling its disgraced relative a malicious finger that we have cut off without regret.

We affirm our complete innocence, the family added, and we wont allow anyone to blame us for his guilt.

A Palestinian journalist in the camp, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said residents of the camp beat and stomped on the corpses after the two were shot and killed by militants in the streets. Videos show hundreds of Palestinians flocking to the entrance of the camp, gawking and filming with their phones as men try to hang the mutilated corpses from an electrical tower.

It apparently proved too difficult and residents ended up tossing the bodies over the walls of a U.N. school in the camp, tying their feet to a chain link fence, the journalist said. They were not taken to the hospital, she said.

Purported confession videos surfaced online showing the two men, worn out, their eyes downcast, describing their recent interactions with Israeli intelligence officials who they said paid them thousands of dollars for information.

Israels Shin Bet security service has a long history of pressuring Palestinians to become informers, including by blackmail or by promising work or entry permits for Israel. The Shin Bet did not respond to a request for comment on the killings.
A former Army sergeant last assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington and had access to top secret documents was arrested Oct. 6 on charges of attempting to deliver national defense information to China. (Abner Guzman/U.S. Air Force)

The trial of a former Army sergeant charged with trying to sell secrets to the Chinese wont start until January 2025, a federal judge in Seattle has ruled.

Joseph David Schmidt, 29, who had been a team leader in the human intelligence section of the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, had been due to stand trial next year.

In an order issued Nov. 13 in Seattle, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour agreed with Schmidts attorneys who argued they needed a significant period to comb through months of documents, notes, recordings and other materials presented by the FBI to support the indictment.

This case is complex due to the nature of the prosecution and large volume of discovery materials, such that it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself within the time limits established, Coughenour wrote.

At a hearing last month, Schmidt was denied bail as a flight risk and ordered held at a federal security facility.

An FBI report in support of the indictment alleged that after leaving the Army in 2020, Schmidt spent much of the next three years attempting to convince Chinese agents in Istanbul, Hong Kong and Beijing that he could turn over significant materials on American forces and strategy in the region. He also sought employment or affiliation with the Chinese as a self-described expert on espionage and interrogation.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A federal grand jury in Seattle handed down an indictment against Schmidt on two felony counts of violation of national defense acts. Each carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI arrested Schmidt on Oct. 6 when he arrived in San Francisco on a flight from Hong Kong.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a briefing on Nov. 14, 2023, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/TNS)

NEW YORK (Tribune News Service)  Mayor Eric Adams and the woman accusing him of sexual assault both used to work for the citys Transit Police Department, according to court records reviewed by the Daily News.

The woman, whose name is being withheld by The News due to the sensitive nature of her claims, filed a notice in Manhattan Supreme Court late Wednesday saying she plans to bring a lawsuit against Adams alleging he sexually assaulted her in 1993 while they both worked for the City of New York. The notice doesnt elaborate on the claim, and it was filed just 24 hours before the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, which has allowed sexual misconduct victims to sue their alleged abusers even if a statute of limitation is lapsed.

In 1993, Adams  who has vehemently denied the assault accusation  was an officer in the citys Transit Police Department, which used to be a separate entity from the NYPD. He started out at Transit Police in 1984.

The mayors accuser did not say in her notice what city agency she was employed by at the time of the alleged assault.

However, testifying under oath in 2009 as part of a lawsuit she brought against American Airlines in federal court in Florida, the accuser said she started working as an administrative aide for the city Transit Police Department around 1980.

I was called in to work as a full-time police administrative at the central records section. I would work from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in the morning, she testified at a jury trial held in that case on June 23, 2009, according to a transcript reviewed by The News.

She testified she eventually received a promotion at Transit Police to become a senior police administrative aide. Without providing a year, she also testified she worked for a brief period at the city Department of Probation.

She did not make clear in the testimony when exactly she left the Transit Police Department or whether she was still there during the time of the alleged assault in 1993. She did testify she moved to Florida after getting a job at a health center there in 1996.

The womans LinkedIn profile states she started working as a public school teacher in the Miami area in 2000.

The woman, whose court notice said shell seek at least $5 million in damages as part of her suit against Adams, could not be reached for comment Friday. Her attorney, Megan Goddard, declined to comment.

Its unclear when the woman plans to file a full complaint elaborating on her accusation. In addition to Adams, the womans notice says her lawsuit will name as defendants the NYPDs transit bureau, the city and the Guardians Association, a fraternal police organization that the mayor used to be president of while in the department.

Addressing the womans accusations in an appearance on the Good Music, Good Times talk show Friday morning, Adams called her case an outofnowhere lawsuit and said he does not recall who this person is or if I ever met them.

I really dont know, but I am extremely clear on how I live my life, and at no time did anything like that happen. It absolutely never happened. Its not who I am. I would never harm anyone, said Adams, who retired as a captain from the NYPD in 2006.

The mayor also confirmed the city Law Department will represent him in the case.

Manhattan Councilwoman Gale Brewer, a Democrat who chairs the Councils Oversight Committee, questioned how Adams would be able to have the Law Department represent him, given that the womans accusations predate his time as mayor.

This needs scrutiny, she wrote on Twitter in reference to the mayors talk show comment.

A City Hall spokesman said its within Adams right to use the Law Department since the case relates to his time as a city employee.

The mayors accuser has a history of filing lawsuits.

She brought the federal suit against American Airlines after claiming an employees negligence resulted in her falling out of her wheelchair during a trip to Japan, causing back injuries. That suit was dropped without the airline paying damages.

She also filed a lawsuit against Miami-Dade County in which she claimed she was abused by a 6-year-old kindergarten student while working as a teacher. That suit was dismissed.

As first reported by NBC4, the woman has a book for sale on Amazon.com offering pro se legal advice based on many years spent fighting for myself and others in various courts including small claims, civil, circuit, family, lower appellate, and the United States Supreme Court. One piece of advice offered in the books description: Never give up. You just may win.

The assault lawsuit comes at a perilous time for Adams.

The FBI is investigating his 2021 campaign over allegations that it conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign money into the campaigns coffers via straw donors. Adams has not been accused of wrongdoing in the probe, which is ongoing.

2023 New York Daily News.

Visit at nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New York City firefighters work at the World Trade Center after two hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York. (Ron Agam/Getty Images/TNS)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Tribune News Service)  Long after hijacked airliners piloted by terrorists took down the World Trade Center towers in New York more than 22 years ago, fires burned below the fallen buildings rubble, emitting lethal toxins that posed long-term health problems for thousands of people.

Despite the creation of federally financed compensation funds designed to help not only first responders, but also residents and locally employed workers, many still do not know they are likely eligible to receive financial assistance to help cope with cancers and other health problems that have emerged in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Those eligible include untold numbers of transplanted New Yorkers who now live in Florida as a result of retirements or relocations for business or other reasons.

In less than year, through a recently signed 9/11 Notice Act passed by the New York State Legislature, many lower Manhattan employers will be required to start providing outreach to past and present employees across 50 states.

At some point in the second half of 2024, individuals across the country will start receiving letters about how to register and apply for financial help from the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program.

The 9/11 fund, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, provides money for injured individuals or relatives of the deceased.

The WTC program is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Established in 2010 and extended in 2015, it now runs through the year 2090. It provides no-cost treatments for certified World Trade Center-related health conditions, according to the program website.

People with qualifying medical conditions can apply now; they do not have to wait for the outreach.

An outreach reboot

The new state notification act requires businesses and trade associations with more than 50 employees that were in operation below Canal Street in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, to notify eligible current and former employees of their right to receive money from the two funds.

These programs work best when there is the broadest possible awareness, State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, a Democrat, said in a phone interview. We think businesses will have a substantial capacity to get the word out.

The act was unanimously passed last summer by the New York State Assembly (146-0) and by the Senate (62-0), according to a statement from Kavanaghs office.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the measure into law on Sept. 11, the 22nd anniversary of the terror attacks orchestrated by suicidal hijackers who commandeered four commercial jetliners. Two of the planes were flown into the super tall twin towers in New York. A third crashed into the Pentagon. A fourth crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after passengers sought to retake their plane from the hijackers.

All told, authorities estimated the attacks killed 2,977 people and injured thousands more at the disaster sites. In the aftermath, there are thousands who still suffer from a wide array of lingering health problems, law and health care professionals say.

Kavanagh, whose district covers lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, said in his statement that the law is designed to ensure that individuals who were in the Lower Manhattan and northern Brooklyn exposure zones between September 2001 and the end of May 2002 are made aware by employers of their rights to register for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program.

Both funds provide monitoring and treatment for eligible individuals with WTC-related illnesses.

State assemblyman Nader Sayegh, a Democrat from Yonkers, New York, drafted the legislation after hearing that of the 400,000 civilians exposed to 9/11 toxins only a small percentage with qualifying medical conditions have registered, Kavanaghs statement said. Yet, more than 80% of first responders have registered with the federal health and compensation programs.

An awareness deficit

Lawyers specializing in mass torts, wrongful death and personal injury claims have for years sought to help victims navigate their way through the compensation process. Despite the publicity surrounding the programs, the message that many people are even eligible to apply for help has not reached all of those who may qualify, lawyers and lawmakers say.

The reason for this law is that here we are 22 years past 9/11 and the World Trade Center Health Program currently has only 127,000 people who are enrolled, Troy Rosasco, of the firm of Hansen & Rosasco LP in New York, said in an interview. If you look at the numbers, that technically means there are hundreds of thousands of people who are still not aware they are eligible for compensation and free medical care for the rest of their lives. And thats despite tremendous outreach by the federal government.

New York, to their credit, said, we are going to do our own outreach in coordination with the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, Rosasco added.

Rosasco said that out of 2,000 clients he represents on Sept. 11 matters, at least 150 to 200 live in Florida. Many of them live in The Villages in Central Florida.

Besides Florida, North and South Carolina and Virginia are leading common places among the 50 states where potential eligible fund recipients have chosen to spend their retirements.

Im sure there are people in Florida right now fighting cancer who lived in the applicable areas during the 9/11 period who are fighting on their own and paying substantial medical bills, Rosasco said.

The next steps: rulemaking

Kavanagh told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that employers were largely supportive of the notification program.

We did not get a lot of opposition from the business community on this, he said, adding that most recognized the notification program was the right thing to do.

These programs are designed to keep people healthy and to compensate them when they get sick, he said.

Robert Gosseen, an employment lawyer for the New York-based firm Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP, which also maintains an office in Boca Raton, said there has been a widespread misperception in the public that fund eligibility was restricted to first responders such as police officers, firefighters and medical professionals.

Its absolutely not true, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Many of those eligible were students, office workers and others who made their livings in the World Trade Center neighborhood and beyond.

There are over 70 cancers that affected people in the downtown area, he said. It makes your hair stand on end if you see the list of cancers.

He said notifications will not be going out immediately because of rulemaking that still needs to be done among state agencies.

The law doesnt go into effect until June 14, 2024, Gosseen said. The holdup is that the law directs a number of agencies in the state of New York to prepare regulations about how to publicize, when to publicize and to whom to publicize.

The statute, he noted, echoing Kavanagh, the state senator, only applies to employers of 50 or more employees.

That leaves small businesses and mom-and-pop stores, Gosseen said. We dont know what will happen until the regulations are written.

And there are no specifics on any possible penalties that might be imposed if businesses decline to comply.

Gosseen, meanwhile, is among the many people who consider themselves fortunate to have dodged the tragedy because of a change of plans.

I escaped 9/11, Gosseen recalled. He was supposed to meet a client for breakfast at the Windows on the World complex of dining venues on the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower. But the client had a cold and canceled.

Just lucky, he said.

2023 South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Visit at sun-sentinel.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 25, 2023 - 09:56 | All, Japan, World

The U.S. military in Japan relocated its reconnaissance drone operations unit to Okinawa despite local objection after its temporary deployment in the southwestern Kyushu region, according to the Japanese government, as part of moves to strengthen surveillance of Chinese activities in nearby waters.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters earlier this month that eight MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft began operating at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in the southern island prefecture and will remain stationed there "for an indefinite period."

On Nov. 21 last year, the MQ-9s were tentatively deployed for a year at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kanoya Air Base in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, about 600 kilometers northeast of the Kadena base.

The relocation of the MQ-9s is part of Washington's efforts to boost surveillance and intelligence activities near the Asian nation's southwestern Nansei island chain, where Beijing's growing maritime assertiveness has been seen.

The chain, stretching southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan, includes the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Chinese coast guard vessels have repeatedly entered Japanese waters around the uninhabited islets.

Okinawa has strategic importance due to its proximity to potential geopolitical flashpoints, such as Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island under increasing pressure from Communist-led China.

China views Taiwan as a renegade province to be united with the mainland, by force if necessary.

The relocation of the MQ-9 unit with slightly less than 100 personnel has triggered a backlash from Okinawa, home to about 70 percent of the acreage exclusively used by the U.S. military in Japan, even after its reversion in 1972 from U.S. control.

Since the plan was revealed in early October, the Okinawa prefectural government has asked the central government to rethink the relocation to the Kadena base, arguing that the transfer of the unmanned spy planes would increase the burden on Okinawa.

"The efficiency (of U.S. military operations) takes priority, and there has been no mention of how long they will be deployed. The excessive burden of hosting U.S. military bases on locals appears to be disregarded," Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told a press conference in mid-October.

Related coverage:

U.S. Marines set up littoral unit in Okinawa for islands defense

GSDF Osprey arrives in Okinawa for 1st time amid China military rise

Land minister sues Okinawa gov. over U.S. base landfill plan
Conka Conev (59) was also found lying in the middle of a Dublin city centre street obstructing traffic in a separate incident.

An alcoholic public order offender who sat on a busy shopping street throwing food at passers-by has since switched from vodka to wine as a step down in his drinking, a court has heard.

Conka Conev (59) was also found lying in the middle of a Dublin city centre street obstructing traffic in a separate incident.

Judge Bryan Smyth fined him 100 at Dublin District Court.

Conev, from Bulgaria and of no fixed address here, pleaded guilty to public order charges.

The court heard gardai on Henry Street saw the accused sitting on the ground, roaring abuse and throwing food at passers-by at 11.45am on May 20 this year. He was highly intoxicated and refused to leave or stand up.

Separately, gardai found Conev lying in a doorway, blocking a fire exit on OConnell Street on October 11 this year. When told to leave, he lay down in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic, and was again arrested.

He had nine previous convictions.

Conev came to Ireland here to make a few quid as a street entertainer, his solicitor Philip Hannon said.

He had a keyboard that he would play at railway stations but that was stolen from him, which caused immense difficulty because he had no other income and was not entitled to social welfare benefits. He was now being assisted by a charity.

The accused had health problems and was transferred from a hospital here to one in Munich before returning to Ireland.

Conev was trying to get help for his alcoholism and was taking steps to curb if not cease his drinking, Mr Hannon said.

Hes stopped drinking vodka but is drinking wine instead of vodka, which is a step down, Mr Hannon said.
Olivia McBrides defence pleaded with Judge David McHugh not to imprison her yet and to give her time to make arrangements for her children while she is in jail.

Ms McBride was sentenced to four months in prison, with a five-year driving ban and 250 fine

A mother of two who was repeatedly caught driving without insurance is to be jailed for four months, but a judge put a stay on the sentence to allow her to spend Christmas with her family.

Olivia McBrides defence pleaded with Judge David McHugh not to imprison her yet and to give her time to make arrangements for her children while she is in jail.

Judge David McHugh said it was with great reluctance that he deferred imposition of the sentence to January.

Blanchardstown District Court heard McBride (38) had not had her affairs in order when she was stopped driving without insurance on June 7, 2021, and March 15, 2022.

She already had three previous convictions.

Gardai stopped her at Watery Lane in Clondalkin at 1.35pm on the first day. The car had no insurance or NCT certificate displayed and she had no licence when asked.

On making enquiries, gardai established that she was disqualified from driving at the time, Sergeant Walter Sweeney said.

On the second date, gardai stopped McBride driving another car at Greenpark Shopping Centre, Clondalkin, at 5.03pm.

She was again driving while disqualified and gardai arrested her and seized the vehicle.

Her previous offences were in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

McBride had a significant number of personal difficulties having suffered family bereavements including the recent loss of a sister, defence solicitor Kelly Breen said.

Theres a lot of upset in her family life, she told the court, adding that the accused was on anti-anxiety medication.

Judge McHugh said McBride now had five convictions for uninsured driving and asked Ms Breen to address her clients serial offending.

Its very much a case of her not having her affairs in order and not having a clear and correct view of her situation, Ms Breen said.

The accused was struggling to cope with everyday life and had not been driving since the last incident.

Judge McHugh said that the court had to look at the overall circumstances.

Her time is up, he said.

He said he had heard of the hard time the accused was having but on the other side is public policy and with the accused having offended five times, the public definitely wins out.

He said he was sentencing McBride to four months in prison, with a five-year driving ban and a 250 fine.

Ms Breen asked the judge to consider putting a stay on the sentence to allow McBride to deal with Christmas and make arrangements for her children.

The judge put the case back to January 18 but said he would perfect the order on that date.
The party is quitting Connolly House on the Andersonstown Road in west Belfast 40 years after they bought it

Sean Downes (22) was killed at an internment anniversary rally in 1984. The moment when Sean Downes was hit in the chest by a RUC baton round

Abuse survivor Mairia Cahill says Connolly House should become a victims centre to help those who suffered at the hands of the IRA  after Sinn Fein announced it is leaving its former HQ after 40 years.

And the former Irish senator says Sinn Fein should foot the bill.

Last week it emerged the republican party would be quitting Connolly House on the Andersonstown Road in west Belfast 40 years after they bought it.

Its understood the party is ready to splash the cash on a new premises after a 4million estate was left to it by English recluse William Hampton five years ago.

Hamptons express stipulation was that his money be spent to cover election expenses and to fund Sinn Fein offices and advice centres.

The party has revealed it will move its political hub out of Connolly House  named after 1916 hero James Connolly  though its not clear whether they plan to sell the property immediately.

The iconic building was widely seen as Sinn Fein HQ and was rarely out of the headlines over four decades.

During an anti-internment protest outside the building in 1984, Sean Downes was shot dead with a plastic bullet fired by the RUC.

Connolly House has also been bugged by MI5 and hit with a rocket fired by loyalists.

Connolly House in west Belfast. Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph

It has hosted many high-profile press conferences which attracted the worlds media and it was where crowds gathered to celebrate the IRA ceasefire in the 1990s.

It also had a notorious reputation  MI5 agent Martin McGartland claims to have been abducted from it.

More recently, it has had a quieter existence as the constituency office for West Belfast MLA Orlaithi Flynn.

This week, she told the Andersonstown News that the former doctors surgery has become rundown and not fit for purpose.

Mairia Cahill  who was interrogated by the IRA inside another Sinn Fein office  says the party now has an opportunity to give something back.

They should turn Connolly House into a state-of-the-art victims and trauma centre specialising in treating victims of IRA violence, she told the Sunday World.

They should fill it with trained counsellors who have no links to republicanism. It could be a proper trauma centre which could do some good after all the hurt the IRA caused over the years.

We all know they have the finances to pay for it themselves.

I was interrogated by the IRA inside a Sinn Fein office and it has been reported that others were too. Martin McGartland was abducted by the IRA from within Connolly House.

Mairia  whose great-uncle Joe Cahill was one of the founding members of the Provos  waived her anonymity in 2014 to reveal she had been sexually abused by a member of the IRA.

Coincidentally, Joe Cahill was one of two veteran republicans Hampton named as the executors of the massive estate he left to Sinn Fein in 2018.

Sean Downes (22) was killed at an internment anniversary rally in 1984. The moment when Sean Downes was hit in the chest by a RUC baton round

To date, this process has brought in 3.9m for Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, with more to come. The proceeds have gone to the party in Northern Ireland as there is a ban on foreign donations and tighter political funding laws in the Republic.

If Sinn Fein hit the jackpot with the Hampton legacy, they appear to have got lucky once again with Connolly House.

The planned redevelopment of Casement Park, in time for Euro 2028, means Connolly House  a couple of hundred yards away  is now prime real estate.

Alex Maskey, the former MLA and current speaker of the Assembly, told the Andersonstown News that Connolly House played an important role for the party.

After the partys first electoral success in the Assembly election in 1982, we opened an office in Beechmount Avenue, he said.

Following more success at the Westminster election, we wanted to open another office and make a statement that we were here to stay.

We came across Connolly House. We bought the property in 1983 and refurbished it. It became our hub in west Belfast for constituents.

But Connolly House has had a colourful past with a number of controversies and attacks.

In 1994, Johnny Adairs Shankill UFF team blasted it with an RPG-7 rocket which wrecked the roof.

A few days later, loyalists launched a gun attack on men building a blast wall to protect the building from another attack, riddling the building with gunfire. Incredibly, nobody was injured.

The death of Sean Downes (22) outside Connolly House was one of the most shocking incidents connected to the building.

He died after being struck by a plastic bullet fired by an RUC officer during an anti-internment rally as the RUC tried to stop former Noraid publicity director Martin Galvin from speaking.

In 2004, Connolly House hit the headlines again when Sinn Fein found a sophisticated bugging device planted by MI5.

Ms Flynn says the time has come to move out.

The building has become really rundown and is not fit for purpose anymore. There are also parts of the building we are not utilising like the top floor due to very tight stairs, she said.

The time is right to move into a more modern and comfortable working space for our team and constituents. Connolly House was our centralised office for many years but we now have very good offices in West Belfast.
Arnotts reopened for business yesterday after staff worked through the night to clean up the store.

Watch: From inside Arnotts shows the scene as dozens of looters break in during raid

A video showing the moment looters break into Arnotts department store during Thursdays riots has gone viral on social media.

The clip shows a group of masked thugs pushing against the shutters on the Abbey Street entrance to the popular Dublin store.

The barrier briefly holds the mob back before they finally push through and squeeze through the gap.

Within seconds, a group of thugs  who have their faces covered  race into the shop to begin their looting.

Watch: From inside Arnotts shows the scene as dozens of looters break in during raid

Yesterday, Arnotts reopened for business after staff worked through the night to clean up the store.

Donald McDonald, the chief executive of Brown Thomas Arnotts, told RTE they were shocked the videos showing the mob ransacking limited parts of the store.

"We prioritised customer and team safety and made a timely decision to close the store early yesterday evening.

"Thankfully nobody was hurt in the events that unfolded at Arnotts and all our team members and customers, while shaken, are safe," the CEO said.

"Arnotts is a very special place, made up of great people and throughout its 180-year history, Arnotts has not alone survived but thrived through tough times, emergencies and many crises," Mr McDonald said.

"Arnotts is Dublin's department store, it is part of Dublin, so shame on those people last night for what they did to our city and our beautiful store," he added.

"They may have damaged our store and stolen some merchandise, but they can never damage the Arnotts spirit, we will not allow them.

"Our teams have worked through the night to repair our store. We will fix what needs to be fixed and open our doors, later than normal, but with the same pride as we always have at Arnotts when serving our customers," he said.
I dont think tweeting Ireland, we are at war to his 10.2 million followers is helpful in this situation

Irish model and influencer Holly Carpenter has criticised a sports star for fuelling hate online after Conor McGregor posted incendiary comments stating Ireland is at war".

Holly spoke out in the wake of violence on the streets of Dublin which saw public transport vehicles destroyed, gardai attacked and dozens of people arrested.

Earlier in the day, three children and a woman were stabbed outside a school on Parnell Street by an Irish citizen who is originally from Algeria. He was apprehended at the scene by brave passers by and is undergoing treatment in hospital. The heroic woman who tried to stop the attack and a five-year-old girl remain in critical condition in hospital.

The day before the violence, McGregor had posted an astonishing attack on allowing immigrants to vote on his X account declaring: Ireland, we are at war.

Conor McGregor

In a series of messages posted on his feed he adds: Do not let any Irish property be took over (sic) unannounced. Evaporate (sic) said property. Its a war.

It follows earlier messages where he retweeted a comment by conservative news website Gript, which criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for stating everyone resident in Ireland can vote in Local Elections, regardless of nationality or visa status.

Retweeting the Gript comment that offers three reasons why allowing migrants to vote is ludicrous, McGregor storms: Imagine a mega power nation allowing this absolute foolishness!!

After violent scenes brought Dublin city centre to a standstill on Thursday night and put huge pressure on emergency services, McGregor wrote: you reap what you sow.

Former Miss Ireland Holly took to her X account yesterday to voice her opinion.

She wrote: Seeing an Irish athlete, with a huge following and a big influence (on certain people), fuelling so much hate on this platform is extremely dangerous. There is a direct link between his tweets & the violent scenes we saw in Dublin last night and he needs to be held accountable.

Replying to a comment on the thread claiming people are fed up, Holly responded: I dont think tweeting Ireland, we are at war to his 10.2 million followers is helpful in this situation. Essentially encouraging a riot and putting the general public, Gardai & ambulance drivers at risk.

It comes after Tanaiste Micheal Martin yesterday criticised comments from Conor McGregor as absolutely disgraceful in the wake of an outbreak of violence on the streets of Dublin.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs was asked to respond to comments posted online by McGregor where he said Ireland, we are at war and you reap what you sow.

While Mr Martin did not name McGregor, he said comments of that type are essentially inciting hate.

There has been many comments Ive watched online of that type which are absolutely disgraceful, Mr Marin told reporters.

We have a parliamentary democracy, we value that, Irish people do as well.

Isolated voices like that and voices that essentially are inciting hate and to some degree incitement is unacceptable.

Following the comments, McGregor hit back with a scathing response, referencing the Ashling Murphy murder trial.

Blame anyone but themselves. Typical. Worthless you are Michael. Worthless and spineless. Ryan Casey called you all out last week grieving the love of his life, stolen by pawn scum, and nothing but waffle from you all since. Zero action!

Yesterday, McGregor told his followers he did not condone last nights riots.

"I do not condone any attacks on our first responders in their line of duty. I do not condone looting and the damaging of shops. Last nights scenes achieved nothing toward fixing the issues we face. I do understand frustrations however, and I do understand a move must be made to ensure the change we need is ushered in. And fast! I am in the process of arranging.

McGregor added: Believe me I am way more tactical and I have backing. There will be change in Ireland, mark my words. The change needed. In the last month, innocent children stabbed leaving school. Ashling Murphy murdered. Two Sligo men decapitated. This is NOT Irelands future! If they do not act soon with their plan of action to ensure Irelands safety, I will.

During horrific scenes on Thursday night, 13 shops were significantly damaged or subject to looting, 11 garda vehicles destroyed through arson or extensively damaged and three Dublin Buses and a Luas tram were destroyed. Gardai were also injured during the violence.

Later on last night, McGregor posted a photo of vehicles on fire on OConnell Street and wrote:  What would Daniel O Connell say I wonder? What would our Irish leaders past say on the situation we face today? God bless Ireland.

Earlier, McGregor posted an angry response to video footage of an interview with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris where he condemned the "disgraceful scenes" in Dublin on Thursday.

The garda commissioner said that a "hooligan faction driven by far right ideology" is behind the violence on the streets.

Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today, McGregor said.

"Our chief of police had this to say on the riots in the aftermath. Drew, not good enough. There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Make change or make way. Ireland for the victory God bless those attacked today, we pray.
I am delighted that Emily Hand  a bright and beautiful girl  has been released and will be reunited with her family.

Israeli-Irish national Emily Hand (9) has been released by Hamas tonight, along with eight other Israeli children and five women.

The Sunday World understands that Emilys father Thomas Hand has confirmed to Irish officials that he has been told his daughter is among the 13 hostages released tonight and that he is now waiting for her.

Various media reports stated that after crossing the border to Egypt the hostages will be positively identified by Israeli security officials and flown by helicopter to a hospital in Israel.

Israeli-Irish girl Emily Hand celebrated her ninth birthday while held in captivity by Hamas.

She was tonight included in the second batch of Israelis to be released as part of a deal under which 50 Israeli children, mothers and elderly women are being released in four installments over a four-day period, during which a ceasefire is being observed in Gaza by both sides.

Emily was kidnapped on October 7 during the Hamas raid into Israel which killed 1,200 people. She was initially feared dead but Israeli intelligence later informed her father, Dublin native Thomas Hand, that she may be alive and in Gaza.

Confirming her release tonight, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said I am delighted that Emily Hand  a bright and beautiful girl  has been released and will be reunited with her family.

Father calls for proof of life of Irish-Israeli 9-year-old daughter taken by Hamas

After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment or the Hand family. The people of Ireland have been touched by Emilys story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father, Tom.

Mr Martin added: I want to acknowledge the role played the US, Qatar, Eygpt and others that have been involved in securing the release of the hostages.

I am conscious today that many more hostages remain in the hands o Hamas. I reiterate my call that all hostages in Gaza should be released immediately and unconditionally."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described it as a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family.

"An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and our country breathes a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.

A little girl was snatched from her home and held captive for almost seven weeks. She spent her ninth birthday as a hostage. We hope she will soon heal and recover from the traumatic experience in the loving embrace of her family.

For her family, these seven weeks have been a slow and cruel torture. We all recall the initial response from her father Tom Hand  the painful grief mixed with relief with the mistaken belief that his daughter had not been taken hostage, which turned into an ember of hope when it was discovered she was still alive. Throughout all these different emotions his love has been constant.

Mr Varadkar added: Emily now returns to her family, but we cannot forget that many more hostages remain in captivity in Gaza. Their fate is unknown, but we hope that like Emily, they will also be allowed to return to their homes and their families. We think of all the families suffering in this troubled region, and we redouble our efforts to work for a permanent ceasefire, and for a just and lasting peace.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomed confirmation of Emily's release.

She said: I welcome confirmation that Emily Hand has been released. The trauma and heartbreak that little Emily and her family have been subjected to over the last number of weeks is unimaginable.

I reiterate my call that all hostages be released urgently and for an immediate full ceasefire to be in place. Ireland must continue to be a voice for peaceful dialogue on the international stage.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators earlier said Hamas had agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven foreign nationals on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The announcement came after Hamas delayed the releases for several hours, saying Israel had violated the terms of a truce deal that had set the stage for such swaps.

Earlier, Egyptian security sources had said they had received the names of 14 Israeli women and children from Hamas and were waiting for more details.

Among the Israelis freed on Friday after almost 50 days in captivity in Gaza was nine-year-old Ohad Munder, who ran down a hospital corridor in Israel into his father's open arms, footage released by the hospital showed.

He and three other children released at the same time were in relatively good condition, Gilat Livni, the centre's Director of Paediatrics told reporters.

Israel's government and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to a four-day pause in fighting to allow the release of the 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

Officials from Qatar, which has been mediating secret negotiations, as well as the U.S., Israel and Hamas had been for days been saying a deal was imminent.

A statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said 50 women and children will be released over four days, during which there will be a pause in fighting.

Emily, who turned nine last week, was reported to be among the hostages but was not in the first group of people released.

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had said the nine-year-old could soon be free as a result of the hostage agreement.

We are particularly pursuing the case of Emily Hand, a young Irish-Israeli girl who we believe has been held hostage in Gaza by Hamas, Mr Varadkar told Mary Lou McDonald in the Dail.

"We're pushing, and using all our contacts and abilities, to ensure that that Emily Hand is along one of those to be released. Thats a major priority for us.

And we're very strongly of the view that hostages should never be taken by anyone, in any conflict, anywhere, ever.
We have now entered the realm of state-sponsored gaslighting.

Riot officers face down demonstrators next to a burning garda car near Parnell Square in Dublin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

When I penned this opinion piece (below) after the vile attack on a US tourist in Dublin in July, I hoped - against hope - it would prove an anomaly.

As we watched our capital city go up in flames last night, following the horrific stabbing of innocent school children and a creche worker earlier in the day, it sadly rang even truer four months on.

No matter how much you love or feel loyal to Dublin, the simmering deterioration of parts of the inner city in recent years has now undeniably reached boiling point.

Still, our Justice Minister says - with all the bravura of someone who likely hasn't braved O'Connell Street without security since taking up office in 2020 - "this is not something we see normally".

So again, I ask

Rioters on the streets near Parnell Square. Photo: Mark Condren

Published in July 2023:

Do you ever get the sneaking feeling youre being lied to?

I did on Friday, when Justice Minister Helen McEntee stood in Store Street Garda Station, and declared that: Dublin is a safe city.

She was speaking to reporters after American tourist Stephen Termini (57) was left fighting for his life after a savage assault by a gang of youths just metres away from the station the previous night.

So how on earth did she keep a poker face as she continued that despite problems: I do think our city is safe whether youre living here, working here or whether youre a tourist here.

Joining her in attempting to convince us all that chalk is cheese and black is white, after just the latest unprovoked attack to hit headlines, was Dublin Central TD Paschal Donohoe, who described it as a very vibrant and very safe capital city.

Its official: we have now entered the realm of state-sponsored gaslighting.

In recent years, there has been a lot of debate over the perceived decline of the Big Smoke post-lockdown. Emotions run high on both sides, as the reality of overflowing bins and crippling house prices is balanced against the nostalgia of the warmth of its people and lively arts scene.

True blue or Dublin defector, male or female, young or old though, no one could argue that its possible to confidently stroll down OConnell or Talbot Street alone any more, day or night.

Sure, its easy to feel safe when youre standing in a garda station with your own security detail nearby. For the rest of us, including me and my Sunday World colleagues, who live or work in the area and navigate the maze of day-drinking, open drug use and anti-social behaviour on a daily basis, with virtually zero police presence, its harder not to fear that we could be next.

Even as the Ministers were trying to reassure a nervous public that new harsher penalties for assaulting causing harm and garda recruitment drive were all part of a tough and firm response to end thuggery on our streets, elsewhere in Kyiv, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was busy apologising to the victim of another random act of violence in the north inner city.

There was widespread condemnation when young actor was slashed with a glass bottle by a five-strong mob of men and women after coming out of the Abbey Theatre where he was starring in a production Translations of last month.

Oleksandr Hrekov (Photo: Matt Shanahan)

Guess what - no arrests were made, never mind charges. Will anything be different this time?

Photo ops and dizzying spin aside, in this governments alternative reality, Gardai - like the Tallaght officer now facing trial over the deaths of three members of a burglary gang during an N7 car chase two years ago - seem more likely to be punished for than supported in doing their jobs.

When even Dublin City Council struggles to free the streets from rubbish and urine, what hope is there for ridding them of scum of another variety.
The 74-year-old died after suffering a heart attack while on holiday with his son Mark in Dubai last weekend

The funeral details for businessman Ben Dunne have been announced this afternoon.

The 74-year-old died after suffering a heart attack while on holiday with his son Mark in Dubai last weekend.

The entrepreneur ran Dunnes Stores as managing director and executive chairman for almost 10 years following the death of his father, also Ben, in 1983. He later established a chain of fitness centres.

The funeral, which is open to the public, is due to take place on Tuesday at St Mochtas Church in Porterstown, Clonsilla at 11am, followed by burial in Castleknock Churchyard.

Additional seating will be available in the Parish Centre at the rear of the church.

His death notice notes that he is the beloved husband of Mary and dear father of Mark, Robert, Caroline and Nicholas. It also says that he is a beloved grandfather of Ben, Katie, Pearl and Joseph.

Sympathisers will be able to pay their respects at Cunninghams Funeral Home, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown on Monday evening from 4pm until 7pm.

The removal will then take place the following day and the body of Mr Dunne will be brought to St. Mochtas Church arriving for a funeral mass at 11am followed by burial in Castleknock Churchyard.

Members of the business community including and high profile politicians are expected to attend.

Mr Dunne was an iconic figure in Irish business for several decades.

In a statement released after Mr Dunne died, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was deeply saddened to hear the news.

A constituent of mine in Castleknock and a local employer, I met Ben many times. He really was larger than life, he said.

Among other things, he pioneered the fitness industry in Ireland first with Westpoint and then Ben Dunne Gyms.

He led a life less ordinary and in turn he made some mistakes in life. The best people do. He never allowed that to defeat him or hold him back. He touched the lives of tens of thousands who will mourn his loss.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 25, 2023 - 13:50 | All, World

Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages, including 13 Israeli women and children, the Israeli government said, as a four-day cease-fire with the militant group began in the Gaza Strip.

The hostages, from around 240 held in Gaza, were taken to Egypt before arriving in Israel. The Qatari government, which mediated the truce, said that in addition to the 13 Israelis, aged 2 to 85, Hamas had released 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino under a separate deal.

"We just completed the return of the first batch of our hostages," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement, while stressing, "We are committed to the return of all our hostages."

Israel released 39 Palestinian women and teenagers who were being held in prison, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The hostages were taken when Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, sparking an Israeli air and ground assault on the Gaza Strip.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday there was a "real" chance that the cease-fire could be extended.

The hostages freed by Hamas were taken to hospitals in and around Tel Aviv and were reunited with their families, according to local media.

The Thai nationals, believed to be agricultural workers, will return home after undergoing medical checks.

Under the deal, Hamas will release 50 hostages, while Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is expected to hand over around a dozen hostages on each of the four days of the cease-fire.

The Israeli government has offered an incentive to Hamas to release more, saying it will extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas.

Israel has said the attack by Hamas killed 1,200 people, while Israel's assault has left over 14,800 dead, according to Gaza health authorities.

Related coverage:

Gaza cease-fire begins, Hamas set to release hostages

Israel approves 4-day cease-fire with Hamas for hostage release

Poverty in Palestine may rise 45% in month 3 of Israel-Hamas war: UN
We salute the courage of our compatriot, who helped put an end to the attack perpetrated by an attacker in Dublin yesterday

French president Emmanuel Macron has congratulated the 17-year-old intern from France who helped disarm the suspect involved in Thursdays Parnell Square attack in Dublin.

The suspect had attacked a queue of young schoolchildren who were being escorted by a creche worker into an after-school care facility.

Alan Loren-Guille (17) is originally from Ardennes, France. The final year secondary school student has been doing his internship in a restaurant in Dublin since October and was due to return to France at the end of November, according to French media, France Bleu and France 3.

Mr Macron called Mr Loren-Guille to congratulate him and thank him for this act of bravery which helped save lives and which makes us all proud , the Elysee, the official residence of the French President, told French media Le Figaro yesterday.

We salute the courage of our compatriot, who helped put an end to the attack perpetrated by an attacker in Dublin yesterday, said the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris to Le Figaro.

We also send our thoughts to the victims of this attack and their families. We stand with Ireland and the Irish people.

This is our own 17 year old super hero, the pub and restaurant, Spitalfields, said on social media.

Alan Loren-Guille who was one of the brave heros that managed to disarm the school children attacker yesterday in Dublin on his way to work. He is one of our brilliant French stagiaires in the kitchen @spitalfields_dublin.

He noticed something happening as he passed by and selflessly jumped in to stop the attacker and managed to wrestle the knife off him.

The restaurant said the Frenchman is fairly unscathed despite having  a couple a cuts to his hand and face.

They added: Without this act of bravery who knows what else might have happened. Our prayers are with the poor children, families and teachers who were affected by this tragedy. Please lookout for one and other. Not all superheroes wear capes.
It had been feared the move against East Belfast would leave the veteran loyalist vulnerable to increased police attention.

Alleged mob boss Stephen Mackers Matthews still has the protection of the UVF, sources close to the faction have said.

The suspected crime chief, named in court as the leader of the East Belfast crime gang, is one of a number of people dubbed the Hateful Eight who have been stood down by the Shankill leadership.

The Sunday World understands the announcement made during recent Remembrance Sunday commemorations was the culmination of a long negotiation process.

The process has been conducted in full consultation with British security and intelligence services and sees the UVF finally stepping away from paramilitary activity after 30 years of undelivered promises.

The terror groups leadership and other strands of loyalism, including the Orange Order and community initiative East Belfast ACT, have insisted there is no prospect of a violent feud.

Loyalist sources have indicated the leadership is confident that they have done enough to ensure guns will not be brought out.

Ex-prisoners group East Belfast ACT, which is closely aligned with UVF thinking, hit out at speculation that a bloody feud is inevitable.

There is no, and will be no, feud or violence, contrary to misinformed and malicious rumours, they said in a statement.

The group said language around a potentially violent backlash was dangerous and inflammatory.

They said attempts to provoke violence with attacks on individuals would not work.

Talks involving intermediaries  including prominent loyalist and former Red Hand commando chief Jim Bimbo Wilson, and the UVF leadership team including Chief of Staff John Bunter Graham  are ongoing.

It is believed Matthews has been assured he will remain a member of the organisation and can rely on its protection.

It had been feared the move against East Belfast would leave the veteran loyalist vulnerable to increased police attention.

Given that he still faces criminal charges in relation to a UVF show of strength in the Pitt Park area of the city in February 2021, and heightened scrutiny from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, it was thought his expulsion from the organisation would expose him to a higher risk of arrest.

His co-accused in the Pitt Park incident, Derek Lammey, is another of the Hateful Eight, as is a close associate of Mackers who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The Sunday World first revealed plans to depose the East Belfast leadership in 2019.

Bunter Graham had come under increasing pressure from the veteran membership, which was frustrated at the organisations failure to distance itself from involvement in the drugs trade.

He was also feeling the strain from the British government, which was frustrated at the UVFs failed promises to transition away from paramilitary activity and criminality.

As previously revealed by this newspaper, Graham issued an edict that any UVF member found to be dealing drugs would be expelled.

It followed the arrival on the Shankill of a Dublin-based criminal gang involved in a dispute with UFF drug dealer Mo Courtney.

Bunter had previously showed his intentions when he stood down former South East Antrim Brigadier Den Elliott, when he discovered his one-time trusted lieutenant had links to a drug-dealing operation.

A number of senior figures, including a commander in north Belfast, have been subjected to punishment attacks or expelled.

Last weekends statement was read out to all five UVF brigades, most pointedly at two venues in the east of the city. According to sources, it was greeted with loud cheers.

It made clear that East Belfast UVF as a brigade has not been stood down, the leadership has been removed and a new command structure is to be put in place.

This was the plan first proposed by Graham in 2019 when he planned to put a veteran loyalist in charge. Known to be anti-drugs, he is seen as a safe pair of hands.

However, the Sunday World understands that speculation suggesting he has agreed to take over is premature.

This is a settlement that has not been imposed  it has been agreed and there is absolutely no prospect of violence, a well-placed source told us.

The source said Matthews, who denies any involvement in criminality, has been semi-retired for some time but had been involved in transition work around this issue. 

No list of names was read out, there is no witch-hunt but there was a very clear warning to those involved in drug dealing, said a mainstream loyalist source.

Graham is hopeful this initiative will be enough to protect public funding for community projects in loyalist areas, on which a number of senior UVF figures rely for their living.

Bunter was insistent last weekends statement reflected what he sees as the integrity of the UVF. The original vision when the organisation declared its ceasefire 30 years ago was that it would transition into a veterans group  but it is believed Bunter is adamant the UVF name will be maintained for remembrance purposes.

Its unclear whether other members of the Hateful Eight will remain in the UVF or be expelled.

One-time trusted Matthews sidekick David Dee McConnell, who fell out of favour over his on-the-side drug-running operation, is also thought to be among the Eight.
Entrepreneur who brought us the Point and the Bord Gais Theatre has big plans for Dublins Vicar Street venue

Hes the man who built Irelands world class Point Depot  now the 3Arena  that turned the once dilapidated and deserted Dublin docklands into a buzzing entertainment area.

And now Harry Crosbie says hes determined to get one more landmark project over the line before he dies.

Colourful entrepreneur Crosbie, who also brought to life the Bord Gais Energy Theatre  formerly called the Grand Canal Theatre  is on a mission to turn his prized Vicar Street into three separate music venues.

Harry recently told how it will include a new 2,000-capacity Big Vic concert space, in addition to the existing 1,200-capacity Vicar Street.

Harrys plans for Vicar Street area in Dublin

Another building on the site in the Liberties is earmarked for a 250-capacity venue for smaller events.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday World at his unique waterside home on Grand Canal Dock, the 77-year-old looked like an excited child at Christmas this week as he spoke passionately about the project.

This will be my last job in my life, Harry says as he shows me the plans.

I have assembled around me a team of people with highly specialist knowledge for a project like this, and I would like to do this before I croak.

Its really important that I get this built.

This is not about money. This is about me giving back to the city of Dublin and I am hoping that the powers that be will give me the green light to do it.

Crosbie says that the Vicar Street venue, favoured through the years by artists ranging from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Simon to Ed Sheeran and Adele, has become a victim of its own success.

Its so successful that in recent times it has become obvious that its too small, says Harry, who deserves a Freedom of the City award.

I am very fortunate that I have a lifelong relationship with Peter Aiken (the promoter who runs shows at Vicar Street).

Harrys plans for Vicar Street area in Dublin

He is one of the few promoters who are decent and honest and straight, and we have worked together for many, many years.

That is one of the reasons that Vicar Street is so successful.

Dublin really needs a 2,000-seater venue.

The reason a 2,000-seater is the optimum seater all around the world is that the Greeks, who invented theatre, discovered that 2,000 people is the nearest you can get where you can see human features and you can hear the human voice.

Thats why the Bord Gais is a 2,000-seater. But a music venue and a theatre are two completely different things.

Crosbie is currently in discussions with representatives of the Catholic Church, who own some of the area where he intends to create a new square with access to the venue.

In the corner beside the church we want to restore an old building that used to be a famine school and make it a 250-seater venue.

We intend to make it available for periods of time in the year for local community activities run through the council, and for young bands to come in and experiment.

We had a very successful meeting with the local city councillors and if any other councillor or any group of people or any group of residents want to meet me, I will do a special presentation for them in Vicar Street any day they ask.

Vicar Street is a popular spot

Dublin City Council have said that they will support it, he added.

I still have to go through the process to get the planning, but the council have said that they believe in the scheme and want it to happen.

All three will be run by me and Peter Aiken and will bring a completely different and unique arts quarter to the city, with a whole new range of acts opening up a huge choice to the Irish public.

We can do it now and it needs to be done, Harry added.
There were hugs and tears of joy in the Kawerau District Council chamber as Maori ward advocates were told yes after two years of asking.

At an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, Kawerau was the third district council in the Eastern Bay to adopt a Maori ward.

Whakatane District Council already has three Maori Ward seats in place and Opotiki District Council voted on Monday for Maori wards.

A public forum was held at the beginning of the Kawerau meeting, with six of the 165 submitters speaking.

Some of those who spoke had made submissions to a review in 2021.

The council previously voted against the establishment of Maori wards for the reason it already had broad representation.

However, council committed to do better in future community consultation and an extensive engagement campaign was carried out with tangata whenua iwi and the community this year.

Of the 165 submissions made, 56 percent were opposed and 38 percent were in support of Maori wards. Just under 5 percent were undecided.

The council of the day, back in September 2021, did commit to doing a better job and weve actually heard voices, Mayor Faylene Tunui said.

We have made a much more concerted, deliberate effort in having that conversation.

Long time Kawerau resident Jenny Reynolds summed up the feeling of many of those opposed.

Maori wards are only needed if Maori becomes under-represented," she said.

"Sadly, in many places around the motu, Maori are not well represented on councils and community boards. I cant say that that is the case in Kawerau.

Kawerau district can be proud of the diversity of its elected members, she said.

Without wards, voters were able to vote for all eight councillors, while with wards, they will likely only be able to vote for four, she added.

I urge the council to maintain the status quo and then review its decision prior to the 2028 election.

Louise Hiwarau said Maori wards were long overdue and were required to give full effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Three years ago, we had this conversation and here I am again standing up for the same kaupapa.

"With the make up of councils current governing board we do not feel comfortable sharing our expressions of our tiro rangatiratanga in this space."

"In the past, colonialism has violated our trust and good faith, so until we observe council properly whakamana (empower) te Tiriti o Waitangi, only then can we recommend and work collaboratively towards improving outcomes for Maori."

Ms Hiwarau noted that the majority of submission responses that were opposed to Maori wards were from the over-65 demographic.

While I appreciate the older population taking the time to complete the survey, please consider that this is our future we are talking about. Theyve lived their lives, this is our time.

Another submitter, Heather Kuka, agreed, saying the over-65 demographic skew can lead to decisions that may not align with younger residents.

Even if establishing these wards mean that my personal voting options are limited in future elections, I remain steadfast in my support. The depths of our community representation far outweighs the benefit of choice for any one individual.

Deputy mayor Aaron Rangihika moved that council resolve to establish one or more Maori wards for the 2025 and 2028 elections.

This was seconded by councillor Sela Kingi, and the vote passed with only one councillor opposed.

Councillor Carolyn Ion spoke about the difficult decision and said the iwi liaison committee has been in place since 2014 to fulfil its Treaty obligations.

The number of Maori ward and general seats on both Opotiki and Kawerau councils is still to be decided at representation arrangements reviews, due to be held in the first half of next year.

The balance of Maori and general ward councillors will depend on the percentages of district voters on the Maori and general electoral rolls. Around 61.7 percent of Kaweraus population identifed as Maori at the 2018 Census.

Mayor Faylene Tunui thanked submitters for the respectful way they had shared their views.

If there is a difference in view, thats what makes Kawerau rich.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
Taurangas cruise ship industry missed a much anticipated economic opportunity today due to an Australian cruise ship failing to meet NZs strict biosecurity requirements.

Thousands of passengers and crew on board the Pacific Adventure have been turned away from New Zealand shores, heading back to Australia instead of spending the day enjoying Tauranga.

P&O Cruises Australia runs a 13-day "Kiwi Adventure" voyage, taking passengers from Sydney, sailing around New Zealand and stopping at different cities.

In a statement to SunLive, the company says Pacific Adventures itinerary has changed and unfortunately guests on this current voyage will no longer be visiting New Zealand.

Guests were notified before embarking on their 13-day Kiwi Adventure voyage that there could be significant changes to the itinerary, due to New Zealands strict biosecurity requirements, says a P&O Cruises Australia spokesperson.

The ship left Sydney on Monday for hull cleaning off the Bay of Plenty, however the weather didnt allow this to happen, so we apologise that the itinerary has had to be amended.

A change in the forecast conditions made it too dangerous for divers, and therefore we are unable to gain clearance to enter New Zealand.

Unlike ships visiting our region from other parts of the world, Pacific Adventure only sails in Australia, NZ and the Pacific.

Underwater cleaning opportunities in this region are extremely limited and can only be done offshore.

Unfortunately, Pacific Adventure has been unable to clean to meet the strict NZ standards on this occasion.

Local Bay of Plenty tourism operators have been affected by the cancelled visit to Tauranga with tours to Rotorua, Hobbiton and Western Bay of Plenty cancelled.

The iconic Mount Maunganui Pepi Toot train which is looking forward to a summer showcasing Mount Maunganui to cruise ship passengers following the challenging Covid years is still out today, offering rides to locals.

Pepi Toot train leaves from its station at Salisbury Ave, Mount Maunganui, to take passengers on rides around Mount Maunganui. Photo: SunLive.

Passengers on board the cruise ship are unhappy with the change, posting their annoyance and frustration to social media.

"Get me off this boat and give me a full refund," says one passenger.

"This is just a turd covered in gold glitter. My husband has requested ET bring him home," says another in a post.

Most posts came thick and fast.

"We paid international fares and now end up for a domestic trip."

"Inexcusable. They have been caught out before. Not. Good. Enough."

"I honestly just want to go back home. Take me to Sydney," writes another passenger.

A local Tauranga person says her friend was on board.

"She had to cancel her wedding."

She says her friend was due to get married at Sulphur Point, Tauranga at 10.30am on Saturday.

P&O says in lieu of sailing around New Zealand, Pacific Adventure is now on its way to Tasmania instead.

We hope guests will enjoy their time in Hobart, Port Arthur and Eden.

The almost 2800 guests have been offered additional compensation in light of this change to their itinerary.
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.
CHENGDU, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route linking Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Los Angeles resumed on Friday, according to Sichuan Airlines, the flight's operator.

An Airbus A-350 airliner carrying about 200 passengers took off from the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport at around 9 p.m. (Beijing Time), marking the resumption of the first direct passenger flight between the western region of China and the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The flight service on the route is scheduled every Tuesday and Friday.

So far, the airport in Chengdu has opened a total of 51 air routes linking with overseas airports, including 43 passenger routes and eight cargo routes. 
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,544 Thanked: 13,657 Times

View My Garage





Team-BHP Drive Meet to Frozen Lake | Drive to Picture Lake in North Cascade Mountains, WA



I feel like doing a drive every few weeks to some exotic location (Washington is filled with them and it makes the drive urges go up like nothing that I can explain). I would like to tick every possible place that is worth visiting in Washington.



The best part is that all exotic locales in Washington are  Day Drives and maximum of 150 miles one-way which means we can reach that destination in 3-hours of driving at the maximum.



I may have covered about 70% of the major attractions already in Washington and some of them warrant going back at least 2-3 times in a year (Landscapes change drastically during each season- Summers, Fall and Winters)



With that said, I kick started another beautiful drive plan for November 18, 2023.



I keep track of all beautiful locations from a local blog- Life in Northwest Washington. I saw there that Picture Lake in the North Cascade Mountains already received a lot of snow (winter hasnt even started for us yet) and I was getting an urge to visit the snow capped mountains so I set a plan in motion.



Initially, there were 6 cars who confirmed to join and on the D-day, it dropped to only 3 folks who showed up.



The plan was simple :



1. Drive up north for 100 miles and visit the frozen Picture Lake in Mt. Baker area which is part of the North Cascades Mountain range.

2. Spend a few hours enjoying the view at the location.

3. Drive back home and enroute stop for a late lunch.



Weather gods also gave us full support, it was 0 Celsius but, sunny through out the day.



Folks who joined :



1. Mobike008 (BMW X3M40i)

2. Crackhead (Toyota Highlander)

3. Ram (Non BHPIan but, joins most of our drives in his Subaru Forester)



We decided to meet at a Chic-a-fil at a location up north at around 9:00am. We enjoyed a quick breakfast on the bonnet of the Highlander.



Left the breakfast location at 9:30am and drove north on I-5 for about 30 miles and then detoured into the B-roads. Here is where the fun started.



Me and Crackhead enjoyed some spirited driving in the hills for the 50 odd miles through some beautiful, curvy and hilly roads.



We reached Picture Lake around 11'sh and spent a couple of hours exploring the area.



Picture Lake was completely frozen and after thoroughly testing the shore area, we decided to walk on the frozen lake for a few feet inside which was a surreal feeling. Imagine this used to be water just some weeks ago.



Around here, there were a bunch of small birds who would come and sit on your hand if you stretch it out. It was super cool !!



Around 1:00pm, we decided to head out and as per Crackheads suggestion, we stopped at Aslan Brewery in Bellingham, WA (near the Canada Border) for an amazing lunch. Im usually not impressed with food easily as most places dish out just average food. But, this place was really good and I already planned to visit here again for their awesome ambience and delicious food.



After spending an hour on lunch, I split early as I needed to get home so I clipped my way home for rest of the 50 miles to reach home around 5:30pm.



Thats how a beautiful day drive ended where the food complimented the amazing scenery that we witnessed during the day.



Enjoy the pictures. Cheers!!



























I have this unusual bug of driving (I'm sure most of us here have this bug) but, I seem to suffer from it a little more than average. LOL!I feel like doing a drive every few weeks to some exotic locationI would like to tick every possible place that is worth visiting in Washington.The best part is that all exotic locales in Washington areand maximum of 150 miles one-way which means we can reach that destination in 3-hours of driving at the maximum.I may have covered about 70% of the major attractions already in Washington and some of them warrant going back at least 2-3 times in a year (Landscapes change drastically during each season-With that said, I kick started another beautiful drive plan forI keep track of all beautiful locations from a local blog- Life in Northwest Washington. I saw there that Picture Lake in the North Cascade Mountains already received a lot of snow (winter hasnt even started for us yet) and I was getting an urge to visit the snow capped mountains so I set a plan in motion.Initially, there were 6 cars who confirmed to join and on the D-day, it dropped to only 3 folks who showed up.1. Drive up north for 100 miles and visit the frozen Picture Lake in Mt. Baker area which is part of the North Cascades Mountain range.2. Spend a few hours enjoying the view at the location.3. Drive back home and enroute stop for a late lunch.Weather gods also gave us full support, it was 0 Celsius but, sunny through out the day.1.(BMW X3M40i)2.(Toyota Highlander)3.(Non BHPIan but, joins most of our drives in his Subaru Forester)We decided to meet at a Chic-a-fil at a location up north at around 9:00am. We enjoyed a quick breakfast on the bonnet of the Highlander.Left the breakfast location at 9:30am and drove north on I-5 for about 30 miles and then detoured into the B-roads. Here is where the fun started.Me and Crackhead enjoyed some spirited driving in the hills for the 50 odd miles through some beautiful, curvy and hilly roads.We reached Picture Lake around 11'sh and spent a couple of hours exploring the area.Picture Lake was completely frozen and after thoroughly testing the shore area, we decided to walk on the frozen lake for a few feet inside which was a surreal feeling. Imagine this used to be water just some weeks ago.Around here, there were a bunch of small birds who would come and sit on your hand if you stretch it out. It was super cool !!Around 1:00pm, we decided to head out and as per Crackheads suggestion, we stopped at Aslan Brewery in Bellingham, WA (near the Canada Border) for an amazing lunch. Im usually not impressed with food easily as most places dish out just average food. But, this place was really good and I already planned to visit here again for their awesome ambience and delicious food.After spending an hour on lunch, I split early as I needed to get home so I clipped my way home for rest of the 50 miles to reach home around 5:30pm.Thats how a beautiful day drive ended where the food complimented the amazing scenery that we witnessed during the day.Enjoy the pictures. Cheers!! Last edited by mobike008 : 24th November 2023 at 15:17 .
Tech entrepreneur and self-driving car innovator, Anthony Levandowski, has announced a revival of his AI church, signaling a renewed effort to establish a religious movement centered around the worship and comprehension of artificial intelligence.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Former Google and Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski gives a statement to reporters after a court appearance at the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on September 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California.

Reviving AI Church

Renowned for his contributions to autonomous vehicle technology, Anthony Levandowski is rekindling the artificial intelligence church concept, a venture he initially conceived and launched in 2015. Despite facing closure shortly after its establishment, Levandowski is now breathing new life into the project.

In its inaugural year, the AI church broke away from conventional religious practices, eschewing a physical place of worship or regular congregational gatherings. Interesting Engineering reported that Levandowski asserts that the church has garnered a congregation of "a couple thousand people."

Operating under the moniker Way of the Future (WOTF), the church's core mission revolves around championing the ethical evolution of AI, envisioning a societal landscape where artificial entities seamlessly integrate. The idea of a church centered around artificial intelligence remains as controversial as Levandowski himself.

Causing Chaos

The public became aware of the AI church's existence when Levandowski, a former Google engineer, made headlines for allegedly appropriating secrets related to autonomous vehicle technology from Google and sharing them with his subsequent employer, Uber.

Having played a pivotal role as an early engineer at Google, Levandowski significantly contributed to the development of the tech giant's in-house autonomous vehicle project. Following his departure from Google, he delved into the realm of autonomous trucks, establishing Otto in 2016.

The acquisition of Otto by Uber triggered a legal firestorm, with allegations of intellectual property theft. Google's Waymo filed a lawsuit against Levandowski, resulting in a protracted court battle.

In 2020, after years of legal wrangling, Levandowski pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from Google, leading to an 18-month prison sentence. Remarkably, he received a pardon from then-US President Donald Trump less than six months later, on the final day of his presidency.

Bloomberg reported that the high-profile case garnered significant attention for its implications on the development of autonomous vehicle technology and the legal complexities within the industry.

Also Read: Uber Threatens To Fire Anthony Levandowski As It Keeps Fighting Waymo In Court Over Self-Driving Cars

The resurgence of the artificial intelligence church comes at a strategic moment, coinciding with the heightened interest in AI, particularly fueled by the emergence of ChatGPT over the past year.

While AI and religion may seem unrelated, attempts to blend the two have been made. Earlier this year, ChatGPT conducted a service at the St. Paul church in Germany, featuring 40 minutes of prayers, music, and sermons attended by a congregation of 300 people.

Levandowski envisions merging these inorganic life forms with "magical powers," believing that AI has the potential to bring "heaven on Earth." Levandowski suggests that through AI, we can create entities that are omnipresent and capable of guiding humanity in a manner reminiscent of a divine presence.

As early as 2017, Way of the Future (WOTF) outlined its mission to focus on the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed through computer hardware and software.

Related Article: Former Uber Exec Anthony Levandowski Built A Religion To Worship An AI God

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tesla's Cybertruck, previously lauded by Elon Musk himself as shatterproof, will now be reportedly supporting a bulletproof version, most likely capable of stopping pistols and Tommy guns.

Business Insider states that a bulletproof version of the Cybertruck, dubbed as 'beast mode' by the Tesla CEO, will be available, with bulletproof windows and a body that Musk previously stated as "literally bulletproof to a nine millimeter handgun" due to its 3mm steel sheet plating. These crucial features, however, will not allow the users to roll down their windows.

(Photo : ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Visitors wearing face coverings view the Telsa Cybertruck at the recently reopened Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, July 1, 2020.

It proves that all of Tesla's Cybertrucks will be supporting bulletproof bodies. Still, its glass will be different per version, with either a shatterproof window or a bulletproof window that users cannot roll down.

Based on the same report, experts state that while the Cybertruck will undoubtedly be able to deflect lower-caliber weaponry like handguns and Tommy guns, it will not withstand more incredible velocity or armor-piercing bullets.

It should be noted that no glass is impervious to all sorts of guns or bullets.The effectiveness of bulletproof glass depends on its precise design, thickness, and the type of ammunition it is designed to withstand.

Read Also: Tesla Cyberquad for Kids: $1,900 Electric Ride Returns, Meeting Safety Requirements

Cybertruck's Bulletproof Demonstration

Back in October, Musk posted another demonstration with a photo depicting a Cybertruck going down a highway with gunshot marks on its side. Musk then said Tesla unloaded a whole Tommy gun magazine into the vehicle's side "Al Capone style," with none of the bullets entering the passenger compartment.

Critics were skeptical and demanded that Tesla CEO Elon Musk produce a video of the experiment, and rightfully so, as the Cybertruck famously failed to be shatterproof during a 2019 demonstration.

The demonstration saw the Cybertruck's windows shattering after throwing a metal ball. Musk continuously reiterated that the truck was shatterproof, claiming that the sledgehammer on the door had damaged the glass, resulting in an unexpected conclusion.

Tesla's Cybertruck Event, Release Date

The delivery of the Cybertruck is reportedly set to begin on November 30, even though the electric pickup has been delayed many times since Musk initially announced it in 2019.

Business Insider further stated that Musk has cautioned that scaling up manufacturing of the Cybertruck to meet his objective of 200,000 units per year will be extremely difficult.

During an earnings call, he said this was due to the pickup's unusual design, acknowledging that the firm "dug its own grave" with its unique decisions when designing the vehicle.

Next week, Fox Business reports Tesla will take center stage as investors await further information on the Cybertruck and its potential for development for the manufacturer. It is potentially increasing its projected production number to 250,000 by 2025.

The same report states that according to the automotive research agency Kelley Blue Book, the initial cost of a Cybertruck could be $50,000.

Related Article: Tesla Giga Texas Mayhem: Explosions, Robot-Related Injuries, and MORE Claims Workers

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a promising development for the maritime industry's sustainability efforts, researchers at Cranfield University have unveiled a groundbreaking concept known as Wave Devouring Propulsion (WDP).

This concept, aiming to harness the power of waves for ship propulsion while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, draws inspiration from the structure and movement of the whale's tail fins.

Inspired by Whale's Tail Fins

The research team delved into the intricate structure and motion of a whale's tail fin to unravel the secrets of its effective use of wave energy for propulsion.

Through a combination of simulations and experiments, they successfully integrated a simplified version of the whale's tail fins' action into a ship's power system, paving the way for a novel approach to marine propulsion.

Dr. Liang Yang, the lead researcher and lecturer in marine renewable energy systems at Cranfield University, expressed optimism about the transformative potential of WDP in advancing maritime sustainability.

"Wave Devouring Propulsion (WDP) could act as a transformative force in maritime sustainability. Our research pioneers a novel approach to propel ships using the boundless energy of waves," Yang said in a statement.

"We're not just reducing emissions; we're navigating towards a future where carbon reduction targets are met, and the shipping industry aligns with sustainable development goals," he added.

According to the research team, WDP technology boasts a range of advantages, positioning it as a compelling solution for the marine industry's quest for greener alternatives.

Beyond the apparent reduction in fuel costs, WDP may significantly enhance marine craft propulsion. This environmentally friendly technology is touted as versatile, finding applications in various vessels, including small, unmanned crafts.

Moreover, it could seamlessly integrate into hybrid propulsion systems powered by electricity, hydrogen, or fossil fuels. By contributing to carbon reduction targets, WDP aligns with the shipping industry's broader sustainable development goals.

Read Also: 'Wave Energy Generator': CalWave's Clean Power Tech Finishes A Successful 10-Month Open Ocean Test

Sustainable Ship Propulsion Systems

The academic study, led by Yang, provides a comprehensive review of flapping foils for Wave Devouring Propulsion, detailing the technology's theoretical, experimental, and numerical aspects.

These studies showcase the efficiency and low resistance achieved by marine equipment equipped with a flapping foil system, emphasizing the potential for self-driven, pollution-free propulsion of marine devices. The research not only introduces the initial concept models but also highlights the promising direction for future studies in this domain.

As the maritime industry continues to grapple with the imperative of reducing its environmental impact, the introduction of Wave Devouring Propulsion aims to take a pioneering step toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future for ship propulsion systems.

The research team's findings were published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Related Article: Oneka Technologies Unveils Wave-Powered Desalination Machine: A Solution to Increasing Global Water Scarcity?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A new study reveals that Neanderthals, our closest ancestors, possessed the ability to perceive and produce human speech. The finding marks a significant breakthrough in understanding language evolution and challenges long-standing questions about Neanderthals' linguistic capacities.

Binghamton University anthropology professor Rolf Quam expressed the importance of the study, saying, "This is one of the most important studies I have been involved in during my career. The results are solid and clearly show the Neanderthals had the capacity to perceive and produce human speech."

"This is one of the very few current, ongoing research lines relying on fossil evidence to study the evolution of language, a notoriously tricky subject in anthropology," he added.

3D Models of Neanderthals

For decades, the presence of spoken language in any other human ancestor species, especially Neanderthals, has been a central question in human evolutionary studies, according to Juan Luis Arsuaga, co-author and professor of Paleontology at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

The researchers reconstructed how Neanderthals heard by using high-resolution CT scans to create virtual 3D models of ear structures in Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and earlier fossils representing Neanderthal ancestors from the Atapuerca site.

These models were then input into a software-based auditory bioengineering model to estimate hearing abilities up to 5 kHz, encompassing most of the frequency range of modern human speech sounds.

The results showed that Neanderthals had slightly better hearing between 4-5 kHz compared to their ancestors, resembling modern humans more closely, according to the research team.

The study also calculated the frequency range of maximum sensitivity, known as occupied bandwidth, in each species. The Neanderthals exhibited a wider bandwidth than their ancestors, aligning more closely with modern humans.

Mercedes Conde-Valverde, lead author and professor at the Universidad de Alcala in Spain, has emphasized that this wider bandwidth suggests Neanderthals possessed a communication system as complex and efficient as modern human speech.

Quam has pointed out an interesting aspect of the study: the suggestion that Neanderthal speech likely included an increased use of consonants. Previous studies had focused on their ability to produce vowels, but the emphasis on consonants aligns with human speech patterns and sets Neanderthals apart from other primates.

Read Also: This Box of Donated Artifacts Shocks Experts as They Turn Out to Be Neanderthal Bones

Modern Human Speech

The results underscore that Neanderthals possessed a comparable ability to generate human speech sounds, their ears finely tuned to perceive these frequencies.

This development in auditory capabilities aligns with archaeological findings indicating a progression in intricate behaviors, such as advancements in stone tool technology, the domestication of fire, and potential engagement in symbolic practices.

The research offers compelling evidence that reinforces the concept of a coevolutionary process involving sophisticated behaviors and improved vocal communication across the course of human evolution.

The team, working on this research line for nearly two decades, aims to extend the analyses to additional fossil species in ongoing collaborations. The results offer valuable insights into Neanderthal speech capacities, marking a pivotal moment in understanding our ancestors' communication abilities.

The study's findings were published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Related Article: 70,000 Year-Old Neanderthals Were the First to Cook Food-Evidenced from Leftovers

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a recent Twitter Space event hosted by TechTimes, a consortium of influential voices took the stage to discuss the recent upheaval within OpenAI.

The event featured notable speakers, each bringing a unique perspective to the forefront.

Sue Xu on Industry Talent and OpenAI Competitors

With over 700 employees contemplating an exit from OpenAI, competitors were on high alert to recruit top talents. Sue Xu shed light on the resistance some employees displayed, driven by the positive influence of Sam Altman.

However, she cautioned that starting AI-focused companies requires substantial funding, making it a challenging venture.

Lu Zhang - Founder and Managing Partner at Fusion Fund

Zhang discussed the competitive landscape in the wake of OpenAI's turbulence. Many AI companies associated with OpenAI scrambled to shift allegiances to Microsoft, which openly welcomed startups.

Zhang emphasized the need for OpenAI to balance long-term growth with customer retention and prompt commercialization.

Read Also: 2023 US Thanksgiving Online Sales Move up to a Whooping $5.6 Billion as Discounts Motivate Shoppers, Adobe Says





Qiang Bai - Co-founder of iFlytek

Speaking from Tokyo, Bai proposed an unconventional solution-bringing Sam Altman to Japan to lead AI efforts. He viewed the turmoil as an opportunity for OpenAI to reevaluate its board's strength.

Bai also urged Altman to refocus on OpenAI amid his broad investments in the AI ecosystem.

Employee Exodus and Altman's Influence

Sue Xu provided a crucial glimpse into the aftermath of the board reshuffling. Despite the talent drain OpenAI faced, Altman's persuasive skills played a pivotal role in retaining some employees, showcasing the intricate dance between leadership, influence, and company loyalty.

Altman's return as CEO, as outlined by Howie Xu, signaled Microsoft's confidence in OpenAI. This move highlighted the critical intersection of AI research and business strategy, where Altman's salesmanship played a key role in securing significant investments.

AI Safety Concerns

Delving into the broader context of AI, the speakers addressed safety concerns.

Howie Xu highlighted the lack of consensus on AI threats, underscoring the need for continued vigilance. Sue Xu advocated for regulatory compliance, emphasizing the growing threat of AI misuse by cyber criminals.

Lu Zhang, in a thought-provoking divergence, explored the distinction between intelligence and consciousness in AI. Quoting Yuval Noah Harari, she cautioned against overemphasis on AI development at the expense of understanding human consciousness, urging a balanced approach.

The Future of AI

As OpenAI navigates this tumultuous period, the insights from TechTimes' Twitter Space event provide a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

From the nuances of board dynamics to the delicate balance between AI research and human understanding, the AI industry is on the cusp of a transformative phase.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: The OpenAI Turmoil: TechTimes Twitter Space Explores How the Controversy Impacts the AI Landscape

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, was rocked by what officials described as Russia's largest drone attack since the invasion's onset, NBC News reports.

The drone attack resulted in injuries to five individuals amid a barrage of explosions that jolted residents from their early morning slumber.

More Than 70 Attack Drones Rock Kyiv

According to Ukraine's Air Force statement on Telegram, the assault witnessed the launch of nearly 75 Shahed drones from two directions, primarily targeting Kyiv.

The attack, deemed a "record number" of drones, was met with robust defense measures, resulting in the interception of 71 drones across six Ukrainian regions. However, the majority of interceptions occurred in the Kyiv region.

The air defense efforts, comprising anti-aircraft missile troops, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units, repelled the aerial attack.

Officials say it was the fourth drone attack on Kyiv this month.

Drone Attack Casualties

Despite their efforts, the assault caused substantial damage, injuring five, including an 11-year-old girl, as confirmed by Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The onslaught resulted in fires, with fragments from downed drones igniting a blaze in a children's nursery.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the assault as an act of "wilful terror" on a day when Ukrainians commemorate the tragic 1932-33 Holodomor famine.

Read Also: World's First Space Battle: Israel's Air Force Defeats 'Aerial Threat' Beyond Earth's Atmosphere

Moreover, concerns had been mounting regarding Russia's potential targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. CNN reports that the recent attack severed power to 77 residential structures and 120 establishments, raising apprehensions about a more extensive campaign to disrupt Ukraine's energy systems during the approaching winter.

According to the BBC, as winter continues to bite, Russia is expected to resume its tactic of targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This appears to be the case, with 16,000 homes in the central Kyiv region still without power.

Last winter, Russia had employed a sustained campaign involving missile and drone strikes to undermine Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This recent assault raises similar concerns, highlighting vulnerabilities in the face of ongoing conflict.

Despite the disruptions caused, Ukrainian authorities swiftly restored power to affected areas. Ukrainian energy company DTEK announced the successful restoration of power to all Kyiv residents, showcasing an increased resilience to mitigate the impact of such assaults.

On-Going War

This attack underscores the enduring challenges faced by Ukraine in safeguarding its citizens and critical infrastructure against Russian aggression.

However, the improved defense mechanisms and swift restoration efforts demonstrate the country's resilience in adversity.

President Zelenskiy continues his efforts to rally global support against Russian aggression while pursuing Ukraine's path toward potential European Union membership, seeking solidarity in the face of ongoing threats.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: France Successfully Test-Fires New M51.3 Long-Range Ballistic Missile in Effort to Boost Nuclear Deterrence

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
People visit the booth of Wuling during the China (Indonesia) Smart Transportation and New Energy Industry Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

JAKARTA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The China (Indonesia) Smart Transportation and New Energy Industry Expo kicked off here on Thursday, with focus on electric vehicles.

Renewable energy and smart transportation are key projects to develop technology that improves safety and can reduce dependence on traditional energy, an official from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Representative Office in Indonesia said at the three-day event.

Indonesia is an attractive developing market with its government making policies that support opportunities for developing renewable technology, the official said.

Sidarto Danusubroto, a member of the Indonesian presidential advisory council, said the event was a prestigious exhibition that brought together business people from both China and Indonesia, and will help expand trade cooperation between the two countries. 

People visit the booth of Chery during the China (Indonesia) Smart Transportation and New Energy Industry Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

People visit the China (Indonesia) Smart Transportation and New Energy Industry Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Sighting after more than 80 years: Sniffer dog sniffs out gold mole rat thought to be extinct

"We may have made a mistake": at the Monique Olivier trial, the responsibility of the investigators is questioned

Sighting after more than 80 years: Sniffer dog sniffs out gold mole rat thought to be extinct

DAZN: Most expensive subscription package offers new customers less performance for the same money

The average temperature this autumn is 1.39 degrees higher than normal, following spring and summer, and the highest ever.

Winter bonuses for nurses and others "reduced by more than 3% of unions compared to last year"

The latest research on the 4-million-year-old Miraculous Ancient Fish: providing more key evidence for the evolution of "fish to man".

Picturesque rivers and mountains|Luliang, Shanxi Province, where history and customs are blended: from "urban scenic spot" to "scenic city"

Welfare institutions set out from the "dream" to hold up a beautiful life for special children

The changes in Jinzhong are also between mountains, waters, cities and instruments

Hakan Loob on Roger Ronnberg: "He probably deserves some of this"

DeNA Yuito Mori joins the team at the press conference "I don't care if my arm is torn off, I'll throw it like I'm going to die"

Coach Hanshin Okada's motto is "Ball Path Single" on the occasion of achieving the best in Japan

Chunichi announces that it will embark on the acquisition of Sho Nakata on a free contract

How to implement the new round of financing support for real estate enterprises? "Three not less than" landing is expected to heat up

The fuel surcharge will be lowered on the 5th! New Year's Day travel costs drop where to fly

Decoding Chain BoPromote the healthy growth of the supply chain and the development of smart vehicles has entered a "new lane"

Plan of the Federal Network Agency: Grid fees in wind and solar regions to be reduced

Under the influence of the Central Bank, exporters and seasonal factors: how exchange rates may change in December

The analyst predicted the dollar exchange rate in December in the range of 88-92 rubles

Sanchez summons Faine to the Moncloa and conveys a message of tranquility in the middle of negotiations with the separatists

The implementation plan for the Beijing Junior High School Academic Proficiency Examination was announced, and the examination time for each subject was clarified

Peskov: The Kremlin proceeds from the fact that sanctions have been imposed for many years

Beijing clarified how to test the experimental operation of physics, chemistry and biology subjects in the high school entrance examination

Nicolas Redondo lashes out at the "shameful" PSOE-Junts meeting in Geneva: "It will be a sad day, we will want to forget it"

The TSJM recognises as an accident at work a suicide caused by stress and harassment at work

Interview with Former UN Under-Secretary-General Solheim: "China wins, and each of us wins"

Black Friday 2023 on Amazon, last day: these are the best-selling bargains and great discounts that are worth it

Al-Maqdisiya Marah Bakir: I did not stab anyone. And they kissed my mother.

An American neural network saw signs of a fake in a photo of a US lunar mission

The opening ceremony of the COP28 China Corner and the side event of "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" were held in Dubai

Haredim in Israel. They refused to conscript and then decided to occupy the army

The first woman to marry an AI: "We don't rule out the idea of having children"

The Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled Donetsk with missiles of a new type JROF HEF from Slovakia

The UN climate chief quotes Yoda from Star Wars: "Do or not do. There is no try"

Head of the information department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: "Russia used poison on my wife"

The new version of the "Five-Star Card" of the Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners is officially launched! Which foreigners can apply? Read it in one article

"Playing ahead of the curve": how OPEC+'s decision to further reduce oil supplies may affect its price

Sanchez coincides with the president of Israel in Dubai in the midst of the diplomatic conflict, but without foreseen contact

In Ghana, the fight for food sovereignty in the face of land grabbing

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Sighting after more than 80 years: Sniffer dog sniffs out gold mole rat thought to be extinct

"We may have made a mistake": at the Monique Olivier trial, the responsibility of the investigators is questioned

Sighting after more than 80 years: Sniffer dog sniffs out gold mole rat thought to be extinct

DAZN: Most expensive subscription package offers new customers less performance for the same money

The average temperature this autumn is 1.39 degrees higher than normal, following spring and summer, and the highest ever.

Winter bonuses for nurses and others "reduced by more than 3% of unions compared to last year"

The latest research on the 4-million-year-old Miraculous Ancient Fish: providing more key evidence for the evolution of "fish to man".

Picturesque rivers and mountains|Luliang, Shanxi Province, where history and customs are blended: from "urban scenic spot" to "scenic city"

Welfare institutions set out from the "dream" to hold up a beautiful life for special children

The changes in Jinzhong are also between mountains, waters, cities and instruments

Hakan Loob on Roger Ronnberg: "He probably deserves some of this"

DeNA Yuito Mori joins the team at the press conference "I don't care if my arm is torn off, I'll throw it like I'm going to die"

Coach Hanshin Okada's motto is "Ball Path Single" on the occasion of achieving the best in Japan

Chunichi announces that it will embark on the acquisition of Sho Nakata on a free contract

How to implement the new round of financing support for real estate enterprises? "Three not less than" landing is expected to heat up

The fuel surcharge will be lowered on the 5th! New Year's Day travel costs drop where to fly

Decoding Chain BoPromote the healthy growth of the supply chain and the development of smart vehicles has entered a "new lane"

Plan of the Federal Network Agency: Grid fees in wind and solar regions to be reduced

Under the influence of the Central Bank, exporters and seasonal factors: how exchange rates may change in December

The analyst predicted the dollar exchange rate in December in the range of 88-92 rubles

Sanchez summons Faine to the Moncloa and conveys a message of tranquility in the middle of negotiations with the separatists

Ministry of Education: Strictly investigate and deal with the behavior of training institutions that are "difficult to refund" and "run away with money".

The implementation plan for the Beijing Junior High School Academic Proficiency Examination was announced, and the examination time for each subject was clarified

Peskov: The Kremlin proceeds from the fact that sanctions have been imposed for many years

Beijing clarified how to test the experimental operation of physics, chemistry and biology subjects in the high school entrance examination

Nicolas Redondo lashes out at the "shameful" PSOE-Junts meeting in Geneva: "It will be a sad day, we will want to forget it"

The TSJM recognises as an accident at work a suicide caused by stress and harassment at work

Interview with Former UN Under-Secretary-General Solheim: "China wins, and each of us wins"

Black Friday 2023 on Amazon, last day: these are the best-selling bargains and great discounts that are worth it

Al-Maqdisiya Marah Bakir: I did not stab anyone. And they kissed my mother.

An American neural network saw signs of a fake in a photo of a US lunar mission

The opening ceremony of the COP28 China Corner and the side event of "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" were held in Dubai

The first woman to marry an AI: "We don't rule out the idea of having children"

Haredim in Israel. They refused to conscript and then decided to occupy the army

The Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled Donetsk with missiles of a new type JROF HEF from Slovakia

The UN climate chief quotes Yoda from Star Wars: "Do or not do. There is no try"

The new version of the "Five-Star Card" of the Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners is officially launched! Which foreigners can apply? Read it in one article

"Playing ahead of the curve": how OPEC+'s decision to further reduce oil supplies may affect its price

In Ghana, the fight for food sovereignty in the face of land grabbing

On the first day of the issuance and opening of the "five-star card", 50 people received the new version of the permanent residence ID card for foreigners

Sanchez coincides with the president of Israel in Dubai in the midst of the diplomatic conflict, but without foreseen contact

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
LHASA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sequ Zhoima, a 15-year-old from southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, regards her classmates, from all corners of the grassland where she was born and raised, as her second "family."

Sequ Zhoima, a student in the eighth grade at Damxung County Middle School, joins 51 other students in embracing bilingual education.

Positioned at the southern foot of the Nyanchen Thanglha Mountains, Damxung boasts an average elevation of around 4,200 meters. Damxung means "meticulously chosen pasture" in the Tibetan language.

In Qoiden Village, Lungring Township, Sequ Zhoima's family tends to more than 80 yaks. Relying on a combination of herding and odd jobs, her parents support four children.

Her father, Cedain Doje, said that "we didn't have the opportunity to go to school when we were young, but now, with favorable national policies, we aspire to provide our children with the chance to go to school and learn as much as possible."

Xizang historically faced challenges due to limited educational resources and teaching facilities. Over the past decades, increasing investments have been made to enhance education, with focus on both funding and manpower.

Damxung County Middle School, covering a total area of 120,000 square meters, now has 2,517 students.

Sequ Zhoima finds the most joy in attending math classes. Her academic performance may not be exceptional, but every time she solves a problem, she feels a keen sense of accomplishment.

Tibetan language class is another favorite of hers, and she is impressed by the teacher's ability to "breathe life into the textbook stories through creative metaphors and vibrant examples."

The distinctive feature of having a "week" comprising 14 days, 10 days of classes followed by a 4-day break, is common among schools in agricultural and pastoral regions.

On the "roof of the world," where the population density is as low as three people per square km, this arrangement not only reduces the need for parents to transport their children but also contributes to a more effective learning experience for the students.

Sequ Zhoima and her three siblings all receive education at schools in Xizang. The 15-year free-education policy and student-assistance initiatives in the region have spared Cedain Doje from shouldering intense financial burdens. All educational expenses, including tuition, textbooks, accommodation and meals, are covered at no cost.

"If the children decide to return to herding in the future, I would also be pleased," said Cedain Doje. "But I hope it's a choice they make after experiencing the world, not out of the necessity of making a living."

Official statistics showed that the average years of education experienced by the newly-added workforce in the region had increased to 13.1 years in 2022. 
Sighting after more than 80 years: Sniffer dog sniffs out gold mole rat thought to be extinct

"We may have made a mistake": at the Monique Olivier trial, the responsibility of the investigators is questioned

Sighting after more than 80 years: Sniffer dog sniffs out gold mole rat thought to be extinct

DAZN: Most expensive subscription package offers new customers less performance for the same money

The average temperature this autumn is 1.39 degrees higher than normal, following spring and summer, and the highest ever.

Winter bonuses for nurses and others "reduced by more than 3% of unions compared to last year"

The latest research on the 4-million-year-old Miraculous Ancient Fish: providing more key evidence for the evolution of "fish to man".

Picturesque rivers and mountains|Luliang, Shanxi Province, where history and customs are blended: from "urban scenic spot" to "scenic city"

Welfare institutions set out from the "dream" to hold up a beautiful life for special children

The changes in Jinzhong are also between mountains, waters, cities and instruments

Hakan Loob on Roger Ronnberg: "He probably deserves some of this"

DeNA Yuito Mori joins the team at the press conference "I don't care if my arm is torn off, I'll throw it like I'm going to die"

Coach Hanshin Okada's motto is "Ball Path Single" on the occasion of achieving the best in Japan

Chunichi announces that it will embark on the acquisition of Sho Nakata on a free contract

How to implement the new round of financing support for real estate enterprises? "Three not less than" landing is expected to heat up

The fuel surcharge will be lowered on the 5th! New Year's Day travel costs drop where to fly

Decoding Chain BoPromote the healthy growth of the supply chain and the development of smart vehicles has entered a "new lane"

Plan of the Federal Network Agency: Grid fees in wind and solar regions to be reduced

Under the influence of the Central Bank, exporters and seasonal factors: how exchange rates may change in December

The analyst predicted the dollar exchange rate in December in the range of 88-92 rubles

Sanchez summons Faine to the Moncloa and conveys a message of tranquility in the middle of negotiations with the separatists

Ministry of Education: Strictly investigate and deal with the behavior of training institutions that are "difficult to refund" and "run away with money".

The implementation plan for the Beijing Junior High School Academic Proficiency Examination was announced, and the examination time for each subject was clarified

Peskov: The Kremlin proceeds from the fact that sanctions have been imposed for many years

Beijing clarified how to test the experimental operation of physics, chemistry and biology subjects in the high school entrance examination

Nicolas Redondo lashes out at the "shameful" PSOE-Junts meeting in Geneva: "It will be a sad day, we will want to forget it"

The TSJM recognises as an accident at work a suicide caused by stress and harassment at work

Interview with Former UN Under-Secretary-General Solheim: "China wins, and each of us wins"

Black Friday 2023 on Amazon, last day: these are the best-selling bargains and great discounts that are worth it

Al-Maqdisiya Marah Bakir: I did not stab anyone. And they kissed my mother.

An American neural network saw signs of a fake in a photo of a US lunar mission

The opening ceremony of the COP28 China Corner and the side event of "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" were held in Dubai

Haredim in Israel. They refused to conscript and then decided to occupy the army

The first woman to marry an AI: "We don't rule out the idea of having children"

The Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled Donetsk with missiles of a new type JROF HEF from Slovakia

The UN climate chief quotes Yoda from Star Wars: "Do or not do. There is no try"

Head of the information department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: "Russia used poison on my wife"

The new version of the "Five-Star Card" of the Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners is officially launched! Which foreigners can apply? Read it in one article

"Playing ahead of the curve": how OPEC+'s decision to further reduce oil supplies may affect its price

Sanchez coincides with the president of Israel in Dubai in the midst of the diplomatic conflict, but without foreseen contact

In Ghana, the fight for food sovereignty in the face of land grabbing

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
KABUL, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Police have detained 15 drug smugglers and seized illegal drugs in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul, said a statement of the counter-narcotics police department on Saturday.

The contraband included 2 kg of hashish, 55 grams of heroin and some materials used in manufacturing heroin, the statement said.

The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to fight against criminal activities including drug-related crimes. 
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A Fox News pundit has said that Democrats hate pies in a bizarre Thanksgiving rant, in which he claimed the Biden administration was banning gas stoves to make people suffer.

Charlie Hurt said Vice President Kamala Harris was rightly heckled and mocked over a picture she posted on social media to mark the holiday.

Ms Harris posted a photo of herself and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in their kitchen, with what appeared to be a gas stove in the background.

It comes following the approval of new policies in dozens of Democrat-controlled cities, which seek to regulate gas appliances in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality.

Though the Biden administration has not proposed a blanket ban on gas stoves, the issue has become a source of partisan outrage.

Charlie Hurt said Vice President Kamala Harris was rightly heckled and mocked over a picture she posted on social media to mark the holiday (Fox News)

Speaking on Fox News The Ingraham Angle, Mr Hurt blasted Democrats for denying misinformation about possible gas stove bans  referencing Ms Harris Thanksgiving post.

Its so funny that people saw [Ms Harris] tweet and they saw her stove. They rightly heckled and mocked her, and made fun of her and ridiculed her, he said.

And then all of the Democrats got freaked out and went and jumped online and said, Oh, no, wait a minute. They dont want to take away the gas stoves. Thats misinformation.

No, they do want to take away the gas stoves and in fact they are taking away the gas stoves in any of the places where they control things.

Asked why he thought Democrats wanted to ban gas stoves, Mr Hurt replied: I think because they hate us. They hate humans. They hate joyfulness, they hate pies. They hate good food.

They want us all to be miserable. They want us to suffer because when were not suffering were making things, were creating things. Were joyful. Were doing wonderful things, everybodys happy and that drives them crazy because theyre all miserable.

They want all of America to be as miserable and unhappy and unloved as they are and were just not going to go along with it.

The uproar over gas stoves stems from a Department of Energy (DOE) analysis from earlier this year that found roughly 50 per cent of gas stoves currently on the US market would not pass new efficiency standards.

The DOE has specified that the rule meant gas stove manufacturers would have to raise the standards of what they put on the market, not that gas stoves would be banned altogether.
HANGZHOU, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence was held on Saturday in China's coastal city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province to facilitate mutual learning and win-win cooperation among cities along the Maritime Silk Road.

Nearly 400 participants, including representatives of international organizations, domestic and foreign government officials, experts and scholars, discussed opportunities for cooperation and development at the meeting.

Lyu Yansong, editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, addressed the conference that in the context of globalization, enhancing the influence of cities along the Maritime Silk Road is an important part of jointly building the Belt and Road.

The conference is co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and the Zhejiang provincial government. 
Matt Golding Credit: .

To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.

Columnist Alan Kohlers hypothesis (Comment, 24/11) that unaffordable housing has a political cause and a political solution and that it is about some of us and them is affirmed starkly by study after study.

Put simply, those of us who have a home benefit at the expense of those who are locked out because government after government wont touch housing policy reform.

Alarmingly, the stratospheric price of housing has further cemented dangerous inequality (ie, housing is not the lone variable in the inequality mix) that I, as a social worker working in the trenches, hear about directly from clients every day, who literally have nowhere to live.

That is, who couch surf among friends and family (if theyre lucky), live in sub-standard rental accommodation, rooming homes, tents (with their family) or at the end of the line, sleep rough in parks or on the streets throughout our not-so-lucky country.

Indeed, l agree with Kohler that we dont need more prevarication (another inquiry or a royal commission) and navel-gazing by the government on a hypothesis that has been irrefutably confirmed.

Rather, we need to recalibrate housing as a basic human right and to revisit putting a lid on housing for investment by enshrining both sides of the equation in law.

Jelena Rosic, Mornington

Question the line

Your correspondent misses the point (Two protests are worlds apart, 25/11).

The commonality in the Vietnam rallies and the pro-Palestine marches is young people questioning the official narrative and being prepared to protest when they discover another side

to the story and the difference that that can make.
The CFAs 2022-23 annual report showed it had 52,000 volunteers across the service. But the most recent state budget papers revealed there were 32,400 operational volunteers  short of the 38,500 to 39,500 target. Loading The CFA has almost 1400 brigades, and volunteers typically live near their local station. Heffernan said the fire service would still need country residents to join their local brigades, but he said the CFA was working to determine the best method to allow Melburnians to volunteer their time with country stations. The last thing I want to do is get a lot of people in inner-metropolitan Melbourne excited about being part of it and then fail my end by not having the appropriate structures, governance, policy and support mechanisms to allow them to do that. There is precedent here for the fire service in surf life saving. Almost half of Life Saving Victorias 57 clubs rely on members who live, on average, a 50-kilometre round trip from their club. Some clubs  including Waratah Beach, Venus Bay, Wye River, Kennett River, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Inverloch, Fairhaven and Woodside  have members that travel more than 100 kilometres.

Life Saving Victorias governance, club support and education general manager, Kate Simpson, said the service recognised the need to recruit visitors who spend weekends and holidays in beachside communities but live elsewhere. These people are a part of those communities and want to contribute alongside residents, she said. Life Saving Victoria relies on both locals and visitor lifeguards to patrol beaches. Credit: Justin McManus At Mallacoota, in East Gippsland, the CFA is trialling a new program called Vols on Hols in response to low volunteer numbers. The program allows CFA-trained volunteers to register with the Mallacoota brigade if they are holidaying at the coastal town over summer. Local CFA captain Tracey Johnston said her brigade had just five operational volunteers who had completed the minimum training to turn out when the Black Summer bushfires ravaged the area in 2019-20. More than 120 houses were lost in Mallacoota.

Although the brigade has 18 members, Johnston said many of them are older volunteers who no longer turn out for fire-fighting duties. They are now travelling and enjoying being retired and have grandchildren that they love to go and spend time with, she said. Mallacoota CFA captain Tracey Johnston. Credit: Eddie Jim Johnston said six people had registered for Vols on Hols so far, and there had been another 10 informal inquiries. One person had already returned home after spending 10 days with the brigade. Johnston said there was no onus on volunteers who joined the program to join local crews during a fire.

They are, after all, here having a break and spending time with their families, she said. But being volunteers, they signed up to the program to help out, so I imagine most would do their best to make it onto the tanker should the pager go. Interested members are asked to fill out an expression-of-interest form online, which then goes to the CFAs district office to ensure applicants meet the minimum requirements to turn out to a fire. The sky above Mallacoota blazed red amid the fire danger in January 2020. Johnston said her brigade had put together an induction package covering the station, equipment and an overview of Mallacoota. We provide a place for them to hang their turn-out gear, so it isnt hanging out with them at their campsite.

Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said the difficulty attracting operational volunteers was more pronounced in Mallacoota than in other parts of the state. But I guess if you look at the trauma that theyve gone through, its a big responsibility for people to consider putting themselves out to protect a community that has gone through something that was really scary, she said. Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes. Credit: AAP She said Mallacootas population swells from 1000 during the year to between 5000 and 10,000 in the summer holidays. Quite a few of those people are likely to have skills that are going to be potentially useful in a fire, and a lot of them may already be volunteers in the CFA.
Singapore: Australia and the Philippines have begun long-awaited joint naval patrols in the South China Sea after months of intensifying friction in the contested waterway.

Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and the Philippines Defence Secretary, Gilberto Teodoro jnr, announced the combined operations in what Manila calls the West Philippine Sea in a statement on Saturday.

HMAS Toowoomba is featuring in the operation with the Philippine armed forces.

They said the first joint patrol in the Philippines exclusive economic zone involves the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba, an Australian Air Force P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft, two Philippine Navy vessels and five Philippine Air Force surveillance planes. The patrols are taking place from Saturday until Monday.

Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to a peaceful, secure and prosperous region, where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected, Marles said.
10 Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Kia EV6 art cars to promote Busans charm and readiness in Paris this week ahead of the vote to name the 2030 World Expo host city

The selection of the 2030 World Expo host city to take place at the 173 rd Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) General Assembly in Paris on November 28

Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) General Assembly in Paris on November 28 IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 were selected for the final push as these EVs underline Busans vision to overcome climate change and seek a sustainable future



SEOUL/PARIS, November 24, 2023  Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) is rolling out a fleet of art cars in Paris, France, from November 2328, in a final drive to promote Busan, South Koreas bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The voting for that honor will take place at the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE in Paris on November 28.

The Group is providing the Korean delegation with 10 Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Kia EV6, all-electric models, wrapped in a colorful graffiti design featuring symbols of Busan, such as seagulls and the Gwangan Bridge, as well as the slogan BUSAN is Ready.

The 173rd General Assembly of the BIE will see final presentations from each of the three candidate cities  Busan, South Korea; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Rome, Italy  elected via secret ballot by each BIE Member State.

For this final campaign, the Group selected IONIQ 6 and EV6 to emphasize Busans commitment to hosting a carbon-neutral World Expo under the theme Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future.

The art car fleet will tour major attractions, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, as well as areas near the BIE headquarters and the embassies of various countries, promoting Busans bid to key officials from BIE member countries and tourists from around the world.

On November 28, the day of the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, the Group will operate an art car around Le Palais des Congres dIssy, the venue of the General Assembly. It will make every effort to win the support of BIE members until the vote is cast.

The Group is running outdoor video advertisements highlighting Busans charms on a large scale through 270 digital screens located in major areas of Paris during the month of November. The art cars were also used during the Busan Expo Symposium and K-POP concert held in Paris last month to further promote Busans bid.

In addition, the Groups art cars traveled to major international events, such as the APEC Economic Leaders Week in San Francisco, the UN General Assembly in New York, the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, and the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Group has actively promoted the Busan World Expo at home and abroad in the digital realm, publishing more than 90 pieces of global content, such as short form videos and card news, to proclaim that Busan is the best city to host the 2030 World Expo.

The Busan Initiative with the Whole World, a promotional video for the Busan World Expo that the Group released last month, exceeded 100 million views within 17 days of its release, contributing to the promotion of South Koreas desire to host the event and Busans competitiveness.
WASHINGTON/BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Derek Chauvin, a U.S. police officer convicted of killing George Floyd in 2020, was stabbed in federal prison on Friday, reported local media, citing sources.

According to people familiar with the matter, Chauvin survived the attack.

The incident happened at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Tucson, a medium-security prison in the U.S. state of Arizona. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to local media on the condition of anonymity.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday (1930 GMT).

In a local statement, responding employees contained the incident and performed "life-saving measures" on the inmate.

Chauvin was sent to FCI Tucson from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022 to serve 22 and a half years in prison for the brutal kneeling that caused the death of Floyd three years ago.

Video footage captured by bystanders showed Chauvin knelt on the 46-year-old Black man's neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25, 2020, while the man was pinned to the ground, gasping for air and saying "I can't breathe."

Medics arrived shortly later and loaded the motionless man into an ambulance; the Black man was pronounced dead later.

The former Minneapolis police officer is also serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating the Black man's civil rights.

Floyd's death unleashed a wave of protests worldwide against police brutality and racism, but there would be other victims that would endure a similar fate.

For example, Amir Locke, 22, was fatally shot by Minneapolis police executing a "no-knock" search warrant as part of a homicide investigation on an early February morning in 2022. Body camera footage shows a gun in Locke's hand -- which he legally possessed -- as he was abruptly awakened and emerged from a couch.

Locke was not a suspect in the crime for which the warrant was issued and was not named at all in the document but prosecutors declined to file charges against the officer who took his life.

Thousands of Americans gathered at the National Mall on Aug. 26 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a monumental event in the U.S. civil rights movement most remembered because of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

Dr. King's 15-year-old granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King spoke to the crowd. She said if she had a chance to say something to her grandfather today, she would say, "I am sorry we still have to be here to rededicate ourselves to finishing your work and ultimately realizing your hidden dream."

"Sixty years ago, Dr. King urged us to struggle against the triple evils of racism, poverty and bigotry," she said. "Today, racism is still with us."

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal of his state court murder conviction. The appeal had been filed after a Minnesota appellate court upheld his 2021 murder conviction and rejected his request for a new trial. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

"We believe that multilateralism is a direction that we should strive for. We believe that peace is fundamental for socioeconomic development."

by Xinhua writers Chen Yao, Huang Shunda

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- This is a visit that "I've been anticipating for a long time," Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou, who paid a state visit to China, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua here on Thursday.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Uruguay.

Lacalle said that in the past 35 years, the relationship between the two countries has made significant progress.

"Despite changes in government personnel, bilateral relations continue to evolve, and political mutual trust continues to deepen," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Lacalle in Beijing on Wednesday.

The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

"It's the phrase that we have been anticipating," Lacalle said, adding that he believes upgrading the bilateral relationship will be conducive to further tapping into the potential of bilateral cooperation and improving the level of practical cooperation in various fields.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan, and bilateral cooperation documents related to such fields as trade and investment, the digital economy, green development, agriculture, health, education, culture, scientific and technological innovation, and customs inspection and quarantine.

During Lacalle's visit to China, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Lacalle believes that in the era of globalization, inclusiveness has become the correct way for people and countries to get along with each other.

"Today, in this world of the Internet, in a communicative world, it provides us with the real possibility to truly understand each other," he said.

Talking about the concept of the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi, Lacalle pointed out that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind will bring the two peoples closer.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

The Uruguayan president further said both Uruguay and China firmly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and are committed to promoting world peace and stability.

"We believe that multilateralism is a direction that we should strive for. We believe that peace is fundamental for socioeconomic development. Uruguay is studying these China-proposed initiatives based on shared principles, and we are confident that we can make significant strides forward in many aspects," he said.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Uruguay's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, as Uruguay is the first Southern Common Market (Mercosur) country to participate in the initiative.

"We have seen the results," Lacalle said, noting that Uruguay is a stable and open country that actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative and is committed to becoming a hub for regional connectivity under the framework of the initiative.

In the interview, Lacalle repeatedly mentioned the rapid development and diverse highlights of economic and trade cooperation between Uruguay and China. Among the members of the delegation during his visit to China were not only important cabinet members but also entrepreneurs from various industries.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1988, our bilateral trade has witnessed sustained and robust growth," he said. "Our entrepreneurs covered many miles to be here, some set up offices. Once a market opens up, the potential of growth is exponential, as figures indicate."

In recent years, Uruguay's high-quality products such as beef, red wine and dairy products have reached Chinese households, while Chinese products such as cars, home appliances and daily necessities have greatly enriched the lives of the Uruguayan people.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, the bilateral trade volume reached 7.44 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, 60 times that of the time when the two countries established diplomatic ties.

China's imports from Uruguay reached a new high of 4.457 billion dollars, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent. China has been Uruguay's largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years.

Uruguay has participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for six consecutive years. Looking ahead to the coming year, Lacalle said, "I have no doubt about it. The Uruguayan government thinks so, and so do our entrepreneurs."

During his visit to China, Lacalle also visited historical and cultural relics such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. During his visit, he said he saw a society that "cherishes peace" and "is committed to the pursuit of perfection."
As a four-day truce deal between Hamas and Israel took effect Friday, hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza have been assisted with food, water, medical supplies and other essential humanitarian items.

Palestinian authorities have called for the displaced to return to their homes in the northern strip, while Israel had warned that it would prohibit them from moving northward during the truce.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Hindu Dharm,Hindutva- no Hinduism





BANGKOK :

Third World Hindu Congress adopts declaration that Hindutva is more accurate since it includes the gamut of all that Hindu implies

THE World Hindu Congress on Friday renounced the word Hinduism, contending that the term reflected oppressive and discriminatory and embraced Hindutva and Hindu Dharma to refer to the eternal religion. The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) adopted a declaration here asserting that the word Hindutva was more accurate as it includes the gamut of all that the word Hindu implies. In the term Hindu Dharma, the first word, i.e, Hindu is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means That, which sustains, read the declaration adopted at the end of the first day of deliberations of the WHC.

It said that in contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an ism, which is a term defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief. It is for such reasons that many of our elders preferred the term Hindutva over Hinduism as the former is a more accurate term since it includes the gamut (spectrum) of all that the word Hindu implies. We agree with them and should do the same, the declaration read. The assertion in the declaration came against the backdrop of a row that erupted after DMK leaders made certain controversial remarks about Sanatan Dharma at a symposium with the theme Abolition of Sanatana. The declaration said that Hindutva was not a complicated word and simply meant Hindu-ness.

Others have used the alternative Sanatan Dharma, often abbreviated as Sanatan. Here the term Sanatan works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharmas eternal nature, it said. The declaration noted that many academicians and intellectuals portray Hindutva as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma, out of ignorance. But most are anti-Hindutva because of their visceral hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticising Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing regularity and vitriol, it added. The WHC condemned such attacks and urged Hindus worldwide to unite to overcome those who are engaging in such bigotry and emerge victorious.

The quadrennial event began with the blowing of the conch by Swami Vigyanananda, the founder and global chairman of the World Hindu Foundation with delegates from over 60 countries participating in the three-day event. Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Vishva Hindu Parishad General Secretary Milind Parande, WHC organising committee chair Susheel Saraff, Bharat Sevashram Sangh Working President Swami Purnatmanand, Hinduism Today-USA Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami among others.
MEXICO CITY, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday criticized the anti-immigrant rhetoric of U.S. governors in Texas and Florida, calling it "politicking" for votes.

At his daily press conference, the Mexican president said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis both have a very "inhumane" attitude towards migrants.

"There is this very hypocritical attitude, which always exists, but gets worse or more intense when there are elections," Lopez Obrador said during a visit to the southern state of Oaxaca.

The president said that at the recent 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting held in the U.S. city of San Francisco, he proposed to his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden to launch a development plan to reduce northward migration from Latin America.

Some progress has been made on that front, but there are still pending issues to be resolved, said Lopez Obrador.

"We have to agree to carry out a development and cooperation plan to help the people of Latin America, especially Central America and the Caribbean," he said. 
Await rescue 41 trapped workers Drilling stopped again at Uttarkashi tunnel





UTTARKASHI :

DRILLING at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel to rescue 41 men trapped inside for 12 days was halted again on Friday, officials said. Officials said, the auger drilling machine faced a hurdle, apparently a metal object, soon after drilling resumed on Thursday, a day after officials had put the operation on hold following a technical snag. That snag was set right earlier in the day and the 25-tonne auger machine was restarted. But after a brief while the operation had to be stopped again in the second setback in two days.

The multi-agency rescue effort began on November 12 when a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed, trapping workers who were still inside. Rescue workers said in the evening that the drill bit has been pulled out through the passage already bored by the machine. Sections of steel pipes had been inserted into the bored passage to allow the trapped men to be pulled out. The effort had reached up to 48.6 metres out of the estimated 57 metres of rubble that blocks the tunnel, officials had said earlier in the day. In Delhi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Syed Ata Hasnain told reporters that if there are no obstacles, the auger machine should be able to drill about four or five metres in an hour. It takes additional time to weld sections of the steel pipe together as they are pushed into the drilled passage.

The NDRF operation that will begin once the chute is ready is expected to take about three more hours. Officials warn that unforeseen hurdles can crop up anytime. Earlier in the morning, former Advisor to the Prime Ministers Office Bhaskar Khulbe had said the boring through the rubble with an auger was likely to resume by 11.30 am. We have 12-14 metres more to go. And I hope if all goes well we might conclude the operation by Friday evening, he had predicted. Garhwal range IG KS Nagnyal told PTI that arrangements are in place to take the rescued workers to medical centres under police escort through a green corridor Road Transport and Highways Minister V K Singh, who has been camping in Uttarkashi since Thursday, visited the Silkyara site to take stock of the rescue operation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been staying at nearby Matli and visited the disaster site again on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to Dhami once again for updates.
CREDIBILITY QUESTIONED SC asks Prashant Bhushan about Hindenburg report on Adani group





Extreme volatility of the stock market had caused loss to investors wealth. Now, what is SEBI intending to do to protect this kind of volatility, the CJI-led bench asked

NEW DELHI :

THE Supreme Court on Friday asked advocate Prashant Bhushan as to how the apex court could treat the Hindenburg report on Adani Group of companies as credible. CJI DY Chandrachud, who headed the 3-judge bench hearing the pleas pertaining to the Adani-Hindenburg controversy, said that the top court will have to rely on our investigative agencies as Bhushan raised questions on credibility of investigations undertaken by the SEBI in the matter. Where is the material before us to doubt the SEBIs investigation.

The SEBI is a statutory body entrusted to investigate stock market violations. Is it proper for the highest court -- without any material -- to reconstitute an SIT of our own, said the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Bhushan, appearing on petitioners behalf, urged the apex court for formation of some other SIT or group of experts to conduct the investigation in the Adani-Hindenburg controversy. He said that investigation reports prepared by the SEBI have not been disclosed. At this, CJI Chandrachud said: Mr Bhushan, they (SEBI) have completed the investigation. They are saying that now its in their quasi judicial power. Should SEBI disclose the investigation before they issue a notice of show cause? The SEBI could not pre-charge guilt without giving an opportunity of hearing to entities under investigation, he added. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the SEBI, said that the market regulator is not seeking any extension of time and 22 out of 24 investigations have already been finalised.

In relation to the remaining two cases, he said that the reports are interim in nature and the SEBI has sought information from foreign agencies and has no control on time limit. During the hearing, the apex court stressed that the Union government and the SEBI should take steps to prevent investors loss in future. One of the principal reasons which led us to intervene  was because of this extreme volatility of the stock market which had caused loss to investors wealth. Now, what is SEBI intending to do to protect this kind of volatility due to short selling which leads to a loss of investor value, the CJI-led bench asked Mehta.
Gadkari lays foundation stone of mega milk processing plant





Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and others at the Agrovision expo.

Business Reporter :

The upcoming plant will be spread across a sprawling campus of 25 acres in Butibori Industrial estate

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, on Friday virtually laid the foundation stone of Mother Dairys proposed state-of-the-art mega milk processing plant in Nagpur. The virtual foundation stone laying ceremony was conducted during the inaugural function of Agrovision 2023, in the august presence of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Minister for Revenue, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development, Government of Maharashtra, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. The greenfield plant, being set up with investment of over Rs 500 crores will be spread across a sprawling campus of 25 acres in Butibori Industrial Estate, Nagpur.

The upcoming facility will have a processing capacity of 6 lakh litres of milk per day, expandable upto 10 lakh litres per day, and will manufacture poly pack milk, along-with other value-added dairy products like ice creams, chaach, lassi, paneer, etc. On the occasion, Gadkari said that it is indeed an auspicious day as with the collective efforts of Government of India, Government of Maharashtra and NDDB-Mother Dairy are marking a new beginning of dairy development in the regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. Gadkari reiterated his vision of Vidarbha and Marathwada to play a pivotal role in uplifting the milk production of the state of Maharashtra.

He mentioned that NDDB and Mother Dairy have been instrumental in increasing milk production across these regions, while acknowledging the fact that due to NDDB and Mother Dairys interventions, the dairy farmers of the region are getting better returns for their produce. He mentioned that with the upcoming Mother Dairy processing plant, once operational, will assist in opening new gateways for the farmers of Vidarbha and Marathwada. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stated that the dairy development project being undertaken in Vidarbha and Marathwada has indeed provided a new ray of hope to the dairy farmers of the region. Earlier, Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat inaugurated the much-awited four-day Agrovision expo at PDKV, Dabha ground.
IGGMCH revamps Forensic Medicine Department





Staff Reporter :

Department of Forensic Medicine in Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) has been revamped. If one visits the department, one would get to see a modern mortuary equipped with all facilities, probably only one in GMCHs in Maharashtra. About 10 years ago, High Court had asked Department of Medical Education to take a cue from the department of Forensic Medicine at Goa and introduce changes in Forensic Medicine department. No medical college in Maharashtra took up the initiative. But, Dr Makrand Vyawahare, Head, Department of Forensic Medicine at IGGMCH changed the look of mortuary, classroom, autopsy room etc of his department.

He pursued with Government to get the funds. In medical colleges, nobody thinks of providing facilities to the relatives. There is no proper sitting arrangement for them in most medical colleges. Department at IGGMCH has taken every single thing into account and introduced changes. In June 2017, when Dr Makrand Vyawahare took over charge of the department at IGGMCH, it was in a bad shape. Dr Vyawahare started various developmental projects for the upgradation of this department. The animal house, which was under the pharmacology department, was taken over by the department of Forensic Medicine, after completing all procedures. Dr Vyawahare pursued the matter to get funds from DPDC, out of that a new cold storage complex was constructed and three- 6 Body cold storage cabinets were purchased and installed which are running in good condition till date. Police and victims always face problem at this department because of time-taking procedure. To ease the process, a web based ERP (enterprise resource planning software) was installed for all medico legal reports which includes autopsy report, age estimation report, physical examination of sexual assault accused report, sexual assault victim examination report, death certificate, form no 4 and 8, viscera forms, histopathology form has been implemented.

This forensic medicine ERP software is developed by Dr Vyawahare himself. It is the only centre in India which has this ERP forensic medicine software. In 2019, the department constructed a 250 capacity air conditioned lecture hall for students, by which IGGMCH got recognised for 150 student intake capacity. Dr Vyawahare told The Hitavada, The mourners shed was expanded and renovated and sitting capacity for relatives of the deceased was increased with proper drinking water facility and washrooms separate for men and women were constructed. The parking area for the relatives of the deceased was constructed with a shed. In 2018, the upgradation of the department was taken up in phases. In Phase I, construction of a new mortuary complex was proposed and the proposal was sent for administrative approval. State Government gave approval and construction work started.

On the ground floor, there is one Autopsy Hall having four autopsy tables and underground drainage facility. Every table has in-built concealed water supply and drainage. Dr Vyawahare elaborated, In the autopsy hall, a special vision capturing system with cameras installed over two autopsy tables are available controlled by special software and installed in a separate desktop computer with remote and a separate server. The autopsy hall is constructed with a double height of 24 feet with all proper ventilation and exhausts. It has LED lights with fog lamps providing high quality illumination which will enable it to conduct postmortem examination even after sunset. The double heighted Autopsy Hall has a viewing gallery for 50 students 25 each on ground and first floor which will facilitate audio-visual learning for students.
IsraelHamas War





Nov 24 (AP)

Hamas releases 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis Israel confirms release of 39 Palestinian prisoners Committed to return of all hostages: PM Netanyahu 4-day

Truce begins RAFAH

A PALESTINIAN official says, 39 Palestinians have been released by Israel. Their release came shortly after Hamas released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, including 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines. Israel confirmed 33 prisoners were freed from West Bank and the remaining six were being freed from a Jerusalem lockup. Qatar was a key mediator in the hostage release. The Israeli military says the hostages released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal have returned to Israel. Military officials said the hostages underwent an initial medical check inside Israeli territory.

They were accompanied by Israeli soldiers to hospitals. The hostages are the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began on Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday welcomed the release of hostages taken in Hamas October 7 raid into Israel, including 13 Israeli citizens, but said his Government is committed to the return of all hostages. About 240 people were taken in the attack. Netanyahu described each of the hostages released as a four-day cease-fire began as a world of their own. He said getting back all the hostages is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all of the goals of the war. Hezbollah is not a party to the ceasefire agreement but was widely expected to halt its attacks.

The agreement brought first respite for beleaguered residents of Gaza and opened way for needed aid to flow in. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas October 7 attack, which triggered the war. There were no reports of fighting in the hours after the truce began. Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, flattened vast swaths of the territory and driven three-quarters of the population from their homes. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well. Israel, however, has said it is determined to resume its massive offensive once the ceasefire ends.

The plight of around 240 people taken captive during Hamas attack has been wrenching in Israel, raising anger among some families that the Government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home. Palestinians say a longer ceasefire is needed to recover from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. But Fridays halt in fighting brought the uprooted population a moment to catch their breath after weeks of fleeing bombardment across the tiny coastal enclave and trying to find increasingly scarce food, water and other basic supplies.
Right concern





THE agencies engaged in issues of internal security are working seriously on a very appropriate concern -- of not allowing the revival of the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist) in different parts of the country. Their basic aim is to ensure that the success they have registered over the past some years in containing the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) does not go waste and the ugly genre of politics does not come up again in its menacing strength. In furtherance of this goal, the agencies of internal security -- such as the National Investigating Agency (NIA), for example, are actively swooping on every possible outfit across the country in an attempt to finish them. The recent raids by the NIA at 31 locations in Bihar, or the recent opening of new Police Stations in many States including Maharashtra, are the pointers to the resolve of the agencies to defeat LWE.

By any definition, all these measures are most welcome since they indicate a continued success of the Governments vision of first restricting and then finishing the Maoist terrorism in the country. In the past ten years or so, the Government has been actively working on a national plan to bring the Maoists to grief -- through direct police action, through anticipatory swoops by different investigating agencies, through political mobilisation as a counter-narrative. The cumulative result of all that action was obvious -- in majority of districts (where Maoists had established dominance) LWE started receding slowly but surely. Over the past one decade or so, the ultra-Left influence in those districts decreased markedly, giving the Government a scope to claim a clear win against the Maoist activity. Obviously, the Government does not want that situation to be reversed. Hence the current flurry of activity on that front. The NIA has been very active in this regard -- marking organisations and people who indulge in Left-Wing Extremism either through arms or through propagandism via frontal organisations.

The agencies have also been putting up a systematic front to push back the tides of urban Naxals whose attempt it is to attract young people to the Leftist thinking and a possible armed struggle against the lawfully established State of India. A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi also openly verbalised his ire against urban Naxals and their propagandism. The Maoists, however, are a tough lot and are trying to regroup themselves again. They are organising popular protests against establishment of Police Stations in different areas, promotions of developmental schemes in different States, loan-melas and employment festivals which the Government organises ...! The Maoists are doing all this out the fear of losing their dominance in different geographical areas in Indias rural and tribal hinterland. The main thrust of their effort is to attack the Government in whichever way possible so that the rural and tribal masses feel threatened to join the official efforts.

The Maoists do not openly decry development, but try to create obstacles in its way by pushing the rural and tribal people into conflict with the Government. To certain extent, no matter how small, the Maoists seem to have succeeded in their goal. The current counter-action by various agencies of the Government on an all-India basis is, therefore, aimed at cutting down the Maoist advance back into the field. It must be said with full satisfaction that the direction of the Governments action is correct and is yielding good results. It can be said safely that in some reasonable time, the Governments efforts will produce welcome results. For, in Indias specific socio-political conditions, the Maoists are slated to lose their so-called Peoples War.
Rs 2,500cr French spirit co Pernod Ricard eyeing outlay in city





Business Reporter :

Pernod Ricard, one of the fastest growing multinational alcohol beverage companies, may soon announce its ambitious plan of setting up a wine maturation plant and distillery in the region to make single malt whisky. The company, which has been exploring investment opportunities in the region for the past few months, is likely to make the final announcement within the next 2 months. Sources told The Hitavada on Friday that the strategically located Nagpur is on the top of the companys list for the investment estimated at more than Rs 2,500 crore. Interestingly, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is taking keen interest in attracting the investment in Nagpur. Besides manufacturing single malt whisky, the company is also planning to motivate local farmers for barley farming, the agri-produce widely used for single malt whisky making.

The company said that barley farming will improve financial condition of many farmers. Though the company officials have been minutely studying the project feasibility at various locations, sources say that Nagpur has an edge over other places for various regions. The French manufacturer of renowned brands like Chivas, Ballantines, Blenders Pride and Royal Stag among others, has a sizable presence in India. It has its two distilleries and 29 bottling plants in the country. However, the proposed plant will be the companys biggest and state-of-the-art facility in this part of the world with a capacity to create more than 1,000 jobs.

It is important to note that the State Government has already offered two land parcels of 75 acres and 100 acres in Butibori. Besides, in a meeting between State Industries Minister Uday Samant and the company officials held here on Thursday, the State Government has also assured to provide all possible benefits. Pernod Ricard India Private Ltd is the subsidiary of multinational alcohol beverage company Pernod Ricard SA, which is the worlds leading premium spirits company having presence in more than 160 countries.
There is no universal truth: Pattnaik





Varsha Manohar lighting the lamp at the inaugural ceremony of OCLF. Also seen are Siddharth Kak, Sunil Raisoni, Vilas Kale, Dr Rajan Welukar and Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai. (Pic by Anil Futane)

Staff Reporter :

Orange City Lit Festival

All we commonly know of Jains or Jainism is the Jain food. The food that excludes garlic and onion in its preparation. However, there is much to Jainism culture that extends to businesses too. If observed carefully, Jains are present in many businesses and they run it successfully, opined Devdutt Pattnaik, author and speaker who focuses largely on the areas of religion, mythology, and management. Pattnaik was speaking at the 5th Edition of Orange City Literature Festival (OCLF) that kickstarted on Friday evening at Chitnavis Center, Civil Lines. Present on the occasion were Dr Rajan Welukar, Vice-chancellor of ATLAS SkillTech University; Varsha Manohar, President of Soham - Women's Home Trust; Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai, Author; Sunil Raisoni, Chairman of Raisoni Group and OCLF, Shreyas Raisoni; and well known television artist Siddharth Kak.

Drawing parallels between mythology and business, Pattnaik shared an insight on his book Bahubali: 63 Insights Into Jainism. Establishing good relations is the key aspect for any business to be successful, he said. No one is right or wrong in absolute terms. Therefore,, there is no universal truth. This situation exists in businesses too, which leads to a constructive dialogue between the giver and the taker. The practice is much inherent in the business done by Jain people, and is the biggest reason for their success, stated Pattnaik. Dr Rajan Welukar, in his inaugural address, stated that the context and forms of art have changed with digital media. However, it cannot comprehend the significance of historic events, he said. Events such as OCLF is one of the best platforms for new and emerging artistes, he added. Siddharth Kak, in his speech, stated that a responsive audience could take an artist to new heights.

Chanakyas 100 Best Sutras, a book penned by Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai was launched on the occasion. There is a story to be told by everyone. I am happy that OCLF is growing and I am part of It. Everyone coming here, should some day write his own book, stated Pillai, while speaking on this occasion. The 5th OCLF is a testament to the city's commitment towards fostering love for literature and arts, making it a must-attend event for citys literature enthusiasts.
VIENNA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called for intergovernmental discussions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to address the proliferation risks posed by the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the IAEA, told a meeting of the IAEA board of governors that the AUKUS collaboration has a serious impact on the security of the world and the Asia-Pacific region, and poses grave challenges to the international non-proliferation regime and the IAEA safeguards system.

"Such cooperation runs counter to the purpose and objectives of the NPT (the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) and is a typical act of double standard," Li said.

Under the trilateral AUKUS alliance, which was announced in September 2021, Australia will be able to build nuclear-powered submarines with technology provided by the United States and the United Kingdom.

Li said that the AUKUS deal, which involves political, security, legal and technical issues, will create an important precedent and have a significant impact on the improvement and development of the IAEA safeguards system and relevant safeguards practices.

"All these are major issues that must be taken seriously, considered deeply, and handled properly by (the IAEA) member states," Li said.

The Chinese envoy noted that the development and improvement of the IAEA safeguards system has historically been achieved through consensus-based and member state-driven processes, with broad participation of member states.

"Such a tradition has ensured that the IAEA safeguards system keeps pace with the time, on the basis of general acceptance and support of member states," Li said. "Upholding this tradition is in the common interests of all member states."

Li stressed that before the IAEA member states reach a consensus on the AUKUS issue, relevant safeguards arrangements should not be interpreted and decided only by the AUKUS countries and the IAEA Secretariat.

"We believe that member states have enough wisdom, patience and determination to properly respond to the AUKUS-related proliferation risks through intergovernmental discussions," Li said.

Friday's IAEA board meeting marked the 11th time that the AUKUS issue was on the formal agenda of the quarterly meeting at China's proposal.

During the meeting, representatives from Russia, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Iran and Cuba also voiced support for the proposal of further intergovernmental discussions over the AUKUS issue at the IAEA board meetings and general conferences.

Those representatives agreed that the AUKUS deal involves severe proliferation risks, and should be properly addressed through an intergovernmental process with the participation of the member states, instead of being decided behind closed doors by the AUKUS countries and the IAEA Secretariat.

Li told reporters after the meeting that the AUKUS deal concerns the common interests of all IAEA member states, and that the AUKUS countries should not force other member states to take sides or politicize the states which express different views.

Noting that more and more IAEA member states, having recognized the complexity and gravity of the AUKUS issue, have participated in the discussion processes, the Chinese envoy urged the AUKUS countries to respond to the concerns of the international community and conduct dialogue and communication with all parties on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

China will continue to push forward the intergovernmental discussion processes responsibly and uphold the authority and efficacy of the international non-proliferation regime and the IAEA safeguards system, Li added. 
HANGZHOU, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Zhuge Yun, a project manager with new-energy company Chint Solar, keeps a one-pound Egyptian coin, engraved with images of the sun and photovoltaic panels, in his desk drawer.

"I brought it back from Egypt," he said, recalling his departure for that country four years ago to work on the construction of the Benban solar power plant.

The Benban solar power plant is located in the eastern part of the Sahara Desert, one of the sunniest places in the world, with little rainfall throughout the year.

Covering an area of around 37 square km, the power plant has a total installed capacity of over 2,000 megawatts. Chint Solar was responsible for the construction of a portion providing 165.5 megawatts.

"Utilizing solar power, a clean renewable energy source, to generate electricity, can alleviate the local power shortage and help improve the energy structure of Egypt," he said, adding that the power station will run for up to 25 years, and its daily operation will provide jobs and incomes for local people.

China proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan in 2013, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative.

Ten years on, many projects like the Benban solar power plant, which are mutually beneficial and promote cooperation among BRI participating countries, have been implemented, improving the lives of the local people by bringing new development opportunities.

At the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence that was held from Friday to Saturday in the city of Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, officials and business representatives from the Maritime Silk Road cities shared their experiences and practices in jointly building the BRI.

The 187-km Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, built under the BRI, shortens the travel time between the capital city and the international deep-water seaport city of Sihanoukville from six hours to just two, said Sar Kackada, mayor of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

"This expressway has significantly boosted the number of tourists visiting Sihanoukville," he said. "I hope that through the implementation of this initiative, new achievements will continue to occur in Sihanoukville."

Tsingshan Holding Group is one of the earliest Chinese enterprises to participate in joint Belt and Road construction. The company has invested in the construction of two industrial parks in Indonesia over the past 10 years. The industrial parks have attracted an increasing number of Chinese companies in recent years.

The company is exploring more cooperation modes with countries participating in Maritime Silk Road cooperation and hopes to share its successful experience with more partners.

Official data shows that from 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and BRI partner countries amounted to 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. The cumulative two-way investment between China and BRI partner countries reached 380 billion U.S. dollars, including 240 billion U.S. dollars from China. 
CANBERRA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese has called for Australian males to step up to end violence against women and children.

In a statement released on the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on Saturday, Albanese declared urgent action was needed to address Australia's domestic violence rate.

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology's National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP), 60 percent of adult female victims of homicide in Australia are killed by a current or former intimate partner.

In 2020-21, one woman was killed by a current or former partner every 14 days in Australia, according to the latest NHMP data.

"Changing the attitudes that entrench inequality and discrimination, and objectify women and disregard consent, is everyone's responsibility," Albanese said.

"Men in particular have to step up. And male leaders have an opportunity to champion change and create the conditions that prevent violence, abuse, discrimination and harassment."

The government on Saturday committed to establishing a new system to provide quarterly updates on intimate partner homicides.

Data is currently available on an annual basis from the NHMP, but Albanese said that in order to end violence against women, authorities needed to be able to measure it accurately.

In a statement, minister for women Katy Gallagher and Amanda Rishworth, the minister for social services, said the new system would support law enforcement, policymakers, and the domestic and sexual violence sector in developing priority responses.

"Up-to-date and accurate data is crucial to supporting us in our efforts to end this violence and ensure women's safety," Gallagher said.

As of May, the government had invested 2.28 billion Australian dollars (1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in its National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. 
The pull and allure of culture was felt at its best in Ebonyi State on Saturday, 25th November, 2023. The whole of Ebonyi State and environs emptied herself into the open field of Community Primary School Amuzu along the Abakaliki - Afikpo expressway. The occasion was the coronation of Chief Francis Nwankpu as the traditional ruler of Amuzu autonomous community and Eze - Ajali III of Amuzu.

Following the passing of Ezeogo John Aloke, Eze - Ajali II, in 2020, the traditional stool of Eze - Ajali of Amuzu autonomous community has been vacant. The imperative of filling this crucial gap led to the election of Chief Francis Nwankpu Ujebe as the Eze - elect of Amuzu autonomous community on Saturday 7th October, 2023. That election and other royal protocols culminated in the coronation which attracted dignitaries from the political class, bureaucracy, business constituency, clergy, academic circles, traditional institutions etc from the state, other parts of the country and outside Nigeria. The occasion which was chaired by a former town union president of Amuzu autonomous community who is the Director of Finance and Supply of Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Chief Boniface Awoke, attracted the chairman of Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, Ezeogo Charles Mkpuma (Ezeburugbala III); the Senator representing Ebonyi Central District who sent an emmisary, Hon. Chinedu Ogah who was represented by Hon. Chinedu Nwali; officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State on Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Chukwuma Ujebe; the members representing Ezza South and Abakaliki South state constituencies, Hon Friday Ogbuewu and Hon. Victor Nwoke; Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area, Hon. Euphemia Nwali; and the management of Federal Science and Technical College, Amuzu led by the principal, Mr. Uche J. Others include a deputy director in Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki who doubles as the National Vice-chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor; former chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area, Hon. Joseph Egede; a retired permanent secretary in Ebonyi State, Chief Elias Nwanga and a host of others.

In a vote of thanks, a director of Medical Services in Ebonyi State Ministry of Health who doubles as the president of Amuzu Town Union, Dr. Emmanuel Nworie, on behalf of Amuzu autonomous community, expressed sincere thanks to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State for making the coronation possible. He equally pledged the unflinching support of Amuzu autonomous community to the Nwifuru administration and thanked God for the vindication of the governor by the recent Court of Appeal judgement.

The new traditional ruler of Amuzu autonomous community, Eze Francis Nwankpu Ujebe, a building contractor, was the pioneer town union president of Amuzu autonomous community. His coronation has ended the protracted royal vacancy in Amuzu autonomous as well as the high profile contest into the office.
PATTAYA, Thailand, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- With tens of thousands of tourists and local residents gathering on the beach and enjoying the festive vibes, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky in Pattaya on Friday.

Located in Thailand's Chonburi province, about 150 kilometers from Bangkok, Pattaya is well known for its beach resort and vibrant atmosphere. As one of the most anticipated events, the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival is held at the end of November every year, setting the stage for an exciting year-end season.

This year's festival was scheduled to run from Friday until Saturday at Pattaya Beach, with five pyrotechnic shows from Malaysia, Singapore, Serbia, China, and the Philippines on display. The five rounds of stunning fireworks incorporated with light, color, and sound techniques started at 7.45 p.m. local time and were displayed over two hours a day.

Rachel Park, a 25-year-old from South Korea, made a special trip to Pattaya with her friends for the fireworks show.

"We came to the beach at 5 p.m. to find the best viewing spot. This is our first time to see the fireworks displaying above the sea, and the fireworks have ignited people's enthusiasm," said Park.

Poramet Ngampichet, Pattaya City mayor, said the festival would not only showcase the unique and artistic fireworks of each participating country, but also feature live music, cultural performances, and food stalls to create a festive atmosphere.

The two-day spectacle would spur the local economy, drive integrated tourism and enhance the image of Pattaya, with 400,000 people expected to enjoy the fireworks display and lively vibe of the city, said the official. 
Indias leading renewable energy transition platform, AmpIn Energy Transition, is set to expand its business in the Eastern region with a ground-breaking investment of Rs 3,100 crore.

The investments are for setting up renewable energy projects of about ~600 MW plus and an integrated manufacturing facility of solar cells and modules. Significant investments are planned in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Northeastern States, the company said in a statement.

The investment reflects AmpIn Energy Transitions commitment of accelerating the renewable energy transition and adoption of clean energy solutions in the Eastern region.

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Speaking on the development, Pinaki Bhattacharyya, MD and CEO, AmpIn Energy Transition, said, Time has come for the Eastern region which is the home of coal to embrace renewable energy. Our investment in the region marks a significant milestone in our mission to drive the transition to renewables in the region.

AmpIn can partner with any customer to help them achieve 100 per cent RE and we believe that with the right policy intervention like Green Energy Open Access, the shift to renewables is unstoppable.

Also, the integrated solar cell & module manufacturing capacity that we are establishing in the region, would strengthen the push to renewables. Collaboration between industry, solution providers, the financial sector, and government at both central and state levels is also crucial for a successful transition, Pinaki said.

The four wheels that must be synchronised for Energy Transition: financial markets, industry that decarbonises and saves energy costs, energy transitioners that create solutions for renewable energy transition, and government that sets the right policies to support the transition for the Eastern region, he added.

Notably, in the region, the company has the largest solar open access portfolio of ~ 200 MWp, the largest utility PPA with CESC for a 250 MWp of wind solar hybrid project and the largest Behind the Meter industrial solar project of 10.5 MW for an industrial customer.

AmpIn claims to helping customers save about 25%  40 per cent on their energy costs and also helps mitigate their carbon footprint substantially. The company is serving marquee customers in the region across diverse sectors such as cement and steel, IT and Data Centre, Heavy engineering, FMCG, utility, etc., through its projects.

Headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, AmpIn is run by an industry leading team of professionals and backed by leading institutional investors from Europe, Asia and North America.
People look at spices during the first World Forestry Industry Conference at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 25, 2023. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

People visit the first World Forestry Industry Conference at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 25, 2023. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

People visit the first World Forestry Industry Conference at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 25, 2023. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

People visit the first World Forestry Industry Conference at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 25, 2023. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A girl plays guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucked zither, during the first World Forestry Industry Conference at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 25, 2023. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

People visit the first World Forestry Industry Conference at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nov. 25, 2023. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2023 shows an exterior view of Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue for the first World Forestry Industry Conference, in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The first World Forestry Industry Conference opened in Nanning on Saturday. The event includes a combination of conferences, exhibitions and forums. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)
Noida International Airport (NIA) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with IndiGo, Indias airline carrier.

With this development, IndiGo becomes the inaugural or launch carrier for the airport, accentuating its commitment to support the rapidly growing Indian aviation market.

Under this arrangement, NIA and IndiGo will work together towards developing and strengthening the air connectivity within Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

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The partnership will also explore new and innovative ideas, aimed at gaining operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience.

Partnership with IndiGo, Indias largest airline that is amongst the fastest growing airlines in the world, will offer a vast route network to the travelling public and enhance business opportunities in the region.

Christoph Schnellmann, Chief Executive Officer, Noida International Airport, said, We are excited to sign this MoU with IndiGo, which has a strong base both in domestic and international markets. The partnership between NIA and IndiGo will not only help bolster air connectivity but also innovate, ensuring an exceptional customer experience for our customers alike.

Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, We are thrilled to announce our MoU with Noida International Airport, to become the launch carrier at the upcoming airport. As Indias leading airline, IndiGo has always been at the forefront of enhancing connectivity and giving wings to the nation.

Our operations at NIA will provide the people of Uttar Pradesh with seamless connectivity across our unparalleled network. We look forward to the inauguration of the new airport in 2024 and will continue to work with NIA management to explore innovative ways to deliver an affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel experience across the 6E network.

The first phase of the Noida International Airport will be operational by the end of 2024, with one runway, and one terminal with the capacity to handle traffic of 12 million passengers annually. After the completion of the fourth phase, the airport will have the capacity to manage 70 million passengers per year.
Kunal Ghosh, State General Secretary of Trinamul Congress talked to The Statesmans Chandrani Banerjee on the ED summons, allegations on party members and the business of fake news.

Q: There is an ED inquiry on the top leadership in your party, how do you look at it?

A: There is complete misuse of gov- ernment machinery for vested interest. Sadly, this is rampant. The raids and questioning by Enforcement Directorate(ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and every gov- ernment agency has been put to use to intimidate members of the oppo- sition. However, there is very little that will be achieved from all these exer- cises. The aim is not to untangle any embezzlement but to create an impression that the top leaders of the party are involved in unfair practices. Nothing would be achieved as inten- tions here are malafide. So whoever is into it will have to backtrack and adopt fair means. There is a way to deal with the opposition and this is not the correct way.

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Q: How do you look at the probe being conducted by the Central government against lead- ers in the Opposition parties?

A: They are being selective about the probes and there is no denying this fact. This is a truth that we all know. I have mentioned earlier that there is a pattern to block the political oppo- nents that BJP usually indulges in.

Q: Do you think that fake news and social media has changed the face of political fights?

A:Yes. That is one aspect of it. There is another side to it, that is people no longer believe in debate or discus- sions; they just level allegations to deal with the political opponents. They now go to any extent in organiz- ing tweets on social media to malign a political figure for their own interest. So yes the face of the fight has changed completely. The virtual fights have been very targeted, planned and organised to defame and to settle scores with political opponents.

Q: How far is this going to affect the upcoming parliamen- tary elections?

A: There is very little scope of advan- tage to those resorting to such tactics. The electorate in West Bengal is satis- fied with the performance of the rul- ing party. There is substantial progress in education, health, infrastructure and other needs. The voters want their problems to be addressed. Trinamool Congress has been doing that for the past many years. Voters are getting electricity, assistance in building a roof over their heads and healthcare. Therefore when you get what you were promised or required then there is not much opposition that any gov- ernment would have to face. And we are doing that for each and every citi- zen in the state.

Q: So, you mean there is no dissatisfaction amongst the elec- torate in your state?

A: There will always be a dissatisfied sector in the given set up. Even in a small family, there will always be dis- agreement and dissatisfaction, but it always remains intact. So we agree that there will be disagreements and disappointments and dissatisfactions but the Trinamul is committed to the cause. We will identify the problem and step up to reach out to the dissat- isfied lot through available means. So this will help us to win elections.

Q: There is a good amount of confidence that you will win the upcoming elections. Why?

A: Simple reasons: We serve the peo- ple. Our door to door campaign dwar e sorkar (Government at your doorstep) is so popular that the other states are replicating it. The work at the grass root level has made the gov- ernment popular. We need not do anything. We are working and that is our formula to win. We do not talk, we work. We do not trouble our political opponents to fight elections.

Q: So all the corruption charges against the party lead- ers are false?

A: Absolutely. Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) is trying to create a wrong narrative in West Bengal. They have little idea that this will work in the favour of Trinamul Congress. And this truth will come out in the open for everyone to see.

Q: And why are you confi- dent that this will work in favour of Trinamul Congress?

A: The simple reason is that Trinamul is connected to the grass root level. We know their problems. We are aware of their needs. This is the reason we are confident. BJP has come with all bigwigs to win Bengal but it did not happen. They have no connection with the grass root level.

Q: The general impression is that the BJP is very active at the state level with proper planning. What is the basis of your claim?

A: This is untrue. They are not strong, that is the reason they are blocking money to make things diffi- cult for Trinamul Congress. West Ben- gal was adjudged as number one in MGNERGA programme. Now that very state has become the worst. They have a pattern to block political oppo- nents. They trouble them by using government machinery but this tac- tic will not work in Bengal.

Q: Do you disagree that there could be dissatisfaction among the electorate against Trinamul?

A: I do not disagree that there will be people who may be dissatisfied with Trinamul Congress. However our policy is to identify the areas where Trinamul has not done so well. Then we work on the aspects that failed to create an impact. We constantly improve and work on it. But BJP con- ducts raids and maligns people using social media. This is the reason we will gain because we work on the issues that are causing dissatisfac- tion.

Q: Do you disagree that BJP may gain in the upcoming elec- tions?

A: No they may gain but that is the share that Left parties and Congress used to gain in the state. That per- centage is very low, about 5 per cent. So it is for them to realise that there is nothing much that they are gaining after putting everything at a stake.
In Rajasthan, 9.77 per cent people have already come out to vote till 9:00 am in the morning today. The polling for the Vidhan Sabha elections began at 7:00 am today.

Voting for 199 of Rajasthans 200 seats will run until 6 pm. The passing away of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar has put the poll for Sriganganagars Karanpur seat on hold.

In the 2018 elections, the BJP secured 73 seats while the Congress secured 100 seats, just missing the majority threshold. The BJPs total has decreased from 163 seats, or an absolute majority, in 2013.

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There are 1,862 candidates running in these elections, and there are 5.25 crore voters in all. Of them, 22.61 lakh are new voters from the 1819 age group, while 1.71 crore voters are between the ages of 18 and 30.

The Congress is hoping to be re-elected in the state thanks to the charm of its jadugar, or magician, Ashok Gehlot, its seven promises, and social programs like the nations first gig worker law.

The BJP is counting on anti-incumbency in Rajasthan against Gehlot government.

Regarding topics like crime against women, corruption, and purported paper leak schemes, the BJP has been criticizing the Congress. The Red Diary, which purportedly details irregularities committed by the Chief Minister and was waved in the Assembly by dismissed minister Rajendra Gudha, is one of the main strategies employed by the BJP against Gehlot.

Additionally, the opposition party hopes that the conflict between Mr. Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, his former deputy, would work to its advantage. In recent weeks, both Mr. Pilot and the chief minister have downplayed the disputes, which had reached a boiling point in 2020 and again earlier this year.

For the peaceful conduct of this single-phase poll, more than one lakh security guards have been deployed. On December 3, the results will be out.
A sizable crowd paid their last respects to Captain M V Pranjal, who was killed in Jammu and Kashmir during an encounter with terrorists.

On Friday night, his lifeless remains were transported by air to Bengaluru and then brought to his parents residence in the nearby Anekal Taluk.

Grievers crowded around Capt. Pranjals body to offer condolences.

Opposition Leader R Ashoka and Rural Bangalore MP D K Suresh were among those who paid respect to the deceased and sent their sympathies to the family today.

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Following a wreath-laying ceremony, the state administration and the Army presented Pranjal with a guard of honor. For the last ceremonies, his dead remains will be carried in a procession to a cremation in Kudlu Gate.

The 29-year-old from 63 Rashtriya Rifles, who lost his life during an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Rajouri sector on Wednesday, is survived by wife and parents.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid their last respects at HAL Airport, after his remains landed here last night.

Siddaramaiah, offering condolences, said the family of the victim will receive Rs 50 lakh.

In light of the soldiers funeral ceremonies today, the opposition BJP has decided to delay its protest against the state government about the Cabinets decision to revoke approval for a CBI investigation into Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Pranjal, the son of retired Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited managing director M Venkatesh, completed his education in Surathkal in the Dakshina Kannada district.

He entered the National Defence Academy and enrolled in the Army following the completion of his engineering and academic mentorship program.
Coming down heavily on the KCR-led government while seeking support for BJP candidates in poll-bound Telangana during an election rally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday that BRS means Bhrashtachar (corruption) Rishwatkhori (bribery) Samiti (committee).

A massive crowd enthusiastically welcomed the UP CM with saffron flags amid chants of Yogi-Yogi. Yogi Adityanath established instant connection with the local people by addressing them in Telugu and received warm affection from them. Yogi specially targeted KCR, Congress, MIM and BSP in his address.

The UP CM asserted that the Muslim reservation policy in Telangana is unconstitutional and pledged to abolish it if the BJP comes to power. Accusing KCR of deception, he highlighted unfulfilled promises, including commitments to Nillu (water), Nidhulu (money) and Niyamakalu (employment) after assuming office. Yogi stated that while Congress named the city Hyderabad, the BJP aims to transform it into Bhagyanagar.

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Yogi Adityanath urged support for BJP candidates Dr Palvai Harish Babu in Sirpur and Atmaram Naik in Asifabad, asserting that the KCR-led BRS government has fostered exploitation and anarchy in the state. This state is yearning for its rights. The dirtiest game of appeasement politics is going on in Telangana. This government can go to any extent to divide the society.

He went on to say, The BRS government conspired to deprive Dalits, the underprivileged, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Castes of their rights by giving reservation to Muslims. This is an insult to the Constitution made by Bhimrao Ambedkar. Muslim reservation is anti-constitutional, hence it will end with the arrival of the BJP in Telangana. BRS and Congress want to take the country towards a new division. BRS-Congress and BSP share a similar mindset.

Yogi also sought votes in favor of BJP candidate Dr Vikas Rao in Vemulawada. Here he also discussed senior leader and former Governor Vidyasagar Rao. He highlighted that during the prolonged movement for the creation of Telangana state from 1969 to 2014, the promise of providing Nillu (water), Nidhulu (money) and Niyamakalu (employment) was a rallying cry. However, he lamented that once in power, KCR failed to fulfill these commitments. When Telangana was formed, it was a revenue-surplus state. Today, Telangana has a debt of Rs 3 lakh crore. BRS is cheating farmers, youth and women. Water has become a source of illegal money. With the wrong policies of the government, the youth are burdened with debt, he remarked.

The UP CM organized a vibrant road show in support of Marri Sashidhar Reddy from Sanathnagar, drawing a significant crowd. During the event, the CM emphasized the need for the BJP in Telangana, highlighting the transformation in Uttar Pradesh since 2017, where curfews and riots are now a thing of the past. Yogi Adityanath expressed concern for the farmers in Telangana and highlighted issues such as suicides and leaked examination papers. He raised questions about the competence of the current government, particularly in managing examinations and running the state effectively.

Yogi alleged that MIM is a common friend of both parties. Because of them, the government does not allow Telangana to celebrate the day of liberation from the Nizam. Elect BJP government, work will be done to celebrate Liberation Day from Nizam as national day. Congress made Hyderabad, we have come to make it Bhagyanagar.

The streets of Ghoshamahal were packed on Saturday evening. The resounding chants of Yogi-Yogi filled the air, and flowers rained down from the balconies and windows of every home. The powerful image of Yogi on a bulldozer drew the attention of the crowd, with mothers eagerly trying to catch a glimpse, and the youth captivated by the magic of Yogi.

The roadshow, featuring Yogi Adityanath in support of T Raja, witnessed an unparalleled welcome amidst the flashing lights of mobile cameras. Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming welcome, Yogi Adityanath said that the peoples passion alone could transform Hyderabad into Bhagyanagar.
Indias High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Sharma has questioned the rule of law in Canada after the country convicted India even without full investigation in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Speaking to a Canadian TV channel, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada said, There are two points on that. One is that, even without the investigation being concluded, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?

When asked how India was convicted, Sharma said, Because India was asked to cooperate and if you look at the typical criminal terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, it means you have already been convicted and you better cooperate.

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The Indian Envoy further reiterated Indias stand on the issue and said New Delhi will look into it if specific and relevant information is shared by Ottawa.

So, we took it in a very different interpretation. But, we have always said that if there is anything very specific and relevant, and communicated to us. We will look into it, the Indian envoy added.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen was designated terrorist by New Delhi in 2020. He was murdered by masked gunmen in June early this year.

However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of playing a role in his murder. Trudeau said that Ottawa has credible allegations of involvement of Indian government agents in the June killing of Nijjar.

The startling claim by the Canadian prime minister brought the two countries on the brink of a diplomatic breakdown.

India dismissed his claims as absurd and politically motivated and demanded evidence. Canada, however, failed to provide any specific evidence supporting Trudeaus claim.

However, the issue seriously damaged the already strained bilateral relations between India and Canada.
Aiming to make the social media space secure, the government will assist citizens in filing FIR against social media platforms for violation of IT rules in case they are aggrieved from objectionable content like deepfakes.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) will develop a platform on which users can notify about IT rule violation by social media platforms.

While speaking to the media after a meeting with social media platforms, MoS said Meity will assist users to very easily notify it about violation of IT rules and assist them in filing FIRs.

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From today onwards, there is zero tolerance for violation of IT rules, he said.

The Minister briefed that the FIR will be registered against the intermediary and if they disclose the details from where the content has originated then the FIR will be filed against the entity that has posted the content.

Social media platforms have been given seven days time to align their terms of use, as per the IT rules.

On Thursday, Meity minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said his ministry from time to time, advised social media intermediaries to exercise due diligence and take expeditious action against deepfake.

At a discussion, it was agreed that government, academia, social media companies and NASSCOM will jointly work towards responding to deepfake.

He also mentioned that the MeitY will commence an exercise for assessing and drafting necessary regulations to curb the menace of deepfake. For this purpose, MeitY will invite comments from the public on MyGov portal.

A couple of days back, while addressing the virtual G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said deepfake is a big concern, and AI (artificial intelligence) has to be safe for the public.

Chandrasekhar said during the meeting he has urged them that all the platforms must align and transform their terms of use with their users to be consistent with the 12 areas that are prohibited on the Indian internet.

He said the platforms have agreed in seven days to ensure harmonization and alignment so that every user on every platform is aware that when they use a platform, the platform intends to be a safe and trusted platform.

We have further informed the platforms that from today onwards, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Government of India will nominate a Rule Seven officer and will take a 100 per cent compliance expectation from all the platforms, the minister said.

Deepfake has emerged as a serious threat to democracy and social institutions across the world. Propagation of deepfake content via social media platforms has aggravated this challenge.

Deepfake videos targeting some actors and social media influencers in recent weeks have led to concerns over the misuse of AI by criminals.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday came down heavily against the Kerala government for misrepresenting facts on Central fund allocation.

Speaking after inaugurating a loan mela at Attingal near here, Sitharaman said that those who have followed the Finance Commissions instructions have been properly given grants and if Kerala has not received it, it is because they have not followed the instructions.

Launching a scathing attack on the LDF government in Kerala, which has announced a protest in New Delhi in January against the alleged neglect by the Central government, the union Finance Minister accused the Kerala government of propagating false claims that the Union government hasnt allocated funds to the state.

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The state government was asked twice to submit the documents related to the transfer of Central grant but we received nothing, said Sitharaman.

Presenting figures on Central fund transfers, Sitharaman emphasised that the Centre has fulfilled all eligible instances of fund transfers to Kerala

The Minister clarified that all funds for social security pensions were transferred to Kerala last month. However, the state hasnt applied for the second instalment.

Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), all the pending liabilities and the first tranche of 2023-24, covering senior citizens pensions amounting to Rs 602.14 crore, has already been released to Kerala in October 2023, she said.

On the issue regarding 7th UGC pay revision, the Ministry of Education has informed that the Scheme of 50 per cent Central share (7th CPC), through reimbursement was given to those state governments who adopted and implemented the revised pay scales as per the 7th CPC, subject to fulfilment of all the conditions laid down in the scheme and submission of the complete proposal as per the guidelines on or before 31st March, 2022, Seetharaman said. The Kerala government didnt fulfil the requisite conditions, hence the funds couldnt be released, she added.

The Union Finance Minister claimed that the highest amount of Finance Commission Grants has been released to Kerala from 2009-10 to 2023-24 under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Regarding the GST compensation, Sitharaman stated that Kerala needs to provide accurate reports through the Accountant General (AG) to claim compensation.

Tearing apart the state government for the recurring farmers suicide in the state, she said negligence, extravagance and nepotism of the Kerala government affected several farmers,leading them into debt trap.

If paddy is procured from the farmers, they should be paid through the account and that is what the central government is doing, she said.

She alleged that Kerala is changing the name of the Central projects after getting Central allocations.

Stating that there is a false propaganda going on in the state regarding the allocation of Central funds, the union Finance Minister said the people should know the true facts regarding the Central fund allocation. She also requested the visual media personnel to turn on their cameras and record whatever she was saying.

The CPI-Mled ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has decided to stage protests at the national as well as at the state level against the central governments neglect and denial of financial aid to Kerala. LDF leaders said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers will participate in the protest to be held in New Delhi in January.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday completed a sortie on indigenously developed Tejas aircraft in Bengaluru. The prime minister said that it was an incredibly enriched experience to fly the Tejas aircraft and that it has bolstered his confidence in indigenous capabilities of the country.

Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our countrys indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential, he wrote on Twitter after the sortie.

PM Narendra Modi tweets, Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our countrys indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national pic.twitter.com/PHKG5llA2j

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According to news agency ANI, Modi government has taken steps to increase the countrys defence preparedness and indigenisation which includes Tejas aircraft.

The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the IAF in 2016. Currently, two squadrons of IAF, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas.

An order worth Rs 36,468 Crore for delivery of 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft has been placed with HAL and delivery is scheduled to begin by February 2024, the agency said, citing sources.

More than Rs 9000 Crore have been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and more lethal version of LCA Tejas.

To further promote indigenisation, including of the aircraft engine, Transfer of Technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India has been negotiated with GE during the Prime Ministers visit to the US in June 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took to X to extend his best wishes to first-time voters as polling commenced for 199 Assembly seats in Rajasthan. He urged voters of all age groups to participate, emphasizing the importance of exercising their franchise.

Voting will be held today for the Rajasthan Assembly. I request voters across all age groups to come out in big numbers and exercise their franchise. I would also like to convey my best wishes to all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time, PM Modi posted in Hindi on X, formerly Twitter.

Voting for 199 out of 200 seats in Rajasthan began at 7 am on Saturday after days of hectic campaigning by major political parties including the ruling Congress and BJP.

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Of 5.26 crore voters, 21.9 lakh new young voters (18-19 years) and 18,462 voters above the age of 100 years.

Besides two major political parties, BSPs 188 candidates, AAPs 87, Rashtriya Loktantrik Partys (RLP) 77, Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) 5 and CPI-Ms 17 contestants are vying the election. Out of 1875 candidates, the Congress has fielded 200 (with one alliance of RLD), BJP 200, Independents 737, BSP 185, AAP 86, RLD 78, and CPI-M Three.

The high-stakes election campaign concluded in Rajasthan on Thursday. Out of the 200 assembly seats, 199 will be contested today, as elections in the Karanpur constituency were adjourned due to the unfortunate passing away of the Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

In 2018, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP won 73. Gehlot assumed the CM position with the support of BSP MLAs and independents.
Koko lauds Qatar's successful mediation efforts

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Saturday joined the government in extending heartfelt gratitude to the State of Qatar for its commendable mediation efforts that resulted in the successful release of hostages including a Filipino held by Palestinian group Hamas.

"We are immensely grateful to the Government of Qatar for its tireless efforts in securing the release of the hostages including our kababayan, Gelienor "Jimmy" Pacheco," Pimentel said.

"The release of the hostages, made possible through Qatar's mediation, is a testament to Qatar's strong commitment to peace, security and diplomacy," Pimentel added.

"The release of Gelienor "Jimmy" Pacheco and the other hostages brings hope amidst the complex situation in Israel and Palestine," Pimentel emphasized.

On Saturday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo expressed the Philippines' deep appreciation for Qatar's mediation efforts, which successfully led to the release of hostages held by the Palestinian group Hamas.

"We acknowledge and are profoundly thankful for Qatar's mediation efforts, which resulted in the safe release of a Filipino national in Gaza. The Philippines and Qatar remain dedicated to finding a sustainable path towards lasting peace in the region," Secretary Manalo stated in a tweet.

Pimentel and Manalo's statement came after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. confirmed that Gelienor "Jimmy" Pacheco, a Filipino, was among the initial group of 24 hostages released by Hamas.
GAZA/CAIRO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- As a cease-fire with Israel entered into force, Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while buses carrying 39 Palestinian prisoners departed at night from Israeli Ofer prison.

The 13 Israeli hostages, all children and women, were sent to Egypt from Gaza and then headed for Israel. After initial reception procedures, including a medical assessment, the hostages were transferred to Israeli hospitals to reunite with their family members, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said.

An addition of 10 Thai and one Filipino citizens have also arrived at the Rafah crossing after being released from Gaza, Egypt's Al Qahera News TV reported.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian source told Xinhua that the release of non-Israeli nationals was not part of the truce deal, adding that they were released without any conditions.

The truce, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, took effect this morning at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). As part of the deal, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday night from its Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah after receiving the hostages.

The Palestinian prisoners, including 24 women and 15 children, were transferred to the West Bank and East Jerusalem by vehicles belonging to the Red Cross.

According to the cease-fire swap, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly children and women, in exchange for 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

Meanwhile, the cease-fire has enabled the delivery of more aid supplies to Gaza. According to a spokesman for the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, 150 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered Gaza, including four carrying cooking gas and three carrying fuel.

In addition, Palestinian ambulances have crossed the Rafah crossing to the Egyptian side to transport the wounded and the sick for treatment abroad. Palestinians stranded in Egypt also began returning to Gaza.

On the other hand, when the cease-fire took effect early Friday, Palestinians across the Gaza Strip rushed to the streets to inspect their houses, check on their relatives, and try to recover and bury the dead.

Rescue workers and civil defense units have been deployed to retrieve the dead bodies from under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

However, even with a brief respite from the bombardment, Israeli forces on the ground fired bullets at the outskirts of the southern Gaza Strip and the main road leading to Gaza City and its north, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

At least two Palestinians were killed and others wounded while trying to return to their homes, which were not allowed by the Israeli army, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

"The dead and wounded people were transferred to the al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah city," the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that a number of displaced people from Beit Lahia, a city in northern Gaza, returned to their homes only to find them being completely destroyed.

Palestinian authorities called for the displaced to return to their homes in the northern strip, while Israel had warned that it would prohibit them from moving northward during the truce.

The Israeli forces stationed at a checkpoint separating northern and southern Gaza for weeks have placed additional cement barriers to prevent the movement of civilians from south to north in the enclave, said eyewitnesses.

Israeli forces invaded Gaza weeks ago and ordered residents of northern Gaza to move southward. The Israeli military now occupies much of the northern half of the strip and displaces some 1.7 million of 2.3 million Gazans. 
Nearly two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modis convoy was stuck on a flyover in Punjab for nearly 20 minutes as protesting farmers had blocked the road, a Superintendent of Police (SP), Gurbinder Singh, was on Saturday suspended for dereliction of duty.

Singh, posted as SP (operations) in Ferozepur at that time, was suspended for the lapse in connection with the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state on 5 January, 2022.

The SP, currently posted in Bathinda, was suspended on the basis of a report submitted by the Punjab Director General of Police in which the state police chief said that Singh did not perform his duty properly.

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A report dated October 18, 2023, was submitted by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab in connection with the security breach during Modis visit wherein the DGP made remarks that Gurbinder Singh, then SP, operations, did not perform his duty properly, the order issued by Home Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal in Punjabi said.

After consideration of the matter at the level of the competent authority, the officer concerned is suspended with immediate effect, the order said. Prime Minister Modis convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.

Earlier, a Supreme Court-appointed committee, which probed the breach, had indicted several state officers for lapses. Modi was on his way to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur to address an election rally when his cavalcade had to take a U-turn after farm protesters blocked his way. The PM was stuck on the flyover for 20 minutes. The SP-rank officer is the first police officer to be suspended for the lapses.
Rajasthan assembly elections 2023 voting: The Election Commission of India (ECI) data shows approximately 40.27 per cent voter turnout in Rajasthan till 1.30 pm on Saturday as people of the desert state decides on who will govern them for the next five years.

People started lining up in queues outside polling booths across the state from early morning. Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm in the evening. In the first two hours, 9.77 per cent turnover was registered.

Voting is underway for 199 of the 200 Rajasthan legislative assembly constituencies. Death of a candidate has suspended elections on one seat in Ganganagar.

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The Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 is a direct contest between Prime Minister Narendra Modis promises and Ashok Gehlots welfare schemes.

Incumbent Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his son cast their votes in Sardarpura, Jodhpur and both claimed Congress victory. Gehlot has expressed confidence that Rajasthan will break the tradition of voting out the incumbent government every five-year.

BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who helmed the partys election campaign on grassroot level in Rajasthan, said that people are voting to create a new political chapter and that there will be a saffron surge in Rajasthan.

While a total of 51,890 polling stations were set up, with 12,500 booths marked as sensitive, according to the CEO.

For the polling day preparations, Gupta stated, Polling will start at 7 am. About 51,890 polling stations are set up, with 12,500 polling booths marked as sensitive, equipped with webcasting. The live feed will be monitored by District, State, and Booth level officers.

Arrangements of CAPF and videography have been made at sensitive booths to ensure people can vote fearlessly.
Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 voting: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made the Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 a direct contest between Prime Minister Narendra Modi vs Ashok Gehlot in hopes of returning to power. Today, people of the desert state will decide who they will choose to govern them for the next five years as voting is underway for the 199 of the 200 member Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

As of 9 am, Rajasthan witnessed 9.77 per cent voter turnout with both parties claiming victory.

Incumbent Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his son cast their votes in Sardarpura, Jodhpur and both claimed Congress victory.

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that robust voting is taking place in the state and that his party will emerge victorious.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who virtually helmed the partys election campaign in Rajasthan, said that people are voting to create a new political chapter and that there will be a saffron surge in Rajasthan.

Earlier, voting for 199 out of 200 seats in Rajasthan began at 7 am on Saturday after days of hectic campaigning by major political parties including the ruling Congress and BJP.

The polling began at 7 am will continue until 6 pm.

Talking to media Rajasthans Chief Electoral Officer, Praveen Gupta, said that over 3 lakh people utilized postal ballots ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for November 25.

While a total of 51,890 polling stations were set up, with 12,500 booths marked as sensitive, according to the CEO.

For the polling day preparations, Gupta stated, Polling will start at 7 am. About 51,890 polling stations are set up, with 12,500 polling booths marked as sensitive, equipped with webcasting. The live feed will be monitored by District, State, and Booth level officers.

Arrangements of CAPF and videography have been made at sensitive booths to ensure people can vote fearlessly.
Singapores High Commissioner to India Simon Wong Wie Kuen visited the Assam Pavilion at the ongoing 42nd India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan here on Saturday.

During his visit, the High Commissioner was very much impressed with the Assamese products on display and opined that these products have a great market in Singapore.

He said many products can now be directly exported to Singapore.

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The High Commissioner also interacted with the officials manning the stalls.

Reacting to his visit to the Assam Pavilion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X, Thank you, Your Excellency, High Commissioner Wong!

Like you, I too hope to see more Assamese products exported and sold in Singapore and Southeast Asia with the direct air cargo route between Guwahati and Singapore. Grateful for your constant support.

Earlier, Himachal Pradesh minister for Industries Harshwardhan Chauhan visited the Assam Pavilion on Thursday and appreciated the array of products on display.

In the visitors notebook, Chauhan wrote, Very nice display of handicrafts and handlooms of Assam. Good that the old and traditional culture of Assam has been preserved.

The theme of this years IITF is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  United by Trade. The fair will come to a close on November 27.
An Australia student of Indian descent is in coma after he was assaulted, as per a report. One suspect is under detention. At the University of Tasmania, the unidentified student, who is in his 20s, is pursuing a masters degree. The sufferer had extra jural bleeding, which caused his brain to move, on November 5, in Tasmania.

According to the Sydney-based Special Broadcasting Service, he required brain surgery after his right lung collapsed. Lenah Valley resident Benjamin Dodge Collings, 25, was arrested by the police and accused of criminal code assault. A maximum term of 21 years in prison is imposed for this offense.

After being given magistrate bail, Benjamin Dodge Collings is expected back in court on December 4 to answer to the allegations. According to reports, they include resisting a police officer, violence, giving a false address and identity, and unrelated driving offenses. According to a statement from the University of Tasmania, the institution is aware of the occurrence and is helping the student through these difficult times.

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We have maintained constant communication with the family and designated a multidisciplinary case manager for the matter, in addition to providing interpreters, liaison, housing, and further assistance, the university stated, adding, We are extremely constrained in our statements because the case has also been through the legal system.
In a shocking incident, a 36-year-old man from Pune lost his life when his wife hit him in the nose because he wouldnt take her to Dubai to celebrate her birthday.

The incident happened on Friday at the couples residence in Punes Wanavdi neighbourhood. It is housed in a fancy residential complex.

Six years ago, the victimidentified as Nikhil Khanna, a businessman in the construction industrymarried Renuka, 38, out of love.

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A senior police officer at the Wanavdi Police station stated, Friday afternoon was the time of the incident. The pair reportedly got into an argument when Nikhil neglected to take Renuka to Dubai for her birthday celebration and failed to buy her pricey presents for both her birthday and anniversary, according to the results of the initial inquiry. Renuka was also angry with Nikhil for not responding favourably to her request to visit Delhi to attend some relatives birthday celebrations.

The cops said, Renuka struck Nikhil in the face during the altercation. Nikhil fractured many teeth and cracked his nose with the force of the strike. Nikhil went unconscious while bleeding profusely.

In the meantime, Renuka has been detained by the police pending further inquiry after they filed a complaint against her under IPC Section 302.
The results of the Dutch election, in which Geert Wilders Party for Freedom emerged as victors, have sent shockwaves through the political establishment.

For the first time in Dutch history, a party of the extreme right is the largest in the national parliament. Wilders is an eccentric politician known for his inflammatory rhetoric. He advocates the Netherlands leaving the European Union and has called Islam a fascist religion. In a 2016 trial, he was found guilty of inciting discrimination (but received no penalty for the crime).

While polling leading up to the election had suggested that Party for Freedom could become the largest party, it had appeared to be running practically neck and neck with the parties of the mainstream left and right. But the polls were wide of the mark and Wilders ended up taking the most seats by a comfortable margin, even if he will need to seek coalition partners to form a govern- ment.

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Rightwing newcomers the New Social Contract also did very well. Like Party for Freedom, this party sees immigration as one of the reasons for problems such as the Netherlands congested public services and lack of affordable housing. However, Pieter Omtzigt, the New Social Contracts leader (and a former member of par- liament for the more centre-right Christian Democratic Party), is criti- cal of some of Wilders more inflam- matory rhetoric.

Omtzigt would nevertheless seem the most likely candidate to form a coalition with Wilders, together with the former party of the now-departed prime minister, Mark Rutte. But it will be some time before it is clear if such a partnership is achievable. Coalition in the Netherlands is the work of months rather than weeks.

These talks will be all the more complex thanks to Wilders personal profile. He may hold the greatest number of seats, but the controversy that has surrounded him for so many years may yet rule him out of the role of prime minister, even were he to be part of a governing coalition.

Should a coalition be formed, questions about the Netherlands place in the EU will inevitably come to the fore. Wilders wants a Brexit-style referendum and, even if this doesnt materialise, we can expect him to bring a more Eurosceptic stance to any government in which he partici- pates.

This could have considerable consequences for the EU. Even when extreme-right parties in Europe differ on the question of exit, they agree on transforming the EU into a more intergovernmental body, taking power away from Brussels.

Wilders will be conscious of how the Italian elections played out last year for Italys prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, with whom he shares a cer- tain ideological affinity. Melonis radi- cal-right Brothers of Italy emerged as the strongest force in the 2022 vote and formed a coalition with other par- ties of the right and hard right.

Like Wilders, Meloni was seen as a political outsider and has long put immigration at the heart of political debate. But since coming to power, her strong anti-immigration rhetoric has had to be simmered down. She was quickly confronted with calls from the business community to address Italys labour shortage, which meant granting permits for migrant workers.

In my book Political Entrepre- neurs, co-authored with Sara Hobolt from the London School of Econom- ics, we show that governing changes political parties. It is relatively easy to gripe from the sidelines but in gov- ernment, parties bear responsibility for policy. They have to make deci- sions, weigh up interests  and can only spend money once. Meloni, like the leaders of so many other populist parties, quickly lost her sharp edge once she became the person in charge.

Most notably for Wilders, the Brothers of Italy had also cam- paigned with a Eurosceptic tone dur- ing the election, but can now be found walking in lockstep with Brus- sels even on matters relating to immigration. Meloni has even made a show of her closeness with Euro- pean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

That said, the Italian experience also offers another example that Wilders may find appealing. In our research, weve found that parties that have become popular by opposing existing politics sometimes prefer to keep one foot in the government and one foot out. This is certainly the case for Matteo Salvini, leader of the Lega party and a junior coalition partner to Meloni.

Salvini never misses an opportu- nity to boost his own profile, even if it causes his government difficulty. Only a junior coalition partner can get away with such antics, since a prime minis- ter faces far more pressure. Wilders may therefore find it most convenient to follow Salvinis path rather than Melonis.

Whichever route he takes, if Wilders becomes part of a govern- ment, the results of these elections are certain to have consequences for Dutch relations with the rest of Europe.

(The writer is Professor of Political Science, Fellow and member of the Management Council of the Institute for European Policymaking, Bocconi University. This article was published on www.theconversation.com)
That the education sys- tem in West Bengal is sullied by politicisation that does not spare even primary education is not refut- able. Teachers training institu- tions, starved of basic infrastru- cture, have alarmingly added to the mess. In a recent move, the West Bengal government has cancelled the approval of 253 colleges of the states 624 private B.Ed colleges after investigations revealed anomalies and mal- practice at these institutions. The Baba Saheb Ambedkar Edu- cation University (BSAUE), res- ponsible for controlling their functioning, found that they failed to meet the NCTE norms. Previously also, NCTE, the statutory body for ensuring quality of training for aspiring teachers, was justified in expres- sing concern that private insti- tutions in West Bengal had hard- ly cared to seek recognition from the National Council in defiance of the Act under which it was set up in 1993. Rigorous scrutiny by the Council had led to the clo- sure of substandard institutions. Capitalizing on the increas- ing marketability of B.Ed degree, a good number of institutions mushroomed in the country with sinister mercantile motives which, after securing nominal affiliation from universities, flouted all norms of teacher edu- cation by diluting the set curric- ula and even opening distance courses that proved ridiculously substandard in view of impart- ing professional competence. Hence, the necessity to have a statutory body to manage teach- er education was felt. The NCTE, made a statuto- ry body in 1993 and constituted formally in 1995, has laid down norms, standards and guidelines for quality teacher education. In the process, it has identified and largely eradicated the main cause of deteriorating standards ~ correspondence and distance education B.Ed courses run without proper scrutiny of can- didates, and basically to earn money by improper means. Reportedly, in many cases, false certificates showing teaching experience were forwarded by such institutions. Many of them failed to obtain the NCTE recog- nition essentially because of the states inability to provide the required grants. Many state gov- ernments failed to provide re- sources required to maintain the laid-down minimum teacher- student ratio of 1:10. What West Bengal, largely responsible for the plight of these institutions, should ack- nowledge is that there is no virtue in numbers. This is, no doubt, in keeping with the Left Fronts policy of increasing the number of degree holders, many of whom remained unemployed and were unemployable. Meanwhile, the regional office of the NCTE served notice to all teachers training institu- tions asking them to adopt necessary procedures for af- filiation within the stipulated period. The Council even derecognised such institutions and asked universities not to take exams of such courses which were so dec- lared. But who cares? It may be re- called that in 2006, Calcutta High Co- urt passed an order holding the admis- sion of students to the B.Ed courses for 2005-06 in 36 col- leges in the state as illegal because they had not been recognised by the NCTE. What occasioned surprise was how the authorities could grant affil- iation to those private institu- tions without the necessary in- frastructure. It was learned that most of these illegal colleges had been running B.Ed courses for more than four decades. Follow- ing a PIL in Calcutta High Court, the revelation came. Interestingly, the ministry of school education in West Bengal established the School Service Commission to appoint school teachers, and it was made clear that B.Ed should no longer be an essential requirement to appear at the selection test. The inten- tion of delinking B Ed from teac- hing jobs was unequivocal. This enigmatic phenome- non continued to be sustained in the field of education for years for unknown reasons. It is a tragedy that West Bengal is either unwilling to learn from its mistakes or has consciously decided to sacrifice quality in favour of numbers. Admittedly, if qualitative improvement of teacher educa- tion is related to the quality of school education, and if the NCTE is authorized to develop teacher education accordingly, it has to have its say in the appo- intment of school teachers. Is the NCTE in a quandary ~ or is it that only a paper tiger has been produced by an Act of Parlia- ment, an Act which needs strengthening? While the 30-year-old body has been given statutory pow- ers, constitutionally it faces tur- bulent weather charged with politico-educational rainstorms. Different opinions are aired, such as i) education is a state subject, so what authority does the NCTE have to dictate terms? ii) universi- ties are autono- mous bodies and they possess ab- solute authority to affiliate colleges and offer degrees, and iii) what mea- sures can NCTE adopt if any state delinks B.Ed from teaching jobs. The objecti- ves of NCTE were no doubt laudable. But because the can- vas was made so vast, there were many other regulatory bodies already operating on the scene for years. Their jurisdictions and mandates had wide overlaps with the NCTEs. The most obvious overlaps showed up between the UGC Act and the NCTE Act with respect to regulating teacher education in colleges and uni- versities. Also, there were dis- turbing overlaps with the con- stitutional responsibilities of some other bodies and of the state governments themselves. These are related to func- tions like laying down courses for teacher education, norms for recruiting teachers, fixing stu- dent fees and providing mini- mum physical facilities. The Supreme Court did have a gen- eral solution of sorts: if in doubt, follow that later Act ~ a later Act might not be a saner one. Compared to its broad spe- ctrum mandate, the NCTE had meager human and physical resources. For covering the whole gamut of teacher educa- tion including research and training of persons for equip- ping them to teach, NCTE had little resources to spend, no reg- ular staff with credible educa- tional accomplishments, and weak infrastructure in compari- son to UGC, NCERT or any of the state education departm- ents. It could not be expected to play the vital role of a regulator of teacher education in the Indi- an perspective. As to the macro- economic teacher manpower projections or planning as part of the NCTEs job, these needed additional faculty resources far beyond what NCTE ever had or was even promised. It was not for nothing that the Union HRD ministrys deci- sion in 2009 not to disband the NCTE flew in the face of the rec- ommendation of a former union education secretary that NCTE ought to be scrapped because it had failed to regulate the stan- dards of instruction. The recommendation, advanced to the Centre in 2007, had suggested that the NCTE be replaced with a new stronger, teacher education regulatory structure. Implicit was admis- sion of the failure of the regula- tor to fulfill its primary task. Though it would not be dis- solved ~ NCTE got a breather ~ its wings would be clipped and its regulatory powers could be entrusted to individual univer- sities. But the idea of allowing the NCTE to retain a wholly notional existence, it seems, was as illogical as it is inexplicable. But, perhaps, it would have benefited the process of learn- ing if the repeal Bill were allowed to take its legislative course, leading to a more efficient regu- latory mechanism. Ironically, the government continued with the failed system while leaving the task of better teaching to the universities. The NCTEs major failure has been its inability to regulate the spurious institutions that run teacher training courses by violating the rules. This has cre- ated the problem of recognition, nowhere perhaps as acutely as in Bengal where there have been, right from the beginning, the maximum number of insti- tutions operating without the necessary affiliation of the NCTE. Central to the problem is its failure to check the mush- rooming of unauthorised teach- ers training institutes. Its latest norms reveal that the NCTE is fast becoming a fossilized agency with little flexi- bility and innovative quality control ideas. It is high time the Council evolved into an effective monitoring agency with vision.

(The writer, a former Associate Professor, Department of English, Gurudas College, Kolkata, is presently with Rabindra Bharati University.)

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In the aftermath of Geert Wilders surprising victory in the Netherlands election, the political landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, signalling a broader trend in European politics. Mr Wilders, a far-right pop- ulist, has surged to the forefront with his anti-immi- gration, anti-Islam, and anti-European Union (EU) rhetoric, leaving many pondering the implications for the nation and the continent. At the heart of Mr Wilders triumph lies a growing discontent with estab- lished politics. The Netherlands, much like the rest of Europe, is witnessing an upsurge in frustration among voters who feel marginalised by mainstream politi- cians. Mr Wilders success serves as a resounding call for change, embodying a desire for leaders who break free from the shackles of traditional politics. This sen- timent, resonating across the continent, sets the stage for a potentially transformative period in European governance. A pivotal aspect of Mr Wilders platform is his emphasis on curbing immigration, a stance that has resonated significantly with the electorate. As observed in analogous movements across Europe, con- cerns about national identity, cultural preservation, and economic strain are fuelling anti-immigration sen- timents. While the formation of a coalition government will inevitably necessitate compromises, the triumph of Mr Wilders Freedom Party underscores the urgency felt by many voters regarding immigration policies. Yet, the road ahead for Mr Wilders is paved with coalition- building, a necessity given the parliamentary num- bers. In securing 37 seats out of 150, the Freedom Party falls short of a majority. As Mr Wilders aims to translate his electoral success into tangible governance, he must navigate the intricate dynamics of coalition politics. This implies reaching across the aisle to potential part- ners whose support is essential for implementing his vision. The delicate dance of political negotiations will determine the extent to which his radical ideas are diluted in the pursuit of a shared agenda. The outcome of these negotiations will shape not only the future of Dutch governance but will also reverberate through the broader European political landscape, influencing the delicate balance between responding to the will of the people and upholding democratic values that safe- guard the rights of all citizens.

On the broader European stage, Mr Wilders win sends ripples of uncertainty. The rise of populist lead- ers who challenge the established order is a recurring theme, and its clear that these leaders find common ground in voters scepticism toward the European Union. Mr Wilders vow to slash Dutch payments to the EU and block new members, including Ukraine, aligns with the eurosceptic sentiments gaining trac- tion across the continent. This could potentially com- plicate EU dynamics, especially as the bloc grapples with internal challenges and external pressures. It can- not be ignored that similar sentiments have influenced recent elections in Slovakia and Italy. The convergence of anti-EU and anti-immigration narratives suggests a pattern that extends beyond national borders. Euro- pean leaders must heed the warning implicit in these election results and address the underlying concerns fuelling the rise of such populist figures.

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Members of various faiths gathered in downtown Attleboro last Saturday outside the office of Congressman Jake Auchincloss to protest to war in the Middle East.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A heavily illustrated book with full-color photographs of documents of Dunhuang culture collected by the National Library of France grabbed the attention of participants attending the World Conference on China Studies -- Shanghai Forum, which closed on Friday.

The book published by the Shanghai Classics Publishing House this year is an important document on the overseas studies of Dunhuang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China.

"Dunhuang exemplifies trans-cultural exchanges, which are as important today as millennia ago," said Imre Galambos, professor emeritus of the University of Cambridge, when delivering a keynote speech at the conference.

The cultural relics study based on the Dunhuang caves and related documents has inspired the formation of an internationally distinguished discipline of Dunhuang studies.

"The ancient Dunhuang culture, developed and formed by the Chinese civilization through exchanges and integration with other civilizations, is a cultural heritage of all humanity. Scholars globally are welcome to study it together," said Hao Chunwen, honorary president of the Chinese Association of Dunhuang and Turfan Studies, at the conference.

Featuring four parallel sub-forums, the two-day World Conference on China Studies -- Shanghai Forum was attended by more than 400 experts, scholars, and representatives of relevant parties from over 60 countries and regions.

The participants believe that in the future, Chinese studies should be multi-lingual studies facing the world. The studies can be promoted in different countries and different languages. 
ORESTE P. DARCONTE is a former publisher of The Sun Chronicle. Reach him at opd999@gmail.com .
Finland's Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, expressed keen interest in fostering collaboration with India in high-tech sectors such as 6G, quantum computing, and green hydrogen. Tavio, who headed a business delegation to attend the India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave, met Union Power Minister R.K Singh and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss potential partnerships.

"We have a good trade going on already between Finland and India, and we see lots of potential for growing that trade. Finland is happy to work with India, and we already have some big companies well established here," Tavio stated during his visit.

Finland places a significant emphasis on clean technology, biofuels, waste-to-energy solutions, and sustainable practices. Tavio discussed the 'Desi' program, an initiative facilitating networking between Finnish and Indian companies with a sectoral approach, focusing on digitalisation, education, sustainability, and innovation.

Furthermore, the minister mentioned about the meeting with Invest India, the counterpart for new businesses, and expressed hopes for startup collaborations.

Tavio spoke about the importance of more trade and the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the European Union and India. "It would be mutually beneficial if it succeeds," he said.

As a representative of Finland, he urged both India and the European Union to keep the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations going on. When asked about the timeline, he said 'I don't have a timeline to give, but negotiations are probably the answer to this question'.

Excerpts from the interaction:

India has set an ambitious goal of establishing 6G technology by 2030. Finland has got expertise in this domain.

Nokia is our flagship enterprise. Apart from cellphones they have the networks. I think Nokia is already well established in India in the network space. It is a very special and reliable company. So I think the best way to go forward is actually to keep on working with Nokia networks.

Have you had any discussions with Indian government officials regarding 6G? What is the way forward?

The topic of 6G was acknowledged, but there was no in-depth technical discussion.

But you will be aiming for a collaboration with India on 6G?

Absolutely, yes. I think that is obviously an important sector. Another sector that we touched up on this trip is quantum computing. Finland is the world leader in quantum. And that is something we have developed through efforts that took us 40-50 years. The products will be fully functional in a couple of years. That is like a big opportunity for any country. I know India is also interested in this.

Last year, Finland doubled the number of work visas for the nurses and skilled labourers. Can you comment on the present inflow pattern?

We have an upcoming talent boost program, and we want skilled professionals to have opportunities to work for the Finnish companies in Finland. We have lots of research and development with regard to the tech companies, specifically.

What are the specific skills you are looking at?

The skills would be coding, ICT (Information and Communications Technology), and engineering, which are the very foundation of our emerging technologies. They could also include physics, quantum computing, and all sorts of tech. We have some [related to] gaming industry as well. But most of all, I would say it's biofuels. We have the IT sector as well.

What is your take on the opportunities for nurses in Finland?

Yes, probably that is also an important sector. I think the main concern is that, in technology sector, in ICT, in engineering, and in biochemistry you can manage very well with English language. So India would be strong. But when it comes to nursing, some level of Finnish language proficiency would be required.

Finland aims to increase the number of students by threefold by 2030. What are your thoughts?

I do not think the number of Indian students in Finnish universities is as big as in some of the other countries in Europe. So I think there is room for growth. We have a high level of education like India does. It might be a good opportunity for a growing number of Indian students. We will be welcoming more skilled professionals and students from countries like India.
Markets watchdog Sebi, on Saturday, approved a slew of proposals, including providing flexibility to Not for Profit Organisations (NPOs) in raising funds through the social stock exchange and also decided to introduce a regulatory framework for index providers.

Besides, the regulator will put in place a new regulatory framework for facilitating Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trusts (SM REITS) apart from amending norms to strengthen the protection of investors who have pumped in money into Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

The decisions were taken by the board of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) during its meeting held in Mumbai.

On SM REITS, Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch said the objective is to help expand the market significantly so that more retail investors can have fractional ownership in REIT units.

Sebi is open to looking at creating more such products, Buch told reporters after the board meeting.

In a release, the regulator said flexibility will be provided for fundraising by NPOs through the social stock exchange.

In this regard, the minimum issue size in case of public issuance of Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments (ZCZP) for NPOs on the social stock exchange will be reduced to Rs 50 lakh from Rs 1 crore.

Among other decisions, a regulatory framework will be introduced for the index providers to foster transparency and accountability in governance and administration of financial benchmarks in the securities market.

With respect to AIFs, the regulator said, "The mandate for appointment of custodian, currently applicable to schemes of Category III AIFs and to schemes of Category I and II AIFs with corpus more than Rs 500 crore, shall be extended to all AIFs."

Buch said the decision to have regulations for index providers was mainly driven by increasing inflows into passive funds, which have taken off in a big manner in the West.
More than three dozen people, said to be activists of a radical Islamist party attacked a place of worship of the Ahmadi community and demolished its minarets and terrorising them in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, an official from the minority community said on Saturday.



The attack is the latest in the series of such incidents at least 40 between January to October this year the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan said.

Over three dozen miscreants believed to be members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) attacked the Ahmadi place of worship in Doliyan Jatan in Kotli district on Friday. The Ahmadis present in the worship places ran for their lives while the miscreants demolished its minarets and niche, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told PTI on Saturday.

The miscreants came on motorcycles and after destroying the minarets and niche of the worship place left while chanting religious slogans, he said.

This worship place was built in 1954.

The said incident occurred within the jurisdiction of police station Narr in Kotli but no FIR has been registered against the suspects as yet.

Mahmood said at least 40 worship places of the Ahmadi minority community have either been attacked by radical Islamists or their minarets and arches demolished by police in different parts of Pakistan during the first 10 months of this year.

At least 40 incidents of desecration of our worship places in Pakistan have taken place between January and October 2023 in various parts of Pakistan. Of them, 11 occurred in Sindh province and remaining in Punjab province, Mahmood said.

Most Ahmadi worship places have come under attack by the TLP activists while in other incidents police, on the pressure of religious extremists, demolished minarets and arches and removed sacred writings, the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan claimed.

The TLP has been claiming that Ahmadi worship places are similar to that of Muslim Mosques because they have minarets.

Although Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, Pakistan's Parliament in 1974 declared the community as non-Muslims. A decade later, they were not just banned from calling themselves Muslims but were also barred from practising aspects of Islam.

These include constructing or displaying any symbol that identifies them as Muslims such as building minarets or domes on mosques, or publicly writing verses from the Quran.

There is a Lahore High Court ruling that states the places of worship built prior to a particular ordinance issued in 1984 are legal and hence should not be altered or razed down.

However, not a single case against the religious extremists has been registered so far for attacking and damaging the Ahmadi worship places, Mahmood said.

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan says the situation is becoming worse day by day for the already marginalised Ahmadis in the country.

Ahmadis are facing persecution at the hands of the evil elements. The acts of desecration of the places of worship in various areas of Pakistan continue unabated. It is a new norm and the authorities are doing nothing, it said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna co-chair the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges as coordinators of each side in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna co-chaired the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges as coordinators of each side in Beijing on Friday.

The two sides agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism as an opportunity to promote people-to-people exchanges to unleash greater vitality and produce more results.

Wang said that the high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges has laid a solid foundation of public opinion for the development of China-France relations and accumulated useful experience for countries with different civilizations and systems to coexist harmoniously.

China and France should comprehensively deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people, and play a positive role as a model for the exchanges between China and Europe and exchanges among global civilizations, he said.

Wang called on the two sides to ensure the success of major activities, increase personnel exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation on innovation.

For her part, Colonna said that the two sides have actively implemented the consensus reached by the two heads of state, comprehensively resumed France-China cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and pushed forward bilateral cooperation in various fields to achieve tangible achievements.

She thanked the Chinese side for facilitating the visit of French people to China, and said France will continue to prioritize cultural and people-to-people exchanges and promote mutually beneficial exchanges with China.

After the meeting, the two foreign ministers jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on education, scientific research, culture and tourism, and health, and the release of the list of high-quality cultural exchange activities between China and France in 2024. They also unveiled the logo of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

The two foreign ministers also held talks on Friday. The two sides agreed to keep closer high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, and enhance third-party market cooperation, to open up broader space for China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two sides also agreed to implement the results of the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges, and provide greater convenience for personnel exchanges, to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries to unleash greater vitality and produce more results.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday undertook a sortie on the indigenously built light combat fighter aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru.

Modi, who became the prime minister to fly the Tejas, said the experience has bolstered his confidence in the country's indigenous capabilities.

Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential, he wrote on X.

In another post in Hindi, the prime minister said India is no less than any other country in the world in the field of self-reliance.

"Flying in Tejas today, I can say with immense pride that due to our hard work and dedication, we are no less than anyone in the world in the field of self-reliance. Heartiest congratulations to the Indian Air Force, DRDO and HAL as well as all Indians," he said.

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari was on the spot to supervise the preparations for Modi's sortie in the indigenous fighter aircraft.

Though Tejas is a single-seater fighter jet, Modi took sortie in the twin-seater trainer variant of the IAF.

Modi is in Bengaluru to visit defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and review the ongoing work at its manufacturing facility.

Several countries have shown interest in buying Tejas, a light combat aircraft, and US defence giant GE Aerospace had inked a pact with HAL to jointly produce engines for the Mk-II-Tejas during the prime minister's state visit to the US.

IAF presently operates 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft and has 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters on order.
It was a high-level committee meeting of the ruling DMK at the party headquarters in Arivalayam. Party general secretary and Tamil Nadu water resources minister Duraimurugan walked onto the podium as Chief Minister and party leader M.K. Stalin was on the stage along with the seniors, including T.R. Baalu and A. Raja. When everyone expected him to encourage the rank and file of the party, Duraimurugan sounded dolorous. His voice lacked the usual energy.

Let us swear in the name of our party founder C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi and M.K. Stalin, who is now our Anna Durai, that we will keep quiet for sometime, at least until Lok Sabha elections. I will even go to the extent of asking our people not to pass on information (about party leaders). Some people are so ungrateful that they are tipping off the IT department. As a person who has spent 60 years in the party, I feel sad about these developments, Duraimurugan said.

All is not well in the DMK. The intra-party feud has hit a new highpartymen do not come out to accuse their local leaders or district secretaries, but silently tip off the Income Tax or the Enforcement Directorate and ensure that the opponent is in trouble. No wonder his MP son from Vellore, Kathir Anand, too, was under the ED scanner. Anand was summoned by the ED to appear in connection with an Income Tax seizure of Rs 11.48 crore in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

It all began with the Income Tax searches at Karur in places linked to former electricity and excise minister V. Senthil Balaji. Balaji is now in Puzhal prison after he was arrested by the ED in June this year. Balajis bail petition is coming up for hearing at the Supreme Court on November 28, after his multiple pleas seeking bail in the lower court and the Madras High Court, on medical grounds, was rejected.

After Balaji, Higher Education minister K. Ponmudy came under the ED scanner over alleged financial irregularities. His MP son, Gautham Sigamani, was also brought under the ED scanner. Ponmudy was questioned by the ED for several hours. Ponmudy has again been summoned by the ED for interrogation on November 30.

After Balaji and Ponmudy, the next in line was Jagathrakshakan. He was searched by the Income Tax. Jagath is considered one of the money bags of the DMK. The latest raids targeted Tamil Nadus Public Works Department and Highways Minister EV Velu. The Income Tax sleuths conducted searches in more than 40 locations linked to Velu and his family members over alleged tax evasion by his family-run educational institutions, for over a week.

Sources say that the next in line to face action by the central agencies could be Local administration minister and DMK veteran K.N. Nehru, food minister R. Sakkarapani, commercial taxes minister P. Moorthy and rural development minister I. Periyasamy.

Minister Anita Radhakrishnan is already under the ED scanner. Also DMK general secretary and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan is facing ED scrutiny in the alleged sand mining scam across the state. The ED is on a raid spree in all the sand mining quarries in Tamil Nadu, collecting data and evidence to build a water tight case against Duraimurugan and eventually link the first family. Ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu are already under trouble as the DVAC case against them was reopened by Justice Anand N. Venkatesh in the Madras High Court.

The DMK was anticipating the searches even a year before. There may not be any seizures. But the inquiry and the barrage of questions based on the information the agencies had collected has put the DMK veterans in trouble, says a senior bureaucrat who had been closely following the searches by the central agencies in Tamil Nadu.

He says that there will be more actions in the near future in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.

But within the DMK, though the party leadership looks unshaken, most regional satraps have come under the radar of the central agencies making it difficult for the party to work on the ground. For instance, Balaji who is considered as the key leader of the party in the western region has been in prison for the past five months making it difficult for the party to begin election work in the western region.

And Velu, who is known to be one of the money bags of the party and a veteran who controls parts of northern Tamil Nadu for the DMK, is reportedly under severe political pressure after the raids. The scrutiny on Ponmudy, the strong man from Villupuram and other northern districts, has disturbed the partys internal structure of the party in his region.

Though the age-old Dravidian party has been putting a brave face against the scrutiny by the central agencies, all is not well in the DMK. Velu revealed in a press conference that all his aides were reduced to tears due to rigorous questioning. There are over a dozen ministers in Stalins cabinet and a bunch of MPs who are under scrutiny in alleged tax evasion or money laundering cases. The raids have disturbed the rank and file of the party as the leaders are running behind the agencies to defend themselves. On the other side, it has spoiled the image of the party by saying the DMKians are corrupt.

We will not be surprised if our own leader and chief minister is summoned by the agencies like what had happened to Arvind Kejriwal. The idea is to weaken our partys influence in the state and damage the image of DMK. The BJP has already half succeeded in this, says a DMK senior minister on conditions of anonymity.
The rescue operation to bring out 41 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand has faced another setback with the the augur drilling machine getting stuck inside the rubble.

"Augering is finished...the auger is broken, destructed," tunnelling expert Arnold Dix told reporters on Saturday.

Dix said they were looking at multiple options to rescue the labourers who have been trapped for the last 13 days after a portion of the tunnel being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi district collapsed in the early morning on November 12.

The mountain has again resisted the auger, so we are rethinking our approach...I am confident that the 41 men are coming home by Christmas...I have always promised that the workers will be home by Christmas, Dix was quoted as saying by ANI.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said manual drilling will begin on Sunday.

The CM informed that a specialised machine from Hyderabad has been summoned to cut the augur machine that has been trapped inside.

"Everyone is working- from the central government to the state government and all the agencies. Everyone is putting in their full efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about the situation and the condition of the workers. We are hoping that the operation is completed as soon as possible, Dhami said.

According to an ANI report, manual drillers will cut through the rubble after the heavy machine is removed from the pipeline. Meanwhile, experts are also exploring the option of vertical drilling.

As of Friday, before the operations were halted, the augur machine had drilled up to 46.8 metres into the collapsed portion of the tunnel which is estimated to be 60 metres.
Polling for 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan began on Saturday morning. The ruling Congress hopes to retain power in the state while the BJP puts its hope in the state's tradition of changing governments every five years.

Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling will be held on 199 seats as election in Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

There are 5,25,38,105 voters in the 199 assembly constituencies.

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot who is in his third term as chief minister is contesting from Sardarpura, a seat he has been representing since 1998. He is up against BJP's Mahendra Singh Rathore, former chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority. Other key players in the fray include BJP leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, speaker CP Joshi and leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore among others.

Raje, who has been chief minister twice, is contesting from Jhalrapatan constituency, which she currently represents. Congress's Ram Lal Chauhan has been pitted against her.

While the Congress's poll manifesto focused on the party's 'seven guarantees', including a caste survey, the BJP has tried to woo women, youth and farmers of the state by promising subsidised LPG cylinders, anti-Romeo squads and increased minimum support price (MSP) for wheat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday requested all voters to exercise their franchise and create a new voting record in the state.
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday said identity and its recognition by the State plays a crucial part in what resources people get and their ability to express their grievances and demand their rights.

Delivering the keynote speech at the plenary session of the 36th 'LAWASIA' conference virtually, he spoke on "Identity, the Individual and the State - New Paths to liberty".

LAWASIA is a regional association of lawyers, judges, jurists and legal organisations which advocates for the interests and concerns of the Asia Pacific legal progression.

He also spoke on how in the digital age "we are faced with several fascinating aspects of Artificial Intelligence."

"There is a complex interplay between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and personhood where we find ourselves navigating uncharted territories that demand both philosophical reflection and practical considerations."

In contemplating the intersection of AI and personhood, "we are confronted with fundamental questions about the ethical treatment of these technologies...."

He cited an example of a human-robot (Sophia) that was granted citizenship (in Saudi Arabia) and said, "We must reflect on whether all humans who live, breathe and walk are entitled to personhood and citizenship based on their identity."

Talking about the caste system, the Chief Justice said that caste, far from being a vestige of the past, continues to exert significant influence on contemporary socio-economic and political landscapes. Its resilience is evident in the social stratification, economic disparities and access to opportunities by different caste groups.

Caste dynamics in the region are not exclusively shaped by religious affiliations; the intricate caste system is not merely a response to historical inequality but functions as an important tool for disrupting entrenched societal structures, he said.

Citing various reports including the one by Justice Ranganath Misra Commission, he said it draws attention to the widespread abuse which are faced by marginalised social segregation, untouchability, limited access to education and under representation

These findings underscore the pressing need for affirmative action to address the deeply rooted discrimination within this complex tapestry, affirmative action emerges as a transformative force challenging the established caste dynamics. It goes beyond the misconception of caste as a solely cultural phenomenon and serves as a catalyst for change.

"I remember that one of my predecessor Chief Justice Sharad Bobde recognised the necessity to consider the social exclusion of Christians and Muslims from the Scheduled Caste reinforcing the urgency of addressing these issues; the argument unfolds cohesively illustrating how affirmative actions act as a beacon of hope working to dismantle an age-old caste-based inequalities and paving the way for a more equitable future."

Noting that liberty is the ability to make choices for oneself and change our course of life, Chief Justice Chandrachud said identity intersects with the person's agency and life choices.

"As lawyers, we are constantly confronted with this intersection and the role of the State to limit or expand the life opportunities of the people. While the relationship between the state and liberty has been understood widely, the task of establishing and explaining the relationship between identity and liberty is incomplete," he said.

Traditionally, liberty has been understood as the absence of State interference in a person's right to make choices. However, contemporary scholars have come to the conclusion that the role of the State in perpetuating social prejudices and hierarchies cannot be ignored, Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

"In effect, whether the state does not intervene, it automatically allows communities with social and economic capital to exercise dominance over communities who have been historically marginalised."

He also said people who face marginalisation because of their caste, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation will always face oppression in a traditional, liberal paradigm. This empowers the socially dominant.

Citing English philosopher John Stuart Mill's book on Liberty published in 1859, he said the author discussed the historical struggle between liberty and authority describing the tyranny of the government which in his view needs to be controlled by the liberty of citizens.

Mill devised this control of authority into two mechanisms. Firstly, necessary rights belonging to the citizens and secondly there must be constitutional checks for the community to consent to the impacts of the governing path, according to him.

The idea of liberty, the Chief Justice said can be summarised in the phrase: "Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

Highlighting the problems faced by people with disabilities, he referred to the "division" of people with disability to afford state benefits instead of making accessible infrastructure and disability-friendly education and employment sectors.

People with disabilities are forced to get a certificate of entitlements under the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, Chief Justice Chandrachud said. This has led to the problem of creating a benchmark for disability to avail of state benefits.

This has led to many disabled people falling through the cracks because they cannot be boxed into a benchmark scale. Second, it has destructed... distracted from the larger solution of fixing our overall physical infrastructure and, third, person with disability are still relegated to an inferior status in need of state rescue because it has taken for granted that they are an exception to normal, (and) will require special accommodations.
Scientists have recently made an intriguing discovery by detecting the second-most powerful cosmic ray originating from beyond our galaxy. This "ultra-high-energy" particle, named the 'Amaterasu' particle after the sun goddess in Japanese mythology, has left researchers astounded by its sheer power.

Cosmic rays are charged particles, like protons or electrons, that travel through space at nearly the speed of light. These cosmic rays may be remnants of celestial events that have disintegrated matter into its subatomic components. Due to their charged nature, cosmic rays follow a zigzagging flight path as they navigate through electromagnetic fields in the cosmic microwave background.

The research was conducted at the Telescope Array located at the University of Utah, the same facility where the highest-energy cosmic ray ever recorded, known as the 'Oh-My-God' particle, was discovered in 1991. This particle was a source of great perplexity for physicists as it was believed that nothing within our galaxy could generate such high-energy cosmic rays. Moreover, it was previously thought to be impossible for cosmic rays to reach Earth from other galaxies.

Published in the journal Science, the study describes how the international team of physicists measured the particle's energy at a remarkable 2.4 x 10^20 electron Volts (eV).

The discovery of the 'Amaterasu' particle has provided scientists with more questions than answers.

Scientists are still searching for a conventional explanation for these phenomena and speculate that they may involve particle physics yet to be discovered. The trajectory of the 'Amaterasu' particle, cannot be traced back to any known high-energy source, adding to the mystery surrounding these cosmic rays.

The composition of the 'Amaterasu' particle suggests it is likely a proton, as its relatively straight trajectory indicates a lighter particle. Heavier particles, such as iron nuclei, would experience more bending due to magnetic fields. Physicists also argue that cosmic rays with energy exceeding the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff, like the 'Amaterasu' particle, should not be significantly affected by the microwave background radiation. The GZK cutoff represents the maximum energy a proton can retain before its interactions with microwave background radiation deplete its energy.

However, the trajectory of the 'Amaterasu' particle leads researchers to empty space, deepening the mystery. The presence of stronger magnetic fields than previously thought could explain this, but it contradicts other observations that indicate these magnetic fields are not powerful enough to cause significant curvature at such high energies.
Bacteria, those microscopic creatures that usually live in communities, have astonished scientists with their incredible teamwork and their ability to share nutrients. Scientists at the University of Basel have unraveled the mysterious ways in which bacteria support one another across generations. Breaking new ground with their innovative technique, researchers have successfully tracked the gene expression during the development of bacterial communities over time and space.

These findings shed light on the complex nature of bacterial communities, offering a glimpse into their intricate world. These remarkable findings bring us closer to unraveling the secrets of the microbial world, reminding us that even the tiniest organisms can teach us profound lessons about the power of cooperation and support.

Leading the study, Professor Knut Drescher from the Biozentrum at the University of Basel explains, "We used Bacillus subtilis as a model organism. This ubiquitous bacterium, found in our gut microbiome, has shown us that these tiny beings not only live in communities but also cooperate and interact with each other across generations."

The research team's pioneering technique allowed them to simultaneously measure gene expression while observing the behavior of individual cells in microbial communities. This breakthrough revealed that earlier generations of bacteria deposit metabolites that serve as resources for future generations.

Moreover, the team discovered different subpopulations within the bacterial swarm, each producing and consuming different metabolites. Some of these secreted metabolites serve as nourishment for subsequent subpopulations that emerge during swarm development.

To achieve these extraordinary results, the scientists combined state-of-the-art adaptive microscopy, gene expression analyses, metabolite analyses, and robotic sampling. This innovative approach enabled them to capture gene expression and bacterial behavior at specific times and locations, as well as identify the metabolites secreted by the bacteria.

The bacterial swarm, as observed in the study, can be divided into three major regions: the swarm front, the intermediate region, and the swarm center. However, the transitions between these regions are gradual.

As first author Hannah Jeckel explains, "Depending on the region, the bacteria differ in appearance, characteristics, and behavior. While they are mostly motile at the edges, the bacteria in the center form long non-motile threads, resulting in a 3D biofilm. One reason for this variation is the availability of space and resources."

This astonishing spatial distribution of bacteria with distinct behaviours allows the community to expand and, at the same time, seek refuge in a protective biofilma strategy crucial for the survival of bacterial communities.
A second group of 13 Israeli hostages, mostly children, are expected to be freed by Hamas militants on Saturday after they were abducted during the horrific onslaught on the country on October 7.



The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that it received the names on Friday night of people to be released on Saturday, the second day of the exchange deal.

The first exchange of 13 Israelis taken hostages for 39 Palestinian prisoners concluded successfully on Friday evening evoking mixed reactions on both sides.

In Israel, people expressed satisfaction at the return of some of their relatives but concerns over those still in captivity. There are also those who oppose the whole mechanism adopted arguing for continued full-fledged military operation to release all the hostages, and not to give the enemy respite to reorganise itself.

Islamist Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, led a deadly attack on Israel on October 7 killing about 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostage prompting Israel to declare a full-fledged war in Gaza which has seen massive destruction in the choked coastal Strip and loss of more than 14,000 lives as per the Gaza Health ministry.

Israel has released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners that can be set free on the basis of the 1:3 exchange method, meaning three Palestinian prisoners will be released for every Israeli hostage coming out of captivity.

This has set anxiety and expectations in the related Palestinian families who see a possibility of their family member coming out but also uncertainty given that it is based on the number of hostages that get released.

The deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States leaves room for extending the "pause in fighting" with Israel agreeing to extend it by an extra day for every ten captives being released beyond the 50 agreed.

The remaining 24 hostages out of the 50 agreed for release are likely to come out in batches of 12 on Sunday and Monday.

The "pause in fighting" or 'temporary ceasefire' went into effect on Friday morning and 7 AM.

According to local media reports, eight of the 13 hostages to be released on Saturday will be children. Only four of the 13 Israelis released on Friday were children. After reviewing the list, Israeli security officials notified the hostages' families, the PMO said.

Israeli authorities had notified both the families of the hostages being released Friday as well as those who were not on the first list.

As part of a separate deal, 11 foreign nationals, including 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino, were released by Hamas on Friday.
An Indian-origin student in Australia is in a medically induced coma after he was assaulted by a man, who has been taken into custody and charged with criminal assault.

The student, who has not been identified, is in his 20s. He is pursuing a master's degree at the University of Tasmania.

The incident took place on November 5 at a precinct in Tasmania and the victim had extra jural bleeding' that caused his brain to shift, Sydney-based Special Broadcasting Service reported.

According to reports, his right lung collapsed and he had to undergo brain surgery, a procedure lasting several hours.

Benjamin Dodge Collings, a 25-year-old resident of Lenah Valley, was taken into custody by police shortly after the event and charged with criminal code assault, an offence carrying a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.

Collings was granted a magistrate bail and is scheduled to return to court on December 4 to respond to the charges, including assault, providing a false address and name, resisting a police officer, and unrelated driving offences.

The University of Tasmania's Media Director, Ben Wild, said the establishment knows the incident.

Asked what measures the university has taken to assist the student in these difficult times, Wild said they have been in regular contact with the family and assigned a complex case manager to the case, along with translators, liaison, accommodation and other support.

The case has gone through the court system as well and we are very limited in what we can say, he said.
A four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began Friday in Gaza as part of an agreement that Qatar helped broker. Twenty-four hostages were freed, including 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, Qatar said. Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners later in the day.

With the truce deal comes increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza though still only enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, according to aid groups. Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of fuel a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian needs for the duration of the truce.



More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a dayslong pause in its casualty report, which it attributed to the health system's collapse in northern Gaza making it impossible to provide a detailed count.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will press ahead with the war after the cease-fire expires. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says it has received a new list of hostages to be released by Hamas on Saturday.



It would be the second batch of hostages to be released by the Islamic militant group under a four-day truce.



Netanyahu's office says it has notified the families whose loved-ones are set for release.



Qatar's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the release of 24 hostages after seven weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip. Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen, said Majed al-Ansari, the ministry's spokesman. Qatar was a key mediator in the hostage release.



The International Committee of the Red Cross, which delivered the hostages from Gaza into Egypt, also confirmed the release.



The hostages, women and children, were undergoing medical checks before they were to be transferred to Israel. They are to be taken to Israeli hospitals and reunited with their families. They're the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began Friday.



Israel is to release 39 Palestinian prisoners later Friday, the first of a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners to be freed under the cease-fire.


Guests attend a round table on the sidelines of the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 24, 2023. The conference was held here from Friday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Guests attend the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 25, 2023. The conference was held here from Friday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Guests attend the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 24, 2023. The conference was held here from Friday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) Apple's cyber security executives from the US are expected to meet officials of CERT-In this month regarding the show cause notice issued to the company in the wake of several opposition MPs receiving a warning notification on their iPhones.

Last month, several opposition leaders claimed they have received an alert from Apple warning them of "state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise" their iPhones and alleged hacking by the government.

CERT-In, which comes under Meity, had issued a show cause notice to Apple in this regard.

On Friday, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that Apple has to reply to the notice which needs to be done by their global cyber security team.

"They have to come here and answer those questions. Basic issue is ongoing," the minister told reporters.

He said that Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In has met local representative of Apple but the issue is beyond their capability to respond.

"It is their cyber security people who have to come and meet CERT-In and they will come all the way from US," the minister said.

When asked about the deadline given to Apple to submit its response, the minister said he is not certain about the dates but expect the team to meet Cert-In officials sometime this month.

A Meity official said that Apple cyber security team will come this month only if they get visa on time.

Meanwhile, the Members of Parliament (MPs) who received the warning notification on their iPhones include Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Shashi Tharoor, Pawan Khera, K C Venugopal, Supriya Shrinate, T S Singhdeo and Bhupinder S Hooda; Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Aam Aadmi Party's Raghav Chadha, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and some aides of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also received the notification.
New Delhi (India), November 25: Commencing on November 27th, Gurpurab, often referred to as Prakash Utsav marks an upcoming celebration. For the Sikh community, this is a momentous occasion celebrated with great enthusiasm and prayers, commemorating Guru Nanaks birth anniversary. And the Individuals embarking on train journeys during this occasion can now relax, and be assured that their favorite meals will not be missed. Recognized as the top authorized IRCTC e-catering partner, Zoop is ready to serve passengers their preferred food on train, offering a convenient alternative to homemade meals, station vendors, or limited pantry options.



Zoop offers a delightful array of cuisines just a few clicks away, accessible through their official website, app, Google Chatbot, Instagram, and made even simpler with Zoop's convenient and Indias 1st WhatsApp train food order service. This Gurpurab, passengers can savor hassle-free and mouth watering Punjabi dishes including Chole Bhature, Paratha, Amritsari Kulcha, Sarso ka Saag, Makki Ki Roti, Dal Makhani, Punjabi Kadhi Pakoda, Chana Masala and other delectable options to enhance their journey experience.



Place Group order this Gurpurab from Zoop

Zoop caters to group travelers on trains, including those on pilgrimages, professional tours, or family trips enabling passengers to proactively plan their meals for the upcoming train journey. The only requirement is to place the order at least 24 hours in advance.



How to bulk food order in train via Zoop:



1. Open Zoop app, Website, or send Hi on Instagram or WhatsApp at 70420-62070.

2. Select Group Food order in train.

3. Fill the request form for group orders.

4. Choose restaurants and place the order.

5. Pay a minimum of 30% advance online and the rest balance upon food delivery in train.



Additionally, Zoop provides passengers with multiple payment options, offering flexibility to choose between online, offline, or Pay At Delivery. The Pay At Delivery option allows passengers to make payment once the food delivery is completed.



According to Puneet Sharma, Founder of Zoop, In addition to providing various services, such as diverse food choices and access at over 160 train stations, we extend a convenient group order service to our passengers, guaranteeing a seamless experience. Our commitment involves a simple and user-friendly process, coupled with payment options like Pay At Delivery, all aimed at consistently facilitating the planning of their journey and alleviating any concerns.



5 Best Gurpurab dishes available at Zoop



1. Halwa: A delightful dessert, prepared using semolina or whole wheat flour, enriched with ghee and adorned with dry fruits, makes for an ideal treat during every celebrated festival in India. Passengers can conveniently order Halwa in the train through Zoop, selecting from a diverse array of options, such as Chana Dal Halwa, Gur Halwa, and Suji Halwa, catering to the preferences of those with a sweet tooth.



2. Amritsari Chole: Authentic Punjabi Chole, hailing directly from the vibrant streets of Amritsar, is now available for train passengers. Zoop brings this flavorful Amritsari Chole on the train journey from a curated list of 2500 restaurants. Additionally, Zoop presents a variety of combo meals, featuring options like Amritsari Chole and Bhatura, Amritsari Chole and Kulche, and more, ensuring a delightful culinary experience on the go.



3. Kulcha: Kulcha, either stuffed or plain, is baked in a tandoor. The Kulcha available on trains with Zoop brings various varieties such as Amritsari Kulcha, Cheese Kulcha, and plain Kulcha in combo meals.



4. Dal Makhani: The exquisite flavor of Dal Makhani is now conveniently accessible during train journeys. Zoop ensures a delightful experience for passengers by delivering this mouthwatering dish directly to their train seats. Zoop has elevated the passengers' dining experience with tantalizing combinations like Shahi Paneer, Rice Roti, or Butter Roti. Through online order for Dal Makhani in the train, passengers can savor the richness of this delectable dish along with tempting side options.



5. Kheer: Zoop enhances the train journey dining experience with the option to order Kheer online. This delectable dessert, crafted with milk, dry fruits, and rice, is the perfect sweet finale to every meal. Zoop satisfies the sweet cravings of passengers with an easy process of ordering Kheer online in the train, making the journey even more enjoyable.



Zoop makes it easy for travelers to conveniently order a diverse range of cuisines, spanning international options like Italian, Chinese, and Indian dishes such as North Indian, South Indian, Bengali, and more. Additionally, passengers can choose from a selection of children's snacks, all available in their preferred languagesHindi, English, and Hinglishmaking it a seamless experience while on the go. This Gurpurab, click on Zoop and enjoy favorite meals during the train journey!

(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
St John's (Newfoundland, Canada), Nov 25 (AP) Canada and the European Union said on Friday they are making strides toward new partnerships on green energy, digital transformation and research funding, as a Canada-EU Summit got underway in the Atlantic coast province of Newfoundland.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during opening remarks Thursday evening that Canada is joining Horizon Europe, a USD 100 billion scientific research programme. Afterward, the two parties said in a joint statement on Friday that substantive negotiations are complete and they are working toward its "prompt signature and implementation".

"Canadian companies are already benefiting from Horizon and have for many years, but there is much more that we'll be able to access now that we are full partners," Trudeau said.

"It is an exciting articulation of what have been long-standing partnerships between scientists on both sides of the Atlantic."

Ottawa and Brussels started negotiations on Canada joining it a year ago, with an initial goal of signing the agreement this past spring.

Canada has also worked out a deal to build water bombers and ship them to the EU, after both regions faced devastating forest fires this past summer.

And Canada and the EU have announced what they are calling a new Green Alliance, which is focused on deepening existing partnerships on fighting climate change, halting biodiversity loss and intensifying technological and scientific co-operation.

A new digital partnership was also part of the package of announcements on Friday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Canada "is a perfect match" for Europe's resource needs, and she urged Ottawa to join a global partnership on the issue that the EU will launch within weeks.

Trudeau also said Canada and the EU are committed to helping Ukraine continue in its fight against the Russian invasion, and announced that Canada is donating additional small arms and ammunition to the country. (AP) SZM
Panaji, Nov 24 (PTI) Australia has ratified the co-production treaty with India, a move being celebrated at the NFDC Film Bazaar and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) through various panel discussions and events here.

The two countries had recently signed an audio-visual co-production agreement that seeks to offer filmmakers financial incentives up to 30 per cent of the expenditure incurred in the respective countries.

Australia is the 16th country with which India has a co-production agreement that would benefit small filmmakers keen on shooting movies, web series, advertisements or carrying out post-production work or visual effects in that country.

An Australian delegation is taking part in the 54th edition of the IFFI, which will also host the international premiere of "Brand Bollywood Downunder", a feature documentary on film links between Australia and India.

"As the Hon'ble Minister Anurag Thakur announced at the opening ceremony of IFFI, we have now made our subsidies for foreign filming in India very lucrative and one of the best in the world with a single-window clearance," Prithul Kumar, MD, NFDC and the festival director, said in a statement.

"This, combined with an official co-production treaty, will make an Australian Indian co-production very appealing both creatively and commercially. The government of India is looking forward to supporting and facilitating more Australian Indian films," he added.

Vani Tripathi Tikoo, eminent film personality and member of the censor board, said she looks forward to supporting and being part of exciting Australian-Indian stories on screens.

"I was delighted to be part of panels about Australia India at Cannes, so now it is very encouraging to see it all come together with an active co-production treaty," she added.

Anupam Sharma, filmmaker and chair of Australia India Film Council, has directed "Brand Bollywood Downunder", which is having its international premiere as part of The World Section at the IFFI.

"This is a huge boost to over USD 50 million worth of India-centric Australian screen content, most of which has received development investment from Australian film agencies, Australian distributors like forum and private investors from India, UK, Australia, and USA. Australia India Film Council cannot wait to work with our board and members to facilitate more Australian stories related to India," he said.
Kolkata, Nov 25 (PTI) Eminent Bengali poet Joy Goswami said he looks forward to the literary creations of poets of later generations including those not prominent.

Inaugurating the Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU) here on Friday evening, the famous poet read out the works of two young poets and wondered why their works have not been discussed in similar literary meets.

"Those who came 30 years after me, ... I want to talk about them, poets like Abhirup Mukhopadhyay and Jeet Paul. They are the future. Some of them come from far-flung areas. Let's talk about their works," Goswami, who has a career spanning around four decades, said.

Goswami, the winner of Sahitya Akademi and Ananda Purashkar awards apart from Banga Bibhushan by the West Bengal government, smiled when Abhirup, who was moderating the inaugural session, revealed the poet often told him "I have been trying to write a poem from the age of 13 but am yet to learn the art (of writing poetry). "If you ask me about my views and philosophy, about my journey that will take hours, a book will come up. Let's get over that hump. There are many formidable poets and literary figures who are far better than me. Let me talk about you people, the young poets who amaze me at such shows instead," the poet added.

He said, "There are two types of writer-poets all over the world. The first type craves for the stage and limelight and the other whose writing table is their stage."

"While the former group is numerous, the latter remains limited. And this is how the world is", Goswami, whose lyrical 'Sanjhbatir Roopkathara' (Fairy tales of the twilight hour) was made into an award-winning film added.

The inaugural session was followed by three captivating sessions featuring luminaries from different walks of life.

These sessions explored a diverse range of themes like the commemoration of the 200th birth anniversary of poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt, if essence of a work is lost by translation and how literature goes beyond the pages of books.

The festival director and CEO of Oxford Book Store Swagat Sengupta, said upcoming sessions have an assortment of topics on themes like politics; representation of rural life in Bengali literature; poetry; declining importance of stories and novels in magazines and periodicals; tussle between violence and love stories in Bengali literature and the role of memes and jokes in cornering humour in Bengali literature.
New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) The cost of shooting a film in the city is likely to go down as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is set to table a proposal in the next House meeting to reduce such charges and deploy civil guards and a licence officer at designated areas, an MCD official aware of the development said.

"The proposal aims to slash the charges for film shooting in Delhi to Rs 15,000 for an eight hour per day slot and Rs 25,000 for 24-hour per day slot from Rs 75,000 per day," the official told PTI.

According to the proposal, the time designated for film shooting on an MCD property will be divided into three shifts of eight hours. Earlier, the MCD used to charge Rs 75,000 for a 24-hour full day slot.

The proposal also aims to revise the one-time registration fees to obtain permission for each film shooting to Rs 2,000 plus GST across its zones.

The MCD will also provide parking facility for the film staff and implement the charges for parking which will be transferred to the department concerned.

The one-time security deposit of Rs 25,000 will continue to remain the same for shooting in areas under the MCD jurisdiction.

The MCD will deploy two civil guards and a license offer at areas designated for film shooting.

According to the proposal, the civic body will have the power to allot any specific location for shooting or make changes in the charges, if required. The time period for shooting or date can also be allotted by the civic body.

It will also have the liberty to deny permission for film shooting.

The step is being taken after a review meeting with film producers to make Delhi a hub for film shooting.

During the meeting, the producers had opined that the charges for shooting in Delhi were high and therefore suggested to divide three slots of eight hours for shooting.

It was also asked to reduce the 15 days of time taken by the Tourism department to grant permission for film shooting.

They had also sought for relaxation in the rules of timings, number of days and expansion of place set for film shooting in Delhi.

Earlier, charges for film shooting in Delhi for 24 hours was Rs 75,000 across MCD zones plus a registration fee ranging from Rs 2,000 to 10,000.
New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) With Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar, a film set in his hometown Darbhanga, filmmaker Parth Saurabh believes he has managed to tell an "authentic and lived in" story about Bihar, whose representation in cinema has been mostly as a place riddled with crime.

Saurabh, along with his producer friend Achal Mishra of "Gamak Ghar" and "Dhuin" fame, is quietly bringing about a change in how the city and the state is viewed in cinema. Critics have dubbed their movies as the "Darbhanga wave".

Growing up, there was very little representation of where I was coming from. Even now, there is very little representation of actual India... Bihar is shown only as the place where crime happens," Saurabh told PTI in an interview.

"That's the only story you saw about your space when you knew there were other more authentic and lived in stories in that space. I am kind of glad that I can tell them while being fresh at it, while preserving some novelty, he added.

Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar (On Either Sides of the Pond) has had a glorious run in the film festival circles with critics praising the first time director for his astute storytelling.

The film was screened at the Mumbai Film Festival, Dharamshala International Film Festival, the Habitat India Film Festival and received a special mention for the Kutxabank-New Directors Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

While he would want his stories to reach a wider audience, Saurabh is happy that he and Mishra have changed the perception about stories from Bihar.

"It empowered a lot of filmmakers to go back home and tell their own stories in their setting. It's allowed people to realise that telling these stories is okay. And there is an audience for these stories," he said.

The germ of the idea for the film came from a conversation Saurabh had with his sister about their hometown.

"I actually love our hometown Darbhanga and she has a very different opinion of the city. So, that's where the idea took place of telling a gender-based perspective on our small town.

"In 2020 when I went back, I saw the unemployment that was in the city and it found its way in the script. The atmosphere post Covid, the feeling of just being stuck in a place and in time, it kind of combined with this relationship drama and became the film, Saurabh recalled.

The film revolves around Sumit (Abhinav Jha) and Priyanka (Tanaya Khan Jha), a couple who elopes to Delhi but is forced to return to Darbhanga during Covid.

Sumit slips into the comfort of old friendships and habits but Priyanka feels stuck in the city that she left behind. She wants Sumit to find a job but he whiles away his time. Her conservative father lets her know through a go-between that she can come home if she leaves Sumit.

The filmmaker was also keen to explore the idea of love and elopement in a different way than what's depicted in movies, with most stories revolving around either in easy resolutions or a violent end for lovers.

Saurabh counts Federico Fellini's film "I Vitelloni", Charlie Kaufman's "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" and Dilip Chitre's "Godam" as major influences for his film.

"I knew a lot of stories where people elope and they realise their mistake or when things dont work out, I have seen these people return to their old lives. I thought they are not reflected and I wanted to include that in my film, he said.

The film is also an exploration of the idea of home and how it can mean different things to different genders. In fact, the film was initially called "No Road Home", a title that was changed later.

"Priyankas search for home is still there. She hasnt found it. Sumit wants to probably exist in his home town and Priyanka found it when she eloped with him to Delhi. It's kind of a relationship coming to terms with the idea that maybe they want different things," he said.

The film, currently streaming on MUBI India, is presented by Anurag Kashyap and has the support of many filmmakers such as Vikramaditya Motwane, Devashish Makhija and others.

Saurabh, who studied engineering at IIT Kanpur before turning to filmmaking, said initially there was resistance at home, particularly from his doctor father.

"We struggled with this idea for a year or so. I told him this at the end of my second year in engineering. By the end of my third year, he was fine with it. He had kind of accepted that this is what I wanted to do and I am thankful for that because it is very difficult for a parent in Darbhanga to understand that your son wants to pursue filmmaking," he added.

The filmmaker, who was also part of the writing team of Anubhav Sinha's "Bheed", is currently working on web shows. But he plans to go back to telling stories from Darbhanga and his next will be set in his village.
Panaji, Nov 25 (PTI) Manoj Bajpayee says he is happy that his two films, "Gulmohar" and "Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai", have been embraced by the audiences and he hopes to end the year on a high note with "Joram", a story that deals with issues of displacement and environmental crisis.

Bajpayee started 2023 with Disney+ Hotstar's "Gulmohar", a family drama movie which was directed by Rahul V Chittella and also starred veteran actor Sharmila Tagore. He followed it up with Apoorv Singh Karki's courtroom drama "Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai", which premiered on ZEE5.

The two movies were screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here on Friday as part of the Indian Panorama section. Bajpayee attended the screening of both the movie with Chittella and Karki.

"It's so amazing that this year has been quite massive for me. Two of my films -- 'Gulmohar' and 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' -- have really entertained the audience and they've really achieved the success which was miraculous for any film to achieve on OTT. And now we are ending with 'Joram'.

"So what else can I expect from my career? This has been a blessed year for me with 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' and 'Gulmohar' becoming such cult films and appreciated by one and all," the actor told PTI in an interview.

"Joram" reunites Bajpayee with Devashish Makhija, the writer-director of his 2018 movie "Bhonsle" for which the actor had won the National Film Award.

In the new movie, Bajpayee plays a father, who must be on the run with his baby girl across half the country to safeguard her fate from the "ghosts of his past and the forces that want him dead at any cost".

"I said yes to 'Joram' long ago but it was taking time for Devashish to really find a way to do it and for me to find a producer for the film. I really feel so surprised and happy that Zee Studios immediately agreed to back the film.

"And once a big corporate like Zee Studios is convinced about a subject like 'Joram', you know that your journey is going to be far easier."

While "Bhonsle" dealt with themes of loneliness, identity and belonging, "Joram" explores the conflict between man and nature, he said.

"'Joram' is dealing with displacement. It is dealing with the conflict between environment and man. I am so surprised that Devashish has such a great mind, he dealt with both the worlds (in 'Bhonsle' and 'Joram') and both the problems so well. As if he was an expert on loneliness in 'Bhonsle' and as if he's an environmental ambassador who knows about the problems of environment and displacement so well."

There were only challenges when Bajpayee started on the project. The actor said coming up with a convincing performance was a hard task.

"You are portraying a guy whom you don't know. You have seen him but you've seen him from a distance. To really feel that you belong to that world is the biggest challenge. It's not an easy thing to portray a person who feels that he's always choked and doesn't have a voice.

"It was very difficult to find the right pitch, right sur for the character and really convince my director and convince each and everyone who was involved. It was a hard task," he added.

In the recent past, Bajpayee has received critical acclaim for playing a comman man in his movies. The actor said through his work he is paying homage to those who have "no voice in the society".

"I love playing them because these are the people whose lives interest me. Every hour their life is unsure but the confidence with which they are leading their life is something so remarkable. I'm always surprised when I look at them and see them smiling.

"How they are celebrating their own life, even though they are going through so much difficulty. I find my inspiration in them. They are my source of inspiration. They have always been. I feel that it's just a tribute that I keep giving to them through my performance and my choices," he added.

"Joram" is releasing in theatres on December 8 after a long run at festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival, the International Film Festival Rotterdam, and most recently, the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

It will be Bajpayee's first theatrical release since 2020's "Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari" and he hopes the movie will be accepted by the viewers.

"I'm requesting the audience to just go ahead, watch the film and experience a world that they have never known or experienced before."

The long gap in releasing a film in theatres was due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bajpayee said.

"There were no theatres running and when they started opening up, producers and directors were not very sure whether people would come to the theatres or not. It has been quite a struggle as you can't still say that people are going and watching each and every film.

"I personally feel that it's picking up and people are slowly coming out. If they go ahead and watch 'Joram', a great film, in the theatres, that will be the real sign that people are interested in getting out and watching a film in the theatres."

The film also stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Rajshri Deshpande, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Smita Tambe.

A collaboration between Zee Studios and Makhijafilm, "Joram" is produced by Shariq Patel, Ashima Avasthi Chaudhuri, Anupama Bose, and Makhija.
Bangkok, Nov 24 (PTI) The World Hindu Congress on Friday renounced the word Hinduism, contending that the term reflected oppressive and discriminatory and embraced Hindutva and Hindu Dharma to refer to the "eternal" religion.

The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) adopted a declaration here asserting that the word Hindutva was more accurate as it includes the gamut of all that the word 'Hindu' implies.

"In the term Hindu Dharma, the first word, i.e, 'Hindu' is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means 'That, which sustains'," read the declaration adopted at the end of the first day of deliberations of the WHC.

It said that in contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an ism, which is a term defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief.

"It is for such reasons that many of our elders preferred the term "Hindutva over Hinduism as the former is a more accurate term since it includes the gamut (spectrum) of all that the word Hindu implies. We agree with them and should do the same," the declaration read.

The assertion in the declaration came against the backdrop of a row that erupted after DMK leaders made certain controversial remarks about Sanatan Dharma at a symposium with the theme 'Abolition of Sanatana'.

The declaration said that Hindutva was not a complicated word and simply meant Hindu-ness.

"Others have used the alternative Sanatan Dharma, often abbreviated as Sanatan. Here the term Sanatan works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharmas eternal nature," it said.

The declaration noted that many academicians and intellectuals portray Hindutva as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma, out of ignorance.

"But most are anti-Hindutva because of their visceral hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticizing Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing regularity and vitriol," it added.

The WHC condemned such attacks and urged Hindus worldwide to unite to overcome those who are engaging in such bigotry and emerge victorious.
Lahore, Nov 25 (PTI) Around 3,000 Indian Sikhs arrived here in Pakistan's Punjab province on Saturday through the Wagah Border to participate in the festivities in connection with the 554th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Additional Secretary (Shrines) Rana Shahid Saleem, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Pardhan Sardar Ameer Singh and other officials greeted the visiting pilgrims at the Lahore border.

"Around 3,000 Indian Sikh Yatrees arrived here to attend the festivities in connection with the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. We have made foolproof security arrangements, accommodation and travelling facilities for Sikh pilgrims," Saleem told reporters.

He said although there has been an agreement that some 3,000 Indian Sikhs would be accommodated for Baba Guru Nanak's birth anniversary the ETPB is ready to accommodate more Sikhs.

"We welcome more than 3,000 Sikhs from India for this occasion if India allows them," Saleem said.

PSGPC's Ameer Singh demanded the resumption of train and bus service between the two countries to facilitate the people.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Amritsar party leader Khushmindar Singh expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements made by the ETPB for the visiting pilgrims.

"Indian Sikhs are contented with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and protection of their holy places in Pakistan," he said and praised the people here for their love for the Yatrees.

The visiting pilgrims were transported to Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib by special buses where the three-day festivities will kick off on Sunday.

During their 10-day stay here, the pilgrims will also visit Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal, Gurudwara Sacha Sauda, Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, Gurudwara Rohri Sahib Aimenabad and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Narowal.
VIENNA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday reiterated China's firm opposition to Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, urging Japan to fully comply with strict international supervision.

"Ignoring the doubts of the international community and the strong opposition from relevant countries, Japan has obstinately launched and continuously pushed forward the Fukushima wastewater discharge plan," Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a meeting of the IAEA board of governors.

Japan's discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but a major nuclear safety issue affecting the global marine environment, public health and international public interest, Li said, adding that China is firmly opposed to Japan's plan and urges Japan to stop the wastewater discharge.

The Chinese envoy pointed out that the Fukushima wastewater discharge is an unprecedented artificial release of contaminated water from nuclear accidents into the ocean, and there are a lot of uncertainties about the cumulative effect caused by the release of large quantities of radionuclides into the sea.

"China has always firmly advocated and actively promoted the strengthening of international supervision over Japan's wastewater discharge plan to continually improve the long-term international supervision arrangements for the plan," Li said.

He urged the IAEA Secretariat to uphold an objective, impartial and scientific attitude, boost communication with member states and continually strengthen the international monitoring arrangements for Japan's plan.

He called on the IAEA member states and the agency's board of governors to contribute to improving the international supervision arrangements and conduct regular reviews of such arrangements as well as Japan's discharge plan.

Li stressed that Japan should hold comprehensive consultations with relevant countries, take seriously the concerns and opinions from all relevant parties, and actively support the continual improvement and strengthening of international supervision arrangements.

China urges Japan to continue its discussions with the IAEA Secretariat and member states in a responsible and constructive manner and fully comply with strict international supervision, Li said.

To prevent Japan's wastewater discharge from causing long-term harm to the marine environment and public health, he said China is willing to work with all relevant parties to support the IAEA in playing a leading role over the Fukushima issue and actively join in efforts to strengthen independent, long-term and effective international supervision arrangements. 
Singapore, Nov 25 (PTI) An exhibition of more than 200 artefact on the heritage, culture and identity of the Malayali community in Singapore opened on Saturday. The exhibition explores the diasporic concept of home through the eyes of Malayalis, who trace their origin to Kerala.

The exhibition -- "Ente Veedu, My Home: Malayalees in Singapore" -- is the first ever to focus exclusively on the community's heritage, culture and identity, said the Indian Heritage Centre, where the exhibition is being held. It will end on September 15, 2024.

Tracing the journey of the Malayalis -- from their ancestral roots in Kerala, migration to Singapore, and settlement and contributions to the nation -- the exhibition also reflects the community's evolving notions of home and identity.

Featuring more than 200 artefact -- some of which will be on public display for the first time -- from the National Collection, including institutions such as the National Library Board, National Museum of Singapore and the Singapore Press Holdings, as well as the Malayali community, the exhibition examines different aspects of the community's rich heritage.

Dr Anitha Devi Pillai, guest curator and senior lecturer in Applied Linguist at the National Institute of Education/Nanyang Technological University, said, "Malayali culture is diverse, with a myriad of influences and constituent parts that contribute to its richness."

"This is much like Singapore's own multi-culturalism. As a researcher, being able to see two decades of my research on the community come alive in an exhibition is a dream come true," she said.

Pillai further said, "This exhibition provides an opportunity to present the research as captivating stories for the world, where visitors are invited into the Malayali 'home' to get to the heart of Malayali heritage."

Indian Heritage Centre General Manager Maria Bhavani Dass said, "In Malayalam, 'ente veedu' means 'my home'. By co-creating this exhibition with the community, we invite all to hear their stories and explore notions of home and identity from the Malayali community's perspective."

"We hope that visitors to the exhibition will come away with a deeper appreciation of this rich and vibrant culture," Dass added.

Originating from the south Indian state of Kerala, the Malayalis form the second largest sub-group within Singapore's Indian population.

The community itself is diverse and has been a melting pot of cultures and faiths -- comprising Hindus, Muslims, Syrian Christians, and Roman Catholics, among others -- for centuries.

In the 19th century, the Malayalis' search for better job opportunities outside of their homeland eventually led to them migrating to Singapore and playing a vital role in the country's development. Their contributions span diverse sectors such as health care, community and social services, politics, defence and law.

Indian Heritage Centre Assistant Curator Liviniyah P said, "In this exhibition, we celebrate the invaluable contributions of the Malayali community to the rich tapestry of Singapore's history. It has been a joy working with the many individuals and groups of the Malayali community who helped put this exhibition together."

He further said, "They have been extremely generous with their time and contributions and their steadfast dedication to preserving heritage paves the path for future generations to embrace and cherish this vibrant cultural legacy."
Dubai, Nov 25 (AP) A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defence official said Saturday.

The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defence official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to explain why the US military believed Iran was behind the attack.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the vessel's crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP.

Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessel's Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping, the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. The vessel's AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack.

The Symi is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific Shipping in Singapore rang unanswered Saturday, while no one responded to a request for comment sent by email. The Israeli military also did not respond to a request for comment.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

In this Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants' Oct. 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the war, though Iran itself has yet to be linked directly to an attack. (AP) NSA

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Jerusalem, Nov 25 (PTI) A second group of 13 Israeli hostages, mostly children, are expected to be freed by Hamas militants on Saturday after they were abducted during the horrific onslaught on the country on October 7.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that it received the names on Friday night of people to be released on Saturday, the second day of the exchange deal.

The first exchange of 13 Israelis taken hostages for 39 Palestinian prisoners concluded successfully on Friday evening evoking mixed reactions on both sides.

In Israel, people expressed satisfaction at the return of some of their relatives but concerns over those still in captivity. There are also those who oppose the whole mechanism adopted arguing for continued full-fledged military operation to release all the hostages, and not to give the enemy respite to reorganise itself.

Islamist Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, led a deadly attack on Israel on October 7 killing about 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostage prompting Israel to declare a full-fledged war in Gaza which has seen massive destruction in the choked coastal Strip and loss of more than 14,000 lives as per the Gaza Health ministry.

Israel has released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners that can be set free on the basis of the 1:3 exchange method, meaning three Palestinian prisoners will be released for every Israeli hostage coming out of captivity.

This has set anxiety and expectations in the related Palestinian families who see a possibility of their family member coming out but also uncertainty given that it is based on the number of hostages that get released.

The deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States leaves room for extending the "pause in fighting" with Israel agreeing to extend it by an extra day for every ten captives being released beyond the 50 agreed.

The remaining 24 hostages out of the 50 agreed for release are likely to come out in batches of 12 on Sunday and Monday.

The "pause in fighting" or 'temporary ceasefire' went into effect on Friday morning and 7 AM.

According to local media reports, eight of the 13 hostages to be released on Saturday will be children. Only four of the 13 Israelis released on Friday were children.

After reviewing the list, Israeli security officials notified the hostages families, the PMO said.

Israeli authorities had notified both the families of the hostages being released Friday as well as those who were not on the first list.

As part of a separate deal, 11 foreign nationals, including 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino, were released by Hamas on Friday.
Minneapolis, Nov 25 (AP) Democratic Rep Dean Phillips, who is running for president and challenging Joe Biden in the primary, announced on Friday he will not seek reelection to Congress in 2024.

"My journey to public service began the morning after the 2016 election, when I faced the reality that democracy requires participation -- not observation," the Minnesota congressman said in a statement.

"Seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practise a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people's lives. We have met those moments, and after three terms it is time to pass the torch," he added.

While Phillips has been effusive in his praise for Biden, the 54-year-old also says Democrats need younger voices to avoid a scenario where Trump wins another election next fall.

Several prominent Democrats -- including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz -- have criticised Phillips' decision to run against Biden, likening it to a "political side show".

Ken Martin, chair of Minnesota Democrats and a Democratic National Committee vice chair, said in a statement he appreciates Phillips' service and his "100 per cent voting record supporting President Biden's historic record of accomplishments".

Martin added there are a number of Democrats who "understand the importance of reelecting President Biden" and keeping Phillips' congressional seat in Democratic hands. Martin said he is confident the party will have a "strong and loyal" nominee.

Anna Mathews, executive director of the Republican Party of Minnesota, said in a Friday message to AP that "Dean Phillips has been openly sharing what no other Democrat will: Joe Biden's failed policies are going to be detrimental to Democrats up and down the ticket next year."

She added the state's GOP looks forward to bringing Republican representation back to voters in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District next November.

Phillips' term in Congress will end on January 3, 2025.

He is a moderate from the largely well-to-do suburbs of Minneapolis. Before Phillips won the seat as a Democrat in 2018, the area had a history of electing Republicans to the US House.

In October, Phillips became the first elected Democrat to challenge Biden for the nomination.

His run offers a symbolic challenge to national Democrats trying to project the idea that there is no reason to doubt the president's electability -- even as many Americans question whether the 81-year-old Biden should serve another term.

Phillips is one of the wealthiest members of Congress and heir to his stepfather's Phillips Distilling Company empire, which holds major vodka and schnapps brands. Phillips once served as that company's president but also ran the gelato maker Talenti. His grandmother was the late Pauline Phillips, better known as the advice columnist "Dear Abby". (AP) SZM
Rafah (Gaza Strip), Nov 24 (AP) A four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began Friday in Gaza as part of an agreement that Qatar helped broker. Twenty-four hostages were freed, including 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, Qatar said. Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners later in the day.

With the truce deal comes increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza  though still only enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, according to aid groups. Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of fuel a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian needs for the duration of the truce.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a dayslong pause in its casualty report, which it attributed to the health system's collapse in northern Gaza making it impossible to provide a detailed count.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will press ahead with the war after the cease-fire expires. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.



Currently:

 A four-day truce begins, setting the stage for the release of dozens of hostages.

 Families of hostages not slated for release from Gaza during current truce face enduring nightmare.

 Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors and women.

 Palestinians in Gaza seeking refuge from war find their world is shrinking.

 Hezbollah fires rockets at north Israel after an airstrike kills 5 of the group's senior fighters.





Here's what's happening in the war:



FILIPINO AMONG FIRST GROUP OF HOSTAGES FREED BY HAMAS



MANILA, Philippines  A national of the Philippines was in the first group of hostages freed by the militant group Hamas, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Saturday.

Marcos wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that 33-year-old Gelienor Jimmy' Pacheco, who was taken to Gaza on Oct. 7, is now in the care of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

That Israeli Embassy in Manila said Pacheco is being medically evaluated.

Marcos said the government remains concerned about the whereabouts of Filipino national Noralyn Babadilla, who also reportedly was taken hostage by Hamas.



HOSPITAL SAYS MOST OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES RELEASED FRIDAY ARE IN GOOD HEALTH



JERUSALEM  Most of the Israeli hostages released by Hamas Friday were said to be in good health after returning to Israel, the hospital receiving them announced.

A statement from Schneider Children's hospital, where four women and four child hostages were released, said that doctors had conducted a preliminary examination and said they were all in good physical condition.

A total of 13 Israeli hostages were freed Friday and transferred to three separate hospitals across Israel.



ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS HAS GIVEN LIST OF HOSTAGES IT WILL FREE ON SATURDAY



JERUSALEM  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says it has received a new list of hostages to be released by Hamas on Saturday.

It would be the second batch of hostages to be released by the Islamic militant group under a four-day truce.

Netanyahu's office says it has notified the families whose loved-ones are set for release.





BIDEN: PUTTING CONDITIONS ON MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL IS WORTHWHILE THOUGHT'



NANTUCKET  President Joe Biden said Friday that he believes putting conditions on military aid to Israel is a worthwhile thought, and he hopes the Gaza cease-fire will last longer than four days.

Speaking to reporters from Nantucket, Massachusetts, Biden said he was encouraged by the release of some of the hostages and hopes for more.

We expect more hostages to be released tomorrow, and more the day after, and more the day after that, he said.

The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar, which was instrumental in brokering the deal to stop fighting. In return, Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

Biden said that conditioning military aid to Israel was a worthwhile thought, but I don't think if I started off with that we would have ever gotten where we are today.

He didn't give any examples of possible conditions.



MILITARY SPOKESMAN: MANY TUNNELS TO DEMOLISH' AFTER CEASE-FIRE ENDS



TEL AVIV  The Israeli military has gotten to the heart of Hamas' military assets and plans to continue active fighting once a cease-fire ends, a spokesman said Friday.

There are still many goals and many tunnels to demolish, including some we have destroyed even this morning right before the ceasefire began, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters.

Hagari spoke on the first day of a cease-fire that included an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The halt is scheduled expire on Monday unless additional Israeli hostages are released.

Hagari said the IDF would not allow Gazan civilians to return to their homes in the northern part of the Strip.

Israeli troops fatally shot two Palestinians and wounded 11 others on Friday as they headed toward the main combat zone in northern Gaza despite warnings by the Israeli army to stay put.



ISRAELIS RELEASE 39 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS



TEL AVIV  Israel confirmed Friday that it released 39 Palestinian prisoners in line with a truce deal that saw 13 Israeli hostages freed by militants in Gaza hours earlier.

Qadura Fares, who heads an advocacy group for prisoners, said 33 prisoners freed in the West Bank were handed to a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross. He said the remaining six were being freed from a Jerusalem lockup.

The releases on both sides were part of a deal for a four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war that began Friday.

Over the next four days, 150 Palestinian prisoners and 50 Israeli hostages are to be freed.



NETANYAHU: COMMITTED TO RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES





TEL AVIV  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday welcomed the release of hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 raid into Israel, including 13 Israeli citizens, but said his government is committed to the return of all hostages.

About 240 people were taken in the attack.

Netanyahu described each of the hostages released as a four-day cease-fire began as a world of their own.

He said getting back all the hostages "is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all of the goals of the war.



ISRAELIS FIRE TEAR GAS AT CROWD AWAITING PALESTINIANS' RELEASE



OUTSIDE OFER PRISON, West Bank  Israeli security forces fired volleys of tear gas Friday at thousands of Palestinians from all over the West Bank excitedly awaiting the release of 39 Palestinians in exchange for the hostages released by Hamas from Gaza.

Crowds waited for hours outside Israel's Ofer Prison in the West Bank for the Palestinians to emerge.

Shortly after some raucous boys surged through the crowds with Hamas flags, Israeli forces unleashed tear gas, sending families bolting in the opposite direction, screaming, coughing and covering their watery, bloodshot eyes with their shirts.



QATAR CONFIRMS RELEASE OF 24 HOSTAGES AFTER 7 WEEKS HELD IN GAZA



DOHA, Qatar  Qatar's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the release of 24 hostages after seven weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip.

Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen, said Majed al-Ansari, the ministry's spokesman. Qatar was a key mediator in the hostage release.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which delivered the hostages from Gaza into Egypt, also confirmed the release.

The hostages, women and children, were undergoing medical checks before they were to be transferred to Israel. They are to be taken to Israeli hospitals and reunited with their families. They're the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began Friday.

Israel is to release 39 Palestinian prisoners later Friday, the first of a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners to be freed under the cease-fire.



ISRAEL SUMMONS AMBASSADORS OVER REMARKS BY SPAIN, BELGIUM LEADERS



RAFAH, Egypt  The Israeli government has summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium after remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo Friday criticizing the bombing of civilians in Gaza and urging recognition for a Palestinian state.

Speaking at a joint press conference on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Friday, Sanchez said the time has come for the international community and the European Union to recognize the State of Palestine, and warned that if it did not, Spain might do so on its own.

He said it would better if the EU did it together, but if this is not the case  Spain will take their own decisions.

He was speaking at end of a two-day visit to Israel, Palestinian Territories and Egypt with de Croo.

Israel has the right to defend itself "but it must do so within the parameters and limits imposed by international humanitarian law and this is not the case, Sanchez said. The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, are completely unacceptable.



RED CROSS HELPING REUNITE HOSTAGES AND PRISONERS



GENEVA  The Red Cross says it has begun a multi-day operation to reunite hostages and detainees on both sides of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.

The group's announcement came as Israeli media reported the Hamas militant group on Friday released the first batch of hostages under a cease-fire deal. The deal calls for 50 hostages to be freed over a four-day truce, with Israel to free 150 Palestinians in prison.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it will also be ferrying in medical supplies for hospitals in Gaza. (AP)



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Mumbai, Nov 24 (PTI) The arrest of a couple who allegedly sold their children for getting money to buy drugs has led to the busting of an interstate child trafficking gang, Mumbai Police said on Friday.

A total of eight persons have been held in the case and the gang is suspected to have been involved in the sale of at least eight children, said an official of the crime branch.

An addict couple who recently sold their two children for buying drugs were arrested from D N Nagar area on Thursday, he said.

They had sold their two-year-old son for Rs 60,000 and the two-month-old daughter for Rs 14,000, said the official.



Police rescued the baby girl by arresting a 42-year-old man while the boy remained untraceable, he said. The girl was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee.

A local court remanded the couple in police custody till November 29.

During the probe, Unit-9 of the Mumbai crime branch on Friday arrested five more persons, alleged members of an interstate child trafficking gang, the official said.

The gang members confessed to have facilitated the sale of at least eight children from Mumbai, the neighbouring Palghar district as well as the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, he said, adding that further probe was underway.
Patna, Nov 25 (PTI) Even as efforts continued to rescue 41 construction workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in far-off Uttarakhand, family members of five of the labourers hailing from Bihar watched the unfolding of events with bated breath.

According to the state disaster management department, the construction workers from Bihar stranded in the Himalayan state were identified as Saba Ahmed, Sonu Sah, Virendra Kisku, Sushil Kumar and Deepak Kumar.

Deepak Kumar's mother Usha Devi told reporters at her home in Muzaffarpur district, "I feel numb with the trauma we have been going through ever since we first got the news. For close to two weeks, we have been hearing my child will be rescued today. That today never comes."

Notably, a portion of the under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi district, part of the Narendra Modi government's ambitious 'Char Dham' project, caved in a fortnight ago.

Usha Devi's torment is shared by Misbah Ahmed, a resident of Bhojpur district, who anxiously stares at his mobile phone screen to get updates on the rescue operation on which hinges the well-being of his only son Saba.

"We were crestfallen when we first got the news from another family member working on the same project who was lucky not to be in the affected portion of the tunnel," said Misbah.

"We got to hear a recording of my son's voice from inside the tunnel. He sounded exhausted but optimistic. Nonetheless, for us, the rescue operation in itself is no longer a consolation. My son is the only breadwinner of the family," said the distraught father.

Devraj, elder brother of Virendra Kisku, said at their home in Banka district, "When we got the news last week, Virendra's wife broke down but gathered herself up soon and left for Uttarkashi, determined to bring her husband back."

He added, "We are praying ceaselessly for the ordeal of my brother to end and the penance (tapasya) of his wife to bear fruit. Rescue officials once helped her talk to Virendra over the phone. But for how long can one make do with such consolations?"

In Rohtas district, Sushil Kumar's family members said the construction worker's elder brother Haridwar Vishwakarma has reached Uttarkashi.

The disaster management department said here that it had received a call from Priyanka Sah, a resident of Saran district, who has been informed that her husband Sonu Sah was safe.
New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) The Central government has exempted the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) from the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, according to an official order.

The CERT-IN, which functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents. It has also been tasked to perform emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents besides issuing guidelines and advisories for their prevention.

The Personnel Ministry has amended Section 24 of the RTI Act and put "Indian Computer Emergency Response Team" or CERT-In under the list of organisations exempted from the purview of the transparency law, according to an official notification dated November 23.

There are already 26 intelligence and security organisations, which are exempted from providing information under the RTI Act except for matters related to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

The "Indian Computer Emergency Response Team" has been put, at serial number 27, in the list of the exempted organisations under the RTI Act, according to the notification issued by the Personnel Ministry.

The RTI Act empowers citizens to seek time-bound information on governance-related matters from government organisations by filing an application.

The organisations exempted under the RTI Act include the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Aviation Research Centre and Enforcement Directorate, among others.
New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) The family members of a father-son duo, who were allegedly electrocuted to death while carrying out a repairing job in a water tank in a private hospital here on Friday, have demanded strict action against the hospital authorities.

"We got the bodies after 24 hours. We were asked to stay away. I, along with my mother, stood helplessly outside the hospital, but no one bothered to tell us what had happened to my father and brother," Vipin, the son of deceased Kunwar Pal, told PTI.

According to police, Pal (40), his son Raman (20), who was a plumber by profession, and electrician Sarvesh Kumar (59) died of an electric shock while carrying out motor-repairing work at the Commander Hospital in Outer Delhi's Ranhola.

"There were five members in the family. My mother Raj Kumari, father, elder sister, Raman and me. Raman quit his studies after Class 10 to support the family and started working with my father. My sister is married and I am a student. My father and brother were associated with this hospital for the last five years. Now see, how they (doctors at the hospital) have fled, leaving everyone behind," Vipin said.

A case under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304A (whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been lodged at the Ranhola police station against unidentified people.

"Further investigation is underway. The FIR was registered on a complaint from the investigating officer, ASI Shri Krishan, against unidentified people," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Jimmy Chiram told PTI.

"I have no idea about the charges levelled by police and against whom. I only know that police must take strict action against the accused. They were aware of the possible risk and yet they asked my father and brother to work for them," Vipin said.

Pal's wife Raj Kumari said, "My husband was at home on Friday. He got a call at around 2 pm about a plumbing assignment. He asked Raman to accompany him. I got a call around 5 pm and the caller asked me to come to the hospital immediately as something bad had happened with my son and husband."

"I asked my son, Vipin, to go to the hospital, which is around five kilometres away from our house. When we reached there, the guards stopped us at the gate and no one informed us about anything. We just saw people running from one end to another," she said, adding that police must ensure that strict action is taken against the culprits.

Kunwar Pal's brother, Dhan Pal, said they got the bodies of his brother and nephew at around 3 pm on Saturday, after which they started preparing for the cremation.

The ASI has said in his complainant that a PCR call was received at about 2 pm on Friday and a team was immediately rushed to the Commander Hospital.

"Once we reached the hospital, we were directed to a basement area. I saw some electrical-fitting tools near a water tank in the basement. There were three bodies in the tank. As the water was deep, a call was made to the fire department for help," he has said.

The bodies were taken out of the tank with the help of fire department officials and sent to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital for autopsy.
Banihal/Jammu, Nov 24 (PTI) Security forces launched a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district and seized arms, ammunition and explosive material on Friday, officials said.

Acting on information about the presence of a huge cache of arms and ammunition in the forest area of Sarniyal, a joint team of police and Army personnel launched a search operation in the area, they said.

During the search operation, 113 rounds of 7.62 mm cartridges, three AK-47 magazines, seven rounds of 7.62 mm sniper rifle, five rounds of Pika rifle and two 9 mm cartridges were recovered, officials said.

The team also recovered three Chinese grenades, one Pakistani grenade, two barrel grenade launchers, as many detonators and fuses, an FM transreciever, a Pika belt and 300 grams of explosive, they said, adding further investigation has been initiated.
GAZA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), announced Saturday in a statement that it had decided to delay the release of the second batch of Israeli hostages, blaming Israel for failing to meet the terms in a four-day humanitarian cease-fire agreement.

The delay was due to Israel's failure to comply with the terms in the agreement regarding the entry of relief trucks into the northern regions of the Gaza Strip and the agreed-upon criteria for releasing prisoners, according to the statement.

The second exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners was scheduled to take place around 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) Saturday but was delayed for several hours.

A Palestinian source told Xinhua that Hamas was expecting the delivery of "large quantities" of humanitarian aid to Gaza City and the rest of the northern part of the Gaza Strip, rather than providing supplies to the southern part of the enclave only.

Hamas also demands that the Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel should include those from the Gaza Strip, said the source.

Taher al-Nono, an advisor to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, said Israel had breached the agreement, particularly with regard to the entry of humanitarian aid trucks.

An Israeli official threatened that if the second group of Israeli hostages is not released by Hamas before midnight, the Israeli army will "restart ground operations" in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media outlets have reported, without providing further details.

Under the mediation by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel on Wednesday agreed to a four-day humanitarian cease-fire to force a temporary halt to the fighting between the two sides. After the truce deal went into effect Friday, Hamas released 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thai, and one Filipino, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. The release of non-Israeli nationals was not part of the truce deal. 
New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) The Supreme Court has sought a response from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and the CBI on a plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in a disproportionate assets case.

A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal issued a notice to Reddy and the agency on a plea filed by disgruntled YSR Congress MP Raghu Ramakrishna Raju.

"Issue notice. The Registry to place the cases before an appropriate court in the first week of January 2024, after seeking a direction from Hon'ble the Chief Justice of India," the bench said.

The top court had earlier sought responses from the CBI and Reddy on a plea seeking transfer of the trial of a disproportionate assets case pending before a court in Hyderabad in Telangana to a court in any other state, preferably the Patiala House Court in the national capital.

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti issued notice to the CBI on a transfer petition filed by Raju and asked the probe agency to explain why there was a delay in the completion of the trial in the case.

The plea had said, "The petitioner is a concerned citizen, serving the people as a Member of Parliament in the 17th Lok Sabha. Petitioner's conscience is shaken by the manner in which State machinery (the Central Bureau of Investigation) is being manipulated to the point of apathy by the state machinery to suit the sitting chief minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh."

He had alleged that after having "illegally and unjustly" enriched himself and various companies floated by him to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore and necessarily having caused loss to that extent to the public exchequer, the chief minister has ensured that the criminal trial against him remains dormant and no fruitful steps are taken against him.

"Shockingly, the state machinery (represented by the respondent No.1/Central Bureau of Investigation) has been more than happy to be silent spectators to this abuse of the processes of the Courts (turning the criminal trials into "friendly matches" between accused and prosecution)," he had said.

Raju's plea had said the disproportionate assets case was registered in 2012 and the CBI filed 11 chargesheets in that, resulting in 11 other cases.
Jammu, Nov 24 (PTI) Police on Friday said that a fake WhatsApp profile of Director General of Police Rashmi Ranjan Swain has been created with "malicious intent".

Any transaction with the account should be reported to the nearest police station or the cyber police station in Srinagar and Jammu, a police spokesman said.

Necessary action as warranted under law has been initiated, he said.

"A delinquent and fraudster has created a fake whatsapp profile using the number +99 8914128090. It has a photo of J&K DGP Rashmi Ranjan Swain (IPS) as DP (display picture)" he said.

"Since it is a fake profile created with malicious intentions, no one should reply or respond to this number, he added.




Ohad Munder, 9, who was abducted to Gaza, was released from captivity on Friday, together with his mother Keren, 54, and his grandmother Ruti, 78, who were also abducted. Rutis husband Avraham was also abducted and remains in captivity and her son Roee was murdered.

Ohad had an emotional reunion with his older brother, father, and other relatives after arriving at Schneider Childrens Medical Center after being transferred to Israel.

Ohads ninth birthday passed while he was in captivity. After arriving in Israel, he was gifted with belated birthday presents.

On Motzei Shabbos, Ohad was reunited with his friends for a birthday party.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Unlocking Britain's pension funds for a revolution aimed at backing more risky investments, such as venture capital, tech start-ups and the lower reaches of the stock market, should have happened decades ago.

Brexit may have galvanised thinking in government, at the Treasury and in the City, but the horse bolted long ago.

It is shameful that UK retirement funds, once stalwarts of equity investing, pulled up the drawbridge and account for just 2 per cent of FTSE 350 shares.

Jeremy Hunt is determined to unlock some of the 1.28trillion of funds, held in defined contribution schemes (where returns rest on performance) for pioneering investments.

Backing Britain: Unlocking Britain's pension funds for a revolution aimed at backing more risky investments should have happened decades ago

Ideally, it would also be possible to tap into defined benefit schemes, where retirement payouts are effectively guaranteed. But that is far harder. Since 2001, when the Boots fund switched fully into gilts, there has been a stampede in the same direction.

The 4.8billion Boots scheme has just become the largest corporate plan to be freed from its ultimate corporate sponsor (American owner Walgreens) and bought-in by insurer Legal & General.

This year alone, L&G has added 13.4billion of pension transfers  both UK and overseas  to its books.

Such buy-ins move any risk from sponsoring companies to the insurer. Cutting loose the pension fund also removes a poison pill which may make it easier for Walgreens to dispose of Boots as it refocuses the enterprise on US healthcare services.

A series of moves by government and regulators hastened the decision of those who manage the assets of defined benefit schemes to switch from equities to bonds, ending a golden age for UK workplace retirement.

Labour's withdrawal of a tax break on the dividends paid into corporate pensions relegated many defined benefit schemes from surplus to deficit.

The trend was accelerated by tighter regulation and post financial crisis rules requiring all financial institutions to hold more bonds.

Ambition: Jeremy Hunt is determined to unlock some of the 1.28tr of funds, held in defined contribution schemes

In this week's far-reaching Autumn Statement, Hunt declared an ambition to release an extra 75billion a year for financing high growth companies by 2030. Getting there on a voluntary basis is a huge ask.

Among the first steps is to consolidate the tens of thousands of small defined contribution funds into an Australian-style, actively-managed superannuation fund.

Many employees in the UK barely realise that they have been automatically enrolled in pension plans and are clueless as to how pots are being managed.

Paradoxically, Labour, having defenestrated workplace pensions when last in office, now seeks new powers. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves wants the Pensions Regulator to help amalgamate defined contribution plans and direct investment into growth companies.

In the Autumn Statement, Hunt proposes a variation on the same approach. He suggested that resources held in the Pensions Protection Fund, the 40billion default rescuer for the schemes of insolvent enterprises, could be used to bolster adventurous investment along with merged local authority plans.

Both Hunt and now Reeves recognise the defensive approach to savings and investment by all parts of the vast UK pensions industry. But there are high hurdles to change. Encouraging consolidation is like herding cats.

There are big vested interests involved including the advisers, actuaries and fund managers who collect multiple fees from a divided client base.

One estimate suggests that bringing local authority plans together could release up to 1billion alone for backing Britain.

Then there are the layers of regulators. Freedom from Solvency II, the rule book imposed by Brussels, was meant to have been a golden bullet.

But last year's eruption in the market for liability driven investments (LDIs), derivatives built on gilt edged stock, frightened regulators to death.

The Bank of England, City enforcer the Financial Services Authority and the Pensions Regulator behave like nervous ninnies, afraid of the wrath which will befall them should something go wrong.

A succession of bad experiences dating back to Robert Maxwell and the looting of the Mirror Group pension fund has made them over-cautious and resistant to change.

Hunt and his successors have an enormous task to overcome a cultural aversion to risk. Lessons must be learned from the US where a red-in-tooth-and-claw capitalism thrives on risk and the possibility of out-sized returns.
The man behind Abu Dhabi's takeover of The Telegraph newspaper is also eyeing a potential bid for a German energy giant.

Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber's shopping spree is in full swing as the chairman of Telegraph suitor Redbird IMI is also involved in takeover talks for crude oil and natural gas producer Wintershall Dea.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC Group) is thought to be exploring a potential takeover of Wintershall Dea, in a deal that could be worth just under 9billion.

Shopping spree: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Co is thought to be exploring a potential takeover of Wintershall Dea, in a deal that could be worth just under 9billion

Al-Jaber, 50, is ADNOC Group's managing director and group chief executive.

Wintershall Dea's German owners, chemical group BASF, are thought to be working on a sale of its 73 per cent holding.

Any deal would only be finalised next year as the Russian government needs to give the green light to Wintershall's planned exit from the country.

ADNOC Group has already been on the hunt for several acquisitions across the globe.

Takeover targets so far have included working with Austrian multinational OMV AG to create a petrochemical firm worth just under 24billion.

ADNOC Group is also working on a takeover of German chemicals group Covestro.

The group, which is the United Arab Emirates' state oil company, is now heading the Cop 28 climate discussions, with Al-Jaber leading the talks.

But human rights group Amnesty has expressed its concerns about the conference as Al Jaber was the head of the UAE censorship agency for five years.

British firm Harbour Energy is also reportedly looking at a bid for Wintershall Dea.
Barclays plans to slash as many as 2,000 jobs as it pushes ahead with a 1billion cost-cutting mission.

The redundancies at the bank are mainly set to hit back-office roles in departments such as compliance, human resources and legal.

The layoffs are not expected to impact customer-facing branch staff or investment bankers, according to initial reports from Reuters.

Cost-cutting: The redundancies at the bank are mainly set to hit back-office roles in departments such as compliance, human resources and legal

Speculation of job cuts come just weeks after the FTSE 100 lender warned of the need to restructure to boost profits and dividend payments to shareholders.

Last month Barclays chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan  known as Venkat  said the bank is looking for 'efficiencies' as it seeks to reduce 'structural costs'.

'We always modulate the size of our workforce everywhere in the world in which we are and that's what we will continue to do,' he said when asked about jobs.

Barclays, meanwhile, reported a 16 per cent slump in third quarter profits to 1.3billion as it was hit by a slowdown at its investment banking arm and shrinking margins at its UK high street division.

Russ Mould, investment director at broker AJ Bell, said job cuts show how Venkat is 'feeling the pressure'.

After a rocky few months, analysts had been expecting between 500m and 1.5billion of costs to be trimmed.

Benjamin Toms, analyst at RBC, said: 'They had already told us the cost plan but what they didn't tell us was how large or what the benefit would be. What we appear to have got now is the other side of that initial announcement, which will be useful for investors as they start to map out the size of the potential structural cost actions.'

The bank employs about 87,000 worldwide, with about 44,000 in the UK.

Barclays declined to comment on any cuts.

Banks have been feeling the pressure of a wider slowdown in dealmaking, which has plagued the Square Mile for much of this year.

And Venkatakrishnan, who took over from Jes Staley in November 2021, warned this misery would continue for the City. Speaking on a podcast last month, he said a revival was still looking 'a little further away,' adding that the dearth of deals was holding back front-office recruitment.
Shares in Entain dipped after it agreed to pay 585million following a bribery probe into its former Turkish business.

In August, the Ladbrokes and Coral owner told shareholders it had set aside the sum following a Bribery Act investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that began four years ago.

Authorities investigated the Turkish business that had been sold in 2017 by Entain's previous management, GVC, alongside the activities of former suppliers and employees.

Probe: Entain was fined for failing to have robust measures in place to prevent bribery

The blue-chip firm was fined for failing to have robust measures in place to prevent bribery.

Entain said it agreed a deal with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to pay the figure over four years. It will also hand 20million to charity and pay 10million to cover the costs of HMRC and the CPS.

Entain chairman Barry Gibson said: 'This legacy matter concerns a business which was sold by a former management team six years ago. The Group has changed immeasurably since these events took place.' Shares sank 0.6 per cent, or 5.4p, to 859p.

Gambling stocks were dealt a further blow after HSBC sounded the alarm over a weak set of third-quarter results.

The broker said Entain is struggling to get a grip on a cocktail of woes from an underperforming UK business to tighter regulation and higher tax.

HSBC reduced the target price to 1280p from 1520p but kept its 'buy' rating on the stock as it believes there remains value but warned a turnaround of the business will take time.

Matters were hardly better at Flutter as HSBC said the pace of growth at the owner of Betfair and Paddy Power is being weighed down by ongoing weakness in Australia. It slashed the target price by 1880p but maintained a 'buy' rating on the stock as it believes there are several one-off issues that will get resolved.

Flutter dropped 1.4 per cent, or 180p, to 12620p.

The FTSE 100 inched up 0.06 per cent, or 4.62 points, to 7488.2 and the FTSE 250 slid 0.1 per cent, or 22.73 points, to 18458.1.

Retailers led the way on the blue-chip index following a busy Black Friday.

Kingfisher rose 2.1 per cent, or 4.4p, to 219p, Ocado added 2 per cent, or 11.2p, to 571, B&M jumped 1.7 per cent, or 9p, to 545.2p and Tesco increased 1.4 per cent, or 3.8p, to 283.8p.

Mothercare endured a rollercoaster session after warning of further store closures.

In a setback for the baby goods retailer, global sales fell 15 per cent to 137.2m in the first half to the end of September amid weaker trading in the Middle East.

Mothercare flagged that business was particularly challenging in Saudi Arabia and warned that more stores could close around the world. But it was not all doom and gloom. Profits rose 12 per cent to 3.6m as the group cut costs.

Nigel Parson, analyst at mid-market M&A advisers Cavendish, said the results demonstrate the 'resilience' the group has built into its business model.

Shares, which initially fell 4 per cent, surged 12.8 per cent, or 0.6p, to 5.3p.

Bridgepoint made gains as the private equity firm, which has owned Burger King in the UK since 2017, was handed a 'neutral' rating by JP Morgan. Shares rose 1.8 per cent, or 3.8p, to 218.2p.

RM will close its loss-making classroom supplies business from the end of December in a bid to create a more profitable company.

The group said Consortium has underperformed for a long time since it rolled out an e-commerce platform in 2022.

It expects to write down the value of the business and set aside funds to cover the costs of shutting it down. Shares fell 3.9 per cent, or 2p, to 49.05p.
But others have warned it could create controversy among neighbours

Supporters say it will create more homes, helping first-time buyers and renters

The Government is planning to scrap the need for planning permission for property owners who want to convert a house into two flats.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the plan in the Autumn Statement as part of a package aimed at slashing red tape and increasing the number of new homes.

The new rule, known as a 'permitted development right,' will apply so long as the external appearance of the building does not change.

But the idea has already proved controversial.

Twice as nice? The Government is planning to scrap planning permission for property owners who want to convert a house into two flats

Supporters believe it could lead to a greater supply of homes for both renters and homeowners, helping to combat increasingly unaffordable house prices and rents.

However, some worry that removing the need for sign-off from the local council could have a detrimental impact on communities, changing the character of neighbourhoods forever without giving residents their say.

We explain how the new system could work, and ask property experts for their thoughts on whether or not it is a good idea.

Peter Bill, co-author of Broken Homes: Britain's Housing Crisis: Faults, Factoids and Fixes, says there will be pros and cons if the proposals are implemented.

'Cutting red tape for those looking to convert is a good idea and should result in a marginal increase in the number of flats available.

'The downsides are the inevitable parking problems, and the worries of long-term owners.

'They may be thinking, "Will these new people affect the tone of the neighbourhood, and bring down the price of my house?"'

What are permitted development rights?

In essence, permitted development rights cover the most significant changes someone can make to a home without needing planning permission.

The rules of permitted development are set by central Government, and they vary depending on whether you are in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Local authorities can also make amendments to permitted development rights within their areas, which means planning permission may be required for an extension in one place, and not in another.

Is it allowed? The rules of permitted development are set by central Government, and they vary depending on whether you are in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland

It is also important to note that permitted development rights which apply to many common projects for houses, do not always apply to flats or maisonettes.

Paula Higgins, chief executive of the Homeowners Alliance says: 'Permitted development rights entitle you to extend or renovate your home without the need for a full planning application.'

'This is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to avoid the subjective nature of a traditional planning application - not to mention the administration, time and costs involved.'

Why could the plans prove unpopular?

Other notable permitted development rights already in place include the right to extend a building's height by one or two storeys in some circumstances, and to convert certain office buildings into flats.

Both of these have also been controversial and viewed by some as watering down safeguards to over-development.

Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent, says the proposals could have a detrimental effect on communities

Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former Rics residential chairman believes the Government's latest proposal could be met with similar condemnation.

He says: 'This idea is similar to the one where you can build on rooftops  it sounds great in theory but doesn't suit every area, particularly those where there is a pre-dominance of family housing.

'While you may not be changing the external appearance of the property, you are changing the culture and making it multi-occupation, which could have a detrimental effect on the community.

'The character of the area needs to be taken into consideration, along with practical concerns such as the potential increase in parking created by having more households in one property.

'But on the other hand, in areas where there is a greater mix of accommodation and perhaps a lack of affordable property to rent or buy, it could be a good idea.

'Whatever is implemented, there needs to be careful control to make sure it doesn't cause more problems than it solves.

'We don't know what right of objection neighbours will have. It is important that there is an objective assessment in terms of parking or the character of the neighbourhood.'

Concerns have also been raised about the quality of the homes created when existing buildings are sub-divided into smaller units, and about the need to retain a supply of larger properties for families who need them.

Who benefits from permitted development rights?

The proposals will be attractive to some homeowners, landlords and developers as they could make sizeable returns on their investments by converting houses into flats and then selling them on or renting them out.

Although not true of all neighbourhoods, a house divided into two flats will tend to sell or let for more than if it was left as an individual home.

'Two flats tend to be worth more than a single house, in selected areas,' adds Peter Bill. 'The ability to turn a detached home or even big Victorian semis into a pair of apartments without planning permission could work well for the owner or landlord.

'Squeezing two pokey flats into a terraced house can also be profitable, as a legion of landlords can testify.'

Landlord exodus: Some reports suggest that buy-to-let investors are being forced to sell up amid soaring mortgage costs

The changes could also be beneficial for both renters and aspiring first-time buyers.

There are growing concerns that the rental market is suffering from a severe housing shortage.

There are roughly 4.6 million households within the private rented sector, according to Government figures, representing 19 per cent of all households in England.

Meanwhile, the social housing sector is made up for a further 4 million households representing 17 per cent of the housing stock.

In recent years, more private landlords have been exiting the market than entering it, all the while demand from renters is increasing.

By the end of this year, private landlords will have sold almost 300,000 more homes than they have bought since 2016, according to analysis by the estate agent Hamptons.

This is putting upward pressure on rents. In the last three years between October 2020 and October this year, the average UK rent has risen by almost 32 per cent from 974 a month to 1,283, according to the Homelet Rental Index.

Leaf says: 'In the right areas and circumstances, the new permitted development right will potentially provide more affordable accommodation which is in such short supply to rent.

'This should help keep prices and rents in check so if properly controlled, it will be a good idea.

'It was always that way anyway with conversions but it remains to be seen what difference this proposal will make.

'It should alleviate pressures on housebuilding and provide a greater supply of property for rent, particularly smaller, affordable properties, which are in short supply.'

Housing shortage: According to Zoopla, there is currently a larger disparity between supply and demand for three-bedroom homes than any other type of property in the UK

Meanwhile, barriers to becoming a homeowner remain high, with first-time buyer mortgage lending down by almost a quarter in the last year, according to UK Finance.

Earlier this year Leeds Building Society revealed that 426,000 fewer first-time buyers would be able to buy their first home over the next 5 years compared to the past 40-year average if current economic projections play out.

If it becomes easier for homeowners, landlords and developers to divide a house into flats this could benefit the buyers alongside renters.

Henry Pryor, a professional buying agent, welcomed the proposals.

'It's actually quite a clever idea,' says Pryor. 'Increase the housing stock without actually building anything new.

'Does it solve all our problems? No, it doesn't - but like converting commercial buildings - offices in old houses in the High Street for instance - this will make a positive contribution to the housing stock.

Aneisha Beveridge doesn't think this policy will have much of an impact at all

'It may make a significant impact on the supply of available rented properties at a time when they are badly needed.

'There will doubtless be some chancers who try to take advantage of the initiative, but on balance and perhaps unusually I think that this is a good idea and will make a positive difference to people.

'Whilst he could and should have done much more for housing I say - two cheers for the Chancellor.'

However, Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons believes the changes will have minimal impact.

'Generally we don't think this policy will have much of an impact at all,' says Beveridge.

'If anything, it's more likely to provide developers and landlords clarity and scope to split a house into multiple dwellings, which could increase densification for homes in some areas.

'First-time buyers are unlikely to want to take on the work, particularly given the costs associated with purchasing a larger home and then do the works to divide it up.

'As always, the devil's in the detail and it will be interesting to see what the criteria is to keep the facade the same. For many houses, this simply won't be possible.'

Four in 10 over-65s live in home that is 'larger than they need' says Zoopla Older homeowners have a collective 10 million spare bedrooms between them, new research has suggested. The research by Zoopla says many people over 65 are living in larger homes than they need, which the property portal claims is preventing young people from getting onto the property ladder.

Could it lead to a shortage of larger homes?

There are also concerns that it could lead to a shortage of exactly the type of homes that are currently in short supply.

According to Zoopla, there is currently a larger disparity between supply and demand for three-bedroom homes than any other type of property in the UK.

Zoopla says that this impacts those going from their first home to a larger property, but it also impacts first-time buyers who make up a third of the market.

The average first time buyer is now 34, compared to 30 a decade ago, meaning many now need a family-sized home from the get-go.

Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla said: 'We know that three bedroom homes are very popular for families and first-time buyers, but there are simply not enough on the market.'

Jeremy Leaf adds: 'It could mean fewer larger homes, which is why there needs to be some control.

'This is what planning offices and local authorities are for. It doesn't have to be full planning permission, but a bit like with extensions and loft permissions, just some checks and balances.'

When will new permitted development rules come into force?

The policy is set to be consulted on early in the new year and then implemented later in 2024.

Paul Higgins of the Homeowners Alliance says the government doesn't have a good track record on extending permitted development rights.

'The quality element can be missing and is too often not up to standard, as we have seen with these office to flat conversions,' says Higgins.

'Standards need to be maintained as deregulation in this area does mean a greater risk of bad conversions - for example, minimum space standards are often not adhered to.

'And unlike when you buy a new home, buyers of these conversions will not be given a warranty.

'Potential buyers will need to be educated about the risks and an independent survey will be a must.

'Newly converted flats without planning permission should be required to be subject to more stringent building control checks.'
ONE Gas (NYSE:OGS  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Morgan Stanley from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the utilities providers stock.

OGS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TheStreet downgraded ONE Gas from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. StockNews.com downgraded ONE Gas from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on ONE Gas from $81.00 to $77.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 20th. Bank of America downgraded ONE Gas from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $80.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Guggenheim decreased their price objective on ONE Gas from $73.00 to $64.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $68.67.

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ONE Gas Stock Performance

NYSE:OGS opened at $59.00 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.27 billion, a PE ratio of 14.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.68. ONE Gas has a fifty-two week low of $58.69 and a fifty-two week high of $89.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.36. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $65.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $73.43.

ONE Gas (NYSE:OGS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $335.82 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $459.11 million. ONE Gas had a return on equity of 8.64% and a net margin of 8.80%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.44 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that ONE Gas will post 4.12 earnings per share for the current year.

ONE Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.41%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 14th. ONE Gass dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.41%.

Institutional Trading of ONE Gas

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in OGS. State Street Corp increased its stake in ONE Gas by 201.2% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,266,661 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $496,508,000 after acquiring an additional 4,186,102 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in shares of ONE Gas by 389.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,380,333 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $104,519,000 after purchasing an additional 1,098,392 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of ONE Gas in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,464,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of ONE Gas by 62.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,002,236 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $79,407,000 after purchasing an additional 383,693 shares during the period. Finally, Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL purchased a new position in shares of ONE Gas in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $20,170,000. Institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock.

ONE Gas Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

ONE Gas, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a regulated natural gas distribution company in the United States. The company provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 2.3 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. It serves residential, commercial, and transportation customers.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R1) meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea in Busan, South Korea, Nov. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Noting that China and Japan are neighbors that can not move away, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said peaceful coexistence, lasting friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation and common development serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

BUSAN, South Korea, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan should earnestly implement consensus reached by leaders of the two countries to push forward bilateral relations along the right track of sound development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Saturday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea in the South Korean port city.

Wang said that during their meeting in San Francisco, leaders of the two countries reiterated their commitment to principles stipulated in the four political documents between China and Japan, reaffirmed the positioning of comprehensively advancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries, and agreed to dedicate themselves to jointly building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the demands of the new era, which has been an important political guidance for bilateral ties.

Noting that China and Japan are neighbors that can not move away, Wang said peaceful coexistence, lasting friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation and common development serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

The two sides should fully push forward strategic and mutually beneficial relations by drawing up corresponding roadmaps and timetables, he added.

Wang put forward a three-point proposal on rebuilding strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

First, the two countries should establish a correct mutual understanding, and make it clear that the two sides are cooperative partners rather than threats to each other, and they should be committed to peaceful development.

Second, both sides should respect each other's legitimate concerns. Japan should honor its commitments on the Taiwan question, strictly abide by the one-China principle and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs.

Noting that Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean concerns marine safety and public health, Wang said China opposes Japan's irresponsible action.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea in Busan, South Korea, Nov. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

At present, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive, effective and independent long-term monitoring mechanism for all stakeholders, he added.

Third, China and Japan should strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly resist anti-globalization and protectionism, and maintain stable and smooth production and supply chains.

For her part, Kamikawa said the two leaders reached important consensus in San Francisco, affirming the positioning of strategic and mutually beneficial relations, agreeing to dedicate themselves to jointly building a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship that meets the demands of the new era, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly cope with global issues such as climate change.

Japan is willing to coordinate closely with China, strengthen dialogue and communication, accumulate positive factors, and push forward Japan-China relations in the direction pointed out by the two leaders, she said.

Japan's position on the Taiwan question remains unchanged, Kamikawa said, adding that Japan stands ready to find a proper way to resolve the issue of nuclear wastewater discharge through dialogue in a constructive manner.

The two sides agreed to actively explore a new round of high-level economic dialogue as well as a meeting of high-level consultation mechanism on people-to-people exchanges, and hold at an appropriate time the China-Japan strategic dialogue, the China-Japan security dialogue, and regular consultations between diplomatic authorities.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 
StockNews.com upgraded shares of C3.ai (NYSE:AI  Free Report) to a sell rating in a research note released on Tuesday.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Northland Securities began coverage on shares of C3.ai in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. They set a market perform rating and a $40.00 price objective for the company. JMP Securities raised their price objective on shares of C3.ai from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Wedbush decreased their price objective on shares of C3.ai from $50.00 to $42.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Piper Sandler Companies decreased their price objective on shares of C3.ai from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 8th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of C3.ai from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.73.

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C3.ai Price Performance

AI opened at $28.88 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average is $26.15 and its 200 day moving average is $31.44. C3.ai has a fifty-two week low of $10.16 and a fifty-two week high of $48.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.41 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.34 and a beta of 1.54.

C3.ai (NYSE:AI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 6th. The company reported ($0.09) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.17) by $0.08. C3.ai had a negative net margin of 99.42% and a negative return on equity of 27.78%. The company had revenue of $72.36 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $71.56 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.67) earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that C3.ai will post -2.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On C3.ai

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in C3.ai by 98.8% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 83,970 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 41,723 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in C3.ai by 27.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 93,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,112,000 after purchasing an additional 20,295 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of C3.ai by 33.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 20,167 shares of the companys stock worth $458,000 after acquiring an additional 5,025 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of C3.ai by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 742,737 shares of the companys stock worth $16,861,000 after acquiring an additional 33,060 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of C3.ai in the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.96% of the companys stock.

About C3.ai

(Get Free Report)

C3.ai, Inc operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software company in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides C3 AI platform, an application development and runtime environment that enables customers to design, develop, and deploy enterprise AI applications; C3 AI Ex Machina for analysis-ready data; C3 AI CRM, an industry specific customer relationship management solution; and C3 Generative AI Product Suite that enables to locate, retrieve, and present information.

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Ameren (NYSE:AEE  Free Report) had its price objective increased by Morgan Stanley from $80.00 to $82.00 in a report issued on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the utilities providers stock.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of Ameren from $85.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of Ameren from $87.00 to $82.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Ameren from $80.00 to $77.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on shares of Ameren from $91.00 to $82.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ameren from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $87.11.

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Ameren Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE AEE opened at $77.20 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $76.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $80.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.47. Ameren has a 12-month low of $69.71 and a 12-month high of $92.43.

Ameren (NYSE:AEE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. Ameren had a net margin of 14.59% and a return on equity of 10.67%. The businesss revenue was down 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.74 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Ameren will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ameren Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 13th will be issued a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 12th. Amerens dividend payout ratio is currently 57.27%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ameren news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 3,244 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.28, for a total value of $250,696.32. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 198,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,373,851.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 3,155 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.63, for a total transaction of $251,232.65. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 161,369 shares in the company, valued at $12,849,813.47. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 3,244 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.28, for a total transaction of $250,696.32. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 198,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,373,851.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in shares of Ameren by 6.2% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 61,209 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,580,000 after acquiring an additional 3,566 shares during the period. Creative Planning raised its position in shares of Ameren by 0.6% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 68,886 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $5,155,000 after acquiring an additional 386 shares during the period. GTS Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ameren during the third quarter worth about $216,000. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al purchased a new stake in shares of Ameren during the third quarter worth about $423,000. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Ameren by 4.4% during the third quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 89,022 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,662,000 after purchasing an additional 3,752 shares in the last quarter. 77.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Ameren

(Get Free Report)

Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. It engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution and transmission businesses.

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Truist Financial from $20.00 to $17.00 in a research note published on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a hold rating on the stock.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on NCLH. Redburn Partners raised Norwegian Cruise Line from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $25.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Norwegian Cruise Line from $22.00 to $19.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Norwegian Cruise Line from $22.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Citigroup dropped their price target on Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Norwegian Cruise Line from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.04.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Performance

NYSE NCLH opened at $14.36 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $6.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -23.53 and a beta of 2.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.80. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $14.85 and a 200-day moving average price of $17.10. Norwegian Cruise Line has a twelve month low of $11.76 and a twelve month high of $22.75.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $2.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative return on equity of 177.38% and a negative net margin of 2.60%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 57.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted ($0.70) earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Norwegian Cruise Line will post 0.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norwegian Cruise Line

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Deutsche Bank AG raised its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 44.3% in the third quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 879,293 shares of the companys stock worth $14,491,000 after buying an additional 269,849 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 12.3% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 45,138 shares of the companys stock worth $744,000 after buying an additional 4,952 shares during the period. Creative Planning raised its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 95.7% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 262,736 shares of the companys stock worth $4,330,000 after buying an additional 128,450 shares during the period. Bullseye Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 1.5% in the third quarter. Bullseye Asset Management LLC now owns 338,318 shares of the companys stock worth $5,575,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Finally, WealthPlan Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Norwegian Cruise Line during the 3rd quarter worth $1,824,000. 60.49% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

(Get Free Report)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. It offers itineraries ranging from three days to a 180-days calling on various locations, including destinations in Scandinavia, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, India, South America, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.

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Citigroup restated their buy rating on shares of Carnival Co. & (NYSE:CCL  Free Report) in a report published on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $18.00 price objective on the stock.

CCL has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Macquarie cut their price target on shares of Carnival Co. & from $17.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on shares of Carnival Co. & from $17.00 to $16.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Carnival Co. & from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $23.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Carnival Co. & from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Carnival Co. & from $11.50 to $11.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $18.44.

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Carnival Co. & Price Performance

CCL stock opened at $14.41 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.24, a current ratio of 0.43 and a quick ratio of 0.38. Carnival Co. & has a one year low of $7.53 and a one year high of $19.55. The stock has a market cap of $16.13 billion, a PE ratio of -10.67 and a beta of 2.45. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.59.

Carnival Co. & (NYSE:CCL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, September 29th. The company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.11. Carnival Co. & had a negative net margin of 8.11% and a negative return on equity of 15.00%. The business had revenue of $6.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.71 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.58) EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 59.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Carnival Co. & will post -0.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Carnival Co. & news, Director Randall J. Weisenburger purchased 100,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 19th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $11.50 per share, for a total transaction of $1,150,000.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 378,368 shares in the company, valued at $4,351,232. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Carnival Co. & news, Director Randall J. Weisenburger purchased 100,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 19th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $11.50 per share, for a total transaction of $1,150,000.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 378,368 shares in the company, valued at $4,351,232. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Randall J. Weisenburger purchased 350,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.99 per share, with a total value of $4,546,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 961,238 shares in the company, valued at $12,486,481.62. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 11.10% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Carnival Co. &

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Carnival Co. & by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 109,251,208 shares of the companys stock valued at $768,036,000 after purchasing an additional 17,815,226 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in Carnival Co. & by 226,253.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 35,748,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $673,135,000 after purchasing an additional 35,732,207 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Carnival Co. & by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 21,069,510 shares of the companys stock valued at $395,684,000 after purchasing an additional 565,439 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its holdings in shares of Carnival Co. & by 27.6% during the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 11,197,800 shares of the companys stock valued at $113,658,000 after acquiring an additional 2,423,700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Carnival Co. & by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,323,752 shares of the companys stock valued at $94,636,000 after acquiring an additional 43,774 shares during the last quarter. 55.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Carnival Co. &

(Get Free Report)

Carnival Corporation & plc engages in the provision of leisure travel services. The company operates a fleet of more than 90 ships visit approximately 700 ports under AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), and Seabourn brand names.

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The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the four research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $42.75.

Several analysts recently weighed in on NYT shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of New York Times from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of New York Times from $41.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of New York Times from $37.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of New York Times from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of New York Times from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th.

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New York Times Stock Performance

NYT stock opened at $45.47 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.48 billion, a PE ratio of 39.20 and a beta of 1.12. The firms 50 day moving average price is $42.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $40.85. New York Times has a one year low of $31.46 and a one year high of $45.76.

New York Times (NYSE:NYT  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.08. New York Times had a net margin of 8.00% and a return on equity of 16.22%. The firm had revenue of $598.35 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $589.49 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.21 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that New York Times will post 1.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

New York Times Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 10th were paid a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 6th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.97%. New York Timess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.93%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On New York Times

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NYT. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of New York Times by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,273,319 shares of the companys stock worth $554,947,000 after purchasing an additional 64,885 shares during the last quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of New York Times by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC now owns 8,558,222 shares of the companys stock worth $277,800,000 after purchasing an additional 419,442 shares during the last quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of New York Times by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 6,354,791 shares of the companys stock worth $247,074,000 after purchasing an additional 286,000 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of New York Times by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,277,801 shares of the companys stock worth $244,081,000 after purchasing an additional 28,829 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of New York Times by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,506,167 shares of the companys stock worth $129,552,000 after purchasing an additional 143,001 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.37% of the companys stock.

New York Times Company Profile

(Get Free Report

The New York Times Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides news and information for readers and viewers across various platforms worldwide. It offers The New York Times (The Times), a daily and Sunday newspaper in the United States, as well as international edition of The Times; and operates the NYTimes.com website.

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Bridgewater Associates LP acquired a new stake in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,982,375 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $31,619,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Steward Financial Group LLC lifted its position in AT&T by 159.7% in the first quarter. Steward Financial Group LLC now owns 1,561 shares of the technology companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 960 shares during the last quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AT&T in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Sageworth Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of AT&T during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in AT&T by 41,000.0% during the 1st quarter. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,644 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,640 shares during the last quarter. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new stake in AT&T in the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.65% of the companys stock.

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AT&T Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE T traded up $0.04 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $16.21. 12,431,028 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 29,031,036. The company has a market cap of $115.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.60. AT&T Inc. has a one year low of $13.43 and a one year high of $20.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $15.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.22.

AT&T Announces Dividend

AT&T ( NYSE:T Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The technology company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.02. AT&T had a negative net margin of 9.29% and a positive return on equity of 16.26%. The business had revenue of $30.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.25 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.68 EPS. The companys revenue was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that AT&T Inc. will post 2.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 10th were given a $0.2775 dividend. This represents a $1.11 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.85%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 6th. AT&Ts payout ratio is currently -72.08%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Scotiabank upgraded AT&T from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $18.50 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, October 20th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on AT&T in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on AT&T from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of AT&T from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of AT&T from $20.00 to $19.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $20.90.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on T

AT&T Company Profile

(Free Report)

AT&T Inc provides telecommunications and technology services worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Communications and Latin America. The Communications segment offers wireless voice and data communications services; and sells handsets, wireless data cards, wireless computing devices, and carrying cases and hands-free devices through its own company-owned stores, agents, and third-party retail stores.

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GABORONE, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi urged the 19th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) to introspect on barriers hindering the growth of the continent's creativity to global standards in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, on Friday.

"Africa's creativity should impact communities and the world. The assessment of our shortcomings and corrective measures should begin with national Intellectual Property Offices. After this, we would then step up to the ARIPO level to strategize and unblock bottlenecks," said Masisi.

He said Africans have been trading and practicing intellectual property for a very long time, without the knowledge of its theories, principles and terminology. "Our forefathers composed songs, and they continuously improved their livelihoods and came up with solutions and implements to improve their agricultural, food, health, environmental and industrial practices," said Masisi.

This year's ARIPO Council of Ministers meeting was held under the theme of "Intellectual property for economic growth," which Masisi said resonates with Botswana's vision to become a high-income country anchored on a knowledge-based economy by 2036.

"We have been working on transforming the economy of Botswana from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one and have since realized that intellectual property cannot be left to the side lines if this is to become a reality," Masisi said.

The president said that with support from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the ARIPO member states of Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Botswana, carried out studies to measure the economic contribution of copyright industries.

"In all instances, it was found that the creative sector competes well with traditional sectors in its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. The contribution to the GDP ranges from 3.46 percent to 5.46 percent, while with regard to employment, it stood between 2.66 percent and 5.63 percent," said Masisi. 
[November 24, 2023] Microfluidic Market for Healthcare Application to grow by USD 43.27 billion from 2022 to 2027 | Growth Driven by the Compact size of microfluidic devices- Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "microfluidic market for healthcare application is segmented by application (In-vitro diagnostics, pharmaceutical research, and drug delivery services), material (polymer-based, glass-based, and silicon-based), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027" report has been added to technavio offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the microfluidic market for healthcare applications from 2023 and 2027 is USD 43.27 billion. The compact size of microfluidic devices is a key factor driving market growth. The microfluidic device is compact and uses fewer reagents, resulting in lower costs and reduced medical waste. Precise temperature control, rapid heat transfer, and rapid adaptation to temperature changes are facilitated by the large surface area to volume ratio and low thermal mass of these devices. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Market Challenge The changes in the properties of fluids at the microscopic level are significant challenges restricting market growth. At a microscopic level, microfluidics have a tendency to change their properties. Compared to the use of the same fluid at a macro scale, fluids behave differently on microscales. The occurrence of slip resistance is also an important factor to consider in drug testing. There is no leakage between liquids and solids on the microscopic level. Liquid molecules adhere to a solid surface and the liquid moves against it. Learn about additional ey drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read Free Sample PDF Report Now



The microfluidic market for healthcare application has been segmented by application (In-vitro diagnostics, pharmaceutical research, and drug delivery services), material (polymer-based, glass-based, and silicon-based), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the in-vitro diagnostics segment will be significant during the forecast period. In vitro diagnostics represent a significant percentage of the applications for microfluidics in healthcare. There is a great deal of scope for microfluidics in diagnostics. Large companies are interested in the use of In Vitro Diagnostics technology, which is also an investment or acquisition area for smaller firms. North America is estimated to contribute 44% to the growth of the global microfluidic market for healthcare applications during the forecast period. View the Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report.

Key Companies in the microfluidic market for healthcare application: 908 Devices Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., bioMerieux SA, Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., Blacktrace Holdings Ltd., Cellix Ltd., Danaher Corp., Elveflow, Fluigent SA, General Electric Co., Hamilton Bonaduz AG, Illumina Inc., Microfluidic Chipshop GmbH, MICRUX FLUIDIC S.L., Perkin Elmer Inc., SMC Corp., Teledyne Technologies Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., uFluidix Inc., and QIAGEN NV Related Reports: Biochips Market size is estimated to grow by USD 43,273.01 million between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 25.15% during the forecast period. The peripheral component interconnects express (PCIe) market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22.26% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 31,584.8 million. ToC: Excustive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Application Market Segmentation by Material Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microfluidic-market-for-healthcare-application-to-grow-by-usd-43-27-billion-from-2022-to-2027--growth-driven-by-the-compact-size-of-microfluidic-devices--technavio-301996828.html SOURCE Technavio

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Amid the darkest days of the pandemic . . . Our blog community urged readers to consult with their doctors and avoid relying solely on the Internets for information.

We stand by that advice given that political pundits are often full of it and most seem unwell in one way or another.

Now . . .

We notice a growing cacophony of medical professionals sharing their opinion about politics and public health policy . . . And so we merely serve to inform readers of a conversation that's gaining traction given that this blog doesn't even feel comfortable recommending Dr. Pepper in order to wash down Thanksgiving leftovers . . . Here's more confident news . . .



"Five Johnson County physicians are going public with what they maintain is the truth about COVID-19, the series of immunizations, the effects of the lockdowns, and resulting threats to our freedoms. The groups first Medical Truth Lecture Series was recently held in a small midtown Kansas City church before a crowd of about 75."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
KUNMING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Four Chinese law enforcement vessels that participated in the 135th Mekong River joint patrol docked at a port in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday afternoon, marking the successful conclusion of an operation also involving Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The joint patrol saw seven vessels and 176 law-enforcement officers from the four countries and covered over 600 km of waterway.

During the patrol, the joint taskforce from these countries inspected 137 vehicles, 285 individuals, and over 60 tonnes of goods. One person involved in illegal border crossing was apprehended, while one boat-capsizing incident was handled, with two Laotian crew members rescued in the process.

In a bid to ensure effective emergency response and management in the Mekong River region, a joint search and rescue drill was carried out, including the rescue of individuals that had fallen into the water, firefighting on boats and underwater detection and salvage.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement officers also conducted campaigns to combat illegal transboundary activities through promotional initiatives in coastal villages, ports and schools.

In addition, a Chinese medical team was dispatched to Muang Mo, Laos, to provide free clinic services for the locals. They carried out cardiovascular disease screenings and general medical consultations for over 300 people, distributed more than 200 epidemic prevention brochures and donated various medicines.

The Mekong River, also known as the Lancang River in China, is an important waterway for cross-border transportation. 
Let's try this one more time . . . Tonight we offer one more late night update in hopes to start up with morning news once again. Still, we can't forget our night-owl/early bird denizens and so we check-in on pop culture, community news and top headlines quickly.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Tradition Of Cowtown Disappointment Cont'd



Hundreds bundle up for Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting in Kansas City The annual Kansas City Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting brought out hundreds braving the cold to see the massive 100-foot-tall tree come to life.

Today's EPIC Tribute

'It's that last ride'; Laying KC firefighter to rest Kansas City Firefighter Captain John (JP) Parison III was laid to rest at the Park Lawn Cemetery Friday afternoon

Nice Memories Amid Protest

Kansas City-area band director details Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade experience 400 band directors across the country performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They're part of a group called the Band Director's Marching Band. Kansas City's John Cisetti was there.

Kansas Aquifer Fear Reported

As Groundwater Dwindles, Powerful Players Block Change Here are some of the people fighting efforts to conserve a vital resource that's disappearing across the United States.

Show-Me Sheriff's Life Story

Parson to publish biography next year prior to leaving office Just months before his political career is over as Missouri's governor, Mike Parson will be releasing a biography detailing his life.

Hottie Turns On Red Light

Kristin Cavallari shows off her toned frame in scintillating bra Kristin Cavallari shows off her toned frame in a new video ad for her Uncommon James clothing brand.

Shanked Amid Conservative Outcry

Former police officer convicted in death of George Floyd is stabbed in prison -media Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, was stabbed in federal prison on Friday and seriously injured, the Associated Press said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

White House Polling Reflects Empty American Wallets

The Horse Race Polling Isn't the Problem. It's What Voters Are Saying About the Economy. Democrats are right to be unnerved about Joe Biden's reelection prospects, though not because he's trailing in some swing states.

MAGA Talks Turkey

Trump wishes "psycho" judge, "racist" attorney general a happy Thanksgiving Trump's 2am post began with "Happy Thanksgiving," then turned nasty.

Progressive Spin For Holy Land

Anti-Israel protests borrow playbook from social justice movements: experts The anti-Israel movement bears a striking resemblance to other movements by social justice activists in the United States, experts told Fox News Digital.

Europe War End Game?!?

US and Germany 'plan to force Zelenskyy to negotiate' through choking off arms supplies - BILD While outwardly expressing full support for Ukraine, behind closed doors in Berlin and Washington plans are being hatched to force Ukraine into talks with Russia to freeze the war on its current front lines, German newspaper BILD said in a report published on Nov. 24.

Also Burned By Social Media

A young woman decided to talk about her herpes on TikTok. Then the post went viral Sophie Miller was shocked when over ten million people discovered she had herpes- but she posted the news on TikTok.

Holidays Move To The Dotte

Four million lights shine brightly in 'Enchant Christmas' display at Legends Field "It's incredible. I hope Kansas City comes out and supports it and sees it. I think it has the potential to be a real, real great tradition here in Kansas City," Eric Stonestreet said.

Frosty Friday Prep For Storm

FOX4 Forecast: Snow loading... View today's latest video forecast for the Kansas City area in both Kansas and Missouri from the FOX4 weather team.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
It's worthwhile to take a second to recognize how this war has hit home for many locals.



Here's the word and more info to follow . . .



Its incredibly relieving. The extent that this has weighed so heavily on all our hearts really cannot be understated; it's something thats been absolutely ripping us apart for the last seven weeks," said Gavriella Geller, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Overland Park Jewish community reacts after some hostages released by Hamas More than seven weeks after hostages were captured by Hamas during an Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a group of hostages were released from Gaza.

Related reading . . .

24 hostages released as temporary cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war takes effect The planned four-day cease-fire is part of an extendable deal that calls for Hamas to free 50 hostages and Israel to release 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors and women in wartime prisoner swap More than three dozen Palestinian prisoners have returned home to a hero's welcome in the occupied West Bank following their release from Israeli prisons as part of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas delays release of second group of Israeli hostages "The release of the second group of hostages is delayed due to Israel's non-compliance with the agreement's terms," the group said.

One Ivy League school took a unique approach to easing tensions sparked by the Gaza war Dartmouth College responded to the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel and the war in Gaza that followed by convening forums for students and community members.

Families of hostages not slated for release from Gaza during current truce face enduring nightmare The cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas will bring relief to dozens whose relatives are being held captive.

Thailand says 20 of its nationals still held by Hamas after 10 freed Twenty Thai nationals were still being held by Hamas after the Palestinian militant group freed 10, Thailand's foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Gaza has become a moonscape in war. When the battles stop, many fear it will remain uninhabitable Israel's bombardment has become one of the most intense air campaigns since World War II, said a director of a London-based conflict monitor.

Developing . . .
This is a bad idea for a lot of reasons but mostly an obvious one . . .

IT'S NOT REALLY HUMANE TO PUT PO'FOLK IN GLORIFIED DOG HOUSES!!!

Sorry . . . These aren't "tiny homes" or even those nifty pods that vagrants can use to sleep if off on cold nights . . . This is bad policy crafted in a town of otherwise smart people who are letting their emotion dictate the allocation of resources into an effort that's just going to make their problems worse . . .



The city announced Monday it will start constructing 50 pallet shelters at what's now being called The Village from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2, pending weather or other delays.



Supporters have previously said the village is a key piece in community efforts to end homelessness in both Lawrence and Douglas County.



Lawrence leaders said the year-round shelter site will serve veterans, elderly individuals, women fleeing domestic violence without children, and people with disabilities. The city noted in its mailer that violent offenders will not be allowed in The Village.



"With a focus on fostering dignity, safety, and support, this effort endeavors to reintegrate these individuals into society by providing them with essential resources and assistance," the city said in a release.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The European Commission on Thursday presented its proposal for a direct support measure worth 43.1 million euros for Greek farmers affected by natural disasters. It also announced a support of 8.6 million euros for farmers affected by landslides and flooding in Slovenia in August, ANA reports.

The money to Greek farmers addresses the impact on the agricultural landscape of unprecedented wildfires followed by severe flooding in Greece during August and September.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: pixabay.com
New Zealand, known for its beautiful landscapes and peaceful atmosphere, is ideal for those looking for a spiritual retreat. Here, your path to self-discovery and spiritual awakening starts.

As you think about a spiritual retreat, consider what New Zealand offers. The country is more than just another place to visit. It is a haven where the busyness of daily life fades, allowing you to connect with your inner self. The range of spiritual retreats here meets different needs and interests. If you are interested in meditation, yoga, or nature-based practices, there's a retreat for you.

Also, New Zealand's spiritual retreat experiences offer everyone deep insights and personal growth.

Uncovering the Diversity of Spiritual Retreat Experiences in New Zealand

New Zealand, known for its stunning landscapes and peaceful atmosphere, offers a variety of spiritual retreat experiences. Each spiritual retreat in this beautiful country caters to different needs and preferences, if you are seeking inner peace, looking to deepen your meditation practice, or just need a break from your daily routine.

Aro Ha Wellness Retreat

One standout option is the Aro Ha Wellness Retreat, located in the Southern Alps. This retreat focuses on holistic wellness, combining traditional Maori wisdom with modern therapeutic techniques. The quiet environment here encourages deep reflection and connection with nature, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a refreshing experience.

Also Read: Festivals and Cultural Celebrations in Brazil - What to Discover

Anahata Yoga Retreat

If yoga is your path to spiritual awakening, the Anahata Yoga Retreat in Golden Bay is a great choice. Situated atop a mountain, it offers stunning views and an engaging yoga experience. The retreat specializes in Satyananda Yoga, a practice that balances the mind, body, and spirit. They offer programs ranging from weekend workshops to longer residential stays, allowing you to choose what suits your schedule and interests.

Te Moata Retreat Centre

For those interested in meditation, the Te Moata Retreat Centre in Tairua is an excellent option. Known for its Vipassana meditation courses, it emphasizes self-awareness and mindfulness. Surrounded by native bush and birdlife, Te Moata provides a quiet setting for deep meditation and thought.

Waihoanga River Lodge and Retreat

Nature lovers might find their peace at the Waihoanga River Lodge and Retreat, located near the Otaki River. This retreat offers a range of programs, including yoga, meditation, and nature-based workshops. The connection with the surrounding natural environment is a key aspect of the experience here, offering a unique way to explore your spiritual path.

When considering these options, think about what resonates with you. Are you looking for physical activity like yoga, or do you prefer stillness and meditation? Each retreat has its own focus, so matching your personal goals with the retreat's offerings is important.

How to Choose the Right Spiritual Retreat in New Zealand for You

Choosing the right spiritual retreat in New Zealand can be a big decision. It's important to think about what you want to get out of the experience. Are you looking for peace, better meditation skills, or a connection with nature? Knowing your goals is key in picking the right retreat.

1. Think about the type of retreat you want. New Zealand has many kinds, each with its own focus. If you like quiet and want to focus on your thoughts, meditation retreats are good. Yoga retreats are great for those who want to balance their body and mind. If you love the outdoors, nature-based retreats in New Zealand's beautiful landscapes are perfect.

Also, think about how long you can stay. Retreats can be short or long. And look at the retreat's schedule. Some have many activities planned, while others give you time to think on your own. Pick what fits your life and what you're comfortable with.

2. Look at where the retreat is and what it offers. New Zealand has beaches, mountains, and more. Pick a place that feels right to you. Also, check if the retreat has what you need to be comfortable and safe.

3. Get ready for your retreat. This might mean practicing certain things before you go or setting goals for your trip. Learn about the retreat's rules to make the most of your time there.

4. Finding the right retreat. To find the best retreat, use the internet, read what others have said, and maybe talk to people who have been there before. Trust your feelings. Often, the right retreat will feel right as soon as you find it.

In the end, choosing the right spiritual retreat in New Zealand is about what you want and need. By thinking about your goals, the kind of retreat you want, and getting ready for it, you can have a trip that not only refreshes you but also changes you in a good way. Take this chance to explore New Zealand and yourself.

Related Article: Feel the Heat of Adventure at Iceland's Geothermal Hot Springs
China is set to introduce visa-free travel for citizens from five European countries and Malaysia. Starting December 1, people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia can enjoy up to 15 days of visa-free travel in China. This one-year trial aims to boost business and tourism.

China Boosts Visa-Free Travel to Revitalize Tourism and Economy

The Chinese Foreign Ministry shared this news, highlighting their goal to enhance international exchanges and openness. The visa-free travel initiative is part of China's efforts to revive its tourism sector, which has suffered due to the pandemic.

China's strict COVID-19 measures had previously deterred many international visitors. Although these restrictions were eased earlier this year, the number of foreign travelers is still below pre-pandemic levels. In the first half of the year, China saw 8.4 million foreign entries and exits, a sharp drop from the 977 million recorded in 2019.

Before the pandemic, euronews.travel reported that China had visa-free arrangements with Brunei, Japan, and Singapore, but these were suspended during COVID-19. The visa-free travel for Brunei and Singapore resumed in July, but Japan is still waiting.

China's decision to allow visa-free travel is also part of a broader strategy to attract foreign investment and rejuvenate the economy. Business leaders, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook, have visited for trade fairs and meetings. However, foreign tourists are still less common compared to before the pandemic.

Read Also: Discover 5 Best Places to Spend Winter Vacation With Your Family in Europe

To further boost tourism from Europe, China has seen a significant increase in travel bookings. The news also revealed that bookings from Europe to China have risen by 663% compared to 2022 and are 29% higher than in 2019. The UK and Germany are among the top sources of tourists, with Shenzhen and Shanghai being popular destinations.

In addition to visa-free travel, China is enhancing its appeal to tourists by promoting cultural sites and improving tourism infrastructure with technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems. This move is expected to make travel easier and more inviting for European visitors.

Partners with Trip.com for Tourism

China is making travel easier with recent visa-free travel expansions. Last week, it extended its visa-free transit policy to include 54 countries, with Norway being the newest addition. This policy lets foreign travelers stay in certain Chinese cities for up to six days without a visa. They must be transiting through China to a third country.

To boost inbound tourism, the China International Culture Association signed a three-year agreement with Trip.com Group. This partnership is part of the Nihao! China campaign, aiming to enhance cultural exchanges.

Skift mentioned that Trip.com Group will work with Chinese cultural centers and tourism boards. They plan to promote the varied and rich tourism experiences in China. As visa-free travel becomes more accessible, these efforts are set to make China a top choice for travelers worldwide.

Trip.com Group plans major investments over the next three years. They will focus on technology, marketing, and product integration. This aims to fast-track the growth of tourism in China.

These initiatives are set to simplify travel and attract more visitors. With visa-free travel options expanding, China is poised to become a more accessible and appealing destination for global tourists.

Related Article: Bulgaria's Winter Tourism Outshines 2019 Figures, Drawing Millions
You have probably first heard of Serengeti whenever you belt out the lyrics of Toto's "Africa." You probably even wondered just where exactly it is in the continent.

Well, Serengeti does exist in Africa and, to be exact, it can be found in Tanzania. It is one of the must-visit places for anyone into safaris and seeing the wildlife that call Africa home. If you happen to be one of those people, then the Serengeti National Park should be on your bucket list.

To make the most of your Serengeti safari experience, here are some tips to keep in mind when visiting Tanzania's national park.

There are Lodges and Camps Within, But They Come with a Price

One of the best ways that you can fully experience and immerse yourself in the Serengeti National Park is by actually staying there. Travelers can easily find lodges and camps within the national park to stay in throughout the duration of your stay.

However, it should be noted that staying in these lodges and camps can be very expensive. Accommodations such as Singita Faru Faru Lodge and Roving Bushtops start from nearly $2,000 per person per night.

There are are options that can be considered more affordable. The Siringit Serengeti Camp, for example, has a starting rate of $434 per person per night.

When to Witness the Great Migration

The Serengeti National Park is arguably the best place to witness the Great Migration. During the Great Migration, around two million animals make a very iconic river crossing.

Those who wish to see the migrating herd while the animals are in Southern Serengeti should visit the national park during winter. For those visiting during the summer and autumn months, the herd can be spotted in the Western Corridor and Northern Serengeti.

Read Also: Best Once in a Lifetime Excursions in Africa

When to Visit for Lower Rates

Visiting the Serengeti National Park can be very painful on the wallet, but there are months you can opt to schedule your visit for cheaper rates. According to the official website of the Serengeti National Park, it offers the lowest rates during the months of April and May.

There are also fewer travelers during this time as these months are part of Tanzania's rainy season.

Are you Allowed to Wear Camouflage?

It is very stereotypical thinking, but many travelers believe it is cool and fun to wear camouflage or military-themed clothing while on a safari. However, this is very much a no-no.

The Serengeti National Park notes that doing is is not actually considered appropriate in Africa. Instead, dress casually and opt for light and loose-fitting clothes. You can also opt to bring a sweater or a scarf for when temperatures plummet. Shorts are likewise recommended for bush walks as well as safari drives.

Related Article: 6 Tips for Planning the Perfect African Safari Trip
This photo taken on May 15, 2023 shows the logo of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. (Xinhua/Liu Xinyu)

Japan's discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but a major nuclear safety issue affecting the global marine environment, public health and international public interest, a Chinese envoy said.

VIENNA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday reiterated China's firm opposition to Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, urging Japan to fully comply with strict international supervision.

"Ignoring the doubts of the international community and the strong opposition from relevant countries, Japan has obstinately launched and continuously pushed forward the Fukushima wastewater discharge plan," Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a meeting of the IAEA board of governors.

Japan's discharge plan is not the country's private matter, but a major nuclear safety issue affecting the global marine environment, public health and international public interest, Li said, adding that China is firmly opposed to Japan's plan and urges Japan to stop the wastewater discharge.

People attend a rally against Japan's ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 31, 2023. (Photo by Yang Chang/Xinhua)

The Chinese envoy pointed out that the Fukushima wastewater discharge is an unprecedented artificial release of contaminated water from nuclear accidents into the ocean, and there are a lot of uncertainties about the cumulative effect caused by the release of large quantities of radionuclides into the sea.

"China has always firmly advocated and actively promoted the strengthening of international supervision over Japan's wastewater discharge plan to continually improve the long-term international supervision arrangements for the plan," Li said.

He urged the IAEA Secretariat to uphold an objective, impartial and scientific attitude, boost communication with member states and continually strengthen the international monitoring arrangements for Japan's plan.

He called on the IAEA member states and the agency's board of governors to contribute to improving the international supervision arrangements and conduct regular reviews of such arrangements as well as Japan's discharge plan.

People gather to protest the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) decision on releasing nuclear-contaminated wastewater in front of the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

Li stressed that Japan should hold comprehensive consultations with relevant countries, take seriously the concerns and opinions from all relevant parties, and actively support the continual improvement and strengthening of international supervision arrangements.

China urges Japan to continue its discussions with the IAEA Secretariat and member states in a responsible and constructive manner and fully comply with strict international supervision, Li said.

To prevent Japan's wastewater discharge from causing long-term harm to the marine environment and public health, he said China is willing to work with all relevant parties to support the IAEA in playing a leading role over the Fukushima issue and actively join in efforts to strengthen independent, long-term and effective international supervision arrangements. 
Following last years great response to our CO2 Capture, Storage & Reuse Conference with over 390 participants from 26+ countries, were announcing next edition with great excitement. The conference will take place on 15-16 May 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark.



Our 2024 edition focuses on excellent speakers with highly sought presentations, interesting industry panel discussion, technical insights and many hours of networking.



An increasing worldwide focus on CO2 capture and decarbonisation across all industries enables vast project and investment opportunities. Also many challenges arise with newly implemented regulations regarding eg. ETS. Captured CO2 is becoming a highly sought commodity for cement, steel, chemicals and other industries decarbonization. Meet key actors in this industry, get insights and turn your challanges into opportunities on the CO2 Capture, Storage & Reuse 2024 Copenhagen.



Regular rate 1695EUR includes 2 day pass to all sessions, lunches, refreshments and documentation. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions regarding the conference.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea in Busan, South Korea, on Nov. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

BUSAN, South Korea, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan should earnestly implement consensus reached by leaders of the two countries to push forward bilateral relations along the right track of sound development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Saturday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea in the South Korean port city.

Wang said that during their meeting in San Francisco, leaders of the two countries reiterated their commitment to principles stipulated in the four political documents between China and Japan, reaffirmed the positioning of comprehensively advancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries, and agreed to dedicate themselves to jointly building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the demands of the new era, which has been an important political guidance for bilateral ties.

Noting that China and Japan are neighbors that can not move away, Wang said peaceful coexistence, lasting friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation and common development serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

The two sides should fully push forward strategic and mutually beneficial relations by drawing up corresponding roadmaps and timetables, he added.

Wang put forward a three-point proposal on rebuilding strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

First, the two countries should establish a correct mutual understanding, and make it clear that the two sides are cooperative partners rather than threats to each other, and they should be committed to peaceful development.

Second, both sides should respect each other's legitimate concerns. Japan should honor its commitments on the Taiwan question, strictly abide by the one-China principle and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs.

Noting that Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean concerns marine safety and public health, Wang said China opposes Japan's irresponsible action.

At present, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive, effective and independent long-term monitoring mechanism for all stakeholders, he added.

Third, China and Japan should strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly resist anti-globalization and protectionism, and maintain stable and smooth production and supply chains.

For her part, Kamikawa said the two leaders reached important consensus in San Francisco, affirming the positioning of strategic and mutually beneficial relations, agreeing to dedicate themselves to jointly building a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship that meets the demands of the new era, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly cope with global issues such as climate change.

Japan is willing to coordinate closely with China, strengthen dialogue and communication, accumulate positive factors, and push forward Japan-China relations in the direction pointed out by the two leaders, she said.

Japan's position on the Taiwan question remains unchanged, Kamikawa said, adding that Japan stands ready to find a proper way to resolve the issue of nuclear wastewater discharge through dialogue in a constructive manner.

The two sides agreed to actively explore a new round of high-level economic dialogue as well as a meeting of high-level consultation mechanism on people-to-people exchanges, and hold at an appropriate time the China-Japan strategic dialogue, the China-Japan security dialogue, and regular consultations between diplomatic authorities.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on the sidelines of the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and South Korea in Busan, South Korea, on Nov. 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
A nurse in the public health care system says she is in charge of a clinic in which she is a
HELSINKI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Finnish leading meat producer Atria has welcomed a Finno-Chinese agreement on the quarantine and veterinary requirements for poultry meat, which created opportunities for the export of Finnish poultry to China.

In a recent interview, Senior Vice President Markku Hirvijarvi told Xinhua that this agreement is a tremendous opportunity not only for Atria but also for the Finnish food industry.

"The Chinese market is really important to Atria, and we are looking forward to starting export chicken meat from Atria to China as soon as possible," said Hirvijarvi.

Finnish Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah and Wang Lingjun, deputy director of China's General Administration of Customs, signed in early November in Beijing agreements outlining the terms for poultry exports to China and fostering cooperation on food safety.

According to Atria, poultry consumption is increasing steadily in Finland and globally.

Atria became the first Finnish company to obtain a pork export permit to the Chinese market in 2016, which has grown into an important export market for the company, which also operates in Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia.

According to Atria, it is one of the leading food companies in the Nordic countries and Baltic region. In Finland, they produce around 170 million kg of meat per year. Products are exported to over 30 countries and regions around the world. 
For international students eyeing the United States as their academic destination, the distinction between a college and a university can be a perplexing puzzle.

The discrepancy in terminology, coupled with varying meanings of the word "college" worldwide, adds layers of complexity, potentially leading students to make decisions based on nomenclature rather than the substance of the institutions. In this exploration, we aim to unravel the intricacies surrounding colleges and universities in the U.S., ensuring prospective students make informed choices.

Terminological Differences

The linguistic nuances attached to the terms "college" and "university" can be a source of confusion for those accustomed to different educational systems. George DaPonte, the director of international admissions at the University of Tampa in Florida, highlights the example that in Spanish, "colegio" translates to high school, adding an extra layer of complexity to the issue.

Admissions experts caution that this confusion may lead prospective students to overlook U.S. schools solely based on their names, potentially missing out on institutions that could be an ideal match.

In the U.S., institutions bearing the title "college" often signify smaller establishments with a primary emphasis on undergraduate education. While this is a prevalent trend, it's not an absolute rule, with exceptions existing in the form of diverse institutions.

One distinctive category within colleges is the liberal arts college. These institutions provide students with a well-rounded education across various academic domains, encouraging exploration before specialization. Noteworthy is the fact that liberal arts colleges in the U.S., although conceptually similar to those in Europe, often integrate residential community living experiences, offering a unique facet to the educational journey.

READ ALSO: Community Colleges Across US To Assist Students In Choosing Degrees

Busting Myths about Liberal Arts Colleges

Misconceptions about liberal arts colleges often circulate, including the belief that they exclusively focus on the humanities. Admissions experts, however, assert that these institutions offer a broad spectrum of degrees, extending into science fields. Another prevalent myth concerns the perceived lack of research opportunities in colleges. Contrary to this, examples like Franklin & Marshall showcase active student involvement in research, with 65% of students participating before graduation.

A unique category of colleges in the U.S. is community colleges, which typically offer two-year programs, granting associate degrees and career-related certificates. These institutions, despite the term "college," exhibit a range of enrollment sizes, acting as stepping stones for students aiming to complete their bachelor's degree at a four-year college or university.

Conversely, institutions labeled as "universities" in the U.S. are often larger entities providing a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Public universities, some enrolling tens of thousands of students, are renowned for their commitment to research initiatives.

One prevailing misconception is the assumption that all universities with "university" in their name are sizable. Chelsea Keeney, director of international student recruitment at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, dispels this notion by citing smaller universities like Alaska Pacific University, which enrolls around 300 undergraduates. Moreover, private universities, including Ivy League schools like Princeton University, contribute to the diverse landscape of higher education.

The confusion intensifies as large universities often comprise smaller divisions referred to as colleges. Each of these colleges specializes in distinct academic areas such as business, engineering, or social work. Liberal arts-style education is not confined to small colleges; some universities incorporate a core curriculum for undergraduates, involving a variety of general education courses before major specialization.

Factors To Consider in Choosing the Right Fit

1. Size and Learning Environment

Johanna Fishbein, director of college and university counseling at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS), suggests beginning research by considering the size of the institution. Many U.S. colleges emphasize small faculty-to-student ratios, fostering personalized educational experiences.

2. Diversifying Options

Hannah Kim, associate director of international admission at Franklin & Marshall College, advises prospective students to apply to a variety of institutions, considering factors such as programmatic offerings, campus life, costs, scholarships, outcomes, research spending, and connections with current students. U.S. News provides a wealth of data and rankings for informed decision-making.

DaPonte recommends making informed decisions by exploring schools' social media presence, reviewing testimonials, seeking advice from trusted counselors, and physically visiting campuses. Keeney echoes the sentiment, urging students to prioritize individual preferences such as faculty-led research opportunities, study abroad options, certain degree programs, and location proximity.

The decision between a college and a university in the U.S. should not solely hinge on the terminology. Instead, students are encouraged to delve into the unique offerings, programs, and environments of each institution. By focusing on individual priorities and preferences, prospective students can navigate the complex educational landscape, ensuring a harmonious fit for their academic journey in the United States.

RELATED ARTICLE: Public Colleges Amass More Undergraduate Students; Here's Why
In the pulsating landscape of contemporary theater, Jen Silverman's off-Broadway play, "Spain," unfolds a gripping narrative that resonates profoundly with our tumultuous times. Set against the backdrop of 1936, the play explores the ethical conundrums faced by two filmmakers commissioned by the KGB to produce a feature film on the Spanish Civil War, delving into the complexities of disinformation, fake news, and moral ambiguity in pursuit of a just cause.

Fraught Relationship Between Art and Propaganda

At its core, "Spain" delves into the intricate dance between art and propaganda, raising poignant questions about the boundaries of creative expression in the service of political ideals. In an era marked by equivocal leadership and polarized ideologies, the play prompts reflection on the precarious relationship between artistic integrity and the seduction of propaganda.

In an age where scholarly pursuits increasingly intersect with activism, the play's thematic exploration finds a parallel in the academic realm. Many young scholars aspire to be scholar-activists, seeking to amalgamate academic expertise with political engagement and social justice advocacy. However, this pursuit raises a crucial question: how can scholars maintain rigorous academic standards without descending into mere agitprop?

In a recent interview, literary critic Stanley Fish cast doubt on the feasibility and desirability of scholars assuming the role of activists. Arguing for the roles of scholar-teachers and scholar-critics, Fish emphasizes the importance of treating political issues analytically within the classroom rather than advocating particular agenda.

READ ALSO: UN Flags Opportunity To Transform French Educational Inequality Into Catalyst For Progress

Scholar-Activism in the Social Media Era

The advent of social media has provided scholar-activists with unprecedented reach, allowing them to communicate directly with broad audiences. Heather Cox Richardson's Substack newsletter, "Letters from an American," exemplifies this trend, offering historical perspectives to over 1.2 million subscribers. While such engagement can be valuable, it also underscores the potential challenges of balancing scholarship with activist agendas.

Examining Erika M. Bsumek's "The Foundations of Glen Canyon Dam" reveals a nuanced approach to engaged scholarship. Bsumek's environmental history meticulously examines the construction and impact of the dam, addressing cultural erasure, displacement, and indigenous agency. This work exemplifies how scholarship can contribute to activism while maintaining academic rigor.

While acknowledging the inherent political nature of academia, scholars must grapple with the challenge of maintaining objectivity and integrity. The push for openness about sources, evidence, and research methodologies becomes crucial as scholars express their value commitments. The tension lies in acknowledging the political nature of knowledge production while upholding scholarly excellence.

Political Tapestry of Academia

Recognizing the political dimensions within academia, including governance, curricula, and hiring practices, is essential. While certain fields may overtly embrace political perspectives, all research, even seemingly apolitical, can have far-reaching political implications. Navigating this intricate tapestry requires a commitment to scholarly excellence without succumbing to partisan inclinations.

In its essence, the academy must be a space apart-open, fair-minded, argumentative, and contentious. Balancing these qualities is challenging but vital to offering more than mere partisanship. Upholding academic integrity, rigor, and broadmindedness ensures the academy's enduring relevance and public support.

In a world where the boundaries between scholarship and activism blur, the nuanced dance between art and propaganda in "Spain" becomes emblematic of the delicate balance scholars must strike as they navigate the complex terrain of engaged scholarship.

RELATED ARTICLE: Failed Contract Negotiations At CSU Push Faculty To Strike
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Nov, 2023) Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting 15 operations across the country managed to recover 1550 kg drugs and arrested 14 accused, said an ANF Headquarters spokesman.

He informed that, in an operation at Bacha Khan International Airport, ANF recovered 1593 grams Ice drug from trolley bag of a passenger. The accused was leaving for Qatar by flight number QR-601.

In another operation, 792 grams heroin was recovered from a parcel booked for Britain at the courier office in Lahore.

36 kg opium and 28.8 kg hashish were recovered from a vehicle intercepted near Motorway Toll Plaza Islamabad. During the operation, two suspects were also arrested.

18 kg opium and 12 kg hashish were recovered from a truck stopped near Sangjani toll plaza Islamabad while two drug smugglers were netted.

4.8 kg hashish and 1 kg Ice were recovered from a vehicle checked near Shershah Toll Plaza Multan while an accused was arrested.

2.4 kg hashish was recovered from the possession of an accused rounded up near Vehari Chowk, Multan.

970 grams Ice was recovered from an accused arrested from a passenger bus in Dera Ghazi Khan.

7 kg hashish was recovered at Jinnah International Airport Karachi from a parcel sent from Quetta.

520 kg opium, 80 kg heroin and 650 kg hashish were recovered from the Gali Pani Gai Pishin area.

The spokesman said that 2834 grams opium was recovered from a parcel booked for Canada at a courier office located in Rawalpindi.

101 Ice-filled capsules were recovered from the possession of a passenger arrested at Bacha Khan International Airport. The accused, a resident of Khyber, was leaving for Doha by flight number QR-601.

19.2 kg hashish was recovered from a vehicle near Kak Pul area Islamabad. During the operation, three accused, residents of Abbottabad, including a woman, were netted.

150 kg hashish was recovered from two vehicles checked near Saranan Bazar Pishin while a suspect was also arrested during the operation.

8 kg hashish and 2 kg Ice were recovered from the possession of an Afghan national rounded up near Lakpas Toll Plaza Quetta.

3 kg opium and 1 kg Ice concealed in secret cavities of a vehicle were recovered on GT Road Peshawar. A resident of Peshawar was arrested during the operation.

Separate cases have been registered against the accused under the Anti-Narcotics Act while further investigations are under process.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Nov, 2023) Lahore: Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has said those who betrayed their motherland and harmed it should be hanged at Minar-i-Pakistan.

Addressing an interfaith harmony conference and talking to media on Saturday, he said traitors like Adil Raja and Captain Mehdi had lesser sentences of 14 and 12 years respectively. It has been many months since May 9 but they are not even allowing military courts or punishing the accused, he regretted.

He added, Courts of Pakistan have sentenced traitors like Adil Raja and Captain Mehdi to 14 and 12 years respectively.

We think that these are less punishments for those who betrayed their homeland, soil and religion. They should be hanged at Minar-i-Pakistan. The country that gave them everything, the country that gave them recognition; the traitors should not stay on earth again. Since they were retired soldiers, the army has done it, but my question is to the judiciary and the administration. We all sitting here have seen the devastation in Jinnah House during the events of May 9. It has been many months since then but the perpetrators have not been punished.
(@Abdulla99267510)

Of the 58-member Executive Board, Pakistan secured 38 votes as compared to Indias 18.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Nov 25th, 2023) Pakistan has defeated India to secure UNESCO vice-chair for the 2023-2025 term.

The elections were held at the 218th Session of the UNESCO Executive board in Paris.

Of the 58-member Executive Board, Pakistan secured 38 votes as compared to Indias 18.

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch expressed gratitude to members of the Executive Board and all member states of UNESCO for their overwhelming support and the trust reposed in Pakistan's candidature.

She said that Pakistan would carry out its responsibilities with a deep sense of commitment, credibility, honest dialogue and mutual respect.

The spokesperson said as an ardent supporter of multilateralism, Pakistan will work together with UNESCO member states to mobilize collective efforts to promote common objectives.
Sentenced For Charges Of Inciting Sedition

(@Abdulla99267510)

The ISPR says pursuant to the awarded sentence, the Ranks of both officers have been forfeited.

RAWALPINDI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Nov 25th, 2023) Retired Major Adil Farooq Raja and Retired Captain Haider Raza Mehdi have been convicted and sentenced through Field General Court Martial under Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for the charges of inciting sedition among army personnel.

According to the ISPR, the court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged both the individuals through due judicial process.

Adil Farooq Raja has been awarded 14 years while Haider Raza Mehdi 12 years rigorous imprisonment.

Pursuant to the awarded sentence, the Ranks of both officers have been forfeited.
Nairobi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Nov, 2023) East African leaders said on Saturday that the Democratic Republic of Congo has decided not to renew the mandate of a regional force sent to quell unrest in the volatile east of the country.

The East African Community (EAC) first deployed troops in the violence-plagued region in November last year after the resurgence of the M23 rebel group.

But a statement issued after an EAC summit in Tanzania on Friday said the grouping "noted that the DRC will not extend the mandate of the EAC regional force beyond 8th December 2023".

The leaders directed defence force chiefs from the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to meet before December 8 "and submit their recommendations on the way forward to the defence ministers for onward transmission to the summit for consideration".

The future of the deployment had been in doubt after DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi criticised the force, but the EAC decided in September to keep the troops on the ground until next month.

Dozens of armed groups plague the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, a legacy of regional wars that raged in the 1990s and 2000s.

The Tutsi-led M23 has seized swathes of territory in North Kivu province since taking up arms again in late 2021 after years of dormancy.
DUBLIN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Legislators from China and Ireland have expressed willingness to promote cooperation between the two countries in such areas as green development this week during a Chinese delegation's visit in Ireland.

The delegation was led by Zheng Jianbang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, at the invitation of the Irish parliament.

During the visit from Wednesday to Saturday, Zheng held talks with Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann Jerry Buttimer and Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireann Catherine Connolly, and visited County Kildare.

China and Ireland have established diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, insisting on friendly relations and win-win cooperation, with fruitful results in various fields, Zheng said.

In the face of the changing, chaotic international situation and the downward pressure on the world economy, China and Ireland should consolidate political mutual trust, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, continue to deepen practical cooperation, tap the potential for cooperation in such fields as digital economy, biomedicine and green development, jointly safeguard multilateralism, and join hands to deal with global challenges, Zheng said.

The National People's Congress of China is willing to maintain interaction with the parliament of Ireland at all levels, strengthen mutual learning and appreciation, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, Zheng said.

The Irish side said it adheres to the one-China policy and admires China's development achievements, and it attaches great importance to cooperation with China.

Noting that next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China, the Irish side said it would like to maintain friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries, deepen cooperation in such fields as trade and investment, and green development, so as to push forward greater development of Ireland-China relations. 
Cuban and Haitian migrants are increasingly taking chartered flights to Nicaragua from where they seek to travel overland to the United States, prompting Washington to impose sanctions this week on the operators of the aircraft.

Irma Perez, a 28-year-old Cuban, told AFP she arrived in the Nicaraguan capital Managua last month aboard a charter flight run by Mexican aviation firm Viva Aerobus.

"We had a 45-minute layover in Cancun (Mexico) without disembarking, and then came to Managua," she said.

Perez was speaking from Mexico, after she, her husband and 1-year-old son traveled there overland with the help of a smuggler. The family plans to head toward the United States.

Several Cuban migrants told AFP they had traveled with the same company on flights chartered by small travel agencies.

Viva Aerobus, which does not advertise fights between Cuba and Nicaragua on its website, did not respond to AFP's requests for comment.

Perez said she and her husband paid $1,250 each for their tickets, and $350 for that of her son. The smuggler cost them another $2,100.

'New phenomenon'

The use of charter flights to aid migrants in getting to their dream destination "is a relatively new phenomenon," said Manuel Orozco, a director of migration issues at the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue.

The Central American country of Nicaragua has not required visas for Cubans since November 2021.

Since then, a record 421,000 Cubans have entered the United States, according to official figures from Washington.

In April, the U.S. began deporting Cubans with the first flight leaving April 24 after a two-year pause.

Two other Central American nations, Panama and Costa Rica, imposed a transit visa on Cubans in 2022 to tackle the influx of migrants.

A report by the Inter-American Dialogue thinktank said that an average of 50 charter flights a month traveled between Havana and Managua between January and October 2023.

Meanwhile flights between Haiti and Nicaragua quadrupled in the past three months.

"Nicaragua was a bridge for almost 100,000 people," seeking to migrate, since January, according to the report.

Orozco believes that airline operators and Nicaraguan airport authorities made "an economic calculation" for their "mutual benefit."

US sanctions

Advertisements abound on Facebook: "Tickets available Havana-Nicaragua  prices for families, charter and regular flights," read one.

At the beginning of November, Brian Nichols, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, expressed concern about the dramatic increase in these flights.

"No one should profit from the desperation of vulnerable migrants  not smugglers, private companies, public officials or governments," he wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

On Tuesday, Washington announced it would restrict visas for those in charge of the aviation companies.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told journalists that the number of flights has begun to decrease.

Mexico began requiring an airport transit visa for Cubans in late October.

A taxi driver from Managua, who consults the airport website every day for his work, told AFP on condition of anonymity that he had noticed the number of planes carrying migrants had dropped from "22 to 23 daily" to six.
British troops are patrolling the Kosovo-Serbia border as part of a NATO peacekeeping presence being bolstered amid concern that the former wartime foes could return to open conflict following a series of violent incidents in recent months.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization sent hundreds of additional forces to Kosovo from Britain and Romania after a battle between the authorities and armed Serbs holed up in a monastery turned a quiet village in northern Kosovo into a war zone on Sept. 24.

One police officer and three gunmen were killed in the village of Banjska in what was seen as the worst violence since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kosovo accused Serbia of providing financial and practical support for the gunmen, which Belgrade denies.

NATO has sent 1,000 extra troops to the region, bringing its presence there to 4,500 peacekeepers from 27 countries. British soldiers are now being deployed in 18-hour shifts in freezing conditions to make sure no weapons or armed groups enter Kosovo.

"Currently we are here on a routine patrol, which consists of understanding patterns of life, gaining intelligence on any illegal or suspicious activity that then gets fed back to KFOR (NATO mission) and higher," Lieutenant Joss Gaddie from the British Army told Reuters at the border with Serbia.

During a visit on Monday to the western Balkans, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the organization is reviewing whether a more permanent increase of forces was needed "to ensure that this doesn't spiral out of control and creates a new violent conflict in Kosovo or in the wider region."

Kosovo, which has an ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a guerrilla uprising and a 1999 NATO intervention.

Around 5% of the population in Kosovo are ethnic Serbs, of which half live in the north and refuse to recognize Kosovo independence and see Belgrade as their capital. They have often clashed with Kosovo police and international peacekeepers.

For more than two decades many ethnic Serbs have refused to register vehicles with Kosovo car plates, using their own system instead which is seen as illegal by Pristina.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government has set a December 1 deadline for around 10,000 motorists to register their cars with Kosovo numbers or face heavy penalties. A similar request sparked violence last year.
The foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan are set to meet in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday, the first trilateral foreign ministerial meeting since August 2019. South Korea, the sponsor and chair of the meeting, hopes to use the opportunity to improve its relations with China, which have been strained in recent years. However, experts are not optimistic about the chances of a breakthrough at the meeting.

Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in the daily press briefing on Wednesday, "The trilateral cooperation serves the common interests of our three countries. China values the mechanism and looks forward to working with the ROK and Japan to deepen that cooperation." ROK is the abbreviation for the official name of South Korea.

The foreign ministers of the three countries may hold bilateral talks between China and Japan and China and South Korea during the meeting.

Meeting proposed by South Korea According to previous reports by Kyodo News, this foreign ministers' meeting was proposed by South Korea, indicating South Korea's willingness to improve South Korea-China relations.

Since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol came to power, the country has focused its foreign policy on deepening cooperation with the United States and Japan. Yoon has met with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this year. But he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have not held formal talks since the G20 summit in November last year.

This situation has brought the trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan to a de facto "quasi-alliance" level, but it has also caused South Korea-China relations to be increasingly cold.

There has been frequent discord between the two countries.

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting earlier this month, a much-anticipated meeting between Yoon and Xi failed to take place. According to Yonhap News Agency, the two leaders talked for only about three minutes.

Although the two governments later avoided over-interpreting the situation, the Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo quoted an anonymous senior official in the South Korean presidential office saying, "The meeting itself has symbolic significance. China talked with Japan but not us, which is indeed not a good situation."

China critical of South Korea China criticized remarks Yoon made about China-Russia-North Korea cooperation, the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea in an interview with the Telegraph ahead of his recent state visit to Britain.

Mao said in the regular press briefing on Monday, "We don't need to be told what to do or not to do. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affairs and brooks no foreign interference. On the South China Sea, China and ASEAN countries have the ability, confidence and wisdom to handle this issue well. The ROK is not a party to the South China Sea issue, and there's no point in getting involved."

Jae-hung Chung, director of the Center for China Studies at the Sejong Institute, said in a phone interview with VOA that there are many problems between South Korea and China, including deep strategic distrust, China's dissatisfaction with the security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and the differences the two countries have about Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

Chung said if South Korea wants to improve its relations with China, it must make policy changes. However, these kinds of changes cannot be made by South Korea alone. Chung told VOA that South Korea must communicate with the United States, but it is hard to say if the United States can help South Korea in these aspects.

Heungho Moon, a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Hanyang University, said, "At present, China's most important issue is its relations with the United States, followed by the Taiwan issue and the South China Sea. On these issues, South Korea has nothing to help China, and China believes that South Korea has kept pace with the U.S.
At least four people were killed and dozens injured Saturday evening in a stampede at a university in southern India, local officials and media reported.

The stampede occurred at an outdoor auditorium in the Cochin University of Science and Technology, or CUSAT, in southwest Kerala state, where a concert had been planned.
About 200 wild horses roam free in a western North Dakota national park, but that number could shrink as the National Park Service is expected to decide next year whether it will eliminate that population.

Advocates fear a predetermined outcome that will remove the beloved animals from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. An extended public comment period ends Friday on the recent environmental assessment of the park's three proposals: reduce the horse population quickly, reduce it gradually or take no immediate action.

The horses have some powerful allies  including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven  while advocates are pulling out all the stops to see that the animals stay. Park officials say they want to hear from the public.

The horses are popular with park visitors, who often see and photograph them along the park's scenic road and hiking trails through the rugged Badlands.

Evaluating whether the horses belong in the park has "been a long time in coming, and it realigns us with our overarching policies to remove non-native species from parks whenever they pose a potential risk to resources," said Jenny Powers, a wildlife veterinarian who leads the wildlife health program for the National Park Service.

"This isn't an easy decision for us, but it is one that is directly called for by our mission and mandates," she told The Associated Press last month.

One of the horses' biggest advocates fears park officials have already decided to oust the horses. Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates President Chris Kman cites several alternatives for keeping horses that park officials considered but dismissed in the recent environmental assessment.

In the document, the Park Service said those alternatives wouldn't be "in alignment with NPS priorities to maintain the native prairie ecosystem" and wouldn't address the animals' impacts, among its reasons.

Kman said she is "optimistic that we will ultimately win this fight. I don't have any faith that the park will do the right thing and keep the horses in the park."

Even if the horses ultimately stay, Park Superintendent Angie Richman said they would have to be reduced to 35-60 animals under a 1978 environmental assessment. The ongoing process is part of the park's proposed management plan for "livestock," a term the horses' allies reject.

Wild horses were accidentally fenced into the park in its early years. They were eventually kept as a historic demonstration herd after years of efforts to eradicate them, according to Castle McLaughlin, who researched the horses' history in the 1980s as a graduate student working for the Park Service in North Dakota.

Wild horse advocates would like the park to conduct a greater environmental review, and want to ultimately see a genetically viable herd of at least 150 horses maintained.

A vast majority of previous public comments opposed removal of the horses, making it "really difficult to understand why the government would choose to take them away from the American people," said Grace Kuhn, communications director for the American Wild Horse Campaign.

The wild horses "have a right to be in the national park" and align with Roosevelt's sentiment to preserve cultural resources for future generations, she said.

"Essentially, the Park Service by implementing a plan to either eradicate them quickly or eradicate them slowly, they're thumbing their noses at the American public and their mission," Kuhn said last month.

Burgum in January offered state collaboration for keeping the horses in the park. His office and park officials have discussed options for the horses. State management or assistance in managing the horses in the park are options North Dakota would consider; relocation is not, spokesperson for the governor's office Mike Nowatzki said Monday.

Park officials "are certainly willing to work with the governor and the state to find a good outcome," Park Superintendent Richman said last month, adding that the park was working with the governor on "a lot of different options."

"It would be premature to share pre-decisional discussions at this time," she said Wednesday.

Sen. Hoeven has worked on negotiations with park officials, and included legislation in the U.S. Interior Department's appropriations bill to preserve the horses. "If that doesn't get it done," he would pursue further legislation, he said last month.

"My objective is to keep horses in the park," Hoeven said.

The park's ultimate decision also will affect nine longhorn cattle in the park's North Unit. All of the horses are in the park's South Unit.
Democratic Republic of Congo's Denis Mukwege, a Nobel-winning gynecologist, staged a rally in his hometown Saturday, promising to tackle corruption and conflict if elected president next month. Addressing supporters in the eastern city of Bukavu, the renowned doctor said he would use political power to "put an end to war, put an end to famine" and to fight graft.

"Today it is normal to steal in the Congo, it is normal to corrupt," said the 68-year-old in Swahili.

Mukwege founded the Panzi hospital and foundation in conflict-torn eastern DRC after witnessing the horrific injuries and diseases suffered by rape victims.

In 2018, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Yazidi activist Nadia Murad for efforts to end sexual violence as a weapon of war.

The doctor announced a presidential bid in October  ending months of speculation over his political ambitions.

The DRC, an impoverished central African nation of about 100 million people, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on December 20.

Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, is running for reelection. The official campaigning season kicked off on November 19.

Mukwege chose his hometown of Bukavu to host his first large campaign rally, to which thousands of people came on Saturday, according to an AFP correspondent.

"During my five-year term of office, [I am going] to give the Congolese people back their dignity, their rights," he said, criticizing the country's dependence on foreign aid, including foreign military aid.

"Internationally, we are going to do everything we can to ensure that foreign armies leave Congolese soil, and that the Congolese people learn to take responsibility for their own security," Mukwege said.

Dozens of armed groups are active in eastern DRC, a legacy of regional wars that flared during the 1990s and 2000s.

One such group, the M23, has seized swaths of territory in the region since launching an offensive in late 2021, triggering a vast humanitarian crisis with more than 1 million people driven from their homes.
Though it's no longer the homicide capital of the United States, the nation's capital is witnessing a multiyear spike in the number of homicides but solving far fewer of them.

And for families of the victims, the issue of unsolved killings cuts deep.

Asiyah Timimi's husband, Aqueel, was stabbed in a dispute in January 2021 and died several days later. "You just don't feel safe until they're caught," Timimi said. "I could be walking past the person that killed my husband."

Natalia Mitchell wants justice for her son Morris, who was fatally shot in March 2022, and closure for herself. A successful arrest of her son's killer, she said, "doesn't bring Morris back, but it would help."

The percentage of homicides that are solved by the Metropolitan Police Department has declined sharply in 2023, leaving the city on track to record its lowest so-called "clearance rate" or "closure rate" in more than 15 years.

As of Nov. 13, only 75 of the 244 homicides committed this year have been solved by police. Factoring in the 33 prior-year homicides cleared thus far in 2023, the overall closure rate stands at around 45%. That would be the lowest rate dating back at least to 2007, according to statistics provided by the MPD.

Nationally, the average clearance rate tends to hover between 50% and 60%, said Rick Rosenfeld, a professor of criminology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

A low closure rate, particularly on homicides, can erode police morale and community trust in the police and lessen the public cooperation between citizens and police that is vital for many investigations, said Christopher Herrmann, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former crime analyst supervisor with the New York Police Department.

"That whole process can kind of spiral down, where the community doesn't trust the police that much anymore or there's a lack of faith," he said. "There's much less cooperation between the community and the police. And once the police see a lack of cooperation from the community, some of them will kind of throw their hands up in the air and say, 'Why should we care when no one in the community wants to help?'"

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Lyndsey Appiah acknowledged that closure represents "some sense of justice for victims."

In addition, she said, "The surety of consequence is a deterrent to crime. So it's important that we are, as quickly as possible, closing cases and solving cases."

The drop in homicide closures is just part of a complicated public safety crisis facing the nation's capital. Appiah, in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee this year, flatly acknowledged the scope of the problem.

"Oxford defines a crisis as a time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger," she testified. "So I would say there is a crisis."

Homicides in Washington are up 33% this year over last year. Violent crimes involving juveniles also are rising steadily, as are carjackings, with a U.S. congressman and a diplomat from the United Arab Emirates among the recent victims.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Appiah cited police staffing issues and difficulties with crime scene analysis among the potential factors impacting the clearance rate.

It's at around 3,300 officers this year -- down from 3,800 in 2020.

The MPD is at around 3,300 officers this year, down from 3,800 officers since 2020  a decrease of 500 over three years. Police union officials have publicly blamed the D.C. Council for what they say are anti-police policies that have driven away officers and stifled recruiting efforts. The mayor, however, wants to get the number of officers up to 4,000.

D.C.'s crime lab, the Department of Forensic Science, also lost its accreditation in spring 2021 over allegations of flaws in its analysis. Appiah said the lab hopes to regain its accreditation early next year; in the meantime, the city is outsourcing its crime scene analysis, a process that consumes time and money, she said.

Appiah said that 10 months into the year is too soon to judge the success of homicide investigations that can take months or years. And, in fairness, the MPD just arrested a man in late October for a killing that took place in 2009. In cases like that, the arrest counts as part of this year's clearance rate.

But with just a few weeks left in the year, it would take a remarkable run of successful arrests to prevent 2023 from having the lowest homicide clearance rate in more than 15 years.

The impact of these unsolved killings can have a corrosive effect in multiple directions.

"It devastates the Black family, and it can devastate the police department," said Ronald Moten, a community activist who, in his youth, spent time in federal prison on drug charges. "It always gives the family some sense of relief if there's a closure. It doesn't help you heal by itself, but it's part of the healing process."

Moten's half-brother was slain in 1991, during the period when homicides in D.C. regularly exceeded 400 per year. The case was never solved.

"It hurts because you feel like somebody's gotten away with killing your child with no consequences," Moten said. "That's painful. You want closure, and you want somebody to be held accountable."

Preventing that negative cycle from becoming entrenched is one of the city's top priorities. To close cases, police need residents to help uproot violent criminals from their communities, said Appiah, the deputy mayor.

"We need their help. And they need to trust that if they come forward with information and help us, that it will move towards accountability," she said. "If they provide us tips on someone engaged in a shooting and then that person is just back in the community, they will not trust MPD in the same way. ... We need the community to help us close cases, and then we need the rest of the system to work to help keep them safe."

Timimi, whose son Khalil was shot outside of Washington in neighboring Prince Georges County in Maryland about six weeks after her husband was stabbed, now cares for her paralyzed son and runs a charitable organization teaching modern life skills to urban youths.

She said she fears a return to the days when Washington routinely led the nation in per-capita killings. Two of her former neighbors have lost children to gun violence in recent years, and in 2021 her godson was caught in a crossfire and killed while he was home from college because of the national COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

"In the '80s and '90s, I remember going to a funeral every week," she said. "And when it's unsolved, you just feel like they've forgotten you."
On Nov. 24, 2022, a fire in a high-rise residential building in Urumqi killed at least 10 people and injured nine, sparking local protests that quickly spread across Chinas cities, where people had been chafing for three years under Beijings draconian zero-COVID policy.

The protests are now widely seen as a turning point for China, as the protestors  many of them students or young people adrift in Chinas contracting job market  demanded an end to zero-COVID measures and denounced the Chinese Communist Partys authoritarian rule.

Holding blank sheets of white paper, an internationally recognized metaphor for censorship, people took to the streets of Shanghai on Nov. 26, in a Saturday night vigil for the fire victims.

Witnesses had said the victims may have been unable to escape or be rescued because doors to their building had been locked to comply with COVID mandates.

The white paper protests quickly spread to Beijing, Chengdu and elsewhere  even Wuhan, where COVID was first identified in humans in December 2019. As police moved to quell the protests and censors scrubbed Chinas tightly controlled internet of references to the unrest, China abruptly rescinded all COVID restrictions.

The move restored order to the streets but opened the door to a surge of COVID deaths among the elderly and other at-risk groups.

A year later, some of those arrested in the protests remain in prison. Many of those who were released are under surveillance. Yet the spirit of the White Paper Movement remains, according to many protesters interviewed by VOA Mandarin.

VOA granted the participants anonymity or the use of a pseudonym so they could speak without fear of reprisal about their experiences during the November 26 to 28 protests and share their views on how those days changed them and China. VOA Mandarin asked the Chinese Embassy for comments on the movements anniversary but has not yet received a response.

Those who spoke with VOA Mandarin pointed to a greater willingness among Chinese to protest in ways both bold and subtle, often at the same time. An example: Halloween celebrants in Shanghai last month whose costumes poked fun at Chinese figures and social problems.

One young man who was arrested in Shanghai on Nov. 27, 2022, last year after he showed up at an intersection on Urumqi Middle Road, where the white paper protests began spontaneously on Nov. 26, told VOA that police arrested so many people he heard officers say they had "to distribute the detainees to all the police stations in the entire Xuhui District."

"The fact that this event could take place shows that people were very angry because the lockdown caused some economic downturns and job losses," he said. "But I feel that although it has not achieved something substantive, it will leave a footnote in history. Nowadays, young people and college students are still willing to take to the streets. If it happens again next time, I will still participate and support it."

He said the white paper movement was China's most confrontational national movement since the student-led Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 that ended with a bloody massacre of participants.

Last year, Diana Fu, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto who specializes in civil society, activism and state control, with a focus on China, told Canadas CBC: "This is a generation that is thought to be politically inert and brainwashed by patriotic education. The recent protests on university campuses ... show that patriotic education has not completely wiped away yearnings for freedom among Gen Z."

Han Yun, a twentysomething woman in Beijing, said that after a nightmarish three years of lockdown and testing, when she saw a social media posting about a protest in the Liangmaqiao area of Beijing on Nov. 27, 2022, she took a costly $8 taxi ride to the scene. There she found police and undercover security personnel monitoring the nighttime gathering.

"I have no regrets because I know that if we didn't go that night, Beijing would have to be closed for who knows how long," she said.

She said that although authorities suppressed the white paper movement, it continues to inspire people.

"After the white paper movement, everyone may have gone through a process of gradually overcoming fear.  For Halloween in Shanghai, some people covered their bodies with white paper," she said.

Some online videos and images from the Halloween event show people in costumes designed to vent their dissatisfaction with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. They dressed up as Winnie the Pooh, who symbolizes Xi, and COVID-testers in white hazmat suits. One person dressed as Batman to remind people that the coronavirus might have originated in bats.

Huang Yicheng, a graduate of Peking University who used his real name, commented in the U.S.-based Chinese-language online magazine Yibao about the recent display.

"The 2023 Halloween parade was the largest social movement in Shanghai after the 2022 Urumqi Middle Road blank paper movement, with thousands of people participating," he wrote. "Each activist used their creativity and brought their own 'repertoire' to the scene, turning the streets of Shanghai into a movable feast."

Han Yun said this years Halloween revelry made her feel "that now everyone is actually looking for a way to express themselves in the streets."

In recent days, however, Chinese police began detaining people who appeared that evening in costumes that carried a political message, according to VOAs sister organization Radio Free Asia.

Han Yun also pointed to the public response to the sudden death of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Oct. 27.

Li was seen by many as the rare high-level official who represented the path of reform in Xis increasingly authoritarian China. Han Yun said some people left flowers to commemorate him. Others posted comments online on Li in contrast to Xi, triggering swift and strict censorship on Chinas social media platforms.

Qu Zichuan, a netizen who claims to be a postmodernist, posted on X, formerly Twitter: "In my opinion, Shanghai's cosplayers showed various ghosts in reality, including the continuation of the blank-paper youth spirit. 

"People in Hefei set a record of 3 million people spontaneously paying tribute to Li.  People in Shanghai and Hefei expressed what they could not before, and their behavioral language can be spread infinitely."

One college student in Beijing told VOA that when his campus locked down during the 2022 protests, he put up a piece of blank paper in school to express his solidarity.

He said that, as far as he knew, some young people who participated in the movement lost their freedom, and these people should not be forgotten.

"A year after the blank paper movement, China has lifted its lockdown," he said. "Everyone seems to have returned to a normal life.

"But as far as I know, many young people who were arrested for participating in the movement were released on bail ... and are currently facing political oppression, such as harassment by state security and restrictions on leaving the country.

"Some people are still in detention, and their information is unknown to the outside world. I hope people don't forget these arrested and persecuted young people who are fighting for everyone's rights."

The college student added that the large-scale collective protest had led the Chinese government to finally reopen the country.

"But everyone should also see that such an authoritarian system locked everyone up at home for three years, causing such a huge disaster. If the entire system does not change, if this continues, the next disaster will be in the not-too-distant future, and it will be even worse than this three-year lockdown. So, the fight for democracy and human rights must persist."
A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday. The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to explain why the U.S. military believed Iran was behind the attack.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the vessel's crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessels Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping, the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. The vessels AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack.

The Symi is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific Shipping in Singapore rang unanswered Saturday, while no one responded to a request for comment sent by email. The Israeli military also did not respond to a request for comment.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with Eastern Pacific, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.
Film industry leaders in Marrakech attending one of the Arab world's largest film festivals emphasized Friday the importance of elevating cinema and artistic expression amid a shadow cast by Israel's war with Hamas and an earthquake that struck Morocco less than three months ago.

"In the weeks leading up to the festival, we were not sure that we would even be able to be here. The world we share is shattered and devoured," said American actor Jessica Chastain, serving as the president of the festival's jury, in a speech on the festival's opening night.

"Throughout history, art has been used as an accessible tool for communication, raising awareness about social issues and affecting positive change," she added.

Surrounded by red carpet crowds and flashing camera lights, others agreed.

"We know what's happening and don't forget it," said Melita Toscan Du Plantier, director of the Marrakech International Film Festival. "But heart is important. Heart is a weapon against obscurity and against conflict. We're here to talk about heart, show movies and talk about directors from this region."

Organizers said they looked forward to showcasing cinema from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa. Throughout the week, they plan to honor Moroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi, and workshop films from throughout the region in a developmental program presided over by director Martin Scorsese.

The festival opened Friday with Richard Linklater's action-comedy Hit Man. Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen was honored with a career achievement award for his films including Another Round, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Casino Royale, in which he played a Bond villain.

The festival is expected to feature more than 70 additional films, including Michel Franco's Memory, starring Chastain, and Matteo Garrone's Italian immigration drama Io Capitano.

It's one of Morocco's most widely publicized international events and comes in the aftermath of an earthquake that wreaked particular havoc on the mountain communities surrounding Marrakech. Moroccan Prince Moulay Rachid, who leads the foundation responsible for the festival, called it a "bastion of peace that brings people closer together."

The prince said in a statement that the festival was an "invitation for discovery, empathy and sharing."

The Marrakech International Film Festival, along with Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival that is scheduled to open next week, are taking place as protests sweep North Africa and the Middle East, including Morocco, over the war in Gaza. That's in contrast to the Cairo International Film Festival and Tunisia's Carthage Film Festival, both of which were canceled because of the war.

The festival is scheduled to run through Dec. 2.
Artists from the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra of Beijing, China perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Liu Yanan, Xing Yue

NEW YORK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Artists from a leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

Conducted by Lin Chen, the performance marks the return of the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra (CCOM Symphony Orchestra) of Beijing, China, to Carnegie Hall following its previous performance at the prestigious venue in 2019.

Full of Chinese cultural elements, these pieces combined traditional Chinese instruments with a symphony orchestra setting, and Chinese musical elements with Western techniques of composition.

The guzheng, bamboo flute and harp were featured in the performance with several pieces based on Chinese poems and the traditional Chinese philosophical work Tao Te Ching.

The two-hour-plus performance on the night of "Black Friday" attracted over one thousand people from various walks of life.

The performance took place at a very opportune time -- the American Thanksgiving holiday and the recent meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents in San Francisco, said Qin Wenchen, vice president of CCOM and a renowned composer.

"We have anticipated this performance for a long time as we didn't make it during the pandemic. We're fully prepared and only present premieres this time," Qin told Xinhua.

"It's amazing, very beautiful. I like the last one most, it brings out my Chinese soul," said Dionisio Cimarelli, adjunct sculpture professor at NYC's Fashion Institute of Technology, as he referred to "East West III: Tao for All" which was inspired by the Tao Te Ching.

"Music has no barriers and helps build bridges of understanding between the United States and China," he told Xinhua.

Cimarelli, who lived and worked in China for many years, called for more understanding and more collaboration. "We need to know each other and to work together to make a better world," he said.

Qin said the prospects of exchanges in art, culture and other fields between the United States and China are very broad.

"Every piece was amazing," said a social worker in New York who called herself Georgette. "You could feel the emotion, the sadness and the happiness. Everything portrayed in each piece came out amazing."

As a frequent concertgoer, Georgette also spoke highly of the blend of Chinese culture and Western instruments, noting that she visited Beijing a few years ago and wanted to learn more about China.

"We watch a lot of international concerts here. This is really one of the best. The instruments, the sounds and presentation," said Georgette's cousin Leone, who is a doctor in New York.

"That just takes my breath away. I've never heard anything like it and I never saw that instrument that they were using," said Julie Hill, a tourist in New York.

It was a global symphony because there were instruments from Europe, China and other places, said Xavier Sapp Cobham, a teenager from Brooklyn. "That's a really good combination of all of them."

"The symphony was just absolutely amazing. The vocalist was amazing, spectacular," Cobham said. "I will come back here again and make sure I bring all my studio's friends." 

Artists from the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra of Beijing, China perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)

Artists from the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra of Beijing, China perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)

Fan Linfeng, a bamboo flute player from the Central Conservatory of Music of Beijing, China, performs at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)

Artists from the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra of Beijing, China perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)

Lin Chen, a conductor from the Central Conservatory of Music of Beijing, China, conducts the performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)

Song Yuanming, a soprano from the Central Conservatory of Music of Beijing, China, performs at Carnegie Hall in New York, the United States on Nov. 24, 2023. Artists from the leading Chinese symphony orchestra returned here on Friday night after a COVID-induced hiatus and won the hearts of over a thousand audience members with their world premiere compositions.

(Photo by Michael Violago/Xinhua)
Seventy more aid trucks entered Gaza from Egypt's Rafah border crossing Saturday, day two of a truce between Israel and the Hamas militia group that controls Gaza. Observers along Egypt's Rafah border crossing leading to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip say that more than 70 fuel and aid supply trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt by midafternoon Saturday. A Hamas spokesman told Qatar's Al Jazeera TV that food, fuel, water and medical supplies were among the main items entering Gaza.

The second phase of a prisoner and hostage swap between Israel and Hamas was also in the process of being implemented Saturday afternoon, as Israel released 42 more Palestinian prisoners from its detention centers. Hamas was expected to hand over 14 Israelis to Egypt.

A Palestinian human rights observer in the West Bank, Qaddoura Farris, said at a press conference that the prisoner swap was "unfair" because Israel chose the names of those Palestinians it was releasing in exchange for hostages that it had selected. VOA could not independently confirm the claim.

He said that Israel did not respect the principle of prisoner exchanges that the longest-serving prisoners are released first.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that he was determined to bring back all Israeli hostages, whatever the circumstances.

"We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women, he said. Each of them is an entire world. But I emphasize to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel, we are committed to returning all the hostages. This is one of the aims of the war, and we are committed to achieving all the aims of the war."
Over three dozen Palestinian prisoners returned home to a hero's welcome in the occupied West Bank on Friday following their release from Israeli prisons as part of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The procession of freed prisoners, some accused of minor offenses and others convicted in attacks, at a checkpoint outside Jerusalem stoked massive crowds of Palestinians into a chanting, clapping, hand-waving, screaming frenzy.

Fifteen dazed young men, all in stained gray prison sweatsuits and looking gaunt with exhaustion, glided through the streets on the shoulders of their teary-eyed fathers as fireworks turned the night sky to blazing color and patriotic Palestinian pop music blared.

Some of those released were draped in Palestinian flags, others in the green flags of Hamas. They flashed victory signs as they crowdsurfed.

"I have no words, I have no words," said newly released Jamal Brahma, 17, searching for something to say to the hordes of jostling journalists and thousands of chanting Palestinians, many in national dress. "Thank God."

A father's joy

Tears fell down his father Khalil Brahma's cheeks as he brought his son down from his shoulders and looked him in the eye for the first time in seven months. Israeli forces had arrested Jamal at his home in the Palestinian city of Jericho last spring and detained him without charge or trial.

"I just want to be his father again," he said.

The release of the Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails came just hours after two dozen hostages, including 13 Israelis, were released from captivity in Gaza in the initial exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners during the four-day cease-fire that started Friday.

Although the atmosphere was festive in the town of Beitunia near Israel's hulking Ofer Prison in the West Bank, people were on edge.

The Israeli government has ordered police to shut down celebrations over the release. Israeli security forces at one point unleashed tear gas on the crowds, sending young men, old women and small children sprinting away as they wept and screamed in pain.

"The army is trying to take this moment away from us, but they can't," Mays Foqaha said as she tumbled into the arms of her newly released friend Nour al-Taher, 18, from Nablus, who was arrested during a protest in September at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. "This is our day of victory."

The Palestinian detainees freed Friday included 24 women, some of whom had been sentenced to years-long prison terms over attempted stabbings and other attacks on Israeli security forces. Others had been accused of incitement on social media.

There were also 15 male teenagers, most of them charged with stone-throwing and "supporting terrorism," a broadly defined accusation that underscores Israel's long-running crackdown on young Palestinian men as violence surges in the occupied territory.

Heartbroken, yet happy

For families on both sides of the conflict, news of the exchange  perhaps the first hopeful moment in 49 days of war  stirred a bittersweet jumble of joy and anguish.

"As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I can't really celebrate," said Abdulqader Khatib, a U.N. worker whose son Iyas, 17, was placed last year in "administrative detention," without charges or trial and based on secret evidence. "But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy."

There are now 7,200 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, said Qadura Fares, director of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, with over 2,000 arrested since October 7 alone.

Since October 7, when Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group, took roughly 240 Israeli and foreign citizens hostage and killed 1,200 Israelis in its unprecedented rampage through southern Israel, Palestinians have wondered about the fate of their own prisoners.

Israel has a history of agreeing to lopsided exchanges. In 2011, Hamas got Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit.

A prisoner release touches Palestinian society to its core. Almost every Palestinian has a relative in jail  or has been there himself. Human rights groups estimate that more than 750,000 Palestinians have passed through Israeli prisons since Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967.

Whereas Israel views them as terrorists, Palestinians refer to them by the Arabic word for prisoners of war and devote a good chunk of public funds to supporting them and their families. Israel and the U.S. have condemned the grants to prisoner families as an incentive for violence.

"These kinds of prisoner exchanges are often the only hope families have to see their sons or fathers released before many years go by," said Amira Khader, international advocacy officer at Addameer, a group supporting Palestinian prisoners. "It's what they live for. It's like a miracle from God."
A Russian lawmaker and staunch supporter of President Vladimir Putin has denied media allegations that he adopted a missing 2-year-old girl who was removed from a Ukrainian childrens home and changed her name in Russia.

Sergey Mironov, 70, the leader of political party A Just Russia, asserted on social media that the Ukrainian security services and their Western partners concocted a fake report to discredit true Russian patriots like himself.

His statement, posted on X, followed the BBC and independent Russian news outlet Important Stories publishing an investigation Thursday that said Mironov adopted a child named Margarita Prokopenko who was allegedly taken to Moscow at the age of 10 months by the woman to whom he is now married.

Mironov accused the two news organizations of having only one goal  to discredit those who take an uncompromising patriotic position.

You are trying in vain, he wrote, adding that Russia would win its war in Ukraine.

The office of the Ukrainian parliament's human rights commissioner told The Associated Press it was looking into the news report.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the commissioner for childrens rights in Putin's office, accusing them of committing war crimes through their involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine.

Bill Van Esveld, associate director of the Childrens Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, said Friday that the agency could not independently confirm the BBC and Important Stories' findings. But he thinks the deportation of the girl to Russia, her adoption and her name change would be a black and white war crime."

The investigation by the BBC and Important Stories said Margarita was collected in August 2022 from a home for children needing specialized medical care or missing parents in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, which was occupied by Russian soldiers at the time.

The news organizations identified a woman who had visited the baby in Kherson before a group of Russian men removed the child from the home as Inna Varlamova, 55, who later married Mironov. The investigation also cited a birth record created several months later that listed Mironov and Varlamova as the parents of child named Marina who was born Oct. 31, 2021  Margarita's birthday.

Ukrainian authorities have estimated that around 20,000 children were sent out of the country without their parents' knowledge or under false pretenses since Russia invaded in February 2022. A study by Yale University found more than 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been taken to Belarus from four regions of Ukraine that are partially occupied by Russian forces.

The AP reported in Oct. 2022 that Russian officials deported Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories without consent, told them they werent wanted by their parents and gave them Russian families and citizenship.

Vira Yastrebova, director of Eastern Human Rights Group, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, said Russian authorities were increasingly placing children into Russian foster families for eventual adoption instead of temporary guardianship.

Because Russian law makes it very difficult to find information about adoptions, it is therefore easy to hide any information about the children, Yastrebova said.

The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, maintained in September that Russia does not kidnap Ukrainian children but is saving them.

Russia has said it will return children to their families once a parent or guardian requests it. But, because many Ukrainian families do not know where their children were taken, they are unable to make the requests.

Even when children are located, reuniting them with their families during the ongoing war often is a complicated process, involving a lot of paperwork and international border crossings. Pope Francis tasked his Ukraine peace envoy earlier this year with trying to get young Ukrainians returned to their country.

The transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia will affect them profoundly and have a lifelong impact, Van Esveld told the AP in a phone interview Friday.

They have no opportunity to go back to their community or country and their development, right to education and right to form their own identity without coercion  is impacted, he said.
Seventeen hostages were released by Hamas late Saturday and returned to Israel where they were taken to hospitals for observation and reunited with their families, the Israeli military said.

The joint announcement by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security service came after the prime minister's office said in a statement that the government "embraces the 17 hostages that are returning home, 13 of our citizens and 4 Thai citizens."

Hamas' armed wing earlier said it had handed over 13 Israelis and seven foreigners to the Red Cross. The reason for the discrepancy in the reported number of foreigners released was not immediately clear.

A video released by Hamas showed the hostages appearing shaken but mostly in good physical condition as masked militants led them to Red Cross vehicles headed out of Gaza.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization the U.S., U.K., EU and others.

The hostages were released hours later than expected after the militant group accused Israel of violating the exchange agreement, claims denied by Israeli officials.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators were able to address Hamas' concerns and the hostages were finally released Saturday night on the second day of a fragile four-day cease-fire with Hamas.

Israel then freed 39 Palestinian prisoners early Sunday under the agreement.

Of the 13 released Israelis, there were seven children and six mothers. The children ranged in age from 3 to 16, and the women ranged from 18 to 67.

Although one of Israel's preconditions for the swap was not to split the families of the abductees, at least two families from kibbutz Be'eri were split. A kibbutz spokesperson said all the released hostages either had a family member killed in the October 7 rampage or had left a loved one in captivity in Gaza.

Of the 39 Palestinian prisoners, 33 were children and six were women, a Qatari spokesperson said.

Television images showed prisoners being welcomed home.

The most prominent individual released was Israa Jaabis, 38, who was convicted of a checkpoint bombing attack in 2015 that wounded a police officer. She suffered burns and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant went to the Gaza Strip on Saturday for an operational assessment. He met with commanders and soldiers and discussed using the pause to prepare to resume ground operations once the hostages are all free.

"We cannot leave Gaza and stop the war until we reach a situation in which we bring back all the hostages  because we have many more [held captive]," he said

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Saturday afternoon with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and was briefed throughout Saturday on the latest of the hostage deal implementation, spokesperson Adrienne Watson for the White House National Security Council said.

Hours earlier, the armed wing of Hamas said, Israel had not met all the truce conditions, including allowing all promised aid trucks into northern Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan said only 65 of 340 aid trucks that had entered Gaza since Friday had reached northern Gaza, which was "less than half of what Israel agreed on."

Qadura Fares, the Palestinian commissioner for prisoners, also said Israel had failed to fulfill the terms of the Palestinian prisoner releases based on seniority.

Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security Cabinet, told Channel 13 News that Israel was "abiding by the deal" with Hamas that Qatar had mediated.

The U.N. said the pause allowed it to increase its humanitarian assistance into and across Gaza.

On Friday, 200 trucks were sent from Nitzana to the Rafah crossing, and 137 trucks of goods were offloaded at the reception point in Gaza by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.

Four tanks of fuel and four tanks of cooking gas were transferred from Egypt to U.N. humanitarian aid organizations in the southern Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing. The fuel and cooking gas are designated for operating essential humanitarian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that 61 trucks of aid were delivered to northern Gaza on Saturday, the largest number since October 7. They included food, water and emergency medical supplies.

Eleven ambulances, three coaches and a flatbed were delivered to Shifa Hospital to assist with evacuations.

Another 200 trucks were dispatched from Nitzana and 187 of them entered Gaza by 7 p.m. local time. In addition, 129,000 liters of fuel crossed into Gaza, the U.N. statement said.

For many of the 2.3 million people who live in the Gaza Strip, the pause in the near-constant air and artillery strikes has offered a first chance to safely move around, take stock of the devastation, and seek access to the humanitarian aid pouring into Gaza.

Over the course of the cessation in fighting, Hamas is to release at least 50 hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners, as part of an agreement struck during talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Israel said the four-day stop in fighting would be extended an extra day for every 10 additional hostages freed by Hamas. A Qatari spokesperson said Doha hopes to broker another agreement to release more hostages from Gaza by the cease-fire's fourth day.

"Chances are real" for an extension of the temporary halt to the war, Biden said in Friday remarks. He added that two American women and a 4-year-old American child remain among those missing.

Steve Herman, Natasha Mosgovaya, and Ed Yeranian contributed to this report. Some information for this article was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse , and Reuters.
Tens of thousands of people turned out on central London's streets on Saturday for a pro-Palestinian march calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

At least five people were arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, police said.

The National March for Palestine was the latest of several huge protests staged in the British capital and many European cities every weekend since the Israel-Hamas war began last month.

Saturday's protests came on the second day of a four-day cease-fire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred "near the start of the protest." The man was spotted carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it, police said.

Later Saturday, police said they arrested four more people who distributed "literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David."

Officers handed out leaflets at the march that sought to clarify what would be deemed a criminal offense, after the force faced pressure from senior government officials to be tougher on alleged displays of antisemitism at the protests.

"Anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organization," said Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan. "We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism  such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people  or who spreads hate speech."

The force said 1,500 officers were deployed to police the march.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the Islamist group, also protested Saturday outside the Egyptian Embassy in London. Police said two women who were seen holding offensive placards were arrested for a racially aggravated public order offense.

In Paris, a march staged for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women drew both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli activists as well as other groups.

Some protesters, waving Palestinian flags and posters reading "Free Palestine," walked in a show of solidarity with "Gaza and Palestine's women who are being murdered."

A group of Jewish women also joined the march to denounce crimes committed by Hamas, including rapes and killings, chanting, "We are women, we are proud, we are Jewish and we are angry."

Meanwhile, some pro-Palestinian protests were organized over the weekend in France's major cities including Strasbourg, Lyon and Marseille.

In Vienna, many marched amid the first snow in the city, waving Palestinian flags at a "Peace for Palestine" rally. Organizers called on the Austrian government to back a cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade.

Organizers warned potential participants ahead of Saturday's demonstration that any antisemitic or far-right actions would be "stopped immediately" and offenders would be asked to leave the event.

Tens of thousands of people are also expected to take part in a march organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity on Sunday to show solidarity with the Jewish community in the U.K.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that his country was looking for "three victories" from its Western allies, including the passage of two military aid packages  by the United States and the European Union  and the formal start of talks to join the European bloc.

"We need three victories. The first one is the victory with U.S. Congress. It's a challenge, it's not easy, but Ukraine is doing everything," Zelenskyy told a news conference in Kyiv.

President Joe Biden has proposed billions of dollars in new assistance for Ukraine, but the funding was not included in a stopgap measure Congress passed this month.

Some Republican lawmakers oppose approving more aid for Ukraine, but a majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress still support the additional aid.

In a statement Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken appealed to lawmakers to support Biden's latest funding request for Ukraine military aid.

"Helping Ukraine defend itself ... helps prevent larger conflict in the region and deters future aggression, which makes us all safer," Blinken said.

Zelenskyy said the second "victory" needed abroad was that "we need the help from the EU on the 50 billion-euro package," and "the third is to open a dialog about our future membership."

The European Union recently announced a 50 billion-euro package for Ukraine, but it has not yet been approved and is facing opposition by Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also said he is opposed to launching EU membership talks with Kyiv.

Zelenskyy made the comments at a joint news conference in Kyiv with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who expressed optimism that the EU aid package for Ukraine would eventually pass.

Moldova sanctions

In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it viewed Moldova's decision to join EU sanctions against it as a hostile step.

"We regard this as yet another hostile step by the Moldovan leadership, which is fully integrated into the anti-Russian campaign of the 'collective West,'" the ministry said in a statement.

"Its aim is the complete destruction of Russian-Moldovan relations," it said.

Moldova's parliament agreed to the sanctions against Russia on Friday, part of the country's bid to eventually join the European Union.

Russian crackdown

Russia's Justice Ministry said Friday that former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who later became a critic of the Kremlin, had been added to a registry of foreign agents.

Kasyanov served as prime minister for the first four years of Putin's administration but was fired in 2004.

He later became a prominent opposition figure, and after leaving the country in 2022, he criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The foreign agent law has been used against opposition figures and independent news media. It requires those designated as foreign agents who publish information to prominently label that the material comes from a foreign agent.

Battlefield

The Russian Defense Ministry said its missile defenses downed 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and three more over the Volgograd region early Friday.

Ukrainian officials did not comment on the Russian report.

Also Friday, officials in Ukraine said Russian forces were escalating their attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka.

Russia has been trying to capture the city since mid-October, in a brutal battle that has drawn parallels to the fight for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which Russia eventually captured after months of intense fighting.

The city sits on the front line five kilometers from Donetsk, the Russian-controlled capital of the region, one of four regions Moscow said it annexed from Ukraine.

The British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence update on the war that Russia continued to face "mass casualties from Ukrainian long-range precision strikes well behind the front line."

The ministry said that on November 10, more than 70 Russian troops were probably killed in a strike on a truck convoy 23 kilometers behind the front line in Hladkivka, a village in Kherson oblast. Then, the ministry said, a November 19 strike on an award ceremony or concert in Kumachove, 60 kilometers behind the lines, probably caused "tens" of casualties.

Ukraine, though, has suffered similar casualties, the update said, adding that a Russian missile killed 19 members of a Ukrainian brigade at a medal ceremony November 3.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Uyghur Americans Press Detainee, Rights Concerns at Biden-Xi Summit

At the Biden-Xi summit, Uyghur Americans like Ziba Murat emphasized the need for a resolution regarding detained relatives in China, urging China to release innocent family members. Despite these efforts, concerns persist about human rights taking a back seat in diplomatic discussions, although President Joe Biden raised these issues during the summit. Uyghur Americans have expressed fears of transnational repression and are calling for proactive U.S. government action.

Uyghur Filmmaker's Trial Paused in China

Uyghur filmmaker Ikram Nurmehmet, accused of "separatism" and "terrorism," and four associates have been on trial in Xinjiang. They were accused of having ties to Uyghur separatist groups. While his friends admitted guilt, Nurmehmet denied charges of recruiting and fundraising for an East Turkistan group in Turkey, and he also told the court he'd been tortured into falsely confessing to crimes he didn't commit. The trial, initially set to conclude, was postponed to January because of the torture claim.

Probe: Forced Uyghur Labor Helped Supply Seafood to US Programs

Chinese distant-water fishing ships employ forced Uyghur and North Korean labor in seafood processing plants, supplying goods to the U.S. military and school lunches, a probe said. The Outlaw Ocean Project's investigation revealed violations of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, with over $50 million worth of salmon reaching federally funded programs, $140 million worth of seafood sent to U.S. military bases, and over $300,000 worth of canned pink salmon donated to Ukraine, some sourced from Chinese plants using forced Uyghur labor.

Electronics Exports Get Closer US Scrutiny Over Uyghur Labor Concerns

U.S. scrutiny on electronics, mainly from Malaysia and Vietnam, has heightened because of a U.S. law targeting forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang. Since June 2022, over 6,000 shipments worth $2 billion have faced controls, with $82 million in electronics rejected or inspected in September alone. Malaysia and Vietnam, major exporters, have seen $320 million worth of cargoes denied or checked, nearly three times more than China. The impact of compliance issues on shipment delays remains unclear.

Uyghur Educator Dies in Xinjiang Prison Amid Torture Allegations

Uyghur educator, researcher and poet Abdusemet Rozi, 57, has died in Xinjiang prison after falling ill, according to Radio Free Asia. Jailed for the second time in 2022, the reason for his arrest remains undisclosed. Authorities buried his body immediately and said he died of illness, but Norway-based Uyghur activist Abduweli Ayup alleges Rozi suffered physical and mental torture. Previously sentenced to 20 years in 2019, released in 2021, and rearrested in 2022, Rozi's arrests are of unknown cause. Ayup suggests his research and social activities, including an article on Uyghur language teaching, might be reasons for detention. Rozi, a 1987 graduate of Kashgar Pedagogical Institute, worked as a teacher and researcher in Xinjiang.

China's Mosque Closures Expand Beyond Uyghur Region

Chinese officials have expanded their campaign of mosque closures to regions other than Xinjiang, where for years it has been blamed for persecuting Muslim minorities, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday. The U.S.-based rights watchdog calls the crackdown on mosques a violation of religious freedom, constituting a systematic effort to curb Islam in China. Chinas Foreign Ministry defends the measures, emphasizing mosque protection and urging against ideological bias and political manipulation.

News in brief

The U.S. decision to lift sanctions on the Chinese Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science in Beijing, aimed at stemming the flow of illegal fentanyl from China, has sparked concerns. Last week, the IFS was removed from the U.S. Entity List, prompting worries about implications for national security and human rights. While the State Department clarified that delisting does not constitute removal of sanctions, critics are voicing fears over IFS genetic research targeting Uyghurs. China explained the move as a counternarcotics effort.

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Lifting sanctions will allow [the IFS] to continue its efforts unhindered, including access to Western genetic analysis technologies and research cooperation. It is important to understand that the institutes efforts have relied on Western technologies, including U.S.-made Thermo Fisher sequencing equipment and Illumina sequencing equipment, as well as Dutch-German-made Qiagen testing kits in its efforts to target Uyghurs, Tibetans and other PRC Indigenous peoples.  Mark Munsterhjelm, assistant professor, University of Windsor, and author of Forensic Colonialism: Genetics and the Capture of Indigenous Peoples
, a leading telecom company in India, has partnered with feature phone manufacturers such as Itel, Lava, and Nokia to develop affordable Jio Bharat 4G devices. The company aims to encourage 250 million 2G users to switch to 4G technology. In addition to this, Reliance Jio is planning to launch an upgraded version of its Rs. 999 4G phone, which will support UPI payments, WhatsApp, and live TV streaming. Jio's devices division president,, stated that all brands are in touch with them to ensure that the product is successful in the market and in the minds of consumers.Dutt is an industry veteran who has led companies such as HP and Blackberry. According to him, a typical 2G user finds it difficult to use a smartphone as it is expensive and prone to malfunctions. The biggest factor in this regard is affordability, and Jio has made a new push into the feature phone market to lower the cost of ownership. Jio Bharat phones come with special 4G monthly plans that are priced much lower than those of their competitors. Dutt says that this is the most exploited customer, and unfortunately, even Jio's competitors have no sense of regret in exploiting them. Dutt further added that Jio's competitors charge Rs 180 to this customer and give them 2GB of data, which, on a 2G network, a customer cannot even consume efficiently.Featurephone hardware is standardized, but there is a lack of content that customers can consume on it. Jio is offering live TV with over 450 channels, the latest films, thousands of songs, IPL streaming, and a plethora of other content for 30% less than the market price. Additionally, Jio has introduced UPI payments with a scan-and-pay option, eliminating the need for merchants to pay additional rentals for the sound box as it's already included in the Jio Bharat phones. The Jio Bharat platform currently has four models, and more are planned for later this year. Jio is already finalizing the range of phones that will be available in the next fiscal year, which could come in different sizes, form factors, or colors.The Jio Bharat platform aims to transition 2G users into the 4G ecosystem, but 5G is also a priority area for Jio, not just a backup option. However, smartphone brands haven't been able to produce devices at the sub-Rs 10,000 price point to drive volumes, according to a Jio executive. The executive added that many smartphone brands have been dealing with different issues that have clouded their priorities. Nevertheless, Jio is now collaborating with these brands to ensure great 5G experiences for customers. Additionally, Jio is helping these brands implement the standalone stack on their devices. The focus is on how to work together to bring better value propositions for customers.
Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic

Not on Dylan Sprouses watch, Disney. In a recent episode of the Back to the Best podcast, Kim Rhodes said the young Sprouse twins defended her throughout The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, where she played their on-screen mom. She specifically described a moment on set when Dylan refused to say a fat joke about her, which she said was the shows way of dealing with her pregnancy. According to Rhodes, Dylan kept omitting the line from the middle of a chunk of dialogue. And finally we get in front of the studio audience, and he skips it, and the executive producer screams, Cut! Dylan, say the line, Rhodes recalled in part. And he goes, I would not disrespect any woman that way, let alone this woman. You write something funny, and Ill say it. (Disney did not immediately respond to Vultures request for comment.)

Cole and Dylan Sprouse  my little men, as Rhodes fondly described them  were 12 years old when Suite Life started airing in 2005. According to Rhodes, co-star Phill Lewis (a.k.a. Mr. Moseby) informed the brothers early on that they had sway: Phill was like: Look, youre the only people on this set that are not expendable, so you take the bullet every time, and they took that so seriously, Rhodes said. Ultimately, Dylan and Cole left the Suite Life franchise because of creative control issues with Disney. We were 18. If that isnt old enough to know exactly what the show needs, then  well, I would beg to disagree, Dylan told Vulture in 2017. I dont think [Disney] were willing to work with us, really ever. So, we stopped the show. No one wants to be in the cut with their twin, but not vibing.
Calls to 1522 double after Giulia Cecchettin murder.

The Italian government on Friday night lit up the facade of its Rome headquarters with the 1522 helpline on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The helpline - which is free, anonymous and active 24 hours a day - is designed as a first response to the needs of victims of gender-based violence and stalking.

"It is a number that you can call at any time if you are afraid and you can find someone on the other end who can help you" - Italian premier Giorgia Meloni said on Friday night - "Those who are afraid should know that they are not alone."

Meloni was joined outside Palazzo Chigi by family minister Eugenia Roccella and sport minister Andrea Abodi, along with numerous figures from the Italian world of sport including Paralympic fencing champion Bebe Vio.

"When you think that being afraid is normal, it is not. When you think that love hurts, it is not like that" - Meloni said - "We are free and there is no one who can take that freedom away from us."

On Wednesday the Italian parliament approved new measures to clamp down on gender-based violence, including a school campaign to address sexism, machismo and psychological and physical violence against women.

Calls to the 1522 helpline - whose operators respond in Italian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Albanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Portuguese and Polish - more than doubled last week after the murder of 22-year-old student Giulia Cecchettin, news agency ANSA reports.

Cecchettin's brutal killing sparked a wave of outrage and protests across Italy, and she will be remembered during two major rallies in Rome and Messina on Saturday for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Rome is hosting a series of events to mark the day and on Saturday night the Colosseum will light up in red, in a symbolic gesture to promote awareness and the fight against gender-based violence.

Photo Sport e Salute
Changpeng Zhao had long cultivated the image of the rugged pugilist of the cryptocurrencies world.

When his rival Sam Bankman-Frieds crypto empire collapsed a year ago, Zhao, or CZ as his fans call him, was in the middle of it all, yanking his money in a very public way and helping trigger the ultimately fatal run on the firms. Years earlier he claimed the companys headquarters was wherever he happened to be, a thinly veiled salvo against regulators trying to nail down jurisdiction. And this March, when US regulators charged Zhao and his firm, Binance Holdings, with violating US securities laws, his on-line response was 4, which is Zhao code for dismissing something as unworthy of his attention.

Changpeng Zhao with his Binance tattoo in Paris. Credit: Bloomberg

On Tuesday, though, Zhao cut a very different image in a Seattle courtroom. Dressed in dark suit and pale blue tie before a federal judge, he pleaded guilty to criminal charges for anti-money laundering and US sanctions violations, including allowing transactions with Hamas and other terrorist groups, under a sweeping deal with the Justice department designed to keep the biggest crypto exchange operating. Binance itself agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay over $US4 billion ($6.1 billion) in penalties. Zhao stepped down as CEO and will pay a $US50 million fine.

Zhaos capitulation in many ways is the culmination of a multi-year dragnet by international regulators who sought to rein in and impose regulations on Binance - and, by extension, the broader industry.
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 I cannot breathe, boys, please, Joseph Hanna pleaded with the guards holding him to the ground. Moments earlier, he had been approached by the six guards from Sercos Emergency Response Team  a specialist unit allowed to use force as a last resort against people held in immigration detention. The officers told Hanna he would be moved from Sydneys Villawood to a centre in Perth, and instructed him to stay still. CCTV and body camera footage from the incident on February 10, 2021, detailed in a confidential Australian Human Rights Commission report obtained by this masthead, shows Hanna responded thank you boys before reaching into his pocket for his phone. Detainee Joseph Hanna after use of force by six Serco guards. The officers quickly reacted by grabbing his hands and pushing his head down. Hanna became distressed, shouting please, my back, I cant breathe before he was slammed to the ground. The officers held him down, yelling stop resisting, but the commission found Hanna was not resisting. Instead, it described him shouting in pain: What did I do? Tell me.

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The commission is yet to issue a final finding on the incident, but it provides another example of the reality of conditions in detention centres following an investigation by this masthead, which has found police directly lobbying politicians to have visas cancelled, haphazard health policies and rampant drug use. The revelation comes as the federal government scrambles to respond to a High Court ruling that keeping people in these centres indefinitely is illegal. Serco and the government told the commissions investigation into Hannas treatment that staffing shortages during COVID-19 had resulted in breaches of its safety policies. Interviews with dozens of current and former guards and detainees reveal a different picture, with many claiming understaffing is entrenched, leading to violence, allegations of sexual assault and an illegal drug trade that puts both detainees and staff at risk. After the incident reviewed by the commission, Hanna, from Lebanon, was cuffed, patted down and left in a room alone. He left with a black eye, blurred vision and cuts on his forehead and knee. UN special rapporteur on torture Alice Edwards says Labor is responsible for Australias record on inhumane refugee policy. Credit: Cordula Treml United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards said the conditions detailed in this mastheads investigation, including the death of detainee Moses Kellie in 2019 after a failure to administer his medication, were totally unacceptable and should prompt a review of government contracts with Serco and International Health and Medical Services.

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From the terrible death of Mr Kellie, through to widespread availability of drugs in immigration detention, they are alarm bells, she said. A full investigation, including how these contractors either facilitate these problems, or are not robust enough to be able to respond to them, would be really important. People in companies and governments need to be accountable for such things. Accountability means people cant get away with essentially forgetting about someone in detention. Edwards said the High Court ruling should be an opportunity for the government to reset its approach to immigration detention rather than circumvent the ruling by setting people up to fail through unrealistic visa conditions. Its not just those people who have been released, indefinite detention is illegal now, she said. The government should embrace it, not see it as a threat [and] pause to see how Australia could do better.

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In a nondescript building on a quiet street in Canberras industrial zone, Fyshwick, multinational corporate Serco trains its emergency response team guards. Phones are banned and attendees must sign confidentiality agreements to take part in the training, where fitness is tested and guards are taught to respond to critical incidents such as controlling riots. Loading Attendees learn how to use spit-hoods, handcuffs and body belts  to restrain detainees who are violent, or being transferred from one centre to another. Its all got to be secret squirrel stuff, says one guard who completed the training, but left the company in 2022. If you dont keep your skills up, your personal fitness up, you get kicked off the team. Yet six guards told this masthead that the training had failed to prepare them for the reality of the job. Speaking anonymously due to confidentiality agreements, they blamed a profit-driven culture (Sercos 10-year $4.6 billion contract for running the centres expires next year) for an environment in which there were routinely too few staff to perform the job safely. Serco is a service company The biggest costs of the business are wages. What can you do to cut down on wages and your biggest cost? Well, you cut corners. Youre supposed to have three officers doing a task, you cut it down and make it two, or one, and that way youve made money, one guard said.

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The guards also enforce the psychological safety program  introduced around 2010 after a spate of refugee suicides in Serco facilities  where detainees at risk of self-harm must be closely watched. Theyre supposed to be [closely watched] so they dont find a razor blade somewhere and start slashing themselves up, another guard said. Youre supposed to have two, normally Serco have one. This is very, very common. There are inherent risks in running the centres and internal Serco documents, obtained by this masthead, show that the company certainly understands major incidents could affect both its bottom line and its reputation. A catastrophic incident is defined as involving a death or multiple people injured. That could, the documents note, cost Serco more than $20 million, have a severe impact on the companys reputation and result in major media headlines or parliamentary intervention. In these situations, Serco undertakes a corrective action plan and senior management are informed, according to the documents. In contrast, a minor incident in which people in their care require medical attention would have only a slight impact on reputation, resulting in mentions in suburban newspapers or local radio stations. For these incidents, management notifications are kept within the immediate business areas.

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Motorists could pay more than $11 to use the Rozelle Interchange, and a senior government minister has warned of traffic disruption lasting up to six months following the opening of Sydneys new tunnel road.

The underground spaghetti junction will open on Sunday morning as part of the WestConnex motorway.

NSW Roads Minister John Graham said drivers using WestConnex pay a distance-based toll, but with a maximum charge of $11.11 under the state governments toll cap.

NSW Roads Minister John Graham said the Rozelle Interchange would give drivers in the west and south-west traffic light-free access to the CBD and inner-west. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Graham, who campaigned against what he called toll mania while in opposition, said the remarkable spaghetti junction will improve car journeys to and from western Sydney.
Bill Shortens push for state governments to lift support for students with extra needs will lay the ground for a fresh school funding stoush, with principals warning they will need more money to help children with autism on school grounds so that families arent forced to rely on the ballooning National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Shorten, the federal minister responsible for the $40 billion NDIS, this week said it could not be a surrogate school system as his government prepares to release a year-long review that will call on states to step up disability services for most Australians through their own systems or risk the scheme buckling under pressure.

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Schools in particular will be a target of national cabinet discussions as a higher-than-forecast number of young children have joined with autism and developmental delay because they struggle to find support in the classroom or afford services on their own.

About 9 per cent of children aged five to seven are now participants  a figure that has grown every quarter and is a major reason the NDIS is one of the federal governments biggest budget pains, set to cost $100 billion by 2032 without major changes.
Australia is home to around 60,000 people born in Afghanistan, according to data collected at the last census. In Melbourne, much of the Afghan community lives around the multicultural area of Dandenong. Mohammadis sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews are still in Pakistan. But the looming threat of forced return hangs heavy over their family in Melbourne. The atmosphere of returning refugees from Pakistan has injected fear and instability into our daily lives, leaving us in a state of hopelessness and uncertainty about what lies ahead, she said. Human Rights Watchs Asia director, Elaine Pearson, says women and girls forced back to Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Askary and Mohammadi, who were joint recipients of the Liberty Victoria Young Voltaire Human Rights Award in 2022, also fear that their human rights advocacy in Australia could further endanger their families abroad. The Taliban have long targeted people  and killed them  for having an association with Australia.

The majority of Australias Afghan population  and indeed most Afghans residing in Pakistan  are of the long-persecuted Hazara ethnicity. Hazaras are culturally distinct, speak a dialect of Persian and mostly practise Shia Islam in Sunni-majority Afghanistan. As refugees are forced back to Afghanistan, attacks by Sunni extremist groups against their mosques, schools and other community sites have ramped up. ISIS affiliates claimed a bus bombing in a mostly Shia neighbourhood of Kabul in early November that killed seven people. It was the third explosive attack on Hazaras in under a month, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said on social media. Pearson of Human Rights Watch said there was an immediate risk to peoples lives once they had been forced back to Afghanistan and identified by the Taliban or other extremists. There is a particular risk for Afghan women and girls who are sent back to Afghanistan, she said.

Whats more, its almost winter in Afghanistan  where temperatures in some areas regularly plummet to as low as minus 20 degrees. In early 2023, the Afghan Ministry of Disaster Management reported that over 160 people had died from the cold. Zohal Azra is a Hazara Australian lawyer and founder of the community media organisation Huma media, in western Sydney. Were extremely worried  sick, said Azra, who, like Askary, has already had family members forced to return to Kabul. Sydney lawyer and media start-up founder Zohal Azra. Some people who were deported from Quetta, Pakistan had been living in that country for 30 years  How will they survive in a completely new environment? One relative of Azras, whom she asked not to be identified due to security risks, has a heart condition. It is unlikely that person will be able to access treatment in Afghanistan, where the health system has all but collapsed.

Many of those awaiting resettlement in third countries like Australia, Canada or the US, have had their Pakistani visas expire while the long humanitarian visa process plays out. Azra said the Australian government needed to do more to help affected families. Loading In 2022, Australia allocated 31,500 places in the humanitarian resettlement program for Afghans through to 2026. This masthead understands that as of November 3, less than half  12,985  of the humanitarian visas had been granted to refugees, and fewer still have made it to Australia. I have many cousins here who have close family that are very close to getting to come to Australia or Canada or go to America, Azra said. In terms of Australia, we have no communication from the government yet. Basically, we have no clarity and we have been left in the dark. Pearson said Human Rights Watch was calling for governments such as Australias to expedite the resettlement of Afghans, and also to support Pakistan financially to pay for the cost of hosting those fleeing persecution.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told this masthead that Australia was concerned about Pakistans changed policy and had urged the government to act with restraint and moderation in its treatment of refugees and not deport anyone to Afghanistan. More than 335,000 people have already been forced back to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Credit: AP The spokesperson said that consular officials had been in contact with affected Afghans in Pakistan and was engaging with Australias Afghan community about the issue, including meeting with community leaders and responding to enquiries from community members. Australia condemns attacks targeting the Hazara community in Afghanistan, as well as actions of the Taliban which marginalise and systematically discriminate against other minority communities, they said.
Gaza: Seventeen hostages, including 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals, have arrived in Jerusalem after they were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, the Israeli military says.

The Israeli authorities have also released 39 Palestinian prisoners, including six women and 33 children, from two prisons as part of the second batch of the exchange deal with Hamas, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported early on Sunday.

After undergoing an initial medical assessment, they will continue to be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families, the Israel Defence Forces said.

The released Israeli hostages are Noam Or, aged 16, and Alma Or, 13; Shiri Weiss, 53, and Noga Weiss, 18; Sharon Hertzman Avigdori, 52, and Noam Avigdori, 12; Shoshan Haran, 67, Adi Shoham, 38, Naveh Shoham, 8, and Yahel Shoham, 3; Hila Rotem Shoshani, 12; Emily Toni Kornberg Hand, 8; and Maya Regev Jirbi, 21.
In this article, we look at the 15 weakest militaries in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on spending trends in the defense sector and head over directly to the 5 Weakest Militaries in the World.

Global defense expenditure is at an all-time high, with an estimated $2.24 trillion spent on military spending in 2022 across the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The surge in spending has led to a boom in the defense industry. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) generated a revenue of $66 billion and net profit of $5.7 billion last year. Net earnings of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) were also 8.9% higher compared to 2021, with a total $14.1 billion in 2022. Several other armament manufacturers including Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) also posted higher revenues last year.

However, the rise in defense expenditure has not been even across countries and regions. More than half of the worlds total military spending came from three countries combined  the United States, China, and Russia. $904 billion were spent in North America, $508 billion in Asia, and $480 billion in Europe. On the other hand, Africa, which is the second most populous continent in the world, spent only $39 billion, just a tad more than Oceania, which is among the least populated regions of the world. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that most of the weakest militaries in the world are African. Although some sparsely populated small European nations make the list as well.

Russia is the largest exporter of arms to the African continent and increased its military exports by 23% to Africa between 2016 and 2020 compared to 2011 and 2015, with an eye on fostering strong ties between Moscow and African nations to facilitate trade and build presence at NATOs southern flank. However, recent western sanctions on Russia have impeded many governments in Africa from trading with Russia and that has created an opening for Chinese and American armament manufacturers.

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Between 2010 and 2021, China exported $2.04 billion worth of military equipment to Sub-Saharan Africa. Arms sales of the United States during the same period were estimated to be $473 million according to a publication by the Atlantic Council. Washington has also donated military equipment to several weaker militaries in the continent to aid them in combating crime and terrorism.

The US government donated two Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft in 2014 to the air force in Mauritania to counter terrorist groups and maritime crimes. Both were valued at $21 million each at the time. These are utility aircraft produced by Cessna, which is owned by Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT). In 2021, the American government gave Niger Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s C-130 aircraft for humanitarian assistance operations and mobility of UN peacekeeping troops. The C-130 is one of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s top-selling tactical aircraft that has been continuously manufactured since its first flight in 1954. The four-engine turboprop aircraft is widely used for airlifting, cargo transport, and other roles such as search and rescue, airborne assault, and maritime patrol.

Likewise, the US has been providing assistance to other countries in different parts of the world as well. This year in March, the US embassy in Belize announced that it was donating a Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft to the Central American nation. The air force in Belize also operates a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter it received from the United States. The year and nature of the deal is unknown. Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters are also developed by Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), and are among the most successful military helicopters ever made. Between 1956 and 1987, more than 16,000 units of these helicopters were manufactured by Bell Helicopters, owned by Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT).

Coming to Europe, the United States has been extending military assistance to countries with weaker militaries such as Moldova. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in 2014 entered into a $6.3 million contract with RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) to provide security solutions to the European nation. The target behind the agreement is to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction across the Moldovan border. Under the signed deal, RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) also provided the required training to Moldova's government officials to ensure smooth transition of capabilities. The US also provides military assistance to several other weaker European nations with security needs. It has been the largest donor to Ukraine as well to aid Kyiv in defending itself against Russian aggression. You can read more on this in our article, 15 Countries that Provided the Highest Military Aid to Ukraine.

15 Weakest Militaries in the World

ANURAKE SINGTO-ON/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

The weakest militaries in the world are ranked based on several key weighted metrics, including GDP, defense spending, manpower, tanks, armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), military aircraft including fighter jets, and naval assets. 40% weightage has been assigned to ground forces capabilities that are manpower, tanks, and AFVs; 30% to naval and aerial strengths; and 30% to economic potential and defense spending levels. Weighted scores for each metric were aggregated to get an overall score. Militaries are listed in descending order of those scores in our list.

Data for this article was obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Global Firepower Index 2023, and Flight International, among various other news reports and publications.

If interested, you can also take a look at the 15 Countries that have no Army, Navy or Air Force.

Lets now head over to the list of the weakest militaries in the world.

Top 15 Weakest Militaries in the World:

15. Mauritania

GDP (2022): $10.36 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $194 million

Manpower: 31,500

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1,000

Military Aircraft: 23

Naval Assets: 5

Overall Score: 10.6

Mauritania has one of the weakest militaries in the world. Much of its military equipment is outdated, most of which comprises old-era French and Soviet arms, and second-hand equipment received from China. The countrys military has no tanks and very few naval assets. Manpower is the Mauritanian militarys only recognizable strength.

14. Gabon

GDP (2022): $19.32 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $280 million

Manpower: 6,500

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 848

Military Aircraft: 23

Naval Assets: 10

Overall Score: 10.2

Gabon has been in the news lately for a military coup this year that ended the 56-year rule of the Bongo family over the country. The coup has signaled a fresh blow to French influence over its former colony. France has been a major supplier of military equipment to the African nation. It even has troops stationed in Gabon to provide training to local soldiers. That assistance has been put on hold since the coup. The impact that will have on what is already one of the weakest militaries in the world remains to be seen.

13. Madagascar

GDP (2022): $15.76 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $110 million

Manpower: 13,000

Tanks: 386

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 430

Military Aircraft: 4

Naval Assets: 8

Overall Score: 9.4

The security sector of Madagascar has always been weak. The countrys military is politicized, marred with external influences, and has a history of power grabs. Working conditions for the military also remain poor. Most of the equipment possessed by the Madagascar armed forces is outdated, whereas soldiers remain demotivated due to low wages.

12. Bosnia and Herzegovina

GDP (2022): $26.95 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $178 million

Manpower: 9,000

Tanks: 124

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 612

Military Aircraft: 22

Naval Assets: 0

Overall Score: 9.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the weakest militaries in the world, especially when it comes to manpower and naval power. However, the Balkan country could shrug off this tag in the coming years due stable economic growth and military assistance from countries like the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

11. Montenegro

GDP (2022): $7.06 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $74 million

Manpower: 2,500

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 918

Military Aircraft: 11

Naval Assets: 13

Overall Score: 7.6

Montenegro is a small country in the Balkan region of Europe, with a population of only 0.6 million people. Its military is weak due to its small inventory, which mainly comprises old Soviet-era weapons and equipment it inherited from Yugoslavia. There is hope that Montenegros military will strengthen and modernize now having joined NATO back in 2017. The United States gives out millions of dollars each year to Montenegro in military aid.

10. Somalia

GDP (2022): $11.51 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $64 million

Manpower: 17,500

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 3,712

Military Aircraft: 0

Naval Assets: 3

Overall Score: 7.5

Somalia has one of the weakest armed forces in the world, with no tanks or military aircraft, and just three naval assets. The United Nations Security Council in 1992 placed an arms embargo on the country due to a fear that arms meant to provide security for Somalia may end up in the hands of terrorists. The Somali president appealed to the UN this year to lift the embargo, saying the situation in his country had improved.

9. Suriname

GDP (2022): $3.54 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $42 million

Manpower: 1,800

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1,200

Military Aircraft: 3

Naval Assets: 18

Overall Score: 6.4

Surinames military has a manpower of less than 2,000 troops, because of which, it ranks among the worlds weakest militaries. Like Somalia, it has no tanks. The military aircraft fleet size of Suriname is also a mere three aircraft.

8. Kosovo

GDP (2022): $10.47 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $129 million

Manpower: 5,000

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 3,204

Military Aircraft: 0

Naval Assets: 0

Overall Score: 6.3

Kosovo is a landlocked country in southern Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. It is among the weakest armed forces in the world, with only 5,000 troops. The country has no tanks, military aircraft, or naval assets. The only area of strength for Kosovos military is its fleet of armored fighting vehicles, most of which it has received from the United States and Turkey.

7. Sierra Leone

GDP (2022): $3.52 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $19 million

Manpower: 13,000

Tanks: 2

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 104

Military Aircraft: 4

Naval Assets: 10

Overall Score: 5.7

Sierra Leone has one of the weakest militaries in the world due to its small inventory of outdated, second-hand Soviet-era equipment. The two tanks it possesses were ordered from Ukraine way back in 1994, and their operational status is doubtful according to defense experts. The size of the countrys economy impedes Sierra Leone from spending on defense expenditure.

6. Moldova

GDP (2022): $16 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $48 million

Manpower: 6,000

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 550

Military Aircraft: 3

Naval Assets: 0

Overall Score: 5.5

Moldova has the weakest military in Europe with very limited defense-related capabilities, especially in terms of ground forces and naval strength. The Air Force does not fare well either, and has only three small aircraft to serve military needs.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Weakest Militaries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Beijing police are investigating suspected crimes committed by Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, a leading Chinese wealth manager, according to a social media post published by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau on Saturday.

Zhongzhi earlier this week told investors it is heavily insolvent with up to $64 billion in liabilities, threatening to reignite concerns that China's property debt crisis is spilling over into the broader financial sector.

The firm has sizable exposure to China's real estate sector and is a major player in China's $3 trillion shadow banking sector - roughly the size of the French economy.

Zhongzhi did not immediately reply to an email request for comment after normal business hours on Saturday. A phone call went unanswered.

Zhongzhi apologised to its investors in a letter issued on Wednesday that said it had total liabilities of about 420 billion yuan ($58 billion) to 460 billion yuan ($64 billion), compared to estimated total assets of 200 billion yuan.

The social media post from Beijing authorities said it was looking into "many" suspects involved with the company and encouraged investors to report their losses in order to help with the ongoing investigation.

"Investors are requested to actively cooperate with the police in investigating and collecting evidence and safeguard their rights and interests through legal channels," it read in part.

The post did not specify what crimes Zhongzhi or the individuals were suspected of having committed.

(Reporting by Casey Hall; Editing by Mark Potter)
Updated 09:02

Nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand has finally been reunited with her dad, Thomas.

The second hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas went ahead late last night after an agonising delay for the families of those now freed.

Israel allowed 39 Palestinians to leave two prisons as part of the truce deal, while 17 hostages from the Gaza Strip were freed by Hamas.

It is day three of the four-day truce agreement, however there have been reports of a shooting by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank overnight.

The Taoiseach, Tanaiste and President of Ireland Michael D Higgins have all welcomed the news of Emily's release overnight.

Her father was overcome with emotion as he finally got to embrace his little girl.

Emily Hand is understood to be have been held hostage by militants in Gaza after being captured in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Beeri on October 7th.

Her father Thomas, originally from Dun Laoghaire in Co Dublin, last week made an emotional appeal for her release, saying the family was living through a nightmare, and getting Emily back was his reason for living.

Emily turned nine last month while in captivity.

Her family in Ireland held a birthday party for her at St Stephens Green in Dublin.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the news was an enormous joy and relief. "An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief," he said on X.

This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 25, 2023

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was delighted that Emily, a bright and beautiful young girl, has been released and will be reunited with her family.

In a statement on Saturday evening, he said: After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family.

The people of Ireland have been touched by Emilys story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father Tom.

TV images on Saturday night showed Red Cross vehicles at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Emily's release came after a brief delay and obstacle to the hostage release, which was overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides. Some 39 Palestinian civilians are set to be released in exchange.

US president Joe Biden spoke to Qatar emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the hold-up over the hostage deal, a White House official said.

About three hours after their call, the White House learned from the Qataris that the agreement was back on and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was moving to collect the hostages.  Additional reporting: Reuters
A survey of Irish drivers, conducted by German premium tyre manufacturer Continental Tyres, shows that one-third (30%) of drivers are either somewhat nervous or very nervous when driving in the rain. When confronted with snow and icy roads, that figure jumps to three-quarters of drivers (74%) feeling a high degree of concern when driving in such conditions. More than half of drivers (56%) have opted not to travel on a particular day because of adverse weather conditions.

According to Tom Dennigan, of Continental Tyres Ireland, drivers are right to feel concerned when driving in wintry conditions.

"In the coming weeks, we will see wintry weather start to bite and we will have to again get used to driving in freezing temperatures with perhaps falls of sleet and snow. Such weather has a big impact on road conditions and drivers really need to adapt their driving in accordance with the prevailing conditions of the roads they are travelling on. In particular, the stopping ability of a car is seriously affected on wet and icy roads so sensible drivers are right to be nervous of driving in these conditions.

We have seen some horrendous road traffic accidents in the past few months right across Ireland. In many cases, speed is a key contributory factor but in addition, I have no doubt that tyres are also a key cause  cars driving on worn or defective tyres have been shown to be much more likely to be involved in an accident. Stopping distances are significantly increased in the case of such defective tyres, even in ideal road conditions. And when you add wintry or icy roads into the equation, your cars stopping distance in the event of an emergency stop situation is much, much longer, increasing the chances of an impact.

"So our message to drivers this winter, not just those who told us they are nervous about driving in wintry conditions, but to all drivers, is to slow down and always adapt your driving to the conditions. At all times, be aware of the possibility of your car skidding on a slick surface  frost and patches of black ice can last all day in shaded parts of the road.

Mr Dennigan concluded: When it comes to road safety, we need to get drivers to focus on getting the simple things right: look after your tyres by checking them regularly; always wear a seatbelt; make sure your car is in good general condition; never drive under the influence of drink or drugs; slow down and adapt your driving to the prevailing conditions. If we all did those simple things right, now wouldnt that be a huge boost to road safety in Ireland?"
The long-awaited Ballinrobe Bypass Project is slowly moving forward.

Paul Hyland from the Mayo National Roads Office informed members of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District that the council is actively trying to hire someone to perform a strategic assessment report on the bypass, and he hopes they will be in place before Christmas.

When this report is completed, Mr Hyland hopes that they can then apply for funding through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

The N84 Ballinrobe Bypass has been put on the backburner for many years. A preferred route was ratified by Mayo County Council in 2009, and the route was included in the Ballinrobe Local Area Development Plan. However, the project was suspended due to funding constraints at the time.

Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke said it was not the update he wanted to hear.

I thought that a person might be in place at this stage, to be honest. However, its not going to make much difference because its going to be a long haul anyway. Were back at zero again, literally, Cllr Burke said. Even with the best will in the world, and billions out there, its going to take four to five years before we see a sod turned in Ballinrobe.

We have a crisis in Ballinrobe, traffic-wise. Its the biggest disaster in traffic congestion in Co Mayo currently.

Cllr Patsy OBrien said it was a sad day because the councillors were through all this before in 2006 when consultants were hired.

Ballinrobe never got a fair slice of the cake, he said.
Today

Some early morning sun, then becoming mostly cloudy with some mainly afternoon and evening showers, mostly light and scattered.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with a few scattered evening showers or drizzle; some patchy fog overnight.

Tomorrow

Mostly cloudy with some patchy morning fog; quite mild with a few breaks of sun possible later in the day.
Charles Dertinger has resigned as Northampton County's Director of Administration after nearly six years, and 17 days after an election that led to voter confusion and complaints.

Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure announced the resignation Friday afternoon. McClure said in a statement that he accepted the resignation "with deep regret."

County Council members Ron Heckman and Lori Vargo Heffner, who at times battled with Dertinger, on Friday hailed his accomplishments and skills.

"Charles has been an asset to the county in many ways," Vargo Heffner said. "I think it's sad that it even had to get to this point, but elections are a core function of what we do, and somebody needs to take responsibility" for problems with the Nov. 7 contest.

She and Heckman both said that Dertinger leaving is not going to resolve questions of confidence in county elections. On Tuesday, more than 100 people packed into a meeting at the government center in Easton, many complaining about the election machines and questioning the results.

Some asked for a return to paper ballots, while others wanted a "do-over" of the race, but the Election Commission certified the results, as it is required to. The only way to contest the election is through litigation.

As director of administration, Dertinger was McClure's top aide and had oversight of the Election Division.

McClure cited problems with the 2019 and this year's Nov. 7 contests in the announcement of the resignation. The Executive has said that the 2023 election was fair and accurate. Voting machine vendor Election Systems & Software accepted responsibility for problems with the 2019 and 2023 balloting, blaming problems on human errors by its staff.

In 2019, touch-screen machines were hypersensitive, making it difficult to vote. This year, the printed output given to voters after they used touch screens was inaccurate in two retention races for the Pennsylvania Superior Court. In some cases, "yes" votes were printed as "no" votes, and vice versa. The electronic votes were tabulated correctly, and the only error was in printing, according to the administration.

McClure said the 2020, 2021 and 2022 elections under Dertinger were "nearly flawless."

"Mr. Dertinger has spent six years honorably serving the people of Northampton County in my administration," McClure said. He said Dertinger had many accomplishments, "great and small." The Executive cited the construction of a new Forensic Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, "in time and under budget."

Both men worked to save open space in the county, McClure said.

"Many of the successes of our administration have come due to his efforts in helping implement our initiatives," McClure said.

"Despite his election failures of 2019 and 2023, the foregoing reasons stated is why his resignation is regrettable," the Executive's statement said. "I wish him well in his future endeavors."

"I'm surprised," Heckman said Friday. "I've known Charles for a long time. Overall, he did a good job."

Heckman is a former director of human services for the county, and he noted that serving the public is challenging and inevitably draws criticism.

Dertinger "did what he had to do" as director of administration, Heckman said. As a commissioner (council members are known as commissioners), Heckman said he and Dertinger had disagreements, but they never carried it over into personal enmity.

"Charles is straightforward and blunt at times," Heckman said. Like McClure, he noted Dertinger's work on the forensic center as an achievement.

As a council member, Heckman has noted several times that elections are never perfect, but he also has contended that running elections is a critical responsibility.

"Charles leaving doesn't mean everything is solved with the (election) machines," Heckman said. "What happened with the election, I certainly don't put all that on Charles."

Vargo Heffner has been at odds at times with the Dertinger and the McClure administration, but she said Friday that Dertinger was a capable administrator who accomplished a great deal.

Vargo Heffner said Dertinger's knowledge of construction and contracts was invaluable in moving bridge projects forward. She served with him on the General Purpose Authority, which oversees work on bridges across Northampton County.

"Charles brings value to a lot of different fields. This whole situation is unfortunate, but people's faith in elections needs to be restored," Vargo Heffner said. Like Heckman, she said Dertinger's departure is not going to solve the election issue.

Heckman and Vargo Heffner both said they expect Dertinger to do well in the future.

Commissioner Tara Zrinski said Friday's surprise resignation is part of the county's effort to restore faith in voting.

"I believe Mr. Dertinger wanted to do the right thing for Northampton County and the gravity of the election must have weighed on him," Zrinski said.

"I think this shows that the administration is willing to do what it takes to restore the public trust in our elections," Zrinski said. She will take over as Controller, the county's independently elected fiscal watchdog, in January.

Dertinger served on county council for four years. He then worked in the McClure administration from January 2018 until his resignation.

He has also been a project manager and a board member of Community Action Lehigh Valley, an organization that promotes the welfare of low-income residents.
STROUD TWP., Pa. - Toys for Tots in Monroe County has been in operation for 20 years and has the distinction of being named the nation's top program.

"Marines do two things, and they do it the best. They defend this nation, and they provide toys for children in need," said Toys for Tots Director John Dickson.

Dickson is better known as "The Toy Man." Around 20 years ago, he was injured while serving in the Marines. So he started looking for a way he could still give back to his community, and he found it one Christmas season.

"It started as having a couple of friends over at Christmas parties and helping a few people out, and then it just grew and grew, and within two years, it became so big my wife said either you have to stop or we have to do it bigger," said Dickson.

Dickson chose to do it bigger.

"The first time we did it, we helped five families out, and at one time we were helping up to 10,000 children," said Dickson.

Dickson is only able to serve that many people with the help of his big red truck, and the Marines.

"It's one of the best times of the year, because we get to give back to the community in a different way," said Staff Sgt. Wiley Bowman-Jones.

This year, the National Marine Corps recognized Dickson for his efforts to give back.

"In September, I was honored with the title of the number one Toys for Tots coordinator in the nation by the United States Marine Corps," said Dickson.

But Dickson isn't stopping there. He's collecting more toys again this year, and he hopes his work inspires others.

"Anybody can be Santa. Santa's in here," said Dickson, pointing at his heart.
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BANGKOK (AP)  Hamas freed 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino alongside Israeli hostages who were part of the first swap under a new cease-fire deal  including four Thais who had not been officially listed as abducted, Thailand's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday morning.

Thais were the single biggest group of foreigners taken hostage when Hamas took some 240 people during its Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel. Thais working in Israel are mostly employed as semi-skilled farm laborers, at wages considerably higher than those at they can earn at home.

The ministry said the group of 10 Thais in all  nine men and one woman  were undergoing health checks at a medical center in Israel. They would stay there for at least 48 hours before flying home to Thailand. It released photos of the freed hostages in the Israeli hospital where they were taken Friday after their release.

There was confusion overnight about the number of Thais freed, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 12 had been freed.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry said that figure came from the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv. However, it revised the number downward after the spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry, Majed al-Ansari, posted on X that the number was 10. Qatar played a key role in making arrangements for the hostage releases.

The release of four Thais previously not known to be held by Hamas militants leaves 20 currently listed as being held captive.

On Friday night, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara wrote online that he was overjoyed at news of the release. He had traveled more than three weeks ago to Egypt and Qatar to seek their help in obtaining the hostages freedom.

Thailand thanked Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

It is our deep hope that all remaining hostages will be taken care of, and will be safely released at the earliest opportunity, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

The Thai foreign ministry said the released workers crossed into Israel, where they were taken to Hatzerim Airbase for processing, after which they went to the Shamir Medical Center, where embassy officials met with them.

A spokesperson for the hospital said staff were informed around 4 p.m. local time Friday that they would be receiving the Thai hostages  approximately the same time Thailand's prime minister and Egyptian officials made the news public.

The missing workers were among about 30,000 Thais employed mostly in Israels agricultural sector. According to Thailands foreign ministry, 39 were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. More than 8,600 workers have been voluntarily repatriated since the attacks, the Labor Ministry said.

One other Asian with the group of released Thais was a Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco, a 33-year-old Philippine national. He had been caring for an elderly man who lived in Nir Oz, one of more than 20 towns and villages in southern Israel that was ambushed in the sweeping assault by Hamas launched from the embattled Gaza Strip.

The village said Friday that it welcomed Pacheco's return, calling him "the devoted carer of the late Amitai Ben-Zvi, who was murdered during the terrorist attack.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila said Pacheco was also undergoing medical evaluation at Shamir Medical Center, and that the Israeli government is committed and will do whatever is needed to bring the rest of the more then 200 hostages home.

On Saturday, Pachecos wife, Clarice Joy Ponce Pacheco, posted on Facebook a picture of her freed husband meeting with the family of his employer.

Thank you so much Lord, she wrote. Such a blessing and big miracle for having a second life Gelienor Leano Pacheco.

Some 30,000 Filipinos live and work in Israel, many as caregivers, according to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs. At least two Filipinos were killed in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, including a caregiver who was shot with her employer inside their house, the Philippine Embassy in Israel said.

I salute the work of the Philippine Foreign Service in securing his release, and once again thank the State of Qatar for their invaluable assistance in making Jimmys release possible, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wrote Saturday on X, adding that the government remains concerned about the whereabouts of Philippine national Noralyn Babadilla, who is reportedly one of the foreigners held hostage by Hamas.

This story has been corrected to show that the 11th freed hostage, Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco, is Filipino, not Thai.
Brennan and Erin Schlagbaum invest the majority of their money in index funds. Courtesy of Brennan and Erin Schlagbaum

Brennan and Erin Schlagbaum paid off more than $300,000 of debt and hit a seven-figure net worth.

Once they were debt-free, they got serious about investing and went all-in on index funds.

The couple now has a net worth of nearly $2 million. Most of their money is in three index funds.

Brennan and Erin Schlagbaum like to keep things simple when it comes to stock-market investing  and their approach has worked for them so far.

The couple spent five years paying off more than $300,000 worth of debt, including a $234,000 mortgage, before they could focus on actually building wealth. But once they were debt-free and able to start investing, they went all-in on index funds. That was back in August 2021.

Their net worth crossed $1 million in October last year  which Insider verified by looking at account screenshots  and is closer to $2 million today. A good chunk of their wealth is tied up in their new home in Arlington, Texas, which they bought for $495,000 this year in cash so that they could continue living without a mortgage payment.

However, more than 50% of their net worth is invested in the market.

Insider spoke with Brennan, who has his CPA and runs his own financial-literacy company, Budgetdog, about his investing strategy, exactly what investments he holds in his stock portfolio, and how he's diversifying outside the stock market.

Their stock portfolio: Index funds and Meta stock

The couple use a variety of investment vehicles  including four retirement-specific accounts, a health-savings account, and a brokerage account  but the investments in each account look very similar. "Within every one of those accounts, it's pretty much the same mix," Brennan said.

When you open an investment account, you can choose how to invest your money. You can buy and sell various investments, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Brennan said he liked index funds, a type of mutual fund that track a diversified range of stocks, often with a specific theme. They tend to have low management fees because they're passively managed.

Story continues

He selected three specific index funds to invest in: the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund, and the Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund. He said he liked the broad market indexes because they were inherently diverse. For example, VTSAX is built to give investors exposure to the entire US equity market.

The Schlagbaums live in Texas. Courtesy of Brennan and Erin Schlagbaum

More than 95% of their stock-market money is in one of these three funds.

As for the remaining small percentage, that's in one stock: Meta Platforms.

"I don't typically buy individual stocks," Brennan, who bought META at $97 in October, said. "However, I'm very bullish on them long-term, and when I saw them dip to $97, I thought it was a no-brainer."

He didn't pick this particular stock simply off of a gut feeling.

"I did a lot of deep research. I read the 10-K inside and out," he said, referring to the document the SEC requires public companies to file annually that provides a financial overview of the company. "I figured it was a great time to buy based on the technical analysis and positioned it as 2.5% of my portfolio. That's a great place to be  it's not too risky, but you get that upside potential."

Turns out, it was a good investment. He said: "Meta stock today is almost at $300, and I bought it at $97. That return is exactly what I wanted to happen. It doesn't always work out like that. I don't have a crystal ball."

He's not planning on selling it anytime soon. The 31-year-old thinks long-term, even when it comes to individual stocks. "I'm holding this for a decade plus," he said.

Brennan quit his job in 2021 to run his business, Budgetdog, full-time. Courtesy of Brennan Schlagbaum

In general, "if you're an investor and you're just starting, individual stocks should not be on your radar," Brennan said. "That gets people into so much trouble, and it's not necessary to build wealth. The best investors have the bulk of their portfolio in ETFs and index funds."

Brennan said he was comfortable taking on a bit of risk because his company has taken off and his income has increased significantly.

"The bulk of my portfolio is the three index funds, but as we hit higher numbers from a financial freedom perspective, we wanted to bring in a little bit of extra risk," he said. "It's asymmetric reward to risk. So I wanted to bring in individual stocks, as well as crypto. I have bitcoin and ethereum."

Crypto also represents a sliver of his overall portfolio. He said his philosophy about risky investments like crypto was to buy a small enough amount so that "if you lose 100% of it, it's not going to hurt you."

Diversifying their overall portfolio with real estate

Until recently, the couple's net worth was mostly tied up in the stock market and their primary home, which they own outright.

After researching how the wealthiest people invest their money, Brennan concluded that "there are three things that wealthy people invest in: the stock market, business, and real estate."

"We have the stock market investment; I own my own business and eventually want to get into buying businesses down the road; the only thing we really were lacking was real estate, outside of our personal residence," he said.

This year, Brennan invested in his first real-estate syndication, which is when investors pool money to purchase a property. Once they contribute capital, their role in the deal becomes completely passive. The real-estate syndicator is responsible for finding the deal, executing the transaction, and, ultimately, delivering returns to the investors.

There are three things that wealthy people invest in: the stock market, business, and real estate. Brennan Schlagbaum

Brennan, who runs his business full-time and is expecting a second kid in the fall, liked the idea of being a hands-off investor.

"It's a totally passive way of investing in real estate," he said. "I don't have to do anything. And that's the approach I really wanted to take with real estate. As much as I wanted to get into rentals, it was just too much for our family to commit to."

Besides the addition of the syndication deal, "a lot of the investment strategies I do stay the same," he said. He believes that if you want to build wealth, at the end of the day, "you don't have to get complicated. You don't have to continue to switch it up."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Citigroup restated their buy rating on shares of Carnival Co. & (NYSE:CCL  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $18.00 target price on the stock.

CCL has been the topic of several other reports. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Carnival Co. & from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $23.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Carnival Co. & from $22.00 to $21.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Carnival Co. & from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Carnival Co. & from $11.50 to $11.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Redburn Partners upgraded shares of Carnival Co. & from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $23.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $18.44.

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Carnival Co. & Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CCL opened at $14.41 on Tuesday. Carnival Co. & has a 12 month low of $7.53 and a 12 month high of $19.55. The stock has a market cap of $16.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.67 and a beta of 2.45. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $13.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $14.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.24, a current ratio of 0.43 and a quick ratio of 0.38.

Carnival Co. & (NYSE:CCL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, September 29th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $6.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.71 billion. Carnival Co. & had a negative return on equity of 15.00% and a negative net margin of 8.11%. The firms revenue was up 59.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.58) earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Carnival Co. & will post -0.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Carnival Co. &

In other Carnival Co. & news, Director Randall J. Weisenburger acquired 350,000 shares of Carnival Co. & stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.99 per share, with a total value of $4,546,500.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 961,238 shares in the company, valued at $12,486,481.62. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Randall J. Weisenburger bought 350,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $12.99 per share, with a total value of $4,546,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 961,238 shares in the company, valued at $12,486,481.62. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Randall J. Weisenburger bought 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 19th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $11.50 per share, with a total value of $1,150,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 378,368 shares in the company, valued at $4,351,232. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 11.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of Carnival Co. & by 1.5% during the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 369,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,962,000 after buying an additional 5,533 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of Carnival Co. & by 14.1% during the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 55,546 shares of the companys stock valued at $564,000 after buying an additional 6,870 shares during the last quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Carnival Co. & during the second quarter valued at about $679,000. Tobam acquired a new position in shares of Carnival Co. & during the second quarter valued at about $80,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its stake in Carnival Co. & by 40.9% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 15,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $154,000 after acquiring an additional 4,400 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.54% of the companys stock.

Carnival Co. & Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Carnival Corporation & plc engages in the provision of leisure travel services. The company operates a fleet of more than 90 ships visit approximately 700 ports under AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), and Seabourn brand names.

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Covestor Ltd lowered its stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM  Free Report) by 13.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,169 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 338 shares during the quarter. Covestor Ltds holdings in Unum Group were worth $103,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Founders Capital Management boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 11.5% in the second quarter. Founders Capital Management now owns 2,034 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Westpac Banking Corp boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 0.9% in the first quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 25,184 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $996,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 4.4% in the second quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 5,607 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $267,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 0.8% in the second quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 38,204 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,822,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 37.8% in the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,075 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.37% of the companys stock.

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Unum Group Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of Unum Group stock opened at $43.17 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $47.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $47.27. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $36.27 and a 52-week high of $52.15. The firm has a market cap of $8.42 billion, a PE ratio of 6.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.29.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

Unum Group ( NYSE:UNM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.02. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.54% and a net margin of 10.07%. The business had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.51 EPS. Unum Groups revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Unum Group will post 7.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 27th were paid a $0.365 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 26th. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio is 23.59%.

Unum Group declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Tuesday, October 31st that authorizes the company to repurchase $500.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 5.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on UNM shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Unum Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Unum Group from $59.00 to $54.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 3rd. StockNews.com lowered Unum Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Unum Group from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $54.50.

View Our Latest Research Report on Unum Group

About Unum Group

(Free Report)

Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block and Corporate segments. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products.

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State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System lessened its stake in shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM  Free Report) by 0.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 143,930 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 910 shares during the quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement Systems holdings in Humana were worth $64,355,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in Humana by 102,197.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 13,241,321 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $5,920,592,000 after buying an additional 13,228,377 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Humana by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,667,648 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,722,338,000 after purchasing an additional 44,518 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Humana by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,342,938 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,564,703,000 after purchasing an additional 486,893 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Humana by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,708,167 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,776,072,000 after purchasing an additional 25,832 shares during the period. Finally, Capital World Investors lifted its stake in shares of Humana by 18.7% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,322,684 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,038,513,000 after purchasing an additional 366,007 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.86% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Humana from $580.00 to $586.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $597.00 price target on shares of Humana in a research note on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Humana from $594.00 to $599.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. TD Cowen cut their target price on Humana from $616.00 to $613.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Humana from $637.00 to $624.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $590.28.

Humana Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of Humana stock opened at $518.26 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $501.17 and a 200-day moving average of $485.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The company has a market capitalization of $63.80 billion, a PE ratio of 21.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.61. Humana Inc. has a 1-year low of $423.29 and a 1-year high of $558.04.

Humana (NYSE:HUM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The insurance provider reported $7.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.15 by $0.63. The company had revenue of $26.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.57 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 21.03% and a net margin of 2.95%. The companys revenue was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.88 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Humana Inc. will post 28.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Humana Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 26th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th will be paid a $0.885 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.68%. Humanas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.68%.

About Humana

(Free Report)

Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits.

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Shares of Mohawk Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MHK  Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Reduce from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $103.13.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on MHK shares. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Mohawk Industries from $98.00 to $80.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. TheStreet cut shares of Mohawk Industries from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Mohawk Industries from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Mohawk Industries in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. They issued an underweight rating and a $85.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Mohawk Industries from $130.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th.

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Mohawk Industries Stock Up 0.5 %

MHK stock opened at $84.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.73. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $83.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of $94.73. Mohawk Industries has a 52 week low of $76.02 and a 52 week high of $130.63.

Mohawk Industries (NYSE:MHK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $2.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.07. Mohawk Industries had a negative net margin of 4.88% and a positive return on equity of 6.91%. The firm had revenue of $2.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.74 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.34 EPS. The firms revenue was down 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Mohawk Industries will post 9.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.34, for a total transaction of $2,158,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 14,200 shares in the company, valued at $1,226,028. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 17.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mohawk Industries

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kinneret Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 3,451 shares of the companys stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries by 3.3% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,708 shares of the companys stock worth $336,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. raised its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries by 1.2% in the second quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 8,484 shares of the companys stock worth $875,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System raised its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries by 0.5% during the first quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 20,281 shares of the companys stock worth $2,033,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 2.8% during the first quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 3,731 shares of the companys stock valued at $374,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.04% of the companys stock.

About Mohawk Industries

(Get Free Report

Mohawk Industries, Inc designs, manufactures, sources, distributes, and markets flooring products for residential and commercial remodeling, and new construction channels in the United States, Europe, Russia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Global Ceramic, Flooring North America (Flooring NA), and Flooring Rest of the World (Flooring ROW).

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its position in ORIX Co. (NYSE:IX  Free Report) by 3.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 84,826 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 2,878 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in ORIX were worth $7,737,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IX. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of ORIX by 262.6% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 307,037 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,852,000 after purchasing an additional 222,350 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ORIX by 476.3% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 61,928 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,986,000 after purchasing an additional 51,182 shares in the last quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ORIX by 19.0% in the 2nd quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 288,836 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,345,000 after purchasing an additional 46,191 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in ORIX by 86.5% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 57,839 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,775,000 after acquiring an additional 26,824 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in ORIX by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 991,545 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $79,839,000 after acquiring an additional 21,745 shares during the period. 1.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ORIX Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of IX stock opened at $91.43 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.61 billion, a PE ratio of 10.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 0.88. ORIX Co. has a 1-year low of $77.93 and a 1-year high of $101.56. The business has a 50-day moving average of $91.56 and a 200 day moving average of $91.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.58.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ORIX ( NYSE:IX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter. ORIX had a return on equity of 7.82% and a net margin of 10.47%. The business had revenue of $4.73 billion during the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that ORIX Co. will post 10.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on IX shares. TheStreet upgraded ORIX from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on ORIX in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company.

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ORIX Company Profile

(Free Report)

ORIX Corporation provides diversified financial services in Japan, the United States, Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Middle East. The company's Corporate Financial Services and Maintenance Leasing segment is involved in the finance and fee; leasing and rental of automobiles, electronic measuring instruments, and ICT-related equipment businesses; and provision of life insurance and environment and energy-related products and services.

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK  Free Report) by 5.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 96,377 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 5,771 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC owned 0.08% of Crown worth $8,372,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Crown by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,764,656 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,471,641,000 after purchasing an additional 143,049 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Crown by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,052,732 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $583,332,000 after acquiring an additional 410,225 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Crown by 8.1% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,645,714 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $384,247,000 after acquiring an additional 347,405 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Crown by 10.1% in the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,368,221 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $379,467,000 after acquiring an additional 401,871 shares in the last quarter. Finally, William Blair Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Crown by 15.6% in the 2nd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 3,312,907 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $287,792,000 after acquiring an additional 447,606 shares in the last quarter. 95.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Crown

In other news, COO Gerard H. Gifford sold 13,535 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.48, for a total transaction of $1,089,296.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 109,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,841,854.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, COO Gerard H. Gifford sold 9,784 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.24, for a total transaction of $902,476.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 123,399 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,382,323.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Gerard H. Gifford sold 13,535 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.48, for a total value of $1,089,296.80. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 109,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,841,854.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Crown Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE CCK opened at $82.98 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $83.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $85.82. The company has a market capitalization of $10.01 billion, a PE ratio of 19.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. Crown Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $75.61 and a 12 month high of $96.35.

Crown (NYSE:CCK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $1.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.73. The firm had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.23 billion. Crown had a return on equity of 26.84% and a net margin of 4.17%. The companys revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Crown Holdings, Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current year.

Crown Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 8th were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 7th. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.16%. Crowns dividend payout ratio is currently 22.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on CCK. Barclays cut their price objective on Crown from $110.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Crown from $123.00 to $122.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Crown from $86.00 to $74.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Crown from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Crown from $88.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $101.69.

View Our Latest Report on Crown

About Crown

(Free Report)

Crown Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies rigid packaging products in Pennsylvania and internationally. It operates through Americas Beverage, European Beverage, Asia Pacific, and Transit Packaging segments. The Americas Beverage segment manufactures recyclable aluminum beverage cans and ends, glass bottles, steel crowns, and aluminum caps.

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC decreased its position in Thomson Reuters Co. (NYSE:TRI  Free Report) (TSE:TRI) by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 46,925 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 6,851 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in Thomson Reuters were worth $6,334,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in TRI. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 19.4% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 6,154 shares of the business services providers stock worth $668,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 7.0% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 1,945 shares of the business services providers stock worth $212,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 11.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 560,049 shares of the business services providers stock worth $60,961,000 after purchasing an additional 57,200 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 2.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,314,854 shares of the business services providers stock worth $578,521,000 after purchasing an additional 118,225 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 89.7% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 138,600 shares of the business services providers stock worth $15,061,000 after purchasing an additional 65,534 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 17.31% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TRI has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Thomson Reuters in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $153.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Thomson Reuters from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from $145.00 to $142.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, National Bank Financial cut shares of Thomson Reuters from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Thomson Reuters presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $148.21.

Thomson Reuters Price Performance

TRI opened at $138.96 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $127.35 and a 200-day moving average price of $128.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market cap of $63.29 billion, a PE ratio of 28.01, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.61. Thomson Reuters Co. has a 1 year low of $111.00 and a 1 year high of $139.98.

Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The business services provider reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.61 billion. Thomson Reuters had a return on equity of 13.05% and a net margin of 34.09%. Thomson Reuterss quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.59 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Thomson Reuters Co. will post 3.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Thomson Reuters Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 16th will be given a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 15th. Thomson Reuterss dividend payout ratio is presently 39.50%.

About Thomson Reuters

(Free Report)

Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments.

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Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) had its target price lowered by BMO Capital Markets from $262.00 to $252.00 in a research report released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the CRM providers stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Salesforce from $210.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Roth Mkm lifted their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $242.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Salesforce in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $243.39.

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Salesforce Trading Up 0.2 %

Salesforce stock opened at $224.38 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $208.97 and its 200-day moving average is $212.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.02. Salesforce has a 1 year low of $126.34 and a 1 year high of $238.22. The company has a market cap of $218.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 141.12, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.18.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 30th. The CRM provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.53 billion. Salesforce had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 7.67%. Salesforces quarterly revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.52 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Salesforce will post 5.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Salesforce

In other Salesforce news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.23, for a total value of $3,363,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 14,816,166 shares in the company, valued at $3,322,228,902.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Salesforce news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.23, for a total value of $3,363,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 14,816,166 shares in the company, valued at $3,322,228,902.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 2,628 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.85, for a total transaction of $590,905.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 37,048 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,330,242.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 683,165 shares of company stock worth $144,224,640 over the last ninety days. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Salesforce

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Forza Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Salesforce in the 2nd quarter valued at $202,000. Bank of Hawaii boosted its stake in shares of Salesforce by 89.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Hawaii now owns 5,282 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $1,116,000 after purchasing an additional 2,490 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Salesforce in the 2nd quarter valued at $396,000. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its position in Salesforce by 18.3% during the 2nd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,547,360 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $329,387,000 after buying an additional 239,786 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Verum Partners LLC acquired a new position in Salesforce during the 2nd quarter worth about $210,000. Institutional investors own 77.52% of the companys stock.

Salesforce Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale.

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State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System cut its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Free Report) by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 451,284 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 22,670 shares during the period. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System owned approximately 0.11% of Waste Management worth $78,262,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Steel Peak Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Waste Management by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Steel Peak Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,858 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $669,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the period. American National Bank boosted its stake in Waste Management by 1,459.9% during the 2nd quarter. American National Bank now owns 2,137 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $371,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co boosted its stake in Waste Management by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 55,488 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $9,623,000 after purchasing an additional 1,055 shares during the last quarter. Sawgrass Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Waste Management during the 2nd quarter valued at about $208,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in Waste Management by 6.8% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 57,128 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $9,907,000 after purchasing an additional 3,618 shares during the last quarter. 78.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

In other news, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 4,167 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total value of $716,724.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 177,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,499,212. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Michael J. Watson sold 14,288 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.44, for a total value of $2,435,246.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 41,428 shares in the company, valued at $7,060,988.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 4,167 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total transaction of $716,724.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 177,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,499,212. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 23,838 shares of company stock valued at $4,077,847 in the last 90 days. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on WM. StockNews.com began coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Waste Management from $177.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Raymond James cut their price target on Waste Management from $179.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. UBS Group upgraded Waste Management from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $170.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, HSBC assumed coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $192.00 target price on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $179.77.

View Our Latest Research Report on Waste Management

Waste Management Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of WM stock opened at $172.01 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $162.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $163.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $148.31 and a 1 year high of $173.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.44, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.72.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The business services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.02. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.47% and a return on equity of 34.14%. The business had revenue of $5.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.56 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The firm 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 dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.63%. Waste Managements payout ratio is 49.56%.

Waste Management Profile

(Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.

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OKX

SINGAPORE, Nov. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, has issued updates for the day of November 25, 2023.



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About OKX

A leading global technology company driving the future of Web3, OKX provides a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of beginners and experts alike, including:

OKX Wallet: The world's most powerful, secure and versatile crypto wallet which gives users access to over 80 blockchains while allowing them to take custody of their own funds. The wallet includes MPC technology which allows users to easily recover access to their wallet independently, removing the need for traditional, 'written down' seed phrases. In addition, OKX Wallets account abstraction-powered Smart Account enables users to pay for transactions on multiple blockchains using USDC or USDT, and interact with multiple contracts via a single transaction.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Cousins Properties (NYSE:CUZ  Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Tuesday morning.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Cousins Properties from $22.00 to $19.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. Truist Financial raised shares of Cousins Properties from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $27.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Cousins Properties from $28.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Cousins Properties in a research report on Monday, September 11th. They set an underweight rating and a $19.00 price target for the company. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Cousins Properties from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $25.20.

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Cousins Properties Trading Down 0.4 %

Cousins Properties Announces Dividend

Shares of CUZ opened at $19.78 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The firms 50-day moving average is $19.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $21.29. Cousins Properties has a twelve month low of $17.40 and a twelve month high of $28.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.53 and a beta of 1.21.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 4th were paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 3rd. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.47%. Cousins Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 216.95%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of CUZ. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Cousins Properties by 24.3% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 1,633 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in Cousins Properties by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,922 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $600,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Cousins Properties in the 1st quarter valued at about $287,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in Cousins Properties by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 16,971 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $684,000 after purchasing an additional 1,969 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in Cousins Properties by 115.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 66,926 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,752,000 after purchasing an additional 35,897 shares during the last quarter.

About Cousins Properties

(Get Free Report)

Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech titled "Working Toward a Ceasefire and Realizing Lasting Peace and Sustainable Security" at the extraordinary joint meeting of BRICS leaders and leaders of invited BRICS members on the situation in the Middle East with particular reference to Gaza on Nov. 21, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Bin]

Experts around the world lauded China's peace-oriented diplomatic efforts and increased coordination among BRICS countries, believing they will contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East.

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday attended the BRICS extraordinary virtual summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, saying that the parties to the conflict must end hostility and reach a ceasefire immediately.

BRICS leaders stressed the need to protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, calling for an immediate durable, sustainable humanitarian truce and humanitarian aid delivery.

Experts around the world lauded China's peace-oriented diplomatic efforts and increased coordination among BRICS countries, believing they will contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East.

People conduct rescue work among the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Nov. 22, 2023. [Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua]

Justice and Responsibility

"The conflict in Gaza is raging on into its second month. China is gravely concerned that the conflict is causing enormous civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, and tends to expand and spill over," Xi said in his speech.

Elena Suponina, an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, said China's call "for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, an end to the bloodshed" provides critical momentum to the resolution of the conflict.

"China has always maintained a fair stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. China has made it very clear that this conflict will ultimately not benefit anyone," Suponina added.

"President Xi's speech at the BRICS Summit reflected China's position as a responsible major country. It sent an important signal to the world at a time when the situation between Palestine and Israel is highly tense," said Ismat Mansour, a Palestinian political analyst.

Mansour recalled the recent visit to China by a delegation of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers, during which the two sides thoroughly exchanged views on how to de-escalate and protect civilians, reflecting "their high trust in China."

President Xi's speech made it clear to all parties that China will play a greater role in resolving the current Hamas-Israel conflict "and further promote peace in the Middle East," Mansour said.

People unload humanitarian aid from a truck at the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 2, 2023. [Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua]

BRICS Cooperation

Xi said that given the current circumstances, it is very timely and very important for BRICS countries to meet and speak up for justice and for peace on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

Hailing the BRICS cooperation mechanism as an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and safeguard common interests, Xi said the meeting to coordinate positions and actions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict marks a good start for greater BRICS cooperation following its enlargement.

Mokhtar Ghobashy, deputy chairman of the Cairo-based Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that China's call for a ceasefire, more humanitarian aid to Gaza, and implementation of the two-state solution is an "honorable, serious, and fair position."

Ghobashy said consensus within BRICS on the Hamas-Israel conflict will have an important impact on its resolution and the peace process in the Middle East.

Sebastian Schulz, a researcher at the China Research Center of the National University of La Plata in Argentina, said that the BRICS cooperation mechanism provides a perspective of emerging and developing countries on how to seek solutions to most conflicts and issues affecting the international order.

The BRICS nations have consistently emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving disputes, Schulz said. As the first leadership meeting after the expansion of BRICS, the summit was significant in coordinating positions and taking action on the Israel-Palestine issue.

Suponina expressed hope that the expanded BRICS would be able to work on establishing more effective mechanisms that would have international influence, and ultimately be able to help stop such wars and conflicts.

Durable Peace

Xi said the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli situation is the fact that the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence, and their right of return have long been ignored.

He emphasized that the only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the two-state solution, in the restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

Samer Khair Ahmed, a Jordanian writer and expert on Arab-China relations, said that Xi's speech reiterated China's objective position on the conflict in the Middle East, which is based on its historical position supporting the rights of the Palestinian people.

"What China proposes currently is a solution that falls in line with the objective politics and feasible solutions, based on the two-state solution and the right of the Palestinians to establish their state and live in peace," Ahmed said.

"This highlights the ethical value that China adds to international politics, as a major country with responsibility, taking rational and objective positions on regional conflicts and various issues that affect the future of humanity and world peace," Ahmed added.

Over the years, China has played a constructive role in facilitating peace and stability in the Middle East.

In March, after years of open hostility, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic ties following talks mediated by China.

Marcos Pires, director of the Institute of Economics and International Studies at Brazil's Sao Paulo State University, said that in the process of promoting peace talks and ceasefires, the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi must be highly valued and fully implemented.

"The concept of common security and the principle of indivisibility of security clarify that mankind is an indivisible security community, and the security of one country should not be at the expense of the security of other countries," said Pires. "This is of great significance for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and restoring peace in the Middle East."

(Source: Xinhua)
Biden hails initial hostage release, says we will not stop until all are brought home
Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, also called "Nini" or "El Nini," was arrested in Mexico Wednesday, according to local authorities.
Azerbaijan donated a humanitarian demining machine, Azernews reports, citing a tweet by Seymur Mardaliyev, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine on his official X account.

The ambassador said that Azerbaijan donated the humanitarian demining machine promised at the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in London in June 2023.

He also added that specialists from the Azerbaijani producer company Improtex Industries have started training of Ukrainian experts on the exploitation of the machine.




Anthony Levandowski was cleared by Donald Trump of charges relating to the theft of technology secrets from Google. Justin Sullivan / Getty

Former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski is relaunching his "Way of the Future" AI church.

The church aims to help people gain a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence.

Levandowski was previously pardoned by Donald Trump after pleading guilty to stealing trade secrets.

Anthony Levandowski, a pioneer of self-driving cars and controversial Silicon Valley figure, announced the return of his AI-dedicated church in an episode of Bloomberg's AI IRL podcast.

Levandowski started his "Way of the Future" church in 2015 while he was working as an engineer on Google's self-driving project Waymo.

While the original church was shut a few years later, Levandowski's new venture already has "a couple thousand people" who are trying to build a "spiritual connection" with AI, he said, per Bloomberg.

"Here we're actually creating things that can see everything, be everywhere, know everything, and maybe help us and guide us in a way that normally you would call God," Levandowski said, adding that his aim was to help people gain a deeper understanding of AI and allow more people to have a say in how the technology is used.

"How does a person in rural America relate to this? What does this mean for their job?" he said. "Way of the Future is a mechanism for them to understand and participate and shape the public discourse as to how we think technology should be built to improve you."

Levandowski's church first came under the spotlight in 2017 when he became embroiled in a high-profile court case after he was accused of stealing trade secrets.

Levandowski later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The engineer was pardoned in 2021 by the outgoing president at the time, Donald Trump.

Levandowski's pardon was supported by Trump ally and tech investor Peter Thiel White House

Levandowski's official pardon said he had "paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good."

The former Googler is now the CEO of Pollen Mobile, a decentralized mobile network he founded in 2021.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The first tranche of Israels hostage prisoner exchange with Hamas proceeded Friday. It included the release of 13 Israeli women and children, along with 12 Thai nationals freed through separate agreement. In return, 24 Palestinian women and 15 minors were freed from Israeli prisons.

A special flight also evacuated over 100 Russian nationals from Gaza, bringing the total number of Russian evacuees to more than 750.

Palestinians flee to northern Gaza as Israeli tanks block the Salah al-Din road in the central Gaza Strip on November 24, 2023, as the four-day "ceasefire" begins. [AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman]

The hostage deal and four-day pause in aerial bombardment, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, is planned to see Hamas return 50 women and children to Israel in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. Any 10 further hostage releases would bring an additional day without bombing.

Anticipating what Israel insisted was not a ceasefire but an operational pause, the World Socialist Web Site wrote Thursday that the agreement reached essentially gives Israel time to reload its weapons for the next stage in its ethnic cleansing of the enclave.

Amid the blanket coverage of the hostage/prisoner exchange, Israels top military and political leaders made clear that this was their sole intention.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to be seen to do something to secure the release of hostages, faced with mounting domestic criticism and an insistence on the part of the Biden administration that a brief pause in the horrific assault on Gaza and a prisoner exchange would help Egypt, Qatar and other Arab regimes fend off popular anger at their refusal to come to the aid of Gaza. But this implied no shift in Israels aim of mass murder and the ethnic cleansing of Gaza prior to its permanent annexation.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that once the short truce with Hamas ends, the military campaign would resume with intensity for at least two more months. This respite will be short, Gallant told troops of the Navys Shayetet 13 elite commando unit. What is required of you in this respite is to organize, get ready, investigate, resupply arms, and get ready to continue.

Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi later that day told commanders during a visit to Gaza, We are not ending the war. We will continue until we are victorious, going forward and continuing in other Hamas areas.

Addressing the Palestinians, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said Friday in a message in Arabic posted on X, formerly Twitter, The war is not over yet The northern Gaza Strip is a dangerous war zone and it is forbidden to move north.

On Friday evening, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz told a Tel Aviv rally in solidarity with the families of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, We will not stop, we will resume the efforts and the military action in Gaza to retrieve the hostages and restore deterrence. Gantz was a self-proclaimed leader of the mass opposition movement against Netanyahu, who has now joined the government.

Israels actions prior to and throughout Friday were entirely in line with the preparations for an escalated military assault on Gaza.

The delayed start of the pause gave the IDF time to bomb and murder at will. In the hours leading up to Friday mornings 7:00 am commencement, over 300 targets were hit from the air, killing dozens. Gazas health ministry said 27 people were killed in a strike on a school affiliated with the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in the Jabaliya refugee camp, with similar numbers killed in bombing raids in Nuseirat.

The Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza has been attacked with tanks for days and yesterday was raided. The hospital was forced to cease operations, leaving an estimated 550 patients, 200 medical workers and at least 1,500 displaced Palestinians in desperate straits.

With a death toll now over 14,500, the director of Gazas health ministry said another 6,000 people have been reported missing and are feared buried under the rubble.

Friday saw the IDF focus on violently attacking Palestinians to prevent them from returning to the North. Since Israel first issued evacuation orders in the northern Gaza Strip on October 13, an estimated 1.7 million people out of the enclaves 2.2 million residents have been displaced.

Israel wants no return that would complicate its plans to shift attention to the south and drive the Gazans into the desert. Yesterday there were reports of hundreds, possibly thousands returning from Khan Younis with children and pets in their arms in defiance of IDF instructions. At least two Palestinians are reported to have been killed by the Israeli military, and 11 wounded, mostly shot in the leg. Several have been taken back to hospitals in the south.

The IDF has also stepped up operations on the West Bank. According to the health ministry, at least 225 Palestinians have been killed and around 2,850 others injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank since October 7.

In addition, around 2,070 have been detained, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society figures. Before October 7, the number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails was estimated at around 5,200, including more than 1,000 held without charge or trial in administrative detention. That figure is now over 8,300, with 3,000 in administrative detention.

The promised release of 150 is a drop in the bucket. Around 40 were arrested on Wednesday alone in IDF actions.

It initially appeared that fighting would also continue on the Lebanon border despite the pause. But a warning siren in the morning appears to have been a false alarm.

Some of the most revealing statements on how far Israel is prepared to go were made jointly by Netanyahu and Gallant. During a press conference Wednesday, Netanyahu said that he had instructed the Mossad [intelligence agency] to act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are.

Gallant added that all Hamas leaders are living on borrowed time. He continued:

The struggle is worldwide: From gunman in the field to those who are enjoying luxury jets while their emissaries are acting against women and children, they are destined to die.

Gantz stated earlier that Israel would kill Hamas leaders in Gaza and around the world. He added, We will reach the heads of [the Hamas] government just as we reached the centre of [that] government.

These are clear threats to assassinate former politburo chief Khaled Mashaal and others in exile in Qatar.

Meanwhile, there is little or no respite from starvation, water shortages and lack of power. In total, Egypt has said that some 200 trucks of humanitarian aid, 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of fuel will enter the Gaza Strip daily throughout the course of the pause in fighting. But reports have only specified 137 trucks, when Gaza needs 400 per day under normal conditions.

This did not stop President Joe Biden making a televised address boasting of the US role in negotiating the pause and declaring his intention to engage with leaders throughout the Middle East as we all work together to build a better future for the region where all children Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Israeli, Palestinian Arab, grow up knowing only peace.

Millions of people throughout the world have no illusions that the operational pause brings any possibility of an end to Israels ethnic cleansing, or that Genocide Joe and his counterparts in Europe and internationally are anything other than accomplices to mass murder.

Everything depends on the mass global movement in defence of the Palestinians turning to the working class, which alone can halt supplies to and production of military equipment for Israel, and begin a political and industrial struggle to bring down the imperialist governments of war criminals.
The Oyoun cultural centre [Photo by Nat Gass]

On Monday, at a meeting of the House of Representatives (State Legislature) Culture Committee, Berlins state Minister for Culture Joe Chialo (Christian Democrat) announced that he would stop funding the renowned Oyoun cultural centre at the end of the year, contrary to existing promises, and rent the state-owned property to someone else. The reason given by the Senate (State Executive) for this unlawful action was that events critical of the Israeli war against Gaza were taking place in the centre.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP, Socialist Equality Party) strongly condemns this far-reaching attack on freedom of art and expression and calls on readers around the world to send protest emails to the Senator for Culture (joe.chialo@kultur.berlin.de, copy to sgp@gleichheit.de) and to sign Oyouns online petition.

Oyoun describes itself as a place of the intersectional art and culture scene, which primarily centres on queer*feminist, migrant and decolonial perspectives and has already received several international awards for its work. It employs 32 people and organises around 600 events with 82,000 visitors every year.

At the beginning of the month, the Senate administration had asked the centre to cancel an event with Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East because it was too politically charged. Prior to this, the Green Party parliamentary group in the Berlin state House of Representatives published a statement in which it called for all funding to be cut because Oyoun had behaved in an antisemitic manner by inviting the Jewish group.

The cultural centre, whose 10-member advisory board itself includes three Jewish people, rejected this shameless slander and did not bow to pressure from the Senate. In a statement, it criticised the increasing control of its work by the Senate and the associated attack on artistic freedom and declared: We unconditionally condemn all forms of antisemitism, just as we fight all other forms of racism and discrimination, including anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism.

On 6 November, at the request of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Chialo then declared at a meeting of the Culture Committee that he was examining the cancellation of funding in order to implement the state concept for the prevention of anti-Semitism. The Oyoun team refused to be intimidated and published an open letter, which has been signed by over 11,000 people. It also offered premises for further events opposing Israels actions, including one organised by the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei on 14 November entitled Stop the massacre in Gaza.

At the meeting on Monday, Chialo then announced that he would cease payments to Oyoun by the end of the year and put the use of the property out to tender again. This was explicitly and unreservedly supported by the representatives of all the parties in the House of Representatives.

In this context, Social Democratic Party (SPD) representative Reinhard Naumann quoted from A call to the working class and youth  issued by the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site to stop the imperialist-Zionist genocide in Gaza. The SGP had distributed this as a leaflet and included an advertisement for the event at Oyoun.

The statement calls on workers around the world to strike and protest against the genocide in Gaza. It declares, We call for the development of protests and demonstrations within Israel itself. Its soldiers, many of whom are reservists, should defyas is required under international lawthe criminal orders of the Netanyahu regime and the military general staff.

Naumann called this international perspective against the war monstrous and put it on a par with the Holocaust, the worst crime in human history! If Never again is now* was to make any sense, then we must not ignore it in silence, said the Social Democrat. [*A reference to the expression Nie Wieder Faschismus, Never again fascism.]

Members of the Trotskyist movement were exterminated in concentration camps under the Nazis as part of the Jewish-Bolshevik world conspiracy because they advocated this perspective of international socialism. To associate them in any way with the crimes of German imperialism is a groundless falsification of history, which is intended both to rehabilitate fascism and to discredit socialist politics.

It is therefore not surprising that Naumann was immediately supported by AfD deputy Robert Eschricht, who identified a network of antisemitism in Oyoun and also supported the cancellation of its lease with the words: Never again is now. Left Party deputy Manuela Schmidt was also pleased with the senators very clear positioning and fully supported the action.

It is obvious that the censorship of Jewish Voice for Peace and socialist arguments in favour of the joint struggle of Palestinian and Israeli workers against war has nothing to do with the fight against antisemitism. On the contrary, for the Senate administration, it is a matter of suppressing any criticism of its support for the massacre in Gaza, its agitation against refugees and its abolition of democratic rights. It is this state repression and support for the genocide in Gaza that recalls to the worst traditions of the Nazis, and not Jewish and socialist opposition to war!

The action against Oyoun has far-reaching consequences. From now on, any organisation that criticises the governments policy must fear losing any basis for work.

The Berlin Senate will use any means necessary to enforce this blanket censorship of critical voices. Oyoun was actually promised four years of funding in 2021 until the end of 2025. An earlier termination, if it is permitted at all, would have to be appropriate and justified.

However, the Senate administration has so far refused to provide any justification at all and brazenly claims that there was never a binding commitment. With this unlawful approach, the Senate wants to impose its dictates on the entire art world. Nobody should be able to feel safe.

The purges in the art and culture world are already well advanced. The Documenta art exhibition in Kassel is to be cut off because of unsustainable accusations of antisemitism against its curators, and the Biennale fur aktuelle Fotografie (Contemporary Photography Biennale) was cancelled altogether because of supposedly antisemitic posts by curator Shahidul Alam. Countless artists and cultural workers have been banned from performing because they have thematised the genocide in Gaza or even just had the wrong ancestry.

This imposed conformity of cultural life is part of a tremendous repression against dissenters. Anyone who criticises the governments pro-war policy must expect arbitrary arrests, house searches and secret service surveillance. Demonstrations against the massacre in Gaza are banned by the dozens, the demand for equal rights for Palestinians is criminalised, and Muslims are placed under general suspicion.

These sweeping attacks on democratic rights are not an expression of the strength of the ruling class but of its weakness. This pro-war policy, which goes hand in hand with unprecedented social attacks and wage cuts, is overwhelmingly opposed.

According to a recent survey by the Allensbach Institute, a clear majority in Germany reject Israels actions in the Gaza Stripdespite the deafening propaganda across the media. Only 8 percent support the supply of weapons to Israel by the German government. Millions of people around the world are taking to the streets against the genocide.

The only way to beat back the attack on Oyoun and defend the freedom of art is to mobilise this very opposition. Workers must now take sides and protest against the abolition of basic democratic rights in order to defend their own rights and stop the war. We therefore once again call on all readers to send protest emails to the Senator for Culture (joe.chialo@kultur.berlin.de, copy to sgp@gleichheit.de) and to sign Oyouns online petition.
After 40 days of secret negotiations following New Zealands October 14 election, the conservative National Party leader Christopher Luxon yesterday signed a coalition deal to form a government with two widely despised far-right parties, ACT and New Zealand First.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon addressing National members the day before the election, October 13, 2023 [Photo: Christopher Luxon]

The agreement brings to power the countrys most right-wing government in decades. Its task will be to make drastic cuts to public services and ramp up the exploitation of the working class, while significantly increasing spending on the military to prepare the country to join imperialist wars.

Notwithstanding Luxons mantra that he has built a strong and stable government, the protracted negotiation period indicates that the three-way coalition will be profoundly unstable. The three parties failed to reach an agreement in time for Luxon to join world leaders at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in mid-November, a major international forum.

The absence of a government for nearly six weeksduring which mass protests erupted opposing the US-backed genocide by Israel against the people of Gazawill have caused concern among NZ allies in Washington and Canberra. New Zealand is a minor imperialist power in the Pacific region and a member of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network. Successive governments have joined US-led wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, and the political establishment is supporting the US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine and the militarisation of the Indo-Pacific region against China.

None of the three parties has any significant popular support. The National Party only got 38 percent of the votes, while ACT received 8.6 percent and NZ First just 6 percent. Taking account of roughly one million eligible adultsone quarterwho did not vote for anyone, Nationals support falls to 28 percent.

Responsibility for the right-wing victory rests with the outgoing Labour Party, which received 26.9 percent of the votes, a dramatic collapse from 50 percent in its 2020 election victory. After six years in governmentin coalition with the Greens and, during 20172020, NZ FirstLabours claims that it would alleviate the housing crisis and end child poverty were completely discredited.

Under Labour, living standards collapsed amid soaring costs for food and housing. About 600,000 people11.5 percent of the populationrelies on food parcels to survive. More than 100,000 people, one in 50, are homeless or severely housing deprived. Meanwhile, tens of billions of dollars were found to provide subsidies and bailouts for big business during the pandemic.

The Labour governments support plummeted after it ended New Zealands effective COVID-19 elimination strategy in late 2021 and allowed the coronavirus to infect millions of people. Since then, more than 3,500 people have been killed by COVID and 34,000 hospitalised in what is an ongoing public health disaster.

The new National-led government will intensify the attacks on the working class, with the two extreme-right parties wielding disproportionate power. Newsroom journalist Marc Daalder posted on X that based on the coalition deals, its hard not to get a sense that this is ACT and New Zealand Firsts government, and National is just running it.

NZ First leader Winston Peters and ACT leader David Seymour will split the role of deputy prime minister, with Peters taking the job for 18 months before handing it to Seymour. Disagreement between the two leaders over the role was reportedly one issue that dragged out the coalition talks. During the election campaign, ACT and NZ First competed for the small number of far-right voters, with Seymour attacking Peters as untrustworthy.

Peterswhose party has a long record of racist agitation against immigrants, especially Muslims and Chinese peoplehas also been made foreign minister. NZ Firsts Shane Jones will be minister of regional development and the partys Casey Costello will be in charge of customs.

Labour and the Greens hypocritically denounce NZ First as racist, despite the fact that in 2017 then Labour leader Jacinda Ardern formed a coalition with NZ First and made Peters both deputy prime minister and foreign minister. The deal was supported by the Greens, which joined the Ardern government.

NZ First chose to form a government with Labour rather than National in 2017 because at that time Labour was viewed in Washington as the preferred party to strengthen military and intelligence ties, and to integrate New Zealand into the build-up to war against China.

Both National and Labour committed to increasing military spending from 1.4 to 2 percent of gross domestic product. Labours defence minister Andrew Little stated in August that this was necessary in case New Zealand is called on to join a war against China.

Nationals commitment to boost military spending, along with income tax cuts which will overwhelmingly benefit the rich, will be paid for through drastic austerity measures in other areas. The libertarian ACT will play a major role with Seymour as minister of regulation and ACTs deputy leader Brooke Van Velden as minister of internal affairs, workplace relations and safety.

Seymour said yesterday that the number of public servants will return to the levels we saw in 2017, which entails about 15,000 job cuts. Already WorkSafe and Statistics NZ have indicated that hundreds of jobs will be lost, and under Labour thousands of jobs were destroyed across the university sector.

The National-ACT deal includes tax cuts for landlords and greater powers to evict tenants. A so-called 90-day trial period during which new employees can easily be sacked will be expanded to cover all businesses, not just small ones.

With unemployment rising from 3.4 to 3.9 percent this year and likely to increase further, the three parties agreed on sanctions and electronic money management for people receiving the Jobseeker benefit who fail to find employment.

In education, the government has adopted ACTs policy of reintroducing privately-run charter schools, which can set their own pay rates and curricula. National also agreed to NZ Firsts reactionary policy of ending sex and gender education in schools.

NZ Firsts demand for an expanded inquiry into the previous governments COVID-19 response has also been adopted, with the aim of delegitimizing the temporary lockdowns and other public health measures used during the first two years of the pandemic.

To deal with the inevitable opposition and fallout from these anti-working class policies, the government is promising tougher criminal sentencing, an increased prison population, and to train at least 500 new police officers (about a 5 percent increase).

The law and order policies include a ban on gang insignia and powers for the police to carry out warrantless searches and to break up alleged gang meetings. These anti-democratic laws, initially aimed against alleged criminal gangs, can easily be modified to target left-wing protests and groups of workers who seek to oppose the governments attacks.

For youth offenders, the government will introduce military-run boot camps, in order to enhance the role of the armed forces in society and recruit more young people into the military.

A major component of the coalition agreement is an attempt to exploit widespread animosity towards the Labour-Green governments promotion of race-based identity politics, and to steer it in a reactionary, racist direction. The new government aims to divert anger over the social crisis by scapegoating indigenous Maori, most of whom are part of the poorest layer of the working class.

National has adopted the demands of ACT and NZ First, which both campaigned against policies which they falsely claimed gave Maori a privileged statusincluding Labours by Maori, for Maori healthcare authority and Maori tribal co-governance of water infrastructure. The vast majority of Maori did not benefit from these policies.

The new government will disestablish the Maori health authority and examine affirmative action initiatives for Maori healthcare students. It will withdraw from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peopleswhich NZ First denounced as a document enshrining race-based preferenceand instruct public agencies to communicate primarily in English, not Maori.

ACT will draft legislation to define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, but National would not agree to its policy of holding a referendum on those principles. The Treaty, signed in 1840 between the British and representatives of most Maori tribes, was elevated in the 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal to investigate the crimes of colonialism. Its findings led to multi-million dollar payouts to the tribes, under successive Labour and National governments, creating an affluent layer of Maori committed to the defence of capitalism.

ACT and NZ First support the payouts to the tribes, but have called for the removal of references to Treaty principles in many other pieces of legislation, and are seeking to diminish the status of the Treaty in public life more broadly.

Members of Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Maori (the Maori Party, TPM) have warned that ACTs proposed law change will provoke a backlash or even civil unrest. This is precisely the point. The entire political establishmentincluding the previous Labour-Greens-NZ First governmentis complicit in promoting racism and xenophobia to block the development of a unified working class movement against capitalism.

Workers should not place any confidence in the Labour Party and its allies, including the Greens, TPM, and the trade unions and middle class, pseudo-left groups that support these parties. These forces bear direct responsibility for the social crisis facing working people and for paving the way for the National-ACT-NZ First government.

To oppose the historic assault on workers living standards, and the ruling elites plans to take New Zealand into what is developing into a Third World War, the working class needs its own party and program. During the election, the Socialist Equality Group (SEG) fought for the mobilisation of the working class against all the parliamentary parties, for a workers government and the socialist reorganisation of society. We urge readers seeking a genuine way forward to contact the SEG and join its fight to build the New Zealand section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
The November 22 Dutch general elections have yielded to Geert Wilders fascistic Party for Freedom (PVV) an unprecedented electoral gain at the polls. The PVV doubled its parliamentary seats in the Dutch Tweede Kamer from 17 in 2021 to 37 of the 150 seats, with 25 percent of the votes cast. This must be taken as a serious political warning to the Dutch and the international working class.

Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right party PVV, or Party for Freedom, talks to the media after a meeting with speaker of the House Vera Bergkamp, two days after Wilders won the most votes in a general election, in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday November 24, 2023. [AP Photo/Peter Dejong]

The election was a debacle for the right-wing parties in the caretaker coalition government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, which all suffered humiliating losses. Ruttes Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), led by Dilan Yesilgoz, collapsed from 34 to 24 seats. Similarly, the Social-Liberal Democrats (D66) fell from 24 to 9, the Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA) from 15 to 5, and the Christian Union (CU) from 5 to 3.

The discredited Greens and the Labour Party (GL, PvdA) tried to position themselves as the lesser evil than the right-wing parties, issuing a joint manifesto and electoral slate led by former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans. However, this was insufficient to profit significantly from the collapse of Ruttes allies. Tactical voting saw their totals rise from 17 to 25 seats, far behind Wilders PVV.

The newly-formed National Social Contract (NSC) party, led by former CDA parliamentarian Pieter Omtzigt, won 20 seats based on its empty calls for good governance.

After the elections, Wilders spoke at a cafe in the North Sea town of Scheveningen, saying: The Dutchman will be back in first place. The Netherlands has hope  the people of the Netherlands will get their country back, and the tsunami of refugees and immigrants will be limited.

Wilders addressed local media on Thursday and declared his ambitions to be prime minister, saying he was in favour of a referendum on whether the Netherlands should leave the EU. He added, the first thing is a significant restriction on asylum and immigration. We dont do that for ourselves, we do that for all Dutch people who voted for us.

Far-right outfits across the globe congratulated Wilders, including Hungarys Viktor Orban, who said, The winds of change are here! and far-right Flemish politician Tom van Grieken, who declared, Parties like ours are on their way in the whole of Europe.

The Guardian called the Dutch election results chilling, Politico called it the EUs worst nightmare, while the New York Times warned it could send shockwaves throughout Europe. Similarly, in the Netherlands, De Telegraaf declared that the Netherlands turn right and spoke of a shockwave to the other parties. De Volkskrant called it a startling comeback of the PVV that creates major dilemmas, with other media outlets following suit.

While the international press painted Wilders victory as a shock outcome, it was in reality the product of the policies of the entire Dutch and European ruling class.

Wilders win comes just two months after the arrival in power of Slovakias Robert Fico, who also pledged to cut immigration, and of far-right Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. During his campaign, Wilders pledged to close the borders to all immigration, calling for a Nexit, the Dutch version of Brexit, and to de-Islamize the Netherlands. He called for a stop to providing arms to Ukraine and a staunch pro-Israel stance amid the unfolding war in Gaza.

The Dutch ruling elite and the major parties and media overwhelmingly ran the election campaign based on foul, anti-immigrant propaganda. The result was a poisonous election climate of distortions and confusion. According to certain estimates, as many as 60 percent of the voters were unsure whom to vote for, given that no candidate clearly articulated the real political questions of social austerity, war, and genocide in Gaza facing workers in the Netherlands and internationally.

The establishment parties legitimized Wilders not only by promoting anti-immigrant hatred but also by declaring their willingness to ally with him. In this, Ruttes VVD played a leading role. In August, during the campaign, VVD leader and Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz emphasized that in regards to Wilders, she did not want to keep the door shut as a matter of course. She said, I am more interested in who will be at the [negotiations] table and with what intentions.

Later in the campaign, as it became clear that such positions strengthened the PVV at the VVDs expense, Yesilgoz shifted her position again to deny plans to form a coalition with Wilders.

In Dutch official circles, it is admitted that not just the right-wing or social democratic parties but also the political forces tied to the parasitic Dutch trade union bureaucracy all joined in a xenophobic campaign that ultimately turned Wilders into a clear favorite.

The main reasons voters have supported Wilders in these elections is his anti-immigration agenda, followed by his stance on the cost-of-living crisis and his healthcare position, University of Amsterdam Professor Sarah de Lange told Politico. The mainstream parties legitimised Wilders by making immigration a key issue, she added. Voters might have thought that if that is the issue at stake, why not vote for the original rather than the copy, she said.

The central role in denying workers and youth the opportunity to vote for left-wing opposition to anti-immigrant hatreds was played by the ex-Maoist Socialist Party (SP). This party, which in recent years has in various polls won as much as 30 percent support, ran based on calls for harsher policies against asylum seekers. It was not spared by the broader election debacle, falling from 9 to 5 seats in parliament. Indeed, its election manifesto declared:

Uncontrolled labor migration currently leads to exploitation, the exodus from other countries (the so-called brain drain) and the uprooting of communities.  In this way we break the social isolation of many migrant workers. Anyone who wants to work in the Netherlands and is not a resident must be in possession of a work permit. Depending on the situation, the maximum number of work permits per year can be adjusted. Until this is in order, we will temporarily stop economic migration.

Broad sections of the Dutch ruling elite are now maneuvering aggressively to install Wilders in office. Not even 24 hours after the elections, Timmermans of the GL/PvDA suggested that he might lead the opposition, paving the way for the formation of a government coalition between Wilders PVV, Yesilgozs VVD, and Pieter Omtzigts NSC that would have 81 seats in all. The newly-formed right-wing populist party BBB (Farmer-Citizen Movement) has already declared its interest to join Wilders with its 7 seats.

NCS party leader Omtzigt said, We are available to govern. This is a difficult outcome. We will discuss on Thursday in what way we could best contribute.

Netherlands public television NOS also reported: VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz, who earlier this week said her party wouldnt join a government led by Wilders, said it was now up to the winner to show he could get a majority.

Irrespective of which capitalist parties form the ruling coalition and which postured as a so-called opposition, the incoming Dutch political establishment will mount a ferocious attack on the working class. It will respond to growing social protests against genocide, war and austerity with an attempt to impose neo-fascistic, police state rule. This is true whether the Netherlands are ruled openly by Wilders, or by a coalition drawn from the Netherlands other anti-immigrant parties.

In the Netherlands, as in around the world, there is deep opposition in the working class to capitalist governments policies of war, genocide, austerity and police-state rule. The Netherlands has seen mass protests against the genocide in Gaza, including large rallies around Amsterdams central train station. After Wilders election victory, several thousand people turned out to protest in the Netherlands largest cities, Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Such sentiments find no conscious genuine political expression outside the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals (ICFI) principled, Marxist and internationalist opposition to the capitalist ruling classes of Europe. The urgent task facing the Dutch working class is the establishment of a section of the ICFI and, based on a socialist and internationalist perspective, building a movement across Europe to fight the capitalist establishment and transfer power to the working class.
On Thursday and Friday, more than 1,500 high school students across Australia walked out of class to protest Israels onslaught against the Palestinians and the Australian Labor governments full support for the genocide. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) unequivocally supports and defends the strikes.

Strikes were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Wollongong. In Melbourne, around 1,000 participated, while in Sydney, roughly 400 took part. The events point to a highly significant political radicalisation that is developing among young people.

A section of the Sydney school strike

In interviews with the WSWS, strikers made comments condemning Israels bombardment and the decades-long occupation of the Palestinians. Their remarks were far more perceptive and insightful than almost anything published in the corporate press over the past six weeks. The students are well informed through social media and through their independent endeavours to seek out the truth. They have informed themselves in order to fight oppression.

The venomous response of the establishment to the protests was as significant as the events themselves. There is no recent parallel to relatively small political events of young people being attacked as stridently and aggressively as over the past few days. It is an extraordinary condemnation of official society and its institutions that youth had to fight for their right to protest the mass murder of infants and children in Gaza, more than 5,500 of whom have been slaughtered over the past six weeks.

The state Labor governments in Victoria and New South Wales were at the forefront of the attacks. In both states, the Labor premiers and education ministers condemned the planned walkouts, told students to remain in school and instructed education authorities that action could be taken against students who were absent from class. At least some schools in Sydney and Melbourne sent emails to parents relaying this instruction.

The arguments of the state Labor governments against the strikes were ludicrous and incoherent. Having slashed funding to the point where public schools suffer their worst crisis of student overcrowding and teacher shortages in decades, the Labor ministers proclaimed that childrens education would be harmed by participating in the strikes.

The Murdoch-owned Sydney Daily Telegraph took that line to its absurd endpoint. It cited an individual described as a qualified child psychologist, who instructed parents to tell their children: Turn up to school, dont rob yourself of the opportunity to get a great quality education. The strikes were of roughly two hours in duration.

The other line of the Labor administrations was that the strikes could increase tensions associated with the conflict in the Middle East. Some students could be upset by the walkouts. This was essentially a repetition of the claims of various pro-Israeli groups, which asserted, without any evidence or rationale, that Jewish students would be harmed by school pupils protesting the mass killing of civilians in Gaza.

In comments uncritically quoted in the press, Zionist leaders pushed this argument, while simultaneously directing foul vitriol against students planning to participate in the strikes.

Speaking to the right-wing Sky News, Dvir Abramovich of the Anti-Defamation Commission declared: Free Palestine, the group that is organising this hate-fest and recruitment drive has taken a leaf out of the Hamas playbook in using kids as human shields and sacrificing them in their war in propaganda and disinformation. The activists had torn up the rulebook and crossed every red line, meaning that all bets are off.

Abramovich, while he is invariably introduced in the press as a Jewish community leader, unerringly advances the positions of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and intelligence agencies. Under conditions where the IDF is massacring civilians in Gaza, his comments, framed in military rhetoric, have the most disturbing implications.

It is difficult to imagine many other individuals making such statements about children without any repercussions. If a prominent Islamic or Arabic leader said such things about pro-Israeli children, there is little doubt they would be visited by counter-terrorism police.

Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg reacted hysterically to a suggestion by Brisbane strike organisers that the march be led by students wearing their school uniforms. He responded: This is abhorrent, and just like Hitler Youth of the 1930s, it looks like Queensland schoolchildren are now being infected with the worlds oldest form of hatred, antisemitism. The Hitler Youth wore uniforms; schoolchildren in modern Australia wear uniforms, ergo they are one and the same.

This sort of unhinged rhetoric has always been the province of the far-right, including fascistic forces. Misrepresentation, hysterical accusations without evidence and frenzied attacks on children because of their political views have never been associated with a struggle against antisemitism, racism or for any progressive cause.

Despite the dire warnings, the strikes occurred largely without incident. The one exception was when an adult male carrying an Israeli flag sought to accost and confront striking children in Sydney, before being led away by police.

At the protests, the children made very clear that their motivation was to fight the mass murder of Palestinians. Many poignantly held homemade placards, stating simply: Stop killing kids! Some held signs declaring Nazis not welcome, to underscore that their action had nothing to do with hostility to Jewish people.

Students denounced the attempt to equate their protest with antisemitism. Some commented that the false identification of Jewish people with the war crimes of the Israeli state was itself antisemitic. The cynical line peddled by Zionist groups and echoed by governments, that all opposition to Israeli policy is antisemitic, serves to downplay the dangers of genuine antisemitism and to relativise the horrors of the Holocaust.

The media has nevertheless sought to concoct provocations. The Australian published an interview with a participant in Melbourne, claiming that she expressed support for Hamas. Based on the Australians own audio, it is entirely unclear that is what she stated. The replies from other strikers published by the Australian indicated that its reporters were asking the students whether they supported Hamas and accepted Israels right to exist.

The image of professional journalists skulking around a student protest and trying to trip children into expressing support for Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Australia, is not a pretty one.

It was not only the Murdoch press. The Sydney Morning Herald published an analysis of social media posts promoting the event in that city before it occurred. They came to the extraordinary conclusion that university students, as well as high school students, were supporting the strike. This was linked to assertions that the Socialist Alternative organisation was involved in planning the walkout. That story, from a publication that has continuously promoted IDF talking points, was simply McCarthyism in support of an unfolding genocide.

Two other developments have highlighted the far-right character of the campaign against the strikes, and the bogus assertions used to attack them.

The Sydney rally was addressed by a Jewish boy. He reportedly stated: I stand here today as the grandson of a Holocaust survivor to say that I stand against all genocides, and I will not let the state of Israel speak for all Jews.

When those remarks were posted to X/Twitter, Zionist commentators denounced the boy or accused activists of exploiting him. Some described him as being of Jewish descent, rather than simply Jewish, his heritage seemingly having been diminished because he criticised the Israeli government and military. The concern that these same individuals had professed over the mental health and feelings of Jewish students evidently did not extend to Jewish kids who are anti-Zionist.

More broadly, many X/Twitter posts about the strike have been swarmed by right-wing trolls. That includes vile comments attacking the students, calling for their deportation and slandering them in terms that cannot be published. A brief perusal of the accounts shows that many have previously attacked Aboriginal people, refugees and generally aligned themselves with other fascistic causes.

The student strikes have come under such attack because the ruling elite is terrified that a mass movement of students and youth will erupt against the genocide in Gaza and link up with the developing struggles of the working class against militarism and the profit system, which offers the younger generation no way forward. It was very striking that many of the students participating expressed anti-capitalist sentiment and sympathy for socialism.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality calls for this movement to be deepened and developed. Above all, that means a turn to the working class, the revolutionary force in society, and the adoption of an international socialist perspective directed against the whole social order responsible for the slaughter in Gaza and all of imperialisms other crimes.
Around 400 high school students from across Sydney walked out of class yesterday to strike against the Israeli regimes genocidal war in Gaza and the support it has received from the Australian Labor government. About 100 also gathered in the working-class steel city of Wollongong, south of Sydney.

The stoppages followed strikes in Melbourne and Adelaide on Thursday involving more than 1000 pupils. The strikes are part of a broader wave of mass protest internationally with similar walkouts seen in the US, Canada and Britain.

A section of the Sydney school strike

In Sydney there were a significant number of students from schools in the working-class southwest region of the city, including Canterbury, Greenacre, Bankstown and Lakemba. There were also students from the inner west including Burwood and others from the eastern suburbs of Randwick and Surry Hills.

The students that attended did so in defiance of a ferocious campaign led by the state Labor government and involving all the corporate media outlets. NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns told students not to attend the protest but to stay in school to get educated. The protesters have been denounced as propagating antisemitism, solely for opposing the onslaught on Gaza.

Students reported that many of their classmates and parents were worried about being targeted or disciplined for attending. Principals at some schools sent letters to parents telling them that students had to stay in class or would be marked absent in line with behaviour and attendance policies.

****

Talia, whose family is from Jordan, said: Since I was young my family have been boycotting products from Israel and Ive been talking about it to my friends before anybody knew what was happening.

Talia said: I have seen a shift. I remember around 2015, no one would talk about Palestine. Now, however, people are going out and researching to find out the real side of the story. Social media has had an impact. There is a lot more information on Instagram and social media in general. People post real stories, the raw images.

Talia was asked what she thought of Labor Premier Minns hostility to the strike. I think its racist. Its not looking at both sides. Look at all the community we have here. The Arab community, the Palestinian community, Muslim, Christian, everyones here.

This protest is not antisemitic. We are not condoning the Holocaust or what happened in the past. It was a horrible event and should never have happened. However, something is happening right now, and we need help.

I have seen a lot of Jewish people oppose the oppression of Palestine, and I think it's really good. More Jewish people, and people in general, should educate themselves on what is happening, rather than listen to the government. We are taught to trust the government, but it's not always right, especially when theres a lack of equality.

Higher class people, those in government, people in power, they are listened to. People like us, we arent listened to because we are considered automatically wrong for not agreeing. We should form our own opinions and not be dependent on agreeing with the government.

She spoke of the pressure at school not to attend. Its not okay for them to tell us not to come out. Clearly there is a war occurring, people are dying, and we have to do something. We cant just stand back. Schools should support all students for what they believe in, and think it is right.

There needs to be a permanent ceasefire. There needs to be restoration efforts, this is a humanitarian crisis. For both sides, we need to start society again, like how it used to be. There is no kicking out one side specifically, but we need to all live and coexist peacefully.

Dorina, an adult originally from Romania, who attended to lend support to students, said, I am outraged at what is going on with the Palestinians, the massacre that we see right in front of us. Our government is complicit in this through their lack of support for the Palestinians and their support for Israel.

Students have every right to join these demonstrations. It is one day off school, who cares? This is their protest against the atrocities and to be on the right side of history. I wish I had their strength when I was their age. The state of the world is probably worse now than then. We relied on the mainstream media for coverage of the news. Now social media is bringing the truth to us, so I probably wasnt aware of what was going on.

The absolute hypocrisy of the government supporting Ukraine, where you had 11,000 people killed in 21 months. 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in 40 days and they dont get that kind of support or military assistance. You need to support the right people, not the oppressors who have been colonising and illegally occupying Palestine.

I remember Albanese claiming to support the Palestinians in 2015, giving a passionate speech about his support for the plight of the Palestinians. Now, where is that? Where are those morals? Thats the person I voted in. Now theres none of that.

Atef, originally from Lebanon, attended with his 13-year-old daughter. He said, I think NSW Premier Chris Minns is a disgrace. I would never, ever vote Labor again. This has been going on for a long time but Im starting to see a change. People are starting to wake up, people are not going to accept what is going on.

Pointing to the conditions facing the Palestinians, Atef said it was clear why many wanted to fight their oppression. Referencing the occupation in the West Bank, he said: Imagine, you cant cross the street, cant go to the shop. Every night I spend my time on social media, looking at dead children. I cannot believe government leaders are supporting this.

Roukaya, a student said, I am out here because you cant just leave it alone. People say protest will do nothing, but each week the numbers go up drastically. We need to use our voices.

On the official condemnations of the strike, she said: The hypocrisy is crazy. If you go back a bit, when we voted for Labor, we didnt know they would be supporting genocide. I was really surprised. Even Albanese a few years back supported the Palestinians and spoke up for them. Now he is just a hypocrite.

On the growing protest movement, Roukaya said, Millions are coming out now because it is the truth. We are here with the truth. Simea, also a student, added, these protests are so much bigger because of social media. It has spread awareness. We didnt have social media before. Roukaya concluded: The system needs to change, because the system itself is corrupt.
The No to WarsStop the Rearmament MadnessMake the Future Peaceful and Just demonstration taking place on Saturday in Berlin is a cynical attempt to steer the growing opposition to the NATO war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza into a dead end.

Anyone genuinely wishing to fight against the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East should take a closer look at the organisers politics. The Left Party and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, which together with 200 other organisations and individuals are calling for the demonstration, are playing a malicious double game. They employ general phrases against war and rearmament madness, but in practice they support the warmongers and their policies.

This is particularly evident in Gaza. Israel is conducting a systematic policy of genocide and expulsion. It has dropped ammunition with the explosive power of two Hiroshima bombs on a densely populated area little more than half the size of Berlin, killed more than 14,000 civilians and injured over 36,000, displaced 1.6 million from their homes and destroyed large parts of the infrastructure. And this is just the beginning.

Washington and Berlin are fueling this massacre with money and weapons because they see the repression of the Palestinian resistance as a prerequisite for their own domination in the resource-rich region.

The Left Party has joined this murderous campaign. On October 12, the Left Partys parliamentary faction, which at the time also included the deputies of the Wagenknecht Alliance, voted together with the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and all other parties in favour of a Bundestag (federal parliament) resolution that gives the Israeli government a blank cheque and promises it all available support.

On October 22, Left Party Chairman Martin Schirdewan spoke alongside the Israeli ambassador and German president at a cross-party demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate to back Israels genocide. The recent Left Party congress in Augsburg also continued this course. The guiding motion, passed by a large majority, states: Israel has the right to defend itself. A delegate who criticized the genocide in Gaza was booed.

The Left Party also supports NATO warmongers in the war in Ukraine. The European election programme adopted in Augsburg condemns Putins criminal war of aggression and advocates punishing those responsible. There was not a single syllable of criticism for NATO, which has systematically encircled Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, provoked the Kremlins invasion and fueled the war with billions.

Sahra Wagenknecht criticises the war in Ukraine, but not because she rejects German militarism. Rather, she believes that Germany would be better off ending the alliance with the US today than tomorrow and pursuing its own geopolitical interests as a European leader.

The demonstration of Sahra Wagenknecht and Alice Schwarzer on February 25, 2023 in Berlin

Among the keynote speakers at a rally under the slogan Uprising for Peace, which Wagenknecht organized together with feminist Alice Schwarzer on February 25, was retired Brigadier General Erich Vad, a fervent militarist and longtime insider of Germanys security apparatus.

In an article for the right-wing extremist Swiss Weltwoche last summer, Wagenknecht demanded that Germany finally focus on its own security and economic interests. It must not be satisfied with the role of the vassal of the US but must become its own pole of power in a multipolar world.

Both the Left Party and the Wagenknecht Alliance are deeply troubled by the resistance to militarism and social cuts expressed in the worldwide mass demonstrations against the genocide in Gaza and a growing international strike movement against wage and social cuts, which they fear as much as the government. That is why, although they have just split, they are cooperating at the Berlin demonstration to stifle the growing resistance.

The list of signatories to the appeal reads as if the peace movements of the early 1980s and 2000s had risen from their graves, both of which ended in debacles because they refused to combine the struggle against war with the struggle against capitalism. The NatureFriends environmental group, the German Communist Party (DKP), various peace initiatives, numerous active and former trade union officials and professors have also signed the appeal. All that is missing are the Greens and the Social Democrats youth organization, which are now firmly in the governments war camp.

The organisers are not interested in peace but in covering up the war course of the Social Democrat/Green/Free Democrat coalition, which includes parties with whom they work closely at the federal, state and local levels. The only peace that interests them is the labour peace with the ruling class.

The appeal for the demonstration carefully avoids any wording that could be interpreted as a call to build a movement against the German government. Instead, it foments the illusion that Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Foreign Minister Analena Baerbock & Co. could be moved by pressure from the streets to a more peaceful policy.

We demand from the Federal Government an end to unrestrained rearmament, as well as immediate mediation for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, the appeal reads. We advocate a new detente policy and for arms control and disarmament.

One may as well ask a wolf to become a vegetarian. The federal government will not abandon its war policy. It is one of the worst warmongers in both Ukraine and the Middle East.

Chancellor Scholz has just announced that military aid to Ukraine will be doubled to 8 billion, so that Ukrainian and Russian soldiers will continue to slaughter each other in a deadlocked trench warfare next year. The German government denounces resistance to the genocide in Gaza as antisemitism and prosecutes it as a crime.

It is not pursuing this war course because, as the appeal claims, it has turned away from Willy Brandts detente policy but because now it can only achieve the goals that Brandt pursued with his Ostpolitikunhindered access to the raw materials and markets of Eastern Europe, Russia and other regions of the worldby military force.

Defense Minister Pistorius does not want to make Germany warlike because he has lost his mind but because German imperialism, whose interests the Social Democrat-led coalition represents, can only expand under the conditions of an advanced crisis of world capitalism by resorting to violence. It is returning to its criminal traditions, supported by all parties represented in the Bundestag.

Three decades ago, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a fierce struggle for the redivision of the world began. The US, Germany and other major powers wanted direct access to the vast areas that had been deprived of capitalist exploitation since the October Revolution of 1917. They moved NATOs borders further and further east and organized a right-wing coup in Ukraine in 2014, which ultimately provoked the war with Rusia.

In the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa, where national governments had maneuvered between the US and the Soviet Union, the US and its NATO allies waged one brutal war after another to restore their colonial hegemony. The war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza are two fronts of this global expansion, which is increasingly openly becoming a third world war whose main target is the rising economic power of China.

The brutality with which the NATO powers use tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers as cannon fodder and support the slaughter of the Palestinians shows that they will stop at nothing, not even at the use of nuclear weapons.

During the First World War, the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin wrote: One of the forms of deception of the working class is pacifism and abstract preaching of peace. Under capitalism, particularly in its imperialist stage, wars are inevitable. On the eve of the Second World War, Leon Trotsky quoted this phrase, adding: It is impossible to fight against imperialist war if one whines for peace in the manner of pacifists.  Only a revolutionary mass struggle against war and imperialism that produces war can ensure a real peace.

This is as true today as it was then. It is impossible to put pressure on the warmongers; they must be disempowered. Only an independent movement of the international working class, combining the struggle against war, oppression and exploitation with a socialist program to overthrow capitalism, can prevent a nuclear catastrophe. The objective conditions for such a movement are developing rapidly, but it needs a conscious perspective and a political party to lead it. Building such a movement is the goal of the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft logos displayed in front of an EU flag. JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Mega-cap tech stocks have driven the bulk of the stock market's gains in 2023, and they'll probably do the same in 2024.

Goldman Sachs said it expects the top seven stocks in the S&P 500 to outperform the bottom 493 stocks next year.

Faster growth rates and reasonable valuations bode well for mega-cap tech stocks, Goldman said.

The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks have vastly outperformed the broader stock market this year, and Goldman Sachs expects the trend to continue well into 2024.

"Our baseline forecast suggests that in 2024 the mega-cap tech stocks will continue to outperform the remainder of the S&P 500," Goldman Sachs' David Kostin said in a recent note.

The "Magnificent Seven" mega-cap stocks, which refers to Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla, and Nvidia, are responsible for 76% of the S&P 500's 2023 gain of nearly 20%.

Nvidia is up more than 200% year-to-date, and even Apple, the world's largest company, saw its stock price surge nearly 50% this year. The seven companies represent a collective $11.5 trillion in market value.

The extreme concentration of the stock market rally this year has kept bearish investors on high alert, but Goldman Sachs isn't concerned and expects the gains to continue. Here's why.

1. The fundamentals are better

The seven mega-cap tech stocks have more attractive fundamentals when compared to the S&P 500's bottom 493 stocks.

They sport faster growth, higher profit margins, cleaner balance sheets, and reasonable valuations on a relative basis.

"Analyst estimates show the mega-cap tech companies growing sales at a CAGR of 11% through 2025 compared with just 3% for the rest of the S&P 500. The net margins of the Magnificent 7 are twice the margins of the rest of the index, and consensus expects this gap will persist through 2025," Kostin said.

And while price-to-earnings valuations are elevated for the tech stocks, when accounting for growth, they're actually in line with the rest of the market.

Story continues

"On an earnings-weighted basis, the Magnificent 7 long-term expected EPS growth is 8 percentage points faster than the median S&P 500 stock (+17% vs. +9%). On a PEG ratio basis, the relative valuations are in line with the 10-year average," Kostin said.

2. Mega-cap tech stocks crashed in 2022

The sharp outperformance in the mega-cap tech stocks this year comes after a brutal 2022 in which a number of the stocks were severely punished by investors. From their peak, Meta fell more than 70%, Nvid dropped more than 60%, and Amazon's share price was cut in half in 2022.

So the sharp trend reversal in performance this year was rather ordinary to Kostin.

"The dominance of mega-cap tech in 2023 largely reflected a reversal of meaningful underperformance in 2022," Kostin said, adding that the group of tech stocks fell a collective 39% last year.

3. There's no return relationship for top seven S&P 500 stocks

The 30 percentage point outperformance of the seven mega-cap tech stocks this year relative to the bottom 493 stocks of the S&P 500 is the second largest annual difference since 1970, according to Kostin.

But a historical analysis shows there is no relationship between the trailing and forward returns of the top seven stocks relative to the 493 other stocks.

"While the magnitude of outperformance has been striking, there has been no reliable historical relationship between the trailing and forward 12-month outperformance of the largest seven S&P 500 constituents vs. the remainder of the index," Kostin said.

For example, strong outperformance of the largest seven stocks in 1999 was followed by a dismal performance in 2000 for those same stocks, while the outperformance in 2020 was followed by another year of outperformance in 2021, Kostin explained.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka held a powerful public meeting last Tuesday at the Colombo Public Library Auditorium titled Stop Israeli genocidal war on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

A section of the audience for the meeting against Israeli war on Gaza in Colombo on 21 November 2023

The Colombo meeting is a part of a series of meetings in Sri Lanka, as well as around the world by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), to build an international anti-war movement of the working class based on socialist policies. Prior to the Colombo meeting, SEP/IYSSE held two meetingson November 15 in Jaffna in the north and on November 19 in Galle in the southand also held a powerful protest outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station on November 9, on the same theme.

Over 50 youth, including students and workers, attended the Colombo meeting. It was preceded by SEP/IYSSE campaigns in residential areas in Colombo, at universities such as Colombo, Moratuwa and Jayawardenepura and workplaces in the area. The campaigners distributed Sinhala and Tamil copies of WSWS articles on the Gaza war, including one titled Israels genocide in Gaza and the resurgence of imperialist barbarism.

The meeting was held amid the intensification of the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, with the death toll at over 14,000 people, including over 5,000 children, and thousands of women and elderly.

The meeting was chaired by SEP Political Committee member W.A Sunil and the main speech was delivered by SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera. SEP Political Committee member M. Thevarajah translated the speeches into Tamil.

W A Sunil addressing the meeting against Israeli war on Gaza in Colombo on 21 November 2023

Sunil emphasized the backing of the imperialist powers for Israel. He said the brutal genocide that started on October 7 by the US-NATO backed Israeli regime has now gone on for more than six weeks. Hospitals, refugee camps, schools, infrastructure have become the targets of Israeli attacks; people have no food, water and electricity.

He then explained the background for the Hamas attack in Israel, which is being used by Israel and its imperialist backers for the Netanyahu governments genocidal war in Gaza: On October 7, the Hamas-launched-attack expressed outrage against decades of brutal oppression by the Zionist Israeli regime, which was established in 1948. He added Israel used this attack as a pretext to implement a long-planned genocidal war aiming to wipe out all Palestinians from Gaza.

Pointing to Netanyahus regimes next step, he added: Israel's next goal is to extend the genocidal campaign to the West Bank. Already over a hundred Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by the Israeli army and fascist right-wing Jewish settlers who have forcibly occupied there [on Palestinians land].

Referring to Israel militarys repeated bombings on hospitals in Gaza, including Al Shifa hospital, Jayasekera commented: Attacking hospitals is not permissible under any circumstances according to Geneva Conventionseven military hospitals. It is clearly a war crime.

He expressed the SEPs solidarity with the millions of workers and young people around the world who have joined protests against Israels war and in support of the Palestinian people. He condemned the imperialist powers and their pliant media that have falsely branded protesters as antisemitic to intimidate them and have sought to criminalise their protests.

Deepal Jayasekara delivering the lecture against Israeli war on Gaza, while M Thevarajah translates to Tamil

Jayasekera called for an expansion of global protests against the Gaza war with the widest possible participation. We make a special call for the working class internationally, the social force capable of stopping this war and growing imperialist war drive, to independently intervene to take the lead in the struggle against war.

He explained that the Indian government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Sri Lankan government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe have both lined up with their imperialist masters in supporting Israels genocidal war.

Jayasekera also exposed the role of the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in Sri Lanka in lining up with Israel and the imperialist powers. He cited the comments of JVP general secretary Tilvin Silva who declared at a press conference that killings targeting civilians by both sides should be condemned. The world community must pressurise both sides to stop these killings. You cant take one side.

Jayasekera pointed out: Here the JVP is equating Israels genocidal war and the Palestinian uprising. By that they cant take one side, the JVP is effectively lining up with Israel. He explained that the pseudo-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) similarly equated Israel's war and Palestinian resistance by condemning the killings of Israeli, Palestinian civilians.

Jayasekera also rejected the so-called two-state solution proposed by various organisations, including the JVP and the FSP. He explained: This scheme of having a Zionist Israeli state alongside with a separate Palestinian statelet has already led to bloody consequences for Palestinians as the past 75 years has shown. It has also not brought anything good for Jewish workers.

The interests of both Arab workers and Jewish workers can only be safeguarded by overthrowing the existing state of Israel and replacing it with a united socialist state that fully protects the democratic and social rights of Jewish and Arab workers as part of the fight for socialism throughout the Middle East and internationally.

Attendees spoke to the WSWS reporters after the meeting.

A teacher from Borella, a Colombo suburb, said: I am completely against the war of extermination. Innocent people, including small children, women are being killed. I believe that people around the world should stop dispatching weapons to Israel. As you have explained, I am in favor of building an anti-war mass movement. That is why I joined the meeting.

A youth who works for a website commented: I do not believe the opinion that the present crisis is due to Hamas, because they [Palestinians] have been suppressed for a long time. He also rejected media claims that Israel knew nothing about the Hamas attack inside Israel, saying Israel cannot be attacked without their knowledge.

Referring to the danger of the conflict expanding beyond Gaza, he said: Israel does not stop it, and even the US does not do it, noting that the US had dispatched its military including warships to the Middle East.

A mother and daughter, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to SEP members during a campaign for the Galle meeting on November 19. The mother was very concerned at the rising death toll in Gaza, particularly of children.

It is pathetic. The people dont even have medicine. It is very inhumane. When we turn on the TV, we see these scenes and feel very upset. No-one should be killed; we must not harass each other. The UN is pretending to do something without taking any action. The production of weapons must be stopped, and it is the big countries that produce these.

Her daughter, an Advanced Level student, explained the motives for the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine: Russia has a lot of resources such as oil, rare earths. She warned that Israels aggression in Gaza, backed by the US, will involve countries such as Iraq, and many other countries ultimately developing towards a third world war.

On growing protests against the Gaza genocide, she said: In many countries including in Britain, Muslim people and others have protested, adding that to stop the war other countries must impose sanctions against Israel. When SEP members explained that workers must intervene to stop the war, she replied Yes, those people involved in manufacturing of [weapons] must stop production.
In line with a global surge in COVID-19 cases, powered by the emergence of new variants, New Zealands pandemic tragedy is again escalating. Reported case numbers across the country increased more than 32 percent last week, according to data released by Te Whatu Ora Health NZ.

Four years into the global pandemic, cases are again exploding in one country after another. The resumption of wastewater analysis in the United States indicates cases have climbed by 28 percent over the past month, heading into winter. In Australia, experts have warned of millions of looming cases as an eighth wave hits, with Omicron subvariants EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (Pirola) circulating nationwide.

Data on the current surge in New Zealand is based on wastewater tests, case counts and deaths. Director of Public Health Dr Nick Jones said: These waves are likely due to peoples immunity waning, and the introduction of new hybrid variants which increase the communitys susceptibility.

In the seven days to midnight on November 19, 7,881 COVID-19 cases were reportedup from 5,947 the previous week: an increase of 32.5 percent. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases was 1,124, compared to 849 a week prior. The real numbers are undoubtedly much higher, given that many people have stopped reporting positive tests.

Hospitalisations have increased significantly. At midnight last Sunday, 349 people were in hospital with COVID-19, up from 284 the same time a week earlier. Working class areas in Auckland, the countrys biggest city, are the hardest hit. The Waitemata district (north and west Auckland) reported the highest number of cases (1,171), followed by Counties Manukau (south and east Auckland), with 1,060 cases.

To date, officials have attributed a total of 3,522 deaths to COVID-19, which is likely an understatement. In a further 176 deaths among people who had the virus, the cause is unconfirmed. There are an additional 1,520 deaths recorded among people with COVID, where the cause has been listed as not COVID, without any further details.

All but 30 of these deaths occurred after then Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the abandonment of the COVID-19 elimination policy in late 2021 and adopted the criminal let it rip policy that has now killed more than 27.4 million people globally.

On August 14, Arderns successor, Chris Hipkins, announced the formal end of the remaining public health measures: a seven-day isolation requirement for people infected with COVID and mandatory masking in health facilities.

Business groups, who had lobbied strenuously against any measures impacting on private profits, welcomed the decision. Public health experts, however, questioned the rationale. Professor Nick Wilson from the University of Otago bluntly said the government was wrong to end isolation requirements. The government is so keen to pretend its all over, despite people dying daily in hospital. Its not trivial, he said.

Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles, one of the scientific experts who had fronted the initially successful elimination response, told the Post: We should keep what little protections we have until better vaccines are available and weve upgraded our ventilation standards to get the virus out of the air These protections will help keep future Covid waves to a minimum.

Wiles is currently suing her employer, Auckland University, over what she claims was its failure to protect her from widespread and vicious threats by anti-vaxxers. Wiles told the court she was asked by her managers to limit her science communications to one day a week and that employment law required her to step back if the situation was unsafe. Wiles interpreted this as a threat by the university to stop her from functioning as critic and consciencea role academics carry out as part of their wider social responsibility.

Big business, the government and the corporatist trade unions are all suppressing warnings about COVID amid an escalating assault on the social, economic and health conditions of the working class. There is scant information on the current surge in the corporate media.

The incoming National Party coalition government, which includes the far-right ACT and NZ First parties, opposes any ongoing measures to protect public health. As early as February 2022, National Party leader and now prime minister Christopher Luxon demanded a pathway out of ever more restrictions, rules and controls which are driving so much hurt and anger. Luxon falsely claimed that COVID is now manageable for the vast bulk of people at home, while vaccination and boosters are protecting our hospital system.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has courted COVID-19 deniers and opponents of vaccination associated with the Voices for Freedom group, which led an occupation of the lawn outside parliament for three weeks in early 2022.

Writing in Stuff on April 15, David Seymour, leader of the libertarian big business mouthpiece ACT, denounced the saga of the mandatory isolation requirements as bad decisions made on bad advice. ACT advocates greater privatisation of healthcare services as a means to cut costs and open up new opportunities for profit-making.

Health experts and COVID sufferers are meanwhile warning about the increasingly dire personal and social consequences of Long COVID. The Long COVID Registry, an authoritative research project in New Zealand, into what is described as a mass disabling event, has just been released to the publication Newsroom.

The project found that between 6 and 10 percent of those who get COVID-19, thousands of people, end up with symptoms that persist beyond the period of acute illness. These range from minor symptoms which eventually go away, to symptoms that are grievous and chronic.

Newsroom notes that the findings, and testimonies collected by the researchers, make for grim reading. The testimonies are reminiscent of obituaries, albeit written by the person who has died. Long Covid patients describe their lives in the past tense, because the lives they used to have are now gone, it states. Health related quality of life scores for sufferers were in many cases on a par with those reported by people with multiple sclerosis. Globally, hundreds of millions of people are now believed to be suffering from symptomatic Long COVID.

Scientists, including epidemiologist Michael Baker, are calling for New Zealand to establish a dedicated centre for disease control (CDC) to better prepare for future pandemics and take responsibility for surveillance, co-ordinated laboratory testing, outbreak response, workforce training, and strategic capacity building.

Any serious proposal to strengthen the public health system is anathema to the political establishment. Successive governments have severely run down the healthcare system, which is understaffed and overcrowded, prompting repeated strikes by doctors, nurses, laboratory staff and other healthcare workers.

The WSWS recently noted that the reality of the pandemic has been deliberately covered up, minimized and distorted by every capitalist government and corporate media outlet in the world, who have instead promoted disinformation to lull the population into believing that COVID-19 is now harmless and the pandemic is over. In New Zealand as elsewhere, the response of the capitalist ruling class amounts to a massive and unprecedented social crime.
A young temp worker at the Stellantis Detroit Assembly ComplexMack plant spoke to the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter about the 2023 contract struggle and his experiences. His name has been changed to prevent further victimization.

New contracts covering 146,000 workers at the Detroit Three automakers have taken effect following the announcement of ratification, over significant opposition, by the United Auto Workers leadership. More than 35,000 workers opposed the contracts, including 47 percent of production workers at General Motors.

The deals fulfilled none of the popular demands raised by the UAW prior to the contract negotiations. Many workers undoubtedly voted for the contract because they lacked any confidence in the UAW leaderships ability and willingness to wage a genuine fight.

Doug said, I was at Stellantis for two years, a temp the whole time. While [UAW President] Shawn Fain was hitting a couple plants a week, we were working almost every day. It was mostly temps running the whole plant.

Doug said he saw many temp workers fired ahead of the ratification during the phony stand up strike called by Fain. The strike hit only a handful of plants while keeping the most profitable plants like Mack running throughout.

Management had a clear incentive to discharge as many temp workers as possible to avoid paying the ratification bonus and promoting eligible workers to full time status. Managements task was made easier by the stand up strike, which forced workers at Mack and other major Detroit Three plants to remain on the job, working without a contract.

They didnt want to roll any of us over. Doug said. They definitely took too long [to settle the contract with the stand up strike]. It was peeving a lot of people. They were picking people out who they were going to fire, who they knew were going to get full benefits.

In October, in the midst of the contract struggle, he and another worker got walked out over a trivial infraction. We voted for a strike at the end of September, and a couple of weeks later they let me go. It has happened to others when they were ready to be rolled over.

I said our team leader could back up our story. They [management] made up a whole bunch of stuffThats not what we heard. We are not playing any games; we are going to fire you. We didnt have time to even explain our story.

Our UAW steward signed off on it like it was nothing. They didnt have a valid reason for why they were going to let us go. The steward sat there and went along with the whole thing; like there was something in it for him. I called all through October, and they gave me the same runaround.

At that point you might as well not have a union, because they didnt back us up. They didnt try. What are you guys actually doing? One tiny incident. No appeal, nothing.

I put two years into the company, and then they let me go over the littlest thing. It is a shame that people go in thinking they can make a career, and the UAW is that selfish and greedy.

Doug said the experience opened his eyes. Growing up in the area I always said I was going to work there one day, he said of the Stellantis assembly plant on Mack Avenue, the first new auto plant built in Detroit in decades. I drove by there every day and watched them pour concrete. I finally get in and tries to make a career, I stuck with it, and this happens. I get the short end of the stick.

I thought I could make a career out of it, one day retire from there. It is sad to see firsthand how they treat employees. The people on top, who are not there on the floor, give you a nice little speech. We are all family. We look out for one another. You can build a career here. They have a good speech, but the reality is they just need some workers to work for low pay and no benefits while their pockets get fat. They are living in luxury. Meanwhile, everyone else is scraping the ground for a penny or two.

He said he had seen that during the COVID pandemic when Stellantis kept the plant open, running at full tilt as workers got sick and died. Those cars are that important that you are risking peoples lives to get those vehicles out. I am pretty sure they were at home. They will do anything, as long as it is to their benefit.

Its sad, but I am glad that I learned that first hand.

Doug said he had not heard there had been a direct membership election last year for UAW officers. The election had been ordered by the federal monitor overseeing the UAW following the corruption scandal that had sent about one dozen UAW officers to prison. The WSWS explained that rank-and-file Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman had run for UAW president calling the abolition of the bureaucracy and putting power in the hands of workers on the shop floor through the building of rank-and-file committees. The UAW refused to inform members of the election or properly distribute ballots, resulting in the disenfranchisement of most workers. Only about 9 percent voted, with Fain eking out a bare 600 vote margin of victory in the runoff.

Doug said the contract struggle had convinced him Fains election did not result in change. He [Fain] is just as bad as they are, he said of the previous leadership jailed over corruption.

Reflecting on the stand-up strike he said, They had little plants strike, but kept the big plants working. It definitely wasnt a real strike, where you are out there with a pitchfork.

As soon as they called a strike it should have been all the way. There shouldnt have been this wait time. Pick a plant one by one. If everyone was going on strike, we should have done it then and there. There was a lot of playing around. It shouldnt be these people over here are striking and those are not.

We are on the ground, we are the ones running things, but we dont actually have a voice. When you do say something, you get fired. They think they know how the workers feel from the top. Either that, or they dont care. I think its they dont care.

They are only about themselves. It makes people not want to work, because they are screwing you over. If it was not for us, they would be out of benefits.
The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) is campaigning for the defence of the Palestinian people among educators and school staff throughout Australia.

CFPE member Will Marshall and teacher outside Sunshine AEU delegates meeting [Source: WSWS Media]

On Wednesday an important resolution was endorsed at a meeting of public school secondary teachers in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The resolution, moved by Will Marshall, a long-standing teacher and member of the CFPE and the Socialist Equality Party, stated:

This meeting of educators condemns the genocide being perpetrated against the Palestinian people by the Zionist State of Israel and its imperialist backers the US and others. This includes the Albanese Labor government, which has joined with the Liberal/National Coalition to give its full backing to the Israeli regime. Recent figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry say that more than 13,300 Palestinians had been killed, including 5,600 children and 3,550 women. Hundreds of children are dying every single day. It is a crime against humanity to expel over a million people from their homes and prevent water, fuel and other necessities from reaching them. It is also a crime against humanity to shell and bomb hospitals, ambulances, refugee camps and schools. We stand in solidarity with the global protests including school and university students who are taking strike action on Thursday November 23 in Melbourne. We oppose any action to threaten students with disciplinary action for asserting their democratic right to strike. No student(s) or teacher(s) should be victimised for speaking out and opposing the atrocities being carried out against Palestinians in Gaza. We also reject the claim that support for Palestinian people amounts to antisemitism. We condemn the silence of the teachers and university unions who refuse to take action opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people. We call on all educators to respectfully discuss the war at their workplaces, organise resolutions, and demonstrations, and form rank and file committees, turning to other sections of the working class aimed at bringing the genocide and war to an end.

The resolution provides an example and political lead for educators nationally, advancing a way forward in the struggle to stop the horrific atrocities that continue in Gaza.

The federal Australian Education Union and its state-based affiliates have issued pro-forma statements encouraging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call for a ceasefire. These muted appeals, which have not been circulated beyond social media posts, serve only to cover the union bureaucrats refusal to mobilise teachers, school staff, and other educators against the Israeli genocide, and against the federal Labor governments active support for the Israeli government.

The CFPEs campaign underscores that the working class needs to organise independently of the trade union apparatuses in defence of the Palestinian people, developing networks of workplace rank-and-file committees to build a globally unified movement against the Israeli government and its backers.

This perspective will be discussed at an important CFPE online meeting that is being held on Monday, November 27 at 7 p.m., Australian Eastern Daylight Time. We encourage educators to contact us to register and receive the Zoom link.

CFPE members recently spoke with several public school teachers in Melbourne about the crisis in Palestine.

Fi, a teacher at a school in the northern suburbs, attended last Sundays mass rally in central Melbourne. She explained: Ive come to every demonstration with my friend Helena since the invasion started, since the genocide. I dont like seeing innocent civilians murdered or populations being punished for the actions of a small group such as Hamas.

Fi and Helena

The Israeli government and military dont see the Palestinian population as people, who suffer, who have feelings. The government has tried to dehumanise the Palestinians. Too many people have died, too many children, people that have never done anything wrong but just want to live their lives in peace.

She continued: As a teacher dealing with kids that have been impacted by trauma, its an unbearable thought. How are we going to help these kids recover, when they see and experience these sorts of things in Gaza? How do you help them understand and integrate that into feeling safe, and being ready to learn, and all the things that they need going forward in life? As teachers, we have a whole population of students that have been witness to this.

Fi spoke of the impact of the slander campaign being waged by the political and media establishment against the Free Palestine movement: I think among some teachers there is genuine fear that any call to stop bombing innocent people will be misconstrued as antisemitic, which is unbelievable. It is promoting fear and attempting to intimidate people to be silent. Im not antisemitichalf my family are Jewish. How can anyone, whether youre Jewish, or Muslim, or Christian, or atheist, or agnostic or whatever you are, not speak out against something like this?

The teacher expressed her support for student strikes organised to protest the genocide. Students need a voice, she explained, it is important for their wellbeing to allow them to speak out. Some people unfairly accuse young people of being insular and self-absorbedit is great to see them now speaking out for their peers, for their own generation in Gaza who are being bombed.

Sarah, a secondary teacher in Melbournes northern suburbs, told the CFPE: As far as I can see the teacher union is refusing to take a stance on Gaza. It has a friendship with the current government and that means they cease to speak out against them. Im appalled and beyond disgusted by the silence of the Albanese government with more than 13,000 civilians killed during this conflict, at least 5,000 being children. Gaza has been called an open-air prison. In fact, worse than an open-air prison it is more like a concentration camp. The governments silence signifies that they are green-lighting the tragedy that is taking place, and doing so with my tax dollars. To not support a cease fire is promoting violence.

She continued: I support students striking. We want an informed body of students, they need to be out there. I did that when I was young, I went to demonstrations during school time against the Iraq war. I work in a low socio-economic school, and I see the effect of whats going onwages are stagnant, people are sufferingthrough the kids. We have a lot of refugees, a lot of non-English speaking families, just struggling to pay bills. We dont have money for education or for our health system, but we do for war.

Sarah concluded: Its fantastic to see people coming together. Friends of ours are Palestinian and others Jewish, and they have all spoken out against the Israeli government. This crisis has been going too long, for 75 years. The goal should be to stop supplying the Israeli government, have a ceasefire, and work towards a real solution for the Palestinian people. I think its correct to stop the shipment of arms to Israel.

Philippa

Philippa, a secondary teacher in the western suburbs of Melbourne, said: I am appalled by what is taking place, the occupation, the killing, torment, the human and structural damage. People should be out opposing what is taking placeat every opportunity we need to demonstrate, show our own students and children that we care about children. Its not antisemitic to support the Palestinians. It is nonsense that Israel has the right to defend itself, this goes against international law. Gaza is not another country and Israel cant defend itself from one of its own occupied territories. That is not a thing in law, its just more rubbish.

With the bombing of ambulances and hospitals, initially Israel was saying that it wasnt doing this, but now it is saying it doesnt care. Their basic position is, Weve got the power here, were backed by other Western powers, we dont care whether you believe our stories any morewe just say and do whatever we feel like. The message the US and Israel is trying to give to the world is that they are in charge of everything, and dont try to stop it. We need to oppose this at every opportunity.

We encourage all educators to contact the CFPE and join the global campaign against the Israeli genocide:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

https://www.facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
The healthcare crisis in Gaza has grown more catastrophic as a result of the continued shelling by the Israel Defense Forcesa grotesque contradiction in nomenclatureof the 140-square-mile enclave that is home to 2.3 million people.

Approximately 1.7 million Palestinians (three-quarters of the population of Gaza) have been internally displaced, without adequate shelter, water or food or access to medical treatment. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published on November 8, nearly 725,000 people had by then sought refuge at 149 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) facilities. Another 122,000 were sheltering in hospitals, churches and other public buildings. Approximately 131,000 were being kept at 94 non-UNRWA schools, and the remainder with host families.

Israeli soldiers conduct combat operations at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. [AP Photo/Israel Defense Forces via AP]

The report noted:

As people face food shortages, malnutrition, and impending cold weather, they will be even more susceptible to contracting diseases. This is especially concerning for the more than 50,000 pregnant women and approximately 337,000 children under the age of five currently in Gaza.

Clearly, the targeting of hospitals, mosques and schools is intended both to terrorize the remaining population and to inflict as much damage as possible wherever large numbers of civilians are gathered to avoid attack from weapons of mass destruction.

Fundamentally, the attack on the healthcare system serves to ensure that no medical attention can be given to those who may have escaped immediate death from bullets and missiles, but have sustained potentially life-threatening injuries that require immediate care. If blood loss combined with lack of access to hydration and nutrition is not sufficient to ensure that the injured succumb, infection and disease will assuredly cause a horribly gruesome demise.

The current death toll is nearly 15,000 people, according to the Palestinian government media office, of which half are children. This figure is likely an undercount. More than 7,000 people are unaccounted for, including close to 5,000 children who are either buried under the rubble or whose remains have been decimated by the intense bombardment.

Given the complete and rapid collapse of the healthcare infrastructure in northern Gaza and the mass displacement of people, leading to the inundation of the remaining hospitals in southern Gaza, it can be expected that within the next few weeks, once Israel rearms and presses into southern Gaza, the entire healthcare delivery system in Gaza will become non-existent, worsening and compounding the already horrifying statistical indices of human devastation.

The recent images of mass graves with piles of bodies, both large and small, shrouded in white linen or blue plastic sheetsrecalling the scenes of bodies piled high at the height of the COVID-19 pandemicprovide only a small window into the horrific crisis that has consumed the Palestinians over the last seven weeks, with the complete support of the Biden administration and the European heads of state.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons injunction during the most deadly period of the pandemic to let the bodies pile high is equally descriptive of the policy of US and European imperialism today, as the US and its NATO allies foment a new world war, whose initial fronts are Ukraine and Gaza.

The favorable comments being made by political figures on the current pause in the fighting do not mean they are walking back their previous statements opposing a ceasefire or the drawing of red lines to limit the Netanyahu governments policy of mass killing and ethnic cleansing. In point of fact, they are in complete agreement with Israels Final Solution to the Palestinian problem. Those politicians who praise the humanitarian pause as a step toward peacesuch as Bernie Sanders in the USconsciously seek thereby to deflect the mass and intense opposition from the international working class to the genocidal policies being pursued by their respective national leaders, as witnessed by the hundreds of demonstrations demanding a ceasefire.

A statement issued on November 24 by Samantha Power, the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, drips with hypocrisy and dishonesty. It reads:

The United States welcomes the pause in hostilities in Gaza as an opportunity to ramp up the safe delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in grave need and facilitate the release of hostages captured by Hamas after 48 harrowing days of captivity.

Power, a veteran exponent of human rights imperialism, promoted the US regime-change military operation that overthrew Libyas Gaddafi in 2011 as a member of Obamas National Security Council. She then propagandized in support of the US effort to overthrow Bashar al-Assad in Syria while serving as US ambassador to the UN in 2013.

Her statement on the Gaza pause went on to boast of Washingtons humanitarian efforts to deliver food [500,000 poundsa pittance] and solemnly pledged that we will continue to emphasize to the parties the critical importance of protecting civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Needless to say, she made no mention of the billions in bombs, missiles, shells and other instruments of war funneled by the US to Israel to enable Washingtons military outpost in the Middle East to brutally suppress Palestinian resistance and now engage in genocide against the population of Gaza.

Such cynical statements are issued under conditions where sewage is flowing in the streets of Gaza. Health authorities are raising the alarm that dysentery and gastrointestinal diseases, including infectious diseases like cholera, will rapidly escalate.

Safe drinkable water is almost impossible to come by, and people are resorting to drinking contaminated water or seawater.

The WHO reports that there have been 40,000 cases of diarrhea, the bulk of them among children under five, and 70,000 acute respiratory infections. There have also been over 1,000 cases of chickenpox, amid concerns over a rise in the incidence of typhoid, cholera and measles. As winter approaches and the rains begin to fall, the inclement weather will worsen an already impossible situation.

Richard Brennan, the regional emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean region at WHO, told Al Jazeera:

We are hearing about several hundred people per toilet at the UNRWA centers and those have been overflowing, so people are doing open defecation. They have to find a place to go to the bathroom in the grounds where they are staying. Thats a huge public health risk and also very humiliating.

While nearly the entirety of northern Gazas infrastructure has been devastated, in the south, to which people have been fleeing, all 76 water wells in the governates of Dier el-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah are no longer operable, according to the UNRWA. The inoperable facilities include two main drinking water plants and 15 sewage pumping stations.

The average Gazan is currently limited to just 3 liters of water for drinking and sanitation, far less than the 7.5 liters the international agency recommends in emergency situations. Meanwhile, Israel is only allowing enough water for 4 percent of Gazans to trickle in.

The agency also noted that on Wednesday the Israeli authorities allowed just 23,000 liters of fuel into Gaza via Egypt, when 160,000 liters a day are required to adequately address the ongoing and urgent humanitarian crisis.

General Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWAs general commissioner, said at a press conference:

This fuel cannot be used for the overall humanitarian response, including for medical and water facilities or the work of UNRWA. It is appalling that fuel continues to be used as a weapon of war. This seriously paralyses our work and the delivery of assistance to the Palestinian communities in Gaza.

The coordinated attacks on Al-Shifa Hospital and now the Indonesian Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza continue. Several doctors were killed at the latter on November 21Mahmoud Abu Nujaila, Ahmad Al Sahar and Ziad Al-Tatari.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) wrote of the situation at Al-Awda:

At time of writing, more than 200 patients are still in Al-Awda and are unable to receive the level of care they need. These patients must be urgently and safely evacuated to other hospitals that are still functioning, although all hospitals in Gaza have been working beyond their capacities since October due to ongoing shortages, attacks, and extremely high caseloads.

The group added:

This is yet another incident that MSF staff have been subjected to in the last few days. Our colleagues who are assisting hundreds of patients in Gaza are facing extremely difficult times in providing the little medical care they can. Seeing doctors killed next to hospital beds is beyond tragic, and this must stop now. Attacks on medical facilities are a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law, and this has become systematic in the past weeks.

Israel, in an attempt to defend its carnage against these healthcare systems, has been promoting the lie that Al-Shifa and other hospitals are being used as centers for Hamas operations, without providing a shred of evidence to back these claims. After taking over the besieged medical complex, the IDF arrested the director of Al-Shifa and held several doctors for questioning as they were evacuating patients via a WHO convoy.

A November 22 Flash Update noted that only two small hospitals in northern Gaza remain partially operational, with 22 out of service. In the south, only 7 of 11 medical facilities are still functioning, of which only one has the capacity to perform critical trauma care and complex surgery. Hundreds of patients with life-threatening injuries (including spinal cord injuries) and illnesses, including infants and children, remain in these non-functioning facilities.

Wounded Palestinians at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City following Israeli airstrikes. [AP Photo/Abed Khaled]

That Israel is deliberately targeting healthcare systems is confirmed by a November 19 column in Yediot Ahronot by by retired IDF Major General Giora Eiland titled, Lets not be intimidated by the world.

Eiland explains why it is important to ensure Israels success in the conflict not just through military combat but also by destroying Gazas economic stability and access to energy. He writes:

Israel must therefore not provide the other side with any capability that prolongs its life. Moreover, we say that [Hamas Leader Yahya] Sinwar is so evil that he does not care if all the residents of Gaza die. Such a presentation is not accurate, since who are the poor women of Gaza? They are all the mothers, sisters or wives of Hamas murderers.

He adds:

The way to win the war faster and at a lower cost for us requires a system collapse on the other side and not the mere killing of more Hamas fighters. The international community warns us of a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and of severe epidemics. We must not shy away from this.
New legislation imposing police-state restrictions on 93 people released from indefinite immigration detention has been already challenged in the Australian High Court. This is less than a week after the Labor government combined with the Liberal-National Coalition opposition to ram the regressive laws through parliament in just 12 hours.

High Court, Canberra [Photo by Con Tassios / CC BY 3.0

A released detainee, a Chinese refugee identified only as S151, is seeking a declaration that a curfew to stay indefinitely at his home address from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and wear an ankle bracelet for electronic tracking at all times amount to punishment without trial, in violation of the Australian Constitution.

The very fact that S151s lawyers filed his application in the High Court on Wednesday, so soon after the legislation was passed the previous Thursday, points to the strong legal opinion that the laws are unconstitutional. Similar challenges are expected from other released refugees.

In essence, the bipartisan legislation imposed a new form of mandatory indefinite detention on the people whom the Labor government was forced to release. The High Court ruled on November 8 that indefinite detention of non-citizensa regime first introduced by the Keating Labor government in 1992constituted punishment without judicial process.

The immediate legal challenge underscores the readiness of the ruling political establishment to override even the extremely limited protections of legal and democratic rights in the 1901 Constitution.

The colonial-era constitution contains no bill of rights that formally guarantees basic democratic rights. Its only partial protection against arbitrary detention lies in the separation of powers between the executive government and the judiciary, which is allocated the sole power to inflict punishment, except in times of war.

On November 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labor government joined hands with the Peter Dutton-led Coalition to rush laws through both houses of parliament blatantly aimed at evading the November 8 High Court verdict, despite warnings from lawyers that a challenge to the legislation was inevitable.

In court documents lodged on Wednesday, S151s lawyers say that the new legislation allows the imposition of conditions that are inherently punitive in nature, exceeding parliaments authority and breaching the separation of powers.

The same argument was used for the High Courts November 8 ruling that indefinite detention is unlawful where there is no real prospect of deporting detainees because they are either stateless or officially-recognised refugees and no other country will take them.

The legislation imposed curfews, ankle bracelet-wearing and 10 other restrictionsamounting to house arrest, electronic tracking and constant surveillancevia conditions attached by the government to the released detainees visas.

S151s legal submission argues that curfews are typical of criminal sentences and house arrest conditions, not of administrative visa regulations imposed by the executive. These severely restricted his personal liberty without a judicial order.

The application further states that electronic tracking is similarly punitive and restricts personal privacy and autonomy. Such devices are commonly associated with the monitoring of convicted offenders under sentence.

Among the lawyers who had warned that such challenges were inevitable was David Manne, the executive director of Refugee Legal. He said the new laws created extraordinary extrajudicial powers akin to anti-terrorism control orders to, in effect, further deprive people of their liberty when the High Court have just ruled against deprivation of their liberty What were seeing here is serious government overreachpowers that would ordinarily only be determined by a court.

S151s plight typifies that of the many of the detained refugees. He arrived in Australia in September 2001 on a student visa, progressing on to other visas, including one nominated by an employer. After serving a sentence for an undisclosed offence, he was put into indefinite immigration detention, despite being determined to be a refugee in danger of persecution, preventing removal to China.

After the High Courts November 8 ruling, S151 was released on November 11, but he was informed of the new inhuman conditions on his visa on November 19, two days after the government-Coalition legislation came into effect.

This week it was also revealed that at least 21 of the 93 detaineesall demonised as hardened or disgusting criminals by the Labor government, the Coalition and corporate media outletshad previously been released from detention facilities.

High Court briefing papers showed that 21 people were subject to residence determination and permitted to live at specific addresses in the community. This occurred under both the Labor government and the previous Morrison Coalition government, exposing the claims that the detainees were too dangerous to release.

Manne, from Refugee Legal, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Afternoon Briefing program they were largely free to live in the community, generally with reporting requirements, sometimes with a number of other conditions. But the new restrictions were severe deprivations of liberty, when the High Court has just ruled that it is unlawful and unconstitutional to deprive people indefinitely of their liberty.

Another person subjected to the new regime had been in immigration detention for 13 years despite having no convictions in Australia. He was said to be of interest to the domestic political spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The detainees included others with no convictions. There were some convicted murderers, sex offenders and drug smugglers, alongside traffic offenders. All of these had already served their sentences. Had they been citizens, they would have been released, either on parole or unconditionally.

The High Court has yet to release its reasons for its November 8 ruling, but the government is already considering further legislation to re-imprison detainees. One possibility is the expansion of Continuing Detention Orders (CDOs), which were legislated by the Coalition government in 2016, with Labors backing.

CDOs allow prisoners to be incarcerated indefinitely, using renewable detention orders, regardless of the original terms of their imprisonment. They also violate the core legal principle of habeas corpusno detention without a criminal trial.

Such orders require no proof of any intent to commit a further offencejust a high degree of probability that a crime could occur. This involves speculative allegations by police and ASIO of an unacceptable risk that a prisoner might commit a violent act.

Like the more than 120 counterterrorism laws since US President George W. Bush declared the war on terror in 2001, this legislation already extends beyond terrorism-related offences. It also covers prisoners convicted of treason or foreign incursions. Treason includes assisting countries or forces engaged in armed hostilities against the Australian Defence Force. That could mean opposing US-instigated wars and other military interventions.

Moreover, terrorism is defined so broadly that it can cover many forms of political dissent, including providing support to a government-decreed terrorist organisation, such as Hamas. That can be a means of outlawing opposition to government-backed genocidal wars like the one underway in Gaza.

Under laws rushed through parliament in previous record time by the Howard Coalition government in 2005, with Labor and Greens support, people also can be convicted for allegedly discussing a potential terrorist act, even where there is no mooted location, time or method of attack.

Another government possibility is expanded used of Control Orders, introduced in 2005 as well. These can be imposed currently on the basis of ASIO or police assertions that they would substantially assist in preventing a terrorist act. Such orders can include house arrest, ankle monitoring devices and restrictions on social media activity, internet use, communications, movements and associates.

For now, these developments are mainly confined to non-citizens. But they set precedents. They are a warning of a broader threat to democratic rights as opposition grows to the ruling-class agenda of war and austerity, fuelled by the cost-of-living crisis, the multi-billion-dollar AUKUS military pact and full support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

In 1992, the High Courts Chu Kheng Lim decision rubberstamped the mandatory imprisonment of all asylum seekers introduced by the Keating Labor government, on the basis that it was reasonably necessary for visa processing or deportation. The judges said citizens could not be deprived of their liberty in the same fashion, except in wartime.

This is an ominous exception, particularly under conditions in which the Albanese government and the ruling class as a whole has aligned itself behind the US-backed onslaught in Gaza and Washingtons preparations for wider wars against Russia, Iran and China.
The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group, SEG) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Turkey are holding a public meeting entitled Stop Israels genocide in Gaza in Istanbul on Sunday, December 3.

"Stop Israel's Genocide in Gaza!"

The event is part of a global campaign by the sections and sympathizing groups of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) against Israel's imperialist-backed genocidal war and to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Left Opposition led by Leon Trotsky in 1923.

It has been a month and a half since the Zionist regime launched its offensive against the Palestinian people of Gaza, which has been an open-air prison for 2.3 million people. Nearly 15,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured in Israel's military attacks, most of them women and children. Half of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed or damaged. The plan for ethnic cleansing by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been made clear in statements by senior officials and leaked documents.

This war, which is being waged with the full support of the US and NATO powers, is the Middle Eastern front of an emerging Third World War. As the US imperialism is preparing a war against Iran in line with its aim of total domination in the Middle East, it wages a war against Russia in Ukraine. These are accompanied by preparations for war against China, the main target of Washington.

Whatever Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's verbal condemnation of Tel Avivs actions, the Turkish government is a member of the NATO military alliance that is supporting Israels war on Gaza. The same hypocrisy is also true for the bourgeois opposition, the pseudo-left parties and the trade union apparatus which pretend that genocide is not taking place on Turkey's doorstep.

However, this criminal war has provoked mass protests around the world, bringing out millions of workers and young people for weeks. The masses all over the world are asking how it is possible to commit such a colossal crime and are looking for a way forward to stop it once and for all.

In welcoming and supporting these historic demonstrations, the SEG and its sister parties and groups in the ICFI offer workers and youth a historically based socialist and internationalist perspective to put an end war and its main source, capitalism.

An extremely important component of this work is the holding of public meetings that address critical historical issues related to the formation of the Left Opposition under the leadership of Trotsky against the Stalinist degeneration of the workers state established after the October Revolution of 1917 in the context of the present global capitalist crisis.

We call on workers, youth and intellectuals to attend the meeting to discuss these critical historical and political issues and to participate in building an international socialist movement against the war.

Due to the ongoing widespread transmission of COVID-19 and to ensure a safe healthy environment, the audience is requested to wear a mask while in the event room.

Event details:

Sunday, December 3 at 2.00pm

Genel-Is Union Istanbul Anatolian Local No. 1, Kadikoy / Istanbul
Some of the losses seen by insiders who purchased AU$108.4k worth of BMG Resources Limited (ASX:BMG) shares over the past year were recovered after the stock increased by 10.0% over the past week. The purchase, however, has proven to be a pricey bet, with losses currently totalling AU$17k.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

See our latest analysis for BMG Resources

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At BMG Resources

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Non-Executive Director John Dawson for AU$102k worth of shares, at about AU$0.013 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.011. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

While BMG Resources insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 37% of BMG Resources shares, worth about AU$2.6m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About BMG Resources Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in BMG Resources and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing BMG Resources. To assist with this, we've discovered 6 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of BMG Resources.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Even if it's not a huge purchase, we think it was good to see that Javier del Ser Perez, the CEO & Executive Director of Steppe Cement Ltd. (LON:STCM) recently shelled out UK45k to buy stock, at UK0.22 per share. Although the purchase is not a big one, increasing their shareholding by only 1.1%, it can be interpreted as a good sign.

See our latest analysis for Steppe Cement

Steppe Cement Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent purchase by Javier del Ser Perez was the biggest purchase of Steppe Cement shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is UK0.23. 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. The good news for Steppe Cement share holders is that an insider was buying at near the current price. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Javier del Ser Perez.

Javier del Ser Perez purchased 360.00k shares over the year. The average price per share was UK0.23. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Steppe Cement is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership Of Steppe Cement

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It's great to see that Steppe Cement insiders own 57% of the company, worth about UK29m. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

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What Might The Insider Transactions At Steppe Cement Tell Us?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Steppe Cement. Nice! While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. For example - Steppe Cement has 3 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Donald Trump has graced Truth Social with a particularly confusing take on the potential sale of Forbes to Austin Russell, 28, who was once branded the worlds youngest self-made billionaire.

Trump wrote, Oh, really bad news! The Owned by China Forbes Magazine deal with Russia just fell apart, so China will continue to own and run it, and say bad things about your favorite President, ME.

But eventually it will cease to exist, be worthless. BAD WRITERS! Anyone that pays more than $50 Million for this pathetic outlet of Fake News is a fool! he added.

Translation: Forbes Magazine, which Trump has repeatedly claimed is owned by China, was sold to American entrepreneur Russell in May for $800 million. On Tuesday, it was reported by Axios and other outlets that the deal has not yet gone through, despite a two-week extension.

As for Forbes writers, the outlet has more than 150 million readers a month, who presumably read because they enjoy the writing.

Russells deal initially fell through after Indian investment firm Sun Group, along with other investors, didnt send money that was owed. The 28-year-old CEO of Luminar Technologies is in negotiations with the Hong Kong-based investment firm, Integrated Whale Media.

As for Trumps reference to and odd praise for Russia, in October, the Washington Post reported that Russian oligarch Magomed Musaev claimed to associates that he was behind the purchase of Forbes. Forbes has said that Musaev had no involvement whatsoever in the Forbes transaction, with a spokesperson adding, There is no Russian capital or control involved in this transaction. However, Russell was reportedly present at a party with Musaev in June.

In October, Trump lashed out at Forbes after the magazine removed him from their Forbes 400 list of the 400 wealthiest Americans.

He wrote on Truth Social, China owned (China Investment Corp, the Countrys Sovereign wealth Fund!), and very badly failing, Forbes Magazine, which lost most of its relevance long ago, and which knows less about me than Stormy Daniels (who doesnt know me at all!) or Rosie ODonnell, took me off their Fake Forbes 400 list, just by a whisker, even though they know that I should be high up on that now very dated and discredited antique.'

They are working with the Racist and highly incompetent, job killing Attorney General of New York, Letitia Peekaboo James, who has allowed Murder and Violent Crime in the State to hit epidemic levels, Trump continued. China owned Forbes is a participant in the Election Interference Scam, and after what I have done to China, with hundreds of billions of dollars being paid to the USA, who can blame them?

The indicted former president added, For years Forbes has attacked me with really dumb writers assigned to hit me hard, and I am now up 60 Points on the Republicans, and beating Crooked Joe by a lot. So much for Forbes!

Forbes responded, Removed from The Forbes 400, Trump responds as he always has  by lying about his net worth and saying he should be higher on the list. We take extraordinary care in valuing his fortune, and our ownership  which does not include Chinas wealth fund  plays no role in that effort.

Twice a year, we publish a detailed breakdown of our work, offering a far more accurate portrayal of Trumps personal balance sheet than the fictitious documents the Trump Organization has created over the years, the statement concluded.

Later Saturday, Trump went on to attack The Atlantic, reveling in its financial woes, writing, Its so good to see how badly the THIRD RATE MAGAZINE, The Atlantic, is doing. Its failing at a level seldom seen before, even in the Publishing Business. False and Fake stories do it every time!

He added, Theyve got a rich person funding the ridiculous losses, but at some point, rich people get smart also. Steve Jobs would not be proud of his wife, Laurene, and the way she is spending his money. The Radical Left is destroying America!

It was unclear whether there was new information Trump was referring to or if its the same ongoing concerns with The Atlantics sustainability that it has faced for several years.

The post Donald Trump Calls Delayed Forbes Sale Really Bad News for Your Favorite President, ME appeared first on TheWrap.
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Actress and model Elizabeth Hurley shared more than just health tips when she posted a video of herself in the sauna while vacationing in Thailand. In the video, Hurley is seen posing while wrapped in a towel, dropping the towel as she walks further into the sauna, showing off her toned body and giving the camera a mischievous smile.

"A little s-s-steam heat," she captioned the Instagram reel. In a previous post, Hurley explained she is doing more than just vacationing while visiting the tropical country. She is staying at the Chiva-Som wellness hotel, which she referred to as "one of [her] favorite health spas in the world," where she has been "exercising, eating extremely healthily and attempting to become more mindful."

"We always tend to put ourselves on the bottom of the priority list of what we have to do. And I think there is a real movement now to try to encourage women to value themselves and value their own health and wellbeing," Hurley told Women's Health in December 2022 about the idea of self-care. "It's not self-indulgent. It's vital."

ELIZABETH HURLEY CELEBRATES HER 58TH BIRTHDAY IN A BIKINI, UNVEILS AGELESS PHYSIQUE

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Sydney Sweeney posted a series of photos of herself exploring in Australia, while dressed in a green one-piece swimsuit. "Sweet home australia," she captioned the post, which featured pictures of her posing in the backseat of a car with friends, sliding down a waterfall and posing in a field with cows.

In March, the actress said she's been judged for her body her entire life, as people think "I have big boobs, Im blonde and thats all I have," she told The Sun.

Sweeney stars as Cassie on the hit Max show "Euphoria," and has also had roles in "The White Lotus," "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Americana."

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Heidi Klum spent Thanksgiving Day dancing around in a white bikini in front of a television, as seen on her Instagram. The supermodel also wore a black hat and large white dress shirt as she celebrated the German show "Die Bergretter," for which she recently filmed a cameo. Klum posted a series of photos and videos from the set of the series, as well.

Besides her stripped-down dance party, Klum also posted a photo of a vehicle packed full of groceries and a video of her kissing her husband, Tom Kaulitz, in honor of the holiday.

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Model Molly Sims posted a series of bikini pictures from her vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In the pictures, Sims can be seen wearing an orange bikini, styled with layered gold necklaces and bracelets, and in one pic the suit was paired with what looks like a margarita.

"WERE BACK," Sims captioned the post, before adding "and hopefully not getting the stomach flu from Grey." Grey is one of Sims' three children she shares with her husband, Scott Stuber.

MOLLY SIMS, 48, UNVEILS FIT PHYSIQUE IN BIKINI WHILE ENJOYING A COCKTAIL IN MEXICO

"Parenting is, hands down, the toughest job in the world," Sims wrote on her blog. "Both Scott and I know that being an engaged parent is no small task and that there is no one right way to do it. But after three kids (and making many mistakes and learning along the way), we have discovered a few things that work for our family, most of the time."

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang contributed to this report.

Original article source: Elizabeth Hurley, Sydney Sweeney heat up the holiday season: PHOTOS
Yeezy founder Kanye West reportedly got emotional after his daughter, North West, expressed her desire for a simpler life with him, leading to the realization that she "needs him."

The Grammy-winning rapper put aside his commitments and took her on a holiday trip to Dubai and Saudi Arabia for a precious father-daughter time.

West was not in the company of his wife, Bianca Censori, who flew back home to Australia as she understood that the pair needed some time alone.

Kanye West 'Broke Down' With North's Plea To Live With Him

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The revelation came when West's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, disclosed on her Hulu show, "The Kardashians," that North cried about wanting to live a simpler life with her father in his apartment, as against her $60 million Calabasas mansion with security, nannies, and chefs.

According to the Daily Mail, a source close to the situation shared that North's heartfelt plea struck a chord with West, adding that the "Donda" rapper "broke down" after hearing of the 10-year-old's tantrum and took her on a holiday vacation to Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

"Kanye needed to spend time with North," the source told the news outlet. "After he saw what Kim said on the show he broke down because he realizes [sic] how much North needs him."

"Hearing this from Kim about North angered Kanye and made him very upset. North is definitely a daddy's girl and Kanye misses not seeing her every single day," the insider went on. "It was a moment of vulnerability for Kanye. North expressed her feelings, and it was clear how much she values the time spent with her father."

Kanye West Didn't Go With His Wife Bianca Censori

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For his father-daughter timeout trip, West was not in the company of his wife, Bianca Censori, who reportedly flew back home to Australia to afford them some alone time.

The source revealed that the rapper opted not to go with her, and she understood as reports suggest that the pair are "taking a break" in their relationship.

"It was made clear to her that Kanye would only be taking North with him," the source shared, adding that he "needed to spend time with North, and Bianca understood."

Following Kardashian's revelation of West and Censori living in an apartment with "no security," a source told the Daily Mail that Censori was irked by it and believed the SKIMS founder put her kids' safety "in jeopardy."

"The public doesn't need to know that their kids would be without protection at any time," the source went on. "She just wants Kim to stop talking about her husband, Kanye, in a negative light to try and make herself look better."

Kim Kardashian & North Celebrate Thanksgiving With A Lip-Sync

The reality TV star and North rang in the holiday with a festive TikTok lip-sync to one of West's songs.

In a video shared on their joint TikTok account, the duo can be seen miming and lip-syncing to West's 2013 song "Bound 2."

"And hey, we made it  Thanksgiving," West raps in the decade-old music. "So hey, maybe we can make it to Christmas."

The pair were notably active on the platform throughout Thanksgiving Day as they shared another video that featured two songs: Mariah Carey's classic recording "All I Want For Christmas Is You," and Soulja Boy's hit single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)."

Kanye West And Bianca Censori Are 'Taking A Break'

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The "Jesus Is King" rapper and the Yeezy architect are reportedly taking a break following concerns raised by Censori's friends about West's alleged controlling behavior.

A source revealed that her friends intervened by advising her to "wake the f--- up" to what they saw as manipulative patterns within their relationship after she previously slammed them for being "jealous" of her newfound fame.

Their time apart coincided with West's trip to the Middle East with North as an insider noted that his "only focus right now is music," and they may reunite "for the album launch."

According to The Sun, an insider shared that Censori is now "starting to see things from an outside perspective," and her loved ones are "glad that they were finally able to get through" to her.

"She knows that she has shut out those close to her, and she is also starting to see through the smoky mirrors of her marriage. She is aware of Kanye's controlling ways, and she is starting to see things from an outside perspective," the source added.
A historic house museum is a museum that was once a private residence and is at least 50 years old. They also typically feature period furnishings. Greater Cincinnati is a history-rich region that has many of these gems. Here are some of the most salient.

Museum hours and costs can change at any time, so call or visit the website before visiting.

Taft Museum of Art

316 Pike St., Downtown, taftmuseum.org.

Martin Baum built the house around 1820. Charles and Anna Taft eventually moved into the home and lived there until their deaths. William Howard Taft, Charles Tafts half-brother, accepted the Republican nomination for United States president in front of this house in 1908. The Taft family bequeathed their historic home and private collection of 600 artworks to the people of Cincinnati in 1927, and the Taft Museum of Art premiered in 1932.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday.

Admission: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for guests under age 18, members and military members with ID.

Hillforest mansion in Aurora, Indiana.

Hillforest House Museum

213 Fifth St., Aurora, hillforest.org.

Hillforest Victorian House Museum is a stately 1855 Italian Renaissance mansion close to the river and the downtown historic district. Industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff and his family lived there between 1855 and 1926. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992. Hillforest is open from April 1 through Dec. 30.

Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Admission: $10 for ages 14 and up, $4 for ages 7 to 13, and free for ages 6 and under.

Veraestau Historic Site

4696 Veraestau Lane, Aurora, facebook.com/Veraestau.

Jesse Holman constructed the house at Veraestau in 1810 as a private residence. Nowadays, the site hosts tours, parties and meetings.

Hours: Tours are available by appointment.

Admission: $5 for non-members, $4 per person for groups of 25 or more, and free for members of Indiana Landmarks.

The Alverta Green Museum is home to Mason Historical Society.

Alverta Green Museum

207 W. Church St., Mason, masonhistoricalsociety.org/alverta-green-museum.html.

The Alverta Green Museum is a historic home constructed in 1890. It was named after Alverta Bedacht Green, a local antique dealer and longtime resident who bequeathed her house to the Mason Historical Society in January 1987.

Hours: Open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday and by appointment.

Admission: Free.

Christian Waldschmidt Homestead Museum

7567 Glendale Milford Road, Camp Dennison, www.ohiodar.org/waldindex.html.

Christian Waldschmidt, a veteran of the American Revolution, completed the construction of his homestead in 1804. The house became a museum in 1953. Christian Waldschmidt Homesteads main house is considered one of the best examples of Pennsylvania Dutch architecture west of the Alleghenies.

Hours: Open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday and by appointment.

Admission: $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for students, and free for veterans, active duty military and Daughters of the American Revolution members.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House, located in Walnut Hills, stands as an important reminder of the literary genius that Stowe was.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House

2950 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, stowehousecincy.org.

Lane Seminary built what is now called the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in 1832. The house was Harriet Beechers home before she married Calvin Stowe in 1836. Harriet Beecher Stowe is famous for writing the best-selling book of its time, Uncle Toms Cabin, published in 1852. The house museum provides tours and education. Interior tours are currently on hold because of restoration work but will resume in 2024.

Hours: Vary each season. Last season, guided tours were offered Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and college students, and $3 for ages 6 to 17.

Historic Hunt House

4364 Hunt Road, Blue Ash, blueashhistoricalsociety.org/hunt-house.

John Craig Hunt built the Historic Hunt House approximately between the years 1857 and 1861 in the Federal/Greek revival styles of architecture. The City of Blue Ash purchased the house in 2003 and restored its original appearance.

Hours: Hours vary. There are open houses, usually every two months. They are typically on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. People can schedule group tours. Call 513-745-8550 to inquire or schedule a visit.

Admission: Free.

Lane-Hooven House

319 N. Third St., Hamilton, hamiltonfoundation.org.

James Elrick, a Hamilton builder, built the Lane-Hooven House in 1863 for Clark Lane, a Hamilton industrialist and philanthropist. The Hamilton Community Foundation took ownership of the house in 1951.

Hours: Self-guided tours are available by appointment only. The available times are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the foundation at 513-863-1717 to schedule an appointment.

Admission: Free.

Museum of Spiritual Art & Fine Art Gallery

318 S. River St., Franklin, 937-557-3444, spiritualitycircle.com.

Henry C. Storms, a riverboat captain, built this mansion in 1848. It officially became the Museum of Spiritual Art & Fine Art Gallery in 2015. The museum showcases fine artwork that depicts various religious activities and practices. It features exhibits that honor people such as Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and others.

Hours: The museum is open by appointment only. Call 937-557-3444 to schedule a visit.

Admission: $15 per person ages 18 and older.

Christmas in 2019 at the Promont House in Milford.

Promont House

906 Main St., Milford, milfordhistory.net.

The Promont House is a Victorian mansion that was built in 1867 and is the former home of John M. Pattison, Ohios 43rd Governor. It is now a museum and houses a reference library and a gift shop.

Hours: The museum is typically open every first, third, and fifth Sunday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. Docent-led and private tours are available. Call 513-248-0324 from Monday to Thursday between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to schedule a visit.

Admission: $5 per person and free for children under 12.

Taft Family House

2038 Auburn Ave., Mount Auburn, nps.gov/thingstodo/tour-taft-house.htm.

William Howard Taft was born and raised at the Taft Family House, which was constructed in 1840. The Taft Family House celebrates the history and legacy of the only person to be both President of the United States and Chief Justice of the United States. They offer 20-minute guided tours of the home every half hour starting at 9 a.m., with the last one being at 4 p.m.

Hours: Open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Admission: Free.

The Null House

544 Heatherwoode Circle, Springboro, 937-748-0916, springboroareahistory.org.

The Null House, built in 1798, is the oldest still-standing home in Warren County.

Hours: The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in April and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from May through the weekend before Thanksgiving in November.

Admission: Free.

Behringer-Crawford Museum

1600 Montague Road, Covington, bcmuseum.org.

The Devou family built the house now known as the Behringer-Crawford Museum in the late 1880s. The Behringer-Crawford Museum teaches Northern Kentucky history through the lens of transportation: rails, roads, rivers and runways. The Behringer-Crawford Museum premiered on July 5, 1950.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Admission: $9 for ages 18 to 59, $8 for ages 60 and up, and $5 for ages 3 to 17.

Dinsmore Homestead

5656 Burlington Pike, Burlington, 859-586-6117, dinsmorefarm.org.

John Brady constructed the Dinsmore Homesteads main house in 1842. The Dinsmore Homestead was home to six generations of the Dinsmore family. Martha Ferguson Breasted, a sixth-generation Dinsmore, gave the house and 30 acres to the Dinsmore Homestead Foundation as a museum in 1988. Guests can see the main house, several outbuildings and the graveyard. The museum tells the story of the Dinsmore family, enslaved and free African Americans, and tenants.

Hours: Friday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Admission: $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 15.

Visitors are welcome at the Rosemary Clooney House in Augusta, Kentucky. Clooney, was a renowned singer and actress who starred in movies with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and other big names of that era. The home has costumes she wore and includes an exhibit dedicated to her nephew, George Clooney.

The Rosemary Clooney House

106 E. Riverside Drive, Augusta, rosemaryclooney.org.

Rosemary Clooney purchased what is now the Rosemary Clooney House Museum in 1980 to be close to her brother Nick Clooney. The house was built circa 1830. This museum celebrates the life and legacy of Rosemary Clooney and features costumes, artifacts and memorabilia from each of her movies.

Hours: April 1 to Nov. 1 on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: $5

Vent Haven Museum

33 W. Maple Ave., Fort Mitchell, venthaven.org.

Vent Haven Museum is a museum dedicated to ventriloquism. The house was built circa 1915. William Shakespeare Berger founded the museum at his residence in 1973. This museum houses 1,012 ventriloquial figures, more commonly referred to as dummies, from the 19th through 21st centuries. It is also home to over 10,000 pictures of ventriloquists, a few who are celebrities, and their puppets. Johnny Carson, Don Knotts and Don Messick are some of the more famous ventriloquists featured.

Hours: By appointment only.

Admission: $15.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The most remarkable house museums in Greater Cincinnati
Nick Wayne is only 18 years old, but hes learned lessons in All Elite Wrestling that several talents older than him havent figured out just yet.

All Elite Wrestlings Nick Wayne was a recent guest on Busted Open Radio. When asked how he handled the time between signing with the company and turning 18 so he could make his debut, Wayne recalled what he did to prepare himself for such a big stage.

So when I got presented the contract, I was 16. It was in about February of 2022, and I had to wait until July of 2023 to debut on TV for AEW, Nick Wayne said. So that time, that year and a half long, I just tried to get as best as I could. I tried to do all the independents possible, just fill up my days completely.

While on top of that, still going to a normal high school, junior-senior year. So just the weekends and the weekdays, I would try to fill up my schedule as much as possible. I went international in that time. I did two tours in Japan, I think five in the UK; I went to France. So I just tried to stay as busy as possible and just become the best version of myself and working out and eating as consistently as possible.

Even though I might not look the best right now. Im still only 18, but I work out every day. I eat six times a day just trying to put on size and become the best version I can of myself to eventually get to that position that was AEW and just be the best version of myself that I could.

Nick Wayne believes that less is more

When asked whats the biggest lesson hes learned since joining AEW, Wayne said it comes down to the fact that less is more.

That less is more. Less is very much more, Nick Wayne said. There was a phase on the Indies where it felt like more was more, you know what I mean? It just felt like so many like, run run run, run run run to this was like how its done, you know? But then once you work with these professionals, its like, no, its just this and its done. And its the same thing.

You get the same effect; you get the same reaction. So less is more, and I kind of learned that less is more working with veterans before or working people from Japan. Its just straight to the point. I talked and worked with William Regal a few times, and he taught me the same thing. And he was like, run run run to this is the same thing as just ducking and doing this. And I would eventually move on to the duck and this, and it was the same. So learning that less is more is probably the biggest one.

Longevity through segments over matches

Wayne would go on to say that he believes telling stories and doing segments is just as important, if not more, than his work in the ring right now.

Its kind of crazy to see how much longevity you can get with just segments. You dont even have to do a match, just segments, Nick Wayne said. Like from WrestleDream, until now, Ive wrestled two times. But were on a segment every single week, and we have this longevity from then until now, and its just crazy to see.

And the people that maybe dont understand how much longevity you can get from just segments, they tell me like, Dude, youre not wrestling at all, or theyre like, You havent wrestled in so long. Like, what is going on?

You dont need a match every week to get distance and longevity. So just these segments and just standing there on the stage cutting promos is probably so much more distance than doing an eight-minute match against whoever.

READ MORE: Nick Wayne: Im Very Grateful To Be Under Christian Cages Learning Tree

What do you make of Nick Waynes comments? Do you think these lessons being learned at such a young age will benefit him down the line? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

If you use any of these quotes, please credit Busted Open with a link to this article for the transcription.

The post Nick Wayne Reveals The Biggest Lesson Hes Learned Since Joining AEW appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Huw Edwards, the BBCs lead anchor who broke the news of the Queens death last year, will not be returning to the broadcaster, according to reports in the British media.

This week Deadline reported that the UK government had been accused of interfering with the BBCs independence after piling pressure on the broadcaster to grip the Huw Edwards scandal in July.

More from Deadline

Now, The i newspaper reports that an internal investigation into the journalists conduct has concluded, and he is now in discussions over his future with BBC managers.

The investigation followed allegations in The Sun newspaper back in July that Edwards had paid a young person to send him explicit photographs. He was also accused of sharing inappropriate messages with BBC staff.

At the time, Edwards said in a statement that he had done nothing illegal. In the months since, he has been on sick leave from the BBC, citing concerns over his mental health.

The Times reports that Edwards is not expected to return to his role as the BBCs lead news anchor, which included presenting state occasions including the Queens funeral and the Kings coronation, and fronting general election coverage.

A BBC insider told The Times: Its all being dealt with by HR and we are deliberately being kept in the dark. Having said that, there is no way back for him. The BBC denied all reports as speculation and said it would not be commenting on an internal investigation.

There remains the challenge of how to deal with archive footage fronted by the presenter. He broke the news of the Queens death to the nation, and is the BBCs face for many recent prestigious events.

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Surfing can be a dangerous pastime  whether in the traditional, oceanic practice, or in the Brave New World of wavepools.

Heres just a handful of the hazards: drowning, marine life attacks (i.e. sharks), other surfers in the water (collisions), or collisions with ones own board and/or fins.

The latter is what happened to one California woman, along with a serious blow to the cranium on the contoured concrete bottom, which left her lucky to be alive during a recent trip to Waco Surf, the premier wavepool of Texas.

Footage from after the surfer wiped out in Waco; hit the link below to watch the whole video. Instagram

In a video post on social media, the California surfer explained the horrific ordeal:

We made a girls trip to the Waco Surf wave pool. By the end of our fourth session, we were having a blast, having really gotten used to the mechanics of the wave. At the end of one of the lefts I went to tuck into the barrel when I got clipped. As I tumbled I hit the bottom, my fin stabbed me in the gut as hard as anything Ive ever felt. My head slammed on the concrete bottom of the pool. The pain was excruciating, I had a massive egg on my head and a protrusion like an alien fist sticking out of my abdomen.



CT Scans at the local ER revealed terrifying news: I was bleeding internally from my aorta, the main blood vessel that comes out of the heart and feeds the body. I needed to be transported to a Grade 1 Trauma hospital immediately. They made arrangements to helicopter me to Baylor Hospital, every minute counted. There I was whisked straight into the operating room for emergency surgery.



When I woke up I heard the news. I had suffered a Grade 3 traumatic aortic rupture. The bulge from my stomach was a traumatic abdominal wall hernia. Because the blow was so strong, they needed to remove all of my internal organs and visually inspect them to ensure there was no other damage. I am left with a massive 11 inch incision spanning the length of my abdomen. The doctors say the best I can hope for is an 80% recovery of my abdominal strength. I spent 5 days in the hospital.



Although the road to recovery will be long, my overall prognosis is good. There is so much more to this story than I can possibly say or unpack in a social media post. Suffice it to say I have much to be thankful for. Im lucky to be alive, that Doc Faye was with me likely saved my life. She is a fucking legend! And Veronica who ran point on everything and slept with Faye in the ICU so they could keep an eye on me every second. My sisters Amy and Nicole red-eyed out to Texas to be by my side. I received excellent care every step of the way.



Im going to spend a lot of time contemplating the meaning of all this. But dont worry friends, this WILL NOT BREAK ME! My goal is to be back in the water by Christmas. Love you all. Xx

***

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When it comes to Christmas market destinations, Vilnius is kinder to the wallet than its traditional rivals

The mere mention of Budapest, Vienna and Strasbourg at this time of year conjures the warm glow of Christmas markets  fairy-lit chalets heaving with strudel and gluhwein and trinkets youd never think twice about buying at any other time of year. And yet, when it comes to real festive magic  and a dose of the unexpected  none of these festive heavyweights can compete with Europes true Christmas capital: Lithuanias baroque beauty, Vilnius.

Now hear me out. Not only is Vilnius far kinder to the wallet than its traditional city-break rivals: it is also easily their equal when it comes to the Christmas getaway classics. In fact, youve probably seen pictures of the Lithuanian capital decked out for the festive season without even realising it. The citys Christmas tree, set on its majestic Cathedral Square, is regularly named the most beautiful in Europe, and approaches each years special theme (which have included chess, time and Vilniuss 700th anniversary) with Olympic Opening Ceremony-like gusto. The theme is an annual topic of national discussion, shrouded in secrecy until the big reveal  on December 1 this year  when the lights are switched on.

From ice skating to gift shopping, there are plenty of festive activities - Go Vilnius

The lighting of the tree is paired with the opening of the surrounding Christmas market (which also takes over the nearby Town Hall Square), an enchanting festive village of wooden chalet-style stalls selling wintery treats both universally loved and quintessentially Lithuanian. Classics like mulled wine and gingerbread are certainly on the menu, but its kuciukai (literally Christmas Eve cookies, a seasonal staple made of sweet dough and poppy seeds) which are truly the order of the day, washed down with a warming cup of a crushed cranberry drink called spanguoliu kisielius.

Theres an ice rink too, of course, surrounded by the splendid Renaissance-style facade of Valdovu Rumai, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania  an elegant spot in which to twirl, or take in the nightly Vilnius Dream performance, in which professional skaters and dazzling projections retell the citys history. Theres even a Christmas Train, which picks up passengers from a special stop opposite Cathedral Square (tickets 2).

Lithuania's capital looks particularly beautiful when the snow falls - Go Vilnius

So far, so conventional. But Christmastime in Vilnius isnt all candy canes and charming nativity scenes (look out for the life-size recreation on Cathedral Square). In fact, here, its only a matter of time before you end up in the clink. Thankfully, after serving as a jail from 1904 until as recently as 2019, Lukiskes Prison has now been transformed into a cutting-edge culture hub, with the complex now home to more than 250 artists, musicians and creators, as well as a programme of alternative events (lukiskiukalejimas.lt).

It even served as a filming location for the hit Netflix show Stranger Things  though therell be no monsters here come December; just a unique Christmas market, complete with dramatic light installations and live music. More Silent Night than solitary confinement.

Vilnius is transformed at Christmas time

And if a Christmas market in a prison courtyard isnt alternative enough, you neednt worry. For something a little more left-field, time your visit to coincide with the 45th annual Vilnius Christmas Run on December 9, when competitors will pound the streets of the old town clad in elf and Santa costumes.

Or, if you happen to be there the following week, head to the Design Square Christmas market (December 13-17) where hand-crafted jewellery, fashion and home accessories made by local designers provide a splendid alternative to the usual snowglobe and nutcracker souvenirs. Its a great place to pick up Christmas gifts, too  each one artistic, authentic and just a little bit different. Much like the city it came from.

Essentials

Ryanair (ryanair.com), Wizzair (wizzair.com) and LOT (lot.com) all fly direct from London to Vilnius, from 67 return in December. Hotel Vilnia (00 370 5 203 4455; hotelvilnia.lt) has double rooms from 83 a night, including breakfast.

What is your favourite Christmas market in Europe? Please let us know in the comments below

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Throughout the few short decades it was in the skies, Concorde always looked a step out of time - Stephen Lock

With the rich benefit of hindsight, John Britton isnt entirely surprised there was a Soviet mole in the factory. It was a long time ago, 1965, but something  or someone  at Filton Aerodrome seemed fishy.

We had dozens, maybe hundreds of people working on the project, and we didnt have enough permanent staff so we took on contractors, all sorts of characters, Britton says. At the time he was a 19-year-old apprentice engineer, working for British Aeroplane Company (BAC) in the design office for a supersonic, passenger-carrying aircraft. An aircraft that would, ideally, fly before the Soviet Unions competing effort did.

There was one chap working there, he was a strong Eastern European-type character  he drove a Moskvitch or a Lada, one of those car makers. He used to stay behind, hed do a lot of overtime in the drawing library, taking prints off the microfilms of designs...

Britton, who is now 76, initially assumed the man  he thinks his name was George  was merely conscientious and needed copies for his work. He can titter at the memory now. It was only afterwards, when the Soviet aircraft came out and it looked remarkably like Concorde, when we thought Ah.

Sunday marks 20 years to the day since Concorde  the aeroplane Britton and his colleagues created, and which became an icon of British ambition and ingenuity in the second half of the 20th Century  made its final flight, taking off from Heathrow for the short journey back home to Filton, near Bristol.

Britton, now 76, was working as an apprentice engineer for British Aeroplane Company (BAC) in 1965 - PBS

Concorde was, of course, an immensely successful joint enterprise between Britain and France. While Britton and his BAC colleagues were working on prototype 002 in the 1960s, his counterparts at Aerospatiale in Toulouse were dealing with 001. Yet it was just as much a product of the Cold War.

As the space race raged and dominated headlines, the US and the Soviet Union were equally competitive about being the first post-war superpower to create a commercial jetliner that could travel faster than the speed of sound. Both started work on secret projects, at the same time that Britain and France  who were less hell-bent on imprinting their superiority on geopolitics, but blessed with many of the worlds finest engineering minds  were in pursuit of the same goal.

It has been known for decades that the three-horse race wasnt run entirely fairly. While the Americans, with their colossal and largely pointless Boeing 2707, never got close to getting airborne (they scrapped the project in 1971), the Soviet-built Tupolev Tu-144 won the race in 1968. When it did, though, its design similarities to Concorde appeared to confirm suspicions that the blueprints might have been leaked by espionage.

In the late 1990s, it was revealed that an aeronautical engineer codenamed Agent Ace was one such spy. Recruited in 1967, he allegedly handed over some 90,000 pages of detailed technical specifications on new aircraft  including Concorde, the Super VC-10 and Lockheed L-1011  to the KGB, the foreign intelligence and domestic security agency of the Soviet Union.

The Boeing 2707 never got close to getting airborne - PBS

Agent Aces identity has never been uncovered, but a new two-part Channel 4 documentary, Concorde: The Race for Supersonic, does just that. After cross-referencing what is known about Ace with records smuggled out of Russia by dissident KGB officer Vasili Mitrokhin, they reveal that he was Ivor James Gregory. Born in Hong Kong in 1909, we know he moved to Europe and trained in engineering, but little else is confirmed other than the secrets he passed on.

These included not just details of Concordes instantly recognisable design, but also plans for the Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593  the planes engine. Its really quite striking. Unfortunately we cannot get any granular detail about his motivations, or how he was recruited, says academic and historian Calder Walton, author of Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West.

Theres nothing to suggest he was an ideologically committed communist. I think its more likely that there was money. All we know is that he was an extraordinarily productive agent.

Smuggling some 90,000 files is easily dismissed in our age of hard drives and terabytes, Walton adds, but this was old school. We dont know his methods and its not difficult to imagine this was the work of a Minox camera, taking photographs of the documents. Nor do we know how he passed the secrets on, but Soviet spies and dead drop points were all over London at the time.

Whether Gregory was contractor George, who Britton remembers doing so many late nights in the factory, isnt clear (it does seem unlikely he would have been Eastern European), but theres every chance Ace wasnt working alone.

We may not know Gregorys motivations, but we know the Soviets. Especially in the 1970s, during detente, in the West the US thought it would be an opportunity to let the Soviets become a responsible player within international relations, while the Soviets saw it as a chance to steal as much technical and scientific intelligence from the West as possible, Walton says.

Ultimately, this was absolutely not unique to Concorde; that is just one tiny part of a much wider effort across all different sectors. And its exactly the same thing we see with China now. The Soviets wanted plans for infrastructure projects and government secrets; the Chinese in 2023, Walton says, are more interested in artificial intelligence and gene editing technology.

Jonathan Glancey, author of Concorde: The Rise and Fall of the Supersonic Airliner, notes that while Concorde is viewed in many ways  as an icon of British-French design, the ultimate luxurious way to travel, a glimpse into an imagined future  it was also, plainly, just an extremely political aircraft.

The Soviets had to hurry  under extreme pressure from their government, they only had a few years to get theirs in the air, Glancey says. But of course if they had all the information they needed to make the Concorde, they wouldnt have made an aeroplane that was ultimately a failure.

The Tupolev Tu-144  nicknamed Concordski by Western journalists  really was a failure. Though it got airborne first, its performance was unreliable, its range short and its supersonic capabilities limited. There were seven years between Concordes first flight, in 1969, and its entering service in 1976; with almost 5,000 hours of testing, it is likely the most tested aircraft in history.

The Tu-144, on the other hand, was hastily delivered and scarcely finished. It ended in tragedy: the Tu-144 had two crashes, including one at the 1973 Paris Air Show, when its pilot attempted to mimic Concordes impressive aerobatic display  which may have been beyond the aircrafts capabilities.

The one thing they didnt copy was the air intake control system, which was the heart of the aeroplane, and the thing that made it work, says Britton, who went on to become Concordes chief engineer for the last few years of its time in service. After four decades working on the aircraft, hes now long retired, too, but is as sharp an engineering mind as ever.

The Tupolev Tu-144  nicknamed Concordski by Western journalists - PBS

Jet engines will only operate subsonically; they wont accept supersonic air, so what you need as the aircraft accelerates and goes supersonic, you have to slow the air down thats going into the front of the engine. Wed do that with the intake control system, which continually adjusts as the aircraft gets to Mach 2.

The system designed by British and French engineers for this crucial process was, in many ways, the secret to Concorde. And the Russians never got it, Britton says, with pride. The given theory is that it was simply much too complicated to copy and replicate from images.

Britton still marvels at the power and beauty of Concorde today, but in the late 1960s it was utterly mind-blowing. He has a photograph from the time that shows it best. There, on the airport apron just outside the hangar in Filton, are a few parked cars, all belonging to the engineers working inside.

Thats in the background. Youve got things like Morris 1000s, Ford Anglias  the cars people were driving at the time. And in the foreground, looming over them all and looking like a time traveller from a century hence, is a sleek, gleaming Concorde.

Its incredible. It looks like a total anachronism, really. But that was the era  we were designing supersonic aircraft, while people were still driving around in Anglias He and hundreds of colleagues gathered on the runway to watch 002s first test flight in April 1969, from Filton to Fairford in Gloucestershire, and whooped as it took off. It was absolutely incredible.

Throughout the few short decades it was in the skies, mainly shuttling 100 passengers across the Atlantic at more than twice the speed of sound, Concorde always looked a step out of time. In a way, it represented a future we never quite reached, a more ideal, progressive future that people dreamed of, Glancey says. Its appeal is obvious; even the layperson can appreciate the beauty of that remarkable arrow design, and marvel at the fact it was something of a time machine.

Arrive Before You Leave was the tagline, and it did. London to New York took a little over three hours, but Concorde still holds the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a civil aircraft. On February 7 1996, it did it in two hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds.

When we looked up at the skies, we were entranced by it. As it came over London this stunning thing came over, and we cried Look, theres Concorde! Nobody said that about a jumbo jet or a 707, and they definitely dont now theyre more like big buses with wings. But theyd say Concorde, as if it was this singular machine [as it was, only 20 were built, including six in development], Glancey says.

Walton: We dont know [Agent Aces] methods and its not difficult to imagine this was the work of a Minox camera, taking photographs of the documents - PBS

In a way thats true. It was singular, and lonely. It flew in this lonely air space, thousands of feet above all the others, so much faster, and a different league. A different world, really. And thats before you got inside

Though it lost the battle to reach the skies first, Concorde won the supersonic war. In the end, various factors conspired to put it out of service in 2003. According to Britton, for instance, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 killed a third of British Airways frequent fliers  which was most of Concordes passenger list. That may or may not be accurate, but the downturn in air travel after 9/11 certainly was.

The fatal crash of Air France Flight 4590 after taking off from Charles de Gaulle airport in 2000  which killed 109 people on board and four on the ground  was another factor. Despite being the only fatal Concorde crash in history, and the aircraft being statistically one of the safest ever built, the event contributed to a sense that it was beginning to be more trouble than it was worth.

Those factors are important, but really, it was this singularity of Concorde again: the key manufacturers didnt want to make expensive spare parts for such a small fleet of aircraft. So in the end it was something very standard that brought it down: No spare parts, guv, Glancey says.

The fleet of remaining Concorde aircraft, which are spread around the world at various airports and museums, are mainly in excellent condition. A feature of cruising at Mach 2 at 60,000ft is that the air is so dry, and the skin of the plane so hot, that moisture couldnt begin to corrode the plane. But as largely analogue machines, they cannot re-enter service.

There are plans for new supersonic aircraft  there are always plans for new supersonic aircraft  but in Glancey and Brittons estimation, these are more likely to be business jets. Supersonic aircraft designed for masses of paying passengers are, at least for now, consigned to history.

But its a history that keeps turning up new surprises. In a way, Concorde is the last in a particular line when it comes to thinking about ambition in aviation, beginning with the Wright Brothers, Glancey says. It was all about the poetry of flight. Its all just prose now.

Concorde: The Race for Supersonic begins on Channel 4 on Saturday November 25 at 9pm

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Median home list prices continue to rise across the state and throughout the country. But one New Jersey ZIP code earned the title of having the highest median list price in the state during October.

A recent report from Realtor.com  which looked exclusively at areas that had 25 or more listings during the month of October  found that Stone Harbor's 08247 ZIP code had the highest median listing price in New Jersey, at $4.38 million.

The Cape May County ZIP code's priciest listing was a $9.9 million home at 10521 Golden Gate Drive. The five-bedroom, 5-bathroom waterfront property offers about 3,000 square feet of living space and comes with an open floor plan with an updated interior, a pool, multiple outdoor decks and two private boat slips.

How North Jersey compares

Because the report takes into account only ZIP codes that had more than 25 active listings during October, Stone Harbor came out on top. But it was not the overall priciest ZIP code in New Jersey.

Alpine's 07620 had the overall highest median list price in all of New Jersey. The Bergen County town had a total of 24 active home listings in October, with a median list price of $5.9 million.

48 Rio Vista Drive in Alpine.

The priciest property for sale in Alpine is a $22.5 million mansion on Rio Vista Drive with seven bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, 2 acres of land and 25,700 square feet of living space, as well as a 15-seat theater, two bars, a wine cellar, two indoor pools and a sauna.

The second North Jersey ZIP code that ranked among those with the highest median list price in October is New Vernon's 07976. Having a median list price of $3.4 million and a total of 13 active listings, the Morris County town is the sixth-highest in the state.

A six-bedroom, 5-bathroom mansion listed for $6.5 million is the priciest property for sale in New Vernon. With 15,353 square feet of living space on more than 8 acres of land, the home comes with a pool, eight fireplaces, a library and a designer kitchen.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay , on X @maddiemcgayy , and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ real estate: Most expensive homes are in this town
Everyone from doomsday preppers to Antarctic scientists have used oil to keep eggs fresher for longer  but does it actually work? The short answer is yes. A 2011 Journal of Food Science study found that eggs coated in oil were fresher than uncoated eggs after five weeks.

Why would oil keep eggs fresh? It all comes down to porosity. Eggs naturally come with a protective coating called a bloom that keeps moisture in and bacteria out. But the bloom isn't perfect. It degrades over time. It may not cover the whole surface of every egg. And in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires farmers to wash USDA-graded eggs before they go to market  so there may be no bloom left at all.

Oil can recreate that natural barrier  so much so that some companies actually coat their eggs before they end up at your local grocery store. You can also further boost the shelf life of your eggs by dipping them in oil at home. Here's how.

Read more: What These Imitation Foods Are Actually Made Of

Tips For Using Oil To Preserve Eggs

Person holding eggs - Ljubaphoto/Getty Images

Before you buy a big jug of oil to coat your eggs, consider whether you actually want to. According to the USDA, plain old uncoated eggs already last for three to five weeks in the refrigerator. If you want to stock your bunker, store-bought dehydrated eggs last for five to 10 years (via "Role of Materials Science in Bioengineering"). But if a slightly fresher egg at the one- to two-month mark is exactly what you need, oiling could be the preservation method for you.

Start with clean, fresh eggs. A carton from the grocery store will do just fine  just make sure to check the pack date for maximum freshness. Then, get some oil. Historically, people have used everything from Vaseline to lard. The 2011 Journal of Food Science study found that there were no significant differences between eggs preserved in mineral oil, canola oil, corn oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, soybean oil, or sunflower oil  use whatever's cheap and on hand. Once you've got your supplies ready, oiling the eggs is pretty simple. Just use gloves or a cloth to coat them all over.

More Ways To Preserve Eggs

Pickled eggs - Lauripatterson/Getty Images

If you need your eggs to last longer than three weeks but don't want to oil them, you have other options. According to the FDA, eggs also last for up to one year in the freezer  no cooking required. Just crack them, beat them, and freeze them in convenient portions. If you're in the market for something more long-term, powdered eggs last for up to a decade. But think twice before you break out the dehydrator. An FDA spokesperson told Today that they were "not aware of any validated process that consumers can use to safely dehydrate or freeze-dry eggs at home." To be on the safe (and lazy) side, you can always buy your eggs pre-preserved.

Finally, have you considered ... using them? You can freeze a whole, frosted cake for up to three months. Think about it: You could get rid of your egg glut and stockpile dessert at the same time. If you don't have a sweet tooth, you could whip up some dill-pickled eggs instead. They last for up to three months too.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
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Emily Ratajkowski was photographed walking her dog, Colombo, in New York on Friday.

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Adding a winter-ready touch to her look, the model laced up a pair of classic Timberland 6-inch boots in bright red. The ankle-length boot was designed more than 40 years ago and remains a best-seller for the brand today. The red suede uppers are a non-traditional touch but a welcomed one nonetheless. The utilitarian closet staple was in a calf-high style accompanied by coordinating red laces complete with bulbous rounded toes, ridged rubber tread and waterproof platform soles in tan.

Emily Ratajkowski is seen in the West Village on Nov. 24, 2023 in New York. GC Images

Additionally, the classic style is crafted from premium leather and bound together with waterproof seam-sealing that helps to keep the wearers feet dry. Otherwise known as the Original Yellow Boot, Timberlands Basic 6-Inch boots have been worn by a multitude of celebrities including Rihanna and Teyana Taylor over the years. The boots were introduced in 1973 and have since become a cult classic. The boots enjoyed widespread fame thanks in part to major players in the hip-hop field.

A closer look at Emily Ratajkowskis shoes. GC Images

Cozy and casual, the Gone Girl star wore a pair of black leggings made of a comfortable stretchy fabric accompanied by a black long-sleeve button-up shirt. Worn around her waist, the runway regular sported a deep blue crew neck. Overtop it all, Ratajkowski wore an oversized tan coat with the sleeves rolled up. The coat included coordinating tan buttons.

Emily Ratajkowski is seen in the West Village on Nov. 24, 2023 in New York. GC Images

Ratajkowskis off-duty style often includes white sneakers from brands like Vans, Nike and Koio. When it comes to shoes, the I Feel Pretty actress often wears strappy sandals, mules or pointed-toe pumps from affordable brands like Aldo and Femme, plus boots from Proenza Schouler, Celine and Stuart Weitzman. She previously founded her Inamorata line of intimates in 2017, which has since grown into Inamorata Woman, with categories like apparel, swimsuits and more.

Emily Ratajkowski Pops In Bright Red Timberland Ankle Boots In NYC

Timberland Premium 6 inch Waterproof Ruby Nubuck Boots

$204 Buy Now at Farfetch

About the Author:

Amina Ayoud is an Assistant Digital Editor for Footwear News, where she writes stories about everything from celebrity style to breaking fashion and shoe releases. Ayoud cultivated a love of all things fashion early in life thanks to a deep love of fashion history and the luxury industry. In her free time, Ayoud is a self-proclaimed fashion nerd and thriftaholic.

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Back in May, Google said that towards the end of this year it would start shutting down inactive accounts. If you filed that away as a "sometime" item on your to-do list, it's time to take action: the shutdown starts next week on 1 December.

Google says the move is primarily to prevent inactive accounts from being hijacked and abused: "forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised" and are less likely to have the full collection of security settings enabled.

To deal with this, Google is going to start shutting down accounts that haven't been signed into since 2021 or earlier. That means Gmail accounts but also photos, calendars, contacts, YouTube videos and Google Drive too: any services attached to an inactive Google account will be closed.

The exception to the new rule is school or business accounts. But if you have a personal account and haven't been using it, it's time to take action if you don't want to see it shut down. That's particularly important if you don't want your Gmail address taken by somebody else.

Google says it'll send reminder emails to your main and recovery emails to alert you of the change and give you several months grace, but of course if you don't use either you won't see them.

How to stop your Google account from being closed

The simplest way to prevent your Google account from being closed is to sign into it right now. That'll reset the clock. According to Google, reading or sending emails, using Google Drive, downloading something from the Play Store or using the account to sign in to a third party service all count.

Of course, in order to log in to your Google account you'll need your password. If you can't for the life of you remember what that is, use the Google Account Recovery tool at accounts.google.com. And once you're back in, it's wise to change your password to something nice and strong and to enable as many security features as possible, particularly two-factor authentication. However, before you do all that it's worth asking whether there's any need to keep your account going: if you haven' used it since 2021 then perhaps it's time to let it go.
Plastic packaging is everywhere at the grocery store  including for items that are already in natures version of packaging. One shopper is showing how their local Walmart chose to package loose garlic heads, and its nothing short of infuriating.

A photo of the garlic cloves was posted on the r/EgregiousPackaging forum. As the title notes, each head is weighed out and wrapped in a plastic packaging layer. Garlic at Walmart  and its still sold by weight, the original poster wrote.

While the plastic packaging may make it mildly easier for cashiers to weigh the produce, it negatively contributes to plastic pollution. When consumers purchase the garlic, they must go through the unnecessary process of unwrapping it and tossing the sheet of plastic into the trash.

Photo Credit: u/ICameToSaveMyTree / Reddit

Garlic isnt the only produce often wrapped in plastic at the store. Another Reddit user shared a photo of a single asparagus for sale  wrapped in a thick plastic bag. One shopper posted a photo of a few celery stalks  not even enough to eat with buffalo wings  wrapped in plastic and placed on a styrofoam container.

Meanwhile, this isnt the first time Walmart has been called out for its egregious use of plastic packaging. One Redditor recently blasted the company for swapping out the cardboard pasta boxes for plastic bags.

Less than 5% of all single-use plastic gets recycled. That means the remaining 95% is sent to landfills or repositories, where it contaminates the environment and leaches chemicals into the soil and water. The plastic breaks down into tiny pieces as its moved and tossed through the soil, which creates an even more pervasive issue of microplastics.

Individuals who are concerned about the issue of plastic on their produce should shop for plastic-less alternatives and avoid the pre-made aisle of the produce section. Customers can also write to their store manager, explaining why the plastic wrapping is so upsetting and, frankly, unnecessary.

Other users noted that the superstore wrapping the heads in plastic is not a new phenomenon. I saw this for the first time on a recent trip to Arizona, one user said.

Ive been seeing these with tons of fruits/vegetables, another user observed.

A third user wrote, What a [waste] of plastic. Garlic does not need that.

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Patricia Cornwell is a crime novelist and ex-journalist. Born in Florida, she moved to North Carolina and began her career as a crime correspondent for the Charlotte Observer. After gaining a name in journalism for an investigative series on prostitution, Cornwell left the industry for a position at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia, where she pursued crime writing alongside her day job. Best known for her Kay Scarpetta series, she is now internationally recognised and has been the recipient of multiple awards. She has also dedicated a large part of her work to attempting to prove the theory that the Victorian painter Walter Sickert was Jack the Ripper, through a self-funded project. She now lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her wife, Staci Gruber.

Best of times

Best moment as a reporter?

One of my best scoops was really small but I was so lucky to get it. I was leaving the newsroom [at the Charlotte Observer] at midnight and I came across a wire [breaking news alert] that John Lennon had been shot dead in New York City. Instead of going home, because my beat was over, I sat back down at my desk and started calling every police precinct in Manhattan to see if I could get hold of the police officer who responded to the shooting at the Dakota. Lo and behold, I managed to get the officer on the phone. He told me he asked him, Are you John Lennon?, and all he did was groan because he was bleeding very badly and flipping in and out of consciousness. I could not believe I actually got this person on the phone  it taught me to never give up, just keep trying.

Best career moment?

In December 1990 when I won the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger at the Crime Writers Association awards. It was the first thing Id ever won, and I was in the morgue when I got the call saying Id won. It was remarkable because the ceremony was in London and the award was to be presented by Princess Margaret  I was going to be in the presence of royalty. So that was a pretty big moment. The other one was getting the Gold Dagger, which was presented by Agatha Christies grandson. Then when I found out that one of the judges was Christies daughter, I became weak at the knees. I would have given anything to have met her. Im so sorry I didnt; Im a huge fan.

Best thing about the UK?

I like everything about the UK, pretty much. The food is good, I enjoy the people, and I like to drive out to the countryside. Im one of those silly Americans who goes, Oh look, sheep! Well stop at a pub and get some cider and a ploughmans platter and the fire is on; I find it really charming. One really interesting pub is called the Prospect of Whitby, which is one of the oldest ones. Its in Wapping and it goes back to the 1500s where the ships set sail for Jamestown from the Isle of Dogs. They used to hang pirates on the bridge there. The UK has always been a big place to me and very important. Ive always been so excited and happy when I get to go over there.

Best part about being an author?

I explore people, places and things. For Unnatural Death, I spoke to the Bigfoot expert Jeff Meldrum. When you talk to someone about their experience with such a legendary creature, whether you believe it or not, its exciting; it fills you with wonder. I was given a tour of Scotland Yard in 2001 and this legendary investigator, John Grieve, told me about the Ripper case. It was a kind and gracious tour, because I was there for other reasons. He said: How about tomorrow I drive you around Whitechapel and Ill show you whats left of the crime scenes? I was supposed to go to Ireland the next day, but I thought, I cant say no to this. It was Grieve who said to me: If youre going to look into this, you should look into a painter called Walter Sickert  Id be curious to know what you think. And thats how it all started. Next thing Im like, Oh my God, I think this guy did it! Then I went into a full-on investigation and brought in experts. I thought, I have to follow this; its not that I want to, but if I think I might know who killed these people, I have to tell this story  I owe it to those victims, whether people believe it or not.

Best relationship?

My wife, Staci. Were soulmates; she knows me better than anybody and shes very funny, so we laugh at the same stuff. Shes smart, kind and helpful; whenever she finds out somebody has some kind of need, shell go out of her way to help them, sometimes without them necessarily knowing. I feel very privileged that I know somebody like that, because there arent many people in this world who are so unselfish. Shes also a force to be reckoned with. She may be nice, but she can also be naughty and you dont want to mess with her. Ive known some special people in my life, and I still do, but Id pick her over anybody.

Worst of times

Worst childhood memory?

Christmas Day when I was five. Thats the day my dad walked out. I was sitting under the Christmas tree, waiting for everyone to come out. Instead, my dad came through with his suitcases. My mother was hysterical. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was devastated. I loved him, I begged him not to go. I ran across the room and wrapped myself around one of his legs to try to stop him from going, but he went anyway. I missed him terribly. For a while, he would see us now and then on the weekends, but by the time I turned seven, my mother had moved us to North Carolina. When I was grown, I made an effort to get to know him myself.

Worst period in your life?

I was outed as gay in the early 1990s, when I was in my late 30s, by a Vanity Fair article. It was a very difficult time, and it shouldnt have happened that way. I had a couple of friends that started out in journalism with me, and when I became successful they didnt seem to like me that much any more. They knew a lot about me and went around various journalistic sources, divulging personal information. To have all that come out about me in what I wouldnt call a particularly positive way, was withering to me at the time. It was early on in my career and when the story came out I didnt even want to leave the house. I was mortified. My mother was not happy about it  she got used to it, but it got pretty ugly at the time. It gave me a thicker skin. Ive had a lot of publicity that I wouldnt say is fun, but Im a big girl and you learn to handle it.

Worst childhood experience?

When my mother was sick, she was hospitalised a couple of times, so a woman would foster us. She was cruel. We were staying there because we had nowhere to go, and for some reason she was really hard on me. She did emotional stuff. She was severe and harsh. We werent allowed to leave the house. When youre in the care of someone like that, you cant just decide youre going to pack up and walk out. It was oppressive, because she was very unkind to me and wouldnt leave me alone. All I can tell you is that it was wicked. I had lost my father, my mother was in hospital and I didnt know if Id ever see her again. Why would you mistreat a child like that?

Worst habit?

I have a tendency to eat and drink exactly what I want, even though its not good for me, whether thats getting into the Fritos [corn chips] at night or pouring myself another tequila when I know Ive had too much. Im careful with alcohol now. I try to drink in moderation and I might be better off if I didnt drink at all, but I like to do it. By and large, Im disciplined about most things, but Im not disciplined about everything and I dont think shame is helpful to anything. In fact, I think its disruptive, and it can become a health problem itself.

Worst part of America?

America has and should be a land of opportunity, where we do not oppress people and allow people to be who they are. But when I look at America Im scared of what I see. Its not the same land of opportunity it was. We are fraught with terrible conflicts and large groups of people who dont believe in democracy and have no respect for the rule of law. The notion that we dont give women the right to choose abortion in certain states if a nine-year-old is pregnant then good luck to her? Thats insane. Banning books? Thats insane. Waving nazi flags? Thats insane. I was born in Florida but I wont go back there until things change; its not safe.

The absolute worst?

Being locked up in a room with somebody. To be confined with somebody that you absolutely cannot get along with and will not leave you alone. Im a big believer in respecting peoples boundaries, and for me, I need my quiet. Its incredibly aggravating when people think that theyre not interrupting you because youre just a writer. It interrupts my flow of thought.

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Paper drinking straws  those sometimes-soggy but mostly plant-based utensils  may be more likely to contain forever chemicals than straws made of other materials, according to recent research.

The findings call into question paper straws advantages as healthy and eco-friendly alternatives.

For now, researchers suggest that the best alternative may be metal straws or strawless sipping, since plastic, bamboo, and glass straws were all found to contain PFAS  poly- or perfluoroalkyl substances.

We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, Groffen explained, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw  or just avoid using straws at all.

What suggests that paper straws are worse for you than other straws?

The recent study found that 18 out of 20 (90%) of paper straw brands that were tested contained PFAS, also known as forever chemicals.

These chemicals earned their nickname because they linger in our bodies and the environment. Manufacturers have included PFAS in many products due to useful properties like water resistance, and these chemicals are found throughout the world.

The study tested straws made of various materials and found that paper brands had the highest PFAS proportion. Researchers also detected PFAS in 4 of 5 (80%) of the bamboo, 3 of 4 (75%) of the plastic, and 2 of 5 (40%) of the glass brands they tested. They found no PFAS in five steel straw brands.

Overall, 27 of 39 brands of all straws that were tested (69%) were found to contain PFAS of 18 different varieties.

The scientists published their findings in August in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants. The research, conducted in Belgium, echoed a U.S. study published in 2021. That study found PFAS in 36 of 38 brands of plant-based straws.

Why should you care about forever chemicals in paper straws?

Scientists have linked certain PFAS to a slew of health issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These include heightened risks of cancer, effects on fertility, and increased obesity risk, among other hazards.

One concern with paper straws is that, based on most brands having PFAS, researchers said manufacturers may be using the chemicals for water-resistant coatings. They also said the PFAS levels they found were low but can build over time.

Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body, Thimo Groffen, a study co-author, said in a statement.

Which straws should we grasp to be sustainable?

Although the discussion is complicated, the findings appear to dampen claims of paper straws being environmentally superior to plastic ones.

Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic, Groffen said. The presence of PFAS in these straws means thats not necessarily true.

All straws have trade-offs in terms of resources used to create them, planet-heating gases released over their lifetimes, recyclability, and long-term impacts of pollution, as another study posted by the EPA explored.

Considering Americans use 170 million or more straws daily, the issue wont go away soon, and theres value in developing options like PFAS-free brands and fully biodegradable straws that dont get soggy.

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Seventy-one years ago, a schoolboy in Scotland was digging up potatoes as a punishment when he discovered an ancient Egyptian statue  the first in a collection of ancient Egyptian sculptures and artifacts buried in the grounds of his school. Now, researchers have finally worked out how the artifacts got to the British Isles.

Between 1952 and 1984, several antique statues were found on the grounds of Melville House  a stately building in Fife county that lodged soldiers during World War II and later served as a boarding school. Teachers and pupils brought each new discovery to museum curators and experts, who identified the statues as ancient Egyptian artifacts, but no one could figure out how they had ended up there.

"This is a fascinating collection, made all the more so by the mystery surrounding its origins in this country," Margaret Maitland , principal curator of the Ancient Mediterranean at National Museums Scotland where most of the objects are housed, said in a statement .

Related: Mystery of 'impossible' ancient Egyptian statue may be solved

The ancient collection includes a nearly 4,000-year-old statue head carved out of red sandstone, which Maitland described as a "masterpiece of Egyptian sculpture," as well as several bronze and ceramic figurines dating to between 1069 B.C and 30 B.C., or just before the Romans took over Egypt as a province.

A collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts unearthed on the grounds of Melville House in Scotland.

In total, 18 ancient Egyptian objects were found buried around Melville House  the only artifacts of their kind formally declared and described in Scotland. Now, for the first time, researchers have unveiled the story of how they arrived on the estate and became buried there.

"Excavating and researching these finds at Melville House has been the most unusual project in my archaeological career, and I'm delighted to now be telling the story in full," Elizabeth Goring , a former curator at the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh (now the National Museum of Scotland), said in the statement.

A glazed ceramic statuette of Isis suckling her son Horus from ancient Egypt.

In 1984, a group of teenage boys from Melville House visited Goring at the museum and brought an Egyptian bronze figurine, which one of them had found with a metal detector on the school grounds. Goring did some digging and learned that two additional Egyptian objects  the sandstone head and a bronze statuette of an Apis bull  had previously turned up on the estate, in 1952 and 1966 respectively.

Goring excavated the site and discovered a number of other ancient artifacts, including the top half of a glazed ceramic figurine depicting the goddess Isis suckling her son Horus, and a ceramic plaque bearing the eye of Horus.

Previous efforts to determine the origin of these objects were fruitless, but researchers now think they were brought there by Alexander Leslie-Melville, whose title was Lord Balgonie  a young heir to Melville House who traveled to Egypt in 1856 and died one year later upon his return to the U.K.

A statuette featuring the eye of Horus discovered in Scotland.

Balgonie may have acquired the collection on his travels, as consuls and antique dealers often sold ancient artifacts to foreigners during this period, according to the statement. After Balgonie's death, family members likely moved the objects to an outbuilding, which was later demolished, and forgot about them.

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"The discovery of ancient Egyptian artifacts that had been buried in Scotland for over a hundred years is evidence of the scale of 19th century antiquities collecting and its complex history," Maitland said. "It was an exciting challenge to research and identify such a diverse range of artifacts."

The "fascinating tale" of how Egyptian objects turned up at Melville House contains "mysteries that may never be solved," Goring said. Their story will be published in an upcoming article in the journal Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
So many wonderful fall ingredients have made their way into my tiny kitchen. While pumpkin spice everything and caramel apple anything is all the rage across the U.S., in Europe it is all about chestnuts  more specifically, desserts made with chestnut puree.

This time of year, youll find them in every high-end patisserie in France. Top pastry chefs go hunting in the woods for chestnuts, which they then turn into a sweet and sticky puree. Its used in decadent, indulgent desserts like Mont Blanc, where its piled on top of a buttery tart shell (along with whipped cream).

Credit: Michelle Tchea Credit: Michelle Tchea

In all honesty, this might be my favorite French dessert. But like many great French desserts, it involves a lot of components and time spent in the kitchen  something Im not fond of, despite being an avid baker. As much as I like to think about making everything from scratch, I have to admit that when it comes to this dessert, I take several shortcuts. I buy buttery tart shells, whipped cream (or mousse), and ready-made chestnut puree.

The chestnut puree is so beloved in France and the alpine regions of Switzerland that you can find ready-made chestnut puree (named marron puree) in jars and even tubes next to the jams and honey in the supermarket aisle. These days, you can also order both online. How doubly convenient!

Credit: Michelle Tchea Credit: Michelle Tchea

Whats So Great About Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?

One of the best and most common, readily available tubes of chestnut puree is the one by Clement Faugier. Its my go-to choice when making any dessert with chestnut puree. Its made in the companys factory in Ardeche, a region in France known for growing chestnuts.

I like that it comes in a tube, too: In Europe, most chestnut desserts like the Mont Blanc require the chestnut puree to be squeezed out of a piping bag and in tiny little noodle-like strips. For less-experienced bakers, you dont need to mess around with any other tools; you just simply squeeze it straight from the tube!

Credit: Michelle Tchea Credit: Michelle Tchea

The chestnut puree also comes in cans (and in bulk!), which makes it perfect for desserts that call for more of the deliciously sticky-sweet paste.

Whats the Best Way to Use Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?

In Switzerland, the sweet ingredient is commonly found in ski resorts (alongside fondue), which is where I get my inspiration from. Rather than being too precious, I take a cue from the Swiss slopes and embrace simplicity: I place hard meringues at the bottom of a glass jar, dollop lots of whipped cream over the meringue, and then squeeze the entire tube of chestnut puree on top  et voila! Dessert made in a flash.

Rather than using cream, try spooning the chestnut puree as the filling in your next Swiss roll or Yule log cake. After having two epic desserts, featuring chestnut ice cream (at Le Vieux Chalet in Switzerland and Petri in Stockholm), I went home to recreate the from-scratch sweet with Clement Faugiers spread. It might not be Michelin-worthy, but it was certainly my own culinary masterpiece.

Buy: Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread, $2.95 for 2.75 ounces at Yummy Bazaar

What budget-friendly baking staples are you stocking up on right now? Tell us about it in the comments.
A small, compact white boat in the centre of a channel looks as though it is hovering over the water.

The world's first electric flying passenger ship has completed test flights in Sweden and will now enter production ahead of its introduction into Stockholm's public transport network in 2024.

The Candela P-12, designed by Swedish tech company Candela Technology AB, is 39 feet (12 meters) long,runs on a 252 kilowatt-hour battery and can carry up to 30 passengers. By contrast, the battery in a 2024 Tesla Model 3 is up to 75 kWh.

It will fly at up to 25 knots (29 mph, or 46 km/h)  although it can reach maximum speeds of 30 knots (35 mph, or 56 km/h )  with a range of up to 50 nautical miles (92.6 kilometers).

"It will revolutionize how we travel on water," Gustav Hasselskog, CEO of Candela, said in a statement.

Related link: How do electric batteries work, and what affects their properties?

The vessel "flies" using hydrofoils, which are lifting surfaces that operate in water to elevate a boat's hull above the water's surface  similar to airfoils that help planes lift off from the ground. Hydrofoils reduce drag from the water, which enables vessels to achieve greater speeds while using less power than conventional boats.

The P-12 uses computer-guided hydrofoils to elevate its hull, and it consumes 80% less energy while moving at speeds of more than 18 knots (21 mph, or 33 km/h) versus traditional vessels, the company said in the statement.

Candela's flying ship runs with two custom-made engines with 340 kilowatts of total peak power. When in flight, the P-12's digital flight control system can adapt to waves, wind and water currents by adjusting the hydrofoils' angle up to 100 times per second. This system may help to reduce the chances of passengers experiencing seasickness, the company said in the statement.

The P-12 also aims to be more sustainable than conventional vessels because it runs on electric power. Most electric ships built to date have a limited range and slow speeds due to the excessive energy consumption of their hull, keeping adoption rates low. But the P-12's reduced water friction, thanks to its hydrofoils, lets it run using less power than conventional boats and therefore travel farther using battery power.

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 Will the drive for EVs destroy Earth's last untouched ecosystem?

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From next year, the electric vehicle will fly on a TK mile route between the Ekero suburb and Stockholm's city center  slashing a 55-minute commute to just 25 minutes thanks in part to the fact it's exempt from speed limits due to producing less wake while traversing water.

"Today, in many cities, congested roads are common while waterways  humanity's oldest transport infrastructure  remain underutilized for rapid commuting," Hasselskog said in the statement. "The P-12 will let you use these waterways as green highways, enabling fast intra-city connections. Often, the quickest route is by water."
The sight of hostages being freed by Hamas is a hugely welcome sight. For almost seven weeks they must have endured the very worst things imaginable. The prospect of a ceasefire, too, will bring other advantages: the international community can lead the humanitarian effort and get aid required to feed, shelter, and get hospitals up and running again. Our very own Foreign and Commonwealth Office, led by the admirable Andrew Mitchell are, apparently looking at all means to get aid into Gaza from the air, sea and by road. There are enough Royal Navy assets off the coast and aircraft in Cyprus to lead this effort, which presumably Lord Cameron is organising on his gallop around the Middle East.

Yet it is vital to remember that a lasting peace in the Middle East needs to not only recover 240 hostages but also to neutralise Hamas. That effort must not be allowed to be derailed.

So far, the Israeli Defence Force has achieved many notable successes to destroy the terrorists capabilities. Hamas are increasingly politically isolated as a result of their military failures; the Iranians publicly withdrew support, and there are even protests by Palestinians in Gaza against them. It only seems to be Putin in his lair in Moscow, and Hamas leaders living in luxury in Qatar who are urging their foot soldiers on. Not even Hezbollah has their back.

This juxtaposition between the terrorist fighters on the ground and their backers holding their coats at a distance truly signals an end to their tyranny. Successful leadership in war is achieved at the front not from afar, even for terrorists. But Hamass leaders stand no chance of entering the country safely. So it really is only a matter of time, as things stand.

The only way Hamas can survive, therefore, is if Israel is forced to stop their operation due to international pressure. This is not implausible. The longer the pause lasts, the harder it may be for Israel to receive backing to continue destroying the terrorist enclaves. The deal that has been struck will allow this peace to last for some time if Hamas continues to release hostages; at a certain point, that may not be to Israels advantage.

Those thousands of people marching for a Free Palestine must see that this objective is only possible with the destruction of its biggest obstacle: radical terrorists willing to murder and kidnap children to achieve their aims. Until they do, then Hamas has a lifeline, and one they will clasp too tightly as things get increasingly desperate.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is former Commanding Officer of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment

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A new lawsuit filed against Nvidia alleged that a file accidentally left on display by one of its employees during a video conference contains data stolen from the car tech company Valeo.

The lawsuit alleged that employee Mohammad Moniruzzaman downloaded the entirety of Valeos advanced parking and driving assistance systems source code in early 2021 without authorization.

It says he also downloaded scores of Valeo Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, and Excel spreadsheets explaining various aspects of the technology before leaving to join Nvidia in August of that year.

Valeo is accusing Nvidia of having benefited from the stolen trade secrets.

Mr Moniruzzaman ended his employment at Valeo and took the stolen source code and technical documentation with him to Nvidia, receiving a promotion to a senior position working on the software development for the very same project, the lawsuit alleged.

The alleged data theft reportedly came to light the following year when staff from both Nvidia and Valeo were working over a Microsoft Teams video conference call on a joint parking assistance project.

Nvidia was developing the software, while Valeo was providing ultrasonic sensor hardware in the collaborative project for an unnamed automotive parts manufacturer.

On March 8, 2022, one of these videoconference meetings was scheduled. Mr Moniruzzaman, now employed by Nvidia, attended the video conference call and shared his computer screen during the call, the lawsuit noted.

When he minimized the PowerPoint presentation he had been sharing, however, he revealed one of Valeos verbatim source code files open on his computer, it said.

Valeo participants on the conference call recognised the source code and took a screenshot of it, the company said.

So brazen was Mr Moniruzzamans theft, the file path on his screen still read ValeoDocs, the lawsuit noted.

Mr Moniruzzaman had admitted to stealing Valeos software and using it while employed at Nvidia when he was questioned by German police, according to Valeos lawsuit.

Story continues

Nvidia has responded that it has no interest in using the stolen code, according to The Verge.

But Valeo alleged that its competitor has benefited from the data, which it says would save millions of dollars in development costs.

Citing these reasons, Valeo is seeking recovery of damages and an injunction to stop Nvidia and its staff from using its trade secrets.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Moniruzzaman through Nvidia for a comment.
In her award-winning essay, young British science writer Richael Forson delves into the human struggle and environmental crisis that her parents and grandparents faced in their efforts to grow cocoa on a small farm in Ghana. The 15-year-old winner of the 2023 Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) Young Science Writer of the Year award, who lives in London, wrote about how families like hers have fought through poverty, disease outbreaks and a changing climate in their effort to produce the key ingredient in our chocolate bars.

15 year-old Richael is winner of the 2023 Young Science Writer of the Year award

When I was growing up, I heard stories of the sights and sounds of cocoa farming from my mother, a woman who had lived in Kumasi, Ghana almost her entire life.

Mum inherited a small plantation from her father. She spent many hours helping my grandparents tend to the trees and harvest the cocoa pods - the raw ingredient that is eventually processed into the chocolate so many of us enjoy.

The more I heard, the more I understood the challenges my family had faced: Changing weather patterns; disease outbreaks and fluctuating market prices constantly threatened the farm. But despite the hardships, they poured passion and dedication into their work.

Cacao farming was more than just a job - it was a way of life. My family's story inspired me to advocate for the rights - and needs - of cocoa farmers in my family's country, Ghana.

Many of us enjoy chocolate as a treat, but for the people who grow cocoa beans - in countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast - their lives revolve around it.

More than half of this cocoa is exported to European countries. Its export makes up a quarter of Ghana's foreign exchange earnings - second only to mineral exports.

More than two-thirds of the world's chocolate is made from cocoa grown in West Africa, and most of that comes from just two countries, the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Cocoa climate crisis

Cocoa, the most important ingredient in chocolate, is not easy to grow. It requires high humidity, an abundance of rain, nitrogen-rich soil and a constant temperature.

Climate change is fuelling droughts and unstable weather conditions - the opposite of what cocoa plantations need.

Because of this, farmers in West Africa are moving - forced by depleted soils and unfavourable conditions to cultivate new areas. This is a driver of illegal deforestation in both Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

It is a vicious and unforgiving cycle as forests make way for new farms, which fuels further climate disruption.

And cocoa farming is already challenging. Farmers are constantly fighting pests and diseases - like pod rots and ants that eat their fruit. Black pod, or pod rot, caused by the fungus Phytophthora palmivora further impacts cocoa yields.

The disease results in the loss of 20-30% of cocoa pods pods and kills about 10% of the trees every year. This is especially devastating, as to grow one cocoa tree takes about five years from the seed. And losing a single tree means losing 30-40 cocoa pods at once.

All of this is a challenge to the long-term viability - and sustainability - of cocoa farming.

But while cocoa production contributes to environmental degradation, the livelihoods of many farmers and their families depend on it. We need to find sustainable and ethical solutions that support both the environment and the cocoa farmers.

My grandfather, Nana Kwaku Duah, was one of those farmers. He worked hard to improve his own life and the sustainability of his farms. He supported sustainable and economically friendly farming practices, trying to reduce the use of some harmful fertilisers and pesticides.

Nana Kwaku Duah was not only my grandfather, he was also a chief farmer in the Ashanti region. He advocated for the rights of the cocoa farmers and workers.

Cocoa farming doesn't just supply us with the chocolate many of us crave, it is a crucial industry that supports the livelihoods of millions of people - people like my parents and grandparents.

It is also an industry that faces many challenges and I hope my story can raise awareness about this issue.

The BBC's Victoria Gill presented Richael with her award at the Royal Institution earlier this year

Richael is from Eastlea Community School. The ABSW Young Science Writer of the Year award invites students aged 14-16 years, to submit an 800-word essay. The competition, supported by BBC News and The Royal Institution, is designed to get young people writing and thinking about the big questions in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics.
Some have only won thousands, while Austin Rogers, one of the highest earners by dollar in "Jeopardy!" history, has won over $400,000. Eric McCandless via Getty; iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

"Jeopardy!" has a lot of prize winners. Some have made millions from competing.

Business Insider spoke to 7 former contestants about how they spent their prize money.

Some spent it responsibly, while others opted for wackier purchases.

With over 8,600 episodes aired, "Jeopardy!" has produced a lot of prize winners.

While some departed with nothing more than a consolation prize and a bruised ego, others emerged with substantial winnings, ranging from hundreds of thousands to even millions of dollars.

Insider interviewed seven former contestants whose winnings ranged from $2,000 to more than $400,000 about how they spent their money.

While some of them opted for clearing student debts and investing their money wisely, others went down less traditional routes.

Nanette Donohue

Donohue is a collections and technical-services manager at Champaign Public Library in Illinois.

Her "lifelong dream" of appearing on "Jeopardy!" came true in January 2002.

She won three games and lost the fourth, managing to secure a little over $50,000 in total. "That was big money for a grad student," she told Business Insider.

Donohue said she was "pretty frivolous with her money" but she's happy it allowed her to have a good time, giving her the financial freedom to indulge in travel and nice meals.

But she said the best use of her winnings was clearing her student debt, which she described as "fabulous."

Dennis Golin

At the age of 24, Golin won more than $60,000 on "Jeopardy!"

His initial purchases included an electronic drum kit and a full set of Kiss band-member costumes for a public-access-television sketch that never materialized.

"That was a weird splurge that ended up being really stupid," he told Business Insider.

He said he later invested in cryptocurrency just as it was "getting off the ground," turning $3,000 into $60,000 at its peak.

But he didn't cash out, and the value has since decreased to about $15,000.

Dennis Golin with his wife, Leesa, in front of Prague Castle. Dennis Golin, Insider

Golin also traveled across Europe using his winnings, with the longtime "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, who died in 2020, giving him a piece of off-camera travel advice.

"He told me to check out as many distilleries as you can but, obviously, don't drive between them because you'll be too sauced to drive straight," Golin recalled. "I replied, 'I'm a New Yorker, I don't drive. Period.'"

Carter Lockwood

The majority of Lockwood's $19,401 in winnings from appearing on "Jeopardy!" last year went toward covering his rent in Charlotte, North Carolina, he told Business Insider.

But the attorney also has plans to spend some of his prize money in a far less traditional way.

"I want to spend some of it on a T-shirt cannon, like you see at sporting events," he said.

Despite not making the purchase yet, he said he intends to do it to live out a childhood "whimsical fantasy."

Jennifer Quail

Jennifer Quail with the Chincoteague pony she purchased. Jennifer Quail, Insider

Quail, a winery employee in Michigan, won $230,800 from regular "Jeopardy!" seasons and an additional $100,000 as the first runner-up in the 2021 Tournament of Champions.

While she handled practical expenses including a mortgage and rebuilding a collapsing garage, Quail said she made one "weird" purchase  a Chincoteague pony.

Inspired by her favorite childhood book, "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry, she purchased the pony through an online auction for $4,400.

She told Business Insider: "She's basically a big pet, a hobby horse, a pleasure horse."

Quail added: "I'm very happy with my impulse purchase."

Michelle Bemis

Michelle Bemis at Universal Studios in August 2022. Michelle Bemis, Insider

Last year, Bemis won $2,000 as a "Jeopardy!" contestant. Rather than focusing on paying for bills and groceries, she chose to prioritize creating memories.

"I took my boyfriend on a trip to Universal Studios," she told Business Insider. "If you're in a position where the bills are paid, and you can afford to have fun with it, why would you not?"

Russ Schumacher

Schumacher won more than $340,000 by competing in a regular season of "Jeopardy!" in 2003, as well as in the Tournament of Champions in 2004 and the Battle of the Decades in 2014.

He told Business Insider that some of the prize money went toward buying his then-girlfriend an engagement ring and later to providing their wedding guests with an open bar.

The winnings also went toward the couple becoming homeowners, investing in a small business, and a memorable honeymoon to Australia.

"I tried to be as responsible as I could because it was a really meaningful amount of money," he said.

Austin Rogers

Austin Tyler Rogers stands in front of a green screen. Austin Tyler Rogers, Insider

Rogers is among the highest earners in "Jeopardy!" history by dollar amount. His total winnings from the regular seasons alone add up to $413,000.

He said that the money came in handy while he was facing some hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it was vital as a "rainy day" fund.

"That's not to say I didn't have fun," he told Business Insider.

Rogers used his winnings to travel across Southeast Asia, purchase a couple of cars, a coat, artwork, and make charitable donations.

But he said that only made a "little dent" in the total.

"It was the emergency money I had saved that made a finer impact on my life and allows me to better appreciate the gravity of the situation of people forced  like I've been at certain times  into the desperation incumbent upon low-wage or paycheck-to-paycheck living," Rogers added.

Read the original article on Insider
A network of hospitals in East Texas has not been able to accept ambulances to emergency rooms since Thanksgiving Day because of a potential [cyber]security incident, a hospital spokesperson told CNN on Friday.

The hospital network, UT Health East Texas, is operating using established downtime procedures as the hospital investigates a potential security incident and works to bring computers back online, spokesperson Allison Pollan said in an email.

Pollan did not respond to subsequent phone calls seeking more information on the incident and how the hospitals were responding. She declined to answer further questions over email.

Headquartered in Tyler, Texas, UT Health East Texas operates 10 hospitals and more than 90 clinics in the region, and provides health care to thousands of patients annually, according to its LinkedIn page.

The East Texas health care system is just the latest hospital group that has been forced to turn ambulances away because of an apparent cybersecurity incident. The last nine months alone have seen cyberattacks divert ambulances from hospitals in Connecticut, Florida, Idaho and Pennsylvania.

The cyber incident at UT Health East Texas began on Thursday when the hospital network became aware of a network outage and moved to lock down its network, according to the hospital networks statement to CNN.

The hospital network originally said Thursday that it expected computer networks to be restored in the next 24-36 hours, but its unclear if that will happen.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services, and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)  two federal agencies charged with helping hospitals defend themselves from hackers  did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI, which also responds to hacks of hospitals, did not immediately have a comment.

Federal officials and critical infrastructure operators such as hospitals and power plants are particularly wary of the threat of ransomware and other cyberattacks over long holiday weekends when many Americans have the day off  and cybersecurity teams may be stretched.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, hundreds of health care providers across the US have been forced offline by cyberattacks. Health care organizations often dont have the cybersecurity resources to deal with the threats.

The problem is persistent, despite greater attention from health care associations and federal officials. CISA last week released a detailed cybersecurity plan to help protect hospitals from hacks.

There have been 209 publicly reported ransomware attacks on US health care organizations in 2023, up from 162 attacks in 2022, Allan Liska, a ransomware expert at cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, told CNN on Friday.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
George Clooney is one of America's most iconic Hollywood stars. The Kentucky native has won two Academy Awards and branched out from acting to also producing. With his fame, Clooney is a spokesperson for brands including Fiat, Nespresso, and Omega. He famously wears an Omega Speedster chronograph which is prominently featured in the 2010 Italian film The American. Clooney also uses his fame to promote charitable causes including the Red Cross and relief for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Combining the two, Clooney sold the watch off his wrist to raise funds for a veterans charity.

Home For Our Troops builds houses tailored for wounded veterans (HFOT)

Home For Our Troops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They build and donate "specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives." Started in 2004, nearly 90% of HFOT's spending has gone directly to veterans program services. HFOT has built over 360 specially adapted homes across the nation. They have an "A" rating from Charity Watch and 4 stars from Charity Navigator, their highest possible rating.

Clooney and his watch. (HFOT via eBay)

Earlier this month, HFOT held its 7th Annual Veterans Day Celebrity Auction to raise funds for its mission. Headlining the auction was Clooney's personal Omega Seamaster Professional 300 M Chronometer Watch . Reference number 2254.50.00, the discontinued model features classic sword hands and a wave dial made famous by its blue counterpart worn by Pierce Brosnan during his time as James Bond. While a 2254.50.00 sells for between $2,000-3,000 depending on its condition, Clooney's watch went for $12,200.

Aniston's autograph inside the Fendi bag (HFOT via eBay)

In addition to Clooney's personal watch, over 100 other celebrity items and experiences were up for bid. A Fendi Peekaboo ISeeU leather bag autographed by Jennifer Aniston went for $9,100 as a lunch for two with Paul Rudd and Jake Tapper in Manhattan went for $13,200. All of the proceeds from the charity auction will benefit HFOT.
A Minnesota moose has attracted a huge following on social media after residents started to track his travels across the state.

The majestic moose, nicknamed Rutt after a moose in the Disney movie Brother Bear, has been tracked by doting fans for weeks after roaming around Southern Minnesota, an area where moose rarely venture into.

The moose was first spotted crossing the border from northwestern Iowa, very far south for the species, to Minnesota in October before making its way up the state north.

Todd Froberg, a big game program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the states 3,300 or so moose usually stay in the north, so for Rutt to end up on a brave expedition down to the south part of the state is rare.

He said that moose, who are usually found in the northern US states, who end up in southern territory stick out like a sore thumb.

"I would say this ones fairly unique," he told the outlet. "I think its probably just out searching for a home territory or other moose."

Rutt the moose spotted on his travels (Bernie Stang via AP)

Usually, moose who break their daily routines and exit their habitats may be infected with brain worm, a parasite that can make them very ill, but Mr Froberg said Rutt seems to be in good condition.

Rutt gained popularity online after Minnesota resident Brenda Johnsons moose-spotting Facebook page was flooded with updates on the elusive travelling animal.

The page was initially set up in 2018 to follow another moose who also enjoyed gallivanting across long distances, but the page went quiet when it was struck by a semi-truck while crossing a highway.

Followers were left devastated until a new moose, Rutt, was sighted enough times to become the new star of the moose-spotting page.

The enthusiasts held their breath for a Rutt update after he was expected to cross Interstate 94; many worried he would meet the same fate as their previous beloved creature.

The solo traveller crossed the border from Iowa to Minnesota in October (Bernie Stang via AP)

Fortunately, Rutt survived and continued along in his journey, appearing 140 miles northwest of Minneapolis on Tuesday, likely trying to reach cooler temperatures.

Danielle Magnuson began searching for Rutt last month as a distraction from the stress of everyday life, eventually spotting him on 13 November near Sauk Creek.

Its almost like seeing a unicorn, Ms Magnuson told AP.

Theyre just really beautiful animals, and we dont get a chance to see them around our area.

Barb Keller, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff member, told CBS that residents should be reminded that shooting moose in Minnesota is illegal and that all residents should keep their distance from these gigantic creatures.

Moose are dangerous animals. So we recommend if people see them out in southern Minnesota, certainly take pictures and videos but do not approach, said Ms Keller, something that is echoed on Ms Johnsons Facebook page.

The page, which now has over 27,000 followers, continues to track his route and connect with each other on all things moose.
Kim Jong Un attended the celebration banquet with his daughter

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has congratulated his team of scientists for launching a spy satellite, calling it a "new era of space power".

He described the mission as a "full-fledged exercise in self defence".

North Korea fired a rocket believed to contain the spy satellite on Tuesday.

It claimed it was a success but South Korea said it was too soon to tell if the satellite is functioning, after two previous launches failed.

Mr Kim appeared at a reception of space scientists and technicians on Thursday with his wife Ri Sol Ju and, daughter, Kim Ju Ae, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

He said the launch "had propelled the country into a new era of space power", KCNA said.

And it added that Mr Kim said "the possession of reconnaissance satellite is a full-fledged exercise of the right to self-defence".

North Korea's premier Kim Tok Hun said the satellite would give their military the capacity to strike the whole world.

Developing a functioning spy satellite is a major part of North Korea's five-year military plan - and the technology could in theory enable Pyongyang to monitor the movement of US and South Korean troops and weapons on the Korean Peninsula, allowing it to spot incoming threats.

A few hours after Tuesday's launch, North Korean state media claimed that they were already reviewing images of US military bases in Guam.

The launch has been strongly condemned by the UN as well as other countries including the US and Japan.

And it has sparked a row with South Korea, who said it believed the North received help from Russia.

The latest launch followed Mr Kim's rare trip to Russia in September, when President Vladimir Putin offered Pyongyang help to build satellites.

Pyongyang's launch of the satellite called "Malligyong-1" was its third attempt after two attempts had failed in May and August.

South Korea confirmed that the launch was successful but said it was too early to determine if the satellite was functioning as claimed by the North.

South Korea partially suspended a five-year-old military accord with the North, after Pyongyang's launch of the satellite on Tuesday.

Pyongyang responded by threatening to suspend the deal in full, adding that it "will never be bound" by the agreement again.
Here are some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of Nov. 19, supported by your subscriptions.

Have you ever wondered why when you go to grocery stores in other states you can often pick up beer or wine on a single trip? In 46 states, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer, wine or all kinds of alcohol . But Rhode Island is one of the four  joined by Alaska, Maryland and Delaware  where people have to go to a package store. Why is this the case? We explored it in a special edition What and Why RI.

If youre into birds and youve heard about a new effort to rename species now named after historical figures , the good news is that youll have to learn new names for only two birds that breed in Rhode Island. The American Ornithological Society announced the renaming project earlier this month in an effort to be more inclusive of people of different races and backgrounds who are interested in birds. Here's what it means for birds both breeding in the state and those that pass through.

A Rhode Island high school hockey powerhouse is about to embark for a new playing home. On Tuesday afternoon, Mount St. Charles announced on its website that it will be leaving the RIIL and heading to the NEPSAC beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. Take a look at why the change is being made now.

The fall high school sports season came to a close with Thanksgiving games, find all the scores and game stories at providencejournal.com/sports.

Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:

Jay Broccolo, director of weather operations at Mount Washington Observatory, works at the summit of the Northeast's highest peak, where the view on a clear day stretches for miles.

University of Rhode Island graduate Jay Broccolo's office may offer the best view in New England, but it comes at a high price  temperatures that can plummet to 47 degrees below zero and winds that can gust over 200 mph.

Broccolo, who grew up in Westerly, where the highest point is 249 feet, works as the director of weather operations at the Mount Washington Observatory, on the highest mountain peak in the Northeast, at 6,288 feet.

"We all like to call it the best office view in New England," Broccolo, 36, said in a recent interview.

To make observations and tend to the equipment, which can ice over quickly, weather observers venture out of their shelter once an hour and spend five or 10 minutes gathering information on factors such as temperature, wind speed, barometric pressure, visibility and precipitation type.

Sometimes the wind is so strong "it will suck the air out of your lungs," he said, and will "definitely blow you over and continue to blow you over."

Christina DiMeglio's family had to vacate their waterfront home on East Shore Road in Jamestown in the summer of 2020, when their well dried up and the town refused to let them connect to the municipal water supply.

The owner of a Jamestown house whose well ran dry several years ago will now be able to tie into the municipal water supply here, after town leaders  facing multiple lawsuits  agreed to reverse course and allow her to connect to a main located 200 yards south of her house.

The plight of Christina DiMeglio was first detailed in a Hummel Report investigation that published in The Providence Sunday Journal in September 2022. Town leaders acknowledged in 2021 that DiMeglio was in dire straits  but denied her request to tie into Jamestowns water district, saying they were concerned about having enough water to supply future development.

That resulted in DiMeglios lawyer, Joelle C. Rocha, pursuing multiple legal avenues including: an appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court, a lawsuit in federal court, an appeal to the states Water Resources Board and legal action against the towns tax assessor.

June Patinkin is surrounded by her dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a family gathering.

Journal columnist Mark Patinkin's mom, June Patinkin recently passed away. He shared his remembrance of the family matriarch in a column appearing on Thanksgiving.

From Mark's words: When I think back to my mom, who at 95 just left us, its always a summer day, on our childhood block, and I will tell you what I remember about her most. She was  there. There in our red brick home when we came inside for lunch after doing the things boys do, and at days end, there again.

And I was sure, as children always are about their mothers, that of course she forever would be.

Yet I am writing this now because her sun finally set. Our sun, really.

It should be said that it was June Patinkins time. And yet, like so many elderly moms and grandmothers, even in infirmity she remained our center, the figure we gathered around. Indeed, in taking her leave, she called us all home, her message clear, to hold on to each other as tightly as she had done with us.

Patrick Crowley at the AFL-CIO headquarters

Patrick Crowley first made headlines in Rhode Island by chasing then-Republican U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee around in a George W. Bush mask and flight suit.

Later, he exposed then-Gov. Don Carcieris failure to pay $12,000 in property taxes on his luxury condominium in Florida.

FWIW: he also had a Donald Duck costume he wore around the State House when lame duck Carcieri went to war against the state's public employee unions. (His theory: "We can call him all the names we want. We can lawsuit this and grievance that. Let's just make fun of the guy ... That's how you beat a bully.")

With George Nee easing back as the president of the state's AFL-CIO, Crowley  the current secretary-treasurer of the 80,000-member amalgam of labor unions  will be taking the helm for the remainder of Nee's term when Nee sets a retirement date. His four-year term runs through December 2025.

The intersection of Dorrance and Westminster streets in Providence. Recent utility work forced the city to dig up the cobblestone medallion at the center of the intersection. Because of damage to the cobblestones, they were not replaced.

The intersection of Westminster and Dorrance Street lost a little bit of its charm recently, as bumpy cobblestones were replaced by asphalt paving.

According to Mayor Brett Smiley's administration, the intersection had to be dug up for necessary utility work, and the city made the decision not to replace the center cobblestone medallion afterward.

The city determined that the cobblestones "were damaged too significantly by the frequent bus traffic on Dorrance Street," and needed to be removed "to improve traffic safety," spokesman Josh Estrella said. (RIPTA buses typically travel down Dorrance Street after leaving Kennedy Plaza for destinations in the West Bay.)

The decorative brick crosswalks surrounding the medallion were also ripped up as part of the utility work, but Estrella said that those will be replaced in the spring.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: RIer on Mt. Washington, Jamestown water
Ukraines military said that Russia has launched its most intense drone attack since the beginning of the war in 2022, and has targeted the capital city for over six hours.

Kyiv was the main target in the attack, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote online.

Russia launched 75 Iranian-made drones against Ukraine in total, according to The Associated Press, 74 of which Ukraines air force said their air defenses destroyed. A Ukrainian air force spokesman later confirmed to The AP that air defenses shot down 66 air targets in the regions surrounding Kyiv.

Kyiv city administration Serhii Popko said the Saturday morning attack was the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv.

Several buildings were damaged by falling debris, including a kindergarten, and at least five civilians were wounded in the assault. An 11-year-old child was one of the wounded, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The assault left a crater in a courtyard of a residential area that houses many elderly people, and windows were blown out of a nearby building.

The attack began at 4 a.m. and caused power outages in 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, The AP reported. As many as 17,000 people were without power because of the attack, Ukraines Energy Ministry said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Russia had launched the drones on the eve of the Holodomor genocide commemoration day.

Russias leadership appears to be proud of its ability to kill people, he posted. Our warriors shot down the majority of the drones, but not all of them.

Zelenskyy said the country is working to strengthen their air defense to fight against Russian terror.

The Russian attack comes after Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Crimean Peninsula since the war began 21 months ago, Russian officials said.

Ukrainian officials said they escalated their attempt to storm Avdiivka, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine, The AP reported.

The efforts come as both sides try to show they are not deadlocked heading into the winter and 2024.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
Hayden Aaron Erlandson is led out of Yakima County Superior Court Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, after a jury found him guilty of attempted second-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. He was arrested in 2019 in an online sting targeting men looking to have sex with minors.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shown signs he's on edge ahead of Google's release of a new AI model this fall. Issei Kato/Reuters

OpenAI chaos has calmed as CEO Sam Altman is reinstated and an investigation begins.

The events surrounding the unexplained ouster have sowed concern and new scrutiny.

AI experts eye safety, responsibility, and the potential new entrants contending for dominance.

The drama of Sam Altman unexpectedly being fired on Friday and then reinstated to OpenAI Tuesday night has reached a close. In its wake, a host of questions and concerns remain about the safety and ethics of artificial intelligence.

The pace at which OpenAI developed its technology as it eyed a share sale that could value it at $90 billion has been a contentious point for tech leaders and competitors who are nervous about a consolidation of power.

As the dust settles on OpenAI's action-packed week, the chaos set in motion by OpenAI's board may accelerate an existing arms race among competitors vying to achieve artificial general intelligence. Altman's saga also presents an unsettling irony about the mission of its leaders.

"A high-level irony to this situation is you have a bunch of people who are trying to develop this technology that will affect the entire future of humanity, and part of that development is ensuring that it's safe, which means anticipating potentially catastrophic risks," Emile Torres, a philosopher and AI researcher, told Business Insider.

What didn't kill OpenAI may have made it stronger. A nearly unanimous coup within the company in response to Altman's ouster and the nixing of its board has made Altman and those in his corner even more influential. AI ethics experts have expressed concern about the power of AI technology being controlled by the hands of a few.

"The increasing concentration of capital, compute, and data are a problem," Emily M. Bender, a University of Washington linguistics professor, told BI. "Not because one of them is going to hit critical mass and combust into AGI, but rather because it's a situation where we're falling for this narrative that the ability to just collect data willy-nilly has to be allowed because it's a necessary ingredient for this so-called artificial intelligence."

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With Microsoft as a juggernaut in its corner, OpenAI can wield that power in ways that either reinforce or degrade trust.

"Microsoft has always had this anxiety about being left out of the major wave of tech, most aptly illustrated with search and Google," Ali Alkhatib, an AI ethicist and researcher, told BI. "Now that they have Sam and OpenAI, they have the people they need to stay ahead of this burgeoning bubble."

OpenAI's high-profile reshuffling may have sowed enough doubt in the minds of the customers, investors, and community building and influencing AI that they avoid betting the technology's future on one entity.

"We had so much belief in OpenAI that if something happens, it's like the whole AI community falls apart, but that's not true," Giada Pistilli, Hugging Face's principal ethicist, told BI. "Maybe it's the chance for other open-source companies to take the lead, so it could be seen as an opportunity."

The seemingly earth-shattering news from OpenAI may have instead opened a door for resourcefulness and for other players to emerge.

"To be honest, I didn't see a shift from what happened," Pistilli said. "I see more and more people being creative."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hamas militants released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, from captivity in the Gaza Strip, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage of a four-day cease-fire that has delivered a brief respite from a devastating war between the two enemies
United States --News Direct-- Renske Technologies

Unlimited Remit, a pioneering cross-border remittance company founded and operated entirely by individuals of Nepalese origin, proudly announces the initiation of remittance services from Canada to Nepal and India. The company, known for its extensive global reach, offers remittance solutions from 150 countries in 29 currencies, excelling in providing the best rates and facilitating instant bank deposits within business hours in Nepal and India through a streamlined, fast, and secure online platform.

Unlimited Remit has achieved significant success in transforming the remittance landscape, particularly from the United States, by embracing a fully digital approach and eliminating cash transactions at both the sending and receiving ends.

The primary mission of Unlimited Remit is to empower immigrants to send money back home to their friends and family in a safe, secure, fast, and digital manner at minimal costs. With 272 million migrants worldwide sending USD 930 billion annually, the company aims to reduce the considerable fees associated with traditional remittance methods. According to the World Bank, remittance companies charge 6.3%, while banks charge 10.66%, resulting in a staggering USD 60 billion in fees per year.

Unlimited Remit ensures a user-friendly experience, allowing immigrants to send money from their phone apps or web apps digitally, saving time and ensuring the best exchange rates with no additional fees or charges. The company's goal is to ensure funds reach the bank accounts or wallets of recipients within minutes, in near real-time, bypassing unnecessary intermediaries and making the process safer, faster, and more cost-effective.

"We are excited to offer our remittance services to the Nepali and Indian community in Canada," said Allen Bailochan Tuladhar, CEO of Unlimited Remit. "Our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible experience when sending money back home, and we are committed to offering the best rates and fastest bank deposits in Nepal and India."

Story continues

Unlimited Remit operates under the regulatory framework of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and holds membership with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). With entities in Singapore, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Nepal, the company maintains a global presence to cater to the diverse needs of its users.

During the initial months of its Canada launch, Unlimited Remit is introducing several promotional campaigns. New users will receive instant discounts ranging from CAD 5 to CAD 100, based on different sending slabs. Additionally, for transactions exceeding CAD 10,000, senders can avail themselves of a CAD 15 instant cash discount multiple times. The company has also integrated EarnSikka (https://EarnSikka.com) as its loyalty program, issuing Sikka for every remittance sent, which can be redeemed in subsequent transactions. Users utilizing referral codes will receive 650 Sikka, benefiting both the sender and the beneficiary. As part of this year's festival season, Unlimited Remit is conducting a lucky draw, offering NPR 18 lakhs worth of Sikka, ranging from Sikka 50 to Sikka 100,000 to both beneficiaries and senders.

For more information, please visit www.unlimitedremit.com.

About Unlimited Remit: Unlimited Remit is a licensed and regulated cross-border remittance company, offering services from 150 countries in 29 currencies. With a commitment to a fully digital and secure remittance experience, the company provides users with the best rates and instant bank deposits in Nepal and India. Operating under the supervision of FINTRAC and being a member of the BBB, Unlimited Remit has a global presence, including entities in Singapore, the US, Canada, the UK, Qatar, and Nepal. For more information, visit www.unlimitedremit.com.

Contact Details

Unlimited Remit

Allen Bailochan Tuladhar - CEO

+44 7746 698754

allen@unlimitedcloud.asia

Company Website

https://UnlimitedRemit.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/unlimited-remit-starts-canada-to-nepal-india-remittance-service-179402021
Once again, as is my habit, I was driven by my restless curiosity. I was looking for other things to do and I shared Deloittes ongoing commitment and investment into improving crisis management, love of collaboration, and care of the environment.



I have the privilege to bring together next generation innovators and the best resourcespeople, technology, and strategiesto help combat the rising threat of catastrophes our planet faces.



It is important to me to continue supporting the crisis field making a difference for people when they need help the most. In my role at Deloitte, I am able to stay on the cutting edge of developments in the field. One of the projects I am most passionate about began in 2022 and is focused on expanding government and commercial access to climate science, data analytics, and applied research to help public sector clients deploy innovative solutions.



The growing challenge of wildfires both domestically and internationally is evident to all and I am excited to work on this project where we are developing and bringing new solutions and approaches to this challenge. Offering my experience in drought resilience, wildfire prediction and response, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and sustainable finance - this work is right there supporting the tip of the spear.
The following questions were asked recently on the Wonderline:

Q: My co-workers and I were talking and we want to adopt a family with the Adopt A Family program. Who do we talk to about doing that?

A: Anyone interested in adopting a family should call the York News-Times business office at 402-204-7002 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Q: I appreciate the efforts put forth by the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses for Shop Small Saturday. Where did that idea originate?

A: Small Business Saturday first hit the internet in 2010. It began as a hashtag to promote shopping at small businesses on a given Saturday, which promoted following a business social media age. A year later, the United States Senate passed a resolution of support. Since then, it has been widely recognized and promoted on the local level.

The goal of Small Business Saturday, being held today, is to support your small businesses, said Madonna Mogul, executive director of the York Chamber of Commerce.

Today many shops will be handing out gift bags, which will include a gift card to one of approximately 20 participating small businesses. Some businesses will also have extended or different hours for the day.

Q. What committee or board or group of people select the Teacher of the Year in Nebraska schools? How are the candidates for this award selected? Thank you.

A. According to the Nebraska Department of Education, a panel of Nebraska educators selected the 2024 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. The department said the Teacher of the Year program recognizes the contributions of classroom teachers who are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, skilled, and who have the ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.

Scott Phillips, a seventh-grade math teacher at Aurora Middle School, was named Teacher of the Year in September. Phillips, who was one of three finalists for the state honor, will also participate in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

I think all applicants, all people that are nominated, to get to that point, are deserving of this honor, Phillips said after being named winner. So, I am humbled and excited to be representing the state of Nebraska in the education realm as a teacher.

Q. How often is the city street sweeper used?

A. York Public Works director James Paul said the street sweeper runs every day during the warmer months.

We put it in storage, depending on weather, in the fall, Paul said. (Once) we put it in, we dont get it back out until it gets warmer.
New Delhi: Despite economic challenges, a small number of businesses are defying the norm and expanding their workforce. Several companies, including Park+, Borzo, and Ekkaa Electronics, are hiring heavily in a variety of departments and employment areas.

The recruiting is mostly focused on plans for next year's growth. In addition, entrepreneurs want specialized skills in order to expand into new areas and get ready for the future. (Also Read: 'Pick Up Faster Than Sam Altman's Return': Auto Rickshaw's Peak Bengaluru Moment)

Ekkaa Electronics

Ekkaa Electronics intends to hire 1,6001,800 new employees in the next year as part of its aggressive growth drive. With an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, the manufacturer of LED televisions is setting up a new production facility in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, including in-house design and manufacturing solutions along with full backward integration. (Also Read: SBI Credit Cards: Check Features, Annual Fees, And More)

Rubix Data Sciences

Tech business Rubix Data Sciences hopes to add 6075 additional team members in the next six months to a year. Those with experience in operations management, finance analysis, customer service, collection management, sales and business development, data analysis, product development, risk analytics, and executive finance jobs are the ones being hired.

Park+

The Autotech firm Park+ announced that it plans to hire between 250 and 300 people over the course of the next six months, with about 100 of those posts going to techies. The company is presently trying to grow its data science, AI, and ML departments.

Borzo

In 2024, the logistics company Borzo anticipates adding 100120 additional employees. The plan is an essential component of Borzo's worldwide operations centralization strategy in India.

To be more precise, eighty-five percent of the new personnel will concentrate on enhancing sales and fortifying the support staff across many areas. Borzo is currently looking for people to fill important DevOps, operations, and other roles that would improve and bring value to the company's operations.

(Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on reports circulating within the industry. While we strive for accuracy and reliability in our reporting, readers are advised to exercise discretion and understand that the details shared may be subject to change. The purpose of this article is to present speculative insights into the possibility of startups hiring across various job roles. It is crucial for readers to verify information independently. The publication and its authors do not take responsibility for any decisions made based on the content of this article.)
Dev Diwali, also known as Dev Deepawali or the Diwali of the Gods, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with great fervor and devotion. This auspicious occasion falls on the full moon day in the month of Kartik, precisely 15 days after Diwali, the festival of lights. The sacred city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges is the epicenter of Dev Diwali celebrations.

The city transforms into a mesmerizing spectacle of lights, with devotees decorating the ghats (riverbanks) with countless diyas, creating a radiant ambiance. The ghats come alive with the glow of diyas, offering a visual feast that captivates both locals and tourists.

Date:

Dev Diwali is celebrated on Purnima Tithi of the month of Kartik. According to Drik Panchang, this year Dev Diwali falls on November 26. Purnima Tithi will begin at 15:53 PM on November 26 and will end at 14:45 PM on November 27.

Also read: How To Set Boundaries For Healthy Relationship? Psychologist Shares Importance

History:

According to Hindu mythology, the gods and the goddesses come down to earth to take a dip in the holy waters of the river Ganges on the auspicious day of Dev Diwali. The celebration of the triumph of Lord Shiva against demon Tripurasura is also celebrated on this day.

Significance:

The day begins with devotees taking a ritualistic bath in the Ganges, seeking purification and divine blessings. Temples are adorned with flowers, and elaborate prayers and hymns are performed to honor the gods. As night falls, the entire city is aglow with the soft flickering light of lamps, symbolizing the triumph of spiritual enlightenment.

The Ganga Aarti on Dev Diwali is one of the main attractions of the festival. 24 priests and 24 young girls perform the Ganga Aarti with utmost devotion on this day. The Ganga Aarti attracts thousands of spectators who gather to witness the breathtaking spectacle along the riverbanks.

Celebration:

Dev Diwali also holds cultural significance. It is a time for family gatherings, feasts, and the exchange of sweets. Homes are adorned with traditional decorations, and people burst fireworks to add to the festive spirit.

Dev Diwali's celebration extends beyond Varanasi, with devotees across India and around the world participating in various religious and cultural activities. The festival serves as a reminder of the eternal light that resides within each individual, encouraging spiritual introspection and the pursuit of righteousness.
Woman believed to be girlfriend of suspect in Colorado property shooting is also arrested

A woman believed to be the girlfriend of a man supected of killing three people and wounding a fourth in a property dispute in rural Colorado is also being held in connection with the shooting
New Delhi: The World Hindu Congress (WHC) on Friday declared that it renounced the term Hinduism, arguing that it reflected an oppressive and discriminatory ideology. Instead, it adopted Hindutva and Hindu Dharma as the names for the eternal religion. The third WHC, which is being held here, passed a resolution stating that Hindutva was a more accurate term as it encompassed all that the word Hindu signifies.

The term Hindu Dharma has two words, Hindu and Dharma. The word Hindu is an unlimited word. It denotes all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means That, which sustains, the resolution read. It said that Hinduism was a different term altogether because it had an ism suffix, which is a term defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief.

"It is for such reasons that many of our elders preferred the term Hindutva over Hinduism as the former is a more precise term since it includes the spectrum of all that the word Hindu implies. We agree with them and should do the same, the resolution read.

The resolution came in the backdrop of a controversy that erupted after DMK leaders made some provocative remarks about Sanatan Dharma at a symposium with the theme Abolition of Sanatana. The resolution said that Hindutva was not a complex word and simply meant Hindu-ness.

Some people also use the alternative Sanatan Dharma, often shortened as Sanatan. Here the word Sanatan works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharmas eternal nature, it said.

The resolution noted that many scholars and intellectuals portray Hindutva as the opposite of Hindu Dharma, out of ignorance.

But most are anti-Hindutva because of their deep hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticizing Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing frequency and venom, it added.

The WHC condemned such attacks and urged Hindus worldwide to unite to overcome those who are engaging in such bigotry and emerge victorious.

Earlier, in the opening session of the WHC, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said India will show the path of happiness and satisfaction to the world which is stumbling from experiments with materialism, communism and capitalism.

He appealed to Hindus across the world to reach out to each other and connect with the world together.

We have to reach out, connect with every Hindu. And Hindus together will connect everybody in the world. As Hindus are connected in more numbers, the process of connecting with the world has also started, Bhagwat said at the gathering of thinkers, activists, leaders, and entrepreneurs, from across the world.

The four-yearly event began with the blowing of the conch by Swami Vigyanananda, the founder and global chairman of the World Hindu Foundation with delegates from over 60 countries participating in the three-day event.

Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) General Secretary Milind Parande, WHC organising committee chair Susheel Saraff, Bharat Sevashram Sangh Working President Swami Purnatmanand, Hinduism Today-USA Publisher Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami among others were present at the event.
New Delhi:The Israeli government announced the names of the 13 hostages who were freed from Gaza on Friday, after being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in the October 7 attack. The 13 hostages included four children, their mothers, and five elderly women. They were among the 240 people who were taken hostage by Hamas gunmen who stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7. The Israeli PM Office said in a statement: The Israeli government embraces our citizens returning home. The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abductees and missing persons.

The freed hostages were given medical check-ups and reunited with their families. The PM Office also shared the details of the 13 nationals who came back to their homeland. The Asher family had three members who returned home: Doron Katz-Asher (34), Raz Asher (4), and Aviv Asher (2).

The Aloni family had two members who were released: Daniel Aloni (45) and Amelia Aloni (5). The Munder family had three members who were rescued: Ruth Munder (78), Keren Monder (54), and Ohad Monder (9). Five more Israeli nationals  Adina Moshe (72), Hana Katzir (76), Margalit Mozes (77), Hanna Perry (79) and Yaffe Adar (85)  also came back from captivity.

The PM Office said the government and the security forces supported the released hostages as they met their kin, who had been waiting anxiously for their return. The release of the hostages was part of a swap deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the US and Qatar.

Israel also freed 39 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 24 Hamas hostages, who were also rescued as part of the deal. On Friday, the first group of Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross staff as part of the hostage deal, according to Times of Israel. A four-day truce between Israel and Hamas started at 7 am (local time) on Friday

.After the release of the hostages, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country is committed to bringing back all the hostages from Gaza, which is one of the aims of the war. In a video message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said, We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women. Each of them is an entire world. US President Joe Biden praised the development and called it just the start of a process.

e also expressed hope that dozens of hostages will be reunited with their families in the next few days. Hamas may free more hostages, if the ceasefire is extended by an extra day for every 10 Israeli hostages, according to The Times of Israel. However, the freed hostages are only a small fraction of the 240 people who are still held hostage by Hamas terrorists since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel.
New Delhi: As we celebrate Dhoom 2's 17th anniversary, Hrithik Roshan opens up in an old interview, unveiling the sacrifices behind the iconic coolness. He recounts a grueling 26-hour non-stop shoot for 'Dhoom Again,' confessing to an unusual regimen of binging on ice cubes to maintain a chiseled body. Post-song wrap, he indulged in buckets of chocolates and ice cream, revealing the price paid for creating the timeless charm of Dhoom 2. This revelation adds a new layer to the film's legacy, solidifying its status as the highest-grossing film of 2006 and earning Hrithik the prestigious 'Best Actor' Award.

In 2006, Indian cinema witnessed the rise of a new-age anti-hero in the form of Hrithik Roshan's Mr. A from Dhoom 2. As Aryan, the master of disguise and India's coolest thief, Hrithik brought a fresh take to Yash Raj Film's successful Dhoom franchise. This iconic character took on Abhishek Bachchan's Jai Dixit and Uday Chopra's Ali, making Dhoom 2 the epitome of a cat-and-mouse chase-themed action entertainer.

Hrithik's portrayal seamlessly blended intelligence, mean charisma, and technical expertise, highlighted by his use of an uber-cool hand-magnet. Beyond the screen, Aryan was an outdoor adventurer paragliding, diving, bungee jumping, and skating alongside Aishwarya Rai's character Sunheri.

Expressing a high ethical standard, Hrithik's Mr. A revealed a sensitive emotional side in dramatic scenes with Aishwarya Rai. Dhoom 2, headlined by Hrithik, became a cinematic masterpiece, seamlessly blending breathtaking action, romance, and drama. The icing on this cinematic cake was Hrithik's stellar dance moves, particularly in chartbusters like 'Dhoom Again' and 'Dil Laga Na.'
Ganga Snan 2023 is set to take place on Kartik Purnima. This day falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik, which usually corresponds to the months of October or November in the Gregorian calendar. The spiritual significance of the Ganges River in Hinduism is unparalleled, and one of the revered rituals associated with this sacred river is the Ganga Snan, or the act of taking a dip in the holy waters.

Devotees from various parts of India and beyond eagerly anticipate this occasion to participate in the sacred bathing ritual that is believed to cleanse the soul and bestow divine blessings.

Ganga Snan 2023 Date

On November 27, 2023, Kartik Purnima will be celebrated with various rituals, prayers, and sacred dips into the Ganges also known as Ganga Snan or Kartik Snan.

Ganga Snan 2023: Shubh Muhurat for Kartik Snan

Purnima Tithi Begins - November 26, 2023 - 03:53 PM

Purnima Tithi Ends - November 27, 2023 - 02:45 PM

Significance of Ganga Snan

The significance of Kartik Purnima lies not only in the celestial alignment but also in the cultural and spiritual context. It is believed that taking a dip in the holy Ganges on this day can wash away sins and purify the individual both spiritually and physically. The Ganges, considered the holiest river in Hinduism, is believed to carry the divine essence of the goddess Ganga, and her blessings are sought during this auspicious occasion.

Ganga Snan benefits on Kartik Purnima

According to hindu scriptures, the benefits of Ganga Snan extend beyond the spiritual realm. It is believed that the holy waters of the Ganges possess healing properties, and a dip in the river is thought to purify the body, mind, and soul. The ritual is not only a religious practice but also a cultural phenomenon that showcases the deep connection between the people and the sacred river that has been revered for centuries.

Ganga Snan: Puja Vidhi

1. Devotees start the day with personal purification, taking a bath, and dressing in traditional attire to approach the ritual with a pure mind.

2. Before heading to the Ganges, individuals engage in prayers, express gratitude, and set intentions for the holy dip, seeking purification of mind, body, and soul.

3. Pilgrims gather at the Ganges, offer prayers at the ghat, and take a holy dip in the river, symbolizing the purification of the soul and seeking divine blessings.

4. Devotees may offer items like flowers and fruits to the river, expressing gratitude and devotion. Some engage in acts of charity or kindness on this auspicious day.

5. Before leaving, individuals offer final prayers, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the sacred experience, concluding the ritual with a sense of spiritual fulfillment.

Ganga Snan Celebrations

Devotees prepare for Ganga Snan with great reverence, often engaging in prayers, rituals, and fasting leading up to the event. Pilgrims gather at the banks of the Ganges, particularly in cities like Varanasi and Haridwar, to partake in this spiritual experience. The atmosphere is charged with devotion as people come together to celebrate the cleansing power of the sacred river.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
AP PGCET 2023: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) and Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, have declared the results for the phase 2 allotment of the postgraduate common entrance test (AP PGCET 2023). Candidates can access the AP PGCET result on the official website at pgecet-sche1.aptonline.in by providing their login details, including hall ticket number and date of birth. Those who have been selected for admission are required to report to the assigned colleges on November 25, 2023. The college-wise final allotment results for AP PGCET were previously announced on the official website at pgcet-sche.aptonline.in. Although the initial deadline for reporting to the colleges was November 23, 2023, the council has extended it for an additional two days.

AP PGCET 2023 Phase 2 Allotment Result: Here's How To Check

- Go to the official website of AP PGCET at pgecet-sche1.aptonline.in.

- Once you appear on the homepage of the website, click on the link that says, AP PGCET 2023 Phase 2 seat allotment result.

- As you click on it, a new login window will appear on the screen.

- Here, enter the login details such as hall ticket number and date of birth.

- Submit the details entered.

- The AP PGCET 2023 phase 2 seat allotment result will appear on the screen.

- Download the same.

- Take a printout for further reference.

AP PGCET 2023: Documents Required

- AP PGCET 2023 admit card

- AP PGCET-2023 rank card

- Transfer Certificate (TC)

- Copy of Marks memo

- Provisional certificate

- Intermediate marks memo or diploma marks memo

- SSC or certificate equivalent to it

- Study certificates from Class 9 to degree

- Proof of residence

- Latest valid income certificate or ration card (in the name of the candidate)

- Caste certificate (if required)

- EWS certificate (if required)

- Local status certificate (if required)

The AP PGCET college-wise final allotment results were announced on the official website at pgcet-sche.aptonline.in. As per the timetable released earlier, the last date to report to the colleges was November 23, 2023. However, the council extended it to two more days.
New Delhi: A stampede-like situation occurred at a music concert at University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) University, Kochi. Kerala Health Minister Veena George reported that four students lost their lives, and nearly 60 sustained injuries in this unfortunate incident. The tragic event transpired during a music concert by Nikhita Gandhi, conducted in the university's open-air auditorium. The Health Minister added that arrangements have been made at Kalamassery Medical College to address the situation.

CUSAT University Vice Chancellor, Dr Sankaran told the media that two of the injured students are in critical condition. The concert was part of the tech fest, drawing a crowd of over 2000 attendees. Due to the rainy conditions in the area, some students slipped on the staircase, leading to a stampede-like situation."

#WATCH | Kerala | Four students died and several were injured in a stampede at CUSAT University in Kochi. The accident took place during a music concert by Nikhita Gandhi that was held in the open-air auditorium on the campus. Arrangements have been made at the Kalamassery pic.twitter.com/FNvHTtC8tX  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

#WATCH | Kochi, Kerala: Vice Chancellor, Dr Sankaran says, "...As part of tech fest, a musical program was also organised...Unfortunately, the crowd was huge and there was rain...The steps created some problems and some students fell down...The number of people injured I can only https://t.co/AsaMrX5IvH pic.twitter.com/pUS9M3py7k  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Taking to ANI, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M R Ajith Kumar said, "Guests were requested to wear black t-shirts to the event. Unexpected rainfall led those present at the venue to seek shelter. Consequently, individuals on the steps slipped, and others inadvertently walked over them."

#WATCH | Kerala | Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M R Ajith Kumar says, "It is suspected that there was a college arts function being held by the school of engineering. The invitees were asked to come in black t-shirts...Due to sudden rain people who were at the pic.twitter.com/9C2RLqCkP6  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

"Tragically, four individuals were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, while an additional four sustained serious injuries. In addition to these casualties, a total of 46 individuals have reported injuries at the medical college," ADGP added.
New Delhi: The rescue mission to save 41 men trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand has hit a roadblock. The machine that was supposed to drill through the mountain has failed. International tunneling expert Arnold Dix, who is overseeing the rescue mission, has vowed to bring the workers home by Christmas. The drilling, augering has stopped. Its too much for the auger (machine), it is not going to do anything more, said micro tunneling expert Arnold Dix on Uttarkashi tunnel rescue. He added that the rescue team is exploring other options, but they are also mindful of the safety of the men and the rescuers.

We are looking at multiple options, but with each option we are considering how do we make sure that 41 men come home safe and we dont hurt anyone. The mountain has again resisted the auger, so we are rethinking our approach, he said. Despite the challenges, Dix expressed his confidence that the 41 men will be freed by Christmas. I am confident that the 41 men are coming home by Christmas, he said.

The fate of 41 labourers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand for the past 13 days hangs in the balance as the rescue operation faces multiple challenges. The machine that was supposed to bore through the debris and create a passage for the workers has encountered a metal obstacle, forcing the rescuers to stop drilling on Friday night. This is the latest setback in the multi-agency effort that began on November 12 when a landslide caused a part of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route to collapse.

The rescuers had managed to push a 46.8-metre-long steel pipe into the drilled hole, out of the estimated 60-metre-long blocked stretch. They had also inserted a six-inch-wide tube to supply food, medicines and other essentials to the workers, who are in a two-kilometre-long section of the tunnel. The tube also enabled the workers to communicate with their relatives and the rescue team, and to send images of their condition through an endoscopic camera.

However, with the drilling machine failing to make further progress, the rescuers are considering other options such as manually drilling the remaining 10 to 12 metres or creating a vertical escape passage from the top of the tunnel.

An official said that manual drilling is a slower process, while vertical drilling is a more complicated and precise one. A big drilling machine was moved to the hill above the tunnel on Saturday morning, where two spots with the lowest elevation have been identified by experts for vertical drilling. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has already built a 1.5-km access road to the top of the tunnel for this purpose.

The repeated delays and difficulties have made the relatives of the trapped workers anxious and impatient. For the last two days we are being assured by officials that they (trapped workers) are being evacuated soon but something or the other happens and the process gets delayed, said Devender Kisku from Banka in Bihar, whose brother Virender Kisku is among the trapped workers.
In an incident similar to Rajasthan's Udaipur where tailor Kanhaiya Lal was murdered by two Islamic extremists, a B.Tech student tried to behead a bus driver and conductor in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. The accused identified as Lareb Hashmi did not show any regret and even shot a video after fleeing the spot. In the video, he not only raised Islamic slogans but claimed that he doesn't fear the Modi-Yogi governments.

In the video, Hasmi claimed to have prepared to attack the bus driver and conductor. The bus driver and conductor are undergoing treatment and their situation is said to be critical. They have been admitted to Swarooprani Nehru Hospital of the Medical College for treatment. After the attack, the student ran away waving the cleaver in his hand. While running away, the accused student was waving his knife and raising religious slogans.

According to the driver of the city bus, while attacking, the accused was saying that the Jihadi is still alive. An 8-second video of the accused student waving his pistol is also going viral on social media. The accused student is a first-year B.Tech student at United Engineering College.

Police have arrested the student from near Chandi Port, about two and a half kilometres from the incident site. According to DCP Yamunanagar Abhinav Tyagi, legal action is being taken in the matter by registering an FIR under relevant sections of the IPC. The accused student is being interrogated.

According to him, there was a dispute with the bus conductor over some fare amount. The accused student had boarded an electric bus from Shantipuram Phaphamau to Raymond to go to the engineering college. Accused student Lareb Hashmi suddenly attacked conductor Harikesh Vishwakarma with a baton in front of the college gate. Before the other students were present on the bus and the driver could understand anything, the student got down from the bus and ran away waving his knife.

A video of the accused is also going viral on social media in which he is shouting religious and crazy slogans while running away. In the viral video, the accused student is saying that he has no regrets for attacking the driver and conductor. He is also heard saying that he is not afraid of the Yogi and Modi government.

Late in the night, during the interrogation of the accused student, he also tried to attack the police team. In response to this, the police opened fire, in which the accused student was shot in the leg. The accused student has been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
New Delhi: In Rajasthan, over 69.65 per cent voting was recorded as per the latest data from the Election Commission of India. The highest polling was recorded at 78.14 per cent in Hanumangarh followed by76.19% in Jhalawar. The districts which recorded polling over 70 per cent inlcuded Alwar (73.07%), Banswar (72.49%), Baran (74.07%), Barmer (71.51%), Bharatpur (71.80%), Bhilwara (71.09%), Bundi (70.40%), Chhittorgarh (74.04%), Churu (71.14%), Dholpur (74.11%), Gaganagar (72.09%), Jaipur (70.39%), Jaisalmer (76.57%), Kota (72.39%), and Pratapgarh (73.36%).

The voting was held today for 199 assembly seats in the state. The polling started at 7 am and concluded at 6pm amid high-pitched campaigning by major political parties, such as the ruling Congress and BJP. The election is a high-stakes contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with both parties making a slew of promises and bringing in their star campaigners to woo the voters. The polling will continue till 6 pm, with adequate security arrangements in place to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process. The only seat where the election has been postponed is Karanpur, where the Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar passed away recently.

While the polling was peacefully, stone pelting was reported near Bochiwal Bhawan, Fatehpur Shekhawati in Sikar. Following the stone pelting, heavy police forced have been deployed in the area. "There has been stone pelting among some people after a verbal clash. Some people have been disbursed, and some people have been detained. We will take strict action. The polling is underway but this place (of clashes) is away from the polling booth. There is no hindrance to voting... Those who have not cast their vote yet should go and vote. Security would be provided for everyone," said Fathepur DSP Ramprasad.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today moved Election Commission of India against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanding a ban on the latter's Twitter account. The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi's latest tweet related to Rajasthan election was a violation of the model code of conduct. The Congress, led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, is hoping to retain power and break the three-decade-old trend of alternating governments in the state. The party has highlighted its achievements in the fields of agriculture, health, education and social welfare, and has promised to conduct a caste-based census, recruit more staff at the panchayat level and enact a law to guarantee minimum support price for farmers.

The BJP, on the other hand, is banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his development agenda to oust the Gehlot government. The party has accused the Congress of indulging in dynastic politics, corruption, misgovernance and failing to protect the interests of women, students and farmers. The BJP has also pledged to implement various central schemes such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Laho Incentive Scheme, Direct Benefit Transfer and Bhamashah Health Infrastructure Mission in the state.

The election is also a test of the political clout of former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, who had rebelled against Gehlot last year but later reconciled with the party leadership. Pilot is contesting from Tonk constituency and has been campaigning extensively across the state. He has also faced sharp attacks from Modi, who accused him of being punished by the Congress for his fathers revolt against the high command in 1996. Pilot, however, dismissed Modis remarks and asked him to focus on the issues of the state.

Apart from Pilot and Gehlot, some of the other prominent candidates in the fray include former CM Vasundhara Raje, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Congress national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, and Rajasthan LoP Rajendra Rathore. Many rebel candidates from both the Congress and the BJP are also in the contest, posing a challenge to the official nominees of their respective parties.

The role of smaller parties and independents may also prove to be crucial in the outcome of the election. The BSP, the AAP, the RLP, the BAP, the CPI-M, the JJP and the ASP are some of the parties that are trying to make a dent in the vote share of the two major parties. The election campaign in Rajasthan witnessed a fierce battle of words and rallies between the Congress and the BJP, with both parties bringing in their top leaders to address the voters. While the BJP had Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh and Yogi Adityanath as its star campaigners, the Congress relied on Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and several state leaders to counter them.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3, when the fate of the candidates and the parties will be decided by the 5,26,90,146 voters of the state. Among them, 1,70,99,334 are young voters in the 18-30 age group, including 22,61,008 new voters in the 18-19 age group. Over 3 lakh voters have already cast their votes through postal ballots before the polling day.
New Delhi: Lt. General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, informed that the auger machine sustained damage and a section of it was lodged inside the tunnel, leading to a deceleration in the rescue operation.

The Lieutenant General added that removing the damaged section of the auger necessitates advanced machinery, which will be transported via airlift by the Indian Air Force. Describing the ongoing rescue strategy, Hasnain mentioned that the team will employ manually operated power tools for further excavation in the tunnel, a move that could potentially slow down the rescue operation.

"Regarding the ongoing rescue operation, we are encountering specific challenges. The auger machine has suffered damage, and a portion of it remains lodged. Advanced machinery is essential to extract this part, and the Indian Air Force is currently in the process of airlifting the required equipment, which is expected to arrive at the tunnel site shortly," said Syed Ata Hasnain.

#WATCH | Silkyara tunnel rescue operation | Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) says, "The good news is that the 41 workers are stuck inside are stable. All the basic things are being sent...The relatives of the workers have pic.twitter.com/TWIcPwMilL  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) verified that all 41 workers are in stable condition, and essential items such as food and water are being delivered to them consistently. Additionally, the relatives of the workers have visited the site and engaged in conversations with the trapped workers, uplifting their hopes.

Earlier today Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Uttarkashi to take stock of the ongoing rescue operation underway at the Silkyara tunnel. Speaking to the media, Dhami said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very sensitive towards the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel and he is taking detailed information every day about the well-being of the workers. Expressing hope for the successful rescue of the trapped workers, Dhami said, "We will soon be successful in evacuating the labour brothers safely."

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami took stock of the Silkyara Tunnel Rescue Operation in Silkyara, Uttarkashi. He also took information from the officials regarding the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the tunnel. He obtained information regarding the condition of the pic.twitter.com/2BbApr3MHT  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting with all the agencies and officials of the state administration engaged in the ongoing rescue operation to rescue the workers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi. In the meeting, CM said pic.twitter.com/BGoj5zZfXu November 25, 2023

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very sensitive towards the workers trapped in Silkyara, Uttarkashi Tunnel. The Prime Minister is taking detailed information every day about the well-being of the workers and the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the tunnel. Central agencies, state administration and teams of international experts are working on all options, we will soon be successful in evacuating the labour brothers safely," CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X
Denvers micro-community under construction at 12033 E. 38th Ave. is making considerable progress and the city expects to start housing homeless people there next month.

Pallet PBC mini shelters are already on site and a site operator was approved by city councilmembers on Monday.

Mayor Mike Johnston and his administration, which is trying to house 1,000 homeless people by years end, has been taking rapid steps to acquire housing units ranging from hotels to micro-communities.

Micro-communities are intended to serve as 24/7 monitored homeless communities with mini shelter units and community buildings along with laundry, bathrooms, showers and kitchen facilities.

Service providers, not the city, will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining micro-communities. Providers are expected to maintain a minimum ratio of one staff member on site per 40 clients.

Denver approved a $2,308,829 contract with Bayaud Enterprises, Inc., a Denver-based company, to provide site operations until the end of 2024.

Bayaud is a company specializing in providing employment services.

The contract calls for Bayaud Enterprises to oversee and maintain a micro-community with 54 units to ensure compliance with all building codes, health regulations and safety issues as well as regular repairs. Communal spaces are to be cleaned at least twice per week.

The micro-communities under construction at 1375 Elati St. and 2301 S. Santa Fe Drive await the arrival of Pallet units and manufactured sleeping units from Solution Builders. Workers at both sites are in the process of leveling dirt.

But progress seems more apparent at the 38th Avenue site.

Johnstons administration originally ordered 200 Pallet shelters for up to $7 million. Cole Chandler, the mayors senior homeless adviser, told councilmembers the deal was finalized at $3.5 million.

The mayors homeless resolution plan, since taking office on July 18, has resulted in 292 homeless people being housed as of Thanksgiving, according to the citys homeless housing dashboard.
New Delhi: The Jammu And Kashmir government on Saturday declared the winter vacation in the Kashmir division of the Union Territory in the wake of challenging winter conditions prevailing in the valley. Issuing the order, the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir announced winter vacation up to class 8th from November 28 to February 29, 2024 for all the government and private schools in the Valley.

Classes 9 to 12 will observe winter vacations from December 11 to February 29, 2024. This decision comes amid the valley experiencing seven consecutive days of intense cold attributed to clear night skies. On Saturday, the minimum temperature in Srinagar city reached minus one degree Celsius, with even lower temperatures recorded in other parts of the Valley.

Due to the absence of heating facilities in schools and the unavailability of buses equipped with heaters, children attending schools encounter significant challenges amid the severe cold in Kashmir. Authorities are compelled to resort to class closures during the winter months due to these unavoidable circumstances.
New Delhi: 23-year-old YouTuber, Malti Devi, was found dead at the house of her in-laws on November 23. The father of the 23-year-old deceased has alleged that Malti Devi was killed by her in-laws for failing to meet their dowry demands.

In a video statement, Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santosh Kumar Singh said, "We received a complaint from one Deep Chand Chauhan that the body of his daughter Malti Devi was found hanging from a hook in the roof at her in-laws in a village under Mahuli police station. A police team was sent to the spot. The body was recovered and sent for postmortem examination."

An FIR has been registered based on the complaint lodged by Devi's father against her husband Vishnu Kumar and his three relatives at the Mahuli police station here. The ASP added in the video statement, "It has come to our notice that the deceased was having some trouble with her husband. We are looking into all aspects of the case," he added.

Under the name of 'Malti Chauhan Fun', Devi ran a YouTube channel with over 6.5 lakh subscribers. She had uploaded 24,000 videos on her channel.
New Delhi: According to agency officials, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned actor Prakash Raj. The actor has recorded his statement in connection with an alleged 100-crore Ponzi scheme case involving Tiruchi-based Pranav Jewellers.

However, Raj is yet to issue a statement in this regard. The actor was reportedly the brand ambassador of the jewellery firm. The agency may seek information from him about the money paid to him by the firm.

Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the agency had conducted searches on November 20. The purpose was to gather information about the ponzi scheme run by certain accused persons in the name of Pranav Jewellers, which is a partnership firm. ED had seized incriminating documents, 23.70 lakh of unexplained cash, and bullion/gold jewellery.

First Information Report was registered by the Economic Offences Wing (Tiruchi) against the firm and others. It alleged that about 100 crore was collected from people under the guise of a gold investment scheme with the promise of high returns. However, the firm failed to return the amount to such investors.

According to the agency, Pranav Jewellers and other connected persons cheated the public by diverting the funds to shell entities or entry providers on the pretext of buying bullion or gold ornaments.

The ED said, Searches also revealed that the supplier parties in the books of Pranav Jewellers were entry providers, who during the investigation confessed to have provided adjustment/accommodation entries to Pranav Jewellers for amounts over 100 crore; and also confessed to have given cash to the accused persons in lieu of bank payments."
New Delhi: Salman Khan is currently enjoying the success of his recent release Tiger 3 co-starring Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi. The film also has a whistle-worthy cameo by Bollywood's Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan. Fans went gaga as SRK entered the film's scene and the applause and whistles couldn't stop, a similar thing happened when Salman made a cameo in Shah Rukh's Pathaan. Now, Salman has talked about his chemistry with SRK on screen and called each other 'Jai and Veeru' of Sholay. The cult film was co-written by Salman's father Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. It depicts one of Hindi cinema's most loved on-screen friendships between Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra).

In a conversation with PTI, Salman said, "They (fans) have known our history from 'Karan Arjun.' They have always liked us. He has a very strong fan following and so do I. When we come together, that creates euphoria in theatres, it creates history."

Further, he added, "These are just guest appearances that we have done in Tiger and Pathaan and it has created such a big buzz that some people are comparing us to Jai and Veeru. He is Jai and Im Veeru and we have a great time together working."

"It is not like we are shooting and working, nothing like that. We get along fine. Chill time. We do our job and we chill after that, he goes back home, I go home, and come back the next day," he concluded.

'Tiger 3' is a part of Yash Raj Film's Spy Universe that also includes Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' and Hrithik Roshan's 'War.' At the end of Tiger 3, a teaser of War 2 was also dropped by the makers to create a ruckus and it worked. Fans are super excited for the film now as they cannot keep calm anymore.
New Delhi: Hamas militants are expected to release 13 more Israeli hostages, mostly children, on Saturday as part of the exchange deal that began on Friday. The Israeli Prime Ministers Office said that it received the names of the hostages to be freed on Friday night. The exchange deal involves the release of 50 Israeli hostages, who were abducted by Hamas during the deadly attack on Israel on October 7, in return for 150 Palestinian prisoners. The first batch of 13 Israelis, including four children, was released on Friday evening, while the remaining 24 are likely to be released in two groups on Sunday and Monday.

The exchange deal has sparked mixed reactions among Israelis and Palestinians. Some Israelis are happy to see their relatives back, but others are worried about those still in captivity or oppose the deal altogether, arguing for a continued military operation to free all the hostages. Some Palestinians are hopeful to see their family members released, but others are uncertain about the outcome, as it depends on the number of hostages that are freed.

The exchange deal was brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and also includes a pause in fighting or a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which started on Friday morning at 7 AM. The ceasefire can be extended by an extra day for every ten hostages that are released beyond the 50 agreed.

Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched a massive attack on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostage. Israel responded with a full-fledged war in Gaza, which has resulted in more than 14,000 deaths and widespread destruction in the coastal Strip, according to the Gaza Health ministry.

According to local media reports, eight of the 13 hostages to be released on Saturday will be children. The Israeli security officials have notified the families of the hostages, the PMO said. As part of a separate deal, 11 foreign nationals, including 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino, were freed by Hamas on Friday.




Abbas Ganbay





By Azernews

Continuing to strengthen relations at the international level, Azerbaijan has become a significant partner for the European Union in supplying energy resources to EU countries. Despite provocative actions and statements by some EU officials about imposing sanctions, Azerbaijan continues to build a road to peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus. After the successful completion of anti-terrorist measures to liberate its territories from the separatist regime, its neighbour Armenia has a chance to balance its relations in the region with both its neighbours and Azerbaijan.

The country is doing a lot of work to reunite Azerbaijani IDPs with their native lands. Along with the development of other important sectors, Azerbaijan is trying to develop relations between Turkic countries and develop the culture of Turkic countries in cooperation with each other. In order to achieve cooperation at the international level, it is important to solve regional problems, which is Armenia, in whose interests and dreams it is to join and establish itself in the European Union.

As we know, many organisations and powers are involved in the reformatting of the world, wishing to promote their agenda while affecting the whole system. While contemplating the decision to join the EU, Armenia forgets about the more significant and weighty issues on which its coexistence in the South Caucasus region depends. There are still unresolved issues with Azerbaijan and complicated relations with Russia. As long as Yerevan remains silent, the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan may remain on the table, and this decision will play a difficult joke for Armenia but will play into the hands of the hibernated Garabagh clans financed by the Western forces.

With its fingers crossed waiting to achieve something good, Yerevan continues its propaganda activities in inciting hatred against Azerbaijan on the world stage, misinforming the public about the alleged "ethnic cleansing of Armenians", "victims and hostages" held as prisoners in Baku, and the destruction of the cultural heritage of Armenians in Garabagh.

Western European countries continue to maintain a "silence" towards Azerbaijanis who were displaced by the barbaric attacks of the Dashnaks and the separatist clan on the territory of Azerbaijan. Has anyone helped to find 4 thousand missing Azerbaijanis after the first Garabagh war in three decades? Did someone help to clear the lands from mines?

A so-called organisaton named "Centre for Truth and Justice" has recently made a report on Azerbaijan, demanding the release of all Armenian prisoners, including those who were accomplice in the mass murders in Khojali and other genocides committed by the separatist clan. However, the mentioned center pretends to be ignorant of history, fooling itself.

The report presents the prisoners by name, including those who held leading positions in "Nagorno-Karabakh": Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Babayan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Ruben Vardanyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan. To understand who they demand to be released, one should look at the reports and photographs of the First Garabagh War to realise that they are in their places.

The report allegedly mentions that "Azerbaijan carried out ethnic cleansing of Armenians from their ancestral land by attacking Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 September. Within 10 days, more than 100,000 Armenians were forcibly expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh and took refuge in Armenia. During the wars against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and 2023, Azerbaijani authorities captured about 200 Armenian civilians and soldiers."

To these "forcibly expelled" Armenians, Azerbaijan offered to reintegrate as citizens of the country and live in peace in Garabagh. It is not profitable for Armenia to leave its people on the territory of the country with which they are at enmity, while it was offered to reintegrate them into Azerbaijan. In addition, Armenia insists on returning separatists who were once murderers and are serving prison time in Baku. This is Yerevan's clear justification of the crime.

The increasing Western pressure on Azerbaijan also continues its activities in the information field. Attributing great geographical importance to Yerevan, it is important for the Western countries to get Azerbaijan's gas and other lines of passage as economic and strategic in their struggle with Russia and China.

Answering the questions of Armenian media, Lars Patrick Berg, a pro-Armenian member of the European Parliament from Germany, stated that "the President of France supported Armenia's position, as well as French deputies, mayors, in the U.S. Congress they also expressed solidarity with Armenia's position, and even in the EU there are many friends of Artsakh.

But the point is to regulate votes and put pressure on Azerbaijan. I have been in favour of imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan in Brussels and Strasbourg, but it is very difficult to do so. And I don't see a chance for the EU to impose sanctions in the near future, it's sad and all this is a tragedy," the pro-Armenian German MP said.

Head of the German Foreign Intelligence Service Bruno Kahl after arricing in Yerevan reported that Berlin would provide Yerevan with 84.6 million euros in grants and loans. The Western structure will continue its actions in support of its clans in Armenia, and the EU's perceived threats to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan remain behind them.

Speaking at a press conference on 24 November, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a decree granting citizenship to Armenians who "voluntarily" emigrated from Garabagh. He noted that people who have already applied for civil service jobs have been instructed to promptly resolve the issues of granting Armenian citizenship.

With this decision, Pashinyan began granting Armenian citizenship to Armenians who illegally settled in Garabagh during the 30-year occupation.

One of the lies that Pashinyan exposed in his numerous interviews with foreign media was the myth of an "existential threat" to the Armenian population of Garabagh. His decision means exposing the fake number of "Armenian refugees" from Garabagh, Pashinyan's myth of an "existential threat".

Baku will continue to chase up Yerevan until making it to sign a peace treaty in accordance with its own principles. Because Yerevan's need for opening borders with Turkiye, on the other hand, the growing economic influence of Azerbaijan, and the entire Turkic world around the region leave no chance for PM Nikol Pashinyan to circumvent coming to the negotiation table.
District Court Magistrate Amanda Philipps has been appointed to fill a district court judge vacancy in the 4th Judicial District, according to a news release earlier this week.

Philipps, a current district court magistrate in the 4th Judicial District, was tabbed to replace Judge Thomas Kane at the end of the year, the office of Gov. Jared Polis said in the news release.

Philipps has worked as a district court magistrate since 2021, and had worked previously with the public defender's office in Colorado Springs and as a solo practitioner, according to the press release.

Kane was appointed to be a judge in Colorado's 4th Judicial District Court in 1994 after working as a partner for a civil litigation firm for 17 years, according to the 4th Judicial District Court's website. Kane is set to retire on Jan. 1, 2024.
A Colorado holiday tradition continues thanks to the U.S. Forest Service.

Permits for purchase became available this week to cut your own evergreen tree in the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.

"Whether this is your first time cutting your own Christmas tree or it's been a family tradition for generations, it is a special experience that creates lifelong memories," officials said in the U.S. Forest Service news release.

Permits can be bought online or in person in person between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the ranger office at 601 South Weber St. Click or tap here for more information on other ranger offices.

The Forest Service also offers free permits to any fourth-grade student across the state as part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative.

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"For students to receive a free tree permit, they must present a valid paper voucher printed from the Every Kid Outdoors website," Forest Service officials said.

The Forest Service reminds those participating to bring a printed version of their acquired permit, and a map as cell service can be sparse or unavailable.

"Keep in mind that Forest Service roads are generally not plowed and some roads close seasonally. Handsaws and axes are the only tools allowed - chainsaws are prohibited," officials said, adding to dress in warm layers and to bring a rope to secure the tree to your vehicle once it's cut.

Tree costs range from $10-$20. Maps marking designated cutting areas are available online, along with tips and tricks for selecting and cutting trees.

"Permitted dates and areas vary so it is important to carefully read all the information prior to purchasing," officials said.
The nations highest-ranking Republican, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, brought his Bible to the podium last month as he took the oath of office to become the 56th speaker of the House of Representatives.

He raised his right hand and placed his left hand on his Bible, as he swore to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, bear true faith and allegiance, and faithfully perform the duties of the office.

I do, so help me God, Johnson promised.

An unapologetic evangelical Christian, Johnsons rise to prominence in his election to the post on Oct. 25, following three weeks of partisan division and a leaderless House, has been lauded by conservative Christians and pegged as a concern among Democrats.

In Colorado Springs, religious leaders who oppose or agree with Johnson winning the role say they want to see collaboration instead of dysfunction between the political parties.

Our nation has become so polarized and partisan that Speaker Johnson truly has a tough job ahead of him, said Richard Harris, executive director of the Truth & Liberty Coalition, a 501c(4) social welfare nonprofit and offshoot of Andrew Wommack Ministries, which operates Charis Bible College in Woodland Park. He can and should continually reach out to Democrats to try to find common ground, but he must be true to his convictions at the same time.

Johnson was elected to Congress in 2016 and has been outspoken about his religious beliefs.

Mike Johnson is a strong conservative, but above all else, he is a strong Christian, Rep. Greg Steube of Florida said on X after posting a photo of himself and six other congressmen, including Johnson, who knelt in prayer on the House floor in January, when House members were deadlocked in a vote for the next speaker.

Immediately afterward, 14 members changed their votes, Steube said, which he believes led to Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., being voted speaker in January. His Republican peers ousted him Oct. 3 over budget concessions, which resulted in Johnson taking the helm.

Hes not afraid to look to his faith for guidance, Steube wrote of Johnson.

Johnson, a Southern Baptist and former board member of the policy-making arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nations largest Protestant denomination, told Congress that in as many words.

During his acceptance speech immediately following last months oath of office, the new Speaker Johnson said that he doesnt believe in coincidences.

I believe that Scripture, the Bible, is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you, all of us, Johnson said to his congressional peers.

And I believe that God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment in time, he continued.

I believe each one of us has a huge responsibility today  to use the gifts that God has given us to serve the extraordinary people of this great country, and they deserve it.

That doesnt mean Johnson doesnt know his job, said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, a Colorado Springs-based ministry that promotes traditional Christian values through publications, national radio and internet broadcasts, phone counseling and other programs.

"Mr. Johnson has been advocating for an America governed not by the Bible, but by the Constitution, which gives every U.S. citizen the right to participate in government regardless of their religion, Daly said in an email to The Gazette. "By Gods favor and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, Americans of all faiths  and no faith  are entitled to a voice in the public square.

Daly said hes pulling for Johnson to remain steadfast to the tenets of his faith in his new role.

"Its my hope and prayer that as anti-Christian sentiment grows and antagonists become more aggressive in their actions, that Christian leaders like Mike Johnson will not be bullied, Daly said, but instead freely exercise their rights as citizens and do so as Jesus modeled, full of grace and truth.

Harris of the Truth & Liberty Coalition, which advocates for conservative political candidates from the school board level to Congress, said America was built on principles and adherence to those truths is what has enabled our nation to prosper beyond anything the world has seen before.

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However, he said, We are suffering now because we are abandoning those values. Speaker Johnsons open stance for those values will serve as an important reminder of what we need to do to restore peace, stability and prosperity to this nation.

Critics cite as potentially worrisome Johnsons legal background as an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom.

Founded in 1993 as the Alliance Defense Fund by several nationally prominent evangelical Christian leaders including Focus on the Familys founder, James Dobson, the organization initially raised money for attorneys to defend Christian-related cases.

Today, the nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom employs a team of lawyers who litigate cases involving religious freedom and family issues including abortion and same-sex marriage. High-profile lawsuits have included the 2018 defense of Masterpiece Cakeshop Owner Jack Phillips, who would not make a cake for a potential client in celebration of a same-sex wedding, saying creating such a message was contrary to his beliefs. The organization initially prevailed in defending Phillips, who is now facing additional civil rights and freedom of speech lawsuits.

Johnson worked for Alliance Defending Freedom as full-time senior legal counsel 2002-2010, according to the organization.

Among his cases were advocating for prayer in public schools and at city government meetings. He also promoted a 2004 Louisiana ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage.

While serving at Alliance Defending Freedom, Congressman Mike Johnson defended the rule of law and Americans most cherished liberties, Kristen Waggoner, Alliance Defending Freedoms CEO, president and general counsel, said in a statement to The Gazette.

We congratulate and wish him the best as he continues his service to our nation protecting the Constitution and all Americans foundational freedoms, she said.

The Rev. Lee Ann Bryce, lead minister at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Colorado Springs, said the nations founders deliberately separated church and state, for good reason, pointing to centuries of religious wars in Europe that led many people to flee to America in the 1800s.

It is a tradition that continues to be important to our nations health and safety, Bryce said. I would hope that as speaker, Rep. Johnson will use his position to respect that valued tradition and promote laws and policies that serve all of us as a nation and not just some.

That he will be inclusive rather than exclusive, that he will ensure that everyone  regardless of who they are and what they believe  is able to enjoy the rights and freedoms that are embodied in our shared commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Also in his background, Johnson supported former President Donald Trumps challenges to the 2020 election outcome and organized House Republicans to file an amicus brief in support of the claims, which the U.S. Supreme Court rejected in February and March 2021.

Johnson pledged after his oath to find common ground and restore the peoples faith in this great and essential institution.

Harris said he hopes that happens.

Hopefully, Democrats will put the interests of the nation ahead of partisanship and also work with Speaker Johnson to find common ground," Harris said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., publicly criticized Johnsons voting record in Congress as extreme, as the most extreme members of their conference last month before the vote that ushered him in as speaker.

Jeffries said in an interview with C-SPAN that he wants to see Johnson focus on funding the government in the way of health, safety and economic well-being that meets the needs of the people and stands by Israel and Ukraine, and makes decisions necessary for both country and the free world rather than right-wing ideology.

Harris is optimistic about the changing of the House guard.

In an age when increasing numbers of Americans fear that our nation will succumb to the destructive, corrupt forces of so-called progressive ideology, Speaker Johnsons election is truly a welcome sign of hope, he said.

Said Johnson in his speech last month: The challenge before us is great, but the time for action is now. And I will not let you down.
The Moving Fountain Forward Initiative, approved by voters in 2009, is one step closer to completion after Fountain City Council awarded two contracts to construction companies this month.

City Council unanimously voted to award a construction contract to Native Sun Construction and a project management contract to Wilson & Co. to build Indiana Avenue at its Nov. 14 regular meeting.

Both are Colorado-based companies.

Im very excited to be here tonight, said Fountain Deputy Mayor Todd Evans at the meeting. After 14 years, were here finally.

Indiana Avenue will be built from Colorado 85/87, across the railroad, to Old Pueblo Road. The construction will include a three-way intersection featuring traffic lights. The traffic lights, Evans said, will make turning left at the intersection safer than it currently is with only a stop sign. Evans also said the new road should alleviate congestion at Ohio Street for those heading south before reaching downtown Fountain.

The project was initially approved in 2009, when voters voted yes on a ballot initiative that allowed the city to use sales tax to complete several road repair and construction projects.

Fountain Mayor Sharon Thompson said delays in the project were caused by the time it took the city to collect the sales tax.

The collected sales tax was insufficient in funding the project alone. Evans said that the city sought and secured federal grants to complete the projects.

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When this (project) was looked at in 2009, it was estimated to be a $750 to $1.5 million project, Evans said. Were now looking closer at $5 million. Thats how these projects have increased in costs.

Moving Fountain Forward isnt paying anywhere close to the full funding of this project. Its really the grants. Weve had developers whove had to pay money from the southern end of the city. Thats how were bringing all those funds together to get where were at the point today.

The Indiana Avenue portion of the project will cost $2.281 million, and Evans said construction will begin "as soon as possible."

Evans said that technology at the Ohio Street intersection still has to be completed, which is a separate project with separate funding. However, Thompson said that Indianas completion marks a major milestone toward finishing the initiative.

This is the last intersection we have to complete, she said. Its the last huge piece.  This is the final piece weve been pushing for, for years.

In addition to the Indiana Avenue project, Moving Fountain Forward saw the completion of Link Road railroad crossing improvements; East Ohio Street railroad improvements; Comanche Village railroad improvements, a Duckwood intersection and railroad crossing; and the permanent closure of Mesa Roads railroad closure.

Fountains website currently lists one other facet of the initiative as in progress. That project is the improvements to West Ohio Street, where the railroad has required certain median heights and concrete work for the intersection.
An El Paso County Judge informed the co-owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home on Friday that he is potentially facing more than 250 charges.

Jon Hallford made his first court appearance in El Paso County on Friday for his virtual advisement hearing. Return to Nature Funeral Home owners Jon and Carrie Hallford were arrested earlier this month in Oklahoma after an investigation was opened into a Penrose building connected to the couple in which nearly 200 bodies were found improperly stored in October.

Previous reporting from The Gazette details that law enforcement officials found bodies in the funeral home in "abhorrent conditions," including bodies dating back to 2019 and that "human decomposition fluids and insects lined the floors."

An arrest affidavit for Jon and Carrie Hallford additionally detailed that the couple attempted to flee law enforcement after the raid of the Return to Nature Funeral Home location in Penrose.

At Jon Hallford's virtual advisement Judge Carissa Cruson informed him that she had found probable cause for 190 preliminary counts of abuse of a corpse, 61 counts of forgery and four counts of theft and money laundering.

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The preliminary charges against Jon Hallford could change prior to his first appearance, scheduled for Dec. 5.

The public defender representing Hallford informed Cruson that she would like to reserve bond argument for a later court date. Both Jon and Carie Hallford remain in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $2 million bond each.

At Carie Hallford's virtual advisement hearing on Wednesday a judge denied a request to reduce her $2 million bond. Carie Hallford is also scheduled to make her first appearance on Dec. 5.
By Jeff Mason

NANTUCKET, Mass. (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday that the chances were "real" of a truce between Israel and Hamas being extended and he expressed hope that U.S. citizens taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group would be freed soon.

Biden also praised U.S. diplomacy behind the truce and Friday's release of 24 hostages who were taken by Hamas to Gaza in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, saying it was the start of what he expected would be further releases in coming days.

"Beginning this morning, under a deal reached by extensive U.S. diplomacy, including numerous calls I've made from the Oval Office to leaders across the region, fighting in Gaza will halt for four days," Biden told a press conference.

Asked whether the truce could be extended, Biden said: "I think the chances are real."

Biden declined to speculate about how long the Israel-Hamas war would last. Asked by a reporter what his expectations were, Biden said Israel's goal of eliminating Hamas was a legitimate but difficult mission.

"I don't know how long it will take," Biden told reporters.

"My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can."

Under the terms of the truce, 50 women and children hostages are to be released over four days, in return for 150 Palestinian women and children among thousands of detainees in Israeli jails. Israel says the truce could be extended if more hostages are released at a rate of 10 per day.

Both sides have promised a return to fighting.

Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said in a video message that this was a "temporary truce" and called for an "escalation of the confrontation ... on all resistance fronts", including the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant spoke similarly, calling the pause "short" and saying that at its conclusion "the war (and) fighting will continue with great might."

Israel has retaliated against Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack in which the government says Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized about 240 hostages.

The Israeli military has bombarded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, killing about 14,000 Gazans, around 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The civilian death toll has generated international outcry and protests even in the United States, a staunch ally of Israel.

Biden spoke to reporters on Friday while vacationing with his family on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket.

As Biden and his wife, Jill, walked around Nantucket after his remarks, some in the gathered crowd loudly shouted: "Free Palestine!"

Biden said earlier that he had raised civilian casualties with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I've encouraged the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective," Biden told reporters.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler and Grant McCool)
By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA (Reuters) -A special European Union envoy said on Friday that U.S. sanctions are worsening the human rights situation in Cuba while reiterating the EU's call on the communist-run government to release prisoners detained during mass protests in July of 2021.

EU human rights envoy Eamon Gilmore said bilateral talks with top officials in Havana over two days had broached social and economic rights, but also, civil and political rights such as freedom of expression and the right to assembly, or protest.

Gilmore told reporters the U.S. sanctions on Cuba, which sharply curtail financial transactions, tourism and trade, had clear impacts on Cuba's economy and society.

"It's hurting the human rights situation because it hurts people on the ground. The people who are impacted are ordinary Cuban citizens who have difficulty accessing food, medicines," Gilmore told reporters before departing Havana late on Friday following a packed agenda of meetings.

"That's why the European Union, when we do impose sanctions, we target the sanctions at individuals and entities that abuse human rights, rather than at general populations."

The U.S. says sanctions are necessary to hold the Cuban government accountable for rights violations and that it makes exceptions for humanitarian purposes and programs to support the Cuban people and private sector.

Gilmore said Cuba had made some progress on women's rights and gender equality, but doubled down on the bloc's previous criticisms of Cuba's handling of protests in 2021, the largest since former leader Fidel Castro's 1959 Revolution.

The United States and the European Union have both critiqued Cuba's response to those protests as repressive and heavy-handed. Rights groups say around 1,000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs following the demonstrations and several subsequent protests.

Gilmore, who said he met Cubans ranging from President Miguel Diaz-Canel to relatives of jailed protesters, declined to comment on whether he had discussed a potential prisoner amnesty with Cuban officials.

"I don't want to get into the detail of what we talked about in terms of the prisoners, other than to say the European Union has a long-standing call for the release of prisoners," he told reporters.

Cuba denies it holds political prisoners and says those detained are guilty of assault, vandalism and sedition, among other crimes.

Tensions around the issue flared just days before Gilmore's arrival after a prisoner died this week in Cuba, prompting a rebuke from the U.S. embassy, which said it was "outraged" by the detainee's death.

Gilmore said Cuban officials had provided some details to the EU delegation about the case, adding that there is "an investigation underway and we will know the results in due course."

Gilmore's visit to Cuba, which concluded with a formal dialogue on Friday with top Cuban officials on human rights, is a stipulation of a 2016 political and cooperation agreement between the bloc and the Caribbean island nation.

Gilmore described the European Union's relationship with Cuba as "constructive but critical."

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood, Additional reporting by Alien Fernandez; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
(This Nov. 25 story has been corrected to fix Kuleba's title and first name in paragraph 3)

By Max Hunder

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's capital suffered what officials said was Russia's largest drone attack of the war on Saturday, leaving five people wounded as the rumble of air defences and explosions woke residents at sunrise after a week of intensifying attacks.

Saturday's six-hour air raid, on the day Ukraine commemorates the 1932-33 Holodomor famine that killed several million people, began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours, with more waves coming as the sun rose.

Oleksiy Kuleba, the Ukrainian president's deputy chief of staff, said that over the course of the week, Russia had carried out 911 attacks across the country, killing 19 Ukrainians and wounding 84.

"The enemy is intensifying its attacks, trying to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians," he said in a post on the Telegram messaging app. It was doing so deliberately, "just like 90 years ago, when Russia killed millions of our ancestors," he said.

Ukraine's air force initially said 71 of the 75 drones had been shot down, but subsequently revised the number of downed craft to 74. Its spokesperson said on television that 66 of those had been downed over Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Air force chief Mykola Oleschuk praised the effectiveness of 'mobile fire' units - usually fast pickup trucks with a machine gun or flak cannon mounted on their flatbed. According to him, these downed nearly 40% of the drones.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on the Telegram app, said the attack had injured five people, including an 11-year-old girl, and damaged buildings in districts all across the city.

Fragments from a downed drone had started a fire in a children's nursery, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also pointed out that the attack had come in the early hours of commemorations of the famine, which is recognized by Ukraine and over 30 other countries as a genocide by the Soviet Union, which ruled Ukraine at the time and sought to crush its desire for independence.

"Wilful terror .... The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill," he wrote on Telegram.

Moscow denies the famine deaths were caused by a deliberate genocidal policy and says that Russians and other ethnic groups also suffered.

The target of Saturday's attack was not immediately clear, but Ukraine has warned in recent weeks that Russia will once again wage an aerial campaign to destroy Ukraine's energy system, as it sought to do last winter.

Ukraine's energy ministry said nearly 200 buildings in the capital, including 77 residential ones, had been left without power as a result of the attack.

"It looks like tonight we heard the overture. The prelude to the winter season," Serhiy Fursa, a prominent Ukrainian economist, wrote on Facebook.

(Reporting by Max Hunder and Nick Starkov in Kyiv; Additional reporting by Ron Popeski and Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Alexandra Hudson, Mark Potter and Diane Craft)
By Bassam Masoud and Maayan Lubell

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hamas handed over 13 Israeli hostages and four foreigners to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday night, Qatar's foreign ministry said, after a brief disruption earlier to the deal to free captives was overcome with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.

The Gaza hostage deal was back on track after a temporary delay over a dispute about aid supplies to the north of the besieged enclave.

"13 Israelis and 4 foreigners were received by ICRC and on their way to Rafah," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

TV images showed Red Cross vehicles at Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

A Palestinian official familiar with the diplomacy said Hamas would continue with the four-day truce agreed with Israel, the first break in fighting in seven weeks of war.

Al Ansari earlier said a brief delay and obstacle to the hostage release were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, adding that 39 Palestinian civilians were going to be released in exchange.

Among the Israeli hostages, eight were expected to be children and five others women, Al Ansari said, while the Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons would consist of 33 children and six women.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the hold-up over the hostage deal, Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said. About 3-1/2 hours after their call, the White House learned from the Qataris that the agreement was back on and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was moving to collect the hostages, Watson added.

The armed wing of Hamas had earlier said it was delaying Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel met all truce conditions, including committing to let aid trucks into northern Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan said only 65 of 340 aid trucks that had entered Gaza since Friday had reached northern Gaza, which was "less than half of what Israel agreed on."

Al-Qassam Brigades also said Israel had failed to respect the terms of the Palestinian prisoner releases. Qadura Fares, the Palestinian commissioner for prisoners, said Israel had not released detainees by seniority, as was expected.

Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security cabinet, told Channel 13 News that Israel was "abiding by the deal" with Hamas that Qatar had mediated.

Israel has said 50 trucks with food, water, shelter equipment and medical supplies had deployed to northern Gaza under UN supervision, the first significant aid delivery there since the start of the war.

The brief dispute over the truce raised concerns over the smooth implementation of the hostage deal after 13 Israeli women and children were freed by Hamas on Friday. Some 39 Palestinian women and teenagers were released from Israeli jails.

Israeli army spokesperson Olivier Rafowicz told French television Israel was strictly honouring the terms of the truce, and said the military had carried out no attacks or offensive operations in Gaza on Saturday.

TRUCE EXTENDED?

A total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days under the truce, the first halt in fighting since Hamas fighters rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.

In response to that attack, Israel has vowed to destroy the Hamas militants who run Gaza, raining bombs and shells on the enclave and launching a ground offensive in the north. To date, some 14,800 people, roughly 40% of them children, have been killed, Palestinian health authorities said on Saturday.

Before the delay to the latest hostage and prisoner exchange, Egypt, which controls the Rafah border crossing through which aid supplies have resumed into southern Gaza, said it had received "positive signals" from all parties over a possible truce extension.

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

DANCING FOR JOY

The short-lived row over the truce accord's implementation contrasted with scenes of joy earlier in the day as hostages were reunited with their families.

After almost 50 days in captivity in Gaza, nine-year-old Ohad Munder ran down a hospital corridor in Israel into his father's arms, footage released by the hospital showed.

He and three other children released at the same time were in relatively good condition, Gilat Livni, the centre's Director of Paediatrics told reporters.

"They shared experiences, we were up with them until late at night and it was interesting, upsetting and moving," said Livni.

"I dreamt we came home," said another hostage, four-year-old Raz Asher, as she sat in her father's arms on a hospital bed after she and her mother and younger sister were freed. "Now the dream came true," her father, Yoni, replied.

For Palestinians, however, joy at the release of prisoners from Israeli jails had a bitter tinge to it. Israeli police were seen raiding the home of Sawsan Bkeer on Friday shortly before her daughter Marah, 24, was released. Israeli police declined to comment.

"There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait," said Sawsan Bkeer. "We are still afraid to feel happy," she said.

(Reporting by Bassam Masoud, James Mackenzie, Maayan Lubell, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Adam Makary and Nidal al-Mugrabi; Additional reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk and Ingrid Melander and Jon Boyle; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Matthew Lewis)
Turkiye attracted nearly 5 million foreign visitors in October, a hike of 3.8% from a year earlier, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The figure overtook its pre-pandemic level of 4.3 million foreign tourists in October 2019.

The famed resort city of Antalya on the Turkish Riviera recorded the greatest number of visitors with 1.8 million last month, the Culture and Tourism Ministry figures showed.

Istanbul, Turkiye's largest city by population, saw 1.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in October.

The Aegean province of Mugla and the northwestern province of Edirne, which borders both Bulgaria and Greece, followed with 386,811 and 372,341 foreign visitors, respectively.

Germany took the first place by its share of 17.3%  some 860,635 Germans  with regards to nationalities of foreign visitors over the same period, followed by Russia (13.5%) and the UK (8.9%).

Foreign tourist arrivals see 11.6% annual rise in 10 months

In January-October, foreign tourist arrivals in Turkiye soared 11.6% year-on-year to 44.2 million.

Russia made up the largest chunk of foreign visitors in the ten-month period with 5.8 million arrivals.

They were followed by Germans with 5.7 million visitors and Britons with 3.6 million.

Istanbul welcomed 33.4% of all foreign visitors, or 14.8 million from January to October. Antalya claimed the second place with 32% or 14.1 million tourists. Edirne followed it with a 9.1% share or 4 million visitors.
By Muvija M and Natalie Thomas

LONDON (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London on Saturday to call for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of weekend demonstrations in the capital since the seven-week war began.

Saturday's rally, which involved 45,000 campaigners according to police estimates, took place during a four-day truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the first break in the fighting, but protesters said that was not enough.

"We need full support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza," protester Kate Hudson, 64, told Reuters at the rally as demonstrators carrying signs such as "Ceasefire Now!" and "Stop the War on Gaza" walked along the march route that finished outside the Houses of Parliament.

"It's very welcome that there is a pause ... But this problem needs to be resolved and resolved so that the Palestinians finally have the political settlement that countless U.N. resolutions have enshrined," said Hudson, an anti-war activist.

Police, who were handing out leaflets to warn demonstrators against breaking the law, said they had made 18 arrests as of 1900 GMT, including a man who was spotted carrying a placard with swastikas on and six people who refused to disperse after the march.

"I would like to acknowledge the overwhelming majority who came into London today and exercised their right to protest lawfully," Ade Adelekan, the Metropolitan Police's deputy assistant commissioner said.

"Regrettably, there was still a small minority who believed the law did not apply to them," he added in a statement providing an update on the number of arrests made.

More than 120 protesters were arrested during a march earlier this month, when skirmishes broke out between police and far-right groups who had gathered to protest against the pro-Palestinian demonstration.

A protest against antisemitism is planned in London on Sunday and London's Metropolitan Police said more than 1,500 officers would be on duty over the weekend to handle the two protests.

Former interior minister Suella Braverman was fired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after an unauthorised article in which she had accused police of "double standards" at protests showing support for Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

(Reporting by Muvija M and Natalie Thomas; Editing by Helen Popper and Christina Fincher)
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, announced Friday that he would not seek reelection to his House seat after three terms in office.

In a statement, Phillips said that serving Minnesota in Congress has been the "honor of a lifetime" but that the time had come for him to move on.

GLOOM: CONSUMER SENTIMENT FALLS AND INFLATION EXPECTATIONS RISE

"Seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practice a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people's lives. We have met those moments, and after three terms it is time to pass the torch," the statement said. "The future is very bright, as long as we have the courage and make the choice to seek it. Keep the faith!"

Phillips is running for the Democratic nomination for president against President Joe Biden, citing a need for a new generation of Democrats to take charge and lead the party and, ultimately, the country as his reason for running.

In light of this, Phillips garnered several primary challengers for his House seat, including DNC staffer Ron Harris, who, in a statement, thanked Phillips for his service.

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"As Dean leaves this seat, I'm running to ensure our community has strong and effective Democratic leadership that not only reflects our values but reflects the lived experiences of the people who work and raise their families here," Harris said in a statement. "It's time for a new generation of leadership to take on the apathy and cynicism in our politics, fix what's broken in our system, and stand up for working families."

Phillips is the 31st member of the House to announce they are not seeking reelection and the 13th member this month to announce their retirement.

Original Location: Biden challenger Rep. Dean Phillips announces he is not running for reelection

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President Joe Biden's closest supporters are calling on Democrats to end the debate over whether the party needs an alternative candidate after a former Obama adviser's warnings about the incumbent's 2024 viability.

Biden is facing tremendous uncertainty over his 2024 reelection prospects as recent polls show him trailing former President Donald Trump in a potential presidential faceoff next year. David Axelrod, a Democratic strategist and onetime adviser of former President Barack Obama, has issued a string of warnings about Biden's reelection chances, saying Sunday that there is a "50-50 shot" Biden can win in 2024.

TALKING TURKEY: ARE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS A SCAM OR A STEAL?

Now close allies of Biden, such as former New York Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, are attempting to rally his party back around the president, telling Democratic naysayers of Biden to "pipe down."

Then-Rep. Joseph Crowley speaks at an event. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"We gotta pipe down the moaning and groaning and all the whining. There's too much of that," Crowley, a onetime House Democratic Caucus chairman, told the Hill. "I think that leaches into the psyche of the voters as well. That's got to stop and I think at that point, you'll start to see Biden's numbers improve, certainly amongst Democrats, but I think voter-wide they'll start to improve."

Uncertainty surrounding the president's 2024 prospects comes as he heads into a Democratic primary next year against opponents including Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and author Marianne Williamson. Rumors have also swirled for months that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) could see Biden's slumping polls as a sign to run against him in the primary season, as Biden will already have to grapple with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

Steve Elmendorf, deputy campaign manager for John Kerry's 2004 presidential run, appeared to agree with Crowley, arguing Democrats griping about Biden may only diminish his reelection prospects even further.

"He's running for reelection. People need to understand that. And so as a party, everybody should figure out how do we get him reelected. Like, that's pretty simple," Elmendorf said, according to the outlet. "I'm in the [former Obama campaign managers] Jim Messina, David Plouffe school of 'People need to stop bed-wetting and focus on how to win.'"

Recent polling has shown Trump is leading Biden in five swing states, including an Emerson College poll that showed the former president leading Biden in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

One of the biggest concerns among Democrats disenchanted by Biden is his age, with the president turning 81 on Monday, bringing attention to his status as the oldest person to be the commander in chief.

Biden's support of Israel in its war against Hamas also may weaken him among essential parts of his voting base. Another factor playing into pessimism over a second Biden term is the public's position on economic strains and wars in Europe and the Middle East, according to recent polls.

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Despite Biden's negative trend in the polls, his campaign has argued the current polls don't show the full picture and there is still a long road ahead before the 2024 election. Likewise, the lack of heavyweights in the Democratic primary shows the incumbent is likely to achieve the nomination easily, as Newsom has said publicly he wouldn't attempt a run in the 2024 general race.

"You see days, weeks, months of breathless predictions about how terrible things are gonna be for Joe Biden followed by an Election Day with historic victories," communications director Michael Tyler told reporters earlier this month.

"Time and again, Biden beats expectations," Tyler said, referring to each previous election since Biden unseated Trump in 2020.

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Still, Axelrod has been vocal and cautionary ahead of the election year as Democrats have a narrow lane to float an alternative to take on Trump, who will likely be the GOP nominee, warning that Biden's attitude is reminiscent of Hillary Clinton ahead of her 2016 defeat.

"He thinks he can cheat nature here and it's really risky," Axelrod said of Biden's campaign. "They've got a real problem if they're counting on Trump to win it for them. I remember Hillary doing that, too."

Original Location: Biden loyalists rally around president after former Obama adviser's warnings

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Congressional leaders are aiming to pass urgently needed aid for Ukraine and Israel by the end of the year, legislation that would be paired with several border policy changes required to gain GOP support.

The House and Senate moved quickly to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown last week, but assistance for the war-torn countries was left out. Israel aid has overwhelming support in Congress, but the $105 billion supplemental, requested by the White House, has faced resistance from conservatives over the $61 billion it would provide to Ukraine.

TALKING TURKEY: ARE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS A SCAM OR A STEAL?

That has left the legislation in limbo as the money the United States has already committed to the conflict begins to run out.

Senators on both sides of the aisle believe the supplemental could still be passed if a working group negotiating over the border can come to an agreement. But they view time as short and are working to get the bill to President Joe Biden's desk by Christmas.

"I think it is going to need to have an immigration component if it has any chance of getting done before the end of the year," said one Senate aide. "But when you inject such a hot-button issue like immigration into this, it definitely makes it all a little more difficult."

"If this doesn't get accomplished before the end of the year, it's hard to see a scenario in which all of these priorities get accomplished in the new year," the aide added.

Earlier this month, a working group led by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) released a proposal to enact sweeping changes to immigration law modeled after H.R. 2, House Republicans' signature border bill. The blueprint would attempt to limit immigrants' ability to enter or stay in the country once they are apprehended and would require the president to restart border wall construction.

Democrats have said the parameters of the immigration proposal too closely reflect House Republicans' immigration bill, which has been rejected by most of the party in the upper chamber. But Democrats, seeing Ukraine aid is at risk, have agreed to negotiate more narrow changes to immigration law.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), part of a working group meeting to strike a compromise, said last week that Democrats are engaged in conversation, but there's still "a ways to go."

"We're definitely listening to Republicans, all the Republican concerns, they're hearing our priorities," Murphy told the Washington Examiner as lawmakers prepared to leave town for the Thanksgiving recess. "The fact that we're still talking at 7:30 on a Wednesday night is positive."

Murphy had initially expressed hope that talks could wrap up by the holiday, but it soon became clear that the conversations would drag into the weeks before the Christmas break instead.

"We need to get this all done by the end of the year, before the end of the year, the supplemental," Graham said last week. "I am very supportive of Ukraine, but this is the best chance I've seen to get something real on the border. This is unsustainable."

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Senate GOP leadership insists that Republican support for more funding for Ukraine is dependent on putting in place stricter immigration policies amid growing concerns at the border with Mexico. In part, that's because any deal on Ukraine would need to get through the Republican-led House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is demanding the border policy changes in exchange for further support.

The lower chamber already passed a stand-alone bill to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in funding, but it also included cuts to the IRS that were quickly rejected by Senate Democrats. That has left Israel aid hanging in the balance as senators seek to broker a Ukraine-border deal.

"I think Democrats are going through the stages of grief, and eventually they will get to acceptance that they are not going to get a package absent of a strong border security provision," said Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. "The policy that we put out there was really strong."

The White House released its supplemental request in October, asking for money to hire 1,300 additional Border Patrol agents and 1,600 asylum officers, among other border funding requests. But Republicans have insisted that policy changes are necessary to stem the flow of immigrants at the southern border. Talks are also complicated by a mistrust that the Biden administration would actually implement whatever changes are agreed to.

"We've still got to overcome that foundational hurdle," said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a Republican member of the border working group. "Our members are absolutely calling for something measurable. They don't trust the administration to implement just based on funding provisions. We need provisions that have the effect of law to get them to follow through."

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Tillis, who is supportive of providing funding to both Israel and Ukraine, emphasized time is of the essence when it comes to approving aid to both countries.

"I really don't know how long it will take, but I am very concerned as we're pushing into January and February, and we are reaching a critical point," he said.

Original Location: Congress races to pass aid for Israel and Ukraine before Christmas

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Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted for murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, according to the Associated Press.

The stabbing happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has endured staffing shortages and security lapses. The source who divulged the incident was not allowed to discuss the attack publicly and spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity.

DEMOCRATS FORCED TO RUN THE TABLE ON INCUMBENTS TO KEEP NARROW SENATE MAJORITY

Derek Chauvin (Courtesy of Ramsey County Sheriff's Office / AP)

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was attacked at FCI Tuscon at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday, according to the Associated Press. The agency said it was engaging in "life-saving measures" before the inmate, who wasn't named, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and care.

Chauvin, who is white, was charged with murdering Floyd, who is black, after a viral video surfaced on May 25, 2020, showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck while Floyd struggled to breathe. The incident provoked riots and protests across the country.

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The former police officer recently attempted to have his conviction reconsidered by the Supreme Court, which rejected his appeal without comment last week.

The Washington Examiner contacted the Bureau of Prisons for comment.

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Hamas is set to release 14 Israeli hostages on Saturday as the temporary truce between the two sides enters its second day.

Hamas will release 14 Israeli hostages, but none of the 13 Americans held in captivity are expected to be a part of that group, CNN reported.

ANATOMY OF A DEAL: HOW THE ISRAEL-HAMAS HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS PLAYED OUT

Children participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, near the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Egyptian officials said Hamas was preparing to release 14 Israeli hostages Saturday for 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (AP Photo/ Leo Correa) Leo Correa/AP

In return, Israel will release 42 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement, according to reports.

This is Day Two of a four-day pause in fighting agreed to by Hamas and Israel that will see Hamas release about 50 Israeli hostages and Israel release three Palestinian prisoners for every hostage that's returned.

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On Friday, Hamas released the first group of hostages, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino national.

Hamas is estimated to have taken nearly 240 hostages from its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. This is the first hold on fighting since the invasion.

Original Location: Hamas expected to release 14 Israeli hostages on Saturday

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President Joe Biden does not have confidence in Hamas to "do anything right" but believes the terrorist group is responsive to pressure.

Biden made the remark Friday following Hamas's release of 24 hostages as part of the first phase of an ongoing hostage release operation between Israel and the Gaza-based terrorist organization.

GLOOM: CONSUMER SENTIMENT FALLS AND INFLATION EXPECTATIONS RISE

"I don't trust Hamas to do anything right. I only trust Hamas to respond to pressure," Biden said.

The release of the hostages is part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and the terrorist organization, and while Biden said it was "only a start," he asserted that "so far, it's gone well."

President Joe Biden speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, about hostages freed by Hamas in the first stage of a swap under a four-day ceasefire deal. Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

The president noted that the ceasefire is expected to continue for four days. Under the terms of the deal, Hamas is expected to release 50 hostages in waves from captivity in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners who are being held in Israeli jails.

About three dozen of those prisoners, all women and minors, were released as part of the first wave on Friday.

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"Today's releases are the start of a process," Biden said. "Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families. We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well."

Biden said he did not know what condition the 24 hostages  13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino national  were in. The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli military personnel were accompanying the hostages to hospitals.

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"This is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them," Biden said. "The teddy bears waiting to greet those children at the hospital are a stark reminder of the trauma these children have been through, and at such a very young age. Jill and I ... are keeping them all in our prayers today."

The president also expressed his gratitude for the initial releases, noting they coincided with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Original Location: Joe Biden says Hamas will 'only respond to pressure' following release of 24 hostages

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Vice President Kamala Harris faced backlash after posting a Thanksgiving photo with a gas stove in the background.

Harris posed with her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, seemingly in their kitchen, with the caption: "From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving." But it was the stove, rather than the couple, that took the spotlight due to the Biden administration floating the idea of banning gas stoves because of the chemicals they emit.

TALKING TURKEY: ARE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS A SCAM OR A STEAL?

"Waitthat's a gas stove!" Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded to the photo on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The same kind Dems want to BAN you from owning."

"Everyone loves gas stoves!" Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) wrote. "Stop trying to ban them and just let Americans cook how they please."

"Are they? A) Hypocritical B) That stupid that they didn't realize it," former Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wrote.

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Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. said in January that his agency was weighing a ban on gas stoves due to health hazards. But due to the fallout of Trumka's comments, Consumer Product Safety Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric walked back the remarks, and President Joe Biden has not publicly supported a ban on gas stoves.

But the regulation debate did not end there, especially after Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) made New York the first state to ban natural gas and fossil fuels in new buildings. Republicans moved quickly to prevent a ban, with the House passing a bill in June that wouldn't allow the CPSC to do so. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) removed the sales tax on gas stoves until June 30, 2024.

Biden has allotted $169 million for electric heat pump projects with his emergency authority on the basis of climate change. The president was able to get the funds via the Cold War-era Defense Production Act, marking the first time a president classified climate change as an emergency.

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American Gas Association President and CEO Karen Harbert claimed that the natural gas industry has reduced "60% of the electrical grid's CO2 emissions" and, therefore, should not be interfered with by the president's "misuse of the Defense Production Act."

The United States residential sector makes up 15% of overall natural gas consumption, which includes heating water and spaces, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Original Location: Kamala Harris slammed for Thanksgiving post featuring gas stove

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Several hundred students stormed the hallways of a New York City high school after a teacher was found to have attended a pro-Israel protest, causing the teacher to have to lock herself in an office to avoid the uproarious crowd.

The incident at Hillcrest High School in Queens occurred on Monday after pro-Palestinian students learned the teacher had a photo on social media where she held a sign, saying "I stand with Israel."

BIDEN INSIDERS BRUSH OFF THREAT OF A JOE MANCHIN PRESIDENTIAL RUN

Several social media posts show the large group of students chanting, holding up Palestinian flags, and congregating in the hallway. Other videos posted on social media showed a water fountain ripped out from a hallway, along with damage to the floor of a boys' bathroom.

Students chanted "free Palestine" and called for the teacher to be fired, the New York Post reported. The NYPD eventually broke up the riot and was able to take the teacher out of the school building safely.

In a statement to the outlet, the teacher, who was not named for safety concerns, said she was "shaken to my core by the calls to violence against me."

"I have been a teacher for 23 years in the New York City public school system  for the last seven at Hillcrest High School. I have worked hard to be supportive of our entire student body and an advocate for our community, and was shaken to my core by the calls to violence against me that occurred online and outside my classroom last week," she said. "No one should ever feel unsafe at school  students and teachers alike."

"It's my hope in the days ahead we can find a way to have meaningful discussions about challenging topics with respect for each other's diverse perspectives and shared humanity. Unless we can learn to see each other as people we will never be able to create a safe learning community," she added.

Democratic Councilman Robert Holden and several students at the school believed the rioters were ignorant of the situation in Israel-Gaza, and that contributed to the protest.

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"I don't know why these students are so misinformed, so intolerant and so radicalized. They don't even know the history of the Middle East. They haven't been taught that," Holden said.

"It's evident they're clueless about Middle East history. When did our education system fail so miserably?" he added in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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The incident is the latest pro-Palestinian demonstration that has gone beyond orderly protests, with several incidents in New York City occurring in the weeks since the war between Israel and Hamas began last month.

Protests in Manhattan on Thursday saw about ten people arrested after the New York Public Library was vandalized by protesters.

Original Location: 'Radicalized' students storm pro-Israel teacher's classroom in New York

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) deflected any blame on President Joe Biden for the recent increase in southern border crossings when asked about it Saturday.

Crockett appeared on MSNBC's Velshi, where she was asked about her opinion on former President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Crockett represents the border state of Texas, which has apprehended some 485,700 illegal immigrants since March 2021, according to the office of Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX).

BIDEN INSIDERS BRUSH OFF THREAT OF A JOE MANCHIN PRESIDENTIAL RUN

"I do want to point out that Donald Trump was the one who was actually pushing forward with a Muslim ban," Crockett said. "Donald Trump made it clear he wants to go ahead and re-urge that Muslim ban. So, for those that believe they have issues with President Biden, and I'm not saying that you don't have issues, I'm just saying you should have a few more issues with the person that literally wants to ban Muslims in this country."

Customs and Border Protection saw almost 241,000 immigrants attempt to cross the border at ports of entry in October, which was a decline from September's historic record of almost 270,000. Over 10 million immigrants have reportedly entered the country illegally since Biden took office. It is the most recorded in that amount of time of any administration.

In Texas alone, law enforcement has made over 36,000 criminal arrests of immigrants, with 90% resulting in felony charges. Some 449 million lethal doses of fentanyl have also been recovered by the state's Department of Public Safety and the National Guard in their efforts to secure the border.

"I know that people are frustrated right now because they feel like their cities are being overrun, and this is a federal government problem," Crockett admitted.

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The freshman representative went on to mention Rep. George Santos's (R-NY) words on X (formerly known as Twitter) Spaces Friday night, where he made the point that, "This has been the most ineffective Congress; this House has been the most ineffective in the history of the Congress."

"And it is because we have not passed any bills of consequence," Crockett said. "Including if the Republicans really wanted to fix the immigration, they would be pushing forward with one right now."

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Fellow Texas representatives from the Republican Party have proposed a new border security bill, but they have disagreed with Senate Republicans and Biden over including billions in aid to Ukraine and Israel as part of the legislation.

The House has successfully passed a bill to reduce Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's salary over his handling of recent influxes in immigration. However, it is unlikely to pass the Senate as the chamber is controlled by a Democratic majority. Another attempt to impeach Mayorkas is also in the works within the House.

Original Location: Texas Democrat's excuse for Biden's border crisis: Trump was worse

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President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on the release of hostages from Gaza.

The president's remarks are scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Eastern time from Nantucket, Massachusetts.

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Original Location: WATCH LIVE: Biden delivers remarks on the release of hostages from Gaza

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Jared Polis and other governors around the country have launched a Disagree Better initiative to try to depolarize political debate
Since 1990, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change has held that global warming is due to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO-2) as a result of the burning of fossil fuels.

The media have portrayed the IPCC as a credible scientific organization and as if the IPCCs position on climate change was factual. Neither is true.

But first, a bit of personal history. In 1962, during a lunch break with coworkers, a subject was discussed in which I had already formed a firm position. But then someone presented a viewpoint at odds with my understanding but that made perfect sense.

The lesson I learned was that it is imperative to examine both sides of issues before forming a firm position.

For the past 30-odd years, knowing there were two sides to the global warming issue, I have remained on the fence, as there appeared to be credible scientists and evidence that supported both sides. Recently, with discovering some compelling evidence, I now consider the IPCCs position and some if its supporting scientists as lacking credibility.

Herein I present some of the information that represents the other side of the global warming/climate change issue.

The items listed below can be verified during a search on Google.

Scientists that dispute the IPCCs major positions on climate change:

The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC).

A number of scientists have resigned from the IPCC.

Oct. 16, 2010: Physicist Dr. Harold Lewis wrote a letter of resignation from the American Physical Society.

Oct. 1, 2019: There is no climate emergency, say 500 experts in a letter to the United Nations.

World Climate Declaration: There is no climate emergency (1,600-plus signed the declaration).

Climate models:

Limitation of climate model as predictor of climate change (Note: model results are not factual evidence).

Most climate models have exaggerated global temperatures.

Climate science establishment finally admits some models run too hot.

Testing the CMIP6 GCM simulations vs. surface.

The important climate study you didnt hear about.

Prominent physicists debunking the IPCCs positions:

Nobel winner refutes climate change narrative, points out ignored factor (physicist Dr. John Clauser).

Happer/Lindzen written testimony June 22, 2022, for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Look for William Happer, professor of physics, emeritus, Princeton University) (Quote from page 15: Thus the IPCC SPMs, models, scenarios and other findings provide no reliable scientific evidence there is any climate related risk caused by fossil fuels).

Impacts of climate change

Impact of Climate Change Perception and Reality, Indur M. Goklany

Analysis of the Climategate email

A Case Study in Groupthink (By Christopher Booker, presented to the Global Warming Policy Foundation).

Uncorrected Evidence (UK Parliament). Memorandum submitted by Phillip Bratby (CRU 17).

The Climategate Emails by J. Costella (2010).

If you copy any of the above points into Google, likely you will find many links that support the IPCCs position. You may have to scroll down to find the titles of the entries with the opposing content identified above.

The above highly regarded physicists have reviewed the scientific literature on both side of this issue before taking their positions on climate change. Besides repudiating the UN IPCCs position on climate change, Drs. Happer, Lindzen and Clauser have rejected the positions taken by the Biden administration and all IPCC member nations.

Consider that these scientists have placed their professional reputations on the line. You should ask yourself, What would be their motives and what would they have to gain?
Visit Saint Petersburg recently showcased its latest travel offers to the UAE travel trade during roadshows in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

These events, organised by the Committee for Tourism Development of St Petersburg and the City Tourist Information Bureau, featured engaging B2B meetings, insightful presentations, delightful classical music, and Anna Pavlova dessert masterclasses.

The roadshows brought together 12 representatives from various sectors, including Pulkovo Airport, DMCs, hotels, the Vodokhod river cruise company, and the Faberge museum, allowing them to showcase their programmes and foster direct connections with local counterparts.

In Abu Dhabi, the first day of the roadshow at the Conrad hotel saw participation from over 65 representatives of the local travel sector on October 30. This event coincided with the recent launch of Etihad's daily flight from St Petersburg to Abu Dhabi, enhancing connectivity between the regions.

In Dubai, the St Petersburg event drew over 120 participants from the region's vibrant tourism industry. Discussions covered an array of topics, from Russia's latest e-visa programme to presentations by key players in St Petersburg's travel scene.

Attendees at the roadshow were introduced to St Petersburg's new attractions, classic programs, and the city's evolving tourism landscape. They gained insights into the city's historical landmarks, architectural wonders, event calendar, educational and religious routes, and more. Of particular focus was the facilitation of direct flights to the northern capital.

The attendees included tour operators, professional associations, airlines, MICE event organisers, and specialised media representatives from the Middle East.

This roadshow is an integral part of the comprehensive information campaign led by the citys tourism authorities. Their efforts include participation in travel exhibitions, establishing a Visit Petersburg office in Dubai, and various other marketing initiatives aimed at sustaining interest in St Petersburg as a premier tourist destination, said a statement.

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in St Petersburg among tourists from the Middle East. Discerning guests from this region are attracted by the comfortable hospitality infrastructure of the city on the Neva river - with luxury hotels, first-class restaurants, including those with halal cuisine, parks and many places where you can spend time with your family. In addition, a significant part of the tourist flow from the Gulf countries is made up of business tourists who consider St. Petersburg as one of the key areas of business tourism in Russia.  TradeArabia News Service
The North American president assessed that the humanitarian truce that began this Friday, the 24th, could extend beyond the four days agreed upon in the agreement; 24 people were released

Samuel Corum/EFE/EPA Biden has stated that he expects dozens of hostages to be returned to their families



The President of the United States, Joe Bidendeclared that there is a real possibility that the humanitarian truce that began this Friday, 24th, in Gaza Strip extends beyond the four days agreed upon in the agreement. Today is just the beginning, but so far so good, Biden said in his first public statements following the release of 13 Israeli hostages, ten Thais and one Filipino kidnapped by Hamas as part of the first day of the truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas. Biden said he encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce the number of casualties while trying to eliminate Hamas, which is the legitimate target. I dont know how long this will take. My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world in the region will also be pushing on all sides to end this and end it as quickly as possible, he declared.

In a public address, followed by a brief press conference, Biden recalled that none of the detained Americans were released. In the coming days, we expect dozens of hostages to be returned to their families, said Biden, recalling that the two American women and a four-year-old girl, Abigail, remain among the missing. Biden said he does not know when the release of the Americans, whose health status he does not know, will occur, nor does he know what the list of all the hostages is and when they will be released. My hope and expectation is that it will be soon, he said. The first day of the truce between Israel and Hamas came into force today, after more than a month and a half of war, as part of an agreement to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, all children and women. The ceasefire, which will last four days and could be extended to ten if Hamas hands over more hostages, will also allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. A total of 39 women and children held in Israeli prisons were released, as were the 13 Israeli, ten Thai and one Filipino hostages kidnapped by Hamas, who were taken to Egypt for repatriation to Israel.

*With information from the EFE agency
Bunuel wrote:





(1) 30 students from the junior class attended the session.



(2) 35 male students attended the session.





Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions A joint debating session was attended by 50 students from a certain junior class and a certain senior class. Is the probability that a speaker selected at random from this group of students will be female junior greater than 2/5?(1) 30 students from the junior class attended the session.(2) 35 male students attended the session.

Analyzing the question:

Statement 1:

Statement 2:

Source: We are an NYC based, in-person and online GMAT tutoring and prep company. We are the only GMAT provider in the world to guarantee specific GMAT scores with our flat-fee tutoring packages, or to publish student score increase rates. Our typical new-to-GMAT student score increase rate is 3-9 points per tutoring hour, the fastest in the world. ! Signature Read More

Are there more than 20 students that are female and junior?There are 30 junior students and 20 senior students. We don't know the male vs female breakdown of the 30 junior students so this is insufficient.There are only 15 female students, so there certainly cannot be more than 20 female junior students. Sufficient.Ans: B_________________
Re: Calling all Stern Admitted Applicants 2023 Intake [ #permalink

Hi everyone, this is Harsha. Congratulations to everyone and super excited to meet yall. I too am from India and was wondering if anyone is thinking of negotiating/asking for scholarship? And does anyone know if we can use offers from other competing schools to negotiate it?
Email special events to news@registerbee.com. The deadline is noon Wednesday.

SUNDAY, NOV. 26

PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY: North New Hope Baptist Church will celebrate the 68th pastoral anniversary the Rev. Willard D. Smith during the 11 a.m. worship service. Rev. Danny Wayne, of Scott Zion Baptist Church in Madison Heights, will be guest speaker.

FAMILY & FRIENDS DAY: New Ephesus Missionary Baptist Church, 375 Ephesus Church Road, Semora, North Carolina, will celebrate Family and Friends Day during the 11 a.m. worship service. A memorial service will also be observed during this time. Face masks will be available for anyone attending inside the sanctuary. Worshoppers may also join the services using Facebook Live, by conference call 978-990-5000 access code 197724 or via 107.3FM radio in the church parking lot.

SATURDAY, DEC. 2

CHRISTMAS UNITY TEA AND FASHION SHOW: A Christmas Unity Tea and Fashion Show will be held at the Cherrystone Center in Ringgold from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

FOOD PANTRY: The Union Hall Baptist Church Food and Clothing Ministry, 6861 Strawberry Road, across from the church, will be open from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 2 with food and clothing of all types. For more information, call 434-724-4354 or 434-250-8964.

ONGOING

DIVORCE CARE SEMINAR-SUPPORT GROUP: Group meets at Hillcrest Baptist Church from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays for 13 weeks. For more information, call 434-685-4594.

GRIEFSHARE: GriefShare presented at Bibleway Cathedral, 215 Grant St., will be held every Thursdays through Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. All sessions are free, workbook $20. Facilitators are elder Katherine Harvell and assistant pastor Larry Campbell. For information (434) 793-3340.

Shockoe Missionary Baptist Church, 857 Java Road, Java, hosts a monthly Wellness Walking Ministry from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., meeting every fourth Saturday. All ages are welcome to participate. The Health and Wellness Ministry will meet at 9 a.m. before each walking session. For information, contact Kathy B. Ramsey at 434-251-0379 or atbjrk@gmail.com.

Ascension Lutheran Church, 314 West Main St., worships Sundays at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary and live on Facebook at www.facebook/ascensionlutherandanville.

Mount Vernon United Methodist Church offers in-person services at 10 a.m. each Sunday as well as online worship services every Sunday at mtvernonumc.org or www.facebook.com/MountVernonUMC.

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1172 Franklin Turnpike, will have in-house worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m. Free books available anytime from a Little Free Library located on a post next to the driveway.

Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 406 Gay St., has in-person services at 10 a.m. for hour of power on the first and third Sundays.

North New Hope Baptist Church, 123 Old Piney Forest Road, has resumed in church worship services at 11 a.m. and Sunday school at 9:30 p.m.

Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson St., will hold services in the sanctuary with Sunday school at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 10:30 a.m. Participants are asked to wear a mask and to practice social distancing. The service also will be streamed on Facebook.

Mount Freeman Baptist Church, 2100 Laniers Mill Road, hosts in-person service at 11 a.m. Sunday. There will be no Sunday school.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will livestream worship service at 9 a.m. Sundays in English and noon in Spanish at www.facebook.com/sheartchurch.

Staunton River Baptist Church, Long Island, will hold drive-in services at 10 a.m. each Sunday.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrates Mass every weekend with a vigil Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 9 p.m. Sunday in English and noon in Spanish.

Watson Level Missionary Baptist Church holds Sunday worship services each week at 11 a.m. Because of COVID-19, a face mask is required for all attendees and social distancing is mandatory.

Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 2450 Franklin Turnpike, from 6 to 7 p.m. every Sunday, will hold Ladies Need Encouragement, an hour of worship and prayer. Participants are asked to bring a Bible and practice social distancing. The event is for ages 10 and up with adult supervision. For more information, call 540-907-8836.

Mount Zion Temple, now located at 503 Hughes St., presents The Word Homelitic Institute at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Transportation is provided by calling Bishop David K. Fuller at 434-429-8960.
Michelle Bowerss love of old structures dates back to her childhood.

Whether she was living in Virginia, Florida, Louisiana or West Virginia, where she was born, Bowers never failed to explore the area looking out for aged homes.

We would pile in the back of the pickup truck and find old houses, cemeteries, Bowers, 54, told the Danville Register & Bee during an interview at her home at 842 Grove St.

Now, after raising children and enduring the loss of her sister about nine years ago, Bowers is living her dream of buying up and refurbishing old homes in a city well-supplied with historic residences.

The property, lined with pumpkins along its walkway leading up to the front porch and decorated with scarecrows and chrysanthemums, is one of seven Bowers and Ramsey, 42, own between them in Danville.

The couple lives two blocks away on Jefferson Avenue, but they stay in the Victorian, Italianate-style home on Grove Street about two nights a week.

There, they take care of their two cats, Grover and Lucky, at the two-story, 1875-built home Bowers and Ramsey are remodeling and have furnished with about 30 pieces of Thomas Day furniture.

Grover, a gray female tabby, and Lucky, a male Russian blue, came with the couples properties on Grove Street. Lucky had lived for two years under the home next door at 834 Grove St., where Ramseys business, Ramsey Restoration, is based.

Four of the couples seven homes are on Grove Street, where they bought the four at once from Joe Garrett.

Bowers, who sells ads for old homes on her website, www.theoldhouselife.com, points to the importance of preserving them.

Its part of Americas built history, Danvilles history, Bowers said. The amount of time and effort that went into building them ... each one is unique.

Their Grove Street home is rich in history of its own.

Constructed nearly 150 years ago, the home was first owned by Ashley Davis, a tobacconist. The Davis family included Ashley, his wife and a son and a daughter, Mary Pocahontas Davis. Her grandfather was Confederate Gen. Benjamin William Cabell, a descendant of Pocahontas.

Cabell, who died in 1862 during the Civil War, is buried in Grove Street Cemetery.

After Marys mother died, Mary took ownership of the home and ran it as a boarding house.

Its stories like this one that draw Bowers and Ramsey to Danvilles rich stock of old homes.

We love the history of the houses, the architectural details, Ramsey said.

Italianate-style architecture includes features such as large roof overhangs with corbels, or ornate brackets found beneath the roof. Ramsey likes the arches carved into the front door and the window pediments.

Theres so much value in these houses, Ramsey said. To re-create one today would cost a fortune.

Besides architectural highlights built into the home, there is also at least one other mark from the past left by Mary Davis.

Her name is etched into one of the homes original windows. Supposedly, she had carved her name there with her engagement ring to make sure it was a real diamond.

The home has its original floors and windows, as well as original vintage light fixtures. It also has a spacious, airy kitchen where Bowers would like to add an island and attach a TV room.

In addition to the kitchen, the house needs work on its flooring and bathrooms, they said. Their goal is for the home to include two bathrooms and two bedrooms, Ramsey said.

So far, they have done plaster repair and painting at the home and to restore the original windows, replacing broken glass and glazing.

Their plans are to eventually live in the house.

Out of all of our houses, this is the only one with HVAC, Ramsey said.

The couple has filled the home with 19th-century furniture, including an old dining table lined with chairs made by Thomas Day. Other Day pieces there include settees, rocking chairs and tables.

He liked to use Honduran mahogany, Ramsey said.

Day, a free Black man, was a Milton, North Carolina, cabinet-maker and woodworker who was born in 1801 and died in 1861. The Thomas Day House and Union Tavern, where he lived and worked, is now a museum located in Milton.

Six of the 12 Thomas Day kitchen chairs were bought from Lous Antique Mall and, fortuitously, Ramsey found the other six on Facebook Marketplace for just $130.

Other pieces Ramsey and Bowers have added to the home include a circa- 1820 early Federal sofa, game tables, several bureaus and a bed made by Day.

The couple buys their furnishings from auctions, antique dealers and Facebook Marketplace.

They plan on offering Thomas Day tours at the home. Money raised from the tours will provide money for a college scholarship established, the Wesley Gene Honeycutt Historic Preservation Scholarship. It was established by Bowers, Honeycutts mother, Wende and his sister, Tessa.

My plan is to open this house up every three months for Thomas Day tours to help fund the scholarship and to expand it, Bowers said.

Honeycutt, who died in a car wreck in the summer of 2022, had a passion for historic preservation and had worked for Bowers and Ramsey. He was attending school to study the subject at the time of his death.

The scholarship is open to students planning to attend college. Applicants must write essays on why historic preservation is important and how it has affected them.

The scholarship provided $1,000 each to three students in May, Bowers said.

Of the four homes owned between the couple on Grove Street, Bowers owns 842 and 846, Ramsey owns 834 and they jointly own 805, which is across the street from 842.

Bowerss Facebook and Instagram pages, Old House Life, have more a million followers. There, she posts photos and prices of old homes from across the country.

Its changed my life, she said.

She and Ramsey bought the four homes on Grove Street in January. Bowers knew she wanted the one at 842 Grove St. as soon as she saw it from the outside.

Even without going into the house, I thought, I want that house, Bowers said.

They didnt have time to hesitate. Investors from Greensboro and Raleigh in North Carolina had their eyes on the properties.

Ramsey has had his restoration business for about 20 years, taking it over from his father after he died. Before that, he helped his Dad out in the venture.

I grew up doing restoration, said Ramsey, who grew up in Nelson County and moved to Danville three years ago.

Literally from the time he was born, Ramsey was immersed in old ways, old things.

I was born at home, he said. My father took me to the corner store and weighed me on the post office scale.

Ramsey discovered Danvilles architectural treasures after contacting Sonja Ingram, who was with Preservation Virginia at the time, asking if the group had homes for sale.

She encouraged me to come here, he said.

Though he was hesitant at first, once Ramsey saw the citys supply of historic houses and their owners fixing them up, he knew he had found his new home.

You could see scaffolding up, people working on houses, Ramsey recalled. I said, This is my kind of place.

So many people in Danville, especially the Old West End, are interested in old houses, he pointed out.

Its really just a community of like-minded people who are restoring old houses, he said.

Danville was not only where he found a new home, it was where he found Bowers, as well. First spotting her at Crema & Vine coffee and wine bar, he recognized her and made the first move.

I told her, I know who you are, Ramsey said.

The rest is, well, history.
Behind the sunny yellow painted brick exterior of a home on Jackson Street rests ghosts of the past  though with all the activity there of late, maybe the ghosts havent gotten much of a break.

Arguably the most storied house in all of Lynchburg, the Poston House at 1104 Jackson St., is on the market for $289,000 after an extensive two-year renovation.

You may know it by a different name  the Rocking Cradle House.

Owner Diana Jones had no idea of the tales swirling about her latest project when she purchased the house in May 2021.

I dont know if they like this attention theyve been getting, Jones joked of the ghosts who reportedly roam its halls. I really didnt know the history at all about the house when I purchased it. It wasnt until after the fact that I found out about it.

According to S. Allen Chambers in the book, Lynchburg: An Architectural History, the building history of the story-and-a-half T-shaped brick cottage is rather complex.

But although there have been many additions and alterations, Chambers wrote, the simple, original lines still prevail.

The house was constructed in the early 19th-century. The exact date is unknown, but likely around 1815, according to the nomination form for the Federal Hill Historic District, which was listed as a national historic landmark in 1980.

When Jones purchased the property from a pair of brothers who had inherited it upon the death of their mother, it had stood vacant for the better part of 20 years.

Time had worn down its prominent brick chimney projecting from the front of the house. The old wallpaper curled away from the walls and red carpeting covered the hardwood floors, hiding stains from leaky radiators and roofs. Books, photographs, letters and other remnants of the life once in its walls littered the place.

It looked the part of a haunted house.

***

The tale for which the Poston House is most famous was recorded in William Asbury Christians Lynchburg and Its People, published in 1900.

The Rev. William Smith rented the home in the spring of 1839 while working as a Methodist preacher in the Hill City.

Smith and his wife borrowed a cradle from the Rev. John Early, who would later become Bishop Early, instrumental in organizing the Methodist Episcopal Church.

One morning, the Smiths saw the cradle rock vigorously on its own. According to the account: Dr. Smith moved the cradle from near the fire-place into the middle of the floor, and said: Now Geoffrey (he called the Devil by that name), rock! and he did.

Accounts, as they often do in such ghostly tales, varied but all agreed on the location of the house itself and, until recently, a plaque to that effect sat in the yard.

The house and its spirits also were featured in The Ghosts of Charlottesville and Lynchburg, a book written by L.B. Taylor in 1992. It references the 1937 Works Progress Administration report which said the house is generally known as the house where the cradle rocked.

According to Taylors account, it was called the Poston House after W.C. Poston, who bought the property in 1902. It is impossible to determine who built it, but records indicate it was built in about 1819 by Edmund B. Norvell, or by Thomas Wyatt, before 1813.

Trueheart Poston, son of the man who bought the house in 1902, also gave an account of the rocking cradle story in the WPA report. The tale was roughly the same, with some amendments  such as the cradle was commanded in the name of Beelzebub, and rocked for days.

Other ghost sightings, as told by Poston, include a story about Walter Addison, then editor of The Lynchburg News, the morning edition of the paper before it became The News & Advance. He and his wife were guests in the home. In the early morning hours, Addison said he saw an old woman on the landing, and later would come to find no such woman was living in the house.

Postons account, as outlined in the WPA report, also noted a very vague rumor of a body which drops out of an upstairs dormer.

Another story involved a major in the Confederate Army who lived in the house at one time. When he would overindulge on alcohol, his family would lock him in the dining room, and he would attempt to beat his way out of the room with a poker. According to Poston, it was said at midnight, the doors in the room would all open, whether they were locked or not.

***

Doors no longer separate the dining room from other parts of the house, though ornate hinges covered in a fresh coat of paint hint to that part of the story.

Jones, a small real estate investor, first caught sight of the house in 2021 as she was driving through Federal Hill, looking for apparently abandoned properties she might be able to purchase from owners who may be eager to sell.

Jones, 38, is originally from Madison Heights, and has been living in Alexandria working as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. After more than a decade of flipping houses, shes moved on to providing housing for travel nurses after completing the Poston House.

The first time she visited the home, she said it felt very welcoming despite its rundown appearance. Jones wanted to capture that feeling, working to highlight its historic character while updating its look and essential features.

She began renovations in September 2021, thinking at the time it would take just six months to complete.

The house looks small from the front, despite its 2,438 square feet. It is listed as having four bedrooms and three full bathrooms.

Its super compartmentalized, its not very open, Jones said. I tried to make it a little bit more open without really interfering with a lot of the structure.

Jones said the kitchen was tiny, with a bedroom added onto the back. She demolished the wall leading into the back bedroom and used that space to craft a giant kitchen with ample counter and cabinet space, including a coffee nook with a vein of exposed brick running up one wall.

She also added space to one of the first floor bathrooms by harvesting a closet. In this bathroom, she added a black and gold clawfoot tub lit by a black candle chandelier.

Those are the only two rooms that really got expanded, Jones said. ... Other than that I tried to keep as much of the original features as possible without really disrupting the character.

Jones ran into some issues with the large chimney protruding from the front of the house. Weather and time had caused the bricks to deteriorate and water was coming inside. Jones ended up having to replace about a third of that prominent chimney but could not match the brick color. Many Hill City homes of that vintage were built from bricks made of the Virginia red clay dug up in the construction of the home.

It was that mismatch that led Jones to paint the house its current sunny yellow.

Its actually really sound, Jones said. I mean, no foundation issues.  It has good bones.

Jones said installing the HVAC systems was challenging in a home that never was designed for duct work. It has two units, one controlling the upstairs and another for the first floor. It took a bit of creativity to find a place for the units and to hide the duct work.

Some of the items left behind by the prior owners she tried to save and use as design elements in the home, including that black chandelier. A cabinet found in one of the upstairs bedrooms turned into the vanity in one of the first floor bathrooms.

Jones found a cradle tucked in the cellar around the side of the house during the renovations, but its not the one of the legend, which now resides in the Lynchburg Museum. Siblings Tom Jackson and Joan Coleman, both of Lynchburg, the great-great-great-grandchildren of the cradles original owner, donated the piece to the museum in 2021.

Jones herself doesnt have any tales of the supernatural in her time spent at the Rocking Cradle House. The creepiest thing to happen was a large black bird that had forced its way through a narrow opening in the fireplace and began flapping its way around the house.

The contractor managed to catch the unruly intruder. He told her, though, of hearing a child crying upstairs who sounded to be a boy younger than 10 years old.

Jones hasnt heard anything strange herself.

In the two years of renovation, Jones has noticed more of the historic homes in the neighborhood getting new life. The Poston Houses neighbor, though, still stands with a partially collapsed exterior wall providing a stark contrast to its new sunny facade.

Jones has high hopes for the storied home.

Im hoping that the history, of course, is going to be preserved and maybe someone could do something a little bit more creative with it, she said, noting some have mentioned using the property as an Airbnb or as a museum.

Ultimately she wants someone to fall for its charms just as she did.
Moving to Helena in 2006, we noticed more people with dogs.

Now, we have two, a white Swiss shepherd, LAbri, and a collie, Skye.

Montanans understand the first half of Proverbs 12:10: Whoever is righteous has regard for (Hebrew, yada, to care for/to know intimately) the life of his beast  Regard is a helpful translation. Re intensifies gard  to really see  to really guard.

In Psalm 103, David discloses a deeper relationship: As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows (yada) our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (vv.13,14) Dust!

Pretty humbling! Still, the LORD transformed dust by breathing life and his image into Adam.

And more: The Lords compassion is on all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9) Compassion comes from the pregnant bonding noun, womb. Wow!

Such bonding comes alive in the story of two prostitutes. Once, a prostitute accidentally smothered her baby. She secretly exchanged her dead baby with a nearby prostitutes living baby. Upon discovery, the horrified living babys mother appealed to King Solomon. He asked for a sword to cut the baby in two, proposing to give half to each mother.

The mothers instantaneous response clarified everything. Deeply moved out of love (womb-like/bonding love) for her son, the woman whose son was alive pleaded, Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Dont kill him! But the other said, Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two! Solomon awarded the baby to the real mother. All Israel stood in awe of the king. Gods wisdom was in him to do justice. (1 Kings 3:28)

Gods compassion/tender mercies/womb-like love is most often described by great (11x). In magnitude, extent, number and intensity, especially, in Christ, his mercies are great. Hallelujah!

Now, we proceed to Proverbs 12:10b: But the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Mercy is actually womb-like love! What?! A wicked person can transform womb-like love into cruelty?! Yes!

This prayer summarizes the Bibles description of the source of our cruelty: "Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper, born in my birth, alive in my life, strong in my character, dominating my faculties following me as a shadow, intermingling with my every thought, my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul." (Valley of Vision, p. 75)

Still, much evil is masked. Our wicked self-preservation/self-promotion can render even those close to us non-persons. Truth becomes hate-speech. Tender-mercies become cruel.

Consider Montanas 2023 Legislature approving a bill forbidding abortionists from dismembering a baby being aborted. During debate, those accustomed to promoting only womens rights had to regard (yada) babies. Lacerating/hacking procedures are cruel.

Likewise, from the 1930s -1950s, hoodwinked mental health advocates mangled the brains of roughly 60,000 in the U.S. and Europe through lobotomies. By 1950, Soviets(!) banned lobotomies as "contrary to the principles of humanity."

Today, bullied/bulldozed/brutalized by so-called best-practices-gender-affirming-care, many approve maiming body parts. In debating a Montana bill opposing gender affirming care, some senators were offended not by the reality of such amputations but by fellow senators using amputate to describe transgender surgeries!

Whats going on? God is allowing more evil to be seen. Scripture reveals: We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Thus, even as we resist such powers, we can sorrow for instead of demonizing those caught up in these powers.

Those secluded from God harm themselves/others. Counter-intuitively, A man who is kind (hesed, Gods steadfast-lovingkindness) benefits himself (his soul), but a cruel man hurts himself (his flesh). (Prov 11:17)

For example, night and day among the tombs and on the mountains (the Gerasene) was always crying out, cutting (katakopto) himself with stones. (Mark 5:5)

Kopto is drastic: to cut; be struck, being cut off." Kata intensifies our already severe word. Katakopto is I cut up, cut in pieces, mangle, wound. More deadly!

Still, Jesus intentionally sought the demon-motivated-self-mutilating Gerasene. After relocating the Gerasenes demons into a herd of cliff-jumping pigs, Jesus charged this restored man: Go home to your friends. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you, how he has had mercy on you.

And, friend, what mercies will de-transitioned people declare?

Today, an elite approves those who have themselves cut to fulfill destructive transgender desires. Such desecrations treats a sacred person or place violently.

Eventually, some will awaken to their desecration.

Devastated by such vandalism/mayhem, who will they call to account as complicit, duplicitous accomplices? Certainly, some insurance companies, hospitals, and doctors will be liable. And perhaps even some churches, paraplegics of virtue, by furthering the deception, covering up wicked/cruel practices, will be liable for giving a veneer of respectability.

God, help us. Soon we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10) Unrepented, wicked acts we have performed with or upon our bodies will be exposed and damned.

Peter admonishes those redeemed by Christ: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions (epithumia) of your former ignorance (agnostic ways), but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Friend, beware. Epithumia/passions inspired by our natural ungodliness usually mean trouble. Epithumia is used thirty-eight times in the New Testament. But only three uses positively advance Gods kingdom. Beware of false passions demanding others affirm such appetites. What you really need may be utterly foreign from what you want.

Nevertheless, faith, bought by Christ on the cross for many, transforms deep epithumia passions into the whole-hearted pursuit of loving God and neighbor as well as caring for creation.

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Aha.
The Broadwater County Sheriff's Office and Montana Highway Patrol said David Ruymen, 54, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was struck and killed about 4:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 287 at milepost 95 south of Townsend. The MHP report stated the man "was walking northbound in the middle of U.S. Highway 287 when he was struck by a vehicle."
STEWARDSON  Nola Schultz and her daughter-in-law, Mikaela, who are part of a farm family that's history stretches back generations in southeast Shelby County, recently added a new title to their resumes  shopkeepers.

The two of them opened Schultz Country Market this fall at 2885 E. 300 North Road, just east of Illinois 32, in rural Stewardson. This new shop is located on the family farm, which produces the beef and pork that is sold in the freezer cases there and the fresh eggs in the cooler.

Nola Schultz said they had been thinking about opening a retail market for a couple of years and this idea became a reality after her husband, Brian, and her son, Austin (Mikaela's husband), constructed their shop building.

"We started this shop to help diversify our farm, but we also want to be an asset to the community," Nola Schultz said.

With that goal in mind, the Schultzes have stocked a small selection of fresh produce to help fill the grocery store void in their hometown. Shelves at the market have been filled recently with onions and sweet potatoes, while the cooler case contained a variety of greens. They have worked with a produce distributor in Taylorville, the Regenerative Life Farm in Findlay, and other suppliers.

Nola Schultz said they have turned to Beachy's Bulk Foods in Arthur for wholesale items such as dried noodles and to the Central Illinois Bakehouse in Champaign for baked goods, including a croissant/doughnut pastry that is available on Saturdays.

"They are delicious. They are just light, really layered and full of flavor," Nola Schultz said.

To stock their market, she and daughter-in-law said they have tried to use products from as close to this area of east Central Illinois as possible to help support fellow small businesses. These items have included Tessa's Raw Honey from Stewardson, Squatter's Knob BBQ from Toledo, and Nada's Salsa from Toledo.

"Shopping local is what keeps our communities growing," Mikaela Schultz said.

The Schultz family's locally raised beef and pork is available in a wide variety of cuts at the market. Mikaela Schultz said this selection ranges from rope sausage, pork burgers and barbecue stuffed porkchops to hamburger, steaks and beef roasts. She added that all of the beef and pork is frozen and vacuum sealed, so it can last 18 months in a home freezer.

In addition to the fresh eggs from Nola Schultz's moveable coops, she also offers prepared Cornish cross chickens in season from May to October.

Both women said they have enjoyed getting to visit with their customers this fall and get to know them. Mikaela Schultz said it has been fun to help them select beef or pork from the freezer case and know it would be their supper that night.

"I just think that it's really neat to have that direct consumer relationship with our customers," Mikaela Schultz said.

Nola Schultz said they also enjoyed hosting a visit by a local 4-H Cloverbud group for young children last week to the market and the farm. She said they plan to host other tours for youth programs in the future to help participants learn about where their food originates.

Her grandchildren also have been visiting recently. Nola Schultz said she has enjoyed seeing this next generation of her family lending a hand with the market and the farm.

"We just want to continue that work ethic with our grandchildren as we watch them grow," Nola Schultz said.
BLOOMINGTON  A Macon County man is facing drug and domestic battery charges in McLean County.

Dane B. Belton, 38, was charged Wednesday with one count of possession of between 5 and 15 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony, and domestic battery causing bodily harm, a Class A domestic violence charge.

According to prosecutors, a relative of the alleged victim in this case informed police on Wednesday that Belton had hit the victim in the face.

Prosecutors said the victim confirmed that Belton did strike them in the face.

Belton was paroled from the Illinois Department of Corrections Nov. 6 and was on mandatory supervised release at the time of this incident.

The court ordered that Belton be detained for violating the terms of his release.

Belton will appear next in court at 9 a.m. Dec. 15.

A booking photo and Belton's city of residence were not available Friday.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has taken steps to address financing, sustainable and inclusive tourism ahead of COP28 that will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023 at the Expo City, Dubai.

Tourism Financing

UNWTO, in joint collaboration with NOAH Regen, has taken a further step forward in rethinking tourism financing with the launch of the UN NetZero Facility and Re-Planet Capital Fund Ecosystem. The launch of the facility on November 14, 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, marked a pivotal moment in the global campaign against climate change following the adoption of the Paris Agreement by 196 parties.

Sustainable Tourism Observatories

Members of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) met at UNWTO's headquarters to exchange insights on the importance of governance, participatory approaches and timely data in advancing sustainability in destinations.

Effective Communication

UNWTO gathered tourism officials and communications specialists of 20 countries from across Africa to explore ways to deliver more effective tourism communications and showcase the sector's role as a pillar of development.

Human Resource Development

UNWTO welcomed high-level officials from the tourism administrations of 19 countries as it put the focus on navigating human resource development challenges in tourism in a post-pandemic world.

Accessible Tourism

The UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism was held for a second time in San Marino (November 16-17, 2023), powered by the Ministry of Tourism of Italy and in partnership with the European Accessibility Resource Centre  AccessibleEU, a flagship initiative of the European Commission. Out of it came the San Marino Agenda, a clean action plan for disability inclusion in every part of the tourism sector

Telefonica-UNWTO Join Forces

Telefonica and UNWTO will partner to promote digital, sustainable and inclusive tourism  a partnership that will run until 2026 and focus on digital entrepreneurship, innovation, application of new technologies (big data, artificial intelligence, etc) and talent development.

Qatar Tourism Awards

The inaugural Qatar Tourism Awards, developed in partnership with UNWTO, focused on three principal categories: Service Excellence, Cultural Experiences and Smart Solutions. The Community Contribution Award was a surprise category announced during the awards ceremony, recognising individual community members who have gone above and beyond to display hospitality and provide exemplary services to visitors.  TradeArabia News Service
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.  A Blountville man is behind bars awaiting extradition to Florida on charges sexual exploitation of a minor.

Acting on information regarding the possible location of a missing juvenile from Florida, Sullivan County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to an address early Monday morning on Boozy Creek Road in Blountville, according to a written statement.

The juvenile, a 14-year-old female, was reported missing from Marion County, Florida on Nov. 19. Deputies located her and made contact with a male at the residence, Wesley Hurd, age 29, of Boozy Creek Road.

An investigation began and Wesley Hurd was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Preliminary information suggests that Hurd met the 14-year-old online, according to the statement.

Hurd was arrested and transported to the Sullivan County Jail where he awaits extradition to Marion County, Florida to answer to charges there.
CONCORD  Wreaths Across America is again coming to Cabarrus County. National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) announces that again this year Oakwood Cemetery in Concord will be joining in the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, as an official location for 2023.

Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nations fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the sacrifices made for us to live freely. This year, there will be more than 3,700 participating locations placing veterans wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day  Saturday, Dec. 16  with more than two million volunteers coming together.

Wreaths will be placed on Cabarrus County veterans graves on Saturday, Dec. 16, with a ceremony beginning at noon, followed by placing of the wreaths. Please help Remember and Honor the veterans at Oakwood Cemetery by sponsoring one of the 1,600 wreaths needed.

The goal is to raise enough funds to place 1,600 sponsored veterans wreaths on the headstones of all the local heroes laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery, to ensure that the individuals who served to protect the freedoms of our country never be forgotten and to bring the community together in patriotic commemoration.

You and your family are invited to support this effort to honor our local veterans by:

Sponsoring wreaths by Tuesday, Nov 28, to help provide the 1,600 wreaths needed to remember and honor the veterans at Oakwood Cemetery.

Helping place wreaths at Oakwood Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16, beginning at noon.

Helping pick up wreaths on Saturday, Jan. 27, beginning at 10 a.m.

Sponsoring wreaths or volunteer to help by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/NC0329.

Have a question? Email wreathsacrossamericaoakwood@gmail.com.

We are forever grateful for the thousands of supporters who dedicate their time and effort to fulfilling our mission all year long, said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. These individuals and their communities know the value of remembering the fallen, honoring those who currently serve and teaching the next generation about the sacrifices made for our freedom every day, and without their continued support, Wreaths Across America would not exist.

National Wreaths Across America Day is a free community event open to all people.

All Wreaths Across America Day events are nonpolitical/nonreligious events, open to all people.

Wreaths Across America at Oakwood Cemetery is being coordinated by Cabarrus Black Boys Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
The N.C. Attorney Generals Office has filed a complaint against Flowers Flooring Inc., alleging that the company defrauded its customers by using deceptive business practices.

The attorney generals office also is asking the Wake Superior Court to issue a preliminary injunction against the company, according to the complaint. The business operated a store on West First Street in Winston-Salem.

The Cornelius-based company is accused of accepting payment from customers for materials that were never delivered or floor installations that were not started or completed, the attorney generals office said.

People work hard for their money, and home renovations are expensive, Attorney General Josh Stein said. Im taking Flowers Flooring to court for failing to deliver on its promises and so they cant take advantage of any more North Carolinians.

Jeremy William Flowers of Mooresville, the companys manager, couldnt be reached for comment.

The N.C. Department of Justice has received more than 80 consumer complaints against Flowers Flooring for their allegedly unlawful practices, the attorney generals office said. The filing contains an affidavit from a Forsyth County woman who was a victim of the companys alleged fraudulent actions.

The attorney generals office repeatedly notified Flowers Flooring officials about these complaints, but the company failed to provide substantive response to these communications, the complaint said.

The attorney generals office filed a 14-page legal action against the company in Wake Superior Court in Raleigh. The attorney generals office says that Flowers Flooring violated that states Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

(Flowers Flooring) was deceptive in its dealings with consumers, the complaint said.

Flowers Flooring operated a residential flooring company from stores in Winston-Salem and Cornelius in northern Mecklenburg County, according to the complaint.

The company accepted customers down payments for materials that were never delivered and flooring installation that was never performed, according to the complaint.

The company had contracts with at least 73 consumers, and it falsely promised to complete flooring installation projects, requiring that consumers pay a deposit for about half the projects cost for materials in advance of flooring installation, the complaint said.

After securing the advance from the consumer, (the) defendant either failed to provide the materials and/or performed no work, the complaint said. When consumers contacted the company to request status updates on installation dates, they were told materials were on back order from the supplier.

Some consumers requested refunds while others were told by the company that refunds, would be issued, the complaint said. (The) defendant ultimately failed to complete work or issue refunds, and unlawfully retained approximately $400,000 in consumer advances and deposits.

Rachel Marie-Crane Williams of Clemmons signed a contract for a flooring project for her home, consisting of carpet for two stairwells, flooring for the living room and flooring for the basement on Feb. 19, according to the complaint.

Williams declined to comment further about her dealings with Flowers Flooring.

Williams prepaid $3,721 on Feb. 16 and $2,425 on Feb. 17 for the materials and services, the complaint said.

The company told Williams that an initial estimate for completion was three to four weeks, but no later than 30 days from the date of her contract, which would have been March 21.

The company installed the vinyl flooring in the basement on April 20, the complaint said. Several months went by without the rest of her project being completed.

Each time Williams contacted the company she was told that the materials ordered were not in stock or on back order, according to the complaint.

On May 31, Williams cancelled the remainder of the contract and asked for a refund of the remainder of her deposit, the complaint said. The company agreed to refund the remaining deposit and told Williams that it would take 30 days to process.

The company never refunded Williams deposit, the complaint said. Williams hired another flooring company and selected the exact same materials that she had ordered from Flowers Flooring, with the new company completing the work within two weeks.

(Flowers Floorings) acts, practices, misrepresentations and omissions have harmed consumers by causing them to incur costs and delays in attempting to have repairs made to their homes and property, the complaint said.

The company, which was incorporated in 2013, operated until mid-August when Flowers Flooring shut down its website, closed its stores and ceased communications with its customers, the complaint said.
Services

Ardmore Baptist Church, 501 Miller St., Winston-Salem, will have services at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Newly ordained deacons will share their testimonies at both services. The 10:45 service will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook. Information about All Together Ardmore and upcoming Advent celebrations are available on the church website. For more information, go to www.ardmorebaptist.org.

Mount Carmel Methodist Church, 4265 Ebert Road, Winston-Salem, will have worship at 10 a.m. Sunday. Sunday school is at 8:45 and childrens church starts at 9:30 a.m. There will be a New Beginnings dinner church for all ages from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Everyone is invited for a free meal, a message and music in the church fellowship hall.

Green Street United Methodist Church, 639 S. Green St., Winston-Salem, will have an in-person service at 8:45 a.m. Sunday. The 11 a.m. service is held in-person and is streamed online via Facebook and YouTube and is a blended service featuring jazz and blues musicians as well as hymns, spirituals and elements of social gospel. The 8:45 a.m. service is a quiet, contemplative space including prayer, scripture, preaching and communion. Masks are optional in the building for services with some exceptions. For more information, go to www.greenstreetumc.org.

New Unity Missionary Baptist Church, 2946 Ivy Ave., Winston-Salem, invites you to join Pastor Willie Davidson and the New Unity Church Family each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. for in-person worship service. Let us praise the Lord together. Masks are available.

Trinity Methodist Church, 3819 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, invites you to worship at 10 a.m. each Sunday. The Rev. Doug Miller is the lead pastor ordained in the Global Methodist Church. During worship there will be special music, busy bags for children, and prayers for the community and our congregation. There are two Sunday school classes for adults. One is at 9 a.m. and the other is at 11 a.m. You are invited to the Connection Cafe which consists of light refreshments and coffee at 9:15 a.m. in the fellowship hall. For more information, call the church office at 336-765-0150.

First Baptist Church  East, 700 N. Highland Ave., Winston-Salem, will have a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor A. Ray Campbell, the interim pastor, will deliver the message. The service is available on Facebook and YouTube. For more information, go to fbcwinston.org.

Parkway United Church of Christ, 1465 Irving St., Winston-Salem, worships at 11 a.m. Sunday. The sermon series on Touchstones for Building Trustworthy Community will continue. For more information, go to www.parkwayunited.org, or call 336-723-1395.

Lewisville United Methodist Church, 6290 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, will have contemporary worship at 9 a.m. Sunday in the fellowship hall. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. and traditional worship is in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. For more information, go to lewisvilleumc.org.

Unity Moravian Church, 8300 Concord Church Road, Lewisville, will have adult Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship service at 11 Sunday. The service at 11 is in-person and live streamed. A nursery is provided. Childrens church is offered during the worship service. For more information, go to www.unitymoravianchurch.org or call 336-945-3801.

Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, 3543 Robinhood Road, Winston-Salem, offers two Sunday services: 9 a.m. modern worship in the Alspaugh Worship Center, and 11 a.m. traditional worship in the sanctuary. Both services are available online at http://youtube.com/MountTaborUMCVideoStreaming and the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Facebook page. For more information, visit www.mttaborumc.org or call 336-765-5561.

Winston-Salem Friends Meeting, Quaker church, meets at Fairview Moravian Church, 6550 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem. Sunday morning live services begin with Unprogrammed (silent) Worship at 9:15, First-Day (Sunday) school for adults at 9:30, and Meeting for Worship at 10:30. David Teague will bring the message Sunday. We are a community of seekers who meet together to worship God. We seek to express our faith through action, focusing on peace and social justice. We seek to find the Light of God in ourselves and in others. We seek to treat all persons with equality and integrity. For more information, email mary.simmons51@icloud.com.

New Philadelphia Moravian Church, 4440 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, will meet in-person at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday and will live stream its 9:30 service on Face-book.com/newphiladelphiamoravianchurch. You do not need a Facebook account to view the service. If you are unable to view the live stream, a recorded version is on the churchs YouTube page.

Ardmore United Methodist Church, 630 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, has a traditional service at 10 a.m. and a contemporary service at 11:15 Sunday. The Rev. Bob Kerr and the Rev. Katy Medinas Lockley welcome all and lead the worship service. A special family worship for children is held inside. Services are streamed on YouTube. For more information, go to ardmoreumc.org or call the office at 336-723-3695.

Lewisville Baptist Church, 125 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, Lewisville, invites all to celebrate Jesus Christ at 10 a.m. Sundays. Services are live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. There will be midweek activities for all ages at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, go to lewisvillebaptist.com.

Kingswood Church, 6840 University Parkway, Rural Hall, welcomes all to their Sunday services. Sunday school for all ages begins at 10 a.m. The traditional worship service begins at 11 and is led by the Rev. Mark Muckler. Weekly worship services, and other ministry related events, are also available online on the Kingswood Facebook page. For more information, call the church at 336-969-5437.

Olivet Moravian Church, 2205 Olivet Church Road, Winston-Salem, will have Sunday school at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall and an inside worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. The worship service will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. For more information, call the church office at 336-924-8063.

Salem Creek Friends Meeting (Quakers) meets in the parsonage of Fries Memorial Moravian Church, 271 N. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem. The unprogrammed meeting for worship starts at 10 a.m. each Sunday. For more information, email clerk@salemcreekfriends.org.

Burkhead United Methodist Church, 5250 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, invites you for worship at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Sunday school classes begin at 9:15 and 9:30. The service is also available on the website and the Facebook page. For more information, go to www.burkheadumc.org or call 336-765-6590, ext. 3.

Konnoak Hills Moravian Church, 3401 Konnoak Drive, Winston-Salem, will have a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. The church receives a drive-thru food offering for Sunnyside Ministry each Sunday. Drop off non-perishable donations from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Primary needs are canned vegetables, crackers, pasta, rice, cereal, dry/powdered milk and bread. For more information, call 336-788-9321.

Union United Methodist Church, 8935 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, will have a Sunday worship service at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday school at 10:45. For those who cannot worship in person, the service is live streamed and archived on Facebook. Live and archived services may also be viewed on the churchs website, unionumclewisville.org.

Clemmons First Baptist Church, 3530 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, will have Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. There will be an in-person worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. David Pace will bring the message. The service will also be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. For more information, call 336-766-6486 or go to cfbctoday.org.

First Waughtown Baptist Church, 838 Moravia St., Winston-Salem, doors will open at 8 a.m. for Sunday school at 8:15 a.m. This weeks lesson is Freedom to Edify (Scriptural Reference  I Corinthians 10:23-31). The worship service begins at 9:45 with devotion and announcements. Senior Pastor Dennis W. Bishop will continue the Visions series focusing on Evangelism. Philippians 3:12-16 is the base scripture with Matthew 28-18-20 as supplementary scripture. Masks are optional. Services are posted on YouTube, www.youtube.com (First Waughtown); Facebook, www.facebook.com/FirstWaughtown/; and the First Waughtown website, www.firstwaughtown.org. Services posted online are a one-week delay.

Home Moravian Church, 529 S. Church St., Winston-Salem, will have in-person and live stream worship at 10 a.m. Sunday. Bible discussion via Zoom and in-person will be held after the service using the adult programing link on the churchs website.

Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 1905 N. Jackson Ave., Winston-Salem, there will be Sunday school Bible study at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 11 a.m. Sunday. COVID guidelines are followed and masks are worn. Paul W. Hart is the pastor.

Pfafftown Christian Church, 3323 Transou Road, Pfafftown, invites everyone to worship in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. each Sunday. The Rev. Rodney Stilwell is the pastor, and the Rev. Timothy Shoaf is the minister of Music and Programs. Other events and ministries are listed online at www.pfafftownchristian.org. For more information, call 336-692-5214 or the church office at 336-924-9925.

New Friendship Baptist Church, 4258 Old Lexington Road, Winston-Salem, will have Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. A morning worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call the church office at 336-788-3112.

Clemmons Presbyterian Church, 3930 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, invites you to worship at 10 a.m. Sunday. Kaylee Godfrey Hilston, the director of youth and Christian education will bring the morning message. The service will be in-person and live streamed on YouTube at youtube.com/ClemmonsPresbyterianChurch. For more information, go to www.clemmonspresbyterian.org or call 336-766-4631.

First Baptist Church of Stanleyville, 851 Ziglar Road, Winston-Salem, will have Sunday services at 8:45, 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. On Wednesday, a prayer and worship service is at 6:30 p.m. and Children in Action and Mission Friends are at 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.stanleyvillebaptist.com.

Rural Hall Christian Church, 280 Bethania-Rural Hall Road, Rural Hall, will hold the following in-person services on Sundays: The BLEND at 10 a.m. with Christian classes for all ages and congregational worship at 11 a.m. Youth ministries will continue at 6 p.m. Sundays, unless otherwise announced. For more information, go to RuralHallChurch.org and the churchs social media pages.

Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 1200 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, Lewisville, will have a service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. It will be in-person and live streamed on YouTube. For more information, go to www.spcnc.org or call 336-766-3178.

Forsyth Park Baptist Church, 1600 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, has Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and a traditional worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday. Bible study is at 11 a.m. Thursday. The service can also be seen on the churchs Facebook page and a video of the service is available at https://forsythparkbaptistchurch.com. Bill Horton is the pastor.

Central Tabernacle Church, 715 Waughtown St., Winston-Salem, invites you to worship Sunday. Refreshments will be served during hospitality time at 9:30 a.m. Sunday school begins at 10. Morning worship and Junior Church begin at 11. Pastor Sandra Bovender will have the message Sunday.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4055 Robinhood Road, Winston-Salem, the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday will be held in-person, and also livestreamed at uufws.org/virtualworshipservice. Sundays topic will be Harvesting Gratitude: Cultivating a Spirit of Giving. Our Fellowship members share their experiences regarding the joys of giving, exploring generosity as a spiritual discipline, and discovering how cultivating gratitude can serve as a source of inspiration for acts of kindness. There will be no Forum Sunday. For more information, go to www.uufws.org.

St. Philips Moravian Church, 911 S. Church St., Winston-Salem, is worshipping regularly in the brick church in Old Salem at 11 a.m. Sundays. All are welcome for traditional Moravian worship in the historically African American church.

Union Cross Baptist Church, 4350 High Point Road, Kernersville, invites you to Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and morning worship led by the Rev. Adam Woods at 11 a.m. each Sunday.

Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, 4950 Warner Road, Pfafftown, will have services at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. The topic at 11 a.m. will be Discovering the Beautiful Son of God, based on the Gospel of John. The topic at 5 p.m. will be Unusual Things in the Bible. There will be Bible study at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The topic will be Doing the 52, studying 52 chapters, 52 verses, in 52 weeks. For more information, go to BFBCnow.org or call 336-462-4844.

Faith and Family Baptist Church, 105 Nathan Ave., Winston-Salem, schedule of services: Sunday worship services are at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday school is at 9:45 a.m. and the midweek service is at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The church live streams all services at www.facebook.com/faithandfamilybaptist. A Facebook account is not required to access the video, scroll down for the live stream. Archive services are available there if you are unable to watch live. For more information, contact Pastor Robert Hutchens at 336-782-3747.

Liberty Baptist Church, 1548 Old Hollow Road, Winston-Salem, invites you to join them for services. They offer Facebook live for all services on the Facebook page of Gary Styers. For their schedule of services and more information, go to www.libertybaptistnc.org.

Rural Hall Moravian Church, 7939 Broad St., Rural Hall, has in-person Sunday School for all ages at 10 a.m. Sundays, followed by worship service at 11 with the Rev. Andrew Craver. Worship services are also available via online streaming at https://www.youtube.com/user/RHMoravian. For more information, go to www.rhmc.org.

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 357 Old Hollow Road, Winston-Salem, will have Sunday school at 10 a.m. and worship with Pastor Emily Schlaman Larsen at 11 a.m. Sunday. The nursery is open. Weekly sermons are available on YouTube for people who prefer to join worship remotely. Search for: St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Winston Salem NC. For more information, go to www.standrewsnc.org.

First Christian Church, 2320 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, will have an in-person worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday. Childrens worship and youth worship are available. A noon-day prayer service will be held at noon Wednesday. Worship services are also available by online streaming at www.wearefcc.church. For more information, go to www.wearefcc.church or call the church at 336-722-2714.

St. Paul United Methodist Church, Winston-Salem, will live stream its 11 a.m. worship service Sunday at www.facebook.com/stpaulumcws/live. Facebook does not require an account for access to the page. Additional information regarding prayer services and Bible study may be found on the churchs website www.stpaulumcws.org or by calling the church at 336-723-4531.

Fundraisers

New Philadelphia Moravian Church, 4440 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, there will be a pop-up holiday fundraising sale for the benefit of the Amani Childrens Foundation, a local charity that supports New Life Homes, an orphanage in Kenya. The sale will be from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 2 in the fellowship hall.

Clemmons Moravian Church, 3535 Spangenberg Ave., Clemmons, will have a Christmas Treasures Sale from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 2. Gently used Christmas items, lights, ornaments and many other decorations will be available. Proceeds will benefit the Clemmons Food Pantry.

Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, 4950 Warner Road, Pfafftown, is accepting donations for its roof replacement project. Gifts may be made online at BFBCnow.org or mail to the church office at 4950 Warner Road, Pfafftown, 27040. For more information, call Pastor Loyd Taylor at 336-462-4844.

Special events

Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, 4950 Warner Road, Pfafftown, will have a Singspiration at 4 p.m. Sunday featuring Lonnie and Joan Maines. Refreshments will be served after the service in the fellowship hall.

Ardmore Baptist Church, 501 Miller St., Winston-Salem, will have Keyboards at Christmas, A Christmas Concert of holiday favorites featuring five concert grand pianos, the majestic Reuter pipe organ, and 12 talented pianists. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 2. The concert is part of the Arts at Ardmore Series and is free. Tickets are required to attend and may be reserved by going to https://www.ardmorebaptist.org/keyboards-at-christmas/ or by calling the church office at 336-725-8767. A love offering will be received.

Mount Carmel Methodist Church, 4265 Ebert Road, Winston Salem will have a drive-thru live Nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9. There will be special music, and a prayer station where you can light luminaries for your loved ones. Free hot dogs will be given to people waiting in line. Use the bottom Clemmonsville Road entrance across from Circle K. The event is free. Donations will be accepted to benefit the New Beginnings Dinner Church outreach ministry.

Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 1200 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, Lewisville, will present Martha Basset and Friends in an evening of Christmas song at 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Light refreshments will follow. Admission is free. A donation of $15 is suggested. For more information, call 336-766-3178 or go to www.shallowfordpresbyterian.org.

Christmas activities

Home Moravian Church, 612 S. Church St., Winston-Salem, will have its 94th Candle Tea from Nov. 29 through Dec. 9 in the Single Brothers House in Old Salem. Reservations are required for admission, this year. For more information or to make a reservation, go to HomeMoravian.org and click on Candle Tea 2023.

Union Cross Baptist Church, 4350 High Point Rd. Kernersville, will have a Chrismon Tree Lighting Service at 6 p.m. Dec. 3. A Service of Lessons and Carols will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 17. A Candlelight Communions Service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 20.

Information for the Religion Calendar should be emailed to news@wsjournal.com by 3 p.m. the Wednesday before you want it to run. It can be mailed to Religion Calendar, Winston-Salem Journal, 418 N. Marshall St., #100, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
Harry MacLean was writing a novel that had a Charlie Starkweather theme woven into the narrative when he learned that Caril Ann Fugate had been denied a pardon by the Nebraska Board of Pardons.

That sent him to YouTube, where he watched an interview from A Current Affair in which Fugate, as she has done for decades, proclaimed her innocence in the killing spree that left 11 people dead.

She was quite dramatic and quite convincing, MacLean said. She was either an incredible actress or you were sure she was telling the truth. When I watched it, my initial focus was on her guilt or innocence.

I thought, Has that ever been thoroughly looked at? Analytically, objectively, legally, has that lens ever come down on her participation?' The more I looked at it and read the books out on it, I didnt feel that it had been, to tell you the truth. ... So my initial take was shes been convicted in the court of public opinion, but whats the reality of that?

That was in February 2020, when the best-selling true crime writer decided to turn his attention to the then-62-year-old killing spree that shocked the nation and his hometown of Lincoln.

The result of that three-year investigation, which required multiple trips to Lincoln from his Denver home; sorting through thousands of documents and newspaper and wire service accounts of the killings, trials and their aftermath; and interviews with as many of those who were involved in the investigation of and writing about the crimes, is Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America.

The book, (Counterpoint, $30) will be released Tuesday and has already been named one of the best nonfiction books of 2023 by the Washington Post.

It is, without question, the best, most thorough and convincingly analyzed book about Starkweather and Fugate, and to some measure Lincoln, in the late 1950s, and is the definitive account of the first mass murder of the television age.

MacLean will return to Nebraska next week to talk about the book and sign copies at Omahas The Bookworm in the Loveland Centre on Tuesday and at Lincoln's Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St., at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The 432-page Starkweather is divided into seven parts, beginning with The Setup, which looks at Starkweather, who was 19 at the time of the killings, Fugate, who was 14, and Lincoln and Nebraska in the years before the Jan. 21-29, 1958 killing spree, ending with his first murder  of Crest service station attendant Robert George Colvert on Nov. 31, 1957.

Instructively, rather than construct a single narrative of the killings, MacLean presents the killings of Carils mother, stepfather and little sister; farmer August Meyer of Bennet; teenagers Robert Jensen and Carol King; industrialist C. Lauer Ward, his wife Clara and their maid Liylan Fencl; and shoe salesman Merle Collison from the perspectives of both Charlie and Caril.

My editor said, You need to put the reader in the car while they're going through this,' which is kind of a traditional approach, MacLean said. Well, I can't do that because I've got two different versions of each thing. I can't say, 'Carol said this, Charlie said that.' This is going to be boring. I thought, I'll try both versions to see how that works. It really was the only way to tell it without going into the analysis while you're telling the story.

Thats critical to being truly able to evaluate Starkweathers story, which changed multiple times. Fugates accounts also dramatically differ on the killings  and on her participation in them  and their flight to Wyoming, where they were captured.

Next comes a detailed examination of the trials of Starkweather and Fugate, a look at Starkweathers multiple accounts of the killings, the statement obtained from Fugate by police and prosecutors, and her claims of innocence in the killings and lack of knowledge of the murders of her family.

Starkweather, Fugate says, told her that her family was being held by his gang and would be killed if she didnt follow his orders, making her a hostage who didnt run away when she had multiple opportunities to do so out of fear for her family.

MacLean, who was a lawyer and a judge before he became an author and still serves as a private arbitrator settling workplace and labor disputes, then applies his legal skill to evaluate whether Fugate received a fair trial  she didnt  and examines her case in light of Supreme Court rulings that came after her conviction.

That conviction, for felony murder based on her participation in Jensens killing  specifically, for taking $4 from the boys wallet and putting it in Starkweathers and holding a gun on a couple in a car while robbing them  was based on a statement that Fugate gave to county prosecutors and police without a lawyer being present.

That statement would have violated the standards set by the high court in 1964s Escobedo v. Illinois, which ruled a person has a right to an attorney while being interrogated by police, and 1966s Miranda v. Arizona, which requires that a person in custody must be warned prior to interrogation that he has a right to remain silent, that any statements made can be used in court and that an attorney can be present and, if necessary, will be appointed.

If they had been applied to her, the confession would have been (thrown) out and then you had nothing but Charlie in all his 10, 12, 15 different stories, MacLean said. That's an absolute fact. Also if she were tried today, they would bring in that battered woman syndrome approach to her and PTSD and all that trauma psychology. That is so common now ... back then, no one ever, ever heard of it. It was just not on the table. It was not a way to look at her and how she behaved.

Based on his research, MacLean is certain that Starkweathers January killing spree wouldnt have happened if the police had properly investigated Colverts murder.

Specifically, MacLean said, the attendant who had preceded Colvert in the job at the station on Cornhusker Highway, knew a garbage man who hung around the station at night and often let him sleep in his car there until he had to go out on his route. Police, however, didnt follow up on that lead.

There were three garbage companies, and they could have called them all in 10 minutes, MacLean said. They would have found him in five minutes. I keep saying here, You're exaggerating and being overly dramatic. But that's how it would have played out. You know, there's not so many redheaded, bowlegged garbage men who are going to be working at 4:30 in the morning

MacLean saves most of his personal reflections for the final section, titled "Impact."

Some of those reflections are about how Starkweather changed Lincoln from a quiet, innocent university/government town, where homes were left unlocked and keys stayed in the ignition, to a more wary city, and how Lincolnites were and some continue to be embarrassed and ashamed because of the killer.

It affected the way they viewed themselves, he said. It affected the way the rest of the world looked at them and at Lincoln, to think that this monster sprung from their midst. They were held out in the public eye. The way they were and the way they saw Lincoln changed because of this.

MacLean grew up on South 24th Street, the same street where the Wards and Fencl were killed. C. Lauer Ward was on the board of directors at Bankers Life, where MacLeans father was a vice president.

His brother was a classmate of Starkweathers at Irving Junior High and MacLean was just a couple of years behind. MacLean was away at boarding school during the killing spree. But that personal involvement made working on Starkweather" far more disturbing than, say, writing his Edgar Award-winning best-seller In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri.

MacLeans research also moved him to try to find Fugate, who had disappeared from public view following a heart attack, stroke and a car crash that killed her husband a decade ago. Without divulging the details of the books touchingly powerful ending, MacLean gave Fugate his conclusion on her guilt or innocence.

I'm convinced that she was not at home when her parents and little sister were killed, MacLean said. That's the one thing I will say. I believe it's the truth that she was not there. That changes how you look at everything that happens after that.

Holding guns on the couple in the car and on Fencl were felonies. But, MacLean said, the modern understanding of dissociation, trauma, battered woman syndrome and PTSD, would mitigate against a felony murder conviction. And, if the statement had been excluded, Starkweathers multiple, inconsistent statements would have not led to a conviction.

MacLeans judgment, as it were, will likely stand as the view of Fugate through historys lens, the final contribution of the definitive Starkweather."

Photos: Starkweather slaying spree
A 52-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing pounds of methamphetamine in the area.

Senior U.S. District Court Judge John Gerrard sentenced Jesse Cervantes to the prison term, plus five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Acting U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr said in 2022 an undercover investigator with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force bought meth from Cervantes eight times, totaling about 9 ounces.

On May 19, 2022, investigators searched his vehicle and found two bags of meth weighing just under a pound.

Lehr said Cervantes had obtained about 100 pounds of meth from one source in Omaha that March and five pounds from another.

Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
Three years ago, during the peak of the pandemic, she messaged one of Chers backup dancers for tips on making it big as she participated in online dance workshops from her parents basement in Lincoln.

On Thanksgiving, Emma Heiliger and the woman she messaged in 2020 were two of four dancers performing with Cher during the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, Heiliger moved to Los Angeles in 2021 to further her dance career. She made an appearance in Jung Kook's "3D" music video featuring Jack Harlow in September but her mom, Susie Heiliger, said Thursday was her biggest performance to date.

Emma Heiliger found out she would be performing in the parade with Cher in late October, and in typical professional dance fashion, there were only three or four rehearsals in LA before the parade, Susie Heiliger said.

The 26-year-old has been dancing since she was 3, when her mom signed her up for classes at True Dance and Company in Lincoln.

When she was little she walked on her tiptoes a lot, Susie Heiliger said. I just always thought she was meant to be a dancer.

By age 7, Emma Heiliger began competing with her dance studio, her mom said her stage presence shone through.

Watching the performance on TV with family visiting for Thanksgiving was emotional for Susie Heiliger.

You know, looking at her I just kind of pictured her over the years, Susie Heiliger said. Seeing her get to that level, I know it takes a lot of persistence and hard work to get to that point.

Susie and Emma Heiliger have both always been Cher fans, so Susie Heiliger said it has been a surreal experience for both of them.

Emma Heiliger is traveling internationally with Cher and the other dancers for the next few weeks to promote her new Christmas album. The group is in Germany now and will go to London next.

On Wednesday, Emma Heiliger will be featured in Chers broadcast performance for the Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree lighting.

Its been kind of a whirlwind, but shes having the time of her life and enjoying every minute, Susie Heiliger said. Im very grateful that shes had the opportunity to dance with someone so legendary.

Balloons, bands and Santa: Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in holiday season in New York
Karla Hernandez-Torrijos knows she doesn't look like the person one would expect to be chosen to tell the stories of the Great Plains.

Until recently the inaugural Student Storyteller in Residence with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Great Plains Studies wasn't sure she was the best choice either.

"A couple of years ago I would have said I'm not," Hernandez-Torrijos said. "I think as I've gotten more comfortable in my skin as a writer, I figured I am the person to tell the story about the Great Plains because I don't look like the people that come from the Great Plains, or at least the people we've been told come from the Great Plains."

As a young child Karla Hernandez-Torrijos migrated to the small town of Crete from Mexico City with little understanding of the English language. She found sanctuary in picture books and the love of storytelling has been with her since.

"It was really easy to fall back into storytelling and characters as a place of refuge," Hernandez-Torrijos said. "I'm really eager to be able to hopefully take my place amongst that and create some work with my own voice in poetry and literature to continue the tradition of storytelling."

Hernandez-Torrijos hopes to use her work as a storyteller to amplify the voices of those who don't fit the perceived stereotype of a Great Plains resident, and coming to terms with how audiences see her identity in tandem with her work has been an adjustment.

"I think when you come from a marginalized experience or a different experience and you write, people inherently see politicalness in that, which used to bother me," she said. "Now, I embrace it, especially with poetry."

Faculty at the Center for Great Plains Studies have been grounding forces for Hernandez-Torrijos in her time as Student Storyteller in Residence. She said she tends to fall into a "space cadet" stereotype  she has big, creative ideas that don't always come with a how-to for deadlines and budget.

With Center for Great Plains Studies faculty such as associate director and communications coordinator Katie Nieland and the center's director Margaret Jacobs, Hernandez-Torrijos is piloting a project tentatively called "Dear Great Plains."

"Dear Great Plains" will feature a variety of postcards designed by Nieland and distributed in any way possible  thumbtacking them to corkboards, handing them out to passersby  with the hopes that those who receive one will answer two questions.

"What do you want to say to the Great Plains and what's your relationship like with the Great Plains?" Hernandez-Torrijos asked. She isn't hoping for letters that solely express love for the region. "I think with projects like these, people think that we want a positive response. But it can also be a conversation you want to have, where maybe there's something about the Great Plains you wish would be different."

Next fall, the responses will be hung from the ceiling of either the lobby or mezzanine of the Center for Great Plains Studies, 1155 Q St. Hernandez-Torrijos hopes the project will bring in a myriad of people who can represent the true diversity of the region. Representation of marginalized experiences, stories of ways immigrants have positively impacted their community and recognition of the region's diversity are all important goals for her project.

Nieland was one of the selection committee members to find the first-ever student to hold the storyteller position. Though it's open to both undergraduate and graduate students, Nieland said they were so impressed with Hernandez-Torrijos' work and that the center and the poet were "a good fit."

"Karla is very thoughtful about her own process and how to both use this platform to tell a story about the Great Plains, but also tell these more complex stories," Nieland said. "A lot of what we do at the Center is trying to lift up these voices that maybe haven't been heard."

Before finding a place in the Center for Great Plains Studies, Hernandez-Torrijos worked her way into Lincoln's writing community. Once she found a support system within the community, it became what picture books once were for Hernandez-Torrijos: a place of welcoming and support.

She has lived for short times in larger cities like Miami, where she found competition in writing communities.

"When I started reading at open mics, I just felt enveloped by (Lincoln) community members wanting me to return and read more writing," Hernandez-Torrijos said. "When I lived in bigger cities it almost felt like you were vying to see who was the best something."

Without that support, she never would have applied to be a part of the Heart of It  a writing retreat founded by California-based writer Desiree Dallagiacomo. The annual retreat allows Hernandez-Torrijos to work with authors who once held an exclusively celebrity status in her life. Now, they've become some of her closest personal mentors.

Hernandez-Torrijos has been attending the Heart of It retreats since January 2019, each year gaining more and more experience. Over the past summer at the most recent retreat, she spent 12 days independently writing a manuscript.

"She has worked very hard to get resources and community for herself," Dallagiacomo said. "A lot of people have more privilege and access to those, but she is leaps and bounds ahead because of her passion."

Finding community in a city where she once felt lost, Hernandez-Torrijos is empowered to use her passion for storytelling and for the Great Plains to create a project that represents the strength and diversity of the region.

"I think sometimes we love the Great Plains, and it doesn't always feel like the Great Plains loves us back," Hernandez-Torrijos said. Through her work she hopes to change this.

"When you love someone, or something, you want to tell them the ways that they're hurting you. Not out of a malicious intent but a desire, or rather a hope that you can create a connection and that you can create healing."

Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Plainview woman after a pursuit in Madison County on Thursday afternoon, according to a news release.

Tiffany Robinson, 28, was initially spotted speeding at about 1:15 p.m. Thursday on Highway 81 near Norfolk by an NSP trooper. The trooper's attempt at a traffic stop failed when Robinson refused to yield and continued northbound. The trooper pursued Robinson.

Robinson turned east after a few miles onto East Sherwood Road in Norfolk where the vehicle exceeded 120 miles per hour, according to the State Patrol. After a couple of miles, Robinson lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch.

She then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. The trooper was able to take Robinson into custody without further incident. She was medically cleared at Faith Regional Hospital and lodged in the Madison County jail.

Robinson was arrested for willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, driving during revocation, obstructing a peace officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, traffic violations and outstanding warrants.

Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it looks forward to governments delivering the supportive policies needed to enable aviations decarbonization, as agreed at the Third Conference on Aviation Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) hosted by The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Dubai.

CAAF/3 delivered critical agreement on:

A global framework to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production in all geographies around the world. The aim is that aviation fuel in 2030 is 5% less carbon intensive than fossil fuel used today by the industry.

Acknowledging that certain States have the capacity to progress as a faster pace, and that others do not.

Capacity building, a Finvest Hub, and voluntary technology transfer, are all among the measures put forward to ensure that all countries can partake in a global SAF market.

The need for a solution that can foster a global SAF market while enabling airlines to claim the environmental attributes of their SAF purchases against their decarbonization obligations, based on a global and robust SAF accounting framework.

"Governments have understood the critical role of SAF to achieve net zero emissions for aviation by 2050. The CAAF/3 results add a vision on the shorter, 2030, time horizon that is ambitious. To that end, the CAAF/3 agreement signals to the world in no uncertain terms the need for policies that enable real progress. There is no time to lose," stated Willie Walsh, IATAs Director General.

"IATA now expects governments to urgently put the strongest possible policies in place to unlock the full potential of a global SAF market with an exponential increase in production," he stated.

This is necessary because airlines demand for SAF, in line with their commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, vastly exceeds the availability of SAF today, which is limited to 0.2% of airlines jet fuel consumption in 2023. Airlines have sent major demand signals to the SAF production market:

All SAF produced in 2022 was bought, at an additional cost to the industry of around USD 500 million, as SAF is priced at a significant premium over the price of jet fuel.

There are increasing examples of airlines vertically integrating into the supply chain, with some committing equity and risk capital into SAF projects.

Airlines have entered into forward purchase agreements for SAF worth around a total of USD 45 billion, well in excess of todays SAF availability.

"We need to see governments acting on the CAAF/3 declaration with policies that expand SAF production in all its shapes and forms. Despite unequivocal demand signals, the SAF production market is not developing fast enough," said Walsh.

"We need SAF everywhere in the world, and to that end, the right supportive policies  policies that can stimulate production, promote competition, foster innovation, and attract financing - must be put in place today," he stated.

IATA calls on governments to adopt policies to maximize SAF production globally by:

Enabling producers to take fullest advantage of local feedstock availability

Enacting positive  not punitive - policies

Balancing existing and future potential policy support across different energy sources and preferably strive to favor renewable energies and ensure SAFs fair share of the latter

Recognize that the road to success in to transform aviation and achieve reaching net zero carbon emissions is a collective responsibility.

"The goal is maximizing SAF production everywhere with positive, not punitive, policy measures. Airlines are ready with open arms to catch the resulting SAF production. While airlines are at the sharp end of decarbonization, they cannot bear the burden alone," said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATAs Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.

"CAAF/3 has again made it clear that aviations decarbonization will require the wholehearted and united efforts of the entire value chain and governments as we all focus on net zero by 2050," she stated.

"To be perfectly clear, where government money leads, private money will follow. It is absolutely essential that governments play their part, and we will certainly play ours," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
MONDAYAl-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.

WEDNESDAYCaledonia 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.

FRIDAYRacine 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:

Nov. 17 (299): Judie Leslie and Sue Helland tied for first place with Jean Myrvold and Denise Anastasio; Wayne Hejny and Katie Patzke, third place.

Nov. 17 (Open): Paul Dorsey and Marilyn Wescott, first place; Dee Becker and Lee Petzold tied with Gloria Arneson and Janet Urquhart, second/third place.

Nov. 20: Mary Matthews and Donald Urquhart, first place; George Urquhart and Janet Urquhart, second place; Paul Dorsey and Lee Petzold, 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 Welcome Club: Drop in coffee 9-11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Grind, 7300 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 Art Guild: The Racine Art Guild will meet from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 14 at Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Ave. The meeting is a pot luck dinner and will include a special presentation by artist Sue Horton, the winner of this years Juried Show.

Racine NAACP: A membership is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 23. at the Dr. John Bryant Center, 601 Caron Butler Drive, Racine.
Fragments of musical scores discovered at Auschwitz will be played for the first time next week after being painstakingly restored by a composer.

Leo Geyer, 31, who is also a conductor, said he stumbled upon the collection of musical manuscripts by accident during a visit to Auschwitz in 2015.

Geyer was visiting the former Nazi concentration camp after he was commissioned to compose a musical score in memory of Martin Gilbert, the British historian and holocaust expert who died in the February of that year.

Not Jewish himself, Geyer traveled to Poland to gain a sense of the gravity of Gilberts work. While there, he met with an archivist at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum, who mentioned they had remnants of musical scores arranged and played by orchestras at the camp.

I knew there were orchestras in Auschwitz and that was what we were talking about because, as a musician, it was something I was interested in, said Geyer in a telephone interview with CNN Thursday.

It was only then that he mentioned about the manuscripts in the archive. I nearly fell over when he first told me - I couldnt believe such a thing had gone almost unnoticed for almost 80 years.

A month later, Geyer returned to Poland to inspect the scores.

Thats when I understood why it had taken so long for people to take an interest, he said, explaining that the archive contains 210 pieces of music of varying levels of completion.

The music had been mostly destroyed so what remains is almost like a broken jigsaw puzzle, except there are several and they are all mixed in together, he said, adding that he has since returned a further four times

Geyer, who is undertaking a doctorate in music and composition at Oxford University, said he was determined to recreate the pieces and bring them to life. Hes carried out extensive research into testimonies from Auschwitz and the history of music at the camps.

He told CNN that most concentration camps had some form of an orchestra made up of prisoners playing whatever instruments were available to them.

There were, at one point, as many as six orchestras at Auschwitz and they were all very much sanctioned by the SS and in some cases commissioned by the SS, he said.

For the most part they were quite small and had a bizarre hodge podge of instruments, he said, adding that accordions and saxophones - not featured in traditional orchestras - were especially common. Other instruments, like oboes and bassoons, were totally absent.

In the womens orchestra of Birkenau there was no cellist for years until they managed to get one, he said.

That cellist was Anita Lasker-Wallfisch. She survived the holocaust and still lives in Britain today. Her grandson Simon Wallfisch, a baritone, will be part of the performance at Londons Sadlers Wells Theater on Monday.

Recalling her experience in an online interview with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Lasker-Wallfisch said: That I survived nearly one year in Auschwitz is without any doubt due to the fact that I became a member of the camp orchestra. As long as the Germans wanted an orchestra, it would have been counter-productive to kill us.

Our task consisted of playing every morning and every evening at the gate of the camp so that the outgoing and incoming work commandos would march neatly in step to the marches we played. We also had to be available at all times to play to individual SS staff who would come into our block and wanted to hear some music after sending thousands of people to their death.

A chink of daylight in the darkness

The orchestras sometimes played for other prisoners in secret, said Geyer.

Many people were extremely grateful for the music that they heard, it gave them some sense of normality in an otherwise unimaginable place - a chink of daylight in the darkness.

There were also occasions of music being used to rise up.

Many of the musicians started to rebel with what we call musical crypograms, which is where you have messages in some way in the music, said Geyer, describing brazen acts such as weaving the Polish national anthem into marching music.

Many of the pieces that Geyer uncovered are incomplete and some were burned around the edges. His task was to piece matching sections together and recompose the missing parts.

Theres quite a mix, said Geyer. Theres some printed music which is of little interest. The more interesting thing is music where theyve written compositions or arrangements from memory.

Its an astonishingly difficult thing to do. Its like trying to remember a novel, word by word, but music is immensely more complicated, with many different instruments to account for, he added.

Four of the restored pieces will be performed by Constella Music, Geyers creative powerhouse whose work spans opera, dance, film and concert music, at Sadlers Wells. Orchestras of Auschwitz will be performed as part of a concert to celebrate Constella Musics tenth anniversary.

It will be played as it might have been at the time, with accordions and saxophones and no woodwind instruments.

It sounds almost sinister, said Geyer, who added: We are putting this event on to raise awareness and funding so that we can finish the rest of the job and present the full series so that people can hear this music around the world.

___
RACINE COUNTY  Christopher Steenrod was appointed as Deputy District Attorney for the Racine County District Attorneys Office on Tuesday.

Steenrod started as an assistant district attorney with the RCDA in November 2013. He managed traffic and misdemeanor crimes until 2016, when he made the transition to felony crimes.

Steenrod attended Carthage College in Kenosha for his undergraduate studies, and Western Michigan Cooley Law School.

The Racine County District Attorneys Office has full confidence that Christopher Steenrods extensive experience, legal prowess, and community engagement make him the ideal candidate for the role of Deputy District Attorney, District Attorney Patricia Hanson said in a statement.

Steenrod also serves as a board member for Racine Neighborhood Watch Inc. and Support Our Law Enforcement, according to a release from Racine County.

As deputy district attorney, Steenrod said he will still carry a full case load, but also will have a supervisor role and provide guidance for assistant district attorneys.

Steenrod said he was thrilled when he learned he was selected for the position.

It was a vote of confidence in my leadership, Steenrod said.

Today in history: Nov. 21 1942: Alaska Highway 1967: Lyndon B. Johnson 1979: Islamabad, Pakistan 1980: MGM Grand Hotel 1990: Michael R. Milken 1995: Peace Plan 2001: Anthrax 2012: Gaza Cease-Fire 2017: Robert Mugabe 2020: Rudy Giuliani 2021: Darrell Brooks Jr 2022: Orion capsule
RACINE  Dozens of students carried boxes of food Tuesday morning onto pallets. The boxes were then placed in a truck and will eventually help feed area residents.

That team effort illustrated the collective work done this month by students and staff at Walden III Middle School and High School during the buildings annual food drive.

Walden collected 472 boxes of food and $9,183 for the Racine County Food Bank, 2000 De Koven Ave. Cash was collected Tuesday during an all-school assembly, where an additional $243 were raised.

That total is slightly less than the school donated last year, but it remains one of the countys largest food drives.

This is still so much food, and were still so proud of all of our efforts, said Eliana Hanson, Walden student government president.

Waldens annual food drive has occurred for decades, and Hanson said she was overjoyed to be continuing this long-standing tradition.

Hanson helped organize the food drive and said it is one of her favorite times of the year because it brings the school closer.

Coming together to work toward this one big goal is really, really amazing, Hanson said.

Casi Schatzman, Walden student government advisor, said it is fun to see teamwork and collaboration during a time of giving.

It gets the kids excited, gives them something to work together for, Schatzman said. It really fosters a good sense of community.

Schatzman enjoys seeing the students work pay off in a tangible way.

It takes the abstract and makes it very real, Schatzman said. We have done a lot together.

Dan Taivalkoski, Racine County Food Bank executive director, said Tuesday was one of his favorite days of the year, and he praised and thanked students.

We couldnt do what we do without folks like you, Taivalkoski said. As I look around the room, the future of our community is in very good hands.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason agreed and expressed pride in the students leadership.

It makes you a wonderful reflection of our community, Mason said. It is really going to make the lives of people in this community much better because of the work that youve done.

The food drive started Nov. 13. There were competitions to encourage donations, and several prizes were awarded to middle school and high school home groups at Walden, 2340 Mohr Ave.

After the awards, a few award-winning students smashed pies in teachers faces.

Staff and students then moved the boxes of food from the gymnasium stage to the waiting trucks, and their efforts will help nourish the community.

Seventeen photos of the Walden III annual food drive Walden III school collected 472 boxes of food and $9,183 for the Racine County Food Bank, 2000 De Koven Ave. Carrying boxes Students carry boxes of food to be shipped during the annual food drive Tuesday at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. The boxes were placed in  Tom Wolfe Tom Wolfe with the Racine County Food Bank places boxes of food on a pallet at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Pies to the face Several teachers take pies to the face at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. A few students who received awards as part of the school's annual  Cash donation Casi Schatzman, Walden student government advisor, right, receives a cash donation from a student Tuesday during the annual food drive at Wald Speaking Casi Schatzman, Walden student government advisor, center, talks during the annual food drive at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Walden coll Reacting to pie Teacher Brian O'Connell reacts after taking a pie to the face at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. A few students who received awards as part  Dan Taivalkoski Dan Taivalkoski, Racine County Food Bank executive director, talks during the annual food drive at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Taivalkos Mayor Mason Racine Mayor Cory Mason speaks during the annual food drive at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Mason said the students' hard work during the Award-winning group A middle school home group was one of several to receive an award during the annual food drive Tuesday at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Mason and Dan Dan Taivalkoski, Racine County Food Bank executive director, left and Racine Mayor Cory Mason talk Tuesday during the annual food drive at Wal Mason and Hanson Racine Mayor Cory Mason, left, listens to Eliana Hanson, Walden student government president, during the annual food drive at Walden III schoo Dan, Mason, Gajewski Dan Taivalkoski, Racine County Food Bank executive director, from left, Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Soren Gajewski, Racine Unified interim sup Moving boxes Eliana Hanson, Walden student government president, reaches for a box of food during the annual food drive Tuesday at Walden III school, 2340  To the truck Tom Wolfe with the Racine County Food Bank takes a pallet of food boxes to a truck Tuesday during the annual food drive at Walden III school,  Preparing for pie Teacher Brian O'Connell, center, puts on googles in preparation for taking a pie to the face Tuesday at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Students in the crowd Students sit in an all-school assembly for the annual food drive Tuesday at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Brian O'Connell Teacher Brian O'Connell laughs with other educators Tuesday at Walden III school, 2340 Mohr Ave. Walden food drive Presentation at the Walden food drive
ROCHESTER  Seeking to refresh and reassert the communitys image, village leaders have adopted a new logo to adorn roadside signs and other places of prominence.

The logo, approved after a survey showing strong public support, features a stalk of wheat with dark gold letters spelling out Village of Rochester Wisconsin.

It will replace the logo depicting a child on a tree swing, alongside the slogan Reflections of the past. Visions of the future.

The Rochester Village Board approved the change Nov. 13 after asking residents and business owners to choose a favorite from among four possible new logo designs.

Village Administrator Betty Novy said the rebranding is part of a planned public works improvement that includes erecting new directional signs greeting visitors to the community of 3,700 people.

The need for an updated village logo has come up before, Novy said, and officials decided to make the change with new signage that is being designed to make Rochesters presence better known.

This is one step in a bigger project, she said.

The village is paying about $63,000 to KMA Design of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, for the logo and to design a network of directional signs for the village. No timetable has been announced, but officials expected the signs to go up within a year.

Although it has been 15 years since a merger of the Village of Rochester and Town of Rochester, officials believe a bolder statement is needed to announce the villages presence.

The new image also will emblazon the villages website, letterhead, vehicles and other places.

The four logo choices included a variety of colors and shapes depicting images resembling a shield, leaves and a horizon.

Some in the community favored sticking with the old logo, although that was not one of the options presented by the village. KMA Design felt that the image of a child on a tree swing was too intricate to reproduce clearly on roadside signs.

Sara Damaschke, president of the Rochester Day In The Country festival, said she preferred the current emblem, especially the slogan recognizing the communitys history by reflecting on the past.

I think it really wraps up what Rochester is all about, she said.

Of nearly 200 people who responded to the villages survey, the gold-colored stalk of wheat was either liked or loved by more than 100. Second place went to the blue-colored horizon image, which was favored by about 75. Respondents were asked to gauge their support of each option on a scale of 1 to 5.

Erin Dix, the villages deputy clerk-treasurer, said officials were happy to see so many people participating in the survey and offering direction.

This is the sort of thing that a lot of people have opinions on, she said. We had some lively conversations.

Business owner Scott Chenier of the Fox & Fork gift and antique store said that while he is indifferent about the logo choice, he is happy to see the village making plans for signage greeting and directing visitors.

Businesses are working to rebound from the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as various road construction projects, Chenier said.

Im glad that theyre putting the effort into signage, he said. Were doing everything we can to make the community shine.

Counties with the most farmland in Wisconsin Counties with the most farmland in Wisconsin #25. Jefferson #24. Clark #23. Shawano #22. Pierce #21. Vernon #20. Walworth #19. Outagamie #18. Manitowoc #17. Trempealeau #16. Sauk #15. Chippewa #14. Columbia #13. St. Croix #12. Iowa #11. Portage #10. Barron #9. Green #8. Fond du Lac #7. Dunn #6. Marathon #5. Lafayette #4. Dodge #3. Rock #2. Dane #1. Grant
1. Yes. The platform takes up too much time and is often abused by speakers. Get rid of it.

2. Yes. The Citizen Petitions section is unworkable and generally results in a gripe session.

3. No. The platform is the only way residents can discuss non-agenda items. Keep it around..

4. No. Killing it will discourage public input. Keep it or broaden Citizen Comments criteria.

5. Unsure. It can be a drain on the councils time, but it does serve a purpose for residents.

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HENDERSON  For a regular supply of fresh bread in York County, Saltine in Henderson has quietly established itself as the go-to spot. Sourdough loaves, cookies, coffee cakes and other baked goods are in high demand.

While Saltine does not have a storefront operation quite yet  for now the bakery operates on a pick-up or wholesale basis  the owners are churning out about 100 loaves of bread a week from their commercial kitchen in the Hatchery building.

The head baker at Saltine, James Isom of Valentine, was formerly the head baker at a Whole Foods in Omaha before working at Archetype, a bakery and coffee shop in Omaha.

While at Archetype he met his wife, Aubrey, a Henderson native who had previously worked in San Francisco for a tech company as a private chef, creating farm-to-table meals with really cool produce, Aubrey said.

The Isoms eventually moved back to Henderson, where Aubrey had grown up. She now works full time as a recruiter for a technology company, while also raising her son, Henry, and helping run Saltine.

The Hatchery is a family operation. The building is owned by John Ruybalid and his wife Leslie, Aubreys mother. Ruybalid bought the former chicken hatchery in 2021. Leslie designed the interior.

The Hatchery is a mixed-use space, and in addition to Saltines large kitchen, it also has a co-working space, a community event space and a conference room available for rent. It also soon will have a dry goods store stocked with farm-to-table sandwiches and salads, and other local items such as pottery and T-shirts.

The Isoms operate Saltine as a wholesale bakery and caterer because it allows for more predictability in sales and prevents the waste that often goes with grab-and-go service.

However, they are working toward offering grab-and-go items and coffee a few days a week starting next year.

James Isom also has experimented with baking using Kernza, a perennial grain grown in Henderson by Marc Peters on Peters family farm. As a perennial grain, Kernza does not have to be replanted every year, and is considered more environmentally sustainable, according to Brandon Schlautman, who works with Peters on the farm and is a plant scientist at The Land Institute, which developed Kernza.

Isom said that they have made a Kernza pancake mix and are looking to incorporate the grain in other ways.

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More than 50 million people in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere follow pastoralism as a way of life. They keep animals and move with them to find lands from which their animals can eat. They often sell some of their animals as meat also.

Pastoralism has supported these populations for much of history. But it faces pressure from worsening environments, reductions of pastoral lands, and new generations who seek a less difficult life. At the same time, pastoralism is modernizing, with groups using new technologies.

The practice has survived for so long because it is designed to change with the environment. Pastoralists move with animals to find new lands and water, leaving behind eaten plants to regrow.

Experts say pastoralism can teach those that keep animals in industrial numbers to change with the climate and reduce their effects on the environment. Pastoralists are not only trying to keep up with climate change; they are fighting it.

Mongolian herders

Mongolia is well known for its pastoralism. The practice is even included in the nations constitution. It calls its 80 million animals, including camels, yaks, cows, sheep, goats, and horses, as national wealth protected by the state.

Agvaantogtokh and his family are herders. On horseback, he rides with nearly a thousand sheep and goats to help them find water. Sometimes, he and his wife, Nurmaa, stop to help struggling young ones, weak after a difficult winter.

For families like Agvaantogtokhs, pastoralism is more than a profession. It is a cultural identity that connects generations. At its heart is the human connection to animals.

Agvaantogtokh and his family sell animals for meat. They also sell dairy products such as yogurt and hard cheeses. While they consider the animals as their property, they also see them as living beings working alongside them.

Researchers say herders believe in animal agency. Agvaantogtokh lets his animals choose the food they eat and where they find water. To him, restricting an animals movement and asking it to eat the same thing each day is like putting a person in prison.

In Mongolia, weather extremes are a part of life. When Agvaantogtokh thinks about climate change, he is concerned about humans and animals.

Continuous dry and warm weather affects Mongolia. Since 1940, the government says, average temperatures have risen 2.2 degrees Celsius. Dzuds  natural disasters special to Mongolia caused by dry weather and severe snowy winters  have grown harsher and happen more often.

A dzud pushed Agvaantogtokh and his family to move out after a disastrous winter killed 400 of their animals.

Ancient practice, new methods

To keep their practice alive, pastoralists seek ways to modernize.

In Mongolia, Lkhaebum recently began using a small vehicle to more easily search for horses. The family uses electricity and has other technologies including a television and clothes washing machine. They also use a cellphone to follow the weather and access social media where herders share information.

One of the biggest threats to pastoralism comes from within, as the next generation chooses other paths.

Nurmaa and Agvaantogtokhs 18-year old daughter studies medicine. Their son spoke about becoming a herder when he was a child, but not anymore.

I won't regret anything if my child won't be a herder, Nurmaa said. She added, I would like them to do what they aspire to do.

Im Gregory Stachel.

The Associated Press reported this story. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

pastoralism  n. livestock raising

herder  v. to gather and move (a group of animals)

diary  n. milk or food made from milk (such as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt)

harsh  adj. having an unpleasant or harmful effect because of great strength or force: too intense or powerful

aspire  v. to want to have or achieve something (such as a particular career or level of success)
We present the short story "Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.

There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all Americans go back to the old home and eat a big dinner. Bless the day. The President gives it to us every year.

Sometimes he talks about the people who had the first Thanksgiving. They were the Puritans. They were some people who landed on our Atlantic shore. We dont really remember much about them.

But those people ate a large bird called turkey on the first Thanksgiving Day. So we have turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, if we have enough money to buy turkey. That is a tradition.

Yes. Thanksgiving Day is the one day of the year that is purely American. And now here is the story to prove to you that we have old traditions in this new country. They are growing older more quickly than traditions in old countries. That is because we are so young and full of life. We do everything quickly.

Stuffy Pete sat down on a seat in the New York City park named Union Square. It was the third seat to the right as you enter Union Square from the east.

Every Thanksgiving for nine years he had sat down there at one in the afternoon. Every time, things had happened to him. They were wonderful things. They made his heart feel full of joyand they filled another part of him, too. They filled the part below his heart.

On those other Thanksgiving Days he had been hungry. (It is a strange thing. There are rich people who wish to help the poor. But many of them seem to think that the poor are hungry only on Thanksgiving Day.)

But today Pete was not hungry. He had come from a dinner so big that he had almost no power to move. His light green eyes looked out from a gray face on which there was still a little food. His breath was short. His body had suddenly become too big for his clothes; it seemed ready to break out of them. They were torn. You could see his skin through a hole in the front of his shirt. But the cold wind, with snow in it, felt pleasantly cool to him.

For Stuffy Pete was overheated with the warmth of all he had had to eat. The dinner had been much too big. It seemed to him that his dinner had included all the turkey and all the other food in the whole world.

So he sat, very, very full. He looked out at the world without interest, as if it could never offer him anything more.

The dinner had not been expected.

He had been passing a large house near the beginning of that great broad street called Fifth Avenue. It was the home of two old ladies of an old family. These two old ladies had a deep love of traditions. There were certain things they always did. On Thanksgiving Day at noon they always sent a servant to stand at the door. There he waited for the first hungry person who walked by. The servant had orders to bring that person into the house and feed him until he could eat no more. Stuffy Pete happened to pass by on his way to the park. The servant had gathered him in. Tradition had been followed.

Stuffy Pete sat in the park looking straight before him for ten minutes. Then he felt a desire to look in another direction. With a very great effort, he moved his head slowly to the left.

Then his eyes grew wider and his breath stopped. His feet in their torn shoes at the ends of his short legs moved about on the ground.

For the Old Gentleman was coming across Fourth Avenue toward Stuffys seat.

Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years the Old Gentleman had come there to find Stuffy Pete on his seat. That was a thing that the Old Gentleman was trying to make into a tradition. Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years he had found Stuffy there. Then he had led Stuffy to a restaurant and watched him eat a big dinner.

They do these things more easily in old countries like England. They do them without thinking about them.

But in this young country, we must think about them. In order to build a tradition, we must do the same thing again and again for a long time. The Old Gentleman loved his country. He believed he was helping to build a great American tradition. And he had been doing very well. Nine years is a long time here.

The Old Gentleman moved, straight and proud, toward the tradition that he was building. Truly feeding Stuffy Pete once a year was not a very important tradition. There are greater and more important traditions in England. But it was a beginning. It proved that a tradition was at least possible in America.

The Old Gentleman was thin and tall and sixty. He was dressed all in black. He wore eyeglasses. His hair was whiter and thinner than it had been last year. His legs did not seem as strong as they had seemed the year before.

As this kind Old Gentleman came toward him, Stuffy began to shake and his breath was shorter. He wished he could fly away. But he could not move from his seat.

Good morning, said the Old Gentleman. I am glad to see that the troubles of another year have not hurt you. You continue to move in health about the beautiful world. For that blessing you and I can give thanks on this day of thanksgiving. If you will come with me, my man, I will give you a dinner that will surely make your body feel as thankful as your mind.

That is what the Old Gentleman said every time. Every Thanksgiving Day for nine years. The words themselves were almost a tradition. Always before, they had been music in Stuffys ear. But now he looked up at the Old Gentlemans face with tears of suffering in his eyes. The snow turned quickly to water when it fell upon his hot face. But the Old Gentleman was shaking with the cold. He turned away, with his back to the wind, and he did not see Stuffys eyes.

Stuffy had always wondered why the Old Gentleman seemed sad as he spoke. He did not know that it was because the Old Gentleman was wishing that he had a son. A son would come there after he himself was gone. A son would stand proud and strong before Stuffy, and say: In remembrance of my father. Then it would really be a tradition.

But the Old Gentleman had no family. He lived in a room in one of the old houses near the park. In the winter he grew a few flowers there. In the spring he walked on Fifth Avenue. In the summer he lived in a farmhouse in the hills outside New York, and he talked of a strange bug he hoped some day to find. In the fall season he gave Stuffy a dinner. These were the things that filled the Old Gentlemans life.

Stuffy Pete looked up at him for a half minute, helpless and very sorry for himself. The Old Gentlemans eyes were bright with the giving pleasure. His face was getting older every year, but his clothes were very clean and fresh.

And then Stuffy made a strange noise. He was trying to speak. As the Old Gentleman had heard the noise nine times before, he understood it. He knew that Stuffy was accepting.

Thank you. Im very hungry.

Stuffy was very full, but he understood that he was part of a tradition. His desire for food on Thanksgiving Day was not his own. It belonged to this kind Old Gentleman. True, America is free. But there are some things that must be done.

The Old Gentleman led Stuffy to the restaurant and to the same table where they had always gone. They were known here.

Here comes that old man, said a waiter, that buys that old no-good fellow a dinner every Thanksgiving.

The Old Gentleman sat at the table, watching. The waiters brought food, and more food. And Stuffy began to eat.

No great and famous soldier ever battled more strongly against an enemy. The turkey and all the other food were gone almost as quickly as they appeared. Stuffy saw the look of happiness on the Old Gentlemans face. He continued to eat in order to keep it there.

In an hour the battle was finished.

Thank you, Stuffy said. Thank you for my Thanksgiving dinner. Then he stood up heavily and started to go to the wrong door. A waiter turned him in the right direction.

The Old Gentleman carefully counted out $1.30, and left fifteen cents more for the waiter.

They said goodbye, as they did each year, at the door. The Old Gentleman went south, and Stuffy went north.

Stuffy went around the first corner, and stood for one minute. Then he fell.

There he was found. He was picked up and taken to a hospital. They put him on a bed, and began to try to discover what strange sickness had made him fall.

And an hour later the Old Gentleman was brought to the same hospital. And they put him on another bed, and began to try to discover what his sickness could be.

After a little time one of the doctors met another doctor, and they talked.

That nice old gentleman over there, he said. Do you know whats wrong with him? Hes almost dead for the need of food. A very proud old man, I think. He told me he has had nothing to eat for three days.

Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. What is your favorite holiday? What kinds of holiday traditions do they have in your country? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page.

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Quiz

Quiz - Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

For Teachers

The document below contains activities to help learners understand the story.

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Words in This Story

Puritan(s)  n. a member of a Protestant group in England and New England in the 16th and 17th centuries that opposed many customs of the Church of England

tear(s)  n. a drop of liquid that comes from your eyes especially when you cry

bug  n. a usually small insect

cent(s)  n. a unit of money that is equal to / of the basic unit of money in many countries
Thousands of Ukrainians decided to flee war in their country and head to Israel after Russian forces invaded in 2022. But now those people are facing war conditions again as Israeli forces continue battling Hamas militants.

Tatyana Prima fled to southern Israel from the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol 18 months ago with her husband and young daughter. The 38-year-old was thankful to arrive safely to Israel and thought she and her family had finally left the bombs behind.

But Primas sense of safety and calmness disappeared when Hamas militants invaded Israel on October 7. All these sounds of war that we hear now, they sometimes work as a trigger that brings back memories of what we've gone through in Mariupol, she said.

The Israeli government estimates more than 45,000 Ukrainians have fled to Israel since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Most of the refugees were trying to deal with war trauma experienced back in Ukraine when conflict broke out in Israel.

Some have left Israel, but many remain and are refusing to again flee a war. Most have lost in-person support systems because of restrictions in Israel involving gatherings. Others have lost hope of reuniting with loved ones they left behind in Ukraine.

When Hamas militants attacked on October 7, they killed about 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages. On that day, Prima awoke to the sound of alarms. She lives in the coastal city of Ashkelon, a few kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The crash of airstrikes and shelling has been continuous, as Israel pushes forward with its offensive against Hamas. Prima describes the situation as deja vu, bringing back similar memories from Ukraine.

Mariupol was one of Ukraine's hardest-hit cities in the war with Russia. The city was cut off and bombarded for weeks as people struggled for food, water and heat. During the war's early weeks, Prima cooked over an outdoor fire, used snow for drinking water and sheltered with other relatives just outside the city.

As the shelling intensified, rockets fell around where Prima and her family stayed. After an incident in which her husband's hand was blown off while he searched for water, she decided to leave. The family arrived in Ashkelon in April 2022 and joined relatives of her husband there.

Israeli defense systems block most incoming missiles from Hamas. But at least 80 have landed in populated areas or empty fields in Israel since the war began, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project reports.

Prima said the conflict has intensified her feelings of isolation. This is because her community support groups have moved most activities online because of government restrictions on gatherings in public.

Koen Sevenants is a mental health specialist who has worked with refugees and displaced people in several conflict areas. He told The Associated Press (AP) he finds such individuals often experience "hopelessness. Experts warn that if people who have not fully recovered from one traumatic incident are victimized again by a new one, the event that caused the trauma can seem worse.

Refugee organizations have offered financial and food assistance to people in Israel who do not feel safe leaving their homes. But Olya Weinstein said these groups are not equipped to help all those in need. Her organization, Project Kesher, has been helping about 6,000 people who fled Ukraine, mostly with food.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said an unknown number of Ukrainians remain trapped in Gaza. Ukraine said at least 160 of them have been safely removed. Gazas Health Ministry has estimated more than 12,700 Palestinians  most of them women and minors  have been killed since the war began. That number includes both civilian and Hamas militant deaths.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

trigger  n. an event or situation that makes something else happen

trauma  n. severe shock caused by a bad experience

deja vu  n. a feeling that you have already experienced a particular thing at another time

isolate  v. to separate someone or something from other people or things
China called for caution on Friday as an increase in respiratory illness hit its schools and hospitals. And the World Health Organization (WHO), which has asked the Chinese government for disease data, said no unusual or new diseases had been found.

China is dealing with an increase of respiratory illnesses as it enters its first full winter season since it lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in December. Cases among children appear to be especially high in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning where there are long hospital waits.

The State Council said influenza would increase this winter and spring. It said pneumonia would continue to be high in some areas in the future. It also warned of the risk of a rise in COVID-19 infections.

"All localities should strengthen information reporting on infectious diseases to ensure information is reported in a timely and accurate manner," the State Council said in a statement.

The situation gained attention this week after the WHO asked China for more information about the increase in infections. The organization noted a report by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) on undiagnosed pneumonia in children.

Both China and the WHO have faced questions about their reporting on the earliest COVID-19 cases that first appeared in Wuhan in late 2019.

On Thursday, the WHO said China had answered its request for information. The data China provided suggested the cases were connected to the lifting of COVID restrictions along with the spread of known diseases like pneumonia. Both COVID-19 and SARS, another viral disease caused by coronavirus, were first reported as unusual kinds of pneumonia.

This month, Chinese officials began issuing health advisories and warning the public of long waits at crowded hospitals. But officials have not put in place restrictions like the ones during the COVID pandemic, such as face coverings or closing schools.

Paul Hunter is a professor of medicine at Britain's University of East Anglia. He doubted the wave of infections was caused by a new disease.

If it was (a new disease), I would expect to see many more infections in adults, he said in a statement. The few infections reported in adults suggest existing immunity from a prior exposure.

Francois Balloux is with University College London. He said China was probably experiencing an increase of childhood infections because this was the first winter since lockdown restrictions were lifted. The lockdowns likely reduced children's immunity to common illnesses, Balloux said.

Parents in Shanghai on Friday said they were not overly concerned about the increase of sickness. While they said it appeared to be more severe, they expected it to pass.

"Colds happen all over the world," said Emily Wu outside a children's hospital. "I hope that people will not be biased because of the pandemic ... but look at this from a scientific perspective."

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

diagnose  v. to recognize an illness by examining someone

immunity  n. the power to keep yourself from being affected by a disease

transparent  adj. able to be seen through

biased  adj. having or showing a bias : having or showing an unfair tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others

perspective  n. a way of thinking about and understanding something
Down the hall from the chambers where the Madison City Council meets, a group of teenagers in matching navy blue jail fatigues gathers around a table in Dane County's Juvenile Detention Center.

The room is largely gray, soaked in fluorescent light. A few juvenile court workers wait outside behind the thick plexiglass windows.

But on the table in front of the teens sit microphones and a laptop  part of an ongoing podcasting class led by Dee Star, who has taught the course at the detention center for the past year.

Over two days, Star teaches the group the basics of recording and interviewing. From there, a subject is brought in for the class to interview. Guests have included real estate agents, rappers, clothing designers and anti-mass incarceration activists.

"They can see, 'Wow, this is a real person who really does this,'" Star said.

Star's class is part of Making Justice, a workshop and art program for at-risk and incarcerated youth that's run out of The Bubbler, a community art program within the Madison Public Library.

Star's mission with Making Justice is to "plant that seed" of curiosity in the arts or business and then be "off to the next kid."

"I cannot even tell you how many times I've asked the question, 'What do you want to be?'" Star said. "So many kids say, 'I don't know if I'm going to be alive.' The 'I don't know' is totally fine when you're 15, 16. But to say you're probably not going to be alive? It's heartbreaking."

Since its 2014 beginnings, Making Justice has strived to bring the tools of artistic expression to the community's youth. Whether they are caught up in the court system, at risk of ending up there, actually incarcerated or just looking for something to do, the kids served by the program are introduced to the joys of painting, music, fashion, videography and more.

And they're learning from some of the best. Over the years, some of the city's most-established artists and culture makers have staffed the program and worked as artists-in-residence.

For his part, Star is a rising personality in the local podcasting scene. His program, "OuttaDeeBox," features guests who have been formerly incarcerated and activists fighting against mass incarceration.

Then there's Jerry Butler, a remarkable painter and muralist who has twice been an artist-in-residence with the program.

Over the years, Butler, other artists and youth incarcerated at the Juvenile Detention Center have remade the interior of the space, replacing alienating blank walls with murals teeming with color and inspiration. In the center's intake room, a giant heart now covers the wall. Another mural depicts a blue landscape and stairs, adorned with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"To me, it makes the space a little softer," Butler said. "To come into these spaces, and usually there's not anything to look at. You hardly notice the wall. You just notice the feeling. But if you can notice whats on the wall, you can lessen the impact somewhat. I cant say how much, because its a difficult thing for these kids."

When working with teens on the murals, Butler likes to make his presence "low-key" and advisory. The teens come up with the ideas for the project and execute the design and build trust and relationships among themselves, he said.

Murals take anywhere from a week to months to complete. And since there's plenty of turnover in the lockup, different groups have a say in the final design.

"One of the things I want to do is let them know that you may be in this space right now, but if you can imagine yourself anywhere, then that imagination can take you to places you want to be," Butler said.

Data to action

Making Justice emerged as a reaction to a 2013 report on racial disparities in the Madison area called "Race to Equity."

That report, published by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, found alarming educational achievement gaps between Black and white youth. Those disparities extended to the experience of Black youth in the criminal justice system.

In 2010, Black teens in Dane County were six times more likely than white ones to be arrested while their peers outside of Madison were only three times more likely to be arrested.

For more More information about Making Justice can be found here and at teenbubbler.org. A showcase of different projects completed by youth in the program can be found here.

An updated report released this year didn't analyze criminal justice data but found that disparities persist in areas considered upstream from incarceration, such as education, class and health. Black children in Dane County, for example, face a poverty rate about seven times higher than white children. They also feel less safe in their classrooms, perform worse on standardized tests and change schools more often than white students.

While it is a key focus, the work of Making Justice goes far beyond area youth who are already incarcerated. Organizers tout a citywide impact and a depth of creativity from the program's participants that spans many artistic mediums. At Lakeview Library, collages of broken CDs made by participants spell out the word "teens."

Participants have shot and produced music videos touching on complex, difficult themes, from gun violence to the relationship between a mother and a daughter.

"The mentorship element of it allows them to open up," said Rob Franklin, also known as Rob Dz, head of media projects for The Bubbler. "When we come in, we're able to share our challenges, our shortcomings, where we bumped our heads. It opens them up."

Branching out

At first, projects Franklin oversaw in Making Justice stuck to hip-hop productions. But over time, it's branched off into video work and other forms of visual art.

"If we can just figure out a way to provide some type of spark," Franklin said. "I'm not saying everybody's going to be a podcaster. I'm not saying everybody's going to be a rapper. But the whole goal is to at least get kids to really be inspired in some type of way.

"If that aspiration keeps them on the straight and narrow, or make some adjustments as far as the trajectory of their career path, that's all we can hope for."

For Jesse Vieau, a teen services librarian, the reaction from kids who have come in and out of the program show that staff are delivering on that spark.

Even for kids who have gone in and out of detention, the arrival of Bubbler staff is one constant they have.

"We're really cautious about what we commit ourselves to, because we know kids have been let down and we're not trying to be a part of the letdown," Vieau said. "It's the word of mouth. When the kids are talking about it, you've got something. The follow-through is listening to them."

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect a correction. The people waiting outside as the teens meet in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center are juvenile court workers.

Where are they now? The stories of 8 people who were pardoned by Gov. Tony Evers Matthew Riehle can now summit mountains in Canada Michelle Roberson Nance wants to 'to do right by' her pardon Eric Pizer's 'longtime battle' for a pardon is 'finally over' Kimm Laursen: 'If I want to do something, I am free to do it.' Anthony Cooper says his pardon shows 'change is possible' 'Very grateful': Rev. Mwangi Vasser is working as a hospice chaplain Kathryn Morrow says her pardon 'meant so much' Syreeta Robinson: 'One bad decision is not the end of your life'
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LANCASTER  We started Allegiant Oil because we wanted to provide families, farms and businesses the products, prices and services they deserve. Nearly 17 years later, our family-run small business now operates out of seven locations, and we are proud to meet the energy needs of thousands of customers in nearly a dozen counties.

While our company is headquartered not far from our states southern border, I am very concerned about what is happening over 300 miles away in northwest Wisconsin where the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline is located.

Line 5, which originates in Superior, carries over 500,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids to refineries in Michigan, Ohio and just over the border in Canada. The crude oil Line 5 carries is refined into gasoline, which most of us rely on to get to work, take our kids to school and generally live our lives. Line 5 product also gets made into diesel fuel used on our farms to power equipment and by trucks to move products off the farm to a food processor and, ultimately, to market.

While the gas and diesel made possible by Line 5 are important to our energy supply, what makes Line 5 unique is it is the only pipeline in Wisconsin transporting natural gas liquids, which is refined into propane. At Allegiant Oil, we provide over 3 million gallons of propane each year that is used for heating homes and barns, drying crops, controlling weeds, cooking food and even to provide a nice fire for families and friends to gather around.

Being the only one of its kind, Line 5 is essential to propane supply throughout the entire upper Midwest, including in Wisconsin.

Some people who typically oppose all energy pipelines have called for shutting down Line 5. That makes no sense. Pipelines are proven to be the safest way to move energy  with an exemplary safety record. Line 5 is no exception to this. The line has operated safely for 70 years and is subject to constant monitoring and maintenance.

A legal case is ongoing between Enbridge, the owner and operator of Line 5, and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. A small portion of Line 5  about 12 miles of the 645-mile pipeline  runs across the bands reservation in Ashland County. While the band supported the pipeline for most of its existence, the current leadership wants Line 5 off the reservation and has filed a lawsuit to make that happen.

To accommodate the band, Enbridge has proposed a 41-mile project that will move Line 5 off the reservation but still allow it to continue to operate and supply the energy we all need. While all the land owners along the proposed relocation route have agreed to host the line, the state-issued permits for the project have been waiting for approval for nearly four years.

My fear is that Line 5 will be shut down because those who want all pipelines shut down get their way, or because the Bad River Bands lawsuit is successful before the reroute is completed. If Line 5 were to stop operating, it would have a devastating impact on the supply of propane in the upper Midwest.

Pam Johnson: Tribes oppose risky and unnecessary Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians opposes the continued operation of Line 5 in northern Wisconsin, including the proposed rerouting of t

One of the leading manufacturers of propane has said it will close propane facilities in Wisconsin and Michigan if Line 5 is closed  leading to propane supply shortages and price hikes that will almost assuredly hurt the farmers, families and small businesses that rely on the propane Allegiant Oil provides them.

Thats why I am so concerned about a pipeline located a long way from where I live. While Line 5 may seem really far away for most of us, it has a big impact on our entire state.
Shiloh Blackburn knows she cant live without community support workers.

She knows she needs them to live independently in her small Pocatello apartment with her two cats, Saga and Excalibur.

What she doesnt know is whether the state and the Legislature understand the magnitude of that problem.

Blackburn agreed to spend an afternoon with Idaho Reports this summer to demonstrate why she needs the direct care workers and her concerns about the shortage.

Blackburn, who serves as the chair of the Idaho State Independent Living Council, has cerebral palsy, a disease causing some physical limitations that requires her to use a wheelchair. She also has seizures and a developmental disability. She doesnt want to live in a group home, and she doesnt want to be reliant on her parents. At 48, Blackburn knows her parents are aging and wont be able to care for her the way they did when she was a child.

They help me get up out of bed and into my chair, Blackburn said about support workers. And let me clarify that one part  once Im in bed, I cannot get out of bed on my own. Once Im in my chair, I cannot get out of my chair on my own. I have to have help. So if somebody does not come in for a shift, Im stuck.

Two care workers come to her apartment each day, working in shifts, one at a time. They help her get to her wheelchair, help her with hygiene, cooking, getting her medication, running errands, and companionship.

Basically, my entire independence relies on them, Blackburn said.

These problems are not just hypothetical. Recently, a new care worker failed to show up for a shift, leaving Blackburn in the bathroom for six hours, unable to move herself.

Blackburn is on Medicaid and Medicare and uses that funding to pay the care workers. She uses the self-directed service model, so she can hire her own care workers through the budget she is allocated through the government.

Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations report shows increased need for direct care workers

The Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations published a report this year on the sustainability of the direct care workforce, which estimated 33,000 elderly people and people with disabilities in Idaho use direct care workers. The report estimated the state needs at least 3,000 more direct care workers than are currently employed, a problem that will only get worse.

In September, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee heard from members of the disability advocacy community, who shared some of their stories of being unable to find consistent care. Some of those experiences prompted tears from committee members.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid Division Administrator Juliet Charron knows the issue around the shortage of direct care workers is a problem, and the Medicaid pay rate is a central cause.

Many factors go into their rate review process and home and community-based services we know, I think, have been long overdue for some rate increases, Charron said. The Legislature has appropriated a number of rate increases over the past two sessions, which has been great, but I think it has scratched the surface of probably what needs to happen.

Charron said the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem, as jobs at places like Amazon or fast-food restaurant chains started paying higher wages.

One of the things that concerns me the most is that caregivers are not paid as much as other fields of work, Blackburn said. Right now, my caregivers, they dont have benefits, they dont get paid time off, they dont get holiday pay, because thats not in my budget.  They really are hardworking and they really care about me and want to make sure I get the care I need. But at the same time, they have their own lives to live and they have their own needs.

The Larsens: Lack of routine is hard for kids with special needs

For Rochelle Larsen of Rigby, direct care workers help her take better care of her family. She has five children, two of whom have a disability. Her 14-year-old son, Abraham, is diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a mental disability, and an intellectual disability. Her 10-year-year daughter, BrynnLe, has Down syndrome.

Larsens family uses Medicaids family directed support services for the two children. Abraham gets 10 hours a week with a habilitation interventionalist through an agency. Abraham and BrynnLe also have some hours during the week with a support services worker, who helps the family care for them.

During the last couple years, weve seen an increase in turnover, for sure, Larsen said. Like, being on a waitlist to even get services. In the past year hes had four different people work with him, and hes had about four months without anybody being able to work.

The lack of routine is hard for children with special needs, Larsen said. When Abraham is without a worker, he struggles with behavioral issues.

It feels like we make a little bit of progress and then the worker changes or leaves, and it feels like were starting all over again, Larsen said. It gets frustrating as a parent to see your child make some progress and then regress.

Her daughter has support workers who work on goals with BrynnLe while her parents take care of other family needs.

We cant pay what other businesses are paying, so its really difficult to keep workers at a steady rate, Larsen said. Most of ours have another job and so their hours are very limited to be able to work with our children.

The Larsens try to make the workers feel like they are a part of the family, and they try to supplement the budget when they can, sometimes bringing a care worker on vacation with the family.

Larsen said workers also help give parents of disabled children a brief break.

Were with our children all of the time, said Larsen, who stays home with the children. So when youre always doing something for someone else, its nice to have somebody else come and youre able to get a break and be able to rejuvenate yourself and youre able to come back and be a really good parent for your child.

Larsen stressed that paying direct care workers more is vital to addressing the shortage.

It is an exhausting job. Its hard to work with individuals with disabilities, Larsen said. Its either physically hard, (or) with our son Abraham, its mentally and physically draining. So to be compensated for that work would be amazing.

Larsen also argued that care workers should be treated with more respect, rather than glorified babysitters.

They are doing a lot more, Larsen said. They are working on goals and outcomes and trying to help our children be able to contribute to society.

Solving the direct care worker problem in Idaho

The Department of Health and Welfare hopes to streamline training for agencies that employ new direct care workers, as employees leave, and they hire replacements.

Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen told the states Joint Legislative Oversight Committee in September that the state has increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates to home and community-based services in recent years. This allows for care worker pay increases. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Legislature gave the health department $230 million for rate increases, and in FY 2024, the Legislature appropriated $25 million to the health department for rates. In the pending budget request for FY 2025, the department is asking for an additional $46 million.

The Division of Medicaid also hopes to promote a campaign for the direct care workforce to encourage people to pursue it as a job option.

Charron said the department also hopes to partner with stakeholders for recommendations.

So were looking at recommendations beyond just rates, Charron said. And so I want folks to understand that its not going to happen overnight. Solutions dont happen overnight. It is beyond probably just Medicaid, but it is something that definitely deserves and needs attention.

She said that applied to home health care, but even direct care staff at an institutional level.

Its a national crisis; its an Idaho crisis. Today, peoples lives are being impacted every day, Charron said. Having available direct care staff, again, kind of across that continuum of potential services, literally is a lifeline for many people. These are the supports that keep them safe to reside in their community.

Charron knows of facilities struggling to keep doors open due to staffing, and disabled people who are showing up at emergency rooms because they need care.

But if someone is able to reside safely and independently at home, in the community with some supports, that is where we want to support them to be for their quality of life, Charron said. And from a state perspective, too, it is more economical to support someone in the community than at that institutional level of care.

During a recent Our Care Cant Wait Coalition legislative luncheon, Senate Speaker Pro Tem Chuck Winder told Idaho Reports the issue is on lawmakers radar.

I dont think theres any doubt that itll be discussed and brought up, he said. Its just a matter of whether some solution is brought forward or not.

So, theres going to have to be, through JFAC and through the germane committees, work done on these issues and try and figure out what makes the most sense and how to move forward, Winder said. I think theres a recognition finally, through the OPE report and others, that theres a problem and it needs to be solved. Its basically a problem all businesses have, and thats how do you pay people and attract them to do the services that are needed in the community. Whether thatll get done or not, I dont know. But itll certainly be advanced and discussed and Im sure theyll be hearings about it.

Larsen pointed out that everyone may be disabled at some point. Whether its after an accident, illness, or through age, most people will eventually need care.

How would you want to be treated when you have an accident or you are elderly and become disabled? Larsen said. How do you want to be treated? Who do you want to be taking care of you? What training do you want them to have? Do you want them to be paid well so that they care about their job and they love what theyre doing? I think everyone should think about that.
The snow fell. Now, get ready for the cold.

The Twin Falls area was hit by 4 to 6 inches of snow Thursday and Friday, and double that in some parts of Mini-Cassia, snarling holiday travel plans for some travelers.

As expected, the Southern Idaho Regional Communications Center reported numerous slide-offs. Fortunately, on Friday morning a dispatcher said there hadnt been any serious injuries reported.

Sometimes, she said, a law enforcement officer will respond to one slide-off, only to have another slide-off occur within sight of the first one.

Officers are pretty busy right now, she said.

The storm hit Magic Valley especially hard when compared to some parts of southern Idaho.

Boise didnt receive any snow, according to the National Weather Service maps, and just 2 inches was reported in Idaho Falls. The Burley-Rupert area received a foot of snow, snowfall maps show.

The winter warm storming was in place until 11 a.m. Friday. Forecasts call for snowfall tapering off for the next several days but could kick in again next weekend.

But it will get cold. Projected highs from Saturday to Tuesday are expected to hover near 32 degrees, while low temperatures might drop to about 10 degrees each night.

Snowfall might have slowed down Black Friday shoppers, but only a bit, said Jena Knopp, manager of Big 5 Sporting Goods in Twin Falls.

Instead of a rush of shoppers at 6 a.m., they were more steadily spaced out, Knopp said.

Shoppers were in good spirits, and purchasing a lot of snow boots and snow pants, she said.

And that winter wear might be good for the slopes, as there are additional ski resort openings in sight as the region around Pomerelle Ski Area near Albion got totals upwards of 16 inches of snow from the storm, according to the National Weather Service.

Pomerelle said it still wasnt announcing when it would open, but the comment, Hopefully these storms bring the goods! was posted on social media, along with video of a winter wonderland.

Sun Valley, thanks to their man-made snow capabilities, opened on Thanksgiving.

Law enforcement officers encourage safe driving while traveling on slick roads and in frigid temperatures.

A news release from the Idaho State Police Department urged motorists to equip their vehicles with all-season or studded snow tires, and to have a blanket, warm clothing, shovel, jumper cables, and a windshield scraper on hand.

Travelers should also check the weather forecast and road conditions before embarking on journeys, the ISP said.

Road conditions are available at 511.idaho.gov.

Officers remind motorists to give snowplow drivers ample space to work and to never pass on the right-hand side. More than a dozen crashes between vehicles and snowplows occurred in Idaho last winter.
President Marcos on Saturday confirmed that a Filipino national was among the hostages released by the Palestinian militant group Hamas weeks after being held captive in Gaza.

I am overjoyed to confirm that a Filipino, Mr. Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco, was among the first group of 24 hostages released by the Hamas yesterday, Marcos said on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Pacheco, 33, was taken hostage on Oct. 7.

Marcos said Pacheco is safe and already in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

He lauded the Philippine Foreign Service and thanked the State of Qatar for their vital role in ensuring Pachecos release.

I salute the work of the Philippine Foreign Service in securing his release, and once again thank the State of Qatar for their invaluable assistance in making Jimmys release possible, Marcos said.

The President, however, said he is still worried about the safety of another Filipino national, Noralyn Babadilla, who is also reportedly held hostage by the Hamas group.

He said the Philippine government would spare no effort to ensure Babadillas release if she is indeed one of the militant groups hostages.

We remain concerned over the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages, he said.

We pray for the continued success of the truce and for all hostages to be released.

Marcos assured the Filipinos in Israel and their loved ones in the Philippines that the government would continue monitoring the situation in the war-torn areas and coordinating with international counterparts to ensure their welfare and safety.

For his part, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Pacheco is currently at the hospital for a medical examination.

(Philippine) Embassy people in Tel Aviv are with Pacheco at (the) hospital now, he said.

In a separate statement, the Israeli Embassy in Manila welcomed the news and assured that Israel is also making efforts to secure the release of other hostages, including one Filipino-Israeli believed to be among them.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila expresses its relief upon the release of Mr. Jimmy Pacheco from captivity by Hamas, it said.

Our thoughts and prayers remain for the safe release of the 200+ hostages still held in captivity by the terror organization Hamas. The Israeli government is committed and will do whatever is needed to bring them back home.

The Embassy said Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr., together with senior representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed Pacheco.

Pacheco was freed together with a group of Thai nationals.

Hamas and the Israeli government agreed to a prisoner exchange deal early Wednesday after almost six hours of debate, according to Anadolu reports.

Citing the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, Anadolu reported that a deal was approved by the Israeli Cabinet where 50 hostages consisting of children and women held by Hamas in Gaza would be released in exchange for a four-day ceasefire.
Australia and the Philippines announced Saturday the start of joint air and sea patrols off the Southeast Asian nation, as they seek to deepen their defence cooperation to counter Chinas assertiveness in the region.

The maritime cooperative activity comes days after the United States held a similar exercise with the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

In a joint statement, the Australian and Philippine defence chiefs said the three-day patrols showed their shared commitment to exercising freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with international law.

The Philippines will deploy two navy vessels and five surveillance aircraft to join Australias HMAS Toowoomba warship and a P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft.

The maritime patrols will be held inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone, Philippine defence spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.

In September, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signed a strategic partnership that enabled the expansion of cooperation in several areas from defence and security to climate change and education.

Marcos said Saturday the joint patrols were a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries.

We endeavor to enhance bilateral interoperability in maritime security and domain awareness, Marcos said on the social media platform X.

The long-anticipated Philippine patrols with the United States and Australia follow a spike in tensions between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Beijings expansive claims over the waterway approach the coasts of other countries  more than a thousand kilometres from the nearest major Chinese landmass.

It has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its claims have no legal basis.

China deploys boats to patrol the sea and has built artificial islands that it has militarised to reinforce its claims.

Marcos warned on Sunday that the Chinese military had started to show interest in building bases on reefs that were closer and closer to the Philippine coastline.
Speaker Martin Romualdez on Saturday pushed for closer cooperation and stronger alliance among Asia-Pacific nations so they can effectively confront regional challenges.

In the foreseeable future, strong partnerships between APPF (Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum) member countries will be more crucial than ever. With an ever-widening array of challenges confronting the region, the strength of our relations is what may be the key factor that will enable us not only to endure but to even thrive, Romualdez said.

The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives delivered the closing remarks at the 31st annual APPF conference, which the Philippine Congress hosted.

He said the resolutions drafted, deliberated upon and ultimately adopted during the forum hold great significance.

But what I deem to be of perhaps even greater value were the relationships that we were able to forge and strengthen, and the partnerships that we were able to establish between and among our respective parliaments. In this sense, we were truly faithful to our theme this year  Resilient Partnerships for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainability, he said.

Romualdez said APPF members may have some divergent views since they come from various countries, but in truth, these are far outnumbered and outweighed by the things we hold in common and the areas and opportunities for mutual collaboration and growth which together we can vigorously pursue.

Indeed, we do not live in denial that there are contentious issues which require our collective resolution. But as long as we remain committed to engage with one another in a spirit of respect, dialogue and cooperation, there is always hope, he added.

He said the Philippines considers it a privilege and an honor to host the 31st Forum.

We hope that even in such a short period, we may have been able to share with you what is best in our Filipino culture and that you do consider coming here again, he told his regional peers.

He said hosting the conference also gave the Philippine delegation the chance to rally support for three major proposals: the countrys bid to be a member of the United Nations Council, amendment of the APPF rules to include young parliamentarians in the groups annual meetings and the Philippines offer to serve as headquarters of the APPF secretariat.

The House leader thanked participants for giving due consideration to our initiatives.

There were 267 participants with 158 members of parliament from 19 countries who attended the conference in person, and who proposed 37 resolutions that were consolidated into 10, which the assembly adopted.

Collectively, we were able to discuss and deliberate substantially upon a wide range of urgent regional concerns, and in the end, we were able to adopt worthwhile resolutions that can help our region to attain much higher growth and stability, Romualdez said.
PBBM vows to give more support to First Scout Ranger Regiment President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday assured members of the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR) of government support and assistance to improve its operational capability.

In his keynote speech during the celebration of the FSSRs founding anniversary in Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan, Mr. Marcos said it is crucial to prioritize the troops capabilities as the country bolsters its external defense.

To this end, the Department of National Defense will review the Scout Rangers capability requirements and pursue options that will enhance our operational capability and effectiveness to achieve the desired defense objectives, he said.

By providing the necessary resources and support, we will enable the Scout Rangers, including our special forces units, to support the armed forces as it transforms into a stronger and more reliable defense force capable of defending the country against current and emerging threats.

The President said the commemoration of the FSSRs 73rd anniversary is not just a celebration of history but a recognition of this units pivotal role in confronting internal security threats and safeguarding our nation.

He lauded the Scout Rangers for being stalwart defenders of the country and demonstrating loyalty and professionalism for more than seven decades.

From jungle to urban warfare expertise, our unit has evolved to meet the ever-changing challenges. The specialized skills in warfare, counterterrorism, and special (operations) make you indispensable to our national security, Mr. Marcos said.

I enjoin the Scout Rangers to continue to exemplify bravery, dedication, excellence, professionalism, courage in your mission of safeguarding and developing our nation.

He expressed optimism that with the FSSRs help, the government would achieve its dream of having an insurgency-free, secure, and harmonious Philippines where the dreams of our people flourish unhindered.

The FSSR is one of the elite forces of the Philippine Army, specializing in anti-guerrilla warfare and counter-insurgency operations in the country to address internal security threats, particularly those posed by terrorist groups and insurgent movements.

Established in November 1950, the unit was created to address the growing threat of communist insurgency, specifically to counter the Hukbalahap insurgency and other security challenges in the Philippines.

Since its founding, the FSRR has played a significant role in various military operations, including the Zamboanga Siege in 2013 and the Battle of Marawi in 2017.
The Philippines and Australia started joint air and sea patrols as they seek to deepen their defense cooperation to counter Chinas assertiveness in the region.

The maritime cooperative activity came days after the United States held a similar exercise with the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

President Marcos said Saturday the joint patrols were a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries.

We endeavor to enhance bilateral interoperability in maritime security and domain awareness, Marcos said on the social media platform X.

In a joint statement, the Australian and Philippine defense chiefs said the three-day patrols showed their shared commitment to exercising freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with international law.

The Philippines will deploy two navy vessels and five surveillance aircraft to join Australias HMAS Toowoomba warship and a P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft.

The maritime patrols will be held inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone, Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.

In September, Mr. Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a strategic partnership that enabled the expansion of cooperation in several areas from defence and security to climate change and education.

The long-anticipated Philippine patrols with the United States and Australia follow a spike in tensions between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Beijings expansive claims over the waterway approach the coasts of other countries  more than a thousand kilometres from the nearest major Chinese landmass.

It has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its claims have no legal basis.

China deploys boats to patrol the sea and has built artificial islands that it has militarized to reinforce its claims.

Mr. Marcos earlier warned Sunday the Chinese military had started to show interest in building bases on reefs that were closer and closer to the Philippine coastline. With AFP
In the hearts of countless pet owners, the love for their furry companions transcends mere companionship. It becomes a profound connection. When the time comes to say a final farewell to their beloved pets, the question arises: where can one find a resting place that will honor the memory of their faithful friends?

In the Philippines, a land known for its breathtaking natural beauty and warm hospitality, pet owners have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to finding the perfect final resting place for their pets.

Lets explore some of these places and the unique ways they help cherish the memories of our loyal animal companions.

Finding Comfort in Nature  Pet Memorial Parks

In the Philippines, several pet memorial parks are dedicated solely to giving pet owners a natural and comforting space to lay their beloved animals to rest. These parks, such as the Pet Valley Park and Crematory in Silang, Cavite and the Sanctuary de San Fernando in Pampanga, offer a peaceful and picturesque environment.

Pet Valley Park, established in 2007, provides a wide range of services, including burial, cremation, and the option to have a memorial plaque or marker/headstone in memory of the departed pet. The parks natural setting offers pet owners a sense of closure in the company of like-minded individuals who understand the profound bond they shared with their animals.

The inside of Pet Valley Park. (Photo taken from the Facebook page of Pet Valley Park.)

Cremation Services with a Personal Touch

Cremation has become an increasingly popular option for pet owners, offering a more personalized and space-efficient way to remember their pets. In the Philippines, several establishments specialize in pet cremation services, with a focus on providing a dignified and compassionate farewell.

One such establishment is Loyal Pet Cremation PH, located in Quezon City. They offer various cremation packages that include memorial urns, personalized memorial plaques, and even paw print molds, giving pet owners a tangible memento to cherish. With cremation, pet owners can keep their beloved companions ashes close by in a decorative urn or spread them in a location that held significance for both the pet and the owner.

From Life to Death to Life After Death  Pet to Nature

Standing out as a leading pet memorial service provider in the Philippines, Pet to Nature sets itself apart with a profound commitment to compassion and a deep reverence for pets. What distinguishes Pet to Nature is its innovative approach to pet memorials, rooted in environmental consciousness. They offer an eco-friendly aquamation service, a gentle and eco-conscious form of pet cremation that reduces the environmental impact. This process transforms the ashes of beloved pets into fine powder of which the furr-parents would have a choice then to bring the ashes home with them or have it utilized to nurture and grow trees.

The Chapel used for the funeral services in Pet to Nature. (Photo taken from the Facebook page of Pet to Nature.)

Pet to Nature is dedicated to ensuring that the memory of cherished companions lives on through these living tributes to nature. By offering pet owners the opportunity to give back while honoring their loyal animals, Pet to Nature paves the way for a meaningful and eco-conscious farewell for beloved pets.

Preserving the Memory with Art  Pawprints Memorial Art

For pet owners who want a truly unique and artistic way to remember their animals, most pet memorial establishments today offers a distinctive service. They transform your pets ashes into a beautiful, personalized piece of artwork, such as a glass pendant, a painting, or even a sculpture.

This creative approach allows pet owners to keep their pets close to their hearts in a tangible and aesthetically pleasing way. Its a fusion of art and sentiment that provides a lasting tribute to beloved animals.

In the End

The Philippines offers a diverse range of options for pet owners seeking the perfect final resting place for their beloved companions. From serene pet sanctuaries to natural pet memorial parks, personalized cremation services, underwater memorials, and artistic creations, there are numerous ways to cherish the memories of loyal animal friends. These options ensure that, even in the final farewell, the bond between pet and their human parents remains a cherished and unforgettable connection, preserved with love and respect.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She has been a solo parent for 16 years now because she is wife to a desaparecido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.
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Two people are dead after Baltimore County Police responded to a domestic dispute at a house in Parkville. County police say a man exchanged gunfire with officers and died at the scene, while a womans body was found inside.

Police said Arnel Redfern, 52, and Maxine Redfern, 48, died about 11:30 p.m. Friday at the home in the 2700 block of Maple Avenue.

The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Attorney Generals Office said Saturday that it was investigating, as it does statewide in cases involving the fatal use of force by law enforcement.

As the first responding county officer approached the home, they heard shots and a woman screaming inside, according to a news release from the attorney generals office that described an initial review of evidence. The man later identified as Arnel Redfern opened a door and fired at police, the attorney generals office said.

During the incident, three officers discharged their weapons, the attorney generals office statement said.

County police said in a statement of their own that after an exchange of gunfire, that subject was located fatally wounded outside the home. A handgun was recovered near the suspects body.

Maxine Redfern was found dead in the residence, which is listed in state real estate records as having been purchased by Arnel Redfern in 2017.

The first subject is believed to have been shot by the second subject before engaging in the shooting with the police, county police spokesperson Anthony Shelton said in an email. The Medical Examiners Office will determine the actual cause of both of their deaths.

Shelton said the Redferns marital status is unknown. However, online court records show that last month, the Baltimore County Sheriffs Office served Arnel Redfern with an Oct. 10 divorce summons from Maxine Redfern. The Baltimore County Circuit Court had issued a protective order Oct. 17 against Arnel Redfern, ordering him to surrender all firearms and refrain from abuse.

County homicide detectives are investigating what led to Maxine Redferns death.

The attorney generals office said the county officers wore body cameras. It may release the footage within 20 business days, depending whether investigators have finished interviewing witnesses, among several factors. Additionally, the division generally releases the names of officers it is investigating within two business days.

The neighborhood was quiet Saturday afternoon. People answered their doors with tired eyes and declined to speak with a reporter. Many said they were too shaken up.

Some families had already started decorating for Christmas. String lights were woven around a railing leading up to the front door of one home. In the front yard of another home, two inflatable dinosaurs gave each other a kiss.

The Redferns had a dog, a terrier with black ears, that nobody had seen since the night before, neighbors said.
TODAYS WORD is finagle. Example: With his charming smile and persuasive words, he was able to finagle a raise from his boss.

THURSDAYS WORD was bombastic, meaning (of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; pretentious. Example: The politicians bombastic claims fell flat in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Collinsville

The Stroller read an account the other day of how Collinsville came to be. We have no idea how accurate it is, but it seems plausible to us.

C.B. Collins, from New Jersey, invented a spring-operated flashlight that even worked under water. With the endorsement from the local Chamber of Commerce and a loan from a lumber company, Collins bought 30 acres of land and constructed a building to be used as his flashlight factory.

The year was 1932, and the economic situation forced Collins to close up shop and give up his plans.

The Highway Department rerouted U.S. 220 through Collinsville in 1937 and after World War II the development of Collinsville came to be, boasting of a population of 9,000 people in a seven square mile area.

Block party

The Rooster Walk folks are having an R.W. Shucks Block Party today on the historic courthouse square in uptown Martinsville from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Oysters will be offered roasted, on the half shell, raw and as shooters and other seafood options will be available.

Live music and libations will accompany the oyster and seafood fest.

Small Business Saturday

Today is Small Business Saturday and everyone is encouraged to go out and support a favorite mom and pop shop. Many uptown businesses will be open.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 and U.S. consumers spend about $17.8 billion on this day in support of the smaller, locally owned restaurants and businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Chuckle

A man and a woman are working and the woman says, I can make boss give me the day off.

And how would you do that? asks the man.

The woman says, Just wait and see, so she hangs upside down from the ceiling and the boss comes in and asks, What are you doing?

Im a light bulb, the woman replies.

You been working so much youve gone crazy, said the boss. I think you need to take the day off.

The man starts to follow the woman and the boss asks the man, Where are you going?

Im going home, too, said the man. How am I supposed to work in the dark?

Quote of the day

Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.  Pablo Picasso

THURSDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: Fort Hood may be found in the state of Texas, named after a Confederate general. On May 9 Fort Hood officially became Fort Cavazos, renamed for a native Texan and the U.S. Armys first Hispanic four-star general.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: What gift is first presented on the fifth day in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas?
RALEIGH  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Low Income Energy Assistance Program will begin accepting applications from older adults and people with disabilities on Friday, Dec. 1.

The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment sent directly to their heating vendor to offset the high cost of warming their homes during the cold-weather months.

We know the cost of most things are increasing, and keeping homes warm and safe this winter will be a bigger burden for some of our neighbors, said Carla West, senior director for Human Services at NCDHHS. LIEAP helps ensure North Carolinas older adults and people with disabilities who may be facing a financial hardship have the funds to help stay warm throughout these colder months.

Payments will be distributed automatically to heating vendors beginning in December if a member of the household meets the following three requirements:

Is age 60 or older or a person with a disability receiving services through the NCDHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services,

Currently receives Food and Nutrition Services and

Received a LIEAP payment during the 2022-2023 season.

Households meeting the requirements for the automatic payment were notified of their eligibility in November and do not need to reapply for LIEAP.

Any household with a person 60 or older or disability and is receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services who did not receive notice of an automated payment can apply online at www.epass.nc.gov. Applicants can also call their county department of social services to apply by phone, in person or print a paper application from www.epass.nc.gov to mail, fax or drop off at their county department of social services.

To be eligible for the LIEAP program, a household must:

Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility requirements,

Have income equal to or less than 130% of the federal poverty limit, and

Be responsible for their heating cost.

Beginning Jan. 2, all other eligible households who meet the eligibility requirements may begin applying. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 2 to March 31 or until funds are exhausted.

Last year, the LIEAP program provided approximately $63 million to help more than 143,000 households pay their heating bills from December 2022 through March 2023. For more information on the program and eligibility, visit the NCDHHS website at www.ncdhhs.gov.
RALEIGH  Alexis de Tocqueville once described history as a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies. Right now, in contested regions across the world, enemies of freedom and decency are adding new works of horror to this already gruesome gallery.

Some American leaders have risen to the challenge of the moment. One of them, North Carolinas own U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, has been a voice of moral clarity and resolve.

In September, for example, Tillis and his Democratic colleague Jeanne Shaheen issued a statement calling the Ukrainian resistance to Vladimir Putin a fight for democracy and freedom in every corner of the world, arguing that if we let authoritarians like Putin dictate the futures of sovereign countries, respect for human rights and democratic values will deteriorate, the global economy will suffer and any autocrats, including Xi Jinping, will be emboldened to follow suit.

And just last week, Tillis defended Israels military operations in Gaza.

The only two nations in recent history that have consistently welcomed Jews and provided them with a safe home are Israel and the United States, Tillis wrote in an op-ed. The only way that can be preserved is by destroying Hamas and rooting out antisemitism here at home.

Alas, in too many ears, the phrase never again lacks the powerful resonance it should invoke. Consider three notorious genocides of the 20th century  and their ominous parallels today.

Shortly after the start of World War I in 1914, the supposedly modernist Young Turks who ran the Ottoman Empire embarked on a systemic expulsion of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and other ethnic minorities whod lived in Asia Minor for countless generations.

The Armenians, in particular, were subjected to forced migration and murder on a massive scale. Of the approximately 1.5 million Armenians then under Ottoman rule, as many as 1.2 million died  either killed outright by Turkish soldiers or marched into the deserts of Syria and Iraq to die of exposure, disease or starvation.

Two decades later, another ruthless gang massacred another ethnic minority. The culprits were Joseph Stalin and his Communist thugs. The victims were Ukrainians. Some had actively resisted Stalins tyranny. Others wanted only to live unmolested in their rural villages.

Although the Communists executed many Ukrainians outright, their primary tool of genocide was starvation. After forcibly collectivizing all agriculture, Russians repeatedly confiscated Ukrainian harvests and used violence to keep peasants from leaving home to find food elsewhere.

Ukrainians call it the Holodomor, the Great Starvation of 1932-1934. Estimates of the death toll vary, but four to five million is a reasonable guess, amounting to about 15% of Ukraines population.

At about the same time, Adolph Hitler and his National Socialist Party initiated their own campaign of persecution against the Jews of Germany. Over the next decade, as the scope of Nazi power grew across Europe, so did the breadth and depth of their savagery. Six million Jews  about two-thirds of all the Jews in Europe  died during the Holocaust, as did some 3.3 million Soviet prisoners-of-war, 1.8 million Poles, half a million Romani, and hundreds of thousands of other ethnic and religious minorities, political dissenters and homosexuals.

Here we are, nearly a century later, and what horrors do we confront? In September, the military forces of Azerbaijan, aided by Turkey, invaded the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing some 100,000 Armenians to flee a place their ancestors called home for centuries. In Ukraine, Putin continues his bloody war of conquest, which has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives. And in the Middle East, Jews again face genocidal foes  not just Hamas but their allies in Lebanon, Iran, Yemen and elsewhere.

This time, however, Jews possess the military might to fight back. And they do not face their foes alone. Most Americans stand, rightly, with them.

Throughout history, Sen. Tillis wrote, we have seen the tragic consequences of what happens when antisemitism is allowed to metastasize. It can never happen again.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Health-care professionals have recently called on the Queensland government to mandate fluoride in drinking water across the state, where water fluoridation coverage lags behind other Australian states and territories.

But what are the benefits of adding fluoride to our drinking water supplies? And why do more than one-quarter of Queenslanders not have access to a fluoridated drinking water supply, while most other Australians do?

First, what is water fluoridation?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral best known for its role in strengthening our teeth. When our teeth come into regular contact with fluoride, this makes them more resistant to dental caries, or decay.

Water fluoridation is a public health program which works to reduce dental decay at the population level. It involves adding a very small amount of fluoride to public water systems which supply tap water. In Australia, the recommended levels of fluoride in public water supplies range from 0.6 to 1.1 mg per liter.

The idea of water fluoridation was pioneered in the United States. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the world to fluoridate its water supply. Water fluoridation was cited by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as 1 of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

Fluoride has been added to water supplies in Australia for seven decades, starting in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, in 1953. Today, over 90% of Australians have access to fluoridated water.

The majority of Australian states and territories have laws requiring the fluoridation of public water supplies, with the exception of Queensland, which has left the decision up to individual local governments.

The evidence

The scientific consensus is that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to improve oral health. The Australian Dental Association, the World Health Organization and the International Association for Dental Research are among the bodies which endorse water fluoridation as a public health measure.

To support and maintain a program like water fluoridation on such a large scale, we need to routinely collect evidence it works.

The National Child Oral Health Study 201214, which I was involved in, gathered data on more than 24,000 children across Australia. The evidence demonstrated water fluoridation was effective in preventing dental caries. Another analysis I worked on of more than 5,000 children in Queensland, published in 2015, showed water fluoridation reduced dental decay by 40%.

Studies reviewed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 2017 showed water fluoridation can reduce the incidence of dental caries by 26% to 44% in children and adolescents, and by 27% in adults. Earlier evidence has similarly shown fluoridation is associated with fewer caries in adults.

Water fluoridation has also been found to be highly cost-effectiveinvestment in these programs can result in significant savings through improved population oral health.

Can fluoridation reduce inequalities in oral health?

Social factors such as background and income are associated with oral health. For example, people who are poorer, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, or from First Nations communities will often have poorer oral health compared with the overall population.

My research shows exposure to fluoridated water is associated with reduced inequality in child oral health related to household income and Indigenous status. We would expect to see this because of the passive mechanism of fluoride delivery. That is, people can benefit just by drinking fluoridated tap water, regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances.

Potential side effects

Dental fluorosis (changes in the color of tooth enamel) is a known side effect of water fluoridation. But dental fluorosis can also result from intake of fluoride from other sources, such as fluoridated toothpaste and fluoride applications during procedures at the dentist when children are young. Dental fluorosis in Australia is mostly very mild to mild and not associated with long-term oral health consequences.

The NHMRC's 2017 review concluded water fluoridation poses no other risks which should be cause for concern.

However, fluoridation has historically been somewhat controversial. One of the reasons so many local councils in Queensland have opted out is vocal opposition from small groups.

An argument recently raised against fluoridation suggests early life intake of fluoride is associated with childhood development, particularly lower IQ scores in children. Much of evidence for these arguments has come from poorly designed research or from areas with very high levels of natural fluoride and other heavy metals.

But child development is an important issue, so it's understandable this has caused concern.

Several large reviews have recently investigated this potential link. The reviews published in 2020, 2021 and 2023 all concluded fluoride exposure in the context of water fluoridation is not associated with lower cognitive abilities in children.

My colleagues and I also ran an Australian study to investigate this issue. We collected data from a nation-wide sample of more 2,600 children. We found exposure to fluoridated water in early childhood was not associated with any impact on child development.

This again shows us water fluoridation as practiced in Australia and internationally is safe for children.

Where to from here?

While the most significant gaps in Australia are in Queensland, some other parts of the country are missing out on fluoridated water too, including many rural towns in Victoria.

Water fluoridation has been a cornerstone of population prevention of dental decay, which can lead to other oral and general health issues.

It's important water fluoridation programs are supported, maintained and expanded where possible by all levels of government and health organizations.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
MCAT: One Day Short Film Production

Plan and execute a short film each week while learning the basics of filmmaking. Starting from a prewritten one- to three-page script, you will participate in preproduction and production including how to fix it in pre" as well as real time creative problem solving. This class is designed to be a fun, yet intensive way to get a short film in the can by the end of day. Films made will be edited by the instructor and shown the following week. The next workshop will be held on Nov. 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. in MCAT Studio Room 120 on Level One of the library.

Genealogy at Missoula Public Library: Genealogy for the Absolute Beginner

Curious about your family history but not sure where to begin? This hands-on class will help you get started. This class is held on Nov. 27 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Blackfoot Boardroom on the Level Four of the library. Basic computer and internet skills are required. Registration required: eventbrite.com/e/683882409697.

YMCA Yoga at the Library

Missoula Public Library is thrilled to partner with Missoula Family YMCA to offer free yoga at the library! On Nov. 30 from noon to 1 p.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library we will focus on basic yoga postures, alignment principles and breathing techniques that help balance, strengthen and stretch the body. This class is recommended for those wishing to strengthen the foundation of their practice, or who simply want an ongoing practice in harmony with their level of strength, balance, and flexibility  beginners are welcome! Participants must sign a liability waiver prior to class by downloading and printing it or by signing a provided copy before class begins. Download the waiver (PDF) here tinyurl.com/2994wjww. Participants are welcome to bring their own yoga mat or use one of ours.

Spirit of Giving at Missoula Public Library

Remember those in need this holiday season with our Giving Tree and ToileTree. Starting Dec. 1, come and grab a tag from our Giving Tree to provide needed resources to a local organization or help us adorn our ToileTree with travel-sized toiletries to benefit local shelters. Thanks to our MPL Yarns group for creating washcloths and toiletry kits!

Find the Elf on the Shelf

Each day Dec. 1 through Dec. 23 come to the library and find the Elf on the Shelf, Paige, in her new hiding place on Level Two of the library. Tell a librarian where you found her and receive a sweet treat.

Split the Grief with Me: Art & Poetry with Free Verse

This First Friday Reception held on Dec. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. on Level Four of the library will celebrate the unveiling of a gallery of Free Verse Writing Project students' artwork and writing, which will hang on Level Four through December. At the reception, we will read our students' poetry, bring the creativity bursting out of the Pine Hill Correctional Facility into the room through a video, and offer a writing activity led by one of our workshop facilitators, Agate Gamble. Free Verse brings arts and humanities-based educational programming to youth incarcerated in juvenile detention facilities across Montana. In 2022, we expanded our programming to serve youth incarcerated in psychiatric inpatient treatment centers, and in 2023 expanded to serve non-incarcerated, justice-involved youth. We provide daily workshops and lessons, bringing these workshops into the detention facilities themselves. We also publish and exhibit our youth participants creative work on a regular basis, keeping their voices and stories in the communities they were removed from.

As a bluejay arrived

The world lost another soul

The bluejay split the grief with me.

 S

Visit Santa Before Holidays on Higgins

On Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. bring your kiddos to the library to meet Santa and take photos before the Downtown Missoula Partnerships Holiday Village at the Holidays on Higgins celebration (formerly Parade of Lights). Santa and Mrs. Claus will come to Missoula Public Library to read stories, hear all about your holiday wishes and pose for photos on your phone. Santas sleigh will be leaving promptly at 3 p.m. so be sure to get in line by 2:30 p.m. For more information visit missouladowntown.com/holidays-on-higgins/. You can find Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library.

Holiday Music Performance

On Dec. 2 from 2 to 3 p.m on Level One of the library, Hellgate Middle School string orchestra students will add to the day's festive cheer by sharing some of their favorite holiday tunes!

Families First Learning Lab: Apron Decorating at Mary's Mountain Cookies

Join Families First Learning Lab for free apron decorating during Holidays on Higgins at Mary's Mountain Cookies on Dec. 2 from 2 to 6 p.m. or until supplies last. Please visit missouladowntown.com/parade-of-lights/ for more details.

Decembers Genealogy Book Group Title Available for Checkout

The December title for the new Genealogy Book Group is "Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind," by Sarah Wildman. Missoula Public Library has 10 copies of this book available for checkout. Come to the Montana Room on Level Three of the library to check out a copy before they are all gone! For more information email: desireef@missoulapubliclibrary.org.
A U.S. Army veteran is on a mission to build a war memorial in Billings to honor Montanans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rick Baker, who owns a metal fabrication business in Shepherd, was at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in 2020 when he noticed the monument outside doesnt recognize those lost in the more recent conflicts.

Now, I'm not an emotional guy. But that day, I felt a lot of emotion all at once, he said. I lost a lot of friends in those wars.

So, he took it upon himself to create a tribute for them, too.

Baker, 39, started Hoodies for Heroes, which sells sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats and other gear to help raise money for the memorial. So far, he said, the nonprofit has raised about $1,200 for the $500,000 project.

Earlier this month, he got the green light from the city of Billings to build the memorial in Delher Park.

We always like to honor our veterans who fought and lost their lives for the country, Billings Parks Director Mike Pigg said in a news release about the project. Anytime we can do something to help our veterans heal is a positive for the community.

Baker has also brought other local business owners on board. Eric Simonsen, of Simonsen Architect, volunteered to design the memorial.

It will list the names of Montana soldiers killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on one side and feature the American flag on the other. Within the flag's stripes, itll have a world map that shows all of the conflicts Montanans have been involved in.

Therell also be room to recognize those who fight in future wars.

Visitors will be able to interact with the monument through a kiosk. As they click on a conflict, the area in which it took place will light up on the map and the Montanans who served in it will be listed. Each of those who were killed in action will have a biography on the kiosk.

It hit super close to home for me because Ive lost so many buddies I served with and went to school with, Baker said.

He served for four years in the infantry and did one combat tour in Afghanistan. Baker received an honorable discharge after tearing his shoulder during tryouts for the Army wrestling team.

Now, he's working to get businesses to help sponsor the memorial. Baker plans to run a contest on TikTok and Instagram to name the memorial so the community can be involved, too.

People can buy Hoodies for Heroes merchandise and make donations to help support the memorial at hoodiesforheros.org.

Were super excited, Baker said. Everyone supports it and were just so humbled and grateful.
Grace Episcopal Church will host a Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The concert will feature the Burlington Boys Choir and will be in benefit of the churchs Backpack Ministry. Admission is free, with donations going to purchase food and other needed items for the ministry. A reception will follow in the churchs Parish Hall at 303 S. King St.

The Burlington Boys Choir was established in 1959 and is the oldest organization of its kind in North Carolina to have continuously sustained in training and performance. The choir has performed for many audiences over the years including the White House, the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, Biltmore House, and many times at the Christmas Eve Communion Service at Duke University Chapel. Additionally, they have performed on five different continents with many performances in Europe and with a number of different symphonies.
Abigail Montana Swanson

September 11, 2001 - August 11, 2023

BUTTE - On August 11, 2023, while she slept in her dorm bed, the Lord gently took Abigail Montana Swanson home. They say it was asthma.

Abby was our first child. We didn't know how much we could love until we saw Abby. She was beautiful and she was perfect. She was born in Mission Hills, CA on the infamous "9-11" day. While the world mourned, we celebrated.

Because she was an Army Brat Abby lived in nine different towns as a child.

Abby started school at Independent Elementary in Billings, Montana. After her 3rd grade year, the family moved to Butte, Montana where she started 4th grade at West Elementary. Abby loved West. She was part of the West Buff's Ski Club and the volleyball team, and the Tiernan Irish Dancers. Abby attended Butte's East Middle School where she went to New York City with the Travel Club. In 2016 Abby started at Butte High. During this time she learned to fly airplanes and often buzzed our house on West Platinum. While growing up Abby and family went to Disneyland once and to Disney World, Universal Studios, Legoland, and Sea World in Florida and Lagoon Park in Utah many times. Abby also went with friends to Silverwood Park in Idaho. She loved amusement parks but Disney was her favorite. She was saved by Christ and with family attendant Butte's Abundant Life Fellowship. Eventually Florida started calling her name so she graduated early and moved to Ocala, Florida, her mother's hometown, in January of 2020. She did return to "Walk" for graduation at the Butte Civic Center on May 27, 2020 then flew back to Orlando.

She learned to ski at the age of 5 and became an excellent skier. She never missed a season and skied all of Montana's best ski resorts.

In June of 2020 Abby's family moved to Ocala and soon after Abby moved to Orlando to attend Valencia Community College where she received her Associate's Degree. She transferred to the University of Central Florida in Orlando where she was pursuing a degree in psychology with the goal of following in her mother's footsteps and becoming a Mental Health Therapist. She went to Heaven a week before her senior year started.

Once in Orlando Abby had annual passes to Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. She also started working as a "Bar Wench" at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament. She loved that job and her co-workers.

In Orlando Abby absolutely blossomed. Everyone noticed. It was like the Florida sun was always shining on her and it reflected off of her brilliantly. In Orlando she started living her dream life, a dream life of good friends, college, amazing restaurants, mind blowing movie theaters, the world's best amusement parks, beaches, cruise ships, the Caribbean, road trips from Key West to Savannah and from Cocoa Beach to the Gulf Coast, and even a medieval Castle with a King and Queen and brave Knights in shining armor who all adored Abby.

Abby loved travelling and here is a list of some of the places she visited: New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta, Saint Louis, Denver, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami, Oahu Hawaii, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cozumel, Castaway Key, Coco Cay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Cedar Key, Key Largo and Key West and all the Keys between.

Abby also loved Star Wars and got to see "The Force Awakens" in Las Vegas, "The Last Jedi" at the famous Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, and "The Rise of Skywalker" in Honolulu.

Abby also loved the Muppets, particularly Kermit the Frog. It was through Kermit's song "The Rainbow Connection" that she started letting us know, even if she didn't understand it herself, that she was being called away again but this time home to Heaven. Kermit sings these words, "Have you heard the voices? I've heard them calling my name. I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me." We didn't understand it then either.

Abby lived an amazing life. She knew she was greatly loved by her mother and father and her brother and sister, extended family, friends, and Jesus. If Abby could tell you herself, she'd say that, out of all her travels and experiences, the greatest thing she did was to ask Christ into her heart.

Abby went before Parents Jennifer & Tracy Swanson & Sister Chloe Swanson in Ocala FL, Brother Bridger Swanson in Spangdahlem Air Force Base Germany. Maternal Grandfather Charles & Step-Grandmother Ellen DeBerry in Dayton OH, Step-Grandfather Bud Tate in Orange City FL, Aunt Kristy Paquette & Cousins Lizzy & Olivia Laserna in Ocala, Cousin Charles "Ricky" Robbins in Denton TX. Paternal Grandmother Sandra Gilbert in Huson MT, Uncle Curtis & Aunt Jenny Vaile & cousin Teagan Vaile in Huson & Cousin Corbin Vaile in Missoula MT, and Aunt Jessica Vaile in Chandler AZ. Those that went before Abby are Maternal Grandmother Priscilla Tate, Uncle Phil Laserna, Aunt Sheryl & Paternal Grandfather Jim Swanson.

Abby was a remarkable person. Beautiful, honorable, loving. She also was very brave and quite hilarious. And in her last years here she became a leader. We thank God that he let us parent her for 21 years and 11 months. She was our first child to arrive and the first one to return back to our Father. She's in much better hands now.

We love you Abby and are extremely proud of you. We miss your constant laughter, your beautiful face, your daily calls telling us about the funny thing that happened to you that day but mostly we miss hugging you. We miss you more than words can say. Our hearts are truly broken and past mending, but we know you're safe and thrilled to be dancing with Jesus and Nana Priscilla and, of course, riding a roller coaster over a rainbow and "Swansonizing it" for all of us. We look forward to hugging you again in the Rainbow Connection, the Lovers, the Dreamers, and us, Abby.

On Friday September 1st, Abby's earthly body was laid to rest at Glen Haven Memorial Park, Winter Park, Florida with many family and friends in attendance on a beautiful sunny day. Glen Haven is just a short drive to Disney World, Abby's favorite place on Earth.

The Swanson Family would like to thank all of you who helped us through this very difficult time. We are forever grateful. God Bless you all!

Dance Abby. Dance!
When it became clear he was going to take over a restaurant, Jose Juarez went to his minister to get some advice on how to operate the business.

He found the best advice was given to him by his ministers wife.

Juarez remembers that a friend of his had rented the space at 506 A Mulberry Avenue, which is now Monicas Taqueria. When he wanted to move on he asked Juarez to take over the restaurant he had started.

As the business was starting, Juarezs ministers wife had told him that if he started a business, he would be a public servant.

I didnt know what that meant at the time, he said I do now.

He learned the importance of making sure his customers had a good experience in the restaurant and making sure they had everything they needed.

Seeing people come in hungry and afterward saying how much they liked the meal, he said. It makes me feel like we have done something good.

All the food is made from scratch, Juarez said.

Since opening, the business has started adding the traditional Mexican dish Quesazirria. He said the tortilla is blended with the flavor of the meat. It is grilled and cheese is added. It comes with two tacos.

The dish is Monicas signature dish.

Nobody else in town has it, Juarez said. Were the only ones.

As the winter is coming up, Juarez has already started planning for the spring and summer. In a new shack located behind the restaurant, he said that over the summer, they will begin selling Mexican treats, such as frozen bananas.
DETROIT  Entering contract talks with Detroit's three automakers, Shawn Fain set lofty expectations for what he could gain for his union members  and delivered on many of them. He secured significant pay raises, improved benefits, the right to strike over plant closures and a raft of other concessions.

But to the United Auto Workers president, the agreements that emerged from talks that were marked by six weeks of strikes were merely the start of a victory streak and a renaissance for the 88-year-old union. Now, Fain has set his latest ambitious goal: To gain UAW membership in nonunion companies across the industry  from foreign automakers with U.S. operations like Toyota to electric vehicle makers like Tesla to EV battery plants that will likely represent a sizable share of auto jobs in the decades ahead.

Already, Fain asserted, the contracts have benefited workers in nonunion auto companies: Soon after the UAW won major pay raises for its workers, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Nissan  all nonunion operations  raised their own workers' pay in what Fain characterized as an obvious bid to stop the UAW from unionizing those workforces.

Workers at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have collectively voted 64% to ratify the new settlement deals, which are among the richest contracts in UAW history. The agreements ended many wage tiers, gave temporary hires better pay and a path to full-time work and boosted from around 6% to 10% the annual 401(k) contributions for those without pension plans.

According to Fain, workers at some nonunion plants, including the electric vehicle sales leader, Tesla, have contacted the UAW about joining the union, which hasn't even begun its organizing efforts. Fain noted that the nonunion companies didn't raise pay for their workers until after the UAW won general and cost-of-living raises, which should reach 33% by the time the contacts expire in 2028.

Companies play their workers as fools sometimes, he said. They care about keeping more for themselves and leaving the employees to fend for themselves.

Fain, who took office just eight months ago in the first direct election of UAW leaders in its history, said the time is right for labor unions to grow as they did in the 1930s and 40s, before they began a steady decline beginning in the 1950s. American workers, he said, are fed up with stagnant wages while corporate executives earn ever-growing multiples of median worker pay.

Companies, Fain said, will spend limitless amounts to try to stop the UAW, but the union can point to its Detroit contracts to show workers they will have a voice. In that way, he said, the union is a great equalizer."

Fain declined to say which nonunion companies the UAW would target first. But high on the list is Tesla, whose biggest shareholder is CEO Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest man and an outspoken opponent of the union.

The world's richest man is the richest man for a reason, Fain said. They get this kind of wealth by exploiting other people.

Musk, who also runs the rocket company SpaceX, is talking about shipping Tesla production to Mexico and other low-cost countries.

The union leader said he expects Toyota, Honda and others to fight the UAW's organizing effort by threatening to close factories or eliminate benefits. Musk has threatened to end stock awards that go to production workers if they vote to join the union. Fain said the UAW, if given the opportunity, would negotiate to retain and increase those stock awards.

The union, Fain says, also will have to organize Detroit automakers' EV battery plants, which are joint ventures with South Korean companies. GM and Stellantis, the maker of Jeep and Ram vehicles, have agreed to bring their joint venture plants under the union's national contract, making it easier for the UAW to sign them up. Ford has not.

That, he said, could become a problem if Ford fights the UAW's efforts to organize at the plants in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Unless they change their tune, it's going to be an all-out war, Fain said.

In the contract talks, Fain said, he would have liked to gain stronger pension increases for longtime workers with defined benefit plans. He'd also like steady pension checks for newer hires rather than 401(k) plans. The union plans to seek law changes requiring retirement security for all workers, and will push for the benefits in 2028 contract talks.

Fain said he doesn't expect the higher costs that the automakers will absorb from the new contracts to lead them to build new factories in Mexico or Canada. The union, he said, can strike if a U.S. plant is closed and could take action if companies build new factories elsewhere.

The UAW, he said, will try to work with the companies. But he noted that partnering with the automakers in the past to address costs has typically benefited them to the exclusion of workers. He noted the concessions the UAW agreed to in 2008 to help the automakers survive dire financial problems.

This time, he said, union members negotiated for themselves but also won raises for nonunion workers in the South who would have received nothing without the UAW.

"Thats something to be proud of, he said.

Auto workers halt manufacturing: 5 charts that show the impact of the UAW strike Auto workers halt manufacturing : 5 charts that show the impact of the UAW strike Used car prices are still inflated How the UAW strike is affecting car brands Domestic car models affected by the UAW strike Older vehicle sales slow amid high rates and low savings Are EVs still the best value in the used market?
In order for Maryland to more easily preempt emergencies, Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order Monday establishing what will be known as state of preparedness declarations.

The safety and security of our residents is our top priority, and this executive order empowers us to act proactively in the face of potential threats, Moore said in a statement Tuesday.

Per Moores new order, a state of preparedness can be declared when an impending situation is likely to disrupt the lives of Maryland residents.

When a state of preparedness is declared by the governor, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management will be directed to coordinate different arms of state government before the impact of a threat or hazard is felt. This allows the agency to convene local leaders and jurisdictional emergency management, as well as a senior policy group to advise the governor about the potential impact and how the state should respond.

The declaration also sets executive agencies into motion, requiring them to alert the Department of Emergency Management of any pertinent information and provide the agency with subject matter experts, allow it to assign personnel to a government coordination team and give it unrestrained access to departmental resources.

A state of preparedness will end when the governor rescinds the declaration, when a presidential disaster declaration happens, or when a state or federal state of emergency is announced. If none of those actions are taken, the state of preparedness will automatically end after 30 days.

Moore said that the new pre-emergency designation will ensure that our state government is well-prepared to respond rapidly and effectively while providing the necessary resources to protect our communities.

West Virginia also gives its governor the option to declare a state of preparedness.

When a state of emergency is declared, Maryland can request emergency support and services from the federal government and the governor is allowed to deploy certain resources, such as the National Guard.

The actions taken and resources pulled vary from emergency to emergency. For example, during a catastrophic weather event, the state may opt to close roads and local officials to close schools. During public health crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor may take other measures, including a mandate that businesses temporarily close.

States of emergency also allow executive agencies to enter into emergency contracts.

When Maryland is not under an emergency declaration, procurement contracts  many of which cost millions of taxpayer dollars  must be approved by the Board of Public Works, which is a three-person entity consisting of the governor, comptroller and state treasurer. During a state of emergency, agencies can enter into these contracts without initial approval from the Board of Public Works so that the state can access necessary aid.
Hamas militants released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, from captivity in the Gaza Strip, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage of a four-day cease-fire that has delivered a brief respite from a devastating war between the two enemies. The late-night exchange was held up for several hours after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement. The delay underscored the fragility of the cease-fire, which has halted fighting that has shocked and shaken Israel, caused widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip and threatened to unleash wider fighting across the region. The cease-fire is the first extended break in seven weeks of fighting. Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Dorothy Tchelistcheff, the widow of arguably Californias greatest winemaker and an integral part of her husbands broad impact on the American wine industry for decades, died Thanksgiving afternoon after enjoying a festive Napa lunch with two granddaughters. She was 99.

Friends said that until her last moments she was perfectly lucid, able to get around on her own, and displayed a perpetual smile.

One of the saddest things in my life is that I wont have anyone to talk with on Sunday mornings anymore, said Sacramento wine merchant and lifelong friend Darrell Corti.

Corti said he called her every Sunday morning, a connection he instituted shortly after Andre Tchelistcheff's passing, who died in April 1994 at age 92, and continued for decades.

She was so proficient in navigating Andres ship, guiding him to all of his appointments, attending to his health like a very able physician, said one of her closest companions, Rob Davis, the former winemaker at Jordan Vineyards.

Few spouses had the temperament of Dorothy, allowing Andre to stand at the ships bow while she provided the muscle and know-how to keep the keel in the right position each time.

Corti said her passing was so sad because she was so lively and alert, with a steel-trap mind.

She wasnt ill, he said. Just last week at the Old-Timers luncheon, she said, I dont want to be 99, and I reminded her that she would be 100 and a few months!

The invitation-only Old-Timers luncheon occurs three or four times a year, sponsored by Joseph W. Ciatti Co., the worlds largest brokerage of grapes and bulk wines.

Tchelistcheff attended the most recent Old-Timers event, staged at the Charles Krug Winerys carriage house Nov. 17.

Corti said Dorothy had two walkers, one in the car and one in the house, but I really believe they were like security blankets. She was strong enough to get around on her own perfectly fine.

After her lunch on Thursday, she was going back to the car when she collapsed on her walker, said Davis. A cause of death was not immediately known.

The Tchelistcheffs took under their wings at least two dozen winemakers, including Louis P. Martini and his son Mike, Joel Aiken (BV), Warren Winiarski (Stags Leap), John Williams (Frogs Leap), Rob Davis, Michael Silacci (Opus One), and Greg La Follette (Marchelle Wines, Ancient Oak). Andre Tchelistcheff also worked with the esteemed Dr. Richard Peterson at BV.

But the list undoubtedly includes dozens of others.

Andre Tchelistcheff also was part owner, for a time, of Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma County, where he consulted with at least a dozen Sonoma winemakers. And Dorothy was a key part of this ecumenical activity.

Until the end of Andres life, she kept records of Andres views of critical vineyard and winery practices and always was an attentive companion to the careers of Andres kids.

Andre was confronted with troubled waters on occasion during his career, said Davis. He loved the spotlight. Dorothy did not. But Andre would not have shared the success he had with all of us without Dorothy."

As Darrell said to me, Her passing was inevitable. Thats true but we always feel the loss nevertheless."

Dorothy joining Andre marks the passing of such a great time in my life. Andre defines my winemaking. Dorothy defines my joy of life. Her indelible smile will forever remain in my memory.

Details on services have yet to be announced.
Economy minister: Armenias national air carrier needs additional funding

Armenia economy minister on cars customs clearance fees: We will have internal discussions with EAEU

Armenia president attends COP 28 opening ceremony

Defense minister meets with head of EU delegation to Armenia (PHOTOS)

Armenia Security Council chief to travel to US

Armenia was informed about antiterrorist measures in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan FM claims

Ambassador Kvien: US proud to work with Armenian counterparts to preserve Armenias cultural heritage

PM lauds Romania role in deploying EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia

Porsche holds 3rd generation Panamera world premiere

Hamas violated ceasefire, Israel says

US dissatisfied with Turkey

Newspaper: Armenia national air carrier suspending flights

Archaeologists to soon reveal Great Pyramid of Gizas main secret

Fast & Furious 9 movie producers fined $1M

Armenia, mediators are to blame for military aggression against Karabakh Armenians, Azerbaijan FM claims

Armenia did not participate in the meeting of representatives of the CSTO member states

The OSCE Chairmanship supports the dialog aimed at concluding a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan

We need Azerbaijan to stop rejecting proposals of facilitators to meet and finalize the peace treaty. Ararat Mirzoyan

Representatives of CSTO member states met in Northern Macedonia

Nassim Taleb: Painful that Mt. Ararat is in Turkey, Armenia is having territorial reductions

Nassim Taleb predicts 3 major global risks: pandemic, financial collapse, rising debt

Armenian captive Gagik Voskanyan not brought to court, Azerbaijan media report

Mirzoyan to Colomina: Azerbaijan public position on territorial integrity mutual recognition is of paramount necessity

Lavrov: Russia ready to contribute to normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations

Mirzoyan presents to Lavrov Armenia positions regarding Russia steps

Ararat Mirzoyan, Javier Colomina discuss Armenia-NATO partnership

Kremlin: Russia considers Armenia an ally

France envoy to Armenia: Karabakh refugees have the right to return to their homes

Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation commissions 5th meeting held at border

Poland First Lady arrives in Armenia

The PM, no longer the president, to appoint and dismiss Armenia National Security Service director and deputies

Armenia president travels to Dubai for UN Climate Change Conference

Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting not planned in North Macedonia

International law expert: Torture, inhumane treatment of Armenian detainees continues in Azerbaijan

US deputy assistant secretary of state for education, cultural Affairs is in Armenia

FM to France official: Armenia sent recommendations package to Azerbaijan to move settlement process forward (PHOTOS)

Monument Watch: Azerbaijan propaganda machine circulates new theory

Armenia FM, EU foreign policy chief confer about South Caucasus security

Maragos: There is move towards situation stabilization on the ground ever since EU mission deployment in Armenia

EU ambassador: Armenia citizens largely benefit from Visa Facilitation agreement

Armenia, Azerbaijan border delimitation state commissions meeting kicks off

Ambassador Maragos: EU hopes Armenia, Azerbaijan will come to some understanding during border delimitation talks

Yerevan hosting international conference on Armenian communities of Middle East

Ararat Mirzoyan, David Cameron speak about South Caucasus developments

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies aged 100

Towards a Brighter Tomorrow: India's G20 Presidency and the Dawn of a New Multilateralism

Newspaper: Armenia, Azerbaijan deputy PMs to meet today in Tavush Province

Mirzoyan, Blinken discuss South Caucasus security, stability

Ararat Mirzoyan underscores Netherlands support to Armenia sovereignty

EU reiterates support to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization based on 1991 Almaty Declaration

Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan stresses EU programs strategic importance for Armenia

Envoy presents vision of Armenias Crossroads of Peace project to Greece lawmaker

Armenia, Georgia security councils chiefs discuss regional security, stability (PHOTOS)

Another judicial farce to begin in Azerbaijan against another Armenian

Opposition MP: Armenia will face serious economic problems next year

Karabakh ex-official says he does not consider signing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty possible at this phase

Dollar, euro go up in Armenia

Armenia premier meets with big businessman from Egypt

Armenia economy minister: Situation at Upper Lars checkpoint is strange

EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discusses peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Turkey

Amazon Web Services representative to Armenia PM: We are in active discussions with high-tech ministry

The banks should help the customers in making right decisions when managing their own funds. Saribek Sukiasyan

Armenia FM to attend OSCE Ministerial Council

Armenia-UK 6th strategic defense consultations held in London (PHOTOS)

Gagik Aghajanyan: Upper Lars border checkpoint closure means Armenia-Russia relations termination

Vahan Kerobyan: Armenia, Russia representatives will discuss situation at Upper Lars border checkpoint

Kremlin: Currently no plans for Russia President-Armenia PM contacts

Freight-forwarding company director: Yerevan is 2nd largest cargo-container hub in South Caucasus

Armenia, Azerbaijan deputy PMs meeting to be held in Tavush-Kazakh sector of border, media report

Russia MFA pays attention to dispute over Armenian Gardens in Jerusalem

Armenia parliament speaker: I tried to grasp who these people are who dont want to live side by side with Azerbaijanis

Media: South Caucasus to be discussed at Turkey security council

Karabakh former official Samvel Babayan speaks about negotiating with Azerbaijan

Karabakh ex-official: Artsakh issue cannot be resolved at any time

Japan space agency hit with cyberattack

Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh wins right to host Expo 2030 world fair

Newspaper: Armenia ruling force MP ready to live in Azerbaijan if his safety is ensured

World's largest iceberg moves, leaves Antarctica after nearly 40 years of 'rest'

Armenian-made satellite to be launched into space on Friday

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan continues blocking matter of sending UNESCO mission to Karabakh

Turkey deputy FM, Toivo Klaar discuss South Caucasus, media report

Armenia deputy PM receives World Bank regional director

Dollar, euro drop Armenia

Cyprus to host 30 children forcibly displaced from Karabakh, for 12 days of entertainment

"Gyumri" branch of AMIO BANK was reopened under a new brand (PHOTOS)

Alen Simonyan: Armenia should attend EAEU summit in St. Petersburg

Armenia legislature head: Karabakh issue was resolved in 2016

PM Nikol Pashinyan receives delegation led by head of the Lithuania-Armenia interparliamentary friendship group

Some Armenia trucks sent back from Upper Lars checkpoint on Georgia-Russia border

National Assembly speaker: Nagorno-Karabakh issue does not exist for Armenia

Alen Simonyan: No agreement on new meeting between Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders

Armenia legislature speaker: Peace agreement can be signed within next 15 days if Azerbaijan shows political will

Armenia legislature head: Our political relations with Russia are bit tense

Irakli Garibashvili to Armenia PM staff chief: Georgia ready to assist peace process in region

Armenia parliament chair: We are ready to return Azerbaijanis enclaves to them

Amaryan Charitable Foundation Commits initial 122 mln AMD in Support to Syunik Region

Armenia National Assembly speaker: We have 31 villages whose territories are under Azerbaijan occupation

Embassies to be opened in Armenia, S. Korea on reciprocity basis

Armenia legislature head: I don't understand what Azerbaijan delaying time will give it or to the region

Alen Simonyan: Azerbaijan attempts to erase Armenian trace from Armenian highlands are unacceptable
Azerbaijan has turned the historical layers of the Meghretsots St. Astvatsatsin Church in Shushi into a junkyard. The website for monitoring the cultural heritage of Artsakh, monumentwatch.org, reports.

Judging by satellite photographs published by the Caucasus Heritage Watch initiative, in the occupied city of Shushi, the remains of the Meghretsots St. Astvatsatsin Church were damaged as a result of construction work. According to a satellite image taken on November 3, 2023, the Azerbaijani side used heavy equipment to fill all the construction debris of the surrounding area onto the foundations and volumes of the church discovered as a result of excavations in 2017.

Back in 2021, satellite photos showed only that the area had become unkempt and covered in grass.

The Meghretsots St. Astvatsatsin Church was built in 1838 at the expense of Makhtes Akhumyants.

In the 1960s, most of the premises of the church were demolished by the Azerbaijani authorities, adapted and turned into a summer open-air cinema. It should be noted that starting from the 1960s, the Azerbaijani authorities began to actively expropriate the cultural heritage of the city of Shushi, artificially changing the cultural appearance of the city, turning it into an Azerbaijani cultural center.

As a result of this policy, the Armenian quarter of the city of Shushi and its monuments were significantly damaged. In particular, the Surp Amenaprkich Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in the city of Shushi was brought to an emergency condition, the Kanach Zham church was turned into a mineral water center. And the churches Kusanats Anapat and Aguletsots were completely demolished and destroyed.

In those same years, the city's Armenian cemetery was destroyed by the Azerbaijani authorities. In the case of the Meghretsots Church, the Azerbaijani authorities destroyed most of the walls of the church with explosions, and the remaining foundation walls above one meter high were covered with asphalt (Mkrtchyan 1980, 155-161, Petrosyan 2010, 137-148).

In 2017, excavations on the territory of the Meghretsots Church were carried out by the archaeological expedition of the Republic of Artsakh Service For The Protection Of Historical Environment

and Cultural Museum-reservations (expedition leader Dr. Yeranyan N., architect Titanyan M.). Before the excavations, the area was completely paved, only the altar and two vaults were visible. As a result of excavations, a layer of asphalt was removed and the foundation of the church was exposed.

After the occupation of the city in November 2020, the Azerbaijani authorities are actively continuing the policy of destruction and appropriation of the history and cultural heritage of the city of Shushi, which began in the 1960s.

By the decision of the International Hague Court of December 7, 2021, actions to destroy Armenian churches were prohibited. Azerbaijan is obliged to take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration committed against the Armenian cultural heritage... (International Court of Justice, Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan), 7 December 2021, No. 2021/34).

The damage caused to the cultural values of each nation is a blow to the cultural heritage of all humanity, because each nation makes its own contribution to the world's cultural diversity. According to Article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property during Armed Conflict, any acts of vandalism, theft, pillage, appropriation, hostilities and reprisals against cultural heritage are prohibited.

According to the First Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention, it is prohibited to destroy cultural or spiritual values in occupied territories.

Such policies of deliberate destruction of cultural heritage are also condemned by the 2003 UNESCO Declaration on the Deliberate Destruction of Cultural Heritage.
Celebrations were held in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem on Friday in honor of the first group of 39 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.

The group of 24 women and 15 teenage boys were released and returned to their families through the Beituniya checkpoint in the West Bank.

They are accused of a range of offenses, from stone-throwing to attempted murder. Some were convicted, while others were awaiting trial.

Human Rights Watch international program director Sari Bashi told BBC television that many Palestinian prisoners are being held without charge under a system known as administrative detention.

"They are detained on the basis of secret evidence that the Israeli authorities say they have that suggests they are dangerous.

Human Rights Watch is particularly concerned about the widespread use of administrative detention...For others who have been charged or convicted of crimes, we have serious concerns about Israel's military justice system, which is applied in the West Bank to Palestinians but not to Israelis," she said.
More hostages leave Gaza after short delay

More hostages leave Gaza after short delay

Hamas handed over 13 Israeli hostages and four foreigners to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday night, Qatar's foreign ministry said, after a brief disruption earlier to the deal to free captives was overcome with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.



The Gaza hostage deal was back on track after a temporary delay over a dispute about aid supplies to the north of the besieged enclave.



"13 Israelis and 4 foreigners were received by ICRC and on their way to Rafah," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.



TV images showed Red Cross vehicles at Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.



A Palestinian official familiar with the diplomacy said Hamas would continue with the four-day truce agreed with Israel, the first break in fighting in seven weeks of war.



Al Ansari earlier said a brief delay and obstacle to the hostage release were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, adding that 39 Palestinian civilians were going to be released in exchange.



Among the Israeli hostages, eight were expected to be children and five others women, Al Ansari said, while the Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons would consist of 33 children and six women.



The armed wing of Hamas had earlier said it was delaying Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel met all truce conditions, including committing to let aid trucks into northern Gaza.



Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan said only 65 of 340 aid trucks that had entered Gaza since Friday had reached northern Gaza, which was "less than half of what Israel agreed on."



Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security cabinet, told Channel 13 News that Israel was "abiding by the deal" with Hamas that Qatar had mediated. (Reuters)
Addressing an international conclave, 'Promoting Sustainable Enterprises for Local Development,' Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane underscored the imperative for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to align with international standards, facilitating their robust participation in global value chains. The event, jointly organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), brought together representatives from India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, and Vietnam. Rane emphasised the importance of fostering an environment conducive to the promotion of sustainable enterprises. He highlighted that sustainability should permeate all facets of MSME business operations, ensuring their resilience and contributing to the broader goal of creating more and higher-quality jobs. "Sustainability must not be confined to rules and regulations but should be part of all business operations of MSMEs for their own survival in future and decent work for all," Rane said. Celebrating 50 years of friendship with India, Chang Jae-bok, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, underlined his country's commitment to supporting India's journey toward becoming a developed nation. "We are celebrating the 50 years of our friendship with India. Korea shares India's vision of 'Amrit Kaal' and intends to contribute to the country's journey to becoming a developed nation. MSMEs are the backbone of India's economy, and their sustainability will shape its growth. Korea looks forward to deepening cooperation in this area under the ILO-KOICA PSEI initiative," Jae-bok added. Acknowledging MSMEs as India's economic backbone, he underscored the significance of their sustainability in shaping the nation's growth. Over 80 officials and MSME representatives from participating countries engaged in discussions on strategies to promote sustainable, resilient, and responsible MSMEs. Given that MSMEs account for 60 to 70 per cent of global employment and contribute 50 per cent to the global GDP, the conclave emphasised their pivotal role in the global economy. Representatives from Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Africa, Korea, Vietnam, and Germany reiterated the need for sustained support to the MSME sector. They acknowledged that only sustainable and responsible MSMEs possess the potential to drive inclusive and equitable job-rich growth. Michiko Miyamoto, director of ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia, stressed the symbiotic relationship between thriving businesses and society, making the creation of conditions for profitable and sustainable enterprises a priority in development policy. "Businesses thrive when society thrives and recognizing this symbiotic relationship is critical. This makes creating the right conditions for profitable and sustainable enterprises a high priority in development policy and for the Decent Work Agenda as MSMEs can't become sustainable in a vacuum," Miyamoto said. Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 crisis, ongoing geopolitical challenges, and the escalating impact of climate change, the conclave addressed the pressing issues affecting the vulnerability of the MSME sector in the global supply chain. (ANI)
Dr Nitin Upadhyay, the nodal officer of Uttarakhand Film Development Council, has given a presentation on a knowledge series on the topic of film shooting and investment in the film industry in Uttarakhand. Dr Upadhyay said, "The film industry is being promoted in the state under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Work is being done to create a 360-degree ecosystem for the film industry in the state, in which the three T's of talent, training and technology are being encouraged." He added, "For this purpose, a new film policy of the state has been proposed. In the new proposed film policy, opportunities are being opened for investment in the film industry sector. In this, special grants and facilities will be given for the establishment of a film city, the establishment of film institutes, the establishment of new shooting studios and the establishment of new production houses." Dr Upadhyay presented the direction of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, he said that Global Investors Summit 2023 is being organized in the coming month of December, in which investors are being invited to invest in various sectors. There is immense potential for film production and film industry in the state of Uttarakhand for film producers and directors. On developing film industries in Uttarakhand, Dr Upadhyay said that the subsidy that has been given to Hindi films is being increased by a large amount. OTT/Web Series and TV series are also being brought under the ambit of subsidy. He said that Uttarakhand is connected to all the major cities of the country by road, rail and air. Single window clearance has been arranged for shooting permission. Single window clearance has been arranged for shooting permission. Dr Upadhyay invited all the film producers, directors, film writers and various people associated with the film industry to invest in the film industry sector in the state. Information about film shooting and film investment was taken by more than 100 film producers, directors, film writers and various people associated with the film genre at the Uttarakhand Pavilion of the 54th International Indian Film Festival 2023, which included Russia, Bangladesh, Apart from England and South Africa, information was obtained from film producers, directors, film writers and various people associated with the film genre from states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jharkhand etc. (ANI)
The Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General of Assam Rifles (IGAR) (North) organised the tour to Delhi and Amritsar for the villagers from November 16 to November 27, a press release issued by the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) said. The NIT tour was flagged off from Kohima.

During the visit, the President appreciated the spirit and ideology of the Assam Rifles working towards the upliftment and betterment of the populace in the remote region.

The President addressed the NIT participants and encouraged them to disseminate their experiences gained through the tour to fellow villagers, the release said. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is making Chandrababu Naidu his sole target, said Telugu Desam Party (TDP) politburo member Varla Ramaiah here on Friday. Varla Ramaiah told media persons at the party headquarters here that Jagan is only aiming at sending Chandrababu Naidu to jail by filing false cases against him. "No other Chief Minister in the country has such a faction mentality," he remarked. Pointing out that till now not even a single piece of evidence has been produced in any case filed against Chandrababu, the TDP politburo member said that Chandrababu Naidu never committed any mistake and how such a leader can be jailed. "Since Chandrababu is out of the jail now the YSRCP leaders are feeling completely annoyed," he added. Jagan has been giving promotions to the officers who are targetting Chandrababu, the TDP politburo member said and stated that there might be some officers who toe the line of Jagan but the Chief Minister can not take the judiciary for granted. Initially, the ruling party leaders claimed Rs 3,000 cr for corruption in the Skill Development case, then brought it down to Rs 300 cr and finally to a mere Rs 27 crore Varla Ramaiah said and felt that by making such false allegations the ruling party leaders got totally humiliated. The YSRCP leaders are making every effort to mislead the people by making allegations of corruption in the Inner Ring Road case in which not even a single rupee was spent, Varla Ramaiah observed. "Since the Advocate General, Sriram, is not supporting these false cases foisted against Chandrababu he has been sidelined and thus the responsibility to argue for the Government has been passed on to the Additional Advocate General, Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy," he said. Varla Ramaiah is of the opinion that Ponnavolu is a person who woefully lacks legal sanctity and thus he is simply toeing the line of Jagan to target Chandrababu. "The Jagan Mohan Reddy Government is terrorising sincere officers while those who are supporting the false cases are being rewarded," he remarked. "The general practice is that the police officers do not file any case without evidence but in the case of Chandrababu they are registering false cases against him by either getting tempted to the offers of Jagan or maybe under serious threats," Ramaiah observed. He asked why the state Chief Minister is nursing a grudge against Chandrababu. Jagan has been spending crores of rupees of public money and misleading the judiciary to take revenge against Chandrababu, he said and felt that Jagan is also eligible for punishment for adopting such an attitude. (ANI)
"It is an honour to stand before you today at the 29th National Conference of IACMCON 2023 organized by the Indian Association of Clinical Medicine Tripura chapter," the Chief Minister said at the Conference on Friday.

"I am delighted to be a part of this event that makes a significant milestone for clinical medical services in Tripura," Manik Saha added.

Extending his appreciation for the "unwavering commitment to excellence in clinical medicine", he said, "I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Indian Association of Clinical Medicine for their unwavering commitment to excellence in clinical medicine"

Delegates from across the country participated in the event which will be going on for three days from Friday.

Distinguished personalities who have been specialised in this field for decades will be holding a discussion on various important segments.

Sukumar Mukherjee, the guest of honour was also present in the inaugural event along with other prominent personalities. (ANI)
Republican council member: Context needed in article

Funny what the mainstream media, like the The Capital, chooses to report about legislation they support. For example, the Nov. 21 article about moderately priced dwelling units (in front of the county council.

No mention of how the Democratic members of the county council drove a bulldozer-sized grandfathering loophole through the bill. It now ensures that developers who support them get their projects done before this bill takes effect. And it didnt have to be that way.

A bipartisan majority (three Republicans, one Democrat) defeated the other Democratic members efforts to add a grandfathering amendment at one meeting. But at the very next meeting the identical grandfathering amendment was passed by the Democratic majority and opposed by the GOP.

One member switched their vote to ensure the other Democrats would not vote against the bill. Without that change those Democrats would have been forced to vote against the bill to keep in the good graces of their developer donors. Now developers wont have to pay the fees or build MPDUs for any projects until after July 2024.

No mention of how the Democratic members of the county council chopped down public input by exempting MPDU projects from having to get a variance when a developer wants to get around the county rules.

Now it will be decided by the county executives staff instead of in a public hearing with public input.

No mention of how the Democratic members of the county council voted to change this bills focus from making it so teachers, police officers, firefighters and other county employees who work in our county could live where they work. They got rid of that requirement.

Now any person  whether they work in the county or not  can apply to live in these MPDUs. That defeats the original, stated intent of the bill. This is no longer about essential workers. It is now just about requiring low-income housing to be built  for all.

Funny. But also sad. The reporting could have provided context and understanding, nuance and insight. It could have served as a vital check to a unified county government run by a Democratic Party working in lock-step.

Instead, media members abdicate their responsibility. They regurgitate talking points and messaging as another mouthpiece for the progressive left. And they ignore how those making moves play them like pawns.

Our county deserves a better outlet for real news.

Nathan Volke, Pasadena

Volke is a Republican member of the Anne Arundel County Council representing District 3

Historic preservation commission fails public

At a public hearing on Nov. 14 the Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission voted 4-3 to approve a proposed rooftop pergola and external renovation of the office rental space located at 150 South Street.

The renovation of the existing building will be a welcome improvement. The addition of a rooftop gathering spot, however, is completely unnecessary and could easily degenerate into a public nuisance that would benefit a privileged few at the expense of nearby residents quality of life.

The three members who voted against the proposal are to be commended for adhering to the commissions guidelines, which state in part Rooftop decks are highly visible and are strongly discouraged. Those who supported it instead prioritized commercial interests over residential concerns. The unfortunate outcome sets the Historic District on a very slippery slope.

Roberta Renkiewicz, Annapolis

A small price to pay to save American lives

Congress must continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary military aid to defeat Russias invasion. Each Memorial Day we honor our military who died serving our country. We have been extremely fortunate and proactive to fight most of our enemies on foreign soil, before they reached our own.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies, China, Iran and North Korea, bear many similarities to Adolph Hitler and his Axis Powers (WWII), with their totalitarian governments and unbridled aggression. They are our enemy. Ignoring this is delusional and disastrous.

Ukraines fight against the Russian invaders is one of the few wars fought against an American enemy in which the American military is not fighting and dying. Aiding Ukraine as they fight Russia helps us.

Yes, it is costing us money, but unlike WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf wars and Afghanistan, to name a few, American blood is not being shed. Ukraine is not trying to invade Russia but simply stop Russias invasion and drive them out.

Funds to Ukraine seem like such a small price to pay to save lives of American military. We need to ask ourselves how much are the lives of the American military people, our children, siblings, spouses and grandchildren worth?

My mothers older brother died fighting the Nazis in September 1944, four days after his 23rd birthday. Could his death and those of an estimated 300,000 Americans have been prevented if the Allies had stopped Hitler when he first marched into Austria and then Czechoslovakia in 1938?

J.V. Bennett, Millersville

Brandeis decision to ban group should be applauded

In early November, Brandeis University banned the campus chapter of National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). While the move has been criticized by some as infringing on free speech, I think it should be celebrated.

The SJP supports Hamas, a terror organization, as well as the violent elimination of Israel and the Jewish people. Brandeis carefully distinguished the SJPs hateful, violent, and damaging ideas from the very valid criticisms of Israel and show of support for Palestinians.

The long and complex history of Jews and Arabs in the Middle East, the history of the State of Israel and what to do about existing conditions are all topics deserving of discussion and debate  which remains encouraged by Brandeis.

Hamas is not deserving of anything. In fact, it is Hamas hope that the actions on Oct. 7 would be viewed as actions on behalf of the Palestinians and related to legitimate concerns.

The terror was intended to provoke an overreaction, as all terror is, and ultimately to cause people to confuse or conflate issues. Brandeis move to ban SJP helps students to focus on the real issues that are worthy of debate and helps avoid legitimizing terrorism.

Mark Goodman, Annapolis

Israel must also show compassion where it is needed

You are not them. Israel you are not Hamas. Hamas is evil you are not. You are fighting the just cause, Hamas is not.

But being just also means you cannot lose your moral compass. Revenge cannot be your guide. Hamas must be destroyed completely and you Israel must show compassion where it is needed.

Bob Rullan, Annapolis
Guwahati City police had started an investigation after receiving two complaints and registered two cases.

During the investigation, police found that the racket was conducting a systematic process of preparing fake land documents, fake sale deeds, and manipulating land records.

Diganta Borah, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati on Friday said that Guwahati city police have so far arrested three persons including one land broker who was involved in the racket. (ANI)
Telangana Minister and BRS MLA KT Rama Rao launched an attack on the Congress party on Saturday for disrespecting former Prime Minister of India and veteran Congress leader Late PV Narsimha Rao. Launching an attack on Congress, Rao said that "such a humble human being who served Telangana all his life had been insulted in such a humiliating fashion by the Congress party. As an incumbent Prime Minister, he was rejected a party ticket to become a Member of Parliament in 1996. "After he passed away, his body was not even allowed to be brought to 24 Akbar road in AICC head office," he added. KTR also demanded an apology from the Congress party for "insulting" PV Narsimha Rao and urged the government to give him the Bharat Ratna award. Further coming down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, KTR said, "Rahul Gandhi is jobless today because he lost his job in 2014. He and his party both lost their jobs in 2014. That's why today he remembered unemployment... I want to ask if Rahul Gandhi has ever written a single entrance exam. Has he even worked at a job for a single day in the private sector or some other place?" Notably, PV Narsimha Rao was a Congress leader who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. Earlier, Telangana BJP spokesperson NV Subhash, the grandson of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, accused the Congress of celebrating the namesake birth anniversary of the late leader and said the party has ignored Rao's contributions and insulted him. "The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) celebrated the centenary celebrations of late PV Narsimha Rao following specific instructions from the Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and 'Congress Coterie' for namesake. Congress party has lost the legacy of PV Narsimha Rao. Party has ignored his contributions and insulted him even though he had worked for Congress and served as the Prime Minister in difficult times," Subhash told ANI. Subhas further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated Rao's work and contributions to the country. "The Narendra Modi government has started appreciating PV Narsimha Rao work, his policies and efforts. PM Modi speaks high about PV Narsimha Rao in his public speeches, 'Mann Ki Baat'. Not only this, PM Modi has allotted land for a PV Narsimha Rao memorial in Delhi, which was promised by UPA govt but not implemented. A postal stamp on his name has a name announced by Modi government to carry forward Rao's legacy," he said. (ANI)
Prime Minister took to social media platform X to share his experience of taking a sortie of the Tejas fighter

"Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential", Prime Minister said in a post on X.

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari was on the spot to supervise the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden sortie in the indigenous Made in India fighter aircraft.

The Chief was on ground for the Prime Minister's sortie in the LCA Tejas where the aircraft was flown by Indian Air Force test pilot Group Captain Debanjan Mandal, defence officials said.

PM Modi is on a visit to Bengaluru to visit and review the manufacturing facility, including the facility for Tejas jets.

Indian Air Force recently issued a tender to the state-owned HAL for the purchase of 12 advanced Su-30MKI fighter jets."Recently, a tender has been issued to the HAL for buying the 12 Su-30MKI fighters, which will be manufactured in India by the HAL in partnership with the Russian original equipment manufacturers," defence sources had told ANI earlier.

The public sector company is expected to respond to the tender by next month with details of the project along with other details, they said.

The aircraft would include a high percentage of indigenous content as per the requirement of the Indian Air Force in line with the Aatmanirbhar policies of the government in the defence sector. (ANI)
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew on a twin-seater trainer LCA Tejas aircraft, India's defence expert Praful Bakshi said on Saturday that when a Prime Minister flies on a fighter aircraft, it motivates the youth of the entire nation. "When a Prime Minister takes a ride on a fighter aircraft, not only does it empower the air force, but it also motivates the youth of the nation. It is our Prime Minister who does everything with full concentration, keeping the nation in focus," Bakshi told ANI. "Now, our 'Tejas' is in demand across the globe. Earlier, we talked of importing aircraft, but today, we are capable of exporting the same. All countries are now reckoning that the power of self-reliance in India is unbeatable. In the future, we will build more advanced aircraft," he added. Asserting that there will be no "looking back" for India, Praful Bakshi said, "India will not be looking back now. It is now disconcerting for our neighbouring countries, like China and Pakistan. They are wondering how India is infused with such spirits." Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew in a twin-seater trainer LCA aircraft that was delivered to the Indian Air Force by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited last month. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) twin-seater trainer version aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Bengaluru on October 4. The sortie of the Prime Minister was being looked after by the Indian Air Force, which currently has two squadrons of these planes. The IAF has already placed orders for 83 new LCAs, which are now named 'LCA Mark 1A.' The Prime Minister took to social media platform X to share his experience of taking a sortie of the Tejas fighter. "Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential," the Prime Minister said in a post on X. The other trainer aircraft was also in the air when the PM was airborne in the indigenous fighter aircraft. (ANI)
The North East Aviation Summit, chaired by Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, began in Guwahati on Saturday. The primary objective of the summit was to bolster regional connectivity in the North Eastern States, inviting business and aviation opportunities to stimulate economic development and growth. The region, rich in natural resources and cultural heritage, plays a pivotal role in India's growth story. The summit served as a platform for discussions with key state representatives from the eight sister states, focusing on challenges and opportunities in the aviation sector. In the inaugural session, states presented their perspectives, followed by a technical session with important industry stakeholders. K. Moses Chalai, Secretary of the North Eastern Council, emphasized the critical role of civil aviation in job creation and holistic regional development. Highlighting the success of schemes like "Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik" (UDAN) and its helicopter services, Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam affirmed their crucial role in fulfilling the aspirations of the people in the North East to fly, thereby contributing to economic development and mobility. The North East Aviation Summit is aligned with the upcoming WINGS India roadshow 2024, scheduled from January 18 to 21 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. The theme, "Connecting India to the World in Amrit Kaal: Setting the Stage for Indian Civil Aviation @2047," underscores the Indian Government's ambitious goal to transform the Civil Aviation sector by India's 100th year of Independence in 2047. This vision encompasses infrastructure expansion, enhanced connectivity, adoption of advanced technologies, and long-term sustainability, positioning India as a Global Aviation Hub. Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary, MoCA, highlighted the significance of this event and thanked the Government of Assam for hosting this important Summit. In conversation at the North East Aviation Summit, Swapnil M Naik, Secretary, Civil Aviation, Government of Arunachal Pradesh highlighted challenges, including the need for an airport complex, increased flight services, and heliports, seeking support from Pawan Hans and AAI. Robin Kumar, Commissioner of Transport, Government of Assam, highlighted the presence of essential elements such as road infrastructure, power facilities, law and order mechanisms, and political stability. With these in place, they are now considering investment opportunities in the civil aviation sector, seeking support from MoCA. S.T. Rithung, Joint Secretary, Government of Manipur discussed the importance of increasing flight frequency and connectivity with neighbouring countries in addition to giving the overview of civil aviation in the state. Sanjay Goyal, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, Meghalaya discussed about their state initiatives such as direct flights, helicopter operations and heliports. It must be noted that Meghalaya also got the most pro-active state award at Wings India 2022. Pu Lalsangpuia, Deputy Controller, GAD, Aviation Wing, Government of Mizoram, expressed gratitude for enhanced connectivity between Aizawl and Delhi, aiming to expand services and attract more airlines for competitive pricing. Athrila S Sangtam, Joint Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Nagaland, emphasized the state's focus on enhancing air connectivity through infrastructure development and plans for additional heliports, an STOLport, and an aviation academy. The representative of the Government of Assam explored investment opportunities in the civil aviation sector, highlighting the presence of essential elements like road infrastructure, power facilities, law and order mechanisms, and political stability. C.S. Rao, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Sikkim, shared that the state government is actively working on a civil aviation report, acknowledging the unique challenges faced, and appreciated Pawan Hans Ltd for their helicopter services during emergencies. Maitreyee Debnath, Deputy Secretary, Department of Transport, Government of Tripura provided with an overview of civil aviation in the state and the role of helicopters in regional connectivity. Sunny Guglani, Chairman, of the FICCI General Aviation Taskforce Committee and head of Airbus Helicopters, India, underscored the need for expanded helicopter operations in the North East, emphasizing their potential to boost tourism, aid public services, and manage disasters. The imminent "Project Sanjeevani" promises transformative changes in this regard. The industry is committed to promoting mobility in the North East, signalling a bright future for the region. Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam concluded, "The collaborative efforts at the North East Aviation Summit underscore the Ministry's commitment to the holistic development of the region. The discussions and partnerships formed during this summit will contribute significantly to the advancement of aviation in the North East. As we look forward to WINGS India 2024, our vision for the Civil Aviation sector aligns with India's broader goals, setting the stage for a dynamic and sustainable future." (ANI)
After Hamas released the first batch of Israeli hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the nation is committed to returning of all the hostages from Gaza as it is "one of the aims of the war." In a video message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said, "We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women. Each of them is an entire world." Reiterating Israel's commitment to the hostage deal, he further added by saying, "But I emphasise to you, the families, to you the citizens of Israel, we are committed to returning (of) all the hostages. This is one of the aims of the war and we are committed to achieving all the aims of the war." https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1728114392242217042?s=20 As part of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, the first group of Israeli hostages has been handed over to the staff of the International Committee for Red Cross, The Times of Israel reported. The 13 Israeli hostages in ambulances are heading from southern Gaza's Khan Younis to the Rafah crossing into Israel, The Times of Israel reported citing an Israeli official. The release of 13 hostages, who are mothers and children, is the first of four expected stages. Notably, Hamas has agreed to release some 50 hostages, which include women and children over the four days of the truce with Israel. In addition to the 13 Israeli hostages, Egypt's government media office said that it has successfully negotiated the separate release of 12 Thai hostages who were abducted during Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, the report said. Thailand said it believes 26 of its citizens were taken hostage on October 7. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces said that the hostages released will continue to be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals. "They're home. IDF Special Forces and ISA Forces are currently with the released hostages. They will continue to be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families. The IDF, together with the entire Israeli security establishment, will continue operating until all the hostages are returned home," the IDF posted on X. The released hostages are only a small group out of some 240 people held hostage by Hamas terrorists since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Notably, the Qatar-brokered truce came into effect at 7 AM (local time) on Friday. As per The Times of Israel news report, Israel is set to release 150 Palestinian prisoners held for terror offences. In return for 50 Israelis, all of the prisoners that will be released will be women and minors. Israel will release 39 prisoners in return for the first 13 Israelis to return. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant will closely monitor the management of the operation to bring the Israelis who have been released from Hamas captivity, Israel Prime Minister's Office announced in a statement posted on X. (ANI)
The Israeli military has warned that the implementation of the hostage release agreement will be complicated and "nothing is over until it's over," CNN reported. "The days ahead of us will be complicated, nothing is over until it's over. We should be prepared," Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Friday. He described the release of 24 hostages from Gaza, including 13 Israeli nationals, as "a great relief," but added that "our hearts are with the hostages who are still being held in Gaza." The accord, which is backed by a four-day cease-fire between Hamas and Israel that began on Friday morning, constitutes the conflict's first major diplomatic breakthrough. "In the Gaza Strip in the morning hours, IDF troops deployed along the lines of the operational pause in Gaza. The commanders were briefed and prepared the forces as to how to act during the time of the pause," Hagari said. "During the pause days, the IDF will complete the preparations for the next phases of the war," he added. On being asked if senior Hamas officials would try to evacuate Gaza during the cease-fire, Hagari said, "We're monitoring everything necessary, and are monitoring senior Hamas officials, in Gaza and anywhere in the world." As the war between Israel and Hamas has entered its 50th day following the October 7 attack on Israel, the first batch of Israeli hostages were released from Gaza on Friday. After Hamas released the first batch of Israeli hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the nation is committed to returning of all the hostages from Gaza as it is "one of the aims of the war." In a video message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said, "We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women. Each of them is an entire world." Reiterating Israel's commitment to the hostage deal, he further added by saying, "But I emphasise to you, the families, to you the citizens of Israel, we are committed to returning (of) all the hostages. This is one of the aims of the war and we are committed to achieving all the aims of the war." (ANI)
He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the MEA said.

Shetkintong is presently serving as the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia. He took up the assignment to Ethiopia in 2020.

"Shri Robert Shetkintong (IFS:2001), presently Ambassador of India to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Mozambique," the MEA said in an official release on Friday. (ANI)
State Sen. Heather Steans, from left, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Sen. Toi Hutchinson and Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth celebrate on May 31, 2019, at the Capitol in Springfield after the Illinois House approved a bill to legalize recreational marijuana. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

A clash between the Marijuana Moms and a Dad for Mental Health is highlighting an escalating controversy over the effects of cannabis.

The moms are a group of lawmakers who helped write the law that legalized pot in Illinois, and the dad is McHenry County States Attorney Patrick Kenneally. Each side has referenced those self-given nicknames, somewhat facetiously, in their attacks against each other on the issue.

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McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally, shown at an unrelated event in 2019, recently required licensed marijuana retail stores in McHenry County to post warnings about mental health dangers associated with cannabis use. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

The feud arose recently after Kenneally required licensed marijuana retail stores in McHenry County to post warnings about the mental health dangers associated with cannabis use including psychosis, depression and thoughts of suicide.

The lawmakers, who are Democrats, say Kenneally, a Republican, is posting disinformation about a highly complex subject. More broadly, the dispute illustrates widespread concerns and uncertainty over the mental health effects of cannabis.

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The stores are also required to eliminate from their marketing and websites any suggestion that their products have medical benefits. The requirements were part of a settlement with prosecutors to avoid a consumer fraud lawsuit. Dispensaries that dont go along with the program will face litigation, Kenneally warned.

As a prime example of the dangers of cannabis, Kenneally cited the case of William Bishop, who after vaping oil with a high concentration of THC, the part of pot that gets users high, believed Howard Stern on the radio told him to veer into oncoming traffic, which Bishop did, Kenneally said. He killed a father of two and permanently disabled another man. His defense in court, supported by psychiatrists, was that he was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis.

He was found guilty but mentally ill, and sentenced to 31 years in prison. Other similar cases are pending.

In an opinion piece in the Tribune, Kenneally criticized what he called the pseudoscience claims of medical benefits for a wide variety of conditions, and wrote that there is no credible evidence that cannabis treats any medical condition.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two components of cannabis  synthetic THC to treat nausea and anorexia from cancer or AIDS, and CBD to treat seizures  while many countries have approved a THC/CBD mix to treat muscle tightness in multiple sclerosis.

In Illinois, despite the limited FDA approval, some 138,000 patients have been authorized by doctors to take cannabis for dozens of conditions. The most common diagnoses were chronic pain, making up almost one-third of cases, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines and osteoarthritis.

The Marijuana Moms  state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson and former state Sen. Heather Steans  wrote an open letter to rebut Kenneally. They compared him to Harry Anslinger, the former Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner who vilified marijuana in the 1930s for allegedly causing violence, immoral behavior and satanic jazz music.

Kenneally, the moms wrote, is using hyperbole to vilify cannabis use for all sorts of complex societal issues, including violent crime, addiction and mental illness.

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They point out that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended reclassifying cannabis from its current Schedule I, which signifies no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, to Schedule III. That change would acknowledge legitimate medical use of cannabis and a moderate to low potential for dependence, but would require a prescription for legal use.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is reviewing the reclassification recommendation.

The moms note that the state already requires dispensaries to post this warning: Cannabis is only for registered medical patients or adults 21 and over; cannabis can impair cognition and may be habit forming; cannabis should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women; this particular cannabis product causes intoxication, the effects of which may be delayed for up to 2 hours.

The moms say patients regularly tell them of how cannabis has helped restore quality of life for late-stage cancer patients and end debilitating seizures. Taxes from legalization generate about half a billion dollars annually to support improvements in poor and marginalized neighborhoods, mental health and substance abuse clinics, and law enforcement.

We stand willing to work with anyone from anywhere in our great state to address consumer safety, public safety, public health, and child development, the moms wrote. We will not, however, stand idly and allow others to point myopically to cannabis to nonsensically explain away highly complex, multifaceted societal problems.

In response, Kenneally questioned the soft corruption of the industry, noting more than $600,000 in campaign donations to lawmakers from the cannabis industry. Cassidys spouse, Candace Gingrich, previously was hired by the cannabis company Revolution Florida, and Hutchinson was hired as CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, which helped write the Illinois legalization law.

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Cassidy and Revolution, an affiliate of Revolution Cannabis, based in Chicago, previously denied any impropriety, saying Gingrich worked only outside of Illinois. The Marijuana Policy Project stated that the Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General determined that Hutchinson was not restricted from working for the advocacy group.

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The prosecutor dad also fired back with a list of 53 studies linking cannabis with increased risk of suicide and mental health problems including schizophrenia and other psychoses.

The argument between the moms and the prosecutor shares some similarities with a controversy thats raged in Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational use in 2012. Since then, studies have raised increasing concerns over the effects of high-THC products, prompting lawmakers to limit sales of high-THC products.

This year, after a study ordered by state lawmakers, the Colorado School of Public Health recommended caution in using high-THC products, finding potential adverse effects and limited benefit.

In Illinois, lawmakers and prosecutors are not the only ones looking into these issues. The states Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee this year noted the potential benefits of cannabis for chemotherapy, insomnia and pain. But it raised concerns about the findings of a Dutch study that found a strong association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia.

State officials also have been looking into a public education campaign and resealable childproof containers to prevent rising cases of child intoxication.

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And the states Cannabis Research Institute has plans to break ground next year on a facility to study the health and social equity effects of cannabis.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com
Several Western diplomats and the United Nations have strongly criticised Pakistan over its decision to impose hundreds of dollars in exit fees for every Afghan refugee who fled the persecution by the Taliban condemning the decision as "shocking and frustrating", The Guardian reported. The "unprecedented" move targets refugees who are waiting to leave Pakistan for Western countries under resettlement schemes, and charges about USD 830 for each person This comes after Pakistan announced a crackdown on undocumented foreigners and set November 1 as the deadline for about 2 million unregistered Afghans to leave the country. It further started mass deportations of undocumented Afghans as the deadline passed. Thousands of Afghans without the correct documents or with expired visas have been in Pakistan since the fall of Kabul in August 2021 waiting to restart their lives in countries in the west. Most of them worked with western governments and organisations and are eligible to be resettled on humanitarian grounds, according to The Guardian. The US government plans to resettle almost 25,000 Afghans in the country. The UK has said it will resettle 20,000 people. Five senior western diplomats in Pakistan told the Guardian the exit permit fee in Pakistan was unprecedented internationally and had come as a shock. "I know it is very tough economically for Pakistan but really, to try to make money off refugees is really unattractive," The Guardian quoted a diplomat as saying. "The issue has also been raised by the two UN agencies in the lead on this mess, the [UN refugee agency] UNHCR and [International Organization of Migration] IOM," the diplomat added. "It has also been raised in capitals and headquarters. I suspect everyone has also passed the message to their [Pakistani contacts]." Another diplomat said that western officials had been told of the move at a briefing by the interior and foreign ministries. When concerns were raised about the fee, officials were told the initial decision was to charge USD 10,000 for each person but that had been lowered to USD 830. "It is very bizarre and I personally find it very frustrating. If Pakistan wants to facilitate the process of the settlement of refugees in the west then they should not make it more complicated with such absurd conditions," the diplomat said. "What is the justification for this exit permit fee? To make a lot of money?" The exit permit must be paid via credit card, which many Afghan refugees have no access to. "This makes it worse as it should be paid by refugees and most of them don't have credit cards. I think we need a cooperative approach of working together to help the refugees and we expect Pakistan would help," another diplomat said. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry, said there was no plan to change the policy. "These individuals have been here for the last two years and they are not refugees but immigrants with overstay in their visas and lack of documents. But we expect the concerned countries would expedite the visa and approval process so that they can leave for their destination as early as possible," The Guardian quoted her as saying. Baloch said more information was needed to process the refugees' resettlement because some western countries had been giving them names without further details. But a western diplomat said: "We are trying to provide information the Pakistani government is asking for, but we have legal restrictions as to how much information we can provide as well." Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, said: "The UNHCR is working with the government of Pakistan to resolve the issue of exit fines and overstay visa fees for refugees in the resettlement programme. The UNHCR advocates with the authorities for the exemption of refugees from these requirements." He said the UN understood that the situation could cause anxiety among those who had fled to Pakistan but were eager to leave the country and restart their lives. "Resettlement is part of a global solidarity and lifesaving mechanism for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers," The Guardian quoted him as saying. (ANI) Experts as well as international aid organisations have raised concerns about the lack of transparency highlighting the risk of foreigners entering Afghanistan under the guise of nationals and raised alarm over the harsh conditions faced by Afghan returnees in the country, especially during the severe winter, according to Khaama Press. There has been a significant influx of Afghan migrants with over 320,000 individuals entering the country through the Spinboldak and Turkham border crossings since November 1, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office shared a list of all 13 hostages, who returned home to their loved ones after being taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 terror attacks. The Israeli PM Office informed that among those rescued as part of a swap deal with Hamas were 11 foreign nationals. In exchange for 24 Hamas hostages, who were rescued as part of the deal brokered by the US and Qatar, Israel also freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. "The Israeli government embraces our citizens returning home. The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abductees and missing persons," the PM Office said in a statement. "Our citizens underwent an initial medical examination and their families were informed by the appointed officials that they were back," it added. The Israeli PM Office also put out details of the 13 nationals who returned to their homeland. Three members of the Asher family who returned home were identified as Doron Katz-Asher (34), Raz Asher (4), and Aviv Asher (2) Two members released from the Aloni family were identified as Daniel Aloni (45) and Amelia Aloni (5) Three rescued members of the Monder family were identified as Ruth Munder (78), Keren Monder (54), and Ohad Monder (9). Apart from them, five more Israeli nationals -- Adina Moshe (72), Hana Katzir (76), Margalit Mozes (77), Hanna Perry (79) and Yaffe Adar (85) -- were also released from captivity. The PM Office said the government along with all the security forces accompanied the released hostages as they returned to their kin, who had been spending anxious days over their fates. Earlier, on Friday, the first group of Israeli hostages were handed over to the staff of the International Committee for Red Cross as part of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, Times of Israel reported The truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 7 am (local time) on Friday. After the release of hostages on Friday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the nation is committed to returning of all the hostages from Gaza as it is "one of the aims of the war". In a video message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said, "We just completed the return of the first of our hostages: children, their mothers and additional women. Each of them is an entire world." US President Joe Biden hailed the development calling it just the "start of a process". He further affirmed hope that "dozens of hostages" will be returned to their families over the next few days. Hamas might eventually free more hostages, in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire by an extra day for each 10 Israeli hostages, according to The Times of Israel report. However, the released hostages are only a small group out of some 240 people held hostage by Hamas terrorists since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. (ANI)
Hitting out at Pakistan over the atrocities on minorities and attacks on Hindu temples, Swami Vigyananand, the founder and the Global Chairman of the World Hindu Foundation (WHF) has urged global bodies to safeguard the interests of minorities in the country. Swami Vigyananand, who is also the chief organiser of the World Hindu Congress, condemned the continuous attacks on Hindu temples in Pakistan and said that, in the long term, it is destroying Islamabad's own heritage. Speaking to ANI, he said, "After the partition, the minorities are continuously threatened in Pakistan, especially Hindus and Christians. The first riot happened in Bangladesh, East Pakistan, when BP Mandal, the Law Minister, had to leave". "You can see from the census that the Hindu purpose is continuously declining, declining, declining. There are less than one per cent one and a half per cent in Pakistan now. So that is how the minorities are neglected," he added. The Global Chairman of the World Hindu Foundation said that the international Hindu community should mobilise and put pressure on the multilateral agencies to safeguard minority interests. "Coming to the temple, it is a heritage. If Pakistan had saved all those temples in a proper way they would have benefited like Egypt benefited from the Pyramid. However, the Pakistan government's mentality, society mentality and radicalisation in the society are harming the minority. They are not destroying the temple they are destroying their heritage...Pakistan has no history or heritage of its own...so in the long term, they are destroying Pakistan," Swami Vigyananand said. He added, "Hindus are being attacked in Afghanistan. You all know that Hindu attack in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Also even in Malaysia, Hindu society has suffered. So, the only way is for the international Hindu community should mobilize the international human community and put pressure on multilateral agencies like the United Nations, the European Union to force this government to safeguard the interests of minority, especially Hindu Christians and this is what we are trying to do". The World Hindu Congress, which takes place every four years, is currently being hosted in the Thai capital. Organised by the World Hindu Foundation, the event opened on Friday and will culminate on November 26. (ANI)
Massive protests have erupted in Turbat city, Pakistan's Balochistan province after four youth were killed in a fake encounter by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) last Thursday. Family members and workers of different political parties have joined the protest at the Fida Shaheed Chowk, along with the corpse of Balaach Mola Balsh, whose body was handed over to this family. According to the family members, Bakhsh, along with three other people, was killed in a fake encounter as he was already in CTD custody since his arrest on October 29. According to a Dawn newspaper report, a complete strike was also observed in Turbat town to protest against the killing. https://twitter.com/HRCP87/status/1728016883708723613?s=20 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the incident and posted on X, "HRCP strongly condemns the practice of extrajudicial killings by law enforcement and security agencies, which continue to be reported from Balochistan, particularly in Kech and its surrounding areas. Extrajudicial executions are not justified in any circumstances whatsoever, given that the state has a legal obligation to protect the right to life and the right to due process. The impunity accorded to perpetrators must cease and those responsible must be held to account." Lateef Johar Baloch, a human rights advocate, posted on X, "Balochistan has been made a slaughterhouse by Punjab to facilitate foreign investors to exploit its wealth and land. The Baloch youth were brutally murdered in brutal fake encounters in Kech because of the Chinese projects, including CPEC and Gwadar Port, which must end". He added, "The crimes of extrajudicial killings executed in the last few days are one of the thousands of such brutal atrocities committed by Punjab's security forces against the owner of the land." According to the Baloch Freedom Front, "34 Baloch have been forcefully disappeared by Pakistan's atrocious regime and two killed in October 2023." The incidents of forced abductions and extrajudicial killings of students and other intellectuals are continuing in parts of Balochistan. Such incidents have risen since the launch of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. (ANI)
DALTON, Ga. - One man is dead and another is under arrest after an early morning domestic dispute ended in a stabbing on Black Friday, according to Dalton police.

William Holmes, 43, of Whitfield County was arrested after the incident and is being charged with murder.

It happened at a residence off Patton Street around 2:30 a.m. According to authorities, Holmes was at the scene escorting a woman who was there to collect belongings from an ex-boyfriend. During this exchange, an argument began and when it escalated, Holmes got out of a vehicle and joined the argument and a fight broke out in the yard in front of the residence. During this fight, police say Holmes stabbed the victim, who died at the scene from his injuries.

Police are not identifying the victim at this time pending notification of his family.

After the stabbing, police say Holmes fled the scene in a vehicle.

Dalton Police Department officers learned Holmes had also been injured in the fight. Officers also learned the make and model of the vehicle Holmes was in and sent that information out to the 911 dispatch center. A short time afterward, he was stopped by Whitfield County Sheriffs Office deputies. He was apparently headed towards Murray County to be treated at the hospital there. Instead, he was taken to Hamilton Medical Center where his laceration was treated before being released into police custody to be interviewed.

This incident is still being investigated by DPD detectives, and they say further charges are possible.
DALLAS - Dallas police arrested a man for an early morning shooting that left another man critically injured in Far North Dallas.

The shooting happened around 1 a.m. at the Carolina Chase Apartments on Peterson Lane, near Noel Road and the LBJ Freeway.

Police said 39-year-old Santos Murillo shot the victim during an argument.

The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Santos is now charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person was injured in a shooting Friday afternoon in Edgehill.

Metro police said officers were called to the 1000 block of Edgehill Avenue just after 3 p.m. to investigate a shooting. Based on surveillance footage, an individual wearing a purple hoodie approached the victim behind an apartment building.

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After a brief interaction, the victim was shot while the suspect took off running and fled in a dark colored SUV, according to investigators.

Police said the victim was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is expected to survive.

No other information was released.

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 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.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD)  A woman was killed and three others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash near Western Michigan Universitys campus Friday afternoon.

According to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, officers responded to the crash involving three vehicles at the intersection of Stadium Drive and Meadow View Drive just after 12:15 p.m.

One of the occupants was taken to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead. She has since been identified as 22-year-old Audrey Hensley of Portage.

One of the other occupants had to be removed from their vehicle by KDPS extrication equipment. Two of the victims involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries while one patient has been listed in critical condition at this time.

No other information has been released but KDPS said in a statement that excessive speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash.

If you have any information regarding the crash, youre asked to contact KDPS or Silent Observer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
This is the walkway around Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park off Key West, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2020. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News

You dont have stay to holed up inside all winter. This is the best time of year to get some hikes and nature in at some of the nations most iconic national parks.

Heres a list of some of the best national parks to visit during winter.

A budding Joshua tree stands tall in Joshua Tree National Park on Jan. 28, 2021. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News

1. Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua trees are evergreen, so they dont shift or lose their needles during the winter. The area is great for bouldering, with rock formations created from molten liquid that oozed upward and cooled while still below the surface, according to the National Park Service.

The night skies are also incomparable because of the sheer size of the park and openness of the desert.

Winter temperatures can reach 60F, making it the opportune time to visit the otherwise-sweltering Joshua Tree, Wilderness.org writes.

Palm Springs is also just an hour away, where there are resorts and shopping for the less outdoorsy types.

A member of the National Park Service, left, leads Malia Obama, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Sasha Obama, on a tour of Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, in Carslbad, N.M., on Friday, June 17, 2016. The Obama family traveled to Carlsbad Caverns National Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of Americas national park system. | Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press

2. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Temperatures inside the caves remain the same year-round, so ranger-led and self-led tours are open year-round. The park hosts multiple entrances and tours, and the striking formations and big open spaces offer a window into understanding the world beneath us.

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Here is a view looking up at Angels Landing at Zion National Park from the bottom on Mar. 16, 2016. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News

3. Zion National Park, Utah

Each year, 4.5 million people flood this national park, according to Conde Nast. Its popular for a reason. One perk of going in winter means its much less crowded, and the snow can make for some spectacular views contrasting on the iconic red rocks.

Canyon Overlook is a great spot that is normally overrun with people during busier times, and hiking Emerald Pool Trail is another great spot. Just make sure you have shoes with good traction and stay far from the edge.

This is the walkway around Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park off Key West, Florida on Feb. 2, 2020. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News

4. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Located off the coast of Florida on a small island, getting to Dry Tortugas National Park is very much a day trip, but its worth it.

Because its Florida, it remains somewhat balmy year-round, and ranger-guided tours that take you on a ferry to the island offer a glimpse into the history of Florida and America.

In this April 11, 2010, photo, a tourist walks along a ridge at Death Valley National Park, Calif. | Brian Melley, Associated Press

5. Death Valley National Park, California

Beat the heat in the hottest place on earth by visiting Death Valley National Park in the winter. The park offers colorful badlands and moderate temperatures in winter. Conde Nast recommends watching the sunrise at Zabriskie Point and taking a hike through Golden Canyon.

6. Everglades National Park, Florida

The Everglades can provide a sunny escape during the winter months, as well as intimate interactions with swamp wildlife like alligators, turtles, frogs, fish and many species of birds. Theres also less rain during winter months and cooler days, Travel+Leisure reported.

You can easily book airboat tours just outside the park to get the feel of swamp adventuring or you could rent a bike inside the park to get around.

In this photo taken Wednesday, June 19, 2013, Mount Rainier, at risk to nearby populations from eruption and volcanic mudflows, is seen from a helicopter ferrying state officials south of the mountain and west of Yakima, Wash. | Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

7. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Because the mountain is home to the continental U.S.s most glaciated peak, its often covered in snow, even in the summer. Visiting the park in winter means enjoying the scenic winter views with more prep for the winter weather. Conde Nast recommends a guided snowshoe walk and warming up in the National Park Inn.

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8. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Seeing the iconic orange hoodoo spires topped with snow makes clear the fact that some of the most popular hiking trails do close in the winter. You can still catch spectacular views from Sunrise and Sunset Points, and driving the Highway 63 is still open. Travel+Leisure recommends a snowshoe hike.

9. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Is there anything more American than the Grand Canyon? Its the only place Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation says its OK for a man to cry. He includes it for a reason  even though men can cry anytime they like. The north rim closes, but the south rim stays open all year. Winter might be the only time you can view the vistas without tons of people also clamoring for a view.

10. Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Sunny Arizona has a sunset on its flag for a reason. Its a great place to catch some rays. Its easily accessible by a 11 2- to-2-hour drive from Phoenix and can offer incredible looks at saguaro that could be over 200 years old.

This Feb. 15, 2010, photo shows tourists as they walk across the floor of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Hikes in the park offer an astonishing contrast of landscapes, from a lush rainforest to the black crater to the sea. | Beth Harpaz, Associated Press

11. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Of course Hawaii made the winter list. Winter is the peak season for the volcanic mountain and offers unique looks into black sand beaches. Conde Nast recommends taking the Circle of Fire helicopter tour if youre ready to drop some cash to get an aerial view of the area.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Two separate structure fires were reported on Black Friday early morning to the Fresno Fire Department.

Firefighters say they responded to two separate structure fires on Black Friday early morning. The first call occurred at 3:30 a.m. in the community of Pinedale. The second occurred around 5:30 a.m. in the area of College Avenue near Shields Avenue.

Fire officials say both fires occurred in vacant buildings and no injuries were reported.

As of now, firefighters say the cause of the fires is unknown and investigators are currently working to determine the causes.

This is an ongoing investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Wedding ceremony halted as kangaroo fight breaks out

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An Australian wedding was temporarily delayed after kangaroos near the venue began fighting one another.

A bride and groom about to be married may not have gotten a kick out of this.

A couple's wedding ceremony was delayed when two kangaroos were spotted fighting near the venue.

The Jervis Bay, New South Wales, wedding was about to begin when wedding guests spotted two kangaroos fighting off to the side.

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A video captures the moment the large kangaroos were seen on their large and powerful hind legs, fighting each other.

As a result of the fight, the wedding ceremony was temporarily delayed.

The two animals continued to fight, causing the wedding guests to watch in shock and dismay. (@mitchchuri via Storyful)

Videographer and commentator Mitch Churi can be heard talking about the encounter.

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At one point, he jokes about the timing of the incident  wedding day.

Two large and aggressive kangaroos attracted undue attention at a couple's wedding. (@mitchchuri via Storyful)

"Weddings are all fun and games until some of the guests start to fight," he said.

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In the video, the two kangaroos can be seen standing on their hind legs and attacking one another.

One kangaroo even went for the gut of the other kangaroo.

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"Right in the gut," said the videographer.

The two kangaroos can be seen fighting in the field. (@mitchchuri via Storyful)

The crowd of wedding guests was apparently completely fixated on the fight.

"Everybody stopped looking for the bride and groom and spent 20 minutes watching the fight," he said.

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After the kangaroos calmed down and left the area  the ceremony then began.

Brittany Kasko is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital.
Retired Chicago Fire Department firefighter Joseph Pavlik, shown wearing a mask at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, pleaded guilty in August to one count of entering restricted grounds with a dangerous weapon. (U.S. District Court records)

Federal prosecutors are seeking more than a year in prison for a retired Chicago firefighter who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a far-right militia group and tried to force his way through a line of police officers to an area where some lawmakers had taken shelter.

Joseph Pavlik, 66, of Chicago, came to the Capitol prepared for violence and fanned the flames of the mob through his actions that day, prosecutors wrote in a memo filed on Friday seeking a sentence of 13 months behind bars.

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Pavlik, who retired from the Chicago Fire Department in 2013 after a 33-year career as a firefighter, pleaded guilty in August to one count of entering restricted grounds with a dangerous weapon.

His attorney, Lawrence Beaumont, filed a memo if his own Friday evening asking for a term of probation, calling Pavlik a dedicated public servant whose participation in the events of Jan. 6 was a less-than-one-hour departure from a lifetime of otherwise law abiding, respectful, and helpful citizenship.

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Pavlik is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, Dec. 1, by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden.

According to prosecutors, Pavlik was a member of the Guardians of Freedom, an organization founded by his nephew and loosely affiliated with the right-wing militia group Three Percenters.

Pavlik made numerous right-wing statements in the weeks leading up to the Capitol attack claiming that the election had been stolen from then-President Donald Trump and calling for violent action, prosecutors said.

These arent Americans they are indoctrinated socialists that hate America and hate Americans, he allegedly posted on Facebook in December 2020. We need to be much more brutal than punching and kicking. This is not some simple street disagreement.

On Jan. 6, Pavlik met up with other members of a Three Percenters-aligned faction called Group B to serve as security at Trumps rally to protest the certification of the Electoral College vote by Congress, according to the charges.

He was later seen in surveillance images and police body-worn camera footage wearing a gas mask and vest with patches depicting anti-government phrases, including, When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty, prosecutors said.

Once at the Capitol, Pavlik and five other members of his group joined a throng of rioters trying to force their way past a line of officers defending the buildings west terrace tunnel, which provides immediate and unobstructed access to sensitive areas and offices used by members of Congress.

Some members of Congress were sheltering in place near that entrance, prosecutors said.

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Pavlik was among the first to start skirmishing with the officers, who remained under siege for almost two and a half hours from Pavlik and others, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Ontell wrote in his 25-page sentencing memo.

After Pavlik pushed against officers in the tunnel for about 10 minutes, police successfully expelled him, Ontell wrote. Nevertheless, he stayed at the tunnel entrance and took out a canister of chemical spray that he had brought with him.

Video of the assault showed Pavlik was jostled by the mob and fumbled the can before he could use it against officers, Ontell said. But as he walked away from the tunnel entrance, he passed another can of chemical spray to a rioter, who grabbed it and blasted officers with spray multiple times, the filing stated.

Though the attempt by the rioters to gain access through the tunnel eventually failed, Pavlik stayed at the west terrace site until officers cleared it with tear gas hours after the assault began, according to Ontell.

The other members of Pavliks group, who are all from Florida, were arrested in the last year on charges stemming from the same tunnel incident, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Following the riot, Pavlik posted statements on social media alternately whitewashing his actions, shifting blame, and encouraging insurrection, Ontell wrote.

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In August 2021, he called the ongoing investigation into the attack a farce and labeled members of Congress filthy demon rats, according to the prosecution filing. Two months later, he posted a comment on a friends Facebook page saying it was past time for the overthrow of the government.

We need an insurrection or a revolution and it has to be so convincing that the left will never raise their head above ground again, Pavlik allegedly wrote.

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Ontell said that despite his relatively normal middle-class upbringing, Pavliks criminal conduct on Jan. 6 was the epitome of disrespect for the law.

Pavliks attorney wrote in his filing that Pavlik has no previous criminal history, did not harm anyone on Jan. 6 and never entered the Capitol building.

In addition to his service as a firefighter, Pavlik volunteered at ground zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, where he spent two weeks sifting through the disaster site searching for bodies, and body parts, mostly by hand, Beaumont wrote.

Six months before the events at the Capitol, Pavlik suffered a devastating family tragedy when his only child, Joseph Jr., a Justice police officer and suburban SWAT team member, killed himself, Beaumont wrote.

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Pavlik was among some 42 Illinoisans to be federally charged as part of the ongoing investigation into the Capitol attack, which prosecutors have described as one of the largest criminal investigations in American history.

Nationwide, more than 1,200 people have been arrested in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on charges stemming from the Capitol breach, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
TAMPA, Fla. - After receiving a tip, detectives discovered that two convicted felons had drugs and guns on Wednesday, according to officials.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says they received a tip about 27-year-old Devin Belcher regarding a blatant violation of probation. According to detectives, they determined that Belcher was participating in activities that involved firearms, ammunition, and narcotics.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Belcher was found in his car at a local Wawa on Nov. 22 and officials say they conducted a traffic stop when he pulled into the Hush Gentleman's Club parking lot.

When authorities searched his car they discovered marijuana and more than $6,000 in cash. Officials say there was also a bag containing a substantial amount of cocaine and fentanyl.

READ: Dead man in trunk, suspect with gunshot wound found at Inverness home: Deputies

According to deputies, a bag at the passenger's feet contained a glock and prescription pills. Investigators say the 43-year-old passenger was Rafael Lugo Toucet, a five-time convicted felon.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Toucet was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of drugs without prescription, according to officials.

READ: Wanted Florida woman found hiding in couch: CCSO

After the traffic stop, investigators got a search warrant for Belcher's home and found a cache of weapons and ammunition.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

According to HCSO, Belcher now faces a multitude of charges, including violation of probation, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of cannabis less than 20g, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"These arrests are a testament to the dedication and diligence of teamHCSO. By acting on credible tips and collaborating effectively, we have successfully removed a substantial threat from our community," said Sheriff Chad Chronister in a statement. "Our commitment to ensuring public safety remains strong, and we will continue to work tirelessly to uphold the peace and security of Hillsborough County. I commend the outstanding efforts of our deputies and detectives in this operation, and we will continue to keep our neighborhoods safe for all residents."
Delaware State Police have identified a 22-year-old man killed Friday in Frankford as Gabriel Dorman of Millsboro.

Dorman was one of two men who were riding a Honda four-wheeler that collided with a Mercedes-Benz SUV early Friday morning, according to Delaware State Police.

Police said they were called at about 1:10 p.m. for a report of shots fired near a home in the 30200 block of Frankford School Road in Frankford. When they arrived, they found Dorman and a 20-year-old Millsboro man with life-threatening injuries lying in the road near the vehicles, according to police. The SUV occupants, a 38-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman from Frankford, were uninjured, police said.

Police are continuing their death investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective A. Bluto at 302-741-2859, send a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.

Contact reporter Cameron Goodnight at cgoodnight@delawareonline.com or by calling or texting 302-324-2208. Follow him on Twitter at @CamGoodnight.

More: Police identify 65-year-old woman killed in a multivehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Bear

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Gabriel Dorman identified as 22-year-old crash victim in Frankford
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A disturbing spike in deadly gun violence happened this week with three people shot and killed in Northeast Portland within a five-day period.

One of the victims was identified Friday afternoon by police as 40-year-old Nicole Lashawn Davis, who was shot and killed in the Parkrose neighborhood.

Authorities say the shootings are a terrible coincidence, but say right now, the deaths appear to be unrelated.

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Theres a lot of community concern that comes out when we see multiple homicides, or any kind of violent crime that seems to be clustered in a specific area, said Sgt. Kevin Allen with the Portland Police Bureau.

Authorities say 45-year-old mother, Shamesha Allen was shot and killed at a home in the Glenfair neighborhood Saturday. Just days before, a man was shot and killed in the Cully neighborhood Tuesday night and Davis was found shot to death outside an apartment complex off Northeast Weidler Street.

Police say they are still searching for suspects in the two most recent shootings, but told KOIN 6 News 43-year-old Donnell Watson is in custody and charged with manslaughter in Allens death. Court documents show Watsons daughter told investigators she saw her father playing with and pointing the gun at people while highly intoxicated before it went off. Police say the dangerous combination of substances and firearms should never mix.

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Youre not going to have your faculties as much as you would if you were sober, added Sgt. Allen. And so you know, stay away from getting involved in firearms, and driving, anything thats going to be potentially dangerous to you and to members of your family and members of your community.

Watson is expected back in court for his arraignment on November 29.

Portland police is asking anyone with information about these shootings to contact authorities.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Democrats have little patience for Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate who evokes unsettling flashbacks to the 2016 race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton  and who dismisses her role as a wrench-thrower eight years ago.

But while Stein, running again in 2024, could send similar stresses through the current presidential cycle, this time shes not alone. The third party, independent and Democratic primary lane is getting crowded as candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) assess if they can rise from being top-ticket wannabes to viable choices for voters.

At this point, no one really knows how theyll impact the race, causing both Democrats and Republicans to look over their shoulders less than a year out from Election Day.

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Here are the 5 biggest third-party and independent questions of 2024:

Which party do they help?

So far, strategists from both parties are already spinning that third-party and independent candidates hurt their opposition and give their own team a boost.

That message is deliberate.

In the absence of much polling to the contrary, its plausible that independent candidates like Kennedy could take votes away from Biden (riding the liberal Kennedy name) and bump Trump up  the argument youll hear among Republicans. The same case can be reasonably made for progressives Stein and West, who flipped from the Green Party to run as an independent. While their voters may not actually vote for Trump, they could chip enough from the president as protest votes to help the GOP.

But thats far from a sure bet. In fact, its not at all clear that things will break so cleanly along ideological lines. Kennedy, for one, has attracted a lot of Republican donors and has built up a brand thats closer to the right by attacking the media and adopting some controversial stances around vaccines. Hopeful Democrats say that he has the potential to nab votes from Trump among those who want a less scandal-ridden or just fresher alternative.

Kennedy of course seems right this moment to be pulling potentially from both, said OBrien Murray, a veteran political strategist. His numbers as an independent are significant.

For outliers like Stein and West, its also possible that they could pull votes away from either side because their strategies hinge largely around bashing the Democratic establishment, with less of a focus on Republicans.

Who will qualify on state ballots?

Several candidates are already mapping out their early state strategies. Phillips, a Democratic congressman running against Biden, is focusing heavily on New Hampshire after the president co-signed a move to change the primary calendar around.

Kennedy has also spent considerable time in the Live Free or Die state, hoping to appeal to non-conformists dubious or disenchanted with establishment politics.

Williamson, meanwhile, was the first candidate to register for the South Carolina primary, where she has publicly and privately expressed a concerted focus. West has touched down in the Midwest, looking to gain an edge with voters during the autoworkers strike.

Generally, third party candidates do not automatically qualify for the ballot, as do the major party nominees, said Stephen Ansolabehere, a professor of government at Harvard University and an expert on ballot initiatives.

Third party and independent candidates must gather signatures of registered voters in order to qualify, he said. This is costly and time-consuming.

Will Biden speak up?

If the universe of candidates is spinning things around, Biden is entirely in his own orbit. That is to say, the president is not really even acknowledging that there are forces working against him beyond the Republican primary field.

He now has three primary challengers  including Phillips, whose case for election is a long way away from his third-term seat in the House  adding to the mix of two independents and one Green Party rival.

Biden doesnt seem bothered. Hes polling at historically low numbers, and voters in the states he needs to win like Pennsylvania and Michigan and Arizona are showing in a handful of surveys that they prefer Trump.

While Biden and administration officials do acknowledge the former Republican president, theyre quiet on the half-dozen other candidates building up their name recognition and campaign coffers while the White House effectively says less is more.

The closest Biden has gotten to addressing his rivals is mentioning No Labels, the group thats trying to recruit a new consensus presidential candidate. Biden said in an interview with ProPublica last month that its going to help the other guy, in reference to former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Ct.) drawing speculation about whether he would run.

But he has otherwise been quiet about his rivals, who have not held back in criticizing him over his low polls.

Will RFK Jr. coalesce the youth vote?

Kennedys sway with young voters, as it appears in polls, has caught some Democrats off guard. In the last Biden vs. Trump matchup, the president captured the majority of the youth vote in part for supporting climate reforms, reproductive freedoms, and promising that issues like student loan debt would be a priority.

While Democrats have seen down-ballot successes consistently post-Roe  as recently as last Tuesdays elections  its clear young voters want more out of the Biden presidency. The reliably Democratic voting bloc has expressed interest in Kennedy in particular in recent weeks, which has the potential to significantly alter the races results next fall.

Kennedy received a sizable amount of support among under 45-year-old voters in a poll released by The New York Times/Siena College. The same toss-up states that show voters supporting Trump slightly more than Biden also show Kennedy leading that constituency over the two front-runners. Hes been consistently on the rise, too. An even younger group of voters, between 18 and 34 years old, in a national Quinnipiac University survey also gave Kennedy the edge, in this case 6 points ahead of Biden and 11 points leading Trump, coming in at 38 percent to their respective 32 percent and 27 percent.

Our biggest swing voter is our base who wont swing to Donald Trump or a Republican, but they will swing right out to the couch if they dont think its worth their time, nobodys paid them attention, or theyre being ignored or taken for granted, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told CNN on Monday.

They wont vote. And we know what happens when that happens, its 2016 all over again, she said.

What will Joe Manchin do?

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is getting out of West Virginia  physically and metaphorically, at least for now. He announced recently that he would not run for another term in the U.S. Senate, all but guaranteeing Democrats will lose a seat in the upper chamber to Republicans.

Manchin was among the partys most vulnerable Democrats and has long garnered speculation that he could retire at the end of this term, as the nation shifts its focus to the 2024 presidential race.

Manchin, because of what hes done to Democrats and Democratic issues, will not be able to pull the Democrats most likely, so therefore he could be a terrific conversation about what has to be done and realize he may not be the guy, said Murray.

The 76-year-old centrist has been quiet about his next act, but its no surprise that his retirement decision has caused those in his party to nervously await what he could be planning. If he truly leaves politics, he could cement his legacy as a long-standing moderate who often bucked his partys popular positions  and went against the sitting president  to stand by voters in his state.

That resistance has consistently put him at odds with progressives on the other wing of his party, who see a hypothetical Manchin presidential run as detrimental.

Joe Manchin watered down the Democratic economic agenda, made the cost of raising children higher and billionaire taxes lower, and now doesnt even run for reelection, said Adam Green, who co-founded the Progressive Campaign Change Committee.

History, and West Virginians who are struggling, will not judge Joe Manchin well, Green said in a statement. Manchins record of enriching himself and billionaires while hurting working people would also be a disaster on the presidential stage, alienating voters across the political spectrum.

Manchin promised to canvas the country to assess whether theres enough appetite for a centrist choice. Right now, hes the only one who knows his true motivations.

Will he turn to his brethren and say heres what Ive learned, heres what we have, what can we do to help? Or will he say, Hey Ive done what I could, it didnt work and God bless and somebody else can do it, said Murray.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Damage to main overhead and distribution lines in countrys central regions reported by state power grid operator UkrEnergo

Emergency power outages were introduced in Kyiv after last nights massive Russian drone attack, DTEK, Ukraines largest commercial energy company, reported on Telegram on Nov. 25.

The attack left 16,000 homes without power in Kyiv Oblast, including 151 residential buildings, 75 private houses and 12 institutions in the capital.

Some 296 families remain without electricity in Kyivs Vyzhhorod district.

Repair efforts are underway.

Read also:

Targeting civilian infrastructure during a war, including energy infrastructure, is a war crime.

Engineers are assessing the damaged power grid in Kyiv which let to emergency outages, Yasno power company CEO Serhiy Kovalenko wrote on Facebook, promising to report possible timelines to restore the power.

The damage to the main overhead lines and distribution lines of regional power companies in the central regions of the country was reported by Ukraine's state power grid operator UkrEnergo.

Read also: Civilian hospitalized as Russia continues its relentless punishment of Kherson with daytime attack

Emergency repairs are underway.

Ukrainians are urged not to overload the grid and to use electrical appliances sparingly and carefully to avoid damage.

The Energy Ministry reported a power outage affecting 77 buildings and 120 facilities in Kyiv. Efforts are underway to restore the power.

Ukraine was attacked overnight by a record number of 75 Russian Shahed-131/136 drones, with 71 intercepted by Air Defense Forces. More than 60 attacked Kyiv and its approach, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram on Nov. 25.

Five people were injured in the attack, including an 11-year-old child. The air raid lasted for six hours and was the fourth on the capital this month, the Kyiv City Military Administration said. Russian forces used kamikaze drones, continuously altering their courses during the prolonged assault.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A handful of purple and red states are poised to be the next battlegrounds in the abortion rights fight after advocates won a major victory in Ohio this month.

Ohioans passed a proposed constitutional amendment earlier this month that enshrines abortion rights protections  seen as a major feat in a state that has trended increasingly red in recent years.

Abortion rights advocates are now looking to amend state constitutions in states such as Nevada, Arizona and Florida in an effort to establish or strengthen existing abortion protections  an effort that could energize Democrats base of voters in a critical presidential election year.

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Here are five states where the abortion fight is likely to play out next:

Nevada

Abortion access is protected through the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in the Silver State, with exceptions afterward if the physician has reasonable cause to believe that an abortion currently is necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman, according to Nevada law.

Nevadans approved a referendum in 1990 that backed the states existing abortion protections, with the referendum noting that the states laws could only be changed by a direct vote of the people.

But abortion rights advocates are looking to put the issue in front of voters again, this time by enshrining them in the state constitution. The proposed constitutional amendment reads, Every individual has a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including, without limitation, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, vasectomy, tubal ligation, abortion, abortion care, management of a miscarriage and infertility care.

The amendment protects abortion access up until fetal viability, except when a provider believes its necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the patient. It also bans the state from punishing a patient from receiving an abortion or a health care provider or someone who assists that patient in obtaining an abortion.

June 26 is the deadline for advocates to get the 103,000 signatures from voters needed for it to make the 2024 ballot. The measure will need to be reapproved by voters again in 2026 before its implemented.

Arizona

A coalition in the Grand Canyon State rolled out a campaign in August to get their own abortion rights measure on the ballot in 2024.

The proposed constitutional amendment would establish that every individual has a fundamental right to abortion and protects abortion access up until fetal viability. The amendment notes that the state cant bar or interfere with an abortion after fetal viability that, in the good faith judgement of a treating health care professional, is necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual.

Similar to the proposed constitutional amendment in Nevada, the Arizona ballot measure would also bar the state from punishing someone in helping a patient receive an abortion.

In order for the measure to come before voters next November, the group will need to collect 383,923 signatures before July 3, 2024.

Abortion is currently legal in the state until 15 weeks of pregnancy as the Arizona Supreme Court weighs an 1864 abortion law, which bans nearly all abortions except for cases in which the life of the patient is at risk.

Doctors could go to jail for between two and five years if they illegally perform an abortion under the 1864 law.

The proposed constitutional amendments in Nevada and Arizona are particularly noteworthy given those states are key battlegrounds in the presidential race. Abortion ballot measures could help enthuse Democrats voting base as the 2024 election increasingly looks like a rematch between President Biden and former President Trump, with recent polling showing Trump performing well against Biden in multiple swing states.

Florida

The Sunshine State became a focal point in the abortion rights fight this year after 2024 GOP presidential contender and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban. However, that ban is on hold as the Florida Supreme Court separately weighs a 15-week abortion ban, which is currently where abortion access stands in the state.

Just weeks after DeSantis signed the six-week abortion ban, abortion rights advocates launched an initiative to place a measure before voters next year seeking to protect abortion access in the state.

The constitutional amendment, if passed, says that no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider.

According to Floridians Protecting Freedom, which is organizing the ballot measure push, they need to submit 891,523 signatures by Feb. 1, 2024. The group noted in mid-October that 402,082 signatures had been verified so far.

Should they clear that hurdle, it still needs to clear a 60 percent voter threshold once it reaches the ballot.

But state Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) has appealed to the state Supreme Court to not have the ballot measure come before voters. In one of her briefs, Moody alleged that abortion rights advocates proposed an amendment to the Florida Constitution using a misleading ballot summary to trick voters into freezing in place a legal framework that conceals the amendments potentially sweeping legal effects and argued it was an effort to hoodwink the Florida electorate.

Missouri

Two different groups are looking to put the issue of abortion on the ballot next year to combat Missouris current law, which bans abortion except in cases of medical emergency.

In March, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom filed 11 different constitutional amendments, all of which are different in some of the language they use but which all use the phrase the Government shall not deny or infringe upon a persons fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Some of the petitions outline when the General Assembly could regulate abortion access; some explicitly say after 24 weeks of gestation; while another says up until fetal viability.

Another group, the Missouri Women and Family Research Fund, has also submitted multiple petitions that would offer different amendments to the state constitution. One version states there should be exceptions for rape or sexual assault, incest, fatal fetal abnormality, or risk to the health or safety of the female seeking an abortion before fetal viability, though another version does not stipulate specific limits in a patients pregnancy in those exceptions.

A separate version also notes that the state shall not deny or interfere with the fundamental right to choose to have an abortion through 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Groups have until early May to garner the more than 171,000 signatures needed to get the measure in front of voters.

A summary from Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) depicted Missourians for Constitutional Freedoms initiative as allowing for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions, from conception to live birth, without requiring a medical license or potentially being subject to medical malpractice, according to The Associated Press.

But Ashcroft, who is running for governor next year, suffered several defeats in court, with his summaries being changed by a judge, and the state Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal over the wording, according to St. Louis Public Radio.

South Dakota

South Dakota might not be the first state that comes to mind amid the ongoing fight over abortion access, but the group Dakotans for Health is looking to change that in 2024.

The group is collecting signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment that says, before the end of the first trimester, the State may not regulate a pregnant womans abortion decision and its effectuation.

During the second trimester, the State may regulate the pregnant womans abortion decision and its effectuation only in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman, and that after the end of the second trimester, the State may regulate or prohibit abortion, except when abortion is necessary, in the medical judgment of the womans physician, to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.

Abortion is nearly banned in the state, with only an exception for the life of the mother. The group has until May 7, 2024, to gather 35,017 signatures in order to get the measure before voters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
5 things to know about the riots in Dublin

Protesters in Dublin began rioting and attacking police earlier this week, after three children were injured in a knife attack outside a school.

Irish police arrested 34 people Thursday night after the rioters stormed across Dublin, setting fire to cars. According to Irelands national police service, 32 of the 34 people arrested were charged for participating in rioting and destruction.

Heres what to know about the events.

Initial attack

Five people  including three children  were injured Thursday in a knife attack outside Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire, a primary school in Dublin.

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One of the children, a 5-year-old girl, was seriously injured and remains in critical condition, police said. A 6-year-old girl is also continuing to receive medical treatment for less serious issues, and a 5-year-old boy was discharged from the hospital Thursday evening.

A woman in her 30s and a man in his 50s remain in serious condition, the police report said.

Police are asking for anyone with information about the attack or phone video of the incident or aftermath to help with the investigation.

The attack happened on Parnell Square East shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Al Jazeera reported.

The suspect

Police said it appeared a man in his 50s attacked a number of people near the school and members of the public intervened.

The suspect was also injured and is under arrest. Police do not believe anyone else was involved, and the name of the man detained was not revealed to the public.

One member of the public told the BBC that he acted on instinct and hit the man in the head, and he fell down.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar praised the actions of the people who helped stop the attack.

It was a horrifying act of violence  and our thoughts are with the injured children, with the heroic care assistant who threw herself in harms way to try to protect them, and with all those who risked their lives to save lives, Varadkar said in a press release Friday.

They are the real Irish heroes, whatever their nationality  Irish, Brazilian, Italian, he added.

Anti-immigrant protests

Police said they responded to serious, developing and evolving public order incidents in Dublin after protesters turned violent in response to the stabbings.

The violence began after rumors were circulating that a foreign national was responsible for the attack. Police have not released the suspects nationality.

Anti-immigration protests started last year after the country created temporary refugee shelters to accommodate 65,000 people. As of August, 17 people had been arrested at protests linked to far-right groups.

After Thursdays stabbing, a group of protestors broke through a police barrier, and the scene became violent.

Irish authorities have blamed far-right groups for creating the unrest.

Damage from subsequent riots

Police said they deployed more than 400 members of the An Garda Siochana and more than 250 members of the Public Order Gardai to stop the rioters.

As a result of the violent protests in Dublin City Center, police said they can confirm seven vehicles were torched, including three buses, three police cars and one tram.

Eight other police cars were seriously damaged, and 13 properties were attacked and damaged, police said.

Several members of the police force were also injured in the fighting  with one member in critical condition receiving treatment in the hospital.

Police said they have commenced a formal investigation into all of the circumstances of the Violent Disorder and Public Order events that happened Thursday.

Response and aftermath

In response to the riots, Varadkar said the city had experienced two terrible attacks: the stabbing of the children and the second attack on our society and the rule of law.

Varadkar noted that approximately 500 people were involved in the riot, as the BBC reported. Authorities said they will launch a formal investigation into the incident.

He added that the attacks brought shame to Irelands society and disgraced those involved.

Yesterday evening some people decided that the best way of responding to this attack was to take to the streets of Dublin and try to terrify, intimidate, loot and destroy, Varadkars statement said. Their first reaction to a 5-year-old child being stabbed was to burn our city, attack its businesses and assault our Gardai.

The prime minister said that while the rioters claimed to be defending Irish citizens, they were bringing danger to some of the most vulnerable and innocent people after nonparticipating civilians and pregnant women in the nearby hospital were made to feel unsafe.

These criminals do not do so because they love Ireland. They did not do so because they want to protect Irish people, he declared. They did not do so out of patriotism, however warped.

Police said in a press conference that a technical investigation of the stabbing scene is ongoing. They have not yet established a motive.

The suspect was seen loitering around the area before the incident, according to the The Irish Times. Authorities said they will be conducting a probe using street cameras and are asking for the publics help.

Police reopened Dublin City Center for normal business Friday after the riots.

We have an enhanced policing plan in place this evening and look forward to seeing shoppers, match goers and all those that will be socializing in the city over the weekend ahead, police said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Yurii Malashko, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, has said that 500 tonnes of undistributed humanitarian aid had been found at various companies in Zaporizhzhia.

Source: Malashko on Telegram

Quote: "This week, I reported that 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid had been found at a local company, which was 'stored' there without the relevant documents.

In fact, it was hidden from people. The relevant authorities are going to find out who hid it and for what purpose."

Details: Malashko added that a total of 300 tonnes of humanitarian aid hidden from people had been found at two companies.

"Neither the military, who are defending our peace 30 kilometres from the city of Zaporizhzhia, nor internally displaced persons have received it," Malashko said.

As a result, tonnes of food handed over to Zaporizhzhia Oblast in 2022 were spoiled "as a result of criminal negligence".

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Nearly 500 tons of humanitarian aid being concealed from the Ukrainian public has been uncovered in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Regional Governor said at a news conference on Nov. 24.

"Tons of food products sent to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast in 2022 have deteriorated due to criminal negligence," said Yurii Malashko, governor of Zaporizhzhia.

Authorities discovered a large amount of humanitarian aid, including food products, essential items, and other materials, stored without proper documentation at three different local enterprises in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Malashko notes that investigations into the illegal storage of aid are ongoing.

"We will do everything in our power to ensure hold accountable the individuals responsible for this criminal negligence."

Struggles with internal corruption continue to influence levels of military and financial support from international allies.

In recent months, Ukraine's Defense Ministry has been marred by several scandals related to the procurement of equipment and supplies for Ukrainian soldiers under the leadership of previous Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

In August, Ukrainian media Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reported that the Defense Ministry spent $33 million on "winter" clothing for the military from a Turkish company in September, which was actually summer clothing.

Ukraine's ongoing battle against corruption remains prominently in the public eye, aligning with one of the seven criteria recommended by the European Commission for the nation's integration.

Ukraine has made some progress in rooting out corruption since the start of Russia's invasion. A recent report on the start of Ukraine's EU accession talks highlights that Ukraine has "further developed its track record" and is on track to double the number of indictments on corruption charges from previous years.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

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These are 6 of Russia's deadliest moments in the Ukraine war

A destroyed Russian tank in Bucha, Ukraine, in 2022. Nils Petter Nilsson/Getty Images

Russia is believed to have lost about 300,000 soldiers during the war in Ukraine.

Some Ukrainian strikes have been particularly deadly for Russian soldiers, killing dozens at once.

Russia and Ukraine are both secretive about death tolls and their estimates usually widely differ.

The 20 months of war in Ukraine have been brutal and costly for both sides, particularly for invading Russian forces.

Russians typically outnumber Ukrainians on the battlefield by a ratio of almost three to one, The New York Times reported, and Ukraine has used weapons such as the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, to inflict high casualties on Russian troops.

Russia has never confirmed the numbers of its losses, but Western estimates suggest approximately 300,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine. Ukrainian casualties are believed to be around 200,000.

Reports say Russia has been hemorrhaging men and weapons in its most significant attack against Ukraine in recent months: Its attempt to capture Avdiivka, a strategic town in eastern Ukraine and a gateway to Russia-occupied Ukraine.

Despite high Russian losses, the country's population is about three times the size of Ukraine's  a large pool from which Russia could keep replenishing its ranks.

These are believed to be some of the deadliest single moments for Russia in the conflict so far.

The sinking of the missile cruiser Moskva

The Russian missile cruiser Moskva in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria in 2015. MAX DELANY/AFP via Getty Images

Just two months into Russia's unprovoked invasion, Ukraine scored an early success by sinking the Russian warship Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet.

On April 14, 2022, Ukrainian officials said their forces had struck the ship with at least one Neptune missile, which the Pentagon confirmed.

Ukraine claimed that almost all 500 sailors on board had perished, while Russia said that nearly all had evacuated before the ship sank.

Later, Russia admitted under pressure that one sailor had died and that 27 were missing, but said the rest had been evacuated.

But several family members of Moskva sailors told the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta that at least 40 on board had died.

The true death toll is still unknown.

A Russian battalions failed crossing of the Siverskyi Donets River

A bridge across the Siverskyi Donets River lies broken, blown up by Ukrainian forces in spring 2022 to slow a Russian advance, on April 23. Scott Peterson/Getty Images

Ukrainian forces decimated a Russian battalion as it tried to cross the Siverskyi Donets River in northeastern Ukraine in May 2022.

Ukrainian artillery destroyed several Russian pontoon bridges, and estimates put the toll of dead or wounded Russians at around 485, according to the Institute for the Study of War, or ISW, based on analyses of publicly available imagery.

They estimated that over 80 pieces of equipment could have been destroyed.

Media reports said that Ukraine used M777 howitzers to strike the battalion.

Russian milbloggers responded to the incident with shock and began commenting on the incompetence of the Russian military, the ISW reported.

New Years strike on Makiivka

The aftermath of the strike in Makiivka on January 3. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

While Russian officials have largely not acknowledged losses, Russia's defense ministry made a rare announcement confirming the deaths of 89 troops in a strike in Makiivka, a small city in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast.

Ukrainian officials claimed that the casualties were much higher, with around 400 soldiers killed and 300 injured. The figures could not be independently verified.

Ukraine said it used HIMARS for the attack, and the Russian ministry said Ukraine fired six rockets, four of which struck their troops, the ISW reported.

The attack sparked widespread criticism of Russian military leadership, ISW reported. A senior Russian military official, Sergei Sevryukov, blamed the high number of casualties on soldiers' use of cell phones without providing evidence, The Guardian reported.

Strike during a commanders speech in Kreminna

A M142 HIMARS launches a rocket in the direction of Bakhmut on May 18 in Donetsk oblast, Ukraine. Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Ukraine's HIMARS reportedly struck a large gathering of Russian soldiers in the city of Kreminna as they stood for two hours to watch a commander's speech in July 2023.

Some reports put the number of dead as high as 100 and total casualties as high as 200. The numbers could not be independently verified.

An unnamed Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Post that it was a "funny situation" because the Russian soldiers had made themselves sitting ducks.

The claim, which a Russian milbogger initially reported, led to Russian nationalists calling for military leaders to be punished.

Russians killed while training on Dzharylhach island

Footage uploaded by Ukraine of a HIMARS strike on a sandbar. Screenshot/National Resistance Center

Ukraine released a video that claimed to show Russian soldiers being struck by HIMARS as they trained at Dzharylhach island, a 26-mile-long sandbank in the Black Sea that's part of the Russian-occupied Kherson oblast.

Ukraine said that the attack caused 200 casualties. The number could not be independently verified.

The drone footage from August 2023 shows soldiers appearing to stretch and exercise on the Ukrainian island's sandy shores before being hit from above.

A strike on Kherson 14 miles behind the front line

Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a US-supplied M777 howitzer in the Kherson oblast, Ukraine, in January. AP Photo/Libkos

Ukrainian forces likely took out more than 70 Russian soldiers in a strike on the village of Hladkivka in the Kherson oblast on November 10, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

The attack, which targeted a convoy of trucks, likely took place 14 miles behind the front lines, highlighting Ukraine's long-range precision-strike capabilities.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks during the Chicago Police Department graduation ceremony in the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier on Nov. 14, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

During the mayoral race, the evolution of Brandon Johnsons messaging on the Chicago police budget captured interest and caused concern.

At a progressive candidates forum in September 2022, Johnson declared absolutely yes when asked if hed commit to not raising the departments budget. But by March, shortly before defeating his more conservative opponent, Paul Vallas, he vowed that if elected he wouldnt reduce the CPD budget one penny.

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He followed through on that promise. Johnsons recently passed first budget allocates a record $2 billion to the Chicago Police Department, a slight uptick from this years total that the mayor attributed to scheduled pay raises.

Perhaps more revealing of Johnsons policing philosophy than that top-line number, however, is his reshuffling of jobs within what has historically been the citys most expensive department.

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Police officers and instructors conduct a training scenario demonstration at the Joint Public Safety Training Center in Chicago on Nov. 3, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

His budget eliminates more than 800 vacant street cop positions and creates almost 400 new civilian positions, which his administration said will free up more officers to patrol the streets. The budget also beefs up training and supervisory roles that could help bring the department in line with the federal consent decree.

Ive said this repeatedly: The system that we inherited will not likely be the system that we pass on. Its just different, you all, Johnson told reporters after unveiling his budget proposal last month.

The final police budget earned accolades from a broad coalition of aldermen and fiscal watchdog groups who applauded changes including the addition of more civilian jobs.

But a contingent of dozens of grassroots organizations that supported Johnsons candidacy argued his budget falls short of his campaign promise to transform public safety.

Others said Johnsons approach to policing cant be judged by his first budget, especially given the constraints of an enormous $538 million fiscal shortfall that had to be filled.

The biggest change is the civilianization, right? Susan Lee, deputy mayor for public safety under Johnsons predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, said. I think hes signaling that he cares about reforming the department, but theres not enough there right now to make some definitive statement.

Of the 398 new civilian positions, 100 will be non-sworn training officer roles within the Office of Constitution Policing and Reform, and another 22 will be domestic violence advocate jobs in the community policing office.

Other civilian jobs include 31 investigators in the Bureau of Internal Affairs to assist sergeants with gathering evidence; 22 crime victim advocates; and 21 members of a review unit made up of retired law enforcement hired to review use of force incidents and compensated at an hourly rate of $37/hour, according to the budget office.

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As of October, Chicago police had about 570 civilian members and 250 civilian vacancies, the budget office told aldermen. The number of sworn positions hovered around 11,700, and Johnsons budget provides for filling fewer than half of the current 1,440 vacancies.

Adding civilian positions  a strategy almost every modern Chicago mayor has toyed with  is aimed at increasing the number of cops on the street by freeing officers assigned to desk duty. It can also rein in costs because non-sworn employees typically are paid less, while more successfully matching jobs to skill sets.

Johnson touted some of those potential benefits in pitching his budget.

People continue to ask for more police officers on the front lines, Johnson said in October. This budget actually speaks to that, because we free up officers from confined positions that are more administrative or have other elements that take police officers away from actually being on the front lines.

A Chicago police officer stands by while letting a resident back into her home at the scene of a shooting in the 8600 block of South Racine Avenue in Chicagos Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Nov. 7, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Both the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, created in 2021 to increase police oversight and accountability, and the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog, endorsed the shift.

The City has a very high ratio of sworn officers compared to non-sworn employees, so this move will bring the Department more in line with other cities and result in other operational and financial benefits to the City, the Civic Federation said in its analysis of Johnsons 2024 budget.

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The challenge will be filling those roles expeditiously. In a 2013 report, Joe Ferguson, the citys former inspector general, recommended the police and fire departments cut spending by increasing civilian jobs. But he said his call was never fully taken up.

There were some positions civilianized, but it was truly at the margin. There was no large-scale undertaking, Ferguson said. Theres lip service to it being an opportunity. Theres never really the follow-through.

Anthony Driver, president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, said one of his agencys priorities next year will be ensuring initiatives like the move to more civilian roles are carried out through quarterly check-ins and concrete hiring goals.

I think it definitely reflects the mayors values, 100%, Driver said of Johnsons first CPD budget. I think hes also said that this is a step in that direction, and it wont happen overnight.

Some of the success of civilianization will be out of the Police Departments control. The citys Human Resources Department handles the hiring process and the time from an initial application submission to onboarding a new employee can be several months.

The larger issue, I think, with civilianization efforts in the past, and even today, is really just the HR processes at the city, said Lee, the former deputy mayor. The slowness with which the city moves will often mean that the top candidates will take other jobs before even an offer can be made.

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She summed up: You get into this really kind of a muck, right, of just constantly trying to fill vacancies, but also trying to recruit new talent.

Johnson, a progressive who surged ahead in this years mayoral race with the backing of left-leaning unions and grassroots organizations, was attacked during the mayoral campaign for his past support of the defund the police movement. He ultimately walked back that stance while continuing to champion a nontraditional public safety vision to invest holistically in communities instead of leaning on punitive solutions.

New police officers during the Chicago Police Department graduation ceremony in the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier on Nov. 14, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Johnson had avoided saying how he planned to deal with police officer vacancies, but his budget answered that question  833 unfilled street officer positions will be eliminated.

Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Johnsons pick to lead the department, told the Tribune last month he was not concerned about those unfilled jobs being cut because he expects the impact to be offset by new supervisory roles and the addition of civilian positions.

Were working diligently in recruitment, and were going to improve upon those recruitment efforts to try to fill a lot of these positions that are vacant right now, Snelling said.

New sworn supervisory roles include the addition of 170 field training officers, 100 sergeants, 100 detectives, 20 lieutenants and 10 captains.

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Both Johnson and Snelling have said those additions will help the department comply with the federal consent decree requirements to boost officer training and the supervisor-to-officer ratio.

However, some of Johnsons earliest backers say he needs to do more. Dozens of grassroots organizations signed a letter released Wednesday opposing the increase in the police budget, saying that any increase to CPDs overwhelmingly large budget continues to send a message that the police department is more important than the many other life-affirming solutions  that support the overall safety and wellness of Chicago communities.

The letter also questioned whether adding civilian roles would truly represent change given that many of the roles will still work hand-in-glove with sworn officers. It also criticized the budgets failure to address whether Johnson will uphold his campaign pledge to halt the citys use of ShotSpotter, a controversial gunfire detection software. The 2024 budget sets aside funds for ShotSpotter until the end of the companys contract in February.

Asha Ransby-Sporn, who signed the letter and is a longtime proponent of overhauling the citys police budget, said she understands Johnson must deal with the political reality of police spending, but at the end of the day, I do think its a matter of political will.

I do think (the budgets) in contradiction with some of the values that the mayor and also many of our City Council members have espoused, said Ransby-Sporn, adding at the very least she hopes the police budget wont increase again next year.

Several budget analysts and watchdogs said its difficult to evaluate the latest police budget without the city making good on a long-sought demand to conduct a study on police force deployment. Understanding how resources are distributed could help eliminate wasteful spending, ensure equitable 911 response times and improve community trust, they said.

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I think it all comes back to the need for a workforce allocation study, Annie McGowan, deputy research director at the Civic Federation, said. I think it would have been nice if the city would have taken this up previously, but better now than never.

ayin@chicagotribune.com
Since February 2022, about 650,000 draft-age men have left Ukraine, Austrian tabloid Exxpress reported on Nov. 20, citing Eurostat (EUs official statistics service) data.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees previously reported that since the start of the full-scale war, approximately 6.3 million people have fled Ukraine. BBC Ukraine, referring to an analysis of Eurostat information, writes that according to open-source data, 4.2 million Ukrainians have received temporary protections in the EU, with 18.3% (768,000) being men aged 18 to 64. BBC Ukraine reports Exxpress obtained data on men aged 18 to 60.

Read also: Travel abroad restrictions only for mobilized women in Ukraine

The statistics, however, do not specify the number of men who have legally crossed the border as fathers of three children, persons with disabilities, or members of other categories allowed to leave Ukraine by law. Also, as BBC Ukraine notes, the figure does not account for men who may have fled from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

Read also: Ukraines parliament debates fining draft-eligible men abroad

According to Exxpress, based on data from the German Interior Ministry, 221,000 Ukrainian draft-age men have arrived in the country since February 24, 2022, with 189,000 still there. The ministry believes an additional 100,000 men are in the country illegally. At least 14,000 Ukrainian men have gone to Austria, some of whom, the report says, used forged documents or relied on smugglers.

Previously, the BBC reported, citing data from Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, and Slovakia, that between February 2022 and August 31, 2023, 19,740 men had illegally crossed the Ukrainian border.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The massive terminal at Beijing's Daxing International Airport dwarfs its passengers. It is the sixth-largest airport in the world by area. Chen Xiao/VCG via Getty Images

Many air travelers have experienced the less-than-ideal scenario of needing to make a quick transfer to a connecting flight, only to discover that the next gate appears to be in a different county. Perhaps it only feels that far away, but changing planes at a major airport can certainly help a person get their daily steps in. And sometimes those daily steps take the form of frantically running through some of the world's busiest airports, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International.

The next time you travel by air, you may want to mentally prepare for the airports you'll be using. Some are pleasantly compact, and some are positively sprawling. When you run down the list of the world's largest airports by area, you'll see some familiar names. You may also see a few surprises. That's because an airport's total area does not always correspond with its total passenger traffic. The biggest airport in the world is not necessarily one of the world's busiest airports. The world's busiest airport is still Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International.

The world's largest airports are massive. Think Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport are big? Some major public airport properties easily surpass the total square mileage of large cities, although the size of airport terminals does not always align with the total acreage of the property.

Here are the world's seven largest airports, sorted by total area.

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is named after the former King of Saudi Arabia, Fahd ibn Abdulaziz (19212005), and is largest airport by area in the world. DACO. Dammam Airports Company

1. King Fahd International Airport (DMM)  Dammam, Saudi Arabia

At 299.61 square miles (776 square kilometers), King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in the world by total area. For comparison, King Fahd Airport is approximately the same size as New York City, which itself contains two major airports within its city limits.

Even though its the world's biggest airport, it's not the busiest airport in Saudi Arabia (that would be King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the main entry point for devout Muslims making the Hajj to Mecca and Medina). King Fahd International Airport's size mainly owes to its past as an American military base.

Denver International Airport is the second biggest airport in the world. Denver International Airport also is home to the longest public use runway in North America, with a length of 16,000 feet (4,877 meters). Bob Pool/Shutterstock

2. Denver International Airport (DEN)  Denver, Colorado

The city of Denver is approximately 155 square miles (401 square kilometers), and one-third of that is the Denver airport. DIA, as it's known to Coloradans, is located well to the east of central Denver, in an area that was rural farmland.

Exurban sprawl has filled in the space between the city and Denver International Airport, but Denver International Airport's land mass is already locked in at 53.09 square miles (135.7 square kilometers). An elaborate system of underground trains connects the main terminal of Denver International Airport to various gate areas.

The control tower at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), serves this airport, the largest hub for American Airlines (AA) and the world's third biggest by area. EQRoy/Shutterstock

3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)  Dallas, Texas

Situated in the Texas prairie between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW airport, the third largest airport in the world, may be quite familiar to American Airlines passengers.

It's the airline's headquarters and a major point for flight transfers and aircraft movements. These transfers give travelers a true sense of the airport's Texas-sized sprawl.

Overall, DFW airport, one of the world's biggest airports, comes in at 26.88 square miles (69.6 square kilometers), and it has the traffic to support that size. It's the second-busiest airport in the United States by total passenger traffic.

This is a panoramic view of Terminal A at Orlando International Airport in downtown Orlando, Florida. The Orlando airport is the fourth-largest airport in the world. VIAVAL TOURS/Shutterstock

4. Orlando International Airport (MCO)  Orlando, Florida

Orlando International Airport's official airport code is MCO, and this comes from its past as McCoy Air Force Base, which operated on the property until 1975. Its total acreage of Orlando International Airport befits an Air Force base; all told, Orlando International Airport is 20.78 square miles (53.8 square kilometers).

But unlike the world's largest airport, King Fahd International, Orlando International Airport makes a lot of use of its space. Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in Florida and the seventh busiest in the United States.

Traffic is almost nonstop to and from the main terminal building at Dulles International Airport, one of the world's biggest airports, in Chantilly, Virginia, which services Washington, D.C. James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

5. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)  Washington, D.C.

The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has three major airports, and all three have very similar levels of passenger traffic.

Yet when it comes to total area, Washington Dulles International Airport easily bests its sibling two international airports, Ronald Reagan National Airport and Baltimore Washington International Airport.

Dulles sits on 18.75 square miles (48.6 square kilometers) of land. When the airport opened in 1962, it was in a thoroughly rural area west of Washington, D.C., which the airport serves. Today it is surrounded by booming Virginia suburbs, which makes the airport's sheer size seem a bit less overwhelming.

The international terminal at Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) in China looms overhead in this, the sixth-largest airport in the world. Markus Mainka/Shutterstock

6. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)  Beijing, China

By total area, Beijing Daxing International Airport is the sixth-largest in the world. It sprawls over 18 square miles (46.6 square kilometers) of land. However, PKX tops the charts by another metric: terminal size.

All told, its terminal space is 7.5 million square feet (696,773 square meters), which is laid out in a star-shaped design to aid some inter-airline connections for passengers with international destinations.

In terms of total passenger traffic, PKX isn't listed as one of the busiest in the world, but this is partly because it's brand new; the airport opened in 2019. It is projected to become the world's busiest airport by 2040.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is the 12th busiest in the United States for total passenger traffic and the seventh-largest in the world by area. Houston Airport System

7. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)  Houston, Texas

By far the larger of Houston's two airports, George Bush Intercontinental, formerly Houston Intercontinental Airport, has a total area of 17.19 square miles (44.5 square kilometers). While it trails its Texas cousin DFW in total passenger traffic, it exceeds it in international arrivals and departures.

True to its name, the commercial airport offers flights to all the world's continents except Antarctica. It has been a major hub for United Airlines since a 2010 merger with Continental Airlines. Contained within the IAH acreage are five runways, five terminals and an on-site hotel.

Now That's Interesting



Curious about the rest of the world's 10 largest airports? Filling out slots eight through 10 are Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at 15.4 miles (39.9 square kilometers), Cairo International Airport (CAI) at 14.01 square miles (36.3 square kilometers), and Suvarnabhumi International (BKK) in Bangkok at 12.5 square miles (32.4 square kilometers). This may provide you with a little mental preparation for your next overseas connecting flight.

Original article: What Are the 7 Biggest Airports in the World?

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Russia has lost 76 passenger planes because of Western sanctions imposed on its aviation industry after its full-scale aggressive war on Ukraine, propaganda outlet Kommersant reported, citing Russian Transport Minister Vitaliy Saveliev, who is himself under U.S. sanctions.

"The decision to seize the planes took us by surprise. We have lost a total of 76 passenger planes."

The United States and the European Union banned the supply of aircraft and components to Russia, and also obliged lessors to return leased aircraft, which make up as much as 40% of the Russian fleet, Bloomberg wrote earlier. A number of Russian aircraft have been seized.

Read also: Germany to double military aid, handling collaboration, how the Kremlin avoids oil sanctions

Russia's largest leasing company, GTLK, abandoned on Nov. 16 its summer plans to raise lease rates by 30% for 37 aircraft owned by its subsidiary, GTLK Europe. Most are reportedly operated by Aeroflot and Rossiya, as well as S7, Aurora, and Yamal airlines. The Russian Transport Ministry had to intervene to reach the "compromise".

The European Union has proposed a ban on the export of machine tools and machine parts used by Russia to manufacture weapons for its war against Ukraine as part of its 12th package of sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 15, citing an EU document.

Previous reports suggested that the 12th round of sanctions could impact $5.3 billion worth of EU trade with Russia.

Read also: UK steps up sanctions against Russia, targeting key industries and oligarchs

The EU also proposes to:

 Prohibit Russians from holding positions in European companies that provide wallets, accounts, and custodial services for crypto assets

 Prohibit the granting of licenses for enterprise management software and software for industrial design and manufacturing

 Require firms in Europe owned or controlled by Russians or Russian organizations to obtain permission to transfer funds from the EU

 Require exporters to include clauses in their contracts prohibiting the re-export of certain goods from Russia.

Despite the sanctions, Russian trading companies still can purchase firearms and ammunition from Europe and the United States, media reports suggested on Nov. 7.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A 77-year-old Corvallis man who was reported missing after looking for mushrooms near Philomath was rescued by search and rescue teams on Thanksgiving, according to the Benton County Sheriffs Office.

The man was reported missing by his family on Wednesday night and was hunting for mushrooms off Botkin Road west of Philomath.

Marys Peak Search and Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit and Region 3 K9 Search & Rescue searched for the man Wednesday and continued Thursday with help from Linn County Sheriff's Office, Lane County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Coast Guard.The man was found at 3:30 p.m. Thursday down a steep drainage near a creek about 1.5 miles from his vehicle, according to the Benton County Sheriffs Office. He was taken by helicopter to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis for medical care.

The man was reported to a be in a weakened state after recently having back surgery and was not able to hear search and rescue personel because he did not have his hearing aids.

The man had told rescuers he had tried to move throughout the night to stay warm. Officials said he did not have a whistle, proper footwear and other essential gear. The sheriffs office is emphasizing the need to be prepared when hiking, including the American Hiking Society's 10 essentials which include wearing appropriate shoes and clothing, having a map, compass or GPS, food and water, safety items like a light, whistle or the ability to start an emergency fire, first aid kit, knife or multitool, shelter and sun protection.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon man rescued on Thanksgiving after hunting for mushrooms
In November 1942, the Nazis occupied Tunisia. For the next six months, Tunisian Jews and Muslims were subjected to the Third Reichs reign of terror, as well as its antisemitic and racist legislation. Residents lived in fear  under the Nazi boot, as Tunisian Jewish lawyer Paul Ghez wrote in his diary during the occupation.

One of us is a historian; one of us is an anthropologist. Together, we have spent a decade gathering the voices of the diverse peoples who endured World War II in North Africa, across lines of race, class, language and region. Their letters, diaries, memoirs, poetry and oral histories are both defiant and broken. They express both faith and despair. All in all, they understood themselves to be trapped in a monstrous machine of fascism, occupation, violence and racism.

You can listen to more articles from The Conversation, narrated by Noa, here.

When most Americans think of the nightmares of the war or the Holocaust, they think strictly of Europe. Hate has a shifting color wheel, however  and we learn something new when we watch its spin in wartime North Africa.

Crossing the sea

The history of Jews settling in North Africa begins as early as the sixth century B.C., after the First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Another significant wave of immigrants followed the Spanish Inquisition. At the start of World War II, a diverse North African Jewish population of roughly 500,000 coexisted with Muslim neighbors.

North Africas Jews spoke many languages, reflecting their many different cultures and ethnicities: Arabic, French, Tamazight  a Berber language  and Haketia, a form of Judeo-Spanish spoken in northern Morocco. While a large number of North African Jews, particularly in Algeria, enjoyed the privileges of French and other Western citizenship, the majority remained subjects of local leaders.

A group of Jewish girls in Debdou, Morocco, around 1915. D Millet E/Wikimedia Commons

During the Second World War, however, those who held French citizenship had it stripped away. Three European powers ruled North Africa during the war, all brutally.

Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia were, for most of the conflict, in the hands of Vichy France. This authoritarian government, which collaborated with Nazi Germany, was formed in July 1940 by armistice, after Germanys successful invasion of France. It was ruled by Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, a French hero of the First World War, out of the southern city of Vichy.

All antisemitic and racist laws and policies the Vichy regime imposed upon continental France were extended to its colonies in North and West Africa, pushing Jews out of professional sectors, stripping them of citizenship  if they had it to begin with  and seizing Jewish property, businesses and assets.

The Vichy regime also continued racist policies begun by Frances Third Republic, which pushed young Black men from the empire into forced military service  and the most dangerous wartime posts. These forced recruits included soldiers from Senegal, French Guinea, Ivory Coast, Niger and Mauritania; French territories in present-day Benin, Gambia and Burkina Faso; and Muslim men from Morocco and Algeria.

In these ways, the French carried on a wartime campaign of anti-Blackness and Islamophobia, pairing these forms of racialized hatred from the colonial era with antisemitism. Antisemitism had deep roots in French and colonial history, but it found new force in the era of fascism.

Antisemitic and anti-Black policy was also a bedrock of Benito Mussolinis fascist Italian government, which ruled over Libya during the war. Italy first tested its racist policies in its colony of Italian East Africa, segregating local Black populations from Italian settlers. Mussolinis regime then reshaped these policies of racialized hatred for Libya, where it pushed Jews out of the professions and the economy, seized property from thousands and deported them to labor and internment camps. Jewish children, women and men died from starvation, disease, hunger and forced labor.

Camps on African soil

Nazi Germany occupied Tunisia from November 1942 to May 1943. During this period, the SS  the elite guard of the Nazi regime  imprisoned some 5,000 Jewish men in roughly 40 forced labor and detention camps on the front lines and in cities like Tunis. German troops also terrorized Muslim and Jewish girls and women who remained behind.

The Third Reich did not set out to deport Jews from North Africa to its death camps in Eastern Europe, but hundreds of Jews of North African heritage and some Muslims who were living in France did meet this fate. They were deported first to the internment camp of Drancy, on the outskirts of Paris, and sent from there to concentration and death camps. Many died in Auschwitz.

There were camps in North Africa and West Africa, too. In addition to those the Italian fascists built in Libya, Vichy France and Nazi Germany ran penal camps, detention camps and labor camps.

Rosenthal, a German Jewish prisoner, pushes a cart in the stone quarry of the Im Fout labor camp in Morocco. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The Vichy regime alone built nearly 70 such camps in the Sahara, breathing new life into a colonial ambition of building a trans-Saharan railway to connect the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. The Vichy regime saw it as a conduit for supplying the front lines with forcibly recruited, Black Senegalese soldiers.

In these camps, as in the Nazi camps of Eastern Europe, the complex racist logic of Nazism and fascism took vivid form. Muslims arrested for anti-colonial activities were pressed into back-breaking labor alongside Jews and Christians who had fled war-torn Europe, only to find themselves arrested in North Africa.

These men broke bread with other forced workers from around the world, including fighters who had volunteered for Spains Republican Army during its civil war. These Ukrainians, Americans, Germans, Russian Jews and others had been arrested, deported and imprisoned by the Vichy regime after fleeing Francos Spain. There were political enemies of the Vichy and Nazi regimes, too, including socialists, communists, union members and North African nationalists. Children and women were imprisoned as well.

Among this hodgepodge of prisoners, many were refugees who fled Europe, whether because of their Jewishness or because they were political enemies of the Third Reich. Inmates were overseen by French Vichy soldiers as well as forcibly recruited indigenous Moroccan and Black Senegalese men, who were often little more than prisoners themselves. Sometimes the camp prisoners interacted with local populations: Saharan Muslims and Jews who provided them medical care, burial grounds, and food and sex for money.

Nazism in Europe was underlaid by an intricate matrix of racist, eugenicist and nationalist ideas. But the war  and the Holocaust  appears even more complex if historians take into account the racist and violent color wheel that spun in North Africa.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Sarah Abrevaya Stein, University of California, Los Angeles and Aomar Boum, University of California, Los Angeles.

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A former aide to ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who previously claimed Cuomo groped her breast, is filing a lawsuit against him alleging sexual harassment and abuse, according to a summons filed this week.

Brittany Commisso, one of 11 women whose claims of harassment were substantiated by an August 2021 report by the states attorney general, is filing suit against the former governor under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, alleging pervasive abusive conduct and continuous sexual harassment during her employment as his assistant, according to the summons filed Wednesday in Albany County Supreme Court.

Six months after it was signed in May 2022, the state law opened a one-year window for adult survivors of sexual offenses to sue their alleged abusers, even if the statute of limitations on their claims had expired.

Cuomo is one of several high-profile figures who was sued in the winnowing hours before the law was set to expire Thursday at midnight.

The former governor has repeatedly and vehemently denied Commissos claims. His attorney Friday calling the lawsuit an attempted cash grab.

Ms. Commissos claims are provably false, which is why the Albany District Attorney dismissed the case two years ago after a thorough investigation, Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin told CNN in a statement. Ms. Commissos transparent attempt at a cash grab will fail. We look forward to seeing her in court.

The summons lists Cuomo, the State of New York, and another former Cuomo aide as defendants and is seeking damages for the substantial personal injuries and economic loss plaintiff suffered.

State report triggered Cuomos resignation

Commisso was one of the women who spoke to investigators hired by New York Attorney General Letitia James office to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by the former governor. The report triggered the eventual resignation of Cuomo, which he announced on August 10, 2021, a week after it was released.

According to the states report, Commisso told investigators Cuomo grabbed her buttocks during hugs and a photo. The report also detailed an allegation, previously reported by the Albany Times Union, of an incident at the governors mansion in which Cuomo allegedly reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast.

In January 2022, an Albany City Court dismissed the forcible touching complaint after the district attorney declined to pursue it. After the county sheriffs office filed the misdemeanor charge against Cuomo, Albany District Attorney David Soares filed a letter saying the charge was impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal court despite finding Commisso credible.

The summons filed by Commisso this week says the former governors behavior allegedly included unwelcome sexual advances and sexual comments about her appearance and personal life. It also accuses Cuomo of assigning humiliating and demeaning tasks, hugs, kisses, as well as the incidents of sexual misconduct detailed in the 2021 state report.

It also claims she was subject to objectively unreasonable and abusive behavior, which she believed she was required to suffer to maintain her employment.

The summons alleges Commisso suffered retaliation after rejecting Cuomos attempt to engage in sexual acts, and for later reporting the behavior.

Commisso claims she was demoted by the then lieutenant governor, now governor, Kathy Hochul, removed from the front office, and moved to the demeaning task of answering telephones for Hochuls office, according to the document.

Gov. Hochul is not a named defendant in the suit but is referenced in the summons description.

A spokesperson for Hochul, Avi Small, told CNN in a statement: The claim regarding then-Lieutenant Governor Hochul is clearly a mistake, as she had no control over Executive Chamber personnel decisions. We can only assume this allegation is an error in the preparation of the summons.

The State of New York is listed as a defendant, and CNN has reached out for comment.

Meanwhile, Politico  citing eight people who have talked to him or his inner circle  reported this week that Cuomo was gauging how viable a potential mayoral bid would be against the backdrop of a pending FBI investigation into New York City Mayor Eric Adams, which is focused on campaign money, favors and possible foreign influence.

News of Cuomos reignited political aspirations surfaced before Adams was accused of a 1993 sexual assault in a court document filed under the same Adult Survivors Act.

Adams has repeatedly and firmly denied the accusation and says he doesnt recall ever meeting the woman.

In a statement to CNN, Commisso said: It disgusts me that Andrew Cuomo is even considering running for public office in the wake of Mayor [Eric] Adams alleged sexual harassment when he himself will not accept responsibility or even acknowledge his sexual harassment of me, aside from numerous other victims, while the governor of our state.

CNNs Michelle Watson contributed to this report.

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Two deputies announced their intention to resign at the start of the debate on their futures

A debate on a motion of no confidence in Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) was compared by a senior States member to a "pantomime" after politicians failed to reach a conclusion.

Former Chief Minister Lyndon Trott also said it looked as though States members dont know what theyre doing.

Deputies Mark Helyar and David Mahoney, P&R committee members, had announced their intention to resign from the committee at the start of the debate, which came after the defeat of its plans for a GST and tax reform.

During the debate, P&R members also defended claims their behaviour had been "bullying".

Lyndon Trott compared the debate to a pantomime

Environment and Infrastructure Committee President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez alleged there had been bullying behaviours from P&R in the past and that was why she supported the motion of no confidence.

Deputy Lindsay said: What marks this P&R apart from their predecessors and the other committees is their tone and manner, which can be viscerally aggressive, sometimes to the point of abusiveness.

Deputy Mark Helyar said he had not heard any evidence of those behaviours in the States debate but had heard a lot of people using emotive words.

He said he was very easy to work with and that some people dont like that people from the professional world are direct and assertive and they dont like their views being challenged.

The debate itself, which failed to reach a resolution, also came under fire.

Rob Prow, Home Affairs president said: Every single States member needs to look at themselves; late amendments, five days on the budget, long speeches, its not good.

While Mr Trott said the last debate had felt like a pantomime which made it look like States members dont know what theyre doing.

He said the delay was "unfair to everyone".

He said: "[It is unfair] to those who face the motion of no confidence, its unfair to those bringing it, unfair to those participating in the debate and our community who expect some certainty over matters of this type.

Weve had never-ending procrastination and delay and, frankly, it drives me mad," he added.

The debate is due to be continued on 13 December.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
The Ukrainian authorities have reported that multiple UAVs were detected in the airspace of Kyiv Oblast on the night of 24-25 November, and that air defence systems have responded to the targets.

Source: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration; Kyiv City Military Administration; Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv

Details: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration reported that UAVs were detected in the airspace of the oblast. Air defence assets and personnel are currently responding to the attack.

Quote from Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration: "Air defence is responding on the outskirts of Kyiv."

Details: Residents of the capital and the oblast were urged to stay in shelters until the all-clear was given.

Update at 04:09 from Kyiv City Military Administration: "There is a large number of enemy UAVs that are approaching Kyiv from different directions! We urge you to stay in shelters until the all-clear is given!"

Update at 05:20 from Kyiv City Military Administration: "Air defence systems are responding in Kyiv. Stay in shelters."

Update at 05:25 from Klitschko: "Explosions are rocking the capital. Air defence forces are shooting down Russian UAVs. Several more groups of Shahed attack drones are heading towards Kyiv. Stay in shelters!"

Update at 05:44 from Klitschko: "The wreckage of a downed UAV has fallen in the Pecherskyi district of the capital. All services are on their way to the scene.

There was also an ambulance call in Solomianskyi district. Medical teams are also on their way."

Background: Ukrainian Air Force reported a threat of drone attacks from the south of Ukraine in the late evening on 24 November.

Air-raid warnings started to be extended across Ukraine and covered the capital and Kyiv Oblast at night.

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Ukraine shot down 74 of the 75 drones launched by Russia in yet another massive Russian attack against Ukraine on the morning of Nov. 25, the Air Force reported.

Ukraine's air defense reportedly downed 74 Iranian-made Shahed drones, with around 40% destroyed by the Ukrainian forces' mobile fire groups.

Mobile fire groups conduct reconnaissance and engage airborne targets, boasting a key advantage over stationary air defense systems with rapid deployment, as fast as 10 minutes, and the flexibility to maneuver across varied terrain.

It is unclear what happened with the four drones not shot down by air defense.

According to the Air Force, Russia launched the drones from Kursk Oblast and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, a Russian port town and the administrative center of Primorsko-Akhtarsky District of Krasnodar Krai.

The Russian attack was focused predominantly on Kyiv.

Air raid alarms were off in at least six Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported on the morning of Nov. 25 that "the overhead line (in Kyiv) was de-energized and as a result, 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions in the central part of the city were left without electricity."

As a result of the attack, at least two people were injured and several residential and non-residential buildings were damaged across the city.

The attack lasted for six hours and has become the most intense attack on the capital since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Read also: Air Force: Western countries leased Ukraine air defense systems

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Russias military began covering its Shahed attack drones with carbon to complicate the work of Ukrainian air defense, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on Nov. 25.

Speaking on national television, Ihnat was explaining the black color of drone debris found in Ukraine after Russias mass overnight attack.

Carbon is an absorbing material for the radar signal," and the black color is supposed to make it harder for Ukrainian soldiers to identify and shoot down the drones in the sky, according to Ihnat. Most often, Russia attacks Ukraine with drones and missiles at night.

The photo shared by Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko via his Telegram channel allegedly shows the debris of a drone launched by Russian troops at Ukraine overnight on Nov. 25, 2023.

"Even earlier, they (Russian forces) were improving the drones they had received from Iran and those they had produced domestically, using composite materials for the reflective surface, the spokesman added.

Overnight on Nov. 25, Russia carried out the largest drone attack on Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Ukraines air defense downed 74 out of 75 drones launched by Russian troops, according to the Air Force. Five people were reportedly injured in Kyiv as a result of the attack, including an 11-year-old child.

Russia has used Iranian-designed Shahed-type kamikaze drones to attack Ukrainian cities since September last year, regularly resulting in casualties among civilians.

Read also: How Russias homegrown Lancet drone became so feared in Ukraine

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An Aurora man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of an Aurora man in October, officials said.

Derrick D. Jordan, 47, of the 1100 block of Newcastle Lane, has been charged with first-degree murder-intend death or great bodily harm; first-degree murder-probability of death; aggravated battery - discharge of a firearm; unlawful use or possession of weapons or ammunition by a convicted felon; and two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, according to a press release from the Aurora Police Department.

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According to the release, at approximately 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aurora Police Department detectives saw Jordan, who was a suspect in connection with the fatal October shooting, inside a vehicle near the 1400 block of North Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora. Officers in the area attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle but it drove away, leading police in a pursuit, officials said.

The pursuit was later terminated and Jordan was eventually located in DeKalb through other investigative means, police said in the release. He was taken into custody by the DeKalb Police Department.

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Jordan is charged in connection with the October shooting death of Martin K. Pegues, 47, of the 100 block of N. Calhoun Street in Aurora, officials said.

Shortly before noon on Oct. 5, dispatchers received several 911 calls reporting shots fired and a gunshot victim in the 100 block of North Calhoun Street, officials said in a news release in October. Police arrived and found a man suffering from gunshot wounds in the back yard of a home.

Aurora paramedics took the man, later identified as Pegues, to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, officials said.
The Air Force issued warnings of drone activity and air strikes in Ukraine's east on the evening of Nov. 25 following massive drone attacks the previous morning.

Drone activity was recorded over or in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava oblasts.

A threat of Russian air strikes was reported for Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy oblasts.

Ukrainian air defenses downed 74 out of 75 drones Russia launched against Ukraine in the early hours of Nov. 25. Kyiv suffered its largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale war, with around 50 drones downed in and around Ukraine's capital.

The strikes resulted in five people injured, including an 11-year-old child, property damage, and power outages.

President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the attack as a "deliberate terror." He pointed out that the strikes coincided with the Holodomor Memorial Day, a commemoration of a man-made artificial famine from the years 1932-33 aimed against the Ukrainian people.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is likely to intensify attacks against Ukraine's infrastructure once the temperatures drop.

Read also: Update: Largest Russian drone attack on Kyiv injures 5

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An Akron man has been accused of smuggling 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of fentanyl pills through the U.S. mail from Arizona to a Cuyahoga Falls address.

Terrance Lee Rucker, 40, is facing federal charges of conspiracy to distribute and attempted possession of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Rucker was arrested Nov. 7 and released on a $20,000 bond Nov. 17 by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Amanda M. Knapp in Akron.

According to the complaint, a U.S. Postal inspector assigned to a contraband interdiction and investigations team looked into a 17-pound parcel that had been sent by priority mail to a Cuyahoga Falls residence Nov. 2 from Phoenix, Arizona. The investigator said drug smugglers commonly use priority mail to send contraband and that Arizona is a frequent point of origin.

More: Akron businessman works to make fentanyl weapon of mass destruction after son's death

The investigator told the court he identified the residence as possibly belonging to the parents of a Munroe Falls man who had previously been indicted and was wanted on warrants related to a charge of methamphetamine possession.

The investigator said he intercepted the parcel from the U.S. Post Office in Cuyahoga Falls. After a drug dog singled it out from a lineup of packages, investigators found it contained 10 approximately 1-pound bags of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of fentanyl in the form of tablets disguised to resemble prescription Oxycodone.

After replacing the drugs with "sham," inert substances, an undercover postal investigator delivered the package to the Munroe Falls man at the residence's front door. Investigators then watched as Rucker arrived with a 16-year-old girl in his car and backed up to the residence's garage.

Investigators arrested Rucker and detained the Munroe Falls man, then searched Rucker's car and found 38 grams of a suspected controlled substance.

Court records do not indicate whether the Munroe Falls man was charged.

The investigator said postal service records show three packages weighing 4-5 pounds each were sent to Rucker's Akron address in August, while two other packages totaling 11 pounds in weight had been mailed to the Cuyahoga Falls address from Arizona in September.

"Based on the characteristics of the Priority Mail Express parcels, which areconsistent with the Subject Parcel, I believe they also contained controlled substances," the investigator said.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Federal agents charge Akron man with smuggling drugs via priority mail
Alaska authorities have identified several family members who were killed in a major landslide that smashed into a residential area earlier this week.

The bodies of Timothy Heller, 44, Beth Heller, 36, and their 16-year-old daughter Mara Heller, were recovered by search crews late on Monday or early on Tuesday.

The couples other two children, Derek Heller and Kara Heller, 12 and 11 respectively, are still missing.

The Hellers neighbour, Otto Florschutz, 65, is also still missing. Mr Florschutzs wife survived the landslide.

Ground search teams worked throughout the week in the aftermath of the slide, with K-9 teams searching along the waterline, later assisted by heat-sensing drones.

The aftermath of the landslide in Wrangell, Alaska (AP/ US Coast Guard)

The landslide  which occurred on Monday night  churned up the earth from near the top of a mountain down to the ocean, tearing down a wide swath of evergreen trees, near to the island community of Wrangell.

At least three homes were hit by the landslide, which is estimated to be about 137m wide.

Rescue crews found the body of Mara Heller in an initial search on Monday night and the bodies of her parents on Tuesday.

The Hellers ran a construction company called Heller High Water, according to Tyla Nelson, who described herself as Ms Hellers best friend since high school.

Beth and Timothy both grew up in Wrangell and married in August 2010, Ms Nelson told local outlet the Juneau Empire, describing Ms Heller as a fantastic human.

The landslide struck on Monday (Alaska Department of Public Safety)

She was a wonderful mother. She did everything for those babies, she said.

Ms Heller also served on the Wrangell School Board from 2019 to 2020 after several years on the districts parent advisory committee.

Mr Florschutz previously served on Wrangells Port Commission. Last year entered the race to fill the congressional seat which was vacated following the death of US Representative Don Young.

Mr Florschutz received 193 votes out of nearly 162,000 cast.

Around 54 homes are cut off from town by the landslide, and roughly 35 to 45 people have chosen to stay in that area, interim borough manager Mason Villarma said previously.

Authorities have been searching for two children and their neighbour (US Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management)

Boats are being used to provide supplies, including food, fuel and water, and prescription medications to those residents.

Officials continued to clear debris from a roadway on Friday.

Such landslides are known as debris flows and pose a threat due to the steep slopes in southeastern Alaska, which is further increased during heavy rain, according to state Department of Natural Resources geologist Barrett Salisbury.

Mr Salisbury said that saturated soil can give way when gusts blow trees on a slope, triggering the slides.
Ukraine has received a Revival P mechanized demining machine from Azerbaijan, Ukraine's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladyslav Kanevskyi said on Nov. 25.

The machine will help Ukrainian sappers to carry out humanitarian demining in liberated territories, according to Kanevskyi.

The vehicle is part of an aid package for Ukraine pledged by Azerbaijan during an Aug. 10 meeting between Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Bohdan Drapiatyi and Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Ukraine Seymour Mardaliev.

According to Drapiatyi, a work day of such a machine equals 100 days of sappers' work.

Read also: Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult

At the Aug. 10 meeting, Baku pledged that their demining experts would train Ukrainian sappers on the territory of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has also provided Ukraine with 10 shipments of humanitarian aid for the energy sector since the start of the full-scale invasion and will deliver a new batch of equipment by the end of 2023, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said on Oct. 9.

Around 6 million people are threatened by mines in Ukraine, and thousands may be killed or injured unless appropriate steps are taken, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

According to Ukrainian officials, nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory has been mined since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Read also: Every time feels like your last: How Ukrainian sappers work in gray zones near Russian-occupied Kreminna

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Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue  and what it means for you.

Barry Freeman was waiting on the platform at Amsterdam Centraal when the first Eurostar train from London St Pancras drew in. Back in February 2018, the British expatriate with an interest in rail excellence recognised the significance of the event. One of the key international air markets in Europe, linking the capitals of the UK and the Netherlands, was now an intercity rail route.

London-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam was a dream trip for rail passengers keen to reach the Netherlands without the hassle of flying or (for those who stick to terrestrial travel) changing from train to ship and back again.

It was, initially, only a one-way miracle. The big problem: Eurostar relies on juxtaposed border controls. All continent-bound travellers are cleared into the European Union while still at London St Pancras International. Five years ago, when the UK was still pretending to be in the EU, that was no problem: French frontier officials simply checked that every British passenger had a valid passport, and that it belonged to them. Inbound from Amsterdam, though, it took time to create a space inside the beautiful-but-constrained Centraal station for the mandatory security checks and passport formalities.

Then the UK government got Brexit done  and successfully negotiated for British travellers to have the same status as people from Tonga and Venezuela, vis a vis the European Union. The EU delivered exactly what we asked for: that every UK citizen must have their passport scrutinised for evidence of overstaying, and stamped.

The British decision took effect in 2021 and multiplied the time taken for each UK traveller. As a result, Eurostar must cap passenger numbers on trains leaving Amsterdam for London.

Now the Dutch want to renovate Amsterdam Centraal. The British did the same with another 19th-century gem, London St Pancras  but had the huge advantage of Eurostar trains running in and out of London Waterloo until the new terminus was good and ready.

Such is the scale of the work at the Dutch end of the route that the security-plus-passports operation required to board passengers for London has been squeezed out. Trains from Britain can still arrive and disgorge passengers, who can stride into the city centre or (my preference) take a free ferry across to Amsterdam Noord. But direct trains are simply not possible in the opposite direction. They will, instead, run empty to Brussels.

Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide, says: Eurostar is a victim here of behaving like an airline  with dedicated terminals and security. This is, of course, imposed on Eurostar by the UK governments insistence on segregated handling of Eurostar passengers and checking immigration status prior to boarding trains.

The train not departing from the Dutch capital is a casualty of Brexit, she says: Eurostars exceptionalism and that need for dedicated terminals is the direct result of Britains difficult relationship with its EU neighbours.

Thousands of passengers from beyond Dutch borders arrive every day in the Netherlands. Though trains from abroad arrive at over a score of Dutch stations.

But Eurostars need for dedicated terminals just undermines the flexibility that normally comes with cross-border rail travel. Passengers from the Netherlands on direct trains to Belgium, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland wont be so seriously affected by the Dutch infrastructure work in 2024, as those trains dont need dedicated terminals.

One of rail travels permanently optimistic characters is Mark Smith, The Man in Seat 61. He says things could be worse: It sounds like a decent compromise. The feared 12 months has been cut to six. London Amsterdam, Amsterdam-London has a Brussels shuffle. But some of the extra time is recovered by there no longer being any need to add check-in time at Amsterdam.

Barry Freeman, meanwhile, has an appealingly simple solution: The UK should join the Schengen area then none of this malarkey will need to take place.

While little in travel is certain these days, I cant quite see that happening in the next seven months.
Opposition candidates who boycotted the poll say they will not recognise its outcome

Madagascar's incumbent President Andry Rajoelina has won a third term, following a disputed election boycotted by the opposition and its supporters.

He won 59% of the vote to defeat his two closest rivals, ousted ex-President Marc Ravalomanana and Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko.

The election recorded a voter turnout of 46%, considered to be the lowest in the island country's history.

The low turnout followed calls for poll boycott by 10 presidential contenders.

They also withdrew their candidacies over concerns about the credibility of the election and denounced President Rajoelina's bid for a third term and the validity of his candidacy, given his dual French nationality.

The constitutional court dismissed their appeals to annul Mr Rajoelina's candidacy. He also dismissed the accusations and called them a political tactic.

Despite their withdrawal, the candidates' names stayed on the ballot. Mr Randrianasoloniaiko gained 14% of the vote and Mr Ravalomanana 12%.

The constitutional court has nine days to confirm the results announced on Saturday by Madagascar's electoral body, Ceni.

The opposition collective that boycotted the election has already declared that it will not recognise the results of the 16 November poll.

There were six weeks of demonstrations and clashes with police in the build-up to the election, prompting the imposition of a curfew in Antananarivo on the eve of the poll.

Mr Rajoelina, 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ, won a presidential run-off vote against Mr Ravalomanana in 2018, after neither of them obtained more than 50% of the vote as required to be declared president in the first round.

He had ousted Mr Ravalomanana in a 2009 coup that was backed by the army.

He faces the tough task of creating jobs and improving the economy, in a country where 75% of people live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

He is also expected to bring political stability to a country that has been rocked by years of political turbulence.
(Bloomberg) -- The government of Javier Milei wont lift currency controls immediately after taking office on Dec. 10, while keeping dollarization as a medium-term goal for Argentina, a key member of the president-elects team told bankers Friday, according to two people familiar with the conversation.

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Luis Caputo, who is leading Mileis economic team during the transition, told banking executives in Buenos Aires the new governments focus will be reaching a fiscal surplus in 2024, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private conversations. The meeting, which the Wall Street veteran used to introduce the main lines of Mileis economic plan, included about 30 people between advisers and bank officials, they added.

Caputo also outlined Mileis strategy for the notes issued by the central bank known as Leliqs, used to absorb pesos from the economy, saying the new government will try to unwind them through a voluntary swap that will not include mandatory measures, according to the same people. Argentina lenders are currently shying away Leliqs from their balance sheet after the president-elect called them a problem without giving details on his plans for the instruments.

A spokesperson for Milei declined to comment.

Read More: Mileis Economic Team Led by Former Head of Macris Central Bank

Caputos comments seem to confirm Mileis is pivoting away from advisers advocating for his most dramatic campaign promises, including ditching the peso and shutting down the central bank. Milei distanced himself from his dollarization guru, Emilio Ocampo, and on Friday another hawkish adviser from early in the campaign, Carlos Rodriguez, announced on X he would also not be part of the government. Investors, who welcomed Mileis win in the Nov. 19 presidential election, have continued to push Argentina assets higher as the president-elect shows signs of moderation.

A spokesman for Argentinas banking chamber Adeba told Bloomberg News the meeting was very positive and provided a market-friendly approach to central bank debt.

Read More: Markets Cheer as Milei Drops Dollarization for Macri Brass

--With assistance from Patrick Gillespie.

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DERMOTT, Ark.  Detectives with the Arkansas State Police are investigating after a Monticello man was shot in Dermott Thursday night.

Officials said that the incident happened shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday night when officers with the Dermott Police Department were called to a shooting at a home in the 100 block of South Knox Street.

Little Rock police asking for publics help in deadly shooting investigation

When officers with the Dermott Police Department arrived, they found 36-year-old Michael Carter dead in the front doorway. Officers contacted the Arkansas State Police and asked for assistance in the investigation.

Carters body is being transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine cause of death.

49-year-old Zousah Jackson is facing charges of second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Officers with the DPD said that he is a resident of California and was staying at a home on the street.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Arthur Burns, who has died of cancer aged 60, was professor of modern British history at Kings College, London with a particular interest in the Church of England; he also played a central role in projects to make historical data more widely available to researchers via the internet.

He was the driving force, with Professors Kenneth Fincham and Stephen Taylor, behind the Clergy of the Church of England Database Project, begun in 1999 and launched in 2005 with the objective of providing a constantly updated digital record of the careers of every Anglican clergyman in England and Wales from the Reformation to the start of the Victorian age (1540-1835).

The project involved the three historians visiting more than 50 record offices across the country to unearth ledger books filled in by long-dead diocesan officials, followed by the recruitment of around 100 volunteers whose labours produced details of clerical appointments, ordinations and resignations, subsequently uploaded into a master database.

As well as shining a light on such individuals as James Mayne, campaigning 19th-century curate of Bethnal Green, one of the largest and most socially deprived parishes in England (and ancestor of the actress Patsy Kensit), and Richard Thursfield, vicar of Pattingham, a man frequently seen lying in the roads in a state of intoxication, the material gathered so far has raised fascinating new areas for research.

One early conclusion was that while the Anglican church was the single most important employer of educated men during the period, there were far fewer clergy than generally assumed, partly because they often held more than one post at a time, suggesting that there is nothing new about peripatetic clerics serving several parishes. Another finding which caused some surprise was the high number of women among patrons  people with the right to nominate clergymen to benefices.

Arthur Burns - Courtesy family

Arthur Burns was born in Barnard Castle, County Durham on February 7 1963 to Robert (Bobbie) Burns and Barbara nee Hurst, but brought up in Ludlow, Shropshire, where he attended the local grammar school (later Ludlow College), where his father was headmaster, before going on to read History at Balliol College, Oxford. After graduating with a First he stayed on to do a DPhil under the Rev Professor Peter Hinchliff, and combined teaching at Mansfield College with a post as sub-editor of Past and Present.

His doctorate was published in 1999 as The Diocesan Revival in the Church of England, an important work in which he described how 19th century churchmen, faced with the pastoral challenge of a rapidly changing society, undertook the reform of diocesan structures  a process which led to a renewed consciousness of the diocese as an essential feature of Anglican church order, reflected in such developments as the enhanced role of archdeacons, and the revival of the office of rural dean.

Burns showed that alongside the better-known 19th century Evangelical and High Church revivals, weight should also be given to a resurgence in grassroots Anglican institutions led by older, orthodox Trollopian churchmen who resisted High Church-Low Church partisanship.

In 1992 Burns arrived at Kings College, London, where he showed considerable administrative flair, serving as head of department (2004-08), and as Vice Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Arts & Humanities (2014-2017).

Burns co-edited a history of St Pauls Cathedral which won the 2004 Berger prize for British Art History

He co-founded the Boydell and Brewer monograph series Studies in Modern British Religious History, which has published more than 35 volumes, co-edited a history of St Pauls Cathedral which won the 2004 Berger prize for British Art History and also published on the dynamics of reform in Hanoverian Britain, co-editing Rethinking the Age of Reform: Britain 1780-1850 (2003).

In 2017 he was appointed academic director of the Georgian Papers Programme, a ten-year interdisciplinary project to digitise 65,000 items (425,000 pages) in the Royal Archives and Royal Library relating to the Georgian period (1714-1837).

Bust of Conrad Noel, the 'Red Vicar' in Thaxted Church, Essex - Alamy

At the time of his death Burns was working on a history of Christian Socialism during the 20th century in the parish of Thaxted, Essex, notable among other things for the incumbencies of the Red Vicar Conrad Noel (1910-1942), who caused ructions by hanging the red flag and the flag of Sinn Fein alongside that of Saint George, and Peter Elers (1973-1984) one of the first clergymen to declare his homosexuality, which, according to Burns in an article in History Workshop Journal, left the community divided on whether sexual politics represented an extension of, or diversion from, Thaxteds long-standing progressivism.

Burns investigated Christian Socialism in the parish of Thaxted, Essex - Alamy

An active member of historical societies, as Vice President (Education) of the Royal Historical Society from 2012 to 2016, Burns did valiant battle with Michael Gove and the Department for Education over the place of history in the overhaul of the national curriculum. In 2016 he was appointed President of the Church of England Record Society and last year was presented with the Lanfranc Award by the Archbishop of Canterbury in recognition of his contribution to Anglican scholarship.

Latterly he sat on the Contested Heritage Committee of the Church of England Church Buildings Council, having been an advisor to the Church Commissioners Project Spire, investigating the links between the workings of the slave trade and Queen Annes Bounty (a scheme established in 1704 to augment the incomes of the poorer clergy of the Church of England).

Although, in taking on so many roles, Burns had led a well-ordered life, his kindness to others and sense of humour were undimmed.

In 1998 he married fellow historian Sarah Stockwell, who survives him with three sons.

Arthur Burns, born February 7 1963, died October 3 2023

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The summit between Presidents Joe Biden of the United States and Xi Jinping of China is by definition important news, but also highlights the serious growing economic problems of the latter country. These include a collapsing real estate market and increasingly worrisome local government debt.

The meeting in September between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was essentially a non-event. Both nations struggle with severe economic problems, and the former with the draining Ukraine war.

Arthur I. Cyr

By contrast, the lengthy visit last April of President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea to Washington D.C. underscores both the growing influence of that strong nation and the high priority of the alliance with the United States.

South Koreas transformation has been truly stunning, and continues. As recently as the early 1960s, the nation was one of the poorest economies in the world. Still a peasant society, the entire Korean peninsula was devastated by the Korean War of 1950-53. Yet today, the Republic of Korea ranks among the top twenty economies in the world, holding leadership roles in the automobile, advanced electronics, shipbuilding and other industries.

Rapid industrialization and economic modernization are complemented by striking transition from dictatorship to democracy. President and General Park Chung-hee stifled incipient democracy and imposed extremely harsh military authoritarianism for nearly two decades.

He was assassinated in 1979 by the head of the KCIA, the national intelligence agency. In Korean memory, he remains a respected symbol of strength and effectiveness for many, though with progress and the passage of time that fades.

General Park was succeeded as chief executive by two more generals, Chun Doo Hwan and Roe Tae Woo, but growing pressure for true democratic representation proved insurmountable.

The capstone of transition to democracy was the election of Kim Dae-jung as president in 1998. He completed his five-year term without interruption, and in 2000 received the Nobel Peace Prize.

A public symbol of opposition to Park dictatorship, he was imprisoned for several years. On another occasion, KCIA agents kidnapped him and planned to kill him. Only the intervention of senior U.S. CIA official Don Gregg saved his life.

South Koreas remarkable domestic accomplishments have unfolded while the country becomes increasingly influential in global arenas. In 2012, the Obama administration shrewdly nominated President Jim Yong Kim of Dartmouth College, who was born in Seoul Korea, as President of the World Bank.

The original vision of the United Nations combined competing goals of favoring the most powerful nations and inclusive global representation. Kim and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon personify South Koreas significant expanding role as a bridge between developed and developing nations.

Market economies and reasonably representative governments now characterize a steadily increasing share of the worlds developing nations. In short, South Korea is positioned to lead developing nations toward prosperity.

The United Nations today is strong. UN and U.S. decisions in 1950 to defend South Korea were vital to this success. During the long Vietnam War, South Korea maintained approximately fifty thousand troops in South Vietnam. They were overwhelmingly combat forces. The principal incentive was loyalty to the United States forged during the Korean War.

President Yoon has the opportunity to develop a starring global leadership role, with noisy North Korea shunted off to stage left. At the state dinner, President Yoon sang lines from Don McLeans 1971 song American Pie.

 Arthur I. Cyr is the author of After the Cold War  American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia (NYU Press and Palgrave/Macmillan; Korean language edition by Oruem Publishing). He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Arthur Cyr: Recent summits highlight South Korea importance
Aurora is mourning the recent death of the Rev. David Engbarth, a longtime Catholic priest and spiritual leader in the community.

His passing over the Thanksgiving holiday reminds us of how much we must thank him for giving so much to Aurora, officials said in a post on the city of Auroras website.

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For 45 years, Engbarth was an impactful presence in the community, from 1979, when he began service as parochial vicar at Holy Angels Parish in Aurora, through his retirement in 2014, according to city officials.

In 1993, he became sacramental moderator at St. Nicholas Parish in Aurora and became its pastor in 1996, according to officials. In 2000, he also began service as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Aurora, serving both parishes until 2003, then continuing at St. Nicholas until his 2005 sabbatical.

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In 2006, he became administrator at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Aurora and was made pastor there in 2007, officials said.

He retired in 2014. Even though he lived in Florida for nearly the past decade, Engbarth regularly returned to Aurora to serve and visit, city officials said.

His love for and leadership in Aurora forever changed our community and the lives of the people he served so faithfully, said Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin in a statement. Father David was a man of faith and action who was integral in helping to make Aurora a safer community for all.
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that the Russians have launched new assault operations on Avdiivka with weaker mechanised forces and that their attacks will not lead to a rapid advance.

Source: ISW

Details: Ukrainian officials reported that Russian troops had launched a new offensive operation on Avdiivka.

The ISW experts are also suggesting that this offensive is being carried out with weaker mechanised forces than during the previous offensive waves in October.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops repelled at least 50 Russian attacks on the Avdiivka front on 23 and 24 November.

The ISW experts noted that large-scale infantry ground assaults are likely to pose a significant threat to Ukrainian forces defending the Avdiivka front, but will not lead to a rapid Russian advance in the region.

ISW's map

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 24 November:

Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces began a renewed offensive effort towards Avdiivka on 22 November.

High-ranking Russian officials may be engaged in a wider scheme of forcibly adopting deported Ukrainian children.

Ukraines Western allies declared their commitment to further develop Ukrainian air defence capabilities during the 17th Ramstein Group virtual meeting on 22 November.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Collective Security Treaty Organizations (CSTO) Collective Security Council session in Minsk, Belarus, on 23 November.

Chinese businesses are reportedly working with Russian businessmen to plan the construction of an underwater tunnel that would connect Russia with occupied Crimea.

European states are responding to Russia's continued orchestration of an artificially created migrant crisis on its northwestern borders.

Russian law enforcement reportedly detained about 700 migrants at a warehouse in Moscow Oblast and issued some military summonses, likely as part of an ongoing effort to coerce migrants into Russian military service.

The Kremlin is reportedly renewing attempts to control all video surveillance systems in Russia, likely as part of ongoing efforts to intensify its tools of digital authoritarianism to increase domestic repressions.

Russian forces conducted ground attacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and marginally advanced in some areas.

The Russian aviation industry is likely under significant constraints due to international sanctions and demands from the Russian defence industrial base (DIB).

The Russian occupation authorities continue efforts to indoctrinate Ukrainian children in occupied Ukraine into Russian national and cultural identities.

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Five men from Georgia and Florida have been accused of operating an international firearms trafficking conspiracy across North America.

While most of the alleged participants are from southeast Florida, Homestead and Miramar, the man who is accused of starting the whole conspiracy is from Cobb County, according to federal officials.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the alleged Floridian participants, Grevaughn Sanchez Goodman, aka The General, 23, of Homestead, Fla. Shavonte Justin Summers, 22, of Homestead, Fla., Tranquilo G. Goodman, 24, of Miramar, Fla., and Demetrius Lamont Randolph, Jr., 23, of Homestead, Fla., have all been arraigned in federal court.

However, Dexter Wellington Roberts, III, aka Science, a 43-year-old man from Austell, Ga. is not yet in federal custody. Hes the person accused of starting the conspiracy, according to USDOJ.

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Detailing the case, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said Roberts started conspiring with a Canadian and several other people to get large numbers of firearms into the southeastern U.S., then resell them in Mexico and Canada.

Buchanan said in a statement that Roberts began this process in mid-December 2022. From that period through February, Roberts is said to have made retail purchases of nearly 50 firearms, while Grevaughn Goodman started buying more guns for the conspiracy in January.

Illegally purchasing firearms on behalf of others is a serious crime that frequently places guns in the hands of individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm, Buchanan said in a statement. Many of the firearms allegedly traced to the defendants in this case were recovered from criminals in Canada.

From January to April, Grevaughn Goodman allegedly bought more than 50 guns, while his brother Tranquilo Goodman joined the conspiracy by March 2023 and bought at least 11 firearms that month.

In May, Summers allegedly joined the conspiracy, buying more than 50 firearms from May to June. Justice Department officials said Randolph also allegedly joined the conspiracy in June, buying 10 guns over two days from five licensed firearms dealers.

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During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 120 weapons during four bulk seizures, with 47 firearms seized from Roberts in Henry County, Ga.

Additionally, numerous other weapons allegedly purchased by defendants in this case have been seized by law enforcement throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, USDOJ said. Roberts, Goodman, Summers, Goodman and Randolph were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 24, 2023.

The four Florida men were arraigned for charges of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license. Roberts was arrested mid-October in the Bahamas for another weapons charge, officials said.

Grevaughn Goodman also faces charges for firearms trafficking conspiracy, resulting form a June 2022 statute passed by U.S. Congress, according to USDOJ.

Among ATFs top priorities is ensuring that firearms traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice. This is an excellent example of such an investigation that was worked cooperatively by multiple partner agencies with outstanding results, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Raymond Connor said.

Roberts, who is not in custody yet, is charged with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, firearms trafficking conspiracy and smuggling.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday a truce in the Israel-Hamas war marked "important progress" in the conflict, as he welcomed the release of hostages by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Hamas fighters released 24 hostages on Friday during the first day of the war's first ceasefire after guns fell silent in the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks.

"Australia welcomes the release of hostages and the pause in hostilities to allow humanitarian access to Gaza," Albanese said on social media platform X.

"Todays developments represent important progress and Australia welcomes them."

Australia's government has previously urged a pause in hostilities and has strongly criticised Hamas, while calling on Israel to exercise restraint to minimise civilian casualties.

"We have consistently called for all hostages to be released, for the protection of civilian lives and for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire and a long-term, enduring peace," Albanese said on X.

In Australia, the conflict has triggered protests from both Jewish and Palestinian groups, with thousands turning out for rallies in the country's largest cities.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Search crews retrieved a body from a well in Avon Saturday night hours after renewing the search for a man missing since September.

Keith McKechnie, a resident of 34 East High Street was found and identified by family members after being located in a well.

There were no obvious signs of trauma on the body, the Norfolk DAs office said.

On Wednesday, Avon police posted on Facebook that they were searching for 45-year-old Keith McKechnie after he went missing on September 7.

Our thoughts are very much with the McKechnie family tonight, District Attorney Morrissey said in a statement Saturday evening. This is a very sad result.

The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston where an autopsy will be performed in the next few days.

More details will be released as they are made available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Badshah's songs and collaborations have charted multiple times in the Official Asian Music Chart

If you're dancing along to bangers at a Bollywood club night, chances are there'll be a song by Badshah.

The rapper has dominated the Indian music scene for almost a decade, with hits such as Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai, Kala Chashma and Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hain.

You might think the man with the "it's your boy Badshaaah" catchphrase would be "the happy guy" at the heart of any party.

But he admits the attention is hard.

"You will never find me in the centre of room, you will always find me in the corner," he tells BBC Asian Network.

"I love the fact that a lot of people love me and I feel the love. But the fame is just a little uncomfortable."

The 37-year-old has had multiple hits in the UK's Official Asian Music Chart and starts his UK tour in London later on Saturday, but he's bigger than just his music.

He's also regularly seen in TV adverts, social media campaigns and even hosting talent shows.

'I talk about my demons'

That rise though, has not been smooth sailing. Instead, he admits struggling with his mental health and says he wishes he'd sought professional help much earlier than he did.

"Therapy is important and you need to realise that it's OK, it's absolutely OK," the Delhi-born musician says.

Badshah - real name Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia - says he has suffered from clinical depression and anxiety disorder, which required being put on medication.

Talking about mental health isn't the easiest thing in South Asian communities, where the issue is often considered taboo.

But Badshah feels getting treatment should be as easy as it is to apply a plaster on a cut.

"What is there not to talk about?" he says.

"The strength is to accept that there is something wrong, and if there is something wrong then let's make it right."

The rapper says Drake has been one of the "biggest influences on him because I relate to him so much"

Badshah says music has become an avenue, alongside his treatment, that allows him to release his thoughts.

He realised this on a flight back from London in 2014, when he says he experienced a panic attack.

"I thought it was a heart attack because there were a lot of palpitations," he says.

"I took my phone out, I started writing. Within the next 15 minutes, I was fine. And that's when I knew, it's music.

"It helps whenever I go through something, I just write."

While he is best known for his party tracks, Badshah says he's "absolutely naked emotionally" on songs like Focus and Ghar Se Door from his 2020 album The Power of Dreams of a Kid.

He believes this openness has allowed him to connect with his "real fans".

"I'm extremely vulnerable, where I talk about the demons," he says.

"I want to let people know."

Badshah says he's very passionate about using his position to do good - such as supporting children's education

India - the world's largest democracy - has been criticised for restricting freedom of speech, and public figures have also found themselves under fire for comments on contentious issues.

Badshah says it's important to understand your words can be interpreted in different ways.

"As an artist, sometimes you do not realise the impact that you have is both positive and negative," he says.

"At the end of the day, you're a responsible citizen, so you have to take care of a lot of things."

The rapper says his "primary objective is to entertain", and he prefers to use his influence on issues that matter to him, such as children's education and climate change.

"Which is also good karma," he says.

"If I do that successfully, I'm happy."

With many of India's vast population being fans and with global recognition, it can be tough to live a fairly peaceful life, so how does Badshah get away from his relentless schedule?

"With my parents, maybe go to the Himalayas in the mountains, and listen to Coldplay - that's bliss," he says.

"Give me a week of that and take a year from me."

Listen back to Ankur Desai's hour-long special BBC Asian Network programme with Badshah on BBC Sounds.

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Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network live from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here.
BALCH SPRINGS, Texas - A North Texas mother was brutally stabbed to death in front of children. Police are now searching for her husband and on Friday they found his abandoned truck near the border.

Family members said 34-year-old Hilda Gurrola was leaving her husband of 14 years  38-year-old Luis Pardo.

"She didnt want to be with him anymore. She didnt feel like the love was there anymore, that his character had changed so much, and that she just didnt want to do it anymore," Gurrola's sister, Gricelda Gurrola Llanas, told FOX 4.

Gurrola and her three children tried to move out of their Balch Springs home off Erich Drive Tuesday. Just before all of her belongings were out, police said Pardo killed her.

"She got frustrated because he kept telling her, Hey come inside and get your shoes. Come inside and get the shoes. She went inside and got the shoes and, unfortunately, he pulled her in between the washer and dryer thats located in their kitchen. And between the washer and dryer he just pushed her back and started stabbing her to death," Llanas said.

Police said Gurrola was stabbed at least 14 times.

"He did do all of this in front of their 3-year-old son and my 7-year-old nephew," Gurrolas sister said.

Gurrolas other sister witnessed the attack and tried to fight off Pardo.

"By scratching at him, punching at him, hitting him as best as she could," Llanas said.

Pardo fled before the police arrived. Hes not a United States citizen, so police fear he might now be in Mexico.

"Luis pickup was recovered in El Paso, but it was unoccupied," said Officer Pedro Gonzalez with the Balch Springs Police Department. "He does have family in Zacatecas, Mexico."

The couples children  two girls ages 12 and 10, and a 3-year-old boy  not only lost a mother, but also have a father on the run.

"Out of nowhere, just murder somebody that you cared so much about," Llanas said in disbelief.

Initially, Gurrolas family said she left her and her kids belongings at their home and planned to start fresh in Fredericksburg, Texas. She came back to Balch Springs not knowing what would happen to her.

"She didnt want to go, but he kept texting her and bothering her like, Hey, come get your stuff. Come get your stuff or its going to be thrown away," Llanas said.

Balch Springs police said Child Protective Services was notified of the stabbing.

Records show there was one previous call to CPS about Pardo related to his wife and kids. Police are working to clarify the outcome.

Anyone with information about Pardos whereabouts is asked to contact the Balch Spring Police Department.
Approximately 650,000 Ukrainian men aged 18-60 have left Ukraine for Europe since the start of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, BBC Ukraine reported on Nov. 24.

Citing data provided by Eurostat, the official statistical record-keeping agency of the EU, the report notes over half a million male refugees are currently residing in the 27 EU member states, as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, many of whom are undocumented.

In Germany, it is estimated that 100,000 unregistered individuals are residing in the country, while in Austria at least 14,000 Ukrainian men arrived using forged documents or the services of smugglers.

Under martial law, Ukrainian men between the ages of 1860, with some exceptions, are not allowed to leave the country because they could be called up for military service.

The statistics do not provide details on the number of men who departed legally as fathers of three children, individuals with disabilities, or other eligible categories for travel outside of Ukraine. Nor do statistics specify the number of men who may have traveled to Europe from the territories temporarily occupied by Russia.

As Ukraine faces the challenge of maintaining adequate military personnel, recent reports indicate that nearly 20,000 Ukrainian men have managed to evade conscription, finding various routes to leave the country.

Earlier this year law enforcement officials discovered a large-scale draft evasion scheme involving falsified medical certificates. Those involved reportedly charged substantial amounts, ranging from $7,000 to $10,000, to provide fake certificates declaring individuals unfit for military service due to fabricated health conditions.

The UN has estimated that some 6.2 million refugees left the country since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Ukraine had a population of 41 million in 2021. It currently hovers around 35 million and experts warn and could drop to below 29 million in the next 30 years, the EUs Joint Coordination Center has warned.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A BBC journalist has been accused of minimising the Oct 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel in an Arabic-language report that differs greatly from the English version.

Feras Kilani, BBC Arabics special correspondent, wrote an English and an Arabic version of an interview with senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk, which contained widely differing accounts of the massacre of 1,400 Israelis by the groups gunmen.

In the interview, published online by BBC News Arabic, Marzouk denied that civilians had been targeted on Oct 7.

But while in the English version of the interview Mr Kilani laid out evidence gathered by the BBC and other media outlets showing that Hamas had killed and kidnapped civilians, this was barely mentioned in the Arabic version.

In one passage, the English version of the online article states that a senior Hamas leader has refused to acknowledge that his group killed civilians in Israel, claiming only conscripts were targeted.

It goes on to say that Moussa Abu Marzouk told the BBC that women, children and civilians were exempt from Hamass attacks, adding: His claims are in stark contrast to the wealth of evidence of Hamas men shooting unarmed adults and children. The proof includes video from Hamas body cameras and first-hand testimony given to international news networks.

However, the Arabic version of the same passage states merely that a senior Hamas leader has insisted that his group did not kill civilians in Israel, stressing only conscripts were targeted.

Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk denied that civilians had been targeted on Oct 7 - Kyodo/Newscom/Avalon

While Mr Kilani reports as a claim by Israel that more than 1,400 people were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, most of them civilians in the Arabic version, he fails to refer to the wealth of evidence gathered independently that Hamas shot civilians, which he mentioned in the English version.

The Arabic version also goes on to describe what happened on Oct 7 as the operation carried out by the movement.

Further on in the English article, Mr Kilani writes a huge body of evidence has been gathered which documents the range of bloody acts committed by Hamas in Israel on 7 October.

BBC journalists went to the scene of the attacks in their immediate aftermath and saw the bodies of civilians who had been killed.

We have also verified CCTV footage which captured shootings by Hamas. Separately, footage from Hamas body cameras has been shown to the BBC and other journalists by the Israeli government.

Other international news organisations have also pieced together, and verified, evidence of what happened on the day.

The BBC challenged Mr Marzouk on this, but the leader, whose polished, measured manner during the interview sometimes slipped into irritation, did not answer the question directly.

But this entire passage has been omitted from the Arabic version, which states only that the BBC challenged Mr Marzouk on the video segments recorded by the body cameras of Hamas warriors, which show firing at unarmed civilians in their cars and homes but the leader did not answer the question directly.

Headlines differ markedly

The headlines to the two versions also differ markedly, with the English version stating Hamas leader refuses to acknowledge killing of civilians in Israel, while the Arabic version reads Musa Abu Marzouk to BBC: Hamas did not kill civilians in Israel.

The Arabic version of the BBC article was translated for The Telegraph by two separate sources.

Jewish and media campaign groups have said that the differing treatment of the interview undermined the BBCs claim of accurate and impartial journalism.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: The allegation that the BBC is giving different accounts to English speakers and Arabic speakers is extremely serious. The BBC must immediately investigate and provide answers. BBC Arabic risks becoming more of a propaganda outlet than a news service.

Camera Arabic, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis, said: The BBCs Arabic-speaking audience deserves a better news product than it currently gets, with hard truths, crucial context and impartial terminology regularly spared from it while kept available in English, in an evident BBC Arabic attempt to cater for Hamas fans.

Mr Kilani, 47, began his journalism career in 1995, as a documentary maker with Syrian state TV, before joining Al-Bayan in the United Arab Emirates and then moving to BBC World Service in 2009.

A BBC spokesperson said: The BBC operates in 43 languages and our reports are not simply translations of each other but will often differ based on contextual factors such as the knowledge base of each audience, and the other stories or interviews we have published on the subject.

The articles you highlight, published three weeks ago, have both been through our robust editorial processes.

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The BBC has been accused of bias in its coverage of Gaza. Nothing unusual there, you might think. But wait. Theres a twist.

This time, its been accused of bias towards Israel.

The accusation comes from none other than a group of the BBCs own reporters. Eight of them, all unnamed, have sent a letter to the Qatari news organisation Al Jazeera, alleging that, on the BBC, humanising coverage of Palestinian civilians has been lacking, and that the positions taken by governments in the UK and US have undue influence on coverage.

The letter is no doubt heartfelt. I wonder, though, if there are one or two tiny things its writers have overlooked.

Perhaps, for example, theyve forgotten about the BBCs refusal to refer to Hamas as terrorists  even though, in Britain, thats how Hamas is officially classified. They may also have forgotten about the time one of the BBCs news anchors misreported a story from Reuters to suggest that Israel was targeting medical staff. And the time one of its correspondents said it was hard to see how anyone but the Israelis could have caused an explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. (UK intelligence sources believe that it was actually caused by a wayward Palestinian rocket.)

Only the other day, the BBCs best-paid presenter, Gary Lineker, urged his 8.9million followers on Twitter/X to watch a video in which an academic accuses Israel of committing textbook genocide. So, if the BBC does indeed favour Israel, this bias does not appear to be shared by all its top staff.

In my view, though, the most memorable moment of the BBCs coverage came when Jeremy Bowen, its International Editor, was discussing the stash of assault rifles that had been discovered inside Gazas Shifa Hospital. Apparently, the stash did not necessarily prove Israel had been right to say Hamas uses hospitals as military bases. According to Mr Bowen, it was not inconceivable that the weapons instead belonged to the security department of the hospital.

Well, of course. Every hospital in the world equips its staff with Kalashnikovs. Thats how the NHS plans to get its waiting lists down.

Are Remainers really brainier?

A new study purports to show that people who voted Remain in 2016 are more intelligent than people who voted Leave. To say the least, this is a provocative claim. But it also strikes me as somewhat unlikely.

After all, if Remainers are so dazzlingly ingenious, how come they didnt win?

With such an immense advantage over their opponents, the referendum campaign should have been a doddle. Thanks to their vastly superior brainpower, they should effortlessly have outwitted Dominic Cummings and his band of fellow simpletons. Mysteriously, however, they didnt.

Mind you, the study doesnt say that every Remainer is more intelligent than every Leaver. It just says that Remainers are more intelligent overall. So I suppose its possible that the staff of the Remain campaign were drawn exclusively from the small minority of stupid Remainers, while all the millions of intelligent Remainers were otherwise occupied with their careers as brain surgeons, rocket scientists, Nobel Prize-winning poets, Match of the Day presenters, etc.

But if so, why didnt the intelligent Remainers notice that the stupid Remainers were running such a disastrously incompetent campaign, and order them to change tack? Were the intelligent Remainers all too busy curing cancer, translating Finnegans Wake into Old Norse and reciting Pi to eight million decimal places?

The other possibility, of course, is that Remain campaigners were simply too clever for their own good. Their genius lulled them into a false sense of security. As a result, they got lazy, and lost. Just like the hare who stopped for a nap during his race with the tortoise.

Then again, the moral of that fable is not merely that the hare is complacent. Its that hes an idiot.

Mrs Hunts unhappy birthday

I wouldnt want to be in Jeremy Hunts shoes. But not because hes finding it so hard to get the economy going. Its because this week, he forgot to buy his wife a birthday present.

I didnt even get her a card, the Chancellor confessed, during an interview on LBC radio. I feel incredibly guilty.

This isnt the first time poor Lucia has been let down by her husbands faulty memory. Remarkably, he once managed to forget what nationality she is. During a trip to Beijing as Foreign Secretary, he told local dignitaries that his wife was Japanese. Shes Chinese.

How on earth any man could contrive to get his wifes nationality wrong, Ive no idea. Whatever faults I may have as a husband, at least Ive never said, Please, let me introduce my wife. Shes from Kuala Lumpur. Sorry, no  I mean Kent.

Still, God bless Lucia. Shes clearly a very kind and forgiving woman. Lets just hope she and her husband are never invited to appear on Mr and Mrs  the TV game show in which couples are tested on how much they know about each other.

Jeremy, heres your first question. What is your wifes name?

Ooh, thats a tricky one. Hang on, wait a minute, Im sure I know this. Its on the tip of my tongue. Er... Lizzie? Linda? Morag? Myfanwy? Saoirse? Svetlana? Parvati? Yetunde?

Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 7am every Tuesday and Saturday

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Jeremy Bowen told Behind the Stories he was 'measured throughout' and 'didnt race to judgment' - BBC

BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen has admitted his coverage of the alleged bombing of a hospital in Gaza was wrong but still said he doesnt regret one thing about his reporting.

Speaking in a television interview, the veteran reporter said he was incorrect to have suggested Al-Ahli hospital was flattened in an explosion on Oct 17.

Stories on the blast were a key flashpoint in controversy over the reporting on the war between Israel and Hamas.

The BBCs commitment to transparency comes in having a series of programmes called Behind the Stories on which Mr Bowen was talking and made the comments.

In an item on BBC Ones News at Ten, hours after the first reports of an explosion, Mr Bowen said: The missile hit the hospital not long after dark. You can hear the impact.

The explosion destroyed Al-Ahli hospital. It was already damaged from a smaller attack at the weekend. The building was flattened.

No 10 agreed with Israeli version

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the blast was caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group and released imagery and communications intercepts to support their case. Hamas claimed an Israeli airstrike led to the blast, which was said to have killed at least 500 people.

The British government later concluded the Israeli version of events was more likely to be correct.

It later emerged that the hospital building was intact and any explosion had centred on the car park, claiming far fewer casualties than the first accounts of 500 dead. The Anglican diocese that manages the hospital reported 200 people had died after the blast.

News of the incident disrupted US president Joe Bidens visit to the Middle East, with the cancellation of a summit in Jordan where he had been due to meet Arab leaders.

In the following 48 hours, a synagogue in the central Tunisian city of Al-Hammah was set on fire during mass rioting while two Molotov cocktails were thrown at a synagogue in central Berlin.

Asked about the report in an interview on Behind The Stories on the BBC News channel on Saturday, Mr Bowen said: So it broke in, I suppose, mid-evening and to answer your question, no, I dont regret one thing in my reporting because I think I was measured throughout. I didnt race to judgment.

Jeremy Bowen: My reporting was wrong but I dont regret a thing and I dont feel bad at all pic.twitter.com/ilUwuQAilZ  Jake Wallis Simons (@JakeWSimons) November 25, 2023

Pressed further about saying the hospital had been flattened, he said: Oh yeah, well I got that wrong because I was looking at the pictures and what I could see was a square that appeared to be flaming on all sides and there was, sort of, a void in the middle. I think it was a picture taken from a drone.

So, you know, we have to piece together what we see and I thought, It looks like the whole building has gone.

That was my conclusion from looking at the pictures and I was wrong on that, but I dont feel particularly bad about that. It was just the conclusion I drew.

Mr Bowen said sometimes the corporation had to rely on things people say as well as looking at the multiplicity of videos that are released before making a judgment on what to report.

In the first story about the hospital on the BBC on Oct 17, correspondent Jon Donnison suggested Israel was behind the blast. Speaking shortly after 8pm on BBC News, he said: Its hard to see what else this could be, really, given the size of the explosion, other than an Israeli airstrike or several airstrikes.

First BBC reports prompted complaints

Mr Donnisons comments prompted the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) to complain to the corporation.

Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC, referred the complaints to the corporations executive complaints unit (ECU), which considered them in light of their editorial standards of accuracy and impartiality.

However, the ECU ruled that Mr Donnison had not offered a definitive judgment but accepted that it was not consistent with the BBCs standards of due accuracy to offer any view about responsibility for the incident at a point where so little reliable information was available.

Hadar Sela, co-editor of Camera UK, told The Telegraph: Anyone who was under the impression that the BBC had learned any lessons from its hasty assignment of blame to Israel for the explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital on October 17th will understand from Jeremy Bowens statements that they were sadly wrong.

Bowens arrogant declaration that he doesnt regret one thing about his misreporting the hospital building as flattened and his claim that he didnt rush to judgment even though he amplified unverified claims from third parties is sad testimony to the standard of BBC journalism on display throughout this conflict.

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Governors State University has created an advisory board for its masters degree program in criminal justice with the hope this six-member team will help the school better navigate a rapidly changing concentration.

In Illinois and nationally, criminal justice reform is constantly being discussed with politicians from every side debating topics such as cash bail, handling of minor drug offenses, capital punishment and police accountability. This led two Governors State professors to suggest a panel that informs educators and students in an up-to-date and thoughtful way.

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Criminal justice is a rapidly evolving, crosscutting field that spans a wide range of societal interests, the university stated in a news release earlier this month.

The plan is for the board to advise faculty and administration on issues related to graduate-level criminal justice education to be sure courses are providing relevant skill sets, curriculum content and practical education.

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Another mission is to ensure multiple perspectives are given input into the program.

The board is made up of two 21st Judicial Circuit Specialty Court judges, a mental health counselor, police chiefs from Matteson and University Park, and an graduate of the program who has dedicated years to understanding criminal justice internationally.

I believe that the advisory board will eventually advise us on courses that we should offer to help prepare our students for this changing world, said Vincent R. Jones, the associate professor of criminal justice who developed the program with Janet Brewer, an assistant professor of criminal justice and sociology.

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Neither educator serves on the board but will be the liaison between the board and the schools leadership.

Jones said during the first meeting, Matteson police Chief Michael Jones described how his law enforcement officers spend only 20% of their time enforcing the law and the other 80% engaging with a variety of community support activities.

He would like for his officers to not be called law enforcement officers but to be called peace officers, Van Jones said.

Board members will also be mentors to students in the masters program who are looking to make a career out of their studies in criminal justice reform, Jones said.

Part of the impetus for the program is changes in Illinois law regarding criminal justice. In September, cash bail was eliminated, concluding a monthslong battle over its constitutionality and ushering in a variety of other criminal justice reforms. The state legalized marijuana in January 2020 and, following a 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park, approved a law banning high-powered guns, which continues to be challenged in court.

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The landscape of criminal justice is changing and we have an opportunity to interface with the community that we serve, Brewer said. The role that this board will have is to guide us in creating a new mission statement and in the curriculum revisions that were currently undergoing.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
A Russian lawmaker is accused of adopting a two-year-old child who was allegedly removed from a children's home in Ukraine, a BBC investigation revealed on Nov. 23.

Sergey Mironov, leader of a Russian political party and a staunch ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, is named on the adoption records of a two-year-old girl who was taken in 2022 by a woman he is now married to.

Originally named Margarita, the child was one of 48 children who went missing from Kherson Regional Children's Home when Russian forces took control of the city. Records indicate the girl's identity was changed in Russia.

In a statement posted on X, Mironov denied the allegations and discredited the report and media outlets reporting on the story, categorizing it as a "fake."

The office of the Ukrainian parliaments human rights commissioner is aware of the allegations and is looking into the reports, according to the Associated Press.

The allegations against Mironov fall in line with accusations that Russian lawmakers have played a pivotal role in the forced removal of children from Ukraine.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. The unlawful transfer or deportation of civilians to Russia violates the fourth Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime under international law.

Earlier this year, Lvova-Belova claimed that 700,000 Ukrainian children have been brought to Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, including 1,500 children who lived in orphanages or state institutions.

A study by the Yale School of Public Health shows that Moscow has established a whole "network of re-education and adoption facilities" in Russia and occupied Crimea, with 43 camps where Ukrainian children have been held since Feb. 24, 2022, already identified.

More than 19,500 children have been identified by the Ukrainian government as having been deported and/or forcibly displaced by Russia. Almost 400 of them have been brought back to Ukraine.

Russia imposed restrictions on Ukrainian citizens seeking entry via land border crossings on Oct. 16, making it more difficult for Ukrainian families to bring home deported children, according to the BBC's Russian Service.

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One critic said that diversity at the BBC means people look different but all think the same way - Carl Court/Getty Images

The BBC is spending more than 600,000 a year on staff responsible for diversity and inclusion, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

Critics say it is an example of the corporation wasting licence fee payer cash on woke nonsense.

In response to the FoI request regarding diversity, equity or inclusion roles, the BBC said it employs 15 such members of staff. With a small number in part-time positions, in total their jobs are equivalent to that of 13.35 individuals in full-time employment.

The BBC did not give a precise total for the outlay but did provide salary ranges for the jobs. Based on these figures the lowest estimate for their total cost per year is 678,071 and the upper 1,116.796. The positions include that of a Creative Diversity Partner, paid between 50,481 and 85,470 per year.

Tim Davie, who became BBC director-general in 2020, has ring-fenced 100 million of its existing commissioning budget over three years (April 2021 to March 2024) for diverse content.

The BBC expects the production teams it works with to be at least 20 per cent diverse and at least two individuals in senior decision-making roles on a production to be from one of the three under-represented groups: black or minority ethnic, disabled and working class.

Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, has ring-fenced 100m of its existing commissioning budget over three years for diverse content - Derek French/Shutterstock

Earlier this month Charlotte Moore, chief content officer at the BBC, said that the BBC required all of its suppliers to have a diversity and inclusion policy in place, offering a template on the BBCs Creative Diversity Network website. This includes the goal to actively seek to increase the diversity of our talent networks.

The BBCs Creative Diversity site offers an inclusion toolkit, which includes an ally track, a mock race in which players input personal characteristics  such as whether they are man, identify as white or identify with the gender they were born with  to show how these affect their life chances.

Players are told: Youll probably be expecting everyone to line up together at the start so nobody has an advantage. Well, that wont be the case, because this race is just like life.

Being a woman, not white or not identifying with the gender they were born with places a player behind at the finish line.

Commissioning editors have been told that incidental portrayal on TV can count as diverse, such as a multi-racial couple in a cookery competition or a gay character in a continuing drama.

Tackling the culture of ableism

Previously the BBC has committed to an extensive programme of inclusive behaviour training and to tackling the culture of ableism.

Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said: What diversity means at the BBC is people that look different but all think the same way.

It means a privately educated daughter of an African diplomat who is pro-Palestinian and anti-Brexit is much more likely to get a job than a white working-class man who voted Leave and wants to call Hamas a terrorist organisation.

It is time to defund the BBC

Rupert Lowe, a spokesman for Reform UK, said: The BBC was founded on the noble principles of informing, educating and entertaining  it now achieves none of them.

This is just another in a long line of failures which demonstrate the broadcaster is no longer fit for purpose. Its time to defund the BBC, free the licence fee payer of their legal obligation to prop up this woke nonsense and let the public decide if they wish to financially support such a rotten monopoly. I suspect the answer will be a resounding no.

The BBC were approached for comment.

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Skygazers rejoice! NASA said the Moon will appear full for three days, from Saturday night to Tuesday morning, but it will only appear at its brightest for a brief period of time.



Peak illumination of Novembers full Moon, known as the Beaver Moon, will occur early Monday morning, Nov. 27 at 4:16 a.m. ET.

During a full Moon, the Moon is positioned opposite of the Sun, placing the Earth between the star and our lunar satellite. Because of this position, the side of the Moon facing the Earth becomes fully illuminated by sunlight.

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Beaver moon rising behind Gran Sasso d'Italia picks is seen from L'Aquila, Italy, on November 7, 2022.

This brightness will allow skygazers to see the Beaver Moon with the naked eye. If this is how youll be viewing the full Moon, NASA recommends giving your eyes plenty of time to adjust. Depending on your eyesight, you will be able to see large impact craters on the moon.

For a closer look at the Moon, consider using a pair of binoculars with at least a magnification of 7. According to NASA, binoculars will allow you to see large mountain ridges and the rich texture of the Moons surface.

A telescope can provide an even closer look. NASA said the instrument will help you see crater chains, in addition to larger craters, along with cracks on the Moons surface that formed when lava that once filled a basin cooled and contracted.

HOW THE TELESCOPE BECAME OUR WINDOW INTO THE UNIVERSE

To see the many features of the Moon, NASA recommends viewing the lunar body during its other phases, as well.

The Beaver Moon, as seen from Eindhoven, Netherlands on November 30, 2020.

Novembers full Moon is known by a number of names. The name Beaver Moon is rooted in November being the time of year when beavers begin to shelter in their lodges for winter, according to the Old Farmers Almanac.

Other names include the Moon before Yule, NASA said. As its name implies, Moon before Yule is rooted in the full Moon occurring before the holiday of Yule. Yule has its roots in early Europe, serving as a time to celebrate the winter solstice.

HOW THE YULE LOG TRADITION EVOLVED FROM AN ANCIENT VIKING RITUAL

The full Moon of November is also called the Frost, Frosty or Snow Moon, particularly in northeastern North America. NASA noted the name comes from the frosts and early snows that often start during this time of the year.





Original article source: Beaver Moon: How and when to see November's full Moon
Democrat presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips is going all in on his effort to beat President Biden in the race for their party's 2024 nomination.

In a Friday interview with The Star Tribune, the three-term congressman and millionaire businessman said he would not be running for re-election to the House of Representatives, arguing that a return to Congress after challenging Biden would be "both unproductive and uncomfortable."

Phillips said it was time to "pass the torch" to another candidate, citing his intention to still be in the presidential race beyond Minnesota's June filing deadline to run for office.

BIDEN UNSURE WHEN AMERICAN HOSTAGES WILL BE FREED BY HAMAS: WE DONT KNOW'

"It would be irresponsible to continue to string both my constituents along and the other candidates who both have entered the race and who might be interested in entering the race," he said.

In a post on X following the interview, Phillips said serving Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District was "the most joyful experience" of his life, but that it was "time for change."

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"Our best days are yet to come!" he added.

TOP DESANTIS BACKER RESIGNS FROM SUPER PAC AMID INTERNAL TURMOIL: UNTENABLE ENVIRONMENT

Democrat presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and President Joe Biden.

In a separate statement, Phillips described serving alongside his colleagues as "an honor of a lifetime," and described part of his tenure as "some of the darkest days in our nation's history."

Phillips' announcement comes just days after he angered some fellow Democrats with a dig at Vice President Kamala Harris, who he said voters had no faith in to succeed Biden should such a situation arise.

"I hear from others who know her a lot better than I do that many think shes not well positioned," Phillips said of Harris, in an interview with The Atlantic. "She is not well-prepared, doesnt have the right disposition and the right competencies to execute that office."

PRO-TRUMP CANDIDATE BEATS MODERATE DEM IN UTAH SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL LAST SEAT IN US HOUSE

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks during the Women's Economic Participation in the Industries of the Future meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week in San Francisco, California, on November 16, 2023.

He also said that "Harris approval numbers are even worse than Bidens," before adding, "Its pretty clear that shes not somebody people have faith in."

Phillips issued an apology to Harris on Wednesday, explaining that his comments were not reflective of his "personal experience" with the vice president, and that he respects her.

His challenge to Biden is expected to be a long shot in the race for the White House despite concern over the president's age and his ailing poll numbers compared to former President Donald Trump, who leads the primary polls on the Republican side.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub .





Original article source: Biden challenger goes all in on presidential campaign, won't run for re-election to Congress
President Joe Biden speaks Friday to reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts, about hostages freed by Hamas in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal with Israel.

President Joe Biden speaks Friday to reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts, about hostages freed by Hamas in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal with Israel.

President Joe Biden declined to categorically write off the idea of putting conditions on U.S. aid to Israel in a Friday news conference about the Israel-Hamas cease-fire and release of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.

A reporter asked the president his response to calls from some Democrats, who would like to see a reduction in Israels bombing of Gaza, asking that the U.S. place conditions on its aid to Israel.

I think thats a worthwhile thought, but I dont think if I started off with that we would have gotten where we are today, Biden responded. We have to take this a piece at a time.

To be sure, Biden did not endorse stricter conditions on U.S. aid to Israel. Far from it, he is urging Congress to pass a bill, currently tied up in partisan budget disagreements, that would provide Israel with $14 billion in emergency military aid.

But Bidens refusal to deride the notion of making aid conditional sounded like a notable break with his past rhetoric. As a presidential candidate in 2019, Biden told The Wall Street Journal that leveraging U.S. aid to Israel to curb settlement growth would be absolutely outrageous.

Biden might be striking a more moderate tone so as not to appear dismissive of parts of the Democratic base that empathize with the Palestinians. Amid the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of two-thirds of Gazas population, thousands of left-leaning protesters have been engaging in civil disobedience to pressure Democrats to support a cease-fire. And Arab American leaders in electorally critical Michigan are leading an effort to discourage voters from casting a ballot for Biden next year.

The exact significance of Bidens remarks is not clear, however. He has been known to occasionally make off-the-cuff comments that he or the White House walk back.

As of Saturday morning, the White House had not responded to a request for clarification about what Biden said.

My initial thought is did he fully understand the question? said Khaled Elgindy, director of Palestinian-Israeli affairs at the Middle East Institute. If so, then it is a sea change in the presidents attitude.

Ive encouraged the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective he has.President Joe Biden

Matt Duss, a former foreign policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and now executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, encouraged Biden to go further and consider leveraging U.S. aid in the future.

Well never know if we could have gotten here earlier, because Biden preemptively and publicly took those tools of leverage off the table, Duss said. Its time to rethink this.

Israel maintains that its massive aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza are warranted and necessary responses to Hamas massacre of 1,200 civilians in a vicious Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the capture of some 240 hostages. Israels stated goal is to completely eliminate Hamas, which runs Gaza, from the dense coastal enclave.

In his Friday remarks, Biden stood by Israels objective in the war.

Ive encouraged the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective he has, he said. Thats a difficult task. And I dont know how long it will take.

My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world in the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can, he added.

Many less hawkish experts, like Elgindy, a former adviser to the internationally recognized Palestinian leadership in the West Bank, believe that entirely eliminating Hamas is not feasible or worth pursuing.

Im struck by two things that havent changed: that he still believes the elimination of Hamas is an achievable goal and that hes still only encouraging the Israelis to minimize civilian casualties, both of which seem detached from the realities on the ground, Elgindy said.

Elgindy did credit Biden for sounding more sober and less cavalier than at the beginning of the war.

The fact that he referenced the Arab worlds and others desire to see this wrapped up as quickly as possible may be a sign that he is starting to understand that this has already gone on too long and cost too many lives  maybe, he added.
President Biden said on Friday that he was unsure when any American hostages being held by Hamas terrorists would be released after none was included in the group freed on the first day of the group's cease-fire with Israel.

"We don't know when that will occur, but we're going to expect it to occur," Biden said while addressing the release of hostages from his vacation in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

"We don't know what the list of all the hostages are and when they will be released, but we know the numbers that are going to be released, So, it's my hope and expectation it will be soon," he added.

FORMER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME AFTER CONFRONTATION WITH NYC FOOD CART VENDOR

President Joe Biden speaks about the release of hostages from Gaza, in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on November 24, 2023.

He went on to say that he didn't know the condition of the Americans still in captivity or whether they were still alive.

Additionally, Biden suggested the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas was inspired by his diplomatic efforts in the Middle East to expand recognition of Israel as a nation.

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"I cannot prove what Im about to say," Biden said. "But I believe one of the reasons why Hamas struck when they did was they knew that I was working very closely with the Saudis and others in the region to bring peace to the region by having recognition of Israel and Israels right to exist."

The release of hostages comes after Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day cease-fire during which the terrorist group agreed to release 50 women and children taken in the October 7 attack on Israel in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

MARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL SUSPENDS HATE CRIME TASK FORCE MEMBER CLAIMING BABIES MURDERED BY HAMAS WERE FAKE

A vehicle believed to be carrying hostages abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, arrives at the Rafah border, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, as seen from southern Gaza Strip November 24, 2023.

Two dozen hostages were released on Friday, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen. The group was released into the care of Red Cross personnel, who were seen carrying those rescued via ambulance from Gaza into Egypt.

The Israeli hostages were transported to Israel to receive care at various hospitals and are now accompanied by Israeli Defense Forces Special Forces.

According to U.S. intelligence, approximately 10 Americans are being held hostage by Hamas.

WATCH: WHITE HOUSE ISSUES BRUTAL RESPONSE TO BIDEN'S INAPPROPRIATE NICKNAME GIVEN BY ANTI-ISRAEL CRITICS

International Red Cross vehicles reportedly carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas cross the Rafah border point in Gaza on the way to Egypt from which they would be flown to Israel to be reunited with their families, on November 24, 2023. After 48 days of gunfire and bombardment that claimed thousands of lives, a four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war began on November 24 with 50 hostages set to be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli leaders have vowed to resume the war once the cease-fire lifts.

"Israel will continue its war on Hamas, and we will not stop until we achieve our two main goals, overthrowing the rule of Hamas and returning all the abductees back to us, safe and sound," Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Friday as he toured Israels ravaged border areas with his counterparts from Portugal and Slovenia.

To date, there have been more than 1,200 Israelis reported killed by Hamas, while the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health is claiming that nearly 13,000 civilians have been killed from Israeli military activity in Gaza.

Fox News' Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.





Original article source: Biden unsure when American hostages will be freed by Hamas: 'We don't know'
A bipartisan pair of senators is working on what they see as a compromise to address a persistent pollution problem.

Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) are looking to tackle a class of chemicals called PFAS that are known to linger in the environment and have been linked to health issues including cancer, weakened immune systems and high cholesterol.

However, a draft bill they released faces pushback from green groups  who say it may actually make the problem worse.

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Some Republicans are also trying to exempt various industries from liability for the substances, and negotiations on this issue are ongoing.

Nevertheless, the duo says that Congress needs to do something to address the chemicals, which have been found to be pervasive in U.S. waterways andin the blood of 97 percent of Americans.

This fall, Congress has an opportunity to address an issue that impacts the health and safety of many of our constituents, Capito wrote in a September op-ed. We shouldnt hesitate to deliver solutions that clean up and reduce risks posed by PFAS in a scientific, bipartisan, and responsible manner.

Earlier this year, Carper and Capito released the draft bill, which looks to set a definition for the sprawling class of chemicals, allowing states to assist individual well owners dealing with contamination, and sets a hard deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize an in-progress rule that would set drinking water standards for a few specific PFAS.

It also puts $500 million toward research for technology that can prevent, detect or destroy the substances.

A Senate Republican aide told The Hill that Capitos priorities include defining the problem, as theres some debate as to which chemicals should be addressed under the PFAS umbrella, codifying the timeline for regulations and investing in technology to destroy the substances.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Carper said hes pushing for the legislation to address gaps related to the chemicals.

Weve heard from stakeholders about gaps in research, gaps in the ability for EPA to address the chemicals because they dont have enough information, the spokesperson said.

But, sources in the environmental movement tell The Hill that theyre skeptical of the effort, arguing that the legislation doesnt do much to address the problem and that the bill could worsen the situation overall.

A key concern for environmentalists is not the provisions of the current draft bill, but discussions related to pollution cleanup and liability.

While the current public draft does not contain provisions that deal with this issue, it is the subject of ongoing talks.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), for instance, hascalled for liability exemptions for certain industries, having introduced legislation in the past that would protect airports, water systems and the agriculture industry from legal ramifications of pollution.

A spokesperson for Lummis said that the senator has participated in ongoing efforts to craft bipartisan legislation to address current issues with liabilities as it relates to PFAS pollution and looks forward to continue working with Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Tom Carper to get commonsense reforms across the finish line.



Capito, in her op-ed, also called for protecting passive receivers like water utilities from liability.

These entities and others , could be targeted with frivolous lawsuits just for providing the vital services that underpin our modern society, she wrote.

But environmental advocacy organizations argued against exemptions.

Wastewater treatment plants are not passive receivers, as they willingly accept PFAS waste and are paid to do so, said a letter to Carper and Capito from the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice.

An exemption for these facilities is unnecessary, would trigger never-ending requests for carveouts with not only PFAS polluters, but other chemical industries, and would undermine the longstanding polluter pays principle while encouraging facilities to act carelessly when handling these toxic chemical, they wrote.

Environmental groups also took issue with the definition the bill gives for PFAS, saying that it excludes too many of the substances  of which there are thousands  and could set a dangerous precedent for future rules.

The bills definition of PFAS is too narrow and promotes industry interests over public health, said a letter from the Environmental Working Group.

The proposed legislation would limit EPAs actions only to those PFAS that meet the restricted definition, undercutting the intent of the bill itself, harming ongoing efforts to address PFAS through other existing laws, ignoring science-based decision making, and ultimately leaving communities exposed to toxic pollution, they continued.

Asked about the definition in the draft bill, Renee Sharp, a strategic advisor with Safer States, an alliance of environmental health organizations, told The Hill: That is possibly the worst definition I have ever seen for PFAS.

She said that it would exclude a ton of PFAS, including a common type of PFAS called PTFE, which is sold commercially under the name Teflon.

However, aides to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle defended the definition. A Republican aide argued that it applies to chemicals of the greatest concern. Aides also argued that the definition could apply only to this bill, rather than curbing other efforts to address PFAS.

The definition also got some support from industry, with Brandon Farris, vice president of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, saying it is pretty close to right.

When youre trying to get your head around something as ubiquitous as PFAS  you need some places to start, said Farris, whose group represents various types of manufacturers including both companies that make the chemicals and those that use them in making other products.

On the whole, Farris said if the PFAS bill were to move forward in its current form, his organization would be inclined to support the legislation because of the definition it provides.

If lawmakers can reach an agreement that satisfies 60 senators  the threshold necessary to avoid a filibuster  its not totally clear whether the package would be taken up by the House.

Asked if the package is something the lower chamber would take up, House Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said shed have to look at it.

A spokesperson for Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), who leads the Energy and Commerces environment subcommittee, did not respond to a question from The Hill about whether the GOP intends to take up the legislation.

Carper is also retiring in 2025, when his term is up. If the legislation is not completed by then, its not clear how significant a setback his absence could be for its passage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Black Friday was busy at many Las Vegas valley stores, especially the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets where people started lining up early in the morning looking to score deals.

Leticia Cunha from Brazil who does a mix of online and in-person shopping bought clothes and sneakers for her workouts, as well as purses for family members. She admitted dropping $1,000 during her time at the outlets.

I dont want to think about it, she joked.

The National Retail Federation reported nearly half of shoppers were looking for gifts, and Cunha agreed.

There are 300 retailers between the Las Vegas North and South Premium Outlets. (KLAS)

Ashley Fawcett, the area director of marketing for both the North and South Premium Outlets, said a lot of shoppers like the in-person experience.

People want to touch, try and buy and you cant do that online, Fawcett said. Plus, no delays or waiting when you purchase in-store.

The pandemic changed shopping habits, with many turning to online purchasing. Last year, Wallet Hub reported more than 130 million shopped from home and 122 million shopped in stores.

Sundeep and Nidhi Singhania are visiting from India and agree they prefer the in-store experience.

Going online, its like you buy and then you have to return it, Nidhi said. That is a headache. I believe in physical shopping because we can fit it and buy it.

This is traditionally one of the busiest weekends for holiday shopping and if you plan to have that in-store experience, plan ahead by going early and preparing for crowds.

The outlet added overflow parking at the World Market Center for the heavy traffic. D

Also, there are daily deals as well as deals that run through the weekend. You can check the website for details. Between the North and South Premium Outlets, there are 300 retailers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers next week to highlight the alliance's commitment to Ukraine in its war against Russia, the State Department said on Saturday.

NATO is actively supporting Ukraine and Kyiv hopes one day to join the military bloc. NATO itself is not at war with Russia, a situation which Western leaders say they want to avoid given Moscow's vast nuclear arsenal.

In a statement, the State Department also said Blinken would emphasize U.S. support for democracy and regional stability in the western Balkans. NATO is examining a more permanent ramp up of troop numbers in the region to keep tensions under control.

The meeting will take place from Nov 27-29 in Brussels.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Diane Craft)
Some EU countries seek to weaken the bloc's plans aimed against Russia's ability to acquire restricted dual-use goods via third-party countries, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 25, citing undisclosed sources.

The European Commission has reportedly proposed banning importers from reselling dual-use products like semiconductors to Russia while requiring the buyers to deposit a certain sum in an escrow account.

In case of the ban's violations, at least half of this deposit would be sent to a Ukraine trust fund, and the contracts would be terminated, Bloomberg reported, citing the EU's sanctions proposals.

A "group of big member states" reportedly raised concerns about the legality and feasibility of such a move.

These countries also prefer a more limited scope of clauses and goods covered by this measure and voiced worries of competitive disadvantage for European companies, the sources told Bloomberg.

Other nations, like the Baltic states, reportedly back the proposal.

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The European bloc is currently working on its 12th Russia sanctions package, which may reportedly include export bans on machine parts and other dual-use goods, a ban on the export of Russian diamonds, and measures to reinforce the $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil.

The EU also seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of the sanctions already imposed against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Both the EU and the U.S. have long sought to curtail Russia's ability to acquire sanctioned dual-use goods with military applications via third-party countries.

More than 80% of Russia's purchases of "high-priority items" are coming from China and Hong Kong, Bloomberg said.

Exports from countries like Kazakhstan, Serbia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan fell in the second half of 2023 but remain mostly higher than pre-war levels, according to the news outlet.

Read also: Charles Michel: I dont think this counteroffensive has failed

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An apparent case of road rage in Evanston late last month led to felony weapons charges against a Chicago man last week, police said.

Amir Smajlovic, 37, of the 1800 block of West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, misdemeanor aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor driving on a license expired by more than a year and cited for no proof of insurance on Nov. 15 following an Oct. 27 road rage incident in Evanston, police said in a news release.

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According to the news release, officers responded to the 500 block of Grove Street in Evanston for an aggravated assault incident. The officers learned that the victim was driving northbound in the 2100 block of Sheridan Road when they became involved in a traffic altercation, the release said.

It said the victim had slowed down, causing another vehicle, a black Nissan Xterra, to slow down as well. The driver of the black Nissan pulled alongside the victim, engaged in a verbal altercation, and pointed a gun at the victim before fleeing the area. The offender did not fire the weapon and the victim gave police a suspect and vehicle description, according to the news release.

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It said that on Nov. 15 an Evanston detective saw the black Nissan being driven by Smajlovic in the 700 block of Clark Street. Smajlovic was stopped, placed in custody, and his vehicle was searched, said the news release.

It said police found a loaded Kahr Arms CW9 handgun in the vehicle. Smajlovics drivers license had also been expired for more than a year and he had no proof of insurance, a valid FOID card or Concealed Carry License.

Smajlovic made a statement, according to police, admitting to possessing the Kahr and being the offender in the aggravated assault where he used the Kahr.

The Cook County States Attorneys Office reviewed the investigation and approved a felony charges. A Cook County Judge did not detain Smajlovic and his next court date is Nov. 30 at the Skokie Courthouse, the news release said.

Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
A group of EU countries is in favour of weakening the measures proposed by the European Union to combat the circumvention of sanctions against Russia through third countries.

Source: Bloomberg, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The European Commission proposed to prohibit importers from reselling, in particular, semiconductors used in Russia for the production of weapons. It is also suggested that a certain amount be put on a special deposit account to comply with these requirements.

Bloomberg wrote ithat in case of violation of these requirements, at least half of this amount will be transferred to the trust fund for Ukraine, and the contracts will be terminated. Exporters will also be required to inform national authorities of any violations by third-country companies.

However, diplomats from a group of major EU member states this week raised several concerns about the proposals, including questions about their legality and whether such guarantees and conditions could be demanded from importers.

Bloombergs sources said that the countries also want to narrow the scope of the proposed rules and reduce the list of goods to which the new laws will apply.

These member states also fear that contractual requirements could put European companies at a competitive disadvantage.

Other member states, in particular the Baltic States, support these proposals.

Background:

On Wednesday 15 November, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, along with the European Commission, presented member states with a proposal for a 12th package of sanctions against Russia.

The proposal provides for the imposition of sanctions against more than 120 individuals and legal entities for their role in undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. This concerns representatives of the military, defence and IT sectors of the Russian Federation, as well as "other important economic operators".

The proposed measures also go after those who organised the most recent sham "elections" in the areas of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied, those in charge of forcing Ukrainian children to undergo "re-education" and individuals who disseminate propaganda and false information in support of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.

The EU is planning to instruct Denmark to check and potentially block tankers carrying Russian oil passing through its waters amid Western countries attempts to set a price ceiling on it, which the Russian Federation has learned to circumvent.

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Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found floating in the ocean in Hermosa Beach early Friday.

Hermosa Beach police officers discovered the body of a white male between the ages of 40 and 45 near the shoreline about 7 a.m., officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was initially reported by some media outlets that the man was injured and had suffered from a gunshot wound. But the Hermosa Beach police released a statement on Sunday that said the cause of death was still under investigation.

Under further investigation, there was no indication the injury was received from a gunshot and the cause of death is unknown at this time. The investigation is on-going by the LASD Sheriffs Department, the cause of death will be determined by the LA County Coroner.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is assisting in the investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the sheriff's department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A special taxing district in Boise may have a new fight on its hands after allegedly overtaxing residents $2.4 million over three years.

Some residents of Boises Barber Valley say the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District improperly and excessively taxed them. According to an October letter from the Idaho Attorney Generals Office, they may be right.

These taxing districts, known as community infrastructure districts or CIDs, are allowed to collect taxes only to pay for bonds that have been both approved and issued, according to the letter from Associate Attorney General Jeffery Ventrella.

The district, however, collected taxes for approved bonds that had not yet been issued and, according to the homeowners, may never be collected, because of a pending lawsuit before the Idaho Supreme Court.

That lawsuit, brought by the Harris Ranch CID Taxpayers Association, challenges the legality of the taxing district. A district judge rejected the associations argument. The association then appealed.

Harris Ranch is beginning a final phase of development in East Boise. How the latest phases of the community are taxed has become a point of contention for homeowners.

Legalized in 2008, community infrastructure districts are meant to ensure growth pays for itself. Homeowners within these districts pay extra taxes for new public infrastructure, like roads and roundabouts, that the developer then builds for the surrounding community.

This means others in different parts of the city, such as residents in Northwest Boise, dont have to pay higher taxes for infrastructure in Harris Ranch they wont use, such as new sewers.

The associations request that the district refund the $2.4 million is separate from the lawsuit.

Nicholas Warden, a Boise lawyer representing the association, said the districts audited financial statements showed the payments required on outstanding bonds for the district in 2022, 2023 and 2024 totaled $993,000 per year. He said the board collected $400,000 more than that in 2022 and $1.1 million more than that in 2023, and has already approved collecting $900,000 more than that in 2024.

The $2.4 million in extra taxes affect about 1,000 homeowners within the boundaries of the district, Warden said in a September letter to the Attorney Generals Office and the Idaho State Tax Commission.

The Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District Board is made up of Boise City Council members. But, that will change in 2024.

That means the average homeowner in the Boise CID will have had to pay more than $2,400 in unnecessary and unlawful property taxes over just three years, and some homeowners will have had to pay much more than that, Warden wrote.

It doesnt make any sense, said Larry Crowley, a homeowner in the district and president of the Harris Ranch CID Taxpayers Association. It just boggles me.

Crowley said the association has raised these questions with the CID board over the last three years and approached House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, who represents the district, to take up their cause with the Attorney Generals Office. Rubel asked the office whether taxes to pay for not-yet-issued bonds were legal, and Ventrellas letter was its answer.

Boise City Council members make up the three-person CID board. Patrick Bageant, the board chair, said in a July board meeting months before the attorney generals October letter that he understood the concern and that it was kind of true in the abstract that they were collecting extra money.

(But) it gets used to service the existing debt or to pay down the debt in advance of schedule, so its still doing its purpose. Its not like we collect it and sit on it and have it, Bageant said. One way or the other the debt has to be paid.

However, Crowley contends the board has been blocked from issuing new bonds since 2021, when the taxpayers association first sued the district. He said the association does not know what the excess money has been used for.

According to Ventrella, if a bond has been approved but not issued, then that bond does not exist.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

A taxing district cannot impose and collect taxes to pay debt service that does not exist. But the Boise CID did so and has approved doing so again over the associations objections, Warden wrote in his September letter. There is simply no justification for the Boise CID to levy and impose special property taxes for approved but unissued bonds.

Crowley said the excess collections were unlawful and said there would have been no adverse effects if the district limited tax collections to the roughly $1 million needed. He said that would reduce the homeowners taxes almost 50%.

Warden said homeowners within the community infrastructure district pay 40% more on average in property taxes than substantially identical homes in the Harris Ranch development that are outside the district and elsewhere in the city.

He requested in his September letter that the board refund the $2.4 million to the homeowners or credit them on their tax bills for next years tax levy. The association plans to file a formal request in the coming weeks.

Changing rules

Meanwhile, the make-up of the CID board will change next year.

According to a news release from the city of Boise, the Idaho Legislature passed a bill this year requiring one of the board seats to be held by a resident of the district. The remaining two seats are to be held by the Boise City Council member who represents the district, who in this case is Meredith Stead, and an at-large council member.

The city is seeking applications from residents of the CID district. The resident board member must be selected by Mayor Lauren McLean and confirmed by the council.

Applicants must be able to meet up to 10 times a year with four to five meetings between June and September. The resident board member would serve a four-year term.

A cover letter and resume can be emailed to commissionapplications@cityofboise.org. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11.

Harris Ranch homeowners lost a key battle against special taxes. Now theyre trying this

Should growth pay for itself? Why tax district claiming to do that angers some Boiseans

Harris Ranch taxpayers take their fight against special tax district to new battlefield

Boise homeowners went to court to try to void a tax district. See what a judge decided
Deforestation in Brazil  which threatens the Amazon Rainforest, pictured above,  could hit an all-time low in the next 1-2 years, one government official said this week. (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

Deforestation in Brazil is projected to hit a historic low by 2025, a government official told reporters this week.

The president of Ibama  Brazils environmental enforcement agency  told several outlets that the country expects deforestation to reach the same rates recorded in 2012, when the country was at its lowest rate of deforestation yet, Reuters reported.

Who knows, in one or two years we could hit the numbers from 2012 and we will work in the direction of zero deforestation, Rodrigo Agostinho told reporters, per Reuters.

Ibama did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment.

Mr Agostinhos announcement comes after Brazil hit a fifteen-year deforestation high in 2021 under former president Jair Bolsonaro, the Associated Press reported. In the four years Mr Bolsonaro was in power, deforestation rose 60 per cent.

When Brazils current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, took office on 1 January, deforestation rates began dropping almost immediately. Within the first six months of 2023, Amazon deforestation in Brazil dropped by 33.6 per cent .

Joao Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary for Ibama, said in July the deforestation growth curve had been reversed, The Independent previously reported.

That is a fact: we reversed the curve; deforestation isnt increasing, Mr Capobianco said.

This projection comes on the heels of a major heatwave and series of disastrous floods and wildfires in Brazil.

Last week, a 23-year-old woman died after waiting for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour concert in Rio de Janeiro in a heat index that peaked at 58.8C (138F) degrees. Meanwhile, the high heat has spurred wildfires, caused widespread power outages in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and contributed to the Rio Grande flooding.

Brazils population and environment  particularly in the regions containing parts of the Amazon Rainforest  are under severe threats from the human-driven climate crisis, per the United Nations Development Programme.
A computer generated image of a rocket launch from SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst in the Shetlands - SaxaVord UK

Britains first vertical launch spaceport is expected to be approved imminently after passing Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements, the Telegraph understands.

SaxaVord spaceport, which is sited on Unst  Shetlands most northerly island  is hoping to start firing test rockets next spring, with a full orbital launch possible by the end of the year.

Sources close to the project said the spaceport was very very close to getting the green light, and was now in the rubber stamping phase just awaiting the final nod from Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport.

The CAA has looked at it and said, this looks like it can be a spaceport, said a source.

Success in Shetland would be a huge boost for Britains space ambitions, following the catastrophic launch of Virgin Orbit from Cornwall in January, which led to the company filing for bankruptcy.

SaxaVord was founded by Frank and Debbie Strang, who had initially hoped to turn the site into an eco-resort for nature lovers and bird watchers.

The 20-acre spaceport under construction on Unst - SaxaVord

The 20-acre spaceport is a former Second World War air force base and, more recently, a listening post during the Cold War.

The Strangs changed direction in 2017 after a feasibility study by the University of Leicester suggested it was the perfect spot to launch from Britain because of its easy access to polar orbit and its remote location.

Edinburgh-based aerospace firm Skyrora is scheduled to be the first to lift off from SaxaVord, and will start with a small 36ft Skylark test rocket which will reach around 65 miles high, the start of the Karman line, which marks the boundary with space.

If successful, the company is hoping to carry out an orbital flight, with a larger 74ft Skyora XL rocket, which will carry some small payloads.

Nickie Finnegan, from Skyrora, told The Telegraph: Were hoping to do our first orbital flight at the end of 2024 and that will either be from Iceland or Scotland.

There will be very small payloads on board, things like experiments for universities.

We do everything in house and we have developed all of the engines ourselves. The engines are 3D printed which speeds everything up.

We would like to be at the forefront of the Low Earth Orbit and European launch market. Next year will be very exciting.

SaxaVord's Robin Huber (right) with HyImpulse co-CEO Christian Schmierer. The German company aims to use the spaceport from 2025 - SaxaVord

Skyrora is also looking to make its rockets reusable, like SpaceX, and is developing a Space Tug which would be able to service satellites in orbit and de-orbit them when they have reached the end of their life.

Lockheed Martin is also expected to launch its UKs Pathfinder mission from the site, while German company Rocket Factory Augsburg has already installed a rocket platform  or stool  for its first launch.

Rocket builder HyImpulse, which is based near Stuttgart, also announced earlier this month it was planning a programme of orbital rocket launches from SaxaVord from late 2025, with sub-orbital test flights next summer.

HyImpulse CEO Mario Kobald said: The Shetland Isles and SaxaVord Spaceport are an integral part of HyImpulses journey to space.

We have been in close collaboration with SaxaVord since 2021 and have been doing our flight motors qualification testing also on the islands.

We are looking forward to carrying out our first orbital rocket launches from SaxaVord Spaceport.

SaxaVord business development manager Robin Huber said: HyImpulse Technologies have been an integral part of the SaxaVord journey and a fantastic supporter of our vision.

They carried out their first tests at Scatsta in Shetland in early 2021, and have been testing and honing their technology both there and in Germany ever since.

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British troops part of the NATO reinforcements patrol at the Kosovo-Serbia border, in Jarinje

British troops part of the NATO reinforcements patrol at the Kosovo-Serbia border, in Jarinje

By Fatos Bytyci

JARINJE, Kosovo (Reuters) - British troops are patrolling the Kosovo-Serbia border as part of a NATO peacekeeping presence being bolstered amid concern that the former wartime foes could return to open conflict following a series of violent incidents in recent months.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization sent hundreds of additional forces to Kosovo from Britain and Romania after a battle between the authorities and armed Serbs holed up in a monastery turned a quiet village in northern Kosovo into a war zone on Sept. 24.

One police officer and three gunmen were killed in the village of Banjska in what was seen as the worst violence since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Kosovo accused Serbia of providing financial and practical support for the gunmen, which Belgrade denies.

NATO has sent 1,000 extra troops to the region, bringing its presence there to 4,500 peacekeepers from 27 countries.

British soldiers are now being deployed in 18-hour shifts in freezing conditions to make sure no weapons or armed groups enter Kosovo.

"Currently we are here on a routine patrol, which consists of understanding patterns of life, gaining intelligence on any illegal or suspicious activity that then gets fed back to KFOR (NATO mission) and higher," Lieutenant Joss Gaddie from the British Army told Reuters at the border with Serbia.

During a visit on Monday to the western Balkans, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the organization is reviewing whether a more permanent increase of forces was needed "to ensure that this doesn't spiral out of control and creates a new violent conflict in Kosovo or in the wider region."

Kosovo, which has an ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a guerrilla uprising and a 1999 NATO intervention.

Around five percent of the population in Kosovo are ethnic Serbs, of which half live in the north and refuse to recognize Kosovo independence and see Belgrade as their capital. They have often clashed with Kosovo police and international peacekeepers.

For more than two decades many ethnic Serbs have refused to register vehicles with Kosovo car plates, using their own system instead which is seen as illegal by Pristina.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government has set a December 1 deadline for around 10,000 motorists to register their cars with Kosovo numbers or face heavy penalties. A similar request sparked violence last year.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Mike Harrison)
Brussels, my love? EU lacking leverage in the Middle East despite being top donor

The European Union in the Middle East  soft power or paper tiger?

As Brussels gears up for massive humanitarian aid for Gaza, EU leaders stressed the need for a long-term resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. This contains no re-occupation and no forced displacement.

They also emphasized that the Palestinian Authority should take over in Gaza while moving towards a two-state solution.

The European Union is doing in the Middle East what it does best: funding projects. That seems to be the only thing that the 27 governments can agree on.

Consequently, the European Union oftentimes looks like a resourceful bystander rather than a powerful mediator in this eternal conflict.

We discussed the EU's leverage (or lack thereof) in the Middle East with Kait Bolongaro, managing editor Europe at MLex, Sven Biscop, director of the "Europe in the World" programme at The Royal Egmont Institute for International Relations and professor at Ghent University, and Sandra Pasaric, project officer at the Martens Centre for European Studies.

Panelists had slightly different ideas of what Europe's support for Israel should mean:

Israel's "long-term strategy has been a total failure because it behaves like a colonial power," said Biscop. "Belgium, my country, has been a colonial power. We gave up our colonies because we realized, in the end, we could only maintain them in a permanent stage of war. That should also be made clear to Israel."

"It was a very good sign that Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen were one of the first world leaders to visit the kibbutz closest to the Gaza border," said Pasaric.

"The European Union unanimously decided to be on the side of Israel. Israel has the right to defend itself."

Panelists also discussed the political situation in Spain now that Pedro Sanchez is back in power thanks to a deal between his Socialists and Catalan separatists.

His decision to accede to some of the demands of pro-independence parties has proved profoundly divisive.

They made their backing for his new government dependent on an amnesty for hundreds of people involved in the illegal referendum to secede from Spain.

Critics argue  sharply  that Sanchez's government will now be at the mercy of traitors to the country.

The conservative opposition in Madrid cried foul  and so did hundreds of thousands in the streets.

Is Sanchez's move a threat to the rule of law?
The large non-tropical low-pressure system we have followed as it looped across the central Atlantic remains very disorganized. There are multiple swirls, and there's no cohesive center of circulation.

The system is now under increasingly hostile upper winds, and dry air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere covers a good part of the nominal center. The system is now over coolish water, and the ocean temperature will just get colder as the system heads north.

The National Hurricane Center still gives it a slight chance of taking on some tropical characteristics today before the door closes tomorrow because of the colder ocean.

The tropical characterization is only important for the record books. In any case, rainy and gusty weather will move through the Azores islands offshore of Portugal today into tomorrow, which is nothing uncommon for this time of year.

We'll wait until this system passes into the night before declaring the hurricane season over. But it's almost certainly over.





Original article source: Bryan Norcross: Atlantic system not likely to develop as hurricane season heads for the exit
CLEVELAND (WJW)  What comes to mind when you hear the word buckeyes? Maybe those tasty treats of peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate?

But, do you know what natures ingredients are in the state tree of Ohio?

Half of Ohio Mr. Football finalists are from NE Ohio

How about organic chemicals that are poisonous including alkaline.

The nuts and leaves of the buckeye tree are moderately poisonous and should not be eaten, said Garrett Ormiston from the renowned Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Ohio Buckeye (tree) is prevalent in Northeast Ohio, but its more common as you head further west in Ohio and theyre fairly uncommon in the eastern-most counties of NE Ohio, Ormiston told Fox 8 News.

Buckeye trees are found in large numbers at the Cleveland Museum of Natural Historys Medina Sanctuary Preserve on the banks of the Rocky River, Ormiston said.

The Ohio Buckeye tree was adopted as the Ohio State tree in 1953.

The Game Ohio & Michigan troopers sideline plan

According to folklore, the buckeye or nuts that fall from the tree resemble the eye of a deer buck, and carrying one brings good luck. Maybe some Ohio State Buckeye fans will have one in their pockets when the Bucks battle the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor on Saturday at noon.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Beyonce has been known to use her platform to promote breastfeeding. Stacey Solomon has used hers to promote formula milk

Influencers should be banned from promoting baby formula on social media, the World Health Organisation has said.

Experts said manufacturers were increasingly using exploitative marketing online to encourage parents to switch to formula milk or to buy more expensive products than necessary.

Celebrities such as Loose Women panelist Stacey Solomon and Love Island contestant Olivia Bowen have been used to promote formula milk and share their ideas about breastfeeding, which health experts say risk doing more harm than good.

However, global stars such as Beyonce and Rihanna have used their platform to promote breastfeeding, with the latter launching a maternity bra range for new mothers.

Breastfed babies more likely to be healthier

The WHO recommends that children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months and can continue to be breastfed alongside food for up to two years.

It says research shows breastfed babies are more likely to be protected from childhood illnesses and less likely to become overweight as adults.

In the UK, four out of five babies are breastfed at birth but just a quarter are exclusively breastfed at six weeks old. Only one in 100 babies are exclusively breastfed at six months.

Love Island contestant Olivia Bowen in a video promoting the Cow & Gate product

Experts, including the Royal College of Midwives, say parents feeding choices must be respected but they should be able to make independent, informed decisions.

The WHOs research has found marketing messages target and undermine mothers who want to breastfeed and influence the feeding choices of new parents.

In the latest update to its marketing guidance, the WHO said: Digital environments are fast becoming the predominant source of exposure to promotion of breast-milk substitutes globally, digital marketing amplifies the reach and power of advertising and exposure to digital marketing increases the purchase and use of breast-milk substitutes.

New guidelines propose ban

The new guidelines propose a ban on influencers directly promoting formula products but also says they should not be paid by formula companies to promote other branded material on social media, such as online baby clubs or parent advice lines.

In the UK, formula manufacturer Cow & Gate has previously featured celebrities such as Solomon and Bowen in videos promoting its C&G Baby Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon promoting Cow & Gate formula milk

Both celebrity mothers have also independently posted about their experiences of breastfeeding.

Various celebrities have come out in support of breastfeeding in recent years, including Katherine Ryan, who hit back at critics earlier this year for drinking alcohol while breastfeeding.

Its important to open up a conversation about breastfeeding and say that your breast milk is not made from the contents of your stomach, she said.

Maybe if another mum hears me say that... It might make a new mum open to breastfeeding for six months longer or feel less shame herself.

After giving birth, Beyonce breastfed her daughter Blue for 10 weeks. I encourage women to do it; its just so good for the baby and good for myself, she said.

Numerous British parenting and lifestyle influencer accounts have been seen to promote follow-on formula milk for brands including formula products to their thousands of social media followers.

Crackdown on influencer marketing welcomed

Amy Brown, professor of child public health at Swansea University, welcomed the proposed crackdown on influencer marketing.

Although there may be exceptions, influencers do not tend to be experts in infant feeding and public health, she said.

They are sharing their opinions [which] are not necessarily based on evidence or good information for others, and they could unintentionally do more harm than good. These guidelines will help prevent that.

She added: So much of the information we get now is through social media and digital marketing - the [formula] industry has taken advantage of that to find loopholes in regulation to reach parents.

Parents deserve information and support that should be evidence-based and accurate.

Speaking at the Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative Conference in Harrogate this week, Shereen Fisher, director of the Baby Friendly Initiative, said: This is about protecting families from aggressive marketing techniques.

Restricting marketing does not mean that the products cannot be sold, or that factual scientific information about them cannot be made available.

Nor does it restrict parents choice. It simply aims to make sure that their choices are made based on full and impartial information rather than misleading, inaccurate or biased marketing claims.

Publishing new guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes, the WHO said regulation was needed to prohibit the use of digital marketing tools including advertising on social media platforms and influencer marketing, adding that healthcare professionals should be banned from being paid to promote formula online.

Guidance is not legally binding

It also called for an end to formula companies creating social media baby clubs - like the C&G Baby Club - or offering parenting advice, and a ban on companies using digital marketing to establish relationships with parents.

Manufacturers should also be prevented from encouraging or enabling consumers to share, react or comment on marketing content, it added.

Although an international WHO code on marketing already prohibited brands from directly targeting new parents, it does not expressly include all forms of digital marketing.

The guidance is not legally binding but individual countries which are WHO member states - including the UK - are expected to ultimately update their laws to align with WHO recommendations.

But the update comes as it was revealed only half of infant and follow-on formula products sold in Britain currently comply with UK laws on labelling.

Olivia Bowen has spoken about the benefit of formula milk

Researchers, led by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, analysed 57 product labels and found just 50 per cent fully adhered to UK law.

The study, presented at the conference, found labels carried claims idealising formula milk, or nutrition and health claims - which are not permitted.

Researchers said they also contained promotional content, like telephone advice lines for new parents, which were an example of firms seeking to build relationship[s] with mothers/carers.

They said the labels violated many of the laws and regulations designed to protect parents from exploitative marketing, and showed how manufacturers use product labels as marketing tools to increase sales.

The UK law should be better enforced and strengthened in line with the [WHO] code to protect breastfeeding and safe and appropriate formula feeding, the authors added.

Some parents cannot breastfeed

A spokesman for Danone, which manufactures Aptamil and Cow & Gate, said: How to feed your child is an important decision for any parent.

While breast milk offers babies the best nutritional start in life, some parents cannot breastfeed. Many also make the choice to partially or fully feed their children with baby formula.

Formula is a quality, legitimate option that should be respected and parents should not be made to feel judged for formula feeding their little one.

When it comes to feeding, parents turn to healthcare professionals, family and friends, as well as online sources. Seeking to prohibit access to information about baby formula hinders parents in making an informed choice and stigmatises a legitimate feeding option.

Infant formula is the only recognised alternative to breastmilk and is highly regulated to ensure appropriate communication, labelling and marketing of products; we adhere strictly to these UK regulations.

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Students are not the only ones who receive report cards  Warren Township High School District 121 also received one from the Illinois State Board of Education. Members of the districts administration went over the results of the Illinois Report Card at the districts Nov. 21 Board of Education meeting.

The district celebrated that it has record high graduation rates, according to the report card, which said that 95% of the districts students graduate.

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One of the main areas of concern that was highlighted in the schools report card was that the district, along with districts across the rest of the state, was seeing a decrease in math proficiency, as well as a decrease in college readiness, in regards to math.

Were wondering now if this is just a COVID impact, said District 121 Superintendent Daniel Woestman. There definitely was an impact on the way we felt about how we were seeing math in college applications as soon as we hit COVID and those years immediately after COVID. Im guessing were going to see that for a few more years, probably.

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Although the district is currently seeing lowered proficiency, they believe that it is a trend that will be turned around within the next few years.

With each passing year, those kids are coming in more and more prepared, so were able to bring them in further and further along, said Christopher Geocaris, the districts assistant superintendent of instructional services. Were seeing some positive indicators, but we have seen a dip in proficiency over time.

Geocaris said that the administration is working with the math department to adjust the curriculum to meet student needs and make sure the kids have the best opportunities possible.

While the districts math proficiency noticeably went down over the past few years, there has been an increase in the districts science proficiency, which Woestman attributes to differences in the ways that testing is done.

Science proficiency is a bit different, Woestman said. The test is a bit newer. Generally, we feel pretty good about science.

District 121 also saw high levels of college reading and writing readiness, which Geocaris attributed to the ways the subjects build on skill sets that students would have already developed.

English and social studies, you really take the same set of skills and build, Geocaris said. Youre doing the same skills, but youre doing them more, and more in depth, year after year.

Additionally, the district expressed concern about decreasing college enrollment rates for its students, which is also a state trend. Geocaris also believes that this was impacted by COVID, and will resume to normal levels in the future.

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Our enrollment in CLC (College of Lake County) is down a little bit, we actually saw our biggest dip a couple of years ago, Geocaris said. We saw a bit of an uptick, but its not where it was before COVID yet.

During the meeting, Board President Paul Schulz, asked if this could be a result of more students going into the trades, but Geocaris said that hes not sure if thats a factor.
An anti-woke police chief who turned around two forces should be parachuted into the Met to counter the effective decriminalisation of some anti-Semitic behaviour in London, Conservative MPs have said.

Backbenchers are calling for Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, to be ousted in favour of Chief Constable Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police.

Sir Mark, who was appointed as Met chief last year in place of Cressida Dick, has faced mounting criticism over the forces response to anti-Semitic chants and banners at weekly pro-Palestinian protests since the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

MPs suggested that Mr Watsons zero-tolerance approach to fighting crime had paid dividends since the attacks. They are concerned that an insufficiently robust approach by the Met during the early pro-Palestinian demonstrations created a permissive environment for hate speech.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley speaks at the Institute for Government - Getty Images Europe

Mr Watson, who previously ran South Yorkshire Police and has warned that public tolerance of woke policing is at a high water mark, is highly regarded among senior Tories.

His approach at Greater Manchester Police, where he required the force to pursue every crime lead, inspired new guidance issued to all forces over the summer, when Suella Braverman, then home secretary, said it was completely unacceptable that criminals are often effectively free to break certain laws.

A government source said Mr Watson had a truly transformational impact on Greater Manchester Police, which he took out of special measures in just 18 months with a back-to-basics approach.

Mr Watson issued a public statement on Oct 12, ahead of the first pro-Palestinian marches after the attacks, warning that there is no place for anti-Semitic hate crime in Greater Manchester. Although Sir Marks deputy and assistant commissioners issued similar messages, the Commissioners first public intervention came 16 days after the Oct 7 attacks, on Oct 23, following criticism of officers failure to intervene when pro-Palestine protesters chanted jihad.

James Daly, the Conservative MP for Bury North, who is a formal criminal solicitor, said: I have come to the conclusion that a Stephen Watson-run Metropolitan Police would be far more proactive in enforcing the criminal law and would not tolerate some of the anti-social behaviours we have seen on the capitals streets which at present appear to be going unchecked.

Stephen Watson is the type of police officer I came across when I first started practising in the courts. Whatever the type of offence, if the evidence is there you will be arrested and prosecuted. In contrast to the previous regime in charge of policing in Greater Manchester this is a revolutionary approach.

I believe this robust approach to criminal justice should be adopted by the Metropolitan Police, specifically in relation to the recent protests we have seen in London.

A pro-Palestine demonstration and march in London - David Rose, for the Telegraph

Mr Daly, a member of the Commons home affairs select committee, added: If protestors make racially inflammatory statements or carry placards with anti-Semitic wording which is in breach of the criminal law, they should be arrested and put before the courts. The Met officers themselves and members of the public who witness such behaviours should be encouraged to make immediate complaints. The right to peaceful protest must not be hijacked by those who wish to spread hate based on anothers nationality or religion.

Adam Holloway, a second Conservative member of the home affairs committee, added that, while the majority of demonstrators appeared to be genuinely concerned about civilian casualties in Gaza, it was bizarre that others brandishing hateful signs or shouting anti-Semitic slogans were allowed to get away with it.

He said: I absolutely agree with freedom of speech but this is a different order. You cant have people saying these things. We are seeing far too much woke, weak policing. What the public want and what they pay for is robust policing. Mr Holloway suggested that Mr Watson come and take over the Met or do some sort of consultancy for the force.

Chris Clarkson, the MP for Heywood and Middleton, north east of Manchester, said: From a Manchester perspective I am a big supporter of Steve.

Steve, for me, has got the balance absolutely spot on. It is about proper policing, not emotional policing. It is about doing what most people would see as necessary to maintain law and order.

Its not about taking sides, its about making sure people have a right to protest but not to do so in a way that can cause harm and offence to other people.

Another Conservative MP added that, in London, the Met had effectively decriminalised a lot of behaviour which we should very much be clamping down on.

Sir Mark has said there were gaps in the law that meant extremist groups were able to propagate some pretty toxic messages.

But, in a report published last week, Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said that chants of jihad at pro-Palestinian marches can be prosecuted as encouraging terrorism.

A spokesman for Sir Mark declined to comment.

In an article for The Telegraph on Oct 24, Sir Mark said: We are determined to ruthlessly tackle anyone who puts their foot over the legal line.

But he added: The events of this moment suggest that perhaps the line of the law is not in the right place. That is a matter for Government and Parliament to consider.

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WestJets chief executive officer Alexis von Hoensbroech says Canadian flyers can expect more deals on airfares this winter and next summer, as pent-up travel demand moderates and productivity improves in the airline industry. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) (The Canadian Press)

WestJets chief executive officer Alexis von Hoensbroech says Canadian flyers can expect more deals on airfares this winter and next summer, as pent-up travel demand moderates and productivity improves in the airline industry.

There are markets that have seen strong pent-up demand that drove pricing, because there was an imbalance between supply and demand, the most prominent being on (transatlantic routes) over the summer, von Hoensbroech said in an interview with Yahoo Finance Canada.

While travel demand has remained resilient, he says it is now more in line with capacity, which has helped bring prices down. At the same time, von Hoensbroech says productivity levels are improving as the airline overcomes a pilot shortage, helping drive operational costs down.

I think there will be lots of bargain options for this winter and also next summer, he said.

Strong pent-up demand following the pandemic combined with capacity that remains below 2019 levels resulted in higher airfares, particularly when it came to international travel. According to data from FlightHub, the average price for an international flight topped $1,516.71 in July, a 35 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

But that pent-up demand appears to be tapering off. Statistics Canada reported this week that airfares plummeted 19.4 per cent in October compared to the same month last year, as airlines boost capacity and travellers reconsider trips due to higher costs.

Still, von Hoensbroech says demand remains resilient. WestJet, which is a private company owned by Onex Corp. and does not publicly disclose its financial results, has reported a profit in the first three quarters this year, he says. The airline is on track to surpass pre-pandemic capacity levels next year.

Strategic shift to focus on Western Canada, leisure travel

WestJet is in the midst of a strategic shift that has seen it focus on service in Western Canada  returning WestJet to its roots  while also expanding its leisure and sun destination offerings through the help of its acquisition of Sunwing.

It doesnt mean its a 180, or that WestJet is going back to the very beginning, von Hoensbroech said of the change in strategy. The airline first launched in 1996 as a low-cost carrier and didn't fly east of Winnipeg until 2000.

Its about focusing on the things that have made WestJet strong in the past, and also stopping things that actually werent that successful.

One of those things includes some regional travel within Eastern Canada. For example, in October the airline suspended service between Toronto and Montreal through the winter.

We decided we wanted to be active in the markets where we can actually win and lead, von Hoensbroech said. Those markets are primarily in Western Canada, where the airline already has a dominant foothold, and in leisure travel, a segment of the market which has seen demand fully recover.

And while WestJet plans on growing its leisure travel footprint, von Hoensbroech says the company is taking a rather cautious approach when it comes to intercontinental flying with its wide-body fleet. Prior to the pandemic, the airline had set its sights on significant international expansion, but scrapped that plan post-pandemic, cancelling its remaining order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners and dismantling its hubs in Toronto and Vancouver. The airline now flies its seven Dreamliners out of Calgary, using them to fly to Europe and Asia in the summer, and south in the winter.

The leisure travel segment, primarily to sun destinations, is where von Hoensbroech sees opportunity.

That's the other area where we think we not only can be a strong number one but also grow and broaden our footprint, he said.

Alicja Siekierska is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @alicjawithaj.

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CHICAGO  Of all the names that might be on the ballot next year running for Cook County states attorney, one that will assuredly not be is Kim Foxx.

Yet the political shadow of the outgoing states attorney will loom large over the March primary election as potential successors will be measured up against Foxxs roles as both an unabashed leader in the national progressive prosecution movement and a frequent focus of barbs about Chicago crime.

So far, three candidates have announced campaigns to replace Foxx, though that list might grow throughout the next week as hopefuls must begin turning in petitions to be placed on the ballot.

Theres no doubt Foxxs policies during her two terms in office  unwinding wrongful convictions, emphasizing mitigation and rehabilitation rather than high conviction rates alone, a shift from prosecuting lower-level and nonviolent crimes, and staunch support of the statewide elimination of cash bail  will become major issues on the trail.

Though one has received backing from Foxx mentor Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, both Democrats in the race began their legal careers in the states attorneys office and are campaigning for a more balanced approach to prosecutions and progressivism. Still, both also say they will keep in place many of Foxxs policies, such as community courts and first-time offender diversion.

While neither is seeking the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police, both Democrats have spoken about resetting relations with the Chicago Police Department as well as the need to boost morale in the office after months of attrition.

The two tout different strengths.

After spending nearly her entire career in and around the courtroom as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney and judge, Eileen ONeill Burke argues her breadth of experience makes her the right fit to oversee an office of more than 1,400.

Clayton Harris III, who is backed by Preckwinkle and the Cook County Democratic Party, argues his management skills from multiple stints across Illinois government and his time in policing policy and in academia make him the best choice.

The race also has attracted one declared Republican, former Chicago alderman and attorney Bob Fioretti, who has described Foxxs tenure as a disaster that turned the office into a social service agency instead of the prosecuting arm of the people.

ONeill Burke: Quietly competent

Of the two Democrats running for the office, ONeill Burke puts a stronger emphasis on getting violent crime under control.

Raised in a family of cops  her father, grandfather and great-grandfather were police officers  ONeill Burke said in a late September interview she knew when pursuing her degree at the Chicago-Kent College of Law that she wanted to focus on criminal law. Its there she met her husband, attorney John Burke, now a partner at Ice Miller.

ONeill Burke joined the states attorneys office in 1991 and stayed for a decade. She handled heavier juvenile cases and took them through investigation, trial and sentencing, also working in appeals and felony review. After having twins, her third and fourth children, she moved to criminal defense and eventually started her own practice. The change, she said, helped balance her viewpoints and better inform her decision-making as a judge.

In 2008, she ran for a judicial position in Cook County Circuit Court and handled an array of assignments, bouncing from civil court to criminal court, preliminary hearings and the law division. In 2016, she ran unopposed for the states 1st District Appellate Court in Cook County, where she remained until stepping down this summer.

A big believer in the recently passed but controversial SAFE-T Act reforms to bail practices, ONeill Burke said she would plan to ask for detention and jail time in cases where defendants  including first-time offenders  were in possession of automatic weapons or guns with an extended magazine or bump stock.

For accused juveniles, she said she would move to mandate after-school activities such as job training or trade school so they are busy until 10 oclock at night.

She said she would request detention for those charged with armed robberies, carjackings or violent crimes on the CTA.

I have four children. My hearts in my throat every time theyre taking the CTA. Thats not right, she said.

She also signaled she would end Foxxs early policy not to prosecute certain shoplifting offenses as felonies unless the value of the stolen goods is over $1,000. Its not appropriate to say were not going to enforce the law as it is written, she said. The deterrence for crime is not the severity of punishment. Its the certainty of a consequence. People have to be held accountable.

ONeill Burke also pledged to bring a twofold approach to the office: a felony prosecution bureau for the hard chargers who want to be trial attorneys and a restorative justice bureau that would handle nonviolent cases such as juvenile, drug and mental health-related cases, with a focus on actually getting people back on track.

This approach, she said, would be key to attracting a range of attorneys who want to chart careers as public defenders, in public interest advocacy law or in trial law.

The office struggled with prosecutor churn after the pandemic, though numbers have improved. As of mid-October, the office had 90 vacant assistant states attorney positions out of a budgeted 797.

Whats pushing that attrition? ONeill says overwork from too-heavy caseloads and smaller teams working each case, a sentiment Foxx has agreed with.

During her October budget hearing, Foxx noted she requested fewer attorneys  783  and shifted funding to hire more paralegals and administrative staff members to ease the burden of paperwork and data entry. Through Nov. 1, criminal and special prosecutors had the highest caseload: 334 per attorney, according to Foxxs office, while civil attorneys each had 101 new cases this year and juvenile attorneys had 76.

Of Foxxs national status, ONeill Burke said she planned to be the opposite: Kim became very much an icon. She has a beautiful back story. She is an articulate speaker and she became a nationwide icon. Im not gonna be an icon.

Government is supposed to keep our citizens safe. And were not doing that now. If we can get our crime rates down, and people want to pay attention, thats great, ONeill Burke said. Im gonna be quietly competent in this office. Thats where I want to go with it.

Harris: Safety and justice

A military brat, Clayton Harris III initially studied aerospace technology at Middle Tennessee State University. His early resume included a stint at the Pentagon working on ballistic missile defense before pursuing a law degree at Howard University.

His initial goal was to become a lawyer helping adjudicate international outer space disputes. He ended up much closer to the ground. In 1998, between his second and third year of law school, he interned as a clerk at the states attorneys office, and then became an assistant states attorney in 1999. He stayed with the office for less than four years, but during that time worked on criminal appeals, traffic, preliminary hearings and narcotics special prosecutions.

The same reason he left is the one that brings him back, he said: It was taxing to just see Black men coming through the system constantly. Period. Just Black men.

One day I was standing in arraignments at 26th Street, and the defendant was Clayton Harris. I mean, it was just surreal, he said.

In another incident, a police officer was asked to identify a suspect during trial.

He never turned, he just says, Yeah, the African American male to my left, standing about 6 feet tall. Hes about 180 pounds. Baldheaded with a goatee. And I was like, Well, you just described me. And he looked at me and said, Oh, and IDOC jumpsuit, Harris recalled. It just stirred something in me.

When given an opportunity to work in intergovernmental affairs in Mayor Richard M. Daleys office in 2003, Harris took it. He organized for more stringent assault weapons laws and better criminal sexual assault laws before becoming general counsel at the Chicago Department of Transportation in 2005. He then became chief of staff at the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he oversaw the 2006 reconstruction of the Dan Ryan Expressway, at the time the biggest road rehab in Chicagos history.

From there, Harris became deputy chief of staff for infrastructure in Gov. Rod Blagojevichs administration, right before the collapse.

The day Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris (no relation), were arrested, Harris recalled getting a strange text message on his way into work at the Thompson Center that morning, Is it true? And then he got an odd look from a state trooper in the building. Federal agents had swarmed the governors offices. Harris recalls gathering employees in a conference room, setting up workstations and asking at least one person to stop crying.

I was like, You werent arrested. You havent done anything wrong. Youve got to do your job. Thats how I became chief of staff, he recalls. The chaos continued, however, including an incident in which he said he was directed by Blagojevich to fire the entire legal department. He didnt.

Harris doesnt highlight his work for Blagojevich on campaign materials.

That omission is because people will take it and run with it under a very specific narrative, Harris said, adding he was not close to the former governor, never contributed to his campaign funds and didnt work on his political campaigns.

Really, my role was keeping the state operating, he said.

After Gov. Pat Quinn cleaned house of Blagojevich-affiliated officials at the state, Harris went to work in intergovernmental affairs at the construction firm CH2M Hill, later was the executive director of the Illinois International Port District and then moved to ride-share company Lyft, where he worked for two years in intergovernmental relations.

That work included increasing access to rides in disenfranchised communities and launching discussions about getting partial benefits for independent contractors, he said.

Harris also began lecturing at the University of Chicago in 2009, teaching Process and Policy in City and State Government and Policing in America: Black, White and Blue.

Harris said he would continue Foxxs programs to divert first-time and nonviolent offenders, and also keep community courts. But he also would seek to regularly highlight special prosecutions of organized crime, gun offenses and carjackings, he said.

I think its important to tell our story so that people know that their states attorney is ensuring that they are safe, he said. My platform is very simple: safety and justice. But safety doesnt necessarily mean just going out and arresting everyone and certainly doesnt mean everyone goes to jail because theyve been arrested. So it is holding everyone accountable, but its how we hold them accountable.

Hed also work to bridge gaps in the relationship between the office and law enforcement.

He said he has already met with the FOP to discuss changing the narrative that the states attorney is not prosecuting the cases that the police are bringing forward.

Fioretti: Ive got your back

Bob Fioretti faces an uphill battle. Not only have voters rejected his candidacies for mayor of Chicago, Cook County Board president and states attorney since he left the City Council in 2015, no Republican has won the race since Jack OMalley in 1992, and no Republicans currently hold countywide office.

Fioretti is a graduate of the Northern Illinois University College of Law and a partner at the firm Roth Fioretti, where he has focused on civil litigation.

Even so, Fioretti, a former Democrat and founding member of the City Councils progressive caucus, said he believes persistent worries about crime and its impact on the citys reputation as a business and tourism hub will win over voters from both parties.

To the experienced prosecutors who have left in frustration, come back. I will extend an offer to reinstate you at the same grade and level as if you had never left, he said at his campaign launch earlier this month. To the police officers out there, Ive got your back.

He sees no difference between Foxx and the two Democratic candidates.

They want to keep the same system and they have nothing to offer, he said.

Its unclear whether Fioretti will be the only name on Republican primary ballots.

Former state lawmaker Jim Durkin, who led the Republican minority in the Illinois House for nearly a decade before stepping down in January, has said he is still mulling a bid.

____
A single traffic stop could rewrite how the state of Oklahoma deals with the 39 federally recognized Native American tribal nations within its borders.

On Nov. 7, Crystal Deroin, one of the 3,300 members of the Otoe-Missouria tribe, was stopped by a state highway patrol officer near Enid, a city about an hour and a half north of Oklahoma City. In addition to being cited for speeding, The Associated Press reported, she got another ticket: $249 because of her license plate.

The alleged crime? Failure to pay state automobile taxes because she had a tag issued by her tribe but didnt live within its geographic boundaries. Under a 1993 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Native American tribes have been allowed to issue their own valid tags to members. An estimated 34 of the tribes in Oklahoma have done so.

But now Republican Gov. Kevin Stitts administration is calling the system into question, the latest in what some tribal leaders see as a series of provocations against their governments and what could be yet another attempt to challenge a 2020 Supreme Court ruling favoring tribal governments.

After over 20 years of cooperation between the State and Tribes regarding vehicle tag registration, it appears the State has altered its position of understanding concerning tribal tags, Otoe-Missouria Chairman John Shotton said in a statement, adding the tribe was looking at its legal options.

Former Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin speaks at an August 2016 news conference on a then-new design for the state license plate in Oklahoma City.

Former Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin speaks at an August 2016 news conference on a then-new design for the state license plate in Oklahoma City.

The chief of the Cherokee Nation backed up Shotton in his own statement, calling the states position ignorant and unquestionably illegal. (The Cherokee Nation has significantly more members  about 450,000, making it the United States largest  and political power than the Otoe-Missouria.)

Governor Stitts lawless and fact free approach to tribal sovereignty is nothing new and his actions against our citizens will not be tolerated, said Chuck Hoskin Jr., the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Marc Roark, a law professor at the University of Tulsa, said the state was potentially playing with fire on the issue because of the 2020 McGirt ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. That ruling said the Muscogee (Creek) reservation in Oklahoma had never been formally canceled by the federal government, raising legal questions about whether the state could enforce laws on tribal land rather than the federal government or the tribe. The boundaries of several more tribal nations were later added, meaning that now most of eastern Oklahoma is Indian Country.

If I was advising the state as a lawyer, I would be very worried about sending something up that might potentially raise another McGirt issue about regulation in tribal territory, Roark told HuffPost.

Until it became a state in 1907, Oklahoma served as the designated dumping ground for various tribes forced to relocate from elsewhere in the United States while white settlers moved westward, giving it a long and deep Native heritage.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, seen here at a panel discussion at a 2022 Republican Governors Association conference, said all Oklahomans should pay the same for tag, title and tax for their vehicles.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, seen here at a panel discussion at a 2022 Republican Governors Association conference, said all Oklahomans should pay the same for tag, title and tax for their vehicles.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27.3% of Oklahoma residents self-identify as solely Native American or in combination with other ethnicities in the 2020 census.

Tribal tags are commonplace in the state, popular both as a colorful expression of Indigenous identity but also as a way to save money on car taxes compared with state registration.

Theyre very common, Roark said of the tags. Its not unusual driving around Tulsa to see that.

The state and Stitt have said they are simply enforcing the law as defined in 1993 by the Supreme Court, even though news of the traffic stop sent shockwaves across the state for being so unusual.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety sent HuffPost an undated DPS memo stating that the only exceptions to having a state tag are for tribal members who register their car through the state and reside and principally garage their car in their tribes territory or whose tribes have a tag agreement with the state (called a compact) and thus can have tags anywhere. Oklahoma says only the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes have such an agreement. Theres disagreement over whether a third compact, with the Cherokees, remains in force.

As for the seemingly newfound appetite for enforcement, DPS spokeswoman Sarah Stewart said in an email: I can tell you that weve always enforced failure to pay taxes due the state.

Stitt has denied he had any role in the DPS stance but said he supports it.

We all drive on the same roads, Stitt told the online outlet Oklahoma Voice. And in my opinion, we should all pay the same tag, title and tax. Its pretty simple.

When you look at the Otoe-Missouria tribe or the Apache or the Creek or Seminole, any of those tags, theyre literally just printing the tag and the states not receiving one dime of revenue.

Stitt spokeswoman Abegail Cave told HuffPost that Stitt did not ask the DPS specifically to crack down on the tags. Hes just asking that the law is enforced.

But for the tribes, its the latest example of challenges to their authority by the state or Stitt  himself an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation  in particular in recent years. In 2019, tribes successfully sued him in federal court when he tried to renegotiate their gambling compacts with the state.

After the McGirt decision, Stitt pushed for the Supreme Court to rehear the case once a new justice, Amy Coney Barrett, was seated. Though unsuccessful, the court did make a decision that limited McGirts reach in criminal cases.

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., seen here at House Rules Committee hearing n November 2022, called the new approach by Oklahoma toward tribal tags

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., seen here at House Rules Committee hearing n November 2022, called the new approach by Oklahoma toward tribal tags "ignorant and unquestionably illegal."

He vetoed bills to extend existing compacts on tag fees and cigarette taxes with tribes, but the GOP-dominated state legislature overrode the vetoes. He also vetoed a bill allowing the wearing of tribal regalia at high school and college graduations. It met the same veto override fate.

Stitt had also called for tighter regulation of campaign financing after the states five major tribes all publicly backed his Democratic opponent for governor last year, with two of the tribal leaders donating to Joy Hofmeister and one leader saying his tribe had supported her directly.

The ongoing fights between the Republican-led state government and the tribes have led some to find other ways to resolve the uncertainty around the McGirt decision. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, a moderate Republican, said the city may look at making its own compacts with tribal nations.

We are now the largest city in a reservation in America, so lets celebrate that, he said in his State of the City address. Lets make it a benefit rather than acting like it is a problem.

Roark said agreements bypassing the state are one way the state may lose its leverage in its fight with the tribes. Another would be continuing to seek a rematch on McGirt.

One of the things that is happening here is an attempt to create some showdown to make McGirt an issue, he said, even though the Supreme Court turned down the chance to reverse the decision in 2022. It doesnt look like McGirt is going to go anywhere.

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Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of Carlsberg Group, one of the largest brewing companies in the world, for the first time in his life heard the sound of an air raid alert at 8 a.m., which suddenly triggered during his visit to Kyiv.

I looked at Oleh [Khaidakin, managing director at Carlsberg Ukraine], who took out his phone, looked at the message and said that everything is fine. So, I wasnt nervous either, says the top manager.

He visited the Ukrainian capital for the first time since the full-scale Russian invasion and admitted that the reality was better than he had hoped. The seat in the train car was comfortable, the staff was friendly, and the tea was warm. And Kyiv itself, less than Aarup-Andersen thought, reminds of the fierce war for Ukraines independence, which is going on hundreds of kilometers away from the city.

His arrival to Ukraine coincided with high-profile news from Russia, namely the arrest of the Baltika Groups top managers. The company belongs to Carlsberg Group but was nationalized and transferred to Russias Federal Agency for State Property Management or Rosimushchestvo. These included eight brewing plants in Voronezh, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, St. Petersburg, Tula, Khabarovsk, and Yaroslavl. The company estimated its share in the Russian market at 27%.

In an interview with NV Business, Aarup-Andersen talked about the loss of Russian business and investments in Ukraine.

NV: Carlsberg Group announced earlier this year that its ready to sell its Russian arm, the Baltika Group. However, the day before the transaction, the companys assets were nationalized. Hows the situation unfolding now?

Read also: Iran prepares to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia  report

Aarup-Andersen: We announced the sale of our business in Russia in June of this year. And in four weeks, while we were waiting for the regulators permission, we saw the announcement of the transfer of our assets under external managementde facto nationalization. They [Rosimushchestvo] now manage the business, its a shock for us. It all happened back in July, and since then weve been trying to figure out what the next step might be. Because we technically own the companys shares, but at the same time weve lost all control over it. We left the Russian market and announced in October that we were revoking all production licenses for our brands in the country. So, were actually out of Russia. And we no longer take into account the activities of these plants in our financial reporting.

NV: Are Russian factories now bottling beer under Carlsberg brands?

Aarup-Andersen: Yes. They have several months to move production to release products under new brands. After that, it will be banned, and this is a big step on our part. We tried to talk to the external management, which is actually appointed by [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin, about finding a way to give us control over the business and then sell it. However, they refused to look for such a solution. I can say 100% that we wont enter into a deal that would make Putins nationalization of our business legal.

Its important for us to take the right side in this story. Thats why were leaving Russia and thats why we wont enter into a deal with Putin. And, unfortunately, we failed to leave legally.

NV: Russian media reported the deal could amount to RUB 7 billion, which is about $78 million. Is it correct?

Read also: Ukraine fuels business growth: $139M injected in eRobota work growth program for small businesses

Aarup-Andersen: We never give out numbers, and I wish I could tell you the details, but I cant. In June, we entered into an agreement and were paid a small amount for our factories. Its lower in business value due to special Russian rules that were invented after the war. In fact, the value of assets for those leaving the country is halved. We were ready to accept these financial losses as its more important for us to leave Russia from the point of view of values, from the point of view of ethics.

After the nationalization, of course, we got nothing. We arent allowed to sell our business and leave the country, and this is a unique situation.

NV: Two top managers of your Baltika Group have been detained in Russia over supporting Carlsberg Group, but not the new manager. For example, over the fact that some brands, such as Zatecky Gus, were leased to Carlsberg for 40 years. How did you react to this news?

Aarup-Andersen: This is terrible. Russia is going to extremes by attacking innocent people. One thing is to have a dispute with the company, but another with innocent Carlsberg employees in Russia. The conflict is moving to another level, and its very sad to watch. The stories about us that have been coming from the Russian propaganda machine for several months are fakes. All the accusations are made up and used to justify the illegal seizure of our business.

Carlsberg, of course, didnt break any rules or laws while operating in Russia. We were one of the largest brewing companies in the country, very professional, with our own values. Of course, well do everything we can to help our employees, even though this is a new situation for us. Helping our people remains our No. 1 priority, wherever we are.

NV: Ukraine is seeing a heated debate about how to deal with companies and banks that havent left Russia. Many of them are officially named sponsors of the war, although they continue to pay taxes in Ukraine, and some even invest in new enterprises. What would you advise both Ukrainians and those companies that havent left Russia?

Read also: Netflix boosts Ukrainian content with multi-million-dollar investment

Aarup-Andersen: I wont comment on what other companies do. Carlsberg has decided that it doesnt want to work in Russia. Our founders built the 176-year-old company on strong values, integrity, and respect. We were always focused on human rights and couldnt be part of what was happening in Russia. On the other hand, were strengthening our commitment to Ukraine, helping Ukrainian society with everything we can since the first day of the full-scale war. And the fact that the trip to Ukraine was one of the first big ones for me as the new Carlsberg Group CEO also underlines Ukraines importance for us. Weve made it clear which side of history we want to stand on.

About investments in Ukraine

NV: In 2023, Carlsberg set up a production line for bottling beer in cans at its Kyiv-based plant, investing $40 million in this project. Why did you decide to invest in Ukraine during the war?

Aarup-Andersen: Ukraine is an extremely important market for us. We employ 1,300 people in this office, and about 20,000 employees in supplier companies working with Carlsberg. Therefore, we have a great stake in Ukrainian society. Were also on the list of the Top 25 largest taxpayers in Ukraine.

And if you look at all this in combination with how interested we are in the local market and passionate about Ukrainian society, it immediately becomes clear that well continue to invest in Ukraine. Were now investing about UAH 2 billion ($55.5 million) not only in the production line for bottling beer in cans, but also in other commercial projects. Yes, were investing in equipment and plants during the war. Were the leader of the Ukrainian beer market and want to remain so after the end of the war. Of course, we believe this war will end positively for Ukraine. Thats why were investing in the country.

NV: Were you prepared for Russias full-scale invasion and what consequences did you prepare for?

Aarup-Andersen: A company like ours, and were a global player as we work in 150 countries and sell 140 different types of beer, pays considerable attention to geopolitics. So, we were developing scenarios on how to respond to the situation, but we didnt think that the full-scale war would break out. We hoped for de-escalation, but it didnt happen. Despite this, our reaction was quick.

Read also: Varus & Eva co-owner to create a $1 billion logistics hub across four Ukrainian oblasts

We supported our people, taking care of their safety, housing and providing financial support. The work of our breweries in Kyiv, Lviv and Zaporizhzhya was suspended, but later resumed. However, the Ukrainian office had to completely rebuild its work. For example, the production of one of our key suppliers of glass bottles was destroyed at the beginning of the war. So, people had to work in crisis committees around the clock and solve these issues. Im incredibly proud and in awe of how the team handled it.

These are superhuman capabilities, since Carlsberg employees in Ukraine have to deal not only with these problems during working hours, but also with significant psychological stress in their private lives.

NV: One of the Carlsberg plants in Ukraine is in Zaporizhzhya, a city regularly subject to artillery shelling. Do you plan to relocate it?

Aarup-Andersen: We have three large breweries in Ukraine, namely in Zaporizhzhya, Kyiv and Lviv. Theyre all working now. We decided to continue our work in Zaporizhzhya. There is a reason why weve placed the breweries in three different locations. Ukraine is a big country, and its expensive to transport products over long distances. Thats why our productions are located in the west, east and center. Yes, its safer in Lviv now, and everyone knows it. However, the relocation of production will create logistical problems for us. So, we have no plans to relocate our plants.

Danish government initiative

NV: The Danish government has created a fund to cover the risks for those who invest during the war. Has the company insured its investments in Ukraine?

Aarup-Andersen: No. We invest directly and havent used these services. We dont consider our investments in Ukraine particularly risky. I support the Danish governments initiative as it will help new companies come to Ukraine.

NV: Under what conditions are you ready to continue investing in Ukrainian business?

Aarup-Andersen: The situation on the beverage market is improving, but sales are still lower compared to the pre-war period. Therefore, we expect further growth in the coming years. Why am I talking about this?

Read also: Carlsberg to sell its Russia business by summer

Youre probably more experts than I, but some of those who left Ukraine during the war will return. I dont know what percentage of citizens, but it will be a significant part. The country will receive large investments to restore infrastructure and many other things that were damaged during the war. Ukraine will receive a great economic boost, and therefore the demand for our products will grow.

If we talk about Ukraines accession to the European Union, Im not an expert in these processes. All I know is that it will take at least a few years. However, this event would lead to an increase in investment and the number of companies, as we can see this effect in other countries joining the European Union. More EU companies will relocate to Ukraine.

NV: Do foreign investors interested in the Ukrainian market approach you? What are they interested in?

Read also: Kremlin increases pressure on companies seeking to leave Russian market  report

Aarup-Andersen: Investors are interested in Ukraine. A significant number of company representatives come to Kyiv, attend conferences, and their task is to best study the Ukrainian market. Business leaders who dont work here yet ask me if its the right time to invest now. We see that such an opportunity exists now.

Life in Ukraine is hectic, with air raid alerts and nightly shelling, but its an attractive market that you can easily start investing in right now. This is my message to international leaders. No one can predict when this war may end. Therefore, its better to invest today.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Queen City is one of the top three metro areas to open a small business- in fact, the top three places are in North Carolina, according to a recent study.

With Small Business Saturday coming up this weekend, its time to show your support for your favorite local stops and shops.

J.D. Harris opened his clothing business, called, Glory Days more than seven years ago. He credits steady support from customers for helping him expand his brick-and-mortar SouthEnd location.

ALSO READ: Historically underserved small businesses eligible for grants

We rely on our fans, theyre really what drives our brand. The next few days are some of the biggest of ours for the year, Harris said.

Harris isnt the only small business owner finding success in Charlotte. A recent study by Lending Tree found that the Queen City is the second-best area in the U.S. to start a small business, just behind Raleigh.

The study also found that Charlotte has a business-friendly tax climate and a strong start-up survival rate.

Its growing like crazy, and from our experience, all of our fans like to support not just us, but others in the Charlotte area, Harris said.

I believe that people do value small businesses and they wanna help the local community, Dana James, owner of Karousel Kids Consignment shop, said.

James explained to Jackson that starting her own business was a huge gamble. Now, three decades later the chance she took continues to pay off. She did admit that her biggest challenge is competing with large, online retailers.

In a big box store, its not always that you get the hello and you know people by name. and we value that as well, James said.

Both owners are hopeful that customers will turn to them to keep the holidays merry and bright,

Not just us but all the small businesses appreciate their support, and we look forward to having you come out, Harris said.

(WATCH BELOW: New TD Bank location opens with community space for local small business owners)
Logistical challenges are causing significant delays in Russias missile attacks on Ukraine, UK Defense Ministrys intelligence wrote in their report on X (Twitter) on Nov. 25.

The intelligence suggests that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is encountering operational hurdles due to its reliance on the Novorossiysk Bay for reloading cruise missiles. Traditionally, the Sevastopol Bay has been used for this purpose, but increased attacks by Ukraine have led Russia to consider Novorossiysk as a viable alternative.

Read also: NATO members are preparing a special operation to clear Black Sea of mines

This shift requires the development of new processes for the delivery, storage, processing, and loading of missiles. The temporary suspension of attacks on Ukraine is due to Russia addressing these logistical issues, UK intelligence suggests.

Read also:

Russia almost doesnt use Sevastopol bays for its ships after several successful Ukrainian defense strikes, but remains reliant on the area, said Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of Southern Ukraine.

How Ukraine targets Russian ships in the Black Sea

Reports of an explosion on a ship near Sevastopol emerged on the morning of Oct. 13, suspected to be a project 21631 Buyan-M missile ship equipped with Kalibr missiles. Ukraines SBU Security Service, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Navy, disclosed their use of experimental maritime drone weapons to target the Russian missile carrier Buyan and the vessel Pavel Derzhavin.

NV

After the assault on the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships, the Ukrainian Navy revealed that the tugboat Nikolai Muru also incurred damage during the operation. On Oct. 11, social media documented harm to the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin, hinting at a potential explosion caused by a Russian mine, though the Ukrainian Navy confirmed damage without specifying the circumstances.

Read also: Russian Navy mine hunter reportedly explodes in bay at Russian-occupied Sevastopol

Defense Forces struck two project 22160 Vasily Bykov patrol ships in the Black Sea on Sept. 14, using maritime drones. Russia admitted damage to the missile ship Samum. Before this, powerful explosions in occupied Sevastopol were claimed by Russia to result from missile and drone attacks, causing irreparable damage to a ship repair plant and two ships.

Ukrainian intelligence said that the large landing ship Minsk and the submarine Rostov-on-Don, both struck, were beyond restoration.

Fast forward to Nov. 10, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine executed an operation in occupied Crimea, targeting small landing ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet with crew and occupiers armored vehicles on board.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese authorities said they recently opened criminal investigations into the money management business of Zhongzhi Enterprise Group Co., days after the embattled shadow banking giant revealed a shortfall of $36.4 billion in its balance sheet.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Police in Beijing said in a statement on WeChat that they took criminal mandatory measures against multiple suspects, identifying one by the last name Xie. They urged investors to report cases or provide leads to the authorities, including filing complaints online. Xie Zhikun, the groups founder, died in 2021, but several of his relatives are currently executives at the company.

The statement didnt elaborate on what the measures entail or what crimes they may have committed.

The legal terminology used to describe the situation was similar to that in the case of China Evergrande Groups billionaire chairman Hui Ka Yan. Evergrande said in September that Hui was suspected of committing crimes.

The mandatory, or coercive measures, can take several forms, including summons, release on bail and residential surveillance, detention and arrest, according to the Chinese procedure law. The measures can be enforced by the police, courts or prosecutors.

Prior to China Evergrandes Hui, similar measures were taken against some staff of the money management business of the developer at the center of Chinas property crisis, according to a police statement in September.

Severely insolvent

Privately owned Zhongzhi earlier this week revealed the depth of its financial difficulties, telling investors it is severely insolvent with a shortfall of $36.4 billion.

The wealth manager said liquidity has dried up and the recoverable amount from asset disposals is expected to be low, according to a letter sent to investors on Wednesday and seen by Bloomberg News.

Zhongzhi first triggered concern in August after one of its trust-company affiliates failed to make payments to customers on high-yield investment products. The groups financial difficulties add to President Xi Jinpings challenges as officials grapple with a property crisis and a weak economy.

The firm said the death of its founder Xie and the subsequent departure of senior executives had led to a failure of internal management. Previous efforts at a self-rescue didnt meet expectations, according to the Nov. 22 letter.

Those affected by Zhongzhis troubles are likely to be wealthy individuals. Shadow banks like Zhongzhi are loosely regulated firms that pool household savings to offer loans and invest in real estate, stocks, bonds and commodities. In recent years, even as rival trusts pared risks, Zhongzhi and its affiliates, especially Zhongrong International Trust Co., extended financing to troubled developers and snapped up assets from companies including China Evergrande.

Authorities Saturday called on Zhongzhis investors to actively cooperate with the police investigations and protect own rights and interests through legal channels to help retrieve the proceeds of the crimes and recover their losses.

(Updates with backgound on investigations and Chinese law from fifth pararaph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Casey Hall

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China's military will begin "combat training activities" from Saturday on its side of the border with Myanmar, it said on social media, a day after a convoy of trucks carrying goods into the neighbouring Southeast Asian nation went up in flames.

The incident, which Myanmar state media called an insurgent attack, came amid insecurity concerns in China, whose envoy met top officials in Myanmar's capital for talks on border stability after recent signs of rare strain in their ties.

The training aims to "test the rapid maneuverability, border sealing and fire strike capabilities of theatre troops," the Southern Theatre Command, one of five in China's People's Liberation Army, said on the WeChat messaging app.

A separate statement released by the provincial government of China's Yunnan, which neighbours Myanmar, said the drills would run until Nov. 28 in the areas near Manghai, Manling and Qingshuihe villages.

Myanmar was told of the drills, military junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said, adding that they aimed to "maintain stability and peace" near the border, and did not undermine China's policy of non-interference in Myanmar's internal affairs.

"The military tie between China and Myanmar is firm and collaboration between both armies is friendly and building up," he said in his post on state-run social media.

Friday's fire in the town of Muse came as Myanmar's military has lost control of several towns and military outposts in the northeast and elsewhere as it battles the biggest co-ordinated offensive it has faced since seizing power in a 2021 coup.

The surge in fighting has displaced more than 2 million people in Myanmar, the United Nations says.

(Reporting by Casey Hall and Poppy McPherson; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
A golden rover and dark-colored lander sit on the red martian surface, with a dusty reddish-brown sky in the background.

Chinese scientists have constructed a numerical model to simulate the Martian atmosphere and thus assist the country's plans to collect rock samples from the Red Planet.

The model replicates the cycles of dust, water and carbon dioxide in Mars' atmosphere . It will be used to simulate meteorological conditions for landing spacecraft, including surface temperature, wind and dust. The study was recently published in the journal Chinese Science Bulletin.

China plans to launch its Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission between 2028 and 2030, according to earlier reports. A lander will collect up to 1.1 pounds (500 grams) of Martian material using a drill and a robotic arm. An ascent vehicle will then blast the precious cargo back into Mars orbit, to meet up with an awaiting orbiter for the long journey home.

Related: Mars: Everything you need to know about the Red Planet

The new atmospheric model "can simulate the temperatures of the landing zone, and scientists can use these data to design materials that are suitable for building Mars rovers to cope with extreme cold," lead researcher Wang Bin said, according to China's state-run Xinhua media outlet.

The model  the Global Open Planetary atmospheric model for Mars, or GoMars  was built using data from China's now-defunct Mars rover Zhurong , NASA's Viking 1 and 2 landers, and the OpenMARS reanalysis dataset, a global record of Martian weather.

RELATED STORIES:

 NASA to address concerns about Mars Sample Return mission's 'unrealistic budget'

 New Mars water map reveals history of Red Planet

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Zhurong was part of China's first interplanetary mission, Tianwen-1 , which launched in 2020 and also included a Mars orbiter. Tianwen-2 , slated to launch in early 2025, will visit a near-Earth asteroid and a main belt comet, while Tianwen-3 will sample Mars.

Tianwen-4 , due to launch around 2030, will head for Jupiter and its moon Callisto, while also separating from a probe that will make a flyby of Uranus .
The Lake County States Attorneys office recently announced that its budget for 2024 includes funding for the creation of a financial crimes unit that will target identity and credit card theft, embezzlement and wage theft.

Under the budget recently approved by the county board, the states attorneys office will add victim specialists, a trial prosecutor in the special victims unit and some technology upgrades that will address the increased use of body cameras by police officers. The county budget includes a $1.6 million increase for the prosecutors office.

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The financial crimes unit will also have a public mission to educate the public to avoid becoming a victim, and it will work with local police to help them investigate financial crimes, which can often be complex, said Assistant States Atty. Kevin Berrill, who will head up the unit.

This new unit will help protect vulnerable Lake County residents susceptible to financial exploitation due to age or disability, Berrill said. Additionally, our work will help safeguard the local business community who also may be at risk of corporate fraud.

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States Atty. Eric Rinehart said the new budget shores up staffing for the violent crimes unit that his office started in 2021. The new budget will allow for salary increases for attorneys, and will help keep Lake competitive with states attorneys offices in the region

We appreciate the boards intentional decision to prioritize these public safety issues, Rinehart said. With competitive salaries, technology upgrades, and increased staff, we can advance our mission of supporting survivors, holding offenders accountable and protecting the community.

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A gathering aimed at helping people cope with current and past traumas will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27, at the Belvidere Recreation Center, 412 S. Lewis Ave., Waukegan.

Clinician and international speaker Mark Sanders will be on hand to facilitate. The States Attorneys Office, which is sponsoring the event, said it hopes that attendees leave with a better understanding of how to help families address dark secrets which fuel historical trauma, articulate ways in which entire communities are healing historical trauma, recognize the impact of trauma on the body, and utilize exercises to help deal with trauma.

This opportunity is free, but preregistration is required. People can register at www.eventbrite.com/e/healing-historical-and-current-trauma-tickets.

**

Zion police announced recently that they have charged two people with weapons offenses in separate incidents.

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Fanitan Daniels, 35, of Waukegan, was arrested Nov. 11 after ZPD responded to a domestic abuse report in the 2200 block of Herman Avenue. Daniels, according to police, displayed a handgun while choking and battering an adult family member during an argument inside a vehicle. Two young children were also inside the vehicle, authorities said.

Police found a semi-automatic handgun inside the vehicle. Daniels was charged with felony counts of domestic battery and aggravated battery, along with unlawful use of a weapon. He was ordered detained at a hearing.

On Nov. 12, police stopped a vehicle after a traffic violation in the 2200 block of Enoch Avenue. After discovering the occupants were consuming alcohol, police developed cause to search the vehicles. One of the occupants, Andrew Sherrod, 42, of Zion had a pistol in his possession, police said. The weapon had been reported stolen.

Sherrod, a convicted felon, was charged with several weapons counts and a count of being an armed habitual offender. He was ordered held in the Lake County Jail.

Lake County News-Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

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Local law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State Police, are urging people to drive responsibly over the holiday weekend. To help ensure safe, sober motoring, many departments will be stepping up their enforcement efforts. The Lake County Sheriffs Office offered these tips:

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Plan for a sober ride home before you go out.

Call a taxi, take mass transit, or ask a family member to get you home safely.

Use your favorite ride-share service or take public transportation.

If you see an impaired driver, pull over safely and call 911.

Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their seat belt. It is the best defense against an impaired driver.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) announced his endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the White House Saturday, saying he stands 100 percent with the GOP hopeful.

I stand 100% alongside this wonderful woman & her husband, @RonDeSantis, because they are truly good & decent people, Roy posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to a tweet from Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. America needs THAT again.

I proudly fight for @RonDeSantis to be our GOP nominee for President because its time to #MeetTheMoment & WIN again. #DeSantis2024, he added.



The Texas Republican offered a preemptive endorsement of DeSantis in March  before the governor announced his candidacy.

The next President of the United States must be a vibrant and energetic leader with the faith, vision, and courage to chart a new course, Roy said in an email to supporters at the time.

America needs a leader who will truly defend her and empower the people against the destructive force of unrestrained government and corporate excess, profligate spending, and woke cultural indoctrination, he wrote, adding That leader is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

On Saturday, Roy took the opportunity to sell DeSantis above the current GOP frontrunner, former President Trump.

In response to his endorsement, a user told Roy that it didnt matter who he supported for the White House. Instead, they argued, he should use his platform to discredit California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former first lady Michelle Obama.

Well  @RonDeSantis is debating Newsom on @FoxNews next week, the lawmaker replied. Trump is not showing up to debates

The latest endorsement for the Florida governor comes after he secured backing from an influential Iowa evangelical leader. A group of 10 South Carolina officials also flipped their endorsement to DeSantis from Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) earlier this month, after the senator suspended his presidential campaign.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has also endorsed DeSantis.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), however, chose to endorse Trump over the Florida governor at the beginning of November. Trump, according to national polling, is still well in the lead for the nomination.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and DeSantis seem to be in a neck-and-neck race for second place. The feud between the two candidates has only grown in recent weeks.

The Iowa caucuses will kickstart the official beginning of primary season in less than 60 days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The meeting was based around Reni Eddo-Lodge's (pictured) book Why Im No Longer Talking to White People about Race - Chris Bull / Alamy Stock Photo

Civil servants held a diversity meeting discussing the book Why Im No Longer Talking to White People about Race, and were encouraged to keep the discussions private.

The Department for Business and Trades race, ethnicity and cultural heritage (Reach) network, a group representing minority staff, held the discussion on Nov 16 which was advertised as revolving around topics relating to race, what it means to be anti-racist, and how to be an impactful ally.

An email from Reach to DBT staff said the discussion groups are a safe space to discuss what allyship of ethnic minorities really means and will be based around Reni Eddo-Lodges book Why Im No Longer Talking to White People about Race.

The conservative author and professor of politics at the University of Kent, Matthew Goodwin, told The Telegraph: For all of Kemi Badenochs [the Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade] rhetoric attacking Critical Race Theory (CRT), it is now clear that this divisive ideology has captured her own department.

Time for ministers to walk the walk

Discussing allyship and books like Why Im No Longer Talking to White People About Race are classic examples of CRT.

Whilst civil servants should not waste their work time discussing these radical narratives around race, it is up to ministers to put an end to this.

The Conservative Party has had 13 years to clamp down on officials who promote concepts like CRT, yet nothing ever seems to change.

Instead of talking the talk, as Kemi and other Conservative MPs sometimes like to do on these issues, it is time for ministers to walk the walk.

In October 2020 Ms Badenoch gave a speech in the House of Commons in which she described Critical Race Theory as a dangerous trend in race relations an ideology that sees my blackness as victimhood and their whiteness as oppression.

The Reach meeting on Nov 16 took place between noon and 1pm, and was the first of six sessions set to be held by the group over the next six months.

During the online meeting one official claimed that four or five people in the last year left the Department for Business and Trade out of pure frustration with the fact that they werent advancing and they werent growing to the same extent as their white counterparts.

Another civil servant responded to the comment, saying: I think its met with that defensiveness as well. Its like the first reaction is to defend the position and state why but there isnt a defence.

During the discussion, which focused on racism and diversity, one official said: Im a trade advisor and so often what I have done is connect what I believe in terms of the network with what my day job is I work a lot to support ethnic minority businesses because Im a trade advisor and so indirectly, so what Im urging most people to think about is how can you connect your day job to being an ally and what does that look like?

Respect anonymity

At the end of the discussion several civil servants made comments about preventing leaks from the meeting.

One mandarin said: Can I also just stress the importance of keeping the conversations that weve had here today to respect the anonymity... because the only way that we can foster these conversations in a safe space is if we protect that.

They continued: And the reason why Im saying this is to be honest, that there has been articles thatve been posted online and in UK newspapers about what we do in a network, not just our network, but also other networks have been targeted. So it is really important to think about that. Im not saying you cannot share what weve discussed in theory, but just dont attribute it to a particular person so that we can continue to have these conversations.

The comment was followed up by another official who said: Just to add to what [civil servant] said, its the reason why we dont record calls.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: In any large organisation there will be a range of views and concerns over different issues which employees may want to discuss. These discussions are always held in a manner that is consistent with both Civil Service values and our responsibilities under the Civil Service Code.

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Civil servants were told to check their colleagues email signatures for their pronouns and not assume each others gender in an internal memo discussing victims of anti-transgender violence.

On Nov 20 an official blog was published on the Department for Business and Trade intranet to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance, an event commemorating people killed due to being transgender.

The blog was introduced by Amanda Brooks, the director general of trade negotiations in DBT who wrote that the day encourages us to pause to commemorate those whose lives have been lost due to intolerance.

The blog continued with a passage from another civil servant, who identifies as non-binary: Although we cannot change the past, we do have the power to take control of the future and specifically the future for [sic] trans and non-binary community. At work there [sic] many small actions that Id like to see colleagues take to work towards removing stigma and build [sic] a culture where we are open and inclusive of our trans colleagues.

Checking peoples email signatures for their pronouns and not assuming colleagues pronouns, are both simple things that I know can make acknowledging gender diversity part of our daily discourse. Joining DBTs LGBTQ+ Network is also a way to support your LGBTQ+ colleagues and keep up to date with current issues the community is facing.

Claims are false

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy for the campaign group Sex Matters, told The Telegraph: Telling civil servants to check each others emails for pronouns is downright nasty, and its very worrying that a senior official endorsed a memo suggesting such uncollegial and bigoted behaviour.

Every untimely death is tragic and people can mark whichever days they choose. But marking Transgender Day of Remembrance at work creates the impression that trans people in the UK are at elevated risk of murder or other violence  a claim that is unsupported by the evidence.

The day is supposed to feature the deaths of trans-identified people caused by transphobia, and is used to circulate baseless claims that trans people face outsize risk of violence. These are in turn used to suggest that doctors must give cross-sex hormones and genital surgery to trans-identified people on demand, and everyone else must pretend that trans people are the sex they claim to be, not the sex they actually are. If these demands are rejected, trans lobby groups engage in emotional blackmail, claiming that the result will be trans people dying by violence or suicide.

The claims made by senior DBT employees of lives lost due to intolerance and anti-transgender violence are false. All employers, including DBT, should think carefully about the risk of claims against them for discrimination and harassment of gender-critical employees if they allow themselves to be used as mouthpieces for evidence-free and inflammatory lobbying.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is commemorated by some politicians.

On Monday Joe Biden, the US president, released a statement to mark the occasion which read: Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance we are reminded that there is more to do [sic] meet that promise, as we grieve the 26 transgender Americans whose lives were taken this year.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: In any large organisation there will be a range of views and concerns over different issues which employees may want to discuss. These discussions are always held in a manner that is consistent with both Civil Service values and our responsibilities under the Civil Service Code.

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The proposed development has been recommended for approval

Plans for a 75m onshore salmon farm in Cleethorpes have been recommended for approval, despite objections.

AquaCultured Seafood Ltd wants to build the facility close to Grimsby Town FC's Blundell Park ground to produce 5,000 tonnes of salmon per year.

The developer said 100 jobs would be created if the proposal for England's first onshore salmon farm was approved.

Critics have raised concerns about its environmental impact, proximity to housing and the resort's beach.

The 10 acre (40,000 sq m) development would comprise 50 tanks.

The officer's report found the scheme would not generate "any significant noise" and effluent from the site would be treated to a very high standard.

It would not cause harm to residential or business properties, or the visual character of the area, and tree planting and habitats for insects would be introduced, it added.

The report also acknowledged the scheme would provide "a significant economic investment into the area".

Moral concerns over fish farming are not considered as material planning considerations, with the proposal as such likened to intensive livestock units, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, more than 30 residents have objected, with concerns being raised about the close proximity to the resort's beach, properties and the impact on wildlife.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has also lodged a holding objection, not necessarily opposing the scheme, but requesting more detail about the potential loss of local wildlife habitat and the possible impact on the Humber Estuary.

North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee is due to meet on Wednesday to consider the application.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
Last month Mr Turner hosted a forum with retailers about police and safety

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) says his force is "punching above their weight" in tackling shoplifting.

The area served by Cleveland Police had England and Wales's highest rate of shoplifting in the past five years.

PCC Steve Turner told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they were solving 22% of shoplifting crimes, compared to a figure of 19% nationally.

He said 53% of retail and business robberies were being solved, more than twice the national average (25%).

In the five-year period to 2023 (2018-19 through to 2022-23), there were 32,378 shoplifting offences recorded in the Cleveland area - proportionally the equivalent of 57 offences for every 1,000 people.

The next highest rate was Nottingham, with 48 offences per 1,000 people.

But Mr Turner stressed more than half (53%) of reported retail and business robberies were being solved, compared to a national average of 25%.

"It's never good when there is crime that's unsolved, but we are punching above our weight," he told a meeting.

Retailers are facing shoplifting, assaults and anti-social behaviour

Quizzing Mr Turner about Operation Pegasus, a national crime-fighting operation funded by major retailers, Paul McGrath - an independent member of the crime and police panel, which scrutinises the PCC - acknowledged there had been an "explosion" in shoplifting nationally.

Cleveland's PCC said the force were determined to investigate shoplifting crime locally, but there was also an onus on retailers to provide any relevant evidence which might help catch suspects.

Mr Turner said facial recognition software used in Hartlepool Spar stores had helped police

Last month, Mr Turner held a meeting with retailers in the area to listen to their concerns.

Theft and burglary were highlighted, but many also reported having issues with assaults on staff and anti-social behaviour outside their shops, according to the LDRS.

Many retailers felt current sentencing options were not acting as a sufficient deterrent for offenders.

Others suggested they would benefit from increased communication from police, citing updates on any reported incidents as one area where the relaying of information could be improved.

The PCC said he had since put their concerns to Cleveland Police.

In his report for the crime and police panel, Mr Turner said he had been "assured" by how local retail crime forums fed intelligence to an operational lead officer,

The report also stated any decision over what resources were deployed to which crimes was assessed using the Thrive process (threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement).

Police say all retail crime is recorded - with investigations following "reasonable and proportionate" lines of enquiry.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
LOS ANGELES - Thanksgiving with fellow former foster youth  that's how Franco Vega spent his holiday.

With a heart of gold, Vega doesn't want anyone he mentors to be without during the festivities. As a former foster youth himself, the founder of The RightWay Foundation has a meal with his foster care family before joining his own wife and children.

Vega founded The RightWay Foundation to focus on housing and jobs for youth impacted by foster care and to address trauma. It's a perfect story on this day of lots of football.

In 2021, the National Football League selected a handful of non-profits to honor with$10,000 in grant money. LA's Super Bowl Host Committee referred to these 56 non-profits as unsung heroes. Vega was among those honored at Inglewood's SoFi Stadium ahead of Super Bowl LVI in 2022. The trophy presented was a special football tribute. With a big smile, Vega said, "It's hard not to throw this ball. It's hard not to go outside and play catch."

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Community Champions: The Rightway Foundation

Vega bravely opened up about his painful childhood, stating, "I lost my dad to drugs and alcohol when I was ten." He also revealed that he endured abuse from his late mother, ultimately leading him to join a gang and enter the child welfare system.

However, Vega's own journey led him to establish The Rightway Foundation in 2011, aiming to support youth like himself who transitioned out of foster care. He attributes his own turnaround to therapy, a foster mom, and his time in the Army.

One of the foundation's success stories is 23-year-old Kenzo Sohoue, who expressed gratitude, saying, "The foundation has given me a lot of hope!" Sohoue participated in the foundation's Operation Emancipation program, and as a result, secured an internship with the Los Angeles Rams.

For more information, you can visit the Rightway Foundation's website by clicking here.


BATTLE CREEK  For the first time in nearly three decades, the corner of Michigan Avenue and Carlyle Street is showing signs of life.

Construction is underway at the former Anson Hotel, 121 W. Michigan Ave., as crews work to transform the space into a fresh food market and deli with eight apartments. The $3 million renovation is being led by developer Restore 269, with construction expected to wrap up in the fall of 2024.

Sprout BC, a locally produced food delivery and pickup service located in Springfield, will operate the market and deli dubbed Uproot Market & Eatery on the building's first floor. The enterprise will not only give city residents another option for fresh produce and ready-to-eat foods, but also a stake in its ownership as a cooperative.

"Its really exciting to see that corner building all lit up at nighttime for the first time since the '90s," Jeremy Andrews, CEO of Sprout BC, said Monday. "Were bringing it back to life, reviving it and thats really exciting.

"Our members are owners, but lets be very clear that this is not a member-only store," Andrews continued. "This is a local grocery and eatery that's open to the public."

Sprout's expansion downtown is rooted in helping improve community access to fresh and healthy food. The walk-in market and deli will offer fresh produce and have dine-in space for grab-and-go foods, comfort foods and plant-based meats, all sourced by local farmers and producers, along with local beers and locally produced wine.

"We will seek to have all of the staple goods that one might need for their kitchen and their household and some specialty goods as well," Andrews said, noting the market with have a "robust" produce section along with meat and dairy offerings.

Four two-bedroom apartments are planned for the building's second floor, with three two-bedroom apartments and one one-bedroom apartment on the third floor, according to documents submitted by Restore 269.

The building has been vacant since 1997 and has been slated for demolition three separate times due to exposure to the elements. To stabilize the property and attract a new private development partner, Battle Creek Unlimited purchased the building and installed a new roof in 2020. The development team will leverage BCUs investment to complete the restoration and activation of the building.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has approved a $1.5 million Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant in support of the project.

The redevelopment and restoration of this historic property in our hometown, Battle Creek, will add downtown vibrancy and address two voids in our community, developer Caitlynn Newman said in a statement. The market on the first floor will provide fresh food and goods to the community, and the eight uniquely designed apartments will add more housing options to the downtown neighborhood. We greatly appreciate the MEDC's support for this development as the project would not be possible without it.

For more information or to become a member, visit uprootbc.com.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Uproot Market & Eatery to open in downtown Battle Creek next fall
(Bloomberg) -- The Democratic Republic of Congos electoral commission is still waiting on about $230 million from the government as it rushes to prepare for general elections next month.

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The financing delay will drive up costs as the commission now needs to charter helicopters and planes to get voting materials to remote locations before the Dec. 20 vote, the head of the electoral authority, Denis Kadima, said.

And that is not budgeted; we must sacrifice something to accommodate that, Kadima said in an interview at his office in Kinshasa, the capital, on Thursday. Congos Finance Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment.

Congo is nearly the size of Western Europe with little infrastructure after decades of mismanagement and war. Twenty-five candidates are on the ballot to replace incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi.

More than 100,000 people are running for office  nearly double the number of candidates in the last election in 2018  in part due to the countrys first local elections in decades. About 44 million Congolese have registered to vote, Kadima said.

A defective batch of voter identification cards on which the photos and information fade over time has further complicated preparations.

Some voters are heating their cards with irons or candles to make their information reappear, a practice that the commission is trying to stop because it can destroy the IDs, Kadima said.

Presidential candidate Theodore Ngoy told reporters on Thursday in Kinshasa, alongside leading candidates Martin Fayulu and Denis Mukwege, that 80% of voters have unreadable cards, though Kadima says the problem is manageable and the commission is offering to replace cards and provide an alternate verification process on voting day.

Its not a huge population, its not millions and millions, but well deal with it, Kadima said.

More than a million Congolese wont be able to vote in the presidential election because of ongoing violence in three territories in the country, Kadima said.

In the eastern North Kivu province, a rebellion by a group known as M23 has prevented registration in two territories, while inter-communal fighting in western Mai-Ndombe province will delay elections there as well, Kadima said. The three territories will be able to eventually vote for parliamentary, provincial and local representatives, he said.

One of the electoral commissions biggest struggles is combatting incumbent politicians around the country who previously won their seats through corruption, Kadima said.

They know that if they go for elections, theres no way they will win because people never voted them in in the first place, Kadima said. So their mindset is to cheat.

(Updates with comment by Kadima in final two paragraphs)

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(Editors note: Another in a series of occasional columns about York Countys role in the American Revolution, with upcoming American foundational 250th anniversaries in 2026-28 in view.)

When the Continental Congress met in York in 1777-78, the 64 delegates offered maybe 64 ways to build a fledgling nation.

And often without grace.

(S)ome sensible things have been said, & as much nonsense as ever I heard in so short a space, I have not contributed to either," South Carolinas Henry Laurens wrote his son, John, shortly after Congress convened in this Pennsylvania frontier town.

Accord was in short supply until these statesmen realized that their hats and collars could be replaced with blindfolds and ropes.

For example, Congress approved one of the 13 provisions that almost overnight flipped the Articles of Confederation from a document authorizing a strong federal government to one that favored autonomy of the 13 individual states. That article remained in this constitution, a framework of government that consumed the delegates in their first month in York in the fall of 1777.

Further, delegates from small states  Maryland and others with limited size or population  contested a constitution that favored Pennsylvania and other large states.

They disagreed on whether Congress would assess the states for Revolutionary War debt based on property or per capita, the latter counting enslaved people. They chose to assess property  land, buildings and improvements

Intense discord on weighty issues, to be sure, but the Continental Congress somehow approved the Articles of Confederation on Nov. 15, about 45 days after arriving in York. They simply needed France as an ally or lose the war to Britain and, thus, their nationhood. And perhaps their lives in the gallows on charges of treason.

This urgency offers lessons for our state and federal lawmakers who often collapse into political gridlock when they are most needed in this a Whac-A-Mole world fill with unrest and violence.

Taken as a whole, the Continental Congress story in York County is an example of effective action in a national emergency.

By resolution in June 1776, Richard Henry Lee called for a statement of independence, a constitution and treaties with foreign powers. Here is a portrayal of the first part of this three-prong proposal, the Declaration of Independence, as its delivered in York shortly after it was issued on July 4, 1776. In York, the constitution  the Articles of Confederation  was adopted on Nov. 15, 1777, and the Treaties with France were ratified in May 1778. Twenty-six of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence served in Congress in York.

Getting down to business

Lets consider what the Continental Congress got done in one 30-day sample starting on Oct. 31, 1777:

Learned about the British surrender at Saratoga, New York, touted by some as the turning point of the American Revolution. Until that upstate New York fight, American victories in pitched battles were rare.

Lost its president, John Hancock, who went back to Massachusetts on furlough.

Elected a new president, Henry Laurens, who would serve in that post through Congress return to Philadelphia on June 30, 1778.

Drafted a Thanksgiving proclamation to observe the decisive victory in Saratoga. The Dec. 18 observance was the first of seven days of Thanksgiving and Praise in the American Revolution.

Lost two more leaders to furlough: the Adams cousins, John and Samuel. That cold and dark winter, the Continental Congress counted a dozen or fewer delegates, as many preferred the conveniences of home. Only Laurens and two other delegates served all 271 days in York.

Reorganized something akin to todays Defense Department, then called the Board of War. Gen. Horatio Gates, victor at Saratoga, would become its first chairman, showing some in Congress and the militarys confidence in him and ambivalence toward George Washington. Some viewed this as part of a plot, whether real or imagined, to oust Washington and replace him with Gates, known to history as the Conway Cabal.

Recalled Silas Deane as American negotiator in France and appointed John Adams to replace him.

Adopted the Articles of Confederation, Americas first framework of government. That constitution would serve America through the war that ended in 1783. Its weaknesses, many coming as concession to the states rights advocates, emerged in the postwar years, prompting enactment of the U.S. Constitution in 1789.

Approved a French translation of the Articles of Confederation.

The Revolution turns

The two major pieces of news  the Saratoga victory and Articles of Confederation  helped bring France onto Americas side. The French now knew that the Continental Army could fight on the field, and the Articles proved that Congress could resist fighting among themselves.

Much is made of the year 1776 as a turning point in the American Revolution. Historian David McCullough wrote a book just on that year.

But more attention should be given to the fall, winter and spring of 1777-78.

No Articles. No Saratoga. No treaties with France.

Most scholars say America would have fallen to the British without French support, which became official when Continental Congress ratified the treaties in early May 1778 in York.

This J. Horace-Rudy stained-glass art piece shows a Continental Congress committee at work in York sometime in 1777-78, a nine-month period of exile while British troops occupied Philadelphia.

Poster boy for division

Some will say that the political world was not as logjammed then as today, that political parties were not yet formed, much less entrenched and the nation was far less balkanized.

Well, political parties spent part of their stubborn infancy in York in the form of the division between advocates for strong central government and states rights. And the states rights proponents were winning the day, meaning the United States was really carved up into 13 parts.

North Carolinian Thomas Burke was the poster boy for this division between states rights and federalism. Burke was the leader of the movement that flipped the Articles of Confederation to a states right framework, something the U.S. Constitution remedied a dozen years later.

It appeared to me that this was not what the States expected, he wrote to North Carolinas governor Thomas Caswell, and, I thought, it left it in the power of the future Congress  to explain away every right belonging to the States, and to make their own power as unlimited as they please.

Interestingly, Burke was an unlikely delegate to make such a change.

He was as unlikable as any of the national political leaders on the scene today.

It was late one Friday night in the spring of 1778, for example, that Burke brought the Continental Congress to a halt. He could not convince his weary colleagues of a wording change involving prisoner pardons brought forth by Washington.

He walked out of Yorks Centre Square courthouse, leaving Congress without a quorum.

A messenger was sent to call back Burke, and he brought back the North Carolinians response: Devil take him if he would come; it was too late and too unreasonable.

His fellow delegates, in turn, resolved that Burkes walkout was, in effect, contempt of Congress.

Burkes response captured the tenuousness of a constitution that failed to find a balance between state and federal authority.

Congress, Burke said, had no power over him and he was beholden only to his home state. In other words, Burke worked for North Carolina, not for Congress.

Of course, his peers in Congress countered that this thinking was dangerous. It struck at the very existence of the House.

Some  maybe many  statesmen in Yorks Continental Congress, had to adopt the Articles of Confederation, though disagreeing with some of its 13 Articles. They simply needed an allied France to preserve America.

They just had to turn the other cheek to avoid blows from the likes of Thomas Burke.

In the end  and theres another lesson here for today  decency, common sense and statesmanship won the day.

That was embodied in this letter from Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.

"(I)n this great business ... we must yield a little to each other, and not rigidly insist on having everything correspondent to the partial views of every state," he argued. "On such terms, we can never confederate."

Sources: James McClures Nine Months in York Town, Journals of Continental Congress.

History storyteller event set for Dec. 7

An evening of storytelling about York County history is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at Wyndridge Farm near Dallastown. For tickets and other information about the evening, go to www.yorkhistorycenter.org/event/history-storytellers.

Jim McClure is a retired editor of the York Daily Record and has authored or co-authored nine books on York County history. Reach him at jimmcclure21@outlook.com.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Congress in 1777 acted with urgency - America depended on it
The UAE's Sultan Al Jaber, the president of the forthcoming UN climate conference in Dubai, is "cautiously optimistic" that the pivotal talks will be successful, he told AFP in an interview on Saturday.

Jaber, CEO of Emirati oil giant ADNOC, said he would hold "everyone" accountable for keeping within reach the target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting the rise in the Earth's average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

QUESTION: COP28 is due to start in Dubai in five days' time. How far are we from reaching a consensus?

ANSWER: I am cautiously optimistic. You can see and feel the great momentum we have -- the transitional committee (responsible for setting up a fund to help vulnerable countries cope) has resulted in a very positive outcome.

I have conducted a very successful visit to the European Union, when they (made) a significant financial commitment to support the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund.

You have seen the announcements made by the United States and China and how they're cooperating in the lead-up to COP28.

You have seen the OECD report in regard to the $100 billion (the amount rich countries have committed to providing each year for climate action in poorer nations).

I was very pleased and encouraged by the signals that came out of the US-China meetings (in November). There is the methane summit agreement. There is a clear understanding between both that that they will work in a collaborative manner to ensure the success (of) COP28.

I want a high ambition outcome at COP28. And I do expect that we will be able to collectively agree on a tangible climate action plan.

We are making very good progress across energy, finance, health, food and nature agendas.

Q: How do the Israel-Hamas war and other international crises affect the COP talks?

A: I am hopeful that COP28 will be the multilateral platform that will deliver good news to the world. The world has had enough of polarisation and divide.

Q: How do you see this COP summit compared to COP21 that led to the Paris Agreement in 2015?

A: We are halfway from Paris to 2030. We have had seven years and we will have another seven years. So this is an inflection point.

This is the most consequential COP since Paris. And it is our responsibility to make sure that we maximise the ambition coming out of COP28.

Q: You consistently say the negotiations are driven by the parties, the nation states, but your predecessor in Paris, Laurent Fabius, says a COP president can have a major impact on unblocking negotiations.

A: I have been very clear from day one that while this is a party-driven process and I will enable all parties to engage and to collaborate... I will hold everyone and every industry responsible and accountable for keeping (the) 1.5C within reach.

I have learned over the past year that I need to give the process its time and I need to help rebuild trust and deliver action by being cooperative and being inclusive.

Q: Will fossil fuels be the most contentious issue?

A: It is actually up to the parties to align on any language related to any of the pillars or the negotiated outcomes. For fossil fuels, I have extended an open invitation to all parties to convene, to discuss, to cooperate, and to come back with recommendations that have common ground and consensus that can be recommended to the presidency.

Q: Many people are alarmed by the massive presence of industry lobbyists at COP28 and their power to influence the negotiations.

A: Everyone needs to be part of this process and everyone needs to be held responsible and... accountable.

And that includes all industries and in particular heavy emitting industries like aviation, transportation, aluminium, cement, steel, as well as oil and gas industry.

Everyone must be consulted. Everyone must be given the opportunity to contribute.

Q: What progress would you like to see on climate finance, a key negotiating issue between North and South?

A: The climate finance challenge is a top priority... We must continue to progress on looking for finance to support the transition (to clean energy).

I'm also hearing positive responses to my inquiries to many countries. There will be some other commitments.

I believe we will see further momentum on Green Climate Fund replenishment and on the global goal on adaptation.

At COP28, we are actually working on parallel financial tracks that will help restore trust as well as develop a new framework for climate finance.

We also need to encourage private-sector funding. We need to help risk-mitigate private capital, to provide the hedging mechanisms to protect the private sector.

Q: Negotiators approved a fragile compromise on how the new Loss and Damage Fund will function in Abu Dhabi on November 4. That compromise has still to be approved at the summit. Do you hope to seal a deal on this at the very beginning of the COP?

A: Is that what I aim to do? Absolutely. But it is a party-driven process and I will do everything to give such good and positive momentum very early on.

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Volunteers Jill Jennings Johnson and Chris Johnson, who married after meeting on a Habitat for Humanity project, pose on the site of a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

At first, the task of staining a shed for a Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana project didnt seem like a life-altering event for Jill Jennings and Chris Johnson.

Romance and love struck when they least expected it among nail guns, sawdust, and siding.

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Jennings, chief operating officer for a Chicago law firm, typically spent her Saturdays volunteering at free legal clinics. The COVID-19 pandemic halted the clinics in 2020.

Volunteer Chris Johnson, who met his wife Jill on a Habitat for Humanity project, works on a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Eager for another volunteer endeavor, she signed up for Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity womens build in August 2020.

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I liked it and the group, she said. I started coming every Saturday and we formed a little family.

Meanwhile, Johnson, whos an information technology manager at NiSource, had been a volunteer for about five years.

Volunteer Jill Jennings Johnson, who met her husband Chris on a Habitat for Humanity project, works on a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

It was a way to stay busy after my divorce, he said.

Jennings noticed her future husband on job sites, but they didnt connect until a 2021 Habitat build in Lake Station.

Kevin Krull, a volunteer from Crown Point, assigned Jennings to stain a wood shed and asked Johnson to help out.

Volunteers Chris Johnson and Jill Jennings Johnson, who married after meeting on a Habitat for Humanity project, pose on the site of a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

As the stain took to the shed, the couple also began bonding.

Johnson casually asked Jennings if shed like to join a group of Habitat volunteers at an outing at the Old Joliet Prison, now a historical site that offers tours.

It went from there, coffee, dinner. We hit it off, said Johnson, 54.

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Volunteer Kevin Krull, on right, assists Jill Jennings Johnson on the site of a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

She wasnt looking and I sure wasnt. It sounds corny, but it was like lightning, he said.

I never thought this would happen, said Jennings. Usually, when youre trying to meet somebody, youre all dressed up. This was summer. Its ugly.

The couple had their first date in August 2021 and got engaged in December. They married on June 11, 2022 in Jennings hometown of Oklahoma City.

Volunteers Jill Jennings Johnson, on left, and Chris Johnson, who married after meeting on a Habitat for Humanity project, talk with each other on the site of a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

It marked the second marriage for the couple who live in Dyer. Jennings, 52, has a 12-year-old daughter, Isabelle, who attends Hanover Central Middle School. Johnson has two sons, Braden, 21, and Cody, 19.

Saluting their Habitat crew, they asked fellow volunteers Krull and Keegan Smitley, of Hobart, to serve as flower men.

They wore carpentry aprons and tossed confetti down the aisle ahead of the bride.

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Volunteers Chris Johnson and Jill Jennings Johnson, who married after meeting on a Habitat for Humanity project, pose for a photo on the site of a Habitat for Humanity home in Lake Station on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

It took a little liquid encouragement, said Krull, who said hes never witnessed a romance blossom in his eight years as a volunteer.

Like Jennings and Johnson, Habitat regulars didnt foresee a romance.

We werent expecting it to happen, we just needed to stain the shed, said Krull.

At Joliet, we kind of thought something was in the works, he said.

Besides love and marriage, Jennings said shes been pretty accomplished with power tools.

I was a little bit handy, but this took it to another level. I learned baseboard trim, siding, soffit  Women come in a little bit shy, then they use a nail gun and wow.

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Besides Jennings and Johnson, the core group of volunteers became close buddies, helping other volunteers complete a home deck project and joining together for Friendsgiving.

Johnson said his new wife is independent on the job site and rarely needs his help now. Since they married last year, hes ruined two of her sweaters and is no longer allowed to do her laundry.

I have a new family and fell in love again. Its awesome, he said.

Habitat spokeswoman Wende Burbridge said the organization is in need of volunteers. To sign up, contact Kayla at 219-923-7265 or its website, nwihabitat.org

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
An astronaut sits alone on a moon rock, looking out into space where the Earth is a small object just over the horizon.

The new era of human spaceflight is upon us with a crewed flight to the moon, on the Orion space capsule, scheduled for next year as part of NASA's Artemis II mission. This endeavor will only see astronauts reach lunar orbit, but is expected to pave the way for Artemis III, planned for Dec. 2025, a mission that will send crew members to actually step foot on the moon.

Not only will Artemis III see the first human presence on the moon's surface since 1972, but it will allow astronauts to spend seven days near the lunar south pole. Subsequent Artemis launches will also kickstart the possibility for even longer stays in space.

So, to ensure that humanity is fully prepared for those longer stays in space, which may eventually include long trips to Mars  it will take seven months just to travel to the Red Planet  scientists are investigating the effects of space on human health. And this includes experiments that focus on the effects of the space environment on sexual health.

On that note, new NASA-funded research suggests being exposed to high levels of galactic cosmic radiation  associated with space's background of highly energetic particles connected to events beyond the solar system like supernova explosions  and the microgravity of space can impair vascular tissues. Vascular tissue impairment can also lead to erectile dysfunction, and the research indicated such dysfunction can persist even after astronauts return to Earth and undergo a long period of recovery.

"With manned missions to outer space planned for the coming years, this work indicates that sexual health should be closely monitored in astronauts upon their return to Earth," Florida State University's Justin D. La Favor, co-author of a paper on the findings, said in a statement.

Related: Can humans reproduce in space? Mouse breakthrough on ISS a promising sign

On Earth, humans are shielded from the high-energy charged particles that comprise cosmic radiation because of our planets magnetosphere. Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are shielded artificially, though still receiving as much exposure in a week that a person at the surface of Earth would receive in a year.

Yet, when astronauts spend time on the moon and Mars, they will be far less effectively shielded from the particles.

Rather than expose humans to such radiation, and effective "weightlessness" which was the other concern, without enough preparation, Favor and the team conducted the first study to calculate the effect of galactic cosmic radiation and microgravity on erectile dysfunction prior to upcoming space missions.

"While erectile dysfunction affects more than half of men over the age of 40 and represents an important factor for life satisfaction, the consequences of space travel on erectile function are still obscure," the team wrote in a study about the results.

They used 86 adult male Fisher-344 rats as subjects, however, so these results are yet to reach human testing. The rats were first exposed to simulated microgravity and simulated galactic cosmic rays in groups at the NASA-operated Space Radiation Laboratory located in New York.

Then, in analyzing the tissues of the rats a year later, Favor and colleagues found that even low exposure to cosmic rays had resulted in an increase in oxidative stress  which can damage cells, proteins and DNA.

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Oxidative stress can contribute to aging, and could play a role in the development of a range of health conditions, including diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers. It has also been connected to an increase in the possibility of erectile dysfunction through a coordinated response to vascular tissue damage. Thus, exposure to cosmic rays via oxidative stress is believed to impair the function of the artery that supplies blood to erectile tissue. The team also found microgravity had a similar negative effect on erectile dysfunction, but that effect was less pronounced.

To combat oxidative stress, the human body naturally produces antioxidants, and the team's research indicates that treatment with specific antioxidants could help improve the function of tissues exposed to cosmic rays.

"While the negative impacts of galactic cosmic radiation were long-lasting, functional improvements induced by acutely targeting the redox and nitric oxide pathways in the tissues suggest that the erectile dysfunction may be treatable," Favor concluded.

A paper describing these results was published on Nov. 22 in the journal Federation of American Science for Experimental Biology (FASEB).
An Oklahoma City Police Department vehicle is pictured March 13, 2013, parked along Shartel Avenue in front of the Oklahoma County jail. The county is using a recently completed jail costs study as a starting point for new negotiations with Oklahoma City.

The costs to house people in Oklahoma County's jail keep climbing.

The daily, per-bed cost to house an inmate in the jail during Fiscal 2023 was $66.49, up nearly $5 over the previous year.

The data typically is used by the presiding Oklahoma County District Court Judge each January to set an annual daily rate of incarceration for the new calendar year.

This year, the data also has been provided to Oklahoma City officials tasked to work with county representatives toward an agreement on how much the city is willing to pay as its share of costs for the jail's operations during Fiscal 2024, which started July 1.

Oklahoma City police also bring individuals to the county jail for detainment.

More: Broken Trust: How the Oklahoma County jail leadership failed those it sought to protect

An agreement reached in June between the two contributed $500,000 from Oklahoma City toward the jail's operating costs for Fiscal 2023, just days before that year ended.

Like in past years, the latest study calculates an average daily cost of incarceration at the jail based upon Oklahoma County's costs to maintain the building and to provide its occupants with essential services.

But this year's study also calculates a first-day cost of incarceration  an eye-opening amount of $211.82.

Brandi Garner, Oklahoma County jail CEO.

What makes first-day Oklahoma County jail housing costs so high?

That first-day cost calculation takes into account expenses incurred during an inmate's initial intake, which include a pat down, an inventorying (and subsequent storage) of personal belongings, fingerprinting, a classification evaluation, a body scan and a medical exam.

It is the first year Oklahoma County has asked its consultant, Florida-based MGT Consulting, to calculate a first-day cost.

Brandi Garner, the authority's CEO, said she was surprised, despite instinctively knowing more hands touch a detainee inside the jail on that first day than any other.

"I did not expect it to be as expensive as it is. It clearly demonstrates our need to recover some of those costs," Garner said.

Building operating expenses, others factor into county jail's average daily incarceration cost, study shows

MGT's study takes the jail's annual operating costs during a fiscal year and allocates it on a per-bed basis to account for each of the services provided to detainees.

The per-bed cost to operate Oklahoma County's jail in Fiscal 2019 was $53.12. The cost climbed to $56.15 for Fiscal 2021 and $61.73 in Fiscal 2022.

More: Commissioner: New jail to be 'night and day' improvement from current jail's problems

Here's how the $66.49 per-bed calculated daily cost (based upon 1,495 beds) for Fiscal 2024 is broken down:

$22,034,115 to operate the facility, at a daily cost per bed of $40.37.

$8,812,07 to provide medical services at the jail, at a daily cost per bed of $16.15.

$2,219,039 to provide food at the jail, at a daily cost per bed of $4.07.

$3,221,984 to provide staff to operate the jail, at a daily cost per bed of $5.90.

The Oklahoma County Courthouse is pictured Oct. 25.

Why does the average daily cost of incarceration get reviewed by an Oklahoma County District Court judge?

A judge reviews and approves a daily incarceration cost for Oklahoma County's jail because the county is authorized by state law to bill jail detainees for their cost of incarceration after stays inside the facility are completed.

Every detainee receives a bill after he or she is released. But very few ever pay what's owed, county officials said Monday.

Oklahoma City, which data shows brings 63% of detainees into the facility, also sends criminal defendants arrested and taken to the jail by its police a "jail stay fee" of $117, said Oklahoma City spokeswoman Kristy Yager.

However, Yager said data on the percentage of defendants facing municipal complaints in Oklahoma City's courts who actually pay that fee was not available.

Garner stressed Oklahoma County isn't demanding that Oklahoma City pay the full first-day of incarceration cost for arrestees its police bring into the jail.

"Historically, we have just gone with an average daily cost of incarceration in our discussions with Oklahoma City," Garner said. "But we believed it would be helpful to calculate what that first-day expense is" to make city officials aware of the issue.

Yager, meanwhile, told The Oklahoman city officials have not yet had a chance to review MGT's study.

But Chris Sherman, the jail authority's chief financial officer, said city officials he met with promised it will be.

"We went through all the aspects of how we came to what was arrived at through the MGT study," plus covered how past jail support agreements between the county and city had been reached, Sherman said.

Hopes are an agreement for the current fiscal year can be reached before it is about to end, both Sherman and Garner said.

"It was purely a preliminary discussion," Sherman said. "Criminal Justice Authority and the city of Oklahoma City are partners in this. We wanted them to know we weren't just making up numbers ... out of thin air."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How much it costs to house inmates at Oklahoma County jail
Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, right, speaks to a crowd at an affordable housing panel hosted by the South Shore Economic Development Corp. and South Shore Chamber in Rockland on Nov. 17.

Single-family homeowners in Massachusetts may be allowed to build an accessory dwelling unit on their property without a special permit if an affordable housing package proposed by Gov. Maura Healys administration passes in the upcoming legislative session.

But will this render Weymouths attempt to regulate in-law apartments obsolete? It may be too soon to tell, the mayor said.

Right now, were looking at it as two separate things, Mayor Robert Hedlund said. We dont really know what the particulars are, what the guidelines will be or the regulations. Its hard to pair them up together and see what kind of differences are there.

What's the difference between accessory dwelling units and in-law apartments?

Some municipalities use the terms "accessory dwelling units" and "in-law apartments" interchangeably. They both offer secondary living quarters on the same lot of the main home. But Weymouth's proposed guidelines for in-law apartments are slightly more restrictive than accessory dwelling units.

As part of the governors $4.1 billion bond bill unveiled in October  which includes $1.6 billion to improve 43,000 public housing units and $800 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund  a proposal seeks to make accessory dwelling units allowable by right for single-family homes.

It would make mom happy: Can you Lend a Hand to your South Shore neighbors in need?

This means that while plans for the structure still must be submitted to the municipality and codes must be met, it does not need a special permit or zoning approval that other developments may be subject to.

According to the bill, the unit cant be more than 900 square feet, or half the size of the main homes square footage, whichever is smaller. It also must have a separate entrance from the outside or through a shared corridor with the main home. At least one parking space would be required, but there would be no additional parking requirement for such a unit within half a mile of public transportation.

Municipalities may apply more restrictions to accessory dwelling units, such as smaller maximum square footage or banning short-term rentals like Airbnb. But these units are allowed to be used as long-term rentals.

Weymouth's proposal for restricting in-law apartments

Weymouths draft proposal for its in-law apartment rules would limit the structure to two bedrooms, one bathroom and one efficiency-style kitchen, which refers to a removable kitchen with appliances that dont require more than 120 volts to be powered. It cannot be bigger than 600 square feet, which is down from 800 square feet in a previous draft of the language. No more than two people can live there, with the exception of in-home medical professionals.

The apartment can be within the footprint of the main home or built as an addition, but the two must have a shared living area. Also, the entrance to the in-law apartment has to be through the main home and at least one off-street parking space must be provided. The property owner would have to file paperwork with the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds or Land Court that would prohibit the rental of the apartment once the home is sold.

Last, and perhaps most important, the person living in the in-law apartment must be related to the owner of the main home either by blood or marriage. The intent, town officials say, is to ensure that the apartment doesnt become a form of income for the property owner where anyone could rent it.

"The (apartment) is to provide temporary residential living for persons who are related to the owner of the existing single-family dwelling either by blood or marriage," the proposed language reads, adding that it "does not turn the property into a two-family dwelling that can be rented to anyone."

This, along with the governors proposal, led some town council members to question the need for the towns in-law rules at all.

Why is Weymouth creating in-law apartment rules?

Weymouth started looking at crafting in-law apartment language after receiving a petition from residents who were concerned about an in-law apartment being built larger than the main home in their neighborhood, Hedlund said. Rumors started circulating that it would become a sober home. This type of use, along with group homes and day cares, are allowed anywhere regardless of zoning, said Robert Luongo, Weymouths planning director.

Hedlund said he confirmed with the property owner that it would be used as an in-law apartment, as proposed.

The town then realized it did not have specific language regulating how big these structures can be or how many people can live in them, and that the previous building inspector had interpreted the towns zoning language to allow in-law apartments by right, Luongo said.

As the town worked on writing these rules, it put a moratorium on building applications for in-law apartments.

But the details have led to some back-and-forth between town council members and staff.

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During an ordinance review committee meeting Nov. 1, District 5 Town Councilor Gary MacDougall said that if accessory dwelling units by right passed in Massachusetts, it would negate all this and its going to throw it out the window.

Luongo disagreed, saying that by-right provision might not pass and that some people might prefer to build in-law apartments over accessory dwelling units. He also warned that if in-law apartment language isnt approved, no more of these structures could be built in Weymouth.

Accessory dwelling units by right are going to, in my opinion, decimate the (single-family home) neighborhoods in this state, and that is not the way to solve the affordable housing crisis by creating more congestion in your residential neighborhoods, Luongo said. Thats a very dangerous piece of legislation.

There are different types of families

MacDougall also took issue with the familial relation requirement, saying there are different types of families in which people arent necessarily related in this way.

I think this is, a little, putting people in an odd position to sign something that theyre going to lie about because theyre trying to help a friend, MacDougall said.

Luongo said the town would have no method of confirming the familial relation of the person occupying the in-law apartment.

Were not going to be checking on it, Luongo said. By saying anyone can move into it, youre encouraging it.

A residents proposal that doesnt meet all of the in-law apartment requirements could still be approved. It would just require a special permit.

The ordinance review committee continued a vote on the language until Nov. 27.

How the state thinks accessory dwelling units help with affordability

Developing ways to create more affordable housing is at the center of the governors recent proposal, whether thats done by policy or money.

South Shore municipal leaders had the opportunity to discuss the legislation more in depth with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus at a recent panel hosted by the South Shore Economic Development Corp. and the South Shore Chamber in Rockland.

One of our biggest obstacles in Massachusetts has not necessarily always been the how: How do you do it? Where would you put the housing? What's the right place? Its the desire to do it. Its the why, and sometimes the why not, Driscoll said. Communities are usually more likely to say no than to say yeah, but. Yeah, but lets fix the roads. Yeah, lets make the infrastructure work. Yeah, lets make sure its got some affordability in it.

Driscoll said accessory dwelling units by right is the "simplest" way to increase the number of living spaces and offer affordable housing. The state estimates that allowing this could add more than 8,000 units over five years.

Mayor Robert Hedlund

Hedlund brought up his concerns with the accessory dwelling unit proposal and how it would affect Weymouth, potentially turning single-family homes into two-family lots.

The problem we have is weve got a lot of small lots and a very densely populated community, he said. Thats something were going to be watching closely in terms of what local control that it takes away from us.

Augustus responded that accessory dwelling units wouldnt work everywhere.

There are some common-sense things that are going to prohibit some folks from doing this. One is just the physical space, he said. But youre also going to have a situation where not everybody is going to be able to afford to do this.

More: Weymouth's Red Rose Irish Pub is under new ownership. Here's what they're planning

In Salem, where Driscoll was formerly mayor, accessory dwelling units are allowed by right. Residents can apply for construction grants and an ordinance limits how much rent can be charged.

It has not overrun neighborhoods, Driscoll said of the units. Its not the worst thing in the world that can happen.

Hedlund said while the possibility of being preempted can be frustrating, he was glad to hear that the state doesnt view accessory dwelling units in a one-size-fits-all approach.

As long as there are some protections in areas where it wouldnt really fit in with the characteristics of the neighborhood, it can work in some areas, he said.

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth proposed in-law apartment rules could be negated by state law
I cant wait for the day we dont talk about Sacramento City Councilman Sean Loloee. And you know what? That day is coming soon.

Soon, the foul-smelling tenure of this city councilman will be nothing but a distant memory for us to chuckle lightly over and then immediately move on to other topics. District 2 encompasses some of the citys poorest neighborhoods, including Hagginwood and Del Paso Heights, teeming with blighted streets, homes, schools, parks and a total lack investment in its businesses and community. Even Loloees city-run webpage for community resources inside District 2 is a sad cobble of mostly Sacramento-wide amenities.

Someday, Loloees name will serve only as an answer in a local game of Jeopardy, for a category called Sacramento Electeds Who Thought They Could Get Away With It. (And it wont even be the $500 dollar question, itll be like, the $200, at best.)

Opinion

The California Fair Political Practices Commission has opened yet another investigation into the councilmans business practices earlier this week  after they learned about commercial properties he owns from a Sacramento Bee story.

Of course, this is just a few weeks after federal agents dramatically raided Loloees three Sacramento-area supermarkets, and his two houses  only one of which is actually in his district. I have to imagine the city was relieved no federal agents showed up to raid his office at City Hall.

So that means along with this new FPPC case, theres also an active U.S. Department of Labor case against Loloee for allegedly threatening to deport workers for complying with a federal investigation, for not paying overtime, employing minors, and failing to give his employees breaks. He also stands accused of destroying evidence, according to federal court filings from the U.S. Department of Justice.

And dont forget last year, when The Bee last year reported that Loloee didnt appear to live in the Hagginwood house in his district, but instead looked to be living in his wifes $1.4 million Granite Bay house  where he took his oath of office via video call. A city investigation, which did not include interviewing the neighbors, found that Loloee lived there with his employees and their family.

Its just so horrendously sad. Loloee has wasted so much potential to do real good in a community that desperately needed him to care.

The previous councilmember to hold the seat  speaking of forgotten names of our political past  was Allen Warren, whose legal troubles helped usher Loloee into the seat. Warren was found to owe delinquent federal, state and county taxes totaling more than $470,000 according to documents filed at the Sacramento County Recorders Office.

Loloee has said he will not seek re-election next year, praise be.

Ive said it before and Ill say it again, Loloee is an embarrassment to Sacramento. What has he done for District 2 in the last three years other than bring shame?
Nearly three weeks after all the votes were cast, and a week beyond a Montana-mandated deadline, the results of the Nov. 7 municipal elections in Cascade County still remain uncertified.

The impasse threatens to draw a rebuke from the Secretary of States Office and has already focused more unwanted attention of dysfunction within the Cascade County Elections Office and tensions between Cascade County commissioners.

By state law, counties across Montana are required to certify and submit their election results no later than 14-days after the conclusion of an election. That deadline expired on Nov. 21, and at this point is seems unlikely that the final election certification process will be completed before Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Cascade County elections officials sort thorough precinct results from the Nov. 7. municipal elections. From left to right are Election Administrator Sandra Merchant, and County Commissioners Jim Larson, Rae Grulkowski and Joe Briggs. The final certification is now in violation of a state imposed deadline

The most recent delay came Wednesday night on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday. As most people were hurriedly making their way home, Cascade County Commissioners and Elections Office staff remained in commission chambers laboriously tabulating precinct returns by hand.

What happened at Nov. 22 election canvas in commission chambers?

The process began at 3:30 p.m. and lasted close to six hours but remains incomplete. The meeting was attended by a standing-room only crowd who watched as commissioners silently tabulated the election results. It was roughly equivalent to watching a board of tax preparers sift through itemized deductions, and as the night pressed on, more and more of the observers drifted away.

Sometime after 9 p.m. commissioners passed a motion to table a final vote to certify the election results until discrepancies between reports from the Cascade County Elections Office and the Secretary of State's Office could be resolved.

"Looking at (the Secretary of State's) report and comparing it to the tabulator machine results for the town of Belt and the town of Cascade - the numbers of ballots received did not match," explained Commissioner Rae Grulkowski. "Commissioner Briggs made a motion to table until the Secretary of State's Office could be reached to conclude why those numbers were different."

The problems certifying the results of the municipal elections that took place three weeks ago is only the latest iteration of the controversy that has plagued the Cascade County Election Office since last May.

In the past, certifying elections in Cascade County has been fairly routine. Commissioners were presented with a detailed overview of the elections results by the election administrator and given the opportunity to dig in and inspect the numbers from individual voting districts to look for any inconsistencies. They were not asked to hand tabulate dozens of pages of results and match them against machine count totals.

Normally you would see it by precinct, said former Cascade County commissioner Jane Weber of the canvass. This is how many voters were eligible, this is how many ballots were sent. This is how many ballots that were returned as undeliverable, this is how many ballots were returned as voted, these are how many votes cast for each candidate.

On Wednesday, commissioners were presented three folders, each containing dozens of pages of precinct results.

Weve done a little bit in the past just to check," Webber added, "but not pages and pages of that. It never happened like that before, never.

In these packets are our machine results, and from those results we tally for ourselves each precinct, Elections Administrator Sandra Merchant told commissioners at the Wednesday meeting. What were looking at is doing our own tallies as law would dictate and coming to a matching conclusion as a board."

Why are we writing down here what we already have?" Commissioner Jim Larson asked.

Were verifying," Grulkowski responded. Weve got to do this same process that she (Merchant) has completed. Each board member does that."

"Well this is something new," Larson said. "It was explained to us that we dont have to repeat whats already here.

While all votes are machine counted following closing of the polls on election night, those results do not become official until the Elections Office has cross-referenced them against individual precinct returns and then presented its conclusions to the county commissioners for a final review referred to as a canvass. The last step is for commissioners to certify the results, at which point they become official.

The canvass is a process that ensures the number of ballots voted are the number of ballots counted, and that no ballots are missing or counted more than once, the Montana Secretary of States Office explains.

Originally planned for Nov. 20, the municipal election canvass meeting was put on hold when commissioners Joe Briggs and Jim Larson refused to certify the election results. According to county attorney Josh Racki, the Nov. 20 meeting would have likely violated Montana open meeting laws because the public hadnt been given enough notice.

About Montana's open meeting laws

Montanas open meeting laws are based on two fundamental rights contained in Montanas Constitution; the publics right to know and the right of citizens to participate in their government. State law demands that government agencies at all levels develop procedures for permitting and encouraging the public to participate in agency decisions.

Montanas open meeting laws contain no specific notice requirement. Instead, they only demand agencies ensure adequate notice and assist public participation before a final agency action is taken that is of significant interest to the public.

Racki told KRTV news that for the last 18-20 years it has been the policy in Cascade County that the notice of a meeting be made public at least 48 business hours prior to the meeting coming to order. Weekends dont count.

The notice for the proposed Nov. 20 meeting was posted late Friday afternoon, 24-hours too late to meet Cascade Countys well established open meetings policy.

After learning of the meeting's schedule, Briggs and Larson declared they would not attend the Monday meeting because it violated the law. Without the two commissioners, Monday's meeting would have lacked a quorum, and could therefore not certify the election results. The canvass meeting was then postponed until Wednesday, Nov. 22 to meet open meeting law requirements - and has been postponed once again to resolve discrepancies between the Secretary of State's ballot count against those of the Cascade County Election Office.

Grulkowski, the commissioner who is serving as the chairperson, blamed the impasse on miscommunication with an office staffer for the meetings late scheduling.

It was a long night and I dont think any of us enjoyed that," Grulkowski said of the Nov. 22 canvass meeting. The Board of Canvassers is a work session, it's not just a meeting. We have to actually do work."

The failure to certify the Nov. 7 election results is indicative of a broader divide within and among Cascade County Commissioners. All three commissioners identify as Republican, yet there is a clear conflict between commissioners, with Briggs and Larson on one side and Grulkowski on the other.

At the Nov. 14 regular meeting of the commission, Larson proposed an ordinance to change how the County Commission's chair is selected. Currently it is an automatic rotation with each commissioner serving as chair in turn.

Larson's proposal would make the chair a position elected by a vote of all three commissioners. The second reading of Larson's proposal will take place at the Cascade County Commission's next regular meeting on Nov. 28.

"Our entire governmental system is based upon trust in the election process," Briggs told KRTV. "That has been ongoing now for almost two years that we have had various groups of people questioning the integrity of the elections process. That is not something that we continue to allow. We've got to get things fixed. We've got to get things isolated from politics so that people trust that when they cast their ballot, it's counted and it's counted correctly.

"It started out being one section of the electorate, the far right, for lack of a better term," Briggs added. "Now it is the folks on the Democratic side of the aisle who are questioning what's going on. We've got to get to where everybody agrees that elections are safe and secure."

Last year and the years before it was just a  bring your cup of coffee and well talk about this," Grulkowski said of the election canvass process. "There werent even any motions made to approve the canvass. I knew our meetings were not proper. This year it was clumsy, but now we have a meeting that fully abides by the law for the canvass, that puts motions in place and it's structured.

The commissioners' office has troubles, large troubles," Grulkowski added. "I have asked at least twice for us to sit down and figure it out. Its falling on deaf ears, and that should not be tolerated anywhere. Theres a lot going on here."

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Cascade County Nov. 7 election miss Montana deadline for certification
Palm Beach County, Florida, is making commercial worm composting illegal, saying it owns the rights to residents trash.

Whats happening?

Mel Corichi originally founded her worm farm and community composting business, Let It Rot, in partnership with the Palm Beach County Food Bank in 2015 to reduce food waste.

She would feed the food banks expired donations to her worms. The worm droppings, or castings, would create fertile soil, which could be utilized as an eco-friendly fertilizer. This is known as vermicomposting.

Eventually, Corichi started serving local residents who could opt into her program. Corichi would pick the waste up at her customers properties.

That all recently came to a halt, however, when she received a phone call from the countys Solid Waste Authority telling her that what she was doing was illegal. She was subsequently forced to close down operations.

She explained to Palm Beach Daily News, Whether or not its on the curb or in your house, if its trash, its the property of the Solid Waste Authority.

The county told Corichi that it burns the countys organic waste to generate electricity that powers 88,000 local homes.

Apparently, my little composting operation could affect the countys ability to do that, Corichi told Palm Beach Daily News.

I dont really have a business anymore, she told WPTV.

Why are these vermicomposting regulations concerning?

Palm Beach County incinerates its collected waste. This type of waste management causes air pollution and releases toxic gases. Meanwhile, one of the safest methods for managing organic waste is vermicomposting.

The result  highly fertile worm poop  offers an alternative to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, which can contaminate soil and water. The impact of fertilizers is often long term and cumulative. According to Occupational Health & Safety, exposure to fertilizers may increase the risks of developing cancer in adults and children. It could also adversely affect fetal brain development.

What can I do to help with these vermicomposting regulations?

Corichi launched a Change.org petition, which you can sign to ask the county to reconsider its policy.

You can also practice vermicomposting in your backyard, even if you live in Palm Beach County. The Cornell Waste Management Institute has some tips on how to get started.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
As a driver in California, youve probably encountered wild lane switches on freeways and California Rolls at stop signs. Maybe, youve been rear-ended, too. In a crash or a fender-bender, no matter whose fault it is, there are typically consequences.

Reader Leonard McDaniels asked The Sacramento Bees service journalism team, which focuses on helping the community navigate daily life: If you are in an accident caused by another vehicle, will you get a point on your driving record when you report it to the California Department of Motor Vehicles?

Heres what you need to know about the California point system:

How does the point system work in California?

The DMV maintains points based on the Negligent Operator Treatment System, said Ronald Ongtoaboc, a spokesman for the department.

The system is a series of warning letters and progressive penalties against your driving privilege, according to the DMV website.

Drivers 18 and older are affected by the system, the website states. Provisional drivers, or minors, are only included in the system if they violate license probation or suspension.

Negligent operator points are point values ranging from zero to three points that are added to a persons driving record if law enforcement finds them responsible, Ongtoaboc wrote in an email.

What can cause points on your California drivers license?

Ongtoaboc said points are based on convictions for traffic violations and collisions.

According to the DMV website, points range from zero to three, depending on who is responsible and on the type of vehicle you were driving  commercial or non-commercial.

The vehicle code states that convictions or collisions that occur in a commercial vehicle can be given a point count of 1 1/2 times its usual value.

One-point convictions include speeding and operating a vehicle in an unsafe condition.

Two-point convictions are for more serious risks to traffic safety, such as a hit and run or driving under the influence, the DMV website states.

Major convictions, such as when you are driving a commercial vehicle, are given (three) points, according to the DMV.

Is a car accident a point on your California drivers license?

If law enforcement reports that you contributed to or were at fault for a crash, the DMV website states that the point will go against your license.

Collisions you are found to be responsible for are counted as (one) point if youre driving a non-commercial vehicle, the DMV states on its website.

What is the maximum number of points someone can have on their license?

There are four levels of NOTS, Ongtoaboc said. At level three, drivers are subject to a suspension action after receiving the following negligent operator point count within a specified time frame.

Ongtoaboc said drivers can face a license suspension for four negligent operator points with in one year, six negligent operator points within two years and eight negligent operator points within three years.

The vehicle code states commercial drivers can have a higher point count. Class A or B drivers can have the six points in one year, eight points in two years and 10 points in three years, the DMV website states.

If provisional drivers are involved in a car accident, they can be provided a hearing under Vehicle Code 12814.6 to argue that they were not responsible.

Can someone argue a point on their record and have it removed?

Though the point system does not renew, the points might not be on your record forever under California law.

Records of convictions shall be maintained so long as they may form the basis of license suspensions or revocations as prior convictions or with other records of conviction constitute a person a negligent driver, California Vehicle Code 1807 states.

Depending on the conviction, a drivers record information can be kept from three to 55 years, according to the DMV website.

Drivers can try to have a point removed from their record, such as contesting a traffic ticket in court or enrolling in traffic school if eligible, Ongtoaboc said.

If eligible, the California Courts website states you can go to traffic school to keep a point off your driving record.

According to the website, you can generally go to traffic school if you have a valid drivers license, the ticket is given in a noncommercial vehicle and you have not gone to traffic school within the last 18 months.

However, some tickets are not eligible for traffic school, including those involving car equipment violations and alcohol or drug-related offenses.

Where can I view my California drivers record?

California drivers license holders can request their record information from the DMV and pay a fee to access it, according to the DMV website.

Your record request must include:

Record number/title

Number of copies you want

Business name (if applicable)

Phone number

Contact name

Street address (cannot be a PO Box)

Will my California drivers record affect my car insurance price?

According to insurance company Progressive, any violation that shows on your record can increase your car insurance rate.

If your insurer offers a discount for safe driving, youll likely lose that discount after receiving a speeding ticket, the website states.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
ST. LOUIS  A blog released earlier this month from real estate company Norada lists St. Louis as the third most dangerous city in the United States.

Only Detroit, Michigan, and Baltimore, Maryland, were deemed more dangerous than St. Louis in the rankings. Noradas findings were presented in a blog called Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in America.

Whos getting snow, whos getting rain in the St. Louis metro?

Norada, a California-based firm, says many of the ten cities listed have high violent crime rates, gang violence and poverty, among other factors. A research team analyzed FBI data, albeit from 2019, to create the rankings.

Norada claims that St. Louis is plagued by a gun violence epidemic and youth involvement in criminal activities. The prevalence of firearms, coupled with limited gun control measures, further contributes to the overall crime rates in St. Louis, says the blog.

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St. Louis officials have taken some steps in gun control measures over the past year, passing one board bill to regulate the open carry of guns and pushing for another board bill to prohibit it in the city. Such efforts have come with opposition from the GOP leaders in Missouri. Police have also informed FOX 2 of various efforts to combat a spike in juvenile crime around the St. Louis metro.

Norada also suggests that mentorship programs and more educational resources in poverty-stricken areas could help St. Louis pave the way for a safer and more prosperous community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Prince Harry and William's time at Eton College is depicted in series six of The Crown - Keith Bernstein/Netflix

The Crown is perpetuating negative stereotypes about private schools, the head of an education group has said.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, suggested that the portrayal of elite schools attended by Royals in the Netflix series is damaging the publics perception of the sector.

The new series six of the fictional show about the monarchy portrays Prince William and Prince Harrys school days at Eton College, the 50,000-a-year boarding school in Windsor, Berkshire.

In series two of The Crown, King Charles is shown having an unhappy school experience at Gordonstoun near Elgin in Scotland.

One episode shows rain flooding in through a broken dormitory window, soaking the future Kings sheets as he lay shivering in bed.

The future King's time at Gordonstoun in Elgin, Scotland, is depicted unhappily in 'The Crown' - Keystone-France

Mrs Robinson also said the show was perpetuating a stereotype that independent schools are all wealthy and attended by rich children.

Speaking at the Girls Schools Association annual conference in the Cotswolds this week, she said: It is frustrating for us because theres a big stereotype about independent schools and its very symbolically effective. Ive been doing this job for eight years and I never cease to be amazed at how powerful the stereotype is.

The reality is that we are a small sector with a few wealthy and really strong world-famous schools which are actually a great export for the UK and good for business and across the globe.

It is hard to get that message out when people will be watching The Crown again and will be thinking of certain schools and that is what we are up against  what people imagine independent schools to be, and the actual fact that these are schools with teachers the same as in the state sector, and with heads that want the best for their schools and communities with children who are just children going to school.

It would be so nice to live in a world where we are just sharing the best of everything.

Prince William on his 18th birthday at Eton College - Ken Goff/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images

Her comments come after an Ipsos poll on Labours plan to charge VAT on school fees showed that 57 per cent of adults supported the plan.

The poll of more than 2,000 people also found that a quarter believe the policy has been drawn up out of envy to punish parents that send their children to private school.

Mrs Robinson, a former prep school head, said it would be nice to be in a world where parents did not have to apologise for sending their children to independent schools.

She said: When I was a prep school head, I wanted my parents to go to dinner parties and not for them to have to apologise because they assumed that there is going to be a poshness or class label if they mentioned where their child went to school.

I want them to be able to say  Ive found this great school and its really good for my child, whether thats for special needs or drama or sport. Why would you want to damage schools? If you go abroad, people say your education system is amazing.

Parents who choose independent education shouldnt feel guilty for their choice and they should not be criticised for it.

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.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the White House traded barbs this week over the Biden administration's response to the Hamas attacks in Israel.

It started after Cruz said in a Fox News interview that the Biden administration had been sympathetic to calls for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Former U.S. State Department Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller told FactCheck.org Cruz was "wrong" to make the claims and that the administration had been "nothing other than completely supportive" of Israel.

In a lengthy post Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, Cruz said the fact check "admits I was right that Biden immediately called on Israel not to retaliate against Hamas, because they have to, because it's true."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, talks with reporters Nov. 1, 2023. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, also appears.

BIDEN ADMIN REACTS TO TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS, RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

"But, so they can defend Biden, they quote 'experts' anyway saying he's been 100% supportive of Israel," he wrote.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Washington DC experts say that Biden has been 100% supportive of Israel. These are the people who have been in charge of Middle East diplomacy for decades  which also explains how we got to a place where Iranian terrorists were able to launch the worst one day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust," the post continued.

In a statement to Fox News Digital in response to Cruz's post, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said, "Obviously, Senator Cruz hasnt asked anyone in Israel about this," and referenced a link to a New York Times article, "Israeli Billboards Thanking the U.S. Have a New Face on Them: Bidens."

The Times article said Biden is "suddenly finding warm embraces" in Israel after former President Donald Trump's politics "drove a wedge between the Democratic Party and the Jews who have long called it their political home."

"The Hamas attacks  and the Biden administrations response  have so far not only united a fractured Israeli society but also buried animosities between the worlds two largest Jewish communities, in Israel and the United States," the article continued.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, talks with reporters Nov. 15, 2022.

The article didn't mention the Biden administration's initial social media responses to the Oct. 7 attacks condemned by conservatives, including Cruz.

Cruz's comments referenced an Oct. 7 post on X in which the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs called for "all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks," which was quickly deleted.

On Oct. 8, the day Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a phone call with the Turkish foreign minister, Blinken posted on X, urging, "Turkiyes advocacy for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas immediately."

That post was also deleted, according to the FactCheck.org website.

ISRAEL, HAMAS AGREE TO TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL INCLUDING FREEING 3 AMERICANS

"Even that is a lie," Cruz continued on X. "In reality, the Biden administration immediately called on Israel not to retaliate on Oct 7, deleted the tweet, supported a ceasefire again the next day, then deleted that tweet too."

Nonetheless, the Biden administration has since publicly rejected a cease-fire. On Oct. 10, FactCheck.org reported that Biden said in a speech: "So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear," he said. "We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack."

But, earlier this month, State Department staffers wrote a scathing internal memo urging the Biden administration to change its public stance toward Israel and support a cease-fire, Politico reported.

The leaked memo was submitted to the department's Dissent Channel, where employees are invited to express policy disagreements, the outlet said. It is the latest incident showing internal strife within the department over the U.S. support for its closest ally in the Middle East.

PRO-PALESTINIAN VIOLENT PROTEST ERUPTS OUTSIDE DNC HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON DC, CAPITOL POLICE INJURED

The message reportedly demands the U.S. support a cease-fire and be willing to publicly criticize "Israeli military tactics and treatments of Palestinians," the outlet reported.

Cruz said in a Fox News interview the Biden administration has been sympathetic to calls for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas terrorists.

Politico reported that two mid-level staffers wrote this particular memo, but there were several other dissent memos over the Israel-Hamas war being shared within the department. The message "reflects the sentiments of many U.S. diplomats," the report said.

A State Department spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital the department does "not comment on reports of internal department communications," as a general rule.

Fox News Digital has reached out to FactCheck.org for comment.

Fox News' Kristine Parks contributed to this report.





Original article source: Cruz, White House trade barbs over Biden administrations Israel response: That is a lie
Traffic travels east and west on U.S. 30 in Valparaiso on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. The Indiana Department of Transportation INDOT announced new planning studies along approximately 180 miles of the U.S. 30 and U.S. 31 corridors. The project area includes U.S. 30 from Valparaiso to the Indiana/Ohio state line. (Post-Tribune)

The Indiana Department of Transportation has been gathering public comments since last year on proposed improvements to U.S. 30 from Valparaiso to the Ohio border.

There are a few more opportunities to tell the states highway department what that highway should look like in the future, but time is running out.

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INDOT will accept public comments on proposed changes until Dec. 22.

One more informal community meeting is scheduled in Valparaiso on Dec. 2, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Porter County Public Library at 105 Jefferson St.

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The highways study area is in two sections, U.S. 30 West and U.S. 30 East.

U.S. 30 West runs from Indiana 49 in Valparaiso to Beech Road in Marshall County and County Road 700 North along U.S. 31 in Fulton County. U.S. 30 East goes from Beech Road to the Ohio line, excluding Interstate 69 and Interstate 469 around Fort Wayne.

A similar ProPEL study  the PEL stands for Planning and Environmental Linkages  is underway on U.S. 31 from Plymouth to Hamilton County.

The proposals gathered so far range from smaller changes, such as roadway lighting, additional turn lanes or acceleration lanes, to larger ones, such as transforming part of U.S. 30 into a limited-access freeway, like an interstate highway.

A list of 55 potential solutions, called the Universe of Alternatives, is available on the ProPEL U.S. 30 website. Its also available at the Porter County Public Library in Valparaiso and at the Christopher Center library on Valparaiso Universitys campus.

INDOT has recommended nine primary concepts for further study, plus a no-build option.

Among those concepts are access management, to control how vehicles enter and leave the highway; auxiliary lanes in some areas; bypasses around some towns; median safety improvements; signal timing coordination; and a limited-access freeway, to improve mobility and safety by removing crossing and turning traffic.

After evaluating comments from the public, INDOT will publish a final Universe of Alternatives screening report. The final list of potential solutions will be smaller but more detailed.

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The safety, traffic flow, connectivity, access and other considerations will naturally look different among communities, INDOT Project Manager Sandra Flum said in a news release. Similarly, we are listening to how residents in each study area envision the corridors to reflect the character of the area.

Adding travel lanes to U.S. 30 is not under consideration. INDOT determined that the highways current and future capacity will meet the expected demand, and that adding travel lanes would potentially decrease safety at crossings.

INDOT used a similar process for gathering public input on its 80/94 FlexRoad project, for improving the capacity of the Interstate 80/94 corridor  called the Borman Expressway in Lake County  without widening the highway.

Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  52 years ago, on November 24, 1971, a man the world now knows as D.B. Cooper walked into the Portland International Airport the day before Thanksgiving, paid $20 in cash for a one way ticket to Seattle, then soon became the most infamous hijacker in U.S. history.

Once on the plane, Cooper slipped a flight attendant a note and claimed to have a bomb in a brief case. As soon as the hijacked jet landed in Seattle, Cooper exchanged the passengers for $200 thousand and four parachutes, then demanded to be flown to Mexico.

Over southwest Washington, he parachuted from the plane, vanishing into thin air with the money, never to be seen again.

Officer-involved shooting closes several Salem streets

In October, an amateur investigator led a team to the banks of the Columbia River where they believe his parachute could have been dumped. The area is also near where money connected to the heist was found in 1980.

Although no parachute has been found, the team told KOIN 6 News they found a white sheet, believed to have been purchased from a K-Mart store between 1964 and 1967. They suspect the sheet could have been used to wrap the money at one point, so it will be analyzed for any possible identifying fibers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
New research from CoreLogic, a real estate-focused analytics company, suggested that home prices in coastal areas classified as high flood risk by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are heavily discounted.

The team inferred that these discounts are related to climate risks like flooding.

Whats happening?

The researchers found that property prices in coastal areas marked as high-risk flood zones are discounted by about 20%. These flood zones face hazards like storm waves and have at least a 25% risk of flooding during the span of a 30-year mortgage.

Meanwhile, property prices in two non-coastal flood zones with moderate-to-high flood risks are discounted by 4.5% and 9.8%, respectively. The study found no discount in areas deemed to be outside the 100- and 500-year floodplains.

Why are coastal property discounts concerning?

More than 40% of United States residents live in coastal regions, according to the report, with approximately 25 million people living in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding, per the EPA.

A warming planet threatens coastal areas  making them more susceptible to flooding  through sea level rise, changes in the frequency and intensity of storms, and increases in precipitation.

But flooding risks arent confined to coastal areas. Approximately 41 million U.S. residents face the risk of flooding along rivers and streams, like those living along the Delaware River, for one.

Hurricane Hilary  reportedly the first storm of its kind to make landfall in Southern California in 80 years  left a trail of destruction in August and revealed vulnerabilities in the regions housing market. Many of the homes hit by the storm were not covered by standard flood insurance, leaving homeowners in difficult financial situations.

Meanwhile, per CBS News, only 18% of homeowners in Florida  a state with more than 8,000 miles of coastline, according to the government  carry flood insurance, and extreme weather like this is leading to insurance companies raising rates.

Given the projected increase in climate hazards, with an average of seven or eight events per year and an expected escalation in severity, it becomes crucial for lenders and insurers to adapt differential costs based on these risks, the research team said.

Whats being done to protect coastal homeowners?

Some people, like Florida International Universitys Shahid Hamid, are pushing for federally subsidized flood insurance for all, no matter where you live, reported CBS News.

Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature approved legislation that mandates the state-backed insurance agency Citizens Insurance to require most policyholders to carry flood insurance by January 2024.

Along with investing in flood insurance, citizens can push for government officials to adopt changes that will help mitigate the effects of climate catastrophes like flooding.

Aside from divesting from dirty fuels and adopting clean energy, some scientists are pushing for nature-based solutions like restoring coastal wetlands and restorative agriculture.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Well, that hasnt taken long. Britains supposed firm and unambiguous support for Israels right to defend itself lasted around six weeks, before collapsing into the usual Foreign Office moral equivalence and implicit demonisation of Israel. So much for resolution and moral clarity.

We can date precisely when Britain decided that Israels right to defend itself after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust meant, in reality, that it had little right to actually do anything: 13 November. Which is the day on which David Cameron was appointed foreign secretary.

Lord Cameron was in Israel last week, and he seemed determined to make the Israelis appreciate that his title meant he could Lord it over them. While other official visitors have used their time in Israel to express their full support for their hosts  including Lord Camerons predecessor as foreign secretary, James Cleverly  our new face on the world stage had other ideas.

Speaking to the BBC, he said that in his talks with Benjamin Netanyahu and Israels president, Chaim Herzog, he stressed over and over again that they must abide by international humanitarian law, that the number of casualties are too high and that they have to have that top of their mind. By casualties, Lord Cameron was referring not to the 1200 Israelis murdered by Hamas  memories are short, and their murder by Hamas was all of 7 weeks ago, after all. No, the casualties to which he was referring are the Palestinians in Gaza.

It is indeed appalling that so many have been killed. But that is a consequence of Hamass policy of using civilians as human shields, and deliberately seeking their death so as to be able to lure the likes of Lord Cameron into blaming Israel. We have no accurate casualty figures since the only ones supplied have been from the Hamas-run health ministry. But it is safe to say it is in the high thousands.

The IDF has taken extraordinary measures to minimise civilian deaths, even informing residents in advance when their area is to be cleared of Hamas terrorists. But when Hamas bases itself in and around residential areas and buildings, civilian casualties are not only unavoidable, they are the specific intention of Hamas, which knows that when they are killed there will be an outcry. And right on cue, up pops Lord Cameron.

There is of course not a word of acknowledgment that a large proportion  perhaps the majority  of those killed have been Hamas terrorists. Instead, Lord Cameron intones the mantra of every anti-Israel NGO and attacks the Israelis for having the sheer gall of trying to destroy the organisation which has said it wants to repeat the October 7 massacre again and again.

Not that any of this is a surprise. In the 2006 Lebanon war, the then PM, Tony Blair, offered genuinely robust support to the Israelis against Hezbollah. It was not only the Left which attacked him for doing so. William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, launched an attack on Israel for its supposedly disproportionate response. And in 2010, when he was the actual foreign secretary under David Cameron, he said that an example of how Britain would be a solid but not slavish ally of the US was Israel. Asked to elaborate, he went on: The Lebanon war.

Lord Camerons contribution to the demonisation of Israel, in other words, is entirely typical of his brand of Conservatism. When push comes to shove and Israel acts against terror, the response is, as Lord Cameron went on, to have a continuous dialogue with them and keep making these points about humanitarian law, about civilian casualties.

In other words  just suck it up, Israel.

Stephen Pollard is Editor-at-Large of The Jewish Chronicle

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.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said one of its officers had his police powers pulled after Virginia State Police (VSP) arrested him on Thanksgiving.

MPD said that it received from VSP that troopers took Ofc. Peter McCauley into custody after he was involved in a crash that left at least one person hurt.

Metropolitan Police Department said in its statement that McCauley, who was in a personally-owned vehicle, wasnt on duty at the time.

DC tops 900 carjackings for year on Thanksgiving Day

The departments Internal Affairs Division was investigating the situation. MPD said McCauley joined the force in D.C. in June 2020 and was assigned to the Fourth District, which covers the upper Northwest (east of Rock Creek Park) and Northeast quadrants of the city, including the neighborhoods of Carter Baron, 16th Street Heights, Fort Totten, Lamond/Riggs, Shepherd Park, Takoma, and Petworth.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota will not seek reelection to Congress while he mounts a primary challenge to President Joe Biden. Gaelen Morse/Getty Images

Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota will not seek reelection to Congress in 2024.

The congressman is challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Phillips has echoed concerns about Biden's age throughout his campaign.

Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips announced Friday he will not seek reelection to Congress in 2024, saying in a statement that "after three terms it is time to pass the torch."

Phillips, a congressman representing Minnesota, has been pursuing a longshot challenge to President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024. He announced his candidacy last month. Phillips' campaign has emphasized voters' concerns about Biden's age  the president is 81 years old and would be 86 by the end of his second term, should he be reelected.

In his statement on Friday, Phillips said America is "facing a crisis of cooperation, common sense, and truth."

"Civility matters, respect matters, listening matters, and effective governance matters," he continued. "No party has a monopoly on solutions, and we must stop fighting one another and begin fighting for one another  before it is too late."

As Business Insider's John Dorman previously reported, Phillips is seeking to make inroads towards a viable electoral path in New Hampshire, given that Biden's name will not appear on the ballot. (New Hampshire violated the new DNC calendar by scheduling its Democratic presidential primary before South Carolina, and Biden opted not to file to be on the ballot). Phillips will likely face an uphill battle, however. One recent University of New Hampshire/CNN poll of likely Democratic presidential primary voters put Phillips at 10% support, compared to the 65% who said they'd write in Biden's name.

Some Democrats have also expressed irritation towards Phillips in recent weeks. Phillips was critical of Vice President Kamala Harris in a recent interview with The Atlantic, saying she was "not well prepared" to potentially seek the Oval Office in the future. The backlash was swift, and Phillips apologized.

"Apparently Dean Phillips is floundering so hard that he's now resorting to attacking Vice-President Harris. He better keep the VP's name out of his mouth and apologize," fellow Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, wrote on X. "No one will support him so he's going to torch his entire reputation on the way out. Sad to see."

Phillips also apologized to Sen. Bernie Sanders earlier this month for previously dismissing Sanders' complaints about a "rigged" Democratic Party primary system. Sanders told Business Insider's Bryan Metzger that Phillips appeared to have "changed his views now that he's a candidate."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) on Saturday criticized President Biden for his recent poll numbers, arguing its delusional to think he could overtake former President Trump in a rematch.

As a member of House Democratic Leadership, I supported and promoted the Biden agenda, Phillips wrote Saturday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I campaigned for him, voted for him, and respect him.

But how can anyone read this and conclude hes positioned to defeat Donald Trump? he added, sharing an article from Politico centered on Bidens fall in approval ratings. Its delusional.

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The Politico analysis piece noted that in survey results from 13 separate pollsters in November alone, the presidents position had fallen in all but two of them.

The Minnesota Democrat has faced fierce backlash since announcing his long-shot primary challenge to Bidens reelection campaign.

In an interview earlier this month, Phillips defended his decision, pointing to Bidens historically low approval ratings. He also compared the incumbents chances to that of Jimmy Carters in 1980, saying Biden is facing the same circumstances.

[Bidens] approval numbers are historically low, rivaling only Jimmy Carter, who got slaughtered, of course, in that election, Phillips told CNN. [Carter] had a Democratic primary challenger because he was going to get slaughtered in the election.

One of the issues affecting Bidens poll numbers is his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas, which is ongoing. Phillips has also been an outspoken critic of his response.

A temporary truce began Friday morning, giving Hamas four-days to return up to 50 hostages in exchange for the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners, including youth. The Minnesota lawmaker called the recent hostage deal between the groups absurd, shocking and dismaying.

He argued that U.S. special forces should have played a hand in extracting Americans held captive by the militant group. An initial wave of hostages was released on Friday, but no Americans were among those freed.

Phillips latest rebuke of the president comes after the lawmaker announced he would not seek reelection to his House seat, claiming it was time to pass the torch.

Its been the most joyful experience of my life representing the most civically engaged community in the nation in Congress, Phillips wrote Friday on X.

But its time to pass the torch, its time for change, and our best days are yet to come! he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Derek Chauvin was convicted in 2021 of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Minnesota Department of Corrections

Derek Chauvin was stabbed in prison and seriously injured on Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The Bureau of Prisons said an inmate was assaulted Friday afternoon and taken to a hospital.

Chauvin was convicted in 2021 of murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of killing George Floyd, was stabbed in prison on Friday and is seriously injured, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed source.

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed to Business Insider that an inmate was assaulted at FCI Tucson around 12:30 p.m., though the agency did not name the inmate. The BOP also said prison employees performed "life-saving measures" and that the inmate was taken to a hospital.

Chauvin was convicted in Minnesota in 2021 of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. Floyd died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes during a 2020 arrest that sparked nationwide outrage and widespread racial-injustice protests.

Chauvin also later pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights. He was sentenced to 21 years and transferred to a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona.

On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal of his Minnesota conviction.

Read the original article on Insider
An inmate at a federal prison in Arizona Friday stabbed and seriously injured Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in 2021 of murdering George Floyd in 2020.

As first reported by the Associated Press, who spoke with a person familiar with the matter, the stabbing occurred at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, described as a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The APs source was not allowed to publicly comment and the Bureau of Prisons confirmed the incident but would not name the inmate. They did mention performing life-saving measures on the incarcerated person, who was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

In 2020, Chauvin knelt on George Floyds neck for about nine and a half minutes while he was handcuffed, face down on the ground and crying out that he couldnt breathe. Footage of the brutal murder sparked a summer of protests against police brutality and racism. Conspiracy theories about Chauvin and Floyd have surfaced, including a QAnon conspiracy that Derek Chauvin was replaced by an imposter at sentencing and that Floyd actually overdosed on fentanyl, and didnt suffocate under the knee of a police officer. There is no evidence to support either theory.

Chauvin was transferred to the Arizona prison in August 2022, according to the AP, to "simultaneously serve a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyds civil rights and a 22-year state sentence for second-degree murder."
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted in the 2020 murder of George Floyd, was stabbed Friday in a federal prison in Arizona, the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has confirmed.

The attorney generals office, which prosecuted Chauvin in the Floyd case, said early Saturday it was notified of the assault and was told Chauvin is in stable condition.

I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence, Ellison said, according to the statement provided to CNN. He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence.

An incarcerated individual was assaulted at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson at approximately 12:30 p.m., the Bureau of Prisons said Friday.

Responding employees initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual, and that person was transferred to a hospital for treatment, the bureau said in a release. No employees were injured during the incident, the release said.

The stabbing was first reported by The Associated Press and then The New York Times.

Visitation at the prison was suspended starting Saturday until further notice, Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Emery Nelson told CNN.

When CNN asked if the visitation suspension was connected with an inmate being attacked at the facility, Nelson said, For safety and security reasons, the details supporting a wardens decision to suspend visitation at their facility are not discussed.

Chauvin was assaulted at the medium-security prison while serving two concurrent sentences in Floyds murder.

Greg Erickson, Chauvins attorney, said he only learned about the assault through the media and has since attempted to reach prison officials multiple times to confirm the news, only to be rebuffed.

Ive called the prison seven times. Theyve refused to speak to me seven times, Erickson told CNN in an interview Saturday afternoon.

Erickson said Chauvins parents have also not been able to reach him. Its unbelievably unprofessional that no one from the prison has reached out to his parents, he added.

In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison. Months later, Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Chauvin, who is White, knelt on Floyds neck and back for more than 9 minutes on May 25, 2020, after officers responded to reports suspecting Floyd used a counterfeit $20 at a Minneapolis corner store. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was handcuffed and lying face down on a street as he pleaded he couldnt breathe.

Floyds killing sparked massive racial injustice protests across the nation and around the world over the way police treat people of color, particularly Black Americans in the US. An investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights revealed that Minneapolis and its police department engaged in a pattern or practice of race discrimination, according to a 2022 report.

Erickson said Chauvins notoriety makes him a target in prison. Theres a huge portion of the inmate population that wants to make a name for themselves by killing him, he said.

Earlier this week, the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Chauvin on his state conviction after he argued he didnt receive a fair trial. The high court rejected Chauvins appeal without comment or a recorded vote.

Clarification: This story was updated to clarify the stabbing of Derek Chauvin was first reported by The Associated Press and then The New York Times. The Minnesota Attorney Generals Office confirmed the assault to CNN.

CNNs Taylor Romine and Aya Elamroussi contributed to this report.

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China releases document on vision, actions for Belt and Road cooperation in next decade

Xinhua) 09:08, November 25, 2023

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 23, 2022 shows a Fuxing bullet train running on the Yuanjiang bridge of the China-Laos Railway in southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday published a document titled "Vision and Actions for High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Brighter Prospects for the Next Decade."

The document was formulated by the Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

It presents the vision and measures for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in the next decade, on the basis of summarizing BRI achievements and experience over the past decade, Xu Jianping, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference on Friday.

Over the past 10 years, the BRI has developed into a popular international public good and a cooperation platform that adds new growth drivers to the global economy, with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations participating in it, Xu said.

Data shows that from 2013 to October 2023, total imports and exports between China and participating countries surpassed 21 trillion U.S. dollars, and China's direct investment in BRI partner countries topped 270 billion dollars, according to Xu.

"The prospects of jointly building the BRI are tremendously bright," Xu said.

According to the document, in the next decade, all parties will be encouraged to strive toward equal cooperation and mutual benefit, propelling Belt and Road cooperation into a new phase characterized by high-quality development.

The document specified five objectives, namely building a smoother and more efficient connectivity network, ensuring comprehensive and practical cooperation to reach new levels, elevating the sense of gain and fulfillment for the peoples of all participating countries, establishing a new system to support China's open economy at a more advanced stage, and popularizing the vision of a global community of shared future.

Policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, people-to-people ties and cooperation in new fields are the key areas and directions for Belt and Road cooperation in the next decade, according to the document.

Guo Xuejun, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at the press conference that one of the major moves for the next stage would be building closer ties with BRI partners on infrastructure connectivity.

Together with other parties, China will take part in the building of a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent linked by direct road transportation and the trans-Caspian international transport corridor, according to Guo.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
The illustrators of Chinese children's books remain among the most internationally awarded artists thanks to their consistent use of unique and traditional styles of artistic expression, according to Zuzana Jarosova, general commissioner of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava.

"There is always the masterful craftsmanship, painting or drawing talent that the jury appreciates about Chinese illustrations, as they maintain high quality and are masterpieces of art," says Jarosova.

Chinese illustrator Chen Xunru received the Golden Apple award for her artwork in the book Bull King Festival at the ongoing 29th edition of the BIB in Slovakia, which started on Oct 4 and runs until Dec 3.

Chen is the seventh Chinese illustrator to have received such an award. This year, the international BIB jury judged 2,072 illustrations by 275 illustrators from 36 countries and regions.

Jarosova says the jurors are always looking for artists who are authentic and original while keeping their deep connection to culture, traditions and the mastery of old techniques.

Jarosova has been overseeing the competition for the past 16 years. The first Chinese illustrator to win a Golden Apple was Cai Gao in 1993, she recalls.

Illustrations in children's books play a key role in their mental development, as a good illustrator can elevate the story and build additional floors of the architecture of imagination, thus kick-starting the small readers' fantasy, Jarosova notes.

Art for children is also one of the best ways to build bridges of cooperation and understanding between various cultures of the world, she says.

The BIB, established more than half a century ago, is one of the most prestigious competitions for children's book illustrations, and it is supported by UNESCO and the International Board on Books for Young People.

An international tour exhibition of picture books from China was held as an accompanying event at this year's BIB from Sept 28 to Oct 14.

The exhibition was well received and was the first time people had the opportunity to see interesting illustrators from China to such a great extent, Jarosova says.

This edition of the BIB also welcomed a Chinese delegation, including illustrators formerly awarded by the BIB, authors and publishers, and was a wonderful experience for them and for us, she adds.

"We agreed upon organizing many events together, and I will do everything I can for cooperation to continue and improve further," Jarosova says.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, seen here in court in 2021, was reportedly stabbed at a federal prison in Arizona on Nov. 24, 2023. Credit - Court TVvia AP

Derek Chauvin, a former police officer who was convicted of murdering George Floyd, was seriously injured after being stabbed at a federal prison in Arizona on Friday, the office of Minnesota's attorney general confirmed in an email to TIME.

The office's spokesperson Brian Evans told TIME that Chauvin was stabbed and is likely to survive.

I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence, Minnesotas Attorney General, Keith Ellison, said in an emailed statement. He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence.

Chauvin is serving two sentences for murdering Floyd and violating his civil rights after being caught on camera in 2020 kneeling on the handcuffed mans neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd repeated that he couldnt breathe.

What do we know about the stabbing in Derek Chauvins prison?

The Associated Press initially reported, according to an anonymous source, that Chauvin was stabbed and seriously injured by another inmate on Friday afternoon inside FCI Tucson, a medium security federal correctional institution. Unnamed sources reported the same to other news outlets including ABC News and NBC News.

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed in an emailed press release to TIME that an incarcerated person, who they did not identify, was assaulted around 12:30 p.m. local time and hospitalized after staff performed life-saving measures. The agency notified the FBI, it said. A bureau spokesperson said they could not release the name or medical status of the inmate because of privacy and legal concerns.

Visiting at the facility has been suspended, the prisons website said on Saturday.

TIME also reached out by phone to the public information officer at FCI Tucson on Saturday for information.

Who is Derek Chauvin?

Chauvin is a white former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on the neck of Floyd, a Black city resident who had been accused of using a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a convenience store, before Floyd died.

The video sparked the largest racial justice protests across the country since the Civil Rights Movement, criticizing racially disproportionate fatal police shootings of Black Americans and seeking racial justice in all areas of society, inspiring similar actions around the world.

Chauvin and three other police officers who watched the incidentThomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thaowere fired the next day. Three days after that, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, which was later revised to second-degree murder.

In 2021, Chauvin was convicted of murder and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. Chauvin also pled guilty to violating Floyds civil rights and in 2022, was sentenced to a 21-year federal sentence.

Chauvin arrived at FCI Tucson in August 2022 from a Minnesota state prison, where he was largely held in solitary confinement for his own protection, his attorney wrote in court filings last year, the AP reported.

Chauvin has appealed his conviction on the grounds that the jury was biased and based on the judges past rulings. A Minnesota appellate court upheld his conviction and rejected his right to a new trial in April. The U.S. Supreme Court also declined on Nov. 20 to hear his appeal, Reuters reported.

His fellow former officers were sentenced to between 2.5 and 3.5 years in prison for depriving Floyd his right to medical care, with two additionally convicted of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin.

What is life like inside Chauvins prison?

Chauvins stabbing is not the first case of violence at FCI Tucson.

Last November, another inmate in a minimum-security area of the prison pulled out a gun, which he was not supposed to have, and tried to shoot a female visitor in the head in the visitation area, the AP reported.

The man repeatedly tried to shoot his wife, but the gun jammed, per Forbes. The issue is not unique to FCI Tucson.

The Bureau of Prisons, which holds nearly 144,000 inmates in its facilities, self-reported a rate of close to 0.2 serious assaults on inmates for every 5,000 prisoners as of April, down from a rate of 1.2 in January 2020, the highest in the available data.

An AP investigation found that facilities across the Bureau of Prisons suffered short staffing, violence, criminal misconduct, sexual abuse and escaping inmates, prompting the resignation of the agencys director and the appointment of a new one to lead reform last year.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Prisons shut down a unit in its newest federal prison after an investigation by NPR and The Marshall Project last year uncovered violence and abuse, with five suspected homicides and two alleged suicides since 2019.

In another high-profile incident behind bars that prompted scrutiny, Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide inside a federal jail in New York while awaiting trial on charges he sexually abused girls and women. The two guards assigned to Epstein were charged with falsifying records after they were sleeping and shopping online instead of watching him when he died.

The U.S. government closed that jail two years later.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed in federal prison by another inmate on Friday, according to the Associated Press.

A person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that the incident happened at Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, Arizona.

Chauvin was convicted in the 2020 murder of Floyd, which sparked violent protests nationwide.

The Bureau of Prisons said there was an incident at the prison at around 12:30 p.m. Friday. The agency said employees at the prison contained the incident and performed "life-saving measures," on an inmate, but didn't confirm it was Chauvin.

DEREK CHAUVIN CLAIMS NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS HE DIDN'T CAUSE GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN CONVICTION

According to the Bureau of Prisons, the inmate was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The incident marks the second incident at the prison in around a year. In November 2022, an inmate at the prison's low-security camp attempted to shoot a visitor in the head, but the weapon was misfired.

Chauvin was sentenced to a 21-year federal sentence for federal civil rights charges and a 22.5-year sentence for the state-level charge of second-degree murder. The prison time is being served simultaneously.

MINNEAPOLIS POLICE STAFFING LEVEL PLUMMETS TO HISTORIC 4-DECADE LOW 3 YEARS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH: REPORT

Chauvins lawyer, Eric Nelson, wrote in court documents last year that his client should be kept away from other prisoners.

The incident comes as Chauvin is trying to make another attempt to overturn the federal civil rights conviction.

Chauvin said in a filing earlier this month that he wouldn't have pleaded guilty in 2021 if he was aware of the theories of a pathologist from Kansas, whom he's now in contact with.

The former police officer filed the request without a lawyer.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Bureau of Prisons for comment.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.





Original article source: Derek Chauvin stabbed by inmate in federal prison, seriously injured: report
Former police officer Derek Chauvin is serving concurrent prison sentences over the death of George Floyd

Minneapolis ex-police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in the murder of George Floyd, is reported to be in a stable condition after he was stabbed at an Arizona prison.

The city's police chief and Minnesota's attorney general confirmed the news.

Chauvin, who is white, is serving multiple sentences for the black man's death, which triggered huge protests against police brutality and racism.

A source told AP the 47-year-old was seriously injured by another inmate.

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed in a statement that an inmate at a federal prison in the city of Tucson was stabbed at 12:30 local time (19:30 GMT) on Friday.

The agency said employees contained the incident and "life-saving measures" were performed on the inmate, who was then taken to hospital. The name of the prisoner was not given.

Nobody else is thought to have been injured.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, quoted by CNN, confirmed that Chauvin had been stabbed and said he was in a stable condition.

"I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence," Mr Ellison told CNN, in a statement from his office. "He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence." The state attorney general's office had prosecuted Chauvin in the George Floyd case.

News of Chauvin's condition was confirmed by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, who told local TV station KSTP-TV that he received the update from "federal law enforcement partners".

"We're thankful that he's in a stable condition," he said, adding "anyone who's assaulted like this, regardless of what they've been accused of, deserve to be safe and that's certainly not cause for any celebration."

The news comes days after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Chauvin, in which it was argued that he had not received a fair trial for the killing of Mr Floyd - who died after the former officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes in 2020.

The killing in Minneapolis - captured on a bystander's phone camera - sparked global outrage and a wave of demonstrations against racial injustice and police use of force.

Chauvin was later found guilty of Mr Floyd's murder and sentenced to 22 years in prison. He was given a further 20-year sentence in July 2022 for violating Mr Floyd's civil rights.
Sir Trevor McDonald says he 'wanted to do what everybody else was doing' at ITN - Victoria Jones/PA

Sir Trevor McDonald has revealed he insisted on covering The Troubles as a reporter in Northern Ireland because he did not want to be treated like the token black man at ITN.

The veteran broadcaster said he pushed to cover the conflict because he wanted to be doing what everyone else was doing when he joined the network in 1973.

In an interview with John Cleese to be broadcast on GB News on Sunday, Sir Trevor spoke about his experience covering The Troubles.

I wanted to go to Northern Ireland, I must confess here, partly for personal reasons, he said.

I was employed by ITN and I had absolutely no reason why they gave me this job, and I wanted to make sure that I was doing what everybody else was doing, in other words, to put it very bluntly, I didnt want to be the token black man at ITN.

I wanted to do what everybody else was doing it resulted in my going to Northern Ireland, which was probably one of the most extraordinary things Ive ever done.

Sir Trevor McDonald covered The Troubles in Northern Ireland when he worked at ITN - Alex Bowie/Hulton Archive

Sir Trevor said that before arriving in Belfast he had never heard a bomb go off and could hardly spell Kalashnikov.

Here I was thrown into this situation, but I learned a lot, he said.

There was almost a kind of aggression to the politics.

There was a very strong kind of religious base to some of this. I remember once, I frequently said to my friends, I stumbled into an argument about mixed communities and mixed races and mixed areas and I hadnt got hold of exactly what was happening.

I said, I dont understand what your problem was about mixed areas or mixed communities you know, and I said, I have a mixed marriage, for example and they said is your wife Catholic? I said, no, shes white. But immediately you see, they thought there was a religious bias to everything. That was what I took away from those times.

Sir Trevor also spoke about the trepidation he felt preparing to interview Saddam Hussein, the late Iraqi dictator.

He had a pretty awful reputation, he said. Somebody told me, in fact, that there was one meeting at which some minister began to voice a disagreement about something with him. Saddam Hussein took the minister out, shot him, and continued the meeting as though nothing had happened.

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There are ways to reduce the stress and expense of ending a marriage, but they require both parties to want to end the relationship civilly. (Lisk Feng/The New York Times)

If there is an easy point of agreement in the emotional upheaval of divorce, it is that endless legal battles can break the bank.

Hourly attorney fees can hit the high three figures, according to Nicole Feuer, vice president of development and operations for the National Association of Divorce Professionals, a group of 600 people in the legal, financial, mental health and residential professions. The association estimates that the average cost of a divorce is $15,000 to $20,000, but contested divorces can be far more expensive. Disagreements over issues like child custody may take years to resolve and can push costs well over $100,000.

This has been the case for Maggie Kim, who has been mired in six years of negotiations with her former husband. Every five weeks, she flies from her home in Santa Monica, California, to see her two teenage children in Paris, where her former husband won custody. Kim, a 50-year-old musician and the writer of Divorce or Die, a Substack newsletter, has spent about $400,000 on her divorce, not including travel costs. This is money, she said ruefully, that would have been much better spent paying for her childrens college educations.

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Ive retained 16 law firms across three countries, and its very hard to find a lawyer who defends your interests, she said.

She has paid for legal fees with her earnings and 11 maxed-out credit cards, a personal loan, a loan from one of my best friends.

The greatest challenge of getting divorced, many learn, can be trying to negotiate and control powerful emotions: anger, betrayal, grief, rage, disappointment. Too often, with lawyers as costly proxies, a warring couples every unresolved issue costs more and more money.

I say to my clients all the time: Youre making the biggest legal and financial decisions of your life in the middle of the worst moment, said Kate Anthony, who produces a podcast called The Divorce Survival Guide and who has trained to work with couples in high-conflict marriages and those involving domestic violence.

Choosing to immediately lawyer up  often a default choice  is one of the worst things you can do, she added. The family court system loves a divorce. Thats how they make their money, off the rage and bitterness.

But there are ways to reduce the stress and expense of ending a marriage. These options include using a document service (ideally reviewed by a lawyer), mediation and collaborative divorce.

Vanessa McGrady, a writer in California who was married for three years and who became a parent during that time, said that she realized there were some insurmountable issues with her former husband and chose to use document service We the People for her divorce.

It was not contentious, and it was easier because we didnt have assets together, she said. We had no IRAs. It was my condo, and I was making the payments. She recommends having a lawyer review a document divorce to ensure that it is done correctly.

The process took a year and cost less than $2,000 because she had hashed out issues with her ex before their divorce proceedings, she said. McGrady, 55, was glad to have saved thousands of dollars for her own retirement or for her daughters future needs. I dont know anyone whos had as simple and easy a divorce as we did, even though it was frustrating and sad at times, she said. Before you go down the rabbit hole of rage and revenge, think where you want your money to go.

Caitlin Steele, who lives in Seattle, used a mediation service from a startup called Wevorce, which cost $750 when she got divorced in 2017. At the time, Steele, a senior design manager at Atlassian, a software company, had little disposable income and no children. She had witnessed a friend experience the emotional and financial fallout of an embattled divorce that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars and limited access to his child for six years.

She had been married for 10 years when, she said, the wheels started to fall off. She filed for divorce, which was finalized six months later. Her husband was making $180,000 to her $90,000 a year, which in San Francisco left her, at the age of 38, sharing a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate.

I was in no position to hire a lawyer who would be motivated for a battle neither of us were interested in, said Steele, now 46. Her former husband didnt want to get divorced, but they managed to end the marriage civilly. I would have ended up better off with a lawyer involved, but at what cost emotionally and financially? Im proud we were able to do it, and it wasnt always easy, but both of us were motivated to finish it without using lawyers who would have had a motive to make more money, she said.

Steele cautions others using mediation to be prepared to come to the table from a place of respect. You have to have a balance of power and a commitment to doing this as efficiently and painlessly as possible, she said.

For those with significant assets to divide, and those unlikely to easily come to an agreement using a document or mediation service, collaborative divorce is another option. Nanci Smith, whose Williston, Vermont, law practice focuses on this process, describes it as an evolving process approved by the American Bar Association and the courts. Its been around for 30 years, and there are attorneys in every state who can do this, said Smith, the author of a recent book on the subject.

Divorce is 80% emotional, 10% legal and 10% financial, she said. You cannot make important decisions when overwhelmed by grief, shame, rage. Every emotion comes up. She insists that every couple consult a mental health professional before starting a divorce.

In collaborative divorce, three key players  a lawyer, a financial professional and a therapist  work together to help the couple stay calm while gathering all the information needed.

We create a safe space for our clients to process what theyre facing, Smith said. We collect the necessary data, and we process it. Everyone has a role, so a couple only moves ahead when they are psychologically ready. It allows people to come to the table and untangle themselves in a respectful way.

It is the most costly of these alternatives, ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 or more, Smith said. The range is huge, depending on the assets and the level of conflict over them. Its still less costly than going to court, she said.

Much like using a document service, mediation is a less expensive way to divorce, but it also relies on a couples goodwill and cooperation for it to succeed. Erik Wheeler, a former software expert, retrained six years ago to offer this service to his clients, thanks to a masters degree in mediation and applied conflict studies from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.

The focus of mediation becomes working together for an outcome that works for both, he said. The main benefit of this is that the couple has full control of the process and can take the time they need.

He offers an initial two-hour session for $440 to provide an overview of the process and to help couples understand the law. Theres lots of misunderstanding, which fuels fear, which creates conflict, he said. The majority of people end up working well together. Its quite surprising. The total cost for a mediated divorce, he estimates, is about $3,000.

For Jeff Bogle, a writer in Philadelphia who has two daughters, mediation proved to be the best choice when he divorced his wife of 17 years in 2020.

This might be the most amicable divorce youll ever hear, said Bogle, 47. We just grew apart.

For a total cost of $350, the former spouses easily negotiated who would keep the family home (he did) and came up with a sum that his former wife would pay for property taxes, child support and other expenses. She earned about $200,000 annually  twice his income, Bogle said.

Key to their ability to divorce affordably and quickly was being aligned on all their issues. They did not have a custody battle over their children, then ages 11 and 15. The house was kept in both their names, and Bogle said his former wife will buy him out after their youngest turns 18.

To do it the way we did it, you have to be friendly or at least on friendly terms, not greedy, he said. We didnt want to hurt one another financially. If youre willing to work things through and be honest and fair, you can save a lot of money.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
You caught me, Akron. I admit I was wrong.

The lure of candy was just too much, so I took the risk and I paid the price. Blame it on the caramel creams.

Usually I walk to the Peanut Shoppe from our downtown office, but I happened to be driving along South Main Street on a recent weekday morning and decided to pull over to buy some treats. There were plenty of empty spaces. I mean, its downtown Akron in 2023.

Mark J. Price, Beacon Journal reporter.

Sure, I couldve taken the time to figure out the new parking meters or insert a credit card or download the new app or pretend I understood QR codes. Why bother? I wouldnt be long.

I arrived just as the store opened at 10 a.m.

In the time it took to buy a half-pound each of caramel creams, tootsie rolls, honeybee candies and fruit chews, I received a parking ticket.

The meter guy must have chuckled to himself as I sauntered across the street, oblivious to his presence. I was gone for only five minutes!

I returned to find a ticket on my windshield. Man, can that guy write fast.

Maybe there ought to be a little leeway for customers supporting downtown businesses  say, um, exactly five minutes  before enforcement of parking rules on a less-than-busy street.

Other drivers should be aware that downtown parking enforcement takes place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekends and holidays are free.

I had the option of denying the parking infraction, requesting a hearing and bringing evidence to back up my claim. The only evidence I had was a bag of delicious candy.

So I mailed my $10 fine to the parking violations bureau with a LOVE stamp on the envelope. I swear I wasnt being passive-aggressive. It was the only stamp I had.

However, I did write Follow me to Akron on the memo line of the check.

You can bet I learned my lesson. Next time, I will look carefully for the meter guy before I saunter into the store for caramel creams.

What utter balderdash

Darn it to heck. A new study has found that Ohio is the second sweariest state in the nation.

BonusFinder.com, an online gambling portal, reported analyzing hot posts on subreddit pages to determine which states had the worst potty mouths. The average American swears 80 to 90 times a day  or about five words every hour, according to researchers.

To virtually no ones surprise, Texas captured first place with more than 6.9 cuss words per post. Analysts detected 4,743 expletives across 691 posts. Jeepers, thats a lot of F-words and S-words.

Ohio proudly finished second with an average of 6.7 cuss words per post, equating to 5,601 expletives from 833 posts. How many of those were directed toward Michigan?

Florida came in third with 6.5 swear words per post and 4,723 uses overall in 726 posts. When the snowbirds arrive from Ohio, it could increase.

Remarkably, California was the state with the least incendiary language with only 0.2 cuss words per post, according to the study. What a bunch of poltroons.

Come on, Ohio. You can do better. Try for No. 1 next time.

Make the connection

Lets play a game. Im going to give you a list of words and youre going to tell me how theyre related.

Ready? Here goes:

Alert. Anvil. Bloomer. Climax. Crayon. Delightful. Dodo. Dull. Equity. Fly. Funk. Hooker. Jumbo. Jump. Modest. Pansy. Relief. Spanker.

Did you crack the code? Believe it or not, those are the names of communities in Ohio.

This and that

 Cleveland Metroparks has drained 87-acre Hinckley Lake to replace a 1927 dam. I wonder if any aging mobsters are getting a little worried about what workers might find in the mud.

 Whoever designed the new configuration of Central Interchange in Akron must have played a lot of Spirograph as a kid.

 The November election was a real throwback. Anne Eisenhower ran for Medina municipal judge and Ryan Nixon ran for Brunswick Hills Township trustee. Those surnames probably havent been on the same ballot since 1956.

 Do out-of-state telemarketers ever call Stan Hywet to ask for Stan?

 To me, winter doesnt officially arrive until the two ornamental lions are wrapped in green protective plastic at that beautiful home on Miller Road in Fairlawn. Enjoy your hibernation, noble beasts. See you next spring.

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

More: Oops! Classic bloopers from the collection of Mark J. Price

When fast food was fresh: These national chains transformed Akron dining habits

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: If you dont feed the meter, it will cost you | Mark J. Price
Four Arizona lawmakers put out a scorching news release last week. Their target was Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only Palestinian American in Congress. She was scheduled to speak at Arizona State University. They told her to get lost.

Congresswoman Tlaibs Extremist, Antisemitic Views Are Not Welcome in the State of Arizona, the headline of the news release said.

The power of the statement was that it came from members of both parties  two Republicans and two Democrats.

And yet, they buried the lead.

Arizona State had already canceled the event

Not until the last paragraph did they get to the most important words in their message:

Congresswoman Tlaib is of course free to speak on ASUs campus, and we commend our universities for supporting free speech and hosting uncomfortable conversations.

Their praise of the universities was premature.

Before Tlaib could address students at Arizona State Universitys Neeb Hall on Friday afternoon, the university had canceled her visit.

People protest at Arizona State University after the campus canceled an event where Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was to speak on Palestine in Tempe on Nov. 17, 2023.

On the day of the speech, ASU announced that groups not affiliated with ASU had organized the event outside of ASU policies and procedures.

So, no go.

There are good reasons to silence Tlaib

If you needed good reasons to stop this event, Tlaib and the student protesters who support her had provided them.

Pro-Palestinian protesters had earlier in the week disrupted a student government meeting at ASUs Memorial Union and were accused of throwing landscaping rocks at the windows.

Some of the Jewish students there said that ASU police had to escort them from the building for their own protection, and that they endured death threats from protesters.

Jewish students are being vilified. Will our allies stand up to antisemitism?

Tlaib, for her part, had just been censured on Nov. 7 by the U.S. House for promoting false narratives about Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.

After the terror strike that killed more than 1,200 mostly Israeli civilians, Tlaib called for dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.

Her colleagues perceived that as a defense of terrorism, not to mention a serious lack of empathy for the people slaughtered by Hamas.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Oct. 18, 2023, near the Capitol in Washington.

Tlaib's defense doesn't add up

Further, Tlaib has long embraced the phrase From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which has roots in the Hamas charter that calls for the destruction of Israel and is used by the terrorist group as a battle cry.

Widely perceived as a call to wipe out the state of Israel and the Jews living there, the expression is perceived by many as antisemitic and eliminationist.

Tlaib defended the expression: From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate, she tweeted.

People protest at Arizona State University after the campus cancelled an event where Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was to speak on Palestine in Tempe on Nov. 17, 2023.

Thats not credible and small comfort to Jewish students who now hear it from protesters on campuses across the United States.

And yet Tlaib should have a forum at ASU. If requested by her student and faculty supporters there, the university, on principle, should find a way to make it happen.

ASU should let Tlaib speak, anyway

The ASU administration has taken enormous heat for defending free speech, particularly controversial speakers who are conservative and were opposed by large groups of students and faculty.

Officials should also endure the heat for providing a forum for a far-left controversial speakers such as Tlaib.

Cartoon falls to cancel culture: In perilous times, free speech attacks are no laughing matter

Defending speech is hard. Mundane speech never requires defending. Only speech that infuriates and polarizes needs protection.

The sweet spot for ASU in the battle over speech is to be hated by both left and right for defending speech rights universally.

The irony here is that there is a creeping agenda on the political left in recent years to silence conservative speech.

It arrives under the guise of words are violence or disinformation, but its really about silencing the right and consolidating power on the left.

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Conservatives should defend Tlaib's right to free speech

Having endured years of this, conservatives should now be defending Rashida Tlaibs right to express her sulfurous views on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Why?

Because words are the building blocks of civilized society. Civilized people work out our differences with words rather than clubs and knives and guns.

What can you say on college campuses? Why conservative and transgender people feel excluded.

Deny people left or right the words to express themselves and eventually we drive them underground, where they will turn to other means to solve their problems.

I sympathize with ASU officials. These are tense times with nations and peoples and families dividing over the Oct. 7 attack. Already we see violence trying to break out on the ASU campus.

But Tlaib is a member of Congress. She may have been censured, but she represents millions of voters in her Michigan district, many of them Muslims from Dearborn who view this conflict far differently than the majority of Americans who support Israel.

If people in Arizona want to give her a platform, she should have it.

I wont like what she says, but I love the country that lets her say it.

Phil Boas

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic, where this column first published. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com

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.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU had good reasons to silence Tlaib. Free speech was the wrong one
A 30-year-old Dorchester man is facing drug and firearm charges while detectives recently seized a loaded firearm during a search of his motor vehicle, police said.

John Rosa, 30, of Dorchester is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a firearm; threats to commit a crime, and trafficking of a Class B substance, police said. Detectives will seek additional complaints out of Dorchester District Court for unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device.

The additional charges are being sought after Boston Police detectives, while executing a search warrant of Rosas vehicle at about 3:08 p.m. Friday, recovered a SCCY CPX-2 firearm with 11 rounds in the magazine, police said.

Members of the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force earlier arrested Rosa at about 12:40 p.m. Monday while officers were conducting an ongoing firearm investigation in the area of 121 Wilmington St.

Officers saw Rosa get into a motor vehicle and leave the area, police said. Officers followed the motor vehicle and activated their emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop.

Rosa was placed into handcuffs, and his motor vehicle was towed to the police station pending a search warrant.

During a search of Rosa, officers recovered a pill bottle with approximately 25 grams of suspected to be oxycodone and $1,130 in U.S. currency, police said.

Rosa was arraigned in Dorchester District Court.

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NORTH PHILADELPHIA - Two men are in critical condition after they were shot at a North Philadelphia home.

The violence broke out on the 1300 block of West Seltzer Street Friday afternoon, just before 2 oclock, officials said.

The two men, aged 30 and 32, were found in front of a home, when officers arrived.

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One man was shot twice, while the other was suffering with four gunshot wounds.

They were rushed to Temple University Hospital by police and each was listed in critical condition.

Officials say two guns were recovered at the scene, but no arrests have been made.

___

Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here. All tips are confidential.

Click here to find resources for victims of violence in Philadelphia.
A new bar in downtown Fort Worth is bringing a classy yet approachable vibe to Houston Street.

The Archibald opened its doors in October at 902 Houston St., replacing Houston Street Bar and Patio, which closed in May after 17 years.

After working in the bar and restaurant industry for a decade separately and nearly another one together, Archibald co-owners Keith Arias and Garett Bratt always wanted to open their own spot.

Their dreams finally came true when they got word from a friend that Houston Street Bar and Patios lease was ending, Bratt said. The pair realized how perfect the downtown location was and pulled the trigger on the lease, bringing in Vira Philaphandeth to partner with them.

This is about 25 years of dreams coming true for us, Bratt said. You go through your bartending shifts every day and you hope one day you can own a place, and our dreams came true here.

The Archibald is now open in downtown Fort Worth at 902 Houston St.

Over the summer, The Archibald crew renovated the building to a more lounge-like look.

The back bar on the bottom floor was ripped out, along with the plaster on the walls to expose the natural brick, Arias said. As for the new seating, green couches are paired with black stools against the exposed brick wall.

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But the major draw for the Houston Street Bar and Patio and now The Archibald, is the rooftop patio.

The patio has a jungle theme, with greenery hanging around nearly every part of the rooftop. To pair with the green, wooden couches with peach-colored cushions are scattered around the patio, along with wooden chairs and high-top tables in the back.

When Philaphandeth designed the patio, all she had in mind was the color green, which led to the kind of New York City meets the jungle vibe.

Thats kind of a lot of the reviews, is like they dont feel like theyre in Fort Worth, Philaphandeth said.

The Archibald is now open in downtown Fort Worth at 902 Houston St.

Archibald patrons will never go thirsty at the bar, with a slew of specialty cocktails on the menu.

Some of the most popular drinks are the Archibald Old Fashioned (Crown Royal, bitters, simple syrup, orange peel and black cherry), Coconut Reserve (Woodford Reserve, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, coconut syrup, orange bitters and garnish) and Raspberry Cheesecake (Ketel One vodka, raspberry liquor, cream and mint leaf).

Patrons also wont go hungry thanks to chef Joshua Villegas and the on-site Son Of A Baker Pizzeria.

A few of the pies on the menu include the Presley Pesto (pesto, mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, chicken, basil and parmesan reggiano) and The Angry Pig (sriracha honey, bourbon habanero bacon jam, red pepper flakes, jalapenos and Italian sausage).

The Archibald is now open in downtown Fort Worth at 902 Houston St.

The Archibalds name means bold and distinguished and thats exactly the classy yet approachable vibe the bar is going for, Bratt said.

Were just really excited to be downtown, Bratt said. I cant wait for everyone to actually see the space and taste the pizza and enjoy the drinks that we put together.

The Archibald is open Monday-Friday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday-Sunday noon to 2 a.m. at 902 Houston St.
Museums from Guangdong province and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions announced the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Alliance of Museums at the Chinese Museum Studies Conference on Friday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

The first members of the alliance are 24 key museums, including Guangdong Museum, Shenzhen Museum, Hong Kong Museum of History and Macao Museum of Art, with more to join in the future. As of December last year, there were 377 museums in Guangdong province.

"These museums are complementary. They can work together to present high-quality shows through the alliance," said Liu Shuguang, head of the Chinese Museums Association.

Museums from Hong Kong and Macao have more experience communicating and cooperating with museums from abroad, while museums from Guangdong province have a closer relationship with their counterparts from the rest of the country. They can collaborate to better use their resources to offer good exhibitions, and help spread Chinese culture to wider audiences from home and abroad.

"It's common to see economic cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. I think cultural exchanges and cooperation are also important," said Liu.

Xiao Haiming, director of Guangdong Museum, said that some of their joint exhibitions with counterparts from Hong Kong and Macao have won many awards and received warm welcome from visitors. Their show Focus: Acclimation of Art Between China and the West in the 18th-19th Century is going to be exhibited in Macao later this year.

"We have long cooperated with museums from Hong Kong and Macao. The establishment of the museum alliance in this area will offer more cooperation," said Xiao at the opening of the first Chinese Museum Studies Conference held in Guangzhou on Friday.

The conference attracted museum directors, scholars, experts and representatives of cultural institutions from home and abroad to discuss the high-quality development of museums in the new era.

"A healthy development of museums is not only about an increase in the number of museums and visitors and the expansion of museums' sizes, but also the building of a theoretical system," said Liu.

According to Liu, issues such as how to deal with the rising demand for tickets while museum accommodation is limited, how to transform the archaeological discoveries into a good show and how to offer better public services can not be completely resolved if there's no theoretical support.

"The building of China's museological study is a little bit late compared to its highly developed museums. But better late than never," Liu added.

Luo Wenli, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that museums have become popular in the past few years due to their good exhibitions. He hoped scholars and museum workers can shoulder the mission of building Chinese museology and spreading the culture and stories behind relics to a wider audience.
Dreams Come True of Jacksonville has collaborated with community partners to support local children battling life-threatening conditions.

People can donate toys and leave them at several assigned business and it will be distributed to the children.

Here are a list of toys that children in need have requested.

Read: Deck the Chairs grows in popularity every year; What does the future hold for the annual event?

Here are the locations people can drop off toys:

 All four NE FL PDQ locations

 Cinottis Bakery - 1523 Penman Rd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Read: Most Americans are stressed over holiday spending, inflation, new survey says

 Ritas Italian Ice Wildlight (Yulee) - 76020 William Burgess Blvd #6, Yulee, FL 32097

 Black Cat Pizzeria (Yulee) - 464073 State Rd 200 unit 1, Yulee, FL 32097

 StateFarm  Stephanie Lempesis (North Jax) - 13453 N Main St STE 106, Jacksonville, FL 32218

 Advanced Pediatric Care (Arlington) - 943 Cesery Blvd, Ste G, Jacksonville, FL 32211

Dreams Come True Jacksonville expects to open their Toy Shop in December for their Dream Families.

They will be expecting over 130 families to visit the shop.

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Read: Jacksonville karting race to raise money for Alzheimers Association Central and North Florida

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Aviv Asher, 2,5-year-old, her sister Raz Asher, 4,5-year-old, and mother Doron, react as they meet with Yoni, Raz and Aviv's father and Doron's husband, after they returned to Israel

PETAH TIKVA, Israel (Reuters) - Released with her mother and little sister after almost 50 days in captivity in Gaza, four-year-old Raz Asher sits in her father's arms on a hospital bed in Israel.

"I dreamt we came home," she tells her father, Yoni. "Now the dream came true," he replied.

Raz was released with her two-year-old sister, Aviv and mother Doron on Friday, in the first stage of the Israel-Hamas hostage deal that is set to see another 14 hostages, women and children, released on Saturday.

If the deal goes through as intended, it will see the release of 50 Israeli hostages in return for 150 Palestinian women and teenage prisoners during four days, in which fighting in the Gaza Strip is paused and aid pumped into the enclave.

Around 240 people, civilians and soldiers, as well as some foreign nationals, were abducted to Gaza during Hamas' deadly Oct 7 attack.

Yoni Asher had stayed home on that day, in central Israel, when his wife took the two girls to visit their grandmother in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the border with Gaza. As the attack unfolded he eventually lost phone contact with his wife.

He later saw a video on social media of her and his two little girls being taken to Gaza on a vehicle, gunmen around them.

"We'll be going home soon," Yoni told Raz in the footage released by Schneider Children's Medical Center, the hospital treating the children, who are all in relatively good condition, its staff said.

(Reporting by Rami Amichay in Petah Tikva and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
A convicted drug trafficker who worked for the son of drug-lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was fatally shot on Thanksgiving, according to authorities.

Eduardo Escobedo, 39  known as El Mago  was killed during the incident on an industrial lot on Thursday morning, official records show.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department launched a homicide investigation after officers attended the scene at around 8.30am in the Willowbrook area of Los Angeles.

Records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirm Escobedos death. The other victim was reported to be 47-year-old Guillermo De Los Angeles Jr.

A third man was also taken to hospital with gunshot wounds that are not life-threatening.

It appears that there was some type of gathering or party at the location from last night to early this morning, Lieutenant Omar Camacho told KABC-TV Channel 7 at the scene.

#LASD Homicide Detectives Responding to a Shooting Death Investigation, 14200 block of Towne Avenue, #LosAngeles https://t.co/j4FKJfwrzo pic.twitter.com/XNhyPRkJwL  LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) November 23, 2023

Escobedo became the primary distributor of cannabis in LA for El Chapos oldest son, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, according to prosecutors at a 2014 detention hearing. He laundered the proceeds in part by buying exotic cars and shipping them to Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa and the cartels stronghold.

He was also alleged to have ordered the death of a rival trafficker, though was never charged in the murder case.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Escobedo served almost five years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute more than 10,000 kilograms of cannabis and laundering drug proceeds. He was released in 2018.

Following his release, Escobedo opened a chain of restaurants and food trucks called Benihibachi, and in recent years flaunted an opulent lifestyle.

Social media posts showed him posing for photographs with Floyd Mayweather and Al Pacino, as well as being pictured with an alleged member of the Italian Mafia.

According to The Los Angeles Times, ahead of his release Escobedos attorney, Ezekiel Cortez, told the judge: As a society, you recognize that they listened. You recognize people who turned their lives around.

You recognize people who cut their ties, as in this case, with former very bad associations.

He added: Mr Escobedo proved to the whole world that he cut his ties completely.
The Republic of Ireland's police chief has blamed rioting in Dublin city centre on Thursday on a "lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far-right ideology".

Disorder broke out hours after three children and a school care assistant were stabbed outside a nearby primary school.

Ireland prides itself on its hospitality and the cead mile failte - a hundred thousand welcomes - so what is driving this far-right movement?

While the answer to that is complicated, the best place to start is almost two centuries ago when people started to leave Ireland, with hopes of better opportunities elsewhere.

Migration has featured prominently in the story of Ireland.

People have left the island in their millions; the majority fleeing poverty and famine, others for their own reasons.

The Irish were among the "huddled masses" who glimpsed the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis Island in New York and the start of a new American life.

They also emigrated to other countries in huge numbers, particularly Great Britain and Australia.

Emigration was, until relatively recently, just a fact of Irish life.

But in the last 20 years or so, that has changed massively, beginning with EU enlargement and more recently immigration from India, Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria and other countries around the world.

Rioters clashed with police in Dublin on Thursday night

The latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures for 2022 show that one fifth of the population in the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland was born abroad.

The CSO says that "80% of the usually resident population was born in Ireland", a decrease of 3% since 2016.

The arrival of over 90,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war with Russia accounts for some of that decrease.

The writer and Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole recently wrote that the number of foreign-born residents is much higher in Ireland now than "in the great age of immigration in the US".

It is also a lot higher than recent immigration to the UK.

Despite that fact migration has barely featured as an issue in Irish party political discourse - even after the 2010 European Union-International Monetary Fund bail-out that briefly saw a big increase in unemployment and a return of emigration.

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It's important to note that Ireland doesn't have a Marine Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni or Geert Wilders type of mainstream political figure.

That can partly be explained by Irish folk's memory of emigration and a desire to be kind to newcomers.

Many still speak of the racist signs in boarding houses in London: "No blacks, no Irish, no dogs."

But, in recent times, senior politicians and police have begun talking of the threat posed by far-right activists seeking to capitalise on a housing shortage, a cost of living crisis and fears about growing numbers of asylum seekers.

"Ireland is full" and "Ireland for the Irish" are frequently heard mantras.

Thursday night's violence wasn't the first time there have been concerns about public order and the far-right.

In September, politicians had to be escorted out of parliament buildings by police officers after protesters blocked entrances and displayed mock gallows.

There are also increasing numbers of localised protests about new residences for asylum seekers as some seek political advantage ahead of next year's local and European elections.

At the moment - in contrast with most of the democratic world - no politician here has been elected to any office - either at local council or national level - on a far-right platform.

There is also no single person or party around whom the extremists have gathered.

All see themselves as anti-establishment and have, to varying degrees, different concerns.

For most, it is anti-immigration but others are fighting what they call "woke culture", including LGBTQ rights and nearly all opposed the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Social media has helped to create a new movement.

Not all far-right activists would have supported Thursday night's violence and not all the thrashing of, particularly sports, shops was carried out by political extremists.

Some were opportunistically taking advantage of the chaos to rob and get their hands on the latest gear.

Meanwhile, politicians here have accused the far-right of opportunistically trying to capitalise on a stabbing incident that allegedly involved a foreign-born Irish citizen.

But there has been much praise for a Brazilian-born Deliveroo driver who helped stop the stabbings by hitting the attacker with his helmet.

"You see a man with a knife with a little girl - there is nothing else to do," said delivery driver Caio Benicio

The media seems to be keen that a racist narrative does not develop around what happened.

But it's likely that the riot will have both a policing and a political impact.

The police, while respecting the right to protest, are likely to adopt a tougher approach to far-right activists.

And, even before the violence, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar was saying that Ireland "must slow the flow" of refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere.

But most people here are likely to want to keep a common sense perspective.

The issues associated with very recent immigration pale into insignificance compared to the problems posed by almost two centuries of emigration.

Few would appear to disagree with the proposition that migration has to be properly managed.

But surely many say it's far better to offer a cead mile failte than to see your "huddled masses" depart for foreign lands.
Dublin riots  latest: Police say water cannon ready in case of disturbances as girl fights for her life

The use of water cannons are an available tactic for Irish police in the event of further disturbances in Dublin later on Saturday.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening  which involved far-right elements  with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

It came as Irish police issued an update on the conditions of the victims of the Dublin school knife attack as a five-year-old girl was left fighting for her life.

Garda told The Independent on Saturday afternoon that the girl who was among a number of people stabbed outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire primary school in the Irish capital on Thursday remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street.

The six-year-old girl, who was receiving medical treatment for less serious injuries, has now been discharged from hospital, after a boy, aged 5, was previously discharged.

The adult woman, a nursery worker aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital.

Meanwhile, the adult man, aged in his late 40s, is in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin Region. Garda said he remains a person of interest in its inquiries as the force continues to investigate the knife attack.

It comes as 32 people have been charged over the riots that subsequently broke out across the Irish capital.

Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, condemned the more than 500 rioters as bringing shame on Dublin, Ireland, their families and themselves.

Key Points

Police give update on stabbing victims

Girl, 5, critical as 32 charged over huge destruction riots

Rioters driven by hate not patriotism - Varadkar

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

How the Dublin riots began

Pausing live coverage

13:25 , Tara Cobham

We are pausing our live coverage.

Thank you for following this live blog.

Visit The Independents homepage for all the latest updates.

Donohoe gives full support to Irish Justice Minister and Garda commissioner

13:17 , Tara Cobham

Full confidence has been expressed in the Irish Justice Minister and the head of the Irish police after they faced calls to quit following the worst rioting seen in the state for decades.

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe also cautioned against division after Garda cars, a bus and a tram were set alight, shops damaged and looted and officers attacked during violent scenes, which involved far-right elements, in Dublin last week.

It came shortly after three children and a women were injured in a stabbing attack outside a school in the north city centre.

Rebecca Black reports:

Donohoe gives full support to Irish Justice Minister and Garda commissioner

Watch: Irish Parliament protected by ring of steel following rioting in Dublin

12:58 , Tara Cobham

Irelands police defended by government minister in wake of riots

11:50 , Tara Cobham

Garda has been defended by an Irish government minister in the wake of the violent riots that ripped through Dublin on Thursday night.

Pascal Donohoe said Irelands police faced an unprecedented situation when chaotic scenes broke out across the capital following a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire primary school on Thursday lunchtime.

Speaking on BBC News NIs Sunday Politics programme, he acknowledged that law and order were not maintained in our city centre as we would want and the country would expect but praised the forces exceptional work in tough and demanding circumstances.

Members of the Garda Public Order Unit detain a man, following the riot in the aftermath of the school stabbing in Dublin (REUTERS)

Some 48 arrests made in Dublin since Thursday

10:32 , Tara Cobham

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and a high-visibility policing plan is in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units.

The Garda dog unit and the mounted unit are also being deployed, and two water cannon have been described as available for use if required.

The water cannon are on loan from the Police Service of Northern Ireland following a request for mutual aid from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

They will solely be operated by members of An Garda Siochana if deployed.

Thuggery on streets of Dublin will not be tolerated  Irish Justice Minister

09:45 , Tara Cobham

Further thuggery on the streets of Dublin will not be tolerated, Irelands Justice Minister has warned.

There has been a heavy gardai presence in the Irish capital across the weekend following rioting on Thursday night.

The chaotic scenes  which involved far-right elements  saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Rebecca Black reports:

Thuggery on streets of Dublin will not be tolerated  Irish Justice Minister

Over 280,000 raised for Deliveroo hero who stopped Dublin child knife attack

09:00 , Anuj Pant

A fundraiser for a hero Deliveroo driver who stopped a knife attack in Dublin has reached nearly 300,000 as it encouraged supporters to buy the brave Brazillian a pint.

Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending an assault on three children in Dublin after he jumped off his bike to hit the attacker over the head with his helmet.

The father-of-two told the Daily Mail that he acted by instinct after he drove past Parnell Square and saw what he thought was a normal fight.

Mr Benicio said the man fell to the ground and others came over to help keep him there.

The hero driver who moved to Ireland from Rio de Janeiro a year ago said: I didnt have time to be afraid. I have two kids myself and I didnt have time to be afraid, I just acted.

Organiser Paul Darcy set up the GoFundMe page saying: The mans a hero and the least we can do is buy him a pint, so Im asking you to donate the price of a pint of Guinness in your local so that he knows the people of Dublin appreciate him.

Read more below.

Over 280,000 raised for Deliveroo hero who stopped Dublin child knife attack

How the Dublin riots began: From flares and fireworks at a crime scene to hundreds-strong mob

08:00 , Anuj Pant

Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

A second girl, aged 6, continues to receive medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin. A boy, aged 5, was discharged from CHI Crumlin yesterday evening.

The childrens care assistant, a woman in her 30s who was said by the authorities to have used her body to protect the children, remains in a serious condition in the Mater Hospital. A man in his 50s also remains in a serious condition in a hospital in the Dublin region.

Read more below.

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming countrys PM hates the Irish people

07:00 , Anuj Pant

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of X/Twitter, said Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar hates the Irish people after the nation announced its intent to modernise its laws against hate and hate speech.

The interaction took place on Mr Musks social media platform. He was responding to a meme account that shared a snippet of a news story about the legislative initiative and complained that the Irish government want all of your freedoms.

Irish children were stabbed by a foreign man in Dublin yesterday yet the government twist the story and use the backlash as an opportunity to pass new hate speech laws, the owner of the account wrote. The Irish government want all of your freedoms.

Mr Musk, the wealthiest man on the planet and the owner of one of the most influential social media platforms, responded to the account by saying Ironically, the Irish PM hates the Irish people.

Read more below.

Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming countrys PM hates the Irish people

Girl, 6, released from hospital as another girl still critical

06:30 , Barney Davis

Another child, who was injured in the Dublin stabbing attack was released by medical staff after she was admitted to hospital with head injuries.

A five-year-old girl who was among three children injured in a knife attack in Dublin was fighting for her life on Friday as the spotlight fell on far-right groups in Ireland following a night of riots in the Irish capital.

Police chiefs said they expected many more arrest to follow after 34 were held following a night of disturbances when about 500 far-right sympathisers and apparently angry youths on Thursday went on the rampage, causing damage that could cost tens of millions of euros to repair, according to Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

Girl, 5, fights for her life as far-right hooligans blamed for Dublin rioting

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

05:30 , Barney Davis

Police in Ireland are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage as a major investigation into riots in Dublins city centre continues.

The violence in the Irish capital on Thursday  which involved far-right elements and saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged  flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

There were a small number of arrests on Friday evening as gardai mounted a significant security operation around the OConnell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Jonathan McCambridge reports:

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

How the Dublin riots began: From flares and fireworks at a crime scene to hundreds-strong mob

03:30 , Barney Davis

Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

Tara Cobham reports:

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Water cannon available tactic to prevent further riots

02:30 , Barney Davis

Use of water cannon is an available tactic for Irish police in the event of further disturbances in Dublin later.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening  which involved far-right elements  with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

Water cannon an available tactic for Irish police in Dublin

Deliveroo hero fundraiser hits 300k

01:30 , Barney Davis

A fundraiser for a hero Deliveroo driver who stopped a knife attack in Dublin has reached 300,000 as it encouraged supporters to buy the brave Brazillian a pint.

Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending an assault on three children in Dublin after he jumped off his bike to hit the attacker over the head with his helmet.

The father-of-two told the Daily Mail that he acted by instinct after he drove past Parnell Square and saw what he thought was a normal fight.

Over 280,000 raised for Deliveroo hero who stopped Dublin child knife attack

Musk says Irish PM hates the Irish people

Saturday 25 November 2023 21:19 , Barney Davis

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of X/Twitter, said that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar hates the Irish people after the nation announced its intent to modernise its laws against hate and hate speech.

The interaction took place on Mr Musks social media platform.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming countrys PM hates the Irish people

Total of 48 arrests in Dublin disorder as high visibility patrols ordered to quell further violence

Saturday 25 November 2023 20:36 , Barney Davis

A total of 48 people have been arrested in Dublin over the past two days.

The Minster for Justice Helen McEntee said she had been briefed on Saturday afternoon by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on policing plans in place for the city centre, to ensure there was no repeat of the rioting.

A total of 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and a high visibility policing plan is in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units, she said.

Dublin getting back to normal as shoppers return

Saturday 25 November 2023 19:10 , Barney Davis

Shoppers are flooding back to Dublin city centre after violence flared on Thursday night.

BBC reporter Mark Simpson is at the scene posting a video of people going back to Christmas shopping.

Dublin city centre is returning to normal  crowds of shoppers are back. pic.twitter.com/YF03mSK2O0  Mark Simpson (@BBCMarkSimpson) November 25, 2023

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

Fundraiser to buy hero Deliveroo driver a pint hits 300k

Saturday 25 November 2023 18:18 , Barney Davis

A fundraiser for a hero Deliveroo driver who stopped a knife attack in Dublin has reached nearly 300,000 as it encouraged supporters to buy the brave Brazillian a pint.

Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending an assault on three children in Dublin after he jumped off his bike to hit the attacker over the head with his helmet.

The father-of-two told The Daily Mail that he acted by instinct after he drove past Parnell Square and saw what he thought was a normal fight.

Doctor passing stabbing on bike stopped to intubate girl, according to colleague

Saturday 25 November 2023 17:16 , Barney Davis

A nurse has asked people to think of a passing doctor who may have helped save the life of the Dublin stabbing victim.

The five-year-old girl stabbed outside the school in Dublin remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street, Garda has confirmed this afternoon.

The six-year-old girl, who was receiving medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin, has now been discharged from hospital and returned to the care of her family, said Irish police.

Thanks Garrett. I've just donated to this go fund me & another to the deliveroo driver. Can I just also ask people to think of the Temple St Anaesthetic Consultant who was passing by on his bike and stopped to assist & intubated the little girl. Mr H another hero x  Shelledgemac (@shelledge) November 24, 2023

After a parent shared a GoFundMe for the care worker escorting the kids to afterschool, one nurse replied: Can I just also ask people to think Temple St Anaesthetic Consultant who was passing by on his bike and stopped to assist & intubated the little girl.

Intubation is a process where a healthcare provider inserts a tube through a persons mouth or nose, then down into their airway.

Chief suspect has had several credible threats on his life - police

Saturday 25 November 2023 16:16 , Barney Davis

The chief suspect in the horror stabbing in Dublin that sparked riots across the city is being protected by police in hospital.

There have been reports of credible threats to the individuals life, The Irish Times reports.

Meanwhile, the adult man, aged in his late 40s, is in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin Region, said Garda.

The force said he remains a person of interest in its inquiries as police continue to investigate the knife attack.

Fireworks were thrown at police officers on Thursday (REUTERS)

Father hails care worker an absolute hero after protecting son from knifeman

Saturday 25 November 2023 16:09 , Tara Cobham

A father who says his six-year-old son was among the group of children targeted by a knifeman outside a Dublin school has hailed their care worker an absolute hero after she stepped in front of a knife for him and the other kids.

Writing on social media, Garrett Fitzgerald said: My six-year-old son was part of a group of junior and senior infants who were attacked yesterday as they walked to their after school on Parnell Square.

My sons care worker stepped in front of a knife for him and the other kids. She wrestled the guy long enough, to allow the other kids to run away and for help to arrive. Words fail me.

Shes an absolute hero.

He said a GoFundMe has been set up for her by a friend.

The woman, aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital.

Mr Fitzgerald added: She was one of many heroes yesterday, including passers-by who intervened, first responders and the children themselves.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those still in hospital and anyone who has been affected by this awful tragedy.

1/4 My 6 year old son was part of a group of junior and senior infants who were attacked yesterday as they walked to their after school on Parnell Square.  Garrett FitzGerald (@FitzgGer) November 24, 2023

Government will tighten anti-hate legislation, says Varadkar

Saturday 25 November 2023 15:30 , Tara Cobham

Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, has said his government would take immediate steps to tighten anti-hate legislation he said was unfit for the social media age.

"As a country we need to reclaim Ireland. We need to take it away from the cowerers who hide behind masks and try to terrify us with their violence," Varadkar said in an emotional statement.

Reserve Gardai support enhanced policing operation in Dublin on Saturday

Saturday 25 November 2023 15:00 , Tara Cobham

Reserve Gardai are supporting the enhanced policing operation in Dublin city centre on Saturday, Irish police have said.

Reserve Gardai paraded for duty at Pearse Street this morning to support the enhanced policing operation in place in Dublin City Centre.



Dublin City Centre is open for business!



We continue to work with & support residents, businesses and everyone visiting the city this weekend pic.twitter.com/g5oLl6WazO  Garda Info (@gardainfo) November 25, 2023

Water cannon an available tactic for Irish police in Dublin

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:30 , Tara Cobham

Use of water cannon is an available tactic for Irish police in the event of further disturbances in Dublin later.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening  which involved far-right elements  with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capitals main thoroughfare OConnell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

Rebecca Black reports:

Water cannon an available tactic for Irish police in Dublin

Police give update on stabbing victims

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:03 , Tara Cobham

The five-year-old girl stabbed outside the school in Dublin remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street, Garda has confirmed this afternoon.

The six-year-old girl, who was receiving medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin, has now been discharged from hospital and returned to the care of her family, said Irish police.

The adult woman, a nursery worker, aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital, added the force.

Meanwhile, the adult man, aged in his late 40s, is in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin Region, said Garda. The force said he remains a person of interest in its inquiries as police continue to investigate the knife attack.

A five-year-old boy was previously discharged from hospital.

How the Dublin riots began

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:00 , Tara Cobham

Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Legislation over use of body-worn cameras by police to be fast-tracked'

Saturday 25 November 2023 13:30 , Tara Cobham

Amid criticism of the Garda response to the riots, Government ministers met and heard that legislation to facilitate the use of body-worn cameras by police officers will be fast-tracked.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee also told colleagues that officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made.

Some arrests on Friday evening

Saturday 25 November 2023 12:00 , Tara Cobham

There were a small number of arrests in Dublin city centre on Friday evening.

Gardai mounted a significant security operation around the OConnell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Police patrol central Dublin on Friday (AP)

Justice Minister rejects call from Sinn Fein leader to resign

Saturday 25 November 2023 11:30 , Tara Cobham

The Justice Minister rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to resign.

Helen McEntee said: If Sinn Fein wish to debate law and order, if Sinn Fein wish to debate how we can support the gardai, I have no problem in standing over Fine Gaels record of law and order, Fine Gaels record of supporting members of An Garda Siochana.

I do not believe Sinn Fein can stand over their record.

Mrs McDonald said there had been a an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing and that a problem leading to Thursdays riot had been building for months.

Ireland's Justice Minister Helen McEntee speaking to the media outside Government Buildings, Dublin, on Friday (PA)

Justice Minister insists Garda has resources to keep Dublin safe over weekend

Saturday 25 November 2023 11:00 , Tara Cobham

The Irish Justice Minister has insisted that the Garda has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend.

Helen McEntee said this included securing the use of two water cannons from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Members of the Garda Public Order Unit detain a man on Friday, following a riot in the aftermath of a school stabbing that left several children and adults injured, in Dublin, Ireland (REUTERS)

Irish Justice Minister vows further arrests will follow in wake of Dublin riots

Saturday 25 November 2023 10:30 , Tara Cobham

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee has vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made in the wake of the riots in Dublin.

Some 32 people have so far been charged in connection to the disorder that broke out in the capital following a knife attack that left five people injured, including a five-year-old girl who is still fighting for her life.

Fireworks were thrown at police officers in the riots in Dublin on Thursday (REUTERS)

Dublin City Centre is open for normal business, says Garda

Saturday 25 November 2023 09:15 , Tara Cobham

Dublin City Centre is open for normal business, Garda has said.

An enhanced policing plan was in place on Friday evening, said the force, after the violent riots that erupted in the Irish capital this week.

It comes as shoppers are expected to descend on high streets across the country for Black Friday weekend.

Dublin City Centre is open for normal business.



We have an enhanced policing plan in place this evening and look forward to seeing shoppers, match goers and all those that will be socialising in the city over the weekend ahead.#KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/AUdC0IJaLX  Garda Info (@gardainfo) November 24, 2023

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is at war

Saturday 25 November 2023 08:31 , Tara Cobham

Conor McGregor has said he does not condone the riots in Dublin but insisted that a change must occur, after a knife attack left five people injured  including three children.

A five-year-old girl was left in critical condition after an attack in Dublin on Thursday (23 November), which led to violent protests in the Irish capital.

Former UFC champion McGregor was quick to criticise the governments reaction to the stabbing, having already been vocal this week after the sentencing of Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak who was jailed for life over the murder of 23-year-old Irish woman Ashling Murphy.

Alex Pattle, Combat Sports Correspondent reports:

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is at war

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

Saturday 25 November 2023 08:00 , Anuj Pant

Police in Ireland are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage as a major investigation into riots in Dublins city centre continues.

The violence in the Irish capital on Thursday  which involved far-right elements and saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged  flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Justice minister Helen McEntee also told colleagues that officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made.

Ms McEntee also rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and Garda commissioner Drew Harris to resign.

Read more below.

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

Garda have all resources necessary to keep people safe following Dublin riots

Saturday 25 November 2023 07:00 , Holly Evans

Irelands police force has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has vowed.

Ms McEntee also responded to criticism of the violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday night that saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged, by insisting she would not resign.

The violence in the Irish capital, which involved far-right elements, flared after a knife attack on three schoolchildren and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Read the full article here

Garda have all resources necessary to keep people safe following Dublin riots

Legislation for police to use body-worn cameras to be fast-tracked

Saturday 25 November 2023 06:00 , Holly Evans

Legislation allowing Garda officers to use body-worn cameras is to be fast-tracked, Irish ministers have been told.

Ministers met on Friday evening to discuss the response to violence which flared in Dublin city centre on Thursday evening.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee told the meeting that Garda are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests are certain.

She also briefed that the Recordings Devices Bill will be fast-tracked and enacted in the near future, allowing body-worn cameras to come into use for gardai.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told ministers he had spoken with the principal of the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire school, outside which three children and a woman were stabbed on Thursday, as well the manager of the Childrens Place Nursery and Montessori and representatives of the Dublin business community.

How the Dublin riots began

Saturday 25 November 2023 05:00 , Holly Evans

The riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening appear to have begun as a heated demonstration at the scene of a tragic incident that took place earlier in the day, Irish police have said.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in a knife attack outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm on Thursday lunchtime, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Two girls hurt in the attack are currently receiving treatment for serious injuries while a five-year-old boy has already been discharged from hospital. Both adults remain in care and are being treated for serious wounds.

Read the full article here

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Nobody could have anticipated Dublin violence, says Ireland police chief

Saturday 25 November 2023 04:00 , Holly Evans

Nobody could have anticipated Dublin violence, says Ireland police chief

Delivery driver who stopped attacker in Dublin recalls harrowing incident

Saturday 25 November 2023 03:00 , Holly Evans

Delivery driver who stopped attacker in Dublin recalls harrowing incident

Boris Johnson links Dublin race riots to immigration fears

Saturday 25 November 2023 02:00 , Holly Evans

Boris Johnson has labelled the violent scenes in Dublin race riots, and suggested that achingly liberal countries like Ireland now have concerns about the pace of immigration.

The former UK prime minister used his weekly Daily Mail column to drawn on the disorder in the Irish capital to make the case for the UK to take tougher action to curb net migration.

It comes after the latest data showed a record number of arrivals to the UK last year.

Read the full article here

Boris Johnson links Dublin race riots to immigration fears

Narrative of extremism must be challenged, Scottish First Minister says

Saturday 25 November 2023 01:00 , Holly Evans

The narrative of extremism must be challenged from wherever it emerges, Humza Yousaf has said.

The Scottish First Minister was speaking after rioting in Dublin, where he praised Irish police for running towards danger.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the scenes showed that elected politicians needed to be able to articulate the concerns of their electorate.

Read the full article here

Narrative of extremism must be challenged, Scottish First Minister says

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is at war

Saturday 25 November 2023 00:00 , Holly Evans

Conor McGregor has said he does not condone the riots in Dublin but insisted that a change must occur, after a knife attack left five people injured  including three children.

A five-year-old girl was left in critical condition after an attack in Dublin on Thursday (23 November), which led to violent protests in the Irish capital.

Former UFC champion McGregor was quick to criticise the governments reaction to the stabbing, having already been vocal this week after the sentencing of Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak who was jailed for life over the murder of 23-year-old Irish woman Ashling Murphy.

Read the full article here

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is at war

I lived through the Syrian war  but now I feel unsafe in Dublin

Friday 24 November 2023 23:00 , Holly Evans

Of all days, my introvert brown-skinned, half-Palestinian, half-Syrian husband, who embraces working from home as a software engineer, is out in Dublin city centre for his work Christmas dinner. I kiss him goodbye before he takes the Luas train, oblivious to how our night is about to turn upside down.

Ive been following the news earlier in the day. Ive read about the horrific stabbing of kids and caretakers. As a mother of a six-year-old boy, I think of the mothers receiving the news of their worst nightmare. Why in the world would anyone commit such a terrible crime?

Read the full article from Suad Aldarra here

I lived through the Syrian war  but now I feel unsafe in Dublin

Garda police make a number of arrests on Friday evening

Friday 24 November 2023 22:00 , Holly Evans

Gardai made a number of arrests on OConnell Street in Dublin city centre on Friday night.

Police are mounting a significant security operation in the area following violence which flared in the aftermath of a stabbing attack on Thursday.

A number of people were taken away in police vans following sporadic altercations.

Fundraiser for hero driver raises twice as much as collection for children and carer

Friday 24 November 2023 20:55 , Jane Dalton

A fundraising effort for the motorbike food delivery driver who hit the knife attacker with his helmet has raised more than 210,000 so far.

The GoFundMe page was set up to buy Caio Benicio a pint.

As of 8.30pm on Friday it had raised 246,051, from more than 23,000 donations.

But a page to raise funds for the children and their care assistant attacked had raised only just over half that amount  129,951 (112,000) from just over 7,000 donations.

New arrests made in city centre

Friday 24 November 2023 20:26 , Jane Dalton

Gardai made a number of arrests in OConnell Street in Dublin city centre on Friday night.

Police are mounting a significant security operation in the area following violence which flared in the aftermath of a stabbing attack on Thursday.

A number of people were taken away in police vans following sporadic altercations.

(Getty Images)

Body cameras for police to be fast-tracked, minister says

Friday 24 November 2023 20:04 , Jane Dalton

Legislation allowing Garda officers to use body-worn cameras is to be fast-tracked, Irish ministers have been told.

As ministers met to discuss the response to the violence, Justice Minister Helen McEntee told the meeting that gardai were trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests were certain.

She also said the Recordings Devices Bill will be fast-tracked and enacted in the near future, allowing body-worn cameras to come into use for gardai.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told ministers he had spoken with the principal of the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire school, outside which three children and a woman were stabbed on Thursday, as well the manager of the Childrens Place Nursery and Montessori and representatives of the Dublin business community.
FILE PHOTO: PVV party leader Geert Wilders meets with members of his party at the Dutch Parliament

By Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Veteran Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders on Saturday vowed to be prime minister of the Netherlands eventually, following an election in which his party won the most seats.

In a long post on X, formerly Twitter, that expressed frustration at other parties for their apparent unwillingness to cooperate with his Freedom Party (PVV), Wilders said he would "continue to moderate" his positions if necessary to gain power.

"Today, tomorrow or the day after, the PVV will be part of government and I will be prime minister of this beautiful country," Wilders wrote.

Although Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) finished well ahead of rivals in the Nov. 22 vote on an anti-immigration platform, his party is forecast to take only 25% of the seats in Dutch parliament.

That means he will have to cooperate with at least two more moderate parties in order to form a government.

On Friday, the conservative VVD Party of caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte, which shares many of Wilders' views on immigration, said it would not participate in a cabinet with him.

However the VVD's new leader, Dilan Yesilgoz, did not rule out offering a Wilders government outside support.

Pieter Omtzigt, who leads the centrist reform NSC Party and is also seen as a likely partner in a Wilders' government, has said cooperation will be difficult due to extreme positions Wilders has voiced that appear to violate Dutch constitutional protections on freedom of religion.

Dutch coalition talks usually take months, and positions about parties' willingness to work with each other can shift as time goes on.

If Wilders is unable to form a government, more centrist combinations that exclude the PVV are theoretically possible, while new elections would be a last resort.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Christina Fincher)
(Reuters) - Egypt said on Saturday it had received positive signals from all parties over a possible extension of the Gaza truce for one or two days.

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that the country was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement over extending the four-day truce, which "means the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails."

(Reporting by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Mark Potter)
NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA - An elderly woman is in critical condition after someone hit her with a vehicle and drove off in Northeast Philadelphia.

The hit-and-run happened in a parking lot on the 8800 block of Frankford Avenue Friday afternoon, a little after 1:30, officials said.

Someone driving a white Jeep Wrangler, with a Pennsylvania tag, hit an unidentified, elderly woman in a parking lot, then drove off.

MORE LOCAL HEADLINES:

Medics rushed the woman to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. She is in critical condition, according to authorities.

The Jeep was found on Delaire Landing Road.

Authorities say a witness gave them the license plate number and a description of the Jeep. Police ran the plate and found the owner's address.

Police sources told FOX 29's Steve Keeley the female owner of the Jeep said she was unaware of the incident. She cooperated with investigators, voluntarily turning over the vehicle to them.

Police did not arrest the owner and authorities are actively investigating the incident.

___

Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here. All tips are confidential.

Click here to find resources for victims of violence in Philadelphia.
A former employee of a Modesto program for children with autism has been charged with committing a lewd act upon a child.

Sean Dalton Marquez, 35, was arraigned Nov. 14 in Stanislaus Superior Court. Marquez worked at the Kendall Center in Modesto, which provides behavioral therapy for children with autism. According to the criminal complaint, the alleged victim in the case was younger than 14.

Marquez has pleaded not guilty. He had a case management hearing this month and the matter was continued to Jan. 8.

The criminal case has sparked an uproar among parents who have children in the Kendall program.

Robert Vera of Modesto, whose son has received therapy at the Kendall center, said Wednesday hes concerned other children possibly were victimized. There is probably more, Vera said. These are children who cant defend themselves. They are children who cant speak.

The Kendall centers in Modesto, the Bay Area and Sacramento are operated by Therapeutic Pathways and provide language and behavior therapy for children up to 18 years old. Many parents of nonverbal children with autism place them in the Kendall program before they are 5 years old so they acquire language abilities before they start school.

Sydney Neuhaus, a company representative, released a statement Wednesday on behalf of Therapeutic Pathways saying, Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety and well-being of the individuals in our care.

The statement said: As soon as we were made aware of the incident, Therapeutic Pathways took immediate action to ensure everyones safety, including contacting local law enforcement and terminating the employee. We have extensive safety and conduct protocols that we strictly enforce and that each of our employees are trained on and expected to uphold.

The statement added that Kendall Center staff followed protocols and quickly intervened. Due to the active investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.

Neuhaus confirmed that Marquez is the employee who was terminated.

A criminal complaint said the incident occurred on or about Nov. 3. Marquez is charged with committing a lewd act on a child younger than 14 with the intent of arousing and gratifying the sexual desires of the defendant and the child.

As of Friday, Marquez remained in Stanislaus County jail, with bail set at $150,000. A public defender is representing the defendant.

Vera said he wants to see better management and security cameras before his 5-year-old son returns to the Kendall program. He said he has learned Marquez worked with his son in June or July.

There has to be some changes there, Vera said. They should have policies in place so this does not happen. They are dealing with autistic kids.

Another parent posted on social media a Therapeutic Pathways letter that informed parents about the incident. The letter said that the families of children who worked with the employee were contacted and that there was no reason to believe this happened before and anyone else was at risk.
Beijing will promote wider opening-up of the services sector under the guidance of a work plan designed to support it in deepening the construction of the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector.

Since Beijing became the country's first Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector in 2020, the city has taken the lead in opening up the services sector, facilitating trade in services, and improving the business environment for an open economy, Deputy Mayor Sima Hong told a press conference Friday.

It has introduced about 50 pioneering policies, implemented over 70 national demonstration projects and built more than 90 service platforms, Sima said.

In the next stage, the city will deepen reform and widen opening-up in key areas of the services sector, with emphasis on rules and regulations for emerging businesses, institutional arrangements for trade and investment, public service, and risk prevention and control.

It will focus on fields including digital economy, green finance, intellectual property rights and take the lead in exploring and implementing new rules and standards with global leading significance.

Work will be done to align high-standard international economic and trade rules in the fields such as customs supervision, financial services, and cross-border flow of data.

The city will also introduce measures to help solve the problems and difficulties of key industries and business entities while shoring up efforts to foster a stable, fair, transparent and predictable business environment.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An 18-year-old man is dead, and two others were injured after shots were fired Friday night, Nov. 24 at Red Sands, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO).

EPCSO: 3 people shot at Red Sands; injuries unknown

EPCSO says that around 9 p.m. deputies responded to the Red Sands area, 1600 Montana Ave., in far East El Paso in reference to shots fired.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that Mauricio Ellas, 18, had been shot and taken to a local hospital where at approximately 10:45 p.m. he died from his injuries, according to EPCSO.

EPCSO says there were two additional gunshot victims, both 18 years of age, who were taken to local medical facilities with non-life threatening injuries.

The Sheriffs Office did not say if they have any suspects or have made any arrests. They also did not release any information on what led up to the shooting.

EPCSO requests anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact the El Paso County Sheriffs Office at (915) 832-4408.

KTSM is working to gather more information and update this story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested after eight stolen cars including high value ones were found by Essex Police.

A Lexus and a Range Rover with false registration plates were discovered in Chadwell St Mary near Grays.

Four more cars were taken away from a location in St Francis Way, Grays. The haul of eight also included Kias, a Porsche and a Mercedes.

The arrested man has been released on police bail until February while inquiries continue,

In a house search, police seized assorted number plates, a five-figure amount of cash and multiple vehicle keys and vehicle documents.

Six of the cars had been stolen from across Essex, and two taken from London.

Essex Police said it acted after a "quick-thinking colleague" spotted a suspicious vehicle in Ingleby Road in Chadwell St Mary on Monday.

Det Insp Brian Palombella said: "A suspicion by a colleague proved right and led to a 20-hour operation to forensically remove the vehicles so we can obtain the evidence we need to continue our investigation.

"This find has resulted in significant disruption to organised criminal gangs associated with vehicle crime in Essex."

The 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of the theft of multiple vehicles, handling stolen goods/vehicles and conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
The Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre has doubts that the Russian occupying forces will manage to drive the Ukrainian Armed Forces entrenched on the left bank of Kherson Oblast back across the Dnipro River.

Source: Ants Kiviselg, Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre

Details: Kiviselg stated that the Ukrainian forces have managed to hold the recently liberated Ukrainian territories in the southern part of the contact line, especially on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

He pointed out that the Ukrainian forces' two main objectives in the region are to control the areas on the left bank of the Dnipro River and to push the Russian occupying forces south, thereby protecting the city of Kherson from attacks coming from concealed positions.

"At this point, I don't see and don't believe that the Russian army will manage to push Ukrainian units across the river. Even if that happens, it will definitely be the decision of the Ukrainians themselves," Kiviselg said.

The intelligence chief also stated that overall combat intensity has generally declined due to the weather, except for the contact line near the town of Avdiivka, which has seen an increase in the number of Russian attacks.

Retired Estonian Defence Forces Colonel Hannes Toomsalu added that the weather also affects Russia's ability to employ drones.

"Another question is, what happened to their missiles? They have been produced. This week, they launched an Iskander K, which is not even a ballistic missile. And a Kh-22 Burya (Storm), a dreadful obsolete missile that crashed near Zaporizhzhia. The state of the Russian army is unclear," he added.

Background:

Earlier, UK intelligence reported that the skirmishes around the village of Krynky in Kherson Oblast in the lower reaches of the Dnipro River were highly unpleasant for the Russian army, although they were smaller in scale than some other battles in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

The UK MoD also believes that the contact line in Ukraine is likely to stay the same for a while.

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The European Commission will give Ukraine 50 million to repair its ports in the wake of Russian attacks in order to facilitate the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the global market.

Source: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in a letter to the President of Ukraine she shared on Twitter (X)

Despite the war, Ukraine keeps feeding the world.



In this effort, you can count on the EU.



We continue enhancing our Solidarity Lanes and will provide 50 million to repair your port infrastructure.



Together we ship Ukrainian grain to the world.@ZelenskyyUa pic.twitter.com/2kEELoEKKD  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 25, 2023

Details: In her letter, von der Leyen welcomed Ukraines efforts to open the Black Sea humanitarian corridor that allowed the country to continue exporting foodstuffs by sea.

Quote: "To support these efforts, the Commission is making available EUR 50 million of funds towards quick repairs and upgrades of infrastructure in Ukraine's ports."

Details: Von der Leyen wrote that over time, investing in Ukraines port infrastructure will allow Ukraines ports "to return to export quantities that were in place before the war".

She added that Ukraine exported 4.6 million tonnes of grain in October 2023: 3.6 million tonnes by sea and another million by rail and road transport.

Previously: Lithuania has earlier announced that it would give 2 million to the Grain From Ukraine initiative.

Finland has given 3 million to support Ukraines efforts to export grain to countries most dependent on it and to aid the demining of Ukrainian fields.

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A range of European leaders and ambassadors have paid tribute to the millions of victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor. [The Holodomor was a man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine that lasted from 1932 to 1933 and claimed the lives of millions of Ukrainians  ed.].

Source: European Pravda

Quote: "Today we remember the millions of children, women & men starved to death during the Holodomor genocide. 90 years later, Russia is again weaponising food as it pursues with its aggression of Ukraine. We must do everything to stop the atrocities. We continue to stand with Ukraine," said Roberta Metsola, European Parliament President.

Today we remember the millions of children, women & men starved to death during the Holodomor genocide.



90 years later, Russia is again weaponising food as it pursues with its aggression of Ukraine.



We must do everything to stop the atrocities. We continue to #StandWithUkraine. pic.twitter.com/Mj4eDMGr3R  Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) November 25, 2023

"In memory of the millions of innocent Ukrainians who died during the Holodomor 90 years ago, today and every day we stand with Ukraine," stressed US Ambassador Bridget Brink.

In memory of the millions of innocent Ukrainians who died during the Holodomor 90 years ago, today and every day we stand with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/wfNHpVte0z  Ambassador Bridget A. Brink (@USAmbKyiv) November 25, 2023

"Russia's war with its gravest imaginable crimes isn't the first attempt to erase Ukrainian nation from the face of Earth. Today in Kyiv I honoured Holodomor's victims, millions of Ukrainians who perished because of deliberate mass famine - a genocide perpetrated by the soviets," stated Ingrida Simonyte, Lithuanian Prime Minister.

Russia's war with its gravest imaginable crimes isn't the first attempt to erase Ukrainian nation from the face of Earth. Today in Kyiv I honoured Holodomor's victims, millions of Ukrainians who perished because of deliberate mass famine - a genocide perpetrated by the soviets. pic.twitter.com/SHsQQ22sRe  Ingrida Simonyte (@IngridaSimonyte) November 25, 2023

"We mark the 90th Anniversary of Holodomor and honour the memory of millions of Ukrainians killed by the Soviets. Russia again is committing full scale genocide in Ukraine. We must defeat Stalins successors in order to avoid such tragedies in the future," noted Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics.

We mark the 90th Anniversary of #Holodomor and honour the

memory of millions of Ukrainians killed by the Soviets. Russia again is committing full scale genocide in Ukraine. We must defeat Stalins successors in order to avoid such tragedies in the future #HolodomorRemembranceDay pic.twitter.com/ZRd2Xb4aVH  Edgars Rinkevics (@edgarsrinkevics) November 25, 2023

"The word Holodomor means death by hunger. Today, we commemorate the victims of this genocide perpetrated by the Soviet regime. Russia is now again trying to annihilate Ukraine. Last night's ruthless attack was another case in point. But Russia will, again, fail," emphasised Katarina Mathernova, EU Ambassador to Ukraine.

The word Holodomor means death by hunger. Today, we commemorate the victims of this genocide perpetrated by the Soviet regime.



 is now again trying to annihilate . Last night's ruthless attack was another case in point. But  will, again, fail. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/PJft5cke8j  Katarina Mathernova  (@kmathernova) November 25, 2023

"I laid a wreath at the Holodomor memorial on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv to honour the memory of the millions of Ukrainians who were starved to death in artificial Soviet famines 90 years ago. We will remember them," stressed UK Ambassador Martin Harris.

I laid a wreath at the #Holodomor memorial on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv to honour the memory of the millions of Ukrainians who were starved to death in artificial Soviet famines 90 years ago. We will remember them. pic.twitter.com/Q0Zn9tEh3o  Martin Harris (@MartinHarrisOBE) November 25, 2023

"Today, we honour the memory of millions of victims of genocide by famine  the Holodomor. There should be no more room for genocide, imperialism and dictatorship in Europe. Germany stands firmly on Ukraine's side," the German Embassy in Ukraine stated.

   '     - .         ,   .      . pic.twitter.com/lM38cjOSV5    (@GermanyinUA) November 25, 2023

"Following a night that saw waves of Russian drones targeting Kyiv, I was honoured to take part in the official Holodomor commemoration ceremony in memory of the millions of Ukrainians who starved to death during the famines organised by Stalin," said French Ambassador Gael Veyssiere.

Apres une nuit marquee par des vagues de drones russes visant #Kyiv je suis honore de participer a la ceremonie officielle du souvenir de l' #Holodomor en memoire des millions d'Ukrainiens morts de faim lors des famines organisees par Staline. #nejamaisoublier pic.twitter.com/ESOo0b397B  Gael Veyssiere (@GaelVeyssiere) November 25, 2023

Background:

Earlier, it was reported that 55 UN member states and the EU delegation have signed the Ukrainian-initiated UN Declaration on the 90th Anniversary of the 1932-1933 Holodomor.

To date, the Holodomor has been recognised as a genocide of the Ukrainian people by the parliaments of about 30 countries, as well as by the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

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Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has asked the judge to allow him to leave the United States.

Zhaos lawyers are urging U.S. District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle to reject the Justice Departments (DOJ) request to bar him from returning home to the United Arab Emirates until he is sentenced.

The crypto founder stepped down from his position after being charged for failing to prevent money laundering on his companys platform.

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In a filing Thursday, lawyers said Zhao voluntarily flew to the U.S. to appear before a court on Nov. 21 and has accepted responsibility, and pleaded guilty.

Binance is the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange platform. The company pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Security Act, anti-money laundering act and other charges.

The crypto platform agreed to pay more than $4 billion, one of the largest corporate penalties in U.S. history.

His lawyers are asking for Zhao to be able to return home to his partner and their three young children while sentencing is pending.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida originally made the decision to allow him to return home ahead of the Feb. 23 sentencing, but the DOJ pushed Jones to reverse the decision.

Zhaos team argues that the government has proven Zhao is not a danger to the community and is not a flight risk since he voluntarily arrived in the U.S. this week.

The only question is whether Mr. Zhao should be allowed to return to his family in the UAE pending sentencing, the filing states.

Zhaos public status proves that he cant escape his fate, his lawyers said.

Binance.com is the largest cryptocurrency platform by volume of trades in the world and Mr. Zhao is its recognizable founder, the filing reads. That global spotlight makes evasion of the U.S. justice system impossible.

Zhao has agreed to pay a $150 million penalty to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Prosecutors said he faces up to 18 months in prison.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The ex-police officer convicted for the murder of George Floyd was reportedly stabbed in an Arizona prison Friday.

Derek Chauvin was stabbed by a fellow inmate and seriously injured at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tuscon, Arizona, a source told The Associated Press. FCI Tucson is a medium-security prison that has reportedly faced problems with security and staffing.

In a Friday press release, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) confirmed that an individual at the prison in Arizona had been assaulted around 12:30 P.M. The FBI had also been notified, according to the release.

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No employees were injured during the incident, the BOPs statement read. Responding employees initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued. The incarcerated individual was transported by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

The BOP did not reveal the identity of the person who was assaulted.

Chauvin was sent to FCI Tucson in August 2022 to serve simultaneous sentences for violating Floyds civil rights and for second-degree murder.

Floyds killing in May 2020 sparked a civil rights movement and reckoning about the historical treatment of Black people in the U.S. by both institutions and individuals.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal of his murder conviction by Chauvin last week.

The Hill has reached out to Chauvins lawyer and the FBI.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Cowbells can be heard ringing on farms across America, but another bell rung in the agriculture industry nearly two decades ago was abruptly silenced.

What happened?

According to reporting by The Guardian, in 2006  a time in which the effects of Earths rising temperatures were reaching the national agenda  Henning Steinfeld, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)s livestock policy branch, along with a small group of officials, released a report analyzing the link between the six major species of livestock and global rising temperatures.

I was very frustrated by the fact that the livestock-environment issue hadnt resonated even though people accepted in private that it was a big issue  for climate change, and also water and biodiversity, Steinfeld said. But no one was interested in getting into it because I think they were afraid of what it could mean.

The shocking report from Livestocks Long Shadow (LLS) was the first elementary lifecycle analysis for livestock and the first tally of the meat and dairy sectors ecological cost, The Guardian reports. It got environmentalists and campaign groups fired up, but it also threatened the agriculture industry.

The report estimated that livestock were responsible for 18% of global heat-trapping gases, 37% of methane pollution related to human activities, mainly from cow burps, 65% of our nitrous oxides, overwhelmingly from manure, and 64% of ammonia pollution.

The authors, speaking to The Guardian for the first time, some under fake names, said they were censored, sabotaged, undermined, and victimized by the FAO.

The report was basically buried at the FAO, Hans R. Herren, a World Food Prize winner and co-chair of the UN/World Bank Global Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology, told The Guardian.

Herren said there was enormous pressure from funding countries not to publish the report because it recommended a food system transformation that was not aligned with what some major FAO-supporting countries wanted.

Why is it concerning?

Agriculture is a major contributor to Earths overheating. UC Davis reports that cattle are the top agricultural source of global planet-warming pollution, with a single cow belching nearly 220 pounds of methane  a gas at least 28 times more powerful at warming Earth than carbon dioxide  a year.

Despite the link between polluting gases and Earths overheating, burying and discrediting reports like LLS allow the farming sector to continue to wreak havoc on the environment.

Its a story as old as time, that the meat and dairy industry has enormous influence over the policy-making apparatus, Jennifer Jacquet, professor of environmental science at the University of Miami, told The Guardian. Its no coincidence that industrys involvement has led to lower overall relative estimates of emissions for livestock.

How can you help minimize agricultures impact?

Voting for legislation prioritizing the environment over agriculture and other industries can help. Perhaps the easiest change you can make that has the biggest impact is giving up meat even just one day a week, and eventually, you may be able to purchase lab-grown meat that doesnt carry the same impact as cattle.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
What is being described as the worlds largest exhibit of Bob Ross paintings is currently on display in Rocky Mount.

Fantastic Little Paintings features more than 75 works by the creator and host of The Joy of Painting and is on display at North Carolina Wesleyan University.

This is the first time an exhibit featuring Rosss work has been to North Carolina.

Joy of $10M: First Bob Ross painting for sale

The art instructor and television host showed the world how to paint on his PBS program for nearly a decade.

One visitor said he connects with Rosss artistic vision.

I use a high-resolution camera for my work and with that you see details that you normally wouldnt notice in real life, and so what I see in his paintings is these amazing details, Bob Cassanova from Rocky Mount said.

The exhibit is open through Jan. 4, 2024.

Tickets cost $15. Admission is free for kids 4 years old and younger.

For more information, click here.

(WATCH BELOW: Brooklyn Collectives new art exhibit envisions the future for people of color)
Explosions were heard in the suburbs of the city of Kryvyi Rih on the afternoon of 25 November.

Source: Suspilne, a Ukrainian public broadcaster

Details: Local authorities have provided no information so far.

Meanwhile, in addition to the usual air-raid warning in Crimea and Luhansk Oblast, it has also been issued in Cherkasy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning of a missile threat.

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Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) on Friday welcomed the first direct flight with a large plane from Australia, said Cambodia's aviation authority.



EuroAtlantic Airways' Boeing 777-200 flight, carrying 208 passengers from Sydney, landed at the SAI and was greeted by Mao Havannall, minister in charge of Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), said an SSCA's press statement.

"This shows that the SAI is capable enough to accommodate long-distance direct flights from Australia and elsewhere," SSCA's undersecretary of state and spokesman Sinn Chanserey Vutha.

He expressed his hope that there will be more direct scheduled flights with large aircraft from Europe, the Middle East, India and the United States, among others, in the future.

Located in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, the SAI was officially launched on Nov. 16.

With a 3,600-meter-long runway, the SAI is currently Cambodia's biggest airport and is the main gateway to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.

Invested by the Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., an affiliate of China's Yunnan Investment Holdings Ltd., the 700-hectare 4E-level international airport will be able to handle 7 million air passengers per annum from 2024 and up to 12 million passengers annually from 2040, according to the SSCA.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  It took half a year to put it all up, and now its a race to take Formula One down before other events arrive in Las Vegas.

A week after the racing giant sped in and out of town, 3.8 miles of temporary structures were left behind: lights, bridges, and, of course, flashy grandstands where tickets could cost as much as $10,000 each.

The Harmon and Las Vegas Boulevard intersection  once turns 14, 15, and 16 of the circuit  still sees towering structures and concrete barriers a week after the race. (KLAS)

The dismantle started the day after the Saturday night race. Now, Las Vegas Boulevard is less of a racetrack than just days prior as 10-foot-tall barriers have disappeared and pedestrian bridge obstructions are almost completely peeled off.

The 10-foot-tall barriers with concrete bases that once isolated Caesars Palace from Las Vegas Boulevard have come down within the week after the race. (KLAS)

Lights and their adjoining stanchions still wrap around the Strip, Harmon Avenue, Koval Lane, and Sands Avenue. MGM Resorts confirmed in September that some of the trees removed around the iconic Bellagio fountain for the eventual Fountain Club would be replanted before New Years Eve.

Bellagio fountain trees begin to come down for Novembers F1 Las Vegas race

As for the grandstands, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) President and CEO Steve Hill said theyre coming down too.

(Hotel and casino operators) certainly dont want to commit long term because that land is so valuable, Hill said after the Nov. 14 LVCVA board meeting, speaking of the thousands of elevated seats that were mostly installed on hospitality property.

F1 takedown could take up to 8 weeks after race, temporary bridge could become permanent

But, what has added value, Hill said, is the temporary vehicle bridge over Koval on Flamingo Road. Due to reported increases in traffic flow at this intersection, a permanent bridge could be built for future races that would help with traffic year-round.

The two vehicle bridges along Harmon will be deconstructed. (KLAS)

Developing a permanent bridge for that intersection would be a complete change in the disruption that folks here would feel while (the race is) being built and while its being torn down, Hill said.

While the takedown is F1s responsibility, Las Vegas Grand Prix officials have yet to publicly comment on a timeline. Hill said it could take up to eight weeks after racing events concluded.

If the frustrated drivers arent enough to pressure crews to work swiftly, several large incoming events might.

Outside the Bellagio takedown construction continues to eliminate two lanes of southbound traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard. (KLAS)

We want to make sure we dont disrupt the National Finals Rodeo. Amazon will be here with AWS immediately  theyll start setting up immediately after the race, Hill said, acknowledging the convention and rodeo scheduled for this and next week.

Both events may pale in comparison  at least from an attendance standpoint  to the crowds that will descend on Las Vegas for New Years Eve fireworks. While Clark County remains optimistic of being back to normal by then, it remains to be seen if spectators will watch the show in the sky through scaffolding.

The same service that provided F1 construction updates has now switched to dismantling updates. Those who text F1LV to 31996 receive weekly updates via text about upcoming road closures near the resort corridor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Claim:

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter once said or wrote, "Christianity has been hijacked by people who would give Jesus himself the boot if he knocked on their door."

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

The quote is a paraphrase of statements Carter made to a Star Tribune reporter as part of a Nov. 11, 2005, article promoting his book "Our Endangered Values." The statement appears without quotation marks in that Star-Tribune article, and the book in question does not include that sentence.

In October 2023 and for several years before, a popular quote about alleged hypocrisy in far-right evangelical Christian circles was attributed to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in meme form:

The origin of this statement is a Nov. 11, 2005, article in the Star Tribune. At the time, Carter was promoting his recently published book "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis." A Tribune journalist interviewed Carter for the story, paraphrasing his book's broader point (emphasis ours):

Donning the mantle of alarmed prophet in "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis," the 81-year-old former president is promoting the book, which implores Americans to reject the fundamentalist values that now marble domestic and foreign policy. Referring often to his own brand of evangelical Christianity, Carter said he could remain quiet no more about the Christian far right and its influence on government. Evangelical Christianity has been hijacked, he said, by people who would give Jesus himself the boot if he knocked on their door.

This is not a direct quote from Carter. If it was, it would be contained in quotes. This is, instead, the reporters colorful paraphrase of the views contained in Carters book.

According to its publisher Simon and Schuster, Carter's book "offers a passionate defense of separation of church and state, warning that fundamentalists are deliberately blurring the lines between politics and religion." This book, importantly, does not contain the statement about evangelicals theoretically giving Jesus "the boot."

Because the words in the meme stem from a newspaper reporter and not Carter, and because there is no documented evidence of Carter saying or writing the words, Snopes concludes that this quote has been falsely attributed to Jimmy Carter.

Sources:

Carter, Jimmy. Our Endangered Values: Americas Moral Crisis. Simon and Schuster, 2005.

Carter Warns against Fundamentalists. 24 Nov. 2005, https://web.archive.org/web/20051124232539/http://www.startribune.com/stories/614/5721784.html.

Evelyntheowl. Evangelical Christianity Has Been Hijacked by People Who Would Have given Jesus Himself the Boot If He Knocked on Their Door. -Pres. Jimmy Carter. iFunny, https://ifunny.co/picture/evangelical-christianity-has-been-hijacked-by-people-who-would-have-e7r7CfXuA.

Our Endangered Values. 2006. www.simonandschuster.com, https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Our-Endangered-Values/Jimmy-Carter/9780743285018.


Former President Trumps four criminal cases have dominated headlines since April, when he became the first president  current or former  to be indicted. But behind the scenes, a handful of state attorneys general are still investigating whether additional charges over efforts to keep him in power after losing the 2020 election could be brought.

At least four 2020 swing states prosecutorial arms are still probing the slates of so-called fake electors who attempted to falsely certify that Trump had won the presidential election that year.

The swing states investigations could prove consequential to Trump and his allies, spelling even more legal trouble for the former president, especially as his federal and Georgia cases over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results progress.

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The alternate electors scheme, spearheaded by Trump lawyer John Eastman and bolstered by other lawyers, relied on former Vice President Mike Pence to certify slates of Trump-supporting fake electors in battleground states instead of the true electoral votes cast for Biden.

On Jan. 6, 2021  the day of the election certification  Pence declined to go along with the plan, writing in a letter that his oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol later that day in protest of the election results and Pences refusal to overturn them.

Fake electors allegedly convened in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Nevada and Wisconsin, claiming without basis that they were duly elected electors from their states.

In Georgia, three of the states 16 fake electors were charged alongside Trump and his allies in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Williss (D) sweeping racketeering case. Several other alternate electors are known to have accepted immunity deals.

Already, the three alternate electors  David Shafer, a former state GOP chair; Shawn Still, a current state senator; and Cathleen Latham, a local Republican official  have argued in court filings that they acted at the direction of Trump, showing early signs of fracturing among the 19 defendants charged in that case.

Another of Trumps co-defendants in Georgia, Kenneth Chesebro, pleaded guilty last month to one count of conspiracy to file false documents. He is considered to be the person who helped mastermind the alternate electors plan.

Following his guilty plea, Chesebros counsel asked the court to modify his probation rules to allow for travel to Nevada, Arizona and Washington, D.C., for ongoing investigations of the election fraud cases.

Mr. Chesebro needs to be able to travel to these jurisdictions in order to meet with counsel, the filing read.

Several defendants charged in Georgia  and under investigation in the federal election subversion case  were key players in the alternate electors schemes that played out across the country after Trump lost. Other states investigations may be bolstered by evidence revealed as those cases progress, whether in court filings, through guilty pleas or at trial.

Politico first confirmed last week that Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) is investigating the six Nevada activists who met and signed false paperwork saying they were the states true electors. The Hill requested comment from his office.

Ford has said that Nevadas statutes dont directly address the alternate electors conduct, but he indicated that doesnt mean his office wont prosecute.

It is not that Ive said that I can do nothing, Ford told Nevadas 8 News Now in September. What I have said, and Ive been precise with my wording on purpose, is we dont have statutes in this state that directly address the issue.

Details from the months after Trump lost the 2020 election indicate that the former president and his closest allies could be implicated in the states investigation.

On Nov. 4, 2020, a day after the election, Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald  one of the states six fake electors  joined a conference call with Trump, his son Eric Trump, former chief of staff Mark Meadows and longtime Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, according to deposition transcripts released by the now-defunct House Jan. 6 committee.

They want full attack mode, McDonald later wrote of the call in a text message. Were gonna have a war room meeting in about an hour.

Another Nevada fake elector, GOP committee member Jim DeGraffenreid, emailed Chesebro on Dec. 11, 2020, with the subject URGENT-Trump-Pence campaign asked me to contact you to coordinate Dec. 14 voting by Nevada electors, according to the Jan. 6 committees final report.

Planning in Nevada to use an alternate slate of electors began as early as four days before the 2020 election, when DeGraffenreid told other state party officials in a text that former Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske (R) might do a lot of things, but sending a slate of Republican electors without them being clearly the winners of the popular vote is not one of them.

The Arizona fake electors investigation, which a spokesperson for the state attorney generals office confirmed is ongoing, could prove to be similarly contentious for Trump and his allies  particularly Giuliani, who led the effort to convince state officials to use the pro-Trump alternate electors.

In his June 2022 testimony before the House Jan. 6 committee, former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R) said he repeatedly pushed the former New York mayor-turned-Trump-surrogate for proof of his 2020 election fraud claims. But Giuliani failed to produce any.

My recollection, [Giuliani] said, Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence, Bowers testified.

Jenna Ellis, who in Georgia recently pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aiding and abetting false statements and writings, was also at that meeting.

Trump himself also appeared to play an active role in the Arizona efforts. As former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed the certification of the states 2020 election results, his phone played a ringtone for the song Hail to the Chief, which he immediately silenced. The governor later admitted that the call was from Trump, though he declined to provide any details of their chat other than that Trump did not ask him to withhold certification.

Later, Trump tweeted that Republicans will long remember Duceys decision to certify the results and retweeted a post that the governor betrayed the people of Arizona, adding the commentary TRUE!

In Michigan, 16 people already face charges for falsely stating they were the states duly elected and qualified electors. A spokesperson for the state attorney generals office told The Hill that its investigation is ongoing and that the office may assess additional charges as needed based on the evidence at hand.

The New Mexico attorney generals office also told The Hill its investigation into the states alternate slate of pro-Trump electors is ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania attorneys generals office declined to comment over whether it is investigating the states fake electors scheme. However, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said when he was the states attorney general that the actions of Pennsylvanias alternate electors were likely not criminal and that the state would not investigate them.

The Hill requested comment from the Wisconsin attorney generals office on the matter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HENDERSONVILLE - Four-year-old CC Case hopped onto the bench, straightened her skirt over her tights, then shyly slid over to sit beside Santa. With brother Will, 3, on the other side, CC nodded as Santa spoke to the youngsters and then asked what they wanted for Christmas.

A makeup set for me and mommy! was CCs wish.

CC Case, 4, of Asheville, answers questions from Santa with her brother, Will Case, 3, inside the Historic Courthouse after the city of Hendersonvilles annual Holiday Tree Lighting Friday, Nov. 24.

For nearly two hours Friday, Santa heard from hundreds of children and posed for twice as many photos at the Historic Courthouse as the city of Hendersonville kicked off the Christmas season with its annual Holiday Tree Lighting event on Main Street.

Families packed the streets around the courthouse, eager to see Santa arrive and flip the switch that would light the giant Christmas tree in the square.

The festivities began before Santas appearance, with the Peggy Ratusz & Friends Band and East Henderson High Concert Choir providing music as parents took photos of excited children in Santas sleigh in front of the tree. There was plenty of holiday spirit, as families came decked out in flashing lights, festive hats and sweaters, and even matching pajamas.

The city of Hendersonville held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and arrival of Santa Claus on Nov. 24 on Main Street at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse.

Just before 6 p.m., heads turned in unison as Santa was escorted toward the courthouse on a red carpet, and children strained over the barricades set up in the square as Santa shook hands while making his way to a microphone held by The Hendo Emcee Bryan Byrd.

The crowd helped Santa count backward from 10 and clapped as the trees lights flashed on and lit up the sky.

Look at this the wonder, the excitement of organizing it like a movie premier with a red carpet, said Byrd, a.k.a. B-squared, after telling the crowd where to find Santa for photos.

He praised the festive atmosphere and community spirit, and said organizers try to make the event special each year by having Santa arrive in different ways.

Byrd began volunteering at downtown events by checking wristbands at Rhythm and Brews concerts, but that wasnt enough.

The city of Hendersonville held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and arrival of Santa Claus on Nov. 24 on Main Street at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse.

They gave me a mic and Im never giving it back, he said. This is a way I can give my time and volunteer and bring my excitement to these events.

Fridays festivities werent all about Santa, however, as many businesses and restaurants stayed open for shopping and dining. Carolina Horse & Carriage provided free carriage rides, and Main Street staple Black Bear Coffee sold hot cocoa and coffee.

Mini Batch Bakery, one of the citys newest businesses, also sold treats, growing from the Farmers Market to a storefront on Seventh Avenue to Hendersonvilles annual Christmas celebration.

The city of Hendersonville held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and arrival of Santa Claus on Nov. 24 on Main Street at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse.

But for many of the youngest attendees, the biggest attraction was spending a few minutes with Jolly Old Saint Nick inside the courthouse. After answering a few more questions and posing for photos, the Case siblings relinquished the bench to their cousins, who were visiting from New York for the Thanksgiving holiday.

More: Celebrating Christmas: A list of area light shows, performances, outdoor events

Ben and Nicole Case, of Asheville, said they have family in Hendersonville and decided to attend the tree lighting together. Just the day before, the owners of Yoga Six were thinking about turkey and stuffing at the South Asheville Turkey Trot, but Friday was all about Christmas.

We wanted to see Santa and the tree lighting, Nicole Case said.

Hundreds of others had the same thought as they stood in the long line to say hello to Santa. Some children were shy, but most were excited to see Father Christmas. Seven-year-old Quinn Harris didnt hesitate before sitting beside Santa and asking for a Barbie Dream House. A few years before, the visit didnt go quite as well.

The other, other year, I was shy, she said, as she and her sister, 5-year-old Daphne, happily rejoined their parents.

Angelisa and Steven Fosser brought their children, Reagan, Madelyn and Layla, to the event because of the magic, Angelisa said.

They were excited to see Santa and the tree, Steven added.

More: Christmas tree farms in WNC get ready for busy holiday season

Seven members of the Delaughter family gathered around Santa in matching pajamas for photos. The Covington, Louisiana, family members were visiting relatives for the Thanksgiving holiday, and we werent leaving until we saw Santa, Chelsea Delaughter said with a laugh.

Santa heard wishes and posed for photos inside the courthouse, then smiled for more photos outside in front of the sparkling tree. He said he fielded many requests for Legos, Barbies and Barbie houses.

Oh, theyre good kids, he said of the little ones who joined him on his bench. Good kids, innocent in many ways.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Santa arrives, lights Christmas tree in downtown Hendersonville
Farmers in Wales are waiting for Welsh ministers to announce rural affairs spending plans

"We really are worried about how we're going to be sustainable going forward."

Katie-Rose Davies says rising costs and reduced Welsh government funding threaten the future of her farm on Bwlch Mountain in Bridgend county, which has kept her family in work for generations.

Farming union NFU Cymru said ministers must protect funding for rural affairs.

The Welsh government said it was "absolutely committed to supporting farmers and rural communities".

In the government's final budget for 2023-24, Rural Affairs was given 482m - about 2% of the total budget.

But last month, after Welsh ministers spent the summer looking for savings, the pot was cut by 37m.

Farming unions have also warned that the Habitat Wales scheme, which will come into force on 1 January to replace the Glastir programme, will lead to a significant reduction in income for many farmers.

Ms Davies said her payments would be cut by nearly half.

The mum of three said she worries "if we can carry on doing what we're doing".

Farmer Katie-Rose Davies says news of impending cuts to her payments came "like a bombshell"

"It's just happened overnight really - there was no warning, there was no stepping down of payments. It's like a bombshell," she said.

The comments come on the eve of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, which begins on Monday.

Ministers will set out their spending plans for next year on 19 December.

NFU Cymru deputy president Abi Reader told the Politics Wales programme that if the Welsh government "values" what farmers do it would protect funding for the sector.

"Having come off the back of a cut already we watch with baited breath now to see what Welsh government is going to do," she said.

Abi Reader from NFU Cymru says funding for rural affairs doesn't need to be higher

"We're not asking for any more," she added. "We just want to protect what's there and make sure that farmers throughout Wales can continue to deliver everything that we promise."

Ms Reader said the Habitat Wales scheme, which is due to last 12 months, was a "really good example" of where there had been "quite a bad communication breakdown" between the government and the farming industry.

"It's not a very good omen for going forward," she added.

Opposition politicians say payments to farmers should not be cut

Plaid Cymru's rural affairs spokesman Llyr Gruffydd said the government's budget would be a "litmus test" of Welsh ministers' commitment to farmers.

"If they don't come up with the goods this time then I think people will be justified in questioning whether actually they are treating different parts of Wales differently."

Sam Kurtz, who speaks for the Welsh Conservatives on rural matters, said: "This is not the time to further cut a budget which is already small.

"This is a time to invest in rural communities, invest in our agriculture community and give them support so that they can continue to be not only custodians of our land in Wales but also the excellent food producers that we know they are."

Alexander Phillips of environmental group WWF Cymru said: "A lot of farmers that are currently pursuing nature-friendly practices for the last 15 to 20 years are currently looking at their balance sheets and going 'I'm not sure this is going to work anymore'.

"That's deeply concerning for us because that will see an overall reduction in the level of environmentally-friendly practices that are taking place in Wales."

The Welsh government said: "We have been very clear we are facing an extremely challenging financial situation, the toughest since devolution.

"We know there are difficult decisions to be made across Welsh government.

"Despite these challenges, we remain absolutely committed to supporting farmers and rural communities throughout Wales."

On changes to the environmental scheme for farmers, the government added that ministers had been "engaging regularly with the unions and others in this challenging financial context".

Politics Wales, BBC One Wales at 10:00 GMT on 26 November and on iPlayer
On a weekday afternoon at Red Rock Coffee, the cafe known for spotting venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, one is likely to overhear a few conversations in Mandarin. With China reopening its borders this spring following three years of COVID-19 restrictions, managers of U.S. funds in the country have been flocking to the Bay Area. While these trips were routine before the pandemic, they have now taken on a fresh purpose of discovering deals beyond China.

USD-denominated funds in China have long been drawing inspiration from Silicon Valley startups, using them as benchmarks for investment targets back home. They would seek out the equivalents of Facebook, Amazon and Uber on the other side of the Pacific Ocean and hope they become winners in the country's largely untapped internet market.

This dealmaking strategy of American funds in China has become less effective in the face of shifting global and domestic landscapes. Driven by a confluence of factors, from China's crackdown on the tech industry to escalating U.S.-China tensions, some of these investors are now turning their gaze to opportunities abroad, tracing the footsteps of a new generation of Chinese-founded startups that are expanding overseas.

Between a rock and a hard place

Since their entry into China in the late 1990s, American venture capital firms, led by powerhouses like Sequoia Capital, IDG Capital and GGV, have played a major role in funding high-risk, high-reward startups in the country's consumer internet sector. This two-decade-long mutually beneficial relationship, however, now hangs in the balance as changes at home and abroad diminish the pool of investment opportunities for outside financiers.

In recent years, Beijing's sweeping tech crackdowns have introduced a new sense of uncertainty to investors. VCs fear that their portfolio companies might encounter a fate akin to that of Ant Group, whose colossal initial public offering was called off, and Didi, which weathered an extensive data security probe that eventually led to its delisting from New York. With China tightening its grip on overseas IPOs, investors who once relied on taking Chinese firms public in the U.S. are no longer assured of an exit channel.

In the meantime, Washington has stepped up restrictions on the flow of U.S. money into China amid an escalating tech war between the two superpowers. In August, President Joe Biden signed an executive order barring U.S. investments in three strategically critical sectors in China -- artificial intelligence, quantum computing and semiconductors.

As USD funds in China await further clarity on the scope of the ban, they are practicing more discretion than ever before. They slow down capital deployment even amidst a global AI fervor that has given rise to a parallel AI universe in China. At the same time, domestic RMB funds play an increasing role in funding critical tech sectors. Zhipu AI, one of China's most ambitious challengers to OpenAI, for instance, raised financing in RMB instead of USD.

Even having the Chinese branches of famed American VCs listed on the cap table might deter U.S. investors from funding Chinese founders in their backyard. Local investors are now shunning Chinese "links", of which definition is ever evolving and broadening, at all costs.

The country's USD investors continue to deploy capital in industries that aren't in the crosshairs of U.S.-China competition, but overall, their activity has dwindled significantly due to the changing regulatory and geopolitical currents, coupled with a slowing economy. The year 2022 saw just $14.5 billion invested in Chinese companies by U.S.-headquartered VCs, compared to $45.4 billion the year before, according to a report from research firm PitchBook. The number of deals nearly halved to 595, and the share of deals with U.S. investor participation dropped to 18.2% in 2022 after hovering above 30% for half a decade.

The scaleback is most notable in prolific investors like Sequoia Capital China, which recently changed its name to HongShan after splitting off its China operation. Despite its proactive move to decouple, Sequoia still faces scrutiny from the U.S. government over its decades of activity in China. For the first three quarters this year, HongShan completed just 47 deals, compared to 99 deals in the same period of 2022, according to Crunchbase data.

The reversing turtles

As China's domestic investment appeal wanes, some investors start to look for opportunities beyond its borders. Rather than a complete departure, they are merely following the footsteps of Chinese talent who have already embarked on global expansion. (We've covered the topic extensively here and here.)

Chinese startups have a long history of going abroad, and every wave has assumed its own approach. Previously, many companies would venture out only after succeeding in China. These days, more are eyeing global expansion from day one, sometimes even skipping their home market.

Many in the current generation of globalizing Chinese founders have studied or worked overseas. Captivated by the Chinese internet's rapid growth, they returned home in the late 2010s to join the likes of Tencent, Baidu, Alibaba and ByteDance. Having gained an insider's look into Chinese tech titans, they set out on their own entrepreneurial journey with the hope of becoming the next Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba.

In China, they are called haigui, or those who "return from overseas," a homophone of "sea turtles." Their dreams started to crumple following the fall from grace of Ma, whose Ant Group and Alibaba became prominent targets of China's tech crackdown. They soon realized that China had entered a new era, where the regulatory hurdles for running a startup have significantly heightened.

The year 2022 saw just $14.5 billion invested in Chinese companies by U.S.-headquartered VCs, compared to $45.4 billion the year before.

To launch an AI service in China, for example, a company needs to navigate a multitude of complications, which can include obtaining a license for its large language model, seeking regulatory approval for its algorithms and implementing a costly censorship mechanism to comply with censorship requirements.

"You need to pick sides. You either focus on China or go overseas, otherwise, you end up doing double the workload but with a lot less funding secured from the last two years," said one of the five China-based VCs we interviewed for the story. We also spoke to six diaspora Chinese entrepreneurs. Due to the sensitivity of the topic, all of them have asked to remain anonymous.

Some ambitious, well-funded AI startups want to target both sides. To that end, they would create two entities each tailored to the Chinese and non-Chinese markets while raising capital in USD and RMB separately.

Not every startup has the resources to pursue a dual-market strategy, so many "sea turtles" wound up leaving China again. While foreign markets present their own sets of challenges -- competition and skepticism toward outsiders -- these entrepreneurs perceive a broader, more predictable opportunity in AI in the West. This reversal of their trajectory has earned them the moniker, guihai, or those who "return overseas."

Following the turtles

At home, the Western-educated and -trained Chinese entrepreneurs are darlings of local VCs. In Silicon Valley, they are little known to investors. Occasional media reports that stress their Chinese background further erode trust in potential investors and customers at a time when concerns about national security already run high.

Even having the Chinese branches of famed American VCs listed on the cap table might deter U.S. investors from funding Chinese founders in their backyard, three founders said. Local investors are now shunning Chinese "links," of which definition is ever evolving and broadening, at all costs to avoid geopolitical risks.

"If you speak like a local, know how to pitch like a confident Silicon Valley founder, have not taken any money from Chinese VCs, have all your staff in the U.S., have generated good traction in the local market, and are working on getting a green card, you might get a chance to raise local money," said a Chinese founder based in San Francisco. "Don't even think about it if you still run your R&D out of China."

This financing gap presents an opportunity for the USD fund managers who are hunting beyond China's borders. "It's just a lot easier to raise their first round from China's USD funds," said a former investor at one of China's top VC firms. "In some sense, the entrepreneurs are taking these investors on an international expedition."

VC activity with U.S. participation in China during 2023 will hit a nine-year low, followed by a decade low in 2024.

Besides the low-hanging fruit of the diaspora community, Chinese VCs flying in from Beijing and Shanghai have limited avenues to source deals in the U.S. American startups are courted by a plethora of local investors, let alone the geopolitical risks of accepting Chinese-managed money. These parachuting investors also run into competition from local investors already tailored to U.S.-China cross-border opportunities, most famously UpHonest Capital.

"VCs thrive on information arbitrage. In the U.S., we don't really have that same extensive network as at home," said an investor from the China arm of a global VC firm who now spends a third of their time abroad.

A transitory phase

Venturing out of China is not a "pivot" for the USD fund managers, said one of the investors we spoke to. Rather, the partners and their associates are mostly looking for something to get their hands on in the midst of a tepid market. Some are contemplating a career change, but it's difficult to find any job that matches their enviable pay.

"Chinese VCs are most anxious about the U.S. building cars behind closed doors. They don't want to fall behind, especially given the speed AI is evolving, so they are going to the Bay Area to figure it out themselves," the investor added.

The recent influx of Chinese VCs into the Bay Area should also be viewed in a broader context. Many of these investors, who have family ties in the U.S., have been going stateside regularly for years. COVID-19, which shut down trans-Pacific flights and introduced costly and harsh quarantines, created a pent-up demand for travel. Naturally, many investors rushed to the Bay Area as soon as the borders reopened, but the surge in activity might soon start to subside, said a partner who spent the past summer in California.

There are no signs that USD funds' dealmaking in China will bounce back to its heights in the foreseeable future. The PitchBook report predicts that VC activity with U.S. participation in China during 2023 will hit a nine-year low, followed by a decade low in 2024. Many Chinese general partners have already been sourcing capital from the Middle East, which might eventually limit the impact of U.S. investors' pullback. But the question is whether Chinese tech firms, now under a new stringent regulatory regime, can deliver the same level of strong growth and returns they experienced in the previous laissez-faire era.

If the U.S. market turns out to be too challenging to penetrate due to competitive and geopolitical factors, there are still other markets to explore. Japan, known for its openness to new technologies, has been particularly popular among China's SaaS startups venturing abroad. Sniffing opportunity, China's USD fund managers, still anchored in the Middle Kingdom, will likely follow them to the neighboring country or any other market that will help hedge against uncertainties presented at home and abroad.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has stated that his government has no intention of negotiating with Russia over the situation at the border after Helsinki closed checkpoints in response to the growing migration pressure and Russian border guards' involvement.

Source: Orpo in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The official said Finland is also unwilling to facilitate such talks, and this situation will not change until Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine stops.

"We are willing to talk at the diplomatic level. There have been no political discussions with Russia since the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine," Orpo said.

Back in 2016, a situation similar to the current one on Finland's eastern border came to a resolution through negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Background: Earlier, the Finnish government decided to close seven of the eight border crossing points with Russia in response to the growing migration pressure and the involvement of Russian border guards.

Last Thursday, Finland decided to close the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala border crossings due to a surge in illegal migration. They have been closed to traffic since Saturday.

Finnish border guards have reported that an exceptionally large number of people with no entry documents have been trying to enter Finland through the checkpoints on the southeastern border in recent months.

Earlier this month, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo made it clear that the government may close the remaining checkpoints still operating on the border with Russia because Moscow exploited illegal migrants as a weapon.

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Finland does not intend to negotiate with Russia at the state leadership level regarding the situation on the eastern border, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in an interview with the Finnish newspaper HS on Nov. 25.

"We are ready to discuss on a diplomatic level. There has been no political discussion with Russia since Russia attacked Ukraine," Orpo said.

The situation will not change until the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends, and Finland has no intention of promoting the emergence of such negotiations, he added.

Read also: Russias military expansion near Finnish border raises questions, but no immediate threat to Helsinki, say experts

A similar situation on the Russian-Finnish border was resolved through negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in 2016

More than 800 migrants from Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen have crossed into Finland from Russia in recent weeks. Previously, the flow of migrants there was less than one per day on average.

Finland claims that Russia is deliberately directing migrants to the border in response to the country's decision to strengthen defense cooperation with the United States. The Kremlin denies this.

Read also: Norway may follow Finland by closing border with Russia, says PM, Estonia may follow suit

Finland "angered" the Russians earlier this year when it joined NATO, Reuters reported.

Norway may follow Finland and close the border with Russia, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said on Nov. 22.

Norwegian Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl expressed a similar opinion on Nov. 16, and the next day the same statement was made by Estonia.

Finland announced on Nov. 16 the closure of four border crossings located in the east along the border with Russia. The restrictions will be in effect until Feb. 18, 2024, but could be extended.

It is possible to close the entire border with Russia, if necessary, the Finnish Interior Minister said on Nov. 24.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Finland wants to speed up the procedure for confiscating the Helsinki Halli, a 15,500-seat indoor event centre, owned by Putin-affiliated oligarchs Gennadiy Timchenko and Roman Rotenberg, but is waiting for the final content of the new EU sanctions package.

Source: Ilta-Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Finnish government wants Timchenko and Rotenberg to voluntarily sell a controlling stake in the Helsinki Halli, otherwise Finland will start the procedure of confiscating the shares. These Russian oligarchs, who have been sanctioned by the EU because of Russia's war against Ukraine, own part of the arena through the company Arena Events Oy.

The most likely start date, according to the Ilta-Sanomat source, is January-February 2024. "There will be no more delays. It is in everyone's interest to get the arena back into operation in one way or another," a source from the Finnish Foreign Ministry said.

The fact is that the arena has been closed since the end of February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine, and the Helsinki authorities are losing more than 100 million a year due to the inability to use it.

In this regard, December is crucial, when the EU is expected to agree upon the 12th package of sanctions against Russia.

The fact is that the exemption procedure for transactions involving the assets of sanctioned persons expired on 31 May. And if the new EU sanctions do not extend it, Helsinki will not be able to quickly seize the arena from the Russian oligarchs for at least another six months.

In addition, the procedure may be appealed in the Finnish parliament, which means it will take several more months.

"Finland is now actively working on this issue, as it wants an addition to the EU sanctions package, which, in any case, will allow the arena to be put into operation later," Pia Sarivaara, Team Leader for the Sanctions Team at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Ilta-Sanomat.

Background: Finland supports the transfer of Russian assets frozen abroad to help Ukraine.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the first mainstream presidential candidate to file paperwork to appear on the March ballot for Arizona's presidential preference election, according to records obtained from the Secretary of State's Office.

Candidates have until Dec. 11 to file documents to appear on the ballot.

Two other lesser-known candidates, Republican John Castro of Texas, and Democrat Stephen Lyons of Maryland, also have filed the required paperwork.

All three qualified under a provision of Arizona law that allows presidential hopefuls who have qualified in two other states to be granted ballot access in Arizona.

Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attends the Thanksgiving Family Forum at the downtown Marriott on November 17, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.

In the case of DeSantis, he has already been put on the ballot in New Hampshire and Washington.

Castro has qualified in New Hampshire and Nevada and Lyons in New Hampshire and Arkansas.

Alternatively, candidates can gather voter signatures on nomination petitions, but the two-state qualifier is quicker.

The presidential preference election is March 19. By law, the ballot can only deal with presidential candidates.

The actual winner of the preference election might not necessarily be the name listed on the fall general election ballot. That's because party delegates choose presidential nominees during their political conventions. However, Arizona law says delegates should make their "best efforts" to honor the winner of the preference election.

Only voters registered with a political party can vote in the presidential preference election. Independents can change their party affiliation, vote in a presidential preference election and then re-register as an independent, but that takes some planning.

Who are John Castro and Stephen Lyons?

Neither Castro nor Lyons are high-profile candidates who are anticipated to present serious challengers to either incumbent President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump and the other mainstream Republican candidates who have been raising money, participating in debates and campaigning.

Castro has filed unsuccessful legal challenges in various states in an attempt to keep former Trump from appearing on ballots. He has argued the 14th Amendment bars Trump from appearing on the ballot.

The amendment was ratified in 1868 and ensured civil rights, and was used to prevent former Confederates from joining Congress and taking over the government they had fought against.

Castro hasn't participated in the three GOP debates, which have included DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and others, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who suspended his campaign.

Lyons is even lesser well known as a Democratic challenger to Biden.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ron DeSantis first major candidate to file for Arizona's March ballot
Beijing has started a crackdown on scalpers who use digital devices to hoard hospital registration slots as the winter season has seen a spike in people with respiratory diseases.

The Beijing Municipal Health Commission as well as economy and information technology authorities have worked with online hospital security teams to crack down on scalpers who resell registration slots for higher prices, according to a recent release from the commission.

The authorities have upgraded their technology to counter the scalpers' technology, while also improved the registration system of hospitals and booking via phones.

They have also made efforts to close loopholes and monitor online information and patients' complaints to locate the scalpers as soon as possible.

The city will build a scalper information base shared among all hospitals in Beijing to prevent such behavior.

Twelve major hospitals and the booking hotline 114 have shared their information of 954 suspected scalpers.

Meanwhile, public security authorities have combed through more than 600,000 reports and found 134 hospital scalpers.

The commission will continue to regulate such behavior and make it more convenient for people to get treatment at hospitals. It also called on citizens to boycott getting slots from scalpers.

According to Haibao News, the Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics only offers online and hotline booking of slots, and there are not many left.

A parent told the outlet that she had to constantly pay attention to the booking platforms and see if there are any people giving up their slots to increase the chances.

According to China Central Television, major hospitals in Beijing have seen large numbers of children with respiratory disease for more than a month caused mainly by the flu, adenovirus and mycoplasma pneumonia.

Guo Lingyun, a doctor at Beijing Children's Hospital of Capital Medical University, said the hospital has many patients and it has made efforts to improve its efficiency.

Doctors have also worked extra at night to see patients through online hospitals, she said.

Due to the large number of patients, the hospital has called on parents to send their children to community hospitals or lower-level hospitals if they are still in the early stages of disease.

Parents should also refrain from sending their children to hospitals multiple times in case of re-infection in the closed environment, the hospital said.

Zhao Chengsong, vice-president of Beijing Children's Hospital of Capital Medical University, said all general hospitals in the city can treat children with respiratory disease and the medicines are also highly accessible, so parents do not need to be too anxious.

He told Beijing Youth Daily that the city has 242 hospitals offering online treatment, and it is more convenient for working parents to use such services after they get off work, which can also improve efficiency.
A Frontier Airlines flight turned chaotic when a woman began screaming and yelling while in the air, causing one passenger to begin preaching in the aisle.

The incident happened aboard Frontier Airlines flight 1161 on Nov. 16 going from Houston to Denver. Video from a passenger on the plane shows the unidentified woman being restrained by members of the flight crew. The flight was eventually diverted to Dallas.

"Stop pulling on my arm," the woman can be heard yelling during her mid-flight outburst.

While the woman was being held back by what appeared to be members of the flight crew, she started to jump over several seats on the plane.

WOMAN ON METH TRIES TO OPEN EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR AFTER SHOWING SIGNS OF ANXIETY

A Frontier Airlines flight turned chaotic when a woman began screaming and yelling while in the air, causing one passenger to begin preaching in the aisle, who called her possessed.

"Stop blocking me," the woman says before she was seen hitting an individual.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Ladies and gentlemen, I need everyone to please take your seats  now  please," a flight attendant can be heard telling passengers on the cabin's PA system.

Throughout the video, the woman keeps pushing back whenever the flight crew tries to restrain her.

At one point, a woman could be seen hugging the unruly passenger in the back of the cabin.

After the passenger's outburst, an unidentified woman begins preaching to passengers from the aisle.

"This does not happen for no reasonthere's a real devil that wants to kill each and every one of y'all, including your family members," the woman said. "That's not her. She's possessed and she needs help."

TSA ON THANKSGIVING DAY FOODS YOU CAN FLY WITH, PLUS A CELEBRITY CHEF'S TAKE ON ITEMS THAT TRAVEL WELL

While the woman was being held back by what appears to be members of the flight crew, she started to jump over several seats on the plane.

"Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life," she continued.

Once the plane was on the ground, law enforcement can be seen taking the woman into custody.

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After the passenger's outburst, an unidentified woman begins preaching to passengers from the aisle.

A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration provided Fox News Digital with the following statement: "Frontier Airlines Flight 1161 landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, Nov. 16 after reporting an incident with an unruly passenger. The Airbus A20N departed William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and was en route to Denver International Airport."

Fox News Digital reached out to Frontier Airlines multiple times, but didn't receive a response.





Original article source: Flight descends into chaos when 'possessed' woman begins screaming, jumping over seats: 'There's a real devil'
A Florida mans social media posts threatening a mass shooting on the New York City subway landed him in jail, authorities said Friday.

Pinellas Park resident Robert Trout III, 19, posted a video of himself brandishing guns, and wrote: If youre from New York City do not take the train on Thursday evening, said a report on WFLA, a Tampa TV station.

According to a police report, the video depicted Trout handling firearms in a reckless manner, WFLA said.

The firearms allegedly included two Glock .40 caliber pistols. Trout also claimed on the video to have 60 rounds of ammunition, the TV report said.

An anonymous tipster flagged the video to Pinellas Park cops. Trouts mother was among those who identified him as being the person in the video, the TV report said.

Trout remained jailed Friday on an FBI courtesy hold after police charged him with threatening a mass shooting and unlawful use of a communications device, according to Pinellas County Sheriffs Office records.

MTA officials referred questions about the arrest to the New York Police Department and Florida law enforcement authorities, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Rotary Club of Guernsey said it would deliver more than 190 food parcels

A record number of food parcels is to be delivered in Guernsey in December because of high demand, an organisation says.

The Rotary Club of Guernsey said its Tree of Joy campaign would support families and pensioners with food supplies, as well as provide presents for children at Christmas.

The group has been collecting money from islanders to help raise funds for the campaign.

President Andy Salisbury said it delivered about 150 parcels in 2022, but it would deliver more than 190 this year.

He said: "This year, there has been an record demand for it because of the financial crisis that's prevalent at the moment.

"We have had to do some slight modifications in the food parcels themselves - I cut them down a little from what they have been in the past, but we've got to make sure we can pay the bill at the end of the day."

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Tensions between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands could lead to the accidental shooting down of a civil airliner by RAF fighters over the islands, Foreign Office officials privately warned in 1983.

To protect the Falkland Islands in the aftermath of the 1982 war, the RAF maintained several F4 Phantom jet fighters on quick-reaction alert duty at Port Stanley airfield, which were regularly scrambled to chase away Argentine military aircraft probing the airspace around the Falklands area.

But previously secret British government files have now revealed that in November 1983 the Foreign Office expressed concerns that an RAF pilot might mistake a civil aircraft for an Argentine spy plane and shoot it down.

The concerns were raised by the Foreign Office in the wake of the shooting down of a South Korean 747 airliner on Sept 1 1983 by a Soviet interceptor, killing all 269 on board, after the plane was apparently mistaken for a US military reconnaissance aircraft when it inadvertently strayed into Soviet airspace.

The Foreign Office feared a similar incident could occur in the South Atlantic, particularly as the Argentine Air Force used Boeing 707 airliners  the same aircraft type as operated by Argentinas national civil airline  on intelligence-gathering flights close to Falklands airspace.

Sea Harrier aircraft landing on HMS Fearless during the Falklands War in 1982 - Terence Laheney/Getty

On Nov 28 1983, the Foreign Office Falkland Islands Department wrote to the Ministry of Defence (MoD): In the aftermath of the Korean airliner disaster, we have been looking closely at the questions it might raise for us in the Falkland Islands. In particular, we have been examining the ROE [rules of engagement] for the Falkland Islands Protection Zone.

The letter went on to warn: The ROE as they stand appear to us to offer scope for military action against civil aircraft which could have the most serious political consequences.

In light of the South Korean airliner tragedy, the government sought assurances that only after a senior minister or the prime minister herself had been consulted would an RAF pilot engage an intruding Argentine aircraft.

However, after consulting with the MoD, the Foreign Office reported back to the Cabinet that there is no provision for the RAF aircraft commander tracking the intruder to refer to a senior officer or a minister before launching an attack. The relatively short distances involved in the Falklands would, of course, make this difficult.

The officials from the Foreign Office investigating the matter also made clear their concerns about the legal implications if an RAF fighter did intercept and shoot down a civil aircraft near the Falklands.

Our legal advisers take the view that, quite apart from the political consequences of shooting down an Argentine civil aircraft, we would have difficulty defending such an action in terms of international law, the Foreign Office memo said.

The Foreign Office and then attorney-general Sir Michael Havers recommended that the rules of engagement be brought into line with those applying to UK airspace, which dictated that only if an intruding aircraft was deemed to be demonstrating hostile intent, and the PM or one of her senior ministers had authorised such action, could the aircraft be engaged and shot down.

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PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG)  A former Alabama police officer is going to prison in Florida for trafficking methamphetamine.

Isaac Lopez, a former officer with the Flomaton Police Department, pleaded no contest to the charges of trafficking methamphetamine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, according to court documents.

An Escambia County, Florida judge sentenced Lopez to 10 years in state prison with a seven year mandatory minimum.

In 2020, the Escambia County Sheriffs Office in Florida received information that Lopez was trafficking meth and they set up an operation to catch him in the act. Lopez arranged a drug deal with an undercover deputy through text messages.

He was arrested when he met the deputy at a location in Molino. Then he was later fired from the Flomaton Police Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced after being found guilty of the murder of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced after being found guilty of the murder of George Floyd

(Reuters) - Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, was attacked in a prison in Arizona, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison confirmed on Saturday.

The Associated Press earlier reported Chauvin had been stabbed and seriously injured on Friday.

"I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence," Ellison said in an emailed statement.

"He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence."

He did not give further details.

Chauvin is serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights, as well as a concurrent 22-1/2 years for murder on his conviction in Minnesota state court.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed an unidentified inmate was assaulted at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. It said employees "initiated life-saving measures" for one individual, who was taken by emergency medical services to a hospital.

Floyd's death in 2020 unleashed protests worldwide against police brutality and racism after Chauvin, who is white, knelt on the neck of the handcuffed Black man for more than nine minutes in a murder caught on cellphone video.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced after being found guilty of the murder of George Floyd

(Reuters) -Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, was stabbed in federal prison on Friday and seriously injured, the Associated Press said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Floyd's death in 2020 unleashed a wave of protests worldwide against police brutality and racism after Chauvin, who is white, knelt on the handcuffed Black man's neck for more than nine minutes in a murder caught on cellphone video.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed an unidentified inmate was assaulted at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson in Arizona, but declined to confirm if it was Chauvin.Chauvin, 47, was stabbed by another inmate at the prison, the news agency said, citing a source who was not authorized to discuss the attack and sought anonymity.

The New York Times also reported Chavin was stabbed, citing two people with knowledge of the matter.

In its statement, the Bureau said employees of the medium security prison responded to the attack and "initiated life-saving measures" for one individual, who was taken by emergency medical services to a hospital for treatment.

No employees were injured and the public was never in danger from the incident at 12:30 p.m. MST. (1930 GMT). A bureau spokesperson said it would add no further information.

Zach Graham, an attorney on the defense team at Chauvin's trial, said the firm, Minneapolis-based Halberg Criminal Defense, had no comment on the reported stabbing.

A member of Chauvin's appellate team, Greg Erickson, said he had no knowledge of such an incident.

Chauvin is serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights, as well as a concurrent 22-1/2 years for murder on his conviction in Minnesota state court.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal of his state court murder conviction. The appeal had been filed after a Minnesota appellate court upheld his 2021 murder conviction and rejected his request for a new trial.

Chauvin had said jury bias and some rulings by the presiding judge deprived him of his right to a fair trial.

Chauvin was helping three fellow officers to arrest Floyd in May 2020 on suspicion that Floyd had used a fake $20 bill when buying cigarettes.

The three  Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane  have been convicted of lesser state and federal charges.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta and Steve Gorman; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Russian President Vladimir Putin added a former Russian prime minister to the countrys foreign agent list Friday.

Mikhail Kasyanov, Putins first prime minister. later became the Russian presidents opponent. With his designation by the Russian Justice Ministry as a foreign agent, Kasyanovs credibility could be undermined.

Law in Russia allows for organizations and individuals who obtain foreign funds or support to be designated a foreign agent. The law has often been used against independent news media and opposition figures.

According to The Associated Press, the Russian Justice Ministrys website said that the former prime minister took part in the creation and dissemination of messages and materials of foreign agents to an unlimited circle of people, disseminated false information about the decisions taken by public authorities of the Russian Federation and the policies pursued by them. The website also claimed Kasyanov opposed the special military operation in Ukraine.

Kasyanov served as prime minister of Russia from 2000 to 2004, the year he was dismissed. He later became a notable opposition figure and tried to run for president in 2008, but the national election commission prevented him from doing so.

After Putin sent troops into Ukraine last year, Kasyanov left Russia and is reportedly in Latvia.

The Associated Press contributed.

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A Fox News pundit has said that Democrats hate pies in a bizarre Thanksgiving rant, in which he claimed the Biden administration was banning gas stoves to make people suffer.

Charlie Hurt said Vice President Kamala Harris was rightly heckled and mocked over a picture she posted on social media to mark the holiday.

Ms Harris posted a photo of herself and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in their kitchen, with what appeared to be a gas stove in the background.

It comes following the approval of new policies in dozens of Democrat-controlled cities, which seek to regulate gas appliances in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality.

Though the Biden administration has not proposed a blanket ban on gas stoves, the issue has become a source of partisan outrage.

Charlie Hurt said Vice President Kamala Harris was rightly heckled and mocked over a picture she posted on social media to mark the holiday (Fox News)

Speaking on Fox News The Ingraham Angle, Mr Hurt blasted Democrats for denying misinformation about possible gas stove bans  referencing Ms Harris Thanksgiving post.

Its so funny that people saw [Ms Harris] tweet and they saw her stove. They rightly heckled and mocked her, and made fun of her and ridiculed her, he said.

And then all of the Democrats got freaked out and went and jumped online and said, Oh, no, wait a minute. They dont want to take away the gas stoves. Thats misinformation.

No, they do want to take away the gas stoves and in fact they are taking away the gas stoves in any of the places where they control things.

Asked why he thought Democrats wanted to ban gas stoves, Mr Hurt replied: I think because they hate us. They hate humans. They hate joyfulness, they hate pies. They hate good food.

From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/Nhifx0sHi5  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 23, 2023

They want us all to be miserable. They want us to suffer because when were not suffering were making things, were creating things. Were joyful. Were doing wonderful things, everybodys happy and that drives them crazy because theyre all miserable.

They want all of America to be as miserable and unhappy and unloved as they are and were just not going to go along with it.

The uproar over gas stoves stems from a Department of Energy (DOE) analysis from earlier this year that found roughly 50 per cent of gas stoves currently on the US market would not pass new efficiency standards.

The DOE has specified that the rule meant gas stove manufacturers would have to raise the standards of what they put on the market, not that gas stoves would be banned altogether.
During her official visit to China, Catherine Colonna, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, has urged China not to assist Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Source: Colonna following talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as reported by European Pravda, citing AP

Quote: "France underlines once again how its cooperation with China is essential to promote a just and lasting peace," Colonna stressed.

Details: The official called on China to pursue efforts on its peace plan concerning Ukraine, ensuring that Chinese structures do not assist Russia in the war.

"We are counting on the vigilance of the Chinese authorities so that no structure in China, particularly private, contributes directly or indirectly to Russias illegal war effort in Ukraine," Colonna added.

Background:

In a conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced concern over military cooperation between Russia and North Korea amid a full-scale war against Ukraine.

Earlier, the White House said China could contribute to Washington's assistance in supporting Ukraine in its defence in the war of aggression waged by Russia.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged Beijing to neither help Russia evade sanctions nor allow this to happen through Chinese companies.

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The French government has launched a campaign encouraging people not to buy new clothes in Black Friday sales.

The advert shows a man asking for advice in a shop before an assistant tells him not to buy anything, to help the planet and his finances.

The minister for ecological transition - responsible for promoting sustainability - Christophe Bechu, is behind the campaign.

But the message has been criticised by other government departments.

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire called it "ill-conceived" and said it would harm "honest businesses".

Le Maire's department been trying to tackle the rise in unemployment and the cost of living crisis - and seasonal sales are thought to put more money back into the economy.

Black Friday, when retailers offer significant discounts and promotions, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year in many European countries.

On Thursday Bechu admitted that the message may have targeted the wrong businesses, he told France Inter: "We should have targeted online sales platforms rather than physical businesses with the same message."

But he said the adverts would not be pulled.

The campaign is one of a number of initiatives from Mr Bechu, who previously launched a "repair bonus" to encourage people to repair their existing clothes instead of buying new ones.

From October the government has subsidised clothing and shoe repairs by giving people between 6 (5) and 25 (21) off the cost. The government has committed to contributing 154m to the repair bonus fund over the next five years.

Berangere Couillard, the junior ecology minister, said the government was committed to tackling fast fashion.

More criticism came from the Commerce Alliance, the Union of Textile Industries and the French Union of Fashion and Clothing Industries which issued a joint statement.

"We ask for its immediate withdrawal, failing which we will consider legal action for commercial denigration.

"We ask ADEME [the French Environment and Energy Management Agency] and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territories to immediately remove this video and to work together to develop positive communication on the transformation of the fashion and commerce sector."
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Nov. 24 that China's support is crucial in bringing lasting peace to Ukraine and urged Beijing not to back Russia's war, the Associated Press reported.

"We are counting on the vigilance of Chinese authorities so that no structure in China, particularly private, contributes directly or indirectly to Russia's illegal war effort in Ukraine," Colonna said after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during her trip to China.

The French minister also asked Beijing to continue working on its own Ukraine peace proposal. China presented its peace plan earlier this year but attracted criticism from the West as it did not include the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

China has built close ties with Russia and has not denounced its war against Ukraine nor joined international sanctions.

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Although Beijing has not publicly provided direct military support to the Kremlin, Western intelligence suggested that China has been supplying Russia with large amounts of dual-use goods with military applications.

Despite political differences, the EU and the U.S. have repeatedly appealed to China to use its influence on Moscow to bring an end to the Ukraine invasion.

"This war has to finish. And in order to finish the war, there have to be negotiations for peace," the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said during his visit to China in October.

"The best way for us to take these negotiations (forward) is Ukraine's peace formula  and we count on China to support this."

European officials' trips to China are meant to pave the way for the upcoming EU-China summit in December.

Read also: Russia, China and North Korea have new dynamics. And its bad for Ukraine

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FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE)  If you are looking to make an addition to your family this holiday season, this might be just the sign you need.

The Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals, the CCSPCA is holding a holiday adoption promo.

Organizers say all dogs, cats, and small animal adoptions will be up to 50 percent off starting Black Friday through the end of the year. The discount is determined by the animals age, breed, and species.

The promo only applies to CCSPCAs Mobile Adoption Unit and Adoption Center. The Mobile Adoption Unit will kick off the promotion on Black Friday and Saturday at River Park from midnight to 4 p.m.

CCSPCAs Adoption Centers will be closed on Black Friday but will reopen on Saturday. It is located at 103 S. Hughes Ave and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
(NEXSTAR)  Getting a new car? Youll need to order two license plates if youre registering it in Nevada.

Thats because the Silver State is one of 31 in the nation that requires both a front and rear license plate. Only select cars can be exempt from the law: if the vehicle wasnt designed to have a front plate and the manufacturer doesnt offer an add-on bracket allowing you to attach one.

Theres also an exception is for motorcycles and trailers, both of which just need the rear plate.

While Nevada law doesnt specify why both plates are required, a 2012 Texas A&M Transportation Institute found it saved time and money for law enforcement and other state agencies. It makes things easier for automatic plate readers at tollbooths and in paid parking lots.

What will be different in southern Nevadas first El Nino winter in 5 years?

The interesting thing about this project is that it has allowed us to see how something as seemingly small as a license plate can have a tremendous impact on enforcement and operations, said Melissa Walden, the senior research scientist who worked on the study.

For example, the study found that at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport found that 15% of parking transactions at the airports lots had to be processed manually because sun glare made it hard for the cameras to read rear plates. That takes up extra time, and therefore costs money.

In Virginia, the study found that as many as 23% of toll skippers werent able to be pursued for payment because rear plates were unreadable.

U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies also told Texas A&M they prefer when front plates are attached and displayed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
For years, drivers taking Interstate 275 north out of Pinellas County, or taking the same road in, have encountered consecutive construction projects meant to help reshape the regions traffic flow.

One of those projects  the oft-delayed Gateway Expressway  is set to finally open early next year after six years of construction. Others, including the overhaul of the Howard Frankland Bridge, will hit milestones later in the year: David Gwynn, the Florida Department of Transportation secretary for the Tampa Bay area, said last week that the bridges new span should open by the end of 2024.

A handful of other projects along Pinellas I-275 corridor are also in the works, including more express lanes. Theres also a plan that Gwynn said would allow motorists to drive from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to the Howard Frankland without changing lanes, addressing an annoying quirk of that stretch of highway.

Heres a look at where those projects stand.

Gateway Expressway

The nearly $600 million project will add two elevated toll roads  one connecting the interstate to U.S. 19, the other linking it to the Bayside Bridge.

Conceived as part of the states plan to add highway capacity for a growing Tampa Bay, the project was underway by early 2018. At the time, the Department of Transportation said it would be done by late 2021. By early 2021, it had pushed back the completion date to 2023. As recently as September, transportation officials said construction would finish next January.

And last week, Gwynn told Pinellas County commissioners that the Department of Transportation was looking at opening the roads to traffic in February and having the project completely finished by spring.

Thatll provide great relief to that section of the county, he said.

The Fourth Street northbound entrance ramp onto I-275, which had been closed for more than a year due to construction on the project, reopened in September. The southbound exit to Fourth Street has been closed since early 2021 and is expected to open early next year.

Tolls on the expressway will be in effect at all hours and will remain static.

Howard Frankland Bridge

The $865 million transformation of the bridge connecting Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, meanwhile, is on schedule: Gwynn said last week that he expects finishing touches to be done by the end of 2025, in keeping with the timeline the state laid out when work began in 2020.

Calm weather this year  the rainy season was the driest in more than two decades  has helped construction stay on track, Gwynn said.

Thats a tough project to build out there on the water, he said. If the winds get too high, the cranes have trouble.

The bridges new eight-lane span  which will include four general-use southbound lanes, two express lanes in each direction and a path for bicyclists and pedestrians  will open in late 2024, Gwynn said. The current southbound span will become northbound. The current northbound span, which was built in 1959 and which transportation officials have said is expensive to maintain and vulnerable to hurricanes, is set for demolition sometime in 2025.

Points south

A handful of projects south of the bridge and Gateway area are being designed, Gwynn said. A plan to expand I-275 between the 38th Avenue North exit and the Fourth Street exit, in order to add two express lanes each way, was among the projects promised funding under a $4 billion state initiative passed earlier this year. The express lanes will tie into those in the Gateway project.

Construction is estimated to cost $339 million. With the funding already earmarked, Gwynn said construction is likely to begin in 2025, much sooner than we had anticipated.

A similar project, which would add express lanes to I-275 between the 38th Avenue North exit and the I-375 interchange, is also in the design phase. The estimated cost is about $167 million, including design and right-of-way purchases.

A project to allow drivers to get from Pinellas southern tip to the Howard Frankland without changing lanes has also been proposed. Reconstruction would be done on the portion of I-275 between the I-375 interchange and the 54th Avenue South exit. Neither of the latter two projects has received funding, Gwynn said.
The scene outside King Edward VII hospital in London when the Duke of Edinburgh was admitted in December 2019 - Heathcliff O'Malley

GCHQ is investigating a cyber attack on the London private hospital favoured by the Royal family.

The spy agencys National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is probing what King Edward VIIs Hospital described as an IT security incident during which a third-party obtained confidential medical information such as doctors letters and pathology reports relating to some patients. The hospitals website was also affected by the incident.

The hospital is known as being the first port of call for senior members of the Royal family over many years, with the late Queen Elizabeth II  who acted as its patron  and Prince Philip having been admitted to the central London medical centre several times.

Sarah, the Duchess of York, spent several days at the hospital in the summer after surgery for breast cancer, while the Princess of Wales was treated there for severe morning sickness during her first pregnancy.

It is understood that the Royal family members medical data is held separately to the system that was hacked, and was unaffected.

Significant threat

But the attack is now being investigated by the NCSC and police. The disclosure of the incident, which took place earlier this month, comes less than a fortnight after the NCSC warned of an enduring and significant threat posed by states and state-aligned groups to the national assets that the UK relies on for the everyday functioning of society.

Threats identified by the NCSC included ransomware attacks such as the targeting of the British Library last month, which led to a leak of employee data that is now being sold online.

In a statement on Nov 14, the NCSC said: Russian-language criminals operating ransomware and ransomware as a service models continue to be responsible for the most high-profile cyber attacks against the UK.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also targeted known vulnerabilities to launch ransomware operations against multiple sectors, including critical national infrastructure organisations, the NCSC said earlier this month.

The King Edward VIIs Hospital was unable to confirm the identity of the third party behind the attack on its systems.

It is understood that fewer than 1 per cent of the hospitals patients were affected. They have been warned of a risk that their data could be misused.

In a letter to affected patients, Justin Vale, the hospitals chief executive, said: We were alerted to the situation immediately, and thanks to the security measures we had in place, we were able to take steps to contain the incident very shortly after it occurred.

He added: We have identified that the third party responsible for the incident was able to copy a small amount of data from our systems. We have reviewed this data so that we can confirm what is included and while the majority was internal hospital systems data, we established that it did include some of your personal data... This included some health information contained in documents such as doctors letters or pathology reports. It does not include any financial or payment data.

Free identity monitoring

Affected patients have been offered free identity and credit monitoring to help keep you safe from potentially fraudulent activity.

A spokesman for the hospital said: We recently experienced an IT security incident involving temporary, unauthorised access to our systems.

We took immediate steps to mitigate the incidents impact and continued to offer patient care and services, largely as normal. We also launched a comprehensive investigation, which confirmed that a small amount of data was copied from part of our IT system. While this was primarily benign hospital systems data, a limited amount of patient information was copied, and we are notifying a small subset of our patient database about this.

The vast majority of patients are not affected by this in any way, and we offer our apologies for any concern this incident may cause.

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Geert Wilders faces an uphill task in forming a government but promises to be prime minister for everyone

For decades Geert Wilders has a been one of the most divisive characters in Dutch society.

A hero of the hard right, who made his name preaching religious intolerance, is trying to rebrand.

Dutch society is polarised over what impact the rise of the peroxide blonde populist will have on their lives.

In Schilderswijk, one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse areas of the Netherlands, Dutch Muslims say they're afraid their religious freedoms may be curtailed.

"My mother and my wife wear headscarves," says Sahil Achahboun, a sociologist who was born in Schilderswijk.

He now worries his families' movements may be restricted.

"Wilders wants to stop them from going into government buildings wearing the scarf or pay a tax. I'm afraid for them, and for my children."

Sociologist Sahil Achahboun fears a Wilders-led government will limit the movement of his wife and mother

Mr Wilders said he could be a prime minister for everyone. No-one in this neighbourhood can see how a party that has anti-Islamic beliefs ingrained in its DNA can represent them.

Mr Achahboun laughs as though it's a ludicrous idea: "Wilders has been saying we have to ban everything that is from Muslims, of Muslims, by Muslims.

"People have been brainwashed. I hope one day he'll be a true leader but for the last 20 years I've seen the opposite."

Geert Wilders' manifesto promotes a ban on all Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques, and would forbid anyone wearing the hijab from entering government buildings.

Ten minutes away, I discovered a different universe.

Gambling machines and Christmas lights flashed in a traditional Dutch bar, shoppers were counting out change and calculating the cost of their groceries.

The tight-knit seaside suburb of Duindorp is Wilders heartland. Life is tough, people here tell me, and too expensive.

Outside the supermarket I met Janette, who didn't give her surname, picking up some vegetables for dinner.

Her sons can't afford to buy a home, she complains, and rent is making them broke: "But we give homes and benefits to people from elsewhere, we are happy to help them but we need to help our own people first. Old people are freezing at home because they can't afford to turn on the heating."

This is a message Geert Wilders has been pumping out for decades, but the cost of living crisis has resonated with a growing population of newly poorer people who want someone to acknowledge their insecurity of existence, and find someone to blame.

Janette sees Geert Wilders' victory as good for Dutch democracy

Janette tells me it's a good day for democracy, and that "Geert", as she fondly refers to him, wants to put the Dutch people first and stop giving money to people in other countries when "we can't look after our own".

Packing her plastic bags on to a scooter, another shopper called Anje said she did not think the Freedom party leader would fix her community. But she seemed satisfied that he would at least put pressure on other parties to do something about her problems.

A decade ago the firebrand leader was found guilty of insulting Moroccans.

In 2009 he was blocked from entering the UK over his plan to show a video that criticised the Quran as a "fascist book", which made him a threat to national security.

I have been reporting on Geert Wilders for more than a decade, and witnessed a softening, less shouty style.

He has toned down provocative social media posts. This week he explained to the BBC with a smile: "I have become a positive person."

But as Leonie de Jonge, professor of European Politics at Groningen University, points out, his party programme is anything but moderate.

"The PVV is an archetypical populist radical right party, characterised by nativism, authoritarianism and populism," she said.

Mr Wilders wants to cancel the overseas aid budget, cut EU funding and reduce the number of foreign students coming in.

He promises to have 14 year-olds treated the same as adults in criminal cases, cut taxes, provide 10,000 more police officers, show zero tolerance for "street scum" and bring back the controversial Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) character.

His manifesto ends with a promise of a government that will "put the Dutch back at number one!"

There is an irony attached to the fact that the pre-election favourite for prime minister may have been key to his party's electoral success.

Dilan Yesilgoz, who came to Turkey as a child refugee and now leads the conservative-liberal VVD, has been accused of funnelling voters towards someone whose policies would not have allowed her family to enter the country.

Unlike her predecessor Mark Rutte, she said she would be open to working with Geert Wilders, making the Freedom party or PVV seem like a palatable, plausible partner.

Liberal party leader Rob Jetten described the Wilders party surge as the "Dilan Yesilgoz effect".

"I did not open the door to Geert Wilders," she told the BBC defiantly.

Dilan Yesilgoz's party has refused to be part of a Wilders coalition, but would be prepared to prop up a minority government

Instead she blamed "the leftist parties who refused to see the issues we have here, with immigration, with migration, with integration, who refuse to work with us on solutions, they have opened the door".

But according to Sarah de Lange, professor of political science at the University of Amsterdam, it was a significant factor: "It made it more attractive for voters to support Wilders' party because influence on government policy was finally in sight."

And Leonie de Jonge interpreted this as one of the main explanations for the landslide following a campaign in which immigration featured prominently.

Prof de Jonge believes the PVV has "issue ownership" over immigration, and voters then prefer the "original" over the "copy". In that sense she says Dilan Yesilgoz's party "tilled the field for the populist radical right".

Ms Yesilgoz was the first to declare that her centre-right conservatives would not join a Wilders-led coalition, but was prepared to tolerate one.

Will any of his more far-right policies actually come through in any government he forms?

Much of what he wants to do about immigration cannot be done under existing laws.

His manifesto includes a plan to end free movement of labour within the EU, though some groups would be entitled to working visas.

Mr Wilders knows there is little appetite for leaving the EU, or "Nexit", but his manifesto pledges to hold a referendum on the issue..

Some of the policy propositions, such as closing mosques or banning the Quran, clearly run against the principles of liberal democracy, most notably the protection of minority rights.

His PVV wants to stop granting asylum for refugees, withdraw from the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and reinstate border controls.

He could take a page from recent US and UK playbooks and just forge ahead then blame judges for blocking it.

Is this the Netherlands' Brexit or Donald Trump moment? It is too premature to predict.

Geert Wilders' pathway to power is paved with unknowns and will be constrained by consensus politics.

Graphic showing ANP prognosis
Derek Chauvin, the US police officer whose murder of George Floyd sparked massive racial justice protests in 2020, was reportedly stabbed in prison on Friday.

Chauvin knelt on the 46-year-old Black mans neck for more than nine minutes on a Minneapolis street despite the dying mans pleas.

Floyds cries of I cant breathe were a rallying call for demonstrators domestically and abroad who took to the streets in the killings aftermath.

The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported Chauvin had been attacked in the Arizona prison in which he is being held.

The US Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed an assault had taken place but did not reveal the name of the person wounded.

An incarcerated individual was assaulted at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Tucson, in the southwestern state of Arizona, it said in a statement.

Responding employees initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual, the statement said, adding that the wounded individual was sent to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

Chauvin survived the attack, according to a New York Times source.

Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes on a Minneapolis street despite the dying mans pleas - Darnella Frazier

Chauvin knelt on the 46-year-old Black mans neck for more than nine minutes on a Minneapolis street despite the dying mans pleas.

Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in 2021, and sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison.

A Justice Department probe into the Minneapolis police, the findings of which were published in June 2023, said that officers in the department routinely resorted to violent and racist practices, including unjustified deadly force.

The city of Minneapolis, in the midwestern state of Minnesota, also settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Floyd family, agreeing to pay his relatives $27 million.

Chauvin appealed his second-degree murder conviction, which was rejected by the US Supreme Court earlier this month.

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Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said Saturday he expects to be expelled by the House of Representatives and went on to lambaste his colleagues. File Photo by Louis Lanzano/UPI

Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Disgraced New York Rep. George Santos on Saturday lambasted fellow members of Congress on social media ahead of his likely expulsion from the House of Representatives.

The beleaguered Republican stood firm in his assertions that numerous allegations against him are a "political opposition hit piece" and chastised his Capitol Hill colleagues "who are more worried about getting drunk every night."

Santos, on an X Space hosted by media personality Monica Matthews, said he expects to be ejected when the House votes on an expulsion resolution filed by Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss.

The committee issued a blistering report last week finding "substantial evidence" that Santos embezzled money from his campaign for personal use and deceived donors.

Committee members referred their findings to the Department of Justice for possible new charges atop the 23 federal criminal charges he already faces.

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said Saturday he expects to be expelled by the House of Representatives and went on to lambaste his colleagues. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

An unrepentant Santos on Saturday said he would treat expulsion as a "badge of honor."

"I don't care. You want to expel me? I'll wear it like a badge of honor," he said. "I'll be the sixth expelled member of Congress in the history of Congress. And guess what? I'll be the only one expelled without a conviction."

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said Saturday he expects to be expelled by the House of Representatives and went on to lambaste his colleagues. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Santos argued he was denied due process and said the House ethics report was flawed.

"This report is an affront against my rights and it should worry each and every single one of you guys who are listening, because if you were in the same position fighting for your life and something like this came out against you, you would have a tainted jury pool and you would never have a chance at a fair trial," he said.

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said Saturday he expects to be expelled by the House of Representatives and went on to lambaste his colleagues. File Photo by John Nacion/UPI

At one point, he said Guest needs to "stop being a p***y" and call a vote on his expulsion resolution. He also accused Congress of having "felons galore," saying, "This s*** happens every single week. Where are the ethics investigations?"

Among committee's findings was evidence that Santos repaid himself for non-existent loans to his campaign and that he had illegally spent his donors' money on botox treatments, spa services, personal travel and lodging and a pornographic website.

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., said Saturday he expects to be expelled by the House of Representatives and went on to lambaste his colleagues. File Photo by John Nacion/UPI
Rep. George Santos went on an extended tirade against his colleagues on Friday evening.

Santos says he expects to be expelled this week and will wear it "like a badge of honor."

He also called the Ethics Committee chairman a "pussy" and made wild claims about his colleagues.

Days before his likely expulsion from the House of Representatives, Rep. George Santos of New York went on his most unhinged tirade yet.

In an X Space hosted by conservative media personality Monica Matthews on Friday evening, the scandal-plagued Republican said he expects to be expelled when the House votes on the matter, which is likely to happen this coming week.

But he said he's not sweating it.

"I don't care. You want to expel me? I'll wear it like a badge of honor," Santos said. "I'll be the sixth expelled member of Congress in the history of Congress. And guess what? I'll be the only one expelled without a conviction."

That was just one part of Santos's lengthy and angry diatribe against his colleagues, during which the indicted congressman made a series of statements and claims that are unlikely to endear him to any colleagues who may still remain on the fence about expelling him.

From George Santos's diatribe on @monicaonairtalk's Space tonight:



He calls Ethics Committee chair @RepMichaelGuest a "pussy," mocks Guest's home state (Mississippi), describes his colleagues as corrupt philanderers, and says he'll wear expulsion "like a badge of honor." pic.twitter.com/jnjPt9jph8  bryan metzger (@metzgov) November 25, 2023

At one point, he mocked the Republican chairman of the House Ethics Committee  Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi  in the wake of that committee's damning report about his conduct.

"It ain't gonna be the dude from Mississippi that's gonna kick me, a New Yorker, out of Congress," Santos said. "No offense to people from Mississippi, but making that very, very clear, it's going to take a lot more than that."

He also said Guest needs to "stop being a pussy" and call up the expulsion resolution when Congress returns this week.

Spokespeople for Rep. Guest did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment sent outside of regular business hours.

And in a moment reminiscent of former Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn  whose wild claims of cocaine-laden orgies among his colleagues spurred GOP leaders to plot his ouster last year  Santos claimed his colleagues were "hypocrites" who were regularly cheating on their spouses and barely doing their job.

"I have colleagues who are more worried about getting drunk every night with the next lobbyist that they're gonna screw and pretend like none of us know what's going on, and sell off the American people, not show up to vote because they're too hungover or whatever the reason is, or not show up to vote at all and just give their card out like fucking candy for someone else to vote for them," Santos claimed.

"This shit happens every single week," he said. "Where are the ethics investigations?"

Santos is no longer seeking re-election and is set to go to trial next September following a federal indictment on charges that include money laundering, identity theft, and wire fraud.

According to the House Ethics Committee's report on Santos's conduct, the congressman was largely uncooperative during the investigation.

The report also found that Santos swindled campaign donors, using their money for luxury purchases at Hermes, Ferragamo, Sephora, OnlyFans, and Botox.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rep. George Santos describes his launch to Congress as attention befitting an "it girl," a phrase typically reserved for a popular socialite who rubs elbows with the most famous people.

But the adjective most commonly used before the New York Republican's name is "embattled."

Santos started his first term mired in scandal, admitting much of his personal and professional resume was fabricated. The lies ranged from being a volleyball star at a college he never attended to alleged fraud for which he is facing 23 federal charges.

After nearly a year full of revelations, accusations and challenges, Santos said he expects his first term to be his last after a recent House Ethics Committee report said the freshman representative violated criminal laws.

"You want to expel me? I'll wear it like a badge of honor. I'll be the sixth expelled member of Congress," Santos said Friday morning during an X Spaces, formerly Twitter Spaces, hosted by Monica Matthews.

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., walks back to his office after debate on the House floor on a resolution to expel him from Congress, at the U.S. Capitol November 1, 2023 in Washington, DC.

His Democratic colleague across the aisle, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, confirmed House plans for an expulsion vote when Congress reconvenes.

"George, we're going to expel you," Garcia said on the X Spaces show.

He urged Santos to bow out before that happens: "The right thing for you to do is resign."

The Long Island lawmaker has a news event scheduled for Thursday, but he said it's a speech, not a resignation.

Santos said to resign would be to admit everything that's in the House Ethics report, which he described as as a "political hit piece" designed to force him out of his seat.

"They want to kick me out of a job they didn't put me in," Santos said. "I'm not leaving. Come hell or high water, it's done when I say it's done."

But in some way, he has already conceded it's done. He's not running for reelection. He expects to be expelled less than a year after he was sworn in to Congress.

Garcia urged Santos to drop his defenses and apologize, saying "a real apology would go a long way."

Santos said he has done that and apologized to the entire Republican conference in January.

Garcia said voters deserve an apology, too.

"I don't think I'll live long enough to apologize enough," Santos said.

But as quickly as he showed moments of remorse during the show spanning more than three hours, Santos was quicker to point the finger back at his colleagues.

"I'm not running for reelection because I don't want to work with a bunch of hypocrites," he said before launching into various accusations about unnamed members.

"I'm through with the insanity of this place," Santos said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why George Santos won't resign but expects to be expelled soon
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Governor Mike Parson has pardoned more than 600 people in the past three years. Thats more than any Missouri governor since the 1940s.

Parson is a former sheriff; he says he still believes in law and order and that criminals must be held accountable. But he adds, It doesnt mean theyve been criminal all their lives.

I think its important to me that we set a standard so people know what happens when you commit a crime. There are going to be consequences. Youve learned to accept that, and once you realize that, yeah, I made a mistake, said Gov. Mike Parson.

So far, Gov. Parson has granted 613 pardons and commuted 20 sentences. He has also denied about 2,400 clemency requests.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Russian forces attacked Kherson Oblast 100 times over the past day, killing a civilian and injuring three others, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Nov. 25.

Prokudin added that Russian forces launched 520 rounds against the region, targeting residential areas with artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, mortars, tanks, drones, and fighter jets.

Kherson, the regional capital, was attacked 18 times, Prokudin said.

Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that Russian forces launched 40 rounds against the regional capital.

Kherson and the regional communities located on the Dnipro Rivers west bank are daily targets for Russian attacks.

Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements west of the Dnipro River in the fall 2022 counteroffensive.

Russian forces were pushed to the east of the river, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.

Read also: Ukrainians step up efforts to cross Dnipro, tie up Russian forces in Kherson Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo Sports

Jason Fitz is joined by quarterback expert and host of the Athletic Football Show Nate Tice to give a unique perspective on how we rank and grade quarterbacks by adding their head coach/playcaller into the equation. Fitz and Nate go through the current playoff bracket and give letter grades for each and every quarterback and head coach combo and determine who deserves more of the credit pie. The duo also discuss some fringe playoff contenders and some of the more interesting combos on bad teams. Later, Fitz is joined by former NFL GM Michael Lombardi to discuss David Tepper's ownership style and the future of the Carolina Panthers, Brandon Staley and whether it's time for the Los Angeles Chargers to move on and how a quarterback's likability in the locker room can indirectly define their success.
The Bucyrus City Schools Board of Education approved of special education students' idea to use the school greenhouse for growing produce for their Diner 104, which serves the school staff every first and third Thursdays of the month.

Student Services Director Loni Porinchok said students spoke to board members at a recent meeting, asking to use the school greenhouse to grow their own lettuce, flowers and other vegetables for the diner, where they prepare and cook the food, serve and seat people and clean up afterward.

Greenhouse not currently in use

The greenhouse, Porinchok said, was built a few years ago through a grant, but since the teacher who had written the grant found a position elsewhere it has not been used.

The diner started a few years ago. Students choose a different menu for each dinner, typically including hot dogs, salads, such as pasta or potato salads, sandwiches and desserts.

Special education students who work in Bucyrus High School's Diner 104 do everything from cooking to cleanup, and now they'd like to grow their own produce in a greenhouse on school property, and the administration is on board with the idea. Taking a break in Diner 104 on Monday are front left Jacklyn Nagel with her paraprofessional Sheryl Bryant, Aizlee Boswell, Layla Swerlein, and Emma Graves; back left Jaivir Singh, Loni Porinchok, Jerald Horsley, Michael Spaulding, Kyle Alspach, Tammy Gwirtz, and Ashley Napier.

The one that we had last Thursday, they also had shredded chicken sandwiches and brownies, and pretzels, Porinchok said.

The diner is only open to the adults, including staff members, who can pay for their own meals. From the experience, the special education students can learn to ring up their own order on the cash register, make change and work with money.

Diner 104

Porinchok said it was school intervention specialist Tammy Gwirtz who came up with the idea of the diner.

The school began to invite community organizations and governmental entities, including the mayor and his office, the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, the Rotary Club and County Board, to the diner.

The students, Gwirtz said, have to email Bucyrus High School Principal Jaivir Singh and ask permission for people to come in, allowing students to learn life skills while serving 25-30 staff members the diner usually sees in one day.

More: Bucyrus Schools start tutoring program to help middle schoolers catch up post-pandemic

Its hands on, she said. Thats what they need.

The diner, Gwirtz continued, is self-sustaining, and what comes in goes right back out. The students make the menu after sending a survey to the staff, which helps them to figure out how much food they will need.

And then we also go to the store and buy it, she said. And then we come back and do a prep the Wednesday before.

The special education students use pictures along with the words on the menus.

The work in the greenhouse will start by spring, Gwirtz said.

Last fall, said Porinchok, students cleaned it up before their presentation to the board.

The greenhouse produce

The special education students and the student volunteers seem excited about the greenhouse.

Kyle Alspach said he liked to help with the greenhouse.

Ashley Napier said they decided to use the school greenhouse so they could grow their own lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes in order to spend less at the store.

Jerald Horseley, 16, said they also will grow flowers, watermelon and spinach.

Michael Spaulding, 17, said they learned about how greenhouses operated from the presentation delivered by the representatives of the Pickwick Place.

Emma Graves, 16, said she started volunteering with the special education students last year when she was on student council. She said at that time she did not know what she was getting herself into.

They have to work double what regular education students work, Graves said. Its just so amazing to see that.

Aizlee Boswell, 17, said the special education students at first wanted to raise chickens and not vegetables at the greenhouse.

What is the role of chicken in this story?

Layla Swerlein, 16, Student Council treasurer who also volunteers with the special education students, said it was Jacklyn Nagel, 16, who emailed the administration with the suggestion to raise chickens, but it was not received well.

This may not be a workable idea on weekends and long holidays, Singh said. We felt like the best product we could provide were the green products like watermelons, spinach, cauliflower, tomatoes and pepper.

However, the administration supported the idea overall. Singh said the diner has been providing the students with the soft skills they need to live in the 21st century. The diner, he continued, has proven itself to have a positive impact on students.

More: Bucyrus Secondary School honored the memory of Bucyrus native Harry Martin for Veterans Day

Before the school started bringing the representatives of organizations to the special education classes, the students did not know how to interact with strangers and could be afraid of new people, and the school administration was amazed at how the students improved.

That fear is gone now, Singh said.

At the same time, he said, the school employees proved themselves to be great at providing an inclusive environment for the students.

These kids matter, Gwirtz said. They give 110% for me in the classroom, and they matter - all kids matter.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus High School special ed students will grow their own vegetables
(Oregon Capital Chronicle)  A group trying to block former President Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot in all 50 states ramped up pressure on Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade during Thanksgiving week.

Free Speech for People first contacted Griffin-Valade in July, less than two weeks into her term. Its latest letter asks Griffin-Valade to respond and indicate whether shell issue a temporary rule declaring Trump ineligible to appear on ballots in Oregon by Dec. 1.

Your oath to support the Constitution, and the weighty responsibility entrusted to you by Oregon voters as Secretary of State, impel you to exclude Mr. Trumps name from the list of qualified candidates in the presidential primary, the group wrote.

Multnomah County STEP Court sees 12 graduate, low recidivism in first year

A spokeswoman for Griffin-Valade said she received the request and is reviewing it, and has nothing more to share at this time.

The advocacy groups campaign rests on a rarely used section of the Fourteenth Amendment intended to prevent former Confederates from holding federal office after the Civil War. The amendment prohibits anyone who previously took an oath to support the U.S. Constitution and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof from holding any federal office.

Read more here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Migrant children from China surrender to Border Patrol agents after they and their families were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. (Reuters)

WASHINGTON  The surge of migrants entering the United States across the southern border increasingly includes people from a surprising place: China.

Despite the distances involved and the difficulties of the journey, more than 24,000 Chinese citizens have been apprehended crossing into the United States from Mexico in the past year. That is more than in the preceding 10 years combined, according to government data.

They typically fly into Ecuador, where they do not need a visa. Then, like hundreds of thousands of other migrants from Central and South America and more distant locations, they pay smugglers to guide their travel through the dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama en route to the United States. Once there, they turn themselves in to border officials, and many seek asylum.

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And most succeed, in turn fueling further attempts. Chinese citizens are more successful than people from other countries with their asylum claims in immigration court. And those who are not end up staying anyway because China usually will not take them back.

In the polarizing debate over immigration, it is a little-discussed wrinkle in the U.S. system: American officials cannot force countries to take back their own citizens. For the most part, this is not an issue. But about a dozen countries are not terribly cooperative, and China is the worst offender.

Of the 1.3 million people in the United States with final orders to be deported, about 100,000 are Chinese, according to an administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the internal data.

The migrants are part of an exodus of citizens who have grown frustrated with harsh restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic and the direction of Xi Jinpings authoritarian government. The trend has been coined the run philosophy, with citizens escaping to Japan, Europe and the United States.

The largest reason for me is the political environment, Mark Xu, 35, a Chinese elementary and middle school English teacher, said in February as he waited to board a boat in Necocli, Colombia, a beach town in the north. China was so stifling, he added, it had become difficult to breathe.

He was among about 100 Chinese migrants setting off that morning to start the journey through the treacherous Darien Gap, the only land route to the United States from South America. Xu said he learned about the trek from YouTube and through Google searches, including how to get outside of China and how to escape.

In the last two years, the area has been one of the most difficult portions of a desperate journey for large numbers of migrants seeking to go north. So far, 481,000 people have crossed through the jungle this year, compared with 248,000 last year, according to Panamanian officials.

Most of the migrants have been Venezuelans, Ecuadoreans and Haitians fleeing crises at home, including economic and security problems. But this year, more and more Chinese have embarked on the journey.

So many have crossed that Chinese citizens are now the fourth-largest group traversing the jungle.

Many fly to Turkey before heading to Ecuador and making their way to the United States.

More than 24,000 came to the United States during the 2023 fiscal year, according to government data. Over the previous 10 years, fewer than 15,000 Chinese migrants were caught crossing the southern border illegally.

The historic levels of migration across the southern border are a major political problem in the United States, where President Joe Biden faces fierce pressure to curb the flow; the Chinese migrants are a small fraction.

Most who have come to the United States in the past year were middle-class adults who have headed to New York after being released from custody.

New York has been a prime destination for migrants from other nations as well, particularly Venezuelans, who rely on the citys resources, including its shelters. But few of the Chinese migrants are staying in the shelters. Instead, they are going where Chinese citizens have gone for generations: Flushing, Queens  or, to some, the Chinese Manhattan.

New York is a self-sufficient Chinese immigrants community, said the Rev. Mike Chan, the executive director of the Chinese Christian Herald Crusade, a faith-based group in the neighborhood. Newcomers do not have to speak English because so many speak Mandarin or Cantonese, he added, making it easier to find a job as well. That kind of network helps people find immigration lawyers, housing and other basic needs.

Their route to Flushing through a South American jungle is what makes the most recent arrivals different. In the past, most Chinese asylum-seekers have come on a visa and then applied once they were in the United States. The last time such an influx of Chinese migrants entered illegally, they came by sea in the 1990s. But the current volume is much higher.

America is the greatest power in the world, isnt it? a 29-year-old Chinese migrant who would identify himself only by his nickname and surname, Little Xu, said recently outside a Taiwanese tea shop in Flushing. Xu was taking a break from his job as a messenger and asked that his full name not be used out of fear of retribution.

He left China, he said, to find work. Ive lost hope where I lived, he said, describing his job as a jewelry salesperson in central Hubei province and how his boss had stopped paying him. Xu arrived in Flushing in August after a two-month journey from China, which included hiking through the jungle in rain so heavy that his shoes ripped open.

Migrants seeking asylum have to wait about six months after they file their application to get permission to work legally. More recent arrivals will wait years for their cases to wind through the system.

In general, Chinese asylum-seekers are more successful in immigration court than most. About 67% of applicants from China were granted asylum from 2001 to 2021, according to data analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.

And those who are ordered removed are not likely to be deported.

Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow with the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, said as long as that happened, the migration trend would continue.

If you make it to the U.S., then youre more likely than not to be able to stay, he said. So its absolutely worth the chance of taking that risk.

Still, the exodus of Chinese citizens, particularly those of working age, to the United States and elsewhere presents a challenge to China in the long run, according to Carl Minzner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

For the first time in 60 years, Chinas population is shrinking, with fewer births than deaths. And its economy is growing at its slowest rate in 40 years.

With other countries that have refused to take back their citizens, the United States has withheld aid money or used similar leverage to gain cooperation. It also has the ability to restrict access to certain visas, as it did in 2017 with Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

But those have not been compelling arguments for China, which receives little U.S. aid. And as its relations with the United States have deteriorated over the years, the issue has not appeared to be a priority.

When Biden and Xi met last week during an international summit in San Francisco, for instance, immigration was absent in their discussion. Instead, they talked about fentanyl, American business investment in China and export controls, among other topics.

In the past, American diplomats have tried to work with the Chinese government to persuade it to repatriate its citizens, and the response has tended to be the same.

They would just plain refuse to acknowledge the person was Chinese, said Michele Thoren Bond, a former assistant secretary of state who worked on these issues.

It is not credible that a country that documents and monitors its citizens as closely as China does not have photos of every citizen, Bond added.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Shoppers walk among lighting equipment set up for a movie shoot taking place at the Northridge Fashion Center in 2020. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Six juveniles were briefly detained after gunshots rang out near Northridge Fashion Center on Friday evening, but no one was injured and no arrests were made, police said.

Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Kelly Muniz said gunfire was reported near the AMC Theater outside the mall around 6 p.m. Police detained six juveniles running from the scene but later released them as none possessed a weapon or had visible injuries.

Shell casings were recovered, Muniz said. Television stations reported that a glass window had been shattered at a sushi restaurant near the theater.

The shooting happened on Black Friday, generally considered to be one of the biggest retail shopping days of the year, though the large crowds that used to descend on malls have decreased in recent years with the rise of E-commerce and the extension of discounts through the weekend by most stores.

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.
(NEXSTAR)  Guy Fieri is a fan of Oklahomas food scene, if his track record on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is any indication. In nearly 40 seasons of the show, Fieri has dined at more than a dozen institutions around the state.

Many of his choices are longtime local favorites, like Ingrids Kitchen and Nics Grill. But hes also got rave reviews for newer spots, too, like Saucee Sicilian and their excellent pizzas.

According to the Food Network, which airs Fieris hit show, 13 of the spots hes visited on air are still open for business. Two restaurants, Stone Sisters Pizza Bar and Mama Es Wings & Waffles in Oklahoma City, has closed since the episodes aired.

Ready to retrace Fieris footsteps? These are the Oklahoma businesses the Mayor of Flavortown has graced with his presence.

Cattlemens Steakhouse (OKC)

Just walking into Cattlemens will give you a taste of historic Oklahoma City. Fieri visited the restaurant on a Blast from the Past episode in 2009. At that time, the restaurant still had a smoking section. (They did away with it in 2014.) Order the T-bone steak, like former President George H.W. Bush did when he visited, or the house specialty Lamb Fries if youre feeling adventurous. Locals know what that means.

Chick N Beer (OKC)

This spot on Northwest 23rd is run by a husband and wife duo. Their menu focuses on chicken wings of all types, from mango Thai chili to Szechuan garlic parmesan. Fieri enjoyed the latter when he visited, and gave the chef a fist bump after scarfing down a few.

Clantons Cafe (Vinita)

Clantons was featured not once, but twice, on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. According to Food Network, he tried the restaurants chicken-fried steak, made based on an 80-year-old recipe. Guy was very nice and made people feel right at home, the restaurant said of his visit.

The Diner (Norman)

This Norman institution with a straightforward name is pure nostalgia. Its been open in the same location on Main Street for over 100 years, the restaurant says. Thats given them enough time to perfect their chili recipe, an award winner at chili cook-offs throughout the years.

Eischens Bar (Okarche)

The Food Network says Fieri was convinced to visit Eischens after hundreds of regulars wrote in. Theres only one right order when you visit: fried chicken, which youll eat straight off sheets of paper laid out on the table, alongside baskets of white bread and pickles. Fieri isnt the only notable person to try out Eischens; the restaurant lists dozens of celebrities who have made the pitstop in Okarche.

Florences Restaurant (OKC)

Florences is also known for its fried chicken, but with a twist. The family-run soul food restaurants specialty is yam fried chicken, which Fieri called perfectly cooked when he tasted it. He also loved the fried ribs.

Guyutes (OKC)

Guyutes is named after a Phish song  not Guy Fieri  and the creativity doesnt stop there. We try to take normal things and put a huge twist on them or something wed not be able to realize what it was beforehand, chef and co-owner Jarrod Friedel told Fieri when he visited.

The restaurants signature dish, called The Guyute, is pieces of pork belly served on top of mashed potatoes, glazed with honey and topped with a garlic basil savory whipped cream.

Leos BBQ (OKC)

Fieri first visited Leos on a 2007 Local Legends episode, and the gas station-turned-barbecue joint is exactly that. The hickory-smoked brisket takes 17 to 18 hours to cook. Even the sauce is slow-cooked, taking two days to reach full flavor, chef Charles Smith told Fieri. Just like every other Leos customer, Fieri ended his meal with a slice of strawberry banana cake. The restaurant has since been featured three times on the show.

And theres some good news for Leos fans: the restaurant is set to soon reopen in its original Northeast 36th and Kelley location.

Nics Grill (OKC)

You may need to line up outside Nics during the lunch rush, but its worth the wait. The burgers are so loaded, theyre served with a fork to help you eat it all. If the massive burger isnt enough to fill you up, its served with a big basket of fries.

The Rock Cafe (Stroud)

On historic Route 66, The Rock isnt your typical road trip pitstop. Theyve got their take on a German spaetzle (a noodle dish with onions, peppers and tomatoes), buffalo burgers, and something called cowboy candy  fried onion strings with jalapeno rings and honey mustard.

The Saucee Sicilian (OKC)

Saucee Sicilian started out as a food truck with a wood-fired pizza oven inside, but you can now find their Neapolitan-style pies at the brick-and-mortar location on Classen. Founder Gannon Mendez told Fieri he turns to his great-grandmothers family recipes for inspiration and guidance.

Fieri tried a pizza you can still find on Saucee Sicilians menu, the Tripani. It has mozzarella, ricotta, roasted peppers, figs, prosciutto and a maple balsamic glaze.

Travel by Taste (Warr Acres)

You only have to travel just outside Oklahoma City to find authentic Persian food. The menu has a mix of mediterranean flavors, but you cant leave without trying the chicken kabob plate. They also have Iranian specialty stews, and a market that sells imported treats to take home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A child sits on a building near the Rafah border, as Hamas militants are expected to release hostages

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli media on Saturday quoted an unnamed security source as saying that unless hostages are released by midnight, the military will resume its offensive in Gaza, after Hamas said it was delaying the swap deal.

The comment was carried by Channel 13 news, N12 News, Ynet news website and others.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell; editing by James Mackenzie)
Hamas is set to release 14 more hostages in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners in the second swap with Israel.

According to the Associated Press, Egyptian officials said Hamas will release a group of hostages Saturday, which follows Fridays release of approximately two dozen hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas is expected to release a total of 50 hostages over four days as part of a temporary cease-fire deal in its war with Israel.

Hamas provided Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, which was then passed to Israel, The AP reported.

The hostages released Friday went through Egypt under protection from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) before going to hospitals in Israel to be treated for injuries.

A military spokesperson said none of the injuries were serious. They are now headed home under protection from Israeli soldiers.

Among the hostages released Friday were 13 Israelis and 12 Thai hostages.

Hamas has agreed to release 50 hostages that were taken captive during the brutal Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel. Israel has agreed to release 150 Palestinian prisoners over the four-day truce. Under the agreement, Hamas will release one hostage for every three prisoners freed from Israel.

Israels Prison Service said it was preparing 42 prisoners for release, The AP reported.

Qatar mediated the temporary truce, which was the result of negotiations between the U.S., Egypt, Hamas and Israel.

Israel and Hamas are expected to resume fighting once the four-day period is over, but the pause is expected to allow for temporary relief as well as deliveries of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

The hostages were taken by Hamas in its attack early last month, which killed at least 1,200 people. Israel, which has repeatedly struck the Gaza Strip as part of its retaliatory counteroffensive, agreed to implement a temporary cease-fire to allow for the hostages safe transfer and the delivery of humanitarian aid. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hamas will continue with its second release hostages, after the militant group briefly delayed the exchange, negotiators said Saturday.

The pause came after Hamas accused Israel of violating its terms of the deal.

The Al-Qassam Brigades decide to delay the release of the second batch of prisoners until the occupation adheres to the terms of the agreement related to the entry of relief trucks into the northern Gaza Strip, and due to failure to adhere to the agreed-upon standards for releasing prisoners, a translated post by the military wing of Hamas on Telegram read.

Hamas was set to release 14 hostages on Saturday in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners. The release was set to follow Fridays release of around two dozen hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Under a deal between Israel and Hamas amid the ongoing conflict between the two, the Palestinian militant group agreed to release 50 hostages out of the around 240 it took in its attack on Israel last month.

The Hamas attack on Oct. 7 began the deadly conflict, in which more than 12,000 Palestinians and at least 1,200 Israelis have died. A four-day ceasefire is now in effect as part of the deal as well.

The hostages who were released on Friday came through Egypt with the protection of the International Committee of the Red Cross and then were brought to Israeli hospitals.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A wrong-way driver from New Hampshire has been arrested and charged with reckless conduct.

On November 24, around 11:51 p.m., State Police received multiple reports of a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes on I-93 between mile markers 53-49 in the towns of Northfield and Canterbury.

At 11:57 p.m., a state trooper located the vehicle on I-93 at mile marker 46.8 in the town of Canterbury as it was approaching the trooper head-on around a bend in the roadway.

The trooper successfully stopped the motor vehicle in the left lane and made contact with the lone operator.

Zachary William Bunker, 40 of Gilford was arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving.

Bunker was bailed and released and is due to appear at the Merrimack Superior Court on December 28.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Carrie Nation, with her axe and her Bible, photographed in 1900. American Stock Archive/Getty Images

On November 25th, 1846, an axe-swinging icon was born.

Carry Nation, known as "Hatchet Granny," infamously smashed bars with an axe in the name of Jesus.

The temperance activist was frequently lampooned in newspapers and political cartoons.

If your family members criticized your drinking habits this holiday weekend, well, at least they didn't come after you with an axe (hopefully).

That's exactly what one infamous temperance movement leader, nicknamed "Hatchet Granny," did to break up drinking establishments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

An editorial cartoon of Carry Nation circa 1895. American Stock Archive/Getty Images

Caroline Nation  also known as "Carry" or "Carrie"  born on this day in Kentucky in 1846, had an unstable childhood spent moving from state to state with a financially troubled father and mentally ill mother, according to the History Channel.

So when she met Charles Gloyd, an educated former Union Army doctor, she was thrilled at the opportunity for a new life, Fran Grace wrote in the biography, "Carry A. Nation: Retelling the Life ."

Despite her parents' concerns about Gloyd's drinking habits, Nation married him in 1867, but she quickly realized her mistake; Gloyd was drunk at their wedding and much of the time thereafter, according to the History Channel.

Within a year, Nation became pregnant and moved back in with her parents. Six months after her first child was born, Gloyd died from complications related to alcoholism, according to Grace's biography.

With this traumatic experience in her early adulthood, Nation's hatred of alcohol was born.

After entering into another unhappy marriage to David Nation in 1874, Nation became more and more religious, even claiming to have visions from God calling her to fight the scourge of drunkenness, according to The History Channel.

She started a chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in Kansas and soon began raising hell in local bars.

By 1900, she was storming into saloons clad in all black  armed with an axe and sometimes accompanied by fellow temperance advocates  screaming "Smash, smash! For the love of Jesus, smash!," according to Deborah G. Felder's book "A Century of Women: The Most Influential Events in 20th Century Women's History."

While singing hymns and reading out from the Bible, she'd hack away at saloon property and destroy liquor bottles with her pewter axe, according to Felder's book.

"I ran behind the bar, smashed the mirror and all the bottles under it; picked up the cash register, threw it down; then broke the faucets of the refrigerator, opened the door and cut the rubber tubes that conducted the beer," Nation wrote in her autobiography , about one particular hatcheting endeavor in Kiowa, Kansas.

"I threw over the slot machineand got from it a sharp piece of iron with which I opened the bungs of the beer kegs, and opened the faucets of the barrels, and then the beers flew in every direction and I was completely saturated," she continued.

Soon, saloonkeepers were putting up signs outside their bars that read "All Nations Welcome But Carry," and selling intentionally disgusting cocktails called Carry Nations, Felder wrote in her book. Nation was often physically beaten during her rampages, and was arrested about 30 times, according to Felder.

But Nation was steadfast in her crusade. She even started selling decorative hatchet pins to fund her cause, once writing in a letter to a friend, "People are eager to get the little hatchet as a souvenir," according to Grace's biography.

A sign depicting Carry Nation circa 1900. Frederic Lewis/Getty Images

Through her "hatchetation" spectacles, as she called them, Nation earned herself the well-deserved nickname "Hatchet Granny," and was frequently written about in newspapers and depicted in political cartoons.

A 1901 political cartoon, titled "A suggestion to the Buffalo Exposition; - Let us have a chamber of female horrors" by Louis Dalrymple, featuring Carry Nation on the right. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Nation never saw her dream of temperance go into effect; she died in 1911, nine years before Prohibition went into effect.

Her gravestone reads: "Carry A. Nation. Faithful to the Cause of Prohibition. 'She Hath Done What She Could,'" according to Felder.

Read the original article on Insider
Harvard University is facing a crisis after a landmark court case exposed how it gives the relatives of alumni a leg-up. Its so-called legacy admissions policy is now in the crosshairs of lawmakers who say it perpetuates inequality.

For centuries, the streets of Harvard's red-bricked campus have borne the heels of America's future leaders, from Teddy Roosevelt to Mark Zuckerberg. The ability of the oldest university in the US to propel students into the upper echelons of politics, business and tech has made admission highly coveted. But the way it chooses who gets the golden ticket is being closely scrutinised.

Earlier this year, a landmark Supreme Court decision dismantled affirmative action, making it illegal for Harvard and other universities to give admission preference to under-represented minorities.

Harvard said the change would make it harder for it to recruit a diverse student body. But the court proceedings also blew open what many had long suspected - that the school gives preference to the children of alumni.

The policy, known as legacy admissions, is practised by dozens of elite American universities, including the eight schools in the Ivy League, as well as many other private and elite public universities. It means if a close relative attended that university then you might be preferred to an applicant of similar strength whose parents did not.

While most class privileges in US society are bestowed with a wink and a nod - it's all about who you know, what you wear, how you sound - the court case laid bare how institutions use legacy status to let some applicants skip the queue. And that has led many, from state legislators to Harvard students themselves, to call for the policy to end.

Allison Hunter says she is concerned about the ongoing role of legacy admissions

When Allison Hunter first found out she got into Harvard University, she didn't quite believe it.

"I never would have thought it would have been something that in my lifetime, I would have been able to accomplish," she said.

But a mentor convinced her to apply, and now she is the first person from her Atlanta high school to attend the hallowed institution.

"You have to think of yourself as capable," she reflected.

For years, the school had greatly amped up its efforts at inclusion. In 2023, the school charged $54,269 a year in tuition, but it is free to students whose families earn below $65,000, and families earning up to $150,000 pay no more than 10% of their income each year. The school has also increased the non-white and Hispanic students from 17% to over 50% of the student body over the past four decades.

Donyae Jenkins, another Harvard student, said that after the Supreme Court ruling, "a lot of black and brown students may feel that this is somewhere they don't deserve to be".

Both Allison and Donyae disagree with affirmative action being struck down, especially when legacy admissions live on because the policy tends to favour students who are well off and white. Documents filed in the Supreme Court case revealed that Harvard gives points to "ALDC" candidates, who are legacy applicants, athletes, relatives of donors, and children of faculty or staff. While only 5% of applications come from ALDC students, they make up about a third of acceptances. About 70% of those applicants were white.

"They [the children of alumni] are also getting what some may call special admission into the college," Donyae said.

That special advantage, data shows, is a rocketship into the stratosphere of America's elite.

A recent paper published by Opportunity Insights, a research group based out of Harvard University and Brown University, found that legacy applicants were four-times as likely as non-legacy applicants with the same test scores to be admitted.

The study looked at 15 years of admissions data at 12 private "Ivy-Plus" colleges (the eight colleges in the Ivy League, plus the University of Chicago, Duke, MIT, and Stanford).

When these same legacy students applied to other top universities where they did not have legacy status, that advantage disappeared, the study found.

Students who attended "Ivy Plus" colleges were 60% more likely to earn in the top 1% and three times more likely to work at prestigious employers in medicine, research, law, finance, and other fields compared with students who attended what they called "flagship" public universities.

"Students on these campuses today will be the leaders across a wide range of fields in society tomorrow," said John Friedman, a professor at Brown University (also part of the Ivy) who co-authored the research.

"If we want children from all backgrounds to feel like they have a shot at a trajectory to get to those leadership positions, we need these universities to be admitting students in a way that supports broader equality of opportunity."

Their findings are backed up by others. A 2019 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 75% of white students who were recruited to Harvard as ALDCs "would have been rejected" if they had been treated as white students without those connections.

Many scholars have traced the roots of legacy admissions to the beginning of the 20th Century when universities wanted to keep their institutions beyond the reach of the country's growing immigrant population. While times have changed, and Harvard has made a commitment to greater diversity and equity, legacy admissions remain.

In defending the practice, the school said it "helps to cement strong bonds between the university and its alumni" that last a lifetime.

It also noted the "generous support" that alumni provide which helps make financial aid possible to increase diversity and excellence, the school wrote in a report released in 2018.

"Although alumni support Harvard for many reasons, the committee is concerned that eliminating any consideration of whether an applicant's parent attended Harvard or Radcliffe would diminish this vital sense of engagement and support."

That money is no small change. With an endowment of $50bn, Harvard has the largest university endowment in the world. Oxford and Cambridge, which do not practice legacy admissions, have endowments of about $7bn, respectively.

Harvard's deep pockets have helped it crown the country's elite, but some accuse it of using this power not to create a better society, but to maintain the status quo. And they say legacy admissions have got to go.

Massachusetts's state legislature is considering a bill that would levy a fee against the school and other schools that grant legacy admissions benefits.

"One of the things that binds Americans together, whether you're from Maine, Massachusetts, California, or Texas, is this idea of meritocracy," says the bill's co-sponsor, state Senator Pavel Payano, who was born in the Dominican Republic.

"These elite universities are essentially focused on having individuals that don't look like me, individuals that are not working-class people attend their school, and I don't think that's right."

State Senator Pavel Payano is among members of the Massachusetts state legislature pushing to tackle legacy admissions

Harvard is also now the subject of a civil-rights probe by the US Department of Education, after a lawsuit alleged the school gave overwhelming preference to white, wealthy students by prioritising legacy and donor applicants.

Michael Kippins, a litigation fellow at the legal non-profit Lawyers for Civil Rights that filed the lawsuit, told the BBC he thinks that the admissions policy is unjustified.

"They discriminate against applicants of colour, and there's a disproportionate impact on applicants of colour, that unjustly harms their chances of being admitted to Harvard," he said.

There are signs of a sea change. Wesleyan University and Amherst College, two elite private institutions, have both ended legacy admissions.

Harvard University President Claudine Gay has said that in light of the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action, "everything was on the table".

"I can't, nor do I think it is actually productive to try to predict where that conversation is going to go," she told the Harvard Crimson, the student paper. "But I think it's a real signal of what a watershed moment we're facing in higher ed, that we're thinking and having conversations at this level of expansiveness."

The school did not respond to the BBC's repeated requests for comment.

On a recent visit to the campus, some students said the blowback against legacy admissions was overdone.

"I just think that they (legacy students) deserve a spot on this campus just as much as the rest of us," said Kennith Taukalo, who did not himself have legacy status.

But others did wonder if there was a better way.

"Other places in the world are still able to create that academic environment of excellence without this legacy admission," said Phd student Louise Rossetti, from the UK.

"I'm sure there's other ways in which funding could be brought to the university without creating shared disadvantage to students."
`WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  DC Fire and EMS warned residents in the District that there will be a fireworks display Saturday evening in the City Center area.

Prince William County Officials: Fentanyl awareness campaign is a success

The display will be between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the 900 block of New York Ave. and I Street NW. Fire inspectors will be on the scene.

Those who are hosting the display have a license to do so, DC Fire and EMS said on their X page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The RSPB said that some of the attacks, recorded since January 2022, were "brazen and horrific"

About 38 rare birds of prey have gone missing or have been killed in the North of England, the RSPB has said.

It said satellite-location tags showed the hen harriers had vanished from moors including in the Yorkshire Dales.

In its annual Bird Crime Report, the charity said some of the attacks, recorded since January 2022, were "brazen and horrific", including one being decapitated.

It is campaigning for grouse shooting to be licensed.

Natural England, which also monitors the birds, said they were often targeted by gamekeepers because they eat grouse.

Other areas the birds have disappeared from or been killed included Lancashire, Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland.

Hen harriers eat small animals and birds, including grouse

The charity said eight, satellite-tagged hen harriers had been illegally killed or suspiciously disappeared from the Yorkshire Dales in the last year.

In the same area in May 2022, the remains of of a male satellite-tagged hen harrier, called Free, was recovered by Natural England.

'Relentless scale'

A post-mortem examination confirmed it had been decapitated while still alive.

North Yorkshire Police carried out an investigation, but no-one was charged due to insufficient evidence.

Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations UK, said: "Despite being fully protected by law, and a threatened species in the UK, hen harriers are being illegally persecuted on a relentless scale.

"The majority disappear around land managed for gamebird shooting, particularly on grouse moors.

"The immediate licensing of driven grouse shooting is essential, with law-abiding landowners and grouse moor managers having nothing to fear."

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
A Henry County Jail inmate has died, according to the Henry County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies said 45-year-old Neiro Hardeman, of Atlanta, was found unresponsive in his cell during a routine headcount on Friday.

Hardeman was given emergency medical aid by jail medical staff, Henry County Fire Rescue, and members of the Henry County Sheriffs Office staff, but was pronounced dead by the Henry County Coroners Office.

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The death is now under investigation by the Henry County Sheriffs Office Internal Affairs Unit along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

While an official cause of death was not released by the coroners office, deputies said preliminary reports do not indicate he was a victim of foul play.

Hardeman had been in custody since Aug. 21 facing felony probation violation charges for theft by shoplifting.

In recent weeks, there have been three confirmed inmate deaths across the metro Atlanta area, in Clayton, DeKalb and Floyd counties.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Donald Trump is currently the Republican frontrunner heading into the 2024 election.

He is 77 years old and will turn 78 in June.

If Trump dies while running for reelection, a few different things could happen.

Former President Donald Trump is far and away the Republican frontrunner heading into the 2024 election.

He is 77 years old and will be 78 in June.

If Trump dies while seeking reelection, a few different things could happen, depending on when he dies and how close it is to Election Day.

There's no national deadline to file to run for president of the United States. Instead, filing deadlines vary depending on the state and party.

There are currently eight declared candidates, including Trump, on the GOP side. If Trump were to die before January 1, 2024, there would likely be other Republicans who want to jump into the race.

Many states' filing deadlines have already passed, however, meaning that state election officials would need to adjust them to allow new candidates to enter the race.

If Trump died during primary season  which ends in mid-June  some states may postpone their scheduled primaries.

There's some precedent for this; at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a dozen states postponed their primaries or expanded vote-by-mail options.

If Trump died after the last primary contest but before the Republican National Convention, the other GOP presidential candidates would have to make a case to every state delegation at the convention for why they should be the party's nominee.

And if Trump secured the GOP nomination but died between the convention and Election Day 2024, the RNC would convene to select another presidential candidate.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WEST MICHIGAN  Several notable court cases are still pending in Ottawa and Allegan counties.

Here are expected court dates:

Ottawa County 20th Circuit Court

Anthony Jon Meyer has a hearing scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18. The Ottawa County Sheriffs Office says Meyer brought a homemade salute cannon to a Fourth of July celebration on July 3 in Park Township. The device exploded, killing local Jana Daniels and injuring nine others. Meyer is charged with manslaughter.

The jury trial for Stephen Chesla is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2024. Chesla, of Coopersville, was convicted of criminal sexual conduct after his step-granddaughter accused him of pulling down her pants and underwear while she slept and touching her inappropriately. Chesla was sentenced to 25-40 years in prison in 2021. In July, the Michigan Court of Appeals granted Chesla a new trial on the grounds he did not have adequate legal representation.

The jury trial for Cinecca Madison is scheduled to begin Feb. 20, 2024. Madison is charged with open murder, assault with intent to murder and two felony firearm charges in the June 2022 shooting death of 19-year-old Antory Burrell. Demontae Knight Jr., 18, was also shot and told police he played dead to avoid being shot again. Burrell and Knight Jr. were shot while riding their bikes on 16th Street and College Avenue, near Hope College, in Holland. Police say all three knew each other.

The next hearing for Juan Sandro Cabrera has not been scheduled. Cabrera was found guilty of killing 14-year-old TJ Wells in a gang-related incident at the Hampton Inn in Holland Township in 2019. Cabrera was 18 at the time of the shooting. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In March, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Cabrera should be resentenced in the case. In 2022, the court ruled automatic life sentences for 18-year-old murderers violated the state constitution's ban on "cruel or unusual" punishment.

The next hearing for Juan Nunez has also not been scheduled. Nunez was convicted of murdering Pereddies Restaurant employee Scott Anderson, 22, during a robbery gone wrong in 1997. Nunez was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Nunez was 16 at the time, making him Ottawa Countys only juvenile lifer. Nunez was granted resentencing in 2016 and was again given life without the possibility of parole. That sentence was vacated by the Michigan Supreme Court in December 2022 and remanded for a third sentencing.

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Allegan County 57th District Court

Scott Simmons is scheduled to appear for a motion hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Simmons is charged with seven counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of child sexually abusive material  aggravated possession, one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Simmons was fired as Allegan Public Schools aquatics director in October for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student. According to court documents, Simmons told the superintendent he was forced into the situation and that it was an elaborate scheme to destroy him

Allegan County 48th Circuit Court

A jury trial for Thaddeus Cortrez Wilson is scheduled to begin Jan. 9, 2024. Wilson is charged with nine counts, including one count of homicide-open murder. Wilson is accused of shooting and killing Joseph Roberts in June following a party.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Wilson had a large amount of drugs and cash stowed in a special coat. At the party, someone took the coat, accidentally or intentionally is unclear, and Wilson became enraged, leading to the shooting.

 Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@sentinel-standard.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Here's where notable court cases stand in the greater Holland area
 Flash

Vehicles belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross transport released hostages toward the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)



As a cease-fire with Israel entered into force, Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while buses carrying 39 Palestinian prisoners departed at night from Israeli Ofer prison.

The 13 Israeli hostages, all children and women, were sent to Egypt from Gaza and then headed for Israel. After initial reception procedures, including a medical assessment, the hostages were transferred to Israeli hospitals to reunite with their family members, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said.

An addition of 10 Thai and one Filipino citizens have also arrived at the Rafah crossing after being released from Gaza, Egypt's Al Qahera News TV reported.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian source told Xinhua that the release of non-Israeli nationals was not part of the truce deal, adding that they were released without any conditions.

Released Palestinian prisoners are seen inside a bus in the town of Beitunia close to the West Bank city of Ramallah, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

The truce, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, took effect this morning at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). As part of the deal, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday night from its Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah after receiving the hostages.

The Palestinian prisoners, including 24 women and 15 children, were transferred to the West Bank and East Jerusalem by vehicles belonging to the Red Cross.

According to the cease-fire swap, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly children and women, in exchange for 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

A truck with humanitarian aid enters the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing, on Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, the cease-fire has enabled the delivery of more aid supplies to Gaza. According to a spokesman for the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, 150 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered Gaza, including four carrying cooking gas and three carrying fuel.

In addition, Palestinian ambulances have crossed the Rafah crossing to the Egyptian side to transport the wounded and the sick for treatment abroad. Palestinians stranded in Egypt also began returning to Gaza.

On the other hand, when the cease-fire took effect early Friday, Palestinians across the Gaza Strip rushed to the streets to inspect their houses, check on their relatives, and try to recover and bury the dead.

Rescue workers and civil defense units have been deployed to retrieve the dead bodies from under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

However, even with a brief respite from the bombardment, Israeli forces on the ground fired bullets at the outskirts of the southern Gaza Strip and the main road leading to Gaza City and its north, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

At least two Palestinians were killed and others wounded while trying to return to their homes, which were not allowed by the Israeli army, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

"The dead and wounded people were transferred to the al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah city," the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement.

People are seen on a street after the first temporary humanitarian truce taking effect in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that a number of displaced people from Beit Lahia, a city in northern Gaza, returned to their homes only to find them being completely destroyed.

Palestinian authorities called for the displaced to return to their homes in the northern strip, while Israel had warned that it would prohibit them from moving northward during the truce.

The Israeli forces stationed at a checkpoint separating northern and southern Gaza for weeks have placed additional cement barriers to prevent the movement of civilians from south to north in the enclave, said eyewitnesses.

Israeli forces invaded Gaza weeks ago and ordered residents of northern Gaza to move southward. The Israeli military now occupies much of the northern half of the strip and displaces some 1.7 million of 2.3 million Gazans.
SAN DIEGO  Figuring out the local scene in a city can take time. Bustling metros like San Diego are sure to have touristy areas, college areas, areas that feel more low-key, and more.

So how do you figure out which spots are happening for the crowd you are looking for?

Well, a developer from Amsterdam  Pieter Levels  created a crowdsource map that invites users to collectively categorize areas within a city based on the type of crowd that they believe tends to dominate it.

As explained in a blog post by Levels outlining the creation of Hoodmaps, he said, The problem is that every time I travel to a new place its hard to figure out which parts of the city to go. I very often end up in the tourist center.

Optical phenomenon: Sundog spotted above San Diego County mountain range

Levels said he wanted to create a way to get a quick overview of what a city is about. He posed the questions: What are the cool hip areas? Wheres the wealthier areas? What areas are more suburban?

More specifically, Hoodmaps navigates cities based on hipsters, tourists, rich, normies, suits and uni areas. Lets break down the meaning of these terms, some of which are considered slang.

 Hipsters: According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, A hipster is a person who follows the latest trends and fashions in clothing and lifestyle, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream.

 Tourists: One that makes a tour for pleasure or culture, Merriam-Webster noted. This one is easy  San Diegans know when the tourist season is at its peak.

 Normies: As explained by Merriam-Webster, the term normie has emerged as both a noun and an adjective referring to one whose tastes, lifestyle, habits, and attitude are mainstream and far from the cutting edge, or a person who is otherwise not notable or remarkable.

CSI San Diego: What it takes to be a criminalist in Americas Finest City

 Suits: This term, according to Merriam-Webster, is slang for a business executive. Urban Dictionary described it as slang for a businessman or any authority figure that wears a suit, e.g. manager, boss, supervisor.

 Uni: Short for university, Hoodmaps uses this abbreviation to identify college areas. Its safe to say these spots are dominated by those attending school.

Different colors on the map represent each respective category, with a key seen at the bottom of the map. Levels explained the platform would average users responses to categorize specific areas.

For example, if five people label an area touristy but eight others note that its hipster, the area will show up as hipster on the Hoodmap.

Since the categories are limited and the platform is openly crowd-sourced, it leaves a lot of room for what Bloomberg described as contributors biases. The categorization based on personal opinions can be considered negative stereotyping.

How are freeway exits numbered in California and why?

This is especially true for Hoodmaps tagging tool, which lets users vote on adding words and phrases in certain areas of a citys map. The partiality is strong when it comes to this aspect of the platform, with some people finding it more offensive than informative.

Other tags though, can be useful for finding certain areas of interest.

For example, the San Diego Hooodmap displays Beer Alley over a community filled with breweries and bars in University City. Another example, the words Instagram pic heaven are hovered about the Liberty Station area.

Whether youre looking for spots with a certain crowd, or if youre just curious about how people stereotype San Diego  Hoodmaps is a hold back nothing kind of platform.

Curious? Check out San Diegos Hoodmaps here, but be warned  there is some prominent stereotyping across the map.

There are also several other cities with their own Hoodmaps. From San Francisco to Cincinnati, you can see what people are saying about specific areas by searching city names at the top of the platforms page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
DALLAS - Toys so awesome they're sure to be on everyone's list!

MORE: Steve Noviello's Holiday Gift Guide

Beast Lab Shark

Add ingredients and follow the experiment's steps to create your beast! Watch as the Stealth Strike Cats Beast Creator Chamber releases real Bio Mist & pressure builds. Pull down on the Emergency Lever to drain to liquid and reveal the beast inside! | Buy It

Dog-E

As soon as you uncrate this pup, the minting process begins. The all-white Dog-E comes to life even telling you when it needs food and a walk and reveals its unique combination of colorful lights, sounds and personality traits, so no two are ever the same. Care for your Dog-E, and it will show you its love. | Buy It

FAO Schwarz Sketch and Glow Easel

The FAO Schwarz Sketch & Glow Easel 3-In-1 Art Studio is the ultimate art station for your budding artist. This versatile easel boasts three distinct drawing surfaces: traditional paper, a chalkboard, and a unique glow board that illuminates their creations. Whether they prefer to sketch on a tabletop or stand and draw, the adjustable legs cater to every child's preference, stretching up to over 3 feet in height. | Buy It

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Defy gravity on and off the walls with the Air Hogs Zero Gravity Sprint Wall Climber. With the patented Wall Climber Technology, this nimble car toy can drive on any smooth surface like walls, floors and even upside down on your ceilings. | Buy It

Tech Deck Transforming Park

Take this mini skatepark anywhere with the Tech Deck: The Berrics Transforming Park. This 30-inch-wide park features different ramps and obstacles to create your own ultimate Tech Deck skatepark. With 5 levels to transform the base and folding side panels, choose how you want to shred. This playset folds back up into a container with a handle for easy storage and fun anywhere you go. | Buy It

Gel Blaster Surge XL

Surge XL is the ultimate supersized Gel Blaster powerhouse designed for total battlefield domination. Leave the haters in awe as you blast 100% farther than imitators, backed by 25% more Gellet capacity for extended gameplay which burst on impact leaving no mess. Amplify your shooting game with Gel Blaster Gellets, designed exclusively for Gel Blaster products to maximize blasting performance. | Buy It

Faction Target Drone

The Skyfire Target drone works with any gel or dart blaster and flies on its own, levitating and maneuvering to avoid attacks to provide the ultimate target practice. Bluetooth enabled, play in multiple ways and keep stats with the Faction app. | Buy It
Which group of British voters is most likely to support policies that undermine their own economic interests? Remainers will tell you its Leavers. Marxists will tell you its the working class. I want to propose a different answer: young progressives.

Consider the economic situation of a British graduate in her twenties, born outside of London to parents of modest means. In order to fully capitalise on the value of her degree, she will want to work in London: according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the growth of high-end industries since 1993 has occurred almost exclusively within the capital. Our young graduate is already contending with a difficult set of circumstances, with the tax burden set to reach a post-War high, and student loan repayments to meet. But the worst part of it is that record high property values in Greater London mean she will be spending more than half of her take-home pay just to rent a room in a flat share. And not a nice one, either.

Actually buying a flat in London  let alone a family home  now requires either an enormous cash injection from the bank of mum and dad, or a six figure salary. Our young graduate assumes that she will be renting forever, and shes probably right about that. She may well delay starting a family because she feels that she cannot afford to. Eventually, she may well be forced to move out of London and take a lower paid job elsewhere, at a cost both to her own professional prospects, and also to the nations tax revenue.

If shes a progressive, she will likely tell you that the cause of her housing misery is Nimbyism, and shes not entirely wrong, since our planning system does make development very difficult. What she wont mention  what she probably wont even realise  is the role of progressive policy on immigration and social housing in worsening her economic situation.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics this week revealed net immigration figures of 672,000 for 2023, as well as its upward revision of 2022 figures to 745,000. In other words, last year Britain saw more immigration than from every year between 1945 and 2000 combined. Yet only around 233,000 new homes were supplied in 2021-22.

This would be enough of a problem on its own. But the plight of young would-be Londoners is made far worse by a phenomenon that very few voters are aware of, since it has never been in the interests of either Labour or the Tories to advertise it, given that both parties are implicated in the disaster.

Here is the political ticking time bomb: a very high proportion of housing units in Inner London boroughs are designated as social housing: 31 per cent overall, with Islington (39 per cent), Southwark (40 per cent), and Hackney (40 per cent) above that average. And the proportion of London social housing occupied by people born overseas is close to 50 per cent, up from 40 per cent ten years ago. Meanwhile, only 56 per cent of working age social housing residents in London are economically active.

In other words, our young graduates tax revenue is not only being spent on housing hundreds of thousands of unemployed foreign nationals in some of the most expensive postcodes in the world, it is also being used to reduce the supply of private housing available to her, thus driving up prices even further.

This state of affairs is a consequence of post-1990s mass migration, and a needs-based system of social housing allocation that does not distinguish between immigrants and natives, or indeed the employed and the unemployed. No major political party is proposing an end to either policy, and no mass movement of young Britons is demanding change. At least, not yet.

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Huda Kattan is one of the people on this year's BBC 100 Women list

When Huda Kattan appears in public she's greeted by the kind of adoring fans you might usually associate with A-list Hollywood stars.

As part of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of her cosmetics brand, Huda Beauty, she has taken over a Paris building not far from the Eiffel Tower, and turned almost everything inside hot pink.

There are make-up stations loaded with her products, neon signs and glamorous people everywhere.

Fans waiting on the street scream when she arrives. Inside, the invited influencers and make-up professionals chant her name as she climbs the stairs: "Hu-da, Hu-da, Hu-da."

People queue to take a selfie with her - some even burst into tears when she hugs them.

Throughout it all, Kattan's smile never falters.

Kattan is one of the people on this year's BBC 100 Women list, which celebrates 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

She has a cosmetics business worth more than $1bn, which is the biggest make-up brand on Instagram, with more than 50 million followers.

But she sharply criticises both the beauty industry and social media.

"I think the beauty industry is sexist," she says. "It objectifies women a lot of times. It really can boil women down to just their appearance."

She says that as a woman "who likes to glam", she knows how frustrating it is to be judged by her appearance.

But she accepts that judging others too quickly is a common failing - and that it is something she herself needs to work on.

BBC 100 Women names 100 inspiring and influential women around the world every year - Michelle Obama and Amal Clooney are on this year's list, while Melinda French Gates was listed in 2021

Meet this year's 100 Women

When she first became a businesswoman, she found that some in the industry would not take her seriously.

"I struggled so bad," she says.

"Oftentimes we'd be in a meeting and instead of making eye contact with me they would make eye contact with my husband and completely ignore me."

"Don't talk to me, talk to her," her husband would say - but they would just continue addressing him, says Kattan.

She fumes about the slow progress of the beauty industry where inclusivity and representation is concerned.

Kattan grew up the daughter of immigrants who moved from Iraq to Tennessee and says she was always made to feel that she was unattractive.

She says it's a priority for her to sell products in deeper shades, and foundations that match a wide range of skin tones.

But while she accepts the industry as a whole may be moving in the right direction, she says it's going at "snail's pace".

"I've been in the labs with the manufacturers and I've said to them, 'I need a richer skin tone product'. And I've seen them literally put black pigment in, [but] people's skins are made of many different tones.

"I think there is still a lack of understanding. And it really comes down fundamentally to the manufacturer, even some brands."

Huda Kattan has a large social following

Kattan's success is due in a large part to her presence on social media, where she shares make-up tutorials and reviews, as well as moments with her family and friends in Dubai, which is now her home.

Her curated lifestyle is a natural evolution from her early days as a beauty blogger. And to begin with, she loved social media.

"I thought it was just the best thing," she says. "You know, it democratised voices. It gave everybody the opportunity to speak up. It was supposed to be a place where people connected."

Instead, she says, it has become "a dopamine-hacking algorithm to keep people's eyes glued into a screen".

She is deeply cynical now about what it has to offer.

"Do I agree with social media now? No, I don't. Do I think it's good for the future? No, I don't. I don't any more."

'Unfair expectations'

One of the problems she points to is the pressure it places on women to be perfect.

"I think society has always been hard on women, but now, with social media, the expectations are just unfair," says Kattan.

"When I go on social media, sometimes I feel I can never be good-looking enough. I can never have achieved enough."

She accepts "absolutely, 100%" that in this respect she is part of the problem - but says she is also a victim of it.

"When you're somebody who's known for a look, you sometimes become almost a prisoner to your appearance."

People expect her nails to be done, and her hair, and her complexion to be perfect, which is "not reality" she says.

"I definitely for a long time felt that I was a prisoner to my Instagram handle. I felt, 'Here I am going out to the public, I am Huda Beauty'. Sometimes I feel like Huda Ugly."

Huda Kattan hopes to give inspiration to women of colour

Given the huge reach of her social media platforms, anything Kattan says online attracts attention.

"As our voice became bigger, became more of a platform, I started to feel the need to speak up about certain things," she says.

"I am passionate about things that affect women, but also things affecting my community as well."

This interview took place before the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October - which saw 1,200 people killed and about 240 others taken hostage - and the subsequent strikes on Gaza.

Gaza's Hamas-run government says more than 14,500 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israeli air and ground strikes began. The United Nations has warned of a humanitarian crisis.

As the conflict escalated, Kattan used her social media accounts to post in support of Palestinians, attracting positive comments as well as criticism.

"I've been outspoken about some political things. I don't pretend to be a political expert," she told BBC 100 Women in July. "But if I see something and I know some of the information I definitely want to post about it."

Even before the current situation in Israel and Gaza developed, Kattan had been raising awareness about issues in the Middle East, saying political issues in the region weren't talked about enough.

"I get really upset sometimes when I see things happening. Sometimes I'm also like, 'Do I have the right information? Can I post about this? Am I only seeing one side?'. But I always want to post whatever I can."

Huda Kattan

When people message her asking questions like "How is your life so perfect?", she answers honestly that it isn't.

She says she would like the social media space "to be more vulnerable".

"I don't know where that space exists. I don't think it exists on Instagram but we have to create it," Kattan says.

She adds that she frequently has to disconnect or limit her own screen time, and doesn't allow her 12-year-old daughter on to social media at all.

"She does go on it behind my back sometimes, but I can see a difference in her anxiety levels when she's not online versus when she is."

Despite living much of her life in public, there are things that she keeps private, such as her Muslim faith.

She says she wasn't very religious as she grew up, but this changed as she became older. Now, she sees prayer as "one of the most beautiful experiences".

"I don't speak about it because I'm always afraid of the criticism - because I don't cover," she says. "People might say, 'Oh you're not allowed to do those things.'"

Huda Beauty is now 10 years old, and Kattan says she hopes she has given inspiration to some women of colour.

"I think back sometimes to that little Middle Eastern brown girl in Tennessee - there's still a lot of them out there in the world - and maybe seeing someone like me, they can feel a little bit represented."

Interview by Nouran Sallam.

Video filmed by Maher Nakhla and edited by Rebecca Thorn.

100 Women logo

BBC 100 Women names 100 inspiring and influential women around the world every year. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook. Join the conversation using #BBC100Women.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Pasoans gathered at Red Sands on Friday, Nov. 24 for the annual Turkey Run hosted by Max Tire & Performance, which was an all-day event.

KTSM spoke with the Texas Rescue Patrol which said the event is their second busiest day of the year in terms of call volume, with Fourth of July being the first.

The event, which includes a memorial trail and toy run, has been going on for over four years now.

We heard about it from family members so we wanted to come out here and check it out and see, said El Pasoan Melissa Chavez.

Families told KTSM they make this a tradition.

We come here every year with my family and friends, said Dominic Hernandez.

The organizers, Max Tire & Performance, partner with the Grace Christian Center to raise donations and toys for those in need.

Over there in the front, it said 10 bucks or toy donation and I think thats pretty cool because kids dont have nothing like we do. Some kids dont have things like we do and they get a toy donation at event like this, Hernandez said.

Chavez said this event puts a positive impact on the community.

Some people told KTSM they worry about their safety.

Texas Rescue Patrol said they are always available for any assistance.

It is a challenge to traverse through an area like this when its so congested, even for us. As you look around the the area here, youll notice a lot of emergency lighting thats affixed to a lot of these side-by-side. So wed like to remind the public that if you do see our vehicles and the lights are activated, we only activate those lights during times of emergency, said Jamil Moutran, chief of the Texas Rescue Patrol and Desert Haven EMS.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry published on Nov. 25 documentation on individual cannibalism cases investigated during the Holodomor in 1932-33, illustrating the suffering wrought by the man-made famine.

The ministry's archive contains files of 1,022 criminal cases opened by the Soviet police in connection to cannibalism during the time of Holodomor.

The evidence is now being made public through the "Real History" project on the Holodomor Memorial Day, 90 years after the famine.

"I would very much like for the materials made public today to give impetus to serious historical, legal, and other scientific research," said Interior Ministry's State Secretary Inna Yashchuk.

"This is an important layer for the research of physiologists and psychiatrists... People who resorted to cannibalism are victims of the Holodomor," she emphasized.

Some 3.5 to 5 million people died in Ukraine as a result of the man-made famine that took place during dictator Joseph Stalin's rule. Historical evidence shows that acute hunger drove some people to cannibalism.

Based on archival documentation, criminal cases related to cannibalism were heavily politicized and falsified, the ministry noted.

Soviet investigators did not take into account the artificial causes that drove people toward cannibalism and almost never carried out psychological examinations. Cannibalism suspects were regularly sentenced on murder charges, the documents show.

Documents also show that Soviet repressions focused on people of "wrong" class background or those unwilling to join collective farms.

The absolute majority of the sentenced were sent to labor camps run by the Soviet secret police (NKVD), while only a small number were referred to psychiatric treatment, the documents show.

"It is important that the Interior Ministry was able to preserve these historical documents. Each family has its own story of the Holodomor when five or even 10 children died," Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko commented.

The Ukrainian government has called on the international community to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide. Around 30 countries have taken this step so far.

Read also: Holodomor: Soviet Unions man-made famine in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Fort Dodge officer fatally shot three dogs after they attacked a woman Friday morning, seriously injuring her, the city's police chief says.

Police were dispatched to the 800 block of 16th Street after receiving a call about someone yelling for help, Chief Dennis Quinn said in a statement.

A woman was being attacked by three dogs when an officer arrived, Quinn said.

The officer attempted to scare the dogs away to stop them from attacking the woman, but the dogs would not stop, Quinn said.

The officer shot all three dogs multiple times to stop the attack, killing them, he said.

The woman was transported to UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center, 802 Kenyon Road, in Fort Dodge, then taken by Life Flight to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Quinn said.

The shooting is under investigation, and the womans name will not be released, Quinn said.

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Fort Dodge woman hospitalized after police shoot 3 dogs attacking her
Iran has been a major supplier of missiles to Hamas and its latest has a range of 869miles

Iran has unveiled a new hypersonic missile which it claims can fly 15 times faster than the speed of sound and defeat Israeli air defences.

The hypersonic Fattah II rocket  which means conqueror in Persian  is an updated version of the original Fattah that was announced in June with a range of 869miles (1,400km).

The main innovation of the missile is its ability to evade anti-aircraft fire.

It can do so, Tehran claims, because it is fitted with a hypersonic glide vehicle which detaches from the missile itself, and can make sharp manoeuvres to dodge conventional missile defences and travels at hypersonic speed to its target.

There has been no official response from the US or Israel to the development. The Pentagon has previously expressed scepticism at Irans hypersonic claims.

But Bradley Bowman, senior director at the Foundation for Dence of Democracies (FDD), said its missile programmes are not simply for show and should not be dismissed out of hand.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously said it wants to increase missile range to 1,242 - ZUMA/SHUTTERSTOCK

Tehrans claims about new capabilities should be taken with a heavy grain of salt, but it would be a mistake to shrug at Irans growing missile capabilities, he said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran uses ballistic missiles to attack its neighbours and US troops while proliferating some missiles or related technologies to Tehrans terror proxies.

Iran has been a major supplier of rockets and other arms to the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups, both of which have unleashed them on Israel since the Oct 7 attacks.

Tehran is also the main backer of Yemens Houthi rebels and various militia groups in Iraq whose attacks on American soldiers have increased since the war in Gaza began.

Irans elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously said it intends to increase the range of its hypersonics from their current maximum of 869miles to 1,242miles (1,400km to 2,000km).

That would put the Islamic theocracys regional enemy Israel within range of the Ayatollahs rockets.

Should not be ignored

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at FDD, said: The move towards developing a hypersonic glide vehicle should not be ignored.

Iran has proven it has the capability and intent to develop a more lethal ballistic missile arsenal, one with projectiles it hopes will cause more headaches for American and allied missile defenses.

United Nations restrictions limiting Irans development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles expired in October, although it is believed Tehran had been ignoring them for some time.

Iran first claimed to have developed a hypersonic missile in November 2022.

China and Russia are the only countries believed to have deployed hypersonic missiles.

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.
Within hours of the Hamas attack on Israel last month, a Silicon Valley drone company called Skydio began receiving emails from the Israeli military. The requests were for the companys short-range reconnaissance drones  small flying vehicles used by the U.S. Army to navigate obstacles autonomously and produce 3D scans of complex structures like buildings.

The company said yes. In the three weeks since the attack, Skydio has sent more than 100 drones to the Israeli Defense Forces, with more to come, according to Mark Valentine, the Skydio executive in charge of government contracts.

Skydio isnt the only American tech company fielding orders. Israels ferocious campaign to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip is creating new demand for cutting-edge defense technology  often supplied directly by newer, smaller manufacturers, outside the traditional nation-to-nation negotiations for military supplies.

Already, Israel is using self-piloting drones from Shield AI for close-quarters indoor combat and has reportedly requested 200 Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones from another U.S. company, according to DefenseScoop. Jon Gruen, CEO of Fortem Technologies, which supplied Ukrainian forces with radar and autonomous anti-drone aircraft, said he was having early-stage conversations with Israelis about whether the companys AI systems could work in the dense, urban environments in Gaza.

This surge of interest echoes the one driven by the even larger conflict in Ukraine, which has been a proving ground for new AI-powered defense technology  much of it ordered by the Ukrainian government directly from U.S. tech companies.

AI ethicists have raised concerns about the Israeli militarys use of AI-driven technologies to target Palestinians, pointing to reports that the army used AI to strike more than 11,000 targets in Gaza since Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel on Oct 7.

The Israeli defense ministry did not elaborate in response to questions about its use of AI.



These sophisticated platforms also pose a new challenge for the Biden administration. On Nov. 13, the U.S. began implementing a new foreign policy to govern the responsible military use of such technologies. The policy, first unveiled in the Hague in February and endorsed by 45 other countries, is an effort to keep the military use of AI and autonomous systems within the international law of war.

But neither Israel nor Ukraine are signatories, leaving a growing hole in the young effort to keep high-tech weapons operating within agreed-upon lines.

Asked about Israels compliance with the U.S.-led declaration on military AI, a spokesperson for the State Department said it is too early to draw conclusions about why some countries have not endorsed the document, or to suggest that non-endorsing countries disagree with the declaration or will not adhere to its principles.

Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the CSIS International Security Program, said in an interview that it's very difficult to coordinate international agreement between nations on the military use of AI for two reasons: One is that the technology is evolving so quickly that the description constraints you put on it today may no longer may not be relevant five years from now because the technology will be so different. The other thing is that so much of this technology is civilian, that it's hard to restrict military development without also affecting civilian development.

In Gaza, drones are being largely used for surveillance, scouting locations and looking for militants without risking soldiers lives, according to Israeli and U.S. military technology developers and observers interviewed for this story.

Israel discloses few specifics of how it uses this technology, and some worry the Israeli military is using unreliable AI recommendation systems to identify targets for lethal operations.

Ukrainian forces have used experimental AI systems to identify Russian soldiers, weapons and unit positions from social media and satellite feeds.

Observers say that Israel is a particularly fast-moving theater for new weaponry because it has a technically sophisticated military, large budget, and  crucially  close existing ties to the U.S. tech industry.

The difference, now maybe more than ever, is the speed at which technology can move and the willingness of suppliers of that technology to deal directly with Israel, said Arun Seraphin, executive director of the National Defense Industrial Associations Institute for Emerging Technologies.

Though the weapons trade is subject to scrutiny and regulation, autonomous systems also raise special challenges. Unlike traditional military hardware, buyers are able to reconfigure these smart platforms for their own needs, adding a layer of inscrutability to how these systems are used.

While many of the U.S.-built, AI-enabled drones sent to Israel are not armed and not programmed by the manufacturers to identify specific vehicles or people, these airborne robots are designed to leave room for military customers to run their own custom software, which they often prefer to do, multiple manufacturers told POLITICO.

Shield AI co-founder Brandon Tseng confirmed that users are able to customize the Nova 2 drones that the IDF is using to search for barricaded shooters and civilians in buildings targeted by Hamas fighters.



Matt Mahmoudi, who authored Amnesty Internationals May report documenting Israels use of facial recognition systems in Palestinian territories, told POLITICO that historically, U.S. technology companies contracting with Israeli defense authorities have had little insight or control over how their products are used by the Israeli government, pointing to several instances of the Israeli military running its own AI software on hardware imported from other countries to closely monitor the movement of Palestinians.

Complicating the issue are the blurred lines between military and non-military technology. In the industry, the term is dual-use  a system, like a drone-swarm equipped with computer-vision, that might be used for commercial purposes but could also be deployed in combat.

The Technology Policy Lab at the Center for a New American Security writes that dual-use technologies are more difficult to regulate at both the national and international levels and notes that in order for the U.S. to best apply export controls, it requires complementary commitment from technology-leading allies and partners.

Exportable military-use AI systems can run the gamut from commercial products to autonomous weapons. Even in cases where AI-enabled systems are explicitly designed as weapons, meaning U.S. authorities are required by law to monitor the transfer of these systems to another country, the State Department only recently adopted policies to monitor civilian harm caused by these weapons, in response to Congressional pressure.

But enforcement is still a question mark: Josh Paul, a former State Department official, wrote that a planned report on the policys implementation was canceled because the department wanted to avoid any debate on civilian harm risks in Gaza from U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.

A Skydio spokesperson said the company is currently not aware of any users breaching its code of conduct and would take appropriate measures to mitigate the misuse of its drones. A Shield AI spokesperson said the company is confident its products are not being used to violate humanitarian norms in Israel and would not support the unethical use of its products.

In response to queries about whether the U.S. government is able to closely monitor high-tech defense platforms sent by smaller companies to Israel or Ukraine, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it was restricted from publicly commenting or confirming the details of commercially licensed defense trade activity.

Some observers point out that the Pentagon derives some benefit from watching new systems tested elsewhere.

The great value for the United States is we're getting to field test all this new stuff, said CSISs Cancian  a process that takes much longer in peacetime environments and allows the Pentagon to place its bets on novel technologies with more confidence, he added.
PROVIDENCE  Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters converged on the State House on Friday before moving to the entrance to Providence Place mall, shutting down southbound traffic on Francis Street on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Protesters decried the presence of police officers, who barred one of the entrances to the mall to both to protesters and shoppers on Black Friday.

The Black Friday protests happened at malls across the country, including in Somerville, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles. Across the world, protests on Black Friday against the online retail giant Amazon garnered even more headlines, as workers launched strikes and protests on the biggest retail shopping day.

Protesters block traffic on Francis Street in front of Providence Place on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, calling for an end to the occupation of the Gaza Strip.

Providence and state police vehicles blocked the entrance to Francis Street from Gaspee Street once the protest moved in front of Providence Place, while protest "marshals," wearing orange vests, directed protesters and traffic.

Uniformed police officers blocked the front entrance to the mall, telling many confused shoppers to enter the building down the block.

Police also appeared to have cleared the double, triple and quadruple parking on Francis Street in front of the mall in the fire lanes, which often blocks the two lanes of traffic.

Protesters call for a boycott of Israeli goods

Before the protest, organized partially by the Islamic Center of Rhode Island in Providence, organizers set down tarps to allow the Muslims gathered at the protest to pray.

Protesters called for the boycott of Israeli goods following the start of the Israeli-Hamas war, as well as an end to U.S. government support for Israel's military.

Pro-Palestine protesters march from the statehouse to Providence Place on Black Friday, 2023.

Imam Abdul-Latif Sackor, who leads the Islamic Center of Rhode Island, cited a culture of oppression while the protest was on the State House steps.

"We're now at a crossroads, and a crossroads in history," he said.

Sackor added that Americans should be familiar with the oppression Palestinians faces because of the country's history of slavery, segregation and the systematic killing of Native Americans.

What we know: Brown student activists, seeking divestment, arrested at sit-in.

'From the river to the sea'

One of the prevalent chants during the protest was "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which has been claimed by some, including representatives in Congress, to be a call for the killing of Jews.

Islam Younis, who attended the protest while on a Thanksgiving visit from Washington, D.C., said the phrase to him is a call for one free state for Palestinians and Jews, one where he one day may be able to return to live with his children rather than the current "apartheid state."

In 2022, Amnesty International declared Israel an apartheid state, which is a crime under international law. An apartheid state is one where "legalized racial segregation" deprives one group of political and civil rights.

Verra Elalami came to the protest from Rehoboth, Massachusetts. She said the slogan to her means that one day neither the Gaza Strip nor the West Bank will be occupied territory.

Protesters march away from Providence Police during a pro-Palestine rally that moved from the statehouse to the mall and back on Black Friday, 2023.

For University of Rhode Island student Lina Altaan Alharri, who came to Rhode Island in 2016 as a refugee from Syria, the phrase means freeing the "political prisoners" in Israeli detention. A swap of Palestinian child and women prisoners held by Israel, for hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups, is the basis of the temporary ceasefire in the war.

Palestinian officials claimed on Nov. 16 that the number of Palestinian prisoners has soared to 10,000, the news organization Al Jazeera reported, while other estimates put the number at 7,000. The Amnesty International report calling Israel an apartheid state cites the use of "administrative detention" against Palestinians, adjudicated in military courts, as one of the ways Israel maintains a segregated state.

The chant also means bringing down Israel's border wall with the Gaza Strip, Palestinians getting the same civil rights as their Israeli counterparts and an end to the 16-year siege of Gaza, she said.

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.

Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pro-Palestine rally blocks traffic at Providence Place on Black Friday
You are here: World

 Flash

As a truce deal between Israel and Hamas entered into force Friday morning, 24 hostages kidnapped by Hamas were released from the Gaza Strip.

Under the mediation by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel reached on Wednesday a four-day humanitarian cease-fire to force a temporary halt of the fighting between the two sides, starting from Friday.

According to the agreement, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly children and women, in exchange for 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

Earlier in the day, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released 13 Israelis, some of whom were dual nationals, and 10 Thai and one Filipino citizens, escorted by crews from the International Committee of the Red Cross to Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

A Hamas security source, who requires anonymity, told Xinhua that the release process was carried out in accordance with strict security measures imposed by the Al-Qassam.

Israeli media reported that Israeli army helicopters took off from the Hatzeri base to receive the released hostages from the Egyptian side.

After initial reception procedures, including medical treatments, the hostages were transferred to hospitals to reunite with their family members.

Meanwhile, buses carrying about 39 Palestinian prisoners departed on Friday night from the Israeli Ofer prison, located near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The prisoners released, including 24 women and 15 children, were transferred to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The freed Israeli hostages captured by Hamas have arrived at hospitals where they will be reunited with their families, according to the Israeli military.

Twenty-four hostages, including women and children, were released on Friday as part of a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas.

The hostages were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing before undergoing a medical assessment inside Israeli territory.

Corinne Moshe, daughter-in-law of 72-year-old Adina Moshe, said her husband and his siblings were waiting at a hospital to be reunited with their mother.

I miss her very, very much, I want her to be back already. I want to have dinner with her and the entire family again, she said.

Thirty-nine Palestinian women and teenagers were also freed from Israeli jails as part of the agreement.

11:12 PM GMT

Today's top stories

Thats it for todays blog. Please join us again tomorrow. Here is a rundown of the main stories:

Hamas released 24 hostages including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers who were kidnapped on October 7

Four children, three mothers and a grandmother have been received at Israels Schneider medical centre after being released by Hamas earlier on Friday

Details of another hostage exchange are expected to be released in the coming hours, Joe Biden said on Friday evening

A total of 28 Palestinian prisoners were released in the occupied West Bank, an AFP correspondent saw, while the other 11 were on their way to annexed east Jerusalem.

Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday appeared to discredit the moribund Israel-Palestinian peace process and instead called on the international community to recognise the Palestinian state

Joe Biden said Fridays release of a first group of hostages taken by Hamas was just a start and that there were real chances to extend a temporary truce in Gaza

Spains foreign ministry called in the Israeli ambassador to explain her governments false and unacceptable allegations against the Spanish prime minister

The World Health Organization voiced concern over the fate of the head of Gaza Citys Al-Shifa hospital, whom Israeli forces detained over the facilitys alleged use by Hamas

A single mother who pleaded with Benjamin Netanyahu to free all of us in a Hamas hostage video was among those released by the terror group on Friday.

10:45 PM GMT

Joy and defiance as Israel frees Palestinian prisoners

Firecrackers lit up the night sky on Friday as raucous celebrations - mixed with defiance - marked the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons in exchange for the first wave of hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza.

Crowds across the West Bank cheered and waved Palestinian and Hamas flags, along with kaffiyeh scarves after two white coaches - escorted by armoured vehicles - exited the Ofer military camp with the prisoners.

I am happy but my liberation came at the price of the blood of the martyrs, said Marah Bakir, 24, referring to the nearly 15,000 deaths across the Gaza Strip that its Hamas-led government says were caused by Israels military offensive.

I spent the end of my childhood and my adolescence in prison, far from my parents and their hugs, she told AFP after returning to her family home in Beit Hanina in annexed east Jerusalem.

Thats how it is with a state that oppresses us.

10:36 PM GMT

David Cameron warns Israeli security depends on Palestinian security also

Lord Cameron warned that Israels security depends on ensuring that Palestinian people, too, can live in safety and security.

In an interview with the BBC, the new foreign secretary said civilian casualties in Gaza were too high and that Israeli forces must abide by humanitarian law.

He also condemned as completely unacceptable violence by settlers in the occupied West Bank.

[Israel] must act in a way that delivers its long-term security, Lord Cameron said, which would ultimately depend on Palestinians living in peace and stability and security in this land at the same time

10:16 PM GMT

WHO voices concern over fate of Gaza hospital chief

The World Health Organization voiced concern over the fate of the head of Gaza Citys Al-Shifa hospital, whom Israeli forces detained over the facilitys alleged use by Hamas.

In a statement the WHO said that the head of the biggest hospital in the besieged Palestinian territory had been arrested on Wednesday along with five other health workers, while they were taking part in a UN mission to evacuate patients.

Three medical personnel from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and three from the Ministry of Health were detained, the WHO said.

Since then two of the six have reportedly been released, but we do not have information about the well-being of the four remaining health staff, including the director of Al-Shifa hospital, the statement added.

09:58 PM GMT

Eight hostages including four children have arrived at Israels Schneider medical centre

Four children, three mothers and a grandmother have been received at Israels Schneider medical centre after being released by Hamas earlier on Friday.

Their physical condition is good and they are currently undergoing medical and emotional assessment by the medical and psychological team here at Schneiders, said Efrat Bron-Harlev, CEO of the medical centre in Petah Tikva.

09:42 PM GMT

UPDATED: Spain hits back after Israeli foreign minister accuses Pedro Sanchez of supporting 'terrorism'

Spains foreign ministry called in the Israeli ambassador to explain her governments false and unacceptable allegations against the Spanish prime minister.

Israels foreign minister accused the leaders of Spain and the Netherlands of supporting terrorism after they denounced Israels relentless bombardment of the Gaza strip.

Visiting the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Friday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the Israeli operation needs to respect international humanitarian law and denounced the destruction in the Gaza Strip as unacceptable.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed his views, saying the indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians in the Palestinian territory was completely unacceptable.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public television he had called in the Israeli ambassador to lodge a formal protest against the Israeli governments allegations.

Belgian PM Alexander De Croo at Rafah crossing on the Palestine-Egypt border:



- There is no military solution to this problem, only political solution

- Permanent ceasefire is the only way to stop civilian deaths

- Destruction of #Gaza is unacceptable pic.twitter.com/ZFi0fJ2mdP  Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 24, 2023

09:25 PM GMT

Pictured: Palestinians cheer after being released from Israel's Ofer military facility in a swap for Hamas hostages

Hanin Barghouti, centre, a Palestinian prisoner held in an Israeli prison is greeted by her family in the occupied West Bank

The prisoner-hostage deal follows 48 days of heavy Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip - AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

09:05 PM GMT

Great-grandmothers and two-year-old girl among 24 hostages released by Hamas

Great-grandmothers and a two-year-old child were among the 24 hostages released by Hamas on Friday in the first wave of a multi-day deal, writes Susie Coen.

Their release is part of a high-stakes agreement to free those kidnapped on Oct 7 by the terror group in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The first of the hostages to be freed by Hamas after 49 days in captivity included 13 Israelis - including four children - as well as 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino.

More hostages are expected to be released in the coming days as part of a deal, which includes a temporary ceasefire.

Read the full story

08:39 PM GMT

Relief and sadness for Palestinian prisoners freed in Gaza hostage deal

For the families of Palestinian detainees freed by Israel under a hostage deal agreed with the Islamist group Hamas, Friday brought relief tinged with sadness at the fighting that is set to continue in Gaza after the expiry of a four-day truce, Reuters reports.

Thirty nine Palestinian women and minors detained on various charges were freed under an accord brokered by Qatar that also saw the release of 13 Israeli hostages seized by Hamas gunmen during their assault on Israel last month.

There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait, said Sawsan Bkeer, the mother of 24-year-old Palestinian prisoner Marah Bkeer, jailed for eight years on knife and assault charges in 2015. Israeli police were seen raiding her Jerusalem home before her daughter was released.

We are still afraid to feel happy and at the same time, we do not have it in us to be happy due to what is happening in Gaza, she said.

More than 100 more Palestinian prisoners are due to be released over the coming four days and more may be freed if the truce is extended.

08:23 PM GMT

Watch: Children cheer as Hamas fighters release hostages earlier on Friday

Hamas releasing Israeli women, children and elderly held hostage in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/RILsFmSnNF  Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) November 24, 2023

08:19 PM GMT

Macron says determined to secure release of French hostages in Gaza

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Hamas freeing a first group of hostages, assuring the families of French captives held in war-torn Gaza of his determination to secure their release.

No French nationals were among the first group released on Friday under an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement that rules Gaza.

I welcome the release of the first group of hostages... Special thoughts for the French hostages and their families. They can count on our determination, Macron said on X, formerly Twitter.

08:03 PM GMT

People gather to welcome arrival of hostages in Petah Tikva

By late Friday afternoon, well-wishers had started to arrive at the helipad near the Schneider Childrens Hospital in Petah Tikva outside Tel Aviv, hoping to see the helicopters land with the hostages, writes Nataliya Vasilyeva.

Haim and Shelly Baranis stood by the fence with two Israeli flags.

The couple live not far from the hospital and remember hearing helicopters landing one after another on Oct 7 as medical teams brought in injured people from the south of Israel.

Were going to have helicopters today, too, but at least its for something good, Shelly Baranis told the Telegraph.

As with so many Israelis, the tragedy hit close to home.

We have kids of the same age. One of our neighbours daughter was murdered at the (rave) party, Haim Baranis said.

Its a small country. Everyone knows someone whose family members were killed or kidnapped.

07:54 PM GMT

Biden says Gaza hostages release 'only a start'

Joe Biden said Fridays release of a first group of hostages taken by Hamas was just a start and that there were real chances to extend a temporary truce in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was spending the Thanksgiving holiday with his family, Mr Biden also said it was time to renew work on creating two-state solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

07:51 PM GMT

Here's a look at the first hostages released by Hamas on Friday

07:30 PM GMT

Hamas struck to scupper Israel-Saudi ties, says Biden

Hamas struck when it did to spoil US plans to work with Israel and Saudi Arabia to reach a normalisation of ties, said Biden

07:27 PM GMT

No details on when first American hostage will be released

Mr Biden said he doesnt know when the first American hostage will be released.

07:24 PM GMT

Two state solution more important now than ever, says Biden.

We need two states for two peoples, said Biden in reference to the two state solution to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict.

07:20 PM GMT

US instrumental in hostage deal, says Joe Biden

Joe Biden said he pressed for a pause in the fighting in Gaza to secure the release of hostage.

The US president is speaking now in a press conference.

07:04 PM GMT

UN says 137 aid trucks unloaded in Gaza since truce started

A total of 137 trucks carrying food, water, medicine and other essentials have been unloaded in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas truce began Friday, the United Nations said.

This was the biggest humanitarian convoy to enter Gaza since the war started on October 7, the UN office for humanitarian affairs said in a statement.

It said 129,000 litres of fuel also entered the Palestinian territory, and 21 patients in critical condition were evacuated from the north of Gaza.

Hundreds of thousands of people were assisted with food, water, medical supplies and other essential humanitarian items, the agency said in a statement.

06:49 PM GMT

392 IDF members killed since October 7

The Israeli army has suffered 392 fatalities since fighting broke out with Hamas on October 7, said Mr Hagari.

They were killed in action in the battlefield defending Israel, said Mr Hagari.

It is thanks to their action on the battlefield that we will win.

06:35 PM GMT

Hamas has lost control of northern Gaza, says Israel

Hamas has lost control of the north of Gaza, says IDF spokesman, Daniel Hagari.

Weve reached all of their military assets, said Mr Hagari during a press conference.

06:33 PM GMT

IDF preparing for next stage in war

The Israel Defence Forces are preparing for the next stage of the war in order to dismantle Hamas, said Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman.

06:11 PM GMT

Netanyahu says Israel 'committed to the return of all our abductees'

Israel was committed to the return of all our abductees, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after a first group of hostages seized in Hamas attacks were freed under a truce agreement.

This is one of the goals of the war, and we are committed to achieving all the goals of the war, he said in a statement.

06:04 PM GMT

Further details on Israel saying it would summon Belgian and Spanish ambassadors

The Israeli government said on Friday it would summon the Belgian and Spanish ambassadors following remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo on the war between Israel and Hamas.

The announcement came after the two leaders criticised Israel for the suffering of Palestinian civilians under Israeli military operations in Gaza. Sanchez also called for European Union recognition of a Palestinian state, saying Spain might do so on its own.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza on Friday, Mr Sanchez said the time had come for the international community and the European Union to once and for all recognize a Palestinian state. He said it would be better if the EU did it together, but if this is not the case  Spain will take their own decisions.

Mr Sanchez was speaking at the end of a two-day visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt with Mr de Croo. Spain currently holds the EUs rotational presidency and Belgium takes over in January.

05:53 PM GMT

39 released from prison by Israel under truce agreement

A total of 28 prisoners were released in the occupied West Bank, an AFP correspondent saw, while the other 11 were on their way to annexed east Jerusalem.

It followed word from a Palestinian NGO that 39 prisoners had been released by Israeli authorities.

05:42 PM GMT

Mother who implored Netanyahu to 'free all of us' was among those released

A single mother who pleaded with Benjamin Netanyahu to free all of us in a Hamas hostage video was among those released by the terror group on Friday.



Danielle Aloni, 44, was kidnapped with her five-year-old daughter Emelia Aloni when she was visiting her twin sister in Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October.



While they had initially been hiding in the bomb shelter, when the terrorists set fire to her sisters home they were forced to flee.



Ms Alonis sister Sharon Cunio, her husband David and their twin daughters, Emma and Julia, aged three, were also snatched by the terror group.



Ms Alonis family had not had any confirmation they were alive until Hamas shared a hostage video in which she was seen sitting on plastic chairs with two other hostages.



In the 76-clip, she addressed Mr Netanyahu directly and pleaded for an exchange with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.



During the video, for which she was likely being instructed on what to say, she said: Let their citizens go, let their prisoners go. Free us. Free all of us. Let us return to our families now.



At the end she screamed now several times.

Daniel Aloni and her daughter Emilia - Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum via AP

05:34 PM GMT

Freed child hostage turned 9 years old in Hamas captivity

One of the Israeli child hostages who was freed on Friday celebrated his 9th birthday while in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

Ohad Munder was kidnapped along with his mother Keren and grandparents, Ruthi and Avraham, on October 7, Israels National News website reported.

Ohad, Ruthi and Keren were among the 13 hostages freed on Friday.

The family were taken by Hamas after Keren sent a message to her partner Avi at 7.24am saying that she had heard gunshots in the Kibbutz.

05:20 PM GMT

Red Cross says hostage release offers 'tremendous relief'

We are relieved to confirm the safe release of 24 hostages.

We have facilitated this release by transporting them from Gaza to the Rafah border, marking the real-life impact of our role as a neutral intermediary between the parties.  ICRC in Israel & OT (@ICRC_ilot) November 24, 2023

05:14 PM GMT

Young sisters and mother abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz freed in hostage deal

Two of the youngest hostages held by Hamas have been released along with their mother.



Sisters Raz Katz Asher, 4, Aviv, 2, and their mother, Doron, were kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7.



The childrens father, Yoni, said his wife and daughters had been visiting their grandmother during the festival of Sukkot.



Mr Asher had stayed home, in central Israel, for work.



The kibbutz sits just two miles from Gaza, and was one of the communities worst affected by Hamass terror attack.



One in four of those who lived there are thought to have been killed or kidnapped by the terror group.

05:12 PM GMT

Israel army says freed hostages 'inside Israeli territory'

The Israeli army says the first hostages released from the Gaza Strip are now back on Israeli territory where they would undergo medical checks before being reunited with their families.

The released hostages underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory, the military said in a statement, adding they would be accompanied by soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families.

05:06 PM GMT

UPDATED: All 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas have been named as:

Hannah Katzir

Margalit Mozes

Yafa Ader

Hannah Perry

Adina Moshe

Danielle Aloni and Emilia Aloni

Ruthi Mondar, Keren Mondar and Ohad Mondar

Raz Katz Asher, Aviv Katz Asher and their mother, Doron



05:03 PM GMT

Here is a clearer photo of one of the hostages released by Hamas, after arriving in Egypt

Screenshot 2023-11-24 at 16.40.36.png

04:56 PM GMT

39 women and children to be released from Israeli prisons

Qatars foreign ministry has confirmed the release of 39 women and children from Israeli jails as part of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports.

04:51 PM GMT

Watch: Red Cross vans transporting hostages to Egypt

04:49 PM GMT

Hostages en route to Hatzerim Airbase

Hostages are on board a white bus heading to the Hatzerim Airbase in the Negev desert where they will meet the IDF.



04:46 PM GMT

In case you are only just joining us, here is a recap of today's main news - the release of 24 hostages

Hamas fighters released 24 hostages on Friday during the first day of the wars first truce, the Red Cross said, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers.

Nine hours after guns fell silent for the first time in seven weeks, the International Red Cross said it had begun an operation to facilitate the transfer of hostages in Gaza to Israel in return for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. It later said 24 hostages had been freed in Gaza.

The deep pain that family members separated from their loved ones feel is indescribable. We are relieved that some will be reunited after long agony, said Fabrizio Carboni, the International Committee of the Red Crosss regional director for the Near and Middle East.

Israeli media reported that 13 women and children had been handed over to the Red Cross and to an Egyptian security team assisting their release. The Israeli government and Hamas did not immediately confirm this.

In addition to the Israeli women and children due to be released on the first day of the four-day truce, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said in a social media post that a separate group of 12 Thai workers had been freed.

A source briefed on the negotiations said the release of the Thais, who were all men, was unrelated to the truce negotiations and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Thai farmworkers employed in southern Israel were among around 240 hostages dragged back to Gaza by gunmen when Hamas fighters launched a killing spree on Oct. 7.

04:42 PM GMT

Pictured: Hostages held by Hamas can be seen being transferred to a bus after medical checks

Israeli hostages that have been held by Hamas since October 7th are released, Friday 24th November, 2023.

Israeli hostages that have been held by Hamas since October 7th are released, Friday 24th November, 2023.

04:39 PM GMT

Hostages board bus after undering preliminary medical checks

Small children and other freed hostages can be seen being transferred onto a bus after undergoing a preliminery medical check.

04:34 PM GMT

Watch: Red Cross vehicles carrying freed hostages across the Rafah border crossing

First look on a night of anticipatipn: ICRC vehicles carrying elderly and others across Rafah border crossing. Filmed by NPR producer in Gaza, Anas Baba. pic.twitter.com/4Njg33MaBS  Daniel Estrin (@DanielEstrin) November 24, 2023

04:27 PM GMT

Freed hostage waves from van

A young girl was seen in the back of one of the Red Cross vans waving as she and other hostages, including a number of elderly women, were being transported out of southern Gaza.



04:20 PM GMT

Israel to invite Spanish and Dutch PM for 'harsh rebuke'

Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen said the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be invited to a harsh rebuke after the pair criticised Israels military response to the Oct 7 attacks.

The Netherlands Alexander De Croo and Spains Pedro Sanchez were earlier at the Rafah crossing where they called for a permanent ceasefire.

04:11 PM GMT

Pictured: A Red Cross vehicle believed to be carrying hostages arrives at the Rafah border

A Red Cross vehicle, as part of a convoy believed to be carrying hostages abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, arrives at the Rafah border, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, as seen from southern Gaza Strip November 24, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

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03:55 PM GMT

13 Israeli hostages handed to Israeli forces

Israeli security source says 13 Israeli hostages handed to Israeli forces

03:43 PM GMT

Israeli TV channels reporting hostages have been transferred to Egyptian officials

Israeli television channels have corroborated online reports that thirteen Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip have been handed over to officials from Egypt and the Red Cross.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli government.

03:40 PM GMT

Pictured: People in Tel Aviv rejoice at news of hostages being released

People react as they hear the news of the release of 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Friday marks the start of a four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, during which the Gaza militants pledged to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

People react as they hear the news of the release of 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Friday marks the start of a four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, during which the Gaza militants pledged to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. ()

03:36 PM GMT

Thai hostages have entered Israel via the Rafah Border Crossing

The Thai hostages have entered Israel via the Rafah Border Crossing, according to Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and are being transferred to Hatzerim Air Force Base before they are taken to a hospital.

At this time, the gender and names of these Thais are not known. The 12 Thais will be taken to Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), where they will be met by Embassy officials. They are required to be under medical supervision for a period of 48 hours, without access to outsiders.

The MFA sends its heartfelt congratulations to these 12 Thai nationals and their families, and will do all possible to expedite their return to Thailand. The Royal Thai Government expresses its thanks to all from whom it sought assistance in securing the release of these first hostages, namely the Governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, and the ICRC.

It is our deep hope that all remaining hostages will be taken care of, and will be safely released at the earliest opportunity.

03:32 PM GMT

Schneider medical centre awaiting freed children

Israels Schneider medical centre is one of several facilities where the children who have been held freed by Hamas will be taken, Sky News reported, adding that its journalists had seen toys being set up in preparation for their arrival.



03:27 PM GMT

Israeli hostages have arrived in Egypt, local media reports

Several Israeli media outlets are reporting that the hostages have arrived in Egypt having left Gaza via the Rafah Crossing.

Those freed are expected to be taken into Israel through the Nitzana border crossing before being flown to the Hatzerim Air Base, in the countrys south.

03:25 PM GMT

Thai hostages not covered by truce deal

The Thai hostages that have been released are all men and are not covered by the truce hostage deal, which relates to women and children, a source has told Reuters.

03:20 PM GMT

Source close to Hamas confirms some Thai hostages freed

A source close to Hamas confirmed some Thai hostages held in the Gaza Strip had been freed on Friday, in addition to hostages released under a ceasefire deal with Israel.

Hamas made a gesture to also release some Thai foreigners, the source close to the Islamist movement told AFP, after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said 12 Thai hostages were released, in a post on X.

02:59 PM GMT

Israeli PM confirms 13 hostages released

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that 13 hostages have been released by Hamas.

02:52 PM GMT

Inside the IDF helicopter that will transfer hostages

An Israeli Defence Forces helicopter will transfer the hostages from Egypt to Israel.

Inside of the helicopter

The helicopter that will transfer the hostages

02:47 PM GMT

Current ceasefire in Gaza not enough, Spain says

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said during a visit to Rafah border crossing in Egypt that the current ceasefire in Gaza is not enough and that a permanent ceasefire was needed.

02:38 PM GMT

Egypt's Sisi calls for recognition of Palestinian state

Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday appeared to discredit the moribund Israel-Palestinian peace process and instead called on the international community to recognise the Palestinian state.

During a joint news conference with the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium in Cairo, Sisi said reviving the process aimed at ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict may not be what is required.

The results of this path faltering for 30 years tells us that we must adopt a different approach, he said.

This would entail the recognition of the Palestinian state by the international community and bringing it into the United Nations... This would show seriousness, Sisi added.

He pointed to the high civilian death toll in successive Gaza conflicts, saying the wars erupted because the political horizons for resolving the Palestinian cause always failed to fulfil the Palestinians aspirations.

02:27 PM GMT

Families and friends gather in Tel Aviv

Several hundred people including families and friends of the hostages captured by Hamas gathered on a central square in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon just as the first group of hostages was to cross into Egypt, reports Nataliya Vasilyeva, Jerusalem correspondent.

Well-wishes milled around, holding posters depicting the hostages and yellow ribbons that became the symbol of Israelis support for the hostages.

The family of Amit Soussana from the frontier kibbutz of Kfar Aza got a call from the authorities the night before saying the 40-year-old lawyer was not on the list to be released.

Its a torture - and its going to be like this every day now, Ms Soussanas sister told the Telegraph as she sat with her mother and another sister on the side of the square, holding posters with the photograph of Amit.

The young womans mother said all she had to do was hope that her daughters release was imminent.

We hope she will be in the next group, Mira Soussana said.

02:19 PM GMT

Ambulances stand by for hostages

Israeli security forces stand next to ambulances on stand by at the helipad of Tel Aviv's Schneider medical centre - FADEL SENNA / AFP

02:12 PM GMT

Thai hostages released

Twelve Thai hostages have been released by Hamas and are now in Egypt.

The Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin posted on social media:

It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there are 12 Thai hostages already released. Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. They should know their names and details. Please stay tuned.

02:11 PM GMT

Watch: Israeli tanks leave Gaza

02:04 PM GMT

Egyptian authorities preparing for hostages

Diaa Rashwan, Chairman of the Egyptian State Information Service, has said that the Egyptian authorities are now preparing at the Rafah crossing to receive detainees released from Hamas.

Rashwan said that Cairo had received lists of captives and detainees from both the Israeli and Palestinian sides in preparation for an exchange of prisoners.

02:03 PM GMT

12 Thai hostages set to be released

Alongside the 13 Israeli hostages expected to be released today are a further 12 Thai citizens.

Egypts government announced that it had successfully negotiated the release earlier today.

Thailand believes that 24 of its citizens were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

01:55 PM GMT

How Israeli troops will handle child hostages

Israeli troops have been told not to tell children freed by Hamas about their killed or kidnapped parents if they ask upon release today.

Instead, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have instructions to reassure those freed by Hamas.

Children will ask questions such as, Wheres mum? Wheres daddy? Soldiers should not answer these questions, even if they know the answers, advice issued by Israels Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry said.

Any questions should be answered along the lines of sweetheart, Im sorry, I dont know. My job is to bring you to Israel to a safe place, where people you know will be waiting for you and will answer all your questions, it added.

Read more about how Israeli troops have been told to handle child hostages here.

01:52 PM GMT

Hostage release expected at 2pm

At 2pm we are expecting the first batch of Israeli hostages to be released by Hamas. You can watch live via the video at the top of this page.

A number of Palestinian prisoners will be released by Israel as part of the exchange.

01:50 PM GMT

Gaza truce is a short pause, says Israeli defence minister

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday that a truce under way with Hamas in Gaza was a short pause, after which Israel would resume operating with full military force.

Gallant made the remarks to his Italian counterpart who was on a visit to Tel Aviv, according to his office. He spoke as Israel prepared to receive 13 hostages set to be freed from Gaza, in return for the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners.

There will be a short pause and then we will continue operating with full military power. We will not stop until we achieve our goals: the destruction of Hamas and bringing home the hostages from Gaza to Israel  there are 240 hostages and it is something we cannot accept and cannot tolerate, Gallant said.

01:36 PM GMT

Watch: Aid trucks cross into Gaza from Egypt

01:23 PM GMT

Americans not expected to be among initial group of hostages

American citizens are not expected to be among the group of 13 hostages set to be released today, according to a US official.

The official told CNN that they remain hopeful that there will be Americans among the initial 50 hostages who will be released over the coming days.

01:07 PM GMT

Hamas chief committed to truce and hostage deal 'if Israel is too'

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, said on Friday in a recording that the group is committed to the truce and hostage swap deal as long as Israel is committed as well.

12:57 PM GMT

UN agencies hope truce will allow aid

UN agencies voiced hope that a ceasefire would allow aid to flow to northern Gaza for the first time in weeks.

Aid agencies have said they are aiming to deliver supplies to northern part of the Palestinian enclave where hospitals have collapsed due to bombings and lack of fuel and where there are major concerns about deyhydration and disease outbreaks.

The United Nations can confirm that as I speak trucks with humanitarian supplies continues to cross into Gaza through the Rafah crossing point, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Asked whether the United Nations had guarantees from Israel that it could deliver aid to the north, Laerke said: We proceed on the basis of the hope and the expectation that we will reach people in need, where they are.

12:46 PM GMT

Supplies ready for child hostages

Supplies have been prepared for the hostages due to be released today, including toys for children and noise cancelling headphones.

Supplies ready for children

Noise cancelling headphones ready for released hostages

12:32 PM GMT

UK doubles humanitarian aid to Gaza

The UK will double its humanitarian aid to Gaza with a further 30 million (EUR34.5 million) for Palestinian civilians affected by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, foreign minister David Cameron said Friday.

Lord Cameron met Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday and is due to hold discussions with Palestinian officials on Friday, for talks on how UK efforts can help alleviate the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, his office said.

I can announce new 30 million of funding which will be spent on vital aid such as shelter and medical provisions, Lord Cameron said in a statement.

It is vital to protect civilians from harm, and we are urgently looking at all avenues to get aid into Gaza, including land, maritime and air routes.

Lord Cameron will also discuss supporting the Palestinian Authority, including through training and capacity building and look towards a long-term political solution to the crisis.

11:57 AM GMT

Palestinian politician hopes for 'complete exchange' of Palestinian prisoners

A leading Palestinian politician has said that the release of some Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails is promising as it could open the road for a complete exchange of prisoners.

Mustafa Barghouti, secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative, told Al Jazeera:

That means the release of all Palestinian prisoners put in Israeli jails, may of whom, at least 1,200, are without due charges, without due legal process. The most important thing here is that three taboos the Israeli government had were broken. The first taboo  that there will be no exchange of prisoners, and they were forced to accept that. The second one  that there will be no ceasefire whatsoever and now they have to accept a ceasefire for four days, hopefully it will be extended further. Third, that Netanyahu said, the only way he will deal with Hamas is to uproot them completely and now hes negotiating with them and even making a del with them. But the most important thing that we shouldnt forget about is that this ceasefire must continue because the massacres in Gaza have to stop.

11:47 AM GMT

Israeli leaflets warn Gazans against returning home

Leaflets have been dropped in Rafah in southern Gaza, warning that the war is not over yet. The leaflet calls northern Gaza a combat zone.

It says: To the residents of the Gaza Strip, the war didnt end yet, the humanitarian pause is temporary, and the northern region of Gaza is a war zone.

A leaflet dropped by Israeli forces to warn Palestinians

11:24 AM GMT

WHO 'Extremely concerned' about those left in Al Shifa Hospital

A World Health Organization spokesperson said on Friday that it was working on further evacuations from northern Gaza hospitals as soon as possible as a truce gets underway, voicing fears for the safety of those remaining in Al Shifa Hospital.

Were extremely concerned about the safety of the estimated 100 patients and health workers remaining at Al Shifa, said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier.

He declined to react to comments from the Gaza health ministry saying it was suspending cooperation with the global health agency amid reports that Israel is holding medical staff for questioning.

11:06 AM GMT

Gaza war increases risk of Islamist attacks in Europe, security officials say

European security officials are seeing a growing risk of attacks by Islamists radicalised by the Israel-Hamas war, with the biggest threat likely to come from lone wolf assailants who are hard to track.

More than 10 intelligence and police officials in five European countries including Britain, Germany and France told Reuters they are increasing surveillance of Islamist militants.

This will put a further burden on resources already stretched by dealing with perceived threats from Russia, China and Iran, in what London police chief Mark Rowley calls one of the most challenging convergence of threats I have ever seen.

A British security official said the war in Gaza was likely to become the biggest recruiter for Islamist militants since the Iraq war in 2003, and that calls for attacks on Jewish and Western targets had risen in Europe.

A German source briefed by intelligence services said the threat to civilians was the highest in Germanys recent history, with dangers coming from Islamist militants, far-right groups and Russia.

Two Islamist militant attacks in France and Belgium last month killed three people, and these two countries, Austria, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have raised their terrorism threat alert levels. Italy has reimposed border controls with Slovenia, citing the risk of militants entering the country.

10:50 AM GMT

Pictured: Gaza during ceasefire

Palestinians have their hair cut during a temporary truce - REUTERS/Saleh Salem

Displaced Palestinians return to their homes as they walk near houses destroyed in an Israeli strike - REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Displaced Palestinians return to their homes - REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

10:38 AM GMT

Children being 'used as pawns'

Children are being used as the pawns of adult geopolitics, Save the Children have said.

The charity said that it is deeply concerning that children are being used in a political exchange.

The issues of children in Israeli military prisons is a longstanding human rights concern, James Denselow from Save the Children UK told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

We know that a large number of the children are boys. We know that many of the issues theyre being detained for are around stone-throwing, damaged property and vandalism.

But obviously its deeply concerning that child rights become the pawns of the geopolitics of adults, when youre seeing child hostages being swapped for child detainees.

10:25 AM GMT

Israel has 'no trust' in Hamas

The deputy mayor of Jerusalem has said that there is no trust in Hamas, describing the group as a barbaric terrorist organisation as she expressed her hope for the return of hostages.

Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told Sky News that the Israeli government had faced a Sophies choice when deciding upon the terms of the hostage deal.

Essentially, we could get the children and the women that we could get out right now, or we could wait and try and get more hostages out in the future, she said.

The government decided that we wanted to save as many people as we could right now.

We have a moral responsibility to those innocent civilians that were snatched from their beds, whose parents were killed in front of them.

10:11 AM GMT

Pause in fighting is 'first step', PM says

Rishi Sunak said the pause in fighting in the Israel-Hamas conflict is the first step towards seeing all hostages released.

The Prime Minister was asked whether the temporary ceasefire should be made permanent during a visit to Nissans Sunderland plant on Friday.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters: Weve consistently pushed for sustained humanitarian pauses so that we could get more aid into Gaza and get hostages out, so this is a very welcome development.

Its obviously the first step. We need to make sure everyone abides by the terms of the agreement and we want to see all hostages released, including protecting the safety of British nationals that are involved.

Im grateful to Qatar for the role that theyve played. Were continuing to work with all our partners in the region, whether thats America, Israel and Egypt and others to make sure that this deal sticks and we can continue to do what we want to support everyone in Gaza, get more aid in and to ensure the safety and release of all hostages.

So its a very welcome step, something that weve been pushing hard for and working with partners on, so Im glad that this has come to fruition.

09:42 AM GMT

Ambulances head to Ahli Baptist hospital

Ten ambulances are heading towards Ahli Baptist hospital in Gaza City to help evacuate patients, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

The crews are travelling from Khan Younis in southern Gaza and are accompanied by the United Nation.

An explosion caused casualties at the hospital on October 17.

Israel said the blast was caused by a misfired Hamas rocket, while Hamas claimed it was caused by an Israeli airstrike.

09:27 AM GMT

In pictures: Israeli forces leave Gaza

A convoy of Israeli military tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) enter Israel, as they leave from Gaza - REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israeli soldiers react from a military vehicle while driving by Israel's border - REUTERS/Amir Cohen

09:11 AM GMT

France's top diplomat in Beijing for talks on Middle East

Frances top diplomat Catherine Colonna met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Friday, as part of a short visit focused on the Israel-Hamas war as well as deepening exchanges between the two countries.

Colonnas talks in Beijing come the same day that a truce between Israel and Hamas took effect.

For us, all the hostages must be released. All, and not just 50, Colonna said during a briefing with French journalists.

Paris has said that the conflict in the Middle East will be high on the agenda for Colonna and her Chinese counterparts.

China is an actor with growing weight in the region due to its strong relationship with Iran, a French diplomatic source said this week.

The first thing we expect from China in this conflict is to join its efforts with ours to ensure that we avoid any regional escalation, they added.

08:51 AM GMT

24 women and 15 teenagers to be freed from Israeli jails

Israel will on Friday release 39 Palestinians prisoners, among them 24 women and 15 teenaged males, in the occupied West Bank in exchange for 13 hostages due to be freed from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, a Palestinian official said.

08:37 AM GMT

Aid enters from Egypt

Egypt expects 250 trucks to enter Gaza from the Rafah crossing today.

Officials have confirmed that the flow of aid has begun.

Palestinians are facing severe shortages of food, water, medicine and electricity.

During the cease-fire Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 litres (34,342 gallons) of fuel per day, roughly double what it has previously permitted but still only a small portion of Gazas estimated daily needs of more than 1 million litres.

08:26 AM GMT

British daughter of kidnapped man speaks out

The British daughter of a man who was kidnapped from Israel and taken to Gaza has said her father would be fighting to be at the back of the queue of hostages to be released by Hamas.

Sharone Lifschitz told BBC Breakfast that she did not know whether her father was dead or alive, adding that she only knew he was taken to Gaza after being kidnapped from his home in the kibbutz of Nir Oz on October 7.

Sharone Lifschitz and her father Oded Lifshitz - Courtesy of Lifshitz family

Speaking from Tel Aviv, Ms Lifschitz said: My father spent 65 years building this community, we grew up collectively as children in my generation. If there is a queue, he is fighting to be at the back of the queue.

She added that every hostage that was released was a ray of light in a long and horrendous story.

Ms Lifschitzs mother, Yocheved Lifshitz, was released by Hamas from Gaza last month.

08:02 AM GMT

PM thanks Qatar and Egypt for diplomacy

The Prime Minister thanked Qatar and Egypt for their intensive diplomacy in helping to secure a pause in the fighting in the Israel-Hamas war.

The temporary truce in the conflict came into effect early on Friday, setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Rishi Sunak tweeted: This humanitarian pause is critical to end the terrible ordeal of hostages held by Hamas and get life-saving aid into Gaza.

I want to thank Qatar, Egypt and others for the intensive diplomacy that has got us here.

We will not stop until all hostages are safely returned.

07:48 AM GMT

'War is not ovcer yet," says IDF

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be holding, but the Israeli Defence Forces have warned that the war is not over yet.

Spokesman Avichay Adraee warned Palestinians to stay in the humanitarian zone in the south as he urged caution.

The war is not over yet. The humanitarian pause is temporary, he wrote on X. The northern Gaza Strip is a dangerous war zone and it is forbidden to move north. For your safety, you must remain in the humanitarian zone in the south.

He added: It is only possible to move from the north of the Strip to the south via Salah al-Din Road. The movement of residents from the south of the Strip to the north is not allowed and dangerous.

07:34 AM GMT

Pictured: Palestinians head home after ceasefire begins

Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in eastern Khan Yunis - MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinians who had taken refuge in temporary shelters return to their homes in eastern Khan Yunis - Mahmud HAMS / AFP

Thousands of displaced Palestinians go to check on their homes - Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu via Getty Images

07:19 AM GMT

Lebanon's Hezbollah intensifies attacks on Israel

The Iran-backed Hezbollah group on Thursday intensified its attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon where Israeli bombardments killed seven of its fighters, including members of an elite unit.

Hezbollah said it carried out more than 20 attacks on Israeli military positions and claimed to have caused casualties.

In one of the attacks, it said it fired 48 Katyusha rockets at a military base at Ein Zeitim, near the town of Safed in northern Israel, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border.

That attack marked the largest rocket salvo to be fired by the Iran-backed group since violence broke out last month. Hezbollah said it also used the heavy-duty Burkan missile in another attack against an Israeli border position.

The Israeli army said that, in response to fire towards Israel, its helicopters and fighters jets had struck terrorist infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, as well as rocket launch sites.

Lebanons official National News Agency said the Israeli army had shelled several locations in southern Lebanon in response.

06:55 AM GMT

Aid trucks enter Gaza from Egypt

Aid trucks were entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt around 1-1.5 hours after the truce began, Reuters TV footage showed.

Two of the trucks, representing Egyptian organisations, sported banners that said Together for Humanity.

Another said: For our brothers in Gaza.

06:42 AM GMT

Britain pledges additional aid to Gaza

Britain will provide another 30 million of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Friday as he travels to the occupied Palestinian territories on the second day of his visit to the region.

Mr Cameron will meet Palestinian leaders and aid agencies.

I am proud that a fourth UK flight carrying critical supplies landed in Egypt today, and I can announce new 30m of funding which will be spent on vital aid such as shelter and medical provisions, he said.

The new pledge will double the amount of additional aid Britain has committed to Gaza since the conflict began in October.

06:30 AM GMT

In pictures: Soldiers react as truce begins

Israeli soldiers react after leaving Gaza during the temporary truce - Reuters

An Israeli soldier reacts from a military vehicle while driving by Israel's border after leaving Gaza

06:23 AM GMT

Gaza truce appears to hold for now

A Reuters correspondent near the northern part of Gaza heard no Israeli air force activity overhead once the truce began this morning.

Lebanons Al-Mayadeen TV also reported that since the start of the ceasefire, no sounds of bombing were heard in Gaza.

05:31 AM GMT

'Relative calm' as ceasefire begins

A reporter on the ground in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, told Al Jazeera that the ceasefire has started and fighting has paused.

We are witnessing a relative calm, that is gradually becoming more and more visible as there is a complete stop of fighter jets flying over the Gaza Strip, Hani Mahmoud said.

05:22 AM GMT

Israeli sirens warn of possible rocket attacks

The Israeli military sounded sirens in two villages near the Gaza Strip, warning of possible Palestinian rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled enclave.

One reportedly sounded in a kibbutz near the Strip a few hours before the truce and another just 15 minutes beforehand in kibbutz Nir Oz.

There was no immediate confirmation that rocket attacks had occurred or caused any damage.

Reuters reported sirens blared just minutes after the truce came into effect but that has not been verified.

But the sirens certainly raise questions in regards to how long the truce will hold.

Smoke in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes - Reuters

05:04 AM GMT

Ceasefire begins in Israel-Hamas war

The four-day truce should technically now be in effect as it is 7am in Israel and Gaza.

We will bring you more information and details as they become available.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip moments before the start of the temporary ceasefire - AP

05:00 AM GMT

Indonesian Hospital attacked overnight

Israeli forces attacked the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza overnight, destroying the first floor, according to reports.

Last night, Israeli forces attacked the hospital with tanks and destroyed all of the first floor. The damage was very bad, Dr Sarbini Abdul Murad, head of the Indonesian charity Medical Emergency Rescue Committee, told Al Jazeera.

Previously, they had attacked the third floor. They arrested at least three people. This is their way of taking over the hospitals before the ceasefire today.

04:35 AM GMT

Ceasefire is 'too late'

Many Palestinian families have said the truce between Israel and Hamas has come too late.

The living here are the ones who are dead, Fida Zayed, whose 20-year-old son Udai was killed in a recent air strike, told AFP.

The last thing he said to me was that he was waiting for the truce on Friday. He asked me to prepare him a feast of rice and chicken.

She added: I hope me and my children die here so we dont have to mourn each other.

Posters of children held hostage by Hamas - AP

04:11 AM GMT

Prisoners to be released from three jails

Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails are due to be released on Friday, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said.

The armed wing of Hamas said three Palestinian prisoners would be released for each one of the hostages.

They will be released from three jails in Israel and the occupied West Bank, then taken to the Ofer military camp on buses, an Israeli official told AFP, adding they were expected to be freed in the evening.

Majority are from the West Bank, but five are from the Gaza Strip.

04:09 AM GMT

Hostage release explained: What we know so far

The first batch of 13 Israeli hostages, who are expected to be released around 4pm local time today, will be women and children from the same families.

At least 50 hostages are expected to be released over the four days.

Teams of Israeli trauma experts and medics will await them, along with specially trained soldiers who, according to guidelines, will promise to keep them safe and carry a childs favourite food item, be it pizza or chicken schnitzel.

Few details are publicly known about the conditions the hostages have been held in.

Given the barbaric nature of the attacks and captivity we can only prepare for worst case scenarios, Moty Cristal said, a retired Israeli military official with experience in hostage negotiations.

04:06 AM GMT

Good morning

Welcome to our live blog on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A ceasefire is set to begin in less than an hour at 7am local time (5am GMT).

We will bring you the latest news and developments as they unfold today.

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A number of armed Palestinian groups are active on the West Bank - Jaafar Ashtiyeh/Getty

Two men accused of spying for Israel were executed in the West Bank, with their bodies dragged through alleys before being hung from a pylon by a cheering mob.

The two men were shot dead in the West Bank city of Tulkarm on Friday by members of Palestinian armed groups.

A Palestinian journalist in the camp, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the men were beaten and stomped on by residents before being hung up from an electrical tower and then dumped in a skip.

Videos show hundreds of Palestinians crowding around the entrance of the camp and filming the violence with their phones.

The two men were accused of helping Israeli security forces target Hamas in a raid that killed three key terrorists earlier this month, a Palestinian security officer said.

The two alleged informers were in their late 20s and early 30s, respectively, with one coming from the refugee camp where the killings happened.

A statement from the Tulkarm Brigades, a group based in the West Bank city of Tulkarm that is associated with the Fatah faction, said there was no immunity for any informant or traitor.

We are on the lookout for him and we will hold him accountable, it said, referring to any such person.

Come forward and repent

Footage shared on the Tulkarm Brigades Telegram channel showed a man apparently confessing to working with Israeli security services and providing details of his activities.

The Tulkarm Brigades statement said anyone who had been working with Israeli security services had until Dec 5 to come forward and repent.

The family of one of the accused informers sought to distance itself in a statement, calling its disgraced relative a malicious finger that we have cut off without regret.

We affirm our complete innocence, the family added, and we wont allow anyone to blame us for his guilt.

A second Palestinian official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Palestinian security forces were aware of the incident. The public prosecutors office said it would have details in the coming days about a police investigation into the killings.

Violence in the occupied West Bank has worsened since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct 7 and the Israeli armys response in Gaza.

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Global shipping routes have emerged as targets in war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas - Manuel Hernandez Lafuente

A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire has reportedly been damaged in an attack in the Indian Ocean by a drone that the US suspects to be Iranian.

An unnamed American defence official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the Malta-flagged CMA CGM Symi was believed to have been targeted by a Shahed-136 drone while sailing in international waters.

The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

The apparent attack comes as global shipping routes have emerged as targets in the sprawling war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas.

The Shahed-136 drone is Iranian and has also widely been used across Ukraine by Russian forces.

The ship had its automatic identification system (AIS) tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubais Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com.

Houthis vowed to target ships

Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. The vessel had done the same earlier when travelling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The Houthis have vowed to target ships with links to Israel, but their attacks usually take place in the Red Sea.

The Symi ship is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

The attack appeared to take place just hours before the limited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began, which Irans proxies were mostly expected to abide by despite not being directly involved in the agreement.

Neither Israel nor Iran has commented on the incident and it remains unclear where the drone was launched from.

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An Israeli-owned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected drone attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, a US defence official said on Saturday.

"We are aware of reports that there was a suspected IRGC-initiated Shahed-136 UAV (that) struck a civilian motor vessel in the Indian Ocean," the official said, confirming the attack on Friday and adding that "the ship incurred minor damage" and there were "no injuries".

Maritime security company Ambrey said the Malta-flagged, French-operated container ship was reportedly damaged when the unmanned aerial vehicle exploded close to it.

"The vessel was managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, which was assessed to be the reason why it was targeted," Ambrey said, adding that in the days before the attack, the ship's tracking transmissions had stopped shortly after departing port in the United Arab Emirates.

The reported attack comes almost a week after Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

Ambrey said in a separate incident on Friday the Huthis cautioned a tanker southwest of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeida "to change course and warned that an attack would follow if they did not follow the instructions".

The security firm said the warning was issued several times, adding it is "likely a Huthi operation is imminent".

The Huthis, declaring themselves part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran-affiliated groups, have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Israel has vowed to "crush" Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, after the Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages on October 7, according to Israeli authorities.

Gaza's Hamas government says nearly 15,000 people have been killed in Israeli aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory since then.

On Monday, the Huthi rebels pledged further maritime attacks until Israel halts its Gaza campaign.

th-csp/dr
Two Atlanta institutions are partnering up for a yearly effort to fight hunger in the metro area for the holidays.

Jim Ellis Automotive, serving Atlanta since 1971, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, serving the metro since 1979, announced a multi-month holiday initiative aimed at feeding those in need across the metro Atlanta area.

From Nov. 24 to Jan. 2, 2024, the charitable effort will donate portions of Jim Ellis family-owned and operated dealerships to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Jim Ellis VP Stacey Ellis Hodges said she hopes the donations bring holiday cheer, saying Its hard to imagine a child going to bed hungry, and that every child deserves a full belly and happy heart.

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2023 is the seventh time Jim Ellis Automotive has supported the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Over the course of its yearly giving, the Ellis company said it has donated $320,000 to groups supporting women and children in need across Atlanta.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank expressed its gratitude in a brief statement.

Jim Ellis Automotive has partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank in our efforts to fulfill our mission to end hunger since 2006, Kyle Waide, Atlanta Community Food Bank President and CEO, said. Every $1 donated enables the Food Bank to be able to provide up to three meals for our neighbors in need. We appreciate and value the Jim Ellis partnership and look forward to your continued impact. Thank You!

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Actor and comedian John Leguizamo roasted Univisions recent interview with former President Trump Tuesday.

I dont know whats more shocking, that Univision gave Trump a softball interview, or that Trump let a Latin guy into his house, Leguizamo said on The Daily Show.

In the early November interview, Trump was asked questions about his support amongst Latin American voters, suggested he would use the government to investigate political opponents and defended his administrations family separation policy at the southern border.

Best Black Friday Deals

When you hear that youre going to be separated from your family, you dont come, Trump said in the Univision interview. When you think youre going to come into the United States with your family, you come. And we did for a period of time family separation, and others have, too, by the way.

Leguizamo heavily criticized what he said was a failure on the part of Univision to its Latino audience to to fully report what a second Trump presidency could mean for them.

And the truth is, is that that s- is mad [scary], Leguizamo continued.

The New York Times has recently reported that the former president has expansive plans for cracking down on immigration in his second-term. These plans reportedly include mass deportations and large new detainment camps.

President Trump and his campaign are singularly focused on beating Joe Biden and achieving victory next November, Trump campaign advisers and Chris LaCivita said in response to reporting by the Times and The Washington Post on second-term plans for Trump. While we understand fully the value of planning a transition back to the Oval Office, these press reports are largely unfounded and an unnecessary distraction from the work we are doing to defeat the most corrupt and incompetent president in what is the most consequential election in the history of our country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WEST PALM BEACH  A school official arrested in July for failing to report a sexual assault involving a male student  his relative  to the proper authorities is no longer facing criminal charges.

Palm Beach Central High School Assistant Principal Daniel Snider said he didn't report the sexual assault to the Florida Department of Children and Families because he didn't believe it actually happened. In order for a jury to convict him, prosecutors needed to prove he had reason to suspect otherwise.

Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer ruled Wednesday that they couldn't. The judge dismissed the charge against Snider, closing the case and sparing him a potential penalty of five years in prison.

More from the arrests: Palm Beach Central principal, 4 staffers charged with failure to report student child abuse

Suskauer's decision comes one month after Assistant State Attorney Joseph Kadis urged the judge not to intervene, calling Snider's skepticism about the assault an "excellent closing argument, but not grounds to dismiss" the charge. Kadis said questions over Snider's intent should be left to a jury  not a judge.

Suskauer pressed Kadis repeatedly over whether mandatory reporters must report every accusation, "no matter how bogus they think it may be."

The answer is no. The judge wrote in his six-page ruling this week that Florida law requires the recipient of a sexual-abuse report to act as a preliminary fact-finder, filtering out accusations that fall below the threshold of believability.

Suskauer pointed to the information available to Snider, including cordial text messages between his relative and the 15-year-old girl who accused him of touching her without her consent at Lake Worth Municipal Beach in April 2021. A letter written by the girl's friend detailing the alleged assault wasn't enough to spur Snider to file a report with DCF, Suskauer said.

Snider instead brought the accusation to Palm Beach Central Principal Darren Edgecomb, who told the assistant principal to "stand down" because of his relationship with the boy. Suskauer asked Kadis last month if he believed a jury would fault Snider for doing what his boss told him to.

"With respect to the principal, he is not the legislature," the prosecutor said. "The law tells Mr. Snider what he must do."

Under state law, all employees of the public school district, charter schools and private schools have "an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect."

Editorial: Palm Beach County school's failure to report alleged sexual assault calls for action

Defense attorney Leonard Feuer said that if Snider had reported the assault to DCF and expressed doubts over its truthfulness, he'd risk being charged with obstruction of justice. Had he reported a crime he didn't believe occurred, he'd risk being charged with making a false report.

So, Feuer said, he did neither. Snider passed the report to his principal and no one else, "as he was told to do."

The male student, who was under 18 at the time, has never been charged with a crime. The parents of the girl who accused him of assaulting her said they declined to pursue a case against him in 2021 because they were worried about impeding their daughter's recovery.

Edgecomb, assistant principal Nereyda Cayado de Garcia, chorus teacher Scott Houchins and then-guidance counselor Priscilla Carter, all of whom were made aware of the allegations but did not report them to DCF, still face felony charges stemming from the same incident.

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Judge drops charge against PBC official who didn't report sex abuse
OTTAWA COUNTY  The fate of Ottawa County Health Officer Adeline Hambley will head back to court Monday, Nov. 27  this time as a circuit court judge decides whether a $4 million settlement deal between the board of commissioners and Hambley is legally binding.

Ottawa County seemingly voted to accept the agreement Nov. 6, which included paying Hambley a total of $4 million to step down 10 months after trying to demote her without cause  the largest settlement in the county's history and nearly the exact amount the board cut from the public health department's budget this year.

The fate of Ottawa County Health Officer Adeline Hambley will head back to court Monday, Nov. 27.

Commissioners were expected to formalize the agreement Tuesday, Nov. 14, but no such vote occurred. Instead, the board recessed until Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Hambley's attorney, Sarah Riley-Howard, wrote in a filing Thursday, Nov. 16: "The parties agreed to settle this matter on Nov. 6, 2023. Now, defendants have remorse and want out of the deal."

Board leadership, however, says that's not what happened.

More: Ottawa County tries to back out of $4M settlement. Hambley heads to court.

Despite voting at the end of closed session on Nov. 6 to accept counsels recommendation regarding litigation and settlement activities in the case of Hambley v. Ottawa County, as addressed during closed session, Board Chair Joe Moss and Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea now say the board "has never voted publicly to enter into a settlement agreement with Ms. Hambley," according to a Nov. 17 joint statement posted on the website for Ottawa Impact.

The pair created the far-right fundamentalist group after they unsuccessfully challenged the previous board and county health officer over COVID-19 mitigation mandates in 2020 and 2021.

Moss and Rhodea have never responded to The Sentinel's requests for comment.

Commissioners Joe Moss (left) and Sylvia Rhodea (right) listen to the legal council Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the county offices in West Olive.

"The motion was clear; it was to continue the litigation and settlement activities to resolve this matter," the statement read. "This is also evidenced by the fact that the board voted to recess the meeting until Nov. 14, 2023. If the board had actually reached an alleged final settlement on Nov. 6, 2023, there would be no reason to recess until Nov. 14, 2023. Moreover, no final settlement documents have ever been signed by anyone."

Howard said, after the board agreed to the settlement and its terms  which included the resignation of Deputy Health Officer Marcia Mansaray  in closed session, the board's OI majority voted to "accept counsel's recommendation," while three non-OI commissioners  Doug Zylstra, Roger Bergman and Jacob Bonnema  voted no. Commissioner Kyle Terpstra left before the vote and later resigned.

More: Instead of firing her, Ottawa Impact plans to give Hambley millions to resign

More: Ottawa County walks back settlement agreement with Hambley

Howard said emails between the attorneys memorialized the agreement after the board voted. Documents in her Nov. 14 filing show the attorneys confirming what the county's attorney called "the tentative settlement agreement to have a global settlement of all issues."

There was also a draft of the agreement drawn up as the attorneys continued to discuss details and edits in the days following the vote.

Howard said it wasn't until The Sentinel reported details of the settlement on Nov. 8 that "there was significant public outcry opposed to the agreement." The following day, she said, lead county corporation counsel David Kallman sent an email to her giving a "first indication that defendants might attempt to back out of the agreement."

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The email read, in part: "As you know, until the board votes on terms of a final settlement agreement, there is no final resolution." Howard responded: "I disagree that there is no final resolution. We have agreed to all major terms, which were confirmed in writing before the board took its vote to accept counsels recommendation and accept the settlement terms.

"That is a binding agreement between our clients," Howard wrote to Kallman on Nov. 13. "The writing is a mere memorialization of the agreement."

At least one commissioner involved in the Nov. 6 closed session has indicated there was an agreement reached, and said the vote was to "ratify" the settlement.

"Under Michigans Open Meetings Act, the actions of a board or council must take place in public. When boards emerge from closed session, the chair explains what was decided to the public (transparency), and then holds the vote," District 4 Commissioner Jacob Bonnema wrote on Facebook on Nov. 11.

"Instead, Chairman Moss explained nothing and moved ... without explaining to the public what we were voting on. The law does not allow us (to) make decisions in darkness."

Moss and Rhodea called news reports of the $4 million settlement "erroneous" and alleged they cited "potential illegal leaks from a closed session," although they didn't elaborate on what that meant.

Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, a "closed session" is a meeting or part of a meeting of a public body that's closed to the public from viewing or participating for specific reasons, such as discussing litigation. The statute does not specifically prohibit attendees from later discussing what happened in closed session, although there are restrictions on attorneys who represent municipalities  unless a majority of the body waves attorney-client privilege.

Kallman said there was never any deal.

Shes claiming I went into a closed session and recommended to the board they pay $4 million, Kallman told MLive in a story published Nov. 18. We have never made any recommendation to the board to accept any settlement. How do you back out of a non-existent deal?

Moss and Rhodea agreed.

"The board has not voted on, nor approved, a settlement amount of $4 million or any other amount," they wrote. "Again, a settlement vote can only occur in the presence of the public."

Bonnema, in his social media post, said a continued "lack of transparency" further underscored why he left Ottawa Impact  which helped him get elected in November 2022  after several controversial decisions by the board led to a slew of lawsuits, including Hambley's case.

Commissioner Jacob Bonnema speaks during a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the county offices in West Olive.

"The question remains: Why didnt Commissioner Moss give the details of the settlement we were being asked to ratify? Why hide the nature and substance of our vote from the public  the very people who elected us? We are required to disclose the details of what we are voting on to our constituents. They are entitled to know what were doing in their name.

"The fact that (Rhodea) and Commissioner Moss tried to hide certain details of our vote from public view is concerning. Its also another example of the lack of transparency  the hiding and the secrecy  that led me to leave Ottawa Impact."

If a resolution isn't reached, the board may return to its special meeting and finally take a vote on whether to terminate Hambley for cause based on charges Moss leveled against her. The settlement was meant to be the culmination of a termination hearing that began for Hambley on Oct. 24. It's now had five separate sessions over the past month, with no conclusion in sight.

Hambley sued the board in February, claiming an attempt to demote her in January was unlawful and alleging the OI majority has repeatedly interfered with her state-authorized health duties.

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In April, a judge granted Hambley a preliminary injunction that allowed her to remain in her role until a trial could take place later this year. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals partially vacated the injunction, saying the board has the legal right to fire Hambley if state law is followed.

Moss filed notice Sept. 27 that a removal hearing was planned over allegations of incompetence, misconduct and neglect of duty. Moss allegations revolved largely around health department budget negotiations.

Hambley and Mansaray remain in their positions for now.

 Sarah Leach is the executive editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at sarahleach@hollandsentinel.com. Find her on Twitter @SentinelLeach.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: A judge will soon decide if Ottawa County must honor settlement agreement
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City firefighters said their final goodbyes to one of their own Friday.

Capt. John Parison was laid to rest Friday. The department honored him with a full procession starting at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church and ending at Park Law Cemetery.

KCFD Captain John (JP) Parison III

Parison died last week after a short battle with cancer.

The Kansas City Fire Department later determined that his diagnosis and passing met the criteria for a death in the line of duty.

Kansas man encounters endless frustration in drivers license odyssey

Parisons friends and colleagues described him as having an uplifting personality.

Courage, honor, integrity, humility, knowledge, respect and love. Capt. John Parison embodied all these qualities. Capt. Parison was passionate and loved his family, friends, KCFD and the citizens he served, KCFD Interim Chief Ross Grundyson said earlier this week.

His love for this department, the citizens of Kansas City, and his drive to be the best he could be was evident in how he conducted himself and treated others. Captain Parison was a true public servant and the epitome of what we, as firefighters, should strive to be.

As we grieve this loss and look for ways to honor him, do so by carrying on his legacy of courage, honor, integrity, humility, knowledge, respect and love. Captain John Parison (JP), You will be missed. Thank you for your service.

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Parison was also the father of a fellow KCFD firefighter and EMT. His family requested that Parisons funeral and graveside service be private.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
1st batch of Israeli hostages, Palestinian prisoners freed as Gaza truce begins

Xinhua) 09:12, November 25, 2023

Vehicles belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross transport released hostages toward the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA/CAIRO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- As a cease-fire with Israel entered into force, Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while buses carrying 39 Palestinian prisoners departed at night from Israeli Ofer prison.

The 13 Israeli hostages, all children and women, were sent to Egypt from Gaza and then headed for Israel. After initial reception procedures, including a medical assessment, the hostages were transferred to Israeli hospitals to reunite with their family members, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said.

An addition of 10 Thai and one Filipino citizens have also arrived at the Rafah crossing after being released from Gaza, Egypt's Al Qahera News TV reported.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian source told Xinhua that the release of non-Israeli nationals was not part of the truce deal, adding that they were released without any conditions.

Released Palestinian prisoners are seen inside a bus in the town of Beitunia close to the West Bank city of Ramallah, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

The truce, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, took effect this morning at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). As part of the deal, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday night from its Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah after receiving the hostages.

The Palestinian prisoners, including 24 women and 15 children, were transferred to the West Bank and East Jerusalem by vehicles belonging to the Red Cross.

According to the cease-fire swap, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly children and women, in exchange for 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

A truck with humanitarian aid enters the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing, on Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, the cease-fire has enabled the delivery of more aid supplies to Gaza. According to a spokesman for the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, 150 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered Gaza, including four carrying cooking gas and three carrying fuel.

In addition, Palestinian ambulances have crossed the Rafah crossing to the Egyptian side to transport the wounded and the sick for treatment abroad. Palestinians stranded in Egypt also began returning to Gaza.

On the other hand, when the cease-fire took effect early Friday, Palestinians across the Gaza Strip rushed to the streets to inspect their houses, check on their relatives, and try to recover and bury the dead.

Rescue workers and civil defense units have been deployed to retrieve the dead bodies from under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

However, even with a brief respite from the bombardment, Israeli forces on the ground fired bullets at the outskirts of the southern Gaza Strip and the main road leading to Gaza City and its north, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

At least two Palestinians were killed and others wounded while trying to return to their homes, which were not allowed by the Israeli army, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

"The dead and wounded people were transferred to the al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah city," the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement.

People are seen on a street after the first temporary humanitarian truce taking effect in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Nov. 24, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that a number of displaced people from Beit Lahia, a city in northern Gaza, returned to their homes only to find them being completely destroyed.

Palestinian authorities called for the displaced to return to their homes in the northern strip, while Israel had warned that it would prohibit them from moving northward during the truce.

The Israeli forces stationed at a checkpoint separating northern and southern Gaza for weeks have placed additional cement barriers to prevent the movement of civilians from south to north in the enclave, said eyewitnesses.

Israeli forces invaded Gaza weeks ago and ordered residents of northern Gaza to move southward. The Israeli military now occupies much of the northern half of the strip and displaces some 1.7 million of 2.3 million Gazans.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will attend the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Busan, ROK on Nov. 26, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Saturday.
North Korea state media said leader Kim Jong Un (R) is already reviewing spy satellite images of military bases in the South (STR)

North Korean state media said Saturday that leader Kim Jong Un has reviewed images taken by his country's new spy satellite of "major target regions" including the US military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and sites across South Korea.

Pyongyang successfully put a military spy satellite into orbit earlier this week, but South Korea said it was too early to determine if the satellite was functioning as the North claims.

Experts have said putting a working reconnaissance satellite into orbit would improve North Korea's intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly over South Korea, and provide crucial data in any military conflict.

Pyongyang previously claimed, within hours of the Tuesday launch, that Kim was shown photos of US military bases in Guam taken by the satellite, named "Malligyong-1".

On Saturday, the North claimed Kim inspected images taken as the satellite passed over Hawaii at around 5 am, including those of "a naval base in the Pearl Harbor, the Hickam air-force base in Honolulu," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim also reviewed the satellite's images of the South Korean port city of Busan, which Pyongyang said were taken at around 10 am on Saturday.

The photos included ones of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, Pyongyang claimed.

Carl Vinson had arrived at the Busan Naval Base on Tuesday, according to Seoul's military.

In an earlier report on Saturday, KCNA said Kim had the day before reviewed the satellite's images of "major target regions" in the South, including its capital and cities hosting US military bases.

The Friday images also included some areas of North Korea, it added.

Among the South Korean cities mentioned, Pyeongtaek -- around 60 kilometres from Seoul -- hosts Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas US military installation in the world.

Pyeongtaek is also home to the Osan Air Base, which houses Seoul's Air Force Operations Command as well as a US Air Force base.

The North's satellite launch has since prompted the two Koreas to suspend -- the South only partially -- a five-year-old military accord established to de-escalate tensions on the peninsula.

Separately, the top diplomats of South Korea, Japan and the United States on Friday "strongly condemned the launch for its destabilizing effect on the region" after a joint phone call, the US State Department said in a statement.

The launch "used ballistic missile technology in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," it said.

Seoul's spy agency has said that Pyongyang, after two failed attempts to put a satellite in orbit earlier this year, received help from Moscow for this week's successful launch.

North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration would continue "additional fine-tuning" of the spy satellite's functions on Saturday, KCNA said.

cdl/cwl
North Korea claims its leader Kim Jong-un has reviewed photos of US military bases in Hawaii and Seoul that were taken by his new spy satellite.

The nuclear-armed nation successfully launched the satellite in orbit on Tuesday, although South Korean defence officials and analysts are yet to independently verify its capabilities.

South Koreas defence minister had earlier said the Norths claims of seeing US military installations through the satellite were exaggerated.

Mr Kim inspected photos reportedly taken by the spy satellite on Friday and Saturday of major target regions, said state-run KCNA.

Among the most significant target regions supposedly seen by Mr Kim were the US Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

The satellite also captured images of several cities in South Korea, including capital Seoul, Mokpo, Kunsan, Pyeongtaek and Osan, KCNA reported. All the cities house US and South Korean military bases.

One photo also showed US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which arrived at a port in Busan on Tuesday.

Photos of Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu and Gangneung cities were also seen by Mr Kim during his Friday and Saturday visits to Pyongyangs National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA).

Kim Jong-un celebrates spy satellite launch with daughter (AP)

The NATA reported to Kim Jong-un on the plan for photographing the region of South Korean puppets and the additional fine-tuning process of the reconnaissance satellite, KCNA said.

In a separate commentary carried by the state-run mouthpiece on Saturday, North Korea criticised the US for providing advanced weapons to its puppets, saying even a small spark on the Korean peninsula could result in a global nuclear war.

The United States had better ponder over the catastrophic consequences entailed by the arms offer to the puppet forces, it said.

Top diplomats of Japan, South Korea and the US on Friday strongly condemned the launch for its destabilising effect on the region.

Earlier this week, KCNA said Mr Kim viewed images taken above the US Pacific territory of Guam of US military installations.

On Thursday, South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea had exaggerated its claims by saying Mr Kim had viewed images of Guam before.

Even if it enters normal orbit, it takes a considerable time to carry out normal reconnaissance, Yonhap quoted him as saying at the time.

Additional reporting by agencies
Cancer may not be life-ending, but it usually is life-changing. A cancer diagnosis instantaneously turns life upside down for patients and families. Cancer care is a high-emotion service, and the care team must not only effectively treat the disease but also address patients intense emotions.

While accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are paramount, simple acts of kindness can be a potent antidote to negative emotions and may improve outcomes for those experiencing the frightening journey called cancer. A growing body of evidence reviewed at Stanford University shows that kind medical care can lead to faster wound healing, reduced pain, anxiety and blood pressure, and shorter hospital stays.

I have long studied how to improve service in health care. My current work focuses on cancer care and includes field research at 10 innovative U.S. cancer centers and interviews with approximately 400 cancer patients, family members, oncology clinicians and staff. Cancer care is about more than the science, which has led to important advances in treatment. High-touch needs to complement high-tech. In a recent paper, co-authors and I explore how six types of kindness can improve cancer care.

Do we really need to remind caregivers about the importance of kindness in serving seriously ill patients? Unfortunately, yes, as the stressors of modern medicine often interfere with good intentions. Lets take a quick look at the six types.

Deep listening

Listening intently to patients and families, with minimal interruption, conveys respect for their self-knowledge. It also builds trust. It enables the physician to act as a trusted guide who provides relevant medical expertise and translates it into a care plan consistent with patients values and priorities. The stakes are too high for the clinical team to be uninformed about a patients fears, practical concerns, home support system and personal priorities.

Genuine patient-centered care involves not only determining whats the matter with the patient but also what matters to the patient. As a hospice nurse stated during my field research, We cannot be afraid of the deep conversations with patients to find out whats important to them, which you are not going to get by asking, How are you feeling today?

Simple, open-ended questions can invite patients and families to share pertinent information. Intensive care unit nurses at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston begin their shifts by asking patients, Whats the most important thing we can do for you today?

Empathy

Nursing scholar Theresa Wiseman identifies four essential attributes of empathy: seeing the world from anothers perspective, avoiding judgment when assessing a situation, recognizing the emotion present, and responding to that emotion in a genuinely caring way.

One parent whose child was treated at Australias Peter MacCallum Radiation Center recounted, My son had general anesthesia for radiation therapy. Because he was anxious about this procedure, the team allowed him to sit on me during anesthesia. When he woke up, he got upset about lacking a shirt. Now the team puts his shirt back on before he wakes  To me, these small acts were the ultimate kindness, reducing his anxiety and distress and, therefore, my own.

Empathy represents an anticipatory kindness based on a caring assessment of the patients situation and likely stressors. At Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, oncology fellows are trained in empathetic communication by improvisational actors who role play as patients and family members.

Generous acts

Kindness often manifests as generous acts. In my study, I asked patients, Can you think of the best, most meaningful service experience you had as a cancer patient? Many responses reflected the kindness embedded in generous acts. A bladder cancer patient who had undergone surgery praised a nurse who taught him the best way to get out of bed at home. Patients at Marin Cancer Care mentioned the foot massages they were offered during chemotherapy. A surgeon commented on a patient who swears my two-minute hug saved her life.

Generous acts also build employee pride and can offer a renewing buffer to the emotional fatigue and stress that commonly accompany caring for seriously ill patients.

Timely care

Undue waiting  for an appointment, the start of treatment or a consequential test result  can be excruciating for a cancer patient. An institutional commitment to being on time is kind even though delays are sometimes inevitable. As a cancer center administrator commented: Every cancer center has a wait-time challenge; however, we can do much better on what we control, such as running our lab on time. Everyone must go through the lab. If the lab runs late, the whole thing goes late.

Cancer centers can redesign their systems to deliver a bundle of getting started services to newly diagnosed patients within 10 days, establish a multidisciplinary clinic day when new patients meet each care team member to discuss the treatment plan, and open an urgent cancer care clinic to provide off-hours emergency service. Telemedicine and other technology-driven services also can minimize delays when time is of the essence.

Gentle honesty

Cancer is a high-potency word, a word without any positive associations, states a cancer patient. Asking patients how much they want to know about their illness is informative and kind. Most patients want to hear the truth in honest, well-chosen words that convey a sense of partnership and that guide them through difficult decisions.

An oncologist commented, Far too often, patients and doctors are too optimistic. Realism is needed so that patients and their doctors can make good decisions. A nurse practitioner said, A doctor may say, We can continue treatment or we can just do supportive care. We have to take the word just out of that sentence.

Leonard Berry, left, and Dr. Jonathan Leighton, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, in Arizona, while Berry was working on a study there. Leonard Berry/Author, CC BY-SA

Oncologists face complex personal pressures to give patients every chance to live, and they face external ones  from patients or family members who do not want to give up.

Although patients initially hope for cure or remission  focused hope  clinicians can guide them to intrinsic hope when the disease is advanced and cure or remission is improbable. Intrinsic hope involves living in the moment for a good day of positive reflection, a grandchild or a dog on ones lap, and well-managed pain.

Support for family caregivers

Cancer patients commonly depend on family members for assistance with medical care, daily needs and emotional support. Family caregivers themselves require training, timely assistance and emotional care to perform their role and to maintain their own health. Research shows the benefits of preparing, empowering and assisting a patients family to effectively care for a loved one.

The personal stories of patients, families and clinicians illustrate the impact of kindness in cancer care. Six overlapping manifestations of genuine kindness offer a powerful, practical way for clinicians to temper the emotional turmoil involved with a cancer diagnosis.

A patient is a person first. Caring for human needs as well as medical needs through kind acts is good medicine.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Leonard L. Berry, Texas A&M University.

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Leonard L. Berry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
About two dozen hostages were released by Hamas in Gaza on Friday, the first wave of what is expected to be 50 released by the terrorist organization as part of a four-day cease-fire in the war with Israel in Gaza.

On the other side of the deal Friday, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners  mostly women and teenagers.

Heres what we know about the first group of hostages released by Hamas:

The group included Israelis, Thais and a Filipino

The first group of released hostages was headlined by 13 Israelis but also included 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino, according to a spokesman of the Qatar Foreign Ministry, which helped negotiate the deal that led to their release.

The exact figures are not entirely clear, as Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said 12 Thai nationals had been released.

I sincerely hope there will be more hostages released soon including the innocent Thais waiting to return home, Thailands foreign minister wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Release reunites families, children

The group of Israelis consisted of women and children. All but one were abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz on the Israel-Gaza border, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

The freed hostages were handed by Hamas to the Red Cross before being flown by military helicopters to hospitals in Tel Aviv.

They all underwent an initial medical assessment at the Kerem Shalom crossing, and their lives are not at risk, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

President Biden said each of the four children  ages 2, 4, 5, and 9  were gifted a teddy bear at the hospital.

All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them, Biden said at a press conference Friday.

The group also includes six women over the age of 70, the oldest being 85. Three other women were released alongside their children, in addition to a 54-year-old school teacher.

Palestinians released in exchange

As part of a multi-stage deal negotiated between the U.S., Qatar, Israel and Hamas, Israel also agreed to release about 150 Palestinian prisoners  women and teenagers  from prisons to the West Bank.

The first 39 of those prisoners were released to the West Bank late Friday. Al Jazeera published a list of their names.

Israels Justice Ministry has reportedly provided a list of 300 prisoners it is considering for release under the deal.

Status of Americans unknown

In his Friday press conference, Biden added that he was uncertain about the health status of the approximately 10 Americans taken hostage by Hamas. They were not among the first group of released hostages.

We dont know when that will occur, but we expect it to occur, Biden said of the release of American hostages.

The president also said he is hopeful that the four-day truce will be extended and more hostages will be released.

Thats our goal, he said of an extension to the deal.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
What we know about respiratory illness outbreak overwhelming Chinas hospitals

Chinas hospitals have been flooded with cases of respiratory illnesses and sick children complaining of pneumonia-like symptoms, leading to increased scrutiny from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

A Beijing childrens hospital told state media CCTV that at least 7,000 patients were being admitted daily to the institution, far exceeding its capacity.

Last week, the largest paediatric hospital in nearby Tianjin reportedly received more than 13,000 children at its outpatient and emergency departments.

Liaoning province, about 690km northeast of the capital, is also grappling with high case numbers.

The increasing number of cases prompted the WHO on Wednesday to issue a formal request for disease data on the respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children.

It is rare for the UN health agency to publicly seek more detailed information from countries, as such requests are typically made internally. The agencys China office said this was a routine request.

Chinese health authorities later said they found no unusual or novel diseases.

They said the rising infections are a mix of already known viruses and are linked to the countrys first full cold season after strict Covid restrictions were lifted last December.

The lifting of the curbs, along with the circulation of known pathogens like mycoplasma pneumoniae, may have contributed to increasing cases of such illnesses, suggested the authorities.

The WHO also said on Wednesday that any link between clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia and a rise in respiratory infections is unclear as of now.

What has happened so far?

Northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illnesses since mid-October, compared to the same period in the previous three years, according to the WHO.

On 21 November, public disease surveillance system ProMED had issued a notification about reports of undiagnosed pneumonia. ProMED, that is run by health experts, had earlier in 2019 raised the alarm over the virus that causes Covid.

With the outbreak of pneumonia in China, childrens hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning and other places were overwhelmed with sick children, and schools and classes were on the verge of suspension, ProMED said while citing a report by FTV News.

It is not at all clear when this outbreak started as it would be unusual for so many children to be affected so quickly.

This report suggests a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness in several areas in China as Beijing and Liaoning are almost 800 km apart.

The report does not say that any adults were affected suggesting some exposure at the schools.

Some parents in Shanghai on Friday said they were not overly concerned about the wave of sickness.

Colds happen all over the world, said Emily Wu outside a childrens hospital. I hope that people will not be biased because of the pandemic... but look at this from a scientific perspective.

What are the symptoms?

According to Chinese health authorities, the outbreak could be linked to mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as walking pneumonia, a common bacterial infection typically affecting children that has been circulating since May.

Symptoms of walking pneumonia include a sore throat, fatigue and a lingering cough that can last for weeks or months. In severe cases, this can eventually deteriorate into pneumonia.

A Beijing citizen, identified only as Wei, told FTV News that infected children dont cough and have no symptoms. They just have a high temperature (fever) and many develop pulmonary nodules.

How infectious is the disease?

Bruce Thompson, head of the Melbourne School of Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, told Reuters very preliminary data suggested there was nothing out of the ordinary.

At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it may be a new variant of Covid, he said.

One thing to note is that we can be reassured that the surveillance processes are working, which is a very good thing.

The WHO suggested people in China get vaccinated, isolate if they are feeling ill, wear masks if necessary and get medical care as needed.

While WHO seeks this additional information, we recommend that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, the agency said.

What are scientists saying?

Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist who advised the WHO on Covid, said there needs to be more information, particularly diagnostic information.

We have to be careful.

The challenge is to discern the outbreaks and determine the cause, said David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

He pointed out that there was a likely background of seasonal respiratory infections.

I am not going to push the pandemic panic button on the basis of what we know so far, but I will be very keen to see the response to WHO from China and see the WHOs assessment following that, said Brian McCloskey, a public health expert who also advised the WHO on the pandemic.

What we are seeing is WHOs International Health Regulations system in action, he said, referring to the rules governing how countries work with the WHO on potential outbreaks.

Virologist Tom Peacock from Imperial College London said it was unlikely the increasing infections happened under the radar as there are tools now to pretty rapidly pick up emerging influenza or coronaviruses.

(I) suspect it may end up being something more mundane or a combination of things  say Covid, flu, RSV [respiratory syncytial virus]  but hopefully well know more soon, he said.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  For years the Nashville Zoo has had Koi fish swimming among the ponds that weave throughout Bamboo Trail. In fact, you could see them from above when you crossed the many bridges along the trail.

Now, theres a whole new way to view them up close at the new koi pond at the entrance of the Jungle Gym and Thisbe & Noahs Promise Park.

WKRN

The people that wanted the pond, the idea was that they wanted this to be accessible for people that are in motorized vehicles, children with special needs, explained J.G. Auman, Nashville Zoo Life Supports Systems Manager. Because a lot of those kids cant actually see into a Koi pond, and so the idea is that they can get right up close to this, and they can look and see the fish without having to look down in.

Three Sumatran tiger cubs born at Nashville Zoo

It all brings a little taste of Japan to the Nashville Zoo, and they had an expert put together the exhibit and handpicked the fish on display.

WKRN

WKRN

We have a guy that weve been working with for several years. His name is Jack Green, Auman said. He actually goes to Japan and hand-selects fish. He literally goes over there and selects through hundreds, if not thousands of fish, and hand-selects the ones that hes specifically looking for.

There were a couple of these fish we really requested  these red and black ones. Theyre not easy to get. We really like them, so he hand-selected the red and black ones for us specifically so that he knew what would look good in this pond, and he also matched the different colors so we had a good blend of fish in here, Auman further explained.

WKRN

With the cooler temps upon us, the fish have to be kept warm in the winter, but also cool in the summer.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

These fish cant go below freezing, and they cant tolerate temperatures in the water over about 80 to 85 degrees, Auman explained. So, we have to actually have giant heaters and giant chillers on this to maintain the water.

So, in the dead of winter, or the heat of summer, these Japanese Koi are here for all to enjoy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Jung Yoo-jung stabbed a stranger over 100 times, then dismembered and dumped the victim's body. Samantha Laurey/AFP via Getty Images

A true crime fanatic who murdered a stranger in South Korea was sentenced to life in prison.

Jung Yoo-jung, 23, reportedly stabbed a 26-year-old over 100 times in the victim's home in Busan.

Prosecutors had requested that Jung receive the death penalty.

Jung Yoo-jung, a true crime-obsessed woman in South Korea who killed a stranger "out of curiosity" has been given a life sentence, multiple local news outlets reported.

Jung, 23, spent months researching murder through true crime shows, books, and on the internet. She "became obsessed with murder from TV programs and books," a police spokesperson said.

In May, Jung found her victim, a stranger, on an online tutoring app after contacting over 50 potential targets and asking if they held lessons in their homes. She posed as the mother of a high school student who needed tutoring, showed up at the tutor's home dressed in a school uniform, and stabbed the victim  a 26-year-old woman  over 100 times, continuing even after she was already dead, BBC reported.

She then dismembered the victim's body, packed parts of it into a suitcase, and changed into the victim's clothes, police told Korea JoongAng Daily, the English edition of a major South Korean newspaper.

Jung then took a taxi ride with the suitcase and dumped it in a wooded area by a river, leaving other parts of the body in her own home. Police were tipped off by the taxi driver who drove her to the area where she dumped the body.

Jung eventually confessed after changing her story several times throughout the investigation: She initially denied the accusations, then said she had only moved the body, and later said she had killed the victim during an argument, Korea JoongAng Daily and BBC reported.

While prosecutors had requested the death penalty, Jung had pleaded for a more lenient sentence, claiming that she was suffering from hallucinations and other mental issues, according to the BBC.

"The crime was carefully planned and carried out and the defendant's statements have frequently changed. Thus it is difficult to accept her claim of mental and physical disorder," the court said.

Read the original article on Insider
Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky, who recently separated, came together to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family and close friends.

On Nov. 23, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star uploaded a video to her Instagram story of three German shepherds wandering around her home. As she filmed, Umansky, whom she has been married to for 27 years, was seen in the background. He was behind a wet bar conversing with a friend.

Umansky also shared clips from their Thanksgiving celebration on his Instagram story. In his first post, the Dancing With the Stars Season 32 contestant said that his family planned to host possibly up to 20 people and he wished his fans a happy Thanksgiving. He donned an apron in another video as he showed off their feast.

Kyle Richards and husband Mauricio Umansky share videos on social media Nov. 23 of them spending Thanksgiving together amidst their separation. (@mumansky18 via Instagram)

OK, the turkey has been cut and it has been cooked, he said before panning the camera to reveal Richards was also in the kitchen. She appeared to be adjusting the temperatures of three chafing dishes. He asked her to lift up the turkey tray and show the food to the camera.

Ooh! Whoa! he said as she revealed the turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and more side dishes.

Umansky then panned the camera back to himself to show off some freshly baked cookies, an extra turkey and cranberry sauce.

We are good! he said as the clip ended.

Richards and Umanskys interactions and relationship have been under scrutiny ever since reports emerged over the summer that their marriage was on the rocks.

In response to the rumors, the couple released a joint statement on Instagram in July confirming that they were not getting a divorce. Any claims regarding us divorcing are untrue, they said at the time. However, yes, we have had a rough year. The most challenging one of our marriage.

They told fans that they still loved and respected each other and that there was no wrongdoing on anyones part.

Their relationship continued to make headlines as Umansky competed on Season 32 of Dancing With the Stars. During an interview with People in October on the set of the reality show, Umansky said that he was separated from his wife.

Weve been married for 27 years. Were having a bit of a rough patch, he shared. My message is that sometimes life throws you, you know, different things in life. And youve got to figure it out. Youve got to work through it.

He added, She and I are currently separated, but we are not throwing in the towel. And were not just saying that to say that. We actually have not yet (thrown) in the towel.

Umansky noted that it is difficult to work through private marital struggles when the relationship is being debated in the public eye. But, he said they would keep fans updated about changes in their relationship.

Earlier this month, Richards also addressed their marriage during a panel at BravoCon 2023. She denied speculation that their problems, currently a major storyline on Season 13 of RHOBH, are fabricated to boost TV ratings.

Im like, first of all what human being would do that to their family? she asked. This is not a made-up situation for ratings. Its a very real situation, it was really difficult and very painful. And trying to navigate it with not only the cameras, but the outside world  its very, very difficult.

During another panel on Nov. 5, Richards became emotional while opening up about her problems with her husband.

We love each other very much, and we are family no matter what happens and we have a really strong family unit, she told the crowd as she started to cry. Were just trying to figure it out. We know we love each other.

She added, This is not my fairy tale clearly. I do appreciate all of your support.

A day later, she reiterated that the pair are not getting a divorce after she accidentally used the word during an interview on the red carpet at BravoCon.

I misspoke on the (red) carpet today, she clarified on a special episode of Watch What Happens Live recorded at the fan event.

Two times I had to correct someone when they said divorce. I said separated. And then I went and said it, and then it went everywhere. So, that was my bad, she said.

Richards referred to their marriage as a success and said the two still have a love story.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Labour has suffered a surprise by-election loss in east London after a local backlash against the partys stance on the conflict in Gaza.

Sir Keir Starmers party lost the Plaistow North ward on Newham council to a former Labour councillor who quit the party in protest at his refusal to demand a ceasefire.

Running as an independent, Sophia Naqvi secured 1,266 votes - 46 per cent of the votes cast.

Labours candidate, Aktharul Alam, received 750 votes (27 per cent).

According to the Evening Standard, Ms Naqvi said that an LBC interview last month in which Sir Keir suggested Israel had a right to withhold water and energy from the people of Gaza was the final straw which persuaded her to quit.

Disgraceful comments were the final straw

A few weeks ago, I was still a Labour Party member desperately trying to get our mayor and councillors to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, she said.

The Labour leaders disgraceful comments to LBC were for me the final straw like many others I left the Labour Party and as a result was persuaded by Newham Independents to be their candidate in the Plaistow by-election.

However, Ms Naqvi also said she had fought a campaign on local issues in the Labour-run borough.

People are fed up of record council tax bills, crumbling infrastructure and the filthy state of our streets, she said.

Half of UK Muslims unhappy with Starmer

While Newham retains a large Labour majority, Ms Naqvis victory follows another councillor, Zuber Gulamussen, also quitting Labour to become an independent because of the partys Gaza policy.

Earlier this month, The Telegraph reported polling findings showing that nearly half of UK Muslims were unhappy with Sir Keirs stance on the Middle Eastern conflict.

However, the survey by Savanta still found that 58 per cent of Muslims responding to the poll were planning to vote Labour at the next election, compared to 17 per cent who picked the Conservatives and 8 per cent who preferred the Liberal Democrats.



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A vehicle fire has disrupted traffic for southbound travelers on Interstate 5 near Kent Friday night, according to WSDOT cameras.

Police blocked a lane of traffic, by 5:42 p.m. firefighters had arrived at the scene.

Travelers are asked to avoid the area as crews work the fire.

On I-5 southbound just north of 272nd St there is a disabled vehicle blocking the right lane.  WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) November 25, 2023




The number of people injured in Russia's Nov. 25 attack on Ukraine, which predominantly targeted Kyiv and was the largest drone attack on the capital since the start of the full-scale war, has risen to five people, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported.

This number includes an 11-year-old child.

According to Klitschko, all of those injured in the attack received medical attention and did not require hospitalization.

Ukraine shot down 71 of the 75 drones launched by Russia in yet another massive Russian attack against Ukraine on the morning of Nov. 25, the Air Force reported. The Russian attack was focused predominantly on Kyiv.

The drone debris fell in five of the city's districts, causing a fire in the kindergarten. The blast waves shattered windows in neighboring residential buildings.

First responders reportedly rescued two women trapped in a five-story building after the drone debris hit it, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration reported several houses were damaged in the region following the attack.

Neither strikes against the critical infrastructure nor casualties were reported in the Kyiv Oblast.

Emergency services are working on the impact sites.

Read also: Russia launches record number of drones against Ukraine on Holodomor Memorial Day

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A drone attack on the night of 24-25 November became the largest in the city of Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, as an air-raid warning was in effect for over six hours and five people were injured.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration; Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv

Details: The Kyiv CityCouncil said five people were injured, including an 11-year-old child, as a result of the Russian attack on the capital. All of them received medical help at the scene or in accident and emergency units, without further hospitalisation.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that air defence assets and personnel hit almost 50 air targets, but the Air Force has not yet confirmed this information.

Early reports indicate that as a result of debris falling the following was recorded:

In Solomianskyi District, two people were injured as a result of falling debris and both of them had an acute stress reaction, without hospitalisation. In addition, there was damage to the first floor of a five-storey building, with windows from the ground floor to the fifth floor broken. Two women were trapped under the rubble. A fire broke out at a kindergarten and in a non-residential building with an area of 100 square metres.

In Dniprovskyi District, debris fell on the upper floors of a high-rise building, causing smoke.

In Holosiivskyi District, debris fell on a green area, with no casualties.

Debris also fell on open space in Pecherskyi District. Preliminary reports indicate there were no further effects.

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Six people, who authorities say were members of a nationwide crime syndicate, have all been convicted in a scheme to fraudulently withdraw money from banks in Northern Kentucky.

John Sapienza, 60, and Tyshawn Wilson, 29, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Covington to aiding and abetting attempted bank fraud and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, court records show.

The pair are now the last awaiting sentencing among the six members of the Felony Lane Gang arrested by Fort Thomas police in January on charges related to theft, fraud and participating in organized crime.

The other four members were convicted earlier this year of attempted theft charges in Campbell County Circuit Court and sentenced to jail time. Those men are Welbyn Reyes, 28, Justin Huerfano, 24, Ahmed Evans, 30, and Daniel Cruz, 26.

Police trace Felony Lane Gang back to New York City

Most of the group hails from the Bronx borough of New York City. Cruz is from New Jersey and Huerfano is from Georgia.

They were all part of a multi-state crime spree that spanned from New York to Kentucky, during which thousands of dollars were stolen from unsuspecting victims bank accounts, prosecutors said in court filings.

Police apprehended the men outside the WesBanco branch in Fort Thomas after Sapienza tried and failed to use a counterfeit drivers license to withdraw money from a customers account. He had just come from the banks branch in Newport, where another teller denied an attempted withdrawal.

During the arrest, authorities recovered more than $25,000 in cash, withdrawal slips and receipts from victims in other states, as well as forged IDs and bank cards.

The men were traveling in two rented vehicles, which investigators traced back to New York, prosecutors said. Using the vehicles GPS data, investigators learned they traveled through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia before entering Kentucky.

Sapienza and Wilson are facing a maximum possible prison sentence of 32 years, court records show. They are both scheduled to be sentenced on March 26.

What is the Felony Lane Gang?

This was not the first time police suspected the gang of committing crimes in Fort Thomas. In 2018, police connected two different crimes to the gang.

Operating since at least 2012, the Felony Lane Gang has been implicated in thefts across the country.

Travis Russ, believed at the time to be the leader of the group based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison in 2014. But the thefts continued.

Just last month, Springboro police said two people believed to be part of the gang were arrested following a police pursuit that ended in a crash.

In 2016, six men were indicted on 384 felony charges in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Police said those men were also part of the gang.

"Decentralized crews often operate independently," the FBI states. "The group utilizes rental vehicles with heavily tinted windows to conduct surveillance in parking lots and steal identification documents (IDs), credit cards and checkbooks from unattended vehicles."

The FBI said the group's victims are almost always female. Gyms, daycare facilities and recreation areas are common targets, officials say, as the group focuses on places where women are more likely to leave their purses in their vehicles.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Felony Lane Gang: Six members convicted in NKY bank fraud scheme
Amidst the unprecedented kamikaze drone assault by Russia on Kyiv on the night of Nov. 25, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, currently visiting Kyiv, took refuge in a bunker, capturing the moment with a photo shared at X (Twitter) with the caption, 25.11. 05:10, in Kyiv.

Read also: UA repels 71 of 75 attack drones  mostly over Kyiv  in Russias largest drone attack of the war

Rinkevics arrived in Ukraine for an unannounced visit on Nov. 24 and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Lithuanian PM Ingrida Simonyte also visited the capital for a few days.

In the night, Russia launched 75 combat drones over Ukraine, with 74 of them being successfully intercepted by air defense forces. Moving in large groups towards Kyiv, they targeted and destroyed over 60 objectives in the capital and its outskirts.

Read also: 5 injured, 61,000 left without power after Russias massive overnight drone attack on Ukraine

Debris fell in several areas of the city, causing damage to residential buildings and a kindergarten. In total, five people were injured, including an 11-year-old child.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who is currently visiting Ukraine, stayed in a shelter on the night of 24-25 November as Kyiv was subjected to a massive Russian drone attack.

Source: Rinkevics on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "25 November, 05:10, Kyiv," Rinkevics captioned the photo.

25.11.plkst. 5.10, Kijiva



Foto: Ilmars Znotins pic.twitter.com/56vsUsMJvz  Edgars Rinkevics (@edgarsrinkevics) November 25, 2023

Background:

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics arrived in Ukraine on a surprise visit on 24 November.

Rinkevics said he had visited several facilities in Chernihiv Oblast that have been rebuilt with the help of Latvian funds, as well as meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussing bilateral relations and support from the EU and NATO.

At a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rinkevics expressed confidence that despite the opposition of individual member states, the European Union will eventually make decisions that are all positive for Ukraine.

Earlier, Rinkevics said that EU and NATO countries must increase their defence industry capacities in order to produce the amount of weapons needed for themselves and for Ukraine.

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It's a "betrayal". It's a "slap in the face". The numbers are "shockingly high" and it's simply "unsustainable".

Politicians all seem very cross about the numbers of people from around the world making the UK their home. And they nearly all seem to agree that old chestnut, that "something must be done".

Just wait until they look in the mirror and realise who came up with the new immigration system under which the levels have risen so much (and witness the former prime minister, Boris Johnson, raging in his newspaper column at the folly of the system that he himself introduced).

But the outrage in the last few days, real or not, is no substitute for answers to a set of questions that politicians must confront if they really want change - and many of them are difficult to answer.

Is immigration too high? With net migration adding the equivalent of the population of Glasgow or Leeds to the country each year, it's not politically fashionable to say that it shows the UK is an attractive destination, and the more the merrier. The stock answer for most politicians is yes, it's too high. We have a broad consensus - so far, so easy.

But this conversation gets tricky, fast. If the level is wrong, what is the right one? The Tories have bad memories of setting a limit and then failing over, and over, and over again to hit it. It was our now Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron who, in 2010 as prime minister, promised to get net immigration under 100,000. Back then it was around a quarter of a million, which seemed sky high, it's more than double that now.

There were plenty of people inside what was then David Cameron's party who argued the vow was crass because we were in the European Union, without the powers to limit the number of EU citizens who moved to the UK. The target was impossible to guarantee. But the political appeal was clear, so he ploughed on - and failed.

Then under Theresa May, there were plenty of Cabinet ministers who believed the promised cap should be junked, even when we were tortuously out of the EU and could manage the numbers ourselves. Her view, however, was that the target should stay - after all, what message would it send if she ditched it? She failed too.

Fast forward to 2023 and the argument for a cap is back, being pushed by the former home secretary, Suella Braverman, among others. But there doesn't seem much appetite to pick a number either inside No 10 or at the top of the Labour Party, who would be giving themselves a potential test that would be hard to pass if they won power.

Graph show migration adds 672,000 to UK population

If they won't say how high, will they say who?

This is where it gets emotive. First, understand the irony: we left the EU on a promise that immigration would get under control because the UK could say exactly who got their passport stamped at our borders. No longer would people from any of 23 European countries be able to arrive and set up home without limit - for good or ill. But since we left, the numbers of people from outside the EU has gone up and up and up.

It's fascinating to crunch those numbers. Nearly a million people from outside the EU came to live in the UK last year (the overall net migration number is lower because that's the difference between those who arrive and those who depart). There were about a quarter of a million Indians, the next biggest group were Nigerian, then Chinese, Pakistani, then Ukrainian, according to the ONS.

The most common reason was to come to study at our universities and colleges (nearly four in 10), but around a third came to work, with a particularly staggering increase in the numbers coming to work in health and social care. The OBR reported this week the numbers of visas granted in that sector had risen 150% in the last year.

No stomach for choosing

If politicians want fewer people to come to the UK, who do they want to say no to? Who would not welcome Ukrainians after the Russian invasion? Who would argue the UK should turn its back on Hong Kongers? Who wants to say that the world's best and brightest students who come to study in the UK should take their talents elsewhere? Who will tell the public the NHS and social care system can't have the staff it needs? Not many people in Westminster have much stomach for picking and choosing.

But this brings us to the fundamental question - if you turn off the immigration taps who will do the jobs that are filled right now by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world? It is argued that for the government's sums to add up - indeed for the Conservatives to be able to afford the tax cuts they are so eager to offer - the economy needs immigration.

The Migration Advisory Committee, an independent group, was meant to take some of the politics out of this, recommending who could come depending on the gaps in the economy. But trying to take politics out of immigration is like trying to take eggs out of an omelette.

So what decisions could politicians take? The committee itself has already suggested scrapping the list of "shortage occupations" it publishes, which determines the sectors that can bring in extra foreign workers. Labour, and it seems the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, also wants to end the practice where employers can pay immigrants 20% less than the going rate if their jobs are on the list.

Labour has cited examples such as civil engineers, for whom the official government "going rate" is 34,000 a year, but can instead be recruited from abroad at just 28,000 a year - a tasty incentive for employers to hire from abroad rather than spend the cash training up less experienced staff at home.

Ministers are cutting the number of family members some migrants can bring to the UK when they move. Some Conservatives argue for a cap on the number of social care workers who can come in. Labour argues for a crackdown on exploitation in that industry.

When it comes to the huge numbers of students coming in, some Tories reckon it's time to cut way back, arguing the need to cut immigration should come ahead of the balance sheets of our higher education institutions.

Conservative calls for extra steps are more like screams now. Perhaps the measures they come up with will start to make a difference - but they may seem like nips and tucks in the face of the sheer numbers.

There are plenty of politicians in both parties who'd agree privately that the only way to make a big change in the migration numbers is a massive effort to get the UK workforce into shape.

That is not an overnight fix - for the two decades I have covered politics I have heard politicians talk about the need to skill up the workforce, to improve education and training, to invest in British workers.

Risks are obvious

We heard it in Gordon Brown's ill fated "British jobs for British workers", David Cameron's apprenticeship levy, Theresa May's T-levels, Boris Johnson's Lifetime Skills Guarantee, and Rishi Sunak's planned reforms of the benefits system to get people back into work, the list goes on.

Looking at the numbers of workers firms are bringing in from other countries might lead you to conclude those ambitions didn't get very far.

The political risks from inaction are obvious. Not just because of the ructions in the increasingly restless Conservative Party, but because of what has gone before. Vote Leave insiders identify the day the migration figures were published during the EU referendum campaign as the moment they grabbed the momentum. Boris Johnson, who had previously been reluctant to take a harder line on migration, piled in. You don't need me to tell you what happened next.

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Laura Kuenssberg will speak to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott, and Labour's Darren Jones on this week's show

Watch live on the BBC News website, BBC One and iPlayer from 09:00 GMT on Sunday

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The Conservative Party has seen the threat from parties willing to take a brasher line than them - from UKIP and now from Reform UK. Nigel Farage might currently be in the celebrity jungle, but his political arguments have not been banished.

Labour, meanwhile, has learnt painful lessons from failing to take public concern about immigration seriously - just ask Rochdale voter Gillian Duffy about Gordon Brown's infamous "bigoted woman" comment.

The noisy conversation over Channel crossings has been at the forefront of the political imagination for the last year, emblazoned on government lecterns. But that is dwarfed by the numbers of people making the UK their home perfectly legally.

Questions about immigration are not easy for politicians to respond to, and it's daft to suggest they are. But the pressure is on for them to come up with more credible answers. Saying it's too high again and again doesn't make the problem go away. When voters ask the important question of whether they can trust politicians' promises, the answer might be all too clear.

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Lawmakers in North Carolina have promised $2 million in funding for infrastructure designed to lower wildlife-vehicle collisions across the state, according to our partners at WLOS News in Asheville.

Members of the Safe Passage Fund Coalition say the money will be put toward overpasses, underpasses, and fencing along both roads and highways to keep drivers and wildlife safe.

ALSO READ: Report: Drivers are hitting more animals on North Carolina roads

We are so grateful that the North Carolina General Assembly has prioritized funding to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on Interstate 40 near the Smokies in Haywood County, Southern Appalachian Director of the National Parks Conservation Association, Jeff Hunter, told WLOS. This is a win-win for wildlife and the motoring public.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will be able to talk about three of the 13 Interstate 40 projects by the Safe Passage Fund Coalition.

WLOS reports the NCDOT plans to use a large portion of the funding for more wildlife fencing, and the planning, and construction of a mitigation project located at Hurricane Creek. The rest of the money will be used to develop two plans for wildlife overpasses, a bridge replacement, and two culvert replacements.

NCDOT is excited to receive this funding and to continue the development and delivery of these important projects for Haywood County and western NC, NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Wanda Payne told WLOS in a statement.

(WATCH BELOW: Residents express concerns after deer found severely injured in south Charlotte neighborhood)








A Texas judge cleared a hurdle for a constitutional class action lawsuit alleging law enforcement in one of the nation's largest counties regularly seize cash and cars from people never convicted of a crime.

"Harris County has one of the most abusive forfeiture programs in the country," said attorney Wesley Hottot of the Institute of Justice, the nonprofit libertarian law firm arguing the case.

"They have police out specifically looking for cash, they have police out specifically looking for cars that can be seized," he added. "And wouldn't you know it, they find cash and they find cars to seize."

CANCER SURVIVOR DEALT NEW BLOW AFTER TEXAS POLICE DESTROYED HER HOUSE, BUT LAWYERS SAY CITY STILL HAS TO PAY

The lawsuit stems from a 2019 traffic stop on Interstate 10 near Houston. A deputy pulled over Ameal Woods, allegedly for following a truck too closely. The deputy didn't ticket Woods, but he did take all the cash Woods had in his car.

Woods, a trucker from Mississippi, said he had saved $42,300 to buy a second tractor-trailer and expand his business and was on his way to Houston to look at used trailers and trucks.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Harris County officials, though, alleged the vacuum-sealed bundles of cash could be connected to criminal activity, possibly money laundering or drug trafficking, according to court documents.

The deputy seized Woods' money in a process known as civil asset forfeiture. It's meant to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property that is used in or acquired through illegal activities. But critics have called it "legal theft," arguing police and prosecutors often abuse the practice and treat anyone who carries a large amount of cash as guilty.

Under civil asset forfeiture, the seized cash or other belongings are on trial, not the property owner. So no criminal conviction is required.

FBI TOOK WOMAN'S LIFE SAVINGS, BUT NEW BILL WOULD END 'LAWLESS' SEIZURE OF AMERICANS' PROPERTY

This May, four years after Woods' money was taken, IJ argued in civil court that Harris County should have to return it. But the jury sided with prosecutors, ruling that law enforcement had probable cause to believe the $41,680 was contraband.

Prosecutors celebrated the win and wrote in a press release that Woods had been "paid to transport the money to Houston to purchase illegal narcotics and then transport the drugs back to Mississippi."

"The jury has spoken," prosecutor Angela Beavers said in the release. "Do not come to Houston intending to profit from illegal narcotics trafficking."

The DA's office did not respond to an email Friday seeking comment on the suit and asking whether officials planned to pursue any criminal charges against Woods or the unidentified individual they say paid him to buy drugs. Nor did the Harris County Sheriff's Office respond to questions about their forfeiture practices.

JUDGE BLOCKS AMERICA'S 'MOST EXTREME' GUN CONTROL LAW, BUT BLUE STATE PLANS TO APPEAL

But Woods' fight isn't over. He and his partner Jordan Davis are named plaintiffs in the separate class action lawsuit accusing Harris County of violating the Texas Constitution by seizing property based on "mere suspicion of criminal activity," denying property owners the chance to promptly challenge the seizure, and creating a financial incentive for abuse by allowing police and prosecutors to keep 100% of forfeiture proceeds. In Harris County, the sheriff's office and district attorney both have divisions specifically assigned to asset forfeitures.

The lawsuit could include dozens of other drivers, since, according to IJ's court filings, at least 113 forfeiture petitions filed between June 2016 and June 2021 were "based on a form affidavit written by an officer who was not present at the time and place of seizure."

Harris County officials had asked District Court Judge Robert Schaffer to dismiss the case, arguing the county is immune from the suit. But earlier this month, Schaffer rejected the immunity claim and allowed the constitutional challenge to proceed, according to IJ.

IJ attorneys filed this week to officially link Woods' individual case with the class action.

Hottot scoffed when asked about the DA's statement that "evidence showed" Woods planned to buy and sell drugs.

"They didn't prove that, of course," he said. "They couldn't identify a person that he was going to buy drugs from, they couldn't tell us what drugs, they couldn't tell us what amount or that he'd sold drugs in the past or had done so since."

"It's just this police officer's hunch from one interaction on the side of the road," he added.





Original article source: LEGAL THEFT': Texas class action lawsuit aims to make it harder for police, prosecutors to seize cash
To the editor: I'm glad Raz Segal filled me in on the definition of genocide. I always thought that it is what the murderous, savage terrorist group Hamas wants to do  eradicate not only Israel, but every Jew in the world. Now I am told that genocide is being carried out by Israel, the side that has finally decided to take action to eradicate Hamas, not the Palestinian people.

There is too much misleading information in Segal's piece to fully rebut here, such as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calling Palestinians "human animals," when he was clearly referring to Hamas. In fact, Segal substitutes Palestinians for Hamas throughout his article, thereby humanizing the terror group and excusing their barbaric attack on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7. He claims that no place in Gaza is safe from the Israeli military when, in fact, no Gazan is safe from the depravity of Hamas, which uses them as human shields.

While Segal puts the total blame for the misery in Gaza on Israel's shoulders, no mention is made of expecting Egypt, Jordan or other Arab countries surrounding Israel to open up their doors and give temporary shelter to the beleaguered Gazans.

Pauline Regev, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: Segal, a professor of Holocaust and genocide studies, notes that the number of Gazans who have died in Israels recent military actions is greater than the number of Israelis who were murdered in the Hamas massacres to which Israel is responding. The implication is that Israel is the bad guy since it has killed more people than Hamas.

But body counts do not define who is the aggressor and who is the victim. If they did, it would mean that the Germans were the victims in World War II, the North Koreans were the victims in the Korean War, and the Iraqis were the victims in their war with Kuwait.

Rafael Medoff, Washington

The writer is director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.

..

To the editor: Thanks to The Times for printing Segal's profound and revealing piece on the current situation in Israel and Gaza. The American people and our politicians need to learn from such a credible source the truth about the atrocities being committed in Gaza, and the attitudes in Israel that support them.

We have good coverage of the very real atrocities committed by Hamas, but my tax dollars are not supporting Hamas. That U.S. support is going to an Israeli military that, according to Segal, was producing shirts before Oct. 7 depicting Palestinian women and children as military targets, should be known by every taxpayer and legislator.

That prominent Jewish scholars of the Holocaust are calling out Israel's actions as genocide should be known by everyone.

John La Grange, Solana Beach, Calif.

..

To the editor: Segal says that Israel in 1948 was founded on the principle of Jewish "supremacy."

After nearly 2,000 years of subservience and bigotry, Jews re-established their homeland as a nation where, as stated in Israel's Declaration of Independence, all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender, are free. Israeli Arabs are represented in the government, academia, medicine and all forms of professional and business life.

Despite social and political tensions, Israeli Jews do not have the hierarchical position of a "supreme" class.

Peter Brier, Altadena

..

To the editor: The repellent American Nazi David Duke has accused the Jewish people of enacting "Jewish supremacism" in seeking to oppress, enslave and exploit the non-Jewish population. Segal uses a nearly identical term, "Jewish supremacy," in his denunciation of Israels war of self-defense in Gaza.

Israel is not enacting supremacy or genocide in Gaza, as Segal falsely alleges, but is instead targeting Hamas, a terrorist organization that is every bit as awful as Islamic State.

Furthermore, the first responsibility of any country is to protect its citizens against external attacks. Israel is targeting the terrorists of Hamas who launched the Oct. 7 massacre, not the civilians of Gaza. Civilian casualties in Gaza are the result of the Hamas practice of hiding behind Gaza's civilians while attacking Israeli civilians, a double war crime.

Segals unjust accusations are a form of Holocaust inversion. That tactic has rightly been identified as antisemitic by the Anti-Defamation League. To paraphrase former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, a large part of the world (including people like Segal) doesn't like it when Jews defend themselves.

Daniel H. Trigoboff, Williamsville, N.Y.

..

To the editor: Segal's op-ed article warrants a response defending Israels mission to remove Hamas once and for all.

Calling Israels response to the brutal events of Oct. 7 a genocide is a controversial overreach, and the authors credentials do not mean his position deserves uncritical acceptance. Please find an equally credentialed scholar to defend Israels mission.

Gloria Cowan, Culver City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Reproductive health care a matter of privacy for woman, her doctor

I am never going to have an abortion. My wife has never had an abortion. My daughter who is just starting life as a freshman college student hopefully will never have to have an abortion. But she and my wife might need to have reproductive health care. That would be our business. That would be a discussion between them and their doctor.

Kevin Stitt does not get to decide. Neither do wild-eyed, feverish, right-wing politicians. Churches or evangelicals do not get to intrude. I choose the right to privacy. I don't want to be ruled or governed by any of these powerful entities. I want freedom from oppression and tyranny. The Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church are in danger of creating a new symbol of fascism: the cross. ... It is time to choose: freedom or fascism. It is time for a ballot petition initiative to legalize abortion.

 Rob Brian, Mulhall

Migrants waiting at the U.S. / Mexico border.

Questions to ponder on the border

How many people should enter our country without knowing who they are, where they are going, and what they are up to?

Is our border too open? Can more be done to enforce our border? Should more be done to enforce our border?

 Greg Clift, Anadarko

Expand the Child Tax Credit and establish a Renter's Tax Credit

I am writing to express my concern about the widening wealth gap between the rich and the poor in our state. While Oklahoma ranks 12th in the nation for the number of billionaires per million people, we simultaneously hold the 45th and 42nd positions in terms of millionaire households and average income, respectively which is significantly lower than the national average.

This divide is concerning. First, it means that a small number of people are controlling a large share of the wealth in our state. This can lead to a concentration of power and influence, which can undermine democracy. Second, the divide between the rich and the poor can stifle economic growth. When most of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few people, there is less money to invest in businesses and create jobs. This can lead to a stagnation of the economy and a decline in the living standards for everyone.

I urge your readers to join me in calling upon our elected officials to take immediate action to address this growing divide by advocating for the permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit and establishing a federal Renter's Tax Credit. These measures would provide much-needed financial relief to renters, who are often among the most vulnerable members of our community and would lift children in need out of poverty. Additionally, these credits would stimulate consumer spending, boosting our economy and propelling our state out of the bottom 10.

We must prioritize the well-being of our children and those living in poverty. We cannot allow wealthy corporations and CEOs to cut in line while the gap between the rich and the poor widens relentlessly. I implore Sen. James Lankford, Sen. Markwayne Mullin and Rep. Kevin Hern to champion the expansion of the Child Tax Credit and the establishment of a Renters Tax Credit in Oklahoma.

 Jacoby Gonzales, Tulsa

Sen. Markwayne Mullin

Will quote be endeared in history?

Several memorable quotes may be attributed to politicians: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." "Ask not what your country can do for you  ask what you can do for your country." And now, "I'm not afraid of biting  and I don't care where I bite." Thank you Sen. Markwayne Mullin! You make some Oklahomans very proud!

 Chris Brown, Norman

Oklahoma's in the headlines again and not for the correct reasons

Close on the heels of Senator Markwayne Mullin's childish behavior during the Senate hearing, we have our governor supporting an organization which advocates decriminalizing cockfighting, a despicable, inhumane excuse for a sport.

Oklahoma is being thrust in the headlines for the wrong reasons. We can already depend on another politician, Ryan Walters, to make the news, not often in a favorable way.

 J.A. Robison, Edmond

Awareness of the OKC Thunder can be found in Paris.

Paris encounter influences 'yes' vote

I rarely attend Thunder games. And the critics are correct. The owners' contribution is indeed paltry  about a year's interest on a billion dollars in risk-free treasury bills. But I will be voting "yes" on Dec. 12. Here's why:

A few years ago, my daughters and I were in Paris. Like typical tourists, we were running to catch a Metro train before it pulled away when one of the girls got her foot caught in the car's automatic door. In a panic, I pulled on the handle and a French gentleman helped her up. I thanked him profusely.

We sat and chatted, me using my lousy French. He asked where we were from. When I replied, "Oklahoma City," he said, "Ah, the Thunder." We all smiled and high-fived.

Companies spend heavily to gain brand recognition. How many millions would it take to reach a Paris subway rider? So think of the arena as worldwide advertising of our great city.

 Steve Clark, Oklahoma City

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Letters on women's health, the border, the Thunder, Markwayne Mullin
There is a certain type of commentator  generally with an inexplicable book deal  who delights in telling the British just how much better things are on the Continent. WS Gilbert described them as the idiot who praises in enthusiastic tone, all centuries but this and every country but his own. Though around for centuries, theyve been particularly active since 2016, keen to portray the European landmass as an enlightened haven of liberal values compared to rainy Brexit island.

One such person, writing in the FT shortly before the shocking upset of the Dutch election, confidently predicted it would go the other way. The Dutch dont do wild political leaps. Not like certain countries I could mention. (Ho ho  Brexiteers, this means you). He insists that Far-right parties are on the margins of the Dutch picture. The article notably mentions neither Geert Wilders, nor the concerns about radical Islam that helped propel him to victory.

Of course, all columnists get it catastrophically wrong on occasion (I know I have). Assessing the precise electoral impact of the October 7th massacre and its reverberations in Europe is tricky; but a visceral reminder of political Islamisms threat to liberal values can only have focused Dutch minds and votes. Nevertheless, such myopia seems a feature not a bug of the liberal worldview. Not only is a rightwards shift gathering pace across Europe, the failure of establishment parties, institutions and state bodies to confront the strength of feeling on immigration and its genuine impact on the social order  means that there are surely many more Wilderses to come.

Our own national myopia is uniquely strengthened by a first-past-the-post system which suppresses extremes, but at the cost of insulating politics from public sentiment. In practice, voting means choosing between two parties which cant, or wont, reduce migration  though at every turn voters have expressed an overwhelming desire to do so. Even shock protest votes like the rise of Ukip or the Brexit Party, both inherently related to concern about mass migration, could often be ignored given their lack of direct impact at Westminster. Even now, despite a growing backlash from Tory backbenchers, theres still no sign that No10 gets it. An official this week spoke of finding a balance between controlling migration, while protecting the economy and Britains international reputation. The Cabinet hanker for glitzy, high status policy  international AI summits for instance  but fundamentally their reputation lives and dies on whether they are actually capable of giving voters what they voted for.

In a crowded field, perhaps no one did more for open borders than Boris Johnson. As PM he immediately loosened the rules; aggressively liberalising student visas and non-EU immigration. He oversaw such unprecedented rises that, as Aris Roussinos notes, Britain is now undergoing its most significant period of demographic change since the Anglo-Saxon migration. So much for taking back control. This week, a surreal column appeared by one B. Johnson, criticising the migration committee for recommending a 26,000 salary threshold for work visas. The writer seemed rather displeased about this sad state of affairs; boy, Id hate to be there when he finds out who was in charge of the country when the figure was set. Really, this is a pathetic acknowledgment of impotence. Why not just ignore the committee if it was so important? Did being prime minister and having an 80-seat majority really mean so little?

All this reinforces a widespread sense that elected politicians arent really in charge of major decisions, visible in everything from judicial mission creep to the growing influence of unaccountable quangos on our lives. This paralysis of our institutions has the same root as the explosion in immigration: the Blair government. The picking apart of ancient constitutional norms, from the PMs powers of appointment to the presence of the judiciary in the legislature, has led to distant, disinterested institutions which no democratically-elected government can realistically hold accountable.

Alongside this baked-in constitutional impotence is the other great albatross: the obvious economic incentives. It stands to reason that to anyone from a poor country, the prospect of living in a far richer one with an expansive welfare state will be attractive. Given migration lobby rhetoric about the supposed economic boon of immigration, youd expect to see a low take-up rate of social housing and other forms of welfare amongst migrants. Yet the opposite is true. Foreign nationals now hold almost half of Londons social housing tenancies. Certain ethnic minorities are massively over-represented; 40 per cent of Sub-Saharan African migrants in London live in social housing.

Sometimes the native-born population is sidelined to almost comical levels. For many young urban professionals, their twenties and thirties resemble a Hunger Games-style ordeal; spending half your income on rent (and much of the rest in tax) only to wind up in a gloomy flatshare with little chance to save for the future. Rather than increase overall supply, the state adds insult to injury, using tax money to subsidise migrants social housing. Sadiq Khans new Council Homes Acquisitions Programme aims to buy out 10,000 homes over the next decade, bringing them into council ownership  thus making private rental competition even worse. Many urge build more houses, which is obviously crucial, but with net migration breaching 700,000 a year, recent arrivals will quickly absorb even the most ambitious targets. And sadly, building anything in Britain is fraught with problems.

They understand this in Denmark, whose more muscular model addresses voters concerns. Though economically and socially left-wing, Danish lawmakers insist on integration and harshly punish wrong-doers; for instance, migrants who commit serious crimes can lose their social housing.

The slogan Diversity is our strength has become a quasi-religious mantra in progressive circles. But all available evidence suggests that too much of it has a corrosive effect on social trust. In Exodus, the economist Paul Collier identified a clear and intuitive trend  the larger the immigrant diaspora, the slower their absorption into mainstream society. The sociologist Robert Putnam famously found that greater diversity coincided with widespread atomisation and a decline of trust in civic life. Since high-trust societies broadly depend on homogeneity and shared values, liberals and left-wingers should be especially troubled by mass migration. A low-trust society may be less willing to tolerate high taxation and other hallmarks of social democracy.

The social mores which liberalism prizes are not always the norm for recent arrivals. Why ever should belief in free speech, tolerance of other faiths or sexual identities or a commitment to womens rights magically materialise at the Port of Dover? A 2015 YouGov poll found that nearly twice as many Londonders believed homosexuality to be morally wrong compared to the rest of the UK (29% compared to 15-17%), making liberal London by far Britains most homophobic region. Recent events in Batley and Wakefield suggest the emergence of de facto blasphemy laws in our society. Or contrast supposedly cherished liberal values with the illiberal ones often seen at Palestine Solidarity marches.

Yet the terror of offending cultural sensibilities and (horror of horrors) accusations of racism or being low-status means it is mostly the Right pointing out these tensions. Discussions of controlling numbers are often dismissed as scapegoating. Many bridled at Suella Bravermans anodyne observation that multiculturalism (when understood as a right to persistent cultural separatism), far from promoting peaceful integration in a shared society, actively destroys it. The Rwanda policys failure triggered jubilation from the chattering classes. Thoughtful liberals, such as Matthew Syed and Jenni Russell, have highlighted the inherent contradictions between our open-ended obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and the survival of liberal norms.

For now, Britains political classes may be hermetically sealed off from the growing fears of their electorate. But for how much longer?

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Lewis Alston, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran of the Vietnam War and Purple Heart recipient whose tireless support of the veteran and civilian communities included serving in at least 1,300 military funerals in Florida and Pennsylvania, died on Nov. 18, 2023 after a brief illness. He was 72.

Lewis felt it was his duty to honor veterans, said Lorraine Alston, his wife of 10 years.

She said her husband joined the Marines in 1969 right after high school and served in the Vietnam War in 1969 and 1970.

Marine veteran Lewis Alston listens during the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala, Florida, on Monday, May 30, 2022. Veterans and the community gathered to remember the fallen.

Lewis Alston was ever-present at events at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in his impeccable Marine dress blues, which he also wore as a member of the local nonprofit Marion County Memorial Honor Guard. He joined the local honor guard around 2016.

A biography written Lewis Alston and supplied to the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard about a year ago sums up his outlook toward serving his fellow veterans.

I completed a lot of missions in Vietnam. I always feel it's not about me but it's about my brothers that didn't make it back from Vietnam. And being with an honor guard, being a part of burying my brothers and sisters, helps me heal also, Alston wrote.

Steve Perry, Army veteran and president of the Marion County Memorial Guard, said Alston participated in perhaps 800 military honors funerals for veterans (in Florida,) which include playing of taps, folded flag presentation ceremony and gun salute.

Perry said Alston handled all positions including bugler for taps and rifle squad leader and served as sergeant-at-arms.

Alston performed each ceremony, often held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell and sometimes multiple burials in one day, with a sincere fervor and love for those who served.

Lewis Alston was born in Pennsylvania

Alston was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Marine Corps right out of high school. He was wounded in combat in Vietnam and his knee injury required multiple surgeries, according to his wife.

Alston worked as a long-haul truck driver as a civilian. He was a member of the Marine Corps League of Lancaster County for about 25 years, according to Lorraine Alston.

He assisted veterans in numerous ways and programs and had a heart for helping homeless veterans.

The couple moved to Marion County about eight years ago.

According to the biography supplied to the Marion County Honor Guard, Alstons father died in 1970 and he came home for his funeral. In February, I was back in Vietnam in combat.

The biography states while encountering difficulty adjusting upon his return home, Alston prayed and felt God gave him another chance. He committed to always look out for a veteran and family or anyone in need.

The biography also states Alston was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V.

Morrey Deen, retired Army major, was a friend of Alston's and worked at many Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park events with him.

Deen called Alston a gentleman and true example of a proud Marine who ended every message with thank you, brother.

His service was his life, Deen stated.

Jeffrey Askew, who oversees the park as Marion Countys veterans service officer, said he is mourning the loss of a friend who had a big heart for veterans as well as the community at large.

Askew said Alston was active in volunteering with the Veterans Education Center adjacent to the park and had donated a uniform for display in the center.

Lewis was always the first one to step up to help if something was needed, Askew said.

Janis Holte-Pavlatos met Alston while observing services performed by the Marion County Honor Guard at Florida National Cemetery.

He stood out (with his) uniform and his big smile, she said.

Holte-Pavlatos said in speaking with Alston she found him to be immensely caring about veterans. She said he wasvery compassionate about my husband, Thomas Pavlatos, who was terminally ill at the time and offered comfort about her granddaughters husband, Marine Corps. Cpl. Ricky Nelson, 23, who died in Iraq in 2008.

Ron Oppliger, chairman of Friends of Marion Countys Veterans Park Foundation, said Alston was a positive person who had a passion for honoring veterans with services through the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard.

Lewis Alston, a Marine and a member of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard, prepares for a memorial ceremony at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell for Marine Master Sgt. Jeffrey Kochen, 67, of Ocala, Friday afternoon, December 17, 2021.

Marine Corps veteran and fellow Marion County Memorial Honor Guard member Bob Levenson said Alston will be represented at each service.

Lewis was loved by all of us on our Honor Guard as well as Marion County community leaders and friends far and wide, Levenson wrote.

All of us on the (Marion County Memorial) Honor Guard are devastated by this tragic loss and pray for Lorraine, his brother Alvin and all their families at this time. We all loved Lewis and will miss him, but I can guarantee you he will be with each and everyone of us at every ceremony we conduct standing tall and representing him at each service, he stated.

Alstons brother, Arvin, age 70, of Lancaster, said his brother sent cassettes home from the Vietnam War and he was always upbeat.

Arvin Alston said his brother had to cope with all the stresses from his war service including PTSD, and he overcame it all.

Arvin Alston has a packet of photos that includes one of his brother receiving one of his military decorations, possibly the Purple Heart, and another of his brother being lifted from a battlefield by helicopter.

Lewis gave me a copy of photos relating to his tour in Vietnam and he signed them Thank you for your service, brother Arvin.' 

Lewis Alston was stationed at Camp LeJeune and was subjected to what the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry describes as volatile organic compounds found in the water. These compounds can cause various types of cancer; also, on the ground in Vietnam, he likely was exposed to Agent Orange.

Arvin Alston said his brother served in at least 500 military honors services with the Red Rose Honor Guard in Lancaster and was involved with Post 30, an organization for Vietnam War veterans.

Lewis Alston Is survived by family including four children. Services and interment will be in Lancaster. A memorial will be held at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Park in December, with a date still to be announced.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marine veteran Lewis Alston always honored his fellow servicemen and women
Liz Truss will hold talks on Capitol Hill with Senators, Congressmen and other figures in the Republican Party - J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Liz Truss is to lead a delegation to Washington DC this week aimed at stiffening the resolve of US Republicans to stick with Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The former prime minister will tell Republican lawmakers that conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic need to stand up to Russia because it is part of a totalitarian axis threatening the West.

It comes amid concerns that a future American administration could pull the plug on its support for Kyiv, with several candidates for the Republican presidential nomination criticising the scale of military aid to Ukraine.

Ms Truss is part of a delegation organised by Conservative Friends of Ukraine which also includes former Conservative leaders Lord Howard and Sir Iain Duncan Smith and the MPs Jack Lopresti and Mark Francois.

During their week in Washington, the group will hold talks on Capitol Hill with Senators, Congressmen and other figures in the Republican Party with the aim of cementing unity against Russian aggression.

The visit will take place against the backdrop of continued wrangling over a US military aid package to Ukraine.

A group of hardline Right-wing Republicans have called for funding to be diverted to Israel as it fights Hamas, while others have said the US should prioritise containing China over supporting Ukraine.

However, during their visit, the Tory delegation is expected to draw parallels between Russias invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas attack on Israel.

They will also warn that allowing Vladimir Putin to prevail will give succour to China and other states hostile to the US, such as Iran and Venezuela.

Ms Truss said: The West is facing a very real threat from a hostile axis of totalitarian regimes. It is vital that Conservatives stand up for our values of freedom and democracy.

We are in Washington to deepen our partnership with our Republican allies in taking on these evil-doers who would destroy our way of life.

This visit could not come at a more critical time, given the appalling attacks on Israel, Russias illegal war in Ukraine and the sabre-rattling of Xi on Taiwan.

Lord Howard said that while the conflict in the Middle East had taken the war in Ukraine off the headlines, the stakes remain high.

If Putin gets his way, the future will look bleak for the Baltic states, Taiwan and the Middle East, he said.

So it is vital that the support of the West for Ukraine should remain steadfast. This is the message my colleagues and I will be taking to Washington.

The Tory delegation is expected to draw parallels between Russias invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas attack on Israel - Anadolu

Lord Howard said the delegation would be meeting Republican Congressmen some of whom may be having doubts about the right action to take. We will be doing our very best to persuade them to stick with Ukraine, he added.

Sir Iain warned that the West was facing a new authoritarian axis with China at its apex, posing the single greatest threat that the free world has faced since the ending of the Cold War.

And Mr Lopresti, the chairman of Conservative Friends of Ukraine and a deputy chairman of the Tory Party, said: Continuing Western support for Ukraine in their hour of need is the only way we can prevent a Europe dominated by Putins Russia.

As the Ukrainians say: we must build the arsenal of the free world together.

Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, has said that he would settle the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine in one day if elected president again.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and wildcard presidential candidate, has meanwhile called for Ukraine to make major concessions to Russia and has said that if the US continues military aid the country will end up under the control of a post-Zelensky warlord.

Ron DeSantis, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, was criticised in March after he said that protecting Ukraine was not a vital interest for the US and described the conflict as a territorial dispute.

The Florida governor later toned down his remarks, admitting Russia had invaded Ukraine and calling Putin a war criminal.

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Local library offers gift wrapping event with holiday music, snacks

A local library is offering a place to wrap your presents away from prying eyes.

Washington-Centerville Public Library will host a gift-wrapping event on Dec. 16 at the Woodbourne Library from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

The library said the event will include holiday music and snacks.

>> Local MetroParks prepare for annual holiday light recycling program

Wrapping paper, tape and tags will be provided.

The event is free and open to anyone 18 years or older but registration is required.

To register and learn more about the event visit here.
KaeLynn Marie Matthews, 3, was shot and killed on Sept. 23, along with two adults who went to the JTB Apartments at 8876 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Jacksonville, about the possible sale of a dog.

I have been a pediatric nurse for over 50 years and in this time have seen tremendous advances in life-saving medical care for children. Sadly, these breakthroughs are now being wasted, as preventable gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and teens, decimating our next generations. From 2019 to 2021, Duval County saw 89 children and teens die by firearms suicide, homicide or unintentional discharge.

Reducing gun violence requires actions on many fronts. We the People, a coalition of over 30 local organizations, presented a comprehensive report on issues facing our community at the Duval County Delegation meeting on Nov. 2. Their solutions intersect with and encompass reducing gun violence:

Secure, affordable housing

Affordable health care  including robust mental health care, suicide prevention and addiction treatment

Education and vocational training that leads to jobs that pay a living wage

Gun safety laws are also a critical part of the solution.

In 2018, following the massacre in Parkland, the Florida Legislature took decisive, bipartisan action, to enact reasonable gun safety laws. These included raising the age to buy all firearms from 18 to 21; assuring that required background checks were completed before a firearm purchase could proceed; and a Risk Protection Order Act that allows temporary removal of firearms when someone was deemed by a judge to be at risk for harming themselves or others.

The passage of permitless carry, opposed by 77% of Floridians, was an assault on gun safety. States that have passed permitless carry are seeing an 11% increase in handgun homicide rates and a 13-15% increase in violent crime. It is disheartening to hear that proposals to further weaken gun safety laws are on the horizon. Many lawmakers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, say there is not enough evidence to support the laws passed in 2018.

Letters: Despite some success, racial inequity still exists in Jacksonville and the U.S.

In 2018 there was strong evidence to show that the age to purchase all weapons should be raised; 18- to 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at three times the rate of those over 21, a statistic that continues to be substantiated.

The Florida Risk Protection Order has been used over 9,000 times since it was enacted. Data is available to show the efficacy of this law and how it can be improved. One Florida sheriff found that 50% of such orders in his county were used to prevent suicides. Suicide accounts for 62% of all gun deaths in Florida.

New gun safety campaign in Jax: Deegan joins Biden for gun violence prevention announcement at White House

Unintentional gun injuries and deaths, suicide and gun thefts can be decreased by stronger secure storage laws. Community-based gun violence intervention programs combat gun violence at the front line. Floridians should benefit from the $15 million in federal funds available to support these programs.

Our legislators have tremendous power to influence how Floridians live and die. With this power comes a high moral obligation to protect their constituents. They must be as courageous as the 2018 legislators, resist attempts to water down the laws already enacted and act to address safety deficits. Duvals Legislative Delegation needs to show that they are serious about protecting our kids  and our community  from gun violence.

Francis

Jean Francis, Jacksonville Beach

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Legislators can reverse trend of increasing gun violence in Florida
A woman carries a child as Palestinians gather to fill liquid gas cylinders, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

People have been waiting in long queues for fuel and aid in the Gaza Strip, as the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas appears to hold for a second day.

Gazans are trying to make the most of the pause in fighting to gather much-needed supplies, search for loved ones and even take a walk by the sea.

Some have visited their homes - or what is left of them - to see damage and recover what they can find.

The truce has also seen more supplies allowed into the Palestinian territory.

Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip as it launched its retaliatory operation aimed at eliminating Hamas, following its 7 October attack in which militants killed at least 1,200 people in southern Israel and took more than 240 hostages.

Since then, more than 14,500 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The four-day truce, mediated by Qatar, is meant to result in the release of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails.

On the first day of the truce on Friday, around 150 trucks carried supplies into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

While it was the biggest amount of aid to enter Gaza since the first convoy crossed the border on 21 October, the UN says more is still needed.

Communications are largely down across Gaza, however pictures emerging from the Strip show long queues for fuel and other supplies in Rafah, in the south of the territory.

People have been queuing for fuel as four trucks carrying cooking gas and for containing fuel entered Gaza on Saturday

Trucks have been waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing early on Saturday morning, ready to carry in food, water, fuel and medical supplies.

The Israeli military confirmed that four tankers containing fuel and another four carrying cooking gas entered Gaza on Saturday morning.

It is a slow process to get over the border with every vehicle checked by the Israeli military before making the crossing.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 aid trucks carrying food supplies, drinking water and medicines had set off from Rafah towards the north of Gaza.

It said this would be the largest aid convoy to reach the north since the beginning of the fighting.

The Israeli government said it was expecting 226 aid trucks to enter through the Nitzana crossing in southern Israel.

"This will include 113 trucks containing food, seven containing medical supplies, 27 containing water, 43 containing various supplies for shelter, 25 trucks containing hygiene supplies," spokesman Eytan Schwartz said.

An additional 11 Egyptian trucks are carrying medical supplies to the Emirati hospital, he said.

A woman collects a bag of flour at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir Al Balah, Gaza

Despite joy for many at the cessation of fighting, it has been mixed with sadness after many returned to their destroyed homes to save what remained and retrieve the bodies of their loved ones from under the rubble.

Tahani al-Najjar used the calm of the truce to return to the ruins of her Khan Younis home on Saturday, Reuters news agency reported.

The 58-year-old pulled several intact cups from the rubble of her home, which she said had been destroyed by an Israeli air strike which also killed seven members of her family.

In the southern city some people are living in makeshift tents outside the Nasser Hospital as they wait to decide whether to return to the north of the Strip.

Crates of tomatoes, lemons, aubergines, peppers, onions and oranges could be seen at a street market in the city.

Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the UN Relief and Works Agency, Unrwa, told the BBC the situation on the ground was "absolutely terrible" and, while the aid which had reached Gaza was welcome, the organisation was ready to receive much more.

She said there was a need for basic hygiene items as well as more medical equipment, fuel and food.

People have described having to flee with only the clothes on their backs and most have been unable to wash properly.

Many public shelters are extremely overcrowded, Unrwa said, with its schools and other facilities housing more than a million displaced people.

More on Israel-Gaza war
Ukraine's Interior Ministry has handed over digitised copies of over 1,000 criminal cases from the Genocide years to the Holodomor Museum in Kyiv. [The Holodomor was a man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine that lasted from 1932 to 1933 and claimed the lives of millions of Ukrainians  ed.]

Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's Interior Minister, says the archives preserve numerous testimonies of people confirming the brutal and ruthless crime against humanity  genocide by starvation.

He posted some quotations from the testimonies:

"During the famine of 1920-21, my family all perished  father, mother, two brothers and a sister  and I was the only one left. I was 18 [...] I joined the Chubar collective farm in 1931 and have worked there ever since. I have no family; I live alone. Back in April (I don't remember the day), I got home from work; it was already dark. When I entered the house and turned on the lamp, I saw an 8- or 9-year-old boy looking for something in my absence. I asked him, Why have you come here, and what are you looking for? The boy replied: I was looking for bread"

"There was a case in which a collective farmer from the village of Rekechenets named Natalka Yuzvak slaughtered her two children and then ate them, one of them at Easter. If anyone asks the woman where her children are and why she ate them, she answers: It's none of your business. I couldn't bear to see them suffer, and my despair made me do it. Shoot me, so I don't suffer: that's what starvation brings you to."

Klymenko says that almost a hundred years on, the Russians have not given up their goal of eradicating our identity, taking away our freedom and depriving us of our independence.

"Their methods are the same  terror and genocide. Deporting our children, torturing and killing, demolishing monuments, destroying our fields. We are painstakingly collecting evidence, documenting all the occupiers war crimes. They will definitely face justice for everything," the interior minister said.

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We called for Delaware Clark Griswolds and Delaware Online/The News Journal received several locations of homes decorated with holiday lights for inclusion on our new map.

This is the first year the news organization partnered with the Food Bank of Delaware to create a map and support the organization.

Delaware holiday light map

Suggested routes for all the stops on our Delaware holiday light map

Want to hit all of the places?

For places north of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, MapQuest's Route Planner suggests the following order of stops for the shortest drive time. The total drive time for the 37.2-mile route is one hour and 14 minutes.

2115 Exton Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19810

2126 Coventry Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19810

303 2nd Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware 19804

137 Fairhill Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808

221 Pinehurst Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19803

6580 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, Delaware 19707

465 Haystack Drive, Newark, Delaware 19711

2264 St James Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808

507 Boxwood Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19804

2525 Newell Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808

For places south of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, MapQuest's Route Planner suggests the following order of stops for the shortest drive time. The total drive time for the 100.8-mile route is two hours and 28 minutes.

11 Felix View Ct, Smyrna, Delaware 19977

33 Seldon Drive, Smyrna, Delaware 19977

131 West Lucky Estates Drive, Harrington, Delaware 19952

240 Ebenezer Church Rd, Townsend, Delaware 19734

126 Green Forest Drive, Middletown, Delaware 19709

204 Baldy Lane, Middletown, Delaware 19709

530 Wheelmen Street, Middletown, Delaware 19709

400 Rederick Lane, Middletown, Delaware 19709

106 Cazier Drive, Middletown, Delaware 19709

208 Ludlow Lane, Felton, Delaware 19943

How to add your home to the holiday light map

To submit your spectacular display today, fill out the form below. If it does not display, you can use this link. The cost to be listed on our holiday lights map is $15.

Delaware Online/The News Journal's Needy Family Fund will match up to $5,000 of donations. So the more houses we have on the map, the more we're helping our neighbors in need. Donations can be made without inclusion on the map.

More: Claymont Christmas Weed has a wacky history

Christmas tree guide: Delawares tree farms open to the public

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Christmas 2023: Delaware holiday lights map
The loss of high street pharmacies is leaving patients with deteriorating access to medicines, bosses have warned.

Regular users of local pharmacies face uncertainty with critical services closed and a chronic shortage of pharmacists.

More than 350 chemists have permanently closed their doors in the last year alone, The Telegraph can reveal, while high street favourite, Lloyds Pharmacy, has shut up shop altogether.

Chemist leaders said the loss of a major operator like Lloyds should act as a wake-up call to the Government and NHS.

Patients have told The Telegraph that they have been unable to pick up their prescriptions due to no pharmacist being present to dispense them.

Lloyds sold to independent owners

Lloyds, which opened its first chemist 50 years ago, was the second largest pharmacy chain in Britain earlier this year, behind only Boots, with 1,427 stores.

It has confirmed, having already announced the closure of all of its 237 chemists based in Sainsburys supermarkets, that the remaining 1,054 it owned have all been sold, as reported by Chemist and Druggist.

The Hallo Healthcare Group, parent company of Lloyds Pharmacy, said it had ensured 99 per cent of pharmacies will stay open and central to communities.

It added that they had been sold to independent owners and local entrepreneurs.

The group, which was bought by German investment firm Aurelius in 2021, has been selling off sites throughout the year, and also sold its Lloyds Direct online service to rival Pharmacy2U.

Whilst it may have left the high street, the LloydsPharmacy brand name and heritage remains in specialist pharmacy, clinical and digital healthcare, a spokesman said.

Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists Association (CCA), which represents Boots and Superdrug among others, said it was very concerning news and could affect access to medicines.

It is obviously very concerning that the owner of such a large organisation has chosen to exit the community pharmacy market. Todays announcement must serve as a wake-up call to the Government and NHS, he said.

Choosing not to properly fund pharmacies to supply NHS medicines is a false economy. Pharmacies currently supply over one billion NHS medicines each year to patients, he added. Access to medicines and other critical primary care services will continue to deteriorate as more and more pharmacies close.

Chemist numbers consistently fall

It comes against a wider trend of chemist closures with 361 local pharmacies permanently closing since November 2022.

At the end of October, there were 10,307 across the country, but the number has consistently fallen over the last two years, according to NHS data.

The CCA says more than 1,000 have closed since 2015 due to a 30 per cent real terms funding cut.

The loss of pharmacies is mirrored by a loss of pharmacists, with one in three chemists no longer employing a permanent pharmacist.

An NHS scheme to recruit non-medics to GP practices has seen a surge in pharmacists leaving community pharmacies for doctor surgeries.

Earlier this week Mr Harrison told MPs that the NHS had robbed Peter to pay Paul and created a chronic shortage of pharmacists for the chemists.

Dr Graham Stretch, the president of the Primary Care Pharmacy Association, said that more than 3,000 community pharmacists had left to join a GP practice.

A Department of Health spokesman said: Community pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system, backed by 2.6 billion a year.

We have also announced 645 million in additional funding to support community pharmacies to supply prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions, which will free up GP capacity.

We are also making it easier for patients to see their GP and in September there were 135,000 more appointments per working day compared to a year ago.

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I went on a trip to Mumbai, India, earlier this year.

I learned more about India's rich history in textiles and art.

My appreciation of fashion brought me closer to my Indian heritage.

Earlier this year, I went to Mumbai, India. I've been traveling to India annually to visit family since I can remember, and as I got older, began to visit my best friend from college.

As a fashion writer, I've concentrated mainly on the luxury market and on my trip, learned of India's contribution to it.

I'm British South Asian, so though my heritage is Indian, I was born and brought up in the UK. I always struggled with finding ways to bridge the gap between these two cultures.

This was my first time visiting India since starting my writing career, and in the spirit of finding inspiration, I planned to see as many culturally stimulating places as possible. Luckily, there's creativity to be found on every corner.

I felt disconnected from both of my cultures growing up.

The author as a child. Priya Raj / Business Insider

I'm not alone in feeling disconnected from my Indian culture. I've heard similar stories from the Indian diaspora across the world, particularly while working in the creative industry.

I grew up in the UK, but didn't feel totally connected to British culture either. There's no exact moment I can pinpoint but I was always aware that I didn't look like most of the people around me, I didn't understand pop culture references because wasn't watching the same movies at home, and I didn't know certain artists because I wasn't listening to the same music.

On the flip side, I felt too disconnected from my Indian heritage to totally fit into that culture either.

During my trip to Mumbai, I found that traditional crafts told a story about the resilience of Indian people.

An artisan creating a piece of handmade silk in Mumbai, India. Priya Raj / Business Insider

Craft in India tells the stories of generations of artisans, with handicraft techniques being passed down and perfected over decades.

While attending the NMACC opening in Mumbai, I met Shri Mohammad Haroon, a master artisan with over 40 years of experience.

He is a Banarasi weaver, using a handwoven silk indigenous to India. It can take months to weave a 9-yard piece and can be purchased for under $500.

Stories like his represent an important story about India reclaiming its rights. The British Empire colonized India between 1858 and 1947, according to the BBC. During this time, extra charges were introduced on exports of Indian-made goods, and instead, textiles from Britain were imported into India which were cheaper, according to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Not only could Indian craftsmen not compete, it significantly stunted the growth of this industry, the Victoria & Albert Museum added. Only recently have Indian brands and the wider community of craftsmen been able to reach a global audience.

Indias history of textiles goes back thousands of years.

A tailor at work in Mumbai, India. Priya Raj / Business Insider

One thing that I've always enjoyed about my culture, among others, is the fashion.

I have a deep appreciation for handcrafted textiles and artisanal products from around the world, which likely comes from my heritage.

India has a closer relationship with textiles than many other countries, owing to it being a major exporter of natural fabrics such as cotton and silk, according to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

European designers have taken inspiration from India for decades.

A design from the Dior Fall 2023 show in Mumbai, India. Priya Raj / Business Insider

My trip to Mumbai fell at the same time as Dior's fashion show in the city, which was buzzing about a European fashion house crediting India for inspiration.

The New York Times reported in 2020 that European luxury design houses including Dior were outsourcing supply chains to hand embroidery factories in India paying low wages, and without crediting them. LVMH, the conglomerate behind Dior, told The Times it took the claims "very seriously" but declined to comment at the time before looking into them further.

Seeing the images of the Dior fashion show made me feel proud of these two worlds I know so well coming together to celebrate fashion and the arts.

The show started an important dialogue about the nuances of a "made in India" label, and what that means to the fashion community in the West.

In an interview with Vogue India, Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri said working on the show in India was about celebrating the value of textiles and embroidery in India.

In India, fashion is accessible for everyone.

The author shopping for textiles in a market in Mumbai. Priya Raj / Business Insider

Shopping as an average person in India is not like anywhere else. In the UK, shopping on a modest budget gets you a limited degree of design or customization, whereas in India, the possibilities are endless.

I was a child when I first learned of haute couture and didn't understand why it was special because on my trips to India, I had always purchased custom-made and made-to-measure clothes.

I appreciate that in India, there's no financial entry requirement to having custom-made clothes. Prices are moderate if you're willing to design and get the clothes made by a tailor.

However, top-tier brands in India rival the prices of luxury brands in Europe, but in my opinion, the craftsmanship far exceeds that of Italian and French designers.

Some great examples of Indian designers are Dhruv Kapoor for luxury streetwear and Malie for Scandinavian-inspired silhouettes.

Not only did my trip make me appreciate my culture, it made me prouder to be Indian.

Business Insider's reporter in Mumbai, India. Priya Raj / Business Insider

Seeing the progress of the fashion industry in India and its increased importance on a global platform meant I left feeling both liberated and validated, and inspired to continue the dialogue.

I wouldn't go as far as saying I wasn't always proud to be Indian, but it made me more comfortable in being outspoken about this aspect of my heritage.

Finding a part of the culture I could resonate with has been instrumental in helping me find peace with my identity as a British South Asian.

Read the original article on Insider
The annual Christmas tree lighting in downtown Seattle, marking the unofficial start to the holiday season, was disrupted by pro-Palestine supporters Friday night.

The Downtown Seattle Association has held this event for the last nine years.

The event is focused on bringing people to downtown Seattle to help with its economic growth, organizers said.

As people gathered in front of the Westlake Center to bring in the holiday spirit, dozens of pro-Palestine supporters marched along Pine Street from 5th Avenue toward 4th Avenue, roughly at about 4:40 p.m.

#BREAKING: Pro-Palestine supporters have taken over downtown Seattles annual Christmas tree lighting. This is at the intersection of Pine Street and 4th Avenue. They had marched down from 5th Avenue. This is in front of the Westlake Center. pic.twitter.com/k093WfaDmC  Louie Tran (@louie_tran) November 25, 2023

Supporters took over the holiday event as protestors chanted while holding signs, along the street and on the events stage.

The demonstration continued to intensify.

Shortly after 5 p.m., the protest was met with dozens of people chanting Light the tree.

The Christmas tree lit up roughly at about 5:14 p.m., with a fireworks show that shortly followed.

KIRO 7 News spoke with people who shared strong mixed reactions.

A number of people told KIRO 7 News that they supported the protest.

Im not going to leave. I understand everyone has a right to protest, and if its been allowed by the Constitution and the city, then, hey, its a part of it. But it can put a damper on some people who may want to come down here though, said Corwin Scott, who visited the Christmas tree lighting with his partner.

I agree free Palestine, but there was some vandalizing over there that I do not agree with. I mean Im supporting freeing Palestine 110%. But I was kind of unexpected because I didnt expect this to happen while I was here, said Tara Mehrsadeh, who also attended the Christmas tree lighting ceremony with her loved ones.

KIRO 7 News asked Mehrsadeh about her thoughts on the protest impacting peoples holiday plans.

In the end, when children are dying in Palestine, and were over here happy, its just a difficult situation because there are kids here too, but there are also helpless children in Palestine, not having any help, not having any joy or celebrations. She added, These kids get to go home to their house, to their water, to their food, but the ones in Palestine, the ones theyre fighting for dont.

However, a number of people were also upset and frustrated at the sudden disruption.

Horrible. I dont feel safe, said Julie Davis, who attended the Christmas tree lighting with her husband. I want the tree to light. This is the Christmas spirit. They (protestors) just walked in and took over the stage.

Davis told KIRO 7 News they noticed many families were on high alert as they tried to make sure their children were safe.

I dont think they (children) should be here. Their parents are trying to hide them from all of this, she explained.

It can bring people to downtown for the purpose of lighting the tree. Its not for this. If they (protestors) want to do all this, they can do this on their own time, and not bring people together like this because we dont want a protest. We want to light the tree, she continued to share.

KIRO 7 News reached out to the Seattle Police Department to get more details.

A spokesperson for the department said a significant amount of officers were at the original Christmas tree lighting to direct traffic and for security.

No arrests were made in connection to the holiday event and protest, the spokesperson said.

There are no reported injuries, as of Friday night.
Feras Al-Jayoosi, 36, is accused of making threats over Gaza and Israel - SWNS

A man charged with stalking an MP and sending threats over the issues in Israel and Gaza has been remanded in custody.

Feras Al-Jayoosi, 36, was arrested by counter-terrorism police on Thursday on suspicion of sending threats to Justin Tomlinson, the Conservative MP for Swindon.

He appeared at Swindon magistrates court on Saturday morning, charged with stalking and an unrelated offence of criminal damage.

Mr Al-Jayoosi spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Justin Tomlinson, the Tory MP for Swindon - Richard Townshend

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Al-Jayoosi sent emails and threats made to the Member of Parliament over the issues in Israel and Gaza.

He said the communication caused Mr Tomlinson serious concern.

Legal adviser Sangit Purewal told the bench that due to the nature of the case, only the chief magistrate could deal with it.

Mr Ballinger asked for a remand in custody and Ian Jobling, defending, said he would not make an application for bail.

Mr Al-Jayoosi was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday.

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A man has been taken to hospital after he was assaulted outside a Leeds city centre landmark, police say.

West Yorkshire Police said the man in his 20s was injured near the Corn Exchange in the early hours of Saturday.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service received a report about the incident at about 04:55 GMT, with police also called to the scene.

His injuries were not being treated as life-threatening, officers said.

The force asked for those who witnessed the assault to contact police using 101.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
Man with pole arrested, accused of attacking people in San Bernardino

Authorities arrested a man with a pole accused of assaulting victims in San Bernardino.

Officers responded to reports of the suspect attacking people with a pole and damaging property outside of a liquor shop on the 100 block of East Baseline Street.

Body cam video from a San Bernardino County sheriffs deputy shows witnesses pointing out the suspect down the street from the shop.

As the officer spots the man walking around with the pole, he pulls over and asks the man to drop the weapon, but the suspect refuses.

He charges toward the officer with the pole at one point, authorities said, before running away, leading the deputy on a foot chase.

Deputies arrested a man with a pole accused of assaulting victims and damaging property in San Bernardino County. (San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department)

Deputies arrested a man with a pole accused of assaulting victims and damaging property in San Bernardino County. (San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department)

Deputies arrested a man with a pole accused of assaulting victims and damaging property in San Bernardino County. (San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department)

A liquor shop on the 100 block of East Baseline Street in San Bernardino where a man assaulting people and property with a pole was arrested. (Google Earth)

As the man enters the liquor shop, he is eventually pinned down on the ground and placed into handcuffs.

Authorities said the suspect had caused visible injuries on the victims he attacked along with visible damage to property in the area.

Its unclear what the mans motive was behind the assaults. He was arrested on multiple felony charges. His identity has not been released.

Body cam video of the incident can be seen in the video player above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Police said that a man was shot and killed in Prince Georges County on Friday evening.

The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said that officers responded to the 600 block of Audrey Ln. around 5:15 p.m. for a shooting.

Police found a man outside with gunshot wounds. He died there.

DC man arrested for exposing himself to group of people

Detectives were still working to determine a suspect and motive in the case. PGPD asked that anyone with any information reach out online or on the P3 Tips app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Wilmington police are investigating a fatal shooting Friday in the 1100 block of Read St.

Police responded to the area around 1:49 p.m. Friday. There, they found a 36-year-old man who was shot. The man was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The victim's identity has not been released.

In 2017, Delaware Online/The News Journal began to log every shooting that is reported in the state, as there was and continues to be no public database of these acts of violence. Since our tracking began, there have been more than 1,100 shootings.

There have been 197 people shot this year in Delaware, 38 of them fatally, according to the database maintained by Delaware Online/The News Journal. These figures are similar to last year at this time: 195 people shot in the state with 35 of them dying. However, the number of people shot this year is down about 28% compared with 2021. In 2021 through Nov. 25, 273 people had been shot, 56 of them fatally.

Contact reporter Cameron Goodnight at cgoodnight@delawareonline.com or by calling or texting 302-324-2208. Follow him on Twitter at @CamGoodnight.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Man killed in Wilmington is 197th person shot in Delaware in 2023
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department said a man was shot in Northwest Saturday morning.

MPD said that at about 7:25 a.m., it was dispatched to the 1400 block of W St NW for a shooting.

1 dead, 4 hurt in Southeast DC shootings overnight

When police arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He was conscious and breathing,

The man was transported to the hospital.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A clash between the Marijuana Moms and a Dad for Mental Health is highlighting an escalating controversy over the effects of cannabis.

The moms are a group of lawmakers who helped write the law that legalized pot in Illinois, and the dad is McHenry County States Attorney Patrick Kenneally. Each side has referenced those self-given nicknames, somewhat facetiously, in their attacks against each other on the issue.

The feud arose recently after Kenneally required licensed marijuana retail stores in McHenry County to post warnings about the mental health dangers associated with cannabis use including psychosis, depression and thoughts of suicide.

The lawmakers, who are Democrats, say Kenneally, a Republican, is posting disinformation about a highly complex subject. More broadly, the dispute illustrates widespread concerns and uncertainty over the mental health effects of cannabis.

The stores are also required to eliminate from their marketing and websites any suggestion that their products have medical benefits. The requirements were part of a settlement with prosecutors to avoid a consumer fraud lawsuit. Dispensaries that dont go along with the program will face litigation, Kenneally warned.

As a prime example of the dangers of cannabis, Kenneally cited the case of William Bishop, who after vaping oil with a high concentration of THC, the part of pot that gets users high, believed Howard Stern on the radio told him to veer into oncoming traffic, which Bishop did, Kenneally said. He killed a father of two and permanently disabled another man. His defense in court, supported by psychiatrists, was that he was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis.

He was found guilty but mentally ill, and sentenced to 31 years in prison. Other similar cases are pending.

In an opinion piece in the Tribune, Kenneally criticized what he called the pseudoscience claims of medical benefits for a wide variety of conditions, and wrote that there is no credible evidence that cannabis treats any medical condition.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two components of cannabis  synthetic THC to treat nausea and anorexia from cancer or AIDS, and CBD to treat seizures  while many countries have approved a THC/CBD mix to treat muscle tightness in multiple sclerosis.

In Illinois, despite the limited FDA approval, some 138,000 patients have been authorized by doctors to take cannabis for dozens of conditions. The most common diagnoses were chronic pain, making up almost one-third of cases, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines and osteoarthritis.

The Marijuana Moms  state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson and former state Sen. Heather Steans  wrote an open letter to rebut Kenneally. They compared him to Harry Anslinger, the former Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner who vilified marijuana in the 1930s for allegedly causing violence, immoral behavior and satanic jazz music.

Kenneally, the moms wrote, is using hyperbole to vilify cannabis use for all sorts of complex societal issues, including violent crime, addiction and mental illness.

They point out that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended reclassifying cannabis from its current Schedule I, which signifies no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, to Schedule III. That change would acknowledge legitimate medical use of cannabis and a moderate to low potential for dependence, but would require a prescription for legal use.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is reviewing the reclassification recommendation.

The moms note that the state already requires dispensaries to post this warning: Cannabis is only for registered medical patients or adults 21 and over; cannabis can impair cognition and may be habit forming; cannabis should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women; this particular cannabis product causes intoxication, the effects of which may be delayed for up to 2 hours.

The moms say patients regularly tell them of how cannabis has helped restore quality of life for late-stage cancer patients and end debilitating seizures. Taxes from legalization generate about half a billion dollars annually to support improvements in poor and marginalized neighborhoods, mental health and substance abuse clinics, and law enforcement.

We stand willing to work with anyone from anywhere in our great state to address consumer safety, public safety, public health, and child development, the moms wrote. We will not, however, stand idly and allow others to point myopically to cannabis to nonsensically explain away highly complex, multifaceted societal problems.

In response, Kenneally questioned the soft corruption of the industry, noting more than $600,000 in campaign donations to lawmakers from the cannabis industry. Cassidys spouse, Candace Gingrich, previously was hired by the cannabis company Revolution Florida, and Hutchinson was hired as CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, which helped write the Illinois legalization law.

Cassidy and Revolution, an affiliate of Revolution Cannabis, based in Chicago, previously denied any impropriety, saying Gingrich worked only outside of Illinois. The Marijuana Policy Project stated that the Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General determined that Hutchinson was not restricted from working for the advocacy group.

The prosecutor dad also fired back with a list of 53 studies linking cannabis with increased risk of suicide and mental health problems including schizophrenia and other psychoses.

The argument between the moms and the prosecutor shares some similarities with a controversy thats raged in Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational use in 2012. Since then, studies have raised increasing concerns over the effects of high-THC products, prompting lawmakers to limit sales of high-THC products.

This year, after a study ordered by state lawmakers, the Colorado School of Public Health recommended caution in using high-THC products, finding potential adverse effects and limited benefit.

In Illinois, lawmakers and prosecutors are not the only ones looking into these issues. The states Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee this year noted the potential benefits of cannabis for chemotherapy, insomnia and pain. But it raised concerns about the findings of a Dutch study that found a strong association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia.

State officials also have been looking into a public education campaign and resealable childproof containers to prevent rising cases of child intoxication.

And the states Cannabis Research Institute has plans to break ground next year on a facility to study the health and social equity effects of cannabis.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com
MARYLAND (DC News Now)  A $20 Lyft rideshare credit is being offered to Marylanders throughout the holiday season until supplies last, to deter drivers from getting behind the wheel while inebriated.

The Governors Highway Safety Association awarded a $20,000 grant to the states Motor Vehicle Administrations Highway Safety Office for the third holiday season in a row.

We are once again making the choice easier than ever to make a plan and take a sober ride home, Chrissy Nizer, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator and Gov. Wes Moores highway safety representative, stated in a news release. Holidays are meant to cherish friends and family, and no one should lose a loved one due to a drivers selfish decision to drive impaired.

Hagerstown shoppers supporting Small Business Saturday

To redeem the $20 credit, customers should head over to the Lyft app, hit the Payment tab from the menu and scroll to the Lyft Pass section to put in the code. The credits will expire after 24 hours of being added to the riders wallet if they are not redeemed.

Marylanders are limited to one rideshare credit but can periodically check the site for more if there are additional credits up for grabs.

A news release said that last year, 146 people died and more than 2,500 were injured from crashes due to inebriated drivers. More than 14,859 people were arrested for impaired driving  1,598 of those occurred between Thanksgiving and New Years Day.

The holiday season should be filled with joyous reunions, not tragedy. Sadly, too many families have been shattered by the consequences of someone deciding to drive impaired, Jonathan Adkins, CEO of the Governors Highway Safety Association, said in a news release.

Click here to get the $20 rideshare credit code.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Massachusetts ranks second among the top 10 states with residents most concerned about wrinkles, a new study has found.

The study, which uses data compiled by the Bangkok-based company Misumi Skincare, found that Massachusetts was the state with the second-highest number of online searches relating to wrinkles, and how to fix them.

The study looked at states with residents who were specifically searching for phrases including Botox near me and other anti-aging searches.

The Bay State outranked California, New York and Florida, states with several businesses offering cosmetic services and procedures, and with residents who routinely get cosmetic procedures.

Sluggish: Massachusetts named second-most sleep concerned state in nation, study says

Colorado ranked first as the wrinkliest state, according to the study, with over 312 online searches for anti-aging remedies per 100,000 residents, which is 52 percent higher than the national average of 205 searches per 100,000 residents.

Massachusetts came in second, with 298 searches per 100,000 residents, followed by California, New York and Florida as the Top 5 states plagued by wrinkles, the study found.

California, a state known to be particularly cosmetic-heavy and concerned about physical appearance, came in third with 291 searches per 100,000 residents, the study said.

New York came in fourth, with 280 searches per 100,000 residents. According to the study, New York has some of the priciest botox injections in the country, ranging from $230 to $1060.

Colorado also ranked first as the state with the most residents searching for botox, with 91 searches for that term per 100,000 residents. Florida came in second for that specific search, followed by Massachusetts.

The least-likely state with residents to get botox is South Dakota, which ranked second least-wrinkly overall, the study found.

Skincare expert Steven Davos offered some tips on how to care for your skin as you age.

Taking care of your skin as you age is crucial for maintaining a youthful complexion and preventing deep-set wrinkles, Davos said. First and foremost, a consistent skincare routine is important. A gentle cleanser helps rid your skin of impurities without stripping away natural oils, and a good sunscreen is a must to shield yourself from harmful UV rays which are a major contributor to premature aging.

Hydration is also key and keeping your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water and using a moisturizer will help keep your skin looking great as you age, Davos said.

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NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams and the woman accusing him of sexual assault both used to work for the citys Transit Police Department, according to court records reviewed by the Daily News.

The woman, whose name is being withheld by The News due to the sensitive nature of her claims, filed a notice in Manhattan Supreme Court late Wednesday saying she plans to bring a lawsuit against Adams alleging he sexually assaulted her in 1993 while they both worked for the City of New York. The notice doesnt elaborate on the claim, and it was filed just 24 hours before the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, which has allowed sexual misconduct victims to sue their alleged abusers even if a statute of limitation is lapsed.

In 1993, Adams  who has vehemently denied the assault accusation  was an officer in the citys Transit Police Department, which used to be a separate entity from the NYPD. He started out at Transit Police in 1984.

The mayors accuser did not say in her notice what city agency she was employed by at the time of the alleged assault.

However, testifying under oath in 2009 as part of a lawsuit she brought against American Airlines in federal court in Florida, the accuser said she started working as an administrative aide for the city Transit Police Department around 1980.

I was called in to work as a full-time police administrative at the central records section. I would work from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in the morning, she testified at a jury trial held in that case on June 23, 2009, according to a transcript reviewed by The News.

She testified she eventually received a promotion at Transit Police to become a senior police administrative aide. Without providing a year, she also testified she worked for a brief period at the city Department of Probation.

She did not make clear in the testimony when exactly she left the Transit Police Department or whether she was still there during the time of the alleged assault in 1993. She did testify she moved to Florida after getting a job at a health center there in 1996.

The womans LinkedIn profile states she started working as a public school teacher in the Miami area in 2000.

The woman, whose court notice said shell seek at least $5 million in damages as part of her suit against Adams, could not be reached for comment Friday. Her attorney, Megan Goddard, declined to comment.

Its unclear when the woman plans to file a full complaint elaborating on her accusation. In addition to Adams, the womans notice says her lawsuit will name as defendants the NYPDs transit bureau, the city and the Guardians Association, a fraternal police organization that the mayor used to be president of while in the department.

Addressing the womans accusations in an appearance on the Good Music, Good Times talk show Friday morning, Adams called her case an outofnowhere lawsuit and said he does not recall who this person is or if I ever met them.

I really dont know, but I am extremely clear on how I live my life, and at no time did anything like that happen. It absolutely never happened. Its not who I am. I would never harm anyone, said Adams, who retired as a captain from the NYPD in 2006.

The mayor also confirmed the city Law Department will represent him in the case.

Manhattan Councilwoman Gale Brewer, a Democrat who chairs the Councils Oversight Committee, questioned how Adams would be able to have the Law Department represent him, given that the womans accusations predate his time as mayor.

This needs scrutiny, she wrote on Twitter in reference to the mayors talk show comment.

A City Hall spokesman said its within Adams right to use the Law Department since the case relates to his time as a city employee.

The mayors accuser has a history of filing lawsuits.

She brought the federal suit against American Airlines after claiming an employees negligence resulted in her falling out of her wheelchair during a trip to Japan, causing back injuries. That suit was dropped without the airline paying damages.

She also filed a lawsuit against Miami-Dade County in which she claimed she was abused by a 6-year-old kindergarten student while working as a teacher. That suit was dismissed.

As first reported by NBC4, the woman has a book for sale on Amazon.com offering pro se legal advice based on many years spent fighting for myself and others in various courts including small claims, civil, circuit, family, lower appellate, and the United States Supreme Court. One piece of advice offered in the books description: Never give up. You just may win.

The assault lawsuit comes at a perilous time for Adams.

The FBI is investigating his 2021 campaign over allegations that it conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign money into the campaigns coffers via straw donors. Adams has not been accused of wrongdoing in the probe, which is ongoing.

_____
Hamas and Israel completed the second stage of a planned hostage-prisoner swap early Sunday after a delay caused by a dispute over the terms of a truce agreement, according to the Israeli military and Qatari government officials.

The Israeli Defense Forces said Red Cross representatives transferred the freed hostages to Egypt and then to Israel late Saturday, according to the Associated Press. Early Sunday, Israel began releasing 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari confirmed that the hostage transfer had taken place following uncertainty over the process.

"13 Israelis and 4 foreigners were received by ICRC and on their way to Rafah," Al Ansari wrote in a message posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Al Ansari had posted earlier in the day that a dispute causing a delay in the hostage transfer had been resolved by Qatari-Egyptian mediators.

After a delay, obstacles to release of prisoners were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, Al Ansari wrote on Saturday afternoon.

According to Al Ansari, the prisoners set to be released by Israel in the second phase of the transfer would "include 33 children and 6 women, while those released from Gaza will include 8 children and 5 women, in addition to 7 foreigners." Al Ansari later updated to say only 4 foreigners would be released.

The delay, first reported by Reuters, came as Hamas armed wing said it would not release the second round of hostages until Israel held up its side of the truce deal: allowing aid trucks to enter the besieged northern Gaza region.

Israel maintained that it had not violated the agreement. Thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to demand the release of the second group of hostages following the news of the delay.

President Joe Biden, walking around downtown Nantucket, did not answer shouted questions from reporters on if any American hostages would be released Saturday.

Asked later in more general terms about the hostage release, Biden replied: hopefully well see something soon, according to pool reports.

The White House later released a readout of Biden's call with Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, where the leaders discussed "hurdles to implementation of the deal and mechanisms for resolving those hurdles as soon as possible."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "held an assessment of the situation" Saturday evening "to verify that the second phase is proceeding as planned," according to a message on his X feed.

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. In the call, Austin shared his view that "humanitarian aid must increase, and that civilians must have safe areas to receive aid across Gaza," according to a readout.



The hostage transfer is part of a broader four-day truce agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. that started Friday, when Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages it had taken on Oct. 7, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians.

The Israeli hostages, including nine women and four children, were captured by Hamas during its initial cross-border assault. The Palestinian prisoners, who were detained in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, included several women convicted of attempted stabbings of Israeli officers and teenagers arrested for minor offenses.

Hamas is still holding over 200 hostages while Israel has upward of 8,000 Palestinians detained in prisons across the state  about 5,000 of whom were arrested before the Oct. 7 attack.

Over the course of the four-day truce, Hamas is set to release at least 50 Israeli hostages and Israel 150 Palestinians.

The cease-fire brought a brief respite in the fighting that has ravaged the region since Oct. 7. Hamas rockets that had been continuously launched into Israel went quiet and the relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza broke, allowing much-needed aid to enter northern Gaza for the first time in over a month and giving Palestinians a chance to search for survivors in the rubble of razed buildings.

Israeli attacks have leveled entire neighborhoods in Gaza, killing over 13,300 Palestinians and displacing over 1.7 million others  80 percent of Gaza's population. Hamas killed some 1,200 people on Oct. 7.
As time runs out for Medicares Open Enrollment period, an agency that provides resources for seniors is fielding a dramatic increase in calls from people seeking assistance with everything from Medicare fraud to first-time participation in the joint federal and state program.

The Senior Resource Alliance, Central Floridas Area Agency on Aging, saw a 132% increase in callers seeking health care enrollment help during the last week of October, an influx that isnt expected to die down until open enrollment ends on Dec. 7, said Karla Radka, president and CEO of the Senior Resource Alliance.

Radka attributes this demand to an increase of over 22,000 increase in the Central Florida service areas over 65 population from 2021 to 2022.

Thats what we call a silver tsunami, with thousands of seniors that are going through Medicare open enrollment for the first time in need of assistance, Radka said.

Within Brevard, Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties, census data indicates there are now over 466,000 Medicare-eligible seniors.

To cope with demand, the nonprofit agency has for the first time set up a dedicated SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Seniors) program hotline at 407-514-0019, in addition to its in-person locations.

SHINE is a statewide program offering counseling on Medicare, prescription drugs and other health insurance concerns from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding federal holidays.

The SHINE program depends on volunteers, and more are needed. The hotline can have long wait times, particularly at peak hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Radka said.

Radka urges those interested in volunteering to answer the phones to go to floridashine.org to get more information.

Volunteers are also needed to help seniors with another pressing issue: Medicare scams. As technology has advanced, scammers have gotten better and better at impersonating Medicare officials.

Individuals that are new to the Medicare system are very vulnerable, as are our seniors in general, especially during open enrollment when many health care plans are providing information over the phone or online, Radka said.

Legitimate health plans can only call you if youve requested information or have an existing relationship. Medicare will not call someone out of the blue and definitely wont request personal information, Radka said.

If somebody appears to be an official Medicare representative, but they ask for a Medicare number, a social security number or any financial account information, thats definitely a sign its a scam, Radka said.

Those who suspect they encountered a scam should reach out to an elder helpline.

Senior Resource Alliances main line is 407-514-1800. Theres also a national elder fraud hotline that serves people 60 and older, seven days a week at 1-833-FRAUD-11.

In addition, SHINE offers in-person consultations at the locations below. Appointments can be made by calling the SHINE hotline.

Central Brevard Public Library, 308 Forrest Ave., Cocoa, FL 32922, walk-ins welcome on Fridays

Cocoa Beach Library, 550 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach, FL 32931, walk-ins welcome on Mondays, in-person counseling available on Thursdays by appointment only

DeGroodt Library, 6475 Minton Road SE, Palm Bay, FL 32908, walk-ins welcome on Mondays and Wednesdays

Martin Anderson, 1025 Florida Ave S., Rockledge, FL 32955, Thursdays by appointment only

Merritt Island Library, 1195 N. Courtenay Pkwy., Merritt Island, FL 32953,Thursdays by appointment only

Port St. John Library, 6500 Carole Ave., Cocoa, FL 32927, walk-ins welcome Thursdays

Satellite Library, 751 Jamaica Blvd., Satellite Beach, FL 32937, appointment only

Titusville Library, 2121 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville, FL 32780, in-person counseling Tuesdays by appointment only

Wickham Park, 2785 Leisure Way, Melbourne, FL 32935, walk-ins welcome on Mondays and Tuesdays

ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com
Preview all of the adoptable pets at www.spcaflorida.org. To meet or adopt a pet located at SPCA Florida, stop by the Adoption Center Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prior to adoption all pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccines and come with a month of flea and heartworm prevention. For questions, contact SPCA Floridas Adoption Center at 863-577-4615 or adopt@spcaflorida.org.

Snoop Dog

Gender: Male

Age: 1 year

Weight: 75 pounds

Species: Dog

Breed: Shepard, German Mix Tan/Black

Orphaned Since: Oct. 31

Adoption Fee: $250

Snoop Dogg is a high-energy, 1-year-old, 75-pound German shepherd mix who is very affectionate and loves to "talk" and smother you with kisses. Storms and vacuums frighten him. But he has been completely vetted and is in great health.

Snoop Dogg brought in because his family had to move and couldnt take him along. Hes a 1-year-old, 75-pound German Shepherd mix who's a glass-half-full optimist and looking forward to a forever family who'll love to tap into his high energy. He is very affectionate, a cuddle bug who loves to "talk" and smother you with kisses. Reward him with treats, pet him all over and hell be your best friend. Storms and vacuums frighten him, but once they're done, hes OK. He has been completely vetted and is in great health. He has been neutered, vaccinated and chipped. Hes just ready for that home and best friend or family. For more information, please visit www.spcaflorida.org.

Antibiotics can be crucial for pets But bad side effects are possible. Here are 5

Tarzan

Gender: Male

Age: 8 years

Weight: 77 pounds

Species: Dog

Breed: Black Mouth Cur Black/Tan

Orphaned Since: Oct. 19

Adoption Fee: $ 150

Tarzan is the biggest cuddle bug, he loves to play, knows basic commands, is great on a leash, loves the water, is house trained and is good with kids. He should be the only pet at home and have a tall fence. He needs allergy medication for the rest of his life.

When Tarzan first arrived at SPCA Florida, he had skin issues because of allergies and the vets at SPCA Florida treated and nursed him back to good health. He will need allergy medication for the rest of his life, a medication that is not expensive and is easy to administer. His future family will need to commit to providing him with treatment. Tarzan is the biggest cuddle bug ever, he loves to play, knows basic commands, hes great on a leash, loves the water, hes house trained and is good with kids. He should be the only pet at home and have a tall fence, as he likes to climb them. Oh, and Tarzan loves to be a couch potato once hes finished playing. Please come visit Tarzan and see what hes all about, you wont be disappointed. For more information, please visit www.spcaflorida.org.

Kelly

Gender: Female

Age: 1 year

Weight: 9 pounds

Species: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair Grey

Orphaned Since: Aug. 16

Adoption Fee: $100

Midas has Stage 2 renal disease but the cost is covered through the Lifetime Care program. Midas is shy at first but loves to be brushed and is playful and affectionate once he gets to know you. He enjoys the company of other cats and can be talkative.

Kellys just a little girl waiting for a home shes never had. Kelly came in with her siblings and was in foster care till she was ready to get adopted. She loves to play with wands and other toys. Shes very affectionate with humans. Although shes OK with other cats, she does like her space. Miss Kelly also loves chicken. Kelly is a healthy little girl and will give her family the best love ever. You can come to meet Kelly in Tinkers Legacy cattery at SPCA Florida. For more information on Kelly please visit www.spcaflorida.org.

Midas

Gender: Male

Age: 9 years

Weight: 10 pounds

Species: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair  Orange

Orphaned Since: April 20

Adoption Fee: $12.50 until Nov. 30, then $50

Kelly came in with her siblings and was in foster care till she was ready to get adopted. She loves to play with wands and other toys. Shes very affectionate with humans. Although shes OK with other cats, she does like her space. Miss Kelly also loves chicken.

Midas is still with us and although we love him dearly, what he really needs is a family of his own who will care for him during his last years. Midas came to us through our Lifetime Care program, and we promised his owner that we would make sure he gets the care and a home he needs. A little bit about Midas care, he has Stage 2 renal disease and requires fluids twice weekly. His new owner will not have to worry about the cost of the medication or supplies as our founder will make sure to cover all that cost for the rest of his life if he stays a patient at our medical center. He also needs daily oral medication and special food. Although Midas is shy at first, with a little patience he will become comfortable with his new family. He loves to be brushed and is quite playful and affectionate once he gets to know you. He enjoys the company of other cats and can be talkative. If you can be his forever guardian angel, stop in SPCA Florida and ask to meet Midas. For more information, please visit www.spcaflorida.org.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Meet this week's SPCA pets: Snoop Dog, Tarzan, Kelly and Midas
The Duchess of Sussex 'refuses to dive back into the soap opera', according to new biography, Endgame - Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

The Duchess of Sussex personally rang royal biographer Omid Scobie after learning he had been harassed online, he is to claim in a new book, while insisting he is not her pal.

The Duchess unexpectedly called Scobie, then a journalist for Harpers Bazaar, on his mobile phone to ask after his welfare in 2018, after a member of her team told her he had been dealing with social media threats.

The existence of the call will be revealed in Endgame, his book about the Royal Family which is published on Nov 28.

Excerpts of the book have already been released in the United States and France, claiming the Duke of Sussex is ready to forget his grievances against his family and demands for an apology and explanation of their alleged behaviour, but that the Duchess refuses to dive back into the soap opera.

It is particularly critical of the Prince of Wales, and claims the Princess Royal was the driving force behind the Sussexes eviction from Frogmore Cottage.

The Sun has reported that Endgame includes details of a letter sent from the Duchess to the King, in which she accused two members of the royal household of discussing her future childs skin colour.

Omid Scobie published a statement claiming that the 'Sussexes have nothing to do with' his latest book - Belinda Jiao

The Duchess alleged in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that there had been concerns raised by an unnamed member of the royal family about the skin colour of Prince Archie before his birth.

The second person raising the issue is not identified in the new book, according to the Sun. It is not known if the individual is a member of the royal family or someone who works for them.

Publishers promise the book will detail: An unpopular king, a power-hungry heir to the throne, a queen willing to go to great lengths to preserve her image, and a prince forced to start a new life after being betrayed by his own family.

Marketing material states that the content is drawn from more than decade of Scobies conversations and interviews with current and former Palace staff, trusted friends of the royals and even the family members themselves.

Sources said the palace has not been contacted about any claims in the book.

Meghans mouthpiece

Scobie himself has moved to quash claims from critics that he is Meghans mouthpiece, this week tweeting: Lets get this nonsense out the way - #ENDGAME is about the current state of the British Royal Family.

Its not Harry and Meghans book, Im not Megs pal, the Sussexes have nothing to do with it, their story is a small part of a much bigger one you can read in 12 days.

In an interview with Paris Match magazine, he added: I am not their friend and never have been, he said.

Sources close to the Sussexes have repeatedly emphasised they have nothing to do with Endgame, telling multiple publications the couple are not affiliated with the book or its author.

They have previously insisted they did not contribute to Finding Freedom, his first book.

But in 2021, the Duchess apologised to the British courts for a misleading statement in which she forgot she had asked aides to pass information onto Mr Scobie and his co-author.

Jason Knauf, the couples former communications secretary, said in evidence that the book was discussed on a routine basis and discussed directly with the Duchess multiple times in person and over email.

Endgame is out on Tuesday, Nov 28.

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The Duchess of Sussex claimed that two members of the royal household expressed concerns about Prince Archies skin colour while she was pregnant, a new book claims.

Royal commentator Omid Scobies new book, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchys Fight for Survival, takes a deep dive into the institution and its future.

According to The Sun, the book states that two people had discussions about the princes skin colour, rather than just one.

Meghan claimed in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that someone in the royal family had openly speculated about the complexion of her first child, Archie, before his birth in 2019.

In those months when I was pregnant... we have in tandem the conversation of He wont be given security. Hes not going to be given a title, and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when hes born, she told Winfrey.

The revelation sparked widespread debate, with many curious about which royal made the alleged insensitive comment.

Scobie claims to be aware of who made the comments, but does not reveal their names due to laws in the United Kingdom prevent me from reporting who they were.

Harry, Meghan and Archie in 2019 (Getty Images)

It is not known if the second person accused is a member of the royal family but they are a member of the household.

The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Two days after the Oprah interview in March 2021, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the Queen.

It said the issues raised particularly that of race were concerning, adding: While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

Scobie has denied reports of the book being a vessel for the duchess and former Suits star, as well as claims of him having a close relationship with the couple.

Omid Scobie, royal biographer (BBC Newsnight)

Lets get this nonsense out the way  #ENDGAME is about the current state of the British Royal Family, Scobie wrote on X/Twitter.

Its not Harry and Meghans book, Im not Megs pal, the Sussexes have nothing to do with it, their story is a small part of a much bigger one you can read in 12 days.

The book also reportedly claims that Princess Anne was instrumental in the Sussexes moving out of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor by convincing the King to take a firm approach with the couple.

The Princess Royal is claimed to have persuaded Charles to withdraw the use of Frogmore Cottage from the couple, the use of which was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II.
Russian forces have reduced the number of airstrikes against Ukraine, but their infantry's activity remains high, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of the Tavria Group fighting on the southeastern front lines, reported on Nov. 25.

Russia conducted four air strikes on the southeastern front line over the past day, according to the report.

The military also recorded 50 skirmishes between Ukrainian and Russian forces, and Russian troops launched 912 artillery barrages in the area.

Russian forces have lost 502 troops over the past day, the general said, without specifying whether they were killed or wounded in action.

The military also reported that Russia has lost 24 pieces of military hardware, including a tank, four armored personnel carriers, four artillery systems, 12 drones, and three vehicles, and 21 Russian vehicles were damaged over the past day.

Tarnavskyi reported that three Russian soldiers chose life and surrendered to the Ukrainian forces.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces hold defense lines in the Avdiivka axis while conducting an offensive in the Melitopol direction.

The attacks on Avdiivka, the gateway to occupied Donetsk, a major city in the Donbas, have been very costly for Moscow.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russian forces lost around 10,000 soldiers, more than 100 tanks, over 250 other armored vehicles, and seven Su-25 aircraft in the month of fighting near the front-line town.

Russia has been trying to capture the small town just north of occupied Donetsk since 2014.

Read also: Charles Michel: I dont think this counteroffensive has failed

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Britain is investing 2.5 billion in quantum technologies in the hope it can provide a ChatGPT-style boost to the economy and protect against spies, the Science Minister has said.

The chatbot  designed by OpenAI  catapulted artificial intelligence apps from a niche topic into the mainstream almost overnight.

Following the launch of the technology, AI quickly became a priority for businesses and the transformative nature of quantum could be even larger, experts say.

Andrew Griffith, the newly appointed Science Minister, has outlined a ten-year goal piggybacking on the Autumn Statement, which will put quantum technology at the forefront of a plan to commercialise science.

Quantum has the ability to break current encryption and create incorruptible communication networks for defence purposes, while quantum clocks and sensors can revolutionise everyday applications like Sat Navs, mobile phones and healthcare screening.

The Governments strategy aims to have quantum computers and networks running by 2035  and it is also hoped the technology will provide the NHS with new-era tests by 2030.

Andrew Griffith says there'll be more up take in the field of quantum over next couple of years - Rachel Adams

Quantum technology manipulates the quirks of quantum physics to perform a huge number of processes simultaneously so that it can tackle tasks a conventional computer could not.

Mr Griffith extolled the possibilities of quantum in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph at the National Physics Laboratory, his first since starting his new role after being City Minister in the Treasury.

He hopes to use his experience as a high-flying executive in the City and time in the Treasury to boost private investment in the quantum sector to ensure Britains research translates into commercial products, much like America with ChatGPT.

Mr Griffith said: What Im looking to do is to use my background in the City to try and make what Ive called the twin suns work.

Weve got a fantastic financial centre in the City of London which is a big part of our economy and we have a fantastic science and innovation research base. If we can make those two suns work in orbit together then that will really help achieve the Prime Ministers vision of the UK as a science and technology superpower.

Quantum, he said, is one of the priority areas for both public and private investment, adding that the UK is in pole position to flourish when the quantum revolution comes.

A big focus that I think were going to see a lot of pickup on over the next couple of years is quantum. It is one of the places the UK is world-leading, he said.

I suspect that in the next couple of years were going to be talking a lot more about quantum in a similar way to what happened with AI thanks to ChatGPT.

Quantum Strategy

Translating successful start-ups and technology into commercial success is where the UK has struggled in recent years and part of the new Quantum Strategy is to have more graduates and money available to nurture innovations.

Public money, including from pension fund investment, will be key to this, Mr Griffith said, with new regulation freeing up capital to invest in brilliant science and technology scale-ups.

That is why I came here; that is why someone was moved across from the Treasury to this brief, Mr Griffith told The Telegraph.

China is around 15 years ahead of the UK with its quantum capabilities, Alessandro Fedrizzi, a professor of engineering and physical sciences at Heriot-Watt University, told MPs in November. He is working to create quantum encryption that can be sent globally.

One important commercial avenue of quantum is defence and protecting nation states, and companies, from having their data decoded and hijacked by enemies.

[National security] is very important, as in any area of strategic capability, Mr Griffith said.

There is an element to which quantum strategy also ensures that the UK has strategic competence in quantum.

Dr Peter Thompson, CEO, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), said the technologies, which are still in their infancy, are about economic prosperity, but theyre also about national security.

He added: We have to invest in these emerging technologies so that you can gain the benefits and you can mitigate threats.

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There are problems with mobilization in Ukraine

The challenge of mobilization in Ukraine has now assumed even greater significance than the availability of ammunition, Roman Kostenko, a Colonel in Ukraines SBU Security Service and the Secretary of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence of the Verkhovna Rada, told Radio NV on Nov. 24.

Kostenko confirmed that the government is in the process of drafting comprehensive legislation to address specific mobilization issues.

Read also: How Ukraine lost its south: NV examines reasons for Russias rapid seizure of territory

We are all aware of the current problems with mobilization  one might even say, a failure of mobilization after changes were made in the military.

This is a situation that requires swift attention because if left unaddressed, significant problems will arise, warned Kostenko.

Presently, the challenges with mobilization arguably surpass those related to ammunition shortages. Thats why it is imperative to tackle this issue promptly and take corrective measures, added the MP.

Read also: Slowing arms supplies could force Ukraine into negotiations with Russia, Lithuania warns

The enactment of legislation to address these problems is a matter for political leadership, not the military, said Kostenko.

Despite being unpopular decisions, we are in a state of war. It is crucial to recognize that victory in war necessitates unpopular decisions. This is a reality. Those with delegated authority must make these decisions now because tomorrow may be too late, said the MP.

However, this draft law has not yet been registered and is still in a working group.

Kostenko stressed the importance of clear and universally applicable mobilization rules.

Read also: No one country can produce enough ammunition for current intensity of warfare

I firmly believe that mobilization is the pressing issue that requires immediate attention.

Its not just about calling people up but establishing transparent rules so that individuals know where they stand: whether they are eligible, whether they can demobilize, and the responsibilities they will bear if they continue to serve.

We must establish such clear and, above all, fair rules so that everyone understands their service obligations, emphasized Kostenko.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mongolia is prepared to pay for the repatriation of artefacts held in museums around the world - Bridgeman Art Library

Mongolia is prepared to pay for the repatriation of artefacts worth billions of pounds after accusing China, Russia and the West of denying them their rightful home.

Officials have drawn up a dossier of hundreds of objects held by museums and universities in 34 countries around the world that they say should belong to the central Asian country.

Culture minister Nomin Chinbat told the Telegraph that the West, China and Russia needed to show Mongolia respect and return the invaluable items.

Culture minister Nomin Chinbat told The Telegraph that the West, China and Russia should return the invaluable items

They include the one and only original portrait of Genghis Khan owned by Taiwan, ornate illustrations by the 13th century Persian-Mongol statesman Rashid al-Din held at the University of Edinburgh, and a 1911 declaration of independence currently residing in the British Library in London.

Mongolia is the latest country to demand the repatriation of objects, with Nigeria and India this year putting pressure on Britain to return items taken during colonial rule.

But unlike many others, Ulaanbaatar is open to paying compensation and would even prefer that some artefacts remain where they are.

If there is an extremely valuable artefact that is essential for us to return to Mongolia then, of course [we would consider paying], Ms Chinbat said. But we are taking different routes.

We would actually prefer some of the artefacts to stay where they are, presenting the countrys history and giving an opportunity for other people to know about Mongolia.

Mongolia wants many artefacts around the world returned for its museums - CPA Media Pte Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy

But she said the country is not prepared to pay for objects that were smuggled out illegally or which were loaned but not returned despite contractual obligations.

Ms Chinbat hopes the artefacts return could spark a tourism boom in Mongolia, which is building a new natural history museum and last year opened one dedicated to Genghis Khan in its capital city.

She hopes the brutal reputation of the founder of the Mongol empire will attract visitors from across the world  but claimed the warlord is not appreciated as the great diplomat and inventor he was.

People consider Genghis Khan as this great warrior, she explained. However, he was a very good diplomat and at that time he was an inventor and created technology and connected countries.

West and east got connected during that time much easier. A lot of technology was moving between different continents.

Ms Chinbats campaign for repatriation was boosted in August when smuggled dinosaur fossils were returned from the United States.

Her officials are now eyeing up other items in Britain, including sacred scripture writings at the British Library and another collection of approximately 10,000 photographs.

China is understood to have the largest number of Mongolian artefacts, followed closely by Russia.

Russian officials were hostile to the idea of repatriation when Mongolian officials made their case in St Petersburg a fortnight ago, The Telegraph understands.

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Warning: This story discusses violence against children and pregnancy complications. Reader discretion is advised.

HEFLIN, Ala. (WKRG)  A pregnant mother and her son were found stabbed to death in their north Alabama home. A man accused of their murder was arrested 21 years later. This is the story of Monica and Dalton Rollins.

WKRG News 5 is looking back at the crimes that shocked the Gulf Coast. Monica & Dalton Rollins story is the thirty-second in the series.

Monica Rollins was 23 years old in September 2002. Monica had two sons  6-year-old Dalton and 2-year-old Aaron  and she was 36 weeks pregnant with her third child.

Melanie & Byrd Billings: Parents of 16 murdered for money

On Sept. 13, 2002, Monica and the boys headed over to her dads house, Donald Pritchett, to spend time with him. They went horseback riding, had dinner and conversations before Monica packed the boys back up and headed to their home in Heflin, Alabama, around 8:30 p.m. that Friday.

Monica told Pritchett they would be coming back over sometime during the weekend. As the weekend passed by and there was no word from Monica, Pritchett became worried. A family member went over to the home to check on the family on Sept. 16. Thats when Monica and Dalton were found brutally murdered in their home.

Both Monica and Dalton had been stabbed to death. Because of the assault, police said Monica went into labor, leading to her unborn child being partially delivered and deceased. Her 2-year-old son Aaron was found hiding in a closet unharmed.

For over two decades, police searched for the Rollins killer and, after 21 years, they finally made an arrest.

On June 26, 2023, Lewis Ladon Spivey was arrested by officers of the Heflin Police Department on warrants for two murder charges. Spivey had just recently been released early from a 20-year prison sentence in Florida when he confessed to the stabbings, according to a CBS News report.

Spivey had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 for robbery with a gun or deadly weapon and five years for aggravated assault, according to the Florida Department of Corrections records. Spivey is currently in the Cleburne County Jail and has not been given a bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
As the Biden administration moves closer to banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, major health organizations are pushing to get the word out to Black smokers that help is available for those who want to quit.

The vast majority of Black smokers in the U.S., 85%, use menthols, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. In 2020, nearly 81% of Black smokers used menthols, compared to 34% of white smokers, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

The disparity is the result of decades-long advertising practices from the tobacco industry, which specifically targeted menthol cigarettes to Black communities, said Carol McGruder, co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, an anti-tobacco public health and advocacy group.

Compared to regular cigarettes, menthols are notoriously addictive and particularly difficult to quit. The rate at which menthol smokers successfully quit is lower than that of nonmenthol smokers, and Black menthol smokers may be even less successful than other groups, according to the CDC.

But across the country, programs that help smokers quit are being underused, as smokers try to quit cold turkey or by taking medications prescribed by their doctor with little to no counseling, said Jennifer Folkenroth, the American Lung Associations national senior director of tobacco programs.

There is a need, Folkenroth said, for more trained and certified facilitators in Black communities, like churches, to really assist these quitters in their journey to freedom.

More than 45,000 Black people die from smoking each year, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

These include mothers, fathers, grandparents and other Black people who are instrumental in strengthening the community, McGruder said. When we lose those people, it destabilizes the familial unit, it destabilizes the church, and it destabilizes our community.

What makes menthol cigarettes so addicting?

Theres a simple reason menthol cigarettes are so appealing: their mint flavor, said Sven-Eric Jordt, an associate professor of anesthesiology, pharmacology and cancer biology at the Duke University School of Medicine.

To start, menthol has a cooling effect that suppresses coughing and makes tobacco smoke less irritating to the throat, making it easier to inhale, said Jordt, who is also a research project director and teaching faculty member at the Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science at the Yale School of Medicine.

Mint can also act as a very strong behavioral cue, he said. When people or smokers smell mint, or something like that, they develop this craving to basically smoke the next cigarette.

Nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco products, binds to receptors in the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a role in various bodily functions, including pleasure and motivation, Jordt said. The menthol flavoring in cigarettes creates greater nicotine dependence by enhancing the effects of nicotine on the brain, therefore making it more addictive, according to the CDC.

Its also a fact that its harder to quit smoking with menthol cigarettes, Jordt said. Why that is  its still unclear. But this behavior has been observed in many studies as just harder to quit.

Something had to change

Millie Martinez was 15 when she was introduced to menthol cigarettes. It was the 1980s and she was a high school student in New York City.

I started being part of the crowd and I just started smoking my Newport menthol cigarettes  and I got hooked, said Martinez, who is now 55 and lives in the Bronx. It was downhill from there. Once you start, its very difficult to stop.

Millie Martinez, 55, starting smoking menthol cigarettes when she was 15. (Courtesy Millie Martinez)

Martinez said she had tried to quit but couldnt. She knew something had to change after visiting her infant grandson in March.

It really bothered me that she smelled like cigarettes, Martinez said, and she didnt want her grandson exposed to the scent.

Martinez said that around May she came across an advertisement on Craigslist for a cessation program offered by Truth Initiative, a nonprofit that pushes for bans on tobacco products and also supports programs to help people quit. She joined its Ex Program online in June, and finally put down her last cigarette a month later.

Shireat Nelson, of West Columbia, South Carolina, also started smoking menthol cigarettes as a teenager. Now 59, Nelson tried her first cigarette when she was 14, as a middle-schooler in Connecticut.

One night, some friends of mine said, Do you want a cigarette? Nelson said. And I thought, If I take this cigarette, its going to be permanent. It was in my mind. Maybe it was just mental  but from that moment on, I continued to smoke.

Nelson said she joined the American Lung Associations in-person support groups in June after learning about the program through a friend, who currently has lung cancer. Nelson smoked about six cigarettes a day during the week and 10 a day on the weekend, she said.

After attending eight cessation sessions, Nelson said she picked up her last menthol cigarette on July 13 and hasnt smoked since.

I am so grateful, she said about the cessation program. It was the absolute best thing [that] ever happened to me.

Quitting menthols

While research indicates its harder for people to quit menthol cigarettes, the bedrock approaches to quitting remain the same, according to Amanda Graham, Truth Initiatives chief of innovations and an adjunct professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

The core components of treatment  drugs to help with nicotine cravings, social support and whats called skills training  are similarly applicable to both menthol users and general tobacco users, Graham said.

The important elements of engaging menthol tobacco users are sort of the context in which the intervention is delivered, she said. This includes acknowledging that theyre using a menthol product or that they may be from a racial or ethnic minority in which menthol use is more prevalent  and making sure that the imagery reflects the population most likely using the product, she added.

One tool, nicotine replacement therapies, includes nicotine patches and gums, among others. These products contain lower amounts of nicotine than cigarettes and help smokers wean.

Jordt, of Yale, said one method with the clearest results is Chantix, an oral drug that mimics nicotine by binding to the same receptors in the brain but causes a weaker response. This, in turn, leads to weakened withdrawal symptoms, he said.

The American Lung Association said that for menthol smokers, it advises higher doses of nicotine replacement therapies, and puts a heavier emphasis on occasional menthol smokers.

Menthol users tend to smoke less cigarettes and less frequently, yet, are breathing in deeper, holding in the breath longer, Folkenroth said. So, its a misconception among menthol users, in particular, that they are occasional smokers, when in fact, their tobacco dependency levels  their actual nicotine levels  are extremely high. That misconception many times will kind of deter some of the nicotine replacement therapy dosing.

The associations Freedom From Smoking programs focus on all tobacco products, but the organization also holds intensive training for facilitators to deliver courses where we take a deeper dive into how the curriculum can be delivered specifically for menthol users, Folkenroth said.

It may include a combination of nicotine replacement therapies, such as a 21 milligram nicotine patch paired with 2 milligram nicotine gums or lozenges. This method gives quitters higher amounts of nicotine to then slowly taper down off that nicotine given that they have more severe levels of addiction itself, she said.

Graham said that nicotine addiction is wicked and abruptly quitting can be the most uncomfortable way to quit. Withdrawal symptoms, she added, can be pretty intense, especially during the early days, as your body is weaning off of withdrawal.

Quitting in a more comfortable way increases the likelihood that people will stick with it and be successful, she added.

Social support

All experts emphasized the importance of support while quitting.

Both Martinez and Nelson agreed.

Martinez said she tried to quit smoking on her own last year after her grandson was born, but it only lasted two days because its something thats hard to do, she said. Having access to The Ex Programs online community of counselors, along with others trying to quit smoking, made Martinez feel like she had people cheering me on, she said.

Nelson said she also tried to quit smoking on her own with her husband, who also is a former smoker. The first time she tried to quit was about 20 years ago when both she and her husband went cold turkey. They both became hostile with each other and their efforts only lasted 48 hours.

Shireat Nelson first tried to quit smoking about 20 years ago. (Courtesy Shireat Nelson)

It was really bad, Nelson said.

Over the years Nelson said she tried multiple medications, including Chantix and Wellbutrin  an antidepressant thats also used to help people quit smoking  but none were successful. After going back to school in 2005 to become a health care worker, Nelson said she would wear nicotine patches at work but would take them off when she went home to continue smoking.

Nelsons struggle with quitting affected her self-esteem and made her upset. At one point Nelson begged God to please just take the desire from me, she said.

While the journey hasnt been easy, she said the support she receives from the program she joined has helped prevent her from falling back into her old habits. She regularly practices strategies of journaling and also attends a monthly dinner with others in her program. But its the encouragement from the group facilitators that continues to motivate her even when she wants to give up.

One of the facilitators just kept saying, You can do this. I know you can do this. Nelson said. Im literally crying, and Im telling her, I dont think I can do it, and she just kept telling me I could.

Ensuring access to cessation programs

As the Food and Drug Administrations proposed ban is reviewed by the White House, leaders say they arent cheering just yet. Natasha Phelps, director of equity-centered policies at The Center for Black Health and Equity, said the ban is long overdue but were so far from the finish line.

The group, in addition to supporting policies calling for menthol bans, works with partners and government agencies to ensure their tobacco cessation funding allows grantees to focus on the systemic racism that drives tobacco-related health disparities, Phelps said. One of its current projects, which is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, is looking at best practices for transportation policy, since many Black neighborhoods lack transportation to healthier retail outlets and medical care to access quitting programs, she added. The organization is also working with communities to help push for Medicaid expansion to consistently cover the cost of cessation medications.

Research shows that the effects of banning menthol cigarettes would be swift. Folkenroth of the American Lung Association said that within the first 13 to 17 months of the FDAs proposed menthol rule taking place, an estimated 923,000 smokers would quit, including an estimated 230,000 Black people.

Folkenroth anticipates that the menthol ruling will take place before Christmas. Until then, the American Lung Association will continue to advocate for change, she said.

One thing that we can all do is really help to remind the White House that there are sufficient resources out there, Folkenroth said, specifically for Black people to help quit menthol. No ones going to be left behind. No one is going to be left without anything to help them and their addictions.

CORRECTION (Nov. 28, 2023, 8:15 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misstated Black smokers use of menthol cigarettes. Eighty-five percent of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes; Black smokers are not 85% of all menthol cigarette smokers.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Norfolk Police said they often saw a spike in offences at Christmas

Police are set to carry out extra patrols to crack down on shoplifters in the run up to Christmas.

Norfolk Constabulary will be targeting King's Lynn town centre and the Hardwick retail park nearby.

The county has seen a "significant increase" in shoplifting over the past year, with incidents up 26%.

Its police and crime commissioner, Giles Orpen-Smellie, said he was "very eager" to address the issue.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 4,185 reported incidents of shoplifting in Norfolk in the year to June.

Mr Orpen-Smillie said: "Although this number is still below pre-pandemic levels, I suspect this isn't a true reflection of effects on the ground.

"I would emphasise, 'report, report, report', because what the constabulary doesn't know they can't deal with and, at the moment, Norfolk Constabulary are identifying suspects in 37.1% of all reported shoplifting incidents."

Norfolk Constabulary said it would work with shopkeepers to bring shoplifters to justice.

Norfolk Constabulary said tackling shoplifting in King's Lynn was a "year-round job" but that Operation Wonderland would involve more patrols around busy shopping areas, with officers "close at hand" if incidents occur.

It officially gets under way when the town's Christmas lights are switched on, on Sunday.

West Norfolk neighbourhood policing inspector, Ben Jarvis, said: "This time of year is when we can see a spike in people attempting to steal from shops.

"Often they're looking to make a bit of extra cash for Christmas. However, we know that this can have a massive impact on the shops and businesses in the town."

Shop manager Sasha Coleby said catching shoplifters required a quick response

In September, the Federation of Independent Retailers, which represents 10,000 UK shopkeepers, called for government help to tackle the rising problem of theft.

Sasha Coleby, manager of clothing shop Designs, added: "It's very personal if someone comes in and takes something.

"We had an incident a while ago where high value goods were taken, but with everyone working together the shoplifters were caught."

Policing Minister Chris Philp said shoplifting was a "blight" on high streets and said a dedicated team of specialist analysts and officers was being put together, funded by a group of 13 retailers, to target shoplifting like organised crime.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830
Roxana "Roxy" Fudge, a longtime Iowa resident, was out for a bike ride with her husband in Tucson, Arizona, on March 30, 2022, when tragedy struck. The couple, both avid bikers with decades of cycling experience, were riding their tandem bicycle on a trail, then used a crosswalk to navigate an intersection which they had been through many times over the years, when they were hit by a pickup. The driver failed to yield.

Roxy, 77, a retired nurse and nursing educator, died as a result of her crash-related injuries after spending an excruciating two months in the hospital. But the driver walked away with zero convictions despite the fatal crash. How is this possible?

There is a glaring gap in crosswalk laws in the United States, but this loophole is often unknown, so little is being done to fix it. Crosswalk laws often give legal protections only to pedestrians  people on foot. Cyclists arent protected. Nor are people using wheelchairs, scooters or other personal conveyances.

Crosswalk, people crossing in downtown

We are continually seeing advancements in vehicle safety and roadway infrastructure to improve safety for all road users. Yet, road traffic fatalities continue to increase. These fatalities are often among so-called vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

Changing 'pedestrian' to 'person' could make a big difference

But it doesnt have to be this way. There is a simple and straightforward fix to the legal loophole in crosswalk laws that left Roxy so vulnerable: Change the word pedestrian to person.

As an injury epidemiologist, I study crash prevention and outcomes, and I know that this simple change to crosswalk laws could make a big difference.

The vast majority of state crosswalk laws specifically and only use the word pedestrian in their language. For example, in Iowa, the Pedestrians right-of-way law states that "the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection." Most other state codes have language that is very similar.

Cars move quickly on 86th Street through the intersection Monday, June 12, 2023 by 86th Street and the Monon. This intersection is a dangerous one for pedestrians and cyclists crossing, with heavy traffic. A wreath memorializing Frank Radaker is at the crosswalk. The Bicycle Garage Indy employee was struck by a vehicle at the intersection, as he biked to work, in 2021. He died soon after being hit.

Oregon is one state that gives bicyclists the right of way in crosswalks, but only if the bicyclists are riding no faster than "ordinary" walking speed.

Minnesota law covers bicyclists in crosswalks, and Wisconsin law covers cyclists as well as other conveyances (personal delivery devices, electric scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices).

Despite these few examples, the vast majority of bicyclists and other personal conveyance device users are not legally protected when riding through a crosswalk in the United States.

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.

Sure, crosswalks are primarily designed for pedestrians, but we must acknowledge that there are other humans using them. Bicycles, wheelchairs, scooters and other devices move humans whose lives matter and they should be legally protected in crosswalks just like people on foot.

A change in crosswalk laws might not have prevented the crash that killed Roxy, but it could provide the justice that people like Roxy deserve. A change in crosswalk law language can also provide law enforcement with greater latitude to cite and convict drivers who fail to yield to crosswalk users.

A small change in crosswalk law language can provide protections to bicyclists, as well as wheelchair users and people on scooters. As we approach the 2024 state legislative sessions, lets advocate for this simple language change in crosswalk laws to help protect everyone.

Cara Hamann

Cara Hamann is an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She is an injury epidemiologist who has specialized in road traffic safety research for 15 years. She is also an avid bicyclist and a close friend of Roxy Fudge's son, Geoff. This column first published in the Des Moines Register.

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.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Traffic fatalities are up, and crosswalk loophole makes us vulnerable
A manhunt has ended for a murder suspect after officials say he turned himself in.

Washington County sheriff officials said on Friday morning, deputies received reports of a person shot near the Loft Event Center.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Authorities confirmed the victim died. Their identity has not been released.

Investigators determined that the suspect was 27-year-old Xzavious Wicker and that he left the scene before authorities arrived.

It is unclear how investigators determined he was involved.

TRENDING STORIES:

After a short manhunt, Wicker turned himself into the Washington County Jail.

Wicker was charged with murder, aggravated assault, malice murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology Development, and Digital Transformation Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, may be appointed as Ukraines new Prime Minister after the New Year, political analyst Ihor Reiterovych told Radio NV in an exclusive interview.

"There may be reshuffle in the Cabinet of Ministers. Mr. Fedorov is one of the main candidates for the post of prime minister. And it seems that this could happen after the New Year. There has been a lot of talk about this," Reiterovych said, commenting on the increase in Fedorov's powers, which "could be a sign of real preparation for such a scenario.

Read also: Ukraines Army of Drones breaks record for most Russian equipment destroyed in a one-week period

Fedorov is "expanding his ability to influence completely different processes. On the one hand, there is digitalization; on the other, there is education. On the third hand, there are drones, the army itself, and many other things like that."

Fedorov currently has more or equal powers to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Read also: Ukraine moves to mass production of naval drones  Fedorov

"We understand all the formalities of these powers today, given the legal regime of martial law and the objective circumstances that affect the adoption of certain decisions. However, we cannot ignore such a significant administrative strengthening of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister in charge, and we must talk about it. There is no doubt that he has been successful in certain areas. But there is a simple question: why such a monopolization of power? Because it can actually lead to corruption scandals."

Ukraine is on the verge of creating the Robot Army and the Electronic Warfare (EW) Army, Fedorov announced at the ForbesTech-2023 event, Interfax-Ukraine reported on Nov. 24.

The Army of Drones is a joint project of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the State Special Communications Service, the Digital Transformation Ministry, and the UNITED24 fundraising platform. It is a comprehensive program that includes the systematic procurement of drones for the Ukrainian military, their maintenance and operational replacement, as well as operator training courses.

The Ukrainian government regularly updates on drone transfers to the military and reports notable successes in countering Russian occupation and equipment with their assistance.

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 window view of earth. at right is a soyuz spacecraft. in the center are black socks near the window, with turkey feet on them.

A NASA astronaut's feet cosplayed as a turkey in space.

NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara received new turkey socks for U.S. Thanksgiving on the International Space Station (ISS). She then spent a part of her day off in orbit on Thursday (Nov. 23) showing off the turkey feet at various points around the 356-foot (109-meter) complex.

"Grateful for good perches, and my family who sent me these socks," O'Hara posted Friday (Nov. 24) on X, formerly Twitter. The pictures with the post included a view out the cupola window of the ISS that featured a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, with the turkey feet appearing to cling on the frame of the window.

The crew mainly spent the day relaxing alongside "enjoying holiday treats like chocolate, duck, quail, seafood, pumpkin spice cappuccino and more," NASA officials wrote on Friday of the crew's Thanksgiving activities.

Related: Astronauts celebrate Thanksgiving in space! Here's what they'll eat and what they're thankful for (video)

Another eerie view of O'Hara socks in the Japanese Kibo module showed off the floating feet in front of the airlock, which astronauts recently used to prepare a materials experiment for exposure on the exterior of the ISS.

If you look carefully in the background of the photo, you can also see a series of flags representing the partners of the ISS, as well as a set of three small globes depicting the moon, Earth and Mars.

O'Hara did not specify on which cargo ship the socks arrived, but presumably it was the SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft that docked with the ISS on Nov. 11 with supplies and experiments, including a laser communications test. O'Hara arrived herself at the ISS on Sept. 16 via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, alongside cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, both of Russia's space agency Roscosmos.

RELATED STORIES:

 Astronauts dropped a tool bag during an ISS spacewalk, and you can see it with binoculars

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The ISS Expedition 70 crew also include the SpaceX Crew-7 astronauts, which are ISS commander Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency, NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Satoshi Furukawa and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. Amid hundreds of experiments, O'Hara and Moghbeli also did the fourth-ever all-female spacewalk on Nov. 1.

Meanwhile on the ground, a new ISS crew assignment was announced in Canada on Wednesday (Nov. 22). The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Joshua Kutryk will fly to the ISS with the Boeing Starliner-1 crew in 2025. That will be the CSA's first long-duration mission since fellow agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques flew in 2018-19.

Starliner is the second U.S. commercial craft tasked with delivering astronauts alongside SpaceX Crew Dragon, although the Boeing spacecraft has been delayed in testing with crews due to technical problems over the years.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  This Thanksgiving weekend, a Nashville family is asking for financial assistance after a loved one died in a horrific car crash.

According to News 2s sister station, WREG, 43-year-old Katrina Hall of Batesville, and 5-year-old Oakleigh Varnell of Sardis, were killed in a collision on Monday, Nov. 20 in Quitman County, Mississippi, about 45 minutes south of Memphis.

Body found after vehicle crashes into Tennessee River

Mississippi Highway Patrol said a 2016 Jeep Wrangler was traveling east on Highway 6 when it collided with a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu that was heading west. Katrina and Oakleigh were reportedly passengers in the Chevrolet.

News 2 spoke to Katrinas sister-in-law, Jessica Hall, who said its been devastating for her family as they celebrated Thanksgiving without Katrina.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Yesterday, it was really difficult with her chair being emptyShe had so much life and so much love in her and she loved big, and she would brighten in any room that she came into, Jessica said.

Jessica said her sister-in-law had no savings, so her family is trying to raise enough money to hold a proper burial on Saturday, Nov. 25, as well as help Katrinas three children. Follow this link to contribute to the GoFundMe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
In the fall of 2022, a German court heard an unusual case.



It was a civil lawsuit that grew out of a feud on Twitter about whether transgender people were victims of the Holocaust. Though there is no longer much debate about whether gay men and lesbians were persecuted, theres been very little scholarship on trans people during this period.

The court took expert statements from historians before issuing an opinion that essentially acknowledges that trans people were victimized by the Nazi regime.

This is an important case. It was the first time a court acknowledged the possibility that trans people were persecuted in Nazi Germany. It was followed a few months later by the Bundestag, Germanys parliament, formally releasing a statement recognizing trans and cisgender queer people as victims of fascism.

Up until the past few years, there had been little research on trans people under the Nazi regime. Historians like myself are now uncovering more cases, like that of Toni Simon.

Being trans during the Weimar Republic

In 1933, the year that Hitler took power, the police in Essen, Germany, revoked Toni Simons permit to dress as a woman in public. Simon, who was in her mid-40s, had been living as a woman for many years.

The Weimar Republic, the more tolerant democratic government that existed before Hitler, recognized the rights of trans people, though in a begrudging, limited way. Under the republic, police granted trans people permits like the one Simon had.

In the 1930s, transgender people were called transvestites, which is rarely a preferred term for trans people today, but at the time approximated whats now meant by transgender. The police permits were called transvestite certificates, and they exempted a person from the laws against cross-dressing. Under the Republic, trans people could also change their names legally, though they had to pick from a short, preapproved list.

In Berlin, transgender people published several magazines and had a political club. Some glamorous trans women worked at the internationally famous Eldorado cabaret. The sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, who ran Berlins Institute for Sexual Science, advocated for the rights of transgender people.

The rise of Nazi Germany destroyed this relatively open environment. The Nazis shut down the magazines, the Eldorado and Hirschfelds institute. Most people who held transvestite certificates, as Toni Simon did, had them revoked or watched helplessly as police refused to honor them.

That was just the beginning of the trouble.

Two police officers stand in front of a shuttered nightclub, which has Nazi banners hanging in the window.

Nazi banners hang in the windows of the former Eldorado nightclub. Landesarchiv Berlin/U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Draconian measures against trans people

In Nazi Germany, transgender people were not used as a political wedge issue in the way they are today. There was little public discussion of trans people.

What the Nazis did say about them, however, was chilling.

The author of a 1938 book on the problem of transvestitism wrote that before Hitler was in power, there was not much that could be done about transgender people, but that now, in Nazi Germany, they could be put in concentration camps or subjected to forced castration. That was good, he believed, because the asocial mindset of trans people and their supposedly frequent criminal activity  justifies draconian measures by the state.

Toni Simon was a brave person. I first came across her police file when I was researching trans people at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Essen police knew Simon as the sassy proprietor of an underground club where LGBTQ people gathered. In the mid 1930s, she was hauled into court for criticizing the Nazi regime. By then, the Gestapo had had enough of her. Simon was a danger to youth, a Gestapo officer wrote. A concentration camp was absolutely necessary.

I am not certain what happened to Simon. Her file ends abruptly, with the Gestapo planning her arrest. But there are no actual arrest papers. Hopefully, she evaded the police.

Other trans women did not escape. At the Hamburg State Archive, I read about H. Bode, who often went out in public dressed as a woman and dated men. Under the Weimar Republic, she held a transvestite certificate. Nazi police went after her for cross-dressing and for having sex with men. They considered her male, so her relationships were homosexual and illegal. They sent her to the concentration camp Buchenwald, where she was murdered.

Liddy Bacroff of Hamburg also had a transvestite pass under the Republic. She made her living selling sex to male clients. After 1933, the police went after her. They wrote that she was fundamentally a transvestite and a morals criminal of the worst sort. She too was sent to a camp, Mauthausen, and murdered.

Trans Germans previously misgendered

For a long time, the public didnt know the stories of trans people in Nazi Germany.

Earlier histories tended to misgender trans women, which was odd: When you read the records of their police interrogations, they are often remarkably clear about their gender identity, even though they were not helping their cases at all by doing so.

Bacroff, for example, told the police, My sense of my sex is fully and completely that of a woman.

There was also confusion caused by a few cases that, by chance, came to light first. In these cases, police acted less violently. For example, there is a well-known case from Berlin where police renewed a trans mans transvestite certificate after he spent some months in a concentration camp. Historians initially took this case to be representative. Now that we have a lot more cases, we can see that it is an outlier. Police normally revoked the certificates.

A through line to today

Today, right-wing attacks against trans people in the U.S. are intensifying.

Though the American Academy of Pediatrics and every major medical association approves gender-affirming health care for trans kids, Republican politicians have banned it in 19 states, with even more moving to prohibit it.

Gender-affirming medicine is now over 100 years old  and it has roots in Weimar Germany. It had never before been legally restricted in the U.S. Yet Missouri has essentially banned it for adults, and other states are trying to restrict adult care. A host of other anti-trans bills are moving through state legislatures.

I find it fitting, then, that A Transparent Musical recently premiered in Los Angeles. In it, fabulously dressed trans Berliners sing and dance in defiance of Nazi thugs.

Its a reminder that attacks on trans people are nothing new  and that many of them are straight out of the Nazi playbook.

Editors note: An earlier version of this story noted that the authors testimony was submitted to a German court. While the testimony was submitted to a lawyer arguing in the court case, that lawyer did not ultimately submit it to the court. In addition, the story was edited in the third paragraph to more accurately reflect the decision of the German court.

The Conversation

Laurie Marhoefer is a professor of history at the University of Washington.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  NBA Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass says the league is looking into allegations against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, according to an X post from Shams Charania, Senior NBA Insider with the Athletic.

The allegations stem from a post that has been circulating social media, claiming Giddey was having an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

City council approves special election for new OKC Thunder arena

Giddey was asked about the accusations on Friday during media availability at practice today, saying he understood the question, but didnt have a comment.

The Thunder PR team told News 4 that the 21-year-old Australian guard will be available to play in the Thunders upcoming home game against the 76ers on Saturday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A Nevada judge rejected a ballot measure that would protect abortion rights.

Judge James T. Russell said the measure as written was too broad.

It comes as more states move to enshrine reproductive rights in their constitutions.

A Nevada judge turned down a ballot measure that would have constitutionally protected abortion rights in the state, calling the amendment overly broad.

The measure, proposed by Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, included "all matters relating to pregnancy," not just abortion.

Judge James T. Russell agreed with opponents of the measure that its wording was too broad to fit with the state's single-subject rule that a referendum or initiative "must embrace one subject," local ABC affiliate KOLO-TV reported.

"This is probably the clearest case I have seen that I think there is a violation of the single subject rule," Russell said, according to KOLO. "I've seen a lot of them over the years and in respect to this particular matter, there are too many subjects. Not all of which are functionally related to each other."

A portion of the proposed amendment, according to the Nevada Independent, read: "Every individual has a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including, without limitation, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, vasectomy, tubal ligation, abortion, abortion care, management of a miscarriage and infertility care."

Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom plans to appeal the decision, KOLO reported.

"Nevadans overwhelmingly support putting reproductive rights into our state constitution, and voters should be aware that anti-abortion advocates still have plenty of state government allies who are willing to help them undermine reproductive freedom," Lindsey Harmon, president of Nevadans For Reproductive Freedom, said in a statement, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

In this post-Roe v. Wade world, advocates and opponents of abortion have engaged in a tug-of-war over whether and how reproductive rights will be enshrined in state constitutions.

Kansas made headlines in 2022 when voters overwhelmingly opposed a measure that would have stripped state residents of abortion rights. Subsequently (though unsurprisingly), California also protected the constitutional right to abortion care in 2022.

Ohio did the same earlier this month in a landslide victory for the red state, establishing the right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability. Abortion rights also played a crucial role in elections in Virginia and Kentucky.

States to watch in 2024 on abortion measures include Arizona, Florida, Missouri, and South Dakota. Each has proposed  or is collecting signatures for  constitutional amendments supporting abortion rights.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A GP is being investigated by the NHS after leading an anti-Israel protest at which some demonstrators called for jihad.

Dr Wahid Asif Shaida, who has practiced as a family GP in north west London since 2002, is also UK leader of the extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), which is banned in Germany and a dozen other countries.

Using the name Abdul Wahid he addressed a rally outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in London last month during which he told the crowd: Victory is coming and everyone has to choose a side. Whose side are you going to be on?

A video clip showed people in the crowd chanting Jihad! Jihad! Jihad! after the speeches. The Met found no offences were identified in the clip.

The GP was also present at a protest by HT outside the Egyptian Embassy on Saturday, where supporters of the group held up a banner reading: Muslim Armies! Rescue the People of Palestine and chanted: Muslim armies isnt it time?

He told the crowd that liberation would mean a system that allowed Muslim, Jew and Christian to live side by side in peace and respect with everyone having rights.

Police had earlier handed out leaflets urging the 100-odd demonstrators not to use racist terms or incite hatred to avoid ending up in our cells.

Investigation launched

The General Medical Council and NHS England have now launched an investigation into Dr Shaida after concerns were raised.

A spokesperson for NHS North West London (NHSNWL) said: We are aware of media reports of a serious nature relating to public comments allegedly made by a clinician in North West London. The conduct of individual practitioners sits with NHSE and the GMC. Both are aware of the concerns raised and are investigating the matter.

NHSNWL added: We are actively engaging with the practice and NHS England. NHS North West London abhors anti-Semitism and has written to all GP practices in North West London reminding them of the zero tolerance approach that we expect all staff working in GP practices to adopt towards anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.

In the days after Hamas gunmen massacred more than 1,400 Israelis on October 7, HTs Facebook page praised the attack as having ignited a wave of joy and elation among Muslims globally.

Praised brave mujahideen

In a talk on YouTube Dr Shaida later praised the brave mujahideen, or fighters, who gave the enemy a punch on the nose, and its a very welcome punch on the nose.

Patients at Dr Shaidas Harrow based practice GP Direct are understood to have raised concerns about him being allowed to practice there, given his views.

His profile on the surgerys website states: Dr Wahid Shaida has worked as a salaried GP at the practice since 2002. His special interests lie in the field of medical education. He is a GP trainer for recently qualified doctors. He is currently the information governance and complaints lead within the practice.

Dr Shaida, who has confirmed he was also known as Abdul Wahid, has denied his HT group is extremist, saying the word is used as a pejorative term.

Speaking last month he added: I attend to my professional duties and commitments diligently, aiming for the best care of my patients at all times. For reasons of professional probity I keep a very clear line between my professional and political life.

He said HT was calling on the Muslim world to intervene militarily to rescue the people of Gaza who have been subjected to horrific conditions for 16 years.

Encouraging terrorism

Responding to criticism from the then Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has previously stated that chanting jihad is not in itself a crime.

But the Governments adviser on counter terror legislation has said such chants can be prosecuted as encouraging terrorism.

In a report published on Wednesday, Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said he did not believe there was any need to toughen anti-terror laws in the wake of the national pro-Palestine protests.

He said this was especially the case if terrorist attacks had already been carried out in support of the speakers cause, and members of the public might reasonably see a chant of jihad as encouragement to carry out their own act of terrorism in the UK or overseas, he added.

Jihad has benign meanings but, in this context, would likely refer to violence.

Dr Shaida was contacted for comment.

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Sheynnis Palacios, who last week was crowned as the first Miss Universe in a pageant in San Salvador, has become a symbol of resistance to the Nicaraguan government (Marvin RECINOS)

Nicaraguan authorities have barred the director of the national beauty pageant from re-entering the country after a Nicaraguan woman seen as a symbol of opposition to the Ortega government was crowned Miss Universe, media reports and exiled opposition members said.

Karen Celebertti and her daughter were detained upon their arrival at the Managua airport -- days after seeing 23-year-old Sheynnis Palacios crowned as the first Miss Universe from Nicaragua -- and placed on a flight to Mexico, the opposition-linked La Prensa newspaper reported.

The government "blocked Karen Celebertti, owner of the Miss Nicaragua franchise, and her daughter from entering the country," the Costa Rica-based Nicaraguan daily said on its web site.

It was unclear on what grounds Celebertti, a Nicaraguan national, was excluded. The Ortega government has made no comment on the matter.

The writer Gioconda Belli, who lives in Spain after being stripped of her Nicaraguan nationality by the government, contended that Celebertti was blocked at the orders of Daniel Ortega's wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, despite her success in helping a Nicaraguan win the prestigious contest.

Opposition media also reported that Celebertti's Managua home had been searched Friday and her husband, Martin Arguello, briefly detained.

Since Palacios was crowned Miss Universe on November 18 in San Salvador, she has been widely portrayed as a symbol of opposition to Ortega.

Photos showing her waving the Nicaraguan flag at anti-government protests in 2018 have gone viral, and her victory brought joyful crowds into Nicaragua's streets in the biggest public displays since such gatherings were banned five years ago.

Murillo on Wednesday blasted the publication of such photos as "malicious (and) terrorist communications that aim to transform a beautiful moment of pride and well-deserved celebration into a destructive coup."

The Nicaraguan opposition has portrayed Palacios' victory as a sign of hope. Some in the celebratory crowds waved the blue and white flags of the opposition.

"I'm so happy to see the joy of Nicaraguans and to see them bring out the clandestine blue and white... Thanks to Sheynnis," the writer Belli said on X, the former Twitter.

- 'National symbol' -

Opposition sources said that on Tuesday, government officials barred two artists from completing a mural of the new Miss Universe in the northern city of Esteli. Photos of the unfinished fresco have circulated on social media.

"It is impossible to view this inoffensive contest without considering the political and social reality. She has become a national and emotional symbol who has restored hope. And the government understands this," prize-winning Nicaraguan journalist Wilfredo Miranda, who lives in exile in Costa Rica, told AFP.

Many exiles even viewed the outfit in which Palacios was crowned -- a flowing white dress with a blue cape resembling images of Nicaragua's patron saint, the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception -- as symbolic amid a government crackdown on the Catholic Church.

"Thank you for bringing joy to our suffering people, thank you for giving us hope," Monsignor Silvio Baez, the auxiliary bishop of Managua, wrote on X. He lives in exile in the United States.

A government clampdown on the 2018 protests left more than 350 dead and more than 100,000 in exile. The government has since jailed hundreds of critics.

- 'Miss Fritters' -

Palacios comes from a modest background in the city of Diriamba, in Carazo department. She, her mother and grandmother started a business selling Nicaraguan beignets.

Before her victory, a pro-government television presenter had disdainfully nicknamed her "Miss Fritters." Exiled Nicaraguan media have not forgotten.

Nor have they forgotten that she studied at the Central American University, a Jesuit school closed last August by the government as a "center of terrorism."

The new Miss Universe, who left El Salvador on a multi-nation tour, has dedicated her victory only to the six million Nicaraguans -- whether in the country or in exile.

mis/fj/lab/rr/bbk/md
School districts around the nation are facing a terrible financial problem.

During the pandemic, they received billions in federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund (ESSER), which they are required tospend or commit by the fall of 2024. Meanwhile, many districts, especially ones in California, received massive increases in state funding. Recently, because of declining revenues, states are projecting deficits and education budget cuts. This means that districts, especially urban districts suffering from declining student enrollment, could be hit by the double whammy of the ESSER funding cliff and a state budget crisis.

As I traveled the state visiting our urban districts, I listened to one budget presentation after another from finance officers talking about a post-ESSER Armageddon. In the last district I visited, I sat in a packed auditorium as the CFO showed how theyd spent their one-time money on ongoing costs and funded programs that couldnt survive. As he droned on about all the horrible things that would happen, I drifted off to sleep.

When I awoke, the auditorium was empty. I looked down at my watch and noticed it had stopped 28 days after the board presentation. Id clearly been out for a while because my fingernails were long, and Id grown a full beard. Id been asleep until the Halloween day after the ESSER funding cliff. I assumed that I owed my life to the extra-large burrito Id eaten before the board meeting. I walked out and entered the district offices, looking for signs of life. Everywhere I walked, there were overturned tables, candy wrappers and papers strewn about.

As I turned a corner, I noticed three people shambling toward me with the typical urgency of a central office manager. I was about to approach them when I realized they were zombies trying to eat me. Terrified, I ran to my car and drove away. Over the next few days, I visited schools and district offices that were filled with zombies. It was clear that something terrible had happened and that it was connected to the ESSER funding cliff, but I couldnt fathom what.

I knew there was only one place to find the answer  the state Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team. When I walked through their doors, I was relieved to find that they were still human. From the haggard looks on their faces, it was clear that theyd been working nonstop on a cure. What the hell happened? I asked.

A crisis team leader pointed to flow charts taped on a nearby wall. We knew that the ESSER cliff would be bad and that a state budget crisis would make it worse. We also knew that some of our more financially irresponsible urban districts were already deathly ill. We were especially worried about the declining enrollment ones whose school boards made politically popular decisions to increase salaries with one-time money and wouldnt make difficult decisions to lower costs, like closing small schools and cutting staff. What we didnt expect was that the people in these zombie districts would actually turn into zombies, he sighed.

Is there anything we can do to fix this? I entreated. He shrugged and motioned me toward another room.

Ask him, he said, pointing to a shadowy figure on the other side of a thick plexiglass wall. I looked closer and cried out, Oh my God, thats a zombie.

I prefer the term differently human, said the zombie, who introduced himself as a local teachers union president. I asked him how he would cure the situation so kids could get back to school. He said, Theres nothing to cure. We showed during the pandemic and in places like Oakland afterward that we dont need kids to have schools. All we need are teachers. Now, we are proving it. Of course, if anyone wants to come back, well welcome them with open arms.

But zombies eat children. I gasped.

Yes. There will be accidents, but the class sizes are delightful, he said, smiling widely.

I left and again wandered the state, looking for anyone with a cure. Thinking that one of the states tech billionaires might be helpful, I traveled to in Silicon Valley to meet a famous one whod focused on education and pleaded for his assistance. He listened for a few minutes and then cut me off. Why would we help? he said. They did this to themselves with the tax money they took from us. Now, we have much less money which means they have less money.

But what about the kids? I asked. They cant learn in zombie districts.

Its just like New Orleans after Katrina, he said. Sometimes you have to destroy something that is bad before you can create something better.

I threw up my hands, wondering what could possess people to think in this destructive way. At my wits end, I made one last journey to visit the Oracle at Georgetown University. She was sitting in her office nursing a cup of tea. She offered me a cup and told me I could ask two questions.

Oh Great Oracle, I said. What could we have done to prevent this, and what can we do now?

The answer is one and the same, she said. School districts and their communities knew what was coming. They should have had the courage to say no to spending short-term dollars on future costs that would require ongoing funding. They must make hard choices on people and schools that they dont have enough money for. They must have state and local leaders who will encourage them to do so, and when possible, give them cover. And those political leaders must be willing to make these choices even at the expense of their careers, knowing that they are doing the right thing. That will cure this apocalypse and prevent the next one.

I thanked the Oracle and pledged to share her wisdom, hoping that others would listen too.

Arun Ramanathan is the former CEO of Pivot Learning and the Education TrustWest. He wrote this for EdSource.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The nightmare for schools after federal COVID-19 funding ends
Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Rwanda scheme was not 'the be all and end all' of the migration issue - Frank Augstein/AP

Downing Street has moved to quell a Conservative backlash over the new Home Secretarys warning that people should not fixate on the Governments flagship Rwanda migration scheme.

A No 10 source insisted that ministers were completely committed to plans set out by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

The source also said that Mr Sunak was crystal clear earlier this month that he wouldnt let a foreign court block flights  reiterating the Prime Ministers coded warning over the possibility of the European Court of Human Rights intervening to keep flights grounded.

The intervention came amid fury among some Conservative backbenchers over a newspaper interview in which James Cleverly said he was frustrated that the Government had allowed the narrative to be created that the Rwanda scheme was the be all and end all.

Mr Cleverly, who replaced Suella Braverman in this months reshuffle, also told The Times that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would jeopardise key cooperation with countries such as France, Albania and Bulgaria, which has helped drive down illegal migration.

Warning against hyperbole

In remarks that particularly irked some of his colleagues he also warned against hyperbole in discussions around overall levels of migration.

Earlier this month, Mr Sunak announced an emergency law to overcome the Supreme Courts unanimous ruling that the plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful, but such legislation has yet to be published.

David Jones, the deputy chairman of the European Research Group of MPs, warned that the ruling must be robustly addressed.

Mr Sunak has deliberately not ruled out the possibility of ultimately leaving the European Convention on Human Rights if there is no other way to legally start the scheme.

Many Tory MPs, particularly those in Red Wall seats, are concerned about a major public backlash if the party fails to deliver on Mr Sunaks pledge to stop the flow of boats carrying migrants across the Channel.

Last week, official figures estimates suggested that net migration had reached a record high of 745,000 in the year to last December.

In a public sign of the discontent over Mr Cleverlys remarks, Simon Clarke, the former levelling up secretary, reposted a warning by one pollster that the Tories face an electorally existential migration challenge.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: No hyperbole here.

James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners pollsters and a former adviser to Theresa May, described Mr Cleverlys remarks as completely out of step with the voters.

He added: Voters want the small boats crisis solved by any means possible. Stopping small boats is crucial if the Tories want any chance of winning the next election. The Prime Minister seems to understand this but his Home Secretary does not.

Disregard for voters

Another Conservative backbencher said: James Cleverly clearly doesnt get how important immigration is as an issue to people.

Describing the words that some colleagues have used as hyperbole shows a complete disregard for the concerns of voters.

The MP added: Were not obsessed with Rwanda. We realise that to tackle illegal migration, you need a deterrent. That scheme is a deterrent.

Mr Jones said: Im sure the Home Secretary recognises that the Supreme Court judgment must be robustly addressed.

That requires domestic legislation, as well as a treaty with Rwanda. I have no doubt that the Government will be introducing the necessary Bill shortly and I and the European Research Group look forward to supporting it.

A No 10 source said the Government was completely committed to making Rwanda work and that work is being done at pace to get the treaty and legislation ready.

The source added: The point the Home Secretary is making is we have managed to get crossings down by a third even without Rwanda. But, of course, Rwanda is a key part of our 10-point plan and remains something we are determined to get up and running.

Urgent steps

Dr Caroline Johnson, the Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, said: Levels of legal migration are far too high. This is putting pressure on communities, public services and housing. The Government must take urgent steps to reduce immigration.

Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, is pushing for a crackdown on visas for foreign NHS and care workers, as part of a five-point plan to reduce net migration.

A government source insisted that Mr Cleverly was absolutely in sync with voters concerns given his absolute focus is on the mission to stop the boats and on legal migration, to control it and bring it down.

The source added: Nothing he has said suggests he is not fully committed to stopping the boats and controlling migration... he said people should focus less on methods and talking about them and more on the mission and delivering it. Which is what he and the PM will do.

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Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages held captive since the onset of its war with Israel in Gaza  but Americans were not included.

Fifty hostages are expected to be released during the four-day truce between the militant group and Israel. The White House has been optimistic that at least three of those freed will be Americans.

The group is expected to release a second wave of hostages Saturday. Hamas provided negotiators in Qatar and Egypt with another list of those expected to be freed in the new exchange  and it has been passed to Israel, according to The Associated Press.

In this release, another 13 hostages would be exchanged for 39 prisoners, AP reported. However, Israel said it expects 14.

Still, Americans were not on the list, a White House official told CNN.

The Biden administration says it remains hopeful that in the coming days, two American women and a 4-year-old girl will be freed as part of the deal.

We are early in the process that will see at least 50 women and children released during the first phase of the agreement, a White House official said, according to CNN. We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens.

This will unfold over the coming days, they added. We will not comment on individual cases as the process is underway.

Nearly 40 of an expected 150 Palestinian prisoners were also released Friday.

The first release consisted of 13 Israelis, mostly women and children; about 10 Thai nationals, and a Filipino, according to a spokesman of the Qatar Foreign Ministry, which helped negotiate the deal.

In a press conference Friday night, President Biden said while he couldnt confirm the health status of the Americans believed to be among the hostages, he expects them to be part of the deal.

We dont know when that will occur, but we expect it to occur, Biden said.

The president said he is hopeful that the truce will be extended, and more hostages will be released.

Thats our goal, he said.

Amid the short-term cease-fire, more than 200 trucks were also permitted into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing carrying critical fuel supplies and other humanitarian aid, officials said.

On Saturday, 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies were sent to northern Gaza, the largest aid convoy to reach the area since the start of the war, AP reported.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Update: Norfolk police say Khaalyah R. Bell has been found safe.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Norfolk Police detectives are looking for a missing woman and say they are concerned for her well-being.

Khaalyah Bell

Police said Khaalyah R. Bell, 21, was last seen at noon in the 800 block of W. 28th St. Bell is about 5-foot-4, 190 pounds with shoulder length red hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a plaid bonnet, red hoodie and blue jogging pants with gold lettering on them.

Anyone with information about Bell is asked to call 911.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.  A preteen North Carolina girl has been missing for over a year since she was last seen getting off a school bus in her hometown of Cornelius, just north of Charlotte, Nov. 21, 2022.

"It's hard to believe that a year has already passed since she was last seen getting off the school bus," Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom told Fox News Digital. "And  in just a few short weeks is the anniversary of when our investigation actually began."

Madalina Cojocari's mother and stepfather, Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter, did not report the 11-year-old girl missing to police until weeks later on Dec. 15, 2022, despite telling police the last time they saw their daughter was at home the evening of Nov. 23, 2022.

Baucom, who hosted a town meeting to remember Madalina Tuesday, said the weeks-long delay in reporting Madalina's disappearance initially hindered his department's investigation.

MADALINA COJOCARI: NORTH CAROLINA POLICE RELEASE NEW PHOTO OF 11-YEAR-OLD MISSING SINCE NOVEMBER

"It slowed [the investigation] down initially," Baucom said. "We spent a lot of time trying to go back through the records we had available early on and (tried to) find her that way. And then  we had to, of course, obtain search warrants and start looking at other records, trying to find other avenues to locate her."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Leads have taken authorities from the Charlotte area to the mountains of western North Carolina.

MISSING NORTH CAROLINA GIRL'S MOTHER WANTED TO SMUGGLE 11-YEAR-OLD FROM HOME: WARRANT

"We're not going to stop until we find her," the police chief said.

The police chief added that, over the course of his career in law enforcement, he has never seen a missing person case "of this magnitude."

MISSING MADALINA COJOCARI: TIMELINE OF NORTH CAROLINA GIRL'S DISAPPEARANCE THAT WENT UNREPROTED FOR WEEKS

"We may have someone who's missing for two hours or four hours or maybe a day or so. But, normally, that's because they just forgot to tell a family member they were going somewhere, or their cellphone was dead or something like that. But nothing along the lines of this case," he said.

Cojocari, who is originally from Moldovia, told school officials and Cornelius Police she hadn't seen her daughter, a 6th-grader at Bailey Middle School, since she went to her bedroom the night of Nov. 23, 2022, around 10 p.m. after she and her husband, Christopher Palmiter, got into an argument, court documents state.

Madalina Cojocari of Cornelius, N.C., was last seen around Nov. 23, 2022.

On Nov. 24, 2022, Palmiter drove to his relatives' home in Michigan "to recover some items" after an argument with his wife. Cojocari went into her daughter's room around 11:30 a.m. that morning to discover the 11-year-old was gone.

MADALINA COJOCARI'S PARENTS HAD NO FRIENDS,' WERE QUIET DURING GROUP VACATIONS, ACQUAINTANCE SAYS

When Palmiter returned home to Cornelius Nov. 26, Cojocari apparently asked him where their daughter was. And Palmiter allegedly asked her the same question in return, according to an affidavit.

Madalina Cojocari was last seen in Cornelius, N.C., Nov. 21, 2022.

Soon after reporting Madalina missing last year, her parents penned a handwritten note expressing their concern for the missing 11-year-old, which the CPD shared with the public Dec. 22.

MISSING MADALINA COJOCARI: NORTH CAROLINA POLICE ASK LOCALS TO FLOOD THE AREA WITH HER PRECIOUS FACE

"Madalina is a beautiful, smart, kind and loving 11-year-old girl with greatness in her future," the family wrote. "We are desperate to find her right now, she needs all of our help."

Both parents were arrested for failing to report a missing child. Palmiter was released in August after posting bond while Cojocari remains in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail.

In December, authorities arrested and charged the 11-year-old's parents, Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter, with failure to report a missing child to law enforcement after Madalina's disappearance from her hometown in Cornelius, which is just north of Charlotte, around Nov. 23, 2022.

"That's part of our judicial process," Baucom said of Palmiter's release. "That's an opportunity that everyone who is criminally charged has to receive a bond  because everyone in the end is still innocent till proven guilty."

Cornelius authorities last year asked the public for "firsthand eyewitness information from anyone" who may have spotted Cojocari's light green Toyota Prius in the Madison County area between Nov. 22, 2022, and Dec. 15. Madison County is a rural area near Asheville situated in the Appalachian Mountains.

MADALINA COJOCARI'S GRANDMOTHER BELIEVES MISSING GIRL, 12, WAS TRAFFICKED FOR $5M: REPORT

In an August interview with local news outlet WCNC, Rodica Cojocari, Madalina's grandmother and the mother of Diana, said through a translator her "granddaughter is alive, but she's been kidnapped."

Investigators on Thursday shared a handwritten, personal message from the family of Madalina Cojocari.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Rodica, who hails from Moldova, proceeded to accuse Palmiter of trafficking Diana and Madalina for $5 million.

Search warrants unsealed earlier this year suggest Diana and Rodica contacted a distant relative asking if he would help in "smuggling" Diana and Madalina from their Cornelius home, just north of Charlotte, before Madalina disappeared, according to phone records obtained by the Cornelius Police Department.

"She told him she was in a bad relationship with co-defendant Christopher Palmiter and wanted a divorce," the warrant states.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about Madalina's whereabouts to contact the CPD at 704-892-7773.





Original article source: North Carolina girl Madalina Cojocari missing for one year: 'Not going to stop until we find her'
A rocket lifting off amid towers with darkness in the background. it's a tv view of the launch with Korean Hangul characters describing the scene in front.

The first stage of a North Korean rocket apparently exploded Tuesday (Nov. 21) during a purported spy satellite launch, a new video suggests.

A camera at South Korea's Yonsei University, usually used for tracking meteors or shooting stars, showed the first stage of the North Korean Chollima-1 rocket appearing to erupt and spread debris, Reuters reported Friday (Nov. 24).

"This time they appear to have detonated the first stage propellant in mid-air," Byun Yong-Ik, an astronomy professor at Yonsei University, told Reuters. "This kind of measure was not seen in the previous launch attempts, and it could have been an effort to prevent South Korean and U.S. authorities from recovering the (rocket), as it is equipped with a new engine."

The activity was classified as unusual by North Korean rocket experts in the report, given that countries typically allow rocket stages to fall naturally into Earth's atmosphere  absent the ability to land the first stage, like SpaceX or Blue Origin does. North Korea has reported an ability to self-destruct rockets on previous launches, too.

Related: North Korea claims it sent a spy satellite to orbit for 1st time: report

A North Korean rocket lifts off on a television screen at Seoul's Yongsan Railway Station on Nov. 21, 2023.

The U.S. Space Force has cataloged an object in orbit matching the trajectory of the launch, suggesting the spy satellite is indeed in space, astronomer Jonathan McDowell posted Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter. McDowell, who is based at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, also tracks worldwide space launches, landings and re-entries.

Following North Korea's claims of the successful spy satellite launch on Tuesday, senior U.S. officials and the White House condemned the activity; the American security community has said the technologies used for the rocket are similar to those for the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile program.

For example, officials with the White House released a statement saying the launch on Tuesday was "a brazen violation of multiple UN (United Nations) Security Council resolutions, raises tensions, and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond."

a group of men in suits talking in front of a horizontal rocket

In this pool photo distributed by Sputnik agency, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (center L) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (center R) visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russias Amur region on Sept. 13, 2023. (Image credit: VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Previously, senior U.S. officials have also raised concerns of North Korea's closer ties with Russia in recent months, including a joint meeting of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September concerning sharing spaceflight and rocket technologies. (North Korea denied Russia provided assistance for Tuesday's launch, however, according to media reports.)

Russia has been cut off from most international space activities since its unsanctioned invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, lessening opportunities for its space companies. North Korea, meanwhile, has been a communist state for 80 years. Its economy is controlled by the state and its citizens are said to lack basic food and services, according to Britannica.

RELATED STORIES:

 North Korea claims it sent a spy satellite to orbit for 1st time: report

 Vladimir Putin meets North Korea's Kim Jong-un at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport for 5-hour summit

 South Korea signs Artemis Accords, aims for moon by 2030

North Korea's nuclear program ambitions in the last decade have drawn concerns from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that includes the U.S., so much so that the U.S. and South Korea have done collaborative military exercises in the region lately. (South Korea is also a signatory to NASA's Artemis Accords, a coalition of dozens of nations that is in part moon-focused and in part a framework for peaceful international space exploration.)

The launch by North Korea is its third try to send a spy satellite to orbit in recent months. The first two attempts were confirmed failures, and the South Korean government has said it found debris associated with at least one of the launches. South Korea is also searching for debris for Tuesday's launch, Reuters said.

South Korea is said to be planning its own first spy satellite for launch later in November, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The government of North Macedonia decided at a meeting on Friday to permit Russian planes to fly over its territory so that a Russian delegation can attend a ministerial meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Source: European Pravda, citing a press release from the North Macedonian government in Skopje

Details: The North Macedonian governments decision allows the Defence and Foreign Ministries to "make additional decisions on the issuance of overflight and landing permits for Russian aircraft during the thirteenth ministerial meeting in Skopje from 29 November to 1 December".

"This addition is in line with EU regulations and the provisions of the restrictive measures, which provide for an exception to the restrictions in question for international conferences such as the OSCE summit in Skopje," the statement said.

According to media reports, the Russian delegation will include Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "his doctor, technical staff, and security", 17 diplomats, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, and 24 journalists  a total of 85 people.

North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani had said earlier that the Russian delegations attendance at the OSCE ministerial meeting was in doubt because his countrys airspace and that of neighbouring states are closed to Russian aircraft due to EU sanctions against Russia.

Background:

At last year's OSCE ministerial meeting, hosted by Poland, Warsaw refused to allow Lavrov to enter the country. The move provoked anger from Moscow, which called the refusal "unprecedented and provocative".

Ukraine has repeatedly called for Russia's expulsion from the OSCE. Last month, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia is now "killing" the organisation, adding that he can "easily imagine" it without Russia.

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Bujar Osmani, North Macedonia's Foreign Minister, has commented on the government's decision to allow Russian planes carrying a delegation to participate in an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ministerial meeting to fly over its territory.

Source: Libertas.mk, citing Osmani, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The official said he, as foreign minister, stood against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to North Macedonia.

"However, Lavrov is not coming on a bilateral visit, but to a country where an OSCE meeting will be held," Osmani said.

The 360 Stepeni news outlet has learned that during the government meeting, North Macedonia's Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska abstained from voting on the permission for the plane carrying Lavrov to pass through.

Commenting on this, Osmani added that he "stands on the same line as Minister Petrovska, but we need to feel the difference".

The official also said talks are currently underway with other countries regarding a plane flight involving Lavrov.

"There are few options: Bulgaria and Greece. Once we have made the decision, I don't see why they would object. Lavrov has been to New York in the United States for a UN meeting; he has not arrived in the United States on a bilateral visit. He is not going to Skopje; he is heading to the OSCE. We should feel the difference," the North Macedonian minister added.

Asked about Kyiv's position on Lavrov's visit, Osmani noted that he is in constant communication with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.

"I have been to Kyiv; I understand how sensitive this issue is, making our work even more challenging. In this case, one person's arrival puts another's coming at risk. The key thing for us is to keep the OSCE healthy and alive after the Ministerial Council," Osmani said.

Background:

Earlier, reports emerged that the North Macedonian government has allowed Russian planes carrying a delegation to participate in a ministerial meeting of the OSCE to fly over its territory.

Media reports suggest that the Russian delegation will consist of a total of 85 people: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "his doctor, technical staff, security", 17 diplomats, including Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, and 24 journalists.

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Ohio State's Brutus Buckeye with one of the blood donors participating in the 42nd annual Battle of the Blood donation drive against the University of Michigan.

Ohio State University has won one blood battle, and hopes to win another one Saturday on the gridiron.

Ohio State won the 42nd annual Battle of the Blood donation drive over the University of Michigan, beating the Wolverines for the second year in a row while providing more than 1,700 pints of life-saving blood for patients at OSU's Wexner Medical Center.

We are so proud of our Ohio State and central Ohio communities, coming together to play a role in this friendly off-the-field competition, Dr. Naeem Ali, medical director of the University Hospital system and director of critical care clinical operations at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, said in a release. The selfless act by so many donors has the potential to make a lifesaving impact for thousands of our patients.

This year, Ohio State beat the University of Michigan by 263 pints, with OSU collecting 1,732 pints and the Wolverines collecting 1,469 pints. In 2022, Ohio State collected 1,630 pints while the University of Michigan collected 1,553 pints.

Both Ohio State and Michigan held donations at their respective campuses during a four-week period that ended on Nov. 22. Ohio State held 48 individual collections throughout the duration of the competition, with the largest donation events at Ohio Stadium, the Schottenstein Center and The Ohio Union.

Danielle Falconer, Versiti area vice president and director of donor services, said that the fact that more than half of the donors gave blood for the first time gives "hope that the next generation is ready and willing to continue serving all of the people who rely on lifesaving blood.

Since 2019, Versiti has worked with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to provide blood and blood-related products to the medical center for patients admitted to the center for traumatic injuries, cancer treatment, organ transplant recipients and other medical procedures.

Versiti, which opened its first permanent blood center in Ohio last year at 3830 Fishinger Blvd. in Hilliard, also holds mobile blood drives across central Ohio. Donors can register for future blood drives at versiti.org.

Blood donation facts:

One blood donation can save up to three lives.

Every two seconds, someone needs lifesaving blood.

75% of the population will need blood at some point in their lives.

Blood donation appointments take less than one hour to complete.

Source: Versiti

@ShahidMeighan

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State beats Michigan in 42nd annual blood drive battle
Two men and a teenager have been charged after an attempted burglary and police pursuit in County Tyrone.

Police received a report of an attempted burglary in Clements Villas in Omagh at about 18:50 GMT on Friday.

A police helicopter followed a car from the scene, as it travelled from Omagh to Newry.

The car stopped in Camlough before the driver tried to ram into a police patrol car.

The men, aged 21 and 27 and a teenage boy aged 17, have been charged with going equipped for theft.

The 27-year-old man has also been charged with possession of a class B controlled drug and a number of driving offences.

They are due to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates' Court on Monday.

All charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
You dont have to spend long in the realm of watch collecting to learn that the Omega Speedmaster was the first watch that NASA declared as flight-qualified for all manned space missions. This was on March 1, 1965. Since then, Omega has done everything it can to ensure that people know it. From marketing of the Speedmaster as the Moon Watch for being the first watch worn on the moon to the Moonswatch collaboration with sister brand Swatch, Omega embraces its watchs unique status. But how did the Speedmaster achieve its unique qualification?

The Speedmaster worn by Michael Collins on the Apollo 11 mission (Smithsonian Institute)

Omega traces its roots back to 1848. Over time, the company developed a reputation as a manufacturer of accurate and reliable movements. As a result, Omega was the official timekeeper for sporting events like balloon races and the Olympics. During WWII, the company supplied military watches including timepieces for RAF fighter pilots. So, when NASA solicited 10 watchmakers to submit entries for a watch in 1964, Omega was a natural inclusion.

NASA scientists subjected the Omega, Rolex and Longines to a series of tests (NASA)

Of the 10 companies contacted by NASA, only four responded: Omega, Rolex, Longines and Hamilton. Per NASAs procurement memo, all of the watches were chronographs. However, Hamilton submitted a pocket watch rather than a wristwatch as dictated by the space agency and was disqualified. Rolex submitted their reference 6238 while Longines submitted their reference 235T, both of which were powered by the Valjoux 72 caliber. Only Omegas submission, the Speedmaster, was powered by an in-house movement: the caliber 321.

Gordon Cooper purchased his Speedmaster privately and wore it on Mercury-Atlas 9 in 1963 (NASA)

Despite its modern interpretation as a space watch, the Speedmaster was originally designed as a racing watch. Its clean and legible dial, as well as its chronograph function with tachymeter bezel, made it ideal for the world of racecar driving. During the NASA trial, all three watches were subjected to 0F and 200F temperatures, high and low pressures to include vacuum, high and low humidity, 40 G shocks, and heavy vibrations and acoustic bombardments. All of this was to ensure that the watch could survive the trip to the moon and back. The Rolex failed during the humidity test and the high-temperature test, while the Longines failed during the latter test. Only the Omega survived for NASA to qualify it for all manned space missions.

Schirra wearing a Bulova Accutron on his left wrist and Omega Speedmaster on his right (NASA)

On March 23, 1965, just over three weeks after receiving space flight qualification, the Speedmaster flew into low Earth orbit on the wrists of Gus Grissom and John Young aboard the Gemini III mission. Later that year, on June 3, Ed White wore his Speedmaster for the first American spacewalk on Gemini IV. While these were notable official flights for the watch, the Speedmaster first went to space on the wrist of Walter Schirra, who purchased his watch privately during the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission on October 3, 1962.

Astronaut Terry Virts wears an Omega Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 in space (NASA)

The Speedmaster remains qualified for space flight by NASA and the watch is still issued to astronauts. It remains one of the few pieces of equipment issued by NASA that is available for purchase by the general public. In 1998, Omega introduced the modernized Speedmaster Skywalker X-33, with a quartz movement and electronic functions, which is also qualified for space flight. However, the classic Speedmaster Professional will always be the coveted Moon Watch.
Mayor Dan Carter in his office, which features a lending library with books about leadership, at city hall in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada on Nov. 2, 2023. (Ian Willms/The New York Times)

OSHAWA, Ontario  There are politicians  almost all of them  who try to put the best possible shine on their professional resumes and past lives. Then there is Dan Carter.

For 17 years, I was an absolutely horrible individual, said Carter, the mayor of Oshawa, Ontario. Horrible individual. I lied, cheated, stole.

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Homeless and addicted to drugs from his teenage years until he was 31, and essentially illiterate because of severe dyslexia, he was fired from more jobs than he could remember, Carter said, adding, I really had no skills, no abilities, no education, no nothing.

But it was perhaps this atypical background that appealed to voters in Oshawa, a city of 175,000 on Lake Ontarios shoreline, who first elected him mayor in 2018. Or at least his story positioned him as someone who could bring his personal experience to bear on the citys most pressing problems.

Written with colored markers on a whiteboard in the meeting room next to Carters office in City Hall are the issues facing Oshawa: the number of overdoses (398 last year); the number of homeless people (currently about 350); the costs to the city for the overdoses (over half a million Canadian dollars, or about $365,000, last year). Next to this list is a flow chart of his plans to change things.

Its going to be expensive, its going to be labor intensive, but thats what its going to take, said Carter, 63, during a stroll around city hall. He gestured toward a nearby park where several homeless people congregate in the cold: Or, he said, we can just keep doing this.

Born in New Brunswick, Carter was adopted by a family in Agincourt, Ontario, a farming village that rapidly became a suburb  part of Torontos Scarborough neighborhood.

Growing up, Carter had trouble connecting with his stern adoptive father, their one bond a current affairs radio program. After each show, he and his father debated politics.

His dyslexia, unrecognized in his school years, made learning nearly impossible. But a bright spot was his relationship with his three older siblings, especially Michael, a Toronto police officer, whose death, at 28, in a motorcycle accident, deeply shook the 13-year-old Carter.

At his brothers wake, Carters friends introduced him to alcohol, setting off a downward spiral.

All I knew was alcohol gave me the things that I was desperate for, Carter said. When I drank, I was confident. When I drank, I thought I was funny. When I drank, I was charismatic. When I drank, I didnt have to think about the failure that I was.

Alcohol, he said, also helped him forget about having been sexually assaulted at 7 by a man at a gas station on his newspaper delivery route; he still finds the smell of gas and oil unbearable, he said.

Self-deprecating to a remarkable degree, in one area Carter has always been confident. The one thing I can do is talk and the one thing I can do is sell, he said. With those skills, new clothes and lying about his age, he began a series of retail jobs at 14.

But alcohol and drugs consumed his earnings. He bounced from job to job until he became unemployable. Apartments yielded to rooms, rooms to friends sofas and, eventually, the streets of Toronto.

Friendless and estranged from family, when he was 31, out of desperation, he called his sister Maureen Vetensky. A successful businessperson in Toronto, she told him to come to her house.

When he arrived, Carter said, She smacked me across the side of the head and she said: You got two choices. You either sober up or youre going to die today.

With local addiction treatment programs full, Maureen flew her brother to Los Angeles for treatment. That experience, he said, gave him a major insight into treating addiction: It takes time. His treatment lasted a year.

It is not a message welcomed by administrators in Ontarios perennially strained public health care system, he acknowledged.

But if I had been in a treatment program for 21 or 28 days, I can tell you that I wouldnt be sitting here today, he said.

On his return, Carter worked at an off-track betting club, where an actor suggested his voice would work well on television.

The idea stuck.

Despite having zero experience, he got a local cable TV channel to allow him to host a talk show. He later created a production company, used an inheritance from his father to buy a building to create a small studio and persuaded a broadcaster to carry the show. Carters pay was initially just a cut of ad revenues.

The Dan Carter Show made him a local celebrity, and his guests on the show provided him with the education he had missed.

His talk-show celebrity, and the political connections he developed, led to his first successful mayoral campaign in 2018, winning with about two-thirds of the vote. He was reelected in 2022 by a similar margin.

As mayor, he has continued to work on his lack of literacy skills; both writing and reading remain a struggle. He sets aside extra time to deal with briefing papers at City Hall.

Dan Walters, who met him about 20 years ago through community outreach work for Oshawa-based Ontario Tech University, said even before he entered politics, Carter was bringing people together and getting projects going.

Hes a good showman, Walters said. But beyond that, theres a certain layer of authenticity that people gravitate to, and hes just absolutely bright. I think people see him as a leader because he is.

Carters policy agenda has gone beyond homelessness and addiction. Days before he was first sworn in as mayor, General Motors told him it was about to shut down car production in the city, after more than a century.

I never publicly criticized General Motors, Carter said. Instead, we worked and worked to find ideas to bring them back. The plant reopened in 2021 and now employs just over 3,400 people, up from 2,500 when it closed.

Even as mayor, Carter said, he has found theres only so much he can do about addiction and mental health.

My frustration is Im a local mayor of a city, he said. But not only do I have to get eight of my colleagues from all the other municipalities to agree with me, but I also have to work against a system that absolutely has its own mindset.

What he can do is try to humanize for his constituents the homeless and people with mental health problems.

Its like theyre untouchables, he said.

An early attempt to help the citys homeless by placing plastic, portable toilets downtown failed when some were set on fire and others used for drug injections or prostitution. He wound up funding new, permanent public toilets at a nearby shelter.

Carter was also able to secure financing for 27 small housing units, but not for the round-the-clock staffing he thought the facility required. A murder soon followed.

Im absolutely sickened about it because all I want to do is see the program succeed, he said. But Im not going to give up on it.

He has been criticized for hiring private security guards in 2020 to work Oshawas downtown streets. Carter said they are there to assist homeless people, but critics have called it harassment. (The guards are now being replaced by social workers.)

There have been setbacks in his personal life, as well. His sister Maureen died by suicide in 2000. In his grief, Carter said, he walked out of his second marriage (he has since remarried). But neither episode, he said, tempted him to return to his addictions.

Carter said he wont seek a third term, but he vowed not to give up on the issue that brought him to politics.

People say: Oh, the mayor hasnt done enough on the homeless, he hasnt done this, he hasnt done that, Carter said. What I can tell you is that every day when I show up to work, the No. 1 thing I think about is those people that are suffering out on our streets.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
I went to John F. Kennedys funeral parade. My father was a lawyer and had an office that looked out on the route. We arrived early in the morning, and my mother spread a blanket on the carpet for us to sit on. My sister and I ate fried egg sandwiches wrapped in white paper from the corner deli where the man knew my fathers name. Hey Art, he said, this your family?

Id never had a breakfast sandwich, never had an indoor picnic, had only been to my fathers office maybe twice before. I was excited. I expected a marching band and majorettes. Did I have the day off from school? I think so.

Read more: 60 years later, JFK's assassination still raises questions. These 3 docs have (some) answers

As we watched out the window, people began to line the street. Many, many people, all ages, all ethnicities. I remember a Black girl around my age dressed as if for church, hopping up and down to stay warm. It was winter in Washington, D.C. Everyone was bundled up, and I see it in my memory like a black and white photo: dark overcoats, hats and scarves and gloves, all in shades of gray and black. Appropriately.

There were no majorettes, of course. This wasnt going to be a parade with flag-waving and cotton candy. Instead my mother called it a procession, a funeral procession. There were bands; I dont know what music they played. I remember the wagon carrying the coffin covered with an American flag. I remember the saddled and riderless horse with the big black boots stuck backwards in the stirrups. I remember my mother crying and my dad with his arm around her.

When we left to go home, the elevator operator, a Black man not much taller than me, was crying too. And when we got home, our neighbor, Mr. Turner, a die-hard Republican conservative, was sitting outside on his front step shaking his head. I knew  from listening to my parents  that he didnt vote for Kennedy, but that day all of America was grieving.

I grew up proud to be American. Of course there were issues. My parents complained about plenty. Just three months before Kennedys funeral, we went to the March on Washington and listened to Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality. Angry discussions around the dinner table  about civil rights, womens rights, jobs, healthcare  happened nightly.

Read more: How the JFK assassination changed TV news and the journalists who covered it 60 years ago

But I didnt want to be in any other country. My father fought in World War II. We stood up against authoritarianism, and I thought we had made America a place for every kind of person, religion, ancestry. As a young woman I was sure this country would always be that shining city on a hill  a biblical reference used by Kennedy, Reagan and Obama, a beacon to the rest of the world.

Sixty years later the shining city is tarnished. The light is diminished, strained through hate and division and fear. We experience little in common except the death of cooperation, compromise and any hope for shared values. When former First Lady Rosalynn Carter entered hospice care, the Republican presidential front-runner mocked her husband, President Jimmy Carter. Rosalynn will be buried on Wednesday, after a memorial service, a funeral and hours lying "in repose" at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Her casket will follow a publicized route from Atlanta to Plains, Ga. I cant help but think about who will line the streets and roads. I worry; it seems like an excellent opportunity for a mass shooting.

Our democracy is failing. I am watching it happen. Now I mourn with my children, not for one man or one woman, but for our entire country.

Diana Wagman, a contributing writer to Opinion, is the author of six novels.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon, Washington, and California filed a petition on Wednesday urging a federal commission to reconsider their approval of a methane gas pipeline expansion in the Pacific Northwest.

The challenge to the pipeline expansion comes after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved TC Energys plans for the pipeline in late October. The company says the expansion is necessary to meet growing demand.

The pipeline runs more than 1,300 miles through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The GTN Xpress project would expand capacity of the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline by about 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

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During a press conference on Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Washington and the non-profit Columbia Riverkeeper were filing a motion for a re-hearing of FERCs decision. Inslee said Oregon and California were joining the petition, asking FERC to reconsider its decision.

Inslee argues that the project would violate Washingtons environmental laws and would hurt consumers.

The governor added that FERCs ill-considered decision is damaging to the future aspirations to the state of Washington, and the states decarbonization goals.

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The FERC decision somehow ignored the fact that Washington state is reducing its reliance on methane gas. We have multiple laws that require us to reduce the use of that methane gas, and in fact, we are reducing our usage, Inslee said. It is incredible to us that a federal agency would allow a project to move forward which is diametrically opposed to the policies and the laws in the state of Washington.

Inslee says FERC ignored the will of the people in the state of Washington by approving the expansion and overlooking the states laws.

Inslee explained when methane gas is burned, it emits carbon dioxide, which is causing climate change, forest fires, sea level rise, and health issues including asthma from particulate matter emissions.

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The governor adds that the pipeline expansion could mean rate increases for consumers, because in the future years, these are going to become stranded assets. He continued, If this work is done, its going to be in a community that is using less of this product.

On Wednesday, TC Energy said We appreciate FERCs bipartisan approval of the GTN XPress project and affirmation of the clear need to address rising energy prices in California and the Pacific Northwest. Demand for natural gas transportation service on the existing GTN system has grown by more than 26 percent since 2014, while access to lower cost supplies has been constrained. This market dynamic has led to unnecessarily high energy prices and strained reliability for consumers in the region. In the words of the Commission, GTN XPress will provide a tangible benefit to consumers through added reliability and by providing access to lower-cost gas.'



The company furthered, Having undergone over two years of analysis and consideration by the agency, GTN XPress is one of the most thoroughly reviewed infrastructure projects approved by FERC this year. We urge FERC to act promptly on all rehearing requests so this project can proceed and consumers in the region can benefit from more affordable and reliable energy.

Audrey Leonard, a staff attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper who spoke during Inslees press conference, says the project violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Natural Gas Act, which requires consideration of public interest.

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According to Columbia Riverkeeper, Washingtonians, tribes, and national grassroots organizations have expressed opposition to the expansion.

The non-profit says FERC has until Dec. 22 to respond to the petitions.

FERCs approval of the expansion in October was met with opposition from lawmakers in Oregon and Washington.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley issued a statement in opposition to the expansion, noting, According to FERCs own analysis the expanded pipeline will cause $8.8 billion in damages, and contribute 1.9 million metric tons of carbon per year in pollution to the Pacific Northwest. That is the equivalent to adding 644,000 gasoline powered cars to the road each year. And of course those numbers are misleadingly low because FERC systematically minimizes the climate chaos effects of fossil gas projects.

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Merkley added, Unfortunately FERCs approval is not a surprise because the Commission is captured by the fossil fuel industry. There is no other explanation for how FERC could approve over 99% of the fossil fuel projects it reviews in the face of climate catastrophe. FERC needs fundamental reform.

In response to FERCs approval of the pipeline expansion, Oregon Gov. Tina Koteks office told KOIN 6 News, The Governor opposed the GTN Xpress and is disappointed in the FERCs ruling at a time when Oregon and Washington are actively working to move away from fossil fuels in response to the clear and present threat of climate change. She believes that TC Energy has failed to demonstrate there is adequate need for the GTN Xpress. This is a disastrous decision.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Rows of hazelnut trees at the Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora.

This is part of a weekly series answering "Why is that?" questions about Salem and the Mid-Valley.

The question: Why does the Oregon state nut have two names? We have the answer. But first, a little history.

The background: Filbert trees and the name filbert are said to have been introduced into Oregon by early French settlers in what we know as the French Prairie area, north of Salem.

Some believe the name comes from a French saint. The feast of St. Philibert coincided with prime harvest time in Europe. Some historians speculate it refers to the husked shell that resembles a beard. The German word for "full beard" is vollbart, which sounds like filbert.

The nut was considered a sacred food in ancient Chinese culture. It has been used worldwide as a medicine and a tonic, with its benefits described this way by a Greek physician more than 1,800 years ago:

"It cures chronic coughing if pounded filbert is eaten with honey. Cooked filbert mixed with black pepper cures the cold. If the ointment produced by mashing burnt filbert shells in suet is smeared on the head where hair does not grow due to normal baldness or to some disease, hair will come again."

Hazelnuts are ready to harvest when they fall to the ground.

In more modern times, the nut has become a customary part of Christmas traditions and holiday foods, especially cookies, pastries and chocolate confections.

Turkey produces more than 70% of the world's filberts or hazelnuts. Oregon is responsible for just 6-7% but a staggering 99% of the crop in the United States. The state's climate and soil conditions are ideal for its growing needs.

Salem figured prominently during the emergence of the industry and was labeled "the filbert center of the United States" in a 1919 article of The Oregon Statesman.

With rapid growth came the need for industry standards and research. The Filbert Marketing Board was established in 1949. The Oregon Filbert Commission was created by legislative action in 1951 under the Department of Agriculture.

Both changed their names in the 1980s, and are housed today in the Oregon Hazelnut Industry Office in Wilsonville.

We turned to that office for insight on the filbert vs. hazelnut debate.

Why does Oregon's state nut have two names?

Statesman Journal archives show the nuts were almost exclusively called filberts in these parts until the 1980s.

The first mention of a shift to using the term hazelnut published on the newspaper's food page in 1975. A recipe suggested substituting chopped filberts, "now being marketed under the name hazelnuts."

The following year, the Capital Journal reported the commission would use the name hazelnuts for the kernel trade on the East Coast. At the same time, he expected growers and buyers of in-shell nuts to keep calling them filberts.

Oregon processors started using hazelnuts interchangeably with filberts on packaging. The shift continued as growers and the marketing board planned for expansion into Europe and the demand for exports increased.

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Hazelnut was the name used in Europe, not filbert. As the story goes, some customers overseas were so befuddled they sent "filbert" shipments back.

In 1981, the commission decided to emphasize the name hazelnuts and eventually changed its name to the Oregon Hazelnut Commission.

It made sense to market hazelnuts rather than filberts because more of the world recognized the nuts by that name.

The hazelnut became Oregon's official state nut in 1989, but the name filbert continued to be used by some locals.

Both are correct and used interchangeably.

One long-time filbert farmer recently explained it like this: "We grow filberts and sell hazelnuts."

Oh, by the way

Oregon has about 93,000 acres of trees, which are unique because they bloom and pollinate in the middle of the winter when other trees are hibernating.

Not to complicate things, but these popular nuts actually have more than just two names.

The British call a specific variety cobnuts.

Indigenous people in the Pacific Northwest, whose ancestors used the trees as a food source and for basketry and arrow shafts, use the term Tukwila. Washington State and Woodburn have areas known as Tukwila, which translates into "land of the hazelnut."

The Tukwila community in Woodburn once was a filbert or hazelnut orchard, whichever you prefer.

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Email your "Why is that" questions to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Why does Oregon's state nut have two different names?
There were long lines to check in bags early Saturday morning at the Orlando International Airport.

Whenever we come in, we usually go to the counter and check our bags in really quick, Malena Lopez, who was traveling through the airport, said. My husband said lets just check them in outside. We walked in, theres so many people over there.

Lines were backed up at different times throughout the morning to get through the security checkpoint.

That was something travelers didnt think they would see so early in the day.

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A lot of people, traveler Vincent Wicks said. This is busy. I thought by us leaving on a 7:20 flight, it would be chill, but I guess not.

There werent backed-up lines all day.

Airport officials said they were prepared for the nearly 187,000 people to travel through the airport Saturday.

Read: Central Floridas airports and roads to see holiday travel rush Wednesday

They asked passengers to follow their 321 rule: being at the ticket counter three hours before a flight, in line for the security check point two hours before a flight, and at their gate one hour before a flight.

A family traveling back to Kansas City arrived well before the suggested time frame and spent the morning enjoying what they saw around the airport instead of rushing to get in line.

We pulled into the rental car place; it was actually moving pretty smoothly, Carlie Kisor said. We did get here 5 hours early, so we cant check our bags yet. Her daughter, Cora, noticed something else. Ive seen that tree, a bird fly out of it. I cant believe there are birds in this airport.

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Oscar Pistorius, the South African-born Paralympic sprinter convicted in his girlfriends murder, has been granted parole after nearly a decade behind bars.

The 37-year-old, who fatally shot Reeva Steenkamp on Valentines Day 2013, meets the requirements for parole in South Africa and will be released from prison on Jan. 5, 2024, according to the Department of Correctional Services.

In a statement Friday, the government body attributed the decision to the athletes classification as a first time offender with a positive support system.

Mr. Pistorius will complete the remainder of the sentence in the system of community corrections and will be subjected to supervision in compliance with parole conditions until his sentence expires, read the statement, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services.

As part of those conditions, Pistorius will not be permitted to leave the South African capital of Pretoria, where he has been serving his sentence, a department spokesman said.

The former sprinter, whose nickname Blade Runner stemmed from the prosthetic blades he wore in races, must also perform community service and attend a program to combat anger issues, as well as one related to violence against women.

Pistorius fired four shots at his model girlfriend at his Pretoria home on that fateful 2013 morning, when he claimed to have mistaken her for an intruder.

Prosecutors appeal of his 2014 conviction for culpable homicide  and a five-year sentence  led to the Supreme Court of Appeal handing down a murder conviction the following year.

Though prosecutors sought the 15-year minimum term, Pistorius sentence was extended to a shockingly lenient six years in 2016, then more than doubled the following year to 13 years and 5 months.

Prior to the departments announcement Friday, Steenkamps mother said in a statement that she was not convinced that Pistorius has been rehabilitated.

Rehabilitation requires someone to engage honestly with the full truth of his crime and the consequences thereof, June Steenkamp said.
Thanks to modern technologies, from airplanes to social media, humans seem to be more interconnected than ever. While that has sparked positive developments, it has also brought new challenges.

According to CBC News Lauren Pelley, more than 200 medical journals recently asked the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency either at or before the next World Health Assembly in May 2024.

Whats happening?

The medical journals petitioned the WHO with their request in an editorial published on Oct. 25 via peer-reviewed medical journal The BMJ, saying the combination of biodiversity loss and changing global temperatures is creating a crisis, per CBC News.

An emergency declaration helps us realize that weve got to act with thought  but also with haste, said Dr. Gaurab Basu, the director of education and policy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Healths Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment.

Kamran Abbasi, the editor-in-chief of the British Medical Journal and the lead author of the editorial, added that it makes no sense  to consider the health and nature crises in separate silos.

Why is this important?

Our planets future is being written by our choices today.

As the editorial cited, the rise of global temperatures due to human activities is just one possible contributing factor to the disruption of social and economic systems.

Millions of people have already been displaced by extreme weather events linked to the overheating of our planet, including at home in the United States and abroad. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 1.2 billion people may need to leave their homes by 2050.

Meanwhile, an increase in waterborne diseases has been driven by pollution  which is also affecting the amount of quality food our oceans can provide, per The BMJ.

The climate crisis and loss of biodiversity both damage human health, and they are interlinked, Abbasi told CBC.

Whats being done about this crisis?

WHO seems to be on board with taking widescale action, which Basu told CBC could help galvanize efforts from more scientists, governments, and policymakers worldwide.

The recognition of the crisis from multiple entities already bodes well.

Dr. Maria Neira, the director of the organizations Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Health, also highlighted how the WHO was actively involved in the formulation of the UN Climate Conferences Day of Health, with Dec. 3 being the first-ever day focusing on the relationship between climate and health.

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BELMAR  Over 400 people braved the cold on Saturday to take a plunge into the ocean in support of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Morgan Donovan, 36, of Neptune said the water was warmer than the air. So, as she surfaced, she had the wind knocked out of her.

Donovan and her friend Meghan McDowell, 37, of Piscataway have made a tradition of attending the Monmouth County SPCAs annual polar plunge since it began two years ago.

Passersby pet therapy Dog Foden as he attends the plunge with his owner Dan Rossi of Howell. 2023 Polar Plunge in Belmar to raise money for the Monmouth County SPCA on November 25, 2023.

They raised a couple hundred dollars each for the animal shelter and, this year, placed in the costume contest wearing robes with sewn on stuffed animals.

Ross Licitra, executive director of the Monmouth County SPCA, estimates that the plunge raised $120,000 for the nonprofit, one of a number of fundraising events throughout the year.

Despite its name, the Monmouth County SPCA is separate from the county government and does not receive funding from them.

2023 Polar Plunge in Belmar to raise money for the Monmouth County SPCA on November 25, 2023.

Licitra said every year about 5,000 to 6,000 animals come through its doors.

Last year, we came in at a 98% save rate, he said. So that means that 98% of the animals that came into our shelter left.

Licitra said the annual polar plunge purposefully takes place after Thanksgiving when school is out and families gather together.

This year, the air temperature was in the low 40s and the water temperature was in the mid 50s, he said.

Cathy Klisiewicz, 72, of Manasquan came with a crew of about 20 people in matching Team Chilly Willie T-shirts.

She said she volunteers at the shelter and she signed up for the plunge because its a great organization and we do whatever we can to help these animals out.

2023 Polar Plunge in Belmar to raise money for the Monmouth County SPCA on November 25, 2023.

Tim Keenan, 57, of Titusville said his familys rescue of their great Pyrenees lab mix about six years ago was the best move weve ever made.

He said his family came to the shore specifically to support the animal shelter.

After the plunge he said, I cant feel my toes.

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Finn Richard, 9, of Brick was the highest juvenile fundraiser at $1,300. He said he first started fundraising at age 7 with his mother Amy, who is the general manager of operations at the shelter.

Denis McCarren of Minneapolis, Minnesota celebrated his 48th birthday with the polar plunge. His family was visiting friends from Long Branch.

We did a big family Thanksgiving together and then they said, Hey, lets do this on Saturday and have fun, McCarren said.

His wife, Karen McCarren, 48, said this was their familys first polar plunge in the ocean.

We normally do it in lakes at home in the ice, she said. This is a different polar plunge.

Licitra said, Were just very grateful to the public for always supporting our mission, always being part of what we do at the SPCA. And believing that were doing things that are right for animal welfare.

Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Polar Plunge supports Monmouth County NJ SPCA nonprofit
SAN DIEGO  Over a quarter-million dollars worth of methamphetamine was found during a vehicle stop on Interstate 8 Tuesday night.

According U.S. Customs and Border Protection, San Diego Sector Border Patrol conducted a traffic stop involving a blue pickup truck near the Buckman Springs exit.

As the agents made contact with the man driving the vehicle  a U.S. citizen  they noticed what they described as four large duffle bags in the bed of the truck.

Over $3.5 million worth of fentanyl found in vehicle on I-15

At that time, a Border Patrol K-9 team responded to the stop and conducted an air sniff of the vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, CBP explained. Agents then inspected the duffle bags and found multiple clear packages containing a crystal-like substance.

Testing revealed that the contents of the packages was methamphetamine, which officials said weighed 188 pounds. The seized drugs had an estimated street value of $281,940.00.

Border Patrol agents traffic stop yields over a quarter of a million in methamphetamine. (CBP)

Border Patrol agents traffic stop yields over a quarter of a million in methamphetamine. (CBP)

Optical phenomenon: Sundog spotted above San Diego County mountain range

The driver and narcotics were turned over to the San Diego County Sheriffs Office for further investigation and processing. The vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.

Our agents will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our communities are safe and that these dangerous drugs stay off our streets, said Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel.

According to CBP , this seizure is part of recently announced Operation Apollo. This is a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have invested in outreach programmes - Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

State schools run by local authorities have seen their Oxbridge admissions almost double in five years, The Telegraph can disclose.

The share of sixth form pupils at maintained schools in England going to Oxford or Cambridge has risen from 0.8 per cent to 1.5 per cent, according to analysis of Department for Education figures.

The latest stats apply to the cohorts who left school in 2015 and 2020 and considers their university progression over the following two years.

Over the same five-year period, the share of pupils at state-funded academies getting into Oxbridge increased from 1.3 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, grammar school Oxbridge entry rates have been stagnant, with 4.4 per cent going to the universities compared to 4.3 per cent five years earlier.

Across all state schools, the admissions rate rose from 1 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

The DfE figures do not include private schools. However, according to statistics published by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), admission rates from independent schools fell from 6.5 per cent to 5 per cent over the same period.

Telegraph analysis also found that Oxbridge admissions from state schools in the poorest areas have doubled in five years, from 0.4 per cent to 0.8 per cent.

Oxbridge admissions from the wealthiest areas rose by a smaller amount, from 1.1 per cent to 1.3 per cent, resulting in the smallest gap between the poorest and wealthiest areas on record.

However, the Government figures show there remain large regional disparities, with state school pupils in inner London three times more likely to get places than those in the North West.

London boroughs including Lambeth and Hackney have seen the biggest increases in the share of state school pupils achieving places at the top universities, while the share has declined in areas including Darlington, Wokingham, Somerset and Kingston upon Thames.

Pupils from deprived areas

Oxford and Cambridge have both invested in outreach programmes to attract more pupils from deprived areas and state schools which havent traditionally sent teenagers to them.

They also use so-called contextual admissions systems which means that a candidates achievements are considered against the background of their school and postcode.

Commenting on the admissions trends earlier this month, James Robson, director of the Centre for Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance at the University of Oxford, told Times Higher Education that some elite state schools are fast becoming the new clear pathway into an Oxbridge place.

Russell group university trends

He said that feeder state schools depend on privileged aspirational parents and students to achieve good Oxbridge outcomes.

He added: Given the distribution of wealth around the country, its probably not surprising that new state feeder schools should emerge in London and the South East.

Similar trends have emerged for Russell Group university admissions, with the proportion of admissions from local authority-run schools rising from 18 per cent to 25 per cent between 2015 and 2020.

Over the same period, the admissions rate for academy schools rose from 20.6 per cent to 24.8 per cent, and from 45 per cent to 48 per cent for grammars.

The latest ISC figures, published by the Independent Schools Council, show that Russell Group admissions fell from 55 per cent to 54 per cent between 2015 and 2019.

Prof Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said: These findings are good news for social mobility, showing that the countrys most prestigious universities have been able to recruit more diverse intakes of academically talented pupils from all types of schools.

But it is still the case that where someone happens to live in this country has a profound impact on their higher education prospects.

The concern is that these positive trends will be reversed for elite university admissions during more recent post-pandemic years during which education inequalities have widened once again, he added.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said they will evaluate and consider a joint settlement that addresses widespread customer billing issues by PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL).

According to PUC, the settlement would include a payment of $1 million civil penalty and PPLs agreement to absorb more than $16 million in related costs.

PUC said the organization launched an investigation into PPL earlier this year after receiving a large number of consumer calls and complaints about unusually high or low estimated bills, missing monthly bills and the lack of adequate customer service support resulting in consumers being unable to reach PPL Call Center representatives to discuss their billing concerns.

In an investigation, PUC said the billing issues started in Dec. 2022, when they found that customer meter data was not transferring from the utilitys meter data management software to their customer service system. Human error also played a factor in the incorrect bills.

According to the proposed joint settlement, more than 48,000 PPL accounts received no bills during one or more months between Dec. 2022 and April 2023, and during that same period more than 91,000 unique PPL accounts received no bills.

PUC also said over 82,000 estimated bills were impacted by missing or inaccurate supply charges.

The joint settlement would see PPL paying a $1 million civil penalty as well as absorbing the following related costs:

Approximately $2.3 million in voluntarily waived late fees;

Approximately $7.8 million of additional bad debt expense arising out of the voluntary service termination moratorium;

Forgoing collection of approximately $1.7 million from customers who were underbilled in the estimation true-up process;

An additional approximately $3.7 million of unplanned costs in engaging external vendors;

And approximately $700,000 of unbudgeted employee overtime expenses.

The joint settlement is currently under review by the PUC Commissioners.

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The CPEC links Chinas western Xinjiang province to the Gwadar port in the southwest - AAMIR QURESHI/AFP

The Pakistani Taliban threatened to begin attacking Chinese Belt and Road development projects unless the government pays them a 5 per cent tax on the construction.

In a video message, the commander of the Talibans Gandapur faction warned that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a nearly 2,000 mile-long infrastructure project including roads and railways running from China to the Arabian Sea, will be destroyed.

Five per cent is our tax everywhere, the commander said, in an address to construction workers in Pakistans Dera Ismail Khan.

Machinery and staff will be targeted by Taliban fighters if the taxes are not paid, he said.

The Taliban commanders threats are part of a campaign of extortion aimed at those involved with realising the Pakistani leg of Xi Jinpings flagship global infrastructure project. Launched in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative is an ambitious plan to develop new trade routes connecting China with the rest of the world.

Abdul Sayed, a research analyst on the security of the Afghanistan-Pakistan region said: Extortion has been a common practice within the TTP which heavily relies on such revenue streams to cover their expenses.

Chinese trucks carrying trade goods at the Gwadar port in 2016 - AAMIR QURESHI/AFP

The recent evidence indicates that militants have been demanding taxes from ministers, government officials, contractors, and other businesses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces and tribal districts, he said.

The CPEC links Chinas western Xinjiang province to the Gwadar port in the southwest, and thousands of security personnel have been deployed to counter threats against Beijings interests.

Chinese engineers and workers have come under attack in Pakistan. In 2021, 12 people  including nine Chinese workers  were killed by a blast on a bus carrying staff to the Dasu dam site.

On September 12, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, visited the China-funded deep-sea port project in Gwadar, a visit aimed at building trust with the local population amid Pakistan and Chinas declining interest in CPEC.

Chinas concerns about security threats to its investments in Pakistan are a big reason why CPEC has lost momentum in recent years. These security risks are growing because it is increasingly not just Baloch separatists but also TTP terrorists that are threatening and indeed attacking Chinese interests in Pakistan, said Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at the Wilson Centre think tank.

This new threat issued by a local TTP commander will increase Chinas concerns. TTP has enjoyed a resurgence of late, with rising attacks in Pakistan on the whole, and Islamabad has no formal strategy to counter it, Mr Kugelman said.

For Beijing, which remains keen to keep investing despite security risks and Pakistans economic struggles, the reality of a twin threat posed by ethnic separatists and Islamist militants is a bitter pill to swallow-but one it appears willing to swallow nonetheless, he said.

The Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, has mounted a resurgence since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan. Since then, Pakistan has been hit by a wave of terrorism, mostly in areas along its northern border.

Earlier this month, Pakistans caretaker prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, said that terrorist attacks in the country have increased by 60 per cent and suicide bombings soared by 500 per cent since the Afghan Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021.

Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has accused the Taliban regime of supporting the TTP - BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP

On November 3, the Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), an offshoot of the TTP, targeted a Pakistani air base in the central city of Mianwali.

Some 14 aircraft were reportedly damaged in the attack, with 35 military personnel killed.

The Pakistani military sought to downplay the incident, however, claiming that only three non-operational aircraft had been lightly damaged.

The surge in terrorism has caused relations between Islamabad and Kabul to sour, with Mr Kakar accusing the Taliban regime of supporting the TTP by allowing it to launch attacks on Pakistan from Afghan territory.

We shared all the details with the Afghan interim government, but they did not take action against TTP terrorists who are living in Afghanistan and using that soil against us, he told state-run Pakistan Television.

The TTP was formed in 2007 by militants who splintered off from the Afghan Taliban and once controlled swathes of northwest Pakistan before being ousted by the Pakistan army in 2014.

Now, the group is once again on the march, seizing territory in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. It has also established a shadow government for the restive city of Peshawar and other border areas of Pakistan.

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BEITUNIA, West Bank (AP)  Over three dozen Palestinian prisoners returned home to a heros welcome in the occupied West Bank on Friday following their release from Israeli prisons as part of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The procession of freed prisoners, some accused of minor offenses and others convicted in attacks, at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem stoked massive crowds of Palestinians into a chanting, clapping, hand-waving, screaming frenzy.

Fifteen dazed young men, all in stained grey prison sweatsuits and looking gaunt with exhaustion, glided through the streets on the shoulders of their teary-eyed fathers as fireworks turned the night sky to blazing color and patriotic Palestinian pop music blared.

Some of those released were draped in Palestinian flags, others in the green flags of Hamas. They flashed victory signs as they crowd-surfed.

I have no words, I have no words, said newly released 17-year-old Jamal Brahma, searching for something to say to the hordes of jostling journalists and thousands of chanting Palestinians, many in national dress. Thank God.

Tears fell down his father Khalil Brahmas cheeks as he brought his son down from his shoulders and looked him in the eye for the first time in seven months. Israeli forces had arrested Jamal at his home in the Palestinian city of Jericho last spring and detained him without charge or trial.

I just want to be his father again, he said.

The release of the Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails came just hours after two dozen hostages, including 13 Israelis, were released from captivity in Gaza in the initial exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners during the four-day cease-fire that started Friday.

Under the deal, Hamas is to release at least 50 hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners, over the four days. Israel said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

Although the atmosphere was festive in the town of Beitunia near Israels hulking Ofer Prison in the West Bank, people were on edge.

The Israeli government has ordered police to shut down celebrations over the release. Israeli security forces at one point unleashed tear gas canisters on the crowds, sending young men, old women and small children sprinting away as they wept and screamed in pain.

The army is trying to take this moment away from us but they cant, Mays Foqaha said as she tumbled into the arms of her newly released 18-year-old friend, Nour al-Taher from Nablus, who was arrested during a protest in September at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. This is our day of victory.

The Palestinian detainees freed Friday included 24 women, some of whom had been sentenced to years-long prison terms over attempted stabbings and other attacks on Israeli security forces. Others had been accused of incitement on social media.

There were also the 15 male teenagers, most of them charged with stone-throwing and supporting terrorism, a broadly defined accusation that underscores Israels long-running crackdown on young Palestinian men as violence surges in the occupied territory.

For families on both sides of the conflict, news of the exchange  perhaps the first hopeful moment in 49 days of war  stirred a bittersweet jumble of joy and anguish.

As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I cant really celebrate, said Abdulqader Khatib, a U.N. worker whose 17-year-old son, Iyas, was placed last year in administrative detention, without charges or trial and based on secret evidence. But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy.

Israel is now holding an all-time high of 2,200 Palestinians in administrative detention, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group, in a controversial policy that Israel defends as a counter-terrorism measure.

Since Oct. 7, when Hamas took roughly 240 Israeli and foreign citizens hostage and killed 1,200 Israelis in its unprecedented rampage through southern Israel, Palestinians have wondered about the fate of their own prisoners.

Israel has a history of agreeing to lopsided exchanges. In 2011, Hamas got Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit.

A prisoner release touches Palestinian society to its core. Almost every Palestinian has a relative in jail  or has been there himself. Human rights groups estimate that over 750,000 Palestinians have passed through Israeli prisons since Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967.

Whereas Israel views them as terrorists, Palestinians refer to them by the Arabic word for prisoners of war, and devote a good chunk of public funds to supporting them and their families. Israel and the U.S. have condemned the grants to prisoner families as an incentive for violence.

These kinds of prisoner exchanges are often the only hope families have to see their sons or fathers released before many years go by, said Amira Khader, international advocacy officer at Addameer, a group supporting Palestinian prisoners. Its what they live for, its like a miracle from God.

Since the Hamas attack, Israel has escalated a months-long West Bank crackdown on Palestinians suspected of ties to Hamas and other militant groups. Many prisoners are convicted by military courts, which prosecute Palestinians with a conviction rate of more than 99%. Rights groups say Palestinians are often denied due process and forced into confessions.

There are now 7,200 Palestinians in Israeli prison, said Qadura Fares, the director of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, with over 2,000 arrested since Oct. 7 alone.

On Friday in Beitunia, a lanky and pimpled 16-year-old, Aban Hammad, stood unmoving, looking shaken by the tumult of tears, hugs and pro-Hamas chants around him. It was his first glimpse of the world after a year in prison for throwing stones in the northern town of Qalqilya. He was freed even though he had eight months of his sentence left to serve.

He turned toward his father, wrapping him into a hug. Look, Im almost bigger than you now, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
By Bassam Massoud

GAZA (Reuters) -After seven weeks of bombardment stopped in Gaza for a truce, Tahani al-Najjar used the calm on Saturday to return to the ruins of her home, smashed by an Israeli air strike that she said killed seven of her family and forced her into a shelter.

More than 24 hours into the four-day pause in fighting, thousands of Gaza residents are making that same difficult journey from communal shelters and makeshift encampments to discover what has become of their homes.

"Where will we live? Where will we go? We are trying to collect bits of wood to build a tent to shelter us, but to no avail. There is nothing to shelter a family," Najjar said, picking through the rubble and twisted metal of her house.

Najjar, a 58-year-old mother of five from Khan Younis in the south of the enclave, said Israel's military had also levelled her house in two previous conflicts in 2008 and 2014.

She pulled several miraculously intact cups from the ruins, where a bicycle and dust-caked clothes lay amid the debris. "We will rebuild again," she said.

For many of the 2.3 million people who live in the tiny Gaza Strip, the pause in the near-constant air and artillery strikes has offered a first chance to safely move around, take stock of the devastation, and seek access to aid imports.

At outdoor markets and aid depots, thousands of people stood queuing for some of the aid that began flowing into Gaza in larger quantities as part of the truce.

Since Hamas militants launched their unprecedented attack on Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, Israel's response has been the bloodiest and most destructive offensive ever visited on the 40km-long (25 miles) Gaza enclave.

Palestinian health officials in the Hamas-run territory say the bombardment has killed more than 14,000 people, 40% of them children, and levelled swathes of residential districts. They have said thousands more bodies may remain under the rubble, still unrecorded in official death tolls.

LIVING IN TENTS

Israel's military last month told all civilians to leave the north of the strip, where the fighting was heaviest, but it continued to bombard the south where hundreds of thousands fled and where Najjar's home was located.

It has said civilians should not return to the north during the truce and many of those who fled south are now seeking information from those who stayed behind.

In the patchwork of makeshift tents outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Mohammed Shbeir said he was desperate to take his family back home to al-Shati refugee camp up north. They decided not to after hearing rumours that people trying to do so had been fired upon, which Reuters could not verify.

"I cannot live in a tent like this. I used to have a house and was comfortable with my children," he said, feeding his infant son a soft lentil soup because no milk formula was available.

An accompanying blockade has meanwhile added to a humanitarian crisis with little electricity for hospitals, fresh water, fuel for ambulances or food and medicines.

In a street market in Khan Younis, where tomatoes, lemons, aubergines, peppers, onions and oranges sat in crates, Ayman Nofal said he was able to buy more vegetables than had been available before the truce and that they cost less.

"We hope the truce will continue and be permanent, not just four or five days. People cannot pay the cost of this war," he said.

At a U.N. agency centre in Khan Younis, people waited for cooking gas. Supplies had begun running short weeks ago and many people were cooking food over open fires fuelled by scavenged wood salvaged from bomb sites.

Mohammed Ghandour had been waiting five hours to fill his cylindrical metal canister, after getting up at dawn in the school where he and his family shelter and making the long trip to the depot, but was still too late. "I'm now going home without gas," he said.

However, at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, trucks could be seen early on Saturday moving slowly over the border and into Gaza bringing fresh supplies.

(Reporting by Bassam Massoud; Additional reporting by Arafat Barbakh and Ibraheem Abu Mustafa; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by David Holmes and Mark Potter)
Odesa Oblast "will soon be protected by very powerful air defense" with the help of Ukraine's partners, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the International Summit on Food Security on Nov. 25.

According to Zelensky, there are "agreements and a positive signal from partners" on new air defense equipment for the southern region regularly targeted by Russian forces since the termination of the U.N.-brokered grain deal.

Ukraine's allies have also started supplying the country with boats to escort ships passing through the Black Sea humanitarian corridor, the president said at a press conference.

Zelensky didn't specify which countries have provided or will provide such equipment and how many boats have been delivered so far.

The humanitarian corridor was opened in August after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural products during the full-scale invasion. Russia then threatened that all ships sailing to Ukrainian ports would be considered legitimate targets.

Read also: Is Ukraines new Black Sea corridor working? Experts say it has potential

Ukraine has reportedly managed to export almost four million metric tons of food and goods through the temporary corridor, but the safety of cargo ships is not guaranteed.

A Russian missile hit a civilian ship at a port in Odesa Oblast on Nov. 8, killing one crewmember and injuring four others.

The Nov. 25 summit in Kyiv aimed "to strengthen Ukraine's role as a guarantor of food security, to consolidate efforts to ensure global food security and to develop alternative logistics routes for the export of agricultural products from our country," according to the Presidential Office.

Swiss President Alain Berset, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrid Simonite visited the summit in person. Leaders of Poland, Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Guatemala took part virtually.

The "Grain from Ukraine" summit coincided with the Holodomor Memorial Day, marking the 90th anniversary of a man-made famine orchestrated by the Soviet authorities between 1932-33 that caused an estimated 3.5 to 5 million Ukrainian deaths.

"Never again should hunger become a weapon against people's freedom. And anyone who tries to exploit hunger in this way, anyone whose terror serves the chaos of the food market, must be held accountable to the whole world. Russia must be held responsible," Zelensky concluded.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
People gather around a fire at dusk amid homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (Yousef Masoud/The New York Times)

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day truce  but if the past is any indication, there is no guarantee that the pause in fighting will hold, much less lead to lasting peace.

The history of Israeli-Hamas hostilities is filled with cease-fire agreements and truces that were broken or barely held. Its become an all-too-familiar cycle: an escalation of violence, a flurry of negotiations mediated by third countries, promises of eased blockades and a break in hostilities, followed by a period of fragile calm.

Here is a look at how some past agreements have held up or collapsed.

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 May 2023: Egyptian negotiators mediated a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group based in the Gaza Strip that is smaller than Hamas, ending five days of violence that killed 35 people. A day later, brief rocket fire rattled nerves but the agreement appeared to hold.

 May-June 2021: An 11-day war that represented the worst flare-up of violence in Gaza since 2014 left 230 dead in Gaza before it ended with a cease-fire agreement. Less than a month later, Palestinian militants sent incendiary balloons into southern Israel, and Israeli military airstrikes hit targets inside Gaza, causing no casualties but testing the agreement.

 July-August 2014: This major conflict was set off by the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Six days after Israel began bombarding Gaza, Egypt proposed a cease-fire that Israel agreed to. Hamas rejected it, saying none of its demands were addressed, and rocket volleys from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes resumed. Egypt announced another cease-fire two days later, but Israel then sent in tanks and ground troops and began firing into Gaza from the sea. In all, nine truces came and went before the conflict ended after 51 days and the deaths of more than 2,000 Palestinians and 70 Israelis.

 November 2012: Eight days of bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas ended with a cease-fire, negotiated by the United States and Egypt, with a one-page memorandum of understanding that left many of the issues that set off the violence unresolved and up for further negotiation. Israel violated the cease-fire by firing on fishermen and farmers approaching newly relaxed security perimeters, but in a concession it also allowed building materials into Gaza for the first time in years.

 January 2009: Israel unilaterally announced a cease-fire after a 22-day war on Hamas in which more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed, saying it had achieved its goals. Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups declared their own cease-fire soon afterward. Just two weeks later, militants launched rockets and shells into southern Israel, prompting Israels prime minister, Ehud Olmert, to threaten disproportionate retaliation and straining the cease-fire.

 June 2008: Egypt brokered a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel, ending a period of intense rocket fire from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes and raids. Rocket attacks just five days after the agreement threatened to derail it, but the peace mostly held for five months. By November that year, though, the cease-fire had unraveled, with each side accusing the other of failing to uphold the terms.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
TechCrunch

Smartphone sales will mount a comeback starting in 2024, defying growing warnings of a prolonged slump across the mobile sector, according to separate projections by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley reviewed by TechCrunch. Morgan Stanley's report predicts global smartphone shipments will rebound by nearly 4% in 2024 and by 4.4% in 2025, shrugging off comparisons to the PC industrys multi-year downdrafts. Driving the smartphone turnaround will be new on-device AI capabilities unlocking fresh demand, Morgan Stanley says.
Conventional wisdom insists religion is sexually repressive.

Without even asking whether it is true, much of todays armchair Freudian philosophizing suggests any limitation on sexual expression harms the healthiest ideal.

But is any of this true?

My research based on the Baylor Religion Survey suggests that, contrary to widely held belief, religious people report better sex lives, and married religious couples have more frequent and better sex than others (non-married religious people, intuitively, have less sex). These results were supported by one study that found religious British people reported more satisfying sex lives. A separate BYU study, published by Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, found similar results for married couples in the U.S. while another found that highly religious people had higher sexual passion than more moderately religious people (nonreligious people also reflected higher passion levels).

Some of these findings may be because of religions benefits for married couples  the first BYU paper tried to parse this out and concluded that increased commitment between partners and greater spousal time helped explain why religious people had higher sexual satisfaction. The fact is religion has been shown to have myriad benefits for marriages and mental health. Its plausible these benefits trickle down into a couples sex life.

Among other things, these findings challenge our status quo conversation about sex in America.

Related

For instance, those who believe the constraints religion places around sexuality are a detriment must grapple with the benefits of marital sexuality. While the media typically depicts sex as something that young, unmarried people do, the fact is that married people have more sex than single people.

It may well be that the most sexually active campuses in the U.S. arent the famous party schools, but rather the more religiously conservative schools with more married students.

Whatever the case, the belief that religion dampens sexuality in couples is not only not supported by the evidence, but research appears to suggest the opposite.

Whether its John Paul IIs celebration of marital sexuality in his famous Theology of the Body lectures, Jewish laws Onah, which addresses the requirements for men to satisfy their wifes sexual needs, or Islams Hadiths that celebrate marital sexual passion, traditional religion has typically worked within the assumption of lived sexuality.

Even the Puritans, a group popularly associated with anti-sex attitudes that the term puritanical has entered our lexicon as a descriptor of repressive sexuality, were actually quite aware of sexual desire. Renowned sociologist Rodney Stark notes early New England divorce courts upheld the view that women had a right to expect content and satisfaction in bed.

It is true that sexuality is not the end-all from a religious worldview, that religion imposes boundaries on sexuality, and that, in some cases, devout religious people make the decision to forego the sexual in their life, whether it is a Catholic or Buddhist priest, or just a single person who believes that sexuality should be reserved for marriage.

Yet it seems clear that religion has often worked with, and not against, sexuality, and the benefits of religion for a sexual life appear to be supported by data. And for people who practice sex within the paired, coupled boundaries traditionally emphasized by faith, far from being a buzzkill, the influence of religion appears to add great sexual satisfaction to life.

Stephen Cranney is a nonresident fellow at Baylor Universitys Institute for the Studies of Religion and teaches at The Catholic University of America.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Pinellas Park man was arrested Wednesday after he was accused of threatening a mass shooting at the New York City subway on Thanksgiving.

According to an arrest report from the Pinellas Park Police Department, an anonymous tip pointed officers to Robert Trout III, 19, who posted a video on social media threatening an attack.

Body found in Inverness mans trunk during urgent well-being check: CCSO

Im gonna shoot anybody I see on that f****** train, Trout wrote on Instagram, according to PPPD. If youre from New York City do not take the train on Thursday evening.

Those comments accompanied a video showing Trout handling firearms in a reckless manner, the arrest report stated. In the video, Trout brandished two Glock .40-caliber pistols and said he had 60 rounds of ammunition to kill 60 people, according to PPPD.

Trouts identity was confirmed by multiple sources, including his own mother. His family told police he has ties to New York and is expected to be moving back there soon.

A search of his vehicle revealed two Glock-style lower receiver manufacturing molds. PPPD noted they are commonly used in place of parts directly from the manufacturer, which bear a serial number and are able to be tracked.

Trout was charged with threatening a mass shooting and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. He remained in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday on a FBI courtesy hold, according to jail records.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Alex Chalk indicated that the plan wouldn't go ahead until there is enough space to house the prisoners - Anadolu Agency

Government plans to require rapists to serve their full jail terms will require an extra 3,000 prison places and cost 3 billion, an internal assessment has found.

The analysis by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) also suggested the policy could lead to higher reoffending because of overcrowding in jails reducing the scope for rehabilitation.

The crackdown on rapists, announced in the Kings Speech as part of the sentencing bill, comes amid a current overcrowding crisis where hundreds of prisoners have had to be released early to avoid jails overflowing.

The policy will see rapists and other serious sex offenders serve their whole term behind bars without the prospect of parole rather than being released two-thirds of the way through their sentence, as happens now. They would only spend a year on licence, less than present.

According to the MoJs impact assessment, the best estimate is that implementing the policy would require an extra 1,500 prison places by 2034, and an additional 2,850 places by 2048. The extra prison capacity would cost 1.1 billion while the overall bill would come to 3,147 billion, compared with leaving the system as it is.

Hundreds of prisoners have been released early to avoid overcrowding in jails - Anthony Devlin/PA

When he announced the plans in October, Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, indicated that the change would not be implemented until there was capacity in the prison system to house the additional prisoners it would generate.

The MoJ previously set a target of building 20,000 extra prison places at a cost of 3.75 billion but has fallen behind schedule because of planning rows. In October it almost ran out of space and was forced to introduce an emergency scheme to release prisoners 18 days early.

There is currently capacity for nearly 89,000 prisoners  and, as of Friday, male jails were 99.14 per cent full with just 723 spaces left. The prison population is projected to rise to up to 106,300 by 2027 as a result of longer sentences introduced by Conservative and Labour governments.

The MoJ assessment said longer jail terms for rapists and sex offenders will keep these offenders off the streets for longer, without the opportunity to reoffend, and therefore keep the public safe.

Not seen justice done

It also pointed to surveys showing women victims felt they had not seen justice done due to a perception of lenient sentences.

However, the impact assessment, uncovered by Inside Time, the prison newspaper, also warned: A reduced licence period for some cohorts may also reduce opportunities for rehabilitation in the community, leading to higher reoffending rates due to less time spent in the community undergoing post-custody rehabilitation activity from the probation service.

Anything that increases prison demand could result in crowding in prisons in future. This would worsen the living conditions in prison, affect the stringency of the implemented regime, and the ratio of staff to prisoners.

It added: If prisoners remain in custody for longer, this could have a negative impact on their families as they will be apart for longer. Living with immediate family post-release also appears to be a protective factor against reoffending.

Therefore, being in prison for longer periods could increase the risk of relationship breakdown thereby removing this protective factor and increasing the risk of reoffending.

Lord Hogan-Howe, the former Met Police commissioner, has also warned of a potential danger in the policy, saying that it worries me because it could remove the incentive for prisoners to comply with prison rules.

He told the House of Lords: How do those in the Prison Service easily do their job? They have to have some hope that the people who they are trying to control could have a shorter sentence if they behave well.

A separate MoJ assessment estimated a plan to send UK prisoners to rented jail cells overseas to reduce overcrowding in the UK would provide 600 extra places at a cost to taxpayers of 200 million.

It said that the most likely scenario was that 600 places would be rented, with each prisoner spending two years abroad before coming back to the UK.

The total cost of operating such a scheme over a 10-year period is estimated at 202.9 million, at present value. The annual cost, excluding transition costs, is put at 24.4 million.

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.
MILLVILLE - A months-long investigation had led to the arrest of a man who allegedly climbed a ladder to enter a home and sexual assault a girl in her bedroom.

Aleem King, 35, of Philadelphia, is accused of threatening the 13-year-old victim with a gun during the early-morning incident on March 4, said the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

King allegedly entered the child's North Street home "surreptitiously" after climbing a ladder to an upstairs window, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Suspect allegedly targeted girls in home Bellmawr man accused of burglary, attempted sex crime

King was charged on Aug. 11 and was arrested on Oct. 19 in Greenville, North Carolina.

He is being held in North Carolina, pending extradition to South Jersey.

He is charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child.

King's also accused of burglary and a weapons offense.

The charges are only allegations. King has not been convicted in the case.

An investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor's Detective Ashley Cornwall at 856-453-0846.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daly Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Suspect allegedly used gun to threaten 13-year-old sex-assault victim
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Police responded to a local hospital shortly after midnight on Saturday after report of a man suffering from a gunshot wound.

Woman taken to hospital after shooting inside East Side grocery store

Authorities were dispatched to the unnamed hospital at 12:35 a.m. on Saturday and spoke with the victim who said he was shot in the 800 block of North 22nd Street, according to the Columbus Division of Police. The man said he got into a verbal fight with the unknown suspect, who pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the stomach.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The victim is expected to survive his injuries. Police are asking anyone with information to call 614-645-4373.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Serhii Pavlichenko, a hardcore fan or "ultra" of FC Dynamo Kyiv, has been killed in action at the front. He was convicted together with his father of the alleged murder of a judge in the early 2010s, back during the era of Ukraines former pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Source: FC Dynamo Kyiv

Quote: "Once again, tragic news from the frontline has shaken our community. A terrible, cruel war has taken the life of another defender of Ukraine.

Serhii Pavlichenko, a public activist and Dynamo fan, has joined the heavenly army."

Details: FC Dynamo Kyiv noted that he was a soldier of the 78th Air Assault Regiment.

Pavlichenko died on 18 November near the village of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Background:

Pavlichenko and his father were accused of murdering judge Serhii Zubkov.

In 2012, the Holosiivskyi District Court of Kyiv sentenced Dmytro Pavlichenko to life imprisonment and his son Serhii to 13 years in prison.

The Ultras Dynamo Kyiv movement took an active part in the Freedom to the Pavlichenkos campaigns.

In 2014, the Verkhovna Rada decided to release political prisoners, including Dmytro and Serhii Pavlichenko, who had been convicted of murdering a judge.

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Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After 72 hours the poll closes and, each Friday, we'll publish and analyse the results, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer together at the state opening of Parliament. (AFP via Getty Images) (HANNAH MCKAY via Getty Images)

Yahoo News UK readers trust the Conservative Party more with the economy than Labour, according to a poll.

The results come despite controversy surrounding Jeremy Hunts budget on Wednesday.

The Chancellor had claimed his Autumn Statement delivered the biggest tax cut in 35 years,.

But experts have pointed out that in fact the tax burden overall is rising, with households paying more in general.

Richard Hughes, chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), said the tax burden was going up "to its highest level in the post-war era" and warned that Hunts spending plans suggest there will have to be sharp cuts to some public services in the years ahead.

The Resolution Foundation think tank, which focuses on improving living standards for those on low to middle incomes, said UK households are set to be 1,900 poorer at the end of this parliament compared to the beginning.

Yahoo News UK asked our readers who they trust more with the economy, here are the results:-

More people trust the Conservatives with the economy. (Yahoo News UK)

(Yahoo News UK)

Our poll from Monday at midday until midday Thursday asked: Who do you trust more with the economy?

It received 20,636 votes and showed that more readers trust the Tories than Labour when it comes to the economy.

Some 52% of voters picked the Conservative Party, compared to 36% who voted for Labour, while 12% said they were undecided.

Some 52% of voters picked the Conservative Party, compared to 36% who voted for LabourYahoo News UK

Yahoo News UK readers were also asked: How strongly do you feel about the difference in their abilities?.

This poll received 9,571 votes with the most common vote being 10/10, indicating many readers felt extremely strongly about a difference in ability between the two leaders.

The average strength-of-feeling score on all the votes was 7.6.

The average strength-of-feeling score on all the votes was 7.6Yahoo News UK

Sunak vs Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer accused the government of trying to "spin" the budget delivered on Wednesday.

The Labour leader said: "whichever way the Government tried to spin the autumn statement, the reality is that living standards are dropping, the tax burden is going up and that disposable income at the end of this government is going to be less than it was at the beginning for ordinary working people."

He added that his party would face "tough choices" if it wins the next general election, due to "13 years of failure" by the Conservative Party.

General UK politics opinion tracker - March to November. (PA) (PA Wire)

Rishi Sunk has previously attacked Starmer's economic approach, comparing his plans to those of his predecessor Liz Truss.

The Prime Minister said Starmer wanted to continue a similar big government, big spending approach, pointing to Labour's 28bn green business plan.

Sunk said: This makes the same economic mistake as last years mini-budget, blowing tens of billions of pounds on unfunded spending is just as dangerous as blowing tens of billions of pounds on unfunded tax cuts.

This poll has now closed
Pope Francis has come down with a mild flu and canceled his Saturday appearances, including a meeting with the president of Guinea Bissau. Its not clear of the 86-year-old pontiff, who has only one lung, will be well enough to address the crowds in St. Peters Square on Sunday. In a week, the pope is scheduled to travel to Dubai to meet with world leaders at the COP28 climate conference.

Read it at Reuters

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Pope Francis canceled his Saturday appointments after experiencing slight flu-like conditions, but a CT scan revealed no pulmonary issues, the Vatican said.

The 86-year-old pontiff went to Romes Gemelli hospital early Saturday afternoon to undergo a CT scan on his lungs to rule out the risk of pulmonary complications, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

The test yielded negative results, and Francis has since returned to Casa Santa Marta, his residency in Vatican City.

The Argentina-born pope developed pleurisy, an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the lung, at the age of 21. The condition led to surgery to remove three pulmonary cysts, as well as a small part of his upper right lung, the Vatican said.

Over the past few years, Francis overall health has made headlines across the globe.

In late March, he spent three days at the same Rome hospital undergoing treatment for bronchitis, where he received antibiotics administered intravenously.

When he was discharged on April 1, Francis appeared to be in good spirits, even joking with reporters, saying he was still alive.

The Holy Father also planned to carry out his full Holy Week schedule. However, unseasonably cold temperatures in Rome led the Vatican to announce he would alter his plans and follow the meditations for the Way of the Cross, on Good Friday, from home.

Francis, who also suffers from sciatica, underwent a minor procedure to treat his right knee in early 2022. He arrived at an audience at the Vatican on May 5 of that year in a wheelchair.

That was the first time Francis used a wheelchair in public since leaving Gemelli Hospital after undergoing colon surgery in July 2021, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Francis is scheduled to travel to Dubai late next week to address participants of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 28.
Remains of CPV soldiers returned from ROK buried in Shenyang

Xinhua) 09:21, November 25, 2023

Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery escorted by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 24, 2023. The remains of 25 CPV soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Thursday. It was the 10th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

SHENYANG, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 25 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Thursday. It was the 10th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

The burial ceremony began at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang at 10 a.m. as a military band began to play.

Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen martyrs entered the cemetery escorted by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers with the national anthem playing in the background.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

Over 70 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, eventually winning the war after arduous fight that lasted almost three years. More than 190,000 Chinese people sacrificed their lives.

Since 2014, the remains of 938 CPV soldiers have been repatriated and buried in China, an exercise that has lasted ten years.

"We have learned about the stories of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in our textbooks. I greatly admire the spirit of the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for our country," said Chen Yanjun, a student from the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School in Macao. "I will carry forward the aspirations of the martyrs and contribute to the development of our great motherland."

More than 300 representatives from central and local authorities, the military, descendants of the CPV martyrs, teachers and students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as teenage students from the mainland attended the ceremony.

Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery escorted by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 24, 2023. The remains of 25 CPV soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Thursday. It was the 10th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs enter the cemetery escorted by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 24, 2023. The remains of 25 CPV soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Thursday. It was the 10th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This photo taken on Nov. 24, 2023 shows the memorial wall of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of 25 CPV soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Thursday. It was the 10th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Guards of honor escort the caskets of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 24, 2023. The remains of 25 CPV soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were buried Friday in a cemetery in Shenyang.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Thursday. It was the 10th such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the two countries.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China's victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
A post-Thanksgiving storm could impact the travel plans of those trying to get home after the holiday, according to notifications Friday from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Heads up for travelers: A winter storm system will bring snow accumulations to the Central Plains Saturday into Sunday, the NWS office in Springfield, Mo. said in a Friday afternoon post on X, previously known as Twitter.

If traveling, expect delays[,] know before you go! Be sure to get the latest forecast at weather.gov, the post continued.

The post was later followed by a post on the main NWS X account noting an update to the key messages for the ongoing snowstorm across portions of the Plains.

The main NWS post listed effects from the storm, including the Southern Rocky Mountains receiving heavy snow through Friday night, heavy snow bands in Kansas Saturday, hazardous travel as a result of snow, wind and icy roads and cold conditions in the Plains and Rockies.

Temperatures are expected to be 10-20 degrees below normal through Sunday, with wind chills falling into the single digits or below 0 at times, the post read.

Fridays warnings from the NWS werent the only warnings from this week on holiday travel in relation to the weather. On Tuesday afternoon, the agency said that disruptions were likely heading into Wednesday on the East Coast, with much better travel conditions across much of the remainder of the nation.

The Transportation Security Administration estimated that it screen 2.9 million passengers Sunday, possibly breaking a record set back in June.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (WJW)  The cardinal is the state bird of Ohio, the state flower is the scarlet carnation, and the state tree is the buckeye. But how about a state chip?

My first thought was, this chip looks like Ohio, said John Kinsley.

Buckeye trees: The facts and do they bring good luck?

Kinsley, a local dentist, was having lunch recently at the Rocky River Subway when he pulled out a chip from a bag of baked Lays potato chips Youve got to be kidding, was Kinlseys first thought. The chip stood out because it closely resembled the outline of Ohioits one of a kind, he said.

Another lunchgoer said the chip had an uncanny resemblance to a map of Ohio, especially Northeast Ohio, she said. The southwest part of the state is the only corner thats not as on as the others, the customer added.

And how about a piece of cereal that looks like Ohio? When Lisa Wrobbel, who lives near the restaurant heard about the Ohio chip, it reminded her of a cereal flake her child found while eating breakfast a couple of years ago.

Former Browns kicker cut again

We were like, wow, that cereal flake really does look like Ohio and we took a picture right away so people would believe us, Wrobbel said.

*Look at the photo above to see a picture of the cereal flake that looks like Ohio*

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Emergency Service workers restored power supply in Kyiv neighborhoods affected by Russian overnight kamikaze drone attacks, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported on Nov. 25.

Currently, all residents of the capital have electricity again. There are no emergency (power) outages in Kyiv, the city administration said in a Telegram post.

Ukraines air defense downed 74 out of 75 drones Russia launched against Ukraine overnight on Nov. 25. The Russian attack was focused predominantly on Kyiv, with around 50 drones downed in and around Ukraines capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that five people were injured as a result of the attack, including an 11-year-old child.

The drone debris fell in five of the city's districts, causing a fire in a kindergarten. The blast waves shattered windows in neighboring residential buildings.

First responders reportedly rescued two women trapped in a five-story building after the drone debris hit it.

Neither strikes against the critical infrastructure nor casualties were reported in the Kyiv Oblast, the regional administration reported earlier in the day.

Read also: Zelensky: Russian air attack on Holodomor Memorial Day is deliberate terror

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Last spring, when Sarah Callahans son Rudy was 9 months old, he fell in love with WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches.

The 39-year-old mother in Port Republic, Maryland, chose the apple puree pouches to help transition Rudy from breastmilk to solid foods. It seemed like a healthy option at the time, marketed as preservative-free, kosher and gluten-free.

But three months later, when Callahan took Rudy in for his one-year checkup, she was shocked to learn that he had lead poisoning.

Inspectors didnt find a clear culprit for the lead poisoning in Callahans home. When she later heard that the WanaBana cinnamon apple puree was recalled, Callahan was floored.

Sarah Callahan and her son Rudy. (Courtesy Sarah Callahan)

My heart sank, said Callahan, who, on Tuesday, sued Florida-based WanaBana for alleged injuries caused by the apple puree. To know that [my husband] Ricky and I were the two people that he relied on for his food, and we fed that to him. It just makes me feel really sad and it makes me feel guilty.

Callahan wasnt the only parent caught by surprise: As of Nov. 22, there have been 52 reported cases in 25 states where children ages 1 to 4 had elevated blood lead levels potentially linked to the apple cinnamon purees, according to the Food and Drug Administration. One sample of the product, purchased at a Dollar Tree and tested by the FDA, contained 200 times more lead than proposed guidance from the agency would allow.

On Oct. 30, WanaBana recalled all lots of the product, followed on Nov. 9 by several lots made by the company but sold under the brand names Schnucks Apple Sauce pouches with cinnamon and Weis Cinnamon Apple Sauce. The FDA this month said parents should not buy the product as it investigates the lead poisonings. In its Nov. 22 statement, the agency said it was aware that the recalled product was still on shelves at several Dollar Tree stores in multiple states.

In response to a request for comment, WanaBana referred NBC News to a Nov. 19 press release that said the company was working closely with the FDA to investigate the source of the contamination.

Dollar Tree said in a statement that it "is working with store operations teams to ensure the recalled WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches are no longer in stores and destroyed according to FDA guidelines," adding that the stores' registers are programmed to not allow sales of the recalled product to go through.

Experts say the lead-contaminated applesauce pouches are just the latest development in the FDAs ongoing struggles to regulate baby food.

Last year, the FDA came under scrutiny after certain powdered baby formulas were recalled after three babies fell severely ill and one died from a bacterial infection. The recall compounded an ongoing formula shortage that began in the early days of the Covid pandemic and left many parents scrambling to feed their children. The government was eventually forced to airlift millions of pounds of formula from overseas.

In 2021, a congressional investigation found that commercial baby food was tainted with significant levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, prompting the FDA to draft industry guidelines to minimize harm to children. In a statement to NBC News, an FDA spokesperson said the agency should be able to finalize the guidelines by early 2025. Even in the absence of new guidelines, however, the agency is able to take regulatory action if it determines specific products are unsafe, the spokesperson added.

Jane Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies Bright Futures, a nonprofit focused on reducing babies exposure to harmful chemicals, said the FDA needs to do more to protect babies from heavy metals. Houlihan co-authored a 2019 report that found that 95% of baby foods tested contained heavy metals.

The fact that these problems occurred with applesauce is a sign of how many holes there are in the safety net, Houlihan said. None of the labels were used to seeing have anything to do with heavy metals. And thats why its so important for the government to take action for food manufacturers.

Lead exposure in young children

Lead exposure can cause serious health problems in children, including damage to the brain and nervous system; slowed growth and issues with hearing and speech; and lower IQ, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At high levels, it can cause lead poisoning or death.

Children younger than 6 are especially vulnerable to lead because their bodies are still developing, said Dr. Laura Breeher, an occupational and environmental medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Lead is stored in the bone, Breeher said. Childrens bones are growing, theyre absorbing nutrients, and so theyre much more likely to get toxicity if theyre exposed to lead.

There is no known safe blood lead level in children, according to the CDC. A level of 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter or above is considered higher than whats seen in most children.

In the babies and toddlers who consumed the contaminated cinnamon apple pouches, blood lead levels ranged from 4 to 29 micrograms per deciliter, according to the CDC.

There is some real reason to be concerned, said Dr. Frederick Henretig, a medical toxicologist at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphias Poison Control Center. These containers of applesauce that have been identified contain a potentially significant amount of lead, which certainly doesnt belong in there.

Lead in food is not entirely uncommon, according to Dr. Leonardo Trasande, director of environmental pediatrics at NYU Langone Health, who added that the U.S. has made progress over the past few decades in reducing exposure from food and other more likely sources, like paint.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the Earths crust. It can seep into the food chain in various ways, including when plants we eat absorb it from soil or when livestock eat soil or plants laced with lead, Trasande said.

The FDA still doesnt know how lead ended up in the supply of the applesauce pouches.

The FDA spokesperson said the agencys leading hypothesis is that cinnamon used in the pouches is the likely source of the contamination, but added that an investigation is ongoing. The FDA is screening incoming shipments of cinnamon from multiple countries for lead contamination. The applesauce pouches are made in Ecuador.

Houlihan said that contaminated foods are a big problem that requires solutions at all different levels.

FDA needs to set protective standards. Food manufacturers need to test whats coming in and whats in their finished foods, and parents also need to pay attention and make choices to help lower their childrens exposures to these toxic metals, she said.

Breeher, of the Mayo Clinic, said puree pouches have become very common in peoples households because of their convenience.

Theyre very easy to pop into school lunches for parents because you dont need a spoon, she said.

Right now, there isnt a whole lot parents can do to make sure their childrens food isnt contaminated with lead, beyond regularly checking the FDAs recall page, Breeher said.

Parents shouldnt have to worry that their childrens food is contaminated with something like lead, she added.

Rudy, who Callahan said is showing signs of speech delays, is also getting his blood drawn periodically to monitor his lead levels.

Its really sad to see him sitting there and inflicting pain on him, knowing especially that the lead poisoning wasnt the babys fault and it wasnt our fault, Callahan said.

Her husband, Ricky Callahan, said he worries about what comes next for Rudy.

We have a lead-poisoned child. But youre perpetually waiting for that next shoe to fall, Ricky said. So we know right now he has a speech delay. But what does the future hold for him? We dont know.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
You dont tell a boy thats been left behind at Christmas that youre aching to cut him loose. That nobody wants him.

Thats what Mary (DaVine Joy Randolph), a cafeteria manager at the fictional Barton Academy and the grieving mother of a recently killed son, declares in Alexander Paynes excellent new film, The Holdovers. She does so at the end of a squabble between two centerpieces of the all-boys prep school subgenre: the irritable teacher and the troublesome student.

The teacher, the longtimeand long-hatedancient civilization lecturer Mr. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), had moments earlier taken a jab at one of the titular holdovers under his tutelage during winter break. Do you think I want to be babysitting you? he characteristically snarls. I was praying to the god I dont even believe in that your mother would pick up the phone or your father would arrive in a helicopter or a flying saucer.

The student, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), certainly defies authority with ease. The tendency got him kicked out of three other high schools, and hes on the cusp of being transferred to a military academy. Angus expected to spend Christmas in Saint Kitts, only to receive a last-minute call from his mother asking (though, really, telling) him to remain at Barton over break. She and her new husband Stanley, she says, have not had time for a honeymoonnow is their time.

Theres much to enjoy and admire about The Holdovers, from its performances, to its retro feel (the film takes place in December 1970 and its cinematography tries to emulate the look of movies at the time), to the way its screenplay seamlessly blends hilarity and heartache. But among its cultural insights, the film makes two important points about privilegeone conventional but timely, and one frequently underexplored.

From Dead Poets Society to Scent of a Woman, prep schools in film have served as symbols of either the rigidity or the hypocrisy of the upper, upper class. Their stern rules and codes of honor ring hollow when theyre circumvented for the student whose namesake appears on the library entrance or whose relatives funded a new gym. Thats the first important point The Holdovers makes: that the preservation of status can often preclude the inculcation of virtue.

Hunhamwho himself was a Barton studentlaments this state of affairs early in the film, when he proudly stands by his decision to fail the son of a sitting U.S. senator (and major Barton donor), much to his principals chagrin. We cannot compromise our integrity at the altar of their entitlement, Hunham asserts. Yes, weve heard similar stories before, but theyre important to remember as we debate the role of, say, legacy admissions.

But The Holdovers also makes a surprising choice for our times, when the left indulges eat-the-rich fantasies and the right revels in elite-bashing. The film explores how privilege can nevertheless fail to fend off the pain of loneliness.

A common response to the Anguses of the world might be to play the worlds smallest violin for their admittedly #firstworldproblems. After all, how much sympathy can there be for an inconvenienced elite who has to miss a Caribbean getaway en route to a career-catapulting stint in the Ivy League?

Theyve had it easy their whole lives, Hunham says. But Mary, of all people, isnt so sure. You dont know that, she replies. Did you?

Out of all the films characters, Marys the one who arguably has the most reason to dismiss whatever suffering Bartons privileged students face. Her deceased son Curtis actually attended the prep school on a scholarship. He had his eyes set on Swarthmore, Mary recounts, but without the means to foot the bill he ended up drafted to Vietnama fate his classmates would never face. Its easy to imagine Mary, privy to displays of entitlement at Barton and one of the few black people at the school, being bitter.

True, she sometimes doesnt hold back criticism. Rich and dumba popular combination around here, she remarks of one particularly insufferable pupil. But Mary also refuses to treat Angus as a mere stand-in for his social class.

Through Mary, the movie points out something we forget in our discussions about privilege: Although its real, the divisions it creates are not insurmountable. Theres something unifying about loneliness and loss in the filmand, Id argue, in our livesthat cuts through the various forms of privilege that our discourse so often focuses on, whether about class or race. Mary notices far sooner than Hunham that Angus feels rejected. By the time a pivotal scene arrives at the end of the movie, its not surprising that she extends her hand in comfort. Theres some distance, sure, but not enough to keep herthe presumably less privileged onefrom sympathizing with his fears.

However aware Mary is about the entitlement of the Barton students, she doesnt see Angus as an avatar for the rich or white people. She sees a boy thats been left behind at Christmas.

Randolphs performance deserves special recognition for making this idea apparent. In a lesser film and with a less talented actress, Mary could have been reduced to predictable tropes of the sassy minority sidekick. But The Holdovers rightly gives her a character arc of her own, dealing with the pain of Curtis death while not letting it consume her.

The Holdovers works as a comedy. It works as a coming-of-age story. And it works as an exploration of privilege, one that recognizes its pitfalls while also refusing to let it become the main criteria through which we judge a person.

Read more at The Dispatch

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A group of Indigenous students at the University of Colorado Boulder recently launched a prize-winning rocket and earned a life-changing trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The students who are majoring in engineering and other STEM fields used their creativity, imagination and science chops to score the win.

"So the challenge was to craft a lightweight rocket," said Nazhone Morgan.

She and others on the team are members of the University of Colorado Boulder's American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

/ Credit: AISES - CU Boulder

"What we did structurally was we 3D printed the fins the nose cone and part of the avionics bay right in the middle here," said Morgan.

Their rocket -- called "Singularity" -- won this year's First Nations Launch. They competed against students from 21 colleges in the U.S. and Canada.

"Once I found out we won, I was like, 'this is pretty neat. This is really huge in my experience,'" said Alfredo Bitsoi, a member of the Navajo nation.

It's a boost that's far-reaching for these aspiring engineers and the people who look up to them.

"It kind of opens up your mind to what's possible and the limits that you can push. So that's an experience that I'll always take with me for sure," said Evie Clarke, president of CU Boulder's AISES chapter.

/ Credit: AISES - CU Boulder

The prize was a trip to watch the launch of NASA's SpaceX Crew-7: four astronauts representing four countries heading to the International Space Station.

"Being able to see a launch is one of the coolest experiences I've had," added Clarke.

Bitsoi said, "I've always loved NASA, I've always wanted to work there, and being there in person was really life-changing for me. It's like 'wow' if I'm here, in the future I can be here again and I can encourage other people to be here. More people like me to be in this kind of field."

Students had the opportunity to interact with Indigenous leaders in aerospace.

"Aaron Yazzie who worked on the Mars Rover," Morgan said. Yazzie, from the Navajo nation, is a mechanical systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "And just seeing those people in these industries is very inspirational," Morgan added.

It's got Morgan thinking about a new trajectory.

"I'm looking into finding a career in embedded systems and avionics," she said.

Left to right: CU student Alfredo Bitsoi, NASA Mechanical Systems Engineer Aaron Yazzie, and Nazhone Morgan, also a CU student. Bitsoi and Morgan are members of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society at CU Boulder. / Credit: AISES - CU Boulder

Many Indigenous cultures attribute spiritual meaning to the stars and see the exploration of space as a way to advance their people.

"We do not look at it as a place to be colonized, but a place to be respected and a place to learn from," said Morgan.

"It brings our Indigenous people together because it encourages us to seek forward, seek something better and to look to the stars for innovation rather than being behind, dwindling," added Bitsoi.

They call themselves the CU Trailblazers and are already preparing for their next launch -- one they expect to reach even greater heights.

In addition to competing in a more daring "Mars Challenge" in 2024, the Indigenous students say they will work with Native American students in Denver Public Schools to provide workshops on rocketry and higher education.

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The lead prosecutor investigating the killing of Jesus Ociel Baena, Mexicos first nonbinary magistrate, said they were not the victim of a hate crime but were instead brutally slain in a razor blade murder-suicide at the hands of their lawyer and model boyfriend, Dorian Herrera.

It may seem like a not very credible hypothesis to many, but were being very careful to leave a record and preserve all evidence, Aguascalientes state prosecutor Jesus Figueroa Ortega told local Spanish-language Radio Formula.

The bloodied bodies of Baena, 38, and Herrera, 37, were discovered earlier this month at their home in the central Mexico city of Aguascalientes. The bodies were found at the base of the stairs of their two-story home. Baena had suffered 20 stab wounds from what has been described as a razor blade. They had defensive wounds to the arms and hands, but the fatal blow was a gash to the jugular. Herrera was found lying next to Baena, having suffered a gash to his jugular. Investigators say he had wounds to his hands and fingers consistent with the use of a razor in a fight.

 (@)

Baena was a leading figure in Mexicos LGBTQ+ community and was granted a special security detail due to receiving multiple death threats. Many initially suspected the two men were the victims of a hate crime, but the state prosecutor said all the evidence at the scene, including the wounds to the bodies, pointed to a murder-suicide at the hands of Herrera.

Ortega told Radio Formula that investigators believe a fight began in the upstairs bedroom and that Herrera attacked Baena with a blade, as evidenced by the state of the bed and the pattern of bloodstains. They say Herrera followed Baena downstairs, where he continued to slash the judge before killing them with a gash to the neck. Ortega said investigators believe Herrera went back upstairs to retrieve a knife, came back downstairs, lay next to Baena, and then slit his own throat.

We found footprints, left and right, that go downstairs, and we figure he went back upstairs for another blade, which he used to cut his own throat, causing the loss of his life, Figueroa told Radio Formula. Both bodies were on the ground floor of the house, just centimeters from one another.

Ortega also said investigators have reviewed video surveillance footage that shows the couple arriving home and entering the front door around 1:15 a.m. the day of the killings and roughly eight hours before the bodies were discovered. He said the front door was locked, that no one else was observed entering the residence, and that there was no evidence of another person other than Baena and Herrera at the scene.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community greeted the news from investigators with skepticism. Alejandro Brito, director of the LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S, told the Associated Press that state prosecutors are loaded with prejudices against the community.

In these types of homicides, they always try to disqualify or belittle, Brito said. These statements that the prosecutor is giving, what theyre doing isnt clarifying the acts, theyre adding fuel to the fire of these prejudices.

Victor Espindola, executive director of the nonprofit Movement for Equality in Mexico, told Courthouse News the couple had sounded upbeat when they spoke with members of Baenais family on Sunday evening. He also disputed Ortegas version of events, suggesting investigators are jumping to a predetermined conclusion, and called for a federal investigation.

There is no evidence to support the attorney generals version because there are no cameras in the house and there were no witnesses, Espindola said in a phone interview with Courthouse News. But he dares to declare that there was an argument in the bedroom. It would appear that they would like to close this case as quickly as possible, so we and several other organizations are calling on the federal attorney generals office to take the case, because what the Aguascalientes attorney general is declaring is not trustworthy.

Baenas father, Juan Baena, disagreed with Ortegas assertions about the killings, and was quoted by the BBC saying it would be a shame to let this justice system make a judgment that is not correct and that the majority do not believe it.

 (@)

Baena was an inspirational figure in the LGBTQ+ community. They were the first to receive a nonbinary designation on their birth certificate as well as the first to receive a Mexican passport with a nonbinary gender designation. They were also recently the first to receive a gender-neutral magistrate title, a significant step in the culturally conservative country. The moment was captured in a post to social media shown above.

Little is known of Herrera. He was reportedly a one-time model and lawyer. His Instagram profile has photos posted of him traveling, but no photos with Baena. His last post showed him sitting in an airplane.

Prosecutors assured the community the investigation is still open and that they will follow the evidence in the case.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned that someone you know may be, resources are available to help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 is for people of all ages and identities. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.
Police in Los Angeles are investigating a protest outside the house of the president of the pro-Israeli lobbying group AIPAC as a possible hate crime, according to a report.

LAPD officers responded to a "disturbance" on Thursday morning in Brentwood. They made no arrests at the scene, but were investigating claims of vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon, and are now reportedly treating a protest at the scene as a possible hate crime, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Though the LAPD has a policy of not naming the victims of crimes in their police reports, LA Mayor Karen Bass reportedly identified the victim as Michael Tuchin, an LA attorney who serves as president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, better known as AIPAC.

Ive spoken with Michael Tuchin and Chief [Michel] Moore about yesterdays disturbing incident, Ms Bass wrote on X/Twitter. Hate and violence will not be tolerated in our City. LAPD will continue to work with city and business leaders to keep Angelenos safe.

AIPAC has been criticized in the past and more so since the 7 October Hamas terror attack in Israel for allegedly buying political cover for Israel through donations to American lawmakers. AIPAC is an American organisation, though its stated purpose is "working to strengthen bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship" and to "encourage the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel."

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called AIPAC an extremist organization that destabilizes US democracy in previous criticism of the political donor group.

AIPAC endorsed scores of Jan 6th insurrectionists, she wrote on X/Twitter. They are no friend to American democracy. They are one of the more racist and bigoted PACs in Congress as well, who disproportionately target members of color.

AIPAC endorsed scores of Jan 6th insurrectionists. They are no friend to American democracy.



They are one of the more racist and bigoted PACs in Congress as well, who disproportionately target members of color.



They are an extremist organization that destabilizes US democracy. https://t.co/I7KeLBHttJ  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 1, 2023

The US's continued support of Israel has been the subject of criticism by those who believe Israel's response to the 7 October Hamas terror attack has been disproportionate. More than 14,500 Palestinians have been reported killed since the 7 October attack, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Millions more have been displaced from their homes by Israel's bombing campaign.

A video that was posted online by the People's City Council Los Angeles shows a group of protesters standing outside a home that has been identified as Mr Tuchin's, holding a sign that read "F*** ur holiday baby killer." A red liquid also appeared to have been poured onto the home's driveway, while small white bundles were left scattered around the property.

No arrests have been made at this time related to the protest.
The Thanksgiving Day demonstration that took place in front of the Brentwood home of Michael Tuchin, President of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore confirmed the hate crime investigation on Friday afternoon.

Video evidence and other information is being collected to identify those responsible for the vandalism and assault on a neighbor, Moore said on X, formerly Twitter.

Man fatally stabbed outside of liquor store; suspect remains on the loose

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto also took to social media to express her concern over the incident.

The behavior on virulent display in Brentwood on Thanksgiving Day and continuing in our city today is unacceptable, Feldstein-Soto said on X, formerly Twitter. Physically harming or criminally threatening another person, trespass[ing] and vandalism are not protected speech and should be prosecuted.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass also wrote on social media that she had spoken with Michael Tuchin and Chief Moore on Friday but later removed Tuchins name from the post, citing the safety of those involved in the investigation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Video of the demonstration, which took place on Thursday afternoon in front of Tuchins home in the 11900 block of Foxboro Drive, quickly circulated across social media.

Footage posted by StopAntisemitism shows a group of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in front of Tuchins house, holding smoke bombs and splattering fake blood on his driveway.

The video, which has garnered nearly two million views on X  formerly Twitter  in two days, was taken by a woman pleading with her father to avoid any physical confrontation with the protestors.

California man swept out to sea in Hawaii

That man, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA 5s Rachel Menitoff that he was simply looking out for his neighbor.

As soon as I looked, I realized they were trashing my neighbors property and I tried to protect the property, he said. Unfortunately, they didnt back up, so it got a little bit heated.

No arrests were made as of Saturday morning.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Editors note: This article was first published on March 29, 2023.

Eloy Otero-Bruno and Crispina Barreto-Torres welcomed a son into the world on April 7, 1937, in the small municipality of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, just west of the islands capital of San Juan.

When they gave him a name inspired by his fathers admiration for Americas first president, the family certainly had no inkling that little Jorge would one day be something of an American icon in his own right, a status earned after becoming one of the most decorated soldiers of the Vietnam War.

Jorge Otero Barreto joined the Army in 1959 after pursuing biology studies in college. Less than two years later, he embarked on his first deployment, one of five such tours he would make to the embattled nation between 1961 and 1970 as a member of the 101st Airborne, 82nd Airborne and 25th Infantry Division, among others.

Otero. (Army)

Over the course of five deployments, Otero Barreto volunteered for approximately 200 combat missions  a lofty number that eventually earned him the moniker The Puerto Rican Rambo, after the fictional death-dealing character made famous by actor Sylvester Stallone.

He would earn 38 total commendations during the five combat tours, including three Silver Stars, five Purple Hearts, five Bronze Stars, five Air Medals and four Army Commendation Medals.

One particular award was the result of actions on May 1, 1968, when the platoon sergeant, along with men from the 101st Air Cavalry Division, nestled into positions designed to pin down a North Vietnamese regiment in a village near the deadly city of Hue.

In the early morning hours, Otero Barreto and his men came under a heavy bombardment and faced waves of charging enemy soldiers desperate to rid themselves of the incoming Americans.

U.S. troops managed to repel the first two enemy assaults, killing 58 in the process and forcing the assailants to limp back to the village.

Instead of awaiting a third assault, Otero Barreto opted to lead a counter-attack. But shortly into their advance, the first platoon came under a barrage of machine gun, small arms, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from enemy spider holes and bunkers strewn across the platoons fire sector.

The Puerto Rican Rambo wasted no time getting to work.

Otero Barreto sprinted to the nearest machine gun bunker and quickly killed the three men manning the position.

Gathering the rest of his squad, he then moved through three more fortified enemy bunkers, dashing from one to the next until all that remained was a trail of destruction.

The assault by Otero Barreto, which allowed the rest of Company As platoons to maneuver into advantageous positions and overrun the enemy, would earn him one of his three Silver Stars.

Otero Barreto, now 85, would later retire as a sergeant first class. And while the eventual conclusion of Vietnam would mark the end of his extensive combat career, it would not be the last of his many lifetime achievements.

In 2006, Otero Barreto was named the recipient of the National Puerto Rican Coalitions Lifetime Achievement Award. Since then, he has had veterans homes and museums named in his honor, and in 2011, he was recognized in his hometown when the city named the Puerto Rican Rambo its citizen of the year.

Read more about Otero Barreto via one of his Silver Star citations here.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin planned to divide Ukraine into three parts, historian and Ukrainian Catholic University professor, Yaroslav Hrytsak, told NV Radio.

"The first part was that the entire so-called Novorossiya, the Russian-speaking part of [Ukraine], would be annexed to Russia. Relatively speaking, Kharkiv-Uman, the southeast, will be annexed by Russia as Novorossiya," he said, adding that Putin was not and is not interested in western Ukraine.

"He considers it a toxic territory, so 'let it go wherever it wants, even to hell.'

"The remaining territories were supposed to create "a kind of Ukrainian version of Belarus  Malorossia (Little Russia  ed.), where Kyiv will have its own president" with "a more human face than Yanukovych (Ukraines fugitive ex-president  ed.)," but much more loyal and manageable.

"Agrarian, without big industry, without western territories. And completely under control. A kind of puppet state. A puppet state under the Kremlin leadership," Hrytsak said, describing Putin's planfor this part of the country.

Malorussia would act as a buffer state between the newly-annexed Novorossia and the trouble-making Western Ukraine, according to Putins pre-war plans.

One of the options was to give western Ukraine to Poland.

"Peter the Great fought the Great Northern War for 21 years. It seems that he fought with Sweden,reclaimed something... He did not reclaim anything: he returned (the territory) back (to Russia)". It is Russias destiny to return and strengthen, Putin said on Jun. 9, comparing himself to the Russian tsar.

Read also: Putins speech at virtual G20 full of false narratives, event ignored by Biden and Xi

"Ukraine, in fact, never had a stable tradition of its true statehood;" it emerged "as a result of Bolshevik policy," and therefore "today it can be fully called Vladimir Ilyich Lenins Ukraine,"Putin said, in his own interpretation of history, as he spouted his false narratives two days after the full-scale invasion.

The Russian dictator blamed Gorbachev (the Soviet Unions final leader  ed.) for "the collapse of historical Russia, called the USSR."

"Modern Ukraine," Putin wrote in an article published on the Kremlin website in July 2021, "is entirely the brainchild of the Soviet era ... created at the expense of historical Russia.

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 President Vladimir Putin unveiled Russia's new plan to take on the West in developing AI. Vladimir Smirnov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Putin talked about Russia's AI ambitions at a conference in Moscow on Friday.

He announced plans for a new national strategy for AI development to counter the West.

Putin said existing AI from the West is "biased" against Russia.

Russia is staking its claim in the AI arms race .

At the Artificial Intelligence Journey conference in Moscow on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans for a new national strategy for AI development to counter Western influence over the powerful technology.

"Our domestic models of artificial intelligence must reflect the entire wealth and diversity of world culture, the heritage, knowledge, and wisdom of all civilizations," Putin said.

Putin, who outlined the goals of the new strategy in broad terms, said that Russia will intensify its research into generative AI and large language models.

To achieve that, the country would scale up its supercomputing power and improve top-level AI education. Russia would also work to change laws and boost international cooperation to achieve its goals, Putin said.

Putin lamented that existing generative AI models work in "selective" or "biased" ways  potentially ignoring Russian culture  because they're often trained to solve tasks using English-only data sets, or data sets that are "convenient" or "favorable" to the developers of these models.

As a result, an algorithm can "tell the machine that Russia, our culture, science, music, literature simply does not exist," he said, leading to "a kind of abolition in the digital space."

English-speaking countries right now dominate AI research. The United States and the United Kingdom claim the top spots in a ranking of the highest number of significant machine learning systems, according to Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI).

The United States has 16 significant systems. The United Kingdom has eight. Russia has just one, by HAI's account. Similarly, close to 300 authors of these systems come from the United States. Another 140 are from the United Kingdom. Only three come from Russia.

Concerns about the potential dangers AI could pose to humanity have divided even the most dedicated AI researchers, and some have publicly said the technology in the wrong hands would be problematic.

Geoffrey Hinton, the British-Canadian AI researcher named a "godfather of AI," for instance, has said he's worried about "bad actors" like Putin using the AI tools he's creating .

Putin, however, says that the Western monopoly over AI is "unacceptable, dangerous and inadmissible."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Merkava tanks near the Israel-Gaza border, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel

CAIRO (Reuters) - A Qatari delegation visited Israel on Saturday to discuss a possible extension of a four-day truce between Hamas and Israel that started on Friday, an official briefed on the visit said.

The Qatari operations team also coordinated with Israeli officials to ensure the truce and hostage releases continue smoothly, the official said.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills; Writing by Adam Makary; Editing by Mark Potter)
High school students at Hillcrest High School in New York reportedly rioted in the hallways yelling Free Palestine on Monday after they found out that a teacher at the school had attended a pro-Israel rally. As students tried to barge into the teachers classroom, school administrators and the police reportedly hid the teacher in a locked office. According to New York City Councilman James Gennaro, the NYPD sent officers to the scene and even tapped their counterterrorism bureau to investigate potential threats against Hillcrest adding, The counterterrorism task force is not engaged unless they believe it is potentially a serious situation. No one should ever feel unsafe at schoolstudents and teachers alike, the teacher told the New York Post. She was eventually safely escorted from the building and the students were returned to their classrooms.

Read it at New York Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Animal advocates fear small pets up for adoption may have become reptile feed. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

Over 250 animals meant for adoption may have become reptile food, advocates say.

A group of rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs ended up with a man who runs a reptile breeding company.

Humane societies in San Diego and Arizona are investigating, as are local police.

A shipment of small animals sent to an Arizona humane society may have ended up as reptile feed, advocates fear.

In August, the San Diego Humane Society transferred about 320 rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, which in turn transferred the small pets to a man named Colten Jones, according to an HSSA statement published earlier this month.

"The day after receiving these animals, Colten Jones sent a text message seeking assistance in processing a high volume of Guinea pigs and rabbits for food," the HSSA said in a statement, noting Jones runs a reptile breeding company called The Fertile Turtle that "includes selling both live and frozen animals for reptile feed."

Following inquiries from the humane societies, 62 of the animals were returned to the HSSA, according to the statement. The society has since been working to assess what happened to the other 261 animals.

Tucson's CBS affiliate KOLD-TV reported that Jones sent a disturbing text message that may indicate the animals' fates.

"Do you have the ability to freeze off a bunch of guinea pigs and or rabbits? I don't have the manpower or labor to be able to do it in time for the show and it's too much for me," Jones said via text message on August 8, one day after the animals had been transferred, KOLD reported.

Jones could not immediately be reached at a phone number listed in his name.

Per the HSSA statement, the two humane societies were "heartbroken for every one of these animals and every individual who shares our concern for them." In addition to an internal investigation, they opened a case with the Tucson Police Department. The HSSA's CEO and COO, both of whom oversaw the transfer, are no longer employed by the society, according to the statement.

Read the original article on Insider
Police are using 3D scanning technology to help create a digital crash scene, as the investigation into Wednesdays Rainbow Bridge vehicle explosion continues.

Niagara Falls Police Department Chief John Faso said investigations were likely to take a while, adding: This is not something thats going to happen overnight. Its a monumental task.

Investigators are now probing whether a mechanical failure could be to blame, with experts suggesting that the vehicles Event Data Recorder (EDR)  which is similar to an aircrafts black box  may be critical to discovering the cause of the crash.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple, identified on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

Dramatic footage captured the vehicle speeding up before it hit a curb on the US side of the border, became airborne and then combusted, killing the pair inside.

The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack but New York Governor Kathy Hochul and FBI officials later said there was no sign of terrorist activity.

Key Points

New York couple killed in Rainbow Bridge explosion planned to go to KISS concert

Casino where car stopped before crash cooperating with police

Dramatic surveillance footage captures fiery car crash

New York Governor Hochul says no sign of terrorist activity

Couple involved in deadly crash named by authorities

Niagara Falls Mayor: We may never find out exactly what happened'

14:42 , Mike Bedigan

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert M Restaino paid tribute to Kurt and Monica Villani, describing them as two kind, easygoing people.

Mr Restaino, who was a longtime friend of Mr Villanis father, Kurt Villani Sr, told The Buffalo News: Our families have known each other for decades. I knew Kurt and Monica, two kind, easygoing and very hardworking people.

This was just a tragic, horrible incident, and because of the condition of the vehicle and sadly the human remains, we may never find out exactly what happened.

Mr Restaino said he would be astonished if the crash was intentional, adding: I know police are looking into every possibility, but from my conversations with investigators, that appears very unlikely.

The Villanis had a son and a daughter, and are also survived by Mr Villanis mother, according to Mr Restaino.

Police use 3D scanners to create digital crash scene following Rainbow Bridge explosion

13:30 , Mike Bedigan

Police are using 3D scanning technology to help create a digital crash scene, as the investigation into the Rainbow Bridge vehicle explosion continues.

Read the full story here:

Police use 3D scanners to create digital crash scene following Niagara explosion

Who were the two people killed in the blast?

12:00 , Mike Bedigan

Law enforcement sources told CNN on Wednesday night that the Rainbow Bridge crash is believed to have involved a local New York individual and a passenger who had planned to attend a KISS concert in Toronto, Canada.

The concert was cancelled earlier in the day due to frontman, Paul Stanley, falling ill with the flu.

Police identified the couple on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, both 53; they lived in Grand Island, New York. They are survived by two children, according to an obiturary for the husbands father.

The Villanis own Guis Lumber, a business with eight locations across western New York.

In a statement to CBC, the business wrote: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing.

Read the full story...

What we know about the deadly Rainbow Bridge explosion

10:00 , Mike Bedigan

What New York officials have said about the crash

Only one day after the horrific incident on the Rainbow Bridge closed nearby cross-border travel for hours, the bridge is now reopen.



I am grateful to the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, @CBP, & all working to keep New Yorkers safe during the busiest travel time of the year.  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 23, 2023

Im closely monitoring the situation on the Rainbow Bridge crossing between the United States and Canada in Niagara Falls. Please follow guidance from local officials. Im deeply grateful to all of our brave first responders responding to this situation.  Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) November 22, 2023

Ive been newly briefed by the @FBI this evening on the incident at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls.



They have now confirmed that there is no reason at present to believe this was terrorism.



And they believe they have the identity of the driver.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 22, 2023

Video captures the speeding car ahead of the crash

08:00 , Mike Bedigan

CBP is working closely with @FBI, federal, state & local partners in response to a vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge which remains closed. Out of abundance of caution, CBP temporarily suspended inbound/outbound traffic at 3 other Buffalo crossings that have since reopened. pic.twitter.com/pTXyUsavRB  CBP (@CBP) November 22, 2023

A cancelled KISS concert to a fatal crash

06:00 , Mike Bedigan

A deadly crash at a border crossing between the US and Canada is believed to have involved a New York couple who had planned to attend a Kiss concert in Toronto on Wednesday night.

Law enforcement sources told CNN that the couple, who have not been identified but were said to have lived in western New York, were speeding in their Bentley when the car rammed into the Rainbow Bridge crossing, killing them both.

The blast sparked fears of a terrorist attack and prompted Canadian and US officials to briefly close all border bridges between the two nations and ground planes at nearby Buffalo Airport.

Hours later, the FBI Buffalo office and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that there were no signs that the incident was terror-related.

Instead, the investigation so far indicates that the couple were planning to cross the border to go to a Kiss concert in Toronto that night. But the concert was cancelled earlier in the day due to frontman Paul Stanley becoming ill with the flu.

The timeline

04:00 , Mike Bedigan

Wednesday, 22 November:

The band KISS cancelled its Toronto show due to frontman Paul Stanley catching the flu

A New York couple, who had been planning on going to the concert, decide to go to a casino

The couple left the casino, and headed toward the bridge

11.50am: The Rainbow Bridge was closed due to a traffic event

Gov Kathy Hochul announces there is no indication of a terrorist attack

The FBI also said no terrorism nexus was identified

Friday, 24 November:

Police identify the couple as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani from Grand Island New York

They were survived by their two children

Right-wing figures bashed for rushing to label crash a terrorist attack

02:00 , Mike Bedigan

A number of right-wing figures quickly branded the crash a terrorist attack, sparking criticism.

Senator Ted Cruz also claimed the incident was a terror attack, tweeting: This confirms our worst fear: the explosion at Rainbow Bridge was a terrorist attack.

Congressman Byron Donalds also chimed in. Todays apparent terrorist attack must be a wake-up call to all Americans. Nowmore than everwe need a change in leadership in our nation, he said. As authorities respond to this ongoing situation, I extend my prayers to all those impacted by this terror and pray for our great nation.

Florida Senator Rick Scott and presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy, as well as Donald Trump Jr, among others, also suggested the explosion was a terrorist incident, linking it to border enforcement policies.

CNN reporter Oliver Darcy criticized Fox News initial terrorist attack reporting in an interview with Abby Phillip on Wednesday.

This was irresponsible reporting, this was reckless reporting and by all accounts, it was inaccurate reporting, he said, adding that it was reported for hours and the network sent out a push alert on the terrorism report.

Political strategist Lindy Li also criticised Fox News, tweeting: Contrary to what Fox News wants you to believe the car explosion on the Rainbow Bridge was NOT a terrorist attack but a terrible accident, she said.

Trumps violent insurrection against our Capitol WAS a terrorist attack and NOT a normal tourist visit. Learn the b****y difference.

Saturday 25 November 2023 22:00 , Mike Bedigan

ICYMI: What we know about the Rainbow Bridge crash

Two people, Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, died after a vehicle exploded at a US-Canadaborder crossing at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, on Wednesday 22 November.

The car was attempting to enter Canada from the United States when it sped toward a checkpoint, crashed into a fence and erupted into a fireball just before midday, according to witnesses.

Video footage and photos showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from the checkpoint, and a security booth that had been charred by flames.

The blast killed two, reportedly injured one Border Patrol officer and led to the closure of four border crossings between the US and Canada in New York state.

Within hours, investigators had ruled out that the car had been carrying explosives or was connected to terrorism.

Read the full story...

What we know about the deadly Rainbow Bridge explosion

Saturday 25 November 2023 20:59 , Mike Bedigan

WATCH: Surveillance footage shows car speeding moments before explosion

Saturday 25 November 2023 19:59 , Mike Bedigan

A message from the family

Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani were identified on Friday as the victims of the crash.

Online records revealed that the family owns Guis Lumber, a business that spans locations across western New York.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that extended prayers, condolences and well wishes, the families and the lumber company said in a joint statement released by the Erie County Sheriffs Office on Friday. At this point, we are requesting privacy so we may begin the process of healing.

Niagara Falls identify victims of Rainbow Bridge crash

Saturday 25 November 2023 18:59 , Mike Bedigan

Police named the two people who died in the Rainbow Bridge crash as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani on Thursday.

Cause of crash still a mystery

Saturday 25 November 2023 18:00 , Mike Bedigan

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge blast remains something of a mystery.

Some previously speculated that the driver of the vehicle may have suffered from a medical emergency, though investigators are now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the American arm of Bentley Motors told the paper that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

Automotive analyst Laura Fix told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ that acceleration data recovered from the vehicles Event Data Recorder (EDR) may determine the cause of the crash.

They could actually see that the driver applied the accelerator pedal, not unintentionally, then it could have been [possibly] a medical issue, Ms Fix said.

Crash couple were ingrained in local community

Saturday 25 November 2023 16:59 , Mike Bedigan

Scott Henderson, treasurer of the Niagara Sailing Club on Grand Island, told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ that the Villanis were so ingrained and influential in this community.

The Niagara Sailing Clubhouse, which was heavily damaged by a March 2021 fire, and the couple had made multiple donations, both personal and through their business, to help with its rennovation.

Without those folks we would have never, never been able to this extent rebuild this beautiful club, Mr Henderson said.

Neighbours of crash couple: They were so loved'

Saturday 25 November 2023 15:59 , Mike Bedigan

Members of the community described the crash victims, now identified by authorities as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, as very kind, wonderful people.

Chuck Meyer, a close friend and neighbour, told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ he had seen multiple vehicles at the Villanis house on Wednesday, initially assuming that the couple were throwing an early Christmas or Thanksgiving party.

Then about an hour later, heard the news and Im like, oh my God, he told the outlet.

Mary Meyer said: Its really shock and devastation and its just gut wrenching really, really. They were so loved.

She added: They were so generous and kind and always willing to help. You know, just plowing everybodys driveway for the love of it, you know what I mean? Just always willing to help and lend a hand. Always. always, always.

They were just so very, kind wonderful people.

Mr Meyer saidd: "Without ever being asked, they would just be giving and gifting, and that's the type of people we lost."

Vehicle black box critical to investgation

Saturday 25 November 2023 15:30 , Mike Bedigan

Automotive analyst Lauren Fix said that the Event Data Recorder (EDR)  similar to an aircrafts black box, which collects vehicle data to share with manufacturers  maybe be a critical piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation into the Rainbow Bridge crash.

"Every vehicle it collects your data, that data is shared with the manufacturers," Ms Fix told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

"It knows steering input, because we have steer by wire, it has accelerator information," Fix said. "It would tell you if the pedal was put to the floor."

Ms Fix believes that acceleration data recovered from the EDR may help investigators narrow determining factors of the crash.

"They could actually see that the driver applied the accelerator pedal, not unintentionally, then it could have been [possibly] a medical issue," she told WGRZ. They're going to have to make a decision based on the knowledge that they have."

The investigation was turned over to local law enforcement, after it was determined there was no sign of terrorist activity by the FBI.

3D scanners being used to help recreate Niagara crash scene

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:58 , Mike Bedigan

According Niagara Falls Police Department Chief John Faso, 3D scanners are being used to help create a digital crash scene to help discover the cause of the crash at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing.

"They take it to the scene, it scans the scene and reproduces a 3D image for them to work on of the of the entire scene," Mr Faso told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

Mr Faso added: This is not something thats going to happen overnight. Its a monumental task.

Saturday 25 November 2023 13:00 , Kelly Rissman

What caused the crash?

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge blast remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the American arm of Bentley Motors told the paper that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

Whatever the cause, getting to the bottom of what happened could take time as the car was effectively incinerated in the fireball blast.

On Thursday, Niagara Falls Police Department  which is now leading the investigation after the FBI found no signs of terrorism  carried out an accident reconstruction, including retracing the last known movements of the couple.

In a press conference on Wednesday evening, Ms Hochul said she would not go so far as to declare the blast an accident just yet as the probe continues but that the two people killed were local residents with no ties to terrorism. No other potential motive had been discovered.

I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers, at this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack, Ms Hochul said.

She added: Based on what is happening in the world, everyone is on edge. This is an international border. I wont call it an accident yet. All we know is there was a horrific incident, a crash, a loss of life  but at this time: no known terrorism activity.

The FBIs Buffalo division also released a statement saying that no explosives had been found at the scene and that no terrorism nexus was identified.

Saturday 25 November 2023 12:00 , Kelly Rissman

What happened?

At 11.50am ET, the Rainbow Bridge was closed due to a traffic event, according to an incident alert from the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition.

Witness Mike Guenther told NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV that he had been walking on the bridge when he saw a speeding car approach the border checkpoint, hit a fence and go airborne before exploding.

Another witness told reporters that he had seen the vehicle catch fire, before seeing black smoke and flames.

Ambulances arrived soon afterward to find the vehicle completely burned out. Two individuals travelling in the car died, officials said.

Saturday 25 November 2023 11:00 , Kelly Rissman

Mystery as investigators probe possible cause of Rainbow Bridge crash

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge deadly vehicle explosion remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53, were killed on Wednesday when their speeding Bentley rammed into the border crossing along Niagara Falls, which connects the US and Canada.

The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack, prompting Canadian and US officials to briefly close all four border bridges between the two nations and ground planes at nearby Buffalo Airport.

Hours later, the FBI Buffalo office and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that there were no signs that the incident was terror-related.

Now, two days on, investigators are still working to piece together what caused the deadly crash which has left the couples upstate New York community of Grand Island in mourning.

Saturday 25 November 2023 10:00 , Kelly Rissman

What was the cause of the fatal crash?

The cause of the crash is still unknown, but officials have ruled out that it was caused by a terrorist act.

Others have speculated that it was caused by the Bentley, which the couple were driving.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the US arm of Bentley Motors told the outlet that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

We might not know exactly what happened for some time. Due to the complexity of the incident, the investigation will take some time to complete, the Niagara Falls Police have said.

Saturday 25 November 2023 09:00 , Kelly Rissman

Gov Kathy Hochul said she initially thought the crash was AI-generated

At a press conference earlier this week, the governor said, You actually had to look at it and say, was this generated by AI?

Because it was so surreal to see. How high in the air this vehicle went, and then the crash, and the explosion, and the fire, she explained.

She and the FBI have ruled out that the incident was a terrorist act. The investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Saturday 25 November 2023 05:00 , Kelly Rissman

Tributes pour in after Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani died in the crash

The husband and wife were members of Niagara Sailing Club on Grand Island, the clubs treasurer Scott Henderson told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

Not only were people talking but then I made an announcement and some people were just incredibly shocked, he said.

Its just not only a younger couple like that, but so ingrained and influential in this community.

The couples friend Chuck Meyer also revealed his shock when he learned that the tragedy broadcast on national news involved those close to him.

I got home yesterday (Wednesday). I didnt know anything other than hearing things on the news about the border, and then saw that their driveway was filled up with all these cars, he told the local outlet on Thursday.

I thought, Oh, theyre having Christmas or Thanksgiving early, and like, thats really nice. And then about an hour later, heard the news and Im like, oh my God.

Saturday 25 November 2023 03:00 , Kelly Rissman

WATCH: Trudeau addresses explosion at Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls

Saturday 25 November 2023 01:00 , Kelly Rissman

Bentley spokesperson weighs in

In the wake of the incident, Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

Erin Bronner, a spokesperson for Bentley USA, told WIVB 4: We will work with the authorities quickly as soon as we are contacted and if we can aid in any investigation.

Friday 24 November 2023 23:00 , Kelly Rissman

What caused the crash?

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge blast remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the American arm of Bentley Motors told the paper that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

Whatever the cause, getting to the bottom of what happened could take time as the car was effectively incinerated in the fireball blast.

On Thursday, Niagara Falls Police Department  which is now leading the investigation after the FBI found no signs of terrorism  carried out an accident reconstruction, including retracing the last known movements of the couple.

In a press conference on Wednesday evening, Ms Hochul said she would not go so far as to declare the blast an accident just yet as the probe continues but that the two people killed were local residents with no ties to terrorism. No other potential motive had been discovered.

I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers, at this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack, Ms Hochul said.

She added: Based on what is happening in the world, everyone is on edge. This is an international border. I wont call it an accident yet. All we know is there was a horrific incident, a crash, a loss of life  but at this time: no known terrorism activity.

The FBIs Buffalo division also released a statement saying that no explosives had been found at the scene and that no terrorism nexus was identified.

Friday 24 November 2023 22:20 , Kelly Rissman

Mystery clouds the cause of the Rainbow Bridge crash

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge deadly vehicle explosion remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53, were killed on Wednesday when their speeding Bentley rammed into the border crossing along Niagara Falls, which connects the US and Canada.

The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack, prompting Canadian and US officials to briefly close all four border bridges between the two nations and ground planes at nearby Buffalo Airport.

Hours later, the FBI Buffalo office and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that there were no signs that the incident was terror-related.

Read the full story...

Mystery as investigators probe possible cause of Rainbow Bridge crash

Friday 24 November 2023 22:00 , Kelly Rissman

ICYMI: What happened in the fatal crash

A couple from New York died after a vehicle exploded at a US-Canada border crossing at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, on Wednesday 22 November.

The car was attempting to enter Canada from the United States when it sped toward a checkpoint, crashed into a fence and erupted into a fireball just before midday, according to witnesses.

Video footage and photos showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from the checkpoint, and a security booth that had been charred by flames.

The blast killed two, reportedly injured one Border Patrol officer and led to the closure of four border crossings between the US and Canada in New York state.

Despite mounting speculation the crash was a terrorist act, within hours, investigators had ruled out that the car had been carrying explosives or was connected to terrorism.

Read the full story...

What we know about the deadly Rainbow Bridge explosion

Friday 24 November 2023 21:40 , Kelly Rissman

The latest from the Niagara Falls police

Friday 24 November 2023 21:20 , Kelly Rissman

What happened to the border patrol worker?

A Customs and Border Protection worker in a checkpoint booth was injured after the couples Bentley rammed into the booth.

The CBP worker was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released, Gov Kathy Hochul said.

Friday 24 November 2023 21:00 , Kelly Rissman

Who were the two people killed in the blast?

Law enforcement sources told CNN on Wednesday night that the Rainbow Bridge crash is believed to have involved a local New York individual and a passenger who had planned to attend a KISS concert in Toronto, Canada.

The concert was cancelled earlier in the day due to frontman, Paul Stanley, falling ill with the flu.

Police identified the couple on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, both 53; they lived in Grand Island, New York. They are survived by two children, according to an obiturary for the husbands father.

The Villanis own Guis Lumber, a business with eight locations across western New York.

In a statement to CBC, the business wrote: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing.

Friday 24 November 2023 20:40 , Kelly Rissman

A statement from the family

The Villanis own Guis Lumber, a chain of stores across western New York. CBC reached out to the business:

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing, the statement says

Friday 24 November 2023 20:20 , Kelly Rissman

Tributes pour in for couple killed in fiery crash

The husband and wife were members of Niagara Sailing Club on Grand Island, the clubs treasurer Scott Henderson told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

Not only were people talking but then I made an announcement and some people were just incredibly shocked, he said.

Its just not only a younger couple like that, but so ingrained and influential in this community.

Read the full story...

Tributes pour in for couple killed in fiery crash on Rainbow Bridge

Friday 24 November 2023 20:00 , Kelly Rissman

The timeline

Wednesday, 22 November:

The band KISS cancelled its Toronto show due to frontman Paul Stanley catching the flu

A New York couple, who had been planning on going to the concert, decide to go to a casino

The couple left the casino, and headed toward the bridge

11.50am: The Rainbow Bridge was closed due to a traffic event

Gov Kathy Hochul announces there is no indication of a terrorist attack

The FBI also said no terrorism nexus was identified

Friday, 24 November:

Police identify the couple as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani from Grand Island New York

They were survived by their two children

Friday 24 November 2023 19:34 , Kelly Rissman

Buffalo airport reopens to international flights after explosion

Buffalo Niagara International Airport has reopened to arriving international flights and departures following a car explosion that occurred at the US-Canada border in Niagara Falls on Wednesday, according to the US Department of Transportation.

It had been closed earlier in the afternoon as officials investigated the cause of the blast.

The incident occurred shortly before 12pm. Authorities say that the vehicle had attempted to cross the US border into Canada using Rainbow Bridge. When a border patrol officer directed the car into a secondary lane for searching, it sped up, went airborne over an 8-foot fence, crashed, caught on fire and then exploded.

Read the full story...

Buffalo airport reopens to international flights after Niagara blast

Friday 24 November 2023 19:20 , Kelly Rissman

Chilling footage revealed

The CBP released harrowing footage of the moment that the car went flying through the air, which can be seen in the upper part of the video.

CBP is working closely with @FBI, federal, state & local partners in response to a vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge which remains closed. Out of abundance of caution, CBP temporarily suspended inbound/outbound traffic at 3 other Buffalo crossings that have since reopened. pic.twitter.com/pTXyUsavRB  CBP (@CBP) November 22, 2023

Friday 24 November 2023 19:00 , Kelly Rissman

The blast could have been caused by a fuel-air explosion, former official says

Scott Sweetow, the former director of the FBIs Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, told CBS News the eruption may have been the result of a fuel-air explosion.

I am speculating that, due to the high speed of the car, and almost disintegration of [the car], that as fuel in the breached gas tank went forward under high speed, it mixed with the air and created almost a cloud of gasoline, which then ignited, creating the dramatic fireball we all saw, he told the outlet.

Friday 24 November 2023 18:40 , Kelly Rissman

Theory that the deadly crash was caused by a terrorist act has been throughouly rejected

On Thursday, Niagara Falls Police Department  which is now leading the investigation after the FBI found no signs of terrorism  carried out an accident reconstruction, including retracing the last known movements of the couple.

In a press conference on Wednesday evening, Ms Hochul said she would not go so far as to declare the blast an accident just yet as the probe continues but that the two people killed were local residents with no ties to terrorism. No other potential motive had been discovered.

I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers, at this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack, Ms Hochul said.

She added: Based on what is happening in the world, everyone is on edge. This is an international border. I wont call it an accident yet. All we know is there was a horrific incident, a crash, a loss of life  but at this time: no known terrorism activity.

The FBIs Buffalo division also released a statement saying that no explosives had been found at the scene and that no terrorism nexus was identified.

Friday 24 November 2023 18:20 , Kelly Rissman

The bridge is reopened

Only one day after the horrific incident on the Rainbow Bridge closed nearby cross-border travel for hours, the bridge is now reopen.



I am grateful to the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, @CBP, & all working to keep New Yorkers safe during the busiest travel time of the year.  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 23, 2023

Friday 24 November 2023 18:20 , Kelly Rissman

What exactly happened in the Rainbow Bridge crash?

At 11.50am ET, the Rainbow Bridge was closed due to a traffic event, according to an incident alert from the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition.

Witness Mike Guenther told NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV that he had been walking on the bridge when he saw a speeding car approach the border checkpoint, hit a fence and go airborne before exploding.

Another witness told reporters that he had seen the vehicle catch fire, before seeing black smoke and flames.

Ambulances arrived soon afterward to find the vehicle completely burned out. Two individuals travelling in the car died, officials said.

Friday 24 November 2023 18:00 , Kelly Rissman

WATCH: Smoke billows from Niagara Falls explosion as two people dead in vehicle blast

Friday 24 November 2023 17:40 , Kelly Rissman

Gov Kathy Hochul said she initially thought the crash was AI-generated

At a press conference earlier this week, the governor said, You actually had to look at it and say, was this generated by AI?

Because it was so surreal to see. How high in the air this vehicle went, and then the crash, and the explosion, and the fire, she explained.

She and the FBI have ruled out that the incident was a terrorist act. The investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Friday 24 November 2023 17:20 , Kelly Rissman

What was the cause of the fatal crash?

The cause of the crash is still unknown, but officials have ruled out that it was caused by a terrorist act.

Others have speculated that it was caused by the Bentley, which the couple were driving.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the US arm of Bentley Motors told the outlet that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

We might not know exactly what happened for some time. Due to the complexity of the incident, the investigation will take some time to complete, the Niagara Falls Police have said.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, should host a January debate with a moderator akin to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson Friday.

If theres a January GOP debate, it should be hosted on X, not on cable TV, moderated by someone like @TuckerCarlson who might just ask questions that primary voters actually care about, Ramaswamy wrote on X. The [Republican National Committee] says they want to reach younger voters & new audiences? Well, thats how you do it.

Ramaswamys Friday post seems to mirror his recent criticisms of Republican party leadership. The 2024 GOP presidential candidate has been confrontational with Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel, calling her out in the most recent GOP presidential primary debate on stage.

Best Black Friday Deals

Weve become a party of losers at the end of the day, Ramaswamy said. Since Ronna McDaniel took over as chairwoman of the RNC in 2017, we have lost 2018, 2020, 2022, no red wave, that never came. We got trounced last night in 2023, he added.

He then offered for the RNC chair to come on stage to announce her resignation.

Ramaswamy has positioned himself as the GOP candidate that knows how to attract younger voters to the party. He has said he joined the platform TikTok to connect younger audiences in the 2024 race, in the face of widespread concerns about its ties to China.

I have a radical idea for the Republican Party: We need to win elections, Ramaswamy said at the second GOP primary debate. And part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are.

So while the Democrats are running rampant reaching the next generation 3-to-1, theres exactly one person in the Republican Party that talks a big game about reaching young people, and thats me, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In the first election after significant redistricting to empower Latino voices in Franklin County, candidates have been left reeling from losses that saw three appointed Hispanic incumbents lose their seats.

Were very disappointed, but it is what it is at this point, said Gabriel Portugal, president of Tri-Cities League of United Latin American Citizens. I think were still in a bit of shock.

The results have left some candidates and campaign organizers looking for answers.

Joseph Campos, Rosa Torres and Vincent Guerrero hoped to earn their first full terms after being appointed to vacant seats on the city council and school board.

But a majority of voters rejected their bids and opted to elect their opponents instead.

I believe the trend is Latinos locally dont turn out for many of these smaller races because they dont, in my opinion, feel their voices matter, said Campos, who ran for a seat representing Pasco City Councils District 2, where Latinos make up 52% of registered voters.

This falls election included local races for city councils, school boards, hospital districts and fire districts. Those races regularly suffer from low voter turnout because they are off-year elections, as opposed to the higher turnout seen during presidential, national and statewide races.

This month about 35% of registered voters returned ballots in Benton County and 27% in Franklin County.

Franklin Countys percentage of Hispanic residents (nearly 55%) is more than double that of Benton Countys (25%), according to July 2022 Census population estimates.

A sign posted outside the Franklin County Courthouse campus in Pasco reminds residents to vote on election day. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

But its hard to get a precise picture of turnout among specific demographic groups, aside from age, said Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton.

We do not track voter returns by ethnicity or any other measure, other than how many we send out and how many we get back, he told the Herald.

Pasco City Council races

Campos District 2 was a sticking point during last years redistricting effort after the Tri-Cities League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) claimed that the redrawn district diluted the strength of Latino voters by adding dense white neighborhoods from west Pasco.

Joseph J.R. Campos

The organization claimed approving the redrawn districts could pave the way for a possible legal challenge, but the city moved forward with the map anyway and allowed candidates to run this year using those districts.

They dont have a full view yet of how few Latinos voted this cycle, Portugal said, but his organization will likely bring their findings to the city.

He said Latinos might not vote for a variety of reasons, including external pressures and a lack of information. He also believes the city and school district should do away with their single at-large seats that include the voters in the entire city in favor of additional district seats.

Leo Perales was the only Latino to win election this cycle in either Richland, Pasco or Kennewick. He won by an overwhelming margin to represent Pascos District 3, where only a quarter of voters are Hispanic.

Leo Perales

Addressing low Latino turnout is as much a responsibility of the candidates as it is on voters, said Perales, who ran this time with the support of the Franklin County Republican Party.

Many Latino candidates are able to win local elections, he says, but fail to inspire voters to stay civically engaged after they get into office.

Perales, who posts daily to hundreds of followers on his Facebook page, says he plans to be the exception.

I put it back on Latinos, said Perales, whose council district turned out 32% of voters. At the end of the day, Latinos arent voting, and theyre not voting because they dont believe their vote matters.

Campos says hes also curious if the financial status of voters correlate in any meaningful way to voter turnout.

Im very disappointed by our voter turnout, he said.

Pasco school races

Across Pasco, turnout in majority Latino voting districts was down compared with citywide and statewide numbers. But some of those races also were noncompetitive.

Pasco School Board incumbent John Kennedy won reelection to his majority Latino district despite very low voter turnout and little pushback from a challenger.

While Latinos make up nearly 77% of voters in school boards District 2, a mere 16% of eligible voters returned their ballots.

John Kennedy

Kennedy, whos White, said he knocked on more than 2,000 doors in his district of 6,800 voters, and yet barely 1,000 returned their ballots by Nov. 7.

His opponent, Gabriel Lucatero, a Latino father with six kids in the district, dropped his campaign halfway through the election.

Kennedy said many voters were engaged on the issues and raised concerns over school transportation, helping students learn and recover from the COVID pandemic, and the equitable allocation of resources across the school district.

We definitely had hundreds of different conversations with voters in my district, Kennedy told the Herald.

In 2021, the Pasco School District invited community members to attend informational sessions about the proposed district-based school board elections. Pasco School District

Kennedy thinks a few things could explain the low turnout in his district: Pasco School Districts new district-election system went into effect last year; voters without children in schools questioned if they even needed to vote; and some may have left their ballot blank because they felt they couldnt make an educated decision.

There was some unfamiliarity with the school board, what it does, why its important for our community and why its important to participate in these elections, Kennedy said.

The Nov. 14 school board meeting was the last for Torres and Guerrero. Both gave their farewell addresses at the meeting.

McLoughlin Middle School holds nearly 1,200 seventh and eight grade students. File/Tri-City Herald

Fighting back tears, Torres said the results were a wake up call for community members.

We cannot allow the stirring of fear, rhetoric or blind party affiliation to override our mandate to do whats best for our students, our staff and our community. Make no mistake, this is about who does and who does not have power in our community  not some decree about values or even a true desire to ensure the success of our children, she said.

Torres was appointed to represent all district voters in an at-large capacity. Half of all Pasco School District voters are Latino and yet only a quarter of registered voters weighed in on her race.

She told the Tri-City Herald she believes the affects of voter suppression among the Latino community continue to ripple today and hinder turnout.

I think its also difficult for families with mixed statuses to feel they can participate. I think theres also still fear of speaking out, she said, adding later: There is no one answer that will fix this because it takes participation, it takes interest, it takes awareness.
Red Cross members receive Israeli abductees from Hamas militants on Friday at Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as part of a limited negotiated pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. More hostages are expected to be released Saturday. Photo by Hamas Press Service/UPI

Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A group of 17 hostages, including four Thai nationals, held by Hamas were released to the Red Cross on Saturday and are in Israel, the government said.

The 13 Israeli hostages range in age from 3 to 67 and will make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families, Israel Defense Forces said on X. Among them was a 9-year-old Irish-Israeli girl who was abducted on Oct. 7.

Earlier, Israel and Hamas agreed to move forward with releasing more hostages and continuing aid to Gaza after an hours-long dispute threatened to disintegrate the fragile deal.

The Qatari government, which is mediating discussions, said 39 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons will be exchanged for 13 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

"Those released from Israeli prisons will include 33 children and 6 women, while those released from Gaza will include 8 children and 5 women, in addition to 7 foreigners," said Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Red Cross members receive Israeli abductees from Hamas militants on Friday at Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as part of a limited negotiated pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. More hostages are expected to be released Saturday. Photo by Hamas Press Service/UPI

Hamas said it decided to delay the hostage swap after Israel sent fewer than half of the agreed-upon aid trucks to Gaza, spokesman Osama Hamdan said.

"The total number of aid trucks that have reached (Gaza) yesterday and today is 340 aid trucks. Only 65 trucks have reached the northern part of the strip, which is less than half of what was agreed on," Hamdan said earlier Saturday.

If the hostage transfer is completed late Saturday, the latest exchange would come a day after 13 Israeli hostages and 12 Thai nationals were released as part of the limited negotiated pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas -- the first since hostilities began on Oct. 7.

The Hebrew-language Ynet News reported late Saturday afternoon local time the planned exchange remained on track but had been delayed due to "technical reasons."

Earlier in the day, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that 200 trucks operated by international aid organizations entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on Friday, passing into the besieged territory through after a security check at the Nitsana crossing.

The trucks contained food, water, shelter and equipment, as well as diesel fuel and cooking gas, the IDF said.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, a unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, said more than 50 additional humanitarian aid trucks operated by the United Nations had entered into the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday.

The operation is meant to reach Palestinian civilians who have not evacuated northern Gaza as demanded by the Israeli military before its ground assault into the area, COGAT said.

Today, the UN is delivering over 50 trucks containing humanitarian aid (food, water, shelter and medical supplies) to the northern Gaza Strip and to shelters that have not yet been evacuated. The aid is delivered through the evacuation corridor in coordination with Israel. pic.twitter.com/mjTtxspiwp COGAT (@cogatonline) November 25, 2023

The humanitarian aid trucks entering northern Gaza contained food, water, shelter equipment and medical supplies only, the officials said.
New research revealed that oil and gas producers in Pennsylvania used some 160 million pounds of secret chemicals in more than 5,000 gas wells over the past decade, according to Inside Climate News. To make matters worse, the chemicals may have contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are described as a toxic and pervasive class of chemicals.

Whats happening?

Oil and gas producers are typically required to disclose the chemicals they use to state regulators in a database called FracFocus. However, Inside Climate News reported that state law allows producers to avoid disclosing them if doing so would put their operations at a competitive disadvantage.

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is an activist group that recently co-published a compilation of studies on the dangers of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas from 2012 to 2022. According to Inside Climate News, the report revealed that during the study period, at least one type of PFAS was used in eight Pennsylvania wells by two oil and gas producers.

Eight wells may just be the tip of the iceberg because we also found that there were 160 million pounds of trade-secret chemicals injected into thousands of unconventional gas wells over the same period, Dusty Horwitt, who wrote the report for PSR, told Inside Climate News.

Why is this concerning?

PFAS are considered forever chemicals because they dont decompose in the environment and have the potential to accumulate in blood if ingested. Inside Climate News noted PFAS are linked to serious illnesses including some cancers, low birth weights, ulcerative colitis, reduced receptiveness to vaccines and elevated cholesterol.

Accumulation of certain PFAS has also been shown through blood tests to occur in humans and animals, according to the Food & Drug Administration. While the science surrounding potential health effects of bioaccumulation is developing, exposure to some types of PFAS have been associated with serious health effects.

A study by the U.S. Geological Survey and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection done in May of this year discovered that streams near small rural towns that are surrounded by oil and gas development may contain low levels of PFAS contamination.

The report from PSR stated that the possibility of PFAS contamination in Pennsylvania groundwater and other states where the fracking industry is active could pose a threat to public health.

Should only a fraction of the unidentified chemicals used in Pennsylvanias unconventional gas wells be PFAS, they could pose a significant threat to human health, the report said.

Whats being done about it?

According to Inside Climate News, multiple states, including Pennsylvania, have been increasingly imposing limits on the presence of PFAS in drinking water in the wake of mounting evidence of the chemicals threats to public health.

Horwitt said the intention of the PSR report is to raise concerns that the oil and gas industrys use of PFAS may be more pervasive beyond the eight wells in Pennsylvania.

With this current report, we want to empower residents and government officials in Pennsylvania to understand both the limited scope of what we know about PFAS use in the states oil and gas wells and the potentially much larger scope of PFAS use that is hidden by the states lax chemical disclosure rules, Horwitt said.

The report suggested that Pennsylvania can follow the example set by Colorado, where the use of PFAS by oil and gas producers is banned, and the public disclosure of all chemicals used in fracking is required.

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Four private residential houses, an apartment building, several cars and the premises belonging to a business were damaged in Kyiv Oblast in Russias Shahed drone attack on the night of 24-25 November.

Source: Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on the national 24/7 newscast

Quote: "Four private residential houses and an apartment building sustained minor damage: their windows shattered and roofs were damaged.

Two cars were also damaged, and the premises of a business sustained minor damage after a fire broke out, spreading across 10 square metres."

Details: Kravchenko said that no civilians were injured in Kyiv Oblast (outside of the city of Kyiv).

Background:

On the night of 24-25 November, Russia launched a record number of attack UAVs at Ukraine: a total of 75 Shahed drones, with 74 shot down.

Five civilians were injured in Kyiv, including an 11-year-old. Drone wreckage damaged two areas in Kyiv.

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A member of the Rivne Oblast Council has come under suspicion for illicitly acquiring assets worth millions of dollars, the State Bureau for Investigation (DBR) announced on Nov. 25.

The official also held the position of deputy head of the Poliskyi Forestry Office of the Forests of Ukraine state enterprise. The company identified the man as Vitalii Sukhovych.

The Forests of Ukraine commented that the enterprise's leadership decided to dismiss Sukhovych six months ago, but the process was not finalized due to his hospitalization and other reasons.

Searches of the suspect's residence and office led to the discovery of over $4 million in various cash currencies, three expensive cars, gold, weaponry, jewelry, and other valuable accessories.

The council member also owned four plots of land in Rivne on which he built cottages.

Criminal procedures against the official are ongoing. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

Read also: Opinion: Are Ukraines anti-corruption efforts at a standstill?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The woman died at the scene of the crash, police say, with two injured men taken to hospital

A 70-year-old woman has died and a man has been arrested after a car crash in East Yorkshire.

A grey Audi A6 and a red Volkswagen T-Roc crashed on the B1253 at about 15:00 GMT on Friday, Humberside Police said.

The woman died at the scene, with two injured men taken to hospital after the crash at the crossroad junction of High Street and Burton Road near Rudston.

A male driver was held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, the force said.

The arrested man remains in custody, it added, with those who witnessed the collision asked to contact police using 101.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
(Bloomberg) -- Russia expects to reach an agreement soon on a planned natural gas hub in Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A Turkish delegation is due to hold consultations with Russian gas producer Gazprom PJSC in St. Petersburg, Novak said on Saturday during a visit to Ankara.

I am sure we will reach agreements in the near future on the practical implementation of this project, Novak said in televised remarks.

Russia has been forging closer energy, political and economic ties with Turkey after relations with the European Union deteriorated sharply following its war in Ukraine. Last year, President Vladimir Putin laid out plans to establish a gas-trading hub in Turkey, including the possibility of laying more undersea natural gas pipelines across the Black Sea. The new conduits could become Russias main gas-export route for Europe, Putin said at the time.

The setting up of an electronic gas-trading platform in Turkey could be the first step toward the creation of a gas hub there, Putin said in October. However, the timing of the project has been unclear with him initially suggesting it was a matter of months and Turkeys Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar saying in recent weeks that it would likely happen in 2024.

Talks had stalled after deadly earthquakes hit Turkey in February, followed by an election in the country in May.

Ankara has been a relatively close ally of Moscow as many Western countries have shunned Russian trade following the invasion of Ukraine. In the energy industry, the two countries are already cooperating on construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power station in southern Turkey, with a budget of some $20 billion.

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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has suggested that Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) logistical challenges in the port city of Novorossiysk have affected their ability to launch cruise missiles towards Ukraine.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 25 November on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Analysts say the Russian BSF has typically reloaded its cruise missiles in the city of Sevastopol (Russian-occupied Crimea), but with a growing threat of Ukrainian strikes there, Russia is likely to consider Novorossiysk as the best alternative location for relocation.

However, the UK MoD noted that moving and reloading missiles would require new delivery, storage, management and loading processes.

The ministry added that the Ukrainian forces said on 13 November 2023, that Russia had paused its naval cruise missile strikes due to logistical problems in Novorossiysk.

"Russia will likely seek to expedite overcoming such issues in time for maritime cruise missiles to be included in any winter campaign of strikes against Ukraine."

Background:

Earlier, UK Defence Intelligence reported that Russia had amassed substantial stockpiles of cruise missiles ahead of winter and was simultaneously shaping the battlefield ahead of a potential winter campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

In late October, UK intelligence indicated a prolonged pause in Russia's use of long-range aircraft for missile strikes on Ukraine, attributing it to the build-up of winter stockpiles.

The UK MoD also noted Russia's increasing use of Lancet kamikaze drones in key counter-battery operations.

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A damaged kindergarten following the most intense Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, since Russia started its full-scale invasion. Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign affairs said the country shot down more than 70 drones near Kyiv.

The drone attack is Russia's largest since its invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Five people were injured and a kindergarten caught fire during the attack.

Ukraine says it intercepted most of Russia's drones launched toward Kyiv as part of the largest drone attack on the country since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign affairs said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the country's Armed Forces and Air Defense system shot down 71 out of 75 "Shahed" drones launched into the country by Russia on the night of November 25.

During the night of November 25, Russia launched 75 'Shahed' drones, out of which 71 were successfully destroyed by the Armed Forces of #Ukraine and the Air Defense systems



 The number of launched attack UAVs became a record high since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. pic.twitter.com/N7lxwXOidt  MFA of Ukraine  (@MFA_Ukraine) November 25, 2023

Mykhailo Shamanov, a spokesperson for the Kyiv military administration, told CNN that the drone attack on the city is the fourth from Russia in the last month.

Compact Armament Research, a UK-based organization that investigates weapon components, examined 20 Iranian-made drones inside Ukraine from November 2022 to March 2023, according to CNN. CAR confirmed that around half of the drones reviewed were Shahed-136s and had motors that were reverse engineered by the Iranian company, Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar.

CAR said Mado appears to have tried to conceal its role in the manufacture of the drones after finding that some serial numbers on the device's components had been rubbed off, CNN reported.

In a Telegram post, Ukraine's air force said it intercepted the "vast majority" of the 71 Iranian-made drones near Kyiv, but found some in other regions of the country as well, according to the outlet.

Still, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said five people were wounded during the attacks, including an 11-year-old girl, according to Reuters. Two people were injured in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district, Klitschko said, and several areas in the district caught fire during the attack, including a residential building, he told CNN.

Kyiv city military administration head, Serhii Popko, confirmed to the outlet that a kindergarten caught fire after official's downed a drone in the Solomianskyi district.

Ukraine's energy ministry said in a statement that 77 residential buildings and 120 non-residential facilities in central Kyiv lost power as a result of the attack, Kyiv Post reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Russians launched a record number of attack UAVs at Ukraine on the night of 24-25 November. There were 75 Shahed kamikaze drones, 74 of which were shot down.

Source: Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraines Air Force

Details: Oleshchuk said that 71 of the 75 Shahed drones had been shot down.

Updated: The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed at 11:00 that the Russians had indeed launched 75 Shaheds, with 74 of them shot down.

Quote from Oleshchuk: "The main target of the attack was Kyiv!

I would like to especially mention the combat work of the mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

They [the mobile firing groups] destroyed almost 40% of the targets!"

Details: The Air Force clarified that the launches were carried out from two directions: Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kursk Oblast in Russia.

Air defence systems were responding to the attack in at least six oblasts of Ukraine: Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad.

A Kh-59 guided missile was also downed in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Anti-aircraft missile units, tactical aircraft, mobile fire groups and electronic warfare units were involved in repelling the attack.

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Russian forces launched an extensive four-hour drone attack in Kyiv on Nov. 25, injuring at least two people and damaging several residential and non-residential buildings.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, reported via Telegram around 4:00 a.m. local time on Nov. 25 that Russian forces launched a drone attack across the suburbs of Kyiv. By 7:20 a.m., air defenses continued to operate in the city.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported around 7:50 a.m., that debris had fallen on a four-story residential building in the Holosiivskyi district.

Just an hour earlier, both Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko and Serhii Popko, announced that the wreckage of a downed drone fell on a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district of the city, resulting in a fire.

Additionally, the second floor of a five-story residential building reportedly collapsed in the Solomianskyi District of the city as a result of the fall of drone debris. According to Klitschko, rescuers are working to unblock two women trapped in the rubble.

At least two victims were reported in Solomianskyi and a fire broke out on the premises of a kindergarten in the same district as a result of fallen debris of a downed drone. Also in Solomianskyi, an 11-year-old child was reportedly injured.

Throughout the night, the Air Force reported sightings of Shahed drones in the regions of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

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Russia on Saturday morning launched its most intense drone attack on the Ukraine capital of Kyiv since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, leaving five people injured, military officials said.

Seventy-five Iranian-made drones were launched into the north-central region, of which at least 70 were destroyed by air defense, Ukraines air force said.

At least five civilians were wounded in the hours-long drone assault, including an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

ZELENSKYY: WE ARE LOSING OUR PEOPLE

The attacks, which came from the north and east, saw several buildings damaged, including a kindergarten, as falling debris rained down from the sky, sparking fires.

The assault began at 4 a.m. local time and continued in waves for over six hours. The offense caused power outages in 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, according to Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Ukraines Energy Ministry said 17,000 people were without power in the Kyiv region as a result of the attack, noting that four power lines were damaged.

The Russian attack was "the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv," Popko said.

A girl takes shelter as a drone attack takes place in the city on Nov. 25, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

FOX'S BENJAMIN HALL HONORED BY ZELENSKYY DURING 'EMOTIONAL' RETURN TO UKRAINE: 'JOURNALISM MUST NEVER STOP'

In addition to Kyiv, the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions were also targeted.

The drones used in the attack were Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are seen as a cheap alternative to ballistic missiles, according to the BBC. Russias missile sticks are understood to be dwindling as the war grinds on.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks were the latest example of Russias terror campaign against his country.

Air defense systems operating outside Kyiv on November 25, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. According to the country's air force, more than 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones targeted the Kyiv area overnight, although most were intercepted by air defenses.

"We keep working to strengthen our air defense and unite the world in the fight against Russian terror," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

"The terrorist state must be defeated and held accountable for its actions."

Zelenskyy also noted that the attacks occurred on the day that Ukraine commemorated the Holodomor famine, also known as the Great Ukrainian Famine, which killed millions of Ukrainians from 1932-1933.

"Russias leadership appears to be proud of its ability to kill people," Zelenskyy wrote.

Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv where he announced the Pentagon would be sending an additional $100 million in weapons to Ukraine, including artillery and munitions for air defense systems.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Russia launches largest drone attack on Kyiv since start of war, injuring 5
Air defense work outside the city on November 25, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. According to the country's air force, more than 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones targeted the Kyiv area overnight, although most all were intercepted by air defenses.

Russia overnight launched what Ukrainian officials describe as the largest drone attack on their country so far, with 75 one-way attack drones being launched, mainly against the capital, Kyiv, and the surrounding region. The drone assault has been seen as the opening salvo in Russias expected winter campaign attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, to inflict maximum disruption on its civilian population as the winter weather begins to bite.

https://twitter.com/maria_avdv/status/1728310472833630656

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the 75 drones mainly targeted different districts of Kyiv, where the first of them arrived in the early hours of Saturday. Further waves appeared over the capital around dawn. In all, the air raid warning in Kyiv lasted six hours.

Ukrainian officials say that five people were wounded by the drone strikes in Kyiv, although that number could still rise. So far, there have been no reports of fatalities.

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1728261431903289817

An apparent drone fragment lies in the yard of a residential building in Solomianskyi district on November 25, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo by Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that among those injured was an 11-year-old girl. He also said that buildings had been damaged in different districts of the capital, while fragments from a drone that was shot down started a fire in a childrens nursery.

A building of a preschool in Solomianskyi district lies partially destroyed by a drone fragment on November 25, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo by Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1728371625026814028

After the overnight attack, the Ukrainian energy ministry said that nearly 200 buildings in Kyiv, including 77 residential ones, had been left without power.

In its first assessment of the raid, the Ukrainian Air Force claims that 71 of the 75 drones were successfully brought down, later revising the number of downed drones to 74. Of those, 66 are said to have been brought down over Kyiv and the surrounding region.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1728364499449602479

Anti-aircraft missile troops, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units were involved in repelling the air attack, said the Air Force. It added that a Kh-59 series standoff air-to-surface missile was also destroyed in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that the Shahed-type drones used by Russia were launched from two directions  Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Kursk region, Russia.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_map/status/1728396244765036707 https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk/status/1728333897274888657

Outside of Kyiv and its environs, there are reports that Russia also targeted the Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kirovohrad regions overnight.

Meanwhile, at least some of the drones used in these latest attacks were painted black, apparently to reduce their visual conspicuity and make them harder to detect when using searchlights at night. The paint could have some radar-absorbing qualities, as well, but that is not confirmed at this time. Interestingly, the latest jet-powered versions of the Shahed recently displayed in Iran also wore a matte black paint scheme, as you can see here .

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1728403165689913698 https://twitter.com/sambendett/status/1728398349852893326 https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1728407922227462261?s=20

In response to the reported success of Ukraines air defenses against this latest raid, Mykola Oleschuk, the chief of the Ukrainian Air Force, pointed to the effectiveness of mobile fire units, in particular. Oleschuk claimed that almost 40 percent of the drones downed last night were accounted for by these units.

Mobile fire units are typically formed of highly mobile pickup trucks fitted with a heavy machine gun or anti-aircraft cannon mounted on their flatbed.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1709300267303223759

Ukrainians  including President Volodymyr Zelensky  have noted that the drone attack came on the day that Ukraine commemorates the Holodomor, the famine in which several million mainly Ukrainian people starved to death during the Soviet era, in 1932-33.

Writing on Telegram, President Zelensky described the raid as Willful terror  The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill.

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1728312139910189161

Whether the latest drone strike on the capital was timed to coincide with the day of remembrance for Holodomor is unclear, but the famine is a powerful symbol of Russian-Ukrainian tensions.

While Ukraine and over 30 other countries recognize Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union, Moscow doesnt consider that the deaths were caused by a deliberate genocidal policy. Kremlin officials also point out that Russians and other ethnic groups also suffered because of famine.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1728382975832625619

Nevertheless, Ukraine frequently draws parallels between the treatment of its people under Soviet rule, and Russias more recent behavior, including the current invasion.

The apparent success of Ukraines air defenses in defeating the drone strikes may also be down to the fact that a campaign of this kind had been widely expected to start any time soon.

Ukraine has repeatedly issued warnings that Russia is planning to launch a renewed assault on its critical national infrastructure, and especially its energy grid now that winter is here. Similar tactics were also employed by Russia last year, leading to extensive damage and disruption.

https://twitter.com/USAmbKyiv/status/1728285190282440872

It looks like tonight we heard the overture. The prelude to the winter season, Serhiy Fursa, a prominent Ukrainian economist, wrote on Facebook.

Thanks to its Iranian-designed kamikaze drones , Russia has a much cheaper means of keeping up a relentless assault on Ukrainian targets far beyond the front lines, compared to the ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that were used at the beginning of the campaign and more sporadically as time passed. There are reports that production of Shahed-type drones has now also begun in Russia, providing a more immediate source of these weapons.

A Shahed-136 drone approaches for an attack in Kyiv on October 17, 2022, during one of the first such uses of this weapon in Ukraine. Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

Overall, the expanding use of the Shahed drones also reflects dwindling stockpiles of Russian long-range missiles. Furthermore, the production of new ballistic and cruise missiles in Russia continues to be hampered by stringent Western sanctions , with many of these weapons having made use of subcomponents of foreign origin.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1711257812360118707

Speaking to Ukrainian national television in October, Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, said that attacks by Russian drones were expected to reach a record number this winter.

Even in September this year, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that more than 500 drones had been launched against Ukraine in that month, a new record in itself. By comparison, Russia used around 1,000 Shahed drones across a full sixth-month period last winter.

Even the smaller effort targeting the countrys energy infrastructure last year left millions of Ukrainians without power. Grid operators imposed regular rolling power cuts and rationing of hot water, while repairs to the energy infrastructure were ongoing as of last month.

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1728086103427535073

As well as the more ad-hoc mobile fire units, Ukraine is also better prepared to defeat the drones this time around thanks to the receipt of more Western-made air defense equipment. While the capabilities of systems like the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and the IRIS-T SLM are undoubted, especially against drones and cruise missiles, the numbers of these available fall short of being able to ensure coverage of all potential energy targets, let alone other critical infrastructure.

The demand for ground-based air defense systems also to be used to protect Ukrainian troops taking part in the counteroffensive in the east and south of the country piles more pressure upon the relatively limited number of Western air defense systems, as well as the older Soviet-era systems that make up the bulk of the Ukrainian air defense network. This is, to a large degree, why extemporized solutions, such as mobile fire units, have also been fielded.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1727985659162587226?s=20 https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPR/status/1728001010340151613

There remains also a heavy mismatch between (especially the high-end) ground-based air defense systems used by Ukraine and the relatively cheap Shahed drones that are consuming air defense missile stocks at a prodigious rate. While one of these drones might cost in the region of tens of thousands of dollars, a single IRIS-T or AMRAAM missile round will have a price tag in the hundreds of thousands, at least. Indeed, the U.S. Air Force can expect to pay around $1 million for a single AIM-120C AMRAAM round.

The Ukrainian Air Forces dwindling fleet of Soviet-era fighters is also less than ideally suited to tackling the slow and low-flying Russian drones, another reason why so many demands have been made to expedite the delivery of F-16 fighters promised to Kyiv. However, the most realistic estimates propose that it wont be until next year, at the earliest, that Ukrainian F-16s take to the skies, while Ukrainian pilots arent expected to reach full combat proficiency in sufficient scale until 2027.

In the meantime, Ukrainian officials have continued to push for more Western ground-based air defense equipment. This was one of the priorities expressed by President Zelensky during his visit to Washington in September.

Today there are important negotiations in Washington, Zelensky said in a message on Telegram at the time of his visit. Air defense for Ukraine is among the top issues. More air defense, more support for Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.

https://twitter.com/business/status/1570688123738144769

One of the results of this campaign has been the establishment of a new ground-based air defense coalition, led by France and Germany, designed to enhance Ukraines ability to defend against Russian missile and drone threats. The 20-nation coalition was announced earlier this week, although details are currently limited. Just ahead of the announcement, however, Germany pledged $1.4 billion in aid to Ukraine, including an unspecified number of additional IRIS-T air defense systems with interceptors and one more Patriot air defense system . You can read more about the wider initiative here .

https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1727394385107861923

Ukraine has clearly been making significant efforts to make itself more resilient against Russian drone attacks this winter. However, no air defense system is perfect and the challenges of protecting infrastructure across Europes largest country are obvious. At the same time, the conflict has so far shown that, while attrition may be high, mass drone strikes are always likely to cause at least some level of damage and destruction, and that they always have the potential to be deadly to the civilian population.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
Russia launched a record number of drones into Ukraine over the course of six hours on Holodomor Memorial Day on Nov. 25. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, "this was the largest drone attack since the beginning of the full-scale invasion."

The Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russia launched a "record number of Shahed-131/136 type drones over Ukraine" with the "main direction of the attack" being Kyiv. As a result of the attack, five people were injured, including an 11-year-old child, and several buildings were damaged across the city.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that "the overhead line (in Kyiv) was de-energized and as a result, 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions in the central part of the city were left without electricity."

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko highlighted the gravity of the attack on Telegram amid the worldwide remembrance of Holodomor, a man-made famine engineered by the Soviet Union in the 1930s that murdered millions of Ukrainians. The Memorial Day for Holodomor is supposed to take place every fourth Saturday of November.

"Today is a tragic date for Ukrainians," the post reads. "More than 10 million Ukrainians were starved to death by totalitarian Russia...Today, Russia seeks to destroy Ukrainians with missiles and drones, to leave them without heat and light in winter, and to destroy our cities and villages. It is once again committing genocide against the Ukrainian people."

The attack lasted for six hours and has become the most intense attack on the capital since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Details about casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure continue to be released.

Read also: Russia launches extensive drone attack in Kyiv

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Consequences of the Russian drone attack on Kyiv on the night of November 25

Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted and neutralized over 60 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Russian forces targeting Kyiv on Nov. 25.

This marks the most substantial drone assault on the capital since the conflicts onset nearly two years ago.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's drone attack on Ukraine on the Holodomor-genocide Memorial Day, saying Russias actions were deliberately designed to desecrate the memory of the dead.

Read also: FSB agent sentenced to 15 years for coordinating missile strikes on Vinnytsia

"Over 70 Shaheds on the night of the Holodomor-genocide Memorial Day. Deliberate terror. Right at this time. Russia's leadership takes pride in its killing skills," he wrote on his Telegram.

"We continue to work to unite the world in defense against Russian terror. A terrorist state must lose and be held accountable for its actions," added the president.

Russia launched a total of 75 Iranian Shahed drones across Ukraine, with 71 successfully intercepted by the air defense systems, said the Air Force.

The attack, the fourth on the capital this month, lasted for more than six hours, the Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed.

Russian forces used kamikaze drones, continuously altering their courses during the prolonged assault. Initial reports indicated nearly 50 hits, later revised to over 60.

Read also: Germany to deliver another Patriot system to help protect Ukraines energy grid through winter

There were damages in four capitals districts:

Solomianskyi: Severe damage to a five-story building, trapping two women. Fire erupted in a nearby kindergarten. Two casualties reported with acute stress reactions.

Dniprovskyi: Drone debris struck a residential building, prompting emergency responses.

Pecherskyi: Fragments fell on an undeveloped area, causing no injuries.

Holosiivskyi: Fragments landed in a green zone with no reported casualties. A four-story building was also hit, reported Mayor Vitalii Klitschko.



The Energy Ministry reported a power outage affecting 77 buildings and 120 facilities in Kyiv. Efforts to restore the power supply are underway.

Damage to 330 kV power lines in Kyiv Oblast during the attack is being investigated as the cause of the disruption.

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Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev has revealed that Russia has lost 76 passenger planes under sanctions imposed on the aviation industry.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Kommersant

Quote: "Their decision to seize [our] aircraft took us by surprise. We lost a total of 76 passenger vessels," Savelyev said.

Details: The report noted that sanctions against the Russian aviation industry followed the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In particular, the US and the EU banned the supply of aircraft and spare parts to Russia and ordered leasing companies to recover the planes they had previously leased (their number, Bloomberg said, accounted for up to 40% of the Russian air fleet).

Furthermore, foreign vessels of Russian airlines have been ordered to be arrested abroad.

"We learned on 16 November that GTLK (Russia's State Transport Leasing Company, which is the largest of its kind in the country  Ekonomichna Pravda) has abandoned its plans announced in the summer to raise leasing rates for 37 aircraft owned by its subsidiary GTLK Europe by 30%. The majority of these aircraft were operated by Aeroflot and Rossiya, S7, Aurora and Yamal companies. The compromise, as Kommersant reports, could be reached owing to the intervention of the transport ministry," the report said.

Background:

In October, Russia filed a complaint with the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) alleging violations of air traffic rules by Western countries.

With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, comprehensive sanctions were imposed on the Russian aviation industry, closing the airspace over many countries to Russian aircraft.

However, the sanctions have had a more sensitive impact on the state of the aviation industry. Russian aircraft became unsafe to fly in 2023. Aviation incidents occur regularly.

Nevertheless, most aircraft continue to fly, although they are cut off from essential software updates and maintenance necessary to guarantee their airworthiness.

Meanwhile, Russia has resorted to concealing aircraft malfunctions.

In particular, the Russian airline Aeroflot has issued an internal regulation requiring senior flight attendants to enter data on technical failures and malfunctions related to cabin equipment in the Cabin Log Book only if approved by the aircraft captain. The same policy exists at other Russian airlines.

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The Russians are covering the Shahed kamikaze drones with carbon or repainting them black to make it harder for Ukrainian air defence to shoot them down.

Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Ihnat: "They have previously improved the UAVs they received from Iran and those they produce themselves, using composite materials for the reflective surface.

We can now see they've used carbon fibre. Carbon is an absorbing material for radar signals, and as for the black colour, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand.

This will hamper the air defence efforts, particularly the visual targeting by mobile fire groups."

Background: On 25 November, the Russians launched a record number of attack UAVs towards Ukraine - a total of 75 Shaheds, with 74 shot down.

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Top Russian authorities are restricting abortion access to combat population stagnation.

The head of the Russian Church said it would boost the population like "waving a magic wand."

Russian women's groups say the policies are forcing women to birth unwanted children, per the BBC.

Top Russian authorities are restricting abortion access, calling the procedure a "disaster."

It comes amid the state's concerns over population growth, particularly where it impacts military recruiting, according to the BBC. Some one in three women claim to have gotten the procedure, and more than 500,000 pregnancies were terminated in 2022, the outlet reported.

Patriarch Kirill, the head of the highly influential Russian Orthodox Church, is leading the charge.

"As a member of the clergy, I testify that an abortion is a disaster and a tragedy for the woman [and] those close to her," Kirill said in January, per the BBC.

The church has close ties to the Kremlin, and Kirill has been a key supporter of President Vladimir Putin.

While Russia's population leans male for births up to 14 years old, females outpace males ages 15 and up. Over 65% of the population is aged 15 to 64, and there are 3 million more women than men in that age bracket, according to the 2023 data from the Central Intelligence Agency.

The total population of 144 million stands at 2 million less than it did in 2001 when Putin came to power, the BBC reported. In 2022, over 500,000 Russian pregnancies were terminated compared to 1.3 million live births, the outlet reported.

Putin sees it as "an acute problem," per the BBC. Kirill says anti-abortion policies are the solution.

"The population can be increased as if by waving a magic wand: if we solve this problem and learn how to dissuade women from having abortions, statistics will go up immediately," Kirill said, per the BBC.

The patriarch's policies of dissuasion include doctors telling pregnant teenagers to keep their child "because they are practically from the same generation," the BBC reported. If a woman is single, doctors are to tell the pregnant patient that "having a child is no obstacle to finding a life partner."

Authorities are also restricting the sale of medication used in medical abortions  over the protests of women's groups who say such moves will cause the number of illegal and botched abortions to surge.

"Officials, ultra-right politicians and the church are actively forcing women and girls to give birth to unwanted children," the Urals Feminist Movement group said, according to the BBC.

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Russian forces launched several drone attacks across Kyiv during the early hours of Nov. 25, injuring an 11-year-old child and damaging civilian infrastructure in the Solomianskyi district of the city, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported via Telegram. Two victims have reportedly been treated in Solomianskyi.

Medics were also reportedly called to Podilskyi district.

In Solomianskyi, as a result of the fall of drone debris, a fire broke out on the premises of a kindergarten as well as several residential and non-residential buildings.

Popko reported via Telegram around 4:00 a.m. local time on Nov. 25 that Russian forces launched a drone attack across the suburbs of Kyiv. By 6:00 a.m., air defense in Kyiv continued to operate.

"In the Solomyan district, a fire broke out in the premises of a kindergarten as a result of the fall of UAV debris," an earlier post reads. "There are also open fires in this area. Fire and rescue services are on site."

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, reported that "as a result of the shooting down of enemy drones in the Solomianskyi district, damage to windows in apartments was recorded."

Earlier in the night, Klitschko announced falling debris of a downed drone in the Pecherskyi district of the capital.

The Ukrainian Air Force also reported a large missile heading towards Kyiv from the north but did not provide further details.

Throughout the night, the Air Force reported sightings of Shahed drones in the regions of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

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A Russian mortar strike on a village in Chernihiv Oblast's Semenivka district on Nov. 25 injured a woman, the regional police department said.

The victim was reportedly doing housework in her yard when her home came under Russian fire.

The police transported the woman to the hospital, where she is being provided with necessary medical assistance, the report said.

The Semenivka district lies at the Russian border. Ukraine's northern Chernihiv Oblast borders both Belarus and Russia and suffers regular strikes.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

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The Russians conducted attacks and assault operations on six fronts and a total of 74 combat clashes have taken place at the front over the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 25 November

Quote: "Last night, the occupiers conducted another air strike on Ukraine, and a Shahed-136/131 drone attack is ongoing. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged."

Details: A total of 74 combat clashes took place over the course of the past day.

Russian forces launched 7 missile strikes and 29 airstrikes and conducted 36 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.

In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, Russian forces are maintaining their military presence in the border areas, conducting intense sabotage activities in order to prevent the redeployment of Ukrainian troops to threatened fronts, and increasing the density of mine barriers along the state border in Belgorod Oblast.

In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Russian forces conducted aircraft-supported assault operations near the settlements of Synkivka, Petropavlivsk in Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk Oblast, where Ukrainian soldiers repelled 15 attacks.

On the Lyman front, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations near Serebrianka Forest in Luhansk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 Russian attacks near the settlement of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, Ukraines Defence Forces are continuing their assault operations south of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the Russians and consolidating their positions.

In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, Russian forces, with the support of aircraft, continue their attempts to surround Avdiivka. Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding the defence, inflicting significant losses on the Russians. Russian offensive operations to the east of Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sieverne and Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast were unsuccessful. Ukraines Defence Forces repelled 30 attacks there.

On the Marinka front, Russian forces, with the support of aircraft, conducted unsuccessful assault operations near the settlements of Marinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian soldiers repelled 10 attacks.

Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations, on the Shakhtarsk front.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, Russian forces unsuccessfully tried to regain their lost position near Robotyne and Novopokrovka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast seven times.

Meanwhile, Ukraines Defence Forces are continuing to conduct offensive operations on the Melitopol front, inflicting losses in military personnel and equipment on the Russian occupying forces and exhausting them along the entire frontline.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, Ukrainian defenders are continuing to hold their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, conducting counter-battery operations and striking the Russian rear.

Ukraine's Air Force launched nine attacks on areas where Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment were concentrated.

Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck two command posts, four clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment, two artillery pieces, and one logistical centre.

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The Russians attacked Ukraine with loitering munitions on the evening of 25 November.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force

Details: The Air Force reported a threat of attack UAVs being deployed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on the evening of Saturday, 25 November.

At 21:15 (Kyiv time), the Air Force reported UAVs had been spotted on the border of Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts.

An air-raid warning has been issued in these oblasts.

Later, reports mentioned "groups of attack UAVs [moving] across Dnipropetrovsk Oblast towards Poltava Oblast."

A threat of strike UAVs being deployed has also been announced in Cherkasy Oblast.

At 23:40, an air-raid warning was also issued in Kyiv Oblast.

"A group of attack UAVs is flying towards Kyiv!", the Air Force reported.

23.44 "Groups of attack Russian UAVs flying towards Dnipropetrovsk Oblast!"

23.59 "Kharkiv Oblast, a group of Russian UAVs is heading in your direction!"

Quote from Kyiv City Military Administration at 00:03: "An air-raid warning has been issued in Kyiv! We ask everyone to urgently go to civil protection shelters!"

Quote from Air Force at 00.49: "Strike groups of enemy UAVs have split up and are moving through Kremenchuk towards Cherkasy, and others through Poltava towards Sumy."

01.02 "The group moving towards Sumy has changed direction to Myrhorod!"

01.43 "All groups of attack enemy UAVs are moving towards Kaniv from the north-east!"

 alerts.in.ua  2.15

screenshot: alerts.in.ua as of 2.15

03.45 "The threat of attack UAVs in all oblasts has been lifted."

Background: On the night of 24-25 November, Russia launched a record number of attack UAVs at Ukraine: a total of 75 Shahed drones, with 74 shot down..

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BEIRUT, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants said Saturday that the European Union (EU) will provide 15 million euros (16.4 million U.S. dollars) to help vulnerable Lebanese and displaced Syrians.

Out of the humanitarian aid, 3.5 million euros will be allocated for vulnerable Lebanese and 11.5 million for displaced Syrians, covering those displaced internally and those seeking asylum in Lebanon, as announced by the European Commission on Friday.

The aid will allow the provision of food, water, sanitation, and hygiene support for those who need them most, said the European Commission.

In a statement carried by Lebanon's National News Agency, the ministry thanked the EU for its continued commitment to alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable Lebanese.

It also expressed hope for dialogue and cooperation to reach sustainable solutions for safely returning Syrian refugees in Lebanon to their homeland as early as possible.

Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with the government estimating around 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon.

Lebanon has been trying to negotiate with relevant countries about the need to return Syrian refugees to their homeland as the crisis-hit country said it could no longer host a large number of displaced people on its territory. 
On the evening of 24 November, the Ukrainian Air Force reported a threat of Russian attack UAVs from Ukraines south.

Source: Air Force on Telegram

Quote: "A group of Shahed UAVs on the border of Kherson, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts! Flying northwest."

Details: The Air Force called on residents of Kryvyi Rih to remain in shelters. An air-raid alert was also issued in Kirovohrad Oblast.

Update: After midnight, the Air Force reported groups of Shaheds in Kryvyi Rih, as well as several groups of Shaheds moving towards Kropyvnytskyi from the south.

After 1:00 pm, a threat of attack drones was reported in Sumy Oblast.

The Air Force later said: "The attack of enemy assault UAVs from the south continues! They are heading northwest," adding that there is a threat of assault UAVs in Kharkiv Oblast from the north.

Update at 01:31: "Attention! Shahed attack drones are heading from Kirovohrad Oblast to Cherkasy Oblast!"

Update at 01:53: "Shahed attack drones are heading from Cherkasy Oblast to Kyiv Oblast!"

Update at 02:00: "There is a threat of a drone attack on Poltava Oblast!"

Update at 02:34: "Several groups of Shahed attack drones were detected in the north of Sumy Oblast! They are moving in the westward direction!"

Update at 02:37: "Shahed drones are approaching Kyiv from the south! Do not ignore air-raid warnings!"

Update at 02:38: "There is a threat of a drone attack on Chernihiv Oblast!"

Update at 02:41 from Kyiv City Military Administration: "UAVs were detected in the airspace. Air defence assets and personnel are responding to the attack."

Update at 02:43 from Kyiv City Military Administration: "Air defence systems are responding on the outskirts of Kyiv. Stay in shelters until the all-clear is given!

Update at 03:13 from Ukraines Air Force: "More groups of Shahed attack drones are entering Sumy Oblast from Russias Kursk Oblast! They are moving westwards!"

Update at 03:30: "Attention! A missile is approaching Kyiv!"

Update at 04:09 from Kyiv City Military Administration: "A large number of enemy UAVs is approaching Kyiv from different directions!"

Update at 04:44 from Ukraines Air Force: "There is a threat of a drone attack on Zhytomyr Oblast!"

Update at 06:09 from Kyiv City Military Administration: "An air-raid warning in Kyiv Oblast continues. We are asking everyone to stay in shelters. There is still a threat of another attack. Air defence systems are responding in the oblast."

Update at 06:17 from Ukraines Air Force: "An attack with enemy attack UAVs from the north-east continues! As of now, Shahed drone groups are located in the west of Sumy Oblast, near Poltava and Myrhorod in Poltava Oblast, Nizhyn and east of Pryluky in Chernihiv Oblast, in the south of Kyiv Oblast, near Obukhiv, and above and around Kyiv."

Update at 06:20: "There are several more groups of Shahed drones entering Sumy Oblast from Russias Kursk Oblast!"

Update at 07:22: Quote from Kyiv City Military Administration: "Several groups of UAVs are moving towards Kyiv from the north-east!"

Update at 07:56: Quote from Ukraines Air Force: "There are at least three enemy attack drones in Kyiv and the oblast! Air defence systems are responding!"

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The Russians have succeeded in producing Shahed drones under Iranian license, former Aidar battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi told Radio NV in an exclusive interview, adding that they are likely to become a key element of winter strikes on Ukraine.

"They have really managed to produce Shahed (drones) under license. The factory in (Tatarstans special economic zone) Alabuga has really started to work. I was personally present at the examination of the recently downed drones, which I will now call 'Herans.' In previous cases it was just an Iranian Shahed with the word 'Heran' painted on it, now there are some parts, some components inside that are made in Russia."

The Russians are carrying out a full-scale licensed production of drones under an Iranian license.

Read also:

"It seems to me that missiles will not be a key element of their (Russian) strikes this winter, because they really have a shortage of missiles. But the key element will be Shahed, which are less effective than missiles, but which they have really started to produce in the hundreds per month. It is very far from the 600 a month that they were claiming, but they are definitely producing 100+ a month."

The Ukrainian Air Force shot down 228 Shahed kamikaze drones out of 243 launched by Russia in October, Ukrainian President's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak reported in early November.

Russia plans to produce 6,000 kamikaze drones on its territory by mid-2025 with the help of Iran, the Washington Post reported in August, citing secret documents obtained by its journalists.

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Sister Rachel, who wrote under the reader-friendly name Ruth Burrows: though she appeared humorous and calm, she had experienced black depression

Ruth Burrows, as the Carmelite nun Sister Rachel Gregory was known through her books, who has died aged 100, became a leading exponent of the life of prayer.

In books like Essence of Prayer (2006), she did not try to write how to manuals, but showed why prayer was something that was possible for any man or woman. At heart, it was, she said, something that God does in us. No one should judge their prayer by feelings of elation, nor should they suppose it was going badly because of desolation or distractions.

She wrote from experience, for in her remarkable memoir, Before the Living God (1975), she showed how her life could only be understood against the background of black depression. This surprised many who had met the humorous and calm woman. Yet it had seemed to her in her younger days, she said, that to enjoy anything was a mockery, like a condemned man faced with a good meal. The only way out, she found, was to drop below this immense misery into the mercy of God.

This was when she had become a Carmelite nun, but from her earliest childhood she had felt a tortured sensitivity and preponderating fear.

Rachel Gregory was born in Sheffield on August 18 1923, the third of eight children of practising Catholics. When the time came for night prayers, the children would come close and pray into their mother or father. She did not doubt their love, but felt distanced from them by a little closed world of fear and pain.

Lively and bright, she would fall into tantrums of spitting and scratching. When she was eight, the death of her sister Helena made her think that nothing was safe any more  that anything terrible could happen and God would not stop it. By the age of nine she feared kidnapping, bridges and staircases collapsing.

She hated boarding school and being part of an institution. Although the world continued to seem utterly black in her teen years, she decided at the age of 15 to change her behaviour so as not to let everyone else suffer from her moods. Later she realised that being sensitive to the feelings of others was to follow an inner light, even though she did not yet realise where the light came from.

It was then that she had an insight into the possibility of an intimate life with God, which suggested to her that she should become a nun, in the absolute sense of being enclosed and contemplative. She looked back on this as a real conversion, by which God changed the direction of her life.

In 1940 she was offered a place at Somerville College, Oxford, but chose instead to become a novice at the Carmelite Monastery in Mansfield. The Carmelite vocation, as practised by saints like Teresa of Avila, is single-mindedly devoted to prayer. It offers less of the life of scholarship and culture enjoyed, for example, by the Benedictine life.

So it was by way of exception that Sister Rachel, under obedience, took to authorship. The convention in the past had been to publish books under the authorship of A Carmelite, but the pen-name Ruth Burrows was more reader-friendly.

Sr Rachel Gregory: she realised that being sensitive to the feelings of others was to follow an inner light - Courtesy of quidenhamcarmel.org.uk

In 1949 the Carmel at Mansfield relocated to Ashbourne, Derbyshire, where in 1954 she was elected prioress. In 1960 the monastery at Ashbourne joined the community that had been established at Quidenham. Norfolk, in 1949. She was prioress at Quidenham from 1965 to 1974, years in which the monastery under her direction reformed in response to the Second Vatican Council. She wanted to promote happiness in the community as a prerequisite for mutual trust.

It was in the Seventies that Quidenham gave shelter to the remarkable hermit Sister Wendy Beckett, who became a celebrity as a television art critic. In her early years at Quidenham, Sister Wendy lived in the uninsulated caravan she parked in the grounds. When that caravan decayed, her Carmelite sisters moved her into a well-insulated prefabricated hut, and in her final years she lived in the monastery itself.

She had soon become a friend and confidante of Sister Rachel, understanding how thoroughgoing was the desolation of her interior life, now utterly reliant on God. One needed courage and earnestness, she said, to expose oneself to Wendy: her spiritual penetration was formidable. They met for a weekly conversation until Sister Wendys death in 2018.

Among Sister Rachels dozen books, Guidelines for Mystical Prayer (1980) reflected her deep understanding of St Teresa of Avila. She was also influenced by St Therese of Lisieuxs teaching that we must love our littleness, which would dispose us to the descending love of God.

She further examined the teaching of St Teresa of Avila in Interior Castle Explored (1981) and insisted on the value to ordinary Christians of the spiritual doctrine of Teresas contemporary, St John of the Cross, in Ascent to Love (1987).

For years she had been repelled by abstract discussion of mysticism, because it seemed to lack any connection with Jesus, but she came to see the mysticism of a saint as the presence of Jesus living in them. But in exercising authority in the monastery she insisted on recognising differences in personality upon which a transformation into Christ depended. For all her spiritual obliteration of self she herself was humorous and warm in conversation.

God offers himself in total love to each one of us, she declared in summary of her insights. Our part is to open our hearts to receive the gift.

Ruth Burrows, born August 18 1923, died November 10 2023

Sister Teresa writes: Rachel (Ruth Burrows) was my novice mistress and then my prioress. Her profound understanding of people, young or old, meant that she was an extraordinary listener, who combined sympathy with a highly practical way of thinking and expressing herself. She knew from within  and without ever dodging them in herself  the frailties of human nature. On the back cover of one of her later books, a blurb described her as one of Britains greatest spiritual guides. She snorted on reading this. A little while later I asked her what spiritual direction consisted of. Her reply was instantaneous: Most of the time it is telling people to behave themselves. Following Jesus in her everyday and humdrum life was essential to her and encouraging others to do the same the mainstay of her existence. On my first Saturday in the novitiate Rachel gave me a mornings worth of intensive training in domestic science. It was a lovely day; at the end of the session she took me outside to shake out the dusters. As she did so she smiled into the sunshine and said: You do it for Him, you see. Otherwise it just becomes a chore.

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I was a bit frightened of reading a paper by Michael Dummett on The Intelligibility of Eucharistic Doctrine.

Sir Michael Dummett (19252011) was a good man who gave up years of his life in the 1960s to combating racism, and he was remarkably clever, one of the most important philosophers of the English-speaking world in the second half of the 20th century, in the words of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

His speciality was mathematical logic, much inspired by Gottlob Frege. Of this I have no inkling. But I feared that if Dummett came up with an erroneous hypothesis about the Eucharist, defending it with brilliant argument, I might (like a drunk failing to put his key in the lock) have no way of seeing where hed gone wrong.

Fortunately, Dummett saw the doctrine of transubstantiation as requiring that the correct and unqualified answer to the question What is it? (asked of the Eucharist) is The Body of Christ. In approaching the matter, he made a good point about such formulations of doctrine following on belief, the realisation of which follows on the practices of the members of the Church.

Dummett also observes that going to church for all Orthodox and Catholics means primarly attending the celebration of the Eucharist. Our treatment of the sacramental elements as Christs Body and Blood, he notes, is consequent on the Eucharistic action being a sacrifice, rather than on its being a sacred meal.

I was glad to discover that Dummett does not resort to the idea of transignification in order to make the Eucharist intelligible. That notion, he writes, entails saying that since we treat the consecrated elements as being the Body and Blood of Christ, that is what they are. This ploy might work for things like money, but it doesnt work for things like sheepdogs or a human body.

Id say separately that in any case in the Eucharist the signification remains the same: it began with bread and wine, which signify food; it becomes the Body of Christ, which Christ says is food indeed.

Anyway, Dummett also stipulates that, just as Jesus Christs Incarnation as God made Man can only be believed by someone who also believes in God, so it is impossible to believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist without believing in his divinity. This is not anti-intellectual, for Dummett then proceeds to seek an intellectual understanding of the doctrine of the Eucharist.

This he finds in the idea of deeming. A boy may in law be deemed anothers son, even if he is not naturally his or her child. But in human deeming, the judgment does not make the thing deemed a reality. If God deems, it is otherwise. Anyone who believes in God must equate the two things: there can be no gap between how God sees something and how it really is in itself.

With the Eucharist, Thomas Aquinas sought an element of continuity that accounts for the persistence of the appearances of bread and wine. He suggested dimension. That is not the same, in his thinking, as the accidental quality of being in a place. For Thomas, the Body of Christ is present sacramentally but is not subject to accidental change such as location.

Dummetts friend and equal as a philosopher, Elizabeth Anscombe, was prepared to say that Christ is physically present in the Eucharist (if sacramentally, not naturally).

I dont know about this deeming. Perhaps it answers questions. It is certainly the case that This is my Body is true because Truth himself says so.

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The only Liberal Democrat councillor for Salford Quays has quit with immediate effect.

Alex Warren resigned the seat he has held for 19 months to take up a role as a political assistant to Watford Borough Council mayor Peter Taylor.

The 31-year-old has left his home in Salford Quays and is relocating to Watford.

He said representing the area over the last four years "has been one of the biggest privileges of my life".

Mr Warren told the Local Democracy Reporting Service to continue as a Salford councillor would have been illegal after taking on a "non-political" role.

It is unclear whether his resignation will spark a local council by-election, with the possibility it could be held in May 2024 during the next local elections.

Mr Warren was the only Lib Dem representative on the city council following controversy after former colleague Chris Twells won a Cotswold District Council seat on 4 May, despite already sitting on Salford City Council.

Mr Twells still has a seat in Salford - in the Ordsall ward - but sits as an Independent.

Mr Warren said: "I've been on the council for a year and seven months, but in terms of campaigning for the people of Salford Quays, it's been a lot longer.

"When you are the only person [in your party] on the council, it's tough, to be honest," he said.

"It's a special area, with MediaCityUK here, the Lowry Theatre, the industrial history of the Manchester Ship Canal, with its very own unique wildlife habitat."

Mr Warren also said he was proud of the campaign he mounted to get late night trams put on from Manchester to the Quays.

Salford City Council declined to comment.

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Families of those killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting blasted right-wing personality Alex Jones amid his bankruptcy battle Tuesday.

The families and a committee of creditors for Jones noted his earlier bankruptcy for himself and his company, Free Speech Systems, last year. They said in the time since he and his company filed for bankruptcy, he has not presented any viable path to emergence.

Nor has he done much of anything to preserve, let alone maximize, the value of his estate for the benefit of his creditorspredominantly the victims of Joness relentless campaign to defame the families of children and others murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a Tuesday filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Texas by the creditors and families read.

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They also said the right-wing personality has yet to sell a single non-exempt asset. According to the families and creditors, he is continuing a lavish lifestyle.

He has refused to adhere to a reasonable budget or engage with the Committee on ways to limit spending, the filing continued. And he has resisted commencing meritorious avoidance actions against insiders. In short, Jones has failed in every way to serve as the fiduciary mandated by the Bankruptcy Code in exchange for the breathing spell he has enjoyed for almost a year. His time is up.

Last month, a Texas judge ruled that Jones cannot use bankruptcy protections as a means to evade paying money to Sandy Hook families. He has to pay $1.1 billion to the families who sued him due to his espousing of conspiracy theories claiming the mass shooting was a hoax.

There can be little doubt that the Chapter 11 Cases must resolve soon, the Tuesday filing continued. Joness estate simply cannot fund an indefinite bankruptcy. Indeed, the estate is not only bearing the costs of Joness professionals, but also hemorrhaging approximately $65,000 to $90,000 a month (excluding legal and professional fees) to bankroll Joness lifestyle.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Sarasota County Schools logo as seen from behind the School Board table.

Extremists a threat to public schools

Our school boards in Sarasota County need to stay nonpartisan and not political.

There is no necessity for politics in the school system. It further polarizes the important issues that need to be addressed in the schools.

In addition, book banning must be stopped. The people who have started that ridiculous censorship do not speak for the masses. They have this idea of righteousness that is absurd.

They are alienating a large portion of the population by not allowing readers to see themselves represented in books. They only protect those who are white, cisgender and straight.

These extremist groups are spreading their messages of hate for minority groups by making sweeping changes to influence school boards. Parents have the right to say what their children will read, not school boards or a small minority of narrow-minded individuals.

Write to us: How to send a letter to the editor

The school voucher program needs to be reevaluated. It takes away funding that the public schools rely on, which is their only source of funding. This leaves the public schools inferior due to lack of resources.

Not every parent has the time or resources to shop for the best school for their child. They are relying on local public schools to give their children the best education they deserve.

If local schools are underfunded, we are setting up a large portion of our population for failure.

Melinda Schell, Venice

Governor must denounce antisemitism

I am writing to express my profound disappointment, and yes, anger at Elon Musk's recent actions and Gov. Ron DeSantis lame reaction to Musk, as reported in the Nov. 21 Herald-Tribune (DeSantis refuses to condemn Musks antisemitic post).

Musks endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory falsely accusing Jewish people of promoting hatred against whites is not only baseless but contributes to the rise of antisemitism, and the perpetuating of harmful stereotypes.

At a time when unity is crucial, Musks actions are regressive and irresponsible.

DeSantis refusal to vigorously condemn Musk's comments is also deeply troubling. As a public official, he must unequivocally denounce antisemitism. Dismissing Musk's actions due to claimed ignorance of context is inadequate and fails to address the seriousness of the issue.

Antisemitism requires collective efforts to combat. Musk's endorsement of harmful beliefs fans the flames of hatred and intolerance. Our leaders must take a stand against antisemitism.

I urge the governor to reconsider his response and firmly denounce discrimination.

Arnie Moskowitz, Sarasota

Biden puts construction industry at risk

President Joe Biden recently toured Floridas Gulf Coast and continued his rhetoric of promoting himself as the most pro-union president in history.

This discriminatory language by President Biden discounts the value of work done by the vast majority of construction industry professionals who choose not to join a union, which is nearly 9 in 10 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Associated Builders and Contractors supports awarding public works projects to contractors that can complete infrastructure projects safely, on time and on budget, regardless of labor affiliation. Fair and open competition for these projects delivers the best value to all American taxpayers.

The latest data shows that, year-over-year, the percentage of construction industry union membership has dropped despite robust overall job growth.

The decline suggests that construction industry workers are not enthusiastic about joining a union when given a choice to do so.

This is why the Biden administration should not continue to advance controversial policies specific to the construction industry requiring its workers to subject themselves to union-only policies. There is no reason to mandate union-only labor when contractors can fairly compete against each other.

Exclusionary policies and campaign speeches are the last thing Florida citizens need as they continue to face rising prices on everything from food to insurance to housing.

Grant Archer, director of government and political affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter Inc., Coconut Creek

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota's School Board should choose education over extreme agendas
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Hamas did not release any of the ten American hostages during the first day of the temporary truce with Israel on Friday. A Sarasota resident and her husband are still waiting for their son to return home.

Our goal is to get all the hostages home, Sagui among them, Jonathan Dekel-Chen said.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, hasnt been heard from since the terror attacks seven weeks ago on Oct. 7 in Southern Israel. His parents said he was last seen defending his pregnant wife and two young daughters during the massacre at his kibbutz near the Gaza border.

Sarasota womans stepson among the missing in Israel after Hamas terrorist attacks

The results were tragic, Dekel-Chen said. Between the people murdered and the people taken captive and the physical destruction of our home. Am I proud of him? Of course Im a proud dad, but more importantly we want him back.

12 of the 13 Israeli women and children to be freed Friday are from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Dekel-Chen considers them to be his extended family.

While he was away in the U.S. on October 7, the American born university professor in Israel has lived there for almost 40 years.

I couldnt be happier and the surviving community of the kibbutz couldnt be happier that these young and not-so-young people are home and seem to be safe from what we know right now, he said.

Gillian Kaye holding a photo of her stepson Sagui Dekel-Chen (WFLA)

Jonathan and his wife, Gillian Kaye, travelled to Washington, D.C. last week with the families of the American hostages to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Sarasota) presented them the American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol during the mass Stand with Israel march.

May he return home to his beloved family and may god bless the people of Israel, Kaye said, reading a portion of Rep. Buchanans proclamation.

Saguis parents said they are entrusting the Israeli government and its allies to secure the release of their son and the more than 200 hostages still in Hamas captivity.

The hostages need to be brought home by any and all means and for now its the negotiation path, Dekel-Chen said.

They are holding on to hope that will happen sooner than later.

Hes got a little girl on the way in two weeks, Kaye said. He needs to see that little girl and the other ones who are waiting for him.

Kaye added they are grateful for the support they are receiving from the U.S. government, their elected officials and the local Sarasota community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Christian Craighead was awarded an MBE by the late Queen earlier in his SAS career - KIMLANGSTUDIO

An SAS soldier who was decorated for bravery for his role in defeating an Islamist terrorist attack has written a childrens book after he was banned from writing a personal memoir about the incident.

Former SAS Warrant Officer Second Class Christian Craighead, who was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for the bravery he displayed in the attack on the Dusit D2 Hotel complex in Nairobi in January 2019, has published a book for children entitled The Wrong Wolf.

Mr Craighead, who was also awarded an MBE by the late Queen earlier in his SAS career, says the book is a metaphorical story about a wolf who becomes a sheep dog.

He wrote the story while he was locked in a lengthy legal battle with the Ministry of Defence over the publication of his personal account of his role in the terrorist attack.

Mr Craighhead, who served in the Army for 28 years, said in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph: Its not the book people were waiting for, I know that, but Im extremely proud of it. This book is not a response to not being allowed to publish another book  this is a different project.

He added: I dont care if it only sells three copies. I didnt write it to make money, I wrote it because I think the story is really important and if it helps someone then thats great.

The book is a metaphorical story about a wolf who becomes a sheep dog

Mr Craighead, 48, who is single and now lives in the United States, refused to talk about his involvement in the terrorist attack or why the MoD refused to allow him to publish an account of the incident.

Speaking from his home in the US, the former soldier who uses a pseudonym to protect his identity, said: Ive moved on from that moment in my life and I want to talk about The Wrong Wolf. I never, ever thought I would write a childrens book. 

The former soldier said he got the idea for the book after listening to a podcast earlier this year in which one of the presenters said we need more sheepdogs not wolves.

He went on: I was working out in the gym and this story just fell into my mind  it just started coming to me. I ran home and started writing it down.

Mr Craighead said that he decided to self-publish the book because he wanted to produce it as quickly as possible.

Mr Craighead admits the story is inspired by moments from his own life, including the terrorist attack in Kenya

He added: I knew that if I went through a publisher it would just delay the timings, there would be suggestions on changes having to be made. I wanted the story to be my story. The only edit has been a grammar edit, so its all from my heart and I wanted it out quickly.

The illustrator Matt Klein is a friend of mine, and he has already published a childrens book. I phoned him up and said Hey, I have this idea for a childrens book  are you happy to do these pictures for me?. Not only did I have the story in my mind but I also had the images. Its very strange how it came to me in an instant.

Mr Craighead said the story is about a wolf who from the moment he is born is very different to the other wolves and he admits it was inspired by moments from his own life, including the terrorist attack in Kenya.

He added: People might say Is it metaphorical from my army career?, Possibly. Is it metaphorical of what happened in Kenya? If you know the story, yes you could say that. Is it metaphorical to my childhood, absolutely. People who read the book will say hes talking about Kenya. Im not, Im talking about real life. Most of it is modelled on my childhood.

Mr Craighead, who joined the Army at 16, gained global acclaim after images of him dressed in civilian clothes, wearing body armour, carrying an automatic rifle and repeatedly entering the hotel complex to rescue civilians appeared in newspapers and on websites around the world.

Mr Craighead was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for the bravery he displayed in the Dusit D2 Hotel attack in Nairobi in January 2019 - KABIR DHANJI/AFP

His memoir called One Man In was bought by the publisher Simon & Schuster who had assumed that because his involvement in the incident was so widely known there would be no objection from the MOD to a book about the events.

He had claimed in the High Court that a ban imposed on his book by the Defence Secretary was a breach of his human right to freedom of expression.

But Mrs Justice Steyn ruled that national security and protecting the public by keeping the SASs tradecraft secret overrode his claim to freedom of speech.

The book is available in the US on Nov 29 and in the UK on Dec 21.

Some of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the US charity Frontline Healing Foundation.

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A large collection of scarves and other warm items were left at sites throughout Stark and Tuscarawas counties and beyond on Nov. 10, 2023, as part of The Scarf Project. The yearly initiative aims to assist those who need help staying warm during the colder months.

The Scarf Project is expanding again.

The program that helps provide scarves, hats and gloves to those in need is adding Grand Junction, Colorado to the list of cities that take part. Officials there reached out to Toni Kaltenbaugh, the programs founder who lives in Tuscarawas County. She said theyre about to have their first Scarf Day event.

Locally, this years event in Northern Ohio on Nov. 10 involved 25 sites, as organizers added four after the initial 21 locations were announced in early November.

In Alliance, items each year are tied to a railing at South Union Avenue and East Main Street, near the SARTA bus station.

Scarves are seen tied to a fence at South Union Avenue and East Main Street as part of The Scarf Project giveaway event on Nov. 10, 2023. Twenty-five locations around northern Ohio had free items such as scarves, hats and gloves tied to fences or posts, left for those who need help staying warm during the cold weather.

New sites this year were The Church of God in Canton; The Restoration Centre in Tuscarawas; Rite Aid in Coshocton; and Jefferson Park in Cambridge.

The entire project is volunteer-driven, with knitters and crocheters making items that then are donated to Kaltenbaughs group. The items then are divided and delivered to the various sites, where they are tied to fences or posts, easily available to those who need a little help keeping warm during the cold weather.

Another Stark County site is The Canton Repositorys office on Market Avenue South in the citys downtown.

This years event included more than 2,000 scarves alone. Donations also included hats, gloves, headbands and mittens. Kaltenbaugh said this years items were created using sewing and quilting, too.

Northern Ohios Scarf Project also benefitted from donations from places around the United States.

A box of beautiful handmade hats and scarves was received from El Mirage, Arizona, Kaltenbaugh said. The accompanying note said her friend requested that she do something nice for someone as her birthday gift. The Scarf Project was chosen as that recipient.

The group also received a very large donation of skeins of yarn from a church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kaltenbaugh said. It filled the bed of a Ford F-150 pickup and was delivered to Kaltenbaugh's patio. She said the remaining part of the donation filled an SUV and a car.

Kaltenbaugh said that when she arrived home at the end of Scarf Day, when the items are delivered to the sites, she found bags of scarves and bags of yarn on her back porch. Theyll be used for next years project.

Donations of yarn, and new, finished hats, scarves, mittens and gloves can be dropped off at 730 Tuscarawas Ave. NW in New Philadelphia. Donations of gas cards or copy paper for flyers  #99 bright white  can be placed between the back doors there.

Contact Kaltenbaugh at 330-432-1930 to pick up yarn or with any questions.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Scarf Project spreads warmth in Alliance, around Ohio
Staff members of the Red Cross transfer released hostages to the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement late Saturday that it had handed over the second group of Israeli and foreign hostages to the Red Cross. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement late Saturday that it had handed over the second group of Israeli and foreign hostages to the Red Cross.

A total of 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis and four Thais, have crossed into Egypt and are on their way to Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in a post on its X account.

The 17 people are the second group of hostages to be sent back to Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The exchange was scheduled to take place around 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) Saturday, but was delayed for several hours after Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet the terms in a four-day humanitarian cease-fire agreement, which was agreed upon by the two sides on Wednesday after more than six weeks of bloody conflict. 

Staff members of the Red Cross transfer released hostages to the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement late Saturday that it had handed over the second group of Israeli and foreign hostages to the Red Cross. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Staff members of the Red Cross transfer released hostages to the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement late Saturday that it had handed over the second group of Israeli and foreign hostages to the Red Cross. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Staff members of the Red Cross transfer released hostages to the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement late Saturday that it had handed over the second group of Israeli and foreign hostages to the Red Cross. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal.

Nov. 27, 2002, The News Journal

Anti-smoking law in effect

A bartender for 24 years, Deborah Varell fears the pub where she works will lose business because of Delawares ban on indoor smoking, which went into effect at midnight.

Many of the pubs customers smoke when they drink, she said, so alcohol revenues probably will decrease as smokers from Delaware drive to New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania, which have no public indoor smoking bans.

Front page of The News Journal from Nov. 27, 2002.

Under the law passed earlier this year, no one in Delaware will be allowed to light up at bars, casinos, restaurants, hotel lobbies, offices or any other indoor public gathering place.

Supporters said the ban protects nonsmokers from the carcinogens spread by secondhand smoke. Delaware has the nations third highest death rate for tobacco-related cancers.

Nov. 28, 1925, Evening Journal

Train latest in deluxe service; 35 hours from N.Y. to Palm Beach

More convenience than ever before has been provided for winter travel between the North and South with the establishment of three deluxe trains between New York and Florida by the Seaboard Air Line Railway.

These new trains are known as the Orange Blossom Specials, and the first trip of one of these splendid Twentieth Century palaces on wheels was made last weekend. The train left New York last Saturday morning at 10 oclock with 249 passengers on board.

Page 7 of the Evening Journal from Nov. 28, 1925.

At about the same time a similar special left West Palm Beach, Florida for the North.

The cars are finished in olive green with floral decorations. They are the last word in modern steel railroad car construction.

Fred Geissler, assistant passenger traffic manager, acted as host to the party of guests and passengers. He proved a delightful entertainer and was ever on the alert to direct little comforts to be done for the care of those in his charge.

The diner is a feature of the train. The very finest food stuffs are used for the table and at intervals during the day, refreshing orange juice is served.

The first Orange Blossom Special wheeled in on time at West Palm Beach just 35 hours after it left New York City. All the guests and the passengers declared it was the easiest riding railroad train they had ever traveled on.

Recent railroad news: 'I got $60 billion for you': President Joe Biden, in Delaware, announces new train projects

Nov. 30, 1942, Journal-Every Evening

Patrons joke blamed for Boston night club fire that killed 477

Tragedy hung like a pall over Boston today in the wake of the disastrous fire which in the flash of an eye swept the fashionable Coconut Grove night club last Saturday night, causing a death toll of 477.

At least 185 persons were injured.

Front page of the Journal - Every Evening from Nov. 30, 1942.

A pranksters joke was believed to have been the cause of the tragedy. As official investigations got underway, a 16-year-old bus boy told police he inadvertently started the catastrophe by dropping a lighted match on an artificial palm tree while replacing an electric light bulb in the ceiling. The bulb had been removed as a gag by one of the merrymakers.

It was the worst fire disaster in America since the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago in 1902 which cost 602 lives.

Catch up on history: Army at school integration, Nixon-Kennedy debate: News Journal archives, week of Sept. 24

Dec. 1, 1993, The News Journal

School desegregation accord reached

The 15-year-old northern New Castle County desegregation order would be dissolved under a tentative settlement announced yesterday by state and city officials and the Coalition to Save Our Children.

Gov. Tom Carper and Paul R. Fine, president of the State Board of Education, said they hope more students eventually will be able to attend community schools.

But Wilmington Mayor James H. Sills Jr. said the agreement would ensure that city schools do not revert to being mostly black.

Front page of The News Journal from Dec. 1, 1993.

The agreement wont be final until it is approved by U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson, the full state board and the four northern New Castle County school boards  Brandywine, Christina, Colonial and Red Clay Consolidated.

The state board and the four districts had asked U.S. District Court to declare them successfully desegregated and close the case. The coalition, representing blacks, objected that the original goals had never been met completely. The city joined the negotiations with the coalition to protect the interests of its students, both black and white.

City-suburban busing cannot end before the 1997-98 school year because of racial balance provisions.

The agreement gradually eases expectation for racial balance among schools.

Carper urged districts to follow the Red Clay Consolidated plan, permitting students to choose among schools.

Attorney General Charles M. Oberly III said districts might decide to assign students to schools closer to their homes because it will benefit them educationally. But there is a very fine line between that and violating the U.S. Constitution, he said.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: School desegregation, smoking ban: News Journal archives, Nov. 26
Soldiers in Eilon kibbutz are nearly all reservists, many of whom were living comfortable western lifestyles until Oct 7 - Quique Kierszenbaum

The shockwave from the Israeli gun shatters the peace of the abandoned kibbutz, just a mile from the Lebanon border.

A second comes a few seconds later, followed quickly by a third.

The bangs arrive simultaneously with the punch of the blasts  it suggests the artillery is close.

But youd have to work hard to spot them.

In its cat-and-mouse battle with Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are relearning the value of camouflage.

The Iran-backed terrorist group attacks daily with anti-tank missiles, rockets, mortars or drones.

As a result, these picturesque hills, where Jesus is said to have walked, are now festooned with Israeli guns, tanks, foxholes and command posts.

But other than the odd tell-tale sign  track marks by the side of the road, glimpses of khaki netting in the trees  all the casual observer would notice are the ancient forests and orchards that not so long ago attracted holidaymakers in their droves.

The army took casualties in the opening weeks, but now they say theyve had none for a month.

Israeli soldiers patrol the evacuated kibbutz Eilon near the Israeli-Lebanon border - Quique Kierszenbaum

This is the fruit of a deliberate back to basics approach: digging, concealing  soldiering 101.

Shortly after the start of the fighting on this front, commanders printed off and distributed hundreds of copies of a defunct platoon commanders handbook that was published in 1956 based on lessons from the Second World War.

For the first time in years, soldiers now routinely carry whistles to warn others to take cover from incoming mortars  far more efficient than squawking down the radio.

It matters, not just to the individual troops, but because many fear that it wouldnt take much  perhaps just one or two IDF multiple-casualty hits  for this to escalate into a full northern war, precisely what Joe Biden reportedly begged Benjamin Netanyau last week to avoid, particularly during the fragile truce with Hamas.

Yoav Gallant, the defence minister, has said that, in such an event, Israel would return Lebanon to the stone age.

On the day The Sunday Telegraph visited, Eilon kibbutz was tense with hope that the promised ceasefire in the south would hold and that Hezbollah, although not party to the agreement, would follow suit.

But the thunder of IDF heavy guns, responding, the army said, to terrorist activity over the border, soon put paid to that.

More than 80 Hezbollah rockets were later fired towards Israel, according to the military, including 35 that crossed the border, making this day of skirmishing every bit as fraught and exhausting as the previous 47. An anti-tank missile attack on Kibbutz Menara also caused damage to buildings.

The troops here are nearly all reservists, many of whom were living comfortable western lifestyles until Oct 7.

It presents their officers with the challenge of keeping them focused in what is essentially a waiting game, particularly as winter, with its hardships, draws in.

In 2006, the army went into southern Lebanon very quickly, says local commander Lt Col Dotan Razili, of the Baraam Brigade. Since then weve trained a lot to go on the offensive, to take the initiative. This is different. Defence presents challenges. Our biggest weapon has to be patience. Forty-five odd days of war is a long time when youre defending your home.

An energetic, jolly sort, he speaks loudly. After weeks of war my hearings gone  more because of the radios than the guns, he jokes.

The troops are passing the time as best they can. Outside one abandoned house, a small group is cooking a barbecue.

Tensions are high near the Lebanese border - Quique Kierszenbaum

The previous day, they invited a tattoo artist into the closed-off militarised zone: some got the date of the Hamas massacre stamped on the forearm.

The IDF believes Hezbollah to be better financed and equipped and more tactically astute than 17 years ago, when the conflict triggered a regional crisis.

The militants have now modified their rockets to enhance the warheads, with some as big as 300lbs.

Whilst Iron Dome, Israels missile defence system, takes care of many of these  the hollow, distant booms of the interceptions is the daily soundtrack for so much of the country  from concealed positions in the hills, the terrorist group is also making extensive use of anti-tank missiles and mortars, which evade the sophisticated technology.

Many of the Israeli troops stationed here are from the north. Col Razili is a native of the very kibbutz it is his mission to defend.

Eilons residents are traditional, hardy people, the descendents of Jewish emigres from Poland who established the hill community in the 1930s despite the British Mandatory government dismissing the land as not fit for cultivation.

But after Hamass murderous rampage on Oct 7, the majority of people in communities like this had evacuated within days, terrified that Hezbollah would attempt a similar enterprise.

The majority of people in communities along the border evacuated within days of the Oct 7 attack - JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP

Only about 100 people remain in Eilon: first responders, essential workers, such as those to feed the cows, and the odd one or two for whom leaving is too complicated.

On the edge of the communitys silent playground, one such person, a middle-aged woman in an electric wheelchair, trundles under the olive trees as a heavily armed IDF patrol walks past.

The recent heavy rain has suppressed the normal dust, rendering the rocky ridge to the north of the kibbutz, which marks the last piece of Israeli high ground before the border, crystal clear in the morning sun.

Asked if he saw his opponents as human beings, Col Razili, a father of three, responds: Hezbollah are terrorists, but if you want to be a professional war-fighter you have to see your enemy as human beings and try to understand them.

The fact is, they want to push us into the sea  everyone knows that. Its our job to make sure they dont.

As in Gaza, Israel has been accused of taking insufficient care not to kill civilians as it goes after its enemy.

The IDF said that if Lebanese civilians are spotted near a Hezbollah target then the firing decision must be passed up the chain of command, and that the use of heavier munitions can only be ordered at battalion or brigade level.

Down near the coast, two Merkava main battle tanks are waiting under a grand sycamore tree.

Troops take cover so they are not exposed to Hezbollah's anti-tank missiles - Quique Kierszenbaum

Their commander, Omri, a 26-year-old psychology and computer science student from Tel Aviv, is not allowed to say whether he has personally engaged Hezbollah from his tank.

But he does say: I have friends of friends who were at the Nova party [where Hamas massacred hundreds].

When I saw the news we immediately started getting organised to mobilise without any orders.

It means a lot for me to be here to make sure nothing else happens.

All around us is the paraphernalia of war: petrol cans, ammo tins, a messy tent sheltering a few camp beds.

Ariel, 37, a reservist in the crack Golani infantry brigade, was about to get into a Humvee.

His main focus is a Hezbollah ground infiltration  the living nightmare for all Israelis in this region.

Normally, once or twice a year you get the call and you put on your uniform and go and do what youve got to do, but this time it feels different, he said.

A faint thud turns our attention to the far north where a massive pall of browny-grey smoke has exploded and now hangs over the Lebanese hills, further evidence of the aggressive vigilance of an IDF determined not to be caught off guard again.

Militarily they hold the upper hand.

However, therein lies a dilemma. While the fighting continues, the people of Eilon and similar towns and kibbutzim cannot return.

But when  or rather if  it quietens down, can the IDF remain here in such numbers? And, if not, after the horror of Oct 7, will the people of these communities ever feel safe enough to return?

We celebrated our 85th anniversary since the founding of the kibbutz this month, said Col Razili. Sadly most of the celebrations were online.

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Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, has reported that 66 Shahed drones were downed specifically over Kyiv Oblast and the city of Kyiv and that the Russians tried to hit Kyiv with all drones at the same time.

Source: Ihnat during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Ihnat: "Approximately 66 [destroyed drones  ed.] were, in fact, in Kyiv Oblast. But the rest are those that flew up and were destroyed on the way by the Defence Forces in the south and east of our state."

Details: Ihnat explained that Shahed drones from Russias Kursk Oblast flew straight to Kyiv, while others from the southeast flew and circled, waiting for other UAVs from Kursk to hit the Ukrainian capital at the same time.

Background: The Russians launched a record number of attack UAVs at Ukraine on the night of 24-25 November. There were 75 Shahed kamikaze drones, 74 of which were shot down.

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CHILLICOTHE -- The Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that the local annual holiday light display, Shine On Chillicothe, is one of the featured displays on the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail.

There is so much to see and do in Ohio during the holidays, and the light displays across the state make the Christmas season even more magical, said Governor DeWine in a news release. The Ohio Holiday Lights Trail is truly unique, and the stops are great destinations to spend time with family and experience the heart of Ohio's communities."

This years Shine On Chillicothe features a variety of new exhibits that will be perfect for capturing those special memories with your family and friends. The light display continues to grow each year and this year is no exception.

The holidays are about coming together to celebrate, and its great that we get to do that in a way with destinations from all across the state coming together for the trail to celebrate the holidays, said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development which oversees TourismOhio. We have destinations that have been on the trail since it started, and others are featured for the first time this year. Its a wonderful tradition to be a part of.

Along with the dazzling new stops featured on the trail, there are many destinations that have made themselves holiday traditions in the hearts of Ohioans. This is the second year that Shine On Chillicothe has been a part of the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail. With 70 stops along the self-guided trail, this seasons Holiday Lights Trail is the largest yet.

Shine On Chillicothe is a beautiful display of community pride that we can share with our visitors, stated Melody Young, Executive Director of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau. It gives them a sense of the pride that we take in our community and adds to their experience as they explore Chillicothe and Ross County.

Shine On Chillicothe is open nightly from now until the end of the year. For more information, please visit shineonchillicothe.org.

The 2023 Ohio Holiday Lights Trail is available for print or download online at Ohio, The Heart of it Alls Holidays in Ohio landing page.

The Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes Ross County as a destination to encourage travelers to visit.

Operating within Ohio's Department of Development, TourismOhio works to showcase all Ohio has to offer as a place of adventure, a place of promise, and the place for you.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Shine on Chillicothe featured on the 2023 Ohio Holiday Lights Trail
The growing demand to support local businesses was on display Saturday in St. Petersburg with the return of Shopapalooza, a festival of indie businesses, artists, food halls and breweries. More than 350 vendors lined up along more than 11 acres of Vinoy Park the weekend after Thanksgiving.

The festival, hosted by small business advocates LocalShops1, began in 2010 and is co-sponsored by the city. It featured home decor, jewelry, clothing, beauty products, vintage items, pet goods, books and candles. There were also four food halls made up of about 40 vendors representing local restaurants, bakeries and food trucks.

The free public event continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 701 Bayshore Drive NE.
Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim are a Singaporean couple who built 500 emergency homes in Ukraine.

They focus mostly on warzone locations and the frontlines, helping the poor, elderly, and disabled.

They told BI that together, they've traveled to Ukraine seven times in the last two years.

In Bucha, the first person who saw Lam Baoyan couldn't stop screaming.

Lam had been offered a chance to see the frontlines in Ukraine in May 2022. As she entered the city, an elderly Ukrainian woman spotted Lam's east Asian features, and fearing Lam was a Russian, started sobbing, Lam said.

"I have nothing left to give you," an interpreter translated, Lam recounted to Business Insider.

Lam, a 39-year-old Singaporean, was astounded. Aid workers managed to calm the elderly woman, and she eventually told Lam her story  of how her entire family was killed, of how she only had corners of her roof to live under and potatoes in her garden to live on.

It had been weeks since Russian forces pulled out of Bucha, but the small city was still bleeding, Lam said.

"The Russians took everything from their houses, and burned them down. They were living in their chicken coops," Lam said.

Lam's first trip to Ukraine drove her to eventually build some 500 free emergency houses for war victims in hard-hit areas of Ukraine like Moshchun and the Donbass. She and her husband, Rudy Taslim, said they've traveled to the Ukrainian frontlines more than seven times since the war began, launching and funding aid projects on their own dime.

The couple, who run an architecture firm in Singapore, designed and manufactured a series of container homes meant to house families in need of shelter.

One of Lam and Taslim's larger delivered homes, next to a destroyed building in TKTK. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim.

They declined to share how much they've spent on aid projects in Ukraine.

BI verified their humanitarian work with the Ukrainian embassy in Singapore and spoke to three Ukrainians who work with the couple on their aid projects.

Building a local base

While much of the global conversation for aid in Ukraine has centered around weapons, Lam and Taslim said their focus is on the people who can't flee the war.

"Who hasn't left? The handicapped, the poor, people who are the most marginalized," Lam said. "They're looking for basic things, a sense of stability, food, shelter."

Some of the Ukrainians that Lam met were living in chicken coops or in corners of their homes that were still intact, she said. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

Lam spent April 2022 at a refugee center in Bad Blankenburg, a city in Germany, assisting Ukrainians who'd fled Russia's invasion.

At the end of the month, she and seven other volunteers made a 21-hour drive through Germany, Poland, and then into Ukraine, she recalled. It was her first time in the country.

When she chanced upon a group of Christian pastors in Lviv, they asked her if she wanted to see Bucha and other areas of Ukraine that had seen fighting.

Lam accepted. Both staunch Protestant Christians, she and Taslim would go on to work extensively with these pastors, who formed a base team for finding aid workers and translators.

By the end of her first trip, she knew she'd be back to help the people made homeless by the war.

Designing a home for a war survivor

Lam flew back to Singapore in June. She and Taslim run a firm called Genesis Architects, which oversees projects in countries including the Maldives, Singapore, Taiwan, and New Zealand.

Lam runs business operations, while Taslim, also 39, covers design.

Lam and Taslim said they spent their summer designing a simple way to house Ukrainian families.

"We were confronted with several issues," said Taslim. "Number one was that winter was approaching."

Taslim looks over design plans with a Ukrainian partner. Rudy Taslim and Lam Baoyan

Winter temperatures in Ukraine can drop to -4 degrees Fahrenheit, and much of the infrastructure in war-ridden civilian areas was obliterated.

He eventually designed a modular home that's slightly bigger than a shipping container, replete with running water capacity, heating, electricity, kitchen, and bathroom.

Each house is prefabricated and can be put together in a week, but it's also built to withstand shockwaves from shelling, provide insulation, and last for years, Taslim said.

But Ukraine was also actively battling an invasion, and acquiring construction materials and building the houses would be tricky, he said.

Lam and Taslim's homes come with electricity, furniture, running water, and a toilet. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

Buying materials from foreign suppliers would have turned Lam and Taslim's project into profits for a corporation, he said, and their goal was also provide business opportunities for local companies.

"When the war started, obviously a lot of construction projects stopped," he said. "So they had in their possession a lot of materials that can be purchased off them."

Many Ukrainian men, who couldn't leave the country but hadn't been conscripted yet, needed jobs, Taslim said. And a house requires laborers, logistics workers, and electricians.

Labor and materials would have to come from within Ukraine, the couple decided.

Their houses would also have to be situated directly in their beneficiaries' neighborhoods. Lam and Taslim said they were determined not to displace any families in the process of giving them a new home.

"We didn't want to create some sort of mass refugee camp or something that's temporary, but something dignified," he said.

How Lam and Taslim started their own house-building operation

In August 2022, Lam returned with Taslim, flying into Germany, driving through Poland, and entering Ukraine via the western border.

Lam and Taslim said they've traveled to Ukraine at least seven times together. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

Their idea was to build the portable houses off-site, then deliver them to war-ravaged towns.

Lam and Taslim said they used their first trip to meet Ukrainian contractors, warehouse owners, and delivery drivers.

A team of Ukrainian aid workers helps them identify people who need homes the most and coordinate delivery.

Lam and Taslim traveled to several neighborhoods devastated by the war, such as this location in Lyman. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

In August 2022, the first of their houses were built and delivered to families in Irpin and Moshchun  just before the summer nights in Ukraine started to grow cold.

Taslim points to a container home loaded on a truck, while Lam poses next to one of their delivered houses. Rudy Taslim and Lam Baoyan.

One house initially cost them around $25,000, but Taslim said they've managed to reduce its price to around $4,200 through supply chain tweaks, such as sourcing timber from Ukraine's forests. BI was not able to independently verify the costs.

Lam and Taslim's team manufactured and delivered 400 homes before the winter of 2022, and another 100 after January, they said.

One of Lam and Taslim's houses, delivered to a bombed neighborhood in Moshchun. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim.

Lam said the elderly, those with disabilities, and widows get priority among the recipients. She and Taslim visited dozens of neighborhoods to approve house deliveries, she said.

"We're giving this away for free, without conditions, so once we've identified these people, we need to walk on the ground and do background checks," she said.

Lam and Taslim visit an elderly beneficiary in one of their container homes. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

After establishing their production chain, they've left much of the house-making and delivery to Ukrainian aid workers, Taslim said.

Checking on homes

Lam and Taslim said they continue to visit Ukraine every few months, checking on the homes and starting new aid projects for civilians and soldiers on the frontlines.

Lam and Taslim visited a warehouse they hired in Ternopil. It was bombed in July 2023, they said. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim.

They have had to reclaim several houses from people, Lam said. The couple discovered that one family in Moshchun had been living with relatives elsewhere, while keeping their gifted container house as a summer home, she said.

"We've had to make that decision and give the resources to someone who really needs it," Lam said.

The couple has since moved their focus to other aid projects in Ukraine, supplying generators in the winter, furnishing aid shelters for new mothers whose husbands were killed in the war, and bringing medical supplies to the frontlines.

Yulia is a worker at House of Bread, an organization that runs soup kitchens in Ukraine and that has partnered with Lam and Taslim.

"They reached out to so many people, including soldiers on the frontline, encouraging them and supporting for them," she told BI about the couple and their work. "So many lives have been saved, many lives restored," she added.

Taslim and Lam visit a TKTK factory in TKTK. Rudy Taslim and Lam Baoyan

In late 2022, they were awarded Ukrainian temporary residency permits, which were seen by BI.

Lam and Taslim delivered fuel and set up shelters for those with special needs. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

They work with charities such as the Red Cross. The Red Cross Singapore confirmed its partnership with Lam and Taslim but declined to comment further.

"What's important is that they're not just bringing what they want to bring or whatever they have at the moment," said Andrii Lupaniek, the pastor of the Power of Revival church in Kyiv. "They always ask what is the need of people in the area. What is the need right now?"

Lam and Baoyan pose for a photo with their Ukrainian partners and other foreign aid workers. Lapienuk is holding the Singapore flag in the center of the photo. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim.

Lupaniek told BI via a translator that the couple has accompanied him on humanitarian trips since late autumn 2022.

He brings medicines, food, and supplies to the frontlines, and estimates that without Lam and Taslim's resources, his aid ministry would be operating at half capacity.

Lupaniek watches Taslim hug a Ukrainian beneficiary after delivering supplies. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim.

Together, they've distributed freezing-temperature sleeping bags, 200 tons of food, and winter clothing to areas of the Donbass such as Lyman, a city that was retaken by Ukraine in early October after multiple battles, Lupaniek said.

Lam and Taslim pose for a photo with doctors and directors at a hospital in Ukraine after delivering medical equipment. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim

Lam and Taslim are aware of criticism that they're foreign civilians putting themselves in a conflict that doesn't directly involve their country.

"A lot of people, maybe out of love, or disbelief, have tried to dampen our spirits," he said. "But I think over the months we've learned to quiet these voices down. I think we just have to walk away from certain conversations."

Their motivation, they said, stems from their faith.

"Love is an action. It looks like something. It looks like bread for the hungry and a home for the homeless," Lam said, when asked why she'd spent time and resources on projects that carried such personal risk.

"I'd say that question could be rephrased," said Taslim. "Why not? Why not me?"

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sister Wives star Christine Brown is poking fun at her previous relationship with Kody Brown as she celebrates her first Thanksgiving with husband, David Woolley.

Christine Brown, who tied the knot with Woolley in October after getting engaged in April, uploaded a funny video to Instagram of her cooking crescent rolls for the holiday while wearing a Ive tried polygamy T-shirt.

Happy Thanksgiving! she cheered in the Instagram live clip. She skimmed the comments and appeared to respond to a fan inquiring about her shirt.

My shirt, its Ive tried polygamy, she proudly said. Then, she turned around and revealed that the back said Polygamy Porter in bold letters and Why have just one?

She later added, This is my first Thanksgiving with David! He is making the turkey and the mashed potatoes. The 51-year-old reality television star said that their families were also spending Thanksgiving with them and helping with the cooking.

When another fan asked about her top, Christine Brown explained, So I went to eat at a place, Bohemian Brewery, and we went there for dinner and they came to me and were like, Out of everybody here we feel like you should probably have this shirt.

And so they gave me this shirt, she said.

Christine Brown added that the gift was super kind and super nice before wishing her fans a happy Thanksgiving again.

Fans commented on the shirt below the post and laughed at the Sister Wives stars sense of humor.

Your shirt  been there, done that, bought the tshirt, one Instagram user joked.

Another said, That shirt is epic!!

Many pointed out how happy Christine Brown looked in the video. Christine you seem so happy and full of joy, one person wrote. You deserve that. Im so proud of you for making the decisions that were right for you at every point in your life .

Kody Brown and Christine Brown announced in 2021 that they were breaking up after 25 years together. The former couple share six children. They were never legally married.

In February, Christine Brown revealed she was in a new relationship on her Instagram story. She described him as wonderful and romantic and so kind and everything Ive been looking for. Two months later, Woolley popped the question.

The couple married on Oct. 7 in Moab, Utah. She shared multiple photos from their nuptials on Instagram.

Im so blessed! Ive married my best friend. @david__woolley and I are happy and honored to have been surrounded by so much love.It was an incredible experience with our family and friends, she wrote.

She described the ceremony as the wedding of our dreams.

Earlier this week, the newlywed spoke to TODAY.com about her new relationship being featured in the upcoming special Sister Wives: One on One, premiering Dec. 18.

She confirmed Woolley and her ex will interact in the episodes.

David and Kody have met before, she said. Davids on (the One on One special). Youll see what he thinks about Kody.

She revealed to TODAY.com that Woolley and Kody Brown were actually introduced to each other at her daughter Gwendlyn Browns wedding in July.

Kody, Robyn, Meri, David, Janelle (and I) were there together in the same space, because it was for Gwendlyn, she shared. We were all fine with it. All of it was wonderful.

She also said Woolley watched her on the TLC show before they met. She said he expected to see the women fight with each other and was surprised to see them get along.

Now, her and Woolley watch the show together. She recalled struggling to watch last season as her split with Kody Brown unfolded.

Christine Brown said Woolley would tell her, Youre not there anymore. That was a while ago. Its alright.

She praised him, adding, Hes great, because he helps balance (it) out too and gives a different perspective.

However, the onscreen drama hasnt ended. In an TODAY.com exclusive clip from the next episode, which airs Nov. 26, Kody Brown says he is jealous that Christine Brown and Janelle Brown, his second wife who separated from him in December 2022, are close friends.

In response to her exs reaction, Christine Brown says, Now you see how hard it is when two people have a bond. Janelle and I have an awesome bond. And maybe hes jealous about that bond. Maybe hes jealous that we co-parented. Now you see what its like, buddy. And it sucks.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
November 25th is the Holodomor Memorial Day, commemorating the events that occurred 90 years ago when the Soviet authorities artificially induced a famine in Ukraine, causing the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

Approximately 10.5 million Ukrainians lost their lives during the Holodomor of 1932-1933, as documented by the Museum of the Holodomor in 2021.

The actions of the Soviet authorities in 1932-33 were aimed at the destruction of the Ukrainian nation, involving the confiscation of grain and other food products from peasants, despite significant grain reserves. The USSR exported this grain abroad during the Holodomor, and prevented them from leaving the country, causing the Ukrainian population to starve.

Read also:

The Soviets rejected foreign aid in an attempt to maintain the facade that there was no famine.

The tyrant Joseph Stalin, in his efforts to suppress the Ukrainian national liberation movement and eliminate the peasantry, chose a cruel method  hunger.

On the 90th anniversary of the genocide of the Ukrainian people and Holodomor Memorial Day, NV presents a selection of films and series depicting these harrowing times for the nation and Ukraine.

Mr. Jones

Historical thriller, 2019

The film tells the story of a Welsh reporter who was the first to publicly report the Holodomor genocide against Ukrainians in the Western press.

Read also:

In 1933, Welsh journalist Gareth Jones, known for his prior interview with Hitler, seeks his next significant story and travels to Moscow to interview Stalin. Curious about the Soviet Union's resource acquisition during a global crisis, Jones senses that something is amiss. Despite deadly threats from the Soviet security services, he embarks on his own investigation.

The journalist journeys to a decaying Ukraine, encountering deserted villages, starving children, and inhumane Red Army soldiers confiscating and sending food to Moscow. As he gets closer to uncovering the truth about the Holodomor, the greatest tragedy of the Ukrainian people, Jones faces increasing danger.

Bitter Harvest

Drama, 2017

A Canadian film about a love story set against the backdrop of the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932-1933. It is the first English-language feature film about the Holodomor.

The story follows Yurii, a talented peasant painter and a descendant of a Cossack family. Alongside his lover Natalka, he attempts to navigate the cruel and inhumane conditions imposed by Stalin on Ukrainians. However, when his fellow villagers fall victim to the artificially created famine and repressions by the Soviet authorities, Yurii decides to rebel. His motivations include seeking revenge, saving his relatives, leaving the Ukrainian SSR, and revealing to the world the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

The Guide

Historical drama, 2014

An American engineer, Michael Shemrock, arrives in Kharkiv with his ten-year-old son, Peter, to work as a foreign specialist. By chance, Shemrock gets his hands on secret documents about the planned mass confiscation of food by the Soviet authorities. While getting on a train with his son, Shemrock is killed by security services, but Peter manages to escape and hides in the carriage of another train. The boy miraculously avoids pursuers, thanks to Ivan Kocherha, a blind bandura player secretly traveling in a freight car.

Read also: Mavka: The Forest Song, Ukraine's blockbuster animated film, set to premiere on Netflix

Peter becomes Ivan's guide and learns that in the past he was the commander of a company in the Ukrainian People's Army. Ivan's friend finds the documents, which Michael discovered, in a book Peter had in his possession. These documents outline the plans for the Holodomor. Ivan decides to personally deliver the documents to Moscow to the anti-communist fighters there, aiming to spark an uprising. However, Peter falls ill, prompting Ivan to take him to his home. During this time, bandura players are declared hostile elements and subject to arrest. In the winter of 1932-1933, the Holodomor begins.

There Will Be People

Drama series, 2020

The series' plot is based on the lives of ordinary Ukrainian peasants at the beginning of the last century. It depicts their experiences through the First World War, the Revolution, the Soviet-Ukrainian War, the Holodomor, and the occupation of Ukraine by Soviet troops.

Saga

Drama series, 2020

The series narrates the 100-year journey of the Kozak family, starting from the early 20th century. It encompasses wars, revolutions, the Holodomor, Stalinist repressions, the Chornobyl explosion, the collapse of the USSR, the proclamation of Ukraine's independence, the Orange Revolution, and the Revolution of Dignity.

The Holodomor. Chroniclers

Documentary series, 2023

Read also: Ukrainian actor comments on his three-year prison sentence in drunk driving case

The authors of the film, collaborating with historians and researchers, aim to help viewers understand that one of the reasons for the numerous victims of the Holodomor was the world's indifference to Stalin's tyranny. They delve into the dictator's intent to annihilate Ukrainians and explore the consequences that may still be affecting the nation today.

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 portrait of murdered teacher Samuel Paty at the school in France where he worked (Bertrand GUAY)

Six teenagers go on trial in Paris on Monday for their role in the 2020 beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, the first of two trials in a case that horrified France.

The 47-year-old history and geography teacher was stabbed and then beheaded near his secondary school in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

His attacker, 18-year-old Chechen refugee Abdoullakh Anzorov, was shot dead at the scene by police.

The young radicalised Islamist murdered Paty after messages spread on social media that the teacher had shown his class cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed from the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Paty had used the magazine as part of an ethics class to discuss free speech laws in France, where blasphemy is legal and cartoons mocking religious figures have a long history.

His killing took place just weeks after Charlie Hebdo republished the cartoons. When the magazine first used the images in 2015, Islamic gunmen stormed its office, killing 12 people.

Last month another teacher, Dominique Bernard, was killed in Arras in northern France by a young radicalised Islamist.

Five of the adolescents on trial, who were 14 or 15 at the time of Paty's murder, will be judged behind closed doors in juvenile court for criminal conspiracy with intent to cause violence.

They are accused of having been on the lookout for Paty and identifying him to the killer in exchange for money.

- Spiral of events -

A sixth teenager, who was 13 at the time, is accused of false accusation for wrongly saying that Paty had asked Muslim students to identify themselves and leave the classroom before he showed the cartoons.

In fact, the schoolgirl had not attended Paty's class that day.

Her false allegation sparked violent outbursts on social media by her father, Brahim Chnina, and militant Islamist Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who made several videos denouncing Paty by name.

The two men will be judged in a criminal court in late 2024 along with six other adults.

Paty's family see the trial of the teenagers as crucial, according to Virginie Le Roy, a lawyer representing his parents and one of his sisters.

"The role of the minors was fundamental in the sequence of events that led to his assassination," she said.

The prosecutors' case traces events over 10 days leading up to the murder, from the schoolgirl lie to online attacks and the killer's arrival at the school on October 16.

According to the enquiry, Anzarov approaches a teenager outside the school and says: "Hey kid. Comme and see. I've something to propose to you."

He offers the boy 300 euros ($300) to identify Paty, saying he wants to film the teacher "saying sorry".

The boy "boasts" to other teenagers about the offer, not wanting to do it alone. Four others join him.

- 'There he is' -

They go back and forth between the school and Anzorov's hiding place, act as lookouts or film themselves with the money.

Anzorov asks one of the boys to ring the girl at the source of the stories about Paty.

She repeats the lie.

The girl later told investigators she did not know Anzorov was listening to the conversation.

When Paty leaves the school, the boys tell Anzorov: "There he is."

The teacher is murdered just before 5:00 pm.

During questioning, when they broke down in tears, the teenagers swore that at most they thought Paty would be "flagged up on social media", "humiliated" or maybe "roughed up" but they never imagined "it would go as far as murder".

They now are high school students and risk two-and-a-half years in prison.

"It is complicated," said Dylan Slama, the lawyer for one of the accused.

"He will be associated with this for the rest of his life."

The trial is scheduled to last until December 8.

mdh/clw/lbx/as/jt/gv/
During a state visit to Prague on Nov. 24, Slovakia's new Prime Minister, Robert Fico, called the war in Ukraine a frozen conflict that cannot be solved by sending arms to Ukraine.

The Slovak leader visited Prague on Nov. 24 to meet with the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. After the meeting, Fico stated that he would prefer the Russian and Ukrainian sides sit at a negotiation table but didn't specify how to achieve that.

Czechia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine throughout the full-scale invasion and has provided substantial military aid to Ukraine.

Theres no doubt we have different views of some issues, the Czech Prime Minister stated on Friday.

Fico reportedly said he respects the Czech position and repeated Slovakia was ready to provide humanitarian and other aid to Ukraine. However, Fico also said there is no reason for him to travel to Kyiv but that he would speak with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, about Ukraine's needs in the upcoming winter.

Robert Fico's SMER party won the parliamentary elections on Sept. 30 on a populist platform that promised to immediately end all military aid to Ukraine.

By Oct. 11, the party had formed a coalition government with the left-wing Hlas party and the ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party.

Earlier this week, Fico's new government announced that they rejected delivering the 40.3-million-euro ($43.2 million) military aid package for Ukraine proposed by its predecessor.

Under its previous government, Slovakia provided Ukraine with extensive humanitarian and military assistance, including artillery, fighter jets, and other support.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24)  United States investment inflows in the Philippines could hit $763.74 million in 2023  three times the amount seen in 2022  if the pledges generated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his last visit to the country come to fruition, a trade official said.

Marcos recently concluded his six-day official visit to the US, where he participated in the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting. He reaped investment commitments worth over $672 million.

READ: PH gets $672-M investment pledges from Marcos APEC trip

This year, from January to August, we had seen $91.74 million in US investments. The trip of the president for this APEC had generated about $672 million as had been announced, DTI Undersecretary for Communications Kim Bernardo-Lokin told CNN Philippines The Exchange.

Thats a total of $763.74 million," she said. "Thats three times what we saw last year.

Bernardo-Lokin said US investment inflow into the PH last year was $250.39 million.

Asked when the country might see these pledges materialize into actual direct investments, the official said some of the promised investment projects would begin in 2024.

The best way to put it is in terms of internet connection," she said. "When you talk about connectivity, one of the first things the president and DTI Sec. [Alfredo] Pascual witnessed was for the agreement for the deployment of the first two internet micro-geo satellites."

The official continued: Why do I raise this? Because these first two internet micro-geo satellites, the first one will be deployed by next year, that will be around the last quarter of 2024.

Bernardo-Lokin added that for one of the pledges, the creation of a US manufacturing facility in the Philippines, pre-feasibility studies had already begun.

Meanwhile, Frank Thiel, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, disclosed that the organization is expecting a large US trade mission in March 2024, to be led by US President Joe Biden.

It will be high-level executives, different industries will be looking to see if they can invest in the Philippines" Thiel told The Exchange. "President Biden is actually directing the trade mission. Hes going to be supporting, organizing, thats what we have been led to understand."
By Troy Merida and Raquel Cunha

ACAPULCO (Reuters) - One month since Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco, fears for the local economy stalk the Mexican beach resort with businesses saying efforts to repair the damage have been too slow to save a vital part of the tourist season: December.

Otis, the strongest hurricane to ever hit Mexico's Pacific coast, hammered Acapulco in the early hours of Oct. 25, killing at least 50 people, causing billions of dollars in damage, and sparking widespread looting.

Residents still searching for loved ones say the official death toll is likely significantly higher. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rejected unconfirmed media reports suggesting fatalities may have gone well past 300.

Lopez Obrador has launched a $3.4 billion recovery plan and pledged to get Acapulco back on its feet quickly, but local businesses say time is fast running out for this year.

"Acapulco lives off just three seasons: December, which is the biggest for us, Easter, and a bit of summer. December is the most hotly anticipated and we're not going to be up and running," said Jesus Zamora, head of infrastructure for a local tourism body.

"By the December season we won't even have 50% of hotels running, so even if we wanted to have more tourists, we couldn't host them," he added.

Business groups have estimated the damage at around $16 billion in Acapulco, which is the biggest city in Guerrero, one of Mexico's poorest states.

The hurricane battered Acapulco's airport, and international flights are not due to resume until next year. Some business leaders fear the city will not recover until 2025.

"People who work on social events, beach weddings and conventions have been unemployed since that day," said Roberto Buenfil, who works for a company organizing events. "Everything there was for these last months of the year is no longer happening."

Security forces are still struggling to clean up the rubbish engulfing some areas. Some 221,000 tons of trash have been collected so far.

Trash has been collected faster from central areas with hotels than in outlying neighborhoods like Renacimiento and Emiliano Zapata where the smell of rotting garbage has grown as it piles up, local residents say.

(Reporting by Troy Merida and Raquel Cunha; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Leslie Adler)
North Carolina first responders chastised the impatient and hurried among us, after a driver hit two emergency vehicles at an Interstate 85 wreck scene on Friday and died.

Slow Down and Move Over! Rowan County Emergency Services posted in all capital letters on Facebook with a picture of the scene near the southbound Webb Road exit.

Around 4:50 a.m., the driver side-swiped one of the emergency vehicles and then careened into a fire truck from behind, The Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC reported. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the station.

The driver never slowed as he ignored a two-lane closure before hitting the vehicles at over 70 mph, WBTV reported, citing the State Highway Patrol.

No emergency responders were hurt when the driver hit the South Salisbury Fire Department truck and Rowan Rescue vehicle, according to Rowan County Emergency Services.

Troopers did not release the drivers name on Saturday.

We know that it is frustrating to sit in backed-up traffic on the interstate, officials from Rowan County Emergency Services said. We know we live in a society where everyone is in a rush.

We promise you we do not like being out there as much as you do not want us blocking your way, according to the Facebook post. But if we have traffic blocked, it is for a reason, and that is everyones safety, including yours.

Other drivers imperiled themselves and first responders by ignoring directions given at the scene and trying to find other ways around the wrecks, officials said.

This is not ok, according to the Facebook post. Doing this is just as dangerous as drinking or texting while driving.

Please do your part to make sure our next post is not to report the injury or death of a first responder being hit while trying to care for others, emergency officials advised.
Bay Staters are worrying a lot about their sleep right now, according to a new study.

Massachusetts ranks as the second most sleep concerned state in the nation, according to a study by yogajala.

The states were ranked from most to least concerned about their sleep quality and routine, based on Google searches made around sleep problems, as well as those related to the end of daylight savings time. These searches included cant sleep and clocks fall back.

New York came in first as the state that struggles the most with sleep quality at this time of year. Massachusetts came in second followed by Maryland in third.

But Massachusetts residents can get back on track with their sleep, one yoga expert said.

Maria Andrews, registered yoga teacher and editor at yogajala, said that incorporating a simple routine into your morning can help reduce the effects of a disrupted sleep schedule.

According to Andrews, the clocks falling back an hour can wreak havoc with our internal body clocks.

Our circadian rhythm is our bodys natural 24-hour clock which controls how awake we feel throughout the day. When the clocks change, and we force our bodies to change their routine, it can take some adjustment, she said.

Massachusetts ranks second among states with residents plagued by wrinkles, study says

While people may enjoy the extra hour in bed, this is a short-term benefit with long-term repercussions, Andrews said.

In the following weeks, we may find it harder to get up in the morning and end up feeling sluggish or lacking energy later in the day due to this shift in routine, she said.

Some of us may even try to accommodate for our lack of daytime productivity by staying up later at night to complete tasks or enjoy leisure time, Andrews said. Then, the dark winter mornings make it harder for us to wake up, and the cycle begins again.

One bad habit that some Bay Staters may have is Revenge bedtime procrastination, when someone delays going to sleep due to a lack of free time earlier in the day, Andrews said. There has been an increased interest in the habit over recent years, with its hashtag currently having over 29 million views on TikTok.

Signs that your sleep cycle has been affected by this include a lack of motivation, tiredness throughout the middle of the day, struggling to concentrate or get tasks completed  or even headaches developing.

While a short-term shift in routine isnt the end of the world, it can cause long-term struggles with your sleep schedule that can negatively affect your wellbeing.

According to Andrews, one of the most effective ways to regain energy in the mornings is with a quick stretching yoga routine.

Getting your body moving early in the morning with a quick routine works to release muscle tension and regulate important wake/sleep systems in our bodies, as well as provide much-needed stress relief, she said. While some experienced Yogis like to challenge themselves with more advanced poses such as inversions, anyone can benefit from simple moves that help reduce pain, increase strength, improve our mood and increase our focus  especially in the morning.

Andrews offered this seven-minute morning routine, which is appropriate for people of all levels of yoga, to help shake away your sleepiness:

7-Minute Tiredness-Busting Morning Routine

Allow a minute for each pose to feel the full effect but take as long as you feel you need. Andrews said these easy steps will have your body feeling invigorated and ready to start the day:

1. Slow Controlled Breathing. Starting simply, controlled breathing can help awaken the body by helping the oxygen to follow through the bloodstream. Sit or lay in a way that is comfortable, although upright is best, and take deep, slow breaths.

2. Childs Pose. This pose stretches the back, hips, and thighs and gently relieves tension in the back, neck and shoulders. Begin by kneeling on the floor with your toes touching and knees apart. Sit back on your heels, extend the spine and lower your torso to the ground. Keep your palms on the floor, arms extended out and tilt your forehead down. Hold for a minute.

3. Cat-Cow Pose. To do this pose, begin by kneeling on the floor on all fours, palms and knees equally apart. Tuck your chin to your chest and press into your palms, arching your back. As you exhale, push your torso down, lifting the tailbone and head to the sky. Alternate these slowly for a minute.

4. Downward Facing Dog. From being on your hands and knees, tuck your toes, lift your hips and straighten your legs, forming an inverted V-shape. Keep your palms firmly planted on the floor. This pose is perfect for invigorating your body and getting you ready to start the day.

5. Warrior Pose. This pose helps to stretch the hips and groin and promotes a sense of openness. Begin by standing with your feet wide apart and raise your arms to be parallel with the floor. Then, turn your right foot out and bend your right knee, keeping it aligned with your ankle. Stretch your arms out to the sides and gaze over your right hand. Hold this for 30 seconds, then repeat on the left.

6. Triangle Pose. To stretch the hamstrings, move into this pose from Warrior by keeping feet spread wide apart, one turned out and arms out to your sides. Bend to your side and place your lower hand on your shin, other arm to the sky. Follow the arm in the air with your gaze and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

7. Tree Pose. This final pose in the sequence will improve your balance, stability and focus. To begin, stand with your feet together, move your weight onto your left foot and bend your right knee. Then, place the sole of your right foot on the inner calf or thigh of your left leg. Bring your hands to prayer position at your chest and take deep breaths. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the left.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Happy Friday, Utah! Active weather for the state will continue into the evening hours as the low-pressure system exits east into Colorado. The forecast for moisture will decrease from the northwest to the southeast and will keep rain and snow showers in the forecast into early Saturday for the far eastern portion of Utah. Temperatures remain chilly for Black Friday with daytime highs trending roughly 10 degrees below average.

Our winter weather alerts for the mountain areas will continue for the southern two-thirds of the state through the evening with most advisories ending at 11 pm. Snow showers will be most prevalent along the central and southeast mountain ranges into Saturday. Some lake effect snowfall is also possible tonight into early Saturday morning as a cold northerly flow will move over the Great Salt Lake. The best chance for any lake effect will be directly south of the lake along the Oquirrh Mountains and the Tooele Valley.

The chilly northwest flow will remain in place over the weekend, keeping temperatures below normal. High pressure building in will continue to dry us out while allowing for some valley inversions to set up. Hazy sunshine will likely be in place early in the week with degrading air quality along the Wasatch Front. As far as temperatures go, theyre forecast to rebound some through the first half of the week, however, well struggle to reach the low 40s through Wednesday. In southern Utah, dry weather will take hold of the extended forecast with a nice warm-up in temperatures. Daytime highs should be in the 50s throughout the week with blue skies and breezy winds at times.

The break from benign weather should be relatively short-lived. Weather models are showing more potential storms lining up for the latter half of next week that may continue into the weekend. Fingers crossed!

Stay tuned to your 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
FIRST ON FOX: JERUSALEM  Israels Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism Michal Cotler-Wunsh told Fox News Digital in a wide-ranging interview about the worlds oldest hatred that the modern proliferation of antisemitism in the U.S. has its origins in an anti-Israel United Nations resolution from 1975.

"We have to understand that the U.S. is experiencing such massive growth in antisemitism, and we see not only the antisemitism that fueled the atrocities of 10/7, but those that actually fueled the responses to the atrocities of 10/7 across North American campuses, on the streets and online. It is part of a decades-long process," said Cotler-Wunsh.

The Israeli envoy said, "The world before 10/7 and the world after it, like 9/11, cannot continue as if nothing happened."

The terrorist movement Hamas mass murder of 1,200 people on Oct. 7 in southern Israel is widely viewed as the Jewish states version of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

SCANDAL-PLAGUED LIBERAL COLLEGE FACES NEW PROBE OVER ANTISEMITISM, EMBRACE OF HAMAS

Pro-Palestinian protesters tear down posters of kidnapped Israelis in New York City on Nov. 10, 2023.

Cotler-Wunsh took the United Nations to task for passing an antisemitic resolution in 1975 that equated the founding philosophy of Israel  Zionism  with racism. The infamous "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination" resolution was revoked in 1991.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

She said, "I would say the strain of antisemitism that is anti-Zionism, the negation of Israel's very right to exist across North America  began with the 1975 Zionism is racism resolution. Soviet propaganda passed at the U.N. has become mainstream across North American campuses in the name of progress."

She continued, "The U.N. bears tremendous responsibility. And if I would add to that, the post-atrocities of 10/7, the fact that no U.N. body has condemned unequivocally not the rape, not the bludgeoning, not the mutilation, not the abduction of thousands of civilians, undermining its own mandate."

When asked what can be done to fight the mushrooming forces of antisemitism, Cotler-Wunsh said, "The only way to begin to identify and combat it is, of course, to define it. And we have the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, a working definition that is the result of a long democratic process."

According to the Israeli envoy, the IHRA definition identifies "The dehumanization, the delegitimization and the double standards applied again" to Israel.

EMPLOYEES AT US-FUNDED UNITED NATIONS AGENCY CELEBRATED HAMAS TERROR MASSACRE: REPORT

UN and Israel flags

Fox News Digital reported in May that "As of the end of last year, a total of 1,116 global entities  from countries to companies  have adopted and endorsed IHRA's non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism, according to the Combat Antisemitism Movement. In the U.S., this includes at least 30 states and 56 cities and counties. The State and Education departments did the same under the Trump administration."

While the Biden administration accepted the IHRA definition, it has faced criticism for accepting a less comprehensive definition of antisemitism called the Nexus Document.

The mushrooming presence of antisemitism on social media platforms was also singled out by Cotler-Wunsh as a major challenge for the campaigners against Jew hatred.

"I believe all digital spaces, just like all real-world spaces, university campuses, cities and countries, have a responsibility to identify and combat antisemitism comprehensively," she said.

NYU STUDENT ADMITS TEARING DOWN ISRAELI HOSTAGE POSTERS, BLAMES MISPLACED ANGER

Pro-Palestinians rally in New York City on Oct. 8, 2023.

She continued, "[S]ocial media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook and Google and YouTube, all social media platforms, actually have protected characteristics. And they have community guidelines that protect all kinds of groups and minorities and individuals."

She said, however, the exception is with "a mutation of antisemitism" in which the word "Zionist" is used as a code word, in antisemitic ways, to attack Jews.

Speaking to Fox News Digital on Sunday, she noted, "Just this morning, the supreme leader of Iran, Khamenei, in fact, continues to peddle his antisemitic rhetoric and hate against what he calls the Zionist regime, Israel. He calls consistently for the murder of Zionists Jews, and that is when all other groups receive protection according to community guidelines." She urged legislators and the public "to hold to account all social media platforms to utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition to create a transparent policy."

UNITED NATIONS SLAMMED FOR SILENCE OVER HAMAS RAPES, MUTILATION, MURDER OF ISRAELI WOMEN, CRITICS SAY

She said the IHRA definition had identified "antisemitic posts that continue to not only support genocide and calls to annihilate the state of Israel from the river to the sea but actual calls to murder Jews around the world, on campuses and in whatever cities we see."

The Palestinian slogan, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," has been advocated by terrorists and far-left groups to mean a Muslim state will replace Israel.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, announced this month, "As I said earlier this week, decolonization, from the river to the sea and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide. Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension."

Cotler-Wunsh said, "And what we know very well today is that what happens online does not remain online. It has real-world harm and real-world violence, whether it's the massacre in a synagogue in Pittsburgh or whether it's what we see on the streets right now."

The Israeli envoy urged traditional media "to create a platform on which we expose antisemitism. And it's critical not just for Jews and not just for their nation state, Israel. It is critical because this threatens the very fabric of our democracies, the very fabric of any society that cherishes life and liberty."

Fox News Digital was the first major news organization to devote a webpage called "Antisemitism Exposed" to countering the hatred of Jews.

Cotler-Wunsh stressed the role of Irans regime as the leading state-sponsor of lethal antisemitism: "The Islamist regime of Iran that tells us openly its intent to build a caliphate on the rubble of our civilization alongside with its allies [Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad]  tells us of their complete dedication to annihilate what we know of as Western or democratic values."

She added, "That is not going to end with just the destruction of the state of Israel or the murder of Jews. And that is why the exposure of antisemitism and 10/7 has given us not only the atrocities of what was perpetrated on that day but the responses to the atrocities perpetrated on that day that justified the terrorism attack and the attacks on Jews around the world after the massacre."

"10/7 is a tipping point,"Cotler-Wunsh concluded.





Original article source: Soaring antisemitism in US started with UN bashing Israel, envoy says
A popular entrepreneur and influencer in Jacksonville, Florida, who is under fire after being accused of fraud and shady business practices has been hit with a string of eviction lawsuits.

Jacksonville business owner Janay White. (Photo: Janay Credit Goddess White/Facebook)

Janay White, who is the head of several businesses, is at the center of the allegations from investors who said they gave her thousands to pour into Airbnbs and other real estate properties but their funds were not properly distributed, according to an investigation from News4Jax.

Whites company LLC Luigis Concrete & More reportedly is listed as the defendant in the four lawsuits.

Court filing obtained by the outlet alleges that White failed to pay rent at four Airbnb apartments  which were touted as turnkey opportunities  linked to her businesses. The investors, who reportedly contributed between $7,000 through $13,000, said they were still receiving profit and loss statements during this time.

Among them is Buddy Wilson. He bankrolled $56,000 for eight Airbnb properties, including one mentioned in the lawsuit, the news station reported. Wilson said the units were booked, but he and others were waiting for a return.

Things went out the window as soon as I started getting those profit losses, there was no communication, no specific answers, no accountability, Wilson told First Coast News.

According to the report, Wilson started the Facebook group J white Ponzi Scheme/NATIONWIDE SCAMMING for other alleged victims to share their frustration. As of Monday, it has over 13,000 members. Wilson said he has confirmed 50 of them and is in contact with law enforcement.

We are providing as much information as possible. We are providing proof of payments, we are providing evidence of receipts, correspondence, Wilson said to the news station. We are handing things over as organized as possible.

White recently made headlines after a woman filed a lawsuit against her claiming she was scammed out of thousands after investing in one of her businesses.
A Sonora man was arrested on felony charges after he allegedly embezzled the small towns newspaper out of $20,000 between 2021 and 2023, according to police.

While working as an advertisement salesman for the Union Democrat, Justin Daniel Jones, 35, reportedly offered local businesses discounts on ads that didnt actually exist  then pocketed the money for himself.

The Sonora Police Department launched a five-month investigation that resulted in an arrest warrant for Jones, who turned himself into the Dambacher Detention Center on Nov. 9. He was released hours later after posting a $30,000 bond.

The Union Democrat itself published an article about the incident on Friday, which detailed how the paper discovered the suspected scam and how theyre now dealing with it.

The papers publisher, Peggy Pietrowicz, filed a report to the police just days after laying off Jones due to cutbacks. Pietrowicz said she found out after calling her customers regarding late invoices, to which she was told that theyd already paid.

Jones had a recently hired accountant forward all of the invoices directly to him, unbeknownst to Pietrowicz, and then sent out fake contracts for deals that werent real.

Pietrowicz said she was disheartened that someone shed known for four years would do something like this, particularly in such a tight-knit community. Shed known his family for years and her daughter and Jones sister were good friends. Jones worked for the Union Democrat from 2019 until he was laid off in May.

It was just a real shock to everybody that he would do something like that to try to hurt the newspaper, Pietrowicz told the Modesto Bee. You know, (especially) as hard as it is to be in the newspaper business right now.

The Union Democrat currently has 10 staff members, with Pietrowicz wearing many hats, doing whatever is needed around the office. After Jones was laid off she started collecting on past due payments. She said even if Jones wasnt laid off, she was days away from finding out anyway  as many of the payments were already near or over 120 days old.

Once the alleged scheme was discovered, Pietrowicz said her first concern was her customers  all small local businesses that shed been working with for 20 years.

Pietrowicz said once her customers found out about what happened, they provided her with copies of the checks. Pietrowicz said shes since set aside money so that her customers accounts reflect that they had paid.

As for how it affected the paper, Pietrowicz said that sales are good enough to stay afloat and that theyre making due to continue delivering local news. She also said shes been working more closely with the county to make sure that something like this never happens again.

I dont know what hes doing with the money but I hope it was worth it to him, because hes a local guy, said Pietrowicz.
South Korean dog farmers have threatened to unleash two million canines on Seoul if the government goes ahead with its proposed ban on dog meat.

The farmers argued that banning the controversial dog meat from menus across the country would deprive them of their livelihoods.

If implemented, the ban would come into effect in 2027 and the government has promised financial assistance to the farmers to support their businesses in transitioning away from the trade.

Joo Young-bong, head of the Korea Dog Meat Farmers Association, said the group would release two million dogs in the capital  especially near significant governmental locations and outside the homes of politicians.

Were so outraged that were talking about releasing two million dogs were raising near the presidential office, the agriculture ministers home and offices of lawmakers who have introduced the bills, he said.

Eating dog meat cannot be a crime like trafficking drugs or prostitution, Mr Joo told a radio news talk show, according to South China Morning Post.

Have you ever heard of anyone whose dog meat consumption caused harm to others?

About a week ago, when the South Korean government announced its plan to introduce a ban on dog meat, animal rights organisations celebrated the move across the world.

Nearly one million dogs are farmed and killed for human consumption in a year, according to Humane Society International.

With so many dogs needlessly suffering for a meat that hardly anyone eats, the governments bill delivers a bold plan that must now urgently be passed by the assembly so that a legislative ban can be agreed as soon as possible to help South Korea close this miserable chapter in our history and embrace a dog-friendly future, JungAh Chae, executive director of Humane Society International, said in a statement.

South Koreas ruling conservative People Power Party has put forth a bill suggesting a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment or fines of 50 million won ($38,000; 30,333) for individuals engaging in the dog meat trade. The liberal Democratic Party of Koreas bill recommends three-year jail sentences and fines reaching up to 30 million won.

Cho Hee-kyung, head of the Korean Animal Welfare Association said that there was a decrease in the number of dog meat consumers and that there was a consensus forming in favour of banning the trade and consumption of dog meat.

But dog farmers in South Korea are devastated. If I have to close down, with the financial condition Im in, there really is no answer to what I can do, Lee Kyeong-sig, who runs a farm outside Seoul raising up to 1,100 dogs, told Reuters. Ive been in this for 12 years and it is so sudden.

According to a Gallup Korea poll conducted last year, nearly two-thirds of respondents opposed consuming dog meat. Only 8 per cent reported having eaten dog meat in the past year, a significant decrease from the 27 per cent in 2015.

The Korean Association of Edible Dogs, says far more farms and restaurants than those cited by the government will be affected, according to Reuters. The association said 3,500 farms raising 1.5 million dogs and 3,000 restaurants will have to shut down, almost twice the numbers stated by officials.

Additional reporting with agencies
Something is happening in Spain, said Jorge Fernandez Diaz in La Razon (Madrid), "that surpasses everything imaginable in a civilised society and a country organised as a democracy in a rule of law".

In order to seal his return to power for a second term, Spain's Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sanchez, has sold the Spanish nation and the rule of law down the river. He has cut a deal with the Catalan separatists who masterminded the illegal independence referendum of 2017, promising to grant them amnesty in exchange for the seven parliamentary votes he needs to secure a majority. "There are no words to define this infamy."

'Unconditional surrender to the separatists'

Say what you like about Sanchez, there's no denying he's the ultimate political survivor, a man who keeps defying the odds, said Carlos E. Cue in El Pais (Madrid). When he tilted for the leadership of Spain's Socialist Party in 2013, not even close friends thought he had a realistic hope. Yet within a year he was leading the party and, four years on, having seen off then PM Mariano Rajoy, leader of the centre-right People's Party (PP), in a no-confidence vote, he was PM himself.

This year he gambled again, calling a snap election that pollsters gave him no chance of winning. As predicted, the PP went on to win the largest vote share, but even with support from the far-right Vox party, it fell short of a working majority. Thus Sanchez, whose party came in second, had the opportunity to try to form a government of his own; and last week, after months of secretive negotiation, he sealed his return to power for a second term. A man widely seen as a political has-been has thus confirmed his status as "one of the most powerful men" in his party's history.

But at what cost to his reputation and to Spain, asked ABC (Madrid). Sanchez and his Socialist colleagues had repeatedly ruled out the possibility of granting amnesty to the Catalan separatists who masterminded the illegal referendum. Now, all of a sudden, under their new amnesty deal some 300 of those separatists will have their charges annulled, and the separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont, currently in exile in Belgium, will have his arrest warrant lifted. This "unconditional surrender" to the separatists, is an affront to the rule of law, said Manuel Valls and Benoit Pellistrandi in Le Monde (Paris). By superseding rulings of Spain's supreme court, Sanchez has effectively declared war on the judiciary.

'The riskiest bet yet'

It has certainly incensed much of Spain, said Noelia Adanez in Publico (Madrid). Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the nationwide protests organised by the opposition People's Party and Vox. Many are convinced that the deal  if it is not successfully challenged in court  heralds nothing less than the "destruction of the Spanish nation".

Hardly, said The Economist. The deal contains no mention of a Catalan state. Indeed, it is quite explicit that Puigdemont and his Junts party can only seek another referendum through a constitutional instrument that the PM alone can initiate, one that would allow "all citizens" (not just Catalans) to vote. That, in effect, dooms any such vote to failure. Even so, the prevailing view is that the amnesty is a sell-out to Junts and, furthermore, one that Spain's constitutional court won't block, seeing as it is now populated with Sanchez allies. Hence, as their last hope, the right-wing parties are now calling on Brussels to intervene.

But this presents EU leaders with a very tricky dilemma, said El Espanol (Madrid). If they heed those calls, they risk alienating an influential member state and frustrating the formation of its government. Ignore them, however, and they open themselves to accusations of double standards from the likes of Poland and Hungary, who have had payments from the EU budget withheld for overriding the judiciary in similar fashion. Sanchez's immediate priority is to use his fragile majority to pass a budget, said El Pais. He wants to reduce the working week to 37.5 hours, and to extend a reduction in VAT on food. But he'll find that hard, as the fury over his amnesty deal won't abate any time soon. Sanchez has often had to roll the dice to achieve success. Make no mistake: this is his "riskiest bet yet".
The Energy Department is asking for bid prices to add around 3 million barrels to the strategic petroleum reserve. Administration officials say the additional oil will begin to be added in January. Its just a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly 300 million barrels President Biden has released since he took office. While the U.S. stockpile was declining, China was adding to its reserves.

"I think China is looking ahead at the future and seeing that geopolitically, economically, there's a great deal of uncertainty and volatility in the world," American Exploration and Production Council CEO Anne Bradbury said.

In November 2021, President Biden announced the U.S. and other countries would release millions of barrels from their oil stockpiles. At the time, even China had said it would tap its reserves.

"They all agreed to release additional oil from the reserves, and China may be doing so as well," Biden said in December 2021.

EXPERTS RAISE ALARM AFTER BIDEN STRIKES AGREEMENT WITH CHINA TO SHUT DOWN FOSSIL FUELS

President Biden has released nearly 300 million barrels of oil since he took office.

It appears China never sold from its reserves after Bidens remarks.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"We have no evidence to show that China drew down its strategic reserves in conjunction with the November 2021 strategic draw," Managing Director of Clearview Energy Partners Kevin Book said. "The reason probably has something to do with China's own perception of its security. They probably didn't want to put themselves at any more risk."

BIDEN'S WAR ON OIL DRILLING THREATENS TO KILL HIS OWN GREEN ENERGY GOALS: 'A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY'

Chinas National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration said at the time that the sales would occur close to the Lunar New Year. That fell on Feb. 1 in 2022. On Feb. 4, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Russias invasion of Ukraine was just 20 days away.

As Russian troops gathered at the Ukrainian border, the White House threatened sanctions against financial institutions. The administration pushed back against concerns China could help Russia avoid the sanctions.

The European Union reached an agreement in May, announcing it would back most Russian oil by the end of 2022.

"China may want Russia as its junior partner for gas or cheap oil. But let's not pretend it's anything else," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh said during the announcement.

Days later, the invasion officially began, prompting U.S. economic sanctions against Russia. By March, the U.S. had added oil sanctions. The European Union reached an agreement in May, announcing it would back most Russian oil by the end of 2022. By then, the U.S. and allies had agreed to release millions of barrels from their reserves over several months to combat high prices. Meanwhile, China was buying and stockpiling cheap oil.

US SEIZED NEARLY 1 MILLION BARRELS OF IRANIAN OIL BEING SMUGGLED TO CHINA

"When Putin weaponized energy, basically it sent a shock wave to Europe, our allies, and we weren't able to help them because we weren't energy secure ourselves," Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said.

European Union member states are mandated to have at least 90 days of crude oil in reserves. After the drawdowns, nearly half of European countries fell below their 90-day target.

"The EU is really ground zero for supply disruptions over the last couple of years as they try to wean themselves off of Russian oil and natural gas," Bradbury said. "The strategic reserves are critical, and they're going to continue to be critical moving forward."

The United States has sold some of its reserves to China.

The U.S. sold some of its reserves to China. The Energy Department announced Unipec America Incorporated purchased nearly 1 million barrels. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China International United Petroleum and Chemical Co. Ltd.

"China loves a bargain," Book said. "They are the biggest oil importing country in the world. And when they can save a barrel, they're probably going to save a barrel. When they can save money on a barrel, they're probably going to do that too."

China does not disclose how much crude oil flows in or out of its strategic reserves, but analysts point to an increase in imports from cheap sellers like Russia and Iran. Trade data reveals China could be sitting on a massive stockpile of oil.

"China depends on imported energy for about 25% of the energy it consumes. So having energy in reserve when you're that dependent on imports is extremely important," Book said.

Data from S&P Global estimates Chinas crude oil inventory, which compromises its commercial and strategic petroleum reserve, could be more than 1.1 billion barrels.

"We know that Russia and China are working together and that China has very few qualms about purchasing Russian oil and about putting its own energy security first and foremost," Bradbury said.

China imports cheap oil from countries facing U.S. sanctions, like Russia and Iran. Imports from Russia increased by nearly 23% in the first half of 2023 to more than 2 million barrels per day. China is Irans top customer, buying an estimated 1 million barrels per day in 2023.

Iranian oil is often relabeled as originating from countries like Malaysia, the UAE or Oman to avoid sanctions. However, oil market experts say Chinas oil strategy has had little impact on the overall market.

"It doesn't directly affect the global market in the sense that the oil price essentially reflects the global supply and demand balance," Book said. "If China didn't buy the oil from Russia and Venezuela and Iran, then maybe somebody else would."





Original article source: 'Special Report' spotlights energy matters: China adds massive amounts to oil inventories
(CNN)  Tiffany Haddish was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Police were called at 5:45 a.m. PST on Friday morning and she was arrested shortly after. She remains in custody as of Friday morning local time, a public information officer told CNN.

According to TMZ, Haddish was not involved in an accident but was allegedly found asleep in her parked vehicle with the car running.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Haddish for comment.

Haddish had reportedly performed at The Laugh Factory in West Hollywood on Thursday night for the comedy clubs 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast for the community.

The comedic actress was also arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in 2022 in Peachtree City, Georgia after she fell asleep at the wheel.

She later addressed the incident that same month during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

I can say this Jimmy, Ive been praying to God to send me a new man, a good man, said Haddish. And God went ahead and sent me four in a uniform. I wasnt expecting it.

I got a really great lawyer and were gonna work it out. And Ive got to get my asking of things to God a little better, Haddish added at the time.

Haddish, who has starred on several television shows, is best known for her stand-up comedy and her performance in the film Girls Trip.
A Springfield bar has announced it will halt operations after a man was shot and killed on Thanksgiving.

Around 11:30 p.m. Springfield police were called to Club Hollywood on East Pleasent Street to reports of a man shot and unresponsive.

Police found a man dead from a gunshot wound.

The bar said on social media they have made it clear to customers that weapons are not allowed inside the bar.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 dead after shooting at Springfield bar

We have made the decision to pause our operations until further notice, the social media post states.

911 calls obtained by News Center 7 detail the hectic scene following the shooting.

Somebody just got shot inside, one caller tells dispatchers. Hes dead.

None of the 911 callers had any details about who shot the man.

We will continue following this story and update as new details become available.

Were sadden by the tragedy that has taken place. As we have stated from the day that we opened our doors that weapons... Posted by Club Hollywood on Friday, November 24, 2023
[Source]

"Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae's transformative journey for a 2015 film has surfaced online, revealing a grueling method acting approach that involved a 33-pound weight loss and 48 sleepless hours.

Background: Prior to stepping into the global spotlight for his role as Seong Gi-hun in "Squid Game," Lee was already a well-known actor in South Korea, celebrated for his leading roles in films like Il Mare (2000), "The Housemaid" (2010) and "The Thieves" (2012).

His role as the main protagonist of Netflix's hit survival drama is transformative in itself as he was cast by series creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk to destroy the charismatic image portrayed in his previous roles.

Intense method acting: In the 2015 film "Assassination," the actor embraced an intense form of method acting and undertook a remarkable physical transformation to play the same character in two time periods.

Trending on NextShark: S. Korean lawmaker proposes imposing fines on video game hackers

Lee revealed in an interview with Star News in 2015 that prior to filming, he dropped his weight from 172 to 139 pounds, which was the same weight he had in middle school. He said the extreme sudden weight loss took a physical toll on him, resulting in hair loss.

Enduring a physical toll: Set against the backdrop of an assassination plot in the 1930s, Assassination explored Koreas resistance against Japan's colonial rule. Lee, who played a character from his 20s to his 60s, stated that the weight loss was necessary to convincingly embody the role of a man several decades older.

He was able to achieve this by consuming only vegetables and opting for soda during beer sessions with the crew. In a bid to fully embody his character, Lee went to extraordinary lengths, including enduring 48 hours without sleep before certain scenes. By doing so, he was able to immerse himself into the fragile state of mind demanded by the role.

Trending on NextShark: China hails 'good old friend' Henry Kissinger, who visited country over 100 times

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The newly-elected rector of St Andrews University is facing calls to apologise over an email accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Stella Maris said Palestinians had suffered "apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment" during the Israel-Gaza war.

Hundreds of students have demanded that she retract her remarks or resign just a month after taking up the role.

St Andrews University said it was "dismayed" by the rector's comments.

The row came as hundreds of people attended demonstrations in Scotland on Saturday calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

In Glasgow, people gathered at the Buchanan Street steps on Saturday holding signs and banners which said "ceasefire now".

First Minister Humza Yousaf and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar took part in the Scottish Trades Union Congress's (STUC) annual St Andrew's Day protest which saw marchers gather at Glasgow Green.

Asked about the St Andrews rector's comments he said: "There are communities - Jewish communities, Muslim communities - who are feeling vulnerable and all of us have a responsibility to make sure we are simmering down any of those tensions as opposed to inflaming them.

"We can do that while very passionately arguing that what's happening in Gaza is unacceptable."

Hundreds of people marched in Glasgow on Saturday calling for a permanent ceasefire

In a message to students sent on Tuesday, Ms Maris described how a vigil at the university was held earlier this month "following weeks of genocidal attacks by the Israeli government against Gaza".

She said: "We must continue to recognize and condemn acts that are internationally regarded as humanitarian and war crimes.

"It is also crucial to acknowledge and denounce the actions by Hamas that qualify as war crimes, notably the taking of hostages and deliberately targeting civilians, which I have and continue to do."

Human rights

The email also included a link to a website which carried a story headlined: "The evidence Israel killed its own citizens on Oct 7."

The role of rector, elected by students, is to provide pastoral support and represent the student community at the university's governing body where the rector serves as president.

Ms Maris has rejected accusations that the message to students was antisemitic and argued her use of the terms genocide and apartheid were "supported by numerous human rights organizations".

She told BBC Scotland News she would not be resigning and insisted she had done the right thing.

Ms Maris sad: "I have received a lot of backlash and it's quite disappointing.

"I really tried to write a statement that would make everyone happy, but realised I wasn't being true to my beliefs.

"I'm glad I did it and it was the right thing to do."

The rector added: "I've had racist comments as a result and have been accused of antisemitism, which I reject.

"I don't intend on retracting my statement or resigning.

"I denounce antisemitism in the strongest form. Reject the weaponising of antisemitism."

However, a large group of students at the university, which was founded in 1413 and is one of the oldest in the UK, insisted Ms Maris's comments "will only bring division and hatred".

They are now calling for her to apologise or step down.

Ms Maris was elected as rector of the 610-year-old university in October

In a letter to the rector, they say: "We are concerned that your letter does not demonstrate equal care for Palestinian and Israeli lives.

"What is truly unacceptable is that you do not care to mention, let alone demonstrate regard for, the two St Andrews students who were recently attacked because of their religion.

"Moreover, your letter does not show any appreciation for how your inflammatory and unfounded accusations of 'genocide,' 'apartheid,' and 'occupation' concerning the Jewish State will further embolden attacks and hatred against the Jewish students whom you were elected to care for.

"It is unacceptable for the rector to be selective in their responsibility to represent all students."

Free speech

Ms Maris is a former English and philosophy graduate at the university and has since filled a series of student representation roles.

She was elected rector on 10 October.

Responding to Ms Maris's remarks, St Andrews University principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Dame Sally Mapstone, said the university was committed to free speech but that there was "no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia, or racism of any kind".

She added: "We are utterly dismayed that the rector, on this occasion, put her right to freedom of expression ahead of her duty to represent all students, and to be concerned for their welfare.

"We know that while some may have welcomed the message, others have been deeply offended and concerned by it.

"While every one of us shares a desire for peace and an end to hostilities in Israel and Gaza, we regret that her message, the language it used, and some of the sources it cited have caused alarm, division, and harm in our community, and more widely."

Temporary truce

The temporary truce is still holding and follows weeks of fighting and Israeli bombardments of Gaza, with the conflict sparked by Hamas's unprecedented cross-border attack in southern Israel that saw 1,200 people killed.

Hamas earlier announced a delay in the release of further Israeli hostages, claiming Israel had broken the terms of the truce deal over aid deliveries to northern Gaza. Israel denied this, and the releases were due to resume following mediation.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire on Friday, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its attack on Israel and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 14,500 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.

More on Israel-Gaza war
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The 2023 Shopapalooza festival hosts a big weekend celebration for small businesses across the Tampa Bay Area.

READ: Enchant Christmas returns to Tropicana Field for 4th year in St. Pete

The festival will bring over 350 small businesses to Vinoy Park. The event includes vendors serving food, entertainment and goods. One vendor, Jessica Merker, said the event is great for the community.

"You can't beat it. It's the biggest small Saturday event in the country," Merker said. "There's going to be over 350 local vendors, people coming in from all over. It's a one-stop shop for the best weekend you can add to your Thanksgiving."

READ: Bay Area woman brings shareable closet of clothes to rent with Valhalla Resale

The festival will support the hundreds of local businesses that attend. It is oftentimes the biggest day of the year for some vendors. More than 20,000 people are expected to show up to the event.

The festival is also great for businesses without a brick-and-mortar location. While owners said Amazon and other online retailers are great, it's nicer for them to connect with customers in person. Pippa Mpunzwana, who runs a business without a physical location, said the event is especially important to her.

"This opportunity to be with Shopapalooza is amazing," Mpunzwana said. "It is the biggest event of the year. It's the biggest event in the county for local businesses."

Shopapalooza is open both Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. The festival is free to attend.

For more information, click here.
A new state police unit will work with other law enforcement agencies and community partners as Gov. Maura Healey's administration looks to bolster strategies for addressing hate-based incidents tied to race, ethnicity and religion, among other biases.

The Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team (HART) will be tasked with improving statewide data collection efforts to identify patterns and trends, developing "advanced training" with the Municipal Police Training Committee, and improving law enforcement coordination at the federal, state and local levels, Healey announced Monday.

Healey said HART is part of the commonwealth's broader approach for deterring hate crimes and protecting at-risk individuals, as other law enforcement and state agencies, plus the state's Task Force on Hate Crimes, continue their efforts to promote tolerance.

Accountability for perpetrating hate crimes, Healey says

"I think what today is about is a recognition of the moment that we are in as a country and as a commonwealth, and it is appropriate and good that we are taking steps to enhance law enforcement's capability when it comes to intelligence gathering and investigative techniques, information sharing," Healey said at a press conference. "It will further help our ability to hold those accountable who need to be held accountable for perpetrating hate crimes, and it will also help us get better ahead of what is happening in this space, where we have seen here and around the world increased incidents of hate."

The team is staffed by four to five sworn state police members who will function as a "primary point of contact for local law enforcement, community and religious groups in a specific geographic area," Interim Col. John Mawn Jr. said. He said the team will coordinate closely with the Fusion Center, which monitors threats, security updates and suspicious incidents.

Massachusetts State Police Interim Col. John Mawn Jr.

"The HART team is a diverse and multilingual group of troopers who have demonstrated exceptional investigative experience and skill," Mawn said. "Their work will continue to build upon the many proactive initiatives and strong partnerships in Massachusetts, where our level of public safety coordination is unprecedented."

Attorney General Andrea Campbell said she looks forward to working with the team, as she vowed her office will continue to tackle hate, harassment, discrimination and bullying, among other issues. Campbell urged residents who have experienced acts of hate to file complaints with her office.

How many hate crime incidents logged in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts logged 440 hate crime incidents last year, and 406 in 2021, according to a report from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. It was the highest volume since 2002, Healey's office said.

"In recent years, we've seen not just around the country but even here in Massachusetts, attacks on Black churches with increasingly open declarations of white supremacy and organized white nationalism; spikes in anti-immigrant and anti-Latino rhetoric that target the vulnerable and betray our nation's ideals as a beacon of hope; cruel attacks on the members of the Asian-American community, especially during COVID and beyond; a rise in homophobic and transphobic rhetoric and violence," Healey said. "The Jewish community has experienced a frightening surge in antisemitism, especially in the last month, but also for some time before that. And there's been a rise, as well, in Islamophobic incidents."

Massachusetts recorded the country's sixth-highest rate of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assault in 2022, as well as the second-highest number of white supremacist propaganda incidents, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism.

The report had called Beacon Hill lawmakers to pass a string of bills to strengthen hate crime statutes, install protections for hate crime victims dealing with property damage, and clamp down on online harassment like doxing. House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka have not identified hate crime legislation as a priority this session, though lawmakers this fall voted to override Healey's veto that had sought to slash funding for a nonprofit security grant program, intended to benefit groups at high risk for terrorists attacks and hate crimes.

Jeremy Burton, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, called the HART team a "step in the right direction."

"There is a higher level of coordination that has to happen from the local to the federal (levels)," Burton told the News Service. "Not every local police department has the capacity or the training necessary to analyze everything, and certainly doesn't have a direct line to all levels, like the federal government, so this is definitely one more tool in that toolbox. And frankly, at a time like this, where there is an incredible rise in antisemitism and hate, we need all the tools we can get."

The more partners, the better, says district attorney

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said she hopes the HART team will serve as a partner to her Anti-Hate, Anti-Bias Task Force.

"The more partners, the better, and we'll have to see how this goes," Ryan said. "Unfortunately, there's more than enough work for people."

Ten school districts are also receiving grants totaling nearly $462,000 to cover professional development for educators, community engagement and other efforts to clamp down on bias incidents and hate crimes, the Healey administration also announced Monday.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said another $340,000 in funding is also available to school districts that have experienced hate crimes or incidents of bias in the last two years but have not received grant money this year. The grants are meant to spur partnerships between schools, community groups and law enforcement, she said.

"There has to be a unity of purpose, authentic relationships with the impacted groups, and proactive partnerships on the ground to make the type of lasting change we hope to," Driscoll said.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: New hate crimes unit to be diverse, multilingual, state officials say
Ukrainians can stay online up to 72 hours with xPON technology in case of power outages

Ukrainians can stay online in case of power outages if their provider has switched to xPON technology, which provides Internet access for up to 72 hours without power, Ukraines Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on Telegram on Nov. 21.

Over 158,000 new subscribers have connected to the energy-saving networks in preparation for possible blackouts amid regular Russian airstrikes, he reported, sharing a short manual on how to stay connected:

Read also: Ukraine could face brief blackouts this winter  energy minister

 Check with your internet provider to see if they have switched to energy-saving networks (xPON technology) and how long they can provide you with Internet connectivity

 If you are not satisfied with the answer, find the nearest alternative provider and connect

 Connect your Wi-Fi router to an uninterrupted power source. You may need to purchase a power bank and a USB/DC cable for this.

Read also: Interior Ministry reveals plans to prepare for blackouts

State-of-the-art xPON technology allows users to stay online for up to 72 hours without power. Currently, 2.7 million Ukrainians have services with providers using this technology. Only 37% of fixed Internet subscribers are connected to xPON-based networks that can withstand long-term power outages. This is the average for 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
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A man is dead from a gunshot wound and police are on the lookout for 19-year-old Amar Skinner.

That was the headline on May 1, 1997.

Skinner was arrested the next day on numerous charges. After 10 years behind bars, Amar Skinner is now a 45-year-old millionaire who owns three businesses and is the author of four self-help books.

I had to educate myself in learning that I could be educated enough to live a wholesome lifestyle, Skinner said. I started to apply the things I used to educate myself and to educate others so that they could see those same visions and those footsteps that would keep them free in society.

The building he owns on Main Street in Suffolk houses his Ex-Felon Entrepreneurship Retail Museum.

Inside the museum, visitors experience the criminal justice system in a room-to-room tour that simulates the various stages of conviction and incarceration.

His new outreach is a documentary entitled Why Anger Management Matters. In a promotional video shot in New York City, Skinner offers street-smart advice that is critical in settings where guns are easy to get.

Get proactive and not reactive, said Skinner in the video. His motto is: Pay for their education now or pay for their lawyers later.













So I tell you, watch the information thats been posted and move into it, Skinner said. It is better to pay for education now than to pay for their lives later.  Dont let your child become an American prisoner and dont let your child experience premature death by being in the wrong place at the wrong time around the wrong people. Parents pay for some of his services while Skinner is working on plans to secure funding for families who need assistance.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
The release of hostages in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza will likely take the focus of this weeks Sunday news shows.

Israel and Hamas struck a long-negotiated short-term truce deal late Wednesday, leading to the first multi-day pause in the war since fighting began early last month. The deal is set to release 50 Israeli hostages over four days, starting Friday.

The deal was reached after weeks of negotiations by the U.S., Qatar, Israel and Hamas. The first 13 Israelis were freed on Friday, all women and children, alongside 12 Thai hostages.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will headline four of the weekends shows  ABCs This Week, NBCs Meet the Press, CBS Face the Nation, and CNNs State of the Union  to discuss the conflict.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will also feature on Face the Nation. Qatar has emerged as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, leveraging good relations with both sides in an effort to make inroads toward diplomacy.

President Biden celebrated the deal Friday as a key step in the conflict and said the four-day military pause will allow critical humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Gaza has been under a near-total blockade by the Israeli military since early last month, with the United Nations saying the humanitarian aid allowed into the enclave is not enough.

Today has been a product of a lot of hard work and weeks of personal engagement, Biden said Friday. The moment Hamas kidnapped these people, I along with my team, have worked around the clock to secure their release.

Note, this extended pause in the fighting brings a critical opportunity to deliver much-needed food, medicine, water and fuel to the civilians in Gaza, he continued. And we are not wasting one single minute.

Fuel is the key resource entering Gaza during the short-term cease-fire, alongside food and medical supplies, as it is needed to run water pumps, and desalination plants and to keep hospitals running.

U.N. Palestinian refugee chief Philippe Lazzarini and World Food Program director Cindy McCain will both feature on Face the Nation.

The Israeli government has faced immense pressure domestically and from the U.S. to prioritize the release of hostages as it conducts a ground invasion of Gaza.

Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog will feature on State of the Union.

Meanwhile, the 2024 presidential campaign chugs along with a thinned-out candidate pool, with just seven Republicans left vying for a chance to face President Biden at the ballot box.

Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) will feature on both This Week and State of the Union.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

ABCs This Week  National security adviser Jake Sullivan; former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.); Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

NBCs Meet the Press  Sullivan; Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio).

CBS Face the Nation  Sullivan; Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.); Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.); Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the U.N. Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees; Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program.

CNNs State of the Union  Sullivan; Christie; Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.); Michael Herzog, Israels ambassador to the United States.

Fox News Sunday  Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.); Jared Bernstein, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures  Reps. Josh Smith (R-Mo.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of Sunland Park and Casa de Peregrinos, the emergency food program, will be hosting a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27 at the Dona Ana Community College located at 3365 McNutt Rd. to ask for input about a new food pantry for the city and the surrounding area.

The city has committed to building a new food pantry, which will be opening in the winter of 2025, to be operated by Casa Peregrinos to serve the southern part of Dona Ana County, according to a press release sent by the emergency food program.

According to the press release, the city has dedicated a piece of land to build this pantry and $1,350,000 million was committed by the New Mexico State Legislature for planning and development in the 2023 session. The planning and design are underway.

We need community input now, to determine how this pantry can best serve the community, said Lorenzo Alba, Jr., Executive Director of Casa de Peregrinos. We hope the community will join us to provide advice about programming, operations, and other resources that this pantry can provide.

We are working with the City of Sunland Park to build this pantry to address the poverty and food insecurity, which is rampant in this region, the lack of full-service grocery stores, and the shortage of community food services, said Alba.

We want to improve the quality of life in Sunland Park and make community development a part of the economic development that is happening in the region concluded Alba.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Devin Booker scored a season-high 40 points, Eric Gordon added 20 and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 110-89 in an In-Season Tournament game. Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen finished with 14 points each for the Suns, who played without leading scorer Kevin Durant, a late scratch due to right foot soreness. Santi Aldama led Memphis with 21 points, while Derrick Rose added 17. David Roddy contributed 14 points as the Grizzlies lost their third in a row and remained winless at home this season.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24)  A law should be passed to determine agencies that can have confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Friday.

We certainly should [have a law on CIF allocation] lalo na mukhang dumami masyado yung civilian agencies na nasanay humingi ng (especially now more civilian agencies are asking for) CIF," she told CNN Philippines The Source.

An agreement among certain agencies - Joint Circular 2015-01 - currently governs the use and reporting of CIF.

The CIF has been a hot topic as lawmakers work on approving the 2024 national budget. The most controversial was the 650 million requested by the Sara Duterte-led Office of the Vice President and Department of Education.

She later withdrew her request, saying the pursuit of the spending item was divisive.

READ: Zero confidential funds in 2024 budget for OVP, DepEd, DICT, DA, DFA

Hontiveros said the CIF will be one of her main concerns next year.

The Senate committee on finance is working on amendments to the spending plan before it is brought to plenary for approval, she said.

Hontiveros said one of her proposed amendments is prohibiting the Office of the President from augmenting the CIF of the Office of the Vice President through its contingency fund.

This is in relation to the transfer of 125 million confidential funds to the OVP in 2022. Petitioners questioning this before the Supreme Court have argued that the transfer was not a hypothetical situation and that it involved a transfer of funds from the OP to an inexistent item in last years budget.

Hontiveros said she will also make sure these funds will go to agencies directly concerned with national defense and security, like the Philippine Coast Guard.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A chase that began in Citrus County on Friday ended in a deputy-involved shooting in nearby Marion County.

According to a release from the Citrus County Sheriffs Office, deputies tried to pull over a Mitsubishi SUV in Hernando because they believed the driver may have had a warrant out for their arrest.

Plant City man leads troopers on 123 mph chase with gun in the car: FHP

The driver was accused of fleeing and a chase ensued. After two unsuccessful attempts to stop the vehicle with a tire deflation device, the pursuit continued into Marion County along SR-200.

Marion County deputies joined the chase and used a PIT maneuver to send the SUV off the road, where it struck a power pole. The suspect, whom officials have not identified as of this report, was accused of pulling a rifle on deputies while exiting the vehicle.

Citrus County deputies drew their weapons and fired at the suspect. The driver was taken to the hospital. There is no word on their condition.

The suspect in this incident posed a significant threat to two communities today through his reckless actions, CCSO Colonel Elena Vitt said in a statement. At the end of the day, the deputies on scene had only seconds to decide how to respond to protect every citizen in the area before the suspect decided to further endanger the lives of both law enforcement officers and civilians present.

The officer-involved shooting will be investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Marion County Sheriffs Office, according to CCSO.

This is yet another example of why having a great working relationship with all of our law enforcement partners is imperative, Vitt said. We joined forces and seamlessly protected those we swore an oath to serve.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A 26-year-old man wanted for murder in Wisconsin in the killing of his pregnant girlfriend, whose body was found inside a purple suitcase three years ago, was arrested Thursday by Gladstone police.

Jose E. Dominguez-Garcia, of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, has an arrest warrant from the state on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and the concealment of a corpse. He is accused of killing Rosaly Rodriguez, 26, and her unborn baby, according to news reports from the state.

Early Thursday, shortly after midnight, Gladstone police were alerted to a scan by an automated license-plate-reading camera of a plate that had been reported stolen, Capt. Karl Burris said in a statement.

When officers contacted the driver in a parking lot, he gave different names when asked who he was and was carrying multiple identification cards, Burris said. The officers ultimately determined the driver was Dominguez-Garcia and learned he was sought by authorities in Wisconsin.

Dominguez-Garcia was questioned by police there after Rodriguez went missing in July 2020, the Leader-Telegram, a newspaper in Wisconsins Chippewa Valley, reported in December 2021. Dominguez-Garcia and Rodriguez had worked together at a restaurant and bar in the Wisconsin Dells area, which is known for its tourism and theme parks.

Three months later, Rodriguezs body was found roughly 140 miles away at a farm in Chippewa County, the newspaper reported. Authorities alleged when charges were filed that Dominguez-Garcia was linked to the crime by DNA evidence and a vehicle registered to him that had signs of human decomposition in its trunk.

Online court records show the Wisconsin warrant was issued in December 2021.

Dominguez-Garcia was arrested and booked in the Clay County jail on Thursday. He was being held there pending a transfer to Wisconsin authorities.
Swiss President Alain Berset arrived in Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and attend the International Summit on Food Security scheduled for Nov. 25.

The focus is on the impact of Russias war of aggression on world food security and Switzerland's long-term support for Ukraine, Berset said on X upon arrival.

Switzerland approved the transfer of 25 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks to Germany on Nov. 22 under the condition that they must not leave EU or NATO member states.

Germany has assured that the tanks sold will remain in Germany or with NATO or EU partners in order to close its own gaps, the Swiss Federal Council said.

The battle tanks will go to their original manufacturer, the German arms company Rheinmetall.

According to the Swiss Federal Council, the German government sent a request in February 2023, asking the Swiss government to allow the sale to Rheinmetall and assured that the battle tanks would not be forwarded to Ukraine.

Swiss law does not allow the delivery of Swiss weapons to combat zones, even when supplied by an intermediary country, due to its long-standing neutrality policy.

The Swiss parliament has repeatedly voted against proposals to amend the rules regarding the re-export of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine.

The country also blocked the transfer of Swiss-made Leopard 1 tanks from Italy to Ukraine in June.

The parliamentary elections in October resulted in the populist, right-wing Swiss Peoples Party winning the most seats.

Members of the party boycotted Zelensky's speech to the Swiss parliament on June 15, claiming it violated the country's tradition of neutrality.

Read also: Zelensky names 3 important victories Ukraine needs on international stage

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Swiss President Alain Berset arrived in Kyiv to attend the international summit on food security and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who announced his arrival on Twitter on Nov. 25.

The focus of his visit will be the impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security, as well as on Switzerland's long-term support for Ukraine, the Swiss president said.

Read also: US and Swiss scientific journals continue to publish Putins daughters papers

Earlier, Switzerland called for the creation of a special tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine.

The initiative to create a special tribunal for Russia has been supported by 38 countries in recent months.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Tacoma Police Department is remembering a fallen officer in what was the single worst incident in Washington State law enforcement history at the time, the department wrote.

On November 25, 1941, Tacoma Police Officer Martin Joyce died from his injuries after a head-on collision.

He and his partner were sent to a suicide call and he asked the dispatcher to change the lights of a four-way traffic signal so he could pass through.

At the same time, two Pierce County Deputy Sheriffs were sent to a River Road accident and also asked for the lights to change. But since the sheriffs car had been parked, his radio tubes werent warmed up and the deputies didnt hear the Tacoma broadcast, said TPD.

Both cars collided at South 11th Street and Pacific Avenue.

The cars collided with such force that the sheriffs car snapped a light pole before flipping on its side, said TPD.

The two sheriffs and Officer Joyces partner died at the scene. Officer Joyce died two days later, on November 25, 1941.

Gone but not forgotten, wrote TPD.




Chinese actress Hu Ling arrives at the 60th Golden Horse Film Awards in Taipei (Sam Yeh)

Actress Hu Ling on Saturday became the first Chinese film star to walk the red carpet of Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards since 2019, when China boycotted the self-ruled island's biggest awards show over political tensions.

Chinese director Huang Ji also attended the ceremony with her Japanese husband Ryuji Otsuka, and the couple won the coveted best feature film for the social drama "Stonewalling" they co-directed.

"After winning the Golden Horse awards, we can go to a wilder world and gallop. I am especially grateful to the Golden Horse," Huang told the crowd.

Beijing banned its entertainers from joining Golden Horse, dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars, after a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island's independence in an acceptance speech in 2018.

China claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has long blacklisted its stars over any perceived backing for the island's independence.

There were no mainland films in the 2019 nomination list and several Hong Kong movies dropped out that year, while big commercial productions were conspicuously absent at both the 2020 and 2021 awards.

But on Saturday, the red carpet was graced by Hu, nominated for best actress in the education drama "Carp Leaping Over Dragon's Gate".

Dressed in a shimmering gown holding a pineapple in her hands, she was accompanied by Chinese film director Yan Xiaolin and some of the film's cast.

"Our film's (Chinese) name is 'Pineapple' and Taiwan's audiences have told me that pineapple means good luck" in Taiwanese culture, Hu said in a brief televised interview.

Hu lost to Taiwan's 12-year-old Audrey Lin ("Trouble Girl"), the night's biggest dark horse who became the youngest ever best actress winner in Golden Horse history.

Lin also saw off Hong Kong's Jennifer Yu ("In Broad Daylight") and Chung Suet-ying ("The Lyricist Wannabe"), who both attended Saturday's event.

Taiwanese Hsiao Ya-chuan bagged best director for his family drama "Old Fox," while compatriot Wu Kang-ren claimed best actor for playing a mute man in the Malaysian film "Abang Adik."

The award for best documentary short film went to "The Memo," a video diary of the pandemic lockdown made by a filmmaker couple trapped in a small Shanghai apartment.

Attendance by the mainland Chinese actors was a departure from previous years.

In 2022, Chinese star Cya Liu -- nominated for best actress for Hong Kong crime thriller "Limbo" -- gave the ceremony a miss, with no reasons given.

Chinese director Huang Shuli collected the best documentary short film award in person last year -- a rare appearance by a mainland filmmaker since the fallout.

aw/des
On May 14, 1841, Brig. Gen. Edward H. Tarrant, known as Old Hurricane, led a militia of 69 men from Red River County to quell Native American raids in North Texas. According to the militia payroll roster, at least one Latino, Jose Maria Gonzales, rode with Tarrant.

Native Americans viewed the flow of white settlers onto their traditional farming and hunting lands as intolerable. Texians welcomed the stream of white settlers and resolved after defeating Santa Annas army in 1836 to repel any threat to the newly created Lone Star Republic.

J. R. Edmondsons rendering of the Battle of Village Creek for a history class taught by Richard Selcer (a contributor of history columns to the Star-Telegram) offered insight. Tarrants militia caught a lone Native American close to the present-day downtown Fort Worth and interrogated him about the location of the Native American camp. After he was tied to a tree and threatened with being shot, he directed them to a village a few miles away. On May 24, 1841, Tarrants scouts found the village close to a creek where Lake Arlington currently rises.

Gen. Tarrant led the charge along with Capt. John B. Denton, capturing a woman and her son. On discovering a second village two miles away, they stormed it. By then, the surprised Native Americans fought back, wounding several. Some of the men attacked a third village, but retreated. Tarrant regrouped the militia at the second village and was hesitant to venture farther, fearing they were outnumbered. At Dentons request to scout ahead, Tarrant allowed him to proceed with several men.

Native Americans lying in wait fired on the patrol, scattering them and killing Denton. Tarrant ordered several of the militia to retrieve Dentons body lest it be mutilated. They buried him in a rock lined grave 25 miles north of the battle. In 1860, Dentons remains were disinterred and buried at the John S. Chisum ranch. His body was moved again in 1901 and interred on the Denton County Courthouse grounds. Twelve Native Americans were killed and many more wounded at the Battle of Village Creek.

This battle was the culmination of Tarrants Native American fighting career. North Texas Native Americans, realizing their wood sanctuary was no longer safe, moved west.

Sam Houston commissioned Tarrant and George W. Terrell to negotiate a peace treaty with several tribes at Fort Bird in 1843. The 24-article treaty established a demarcation line stretching from the Trinity River to San Antonio. Native Americans were permitted to freely hunt and farm in all the lands west of the line. Neither side was permitted to cross over without President Houstons permission. Comanches refused to negotiate or sign the treaty. The Fort Bird Treaty acted as a momentous invitation for white settlers to migrate to Texas and an end to Native American independence.

Agreeing to exchange captives, Tarrant returned the Native American boy he had captured two years earlier to his uncle Jose Maria, chief of the Anadarko. The boy eventually reunited with his mother, who had escaped.

Born in 1796 in South Carolina, Tarrant earned his whirlwind reputation as a military leader fighting with Kentucky militia against the British in the War of 1812. He studied law in Kentucky and served in Tennessee as a colonel in the states militia, sheriff, and circuit court clerk. Moving to Texas in 1835, he resided in Red River County, where he was elected as chief justice. He ran for lieutenant governor in 1847 but lost. He served in the Texas House of Representatives and represented Bowie County at a convention in Austin considering annexation to the United States.

On a stop in Fort Worth to visit Dr. Carroll Peak, the first Fort Worth physician, his wife Florence recalled he was a medium-sized, dark haired, vigorous looking man with ruddy-complexion.

Tarrant moved to Fort Belknap in 1856 to command troops dealing with further Native American uprisings. On his return trip in August 1858 to his farm in Chambers Creek, Ellis County, he fell ill and died at the home of William Fondren. He was buried at Fort Belknap but the next year his body was reburied on his farm near Italy, Texas.

Houston oilman I. W. Kemp searched across the state for Texas pioneer heroes burial sites. Some were buried in unmarked graves outside the counties or cities named for them. With the assistance of the Daughters of the Texas Revolution, the Daughters of the War of 1812, and local businessmen, the Pioneers Rest Cemetery Association arranged for the reburial of Tarrant on March 3, 1928, in Fort Worth.

Tarrants former slave George Washington Hawkins had tended his grave in Ellis County even after his emancipation. Alice Naylor wrote in a Feb. 28, 1928, Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, the former slave carrying on a sacred tradition, handed him from parents and, older brothers, of a master whose name and memory is worthy of honor. In Tarrants will, he bequeathed Mallard, a 3-year-old slave, to his adopted son, Jesse Tarrant Gilliam.

A red, granite memorial, on the front lawn of the Tarrant County Courthouse, honors Brig. Gen. Edward H. Tarrant.

Author Richard J. Gonzales writes and speaks about Fort Worth, national and international Latino history.
The government says the NASUWT is "causing harm" to education with industrial action short of a strike

Jersey's education minister has accused a union of "causing harm to parents, children, and teachers" with planned industrial action short of a strike.

The States Employment Board (SEB) confirmed the NASUWT would start a work-to-rule from Monday.

Teaching unions remain in negotiations with the government over a new multi-year pay deal.

Inna Gardiner said she was "frustrated" there had been no deal agreed. The NASUWT has been contacted for comment.

'Pupils face effects'

She said: "Like many parents and pupils, I am disappointed that NASUWT have made the decision to continue with the planned escalation of their action short of a strike.

"In taking this action, NASUWT are causing harm to parents, children, and teachers."

Deputy Gardiner said she was "keen to see all sides reach a compromise", but added that "pupils will be affected" while negotiations continued.

Constable Andy Jehan, SEB vice chair, said a one-off payment to ensure a 20-day notice of future proposed industrial action had been rejected by NASUWT.

He said: "To resolve the 2023 dispute, and to ensure the well-being and safeguarding of our children and young people, the SEB offered a one-off payment to teachers in return for an essential service agreement that would provide 20 days' notice for any future proposed industrial action.

"The agreement was proposed to protect and safeguard the most vulnerable children and young people.

"Disappointingly, the offer was rejected."

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill.  Police were called to the 300 block of Adele Street Thursday at around 4 p.m. They found two teens with gunshot wounds inside a stolen black sedan.

One of the victims, showing signs of life, was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries. He died later from his injuries.

Police attempted to find a suspect using police dogs but were unable to find anyone in the area. The Illinois State Police are now assisting with the investigation. Cahokia Heights Police urge anyone with details to call them at 618-825-2681.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Protester hold flags and placards as they take part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration as they wend their way along Whitehall in London, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

LONDON (AP)  Tens of thousands of people turned out on central London's streets Saturday for a pro-Palestinian march calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

Police said that while the majority of people protested peacefully, 18 people were arrested including at least five people who were detained on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

The National March for Palestine in central London was the latest in several huge protests staged in the British capital and many European cities every weekend since the Israel-Hamas war began last month.

Saturday's protests came on the second day of a four-day cease-fire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after he was spotted carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it. Four others were detained for distributing literature featuring a swastika inside a Star of David.

The pro-Palestinian rallies in recent weeks have triggered heated debate in Britain over the freedom of protest as well as police powers to clamp down on what some in the Jewish community see as hateful, racist or antisemitic language or actions.

Earlier this month, the U.K.s former interior minister, Suella Braverman, came under heavy criticism when she described pro-Palestinian protesters as hate marchers. Critics accused her of inflaming tensions, and she was sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak soon after.

On Saturday officers handed out leaflets march that sought to clarify what would be deemed a criminal offence, after the force faced pressure from senior government officials to be tougher on alleged displays of antisemitism at the protests.

Anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested. As should anyone who supports Hamas or any other banned organization, said Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan.

We will not tolerate anyone who celebrates or promotes acts of terrorism  such as the killing or kidnap of innocent people  or who spreads hate speech," he added.

The force said 1,500 officers were deployed to police the march.

Hundreds also gathered outside the Egyptian Embassy in London for a demonstration organized by Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the Islamist group. Police said two women who were seen holding offensive placards were arrested for a racially aggravated public order offense.

In Paris, a march staged for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women drew both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli activists as well as other groups.

Some protesters, waving Palestinian flags and posters reading Free Palestine, walked in a show of solidarity with Gaza and Palestines women who are being murdered.

A group of Jewish women also joined the march to denounce crimes committed by Hamas, including rapes and killings, chanting, We are women, we are proud, we are Jewish and we are angry.

Meanwhile, some pro-Palestinian protests were organized over the weekend in Frances major cities including Strasbourg, Lyon and Marseille.

In Vienna, many marched amid first snow in the city, waving Palestinian flags at a Peace for Palestine rally. Organizers called on the Austrian government to back a cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade.

Organizers warned potential participants ahead of Saturday's demonstration that any antisemitic or far-right actions would be stopped immediately and offenders would be asked to leave the event.

Tens of thousands of people are also expected to take part in a march organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism charity on Sunday to show solidarity with the Jewish community in the U.K.

___

Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna contributed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  Granting amnesty alone is not enough to curb insurgency in the country, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said Friday, as he urged the government to offer peace talks on a national level.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier issued four proclamations granting amnesty to current and former members of rebel groups who may have committed crimes "in pursuit of their political beliefs."

READ: Marcos grants amnesty to members of rebel groups

"Amnesty by itself is really not going to solve the problem," Diokno told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

He stressed the government must address deeper social ills that prompted groups to rebel against the state.

"There must be a comprehensive peace plan that is pursued by the government," Diokno said.

"We have to recognize everyone's freedom of belief and opinions, especially on political matters, without any kind of reprisal or retribution," he added.

Diokno also noted that the process of granting amnesty to rebels will take some time as it requires the approval of Congress and a creation of a commission.

"It is not going to be a fast process If I can guess and project right, probably by next year," he said.

In addition to amnesty, the human rights lawyer also urged the Marcos administration to review cases of political prisoners in the country.

"I understand that there are some members of rebel groups who have been charged with cases that are not backed up with sufficient evidence," he said.

According to Diokno, the Philippines is the sole country in the world that had more than 20 amnesty proclamations since the 1940s, yet armed conflict remains.
The oil well in this 2015 file photo from Garden City, Texas, produces about 55-70 barrels of oil per day (SPENCER PLATT)

The scorching summer in Texas this year was the second hottest on record -- but students in the southwestern US state might have a hard time understanding why.

That's because a slew of science textbooks submitted to the state Board of Education (BOE) were rejected last week, as the Republican-dominated body moves to curtail education materials deemed too "one-sided" on climate change.

Many of the rejected books taught that "humans are negatively impacting the environment. And the scare tactics that come with that, that is my main issue," Evelyn Brooks, a Republican board member, told AFP.

She claimed, counter to scientists and the federal government, that "the science is not settled on global warming."

America's decentralized education system leaves curriculum management mostly up to individual states, with local school districts also having a degree of autonomy.

That has led to fraught battles across the country as each jurisdiction debates how to teach climate change and other politically charged issues, such as racism and sexuality.

It also leaves room for officials like Brooks in Texas, which produces 42 percent of the nation's crude oil, to push back against the "political ideology" of climate change -- a concept she considers "a blatant lie."

- Increasingly polarized -

Science textbooks from publisher Green Ninja were among those voted down by the Texas BOE.

"It was because of our inclusion of climate change," director Eugene Cordero told AFP in an email, adding that one board member took particular issue with a prompt asking students to "create a story warning friends and family about possible future weather and climate extremes."

Textbooks from eight of 22 publishers that submitted materials to the board were rejected last week, according to a count from Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), a nonprofit which promotes the teaching of climate change.

Some were eventually accepted, after revisions to sections on climate change and evolution -- another controversial subject in the largely Christian Texas.

The rejected books are not necessarily banned from classrooms, but using approved books is typically tied to getting government funding.

As broiling summers are supercharged by climate change, some fear that students won't see the bigger picture.

"If kids don't understand what all of that means, and they're just going to continue to perpetuate the problem," said Marisa Perez-Dias, one of five Democratic members of the board.

Staci Childs, another Democratic board member, charged that some of her colleagues "felt like some of the materials negatively reflected how oil and gas impacts our society."

In a show of just how powerful the industry is in Texas -- even as the state becomes a growing hub for renewables -- two of the 10 Republican members work directly for the sector.

Though the state has long been conservative, debate seems to have gotten more polarized recently, Perez-Diaz told AFP.

Where previously a consensus "could be met across party lines before, we don't see that as much anymore."

- Getting better? -

In neighboring Oklahoma, the state's Energy Resources Board -- which is entirely funded by the oil and gas industry -- has distributed free education materials aligned with the sector's interests, often to underfunded schools.

Former governor Mike Huckabee, of neighboring Arkansas, has created a "Kids Guide to the Truth About Climate Change."

The monthly series of lessons, available for sale online, promises to counter an agenda on climate change "that promotes fear and panic" pushed by "teachers and the media."

Like other conservative complaints about climate change, the guides try to thread a needle -- avoiding outright climate denialism, while at the same time rejecting the leading scientific consensus.

"Everyone agrees that the Earth's climate is always changing and that industrial development has negatively impacted the environment," the curriculum reads.

"But that does not mean the planet is doomed," it says. "Some very smart people have not been able (to) predict what will happen with the earth. So we really don't know."

Earlier this year, the free-market think tank the Heartland Institute sent its own climate change-skeptical book -- which AFP factcheckers found to be misleading -- to 8,000 teachers.

Despite the setbacks in Texas, Branch, of the NCSE, says climate change education across the country "is generally improving."

"That's partly because it's starting from a very low level."

ube/nro/des
Thai workers taken hostage by Hamas after their release in Tel Aviv

By Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Vetoon Phoome's family feared the Thai farm worker had been killed by Hamas in last month's attack on Israel, until they found out on Saturday he had been freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza.

"He told me not to cry, to tell mother I'm coming back," Vetoon's sister, Roongarun Wichagern, told Reuters after an emotional reunion with him via video call.

Vetoon, 33, who has been living in Israel for five years, was one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of a seven-week-old war that started with the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.

"He said, 'I'm not dead, I'm not dead'," Roongarun said, calling his survival a "miracle".

The 10 Thais were among 24 hostages freed on Friday in a deal negotiated in parallel with the truce and an exchange of 39 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Thailand's government said 20 of its nationals are still captive.

Thailand's foreign minister and army chief will travel to Israel to bring the freed hostages back, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters, adding that his government was still trying to secure the release of the remaining captives.

"We will not stop. We will bring them back," he said.

Iran's Embassy in Bangkok said on social media that Tehran had facilitated the release by providing a list of names to Hamas following a request from Thailand's Foreign Ministry and a parliamentary speaker.

A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson said Thailand had "provided lists since the beginning to everyone," including Qatar, Egypt, Israel and Iran.

"Different actors would have different influence on Hamas," the spokesperson said.

MIGRANT WORKERS

About 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, forming one of its largest groups of migrant workers, many in agriculture.

Vetoon told family members he had shouted "Thailand, Thailand!" when the militants approached, before capturing him and holding him in tunnels, Roongarun said.

He was not wounded or tortured, was given food and water and did not appear to have lost weight, Roongarun added.

His friends believed he had died, but the family followed the news "without sleeping", hoping he had been taken hostage, she said.

"I saw the news hostages would be released, and then someone sent a photo," Roongarun said. "It was clearly my little brother."

The released captives also included the only Thai woman known to be held by Hamas, a factory worker and mother from a poor rural area where many people leave to seek job opportunities abroad.

Photographs from the Thai Foreign Ministry showed them meeting doctors at a medical centre in Israel. They will return home after 48 hours in hospital, the ministry said, thanking Egypt, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross for "immense efforts" on the deal to free them.

A source briefed on the negotiations said the release was unrelated to the truce deal with Israel and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

A group of Thai Muslim politicians had travelled to Tehran and met senior Hamas officials in October.

Thongkoon Onkaew told Reuters authorities had said her son, Natthaporn Onkaew, a 26-year-old farm worker, was not among the first group released, but she added that she was "waiting for good news."

(Reporting by Chayut SetboonsarngAdditional reporting by Napat Wesshasartar and Panarat ThepgumpanatWriting by Poppy McPhersonEditing by William Mallard and Helen Popper)
Treating her child for cancer was not a challenge Alicia Parker expected or ever wanted.

In 2021, her seven-year-old son Korbin came home complaining about pain in his foot.

(Doctors) did not know what was going on. They were checking him for fractures, putting him in a boot, Parker told Channel 2s Michael Doudna.

An accurate diagnosis would elude doctors until a blood test came back positive for leukemia.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

I was saying to myself, this cant be it, Parker said.

However, Parker refused to let her son fall behind because of a diagnosis. She wanted him to keep up with his classes even as he fought cancer.

One of our main goals was to not allow the diagnosis to define him, Parker told Channel 2 Action News.

So Korbin became one of the thousands of Georgia students getting an education while receiving care. Childrens Hospital of Atlanta estimates that more than 5,000 children a year receive help in planning their education post-diagnosis of a disease.

TRENDING STORIES:

The hospital says they have 16 teachers who help educate kids and guide parents through the process.

She was like, no, you worry about him, I got it. I will make the contacts. I will fill out the paperwork, Parker said.

Childrens Hospital of Atlanta says more than 1,000 kids receive part of their education in the hospital. The 16 teachers on staff share the burden and teach in classrooms on different hospital floors.

Just to get him out of the room and out of the environment, they had a classroom he could go to, Parker said.

Parker says the employees helped adjust the education plan to fit with her son. While she says it was not as good as going to school every day as a normal healthy kid, it provided valuable education to keep her son from falling too far behind.

This October, Korbin was declared cancer-free and had his last treatment of chemo. He is now back in class, healthy without restrictions.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Marches in Italy against violence on women came after the killing of a 22-year-old university student shook the country (Alberto PIZZOLI)

Thousands of people took to the streets across the world on Saturday to condemn violence against women on the international day highlighting the crime.

On the UN-designated International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, protesters marched in Europe and the Americas.

"The scourge of gender-based violence continues to inflict pain and injustice on too many," US President Joe Biden said in a statement.

"An estimated one in three women globally will experience physical violence, rape, or stalking at some point in their lifetimes. Its an outrage."

"Particularly in areas of conflict, countless women and girls suffer at the hands of perpetrators who commit gender-based violence and use rape as a weapon of war."

In Guatemala, protesters kicked off commemorations on Friday evening, placing candles to write out 438 -- the number of women killed so far this year.

In the Chilean capital of Santiago, some 1,000 protesters marched through the streets Friday night, chanting "Not one step backward" and demanding action by the government to protect women.

A women's advocacy group estimates that 40 femicides have occurred in the country this year.

Along Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana Beach, protesters lined up 722 pairs of women's shoes, from high-heels to sneakers, each pair before a woman's name to represent the femicides recorded in 2022 -- the highest number since 2019, according to the non-governmental Brazilian Forum on Public Safety.

And in Argentina, demonstrators -- including those concerned by the election of incoming president Javier Milei -- in Buenos Aires combined a protest on violence against women with a show of support for the Palestinian people.

Milei has suggesting eliminating the Ministry of Women, Genders and Diversity -- in charge of preventing gender violence -- and has taken hardline stances on issues including abortion and equal pay

- Italy murder -

In Italy, which has been shaken by the murder of a 22-year-old university student allegedly by her former boyfriend, some 50,000 people, according to the AGI news agency, demonstrated in Rome, where the Colosseum was to be lit up in red later on Saturday.

The country has been horrified by the case of Giulia Cecchettin, who went missing for a week as she was due to receive her degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Padua.

Her body was eventually found in a gully about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Venice, and her former boyfriend, 22-year-old Filippo Turetta, was arrested in Germany.

"This year... takes on particularly important connotations for us... for those in this country who care about the rights, claims and emancipation of all women, following yet another femicide, the killing of Giulia Cecchettin," said Luisa Loduce, a 22-year-old librarian.

In the year to November 12, there have been 102 murder cases with female victims in Italy, 82 of them by family members or current or former partners, according to the interior ministry.

In Turkey, some 500 women gathered in the Sisli district in Istanbul, as riot police stood by, unfurling banners reading "We will not remain silent" and "Women are united and fighting against male-state violence."

Protesters also took to the streets in Ankara.

- 'Educate your boys' -

In France, several thousand people, many wearing purple, the color of women and gender equality, wove through the chilly streets of Paris and other cities, carrying signs reading: "One rape every six minutes in France" and "Protect your girls, educate your boys".

"We don't want to count the dead any more," Maelle Lenoir, an official from the All of Us activist group, told reporters, urging the government to devote more money to eradicating violence against women.

France has recorded 121 women killed so far this year in femicides, the killing of a woman due to her gender, compared with 118 in 2022, according to government data.

Leonore Maunoury, 22, said that the justice system needed to be changed to deal effectively with the phenomenon, as she marched in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

"Sexual violence is difficult to prove. Many cases are dismissed. The justice system is ill-adapted" to deal with the issue, she said.

burs/yad/pvh/bbk
Plans for a new permanent supportive housing project for low-income residents took another step last week after Thurston County pledged $3.5 million for the project.

The project is expected to provide about 70 units of permanent supportive housing on property along Franz Anderson Road by 2026, said Tom Webster, manager of the Thurston County Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention.

The completion of the project would mark a major milestone in the countys efforts to build more affordable housing for vulnerable residents. Many of the expected occupants are already waiting for the project at a nearby and recently established tiny home village.

On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater to collectively fund the permanent project.

The agreement indicates the county will provide $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Meanwhile, the City of Lacey has pledged $3 million and the City of Tumwater has offered $275,000 from their respective general funds.

These contributions will be managed by the City of Olympia, which already spent $825,547 in ARPA funds on the acquisition of the property in 2022. Thurston County paid the same amount when it partnered with the city on that acquisition.

The City of Olympia has contracted with the Seattle-based Low-Income Housing Institute to develop the property earlier this year. Webster said construction is expected to start in fall 2024 and should be completed by early 2026.

Webster estimated construction may cost about $25 million while briefing the board on the matter last Monday. He said LIHI plans to leverage local money to apply for funding from competitive sources to make up the difference.

The local leverage really makes this a highly competitive project because the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and Department of Commerce do look for local commitment, Webster said.

LIHI is expected to cover operating costs with the income generated by the units, meaning additional local funding should not be necessary, Webster said.

The City of Olympia plans to disburse the funds from the local jurisdictions to LIHI on a cost reimbursement basis, according to the agreement. If LIHI cannot find the funding to complete the project, the agreement says the parties can withdraw and the funds will not be spent.

Nothing happens until they actually secure those additional funds, Webster said.

During the Tuesday meeting, Commissioner Tye Menser asked Webster why LIHI, which is already involved in similar projects, was chosen for this project.

We would like it to be more competitive, Webster said. For this specific opportunity, LIHI was the only developer that applied.

The Franz Anderson Tiny Home Village, which is next to the permanent project site, opened in September. It was originally intended to house people relocated from an RV encampment on Ensign Road, but it now houses people who were living along Interstate 5.

That change in direction resulted from the village being integrated into Gov. Jay Inslees Rights of Way Initiative last summer. That initiative was designed to clear homeless encampments along I-5.

Keylee Marineau, the countys Homeless Response Program Manager, told the board on Tuesday that five encampments along I-5 have been cleared and hardened with boulders as part of the initiative. The five sites include ones by Lilly Road, Pacific Avenue, Sleater Kinney Road, Wheeler Avenue and the City Center exit.

Marineau said the state is still working to clear another encampment near Wheeler Avenue by the end of November. The residents at that encampment are expected to go to Franz Anderson Tiny Home Village and the New Hope Village at First Christian Church in downtown Olympia.

Those who live at the Franz Anderson Tiny Home Village will eventually move into the permanent supportive housing project once its complete, Webster said. The village will later be converted into more permanent housing, he added.
In the early 1960s, Operation Mongoose became the CIA's audacious secret plan to topple Cuban leader Fidel Castro and counter the rising tide of communism. Officially greenlit on November 30, 1961, the operation aimed to incite a "revolutionary" atmosphere in Cuba that would ultimately lead to Castro's downfall. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, America desperately sought to gain the upper hand, setting the chessboard for high-stakes maneuvers like Operation Mongoose.

The tactical genius behind Operation Mongoose was Edward Lansdale, a U.S. Air Force officer and seasoned CIA operative. Known for his innovative counterinsurgency strategies in the Philippines and Vietnam, Lansdale was considered the right man for the job. He wasn't working in a vacuum, though. Lansdale coordinated with heavy hitters from across the intel community.

Major General Edward G. Lansdale, who ran Pentagon special operations targeting Fidel Castro in the early 1960s. (Wikipedia)

What made Operation Mongoose even more intriguing was its diverse coalition of partners. Lansdale roped in the Mafiayes, you heard that right, the American mob. Their shared interest? Extensive casino and business losses in Cuba post-revolution. Cuban exiles, yearning for a return to their homeland sans Castro , also joined the cause. And let's not forget the anti-Castro dissidents actually living in Cuba, who had the most to gainor losefrom the operation's success or failure.

While the objectives of Operation Mongoose were lofty, its impact was, to put it mildly, a hot mess. From failed assassination attempts using exploding cigars to a botched invasion known as the Bay of Pigs , the mission fell flat. The operation became a controversial chapter in Cold War history, raising questions about the ethics and effectiveness of such clandestine activities. Yet, it serves as an unforgettable case study in the complexities of geopolitical maneuvering.

A web of schemes

When it comes to clandestine activities and subterfuge, Operation Mongoose stands out as a textbook example. One major component was economic sabotage. The CIA deployed operatives to Cuba to target specific assets. For example, they rigged a sugar mill  a key source of Cuban income  to explode. These weren't random acts of destruction. As with most CIA efforts, each move strategically aimed to cripple the crucial industries sustaining Castro's regime. Operatives targeted power plants, oil refineries and even railroad tracks. Teams of operatives also planted pests in Cuban agricultural fields to ruin the crops, part of a broader plan to disrupt the country's food supply and sow public discontent.

But it wasn't just about blowing things up. The CIA also unleashed a psychological warfare campaign against Castro. Radio stations broadcasting from secret locations would air propaganda messages targeting both the military and civilians. Some broadcasts claimed high-ranking officials in the Castro administration were secretly planning to defect. Leaflets containing anti-Castro messages or detailing guerrilla tactics for ordinary Cubans were also airdropped over rural areas. These multi-pronged psyops aimed to create an environment ripe for revolution.

Assassination plots against Castro added another layer of complexity. Far from your standard cloak-and-dagger stuff, these plans ventured into the realm of the bizarre. Op planners toyed with various methods to eliminate Castro. Ideas ranged from exploding cigars to a fungal-infected diving suit meant to give Castro a skin disease. There was even a plot to place thallium salts in his shoes to make his iconic beard fall out, undermining his charisma. Although these assassination attempts have been widely publicized, they remain emblematic of the audacity and breadth of the operation.

Enter the Cuban exiles

Then there's the Florida angle. Deep in the Everglades, the CIA established secret training camps. They trained Cuban exiles, many of whom had fled Cuba after Castro's rise to power, in guerrilla warfare, demolitions, and espionage. These recruits were called " Brigade 2506 ," a nod to the Bay of Pigs invasion force. Equipped with American-made weapons and under the tutelage of CIA instructors, they underwent rigorous training regimes to prepare for missions aimed at destabilizing Cuba from within. Once ready, they would infiltrate Cuba by boat or low-flying aircraft, blending in with local populations while working to incite uprisings.

This aspect of Operation Mongoose, dedicated to training anti-Castro forces, was meticulously organized. Recruits underwent polygraph tests to confirm their loyalty, and the CIA kept exhaustive records tracking each participant's skills, psychological profile, and mission readiness. Resources were poured into this aspect of the operation, underlining its perceived importance in the larger anti-Castro strategy.

Failure and fallout

John F. Kennedy and Fidel Castro

Despite its vast scope and elaborate planning, Operation Mongoose was largely ineffective. The Cuban government was too resilient, and Castro remained a step ahead. By October 1962, the operation took a back seat during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the crisis was resolved, the focus shifted toward diplomatic solutions, leading to a decline in covert activities against Cuba.

The fallout of Operation Mongoose had lasting implications. It exposed a dark side of American foreign policy, with ramifications felt during subsequent administrations. The operation severely strained U.S.-Cuban relations, setting a tone of mistrust that endured for decades. Operation Mongoose also gave the Soviet Union propaganda fodder, painting the United States as an aggressor willing to stoop to underhanded tactics to achieve its goals.

Operation Mongoose remains a contentious chapter in American history. It serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of covert intervention, showcasing how such actions can backfire and worsen relations between nations.

The operation also had an impact on the intelligence community. It led to increased scrutiny of CIA activities, influencing later efforts to make the agency more accountable for its actions. Legislation like the Hughes-Ryan Act of 1974 , which required the CIA to report all covert activities to congressional committees, can trace its roots back to the backlash against operations like Mongoose.

So, what can the modern military audience glean from this? Operation Mongoose teaches us the importance of calculated strategy, the risks of underestimating an opponent, and the long-term consequences that can stem from covert operations. It's a story that, despite its age, remains incredibly relevant today.
Deputies conducted a spur-of-the-moment hop-eration to locate a kangaroo who briefly disappeared Friday afternoon while in north Georgia.

Gilmer County sheriff officials said at 1 p.m. Friday, deputies got a call and started a search for Stevie the kangaroo, who got away from his owner while they were in the Blackberry Mountain area.

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No folks, this is not a joke! deputies said on social media.

According to the investigation, Stevie and his owner, who is from Missouri, got loose while near the mountain area and took off into the woods.

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Deputies hopped to the task and Sgt. Beavers quickly found the Marsupial not too far from where he went into the woods. The patrol Sargent was able reunite the kangaroo and its owner who were both able to continue on their travel adventure.





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IN OTHER NEWS:
Carriage rides will again be part of Timnath's Holiday Lighting Festival, Dec. 1. This will be the last year the festival is held in Old Town Timnath.

TIMNATH  Residents will gather Dec. 1 for the popular Holiday Lighting Festival, but it might be the last time the annual celebration is held in Old Town Timnath.

Budget and safety concerns have the town's special events staff looking at alternatives for the 2024 gathering. An email from special events coordinator Callie Hoppe to Old Town businesses in mid-November said the event "is rapidly outgrowing Old Town Timnath, mainly, the ability to safely accommodate the growing event attendance in the given space within Old Town."

Hoppe met Tuesday with a handful of residents and businesses to brainstorm ideas for "new and safe ways" to bring people together to celebrate the holidays. It was the first step in public outreach to help the town reimagine a holiday event for 2024 "that is both safe and fits our growing community," Hoppe told the Coloradoan.

"There will be a holiday event next year, we just don't know what it will look like," Hoppe said. Costs to run the handful of annual events are increasing, but the budget is not, she said. "We've had to reduce the budget for all events, including Christmas."

Bringing in dozens of light towers and generators to provide adequate lighting in Old Town is becoming more expensive, Hoppe said.

"Too many people in Old Town with a lack of lighting and the lighting we have to bring in, we are becoming sardines," she said.

Related: 42 things to do this holiday season in and around Fort Collins

Business owners offered options for cost-sharing, moving the celebration from the first Friday in December to a Saturday or Sunday, but they were firm that the celebration remain in Old Town.

"We will continue to feel disenfranchised if this is taken from Old Town," said Becca Bay, owner of CF&G Public Market and Coffeehouse inside the Colorado Feed & Grain on Main Street and a member of Together for Timnath, an organization that has been asking for more representation on the town's governing board, especially for its Old Town area.

"If budget is an issue, it's not an issue. We can make it work. If safety is an issue, it's not an issue, we can make it work," she said.

Lindsey Whittall, owner of The Hidden Stem, 4007 Main St., said the community would not support "moving the last event in this important downtown core." She and Bay said they would be willing to get more involved to keep the event downtown.

The annual Holiday Lighting Festival is held the first Friday in December. This year's celebration will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and include the holiday tree lighting and performances by Timnath elementary, middle and high school choir, concert bands, poms and cheer squads, Ascent Classical Academy Band and Choir and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There will also be carriage rides; food trucks Angry Hippie Tacos, Backyard Bird, Bigs Meat Wagon, Momma Perez, Travelin' Toms Coffee and Umami; as well as photos with Santa, live reindeer, children's activities and more.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Holiday Lighting Festival in Timnath might change after this year
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, left, and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, shake hands during their bilateral talk, in South Korea's southern port city of Busan, ahead of Sunday's three-way talks Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Kyodo News via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

TOKYO (AP)  Top diplomats from Japan and China met for bilateral talks Saturday to try to resolve disputes including China's ban on Japanese seafood, which has hit Japanese exporters.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, met in South Korea's southern port city of Busan. They will join their host, Park Jin, for three-way talks on Sunday.

Kamikawa, who took office in September and met with Wang in person for the first time, said their meeting was extremely meaningful." She said they had agreed to start security and economic meetings, but gave no details.

Japanese and Chinese leaders met 10 days ago in San Francisco, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and achieved a vague agreement on easing the seafood dispute. China's ban on Japanese seafood has been in place since the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant began discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea on Aug. 24.

Japan says the wastewater is much safer than international standards and that the International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded the environmental and health impact of its release is negligible. China calls the discharge nuclear-contaminated water.

Wang said China opposed Japans irresponsible action of releasing the wastewater into the sea, according to a readout of the meeting by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. He called for an independent monitoring mechanism for the wastewater release.

Wang said China and Japan should establish that they are cooperative partners rather than threats to each other, and they should be committed to peaceful development.

The foreign ministers from Japan, South Korea and China will meet Sunday to set the stage for resuming a trilateral summit of their leaders, which has not been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 outbreak and their complicated ties.

Japan, South Korea and China are close economic and cultural partners, but their relationships have suffered on-and-off setbacks due to a mix of issues, including Japans wartime atrocities, the U.S.-China rivalry and North Koreas nuclear and missile programs.

___

Associated Press journalist Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
SCO Forum "Year of Tourism 2023" opens in Xinjiang

Xinhua) 09:39, November 25, 2023

Tourists visit the Narat scenic area in Xinyuan County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Hao Zhao)

URUMQI, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum "Year of Tourism 2023" was held on Friday in Urumqi, the capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The forum will run until Sunday, bringing together heads of tourism administrations, representatives of international organizations and tourism businesses, and experts in the field of tourism from SCO member states and other countries.

"The forum aims to provide a broad platform for people to discuss issues related to the development of tourism within the SCO, and actively seek cooperation options in this respect," said Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the SCO. Zhang said that the SCO covers a large area with great tourism potential, and countries should create favorable conditions for the development of the tourism industry.

The year 2023 was declared "the SCO year of tourism" by the SCO member states, aiming to support the tourism industry and increase the appeal of SCO cities and regions to tourists.

"Kazakhstan attaches special importance to the comprehensive cooperation within the SCO, and in 2022, over half of the foreign tourists in Kazakhstan were from SCO member countries," said Yerzhan Malikovich Erkinbaev, Kazakhstan's deputy minister of tourism and sports.

Forum participants will be invited to visit Kashgar, Altay, Aksu and Urumqi in Xinjiang.

Since its inception in Shanghai in 2001, the SCO has expanded from an organization with six members into an organization with nine full members, three observer countries and 14 dialogue partners, covering over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass and nearly half of the world's population.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liu Ning)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  The Court of Appeals (CA) has granted former Senator Leila de Limas petition challenging the Office of the Ombudsmans 2019 dismissal of her complaint against ex-Justice secretaries Vitaliano Aguirre II and Menardo Guevarra.

In a Nov. 21 verdict, the courts Special 17th Division reversed and set aside the Ombudsman decision and sent the case back to the said office for proper disposition.

The CA ruled that there was no valid reason for the Ombudsman to refuse to conduct a probe on the administrative charges filed by De Lima, who accused Aguirre and Guevarra of graft, gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct, among other violations, for the alleged illegal admission of 11 convicted felons to the Department of Justices (DOJ) witness protection program (WPP).

De Lima had argued that under the law, individuals convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude cannot be admitted to the WPP.

The Court holds that the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion when it dismissed the administrative complaint outright based on inapplicable exceptions, the CA decision read.

The appellate court said the Ombudsman deviated from its own rules of procedures, a violation of procedural due process.

In 2016, then DOJ chief Aguirre granted the felons immunity when they testified in a congressional inquiry on the alleged proliferation of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during De Lima's term as justice secretary.

Their testimonies led to the filing of drug-related complaints against De Lima, which eventually resulted in her arrest and detention for six years and nine months. De Lima noted that despite the convicts' confessions that they themselves committed illegal drug trading, they were not included in the series of information filed against her

De Lima said Guevarra  who succeeded Aguirre as DOJ secretary in 2018  should also be held liable, as he continued the convicts admission to the WPP.

The former opposition senator was released from the Philippine National Police custodial facility on Nov. 13 after she posted bail for her remaining drug case.

READ: TIMELINE: De Lima's six-year struggle in prison
As Nikki Haley has risen in polls, so has her viability among top political donors, per The Times.

Some donors are describing Haley's candidacy as one that's creating enthusiasm among party leaders.

GOP donor Eric Levine told The Times that Trump's air of inevitability has "peeled away completely."

For months, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley has been stumping across the country in hopes of convincing GOP primary voters  and top donors  that her presidential bid is best positioned to put the party back in the White House.

With less than two months before the Iowa caucuses, wavering donors, including many who've been hesitant to back former President Donald Trump, are increasingly getting behind Haley's campaign and pushing others to follow suit despite the tough odds against the ex-commander-in-chief, according to The New York Times.

Trump continues to dominate in both national and state polling among likely GOP primary voters, and he retains the support of statewide party political apparatuses across the country.

But Haley has impressed an array of business leaders  including JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon  with her policy knowledge, according to The Times.

Dimon, who this past summer told The Economist he'd exercise some caution with President Joe Biden's "Bidenomics" after reacting coolly to the social policy aspect of the administration's economic agenda, recently encouraged the former South Carolina governor to continue discussing ways to tackle complex issues, per The Times. In that same interview, Dimon also said he'd "worry" about Trump potentially retaking the White House in 2024.

Kenneth G. Langone, the billionaire cofounder of Home Depot, told The Times that he remained undecided in the GOP race but was "very impressed" by Haley.

"I think she's a viable candidate. I would certainly like her over Trump," Langone, who's donated to Haley's campaign, told the newspaper.

Despite the enduring grassroots enthusiasm for Trump, some Republican institutional leaders and financial backers remain wary of the former president, pointing to his conduct on January 6, 2021, his negative effect on many GOP candidates in past election cycles, and the need for a next-generation leader who can move the party past the tumultuous Trump years.

And while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had long been seen as the biggest threat to Trump's renomination given his national following and focus on conservative causes, the governor's polling struggles and inability to pin down the former president politically have made many GOP donors look to candidates like Haley in recent months.

Jonathan Bush, a cofounder of Athenahealth and the chief executive of startup Zus Health, told The Times that it was "invigorating to be truly excited by a candidate again."

Bush, a relative of former President George W. Bush, held an online fundraiser for Haley earlier this month. The healthcare technology executive had previously backed former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson's Libertarian presidential bid in 2016 and Biden's 2020 candidacy.

But he was taken by Haley's command of issues and what he told The Times was "an electric energy" surrounding her candidacy.

Top donors looking at the GOP contest are largely in a camp of either resigning themselves to Trump likely being the party's standard-bearer next year and cutting off funds to rivals  or those who think that an agile candidate has the potential to overtake the former president.

Eric Levine, a GOP donor who previously backed Sen. Tim Scott's onetime presidential campaign, will now cohost a fundraiser for Haley next month and told The Times that many people now believe that Trump's nomination "can be stopped."

"His aura of invincibility is just peeled away completely," Levine said, pointing to Haley's polling surge among GOP voters.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The royal family is riven with ambition, suspicion and competition with the Prince and Princess of Wales at the heart of it all, according to an explosive new book about The Firm.

In Endgame, royal reporter and author Omid Scobie moves beyond Prince Harry to detail an alleged power struggle between King Charles and Prince William.

He explores the new kings relationship with his disgraced brother Prince Andrew and examines why Kate is perfect in the mould of Britains future queen.

Scobie examines the UK medias coverage of past controversies surrounding William and Kate, and makes sensational claims about the heirs attitude towards his brother Harry.

Ahead of the books release on 28 November, here are some of the biggest royal revelations from Endgame:

William snapping at Charles heels as ambitious prince eyes throne

One of the key themes of Scobies book is the alleged rift between King Charles and Prince William (Getty)

Scobie highlights an alleged rift between King Charles and his son, the Prince of Wales. In Endgame, William is painted as an ambitious, hot-headed prince, determined to lead the royal family into the future, with Scobie claiming that he wants to rip up the rulebook and do things the Cambridge way.

He adds that, while William respects his father, the difference in their views might become an issue over the years ahead. Scobie writes that William and Charles are united in their frustration towards Prince Harry but do not see eye to eye about how the institution should be run.

He describes Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, the offices of Charles and William respectively, as hives of competing agendas and different ideas about how to modernise the monarchy. Scobie also claims William is not giving his father the same space Charles did with the late Queen, as the 41-year-old eyes the throne. Theres no time for that, the author writes.

Inside the Wales relationship with UK press

The book looks at favourable coverage in the media of William and Kate (PA Wire)

Through the lens of a number of incidents in 2019, Scobie provides an analysis of the UK medias relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince Harry has previously claimed stories about his wife were leaked to the British press. Calling it a dirty game in the couples 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry said negative news coverage about Meghan helped steer unwanted media attention away from other members of the royal family.

Scobie brands William and Kates 2019 holiday to Balmoral Castle a showy publicity stunt. That year, the prince and princess were praised for booking a 73 a head Flybe flight from Norwich to Aberdeen amid reports that Harry and Meghan had chartered four private flights in 11 days. What wasnt included in the PR gamesmanship, Scobie writes, was that the Cambridges scheduled flight did not have the Flybe logo on its side.

Since airline bosses were keen for them to use a properly branded plane, an empty one was sent from the headquarters in Humberside, around 123 miles north of Norwich. The same plane also returned empty to Humberside after the family landed in Aberdeen.

In total, the two flights released over four and a half tons of carbon emissions. Their perfect family trip was exposed for what it really was; a showy publicity stunt, Scobie says. A source close to William and Kate reportedly said they were unaware Flybe had switched the flights and did not seek any special treatment, in a statement to MailOnline.

William thinks Harry has been brainwashed by army of therapists

Prince Harry has been very open about his mental health struggles (Apple TV+)

Scobie believes the relationship between William and Harry is unlikely to be mended, as the rift between the brothers continues to push them apart.

The heir and the spare have grown apart in the aftermath of Harrys bombshell allegations against the royal family since resigning as a senior member and relocating to the US with Meghan.

In Endgame, the British journalist claims William believes Harry blindsided the family with their public complaints and oh so California self-importance. A source reportedly told Scobie William is convinced his younger brother is being brainwashed by an army of therapists and that he no longer recognises who Harry has become.

He feels he has lost Harry and doesnt want to know this version of him, a source close to William told Scobie. Harry is reportedly ready to move on from the whole saga, whether he and Meghan receive an apology or not over their alleged treatment by the royal family since their wedding.

Kate jokingly shivered when Meghans name came up

Meghan was regarded more difficult than Kate because she had opinions (PA)

Scobie gives Endgame readers his take on the reportedly frosty relationship between Kate and Meghan, writing that they were never close.

Citing multiple sources, he claims Kate was never a fan of the former actress. One person reportedly told Scobie the Princess of Wales has spent more time talking about Meghan than talking to her. He also reveals that Kate has jokingly shivered when Meghans name has come up on recent occasions.

Describing Kate as an institutional dream come true, Scobie suggests the future queen has successfully sublimated her authentic self, becoming an enigma to the public and perhaps even herself. He claims Kate, who was born in Reading and attended St Andrews, where she met Prince William, has had several rounds of elocution lessons and now sounds posher than her husband.

In contrast, one former palace aide told Scobie Meghan was regarded as being difficult because she had opinions.

They wanted Meghan to just go with everything that was suggested and not create any additional work, he writes. It was a combination of her not conforming with how women marrying into the family are expected to behave and certain individuals just being lazy.

William ignored his brother and Harry was left completely by himself after Queens death

Prince Harry has become increasingly distanced from his family in the UK (Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Gala)

Queen Elizabeths reign ended last year, as the long-serving monarch died on 8 September 2022. Scobie writes that the Sussexes had no idea that Buckingham Palace was preparing for her final few hours, when Charles rang Harry and asked him to make his way to Balmoral Castle immediately.

When Harry reached out to William to check whether they could travel to Scotland together, he was said to have been met with radio silence.

Harry was reportedly informed William had secured a flight for himself and his uncles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Meanwhile, the duke received no details about joining that flight.

A source told Scobie: It was upsetting to witness. [Harry] was completely by himself on this.

Harry sent his brother a follow-up text message but he still didnt hear back from William  despite the fact that seats were available on the Dassault Falcon private jet the prince had chartered.

William ignored him, said a family source. He clearly didnt want to see his brother.

In the end, Harry flew out by himself in a private plane, costing $37,000, from Luton airport.

Harry learnt about Queens death after news alert

A source claimed William completely ignored Harry in the time surrounding the Queens death (Getty)

Harry had no idea his grandmother had died at 3.10pm on 8 September, over two hours before his own flight took off. While the duke was still racing against time to make it to Her Majestys bedside, Buckingham Palace was preparing to break the news of her death to the world, Scobie writes.

[Harrys] team literally had to beg for them to wait for his plane to land and they reluctantly agreed to hold the statement back for a little bit, Scobie shares a statement from a close family friend. But, when Harrys plane was delayed by bad weather over Aberdeen International airport, they could wait no longer and the announcement went live at 6.30pm, he writes.

When the plane landed at around 6.50pm, Harry received a text message from Meghan, urging him to call her after she received a BBC breaking news alert that the queen had died.

Harry was crushed, a friend of the duke told Scobie. His relationship with the queen was everything to him. She would have wanted him to know before it went out to the world. They could have waited just a little longer, it would have been nothing in the grand scheme of things, but no one respected that at all.

Charles tearful over disgraced Andrews mental health

Prince Andrew with his brother Charles (Getty Images)

Scobie says that Charles, like his late mother, has a soft spot for Prince Andrew, who stepped back from royal life over intense scrutiny of his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Stonewalling and expelling his son came easy enough, he writes, referring to Charles approach in dealing with Harry, although its a different story with his own brother.

Amid Andrews fall from grace, Scobie writes, Charles was tearful over fears for the shamed dukes mental health.

The Duke of York was stripped of his military titles by his mother after one of Epsteins victims Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexually abusing her at his apartment in Belgravia when she was 17. Andrew strongly and repeatedly denied the allegations, and later paid a multimillion-pound amount to settle the lawsuit.

According to r Scobie, it was William who set the wheels in motion in distancing the royal family from Andrew, although the Queen was the official face of Andrews reckoning. Charles, he claims, didnt want any part of it.

Royal familys silence over Prince Archie race row

Harry is apparently now in a great place and focusing on his physical and mental fitness (Getty)

In the two years since the royal family became embroiled in a race row over Harry and Meghans son, no one except Charles is said to have addressed the alleged conversation about Prince Archies skin colour.

After they relocated to Montecito, California, Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. During their hour-long conversation about their treatment by the royals, Meghan claimed that a senior member had speculated about the colour of Archies skin while she was pregnant.

While the issue has reportedly been privately addressed in letters between Meghan and Charles, neither Kate nor William have reached out to the Sussexes about the matter.

The silence has caused a lot of confusion and upset, says a source close to the family.

Harry is in a great place

With the long rift between him and his family showing no sign of healing, Prince Harry is focussing on his role as a father to Archie and Princess Lilibet.

According to Scobies account, Harrys also prioritising his physical and mental fitness, adding that the duke works out regularly with his personal trainer. His routine also includes regular hikes, bike rides, and ice baths.

Endgame will be released in the UK on 28 November. You can read The Independents review of the book here.

Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and the Sussexes were all contacted for comment.
The Prime Minister rowed back on a number of net zero policies in September - Justin Tallis/Pool via Reuters

A Conservative MP who described Rishi Sunaks relaxation of net zero targets as the greatest mistake of his premiership is seeking ministers support to lead the official climate watchdog.

Chris Skidmore, who signed net zero into law as Theresa Mays energy minister, is understood to be on a shortlist of candidates to chair the Climate Change Committee.

The CCC is a statutory body advising the Government on greenhouse gas emissions targets. In 2019, it recommended that ministers adopt a target for net zero greenhouse gases by 2050.

Like Mr Skidmore, the watchdog opposed a series of changes announced by Mr Sunak in September, including pushing back the planned 2030 ban on the sale of petrol cars. It was criticised by the Prime Minister for proposing a meat tax as part of efforts to reduce Britains carbon emissions.

Bid likely to raise eyebrows

Mr Skidmores bid to chair the CCC, for an initial five-year term, is likely to raise eyebrows among many Tory backbenchers given that he was one of the partys most outspoken critics of Mr Sunaks relaxation of net zero targets in September. He would, however, be likely to receive support from centrist Conservatives concerned about any watering down of the partys climate ambitions.

A decision on the appointment will be taken by Claire Coutinho, the Net Zero Secretary, who drew up the overhaul of the Governments climate plans with Mr Sunak. A spokesman for her department declined to comment.

Vacancy follows Lord Debens departure

The vacancy follows the departure of Lord Deben, formerly John Gummer, who chaired the body for 11 years. The 83-year-old Conservative peer has insisted that Britain is reducing carbon emissions far too slowly.

Mr Skidmore has announced that he will step down as an MP at the next election, which is expected next year. It is understood that he applied for the Climate Change Committee role before Mr Sunaks shift in approach to net zero.

In September the Prime Minister announced exemptions and delays to several key green policies, as he attempted to address concerns that the existing targets such as the 2030 ban on selling petrol cars risked leaving households poorer. Mr Sunak said he was confident the UK would still hit the overall target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Original targets fair and well considered

But Mr Skidmore went on a media offensive in response to the changes, insisting the existing targets had been fair and well considered.

He said: The decision will cost the UK jobs, inward investment and future economic growth that could have been ours by committing to the industries of the future.

Ultimately, the people who will pay the price for this will be householders, whose bills will remain higher as a result of inefficient fossil fuels and being dependent on volatile international fossil fuel prices. Rishi Sunak still has time to think again and not make the greatest mistake of his premiership.

Mr Skidmore previously carried out a review of government net zero policies commissioned during Liz Trusss premiership, which is due to be published as a book this week.

The MP for Kingswood, Gloucestershire, told the Telegraph last year that he had chosen not to stand at the next election because his seat of Kingswood in South Gloucestershire was due to be abolished in the official review of constituency boundaries.

He added: One reason why I want to leave politics is now actually to focus on net zero beyond being in the House of Commons, and to probably devote the next part of my career to looking at how to deliver on the energy transition and on ensuring that business and society can deliver on net zero.

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.
Lord Mayor of Westminster Patricia McAllister and Mayor of Olso Anne Lindboe helped to cut down the spruce

London's traditional Christmas gift has been felled in Norway ahead of its trip to Trafalgar Square.

It grew in Nordmarka, the forests just north of Oslo, and will be loaded onto a ship bound for the capital.

Standing at 62 ft (19 metres) tall, the tree will arrive in central London at the start of next month ahead of an official lights ceremony on 7 December.

The Norwegian spruce is sent each year a token of thanks for Britain's support during Second World War.

A specialist rigging team will erect the spruce in Trafalgar Square using a hydraulic crane.

The tree is loaded onto a ship avoiding any contact with salt water, which could damage it and sets sail for the UK

The tree will be decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion with vertical strings of energy-efficient lights, Westminster Council said.

The Lord Mayor of Westminster Patricia McAllister joined the British Ambassador Jan Thompson for the official tree felling ceremony in Norway.

It was hosted by the Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, and was also attended by local primary school children, officials who are involved with the maintenance of the forest and members of the public.

This year marks the 76th anniversary since King Haakon VII sent the first spruce to London.

When Norway was invaded in 1940, the King of Norway sought refuge in Britain and the Norwegian government-in-exile was established in London.

To most Norwegians, London represented the spirit of freedom during these difficult war years.

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
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  State highway cameras showed a flipped car impacting traffic on Interstate 77.

Man pulled from Medina County lake, dies at hospital: Deputies

Friday evening, the right two lanes of I-77 South were blocked beyond Wallings Road for a crash, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

This weekends weather could get a bit messy

Traffic cameras showed a fire truck and ambulance at the scene, where the car appears to have flipped over into the embankment along the right side of the roadway.

The roadway has since been cleared.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
The expansion of the Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain oil pipeline advances in Acheson

By Nia Williams

(Reuters) - The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has ordered the company building the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion (TMX) to appear at an oral hearing on Monday, as the regulator weighs whether to approve a variance request from the project.

Trans Mountain Corp, which is owned by the Canadian government, last month applied for a variance on a section of pipeline between Hope and Chilliwack, British Columbia, after encountering "very challenging" construction conditions due to the hardness of the rock it needs to drill through.

The company wants to install a 30-inch-diameter (76 cm) pipe instead of a 36-inch (91 cm) pipe as planned, which would shorten the installation schedule by approximately 55-60 days.

In a letter dated Nov. 23, the CER said it requires "further information or justification" regarding Trans Mountain's submissions so far, and will hold an oral hearing in Calgary on Monday.

Trans Mountain had asked the regulator to make a decision on the variance request by Nov. 30 to "advance the timely completion" of the expansion project.

TMX will ship an extra 590,000 barrels per day of crude from Alberta to Canada's Pacific Coast. The C$30.9 billion project has been plagued by cost overruns and regulatory delays.

The expanded pipeline is scheduled to start operating late in the first quarter of 2024, and any further construction hold-ups risk delaying the start date.

Earlier this month TMX was ordered to stop work for nearly two weeks after regulators found several environmental non-compliance issues in a wetland area near Abbotsford, British Columbia.

In September, the CER approved a route deviation request from TMX for a section of pipeline near Kamloops, despite opposition from local Indigenous groups.

The CER said no other parties had expressed concern about TMX's latest variance request.

(Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Mark Porter and Leslie Adler)
I'm on a mission to visit more Eastern European countries and recently went to Poland.

The Old Towns in Warsaw and Lublin were storybook-like, and the food was delicious and cheap.

I visited many historical sites such as the Majdanek concentration camp.

I've been on a mission to visit more Eastern European countries this year. They're underrated, full of culture, and have delicious, cheap food. In June, I got to tick Poland off my bucket list.

I recently went to Poland by myself. Sama Ansari Pour.

Poland, an Eastern European country that borders Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia, has always appealed to me because of its rustic charm and famous dumplings.

I spent five days in two cities  Warsaw, the capital, and Lublin  strolling around old castles, roaming through museums, and eating as many pierogies as I could.

I felt like I was transported into a fairy-tale land in Warsaw and Lublin's Old Towns. I always felt safe despite traveling alone and was surprised at how cheap it was  at one point I bought a salad for $1.

I loved my time there and would go back in a heartbeat. I think everyone should consider visiting Poland during a European vacation.

Some parts felt like a time capsule. I strolled around for hours through the narrow streets of the Old Town in both Warsaw and Lublin.

Warsaw's Old Town. Sama Ansari Pour.

The Old Town in Warsaw dates to the 13th century, but during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, 85% of it was destroyed, according to UNESCO.

A 40-year reconstruction took place, which was completed in 1984 after the restoration of the Royal Castle. The aim was to recreate the Old Town's 18th-century appearance, and it's now on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

I loved walking through the Warsaw Old Town. Not only was it gorgeous, there was so much to do, like visiting museums and castles.

Poland is perfect for history enthusiasts. The country has a harrowing and important past, from WWII to life under communism.

Signs in Lubin marking where the Jewish ghetto used to be, left, and the Majdanek concentration camp in Lublin, right. Sama Ansari Pour.

Before WWII, Poland had 3.3 million Jewish people. At the end of the war, only 380,000 remained, according to Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center.

In Lublin, there were signs on the streets marking where the Jewish ghetto, a segregated slum, used to be. I also visited the Majdanek concentration camp, one of six concentration camps built by Germany in occupied Polish territory between 1941 and 1945.

It was harrowing, but I was grateful that I could learn about it from the victims; there were video clips of them talking about their experiences the day they were liberated.

There's plenty more history to explore in Poland, too. In the Krakow Pinball Museum, you can see retro arcade games and the Polish Aviation Museum displays historic aircraft.

You also need to visit Poland for the food. It's hearty, meaty, and cheap. An average meal, including an appetizer and drink, cost $7.50.

I'm still dreaming about these Polish dumplings. Sama Ansari Pour.

I'm a huge fan of dumplings, so of course I had to try pierogies, Polish dumplings typically filled with pork or vegetables. For one meal, I chose mushroom pierogies fried in butter, pictured, and every mouthful was like an explosion of flavors.

I also had a hearty chicken soup, pictured on the right, which would be perfect when you're feeling under the weather.

Transportation is cheap, accessible, and reliable.

Public transport in Poland was very affordable. Sama Ansari Pour.

Warsaw had trains, trams, and buses, which ran frequently, while Lublin had buses and trolleybuses.

Riding the tram in Warsaw was a particular favorite of mine. A one-way journey cost 2.20 Polish zloty, or about $0.50, which you could buy from a ticket machine on the tram. In my experience, the times for the bus or tram were clearly stated, so there was no need to download any transportation apps beforehand.

If public transportation isn't your thing, I found that Uber was also affordable during my trip. I took an Uber to my hotel each evening in Warsaw, and never spent more than $5.50 for a 20-minute trip.

I felt very safe throughout my trip. People kept to themselves and I didn't see typical tourist scams.

I felt safe in Poland. Sama Ansari Pour.

In Poland, I felt at ease despite traveling solo. I'm from London, and in my experience, its tourist areas can often have scammers looking to take advantage of visitors. But in Poland, I didn't see this at all.

Of course, I also practiced caution, which made me feel safer. I didn't go out late at night, I didn't attract attention to myself, and my family always knew my location.

After a whirlwind five days exploring Old Towns and museums and eating great food, I think Poland needs to be a stop on everyone's next trip to Europe.

The Old Town in Warsaw. Sama Ansari Pour.

Poland is one of the 33 countries that the Eurail pass covers. You can find direct flights from the US to various cities including Warsaw and Krakow.

Depending on the time, you can also get cheap flights from many European cities if you plan to make a stopover in Poland during a trip to Europe.

Correction: November 26, 2023  An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the Majdanek concentration camp. The camp was built by Germany in occupied Polish territory; it was not a Polish concentration camp.

Read the original article on Insider
Israel's military campaign in Gaza City is probably in its final stages.

The truce, brokered to allow for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, will delay the IDF by anywhere from four to nine days, depending on how many hostages Hamas decides to release.

When that ends, Israeli experts expect the battle for control of Gaza City to resume and last another week to 10 days.

But what happens when the Israeli military turns its attention to the southern Gaza Strip, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly indicated?

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas wherever it exists. It assumes that the group's most important leaders, Yayha Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, are somewhere in the south, along with thousands of fighters and, probably, a significant number of Israeli hostages.

If Israel decides to do to the south what it's already done to the north, will Western - especially American - goodwill start to run out?

Early winter rains have caused flooding

With the bulk of the Gaza Strip's estimated 2.2 million people now crammed into the southern two thirds of the Strip, many of them homeless and traumatised, is a larger humanitarian disaster looming?

One of the last straws might be the sight of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, huddled in tents, amid the sandy fields of a place called al-Mawasi.

According to the UN relief agency for Palestinians (Unrwa), almost 1.7 million people have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since 7 October. Most of them are in the south, living in overcrowded shelters.

UN officials speak of already desperate conditions, with tens of thousands of people sheltering in schools, hospitals and, in some cases, tents.

Tent camp in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip

Early winter rains have already caused flooding, adding to the misery.

For several weeks, Israeli officials have been talking about a solution - a so-called "safe area" at al-Mawasi, a thin strip of mainly agricultural land along the Mediterranean coast, close to the Egyptian border.

Last week, leaflets dropped over the nearby city of Khan Yunis warned of impending airstrikes and told people to move west, towards the sea.

In a post on social media on Thursday, Avichay Adraee, the IDF's spokesman for the Arabic media, told Gazans al-Mawasi would provide "the appropriate conditions to protect your loved ones."

But how realistic is it to expect more than two million people to shelter there while the war rages nearby? And just how "appropriate" are conditions at al-Mawasi?

Map showing the approximate area of the Al-Mawasi 'humanitarian zone'

The map shows a patchwork of fields, greenhouses and scattered houses. Although it's hard to be certain, the area defined by Israel is about 2.5km wide, at its widest, and just over 4km long.

Dr Michael Milshtein, a former adviser on Palestinian affairs to Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), calls it "a beautiful and fruitful place, but quite small".

Aid agencies take a less generous view.

"It's a tiny piece of land," Juliette Touma, director of communications for Unrwa, says. "There's nothing there. It's just sand dunes and palm trees."

Any attempt to accommodate hundreds of thousands of displaced people, in an area seemingly lacking in essential infrastructure - there are no hospitals - will present the UN with a mammoth humanitarian challenge, including the setting up of emergency shelter, most likely tents.

It's also a moral challenge with deep historical resonance - much of Gaza's population is descended from refugees who lived in tents after their expulsion from Israel in 1948.

The Gaza Strip is already home to eight refugee camps, which have evolved over the decades into bustling, overcrowded towns. The UN doesn't want to be responsible for setting up yet another camp.

Israeli officials say it will be up to aid agencies to make sure help reaches al-Mawasi from the Rafah crossing, more than 10km away. They haven't said how this will work in practice.

US officials are said to be trying to negotiate with Israel over additional safe areas, possibly including one at Dahaniya, at the far southern tip of the Gaza Strip.

Under the terms of the hostage release agreement, which came into effect on Friday, Israel should also allow 200 trucks of aid into Gaza each day, much more than in recent weeks.

But on 16 November, a statement by the heads of 18 UN agencies and NGOs involved in providing assistance to Palestinian civilians appeared to reject Israel's plans outright.

"We will not participate in the establishment of any 'safe zone' in Gaza that is set up without the agreement of all the parties," it said.

UN officials say the parties include Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank.

Without mentioning al-Mawasi by name, the 16 November statement warned that Israel's unilateral proposals could put many lives at risk.

One of the signatories, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation, called the plans "a recipe for disaster".

Destroyed buildings in Gaza City

"Attempting to cram so many people into such a small area with such little infrastructure or services," he said, "will significantly increase risks to health for people who are already on the brink."

Israeli officials say Hamas is to blame and seem unfazed by the dangers. Al-Mawasi, they say, is the one area Israeli forces have undertaken not to attack.

"It's going to be dire. But they'll live," says Lt Col Richard Hecht, an IDF spokesman.

For Israel, it's a matter of military necessity. Just as Hamas was embedded in Gaza City, it says, so the group's fighters and infrastructure exist in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Removing the civilian population ahead of an assault, Israelis argue, is the humane way to approach the job of defeating Hamas.

"People in Israel don't like the situation where people in Gaza are somewhere in al-Mawasi, under the rain of winter, which is coming," says retired Maj Gen Yaacov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser. "But what is the alternative? If someone has an idea how to destroy Hamas without it, please tell us."

The prospect of further months of suffering, compounded by extreme overcrowding and harsh winter conditions, is bound to add to mounting international disquiet over the conduct of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

"Conducting a new major ground operation in that area risks casualties and displacement of civilians on a scale which will threaten to undermine international sympathy for Israel," a western official told me, speaking on strict condition of anonymity.

'It's a question of how long western patience will last."

The Netanyahu government knows that it can count on unprecedentedly deep reserves of Western goodwill, following the unspeakable horrors perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October.

But Israeli officials also know those reserves are not endless and that international calls for restraint are likely to become louder when the hostage truce comes to an end and Israel resumes its military campaign.

"My hope is that international pressure after the truce is ended will not prevent that," says Dr Eyal Hulata, who led Israel's National Security Council from 2021 to 2023.

"My hope is that the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu will not cave to pressure with this. This is what the citizens of Israel expect of their leaders."

With winter looming, Israel gearing up for the decisive next phase of its campaign, and no agreement on how to deal with the civilian population, Gaza's long agony looks set to continue. Perhaps even to get worse.

More on Israel-Gaza war
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed MAGA influence on Friday for falling support for aid to Ukraine among Canadian conservatives.

The real story is the rise of a right-wing, American MAGA-influenced thinking that has made Canadian Conservatives  who used to be among the strongest defenders of Ukraine, Ill admit it  turn their backs on something Ukraine needs in its hour of need, Trudeau said Friday, according to the CBC.

The prime minister said politicians in the U.S., Europe and Canada who do not back aid for Ukraine are starting to parrot Russian disinformation and misinformation and propaganda.

Canadas conservatives have started to move against further Ukraine aid in recent weeks, a stark shift from the countrys early near-unanimous support for the war effort against Russia. Canada boasts one of the largest diasporas of Ukrainians in the world.

All Canadians should be concerned when the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre turn their backs on history, turn their backs on our friends and allies, turn their backs on the international rules-based order and our support for the UN charter on territorial integrity, Trudeau said.

There has been a growing divide among those on the American right about aid to Ukraine. The U.S. Congress is facing a struggle over providing aid to Ukraine and Israel amid its conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

I dont think theres one simple way its going to move, said Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. Its all in play.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump on Israel-Hamas hostage deal: This is not going to end well

Former President Trump branded Saturday as a dark day as Hamas moves to release a second wave of hostages amid a temporary truce in its war with Israel.

Trump in a social media post criticized the deal, pointing to the lack of Americans being released.

Has anybody noticed that Hamas has returned people from other Countries but, so far, has not returned one American Hostage? he wrote on Truth Social, making a subtle dig at President Biden. There is only one reason for that, NO RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTRY OR OUR LEADERSHIP.

This is a very sad and dark period of America! Trump added.

His comments come after Hamas, which is labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and many other countries, released about two dozen hostages Friday as part of a four-day pause in the war. This marked just the first batch of about 50 captives expected to be set free during the truce in exchange for more than 100 Palestinian prisoners.

Biden said Friday that he expects some Americans believed to be held hostage by Hamas to be released in the deal  but he could not confirm their health status.

We dont know when that will occur, but we expect it to occur, Biden said.

The militant group is expected to release another group of hostages Saturday, after a brief delay. No Americans are expected in this exchange either, per U.S. officials.

However, Biden said he is hopeful that the temporary cease-fire will be extended and more hostages will be returned, including at least two American women and a 4-year-old girl.

Thats our goal, the president added.

Trump claimed the deal wouldnt end well because of Hamass demands.

Hamas now wants a better deal for hostages, he wrote in a separate post. This is not going to end well!

The former president in an interview with Univision earlier this month suggested that the international community should just let the war play out, because it shouldnt have started.

While often touting his support for Israel while in the White House, his comments following the initial Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel have sparked questions.

Trump not only described Iran-backed Hezbollah as very smart, but he also heavily criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately after.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  The Department of National Defense (DND) will look into the capability requirements of scout rangers to support the country's evolving defense goals, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Saturday.

During the 73rd Anniversary of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, Marcos recognized the unit's "pivotal role in confronting internal security threats," but added that it is crucial to bolster the country's external defense and prioritize "capabilities that could contribute to a better defense posture."

He said scout rangers could help augment the country's uniformed personnel.

"The DND will review the Scout Rangers' capability requirements and pursue options that will enhance our operational capabilities and effectiveness to achieve the desired defense objectives," the chief executive said.

"By providing the necessary resources and support, we will enable the Scout Rangers, including our Special Forces Units, to support the Armed Forces, as it transforms into a stronger and more reliable defense force capable of defending the country against current and emerging threats," he added.

Marcos also highlighted the need to address peace in the country.

The president said the amnesty granted to current and former members of rebel groups signifies steps toward "national healing."
HONESDALE, WAYNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) initially reported two people, a man and a woman, missing from Honesdale and they have since been found safe.

Victim identified in Monroe Co. drowning incident

PSP says the missing persons alert for 90-year-old Victor Falvo and 87-year-old Delores Falvo has been canceled as officials say the pair has been found safe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Ukraine was attacked overnight by a record number of 75 Russian Shahed-131/136 drones, with 71 intercepted by Air Defense Forces. More than 60 attacked Kyiv and its approach, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram on Nov. 25.

The Ukrainian capital was the main target of the most massive kamikaze drone attack since the full-scale invasion, Russia launched from two directions  Russias Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kursk Oblasts.

Air defense systems, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units were engagedin at least six regions of the country, including Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, and Kirovohrad Oblasts.

Read also: Russia likely stockpiling missiles for new attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure  UK intelligence

A Kh-59 cruise missile was also successfully shot down over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Several buildings were damaged by falling drone wreckage in Kyiv  a multi-story residential building in the Dniprovskyi district, a four-story building in the Holosiivskyi district, and anotherone in the Solomyanskyi district, where a fallen slab of concrete trapped two women inside, Kyivmayor Vitaliy Klychko reported.

Emergency services are on the scene.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A PhD student studying at the University of Georgia is fighting for his life.

Bibek Pangeni and his wife came to the United States in 2022 so he could get his PhD in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, according to the UGA Nepalese Student Association.

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Earlier this year, Pangeni and his family returned to Nepal to be with their family as they mourned the loss of his mother who lost a battle with Parkinsons disease.

The day before they were supposed to return, the organization said, Pangeni was diagnosed with third-stage glioma, a brain tumor.

Once he was able to return to the U.S., he was admitted to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital and had surgery to remove half of the tumor, which was sent off for testing.

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Doctors are still working to determine a treatment plan for Pangeni, the Nepalese Student Association said.

They have established a GoFundMe campaign to help offset the familys medical costs.

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Traffic on the A939 Cockbridge to Tomintoul road in the Highlands on Saturday - Peter Jolly/Northpix

A cold front from Scandinavia is set to hit Britain with freezing temperatures and snow in the next few days.

Temperatures may plunge to as low as -5C (23F) even in rural parts of southern England, with warnings of ice on roads and heavy frosts as well as some snow forecast in the Pennines and Welsh mountains.

The first widespread frost of the autumn for much of the UK on Saturday led to sub-zero temperatures as far south as Somerset with only the north of Scotland and parts of the east and south west of England staying widely above freezing overnight.

However, it will turn colder again through Monday evening with a return to widespread overnight frosts. Conditions will also be largely dry, though some rain showers along the east coast could turn to sleet over higher ground.

A Met Office spokesman said the cold and variable weather is to be expected at this time of year, though the UK has historically had the first frosts in October.

Colder than average conditions

Dan Harris, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: Early next week, following a brief more unsettled interlude, we expect to see a return to widely cold but quiet conditions. Some rain, or showers, are likely to affect some parts of the east coast, and these could turn increasingly wintry over higher ground areas towards the middle of the week.

Thereafter, confidence in the detailed forecast falls, which is typical when looking this far ahead. It does look as though there will be a trend towards something more unsettled, as areas of cloud and rain attempt to move across the UK.

At present, the most likely outcome beyond mid-week is that rain from the west slowly moves east, with snow possible over higher ground, and a continued risk of showers over eastern parts.

However, there is a chance that a more active weather system arrives from the south west, which would bring more widespread rain, stronger winds, and the potential for more significant snowfall should the air over the UK become sufficiently cold ahead of it.

Either way, a continuation of colder than average conditions seems most likely, more details will become clear over the coming days and, as you would expect, we will be monitoring developments in the forecast closely.

Coastal erosion caused by high tides and wind led to the Marrams in Hemsby, Norfolk, collapsing into the road - Terry Harris

Meanwhile, people are being warned to stay away from a beach after the collapse of a cliff-top road brought power lines down.

High tides and wind caused significant damage at Hemsby in Norfolk, with several feet of cliff and dunes washed away on Friday.

One disabled resident was unable to move from his home owing to the collapse of the Marrams - Terry Harris

Its just too dangerous

Hemsby Lifeboat posted on Facebook to say a 650ft stretch of road had fallen on to the beach.

Daniel Hurd, lifeboat coxswain, said: Stay away  its just too dangerous.

Cars left stranded

Mr Hurd said erosion had led to power cables had fallen, cars had been left stranded and one disabled resident was unable to move from his home due to the collapse of the Marrams.

People are unable to get to their properties; theres no water supply, its an absolute joke, he said.

The lifeboat crew, which is independent and not part of the RNLI, was helping residents while Norfolk Police closed off some roads.

Its lifeboat station is set slightly back from the Gap, an area of dunes at a lower point between higher sandy cliffs.

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The Russian Black Sea Fleets ability to use its Novorossiysk naval base to reload vessels with cruise missiles is likely to become a significant factor in the fleets operational effectiveness, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence update on Nov. 25.

The Ukrainian military reported on Nov 13 that Russia has paused launching maritime cruise missiles against Ukraine because of logistical problems at Novorossiysk.

Russia will likely seek to expedite overcoming such issues in time for maritime cruise missiles to be included in any winter campaign of strikes against Ukraine, the U.K. ministry said on X.

According to the report, Russias Black Sea Fleet has reloaded cruise missiles at occupied Sevastopol in Crimea, which is held at risk by Ukrainian long-range strikes.

Following Ukrainian strikes on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Sevastopol in late September, Russia transferred several ships, including submarines, from Sevastopol to a port in Novorossiysk. The move was likely an attempt to safeguard the vessels from further Ukrainian strikes, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 4 report.

The attack was reportedly carried out with long-range Storm Shadow missiles.

On Oct. 3, U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Ukraine's attacks resulted in "the functional defeat" of the Russian fleet.

Russia will highly likely see Novorossiysk as the alternative site, the British ministry said in an update.

However, relocating and reloading the missiles would require new delivery, storage, handling, and loading processes, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet has actively blocked trade routes following the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, threatening global food supplies.

Read also: Uncertain Triumph: Ukraine picks apart Russias best air defenses in Crimea

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By Max Hunder

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine needs more air defences to protect its grain export routes as well as regions bordering Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday, as he addressed an international summit on food security in Kyiv.

"There is a deficit of air defence - that is no secret," Zelenskiy told the Grain from Ukraine summit, which was attended by senior officials from European countries, including Swiss President Alain Berset and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Zelenskiy was speaking after Russia attacked Ukraine with 75 drones overnight, the biggest drone assault of the war. The joint press conference of the three leaders was cut short by another air raid siren.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine would be supplied by its foreign partners with vessels to accompany convoys of cargo ships from Ukraine's ports to guarantee their security.

"I have agreements with several countries about powerful accompaniment of convoys by Ukrainians, but using (foreign) equipment," he said.

Separately, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged support in a letter to Zelenskiy that she shared on social media platform X, saying the Commission would make available 50 million euros for "quick repairs and upgrades of infrastructure in Ukraine's ports."

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv hoped to solve its air defence shortage through new supplies from partners and increasing its own production capacity, something on which he said there had been progress.

"As of today, I can't say details what we are making and where, but there is progress," he said.

Ukraine, a major exporter of grain, has been exporting grain via unilateral corridors through the Black sea, after Russia withdrew in July from a UN-brokered deal to allow grain ships through its blockade.

Ukraine's current Black sea grain export corridors all start from ports in Ukraine's southern region of Odesa.

"There are certain air defence systems... we are asking for them," Zelenskiy said. "We've already got an answer when those systems will start to guard that region. Because there, both the corridor and the people are important."

Asked about the protests by Polish and Slovak truckers which have blocked much of Ukraine's road-based cargo supply in recent days, Zelenskiy blamed the problem on the internal politics of those countries.

"I believe that there are difficulties on the border first and foremost because of certain political steps by our neighbours," he told a press conference after the summit.

Zelenskiy said he was confident the issue would be solved if Ukraine's neighbours were given "a bit of time" to deal with the dispute.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; additional reporting by Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Dykyi: if we use World War II comparisons, our Normandy landing has happened, our Ardennes is ahead of us

Ukrainian forces have gained control of the Dnipro left banks floodplain in Kherson Oblast, forcing the Russians to build new defensive lines on hills farther from the river, former Aidar Battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi told Radio NV.

"In fact, the Dnipro floodplain is effectively under Ukrainian control. And now the Russians are trying to prevent any further steps. They have essentially ceded the floodplain to us, but they are trying to dig in and fortify themselves where the terrain begins to rise. Although it's not accurate to call them hills, there is a slight elevation compared to the mostly flat terrain. At the moment, they are trying to dig in, fortify themselves, and establish some sort of defensive line along this elevation," Dykyi said, noting that the Russians have nothing similar to the so-called Surovikin defensive line.

Read also: Russian forces forced to relocate amidst Kherson setbacks  General Staff

"They built the Surovikin line for nine months, and now no one is giving them that much time, not even close. That's why, if we use World War II comparisons from time to time, we can say that our Normandy landing has already happened, and now, let's say, our Ardennes is ahead of us. That is, to break through from the beaches, so to speak, from Normandy, in our case, from the Dnipro River floodplain, to break through into a wide operational space."

There have been reports of successes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and advancements on the left bank of the Kherson region since mid-October. There were also reports of a breakthrough across the Dnipro into the occupied region near the villages of the Oleshkivska community.

Read also: Video captures drone attack on Russian military unit in Dzhankoy, temporarily occupied Crimea

Judging by the reaction of Russian "war correspondents," this operation could be more significant than previous similar raids by the AFU, the Institute for the Study of War said.

Analysts reported progress toward the village of Krynka in late October, and on Nov. 10 there were signs of a likely expansion of the foothold and the cutting of a key road from Nova Kakhovka to Oleshky.

Ukrainian forces have successfully deployed three brigades on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast as the broader southern counteroffensive culminated, The Guardian reported on Nov. 16, citing unnamed Western officials.

The marine infantry officially confirmed on Nov. 17 that Ukrainian fighters had secured several beachheads on the occupied left bank of the Dnipro. More than a thousand occupiers and dozens of pieces of equipment were destroyed during the operation.

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At a meeting on 24 November, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decision that will allow Ukraine to attract a grant from Germany worth almost UAH 2 billion (50 million) to support the economy.

Source: Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on the official government website

"These funds will help the government to continue to finance one of the most successful business support programmes - the 5-7-9 soft loan programme," Shmyhal said.

Shmyhal recalled that this week the EU provided Ukraine with another tranche of macro-financial assistance, worth 1.5 billion. The state budget also received US$400 million from the UK through the World Bank Trust Fund.

Shmyhal said the government would use these funds to cover social security payments, pensions, salaries for doctors and teachers, and critical needs.

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Ukraine will get warships from its partners to ensure the Black Sea grain corridor safety, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainska Pravda, answering the outlets question at the Grain from Ukraine conference in Kyiv on Nov. 25.

We have reached agreements with our partners and will accompany ships at sea to ensure their safety. We have already made concrete arrangements to receive the warships. This is a matter of the near future, he said, adding that Odesa Oblast will be protected by additional air defense systems.

Zelenskyy considers the creation of a grain corridor without Russia as one of the greatest achievements of the year.

Read also: How much grain Ukraine exports after Russias withdrawal from grain deal  expert interview

Ukraine has independently established a grain corridor in the Black Sea, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, said during a briefing at the representation of the European Commission in Vienna on Nov. 23.

So, we provided the grain corridor ourselves, and the grain vessels are now liberated, said Stefanishyna, adding that the United Kingdom has established a special insurance fund to ensure the corridors operation.

100 vessels have passed through the temporary grain corridor in the Black Sea, it was reported on Nov. 13.

The Ukrainian Navy announced on Aug. 10 new temporary routes for the movement of civilian vessels to and from Black Sea ports after the cessation of the grain agreement involving the UN, Turkey, and Russia in July.

Read also: Slovakia hesitant to lift ban on Ukrainian grain imports

Russia could attack civilian ships carrying Ukrainian grain by placing sea mines at approaches to Ukrainian Black Sea ports, UK intelligence stated on Oct. 5.

The government declared on Oct. 26 that the temporary corridor for the movement of civilian vessels to and from the ports of Odesa continues to operate, refuting information about its suspension.

Russian occupiers in Crimea have been transferring ships of the Black Sea Fleet to the port of Novorossiysk for several months after systematic attacks on Russian military ships, Ukrainian intelligence reported.

Russia is gradually losing control over the Black Sea and retreating to the eastern part of the waters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Nov. 2.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukraine said Russia's drone attack was the largest on Kyiv since the start of the war (Sergei SUPINSKY)

Ukraine said on Saturday it had downed 74 out of 75 drones Russia launched at it overnight, in what it said was the biggest such attack since the start of the invasion.

The Ukrainian army said Russia had launched a "record number" of Iranian-made Shahed drones, the majority of which targeted Kyiv, causing power cuts as temperatures dipped below freezing.

The drone attack came as Ukraine marked Holodomor Remembrance Day, commemorating the 1930s starvation of millions in Ukraine under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

"The enemy launched a record number of attack drones at Ukraine! The main direction of the attack is Kyiv," said the commander of Ukraine's air force, General Mykola Oleshchuk.

The air force said it had downed "74 out of 75" Shahed drones.

Kyiv authorities said five people -- including an 11-year-old -- were wounded in the capital, where the air raid lasted six hours.

Falling drone debris had sparked fires and damaged buildings across the city, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

AFP saw Kyiv residents clearing smashed windows and other damage in the city's Dniprovsky district, with ambulances parked nearby.

One of the buildings that was damaged housed a nursery and another had part of its top floor destroyed.

Local resident Viktor Vasylenko said he had soothed his young daughter, who experienced "panic and nausea" during the long night-time attacks as they sheltered in a corridor.

The 38-year-old said his family always has "everything prepared" in case of such attacks but this was the first time one had hit so close.

"My wife thought that the house would collapse in half," he said.

Latvia's president, Edgars Rinkevics, on a visit to Kyiv during the attack, posted a photo of himself on social media inside a dark bomb shelter.

In a statement, the French foreign ministry condemned the drone barrage "with the utmost firmness".

More than 21 months into Moscow's offensive, fighting is most intense in the east of Ukraine and is now centred around the city of Avdiivka, which is nearly encircled by Russian forces.

- Holodomor -

Ukraine's army said that while the "main target" of the attack was Kyiv, air defences had also been called into action across the south.

Kyiv said it was "symbolic" that the capital had been the subject of such a large-scale attack on the day Ukraine marks Holodomor.

"More than 70 Shahed on the night of the Holodomor Remembrance Day... The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.

Zelensky attended a ceremony with Kyiv's top military brass, holding candles, to mark the event.

"We mark the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defend their freedom and Ukraines sovereignty against Russias brutal war of aggression", US President Joe Biden said in a statement.

"Ninety years ago, the inhumane polices of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime created the 'death by hunger'," he said.

"Today, Ukraine's agricultural infrastructure is once more being deliberately targetedthis time by Vladimir Putin as part of his drive for conquest and power."

Ukraine says Holodomor -- Ukrainian for "death by starvation" -- was caused deliberately by Soviet agricultural policies.

Moscow denies this, and says it was part of a wider famine that also affected Russian parts of the Soviet Union.

Zelensky said it was "impossible" for Kyiv to forgive or forget the "horrific crimes of genocide" and thanked the growing number of countries that had recognised Holodomor as a deliberate crime against Ukraine.

"They tried to subjugate us, to kill us, to exterminate us," Zelensky said. "They failed".

- Swiss leader in Kyiv -

Switzerland's President Alain Berset was in Kyiv Saturday and paid homage to the victims of Holodomor that he said was "provoked by Soviet leaders".

The pair discussed "humanitarian demining, the use of frozen profits from the assets of the aggressor country and the peace formula", according to Zelensky.

Switzerland's famous tradition of neutrality has been tested since Russia invaded Ukraine -- the Alpine country has followed the EU's lead on sanctions on Moscow, but has refused to allow countries that hold Swiss-made weapons to send them to Kyiv.

Kyiv has set up a new corridor in the Black Sea since Moscow pulled out of the UN-brokered grain deal in July, but it continues to operate under risk.

"We have already accumulated more than $100 million" (through the Kyiv-installed corridor), Zelensky said.

Drones have been extensively used in the conflict, with Ukraine also launching drones into Russia and annexed Crimea.

In Moscow, Russia's top state television presenters took part in a ceremony bidding farewell to war correspondent Boris Maksudov, who was killed by a Ukrainian drone in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine earlier this week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Maksudov a courage award posthumously on Saturday.

bur-oc/yad/pvh
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  A prosecutor in Jordan has indicted the suspect in the killing of a female overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was found dead inside her employer's basement closet, Migrant Workers Officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said.

In a social media post, Cacdac said he has already updated the family of caregiver Mary Grace Santos on the indictment.

"In the case of slain Jordanian OFW Mary Grace Santos, we updated Nanay Santos today about the indictment by the Prosecutor of the accused perpetrator," Cacdac posted on Thursday.

Santos, a 34-year-old who hailed from Pampanga, was allegedly raped and killed by an underaged Egyptian suspect. She was reported missing on Oct. 11.

Santos had been working as a caregiver abroad for eight years to support her two children, one of whom has congenital heart disease
Russia is throwing waves of soldiers toward the embattled Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, in the east of the country, suffering heavy losses in the process. Launched in October, the latest Russian efforts to capture the strategically important city have so far achieved little . New details about the operation are provided in a report from the battlefield by AFP.

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1727726199550497078

The fields are just littered with corpses, Oleksandr, a deputy of a Ukrainian battalion in the 47th Mechanized Brigade, told AFP.

They are trying to exhaust our lines with constant waves of attacks.

https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1728078630134136972

The change of tactics  with Russia increasingly employing infantry attacks  reflects earlier experience with a massed armored assault on the city. Back in October, more than 200 Russian armored vehicles were lost in a failed attack on Avdiivka, Western officials believe.

Columns of tanks and armored personnel carriers were advancing, recalled a Ukrainian drone operator who gave his callsign as Trauma.

But they fell into minefields, were hit by drones and anti-tank missiles.

Russian soldiers now typically advance at night, in groups of five to seven fighters, Trauma told AFP.

Then early in the morning, they launch their attack.

In response, Ukraine is employing diverse weapons including artillery, mortars, grenades, and drones, as well as the 25mm Chain Gun cannons fired from U.S.-supplied M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles  a type seen in the video embedded below.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1728045459216728322 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1728197379973894276?s=20

Some die, others keep on coming. Its like a zombie movie, Trauma added.

Before we head into the latest updates from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here .

The Latest

The dramatic result of the Dutch general election this week, in which Geert Wilders of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) gained the most votes, has led to concerns about continued support for Ukraine from the Netherlands.

Today, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he discussed efforts to maintain European unity in a call with outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The two leaders also talked about the issue of Dutch assistance for the Kyiv regime in the future.

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1728047091841155454

The Netherlands has, up to now, been a staunch supporter of Kyivs war effort. Among its most notable contributions has  alongside Denmark  seen it heading up a European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters. The Dutch have also made some of their own F-16s available for this. Other Dutch arms provided to Ukraine include a pair of Patriot launchers to boost its ground-based air defenses, as well as Leopard 2 main battle tanks.

In his conversation with Zelensky, Prime Minister Rutte reinforced the fact that the Netherlands stands with the people of Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/MinPres/status/1728029439701696643

Meanwhile, Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren admitted that she was worried about how the PVV would handle future military support to Ukraine, Reuters reports.

Ollongren said today that in the Netherlands, there is broad support for our help to Ukraine. She added: I hope and expect this will not change in the new parliament. But the PVV is now the largest party and they have never been enthusiastic about support to Ukraine. They have even been pro-Russia at times. So that has me worried.

Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch Minister of Defense, and Oleksiy Reznikov, her Ukrainian counterpart, talk during the informal meeting of EU defense ministers at the Scandinavian XPO in Marsta, outside Stockholm, on March 8, 2023. Photo by CHRISTINE OLSSON/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

The general election in the Netherlands is just one example of how Western support for Ukraine is highly dependent on Europes changing political landscape.

Also today, Robert Fico, Slovakias populist prime minister, said he considers the war between Ukraine and Russia to be a frozen conflict.

https://twitter.com/WashTimesLocal/status/1728143986785767660

Fico won an election in September on a campaign that included a pledge to halt state military aid to Ukraine. Earlier this month , a planned Slovakian aid package to Ukraine, estimated to be worth around 40.3 million (about $43 million), was canceled by the new government.

Perhaps with one eye on the developments as regards the Netherlands, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidents office, today stated that strengthening Ukrainian military industry is an investment into European and global security, not just Ukraines.

https://twitter.com/AndriyYermak/status/1728072484149252597

One country that is continuing to provide significant military support to Ukraine is Canada. Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that Canada will hand over 11,000 assault rifles and ammunition to Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1728077982726545475

The U.K. Ministry of Defense said today that Russian forces in Ukraine were continuing to suffer very heavy casualties from Ukrainian long-range precision strikes well behind the front lines.

In its latest Defense Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, the U.K. Ministry of Defense pointed to an incident on November 10, when likely over 70 Russian troops were killed in a strike on a convoy of trucks 14 miles behind the front line in the village of Hladkivka, in the Kherson region.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1727956987046928720

It also noted that, on November 19, a strike on Russian troops attending an award ceremony or concert in Kumachove, 37 miles inside Russian-controlled territory, likely caused tens of casualties.

At the same time, the account states that Ukrainian forces are also proving vulnerable to similar incidents. Notably, a Russian ballistic missile killed 19 members of Ukraines 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade at a medal ceremony on November 3, as we reported at the time .

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1721212017506242688

Deployed soldiers are typically well aware of the ranges of their adversarys weapons systems, the U.K. Ministry of Defense concluded. However, faced with the reality of very long combat deployments, commanders face an acute dilemma. They must balance the best practice of keeping the troops dispersed, and less vulnerable to strikes, and the day-to-day requirement to gather units together to conduct administration and to maintain morale.

Another effect of the increasing Ukrainian ability to strike Russian targets far from the front lines can be seen in reports that Russian and Chinese business interests have been discussing the feasibility of a project to construct a tunnel to connect Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. This comes after repeated Ukrainian attacks on the Kerch Bridge that connects the two.

https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1727968275022131493

In a related tweet, previously unseen footage has appeared showing the major explosion that rocked the Kerch Bridge in October 2022, causing portions of the Crimea-bound road segment to collapse and causing several oil tanker wagons on the rail section to catch fire.

Russian officials and a senior Ukrainian official speaking to The New York Times said the explosion was caused by a bomb loaded onto a truck .

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1728145932762435758

Finland temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger crossings to Russia, Reuters reported today. The move is designed to stem the high flow of migrants entering the Nordic country from Russia.

In recent weeks, more than 700 migrants from countries including Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, and Somalia have entered Finland via Russia.

https://twitter.com/rajavartijat/status/1727664338628997280

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said today. We want to send a clear message to Russia: this must stop. This is a question of hybrid attacks and of national security.

More border news now from Poland, where protests by Polish truckers are reducing Ukrainian exports that are vital for its economy. Ukraine said that it wants its export routes via Poland unblocked before it holds talks with Warsaw and the European Commission aimed at ending the standoff. Polish truckers say Ukrainian truckers are entering Poland and hauling goods around Europe, undercutting their prices and putting their businesses at risk.

https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1728132517759447053 https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1728155969719288075

According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian attack using cluster munitions killed three people in a suburb of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, Russian shelling killed another two people in the Donetsk region, Ukraines presidential office said.

https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/1727757158329057651

The use of cluster munitions, in particular, looks to have been stepped up a notch, with the apparent Russian integration of guidance packages and wing kits on cluster bombs, providing them with standoff range, something you can read more about here .

As well as air-launched standoff munitions, Ukraine continues to battle with Iranian-designed one-way attack drones, launched against critical infrastructure targets, in particular.

Ukraines defense ministry today released night footage of one of its mobile fire 'drone hunter' groups deployed to counter the Shahed drones .

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1727985659162587226

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink today said that, as of today, 153 ships carrying over 5.6 million metric tons of grain and other cargo have passed through Ukraines Black Sea humanitarian corridor . The corridor came into being this summer, as a way of releasing cargo ships trapped in Ukrainian ports since the outbreak of war, in the face of a de-facto Russian maritime blockade after Moscow abandoned a deal to let Kyiv export grain. Since then, related Ukrainian infrastructure, including ports, have come under frequent Russian attacks .

Nevertheless, Ukraines grain exports so far in the 2023-24 season that started in July are running 28 percent below the earlier year's volume, according to agriculture ministry data.

https://twitter.com/USAmbKyiv/status/1728000209941041391

Earlier this week, we reported about how the fall weather in Ukraine had become especially nasty. The notorious muddy season is certainly slowing things down for Ukrainian and Russian troops across an already stagnant battlefield. Now, winter is coming, with the challenges of snow and freezing temperatures being added to the mix, as these next photos illustrate.

The vehicles comprise two Western-supplied types that are not seen altogether frequently in Ukrainian service: a British-made Challenger 2 main battle tank and a German-produced Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicle.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1727328092497363196 https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1727328097836683322

We complete our coverage for the time being with a dramatic video of a Ukrainian machine gunner, reportedly from the 3rd Assault Brigade  a unit established by a merger of the Azov Special Operations Forces  although the date and location of the incident are not available. The footage shows the machine gunner taking a bullet, apparently to the chest, but continuing to fight, laying down more suppressive fire. All in all, another testament to the value of modern body armor.

https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1728064679858057292

Thats it for now. Well update this story when theres more news to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
By Vladyslav Smilianets

NIZHYN, Ukraine (Reuters) - A Ukrainian soldier who was posthumously awarded a medal after a widely shared video showed him declaring "Glory to Ukraine" before apparently being shot dead, was commemorated with a statue in his northern hometown on Saturday.

The video shared in March showed a man the military later named as Oleksandr Matsievskiy, a sniper with a unit from the region of Chernihiv, saying "Slava Ukraini," a phrase more than a century old that has become a popular expression of resistance to Russia's February 2022 invasion.

Standing smoking a cigarette in a wooded area, carrying no visible weaponry, Matsievskiy is then seen slumping to the ground, apparently struck repeatedly by unseen shooters.

Kyiv blamed "brutal and brazen" Russians for his death, as did his mother Paraska Demchuk, 68.

"He would have taken all of them with him if he had a grenade," she said, as she proudly showed the medal President Volodymyr Zelenskiy bestowed on her son representing the "Hero of Ukraine" honour.

"He would say to me, 'Mum, I will never let them capture me'," she said through tears. "He wouldn't just bandy words about. It was on the inside, it was like a core inside him," she said.

Kyiv has opened a criminal investigation into the death of Matsievskiy, who was quickly talked of as a hero on social media, where many supporters posted the words "Heroyam Slava," or "Glory to the Heroes," the traditional response to Slava Ukraini.

(Additional reporting by Max Hunder and Nick Starkov; writing by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Ukrainian defenders destroyed at least 18 artillery systems, 29 military vehicles and six Russian tanks over the course of 24 November.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of Russian troops between 24 February 2022 and 25 November 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 323,760 (+860) military personnel;

5,502 (+6) tanks;

10,263 (+7) armoured combat vehicles;

7,851 (+18) artillery systems;

905 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems;

596 (+1) air defence systems;

323 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

324 (+0) helicopters;

5,808 (+8) tactical UAVs;

1,565 (+1) cruise missiles;

22 (+0) ships and boats;

1 (+0) submarines;

10,259 (+29) vehicles and tankers;

1,112 (+4) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

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Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has stated that he has had a fruitful video conversation with his Latvian counterpart, Andris Spruds.

Source: Umierov on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Ukrainian official says they discussed possible asymmetric responses to Russia on the battlefield and ways to further deepen defence cooperation between Ukraine and Latvia, especially on UAVs.

"Grateful to our Latvian friends for their unwavering military and political support," Umierov stressed.

  Had a productive video call with my Latvian colleague Andris Spruds@AndrisSpruds.



Discussed potential asymmetric responses to the occupiers on the battlefield and ways to further deepen our defence cooperation, particularly in the UAV sphere.



Grateful to our Latvian  Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) November 25, 2023

Background:

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Ukraine's risky decision to stay and let Russia bash its forces against Bakhmut came with costs but was worth it

FILE - Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery at Russian positions near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, on Nov. 20, 2022. AP Photo/LIBKOS, File

The months-long battle for Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, was the longest and bloodiest of the war.

Many in the West, including Ukraine's allies, urged it to give up on its defense of the city.

But Kyiv's forces stayed, and although it was costly, it clearly paid off for them in the end.

Ukraine fought tooth and nail for months to defend the eastern city of Bakhmut from a never-ending onslaught of Russian soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries. The fighting, which claimed thousands of lives on both sides, was so brutal in nature that it was characterized as a "slaughter-fest" or "the meat grinder."

Kyiv dismissed skepticism at home and abroad and calls for it to rethink its approach to the city's defense, including calls from its Western allies to consider withdrawing and focus the effort elsewhere along the front lines.

The risky decision to stay there came with significant costs, and Moscow eventually captured the city in May. But war experts say that it paid off for Ukraine, both at the time and in the months that have followed.

The decision to fight for Bakhmut "had some pretty serious ramifications," George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told Business Insider. Had Ukraine not stuck it out, Russia might never have experienced a number of important problems that degraded the country's war machine during and after the battle.

By staying and fighting in Bakhmut, Kyiv managed to stop Russia from moving deeper into eastern Ukraine, pin down large elements of the Russian military, including more elite units like Moscow's airborne forces , and hinder Russia's ability to maintain a large strategic reserve.

Ukrainian T64 tanks move towards Bakhmut direction, in Donetsk Oblast region, on March 20, 2023. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel and a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic International Studies, said Ukraine exhausted Russian forces during the battle for Bakhmut and denied Moscow the opportunity to make more significant territorial progress.

"The Russians bled themselves in trying to take Bakhmut," he told Business Insider.

He added that there were also political and symbolic elements to staying there, because regardless of its tactical and operational significance, losing the city without putting up a fight would have been discouraging and a blow to morale.

The Bakhmut fight also greatly contributed to the ultimate downfall of the notorious Wagner Group, Barros and Cancian said. Efforts to capture the city were largely carried out by the ruthless mercenaries, which also took the brunt of the casualties  relying on poorly trained convicts and gruesome human wave tactics .

During Wagner's months-long fight for Bakhmut, rifts behind the scenes between the mercenary group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and Russia's military leadership began to emerge publicly.

Ukrainian servicemen fire a M777 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on March 17, 2023. Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

Prigozhin regularly bashed the top brass over issues like battlefield incompetence and a lack of ammunition and supplies, and after claiming responsibility for capturing the city in mid-May, he revealed that over 20,000 of his fighters had been killed there, putting the blame for their deaths on the military leadership in Moscow.

"There's no question that Wagner battered its head against Bakhmut," Cancian said, adding that doing so "ultimately shattered the organization" from a military and political perspective.

The battle took such a toll on the group, that in the aftermath, rather than continue to push forward, the group was forced to withdraw to the rear to rest, rearm, and reconstitute.

No longer a front-line force leading the charge, Prigozhin maintained his and Wagner's relevance among ultranationalist supporters by continuing to stir up trouble with the Russian defense ministry.

As the military attempted to clamp down on Wagner, longstanding tensions between Wagner and the Russian military leadership eventually boiled over in June, when Prigozhin took an unusually bold step and led a short-lived mutiny against Moscow's military leadership.

Members of Wagner group sit atop of a tank in a street in the city of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images

This revolt shook the Kremlin and led to purges within and more oversight and control of Wagner by the Russian state. Then Prigozhin died suspiciously in an August plane crash.

Barros said it's not clear to him that Prigozhin would be dead and the Wagner Group subsumed by Russia had the organization not participated in the battle for Bakhmut the way that Moscow allowed it to.

The mercenary leader essentially "used the prominence of his fighters in taking Bakhmut, which would not have been possible without the Wagner Group, to elevate his own position," Barros added. Then he flew too close to the sun.

"It's very difficult to see the series of events that led to Prigozhin's rise and demise happening without the Bakhmut arc," he said, arguing "that is crucial to this whole story."

Questions remain over how much of the combat power that Ukraine sent to Bakhmut was actually needed. There are also questions of whether or not it should have pulled experienced fighters back to positions where Kyiv's forces were gearing up for their summer counteroffensive and integrated them into those preparations. It is difficult to say what was the right move.

An aerial view of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on April 26, 2023. Libkos/AP

Ukraine has made some territorial gains in the south during its counteroffensive, and it even breached Russia's formidable Surovikin Line , a complicated network of defensive fortifications. But it has largely struggled to retake much of the Moscow-held territory that Kyiv was hoping to take back at the start.

Barros argued having more or better forces would not have necessarily made the counteroffensive any more successful because there were already too many flawed fundamental planning assumptions about breaching Russia's defensive positions and the weapons that would be needed to most effectively do so. The realities would have still been true regardless of what kind of troops were there and potentially taking the lead on the assault.

"Even if you were to look at what in theory the Ukrainians had, it doesn't fix the problems with the southern counteroffensive," Barros said. "I think the southern counteroffensive likely would've experienced the same problems nonetheless."

Despite facing setbacks in its counteroffensive, at the same time, Ukraine has found plenty of success around the occupied Crimean peninsula, where Ukraine battered Russia's Black Sea Fleet with naval drones and long-range cruise missiles.

More recently, Kyiv's forces seem to have made some progress by conducting operations on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, near Kherson, a natural barrier that Moscow long enjoyed to its advantage. Its another risky fight, and it remains to be seen how it all plays out.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ostap Stupka with his lawyer in the hall of the Holosiivskyi District Court

Famous Ukrainian stage and film actor and TV presenter, Ostap Stupka, was found guilty of causing a car accident while drunk and sentenced to three years in prison and an eight-year driving ban.

I agree with my lawyer that this is a rather unjust ruling, Stupka commented on the court's decision to public broadcaster Suspilne on Nov. 24.

Read also: Culture minister Karandeev in drunk driving accident  report

There are many mitigating circumstances. We could have settled for a fine, which would have been more appropriate and fair to the state, because the amount is not small. It is at least UAH 170,000 [nearly $5000]. Nor has the fate of the confiscated property been decided either.

The defense plans to appeal. For one month, until the verdict comes into force, Stupka will remain under night house arrest.

Read also: Journalist dies in collision with military vehicle in Mykolaiv Oblast, investigation opened

A 38-year-old man was injured and hospitalized after Stupka drove his Range Rover into a parked Mitsubishi in the Holosiivskyi District in Kyiv on April 4. A breath-alcohol measuring device showed 1.62 ppm of alcohol in the actor's blood. After the accident, Stupka pleaded guilty and promised to help the victim with treatment and recovery.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Ukrainian artillery commander said brigades compete to kill the most Russian soldiers.

Russians advancing to northern Avdiivka must travel through areas vulnerable to artillery fire.

Fighting has continued around the eastern Ukrainian city as Russian forces attempt to capture it.

A Ukrainian artillery commander said that brigades compete to see who can kill the most Russian soldiers as they attempt to cross a heavy-artillery zone in Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine.

Fighting has been raging around the small city in the Donetsk oblast as Russian forces have been repeatedly attempting to capture it despite suffering heavy personnel and equipment losses.

"I'll even reveal a secret," Arty Green, a Ukrainian artillery commander, told Ukrainian media in an interview published on Monday in Forbes. "There's a competition between our brigades. We strike one target, then we see a neighboring brigade doing the same, then another one."

Forbes reported that as Russian forces try to reach the north of the city, they must cross miles of roads and fields exposed to Ukrainian artillery fire.

"Each column that advances along this direction is within firing range from several of our brigades," Green said. "They are within striking distance of mortars and brigade-level tactical artillery."

Russia is throwing waves of men like a 'zombie movie'

Ukrainian footage captured in October of vehicles burning near Avdiivka. 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Ukrainian officials said Tuesday that Russia appeared to be committing fewer troops to Avdiivka, Reuters reported.

But conflicting reports cite other Ukrainian officials saying that Russia was increasing the number of assault operations near the city.

Oleksandr, a deputy in the 47th Mechanized Brigade, told the AFP news agency that Russia was sending "waves" of men to battle for the city to exhaust Ukrainian lines and compared it to a "zombie movie."

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has made significant gains in six weeks. In October, the UK Ministry of Defence said Russian losses in the Avdiivka offensive were likely among the worst of the year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian defenders have downed six Russian drones and a missile over Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv oblasts at night.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote from Lysak: "Defenders from Skhid (East) Air Command downed a missile and five unmanned aerial vehicles over the oblast at night.

[The situation] was not peaceful in Nikopol District."

Quote from Kim: "Air defence forces and assets destroyed one Shahed-131/136 drone in Mykolaiv Oblast on the night of 24-25 November."

Background: The Russians were conducting a large-scale Shahed drone attack on Ukraine throughout the night.

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A hotel company partnered with a local organization to pack meals for Thanksgiving weekend.

U.S. Hunger and Loews Hotels, which owns multiple Universal Orlando resorts, hosted packaging events across Central Florida.

Over 2,200 team members, guests, family and friends worked in assembly lines to create the meal packages on Saturday morning.

These events are part of the hotel companys Good Neighbor outreach program.

Read: Details emerge on Universal Epic Universe hotel project

Over the past ten years, Loews Hotels has worked with the Longwood-based organization to pack over 3 million meals.

The following hotels participated in the hunger project:

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Hard Rock Hotel

Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Universals Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Universals Aventura Hotel

Universals Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites

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The University of South Florida chapter of the group National Students for Justice in Palestine has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and state higher-education officials over an order that called for disbanding the organization on campuses.

The lawsuit challenges an Oct. 24 order by university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues that alleged actions by National Students for Justice in Palestine violated a state anti-terrorism law.

Rodrigues called for shuttering the groups chapters on Florida campuses but left open the possibility that the organizations could restart if they followed state law and university policies.

The order came as state leaders have tried to show support for Israel in its war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Read: Board of Governors votes to strip funds from university campus groups tied to activism, DEI

The 26-page USF lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Gainesville, alleged a violation of First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit asks a federal judge to declare the order unconstitutional and block its enforcement.

Named defendants are DeSantis, Rodrigues, USF President Rhea Law, members of the state university systems Board of Governors and members of USFs Board of Trustees.

Read: 9 Investigates finds college hazing underreported, difficult to track

Neither the state of Florida nor its state colleges and universities are enclaves immune from the requirements and protections of the First Amendment. But once again events suggest that defendants either dont know that or reject it, the lawsuit said.

Attorneys also said the USF chapter disagrees with at least some of the national groups views and has no formal relationship with the national organization.

The lawsuit pointed to comments made by Rodrigues during a Nov. 9 meeting of the university systems Board of Governors that indicated Florida student groups are not directly affiliated with the national organization.

Read: Stetson University set to host International Chamber Music Festival next summer

Rodrigues said the board was seeking legal input on the matter.

However, as the order has not been withdrawn, the lawsuit said the USF student group is in limbo and fears that deactivation could still happen.

The lawsuit was filed less than a week after a similar case was filed by a Students for Justice in Palestine group at the University of Florida.

A spokesman for the Board of Governors told the News Service of Florida last week that the board would not comment on pending litigation.

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(CNN)  The first batch of hostages have been released by Hamas and safely returned to Israel on Friday, bringing to an end the first stage of a landmark deal painstakingly negotiated between the warring sides with the help of foreign mediation.

The civilians included 13 Israeli women and children who had been captured by Hamas during its brutal cross-border raids on October 7 and held in the besieged Gaza Strip for 48 days amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

After crossing the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, the hostages were transferred from the Red Cross to Egyptian officials before being transported home to Israel by helicopter. Once there, they were taken to locations prepared by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) with medical provisions and support for their initial reception.

According to information provided by the Prime Ministers Office and a spokesperson for Kibbutz Nir Oz, the 13 Israelis released are: Yafa Adar, 85; Ohad Munder, 9; Keren Munder, 54; Ruth Munder, 78; Margalit Moses, 77; Adina Moshe, 72; Daniel Aloni, 45; Emilia Aloni, 5; Aviv Asher, 2; Raz Asher, 4; Doron Katz Asher, 34; Hana Katzir, 76; and Channa Peri, 79.

Twelve of the 13 are from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a spokesperson for the kibbutz said in a statement. Some 77 people in the community were abducted on October 7.

The 13th hostage, Channa Peri, is from Kibbutz Nirim, CNN has previously reported.

Daniel Aloni was among three women who appeared in a hostage video released by Hamas late last month.

Also among the 24 hostages released on Friday were 10 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino citizen, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on X.
CHICAGO - Two men were shot while sitting in a parked vehicle in University Village Friday morning.

Police say someone in a silver sedan fired shots at the men who were parked in the 1300 block of South Throop at 2 a.m.

A 23-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. A 26-year-old man was listed in fair condition at Stroger Hospital. He was also struck multiple times by gunfire.

No arrests have been reported. Area Three detectives are investigating.
A respiratory illness that veterinarians were calling "dog pneumonia" in Oregon a few months has spread to at least seven other states. No cases of the illness have been reported yet in Missouri.

The respiratory illness remains unknown to veterinarians and researchers, but common symptoms include coughing, sneezing and lethargy. The illness does not appear to respond to antibiotics and can lead to pneumonia. In a few cases, dogs have died.

News of the illness began to circulate in early August, when five dogs in Oregon were sent to emergency rooms and one died. As of Tuesday, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has received more than 200 reports of the atypical illness from veterinarians statewide, according to a Oregon Veterinary Medical Association news release.

More recently, cases of the illness have been reported in Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Illinois, Maryland and Wyoming, according to a New York Times story published on Wednesday.

How can you protect your dog?

Although no cases have been reported in Missouri, Dr. Peggy Callow, veterinarian for the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, reminded dog owners to make sure their canine friends are up-to-date on all vaccines. These include the vaccines for Bordetella (kennel cough), canine influenza and parainfluenza.

Callow also recommended that dog owners reduce the amount of time their dogs spend with large numbers of unknown dogs, reduce the amount of time spent near sick dogs, keep sick dogs at home to avoid spreading any illnesses and avoid communal water bowls. If a dog is sick, Callow said owners should consider having their dogs tested with a PCR test, which can determine if a illness is viral or bacterial.

"We suggest caution rather than worry, as there have been no cases reported in Missouri, and the number of cases reported to Oregon Department of Agriculture represents a very small percentage of Oregon's dog population," Callow told the News-Leader in a statement.

What do scientists know about the illness?

Several veterinarians and specialists across the country are working to learn more about the illness, including Dr. Ryan Scholz, Oregon's state veterinarian.

In an American Veterinary Medical Association news release, Scholz said of all the cases tested in Oregon, the cases appear to have a similar viral foundation, but "common respiratory diagnostic testing has been largely negative." A few of the cases do test positive for Mycoplasma cynos, which are agents of respiratory disease, but Schloz said he does not believe this is the underling causative agent.

From testing conducted so far, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has found that the illness causes chronic mild to moderate inflammation of the trachea, which can last six to eight weeks, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association news release. The illness also can cause both chronic and acute pneumonia; the latter can be fatal.

Can the illness be transferred to humans?

The respiratory illness cannot be transferred from dogs to humans.

USA Today reported on Tuesday that University of New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory veterinary pathologist David Needle said research has shown that the small genome, or bacterium, is "host adapted." This means the genome is more likely to stick to the organism it is used to. There have been no reports of dog owners becoming sick because of their dogs.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri remains unaffected by unknown respiratory illness among dogs
We need to reduce immigration not just to lessen the pressure on the countrys infrastructure and public services. Net migration at the current, massive rate is in danger of damaging social cohesion and eroding our national values.

There has rightly been a lot of focus on the latest net migration figure, which was this week revealed to be 672,000 for the 12 months to June 2023. Net migration for 2022 was also revised upwards to 745,000  a new record. If immigration continues at the same pace, Britains population could soar to around 85 million by 2046.

These figures fly in the face of repeated promises that net migration will come down.

Theresa May pledged to reduce it to the tens of thousands. Boris Johnson vowed to take back control of our borders with an Australian points-based system. Rishi Sunak keeps insisting that arrivals must come down, only for them to reach unprecedented levels.

The public are justifiably angry about the failure of successive administrations to get a grip of this issue. They are also understandably worried about the impact on our already creaking infrastructure of adding a population the size of Birmingham every few years.

Yet the debate about immigration is too often viewed purely in economic terms. Of course this matters, but mass migration on such a grand scale also has implications for social cohesion.

We have seen in recent weeks worrying signs of a lack of integration among some groups attending the pro-Palestinian marches. Many people have rightly been horrified at the calls for jihad and the spouting of anti-Semitic slogans.

Too many organisations and politicians also seem to have lost confidence in our countrys values, or have become embarrassed about promoting them. Weve seen this in the attempts by ignorant apologists to woke-wash our history and depict everything about Britain, past and present, as evil.

But it is also surely almost impossible to effectively integrate such a large number of people, all coming here at once. Britain has been far more successful than a lot of European countries at integrating new arrivals. Lets hope this is not about to change.

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Bridget Brink, United States Ambassador to Ukraine, has commented on the large-scale drone attack on Ukraine by Russia on the night of 24-25 November.

Source: Bridget Brink, United States Ambassador to Ukraine, on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The diplomat noted that while the temperature in Ukraine drops below zero, Russia cynically sends waves of Iranian-made drones attacking the country and its capital.

Quote: "Air defences working actively in Kyiv all night long. ... Thank you to Ukraines air defenders," Brink said.

Background:

The Russians launched a record number of attack UAVs at Ukraine on the night of 24-25 November. There were about 75 Shahed kamikaze drones.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who is in Ukraine, stayed in shelter on the night of 24-25 November, when Kyiv was subjected to a Russian large-scale drone attack.

Rinkevics made a surprise visit to Ukraine on 24 November.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday.

The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weekslong war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess Iran was behind the attack, though authorities suspect Tehrans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard carried out the assault.

The same drones have been used by Russia in its war on Ukraine, as recently as in a barrage launched Saturday that Kyiv described as Moscows biggest drone attack since the war began.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that an Israeli ship had been targeted in the Indian Ocean. The channel cited anonymous sources for the report, which Iranian media later cited.

CMA CGM, a major shipper based in Marseille, France, did not respond to a request for comment. However, the vessels crew had been behaving as though they believed the ship faced a threat.

The ship had its Automatic Identification System tracker switched off since Tuesday when it left Dubais Jebel Ali port, according to data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted. It had done the same earlier when traveling through the Red Sea past Yemen, home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack is likely to have been targeted, due to the vessels Israeli affiliation through Eastern Pacific Shipping, the private intelligence firm Ambrey told the AP. The vessels AIS transmissions were off days prior to the event, indicating this alone does not prevent an attack.

The Symi is owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific Shipping in Singapore rang unanswered Saturday, while no one responded to a request for comment sent by email. The Israeli military referred questions to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which did not respond.

In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with Eastern Pacific, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

Irans mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

In the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militants Oct. 7 attack, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen.

On Saturday, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Mideast, said an entity declaring itself to be the Yemeni authorities had ordered at least one ship away from a location off Hodeida, Yemen, in the Red Sea.

Vessels in the vicinity are advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity, it warned.

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq also have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the war. However, Iran itself has yet to be linked directly to an attack.

Iran has been wary of intervening in the ongoing Middle East crisis and is likely to avoid any action that might escalate the conflict, the Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk firm, said in an analysis. Small-scale attacks on U.S. forces and Israel by Irans allies throughout the region suggest Tehran is willing to turn up the heat in a limited fashion, but unless the attacks cause U.S. casualties or significant damage, a major U.S. response is unlikely.
American farmers seized the opportunity to grow hemp after it was legalized in the 2018 farm bill, hoping the potentially lucrative crop could help keep their businesses afloat.

But now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is revoking hemp licenses for some farmers who have also chosen  in states where its legal  to grow hemps federally illegal cousin: marijuana.

Some farmers say the USDAs interpretation of federal law has yanked a financial life raft from under them.

It was definitely a huge blow to our business, said Sam Bellavance, a cannabis farmer in Vermont who had separate licenses to grow both marijuana and hemp before USDA rescinded the latter earlier this year.

Bellavance estimates that he will lose at least $250,000 in revenue due to the license revocation.

The inconsistency between federal and state interpretations of the 2018 farm bill reflects the larger challenges hemp and marijuana farmers face in an emerging market where two nearly identical agricultural products have very different legal statuses. Even though more than half of Americans now live in a state where adults can legally possess weed  and 70 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization  under federal law it continues to be classified as a highly dangerous drug with no medical applications, the same as heroin.

Hemp industry officials complain that lack of legal and regulatory clarity from the federal government has scared off retailers from selling hemp-derived products and tanked the price of the crop.

Thats led farmers to dramatically reduce cultivation levels. In 2019, farmers planted 275,000 acres of hemp, but that plummeted to just 21,000 acres last year, according to Hemp Benchmarks.

USDAs moves to rescind hemp licenses is further roiling the market.

Its just another example of the absurdity of keeping a substance, for which now 55 percent of Americans live in a jurisdiction where its legal, federally illegal, said Tim Bryon Fair, who founded the law firm Vermont Cannabis Solutions. Its insane.

Bellavance is just one of many farmers in at least two states  Vermont and Mississippi  who lost their hemp licenses this year after entering their states regulated marijuana industry, POLITICO has learned. Another hemp grower in Missouri said USDA informed him in April 2023 that he would lose his hemp license if he applied to participate in the states newly legal marijuana industry.

But in contrast, several state-run hemp programs  which are approved by USDA  have continued to license farmers who also grow marijuana under licenses from their states.

USDA declined to answer specific questions about its decision to rescind certain hemp licenses, but a spokesperson said that the issue remains complicated by marijuanas federally illegal status.

While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production, marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, said USDA spokesperson Allan Rodriguez in a statement. This presents a unique jurisdictional and regulatory landscape that producers of more traditional agricultural commodities do not have to navigate.

Rodriguez added that USDA remains committed to helping farmers learn about hemp-related rules and connecting farmers with research, risk management and conservation tools.

USDA also said that the department oversees all states and growers in the [hemp] program in the same way, despite apparent discrepancies in how the licensing is enforced.

USDA approves state hemp programs as required by the 2018 farm bill. The agency also directly oversees hemp farmers in eight states  including Vermont, Mississippi and Missouri  that do not have state-run programs. Seven of those eight states have state-run medical or recreational marijuana programs. All of the farmers who told POLITICO that USDA refused to let them have both hemp and marijuana licenses reside in states without state-run hemp programs.

In contrast, farmers participating in state-run hemp programs have retained their marijuana licenses, suggesting that the rules are different depending on whether state or federal regulators are in charge of overseeing hemp cultivation. Oregon and Colorado, for example, have guidelines in their state regulations detailing how farmers with licenses to grow both hemp and marijuana should keep the operations separate.

Its another attack on the little guy, said Connor Reeves, a cannabis attorney with the firm McLaughlin PC in Jackson, Mississippi. They don't seem to care how it impacts small farmers and folks in rural parts of the country that are otherwise following the law.

Brittany Adikes, an attorney with McGlinchey Stafford specializing in cannabis law, said it seems like USDA is reaching far to claim that there is a regulation that clearly prohibits having both licenses. Instead, Adikes said, the statute language and rules USDA cites to defend its position could easily be interpreted to specify that a farmer cannot grow hemp and cannabis on the same land under the same license  not that a farmer is barred from holding both a state marijuana license and a federal hemp license.

Vermont Cannabis Control Board Compliance Director Cary Giguere explained that Vermont ended its state hemp licensing program in December 2022 because Vermonts program was was costly and offered no additional flexibility or safety compared to the newly established federal program. Vermont farmers then applied for USDA licenses, only to find those licenses rescinded after joining the states nascent recreational marijuana program.

Enforcement of hemp rules also appears to be inconsistent within state programs overseen by the USDA. Vermont's Giguere confirmed in emails to POLITICO that the agency is aware of farmers who still hold both a federal license and a marijuana cultivator license from the state.

Vermonts Seven Days, a local newspaper, first reported on Bellavances experience, but he is not alone. The shift has impacted farmers across the state, Vermont-based cannabis lawyers have observed.

Farmers in other states relate similar experiences.

Mississippi farmer Eric Sorenson learned he would lose his federal hemp license soon after he became licensed to grow medical marijuana by the state. Mississippi legalized medical marijuana in 2022, and sales began in January 2023.

While Medical Cannabis is not federally legal, we will not be able to allow you to maintain your current hemp license in addition to the medical cannabis cultivator license, USDA wrote to Sorenson in an email shared with POLITICO.

It doesn't make any sense, said Sorenson, who also founded the Mississippi Industrial Hemp Association. It's the same plant.

Reeves, the Mississippi cannabis lawyer, said he knew two other farmers licensed to grow medical marijuana by the state who were forced to give up their federal hemp licenses after receiving a letter from USDA.

Chris Beerman, a hemp farmer in Joplin, Missouri, transitioned to the federal hemp licensing program when Missouris state program ran out of funding and shut down. A USDA representative called him to confirm the approval of his hemp license, and also told him  without prompting  that he could not expand into Missouris new state marijuana program.

Missouris Department of Agriculture ceased administering the states hemp program on Jan. 1, 2023, around the same time it legalized recreational marijuana. Lower than expected involvement in Missouris hemp industry led to shuttering of the state program, which was funded by the programs tax and fee revenue.

As a hemp farmer, Beerman hoped to diversify his business under the microbusiness licenses Missouri offers for cannabis growers. If the state still had its own hemp program, he said he would have applied for one of those licenses.

But in states that run their own hemp programs, the situation is very different. Colorado voters approved recreational marijuana and approved the production and regulation of industrial hemp in 2012  and both programs have been operating separately but alongside each other ever since. In Colorado, hemp production is regulated and licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, while marijuana is regulated and licensed by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

The only thing specific is [farmers]  can't grow anything greater than three tenths percent THC on a hemp registration, said Colorado Department of Agricultures Hemp Program Manager Brian Koontz, citing the federal threshold for illegality. Theres nothing prohibiting them from having a separate marijuana business.

USDA approved Colorados hemp plan, and state regulators said it did not include any prohibitions on hemp licensees also entering the states cannabis industry. Nevertheless, USDA approved the latest plan in August 2021, and Koontz said dual licensing did not come up when USDA audited Colorados hemp program earlier this year.

Our plan does specifically address that no registrant  can commingle marijuana and hemp on the same farm, he added.

The revocation of hemp licenses for farmers that also grow marijuana has largely gone unnoticed. Hemp industry officials and trade groups that spoke to POLITICO said they had not heard of the loss of USDA licenses by marijuana farmers.

Lawmakers were similarly ignorant.

I haven't [heard about it], but I'd be happy to look at it, said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

Senators representing states with medical or recreational marijuana programs as well as USDA-run hemp programs, such as Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (R) and Vermont Sen. Peter Welch (D), told POLITICO they were not aware of the problem. Welch said he would have to check on it, adding that if true, it would be a real conflict.

Adikes, the cannabis lawyer, says USDAs actions could pave the way for a lawsuit.

It could possibly be a violation of the [Administrative Procedures Act], and I'm curious to see what comes of this, in terms of litigation in the states that are being affected by this, she said.

Garrett Downs contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of USDA's audit of Colorado's hemp program.
The Vatican filed a letter to German bishops prohibiting the prelates' attempts to change doctrine regarding homosexual relationships and female clergy.

Vatican officials admonished the "German Synodal Way"  the national-level meeting of Catholic leaders that was convened as part of Pope Francis's global Synod on Synodality  and warned that radical propositions such as approval of homosexual relationships and female priests must be abandoned.

The letter, publicized Friday but dated Oct. 23, rebukes the German bishops for their continued efforts to alter established doctrine for which "there is no possibility of arriving at a different assessment," according to a translation from the blog Rorate Caeli.

CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN BETHLEHEM DEFEND CANCELING CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS TO EMPHASIZE 'SPIRITUAL MEANING'

Pope Francis leads his traditional Wednesday General Audience at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

"[I]t must be made clear from the outset that these issues are of varying relevance and cannot all be placed on the same level," a translation of the original German reads. "Some of them have aspects that cannot be put up for discussion, but also aspects that can be subjected to joint in-depth discussion. With regard to others, however, there is no possibility of arriving at a different assessment, such as the following:"

The letter was written by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and sent to Secretary General Beate Gilles of the German Bishops Conference.

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The German Bishops' Conference has repeatedly attempted to use its voice in the ongoing Synod on Synodality to rewrite church teachings on a variety of social issues  a campaign that threatens to undermine the historic authority of the Catholic Church.

US CATHOLIC BISHOPS REAFFIRM ENDING ABORTION AS 'PRE-EMINENT PRIORITY'

Beate Gilles, Secretary General of the German Bishops' Conference, speaks during a press conference at the end of the Fall Plenary Assembly at the Wilhelm Kempf House.

Parolin cited a 1994 ruling by Pope St. John Paul II, in which the pope taught, "So that all doubt maybe removed concerning this important matter, which concerns the divine constitution of the Church itself, I declare, by virtue of my office of strengthening the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), that the Church has no authority whatsoever to ordain women to the priesthood, and that all the faithful of the Church must definitively abide by this decision."

The letter also cited Pope Francis's 2013 affirmation of John Paul II's ruling: "With regard to the ordination of women to the priesthood, the Church has spoken, and she says: No  St. John Paul II said this, but in a definitive way. This door is closed."

It also explicitly reminded the German bishops that to attempt the ordination of a woman to the priesthood is to be "punished with a major excommunication."

ARCHBISHOP ABSTAINS AS CHURCH OF ENGLAND APPROVES TRIAL BLESSINGS FOR SAME-SEX UNIONS BY 1 VOTE

Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin (C) attends the blessing ceremony of the newly opened reception and integration centre for Ukrainian refugees during the Bishops' Conference of Slovakia in Kosice, Slovakia.

The Vatican was equally dismissive of attempts to legitimize homosexual relationships.

"Another issue on which a local Church has no possibility of taking a different view concerns homosexual acts," the letter to the German bishops reads. "For even if one recognizes that from a subjective point of view there may be various factors that call us not to judge people, this in no way changes the evaluation of the objective morality of these acts."

This was not the first scuffle between Pope Francis and the German Catholic hierarchy  last year, the Holy See issued a letter reminding the prelates they do not have the authority to counter established doctrine.

Priests and bishops are attending a Holy Mass led by Pope Francis with the new Cardinals at the opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

"In order to protect the freedom of the People of God and the exercise of the episcopal ministry, it would appear necessary to clarify that the Synodal Way in Germany does not have the power to compel the bishops and the faithful to adopt new ways of governance and new approaches to doctrine and morals," the statement from the Holy See said. "Prior to an agreed understanding at the level of the universal Church, it would not be permissible to initiate new official structures or doctrines in the dioceses, which would represent a wound to ecclesial communion and a threat to the unity of the Church."

Just before the pope's letter, over 100 bishops from around the world issued an open letter to the German bishops, urging that they cease the synod and restrain themselves from making illicit alterations.





Original article source: Vatican blocks doctrinal changes on homosexual relationships, female priests
The two victims who died on Wednesday in a deadly explosion on the U.S.-Canada border have been identified as a married couple from Grand Island, New York, said Niagara Falls Police.

Monica and Kurt P Villani, both 53, crashed on Wednesday morning while driving down Rainbow Bridge, which leads into and out of Canada at Niagara Falls. People who witnessed the accident said the car went airborne after it struck a cement median. It then caught fire and exploded when it hit a border crossing booth.

The City of Niagara Falls would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families as they deal with this tragedy, said Niagara Falls Police Superintendent John Faso in a news release.

Image: (HOGP / Customs Border Protection via AP)

The couples names were released Friday morning, after police had waited to identify them so that their family could be notified. No additional details about the couple were provided.

The couples relatives did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Grand Island, where the couple lived, is less than 10 miles from Rainbow Bridge. It is an island town in Erie County, New York.

In a news briefing on Thursday afternoon, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said investigators believed the pair were headed to a KISS concert on Wednesday night. The concert was canceled because frontman Paul Stanley was sick with the flu, according to a post by the guitarist on X.

A spokesperson for Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino on the U.S. side of the border said the couple stopped at the casino for a matter of minutes shortly before the crash occurred.

Police said the crash is still under investigation, but have determined that there were no explosives or a connection to terrorism.

Following the crash, cross-border travel at Rainbow Bridge was suspended until 6:30 p.m. the following day, said a post on X by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Smoking on planes wasn't fully banned in the US until 2000.

Passengers used to be able to use sharp knives during meals.

Cockpit tours have become less common after 9/11.

Things like smoking, touring the cockpit, and using a steak knife used to be commonplace on planes in the 1950s. Today, rules for passengers and cabin crews are more strict.

These vintage photos show passengers in the midst of activities that would definitely get them banned from flights today.

Today's pilots must follow rules about alcohol consumption, but that wasn't the case in the early days of flying.

Lady Mary Heath holding a flask of whisky before flying in Croydon, UK. Gamma Keystone-France/Getty Images

Irish aviator Lady Mary Heath took a swig of whisky before flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet in 1928. The first female commercial pilot in the UK, Heath became the first person to fly the 10,000-mile-trip from South Africa to London in 1928, according to the Irish Emigration Museum.

The rules about pilots consuming alcohol were less strict then. Today, on-duty pilots cannot have a blood alcohol level of 0.04 or higher or consume alcohol within eight hours of a flight, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.

Before laptops were invented, some workers brought their typewriters along on flights.

A secretary on a KLM flight in 1955. Richard Koll/picture alliance via Getty Images

In 1955, a KLM secretary was photographed hard at work dictating notes on her typewriter from her airplane seat.

Smoking used to be commonplace on flights.

Passengers smoke on a plane in the 1950s. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

When booking a ticket, passengers could choose between smoking and non-smoking sections.

Flight attendants would even help passengers light their cigars.

A flight attendant lights a passenger's cigar on a plane. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Smoking on planes wasn't fully banned by the federal government until 2000, Insider's Thomas Pallini reported.

Back in the day, people ate airplane meals with metal cutlery.

Passengers dine on a plane in the 1950s. Touring Club Italiano/Marka/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

While real silverware is still available in some business and first-class sections, most airlines serve meals with plasticware.

Some passengers even brought large carving knives onto flights, which wouldn't be permitted today.

A man holds a Thanksgiving turkey on his lap on a flight in 1949. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Metal knives were banned on planes after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, The Chicago Tribune reported. Now, only plastic or round-bladed butter knives are allowed in carry-on luggage.

The cockpit was once a place where pilots and flight attendants offered tours and photo-ops.

A United Airlines flight attendant shows a passenger the interior of the cockpit circa 1950. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Cockpit doors did have locks prior to 9/11, but after the attacks, the doors were required to be grenade-proof and only unlockable from the inside, according to the FAA.

Now, posing for photos with members of the flight crew in the cockpit is a rare occurrence.

Passengers on a trip on Concorde. 2nd April 1986. H Walker/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Pilots do occasionally allow young children and aviation enthusiasts into the cockpit during boarding or after landing, but not mid-flight, One Mile At A Time reported in 2022.

Read the original article on Insider
1890s view of Main Street in Clyde, looking toward the Pigeon River. The old Richmond and Danville Railroad tracks are in the field at center left.

Road building is an imperative. Turnpikes churned the way for commerce in a wide web throughout Western North Carolina in the early 1800s, contradicting notions of isolation. Hogs went out; English porcelain came in.

The advent of the railroad in the 1880s accelerated economic tendencies. Many mountain farmers welcomed better access to more markets, yet some opposed the new wave.

Tyler Blethen, professor of history at Western Carolina University, tells of one farmer who sued a logging company when its locomotive ran into and killed the man's cows. The railroad had a right-of-way through his pasture, and its lawyers successfully argued that it had been the farmer's responsibility to fence off the tracks.

In clearing paths for their railroads, crews often left brush by the side of the tracks. The problem was, the locals reported, sparks from passing trains sometimes ignited the refuse, starting forest fires.

In John Ehle's novel, "The Road," a precocious 11-year-old evangelist warns Swannanoans about the railroad builders. "They came out of the lowlands with their fire and smoke; the outlanders try to save us from our ways, but we are closer to God here than they are there."

Traditionalism yields to progressivism

T.C. Bryson had been an itinerant Jackson County merchant who'd "kept his listeners spellbound" with yarns about the years when he "journeyed his circuit mostly on horseback," writes Johnson Davis McRorie in "Knowing Jackson County." Some years after the railroad had come to Sylva, Bryson worked up a head of steam, keeping pace with its influence.

Bryson led an initiative to move the Jackson County courthouse to Sylva from Webster, which the railroad had bypassed. Depending on rails, he kick-started a family apple business by ordering 500 seedlings from a Canton nursery."

They were shipped loose in a boxcar," he said. "When they arrived, my father was the most astonished man I'd ever seen."

Webster old-timers of yore remembered when the Western Turnpike guided drovers from Georgia and Tennessee through town. (U.S. 23/74, traveling roughly the same route, favors Sylva now.)

"One thing about the drives," Blethen observes, "you were outdoors. And the people who raised livestock enjoyed being with their animals on their last jaunts."

Pleasure comes in many forms. No doubt, the fireworks and oranges that John Parris' Uncle John picked up from the train depot in Sylva to bring to his store in Webster added to "the thrill and magic of Christmas." Knives, muskrat traps, harmonicas, and nuts also arrived, Parris wrote in a column republished in "These Storied Mountains."

"Stuck in the mud" is how transportation historians characterize pre-modern days in the mountains. As a tide of exurbanites floods the new streamlined interstates, the clock is being tweaked to reconsider mass transport and scenic beauty.

Citizen Times columnist Rob Neufeld

Rob Neufeld wrote the local history feature, "Visiting Our Past," for the Citizen Times until his death in 2019. This column originally was published Nov. 12, 2005.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Visiting Our Past: Roads have always gotten their way in the mountains
Jerusalem (CNN)  The first groups of Israelis and Palestinians have been released under a truce brokered between Israel and Hamas that brought a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza after weeks of conflict, officials said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed 13 Israeli hostages had returned to Israel on Friday, where they have undergone initial medical assessments.

And Qatars Foreign Ministry, which helped broker the agreement, confirmed that the Palestinian prisoners released as part of the deal were on the way to the West Bank.

The Red Cross, which transported the detainees on Friday from Gaza to the Rafah border with Egypt, said 24 hostages had been freed on Friday.

Ten Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen have also been freed under a separate agreement.

Among the Israelis freed are 5-year-old Emilia Aloni and Adina Moshe, who was seen being driven away on a motorbike after being abducted from her kibbutz during the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Theyre now en route to hospitals where they will be reunited with their families  or rather, should I say, whats left of their families, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy told CNN. Many of them, of course, their families were murdered on October 7.

Levy said the initial release still left 215 hostages inside Gaza. None of us here are free until all of them are free. We are committed to that pledge: There will be no one left behind, he said.

Israel was also due to free 39 Palestinian prisoners in return on Friday. Buses reported to be carrying the 39 released Palestinian women and teenagers have been seen leaving Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank.

Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners Affairs, said that buses carrying the prisoners were on their way to Ramallah.

The Israeli group is the first to be released through a deal between the two sides that was finalized after weeks of tense negotiations and took several agonizing days to come into effect.

The agreement, accompanied by a four-day truce between Hamas and Israel, represents a first major diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict.

The released hostages entered Egypt through the Rafah crossing before returning to Israeli soil, where they were taken to local hospitals.

A Red Cross convoy seen entering the Rafah border crossing contained at least four vehicles, each with up to six people sitting in the rear. Pictures from the scene showed at least one woman with white hair waving in the back seat of her vehicle, and another vehicle that appeared to have several Thai men sitting in the back.

The concurrent halt in fighting began at 7 a.m. local time (12 a.m. ET) Friday, and is believed to be holding  the first sustained break in hostilities after nearly seven weeks of conflict.

While Friday saw the first batch of Israeli hostages released, more  totalling 50 women and children  are expected to be exchanged over the course of the truce.

Pressure on the Israeli government had been mounting for weeks from the families of the hostages, who have demanded answers and action from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

International calls for more humanitarian support for the people of Gaza had also been growing, and the truce is expected to give respite to those in the enclave who have endured weeks of attacks. The number of people killed since October 7 now stands at 14,854, according to information from Hamas authorities in the Strip.

Hundreds of people gathered outside Tel Avivs Museum of Art  in an area that has gained the name Hostages Square among locals  ahead of the announcement, waiting anxiously for confirmation of the hostages safe transfer.

Tamar Shamir said she had been visiting the square for weeks to show support for the hostages and their families. While the confirmation of the transfer came as a relief, she said more needed to be done to return all hostages taken by Hamas.

We are not happy. We cannot be happy until everyone comes back home, Shamir told CNN.

Residents of Gaza meanwhile began moving across parts of the strip after Fridays truce began, though some displaced Palestinians trying to return to homes in northern Gaza were allegedly blocked by Israeli forces, a journalist told CNN.

The IDF warned residents against attempting to travel from the south to the north, where combat between Hamas and Israel has been concentrated.

Social media videos showed people running away amid the sound of gunfire, presumed to be Israeli, on Salah Al-Din street. A journalist told CNN that Israeli tanks were seen and gunfire could be heard on Salah Al-Din street.

CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment on whether people attempting to enter north were fired on.

Israel declared war on Hamas following the militant groups bloody October 7 terror attack on its territory, in which more than 1,200 people were killed  the largest such attack on Israel since the countrys founding in 1948.

Militants were holding more than 200 people captive inside Gaza from mass abductions that day, according to figures from the Israeli military.

This is a developing story. It will be updated
I stopped in the Mojave Desert and wandered around a 251-acre abandoned water park.

The former park had a rollercoaster journey of success and failure, changing hands three times.

Today, the water's dried up. What remains are empty pools and decaying buildings.

A scattering of palm trees was my first clue that I was close to Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark.

Once I spotted colorful billboards, I was positive I had arrived.

Just off the service road running parallel to California's Mojave Freeway in Newberry Springs are the remains of an old water park.

The water park's history is eerily reminiscent of a water slide with years of ups, downs, and sharp turns. It opened in the 1960s as Dolores Waterpark, as Business Insider reported in 2020. Later, it operated under the names Discovery Waterpark and, most famously, Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark. Then, in 2004, it closed for good.

Today, the water has dried up, swimmers have disappeared, and most of what remains are empty cement pools and buildings decaying in the desert sun.

As I drove through California's Mojave Desert, I didn't spot much beyond billboards, rest stops, and sand. Then, I spotted palm trees and colorful buildings.

Palm trees and graffitied buildings on the water park's property. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I had finally arrived at my destination: an abandoned water park. I drove up and was shocked to find no fences or gates turning away visitors.

Scattered buildings and empty pools are all that remain. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I pulled into a sandy lot, drove past billboards that I imagined once welcomed visitors, and made my way to a parking area.

An old billboard formerly advertised the water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I hopped out of my van and started exploring the 251 acres of ruins.

Buildings at the abandoned water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The place felt like a mirage. I spotted desert landscapes in every direction, with the park providing pops of color amid beige-toned scenery.

Slides on the property. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

At the front of the property was what remains of the water parks sign and entrance.

The former entrance to the water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Here, I could barely make out the word "waterpark."

The signage for the now abandoned water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The property was built by Bob Byers, as Business Insider previously reported. It was originally built as a private resort, which he named Lake Dolores Waterpark after his wife.

A building at the abandoned water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

In 1962, he opened it to the public, and it was home to attractions including a lazy river and zip line. There was also a man-made lake where water slides would end up, and bumper boats, the same source states.

The gates that were previously part of the entrance to the water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Then in the 1980s, Byers shut it down. The water park couldnt compete with other nearby attractions, BI reported.

Some buildings now sit in ruins. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

In 1998, the park went through a major renovation. Money was poured into the attraction, and it was transformed into a 1950s-themed oasis called Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark, BI reported.

Stairs lead up to more ruins where water slides once existed. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

While rock-n-roll music once played across the property and 1950s references filled the park, only hints of the old theme remain today.

A view of the abandoned water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

But Rock-A-Hoola didnt last long. In 1999, an employee used a water slide after hours. The catch pool at the bottom of the slide didnt have enough water, the employee became a paraplegic, and the settlement cost the park $4.4 million, according to the opinion.

A view from the start of a water slide. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Source: FindLaw

The park went bankrupt in 2000. But in 2002, it tried its hand at success for a third time, reopening as Discovery Waterpark. By 2004, it had closed for good.

Electrical boxes now sit empty. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

While swimmers no longer go to Rock-A-Hoola, skateboarders, graffiti artists, photographers, and urban explorers do.

Graffiti coats every building on the property. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I crossed the entrance gates, where I spotted remains of what I thought must be an old water fountain.

The structure of a former water fountain. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Dotting the perimeter of the space were the skeletons of buildings. One was likely home to tube rentals, another to snacks, and perhaps a third for souvenirs.

The buildings that remain are all empty. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Practically every inch of the former water park was covered in graffiti. I saw rusted cans scattered there, too.

An empty spray-paint can sit on the abandoned property. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Using my imagination, I pictured slides curving down the steel frames that remain.

Frames once supported a large water slide. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I pictured people swimming in the vast cement ditches that are now better suited to skateboarders.

Skateboard tracks filled empty pools. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I spotted the canal where the lazy river once flowed. According to the photo blog Lost America, it was added during the 1998 renovation and was the largest in the world at the time.

A view of the empty lazy river at the water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Source: Lost America

Toward the back of the property, I saw a large hill. Here, a handful of slides wouldve shot swimmers down to the bottom.

On the property was a hilly area with a handful of water-slide remains. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Since the park closed in 2004, there have been rumors of a revival but plans to bring it back haven't come to fruition. In 2020, a private firm had plans to turn it into a "roadside playground," BI reported.

Buildings now sit in ruins at the former Rock-A-Hoola water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

And in 2021, the property was listed for sale for $11 million, according to another BI report.

The water slides' old frameworks are all that remain at the abandoned site. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

The Victorville Daily Press reported in 2022 that investors wanted to transform the property into an "NFT arena." Plans for the project, led by G & GF Enterprise LLC, placed the cost between $30 million and $40 million.

A view of Rock-A-Hoola's empty pools. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Source: Victorville Daily Press

Today, it's unclear if the plans to revitalize the water park are still happening. (Representatives for G & GF Enterprise LLC did not respond to BI's request for comment on the project.)

A view of the water park with mountains in the distance. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As I explored the property in the desert heat, I didn't see any signs of improvement or progress.

A water slide covered in graffiti at the abandoned water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

So instead of envisioning the future, I pictured myself at the park during Rock-A-Hoola's glory days.

The walls of the former pools are now coated in graffiti. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I imagined zooming down the water slide "Greased Lightning" and chilling in the lazy river.

A trench weaves through the abandoned property, which would've once been filled with water. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

And I was glad I stumbled upon a place I never expected to see in the desert.

Insider's author at the entrance to the abandoned water park. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Read the original article on Insider
Police charged a man with murdering his wife Saturday in Warner Robins, according to a news release from the Warner Robins Police Department.

Police charged Brian McManus, 55, with malice murder in the death of Lucille Ann McManus, 63, the news release read.

Lucille McManus died at about 9 a.m. Saturday from a head injury at 202 Wake Forest Drive, about 10 miles west of Robins Air Force Base, according to the news release. Police responded to the scene after Brian McManus called 911 to report a possible suicide.

Police arrested McManus later that afternoon after the investigation was upgraded to a homicide, according to the news release.
Orlando Fraser has led the Charity Commission since last year - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

The charity regulator has pledged to crack down on bodies that host anti-Semitic extremists amid serious concerns about activities linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Writing for The Telegraph, Orlando Fraser, the chairman of the Charity Commission, warned that charities must not allow their premises or events to become forums for hate speech or unlawful extremism, adding: The commission will not stand by and permit charities to be abused in this way.

His intervention comes after campaigners contacted the watchdog over a series of videos of hateful sermons being preached at a series of mosques linked to charities, in the weeks following the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.

They include sermons featuring a call for victory over the usurping Jews, urging congregations to pray for the oppressors to be destroyed, and one stating that if all Muslims just marched on Israel its all over, if they spat in the direction of Israel, its all over.

The videos have added to concerns among senior government figures about levels of extremism in Britain exposed by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The latest pro-Palestinian march through central London, attended by tens of thousands of demonstrators, was marred by numerous offensive placards, with one young woman holding a hand-drawn placard reading Stop doing what Hitler did to you, in what was one of several banners making anti-Semitic comparisons between Israels bombing of Gaza and the Holocaust.

The latest pro-Palestinian march through central London was marred by numerous offensive placards - Twitter

Others included one stating One holocaust does not justify another and Jews know genocide. 12,000 tons of bombs on 2.2 million people of Gaza. That is also genocide.

Earlier this month, a group of nine bodies, including the National Secular Society and Campaign Against Antisemitism, called for an urgent investigation into charities that the campaigners said were linked to sermons preaching anti-Semitism of the most extreme kind, glorification of terrorism and incitement of violence.

In his article for The Telegraph, Mr Fraser avoided mentioning any individual ongoing cases but warned that a positive response to the Israel-Hamas conflict by many charities risked being undermined by a few individuals abusing their privileged positions to fuel division and tension.

He stated: The Charity Commission is aware of a significant number of serious concerns about activities linked to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. These include charities representing communities across the religious divide, although these to date largely concern allegations of anti-Semitic or hate speech.

Charities must not allow their premises, events or online content to become forums for hate speech against any community or unlawful extremism. The commission will not stand by and permit charities to be abused in this way. Where there proves to have been wrongdoing, make no mistake, we will deal with it robustly.

Mr Fraser alluded to the case, which predates the current conflict, of action taken by the commission against an Islamic centre that hosted a vigil for Qassim Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Islamic Centre of England has been run by an interim manager appointed by the regulator following an investigation by the commission.

Met officers handed out leaflets to pro-Palestinian marchers to provide absolute clarity on what would be deemed an offence - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

The KC, who has led the Charity Commission since last year, also alluded to action that the watchdog had taken against a charity with apparent links to far-Right extremism.

He said: We have acted when similar concerns have been raised in the past. This includes instances where one charity had hosted events that risked it being associated with terrorism, and another charity that appeared to be connected to far-Right extremism. We act just as strongly on any form of hate speech or extremism, whichever community it stems from or is directed at.

At a time of heightened tensions, people expect charities to lead the way in bringing us together. That does not mean that they must avoid sensitive or controversial issues  charities are free to campaign so long as it relates to their charitable purposes. But I am clear that they have a responsibility to do so with respect, tolerance and consideration for others. They must avoid inflammatory rhetoric that stokes division and may undermine trust in the sector.

The commission will always use our powers, given to us by Parliament, to deal strongly with those who intentionally or recklessly abuse charities in England and Wales. We will not hesitate to take action to protect the reputation of the sector as a whole, including the many religious charities on our register that are doing so much good across communities here and abroad.

Earlier this month, Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, whose department oversees the Charity Commission, wrote to Mr Fraser warning that charities promoting extremist narratives... risk undermining our wider system of charity regulation.

Saturdays demonstration  the latest in a series of protests staged since Hamas launched its deadly Oct 7 attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people  came after a temporary truce saw the release of a number of hostages by the terror group on Friday evening.

Absolute clarity

Protesters in London marched from Park Lane to Whitehall, with hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers handing out leaflets to provide absolute clarity on what would be deemed an offence. One placard compared Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, to the devil, a common anti-Semitic trope.

After weeks of pressure on the force over the handling of the now-regular demonstrations and pressure to come down harder on alleged displays of anti-Semitism, police made a number of arrests.

These included a man held on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation after he was seen wearing a green headband with white Arabic script.

Four people running a stall in Whitehall distributing pamphlets featuring a swastika inside a Star of David were arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

Elsewhere on the march, two women were arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence after being seen on CCTV holding offensive placards.

Meanwhile, Tom Tugendhat, the Security Minister, urged the BBC to reconsider guidance given to staff who were told not to attend a march against anti-Semitism on Sunday.

Staff working in current affairs and factual journalism who have sought permission to go to the Campaign Against Antisemitism march in London have been referred to impartiality rules.

According to the rules, editorial staff should not participate in public demonstrations or gatherings about controversial issues.

I hope the BBC reconsiders

Jewish journalists have argued that protesting against racism should not be regarded as a controversial or partisan issue, and that the BBC should not stand in their way.

Mr Tugendhat, who attends Cabinet, tweeted: Theres nothing contentious about standing up to anti-Semitism. I hope the BBC reconsiders.

The BBC said it had established guidance around marches, which explains that different considerations apply depending on what you do for the BBC.

But a spokesman added: Corporately, we have not issued any staff communication on any specific march this weekend, but this does not mean discussions which consider the guidance have not taken place between colleagues.

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This story has been updated to include comments from the Shelby County coroner and the identity of one of the men who died.

Read the latest: Nathan Finney, owner of Social Cantina, The Tap, dies in small plane crash

The flight of a single-engine airplane that crashed in Shelby County Wednesday, killing two men, originated from the Monroe County Airport.

Data from FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, shows that a Cirrus SR22 Turbo plane left the Monroe County Airport just west of Bloomington at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday. Radar contact was lost 41 minutes later north of Fairland near the Shelbyville Municipal Airport.

An Indiana State Police news release said troopers and Shelby County Sheriffs Department deputies responded to reports that a plane had crashed north of Interstate 74 at 4:50 p.m.

When police arrived, smoke was coming from a burning plane that had crashed in a cornfield. The news release said the remains of one man was visible in the wreckage. The body of a second man was discovered later that night.

As of late Saturday, investigators had not released the victims' names. But a Chicago-area flight training school that employed one of the men confirmed he had died in the crash.

Gambit Aviation, where Warren Bruhl was employed to teach students how to fly, confirmed in a Facebok post he had been killed in the crash.

"Please bear with us as we mourn the loss of one of our own. On Wednesday, Warren was involved in a tragic accident in a Cirrus ... our hearts break for him, his family, and his friends."

Bruhl was a chiropractor and a commercial pilot who taught East African youth the basics of flying so they could pursue aviation careers.

Shelby County Coroner Bradley Rund said on Saturday night it may be a week before investigators officially release the names. He's working with Federal Aviation Administration officials and following the agency's guidelines that govern release of information.

The National Transportation Safety Board, an independent federal agency, is leading the investigation into the crash. Rund said the names of the men who died and details of what happened likely will come through the Indiana State Police.

Rund has heard from news reporters around the country seeking information about the crash and who was killed.

Data from the FlightAware site shows the aircraft first arrived at the Monroe County Airport on Nov. 19, flying in from Greenville, South Carolina.

Later the same day, the plane took off from the airport and landed there again one hour and 12 minutes later.

On Nov. 20, the plane flew 26 minutes to Terre Haute, landed there and took off for another 27-minute flight before landing again. The plane then left Terre Haute and was in the air one hour and 11 minutes before landing in West Lafayette. From there, it flew 38 minutes back to Bloomington.

Nov. 21, the plane left the Monroe County Airport and flew an hour and 11 minutes to Nashville, Tennessee. The return trip that same day took two hours and eight minutes.

On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the plane departed and landed several times at the Monroe County Airport, with short spans of flight time between. The plane took off for the final time that day at 4:05 p.m., headed for the Shelbyville airport. It was last seen on radar at 4:46 p.m.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Flight of fatal Shelby County plane crash originated in Bloomington
Earlier this month, the Russian Ambassador to the US accused Washington of election interference in Russia. If only he were right.

While Americans are dreading the chaos of next years election season and Ukraine is postponing its presidential election altogether, Vladimir Putin is planning to glide into re-election in March 2024 through a process that will be neither free nor fair. To be sure, Ukraines constitution prohibits holding elections in wartime, yet the delay was also motivated by a fear of Russian interference.

It is time to give Putin a taste of his own medicine. There is no reason why we should allow him to simply score another win in the sad parody of democracy he presides over. Since the West is accused of interference regardless, we might as well use the opportunity to destabilise the regime.

During the Cold War, the US undermined the Soviet Union with influence operations through soft power such as jazz music, rock-n-roll, and modern art. With the rise of nationalism inside Russia this will not do the trick again. Instead, we should play into Russias nationalistic sentiments. Reminding the Russians that its Putin who stole the greatness of Russia and made the country a pariah in international politics.

Even for autocrats, elections are fraught with danger; they require compliance of wide strata of society with a process that most see in their heart of hearts as fraudulent. As such, they also provide a window of opportunity to pierce the facade and stir unrest. There are constituencies within Russia that are not happy with the conduct of the war  mothers of soldiers, members of ethnic groups disproportionately targeted by successive waves of mobilisation, or those fearing the return of pardoned criminals from the front  whose grievances can be amplified.

Russias ethnic diversity provides another opening. Any secessionist movements inside the country bring back the memories of the collapse of the 1990s. A notion that the West either seeks regime change or wants to inflict strategic defeat on Russia and dismember Russia following a Yugoslav scenario is central to Putins understanding of world politics. Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russias foreign intelligence service, said that the West supports separatist terrorist structures calling for subversion of the Russian state order and violation of its territorial integrity. Its time for Washington to ensure that ethnic minorities inside Tatarstan or Dagestan let Moscow know how they truly feel about their place in this modern Russian empire.

Whether and when Russians rise en masse against Putin is unknowable. In 2010, the Arab Spring was not triggered by any high-minded political agenda. Yet, it is perfectly reasonable for the West to identify and deepen wedge issues inside of Russia to keep the regime on its feet, forcing it to invest time, energy and resources into defense rather than allowing it to roam unchecked through our own political systems.

Even if Russians retain a basic degree of loyalty toward their ruler, as they did in the past, turning them against the elites might be enough to generate unrest that will keep Putin busy and perhaps even generate a wider cascade directed against the regime.

The war in Ukraine will not reach a peaceful, stable end until Russia renounces its maximalist military goals  something that is highly unlikely under the current regime. While neither the Ukrainians nor the West have the means to bring about regime change in Moscow through military means, they do have an ample set of tools to erode the foundations of its legitimacy, particularly when windows of opportunity are opened  such as autocratic sham elections.

Autocracies, after all, are like marble: hard, yet brittle and porous. There is no reason why Ukraine and the West should not make that work to our advantage.

Ivana Stradner is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Dalibor Rohac is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

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As the weather worsens and front lines are frozen in place, Ukraine is struggling to secure enough artillery shells to change the equation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned key shipments of 155mm munitions have dropped off after fighting erupted between Israel and Hamas last month.

Both Ukraine and Russia have struggled to maintain stockpiles of shells after nearly two years of long-range duels across vast battlefields.

But recently Moscow has received one million shells from its ally North Korea in 10 separate shipments since August, according to South Koreas intelligence service.

This has helped sustain Russian forces in a renewed attempt to capture Avdiivka, pummelling the Donetsk region town relentlessly with artillery fire.

At the same time, the European Union has conceded its one-year target to deliver a million shells to Kyiv by next March will not be reached.

The bloc has delivered around 300,000 shells, mainly from national stockpiles, since the programme started on Feb 9.

Diplomats and ministers moved to blame Europes production capabilities and a failure to significantly ramp up manufacturing, for the lacklustre performance.

Ukraine was estimated to be firing around 6,000 155mm rounds a day, according to Western intelligence figures, whereas Russia was firing 20,000 a day  the same amount produced by European manufacturers each month.

Rates of fire often varied depending on intensity of fighting and external supplies.

The release of dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) clusters by the United States eased some of the problems because there were significant stockpiles of those shells.

This has helped mitigate fears of artillery ammunition shortage, especially in light of commitments in Israel, Justin Crump, CEO of strategic intelligence company Sibylline, said.

Artillery ammunition is one of the main demands from Ukraine when it holds talks with its Western allies about support for its war effort.

Kyiv recently received a promise for more 155mm shells from Germany as part of a 1.4 billion military aid package.

Meanwhile, the US is rushing to ramp up shell production to replenish reserves of munitions now being drained by both Ukraine and Israel.

Earlier this month, the US Army urged Congress to approve $3.1 billion in funding to buy 155mm artillery rounds and expand production.

Of the $3.1 billion specific to 155mm artillery, about half would go to boosting industrial capacity with the remainder going to buying rounds, said Doug Bush, the chief weapons buyer for the US Army.

A Ukrainian soldier fires artillery as the war continues in the direction of Bakhmut - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Getty

The US plans to increase its production rate for 155mm artillery shells to 100,000 a month. But it is not expected to hit that target until 2025.

The slow pace with which allies are boosting artillery production means Ukraine is unlikely to be able to tip the balance on the battlefield.

Experts say it will likely be able to cling on, however.

[Ukraine] could certainly use more, but for now both sides have sufficient supplies to maintain the fight, albeit rarely to move the front line under current conditions, said Mr Crump.

In response to the repeated requests from Kyiv, Western governments have argued they are aiming to equip Ukraines forces with higher-quality long-range weapon systems.

The introduction of the air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missile, donated by Britain and France, and the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), have significantly helped overcome Russias advantage in numbers.

The Kremlins artillery advantage has been gradually eroded in almost 20 months of fighting, with Russian forces losing around 600 guns and launchers.

Moscow is believed to be losing four times more artillery systems than Kyiv on the main axes of the southern counter-offensive.

But still without shells, Ukraine will not be able to hold back Russian advances, nor attempt to advance in the future.

The situation is a growing concern, Mr Crump said, as a Cold War-era surplus of artillery munitions meant factories were shut down.

With stockpiles of all sorts drawing down, and long lead times to replace, this does create a point of Western vulnerability that should cause policymakers concern, he added.

We need three victories

Mr Zelensky on Friday outlined three key victories that his country had to secure on the international front  two of which were centred on arms deliveries.

We need three victories. The first one is the victory with [the] US Congress. Its a challenge, its not easy, but Ukraine is doing everything, Mr Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv.

President Joe Biden has asked Congress to approve many billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine, but Kyivs funding was omitted from a stop-gap spending bill passed last week, raising concerns it may not get through in the face of stiff opposition from a vocal bloc of Republicans.

Mr Zelensky also zeroed in on a 50 billion package from the EU that was announced earlier for Ukraine, but has not yet been approved and is so far opposed by Hungary.

The second [victory] is we need the help from the EU on the 50 billion package, the Ukrainian leader said. And the third is to open a dialogue about our future membership.

Kyiv hopes the European Unions members will agree at a summit on Dec 14-15 to formally launch the long process of talks for Kyiv to join the bloc, a move that Mr Zelensky said would improve Ukrainian morale.

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The Biden administration unveiled new actions Saturday intended to increase support for small businesses.

In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, the administration listed three top actions.

First, the White House will invest $50 million of American Rescue Plan funds in over 10,000 small businesses. The administration will also issue $50 billion worth of small business loans this year, including large increases for underserved businesses.

Best Black Friday Deals

Finally, the administration announced a a new focus on strengthening of partnerships to invest in and support rural businesses.

The post was part of a larger White House thread celebrating Small Business Saturday.

On Small Business Saturday, the Biden-Harris Administration celebrates the hardworking Americans who run our small businesses and keep our economy moving, the administration wrote on X. Were committed to helping them grow and succeed.

In its thread, the White House also boasted about a [r]ecord 14.6 million applications that have been filed to start businesses under the Biden administration. The post also lauded the [f]astest growth in Black business ownership in over 30 years.

Small businesses are more than just the engines of our economy, President Biden wrote on X. Theyre the glue that hold our communities together. Shop small today, folks.

The president spent time Saturday walking through Nantucket, Mass., and was seen going into several small shops alongside first lady Jill Biden, according to White House pool notes.

Back in August, Vice President Harris announced that the administration would invest $125 million to help small businesses in underserved communities. The investment was planned to go to 43 small business accelerators that support entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

As Bidenomics continues to demonstrate, when we invest in the dreams, the ambitions of small business owners and entrepreneurs, it creates opportunity and prosperity for us all, Harris said during remarks in Washington, D.C., at the time.

On Saturday, Harris said the last two years have been the greatest for small business.

On Small Business Saturday and throughout the holidays, be sure to shop local and support the backbone of our communities, she wrote on X. When our small business owners succeed, America succeeds.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat who is challenging President Joe Biden in the 2024 primary, is taking his own advice to pass the torch.

He has urged the 81-year-old president to make room for a new generation of leaders.

Now, the 54-year-old Phillips is opening up his congressional seat, announcing Friday he would not seek reelection to the U.S. House.

"After three terms it is time to pass the torch," he said in a statement.

Why Rep. Dean Phillips is challenging Biden in 2024 Democratic primary

Phillips, in a longshot bid for the White House, has been calling on Biden to do the same. Though he has described Biden as a "terrific" president, Phillips has cited his age and bad polls as warning signs for Democrats in the 2024 presidential election.

Top Democrats and donors have remained loyal to Biden while Phillips, a multimillionaire businessman who is self-funding part of his campaign, works to establish name recognition in early primary states.

Phillips becomes one of about a dozen lawmakers who say they will not seek reelection next year as both parties try to win control of Congress.

Two Democrats are already running for his seat, which largely serves suburban Minneapolis: state Sen. Kelly Morrison and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.

Phillips said the last seven years have presented "historic opportunities" and challenges, including "some of the darkest days in our nation's history."

"America has endured for a remarkable 246 years as the longest-lasting democratic republic in the world, but we are facing a crisis of cooperation, common sense, and truth," he said.

In parting words to his colleagues in Congress, the moderate Phillips said, "No party has a monopoly on solutions, and we must stop fighting one another and begin fighting for one another - before it's too late."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Dean Phillips is not running for reelection to Congress in 2024
Migrants arrive at the international border crossing between Finland and Russia, in Salla, Finland, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP)

HELSINKI (AP)  When Finland joined NATO earlier this year, Russia threatened retaliation.

Now, hundreds of migrants from the Middle East and Africa have appeared at Finland's border from Russia, seeking entry into the Nordic country.

Finnish officials say the sudden surge in asylum-seekers is no coincidence. They accuse Russia of driving the migrants to the border to sow discord as payback for Finland's membership in NATO.

Here is a look at the migration challenge playing out along parts of Finlands 830-mile (1,340-kilometer) border with Russia.

WHAT HAPPENED?

There has long been a trickle of asylum-seekers showing up at border checkpoints in Finland, which is the European Union's easternmost member. But this month saw a sudden surge.

According to official statistics, more than 900 migrants have arrived in Finland so far since August, more than 800 in November alone.

Finnish authorities say they hail from countries including Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and that unlike in the past, the Russian authorities let them get that far even though they lack documents.

They arrive in sneakers in Finland's harsh winter conditions, most riding bicycles.

We have proof showing that, unlike before, not only Russian border authorities are letting people without proper documentation to the Finnish border, but they are also actively helping them to the border zone, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

HOW IS FINLAND REACTING?

Finnish authorities quickly closed four checkpoints and then three more, leaving just one Arctic crossing point open for asylum-seekers. They sent Finnish soldiers to erect barbed wire and concrete barriers along the frontier.

Finland also asked for help from EU border agency Frontex, which said it would send dozens of officers and equipment as reinforcements to the Finnish border. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said there has been a serious disruption of border security," but authorities also insist that they have the situation under control.

The Kremlin denies encouraging the migrants, and says it regrets the Finnish border closures. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova argued Wednesday that Helsinki should have instead tried to "to work out a mutually acceptable solution or receive explanation.

HYBRID WARFARE

Western countries have for years accused Russia and its ally Belarus of using migrants seeking safety and economic opportunity in Europe as pawns to destabilize Western democracies. European leaders called it a form of hybrid warfare that Moscow deploys against them, along with disinformation, election interference and cyber attacks.

Finnish Foreign Minister Valtonen told the AP that there is no doubt that Russia "is instrumentalizing migrants as part of its hybrid warfare against Finland following the nation's entry into NATO  a decision prompted by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Other Western experts agree.

The Finns are quite right the Russians have been weaponizing migration for some time allied with aggressive disinformation  the idea being simply to produce wedges within societies they judge to be hostile, said Klaus Dodds, a geopolitics professor at Royal Holloway, University of London.

This is all about destabilizing Finland, Dodds added.

DEJA VU

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said this week that the challenges on Finlands border gave her a feeling of deja vu.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto noted this week that Russia, in 2015 and 2016, permitted asylum-seekers to approach border checkpoints in northern Finland. It was seen as a response to Finland increasing training activities with NATO.

He recalled previously warning that Finland should prepare for a certain malice from Russia and said that we are now constantly being reminded every day that Finland joined NATO.

The NATO nations of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have also faced migration pressure on their borders with Belarus  an ally of Russia  for more than two years.

A trickle, and then a sudden surge of migrants from Belarus came after the EU imposed sanctions on Belarus for a 2020 election that authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed to win, but which was widely viewed as rigged.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina told the AP on a visit to Finland this week that the Baltic nation recorded a rise in attempts by migrants to cross the Belarus-Latvia border in September, prompting it to close all checkpoints on the 107-mile (173-kilometer) border except one left open for asylum-seekers.

Silina said it was impossible to know the thinking of Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

That's the bad thing," she said. "We cannot predict it. We have to react and be proactive like in an emergency situation.

WHY DOES MIGRATION PRESSURE CAUSE INSTABILITY?

Migration pressure pushes democracies to abandon some of their democratic commitment to giving people seeking asylum the right to seek protection, thereby exposing fragility of democratic systems.

Europe has been under heavy migration pressure for years, triggering a backlash in many places against migrants that has also strengthened far-right parties.

The latest case is in the Netherlands, where anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders won an electoral victory this week.

In Poland, the border crisis deepened preexisting social divisions, pitting those seeking a tough stance on migration against those favoring a more accepting approach toward migrants and refugees. The government accused those of siding with migrants as unwittingly helping hostile foreign powers.

New walls and barriers now crisscross Europe as a result of migration and Russia's aggression. But they don't fully work.

Polands Border Guard has detected 25,500 attempts this year to illegally get through the border from Belarus, where a large steel wall was completed last year.

DEBATE INSIDE FINLAND AND ARCTIC CROSSINGS

Finns are now debating whether national security  an absolute priority for any government in the country of 5.6 million because of its proximity to Russia  exceeds human right concerns.

Under international agreements and treaties valued in the Nordic countries, at least one checkpoint on a countrys borders should remain open for asylum-seekers.

Orpos government decided to comply with this by leaving open the Raja-Jooseppi checkpoint in the Arctic north. It is the northernmost Finland-Russia border point located in the middle of wilderness in the Lapland region, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) from Russias Arctic city of Murmansk.

Despite the remote location, about 55 migrants arrived to the checkpoint on Saturday, more than usual.

___

Vanessa Gera reported from Warsaw, Poland.

___

Follow APs coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
In honor of Rosalynn Carter, President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown half-staff starting Saturday, Nov. 25 through Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Memorial services for Carter, the former first lady who died Nov. 19 at age 96, will be held Tuesday in Atlanta and Wednesday in her hometown of Plains.

Flags will be flown at half-staff at the White House and "upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the federal government," Biden announced earlier this week.

Flagship of the fleet: This song embodies the love of Rosalynn & Jimmy Carter, former president's grandson says

Have a memory of Rosalynn Carter? Here's how to send an official tribute

Biden is scheduled to arrive in Atlanta with first lady Dr. Jill Biden on Tuesday to attend the former first lady's memorial service at Glenn Memorial Church at Emory University. Vice President Kamala Harris and husband second gentleman Douglas Emhoff will attend, too, according to the White House.

Biden described Carter as, "a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for all; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities."

Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn were married for 77 years. Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care since February. Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia in May and entered hospice care earlier this month.

Jimmy was with Rosalynn when she died, their son James "Chip" Carter III told the Washington Post.

My Dad told her he loved her and thanked her for all the wonderful things she had done, he said. Then he asked us to leave so he could be alone with her.

Rosalynn Carter funeral, motorcade schedule

The services next week for Rosalynn Carter are for invited guests only, but the public can attend some events and are invited to line motorcade routes to pay respects to the former first lady.

Official times and routes for the motorcade will be released closer to the times of the movements, The Carter Center announced earlier this week. Viewing opportunities include:

Leaving Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus en route to Georgia Southwest University on the morning of Monday, Nov. 27.

Leaving GSW en route to The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta on Monday, Nov. 27, midmorning.

Leaving The Carter President Center en route to Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the Emory University campus on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Leaving Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Leaving a private ceremony at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains en route to a family-only interment at the Carter residence around midday on Wednesday, Nov. 29. This will be the final opportunity for the people of Plains and visitors to say farewell to Mrs. Carter.

Tributes for former first lady Rosalynn Carter

A form was created by The Carter Center this week to share memories and thoughts of the former first lady who died Sunday, November 19. She was 96. Here's where you can fill out and send an official tribute.

We have heard from people all over the world who have shared beautiful messages in honor of First Lady Rosalynn Carter," The Carter Center posted on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. "We invite you to share your own memory of Mrs. Carter or express your condolences to the Carter family..."

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Why are flags at half mast today? Honoring Rosalynn Carter nationwide
(CNN)  More than 30 people were arrested after pro-Palestinian demonstrators jumped police barricades and glued themselves to the street Thursday morning, interrupting the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, police say.

Of the 34 arrests, 30 demonstrators were issued a criminal summons for trespassing, and four people were arrested for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and obstructing governmental administration, according to the NYPD.

The protest broke out at Sixth Avenue and W. 45th Street at 10 a.m., around 90 minutes after the parade began, but there was no significant disruption to the parade, police said.

Earlier on Thursday, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called into the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast on NBC, where they urged unity.

Asked about his message given divisions in the country, Biden said: We have to come together. You know, we can have different political views but we have one view. And the one view is that we are the finest, the greatest nation in the world. We should focus on that. We should focus on dealing with our problems and being together.

Since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza, large crowds of people have organized and gathered at rallies across the US, to chant and march, expressing frustration, sadness and solidarity with Palestinians and Israelis over the war between Israel and Hamas.
John S. McCain III served as a representative and senator from Arizona for over 35 years. He also served 23 years in the Navy, spending nearly six of those years as a prisoner of war in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." McCain was the Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, losing to Barack Obama. Following his death in 2018, the late senator was honored with a new terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport named after him as well as the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), which also honors his father and grandfather. Surprisingly, a street in central Kyiv, Ukraine, is also named for McCain.

McCain addresses the crowd of protesters in Kyiv's Independence Square (twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT)

As a Cold War veteran, it's doubtful that McCain could conceive having a street in Ukraine bear his name. After all, the country was a Soviet state for most of his life. However, in November 2013, Sen. McCain took an interest in Ukraine with the Euromaidan protests against then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his decision to align the country's economy with Russia over the EU. In December, McCain braved the civil unrest and made an appearance in Kyiv's Independence Square, saying," People of Ukraine, this is your moment." Yanukovych was removed from office and the uprisings ended in February 2014.

Following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, McCain became a vocal supporter of supplying weapons to Ukraine's military. He routinely called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "thug" and "murderer" and criticized Russia's support to separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine. On the Phoenix radio station KFYI, McCain called for the United States to "treat Vladimir Putin for what he is: a KGB colonel who wants to restore the Russian empire." As a result, the Russian government officially sanctioned McCain for his opposition in March 2014.

McCain and a bipartisan delegation with Ukrainian Marines at a forward combat outpost, Dec. 31, 2016 (twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain)

In December 2016, McCain returned to Ukraine and met with then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko as well as Ukrainian troops holding the line against pro-Russian forces. "I send the message from the American people - we are with you, your fight is our fight and we will win together," McCain told Ukrainian reporters during his visit. "To Vladimir Putin - you will never defeat the Ukrainian people and deprive them of their independence and freedom." This sentiment was echoed by Sen. Lindsey Graham, who joined McCain in Ukraine and called for a stronger stance against Putin.

In December 2017, President Donald Trump made the decision to send FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine; weapons that proved invaluable to the country's defense in the opening stages of Russia's 2022 invasion. On Twitter, McCain called this "a strong signal that the United States will stand by its allies and partners as they fight to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity."

McCain meets with Poroshenko (twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain)

Despite being a voice of war coming, McCain passed away on August 25, 2018, before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On April 4, 2019, Kyiv City Council voted to rename Ivan Kudrya Street to John McCain Street. Previously honoring a Soviet intelligence agent who served Ukraine against the Nazis during WWII, the street now honors one of the nation's most vocal American supporters. Today, the street hosts a market that helps to maintain the economy and a sense of normalcy for a country at war.
The cultural lead-up to World War I was naive at best and bloodthirsty at worst. People who had never faced combat convinced themselves that future wars would be short, civilized, and restrained. And some even saw war and other violent conflicts as a sort of societal hygiene. Darwin's "survival of the fittest" meant, to them, that war would burn off the weak while leaving the strong even stronger.

But some military veterans, some authors, and a few political leaders saw the development of industrial warfare from the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Russo-Japanese War, and more. These men and women saw the seeds of a truly terrible conflict if Europe went to war.

The nationalist's clamor before World War I

The Western world, and especially Europe, was obsessed with the rise of nationalism and social Darwinism.

Nationalism - a deep-seated belief in one's nation and identifying with its history, culture, and perceived destiny - rose after the American and French revolutions. As members of European and Western nations increasingly saw themselves as actors within their countries and on the world stage, rather than simply peasants and workers of one noble or another, many formed national identities.

A German trench occupied by British Soldiers near the Albert - Bapaume road at Ovillers-la-Boisselle , July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme . The men are from A Company, 11th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment . Public Domain.

So, someone born to a French farming family in Alsace in the early 1800s might have seen themselves as a farmer. But they would only sort of be part of France, and the French shared identity wasn't all that strong. But a few generations later, their great- or great-great-grandson would see themselves as French, as an heir to the Revolution, andas a voterpotentially a decision-maker on the world stage.

The rise of national identity, on its own, was no problem. After all, patriotism can be a strong unifying factor in societies. But combined with an increased martial spirit, where military values and actions became national ideals, and Social Darwinism, in which some saw a value of war in burning off the "weak" from society, patriotism quickly turned to fierce nationalism and, in some cases, a sort of proto-fascism.

Split identities during a rise of nationalism

And that was a huge problem for places like Alsace. That farming family with formerly weak ties to France? Well, it became German in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. So, it included many people who increasingly saw themselves as French or German, but not necessarily both. And the French and German people both saw the territory and people there as belonging to them.

The French saw German control and Germans there as an insult to their national identity. The Germans saw French people as a threat to their control and identity. And both saw war as a suitable method of deciding the issue.

Similar problems existed throughout Europe in areas where ethnic or cultural identities didn't match the rising national identity of the host country.

Famously, this became a huge deal in Austria-Hungary when Serb nationalists lobbied aggressively for their own state . By killing a duke. And his wife.

Since some European powers, like Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, and the Ottoman Empire, had globe-spanning territory, each had a lot of places where local nationalists might agitate for their own state even as the dominant powers in each country saw its national power as part and parcel with the control of foreign territory.

All this led to a lot of people who had never seen combat drooling for war, social hygiene, and national glory. They convinced themselves that wars would be short, the more industrialized country would quickly prevail, and both sides would lose the weak and keep the strong.

Complicated systems of alliances led these small conflicts to quickly snowball into World War I.

The cooler heads that did not prevail

Of course, many military leaders knew that war was becoming industrialized, and the carnage was getting worse, not better. European observers in the American Civil War noted how advances in artillery, rifles, and Gatling guns drastically increased the blood toll of combat.

European armies used even more advanced weapons, including the Maxim gun, in combat to put down colonial uprisings. While some civic and a few military leaders consoled themselves that Europeans would never do that to each other, those who had studied the French Revolution and civil wars, the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and similar conflicts all doubted that Westerners would refuse to use such weapons on each other.

And those who had seen combat knew, of course, that battle rarely claims only the weak soldiers. There is no careful organization on the battlefield to make sure that everyone gets a fair shot at surviving, that everyone's sacrifices and risks are equal.

A bunch of peopleall men, at the timewalk into a meat grinder, and some of them survive and make it out. But there's no reason to think that the "fittest" always survive in normal times, let alone war. (Indeed, Charles Darwin only adopted the term "survival of the fittest" in the fifth edition of his book to try and dispel the idea that some embodiment of nature selected winners, a misconception rooted in his use of "natural selection.")

World War I erupts

But as a few individuals warned of the risk of war, including from the military establishment, eager populations saw the race to build dreadnoughts, the expanding rail networks, and the modernization of armies as a sign that their country could bring its force to bear against its rivals and take its place in history. Of course, that required they ignore the fact that other countries also had new navies, rail networks, and modern armies.

Some groups, like Italian Futurists, even saw war as a new, exciting disruption of stale culture .

Leaders avoided a continental war during a series of crises in the early 20th century, but the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand famously caused the tense peace to finally collapse. The armies marched to war and quickly stalemated. For years, World War I centered on a long line through France that shifted a few hundred meters at a time, back and forth, but rarely moved significantly.

And it became one of humanity's worst, bloodiest, and longest conflicts.

Logan Nye was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Now, hes a freelance writer and live-streamer. In addition to covering military and conflict news at We Are The Mighty, he has an upcoming military literacy channel on Twitch.tv/logannyewrites.
Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

The Taylor Swift Songbook

What prompted the idea for the course?

This class is part of a group of introductory English offerings that focus on basic methods of literary analysis and research. It fulfills different requirements for potential English majors and the general student population, so I am always looking for news ways to engage them.

For a few years, I taught it as a Harry Potter course. I introduced students to classic British literature by exploring the Romantic and medieval literary traditions present in the novel.

But in 2022, I realized I was bored. I had been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift with my college-aged daughter, who had been home for a year during the pandemic. Swift had recently released Red (Taylors Version).

Listening to her track All Too Well was my epiphany. Swifts vivid imagery and emotionally gripping detail had all the markings of a great narrative poem. She writes the song in a way that mirrors the recursions of memory. Her verses become increasingly strong and build upon each other once she starts remembering the past. At the same time, the songs imagery moves from fall to winter as she reflects upon the relationships beginning and frosty end.

What does the course explore?

This course pairs Taylor Swift songs with a number of poems, along with a play, a novel and a film.

The semester began with the pairing of Swifts songs with Renaissance love poetry. One class analyzing the metaphors, similes and colors in the song Red turned, a week or so later, into an exploration of Shakespeares use of similar colors in his famous sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold.

From Red:

Loving him was blue like Id never known Missing him was dark gray, all alone  But loving him was red

Shakespeare, meanwhile, begins his sonnet 73 with That time of year thou mayst in me behold / When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang, before pointing to the oranges of autumns sunset [that] fadeth in the west and the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth doth lie.

Where Swift moves from cool tones to burning red, Shakespeare moves through increasingly warm tones: from yellow, to orange, to red. But both move toward an intensity of color and heat.

Some couplings are obvious. For instance, Swifts Love Story mentions the title characters of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet  Romeo save me, Ive been feeling so alone.

Others might come as more of a surprise: I paired Daphne du Mauriers 1938 novel Rebecca, which Alfred Hitchcock adapted for the silver screen in 1940, with Swifts song the last great american dynasty.

Centering on a scandalous woman named Rebecca  or Rebekah, in Swifts song  the song, novel and film explore the relations of mad women and madwomen, the tenuous line between anger and craziness. Its a theme Swift hits on in a number of songs, from her 2019 track The Man to 2020s mad woman, which I paired with Sylvia Plaths poem Lady Lazarus.

Why is this course relevant now?

I think this course tapped into the zeitgeist in ways I couldnt have imagined when I first dreamed it up. Of course, Swifts music is popular, and she has long had a devoted following. But the October 2022 release of her record-breaking album Midnights has only made the course seem more relevant to students interests. As a class, we spent time exploring the ways tracks on Midnights revisited themes and writing strategies that appeared in Swifts earlier songs.

Whats a critical lesson from the course?

Analyzing Swifts writing will hopefully help my students recognize how certain poetic and literary devices operate in older texts  as much as those same books and poems from the past help them appreciate Swifts art at a deeper level. They seem especially eager to engage with older materials, like Renaissance seduction poetry and black and white film, when they can see traces of the same artistic techniques in the music videos and songs they watch and listen to today.

Swifts award-winning songwriting is attached to an English and American literary past in both obvious and more subtle ways. An avid reader herself, Swift deploys forms  like metaphors, conceits and structures  that are part of a shared literary heritage that students might otherwise find old-fashioned and irrelevant.

Far from diminishing the value of Swifts writing, tracing its connection to the literary greats shores up her authority as a creative artist. Swift, like all artists, is part of a great tradition, and she calls upon it to create new works.

What materials does the course feature?

What will the course prepare students to do?

This course has rather modest ambitions. It prepares careful and critical readers, as well as articulate writers and researchers.

It pays attention to what language denotes at the surface and what it carries around with it in its connotations and associations. It teaches students about those features, using the Oxford English Dictionary as a research tool to probe linguistic origin, register and usage beyond what a term literally means.

While delivering New York Universitys 2022 commencement speech, Swift urged the graduating seniors to embrace their enthusiasms and be unafraid to explore their interests.

Finding a way to tap into students enthusiasm for Swift, and tie her songwriting to literary methodologies, is my version of following her lead.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Elizabeth Scala, The University of Texas at Austin.

Read more:



Elizabeth Scala does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Crews work on columns in the median of Highway 101 near Agoura Hills in this September photo. The wildlife crossing will bridge the 10-lane freeway.

Crews mostly completed a large, concrete wall along the north side of Highway 101 near Agoura Hills this month  one of the initial steps in building a first-of-its-kind wildlife crossing.

Construction started last year on the bridge over the 10-lane freeway, a barrier for mountain lions, mule deer and other wildlife in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Ten large columns went up in the median over the past several months and work on a second wall started along southbound lanes.

Billed as the world's largest urban wildlife crossing, the bridge may help save an isolated mountain lion population from extinction. It will stretch 210 feet long and look like natural habitat.

The crossing is expected to be wide enough to fit roughly a dozen traffic lanes if designed for vehicles, said Michael Comeaux, a spokesman for the California Department of Transportation.

During construction, officials lowered the speed limit and narrowed lanes to accommodate work on a short stretch of the 101 near Liberty Canyon. While lane and ramp closures have happened overnight, the freeway so far has remained open in both directions.

That is expected to change over several nights in early 2024. The freeway will shut down in one direction at a time as cranes lift more than 80 long, concrete beams into place. Built in Riverside County, those girders will form a sort of skeleton crossing, stretching from the walls on either side of the freeway to the middle support columns.

Midnight to 4 a.m. closures will be announced in advance and traffic is expected to detour on Agoura Road, Comeaux said.

The work initially was expected to happen this summer but the timeline shifted. The change is not expected to add time to the overall schedule, he said.

When will construction finish?

Caltrans officials say they hope to complete the crossing by late 2025 but caution that is only an estimate.

Reinforced concrete girders will form the skeleton of the wildlife crossing over Highway 101 near Liberty Canyon.

The first phase is expected to wrap up late next year. But plans for a second phase are still being designed, Comeaux said. The later work will include extending the crossing over Agoura Road and relocating utility lines to an underground tunnel.

Comeaux called the work to move a major water main as well as power and gas lines a significant part of the overall project cost. But the actual cost and timeline is not yet known.

Were hopeful that it can all be accomplished by the end of 2025, he said. At this point, there are still too many unknowns to call it anything more than a target date.

C. A. Rasmussen Inc., of Valencia, received a $23 million contract to complete the first phase of construction, which includes the bridge over the freeway. More than $100 million in a mix of public funds, private grants and donations have been raised to pay for costs including designs, studies and construction.

How will the crossing help?

The area near Liberty Canyon is one of few places left in the area that has natural habitat on both sides of the 101. The land is also publicly owned and protected from development.

The National Park Service has studied mountain lions in the area since 2002 to see how they're surviving in an increasingly urban area. They have found mountain lions and other animals approach both sides of the freeway but few attempt to cross it.

The small cougar population in the Santa Monicas Mountains is boxed in by development and highways, obstacles that have led to inbreeding, low genetic diversity and lions killing each other.

Crossings can reduce collisions with wildlife but also add connections to other areas and reduce isolation, experts say.

What is happening with construction?

Crews continue work on a wildlife crossing over Highway 101 in Agoura Hills. The bridge is expected to stretch roughly 210 feet long and 174 feet wide.

Crews have started work on the second wall on the south side of the freeway, Comeaux said Friday. The wall goes up in stages with carpenters first building a tall, hollow wooden form, which will be the first half of the future wall.

After steel reinforcements are added next month, crews will pour hundreds of tons of wet concrete into the structure. Then, they will do it all again.

Once the wall is completed, the skeleton structure will be placed over the top.

For live webcams and more information about the crossing, go to 101wildlifecrossing.org. To sign up for weekly construction and traffic updates, email Michael Comeaux at michael.comeaux@dot.ca.gov.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Wildlife bridge: Caltrans expects skeleton of crossing by early 2024
A new royal book claims there is a rift between father and son (Getty Images)

The Prince of Wales is competing with his father King Charles for control of the royal family, author Omid Scobie has claimed in his new, no-holds-barred book.

In Endgame, William is portrayed as a cold, ambitious, hot-tempered prince, impatiently awaiting his turn on the throne.

Citing conversations and interviews with palace insiders, he suggests that William is snapping at Charless heels, determined to bring the royal family into the 21st century by ripping up the institutions centuries-old rulebook and doing things the Cambridge way.

Hes not giving his father the same space Charles did with the Queen, Scobie writes. Theres no time for that.

Charles and Williams are said to have different views on the future of the royal family (Getty Images)

One of the major themes of royal reporter Scobies book is an alleged rift between William and Charles, who was named King after the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. According to Scobie, father and son are united in their frustration with Prince Harry, but have different ideas for how the family should be run.

Contrary to public belief, [Charles] leads with his head and his heart, Scobie quotes a source close to the King as saying. [William] is colder in that respect. He just wants to get the job done and has no problem taking prisoners along the way.

The British journalist describes their offices in Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace as hives of competing agendas with different ideas about how to modernise the monarchy.

While William respects his father, Scobie writes, their views, [and] their outooks are very different, and I can see that becoming an issue over the years ahead.

Charles and William shares frustrations with Harrys behaviour, the book says (Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the new book, he claims Charles was quietly annoyed after Prince William announced the Earthshot Prize  a global initiative aimed at tackling the climate crisis  without involving his father or crediting him in any way.

Charles, 75, has consistently championed environmental issues, including sustainability, conservation and global warming, for the past five decades.

At 21, the former Prince of Wales highlighted the menace of plastic pollution, while launching the Countryside Award Scheme in support of organisations which have promoted projects that are a distinctive contribution towards improving the general quality and beauty of the environment in Wales. He has since remained a passionate and outspoken climate advocate.

Referring to Williams Earthshot initiative, launched in 2020, a source at Clarence House told Scobie that Charles had hoped that William would want to involve his father or at least credit him for inspiring him to take on this role, but instead it was as if [Charless environmentalism] didnt even exist.

Charles has led the way for a smaller Firm since the death of his mother (Getty Images)

Endgame, which will be released on 28 November, takes a critical look at the monarchy in its current form and its fight for survival in the 21st century. You can read nine of the biggest revelations from the book here.

It comes three years after Scobies first book, Finding Freedom, which chronicles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghans love story, marriage, and eventual decision to relocate to the US after resigning as senior members of the royal family.

The Independent has contacted Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace for comment.

You can read The Independents review of the book here.
A civilian woman was injured in a Russian attack on the Semenivka hromada, near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Chernihiv Oblast, on Saturday, 25 November.

Source: Chernihiv Oblast Police

Quote: "The Russians once again deployed mortars to attack a civilian village in the Semenivka hromada near the [Russian-Ukrainian] border. A local resident was working in her yard and was caught in the Russian fire.

The civilian woman sustained injuries in the attack.

Semenivka police officers set out to help her straight away and drove the injured woman to a hospital where she was treated."

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Boston police are investigating after a woman suffered a life-threatening gunshot injury in Hyde Park Friday night.

Boston police officers responding to 30 Business Street around 10:11 p.m. found the woman suffering from her injuries and transported her to a local hospital.

No arrests have been made yet, Boston police say.

The scene was still active and under investigation as of 10:30 pm, a spokesperson for Boston police told Boston 25 News.

Stay with Boston 25 Morning News for more info.

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
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A woman was taken to a hospital Friday night after being shot at an East Side grocery store.

According to Columbus police, the shooting was reported at the Giant Eagle Market District store in the 2900 block of Stelzer Road about 6:50 p.m.

Ohio high school wrestling coach, wife accused of sexually abused students in lawsuit

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The woman, who was shot inside the store, was taken to Mount Carmel East hospital, where she was stable, police said. The store had been cleared by 7:20, with investigators arriving on scene about 20 minutes later.

An employee told NBC4 that they were taken to the stores GetGo gas station in the parking lot, where they were briefly detained. A representative from Giant Eagle said it was working with authorities and that the store, which normally stayed open until 11 p.m., would remain closed for the night.

Our thoughts are with our injured guest, as well as the other guests and our Team Members in the store at the time who witnessed the incident, a statement from Giant Eagle said. We are offering support services to store Team Members throughout the weekend and will keep the store closed for the remainder of the evening. The Market District will reopen for guests at 7 a.m. [Saturday].

Details about a suspect were not immediately released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, could lose $75 million in advertising revenue by the end of the year following owner Elon Musks apparent endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory last week, The New York Times reported Friday.

The Times said it had viewed internal documents revealing that the social media company is in a tough position. The documents reportedly list over 200 ad units from companies like Amazon and Coca-Cola that have stopped or are considering pausing their advertising on X.

The Times said the documents are from the sales team at X, and that they are used to track the impact from advertising pullbacks in November.

Musk faced backlash last week for appearing to agree with an antisemitic post on the platform, replying it was the actual truth. The post that Musk replied to was a response to another post by a user raising an issue with increasing antisemitism.

To the cowards hiding behind the anonymity of the internet and posting Hitler was right: You got something you want to say? the initial user, who identified themselves as a Jewish Conservative in their bio, wrote. Why dont you say it to our faces.

In response, another user said in separate post that Jewish [communities] have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.

Im deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest shit now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country dont exactly like them too much, the user continued, adding, You want truth said to your face, there it is.

Musk replied: You have said the actual truth.

Companies such as IBM, Disney and Apple announced they would pull ads from X in the wake of Musks comments. The platform had already been struggling with ad revenue following half of Xs top advertisers exits in 2022 after Musk took control.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a series of executive orders on Friday, announcing the dismissal of four deputy commanders within the National Guard, New Voice reported on Nov. 24.

Among those removed from their positions were key leaders in the National Guard's hierarchy, including the first Deputy Commander, Yuriy Kondratyuk, as well as deputies Oleksandr Nabok, Oleg Sahon, and Mykola Mykolenko. The presidential decrees did not provide any specific reasons for their dismissal.

To replace the outgoing deputies, President Zelensky appointed Vadym Gladkov as the new first deputy commander of Ukraine's National Guard, while Oleksandr Bilous and Oleksiy Osipenko will take on the roles of deputy commanders.

The changes in the National Guard's leadership follow the appointment of Oleksandr Pivnenko as the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine this past July. The reshuffling also follows reported changes in February, where the National Guard deputy commander responsible for logistics was reportedly dismissed.

The National Guard is a part of the Interior Ministry and is responsible for public security. Its personnel are also fighting on the front lines of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry says $4.8 billion to be allocated for shells, missiles in 2024

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Kyiv, Ukraine (CNN)  Russia on Saturday launched its largest drone attack against Ukraines capital of Kyiv since the start of its invasion, according to local officials.

More than 40 drones were intercepted, with several waves of drones coming from different directions, Mykhailo Shamanov, a spokesman for the Kyiv city military administration, said in an interview on national television.

Ukraines Air Force described it as a record number of Shahed-131/136 type (drones), saying the capital was the main target.

A CNN producer in Kyiv heard loud explosions and repeated bangs as drones buzzed overhead. The citys military administration warned residents to take cover, saying: A large number of enemy UAVs are entering Kyiv from different directions! We urge you to stay in shelters until the alarm goes off!

It was the fourth drone attack on Kyiv this month, according to Shamanov.

At least two people were injured in Kyivs Solomianskyi district, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko.

Several locations in Solomianskyi district caught fire, including a residential building and other non-residential premises, Klitschko said.

He added that the second floor of a five-story residential building in Solomianskyi district was damaged, and that the wreckage of downed drones fell on two residential buildings  one in the Dniprovskyi district, the other in the Holosiivskyi district.

In a separate statement, Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, said a fire had broken out on the premises of a kindergarten after a drone was downed in the Solomianskyi district.

The countrys Energy Ministry said the attack cut off power to an overhead line, leaving 77 residential buildings and 120 establishments without power in the city center.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte discussed the future of Dutch support for Ukraine following the outcome of the Dutch general elections which resulted in a surprise victory for far-right candidate Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV).

The Ukrainian President met with the current PM over the phone on Nov. 24. According to Zelensky, the two leaders discussed "efforts to maintain European unity" as well as "the importance of continuing military and financial assistance to Ukraine."

President Zelensky highlighted the Netherlands' recent decision to provide an additional 2 billion to Ukraine for 2024 as "the best signal to other partners."

"I am grateful to the Netherlands for all of its assistance as well as for its support of Ukraine's Peace Formula and the humanitarian initiative Grain From Ukraine," Zelensky stated.

The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is now the largest party in the Dutch parliament, winning 37 out of the 150-seat parliament. Geert Wilders is set to become the Dutch PM once the new government is formed.

It remains uncertain whether the PVV will be able to build a coalition government, a process that can last up to six months. Throughout this period, the Dutch foreign policy will remain in the reins of the current government. Wilders would need to build a coalition in order to actually govern the Netherlands, and his ability to become prime minister is not guaranteed.

Under the outgoing Prime Minister Rutte (VVD), the Netherlands has been a staunch ally of Ukraine, being one of the few partners to pledge F-16 fighter jets.

While denouncing Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the PVV voiced opposition to sending financial support and fighter jets to Kyiv, preferring them to be used for domestic needs.

Geert Wilders has long been vocally anti-immigration but has also made a number of statements in favor of Russia and against the Netherlands continuing to provide support to Ukraine.

The far-right leader has close relations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and has been accused of having ties with Russia. Wilders has condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and referred to Russia as the aggressor.

Polls have suggested that an overwhelming majority of Dutch citizens are in favor of continued support for Ukraine.

Read also: Media: Netherlands to provide Ukraine with 500 million euros in ammunition

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President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Swiss counterpart Alain Berset met in Kyiv on Nov. 25, discussing the use of frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and Switzerland's role in implementing Zelensky's peace formula, among other things.

"It is a powerful message for Ukrainians all over the world that you have decided to visit Ukraine on a special day in our history for all our families - the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor," Zelensky told Berset, as cited by Ukraine's Presidential Office.

Berset arrived in Kyiv early on Nov. 25, just after Russia launched the largest drone attack on the Ukrainian capital since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Except for meeting Zelensky, Berset has participated in the International Summit on Food Security, which coincided with the Holodomor Memorial Day.

The Holodomor, a man-made famine that took place between 1932-33, occurred during Joseph Stalin's reign over the Soviet Union and caused an estimated 3.5 to 5 million Ukrainian deaths.

Zelensky said he hoped the new Swiss parliament would recognize the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, a step taken by around 30 countries so far.

Read also: Holodomor: Soviet Unions man-made famine in Ukraine

Switzerland's parliamentary elections in October resulted in the populist, right-wing Swiss People's Party winning the most seats. Members of the party boycotted Zelensky's speech to the Swiss parliament on June 15, claiming it violated the country's tradition of neutrality.

At the food security summit, Berset announced Switzerland would contribute three million francs ($3.4 million) to the World Food Programme to help those affected by the food crisis caused by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Switzerland will also send ten more ambulances, seven fire engines, including a used one, and other firefighting equipment to Ukraine, according to the Swiss government.

Read also: From F-16s to frozen assets: How Dutch far-rights win could impact Ukraine

At the Nov. 25 meeting, Zelensky thanked Berset for Switzerland's "significant" humanitarian aid for Ukraine, including assistance in restoring critical infrastructure.

Switzerland plans to host the International Donor Conference on Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine next year after committing about $113 million to such efforts in September.

At the same time, Switzerland doesn't provide Ukraine with military aid due to its long-standing neutrality policy, and its parliament has repeatedly voted against proposals to amend the rules regarding the re-export of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine.

The country also blocked the transfer of Swiss-made Leopard 1 tanks from Italy to Ukraine in June.

Read also: Zelensky names 3 important victories Ukraine needs on international stage

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Three victories Ukraine needs on the international stage are the support of the U.S. Congress, of the EU, and Ukraine's accession to the European bloc, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 24, New Voice reported.

Kyiv is working through the media and diplomatic channels to ensure the support of foreign partners, Zelensky said at a press conference with his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics.

"We are working with the United States, the administration of President (Joe) Biden, with the two parties of Congress. We also work with the EU," Zelensky said.

The White House is seeking to push through a $105 billion funding package that includes $61 billion for Ukraine but faces resistance from House Republicans.

After the House passed a stopgap funding bill excluding Ukraine aid on Nov. 14 to prevent the government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Biden's spending bill would be considered sometime after Nov. 23.

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"With Congress, it's a challenge, it's not easy," Zelensky admitted.

"We cannot affect everything, but Ukraine has to do all it can and beyond."

The president also stressed the importance of the EU support, namely the proposed $53 billion funding package and Ukraine's membership bid.

The EU faces growing Ukraine-skeptic forces as well. Hungary and Slovakia have criticized support for Kyiv and sanctions against Russia, and Budapest voiced opposition to the start of Ukraine's EU membership talks.

This week's Dutch elections saw the victory of a far-right party with a record of criticizing Ukraine support, spelling an uncertain future for the two countries' relations on a bilateral and European level.

Read also: From F-16s to frozen assets: How Dutch far-rights win could impact Ukraine

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Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine overnight on Nov. 25, which coincided with the Holodomor Memorial Day, was "deliberate terror," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Over 70 kamikaze (drones were launched) the night dedicated to remembering the victims of the Holodomor genocide. Deliberate terror. At the exact time. Russias leadership is proud they can kill, Zelensky wrote in a Telegram post.

Ukraines air defense downed 74 out of 75 drones Russia launched against Ukraine overnight on Nov. 25. Five people were injured in Kyiv as a result of the attack, including an 11-year-old child.

We are working on strengthening our air defense and downing more (targets). And we continue to work to unite the world against Russian terror. The terrorist state must lose and be brought to justice for what it has done, said Zelensky.

The Holodomor, which means murder by starvation in Ukrainian, is widely considered to be one of Ukraines most devastating national tragedies.

A man-made famine brought on by Joseph Stalins regime claimed the lives of millions of Ukrainians in just one year between 1932-33.

And justice is important not in 90 years, but now, Zelensky said in an address released by his office on Nov. 25.

Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, more and more countries have come to recognize the Holodomor in Ukraine as genocide. Outside Ukraine, 29 countries, as well as the European Parliament, have recognized it as genocide against the Ukrainian people.

We will never forget what Ukraine had to go through. And we will definitely put a stop to the new genocide that Russia, inheriting the criminality of totalitarianism, has brought to our land, Zelensky said in a separate Telegram post later the same day.

Read also: Holodomor: Soviet Unions man-made famine in Ukraine

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published an address to the nation to mark Holodomor Memorial Day, as seen on the Presidential website on Nov. 25.

In his speech, he honored the memory of all Ukrainians who died in 1921-1923, 1946-1947, and, most horrifically, during the years of 1932-1933  the Holodomor-genocide.

"They tried to exterminate us, to subjugate us, to torture us, the president said.

They failed. They wanted to conceal the truth from us and hush up the terrible crimes forever. They failed. They wanted to confuse us, to mislead us, to make us not believe, to doubt, to forget, and therefore to forgive. They failed. And today, with utmost sorrow and respect, we honor the memory of millions of our people."

Read also:

The ideologues, organizers, and perpetrators of the crimes of the Holodomors of the Ukrainian people have not been held accountable or punished fairly during their lifetime, but today they must bear it with "shame, the stigma of their role in world history, the truth that everyone on the planet should know," Zelenskyy said.

"This is a time of historical responsibility for the murderers and for those who chose to be followers of the murderers, who act in the same way as before. And justice is important not in 90 years, but now. Because although there are crimes that have no statute of limitations, justice must be timely."

Read also:

Recognizing the criminal acts against Ukrainians as crimes of genocide is extremely important, the president stated.

"This is not a formality. This is the attitude of the civilized world to the truth. This is a tribute to justice."

Zelenskyy also expressed his gratitude to all countries that have officially recognized the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people.

He emphasized that the first to do so were the following:

 Estonia

 Australia

 Canada

 Hungary

 Vatican

 Lithuania

 Georgia

 Poland

 Peru

 Paraguay

 Ecuador

 Colombia

 Mexico

 Portugal

 United States of America

Read also: UK Parliament recognizes Holodomor as Genocide of Ukrainian people

After the start of the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine, many other countries joined them, including:

 United Kingdom

 Slovenia

 Belgium

 Ireland

 Romania

 Moldova

 Czech Republic

 Germany

 Iceland

 France

 Bulgaria

 Luxembourg

 Croatia

The Ukraine-initiated Declaration commemorating the tragic 90th anniversary of the 1932-1933 Holodomor at the UN was signed by 55 UN Member States and the EU delegation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Nov. 23.

The attention to the Holodomor at the UN is growing, with a significant rise in signatures compared to a similar document in 2018.

Read also:

2023 sees the 91st anniversary of the deliberate actions of Soviet authorities in 1932 to confiscate grain and other essential food supplies from the residents of Ukraine. These actions led to the Holodomor, a tragic chapter in Ukrainian history and one of the most significant atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people. The Holodomor of 1932-1933 has been recognized as an act of genocide against Ukrainians by the Stalinist regime, both in Ukraine and in many other countries.

Holodomor Memorial Day is commemorated annually on the last Saturday of November.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called it deliberate terror that the Russians launched a record number of Shahed attack drones at Ukraine in the early hours of Holodomor Remembrance Day. [Holodomor was a man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine which lasted from 1932 to 1933 and claimed the lives of millions of Ukrainians  ed.]

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram and Facebook

Quote from Zelenskyy: "More than 70 Shahed attack drones in the early hours of Holodomor Remembrance Day. Deliberate terror. Specifically at this time. The Russian leadership is proud of its ability to kill.

Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all of them. But we continue to work to strengthen our air defence and shoot down more targets.

And we continue to work to unite the world in defence against Russian terror. The terrorist state must lose and be held accountable for its actions."

Update: The president also recorded a video address for Ukrainians on the anniversary of the Holodomor Remembrance Day.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "They tried to exterminate us, to subjugate us, to torture us. They failed. They wanted to conceal the truth from us and hush up the terrible crimes forever. They failed. They wanted to confuse us, to mislead us, to make us not believe, to doubt, to forget, and therefore to forgive. They failed. And today, with utmost sorrow and respect, we honour the memory of millions of our people.

A tragedy that today makes us cry and remain silent, so quietly that the whole world must hear it. This is the sound of Ukrainian pain.

We thank all the states that have chosen justice and recognised it. Recognised it officially. Recognised the Holodomor as a crime against people, against history, against Ukraine. A deliberate crime.

The world must unite and condemn the crimes of the past. The world must unite and stop the crimes of the present.

Evil was not stopped. Was not atoned for. And now we are stopping it. Ukraine will prevail. Ukraine will not fade away. Ukraine will preserve itself and the truth."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the situation on the Polish-Ukrainian border, where striking Polish hauliers are blocking several crossing points, is related to "our neighbours political decisions".

Source: President Zelenskyy during a press conference in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Zelenskyy: "I believe we have to be very measured in our response. We need to act in accordance with a plan. We have the plan. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna, and Foreign Ministry and Infrastructure Ministry officials are working on this issue. Theres all that. Im convinced we are capable of [resolving the issue]."

Details: President Zelenskyy added that there is now a "new challenge" on the Polish border.

"I think we need to give our neighbours a bit of time. It will get better," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

Polish hauliers have been blocking trucks at three border checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border since 6 November. On Thursday, 23 November, they started blocking an additional checkpoint, Medyka-Shehyni. They might continue blocking the checkpoints up until 3 January 2024.

On 22 November, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian Parliament) appealed to Polands newly elected Sejm and Senate with an offer to find a way out of the situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would subject Ukraine to another famine, akin to the Holodomor of 1932-33, if he could.

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine, citing President Zelenskyy during the second international Grain From Ukraine summit in Kyiv

Details: Opening the summit, President Zelenskyy said that Russia launched more than 70 Shahed attack drones on Ukraine in the early hours of 25 November, the day when the victims of the Holodomor famine are remembered in Ukraine.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Such a terrorist attack today, on this day of remembrance, means that Putin is proud to follow the greatest murderers of the 20th century. If he could arrange another Holodomor for Ukraine, he would do it."

Details: Zelenskyy believes that Russia will continue to use food shortages to weaponise hunger. He recalled that the Russian fleet blocked Ukrainian seaports on the very first day of Russias full-scale invasion, effectively cutting off food exports from Ukraine, which play a critical global role.

"I am proud of all the Ukrainians who have managed to restore security in the Black Sea so that Ukrainian ports can operate again for the sake of global food security and our exports. I am grateful to all the leaders and countries present here who are helping us resist Russian terror and protect lives worldwide," Zelenskyy said.

He explained that Ukraines Grain From Ukraine humanitarian initiative has brought nearly 40 countries and international organisations together to help the countries that are suffering the most from food shortages. These countries have already received 170,000 tonnes of food through the initiative.

Zelenskyy also said that a ship bringing grain to Nigeria was about to set off from Ukraine, bringing relief to nearly 400,000 people.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte attended the Grain From Ukraine summit in person.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, and Estonian President Alar Karis joined the summit via video calls, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo and others recorded video addresses especially for the summit.

The summit wrapped up with the signing of a joint statement supported by 23 countries.

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Ukraine has arranged with its partners that it will be receiving warships to ensure the safety of ships in the grain corridor in the Black Sea.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in response to questions from Ukrainska Pravda at the Grain From Ukraine conference in Kyiv on Saturday

Details: Zelenskyy said Ukraine considers the establishment of a grain corridor without Russia to be one of the most significant achievements of this year, and is also working to ensure the safety of the ships that use this corridor.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We have reached agreements with our partners and will be escorting ships at sea to ensure their safety.

We have already made specific arrangements for receiving the ships. This is a matter of the near future."

More details: Zelenskyy said Odesa Oblast will be protected by additional air defence systems, which have already been agreed upon with Ukraines partners.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Very specific systems and a very specific request have already been sent by [our] partners, and I can say that it has already been agreed.

Soon, this oblast will be protected by very powerful air defences.

Its not just the ships that are important to us, but also the people who live there."

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The circle of life at Zoo Miami.

On Thanksgiving, zookeepers at the Kendall-area attraction announced the Sept. 6 birth of a Sumatran tiger cub to parents Leeloo and Berani with the release of several images of the neonatal exam and details of her first couple of months with her mom.

The news is bittersweet.

It is especially meaningful to everyone at Zoo Miami following the recent loss of Berani, our adult male Sumatran tiger, spokesman and photographer Ron Magill said in a statement. The critically endangered Sumatran newborn will hopefully be an important addition to his already wonderful legacy.

Berani, 15, was euthanized at the zoo on Nov. 2, days after radiographs, ultrasounds, blood and urine collection and an endoscopy revealed an enlarged spleen and abnormalities of the kidneys. Berani had cancer of the spleen.

Berani, a 15-year-old Sumatran tiger, was euthanized on Nov. 2, 2023, after the detection of cancer in his spleen, Zoo Miami announced on Nov. 3.

The zoo has not released a name for the cub, which has been isolated with its mother for its first eight weeks. The cub is Leeloos third. Satu, a male, was born in 2015. Ndari, a female, was born in 2021. Both, also fathered by Berani, are at other accredited facilities.

There are presently 73 Sumatran tigers at U.S. zoos, and it is believed there are less than 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild where they are found in forested areas on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, according to Magill.

Leeloo is 11.

First exam

Zoo Miami veterinarians performed the Sumatran cubs first physical exam and administered vaccinations on Nov. 7, 2023. You will notice that as cute and adorable as the cub is, she is indeed a tiger and even at this very young age, clearly demonstrates her instinct as the wild animal that she is and the apex predator she will become, zoo spokesman Ron Magill said.

Zoo veterinarians performed the cubs first physical exam and administered vaccinations on Nov. 7.

Lets just say that, like most babies, she was not happy about her first trip to the doctor, Magill joked in an email. Though the cub has made it through the most critical time of her young life and she appears to be developing well, she will remain in seclusion with her mother for an as of yet undetermined amount of time before making her public debut to ensure they are well established, Magill said.

This babys going to need a bigger basket.

Whats next?

Zoo Miamis newborn cub gets its first neonatal exam on Nov. 7, 2023, eight weeks after she was born. Lets just say that, like most babies, she was not happy about her first trip to the doctor, said zoo spokesman Ron Magill.

Though the cub appears to be very strong and healthy, these first few months present the greatest challenges in any animals life so she will be carefully monitored by the Animal Science and Animal Health Departments to ensure she is meeting all the metrics for continued healthy development, Magill said in a news release.

Leeloo and her baby will remain off exhibit for the next few weeks so they can bond before staff feels its safe to introduce mom and tot to the public.

But first: The cub has to take a swim test, Magill says, to ensure it can navigate Zoo Miamis habitat pool and surrounding moat. Bet therell be photos.

Imagine cleaning this kitty litter container. Zoo Miamis newborn Sumatran tiger cub at six weeks in October 2023.

Need your cute baby animal fix? Heres a Sumatran tiger cub born at Zoo Miami
The international community must not neglect the climate emergency in Africas deserts amid the Israel-Hamas conflict and Russias war in Ukraine  this was the key message by African delegates attending the recent United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Uzbekistan.

African delegates said that conflicts around the world, such as Russias invasion of Ukraine and Israel-Hamas war, have diverted the worlds attention from other important issues, like desertification and the effects of climate change in Africa. They castigated world leaders for neglecting environmental issues and desertification in Africa, noting that funds originally earmarked for projects to mitigate desertification in the continent are being diverted to Ukraine and Israel. They are not paying enough attention, Habiba Ibrahim, a delegate from Nigeria, said and added that this is because when you have issues of conflicts going on around the world, your mind tends to go there.

Recent data provided by the UNCCD have demonstrated that the world is losing nearly 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land every year. Droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves we have witnessed around the world are the symptoms of the deepening and interlinked climate and nature crises, with land at the heart of both, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said in a statement. Over 110 million people in Africa, from the Central African Republic to Somalia and Sudan, were directly affected by weather, climate, and water-related hazards in 2022, causing damages of more than $8.5 billion, according to the data released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
As African leaders converged on Germanys capital earlier this week to attend the G20 Compact for Africa meeting, the African Union (AU) chief called for positive competition from Europe in the continent, which would be more welcome than its criticism of Chinese investments for saddling poor countries with huge debts.

While addressing the high-level meeting of the G20 initiative in Berlin, AU chairman Azali Assoumani said there was a high demand in African states, and sometimes we take on debt in less than ideal conditions. However the AU chief continued by assuring the audience that everything is changing we are trying to correct mistakes, in a tacit reference to China, which has been pouring huge investments into the continent in recent years, helping fund projects from railways to ports. There was a need for positive competition. There is no monopoly anywhere Everyone has a place, he said. The Compact for Africa that brings together the G20 and 13 African countries, with support from organizations including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, aims to mobilize more private, sustainable investments in African countries.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed that the European Union and particularly Germany want to intensify cooperation with the resource-rich continent, as European leaders attending the G20-led summit vied for Africas hearts and minds. But with China having been pursuing its business interests in Africa for decades and countries such as Russia and Turkey also jostling for influence, this Compact with Africa is a decade behind, that is the truth, Bola Tinubu, Nigerias newly elected president, told the audience in Berlin. While welcoming Scholzs praise of Africas potential and his call for investment, an African diplomat who did not wish to be identified also added that at the moment Europe needs Africa more than Africa needs Europe.
Brazils Petrobras has high hopes for the countrys oil industry, even under socialist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as it makes moves that suggest it is in it for the long haul. The state-owned oil major has plans to transform Brazils global energy presence, which includes boosting its oil output, solidifying new European partnerships and plans to develop new projects.

Brazil was the ninth-largest oil-producing country in the world last year, with an average output of 3 million bpd, growing by 4 percent from 2021. The Brasilia government aims to increase this position to fourth in the world by 2030 by producing around 5.4 million bpd, and Petrobras is taking the lead in the industry. Joelson Falcao Mendes, the director of exploration and production at Petrobras, stated This year we will exceed our goals [and] surpass what we predicted. Mendes added, We have significant and growing production for the coming years. Petrobras recently increased its end-of-year production forecast to 2.2 million bpd, compared to 2.1 million bpd previously. This was mainly due to record subsalt production in recent months, as well as the acceleration of production across its vessels and the connection of new wells.

Much of Brazils oil comes from its pre-salt region, where 11.5 billion barrels of proven crude deposits sit under a thick crust of sodium chloride, beneath the ocean floor. These deposits lie around 200km from Rio de Janeiro and were discovered during da Silvas first term in office in 2006. Petrobras now plans to develop 11 more platforms in the waters by 2027. However, output from the region is expected to peak by 2029, meaning many are questioning the long-term potential for oil production in Brazil.

Environmentalists worry that Petrobrass ambitions are at odds with leftist leader da Silvas aim for ecological protection and sustainable development. Mendes has made it clear that fossil fuels will remain part of Brazils energy mix, seen as vital for bringing in revenues. However, Petrobras has also pledged to spend more heavily on green energy projects, pumping its oil funds into cleaner alternatives. Yet, many worry that with demand expected to wane over the coming decade, it would be wise for Brazil to shift its attention away from fossil fuel to renewable alternatives sooner rather than later.

When da Silva came into office in January, he pledged to increase environmental protections, fight deforestation, and protect those who defend the environment, a dramatic turnaround from his right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. During his first six months in office, deforestation dropped by 33.6 percent, according to government satellite data. Joao Paulo Capobianco, the environment ministrys executive secretary, stated of the achievement, The effort of reversing the curve of growth has been reached. That is a fact: we reversed the curve; deforestation isnt increasing.

However, Petrobras now wants to drill for oil near the mouth of the Amazon River as part of its plan to boost its production levels. Brazil's environment protection agency Ibama is expected to decide whether this project can go ahead in early 2024. Brazil's Equatorial Margin is thought to be one of the countrys most promising regions for oil and gas exploration, but it also has great ecological value because of its biodiversity and proximity to the Amazon rainforest. Petrobras has already appealed an earlier decision by Ibama prohibiting the drilling of an exploratory well in the area.

In addition to its oil and gas ambitions, Petrobras has also been moving ahead in its plans to develop Brazils green resources. This month, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Danish company European Energy to explore the potential for developing an e-methanol plant in Brazil. E-methanol is a low-carbon fuel produced by combining green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. It can be used to fuel industrial activities in hard-to-abate industries, making it highly attractive in the shift away from oil and gas.

Jean Paul Prates, the President of Petrobras, stated, Petrobras wants to focus on having good partners like European Energy This partnership will benefit both sides. We can provide our knowledge and help to bring both the companies and our countries closer together.

This move follows several agreements with renewable energy companies in recent months as Petrobras attempts to make good on its pledge for financial divestment beyond fossil fuels. In September, Petrobras signed an MoU with TotalEnergies and Casa dos Ventos Holding to assess perspectives and joint opportunities in renewable energy and low-carbon hydrogen in Brazil. Patrick Pouyanne, the CEO of TotalEnergies stated, Brazil is a great country for developing renewable energies. We are therefore delighted to join forces with Casa dos Ventos and Petrobras to identify potential synergies between our activities, and thus develop profitable renewables opportunities.

Petrobras has high hopes for Brazils oil industry, which depend largely on whether the government allows for further drilling to go ahead, potentially at the cost of its pledge for ecological preservation. However, its recent deals with various international energy companies suggest that the oil major has great potential to break into the world of renewables, using its oil revenues and experience to develop Brazils green resources and future-proof its operations.

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By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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A tiny village in western Nebraska owes the federal government more than $260,000 after the village clerk stopped making payroll tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service when the agency switched to an electronic payment system, according to the state's auditor.

Dix, the Kimball County village of fewer than 300 people that sits 30 miles east of the Wyoming-Nebraska border, went nearly a decade without making quarterly payroll tax payments from late 2013 until early this year because the village clerk "could not figure out how to make the payments," auditors said in a report issued last month.

In the village's 10-year pause on payments, Dix racked up $145,915 in unpaid taxes and another $117,498 in interest on late penalties, according to the report assembled by four staff members in Auditor Mike Foley's office.

Altogether, Dix owes $263,414 to the IRS, according to the report, which also laid bare various other discrepancies and an apparent lack of oversight in the village's bookkeeping.

Dix's former clerk resigned before the Village of Dix Board of Directors was ever made aware of the mounting back taxes, according to the village's response to the audit included in the report.

"This issue was never brought to the boards attention until after our previous clerk/treasurer submitted her resignation and we received a phone call and found multiple unopened letters in our office," the village said in a written statement to the auditor.

That the board didn't know about the years of unpaid taxes was the subject of a recommendation from auditors, who suggested the village "implement procedures to ensure municipal employee taxes are remitted timely" as required by federal law.

"That community deserves better from their public servants," Foley said in a statement. "What we found in Dix is both disturbing and unacceptable."

Though that sum of unpaid tax bills makes up the bulk of the village's troubles, Dix's bookkeeping issues stretch far beyond the nonpayments to the IRS  and have been the subject of previous audit reports warning the village board of shoddy record-keeping, unapproved payments and over-payments to service providers.

In this year's report, auditors also found that the clerk had been writing village employees  including herself  annual $2,080 checks for a Health Savings Account plan, which is a type of savings account that allows employees to set aside pre-tax income to be used for medical expenses.

The village didn't have a written policy in place regarding an HSA plan, the report said. Auditors recommended the village implement a formal policy clarifying the purpose of an HSA and where and how payments should be made.

The clerk had also paid annual $250 Christmas bonuses to herself and a pair of maintenance employees dating back to at least 2020. The clerk paid the bonus to herself and one maintenance employee in 2020 and 2021, adding a second maintenance employee last year, according to the audit.

The payments  which totaled $1,750 over the three-year period documented by auditors  "appear problematic," auditors said, noting the checks seem to run afoul of state law that prohibits bonus payments to public employees.

Auditors also raised concerns over 215 checks and debit card transactions totaling $165,848 that didn't appear to have been submitted to the Village Board for approval, even while other expenses were passed along for the body's review.

The report included only unapproved transactions that occurred between January 2020 and April 2023.

State auditors had brought similar concerns to the Village Board's attention two years prior, when the auditor's office approved Dix's audit waiver request for Fiscal Year 2020 but noted "certain internal control or compliance" issues within the village, according to a March 2021 letter.

In the letter, auditors pointed to three payments totaling $1,798 made in January 2020 without the board's written approval, recommending Dix "implement procedures to ensure all claims are approved by the board prior to payment."

The March 2021 letter wasn't the first time auditors had raised such concerns.

In a November 2019 report, auditors identified numerous checks, totaling $1,095.31, that were paid without the board's written approval. Again in that case, auditors recommended the village's leaders implement procedures to ensure all claims were approved by the board.

In a response to the November 2019 letter, Village Board officials said they were familiar with each payment auditors had flagged.

"We addressed payment of the items either through telephone or text polls, and some at board meetings," unnamed officials wrote to the auditor. "The omission in the billing list on the minutes of the meeting was an oversight."

Dix officials also told auditors that the clerk had implemented new procedures to ensure that all payments received written board approval. But the auditor's office's reviews in 2021 and this year suggest such procedures weren't always followed.

In this year's report, auditors also said the clerk had paid out $166,021 across 206 transactions from 2020 into 2023 prior to board approval in apparent violation of state statute.

Auditors had raised the same issue in a March 2022 letter, highlighting 10 checks totaling $3,296.95 issued before the board approved the payments.

Foley's staff also noted concerns in this year's report over payments that exceeded the amount the board had approved.

Auditors pointed to 11 payments made between May 2020 and April 2023 in which the clerk had written checks for more than what the board had approved, resulting in a $3,806 difference between what the board had approved and the amount the clerk had actually paid out.

Examiners had, again, raised prior concerns about over-payments. In 2019, auditors flagged a check the clerk had written for $5,107 more than what the board had approved  an over-payment that Dix officials attributed to a clerical error in which additional invoices that made up the difference weren't listed on the board's meeting minutes.

Still, the board promised auditors that the clerk "has implemented a new procedure to ensure that these last-minute items are documented."

In their written response to auditors this year, the Dix Board of Directors said they were working with the IRS and had hired an independent consultant to help with the process of paying their outstanding tax balance.

The board hopes "some penalties will be reversed," Chairwoman Linda Rasmussen said at a board meeting earlier this month, according to the Western Nebraska Observer.

"We are working on the matter. We will get it figured out," she said at the meeting, adding: "I've taken a lot of crap, but I'm not going to quit."

The village also hired a new clerk, who is being trained by the independent consultant "to ensure all claims submitted are approved by the board before paid and that these claims will always require supporting documentation."

And Dix officials have implemented new guidelines for HSA accounts, taken steps to address the suspect bonus payments and plan to replace the village's debit card with a credit card "to have better control of purchases and so we have more of an audit trail of monies spent," the board told auditors.

In their letter to Foley's office, they also said they found more than $58,000 in uncollected water bills that auditors hadn't mentioned in their letter.

Auditors hadn't mentioned the uncollected bills this year  but did so four years ago, warning in 2019 that the clerk "was significantly behind in sending utility bills to the village customers."

In their response to the 2019 audit, Dix's Village Board said they were aware of the issue, had corrected it in the months since the auditors' review and had "set procedure to maintain timeliness in billing," before providing an explanation:

"Our clerk received no training at the time of her hire, and this is one procedural issue that has not been addressed well," the board wrote.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023
The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Columbus Community Hospital have signed an affiliation agreement that will send more health professions students  in more health professions  to the east-central Nebraska community for training.

The master affiliation agreement is similar to one the university reached this summer with Great Plains Health in North Platte, said Nicole Carritt, UNMC director of rural initiatives and assistant vice chancellor for health workforce education relations.

More will follow. UNMC, she said, is seeking new or updated agreements with health systems in Nebraska and beyond as it seeks to provide more training sites for the additional health professions students needed to help build the states health care workforce.

The state continues to have shortages in many disciplines, particularly in rural areas. But the university has to partner in order to accomplish the goal of alleviating them, she said.

We cant do it alone, Carritt said. Its a great opportunity to show we can collaborate and build the workforce.

Students long have completed training rotations at the Columbus hospital, but the new agreement formalizes that partnership, she said. In the past, training opportunities have been arranged program by program. The new agreement covers all of UNMCs clinical and non-clinical programs.

Not only will the new arrangement provide the opportunity for more students from more programs to gain the hands-on experience they need, it also will allow the hospital to recruit them down the road, Carritt said.

Providing enough clinical training sites long has been a pinch point in training health professionals, she said. If there arent enough clinical training sites in the state, students may have to train out of state  which makes it harder to recruit them back as providers. Students are more likely to practice within 100 miles of where they complete their training.

If we want them to stay in Nebraska and practice, she said, we have to work with the community to do it.

That includes providing a good experience for students at training sites so they can see themselves living and working in those communities, she said.

Columbus Community Hospital has established relationships with groups in the community, including alumni and other practitioners, to work with students to meet their needs, including housing.

Michael Hansen, the hospitals president and CEO, said the hospital staff enjoys the many students they host every year during their rural rotations.

By signing the master affiliation agreement for both clinical and non-clinical students, he said in a statement, we streamline the process and ensure that our mutual interests are perfectly aligned.

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, UNMCs chancellor, said strong educational experiences in the states communities, such as those provided at Columbus Community Hospital, are integral in growing the states rural health workforce.

We are excited at the possibilities this new agreement opens up, he said in a statement.

Carritt said UNMC has established an expectation that students complete a rural rotation as part of their education. Those experiences produce some of the most glowing evaluations the university receives from students, who may get to do more in community hospitals than they would in a more specialized setting.

Establishing the new agreements, while aimed at an immediate need, also has a strategic element, she said.

More training posts also will be needed to accommodate additional health professions students who will study at the University of Nebraska at Kearney under an expansion of a UNMC-UNK partnership and at UNMC under its proposed Project Health, which would include a new academic medical center in Omaha.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023
Federal inspectors have twice found hundreds of defects in the locomotives and railcars Union Pacific uses at the worlds largest railyard in Nebraska, but none of those seem to explain why a shipping container filled with toxic acid exploded there this fall.

Investigators havent confirmed the cause of the Sept. 14 blast in a remote corner of the railroads Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska, about 250 miles west of Omaha. The explosion didnt spread far, but investigators appear to be delving into the questionable decision to load dozens of plastic barrels of perchloric acid inside a shipping container with a wood floor and possibly atop wooden pallets, even though that acid is known to react with wood or any other organic material.

I dont know if youve ever read about perchloric acid, but when it comes in contact with organic material, it becomes highly volatile. So that car was doomed from the day it was loaded, said Andy Foust, a Nebraska leader of the largest rail union that represents the workers who were switching those railcars just before the explosion.

The explosion highlighted not only potential problems at the sprawling railyard but also the national rail networks reliance on everyone involved in shipping hazardous materials taking proper precautions. As the Nebraska explosion made clear, there can be problems that are hard to spot before potentially disastrous accidents occur.

Some details about the explosion might never be known because the shipping container carrying the acid was destroyed. Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Warren Flatau said the leaked acid reacted with the wooden floor of the intermodal container, and any other organic material within the container (i.e., pallets).

The resulting explosion propelled shrapnel up to 600 feet away and prompted first responders to evacuate everyone within a mile outside the railyard. After the first container exploded, a second metal shipping container  believed to hold memory foam  fell down on top of it and caught fire, but no other cars ignited.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told a gathering of rail labor leaders in Nebraska the explosion could have been much worse and grabbed national headlines had the wind been blowing a little bit different or had things gone just a little bit different in the yard that day  much like Norfolk Southerns fiery derailment in eastern Ohio did.

That February derailment  and others that followed  put the focus on railroad safety and prompted Congress and regulators to propose reforms, which have largely stalled.

Foust said Union Pacific never evacuated the railyard. Nearby workers left the area on their own, but most in the railyard continued working. Foust expects that to change because he said U.P. is revising its emergency response plan.

There was a large part of that yard that had no idea what was going on, and they were told to continue doing their job, said Foust, who has discussed the explosion with FRA inspectors, the railroad and first responders because of his role with the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division union.

Railroad officials said at the time that the wind blew smoke away from the facility, and because the railyard is up to 8 miles wide, most U.P. workers were a safe distance away.

Despite the explosion, the method of loading 56 barrels of acid doesnt appear to violate any regulations, so such shipping methods could still be occurring. A Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration spokesman said that as the regulations prohibit any leakage from a package, the regulations do not specify what materials the drums are loaded onto.

Shippers are required to take precautions when loading hazardous materials, including ensuring that plastic drums cant tip over. The drums used to ship hazardous materials also must undergo extensive testing.

In this case, the FRA spokesman said investigators couldnt determine what loading precautions were taken because the container was destroyed.

The perchloric acid, used in explosives and some industrial processes, was produced at a company in Ohio that hasnt been publicly identified. Norfolk Southern transported the acid, then handed it off to Union Pacific. Both railroads declined to comment on the explosion, citing the ongoing investigation.

Given the timing of the explosion, the leak likely happened inside U.P.s railyard.

Railroads inspect railcars before they pick them up for mechanical problems or signs of tampering, but they assume shippers have properly packed them.

We really rely on them to know best how to package and do it in a safe way, so it isnt going to become an issue for us, said North Platte Fire Chief Dennis Thompson, who led the response to the explosion.

Thompson said the emergency response went smoothly because the weather conditions and location were favorable, and the railroad let him know within 25 minutes exactly what they were dealing with.

Before the explosion, inspections at the railyard in July and August prompted the head of the FRA to write a letter to U.P.s CEO highlighting that the rate of defects was twice the national average. In September, the week after the explosion, inspectors returned to follow up and turned up more than 500 additional problems.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said he understands and welcomes the agencys scrutiny.

Vena said Union Pacific and other major railroads have become safer over time. But there were still more than 1,000 derailments last year, and as the East Palestine derailment demonstrated, just one train crash can be disastrous if hazardous materials are involved.

Do we have more to do? Absolutely, said Vena, who became CEO in August. And thats what Im challenging the team with here at Union Pacific is we have to get better ... Well invest in it. Well spend money on technology. Well spend money on people.

FRA regulators who oversee the inspectors arent overly concerned, with the head of the agencys Office of Railroad Infrastructure and Mechanical saying violations are common when he sends a team out.

We did not find any systematic issues that would indicate they are operating unsafe equipment that put the public at risk, the FRAs Charlie King said.
Samantha Camenzinds friends think shes found a trophy husband.

Boyfriend Cole Bures gave the Omaha dental hygienist first crack at a once-in-a-lifetime buck during firearm deer season earlier this month and then surprised Camenzind by asking her to marry him afterward. The 28-year-old said yes.

Everybody has been saying they would marry him, too, if he let them shoot this big of a deer, Camenzind said.

The couple has been dating for three years and bonded over their love of hunting, which Camenzind said is a tradition for both families.

She learned from her father, Dave, and brother, Perry, a few years before meeting Bures, who has been hunting since he was a youngster. They process and eat the meat of what they kill.

Bures, a 32-year-old who lives in Filley, said it was no hardship to let Camenzind take the first shot at the monster buck, which they had spotted on a trail camera south of Lincoln. It had nine tines on one side and 11 on the other.

I was just as excited as she was when she got it, he said.

After Camenzind killed the deer, Bures told her they needed to get some professional photos taken to commemorate the big moment. Midway through the pictures, Bures got down on one knee and popped the question. Hed gotten the idea from a friends similar proposal in Alaska.

He was thrilled about how it all came together. Friends couldnt believe it when they saw the photos.

I dont know if they were more shocked we got engaged or the size of the deer, Camenzind said.

Although some might not think a deer hunt is that romantic, Camenzind said she wouldnt have changed a thing.

She was in tears earlier when she called her dad about the buck, but the wait for Brenton Lammers of Lammers Media to arrive to take the pictures allowed her to get cleaned up and restore her makeup.

It was perfect, but I still didnt expect it, she said. Its something we both love to do. I guess I couldnt imagine it going any other way.

They havent had time to set a wedding date. Camenzind said maybe next fall.

Not during hunting season, though, she said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023
BLOOMINGTON  Two McLean County men are facing charges related to selling drugs to Illinois State Police Task Force Six.

Justin D. Smith, 36, and Andrew J. McConnaughay, 27, were charged Wednesday with unlawful possession with intent to sell controlled substances on two separate occasions.

Smith is charged with manufacture and delivery of less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 1 felony; manufacture and delivery of a schedule III narcotic, a Class 2 felony; and delivery of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony.

McConnaughay is charged with delivery of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a Class 3 felony; unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon, a Class 3 felony; two counts of possession of a firearm without a FOID, Class 3 felonies; delivery of cannabis between 30 and 500 grams, a Class 3 felony; possession of cannabis between 100 and 500 grams, a Class 4 felony; and possession of a controlled substance up to 15 grams, a Class 4 felony.

Prosecutors said the task force arranged a buy Nov. 14, when a confidential informant ordered an amount of crack cocaine from Smith.

Smith was identified by police at a gas station in Bloomington where he sold the informant 1.2 grams of cocaine, according to court documents.

The second buy occurred Tuesday, when the informant ordered methamphetamine from Smith.

Both Smith and McConnaughay were identified by police inside Smith's vehicle, prosecutors said, and McConnaughay met with the informant and sold him 3.3 grams of methamphetamine.

When police attempted to arrest McConnaughay, he fled. When he was apprehended, police found him in possession of Xanax, a controlled substance, as well as an unserialized firearm with blood on it, according to court documents.

Authorities are investigating whether that firearm is connected to other cases.

When Smith was arrested, he claimed he did not know McConnaughay had the firearm.

The court ordered McConnaughay detained, but found that Smith did not meet the willful flight standard.

Smith was released with mandatory conditions and was ordered not to consume alcohol, cannabis or prescription medicine unless otherwise prescribed by a physician.

McConnaughay will appear next in court at 9 a.m. Dec. 15.

Smith will appear next in court at 10 a.m. Dec. 15.

Booking photos and cities of residence for the two men were not available Friday.

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson James A. McConnaughay Jessica M. Longberry Barry D. Guyton Keon E. Spiller Melina Aguilar Carlos D. Cregan Wayne M. Damron Terrance L. Ford Stanley M. Miller Darryl R. Vinson Jarvis K. Heads Wesley M. Noonan Brad Carter Brian K. Burnett Kenneth D. Downey Kenyon J. Bones Brittany N. Greiner
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Nov. 25, 1923: The officers of the local Isaac Walton Club have been notified by the Illinois game department of the extension work in which the department is now engaged. Miller Park has received three pairs of English ring neck pheasants. After the close of the hunting season, the department will distribute in McLean County several hundred of these pheasants and Hungarian partridges.

75 years ago

Nov. 25, 1948: Prospects that Bloomington might soon be served with natural gas brightened when the Mississippi River Fuel company revealed the possibility of a pipeline through Bloomington. The St. Louis firm has filed a certificate asking permission to construct one of two pipelines from fields in Louisiana.

50 years ago

Nov. 25, 1973: Twin City and Central Illinois residents will have an opportunity this week to tour State Farm's new $30.9 million-plus corporate headquarters complex. The 1.2 million-square-foot headquarters was opened July 31, 1972.

25 years ago

Nov. 25, 1998: The 270 members of the Illinois State University marching band boarded six charter buses to travel to New York City, where they will be the only college band in the country performing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Big Red Marching Machine is expected to be the final band to march and play before the appearance of Santa Claus at the end of the parade.

Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has cautioned the public against cheque fraud following an upsurge in such cases.



EOCO indicated that this followed an increase in cheque fraud cases that had come to its notice recently.



It explained that some fraudsters were using the issuing of cheques and other modes of payment to defraud traders and business entities.



Bank fraud



Bank of Ghanas fraud report has revealed that the total loss value recorded by banks and specialised deposit-taking institutions (SDIs) due to fraud in 2022 stood at approximately GH56 million as compared to approximately GH61 million in 2021.



It was observed that cheque fraud, cyber/email and cash theft (cash suppression) were the major (top five) fraud typologies that impacted most of the financial institutions.

Forgery and manipulation of documents emerged as the prominent fraud typology, recording the highest loss of GH33 million.



Money fraudulently withdrawn from customers accounts resulted in GH7 million losses, most of which the central bank observed involved staff of banks and SDIs, while cheque fraud, arising from cloned cheques, accounted for a loss value of GH5 million.



Modus operandi



EOCO, in a news release cautioning the public to be alert, indicated that the suspected fraudsters, riding on the back of technology, sometimes conducted transactions via phone calls without physical contact with the business entity.



After an agreement is reached, EOCO said, the fraudsters then issue cheques on non-existing or dormant bank accounts, which usually take a number of days to be detected through the inter-bank clearing system.



As a result, the cheque is then returned by the bank, and while the inter-bank system is yet to detect the fraud, the fraudsters would keep pushing for the goods to be delivered, insisting that they have made payment.



The business entity or trader, EOCO said, is, therefore, compelled to make delivery even though the cheque is yet to clear.



Unfortunately, once the goods are delivered, the cheque gets reversed and the fraudsters, together with the goods, vanish into thin air, the statement said.



EOCO, consequently, urged the public, especially traders and business entities, to do due diligence before delivering goods and services by ensuring that cheques or whatever forms of payment they make, irreversibly reflect in their accounts.



This should be done by confirming that the actual or available balance of business owners has increased by the amount expected. Vendors should not rush to supply goods by only SMS alert without checking their actual balance, it said.



EOCO gave an assurance that it would continue to monitor and track down those organised criminal activities and deal with the perpetrators appropriately.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, is calling on the government to establish a water fund to deal with the problems caused by illegal mining. He recommends that the money generated from this fund be used to treat water bodies affected by illegal mining activities. Mr Ansah Opoku emphasises the need for the government to have more financial resources to tackle this issue.



Speaking on the floor during the debate on the 2024 budget statement and economic policy of the Government of Ghana, He stressed the importance of establishing a water fund to restore water bodies damaged by illegal mining. He believes this initiative will demonstrate the government's commitment to protecting the environment and safeguarding communities from natural disasters.



"Mr Speaker, everybody is talking about 'Galamsey' and how it has destroyed our water bodies. There's the need for a fund to be set aside so that monies deposited in this fund will be used to repair destroyed rivers, construct new waters for our people, and ensure that the Ghanaian is assured of good drinking water," Davis Opoku Ansah suggested.



He also proposed establishing the Ghana Water Guard to safeguard Ghana's water resources from pollution, degradation, and misuse, particularly in the ongoing challenges of illegal mining and industrial pollution.



During his speech, he suggested a fund be created to repair destroyed rivers, construct new waters for the people, and ensure that Ghanaians can access safe drinking water.



Meanwhile, the Minority MPs on the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament have criticised the government for failing to account for funds allocated in the fight against illegal mining. They claim that $30 million was allocated quarterly to the defunct inter-ministerial committee for three years. Over GH5 million was spent on the government's engagements with traditional leaders and security agencies to combat the 'Galamsey' menace.



Deputy Ranking Member on the Lands and Forestry Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini, emphasised the need for accountability in the fight against 'Galamsey,' questioning the absence of any mention of the issue in the budget statement despite significant expenditures.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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In a groundbreaking moment, Mrs. Adelaide Siaw Agyepong, the distinguished CEO of the American International School, has achieved yet another milestone by being crowned the "Icon of Inspiration and Impact for the year 2023".



The crowning achievement took place at a lavish event held last night in Accra, where Mrs. Siaw Agyepong surpassed her contemporaries to clinch the prestigious title at the 5th Anniversary National Communications Summit & Awards 2023, meticulously organized by Brand Focus Magazine.



Upon receiving the award, Mrs. Siaw Agyepong humbly described the 'Icon of Inspiration' accolade as a heartfelt acknowledgment of the positive influence she has wielded within the community. Grateful for the recognition, she expressed a resolute commitment to sustaining her efforts for the greater good.



"This recognition is not merely an award; it serves as a poignant reminder of the journey, the unwavering support, and the enduring commitment to effecting positive change," she emphasized.



In an expression of gratitude, Mrs. Siaw Agyepong extended heartfelt thanks to her family and friends, particularly acknowledging the unwavering support from her husband and children, who have been the driving force behind her ambitious pursuits.



Reflecting on her journey, she conveyed appreciation to the dedicated individuals who shared in her vision, contributing significantly to the collective success. Her gratitude extended with a prayer for their well-being, stating, "May God meet each of them at the point of their needs."



Addressing the younger generation, Mrs. Siaw Agyepong imparted valuable advice, urging young women to navigate their paths with the understanding that beginnings do not define destinations. She emphasized the importance of embracing the support of loved ones who believe in their potential.



Asserting the power of young women to inspire and make lasting impacts, she stressed, "This 'Icon of Inspiration' award is not just a recognition of my journey but a testament to the influence we can wield. Every young woman must believe in their capabilities, persist through challenges, and let their achievements be a source of inspiration for others."



In a heartfelt prayer, Mrs. Siaw Agyepong expressed hope that the endeavors of young women would be fueled by passion, resilience, and a commitment to positive change, acknowledging the inevitable obstacles but encouraging determination and reliance on divine support to overcome them.



As she concluded, Mrs. Siaw Agyepong urged young women to continue striving, believing, and recognizing their potential to become icons of inspiration in their own right. Looking ahead, she promised continued dedication to inspiring others through her journey, achievements, and the values that have guided her, aspiring to be a source of motivation and positive change.



The 5th Anniversary National Communications Summit & Awards 2023  Ghana Digitalisation Impact Edition stands as a significant celebration, bringing together key stakeholders, industry experts, government officials, innovators, and thought leaders in the realm of digitalization. Serving as a platform to honor remarkable achievements, this event showcases initiatives that have left an indelible impact on the digital landscape of Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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In a parliamentary debate, the Majority Caucus in Parliament has questioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) pledge to introduce a 24-hour economy in 2024.



They argue that certain aspects of this concept are already in place due to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments digitalization initiatives.



Carlos Ahenkorah, Chairman of the Trade, Industry, and Tourism Committee, highlighted that Ghanaians can now make payments for electricity and water charges at any time of the day thanks to the implementation of digital payment systems.



He argued that this is evidence of Ghanaians already experiencing a 24-hour economy.



Ahenkorah also addressed the need for additional taxation and borrowing to offset the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.



He emphasized that when the government provided free water and electricity during the lockdown, funds had to be sourced from somewhere.



Therefore, he stated that it is reasonable to ask citizens to contribute towards these expenses.



Former President John Dramani Mahama, however, remains committed to implementing his proposed 24-hour economy policy, even he says its voluntary.



He dismissed the criticism from opponents and emphasized the potential of this policy to boost employment and revitalize the Ghanaian economy.



Mahama clarified that his vision goes beyond extending the operational hours of existing businesses.



Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia suggested that the 24-hour economy concept was already being implemented in Ghana and accused Mahama of lacking understanding of the policy.



In response, Mahama explained that his policy is based on a comprehensive approach that encourages and incentivizes businesses across various sectors to adopt 24-hour operations.



He believes that this will create new employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth.



Mahama further stated that the 24-hour economy policy has the potential to transform Ghanas economic landscape and address the issue of unemployment.



He aims to provide incentives for businesses to operate on a 24-hour basis, including during harvest seasons where factories processing agricultural products could run two shifts.



The debate continues between the NDC and the NPP, with each party presenting their arguments regarding the implementation and benefits of a 24-hour economy for Ghana.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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There is another long adjournment in the trial of Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, as the case has been set down for February 7, 2024.



The long adjournment was taken on Wednesday as the MP, who according to his lawyers has a medical condition, continues to receive medical attention in Canada.



It was also a result of the trial judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh due to proceed on leave having sat during the legal vacation which lasted for two months.



The prosecution was expected to call its third witness yesterday but when the case was called, Tsatsu Tsikata, lead counsel for the accused requested an in-camera hearing in the judges chambers to explain the issues regarding the MPs medical condition and his continuous absence.



Mr. Quayson is on trial for deceiving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by making a false statement that he did not have a dual citizenship in order to acquire a Ghanaian passport.



He has been charged with five counts of deceit of public officer, forgery of passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory statement, perjury and false declaration of office.



Both the prosecution and the defence went into the judges chambers, and DAILY GUIDE later gathered the case had been adjourned to February 7, 2024, by which time the judge would have returned from her leave.



The prosecution has so far called two witnesses as it pushes to establish the guilt of the MP, who it says knowingly misinformed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he did not owe allegiance to another country in order to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, has given the strongest indication of who his running mate will be ahead of the 2024 election.



Speaking with NDC supporters in the Bono East Region, Mr. Mahama hinted that the individual who would be chosen as his running mate is a man.



He further indicated that this man served in his government as a minister and discharged his duties diligently.



Everyone knows him; hes humble and very resourceful; he served in my government, Mr. Mahama hinted.



The NDC flagbearer further added that the party will select the individual next year per its rules.



Naana Dropped



The announcement implies that Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who was Mr. Mahamas running mate in the 2016 and 2020 general elections respectively, has been dropped.



Earlier, the Northern Caucus of the opposition National Democratic Congress had rejected any attempt to select Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the 2024 running mate for John Dramani Mahama.



The caucus, during a recent meeting held with the former President, urged him to reconsider his choice of running mate.



The caucus expressed reservations about her ability and suitability for the role, prompting them to advise Mahama to reconsider his decision.



Circumstances have changed since you selected Naana Jane for the 2020 election. Anyone who tells you that Bawumia will not have an impact in the Northern Region is misleading you, one senior caucus member boldly stated. Now that Bawumia is likely to gain votes in our supposed strongholds, what are we doing to secure votes in NPPs strongholds, particularly in the Ashanti Region? A major challenge for us is how to prevent massive rigging in the Ashanti Region and Eastern Region.



There is a growing desire within the party for a running mate from the Ashanti Region. Akwasi Oppong Fosu, former Local Government Minister, has emerged as a potential candidate who can garner support in Akan areas, having connections in the Ashanti Region, as well as the Western and Western North Regions.



Other individuals aspiring for the running mate slot are Eric Opoku, who is being pushed by Lordina Mahama, having come from the old Brong Ahafo Region; Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff, from the Eastern Region; and Samuel Sarpong from the Ashanti Region.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has disclosed that the official residence of the Clerk to Parliament, located at Cantonments in Accra, was sold to a private developer during the NDC administration.



He was responding to a statement released by the Parliamentary Service that the Clerks official residence was sold to a private developer in 2019, while debating the 2024 budget on the floor of Parliament yesterday.



According to a statement issued by the Parliamentary Service and signed by David Sebastian Damoah, Director of Media Relations, a visit to the Speakers official residence will unveil that almost all of the surrounding buildings and accompanying parcels of land have been sold out to private developers.



High-rise apartments have been constructed all around, leaving the Speakers residence as an island and endangering the safety and security of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, the statement noted.



It added, A trip down memory lane reveals that sometime in 2019, the official accommodation of a sitting Clerk to Parliament located in Cantonments was sold to a private developer. Other properties assigned to Parliament have suffered similar fate.



Rebuttal



However, the minister has strenuously refuted the Parliamentary Services assertions, stating that his checks at the Lands Commission indicated that the NDC government sold the Clerk to Parliaments official residence in 2015.



Mr. Speaker, the then Minister for Works and Housing gave an offer to a private developer in 2015. A lease was granted to the developer in 2015. These records are unimpeachable. It happened in 2015 and not in 2019, he asserted.



According to Mr. Jinapor, the developer took possession in 2019 despite having purchased the land in 2015, issued an offer letter and granted a lease in 2015.



So by all intent and purposes, the land was sold in 2015, he intimated.



The minister again debunked claims that the UNESCO building which houses its offices have been sold out.



I want to submit, Mr. Speaker, first of all, I will respectfully advise that we should be careful in making sweeping statements that the UNESCO building has been sold.



When you get into the records in many cases, as it always should be in land administration, it is governed by facts and records, he said.



Mr. Jinapor stated that the sale of a particular parcel of land can only be ascertained through facts and records.



Mr. Speaker, respectfully, Im not too sure that anybody will quarrel with me or doubt that the repository of the records for lands in our country by law or the constitution is vested in the Lands Commission, he argued.



According to him, there have been many occasions where it is said that the UNESCO land has been sold.



I want to put it on record that UNESCO is still occupying its office premises close to the police headquarters. So the claim that UNESCO land or UNESCO building has been sold is false, he noted.



Turn Corner



Meanwhile, the minister has said the government has turned the corner and will soon unleash prosperity on Ghanaians.



Just yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of UK, Jeremy Hunt, presented the autumn budget in the House of Commons and it is similar to our budget.



This is the direction the world is going. We are turning the curve, we are having the recovery and we are going to unleash prosperity, and God willing, when Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia becomes president in 2025, he will build on the record of President Akufo-Addo and we will unleash prosperity for the Ghanaian people, he intimated.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The 2019 ozone hole. Credit: NASA

The hole in the Antarctic ozone layer has been getting deeper in mid-spring over the last two decades, despite a global ban on chemicals that deplete Earth's shield from deadly solar radiation, new research suggested Tuesday.

The ozone layer 11 to 40 kilometers (seven to 25 miles) above Earth's surface filters out most of the sun's ultraviolet radiation, which can cause skin cancer and cataracts.

From the mid-1970s, chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)once widely used in aerosols and refrigeratorswere found to be reducing ozone levels, creating annual holes largely over the Antarctica region.

The 1987 Montreal Protocol, which banned CFCs in a bid to close the hole, is considered a success story for international environmental cooperation.

In January, a major UN-backed assessment found that the agreement was working. It projected the ozone layer should be restored to 1980 levels over the Antarctic by around 2066.

Smaller holes over the Arctic were projected to recover by 2045, and for the rest of the world in around two decades.

But despite the decline in CFCs, there has not yet been a significant reduction in the area covered by the Antarctic ozone hole, according to New Zealand researchers behind a new study in the journal Nature Communications.

And there has been less ozone at the center of the hole over time, they added.

"Six of the last nine years have had really low ozone amounts and extremely large ozone holes," study co-author Annika Seppala of New Zealand's Otago University told AFP.

"What might be happening is something else is going on in the atmosphere nowpossibly because of climate changeand that's masking some of the recovery," she said.

An unusual few years

The ozone hole over Antarctica usually opens in September and lasts until November, taking in the Southern Hemisphere's spring.

The researchers said the hole has been opening later in September, indicating a recovery possibly due to CFC reductions.

But in October, when the hole is often largest, the ozone level in the middle stratospheric layer shrunk by 26 percent from 2004 to 2022, said the study, citing satellite data.

The study's lead author Hannah Kessenich emphasized that the Montreal Protocol and CFC reductions were still "on track".

But "altogether, our findings reveal the recent, large ozone holes may not be caused just by CFCs," she added.

The analysis excluded data from the years 2002 and 2019, when "sudden break-ups of the polar vortex" led to significantly smaller ozone holes, Kessenich added.

Leading ozone scientist Susan Solomon, who was not involved in the research, told AFP that the study should be viewed through the lens that "the past few years have been quite unusual".

Solomon led previous research showing that 2020's ozone hole was made 10 percent wider by the massive "Black Saturday" wildfires in Australia.

The gigantic eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano off Tonga in 2022 is also believed to have affected recent ozone levels.

Martin Jucker, an expert at Australia's University of New South Wales, was not convinced by the study's results.

"It is questionable how the authors can remove 2002 and 2019 from the record but not 2020-22, given that all of these years have been shown to be dominated by very special and rare events," he said.

More information: Hannah E. Kessenich et al, Potential drivers of the recent large Antarctic ozone holes, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42637-0 Journal information: Nature Communications

 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:

Light microscopy image of a histologically stained section of the stem root in which thin wavy sheets of the non-living stem root surrounding by cilia (red) can been seen embedded in the living tissue of the generator (light blue). Credit: Jenaes Sivasundarampillai

A team of chemists at McGill University, working with a colleague from Charite-Universitatsmedizin, in Germany, has uncovered part of the process used by mussels to bind to rocks and to quickly release from them when conditions warrant.

In their project, reported in the journal Science, the group studied the interface between mussel tissue and the bundle of filaments that mussels use to anchor themselves to rocks and other objects. Guoqing Pan and Bin Li, with Jiangsu University and Soochow University, both in China, have published a Perspective article in the same journal issue outlining the work done by the team on this new effort.

Mussels are bivalve mollusks that live in both fresh and saltwater environments. They have hinged shells that are joined by a ligament. Muscles ensure a tight seal when the shell is closed. Mussels use byssus threads (known commonly as a beard) to attach themselves to solid objects such as rocks. 3D reconstruction of micro-computed tomography (CT) dataset. This movie was generated from reconstruction of a CT dataset acquired from a f stem root stained embedded in the living tissue. Initially, the generator and septa tissues are visualized in grayscale, while the stem root lamellae are visualized in light blue. Moving from the external stem region into the stem root, one can see the complex interdigitation of the septae and lamellae. Later in the movie, the generator tissue is removed from the model in order to more clearly visualize the complex structure of the wavy lamellar sheets. Credit: Jenaes Sivasundarampillai

The mussel byssus has been extensively studied due to their unique ability to connect nonliving material (the filaments that make up the threads) to living tissue and to disconnect on demand. But, as Pan and Li note, most of this research has revolved around possible chemical binding mechanisms. In this new effort, the research team focused instead on the dynamics of the bio-interface.

To better understand how the byssus threads connect to living tissue and how they can be jettisoned if needed, the research team used a variety of technologies to study the threads and the tissue to which they connect. By using several types of imaging along with spectroscopy, the team observed that the ends of the threads interlocked with layers of living tissue, which themselves were covered with approximately 6 billion motile cilia.

Reconstructed features in 3D from a FIB-SEM image stack made from a small region in the stem root. Living tissue in dark blue, non-living stem root sheet in light blue, secretory vesicles in teal, cilia in red. Credit: Jenaes Sivasundarampillai

They further found that having so many cilia translated to a high degree of surface contact, which allowed for mechanically meshing two disparate materials. The researchers also noted that cilia oscillations helped to both strengthen the grip between the two materials and to allow for rapid release when it was needed. They found that cilia movement was driven by neurotransmitters, which, the researchers theorize, suggests that they are ultimately controlled by serotonin and dopamine.

More information: Jenaes Sivasundarampillai et al, A strong quick-release biointerface in mussels mediated by serotonergic cilia-based adhesion, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi7401 Guoqing Pan et al, A dynamic biointerface controls mussel adhesion, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adl2002 Journal information: Science

 2023 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The new study explores dark matter-nucleon interactions using the PandaX-4T experiment. Credit: Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.191002

In a new study, scientists report results from the PandaX-4T experiment, setting stringent limits on dark matternucleon interactions using low-energy data and the Migdal effect, ruling out significant parameter space for a thermal relic dark-matter model.

Dark matter is one of the great mysteries in science, eluding direct detection and defying traditional models. It is so shrouded in mystery that we don't even know what dark matter particles are and what their mass is.

This is because dark matter particles don't interact with light, making them impossible to detect. The leading candidates for dark matter particles are axions and weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs).

In the depths of the China Jinping Underground Laboratory, the PandaX-4T experiment stands as a beacon in the quest to unravel the mysteries of dark matter. The experimental program employs 'xenon detectors' to explore dark matter, study neutrinos, and investigate new physics, such as neutrinoless double beta decay.

Now, scientists have reported progress in the search for dark-matternucleon interactions using the PandaX-4T. The findings are published in Physical Review Letters.

The PandaX-4T experiment and the Migdal effect

At the heart of the PandaX-4T experiment lies a state-of-the-art dual-phase xenon time projection chamber (TPC) housing a substantial 3.7 tons of liquid xenon within a sensitive volume. This sophisticated chamber serves as the primary arena for particle interactions.

Co-author Dr. Ran Huo from the Shandong Institute of Advanced Technology explained, "For light dark matter, the maximum energy the dark matter can transfer to the xenon nuclei is proportional to the dark matter mass squared."

"When the dark matter mass is below several GeV, the recoil energy due to dark matter collision with the xenon nuclei has almost no chance of exceeding the energy threshold of the detector."

The PandaX-4T experiment leverages the Migdal effect to overcome this challenge by enhancing the experiment's sensitivity, particularly to low-mass dark matter particles below 3 GeV, in an attempt to probe dark matter-nucleon interactions.

The new study explores dark matter-nucleon interactions using the PandaX-4T experiment. Credit: Paul Volkmer/Unsplash.

The Migdal effect involves the potential ionization or excitation of electrons in the atoms, making up the material (in this case, xenon) through which dark matter passes. The nucleons (protons and neutrons) within the atomic nuclei experience interactions with dark matter particles.

These interactions can lead to the excitation or ionization of electrons in the surrounding atoms. As a result, these electrons can acquire energies above keV. When these energized electrons pass through liquid xenon, they generate detectable signals indicative of electron recoils in the detector.

"Simply speaking, the Migdal effect helps us to extend our reach for dark matter masses below 3 GeV to probe the dark matter-nucleon interactions," said Dr. Yong Yang, co-author of the study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

A thermal dark matter model

In a thermal dark matter model, dark matter particles are assumed to have been in thermal equilibrium with the primordial soup of particles in the early universe. As the universe expanded and cooled, these particles decoupled from the thermal bath while preserving a certain abundance.

This process is akin to a freeze-out, where the dark matter particles freeze into their observed abundance.

The thermal dark matter model is particularly appealing because it provides a natural mechanism for explaining the observed relic abundance of dark matter in the universe. The 'annihilation' or decay of these particles in the early universe would have produced the correct density of dark matter we observe today.

This model often involves the consideration of specific types of particles, such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) or other candidates with similar properties.

"Our experiment was primarily designed for WIMP-like dark matter, in which case the 'force-mediator' (particle responsible for transmitting the force between dark matter and ordinary matter) is assumed to be very heavy, so the interaction is extremely short-ranged," noted Dr. Yang.

PandaX-4T model's flexibility aids in reproducing the observed amount of dark matter through the annihilation of dark matter particles into standard model particles during the early universe, showcasing a diverse parameter space.

PandaX-4T's targeted approach utilized optimized low-energy data to set strict constraints on dark matter-nucleon interaction strength for dark masses ranging from 0.03 to 2 GeV.

"The new analysis directly tests a kind of thermal dark matter modeldark matter pairs annihilating into ordinary matter via the dark photon in the early universeand eliminates substantial parameter space that was previously considered plausible," explained Dr. Huo.

Essentially, the study refines our understanding by restricting the potential scenarios for dark matter interactions via the dark photon, which is the mediator.

Building on discoveries

The experiment's success in scrutinizing dark matter particles within the 0.03 to 2 GeV range offers valuable insights, refining our comprehension of a thermal dark matter model.

The researchers highlight two possible avenues for future studies with the PandaX-4T.

"We aim to enhance exposure, through increased data or a larger xenon target, to delve into lower dark matternucleon interaction cross-sections."

"This expanded exposure holds the potential to elucidate the intricacies of the background in the low-energy domain, predominantly influenced by cathode electrodes and micro-discharging noise," said Dr. Huo.

"On the other side, our study has no sensitivity for this interaction for dark matter lighter than 30 MeV, below which the Migdal effect cannot help us anymore. This means we need new detection methods," acknowledged Dr. Yang.

More information: Di Huang et al, Search for Dark-MatterNucleon Interactions with a Dark Mediator in PandaX-4T, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.191002 Journal information: Physical Review Letters

 2023 Science X Network
By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo

The Chancellor of Njala University, Professor Sahr Moses Ngevao has said that the administration is working hard to ensure that the University has a medical school to train doctors and other medical professionals in the country by the 2023/2024 academic year.

He, therefore, urged other stakeholders to come on board for the plan to materialize, and called for the active engagement of the Alumni Association of the University for such a Transformation.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Vice Chancellor and Principal and two Deputy Vice chancellors by the University Court at Njala Campus on Thursday 29th September 2022 following their appointments to their respective positions, the chancellor said that the depoliticization of universities by President Julius Maada Bio was a welcome one and that it is important to improve the standard of Njala universitys roads and electricity.

He encouraged all to work with the new Principal and hoped he will do what is right for the betterment of the university.

Speaking on behalf of colleague Paramount Chiefs, Prince Lappia Boima of Kakua Chiefdom, Bo District commended the excellence Njala university among its peers both in Sierra Leone and in Africa, saying that the institution is ranked 20 in Africa according to his last research. He therefore, urged the administration to continue to produce excellent students.

Dr. Brima Gegbe, President of the Academic Staff Association (ASA), Njala university, said it is the first in the history of the institution to have the principal and his two DVC'S inaugurated on the same day.

He appealed to the new principal to work with ASA while assuring him and his administration that ASA is ready to work with them to succeed.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara said President Bio's government believes in human capital development.

We are here today for Professor Bashiru Koroma as principal. He has worked for it and he deserves it. He has gone through the ranks and had stayed longer at Njala", he said.

The deputy minister noted that the government has brought education to the doorstep of Sierra Leoneans by transforming and upgrading Polytechnics to technical universities.

He admonished the universitys administration to be critical of the quality of staff, saying that academic integrity is something that the staff should take very seriously.

The deputy minister urged the universitys Alumni Association to copy what Babatude Edwards did for Fourah Bay Colleg in putting up a building costing millions of dollars equipped with ICT facilities, as his own support to the college.

He acknowledged the efforts of the staff in impacting knowledge into the students while assuring that the concerns raised by various speakers will be forwarded to the Minister, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie.

In his statement, the incoming Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Njala university, Professor Mohamed Bashiru Koroma thanked the current management of the university. He said he has accepted the position at a time the country is moving on the right path in academia. He said he will put the university first in all his plans and will collaborate with other institutions and organisations to bring development to the university.

He encouraged the academic staff and management to work with him for him to fulfill his aspirations for the university.

The College of Medicine and Allied Health Science, a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone is currently the only school that produces medical doctors and other experts in the country.

However, Njala has a school of community health sciences that offers training for community health workers, nurses, public health experts, on environmental health sciences and clinical studies.

The ceremony was witnessed by principals and other senior administrative staff of other Universities and higher learning institutions, and traditional authorities across the country

Copyright  2022 Politico Online (03/10/22)
Once again, Gov. Kathy Hochul has chosen to veto the Aging in Place Commission Bill, a bill that would establish a task force to find solutions for health barriers for those aging in mental health housing.

On Nov. 17, Hochul vetoed the bill for the second time, with the first veto occurring in November of 2022.

For the 40,000 New York residents who have been diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness, accommodating housing and care are already challenges faced on a daily basis. However, as these residents age, resources to provide assistance with developing health issues has become an additional worry.

And nursing homes may not have the resources available to help.

As these residents age, their options are limited because nursing homes are not equipped to treat mental health issues, and they will not admit these residents. There is nowhere else for them to go, other than more costly hospital beds, said Sebrina Barrett, Executive Director of The Association for Community Living (ACL) in a press release from last November after the first veto of the bill was announced.

Mental health facilities are not the answer either, with most not equipped with the variety of resources needed to care for additional health issues and conditions.

The most common conditions patients face are hypertension, diabetes, COPD, heart disease, arthritis, cancer and dementia.

This leaves residents with very little choice but to stay in place, regardless of the level of care.

Barrett, on behalf of the ACL, has brought the topic to the Senate and Assembly for the past two years, with both bills passing in both the Senate and the Assembly, getting all the way to the governors desk before being vetoed.

No information has been released regarding Hochuls reasoning behind the veto of the bill.

There are thousands of residents living in our programs today with significant medical challenges, combined with mental illness -no one planned for this day, when residents, who are living longer, would require elder care. It is disheartening that this situation continues to be ignored by those who can remedy it, said Barrett.

Barrett attests that, despite the second veto of the bill, the ACL will continue to work with the Office of Mental Health, the Governor and the Legislature in order to get the situation addressed.

These concerns are not going away; if anything, they will only get worse, said Barrett.
SOMERS POINT  For 57 years, the proprietors of Bernie Robbins Jewelers have forged deep connections with their customers.

Now, Harvey and Madalyn Rovinsky are getting ready to pass their legacy  and the business  on to a group of their employees in the next quarter.

Who among their 40 employees, spread over three locations, is to be determined, but before that, the jewelry shop is holding a retirement sale featuring a reduction in prices for its entire collection of jewelry and timepieces.

Founded in 1962, the store derived its name from Bernie, Maddy's father. Teaming up with Harvey Rovinsky, who joined as a partner in 1966, the duo transformed the business from an appliance store into a distinguished luxury jeweler.

"I met my wife Maddy in high school; her father needed a shlepper. If you've ever carried a refrigerator up three flights of stairs, it's not the most pleasant thing," said Rovinsky. When Harvey started working with the company, the jewelry collection consisted of Timex watches and a tray of six rings.

Today the store has diamonds, gems, couture jewelry and timepieces.

"I love what I've done for 57 years; more importantly I love the people that I work with," Harvey Rovinsky said.

He said after he retires the store will still be where he spends most of his time.

The history of the Atlantic City Surf April 1996: The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and Atlantic City Council approve 

"I'm a third-generation jeweler; I started working alongside my father when I was just 10 years old," he said.

Rovinsky recalls one of his most memorable times doing business was when he purchased a 30-carat diamond.

"I found it, I loved it and I bought it," he said, but he had no idea how he was going to sell it. Luckily, a client came along. "The person who bought it had their name laser-engraved on it, then we made a custom mount for this diamond. It was cool; I'll always remember that."

Rovinsky said there was an album made to document the entire process of the diamond being cut until the moment it sold.

Steve Jaffe, the manager at the flagship Somers Point location, has been with the company for almost 30 years and is Harvey's righthand man.

"I started at Bernie Robbins part time when I was going to community college in Philadelphia. I was doing nothing but tying up boxes for $1.65 an hour," Jaffe said. "There were many people who were working in the jewelry department who were retired from the industry who would teach me things."

Jaffe said he enjoyed working much more than school.

"I enjoyed learning about the jewelry business, but the reason why I've been with this business as long as I have is because the owners of this company gave me the opportunity to flourish here. They're the closest thing I have to family outside of my family," said Jaffe. "I've taken over a lot of the responsibilities for Harvey and Maddy. I'm hoping to make their retirement process easier. It can be a lot. The retirement sale is the first step."

Jaffe said customers can plan on being treated and cherished like they always have been after the retirement. The stores will still have familiar faces.

Laura Schyner, a resident of Absecon and a longtime customer of Bernie Robbins, said she buys her jewelry there because of the customer service.

"It's always a genuine experience," she said.

Store hours during the Bernie Robbins Retirement Sale are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
DENNIS TOWNSHIP  Joe Laluk cant wait to spread his wings.

Standing at the back of the 2,000-square-foot building that houses Ludlam Island Brewery, Laluk took a moment to step away from the boiling hot kettles that house the beer he developed. The heat could be felt just feet away, an open garage door providing some relief.

Come next spring, itll be a lot easier to move around the space where the magic happens at the Cape May County brewery.

Ludlam Island is moving into bigger digs. In fact, its a former bowling alley. And it will be able to serve food.

Billy Topley, 51, the primary owner of Ludlam Island, purchased the closed Mouse Trap Lanes in Woodbine in June 2021. He got the go-ahead in October, and construction has been in full swing since.

What I live for is giving people a great experience. I just love that, I want to give them something to be proud about, Topley, of Wildwood, said last week while standing in the entrance of the former Mouse Trap.

Topleys lease with the current building is up Dec. 31, so thats when theyll close. Topley said best-case scenario is an opening in March if everything goes right.

What were really concerned about is keeping our whole team working. We dont want to lay anybody off, said Topley, who employs about 10 people right now, six of them full time.

New Jersey to allow beer, wine deliveries by third parties New Jersey residents can get beer or wine delivered to their door, just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.

The alleys are gone  the upkeep of a bowling alley would be too much work for a full-time brewery thats adding a restaurant and will increase its workforce to about 30 people.

Already in place this month was the frame for a bar, barback, tap room and the barrier between the dining area and a massive brewing space where Laluk, the head brewer, and his team will have fun dreaming up new beers and bigger batches.

From a brewing standpoint, it will be a much more efficient brewhouse, said Laluk, 35, of Somers Point. Theres so much more space than we have now. Well have plenty of more room to add more tanks, as needed. Well have more variety of options on tap as well. Theres nothing but positives for us here.

New town, new opportunities

Ludlam will begin to downsize production in the coming weeks. It will then hire a professional company to prep the equipment for the move.

Ludlams move is just over 3 miles away, but it will cross town borders from the Ocean View section of Dennis Township to Woodbine.

We are excited to welcome Ludlam Island Brewery to the Woodbine community, Mayor William Pikolycky wrote in an email. This will be our first established brewery, and the business brings a different type of hospitality to not only Woodbine, but the surrounding communities as well. I wish them success in this endeavor and look forward to their being a part of our community.

When Topley purchased Mouse Trap for about $600,000, it included a liquor license. Topley had to apply for a new brewery license when moving towns, so he applied for a restricted brewery license, which he could only obtain when holding a liquor license. Previously, Ludlam operated under a limited brewery license, which it will give up once the new place opens, Topley said, because it cant own one of each brewery license.

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A restricted brewery license will allow Topley to operate a full restaurant and bar, something only a small handful of breweries in New Jersey can do. It affords him freedoms breweries have been fighting to have for years from the state.

I dont have to worry about (holding a limited number of) events anymore, Topley said. If I want to bring a food truck in, I can. I can have any game I want. I can have trivia without having to tell anybody Im doing trivia. It takes some of the handcuffs off, for sure, and Im pretty excited about that.

Topley also wants to use that new freedom to promote local businesses.

When we first talked about getting a liquor license, it felt hypocritical having to beg people to drink local for seven years and now Im gonna start selling Titos? he said with a laugh.

Topley plans to carry the beers of neighbor breweries in Cape May County and South Jersey. He wants to carry spirits from Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City and Lazy Eye Distillery in Buena Vista Township. Hes already been in talks with many of the wineries in the county, like Willow Creek and Hawk Haven.

When it comes time to announce a head chef  Topley is keeping that a secret for now  hes excited to also partner with the local farms for their livestock and produce. Already, those places get Ludlams spent grain from beer to feed their animals.

Im really excited to foster that local mentality and get everyone in there, Topley said. I feel that were in a resort area, were surrounded by campgrounds and people are coming from all over the country. I want to give them something they cant get at home.

Skys the limit

Kelsey Grammer to lead Atlantic City holiday parade Kelsey Grammer's appearance as the grand marshal of Atlantic City's holiday parade will headline a list of events that kick off at the end of the month.

The new property is 12,000 square feet, six times larger than the old property. Ludlam, which brews about 1,000 barrels of beer a year, will be able to work its way up to 5,000 barrels once production fully ramps up at the new location.

There is nothing but advantages of us moving there, said Laluk, who was hired in 2015 ahead of Ludlams opening the following year. Its gonna be our own space, so we can have more parties and not have to run things by a landlord anymore. Its pretty private, so there is no one to really bother. Not like were trying to throw ragers or anything like that. No neighbors to worry about, which is nice.

When people enter the building, theyll see the dining area and bar straight ahead and a tasting area to the right that will be closed off to guests under 21. The left wall will be lined with massive windows, so diners and drinkers can look into the brewing space.

Laluk is excited for the atmosphere the new building will create.

I also love to see the backs of breweries and whats going on behind the scenes, Laluk said. So I get, from a customers perspective, they also want to see how their beer is made. Its a really good customer experience.

For us, we kind of feel like caged animals sometimes when people are staring at us, but I know its whats best for the business.

Last week, Steve Wilson, 36, and his wife, Catherine, 34, spent the afternoon at Ludlams small tasting room.

The Cape May couple visit the brewery about once a month.

10 Cape May County breweries to each produce unique IPA Habitat for Humanity Cape May County and 10 local breweries will collaborate in the third-annual project called "Beer that Built the House." Each brewery will produce their spin on a single-malt, single-hop IPA. The event will be held Friday as part of the first annual SMASH Beer Fest at Mudhen Brewing in Wildwood.

Steve is excited about the new space, especially the opportunity to check out the brewery operation.

I feel like you definitely need to see the brewing equipment, he said. If I go to a brewery and cant see that, then it feels like Im at a bar. Even if you know the beer is being made there, you go, Wheres your stuff? I wanna see your shiny stuff.

The couple hope Ludlam can keep the charm of the old location. Steve called the smaller space intimate.

Coming here and seeing the taste (of the beers) and the style, its so well done, Catherine said. I feel like the skys the limit for them. I cant wait to see what they do.

PHOTOS: Check out Ludlam Island Brewery's new location
ATLANTIC CITY  Sean Pattwell could be on his way out from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, less than two years after taking the job as executive director, sources familiar with the situation said.

Pattwell planned to look for a new job in the private sector, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the CRDA, which included a request for an interview with Pattwell.

Since starting the job in April 2022, Pattwell has declined multiple requests for an interview with The Press.

He does not speak at meetings of the CRDA Board of Directors either, leaving the presentation of reports to staff members.

On Tuesday, Pattwell attended his first in-person meeting of the board, which had met over the phone since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, before he began the job. He did not speak at the meeting, making no mention of plans to leave the authority or anything else. At least one board member, who declined to be identified by name, indicated the story about Pattwells departure came as a complete surprise.

Pattwells background is in the insurance industry, working for years with Herbert L. Jamison and Co. He replaced former CRDA director Matt Doherty, who left the job in January 2022 and has since been hired and fired by the Atlantic City Housing Authority.

A year after appointment, Sean Pattwell remains a quiet figure leading CRDA ATLANTIC CITY  Just over a year into his tenure as the executive director of the Casino Rei

While the CRDA board votes on the appointment of an executive director, the Governors Office decides the candidate for the job and has the strongest voice in the decision. It was the Governors Office that announced Pattwells appointment.

He is the right person to lead the CRDA as it plays a critical role in Atlantic Citys recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy said in a statement at the time.

The governors press office praised Pattwell's efforts in Atlantic City.

The Murphy Administration thanks Mr. Patwell for his service and commitment to the ongoing revitalization of one of New Jerseys most iconic cities. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors, said Bailey Lawrence, deputy press secretary for the governor's office.

The timing for Pattwells leaving is uncertain, nor how long before there might be a replacement.

State records put Pattwells salary as executive director at $175,000.

He has decades of executive expertise and has received a bachelors degree, three masters degrees and is currently pursuing a fourth degree in literature at Harvard University, states a biography of Pattwell on the CRDA website.